Sunday, July 22, 2018

Sunday Post #204


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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And another week in the dust. I've been trying to keep myself busy. I've been taking photos - a concert Thursday night, football Saturday morning, and fireworks Saturday night at a carnival I went to with my husband. It was nice to have a night out to relax a little. It's been stressful with the pets and all.

Sheba's been sick with a terrible, terrible skin infection and I've been trying to keep her cleaned up. She does seem to be improving with her new antibiotic, at least in her movements and personality. She's not just laying on her pillow sleeping now. And she's eating much better.

I've been working on editing work, which it totally awesome. I'm excited for this author and book.

It's been crazy here with Sheba being sick, so I haven't been on the blog lately. I really wish things would go back to normal so I can do what I love.

I've found with Googles change in policies, they no longer email the blog owner of any comments on posts. I miss this as this is how I found who comments and where so I can answer and follow back to your blog. Does anyone know how to change this so I DO get the emails on comments?

Oh well. Lets move on to the next week of events. Hope they are all good ones for you!

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

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... Not...really... Time is mad at me right now.

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

Current Read:
The Books and Braun Dossier by Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris
Editing work.


Current Audiobook:
Marines by Paul E. Cooley
War and Wind by Alex Lidell


Current Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new.


Finished Last Week: 
Books:
xxxx by xxxx



Audiobooks :
Flotsam Prison Blues by M.K. Gibson
As Dead as a Vampire by April Fernsby



Finished Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new yet.


