"Misc. Monday": Fires of Alexandria (Alexandrian Saga Book 1) by Thomas K. Carpenter

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense. 340 pages.

Price: $0 FREE (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Black Moon Books. November 16, 2013.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 1 

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on August 23, 2015)

My Rating:   

My Thoughts: Historical Fiction or Fantasy? Either Way You Are In For A Tale!

     I'm always hesitant when reading historical fiction due to how the content can be misconstrued. Now this story goes from fictional heading into fantasy creating an alternate reality (of sorts). There are crazy inventions, cults, assassins, barbarians and hidden agendas all wrapped into a great tale based in ancient Egypt.

     In a time when the Empire of Rome is oppressive and demanding more taxes, lives a man named Heron of Alexandria, also known as the Michanikos. Heron makes miracles for the temples, the miracles are advanced mechanics and machines, offering illusions to the people in order to bring money to the gods. The inventions are beyond anything or anyone has engineered before, problem is Heron isn't Heron. He is actually his twin Ada, who stepped in after his death. Taking on her twins person was the only way to pay her twins debts and continue to work as a great engineer. However, no matter how great Heron's inventions, there seems to be a curse on them as they all end in failure. It's not until a Northman named Agog comes to town and orders up war machines that Heron's life becomes truly endangered. Heron is then asked by a secret benefactor to find out the question of the century: Who set fire to the Alexandrian Library? That question and her association with Agog may be the start of an uprising and the death of those dear to Heron.

      Overall, I liked the book, but couldn't really get into how far fetched it went out of historical context. I suppose that was my fault thinking the story was more historical than fantasy, though I liked how the author explained himself after the book noting what was fact and what was fiction or conjecture. The intrigue and mystery in the story was good, but there was a few parts I got lost in because of the technical jargon. I would have liked one plot line instead two mysteries in the story since the book felt like it was dragging on after the first mystery was solved. Of course it all came together in the end, but the length of the story started to make me lose a bit of interest toward the middle. I must say my favorite part of the book is the resilience of the main character. She is a strong female who literally mans up and out smarts everyone, she does amazing things even when death is imminent. Heron is just down right cray-cray. So if you are looking for a historical fantasy novel involving a main character who is insanely smart and is willing to basically do anything to protect her niece all while working under a fake name in an ancient world where knowledge is power and dangerous. This book would be fun to try.

"Spotlight Saturday": Time Spirit Trilogy by Melissa Pearl

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Historical, SciFi. 

"Golden Blood" (Book 1)- Click Here 

"Black Blood" (Book 2)- Click Here

"Pure Blood" (Book 3)- Click Here 

by Melissa Pearl

Penned Series: Time Spirit Trilogy, The Elements Trilogy,  The Masks Series, The Fugitive Series and The Songbird Novels.
and she also co-authors: The Mica & Lexy Series. 

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My Thoughts: Absolutely Still One Of My Favorite Y.A. Series!

        Golden Blood was the first book I read by Melissa Pearl and it is certainly not my last. I read the first book after I had it in my ebook library for some time and then immediately bought the next two in the series, because I just had to know what would happen to Gemma and Harrison! I'm a sucker for time travel and this book has it plus a cute romance, but also awesome suspense and mystery.
        Gemma Hart is unique having the ability to travel back in time at any given time, which is not something normal teens have to worry about. Her family is tasked with going back in time to fix parts of history in order to help the future, aka their present timeline. So when Gemma tries to have a normal teen life things don't usually work out, especially since her time traveling skill is a secret that must be kept within the family. It's only an chance run in at the mall that literally has Gemma and Harrison Granger, FYI the sweetest boy ever, pushed together. The encounter gets them talking and going from friends to more. Harrison wasn't looking for anyone new when he moved to town, but Gemma is different and absolutely worth trying to unravel. The only problem stoping them from having a HEA is not everything is as it seems with Gemma's gift of travel and her family may be holding secrets that could undo any trust Gemma has with them. When people come and offer facts that unveil lies upon lies, Gemma is more and more confused about who she can trust. Gemma knows she wants a life with Harrison but when that is threatened she realizes her life may be filled with too much deceit and she has to find a way to fight for her freedom once and for all. 
        Overall, This series will always be a favorite of mine to re-read. I loved Gemma and Harrison's relationship from beginning to the oh so bittersweet end. Oh, that last seen in Pure Blood still gets me! When I think of Y.A. genre my mind flashes to this series. The characters, content, language, emotions, all flow exactly how a Y.A. book should, but with enough mystery, suspense and SciFi to keep an olderish audience intrigued. So if you want a Y.A. time travel book with teenage love trying to fight the odds against lies and deceit hoping good wins in the end, this series is great.

Now be forewarned listed below are each books descriptions none are too revealing BUT still read at your own risk. I dare ya!  

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"Golden Blood" (Book 1)

Price:  $0 FREE (at time of post)
Published Date & Page Count: November 4, 2011. pages 250.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 5

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on October 27, 2012)

My Rating: 

Description:
Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected. 

Gemma's parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be "used and abused", as her mother always says. Afraid she might accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life askew... Harrison Granger. 

Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can't stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.
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"Black Blood" (Book 2) 

Price:  $3.99 (at time of post)
Published Date & Page Count: December 14, 2011. pages 250.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 7

Price I Paid: $3.99 on December 28, 2012

My Rating: 

Description:
Gemma's parents have put enough rules around her relationship with Harrison that she feels like she's living on parole. But she wins one battle—a summer job working for Harrison's step-father. It is the perfect chance to spend the steamy, hot Florida days with her boyfriend. It's also a great distraction from the cellphone hiding in her underwear drawer—her only contact with Gabe, the mystery man who's stalking her. 

When she confronts Gabe, he tells her that her parents are not who she thinks they are, and Harrison has the gall to believe him. Surrounded by conflict, Gemma doesn't know what to believe, and it takes a trip back in time for her to glimpse the sickening truth. 

Thanks to her parents, she returns to the present to find the love of her life no longer exists. His family line was broken and now, so is she. 

This betrayal forces her to seek out Gabe. Setting aside her fear of the truth, she must trust this man and learn what he can teach her... otherwise, she'll never get her boyfriend back.
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"Pure Blood" (Book 3)

Price:  $3.99 (at time of post)
Published Date & Page Count: February 15, 2012. pages 259.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 5

Price I Paid: $3.99 on December 28, 2012

My Rating: 

Description:
It is only a matter of time before Gemma's parents find out she traveled through time to bring Harrison back into existence. The fear of being found out is a heavy weight on her shoulders, but she refuses to give up on everything she's fought for. Harrison is worth the risk. 

The couple draws closer together as they battle opposing forces from all sides. They stay strong until Gemma's parents welcome an exchange student into their home. Simeon, a gorgeous Californian, is as smooth as coffee and, supposedly, a fellow time spirit. Gemma's parents expect her to take him everywhere and, of course, fall in love with him. After all, he is the boy they have chosen for her. 

No longer able to sneak off alone, Gemma must watch every step as she waits for the inevitable nightmare to catch up to her. Her parents ultimate goal is to get that last necklace and open the box hidden in their safe. If they do, Gemma knows her entire world will unravel. 

As the danger mounts, Gemma must decide if she has the courage to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the ones she loves and stop to her parents' destructive plans.

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Also Available ....

Time Spirit Trilogy Omnibus 
(All 3 Novels)- Click Here
Price: $6.99 (at time of post)

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    Melissa Pearl

Author's Links: Amazon Page, Facebook, Twitter, Website, YouTube Channel.

Melissa Pearl was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but has spent much of her life abroad, living in countries such as Jordan, Cyprus and Pakistan... not to mention a nine month road trip around North America with her husband. "Best. Year. Ever!!" She now lives in China with her husband and two sons. She is a trained elementary teacher, but writing is her passion. Since becoming a full time mother she has had the opportunity to pursue this dream and her debut novel hit the internet in November 2011. Since then she has continued to produce a steady stream of books. Recently she signed with Evatopia Press and her first Evatopia book is coming out in February 2014 - True Colors, The Masks Series #1. She is very excited to be trying out new things this year while continuing to publish under her own name as well. She has six books planned for 2014 and is excited about writing each and every one of them.

Hey, BOOK IT OUT!! - Price Drop to FREE!!!

This Means War
by A.M. Wray

Price dropped as of August 28, 2015

from $0.99 to FREE (that's a 100% Price Drop)

Click Here

My Blog Review:  August 14, 2015

"Romance Thursday": Betting On You (Always a Bridesmaid Book 1) by Jessie Evans

Genre: Contemporary Romance. 303 pages.

Price: $0 FREE (at time of post) 

Publisher & Date: Self Taught Ninja Press; [3rd Edition]. December 22, 2013.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 1

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on October 5, 2013)

My Rating:    

My Thoughts: Simple Contemporary Romance

     For a quick surface contemporary romance this book will do. The characters lacked real depth and there wasn't much to the plot. Best point was the book, and subsequently the series, is about the sisters and their love lives.

     Lark March runs the blossoming catering company Ever After with her two sisters, Aria and Melody. Lark is about her catering business and trying to make it grow. She has only one focus with no one to occupy her thoughts. Until Mason Stewart drops back into her life. After four years of no communication, Mason appears at Lark's friends wedding. Lark knows Mason was the only man for her but he abandoned her and she knows trusting him is something she might never be able to do after he broke her heart. Mason knows he messed up in the worst way leaving just after proposing, but Lark is all he wants and he's ready to prove now worthy of a second chance. Lark is talked into seven dates with Mason to see if four years is proof enough that time does change a person.

     Overall, it was okay. The story wasn't thrilling and played out how I expected. I was actually way more interested in Aria's love life than Lark's, which seemed waaay more dramatic. The main characters felt underdeveloped making their relationship issues seem repetitive and surface leaving me feeling not that attached to them. Though I loved a few relationship moments where the author used the sisters which then helped bring out the characters for me. Even the banter between the main characters felt the same saying,"I don't deserve you." and ,"you're so good looking."Geesh I got it, they have trust issues and they are both too hot. The book could have been flushed out a bit perhaps with more sister moments or maybe past moments of Mason and Lark to illustrate how close they were before he ran off.  So if you want to read a basic contemporary romance for a beach or park day read this would be a book to try.