Hey, COMING SOON!!- Darkness Brutal (The Dark Cycle Book 1) by Rachel A. Marks

!! NEW BOOK SOON !!

Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Time Travel, Occult. 425 pages.

Price: $ 4.99 ebook (at time of post)

Publisher: Skyscape. 
Release Date: July 1, 2015.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: **Not Yet Released**

Price I Paid: Zip, Due to Amazon First Prime Subscription.

My Rating: 

This book has yet to be released and is part of Amazon's Kindle First monthly program. If you are an Amazon Prime member you are allowed the opportunity to have one book out of four options given as an added bonus to your yearly subscription. You pick one out of the four in Amazon's hopes that you will read and review the book before it is released a month later to the general public. It's actually a brilliant plan on Amazons part, truly a great marketing strategy. This way avid readers feel special and get their hands on books ahead of the normal populace and the books themselves get media hype before it's even been released. So the book above is the option I choose this month it seemed the best out of the four, and as you can tell I highly recommend it. I've had hits and misses with the books this program has offered, but ultimately I can't complain because hey it was free!  

My Thoughts: When Everything Goes To Sheol, Who Ya Gonna Call?

      This story is freakin insane! It's a crazy mix of witch craft, demons, self sacrifice, time slips and biblical references. If you're looking for a strange new world to dive into this story is totally worth a read. 
      The protagonist is Aidan O'Linn, the story is told from his prospective, in both the present and flashbacks. Aidan is a lone wolf trying to survive in the world with abilities he has no clue how to handle let alone explain. He can see and talk to demons, as well as understand many ancient languages. Having a childhood darken by magic from his deceased mother dabbling in the dark arts, Aidan tries to get through life under the supernatural radar. His main concern in life is to protect his little sister Ava, who is gifted like his mom in art of magic. Aidan wants to keep Ava from the darkness that ultimately consumed his mom. It's in seeking a way to protect Ava that he finds his way into a unique group of kids housed in the suburbs of L.A. by a man named Sid. It's Sid who leads the group of teens who run LA Paranormal, a growing reality show that confronts other worldly things such as demons and ghosts. Under the protection of Sid, Aidan finds out more about himself, his family, his future, but most importantly his present circumstances which seem to grow more dangerous with each passing day. 
      Overall, loved this story and can't wait to find out what awaits Aidan. Those he comes to live with have powers too and his relationships with them really makes the story more emotionally complex. Aidan as a character is selfless and is willing to do anything to ensure those he loves are safe. This book surprised me by how well the author intertwined religion with the occult. I had feared it would be too one sided and would become cheesy, but the author wove this urban fantasy extremely well making this novel's reality a place of it own. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series to see what will happen to all the characters, especially Ava.

Hey, BOOK IT OUT!! - Price Drop

 !! SALE ALERT !!

ALL TARA BROWN BOOKS

Price dropped as of June 3, 2015

from Original Prices to $0.99 

Click Here

Guys this is not a drill! I repeat this is not a DRILL! If you have been waiting to grab a book by Tara Brown this is your chance to grab it up! All her books even her newest book "If At First", except for Blood and Swoon, are cut down in price to $0.99! Grab all you can while the prices are this low. Deals like this hardly come around, so get them while their hot.

"Y.A. Tuesday": The Shadow and the Rose (The Ash Grove Chronicles Book 1) by Amanda Deweese

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance. 276 pages.

Price: $0 FREE (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. December 5, 2012.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:   . 3

Price I Paid: $0 (got it FREE on April 3, 2014)

My Rating:  

My Thoughts: Story Seemed To Be Heading Somewhere BUT Then The Main Characters Just Didn't Sell Me On The Series.

      Note this review will most likely be filled with **SPOILERS** so be forewarned. Normally I hate to spoil anything, but there are some big issues I want to address before a reader spends their time on the book. First this book is posted as Young Adult and to be fair it is in a way, since the characters are all still in high school and are under the age of 18. However, some of the situations they find themselves in are a bit mature for a younger YA audience, so I'd say this is an upper YA book due to content.

