Jessica Samuelsen's Blog, page 35
July 12, 2016
Review – Rose Petal Graves by Olivia Wildenstein
Rose Petal Graves by Olivia Wildenstein Published by Olivia Wildenstein on May 15th 2016
Genres: Clean, New Adult, Paranormal
Pages: 182
I received this book for free from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
Ancient secrets cannot remain buried forever.
Founded two centuries ago by an aloof and powerful tribe of Gottwa Indians, Rowan was a quiet town, so quiet that I fled after graduation. Staying away was the plan, but Mom died suddenly, so I rushed home.
Dad said she suffered a stroke after she dug up one of the ancient graves in our backyard, which happens to be the town cemetery. Creepy, I know. Creepier still, there was no corpse inside the old coffin, only fresh rose petals.
As we made preparations for Mom’s burial, Cruz, the new medical examiner, arrived. I should have felt relieved, but how could I? He was unnervingly handsome, glowed like a human firefly, and knew absolutely nothing about examining dead bodies.
But, he did know what killed my mother…or rather who.
Cat is on her way home from college due to the sudden death of her mother. On her return to the small town of Rowan, a strange medical examiner shoes up. Cat starts discovering that her mother was looking into their heritage when she died. She starts to find strange things like empty graves with rose petals. She is quickly drawn into the world of hunters and faes. How will she make sense of it all and how will she figure out who’s telling the truth to which side she should be on?
In an Oyster Shell – It was a quick provocative read that will keep you turning the pages.
The Pearls – The plot was full of twists and turns and in the end you still didn’t know which way was up. It was an exciting introduction to the series. I can’t wait to read more. I keep stalking the author’s page for updates on the next book. The story was riveting. A young lady is going to her mother’s funeral but that’s only the beginning.
I really liked the characters in this book. Cat was straight forward. Yet, the faes and the hunters, you couldn’t tell if they were bad or good. It makes for a really great read. There are some really solid supporting characters it was well done.
The romance in this book was complicated with a slight double love triangle going on. It was fun and just added to the suspense that kept me captive throughout the whole book.
The Sand – The book was a little on the short side. Though it was super impressive how much the author fit into so little pages.
3.5 Pearls!
About Olivia Wildenstein
Olivia Wildenstein grew up in New York City, the daughter of a French father with a great sense of humor, and a Swedish mother whom she speaks to at least three times a day. She chose Brown University to complete her undergraduate studies and earned a bachelor’s in comparative literature. After designing jewelry for a few years, Wildenstein traded in her tools for a laptop computer and a very comfortable chair. This line of work made more sense, considering her college degree.
When she’s not writing, she’s psychoanalyzing everyone she meets (Yes. Everyone), eavesdropping on conversations to gather material for her next book, baking up a storm (that she actually eats), going to the gym (because she eats), and attempting not to be late at her children’s school (like she is 4 out of 5 mornings, on good weeks).
Wildenstein lives with her husband and three children in Geneva, Switzerland, where she’s an active member of the writing community.
July 11, 2016
Review – Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse
The Neverland Wars by Audrey Greathouse Published by Clean Teen Publishing on May 9th 2016
Genres: YA, Retelling
Pages: 302
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Goodreads
Amazon
Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That's what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.
However, Gwen doesn't know this. She's just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn't know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she'll discover she's in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.
She'll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won't be the only one. Peter Pan's constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she's going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she's going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.
Gwen was an average high school girl with regular teenage problems. Who will she go with to homecoming? Rosemary never tires of her sister Gwen’s stories. One of Gwen’s favorite to tell is about Peter Pan. Little did Gwen know that there it was more truth than fiction. Rosemary is taken one night by Peter and Gwen finds out that her parents knew about him and his magic all along. Rosemary comes back for Gwen and they go to Neverland. It is there where Gwen starts to question everything she ever knew.
In An Oyster Shell – It was a good book, it could have been better.
The Pearls – The plot was really good. I like how the author took a whimsical idea and made it into an existential evaluation. The book was very thought provoking and made you take a hard look at humanity and our role in it. It was powerful. I really liked the twists the author put on the Peter Pan story.
The descriptions of the book were breathtaking. From food to setting, the author really set the tone for what was going on. It was easy to get lost in this book.
The characters were well developed and delightfully complex. Gwen was a complicated but eloquent heroine. Peter was a dashing hero.
The Sand – I reserve 5 pearls for books I think will be classic, meaning people will want to read them decades from now. With current cultural references that were told more than shown, I don’t feel like that’s the case with this book. I also felt like some of the philosophical stuff was a bit over done.