DNFed:


~~~~~~~~~~

Last Two Weeks 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:
Helios

"I love how things come together. These stories bring things together I wouldn't expect to relate, yet they fit. Religion, gods, aliens, and so much more tie in threads to each other along with adventure. I get caught up and find I stop and listen, pausing to take it all in. It opens my mind to the possibilities the authors are creating with the characters and events. I can see the connections! Myths and the way things were related in stories for what could have been something people lived through."


Flotsam Prison Blues

"What I love is the lessons learned and important points made that people need to remember through life. These are mixed in with crazy and funny moments, but in the end there is a huge point that hits home with the characters and with the readers. The way it's done, it feels as though a comic book fashion is used but in words. I love it!"



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


For Review Consideration:
Bad Faith by Jon Hollins
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Will and his comrades went to war to overthrow the reign of dragons, winning battle after battle, and acclaim as conquering heroes.

But now they've angered the gods, and may just need the dragons to help them this time...


Audio Books Requested for Review:
Make Bright the Arrows by S.A. Huchton
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
"Soldiers need wars, doctors need patients, and the Nanshe needs trouble. That's just kinda how it is." 

The galaxy ain't a friendly place, but it's a good sight better when you've got friends at your back. And when the crew of the Nanshe stumbles into larger-than-your-average trouble, they'll need all the help they can get. 

What starts off as a simple retrieval of stolen goods turns deadly when Leena Espinoza discovers a girl stashed in a cellar, her guardian murdered. The crew has a soft spot for hard cases, and despite Delilah's odd behavior, offer help instead of turning her over to the authorities. 

But what they don't know might kill them. 

No good deed goes unpunished, and the crew winds up on the radar in the worst possible way. Merc squads, shadowy coalitions, plus the usual criminal element are all on their tails, so it's fight or flight. 

As a plot to unbalance the entire civilized universe unfolds around them, the ladies of the SS Nanshe gear up for battle. Through blood and fire, they'll do everything they can to protect what little they have. In the vast blackness of space, taking matters into your own hands isn't an option... It's a matter of survival.




Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:
Book:
She Dreams of Fire by M.K. Gibson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Agatha “Aggy” Grae was only ten years old the night a witch of the Umbra Coven killed her mother and burned her home. Injured, she received a transfusion of blood tainted by witchcraft, and immediately her eyes were opened to the truths hidden from mundane eyes. She saw a new world, a hidden world, one filled with darkness and secrets. 

And that new world was now aware of her. 

Through the years, Aggy never quit hunting the mysterious coven. From the shadows she gathered information, stepping out only to hurt those who dared to hurt others. But everything changed the night she helped a familiar-looking stranger. Through magical means, Vanessa, a high witch of the Umbra Coven, has learned of Aggy. Following the orders of the coven’s leader, The Veiled One, Vanessa has begun her own hunt, one that can end only with Aggy’s blood. 

She Dreams Of Fire is a story of strength. In order to survive, Aggy must defeat her own doubts, addictions, and fears. In order to win, she has to endure everything the witches and the Hidden Folk throw at her. Partnered with a man from her past, the unlikely pair must learn to trust each other as they suffer betrayal, discover hidden truths about themselves, and battle the monsters in the dark. 

But does Aggy have the strength to walk through the fire?



Audio:






Free Ebooks:
(On my Kindle and Nook App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.
Witch Slapped by Dakota Cassidy
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
"Oh, good. Not a problem. I'll invoke the Gods of Pilates. I'm sure they'd be happy to help. Hang on just one sec while I dial them up. Oh, wait. I can't. Know why I can't? Because my hands are tied behind my back with zip ties, Win!"

A rib-tickling cozy mystery complete with an ex-witch, a dead British spy, a cotton ball bat and a cast of suspects that will keep you guessing right up to the end! Witch Slapped from USA Todaybestselling author Dakota Cassidy is book one in her new cozy mystery series Witchless In Seattle. Join the hunt for a murderer with Stevie, Winterbottom, and Belfry in a race against time as the local police prepare an eight by ten cell for our intrepid ex-witch.

What's a girl to do when she's a broke, shunned ex-witch with a very tiny, very hungry bat familiar named Belfry to feed?

Hello. My name is Stevie Cartwright, and I've been witchless for thirty days.

If only there was a support group for down-on-their-luck ex-witches who've had their powers slapped right out of them (literally). Just as I was licking my wounds after returning to my hometown of Ebenezer Falls, WA, and navigating my suddenly non-magical existence with the help of my familiar, the only friend I have left in the world--things got sticky.

Enter an ex-spy and newly departed spirit named Winterbottom, who's infiltrated my life with his sexy British accent and a couple of requests...

Thanks to Belfry's successful attempt to use me as a human antenna to the afterlife, I can somehow hear Win. I should be ecstatic; helping departed souls used to be my witch specialty. It's like I got the teensiest piece of my old life back. Except Win's dropped me right at a dead woman's feet.

Madam Zoltar, the town's beloved fake medium, has been murdered, and Win wants me to catch the killer.

My old life won't be worth much if it gets me whacked before my new life has barely begun--and that seems to be exactly what the killer has planned!

Content Notes: This cozy mysteries women sleuths series has a complete cast of oddball characters from witches to ghosts and bats to psychics. Witchless In Seattle Mysteries is a spin-off of Dakota Cassidy's popular A Paris, Texas Romance Series.

Siren's Tide by Pip 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.

Ethan: Prequel Novella by P.T. Michelle
