Monday, December 31, 2012

Review: Men of the Cave by Marisette Burgess

Young Adult Fantasy 
Symbol of Hope #1






Raised by unorthodox parents, Kasey Reese has always struggled to be invisible, to not be noticed, to avoid conflict. Running from a broken relationship, Kasey flees to Spain on a scholarship, to restore the comfort she finds in anonymity. Destiny, however, has other plans for her - a life threatening, life-altering journey into the supernatural when she meets the men of the cave





Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.

My Review

Kasey is off to Spain for two semesters of college. That should be just enough distance to put between her and her ex. A fresh start and finally a chance to escape her freakishly odd parents and for once br in charge of her own life. Once arriving in Spain, she is immediately drawn to Dion. His speech and mannerisms remind her of an ancient time not that of today. What she doesn't understand is it is no mistake that Kasey has ended up in this area in Spain at this very time. I have to say that I loved Kasey's entire adventure. While it is a work of fiction, it is infused with stories of ancient Greece and the history of the Greek Gods. I for one am a huge fan of the stories of these guys and ladies so this story had high appeal to me. The characters in this novel are very well developed. You can picture each one in your head as you go along. I fell in love with them and their story, especially the five (actually 7) men of the cave. The plot itself is extremely fast paced. It is one of those novels that you dit down and read in one session. So be prepared when you start it. Editing was also very well done. No typos or grammatical errors seen while reading. As this is the first of the series, the author laid the framework here as to where she is going with this story. I am actually anxious to see how Kasey's prophesy plays out. Bringing Pandora in and changing the spin on her box was an amazing idea!!! I do list this as a recommended read. It is a great concept and story.


Saturday, December 29, 2012

Review: Love and Relativity by Rachael Wade

This is a stand-alone title but coordinates with The Preservation Series:
Preservation (Book One, Available Now)
Reservation (Book Two, Coming 2013)
Book Three TBA

New Adult Romance

Love, life, and happily ever after? It’s all relative.

Marine biology student Emma Pierce lives in paradise—geographically speaking, anyway. Stranded on Sanibel Island, Florida, she works at a nursing home by day and spends her nights dodging the island's infamous bad boy, Jackson Taylor, at her favorite karaoke bar. Trying to heal from the loss of her sister and a failed relationship she rerouted her life for, she's ready to graduate and finally leave Florida behind.

When a run-in with Jackson and his rowdy crew goes sour at the bar one night, sparks fly and irreversible damage is done. It’s no secret that Jackson loves to get underneath her skin, but this time he's gone too far. Now all he wants is to earn her forgiveness before she's gone for good, but their ideas of closure—and the future—are enough to keep them worlds apart


Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.


My Review

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited when I first heard about this book and couldn't wait to read it. I read Preservation by her and I absolutely loved it. This book was just WOW. I can't even function right now. I would have finished it last night but these things called responsibilities got in the way. I won't go into giving you a synopsis of the book since the blurb gives you a pretty good gist of it.

Only Rachael can make me love, then hate, the love Jackson again. There was a point where I wish I could have jumped onto the paged and punched him myself. Oh, but she made everything all better for me. It go to to point where I was thinking it wasn't going to be a happy ever after. I would have jumped on a plane and strangled her. I was heartbroken for the last 10%. Jackson was very protective of Emma. Mix that protectiveness with holy HOT DAMN of a man and you have Jackson. Goddamn I want his babies.

I really loved Preservation but this one blew that one out of the water...if that's even possible. I also love the way Rachael writes her female leads. They aren't annoying and I love their sass. She also threw in a few JLA references, which I loved. I recommend Preservation all the time and now I'll be pimping out Love and Relativity like it's my job! Read this book RIGHT NOW!!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Review: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Lux series #3


No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.



Source: Reviewer purchase


My Review



Katy has FINALLY given in to Daemon. She originally thought that their connection was the reason for his attraction towards her. I thought that the Daemon charm we all love so much would be gone once they were together. I was wrong...still infuriating Daemon. That was my main concern starting this book. Katy's sass is still there and Daemon's ego is still huge. 



