Well- I've been away!

Just a quick hello to let you all know that I will be trying to get back at this!

Things have been super busy with my own writing, work, and life.

But, I have some wonderful books line up in my TBR list and am going to be getting reviews going again, so stay tuned and I'll be bringing you lots of greta book suggestions soon!

Grave Memory by Kalayna Price

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Right, the third book in the Alex Craft series. Where to start?

Well, I have to admit I was a little underwhelmed by most of this book.

Alex seems to move pretty fast with her life, which I find interesting but not sure if I really find believable. In this one everyone seems to be having something happen to them. For Alex it's that she's be (unknowingly) taken off the call list for the local police after everything that went dwn in the last two books; the Winter Queen is also making her life hell, Falin (is that even how you spell his name? I honestly dislike him s much I don't care about looking it up) isn't talking to her (but she understands, it's the Queen Bitches fault) and Death hasn't been around since he told her he loved her.

Now, Alex get's a case that is going t shake up everything.

So, now that the background is down I'll jump right into it.

I will fully admit I've been reading this entire series for Death (kinda like how I read the Kitty Norevil for Cormac) and I was excited to see what happens with them in this book.

The first couple chapters of this book were good. tHey drew me in of course, like they should! And I was excited. I actually got really interested in the case they were working. PC didn't play a huge part of this book, but Rory sure had a few moments which was great!

I love that this authors sheads light on the world in every single one of these books and this book had a lot explained in it.

The middle half was honestly boring. I'm not even going to lie, but but right around the end is where it got interesting. I'd say the last 100 pages… Oh let me tell you, anyone shipping Alex and Death; you will be pleased because sme awesome sit happens.

I won't spoil all the details but I couldn't put the book down for quite a while! Then, it ends. And oh again; everyone shipping Alex and Death let me tell you- you will be thrilled.

Again I'm not going to spoil any details but when I finished the book I looked at my husband and said "Death's going t kill Falin. I can't fucking wait for Death to kill Falin."

So, yes I have a hate on for Falin- really who doesn't? Like really. In this book he's worse than the other two (except he has the benefit of not really being in it in this one) and even goes as far as to pull knives on Alex, whether he was justified or not.

Alex, as a main character I actually normally like her. She does some stupid shit but rarley does she do anything too stupid and I like tat in my main characters. I also really like the grave witch element she has to her. I'm not huge into the fae element but I am excited to see where it goes- although I have my ideas I won't spoil them! And lastly let's talk about Death, not that there is really anything to say- he's great!

As for all the side characters… well, I've always wondered if there were a few too many but I'm beginning to admit I'm getting attached to most of them. Of course the soul collectors are fun and we meet one person(?) in this book who actually interests me a lot. The mender as Alex calls him, he mends the soul collectors if they are hurt.

We also meet another character in this book- I won't gvie away too much about her, but I was digging her too and really look forward to seeing her around more (or even egtting her own series)

None the less, this book was a good read, despite it being boring at some points, I can't complain too much because of how it ended! And I will eagerly be waiting to read the next one!

Wickedly Wonderful by Deborah Blake

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

This is the second book in the Baba Yaga series. For anyone who remembers my review of the first book you will know how much I loved it! I coudln't wait to get my hands on this one but sadly it took me a lot longer than I wanted it to!

First I want to start off by saying that this cover is amazing. I absolutely love the first one as well. The fact that there are dogs in it make it even better!

This story focuses around Beka, one of the only three Baba Yagas in the US and her wonderful dragon disguised as a dog; Chewie.
Beka isn't quite like the Baba Yaga of the first one. She's much more bubbly in my opinion and a lot younger at that.
Part of what I love about this book is that it centers around Russian mythology. Now that being said I'm not Russian and have no attachment to it but I still adore it.
The plot of this book was simple. Help some Merpeople who were dying from someting unknown to them (though  as a reader it was easy to guess) all the while Beka was stuck with the sexy fisherman who seemed to butt heads with her at ever crossing.
Of course it does go without saying that Chewie is the best character. Because really what can beat a talking dragon disguised as a dragon who seems to have an obsession with s'mores!?
I actually think my biggest complaint about this book was that the dog wasn't in it enough! I'm sorry, I'm a dog person. I wanted more of him!
Other than that the book sadly didn't draw me in as much as the last one did. I'm not sure what it was, maybe I didn't connect with Beka as much as I did Baba, but I did really enjoy the book and couldn't put it down. I also loved the amount of conflict that was in this book. Everyone had conflict and that was great. You got to see each character grow by the end!
Speaking of the end... I can't say I was a huge fan of it. It seemed rushed; but this is coming from someone who isn't a fan of HFE endings which this kinda seemed to be.

I loved that characters from the last book popped up- quite a bit actually- and it really made me feel like I was in the same world. I loved seeing the Riders again and was thrilled to know that they were the same ones as the last book! I also love the fact that each book ends with another letter to another Baba Yaga, the one the next book will be about.
I hate that I have to wait until February for the next one!

Sift Happens by J.C. McKenzie

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Alright.... where to start on this one? I guess with the super exciting part for me, this is a Canadian author! Which I love, but even better they are from Sk! The book is set in Canada as well!

So, this wasn't actually given to me in turn for an honest review but I'm going to jump right in and give one anyways.!
First a little back ground. This story is about a shifter who has a special talent; she can sift into three forms, as she screws up a job, gets captured by a gang of werewolves working for a vampire. She gets forced to help this vampire out, all the while falling for the alpha wolf, having a creepy mutant-human wanting her as a plaything and overcoming some issues she faced the last time she was in a pack. That should be enough background... I think.
The plot was good actually. I was kinda surprised because when I read the blurb I thought it was going to suck! Hey, not all plots work for all readers, I get that. But I actually really enjoyed the world that J.C Mckenzie created. I loved the way she weaved in all the information about the world and the way she crafted shifters, werewolves and even the vampires.
I also loved the fact that it was set in Canada. Like really, that one of the best things about this book to me! In reality this book probably got at least half a star for being Canadian- I won't lie.

