tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63503077189544649712024-02-07T21:19:54.114-05:00Zephyr Book ReviewsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-40837836092439584622015-05-28T04:07:00.000-04:002015-05-28T04:07:48.803-04:00Review: The White (The Dragon Pearl Book 1)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzZTG-yX6pskxAru8Fk9IjCgkGMncWEnYRkvtHi_Rg1hQ6FtuBkkkWdQuPLwBsww2aCkRiER9OASOs5YlBms908Xbo-1suYbO1QlcCSuo43XSrxhxT0jO1B_4SasXWGAOBubOxNC6lQSE/s1600/The+White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzZTG-yX6pskxAru8Fk9IjCgkGMncWEnYRkvtHi_Rg1hQ6FtuBkkkWdQuPLwBsww2aCkRiER9OASOs5YlBms908Xbo-1suYbO1QlcCSuo43XSrxhxT0jO1B_4SasXWGAOBubOxNC6lQSE/s320/The+White.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The White (The Dragon Pearl Book 1)</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>T. L. Shreffler</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Ever since The White appeared in our valley of Windridge, my people have lived in fear. But today that fear ends. Finally, the King has sent his most elite dragon hunters to kill The White, the last of the imperial dragons.</i><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;"> </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">Since the death of her father, Sienna Foxburn hasn’t felt safe. The White, a fire-breathing imperial dragon, terrorizes the Valley of Windridge with no end in sight. But Sienna isn’t satisfied hiding behind the walls of her keep. She is tired of fearing the dragon, but she can’t fight it alone. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">Then a mysterious sorceress and two elite dragon hunters arrive, claiming to be sent by the King. Thus begins the great hunt for The White. Sienna embarks on a dragon-hunting adventure through the exotic Valley of Windridge, all while uncovering secrets and conspiracies that could endanger the entire Kingdom….</span></span><br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">****</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>4 Stars</b></div>
<br />
I went into this book on the cautious side, I'm already a pretty big fan of this author and I know that just because I liked her other works didn't mean I would like them all. Thank goodness it stuck to the fantasy genre that I loved the most so I had a extremely easy time enjoying myself and regretting that fact that it ended knowing its the first in the series and I'll have to wait quite a bit before I can continue the story.<br />
<br />
I was't really sure about Siennas character in the beginning, I really thought she was going to be one of those whinny characters for a bit. Thank goodness she wasn't and as the story progressed I found that she was really growing on me. She know her own faults and tried her hardest to work past them. There is also a couple of surprising things that happened that involved her that made everything more interesting and pulled me deeper into the story (sorry if that sounds vague, I try my hardest to give spoiler free reviews and don't want to give things away here.)<br />
<br />
I'm still not sure how I feel about Darius. I'm not sure if I like him or if I am still wary of him. I feel like he will end up surprise me big time. He is really intriguing to me though. I want to know more about him and his past. Mainly how he came to be what he is now.<br />
<br />
The plot itself seemed pretty simple at the get go but got more interesting as the story moved on. It stuck to its guns and you pretty much knew how things where going to go at one point but there was still things that would pop up to put you through a loop and keep you on your toes for a bit.<br />
<br />
There is a touch ,a small one, of romance as well. If you are like me and you like to have a little bit of romance dashed in I'm sure you will like how it was handled. There is none of the hated intsa-love here. Shreffler has a knack for being able to add this touch to her stories without it being overbearing and having it more at a nice pace.<br />
<br />
The world itself seemed very interesting. I would have liked to learn more about the different holds and how they were run. I also wanted to know more about the religion and how they were viewed and the deeper meanings. I can't forget the dragons either, there is some stuff told about them and the different kinds but I would have like to know more (I have a little soft spot for dragons). I can say I feel like this stuff will be explored more in the books to come and I could just be feeling greedy.<br />
<br />
There aren't any lose ends laying around, and it ends in a way that is satisfying but makes you want to come back to read the next one. All in all it was a good start to what I know is coming to become another great series.<br />
<br />
Would I recommend this book? Yes, if your a fan of fantasy I'm sure you will like this one.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-69512275246193296222015-05-26T21:24:00.000-04:002015-05-26T21:24:21.631-04:00Review: On The Verge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRVlUtPQq-G878UEISBVJ_NVs73Q0tX9dN8qdW-frXbVrhD_n35yE1-NccdoqGZ1iwZ1_VIugkrRztb0FQOrm7xTpKJ1kZne9RWg_R7HDqNyLpQ87t3IXVX_Xt2QmOqO_Ujrb-XEwl5QE/s1600/On+the+Verge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRVlUtPQq-G878UEISBVJ_NVs73Q0tX9dN8qdW-frXbVrhD_n35yE1-NccdoqGZ1iwZ1_VIugkrRztb0FQOrm7xTpKJ1kZne9RWg_R7HDqNyLpQ87t3IXVX_Xt2QmOqO_Ujrb-XEwl5QE/s320/On+the+Verge.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">On The Verge</span></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">R.J. Jojola</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>WHEN THE WORLD OF LERIM BECOMES EVIL'S PLAYGROUND, NOTHING & NO ONE, ARE WHAT THEY SEEM... </i><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">Within the confines of their homeland, Raelle Jowellia and her siblings were never allowed to travel outside their secluded valley. Having never come into contact with anyone outside of their immediate family, they had only one another to depend on. But after the mysterious and gruesome murder of her younger brother, Raelle suddenly finds herself stricken with grief and hopelessness. Lost within the inescapable nightmare of her trauma, Raelle is tormented with a relentless need for answers. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">But answers reveal much more than Raelle bargains for, when she discovers that the magical practices, daunting creatures, and menacing demons of her father’s bedtime tales are anything but fiction. As a dark force closes in, the shock of her family’s secret leaves her in shambles. Completely alone in the valley, she is left with only bits and pieces of the puzzle. Lost in a world that is on the verge of collapse, she is faced with a formidable choice. Will Raelle be able to outrun her family’s sordid past, or will she allow it to devour her very soul? </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">A meddlesome stranger may be her only hope or her demise ... </span></span><div>
<i><br /></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>**</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 Stars</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I found myself extremely disappointed in this book. When I came across it late last night I remember actually saying out loud that it sounded really interesting. I couldn't wait to start getting into it and in the beginning was really enjoying myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Probably somewhere around a quarter of the way into the book I started to really lose interest in everything. More when Chrishtan came into the picture. In my opinion taking a look into Chrishtans past the way we did really took a lot away from the story. I can understand how it let us get to know him better but it started to make me feel that it was taking away from Raelles story that I was already invested in. I lost who was suppose to be the main character and who wasn't. Sometimes this can really work in a book but in this case it dragged on way to long and made me start to lose a lot of interest in everything. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What really started to kill everything for me was when the first real "battle" happened. Not wanting to give anything away here but what I thought would be a real clash with something very powerful lasted little more then a few remarks made and a quick sword swing that left me very unsatisfied. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is also heavy religious tones in this book. It didn't really bother me to much but my eyes did tend to glaze over at times. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The finally and deadliest stroke of this story was the way it ended. I can't even call it a cliffhanger cause it was so much worse. More like that feeling of when you are going down the stairs and you think there is one more and there really isn't. I can't even really get across how mad it made me for it to end the way it did, it felt like just when things were getting more interesting again and I when I went to turn the next page Amazon was asking to review it instead. I'm pretty sure my mouth dropped open and I back tracked a few pages to just make sure it was actually the end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All in all I really ended up not liking a lot about this book, I couldn't get attached to any of the characters, the plot didn't interest me after a certain point and the "villain" was just the name of some guy that seemed to have caused problems.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be on the fair side the writing itself was good, no </span>grammar errors that I could notice (but its not something that really would stand out to me) and everything did flow smoothly. I was only thrown out of the story when I got disappointed in something that happened. That in and of itself is enough for me to not give it a flat one star. There is a lot of potential here, it just really fell flat for me, I can see with time and a little more polish this author coming out with something that I can really love.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On a side note I really loved the cover art,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Would I recommend this book? No, there are plenty of other books out there that are much more interesting than this one.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-50808136014452123162014-09-15T13:04:00.004-04:002014-09-15T13:04:40.279-04:00Storm Siren<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrCJpKfj7dhNKgEi6blKcDrbdH14hh3R_ZkjKdGrJjvEOBx3C9RWeNOqP-4bple7QW-HFYDavGbfQSymxd7GtLWNUsQ3Vy_HAr_AGT3F2_QFY-K73b8mm39GMWMD5Rf0oG6Uw4FDLiUzk/s1600/stormsiren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrCJpKfj7dhNKgEi6blKcDrbdH14hh3R_ZkjKdGrJjvEOBx3C9RWeNOqP-4bple7QW-HFYDavGbfQSymxd7GtLWNUsQ3Vy_HAr_AGT3F2_QFY-K73b8mm39GMWMD5Rf0oG6Uw4FDLiUzk/s1600/stormsiren.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Storm Siren</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">by: Mary Weber</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">In a world at war, a slave girl's lethal curse could become one kingdom's weapon of salvation. If the curse - and the girl - can be controlled.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn't merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth - meaning, she shouldn't even exist.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she's being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">But what if she doesn't want to be the weapon they've all been waiting for? </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>**</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>2 Stars</b></span></span></div>
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When I came across this book I remember turning to my husband and saying "wow this book sounds interesting and it has 50+ reviews and not one of them is below three stars, I'm sure its great." Well here I come to ruin it all.<br />
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Nym was not what I was expecting. For someone that has been a slave her whole life she is pretty non slave like. I can kinda understand her attitude, a little, but dang girl has been a slave for ever and her power has not been good to her I would think she would be a little more mellow in an attempt to not flare up or build I stronger wall around her emotions. The only time she was angry for any other reason than herself was in the very beginning, then everything is all about her and what she is going through. I also feel there should have been more information on her background as well. There are just snips and pieces thrown in every now and then.<br />
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The supporting characters didn't do much for me either. Breck seemed like she could have really added a lot to the story, and how she was used against Nym you would think they were so close they were practically sisters, but really there is barely any interaction between the two of them. I didn't really know what to make of Colin, he was interesting but played off as the good friend every hero/heroine makes that always has the most profound things to say at the perfect moments even if their personality is one of someone that seems to want to have fun all the time. I can say that the romance wasn't bad, enough time pasted that it didn't smack of insta-love, which did make me happy. Though I didn't particularly like the love interest at all.<br />
<br />
The plot itself was alright. Interesting enough, until things started happening that made me feel like I missed out on something. There should have been a little more history on Draewulf. The most I got, unless I missed something which I don't think I did, was a quick story told in a common house. Also a little more explanation on the war and why Bron was attacking would have helped a lot, other than they were so interesting in the kingdoms past them. Honestly if I had been Faelen and another kingdom was attacking to get at the ones past my border and those kingdoms weren't helping me to defend them, well damn I would make a treaty with Bron and let them have at it.<br />
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I also would have liked more information on the different animals that are mentioned and showed up. Like where they came from and why they are around. More information the the plague would have helped as well, like why it was happening and what was going on with it. Why mention it if it doesn't have anything to do with the plot.<br />
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Over all this book just wasn't what I thought it would be and I was sorely disappointed. The only reason I read it to the end was that I refused the waste the money I spent on it.<br />
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Would I recommend this book? No, everything that I liked about it didn't last past the first few chapters.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-39072661943221494292014-09-09T12:13:00.002-04:002014-09-09T12:13:42.579-04:00The Cult of Sutek: The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel, Vol. 1<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WhfVVL1S4Qp1VzauYnaesHPhtzOgtR3fojj3YOHVy7cRWL1bsvDxH1QZNGdXNhCfvp-nGA_dp86SijoF0ow8WZkXgFjyVwoyFOKWM-xcGbon8XYoWaE7hwINrajhjaqHzudfIhPkej2c/s1600/cos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WhfVVL1S4Qp1VzauYnaesHPhtzOgtR3fojj3YOHVy7cRWL1bsvDxH1QZNGdXNhCfvp-nGA_dp86SijoF0ow8WZkXgFjyVwoyFOKWM-xcGbon8XYoWaE7hwINrajhjaqHzudfIhPkej2c/s1600/cos.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Cult of Sutek: The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel, Vol. 1</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">by Joshua P. Simon</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">His life has no purpose. She’s out to prove hers. An unlikely alliance forms. Their legend is born. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Rondel, a once famous minstrel is crippled and rotting away in prison. He has nothing to live for until Andrasta, a mysterious warrior, gives his live meaning again. The pair escapes prison and in the aftermath, form a partnership they hope will lead to fame and fortune. Their journey is a long one, filled with peril, adventure, and even failure. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The ancient Cult of Sutek grips the land of Iget. Framed by the cult for kidnapping and attempted murder, Rondel and Andrasta help a young noble rescue his sister in order to clear their name. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The Cult of Sutek is the first volume in a planned series of standalone adventures in The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>****</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>4 stars</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Honestly I really wasn't expecting much from this book. I downloaded it on a whim and when I finally pulled it up to read it was to kill a little time before I went to sleep. Well it ended up keeping me up all night because I couldn't bring myself to put it down.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The plot went in some many directions I didn't expect that I was really getting excited to see what would happen next. The world itself wasn't anything great at first to me, but somethings are added in that made it very interesting and everything got resolved very neatly in the end. No cliffhanger here.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The character were very interesting. Though in the beginning I wasn't to fond of Rondel but by the end he had really grown on me. Andrasta held my attention right from the get go, and it will seem like she is the same as she was in the beginning if you don't pay care attention to her thoughts, cause she does grow just not as obviously as Rondel and the other characters do. The one thing I wanted more was to find out more on her background.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I really enjoyed this read and it always makes me happy when I get more than what I thought I would. Once I'm done here I'll be moving on to the next book. I really want to find out more about Andrasta and Rondel and see what new adventure they will go on.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Would I recommend this book? Yes, like I mentioned earlier this was a surprisingly good read.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-15282384915332718782014-09-07T11:31:00.000-04:002014-09-07T11:31:19.221-04:00Sky Warriors: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1)<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdflxtMTm5h2Z29ZVnecHo2tf49lssqq_pcjap2ZHGjZfMA24u4dt436sd8f8Djc2vsxtoMbWViOj_aeQFG572FSejbM9RO2POfdv_MVf2DcKCfbvjhf_CMLZ6l_kHsavX7-Y9c3lLs5Ow/s1600/Sky+Warriors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdflxtMTm5h2Z29ZVnecHo2tf49lssqq_pcjap2ZHGjZfMA24u4dt436sd8f8Djc2vsxtoMbWViOj_aeQFG572FSejbM9RO2POfdv_MVf2DcKCfbvjhf_CMLZ6l_kHsavX7-Y9c3lLs5Ow/s1600/Sky+Warriors.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sky Warrior's: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1)</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">by: Nicole Pendragon</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">Ange is a young thief in the cruel and corrupt city of Cyridell. And dragons are but a myth to the people of Domus. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Born and orphaned on the eve of a rare Five Full Moon night, Ange has nothing to show of her origins but a strange blue mark upon her chest. Left out on the streets at the age of seven without even a name, what other choice does she have but to steal to survive? Then one night she finds another orphaned child, her now best friend Daren and together they came under the eye of the most notorious thieves’ guild in the city, the Black Owls. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Now ten years later, she is excited and eager to become a full member of her shifty family. Until her best friend, Daren, reveals a shocking secret that threatens to shatter her entire world. What will she do when stealing goes awry, honesty and trust are lost, and she is pulled into a world of fantasy and adventure by the likes of a mysterious young man? Will she let go of the past ten years of honing her skills as a thief to save the world from destruction? Or will her selfishness take precedence over the needs of the many?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>****</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>4 stars</b></span></span></div>
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This book was very different than anything I had read in quite a long time. Though I really enjoyed reading it I also couldn't bring myself to really love it. But don't get me wrong I also didn't hate it. To make things easy I'm just going to say I'm sitting comfortably in the middle, though I am leaning more towards love.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The plot in and of it self was very thought out and interesting. There was a point where I though of sure certain plot points would be forgotten and never explained but thankfully the got resolved. The book had a lot more to it than I first thought which was a nice surprise. It turned out to be one of those books that I thought for sure would be ending soon only to see that I was only at the 67% mark.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Ange was interesting, a lot of her personality made sense and I liked the growth she went though in the book. Though I can say the one thing that drove me a little batty about her is how she was snarling all the time, I got pretty tired of reading that word.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I wasn't sure how to handle Showl, I think I wanted something else from him but kept getting someone that would turn all meek when it came to Ange. But at the same time I knew why he tended to do that and I could understand it. But I also really liked his character, as you can see it bought out a lot of conflicting emotions in me, probably why I fell somewhere in between love and hate with this book and settled with a strong like, which in itself isn't a bad thing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The supporting character turned out to be a lot more than I first thought, and I can say it got really confusing with trying to keep track of who was who. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Especially </span>when nicknames would be used one paragraph and the next it would be their full name. I eventually got a little used to it but I can say for a fact that there a few times that I couldn't recall someone when they would pop up again and it would confuse the heck out of me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I liked the world that was laid out in front of me. It was a interesting and thought out setting. I can say I was surprised at the bits of steampunk thrown in, I didn't see it coming but was happy about it. The histories kept my attention and I liked the way the magic was explained. On a side note I started to looked forward to seeing what new kind of conjoined animal would pop up next. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Would I recommend this book? Yes, the author did a great job creating a new and unique world I am looking forward to seeing how things are going to turn out with Showl and Ange.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-81756768924787702262014-09-04T10:49:00.000-04:002014-09-04T10:49:18.294-04:00An Elfy on the Loose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcuuHwxkH8FQoNDAeVIagceTw4XTW1fUl8Wvd9FoLhf9aU1Hr2SEiRv0eb-Im6I6_Em4VsCqHi194khWoBJKSEtn7j_hTMTVZ5b8YylAijK1eoRGT4N8g-cInV3LxfqPxYgEh1UlcX8Ps/s1600/Elfy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcuuHwxkH8FQoNDAeVIagceTw4XTW1fUl8Wvd9FoLhf9aU1Hr2SEiRv0eb-Im6I6_Em4VsCqHi194khWoBJKSEtn7j_hTMTVZ5b8YylAijK1eoRGT4N8g-cInV3LxfqPxYgEh1UlcX8Ps/s1600/Elfy.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">An Elfy on the Loose</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">by Barb Caffrey</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">One Elfy for an entire planet? </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">He's supposed to be the Watcher for his people, the representative on Earth from his dimension, but the small being known to his enemies as "Jonny-Wonny" wakes up to big trouble -- trapped in a bizarre house in Knightsville, California with humans straight out of reality TV. Jon knows that something has gone dreadfully wrong -- he's starving, lonely and dressed in funny clothes. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Enter the couple's ten-year-old diminutive daughter, who is "Not Daisy!" but is brilliant, sweet...and using high level magic with ease. She's also desperately in need of a friend. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Insisting her name is really Sarah, and christening him Bruno, his new friend asks him how they're going to get out of there. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The only thing that comes to mind is for Bruno to ask his teacher, Roberto the Wise, for help. But Roberto's attempt at help only enmeshes all three of them further in a web of deceit and treachery. Bruno finds out that, unfortunately, most of what he thought he knew about himself was very wrong…and much of what Sarah knows about herself is also wrong, including her age. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Worst of all, a Dark Elf is on the scene and is intent on corrupting the local Humans, including Sarah's parents. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">New names, new locations, a new mission--Bruno is going to get to the bottom of all the craziness, and Sarah will be there for him every step of the way. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Watch out, universe--an Elfy is on the loose!</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: yellow; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>***</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3 Stars</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">This book was good but not particularly great. I liked the concept of it but I couldn't bring myself to love it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">The major problem I had was that it was bogged down with what seemed like useless conversation. Things would just circle and circle around and around to the point that I would start to kinda get glazed over. </span></div>
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<br />
The plot itself was interesting enough for me to want to keep reading to see how things turned out and that in and of itself is what saved this book from a lower star rating. I like a good mystery and this kept me really wondering how things where going to turn out.<br />
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If I had one thing to ask of the author it would be to cut back on the conversation a little more and add in more descriptions of things.<br />
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Would I recommend this book? To certain people yes and others no. It wasn't bad to me but it also wasn't great. I can say it would be a good way to kill some time if you needed it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-78359737635215615482014-09-01T18:53:00.000-04:002014-09-01T18:53:02.039-04:00I might be back. . .It has been a while.<br />
<br />
A really really really long while. . .lots and lots of things have been going on.<br />
<br />
Mainly I started working about for the first time in about six years. I just don't have the kind of free time that I used to because of this.<br />
<br />
Then when I was starting to feel like I might be able to come back my husband came up to me and bought up the idea of trying to buy a house. Now this is something that had been bought of many times in the past so I didn't really take it seriously at first. But well things actually went really great for us and we poured all we had into getting our first house. . .go us!<br />
<br />
So when I thought lets start reading and reviewing again I noticed that I had been away for so long that it wasn't as easy as I thought to get back into it. At some point my brain told me it was work to read and review all these books and I just didn't want to. I even stopped reading as much as I used to.<br />
<br />
But well I'm kinda back to the way I was. . .I just couldn't stay away from reading for long. I'm going to take this slow now. I won't suddenly be putting reviews up all the time. Things are still really busy for me and I don't want it to feel like work to me again.<br />
<br />
I'll hopefully be putting a review up here sometime in the next week.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-77390155742836793032013-11-01T12:50:00.000-04:002013-11-01T12:50:06.535-04:00Cover Reveal: Caprion's Wings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEDKijk_7UEeb1pP4DCAQxxNQ6iCLY0C6n6b09oGnI0IHpGvdBih1RpRQP2BO2cRNIql8kiMDoo3U8zaedonWClt2SpINaN9bSKJQAnZzt_im0IrDNGk6j0kLCgZeR7dtMh_CM9TDP37v/s1600/Caprion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEDKijk_7UEeb1pP4DCAQxxNQ6iCLY0C6n6b09oGnI0IHpGvdBih1RpRQP2BO2cRNIql8kiMDoo3U8zaedonWClt2SpINaN9bSKJQAnZzt_im0IrDNGk6j0kLCgZeR7dtMh_CM9TDP37v/s400/Caprion.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Caprion's Wings </b></span></div>
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by T. L. Shreffler</div>
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<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">A novella of The Cat's Eye Chronicles.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: red;">Release Date: January 31st, 2014</span><br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><i>By the age of nineteen, all Harpies know how to fly—except Caprion. He has yet pass the test of the Singing and gain his wings. His family has disowned him in shame and people are beginning to talk. Now an evil voice haunts his dreams, taunting him, drawing out his worst fears—that he will remain wingless forever.</i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><i>Caprion decides to find the root of this insidious voice, no matter what it takes. He journeys to the secret prisons of the Harpy underground, where he meets a young slave named Moss. In those sunless, decrepit cells, a forbidden friendship is formed. Can Caprion and Moss find the source of the voice? And can Caprion save Moss from a terrible fate?</i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><i>Join young Caprion as he journeys down, down into the earth, finding his wings and forging a friendship that will change him forever.</i></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show">*This is a novella of The Cat’s Eye Chronicles. If you are new to the series, you can download the first book, Sora’s Quest, for free!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">Download Sora's Quest for FREE (The Cat's Eye Chronicles, Book 1)</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soras-Quest-Cats-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B007V5XND8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365797306&sr=8-1&keywords=Sora%27s+Quest">Amazon</a> + <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soras-quest-t-l-shreffler/1110565586?ean=2940033233687">Barnes and Noble</a> + <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/sora-s-quest-the-cat-s-eye-chronicles-1">Kobo Books</a> + <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/159656">Smashwords</a> + <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/soras-quest-cats-eye-chronicles/id628518866?mt=11">iTunes</a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">OR <a href="https://www.createspace.com/3846050">Buy in Print!</a></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2udSo59gaUts3JpO6PjrbzZuA5AQOJYjQCakDrJrYRf1bsysanTDfZTtoi2RAkMvVLngvjYxIKeDGcsOgRA0FkM4pJbKo5uWq4Cvs0GPl8l20vOMIpeSm5PvQSnqcMyfNtQ5L8bVAXFD/s1600/abouttheauthor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2udSo59gaUts3JpO6PjrbzZuA5AQOJYjQCakDrJrYRf1bsysanTDfZTtoi2RAkMvVLngvjYxIKeDGcsOgRA0FkM4pJbKo5uWq4Cvs0GPl8l20vOMIpeSm5PvQSnqcMyfNtQ5L8bVAXFD/s320/abouttheauthor.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show"><span id="freeTextContainerauthor5138153">T. L. Shreffler lives in Los Angeles, CA. She loves diversity, fantasy, romance, iced tea, long walks, philosophy, and thrift store shopping. She recently graduated with a BA in Badass (Creative Writing) and her poetry has been published consecutively in <em>Eclipse: A Literary Journal</em> and <em>The Northridge Review</em>. She is author of <em>The Cat's Eye Chronicles</em> (YA/Epic Fantasy) and <em>The Wolves of Black River</em> (PN Romance). For more info on this author, visit her <a href="http://www.runawaypen.com/">website.</a> </span></span></div>
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Shreffler is giving away an early ebook copy of Caprion's Wings and a Cat's Eye necklace to one lucky winner! Jess and I will be giving away a swag pack that includes a one of a kind keychain made with tender love and care by Jess herself. </div>
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*US/Canada only* </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f1HFDIwEMihO0STnnPm2AhKDYSXkq19vR0EbZfLgH4-pqa3QXuAvgoPa7m91nnHeoO5zu3XRAPifZZ6HC8Y8bN9JpoBVQZYGgcmW_aNWj0xFGzcWY5mrdri-OIGMDPG_WuojuSsbKGu_/s1600/Pictures10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9f1HFDIwEMihO0STnnPm2AhKDYSXkq19vR0EbZfLgH4-pqa3QXuAvgoPa7m91nnHeoO5zu3XRAPifZZ6HC8Y8bN9JpoBVQZYGgcmW_aNWj0xFGzcWY5mrdri-OIGMDPG_WuojuSsbKGu_/s320/Pictures10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br /> </span><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bde263114/" id="rc-bde263114" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-42905076629988243282013-10-22T10:58:00.000-04:002013-10-22T10:58:56.587-04:00Until Further NoticeWell so far that nasty little stomach bug seems to have made its rounds. Thank God that it skipped me and my son, at least this is what we are really hoping for because its been a about a week and we both seem to be fine. That is me pretty much begging for it to be the truth because. . . .<br />
<br />
I'm going to Jersey tomorrow for my husbands little sisters wedding. I'll be there for a bit so once again I won't really be able to read to much. Though chances are after the wedding I'll crack open my kindle once again and start getting back to my reading and reviewing self. So I'll be taking on requests again, but I'll have to let you know now that I'm pretty backed up on them because I haven't touched a book since everyone started puking in my house. . . and car.<br />
<br />
So the until further notice is going to being starting up the beginning of November. I'll be taking requests and pumping out those reviews.<br />
<br />
Thanks for being patient with me on this.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-22712802477332260762013-10-18T11:03:00.000-04:002013-10-18T11:03:40.909-04:00Blog Tour: Venice in the Moonlight<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UY0z5rWL6A/Uk2vytnYz6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/h0ge34e5c38/s1600/Venice-in-the-Moonlight-EbookCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UY0z5rWL6A/Uk2vytnYz6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/h0ge34e5c38/s1600/Venice-in-the-Moonlight-EbookCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UY0z5rWL6A/Uk2vytnYz6I/AAAAAAAAAJc/h0ge34e5c38/s320/Venice-in-the-Moonlight-EbookCOVER.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="209" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Venice in the Moonlight</b></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>by Elizabeth McKenna</b></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Paperback:</b> 194 pages</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Publisher:</b> CreateSpace</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ISBN-13:</b> 978-1492720195</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A story of vengeance, forgiveness and love...</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After her husband’s untimely demise, Marietta Gatti is banished from the family’s villa by her spiteful mother-in-law. She returns to her hometown of Venice and her only kin—a father she hasn’t spoken to since her forced marriage. Her hope of making amends is crushed when she learns she is too late, for he recently died under suspicious circumstances. Grief-stricken, Marietta retraces her father’s last night only to discover someone may have wanted him dead—and she may be next. When the prime suspect turns out to be the father of the man she is falling in love with, Marietta risks her future happiness and her life to avenge the death of a man she once hated.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth McKenna’s latest novel takes you back to the days of Carnival and Casanova, where lovers meet discreetly, and masks make everyone equal.</span></i><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17255938-venice-in-the-moonlight" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5t3UUQvE79d53xU0Grw2-NW4JPbfQkbAEyfbYXkxKH20HniWIR-HZSDcxlToovW02b41ikN2tc-QGbsDnRjs4XMYHczFMql7uKZhFLSociqDqjMGleq3kLUC3NS5_kcV3942091rXWHK/s1600/AddtoGoodreads.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.createspace.com/3754078" target="_blank">Createspace</a> I <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FMGW38E" target="_blank">Amazon</a> I <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/venice-in-the-moonlight-elizabeth-mckenna/1117040179?ean=2940148618577" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">Excerpt</span></u></b></div>
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Nico shrugged in the French wingback chair they had placed by the fireplace for his portrait. He looked regal in a black silk suit trimmed in gold and a waistcoat of burgundy and gold leaf-patterned brocade. It seemed Raul had excellent taste in men’s fashions.</div>
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Marietta rolled her eyes before she settled in a chair behind the easel. “Please keep still while I draw.”</div>
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“May I talk?”</div>
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“I’d rather you didn’t.” Looking at him was going to be enough distraction. She didn’t need to listen to him also.</div>
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He ignored her request. “I have to ask—why Palladino?”</div>
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Marietta blew out an exasperated breath. “I can’t sketch you properly if you talk.”</div>
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“You could have chosen any man at the Consul’s villa. Casanova himself expressed interest in you, yet you leave with that pig.”</div>
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“It’s not what you think.” She compared her drawing to Nico and frowned. His shoulders were no longer in the same position.</div>
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“You didn’t have to suffer the man’s dismal lovemaking. What were you thinking?”</div>
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“We did not make love,” she replied through clenched teeth.</div>
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He continued as if not hearing her. “You’re the first woman in years that he didn’t have to pay, though he would never admit to his need for courtesans. I just don’t understand how you could find him appealing.”</div>
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“We did not make love.” She practically shouted it this time. “I’m not attracted to Palladino or any other man for that matter.”</div>
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This silenced him, gratefully, but only for a few moments. “Well, in that case, I know of a few courtesans that can accommodate you. I am told they are quite beautiful and skilled.”</div>
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Marietta threw down her charcoal and marched over to him. She grabbed his shoulders and repositioned him. “That is not what I meant and you know it.”</div>
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He smiled up at her innocently. “I didn’t mean to offend you, but you have refused my charms, so what should I think?”</div>
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She glared at him for her own benefit, knowing it would have no effect on the man. “You need to stop talking and moving.”</div>
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When he didn’t respond, she said, “That’s better.”</div>
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He lasted almost fifteen minutes. “So, what kind of man are you attracted to? Perhaps, I could suggest a few potential lovers.”</div>
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“How about one who has fewer conquests than fingers and toes? Or one that values honesty and fidelity over all else? Do you know any like that?”</div>
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From the thoughtful look on his face, he took this as an earnest question. “I’m afraid, Kitty, a man like that will be hard to find in Venice, especially this time of year.”</div>
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“Well, then, I guess I’ll have to go without.”</div>
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“How depressing. What will you do for amusement if you don’t take a lover?”</div>
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Marietta rubbed at her temples and decided she deserved more than the coins she’d already been paid. “There’s more to life than pleasuring oneself.”</div>
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“Really?”</div>
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“Yes, Signore, really.” She placed her stub of charcoal on the easel’s tray and rolled the stiffness from her neck and shoulders. “That is all for today. I have another appointment.” It was a lie, but she felt the need to rest and the bed in the corner was tempting her tired body.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">About the Author:</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJGRLfNp8wXIBiFl2aEiO62-Z_9ELKEzw3tZVMoHAsxCNYB85m2Xw24bgyV7mIG31A7y56yzIyizEz8obArbirTQ5Phi8GVyOwquG3out6rZ1AblbDvjXIp88DQeIl7_rbEjsKQJyQuA/s1600/author_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJGRLfNp8wXIBiFl2aEiO62-Z_9ELKEzw3tZVMoHAsxCNYB85m2Xw24bgyV7mIG31A7y56yzIyizEz8obArbirTQ5Phi8GVyOwquG3out6rZ1AblbDvjXIp88DQeIl7_rbEjsKQJyQuA/s1600/author_2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth McKenna works as a full-time technical writer/editor for a large software company. Though her love of books reaches back to her childhood, she had never read romance novels until one Christmas when her sister gave her the latest bestseller by Nora Roberts. She was hooked from page one (actually, she admits it was the first love scene). She had always wanted to write fiction, so when a psychic told her she would write a book, she felt obligated to give it a try. She combined her love of history, romance and a happy ending to write her debut novel Cera's Place. Her short story, The Gypsy Casts a Spell, is available for free on her website http://elizabethmckenna.com/. She hopes you will enjoy her latest novel, Venice in the Moonlight, as much as others have enjoyed her previous works.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Elizabeth lives in Wisconsin with her understanding husband, two beautiful daughters, and sassy Labrador. When she isn't writing, working, or being a mom, she's sleeping.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="http://elizabethmckenna.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> I <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethMcKennaAuthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizaMcKenna" target="_blank">Twitter</a> I <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5337654.Elizabeth_McKenna" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-62052183557713797412013-10-07T03:39:00.000-04:002013-10-07T03:39:25.160-04:00What a Fun Night. . .NotHello my lovely's!<br />
<br />
It seems to be that time of year again. You know the wonderful amazing time of the year when all sorts of illnesses come a knocking at your door.<br />
<br />
It is currently 3:30 in the morning and I just spent the better part of the last hour cleaning up puke. Yes you read that right, my little princess not only threw up all over herself but also all over her bed. I'm not sure if I should feel lucky that I could handle that or not. Last year was horrible with this same epidemic. I feared sending my kids to sleep because one or both would do this, it lasted a week between the both of them before it moved onto my husband. Not sure if he was worse then the kids. Then it hit me up as well, the universal law that says moms aren't suppose to get sick must of been looking the other way.<br />
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So here is to everyone. . .I'll not be taking on any reading for reviews or posting much until further notice. I have a feeling this is just going to make its rounds between all of us so I see myself having lots of gross things to clean up in the very near future. . .like possibly again tonight. I just pray she will get it in the trash can I left for her, but I don't expect that she will.<br />
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Until further notice. . .Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-88575477429471593282013-10-02T07:24:00.000-04:002013-10-02T07:24:10.240-04:00Review: Revenge of the Elf (Nysta #1)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8OD9pE82uPuYsBYWSypvOIigdraRMCsWgHjELnMDS3GvosNRgHx-xs1yfannLfjDxw6itTnhXQDO4DXdICPYwcrdY6BL6XaE_kCQN_ezIg9b-Gh2O5MCOOFHcRDpmtmNmsFVJzJ3KLJH/s1600/nysta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8OD9pE82uPuYsBYWSypvOIigdraRMCsWgHjELnMDS3GvosNRgHx-xs1yfannLfjDxw6itTnhXQDO4DXdICPYwcrdY6BL6XaE_kCQN_ezIg9b-Gh2O5MCOOFHcRDpmtmNmsFVJzJ3KLJH/s320/nysta.jpg" width="206" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Revenge of the Elf (Nysta #1)</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by Lucas Thorn</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Nysta is a new kind of elf.</i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">When nine killers rode out of the homestead with blood fresh on their hands, they reckoned that would be the end of it.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The lost spellslinger was looking for a way out. He figured Nysta could lead him to the safety of a town called Spikewrist. And then there was the tragic creature born in the darkest shadows of legend. He reckoned she would fight the greatest fight of all.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">But none of them counted on the violence she would unleash. Because in the Deadlands there is no forgiveness. No mercy.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Winter in the Deadlands could be cold. But the revenge of an elf would be colder.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>2 Stars</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I really really wanted to like this book. But no matter how much I tried to force myself to like it, I just couldn't.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I give credit to the author for trying hard to change the way people look at Elves. Unfortunately it is a lost cause, to many books and movies have been created at this point to get away with it. I can't help but think of them as tall, willowy people that can be cold hearted but are also good for the most part. Here I got a scarred up elf that curse almost ever other word. I could have maybe handled that well, but cursing in modern phrases killed it for me, though I can say every now and again a homemade one was thrown in, but for the most part the f-bomb was dropped so much I have a feeling I might be saying it a lot in the future because I have read it so many times.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I couldn't even like Nysta, I wanted to. . .she had it hard in life, but her thoughts were all over the place that I started to get tried reading about her. At first I thought it was a pretty neat concept on how she named her weapons, but after a while I got really tried of reading them over and over again, it had a way of jarring me out of the story itself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I really don't even understand the end of it at all, she started out wanting to get revenge (hence the title) but ended up mixed up in some kind of darkness that wanted her. It seemed kinda pointless to me, the author could have gotten away with her just going after the people she wanted, there was enough of them to kill off a few every book and keep it going. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I did like the mage, he was interesting to me and amusing. He is the reason I read the book to the end. Can't say what it is that I liked so much about him, but its out there. I started to wish things would start to be told from his point of view after a while, I was way more interested in him than Nysta. What I don't understand is why Nysta let him tag a long with her, especially since she supposedly hates mages. I stopped caring about that after a while though. I imagine it will be something explained in the books after this one. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I wish I also got a better understanding of the gods. To me they didn't really seem like gods after awhile, just siblings that didn't get a long and started to kill each other off. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Would I recommend this book? Probably not, it just didn't work well for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">As a side note. . .love the cover, it is the reason I got the book.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-60077231106540423542013-09-30T06:44:00.000-04:002013-09-30T06:47:12.102-04:00Review: Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles #2)<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818;"><b>Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles #2)</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #181818;"><b>by Ripley Patton</b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<i>Olivia Black is back.</i></span><span style="color: #222222; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Only this time she's not the one in need of rescue.<br /><br />Samantha James, rich, popular, and an award-winning composer at age seventeen, is the next target on the CAMFers' list. And in order to convince Samantha to come with them, Olivia and Passion must pose as cousins, blend into the most affluent high school in Indianapolis, and infiltrate a mysterious cult known as The Hold.<br /><br />Olivia doesn't expect it to be easy, even with the PSS guys backing them up. But what she discovers over the course of the mission will call into question everything she ever believed about herself, her ghost hand, and especially about Marcus, the guy she is undoubtedly falling in love with.</span></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">*****</span></b></div>
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<b>5 Stars</b></div>
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I once read a comment made by an author that went something like this "We work for months and months to write a book and you readers come along and read it in a hour" it wasn't said in anger more in amusement. Well here I am one of those people that read and read until I got to the very end finishing this book in day. I'm a fast reader naturally, but when a book is good and I really like it I tend to go into the zone and don't even realize I've been reading the book for as long as I have or that I'm almost done with it, that happened with this one.<br />
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I wouldn't have been able to guess at 85% of the things that happened in this book. Everything that kept happening had me being surprised, or at least not thinking that it was going to happen that way.<br />
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I still really like Olivias character, though she needs to work on keeping her feelings to herself when it comes to certain things. Though at the same time that is just who she is.<br />
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I wasn't to sure how I would feel about Passion, but I have to say I really think she was a good add to the book. I was defiantly surprised by her back story.<br />
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I have almost jumped from the love/hate train to the hate train when it comes to Marcus, but I'm holding out a little longer with him. I still don't know what to think about him, and I want to like him, but at the same time I want to punch him in the face. He seems like he wants to help everyone and especially Olivia, but at the same time he keeps things hidden from everyone.<br />
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The plot was good, there was just enough things happening at all the right times to keep you interested in reading. I had thought at one time there was going to be a love triangle, but thank God it didn't happen. There is action, romance, and some mystery. I wasn't expecting something like The Hold, but it really makes sense when it comes to the PSS, when there is something people don't understand they can hate it like the CAMPers, or they can love it like The Hold. It was defiantly an interesting concept.<br />
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The ending. . . .yeah I was all shocked with it. I probably shouldn't have been because just about everything in the book blindsided me, but I really didn't think something like that would happen. I have to say everything does wrap up pretty nicely, and I like that. But I'm still reeling from everything that happened, and I really want to know what is going to happen next. I don't want to spoil anything for others so I'll only say this, I was pretty sad about a lot that happened, and I need to know what happen to Passion and Jason.<br />
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Would I recommend this book? Yes, I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-34424622048053993542013-09-29T14:15:00.000-04:002013-09-29T14:15:02.428-04:00Review: The Rise of the Red Shadow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGDQNnH5VNPC0qS2j1NLpWr5Tx-rO0WuITz0KO0a7pqnit4wIeVe3h4E04KHTaBs0ifISwSs4_FmtDK7YfdI0ARsfBVWTOlD5P_5TwEpL3UTCEpcDJNv7CF2EEpHzcvKtyuxjEsO1-YMq/s1600/trotrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGDQNnH5VNPC0qS2j1NLpWr5Tx-rO0WuITz0KO0a7pqnit4wIeVe3h4E04KHTaBs0ifISwSs4_FmtDK7YfdI0ARsfBVWTOlD5P_5TwEpL3UTCEpcDJNv7CF2EEpHzcvKtyuxjEsO1-YMq/s320/trotrs.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Rise of the Red Shadow</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by Joseph R. Lallo</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Every story must begin somewhere. For the warrior who would come to be known as the fearsome Red Shadow, the story began in a forgotten glade deep in the land of Tressor. It was there that a pair of trackers, eager to retrieve a lost slave, instead found an orphaned malthrope. Had it been a human, it might have been treated with compassion, but in the eyes of human society a malthrope was a monster, a mix of fox and man believed to be a murderer and thief by its very nature. The beast was to be sold for a handful of silver, but fate intervened in the form of an old blind slave named Ben. Under the learned hand of the one human who believed in his potential, the young malthrope would instead be given the wisdom to take his first steps on the long journey to his destiny.</i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">The Rise of the Red Shadow chronicles the early life of one of the most mysterious figures of the Book of Deacon trilogy, the creature called Lain. It tells of his years working and learning on a Tresson plantation until a dark day of vengeance and bloodshed finally set him free. From there you will follow as he finds his place in the world, learning what it is to be a malthrope, and turning to the purpose that will guide him for the rest of his days. It is a story of love, hate, and lessons hard-learned, revealing the painful choices one must make to become the hero the world needs.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">*****</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>5 Stars</b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">For someone that read and really enjoyed "The Deacon Trilogy" it was like stumbling upon a treasure when I found this book. Leo, Lain, Red Shadow or what ever you want to call him was my favorite character in these books. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I'll start with this, you don't have to read "The Deacon Trilogy" first to enjoy this book. But than again I'm pretty sure that is how prequel work anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I have to admit that though I loved the trilogy, the main reason I keep reading was because of Lain. Something about him just caught my attention and just never let go. I will also say that I might be just a tad bias in this review. I just really love Lain, you don't come across a character like him very often.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I liked the way we were able to follow him literally from the very beginning of his life. How we are there from every single thing that happens. You see why he is the way he turned out to be in the Trilogy, how if maybe under different </span>circumstances<span style="font-family: inherit;"> he would have been something completely different. If I had to pick one word to describe his life it would be sad, and than I would cheat and add very, very sad. I'll agree with another reviewer that said she would have liked to see </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Myranda through his eyes and to hear his thoughts about her.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
The story itself was really amazing, being able to see how the legend was formed was great. I like how it would fold in on itself at times and bring back certain things. Since I had no clue of the depth of his history I wouldn't even begin to guess at what would have happened. On top of that I was still really surprised by the ending.<br />
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Now what I would like even more was more books with him being the main character, but that is just me being greedy cause I know its not something that could easily happen or really happen at all.<br />
<br />
Would I recommend this book? Yes, read The Deacon Trilogy first or this one it doesn't matter, but this is one you really don't want to pass up.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-3801778266911411152013-09-26T10:28:00.001-04:002013-09-26T10:28:37.508-04:00Review: The Marksmith<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9Gdb-pn4DYzFJ2x_zQT283aAcGPdwBUZweyhLr8wK1s8aot48Pyidhm1My9B1T3tEZbfhpOoS7vrPIZU8tIo2d-ODDlbJm7QvlfOp89jt4Wp2SaWvR_371jUxsslSE1Wr71qSvVAmUGk/s1600/marksmith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9Gdb-pn4DYzFJ2x_zQT283aAcGPdwBUZweyhLr8wK1s8aot48Pyidhm1My9B1T3tEZbfhpOoS7vrPIZU8tIo2d-ODDlbJm7QvlfOp89jt4Wp2SaWvR_371jUxsslSE1Wr71qSvVAmUGk/s320/marksmith.jpg" width="204" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Marksmith</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by C.V. Dressman</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Deep within the wrinkled folds of time, an unjust act by a just king brought about the desolation of a kingdom. For an age the secret of that discarded sin has lain chained beneath a sea of sand. Now, as a shadow seeps from the festering land and hope fades into the world of dreams, no secrets shall remain.</i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Crone has long been a thrall. He has long desired freedom. When the whispered words of a dream compel him to act upon desire, the archer Crone and his companions find themselves pawns in an unfinished game for power.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Hunted by the empire he defied and dark forces intent on keeping the secret of Divine Sin sequestered, Crone must choose his fate. It may well shatter the spirit of friends and burn the soul of an entire world to ash...for in the gathering storm of war, the Marksmith learns that freedom may be the harshest master of all.</span></i></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">**</span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-small;">1/2</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2 1/2 Stars</b></div>
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About half way through this book I started to get the feeling that this book was birthed from short entries written when the author found the time. Now I'm not sure if this is what really happened, it just seemed like it.<br />
<br />
Everything seems to be told in spurts. A few paragraphs here talking about one thing, and marker to separate everything than a few more paragraphs talking about thing else, or just fast forward in the future some. Having the story told this way made the characters very one dimensional. I had a hard time finding any reason to like anyone because I never got the chance to really know them. Reading a book like this is hard, if you don't care for the characters you don't care about what they are up to.<br />
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I also found myself confused a lot. Not really sure of everything that was going on. There seemed to also be a lot of pointless sex going on. . .but at least this was tastefully done. It is in no way anywhere close to an erotica, and I was happy about that.<br />
<br />
The concept of the book was good, though I found myself not really liking the characters to much after a while the plot was good. I am a sucker for quests like Crone found himself on. But I still found myself confused a lot during the entire read, like the test that Crone goes through at one point in the book had me scratching my head wondering what the hell was going on. The ending was interesting, didn't see a lot of it coming so that was nice.<br />
<br />
The book is told from a few different point of views, this is something I really love, and it was done well. I could easily figure out who was who. This at least made me very happy.<br />
<br />
I'm not one that usually complains about grammar or editing issues, because really how am I to point these things out when I am horrible with them myself. But there are a lot of very glaring issues the farther you get into the book. Words not capitalized at the beginning of a sentence, or the one I found the most instead of had it would be hand. A quick go through and these things can get cleaned up nicely.<br />
<br />
Would I recommend this book? Eh, its a maybe. . .it would really depend on the person. The author has talent, I'll give him that, he just needs to work on his character development and a few other things.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-8958754060020392472013-09-24T06:43:00.000-04:002013-09-24T06:43:35.589-04:00Review: Waiting for Daybreak<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gOTs9ts99bLQ9SHCexW9q5z703hYGJoVPpNKI1ANtU-6eFeM-OQ9ldq2s-nwfFmR8_NAtpdSJb6Vs36GA6vuFWrYgWXcvJp35gpe1x_rseD0_bQOoZ2a6nacuD0z3hCUbRADH8kMZElf/s1600/waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gOTs9ts99bLQ9SHCexW9q5z703hYGJoVPpNKI1ANtU-6eFeM-OQ9ldq2s-nwfFmR8_NAtpdSJb6Vs36GA6vuFWrYgWXcvJp35gpe1x_rseD0_bQOoZ2a6nacuD0z3hCUbRADH8kMZElf/s320/waiting.jpg" width="228" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Waiting for Daybreak</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by Amanda McNeil</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>What is normal?</i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Frieda has never felt normal. She feels every emotion too strongly and lashes out at herself in punishment. But one day when she stays home from work too depressed to get out of bed, a virus breaks out turning her neighbors into flesh-eating, brain-hungry zombies. As her survival instinct kicks in keeping her safe from the zombies, Frieda can’t help but wonder if she now counts as healthy and normal, or is she still abnormal compared to every other human being who is craving brains?</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>****</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>4 Stars</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I'm not to sure how I feel about this book. I liked it a lot, and found a lot of parts humorous even knowing that they probably weren't suppose to be. But I'm that jerk that laughs when you fall so I find a lot of things in life funny when others don't.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have to start of with my biggest complaint. The zombies. I'm pretty strict about my zombies, and in all can say that I'm a lover of the classic kind, I can handle some runners thrown in but for the most part I want my zombies dumb and slow. Here I wasn't sure what to think of them, and honestly liked how Frieda was calling them the Afflicted, because I started to think of them as "zombie like creatures". They liked to eat brains, but hey they talked and you know could open doors and stuff if they were up to it. But as soon as the "Z" word came out I didn't like it, not one bit. Every time I saw the word zombie, I just made it into the word Afflicted. If I hadn't done that I would have really started to not like the book and it is a good book so I didn't want that to happen. I'm just strange when it comes to my zombies. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The story itself isn't your classic survivor story. Sure there is plenty about her scavenging stuff to live, and some close calls, but other than that not like any zombie story I have read before. Frieda is really a piece of work, and I can honestly see how see was able to survive. I mean if you have to convince yourself everyday of your life not to panic over things, it turns out pretty much the same when you can see your neighbor hood going to hell.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I can say I expected Mike to show up eventually, I also guessed correct as to when he would make his appearance. It made sense to me that a hot man would show up eventually. What I didn't except was him being just as emotionally damaged as Frieda, and all that before the end of the world came. I can't say I really like how they interacted with each other though. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Snuggles. . .you my feline friend were a very nice touch. I love cats.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I didn't see the end coming at all, I seen some form of it. . .cause you know it is a zombie book and all, but just not the way it did. It is nice to be surprised when reading a zombie book, there are only so many ways they can go and to see someone throw a little bit of a curve ball in there is nice.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you like zombie books you should like this one. Its a quick and easy read as well.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-21894276913164034712013-09-23T06:39:00.000-04:002013-09-23T06:39:27.473-04:00Blog Tour: The Escape - Spotlight<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sinfulreview.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/815v9fd3vcl-_sl1500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="815V9Fd3VCL._SL1500_" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-789" height="300" src="http://sinfulreview.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/815v9fd3vcl-_sl1500_.jpg?w=200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>The Escape</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>by Amber Fast</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>When tragedy strikes the life of twenty one year old Annabelle Martin the only thing she knows to do is run. She takes her best friend Harper Reed and moves to a small town in Tennessee. The two began starting a new life in the country not expecting to fall in love. When Anna met Paisley he was everything she had ever wanted in a man, Harper fell for his best friend Ryder and life was perfect for them, until something terrible happens. Will Anna ever get to experience her happily ever after or will the tragedy of her past haunt her forever?</i></span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px;"><u>Book Links:</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18299496-the-escape?from_search=true" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Goodreads</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Escape-ebook/dp/B00EKVPQ2W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379808055&sr=8-1&keywords=amber+fast" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Amazon Kindle</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Escape-Amber-Fast/dp/1492194549/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378676999&sr=8-2&keywords=The+escape+amber+fast" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Amazon Paperback</span></a></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b><u>Excerpt:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The sound of the highway was all I could hear, it’s
all I wanted to hear. I was going to run and, never look back. I couldn’t look
back, not now. The events that recently took place in my life will forever
haunt me. I was going to the country and I would never return to New York. I
was lost in thought and enjoying the quiet that I hadn’t heard in days when I
hear Harper singing along to Cruise by Florida Georgia Line. Boy if she only
knew the notes she hit could make dogs bark. I let out a little giggle and
reached over to pull the headphones out of my best friend’s ears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“We're almost there Harp!” Harper sat straight up in
her seat pouncing up and down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I am so excited Anna! A new life, a new start, and
I know it’s going to be hard for you, but were going to make the best of it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I sat there in silence for the next couple of miles.
All I was seeing were flashes of a nightmare I was hoping to forget. As we
pulled into the Union Station Hotel all me and Harper could do was look at each
other and smile in utter shock. It was beautiful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Damn Annabelle you went all out didn’t you?” Harper
said with a huge smile as she jumped out of the jeep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Well it’s going to be home until we can find a
place to buy, might as well make it a nice one,” I said with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We opened the door to the suite and I’d swear Harper
was going to have a flat out panic attack. “Anna, oh my gosh, this is amazing,
look at the bathroom, the beds and oh my gosh look at the view of Nashville. I
don’t know about you, but I am in Heaven.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I gave my best friend a smile. “I’m glad you love
it.” I knew she would. I wanted to be excited, but given the circumstances of
me being here to begin with I found it hard to be happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Harper must have sensed the hurt in my voice, she
walked over to me as I sat on the bed. “Oh Anna how could I be so insensitive?
I know you hurt so badly, and I wish more than anything I could take it all
away sweets.” Man I loved my best friend I don’t know what I would do without
her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I’ll be fine harp,” I smiled as I stood up. “I’m
ready for a bath and bed, lots of house hunting to do tomorrow!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As I walked to the bathroom, Harper jumped up, and
with a giggled shouted, “And maybe some country boys!” I looked back gave her a
wink and shut the bathroom door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I laid in the tub and just let the jets beat on my
back as I tried to relax. I can't help but replay that vision in my head over
and over again. Oh how I wished I could just stay here in this tub and never
get out. I was sure that I would never heal. I would never be the old Annabelle
Martin. The care free one that never had a worry, captain of the volleyball
team, more friends than I could count girl. I had to start a new life, and
become a new me that's the only way I knew to move on and try to forget my
past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When I came out of the bathroom I could hear Harper
on her cell. “Yes mom we’re fine. This is what Anna needs, and I'm going to be
here to help her through it” Just then she noticed me standing there. “OK mom,
Anna is out of the tub I have to go, love you,” she clicked the end call on her
phone. “Oh my gosh Anna, that woman makes me nuts! Anyway get dressed and all
dolled up I’m going to jump I the shower then we are going out!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I looked at Harper I knew she was only trying to
have a good time, and take my mind off things, but not tonight I just couldn’t
do it. “Harp I was kind of hoping we could order a ton of room service, stuff
our face, watch movies and maybe Google some local real estate agents tonight.
Would that be OK?” Harper let out a huge smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“I would so rather stuff my face with my best
friend. Sounds great sweets I’ll be right out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I waited until I heard water running, and ran out on
the balcony to catch my breath, I knelt down against the glass doors, and the
tears started to pour. “Why me? Why did I have to be the one this happened to?
I had such a wonderful life back in NY until it was all taken away from me.
What did my family ever do to deserve this?” I sat and let the tears flow until
I thought they couldn’t come any more. I heard Harper come out of the bathroom
and quickly wiped my face and went in. “OK sweets you ready for a movie? Magic
Mikes on. I know how you love that Matthew McConaughey, and well I’ll just keep
my eyes on Mr. Tatum,” she giggled. I couldn’t help but giggle back after all
she is right I love that Mr. McConaughey. We ordered room service, stuffed our
faces, and watched some movies before drifting off to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I'm sweating, screaming, and throwing my hands. “No
this can't be real no! No!” I screamed. I then felt the familiar touch of my
best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Anna sweets are you OK? You must have been having a
nightmare.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“No Harp. No I'm not. It's real, it's all real.” I
threw my head in Harper’s arms and sobbed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">About the Author:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #70ad47; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://sinfulreview.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/1097490_607566049265653_2003693262_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="1097490_607566049265653_2003693262_n" class="size-medium wp-image-207 aligncenter" height="300" src="http://sinfulreview.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/1097490_607566049265653_2003693262_n.jpg?w=264" width="264" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;">My name is Amber Fast I call West Virginia home. I have four amazing kiddos. Payten, Hannah, Landen & Izabella. I married my best friend on 11/11/11. I have a passion for writing and singing. My first book called "The Escape" was published on August 13th 2013. I am currently working on my second book titled "The Million Dollar Affair" I read all different genres but I write Erotica Romance :)</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 107%;"><u> Author Links:
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7211359.Amber_Fast" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Goodreads</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/amberfastauthor" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Facebook</span></a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Fast/e/B00EX61IWG/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1378677276&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Amazon</span></a></li>
</ul>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-26647218653874547922013-09-22T19:44:00.000-04:002013-09-22T19:44:09.156-04:00Review: The Book of the Forsaken<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjD6Aao-q66eo686Dl50W7RTr4xVidmvvv9_648NUO8gMLyGL8p0w9_8PH1W8KO7MNKvCSC1BiNYy9xt9FpZu2okmY0OkijPtqFQAznfyCT1SN4hW5UOokOZzY0wbVtcVmwtKXBcTnaCN/s1600/tbotf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjD6Aao-q66eo686Dl50W7RTr4xVidmvvv9_648NUO8gMLyGL8p0w9_8PH1W8KO7MNKvCSC1BiNYy9xt9FpZu2okmY0OkijPtqFQAznfyCT1SN4hW5UOokOZzY0wbVtcVmwtKXBcTnaCN/s320/tbotf.jpg" width="216" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>The Book of the Forsaken</b></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by Yannis</span></span><span itemprop="name" style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span style="color: black;"> Karatsioris</span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<i>An ancient being, our storyteller, traps three characters in his web in order to get hold of a special book. Daniel, Cassidy and Igor are three unique individuals, considered outcasts for different reasons. They are about to meet and stick together, as coincidences and forced situations lead them to a journey all around Europe. As everyone is after the Book of the Forsaken, the coming Game is about to take place on the dark side of the moon. But there is a cost to that knowledge. Let alone to the wish to partake.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>***</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3 Stars</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t say that I loved this book, but at the same time I
also didn’t hate it. I’m floating somewhere in the middle still not sure
exactly what to think about everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I found myself pretty confused a lot of the time, being as
the book is told from quite a few different point of views. This isn’t, in my opinion
done very well. You get a taste for each “puppet” at the beginning of the book
so I was able to figure out who was who after a while, but every now and again
I was thrown through a loop as to who I was following. . .this is a pet peeve
of mine so I can understand that I might be the only one out there that is
would bother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think the thing that got me off the love boat of this book
is that I felt more like the story was being dictated to me, which I understand
is the point. But I personally like to feel like I’m a shadow following the
different players around, with the ability to read minds at times. I like to
feel like I’m part of the story, here I felt like I was being told everything
and it just didn’t mash well for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I did find myself liking Cassidy, mainly because of the way
he just gave nicknames to everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Other than that it was an interesting concept, if not
confusing at times and I can say that I’m not entirely sure exactly what was
happening. I did also like the different powers each one of given, though had a
hard time understanding how they got them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I also really liked how it was told as different parts where
everyone met up with each other. Especially in the beginning when the actions
of one made things work well for another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Would I recommend this book? I feel like this book is one
that only certain people will love. Personally I can say I’m not too interested
in reading more, but can see how others will like it.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-59391575419027830562013-09-19T23:16:00.003-04:002013-09-19T23:16:36.878-04:00Review: As the World Dies: The First Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmaJGOg6gTXjaDSqWxGYv7IAnSl38fye3F6RU5CYkvP0dooHRginjyefMP61YfVmncii2nXonyAYuNh7Vu8Ro9K7WROX3g30Ve56HGaGeB3cNhOKu_trvsuWuU-NHWsWlPcORNks8Xkl0/s1600/atwd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmaJGOg6gTXjaDSqWxGYv7IAnSl38fye3F6RU5CYkvP0dooHRginjyefMP61YfVmncii2nXonyAYuNh7Vu8Ro9K7WROX3g30Ve56HGaGeB3cNhOKu_trvsuWuU-NHWsWlPcORNks8Xkl0/s320/atwd.jpg" width="216" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>As the World Dies: The First Days</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>by Rhiannon Frater</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The morning that the world ends, Katie is getting ready for court and housewife Jenni is taking care of her family. Less than two hours later, they are fleeing for their lives from a zombie horde. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Thrown together by circumstance, Jenni and Katie become a powerful zombie-killing partnership, mowing down zombies as they rescue Jenni’s stepson, Jason, from an infected campground.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">They find sanctuary in a tiny, roughly fortified Texas town. There Jenni and Katie find they are both attracted to Travis, leader of the survivors; and the refugees must slaughter people they know, who have returned in zombie form. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Fast-paced and exciting, filled with characters who grab your heart, </span><span style="background-color: white;">The First Days: As the World Dies</span><span style="background-color: white;"> is the beginning of a frightening trilogy. </span></i></span><div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>*****</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>5 Stars</b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div>
This is one of the best zombie books I have ever read. This is the third time I have read it and each time I find myself liking it even more than the first. I figured it was about time I finally wrote a review for it.</div>
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<div>
The thing that I like the best about this book is the fact that nothing is sugar coated. Things are going to happen and you are not going to like them. Every other book I have ever read never once took into account that adults are not the only zombies out there, because there are children zombies it makes it seem more read to me, the only ever zombie thing that has done this is the TV series <i>The Walking Dead</i>. Its sad, but a sad fact of what would really happen if something like this ever really did happen. There is gore but it isn't enough to make your stomach turn, just enough to get the point across. </div>
<div>
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<div>
The story itself is petty much like any other zombie book out there, the survivors trying their hardest to make it through life. Things seem more intense because you honestly never know if one of the characters you have grown to like is going to make it.</div>
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<div>
I like how things moved in the way they did. And the way everyone pulled together to make "the fort" what it was. I also liked the added elements of inner turmoil as well. Not everyone can get a long with everyone and it was nice to see that this is shown. It wasn't just a bunch of people living in harmony with each other. </div>
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<div>
Jenni is hands down my favorite character, and to me her story is the saddest. She is insane but at the same time completely amazing. I looked forward to when things would be told from her point of view. Katie started to get on my nerves after a while, but at the same time I could understand what she was going though so I was able to put up with her.</div>
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<div>
The only thing I didn't like was the format, but honestly the copy of the book I have is old so I can't say if it is something that has gotten fixed at this point, so it won't get a bad mark from me. </div>
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Would I recommend this book? Hell yeah, if you like zombie books you will love this one.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
On a side note, I seen that the book has quite a few different covers. The one I put up here is the one that my copy came with, and its the one I like the best. If you look for this book on Amazon it will show a different cover so don't be confused by this.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-8102863464973052592013-09-17T07:12:00.000-04:002013-09-17T07:12:30.273-04:00Author Interview with Chad Huskins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGHM9YjstCDHaDdMrmitWPYHmapXtEgbJws-ptXGpNBWuU1iadYmP-Cpt6Z8syGpdHuoqIWBBouJ8lzoLMf_USouXgi3lgOZdA2TR6DJ6Ba2vF5FmlNQA9kkZSQ4m67uGjpSHyJYpYLMF/s1600/Chadbio3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQGHM9YjstCDHaDdMrmitWPYHmapXtEgbJws-ptXGpNBWuU1iadYmP-Cpt6Z8syGpdHuoqIWBBouJ8lzoLMf_USouXgi3lgOZdA2TR6DJ6Ba2vF5FmlNQA9kkZSQ4m67uGjpSHyJYpYLMF/s1600/Chadbio3.jpg" /></a>I've had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favorite authors of this year. I stumbled upon Chad Huskins by complete accident, and let me tell you it was one of the best things to happening. It's not very often that I get so caught up in a series that I find myself re reading it for no other reason than just because. He is one of those authors that I want to shout about on a street corner to get people to read his work. But since I would probably get in trouble if I started doing that I settled for an interview, as well as book reviews to make me happy.<br />
<br />
I have to say this series isn't for the faint of heart. Its not necessarily scary, at least not classic scary, more of the "Holy shit this stuff really happens" scary. It made me as a parent want to grab both my kids and attach them to my side so that I would never have to even think that something like this could happen to them, especially after reading the first book. Having gotten that out of the way I still think everyone should pick these books up and read them, because even if its not something you generally like to read its a real eye opener on certain things, as well as filled with the most unique characters you will ever come across. I'm an avid reader, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't have my nose stuck in some book and I can say I have never in my life read about any characters that come close to being how Spencer, Kaley and Shan are in these books.<br />
<br />
Time to get to the good part. . .<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>-When and why did you start writing?</b></span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>"I was thirteen or fourteen years old when I
started writing. It came on the heels of
my reading Sphere by Michael
Crichton. Sometime between then and
reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the
Galaxy, I thought, “I want to do this.”</i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
have my friend Doug Cline to thank for that.
It was during one summer vacation where he was leaving for a while, off
to some family trip or other, and for me that was like prison. I mean, as a kid you can’t drive, so being
stuck at home all summer while friends are off doing other things…it’s
miserable. So when I asked him what the
heck I was supposed to do while he was gone, he picked up a random book lying beside
his bed and threw it at me, and said, “Here, read a book.” It was meant as a total joke. Another friend of ours, Shane Weiman, had
given him the book after he was finished, and Doug just tossed it off to
me. I don’t know why it appealed to me,
but I thought, “Hey, yeah, I’ve never read a book, not a long novel or
anything, so I’ll give it a try.” I’ve
read it a dozen times now and still have that copy.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also
always kind of knew I would do something in the arts. You just kind of know it, you know? Like, I was either going to be an actor or a
writer or a standup comedian, something. There’s just no way for me to work the rest
of my life as an accountant or lawyer or doctor. More power to people who do that, it’s just
not me. Even though I research all those
jobs for my writing and find them all very fascinating, I just could never do
them on a daily basis. It would drive me
to jump out a window.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>I
knew that I would be involved in stories since I was a kid—I was obsessed with
the stories of things, the background on how it all was made. Everything from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to X-Men
to Star Wars. I wanted to be a part of that somehow, I
wanted to contribute. The obsession only
got worse as I got older and read more books."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-What is the hardest part of writing a book for you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>"I have the opposite problem of most
writers. Most writers will talk about
writer’s block, or not having enough time.
Well, I make time, and I never
get writer’s block. In fact, if you’ll
excuse the expression, I have writer’s diarrhea. The ideas just won’t stop coming out, and I’m
rushing to get them on paper. I end up
opening multiple files on my computer to handle it and jot it all down, and
then I start finding books online or at the bookstore that can help me with the
research."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-What do you think is the best part of writing a book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Best part?
It’s gonna sound dumb, but it’s the truth. The best part of writing a book is the writing of a book. I’m kind of disappointed when it’s all over
with. You know, it’s like, it was a fun
ride, I made all sorts of new friends—the fictitious ones that I made up, of
course—and I vanquished a terrible enemy, but even an enemy can be missed.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>Creation
is cathartic in so many ways. I’ve read
that when you do anything repeatedly, no matter what it is, it is
meditation. As long as you enjoy it,
that is. Sewing, fishing, writing,
baking. As long as you enjoy it and do
it repeatedly, you get into the “zone” and your mind goes off someplace
else. You’re both there and not
there. Bruce Lee talked about this in
martial arts, but he wasn’t the first by far.
He said a fighter is “not thinking, yet not dreaming, either.” I’ve done martial arts for thirteen years now
and can say you definitely get into that state.
Everyone else is looking at a writer toiling away, or a martial artist
getting abused, or someone who habitually sews, and they ask, “Jesus, why do
that to yourself?” And we’re like, “Do what?
Are you insane? This is fun! I’m in the zone here! I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!”</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-In your opinion what makes a good story?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I think most people would say characters, and
I would agree with them. Even the really
best books that have no humans in them whatsoever, such as The World Without Us by Alan Weisman—which is a really good book,
by the way—you find that much of the landscape is personified as
characters. Descriptions like “the
Golden Gate Bridge moans loudly in the wind”: the moaning indicates that the
bridge is a person in agony, and lamenting its neglect. And in that book, even the readers themselves
are kind of a character, sort of like ghosts viewing the world they’ve left
behind as the author details what would happen to the world if humans just
vanished or died out suddenly.</span> </i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>My
point is, you can’t get away from character.
It’s the crux of anything. It’s
their struggle you’re dealing with and what the readers want to know
about. It’s not about will the bomb go
off or not, it’s about what will happen to the character if it does. Will he or she die? Even if they live, will they always blame
themselves for not getting there in time?
In the end, you’re reading about a person. You’re vicariously living through them, and
therefore making yourself a participant.
Characters are so central because it’s the only way to invite the reader
in and make them a character, as
well."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-What made you want to write a book about a psychopath?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Well, as I said, I couldn’t be a doctor or a
psychologist, but I sure do love reading books about those professions. I’m an “armchair psychologist,” I have no
degrees or even an ounce of training, but I do buy and own psychology
books. So eventually I came across the
topic of psychopaths, and just like I suspect most psychology students did, I
found them interesting. How can you
not? They don’t feel anything, and since they don’t feel anything, they don’t
really believe that you can feel
anything, either. I wondered, “What must
that be like?”</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like
I say in the book, it’s like convincing a blind man that there is such thing as
the color red—he can take your word for it, but he can’t connect with it, at
least not the way that you can. They say
that blind people can sense the heat off certain things and tell you what color
something is: well, that’s analogous to how a psychopath tries to determine
emotions in others. They can’t sense
motions or feel them, so he or she has to synthesize them in order to play the
game—and that’s actually what pretty much all of them believe, that since they
can’t feel something, neither can you, and therefore you’re just playing a
game. And the psychopath is determined
to play the game better to get ahead.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Interestingly,
though, most psychopaths never kill.
It’s emotional people like you or me or most of the people reading this
that kill. Emotional people do it in a
moment of passion. Psychopaths are good
at emotionally manipulating people and rarely have to resort to that sort of
violence, and the scary part is that they’re more likely to be someone you
trust implicitly, that smiling sweetheart that you couldn’t imagine would hurt
a fly.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An
interesting misconception about psychopaths is that they’re crazy. Psychopaths aren’t crazy or stupid. In fact, they’re usually quite intelligent
and aware of themselves, and, worst of all, quite cunning. They’re manipulative and they’ll use this
skill to their advantage.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However—and
this is a big however—because of all the things I’ve just said, their
intelligence and emotional disconnect and whatnot, when psychopaths do kill, it’s not unusual for them to be
exceedingly good at it. They’re just so calm
that they make few mistakes, because they calmly planned ahead, and in the
aftermath they go over everything with a fine-toothed comb, get their story
straight, line up an alibi, and if taken into interrogation they are able to
calmly spew out the lies and misdirections to confuse authorities.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>For
all these reasons I thought it would be interesting to have a psychopath be an
unexpected protagonist—I hesitate to say “hero” or even “anti-hero” because
Spencer’s not either of those things.
He’s a villain, through and through, with absolutely no redeemable
qualities. And yet the readers root for
him. I set out to do that, and that’s
the number one compliment I hear from people, that they found themselves
rooting for a monster. Mission
accomplished, I guess."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-What kind of research did you have to put into this book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>"A lot!
But I enjoy research so it’s never been a burden for me. In fact, research is kind of my hobby, and
it’s usually out of this research that a story idea emerges. I mean, I had read so much about psychopaths,
human trafficking, and how Interpol was helping to break down on trafficking
and child exploitation internationally, that eventually all these dark things
started to coalesce into a story. All
these hidden things that everybody is disgusted by and nobody wants to talk
about, which is understandable because it is
so disgusting."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-It always makes me feel a little guilty for liking Spencer, but how did
he come to be?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Well, as I said before, I was interested in
including a psychopath because that’s as dark a topic as human trafficking or the
exploitation of children. But as for his
character specifically, like his
crazed philosophy on darkness and coldness…well, I have to be honest and say
that I didn’t know how to write a psychopath since I don’t know any, at least
none that I’m aware of, so I just took thoughts that I’d had in my youth at
their most bleak and intense—you know, those thoughts you feel when the world
starts looking all phony and it doesn’t seem as though any adult is actually
ever genuine with you?—then I took those thoughts two steps darker and made
that Spencer’s overall philosophy.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spencer
is a “positive nihilist.” He believes
that nothing we do has any meaning, therefore the only thing that has any meaning is what we do. In other words, since you are doing something
at any given moment, you are imbuing that moment with a purpose, and that’s
both the beauty and the tragedy of life.
To Spencer, that alone gives your actions meaning. Regardless of whether or not there is a God
or a Heaven or a Hell, it doesn’t matter.
He doesn’t care about any Divine Plan that God may have, if there is
one. I think that Spencer sees the
existence of a Divine Plan for you or me as meaningless as he would find a
father who has already decided that you’re going to grow up and become a lawyer
like him. You have the right to buck
him, even if he did give you life.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For
Spencer, this means the universe is his playground, and he needn’t ever feel
guilty for doing what he wants in it. As
he says in the book to one of the girls, “If there is a God, then how could
someone like me exist? He either doesn’t
exist, or else He’s an absentee landlord.”</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He’s
a complex character, who, in his early criminal career, was taken under the
wing of a man named Hoyt Graeber, who Spencer dubbed the Great Criminal
Philosopher, a man who taught him all about auto theft, chop shops, drug
running, and, inadvertently, added to Spencer’s misanthropy and “positive
nihilism.”</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So,
if you find yourself guilty for liking Spencer, don’t worry, you’re not
alone. Everybody that’s read it so far
has said that. I think it’s due to many
things: he’s the somewhat lesser of two evils—well, three evils—and even though he’s only trying to save Kaley and
Shannon to get even with the people who took them, he is still trying to rescue them, which for some is close enough to a
hero.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also
think people just like his weirdness, his nihilistic attitude that allows him
to do whatever the hell he wants and feel no guilt about it at all. I think that’s a dark desire in all of us,
just to do whatever we want. It doesn’t
mean we’re all Spencer Pelletier, it just means we like to visit his headspace
from time to time. Before, I said
writing is cathartic. I think reading
is, also. Spencer Pelletier is kind of
cathartic.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>Oh
yeah, he also rips dangerous people apart with sadistic glee, and shoots human
and supernatural monsters with equal indifference. He’s supremely unimpressed by your goals in
life, or the goals of the things living in the Deep, and only means to take
what he wants out of life. To be that
fearless of enemies and driven to succeed is every person’s dream."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Was it hard to write out<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span>Kaley<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span>Shan’s<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span>story,
especially in the first book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"At times it could be, and for various
reasons. First of all, I was a thirty-one-year-old
man when writing it, and I have no idea what it’s like to be an eleven-year-old
girl, or to have a sister, or to grow up in a place like the Bluff in Atlanta
with a meth-head for a mother. So yeah,
that was challenging.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However,
I have unfortunately been around people with those kinds of problems before,
both friends and family, and I’ve seen what it did to them as children. I’ve seen brothers and sisters sticking
together in order to survive their parents’ neglect, and I’ve seen many of them
repeat their parents’ behavior. The
vicious cycle, and all that. So, there
was something to draw from there.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now,
as for what the two girls go through in the book…yeah, I did have difficulty
writing about what they went through, but I wanted to underscore that this
world we live in has as much horror as beauty, and I also wanted to show that
it’s possible to survive this kind of trauma.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
remembered that when Sylvester Stallone said they were making the first Rambo movie, the ending was supposed to
be that Rambo forces the Colonel to kill him.
They even filmed it, but at the last minute Stallone bucked the idea,
saying that since the whole movie was about veterans returning from war and
being mistreated, that the moral of the story would be that the only way out
was for them to die. He didn’t like
that. He said he wanted to show the
veterans that watched the movie that it is
possible to survive post-traumatic stress, it is possible to get on with life without killing yourself or succumbing
to the same darkness that traumatized you.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>I
wanted to show that no matter what these girls went through, they could
survive. They became my heroes, and they proved to me that
together they could survive anything. It
convinced me that I could survive anything.
Again, writing being cathartic."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-When you first started writing<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span><i>Psycho Save Us</i><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span>did
you ever imagine you would end it in the way you did?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Kind of.
For most writers, I think the story is always in flux, and the change of
what appears to be a relatively minor detail along the way could cause huge and
sometimes devastating changes later on.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>I
typically have an ending in mind, but it’s kind of amorphous, like I’m looking
at it through a fog. It’s not until I
start writing that the fog begins to lift, and I say, “Aha! Of course, there’s my ending.”</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-In both books you take things that most people pretend don’t exist and
masterfully weave a story of horror and pain out of it. Did you ever expect to write books like this?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"No, not at all. I’ve mostly written science fiction and
“world-building” epic fantasy stuff, like Game
of Thrones. I actually started off
writing lighter, funnier stuff like Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s series, then I slowly transitioned into sci-fi after I
became fascinated more and more with science, space, and technology.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
genesis for Psycho Save Us started some
ten or fifteen years ago when I was walking through my living room and my dad
was watching TV. There were two
African-American girls missing from Atlanta, and their pictures were on the
news. I remember thinking, “I’m about to
go off and play some video games, and they’re out there being tortured, maybe
murdered.” I remember thinking that the
only thing preventing them from rescue was just one thing, just one piece of
information: an address. It stuck with
me for years. I remember thinking that
if the girl’s had telepathy, even just enough to contact one person, they’d be
rescued.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i>I
never found out what happened to those girls.
I don’t know if they were found alive or dead or not at all. But I still think about those girls, and
wonder if they’re okay. I guess thoughts
like that have to be placed somewhere, and a writer’s best place is to put them
into a story. Exorcise the demons and
whatnot, and hopefully find some meaning out of it all, or at least call
everyone else’s attention to it.
Sometimes I think that’s all writing is, just waving your hands around
trying to call someone’s attention to a simple idea, or a cause you’re
passionate about, or a notion you feel people haven’t thought enough about."</i></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">-You have two books out in the Psycho series, are you working on a third
one, and if so, when can we expect to see it hitting the shelves?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Yes, the third book is called Psycho Redeem Us, and it will wrap up
the Spencer/Kaley/Shannon story and their bout with the Prisoner, the Others,
and all other weirdness that lives in the Deep.
You can probably expect that out in two to three months. I’m actually wrapping up the first draft now
and sending it to my editor soon. Kirkus
Reviews has chimed in on Psycho Save Us,
and they’ve giving it a great review, so that’s pretty exciting.</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve
also written a dark sci-fi book called The
Phantom in the Deep, which is getting some good reviews in now. That’s set in the future, and it’s about the
lone human survivor of an alien holocaust living in an asteroid field in the
far end of the Milky Way, making his last stand."</span> </span></i></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>-Can you tell us a little about or give a synopsis of Psycho Redeem Us?</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">"I can say that it completes a "trilogy", in that it wraps up the story I've been building since the first once, but that doesn't mean these characters are completely finished. The third book ties everything together, reveals who and what the Prisoner is, as well as the Others and the Deep in which they dwell. It also gives insight as to why the girls and Spencer were inadvertently pulled into this colossally horrific scenario.</span> </i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you so much for letting me chat with you. </span>This was a lot of fun." </i></span></blockquote>
<br />
So as you can see there is a lot to these books. I can honestly say I'm just about crawling out of my skin waiting for <i>Psycho Redeem Us</i> to come out. I just really need to know how the story is going to end, but I also don't want the story to end either.<br />
<br />
I can also say part of my love for these books stems from the way a psychopaths mind works. Really I have had some what of a off handed interest in this stuff for a few years. I would never say I was an expert in it but it is very clear in the writing that Chad did his research for this.<br />
<br />
Time for the reviews, if you find that you need to read these books at this point just click on the title of the book and it will zip you on over to its Amazon page, I do these things because I love you. . .but also because I want you to read these books.<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIT2x73Y6OqqGP3uoEfWCRF0gJGeRBYGlhKNXw0Oy7o7dbBafmeGsW1d29F17vniGDsX0OHiCAW0gTzPFphG24iS_oWtriDXQjb5u2EQAjYhuhoN1Gk9iTR1SNxDGwcmt4VWh8bIdwOd3/s1600/psu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIT2x73Y6OqqGP3uoEfWCRF0gJGeRBYGlhKNXw0Oy7o7dbBafmeGsW1d29F17vniGDsX0OHiCAW0gTzPFphG24iS_oWtriDXQjb5u2EQAjYhuhoN1Gk9iTR1SNxDGwcmt4VWh8bIdwOd3/s320/psu.jpg" width="191" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Save-Us-Book-ebook/dp/B009DL5WEQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1379261485" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Psycho Save Us</span></b></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span>
<div style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<i>Two young girls with a gift for telepathy are abducted off the streets of Atlanta by vicious human traffickers, and their only help may be Spencer Pelletier, a psychopath recently escaped from prison, in this latest gripping horror-thriller from Chad Huskins.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">5 Stars</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wow.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><span style="line-height: 20px;">I can't make myself write a synopsis of this book because it wouldn't do it any justice. Reading this book was like seeing a car accident and not being able to look away. It was sick and twisted and disturbing but I couldn't make myself stop reading it. I needed to know what the out come would be. And it almost feels wrong saying it was a good book because it was so messed up, but it was, it was one of the best books I have read this year. I felt for all the characters, was saddened by the fact that there are people like Spencer running around for real, and to know what Kaley and her sister Shan went through is something that really happens.</span><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><span style="line-height: 20px;">If there was any editing or grammar errors my brain didn't register them at all. I was so drawn in by what these poor girls where going through that I couldn't notice anything else.</span><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><span style="line-height: 20px;">The book was told from multiple points of view and they all flowed together seamlessly. You were never left floundering.</span><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><br style="line-height: 20px;" /><span style="line-height: 20px;">Would I recommend this book? Yes, as sad as this book is, it also puts into perspective the things you try to not notice that are all around us all the time.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Psycho-Within-Series-Book-ebook/dp/B00CJ1DHOE/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Psycho Within Us</span></b></a></span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Psycho Within Us continues the chilling tale of the Dupré sisters, along with the psychopathic Spencer Pelletier, as he hunts down members of the Russian mob. Kaley and her sister Shannon are trying to piece back together their lives, but once again find themselves drawn into the pain and madness of Spencer's mind. But is it his doing? Or is there something darker lurking between worlds? A Prisoner searching for cracks in his cell.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>*****</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5 Stars</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This book is pretty intense, so many different things are thrown at you. In the back of my mind I knew that what I was reading is considered fiction with a splash of fantasy thrown in, but I just couldn't get over the fact that a lot of the things mentioned and seen are things that actually happen. It has the same feel as the first book to me. . .like seeing a car crash and knowing I should look away before I saw something I really didn't want to but at the same time not being able to take my eyes off of it. </span></div>
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Spencer was a seriously messed up person, but at the same time I couldn't help but like him and root for him and hope that things would work out and he would make it to the end alive. It almost makes me feel like I'm a bad person, but at the same time I got the feeling that just maybe there is something deep inside of him that is doing what is he doing for more then selfish reasons and that in his own twisted way cares about Kaley and respects her just enough. That we really aren't seeing the entire picture when it comes to him.</div>
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Kaley. . .I don't even know where to start with her. She feels like she is constantly changing while trying her hardest to hold onto the things that make her who she is. Her story is a sad one, and you almost feel at times shes going to fail and just give up, but she always pulls through somehow and has an amazing inner strength.</div>
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Everything is told from many different point of views, and this is once again done amazingly. You hear from different people that are all moving in the same direction and experiencing different things that all affect each other in different ways. It all twines together seamlessly. </div>
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If anything I feel like this book was more gruesome then the first one. In the first one you are exposed to something horrible and in this one you see what being exposed to that horribleness can do to a person. You see the way kids can be cruel to each other just to make themselves feel better. What a little girl will do to try and save the things that matter to her. Its like looking at the underside of life the dark part of things that we all pretend aren't really there. </div>
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The one thing I want to learn more about is Kaley and Shannons "charm" I want to know how it works and what exactly the others are. I got just enough to want to learn more about them. </div>
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Would I recommend this book? Yes, both of these books are amazing in their own ways. I will be waiting to hear more from the Psycho Series.</div>
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Clearly I really love these books, which I'm sure I mentioned somewhere earlier, or you just guessed. When Chad came to me about the interviews I know I walked around with a huge smile on my face, and I'm pretty sure I called my husband at work and said "Oh my God!" about thirty times before I even got to telling him why I freaking out.<br />
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An interesting tid bit (really its kinda pointless), I don't often read out loud parts of books to my husband but sometimes I need to share why I'm smiling like an idiot or why I just laughed and sacred the cat. Like I said I have just re read these books and in the second one, <i>Psycho Within Us</i>, there was a part that I needed to read to my husband, honestly I probably shouldn't have laughed at it but I'm that person that laughs at you when you fall, but anyway I get his attention and read it to him and of course look up with bright eyes waiting for his reaction and he just turns to me and says "You read this to me the last time you read that book." Needless to say it was a let down on my part. I didn't get the reaction I wanted from him, but hey it must have been some awesomesauce if I read it out loud twice to my husband, who hates to read by the way.<br />
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Well that is all I got in me for now, if you find yourself interested in these books you should really check them out, or put them on your to read list. They are great reads and you won't regret it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-44686204719136153782013-09-16T08:32:00.000-04:002013-09-16T08:32:20.296-04:00Review: The Queen's Blade (Book 1 of The Queen Blade Series)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv5OhgIa45xMy-Fv7KKWMVFF7rrsPHbEEC1twl6ct9ckdqjQtTw3b6w36IjsJMuHpqW3J_nW4DDKaBvX9phwq3qcl-Ar0il9_tqRdj3ueqAI7jgPYG2SPd4i8S5eZmQkx_W0kPTLfChpg/s1600/thequeensblade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKv5OhgIa45xMy-Fv7KKWMVFF7rrsPHbEEC1twl6ct9ckdqjQtTw3b6w36IjsJMuHpqW3J_nW4DDKaBvX9phwq3qcl-Ar0il9_tqRdj3ueqAI7jgPYG2SPd4i8S5eZmQkx_W0kPTLfChpg/s320/thequeensblade.jpg" width="199" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Queen's Blade (Book 1 of The Queen Blade Series)</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by T.C. Southwell</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A doomed kingdom, a young queen’s sacrifice and a killer who will bring an empire to its knees...</i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">In a world where men share kindred with beasts, the Idol of the Beasts predicts a child who will end the Endless War after centuries of strife, but first the enemy king must die and his son be brought to the Jashimari Queen in chains…</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">After numerous failed attempts, killing King Shandor seems impossible, until an assassin offers to do the deed. His success places the Crown Prince at Queen Minna-Satu’s mercy, and Blade becomes the instrument of her wrath. Forged in the fires of fury, his heart died long ago in the desert kingdom. His glance is as icy as his smile is disarming, and the fires of passion will never stir his blood. He is the Master of the Dance in Jondar, the best to ever hold the title. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Driven by hatred and with the skills of his trade, he will usher in a time of strife and pain that will live in legend, and forever bear his name. He is the instrument who can change fate. He is the Queen’s Blade.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>****</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>4 Stars</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I had to sit down and really think about why I liked this book so much. After much thought, with some sleep in between it came down to the fact that Blade, the assassin in the book, wasn't untouchable. Most books with assassins in them have them being totally untouchable, and if they did get hurt they played if off as if it was nothing. It was nice to read a book about someone that yes could kill you in your sleep, but couldn't hold his own in a bar fight.</span></span></div>
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I also really liked the concept of the familiars, I really enjoyed how when someone was described they looked some what like what ever familiar they had. Sometimes it was fun for me to try and figure out what the familiar was before being told just from the description on the person being talked about.</div>
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The story itself went in a completely different direction than I thought it was going to go in. I wouldn't have guessed at half of took place in it. And yes after a while I was able to figure certain things out, but something else would pop up to surprise me a few chapters later.</div>
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Its told from many different point of views. I can't say if there was someones head we were in more than another, everyone was pretty equal in this. Though I can say I liked being in Blades head more than anyone elses, though the Queen was a close second. </div>
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If I had to pick one thing I really just didn't like it would be the way the book ended. All the lose ends seemed tied up, at least the important ones, and the ones that weren't I didn't expect to get anything from this book. But anyway I feel unsatisfied with the way it ended in general, the book was good enough for it to end a different way and still get readers to come back for the second one. Its hard to explain this without giving something away. </div>
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Would I recommend this book? Yes, I have recommend it before and I will keep recommending it.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-37969030056797244332013-09-15T11:40:00.001-04:002013-09-15T11:40:57.656-04:00Review: The Lady Astronomer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeWYZ_2Il801e_dZT8bvaU1KJDpFAidH-wUNzV2dl9gRVVHIGl8DaNUt1YL4j_mOcQlJQF2PRGVZuffUwvJmAArjZlxOHfZroBrnGhlT-rGaL_KuhqxxIIXohaLNeIw5goxSy3m_VKj9b/s1600/tla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeWYZ_2Il801e_dZT8bvaU1KJDpFAidH-wUNzV2dl9gRVVHIGl8DaNUt1YL4j_mOcQlJQF2PRGVZuffUwvJmAArjZlxOHfZroBrnGhlT-rGaL_KuhqxxIIXohaLNeIw5goxSy3m_VKj9b/s320/tla.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>The Lady Astronomer</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>by Katy O'Dowd</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Lucretia's life as an astronomer is quickly turned on its head by her eldest brother when he is commanded by the king to build the grandest telescope in the land. Her nights spent on rooftops gazing at the stars are replaced by adventure as the family move to be nearer the king. In a race to build the Forty-foot telescope on time, misfortunes take their toll. The lady astronomer finds court life to be more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Can she find the strength inside to overcome the obstacles threatening her destiny? Only the stars will tell.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>****</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4 Stars</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If I had to pick one word to describe this book it would be whimsical. The very first chapter of this book is told from the strangest point of view. Pretty much everything that happens has an almost playful feel to it, like I can't take it seriously, though that line of thought doesn't last forever.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I get into little groves when I read, depending on the feel of the book is how I end up reading it. I read this one really fast because to me whenever anyone talked to someone it seemed that they would have been talking really fast to me. And that they just moved at a very high pace. I can't say why it seemed this way to me, but I really just pictured everyone walking really fast while they talked even faster. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm tempted to call this book silly, but doing that would take to much away from it. It isn't necessary the most serious read you will come across, and a lot that happens is just plain strange but for the most part there is just this under laying feeling that you have to keep reading this book. It made me smile, a lot, and you know I came very close to shedding a few tears as well. Its not everyday that a book and evoke such strong emotions out of me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don't feel like there was really a point to the book, more that the author sat down and just wrote what ever came to mind. But it works really well. I'm honestly having a very hard time writing a review for this book, mainly because it was a good read, but I can't really say exactly what it was about the book that I liked so much.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can say that I didn't like how everyone was a Mr. or Mrs. K, or some other letter. It made it very hard to keep track of who was who.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you are looking for a quick fun read this would be a good one to pick up.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-14065240408540754752013-09-11T09:17:00.000-04:002013-09-11T09:17:21.515-04:00Arcadium<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXuc5uT1xf-zy5sakM81_zGA9fC38PfQjyB84L0htDzGla6sjkhCmWrV3EXQIxFA8hWsrr0Wb41bqfHXNa6R3opWq2NEiadiVqcpJl3XdRwv97iLTU7Di0BGSsdCmZNMi6SJAnZJlYazR/s1600/arc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXuc5uT1xf-zy5sakM81_zGA9fC38PfQjyB84L0htDzGla6sjkhCmWrV3EXQIxFA8hWsrr0Wb41bqfHXNa6R3opWq2NEiadiVqcpJl3XdRwv97iLTU7Di0BGSsdCmZNMi6SJAnZJlYazR/s320/arc.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Arcadium</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by Sarah Gray</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>What is Arcadium? Florence knows but she’s not telling anyone, and it could just be the key to the survival of the human race.</i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Sixteen-year-old Florence West must journey across a disease ravaged Melbourne with her nine-year-old sister Liss, and she’ll do anything to survive. Mostly that means staying clear of all people, the healthy ones on the run and the infected ones hungry for human flesh. But when she meets a man that speaks no English and a defiant set of brothers, Florence will be forced to question her ways. Because there’s only so far you can go alone, right?</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Arcadium is a heart-stopping journey of hope across a ravaged urban land where survival always comes at a heavy price.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>***</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>3 Stars</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The first thought I had when I finished this book was that it was like a zombie book for kids. Then I laughed cause no zombie book is ever really for kids, and had to rethink it to that is was a zombie book for young adults.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have to say that I Love zombie books, pretty much zombie anything. I know its not normal and I blame it on my best friend and my husband for being this way. So I was pretty excited about this book, it had been a while since I read anything zombie, but I found it predicable and t</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">here really isn't much of what you would expect from a zombie book, none of the gore or even heart thumping moments. There are a few times where you want to bite your finger nails, but at certain point in the book I knew that everyone was going to make it out no matter what. I can't say what made me know this, but I just knew that no one was going to get eaten or really seriously hurt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I think the only thing I really truly loved about this book was Trouble, there is something about him that was just refreshing, he is the reason I liked the book and really wanted to read it to the end. Though I did also like the way Florence held herself together. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">There is a lot of light hearted banter in the book, which could be a good thing but made it feel more like a bunch of kids getting together to hang out instead of trying not get killed. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">But for the most part this is just your run of the mill zombie book, where the survivors heading for somewhere they think is going to be safe to only find out that there is stuff going on that they don't like and escape with a bang. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I didn't really like the romance element to the book, but because I really think this book was aimed for YA I can see why it was added. Though I did like that Flo wasn't all goo goo eyes all the time over it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">For the most part I never really felt any fear for the survivors, and like I said earlier I just knew that things would work out for them. I like to wonder when I'm reading zombie books on if the people I've grown to love are going to make it in the end. It was just a little to predicable for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Would I recommend this book? Eh, for a zombie book it wasn't really my cup of tea, but it was still pretty good so I guess I would.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-78000811103114753452013-09-10T19:11:00.001-04:002013-09-10T19:11:14.373-04:00Song of the Aura<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiU-Odi6zmFIry-vIpkkrAwUEVzSSSn8QqIsDTfvEgF_VqN5Snx5Zh43d-xcaFk131kcPQT4X67SBh2EogInauqMkpWFbw-XkuNfJq71oFvP9dPSsMOMOGVC8GDcNy-fq63AULubDq3NGA/s1600/sota.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiU-Odi6zmFIry-vIpkkrAwUEVzSSSn8QqIsDTfvEgF_VqN5Snx5Zh43d-xcaFk131kcPQT4X67SBh2EogInauqMkpWFbw-XkuNfJq71oFvP9dPSsMOMOGVC8GDcNy-fq63AULubDq3NGA/s320/sota.jpg" width="205" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Song of the Aura</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by Gregory J. Downs</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Gribly is the best thief in Ymeer because of the hidden power he wields over the elements of the city. But one day a simple burglary goes horribly wrong, and soon an army of assassins and soldiers are hunting him. His only way out is to join Lauro, a prince-turned-vagabond, and Elia, an orphaned nymph girl, on an insane quest to find the abode of one of the mighty guardian spirits, the Aura. The only problem is, no one has seen them for hundreds of years.</i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">It would be easier if people didn’t keep dying all around Gribly, and if he could convince the world the murders aren’t his fault- a hard task, since the killer looks exactly like him, and might be the only one who knows the truth of his past. One hero isn’t enough. Can three unlikely champions control their wildly unpredictable gifts, throw down a thousand-year-old tyranny, and challenge Fate itself? The more Gribly learns about himself, the more he wishes he hadn’t come on this adventure. But without him, his friends will die and the world will burn. The truth is inescapable:</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Real heroes don’t have a choice.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">****</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>4 Stars</b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This book is a lot to take in, there are three parts and honestly I feel like I should have wrote a review after every part just because it is so long and so much happens.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The story itself is pretty unique, but under the over all flow of it there is something akin to the fight between God and the Devil. Anyone that is even partly religious will notice this, but it doesn't take away from the story at all, and really it could be just the way I myself interpreted everything. If looked at another way it could be of the eternal struggle between good and evil. It in no way preaches to you at all, so you shouldn't let this discourage you from reading it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The characters themselves are good, and there is a lot of them. Everyone grows and changes in different way through the entire book. Its told from a hold slew of point of views, but this is done very well. You always know when its switching so you aren't left trying to figure out whats going on.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">The plot is good, and very intense. There is a lot of different things going on all over the place. In the beginning you are mainly focused on Gribly and the people around him, but as the book progresses things start to focus on other people, it has that flow where everyone eventually meets up with each other at some point.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Its hard for me to write this review just because I can't really focus on anyone part of the book, partly because it was such a long read but mainly because there is just so much that happens that I can't pick and choose and I also don't like putting any spoilers in my reviews. I can say that it was a worth while read and that the author has a lot of talent. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only if you are looking for a book to really dig into and focus on for a while. I'm a fast reader and it still took me 3 days to finish and process everything, for someone else I can see it taking a few weeks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6350307718954464971.post-58537693382113403592013-09-08T00:06:00.000-04:002013-09-08T00:06:05.519-04:00Remnant<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp65uPl2yrUKQr66T_wJ60d2ELCoY8yW4jEhtHi3WR-u7BxufIbSMoKGq67wiS2_PV3yh4N9vtbHB0UV7GTx58okIsptw6osoi96mxomhk-oJ28WowUdEsHTpVuZoZc-Z-mod9GGyWpuN/s1600/remnant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp65uPl2yrUKQr66T_wJ60d2ELCoY8yW4jEhtHi3WR-u7BxufIbSMoKGq67wiS2_PV3yh4N9vtbHB0UV7GTx58okIsptw6osoi96mxomhk-oJ28WowUdEsHTpVuZoZc-Z-mod9GGyWpuN/s320/remnant.jpg" width="222" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Remnant</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>by Kate Genet</b></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>What would you do if you woke up one morning to find the world you took for granted was gone? </i><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">It’s a beautiful sunny day when Cass wakes up to find herself alone. It should be just a normal day – there’s a beach to enjoy with family and friends and the summer is at it’s height. Except today is not a normal day. Today there is no one around. In fact, the only living creatures Cass can see are birds. And a horse. Where is everyone?</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">As Cass struggles to find other survivors in this strange new world where nature is taking back the land, she discovers that being alone might not be the worst thing. It depends on who or what else is out there...</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: yellow; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>****</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>4 Stars</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">This was one of the most interesting book I have ever read when it comes to the apocalypse. There wasn't some war, or zombies. . .everyone just disappeared without a trace. What an interesting concept I just kept imagining what it would be like if something like that really happened. I was hook by the end of the first chapter and couldn't put the book down until I knew what was going to happen to Cass.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
You are in Cass's head the entire time following her around as she tries to cope with the fact that she seems to be the only person left. On top of that she watches as the world starts to re claim everything, starting slowly at first only to speed up to the point that entire towns are gone.<br />
<br />
The way everything is described had me seeing it in my head like I was walking next to her the entire time. I could picture myself handling everything the same way she did. Trying my hardest to just not lay down and never get back up again. Its pretty amazing how she kept herself going the entire time.<br />
<br />
The big mystery to the book was not something I would have thought off, and I admit I found myself on google looking up certain things that show up in the book just to get a better idea of what they are. I don't want to give anything away in the book but for the most part I knew what some things were and if I didn't I figured it out pretty quickly, but there was a certain animal that shows up in the book that I had to look up and know more about.<br />
<br />
The only thing I didn't like was how fast everything happened at the end. The book was relatively short, at least in my opinion. . .it only took me a few hours to finish it, so I feel that there could have been a few more chapters to wrap everything up at little more neatly. From what I can tell it doesn't seem like there will be another book in the works, but I would like to read more about the world and Cass, as well as get a better idea as to what exactly what happened.<br />
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Would I recommend this book? Yes, its a awesome concept and if you are looking for an easy read this book is for you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05842173109918273313noreply@blogger.com0