An unwanted visitor comes back on the scene with a proposition that would free Beth, Dawson's girlfriend that is being held in a compound. They will get assistance from another Luxen that knows the ropes of the compound. Their journey wont be an easy one and there are obstacles in the way. Katy also tries to repair her relationship with Dee. 



Be prepared to have your heart torn out. I always say that I love a good book with an even better cliffhanger, but I want to shoot something right now. I was not expecting THAT outcome. I'm such a huge fan of this series and the author always leaves me wanting more. I have to many questions and not enough answers. This was so bittersweet. I'm intrigued to see how the next book will be written. If you have not read this series, please do. The author does not disappoint. I recently purchased all of her Covenant series so I think I'll start those soon. 



Review: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Dance of Shadows #1
Release Date: February 12, 2013

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed....





My Review

First off, the cover for this book is one of my all-time favorites. How beautiful and breath-taking..I wanted to read it immediately.

The story is so different from anything I have read. It is a young adult novel/suspense story. I love the fact that it has to do with ballerinas and immediately fell in love with the characters. The author uses specific details to describe the characters and I loved that. I felt like I could really imagine the characters and get a feel of what they were going thru. The main character Vanessa is thrown into an elite ballet school after her older sister suddenly disappears. She is a magnificent dancer and attracts the attention of the choreographer almost immediately. Vanessa is thrown into the world of dancing as well as another darker world that she has to face. Along the way she finds herself drawn to two completely different guys and the love triange begins... I love the relationship she has with the friends in the book and the humor that is added in at just the right moment to balance out the suspense. The ending was incredible. I could not put it down. You find yourself asking so many questions throughout the book and the author successfully answers them all...as well as  (of course) leaving a cliffhanger at the end...

I found myself loving the story more and more and finished the book within three days. If you love ballets, romance, suspense, and a great story then this is most definitely the book for you!! I am looking forward to the 2nd one!!!












Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Young Adult Dystopian




Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland - known as The Death Shop - are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She's been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild - a savage - and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile - everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.....



My Review


WOW...What can I say? What a fascinating book. For months I have read reviews and debated on when to start this. It sounded like more of a sci-fi book which kinda put me on hold for a little while but finally I opened it. and WOW...I immediately fell in love. The main character Aria was wonderful. She suffered and she overcame and i loved every minute. Perry was incredible. He is strong, determined, and resilient and makes for a perfect hero for this story. The world building was incredible. The aether storms were powerful and scary and fit the world perfectly. All the characters had their own "special" meaning and I loved learning all their quirks. I will admit that Cinder was a surprising favorite of mine. He made you wonder and made you think and I wanted to turn the pages faster just to see what would happen next with his story. This book is just incredible from beginning to end and the love story fascinating. I cannot wait to start the second book in the series to see where all my characters end up.....










Thursday, December 20, 2012

Review: Baby Species Intervention #6609 by J.K. Accinni

Science Fiction

A story deeper and darker than E.T. How could one planet evolve such complex and divergent examples of biodiversity?
The series “Species Intervention #6609” spans two hundred years, encompassing tender love between divergent species, political downfalls and violence of unspeakable order. It is an unfortunate tale of Armageddon and the remote possibility of redemption.
In Baby, Netty is a naive teenage farm girl given in marriage to an older brutal opportunist disguised as a successful citizen during the years of Prohibition in Sussex County, New Jersey. After years of enslavement, Netty flees into the night from her rapist husband, traveling back to the farm worked by her parents, where she rescues an unfamiliar damaged creature she finds in a cave in the woods of her childhood, falling in love with the enigmatic creature she names Baby. Together they find happiness and fulfillment despite the changes to Netty’s body wrought by the proximity of the unusual creature.
When a handsome Italian stranger comes into Netty’s life, complications ensue as she falls in love while trying to hide the bizarre and wondrous changes to her farm and her body. Netty, Baby and Wil strive to conquer obstacles thrown in their path by life, succeeding wildly until the heart-rending and astonishingly brutal climax to their story.


Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.



 My Review
The story takes place in 1942. Netty is a young woman who was married off to a man named Robert. The night of her wedding, he brutalizes and rapes her. Several years later, Netty has gained weight, lost her hair and is continued to be raped by her husband. She finds out some information about her husbands intentions and flees. It takes her days to reach her old farmhouse, now dilapidated from abandonment since her mother was murdered.

