Thursday, September 27, 2018

Audio Book Review: The Distance

The Distance

By:  Jeremy Robinson & Hilaree Robinson

Publish Date:  May 3, 2016, Audiobook Release August 27, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 13 hrs 9 mins
Narrated By:  Jeffrey Kafer & Heather Costa

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  Standalone

Impression:  Non-stop story that gripped my heart.

Synopsis:
When August Finn rises from the depths of the dark matter research facility where he works, he discovers that the human race has been turned to dust. For August, life becomes one grueling test after another as this man of science, unaccustomed to the natural world, must fight to survive, against the elements and against despair. That is, until he makes contact. While much of the world’s technology is no longer functional, simple electronics still work, including Ham radios. After a day of trying, his call is finally answered.

Hanna Dearborn is alone. She’s the last person living on Earth, hidden away in her parent’s sophisticated bunker. She’s been alone for weeks and can no longer stand the solitude. Gun in hand, she intends to end her life. Then, he calls.

Connected to the only other living person in the world, August sets out on a quest to cross the country from Arizona to New Hampshire. As he follows a map from one Ham station to another, he learns how to survive from Hanna. They keep each other alive with each call, forming a deep relationship as he treks through harsh terrain, weather, and hunting predators, all the while trying to figure out exactly what happened to the human race.

As the journey progresses, hints emerge. Lights in the sky. Strange sounds. Otherworldly phenomenon. The human race was eradicated by a higher, far more sophisticated power. And they’re moving in. With danger all around, August rushes to find Hanna, while she struggles to claim a small portion of the planet for the two last surviving members of the human race.

First Sentence:
I scream in pain, gripped by his loving-turned-violent hands.

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.

Jeffrey Kafer is a favorite voice of mine. Heather is a new voice for me. I very much enjoyed listening to both narrators. Jeffrey voices the sections that are in August's POV and Heather for sections with Poe's POV. Heather feels to fit Poe to the T in how she's feeling as events unfold. A great contrast listening to the two voices as we get the feel for the characters from August or Poe's minds.

I was drawn into the lives as Poe and August survive the lonely world that has an element of worry as to when the creatures will show up. Or worse, what will they run into with other survivors. Are there others? Okay, there are other survivors. The cool thing with survivors is what we learn. We come across a limited few, and what they have to share is interesting. It tells there is a bigger picture here than just human's being exterminated. Someone (or thing) could be influencing and manipulating the few remaining people to do as they want.

Poe and August feel very personable. Like I can relate. They think of things that I would think if left in the situation they are in. August starts as a man who's not physical but loves using his brain in the lab. He grows in character and physical fitness with having to adapt to the world without cars. He has to make his way to Poe, and will do it. It may take months, but he'll get to her. Poe, the poor girl, is solitary at her home. And she's pregnant. She's waiting for August to come and help her, but she grows in a strength of drive and mentally along with physically. She's not sure about living in this world, but will do so for her baby. Poe becomes a protective bear by the end of the book.

The aliens... They are interesting as they have their own social structure, which is expected. We don't learn all about them, but we learn what is needed to complete the story and plot. There is a bit of Predator feel to the story with the aliens. It's kinda cool.

I listen to audiobooks while at work. And it never failed that the day was done at a spot I couldn't wait to story tomorrow. Although, I don't know if there's really any good spots to stop in this one, I was always wanting more.

I've listened to a few books by Jeremy, and I know there's going to be something big that happens. He's great at creating the suspense of knowing that something's going come and happen to crush the world that's already destroyed as you know it. He does that here, but also adds a spark of hope. These are the endings I love and hate as they are sometimes bittersweet.

Oh, you know you're attached to characters and their journey when you tear up. I did just that in the end of the story. Wow. I knew I was attached but didn't realize how much until it hit me. And the ending lingered with me for days afterward. It really had an impact on me.



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

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Audio Book Review: Dreadful Company

Dreadful Company

By:  Vivian Shaw

Publish Date:  July 31, 2018, Audiobook Release July 31, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 11 hrs 23 mins
Narrated By:  Suzannah Hampton

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  2nd in Dr. Greta Helsing series; 1st Book ~ Strange Practice

Impression:  Dark supernatural tale with a relaxed doctor.

Synopsis:
Contemporary fantasy in the world of Strange Practice, starring Dr. Greta Helsing, whose family has been keeping the supernatural community not-alive and well for generations.

When Greta Helsing, doctor to the undead, is unexpectedly called to Paris to present at a medical conference, she expects nothing more exciting than professional discourse on zombie reconstructive surgery and skin disease in bogeymen -- and hopefully at least one uneventful night at the Opera.

Unfortunately for Greta, Paris happens to be infested with a coven of vampires -- and not the civilized kind. If she hopes to survive, Greta must navigate the darkest corners of the City of Lights, the maze of ancient catacombs and mine-tunnels underneath the streets, where there is more to find than simply dead men's bones.

First Sentence:
There was a monster in Greta Helsing's hotel bathroom sink.

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.

I very much enjoy Suzannah's voice for Greta and the story. It's not as different voices for the characters as it is the feel Suzannah gives when she narrates. It gives the story a worry-free, relaxed feel that comes with Greta's personality. Yes, there are things that happen that are worrisome, but Greta has a personality that goes with the flow, and Suzannah brings that to the story. Her accent is perfect for Greta as well. Along with the accents she speaks for other characters.

