Sunday 31 March 2013

Book Spotlight - Jesus Was a Time Traveler by D.J Gelner

Jesus Was a Time TravelerJesus Was a Time Traveler

Description
Time travel. Every sober scientist claims it’s utterly impossible. Of course, Phineas Templeton is no “sober” scientist, in any sense of the word. An arrogant English chap with a taste for fine scotch, Dr. Templeton also happens to be one of the finest minds the world of physics has ever known.

By the year 2032, with funding from his shadowy Benefactor, he put the finishing touches on his time machine. His mission? Travel to ancient Judea and meet none other than Jesus Christ Himself.

There’s only one problem: upon his arrival, Dr. Templeton finds that “Jesus” is actually a time traveler from the future, a stoned grad student from Colorado named “Trent Albertson.” Trent explains that history is fixed and immutable: “What happened, happened,” no matter what meddlesome time travelers do during their stays in the past. The reality we experience is little more than the sum of the actions of countless time travelers that have already come, gone, and influenced the timeline, provided a very fickle universe allows them to.

Upon attempting to return, Phineas is presented with an unusual new mission: a “scavenger hunt” through time, where if he is able to decode his Benefactor’s cryptic clues and complete the tasks at hand, then maybe, just maybe, he’ll be able to return home.

But first, he’ll have to meet his hero, Sir Isaac Newton, rescue a couple of American soldiers, survive an all-out attack by ancient Mayans, and even hunt dinosaurs millions of years in the past. Through it all, Dr. Templeton hovers on the fringes of his sanity, uncovers a vast conspiracy spanning thousands of years, and deals with existential questions that will shake you to your very core.


Genre: Sci-fi/adventure/humor

Buy Link: Amazon

D.J. GelnerAbout the Author
Where do I start? Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Graduated from Dartmouth in 2005 and the University of Virginia School of Law in 2008. Practiced law until 2011, when I quit to pursue my dream of writing.

I caught on as the St. Louis Rams Reporter for insideSTL.com and did some radio work for 590 AM the Fan KFNS and 1380 AM the Fan 2. As soon as the (very trying for anyone following the Rams) 2011 NFL season ended, I started working on my novels. The insideSTL gig ended in June, and I focused all of my attention on my fiction.

Other interesting stuff about me: I've forgotten how to ride a bike. I once swam so much over the course of a summer that my hair became green. I constantly fight a three-pronged war between a paleo lifestyle and my love of wine and ice cream. And my dog, Sully, is maybe one of the cutest little shih tzu mixes around, though come to think of it, he's about 32 pounds and much larger than normal shih tzus...so let's go with "cutest bigger shih tzu mixes around." Much better!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via e-mail (djgelbooks@gmail.com) or on twitter (@djgelner).


Saturday 30 March 2013

Review ~ With All My Soul (Soul Screamers #7) - Rachel Vincent

With All My Soul (Soul Screamers, #7)Copy purchased by myself from Amazon


ISBN: 1848451822

Publisher: Mira Ink
Released: March 26th 2013 

Description
After spending the last year undead, Kaylee Cavanaugh has had enough of the paranormal creatures who have plagued her ever since she came into her banshee powers. Now she's ready to take her school back from the evil hellions, once and forever.

To protect her friends, Kaylee will need to find a way to turn the living incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another.


Yet when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realises she can't save everyone she loves without making some powerful sacrifices...



My Opinion

First of all I can't believe this series has come to an end! The first book in this amazing series got me hooked on Vincent's writing and since then I have been eagerly awaiting every book she has released. 


A part of me didn't want to read With All My Soul as I didn't want it to end and I was nervous about how the author would tie everything up. A few of my favourite series ended badly for me and I didn't want to finish this series on a low. The other part of me was jumping around when I received the book in the post though and I couldn't wait to start reading it. It took so much effort for me to restrain myself from flicking ahead to the end (something I have developed a bad habit for) but I'm glad I did refrain from peaking as it was worth the wait.

With All My Soul was definitely not what I expected and it definitely didn't turn out the way I thought it would, it was so much better! It was fast paced, and full of action that was unpredictable and kept me turning the pages from start to finish in one sitting. There were twists everywhere, and I especially loved the ending. I really didn't see that twist coming and it ended so well. It felt like Vincent had thought about the ending and took time in writing it so everything linked faultlessly, made sense and left the reader satisfied with the resolve as it felt like a natural conclusion that was final. For once I didn't come away feeling annoyed by the way a series ended, I am a little sad it's over but it ended so well I more happy and hey that's what re-reads are for!

