K.J. Chapman's Blog, page 55
December 17, 2016
Review: Tough Love by Skye Warren
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Tough Love (Dark Mafia Romance #0.5) by Skye Warren 4/5
[image error]A story about the sacrifices we make for love…
I sneak out of my room every night. My father’s guards don’t see me. My sister doesn’t see me. No one sees me, except him.
He’s the son of a mafia foot soldier. My father is the boss. I shouldn’t even know Giovanni. And I definitely shouldn’t kiss him. Our relationship is doomed to fail, but that won’t stop me from trying.
Not every girl wants to be a princess. I just want to be free.
I downloaded this book for free from Amazon Kindle.
Review:
Clara is the youngest daughter of a mafia boss and is in love with the son of one of her father’s foot soldiers, Giovanni. The unstable set-up of the firm and who will eventually take over, sees Clara and her sister, Honor, thrust into dangerous situations, relationships, and a life set to be full of pain. Gio has other plans for Clara, and sets about freeing his love.
This book definitely lives up to the dark romance genre, and is the first I have read of its kind. I was drawn in from the start; learning the dynamics of the mafia and the forbidden relationship between Clara and Gio. Warren builds a vivid world of debauchery, violence, and power in a short space of time. The characters are crystal clear in my mind, and even the hero is far from a saint. This series holds promise.
I need to know Gio’s fate, and I can 100% say that I shall be reading more from Warren in 2017.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review
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December 16, 2016
Indie Book Advent #17
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Day 17 of my Indie Book Advent features Unexpected Gifts by Bronwyn Green
[image error]Feeling sorry for herself, Cassie Williams plays sick to skip out of her family’s Christmas Eve gathering. She loves her family, but on the heels of a divorce and her ex’s new engagement, an evening of togetherness is the last thing she wants.
Long-time friend, Sam MacLane has been in love with Cassie for years, and he isn’t about to let her have her pity party. There’s a blizzard on the way, and Sam shows up on her doorstep—bearing gifts….
Where to find Green and her book:
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December 15, 2016
Indie Book Advent #16
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Day 16 of my indie book advent features Susan Kaye Quinn’s Open Minds.
[image error]Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who can’t read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who can’t be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Raf’s mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and she’s dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her.
Where to find Quinn and her book:
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December 14, 2016
Indie Book Advent #15
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Day 15 of my Indie Book Advent features The Girl In Between by Laeken Zea Kemp.
[image error]Bryn Reyes is a real life sleeping beauty. Afflicted with Klein-Levin Syndrome, she suffers episodes of prolonged sleep that steal weeks, and sometimes even months, from her life. But unlike most KLS patients, she doesn’t spend each episode in a catatonic state or wake up with no recollection of the time she’s missed. Instead, Bryn spends half her life in an alternate reality made up of her memories. For Bryn, the past is a place, until one day a boy she’s never met before washes up on the illusory beach of her dreams with no memory of who he is.
But the appearance of this strange boy isn’t the only thing that’s changed. Bryn’s symptoms are worsening, her body weakening as she’s plagued by hallucinations even while awake. Her only hope of finding a cure is to undergo experimental treatment created by a German specialist. But when Dr. Banz reveals that he knows more about her strange symptoms than he originally let on, Bryn learns that the boy in her head might actually be the key to understanding what’s happening to her, and worse, that if she doesn’t find out his identity before it’s too late, they both may not survive.
Where to find Kemp and her book:
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Review: Pastels and Jingle Bells by Christina. S. Feldman
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Pastels and Jingle Bells by Christina. S. Feldman 5/5
[image error]Trish Ackerly never expected to cross paths with Ian Rafferty again, but when she spots the former bully of her childhood years through her bakery window, she thinks she may just have been given the best Christmas gift ever: the opportunity to finally give Ian the comeuppance he deserves.
But clearly she does not have a knack for this whole revenge thing, because before she can make good on her plans, Trish gets inadvertently drawn into Ian’s life in an unexpected way that lets her see just how different the man is from the boy he used to be. In fact, much to her astonishment, she actually starts to like the guy.
A lot.
Trouble is, Ian doesn’t know who she really is, and explaining it to him is going to be a little difficult now—which is bad news, because Trish is starting to realize that all she really wants for Christmas this year…is Ian.
I downloaded this novella for free from Amazon.
Review:
When he was a boy, Ian Rafferty used to pick on Patricia ‘Pattycakes’. Years later, the opportunity arrives for Trish to give Ian a taste of his own medicine, but can she bring herself to do it? The man in front of her is different from the boy she knew, and could she actually be falling for the guy?
This novella left me all warm and fuzzy inside. I was fully submerged into Trish’s world as baker and artist. Ian’s backstory was convincing and understandable, and this tale is an homage to how people can turn their life around and become a better version of themselves. I was continually waiting for the bomb shell moment, which was delivered thanks to ‘Pop’.
The sub characters in this book are well written and have clear voices. The relationship between Trish and Ian’s daughter, Kelsey, was sweet and well developed, and an anchor for the couple to grow closer. An all round, heart lifting, Christmas read.
The opinions expressed here are those of K.J.Chapman and no other parties
All books reviewed on this blog have been read by K.J.Chapman
K.J.Chapman has not been paid for this review
December 13, 2016
Indie Book Advent #14
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Day 14 of my Indie Book Advent features Swarm by Alex South.
[image error]John has a dead-end job, doesn’t see enough of his friends, and struggles to find meaning in his life. These everyday concerns vanish on the night he’s jerked awake by screams.
Frenzied figures roam the streets. A helpless onlooker, John tells himself that this isn’t like the films. This is real life, with real people.
He and his neighbours band together over a small supply of food. Tensions brew, and a difficult choice arises. Risk starvation, or attempt escape? Conflicted over the cause and scope of the apocalypse, the group struggles to work together.
