Lisa Marie Pottgen's Blog, page 11
April 1, 2015
Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Rachel’s Deception by Karen Ann Hopkins
Karen Ann Hopkins returns with a gripping new book in the YA Temptation series. The powerful family saga continues with Noah’s little Sister in:
Rachel’s Deception
Mark Rachel’s Deception on Goodreads
Publication: May 2015
Growing up Amish is difficult…but leaving it behind is even harder.
Noah was Amish…Rose wasn’t. Being together should have been impossible. But somehow they found a way to make it work. They are finally a family, but their happily-ever-after is still a long off. Will Rose and her friends be able to force real change?
Karen Ann Hopkins returns with a gripping new book in the YA Temptation series. The powerful family saga continues with Rachel’s Deception, as events spiral out of control in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview. And Rachel Miller has her own secrets to hide. Noah’s younger sister has been living a double life. That is, until Justin Cameron, Rose’s little brother, catches her in the act. Rachel is not the obedient Amish girl that her sister was, and her rebelliousness takes her to a very dangerous world. A world that only her true friends can help her escape from.
As Rachel questions all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment, Rose discovers what it really means to be shunned. And an evil shadow looms on the horizon, threatening not only Rose, but everyone she holds dear.
Find Karen Ann Hopkins
Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter
Facebook Fan Page
About Karen Ann Hopkins
You can visit Karen Ann Hopkins at her website.
Karen Ann Hopkins resides in northern Kentucky with her family on a farm that boasts a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats. Karen’s main job is home schooling the kids, but she finds time to give riding lessons, coach a youth equestrian drill team, and of course, write. She was inspired to create her first book, Temptation, by the Amish community she lived in. The experiential knowledge she gained through her interactions with her neighbors drove her to create the story of the star-crossed lovers, Rose and Noah.
Karen grew up about a mile from Lake Ontario in Upstate New York. She was bitten by the horse bug at the age of five, and after diligently taking riding lessons for several years, was rewarded with her first horse at the age of eleven. The feisty horse’s name was Lady, a Quarter Horse-Thoroughbred cross, who became Karen’s steadfast companion. Through the years, the constant force in her life was horses. Eventually, she found her place as a riding instructor herself. Before accepting her fate in the barnyard, she worked a short stint as a paralegal, traveled abroad, and guided tourists on horseback riding tours in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
Karen is currently working on her Amish mystery series, Serenity’s Plain Secrets, along with the YA paranormal/fantasy series, The Wings of War. Karen is also excited to announce the Temptation series has been optioned for TV by Pilgrim Studios and is available on Audible.
The Temptation Series
by Karen Ann Hopkins
Published by HarlequinTEEN
Temptation (Book 1) on Goodreads |
Get a Copy Amazon | B&N | Indiebound
Your heart misleads you.
That’s what my friends and family say.
But I love Noah.
And he loves me.
We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other’s arms.
It should be
ROSE & NOAH
forever, easy.
But it won’t be.
Because he’s Amish.
And I’m not.
Belonging (Book 2) on Goodreads
Get a Copy Amazon | B&N | Indiebound
I left everything I knew behind.
But it was worth it. He was worth it.
No one thought an ordinary girl like me would last two minutes living with the Amish, not even me. There are a lot more rules and a lot less freedom, and I miss my family and the life I once had. Worst of all, Noah and I aren’t even allowed to see each other. Not until I’ve proven myself.
If I can find a way to make it work, we’ll be NOAH & ROSE together forever.
But not everybody believes this is where I belong
Forever (Book 3) on Goodreads |
Get a Copy Amazon | B&N | Indiebound
All I want is my happily-ever-after.
That’s all I’ve wanted since meeting Noah Miller.
From the day we met, the world has tried to keep Noah and me from being together, but now that I’m carrying his child, no one will be able to tear us apart. Or so I hope. But Noah and I have made some mistakes along the way, and the consequences are impacting the people we love. Worse, there’s a storm on the horizon, and it’s sure to cause serious devastation.
If we can get through this, we’ll finally be Rose and Noah; a family, forever.
But first we have to survive the road ahead. And happily-ever-after is a long way off
The Temptation Series on Audible!
Here is some exciting news for all those audiobook lovers out there: The Temptation Series will be available April 21st and you can Pre-Oder your copy right now! Listen to a sample on audible.
Karen’s other Books
Adult Mystery, Serenity’s Plain Secrets
LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER (book 1): Available e-book now and in print March 2015
WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD (book 2): Available e-book now and in print March 2015
SECRETS IN THE GRAVE (book 3) Available in paperback and e-book in December 2015
YA Paranormal, Wings of War
EMBERS (book 1): Available in e-book now and in print March 2015
GAIA (book 2): Available in paperback and e-book in November 2015
Tour Details
Karen will be on tour with Rachel’s Deception in May (May 18th – June 5th)
March 31, 2015
Review: Speed Reading: The Ultimate Speed Reading Guide- How to Double or Triple your Reading Speed in just 7 Hours
Title: Speed Reading: The Ultimate Speed Reading Guide – How to Double or Triple Your Reading Speed in Just 7 Hours
Author: Mike Pakulski
Page Count: 23
Where I got it: Kindle Freebie
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 2.99
Format I read it in: Kindle
Description/Blurb:
This strategy will not only speed up your reading ability, it will also increase your comprehension of whatever you read.
You will be able to read 5 times faster than before with the help of this guide. Your career will be boosted and you will be able to take out more time for other activities. Reading is important but sometimes it is more important to read things quickly. This guide will guarantee that you will be able to read at least 400-500 words per minute. This is not a tough target to achieve.
A Preview of What you are going to Learn
Building a Daily Speed reading plan
Decreasing Stress of work and reading more
Setting up an improvement schedule to increase speed of reading by 5 times
Mistakes that most people make while speed reading (specific information)
Hand Movements that will increase focus and attention
Taking on difficult tasks as challenges to speed up reading
Don’t be afraid of laboring over books as your dark days are going to end soon
How will you benefit from this book? You will have all the information that you need to know to increase your reading speed. You won’t have to compile instructions as all the instructions are given in step-by-step format. One book is enough for you, you don’t have to research for other books of the same niche. Think about it; you will be able to take on new projects with the help of your fast reading power. You will be able to take out more leisure time and complete more work than other people. Don’t you want that?
Get your Copy Now!
This book is surely worth more than $2.99 as it has quality material but this is a limited time offer for you guys. You can download this book with a reduced price of $0.99!
Simply click on BUY button to order and download your copy. You can read this book using Kindle, Computer or Tablet.
Tags: speed reading, speed read, speed reading techniques, speed reading tips, how to read fast, speed reading course, speed reading training, speed reading kindle, speed reading books, how to increase reading speed, learn to speed read, speed reading exercises, how to improve reading speed, increase reading speed
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My Thoughts:
Speed Reading: The Ultimate Speed Reading Guide- How to Double or Triple your Reading Speed in just 7 Hours by MIke Pakulski
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Thankfully, I found this book for free and it was very brief. The problem with that, of course, is that it was too brief to contain any really useful information. I picked it up out of sheer curiosity more than anything. I always wondered how so many people read more than one book in a day. I consider myself a quick reader, usually reading at least 2 books a week when time permits, but I know that there has to be a secret, so thought I would give this book a try.
It read more like an outline like one would get in a college course, with very little actual useful information contained within the pages. It will give you a general overview of methods to improve reading speed, but no real information on how to implement those methods or how to track the improvement. It was a good concept but the execution was seriously lacking.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I acquired this book of my own free will. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
March 29, 2015
ARC Review: Hero Complex by Margaux Froley
Title: Hero Complex: A Keaton School Novel
Author: Margaux Froley
Publisher: Soho Teen
Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Page Count: 224
Where I got it: Netgalley
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 17.99
Format I read it in: eARC
Description/Blurb:
70 years after Pearl Harbor drew the US into World War II, a sinister secret—remnants of covert research done by the Army—haunts the Keaton School.
Less than two months have passed since Devon Mackintosh uncovered the truth about the apparent suicide of Keaton’s golden boy and her unrequited love, Hutch. But solving Hutch’s murder has put all eyes on her in the small Keaton School community. When she is knocked unconscious on a New Year’s Eve cruise, it’s clear that her life is in danger, too. In the aftermath of the attack, Devon must attend a weekly meeting with Dr. Jocelyn Hsu, a shrink who refuses to believe Devon’s account of the “accident.”With nowhere else to go, Devon turns to the only people she can trust: Hutch’s terminally ill grandfather, Reed, and his heirs, Bodhi and Raven. Before Reed dies, he gives Devon a mysterious journal from his youth, revealing a secret pact among three powerful families. In the face of very real threats, Devon fights to unearth the truth Reed’s enemies are still willing to kill for.
My Thoughts:
Hero Complex by Margaux Froley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What can I say? I am a sucker for high school drama. Only, something about Devon just draws me in more than most.
Escape theory was such a roller coaster ride, and Hero Complex is more of the same. There is action, adventure, romance, and even a bit of family drama.
The auther once again managed to capture the essence of high school life, along with the drama that goes with some family dynamics that will hit home for a lot of people reading it. This is a fun, fast read that will keep the readers on their toes and guessing until the very end. I never saw the plot twists in this one coming.
While some of the sequences and scenes will seem to the less discerning reader as just filler, once you reach the end you will realize that it was all necessary. It all played into the suspense that made this such a good read.
I highly recommend this series, and cannot wait to see what comes next. I really hope there is another book.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher and/or author via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
March 14, 2015
Black, White and Read Presents: Music to Write by, My Soundtrack for The Red Road by Jenni Wiltz
Music to Write By: My Soundtrack for The Red Road
If your life had a soundtrack, what song would it start with? What song captures your first kiss, the day realized your parents were only human, or the day someone close to you almost lost their life?
For my latest book, The Red Road, I spent a lot of time picking the songs for its playlist. I knew the story would go to some dark places that, in real life, I’d never want to think about. I figured that if I listened to a song that captured the feeling I wanted, I’d have an easier time writing those emotional scenes. As I wrote, my playlist grew to 64 songs. Check it out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm6j4gpJDvpqjLMCpdP-CDKTR8YDw2R7.
Breaking the Law
In the book, 16-year-old Emma’s family is devastated by an act of gang violence. Her gentle dad has never done anything but try to support them. When he’s almost killed by a gang member, Emma’s instinct tells her she has to do something. That’s why I chose “Breaking the Law” by Emeli Sandé as the lead-off track for the playlist.
Sandé is a British R&B singer, and in this song, she tells someone she loves that even if she has to steal something to make him smile again, she’ll do it. That’s how Emma feels about her dad. She can’t stand to see him hurt, and she’s willing to do anything – even hunt down the gang member responsible – if that’s what it takes to make him feel whole again.
Take Me Home, Country Roads
If you check out the playlist, it’s a pretty weird mix of genres. I grew up on country music (outlaws rule!), veered into pop music as a teen, and now listen to a lot of alternative and indie rock. To acknowledge those country roots, I included Sugarland’s “Baby Girl” and Montgomery Gentry’s “Something to Be Proud Of.”
“Baby Girl” is a song about making your parents proud. It’s about a daughter whose parents support her while she chases her dream – and when she makes it big, she pays them back for all the love and care they gave her. That song fits Emma’s mentality and mine. Someday, I hope I can give my parents as much as they’ve given me! “Something to Be Proud Of” talks about the pride and honor you can take in doing something as simple as keeping food on your family’s table. That’s exactly what Emma’s dad tries to do when he takes a job as a census worker—and gets sent into East Malo Verde, the most dangerous part of town. He doesn’t back down from a challenge, and I imagined him listening to this song every day on the way to work.
If country isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry! I’ve also got plenty of rock songs from Kings of Leon, The Joy Formidable, Wolf Parade, Band of Horses, and Arcade Fire. For those who like pop music, I’ve got tracks from Adele, Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson, and Lana Del Rey. There’s a little something for everyone, and each song conveys a mood that fits a part of the story. I hope you check out the playlist and the book, and if you’re curious about any of the songs, just ask and I’ll be happy to tell you more!
JARR SAYS: I have some rather widely eclectic music tastes myself. I love the variety of the list! And that Sugar Land song is one of my favorites!
About the Author:
Jenni Wiltz writes literary and historical fiction, thrillers, romance, and creative nonfiction. Both her fiction and creative nonfiction have won national writing awards. She holds undergraduate degrees in English and history and an MA in creative writing. Her work has appeared in Gargoyle, The Portland Review, the Sacramento News & Review, and several small-press anthologies. When she’s not writing, she enjoys sewing, running, and genealogical research. She lives in Pilot Hill, California.
Visit her at her website, JenniWiltz.com.
About the Book:
Honor student Emma knows more about galvanic cell diagrams than guns. College is the only way out of her gang-ridden hometown, but her parents can’t afford it.
When her unemployed dad lands a job as a census taker, things start looking up. But he’s sent deep into East Malo Verde, where gang members rule the streets and fear anyone with a badge who knocks on doors. One night, a gang member mistakes him for a cop and beats him savagely, leaving him for dead.
Her best friends, her mom, and the detective assigned to the case try to convince her to focus on school. But school won’t prepare her for a world that ignores a crime against a good man. Emma must decide what’s more important: doing what’s expected, or doing what she feels is right, even if it leads her down a dark and dangerous path of revenge. Even if it plunges her into the heart of the gang violence threatening to tear her family apart. (356pp, ISBN #9781942348009)
Purchase at Amazon $3.99 Kindle, $13.13 Paperback (Prime Eligible), Smashwords $3.99
Entry-Form
March 11, 2015
Black, White and Read Presents a Review of The Red Road by Jenni Wiltz with Giveaway
The Red Road by Jenni Wiltz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am having a hard time writing this review without spoilers but I am going to try very hard to accomplish just that. Be warned, I may not succeed so proceed with reading at your own risk.
Gang wars are real and frightening and something people who don’t have to live with it prefer not to think about. I am glad to see a young adult novel that faces something real for once. There tends to be a school of thought that wants to shield young people from this kind of reality. Ms. Wiltz is not among them.
This bill will rip at your emotions and, at times, make it hard to breathe.
It’s a rare thing to have a young adult novel touch on something that is so raw, so true to life. This is the kind of book you can’t shake off, even long after you have set it down and walked away.
I find this story sticking with me, even now. I want to cry for the characters and everything they have had to endure. I wonder how they are doing now, after everything was said and done. How are they coping? How are they living their lives in spite of everything they have had to go through? I wish the book had gone on another chapter or so, just so we know what the outcome really was. Too much was left to speculation with the ending.
I almost see room for a sequel. I know that a lot of people enjoy the stand alone novel, but to me, there were a lot of unanswered questions.
About the Author:Jenni Wiltz writes literary and historical fiction, thrillers, romance, and creative nonfiction. Both her fiction and creative nonfiction have won national writing awards. She holds undergraduate degrees in English and history and an MA in creative writing. Her work has appeared in Gargoyle, The Portland Review, the Sacramento News & Review, and several small-press anthologies. When she’s not writing, she enjoys sewing, running, and genealogical research. She lives in Pilot Hill, California.
Visit her at her website, JenniWiltz.com.
About the Book:
Honor student Emma knows more about galvanic cell diagrams than guns. College is the only way out of her gang-ridden hometown, but her parents can’t afford it.
When her unemployed dad lands a job as a census taker, things start looking up. But he’s sent deep into East Malo Verde, where gang members rule the streets and fear anyone with a badge who knocks on doors. One night, a gang member mistakes him for a cop and beats him savagely, leaving him for dead.
Her best friends, her mom, and the detective assigned to the case try to convince her to focus on school. But school won’t prepare her for a world that ignores a crime against a good man. Emma must decide what’s more important: doing what’s expected, or doing what she feels is right, even if it leads her down a dark and dangerous path of revenge. Even if it plunges her into the heart of the gang violence threatening to tear her family apart. (356pp, ISBN #9781942348009)
Purchase at Amazon $3.99 Kindle, $13.13 Paperback (Prime Eligible), Smashwords $3.99
Entry-Form
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from author as part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
March 1, 2015
Black, White and Read Presents: Barbara Pietron, YA Author – An Interview and Awesome Giveaway
I have the pleasure of hosting on a blog tour for this exciting YA author. In case you don’t know who Barbara Pietron is:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved books. Many of my most vivid memories are book-related; like the thrill of my first library card, being blown away by Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot when I was thirteen, riding my bike to the library until I finally got a car, and the agony of waiting for semester break in college to read a novel (because if I started a book, my homework suffered!). I also like listening to alternative rock, sewing, gardening, and camping. I’m a mom, a cancer survivor, and a former automotive corporate employee, now working in a library.
About the Author:
A lifetime love of books and the written word convinced Barbara to choose writing as a second career. She began by writing non-fiction for magazines and achieved both regional and national publication. This success was all she needed to encourage her to complete a novel. Her first manuscript was a beneficial learning experience along with critiques, books, contests, and blogs. Barbara sees Thunderstone as only the beginning; she has two other novels in the works and has started a Thunderstone sequel. When not reading or writing, she likes to walk, garden, and sew. She works in a library and lives in Royal Oak, Michigan with her husband, daughter, and their cat—who often acts like a dog.
Visit her at her website.
Where do you get your ideas?
I find ideas everywhere. Obviously, I’m inspired by legends and mythology. But mostly, places, music, and “what if” questions fuel my imagination.
Do you work with an outline, or just write?
I can’t claim to outline. I mostly write down ideas, or a plot summary to keep me focused and then I write. Once I get the bones of the story down, I go back and add description. Until I got published, I’d let the first draft “age” and move on to other things. Months later, I’d read the story and then look at structure, pacing, and clarity. These days, the revision happens right away. Then my daughter reads the manuscript and I revise it again before sending it to my publisher.
Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
My latest YA novel, slated for fall, is about a sixteen-year-old boy, Jack, who belongs to a sect of mystics. He sees an opportunity to earn his place in the sect by rescuing a classmate that’s gone missing. Jack is a soulshifter, and though the quest means literally going to hell and back, he knows if he succeeds he’ll get everything he thinks he wants. As the hazards of his mission multiply and his assured fate loses its luster, he can’t back out—he must save the girl or die trying. But he soon discovers that nothing in the dark realm is black and white…and the Lord of Souls is always willing to bargain.
I wrote the story for NaNoWriMo in 2010. I didn’t get to go back and read it until years later, after my publishing deal for Thunderstone. I wasn’t expecting much, since I’d banged the story out in 30 days, but I was pleasantly surprised, so I fleshed it out. When I mentioned it to my publisher she said “send it over.” She loved it!
Untitled Fall Release:
As a soulshifter, Jack volunteers to rescue a girl from the underworld so he can secure the future he’s always dreamed of. Although the hazards of his mission multiply and his assured fate loses its luster, he can’t back out—he must save the girl or die trying. But he soon discovers that nothing in the dark realm is black and white…and the Lord of Souls is always willing to bargain.
How did you come up with the title for your current novel?
The working title for the novel was Escaping Fate, but when my publisher and I investigated, we found a ton of other books (and a series) with the same name. My mission as an author is to let the readers “join my writing adventures” so I decided to have a contest to title the novel. In phase one, I took suggestions based on the story summary. For phase two, I chose six titles and put them up for a vote. Voting ends February 28th. Go here if you want to get in on the voting!
What project are you working on now?
While my fall release is in final editing, I’m working on the Thunderstone sequel. This will be book two in my Legacy in Legend series.The series concept is that after spreading her grandfather’s ashes in the Mississippi Headwaters, Jeni and her family gather periodically at various locations along the river to trace his journey into the afterlife. At every gathering Jeni runs into some kind of deadly spiritual threat, making it imperative that she discover her ancestry to protect herself and prevent future attacks. But the threats stem from different cultures, giving her no clue to her true heritage. In my current work-in-progress the danger stalking Jeni stems from Irish/Celtic lore.
Thunderstone
Scribe Publishing Company (November 12, 2013)
Sneaking out at night, driving without a license, and falling for a guy weren’t things fifteen-year-old Jeni expected to do while visiting Lake Itasca, Minnesota with her family. The guy, Ice, turns out to be the local medicine man’s apprentice, and when he tells Jeni she’s connected to the spirit world, her first instinct is to run. But after Ice’s stories of a mythical underwater monster—that Jeni allegedly released—prove true, she realizes it’s up to her to contain the beast. Jeni must first convince herself that she’s able, and then save the locals, Ice, and ultimately herself. (262pp, ISBN# 9781940368917)
Purchase at Amazon $2.99 Kindle, $11.69 Paperback (Prime Eligible) or Direct from the Publisher, Scribe $10.00 Print edition
Heart of Ice:
When sixteen-year-old Ice is visited by an evil spirit, his medicine man training warns him that things aren’t right in his quiet Northern Minnesota town. His suspicions prove true when he’s attacked by a Windigo—a human turned monster by a compulsive hunger for human flesh—and he soon discovers that a bad medicine charm is being used to spread the Windigo curse. The hunt is on to find the charm and the person using it before the town is overrun by cannibalistic monsters. Although the pieces of the puzzle come together to form an impossible conclusion, one which will challenge traditional belief and question numerous ritualistic items, Ice knows he must still reveal the truth. Because there are worse monsters than Windigos.
Download from the Publisher’s Website, Scribe $0.00 eBook formats only
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
My best advice is to write everyday or as much as possible. I believe that, like an athlete, writers get better with practice and experience.
February 26, 2015
Blog Tour: Black, White and Read Presents Our Dried Voices by Greg Hickey – A JARR Review
My Thoughts After Reading
There was a lot about this book that seemed unique and interesting. The premise of a time in the future when disease is cured and the present day problems do not exist. But while the book takes place so far in the future, there are so many parallels that can be drawn to present day and the social climate that exists in the United States. Characters at times seem apathetic, with very few being willing to do any work to make sure things continue to work as they have come to expect. The concept of giving up all knowledge and living in blissful ignorance is a strangely unfathomable concept to me. The main character’s re-emergence of free will and independent thought reminds me of one coming out of a drug-induced haze or being released from hypnosis.
I found the story somewhat telling in terms of social commentary. Many people have come to have a sense of entitlement and just expect things to be handed to them, where in many years past people would work their tails off to make sure even the basic necessities were acquired and achieved. Yet in this futuristic utopia, of sorts, those things just are, with little thought to how they arrive and are provided. Will humanity really become a sea of automatons? It’s a scary thought.
There were a few points where the story seemed tangential and distracted, but it almost felt intentional, and once things all come together at the end, you get a sense of why that needed to be the case.
Overall, I generally enjoyed this story. There were a few little things that I think probably could have been caught and fixed more effectively in editing, in terms of a misused word here and there. As an editor myself, things like that tend to stand out to me and probably would not bother the average reader and, in fact, by most readers would likely have gone unnoticed.
If you are a fan of dystopian fiction, you will very likely enjoy this book. Give it a read!
Greg Hickey was born in Evanston, Illinois in 1985. After graduating from Pomona College in 2008, he played and coached baseball in Sweden and South Africa. He is now a forensic scientist, endurance athlete and award-winning writer. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Lindsay.
About the Book: 
In 2153, cancer was cured. In 2189, AIDS. And in 2235, the last members of the human race traveled to a far distant planet called Pearl to begin the next chapter of humanity. Several hundred years after their arrival, the remainder of humanity lives in a utopian colony in which every want is satisfied automatically, and there is no need for human labor, struggle or thought. But when the machines that regulate the colony begin to malfunction, the colonists are faced with a test for the first time in their existence. With the lives of the colonists at stake, it is left to a young man named Samuel to repair these breakdowns and save the colony. Aided by his friend Penny, Samuel rises to meet each challenge. But he soon discovers a mysterious group of people behind each of these problems, and he must somehow find and defeat these saboteurs in order to rescue his colony.
(234pp, ISBN#9781940368931)
Purchase at:
Amazon $2.99 Kindle, borrow on Kindle Unlimited or $12.53 Paperback (Prime Eligible)
or Scribe Publishing, in Print $10.00
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book through Kindle Unlimited and am a part of a blog tour. The purpose of reading this book is to provide a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so. Clicking will here take you to more information about the book on Goodreads. Clicking here will take you to the authors website.
February 3, 2015
Review: Immortals by Ednah Walters
Title: Immortals
Author: Ednah Walters
Publisher: Firetrail Publishing
Publication Date: January 9, 2014
Page Count: 343
Where I got it: Kindle Unlimited
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 12.50
Format I read it in: Kindle
Description/Blurb:
The Amazon bestselling novel that continues the passionate story RAINE and TORIN from RUNES by Ednah WaltersNothing can stop Raine Cooper when she wants something…
Raine finally knows that her gorgeous neighbor, Torin St. James, is a legend straight out of Norse mythology, and that her feelings for him are strong. Torin is crazy about Raine too, breaking the one rule he lives by: Never fall for a mortal. The problem is he no longer remembers her, his memories erased by Norns—Norse destiny deities—to punish her for defying them.
So Raine comes up with a plan…
She will make Torin forget his one rule a second time and fall in love with her all over again. But she quickly learns that well-laid plans do not work when dealing with deities and supernatural beings. Desperate, Raine makes choices that could not only tear her and Torin further apart, but lead to the destruction of everything and everyone she loves.
ALSO IN THE SERIES:
Runes (book 1)
Immortal (book 2)
Grimnirs (book 2.5, Full length book, NOT a novella)
Seeress (book 3)
FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for making the first book in this series a hit and making Torin St. James your book crush. There’s so much in store for these two and I can’t wait to share them with you.
My Thoughts:
Immortals by Ednah Walters
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
2-2/3
I really enjoyed Runes, so when I saw that this one was available on Kindle Unlimited, I jumped at the chance to read it.
The story in and of itself was very, very good but I found myself tripping over the poorly edited prose. There were misspellings, typos and even character inconsistencies galore throughout the text. This to me soured the review of an otherwise stellar story.
The plot development was not horrible for the genre, and the story was unique enough to carry it. I with there had been a little more attention on world building, because I really couldn’t get an image in my head for any of the “scenes” in the book, but I digress.
Hopefully, a future revision will come down and the author will fix some of the editing mishaps. I really like the story, but I couldn’t really rate it higher because the editing was extremely distracting. I still want to read the rest of the story and find out what happens to Raine and Torin, and if Cora will come around, and what happens with Eirik!
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I acquired a copy of this book of my own free will. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
BRICKS by John Davidson – YA Novel Release Day Blitz!!!
Anaiah Press is proud to present John Davidson’s YA novel BRICKS which releases today!
Sixteen-year old Cori Reigns learns that not all tornadoes take you to magical places. Some take your house, your school, and life as you knew it. Struggling to put the pieces of her life back together, Cori learns to rebuild what the storm destroyed by trusting a family she didn’t know she had and by helping friends she never appreciated.
About the Author:
Married to my bride for twenty-four years, I have an amazing son and a wonderful daughter.
Born and raised in central Oklahoma, I work in education, first as a teacher now in technology curriculum. I write. I read. And in the summer I make snow cones. Find John on Twitter @jdavidsonwrites or connect with him at his website and on Goodreads.
February 1, 2015
Review: Behind Enemy Lines: Infinity Ring Book 6 by Jennifer Nielsen
Title: Behind Enemy Lines (Infinity Ring 6)
Author: Jennifer Neilsen
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: November 26, 2013
Page Count: 195
Where I got it: Netgalley
Where you can get it: Amazon
How much: List Price 12.99
Format I read it in: eARC
Description/Blurb:
Dak, Sera, and Riq involve themselves in one of the most bizarre spy missions in history . . . and the outcome of World War II hangs in the balance.
My Thoughts:
Behind Enemy Lines by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
I did read these books out of order, but hopefully that will not have much bearing on the review. I have missed Dak, Sera and Riq and I am glad to be getting back to them again. And this one is written by one of my new favorite authors, so that makes it even better and I had very high hopes coming into this book.
I admit that the landing on an awning thing at the beginning made me laugh. Riq seems to be the butt of the joke fairly frequently.
And then, oh my, Riq has a secret that he is keeping and it could change so much….. The intrigue of it all. And don’t worry, I am really not giving anything away that you wouldn’t know if you had read the previous books, so I am still spoiler free!
I dislike everything about Tilda, and the antics of the last couple chapters do not endear me to her at all in any way. She is a snake that should perish and perish quickly. Please tell me she is.. Handled in later books? And the crap she spews on about about Sera’s parents? What is that?
The book progressed so quickly that I forgot to take notes as I went along, so bear with me here a little as I ramble about and gush over the story. The action sequences took off and stayed fast paced throughout the entire book. This keeps the reader coming back for more again and again, every time.
This installment, and really this whole series, is well suited for every middle grade reader, boy and girl alike, as it has just a little bit of everything within the pages.
I think my favorite part is the historical facts. I love that history is the forefront of the series. Especially the fact that this book tells so much about World War II. World War II holds a special place in my heart. My grandfather was in the US Army during the war, and this was one of my favorite bits of history to learn when I was in school.
Overall, a very good read and I can’t wait to see what happens next to our young heroes.
**DISCLAIMER** In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a copy of this book from the publisher and/or author via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this opinion, and the thoughts are my own. Links above will take you to a site where you can PURCHASE a copy. Using those links will take you through an affiliate link and I will receive a small percentage of the purchase cost. You are in no way obligated to use affiliate links and there is no additional cost to do so.
