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Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Unoficial Zack Warren Fan club by J.C. Isabella


Synopsis:
Welcome to the big leagues. To secrets and scandals. It's all about the game. Who's playing. Who's not. Who has no idea about the game. And...wait, what game are we playing?

I'll leave that for you to decide.

Where to start is the big question for Chloe Baker. How was she supposed to explain to Zack Warren that she started a fan club for him when she was a kid? It was just a game. A way to make friends and have fun. She never thought it would spiral out of control. And never. In a million, gazillion years, did she think it would follow her to college. How could she tell him her best friend Lana kept the club alive? That she had nothing to do with the craziness?

Chloe didn’t understand why she cared so much about Zack's opinion of her. She hated him. He hated her. They had very mutual feelings of dislike for each other. So he'd just hate her even more when or if he found out.

And that's totally fine...she thinks.

Zack Warren had a soft spot for Chloe Baker. He likes the way she walks. He likes the way she talks. If he was poetically inclined, he’d write a sonnet about her ass.

It's Zack’s junior year of college. He’s got things to worry about. Scouts from the major leagues. Baseball games. Contracts. Grades.... His father ran away to Vegas with Chloe's mother. He didn’t have time to worry about a girl. But he did. He worried about Chloe a lot, especially with that jerk Max sniffing around her. It's weird though, to like your stepsister, right?

But Zack could argue that he saw Chloe first. Way before his dad met her mom. He was too young to stake a claim. But just didn’t care anymore.

He’s done playing games



Review:
This is a cute story of two kids in love who hid it very well until fate decided to throw them together and force each other to be in the other's face. How fate accomplishes this I am sure you are wondering is simple, Chloe, a main character, and Zack, obviously another main character, their parents meet and get married.

Yes these two kids are in college but what college kids won't come home and spend time with the family, or in other words enjoy free meals and laundry services.

Anyway, the thing Zack doesn't know is that Chloe created a fan club that border lines stalking, when she was a child and much to her dismay has run away from her and gotten out of control. Is it still a secret except for club mates? Yes, but for how long. And what will the consequences be as the relationship between step sibling's and bitter enemies turns sweet.

Find out this and more as you crack open this quick and easy read.

Rating:
3.5 Raven's. (Pretty good, really fast and easy to read.)

**This book was given in exchange for an honest review and provided for by My Reading Addicts Tour, the statements above are all of my opinion's. I was in no way compensated for my review of the book.**

The Viking's Witch by Kelli A. Wilkins


Synopsis:
Scotland, 803 A.D.

About to be burned at the stake by her fellow villagers, Odaria does what any betrayed witch facing certain death would do. She calls down a curse. Within seconds, rampaging Norsemen raid the village, capturing everyone except her.

But her reprieve is short-lived, and Odaria lands in the clutches of the Norse leader Rothgar. Can she remain true to herself and fight her growing attraction to this domineering man, or will she fall under his influence and be used for his ambitions?

After Rothgar witnesses Odaria’s powers firsthand, he strikes a bargain with her. The raven-haired beauty will use her magical abilities to help him with his quest in exchange for safe passage off the isle. But can this cunning woman be trusted, or is she using him to exact vengeance on her village?

Together they must fight bloodthirsty villagers, battle a mutinous band of Norsemen, find a missing Norse ship, and learn to trust each other . . . before time is up





Review:
This book starts out in the thick of thing's, the main character is charged with witch craft, and though she has never denied her heritage, she refuses to admit to the evil deed's being thrown her way. So she is being escorted to the pile of wood which is intended to burn her alive with.

Using what she believes to be her last breath she summons down a curse on the villager's, which just so happens to be the Viking's who lurked nearby.

I think the author played it well, creating a chance circumstance that could build on the power of Odaria and Rothgar and the love that seems to bring them together. They don't have the easiest relationship, trust issue's, a slight language barrier and the fact that she is in the middle of a blood thirsty Viking nest that have come in search for a prince that might have washed up on her shore's and might be dead.

With her power can she find him, can she keep the man that has kept her safe since his arrival on the island and can she believe in the vision's that come in her dreams?

I enjoyed the book, the event's were a little choppy, but over all it flowed really smoothly. I liked that they struggled for their love, it wasn't one of those, love at first sight ordeals. Lust on the other hand...
So I do suggest approaching this book with caution because there is plenty of steam ready to fog up your glasses when turning the page of this book?

I also loved the fact that the evil villain had gone mad with his hate and prejudice. That is so often the case in real life that it was great to see it in the written word.

Rating:
4 Raven's!

** This book was given in exchange for an honest review and provided by IO Tours. All statements made are my opinion alone and I was in no way compensated for the review above.**
 

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay (ARC)



Synopsis:
All will be revealed for fans who have breathlessly awaited the sizzling sequel to Juliet Immortal. This time Romeo takes center stage and gets one chance, and one chance only, to redeem himself.

Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.





Review:
In the first book we learn that the tragic love story that is Romeo and Juliet is not what it seems, but instead a battle between good and evil. The Ambassador's and the Mercenaries as they fight for the power of true love and soul mates, in Juliet Immortal we follow in the foot steps of Juliet and learn about how horrid and evil Romeo is.

In this book, the second installment of the series it is Romeo's turn and the title says it all.

Where Romeo has a change of heart and realize that what he has done for countless years is wrong and wants to change, I think his punishment is genius. It was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey with the knowledge they will never get the treat in the end.
Unfortunately that was not the case when it came for Romeo and everyone else's happily ever after.

Romeo is in charge of setting Ariel to the path of light because something about her will shift the balance of power in either favor.

I actually felt bad for Ariel because she had such low self esteem due to scar's from an accident as a child and because of 'episode' that left her feeling like a freak. I know allot of people who read this like to think of high school as the glory days, even if they have completely wiped out the reality and super glued their own fabrication, I am not one of those people, I remember vividly the torture of high school when you didn't fit in for whatever reason, when Freak becomes your title and not your name.

What I didn't like about Ariel was how easily she was duped, if you love someone, and you have the guts to say it then you should mean it, then you shouldn't be so easily swayed by one person in one day.

I also didn't like the Intermezzo's in Juliet's P.O.V, they didn't seem to match up with the ending of Juliet Immortal, unless my memory is faulty or they meant for the ending to be set at a later date, either way it left me confused.

Romeo and Ariel seemed to fall in love so fast as well, it is one of those five chapter epic romances that always makes me shake my head because when you are a teenager everything feels that way even if it isn't.

It was still an excellent read, one I was extremely excited to get my hands on since I fell in love with the series like the hopeless romantic that I am.

Rating:
4 Raven's,

Quotes: " Set me as a seal on your heart," I whisper against her lips. " For love is as stong as death."

** All opinion's state above are completely my own, I was in no  way compensated for my review.**

Monday, August 13, 2012

Kiss the Dead by Laurell K Hamilton


Synopsis:
When a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents, soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will be more…

But even vampires have monsters that they’re afraid of. And Anita is one of them…


Review:
If you are a regular follower of the blog then you know that Hamilton is by far one of my favorite author's, I even had a month where all that I read was her books and those with assigned posting date's, so it should be no surprise that I am posting a review on her latest book, even though it entered my Read pile a while ago.

I was actually fairly disappointed with this book, It seemed like a filler in the series. It is a book I could have gone without reading and still been ok. Yes there was sex scene's, when isn't there in the book, but they are starting to get old and repetitive. I didn't start to read the book for the steamy erotica, though it was a plus. I fell in love with the book because of the plot, and the murder and the way Anita seemed to fight tooth and nail for her beliefs.

It just felt bland, especially the ending. It seemed like two pages of a conflict that got resolves so easily. I was sooo frustrated with the books, I really do wish Hamilton would go back to how the series started or end it.

Yes there is some background on Sin, Yes Asher starts making problems, but the way it was written I was not as excited as I could have been for it, it actually started to bore me, a thought that I never thought would come to be when reading one of Hamilton's works.

This book was worth the money for my collection but I probably won't re-read it.

Rating:
2.5 =( Really really disappointing...



**All thoughts and opinions above are my own, I was in no way compensated for my review. I bought the book with my own money.**

Friday, August 3, 2012

Colorado Silver, Colorado Gold by Terry Irene Blain



Synopsis:
To protect her sister, Juliette Lawson stole documents and fled west. Now Wes Westmoreland, undercover lawman, threatens both her plan and her heart.

Socialite Juliette Lawson fled west from Philadelphia on a train and in disguise. In Colorado she’d be safe; she’d take work with her uncle at the Rio d'Oro, his smelting operation. Her actions back east had been wrong, but to protect her pregnant sister from scandal she would have done anything. Then she met a man as hungry for answers as she was for independence. A handsome, honorable man. For him, she wished the truth was hers to tell.

From the first, Wes Westmoreland knew he couldn’t trust her. Having grown up in the saloons and brothels of San Francisco, he saw trust, like love, as a luxury an undercover lawman couldn’t afford. Not on a job like this one, not with gold involved. This woman dressed as a widow was clearly hiding something; he’d felt it the moment they touched. But he’d felt other things too, stirrings in his heart, and for the first time ever, he saw riches worth the peril.