When it came to characters is where I had a few issues. Our main character was okay. I didn't have anything against her and I was rooting for her to win... but I can't say I was attached to her. There was one character, Allen, I was really rooting for actually.
I wasn't sure if the author made him a likable bad guy, or if it was just me but honestly wanted to see his relationship (a nonsexual one!) with out main character grow. Like I want to read an entire book about them, screw the love interest.
Annnd yea, the love interest... what can I say about him? He was honestly... okay... yea. I know "okay" isn't how you want a love interest to be described but that's what he was to me. I think my issue is that he kinda fell flat. I didn't really see any development in him.
The rest of the characters did what they were supposed I guess. They were mostly background characters and the one thing I didn't like about this story is that it was about a pack of werewolves and come the middle to almost the end of it the rest of the pack really wasn't there. I understand this was a romance at its core but it felt like they vanished.

When it comes to the writing I actually think the author did a wonderful job. She managed to add lots of humor, and made this a fast paced book. That's what I look for in a book.
I will be buying the series for sure and reading the rest of it! Overall this was the perfect book to read in a weekend, and quite frankly I couldn't put it down when I picked it up.

Princess Guide to Life By Rosie Blythe

When the author contacted me about reviewing a book that was aimed at helping the modern day woman live like a true princess! 

I don't normally review self help books on the blog; but truth be told I am a huge self help junkie! I'm not sure what it is about the genre but I just really, really love it- so when someone contacted me about reviewing their "life improvement" book aimed at the ladies- how could I say no to that?!

So, this book covers everything, from clothing to work, friends and social media to everything in between.

So, the thing I did like about this book was the idea; I love booked aimed at women, for some reason I'm not really sure why. Does anyone know; do they actually do well?

I sort of enjoyed the actual content. I tended to agree with the author on a lot of wat she was saying, but there was something about it… something that was just lacking. I couldn't pin point it but I think it was just that the author talked a little bit too much. I was hoping for a "quick and dirty tips" style of book, like I always do when reading these kinds of books; and at some points I felt myself growing board.

The thing I did like about this book was there was a lot I agreed with in the book; which was nice to read overall!

I didn't pick up many tips from this ], but I did think it was a great book for people who haven't read lots of these kinds of books (You know, the ones that mix beauty, fasion, work, boys, and everything women "care" about) and it was lacking in a couple areas. I would have loved to see DIYs, but the author 

Grave Dance by Kalayna Price

Grace Dance is the second book in the Alex Craft series and I have to admit I was thrilled to read it!

I'm such a lucky reader because it seems like there are so many series that I'm finding these days that I just love.

So, anyone who is reading this review has probably either read my review of the first book in the series or has at least read the first book; so you know a couple details and I'll try not to spoil the rest.

For anyone who doesn't know: Alex helps the local police by raising the dead for them, in the last book she also hooked up with a guy (I was not a fan of) and I spent the entire time shipping her and Death (other words a soul collector). They have a special relationship, one that I've been having a lot fun watching.

The second book had a lot more of Death; though not enough! I'm not sure how anyone rooted for her to be with Falian (sp, I don’t have the book in the same province with me!)

In this book we get to learn more about Alex's past as well as her family line. And of course the love tringle!

The thing about this book is that it is a <I>romance</i>. Yes there are urban fantasy themes to it but the main theme of this book is the romance. I see a lot of people complain about it, but you have to understand it that way in order to enjoy it (I feel).

We also got to see some characters I loved seeing in this- like the loyal dog! Anyone who read my review of Wickedly Dangerous knows how much I love seeing dogs in my writing!

And we got to meet some really cool new characters as well.

There wasn't a lot I didn't like about this book; other than the annoying love interest, which I find cringe worthy, annoying and just confusing why she wants him so bad when she can have a nice guy like Death. 

[Excerpt] Charming the Succubus by Lorien Lyn

Book Description: 

Being a Succubus has its perks…until the hunter becomes the hunted.

For half-breed succubus Ava Hawley, hunting supernatural foes is worth all the risks and rewards. But when a wolf shifter is responsible for kidnapping her sister, the mission becomes personal. Ava is ordered to track down the bad boy and turn him over to her boss. That is, until she meets the dangerously sexy shifter and realizes her charm—the kiss of death—is no match for the charms of her opponent.

Alpha werewolf Killian Reid is on the run from a demon mistress, but someone else is on his tail—a stunning seductress with more sex appeal than any woman ought to have. And Killian can't resist her. Proving his innocence will be a challenge, but with every moment that he spends with her, Ava’s self-control weakens. And as their attraction grows, she knows she’ll have to rely on the shifter she'd been sent to capture, or they’ll both become victims to another predator…

Excerpt:

Ava reached out for Killian's hand and pulled him to the side. The movement to touch him was 

 instinctual. “I can't let you risk it alone. This is my battle too.”

“We don't have time, love.” He took hold of her chin, running his thumb over her bottom lip. Not giving it too much thought—and because she wanted to—she thrust her tongue out and licked him. The taste of mornings in spring and mint burst into her mouth. She gasped softly and his eyes darkened. “Save it,” he growled low. “I know what you're trying to do.”

Her gaze lowered. Defeated.

