Audiobook Review: Frostbite

Frostbite

By:  E.J. Stevens

Publish Date:  March 6, 2018, Audiobook Release June 18, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 28 mins
Narrated By:  Melanie A. Mason

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  0.5 in Ivy Granger series; 1st Book ~ Shadow Sight, 1.5 Novella ~ Blood and Mistletoe, 2nd Book ~ Ghost Light, 2.5 Novella ~ Club Nexus, 3rd Book ~ Burning Bright, 4th Book ~ Birthright Book 5 ~ Hound's Bite

Impression:  A haunting release.

Synopsis:
This prequel short story is the perfect introduction to the award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series.


Everyone knows that there's no such thing as ghosts, but when a client claims that her house is being haunted, Ivy tries to keep her mind open and her weapons handy. If her psychic gifts and recent cases have taught her anything, it's that you're better off arming yourself for the unexpected.


Will our favorite psychic detective face down murderous ghosts? Anything is possible in Harborsmouth.

First Sentence:
"What a beautiful cat, Miss Granger."

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles 

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Melanie has been a voice of Ivy Grangers for several books and slips right back into character for this short story. It flows with a pacing that fits the story and the few events that happen. It's clear in listening.

Oh. It took me a moment to connect the title to the short story. I get it.

This story is quick. I didn't even realize it was 28 minutes (listening wise) when it was over. It's a case that takes a matter of moments when Ivy arrives at the residence. It gives us the details of the case then the history connecting it all along with how Ivy solves it.

This story is a quick one to read to introduce yourself to Ivy Granger and her world. You get hints of what is present in the world and city of Harbersmouth along with what Ivy can do. There is nothing here to give away the series secrets. Also, you wouldn't be hindered in not reading this before the series. It's a complete stand-alone short story.

It would work well for Halloween, I think. ;)

As always, it's a pleasure to get to visit Ivy Granger on cases in her neck of the woods, or harbor.



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

Audio Book Review: Tracing Shadows

Tracing Shadows

By:  Alex Lidell

Publish Date:  April 8, 2018, Audiobook Release May 21, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 21 mins
Narrated By:  Hayden Daviau

Genre:  Fantasy, New Adult

Series:  1st in Scout series

Impression:  A female scout living two lives to learn information.

Synopsis:
To protect the throne, seventeen-year-old spy Kali must play a male guardsman trainee by day and royal lady by night.

Orphaned and trained on a spymaster’s remote estate, Kali is a scout who works alone in the shadows. But when a terror group threatens the Dansil throne, the king forces Kali to accept a mission at the palace or forfeit her sister’s life.

Suddenly thrust into the light, Kali must infiltrate high society as the royal Lady Lianna while penetrating the servant ranks as Kal, a male guardsman trainee. It doesn’t help that Trace, the harsh and enigmatic captain of the king’s guard, is soon assigned as both Lady Lianna’s palace escort and Kal’s commanding officer.

As Kali edges closer to the truth behind the violent group’s identity, she uncovers dangerous secrets that could bring her mission to a brutal end. A scout’s job is to observe and report, never to engage . . . but if it means saving her sister and kingdom, Kali may have no choice.

First Sentence:
"Would you like to buy a light crystal, young master?"

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles 

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Hayden is a new narrator for me. She speaks with a pacing which I do not need to increase the speed of the book. Which is nice. This pace blended with Alex's writing of constant movement, keeping the story moving forward. There was one section that seemed to be a longer pause, which I'm not sure if it was meant to be there because a break in the section of the book or the audio part. At times, though, it feels as Hayden speaks fast to get through the book in a limited time frame, too fast. She does seem to fit the personality of Kali vocally though.

It's of a female playing a part of a Lady in royal court and as a guard trainee, as a male. It's a common story with two parts focused on one outcome. I listened on, and the more I did I liked the book. I'm curious as to what will happen in the next book with where we're left in a bit of an uproar and things that could happen.

The story is good, but I don't find it as catching as Alex's two other series. In the end we see there is something special going on with Kali but don't know exactly what yet. I think the catch of the story is the magic used with crystals and that Kali is something else in the magic spectrum. Also we have the kingdom the midst of rebellion with how things are going for their lives and the area they lost to another empire decades ago.

We get most of the story from Kali's view as she lives as Lady Lianna and Kal. There are moments added in from other characters. Violet is added in to give a view from her side, though the first section by her feels to introduce the fact that she likes to cut herself to take the emotional pain away. At first meeting, it felt as though Alex had to have something in the story that is emotional and catching. As the story line moves on, we see how Violet falls into a group, where they comfort her in a way she needs emotionally, who are against what the King is trying to do. It's easy to do when there is a void in one's heart, like Violet feels. The first meeting of Violet set this up for us to see.