Kaylee has been a great character throughout the series and I have loved seeing how she developed into a strong and determined female lead that made her own choices. I also loved the romances in this series and everything about the way that ended was great. I haven't liked Nash for the past few books and I didn't when I started reading this one but by the end it had made me love him again and even though I still prefer Tod it was nice to read about the softer side of Nash again.

Overall this is one of my favourite series and Vincent is one of my favourite authors. Her work is original and her writing is brilliant. I would highly recommend Soul Screamers and any of Vincent's other series to all YA, paranormal fans as they are action packed, unpredictable, fast paced and gripping! Now I'm going to be eagerly awaiting for the the release of Oath Bound (Unbound #3).



Soul Screamers
 

Other Series:

Shifters       Unbound

Book Spotlight - The Hands of Time by Irina Shapiro

The Hands of TimeThe Hands of Time

Description

When a young woman vanishes without a trace from a quaint fishing village on the coast of England only one person knows the truth, but he remains silent allowing the authorities to search for her in vain.

Meanwhile, Valerie Crane finds herself transported to the year 1605. Terrified and confused, she turns for help to the Whitfield brothers, who take her in and offer her a home. Both Alexander and Finlay Whitfield fall in love with the mysterious woman who shows up on their doorstep, creating a love triangle that threatens to consume them all. Valerie must make her choice, deciding between the brother who will lead her down the path of destruction or one who will give her a love she couldn’t find in her own time.


Genre: Historical Romance

Buy Links: Amazon


About the Author
Irina Shapiro was born in Moscow, Russia, and immigrated to the United States with her family
at the age of eleven. She earned a business degree from Bernard M. Baruch College, and worked in
Advertising and Import/Export before trying her hand at writing. She has just completed the third book
of the Hands of Time Trilogy, and is working on an idea for her next book. Irina incorporates her love of
history and travel into her books, and creates an exciting and textured backdrop for her characters.

Irina Shapiro lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.


Follow Here:

Friday 29 March 2013

Review ~ Scent of Magic (Healer #2) - Maria V. Snyder

Scent of Magic (Healer, #2)ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Publisher: Mira
Released: 4th Jan 2013
ISBN: 1472009886

Description

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

My Opinion
I'm sad to say I did not finish this book. I gave it a good go and tried to stick with it but after I had forced myself to get to 54% I just couldn't read anymore so this is by no means a review of the book, just my thoughts on why I could not continue it.

The main things I didn't like about this novel was for one there were no chapter headings. I know I have a ARC copy so it may be lacking in formatting  editing etc but I thought the book would at least be sectioned into chapters. This made it incredibly hard to read as there were no obvious breaks which allowed me to come to a natural pause while reading. It just seemed to drag on and on and I was waiting for a break that never arrived. As well as this the constant switching of character's POV and the person in which the book was written in was irritating. I have read a few books have done this successfully but most signify the change either through titles, breaks or some other form of sign. This book did none of this and instead jumped right from one character to the other leaving me confused which in turn lead me to backtrack to see if I had missed something (may be down to arc copy I don't know). It was made all the more difficult by Kendrick being in a totally different setting as it did not relate well to the main first person section.

In the end it was the jumpy style of writing that switched between person, POV and setting, the lack of headings to form breaks and annoying nicknames (Poppa bear/The Monkeys) which sounded like they belonged in a children's fairy tale rather than YA a fantasy book that lead me to lose interest and not be able to finish this book. I do however love the cover.


Book Tour - Bass Instinct by Will Macmillan Jones





Bass Instinct
Will Macmillan Jones

Synopsis

Dai the Drinking Dragon has been kidnapped by the Dark Lord for nefarious purposes, and by his  Receptionist for even less reputable reasons. Without their bass player, The Banned Underground are
in deep trouble with their record label. They have to produce the  recordings for an album, and someone has stolen the tapes from  the last gig. Can they make some more recordings, or will Freya, the renegade dwarf bass player, distract the boys while the Dark  Lord’s evil schemes come to fruition? The Dark Lord has found some thugs to help him in his latest plan to invade the Dwarf Mansion, but they have other things on their minds—like looting and pillaging—and it’s all going wrong again. Will record-producing Adam set his Ants on The Banned? Or will it all come good in the end? Time is Tight on this one for The Banned Underground...


About the Author
Will Macmillan Jones lives in Wales, a lovely green verdant land with a rich cultural heritage. He does his best to support this heritage by yelling loud encouragement at the TV when Wales plays international rugby. Having been an accountant for much of his working life, he now writes in a desperate attempt to avoid terminal atrophy of his brain.  A fifty something lover of blues, rock and jazz, he has achieved a lifetime ambition by extending his bookcases to  fill an entire wall of his home office.

Other Books by Will
The Amulet of Kings (9781908208064)
The Mystic Accountants (9781908208088)
The Vampire Mechanic (9781908208132)

Praise for The Banned Underground
“This book is hilarious. It is perfect for making teenagers and 
adults alike laugh. Sit back, settle down and giggle.” —Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament

“The Banned Underground Series has the potential to become a significant player in the comic fantasy genre.”

“…the book was a righteous laugh from the first word right up until the very last.”

“The terrific melding of fantasy with incredibly dry, wry humor and wit is just fantastic.”

“…keeps you laughing your head off right up until the grand ending.”

“Anyone who enjoys fantasy books with humour will love this. Highly recommended.”

“…it had me in stitches all the way through!”

Thursday 28 March 2013

Review ~ Burning Bright (Flynn #2) - Sophie McKenzie

Burning Bright (Flynn, #2)
Purchased by myself from Amazon

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 9780857071019
Released: 5th Jan 2013

Description
Four months have passed and River and Flynn are still going strong. But things are not perfect. Flynn continues to fly into unprovoked rages, and when River tells her mum, she is banned from seeing him. Fighting to stay together, they end up being torn apart. Is it all over for River and Flynn?






My Opinion

I was excited to hear that Falling Fast was going to have a sequel and after finishing it I was dying to know more. I have finally found the time to buy and read Burning Bright and wow it plays on you emotions! I thought Falling Fast was bad but this takes it to a whole new level.

I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it within a few hour, I just wish there was more. I liked how this book in the series had a slightly darker undertone and how Flynn was developing as a character. Also, the fact that his dad turns up made things more interesting as it bought out a lot of darker emotions. As well as this, I liked River's rebellious side that turns up during the middle of the story, it was a nice change from the 'unsure of herself girl' at the start.

Where as Falling Fast focused on Flynn and River getting together Burning Bright focused more on the struggles they faced four months into the relationship and how they try to stay together despite everyone's beliefs. At times it felt like the arguments were slightly petty and appeared to often but in general this book had me hooked from page one and changed my mood from happy to sad repeatedly while I read it.

The characters in both Falling Fast and Burning Bright were easy to relate to and sympathise with and I think that is why it played with my emotions so much. Sophie McKenzie did a great job of capturing the first few months and emotions of a teen relationship and the storyline - if a little predictable at times - was engaging and enjoyable to read. 

Overall I am eagerly awaiting Casting Shadows (Flynn #3) and hope it is out soon as with the way the author leaves Burning Bright I don't know how long I can wait to find out what happens next. I would highly recommend this series to any chick lit fans or someone looking for a quick and easy read to chill out with. For that matter I would recommend everyone of Sophie McKennzie's novels as they are all brilliant in my opinion, especially Girl Missing and Blood Ties!



Flynn Series:


Other Series by Sophie McKenzie which I loved:

Review ~ Fragments (Partials Sequence #2) - Dan Wells

Fragments (Partials, #2)ARC received in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley

Released: March 28th 2013
Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Description

Kira Walker has found the cure for RM, but the battle for the survival of humans and Partials is just beginning. Kira has left East Meadow in a desperate search for clues to who she is. That the Partials themselves hold the cure for RM in their blood cannot be a coincidence—it must be part of a larger plan, a plan that involves Kira, a plan that could save both races. Her companions are Afa Demoux, an unhinged drifter and former employee of ParaGen, and Samm and Heron, the Partials who betrayed her and saved her life, the only ones who know her secret. But can she trust them?

Meanwhile, back on Long Island, what's left of humanity is gearing up for war with the Partials, and Marcus knows his only hope is to delay them until Kira returns. But Kira's journey will take her deep into the overgrown wasteland of postapocalyptic America, and Kira and Marcus both will discover that their greatest enemy may be one they didn't even know existed.