      The story is told from the main character, Joy Sumner's perspective. Joy is trying to find her artistic niche in the hidden oasis of the Blue Ridge Mountains own Ash Grove High School for the Performing Arts. She feels like the plain Jane in the school where all her friends and peers prepare for stardom. It's upon a dare from the BBBs (Ballet Bitch Brigades) that Joyce finds herself at midnight in the graveyard  to retrieve a white rose from the school's founder's grave. What should have been a quick in and out task turns into more when she meets a beautiful stranger in the dark night named Tanner. Later on Joy finds that the hot stranger isn't actually a stranger at all but is an old classmate named Tanner Lindsey, who is now a rising supermodel and the current favorite protege of the superpower actress and model Melisande. Tanner and Joy begin a friendship that turns into a secret relationship, as Tanner reveals his mentor and sometimes lover Melisande is overly possessive and too dangerous to upset in any way. Through the stories Tanner has told of Melisande and the things researched on her own, Joy finds out Melisande may not be entirely human. And on top of all that Joy finds that her special school is actually a hot spot of supernatural energy that could explain a few mysteries.

******WARNING SPOILER VENTING AHEAD*********
       Soo one of my biggest disappointment was the fact that Joy just went out and did the dirty with Tanner in the dirt. I mean really? Joy was shaping up to be his savior from Melisande by discovering things like why she remained ageless. But then Joy goes and professes her love for Tanner when he's still obviously stuck on, and to, Melisande, he never even said I Love You back, but he sure did say it about Melisande, big hint right there. Then there's the fact that the author didn't even note the couple using protection at the time they made love in the secret garden, which made me instantly think "well, she's gonna get pregnant." And shocker Joy does. That's probably my biggest issue, Joy's pregnancy. She seriously tries to hide it as being fat and gets by mostly on her own, while still hoping to free Tanner so they can live HEA. The HEA part I don't mind as I wanted Joy to have one, but there in the end Joy seems to write everything off as if life is going to be all easy breezy from there on out now that they are together. Oh heck nooo! There isn't a teen mom alive that will say life is heaven once you have a kid at 17, no matter how precious the child is, being a parent is work. Let alone the fact both, Joy and Tanner will need to work on their relationship as a couple, because Tanner will obviously have emotional issues form his time with Melisande. Who btw was a gross cougar/molester (like any old mythological fictional creature) and I'm not even going to touch that issue, since it was covered in the story but big Ewww!
*******************************************************************************************

       Overall, book was okay for a time filler. I found the author's writing style to be fluid at points, but then rushed at others making me double back to read parts twice to ensure I read the section right. The author did an okay job of mixing modern high school drama with magical mayhem. I had hoped for a more realistic ending to the main characters relationship, but I suppose the book needed the extra drama to continue the series. The school drama was great, and on it's own would be an interesting Y.A. book. The magical side of the story was intriguing, but fell flat when it blew up to be more than just about the school the secrets it held and became more about Melisande, and subsequently about freeing Tanner from her evil clutches. However, Tanner as a lead male character was extremely weak and never made me feel enough to pull for Joy to really want him back time and time again . . . again. Yes, I wanted Joy happy because her life needed some great happiness after all the bad cards she'd been dealt, but really I wanted her best friend William to start liking her, or heck even her gay guy friends would make for a better companion. By the end of the book I was okay with the story being over and I feel fine with not going further in the series. The school's magic mystery was too under exposed for me to be fully intrigued to read further in the series, as it seems they are all safe. So if you want to read about high school drama that includes relationships, dating problems, popularity, sexual curiosity, and a sense of family all while trying to hopefully out preform everyone on stage, but there's possibly something evil wanting to take your life and soul, then this book might be okay for you to try but I'm happy I got it for free.