“We'll talk later when this is all over.” He leaned forward, leveling his eyes with hers. “The part about us.”

“Won't happen if we go with your plan.”

“It's the only way to gain access into the estate.”

“What if it doesn't work?” Concern spiraled in her gut.

“We won't know if we don't try.”

She couldn't help but wonder if he was referring to them again. The thought of them together had crossed her mind a couple of times, but she couldn't envision being with the wolf. A possessive shifter was dangerous all around. The man's aura radiated nothing but danger and violence. The telltale hint of darkness and dominance gave it away. Besides, wolf shifters mated for life and Ava didn't know if she was ready for that.

Bio:

Lorien Lyn writes paranormal romance and romantic suspense with dangerously sexy heroes and equally strong heroines. Romance novels are her favorite as they push beyond traditional boundaries. When she’s not busy brainstorming up new stories, she enjoys action-packed movies and Fantasy Football with her husband and son in beautiful Southern California. 

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[Excerpt] Beautiful Monster (The Exchange - Book One) by Jeanne Bannon

There is a high road to Heaven which few people travel; Hell hath no door, but many manage to burrow their way in.

Chinese proverb

Lev moved swiftly through the hallways, darting in and out and around what, to him, were slowly moving nurses and orderlies—those unfortunates working the midnight shift. Faster than any human eye was capable of detecting, he made it to Carly’s room in a flash. In fact, he made it there just in time, nostrils plucking the acrid scents from the air better than any dog’s.

He sat on the bed beside her in the dimly lit room and noticed, thankfully, she had no roommate. The bed beside Carly was recently vacated. The scent of death still lingered heavily.

Taking her delicate hand in his, Lev noticed a monitor clipped on an index finger. It seemed it measured her pulse and heartbeat. He noticed too that her heart was beating slowly, though he didn’t need a monitor for that. He heard its throb, and it made him think of a dying battery.

However, relief settled on him as he realized he was the first to arrive after the accident that had left her comatose. Carly’s family was nowhere near yet. It would take hours for them to get here from the other coast. He had time, plenty of it. Stealthily, Lev glanced into the hallway from his perch in the darkened hospital room. The occasional nurse strode past, but it was late, or perhaps the better term was early. In the wee hours of the morning, there would be fewer staff than during the day.

With a sigh, he took Carly in. Her blonde hair was matted and dirty, even though it looked as if someone had tried to clean her up, perhaps finger combing her thick mane and tucking it behind her head. Her face was still perfect. Not a single scratch had sullied her beauty.

A knot twisted in his belly. Why hadn’t he known? He could have saved her if only he’d known. But even Lev couldn’t know everything. It was his brother, Alexei, who’d given him the news moments ago.

“Brother,” he’d said, “there’s been an accident. Go now to the hospital or you’ll never see your precious Carly again.”

He hadn’t asked the how, the why, the when. Alexei had dropped his mental barriers. Lev felt them fall like a drawbridge. His brother had let him in. It was easier than speaking—Lev was able to glean whatever information he needed in an instant. But with the simple facts of Carly’s accident came the realization his brother was happy for the turmoil. A hint of a smile had curled Alexei’s full lips, and his eyes were bright. Lev was not surprised.

He pulled his thoughts from Alexei and looked down at his beloved’s hand in his. The pallor of it matched his own. He listened to the slow rush of blood through her veins, willing it to grow stronger.

Moving close, he whispered, “I can save you.” He brought her dainty wrist to his lips. She smelled like death already—like the musk of freshly turned earth. It was now or never. His fangs pricked at her delicate skin, drawing a bead of crimson. It tasted of iron and copper and of her. Carly’s very essence was in that droplet.

He stopped himself, knowing she wouldn’t want him to go through with it. They’d talked about it many times, about the possibility of him turning her, so they could be together, not for just the blink of an eye that was a human lifetime but for eternity. She would be furious if he turned her, and he wouldn’t blame her. Lev knew the pain and sorrow of being changed into a monster against one’s will. 

But at least she would still exist. We could still be together. He shook off that small, but oh so inviting thought. No, he would not make a monster of her.

With a flick of his tongue, he licked the droplet away. A shudder of pleasure shot through him, and as he pushed her wrist to his mouth, like a child ready to bite into a ripe peach, the monitor blared a warning. He dropped her arm. Panic filled him. Carly’s pulse rose and fell suddenly. The stagnant tone of a heart that was no longer beating blared from the machine, stabbing sharply in his ears, but the growing silence of blood no longer pulsing through veins and arteries seemed louder. Hesitation had cost him. His compassion, as his brother would say, was his one true downfall.

Two nurses and a doctor were in the room now, buzzing frantically around Carly. Lev had disappeared through the pane of the window unseen and watched from outside where the moonless sky hid him. His jacket flapped in a breeze that also tousled his long black hair. It whipped and slapped against his cheeks.

It was said creatures like him could feel no pain. That they existed only as predators—takers of life—but Lev’s world had just crumbled. If he had a beating heart, it would be broken in two. Tears welled in his eyes, and he longed to let them fall. No, more than that, he wanted to scream, wanted to rip his cold dead heart from his chest and stomp on it.

Lev gathered himself as best he could, pinching the tears from his eyes and staring up to the heavens, but there would be no help for him there. For Lev Baranovsky, there was no God, only this perpetual hell he lived in. Love may come for him again in time, though he wasn’t sure he wanted it to. Would he ever get over losing his precious Carly? The vicious cycle of love and heartbreak was enough to drive him mad.

He should go now. Carly was gone. There was nothing he could do. Even though his brother would be at home, he needed the comfort of his own space to grieve.

