Audio Book Review: Stone of Fire

Stone of Fire

By:  J.F. Penn

Publish Date:  January 5, 2011, Audiobook May 23, 2013

Format:  Audiobook - 7 hrs 28 mins
Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Genre:  Thriller

Series:  1st in ARKANE series; Book 6 ~ Gates of Hell, Book 7 ~ One Day In New York

Impression:  Religion far deeper and adventurous than we ever thought, with a paranormal sway.

Synopsis:
A power kept secret for 2000 years. A woman who stands to lose everything.

India. When a nun is burned alive on the sacred ghats of Varanasi, and the stone she carried is stolen, an international hunt is triggered for the relics of the early church.

Forged in the fire and blood of martyrs, the Pentecost stones have been handed down through generations of Keepers who kept their power and locations secret.

Until now.

The Keepers are being murdered, the stones stolen by those who would use them for evil in a world transformed by religious fundamentalism.

Oxford University psychologist Morgan Sierra is forced into the search when her sister and niece are held hostage. She is helped by Jake Timber from the mysterious ARKANE, a British government agency specializing in paranormal and religious experience. Morgan must risk her own life to save her family, but will she ultimately be betrayed?

From ancient Christian sites in Spain, Italy and Israel to the far reaches of Iran and Tunisia, Morgan and Jake must track down the stones through the myths of the early church in a race against time before a new Pentecost is summoned, this time powered by the fires of evil.

The first in the ARKANE series, PENTECOST is a fast-paced thriller that explores the edges of faith against a backdrop of early Christian history, archaeology and psychology.

If you love a fast-paced, rollicking read, download a sample or buy Pentecost now.

First Sentence:
It is said that those who die in Varanasi can achieve moksha, release from the suffering of repeated death and rebirth.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles
*This book is available for free in ebook.

Audible


My Thoughts and Summary:
*I purchased this book.

The Keepers are being murdered and strange, marvelous miracles are happening at these moments. The stones they keep safe are coveted and taken by another. The Apostles Stone. Morgan Sierra, a psychologist at Oxford University, is now approached about the stone she wears around her neck, along with her sister's. There is a group out to retrieved them all, in time for the comet that last was around Earth at the time of Jesus' Resurrection and the power of Pentecost bestowed on the stones. Morgan is approached by another group, the ARKANE, to join them with finding the stones and keeping them safe, along with her and her sister's family. She has nine days to find the remainder of the twelve stones for her sister and niece's lives. ARKANE is involved and she'll need the help and resources of ARKANE to do so. ARKANE is willing to offer it.

I'm hooked on listening to these books. Veronica shines in her talent of voices. There are male and female voices along with different accents. She easily differentiates personality and tones with each person. There is a moment where she even reads an article from a news paper and has the formal sound of the news. Veronica uses the emotion and rush of the moments in her voice to accent the rush of the moment. When things get moving, and hearts pumping, Veronica does speak with the speed of the moment. This is an older audio and there are moments the vocal sounds a teeny tiny bit of a twang to the voice.

There are different POV's in the chapters broken by the heading of place and time. There is also a long pause between these sections so they do stand out in audio as they would in reading. That long pause is nice to transition me to knowing there is another section highlighting someone else coming, but at times I felt the long pause meant my device shut off.

We meet Morgan Sierra for the first time. She works at Oxford University, but as much as she enjoys her job there feels to be something missing in the day to day work for Morgan. Until she is involved on a mission with the ARKANE to find all the Apostle's stones, and save her sister and niece. We get a glimpse at her life's experiences with the current dangerous events she's living through. And there are hints of things that's happened to her, that I'm hoping we get to see in future books.

We also meet Jake Timber for the first time. He's not so sure about working with an outsider, but finds that Morgan is intelligent and more than capable to take care of herself in dangerous situations. He finds he's even a bit attracted to her. Jake sounds like a wonderful person. I love how he struggles with his job and mission he's to accomplish and his internal cares. It's a rough spot to be in. But he is a hoot at times! Sometimes it calls for extreme actions, and Jake does it. We do get a view of his family past as well. I really do like Jake, and even meeting him here he sticks out for me.

Jake and Morgan end up making a great team.

