#bookreview The Fading Dusk by Melissa Giorgio

The Fading Dusk

 By Melissa Giorgio 

~My Review~

4 stars

Irina is a magician's assistant, taken in when her mom died at a young age by the street magician Bantheir. Never did she think it was possible to end up smack in the middle of a murder investigation with direct blame going to her generous caregiver or that she would be sitting in a prison cell until he is found. But of course the accusations that he would use magic to kill people was even more baffling to her, not show magic, but the real kind that has been forbidden for many years. 

The Fading Dusk is a great story about murder, magic, deceit and ultimately love. I really enjoyed this story as it was quite unique and a different twist then recent books I have read where Magic is involved. I truly felt bad for Irina and all she had to go through and the hurt she suffered, and was pleasantly surprised to find which characters I ended up liking and which ones I just could not. I would consider this a great Y/A with a fantasy twist and recommend it for all ages. 

About the Book:

In the gritty city of Dusk, seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds, the shows, and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s accomplice to murder—murder by magic.
Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.
Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?
Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25954617-the-fading-dusk

Purchase: 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0125KV45W/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fading-dusk-melissa-giorgio/1122399040?ean=9781515150589

About the Author:

Melissa Giorgio is a native New Yorker who graduated from Queens College with a degree in English. She’s always dreamed of being a writer and has been creating stories (mostly in her head) since she was a little girl. Also an avid reader, Melissa loves to devour thick YA novels. When not reading or writing, she enjoys watching animated films, listening to music by her favorite Japanese boy band, or exploring Manhattan. She is also the author of the Silver Moon Saga.

Author links:

https://melissagiorgio.wordpress.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7133276.Melissa_Giorgio

https://www.facebook.com/melissagiorgiofan

https://twitter.com/melissa_giorgio

#bookreview Collision By P J Byer

Collision

By PJ Byer

~My Review~ 

4.5 stars

Collision is a unique story that reads as a Y/A, but with an added benefit of slightly paranormal with a mix of history. I'm not sure what to categorize it as, but loved the combination! It made for a really good read, as well as allowing you into the insight of a troubled teens life, as well as how hard it is to be that parent waiting for news at home when a teen disappears. 

Stella is a runaway that finds herself in many difficult and scary situations, but as luck...or perhaps fate would have it-Stella ends up making friends with people who seem to want to help her even while she is struggling to work out the trouble rambling around in her head. The slightly paranorm part is when Stella begins to have dream's that make absolutely no sense to her, but occur as if a story is being told, a story that she can tell belong's in the past. The why to the dreams is what is messing with her head the most, but like all good stories this one play's out in a way that allows it to all make sense. 

I love what I was able to take from the story, it's not your typical feel good story, but it has so much insight into the troubles that a teen goes through, something often so hard to understand for the people watching the struggle. This was a great read and I highly recommend it! 








About the author:

What happened when PJ found her old journal, and in it was jotted the bones of a story?

What happened when that story had been rattling around in her head for fourteen years?

What happened when she admitted she’d always wanted to write, and now newly retired had time to pursue this dream?

She started, of course!

In the journal the story outline was set at Trial Bay gaol near South West Rocks, a beautiful place where PJ’s family had holidayed for years. She was inspired by the history of the  Germans interned at the forbidding gaol during the First World War.

PJ grew up in Sydney’s Northern beaches, married Ivor, and they have raised two wonderful daughters, Zoe and Hannah, on the Central Coast. She had a long career as an  English, History and Drama teacher, and is passionate about youth literacy and encouraging young people to read. This book is pitched as Young Adult genre, one of the world’s fastest growing genres, and is part of a series. A prequel and sequel will follow.

She has a diverse range of interests, including reading, bushwalking, a cappella harmony singing, film, theatre, swimming as well as volunteer work for a disaster relief charity called ShelterBox.

