Author Archives: Rose Herbert

Review: Julie Anne Peters – It’s Our Prom (So Deal With It)

Posted on by
1
It’s Our Prom (So Deal With It)
Julie Anne Peters
I was so excited about this book coming out that I bought a hard copy. And then I got a hand signed book plate by Julie Anne Peters! Squee! There are few things I would get even vaguely fan-girl-y about, but this is one of them for sure.
Sadly, the book was a bit different to the others Peters has written, and I wasn’t as convinced by the characters as I usually am. This novel used the technique of splitting between Azure (a lesbian) and Luke (a bisexual) for perspective.
I liked Azure, and felt more in common with her. However, I didn’t get the same sense of her being super chatty from within her perspective as I did from Luke. Sometimes it seemed like she was a totally different person. Her relationship with her dad though was a very positive one, as was her pespective on not judging others (most of the time).
Luke was a character of contradictions for me. He seemed like he was very flamboyant, and that was why his brother hated him so much, but then it wasn’t all that clear because his brother did care in a strange way. And then there was his crush on Radhika, but then his play and everything at the same time. Not to mention it seemed like he never did homework!
Now to the storyline (a bit back to front I know). One word and one person: Prom, Radhika. Both Azure and Luke want to go to the prom with Radhika, but she doesn’t like either of them in that way (or does she), given that they have been friends for forever! I think I read somewhere that originally Radhika had a perspective as well, but that this was then removed from the book. A pity, I would have liked to hear a bit more from her.
The end of the novel was altogether too happy for my liking. Others who love that kind of ending will probably be satisfied though. The same goes for the school settings they find themselves in – it is amazing that everyone is so diverse and accepting. It’s not something that has happened in Australia yet as far as I can tell, but I’d love to see a real high school in the US that has it.
I could have given this book three stars, but then reconsidered up to four. I didn’t hate it, and it’s probably not a desperate reread for me in the same way that Keeping You a Secret is, but it was reassuring to read it.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy4star

Review: Victoria Simcox – The Magic Warble (review and giveaway)

Posted on by
Reply
The Magic Warble
Victoria Simcox

I’ll start by saying this novel is a little out of my usual reading tastes. For me, this was a children’s book – listed as a ‘middle-grade’ read, ages 9-13. If the chapters were short and more episodic, it could have been suitable for those 3-9 year olds that have a good attention span for listening to things being read aloud.
It reminded me of Enid Blyton’s ‘The Faraway Tree’ which I have been reading recently. It had a good storyline, and its very child friendly (with the exception perhaps of the Queen and the blood). There are 1-2 pictures per chapter, which add a nice counter-note to the text. I enjoyed them, even though they were simple.
For me, the plot points and turning and excitement were completely transparent  but for younger readers this would not be the case. Basically, any time that something went smoothly, there was a spanner in the works!
I made the mistake of forgetting to write the review for this for a little while, and then wondering what there was that I liked about – when I knew I did like it, and thought it was appropriate for its intended age group.
Something I will say – the ending was not very happy. The rat! Oh the rat! And the various betrayals and not really knowing what was going to happen irritated me a little, but I guess that’s because I wanted more depth there and some concrete finishing parts. There is a second book in this series, so if your son or daughter (or you) enjoys this kind of thing, then go for it and get it at the same time, because they’ll want to read the second right afterwards.
I received a free copy of this book after I won it in a giveaway, and then offered to do a review and another giveaway for the author. This has in no way influenced the review I have given.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

giveaway (international)

Review: Kailin Gow – Saving You, Saving Me

Posted on by
Reply
Saving You, Saving Me
Kailin Gow

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Saving You, Saving Me’.

Sam wants to become a psychologist, but does she have too many problems of her own to work it out?  While she tries to get a scholarship to go to college she is signed up for helping run a teen counselling line – but is the man she is trying to help working towards the same goal?

The official blurb:

Aspiring psychiatrist and high school Valedictorian Samantha (Sam) Sullivan falls for a deeply troubled young man named Daggers during a crisis call at her watch, which leads to the unraveling of her perfect world.
 
A contemporary ya-mature/new adult romance with some edge.