As the story goes on I started to understand the troubles in the Dansil kingdom. They are struggling with baring children. Many woman are having still born children or dying in birth with the child. This is affecting the kingdom and people in it. They are not thriving as they should to survive as a kingdom. They need help.



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

Sunday Post #202

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Busy week. Dog to vet, hair coloring, free concert (every Thursday for summer).  So, I didn't get to visit as I'd hoped. Ugh. This week will be my week. I'm going to make it happen.

I had the great pleasure of going to hear an amazing author speak. Beverly Jenkins.

Oh she was wonderful. I loved hearing her story and journey. She has a presence that holds your attention, and a great sense of humor. I had to pick up a few books of hers as I loved how she talked about them. And I have to meet Cletus, the hog. lol. If you heard her talk about him, you'd understand.

And Seton Hill had an alumni author room where I could meet and pick up their books. Of course I had to stop! And get a few books. Here are a few photos of people I got to talk with.

I always have a great time with the amazing speakers Seton Hill brings in and the people there. I look forward to these days.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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... Nope. Nada. Darn that back. But I did push mow the grass. I know I shouldn't but it needed done. Badly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

Siren's Tide by Philippa Ballantine
Editing work.


Current Audiobook:
Marines by Paul E. Cooley
Helios by Jeremy Robinson & Sean Ellis

Current Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new.

Finished Last Week: 

Books:
Embracing the Dragon by K.L. Bone

Audiobooks :

Tracing Shadows by Alex Lidell

Frostbite by E.J. Stevens

Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Nothing new yet.

DNFed:

~~~~~~~~~~

Last Week on the Blog:

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

Guest Posts:

Posts:

Spellbound in a Flash:
Spellbound in a Flash now has a Facebook Page!

Have you seen Aubrey Burchell in the early stages of American Idol? She went to Hollywood but didn't make the top for the show. I got to hear her sing locally! And photograph her. She's a local gal.

Challenged Writers:
April Update - How Camp NaNoWriMo went & a little on my re-write process.

Around the Internet...

Reviews:

Children of Blood and Bone

"The story was powerful. It started strong and drew me in."

Agent Prime

"One thing I'm learning about Jake Bible. He can write many different styles. Wow."

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

~~~~~~~~~~

This Week to Come on the Blog:

I will finished up two reviews for you this week.

~~~~~~~~~~

Received For the Last Month:

(Note: Links to Amazon are buy links where I could earn commission, in case you are interested.)


For Review Consideration:

Audio Books Requested for Review:

Frostbite by E.J. Stevens
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
This prequel short story is the perfect introduction to the award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series.

Everyone knows that there's no such thing as ghosts, but when a client claims that her house is being haunted, Ivy tries to keep her mind open and her weapons handy. If her psychic gifts and recent cases have taught her anything, it's that you're better off arming yourself for the unexpected.


Will our favorite psychic detective face down murderous ghosts? Anything is possible in Harborsmouth.

War and Wind by Alex Lidell
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
A cowardly captain. An incompetent crew. A mission she can't fail. 

Nile and her small band of loyal midshipmen saved the ship, and Captain Rima might just kill them for it . . . one young officer at a time. No one and nothing on the Aurora is safe anymore, least of all Nile’s explosive secrets or her connection with Domenic, which vibrates between them like a cutlass speared into the deck.

When the shifting tide of war suddenly turns Aurora’s backwater outpost into a vital battleground, Nile faces an impossible choice between duty and freedom. In a cascade of violence, gunpowder, and lies, Nile will soon discover who has her back and who wants to stab a dagger in it. To save the ones she loves, Nile may have to sacrifice everything.




Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Book:

Bring on the Blessings by Beverly Jenkins
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
On Bernadine Brown's fifty-second birthday she received an unexpected gift—she caught her husband, Leo, cheating with his secretary. She was hurt—angry, too—but she didn't cry woe is me. Nope, she hired herself a top-notch lawyer and ended up with a cool $275 million. Having been raised in the church, she knew that when much is given much is expected, so she asked God to send her a purpose. 

The purpose turned out to be a town: Henry Adams, Kansas, one of the last surviving townships founded by freed slaves after the Civil War. The failing town had put itself up for sale on the Internet, so Bernadine bought it.

Trent July is the mayor, and watching the town of his birth slide into debt and foreclosure is about the hardest thing he's ever done. When the buyer comes to town, he's impressed by her vision, strength, and the hope she wants to offer not only to the town and its few remaining residents, but to a handful of kids in desperate need of a second chance.

Not everyone in town wants to get on board though; they don't want change. But Bernadine and Trent, along with his first love, Lily Fontaine, are determined to preserve the town's legacy while ushering in a new era with ties to its unique past and its promising future.

Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
What kind of mail-order bride greets her intended with a bullet instead of a kiss? One like Regan Carmichael—an independent spirit equally at home in denims and dresses. Shooting Dr. Colton Lee in the shoulder is an honest error, but soon Regan wonders if her entire plan to marry a man she’s never met is a mistake. Colton, who buried his heart along with his first wife, insists he only wants someone to care for his daughter. Yet Regan is drawn to the unmistakable desire in his gaze.

Regan’s far from the docile bride Colton was expecting. Still, few women would brave the wilds of Wyoming Territory for an uncertain future with a widower and his child. The thought of having a bold, forthright woman like Regan in his life—and in his arms—begins to inspire a new dream. And despite his family’s disapproval and an unseen enemy, he’ll risk all to make this match a real union of body and soul.

High Lonesome Sound by Jaye Wells
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the sleepy mountain town of Moon Hollow, Virginia, there is a church with a crooked steeple. No one will say for sure how it got that way, but it’s the reason the whole town gathers every Decoration Day to honor the dead.

But this year, there are two fresh graves up on Cemetery Hill, a stranger’s come to town, and the mountain’s song is filled with dark warnings.

The good people of Moon Hollow are about to learn that some secrets are too painful to bear, and some spirits are too restless to stay buried.

The Empress Game by Rhonda Mason
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
One seat on the intergalactic Sakien Empire’s supreme ruling body, the Council of Seven, remains unfilled, that of the Empress Apparent. The seat isn’t won by votes or marriage. It’s won in a tournament of ritualized combat in the ancient tradition. Now that tournament, the Empress Game, has been called and the females of the empire will stop at nothing to secure political domination for their homeworlds. Kayla Reinumon, a supreme fighter, is called by a mysterious stranger to battle it out in the arena.

The battle for political power isn’t contained by the tournament’s ring, however. The empire’s elite gather to forge, strengthen or betray alliances in a dance that will determine the fate of the empire for a generation. With the empire wracked by a rising nanovirus plague and stretched thin by an ill-advised planet-wide occupation of Ordoch in enemy territory, everything rests on the woman who rises to the top.

Marked by Light by Heidi Ruby Miller
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
This is the first book in the Ambasadora science fiction adventure series. This space thriller contains elements of space opera, science fiction romance, cyberpunk, military science fiction, a galactic empire, anthropological science fiction, and exploration.

If everyone told you love wasn't real, would you still be willing to die for it?

Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer are.

In their multi-partner, caste-ruled society, love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. Relationships and conceptions in this world obsessed with celebrity, beauty, and power are based on DNA and lineages...or should be. But not everyone believes in the ruling traditions of the all-powerful Embassy. A quiet rebellion prowls the dark underground of this shiny world where techno-militants calling themselves fraggers grow in numbers and bravado. The Embassy intends to silence the fragger movement before the heresy of equality spreads throughout the system.

Sara Mendoza is part of the Embassy's plan. Captured, tortured, and falsely accused of treason, she is given a chance to win back her freedom. She only needs to charm information from one of the fragger leaders, then kill him. But by the time she figures out the Embassy's intel is flawed and that Sean Cryer is her true mark, she's already in love with him.

Sean knows why Sara is on his ship from the start, but as a lonely, anti-social doser, he doesn't value his life, only his ideology within the fragger organization. Against his better judgment, he becomes her protector, each day caring more about a future he was always afraid to hope for.

Starrie by Heidi Ruby Miller
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
In this caste-ruled society, where multiple partners are the norm, celebrity, beauty, and power mean everything. Love and jealousy are considered emotional fallacies, nothing more than fleeting moods and sentiments biased by hormones. But sometimes people just fall in love…and that can be deadly.

Ben Anlow and his team embark on a revenge mission to bring down serial murderer and rapist, Liu Stavros, at his fortress in the inhospitable mountains of Tampa Three. But contractor Naela Starrie already has her own kind of vengeance planned for Stavros. Even as a battle-hardened soldier, Ben’s not prepared for the darkness he sees in the female assassin, nor the way she challenges his prejudices about her people when she makes a sacrifice to save to his life. 

Greenshift by Heidi Ruby Miller
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Greenshift is a tale set within the world of Ambasadora.

Mari’s rare eye color makes her a pariah within Upper Caste society, which is why she prefers plants to people…except David, the former Armadan captain who shuttles scientists around on a refurbished pleasure cruiser.

But someone else is interested in Mari and her distinctive look—an obsessed psychopath who tortures and murders women for pleasure.

When the killer chooses Mari as his next victim, the soldier inside David comes alive, but it is Mari who must fight for her own life and prove she isn’t as fragile as the flowers she nurtures.



Audio:

Free Ebooks:
(On my Kindle and Nook App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.

Free Audio Books/Stories:

~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

Danger's Halo by Amanda Carlson
Alone by Scott Sigler

Power of Five by Alex Lidell

Tracing Shadows by Alex Lidell
Frostbite by E.J. Stevens

Audio Book Review: Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone

By:  Tomi Adeyemi

Publish Date:  March 6, 2018, Audiobook Release March 6, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 18 hrs 9 mins
Narrated By:  Bahni Turpin

Genre:  Fantasy, Young Adult

Series:  1st in Legacy of Orisha series

Impression:  Rich culture, with battles to survive

Synopsis:
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.

Now we rise.

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.

First Sentence:
Pick me.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles  /  Book Depository

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Wow. Bahni was wonderful with the accent of the characters and tone set for them. When she recited the incantations as Zelie or other characters did, it had a singing quality to it that brought it to life. I expected to see something happen as I felt it in my heart. Each chapter is from one of three characters views, and Bahni gave a different tone to each. She spoke with the emotion and passion of the characters when they spoke. She hit the words with love and hate as the characters would.

The story starts with a powerful saying at the beginning. This saying is what Zelie thinks about, and leads me into the book wondering about these things as well. I felt for Zelie from this moment.

The culture feels rich with life and history. I love this aspect of the story. The way they live is intertwined with their history and beliefs. We get this strong feel from Zelie and Tzain in their home village, and see it again when they come across a village of others. The visit to this village hidden away is beautiful and brings to life the way things could be.

Tomi is in it for the long haul. The story is a fantasy style read. We learn and see the world, culture, beliefs and more as the characters live through events. This deepens the investment of the characters and grows a series. The story ends with an unexpected turn, which will bring a new list of complications to those in the world.

We get the story from Zelie, Amari, and Inan's view points. This gives us the view from two sides and the one in the middle of all that's happening and happened. There are two histories to every event, and we see that here. There are people hurt on both sides of the battle, and they keep battling for the hurt they feel. What is the answer to this? I don't know. Our characters are looking for the answer as well.

The story was powerful. It started strong and drew me in. But it felt to move at a slower pace in the middle for me. The ending picked up with strength and pacing for me, just like the beginning. This is a fantasy pace with the characters on a mission yet on the run. There are moments of love for the characters. They find more in others and grow to care for the kingdom and others, others they never thought they'd love.

This is geared more for Young Adults. It feels to be a story but also with a feeling of treat others as you want to be treated. That people fight when knocked down and everything taken from them. There is more to people, ALL people. I felt strong emotions when listening to the book as we get the stories and feelings from the characters. I could see why they felt the way they did, yet I knew the other sides point too. It's hard to resolve this when people don't open their eyes, minds, and hearts to see all.

Then I came to the end... Seriously?!? It's going to end like that? I want to know what it means, what happened. Gah! LOL! Yep. I was shocked. I want to know what will come next.



****If my thoughts were helpful, please click Yes at Amazon. Thank you!

Audio Book Review: Agent Prime

Agent Prime

By:  Jake Bible

Publish Date:  February 20, 2018, Audiobook Release April 24, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 7 hrs 37 mins
Narrated By:  Andrew B. Wehrlen

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  Stand-alone

Impression:  Delivery mission via undercover.

Synopsis:
Denman Sno is Agent Prime!

The best of the Fleet Intelligence Service's elite Special Service Division, Denman Sno will need to use all of his skills and resources to stop the galaxy from plunging into another War with the alien menace known as the Skrang Alliance.

Sno's assignment: protect and deliver Pol Hammon, the galaxy's greatest dark tech hacker, to Galactic Fleet headquarters.

Hammon is in possession of new technology that can and will change the landscape of galactic life. The Galactic Fleet will do anything to keep that technology out of the hands of the Skrang Alliance even it it means sacrificing their best agent.

Even if it means sacrificing Agent Prime!

Murder. Espionage. Romance. Treachery. Greed.

Agent Prime is prepared for it all!

First Sentence:
"Rylia Five?"

Purchase At:
Amazon

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:

*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Andrew seems to be sure to pronounce everything properly. There are moments where speech slows to get all enunciated properly. Though, usually when a character is talking, the flow of the words is constant. I give him credit, there are a lot of words and names that could easily be pronounced wrong. I don't think I could do as well as he did. Andrew did give a physical feel to each character as he spoke for them.

The beginning is full of hints to the world and Denman Sno and his job. But it feels heavy with creation. There is a lot with being science fiction/space setting. There are many different beings and planets along with technology to pick up on. Jake dives right into the meat of it. There is a lot to create as this is a stand alone, so far.

The beginning feels agency/military strategically strong as Sno details out what he sees and does. I wonder if Andrew's voice compliments this feeling as it's how Sno sees things in his mind. He is an Agent after all, he gets paid to see things in this perspective.

One thing I'm learning about Jake Bible. He can write many different styles. Wow. But, I'm learning that with Jake, I'm invested or just along for the ride. For me in Agent Prime, I was along for the ride. I struggled with some of the connections as it seemed to appear as he went. The details were minor and hidden in text that you can connect them to what we know, but it felt like it could have been stronger for me.

I did love the ship that was used to travel, and was to be incognito for Sno and Pol. It was a luxury liner that's known for the passengers to find love. This was a fun twist to the story. Though, this is where majority of the story takes place. It might be a love ship, but Sno has to deal with being attacked in a whole different fashion.

I did come to like that the plot is thicker than expected the further into the book we went. There is more to Pol and others. There is a reason for what all transpires on the luxury ship. I liked the overall idea of the story with Pol.

I think some will enjoy this story while others will thinks it's good. It's hard to pick who would be who though. Take a look at the book and see if it's something you might like.




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

Sunday Post #201

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't post this last week. It wasn't that I didn't have anything to post, it was more my back. I don't know what I did but it was hurting something fierce for a week and a half. It hurt to sit, stand, walk, lay... you name it, it hurt. I made several trips to the chiropractor and did my stretches and I'm starting to get around better. But, I didn't get on the computer when home much because I was trying to relax or stretch, even walk when feeling better as it kept my back moving and limber. I do sit at a desk all day during the day job, and that was a struggle. I was constantly shifting, trying to get comfortable. The last four or five days, I'm finally moving better and feeling better. But there are still sore spots and ways I can't move. I'm getting better though.

I promised photos of the t-shirts I got at Balticon along with my Jessica Jones toy. Here they are!

 The Goonies t-shirt is sooooo comfy! I am going to wear that one all the time!

So, I listen to audiobooks while at work. I'm currently listening to an 18 hour book. O.O I've found I struggle with a book of this length. I want to race to the end, like it takes too long to get there. Does anyone else struggle with a long book?

So, I need to set limits on everything. An hour for this and an hour for that. I'm going to try to set goals this week for each evening and see how that goes. I want to get back to everything I love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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... Nope. Nada. Darn that back. But I did push mow the grass. I know I shouldn't but it needed done. Badly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

Embracing the Dragon by K.L. Bone
Editing work.


Current Audiobook:
Marines by Paul E. Cooley

Current Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new.

Finished Last Week: 

Books:
Not this week.

Audiobooks :

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Power of Five by Alex Lidell

Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Alone by Scott Sigler (You can listen for free too! Go to Scott's website.)

DNFed:

~~~~~~~~~~

Last Week on the Blog:

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

Guest Posts:

Posts:

Spellbound in a Flash:
Spellbound in a Flash now has a Facebook Page!

Have you seen Aubrey Burchell in the early stages of American Idol? She went to Hollywood but didn't make the top for the show. I got to hear her sing locally! And photograph her. She's a local gal.

Challenged Writers:
April Update - How Camp NaNoWriMo went & a little on my re-write process.

Around the Internet...

Reviews:

The Defiant Heir

"Melissa moves the story quickly without us knowing it. Events happen and Amalia, thinking as she always does to help, ends up right where we need her. The best part, it all feels organic! Amalia feels true to her nature and is in the places she needs to be, doing as she must. This keeps me wanting to hear more as I want to know what is happening and why."

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

~~~~~~~~~~

This Week to Come on the Blog:

I will finished up two reviews for you this week.

~~~~~~~~~~

Received For the Last Month:

(Note: Links to Amazon are buy links where I could earn commission, in case you are interested.)


For Review Consideration:

Siren's Tide by Philippa Ballantine
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Ianthe Liakos is a mermaid from a different dimension and between that and now working as a PI in the corrupt climate of Washington DC, she'd thought she'd seen it all. 

But when following a case leads down a trail of money that connects the murders of young political interns to a new paranormal threat, she realizes she must protect the next target. 