4 Pearls!
About Audrey Greathouse
Audrey Greathouse is a Seattle-based author of science-fiction and fantasy. Raised in the suburbs, she became a writer after being introduced to NaNoWriMo during her sophmore year of high school. Since then, she has drafted more than a dozen books, 100 sonnets, and 800 other poems, and a handful of short stories and one-act plays.
After dropping out of her university and beginning training as a circus performer on the aerial silks, she returned to school to study at Southern New Hampshire University College of Online and Continuing Education to earn her B.A. in English Language and Literature, with a minor in Computer Information Technologies.
Audrey Greathouse is a die-hard punk cabaret fan, and pianist of fourteen years. She’s usually somewhere along the west coast, and she is always writing.
July 7, 2016
Review – Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection Box Set by Barbara Venkataraman
Jamie Quinn Mystery Collection: Box Set Books 1-3 by Barbara Venkataraman Series: Jamie Quinn Mystery
on September 3, 2014
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 314
Source: Author
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
Books 1-3 of the Jamie Quinn Mystery Series! Including:
"Death by Didgeridoo"-Winner of the Indie Book of the Day award. Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, still reeling from the death of her mother, is pulled into a game of deception, jealousy, and vengeance when her cousin, Adam, is wrongfully accused of murder. It's up to Jamie to find the real murderer before it's too late. It doesn't help that the victim is a former rock star with more enemies than friends, or that Adam confessed to a murder he didn't commit.
"The Case of the Killer Divorce"-Reluctant lawyer, Jamie Quinn, has returned to her family law practice after a hiatus due to the death of her mother. It's business as usual until a bitter divorce case turns into a murder investigation, and Jamie's client becomes the prime suspect. When she can't untangle truth from lies, Jamie enlists the help of Duke Broussard, her favorite private investigator, to try to clear her client's name. And she’s hoping that, in his spare time, he can help her find her long-lost father.
"Peril in the Park"-There's big trouble in the park system. Someone is making life difficult for Jamie Quinn's boyfriend, Kip Simons, the new director of Broward County parks. Was it the angry supervisor passed over for promotion? The disgruntled employee Kip recently fired? Or someone with a bigger ax to grind? If Jamie can't figure it out soon, she may be looking for a new boyfriend because there’s a dead guy in the park and Kip has gone missing! With the help of her favorite P.I., Duke Broussard, Jamie must race the clock to find Kip before it’s too late.
A preview of the next Jamie Quinn Mystery, "Engaged in Danger," can be found at the end of the book.
Jamie is still reeling from the loss of her mother. She is a lawyer that has taken a sabbatical to get herself together. Her services are needed by her aunt and her son when he is accused of murder. Not being a criminal lawyer, with her family law background, she scrambles to be of help. She figures out the biggest help will be to find who actually committed the murder to clear her cousin’s name.
In an Oyster Shell – I wasn’t impressed with this series, it has most of the elements you would look for in a Cozy mystery. I personally didn’t find this book very cozy.
The Pearls – The title of the book was straight forward. It had all the necessary elements of a cozy mystery.
I really liked the characters in the first book. The set up for later books was really good character development wise. I feel like the supporting characters really helped spotlight the main character. Characters introduced in book two and three just added to that. I felt more kinship with the supporting characters.
The plot was this book’s strongest suit. From beginning to end there was a strong order. I like how the author intertwined the series plot in each individual book.
The Sand – I found the main character to be frigid. That takes the cozy out of cozy mystery for me.
3 Pearls!
About Barbara Venkataraman
Barbara Venkataraman is an attorney and mediator specializing in family law. She is the author of “The Fight for Magicallus,” a children’s fantasy, “If you’d Just Listened to Me in the First Place,” a humorous short story and two books of humorous essays: “I’m Not Talking about You, Of Course,” and “A Trip to the Hardware Store & Other Calamities,” which are part of an ongoing series entitled “Quirky Essays for Quirky People.”
Her Jamie Quinn cozy mystery series includes: “Death by Didgeridoo,” “The Case of the Killer Divorce,” “Peril in the Park,” and “Engaged in Danger”. Coming out in 2016, “Jeopardy in July”. All of her books are available on Amazon Kindle.
July 1, 2016
Friday Coffee & Bookish Speak – That’s My Pen Name!
Keeping it simple with my small batch roasted coffee and cream.
What are you drinking?
I have a funny story. I used to run a poetry reading in the Portland/Metro area. It was a small crowd so I usually knew who was who. I called up a name that I didn’t know and mentioned they must be new to the open mic. All of a sudden this woman who I knew by another name shouts across the room “That’s my pen name” Me being surprised and a little taken aback by this ladies abruptness I just took it in stride.As the reading series went on I would come to find this woman had a never-ending supply of pen names. To this day I can hear that woman yelling across the room like big bertha… What’s in a pen name? Why is it so important to some people?
What’s in a pen name? Why is it so important to some people? I was reminded of this today as I was doing a review for the blog. I was looking up an author’s profile when the profile stated it was a pseudonym and directed me to the author’s original name. This author like the one from my poetry days past seemed to use their pen names as a way to separate genres or categories.
I found out recently even Stephen King has pen names. Authors sometimes end up with contracts with two different companies and have to take a pen name. So they have their place. My concern with pen names is people use them to hide behind what they don’t have the guts to reveal under their own identity.
What is your experience with pen names?
June 29, 2016
Review – Infinite Time by HJ Lawson
Infinite Time by H.J. Lawson Published by HJLawson on June 1st 2016
Genres: Si-Fi
Pages: 220
Source: Author
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
Save the girl.Save the day.Save yourself.
The mission sounds easy enough, but it is anything but easy for Parker Jenkins. Yesterday, ordinary, poverty-stricken Parker was an ordinary high school kid, getting bullied relentlessly and trying to get by. Today, he's a time traveler with gifted powers expected to carry out the extraordinary. Teaming up with another time traveler, Scarlet, they must save an innocent girl on the run before the villains kill them all. If they don't, their present-day selves will die. But can the ordinary perform the extraordinary?
Life was good for Parker up until the day his dad died. Now in high school, he’s not the most popular kid in class. He is poor and often made fun of. His home life is not great as his mom works all the time to support him and his low-life step-father. As Parker starts to resign to what life is like after his father, he wakes up in a different time in a different place. He finds out he has to complete his mission before time runs out for him and the girl he is trying to save.
In an Oyster Shell – This was a small taste of a really big story that seems to just be getting started.
The Pearls – The concept was good, though not thoroughly original an underdog main character who get’s called to something bigger. What I thought was original about this concept is the way the author had the characters time travel and incorporated an idea of an overall timeline. It was like the idea of Time Cop but with a young high school kid.
I liked the first person POV. I thought it was the best perspective for this story. Seeing everything go through Parker’s eyes made this story interesting. His reactions and inner dialogue made me feel something as a reader.
The overall plot was really interesting. You didn’t really know who to trust. At the end of the story you still didn’t know who to trust, which makes me eager for the next one.
The Sand – The story could of been a little bit longer, been a little more fleshed out.
3.5 Pearls
About H.J. Lawson
HJLawson is an English author who currently resides in New York. When she’s not writing, she spends her time watching movies and hanging out with her family. She is the author of the following young adult books: The War Kids Series and The Sanction Series.
June 28, 2016
Review – Baby Please Don’t Go by Frank Freudberg
Baby Please Don't Go by Frank Freudberg Published by Inside Job Media on May 6th 2015
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 332
Source: Author
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
ALL LOCK GILKENNEY WANTS IS A FAMILY.
BUT HE’LL HAVE TO CROSS THE LINE TO GET ONE.
Lock is a dedicated investigator at Child Protective Services. An anonymous report of neglect comes in. He responds and finds the kids in good health. Lock concludes the report was a ruse, possibly part of a scheme to make Natalie Mannheim—the kids’ mother—look bad in an upcoming divorce trial.
Natalie needs Lock’s expertise to help her win custody—and a multi-million-dollar divorce settlement. He realizes she doesn't have a prayer in court against her shrewd husband, and only Lock can help her now.
Lock knows all about addiction, and he’s aware of the powerful hold Natalie has on him. But he can’t get her out of his head. Lock is caught between his commitment to take the high road and his burning desire to have a family. In this story of love, lust, deceit and murder, what Lock chooses to do will grab your imagination and never let go.
Lock Gilkenney loves his job, he loves protecting children, he loves protecting families like the family he almost never had. When he meets Natalie she asks him to help her win custody from her seemingly cruel husband. Lock explores all professional options and comes to the conclusion he may cross some lines. What will Lock do for the promise of a family? Will he go too far?
In an Oyster Shell – This was an unexpected entertaining read that will leave you on edge when you are done. It’s a great thriller.
The Pearls – The hook of this book was genius. It starts three weeks ahead of when the story will start and the way it opens you have no idea what has happened. It seems like someone may have died, there was a terrible accident. You don’t know, but you will know that you want to move quickly with the book to find out what is going on. It was a great opening.
The characters in this book are rock solid. You get a feel for the characters right as their are introduced. The backstories are clear. The character development is unexpected at times. This author had a good grip on where is characters were coming from and where they were going.
The thriller genre is not one that I often partake in, I was glad I did with this one. The author peeled back layer after layer of the reality of the characters true intentions and it became a tangled web. It was horrifying. Not in a Friday The Thirteenth horror context but the horror of the worse people can do. It was a display of the depths deprave characters can go to get what they want. That is what made this book so interesting and scary at the same time.
The Sand – This was a great book. It’s not the happily ever afters I am most used to, so the ending was a little off for me. That comes down to personal taste and not anything wrong with the book.
4 Pearls!
About Frank Freudberg
Frank Freudberg is a novelist, journalist and ghostwriter. He enjoys writing about underdogs and their battles with forces seemingly bigger than them — and he particularly likes watching them prevail. Freudberg lives near Philadelphia and he’s contributed to Reuters, Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Der Spiegel, and others. His work has been mentioned in many notable publications including Time, Newsweek, and The Guardian.
June 27, 2016
ARC Review – The Secret Life of A Dream Girl Creative Hearts #4 by Tracy Deebs
The Secret Life of a Dream Girl by Tracy Deebs Published by Entangled: Crush on June 27th 2016
Pages: 219
Source: Entangled Publishing
I received this book for free from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
GoodreadsAmazon
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains adult language, references to drinking and drugs, and a kiss so steamy it’ll fog up your ereader.
Hiding in plain sight is harder than it looks…
Dahlia Greene—aka international pop superstar Cherry—is undercover as a normal high school student. She just wants to experience what real life is like, so when she overhears hottie Keegan Matthews nervously talking about liking a girl, she sees the perfect opportunity to live a real life and play a little matchmaker. What was not part of the plan was falling for a guy she can never tell the truth.
Keegan Matthews has been secretly crushing on Dahlia ever since she started at his school. Sure, Dahlia thinks he’s crushing on some other girl—not realizing his Dream Girl is actually her—but he figures, play along with her tips to woo someone else, let her get to know him, and then make his move. But with so many secrets in the mix, their romance is doomed from the start…
Dahlia and Keegan, Book 1 of 3Dahlia and Keegan Book 2 coming March 2017
Dahlia Greene is hiding from her life as sensational pop star Cherry. Court-ordered to spend a year as a normal high school student she is doing everything she can to blend in, which usually means doing nothing at all. A friend from her old life encourages her to make new friends so she does with Keegan Matthews. She decides to help him catch his dream girl, she would never think that his dream girl just might be her.
In an Oyster Shell – I was less than impressed with this book from title to ending, it was an adequate book, but in the end a let down for me.
The Pearls – The concept of this book was super cute. The setting was darling.
The romance was unique and fun. I don’t think I have ever read a book where the love interest is trying to help catch the intended.
The Sand – The book had me on edge from the minute the reader gets into the main characters head. Like nails on a chalkboard. The character was gritty. Not something you would expect from a supposedly average teenage girl character. The ending lacked depth.
Overall I wasn’t impressed with this book and I am not impressed with this author.
2 Pearls
About Tracy Deebs
Pseudonym of Romance novelist Tracy Wolff.
Tracy Wolff lives with four men, teaches writing to local college students and spends as much time as she can manage immersed in worlds of her own creation. Married to the alpha hero of her dreams for twelve years, she is the mother of three young sons who spend most of their time trying to make her as crazy as possible.
June 26, 2016
Sunday Post – June 26
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
This Week In Review –
Friday Coffee & Bookish Speaks – Teenage Authors
Question of the Week – What is your favorite water activity in the summer?
Mine is bombarding my nephews with water balloons. My husband and I just bought those balloons that you can fill 100 in a minute and they are self-sealing. They won’t see it coming… (Don’t worry they don’t read my blog)
Have a great week!
Sunday Post – July 26
The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
This Week In Review –
Friday Coffee & Bookish Speaks – Teenage Authors
Question of the Week – What is your favorite water activity in the summer?
Mine is bombarding my nephews with water balloons. My husband and I just bought those balloons that you can fill 100 in a minute and they are self-sealing. They won’t see it coming… (Don’t worry they don’t read my blog)
Have a great week!
June 24, 2016
Friday Coffee & Bookish Speaks – Teenage Authors
Today I am drinking a fresh roasted Papua New Guinea coffee with cream.
What are you drinking?
I recently got a request from an author that was a teenager. I was super impressed and agreed to review the book. It was pretty good. One thing I noticed though that the character’s lacked some intricacies. The characters were a little bit flat. I don’t think this had to do with the writer’s craft.
I think it had to do with age and lack of experience. It’s not a bad thing, it just got me to wondering can young authors write while lacking life experience they will accumulate later on in life.
My conclusion is it shouldn’t stop them from writing… Yet, one of two things need to happen: 1) The reader needs to consider the author’s age and expect that some things will be lacking. 2) The writer needs to write closer to their own life experience.
I am all for young authors, but their lack of life experience may put them in a league all their own and may need to be evaluated on a different scale than an author who is not a teenager.
What do you think?
