Black Satin by Rae Hacton Review & GIVEAWAY

Synopsis:What if you weren’t who you thought you were?
What if your whole life changed in an instant and you were released to a new identity?
What if you were forced to kill the one you love?
What if everything you knew wasn’t real, and you awaken to a new world?
What if love could take you to unknown places?
How beautiful is death really?

 Marcus Marble has disappeared from Ellie’s life, and she needs answers to questions and he’s the only one who can answer them. How is her sister back from the dead, and why is Ellie still alive? When Ellie realizes Marcus isn’t coming back, she is forced to move on with her life the best way she can, in hopes of finding the answers herself, but when people at school begin to be viciously murdered, and Giles reveals to her a life changing secret, she decides to investigate the possible truth of it. What she discovers is more than she thought she would. The only time Ellie feels normal is when she’s around Walter, the new guy at school. And normal is how she wants to feel, now that Marcus is gone from her life. But Walter may not be all that he seems, either, and she just might spiral in to an even more dark world, she never thought possible. And when it occurs to her that Marcus has made the decision to pass on through to the afterlife, during the Risorgimento, she races against time to stop him, while knowing she has feelings for Walter, too. Will she make it in time to stop Marcus from passing through, and if she does, what will she tell Walter? Her heart will have to make the final decision. But will the choice be worth dying for?

  My Review: Black Satin is the second book in Rae Hachton's Pretty In Black series.  For starters, I want to comment on the covers.  Both books have eerie, beautiful covers.  They are what first grabbed my attention when deciding to sign up for the tour.

Rae Hachton writes in a lovely, flowing style that paints pictures in your head of the events happening in the story.  She has a lovely gothic flare that stands out among today's young adult paranormal writers.  The plot moves along at a fast pace and I couldn't stop reading until I'd finished the whole book.



In this sequel, Ellie is lost without Marcus, but makes an effort to move on with her life.  Giles is back on the scene, and as I had hoped when reading Pretty in Black, we learn more about what Ellie is "chosen" for.  We also see much more character development and Ellie feels even more real to me than in the last book.  A new character, Walter, enters the scene and I was left hanging on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Walter's intentions were good or bad.  I won't give any of that away, because I really think you should read the book (and enter below for your chance to win it).

Black Satin will not disappoint.  It's a creepy and lovely and Rae Hachton's writing, characters and nightmare worlds are amazingly well thought out and portrayed.  I hope you will read it, and let me know what you think

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The House on Blackstone Moor by Carole Gill

Synopsis:  “They say my father was mad, so corrupted by evil and tainted by sin that he did what he did. I came home to find them all dead; their throats savagely cut. My sisters only five and eight were gone as well as my brother who was twelve. My mother too lay butchered in her marriage bed. The bed her children were born in…”

Young Rose Baines discovers the savage murders of her family by her mad, incestuous father.
She is plunged into a nightmare of hell and is incarcerated in two madhouses after which she is helped to obtain a position as governess at Blackstone House.

The house is located on haunted moorland. Nothing is as it seems for Blackstone House and its inhabitants have hideous secrets. There is unimaginable horror there but there is love too--love that comes at a terrible price.

The story is as haunting as it is terrifying and will remain with the reader long after its disturbing tale has been told.

My Review:  

When I read the synopsis for The House on Blackstone Moor I knew that I had to read it.  It sounded incredibly intriguing and more than a little bit creepy.  The story sounded very mysterious, and the gothic nature caught my attention.  The story did not disappoint.  I started it and couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

Rose Baines returns home to find that her father has slaughtered her whole family and then himself.  She is taken to an asylum as a result of her distress.  After a horrific span of time in the asylum, where she is assaulted, her psychiatrist, Dr. Bannion, recommends her for a governess position with friends of his.  While she is preparing for the transition she spends a month living with Dr. Bannion and his housekeeper.  While there, she begins to doubt her sanity as well as lose her trust in Dr. Bannion.  Everywhere she turns is secrets.

When she starts her employment for Mr. & Mrs. Darton as governess for their children, she thinks her life could be changing for the positive.  Rose loves the children, but over time she begins to notice creepy things about the children as well as Mr. & Mrs.  Darton.  By the time Rose starts to seriously question things, it could be too late.  The Darton’s are more sinister than they appear and the conspiracy deeper than Rose could have ever imagined. 

I don’t want to give away too much in my summary.  This book was amazing!  I really enjoyed the writing style and would love to read more books by Carole Gill.  This is one book that I could not predict the ending.  There were so many twists and turns that it kept me on the edge of my seat.  The book contains so many horrors that it’s amazing that Rose could endure through the end. 

