Friday, April 29, 2016

Audio Book Review: Fairy, Texas

Fairy, Texas

By:  Margo Bond Collins

Publish Date:  February 6, 2014, Audiobook March 24, 2016

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 19 mins
Narrated By:  Melissa Moran

Genre:  Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in Fairy, Texas series

Impression:  An interesting and different twist on Fairies, or Demons, with a dark influence in a high school setting.

Synopsis:
Fairy, Texas. A small town like any other.

Laney Harris didn't want to live there. When her mother remarried and moved them to a town where a date meant hanging out at the Sonic, Laney figured that "boring" would have a whole new meaning. A new stepsister who despised her and a high school where she was the only topic of gossip were bad enough. But when she met the school counselor (and his terminal bad breath), she grew suspicious. Especially since he had wings that only she could see. And then there were Josh and Mason, two gorgeous glimmering-eyed classmates whose interest in her might not be for the reasons she hoped. Not to mention that dead guy she nearly tripped over in gym class.

She was right. Boring takes on an entirely new dimension in Fairy, Texas.

First Sentence:
Of all the things that frightened me about starting a new school, finding a dead guy on day one didn't even make it into my top hundred.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository 

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Laney's mom has moved her from her home in Atlanta to a ranch in Fairy, Texas. Laney tries to get through the first day at a new school, but things go wrong when she trips over a dead body. And life gets more complicated from there as two handsome boys try to date her. She learns they are after more than she's willing to give as the town has a darker presence than she ever could have expected.

Melissa displays all emotions with enough emphasis that we feel them in the voice of Laney and others. Laney's sarcasm feels so genuine as if slips off the tongue of the narrator. Melissa has to have a strong southern accent to fit a book placed in Texas. She does. Not all characters have the accent and those that do, she shows the influence of the southern swing of their voice. There are breaks in the chapters and Melissa gives a breath of a pause long enough to know that the story is changing in the chapter. When the narrator does small things that relate to the characters or what they are doing, it helps make the story become catching, Melissa does these small things. When the characters have an obstacle in their way of speaking, Melissa makes the character sound as if it's obscured slightly.

Wow. That first sentence is one to draw you in! I had to keep going with that lead in.

We get to meet all the characters and see Fairy, Texas with Laney as she experiences it all for the first time. Boy, do Laney's thoughts come through in the narrator's voice! The town seems strange at first sight. The dreamy eyes she gets from several boys, the strange guidance counselor that has rancid breath, and Oma Raina with the same breath. Just to find the two handsome boys that want to date Laney, the guidance counselor, and another woman talking about her in an abandoned house. Things seem stranger and stranger at first, drawing me in to know what is really going on here in Fairy.

Laney is the dreaded new girl at Fairy High School. She has a new step-sister that doesn't want her around, a new friend that seems to have a crush on her (that she doesn't need being day one of school), and trips over a dead body as she's trying to impress the track coach in gym class. This all starts how Laney's reputation starts to tarnish in school, and just the icing of the cake for what she'll have to endure.

Through it all, Laney seems like my kind of girl. I could be friends with her. She keeps up with the quick quips that others throw at her, always having one to say back to them. Smart girl.

I really enjoy Margo's writing style with the narrators she picks. The book feels as Laney is talking to me as we live through her days. As if she's my friend telling me all she knows. It feels like she pulls me into the story with the characters and I'm their sounding board.

I would suggest this story to older teens as there is the underlining attempt of sex to the story line. Yet there is teen drama, mixed with fairy/demon meddling and ploys.

There are a few different twists to the story that I enjoyed, events and fairy/demon creation. I was kept guessing as to what would happen with these characters. I'm TOTALLY wanting more with Laney and Josh and all the characters. Especially with what we learn of the 'fairy' world, Laney, and more!



**If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Where Do You Post Reviews?

I am all about sharing the love. I try my best to post my reviews on as many books sites I'm able to get to. And I'm always looking for new sites and venues to share on. This leads me to my next question. 

Where do you post our reviews? Everyone buys books at different places, many are at Amazon but other venues as well.

I do know that when I'm looking at books on Amazon, I don't read the reviews there. I don't trust reviews at Amazon unless I recognize the names of the reviewers. I like a bit more detail to my reviews rather than one or two sentences that rave about a book or denounce a book. I want a bit more meat to why the book was liked or not. There are some great reviews on Amazon, and maybe it's starting to turn around but I usually look at reviews on Goodreads first. I also look on many other sites that are for book fans and not about selling the book.

I'm curious if I should be trying to post reviews on more sites than what I am already. I like helping the authors I enjoy reading and friends who like books similar to me to find more.