Greta's life is a great one for many adventures to be seen. She's a supernatural doctor in a hidden world. There are things that could easily happen along with the long lives of those she holds dear that could create new adventures for Greta and great back story. And that happens here. She is at a conference, sitting in for an ailing friend, with Ruthven accompanying her. Ruthven is recognized by another vampire and Greta is pulled into the Paris coven of vampires.

Greta knows a great deal about the supernaturals in this world she lives in. I love how the author explains different monsters and beings without feeling like she is telling me to explain. It's well done and keeps me interested.

Greta seems to be where she's needed, even if it's a bit unpleasant and not willingly. She may be upset with actions of some, but she's there to help when she's needed. There are a few in this group of vampires that keep her imprisoned that need Greta's help, both as a doctor and as the kind, caring person she is, that could change their lives. Greta makes friends even without trying.

Of course we get Greta's POV. We get to spend time with Ruthven and Varney, as friends and in their heads too. But we also follow a few new characters in this book. Two of these characters are rather interesting and would be great to see them more in the future! Brightside & Crepusculus. Their business is remedial psychopomps. They would be great to follow on their adventures and see things they tend to along with how things work between heaven and hell as they help ghosts move on.

Once again I'm swept into Greta and her friends lives looking forward to who I'll meet and what they'll do.



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

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Sunday Post #107


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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's been busy here! Football season. Renaissance Festival. On my! My son's an assistant coach for a local high school. I've been going to the Friday night games to take photos for the boys. And they did their first JV game on Saturday, so I went to that too. All the kids deserve to have photos. :)

I was wanting to go to the Renaissance Festival this year, but didn't think I would make it... with timing and housework that's got to get done on weekends... It wasn't looking good. Well, the originally planed outing for the photography club I'm in was canceled, it was in the city while there was a football game in town. It wasn't feasible for us. So, they decided to go to the Ren Fest! I was thrilled! I felt bad my husband and kiddo didn't get to go and enjoy themselves too. But I went! And took a boat load of photos. I've got a bunch of photos from the festival up on Facebook!

I've been working hard on a book bible for an author as well. So, yea, time is full here. Which is not a bad thing. :) It keeps me out of trouble. ;)

What has your weeks been like? Winding down for fall (at least in my area, falls coming) or winding up with all that's coming with the season?

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

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:
She Dreams of Fire by M.K. Gibson
Editing work.


Current Audiobook:
Will start a new one Monday.


Current Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new.


Finished Last Week: 
Books:
No reading finished yet.



Audiobooks :
The Distance by Jeremy Robinson & Hilaree Robinson
Straight Outta Fangton by C.T. Phipps



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:

Around the Internet...



Reviews:
The Living End by Craig Schaefer
"Dark and gritty with drugs and dark magic. Fighting and torture. But there is so much going on in the story!"

Lucifer's Nebula by C.T. Phipps
"It's always a pleasure to spend time with Cassius and his crew. They have great relationships that make you smile as they don't hold back when talking. It's all out in the space around them. lol. Then there's the trouble they get into. Fun action story."


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 Few Weeks:
(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:
The Sisters of the Wood by Rena Rossner
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Captivating and boldly imaginative, with a tale of sisterhood at its heart, Rena Rossner's debut fantasy invites you to enter a world filled with magic, folklore, and the dangers of the woods.

Raised in a small village surrounded by vast forests, Liba and Laya have lived a peaceful sheltered life - even if they've heard of troubling times for Jews elsewhere. When their parents travel to visit their dying grandfather, the sisters are left behind in their home in the woods.

But before they leave, Liba discovers the secret that their Tati can transform into a bear, and their Mami into a swan. Perhaps, Liba realizes, the old fairy tales are true. She must guard this secret carefully, even from her beloved sister.

Soon a troupe of mysterious men appear in town and Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother's warning to be wary of strangers. And these are not the only dangers lurking in the woods...

The sisters will need each other if they are to become the women they need to be - and save their people from the dark forces that draw closer.




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.
Embers of Resistance by LJ Andrews
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
She had hope. He had hatred. Together they might change everything.

Adira is a traitor to the Citadel.

As a prisoner of the shadow assassins she did something unthinkable. She has a choice: run or become the leader the Uprising needs. Either way, she probably won't survive.

Dominus Kage will never be the same.

He should never have told Adira his real name. Now, everything he created with the shadow assassins is unraveling.

But something about her keeps dragging him back into the fight.

Will a reluctant heroine make an unlikely hero out of a villain?

Danger's Halo by Amanda Carlson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
153 years in the future, Earth doesn't look much like it used to 

Holly Danger's current assignment, gleaned from a set of foggy instructions and a handful of coin stuffed into a slot, is to pick up a street kid who's about to terminate himself off a cliff. And, as a rule, she doesn't turn down currency. Her job as a salvager keeps her fed and clothed above the norm, which isn't saying much.

The norm in this city is a scrape-by existence in a post-apocalyptic world, where the rain never stops, food is always scarce, and the elite have deserted the ranks in search of something better. Picking up this urchin won't take much time, even if he's located outside city limits. Her craft is fast, her weapons deadly, and her tech has been optimized as well as it can be for a climate clogged with iron dust.