The book contains vampires, demons, fallen angels, the macabre and the sinister.  The relationship that develops between Rose and Mr. Darton is forbidden love, making it all the more interesting.  Mrs. Darton’s devil worship and drunken debaucheries gives the story a taboo quality.  The children make interesting secondary characters and they’re very likable, except for their slight creepiness. 

A word for my readers, rape occurs in this book, and let the reader beware.  

Author Bio

I wrote my first story at age 8. It was sci-fi but as both my parents were sci-fi fanatics it wasn’t a surprise.
I continued to write however life got in the way as it often does, and it wasn’t until 2000 that I turned back to writing. I joined a local writer’s workshop and was greatly encouraged to keep up with my writing and to send things out.

Shortly afterwards, I was selected by Northwest Playwrights of England for further development but found I preferred fiction writing.

Widely published in horror and sci-fi anthologies, The House on Blackstone Moor is my first novel. It is a tale of vampirism, madness, obsession and devil worship.

Set in 19th Century Yorkshire, its locales include Victorian madhouses as well as barren, wind-swept Yorkshire moors. The story is a marriage of horror and gothic romance. I think it can best be described as being gothic paranormal romantic horror.

I suppose you could say I want to put the Goth back into Gothic.

Living in the area the novel is set in, was very beneficial. Also, as a great admirer of the Brontes and frequent visitor to the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, I found myself nearly obsessed with recreating the gothic romantic narrative.

Having been employed in a hospital which had been historically a workhouse and asylum in Victorian times, I was able to add great realism to the depiction of the asylums as described in my novel.

The sequel, Unholy Testament, is the confession of a demon to the woman he loves. It is nearing the end of its first draft and will be released shortly.

Website


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Firefly Beach by Meira Pentermann

Synopsis:

When Beth LaMonte rents a cottage on the coast of Maine, she wishes only to withdraw and paint. A mysterious ball of light disturbs her peace and leads her to a secret beach where she finds the diary of a girl who disappeared in 1975. Now Beth is on a mission, not only to bury her own past, but to put to rest the spirit of Firefly Beach.

Review:

Firefly Beach is an excellent summer read.  The heroine of the book, Beth LaMonte, moves to a small Coastal town after suffering a loss and going through some personal struggles.  Beth hopes to rebuild her life and fulfill her personal dream of becoming an artist.  Along the way, with the assistance of a supernatural being (the firefly), Beth discovers an old diary.  The diary belonged to a young woman that disappeared decades ago.  As Beth delves further into the journal, she becomes caught up in the story and becomes focused on finding out what happened to the young woman.

Throughout the book, Beth grows as a person and we get to see a lot of development of her character.  There is also a cast of interesting and unusual secondary characters, as well as the author of the diary, Katherine.  Each character is facing their own issues, and we glimpse into their lives and see their personal struggles and how they are dealing with them.

The plot is well developed and the mystery well played.  The book moved along at a good pace for me, and I read it in a couple sittings.  The author does an excellent job at painting pictures with words, and I could visualize the town and the beach the story takes place in.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and hope you will take the time to read it yourself.  It makes great beach reading.

Author Bio

On slow, snowy days in her Colorado home, Meira Pentermann enjoys cozying up on the couch with a novel. Naturally, snow is not a requirement; neither is the couch. In fact, she sees no reason not to indulge in reading three-hundred-and-sixty-five days a year. Apocalyptic science fiction, mysteries, and young adult titles top her Kindle list, but legal thrillers and chik-lit make an appearance now and then.

When not absorbed in writing or reading, Meira enjoys life’s little moments with her family – the love and devotion of her black lab, the quiet wisdom of her artistic twenty-one-year-old, the trials and triumphs of her petite sixth grader, and the unlimited encouragement offered by her Dutch husband.

Meira strives to write stories that deliver the unexpected. She prefers down-to-earth characters that look and behave like regular folks. The prom queen and Adonis take a backseat to reclusive, soul-searching heroines and quirky, introverted gentlemen. 

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Links to Buy 

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble Nook link

To follow the rest of the tour go here.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*

Review and GIVEAWAY of Loving Summer by Kailin Gow

Loving Summer by Kailin Gow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC copy of Loving Summer by Kailin Gow as part of her tour with SupaGurl Books. I have a ton of Kailin Gow’s books on my Goodreads list, but this was the first of her books that I have read. I was not disappointed, and I cannot wait to see what else Ms. Gow has to offer.