She meets a new creature in her travels and it looks a little worse for wear. She takes it home to nurse it back to health. She dubs him with the name Baby. Baby kind of reminds me of E.T. being that he's short. He has golden fur, wings and a tail with a bulbous end. This is the start of a positive relationship that Netty so desperately needed. She starts tending to the farm to be able to sell her fruits in town. That's when all the odd things start happening. I wont go into further details on that :-)

Netty finds a man in the woods surrounding her cabin. He looks feverish, on deaths bed. She takes him to the cabin so he can recover. The three of them eventually make a great team around the farm. Netty's good fortune doesn't last for long when an unexpected visitor shows up.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not usually a fan of sci-fi, but the author kept me engaged. It was written more like a contemporary with sci-fi elements. It gives you a really good basis for what the characters are like. This wasn't one of those action in your face type of books but I'm assuming that's what the other books in the series are for. This was just a little taste of what's to come. I'm hoping for my action in the next book. I think everyone should give this book a try, it might surprise you.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Review: Phoenix Angel by A. Gerry & C. Hall

YA Paranormal





Maggie is a normal teenager, trudging her way through senior year with her best friend, Lily. Then a boy named Kyle Spencer came to Idaho Falls, and since then everything has fallen apart. Something mysterious has passed among the three friends. They are developing terrifying abilities--strange powers that separate them from normal people.

Even worse, someone--or something--has taken a deadly interest in them. They never know when they are going to strike, or how to protect themselves, or even who they are. All friends know is that they want one alive and the others they want dead. Which one will Maggie be?








Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.




My Review

OK first off...I am not a big fan of several different point of views. I like to be able to feel and understand one maybe two different people but not more than that. So I had a hard time loving this book. The main character for at least the first couple of chapters, Maggie, was a very crude, unlikable person and that threw me off from the beginning. I like characters who you can connect with and feel for and she was so mean that I cared nothing for her. Now I will say that I did like her love interest Kyle..He was fascinating..of course..the always there when he needed her type and wanting to "Save" her. I did love that aspect. But then the story goes on to change to several different people including her best friend Lily. The book had lots of "high school" drama and just really didn't suit me. I would recommend this book to possibly anyone who likes book such as The Lightning Thief...It has that kind of vibe to it. All in all it was not a bad book..It had drama and romance, yet it just wasn't my cup of tea. 


















Thursday, December 13, 2012

Review: The Farm by Emily McKay


Young Adult Paranormal



Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electr

ical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other… And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...






My Review
OK so this book is a little different than what I was expecting. I think I went into it thinking it would be similar to Hunger Games...hoping it was like Hunger Games...but no...definitely wasn't. The book starts out by just throwing you into the story with really no background as to how "The Farm" was created. Yes you do eventually learn but it takes a while and for me it was hard to get into the book because I wanted to know more about it..I wanted to understand the world I was in and get a feel for it.....
After about 100 pages in the book grabbed me..The main character, Lily, is portrayed as such a strong, heroic character that you cant help but love her..and Carter is just breathtaking. He is mysterious, secretive, and lovable all in one. Lily's twin sister, Mel, who has autism, is such an important character. Her perspective on the events occurring around her really brings you into the story.
I will say the one part I was unsure about where the "Ticks". At first I assumed they were actually the vampires in the story but later in the book you realize they aren't. They are a totally different species and are more related to zombies. It was hard to wrap my head around that part.
The last 10 chapters in the book are amazing. I couldn't put the book down. There are a lot of questions that are answered in such a short few chapters and it makes the ending very intense. Overall I enjoyed the book and would have given it 4-1/2 stars if not for the lack of world-building and it definitely needed a better explanation regarding the Ticks and vampires.
I will definitely be reading the second one because the ending was so intense and left me dying to find out what happens next....










Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Review: Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Young Adult Paranormal

Only sunlight can save us.

We built the wall to keep them out, to keep us safe. But it also makes us prisoners, trapped in what's left of our ravaged city, fearing nightfall.

After the death of my parents, it's up to me--as the newest delegate for humanity--to bargain with our vampire overlord. I thought I was ready. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the monsters. Then again, nothing could have prepared me for Lord Valentine . . . or his son. Maybe not all vampires are killers. Maybe it's safe to let one in.