The second installment in the pulse-pounding Partials saga is the story of the eleventh hour of humanity's time on Earth, a journey deep into places unknown to discover the means—and even more important, a reason—for our survival.

My Opinion

I started reading this book as soon as I had finished Partials and I must admit that it took me a lot longer to read than I expected, especially as I was excited after finishing book one. This wasn't because I was busy doing other things but because I found it hard to stick with for more than an hour at a time. I could manage a few chapters but anymore than that in one go and I felt my attention start to wain as parts were just too long.

Despite this though, I felt this book was better than Partials by quite a bit. There was a lot more action involved and it was described brilliantly. I also loved how Kira was developed, she got increasingly stronger and held her own. As well as this there was much more partial involvement which was great as that was one thing I wanted more of when reading Partials. This book was surprisingly unpredictable as well and I didn't see the ending coming.

There were a few things that frustrated me though while reading this book. The first was the way the author left things with Afa, it was so abrupt and there wasn't enough detail to satisfy me at that section. It just seemed like the author didn't know what to do at that point so glossed over it as quickly as possible without much thought. As well as this, Fragments was written from more POV than Partials and this became slightly irritating as it was a bit jumpy. My biggest complaint though was that the author hinted at a romance, however left it until the end to do anything about it and by that point it was too late to do anything which I didn't like.

Overall this was an interesting read that varied in pace, however it was a struggle to read more than a few chapters at a time. I enjoyed the twists and the action was described incredibly so it was easy to visualise however some parts left a lot to be desired for and I would have loved more romance, oh well maybe it will develop in another book as it does leave you on a cliff hanger which has me hooked!



Wednesday 27 March 2013

Book Spotlight - In Night's Shadows by Steve Smy

In Night's ShadowsIn Night's Shadows


Description
One night of passion was all it took to change everything for Alex Wheland. Still, it took a long time for his stubbornness to be destroyed, in an act of depravity that shook him to the core. He woke up, at last, to the fact that everything was different. He was no longer alive.

Driven by rage and shame, he pursues the girl who brought him to this, and so enters night's shadows. 

Genre: Horror

Buy Links: Smashwords


Steve SmyAbout the Author
I started writing for pleasure when I was 13 years old. I was prolific, but still had much to learn, of course. I wrote a sci-fi novel and a fantasy novel. The sci-fi never got accepted. The fantasy novel never even got typed up! I also wrote a collection of fantasy short stories, which again went unpublished.

In time, working and raising a family severely dented my writing activity. I only returned to it seriously in February 2012. Since then, I've written and published (in ebook form) four short stories and have been working on a major fantasy novel.


Follow Him On Goodreads

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Teaser Tuesday (12)





This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
To participate you:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from...



DragonflyDragonfly by Julia Golding




"Water foamed at the rocks. She had nowhere to go but on along the river's edge, crashing through bushes, stumbling over stones, her breath tearing at her lungs in harsh gasps."
Page 272



Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle

Saturday 23 March 2013

Book Spotlight - Given Moments by Marie Duquette and Tracy Lawson

Given MomentsGiven Moments

Description
Marie Duquette, a pastor, and Tracy Lawson, a tap dancer and choreographer, met three years ago through their teenaged children. Though they were living 650 miles apart at the time, Marie and Tracy formed an unlikely friendship, and through a series of unexpected events, their friendship deepened, a working relationship developed, and led them to write their first book, Given Moments.

Given Moments is about finding grace, hope, and humor in life’s unexpected moments. The entertaining and inspiring stories in this book were collected from people of different ages and backgrounds. Even the stories that begin with despair end with a message of hope. It is a book by 63 people, written for everyone. Chances are, you will find your story in it somewhere.

Early in her career as a pastor, Marie discovered that when someone is hurting, encouraging them to tell their story helps heal their heart and set them free. As Marie approached her fiftieth birthday, she was not where she imagined she should be at that point in her life. On a whim, she compiled a Life List—one noteworthy thing for each year she had been on the planet. That brief exercise, completed in about half an

hour, turned her thoughts from “how could I possibly be 50?” to “how could I have accomplished so much in a mere 50 years?”

Marie posted her Life List on her blog and invited her friends and readers to share their own lists. Candid, compelling lists from a widely diverse group of individuals flooded her inbox. Within two weeks, Marie and Tracy started to develop a lighthearted book based on the lists, but the project quickly morphed and changed into a book with a much deeper purpose. This anthology of moments form contributors’ Life Lists will make readers laugh, make them cry and inspire them to look for God’s presence even when things are going awry.