Review:
Every now and then I deviate from the normal and indulge in the historical Romance that makes my heart swoon and flutter. This one was definitely a treat.

I loved that the character's seemed so thought out, and for once the male lead had a chink in his armor. The vulnerability just makes you love him more as you watch the two dance around the love blossoming before them and luring those skeleton's out of the closet.

This story is one of Romance as the western part of America is just starting out. A page turner that I couldn't put down and found myself thinking about once it was over.

Rating:
4.5 Ravens.

**This honest review was written in exchange for the book, I was in no way compensated. All thoughts and opinions stated above are completely my own. Thanks!**

Amazon code Kindle:

Terry Irene Blain Online:
Website http://www.BoroughsPublishingGroup.com
Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/BoroughsPublishing
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/BoroughsPub

Darkness Devour by Keri Arthur Review


Synopsis:
Half-werewolf, half-Aedh Risa Jones can enter the realm between life and death, and she can see the Reapers who collect the souls of the dead. Now, she is using her gifts—and the investigative know-how of a man who broke her heart—to find a cabal searching for the power to control time, reality, and fate. And this is besides her work for the Vampire Council, half of whom want her dead.

But for now the Council needs her alive. Someone is killing blood-whore addicted vampires, and Risa must find the guilty party. If she succeeds, she may finally convince the council to lift the execution order on her life. But before she succeeds, she must first survive…


Review:
So I was doing my normal scan of the book's in wal-mart while I was grocery shopping and then, what do my eyes spy? But a new Keri Arthur  book, and I won't lie I did a fan girl squee. Yes, it earned me many a strange looks from the women and children looking as well but it was well worth it.
Keri Arthur is probably on my top five favorite author list. She never gets old and that is saying allot given the amount of works she has written.

I know when I pick up a book with her name on it, I am not going to be disappointed.

I actually keep up with release dates since I get so invested with her series but with Darkness Devour I was caught off guard given the busy schedule my life has taken. So it was an awesome surprise to pick up the third installment of the series.

Fan's of Risa's Reaper, this book is the one for you. I was clenching the sides of the book until my knuckles were white with anticipation as the moment grew and then seemed to fade, only to grow again. This was a moment that took three books in the making and I was not let down!

That is the best thing about Arthur's books, her relationship's are complex, they don't meet and fall in love in the first five chapter's like so many other books do. No, they struggle with it and you can't help but become involved in the character's life as you silently will them together.

I also like that with the action she pack's into her pages, it doesn't seemed rushed, it is like a movie script and if I closed my eyes I could see each punch and spray of blood.

Favorite Charrie: Tao.

Rating:
5 Raven's

**This is a book I bought with my own money, the statement's above are my own thoughts and opinions, I was in no way compensated for my review. Thanks!**

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Faerie Cake Dead by J.M Griffen Review + Giveaway

Synopsis:
Tea, trust and trouble meet at Fairy Cake Junction When divorcee, Luna Devere, owner of Faerie Cake Junction, meets general contractor, Devin Radford, chaos reigns. Devin instantly wreaks romantic havoc in Luna's life after she finds a corpse sitting in her tea shop as though awaiting tea. The tea shop is surrounded by faerie folk who have befriended Luna. They know who left the dead man, but aren't sharing. The sheriff is convinced Luna is daft and that she's the culprit. Devin wonders just how odd Luna is...even though he's drawn to her. And Luna's ex-husband tries to incriminate her for reasons and purposes of his own


Review:
I would like to start off by saying that I absolutely loved the cover for the book, it was just so cute and fit together perfectly.

Now, the main character of the book reminded me allot of Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, no idea why but even though she would be considered a little bit "off" she was still head strong and knew what she believed in.

The murder plot kept me guessing up until the end. I am not sure if it was because I had a little bit of trouble enjoying the writing, it just felt a little flat to me, or if because I was distracted.

Either way it is an ok read. It doesn't take allot of time to get through so it is not like those thick paperbacks that seem to go on and on with no end in sight and ultimately bore readers.

I did enjoy how cute the book was and how light it seemed.

This book is being given away today! So if you want a chance to read it, leave me a comment about your favorite sweet and one person will win an e-copy! Contest Ends Aug.13th




  
  J. M. Griffin Online: Website:   www.JMGriffin.net Blog http://mycozymysteries.blogspot.com Video http://youtu.be/b4sfqSGRFJQ

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Vestige Review + Interview with the Author.

Photobucket


Synopsos:
EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
Civil Authorities have issued a Civil Danger Notification Until Further Notice.