Only one thing is certain: Even the wall is not enough. A war is coming and we cannot hide forever.






My Review
Truly loved this book...I have been waiting to read another vampire novel...due to the fact that I was a little worn out..but this one was so different. A world where we know vampires exist and we not only live among them but we have a treaty where we work together...of course that is until someone breaks the treaty...hmmmm....and then the love story...or the love triangle I should say..The charachters are just fabulous...Alot of people compare vampire novels to Twilight but I will say this has a totally different feel to it..It was a quick read but a great one....\this book had turns and twists that you never see coming...When I finished it I hurriedly looked up the sequel on goodreads to see when it would arrive!! Yeah, it was that good....I loved it and cant wait to read the next one!!!










Review: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo



Young Adult Fantasy




Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.









My Review
Wow...What can I say? This book deserves 5+ stars!!! I am completely and utterly obsessed with this book and the characters. It has everything from a budding romance to an action packed adventure. I love the Fantasy aspect of the story as well. The world that Leigh has created is so fascinating. The "dark" side of the plot also keeps you hooked.The main character Alina pulls you into her world immediately. She makes you feel as though you are experiencing every moment with her. I love the historical aspect as well. It feels like a dystopian but yet with gowns and people attending balls. I just absolutely loved every minute of it. I turned pages wellllll into the night with this story. I definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys young adult and suspense story's. I would easily say this is one of my favorites of 2012.





Some of my favorite quotes:
“I'm sorry it took me so long to see you, Alina. But I see you now.” 

“I missed you every hour. And you know what the worst part was? It caught me completely by surprise. I'd catch myself just walking around to find you, not for any reason, just out of habit, because I'd seen something that I wanted to tell you about or because I wanted to hear your voice. And then I'd realize that you weren't there anymore, and every time, every single time, it was like having the wind knocked out of me. I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again just to be with you, just to starve with you and freeze with you and hear you complain about hard cheese every day. So don't tell me why we don't belong together," he said fiercely.”




Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine










Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.



At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.



As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.......








My Review
This book was incredible...Of course the first thing that drew my attention was the cover and I found myself glancing back at it several times throughout the book. It is captivating and depicts Rachael perfectly. This book was so full of life and emotions. I found myself turning pages long into the night. It grabbed my attention in the first few pages and kept me till the end. The twists and turns thru the book just fascinated me. The "Cursed One" was depicted in very intense detail and I found myself cringing thru some parts. There was so much left unanswered which I love because that means there is more to come but I also dislike because I have to wait so long to find out!!!!!! The love story is incredible and touching. I loved Logan's character and his strength he portrays throughout the entire book... Needless to say I cannot wait till the next book....













Review: Sanctum by Sarah Fine






Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands #1)




“My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.”  A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.

As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate. 





My Review
Where do I start? I completed this 400 page book in 3 days...It was impossible to put down...It is a fantastically written young adult/fantasy novel. Yes the book involves suicide and is not for the weak of heart yet this aspect draws you into the book. You feel for the characters and for the struggles they have/will overcome. The world building in this story is fascinating...I could feel myself there and experiencing everything with Malachi and Lela....The way the author writes is captivating...I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a deep story with lots of romance, pain, action, and feeling. This book has it all. I am not sure how I will be able to make it to wait for the sequel. I have even thought of re-reading it. I enjoyed it that much...Look at world because Sarah Fine is here...I now have her on my "watch" list and will most likely read anything she puts out...



Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Eternal Hope Scavenger Hunt & Review





Welcome to my blog today for the Eternal Hope Scavenger Hunt. I'd also like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Frankie Rose!!! Please leave her well wishes in the comments section :-)


Young Adult Paranormal Romance
The Hope Series, Book Two


He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me

When your friends go missing and you don’t know if they’re dead or alive; when you tie your soul to the one you love; when you kill to protect and your family suffers, there’s only one thing you can do:

Move to Montana.

