Monday 30 December 2013

Silent Echo Tour and Review




Book Info-
Title- Silent Echo: A Siren’s Tale
Series- Silent Echo Trilogy # 1
By- Elisa Freilich
Publication Date- September 2013
Published By- Diversion Books
Genre- YA Fantasy/Paranormal

Blurb-
Silence was Portia Griffin’s nemesis. In a world where teens never cease to speak their minds, the sixteen year old Portia, rendered mysteriously mute at birth, has opted out of the mainstream conversation.   Instead, this silent sophomore at Ridgewood Preparatory Academy finds solace in her keen love of music and bizarre obsession with birds.  And it doesn’t hurt that her best friend, Felix Fein, deaf at the age of eight, couldn’t care less whether or not she is able to execute the spoken word.

But Portia’s world is about to change – and not necessarily for the better.

After sixteen silent years, Portia is suddenly gifted with a voice unparalleled in its purity and powers. Her new ability to persuade, to seduce and to destroy with her voice alone sends Portia on a search for answers she never imagined she’d have to accept.

Sunday 22 December 2013

Fallen Book Blitz

Title: Fallen
Author: Laury Falter
Series: Guardian Trilogy
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Audeamus LLC
Release Date: April 1 2009
Editions/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis: 
Fallen - the first book in the bestselling Guardian Trilogy...
Maggie is unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn't until she lands in New Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find her does she realize that her life is in danger. 
As a mystifying stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived.


Laury Falter is a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the Apocalypse Chronicles.


Places to find Laury

Website

Places to find Fallen




Sunday 1 December 2013

Gemini The Hear Book Blast!



Gemini the Heir
Gemini Book # 2
By-Kristen DaRay
Expected Publication Date- December 1st, 2013
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy


Just a year ago, I thought I was an ordinary human, and I gave up everything on Earth to save the people I loved. I have become the Lenai of Emréiana, making me the heir to the Emréian throne. It also makes me in charge of defeating the Bremoir, a race that has been consuming other worlds. If I can’t stop them, the universe is doomed.
Then there is Aaronmon, my betrothed. We have only known each other for a year, but our bond is strong. It’s that bond that makes it hard to know my true feelings. While I think I am ready for the ceremony, I wonder if I really love him like I loved Kyle, my ex- boyfriend who was murdered.

But none of my feelings matter. In order to rule Emréiana, I must go through with the bonding ceremony. If I don’t, then I risk losing the right as heir and I’ll have no power in the war against the Bremoir. Nobody wants them defeated more than me.

Friday 15 November 2013

Hearken (Daughters of the Sea 4) Review

I had the honor of being able to get a copy of Hearken from Kristen Day.  I must first admit that I was a wee bit of a pest about this book, and I can now apologize in advance that I will be a wee bit of a pest until I get book 5 in my grubby little hands. I'm sure that once you read this series you will understand why I was a pest!  But you are luckier than I am since books 1 through 4 are already out and available on all the major book sellers.

First a little bit about the book...

When the evil you fear is born from within, who will save us…from ourselves?

Sometimes our souls hear what our minds and hearts refuse to accept. It will whisper its continuous cadence until we're strong enough to glimpse the truth. But when the soul's whispers morph into screams, we're forced to gaze into the mirrors of time and see ourselves for who we really are. 

Grappling with her newfound leadership position, Stasia begins to experience a recurring nightmare of murder, as well as curious reveries about a violet-eyed girl who can control the moon. When tragedy grips the Tydes and several important relics are stolen from the Sons of Daimon, Stasia’s Council leaves for the forgotten island of Atlantis. Unfortunately Atlantis harbors its own secrets, and they are all calling to Stasia. As her nightmares become worse and she begins to lose control of her mind, those around her must find a way to reach her…and fast.