“Telling your story” is trendy. The Given Moments Life List, comprised of one item for each year of a person’s age, gives finite parameters to the project, but still allows each individual to reflect on significant moments in their lives.

Given Moments’ prevailing message is not to judge, but to embrace life, even when it doesn’t go as we expected. Given Moments encourages a much-needed paradigm shift in how people evaluate themselves.

Genre: non-fiction, inspirational

Buy Link: Amazon

About the Authors

The Reverend Marie Duquette received her Masters of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio in 2003. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. Marie has served as pastor in two churches in the Southern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and has appeared as a guest pastor in many other churches in the area. She co-wrote, and performs in, a 45-minute show entitled “Two Gals and the Gospel” with The Reverend
Karen Asmus-Alsnauer. She is currently working on two books based on her experiences as pastor of a small-town congregation.


Tracy Lawson holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Ohio University. Tracy teaches tap dancing and choreographs musical theater productions, and is currently on the faculty at BalletMet Dance Academy in Columbus, Ohio. Tracy has been a guest columnist in The Freeman Online. Her first book, Fips, Bots, Doggeries and More: Explorations of Henry Rogers’ 1838 Travel Journal, (McDonald & Woodward) was also released in 2012. In that book, Tracy supplemented the daily recollections of her great-great-great grandfather’s horse and wagon journey from Cincinnati to New York City with exhaustive research, going so far as to take her own trip along the exact route described in the journal. She is currently working on a novel.


Blog

Friday 22 March 2013

Review ~ Makai Queen - Tara Fairfield

Makai QueenPaperback received from author in exchange for an honest review

ISBN: 193775670X

Description
Off the coast of Lanai, far beyond the sailboats, there is a hidden world beneath the beryl-blue sea, the marvelous kingdom of Moku-ola, a place where man and beast live in harmony. Unknown and forbidden to those living above the surface, it has never been discovered....until now.

Tessa, a curious teenager with a taste for adventure roams the sandy beaches of Lanai. Feeling lost and hurt she longs for meaning and a place in this world. By chance, Tessa encounters a mysterious man who appears to be drowning. The attempted rescue puts her own life in danger as she is abducted and dragged out to sea.

Far beneath the oceans surface, Tessa is brought to the frightening and wondrous land of Moku-ola. As the dangers of this world threaten her very survival, Tessa must overcome the barriers of self-doubt to discover the keys to her royal destiny.

My Opinion
Recently I have developed an interest for books that are set underwater so I was glad when the author asked if I would be interested in reviewing the book as well as running a spotlight. The book sounded interesting and exactly what I was looking for so obviously I jumped at the chance to read it.

This book took me only a few hours to read due to its short length, however despite the number of pages there is certainly a lot packed into it. Makai Queen was a fast paced and engaging read with a solid story structure. I loved how the book began and the twist that involved the brothers at the start, it really did make me question who was lying to begin with and I couldn't guess where the author was going to take the novel. As well as this I enjoyed the romance element in the book, it was kind of a love at first sight thing but it wasn't packed with cliches and soppy emotions that overpower a story. Fairfield balanced Tessa's decisions and emotions about becoming queen well with the romance so as not to overshadow the main plot wich was original and interesting.

In general I enjoyed this book, it was a fast and easy read however at points I would have loved more detail, especially into the surroundings they were in. Fairfield created this engaging underwater story but I never really built up a clear picture of what the city/houses looked like due to a lack of description. I would have also loved the author to use the senses more to describe things, especially colours in more detail so I could get immersed in the world more. Instead of getting lost in the world I did feel slightly detached from everything. As well as this the only other problem I had was the ending. I'm not sure if there is a sequel but to me it seems a little rushed and didn't satisfy me when I reached it. It didn't really leave on a cliff hanger but for me it didn't really sum everything up and tie all the loose ends up either, especially with the romance and Donnie. It just seemed abrupt and it kind of left the book on a low point

Overall though, besides the many references to God which irritated me slightly (personal preferences to religion though) and the previous issues mentioned, Makai Queen was an engaging, quick and easy read that was good to relax to on a gloomy day. There were a few sad points and a few funny points which balanced the story nicely and if there is a sequel I would definitely want to see where the author takes the story next. I would definitely recommend this to people looking for something new to read.