Farley Hope is special. She was prophesied to kill the forebears of her bloodline- a race of cold-blooded Reavers, men who steal the souls of the living to gain power. The Quorum had counted on Farley ending her own life in the process, but when Kayden came to her aid and helped save both her and Daniel, he undid their plans. Now the Quorum are displeased, not only with Kayden, but with Farley and Daniel too. Though her father is now dead, Farley’s troubles with the Reavers are far from over. An ancient Immortal, trapped for a thousand years, wants Farley for himself, and he will stop at nothing to claim her.

With secrets that lead to anger and pain, that turn friendship to dust, the group must overcome the problems within their own circle before they have a hope of fighting off the powers that threaten their lives.





Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.


My Review
 ***Do not read this review if you have not read Sovereign Hope(book 1.) It may contain spoilers***

OH MY GOODNESS, YOU GUYS!!!!!! Let me start off by giving you a run down on my feelings of this series. The first book, Sovereign Hope, was enjoyable. I liked the new twist that the author gives on immortals. It was a fresh look on something that has been done a lot. My only complaint about the first book was there wasn't enough romance for my taste. Well, ladies and gents, my prayers have been answered. I LOVED THIS BOOK! There's a lot more romance in this book...I mean A LOT MORE!! Come to momma! I love when there is a good balance of paranormal as well as romance. I can't contain my excitement! I wish I could make everyone read these books...like right now.

In the second installment, Farley leaves with Daniel to Montana. She is no longer safe in her home with the Immundus still after her. Her relationship with Daniel is closer than it was in the first book. He almost seems like a new man. And boy does he get protective over Farley....so sexy. Farley has another one of her visions and comes face to face with an old immortal, one that has been locked away for centuries. His name is Simeon, the immortal that created the first whyte. He thinks that Farley may be the vessel that he needs to bring back his dead wife's soul. Not everything is as it seems in book two. There are a lot of plot twists that I didn't see coming. There's also a little sliver of a love triangle. Not an annoying one, I actually found it quite funny. Maybe because I have a sick sense of humor sometimes :-)

I kinda have the hots for Kayden, too. I hope I get to read more about him in the next book. I really liked Farley in this book. She is a lot like myself, stubborn and doesn't listen. LOL She kicks ass a few times. I'm looking forward to what she will do in the next one.

After reading this book, I realized that I have a huge girl crush on Frankie Rose. I want to hug and kiss her because I loved it so much. Plus she's totally hot and has that awesome accent!! And I say this in a total non-homosexual way. She rocked my world. Now I'm going to have to be on the look-out for the next book. Did I mention that I love the trailer for Sovereign Hope? It was awesome!! You should check it out.











     Farley felt her face redden, which was _________ inappropriate. Daniel and Kayden were _______ she was watching, and for once their sparring lacked the flashy showmanship they usually employed to _______ her. For the two of them, nothing _______ beyond the dimly lit parameters of the hangar. Beyond the lunge, beyond the parry, beyond the block.

     This was how it would really go down, if they ever meant to do serious harm to one _______. Movements fluid and graceful, there was _________ primal about their circling. Quick _______ of calculating eyes, green and blue, preempting the other’s next move. Kayden’s hair was darkened with sweat, but both their chests rose and fell with __________ regularity. In and out. Slow and steady. The stern, focused expressions on their faces said ____ were in total control.

     Farley let the darkness wash over her and kept her presence hidden. The confrontation was too ___________ to interrupt. Bare chests, muscled and tanned; silver flashes of metal as their blades sang through the air. Even Cliff would have been impressed. Farley bit her ______ lip as Kayden darted _______ in a sure leap, thrusting out with deadly precision towards Daniel’s throat.

     The ______ would have been a killing blow. Would have been, if it had even ______. Daniel sprang back and duck-rolled over the dusty floor, crouching into a defensive pose. With his knife ________, his eyes lifted to fix on Kayden, but they _____ quite made it.

     Farley’s heart leapt to her throat. Those eyes, piercing and sharp, fixed on her _______. She swallowed and braced against the wall behind her, trying to camouflage with the _______. Kayden shifted forward, ready to take _________ of Daniel’s distracted position, but the dark- haired boy simply lifted his hand. A wordless gesture: ____.

     Kayden stopped.