My review:

Samantha is an endearing character, even if she’s a bit irritating at times. She has so many buried problems that we gradually get to see, and it’s a real revelation. I would have loved to see a little more of the real her, with less breakdowns involved though. It seems like she has some super big issues there.

13425786I couldn’t believe how clueless she was though! Sawyer House, Daggers, they’re all one and the same! Arg! How can she miss something so major? The reader will be bonking their heads against the wall for how clueless she is.

Derek and Sam’s relationship is very strange. it’s part of the allure that had me unable to put the novel down, and dreading the end of the book. The romance here was good. Sam is such a sexy character, yet she’s unaware of it or unwilling to acknowledged it.

Innocents, bah. It’s like a teenage, or young adult version of fifty shades. That’s exactly what it is. Except that now they both have issues. Another problem I had with this novel was that there are some odd time jumps, where I had no idea how much time had passed, or if I did, I didn’t know where it went.

After my disappointment with Bitter Frost, I was hoping for something awesome from this novel. I went in with an open mind (as far as that’s possible) and was happily surprised. Some of the problems were the same, such as the stilted dialogue in sections (don’t is just as good as ‘do not’) and over descriptions of things, but the rest was good. I’m automatically predisposed to liking this kind of novel, with its themes of self harm and abuse. It was just what I wanted to read too.

I’d recommend this novel for uncritical young adults and mature teenagers. I don’t think it has the level of complexity that would make it suitable for adults, and the sexual content (relatively mild, but still here) makes it unsuitable for younger teens in my opinion.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

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.

You can find her at:

Facebook
Website
To sign up for news on new releases, contests, events, and more, join theEDGEbooks.com.
Twitter – @kailingow

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 1- Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 2 – Bookishly Devoted
November 3 – Willing to See Less
November 4 – My Reading Addiction 
November 5 – Journey With Books
November 6 – Paranormal Wastelands
November 7 – Book Nerd
November 8 – My Cozie Corner
November 9 – Crossroads Reviews
November 11 – Kaisy Daisy’s Blog 
November 12 – Much Loved Books
November 13 – BookSpark
November 14 – My Reading Addiction
November 15 – Pink Fluffy Hearts
November 16 – Up All Night Reviews
November 18 – Lovely Reads
November 19 – Addicted to Books
November 20 – Berds Fly 
November 21 – Wonderland Reviews
November 22 –
November 26 – Just a Booklover
November 27 – A Soul Unsung
November 28 – Books and Swoons
November 29 – The Cozy Dragon
November 30 – Reader Girls

Review: Kailin Gow – Bitter Frost

Posted on by
Reply
 Bitter Frost
Kailin Gow

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Bitter Frost’.

Breena has dreamed of Fayland her whole life, and now her dreams are becoming reality. Whisked away after an encounter with a pixie, she is hot currency in a world that is unlike anything she has ever known.

The official blurb:

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:

The world building is lovely in this novel. I could feel the hunting lodge and Breena’s bedroom. I loved her artwork, and the artwork that made her and the prince similar. The dialogue isn’t bad either, although in some parts it feels stilted. I liked Breena’s trick with the bread too!

8069816Apparently this is based on Dutch lore / some type of fairytale, which I’m not familiar with. I would be interested to see whatever it is based on, and see whether I can predict what is going on after that.

I liked the idea of the differences between the two worlds. Logan’s story is just a little too coincidental for my liking – oh no! Breena will have to choose between which one she loves more! Or will she…

For me the drama was a bit transparent, as was the ‘love story’. How could Breena be so stupid? And I really couldn’t go in for her nickname of Treena either. She didn’t seem to stand up for herself in any way until she went into another world – a weak heroine.

In that way, these two novels paired together make me think of the stopped Twilight saga from Edward’s point of view. I guess that makes for a good comparison for this novel – if you liked Twilight, and were looking for something else fantasy, this novel could be for you. There are plenty of them in the series for you to look forward to if you like the first one.
I can’t believe that this novel has more in the series! I almost want to recommend it only for younger teens, but the chaste kisses which were ok for them develop into something more crude when Logan’s point of view is brought in. An uncritical audience for sure for this one.
My overall feeling for these two ‘novels’ – Bitter Frost and Wolf Fey – was of being cheated. It reminded me a bit of Thief of Hearts, where the only purpose of the story was to draw you in, and then leave you on a meaningless cliffhanger. I didn’t feel any sort of conclusion that I should have felt at the end of any novel. The inclusion of Logan’s part just made me feel even worse!
I’m also due to read Saving You, Saving Me. From the author’s blurb, I’m really hoping for an awesome story with excellent execution. Perhaps some of her other young adult novels will be what I will enjoy.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy2star

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 P
roject,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.