Loving Summer is a coming of age story about best friends, Summer Jones and Rachel Donovan. The girls have been best friends since they were little girls. Summer and Rachel, and Rachel’s two brothers Nat and Drew spent every summer with Summer’s aunt Sookie at her beach house in Malibu. Sookie owns a theater in Malibu and the kids grew up acting out stories. They were all very close, and Summer has been nursing a crush on Nat since he was her first kiss.

Three years ago Rachel’s family moved to San Francisco and though they haven’t seen each other since then they have kept in touch. In the midst of Rachel’s parents going through an ugly divorce, Rachel and her brothers are invited to get away for the summer and spend time with Sookie and Summer at the beach house. Summer has grown and changed, and has become pretty (where as before she was a little on the nerdy side). She is hoping to make a relationship with Nat now that they’re all older. Life never goes according to plan, and before she knows it Summer has three guys vying for her attention, including teen celebrity heartthrob, Astor.

While Summer is working out her feelings and her changing expectations, the Donovan’s are all facing their own personal struggles as well including their parent’s divorce and the behavior’s each Donovan has developed in response. In the midst of the summer tragedy strikes and Summer and the Donovan’s each deal with it in their own way.
I really like how well developed each character in the book is and how we glimpse each of their personal feelings about the things they are experiencing. The plot is well developed and the story covers some heavy issues, such as suicide. The issues are covered in a way that is well thought out, and as I mentioned, we get to see how each character is affected by the issue.

I really enjoyed the story, and I hope to read more of Ms. Gow’s books soon.


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Special Promotion Announcement from Kailin:
*Included in Loving Summer's Kindle Version, is a full-length Loving Summer Healthy Summer Recipes Cookbook written by Kailin Gow, which will also a book that will release and be sold separately, and valued at $9.99.

Also, for anyone who purchases a copy of Loving Summer from Amazon.com, they get a chance to win one of Kailin's own Gently Used Coach Bag that is SIGNED by her, as well, valued at $500.

About Kailin Gow:

Kailin Gow is the author of over 100 books, with the majority of them for young adults. Her most popular series are: The Frost Series, PULSE Series, Desire Series, Wicked Woods, Steampunk Scarlett Novels, and more. A full-time author, she is also a producer, having worked in radio, television, and film. She grew up in Southern California, lived in Texas and England, and had traveled extensively around the world.

Links:
Website: www.KailinGowBooks.com
Blog: http://KailinGow.Wordpress.com
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/KailinGow
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/KailinGowBooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/KailinGow

Purchase on Amazon here

To visit the rest of the tour stops : http://supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/2012/05/loving-summer-by-kailin-gow-blog-tour.html

Giveaway
I am giving away my ARC of Loving Summer that has been signed by Kailin Gow.  It has been read once by me, but is in good condition.  To enter please use the Rafflecopter entry form below:

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Somewhere Over The Rainbow, I Lost My Damn Mind by Derek Thompson

Amazon Synopsis:  I figure that if I have to endure the worst parts of bipolar disorder, like psychosis, I get to laugh as much as possible along the way. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I've Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic's Mood Chart is the story of one Millennial's bipolar life, with moments ranging from the ridiculous to the terrifying to the hilarious. Blending pop culture references and cyberspeak with psychiatric terms, it combines the funny, conversational tone of Sh*t My Dad Says with a nonlinear narrative structure similar to that of Manic. 

The book began as a blog: if you had a delusional relationship with Britney Spears, wouldn't you brag about it to the entire world? To create the book, I organized the blog entries like a mood chart, a therapeutic tool which assigns colors to states of mind. The entries are divided into three sections, Depressed, Normal and Elevated, and cover the past three years: my psych ward getaways, my vision of fighting alongside Jesus at Armageddon, my attempts to find a woman who accepts that I sometimes lose my mind. Therapy "sessions" with a fictional psychiatrist provide my present-day reflections on each entry. (I had to create my ideal shrink because I tend to fight with the real ones.)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow will be the first humorous memoir about bipolar by a member of the Millennial Generation--today's young adults. My book's humor, cultural references and Internet origins will appeal to Millennials, now entering their twenties and thirties, as well as younger Gen Xers. More than an account of coming to terms with a mental health condition, it's a story of being young and feeling lost, dealing with heartbreak and still finding plenty to laugh about, no matter what happens.

