Review: Empath (The Flawed Series, #1) by Becca J. Campbell

During the Empath Blog Tour (September 16th - October 20th), the first book in the Flawed series will be on sale for a discounted price of $0.99. Grab it for cheap while you can!

Amazon US | Amazon UK  | Amazon CA  | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

 



Imagine picking up on all the emotions of those around you with no filter. Lust, fear, hate, love, confusion, or fear. Jade was born with the ability of empathy. After a traumatic experience as a young child in a classroom, Jade was kept at home and secluded from the general population. Now an adult, Jade has moved out and is attending college. Overwhelmed in her first college class with the collage of emotions Jade meets the campy and energetic Cam. As Cam and Jade become friends-sort-of-dating-friends, Jade is introduced to a relatively normal life. Along the way she meets the attractive young professor Jake and is wrapped in a mini love triangle while she dissects her feelings. Surprisingly, others may have abilities akin to her own.

While Jade is sorting through her love life and trying to overcome the burden of her abilities to live a different life, she has sparked the interest of a damaged mad man. Ethan is a disturbing serial killer who has serious mommy issues and a special hatred for women. There is a race of life and death as Ethan steadily closes in on Jade.

The author’s style of writing is easy to follow and the characters a typical bunch you would find in any college  or young adult novel. The author doesn’t include any cursing, sexy times, or otherwise more “adult” themes in this book, so I would say it’s more aimed at a younger adult audience. Empath is a simple and easy read with no hardcore elements or huge depth of plots to muggle your way through. If you want a casual young adult novel with a touch of supernatural, you have your afternoon read here.



 

 

 

                       Becca J. Campbell

Author Bio

Becca J. Campbell is the author of the New Adult Romantic Science Fiction novels Foreign Identity and Gateway to Reality, New Adult Romantic Paranormal Thriller Empath (The Flawed Series #1), and  Sub-Normal, a series of Science Fiction short stories.

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. You can find her on her Author Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Amazon.

 

 

 

Recent Reads

Some of you may have seen my post about taking a break from reviewing. I wanted to keep you in the loop of what I'm reading and rating. I got a little burned out when it comes to reviews. It's a huge weight off my shoulders to slow down a bit. Here's what I have recently read. Click on the cover to add to your Goodreads TBR list!

1. Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae Rating: 4 stars. I will definitely get back to this review. I also have a few items to giveaway when the time comes. Keep and eye out for that.

2. Wallbanger by Alice Clayton Rating: 5 stars. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard from a book in my life. Definitely worth the $8 that I complained about having to spend on it LOL

3. Daylight by Karli Rush Rating: 2 1/2 Stars. You can read my review here.

4.  My Life as a White Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland Rating: DNF....total disappointment! I made it 40% through and it took me a month to get there.

5 & 6 Kat Scratch Fever & Kat-napped by D.T. Dyllin Rating: Both 5 stars. These two books  are both due out in October. If you didn't know, I'm a HUGE fan of D.T. Dyllin. Her books are phenomenal!

7.  Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout. 5 stars! If you haven't read this series yet then you must be living in a larger bubble than me. Get started now! I loved this book and it totally leaved you hanging.

8 & 9 On Every Street (The Artists Trilogy 0.5) & Sins & Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1)   I was hesitant on my rating for OES because I hate prequels. I should have went with my gut and read S&N first. As a whole, I love the two of them. OES by itself without having read S&N, not so much. I give OEW 4 stars and S&N 5 stars. I will say that Ellie is the worst fucking con artist EVER and she needs to learn some self defense classes LOL

10. Lost Love by Harmony Bryce 2 Stars. You can read my review here

11. The Man Without Rules by Tyffani Clark Kemp 5 Stars. You can read my review here

12. Midnight Girls Series #1: Scent of Evil by Melissa Darnell 1 Star. I would have DNF'd it but it was my pick for BOTM. You can read our discussion here.

 

13.  Skin Deep by Megan D. Martin 5 Stars. This was a beta read and I have been waiting MONTHS for it! Definitely worth the read when it comes out.

14. Fusion by Nicole Williams 5 Stars. I'm still crying over this shit...can't even form word. Just read these damn books by Nicole and thank me later. You can read my review here.

Review: Fusion by Nicole Williams

Damn these ugly tears! My heart can't handle everything I'm feeling right now. Nicole Williams' Eden Trilogy is by far one of my favorite series that I have ever read. Naturally, I was stoked to find out the she wrote a spinoff series with my love Patrick Hayward. Yes, feast your eye on that fine specimen! I fell in love with these characters and literally balled my eyes out when I read the last book of that series. I read Fissure, book 1 of the Patrick Chronicles last year and have been dragging my feet ever since to read Fusion. I'm not good with goodbyes. I avoid finishing series because of the gaping hole that is always left in my chest. I will admit that this one was wayyyyy too predictable. I guessed just about every part of the book. I remember sitting there when it all snapped into place in my head. I sat there like a fucking two year old with a pout on my face. POUT! Yes, I'm sad. WHY MUST YOU DO THIS TO ME?! This in no way hindered my enjoyment of the book. I did take my sweet time reading it since it is the last one. Damn, why does it feel like my heart is going to shatter into a million pieces? Please, people, do yourselves a favor and read both of these series. Book one is always free on Amazon and it is frickin amazing!

Review: The Contaminants by Devin K. Smyth

A nutty conspiracy at the top level of America’s elite and politicians causes the end of the world. In an effort to eradicate those who are deemed unworthy, the earth has been decimated by nuclear war and into a nuclear waste. Those deemed worthy are up in space, orbiting, waiting for the earth to regenerate by a new engineering process. Soraj’s father is creator and in charge of the process to create the new “earth” and is friends with Jessil, the main character.