The waters turn even murkier when Clayton Abernathy, a newly risen revenant fresh out of the grave, finds himself under the power of this new unnatural threat. Ianthe must hunt down this new threat to DC, while trying to keep her own identity safe. If the paranormal citizens of Washington DC found out that a mermaid has returned her own life and mission would be in danger. 
And when it becomes clear that the murderer and Ianthe's mermaid past are inexplicably intertwined, she realizes she may just be out of her depth dealing with this killer. 

======================================= 

Six remarkable female writers, bring you a new urban fantasy series of novellas. Their Sea King’s Daughters will carry the reader into uncharted waters.



Audio Books Requested for Review:

Power of Five by Alex Lidell
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Four elite fae warriors. One mortal female. A magical bond they can’t allow—or resist. 

Orphaned and sold to a harsh master, Lera’s life is about mucking stalls, avoiding her master’s advances, and steering clear of the mystical forest separating the mortal and fae worlds. Only fools venture into the immortal realms, and only dark rumors come out... Until four powerful fae warriors appear at Lera’s barn. 

River, Coal, Tye, and Shade have waited a decade for their new fifth to be chosen, the wounds from their quint brother’s loss still raw. But the magic has played a cruel trick, bonding the four immortal warriors to... a female. A mortal female. 

Distractingly beautiful and dangerously frail, Lera can only be one thing—a mistake. Yet as the males bring Lera back to the fae lands to sever the bond, they discover that she holds more power over their souls than is safe for anyone... especially for Lera herself. 

Power of Five is a full-length reverse-harem fantasy novel. 

Tracing Shadows by Alex Lidell
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Goodreads Synopsis:
To protect the throne, seventeen-year-old spy Kali must play a male guardsman trainee by day and royal lady by night. 

Orphaned and trained on a spymaster’s remote estate, Kali is a scout who works alone in the shadows. But when a terror group threatens the Dansil throne, the king forces Kali to accept a mission at the palace or forfeit her sister’s life. 

Suddenly thrust into the light, Kali must infiltrate high society as the royal Lady Lianna while penetrating the servant ranks as Kal, a male guardsman trainee. It doesn’t help that Trace, the harsh and enigmatic captain of the king’s guard, is soon assigned as both Lady Lianna’s palace escort and Kal’s commanding officer. 

As Kali edges closer to the truth behind the violent group’s identity, she uncovers dangerous secrets that could bring her mission to a brutal end. A scout’s job is to observe and report, never to engage . . . but if it means saving her sister and kingdom, Kali may have no choice.




Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Book:
I got a storybundle! Summer Steampunk. Check out all the titles I got!

Star Compass by Anthea Sharp
Goodreads Synopsis:
Charles Dickens meets Firefly in this tale of an orphan destined for the stars.

Steampunk with a twist! Enter a fantastical world filled with alien spacecraft and Victorian sensibilities, ball gowns and travel to the stars - where a pickpocket with a particular gift makes the journey from the gutter to the stars…

Gunpowder Alchemy by Jeannie Lin
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Goodreads Synopsis:
In 1842, the gunpowder might of China's Qing Dynasty fell to Britain's steam engines. Furious, the Emperor ordered the death of his engineers, eliminating China's best chance of fighting back. Since her father's execution eight years ago, Jin Soling has kept her family from falling apart. With her mother addicted to opium and her younger brother in danger of being sent off to the factories, Soling has no choice but to sell off the last of her father's possessions. Unwittingly, her actions bring her to the attention of the imperial court-the same court that betrayed her father. The Crown Prince has launched a secret mission to bring together the remnants of the former Ministry of Science. To restore her family's name, Soling must track down the rebel alchemist who holds the key to powering the imperial fleet. Her only ally is a man she's just met-the engineer with a mysterious past who was once meant to be her husband...

Legend of the Skyfire Stone by Joseph Robert Lewis
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Lorenzo Quesada believes an ancient relic will restore his dying country to prosperity and honor, unless the military finds it first. Taziri Ohana is on a routine flight when she discovers a secret Espani warship, which shoots her down, stranding her behind enemy lines. Thrown together by fate, Lorenzo and Taziri race through a gauntlet of vicious assassins, undead demons, and giant beasts to find the fabled Skyfire Stone. But when the Espani warship sets sail for Marrakesh, Lorenzo must stop a war that could destroy the Middle Sea, even if it costs him both the stone and his life. Welcome to a fantasy world where strange machines sail the seas and the skies, enormous prehistoric beasts roam the earth, and the restless dead whisper to the living. Publisher's Note: This book was originally released under the title Halcyon 2: The Broken Sword. No content has been changed. 

Golden Heart by Christine Pope
Goodreads Synopsis:
The adventure of a lifetime...or a trap she can't escape?