But things take a big turn when she decides to become the boy's guardian instead of hand him over. Outskirts have descended on the city, and their plans don't include playing nice. When her crew is backed against a graphene wall, it's a good thing her Gem is primed and ready to go. It's almost as deadly as she is...

Siren's Serenity by Stacia D. Kelly
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Loire Destan is being hunted. When a new land developer moves in next door to her spa in Rosarito, Mexico, she thinks she only has to worry about keeping the Nexus portal safe. Then, her artifacts around the spa start to go missing, the portal stops functioning, and she feels she’s being watched all the time. 

Resort developer Viktor Kieran is used to getting his way. But his new neighbor, Loire is having none of his charm or good looks, and he’s finding he’s constantly losing his grasp of reality when she’s around. He’s starting to see lights in the shadows of the waters he shouldn’t and wonder if the uneasy energy around Loire should better be left alone. He can’t keep his footing around her. 

When the accidents stop being accidents, Loire’s not sure who’s saving who and whether they’re both out of their depth. She’s got to protect the Nexus. 

But who’s going to protect her?




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
The Books and Braun Dossier by Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris
Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw
The Distance by Jeremy Robinson & Hilaree Robinson
Straight Outta Fangton by C.T. Phipps

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Audio Book Review: The Living End

The Living End

By:  Craig Schaefer

Publish Date:  August 27, 2014, Audiobook Release June 18, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 9 hrs 31 mins
Narrated By:  Adam Verner

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  3rd in Daniel Faust series; 1st Book ~ The Long Way Down, 2nd Book ~ Redemption Song

Impression:  Dark, gritty. Drugs, dark magic. Fighting and torture. Great combination!

Synopsis:
As the FBI closes in on the Las Vegas underworld, Daniel Faust -- grifter, thief, and sorcerer -- isn't the only one feeling the heat. Half-demon racket boss Nicky Agnelli is fighting to hang onto his empire, leaving a trail of dead informants in his wake, while Daniel's ex-girlfriend Jennifer rallies her forces on the street and aims her sights at Nicky's crown.

Meanwhile, homeless people are vanishing by the dozens. Daniel has bigger problems to worry about, but a plea from an old friend sends him on a search for answers. What he finds is a conspiracy twenty years in the making, involving a power-hungry senator, occult experiments, murderous British mercenaries...and Lauren Carmichael, Daniel's nemesis.

From a gunfight in the Arizona badlands to unearthing buried secrets in a New York laboratory, the hunt is on. With Lauren's deadly plan revealed and time running out, Daniel and his crew will stop at nothing to take her down. She's got the law in her pocket and a hired army at her back. He's got black magic, bullets, and the art of the con. It's high noon in Vegas and when the dust settles, only one side will be left standing.

May the best villain win.

First Sentence:
Eugene Planck wasn't a danger to himself anymore, not since the day he'd chugged down a bottle of acid to burn the snake living in his stomach.

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.

Adam once again blows away the voice of Daniel Faust and crew. He breaths new life into Daniel with each word through emotion and personality. He changes tone along with personality for each character. It's great to get a full rounded feel of the characters through voice with Craig's amazing writing.

Craig has an amazing ability to draw details and physical feelings in his unique descriptions to have me understand. I know if it's a good or bad with his word selection. I'm always taken with Craig's descriptions. They are unique and detailed to fit his world. The descriptions give the feel and detail to understand what it means or feels like. He uses what we know and twists them to the moment in the magical world. Amazing.

Sometimes I wonder how a story can move from one place to another. Where do the threads and ties come from? Craig flows through a story with ease. Each step forward creates that new thread and tie for Daniel to find the next step as he goes. Crafty, indeed.

Dark and gritty with drugs and dark magic. Fighting and torture. But there is so much going on in the story! There's the FEDs to worry about in a case against Nicky which draws Daniel and others into the line of sight of FEDs. There's Lauren Carmichael still trying to ascend. Meadow Brand is still after Daniel. And it's all coming to a point. If Lauren accomplishes what she wants, it will be the end of the world -- from her and maybe from others to stop her.

Craig creates another story that kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how Daniel will get through this and come out on the other end, alive. Another outstanding addition to the world. I love it!



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

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Confluence SFF Convention 2018

Confluence SFF Convention!

We have a little book convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's called Confluence SFF. I'm sure there are a few others, but I know of this one and have visited it in the past. It's three days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. However, I only make the trip for one day. I have friends that are in the con and enjoy seeing them along with others I don't know. It's always great to find new books and authors while here.

This year, I took my companion... the camera. I was able to take photos of the authors on the panels I went to along with a few in the dealer room. So lets get to the photos!

Lets start with the Guest of Honor! CATHERYNNE VALENTE!

I've not had a chance to pick up or listen to her newest book, Space Opera. But I'll say, after listening to this reading and short chat about the book, I WANT IT!! And in audio too!

Catherynne read the book with Heath Miller. Heath is the narrator of the book in audio! How awesome is that!?! Catherynne is a pleasure to listen to along with speak with. She's so kind. Heath was amazing to hear flip through accents as if it was something he did every day. Yes! The scene Catherynne picked had different people from all over speaking (again, have to get the book) and Heath was at ease with his narration. I totally want this book in audio because of this! It was so much fun. The book sounds fun. Just FUN!






















