#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)

Ends September 29th

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

#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

Please visit CLP Blog Tours for all the tour stops!

#bookreview The Last Necromancer By C.J. Archer

The Last Necromancer 

By C.J. Archer 

(The Ministry of Curiosities #1)
Publication date: August 11th 2015

Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Victorian London: For five years, Charlotte (Charlie) Holloway has lived as a boy in the slums. But when one theft too many gets her arrested, her only means of escape lies with a dead man. Charlie hasn’t raised a spirit since she first discovered she could do so five years ago. That time, her father banished her. This time, she brings even more trouble upon herself.
People are now hunting Charlie all over London, but only one man succeeds in capturing her.
Lincoln Fitzroy is the mysterious head of a secret organization on the trail of a madman who needs a necromancer to control his newly “made” creatures. There was only one known necromancer in the world – Charlotte – but now there appears to be two. Lincoln captures the willful Charlie in the hopes the boy will lead him to Charlotte. But what happens when he discovers the boy is in fact the young woman he’s been searching for all along? And will she agree to work for the man who held her against her will, and for an organization she doesn’t trust?
Because Lincoln and his ministry might be just as dangerous as the madman they’re hunting.

~My Review~

4.0 Stars

Charlie is a "gutter boy" also often called a "sewer rat" moving from gang to gang to keep all the young homeless boys from discovering her secret. Charlie isn't a boy, she is Charlotte and very much a girl. A secret she guards almost as well as the secret of how the night she was kicked out of her home was because she accidentally raised her mother from the dead. Putting her father to fear that she forbid her from ever coming back home. After 5 years of staying away from the dead, she found herself once again in a terrible position to call on the dead and so the search for her began. Because who wanted want in their arsenal of weapons someone so powerful that they can call up the dead and bid them to do whatever they want. Charlie is in far more trouble then she can imagine. And this is just the beginning of her tale! 

What a fun story! I do love a good paranorm story, I say that just about every single time I read one, and this one did not disappoint. I love the character Charlie, I do struggle to see her as an 18 year old girl as the author has written her character so well, I struggle not to think of her as a 13 year old boy. Of course things always change as a story goes on! I love the mystery behind the Lincoln and the secret organization that seeks out the supernatural. I did notice this book appears to be the first in the series and I look forward to seeing more of this series and more of Charlie's/Charlotte's story. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25728233-the-last-necromancer?ac=1

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Last-Necromancer-Ministry-Curiosities-Book-ebook/dp/B00ZMVECQA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435255347&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Last+Necromancer+archer

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-last-necromancer-cj-archer/1122151534?ean=2940151972086

AUTHOR BIO:

C.J. Archer has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two with her writing. Under her other name of Carolyn Scott, she has published contemporary short stories in women’s magazines, and she also writes romantic mystery novels under this name.

She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She has won and placed in romance writing contests including winning RWAustralia’s Emerald Award in 2008 for the manuscript that went on to be released under the title HONOR BOUND. C.J. spent her early childhood in the dramatic beauty of outback Queensland, Australia, but now lives in suburban Melbourne with her husband and two children.

To be notified when C.J. releases a new book, subscribe to her newsletter from her website. She only sends out the newsletter when she releases a new book, and never spams.

Author links: 

http://cjarcher.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4615377.C_J_Archer

https://www.facebook.com/CJArcherAuthorPage

https://twitter.com/cj_archer

#bookreview Punished By Krys Fenner

Punished 

By Krys Fenner 

(Dark Road Series, #2) 
Publication date: Late June, 2015 
Genres: Psychological Thriller, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Hope springs eternal for everyone except Bella Kynaston. She survived the rape, but making it through the trial is another deal all together. As lies come forward, more questions arise leaving Bella to suffer more punishment than she believed she deserved. Sometimes ending it all seems like the only answer. Will she find the peace she so desperately seeks if the pain permanently ended?

Jeremiah believed he’d done the right thing, even if the timing hadn’t been ideal. The only way to protect Bella was if he stayed out of her life. Or so he thought. When Bella starts dating David, Jeremiah thinks David could save her. As it turns out, things progressively get worse. Could Jeremiah be the solution? If so, can he get to her in time? Or will he suffer the worst punishment of his life and lose her forever?

              ~My Review~

4.0 stars

This is the second book in Bella's story. Bella's story is one of pain and suffering and what extreme's she goes to in order to ease some of it. The amount of pain and heartache a person goes after being the victim of terrible things is shown vividly in this story, it is a palpable one that makes you want to take this young girl and hug it all away for her. That perhaps makes this a hard story to read, but also well worth the read. 

Not only is she trying to recover from the violent acts she suffered, but she is trying hard to cope with the news of finding out she was adopted and who her parents are, as well as why her boyfriend who risked his life to protect her dumps her like she is yesterday's news. All this of course is weighing heavy on the young girl's mind and proofs to be quite a read as you travel on the painful journey with her. 

It should be noted that the book starts out with a rape scene, it's not extremely graphic, but does need to be mentioned as it could prove to be a trigger for those that have suffered through such a terrible attack. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25420289-punished

Purchase:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Punished-Dark-Road-Book-2-ebook/dp/B0141PNWPY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1440426793&sr=8-2&keywords=Krys+Fenner

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/punished-krys-fenner/1122552041?ean=9780692367889

AUTHOR BIO:

At the age of 16, Krys Fenner fell in love with Psychology and Creative Writing. At that time she wrote her first short story dealing with sexual abuse and forgiveness. Psychological issues in her family filled her with the desire to help others using her own experiences. So in 2004, she earned an Associate of Arts in Psychology. And while her sister is the one with dreams of becoming a Psychologist, Krys Fenner returned to Creative Writing. She is currently working on a Bachelor of Arts and plans to continue on to a Masters degree, where she can major in her first love (Creative Writing)  and minor in her second (Psychology).

Author Links:

http://krysfenner.co/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7524938.Krys_Fenner

https://www.facebook.com/KrysFenner

https://twitter.com/KrysFenner