I know this can be a time consuming process. I do my best to post 2 - 3 reviews a week on the blog, then on Sunday morning I post those reviews to a list of sites. Copy and paste is my best friend when doing this. Now, when posting there are sites that books are not found on so there can't be a review there if no book found. But! If it's a book fan site, I can request the book to be added and I do so. If it's a book selling site, I can't request to add it and no review is posted there. Which many bloggers do the same thing.

Where do I post reviews? (I link my profile on these so if you'd like to follow/friend me, please do!)
Of course, my blog. Which I also post links on Twitter and my Facebook Page.
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Nobles
Powell Books
LibraryThing
BookLikes
LeafMarks
If I loved the book and think it's worth reading, I'll post a link on Pinterest.
If I'm reviewing Audiobooks, and received through Audible, I'll post on Audible.

I recently started (like in the last three weeks) posting on iBooks. I sign in with my iTunes account to do so, I believe you need to have an account to do so like many book venues. I also look to see if the book is in ebook or audio. If I review audio, I post to both places. If I'm reviewing an ebook or print, I'll only post to the ebook/ibook.

There are sites that you have to purchase the book from in order to post your review there. Smashwords and Audible are two sites I'm aware of.

I've learned that there is Kobo too, which I have not reviewed on. I think I had troubles getting in there years ago and left it go. I need to look into getting on their site again to post. I did start last week and of the two books I reviewed, only one was found on Kobo so I posted there!


What sites do you find helpful for finding books or learning about them? Is there other book sites I'm not aware of? I'll try to add them to my list.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Audio Book Review: Witch Song

Witch Song

By:  Amber Argyle

Publish Date:  September 1, 2011, Audiobook December 15, 2014

Format:  Audiobook - 10 hrs 47 mins
Narrated By:  Melissa Reizian Frank

Genre:  Young Adult Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st in Witch Song series

Impression:  A young witch determined to help others and finds her way in the world.

Synopsis:
The world is changing.

For thousands of years, witch song has controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons. But not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by the dark Witch, Espen.

As the last echoes of witch song fade, Espen grows stronger as winter and summer come within the space of a day. Now she's coming for the one she missed—a shy, untrained girl of fifteen named Brusenna.

Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find Espen. Fight her. Defeat her.

Or there won't be anything left to save.

First Sentence:
Brusenna's straw-colored hair felt as hot as a sun-baked rock.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository 

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Brusenna knows she's a witch, but nothing beyond that. Nothing of the Keeper of the Four Sisters and her mothers past. Sacra thinks she's keeping her daughter safe by concealing the secrets of the Keepers, who are now what people call witches. Coyel, one of the eight remaining free witches, comes to ask Sacra's help. Signs of the Dark Witch are increasing, earth, plants, water, and sunlight are all struggling to survive from her powers. The Circle of Keepers is needed to complete the capture of the Dark Witch and stop the drought. When the Witch Hunters come for Brusenna, she learns she's the only witch that's not been captured by the Dark Witch. Taking the gold her mother left and heading to Haven as her mother instructed, Brusenna knows something needs to be done. Brusenna is determined to learn all she can and go save the other witches.

Melissa embodies the poise of the characters in her voice. As Brusenna's confidence grows, so does the strength in her voice. Melissa carries this through with the feel of all characters. Melissa does different voices and tones for each character. Her impression of Waldof had me not liking him with the tone in his (her) voice. Sly bugger. When we get to a new land Melissa speaks in the accented English to bring the world to life for us.

Some people call them witches. They fear them and blame them for the lands poor productivity. But they are Keepers of nature. The witches here have the power through song to call nature to their bidding. And their's one witch that's capturing all the others and changing the way of the weather and lands, hoping to bring all of man to bow to her.

The story has a feel of a young girl growing into her own. The writing is easy to understand and feels as it's a great story for young adults to read, even those on the younger side of YA age bracket. At least for this book. I'll see what happens in books to come. Senna knows what she needs to do, yet she thinks she should do it alone because of her losses due to the Dark Witch and what she needs to do. Senna wants to keep everyone safe. But her guardian, and dear friend, Joshen works to get her to realize what she's doing and how there are those that will work with her as it's for their livelihood too.

I knew before Senna admitted it, that I wanted Joshen to travel with her. He's a great companion for Senna and a wonderful love interest. Being a witch, people don't touch her with fear of being cursed. With her mother gone for weeks, when she finds her guardian, Joshen, she likes the feel of his touch as he doesn't fear her. Senna seems to start to fall for him in their travels together, but she figures he'd never feel the same. To be young again and experiencing love for the first time... When Senna makes a decision to keep Joshen safe, I like that she tells him why she's doing what she's doing but she still forces him to go. But at least she told him the truth in that moment too.