Links 

pjbyerwriterblog.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/pj.byer/

Twitter: @PJ Byer

Pinterest@PJ Byer 

http://amzn.to/1HbZsKP

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25865098-collision

UPDATE

My update and My apologies

I have sadly had to step back in much of my reviewing in order to get my family through a very stressful year. The doctors started my son on testing for Epilepsy Surgery, we had no idea the roller coaster ride we were beginning with that appointment and the decision to see if our son was a candidate for surgery. Perhaps one can't prepare for these sorts of things and that is just the way it is. We began with the first test's. He had a PET, an MRI, a FMRI, 2 SPECS, a MEG which required another MRI a 3 channel one or something, he took tests with the Neuro-psychologist, who then ordered a WADA and of course he has had about a dozen EEG's and 100's of seizures while he was off his meds for 2 of our tests. This boy has been put through the ringer! We are now awaiting the surgical teams decision on if we go forward. Which means if he has surgery, it will be done in 2 parts, both requiring him to stay in the hospital during all of it (at the least 2 weeks), then home for recovery, we have been told to expect significant memory issues that could last up to 9 months after surgery! Which will prove a challenge for a 14 year old boy in 8th grade that is active and social. 

This is what my fall/winter looks like, so I post this here to let all authors, fellow bloggers, readers and anyone who follows me, that I am not gone, but I may not be reviewing as often as I have been known too until My boy is over his next hurdle in life. I ask for your amazing patience with me, any book I have committed to reading and reviewing, will get done. It just may not be as quickly as originally promised. Before I became a stressed out mom, I read a book a day...currently i have to fight to focus to read even one a week. So please please have patience and understanding with me. 

We are currently expecting a surgical date very near Christmas, which of course will alter things for our home as well. We hope that if he is to be at the hospital during the holiday we will be allowed to make it a very special day for him. He being my amazing trooper, shrugs his shoulder and says "it's ok mom, let's just get it done!"

#bookreview The High Priest's Daughter, By Katie Cross

The High Priest's Daughter 

By Katie Cross

~My Review~

5 Stars

Another great book by Katie Cross! The High Priest's Daughter will pick you up right where you left off in the previous book..and the story just flies from there! There is something magical about the way Katie writes, it leaves you wanting so much more of the story, but always has you reading at a speed that is insane just to see what is going to happen next! The character development is done so well, that you truly do love some characters and hate a few others.

Perhaps my favorite part of this book is the intense changes that you watch Bianca as well as her friends go through during this time. The experiences and choices they making are most certainly to be consider life changing and in the end a chance to grow and learn.

Katie Cross's Network series is my favorite series that I have read this year! If there is one series you don't want to miss out on, this is the one I recommend you picking up and getting lost in Bianca and friend's story and the wild things they see, experience and survive!



* You can find my review's of Katie's first two books here on the blog as well, I believe they were a mid-summer review post


Amazon Link

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01551B6P6?keywords=katie%20cross&qid=1446007407&ref_=sr_1_1&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

#bookreview Four By Zack Scott

Four 

By Zack Scott 

~My Review~

4 stars

Four is a take you by surprise Zombie story, it's most certainly a great zombie story, but takes you by surprise with all the crazy twists and turns that come with the story. Each main individual comes with so much depth and issues that you just want to shake them and remind them "THERE ARE ZOMBIES!!"

The four main characters are the only safe ones to become attached too, because it's quite evident that no one is really safe in this story...it only takes one bite.

This story is moderately gruesome (killing zombies and zombies killing people is always going to be gruesome) but as far as my zombie reads this year....there have been many, I would definitely add this to my top 5! It's a fun, fast read with loads of zombie slaying and lots of drama and even a decent amount of humor.

About the Book:

A tragic past. A destined reunion. A decaying hope.

In Southern California, four friends must face a haunting nightmare from high school in order to save the future of humanity. But will their personal conflicts get in the way? Battling for survival, these fated four will choose whether to follow a destined path or continue their dead lives, while the zombie apocalypse feeds them one cliche after another.

Amazon | Goodreads

Author Bio: 

Zack Scott is the author of THEIR DEADS LIVES, ONE PISSED OFF SHARK, and several short stories he wrote for the 2013 Flash Fiction Challenge, where he made it to the final round. Although he’s visited many areas in the world, Zack has lived in Southern California most of his life. He grew up in Los Angeles, attended undergrad at CSUCI in Ventura County, and completed law school down in sunny San Diego. More recently, he was living the startup life in Silicon Valley with the 500 Startups accelerator program. He is licensed to practice law in California, but more importantly he likes to hang his pants on his desk chair rather than his closet. When he’s not writing stories, Zack can be found in a never-ending wrestling match with his dog Leo or cooking pasta while wearing a Chargers apron.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:

$10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

Ends Oct. 28th

This giveaway is sponsored by CBB Book Promotions, the hosts are not responsible for prizing.