Review ~ Partials (Partials Sequence #1) - Dan Wells

Partials (Partials, #1)Purchased by myself as I received book 2 as an ARC

ISBN: 000746522X
Publisher: Haper Collins Children's Books

Description
The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them--connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

My Opinion
This book has drawn mixed feelings from me. On one hand I thought it was one of the more interesting, original and believable sci-fi books I have read that used a post-apocalyptic setting. However, on the other hand I had some serious issues while reading it. 

The book started off incredibly slowly and I must admit it took me a few days to get into it, and even then I  struggled. There wasn't much action to begin with and even though it gave you the basic background information I found it didn't hold my attention very well, especially if I just wanted to read a quick chapter here and there. I mean seriously, they seemed to drag on forever at some points. Saying that though I am glad I stuck with this book as once you get into part two it starts to pick up and only gets better as it moves towards the ending. The action increases and so does the character development. I liked how Kira developed into a strong female lead and fighter compared to the frustrated medic and the transformation was great to read. As well as this I liked the overall plot line, yes viruses that kill off everyone have been done repeatedly but books I have read like that normally include a form of zombie and I was pleased to find a book set near the extinction of the human race that wasn't zombie related. The way in which the virus was created and spread was great too, Wells used medical language however the balance struck between being clear, understandable and and not complex was well done. More over I found the Partials to be an interesting development, I think I would have liked to know more about them and how they are living now but maybe that will come up more in book 2. 

The major thing I didn't like about this book was the lack of romance in the relationships. Marcus supposedly loved Kira and wanted to marry her, however there was no passion or spark there even when he tried to convince her to stay. For me this just didn't seem very believable and everything about the relationships seemed forced. Also, when Samm was introduced I thought it was the beginning of something else, how wrong was I though. Instead it just led to more unnatural speech and strained relationships. I liked how Samm kept his secrets and I seriously didn't see the twist at the end but I feel the author could have done more with his character, however with the way he leaves the story maybe something will.

Overall this was an enjoyable to read and because I have received the sequel as an ARC I will definitely continue the series. There were a few issues with believabilty for me and sometimes the writing came across a wooden but I would recommend this to sci-fi fans and any apocalyptic fans looking for something new with a slight twist on the genre.


Thursday 21 March 2013

Review ~ Meet Me in the Dark (Demons of Dreams Saga, #1) - Lilly M. Love

ebook downloaded on an Amazon free day after hosting a spotlight for the book. 

Description
The first in the Demons of Dreams Saga.
Did you sleep well last night? Did you dream? Have you met someone in your dream? Whether it was pleasant or not, it was just a dream ... wasn’t it?
Are you sure?

What if you think you're dreaming, but you‘re not?
What if suddenly a handsome stranger shows up in your dreams and you fall in love with him?
What if you wake up in the morning and your body is covered with scratches that you cannot explain?
What if not only you begin to question your mind?

They come at night, sneak into your dreams and if they want, also into your life! They are the demons of dreams and no one is safe from them...
Did you really just have a dream last night?

Leia Walsh is a young woman, successful in her job selling high-priced properties to New York’s wealthy. Against her good judgment she falls in love with a man who appears regularly in her dreams. Leia doesn’t believe that he is a product of her imagination, but is convinced that he exists. She starts to look for him in her daily life, but the game of the demons of dreams can be confusing and Leia soon doubts her sanity until she is invited to a party one day...was it just a dream after all?

My Opinion 
The description of this book hooked me into accepting it as the idea of dreams interests me, I mean I have enough crazy dreams of my own but the concept of it being translated into a book as the main idea was new to me. The idea of the demons of dreams intrigued me and I was excited to find out what this novel was about. For me though this book didn't live up to what I expected it to be sadly, and I found it quite a struggle to read. I like the initial idea and I think with some editing and re-drafting it could become a really engaging and exciting read but personally, I don't think it's quite there yet. 

The main problem I had with Meet Me in the Dark was the transitions between Leia's dreams and her reality. The changes were quite abrupt and besides a line break nothing really distinguished it from the previous scene. Because of this the writing felt very choppy and hard to read as it became confusing as to which world Leia was in. I think I would have preferred the dreams to be in italics as for me it signals a change and allows me to distinguish it easily, especially if it is not clear the character has fallen asleep. 