Senna's adventures take her from her home in the woods to the sea, traveling on the sea. Senna gets to visit a new land with different ways. I enjoyed her adventures and troubles she crossed. Senna grew up as we go along and shows she is capable of helping with her magic.

Before the big battle I felt a moment where I could tear up. Almost did, but didn't. I was touched by the moment Senna had with Joshen. This moment when they both listen and respect each others view of the situation. The right thoughts are shared along with understanding for the feelings felt.

Just when you think the story ends, there is more to happen. I liked that the story tied it all up for us in the end.

When I started the book I thought it started like many others. Young girl kept in the dark by parent. Parent leaves girl alone to deal with problem. Parent doesn't return and trouble finds daughter. But somewhere along the way the story grew much more than that for me. Senna as a character changed it with being a smart girl. Senna knows what she's doing and why when sends Joshen away, she even admits it in that moment. Senna may not believe she's loved but she knows Joshen is not dumb. Both characters see that in each other and treat each other as such. Though there are naive moments on Senna's behalf, she really hadn't interacted with many people let alone kind people, Senna holds true to respecting others in their ideas and has many of her own to help.

I'm very curious to carry on with Senna and Joshen in future stories. They both have captured my heart in this story.



*If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon and/or Audible. Thank you!

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Author Guest Post: Once Upon a Time and Ever After...

I heard about this book and knew I had to share about it with you. I'll have a series of posts to go with this new release coming our way May 29, 2016. Stay tuned for mini interviews about the stories you'll find in Gaslight & Grimm.

Today, I have Danielle Ackley-McPhail. Please give her a warm welcome!


Once Upon a Time and Ever After…

By Danielle Ackley-McPhail

From the moment the first story was told it was destined to be taken up by someone else and retold the way they thought it should be. That has not stopped since. Why else do you think there are so many variations on the classic tales? Same stories, only regional differences, cultural differences… There are no new tales, just new perspectives. Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a bad thing. Think of the insight this gives us on our fellow man if we pay attention.

Gaslight & Grimm continues that fine tradition. Fairy tales have been around for as long as parents have tried to explain the world to their children, but they became popular as a story form in the 19th century when Charles Perrault elevated them to the status of literature. People have been retelling them ever since, but for us there was no more natural transformation than to take fairy tales back to the era where they came into their own and mod them out with the elements of the age of steam.

Steampunk and fairy tales are perhaps not a natural pairing, but they are a harmonious one, allowing authors to show the same ingenuity in their story crafting as a tinker would in his invention. Some of the tales in this book seem merely to swap out the magic of the tale for early science, some meld the two, and yet others have been torn down to their foundations and rebuilt into a fantastical inventiveness that captures the essence of the classic but elevates it to something new. Sometimes shiny…often Grimm...always engaging.

We hope our readers will enjoy these new interpretations and if they aren’t familiar with the original, perhaps they will search them out so they can fully appreciate the transformations we have presented to them.

Author’s Aside: In keeping with the spirit of the project, all illustrations used in Gaslight & Grimm are linocut prints, modern interpretations of the traditional woodcuts that would have been used in such books back in Perrault’s time. Likewise, the cover was digitally created from another linocut print and enhanced to give the impression of an embossed, leather-bound book, with gold-foil accents.
Image based from Christine  Norris's story: When Pigs Fly.

RELATED BOOK/PUBLISHER LINKS
Blog - https://especbooks.wordpress.com/
Website - http://www.especbooks.com/Projects/GaslightAndGrimm.htm
Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/e-specbooks/gaslight-and-grimm-steampunk-faerie-tales
Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Gaslight-Grimm-Steampunk-Faerie-Tales-ebook/dp/B01E6C03OA/
Print - http://www.amazon.com/Gaslight-Grimm-Steampunk-Faerie-Tales/dp/1942990316/
NOOK - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gaslight-grimm-jody-lynn-nye/1123660280?ean=9781942990321
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28522644-gaslight-and-grimm
GoodReads Giveaway – https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/183549-gaslight-and-grimm

TWITTER HANDLES
@Jean_Marie_Ward @danny_birt @ElaineCorvidae @jywriterguy @brni_x @kellyaharmon @GailZMartin @JodyLynnNye @davidleesummers @cnorrisauthor @jonahofthesea @eSpecBooks @DMcPhail, @LNMartinAuthor

BIO
Award-winning author and editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for longer than she cares to admit. Currently, she is a project editor and promotions manager for Dark Quest Books. In 2014 she joined forces with husband Mike McPhail and friend Greg Schauer to form her own publishing house, eSpec Books (www.especbooks.com).