At first John clings to logic. The zombies do not drink or eat. Organic matter cannot sustain itself under these conditions, but things grow more complicated as the behaviour of the infected makes a drastic and inexplicable change.
Where to find Alex South and his book:
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My Favourite Reads of 2016 – Indie Edition!
More than a little bit chuffed to see two of my novels on Sarina’s 2016 Favourite Indie Reads list. Head on over to check out Sarina’s blog, Cookie Break!!
A couple of weeks ago I gave a shout-out to my favourite reads this year – and today I’m doing exactly the same thing, but for the incredible indie authors I’ve discovered this year!
I know we indie authors don’t always have a good reputation, due to the ease of self-publishing. That’s why I’m hoping that you’re going to take away some great recommendations from today’s post! A lot of us really do put our backs and souls into our books, and all of the novels below are great examples of indie authors who’ve done just that.
EVO Shift was my second read by K. J. Chapman, and the sequel to her debut novel EVO Nation. They’re fast paced, the characters are beautifully developed (especially Yana) and there are plot twists and cliff hangers everywhere!
The Siblings is A. Morgan’s exciting, fast-paced, action-packed debut novel. As the title suggests…
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December 12, 2016
Indie Book Advent #13
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Day 13 of my Indie Book Advent features Infinity Squad by Shuvom Ghose.
[image error]Second Lieutenant Jonah Forrest is finding out that having infinite lives doesn’t make war any easier. Sure, downloading into a cloned body when you die is better than the alternative, but that doesn’t make a Hell-Spider’s claws hurt any less. Or his General’s orders for suicide missions any more sane.
But when his First Lieutenant gets killed in action, really killed, and when a captured Hell-Spider offers a way to get ‘kills’ without taking on the enemy, Forrest and his Infinity Squad will have to decide how hard they are willing to work to take the easy way out. Especially when the General starts catching on to their schemes. And when their Hell-Spider prisoner starts suggesting more and more dangerous alternative missions. And when they start suspecting that not ALL of their consciousness is transferring into their new cloned bodies.
Infinity Squad: Willing to die to free your planet from alien invaders. More than once if necessary.
Find Shuvom Ghose and his book:
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First Chapter Excerpt: Thrown to The Blue
As it is Christmas, I thought I’d get in the giving spirit and give those who haven’t read Thrown to The Blue a teaser excerpt from the first chapter. Don’t say I don’t give you anything. Ha!
Foretellings have no place for goodness, only greatness. Princess Ezrahli is far from good, but she is a great woman in a conventional Kingdom, followed by whispers and scorn. However, across the waters is un-convention, magic, and fable. Her existence has been foretold in the battle against dark magic, and destiny shall weave itself into her life because darkness cannot be fought with goodness, only greatness.
Smuggling and sorcery leads to adventure, and adventure leads to destiny. Reed is a prince of the streets, but what he lacks in title, he makes up for in skill; a skill that sets him on a path already written in fate. Can he be more than what is expected? Can he enable greatness in another and survive the process?
Vengeance is a motivator, but it can never be your friend. In the end, it will ask for sacrifice, and only the great will pay the fare.
Chapter One Excerpt:
There is about five litres of blood in the average human body and that amount covers good ground. The pool of claret stretches across the marble floor, over my bare feet, and runs down the stairs. Father was an obese man, I am unsure if fat men hold more blood than most, but I am utterly mesmerised.
I have been witness to a slaughter before now. The cow is stunned, and then the animal is cut open with the heart still beating. A waterfall of red gushes out of the beast along with a ghastly smell. It is quick, humane some may say, and effective. Father’s heart was still beating when his throat was cut, much like that animal’s, only, I felt sympathy for the cow.
I drop the knife into the sticky mess at my feet and lift my nightdress before it is spoiled. It is my favourite; hand embroidered lace imported from Jansani- a shame to ruin with that man’s blood.
Brenneth and his guards enter the vestibule below. Father’s drained body is a welcome sight for him. Although the guards look taken aback by the scene, as soon as Brenneth nods, they set to cleaning the mess; he is their King now, after all.
Their mustard coloured uniforms contrast vividly with the red. I reach out to touch the closest guard’s tunic and he springs away from me like a cat on hot coals. A show of strength is what keeps people obedient, fearful. There is nothing stronger than killing the King of Ye’Sande, one’s own father.
“Goodnight, Brother,” I say, stepping over Father and heading toward my quarters, leaving bloody footprints behind me.
“Beautiful dreams, Ezrahli,” Brenneth replies.
Thrown to The Blue is available from Amazon.
Find Thrown to The Blue on Goodreads.
Content belongs to K.J. Chapman
December 11, 2016
Indie Book Advent #12
Day 12 of my Indie Book Advent features The Aurora Stone by G.S.Tucker.
[image error]“An Elvish girl with changeable eyes will lose her family through the void. Three companions she will travel with. They will be identified by their gems. To get back what was lost, the Aurora stone must return to its home. In no more than a year and four days must this quest be completed, or the realms will be pulled into the void and lost.”
An ancient prophecy, a special gift and an epic adventure awaited Evangeline of Hermoria. On her 18th birthday Eve’s whole world is turned upside down. Learning of her long lost twin brother and the prophecy, she alone must fulfill. Eve sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Battles are fought and friendships made, as Eve journeys through the realms of Orea. All the while a great evil is on her tail. It’s aim? To stop the prophecy coming to pass at any cost! Will Eve fulfill the prophecy and save all of Orea from the void? Will she ever find her twin brother? One thing Eve knows for sure, she will fight to the death and beyond to save her friends, and all that she holds dear.
After all darkness cannot survive where there is light.
Where to find G.S. Tucker and her book:
