Samantha Cook's Blog, page 17
March 20, 2015
Book Review: Treasure Darkly
Treasure Darkly by Jordan Elizabeth
3 Stars
Verdict: A western romance. Doesn't look like it, does it?
Seventeen-year-old Clark Treasure assumes the drink he stole off the captain is absinthe…until the chemicals in the liquid give him the ability to awaken the dead. A great invention for creating perfect soldiers, yes, but Clark wants to live as a miner, not a slave to the army—or the
3 Stars
Verdict: A western romance. Doesn't look like it, does it?
Seventeen-year-old Clark Treasure assumes the drink he stole off the captain is absinthe…until the chemicals in the liquid give him the ability to awaken the dead. A great invention for creating perfect soldiers, yes, but Clark wants to live as a miner, not a slave to the army—or the
March 18, 2015
Hidden Gem Awards: Contest for the Self-Published
Here’s the deal. For every 10 self published books I read, there tends to be one real gem. With that in mind, I’m opening my review doors to ten individuals who aren’t afraid of a bit of friendly competition. I'm hoping to find a fantastic self-pub author and help spread the word about their novel.
Theme: Supernatural Fiction
I'm going to be fairly flexible about what counts as supernatural
Theme: Supernatural Fiction
I'm going to be fairly flexible about what counts as supernatural
March 16, 2015
Favourite Press: Curiosity Quills
Most of my reviews are thanks to NetGalley.com, a site that allows me to ask for free review copies in exchange for an honest review. I'm well within my recommended feedback percentage, and I've got the badge to prove it.
I recently realised that one publisher has never disappointed me, from cover to blurb to content. Introducing Curiosity Quills Press. So many brilliant titles, where to
I recently realised that one publisher has never disappointed me, from cover to blurb to content. Introducing Curiosity Quills Press. So many brilliant titles, where to
March 14, 2015
Book Review: Bittersweet
Bittersweet by Kimberly Loth
4 Stars
Verdict: A story of survival and maturation of a troubled teen.
After reading the book, the blurb seems inaccurate, so I’ve edited it. It’s not my best work and might not sounds as enticing as the original, but I hope it fits the book better:
Every Sunday Savannah Ray gets an email from her dead dad.
She doesn’t know how the emails work but she’s
4 Stars
Verdict: A story of survival and maturation of a troubled teen.
After reading the book, the blurb seems inaccurate, so I’ve edited it. It’s not my best work and might not sounds as enticing as the original, but I hope it fits the book better:
Every Sunday Savannah Ray gets an email from her dead dad.
She doesn’t know how the emails work but she’s
March 12, 2015
Book Review: Altar of Reality
Altar of Reality by Mara Valderran
5 Stars
Verdict: A romance novel with dystopian on the side.
When sixteen-year-old Madeline suffers her first grand mal seizure, she finds herself in an unfamiliar reality, surrounded by strangers wearing familiar faces. Her best friend, Brandon, tells her that the world has fallen to chaos, the aftermath of World War III ten years ago. Madeline doesn’t
5 Stars
Verdict: A romance novel with dystopian on the side.
When sixteen-year-old Madeline suffers her first grand mal seizure, she finds herself in an unfamiliar reality, surrounded by strangers wearing familiar faces. Her best friend, Brandon, tells her that the world has fallen to chaos, the aftermath of World War III ten years ago. Madeline doesn’t
March 10, 2015
Book Review: The Secret Life of Bees
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
5 Stars
Verdict: Beautifully written, steady-paced coming-of-age story in Southern America.
Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the
5 Stars
Verdict: Beautifully written, steady-paced coming-of-age story in Southern America.
Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the
March 8, 2015
Book Review: A Whisper of Wolves
A Whisper of Wolves by Kris Humphrey
3 Stars
Verdict: Quick and cheerful middle grade read. Easy on the eyes.
When a raven drops a white feather at the doorstep on the day of your birth, it is a symbol of your destiny. You are a Whisperer – a guardian of the wild. After many years of peace in the kingdom of Meridina, rumours are spreading of a planned invasion – could the demonic Narlaw be
3 Stars
Verdict: Quick and cheerful middle grade read. Easy on the eyes.
When a raven drops a white feather at the doorstep on the day of your birth, it is a symbol of your destiny. You are a Whisperer – a guardian of the wild. After many years of peace in the kingdom of Meridina, rumours are spreading of a planned invasion – could the demonic Narlaw be
March 6, 2015
Book Review: Fifteen
Fifteen by Jen Estes
5 Stars
Verdict: Witty and imaginative time-travelling story for teens.
Legend has it if you die in your dreams, you die in real life. Fifteen-year-old Ashling Campbell knows that’s not true because when she closes her eyes each night, she doesn’t dream about public nudity or Prom dates. Instead, she’s catapulted to the front row of her future self’s execution -
5 Stars
Verdict: Witty and imaginative time-travelling story for teens.
Legend has it if you die in your dreams, you die in real life. Fifteen-year-old Ashling Campbell knows that’s not true because when she closes her eyes each night, she doesn’t dream about public nudity or Prom dates. Instead, she’s catapulted to the front row of her future self’s execution -
March 4, 2015
When Characters Are Clueless
There’s a type of sentence that keeps appearing lately and I really wish it wouldn’t. Within a few measly words, the author has openly admitted their shortcomings and tried to solve it using this crafty little technique. It’s not even sweeping the problem under the rug – it’s holding the rug up to guests so they can get a good look at what you’ve hidden before offering them a tea.More
SP Book Review: Unfortunates
Unfortunates by Lillian Graves
2 Stars
Verdict: Needs a developmental edit.
Seventeen-year-old Vanessa is about to get a new life—whether she wants one or not. With a best friend keeping a crazy big secret from her and her parents rubbing their perfect high school love story in her rocky relationship's face, she doesn't have any more cares to give. So when Adam, a ghost who calls himself
2 Stars
Verdict: Needs a developmental edit.
Seventeen-year-old Vanessa is about to get a new life—whether she wants one or not. With a best friend keeping a crazy big secret from her and her parents rubbing their perfect high school love story in her rocky relationship's face, she doesn't have any more cares to give. So when Adam, a ghost who calls himself