Her published works include five urban fantasy novels, Yesterday's Dreams, Tomorrow's Memories, Today’s Promise, The Halfling’s Court: and The Redcaps’ Queen: A Bad-Ass Faerie Tale, and a young adult Steampunk novel, Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn, written with Day Al-Mohamed. She is also the author of the solo collections A Legacy of Stars, Consigned to the Sea, Flash in the Can, and Transcendence, the non-fiction writers’ guide, The Literary Handyman, and is the senior editor of the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series, Gaslight & Grimm, Dragon’s Lure, and In an Iron Cage. Her short stories are included in numerous other anthologies and collections.

She is a member of Broad Universe, a writer’s organization focusing on promoting the works of women authors in the speculative genres.

In addition to her literary acclaim, she crafts and sells original costume horns under the moniker The Hornie Lady, at literary conventions, on commission, and wholesale.

Danielle lives in New Jersey with husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail and two extremely spoiled cats. She can be found on Facebook (Danielle Ackley-McPhail) and Twitter (DMcPhail, BadAssFaeries, eSpecBooks, and TheHornieLady).

To learn more about her work, visit www.sidhenadaire.com, www.especbooks.com or www.badassfaeries.com.
Websites: www.sidhenadaire.com, www.badassfaeries.com, www.especbooks.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/DMcPhail, https://twitter.com/#!/BadAssFaeries and https://twitter.com/#!/eSpecBooks
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/danielle.ackleymcphail
https://www.facebook.com/E-Spec-Books-768052066586116/
https://www.facebook.com/TheHornieLady/
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Danielle-Ackley-McPhail/e/B002GZVZPQ/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/989939.Danielle_Ackley_McPhail
Blog: https://especbooks.wordpress.com/

Monday, April 25, 2016

Book Review: Danube Waves

Danube Waves

By:  Katharina Bordet

Publish Date:  February 12, 2016

Format:  eARC

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  2nd in A Wiener Blut novel series; 1st Book ~ The Coffee Legacy
Short stories in the world: The Princess and the Coffee Bean

First Impression:  Delicious fairy tale weaved into the real world.

Synopsis:
The portals between worlds have been shut down, leaving king-to-be Maximilian Schindler-Krug trapped in our world in the form of a goat. An impending revolution, a murderer on the loose, recurring nightmares and a mad scientist stand between him and the throne. It’s going to take more than a talking swan, a fainting goat and copious amounts of coffee and cake to save the day.

Ten years since the murder of his mother, Maximilian Schindler-Krug is having increasingly vivid dreams about the night that changed his life forever, but that is the least of his problems. His coronation as King of Neu Meidling is approaching fast, but revolution across the kingdom threatens his family, while the closing of portals between the worlds has split up others.

Karin’s peaceful life at the Alt Wien is turned upside-down when her daughter brings home a wounded swan, which leads her to discover a lost family secret that will change her life forever. Her own husband’s place in events could rip their relationship apart.
Lily, a trainee Beschützer finds herself trapped in another world, torn between her duty to protect the royal Wächter line and coffee trade and her love for her future king. When she meets a man and his goat who provide unexpected solutions, she has to make a choice that could topple the monarchy, assuming she can get the young king back home alive.

“Danube Waves” takes us back to the linked worlds of the Wiener Blut universe first introduced in “The Coffee Legacy”, revisiting beloved characters and introducing new ones, not to mention tickling the tastebuds with a range of traditional Austrian cakes.

First Sentence:
"Tea? Are you serious? Why on earth would I want tea with a piece of cake?" the old man asked angrily.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles - eBook & Print  /  Book Depository 

My Thoughts and Summary:
The city of Unterbrucken has been cut off from Wien for so many years that the rations are slowly emptying from the castle stores. Lord Bluewater was the only person to successfully cross the line from Wien to Unterbrucken, and in doing so has affected all.

Max is dreaming again, of his wedding then drifts to a reoccurring nightmare. The king, Max's grand father, has passed on. The man who helped raise Max and Sebastian the last ten years. Max is now King, as he was trained for.

This book is so cool to look back on as it has several layers. The deaths in Coffee Legacy, that appeared to be solved, are so much more than they appeared at first sight. A revolution threatens in New Meidling. A new world is discovered, and a crazy scientist wants to prove it all to the world. A family reunited, and a love grows deeper. And goats!

Ten years after the Coffee Legacy we pickup with the worlds coming to a high in many ways. We get three different worlds in the book - Wien, Unterbrucken, and Neu Meidling. The name of the book, Danube Waves, comes from a cake and the river in the area. The river has a very important part to play in the story. We get a legend of the Danube, the Land of the River that lives deep below the surface, and the King's daughter.

We see Karin and Andreas again, and their daughter. Christina is mesmerized with the tale her mother tells her of a tale of a fisherman and his son and the people of the river. Karin and Andreas' lives are impacted from both sides, in connections and actions. We see the Krugs again. Max is to be king, and needs a few days away with his girlfriend before the weight of the world is placed on his shoulders. The events that follow get both of them thinking. Max is also facing his nightmares of a time he'd like to not see, but there is something that strikes him as not right in the visions from the past.