The first panel I went to it:
Blurring the Lines: Writing Across Genres with:
(Left to right)
Brian Koscienski, Hanna J.L. Grimble, Larry Ivkovich, A.M. Rycroft
These kind of panels are interesting to listen to. I love hearing authors thoughts on blending of genres. But the best part, we get an insight into their books, which usually are a blend too. Sweet!

Here are some close up photos of the authors:
Hanna J.L. Bribble

Brian Koscienski

A.M. Rycroft

Larry Ivkovich

The next panel I went to was:
Fiction Skills Seminar with Frederic S. Durbin.
Frederic had a few exercises to have us focus on writing action, description, dialogue, and point-of-view. Each was separate, although with an hour time restraint we didn't get to all four. He had small slips that we drew from a hat and wrote about in one of the fashions we were working in. Then, if we wanted, we read our writing and gave a brief talk on it. I was hoping for a little more from Frederic on things that help in these areas, but I enjoyed the panel and writing time.


My final panel:
Integrating Character, Plot & Worldbuilding with David D. Levine

This panel is hard to judge. David shared his way of writing and editing with these three major pieces of the story in mind. He pointed out how if you change one later in the story, you have to go back to the beginning and adjust to accommodate it through out the story. The thing, you have to know when enough is enough and stop.

David did share a handout of questions to relate these three items together. Which can come in very handy when plotting a new story, world, and characters.



Now, the playroom. Alright, it's not really a "playroom" but the dealer room where we get to find all our new books.



LOOK AT THESE SHOES!!!! They are monsters! LOL! I love them!

This is Brian burning some steam as he thinks on which book to suggest. Brian is an author and also runs Fortress Publishing.

He found one! A match!


Ian Randal Strock going over the books he has at his booth.


I was so excited to see.... Elastigirl!! Yes, there were people doing their cosplay. It's always great to see these at a con. You should have seen this woman's Wasp cosplay! Wow! I'm sorry I missed getting a photo of that!


Additional photos from throughout the panels and con:





Conventions are always fun with subject. The people you meet are priceless. The conversations you have are treasures. I had the pleasure of meeting new people as well, that's the golden prize.

Always a great time with great people. Thank you!

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Audio Book Review: Lucifer's Nebula

Lucifer's Nebula

By:  C.T. Phipps & Michael Suttkus

Publish Date:  May 22, 2018, Audiobook Release August 3, 2018

Format:  Audiobook - 10 hrs 12 mins
Narrated By:  Eric Burns

Genre:  Science Fiction

Series:  2nd in Lucifer's Star series; 1st Book ~ Lucifer's Star

Impression:  Fun twisted conspiracies, relationships, and realizations

Synopsis:
From the bestselling author of The Rules of Supervillainy: Captain Cassius Mass can only run so far from his problems and the galaxy isn't big enough to hide from those pursuing him. Cassius soon finds himself blackmailed into a mission that will clear him of all charges as well as protect him from future persecution: bring an end to the civil war currently racking the galaxy. Accompanied by a new set of untrustworthy allies, the crew of the Melampus, and the A.I duplicate of his dead wife—Cassius needs to figure out how to not only deal with his target but also his employers.

Because the entire universe is at stake.

First Sentence:
"I hate pirates," I said, more to myself than the other members of the starfighter squadron that was the Melampus's primary defense.

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.

Eric returns to voice Cassius. He has a husky voice that feels to fit Cassius. He gets to play with accents too. A few characters have accents based on where they are from in the universe. We get slightly different tones to differentiate female and male characters, along with personality to go with emotions and who the people are. I'm impressed with how Eric voices Cassius and Cassius the Elder. They sound different in personality and voice. Totally cool.

The first chapter starts us off with a space fight in fighters, setting the feel of the book for Cassius and crew on the Melampus. We meet those under him on the ship and the relationships he has with each. We get a feel for those relationships as they characters interact as well.

All of the interact shows how the crew has fallen into a "normal" for them. Love and hate all in one place and it works together. This highlights the crew as a whole and makes the journey more fun.

Cassius has turned into a good guy. Well, he does take jobs that aren't on the up-and-up, but he tries to take care of his people and crew. That makes him a good guy, right? He'll make the deals that he wouldn't normally make to keep his crew safe, even if it could be danger for later.

I found I was surprised that we spend a good half of the book on the ship with Cassius and his crew. It didn't feel like that much of the book! There is a whole lot of crazy in their lives and how they are all tied together! There were whole twisted conspiracies, love, and realizations along with fights that happen. A whole space opera that kept me interested. Their lives are affected by what they do or don't do, creating choices that will help or hurt one or all of them and how they will protect each other. Or not as there is that option too.

Wow. There is a lot of crossing and twisting to the plans. I kept wondering which story will pan out to be the truth, and had to keep going to find out! People say one thing, have another thing in mind. Then someone else is doing something different, either for or against the plans of another. People saying one thing to get someone to react a way to get something else to happen. What's the truth? What's the true outcome desire? There could be many, depending on who you talk to. But, there is one ultimate goal by one selfish driven individual. Just sniff out what he truly wants. Wow. This is one adventure to follow closely.

It's always a pleasure to spend time with Cassius and his crew. They have great relationships that make you smile as they don't hold back when talking. It's all out in the space around them. lol. Then there's the trouble they get into. Fun action story.