My Review:  Since the author did such a good job of describing his book in the synopsis, I'm not going to summarize the book - but give my opinion.  I am not personally bipolar, but important people in my life have suffered from it, and this book helped greatly to understand some things from a bipolar point of view.  The author,  Derek, tells us about his personal experiences with being bipolar, dividing the book into sections called a mood chart.  We have a section of mania, a section of normal and a section of depression.  His chapters are short, coming from a blog that he keeps as therapy.  He labels each chapter with snarky keywords that relate to what he's discussing.  Some of them are words you would never expect to see together, but oddly enough, they go together in the chapter.  At the end of the chapter there is a brief discussion relating to coping with being bipolar. 

Derek puts it all out there, the good, the bad, the embarassing.  He has a healthy sense of humor and is able to laugh at himself throughout the book.  The book is not only inciteful and educational, but it's fun and enjoyable to read.  I recommend it to anyone living with being bipolar or anyone that is a part of a bipolar person's life.  It will really give you a better understanding of their experience.

Visions of You by C.Y. Bourgeois

Visions of You by C.Y. Bourgeois
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to say that I really enjoyed Visions of You by C.Y. Bourgeois. I received the book as part of the author’s tour at Pump Up Your Books. The book is suitable for young adult readers, but due to a few swear words the book had to be classified as an adult suspense/thriller.

Let me start by saying this book was creepy! The story takes place in the 1970’s, and for some reason, when books take place in that era; I find it scarier (for example Lovely Bones). It just seems like during that time frame the world was a safer place, so when you read about bad things happening during that time – to me it’s scarier than if it took place in the current day.

The main character, Shelby Leight, is a carefree, fun teenager with a loving, close-knit family that has just been rocked by the loss of her brother in the Vietnam War. The family, who lives in a tiny town in Alaska, is just getting over their loss when tragedy strikes again. Young girls are being abducted in Shelby’s town and those surrounding her home. Shelby thinks she has seen the abductor.

Amidst all of the crises a new student, Paul, moves to town. Paul has an interesting background that I don’t want to give away. Let’s just say that I’ve never heard of this condition, but it’s an interesting spin on the topic. Shelby’s best friend is abducted and Paul and Shelby begging talking while waiting for their chance to speak with the FBI agents who come to their school. The two start dating shortly after.

As more girls begin to disappear, Shelby begins having visions of her friend that was abducted. Her friend Larita is trying to tell Shelby where to find the other girls. In the meantime, Shelby and her group of friends plus Paul begin working on a plan to try to catch the person murdering teens. Will Larita get through to Shelby to save an innocent teens life? Will Shelby and crew be able to catch the killer before he catches one of them? What is Paul’s interesting condition? You’re going to have to read to find out, and I promise you, it’s worth it.

C.Y. Bourgeois writes with an edge of your seat intensity in some parts, while in others giving details about Alaska, the 1970’s and vampire clubs. The characters are very well developed and very likable – especially Shelby with her carefree, enthusiastic attitude. As I said before, the story was creepy. Not like in blood and monsters creepy – but the all-to-real horror of innocence lost as teenage girls are abducted and killed by a serial killer. I really hope you’ll all give this one a chance. It’s a good one.



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Redheads Are Soulless review

Redheads are Soulless by Heather M. White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Redheads are Soulless is a new kind of paranormal romance by Heather M. White. The main character, Sofia leads a difficult life but tries to make the best of things. She has dreams of finishing school so she can flee the small town she lives in where everyone judges her. She longs to make a new life for herself.

When Sofia is a child, she witnesses her father become possessed and die. Following his death, her mother turns to alcohol and pain pills to cope. Kids at school are ruthless in their mean treatment of Sofia. They make fun of her for being poor and for having an alcoholic mother.

Sofia has no friends until a new student, Jason, takes an interest in her. Just as Sofia and Jason are beginning to develop a relationship, Jason’s twin brother, Robbie, arrives on the scene threatening to kill Sofia. When the three of them move in together things get interesting.

Heather M. White’s writing is easy to read and fast paced. The characters in Redhead’s are Soulless are pretty well developed. The plot line contains several twists and surprises and moves along at the right pace. My only complaint with the story is that while we know that Jason, Sophia and Robbie aren’t human, and their unique races are labeled, the book never really explains what these races are and what they do. We see some of Sophia’s powers, but never really get the 411 on what exactly Sophia is. The epilogue hints at a sequel, so hopefully the paranormal nature of Sophia and the twins will be expanded upon.

Overall, the book was an interesting and fun story. It’s well worth the read and I’ll be awaiting the sequel.

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Review: Maycly by Janet Beasley

I was supposed to have this review up yesterday, and for it's lateness I apologize.  I somehow obtained some nasty malware yesterday and my computer is in the shop - so I had to borrow a computer to post this today.