Their are many family secrets that come to surface in this story, and each have a different agenda. Times of change are here, but what are those changes?

Cakes are the connection in this book. We get a cake and it's description at the beginning of each chapter, then in the chapter the cake is mentioned. We have a few bakers in the worlds here. And they all sound so delicious!

A wonderful read to get submersed in the story and worlds created. A great pleasure to read. The book is a clean read. I would say older teens could read this story, and Coffee Legacy, as the language is mild and the story is not heavy romance.

Katharina is a talented author. I'm mesmerized by her amazing skillfulness at weaving a fairy tale of her own making that blends into the real world. I always love getting lost in her worlds.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Sunday Post #126

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news ~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share new about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh, I could sleep for a week! Yesterday we were up at 4 AM to take kiddo to a University tour. The school was 3 hours away. And man, that was the longest, most boring 3 hours I've ever driven. Both ways! Is it the school for Kiddo? Probably not. The distance and if he goes for the program we were talking about, he'll finish there in 4 years and have to go to another school for 3 more. There are others colleges that you can do the program directly at and in 6 years. But, it's D2 and they could offer him money for sports, so we aren't knocking anything off the list before he actually accepts somewhere.

I didn't mention this last weekend because I didn't know what would come of it. Athena, the healthy dog, jumped off our porch to the grass and did something to her front paw. She was putting no weight on it. So, off to the vet she went on Monday. She has some sort of infection that's caused the joint to inflame and she was running a fever. So, she's on antibiotics and pain/anti-inflammatory medicine. She'll go back to the vet tomorrow.

Boy, if it's not the kiddo, it's the dogs, and if not either one of them, it's my dad. I just can't keep up with all that keeps happening. And its expensive too!

I didn't get to visit this last week as it was one of non-stop going. Kiddo is going to prom so we had to get him fitted for his tux and all that happy jazz. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Fit Booker:

Goal:  Workout in any form of exercise (or on Wii Fit) 2x's a week. (to feel better and hope to drop a few pants sizes)

How did I do last week... I did got to the gym 2 days last week, Tuesday and Thursday. My usual. With working on lifting equipment then the elliptical for 30 mins.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:
I'll start a new book next week.


Current Audiobook:
The Girls From Alcyone by Cary Caffrey


Current Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing


Finished Last Week: 
No new books started yet.

Audiobooks from Audible:
Silicon Dawn by William Massa
Dragon Gate by Gary Jones
Lantern by Chess Desalls


Finished Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing

~~~~~~~~~~

Last Week on the Blog:


Cover Reveals: (click titles to go to post & learn more)




Posts:

Around the Internet...


Reviews:


Podcast Review:




Mama Bitchstress Reviews:



GIVEAWAYS:



~~~~~~~~~~

This Week to Come on the Blog:

I've decided to do three reviews a week for a few weeks, just to try to get caught up with what I have to share with you all. Hope you stop by to check them all out! :)
  Danube Waves
  Witch Song