Hey, NEW BOOK OUT!!- If At First by Tara Brown

!! NEW RELEASE !!

by Tara Brown

Penned Series: "Devil's Roses", "Born Trilogy", "End of Light", "Single Lady Spy Series", "Blood and Bone",  . . . etc. (She writes a lot)

Tara Brown Author links: Facebook, Blog, Twitter, Amazon

**For more information on Tara's Born Trilogy check out her,  

"Spotlight Saturday" Post: Click Here

 First book in the Crimson Cove Mystery series! 
If At First

Price: $ 2.99 ebook (at time of post)

Book Link: Click Here
Thunderclap Support: Click Here

Sun, Sand, and Sexy Boys. These are the three things needed to make a stellar summer. Unless of course you live in Crimson Cove, where you also have to account for dead bodies and missing persons.
When a summer party turns into a crime scene five unlikely girls band together to discover the truth behind what happened august 4th. A date no one is likely to forget for a long time. Along the way they discover love, strength, and friendships that last a lifetime.

 ~Find out more info in the Tara Brown newsletter next month!~
Here is the link: http://eepurl.com/bfovNL

"Friday Favs": Forbidden Waters (Mica & Lexy Book 2) by Melissa Pearl and Brenda Howson

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Romance. 203 pages.

Price: $ 2.99 ebook (at time of post)

Publisher & Date: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. May 18, 2015.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating:  . 8

Price I Paid: Zip,**I received a free copy in return for an honest review**

My Rating:  

My Thoughts: Annoying Company, Scary Lake Adventure and Running From A Madman . . .

       Mica and Lexy are at it again! Seriously those girls are too much for their own good. Where one goes the other follows and this time around the duo head into trouble that leads to more danger than they can handle. It's probably a good thing they have each other and some boyfriends who are there when the girls find themselves in more trouble than they can handle.
       The girls are adjusting to life after their close encounter with the drug dealers in the bush. Both are settling into their new relationships, however while Lexy and Tom seem to be advancing a little more, Mica and Eli find they have to work on a few things. So due to Mica being a bit ticked off at Eli for working to much and forgetting about her, again, she decides to get Lexy and take off to explore the other side of the mysterious lake, which is surrounded by rumors and ghost stories. The two are joined on their excursion last minute by an annoying classmate Tracey, who can't keep her mouth shut or her opinions to herself. Now what should have been a simple trip around the lake turns into a crazy, dangerous, life in peril adventure that only Mica and Lexy can get into.
        Overall, loved it! Mica and Lexy are really becoming my favorite book girls. Those two are just too funny, sometimes frustrating, but you love them, so you want to keep reading more and more about them. I seriously thinks it's cause I relate to both of them in different ways and see my BFFs in them too. Now, grant it, our antics and adventures never got so crazy, well a couple times maybe, but I think that's the fun part about Mica and Lexy, a reader gets to relive a bit of yourself in them and enjoy their lives all while safely reading about their adventure in your favorite reading spot. Can't wait to read more about these two.

Hey, BOOK IT OUT!! - Price Drop

  !! SALE ALERT !!

In My Dreams 
by Cameo Renae

Price dropped as of May 27, 2015

from $3.99 to $0.99 (that's a 75% Price Drop)

Genre: Young Adult, SciFi, Fantasy. 248 pages.

Price: $0.99 ebook (at time of post) 

**LIMITED TIME ONLY 4 DAY SPECIAL**

Publisher & Date: Cameo Renae Books. Books [2nd Edition]. March 15, 2015.

Book Link: CLICK HERE

Listed Rating:  . 8

Price I Paid: $0.99 on May 27, 2015

My Confession: So I've had this book in my ever growing TBR list for weeks now and its literally been on my kindle for weeks taunting me. I have Kindle Unlimited and I rented it the moment it was released. Well now I own it. I can't personally tell you if it's amazing BUT the reviews and rating on this book don't lie. I've read other books by Cameo Renae and enjoyed her writing, so when I saw she was releasing this story I wanted to try it out. Now I own it, which means I'll probably get to it sometime soon. But I just could let that price cut go by without grabbing it for my own and sharing it, even if I haven't read the book myself . . . yet.  

"Wed's Wonderings & Wanderings": Rating Books Per Their Genre

                             

Now I recently had a long discussion with my sister on how I choose to "judge" the books I read and review. I've found people will commonly read and review books thinking nothing about why they've judge the book the way they have, or perhaps what they are comparing the book to in order to judge the book appropriately. Reviewing something whether it be a book, meal, song or a piece of artwork requires thought and sometimes objectivity before one makes their final assessment.

To be objective one needs is not to be influenced by feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts. As a history major in college, I was taught this was the ONLY way to present your thoughts for historical purposes. So in writing reviews, which are obviously meant to be based completely on ones personal feelings, tastes or opinions, a reader is called to become subjective in their writing.

What I always try to do when I begin a book is read it objectively and by the end allow myself to be subjective in my reasoning when writing my reviews. Actually a review can sometimes become more comparative than subjective, but I'll get to that later. Because here's the thing most readers tend to do, by accident mind you, when they read a book most read it the same way they read any other book. Now before you think I'm a loon let me explain, a reader will accidentally find themselves reading a RomCom the same way they read a Romantic Suspense or Historical Fiction novel. 

With every genre, and author, there subsequently comes a different style and mindset a reader needs to be set in to read such a book. Which is why when books are mislabeled readers get frustrated, I know I do. Readers can't expect their last romance to read like their next mystery novel. The case for every genre and author changes from book to book, and so should ones expectations for each book. 

                            

Consequently, when I judge books in a certain genre I evaluate them based on that genre, not how it read in comparison to another book, which was in a different genre. It's that principle of you can't compare apples and oranges, they maybe both fruit but they are different. Same goes with genre comparisons no good reviews will come of it and you won't be satisfied with your read if you try a new genre and only compare it to your favorite books, which probably aren't even in the same category. For example when reading a crime thriller written by a woman and lets say there's romance thrown in, and she enhances the romance more than the crime solving. Then there is a male author who also throws in romance to his story, in the same genre, because it's essential to the plot, but it's not the main point for his story so he doesn't overly focus on it. Now if you are a reader and you love romance novels and decide to try out the crime thriller genre for the first time you'd most likely love the woman author more and dislike the male author. Why? Only because the female author played to the genre you preferred, not to the genre you were actually reading. Meanwhile the male writer stuck to the genre, while the female writer may have gone to far into the romance genre distracting from the crime thriller plot line, which was meant to be the purpose of the story all along. So in the end personally I'd rate the male author higher than the female writer, because he comparatively stayed closer to the genre than the female author did. 

So in the end rating and reviews always seem to boil down to personal tastes, which leaves people in the Subjective category. It's not always the case as this is a general assumption, but I would say most people don't think before they read or review. I know I will wait a few minutes to think things through and asses a few points before reviewing. Not before I verbally react mind you, because after I finish a book I definitely spew a few things out to the nearest friend or family member, or to myself. Either way the key to fully enjoying a book is to know what you'll be reading, as in the genre, and keeping an open mind especially if it's a new genre. Never be afraid to try a new genre, it's like going on a trip to a new place or trying a new place to eat with new exotic food, you may find that you like it and that is never a bad thing.

"Misc. Monday": The Chronicles of Izzy Box Set by Michelle Graves

*Book Synopsis*

I lived an ordinary life. Perhaps it was life of loss, maybe even a lonely life, but ordinary all the same. Never in a million years could I have predicted the events that would unfold after that fateful delivery. Some Seer I was.

But that doesn't matter any more, that life, the one I'd thought was my reality, was nothing more than a weakly constructed facade. The lines between reality and fiction have blurred, leaving me with nothing but the cold hard facts. The world is vastly different than I ever understood. Guardians and Seers are real, and I have the power within me to tip the balance in a war between good and evil that had been brewing since the beginning of time. The fight was coming to a head and the outcome hinged entirely upon me.