I received Maycly by Janey Beasley to review as part of her Orangeberry Book Tour.  (You can click that link to find all the rest of the stops on Ms. Beasley's tour).  Maycly consists of the first three Hidden Earth eBooks.  It's volume one of six in this new, fantasy adventure series. 

GOODREADS Synopsis:

"Maycly is a world everyone longs to experience, but for Iona, left alone to fend for herself, Maycly has become a fading dream. After years of endless searching for her missing family, she had all but given up hope. But the Grand Wizard, SUL, had a plan.

This faith based fantasy adventure is suitable for the entire family. Maycly is filled with adventure, trials, love, and epic battles, along with fantastic flora, creative creatures, and characters that come to life through illustrations. There is no profanity, vulgarity, or explicit sex.

Will Iona discover her true destiny? Will she ever find her missing family? Is Maycly bound to an existence of Evil for eternity? What will happen to Earth? Only the tales of HIDDN EARTH hold the answers.

Your fantastic journey begins with Volume 1, Maycly"

My review:
I really enjoyed reading Maycly. I found Janet Beasley's writing easy to read, engrossing, and intellectually stimulating. The fact that there is no profanity or explicit sex makes it a good read for all ages. I also really enjoyed the full color illustrations which bring the story alive. The book would be a great selection for book club - due to the stimulating topics that would be great for discussion – but also because the book contains recipes, which could be fun for book club members to make for the meeting. The author is going to be releasing a companion cookbook.



Maycly is fast paced, features fantastical creatures and epic battles. If you are a fan of the Lord of The Rings, you will love this book. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series and see where Iona’s path leads her.

The Secret Circle: The Divide created by L.J. Smith written by Aubrey Clark

The Divide by L.J. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Growing up, my favorite writers were L.J. Smith, Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. Three years ago I reread all of my Christopher Pike books. Last year I reread all of my L.J. Smith books and I’ve been anxiously awaiting Strange Fate the conclusion to her Night World series. I had read on the author’s site that Alloy/Harper Teen had taken the rights to her Vampire Diaries series away from her – based on a contract she signed 20 years ago when she was young and didn’t know any better. The publisher is now using a ghost-writer to write the Vampire Diaries books, and L.J. has no input or control over the way her creation now unfolds. Because of this, I had decided not to read any of the Vampire Diary books written by the ghost-writer.

A few days ago, I borrowed The Divide from the e-library to read on my kindle. I was excited that there was a new book in the Secret Circle series and couldn’t wait to start reading it. I couldn’t wait to see what new challenges the circle would face – what problems Faye would create – how Diana was taking the whole Adam and Cassie thing. I was barely 22% into the eBook before noticing a lot of problems and inconsistencies – and then discovered that these new Secret Circle books are all a ghost writer too. She just doesn’t have the same … well anything… that L.J. Smith does, and the books remind me more of the TV show than the original books. For starters, Cassie’s character is off – and it’s more than just having Black John’s blood inside of her. I can’t quite put my finger on exactly what it is – but she is different somehow.

The Diana in the first three books was described as a perfect girl, a perfect friend, never mean to anyone, forgiving, loving, the first to give you the shirt off her back. In the first book, she is the first one to welcome Cassie (at the time an outsider) to their town and defend her from Faye. Diana never has a mean thing to say about anyone – even her slightly evil cousin, Faye. In The Divide, Diana is a condescending mean girl that is blatantly rude to the new girl in town. Diana is insecure and at times petty or cold. It seems like she sometimes takes a page out of Faye’s book. At one point in the book Cassie even thinks to herself that Diana is always cold, rude and unwelcoming to newcomers. I’m sorry, but this is not the warm, welcoming, kind-hearted Diana that we all know and love.

Another difference is that in this new book the circle is led by a triumvirate (Diana, Cassie, and Faye) and not Cassie, as I believe it is made out in the original books. Adam is also different. He isn’t the perfect guy that we all know and fell in love with in the original series. He puts the circle before Cassie time and again – and the couple seems more into making out than actually being soul mates. I see more passion between Cassie and Nick than I do with Cassie and Adam and I wouldn’t be surprised if the ghost writer tears Adam and Cassie apart and puts her back with Nick again in one of the next books.

Faye is also different in this book. More hateful in some ways, less in others. Her attitude in this book seems to be more malicious in this book than previous books. She still has the seem kind of attitude as before, but it just seems more evil now than slightly dark. Additionally, Faye resorts to something (which I won’t giveaway) that seems very un-Faye-like to me.
Finally, I am a little confused about Cassie’s relationship and feelings about her mother in this book. Yes, in the past Cassie was confused and unsure about some things. Cassie says some very hateful things about her mother in The Divide. Her feelings for her mother are a lot different than what I remember in the original series.