You can find her at:

Facebook
Website
To sign up for news on new releases, contests, events, and more, join theEDGEbooks.com.
Twitter – @kailingow

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 1- Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 2 – Forget the Housework I’m Reading – Review
November 3 – Jennifer’s Asylum – Review
November 4 – In This World of Books – Review
November 7 – Becky’s Barmy Book Blog – PROMO
November 8 – Cindy’s Love of Books – Review
November 9 – Novel Nexus Reviews – PROMO
November 11 – My Daily Obsession – Review
November 13 – Sweet Southern Home – PROMO
November 14 –Book Spark – Review
November 15 – Escapism – Review
November 17 – A Dream Within a Dream – Review
November 18 – FireStar Books – Review
November 19 –Bookish Things and More – PROMO
November 20 – What’s On the Bookshelf – Reivew
November 22 – Lauries Thoughts and Interviews – PROMO
November 24 – Ashley’s Bookshelf – Review
November 25 – Lovely Reads – Review
November 26 –A chick Who Reads – Review
November 27 – The Cozy Dragon – Review
November 28 –Winged Reviews – PROMO
November 29 – The Book Hoard – PROMO
November 30 –Bookishly Devoted- Review
December 1 – Compelled by Words – PROMO
December 2 – Book Nerd – Review
December 3 – Inside BJ’s Head – Review
December 4 – Mom With a Kindle – Review
December 5 – Broad Minded Books – Review
December 6 – Book Briefs – Review
December 7 – My Reading Addiction – Review
December 8 – Head Stuck in a Book – Review
December 8 – Life and Lies of an Inanimate Object – Review
December 9 – Crazy Four Books – Review
December 10 – My Cozie Corner – Review
December 11 – Steph in Wonderland – Review
December 12 – What’s Beyond Forks – Review
December 13 – Keeping Up With the Rheinlanders – Review
December 13 – Little Bookstar – Review
December 14 – Michelle’s Paranormal Vault of Books – Review
December 15 – Paulettes Papers – PROMO
December 16 – In This World of Books – Review
December 17 – Known to Read – Review
December 17 – A Soul Unsung – PROMO
December 17 – The Solitary Bookworm – Review
December 18 – Pink Fluffy Hearts – Review
December 19 – Simple Books – Review
December 20-  Reader Girls – Review

Review: Jodi McIsaac – Through the Door

Posted on by
Reply
Through the Door
Jodi McIsaac
Cedar, Eden and Maeve have lived a relatively uncomplicated existence up to this point, with the exception of Eden’s father running off and Cedar being left heartbroken… and then of course, Eden’s new abilities.

McIsaac has nicely captured the interplay of modern invention with old world magic. This is one of the best examples of urban fantasy I have read in a while. It’s a genre I should get into far more.

I would have loved to hear more from Eden’s perspective and also from Maeve. As befitting the first in a series there are a lot of things here that can be built upon in subsequent novels. There’s a lot to be said for foreshadowing and slow revelations though.
It’s very difficult for me to review this novel without spoilers. The things you think you know are true, or at least presume all is as it seems, it isn’t really. That being said, I’d like to know how the Druid gave up what she was for such a long period of time.
The action was enthralling, and you didn’t know what was going to happen next. Nothing was as straight forward as it seemed. And oh, the twist! The suspense! Arg! It seemed like every time they almost caught up, they were gone!
I’d hesitate here, and put it in teenage fiction and adult fiction. Teenage for sure, but sometimes it is difficult to say what would tickle an adult’s fancy. There is no erotic content, and the only things are heartbreak and suspense! Which every good reader is going to enjoy anyway.
I’m quite upset that it took me so long to get around to reading this novel. It was really enjoyable, and I’m really looking forward to the next in the series. I received this novel free from the Goodreads: Frist Reads program and the author went above and beyond to make sure I got a copy. This did not influence my review in any way, but I would recommend getting a copy of this book anyway – because it was a good read!

