Audio Book: Core Punch

Core Punch

By:  Pauline Baird Jones

Publish Date:  June 9, 2014, Audiobook Release December 30, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 5 hrs 27 mins
Narrated By:  Diane Gelwix Somers

Genre:  Sci Fi Romance

Series:  1st in spin-off - An Uneasy Future series

First Impression:  Violet and Joe fight the storm to safety but also fight a secret enemy of Lurch's.

Synopsis:
Spinning off The Big Uneasy Series and with a guest appearance from Project Enterprise…

Welcome to…An Uneasy Future 1.0:

Core Punch
A Baker & Ban!drn Adventure

A kiss may be all they have life expectancy for.

When an intergalactic cop exchange program serves up an alien partner for NONPD Detective Violet Baker, she can’t help wishing the handsome alien would be a little less Joe Friday about keeping the pleasure out of their business. Yeah, he’s kind of purple and she can’t pronounce his name to save her life, but he’s almost the only guy in the New Orleans New police department that she’s not related to.

Dzholh “Joe” Ban!drn has come a long way hunting the evil that has infiltrated Vi’s floating city. When he meets his charming partner, he discovers another reason to stamp out evil. If only he wasn’t keeping so many secrets from her…

When an epic hurricane heads their way, they are sent dirt side to New Orleans Old (NOO) on a rescue mission. But murder and sabotage strands them in the heart of the raging storm.

As they fight for their lives, Joe realizes that the evil he’s hunting is actually hunting them….

First Sentence:
His partner liked to call it the Big Uneasy and Dzholh--Joe--Ban!drn decided Violet Baker had a point.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

Audible

My Thoughts and Summary:
*I requested to review a copy of this audiobook for an honest review from the author.

With the huge storm Wu Tamika Felipe rolling in, Joe and Violet are sent dirt side to collect dirtsiders that have showed on scanners and bring them to safety. What they find is a cold spot in a cemetery, and land their skimmer to have a look. A partially frozen corpse was left here. The body is a mystery for Vi, but Joe and Lurch seem to know a bit more... Fighting to get free of the tropical storm in New Orleans Old, Joe and Lurch face the reason they really took this job.

Diane narrates with natural pauses and upturn in tones that make the characters feel true to their forms. We get voice differences for Joe, Vi, and Lurch. Vi has a slight accent and Lurch has a bit of a scratchy, screechy voice. Diane did a good job at vocalizing the characters with feelings in voices. There is a short section that is repeated toward the end of chapter 7.

New Orleans is known for it's terrible tropical storms. And in this world it still holds true, and a way to tell of the two cities called New Orleans. The storm that rocks the cities is one that might prove living dirt side in New Orleans Old isn't as safe as living in the lifted city of New Orleans New. The storm will be a test for the technology and the ancient parts of the floating city.

The beginning is packed full with information for us to get acclimated to the world we are in. There are changes to New Orleans, and I think it all would be a great idea to do in real life! There are lots of descriptions of the world, weather, and characters. It's not action packed, fighting type story. The characters fight the weather to do their job and solve the dead body they found. Joe fights internally with Lurch on who is possessed by their enemy.

This is a romantic scifi read. We do get moments focusing on their attraction to each other. The beginning held a lot of description of the world and the attraction of the partners. But then we get into the story as they battle against the storm to get to safety, the attraction is put on the back burner along with the dead body they found. It felt like a long journey to get through the storm for me. I know there is an "enemy" of Lurch out there, but we don't get details of who that might be or why until the very end.

I did smile at the initials of the storms name, even when it was said that Joe had to be explained the meaning by Lurch.

I think I would have preferred to read this story. I could take my time with the world building and the suspense in their blooming relationship. Also, my mind would wonder in scenes that felt they were drawn out to long for me, then I'd hear something important to I'd rewind to catch it.



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

Cover Reveal & GIVEAWAY: A Touched Girls series by Robyn Jones

I have a new cover reveal for you all today. :) And I must say, I'm liking these covers.

A Touched Girl Series Cover Reveal Blog Hop

Soul Walker and Soul Bender have brand new covers, and we are celebrating!

Published: December 9, 2012

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads Summary: 

"I need to get you to the hospital." He was taking responsibility for me. Only my parents had that job. I stretched my hand out in protest, but the lack of depth perception had my trembling fingers grazing his overheated neck. I swore his whole body shook.