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

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Sunday Post #106


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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, I feel off the band wagon again. I have to figure out what's going on around here. One of the things stopping me from being here is I need to work. Sheba's been sick and we are at the vet a lot to get her healed up. Some days she seems like she's getting better, then she takes another turn. So, along with the day job, I've been working on Editing work. It's all keeping me busy. Along with keeping up with Sheba and work I've been taking photos at the football games for Kiddo's team. He's coaching a high school team this year and I'm addicted to the camera. lol. So there's that too.

The local free summer concerts came to a close, which was my night to get out and relax. I would go for an hour or two and take photos and enjoy the local bands. It was really nice. They had a big finale on Friday and it was awesome! I did take photos and enjoyed the bands along with local artists. I did pick up a piece of artwork! I've been wanting this since I went to her gallery a few months back. So I took the leap and bought it. (The photo is from my phone, so it doesn't do as much justice as it should.)
She does amazing work and there are several pieces I would love, but I don't have the funds for. You can check out her works at Artwork by Melissa Reed.

I've also been trying to support a few local musicians. There is some amazing talent around the area lately and they totally need to be seen/heard. I've been taking photos of them as well. There is one band and a young lady that sings with her father on guitar. Kaelber. Aubrey Burchell. Both are out of this world. I've been taking photos when they perform and enjoying their music. Each have their own music along with playing cover bands. Wow.

The local city has really been proactive at helping and showcasing the local artists, of music and art, the last two years. I'm so proud of all they've been doing for the artists. And it's brought many to my attention!

The weather took a cold turn yesterday. I'm thinking cooler season is on it's way and life, even though still busy in many ways, will start to calm and I'll be home more (except Friday nights for football). I'm hoping to get many things done then.

How has life been treating you? Please tell me in the comments. I miss you all!

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

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:
She Dreams of Fire by M.K. Gibson
Editing work.


Current Audiobook:
The Distance by Jeremy Robinson & Hilaree Robinson


Current Podcast Book Listen:
Nothing new.


Finished Last Week: 
Books:
No reading finished yet.



Audiobooks :
Lucifer's Nebula by C.T. Phipps & Michael Suttkus
Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw


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:

Around the Internet...



Reviews:
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 Few Weeks:
(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:
The Distance by Jeremy Robinson & Hilaree Robinson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
When August Finn rises from the depths of the dark matter research facility where he works, he discovers that the human race has been turned to dust. For August, life becomes one grueling test after another as this man of science, unaccustomed to the natural world, must fight to survive, against the elements and against despair. That is, until he makes contact. While much of the world’s technology is no longer functional, simple electronics still work, including Ham radios. After a day of trying, his call is finally answered.

Hanna Dearborn is alone. She’s the last person living on Earth, hidden away in her parent’s sophisticated bunker. She’s been alone for weeks and can no longer stand the solitude. Gun in hand, she intends to end her life. Then, he calls.

Connected to the only other living person in the world, August sets out on a quest to cross the country from Arizona to New Hampshire. As he follows a map from one Ham station to another, he learns how to survive from Hanna. They keep each other alive with each call, forming a deep relationship as he treks through harsh terrain, weather, and hunting predators, all the while trying to figure out exactly what happened to the human race.

As the journey progresses, hints emerge. Lights in the sky. Strange sounds. Otherworldly phenomenon. The human race was eradicated by a higher, far more sophisticated power. And they’re moving in. With danger all around, August rushes to find Hanna, while she struggles to claim a small portion of the planet for the two last surviving members of the human race.

Straight Outta Fangton by C.T. Phipps
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Peter Stone is a poor black vampire who is wondering where his nightclub, mansion, and sports car is. Instead, he is working a minimum wage job during the night shift as being a vampire isn’t all that impressive in a world where they’ve come out to mortals. 

Exiled from the rich and powerful undead in New Detroit, he is forced to go back when someone dumps a newly-transformed vampire in the bathroom of his gas station’s store. This gets him fangs-deep in a plot of vampire hunters, supernatural revolutionaries, and a millennium-old French knight determined to wipe out the supernatural. 

Sometimes, it just doesn’t pay to get out of the coffin.




Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:
Book:
Unlit by Keri Arthur
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Winterborne has long been a city divided between those who have magic, and those who do not. Between those who are free, and those who are not… 

Though classified as having no magic, Neve March can hear the whispers of the wind and sometimes even control her. But it’s a secret she must hold close if she wishes to continue as Nightwatch—the soldiers who guard Winterborne against those who roam the wastelands and feast on human flesh. 

When Neve is sent to investigate a faint SOS signal, she not only unearths a woman close to death, but a plot involving an ancient enemy long thought dead. 

In an effort to expose those behind the plot, Neve goes undercover amongst Winterborne’s elite—a dangerous step that could expose her secret and rip away all that she holds dear. 

The trail of treachery leads her from Winterborne’s golden halls to the heart of the enemy’s hive, and it will shake her belief of not only who she is, but what she is

Unity by Jeremy Robinson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Euphemia Williams, known to her few friends as Effie, and everyone else as Eff-Bomb, will punch you for looking at her funny, for using her full name or for noticing that she’s a genius. But when an elite global entity known as Unity takes note of her intelligence and offers her a chance to escape the hum-drum life of a foster-child, she signs up. At best, she expects her time abroad to be a vacation. At worst, an actual challenge. But what she finds, upon being swept up in a futuristic transport, is far, far worse. 