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This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

#bookreview Mist on the Water

Mist on the Water

                                                 By Shea Berkley

Publication date: July 13th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Long ago, in a far off land, there rose a tale as old as the earth.

As long as Ryne can remember, his parents told him to beware the nix in the lake. From the day he was born, the tale of the nix and how she demanded Ryne as her prize for setting his captured father free has defined Ryne’s life. No matter what he does, he can’t shed its curse…in everyone’s eyes, Ryne is doomed to die.

Nari is the only one who befriends Ryne, and loves him without fear despite the villagers’ relentless jeers. But when Ryne disappears beneath the cold waters of the lake, everyone believes he’s dead. Everyone except Nari.

Now it’s up to Nari to defy her family, her village and the legend of the nix to bring Ryne back from his watery prison or they’ll both be lost. forever

~My Review~

4 Stars

Ryne is born with a curse to carry around, a curse he spends much of his life questioning. Often thinking his parents laid this curse on his shoulders due to paranoia, or to protect him. The curse puts him as an outcast in the small village he lives in, making his hard life even harder with the stigma of the curse. The only one it doesn't put off is Nari, and Nari just may be the saving grace that Ryne needs to survive the curse. 

This was a fantastic YA with a fantasy twist book and I actually found myself really enjoying it. My heart hurt for the boy who's village shunned him, and I loved that Nari was able to not only see past that, but so much more. 

#bookreview Havoc Rising By Brian S. Leon

BOOK REVIEW!!! 

~My Review~

4.5 Stars

This was a fantastic book, with every mythical creature you can think of and then add a few more just to be safe! Steve Dore is a fishing guide and appears to be your average joe, but what you don't know is that he is a legendary warrior and thousands of years old, fighting to keep human's safe from being's that are evil and not of this world. The story of Havoc is one where Steve aka Diomedes Tydides who works for Athena is tasked to find a cup that was stolen from a museum. What sounds like a simple tasks leads him into dangerous places with being so frightening, I personally would never want to meet. The story that follows is action packed and literally kept me turning the pages wondering how he would get out of the next bit of trouble. I loved the character development and truly loved this story. It had a bit of everything in it to make it a great fantasy story.

#bookreview Skinshifter By Alycia Christine

About the Book:

Skinshifters are a curse. The Asheken deadwalkers proved that fact when they used skinshifters to spy against the Sylvan races during the Second War of Ages. Now, after three centuries of peace, the deadwalkers have found a secret way back onto the Sylvan Continent and this time they seek not just to conquer their enemies, but to enslave them body and soul.

When the Feliconas Clan suffers the deadwalkers’ first raid, one werecat—a skinshifter who has concealed her abilities—survives the massacre. Even as Katja struggles with her grief and guilt over her murdered kin, she must unite with other Sylvan refugees to defeat the deadwalkers before they can butcher and defile the other races. But can this skinshifter trust her newfound allies or will their secrets prove even more treacherous than her own?

“As involved as it is vividly eloquent, Alycia Christine’s Skinshifter…is fueled by engagingly twisted fantasy elements, vivid imagery, appealing characters, rousing adventure and terse storytelling.” –Bestsellers World

“Action is well done, tension is wonderfully detailed and maintained throughout, and fantasy readers will find in Katja an appealing, believable character whose quest and concerns drive a story line that is vivid, accessible, and involving.” –D. Donovan, Senior eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Amazon | Smashwords | B&N

~My Review~
4.5 stars

Book 1 in the Promising Sylvan Cycle series, and boy does this series begin well! It's a very in-depth story with complex character development and creators that will give you the shiver's at night! Skinshifter is a great beginning to a series that promises to only get better as it continues. This is a fantasy/sci-fi story that is written well for most age groups and I would consider appropriate for above 13 and over. 

Katja is a skinshifter that hid what she was from her clan for years for fear that she would be banished from the only home she knew, when one night deadwalkers raid her village and she finds herself on the run. This is when she meets Lauraisha a princess who is also on the run but for a very different reason. Regardless of their vast difference's they bond over their shared journey's, a bond which only grows stronger as the story goes along. 

Katja and Lauraish are tasked with seeking help regardless of the dangers their journey presents to them and together they seek to fulfill the request. Leading them on the biggest adventure of their life. 