When five-year-old Anna Pierce is offered a chance to have nightmare-free nights for the small price of her voice, she jumps at it. Silence has to be better than all-consuming dreams about blood and death and fangy monsters. The bargain she strikes comes with a secondary benefit, visions of a person's future potential. The combination of visions and silence changes her very nature and soon she's diagnosed with autism. Twelve years of living in her head comes to a screeching halt the moment Peter Davis pulls her out of an icy river. 

Her new life has her twirling, tiptoeing, and crashing through unfamiliar territory, one filled with a cranky grandma, a knocked up cousin, an unpleasant cousin, a bunch of mostly good vampires, and the boy who rescued her.

To top it all off, the deal she made at five is no more. Anna is expected to talk, to figure out her resurfacing nightmares, and to control her ever-growing powers. And she'd better get it done soon because if the good vamps want a piece of a living, breathing Touched girl, the evil ones simply want. They'll take Anna for their very own.

Soul Walker is the first book in the Touched Girl Series. It's approximately 91,000 words.

Get it today at Amazon - 99 Cents

Published: March 11, 2013

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Goodreads Summary:

How much can a soul take before it breaks? 

Anna Pierce has a vampire boyfriend, a driver's license, real friends for the first time since she was five, and now she faces one of her biggest challenges, senior year at a mostly all girls Catholic high school. Sure, she's a member of the talking crowd now, but she'll never be like everyone else. How can she when the first of her kind has camped out in her dreams? 

Little dead girl Emily decides Anna's destiny can wait no longer. It's time for this generation's Touched girl to hunt. Trained in a virtual dream landscape to destroy all in her path, Anna must choose between her destiny, the one beat into her on a nightly basis, and her legacy, the one instilled in her by her parents. 

Along the way, old enemies remain dutifully obsessed, new foes lurk in the shadows, and odd Little Duckie Anna Pierce sets out to be social. 

Get it today at Amazon - $2.99

*Covers created by Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven

About Robyn Jones:

I laugh when people fall down. It's a glitch in my programming, but even my mom has suffered this quirk. I have a BA in Studio Art from the University of Puget Sound. My boys make me laugh every day. I steal pens; I try real hard not to. I collect those free bookmarks at the checkout counter at libraries. I've had more stitches than anyone I know. I love stories; writing them, reading them, watching them. You can email me at robgirlbooks@gmail.com.

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mythical Monday (5)

It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.

This week we have:

Paranormal, Humor, and Mystery author Adrienne Jones

Talking of Angels.

Melting Pot

The best thing about using myths and legends in fantasy fiction is there's really no wrong way to do it. We hear a lot of talk about artists 'reinventing' certain established legends, mythical creatures and folklores. But myths by their nature are not a solid thing. Myths are fluid, they have variations from culture to culture, details that change based on religion or region, and an ever compiling series of add-ons collected through time and interpretation.

In my novel The Hoax and the recent sequel Teeth of Gods, I chose to play around with angel mythology. The roots are deep and wide with these mythical creatures, and like fairies, vampires, ghosts and other big time players in fantasy fiction, you're not working with a single blueprint. By choosing an established myth, you're already starting with a used car. You can change the bumpers, replace the engine and add some bling, create your own custom hybrid, but some of the original framework has got to stay in place. Despite the huge emphasis on avoiding clichés and twisting your artistic vision into a unique shape, you chose to play with an established myth, and that means your base building blocks are borrowed from past ideas.

So what are you going to keep and what are you going to toss out, change, take apart and put back together? Research of past interpretations creates the foundation, but it's the imagination of the author that twists all this rusty old metal into a new shape. Angel mythology exists in historical writings around the globe, including most religions, and while there are similar threads running throughout, it varies greatly. The wings didn't show up in artistic interpretations until around the 4^th century – so do you use the wings, or ditch the wings? Do you go with a religious fiction or science fiction theme? I always loved the old Prophecy films, but knew from the start that I wanted to veer away from traditional religious mythology when it came to my characters. No Lucifer, no falling from Heaven and the like. While the crux of their background includes breaking through from an alternate existence, I wanted my characters' story to be less magical and more visceral, violent, and closer to our reality.