Olivia Campbell is used to getting what she wants, when she wants it. But destiny never asked Olivia what she wanted. Being Chosen to be a Paladin at birth had not been something she wanted, and she definitely hadn’t wanted her charge to be Anastasia. Unfortunately their irritatingly persistent Atlantean guide, Sebastian, seems to know all about her and the secrets she’s been hiding. As she fights to protect Stasia from an unknown force, Olivia’s own courage and loyalty will be tested in ways she never imagined. Will she be able to tell Stasia the truth before it’s too late for them both?


Did that grab your attention?  I know it did mine!  Here are the links to the series.

Links-

Sunday 3 November 2013

Kindle Fire Giveaway

Kindle HDX NOvember This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".
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  Sign up to Sponsor the December Giveaway (starting around December 2nd) http://www.iamareader.com/2013/10/december-kindle-fire.html   Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7". Ends 11/30/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday 14 October 2013

Jack Templar: Lord of the Vampires

Lord tour
Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000031_00007]  Jack Templar and the Lord of the Vampires Jack is back. After his adventures at the Monster Hunter Academy (which included fighting a goblin army, befriending an ancient werewolf, and battling two fire breathing dragons), Jack Templar was hoping for a rest. No such luck. In Book #3 of the Jack Templar Monster Hunter series, Jack embarks on a quest to track down and acquire the first of the five mythical Jerusalem Stones, an ancient power found by his ancestors the Templar Knights. Only the reunited Stones can stop Ren Lucre, the Dark Lord who holds Jack’s father hostage and prepares for an all-out war against an unsuspecting human world. But each Stone is held by a different Creach Lord and recovering them will not be easy. Jack and his friends begin their quest by seeking out one of the most powerful and dangerous keepers of the Stones, the Lord of the Vampires. The fate of the world rests on Jack’s shoulders and he will be tested like never before. But true monster hunters always do their duty…come what may. Jack Templar and the Lord of the Vampires.


Okay, now I have to just add my review in here, I have been an AVID follower since the very first book.  And I must say how each book keeps MY interest and keeps me involved.  And this one was no exception, in fact this one had me darn near in tears.  No I won't go into more detail than that.  What I will say is that the author has created a wonderful and dramatic world which is well suited to all ages.  This book does have violence in it, and would be more suited for those children who can deal with that sort of thing.  But it is done in a manner which is well suited to even the youngest of readers.  My son is 10 and he absolutely LOVES this series!

Jack Templar is amazing, and his crew of other young children are equally amazing.  Some of the things they do just will literally have you gasping and screaming out be careful!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book!  Did I just yell??? Okay well that shows you how very much I loved this book!  What are you waiting for?  Click the link above and go buy it!!!





Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (Book 2) After barely surviving the onslaught of monsters that tried to kill him the day before his fourteenth birthday, Jack Templar leaves his hometown on a quest to rescue his father and discover the truth about his past. Joined by his friends Will and T-Rex, and led by Eva, the mysterious one-handed monster hunter, Jack sets out for the Monster Hunter Academy where he hopes to find answers to his questions. Little does he suspect that the Academy is filled with dangers of its own, many of them more terrifying than anything he’s faced so far.
Jack Templar: Monster Hunter (Book 1) Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him. As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.
Jack Templar Monster Hunter was chosen as a Book of the Year Finalist by Foreword Reviews.
Author Jeff Gunhus Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.

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  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/3/13   Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Friday 11 October 2013

Education in the wilds...

So for those who follow this blog you know that I do quite a few reviews of books.  However today I am going to do something a bit more oriented towards my home schooling.  As you know I have a 10 year old son with special needs.  He also has a total aversion to learning in any format.  And trust me I've tried just about every curriculum out there, special needs curriculums, Commor Core Curriculum, etc etc etc.  He has in fact said in no uncertain terms that he does not want to learn anything.  Basically at 8 years old he dropped out of school for all intents and purposes.

Now I've only been home schooling him for a year now.  But in that time that mindset has not changed at all.  He still does every task I set him to as slow and drawn out as possible with as little effort from him as possible sometimes to the extent of just writing in anything.  And lets not even go into art here, because that is where most children do well within his spectrum yet he is still drawing much as a prep child does.  Now I say all this because I need you to understand just where my son is in his educational foray.  Basically,he is a 10 year old in Kindergarten/Prep.  Can he work harder?  Yes, when I force him, and yes I do mean force him, he can now read at a grade 7 level which for him is a huge improvement, and he even has a blog which if I sit on him he actually posts to.  The doctors have stated it in such a manner... "He is the laziest child they have ever seen."

Now my fight with them has always been how can you diagnose him with any issues when he was too lazy or stubborn or whatever words you wish to use to describe him as to take the IQ test?  Now as his new mother, I saw right away there were issues with him, not so much in his ability to do things because he is quite smart, but I knew that he just didn't have that drive that my girls had to succeed or for that matter to even research into a topic that interests him.

But Connor CAN learn!  After a full two weeks spent using Amanda Bennett's Cavernous Caves lapbook kit, mind you it was supposed to be a one week lapbook but Connor always takes a minimum of double the allotted time to complete any task, we went on a trip to the local caves here in Australia.

What happened there was an example how a piece of paper cannot always tell you just what your child has learned.  Connor could tell the person that there were stalactites and stalagmites, though he couldn't remember which was which.  But for the first time Connor went off exploring on his own.  He willingly followed the tour guide through an area of the cave that mom and dad decided to forgo because it entailed crawling on our tummies.  My son, who is afraid of basically everything went willingly to try something new.  He explored that section of the cave and his father and I stood near where it would exit only a few yards from where it started but hey it was something daring to us.  Here is a photo of him climbing up out of the tunnels.



Now that is not the only thing he did.  He flipped off his headlamp and proceeded to explore a cavern in complete darkness by feel only.  This was a fun, and exciting walk thru a zig zag cave that was quite long but really was probably only about 30 meters but it sure felt like it was much longer.  Our sense of hearing was amazing in that darkness, it took only seconds for our other senses to take over where our eyes once were.  It was an amazing experience and one I must say I never thought he would be willing to try.  But once again he surprised me.

This just showed me that even though I keep thinking he isn't learning anything because his work is so poor, that he does learn some things.  Yes he may never be able to write in a better sentence than a first grader.  Yes he is not going to meet the base Common Core for the school system.  Yes he will never prove to be an Einstein.  Yes he is 100% different than my girls.  But he does maintain some knowledge and I can only hope and pray that one day he will be able to hold a job and have a family and maintain a lifestyle at least as good as his father's and mine.  For now, I will keep working with him, keep spending time with him, and keep taking him to whatever outside things we can afford to do.  And who knows maybe some day something will spark his desire to learn.

Tuesday 24 September 2013

The Samantha Project Series Review.

Today I have a little something special.  I was graciously given a copy of the Series "The Samantha Project" for my honest review.


I started reading The Samantha Project and turned the pages so quickly that in just a matter of a few hours I had finished the book.  I immediately grabbed book 2 to find out what would happen next.  Now I'll give you a bit about the books.  Both what I liked and didn't like.


The very first thing I have to say is I loved the way the author wrote the dialogue!  I enjoyed the characters even though at first I felt Samantha was a little too perfect a student/child.  But then when things started happening I understood why she was the way she was.  I loved Colin her boyfriend. I also liked how the time period was one we could relate to, it was in the now.  Not years from now on some odd planet.  And with all the genetic manipulation going on in today's world I could actually see this being true.  This book has a lot of twists and turns and will keep you wondering what's going to happen next.  There are also many horrible things that happen in this book and I must say that it is not a book for younger kids.  For instance I wouldn't want my 10 year old to read it but I would let my 16 year old read it without a problem.

All in all book was for me was a successfully written story that captivated my attention and had me flipping pages and on the edge of my seat enough for me to immediately grab book 2.