After finding out some disturbing truth, Jessil jumps ship with her brother, friend Soraj, and others to see if they can find any survivors in the wasteland. She leaves hoping to find her father and any other survivors, also leaving the safety of one of the only known space craft left in existence. After crash landing, they face insanely dangerous animals and plants that have evolved in their new ecosystem created. Barely escaping with their lives, they encounter other beings that have undergone change, once human, and are eking out an existence.

Contaminants is a good novel to read in one sitting or off and on. The content in the novel flows easily and the characters and their events are easy to follow. Containment focuses more on the sci-fi and fantasy elements in the story and what brought about the end of earth and society, rather than focusing deeply on the characters. The plot is straight forward and easy to follow. A fun sci-fi read to waste away an afternoon.

 

  



From Amazon.com:

Biography

When Devin Smyth isn't wrestling the English language into submission to get a story just right, the southern Wisconsin native works in the field of children's entertainment.

 

Review: Old World (The Green and Pleasant Land) by Oliver Kennedy

Are you a fan of creepy, macabre, and totally crazy horror? This short book is for you. The Locklear family flees with thousands of others as the dead rise after nuclear war. They find refuge and build a life as much as they can. Mother, father, sister, and two brothers eke out a living in a pleasant cabin with access to the basics needed for life, occasionally chopping up zombies that roam around.

One day, their daughter gets sick. After dealing with a creepy abomination, fishing up a zombie from the river, and other horrors, the family now faces the death of their beloved daughter. A creepy radio signal that repeats one phrase and saving a dying old man lead them to a supposed hospital.

Okay, up until now the book was fairly your average zombie whacking fiction. After they enter the hospital and face the totally insanity and ickiness inside, my mind was reeling from the creepy and horror. If you’re squeamish with death and torture by madmen, might want to skip this book. To be honest, I felt like the description didn’t given any hint of the total insanity at the end. What the hell? My stomach twisted and I felt light headed with all the murder and torture, but the hero at the end was totally unexpected, and made me want to read more. This book is not for the faint of heart. But if you can stomach some descriptive horror, your mind will be intrigued.



 

 



From goodreads.com:

I was born in Hertford, UK. When I was young I did much that was creative. I used to write and draw, I used to imagine castles beneath the sea and all the odd monsters living beneath the ground.

Then I hit a certain age. And I lost about fifteen years to angst, alcohol, gaming, girls, unhappiness, stupidity, debt and a general lack of direction.

Five years ago my daughter was born. The light which had grown dim at the back of my mind lit up once more, within its light I rediscovered the castles beneath the sea where I played as a child, I fell once more beneath the shadow of the monsters. I started writing. And I have not looked back.

Review: Dangerous Desire by Annie Seaton

Gracie is the quintessential schoolmarm who is actually sexy… and Jake is the broken cop with a chip on his shoulder. Gracie is trying to find her wild sister who has disappeared. One night she descends on the docks to scout out her sister’s last location dressed … well… not like a schoolmarm. Jake is doing some investigating on his boat when she pops in trying to get away from some bad guys. Just so happens that they are both interested in the same bad guys.

Jake whisks her away to his swanky house and they proceed to argue and get in on for most of the book. The characters were likeable, but there were times I wanted to roll my eyes at both of them. Jake treated her nasty quite a few times, and Gracie kept being obliviously unaware of putting herself in insanely dangerous situations. The action was a little slow, but toward the middle to end of the book, it really picks up. When both characters get over themselves and realize their feelings, Gracie is put in a life or death situation, and Jake races to save her.

The attraction between both characters was interesting and the end had a nice twist. An okay romantic read for an evening or two.



  

 

Biography

Annie lives in Australia, on the beautiful mid north coast of New South Wales. She sits in her writing chair and gazes at the tranquil Pacific Ocean while she dreams up romances.
Her debut novel Holiday Affair hit the best seller lists on both Amazon US and Amazon UK within a month of release! The sequel, Italian Affair is now available and is getting fabulous reviews. The third book in the series, Outback Affair, will be released on 14th October.
Dangerous Desire, Annie's first foray into romantic suspense is now available.
She has more books under way and will keep you posted through her website re publication dates.
Annie has recently published a book of promotional tips and tricks for aspiring authors.

Review: Secrets and Sins: Malachim (A Secrets and Sins Novel #2) by Naima Simone

So, Danielle’s life kinda sucks. Her first husband is a controlling and abusive nut job. She’s on the run with a new identity after putting his nasty self behind bars, but is barely surviving with a new job as waitress at a diner. Though she was once a successful lawyer, she meets up with yummy Malachim one night applying for a job as paralegal at his firm. A secret from Malachim’s past has his license suspended and his client’s and employees are dropping like flies. He hires Danielle reluctantly and they spend the next few weeks fighting their attraction with each other while Danielle is repeatedly attacked by an unknown assailant(s).

I appreciated that the author took the descriptive time to give Danielle’s background and did not sugar coat it. It explained her awkward and timid tendencies. At times, I still wanted to shake her shoulders when she runs away for the hundredth time! Ah! But it’s understandable given the sequence of events leading up to her and Mal’s intense relationship with each other.

Poor Mal has already been taken advantage of by an ex fiancée and his back-stabbing father. Danielle’s vulnerability awakens his beaten heart and his sole purpose is to protect her from those who would do her harm.
I continuously rooted for their romance and the evolution of their relationship was enjoyable. I look forward to reading about the other guys in his crew of best friends in the following sequels.