Skinshifter gives you a taste of a vast and amazing fantasy world with character's you can imagine ever meeting and some you hope never too. This was a great read and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next! 

*I peeked and looked this book is currently 99 cents on Amazon and free on Amazon unlimited! 

About the Author:

Alycia Christine grew up near the dusty cotton fields of Lubbock, Texas. She fell in love with fantasy and science fiction stories when her father first read Gordon R. Dickson’s THE DRAGON AND THE GEORGE and Robert A. Heinlein’s HAVE SPACESUIT—WILL TRAVEL to her at age ten. Her love-affair with fiction deepened when Alycia took a creative writing course while attending Texas A&M University. After that class, she was hooked as a writer for life. Her subsequent B.S. degree in agricultural journalism not only helped to hone Alycia’s skills with a pen, but also with a camera. Today she uses her skills as a photographer to capture the beauty of the world around her and add additional perspective to her fiction and nonfiction writing. Find her at http://www.alyciachristine.com.

Website | Twitter @AlyciaCZS | Facebook

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#bookreview Children of Lightning By Annie K. Wong

Children of Lightning 

by Annie K. Wong

~My Review~

3.5 stars

Children of Lightning is the first book of a new series. It is a Fantasy story and quite different from most you might read in this category. I struggled to enjoy the book for the first part, I am not sure why, I just wasn't digging it. But at about 40 percent I really starting digging it. Writhren Hollow the warrior is the main character, who until she discovers her rightful name of Writhren seems to really stuggle with her identity and purpose. She is from an all female clan who have a deal with the Ophidians to be able to continue to produce children. Of course with that the deal comes a price and it is steep.

There is a lot of depth to this story, and yes there were a few parts I felt a little lost on, or maybe just disappointed. But for the most part the story was great, I am always up for finding a new spin on the fantasy and I believe the author is headed in the right direction with this new series. 

About the book: 

Publication date: September 27th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Secrets beget secrets. The curse that befell the Hollows clan has left them incapable of producing male offspring. To extend their bloodline, they have formed a covenant with the serpentine Ophidians, who give them children. In return, the Hollows must keep these monstrous creatures well fed, though the details of the procurement are so abominable that the truth is never revealed to the other clans. In their homeland of Matikki, they live like outcasts.

Through a series of chance discoveries, the secrets of the ancient curse unfold before a warrior named Writhren Hollow. Is her purely female clan the result of a lapse of divine providence, or are the Hollows themselves victims of an enslavement scheme?

If Writhren frees her clan from the covenant, she risks the wrath of the Ophidians and the future of her bloodline. If she keeps the truth of the curse to herself, she is a traitor to her own kind. Either way, she will suffer for what she must do.

This is not a story of redemption, but regret. This is Writhren’s story.

#bookreview City of Roses by Donovan Pruitt

City of Roses

By Donovan Pruitt

~My Review~

3.5 stars

City of Roses is a shorter story, more like a Novella with an ending that leaves you believing there will be more to come. 

Alex after an accident out on a very wooded road wakes up confused and lost as to where he is. He somehow stumbled into what one could only describe as an alternate world. A world where evil lives in the corner and the village he finds himself in is forced to battle the evil. 

This was a weird book, but very interesting. It talks about a tradegy of Chernobyl which I do not know anything about, and perhaps more backstory on that would help me to understand the story better. It also seems to be set in Ukraine, the location seemed to be lost on me when reading it and I was simply unsure where it might be set in. 

The story while short was a good read and I knowing there is more to come I would probably delve into what is to follow and see how it goes from there. 

This leaves my review at a pretty neutral place as I neither loved nor hated it...I more felt like I needed more to be able to base my review on. 

About the book:
A young man ventures to his lost love’s childhood home in the abandoned city of Pripyat, Ukraine. When a sudden accident puts him off-course, he awakes to discover a lively and vibrant culture living in a nearby village and a woman who reignites his heart. But something sinister lurks in the shadows, and he must face the terror and help defend the village from evil before it is lost forever. Go beyond the tragedy of Chernobyl and discover the magic in the City of Roses.

About the Author:
Donovan Pruitt has a passion for science fiction and fantasy, especially those titles that trend toward young and new adult storytelling. City of Roses was his first standalone book as an indie author, though he has also written for video games and was previously published as a co-author in the fantasy genre. You can visit him online at www.KalaEmpire.com or join the discussion on Twitter @KalaEmpire.