Personal feelings about the original series and L.J. Smith aside, I thought this ghost writer was just “ok.” I think she probably tried her best, but she just doesn’t have the same voice and insight into the characters that L.J. does and doesn’t love them the way L.J. does. Her writing style is ok. She tries to be like L.J. Smith but doesn’t quite make it. It seems as if she is pulling the book more into the direction of the television series than the actual books. The story was a fast read and very predictable. 
I am disappointed in the new book – but it wasn’t terrible. It just wasn’t great either. I’m giving it three stars, and I’m probably being generous. I will most likely finish the rest of the series (when I get around to it) because once I start something, I almost always finish it. I just wish L.J. had written it.


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Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading Unwind by Neal Shusterman, and all I can say is wow! I came across the book on Simon and Shuster’s young adult community Pulse It. Simon and Shuster places a few books on the site every month that members can read online for free. Unwind was one of these books. I have to admit that I was a little hesitant about reading it – most dystopian books kind of depress me. I started reading Unwind and I quickly got sucked in. I couldn’t stop reading until I’d read the last sentence. Unwind is a gripping, action packed, horrifying in places, edge-of-your-seat adventure and receives a very enthusiastic five stars from me.

Unwind">Unwind takes placed in our future, after the country has gone to war with itself – pro-choicers against pro-lifers with the military stuck in the middle. A compromise was reached to end the war – abortion is illegal, but when a child is between the ages of 13 and 18, they can be “unwound” – basically, they are still alive, but their parts are harvested and used for other people. The procedure doesn’t kill the teen – though whether they have a soul, or where it exists after they are separated into so many other parts is questionable. Unwinding becomes a way for parents to rid themselves of “bad” seeds permanently.

One such juvenile that is about to be unwound is Connor. Connor doesn’t get great grades and gets into some fights in school. His parents decide to have him unwound. Connor stumbles across the paperwork and decides to go on the lam. Along the way, he joins up with Risa, a good girl, who is only being unwound for the sheer reason that she is a ward of the state, and they need to make room for new wards of the state. Lev, a tithe, also becomes part of their runaway group. A tithe is a child that parents purposefully give birth to, with the purpose of unwinding, as their tithe to their God. The tithe unwinds are treated differently than the other unwinds, and grow up knowing that they will be unwound.

I have to say, I am horrified by parents throughout this book. The existence of the law has made parents apathetic. Instead of doing real parenting, they choose to unwind obedient teens. You can’t really look at this part of the book from the view point of a parent today. Parents today would be horrified by the thought – and most have this built in desire to protect their children. But in this story, unwinding is the norm – it’s how people live, it’s what they know. Despite that, it’s still awful. The tithing is awful too. What kind of parents purposely have a child and raise it and love it and treat it likes it’s wonderful and tell it that it’s an honored child because at age 13 they are going to sacrifice the child to the Harvest Camps so that the child’s organs, blessed by God, can be part of so many other people? It’s also horrifying. How can anyone think that this is what God would want from his worshippers?

Another thing that is horrifying, is as can be expected of society – unwinding becomes a lucrative business. The body parts and organs of the unwinds become transplants for people that become ill. The doctors almost forget what it’s like to practice real medicine. Their answer is to replace parts instead of fixing them. There are other people that get harvested parts for cosmetic reasons – they want different color eyes – etc.

Connor, Risa, and Lev meet a lot of other unwinds along the way – and their stories are equally sad. One teen is being unwound because his parents divorced and they each couldn’t bare for the other to have him, so they decided to unwind him so neither could have him. I know this story sounds bleak and sad - and parts of it are sad. It was hard for me, because I can actually picture society acting in some of the ways that the book talks about. It isn’t just sad though – there is hope, horror, love, beauty, shock and a whole rollercoaster of emotions.

The main characters are well developed and very relatable. They could be your brother or sister, your best friend, even you. The side characters are well developed as well and all add something to the plot. The storyline moves along quickly and contains several surprises. At times I found myself biting my nails or holding my breath. A few places I actually cheered. I really hope you take the time to read this book. It’s amazing. It’s one of my new favorites – ever. I have the feeling that I will be thinking about this book and the issues contained within for a very long time.