Book 2 picks up exactly where book one left off.  Samantha and Eric are trying to find a way to stop the ticking time bomb which is inside them.  I won't give too much away because there are things you will already know by this point that you discover in book 1.  Suffice it to say this was again a well written and suspenseful story.  This book deals with some more mature issues in regards to teens.  There were references to sex in this book that were missing from the first book.  But it was done in a manner that was definitely tasteful and also quite realistically necessary to the plot.  I think the entire genetic manipulation aspect of things remind me of a few of the TV shows I enjoyed and maybe that is why my attention is grabbed with this book.  I have to say that the characters show quite a bit of growth in this book.  Once again the author has successfully created a world that is both dangerous and yet realistic to our modern day world.  I have to say I finished this book in about 4 hours and grabbed book 3. Yes I spent an entire day and half the night reading this series.

Now last but not least is the final book.  This book once again picks up exactly where we left off in book 2.  The story has become much more complex.  Luckily the author actually went into details about genetic manipulation and the entire scientific aspect was made simple for even the most unscientific.  So references made in this book are quite easy to understand.

This series was one giant jigsaw puzzle.  I figured out a few things long before the end of the book.  This book WILL keep you on the edge of your seat.  The growth of the characters is wonderfully done.  Erik, Brittany, Colin all change and mature as they handle the different situations thrown at them.  Even the adults show some growth which I liked.  Now what I didn't like is that in parts of this series it seems that Samantha just doesn't show the same growth that the other characters show.  For someone who is supposedly so genetically enhanced she seems very weak willed and wishy-washy at times.  At other times she seems to be highly sexually oriented and mature.  It's a very strange mix.  She does finally show growth and she does finally seem to come into her own.  Which is a good thing.  Now in my personal opinion if this is the final book it feels unfinished.  I'm not exactly sure why, it just seemed after everything we went through that the ending felt anti-climactic for me.  
Now I did enjoy this series, and if I had to give a rating on the entire series I would give it a 4.  Book 1 and 2 I enjoyed more than book 3.  There is a LOT of scientific details in all three books.  Information regarding Genetics, DNA, and other science is thrown around quite a lot.  If you don't like books where you actually can learn something then this series is not for you.  I however didn't find it too distracting to have small information dumps about something that I actually knew something about and enjoyed the thought that if we could just change a few things in a person's DNA we could create super humans.  Although at the same time I am totally against that due in part to playing God, and in part to the simple fact that just because we can do something doesn't mean we should do it.

I give this series a very series 4 stars total and suggest to anyone who enjoys science fiction or even romance stories that this series is a good solid read.  Again this is not a book for younger than 16 due to some of the graphic dialogues in the books.

Friday 20 September 2013

Slow Hand Quickens

I had the honor of reading Allie Mathews first book "Slow Hand Quickens".  No from the title you would have no clue about what this story is about. By a quick look I actually thought it might have something to do with poker.  I know I'm lame, what can I say.  Then I read the blurb and went, wow, this is totally not what I expected. And from there the book grabbed me and sucked me in.  Here is the "Official" blurb of the book and you will see just why it grabbed my attention.


Genre:


New Adult Contemporary


Synopsis:


Growing up in an apathetic household with an abusive family friend, Kristen Weatherly doesn't know life can be better or that she even deserves it. When all your life you're told to be grateful for what little you have, no matter how awful, how do you know that your life can be more fulfilling?


Kristen's perspective begins to change her senior year in high school when she's befriended by Mila, a girl who shows Kristen that there are people in the world who care without expecting anything in return. Then comes Chris, a boy she's dubbed Mystery Eyes. She soon discovers that Chris' life is similar to her own in ways she never could have imagined.


Can the two get past their shocking and dreadful family histories together, or will their pasts come between them when it matters most?


This novel contains dark themes, sensitive issues and is intended for mature audiences only.