En route to a secret location in the Pacific, a meteor punches through the atmosphere triggering an electromagnetic pulse that sends the transport plummeting to the ocean. While fighting to escape the crash and climb onto an island beach, the meteor slams into the sea. A tsunami races across the island, pursuing Effie and her fellow survivors deeper into the volcanic island’s lush jungle. 

Beaten, terrified and abandoned, the small group discovers that they are not alone on the island. The locals are ruthless and well-trained. With the survivors looking to her for leadership, Effie struggles—and fails—to keep everyone alive as they fight for survival. 

Along the way, Effie uncovers a series of shocking truths: the parents she never knew were part of the island’s strange history, which includes massive robots known as Shugoten, and the meteor that sent them careening into the ocean, wasn’t a meteor at all. 

The daikaiju have arrived—and one of them is headed her way.



Audio:
Beauty and Beastly by Melanie Karsak
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
In this tale as old as time, Isabella Hawking must tinker a solution to a heartbreaking mystery.

When Isabelle and her papa set out from London on a sea voyage, Isabelle was thrilled. Visiting foreign courts, learning from master tinkers, and studying new ways to manipulate mechanicals sounded like a dream. But an unexpected gale turns the waters violent, and the ship is lost. Isabelle survives the tempest only to be shipwrecked on a seemingly-deserted island. Dotted with standing stones, faerie mounds, and a crumbling castle, the haunting place hints of a magical past. Isabelle may be an unwitting guest, but her arrival at the forgotten citadel heralds a new beginning for the beastly residents inside.

Beauty and Beastly is a retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast fairy tale set in 1814 Regency England.





Free Ebooks:
(On my Kindle and Nook App) Links to books under title. They may or may not be free at this time.
Cloak Games: Thief Trap by Jonathan Moeller
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
In 2013, a gate to another world opened, and Elves used their magic to conquer Earth, crushing all resistance before them. 

Three hundred years after the Conquest, the exiled Elven High Queen rules an orderly but stagnant Earth, with humanity forced to fight in the High Queen’s war against the traitors on the Elven homeworld. 

Nadia Moran doesn’t care about that. She doesn’t care about the High Queen, or the Rebels seeking to overthrow her. All she cares about is getting her baby brother the treatments he needs to recover from his potentially fatal disease…and those treatments have a steep price. 

Fortunately, Nadia has magic of her own, and she’s a very, very good thief. 

Unfortunately, the powerful Elven lord Morvilind has a hold on Nadia. If she doesn’t follow his commands, her brother is going to die. 

Of course, given how dangerous Morvilind’s missions are, Nadia might not live long enough to see her brother’s death…

The Brotherhood of Merlin: Lycenea by Rory D. Nelson
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Merlin returns to Lycenea a hero, victorious over the Visi-Gauls in a gruesome and exhaustive campaign that claimed the life of one of his men and saw the annihilation of the Visi-Gauls’ Southern Army.

Merlin’s peaceful reprieve is cut short however, as he must now find and expose the corrupt Senator who initiated the war in the first place and plots to subvert the Empire for himself. He is aided by the powerful sorceress, Morgana and Felinius, a former disgraced and condemned knight who knows the inner workings of the Brotherhood. 

Merlin must also protect two of the captives he rescued during the war with the Visi-Gauls, one of whom is a boy named Dante, whose power has been prophesized to defeat Herod Antipaz, the corrupt Senator, and his deadly allies who threaten to destroy Gilleon.

Herod makes plans of his own for eliminating Dante. The boy’s problems continue to mount precipitously- for not only is he being ruthlessly hunted down by Herod’s minions, but he must also face down a brutal training program in Round Table Academy, where he faces elimination on a daily basis. Should he be eliminated, he will no longer be under the protection of Merlin and his Brotherhood and his death almost a foregone conclusion. 
His only hope, his only salvation is Merlin- as is the country of Gilleon.

Cut Up Girl by James Maxey
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Superhero action from the author of NOBODY GETS THE GIRL! 

Valentine Summers is famous for all the wrong reasons. Her secret identity as the superhero known as Cut Up Girl has been exposed. Worse, embarrassing photographs taken by a former partner have leaked to the media and she’s become fodder for tabloids and a punchline for late night comedians. It doesn’t help that she has a rotten superpower, the ability to create a perfect clone of herself by cutting off a limb. Her limbs do grow back instantly, but her clones are unstable and their brief lives end with messy explosions. She’d be perfectly happy to put her life as a crimefighter behind her, but it’s difficult to find a job once the world discovers you’re a scandal-plagued former vigilante. Just when it seems her life can’t get any worse, the most dangerous supervillain she ever put in prison escapes. Now she must suit up one last time to save Port City from a time-travelling Victorian scientist and his army of enhanced apes. Can Cut Up Girl and her exploding clones save the city, rescue her reputation, and be seen as a hero once more? Probably not! But at least she can blow up bad guys with her exploding clones until she feels a little better. 