He looked down at the ground two stories below, and when he peered back up for one last glimpse of his beloved, his brows lifted and his dark eyes grew to the size of poker chips.

Carly was dead, but she wasn’t gone. 

The Waterborne Blade: Susan Murray

This is honestly the kind of book I wish I could write.

I feel like this was a classic fantasy. It reminded me a lot of works from Brent Weeks and Karen Miller in terms of how it was written; and I have to say as much as
I enjoy "light" writing most of the time, I do really enjoy reading something like this every now and then to mix it up; even though it does take longer than a day for me to finish it.

I wasn't sure I'd be able to get into this book, after all it started a little slow; but I liked our main character (Weaver). I wasn't sure if I was going to like who I assumed was the love interest, and throughout most of the book I remained feeling that way. She was iffy; and I knew I was supposed to like her, but I just couldn’t bring myself to. However I do wish the entire story was written from weavers perspective and that we got to learn more about him. I'm thrilled there is a second book out and honestly can't wait to get my hands on it!

This book was a little slow at some points, which I don't mind honestly, but more than anything I found that I really couldn’t put this book down. It was the kind of book that I "stole" time for.

You know when you love a book so much that you're like "Oh, well I need to wait 3 seconds for ____ to be ready for dinner. I can get another page read before then."

That was this kind of book for me, and I loved every second of it.

As far as side characters went there weren’t that many, I mean there were a good number but they were all introduiced really slowly and I liked that.

Actually, there isn't really anything I can say that is bad about this book and that is a big deal for me.

When it comes down to it, for me, this is the kind of book that can create a fan- and I have become a fan of that author. 

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

5 out of 5 stars
Alright, lets start off by saying that I've been eyeing this book for quite sometime! I get it from the library and then all of a sudden I just don't have the time to read it so I send it back; but now- I finally got around to reading it!
Now, well all know I'm a picky reader, but the thing is:
I absolutely loved this book! I read it in less than 24 hours because I could not put it down.
Let's talk a little bit about it. The basic idea of this book is that our main character is able to summon the dead, and talk to them. The world has embraced (and some have accepted) the paranormal, and Alex is just trying to make a living by summoning the dead, she does some work for the police which has earned her a bit of a reputation- what people don't realize is that she can also see death while she is not in her 'grave sight' unlike most grave witches. 
I guess, the only thing I didn't like about this book was who Alex (our main character) picked as a love interest...

Now, everything I did like about it:
This book dealt with necromancy is a way. It wasn't called necromancy but it dealt with death magic, summoning the dead, etc. and it was nice to see a new take on that! It was something that intrigued me when I was little (much like zombies) and I guess I still have a bit of a soft spot for it.
I also loved the fact that this book had Death as a (semi) main character. It was fun to see a new take on him and soul collectors overall! I spent most of the book shipping Alex and Death, but we won't go into too much detail about that- because this is a book review, not a rant!
The world itself I thought was very well created, the magic side of it was new and (I felt) not the same thing you read in a lot of books so that was nice- I also don't pick up many books with Fae in them so it was a nice change of pace for me. 
Also, a shout of for all the side characters! They were all fun, namely though PC and Fred!

Jinn & Juice by Nichole Peeler

3 out of 5 stars

This book was... okay. I wanted to be able to say it was great but it just didn't "pull me in" so to speak.

There were two great things about this book. 

1) The title

2) The fact she was a belly dancer, as one myself that's just fun!

Now, I can't actually pinpoint much I didn't like in this book, other than the fact that it just felt like it was trying way too hard to be a new adult/young adult book. And I was expecting a little more romance, it really didn't feel like there was any- then all of a sudden BAM, she wants to sleep with him and he won't let her. Boring 

The chracters were fun, for the most part and I found myself chuckling at some of the conversations between the side characters but yea... there just wasn't anything thathooked me in this book. It was an alright read and I loved that it about a jinni but I really wanted to like this book more.

The main character just didn't seem to have much to her. while she had some really interesting qualities that was just it. She didn't have an interesting personality and it felt like the love interest was just.... there. There wasn't really any character development and i feel like the author missed out on quite a few chances to really further her character. 

A main point to this book was that the main character had been cursed to live 1000 years as a jinni and her time was almost up. While it touched base on her feelings about it it didn't really go into detail. It just... sorta touched on it and that made the character seem uncaring about it.

I also wasn't a huge fan of how this was written. There was something about the tense that didn't really pull me in. A lot of telling maybe? 

I think the biggest thing I'm feeling is disappointment about the fact I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. But I'd give the next book a shot

[Excerpt] Princess by Kelly D. Smith

Oh, this is awkward.I hope he doesn’t notice me. I bowed my head, brushing my hair into my face.

I moved forward as someone went to the counter to place their order. Oh noo…I could feel it coming. My nose itched and I sniffled before letting out a series of quiet sneezes. Please don’t turn around, please don’t turn around. And he did.

Turning to face me, a smile spread across his lips and his eyes lit up. “Well hello.”

“Hi.” I smiled, pushing the hair out of my face. The entire world stopped for a fraction of a second and my heart skipped a beat. “How are you doing?”

“Pretty good, yourself?”

“Good…just, on my way home from work.”

“Ahh right, you said you worked at a bar, right?” I nodded. “Did you finish that book yet?”

“No, I’m still stuck on the Celtic mythology part. I haven’t had much time for reading.”

Someone stepped away from the counter and he moved forward to place his order. He stopped halfway to the counter and turned back to me. “Could I buy you a coffee, Becky?”

“Um…sure.” I followed him up to the counter as he placed his order. The women turned to look at me. “Could I get a small hot chocolate please.”