My Amazon book reviews are available here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2BE15IF4S23I1

#bookreview Assassin by Pamela DuMond

The Assassin

By Pamela DuMond

BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Time Traveler. Messenger. Beloved. Spy.

“I was a Messenger: I kept the memory of all our encounters, our lives, like a locket that brushes the skin and bones covering my heart. But Samuel was a Healer: he didn’t time travel. His kind lived, died, re-incarnated, and he didn’t retain memories from his past lives. Every year I landed in required starting our relationship over: from ashes, from scrap… Every place I journeyed had beauty as well as darkness; all my time-travels were bittersweet.” ~ Madeline.

Madeline’s a Messenger: time traveling across lifetimes and delivering messages that could change one life or many. When she discovers that her true love, Samuel, is alive in present day, but doesn’t remember her from their past, she journeys to a deadly royal conflict in medieval Portugal hoping to rekindle his memory. Mortal assassins as well as dark-souled time travelers seek to kill her. Will Madeline and Samuel be together again in life—or only in death?

THE SEEKER (Mortal Beloved, Book Three) publishes Winter 2015/2016

~My Review~
5 stars

This was a fun, unique read! I was able to read book one Messenger, before reading The Assassin and I highly recommended doing that in order to really enjoy the story.

Madeline is a "Messenger" one who travels through time to send messages, she never knows where she is going to land, or what message she needs to deliver, but often finds herself in situation that one wrong move could get her killed. In this book, she travels to medieval Purtugal, coming across her beloved Samuel there in a form she is not sure she likes. He is a Lord and doesn't seem to realize his mission as a healer quite yet. Madeline finds the message she is to deliver sends her right in the middle of the assassination of a Prince's Wife....putting her head deep in a royal conflict and earning her a place on the assassination list.

These books are so much fun, because they tend to take you to many many different places and times, you never quite know where the next message location or time will be. I truly loved these books and look forward to reading book three in the series!


SIDE NOTE!

*Note, I apologize for the lateness of the posting, we had some personal medical issues with my son who is currently preparing for left temporal lobectomy surgery and we are having many unexpected tests and appointments pop up with little notice. This will probably not be the last late review, but I promise to get them up as quickly as I can to the dates promised. Thank you for your patience! 

#bookreview The Ark By Laura Liddell Nolen

The Ark 

by Laura Liddell Nolen 

~My Review~
4.0 stars

The Ark starts out with a girl named Char while in jail gets a visit from her parents with a surprise pass for the Ark, on of several large bioships that will be leaving just before a meteor is set to hit earth and whip out all live on it. Char with the help of a friend escapes and makes her way to the launch site for the Ark, which is where the real story begin's. Although her journey to the Ark was quite eventful and did not delay or take away from the rest of the story...I just felt it was backstory and life on the Ark is where it really gets moving. Life on the Ark is not what she planned or expected, but then 24 hours before boarding the Ark she had come to terms with life ending, perhaps that is what encourages her to be so bold and daring or it could very well be how Char lives her life.

This was a great story, it was interesting and different from most Sci fi's that I have read recently and it was a great fast paced read as well. I didn't feel that there was any lag in the story, even with the depth that it required to make it good.

One thing that should be noted for readers, is that there is a major cliff hanger at the end of this book. I for one am looking forward to reading the next one in this great new series! 

About the book:

Published by: HarperVoyager
Publication date: March 26th 2015
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

There’s a meteor headed for Earth, and there is only one way to survive.

With her criminal record, sixteen-year-old Char is never going to get a place on an Ark, one of the five massive bioships designed to protect Earth’s survivors. The Arks are reserved for the real goody-goodies, like Char’s mom, dad, and brother, all of whom have long since turned their backs on her.

With Earth on the brink of destruction, Char must use all her tricks of the trade to swindle her way into outer space, where she hopes to reunite with her family, regardless of whether they want to see her or not.