As well as this, the choppy style of writing that jumped from place to place made it a struggle for me to connect with any of the characters. There were a few moments where I sympathised with Leia because of her situation but most of the time I felt very detached as I was constantly thrown about in the story. Also, with regards to the males in the novel we never really learn much about them except for the same facts; one runs the business, another is married and they are all incredibly good looking. We only started to learn what they are towards the end of the novel and by then it was slightly too late for me as it didn't give many answers in the short amount of space and just as the book started to pick up it ended. I would have loved to learn little bits about them as the book went on rather than getting it all at the end, although I am still slightly confused as to what they were now.

My final problem with this book is once again related to the characters. Some of their actions or reactions just didn't seem believable or plausible to me, for example Leia never really seemed to freak out when things happened in her dreams. I mean if someone threatened me or did what they did to her I would be scared out of my mind but Leia just seemed to accept it without any emotion. Also there were a few plot holes that let the structure of the story down and I found myself asking "well why didn't she do that instead, isn't it obvious?" It just wasn't very solid in structure and the characters were not continuous throughout which I think may have been added to by the constant and abrupt switching of setting.  

Overall I think this book has the potential to become a very intriguing story however as it stands right now for me it feels underdeveloped and lacking in completion. The initial concept was great but the choppy and jumpy style distracted me too much to get immersed in the characters and world. I'm sorry to say I just couldn't connect with this book no matter how much I wished I could.


Wednesday 20 March 2013

Book Spotlight - Jesse James and the Dragon's Egg by W. Edward Woodward III

Jesse James and the Dragon's EggJesse James and the Dragon's Egg

Description

Jesse James and the Dragon's Egg! Feast your mind on the thrilling adventures of young Jesse James as he and his friends plunge headlong into peril! See the horrible Shaddach! Read on, aghast as these living dead creatures hunt our heroes mercilessly! Fear the vile Arthur King! See this madman destroy everything that is dear to our noble young heroes! Thrill to daring escapes and feats of bravery never before seen by man! Watch as these brave children face death and danger where even adults fear to tread! Beware Jesse James, for evil walks among us!"

Jesse James is an adventure story but at its heart it's about the stupid things that you'll do for your family and friends. Jesse and his friends lead pretty average, pretty boring lives, that is until they discover a dragon's egg. With that discovery, and the loss of one of his best friends Jesse is thrust into a world that he never knew existed. Chased by an insane billionaire, Jesse and his friends are thrown across worlds, shunned by the very people meant to protect them, and in the end sold out by one of their own. Facing the ultimate evil Jesse finds he must choose between saving his friends and saving his family.

Heavily influenced by the pulp novels of the 30's and 40's and the adventure movies of the 80' and 90's, Jesse James and the Dragon's Egg is a rip roaring adventure, guaranteed to thrill and appease the child... and eighties freak, in everyone!


Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Lulu, Smashwords


About the Author
Author W. Edward Woodward III has taken a fairly meandering path to creativity. Along the way has tried on many shoes. Retail worker, truck driver, service technician, oil painter, illustrator, commercial artist. Finally, putting on the writing shoes seemed to fit best. Still employed as a service technician, Jesse James and the Dragon's Egg was written mostly on lunch breaks, in shopping malls, and really anywhere an when he could squeeze in a pen.

Born and raised on a farm in Havana Fl, Edward has always had a creative bent, as his meandering path shows and his first exposure to Dr. Who and anime sealed his love of of genre work. A love of comic books and the fantastic artistic stylings of such greats as George Perez and Art Adams lead him to believe that he was destined to be a comic book artist. He had a reasonable eye and a knack for picking up skills that allowed him to believe that for many years. His love of anime would soon lead him away from comics and into the idea that his true destiny lay in animation. Alas, it was not to be. He simply lacked the passion for the pencil that was necessary to pursue such a career. This was a heartbreaking realization for him. Some years went by as Edward wandered through life, trying to find his place. He was heartbroken but there remained a fire in his belly, an ember, a need to create that would just not be squelched. He had many ideas from his years of wanting to work in comics, ideas that refused to die, so one day, in an act of near desperation he put one to paper. Jesse James and his pet dragon were born.

Edward still lives very near Havana, in Tallahassee, with his family and a small circle of friends.


Follow Him Here:

Tuesday 19 March 2013

Teaser Tuesday (11)





This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
To participate you:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from...



Midwinterblood
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick



"'Oh!' she cried. he was lying on the floor on his side. At her shriek, he opened his eyes."
Page 147




Amazon Paperback
Amazon Kindle

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