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy4star

Review: Anne Pfeffer – Any Other Night

Posted on by
Reply

 

Any Other Night
Anne Pfeffer

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Any Other Night’.

Ryan’s life is falling apart and there is nothing he can do about it. Left bereft by his friend’s death, his growing feelings for Emily make him feel bad, like he is betraying Michael’s memory. Add in the fact that Mitchael had a potent secret, and you have a potent, enjoyable, teenage read.

The official blurb:

Any other night, Ryan Mills would have driven his best friend, Michael, to Emily’s sweet sixteen party at the Breakers Club. Instead, determined to win over the birthday girl, he goes to the party early and alone, setting off a chain of events that ends with a car accident in which Michael dies.

Ryan blames himself for what happened to Michael. As far as he’s concerned, he doesn’t deserve to have love or ever be happy again. Then he learns Michael left a secret behind. Ryan feels compelled to take on his friend’s unfinished business, and in the process, changes his life forever and becomes a man.

This book was published in October 2011 under the title Loving Emily. In May 2012, it was reissued with its content unchanged as Any Other Night. The book was named a Finalist in the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Awards competition.

My review:

Pfeffer has a good mix of past and present at the beginning of the novel to really expose what Michael was like when he was alive, and why he meant so much to the protagonist.
15891525Opening a novel on a party scene, even one with a seemingly Mexican theme is a pretty thrilling beginning! It won me over, and I had to keep reading.
By avoiding introducing the fact that Ryan is a rich boy (except the mention of his car) until after the party, we sort of see more clearly that he is more than just a rich white guy who likes girls and partying. By the time I read that section, I already liked him too much and couldn’t be too prejudiced against him for his parents.
The Chrissie storyline really forced Ryan to grow up, to become more responsible. The theme of not knowing what you are going to do with your life and being anxious about it is one that would resonate with many teenagers and young adults.
Grief and denial play a heavy role in Ryan’s life. These feelings are mied with the attraction he feels towards Emily. Ryan treats his parents like crap, and you know there must be a reason behind that, but nothing is made certain. Tidbits of information are fed to the reader at just the right time to enhance our understanding.
The use of drugs in this novel is not glamorised in any way. It seems horrifically easy how these teenagers are able to get them though. So many lives potentially wasted. I would have said the thrills of drugs weren’t worth any of the other problems associated with their use, and this novel definitely confirms it.
I read this novel before having seen the cover, and now that I do see it, it makes it seem a bit like it’s more a romance than anything, but that’s not true! It has depth and detail, and makes you want to read more. The new title of ‘Any Other Night’ is far more appropriate than ‘Loving Emily’.

This novel is a gem, particularly for the reluctant teenage male reader. I’m not saying girls won’t enjoy it too, just that it might be a good option for males. For me, this is in the realms of Brent Runyon’s amazing writing. I look forward to further novels from Pfeffer.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy5star

About the Author

Anne Pfeffer is the author of Any Other Night and The Wedding Cake Girl.  She lives in Los Angeles, CA.

You can find her at:

Twitter @AnnePfeffer1

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 16 – Paranormal Wastelands – Review div>

November 17 – Reading With ABC – Review
November 18 – Tumbling in Books – Review
November 20 – Read-A-Holicz – Review/Interview
November 22 – The Cozy Dragon – Review
November 25 – Moosubi Reviews – Review/Interview
November 26 – Just Books and Books – Review
November 26 – Addicted to YA Books – Review
November 26 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
November 26 – The Reviewing Shelf – Review
November 27 – Book Nerd – Review
November 27 – Bound By Words – Review
November 29 – Willing to See Less– Review/
November 30 – Bookishly Devoted – Review
December 1 – In Wonderland – Review
December 2 – The Adventures Within – Review/Interview
December 4 – My Cozie Corner – Review/
December 6 – Books Down My Pillow – Review
December 8 – Reading Under the Stars – Review/Interview
December 9 –Kaisy Daisy’s Blog – Review
December 10 – Always YA at Heart – Review
December 11 – Sweet Southern Home – Review
December 12 – Memories Over Taking Me – Review
December 13 – Pink Fluffy Hearts – Review/Interview