Penn has a great way of writing a thriller where we get the evil doers POV as well. I like that we get to see the human side of the man who wants these powerful stones, and why. But what he does to get them. *chills* He's in need of help. But! There is mention of another entity here that is skating the trails of Morgan and Jake. We learn just enough to make us curious of this other group, and that they are dangerous. But not much more on them or why they are after the stones, or any powerful religious artifact. This entity feels like an extra that will lead to more in the future.

Penn has an amazing way of describing the city through the religious view and feel of the people. I find this attractive as it tells of the city and it's personality along with the people here, setting a whole stage easily. However at times my interest waned in some of the religious descriptions. I was really glad Penn didn't waste time on the uneventful trips but focuses on the search. The search of the cathedrals and citadels is where she blends in their history and the story, along with great action. Who the characters are is why they are here, so she accents their strengths to get the job done.

This is the first book of the series and well worth a try if you are a fan of Indiana Jones type adventure/searches along with the feel of The Da Vinci Code. Wow, what a blend.

I'm Excited! I Guest Posted!

I'm excited to share this guest post I did! What did I talk about?

I've done a complete post on Podiobooks.com (and how the books are FREE for listening) at Jen's blog, That's What I'm Talking About, in her Listen Up! segment. I hope you stop by to check it out. :)

We are all here because we love books. So why don’t we take that three dimensional book and make it four dimensional? How do we do that, you ask. My answer to that is Podcast Books. What are Podcast books? Well, I find these are the best way to listen to books. For me, it’s a step up from audiobooks (which have come a long way in recent years). The story is broken into episodes, or chapters, and can be found at Podiobooks.com.....

Read more at Listen Up! hosted by Jen at That's What I'm Talking About. I'll gladly stop by and comment and answer any questions I can. :)

Audio Book Review: Ink

Ink: A Mermaid Romance: A Falling in Deep Collection Novella

By:  Melanie Karsak

Publish Date:  May 17, 2015, Audiobook July 13, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 3 hrs 20 mins
Narrated By:  Kristin James

Genre:  Romance

Series:  stand alone

Impression:  Strong mermaid princess does as she will to protect her people, and bring a few sides together as one in doing so.

Synopsis:
A mermaid princess destined to wed a handsome king…

It sounds like a fairy tale, but the reality is far murkier.

Ink, Princess of the Florida Atlantic mers, is slated to wed the ancient enemy of her tribe, the King of the Gulfs. After years of war that led to countless mer deaths, as well as the genocide of aquatic shapeshifters and the freshwater mers of Florida, Ink’s marriage will bring lasting peace.

Or so it seems.

Mere hours before she’s supposed to leave the ocean for her customary year as a drywalker, Ink meets Hal, an alligator shifter who warns her that a storm is brewing. There is malicious intent behind Ink’s marriage—and worse, meeting Hal has also caused a storm to rage in Ink’s heart. Nevertheless, loyal to her tribe, Ink will put aside her feelings and journey to Miami to marry the decadent King Manx.

Ink soon learns that her only hope of surviving the crashing force swelling around her is to tap into a power deep inside—a forbidden power that might destroy them all.

First Sentence:
....

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

Audible


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

Even though other mer's who have done their drywalking say the humans are kind, Ink hates them for the death she's seen them bring to her world. She wishes she could let loose the banished siren song on the fisherman killing and harming her sea. But now, she must take her exiled year of drywalking, on human land. Hal a Nagual, a rare human-animal shifter, visits King Creon as he's breaking the accord that was put in place by Ink's deceased father. Creon is infuriated and sends Hal to the shallow waters. Ink knows the Shallow Waters will kill Hal, so she does what she believes her father would have wanted and she knows is right. In doing so she learns news of a new war coming to her people.

Kristin once again is an outstanding voice actress. The determined personality of Ink is solid in her voice. She does many male voice tones along with females in this vast world, again making it easy for us to listen and differentiate the characters. And I really like when Ink thinks something, Kristin makes it sound as though it's vibrating in her head, this way we know she's thinking it and not actually saying the words. Though the reaction would be strong if others heard what she thinks from time to time.

Melanie once again hits the ground running in the first chapter. It's packed full with feelings of Ink on humans, her ruling Uncle, father and mother, and implying her thoughts on her dry walking starting tonight. However, I think it might have been a bit to fast.