LAWLESS is a new series set in a world where the greatest superheroes on the planet have banded together as the Lawful Legion! Golden Victory! She-Devil! Atomahawk! Smash Lass! These living legends have saved the world a dozen times over! This is not their story. Instead, LAWLESS will feature heroes who didn’t qualify to join the A-list heroes. Heroes whose powers are weird or useless, or people with great powers who don’t necessarily have the courage or a compelling motive to serve mankind. Some people who gain superstrength use it to fight crime, others cash in by moving furniture. Forever living in the shadows of the Lawful Legion, can these rogue superhumans hope to find a path to become heroes?

Earth Dragon by Alexis Davie
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
A stand-alone dragon shifter romance about a powerful dragon prince are in pursuit of his lifelong mate. 

Earth Dragon 
Cassia once thought that Terran was her mate, until one day he did something unforgivable. When he comes back into her life unexpectedly, she must choose between trusting Terran or trusting Hale, the man who once rescued her from Terran. 

If you like raw emotions, royal dragon-shifter romances, insta-love, steamy romantic encounters, and page-turning love stories, you’ll love the Element Dragon series. 

Author’s note: This is a steamy romance with mature themes and language, and is intended for 18+ readers only. 

The First Adventure by Anthea Sharp
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
High-tech gaming and ancient magic collide when a computer game opens a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie.

Jennet Carter never thought hacking into her dad's new epic-fantasy sim-game would be so exciting... or dangerous. Behind the interface, dark forces lie in wait, leading her toward a battle that will test her to her limits and cost her more than she ever imagined.

Spark by Anthea Sharp
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
What if a high-tech game was a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie? Superstar gamer Spark Jaxley's life might look easy, but she's part of an elite few who guard a shocking secret; the Realm of Faerie exists, and its dark magic is desperate for a foothold in the mortal world. Aran Cole hacks code and sells his gaming cheats on the black market. It's barely a living, and one he's not proud of. But when he turns his skills to unlocking the secrets behind Feyland-the most exciting and immersive game on the market-he discovers power and magic beyond his wildest dreams. Spark's mission is clear; pull Aran from the clutches of the fey folk and restore the balance between the worlds. But can she risk her life for someone who refuses to be rescued? 

Reign of Queens by Melissa Wright
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Three Full-Length Fantasy Series Starters from Author Melissa Wright 

The Frey Saga Book One: Frey 

Frey lives in a world where humans are fairy tales. A world where the powerful rule, where her magic is broken. That life is a lie. When dark secrets unravel, she’ll have to risk everything to rise above a dangerous past. 

Shattered Realms Book One: King of Ash and Bone 

When monsters break through the veil between worlds, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother is marked, her future is vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. She devises a plan to stop them, and finds an injured stranger that just might be the key. But he's not the helpless boy he appears to be. He's one of them. And he's got plans of his own. 

Descendants Series Book One: Bound by Prophecy 

Aern's only job is to protect the chosen. The trouble is, she's the key to a prophecy and everyone wants her. When the opposition descends, their only hope is to stick together, but the truth unravels, and together might prove the biggest complication of them all. 

Alien Mate by Cara Bristol
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
I'm Starr Elizabeth Connor. Earth's government falsely convicted me of a crime, packed me on a ship with other female felons, and sent us to Dakon, a primitive, frozen wasteland of a planet. Why? Earth needs minerals, and Dakon is desperate for females.

But I'm no barbarian’s 'mail order bride,' even if he is super tall, muscular, and the chief of his tribe. He doesn’t want a BBW blonde, either--it's written all over his chiseled face. He'll be truly angry if he ever learns what my 'crime' was.

I am Torg. I have waited 34 rotations for a mate of my own. With this shipment, I was sure to get a fine, sturdy mate who'll bear me many daughters. Instead, I receive a small, curvy, pale-haired female who looks at me with anger and fear.

It is only when we 'kiss' that I believe things may work out between us. But I'm hearing rumors that Starr and her shipmates are law-breakers. To survive, Dakonians must obey all laws … or be exiled into the frozen wasteland. Just when I have found her, will I have to send my mate to die?

Rise of a Guardian by L.J. Andrews
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Abandoned by his family as a young child, Killian Thomas is suddenly given one chance to find answers to his past in a strange realm. A mysterious community, bound to protect the realms, promises to help him on his quest if he aids in a desperate search for the lost relics of the realms. Each magical relic is bestowed with the mysteries of all realms, giving their owner unimaginable power. Strange abilities soon manifest within Killian, that catch the deadly attention of a dangerous secret-society also seeking the relics, but only to destroy his home realm they view as an abomination. Killian must find the relics before the society or countless innocent lives will be lost. He soon learns sometimes the closest allies are the most devious enemies. 
The Lost Relic Series is an epic fantasy adventure full of alternate realms, powerful magic, inspiring lessons of love and trust, and wrenching betrayal. The series will take fantasy fans on an unforgettable journey they will read again and again.

The Viking's Chosen by Quinn Loftis
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
His orders are clear: launch a raid against England and bring home the spoils of war. But the prophecy is also clear: General Torben will take a foreign bride — one who is a seer and healer just like his mother. The eldest princess of England is said to be just that… a beautiful, charming, and headstrong woman. But he's a Viking army general and she's an English princess — and one who is already promised to the king of Tara.

Two worlds collide in this epic historical fiction centered on an undeniable chemistry that smolders against the odds. Richly written and injected with moments of humor, this action-packed romantic tale will leave you breathless.

Quinn Loftis is the author of twenty novels, including the USA Today Bestseller Fate and Fury.