     Robotically, Daniel rose, his _____ suddenly vanished, and dropped the knife into the dirt. Kayden’s apparent confusion only lasted a second; the moment he ________ it - that she was there - was _______. One second he was ________ Daniel’s creased brow, the next he had spun around impossibly quickly and was staring, too. Blue and Green. Farley felt her throat closing up. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.


     Daniel brushed a hand back through his slightly curling hair, his face trained into a nothing __________. There was ______ he could do to hide the war in his eyes, ______. “So you’re back.”

     Silence flooded the hangar. Farley took a moment to _______, pretending not to ______
Kayden’s fist clenching repeatedly ______ the handle of his knife.

     “Yes,” she whispered, her voice _______. “I guess I am.”





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Sliced Open Reviews

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About the Author

As a child, I was always accused of being bookish because I wore glasses- big, horrible, ugly ones with too-thick lenses. Those kids, the super smart ones who always know which tender insecurities to poke at in order to provokelife-long complexes, used to accuse me of reading too many books and that my eyes were going to rot out of my head (their words, not mine!)

The truth of the matter was a little more embarrassing: I used to sit too close to the T.V. That was the reason why I had to wear glasses, but kids don’t really care about small, insignificant details like the truth, and so I was labelled a nerd. The label kinda stuck, and after some sage advice from my awesome nana (nana, you rock!) I decided that if I was going to be abused for my supposed literary obsession, I might as well develop one.

I guess that’s how I got into books and reading at an early age. Since then, I’ve been ripping through books like they’re going out of fashion, which, thankfully, they’re not. Good thing, too, because I’m a writer now, and books are my business!

Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me on my journey- look for your names in the acknowledgements! And a big thank you to you, the reader. I hope you’ve fallen in love with Farley and Daniel just like I have, and that you’ll join them in the next book, Eternal Hope!





Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Review: The Lightrider Journals by Eric Nierstedt

Contemporary Fantasy

The Lightrider Journals is the tale of Joe Hashimoto, a man brought back from the dead to be the Lightrider, the leader of the Elementals Knights. Created by the Architects, the creators of the universe, the Knights are half-animal beings gifted with the power of the elements and charged with keeping balance between good and evil.
Joe's struggle is not only with these new responsibilites and powers, but also his difficulty with the killing invovled in his duties, as well as his longing for home. But Joe must over come these to face his greatest threat- the Chaos Demons, the ancient enimies of all life.
The Lightrider Journals is a tale of magic and action, mixed with the struggles of finding a place in a new world. It's the perfect read for anyone looking for reaffiramtion in what they can do, or someone who just wants an adult newbie magic user that doesn't go to magic school.


Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.




My Review


I have a weird relationship with Fantasy novels. I either love them or hate them. I really enjoyed this story. You have the Architects of Creation who are the creators of our world. They put together a team of Elemental Knights to fight for the balance between good and evil. Sounds cool right? At first, the Knights have a hard time grasping their new existence and they don't all agree with the task that they are given. They take an oath to become immortal and fulfill their duties and begin training to use their special powers.

There are a lot of characters in this novel and it was hard for me to keep up, at first. That's mainly the reason I steer clear of fantasy novels...too much going on lol. Moving on... I grew to love some of the characters. My favorites were Sandshifter and Groundquake. They were the most defiant of the group(go figure, that's probably why I liked them lol.) They both made such huge transformations by the end of the book. Of course, the biggest transformation was the main character, Joe. But I don't like Joe. I can't explain why I don't like him, but I spent most of the book just groaning at his indecision and whining.

The action scenes in this book were SOOOO GOOOOOOD!!!! Each character learned more of their abilities with each fight. It was so cool to hear about their powers and how they started working as a team to defeat the demons. The imagery for the demons was fantastic. Not just the demons, but everything. I really felt like I was on the sidelines watching it all unfold. I really enjoyed it and I hope you will all check it out.











I thought I'd share some of these character drawings with you because they are AWESOME!

Artwork by Derrick Fish. You can see all of the character illustrations on The Lighrider Journals webpage.



                        Joseph Hashimoto/Lightrider                                  Nightstalker

          Knight of Light and Leader of the Elementals   Knight of Shadow and second in command






                                         Forger                                                       Wavercrasher

                                  Knight of Metal                                             Knight of Water