This is a short story and a tremendous amount of story and world packed into it. Melanie has done an amazing job of bringing a whole world to us. But at times I felt like the story was to short for the size of the world and characters created. I would have loved a few more moments with them in some parts of the story. And other moments there was so much happening at the same time, all the connections in one spot firing away. It might have been only a few words that connected outside things to this one event, but they were there.

Aaah, the characters... Ink is a strong woman. She does what she must for her people to survive. The waters of the world are poisoned by pollution and the mer-folk are affected by it. The mer-people are also at odds with others of their kind. To try and help her people and live in peace, she's agreed to marry a man she would rather hate. But! Before she is betrothed she meets a stunning man that she feels drawn to from the first moment their eyes meet. He's a Nagaul. Nagauls are other shifters that live on land. Hal's animal form is an alligator. Dangerous! Just the type of animal he is sends the shivers down my spine.

Hal has come to talk to the king of the Atlantic mers. He has a treaty with the previous king, Ink's father, but King Creon is not of the same standing as his brother was. Hal does get to warn Ink, in a quick moment, that a new war is coming. And in this moment Ink realizes she's drawn to him, as she's never been drawn to a man before, so she shares the deepest secret she has and has never shared with another. That she sings the siren song.

It seems there are those who have their own plans for Ink and how they are going to use her. But Ink has her own plans and placement of honor. She will do as she needs to for her people. Ink learns all the truths of her parents and the plans that some have for her.

Quick romance story to enjoy. I haven't read mermaids in a while and it was fun to read/listen to this one.

Audio Book Review: Gates of Hell

Gates of Hell

By:  J.F. Penn

Publish Date:  January 5, 2015, Audiobook June 17, 2015

Format:  Audiobook - 6 hrs 2 mins
Narrated By:  Veronica Giguere

Genre:  Thriller

Series:  6th in ARKANE series; 7th Book ~ One Day in New York

Impression:  A current set Indiana Jones type story, without the whip, and with an agency behind Morgan and her partner.

Synopsis:
An ancient manuscript that leads to the Gates of Hell. A woman’s revenge for the death of her father.

When the last of the Remnant is murdered at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, ARKANE agent Dr Morgan Sierra is drawn into the hunt for a supernatural Key. She's joined by agent Jake Timber, who must face his own fears as they decipher clues left behind by Kabbalist scholars.

From ancient sites in Spain, to Israel and the Czech Republic, Morgan and Jake must follow the trail to the Key, while evading Adam Kadmon, a man consumed with a lust for dark power.

As the planets align, Morgan and Jake race against time to find the Key and destroy it before the Devourers and the Polluted of God emerge from the Gates of Hell to ravage the earth.

First Sentence:
Santiago Pereira stumbled as he ran through the park, dropping to one knee as he gasped for breath, heart pounding.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Nobles

Audible


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

Adam wants the Key. The key to open the gates of Hell and to cleanse the earth. He's demanding the last of the Remnant to give it to him. But the man of devote faith couldn't think of letting that be unleashed that on the world, so he does the one thing he can think of.

Morgan has received a package in her dead father's handwriting, along with another's she doesn't recognize. An ancient book with a loose paper of symbols in her father's script. The person that sent it to her, the last living member of the Remnant, was found dead that morning. The further Morgan digs in this case, the more she learns of her father and the secret organization he was a part of that protected an old secret of the Hebrew. She has three days before the planets align to race a man determined to release the darkness on the world before he gets the Key and to the Gates. Morgan must find the Key first to stop him. But can she solve the answers to the puzzles before Adam and not let the desire for revenge get in the way?

Veronica is one of the best at voicing different voices and accents to make it easy to different characters in a story. I love how Veronica knows when to speed up, then slow down. She accents the scenes as they go, making my heart race in chases and pause in other moments to have the reader feel the impact. One example is a moment where Jake starts to crawl through snakes. Veronica does an amazing job with the pacing in her voice here. A moment you want to creep through unheard, and unnoticed yet I want to hurry. My heart started to race but I know I needed to breath slow with Jake to get there, and not hurt. Then the fast movement around him! Veronica's voice brings this across.

J.F. Penn's prologues are mesmerizing, intoxicating... so well written to draw a whole story in and of itself. This prologue gripped me by the event that happens and tells of what story could come. She uses every word to tell of so many different pieces of information. Wow. I'm amazed by it!

And the writing to follow is nothing short of what we get in the prologue.

Thrilling, action, adventure. All in one place. The descriptions of the sights we see are amazing - diving in the Dead Sea, the city of Barcelona, and the artwork viewed. So beautiful. Not only do we get the stunning view but the emotional reaction of the characters at the sight. This really hits home the beauty, or horror, of it all. The action! Oh there is always some sort of obstacle or attack at every turn Morgan makes. She thinks she's ahead of the bad guys, but not really.

This is book 6 of the series. I don't usually pick up books in the middle of a series, but I listened to a novella that was stand alone as well as in this series and loved the settings. So I had to dive into the series. But I found it easy to dive in. There are brief drops of the last case with Morgan and Jake, where he got hurt. Even cases that Morgan had been on without Jake. This gives us a nice introduction into the book and world of ARKANE. Not only does this give me a feel for the history leading into this book, but also makes me want to go back to those previous books to live through the heart racing moments. But then we go back near where a previous book took place, so it all comes together yet you don't have to have been there the first time. We even get a quick overview into the ARKANE. Arcane Religious Knowledge And Numinous Experience Institute.

The book is the characters and the characters are the book. They are all so closely related and well fit together for the cases they are on. The lives of the characters and what they are brilliant at is exactly what brings them to this job and the cases they are on, even personal ones like this as Morgan was taught to look for these things from her father and he his before him. There is a character we come across later in the story. He knows a bit more than we expected. He's been trained, in a small fashion, for what the Remnant's were keeping secret. I love the magic he brings forth to us.

This book dives a bit deeper into Morgan's history. We get to see her family raising along with her job before joining the ARKANE, her ancestry, and experiences in life. Even her father and his obsession with numerology and translating numbers to letters, and how he died three years ago. Nice to learn all this and give a deeper background to her.

There is more to the story than a personal case and saving the world. Morgan worries about her partner and his return to field work. He had sustained severe injuries in their last case together and she worries if she can trust him, will he be strong enough mentally and physically. And another worry, has she changed without him and will they be able to work together again. This is an underlying worry for her, and it shows for Jake as well. But there comes a point that they will have to make their chooses and move on. In this token, I think the book is readying Morgan and her partner for what they are going to have to deal with next. Which there will be something if the Directors words are true in the beginning of the book.

I enjoy this style of thriller reads. I wanted to listen to this book in one sitting, yet I wanted to pause to absorb all I was learning and piece it together myself. It's got a paranormal feel to the religious aspects and has caught my attention with the writing, adventures, and dangerous action present. I'll be adding the previous books, and any to come, to my library.

Sunday Post #96

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.

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So today was like another sleeping day. Kiddo has started back to football camp full time and this last week was all evenings. We weren't getting home until 9 PM. *yawn* I stay to watch camp so he can talk about it later. He really likes to know we are watching. And I also took some pictures of him as he likes. :) So needless to say, not much got done around the house during the week, or in the way of blogging. Yesterday was the day I got to get some cleaning done and go through paperwork for life in general. Then I went to be at 10 o'clock last night. I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. lol.

This week...He's not going to have the night practices, but it's time to get caught up around the house. *sigh* I hope I get a few things done and to scribble ideas for a story idea I have. :)

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

The Fit Booker:

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

How did I do last week... I did get to exercise this week. And not just one day! With kiddo having his practice, I got to walk the track a few days.
   Monday:  walk the track for about 2.11 miles.
   Tuesday:  walk the track for about 2.25 miles.
   Thursday:  cut grass for about 1 hr and 15 minutes. I left the gps on with the game and found I only walked 1.11 mile! That can't be! Feels like I walk further than that.


Episode 5:
I am into the episodes that I have to download each week. They are free, but I get one a week now.

This week, there is a fire at a neighboring town and the zombies are attracted to it. The people can't see the zombies coming so I have to run and warn everyone, and get them to safety.

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

What's Happening in Books:

Current Read:

Pure Blooded by Amanda Carlson


Current Audiobook:
Winter's Reach by Craig Schaefer

Current Podcast Book Listen:
None, now back to Audio books

Finished Last Week: 

Schemes by Krista D. Ball

Audiobooks from Audible:

Stone of Fire by J.F. Penn

Finished Podcast Book Listen:

Nothing

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Last Week on the Blog:

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

Posts:

Around the Internet...