My fictional hybrids don't exactly lean toward the Chariots of the Gods spectrum, but there is definitely a more alien, science fiction basis to their origins. But that doesn't mean the more popular myths and legends of angels are not included at all, I simply chose only the aspects I could work into my unique story angle. The parts that didn't fit got tossed in the scrap bin, or melted down and reshaped to fit.

So while we strive in mythological fiction to create something unique, to reinvent, we're paying homage to previously established ideas about the legends we choose to write about. Something about them lures and fascinates, and that's what motivates us to take them on. It's a risky choice but a challenging one, to present an ancient idea in a new light. You risk trampling on clichés and trudging through an oversaturated swampland of like-minded concepts. But the longevity of such myths, the fact that they have remained and morphed through the ages means they still hold interest to the masses, and that's the benefit on the flip side of the challenge.

I had a great time ripping apart my mythological used car and building something new from things found in the literary junk yard. And when I look at the final product, I like what I see. Of course the final challenge is hoping others will pick it out of the lot, drive it home and enjoy the ride...or the flight, depending on whether you added those wings or not. Either way, you've just tossed your coins into the mythological melting pot, and only time will tell what comes of it. With any luck, it will endure – even if it gets scrapped for spare parts.  

You can Find Adrienne Jones:

Her Site:  Adrienne Jones - Speculative Fiction Author

Facebook:  Adrienne Jones

Twitter:  @adrienne_jones

Cover Reveal: Teeth of Gods

Today I have another cover for you.  The second in it's series.  This series is a contemporary fantasy/paranormal mystery, thriller read.  Sounds exciting to me!

The cover release....

Teeth of Gods

The Hoax #2

By:  Adrienne Jones

Due Out:  December 2012

Description:

Old adversaries are forced into an alliance in this sequel to 'The Hoax', when an otherworldly assassin begins murdering former members of the Forest Bluffs cult.

When conventional weapons have no effect on the unearthly killer, Agent Litner knows he has only one choice: To find Shep, his greatest and most frightening enemy, and ask for his help. While reluctant, Shep aligns with the agent when it becomes clear that the assassin's ultimate goal is to destroy all he holds dear. 

Two worlds conspire and collide when the real truth about the assassin's mission is revealed, and they face a shocking new foe that throws their existence into chaos.

Sounds like a great mystery read!  And the cover has me curious as to who that is.
And if you are curious about the first book...

The Hoax

By:  Adrienne Jones

Description:

How well do you know your closest friends? Are they loyal? Are they trustworthy? Are they human? A magnetic false prophet with an unnatural power to enchant; a government agent trying to profile an inhuman breed of terrorist; an otherworldly mastermind posing as an out of work beach bum. And the man in the middle, Patrick Obrien, a humble accountant who discovers his best friends are more than they seem. As he struggles to escape their trap to use him in a global catastrophe scheme, Patrick finds himself ensnared by the FBI agent, who pits him against the very people he is running from.

Curious?  I know I am.  Makes me wonder what kind of friends they are.

You can Find The Hoax at any book seller or find The Hoax on Amazon

Throwback Thursday (3)

Let's talk about those books already on the shelves, yours or the stores.

I have a post for books I'm looking forward to coming out;

Looking Forward To...

But what about all those wonderful books that are ALREADY on the shelves?

Whether it be on your shelf waiting to be read or on the shelves in the stores waiting for you to give it a good home.

So, I thought I would share a book a week that is just waiting for me to travel through it's world.

Now... where do I start?  I think I'm going to look at the WANT list today...

This book I found on at a fellow bloggers.  But I'm sorry as I can't remember who's today.  It sounds like a fun fantasy read.

Howl's Moving Castle

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the land of Ingary, such things as spells, invisible cloaks, and seven-league boots were everyday things. The Witch of the Waste was another matter.

After fifty years of quiet, it was rumored that the Witch was about to terrorize the country again. So when a moving black castle, blowing dark smoke from its four thin turrets, appeared on the horizon, everyone thought it was the Witch. The castle, however, belonged to Wizard Howl, who, it was said, liked to suck the souls of young girls.

The Hatter sisters--Sophie, Lettie, and Martha--and all the other girls were warned not to venture into the streets alone. But that was only the beginning.

In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?

Diana Wynne Jones's entrancing fantasy is filled with surprises at every turn, but when the final stormy duel between the Witch and the Wizard is finished, all the pieces fall magically into place.