Review: Mercedes Lackey – Home from the Sea

Posted on by
Reply
Home from the Sea
Mercedes Lackey
Nan and Sarah have been charged with a task now that they have returned from Africa – to find the brand new Water Master who has sprung up on the coast. Little do they know that this Water Master has a bit of a surprise in store for them – definitely not what Lord A was expecting either!
After reading some less than flattering reviews of this novel on Amazon, I wasn’t feeling all too positive about it, and I didn’t pick it up from the library the moment I knew it was out. I’ve had a couple of disappointments with Lackey’s work recently, which is sad.
Since I wasn’t expecting much, I wasn’t disappointed in this one! For the first parts of the novel, it really felt like nothing was happening, and I didn’t get a bigger picture of what could go wrong. Just not that great in my opinion.
Number 8 in the Elemental Masters series and I feel like it’s losing its momentum. There are only so many times that you can redo the theme, and relying heavily on fairytales (such as Mari’s three trials) is getting a bit stale for me, at least from Lackey.
I think Nan and Sarah’s characters were really flat. Completely flat. They had hardly any motivations, and half the time it just seemed like they were picnicking on the surf without a care in the world. Mari was a bit better, but even her insights into her father felt stilted. More could have been done with the seals too.

Some parts of the novel also felt repetitive within the novel, which could be a problem with the editing team, or something else, like them thinking the reader is too dumb to remember somethign that happened at the start of the book. Either way, I want them to expect more from me! I’m not a stupid reader, and I really want to get into a good book, not pick on it.

I didn’t really get a sense of threat from the Constable, and only a brief worry about the Selkie chief. The ending was a bit abrupt too. It’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, and I did find it difficult to put it down in the second half, but I think that may have been because I wanted to know what Mari was going to do next.For adults and teens alike this one. But I wouldn’t start with this novel if you’re a new reader of Lackey’s works. It’s not a good example of her brilliance.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

Review: Henry James – Daisy Miller

Posted on by
Reply
Daisy Miller
Henry James
Daisy Miller is a text for my *final* Bachelor of Arts unit, American Literature. As such, I wasn’t too excited to read it, but it was necessary. It was a very short read, around an hour (possibly less), so it’s an easy investment if you like the Classics.
Henry James is a well-known American writer that all classics readers should know of. He reminds me a bit of Irish literature actually – simply due to the writing style and his name. Oh yes, that would be my brain telling me James Joyce is similar, but of course, the two styles are not identical and they have different focuses.
The characterisation and narration of this novel are what add interest. The whole point of the novel is that the main character, Winterbourne, filters the reader’s perception of Daisy Miller. Daisy is an enigma – is she a simple flirt, or is she something else?
Above all, this novel is a tragedy, although the reader does not necessarily feel that way about Daisy entirely. It’s whether you feel that she had the end coming to her or not. References to going to and coming from are rife throughout the text.
In the preface/introduction to my version, the editor complains about the changes between the two editions, one which James revised and one which was the original. Interestingly enough, this novel was also adapted as a play, although that was apparently very unsuccessful.
As with any Arts text, it wasn’t enthralling. At least this one wasn’t too painful though. Let me get back to you on that once I’ve written the essay…

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy3star

Review: Sharon Wood – Keepers of the Zodiac (review and giveaway)

Posted on by
7
Keepers of the Zodiac
Tonya Fitzharris

Welcome to Reading Addiction Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Keepers of the Zodiac’.

Syrie has been given the most important task – to collect the 13 Keepers of the Zodiac and prepare them for their new roles. He falls in love with one though, and that complicates things beyond what he could have ever imagined.

The official blurb:

The stars have shifted and the Earth is rapidly moving into the throes of chaos.
Four god-like beings known as the Zodiac High Council, send their winged herald, Syrie, out
with twelve sealed envelopes. His mission? To bring a chosen group of thirteen future Zodiac
Keepers, including a set of mesmerizing twins, to the Isle of Oriba for training. Syrie never
could have imagined that he would fall in love along the way—ultimately forcing him to choose
between betrayal and death. Keepers of the Zodiac is an enthralling tale of obligatory fate,
temporary hope, and impossible love.