I have to make an impossible choice. Would I step into my role as a Seer and face the growing Darkness head on, or would I cower and let everyone I loved suffer and die? 

The Darkness will rise and the Prophecy remains, the Seer must Fall.

So Fall I will.

Friendships, love, and sacrifice will all play out transforming Izzy into the Seer of prophecy. Find out what happens in The Chronicles of Izzy.

Genre: New Adult, Box Set, Urban Fantasy. 851 pages.

Price: $ 0.99 ebook (at time of post) **Limited Time Offer**

Publisher & Date: Michelle Graves. May 12, 2015.

Book Link: Click Here

Listed Rating: . 8

Price I Paid: Zip,**I received a free copy in return for an honest review**

My Rating: 

My Thought: Epic Might Be Too Small A Description For This Series!

     Holy Smokes!! From the prequel to the final book this box set is amazing! This box set is Ebook swiping madness, book hangover worthy and I totally have no time to socialize cause I MUST finish this series! From the beginning I was hooked on the characters, but like a true nerd, I was hooked by the author's usage of vocabulary. You'd think for most authors vocabulary would be a no brainier, but I find most books lacking in colorful and stimulating vocab, which is not the case in these books. Michelle Graves knows how to write and it's awesome!
      The stories are all centered around the protagonist Izzy Boone, who is introduced as a bike messenger in Chicago. She heads to the local bar that's been calling to her, in hopes of gaining a social life. It's there Izzy meets Kennan O'Malley, or K.O. who becomes her insta best friend. It's only later that Izzy finds her life and the world she lives in is not at all what it seems including her new BFF. Turns out Izzy is a Seer, a special woman gifted with looking into dreams of the future to see what is to come and help those they can. Just trying to swallow that knowledge alone, Izzy then finds out she's not just any Seer but may be more including the One. Luckily for Izzy she has her Guardian Kennan and some friends who aid her in the fight against the darkness and help pull her through the darkest times. The only question is will Izzy survive what she must do to save all whom she loves?

      Overall, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! Seriously loved this author after reading the first few pages and as my sister puts it, the author used some big vocab words instantly endearing me to her. The story beautiful flowed and grew from chapter to chapter. Izzy is a great example of a modern female heroine, her faults are there but few and not annoying. Oh and the men in the story, super happy to report they may be overbearing at times but they are so not all alpha male, which makes me love them. The fact that Izzy doesn't let them get away with crap and then calls them on it each time even calling them stupid heads makes me love the characters all the more. Michelle Graves crafted a dangerous and mystic tale with light hearted moments, love and devotion to make a wonderful story spanning over 4 books a few novellas. So if you are looking for a great female heroine, who doesn't have a manual to her destiny, but will do whatever it takes to make the world right with the help of her friends and loved ones, then this box set is perfect. Plus at the price right now, what's not to love?

           

Book Links: Amazon and Barnes&Noble

A Rafflecopter Giveaway

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Michelle Graves:

Media Sites: Blog, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

Michelle Graves is a self-proclaimed nomad, moving every two to three years with her husband the Army man, her beautiful daughter, and a fat tailless cat named Torri. When she is not writing away trying to purge her mind of yapping characters she can be found entertaining her daughter, attempting to craft (whilst trying not to injure herself with the glue gun), baking yummy treats, or reading. She admits to having a restless spirit and forces her family to go out on adventures whenever possible. They lovingly play along. 

Hey, BOOK IT OUT!! - Price Drop

!! SALE ALERT !!

Love Waltzes In (Dancing under the Stars, #1) 
by Alana Albertson

Price dropped as of May 25, 2015

from $2.99 to $0.99 (that's a 66% Price Drop)

Click Here

My Blog Review:  February 19, 2015