The following message is being transmitted by the request of The United States Government. An unknown number of citizens have gone missing. Authorities are trying to locate the missing persons. Residents are asked to stay in their homes. If you must go out, do not travel alone and carry proper identification.

Please do not call 911 to report missing persons. Emergency Call Centers and local law enforcement agencies are no longer fully staffed. The United States Military has been dispatched to assist local authorities.

This notification applies to all receiving this broadcast. Please stand by for further instructions.
_________________________________________________

In the Midwestern suburb of LaGrange, something is amiss. Over a twenty-four-hour period, all the children under the age of thirteen along with many adults have disappeared without explanation. It doesn’t take long for those left behind to learn that this tragedy is part of a global event. As people panic, civilization begins to crumble. Luckily, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Daniel Grimshaw, has a plan to restore order. But first, every remaining person must be accounted for and tagged with a mark on their right hand.

Unaware of his responsibilities, seventeen-year-old Micah has been preparing for this day. His mother trained him and provided him with the proper tools, but she neglected to tell Micah about the family legacy, his legacy. Now that his mother is among the missing, will Micah ever discover who he is, or what he needs to do to save what’s left of humanity from the hellfire of perdition?

Vestige is the first book in a two book series.



About The Author:
Deb lives in the Chicagoland burbs with her three teenage kids and her husband. She has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.


1.If you could be any character from your favorite books, who would you be and why?

I would like to be Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. She is smart and together and in the end, she gets the guy.

2.What was the hardest part about writing this book?

The hardest part of writing Vestige was getting the timeline correct. It took several drafts before all the characters found out what they needed to know at the right time.

3.Is it scarier having three teenagers, or writing your first book?

Definitely writing a book. The teen years in the Hanrahan house have been pretty smooth so far, but I still have a long way to go.

4.Which character was the hardest to write for and why?

I had a hard time with Grimshaw. The antichrist has been portrayed many times in movies and books, but he isn’t described with too much detail in the Bible. So I could do whatever I wanted with him. I tried out several different versions before I settled on his character.

5.If you were a character in the book, what would you do in the situation?

I’m a suspicious person by nature, so I don’t think I would get a tag right away, especially since I wouldn’t have to worry about feeding kids or dogs. While writing this book, my husband and I joked about having a bunker built on our property…just in case. So I think I’d try going it alone.

6.If this book was made into a movie, who would you want to be the characters?



My daughters helped me with this one.

Micah would be played by Brett Davern from Awkward.



Clarke would be played by Jillian Rose Reed also from Awkward.



And Daniel Craig would play Father Thomas.

 

7.Other than writing and being a mom/wife, what other hobbies do you have?

My life is kind of a cliché. I have two dogs. I like to garden. I’m on the PTO. I’m in a book club. I love talking with my friends over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

8Do you have any specific ritual you have to go through in order to write?

I can’t write new material with anyone home. A distraction is the death of my creative flow. So I usually only write during the week, during the school year. Before I sit down at the computer, I have to take the dogs for a walk, or they will bug me the whole time. My little Boston Terrier, Daphne, will sit at my feet and scratch my leg for attention. They are spoiled brats.

9.Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk with us here at wonderlandreviews, do you have any last words you would like to leave with our readers/followers?

Thank you so much for your interest in Vestige. I’m grateful for your time.
Review:
If you are like me and you find the inner voice that read along with you as your eyes followed the words of the synopsis, then you read it with that annoying emergency broadcast voice without even meaning to, even know you are thinking back to see if I am right.

Anyway, this book starts off right in the beginning, there is no monumental build up that let you get to know the characters, instead it starts off from the beginning with animal's going missing, and then family members. Personally I would be distraught if I woke up and was placed in some of the character's shoes, worried for my family and not knowing where they were.

I have heard that there was some confusion, some believing this was to be a dystopian book and it turns out to be an Apocalyptic book, and for me it didn't matter. I couldn't really remember the synopsis when I got around to reading it, so it was all fresh with no preconceived notions.

I love that the character's where flawed, it made it so much easier to relate to them as if they were a part of my every day life. So much of the struggles where actually thing's I found myself believing could come to pass in real life, it was somewhat odd, and I won't lie gave me disturbing end of the world dreams since I read it before bed.

I also noted the references to biblical references that kept it just simple enough to not sound preachy and deter other's from the book.

I think the only problem I had with the book was the length, it just felt short, and at  the end a little rushed. I loved the story and the cliff hanger left me wanting to tear my hair out.

Rating:
4 Raven's!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*


Buy Link:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0983526699/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Disclaimer


*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of numerous Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by the Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*