My review:

This book looked like a fun read, and the concept initially reminded me of the Power of Five series by Anthony Horowitz (which I have been waiting for the fifth book for a long time). I was happy to review it particularly because this tour company is excellent at getting novels to me in a timely manner so I can really read and enjoy them before posting a review.

16069534I have to say that the concept was awesome, very interesting, but then the execution was a little flawed. I felt like most parts of the novel were quite stilted in their extravagant descriptions of things and I ended up skipping over them. The dialogue was also quite stilted, and I didn’t really get into the characters’ minds. This was a plot driven novel wholeheartedly (nothing wrong with that, just not usually my style of thing).

The almost steamy kissing scenes would make this novel suitable for older teens, if your younger teen is wary of such a thing. I know some 13 year olds that would be grossed out simply by the thought of kissing! I guess it’s boy cooties or something. This novel could equally be for males or females, but I feel that because of the romance element its more of a girly book.

Poor Syrie! Of all the characters, I felt for him the most. I was a little leery of his island naming, and I couldn’t believe that coincidences such as that happened in such a structured world. Not to mention the revelations for him, and his future. To love, and then to lose. Throughout the novel I felt like there had to be more going on than what met the eyes…

The ending is a cliff hanger. I would quite like to read the second book in this series, simply because it’s so uncertain! How can so much happen in a day? And what is going on with Syrie? Arg! Those twin sisters are nothing but trouble. Perhaps a borrow from the library book.

People who follow and believe in the Zodiac may be a little affronted by this novel, because I don’t think it necessarily reflects those beliefs accurately. Not being a follower myself, I doubted that all the signs could have all those positive portrayals. I might have enjoyed the novel even more if I remembered each of those.

Ew, foot flakes. Gross. That’s all I’ll say about that, but really, it’s quite humorous. There’s some other points of humour, but as a whole it’s quite serious, as befits a novel that is trying to prevent the collapse of the world as we know it.

Three stars from me for this novel. Plot yes, execution no. An easy read, probably well suited to teenagers that have less experience than me for pulling novels apart.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy
Smashwords3star

Giveaway!! (sorry, US & Canada only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Sharon Wood is a married, mother of two boys. She was born and raised in Northern California, and attended college at San Jose State University, where she studied Marketing. A self-proclaimed Disney fanatic, Sharon enjoys collecting Vinylmations and talking about Disney related things to anyone that will listen. Besides writing, she enjoys playing and coaching volleyball, dancing, and reading. Keepers of the Zodiac is her first novel, and she is currently hard at work on the sequel!  

You can find her at:

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour! You can look at some other reviews, guest posts and promos at each of these tour stops:

November 13 – Reading Addiction Blog Tours – Meet and Greet
November 14 – The Cozy Dragon – Review
November 15 – Wonderland Reviews – Review/Interview
November 16 – Corssroads Reviews – Review/Interview
November 17 – Lovely Reads – Guest Post/PROMO
November 18 – Pink Fluffy Hearts – Guest Post/PROMO
November 19 – Winged Reviews – Guest Post/PROMO
November 20 – My Cozie Corner – Review
November 21 – The Solitary Bookworm – Guest Post/PROMO
November 22 – Emily Ward – Interview/PROMO
November 23 – Lost in Fictional Worlds – Review/Guest Post
November 24 – Oh Chrys! – Guest Post/PROMO
November 25 – Book and Appointment with Wisdom Books – Review/Guest Post
November 26 – LovLivLife Reviews – Guest Post/PROMO
November 27 – Inside BJ’s Head – Review/guest Post
November 28 – The Book Maven – Review
November 29 – Books and Swoons – Review
November 30 – Books, Books, The Magical Fruit – Gues Post/PROMO
December 1 – In This World of Books… – Review/Interview
December 2 -A Bibliophiles Thoughts – PROMO
December 3 – Getting Your Read on – Review
December 4 – My Seryniti – Review/Guest Post
December 5 – Rolling With the Moments – Review/Guest Post
December 6 – YA Novel Reader – Review/GuestPost
December 7 – Bookworm Lisa – Review/Guest Post
December 8 –Fiction Prediction – Review/Interview
December 9 – Pa
ulette’s Papers – Guest Post/PROMO
December 10 – Read-A-Holicz – Review/
December 11 – Willing to See Less – Guest Post/PROMO
December 12 –Bookishly Devoted – Review/Guest Post
December 13 – My Reading Addiction – Review