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Ethan Harris never thought monsters and darkness would consume his daily thoughts, but every night the same visions repeat in his dreams. He’s careful to project a semblance of normalcy, keeping the suffocating darkness locked inside. As much as he wishes he could focus on girls, sports, and cars like other seventeen-year-olds, nothing distracts him from his own demons or shines through.

Until Nara Collins crosses his path. The blonde fascinates and intrigues him, giving him a measure of peace he’s never felt before.

When Ethan discovers there’s more to Nara than she allows others to see, that she might have a unique secret of her own, suddenly his world comes into focus.

Note: ETHAN is a novella PREQUEL to BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS. This story will give some of Ethan’s background and lead up until the day he and Nara talk for the first time.

The Mystery of the Emerald Flame by Pip Ballantine
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
After her brush with death, Verity Fitzroy and the children of the Ministry Seven retreat to London, but adventure has a way of finding them. 
With her Uncle Octavius somewhere out there, Verity is sure the disappearance of children in the fogs of the capital cannot be a coincidence. But when she and the Ministry Seven find traces of the mysterious emerald flame, they will find themselves whisked into the embrace of dark conspiracies, and ancient puzzles. 

Rocket Fuel (Tor Anthology of short stories)
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
A collection of some of the best feature articles from Tor.com’s 10 year history as an online sci-fi/fantasy literature magazine. Read:

- An intimate moment under the covers that bloomed into a lifetime lived through sci-fi/fantasy.
- A fierce defense of fan fiction.
- The history of Wheel of Time author Robert Jordan, and the story of the reader who had her future rewritten in turn.
- A deeply unwise thought experiment that explains how centaurs eat.
- The story of one writer’s amazing day, starting out on her last dime and ending with her somehow hugging her idol, Terry Pratchett.
- And much more!

Rocket Fuel: Some of the Best From Tor.com Non-Fiction features essays from Seanan McGuire, Ursula Vernon, Jo Walton, Nisi Shawl, Kate Elliott, Becky Chambers, Kai Ashante Wilson, Sarah Gailey, Grady Hendrix, Judith Tarr, Lish McBride, Emily Asher-Perrin, Ryan Britt, Leah Schnelbach, Natalie Zutter, Molly Templeton, and more!

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.





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
As Dead as a Vampire by April Fernsby

Thursday, July 19, 2018

Audio Book Review: Flotsam Prison Blues

Flotsam Prison Blues

By:  M.K. Gibson

Publish Date:  October 8, 2016, Audiobook Release May 16, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 10 hrs 3 mins
Narrated By:  Jeffrey Kafer

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  2 in The Technomancer Novel series; 1st Book ~ To Beat the Devil

Impression:  Humor, action, and memory lane with morals remembered.

Synopsis:
A couple of months have passed since the cyborg smuggler known as Salem led a small team in the violent coup that brought down Abraxas, demon Archduke of New Golgotha’s central kingdom of Ars Goetia. From the destruction, Salem became a hero, whether he wanted to be one or not, and was appointed the first human baron in the demon-run supercity.

But Hell does not like being made to look foolish--or weak. And Salem’s actions, while noble, have consequences. A victory for man means a defeat for Hell. A single question will be asked of Salem: How far can a hero fall? The powers of Hell are willing to find out.

Flotsam Prison Blues is the gritty, exciting sequel to To Beat The Devil. Following an assassination attempt by a rocket-launching madman, Salem must untangle a web of lies, theft, and conspiracies, lest his new world, and his citizens, burn. Follow Salem’s adventures as he is forced to relive the parts of his past he wanted to stay buried while once more pitting himself against the might of Hell. Salem will need all his strength and skill as he suffers the Hell-on-Earth horrors of Flotsam Prison.

First Sentence:
The proprietor of the bar and brothel known as Dante's was an entity known as Ricky.

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.

Jeffrey sounds like he slips into character and enjoys doing so as he voices this book. He's awesome at the dry humor that goes with Salem. A Chewbacca impersonation! Yes, Jeffrey had to do one and it was at the perfect place in the story with Salem and Grimm. It made me chuckle with the placement and hearing it. Jeffrey has voiced Salem and all his friends (and enemies) in the first book, so it's a great pleasure to have him back to carry on with their adventures. It feels Jeffrey breathes life into all for us to enjoy.

I totally have fun with these stories. Between the references and one liners used with the surprise events that happen, I just smile the whole way through the book. The characters interactions make me shake my head and chuckle. Oh dear! There are movies referenced in this book that I looooong forgot about. And it was a treat to remember them!

I wondered where this book could go after the ending of the first. There were a few threads that where left open in the first book that could easily be picked up on. Salem has created a new setting on his land for those that were displaced from the town of Midheim after the big battle there. This brings new troubles and frustrations to Salem's doorstep. And Jensen, there's something there...maybe? This all leads into the adventure Salem goes on, and drudges up past memories from other lives as he goes.

We get to see life in one of Salem's previous lives. You do remember that since he's long lived he switches identities through life so people don't know who he is. Salem's past surfaces when one of his hidden vaults is robbed. But, along with facing his past, he has to face a few things he has happening now and consequences.

Just as you think there couldn't be anything more intense to happen to Salem, something does. Don't ask the one question that the universe always seems to answer... What's next? There will always be something next. lol. And Salem sees it.

Salem and Father Grimm together. LOL! They are a team and they toss jokes off each other that the other one plays into and gets. They keep me smiling. Salem even finds a sidekick in prison! Yep, and it's a cool friendship too. I think it's Salem and his jokes that keep it going, how he plays off others and their different personalities.