Pretty intense stuff there huh?  Just makes your brain go okay now what in the heck is going on, where is the author going with this story, and oh god I just have to read it.

So read it is exactly what I did!  And let me tell you, this book is NOT for the faint of heart.  I do not think it is appropriate for younger children but since it is in the New Adult Category the author recognizes this and labelled it accordingly.  This book addresses some fundamental issues for children in abusive situations.  And as the author states it does contain very sensitive issues and ones which sadly for our girls many of them may face at one time or another in their life.  1 in 3 women will be sexually molested in their lifetime.  That is a sad statement of the men of today in my humble opinion.  

This story is deeply moving coming of age-story.  The focus of the book is abuse, love and friendship. And the author did a wonderful job of combining the three.  Your heart will break for Kristen and Chris, and even for Mila.  The author touches upon such terrible subjects in a well crafted story.

The author has created characters that are rich and very much alive.  Kristen is a young girl who has suffered at the hands of the people she trusted the most.  She is approaching her 18th year on earth, and has lived with the circumstances for many years.  She has like most abused children been brainwashed into believing it is all her fault and that she is somehow bad.

I LOVED the growth the author wrote into this young woman.  I loved how she changed right before my eyes.  I especially liked the forming of her first real friendship with her best friend Mila.  And how much that one single friend changed how she started to see herself.  And I love how I am so not going to tell you anymore so you just have to go out and grab a copy for yourself!

Yes I know I'm evil.  

Now lets just talk about the young man in the book, Chris.  I loved him from the second I read about him.  I won't tell you a thing about him, except to say that I wish more young men were like him.

And Mila is a doll.  She happens to be rich, have the perfect life, and yet for reasons unknown to anyone she has taken to Kristen.  And she really is such a wonderful young girl.  She makes me think of my own daughters, and how they never judged a person by how much money they had, or how they looked and I thought how wonderful Mila's mother must be, and sure enough when you read about her, you will just have to agree that she is a wonderful role model for all us mom's to mimic.

I totally hate spoilers, and if I spill anymore, I just know I'm bound to slip up and say things. So here is where my review will just have to end.  There are characters in this book you will LOVE, and there are characters in this book you will HATE! 

***I just have to say this one thing...  
ANY MAN who cannot take NO for an answer isn't a man.  Any man who treats a woman with disrespect deserves the worst thing that I can think of to happen.  Rape is not about sex, it is all about controlling another person, and any man who rapes a woman should have ALL control taken from him permanently!  Can you tell this is something I feel strongly about?  Well I do because I am one of the one in three.  I survived!  And as a survivor, I can say that a woman is so much more than men think they are.  We are far stronger than most people believe, and we have strong minds which help us to overcome the most horrendous of happenings.  Men tend to blame women for wearing certain clothing or acting a certain way, but it is their own weakness and insecurities which cause them to act the way they do. Blame us for all the ills, but the truth is, only a woman can bring a new life into this fabulous world of ours!

And here is where my review seriously ends.  You should go and get this book.  You won't regret it!  I recommend this book to ages 16 and up.  I say 16 because girls are having to face these sorts of issues at a young age.  Here is a link to go buy the book.  Trust me, you won't go wrong reading this book and Kristens growth during the book is precisely the hope we need for these kids! I have to praise the Author Allie Mathews for a well written and inspiring story for all ages.


Disclaimer: Review copy was provided for an honest and fair review.  This free copy held NO determination on my final review.





Allie lives in North Carolina and works at a university bookstore. She reads and writes in her spare time, including lunch breaks. When she's not reading or writing she's usually watching something on television, whether a good show or movie; or she's hanging out with friends...also perhaps drinking. A small amount. Usually rum. She likes rum. Oh, chocolate! She also enjoys eating things chocolate-y. She's always open to book recommendations. She listens to music while she cooks, usually throwing in a few dance moves. Allie thinks random things at random times and writes them down, even when they don't seem to be in any sort of order. She is a work in progress.