Review: Michele T Villery, Tigris Eden and Riley Ross – Romantic Tales 2: Bedtime Stories

Posted on by
2

Michele T Villery, Tigris Eden and Riley Ross

Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories

Welcome to Reading Addictions Blog Tour’s stop for ‘Romantic Tales 2: Bedtime Stories’.

Romantic Tales: Bedtime Stories has a little of everything. From your everyday Contemporary Romance (The Getaway) To your Hot and Heavy Rockers turned Werewolves (Crave) and your Sci-Fi/Paranormal with Erotic overtones…. (The Genesis Project) Each Episode will entice its readers, draw them in. A quick Bedtime story before they dream, keeping them pleasantly satisfied while peaking their interests for next month’s installment. All for 99 cents. During the interim there will be previews of next month’s Episode…

 16042325

The official blurbs:

By Ty Langston: CRAVE

As a reporter for the Wakefield Post, Harper Erkstine has seen everything. From murders to robberies, all of her recent stories have ended with tragic consequences so great, that she began to question if she made the right career choice for herself.

While all of her friends were dating, or going to clubs, she was winning journalism awards for covering the latest drive-by shooting or a home invasion that cost someone she knew, their lives.

She loved her job, it was rewarding to be a crime solver and get to the truth of the matter. As much as she loved her job, but the hours of a Metro beat reporter began to descend her into burn out mode.

She craved balance. A break, a welcome distraction every now and then. She forgot what it was like to have fun, to take a breath, smell the roses.

Was it wrong to want a great career and to have some kind of a personal life? She couldn’t remember the last time she had a date or danced with someone from the opposite sex.
In the middle of working on a missing person’s story that has rocked her town to the core, Harper decides as a favor to her friend and colleague to do a feature on local an up and coming rock band, called ‘Crave.’

It was a break from her routine, but Harper soon discovers that this band may have ties to the missing person, not only does she question why, but she also finds there is more to this band than just their music.

By Tigris Eden: The Genesis Project

Old earth has been deemed unsuitable for life, New Earth is home. With the Uni-War over, races have joined together in order to sustain their way of life. All life was deemed worth saving, but only one race failed to submit. Humans.

Now extinct, humans are a thing of the past, or at least their way of life. The people of New Earth won’t acknowledge their hand in the human’s eradication, but they have benefited from it. Dr. Vaggo Blackmore has found the answer, he’s restored his races way of life- sustenance through farming. The one thing that will give them back their long lives….. Blood: human blood.

Biologically engineered in a lab, Genesis Blackmore has always been different. Her father has told her it’s due to her enhancements, the Federated Council sees her as a genetic mutation; and her fellow peers see her as the shiny new toy. Gen has had better days.

Everyone on New Earth has milky white skin, platinum blonde hair, and electric blue eyes. It’s the norm. Genesis’ glossy, black hair, ice blue eyes ringed by gold, would have almost made her socially acceptable- if it wasn’t for her honey, almond skin and blue, gold veins. In a sea of milky white she alone is the dark anomaly.

All Pars get their life’s nourishment through blood plasma. All Pars find their match through the tasting. Gen can do neither, forbidden by her father to do so. She can neither taste, nor be tasted. Something that’s never bothered her until now.

By Riley Ross: The Getaway

The Getaway isn’t your typical romance woman meets man of her dreams, loses him and then they get their happily ever after. It’s a romance story with hints of drama and plenty of comedy. Mike and Juliet have been dating for about four months. Juliet is madly in love with him but has never shared her feelings.

Mike hasn’t said those three magical words so she doesn’t even know if they are on the same page when it comes to their relationship. Mike takes Juliet on a two week vacation, so she can escape her family drama and stresses from her job. He has romantic surprises planned and there are several unexpected surprises for them both. How well do Mike and Juliet really know each other especially when an explosive secret from his past is revealed? Will their relationship survive a visit from his family and his ex-girlfriend? Will the secret destroy them or make them stronger as a couple? His mother has made it clear to everyone that she wants Mike back with his vile ex-girlfriend?