View all my reviews

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Kings and Queens by Courtney Vail

In the beginning of Kingsand Queens we meet Majesty, a no-nonsense, baseball loving, girl, who has recently lost her father.  Cutting through the woods after baseball one evening, she over-hears two boys in paint ball masks plotting a mass shooting.  The boys notice Majesty even though she is able to escape.  Majesty is afraid to tell the police because she is afraid they won’t believe her – due to the fact that she thinks her father’s death was suspicious and has been hounding them to look into the case further.  She makes an anonymous call to tip off the police.  Soon her life is being threatened on a regular basis – by the killers. 

Majesty and her crush, Derek, and best friend, Alec attempt to find the killers and gather real evidence before the massacre occurs.  Unfortunately, there are so many people in Majesty’s school that fit the build of the would-be killers, making things difficult.  The more investigating that Majesty does the further she gets into this dangerous web. 

I cannot say enough good things about Kings and Queens by Courtney Vail.  I really love Courtney Vail’s writing style.  It’s a refreshing read – different than so many other books I’ve read lately.  Kings and Queens is incredibly suspenseful.  The story unfolds like a well-played game of chest between two masters.  Every time you think you have something figured out, there is a twist or surprise. 

The characters are complex multi-dimensional individuals.  Majesty is a strong female character with moxie, strength and determination.  But she is also human. She has her weak moments.  She needs her friends.  She cares about others.  She has beliefs that she is willing to fight for.  Derek and Alec are also both complex characters, and we learn about their stories as well.  They aren’t simply two-dimensional characters to serve the purpose of a love triangle.  Even the side characters have depth to them.

Out of the 79 books that I’ve read so far this year, I would have to say that this one is in my top five.  The strong characters, well developed plot, twists and turns, and different & refreshing writing style earned it five stars from me.  I will be anticipating further books by Courtney Vail.

COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.

Twitter @cvwriter

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kingsandqueensnovel

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4744654.Courtney_Vail

GIVEAWAY

Because I liked this book so much, I would like to giveaway an eBook copy of it to one of my commenters.  The giveaway is open to anyone who can accept Kindle or Nook Books.  Must be 13 years or older to enter.

To enter, please leave me a comment on this post with your name and a way to contact you.

For extra entries (please leave a second comment for each additional entry):

1. Tweet about the giveaway

2. Follow me on twitter, Linky followers, gfc, goodreads or facebook.

3. Comment on any of my other blog posts and then leave a comment telling me which one.

Giveaway runs from now through May 19th.

Destiny Blog Tour - Reviews & Giveaway

I was very excited to be asked to take part in the Destiny Tour for author Heather White.  The book summary sounded really interesting and I was not disappointed.  For the tour I received copies of both When Destiny Knocks and When Destiny Strikes.  I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next book in the series.

 In When Destiny Knocks we meet sixteen year old Karlie.  Karlie was living in New York City until her mother died in an accident.  Karlie moves to Arkansas to live with her father, whom she hasn't had the best relationship.  On her first day of school Karlie finds that she develops easy friendships with a group of teens - but they are dead set on keeping her away from Shane - to whom she has a strange reaction to the first day of school.  Karlie suddenly learns that she is developing strange powers.  But why?  And why does she react this way to Shane?  I'm not giving it away, so pick up the book and read it!

Tension rises as Karlie learns that Shane's father wants him to kill her.  Shane, who is awesome by-the-way, can't do it, struggles with whether or not he can kill Karlie.  Will he do it?  That's another thing you'll need to read to find out. 

The paranormal world that Heather M. White writes is fascinating, and keeps you wanting to read more.  The main characters are well developed and likable.  I find myself liking Alex a lot, even though he seems somewhat irresponsible.  I would like to see more development in the personalities of Karlie's friends aka protectors.

When Destiny Knocks is a fast, fun read appropriate for 13 and up.  I am giving away one eBook copy of When Destiny Knocks.  To enter you must give me your name and email address.  There are extra entries for following on google friend connect or linky follower and for tweeting about the giveaway.  Giveaway runs from now through April 26th at midnight.



In When Destiny Strikes Karlie has achieved her full powers and more and more paranormals are coming to try to kill her.  People Karlie once thought she could trust have turned on her.  People she thought were dead are back.  The author really had me struggling trying to figure out people's motives.  There were a few people I couldn't tell if I trusted them or not.  There are still a few people I think may prove to be untrustworthy in the next book.  When Destiny Strikes is a real page turner.  I read it all in one sitting because I could not wait to see what happened next.