Reviews:

The Hidden Institute by Brand Gamblin

Artificial Absolutes by Mary Fan

Bound by Spells by Stormy Smith

Podcast Review:

Mama Bitchstress Reviews:

GIVEAWAYS:

~~~~~~~~~~

This Week to Come on the Blog:

I have my 3 reviews scheduled for next week. Woot woot! Can't wait to share these!
   Gates of Hell
   Ink
   Stone of Fire

~~~~~~~~~~

Received Last Weeks:

Review & Review Consideration:

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
This is the way the world ends. Again.

Three terrible things happen in a single day. Essun, a woman living an ordinary life in a small town, comes home to find that her husband has brutally murdered their son and kidnapped their daughter. Meanwhile, mighty Sanze -- the world-spanning empire whose innovations have been civilization's bedrock for a thousand years -- collapses as most of its citizens are murdered to serve a madman's vengeance. And worst of all, across the heart of the vast continent known as the Stillness, a great red rift has been torn into the heart of the earth, spewing ash enough to darken the sky for years. Or centuries.

Now Essun must pursue the wreckage of her family through a deadly, dying land. Without sunlight, clean water, or arable land, and with limited stockpiles of supplies, there will be war all across the Stillness: a battle royale of nations not for power or territory, but simply for the basic resources necessary to get through the long dark night. Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She'll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter.

Kitty Saves the World by Carrie Vaughn
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
The final novel in the New York Times bestselling series

It’s all come down to this, following the discoveries made by Cormac in Low Midnight, Kitty and her allies are ready to strike. But, when their assassination attempt on the evil vampire Dux Bellorum fails, Kitty finds herself running out of time. The elusive vampire lord has begun his apocalyptic end game, and Kitty still doesn’t know where he will strike.

Meanwhile, pressure mounts in Denver as Kitty and her pack begin to experience the true reach of Dux Bellorum’s cult. Outnumbered and outgunned at every turn, the stakes have never been higher for Kitty. She will have to call on allies both old and new in order to save not just her family and friends, but the rest of the world as well.


Audio Books Requested for Review:

Altar of Influence by Jacob Cooper
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Sacrifice. The single act capable of bringing both death and life simultaneously. 

Thannuel Kerr is handsome, young and brash, fumbling through childhood toward his inevitable inheritance: the next Lord of the Western Province. He struggles to accept his arranged marriage and to grow into the man he must become. The journey toward that end, however, is fraught with more peril than he could possibly imagine. In the remote reaches of the Realm, an unknown, silent threat is growing. The Thoulden-sha of Mari-shaden is gathering his disciples, those who have relinquished their bloodlines to the Ancients and embraced Those Not Remembered, a forgotten race that inhabited Våleira long before the Age of the Ancients. 

As Thannuel learns more about his heritage, he begins to understand why powers that seem greater than anything the world of Våleira has ever seen are targeting him. As a young man, he and his beloved intended, Moira, will face assassination attempts, civil war, and foreign invasions that could tear the Realm—and Våleira itself—apart. 

Sacrifice. It is what the Thoulden-sha demands. It is what the world desperately needs. To save all he loves, Thannuel will be called upon to lay himself upon the Altar of Influence.

Remnants and Shadows by Jacob Cooper
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
This short story takes place during the timeline of Altar of Influence: The Orsarian War. The reader is highly encouraged to read the afore mentioned title first. 

Thannuel and Moira have been promised to each other since birth. Just as they are growing, both as individuals and together, the Marishee probe deep into Arlethia and strike at House Kerr, attempting to abduct Thannuel and assassinate Moira. While the attempt barely fails, it leaves them questioning their relationship and deeply contemplating their future together. 

Amnoch, master of the hold guard for House Kerr and member of the furtive Gyldenal Order, sets out on a quest to discover more about the Marishee, disciples of the enigmatic Thoulden-sha, the Oracle of Mari-shaden. As The Resurgence continues to gain traction among the people of Senthara, Amnoch’s mission unwittingly becomes a fulcrum between the Living Light and The Ancient Dark. Remnants of things long forgotten since The Turning Away lie hidden and await him, shadows of an unknown threat too great to ignore.



Purchased/Winnings/Gifts:

Stone of Fire by J.F. Penn (Audiobook)
PICK UP AT AMAZON (1st bk in series & FREE)
Goodreads Synopsis:
A power kept secret for 2000 years. A woman who stands to lose everything.

India. When a nun is burned alive on the sacred ghats of Varanasi, and the stone she carried is stolen, an international hunt is triggered for the relics of the early church.

Forged in the fire and blood of martyrs, the Pentecost stones have been handed down through generations of Keepers who kept their power and locations secret.

Until now.

The Keepers are being murdered, the stones stolen by those who would use them for evil in a world transformed by religious fundamentalism.

Oxford University psychologist Morgan Sierra is forced into the search when her sister and niece are held hostage. She is helped by Jake Timber from the mysterious ARKANE, a British government agency specializing in paranormal and religious experience. Morgan must risk her own life to save her family, but will she ultimately be betrayed?

From ancient Christian sites in Spain, Italy and Israel to the far reaches of Iran and Tunisia, Morgan and Jake must track down the stones through the myths of the early church in a race against time before a new Pentecost is summoned, this time powered by the fires of evil.

The first in the ARKANE series, PENTECOST is a fast-paced thriller that explores the edges of faith against a backdrop of early Christian history, archaeology and psychology.

If you love a fast-paced, rollicking read, download a sample or buy Pentecost now.

Fighting for Keeps by Seleste DeLaney
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
He made her crazy. In every way imaginable...


Since her partner's death, Jodi Israel has been perfectly happy playing Q to everyone else's Bond. Electronics and machines are safer - and they are a lot easier to deal with. Unfortunately, she's stuck with TRAIT's newest recruit, an infuriating, arrogant alpha-male who plays by his own rules...and is hot enough to send electric voltage through all of Jodi's circuitry.

Finn Danby heeds his instincts, even though it's cost him his job on more than one occasion. The moment he sees Jodi's fiery hair and uncanny engineering abilities, Finn's instinct takes over...and it's all libido. Now they're working together to protect the unstable daughter of a high-profile politician - and the sparks are flying. Both in and out of the bedroom. But when all hell breaks loose, Jodi and Finn just may find themselves alone…and unemployed. 

Free Ebooks:

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

15 Minutes by Jill Cooper
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Goodreads Synopsis:
I have 15 minutes to save my mother’s life….

15 minutes is all the Rewind Agency gives you in the past, but for Lara Crane it’s enough time to race through the city, find her mother, and stop her from being killed in a mugging that happened over ten years ago.

But that’s not how it happened. The story she’s been told all her life is a lie and when Lara takes a bullet meant for her mother, her future changes forever.

The love of her life acts like a stranger. Her simple life is replaced with a giant house, glamorous clothes and a new boyfriend. 

Except someone knows her secret. And he will try to stop her at every turn as she races against the clock to unravel a dangerous conspiracy.

15 Minutes is an edgy high octane YA thriller that can be described as Back to the Future meets Inception where the people Lara trusts change in an instant. She is in a timeline she doesn't understand, and is about to make one fatal mistake as she faces an enemy so familiar, he’s family.

The Hierophant by Madeline Claire Franklin
PICK UP AT AMAZON
Goodreads Synopsis:
Demons are watching. They move invisible through our world, hunting for rare prey–most humans don’t see the monsters that lurk in the dark, and as long as you can’t see them, they can’t hurt you.

But Ana sees the demons. Monsters once found only in her late mother's bedtime stories have crept from the shadows, whispering her name and stirring ancient magic in her blood.

On the day her tarot deck foretells a disturbing change, Ana encounters an uncanny young man who literally stops (and starts) her heart. Trebor has strange powers, and an even stranger quest, and for some reason wants to help her. But the closer Trebor gets to the truth behind Ana’s power, the more important–and dangerous–his own quest becomes. Even more important that keeping Ana alive.

Because in a world haunted by demons determined to find the key to their empire, there is much more at stake than one girl’s soul.

Six Moon Summer by SM Reine
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Rylie's been bitten.

She's changing.

And now she has three months to find a cure before becoming a werewolf... forever.

Rylie Gresham hates everything about summer camp: the food, the fresh air, the dumb activities, and the other girls in her cabin. But the worst part is probably being bitten by a werewolf. Being a teenager is hard enough, but now she's craving raw flesh and struggles with uncontrollable anger. If she doesn't figure out a way to stop the transformation, then at the end of summer, her life is worse than over. She'll be a monster.

All Hallow's Moon by SM Reine
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Rylie survived becoming a werewolf at great cost. She moves to her aunt’s ranch in the hopes she can enroll in a new high school and quietly continue her life... with a few distinct changes. She transforms into a beast every new and full moon and struggles to control her murderous urges.

Without many werewolves left, it’s hard to stay in hiding. A family of hunters -- Eleanor, Abel, and Seth -- recognize the signs and follow Rylie to her new home. They want to stop her before she murders someone, and the only way to do it is with a silver bullet. Seth soon realizes the werewolf is Rylie, the one monster he failed to kill. Worse yet, he’s still in love with her.

Torn between family and love, Rylie struggles to reconcile her feelings and control the wolf within while Seth fights to do what’s right. But what is right-- obeying desire or duty?

Long Night Moon by SM Reine
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Something is killing innocent people around Rylie Gresham's town. The police think it's a wild animal, but she has other suspicions. There are new kids at school, and they have a lot in common with her: gold eyes, super strength, and a habit of turning furry. It seems Rylie's not the only werewolf around anymore.

It's up to Rylie and her werewolf-hunting boyfriend, Seth, to stop the killings. But saving lives doesn't come naturally to a monster, and territory battles could risk the life of her sickly aunt--not to mention her own. Rylie has no choice but to stand her ground, protect her home, and stop the murderers before anyone else gets hurt.

Gray Moon Rising by SM Reine
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Goodreads Synopsis:
It’s been almost a year since Rylie Gresham was bitten by a werewolf on Gray Mountain. Now something is beckoning her back to the place she was attacked, along with every other werewolf in the world. But they aren’t the only ones heeding the call. A group of hunters notices them gathering and sees it as their chance to wipe out the entire species.

Seth is about to graduate high school when he learns of the final hunt. He secretly plans to save Rylie and his werewolf brother even though he has to play along with the hunters to do it. But Rylie doesn’t want to be saved. She’s already decided to solve her problems with a silver bullet if answers aren’t waiting on Gray Mountain.

One way or another, everything is about to end—whether it means Rylie’s liberation or the end of her life…

Special Offers by M.L. Ryan
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Goodreads Synopsis:
Meet Hailey — possessed by an other-worldly being from another dimension who was previously trapped in her Kindle.


When Hailey Parrish discovered her husband was cheating with her co-worker, she swore off men. Then, she had to find another job when her boss went to prison for running a prostitution ring in his spare time. Three years later, Hailey still hadn’t gone on a date and she milks chinchilla for a living.


Her life was about to get weirder.


While in pursuit of inter-dimensional miscreants who use their arcane powers to prey upon humans, Sebastian Kess was ambushed and mortally wounded. To save his life, he used his own magic to convert his soul to binary code and transfer it into Hailey’s soon-to-be shipped Kindle eBook reader. When Hailey inadvertently releases him and he inhabits her body, she finally has a man inside her, just not in the way she imagined.


Hailey must come to grips with the existence of the parallel dimension of Coursodon and the realization that magically inclined non-humans walk the world all while dealing with Sebastian’s arrogant banter in her head. Her predicament also introduces her to another supernatural, the handsome could-be-the-man-of-her-dreams Alex Sunderland. The action moves from Hailey’s hometown of Tucson, Arizona to New England and across Europe as she and Alex try to return
Sebastian to his own body while staying one step ahead of the criminals who want to keep him where he is.


Special Offers, the first book of the Coursodon Dimension Series, combines urban fantasy, paranormal romance, a bit of science fiction and a healthy dose of quirky humor.



(On my Nook)

Free Audio Books/Stories:

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Reviews to Come:

Soulless by Skyla Dawn Cameron

The Sentinel by Chris Lester

The Muse by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Making the Cut by Chris Lester
Metamor City: Whispers in the Wood by Chris Lester

Danube Waves by Katharina Bordet

Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan

Heartstealer by K.T. Bryski

Lex Talionis by Starla Huchton
7th Son: 7 Days anthology by J.C. Hutchins

House of Grey 6 by Collin Earl
The Secret World Chronicle: World Divided by Mercedes Lackey, Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, Veronica Giguere
The Secret World Chronicle: Waiting On by Mercedes Lackey, Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, Veronica Giguere
The Secret World Chronicle: Revolutions by Mercedes Lackey, Cody Martin, Dennis Lee, Veronica Giguere
Heir to Kale by K.L. Bone