She rang our total up and he pulled out a twenty-dollar bill.

“So.” He turned to me. “I don’t mean to drag you into this but I’m guessing your friend isn’t going to call me back, is she?”

I opened my mouth, figuring out how I was supposed to reply. “Well…she isn’t really my friend, we just kinda…live together with a bunch of other people, mostly because I am broke and can’t afford to live anywhere else.” I gave a forced laugh. “But, I think you are right… If you haven’t heard from her by now she is either playing hard to get or not going to call you back.” A blush rose to my face as the waiter brought us our drinks.

“Thank you.” He smiled as we picked them up and headed for the door. “I was thinking, you seem like you would like to go to a fundraiser at a museum, there’s one tomorrow night and I’m dateless…Would you like to come with me? There will be a great exhibit open on Greek goddesses” The last part was added as an afterthought.

“I…” Um yes please! But I don’t have anything to wear, and it’s not like I can afford to go out and get a new outfit. Not that I was going to tell him that. “I would love to.” I’ll find something. I decided.

“Awesome.” He beamed, holding the door open for me. “It’s formal. I’ll pick you up?”

“That sounds great and, um, thanks for the hot chocolate.”

“Anytime. I’ll be there at five-thirty. The fundraiser starts at six.” He turned in the opposite direction of where I was going and headed off.

I stood there for a second as I processed everything that had just happened. I think I just got a date. I grinned, taking a sip of my hot chocolate. Butterflies filled my stomach and I started trying to piece together what I would wear.

* * * *

I looked myself over in the mirror, tugging at the knee-length black dress. The lace sleeves fell to my wrists, my silver cuff on top of the right one. My short red hair was tied up in a bun at the very top of my head.

With long lashes, my best attempt at a smoky eye, and glossy lips, I decided it would have to be good enough.

A smile spread over my lips. I look pretty damn good for this being an $8 dress and makeup from 3 years ago.

I jumped as someone knocked on the front door. I rushed to get it

“Who is that?” Hayley asked as I rushed past her and Carly.

“A…friend,” I called before pulling the door open.

He was a couple inches taller than me, his hair was dark brown, and it looked like he shaved down to his scalp. He had dark brown eyes and most of his lower face was covered in a thin layer of beard hair. He looked me up and down before smiling. “Hey.”

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The Northlore Series, a collection of Scandinavian folktales and poems

3 out of 5 stars

This was a collection of Scandinavian folktales and poems. First, I want to say that I loved the idea of this book! I think anthologies are a great way to learn about new authors and I thought this was an amazing idea!

I love folklore, fairy tales and mythology so this sold me right away. It was a collection of poems and stories.

There were some beautiful poems in here but sadly the stories just didn't hold my interest as much as I would have liked them.

Sadly, there were actually very few parts of this series that I really enjoyed. 

I'm not sure what it was the storytelling, maybe the stories themselves but something just left me... underwhelmed. 

Nonetheless I loved the idea of this book and just because of that, because I love seeing mythology worked with, I'd pick up the next copy and I suggest everyone pick up a copy of this, there might be at least one thing that catches your eye!

Shadows of Asphodel (Shadows of Asphodel #1) by Karen Kincy

3 our of 5 stars
1913. Austria-Hungary. Ardis knows better than to save a man on the battlefield. Even if he manages to be a charming bastard while bleeding out in the snow. She hasn't survived this long as a mercenary without some common sense.

This book was an odd book for me. It sounded really cool, actually I really liked the idea of it. But there was something about it… it felt to me like it lacked something major, maybe conflict?

I know there was some in there but it just didn't hold me I guess.

The book itself was good, I read it quite quickly actually and I enjoyed it as I was reading it, but I felt like there was a lot of filler.

As far as main characters went, again it felt like there was something lacking. I really liked the idea of this book and I really liked the idea of the characters. I love the idea of a necromancer actually! And the world that this book was set in was a great world! It was well thought out and detailed. The main character had a fun back ground, and I loved reading about her, I think more than anything it was just her personality that threw me off.

While the characters didn't do much for me I would have loved to see more about their world.

I can't say I'd read more about the characters but I would read more about others in that world!

Diary of a Gay Teenage Zombie by Justin MacCormack

4 out of 5 stars

I was given this book to review by the author.

Personally, I love novellas, short stories and novels. Each one has its benefit and this was the perfect novella. It took me about a weekend to read, while still doing other things, and that was just what I was hoping for from this book.

Diary of a Gay Teenage Zombie tells the story of, well, a gay zombie who is a teenager and his life. In all honesty it was quite close to a mundane life- but I liked that about the diary. It was nice to read a day to day diary of a zombie. I've always loved zombies and the history behind them so I thought the idea of this story was great! I also thought it was very well executed and a fun read. It was a light read, so some of you may not like that! Personally, I love a night light read about day to day life.

As far as the characters went, they were likeable for the most part. I would have liked to get to know them a little better but with diary format sometimes that is hard.

In all honesty, I was disappointed with some of Jay's choices. Though on some level I could understand them I just couldn't back them.

This story had an element that really drew me in. To me, this story had so much to do with accepting who you are. Maybe that wasn't what the author intended but it was what I took from it. Finding a way to make the bad good and finding a way to accept yourself and let people in.

Jay did some annoying things, I'm not going to lie about that, but I also think he did some teenage things. He acted like a teenager and that lead to some dumb choices- so you have to keep in mind that the character is a teenager, or at least I had to.

When it comes down to it this story was more than worth it.

On a final note, I would have liked to see more about the zombie virus- but that's okay because I fully expect to see more in this series! 