Dream of Me by Quinn Loftis
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
“In the evening… [he] blows softly upon their necks, till their heads begin to droop. […] Under each arm he carries an umbrella; one of them, with pictures on the inside, he spreads over the good children, and then they dream the most beautiful stories the whole night.” ~ Hans Christian Anderson


Since the dawn of time, Brudair, otherwise known as the Sandman to the world, has faithfully lived out his purpose, faithfully performed his duties. He has never questioned his lot among the immortals, until now, until her. Sarah Serenity Tillman, a consummate beauty both inside and out, is a high school senior five months from her graduation. She has great plans, dreams of leaving the small town of her childhood behind her forever. But destiny has other plans, and it’s the Sandman’s job to make sure those plans are fulfilled.


The tall muscular Sandman, known as Dair to his friends, dressed in black, wrapped in shadows, is more than a myth. And he has a job to do. His very existence makes him a creature of the night, because dreams, (yes the legends got that part right), were indeed his specialty. But his purpose was more than just weaving dreams for sleeping children. No, his dreams were made to influence, made to ensure that certain special individuals, those individuals who would change the course of history, actually accepted their chosen destiny.


Little does Serenity know that she is Dair’s next assignment. And the dream that he weaves for her, if she follows its influence, will change the course of, not only her life, but possibly the whole of history as well. But she isn’t the only one being influenced. The beauty inside of her was weighing on the Sandman, lighting up the darkness that was his constant companion. Her light was warmth, it was life, and he didn’t understand how he had survived the previous millennia without it.


The Sandman was indeed greater than anything humans had ever imagined, and his purpose was vital to the course of history. So what happens when the weaver of dreams gets so distracted by a mere human that he ignores his own duties in the immortal realm? How can an immortal who was never meant to have a mate, join a young woman in her destiny without irrevocably changing the lives of millions and potentially altering history in a way the Creator never intended?


“Dream of me, Princess,” Dair whispered into her ear.
“Then weave me a dream, Sandman,” she said softly. “And we can dream together.”
As her eyes grew heavy, she heard Dair’s voice telling her to sleep, to open her mind to him and let him in. I’m all yours, she thought as sleep finally claimed her.

Elfin by Quinn Loftis
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Before tonight Cassie Tate’s biggest concerns were whether she could pass Algebra and how she was going to keep Elora, her best friend, from dressing her in a skimpy fairy costume for Halloween. Her feet were firmly planted in suburban reality and she had no reason to believe her life would be anything but that of a typical teenager. That is until tonight, when Cassie saw something that no human was ever supposed to see; in the blink of an eye she was thrown into the world of the Light and Dark Elves.

He comes from a realm where light and dark have fought for millennia. He is of a race known to humans only in myths and legends. The darkness that lives inside him is a part of both who and what he is and it makes him the most gifted spy and assassin in the history of his time. His life is not his own; he lives in the service of the Dark Elf King. He slays who he must, has mercy on no one, is relentless in his hunt, and never tires of seeing his prey fall. He is Triktapic, assassin, spy, most feared of the Dark Elves.

Now, in the midst of his King’s complicated plans to expand the Dark Elves’ holdings into the mortal realm, for the first time, Trik finds his loyalties divided. For no Elf, Dark or Light, can turn away from their Chosen.

Unbeknownst to the mortal realm, the battle between Light and Dark is being brought to their doorstep. The only one who can keep it at bay holds darkness in his heart like a lover, and the one who can sway that heart must decide if she can look beyond his black past, beyond his evil nature and see the man he is destined to be.

The question must be asked, does love really cover a multitude of sins? Can true love actually conquer all or will his darkness consume those around him until all that stands is an assassin with the blood of the mortal realm on his hands?

Into the Fae by Quinn Loftis
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
With peace finally descending on the Romanian Grey Wolves, longtime fae ambassador to the wolves, Perizada, has been given a new mission by the Great Luna. But Peri’s desire for revenge against her sister, Lorelle, burns in her heart. Further complicating matters, the great white wolf, Lucian Lupei, has been returned to the pack after centuries trapped in the Dark Forest, and it appears he is destined to be with Peri. Can she put aside her thoughts of vengeance long enough to accept Lucian’s love and complete her mission?

Antidote: Love and War by R.A. Steffan
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Her survival depends on a dangerous alien fugitive.

Skye Chantrell has just escaped a war zone.
She’s carrying the stolen antidote to a deadly bioweapon.

When her damaged shuttle crashes on a remote lunar outpost, she’s captured by the leader of a rogue group of barbaric aliens. Now her people’s fate—not to mention her own—rests in the hands of the Seven Systems’ most feared and hated criminal.

A man with the face of a brutal thug, and the eyes of an angel.

* * *

Hunter Tarthasian has every reason to hate the Regime.

He and his comrades have gone rogue, vowing to use every means at their disposal to bring down the evil Premiere. Now, they're wanted and on the run, holed up in an abandoned outpost while they plan their next move. The last thing Hunter needs is a female human civvy with a terrible secret crash-landing on his doorstep. Especially when she starts to awaken feelings in him that have no place in his life as a rebel leader.

Feelings that could very easily get all of them killed.




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
The Books and Braun Dossier by Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris
The Living End by Craig Schaefer
Lucifer's Nebula by C.T. Phipps & Michael Suttkus

Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw