Dale Ibitz's Blog, page 3
July 2, 2014
Giveaway! Kiss Me Dead
Kiss Me Dead
Dale Ibitz
Summary:
One curse . . .
Christian, a nineteen-year-old reaper-human hybrid enslaved to the Other World to harvest souls, earns his freedom by making a bargain with the Goddess of Death. As part of the bargain, he’s been cursed with the kiss of death.
One kiss . . .
The only way Christian can break his curse is for an angel to kiss him. Willingly. He finds Brooke, a nineteen-year-old descendant of a Naphil whose destiny is to hunt rogue reapers, suffocating in a semi-agoraphobic cocoon since witnessing a reaper steal her brother’s soul.
Two destinies . . .
Christian has found the angel who can break his curse, and the seduction begins. To break her phobia’s hold, Brooke embraces her angelic role and makes it her mission to kill rogue reapers to avenge her brother’s murder. Christian can break his curse by kissing Brooke dead . . . but will she figure out his game and kill him first?
Rafflecopter Giveaway: Click below and ENTER to win one of 5 PDF copies!
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Dale Ibitz
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Summary:
One curse . . .
Christian, a nineteen-year-old reaper-human hybrid enslaved to the Other World to harvest souls, earns his freedom by making a bargain with the Goddess of Death. As part of the bargain, he’s been cursed with the kiss of death.
One kiss . . .
The only way Christian can break his curse is for an angel to kiss him. Willingly. He finds Brooke, a nineteen-year-old descendant of a Naphil whose destiny is to hunt rogue reapers, suffocating in a semi-agoraphobic cocoon since witnessing a reaper steal her brother’s soul.
Two destinies . . .
Christian has found the angel who can break his curse, and the seduction begins. To break her phobia’s hold, Brooke embraces her angelic role and makes it her mission to kill rogue reapers to avenge her brother’s murder. Christian can break his curse by kissing Brooke dead . . . but will she figure out his game and kill him first?
Rafflecopter Giveaway: Click below and ENTER to win one of 5 PDF copies!
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Book Review: Jenny Pox, by J. L. Bryan
Jenny Pox
J. L. Bryan
Initial Thoughts: Ew and Ick and Good!
My Rating: 5 Stars!Summary:
Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the "Jenny pox." She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.
Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth...but if she's going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.
* * *
Not recommended for readers under eighteen.
My Thoughts:First, not sure why the warning label...I certainly think any kid 14 and older who loves horror can handle this book.
So, let's get down to business. Characters. You have the good, the bad, and the ugly. Truly well developed characters. Ashleigh is so wickedly evil you just have to love that character. She's a brilliant master-mind and a master manipulator. Of course, she has a little help with her paranormal ability, but damn, the girl knows how to use it.
On the other hand, you have Jenny, who has done everything in her life to dial back her powers because, ya know, they're deadly. And she doesn't just pass on the plague...she is the plague. I mean, super gross! I have to give Seth kudos for over-looking that one kinda major gross thing. Ew and ick! It gave me chills just reading it. And that, my friends, makes the book yummy.
All the manipulating is so painfully well-written. There was a time or 2 I had to set the book aside, just to take a moment, because I could feel Jenny's pain and humiliation. Really good, my pretties.
All of the events in the book simmer gently, slowly boiling to a blow-out explosion in the end that I didn't see coming.
J. L. Bryan
Initial Thoughts: Ew and Ick and Good!
My Rating: 5 Stars!Summary: Eighteen-year-old Jenny Morton has a horrific secret: her touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague, the "Jenny pox." She lives by a single rule: Never touch anyone. A lifetime of avoiding any physical contact with others has made her isolated and painfully lonely in her small rural town.
Then she meets the one boy she can touch. Jenny feels herself falling for Seth...but if she's going to be with him, Jenny must learn to use the deadly pox inside her to confront his ruthless and manipulative girlfriend Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all.
* * *
Not recommended for readers under eighteen.
My Thoughts:First, not sure why the warning label...I certainly think any kid 14 and older who loves horror can handle this book.
So, let's get down to business. Characters. You have the good, the bad, and the ugly. Truly well developed characters. Ashleigh is so wickedly evil you just have to love that character. She's a brilliant master-mind and a master manipulator. Of course, she has a little help with her paranormal ability, but damn, the girl knows how to use it.
On the other hand, you have Jenny, who has done everything in her life to dial back her powers because, ya know, they're deadly. And she doesn't just pass on the plague...she is the plague. I mean, super gross! I have to give Seth kudos for over-looking that one kinda major gross thing. Ew and ick! It gave me chills just reading it. And that, my friends, makes the book yummy.
All the manipulating is so painfully well-written. There was a time or 2 I had to set the book aside, just to take a moment, because I could feel Jenny's pain and humiliation. Really good, my pretties.
All of the events in the book simmer gently, slowly boiling to a blow-out explosion in the end that I didn't see coming.
July 1, 2014
Book Review: Wicked Sense, by Fabio Bueno
Wicked Sense
Fabio Bueno
Initial Thoughts: Wicked good!
My Rating: 5 wicked stars!Summary:
Witches inhabit our world, organized in covens and hiding behind a shroud of secrecy—the Veil.
Skye’s London coven sends her to Seattle’s Greenwood High to find the Singularity, an unusually gifted witch who may break the Veil and trigger a dangerous new era of witch-hunting. Things get complicated when Skye meets a charming new classmate, Drake. Skye’s job becomes even trickier when she clashes with Jane, an intimidating rival witch.
Drake falls for the mysterious Skye, but odd accidents, potion mix-ups, and the occasional brush with death kind of get in the way of romance. Once he discovers Skye is a witch, he goes to war for her, even though his only weapons are a nice set of abs and a sharp sense of humor.
Fighting off wicked Jane and the other dark forces hell-bent on seizing the Singularity's immense power, Skye and Drake will risk everything to save the covens.
Going on a date has never been harder.
My Thoughts:First, loved the characters. The story is told in 2 points of view, Drake's and Skye's. Drake's chapters are especially good, and the voice is so strong, it's perfect the book opens in his POV because it immediately draws you in. Loved, loved Fabio's writing style. I do like Skye as well, but Drake is 'the man'!
What is especially captivating is not only the characters, because even the minor characters are exceptionally drawn, is the interaction between them. And I don't mean just our 2 main squeezes, but their interactions with the other characters. I don't believe I have a single complaint! Woot!
I liked the plot, I likde the world-building, I liked the ebb and flow of the story. There are some red herrings about who the Singularity is. While you can kinda guess, you can't know for sure because there are a few options, so you have to read to the end to confirm your suspicions.
I'm not quite sure I dig the ending. The scheme they come up with in the end seems tetchy at best, and as I was reading it, I was thinking "This is never gonna fly". But maybe that's the point. It's not going to fly, and their innocent, naive plans in hiding you-know-who is perhaps the bridge to the next book. Which I will definitely read!
Fabio Bueno
Initial Thoughts: Wicked good!
My Rating: 5 wicked stars!Summary:Witches inhabit our world, organized in covens and hiding behind a shroud of secrecy—the Veil.
Skye’s London coven sends her to Seattle’s Greenwood High to find the Singularity, an unusually gifted witch who may break the Veil and trigger a dangerous new era of witch-hunting. Things get complicated when Skye meets a charming new classmate, Drake. Skye’s job becomes even trickier when she clashes with Jane, an intimidating rival witch.
Drake falls for the mysterious Skye, but odd accidents, potion mix-ups, and the occasional brush with death kind of get in the way of romance. Once he discovers Skye is a witch, he goes to war for her, even though his only weapons are a nice set of abs and a sharp sense of humor.
Fighting off wicked Jane and the other dark forces hell-bent on seizing the Singularity's immense power, Skye and Drake will risk everything to save the covens.
Going on a date has never been harder.
My Thoughts:First, loved the characters. The story is told in 2 points of view, Drake's and Skye's. Drake's chapters are especially good, and the voice is so strong, it's perfect the book opens in his POV because it immediately draws you in. Loved, loved Fabio's writing style. I do like Skye as well, but Drake is 'the man'!
What is especially captivating is not only the characters, because even the minor characters are exceptionally drawn, is the interaction between them. And I don't mean just our 2 main squeezes, but their interactions with the other characters. I don't believe I have a single complaint! Woot!
I liked the plot, I likde the world-building, I liked the ebb and flow of the story. There are some red herrings about who the Singularity is. While you can kinda guess, you can't know for sure because there are a few options, so you have to read to the end to confirm your suspicions.
I'm not quite sure I dig the ending. The scheme they come up with in the end seems tetchy at best, and as I was reading it, I was thinking "This is never gonna fly". But maybe that's the point. It's not going to fly, and their innocent, naive plans in hiding you-know-who is perhaps the bridge to the next book. Which I will definitely read!
June 18, 2014
New Release: Relinquish, by Amy Thompson
New Release! Relinquish, by Amy Thompson
Purchase on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ofkj4fh
Regan has a life in Georgia. She is going to school, has managed to make some friends, and has even found a new love interest in Colter. So what happens when she can’t hide what she is anymore? When do all the lies become too much to handle? And how much longer can she hold onto her sanity—while Agro pushes her closer and closer to the edge of no return—her ascension to Elite?
Colter is beautifully oblivious. Wanting so much to believe that Regan is safe, and Agro has been halted, he ignores Finn’s constant skepticism at the risk of their friendship. Overlooking what is so clearly right in front of him, Colter passes off Regan’s outbursts of emotion on her recent trauma. Colter can feel Regan—his one exception to his retribution—slipping out of his arms, but fighting her to stay with him may not be an option.
Colter and Finn are now at odds, and there is a newly formed alliance between Kaiden and Exile Max. Will this group of Collectors be enough to fight off the new enemies and old threats that emerge in the battle for souls when Regan is broken, and their group is on the brink of self-destruction?
The lost will be found, the Collectors will be exiled, and the Elites will reign.
*Due to mature content and adult themes, Relinquish is recommended for 18+.
Purchase Links for Book #1 - Retribution
Start the series for just 99 Cents!
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/m9cml6m
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/ouve6qf
Smashwords: http://tinyurl.com/kfn58lm
Purchase on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ofkj4fh
Regan has a life in Georgia. She is going to school, has managed to make some friends, and has even found a new love interest in Colter. So what happens when she can’t hide what she is anymore? When do all the lies become too much to handle? And how much longer can she hold onto her sanity—while Agro pushes her closer and closer to the edge of no return—her ascension to Elite?
Colter is beautifully oblivious. Wanting so much to believe that Regan is safe, and Agro has been halted, he ignores Finn’s constant skepticism at the risk of their friendship. Overlooking what is so clearly right in front of him, Colter passes off Regan’s outbursts of emotion on her recent trauma. Colter can feel Regan—his one exception to his retribution—slipping out of his arms, but fighting her to stay with him may not be an option.
Colter and Finn are now at odds, and there is a newly formed alliance between Kaiden and Exile Max. Will this group of Collectors be enough to fight off the new enemies and old threats that emerge in the battle for souls when Regan is broken, and their group is on the brink of self-destruction?
The lost will be found, the Collectors will be exiled, and the Elites will reign.
*Due to mature content and adult themes, Relinquish is recommended for 18+.
Purchase Links for Book #1 - Retribution
Start the series for just 99 Cents!
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/m9cml6m
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/ouve6qf
Smashwords: http://tinyurl.com/kfn58lm
June 7, 2014
Book Review: Moon Child, by Tracy E. Banghart
Moon Child
Tracy E. Banghart
Initial Thoughts: Awesome!
My Rating: Easily 5 stars!Summary:
Diana Calvert is so over high school. Who cares if Olivia hates her? And David needs to forget about having a crush on her STAT. Even Emma’s crazy fashion choices can’t keep Diana entertained. All she can hope for is a dance scholarship to a college as far away as possible from too-small, too-boring, too-nothing-ever-happens New Freedom, PA.
Then Diana meets Nicholas Woodhaven. He’s pale, angry…yet weirdly charming. The more time they spend together, the more she wonders who – or what – he really is. Because he isn’t anything like the other guys she knows. Not with the whole only-going-out-at-night thing. And living with his creepy aunt. And not going to school.
Just when Diana thinks she’s got Nicholas all figured out, people in her small, nothing-ever-happens town start dying. She has to wonder – can she trust him? And even more alarming – could she be next?
A murder mystery with a paranormal twist, Moon Child is best read under the covers with a flashlight...if you dare!
My thoughts:Wow, I was blown away by this book. The characters real and very-well drawn, I could picture each and every one of them going through their lives. Emotions were spot on.
Diana is so easy to relate to. Small town girl who wants to get out of dodge before the I's are dotted on the words "eighteenth birthday". Nicholas is charming in his bad-boy mysterious ways, very swoon-worthy for the younger crowd.
Pacing and plotting are terrific. I read this book wondering the whole time who was behind the murders, what was up with Nicholas and crazy-as-a-coot grandmother, wanted to kick one or two people to the curb (especially nosy, over-bearing mamas. Grrr!), and just wanted to keep on reading!
If you think you know the answers to these questions, think again. You won't know until you read it.
Tracy E. Banghart
Initial Thoughts: Awesome!
My Rating: Easily 5 stars!Summary:Diana Calvert is so over high school. Who cares if Olivia hates her? And David needs to forget about having a crush on her STAT. Even Emma’s crazy fashion choices can’t keep Diana entertained. All she can hope for is a dance scholarship to a college as far away as possible from too-small, too-boring, too-nothing-ever-happens New Freedom, PA.
Then Diana meets Nicholas Woodhaven. He’s pale, angry…yet weirdly charming. The more time they spend together, the more she wonders who – or what – he really is. Because he isn’t anything like the other guys she knows. Not with the whole only-going-out-at-night thing. And living with his creepy aunt. And not going to school.
Just when Diana thinks she’s got Nicholas all figured out, people in her small, nothing-ever-happens town start dying. She has to wonder – can she trust him? And even more alarming – could she be next?
A murder mystery with a paranormal twist, Moon Child is best read under the covers with a flashlight...if you dare!
My thoughts:Wow, I was blown away by this book. The characters real and very-well drawn, I could picture each and every one of them going through their lives. Emotions were spot on.
Diana is so easy to relate to. Small town girl who wants to get out of dodge before the I's are dotted on the words "eighteenth birthday". Nicholas is charming in his bad-boy mysterious ways, very swoon-worthy for the younger crowd.
Pacing and plotting are terrific. I read this book wondering the whole time who was behind the murders, what was up with Nicholas and crazy-as-a-coot grandmother, wanted to kick one or two people to the curb (especially nosy, over-bearing mamas. Grrr!), and just wanted to keep on reading!
If you think you know the answers to these questions, think again. You won't know until you read it.
June 6, 2014
Book Review: Nathanial's Window, by Peazy Monellon
Nathanial's Window
Peazy Monellon
Initial Thoughts: Gripping ghost story.
My Rating: 5 stars!Summary:
Tommy Cooper’s life is hellish…that is, until it gets worse. His stepfather can't stand to look at him, his mother is dying of cancer, and he's well on his way to nowhere.
To make matters worse, there's a monster loose in the small town that he lives in and children have been disappearing for years. As the cold-case files stack up on the local constabulary's desk, it seems this cold-blooded murderer will never be found.
But Tommy has one thing that puts 'paid' to all of it--he has Beth. Tommy Cooper has been in love with Beth Riley for as long as he can remember; at least since Beth's seventh birthday party when he accidentally hit her in the face with a snowball, knocking one of her molars out and making her cry.
And Beth loves Tommy right back. Or does she?
A series of devastating losses later and Tommy’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. Again. When he and his friend, Nicky, desecrate a tomb in an all but forgotten part of the cemetery, they unleash a power they don’t have the ability to reckon with. Tommy and Nicky soon find themselves trapped in a nightmare, caught between a child molester, the town cop, and a demon. It seems like there’s no place left to go, except jail or dead!
Hell was just the easy part—the part before Jesse Eades came back.
My Thoughts:This is one of those books that pulls you in from the start. The pacing is great, the voice is great, and you have a bad-ass, super angry ghost! What else can you ask for?
I like all the characters in this book. They're very real, well-drawn, and you are right there with them as they go through all their angst. And for Beth and Tommy, this is real angst, not teen drama.
OMG, you feel for Tommy and you ride this rocky road with him and you keep thinking, poor kid, what else can go wrong? It can't get any worse from here!
It can.
It does.
And then you hit the ending.
Must-read for ghost story lovers!
Peazy Monellon
Initial Thoughts: Gripping ghost story.
My Rating: 5 stars!Summary:Tommy Cooper’s life is hellish…that is, until it gets worse. His stepfather can't stand to look at him, his mother is dying of cancer, and he's well on his way to nowhere.
To make matters worse, there's a monster loose in the small town that he lives in and children have been disappearing for years. As the cold-case files stack up on the local constabulary's desk, it seems this cold-blooded murderer will never be found.
But Tommy has one thing that puts 'paid' to all of it--he has Beth. Tommy Cooper has been in love with Beth Riley for as long as he can remember; at least since Beth's seventh birthday party when he accidentally hit her in the face with a snowball, knocking one of her molars out and making her cry.
And Beth loves Tommy right back. Or does she?
A series of devastating losses later and Tommy’s in the wrong place at the wrong time. Again. When he and his friend, Nicky, desecrate a tomb in an all but forgotten part of the cemetery, they unleash a power they don’t have the ability to reckon with. Tommy and Nicky soon find themselves trapped in a nightmare, caught between a child molester, the town cop, and a demon. It seems like there’s no place left to go, except jail or dead!
Hell was just the easy part—the part before Jesse Eades came back.
My Thoughts:This is one of those books that pulls you in from the start. The pacing is great, the voice is great, and you have a bad-ass, super angry ghost! What else can you ask for?
I like all the characters in this book. They're very real, well-drawn, and you are right there with them as they go through all their angst. And for Beth and Tommy, this is real angst, not teen drama.
OMG, you feel for Tommy and you ride this rocky road with him and you keep thinking, poor kid, what else can go wrong? It can't get any worse from here!
It can.
It does.
And then you hit the ending.
Must-read for ghost story lovers!
May 31, 2014
Book Review: The Light Within Me, by Carly Fall
The Light Within Me
Carly Fall
Initial Thoughts: Hot Damn!
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!Summary:
When Abby and Noah meet, there is an explosive attraction between them that neither can deny...
As a shy, awkward, social misfit, Abby has gone her whole life feeling as though she's different from everyone else and she simply doesn't fit in well with society as a whole. She longs to feel a real connection with someone, and she finally does when she meets Noah.
Unbeknownst to Abby, Noah is from another world and his sole purpose is to hunt down the evil of his people that was unleashed on Earth hundreds of years ago. He's certain he isn't going to be able to return to his home, and anger and the need for revenge are his constant companions. His focus has been eradicating the evil and making them pay for taking his life on his world away from him.
Noah tries desperately to fight his attraction to Abby so he can keep his focus on his mission. But when Abby gets dragged into the evil and mayhem from Noah's world, he realizes that maybe with Abby he can find a home here on Earth...if he can save her in time.
My Thoughts:OK, first let's talk about this cover. Yum-me. I could take a slice of that cake.
Second, let's talk about my love-fest. Yes. Love. Fest. There is *so* much to love about this book. The voice is magnificent. This author gets you to that level of emotion that is so missing from many books. From the first page, you are right inside Noah's head. And I mean right inside. The writing is so natural, you really think it's him talking to you, telling a story.
Abby is also a great character. So well drawn and believable. The author takes time with her emotions and thoughts, building up believable reactions to everything thrown at her. And there's this one scene where Abby's in danger, OMG, I was on the edge of my seat!
The ensemble cast is dee-lish-us. All these savior dudes are hunka hunka burning love-fests. It's an orgy of beefcake. Not that I've ever partaken in an orgy (or have I? LOL ), but if I were to partake, I'd partake with these guys. Not since the Lords Of the Underworld series have I met a more delightful cast of swoon-worthy characters.
So, what drew this rating down from a 5 star review?1. Lots of grammatical errors. Onesies or twosies I'll deal with. It was almost as if this author was writing so fast to get the words out, she missed some stuff. Hell, if I were writing this book, I'd be writing fast too!2. The wrap up left a lot being desired. OK, so we have this situation where things aren't looking good, and the answer to fix it all is love. Got it. But then, we skip ahead when it's all said and done, and I was like, WFT? *HOW* did they fix it? It was like the author took a short-cut, or didn't know how this fixin' truly worked, so she glossed over it instead of writing about it. I felt a little cheated, like she'd short-sheeted my bed.3. I'm jealous I didn't write it. OK, that one doesn't really count, and had no impact on my rating. Just saying.
Seriously, if you like PNR romance, read this book. I'm continuing with the series, and adding it my Series to Keep Reading list.
Carly Fall
Initial Thoughts: Hot Damn!
My Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!Summary:When Abby and Noah meet, there is an explosive attraction between them that neither can deny...
As a shy, awkward, social misfit, Abby has gone her whole life feeling as though she's different from everyone else and she simply doesn't fit in well with society as a whole. She longs to feel a real connection with someone, and she finally does when she meets Noah.
Unbeknownst to Abby, Noah is from another world and his sole purpose is to hunt down the evil of his people that was unleashed on Earth hundreds of years ago. He's certain he isn't going to be able to return to his home, and anger and the need for revenge are his constant companions. His focus has been eradicating the evil and making them pay for taking his life on his world away from him.
Noah tries desperately to fight his attraction to Abby so he can keep his focus on his mission. But when Abby gets dragged into the evil and mayhem from Noah's world, he realizes that maybe with Abby he can find a home here on Earth...if he can save her in time.
My Thoughts:OK, first let's talk about this cover. Yum-me. I could take a slice of that cake.
Second, let's talk about my love-fest. Yes. Love. Fest. There is *so* much to love about this book. The voice is magnificent. This author gets you to that level of emotion that is so missing from many books. From the first page, you are right inside Noah's head. And I mean right inside. The writing is so natural, you really think it's him talking to you, telling a story.
Abby is also a great character. So well drawn and believable. The author takes time with her emotions and thoughts, building up believable reactions to everything thrown at her. And there's this one scene where Abby's in danger, OMG, I was on the edge of my seat!
The ensemble cast is dee-lish-us. All these savior dudes are hunka hunka burning love-fests. It's an orgy of beefcake. Not that I've ever partaken in an orgy (or have I? LOL ), but if I were to partake, I'd partake with these guys. Not since the Lords Of the Underworld series have I met a more delightful cast of swoon-worthy characters.
So, what drew this rating down from a 5 star review?1. Lots of grammatical errors. Onesies or twosies I'll deal with. It was almost as if this author was writing so fast to get the words out, she missed some stuff. Hell, if I were writing this book, I'd be writing fast too!2. The wrap up left a lot being desired. OK, so we have this situation where things aren't looking good, and the answer to fix it all is love. Got it. But then, we skip ahead when it's all said and done, and I was like, WFT? *HOW* did they fix it? It was like the author took a short-cut, or didn't know how this fixin' truly worked, so she glossed over it instead of writing about it. I felt a little cheated, like she'd short-sheeted my bed.3. I'm jealous I didn't write it. OK, that one doesn't really count, and had no impact on my rating. Just saying.
Seriously, if you like PNR romance, read this book. I'm continuing with the series, and adding it my Series to Keep Reading list.
May 24, 2014
Book Review: Fearless, by Tawdra Kandle
Fearless
Tawdra Kandle
Initial Thoughts: Insta-love-itus
My Rating: 3.5 StarsSummary:
Tasmyn Vaughn didn't expect much when her dad's job moved them to a small town in Florida; it was just another new school. But there is more to King than meets the eye, and soon Tasmyn's ability to hear others' thoughts is the least of her worries. Entangled in a web of first love, quirky and secretive townsfolk, magic and blood rituals, she discovers the town's secrets aren't just bizarre, they're deadly.
My Thoughts:I really toyed with my rating. On the one hand, the story moved well, the characters were well drawn, and it was pretty well written. On the other hand: I hate insta-love. It's just not believable in my book, unless the author makes it believable, i.e., give me a reason to believe it. In this case, it didn't work for me. But for those of you who believe in love at first sight with no cosmic explanation...go right ahead and disagree with my thoughts and rating, cuz you'll love this book!
So, like I said, this book was actually well-laid out, the plot moved fairly well (though started extremely slow...I'm all for the slow build-up, but sometimes things gotta move along, ya know what I'm sayin'?), and things were very descriptive. You saw, felt, smelled, got all the senses going.
Tasmyn is like-able, and her growth is what's to be expected from a teenage girl with over-protective parental units. I like how she took control over her life in the end. Atta girl! Loved the bitches, I could just picture those mean girls raging through the high school halls. The science teacher was deliciously mysterious and creepy.
Michael, her insta-love connection, is a nice guy, works hard, struggles sometimes in school with some subjects (which I liked, no one can be too perfect, otherwise - gag!). Another well-drawn character.
Here's my problem. Everything was insta-good. Tasmyn and Michael? Insta-love. Tasmyn and his parents? Insta-love. The good things here were that her parents weren't so quick to jump on the love caboose with Michael, and his sister wasn't down with the whole gee-she-can-read-your-thoughts-but-don't-worry-she-works-real-hard-to-not-listen-but-hey!-no-promises-there sitch. Good for her. Can't have everything be too easy! LOL
Other minor annoyances: 1. If her parents are so freaking over-protective, the first, and I mean FIRST, thing they'd do is buy her a cell phone so they can connect any time. Not buying the fact that she didn't have one.2. The set-up at the end was obviously a set-up. But Michael had his phone turned off...who does that? No teenager I know, so this was an obvious hurdle the author threw in to get us to the main event.3. There's something going on with the insta-love connection, since it seems to be a family trait on Michael's side. I would have bought this whole thing if there was something behind that, and maybe there is, but it's never touched on.4. The wrap-up was kinda quick.
Overall, the book was good, just a little too many coincidences and obvious in the plotting phases.
Tawdra Kandle
Initial Thoughts: Insta-love-itus
My Rating: 3.5 StarsSummary:Tasmyn Vaughn didn't expect much when her dad's job moved them to a small town in Florida; it was just another new school. But there is more to King than meets the eye, and soon Tasmyn's ability to hear others' thoughts is the least of her worries. Entangled in a web of first love, quirky and secretive townsfolk, magic and blood rituals, she discovers the town's secrets aren't just bizarre, they're deadly.
My Thoughts:I really toyed with my rating. On the one hand, the story moved well, the characters were well drawn, and it was pretty well written. On the other hand: I hate insta-love. It's just not believable in my book, unless the author makes it believable, i.e., give me a reason to believe it. In this case, it didn't work for me. But for those of you who believe in love at first sight with no cosmic explanation...go right ahead and disagree with my thoughts and rating, cuz you'll love this book!
So, like I said, this book was actually well-laid out, the plot moved fairly well (though started extremely slow...I'm all for the slow build-up, but sometimes things gotta move along, ya know what I'm sayin'?), and things were very descriptive. You saw, felt, smelled, got all the senses going.Tasmyn is like-able, and her growth is what's to be expected from a teenage girl with over-protective parental units. I like how she took control over her life in the end. Atta girl! Loved the bitches, I could just picture those mean girls raging through the high school halls. The science teacher was deliciously mysterious and creepy.
Michael, her insta-love connection, is a nice guy, works hard, struggles sometimes in school with some subjects (which I liked, no one can be too perfect, otherwise - gag!). Another well-drawn character.
Here's my problem. Everything was insta-good. Tasmyn and Michael? Insta-love. Tasmyn and his parents? Insta-love. The good things here were that her parents weren't so quick to jump on the love caboose with Michael, and his sister wasn't down with the whole gee-she-can-read-your-thoughts-but-don't-worry-she-works-real-hard-to-not-listen-but-hey!-no-promises-there sitch. Good for her. Can't have everything be too easy! LOL
Other minor annoyances: 1. If her parents are so freaking over-protective, the first, and I mean FIRST, thing they'd do is buy her a cell phone so they can connect any time. Not buying the fact that she didn't have one.2. The set-up at the end was obviously a set-up. But Michael had his phone turned off...who does that? No teenager I know, so this was an obvious hurdle the author threw in to get us to the main event.3. There's something going on with the insta-love connection, since it seems to be a family trait on Michael's side. I would have bought this whole thing if there was something behind that, and maybe there is, but it's never touched on.4. The wrap-up was kinda quick.
Overall, the book was good, just a little too many coincidences and obvious in the plotting phases.
April 25, 2014
Book Review: Ever Shade, by Alexia Purdy
Ever Shade
Alexia Purdy
Initial Thoughts: Likeable Book
My Rating: 3.5 StarsSummary:
For Shade, a chance meeting with a powerful Teleen faery warrior who wields electrical currents and blue fires along his skin, has her joining him on a treacherous mission for the good Seelie Faerie Court across the land of Faerie. Magic and malice abound and nothing is what it really seems to be. The evil Unseelie Queen and her treacherous allies are around every corner as Shade makes her way across the breathtaking landscapes of the world of Faerie, which exists alongside the mundane human world.
Shade discovers her own uncharted magic and meets some of the most powerful warriors in Faerie while battling evil dryads, conniving Teleen guards and challenges on her life with every step in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.
My Thoughts:Okay, there are some things I really liked about this book, and some things I didn't like so much. Eventually, the good out-ranked the bad, which made this an enjoyable read that toward the end, I discovered that I was looking forward to picking it up again to see how it all turned out. Good thing, yes? Yes.
So, I'm liking the faeries here. Faeries interest me because they seem so sweet and beautiful but they have these dark sides. Or, many of them do, not all. What I especially like about this ensemble cast is that as I was reading, I was never really sure if everyone was as good as they seemed. While in the end it appears to be the case, I think there's room in future books to prove me wrong. And maybe I'm just suspicious by nature. Maybe I was a little disappointed to *not* find evil in the midst of this adventure. :)
I thought the plot moved fairly well, though the ending came a little quick. The world-building was pretty good, too. I could easily picture everything through the descriptive writing.
I love the name Shade. However, I found her crying annoying at the end. I wanted to yell, "Buck up and got on with it already!" I liked who she was paired up with, because to be honest, it was *not* who I was expecting. I like being proved wrong when I'm reading. I like saying, "Huh, didn't see that one coming."
The dialogue throughout was not convincing. To be honest, I thought much of it sounded a little childish, especially with faeries who are centuries old, to me their speech should be distinct and elegant and wise, but it fell very short of that. Jack, one of faery warriors, is probably the most believable as far as dialogue. He was pretty well drawn.
All in all, despite some of the setbacks (this could really use a good editing scrub), I found myself eager to find out what was going to happen in the end, so the book did pick up in the home stretch. I would have liked a little more wrap-up with all the characters, and after all the trials Shade goes through on her quest, the end seemed a little easy and quick. The book had that "first book" feel to it, so I'm planning on picking up the 2nd and see how much the author has grown in her writing, as I found a lot of potential in the story.
Alexia Purdy
Initial Thoughts: Likeable Book
My Rating: 3.5 StarsSummary:For Shade, a chance meeting with a powerful Teleen faery warrior who wields electrical currents and blue fires along his skin, has her joining him on a treacherous mission for the good Seelie Faerie Court across the land of Faerie. Magic and malice abound and nothing is what it really seems to be. The evil Unseelie Queen and her treacherous allies are around every corner as Shade makes her way across the breathtaking landscapes of the world of Faerie, which exists alongside the mundane human world.
Shade discovers her own uncharted magic and meets some of the most powerful warriors in Faerie while battling evil dryads, conniving Teleen guards and challenges on her life with every step in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.
My Thoughts:Okay, there are some things I really liked about this book, and some things I didn't like so much. Eventually, the good out-ranked the bad, which made this an enjoyable read that toward the end, I discovered that I was looking forward to picking it up again to see how it all turned out. Good thing, yes? Yes.
So, I'm liking the faeries here. Faeries interest me because they seem so sweet and beautiful but they have these dark sides. Or, many of them do, not all. What I especially like about this ensemble cast is that as I was reading, I was never really sure if everyone was as good as they seemed. While in the end it appears to be the case, I think there's room in future books to prove me wrong. And maybe I'm just suspicious by nature. Maybe I was a little disappointed to *not* find evil in the midst of this adventure. :)
I thought the plot moved fairly well, though the ending came a little quick. The world-building was pretty good, too. I could easily picture everything through the descriptive writing.
I love the name Shade. However, I found her crying annoying at the end. I wanted to yell, "Buck up and got on with it already!" I liked who she was paired up with, because to be honest, it was *not* who I was expecting. I like being proved wrong when I'm reading. I like saying, "Huh, didn't see that one coming."
The dialogue throughout was not convincing. To be honest, I thought much of it sounded a little childish, especially with faeries who are centuries old, to me their speech should be distinct and elegant and wise, but it fell very short of that. Jack, one of faery warriors, is probably the most believable as far as dialogue. He was pretty well drawn.
All in all, despite some of the setbacks (this could really use a good editing scrub), I found myself eager to find out what was going to happen in the end, so the book did pick up in the home stretch. I would have liked a little more wrap-up with all the characters, and after all the trials Shade goes through on her quest, the end seemed a little easy and quick. The book had that "first book" feel to it, so I'm planning on picking up the 2nd and see how much the author has grown in her writing, as I found a lot of potential in the story.
April 12, 2014
Book Review: Dead Radiance, by T.G. Ayer
Dead Radiance
T.G. Ayer
Initial Thoughts: Got me going!!!
My Rating: 4 Stars!Summary:
Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras — Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.
The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.
Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?
My Thoughts:Okay, so I admit, when I first started the book, I didn't think I was going to like it. I was a bit confused with some of the present/past bouncing, and sometimes I didn't know if we were in the present or the past or a flashback or what, and all I could think was, "Oh boy, is the whole book gonna be like this?"
Well, it wasn't. And it was well worth getting through that rocky start.
So you have Bryn, a likeable foster kid robotically moseying through her days, watching her best friend, Josh, glow and then die, and then dealing with the brunt of the other girls who blame her for (a) being Josh's friend and (b) being alive.
Those bitches!
Anyhoo, along comes Aiden, sexily dark and mysterious with an obvious Einstein-sized brain and a seeming attraction to Bryn. Gotta love these 2 characters.
Gotta love the plot, too. So Bryn's life becomes inter-woven with Norse mythology. Valkryies. Asgard. Valhalla. King Odin. His wife, Frigga. Freya. And not let's forget that little devil, Loki. I'm not all familiar with Norse mythology, so this as all very interesting to me, and fresh. If there are boo boo's in the interweaving and retelling, I wouldn't know. And I certainly don't care. I was so caught up in the plot and the betrayals and the sniping and the mischievous antics that it was all good fun.
The end is cliff-hanger worthy. Definitely makes you want to pick up the next book and continue the story, which I shall do!
T.G. Ayer
Initial Thoughts: Got me going!!!
My Rating: 4 Stars!Summary:Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras — Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.
The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.
Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?
My Thoughts:Okay, so I admit, when I first started the book, I didn't think I was going to like it. I was a bit confused with some of the present/past bouncing, and sometimes I didn't know if we were in the present or the past or a flashback or what, and all I could think was, "Oh boy, is the whole book gonna be like this?"
Well, it wasn't. And it was well worth getting through that rocky start.
So you have Bryn, a likeable foster kid robotically moseying through her days, watching her best friend, Josh, glow and then die, and then dealing with the brunt of the other girls who blame her for (a) being Josh's friend and (b) being alive.
Those bitches!
Anyhoo, along comes Aiden, sexily dark and mysterious with an obvious Einstein-sized brain and a seeming attraction to Bryn. Gotta love these 2 characters.
Gotta love the plot, too. So Bryn's life becomes inter-woven with Norse mythology. Valkryies. Asgard. Valhalla. King Odin. His wife, Frigga. Freya. And not let's forget that little devil, Loki. I'm not all familiar with Norse mythology, so this as all very interesting to me, and fresh. If there are boo boo's in the interweaving and retelling, I wouldn't know. And I certainly don't care. I was so caught up in the plot and the betrayals and the sniping and the mischievous antics that it was all good fun.
The end is cliff-hanger worthy. Definitely makes you want to pick up the next book and continue the story, which I shall do!