And a discussion post on where do we post reviews.


~~~~~~~~~~

Received Last Weeks:


Review & Review Consideration:
Gaslight and Grimm: Steampunk Faerie Tales
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Once Upon a Time…

...ageless tales were told from one generation to the next, filled with both wonders and warnings. Tales of handsome princes and wicked queens, of good-hearted folk and evil stepmothers. Tales of danger and caution and magic...classics that still echo in our hearts and memories even to this day, told from old, cherished books or from memory at Grandma's knee. 

Oh yes, tales have been told...but never quite like these. Journey with us through the pages of Gaslight and Grimm to discover timeless truths through lenses polished in the age of steam. 

With tales by James Chambers ~ Christine Norris ~ Bernie Mojzes ~ Danny Birt ~ Jean Marie Ward ~ Jeff Young ~ Gail Z. and Larry N. Martin ~ Elaine Corvidae ~ David Lee Summers ~ Kelly A. Harmon ~ Jonah Knight ~ Diana Bastine ~ Jody Lynn Nye.


Audio Books Requested for Review:
Carrots by Colleen Helme
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Shelby Nichols is an average woman who is married to the only guy she ever fell for. Her life is organized and predictable, revolving around her husband and two children. All that changes the day she stops at the grocery store for some carrots. As the cashier rings up her purchases, a gunman is busy robbing the bank inside the store. When a customer grabs the robber's mask, he is shot and everyone runs for cover. Everyone except Shelby, who finds herself face to face with the killer. The next thing she knows, she's lying on the floor with a bullet wound to her head. Luckily, the bullet only grazes her scalp, and she doesn't suspect any lasting affects until later, when she suddenly 'hears' what people are thinking. With this uncanny ability, her life takes on a whole new dimension. Her kids think she's bossy and too old to understand them, but that's nothing compared to her husband. He says he loves her, but what is it about the redhead at work that he doesn't want her to know? As if that isn't enough, the gunman knows she can identify him, and he's out to silence her forever. In her fight to stay alive, she is saved from certain death by a handsome hit-man with ties to organized crime. This pulls Shelby even deeper into danger, where knowing someone's thoughts can not only hurt her feelings, but get her killed.

Fast Money by Colleen Helme
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
A trip to the mall gives Shelby the shock of her life when she finds an extra five million dollars in the bank account Uncle Joey set up for her. She thought he was out of her life for good, but with this fast money, she’s not so sure. Now she must decide if she will tell her husband the truth that she can still read people’s minds. Including his. How will he feel when he finds out she lied to him?
When the Mexican Police tell her that Uncle Joey’s been kidnapped and look to her for the ransom, she knows she’s in big trouble. As if that isn’t enough the police detective she worked with needs her help to solve a case, and she unwittingly becomes a witness to murder. In her fight to stay alive, she finds that everyone wants a piece of the money, and just how far they will go to get it, can be a matter of life and death. She just hopes it’s not hers.

Lie or Die by Colleen Helme
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Shelby has her hands full managing her new agency where she hopes to put her mind-reading skills to good use. Her first case to track down money stolen from a bank leads her into the lingerie business where nothing is as it appears. She also finds plenty to keep her busy with the police department and Detective Harris. But all that pales in comparison to what she must do to help Uncle Joey, the local mob boss. He knows her secret and is determined to make her use it for his own purposes. When her husband, Chris, receives threatening notes, and his former client, Hodges, turns up dead, it is up to Shelby to determine what is going on and who is behind it all. It seems the past has a way of catching up with her. Soon, Shelby must use all her wits to stay alive, and her only option? Lie or Die.

Secrets That Kill by Colleen Helme
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
As a “favor” to Uncle Joey, Shelby must deliver a letter to his associate in Orlando where she has been vacationing with her family. When things go terribly wrong, Shelby finds herself being pursued by a Florida Kingpin for the information he thinks she stole. On her own and in trouble, Uncle Joey sends Ramos to her rescue. As Shelby and Ramos take care of unfinished business, Shelby uncovers information about Ramos and a secret that could change his life. On a path of revenge and intrigue, Shelby finds that some secrets are meant to be kept…and others? They can kill.

Trapped By Revenge by Colleen Helme
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Goodreads Synopsis:
With summer over Shelby is looking forward to having some time to herself while the kids are back in school. A phone call from Uncle Joey ruins her plans, but she manages to take it in stride. After lunch with her friend, she promises to meet with the private investigator who was spying on Uncle Joey, but this simple task turns into a disaster. Not only does she find the P.I. dead, but a slip of paper with her name on it under his lifeless hand implicates her for his murder. Desperate to prove her innocence and find the person who killed him, Shelby begins a frantic search. She enlists the aid of the local mob boss, Uncle Joey, his hit-man, Ramos, and her police detective friend, Dimples, but soon finds that nothing can save her from becoming entangled in a sinister plot. With her life on the line and no way out, she finds herself trapped by revenge, and realizes it will take all her skills to escape. Now she must choose where her loyalties lie, and hope she doesn’t trade something bad, for something even worse.

Deep In Death by Colleen Helme
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Running “errands” for her mob-boss employer, Joey “The Knife” Manetto, often ends with Shelby in trouble, making her cautious about continuing her association with him. Instead, she focuses on a new client who hires Shelby to find her missing mother. What seems like a routine case turns into something more sinister and deadly than she ever imagined. In the meantime, Uncle Joey has summoned Shelby to his office, where she runs into her former nemesis. Shelby inadvertently hears something that makes her fear for the lives of Uncle Joey and his hit-man, Ramos. This time, Uncle Joey is not sure he wants to involve Shelby in something he knows could get her killed. Keeping Shelby’s involvement to a minimum has disastrous results, sending Shelby on a dangerous path. As her investigation unfolds, Shelby finds death at every turn, and soon realizes she is in over her head. Can she escape from danger in time? Or will she find herself deep in death?

Crossing Danger by Colleen Helme
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Shelby Nichols isn’t your average soccer-mom turned private investigator. She’s more on the quirky side with a little wild thrown in. That’s because a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head left her with the ability to read minds. This lands her in all kinds of trouble, and this time is no exception. Helping a reporter, Billie Jo, get the low-down on a case is just the tip of the iceberg. When her best friend’s niece goes missing, Shelby is pulled into a conspiracy that involves the police and the leader of a violent drug ring. Add to that a stranger in town with ties to the mob-boss she works for, along with a known assassin out to kill him, and Shelby is crossing danger at every turn. Will she find the answers in time? Or will this be her last adventure?


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Murder at the Kinnen Hotel by Brian McClellan
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Special Detective Constable Adamat may be the most capable young investigator in all of Adopest. He's sharp, thoughtful, and his particular sorcery gives him a flawless memory. A transfer to the First Precinct seems like the perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities and advance his career. 

But things work differently in the First Precinct. The murder of a businessman's mistress quickly pulls Adamat into an unexpected world of conspiracy and politics where he's forced to use all his wits to stay one step ahead of unseen enemies and keep his friends—and himself—from the guillotine. 

Occurs twenty-two years before the events in Promise of Blood.

Girl From Above: Betrayal by Pippa DaCosta
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Goodreads Synopsis:
"My name is #1001, and I am not ready to die." I’d only just begun to live.

When Captain Caleb Shepperd is released from prison, all he wants to do is keep his head down and earn a living smuggling illegal cargo through the nine systems. So when a synth stows away on his ship, and brings with her a crap-ton of problems, including guilt-ridden secrets he thought he’d escaped, he’d prefer to toss her out the airlock. The problem is, she’s priceless tech, and he’s fresh out of credit. 

#1001 is not meant to exist. Created for a single purpose, she has one simple order: to kill. But not everything is as it seems. Buried deep inside, she remembers... Remembers when she was human. And she remembers what Shepperd did to her. She’s not ready to die, but she is ready to kill. 

From the bestselling author of the Veil Series comes an action packed story of love, redemption, and revenge. 

Pippa DaCosta captures the grit and realism of her urban fantasy stories and injects it, along with some down-and-dirty passion, into the sci-fi genre. 

WARNING: 18+ only. Contains graphic adult content, including sex, drug use, violence, and a plethora of curse words. Not for the easily offended.

The Lost Thorn by Joshua P. Aguayo
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Goodreads Synopsis:
The Lost Thorn is a science fiction novel, with a strong and unstable female protagonist, that fuses the ideas of cyberpunk with dashes of urban fantasy. It's a heart pounding adventure told from the perspective of a highly chaotic girl who has lost everything she held dear, leaving her with nothing but a powerful drug as a means to cope with the inescapable pain. 

Cyberpunk meets psychological thriller. The Lost Thorn deals not only with mega-corporate thugs and gang politics, but it also follows Samantha's spiral and constant clash with the demons of addiction and madness. 

The novel is a grim and depressing social critique that often becomes a foil for the protagonist, whose voice we hear guiding us through her story. She is spunky, easygoing, careless, and terrible at making puns. This is an adventure of contrasts from beginning to end, one that will leave you hanging and asking for more!

Superhero in Disguise by Kitty Bucholtz
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Tori Lewis has followed the rules her whole life. She’s safe and well, heart intact, but there’s always been something odd about her, something hidden. 

Joe Clarke knows his destiny is to lead the superheroes of Double Bay just as his father before him. Nothing is going to keep him from that path. 

But on Halloween, no one is who they seem. Quiet girls can pretend to be bold, confident, adventurous. And even a superhero can pretend to be just a man. 


“Superhero in Disguise” is a free short story in the Adventures of Lewis and Clarke series, a prequel to book one, Unexpected Superhero.

Daygo's Fury by John F. O'Sullivan
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Goodreads Synopsis:
It’s not easy to survive in the slums. 

Liam is an orphan, living with eight others in a dilapidated flat. Every day is a battle in the war to survive. As conditions deteriorate, and casualties rise, Liam begins to lose faith. He looks at the bums on the side of the streets with hate. They’ve given up the fight. They are weak. But it frightens him, how he sometimes longs for their life. Panic grows within his chest. Racquel offers him hope, something good to live for, in a place where there seems nothing but dirt. But what form of survival is worth living for? And what is Liam willing to do to survive? What is he willing to become?