Through his Lense by Anna Bayes

3 out of 5 stars

Newly divorced and rediscovering her place in the world, Fiona found a strange solace in taking photos of herself. Next step: she hired a professional photographer to take her portraits. Modelling for him felt empowering. Would this be only a one-time thing or would she have the courage to pursue a relationship with Nathan, the photographer whose green eyes captivate and disarm her?

Where to start… well, I guess let's jump right into it! This story actually did that too! We jump right into a masturbation scene. 

Its a short book, and in my opinion it's an erotica. There are some romantic elements to it but this is the kinda book you read for the sex. 

Speaking of the sex... I have to admit that I loved the idea of this book. A girl goes to a photographer to celebrate her new divorce with a photo shoot? Only to fall for the photographer? Perfect!

But... there was just something about this book. While I had a hard time putting it down I also had a hard time feeling invested in it. The characters didn't feel real to me, and most of all this wasn't a very erotic book for the amount of sex it had in it. I saw quite a few opportunities where there could be been a little *hem* detail where there wasn't. 

To put it frankly this book just wasn't doin it for me. 

None the less it is a cute, light read, which is why I'm giving it a 3 star review. Not bad but not amazing.

A Slice of Quietude by Sharon Cho

4 out of 5 stars

I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This story was cute. It was a fantasy LGBT romance and had amazing characters in it.

The romance was super soft and not quite as romantic as some people would like it but I loved the amount of romance that was there. I couldn’t put this book down, and mostly it was because of the world that the author created and the characters/ their stories. 

I've got to be honest. The story itself didn't drag me in. I wasn't all that invested or interested in what the characters were doing or why, but I did really like the characters. 

This was a hard book for me to review because I am so picky normally that if I don't like character I won't bother with the but like I said, I really liked this world. I thought the story was really cute, the world is amazing and I want to see more from the author! 

To the Survivors

One Man’s Journey as a Rape Crisis Counselor with True Stories of Sexual Violence  

Robert Uttaro  

“Rape counselor Uttaro draws upon his years of experience to warn that sexual abuse is far more prevalent than most people suspect, and provides a moving series of survivor stories. Uttaro persuasively argues that each survivor's story is unique—and this militates one-size-fits-all advice. The surprising revelations of the survivors Uttaro interviews corroborate his claim that justice is an individual concept that depends on what redress survivors seek. Uttaro's assurances that survivors are not defined by sexual abuse offer the possibility of a positive resolution. This book is both informative for the general public and supportive for those who have suffered sexual abuse. It is hard to imagine that members of either group will not gain from reading it.”  

- Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review 

“An engaging examination of a painful subject, with a focus on healing and forgiveness.” 

- Kirkus Reviews  

“Compassionate advice...Quite Moving.”  

- Kirkus Reviews   

“To the Survivors weaves together many candid accounts to form a brave and alarming exposé of assault. It is a worthwhile, eye-opening project”  

- Foreword Clarion Reviews   “To the Survivors is quite a read. It’s informative. It is very compassionate. It is insightful. I think you have presented more than one perspective. And you haven’t done it from a positioning of one-sidedness. You really have covered quite a few different perspectives, both of those that have been the victims of this horrific act and those that want to help. So I really think it’s quite a powerfully packed book. To the Survivors is a very powerful one.” 

– Donna Seebo, The Donna Seebo Show 

To the Survivors is a deeply-moving, empowering, and brutally honest book about one man’s journey as a rape crisis counselor with true stories of sexual violence shared by survivors in their own words. Gently and beautifully constructed, To the Survivors is moving, tender, sharp, and piercingly true all at once. Readers will encounter uncensored written stories, poems, and interviews from women and men who have been sexually abused, plus the advocate-author voice that weaves their experiences together. The survivors are diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity, yet each gives a similarity raw and heartfelt account of his or her victimization and recovery. The authenticity and vulnerability with which survivors speak resonates profoundly. But this book is not just for survivors of sexual violence. Robert Uttaro believes anyone can benefit from the words in these pages, rape survivor or not. 

To the Survivors is a timeless resource for a world that struggles with the repercussions of sexual violence.  

Below are small excerpts from some of the contributors in To the Survivors:  

Corey: To other survivors: Know that things do get better.  

Alexis: There is someone. I might not know you or know what you look like, but know I’m with you in spirit. Or whatever you believe, know that I’m right there with you. I believe you. 

Jim: You can have the shame taken away. You can go from bein awkward in social situations, from beatin yourself up with negative talk and everythin right across the board, to comin out the other side and standin on your own two feet. You can feel comfortable in your own skin, have your confidence come back, have your self-esteem come back, and see everything that’s good about the world. That does exist out there, even through something as very, very dark as this. There is hope on the other side. There really is.  

Rebecca: Anger and hatred weigh you down and stress you out. Believe me, I know! I’m not saying that suddenly you’ll be stress free and forget the whole thing – I’m saying forgiveness makes you stronger. It’s one of the hardest things to do – but it’s worth it. Life never gives you more than you can handle; at times it may seem false, but it will all work out in the end. You’ll always have the chance to take something negative and turn it into something positive – starting with forgiveness. Always smile, because life gives you so many things to smile about. 

Jenee: Make peace with all people if you can, and especially, make peace with yourself. Always know there are friends somewhere rooting for you. There are people you don’t know, always praying for you and lifting you before God. 

LINKS TO WEBSITES/SOCIAL NETWORKS 

Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Survivors-Journey-Counselor-Stories-Violence/dp/149093166X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427240506&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+uttaro 

Website: http://www.robertuttaro.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/To-The-Survivors/172523809579943 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/robert_uttaro 

Fools Journey by Brandon Tackett

3 out of 5 stars

This was a bit of an odd book. The thing I really didn't understand is that it is "book one: Episode three"wouldn't it just be easier to make it book three?