When the proper Miss Lavinia Greene receives a letter from her eccentric inventor uncle asking her to visit him at his castle in Romania, her only thought is that his invitation will give her a wonderful opportunity to escape her carefully ordered existence. Even as she acknowledges her attraction to her uncle's mysterious new assistant, Joshua Jones, Lavinia also finds herself drawn into mayhem and murder as foreign agents attempt to seize her uncle's latest invention.

Fearing for her life, Lavinia must navigate a shifting web of loyalties and deceit, whether in the wilds of Romania or the elegant ballrooms of a Victorian London just slightly different from our own. But can she discover the truth of her own heart before it's too late?

Fall of Sky City by S.M. Blooding
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Book 1 of the Devices of War Trilogy

In a world governed by the opposing forces of the mystical House of Tarot and the tribal Great Families, Synn is caught in the crossfire. He witnesses the slaughter of innocent people, and the devastating murder of his father. This act awakens his Mark of power, a Mark greater than any the world has seen in a very long time.

Queen Nix thought she won a great prize when she destroyed Synn’s father, the leader of the strongest Great Families. She had no idea she’d be doubly blessed by capturing his son. However, before Synn can become her treasured weapon, before she can use him to bring the rest of the world to its knees, she must break him and bind his soul to hers.

She does her job with brutal brilliance. Synn’s mind is broken and his soul is seared to hers in an unbreakable bond.

That doesn’t stop him from wanting to be free. She may have broken his mind and claimed his soul, but he will find a way to destroy her. 

Experience a world of ships that sail the clouds and cites buried beneath the ocean, and survive the fiery battle brought forth by those who control the forces of nature!

The Books & Braun Dossier by Pip Bllantine & Tee Morris
Goodreads Synopsis:
When Agents Eliza D. Braun and Wellington Thornhill Books, Esquire, were first partnered up in the Archives of The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, it was hard to believe they would ever delight in one another's company, let alone engage in acts of derring-do within and outside the boundaries of Her Majesty's Empire. Collected for the first time in one volume are the cases before and in-between the award-winning steampunk novels written by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. In The Books & Braun Dossier, you will find out…

Why Eliza D. Braun was cast out of her homeland of New Zealand.

Who is Arthur Books.

How Wellington and Eliza cannot avoid trouble, even on Christmas Eve.

When Wellington is away, how Archimedes entertains himself.

From the award-winning podcast anthology series Tales from the Archives comes these fantastic adventures of spy craft, science, and the supernatural. 

Heart of the Kraken by A.W. Exley
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Legend says if you consume the heart of a mermaid, you will know all the secrets of men

Ailin doesn't care if the legend is true or not - she's stuck in a crate on her way to feature as the main course at a lavish banquet. Her heart to be served while still beating for a cruel noble while the rest of her is sliced into sashimi. Unless she can escape.
Across the ocean, Fenton longs for a different release. Sold as a child by men who labelled him a mistake, a failed experiment. Except he has one valuable skill, he can summon the dreaded kraken. Bought by a pirate, he has only known life at sea, wielded as a tool by the captain.

Two lives collide when the pirates capture the vessel holding Ailin. The kraken holds the key to Ailin's freedom but in summoning the beast one last time, Fenton must choose between losing his life or his heart…

Clockwork Alchemist by Sara C. Roethle
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Goodreads Synopsis:
A thief, a wayward detective, and an automaton with a soul. What could possibly go wrong? 

Arhyen is the self-declared finest thief in London. The mission was simple. Steal a journal from Fairfax Breckinridge, one of the greatest alchemists of the time. Arhyen hadn’t expected to find Fairfax himself, with a dagger in his back. Nor had he expected his automaton daughter, Liliana. Suddenly entrenched in a mystery too great for him to fully comprehend, he must rely on the help of a wayward detective, and an automaton who claims she has a soul, to piece together the clues laid before them. Will Arhyen uncover the true source of Liliana’s soul in time, or will London plunge into a dark age of nefarious technology, where only the scientific will survive? 

This novel is classified as Gaslamp Fantasy, with elements of magic within alchemy and science, based in Victorian England.

The Curious Case of The Clockwork Menace by Bec McMaster
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Friends, partners, and professionals... So just why is this case coming between them?

In a Victorian London ruled by the blood-drinking elite, Perry Lowell is a logical and accomplished Nighthawk: a rogue blue blood who tracks murderers and thieves for the Guild. So when she and her charming-but-reckless partner, Garrett, are charged with finding a missing theatre starlet, it should be a simple solve. 

But with an entire theatre of suspects, including a flirtatious understudy and whispers of a Clockwork Menace haunting the place, tension is brewing between the pair of them. Can they come together to solve the case - or will it be too late, when the murderer turns his gaze on Perry herself? 

Warning: This is not a traditional HEA. Set three years before Forged By Desire (available Sept 2014), it's a pre-romance novella featuring Perry and Garrett. Heads will butt, tempers will flare - and perhaps one of them might come to realise just what the other truly means to them?


THEN! For signing up for the newsletter, I got these two books:

Wreck of the Frost Finch by Joseph Robert Lewis
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Omar Bakhoum joined an airship expedition to the glaciers of Europa to find a lost island and to learn about the aether mist that reveals the souls of the dead, even though howling storms, rampaging beasts, and a deadly samurai stand between him and his goal. But when Omar is accused of murder over the north sea, his quest for answers may end in a watery grave. Welcome to a fantastical world where strange machines sail the seas and the skies, enormous prehistoric beasts roam the earth, and the restless dead whisper to the living.

Assassins of the Steam Age by Joseph Robert Lewis
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Goodreads Synopsis:
When the local airfield is destroyed, Taziri Ohana is the only airship pilot left to help the marshals chase the killers across the skies of Marrakesh. But the case becomes terrifyingly personal when Taziri finds that her enemies have turned her own inventions into weapons and her family's survival may hang in the balance.

Meanwhile, exiled Incan princess Qhora and her swashbuckling lover Lorenzo face a gauntlet of assassins, cruel aristocrats, and wealthy industrialists conspiring against the very Queen that Taziri is trying to save, and her country's only hope for peace may be her crippled airship plummeting out of the burning sky.

Welcome to a world where strange machines sail the seas and the skies, enormous prehistoric beasts roam the earth, and the restless dead whisper to the living. 



Audio:

Free Ebooks:
(On my Kindle and Nook App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Latina Ivy League grad Milagro de Los Santos can't find her place in the world or a man to go with it. Then one night, at a book party for her pretentious ex-boyfriend, she meets an oddly attractive man. After she is bitten while kissing him, she falls ill and is squirreled away to his family's estate to recover. Vampires don't exist in this day and age -- or do they? As Milagro falls for a fabulously inappropriate man, she finds herself caught between a family who has accepted her as one of their own and a shady organization that refuses to let the undead live and love in peace.

Magick and Monsters: A collection of Fantasy and Urban Fantasy Novels
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Ready for a touch of magic?

MAGICK AND MONSTERS is a best-selling boxed set of wicked paranormal reads, brought you by today’s best-selling and award-winning authors!

Supernaturally suspenseful, this boxed set has all the myths, magic, and monsters you could ever ask for: demons, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, shape-shifters, faeries, and other creatures to keep you awake all night, burning through the pages alongside the midnight oil.

Scroll up and one click to start reading this exciting collection today!

Brought to you by...
Vivian Lane
Alexa Padgett
Samantha Britt
Elle Boon
Joanna Mazurkiewicz
Erica Gerald Mason
Tameri Etherton
Annie Anderson
Erin Hayes
Amanda Booloodian
Angela Kulig
K.C. Finn
Jessica Aspen
R.K. Close
Jennifer Rose McMahon
Kim Carmichael
Alyssa Drake
Carmen Fox
Tara West
CK Dawn
Melinda R. Cordell
J.N. Colon 

Miss Mabel's School for Girls by Katie Cross
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Never underestimate the power of a determined witch.

Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic.

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has inherited a deadly curse. Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.

Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Miss Mabel’s sinister plan be too powerful?

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls is the first novel in The Network Series, an exciting new fantasy collection. A gripping tale about the struggle to survive, it will take you to a new place and time, one you’ll never want to leave.

Gate of Air by Resa Nelson
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Frayka must find and convince the dragon gods of the Far East to appease the gods of her Northland heritage. If she fails, her own Northlander gods will destroy all the mortals who once promised to worship them.

The Far East is a mysterious place of legend to Northlanders like Frayka. Only an old map can show her how to get there. Once she arrives, all of Frayka’s sensibilities put her in danger. And every dangerous turn delays her from finding the dragon gods whose help she so desperately needs.

Although Frayka looks like a Far Easterner, she is a powerful Northlander warrior who is quick to voice her thoughts. She is trained to fight and won’t hesitate to do so.

But everything about Frayka puts her in deadly peril in the Far East, where the laws are strict and the punishment cruel.

Especially when the one being punished is a woman.





Free Audio Books/Stories:

~~~~~~~~~~

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

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

Danger's Halo by Amanda Carlson
Agent Prime by Jake Bible

Alone by Scott Sigler

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Power of Five by Alex Lidell