Niisa lives in the great forests of the Chewe mountains. He knows he is the odd one in the tribe. He knows he is different. Daygo calls to him, it speaks to him in the sounds of the forest, in the falling of the rain, in brief glimpses of sunlight through the canopy of trees overhead. It is the life that inhabits all things, that fuels all movement. He will do anything to join the Waloleng de Kgotia, the famous priests of the daygo stream. The tribespeople might consider his actions evil … but they don’t understand. 

The world is on the brink of famine and war. New magic is set to be unleashed. The beasts in the north, considered only a surreal page in history, raise their heads and consider, once again, marching south. 

Daygo flows, but which way will the current pull …

The Rifters by M. Pax
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Goodreads Synopsis:
A junction erupts between the worlds.

The Gold Rush trickles to a fool’s quest and a string of stagecoach heists. In 1888, Earl Blacke decides to make a new start and become a better man. He escapes into the mountains, heading north. In the wilds of Oregon, a rift inside an ancient volcano opens and sends him into the future, into the present day. It also shaves forty years off his age, forty years to live over again and atone for what he’s done.

Starting over is hard to do. In current day New York, Daelin Long’s dream job at a publishing house goes the way of the dinosaurs her sister chases. With no money and nowhere else to go, Daelin accepts the librarian position in her sister’s dinky town in the middle of Oregon. Nestled inside ancient volcanic peaks, the town of Settler holds onto many secrets. Residents roam the streets with weirdly fashioned devices, and odd lights pulse in the night skies. People whisper of a phantom outlaw and start dying, murdered and missing their heads. On top of it all, Daelin’s sister is missing, and Daelin doesn’t know who to trust.

Earl knows more than he’s saying. He shares a notorious history with the phantom, one he’ll see remains buried. Keeping Daelin’s sister’s secrets is his only chance at redemption, and the only way to keep this world safe.
 

The Backworlds by M. Pax
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Goodreads Synopsis:
After the war with Earth, bioengineered humans scatter across the Backworlds. Competition is fierce and pickings are scant. Scant enough that Craze’s father decides to hoard his fortune by destroying his son. Cut off from family and friends, with little money, and even less knowledge of the worlds beyond his own, Craze heads into an uncertain future. Boarding the transport to Elstwhere, he vows to make his father regret this day.

The Challenge by Susan Kearney
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Domination. Desire. Destiny.
She was shot protecting the president, and woke up naked, in the arms of a hunk...
He rules a future in which women are helpless, obedient, and always willing. She comes from a past in which a woman's strength, brains, and courage are unquestioned. The challenge between them is timeless. 
Secret Service agent Tessa Camen took a bullet meant for the president. She regains consciousness three hundred years in the future on a spaceship, naked in the arms of Kahn, a fierce warlord from the planet Rystan. He's been expecting her. Tessa was whisked forward in time because her fighting abilities include a psychic talent like none other. Only she can defeat an enemy who threatens Earth. The fate of her home hangs in the balance. Once again, she's called on to serve and protect her nation. 
In Kahn's world, women are meant to be ruled but also protected. He can seduce Tessa, but can he own her heart and mind? Can he put aside his beliefs about women to help her train for a brutal intergalactic test, The Challenge? If she loses, so does Earth. 
Tessa and Kahn are caught in a war of wills set in a future where survival is a skill, power is an aphrodisiac, and love is a challenge that could destroy everything they cherish.

Sylphide by K. Gorman
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Goodreads Synopsis:
It's been six weeks since Allish Statia, former prima ballerina at the Mersetzdeitz Ballet, broke her leg during the last performance of La Sylphide. In that time, she has healed (mostly), relaxed (a lot), and taken advantage of her husband's willingness to order take-out on most weeknights. 

Then someone broke into her apartment and pointed a gun at her. 

Using the wind elemental powers few knew she had, she is able to subdue the man. But he is only part of something much bigger—and much more dangerous.

Emerald Emergent by James Aaron
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Suspense. Adventure. New love.

Emmie.
 A girl scarred by the ancient artifact that killed her father. 

Elegaia. A steam-powered world where science and technology have become magic. 

When Emmie's best friend Bryte offers her a chance to explore a buried city, she is torn between her father's sense of adventure and her mother's common sense. She also can't deny her fascination with bookish Bryte. 

Following her heart, Emmie will face her fears and discover secrets that will change her life forever. . . once she chooses to stand up and fight. 

Welcome to Elegaia, where the past can kill you.

Under Wraps by J.A. Cipriano
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Never explore an ancient Egyptian tomb. That was the first rule of adventuring. It was right before never, ever be the last one alone inside. Thes Mercer did both of those things. Now, this Alpha werewolf has just one goal, to get back home before Ancient Egypt is engulfed in a turf war of godly proportions. 

It's too bad he broke the third rule of adventuring, too. Don't fall in love with the mummy princess.



(On my Nook)



Free Audio Books/Stories:




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Reviews to Come:

Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron
The Sentinel by Chris Lester
The Muse by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester
Danube Waves by Katharina Bordet
Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan
Lex Talionis by Starla Huchton
Spark by Starla Huchton
Heir to Kale by K.L. Bone
Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #5 - Old Sinner's Bones
The Death of Dulgath by Michael J. Sullivan
Witch Song by Amber Argyle
Fairy, Texas by Margo Bond Collins
Silicon Dawn by William Massa
Dragon Gate by Gary Jones
Lantern by Chess Desalls