You can't tell that you tuned in too late right off the bat- at least I asume I turned into late? It wasn't until the love interest popped up that I thought I might be missing something.

But, the plot was interesting, and the story was good. The characters were fun (which is a big deal to me.) and I wasn't completely lost  even though I', pretty sure there were other books out before it. It was a short read, a light read but a good read. I had it done in probably 5 hours at the most and would fully consider getting more of the series.

The one thing  will add that I realllly liked about this book is that the author was able to give a date to when the next one would be out!

About Detour to Apocalypse by Michael Panush

4 out of 5 stars
This is a hard book for me to review. I loved the first one (Dead Mans Drive) and was beyond excited to start this one, but... I can't say it was what I was expecting.
First, it was a very short story. I thought it was going to be a second in the series, but it felt a little bit more like a 1.5 to me. It did start off a little slow but I love the characters and the world this series is set in.

Despite the fact that it was a little slow for me to get into by the time the action arrive I was into it! I love the main character and there isn't anything bad I can say about any of the side characters.
Despite the fact that it was so short it did keep my attention- sometimes a short read is just what you need after all!
Again, I'm a psychobilly girl at heart and I loved seeing the rockabilly themes in this book. I'm a hot rod girl and spend my weekends out in the garage with my dad- I loved hearing about the old cars and I felt like the author actually knew what he was talking about when he talked about the cars. It was nice to see something other than "Pretty 1950's car" because I see that pretty often.

More than anything this book got me excited for what is coming next, whatever that may be, and just solidified that I will be getting my hands on the next chapter (um book) in this hot rod loving zombies story.

[Excerpt] Midnight Burning by Karissa Laurel

Today I'm thrilled to be posting an excerpt from Karissa Laurel's new book: Midnight Burning! 

Chapter 1

My brother, Mani, once told me Alaska was the first place he had ever travelled where he knew he was somewhere different—somewhere decidedly not home—before he ever set foot on the ground. I didn’t understand what he meant until now. Outside my airplane window, the glassy waters of Cook Inlet reflected a bright blue late-summer sky. Dark and looming, the Chugach Mountains encroached from the east. Far to the north, the ghostly, snow-crusted visage of Mount McKinley rose above the landscape, an ancient king, high on his dais, surveying his kingdom.

By comparison, Mani and I had been raised somewhere a little more commonplace. Home was a small town in the foothills of North Carolina, over three thousand miles away. And this was the first time I had ever left it. I probably should have eased into long-distance travel in the same way I eased into a cold swimming pool—one toe at a time. A trip over the border into Gatlinburg. A weekend visit to D.C. But no, I had taken a plunge from the high dive instead, and boy, was I in over my head. 

The captain’s calm and assuring voice spilled across the cabin, announcing our approach and descent into Anchorage. Seatbelt signs chimed and flashed. A pair of flight attendants swept down the aisles, collecting trash and reminding passengers to raise seat backs and lock away tray tables. I closed my eyes, drew in a deep breath, and urged my heart to return to its regular pitterpatter pace, but it refused to obey. 

I breathed in again and trapped the breath in my lungs. Chill, Solina, I told myself. It’s only a week. I could survive anything for one week, right? And I wouldn’t be on my own. My brother’s best friend, Val Wotan, was at the airport waiting for me. Val had texted me a dozen times to make sure I hadn’t missed my connecting flights or fallen out of the plane somewhere over Canada. Val was expecting me, and I was a glutton for fulfilling others’ expectations. I also owed this trip to my brother, to the honor of his memory. How could I ever look myself in the eye again if I gave in to my doubts? If I didn't give Mani my absolute commitment? 

Read more here.

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Dead Man's Drive by Michael Panush

5 out of 5 stars
Alright, I don't even know where to start with this book because I loved it!

I was raised on rockabilly and psychobilly and to me this was a pure psychobilly novel! We had zombies, rockabilly, the fashion, the cars, everything!

But despite that I actually really enjoyed this book based on content. It didn't feel drawn out, and even though the character made some stupid choices I enjoyed him as a main character.

I loved the fact that cars had a big roll in this. I'm a hot rod girl and it was great to read a book that actually seemed to know what it was talking about when it came to hot rods and didn't just reference them as "pretty cars from the '50s"

The one thing I've noticed with this publisher is that they often seem to have formatting errors with quotation marks. So that was close to taking points off, but honestly I just couldn't bring myself to. I really, really enjoyed this book.

I think this was a good light read for anyone who is into the pin up/rockabilly/ psychobilly thing, or anyone who just wants to see a spin on zombies (those are popular right now, right?)

The characters were fun, though I would have liked to be able to get to know them a little more and I would have LOVED to see actual bands referenced. I did try to google a couple of the names in there and didn't see any hint that they were real.

This world was a great world, though a little odd I had a lot of fun with it and jumped right into the next one, so stay turned for that review!

Interview with Steve Moore

Why don't you tell us about your latest work?  My latest novel, Silicon Slummin’…and Just Gettin’ By, continues the story about Mary Jo Melendez, ex-USN Master-at-Arms.  After the events in Muddlin’ Through, where she beats the frame for the murder of her sister and brother-in-law, she heads west to find a job as security officer in a Silicon Valley firm.  She discovers she has a stalker; two different groups of agents are also pursuing her.   She hires a local PI to help with her own personal security and develops an emotional relationship with him.  An autistic boy who’s a computer guru also helps her.  Will she survive the attacks from three different parties?  That question makes this a mystery and suspense novel as well as a thriller.  (By the way, I’ll send a free copy of any book from my catlog in return for an honest review.) 