What I love is the lessons learned and important points made that people need to remember through life. These are mixed in with crazy and funny moments, but in the end there is a huge point that hits home with the characters and with the readers. The way it's done, it feels as though a comic book fashion is used but in words. I love it!



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

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

AudioBook Review: Helios

Helios

By:  Jeremy Robinson & Sean Ellis

Publish Date:  August 29, 2017, Audiobook Release May 3, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 9 hrs 48 mins
Narrated By:  Jeffrey Kafer

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  2 in Cerebrus Group series; 1st Book ~ Herculean

Impression:  Adventure to save the world from a weapon unknown to man.

Synopsis:
A deadly swarm of earthquakes shakes the planet. In the sky above, the sun appears to stand still. While the world reels from the vast destruction, George Pierce and the Cerberus Group, a team of scientific and historical experts, uncover an imminent threat straight out of history that must be stopped. But not everyone wants them to succeed.

An apocalyptic death cult, made up of suicidal martyrs and true believers who will do whatever it takes to ensure the destruction of all life on Earth, goes head-to-head with a billionaire tech-genius commanding an army of robots, on a quest to own the sun itself.

Caught in the middle, the Cerberus Group must fend off both sides while traveling to every corner of the map, and into the depths of myth and history, to find the holiest treasure on Earth—an artifact that can harness the power of creation. The prophecies are true.

THE END IS NIGH.

Jeremy Robinson and Sean Ellis, the international bestselling team behind the Jack Sigler thrillers, including Cannibal and Empire, continue the new series that rewrites the way we see history. Rivaling the best of Matthew Reilly and James Rollins, Helios combines a blistering pace with fringe science and myths reborn.

First Sentence:
"First the Sea God curses us.

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.

Jeffrey is one of my favorite narrators, especially for the adventures into dangerous places for the unknown. He's voiced these characters in the first book and continues with the same personalities in this one. Jeffrey never gives away what's to come in his voice. He's always in the moment with the characters, experiencing the event s as they would while bringing their reactions to life in voice. Always a pleasure to listen to Jeffrey.

Something I notice about the story is it feels as though we are getting to the end of what is causing the problems, just to learn it's the start of all troubles we are experiencing. Yes, the story starts off with a bang and doesn't slow, things become greater in stakes and action. This is a talent that comes through in the writing. They really thought out this story and all the connections to grow the dangers and connect everything together.

I love how things come together. These stories bring things together I wouldn't expect to relate, yet they fit. Religion, gods, aliens, and so much more tie in threads to each other along with adventure. I get caught up and find I stop and listen, pausing to take it all in. It opens my mind to the possibilities the authors are creating with the characters and events. I can see the connections! Myths and the way things were related in stories for what could have been something people lived through.

There is a possibility these myths could relate to the current problems, with earthquakes all at once then a ticking clock at happening again. The ticking clock that could bring about the end of the world as we know it.

I enjoy these characters. They are like their own little X-men team on an Indiana Jones adventure. There are a few with their own abilities, which we get a quick explanation in this story too. I really like them, and their origin stories. Their personalities fit together to make a team that cares for each other and jokes in good humor. There are deeper ties with these characters that hold them together as a chosen family.

There are so many layers to this story. I would love to listen to it and the previous book again. There are connections to the Herculean group they are part of along with other ties. I have a feeling things mentioned here will come into play in the future too.

And I'm hooked on the series, with the characters and what we learn about the group they are part of. I'll have my eyes on the lookout for the next book!



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

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Sunday Post #203


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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The last two weeks have been a blur. We've been busy. First, we lost one of our beloved girls over a week ago. It was Thursday the first week and I had to take our poor, sick Athena to the vet. She'd been going for a few weeks, we were doing all we could, and I knew this day was her last trip. She was struggling with her liver. So, we did what we had to so she didn't suffer. Sheba, Athena's sister and litter mate, has been rather lost in routine without her sister. I can understand. So we've been working to keep her occupied and going. Plus, she's sick with a skin infection. We are working hard to keep her going.

Then there was the Fourth of July. We had a get together of friends here at our home. Ugh! That's a LOT of work. I took the third off and still wasn't ready when people showed up after work. I was beat from the whole thing, which took a day to recover and I was still tired when I went back to work on the fifth.

That brings us to Saturday. We spent the day getting new phones and going to Kennywood for a work picnic for my husband. It was a beautiful day to be out. The weather wasn't in the hundreds like it was for the third and fourth of July, but it was still hot while you waited in lines.

Adding to the mix, I've been working on content editing work. It's been a busy few weeks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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... When the weather's not so hot and muggy, I've been walking for 15 mins at lunch time.

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

Current Read:
The Books and Braun Dossier by Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris
Editing work.


Current Audiobook:
Marines by Paul E. Cooley
Flotsam Prison Blues by M.K. Gibson


Current Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new.


Finished Last Week: 
Books:
Siren's Tide by Philippa Ballantine



Audiobooks :
Helios by Jeremy Robinson & Sean Ellis




Finished Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new yet.


DNFed:


~~~~~~~~~~

Last Two Weeks 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:
Tracing Shadows

"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."


Frostbite

"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."


Siren's Tide

"The world and story are written with great care and detail to give us the most we can get of details, action, feelings, and more."


Alone

"So many things happen in this book! Battle on land with rogue springers, battle from above with other ships coming, battle in space... The information we learn... We learn what's causing the races to come to this planet and why. We also learn about the anger issue. About "The Call" to come to this place... The new people we meet! Oh man. Scott has packed so much in this book and poor Em's emotions have to be all over the board! We get the answer to Em and Matilda fight between them. And the bigger battle to save their lives."


The Power of Five

"I like romances that are written with a story and plot entwined with the growing sexual tension. And this story has it. There is more to why this Quint is together, we haven't learned the reason yet though."


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:
As Dead As A Vampire by April Fernsby
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
A Cozy Mystery With Witches 

Cassia Winter is a witch. She investigates crime in the supernatural town of Brimstone. 

There’s an increase in the illegal use of black magic in Brimstone resulting in the crime rate escalating. Taking her gran’s advice, Cassia takes up residence in town so she can observe anyone who’s acting out of character. 

It’s not long before Cassia comes across the murdered body of a vampire. Cassia discovers he was a particularly nasty vampire who had countless enemies – and there are many residents who are happy to see him dead. But which one of his enemies actually killed him? 



Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:
Book:




Audio:






Free Ebooks:
(On my Kindle and Nook App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.
First Flight by Sarah K. L. Wilson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Join Dragon School. Learn to Fly. 

Sixteen-year-old Amel arrived at Dragon School just like everyone else – with a dream to ride dragons and join the Dominion Dragon Riders.

But Amel has a crippled leg and Dragon School training is grueling. Before she can even become an initiate, she must complete her First Flight on a dragon. 

Can Amel survive First Flight and become a Dragon School initiate or will her dreams dash on the rocks below?

The Rookie by Scott Sigler
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Set in a lethal pro football league 700 years in the future, THE ROOKIE is a story that combines the intense gridiron action of "Any Given Sunday" with the space opera style of "Star Wars" and the criminal underworld of "The Godfather." Aliens and humans alike play positions based on physiology, creating receivers that jump 25 feet into the air, linemen that bench-press 1,200 pounds, and linebackers that literally want to eat you. Organized crime runs every franchise, games are fixed and rival players are assassinated. Follow the story of Quentin Barnes, a 19-year-old quarterback prodigy that has been raised all his life to hate, and kill, those aliens. Quentin must deal with his racism and learn to lead, or he'll wind up just another stat in the column marked "killed on the field."

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.

Most Eligible Billionaire by Annika Martin
PICK UP AT AMAZON 
Goodreads Synopsis:
He’s a powerful billionaire CEO who built the family business into an empire. The money doesn’t matter to him, but the company is his life. And then his eccentric mother wills it all to her tiny dog.

I’m Vicky, the dog whisperer. (Not really, but that’s what my elderly neighbor always says.) When she dies, she surprises everybody by leaving a corporation worth billions to her dog, Smuckers. With me as his spokesperson. 

Suddenly I go from running my Etsy store to sitting in an elegant Wall Street boardroom with Smuckers in my lap. And my neighbor’s son, Henry Locke, aka New York’s most eligible bachelor, glaring across the table at me. 

Rumor has it Henry’s a business genius who’s as talented in the bedroom as he is in the boardroom. Sure, he’s gorgeous. Sex-in-a-seven-thousand dollar suit. But…

He’s arrogant and infuriating. 
He refuses to listen to me when I insist I didn’t con his mother. 
He thinks he can bully me, buy me off, control me, even seduce me. 

Henry may have the women of Manhattan eating out of the palm of his hand, but I'm so over entitled rich guys who think they own the world. 

No way will his wicked smile be charming ME out of my panties. 

His wicked...devastating...impossible-to-resist smile. 

Oh well, who needs panties anyway? 

The Ex-Pacifist by Sarah K. L. Wilson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Vera is a reluctant rule-breaker. But when her choice ends in a death sentence, she takes her one chance at survival- a suicide mission to the planet of Capricornia. Now Vera and her teenage bodyguard must solve the planet’s mystery together before time runs out. If they fail, she dies. 