Will his mother sabotage her son’s relationship with Juliet? Juliet does have an ally in Mike’s father. Will Juliet fight for her love? Or will she let him go without exposing his mother for her dastardly schemes? How far will his mom go to ensure she gets what she wants for her son?

My review:

This is not normally my style of novel – I don’t go for the thigh clencher romances or short stories. But I’d read the first set and reviewed them here, and they weren’t so bad, so I thought I’d better go for the second episode.
This time the first short story was The Getaway. Although I wasn’t really going for the awkward tension that had to be radiating through that household  I was feeling a bit more for Juliet (a cliched name if I ever saw one). We get a bit more of her back story, and it’s very interesting to hear about her family.

Some of the text and dialogue feels a bit stilted to me still, but the emotion is there. This novel is no longer family safe – there’s some sexy action going on! Less sexy action than I was expecting actually. It doesn’t end on a cliff-hanger, but I’ve certainly been suckered into liking this ‘novel’ now.

Something I liked about CRAVE were the music references thro
ughout it. Most of them went over my head, but I do occasionally take recommendations about music to test out from novels. I can see myself doing that with this one – a sort of soundtrack to reading.

There’s too much focus on descriptions for me – the coffee drinking and the clothing are two striking examples. But that’s made up for me by the likeableness of Harper, and the genuine friendship you can feel between her and Ellen.

Chapter 5 felt like a bit of a recap of Chapters 1-4, which I needed, but if you were reading right through in one sitting you might not be as impressed with it taking up valuable space within the episode. Werewolves! And that’s all I’ll give you to draw you in to reading this one =p

I feel like I’m missing something because I’m not for the USA, some subtle undertones of some kind about slavery and so forth. I’m not racist, I believe everyone is basically on equal footing and it’s their actions that make them worthy or likeable. This short story seems to be suggesting some deeper thought is required for informed readers.

The Genesis Project is told from a different perspective for a bit this time before swapping back to Gen. It’s good, as long as you’re fine with poetic descriptions of breasts and shapely behinds. I love Gen! I want more of Gen! And I would consider waiting until this novel is completed, and then I’d possibly buy all the bits of The Genesis Project. I wanted more!

I’d recommend this book for adults only. It does come with a tag of erotica, and in this case that means explicit descriptions of sex and so forth.

I received this book free as part of a tour, but this has no way influenced my review.

Find it on:
goodreads_icon copyAmazon-Icon-e1335803835577-300x294 copybookdepository_icon copy4star

You can find out more about this series/magazine on the Facebook and BLOG.
 

About the Authors (and where to find them)


Tigris Eden: 

Author of Shadow Unit Series, 1st Book Enslaved In Shadows… I love all things books! Music
and much more! I write PNR, Contemp, SCI-FI, Erotic, and HORROR….. Yes I love the gore!
 
Currently working on Burned In Shadows… Due out sometime in January 2013.
 
There isn’t much to say about me truly… I am not that interesting… But I promise to make you laugh at least once!
 

 

Ty Langston: 

As a child, multi-published author Ty Langston loved to read about dragons and knights so
much that one day, her grandmother told her to “just write about them.”
So she did.
From that day forward, she never left home without her pen, a notebook, and some kind of
music playing in the background. Her love of reading expanded from fantasy into science fiction,
and eventually into paranormal romance and erotica.
She enjoys different works from George Martin, Anne McCaffrey, Stephen King, and Jackie
Collins. But some of Ty’s favorite writers are from the world of TV and film: namely, Tudors
creator Michael Hirst, and the late John Hughes.
Ty has a certificate in Broadcast Journalism along with a degree in Business Administration.
She is single and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Riley Ross:

To date I haven’t published anything yet but I love to write wrestling fan fiction, romance and light erotica. I will be married for fifteen years this month to my best friend and Prince Charming all rolled into one. I am mommy to two Syberian Huskies.

Not sure if you like my opinion? Good thing this is a tour!