Tales from the Archives Vol. 4: #3 The Black Empress

Invito Rex by Brand Gamblin

The Jester by Michael J. Sullivan

Professional Integrity by Michael J. Sullivan

Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #4 - Down by the River

Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #5 - Old Sinner's Bones

Gates of Hell by J.F. Penn

Ink by Melanie Karsak
Schemes by Krista D. Ball
Stone of Fire by J.F. Penn

Audio Book Review: The Hidden Institute

The Hidden Institute

By:  Brand Gamblin

Publish Date:  March 2011

Format:  Podiobook

Genre:  Neo-Victorian

Series:  1st Noblesse Oblige series

First Glance Feel:  A unique world for boys to learn to be better. Oh and what they learn to be, but there are a few who strive for more.

Synopsis:
Rising above your station can be deadly. Cliffy is a child born on the streets of a Neo-Victorian world. Witnesses to a murder, he blackmails a nobleman, receiving a unique bribe. In exchange for his silence, the nobleman introduces him to the Malcolm Rutherford Holden Institute of Regentrification. There, Cliffy learns to walk, talk, and act like a nobleman, so that he may infiltrate high society. But that type of fraud is punishable by death, and when Cliffy uncovers a plot to assassinate a head of state, he's hunted by more than just the aristocracy. Royal intrigue, daring escapes, sub-dermal machines, and bear polo. A grand adventure in a not-so-distant world.

First Sentence:
Lord Wheylan Simmons was not in attendance when his valet was murdered.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

Listen At:
iTunes  /  Podiobooks

Brand Gamblin's site

My Thoughts and Summary:
Cliffy sees a man die, the man with him offers Cliffy a chance of a lifetime. Cliffy takes it but, being at The Hidden Institute, he's made some enemies of power. He's set to go to a ball in which being barely a freshman he would not be sent on this test. At that ball Cliffy learns the dangerous Silks are present. The Silks make it their life to find and expose those that graduate from The Hidden Institute and lie about who they are. Cliffy can't pass on the chance to learn who the Crone, and leader of the Silks, is. Slowly Cliffy uncovers secret groups in the Institute, one in particular that is hired to kill once they graduate.

The Malcolm Rutherford Holden Institute skates on the outskirts of the law as it's hidden from others. And they are criminals of a sense with falsifying information and histories of their students. The school has a huge mysterious feel of it's own as we enter. In a way it reminds me of a Hogwarts when we first enter, but for fake nobles. It's really fascinating and has it's own history, enemy, rules, and much more to it.

I really love the creation of the servant education here. The Hidden Institute has a magical draw for me with the well created world and history here. Even the solid personality of Dizzy is wonderful. He's bold and knows the ways yet he's not fully conceded in demanding for his own needs. He has a respect for the help and what they do. Yet he wants to be more than the low Nobel position the Institute teaches them to be.

There is a mechanical essence present to the story. It's not really steampunk or overly mechanical. The term Brand has attached to the genre is spot on, Neo-Victorian. There's a Victorian era feel to the story yet a bit more. There's an automation to take care of the needs of Dizzy and Cliffy at the Institute and in their rooms. lol. The automation helps in speech, posture, and to needs of chair opening and such. There are a few additional mechanicals in the story as well. I really like the idea of how they 'know' information.

Cliffy is a street urchin through and through. He doesn't take well from the command of others. He is independent and use to having a bit of control over what he does. The story seems that he loses that, yet he has to learn to have greater control over himself. Cliffy is an inquisitive boy. He's not afraid to back down from anything, or anyone, and it finds him in mischievous situations. I really like Cliffy. He has a way about him. He's not a bad kid from the streets. He's independent yet has a heart and cares.

We get to attend classes with Cliffy when he starts. I found I really enjoyed what each teacher brings to the students. The intent of what the students are to learn, the deep down reason and moral they need to know. The way the teachers teach these major points is very interesting. They use different ways than we would think so the students learn by doing. It sticks with Cliffy and the reader greatly, along with keeping the action and events interesting and important for later. And how the other students interact with Cliffy, all makes it intriguing.

Brand does an amazing job of drawing a world and details of why things are as they are crafted to the way of living of the Royals and all around. I love this full circle creation and connection.