What inspired it?  At the time I finished writing Muddlin’ Through, my muses (AKA banshees with tasers) were already clamoring for a sequel.  Mary Jo told me she wanted to straighten out her life a wee bit too.  With the sequel, I satisfied the muses and placated Mary Jo, but only to the extent that she didn’t have to travel so much in this one.  She became very busy in California, though. 

That’s part of the inspiration.  The other part is more general: I like strong, smart women and love to feature them in my writing.  Mary Jo is Hispanic too, so both novels are a nod to those years I spent in Latin America, specifically Colombia.  The mystery, suspense, and thriller genres need to feature more Hispanics. 

Is there something you are currently working on?  I’m always writing, whether blog posts (op-ed about current events, book reviews, movie reviews, author interviews, and articles about the writing business), or storytelling.  For novels, More than Human: The Mensa Contagion, a sci-fi tale, is coming soon, and I have another novel for the “Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series,” Family Affairs, in the works (an expert can be found in The Collector, the last book in that series).   

Is there a topic you would like to write about but haven't gotten around to yet?  I’ve been collecting a list of what-ifs for years.  Most of my books deal with one or two social issues.  For example, The Collector treated sex trafficking and the exploitation of women and children for porn and prostitution.  If a reader is borrowed by these issues, I’m sorry, but they’re unfortunately part of modern life. 

I also celebrate diversity in my novels.  One thing I’ve learned from my travels is that most of us are more alike than different, but understanding and celebrating the differences can only lead to peace and understanding.  I’d like to see more of the latter, of course. 

Within these general parameters, there are specific themes on my list.  I won’t go into them in detail because that would be a bit of a spoiler, wouldn’t it?  I like to surprise my readers.  That’s part of entertaining them, my most important goal.  

When did you finally feel like you could call yourself an author?  That’s semantics.  I wrote my first novel the summer I turned thirteen.  At that point, I might have said I was an author, but it was terrible (the plot wasn’t bad, more or less reversing the gender roles in the film City of Angels).  I suppose after ten ebooks or so, I started calling myself an author.  Some people don’t want to do that until they have a NY Times bestseller, though. 

Other than writing, what are your favorite things to do?  Music, forensics, genetics, math, physics, study religions of the world, scientific ethics…I’m a dabbler in ideas.  I read a lot too, and not just fiction.  An author should read a lot in her/his genre, of course, but also go beyond that to broaden her/his horizons.     

Are there any websites where readers can connect with you?  I have a contact page on my website, http://stevenmmoore.com.  I love to hear from readers and writers. 

Excerpt: Test Your Metal

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Once the shaggy looking roadies had finished setting up, the lights went down and the entire place took a deep breath. The drummer came out first and sat behind his kit in silence. Then the bassist and two guitarists did the same. All the while, we looked on in awe. Three crashes of the cymbal smashed the silence and the horde of bodies surged forwards. Dry ice ebbed from the stage that was not even a metre from us. The other members of the band joined in forming the backing to “In my Veins.” That’s when he walked out, blue beams highlighted his perfect body as he began to belt out the lyrics. I couldn’t believe how many people in the room loved these men as much as we did. Every word he sang was accompanied by a thousand or so other voices. I thought I was going to melt.

The sweat that dripped from his perfectly smooth brow and plastered his glossy black locks to his face only enhanced the visual sexuality of the man who was screaming into the microphone. He was even more beautiful in real life. His hazel eyes glittered like nuggets of gold in the beams of the LED lasers. The girls and I screamed when partway through the show Brad peeled his soaking wet T-shirt from his muscled torso and flung it carelessly into the mob. Within minutes, the garment had been shredded to bits by a million grabbing hands (unfortunately, I wasn’t near enough to swipe a piece) and the American just laughed at the sight, flashing his pearly teeth.

“Oh you like that, do you?” He taunted us. “What, you want a piece of this?” He slid a long slender hand over one of his distended powder pink nipples and down the glistening valley in the middle of his rock hard abdomen stopping with a black-nailed thumb hooked into his buckle.

Having come onto the stage bare footed, he now stood in just his patent leather trousers which left little to the imagination. Slug low, they revealed a tattoo of purple and black flames licking up towards his naval from beneath the impossibly tight waistband. The gyrating of his hips sent shivers down my spine and straight to my groin area. An ear splitting guitar solo filled the room from Nicole’s preferred guy and Brad used that time to vault down of the stage and over to us, the public. He high fived some fans jovially on his journey along the front row.

My heart beat wildly when he came towards me. Random hands, like claws, brushed past every part of me trying to grab at him. Those soulful brass eyes were looking directly at me. Suddenly, he hopped up onto the silvery railing so his body was now in line with mine; the cold hard steel was the only thing hiding my straining cock from the pretty boy I was now chest to chest with. It was quite possibly one of the most surreal moments of my life. It was like a dream only the elbows that were now jabbing furiously in my back were really quite painful.

He smelt of fresh perspiration and whisky. I watched astonished as he didn’t even flinch as fingers from all directions dug into his tight shoulders and bulging biceps, leaving scratches and bruises almost immediately. Without warning, his arm that wasn’t grasping the gate snaked around the back of my neck and he took a handful of my hair.

He pulled my face towards his and pressed his burning forehead against mine. The microphone was between our mouths and he was singing again, singing to me, the intensity of his stare nearly enough to cause me faint. The throng of mainly females around me became even more frenzied, shrieks piercing my ear drums. I almost whimpered when the front man let me loose with a light shove against my chest and hurdled back to join his band.