Karlie's arch enemy joins forces with someone she trusted.  Someone she thought was her friend.  Her enemies raise of forces of zombies against her.  In a vision, Karlie sees that she and her friends are headed for war.  They are all anxious because it is their small group against hundreds of zombies, werewolves and vampires.  To top things off, Karlie is almost killed by her former friend.  Towards the end of the war we don't know where Alex's loyalty lies.  I was pretty bummed about this, as he is one of my favorites in the group.

With the help of some new friends, Karlie and her group prepare for battle.  Will they all make it?  You need to read and find out!

I am giving away an eBook of When Destiny Strikes.  Giveaway is from now thru April 26th at midnight.  Follow me on gfc or linky followers and Tweet about the giveaway for extra entries.



About the Author (in her own words):

I am a returning resident to Arkansas. I just migrated south from Saint Louis, MO with my husband. We have a married a year. :)


I love to write. I have been writing since I was a kid - literally. I decided in the 2nd grade I would write a book. I wrote lots of short stories and poems... And did I mention I wrote over 200 songs? (Yeah, I'm a musician too - guitar, bass, drums and vocals). So I wrote my very first novel at the ripe age of 14... My Mom still has it :-/. OK, so maybe it wasn't my best work, but I had a LOT of fun writing it!


When I'm not writing, I am normally reading. I am also a caffeine addict... Dr. Pepper and NOS (the energy drink) are my drugs of choice :)

Review: Blood: The New Red by David S. Grant

Blood: The New Red by David S. Grant is a tongue-in-check satrical look into the fashion world.  The book is told from the viewpoint of Mickey, a male model, making his entrance into the fashion world after a stint as a porn star.  Mickey gets caught up in a war between Paul Johnson and Sandy Johnson - two (non-related) fashion designers battling it out for the coveted spot of number one.

Mickey aligns with Paul Johnson against Sandy Johnson and Kung Fu Master, the homeless Japanese man that Sandy is remaking into a model.  Amidst drugs, vintage wines, psychiatrists and deaths, Mickey has to decide whether or not to grow a conscious and put an end to the madness before anyone else dies.

The book is a dark comedy.  It's a quick enjoyable read.  The story is very campy and fun.  I could see Bruce Campbell playing a part in the movie.  It was a quick read, and as long as you aren't expecting something too serious, you will like it.  It was a perfect way to take my mind off work during my lunch break.

**This book is not suitable for my young adult readers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

David S. Grant is the author of ten books including “Corporate Porn”, “Bleach|Blackout”, “Hollywood Ending”, and “Rock Stars”.  His latest novel, “Blood: The New Red”, is now available.  David lives and writes his weekly rock, travel, and NBA columns from New York City.  For more information go to http://www.davidsgrant.com  Twitter: @david_s_grant

Purchase Links:

Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-New-David-S-Grant/dp/0984173854/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327246788&sr=8-2

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-The-New-Red-ebook/dp/B006NZRWLG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327246788&sr=8-3

Publisher: Offense Mechanisms, an imprint of Silverthought Press

Release Date: December, 2011

Review & GIVEAWAY: Hunter Moon by Cait Lavender

Hunter Moon by Cait Lavender tells the story of Shelby Flint, a tough as nails rancher, trying to run her grandfather’s ranch on her own. Her grandfather has died, and her cousins are contesting the will, and her right as owner of the ranch. Amidst all of the family drama, and the daily ranch duties, Shelby is dealing with a pot grower on her land, and a lone wolf that appears on her property.  The incident with the wolf brings the new game warden, Cash onto her property, into her life, and working his way into her heart. 

This is not your typical werewolf story.  Or your typical romance novel.  Shelby is not a damsel in distress.  She is tough as nails, independent and a sharp thinker.  She’s also good with a gun.  Shelby has a quick wit and the ability to laugh at herself.  Cash is a hottie, for sure.  Right as he is making headway with Shelby, his equally hot younger brother arrives on the scene, making waves for Shelby and Cash. 

I wasn’t sure what I was going to think about this book when I first agreed to review it.  I don’t usually read a lot of adult paranormal romances, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one.  I could not book the book down.  I found myself getting deeper and deeper into Shelby’s world – falling in love with her ranch and her friends (and her man – lol).  I loved the book so much that I went online and bought Cowboy Moon the novella that takes place before this book and tells the story of Shelby’s mother and father. 

I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

GIVEAWAY INFO

I will giveaway one ecopy of the book to a commenter on my blog.  Please go to Cait’s guest post and read her list of favorite authors – then come back here and tell me who your favorite author is and why.  Make sure to leave me a way to contact you.  Giveaway runs until April 19^th.  Open to anyone able to accept ebooks.