The Ex-Pacifist is the first book of The Matsumoto Trilogy, a gripping YA Sci-Fi series. If you like action, intrigue, romance and a thrilling climax, then you’ll love The Ex-Pacifist.

The Splitting by Sarah K. L. Wilson
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Vera is no longer a passive, brain-washed teen. Now she’s on a prison planet filled with shadowy aliens and ‘allies’ who want her dead. There’s only one thing she wants: escape. But to get it, she’ll have to become bolder than she ever dreamed was possible.

The Splitting is the second book of The Matsumoto Trilogy, a thrilling YA SCI-FI series. If you like action, suspense, and adventure, then you’ll love The Splitting.
 

The Matsumoto by Sarah K. L. Wilson
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Vera and Roman are reunited, but as things get worse for the Blackwatch Empire there’s only one way Vera’s path can take her: to the throne or to her death. Will the allies she’s made be enough to help her seize the empire? Will her unique abilities, enhanced by her implant, give her the resources she needs to fight an interplanetary army? And will Roman still stick with her now that her path is leading where neither of them wanted to go? 


A young adult science fiction thriller with epic themes of family, duty, and conscience, a diverse cast, non-stop action and romantic sub-plots that echo the work of S. J. Kincaid’s “The Diabolic” or Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games.”

The Midnight Society by Rhonda Sermon
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Witness protection has a protocol for dealing with every situation—except magic. 

Fifteen-year-old Cate's life has been monitored since her new identity was created five years ago. She's spent countless hours learning how to deal with potential threats and dangerous situations. None of which is any use when everyone around her is suddenly frozen like statues at the bus stop. 

As Cate attempts to make sense of the frightening scene, a mysterious group of teenagers appear out of thin air. They are intrigued she’s not affected, but focus on completing their deadly mission, using baffling powers before they vanish again. 

When the group seeks her out the next day, Cate is drawn into a world filled with sorcery and time travel. After she accidentally brings a cheerleader back from the dead, her incredible powers are revealed. Cate is shocked to discover she has a pivotal role to play in a centuries-old battle between two mortal enemies which threatens to destroy her entire world.

With the distinction between good and evil blurred, she’s faced with the excruciating choice of which side to join. Cate can save her family or protect thousands of people from death. She can't do both. Will she risk destroying innocent lives to save the ones she loves?

The Midnight Society is the first book in The Midnight Chronicles series of young adult urban fantasy novels. If you like original butt-kicking heroines, fast-paced urban fantasy action, and unpredictable time travel twists, then you’ll love Rhonda Sermon’s refreshing, entertaining series starter. 

The Midnight Society was originally released as Timesurfers. This book has a new name, new cover and additional content.

Arrows & Angels by Kristin D. Van Risseghem
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Kieran’s job of being a guardian angel is straightforward: observe and learn—and don’t intervene in their lives. But then he watches as his first charge dies at the hands of evil while he does nothing to help.

Overcome with grief and doubt, Kieran flees back to the safety of heaven. With guidance from his mentor, he learns all he can about the Battle of the Fallen and the creation of evil itself. With renewed determination, he vows he will save the Ordinaries in his care.

The rules of being a guardian angel have not changed, but Kieran has. Returning to earth, only Kieran knows how essential it is to find and protect one 17-year-old girl. The girl who can thwart the Devil’s escape from his prison and the start of Armageddon.

Shift of Shadow and Soul by Hilary Thompson
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Goodreads Synopsis:
There are three kinds of magic in the world, and Corentine has the wrong one.

Long ago, the Restless King forced Corentine’s people into hiding as he scoured their blood for the SoulShifter. When Corentine learns she possesses some of the forbidden Shifter magic, she must hide her power or risk the same death her twin suffered.

Raised to trust no-one, she rejects the General’s son Sy, until she realizes his family secrets might be the key to unlocking hers. When his brother turns against them, they are forced to fight family to save what’s left of their home, or accept banishment to find a new future.

If Coren and Sy can’t convince their people to accept the light of Shifter magic, the growing Shadow will ruin everyone’s chance of freedom.

Travel this richly imagined world with a diverse cast that readers have compared to fantasy favorites like Sarah J Maas and Leigh Bardugo.

Sulit Witch
Weshen Shifter
Umbren Shadow
When dark meets light, will all become Shadow?
Buy Shift of Shadow and Soul today to find out which magic will win!




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
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
Helios by Jeremy Robinson & Sean Ellis
Siren's Tide by Philippa Ballantine