Once she arrives on the North American Ark, Char discovers that the remnants of humanity haven’t achieved the egalitarian utopia they’d planned for. For starters, the “Officers of the Peace” are anything but peaceful, especially since stealing a spot on an Ark is a crime punishable by death…

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25066493-the-ark

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O0FY6B0/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_ca-20&linkCode=as2&camp=15121&creative=330641

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ark-laura-liddell-nolen/1120419087?ean=9780008113629

About the Author:

Laura grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she spent an excellent childhood playing make-believe with her two younger brothers. The Ark is the direct result of those stories and a lifelong devotion to space-themed television. It received a Work in Progress Grant from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Laura has a degree in French and a license to practice law, but both are frozen in carbonite at present. She lives in Texas with her family.

Author links:

http://www.lauraliddellnolen.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lauraliddellnolen

https://twitter.com/LauraLLNolen

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13378500.Laura_Liddell_Nolen

#bookreview Lucid By Jay Bonansinga

Lucid

 by Jay Bonansinga 

About the Book:
Lori Blaine is not your average seventeen-year-old high school student. Cool and iconoclastic in her dread-locks and natty thrift shop garb, with an IQ that’s off the charts, she is the ersatz leader of a pack of Goth kids that circle around her in the halls of Valesburg Central like a school of pilot fish. Lori speaks softly, but when she does speak, people have a tendency to listen.

But Lori Blaine has one problem: The door.

Lori’s dreams are haunted by this strange, recurring symbol. The door is always there on the periphery… beckoning to her, daring her to see what might be waiting for her on the other side. Finally, at the urging of an overzealous school psychologist, Lori Blaine decides to face her fears. The next night, she goes through the dream door… and immediately plunges into a shattered looking glass world in which nothing is as it seems and evil awaits around every corner.

But when Lori fights back, all hell breaks loose.

Created by the New York Times bestselling author of THE WALKING DEAD: DESCENT…. LUCID is a mind-bender of a contemporary supernatural thriller for Young Adults.
--

~My Review~ 

3.5 Stars

First off, I have to say I love the cover. It's a great depiction of the main character, especially deeper into the book when you have to question whether you are reading about a dream, or real life. Truly there are parts of the book that are hard to tell. 

This is quite a unique story, Lori get's very lost in her dreams, I mean truly she get's lost in her dreams! But that's not the half of it, she finds that the dream world and the real world are far more linked up and connected then any one person should ever have happen and the fate of the world could very well lay at the foot of those dreams. 

Lucid is a fun and different book, a pretty fast moving read and while you are taking both into her dreams and her real life, the author does well to keep both separated for you, other then when they cross over-but that is meant to be less clear and the mystery of it helps make the story good. 

#bookreview MatchBox Girls By Chrysoula Tzavelas

Matchbox Girls

By Chrysoula Tzavelas

 Please check out the tour page - http://www.cbbbookpromotions.com/blog-tour-sign-up-matchbox-girls-by-chrysoula-tzavelas-sept-14-25/ - for schedule and more information. 

~My Review~ 

4.5 Stars

An Urban fantasy that has just about a little of everything, angels, demons, fairies, even what I want to say are spirit animals-but I know that's the wrong definition for the bad ass animals that accompany the half-breeds. This was a great read and definitely feed my need for fantasy with a great story!

Marley had no idea friending the kind man raising his twin nieces would change her life forever. But the moment they called her begging for help when their uncle disappeared her whole world changed, and what a ride you will go on with Marley's story. Not only does she dream about a strange fairy who her cat really dislikes, she is dodging bad guys that seem to be able to track her based off a a beam that can be seen by those that are of the paranormal world, she strangely attracts help from several nephilim who have talents most would die for. All of this while trying to keep two little girls safe and tear free, Marley has her hands full. But on top of all that her two best friends seem to get caught up in the mess in a way that Marley more or less can do nothing to stop.

So basically this story is simply bad ass! I loved the twist of the half angel's being the good guys and the paranormal twist to this story was just the fix I needed! I loved this story and can not wait to see what happens next, as I am sure there is more to this story!


  About the Book:

For a thousand years, the half-breed nephilim have kept the angels and Fallen from meddling in the world. And the angels would do anything to change that. Destroy cities. Turn oceans to blood. Raise the dead. Sacrificing two powerful little girls should be easy. 

Except... the two little girls are protected by one mortal woman.

Haunted by visions of catastrophe and crippling anxiety attacks, Marley Claviger has never heard of any celestial cold war. But when the twin daughters of a friend come to her for help, she will do whatever it takes to save them. Even if it means working with Fallen, discovering the nephilim, and facing the source of her power.

Amazon | Goodreads 

Matchbox Girls is on sale for only .99 cents for kindle from September 14-27th and the sequel Infinity Key will be free for kindle on September 15th.

About the Author:

As an Air Force kid, Chrysoula went to twelve schools in twelve years and spent a lot of time wondering what made people tick. Books, it turned out, helped with that question.These days she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, which includes many small and demanding creatures who fight over her attention. Her first book, urban fantasy MATCHBOX GIRLS, was originally published in 2012 by the small press Candlemark & Gleam, followed annually by two more books in the same SENYAZA Series, all of which explore the impact of the supernatural on different lives. Her current release is a collection of short stories in the same setting, followed by another novel this autumn.

Website | Twitter @chrysoula | Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

$25 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

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#bookreview The Right Design By Isabella Louise Anderson

The Right Design

Isabelle Louise Anderson

 ~My Review~

 3.5 stars

The Right Design is Isabella Louise Anderson's debute novel and she has picked a great topic. One of rediscovery and growth, as well as a story about a second chance at love. Which I love to read how women go through fire and come out better then they went in-it's kindof an amazing reminder that we can survive just about anything with faith in ourselves.

Carrie has the perfect life, she heads to work on her 6th year anniversary of being with her boyfriend thinking the only thing that would make her day better, would be for him to purpose to her during the special dinner plans that night-or even the surprise plans she has for before dinner, so when she boyfriend home much earlier then she the surprise seems to be on her as she catches him busy in the kitchen with a very young and sassy tart.

This is where the life changer comes in, does she simply forget that happened and take him back with her perfect life, or should she make some changes and leave him behind like yesterday's trash?

Carrie chooses to move from Dallas to Palm Springs in a daring choose that changes her whole life-the question is, will the changes make her life better or will she run home with her tail tucked between her legs defeated?

Unfortunately, I felt a disconnect when reading this story. I felt that the story could have been so much more and was sad to realize that was not the case. However, for a debut novel the concept of the story was good. This author has some great potential to write love story's with depth to them and I will continue checking out her work and seeing how she grows with it. 

Do business and pleasure mix?

In the author's debut novel comes a story about picking up the pieces, letting go of the past, and finding love along the way--even if morals are tested!

Interior designer Carrie Newman could not have envisioned a more perfect life for herself. She had a great job doing what she loved, wonderful friends, and a close relationship with her sister and brother-in-law. Add in an amazing man who she’d hoped would soon become her husband, and her life was perfect. Until one devastating decision ruins her relationship and changes the course of her life.

Determined to make a new start, Carrie leaves Texas and heads to Palm Beach to pick up the pieces of her shattered and broken life. The last thing she expects is to find herself attracted to her first client at her new job--Brad Larson, who has proven himself time and time again to be caddish.

But there’s something beneath the surface of Brad’s arrogant exterior that keeps her craving more of him--something almost sweet that Carrie can’t seem to resist.

Is Carrie ready to take another chance on romance? And will this new design of her life prove to be the right one?

About the Author: 

Isabella Louise Anderson grew up with a book in her hand, and to this day nothing has changed. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and has been featured on several blogs. While Isabella doesn't blog a lot, she focuses her time on featuring other writers, along with writing and editing.

She lives in Dallas with her husband and cat. She enjoys spicy Mexican food and drinking margaritas, and can be found spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Texas Rangers, and reading.

Isabella’s short story, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, was featured in Simon & Fig’s Christmas anthology, Merry & Bright, in November 2013. The Right Design is her first novel, and she is currently working on her next release.

Contact Links:

Website: http://www.isabellalouiseanderson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Isabella-Louise-Anderson-Author/253277964716883

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chicklitgoddess/

Chick Lit Goddess: http://chicklitgoddess.com

Twitter (ILA): https://twitter.com/ILA121209

Twitter (CLG): https://twitter.com/ChickLitGoddess

Book Links:

Amazon - US: http://www.amazon.com/Right-Design-Isabella-Louise-Anderson-ebook/dp/B00IW8UFTS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Right-Design-Isabella-Louise-Anderson-ebook/dp/B00IW8UFTS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440868362&sr=1-1&keywords=the+right+design 

Barnes & Noble (paperback and Nook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-right-design-isabella-louise-anderson/1118887877?ean=9780991416707

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