Book Review - Unauthorized, By Lisa Ladew (And a blog update)

So things have gotten a bit crazy with my real life job.  It has been causing me to have long days and work overtime.  Due to that for a while we are pulling back on the book tours and the reviews some.  I have some books now that I need to get reviews out on, they were already finished prior to the craziness.  For a while we will be cutting out tours to two a month, and we will be trying to get a couple cover reveals in there as well.  I am just too swamped with the work thing and I am finding that I am not enjoying my reading as much because I have to hurry through the books to get a review out.

I am going get one book review out of the way right now.  I have a few more to do from books I have previously read.  I am hoping that we can get back on the review and tour track in a couple months, but with my job and the tiredness I feel when I get home, I will have to see how things are going.

Without any more issues....

Book Title: Unauthorized Affair
Author: Lisa Ladew
Publishing Date: November 10, 2014
Page/Word Count: 220 pages

BLURB:

This is a free romantic suspense book, the beginning of a romantic suspense series, although this book with this couple reads as a standalone.

Twenty-six year old Jen Mansko finds out the hard way that she's too trusting. Her apartment ransacked, her bank account emptied, and her heart broken, Jen has had enough and high-tails it to the only place she can think of where she will be welcomed – her brother's house.

Anxious for a fresh start, Jen does something completely out of character and decides to become a cop. Soon, the athletic beauty with the striking-pink locks captures the attention of Sergeant Hunter Foley. When she is vetted for an undercover assignment, Jen dares another feat and quickly wins the approval of the powers that be.

Once embedded in the covert operation, yet another unlikely suitor is drawn to her. With two men on opposite sides of the law vying for her attention, Jen is forced to make a choice or risk having all she's worked so hard for ripped away from her.

This is a spin-off of the Edge of the Heat Series. The characters from the Edge of the Heat will weave lightly in and out of the Unauthorized series.

This is a standalone novel, however, there is a cliffhanger at the end that involves the H/h of the next book.

Heat level: moderate. suspense or thriller level: moderate. Some swearing. 18+

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Pros: Great characters, loved the story
Cons: I want more Coleton
Overall rating: Highly Recommended

Impressions: Great ideas, story flowed, characters are well developed

Review:

So I got this book as a free one from Amazon.  I am so glad I grabbed it.  I loved the whole idea and the characters were just right.  You could tell that the author knew her characters well enough when she was writing.  I have found that there are times when an author will have a series going and make a spin off that just doesn't work right.  Not this time.  This book is great!

I love that Jen is going through personal changes in this book.  She is trusting and a bit naive but that all changes as you go.  Don't get me wrong, it's not a massive character change.  It's something little here and there for her.  She grows through out the book and I love that.  I think that she is a great lead female.

Let me just say, I want my own undercover cop now.  Hunter is strong, and he has a good head on his shoulders.  He keeps himself from getting involved with Jen, knowing it is wrong for him to do anything with her while they are working.  He is a great male lead and plays off Jen wonderfully.

I am very excited to read the next one, and I was excited that the second book is on Kindle Unlimited.  I have already picked it up and will be reading it soon!


Stars: 4 out of 5

Amazon Link: Buy it here

Goodreads Link: Clink Here

Twitter Link: @LisaLadewAuthor

Webpage: Author's Page

Book Review - Cross Keys, By Ally Shields - BOOK TOUR

I am beginning to think that there are times I bite off more then I can chew, but it's all part of being an adult.

Book tour, here we go....

 

Description:

When the first wanderer—a common elf who isn’t authorized to use the portal—is spotted on the streets of New Orleans, the king assigns Kameo Ryndel to capture the elf and bring him home to Elvenrude. But before she can intervene, he's shot and his body stolen by the gunmen. Just as puzzling is the appearance at the scene of Seth Lormarc, an Elite elf from a rival guild and heir to the centuries-old feud between their two families.

Seth is in New Orleans at the behest of his grandfather to find out who was behind the portal breach that could expose their existence to the world of men. His best lead is the intriguing Kam Ryndel. When he stakes out her apartment and finds her sneaking out in the middle of the night, dressed in black and leaping to the top of the nearest building, he realizes she's more than a beautiful woman. That kind of feat requires magic. Ancient magic.

As their paths cross and draw them deeper into a mysterious conspiracy, attraction sparks between them, but there’s little time for romance. The portal breach is tied to an illegal smuggling operation that has come to the attention of the human CIA. And the stakes are raised when Kam and Seth discover a band of rebels deep inside Elvenrude that offers nothing except violence and destruction of their world. 

Review:

Let me just say that I love any story that brings elves into my world again.  I love when an author tries to work with them.  I just wish that each author would give us a back ground. This book is no exception, I want more history, more about how we got to where we are today in the book.  I just like knowing how people got to be the way they are in the books I read.

Kameo was a great character and I can't wait to see what comes next for her.  I just wish we had a better love interest for her. I want my main characters to have a strong, good love interest.  I know that there are bad boys, but they aren't the ones who leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.  I am all about a good "bad" boy, but I got this feeling that Caleb is just not that kind of bad boy.  I think that he will end up being a bad love interest.

I can't wait to see what will happen with the series.  I think that since it is elves, we have so much we see being done.  I know there are books out there with elves, but really no many that have the main story built off of them.  They are just a part of a whole, not the central theme.

I think that Ally has got a great start to a series and she did it so well!  It was not rushed and the build up of the love interest side was better then most books.  I just hate when an author has her characters fall in love in like three pages, or 24 hours.  (Which ever comes first.) I can't wait to see what she does next!

Pros: Elves!  Smooth Story, great ideas

Cons: Some characters just didn't do it for me.

Overall rating: Definitely recommend it!

Impressions: Strong story, good ideas, ELVES!!!

Stars: 4 out of 5 stars

 Excerpt:

Caleb nodded absently at the departing couple, then returned his gaze to Kam. “I’m serious. It’s time you became more involved with trade matters. In fact,” he paused, “you have several decisions you should be making. When are you coming home?”

“I’m here now.” She clamped down on a spark of anger. Why did every conversation with him lead into demands about the future?

“You know that isn’t what I meant.”

She stiffened. “It’s too soon for any long-term decisions. I like where we are now.” A storm was gathering in his eyes, and she took steps to head off a fight. The King's Harvest Ball was hardly the time or place. She tilted her head and looked at him. “Are you about ready to leave?” A diversion was in order before she lost her temper and said something she’d regret. “I have to be back in the city by early morning, and I can think of better things we could be doing.”

“More than ready.” His smile held a provocative edge. “Shall we start our round of goodbyes?”

“I’m going to visit the ladies’ room, then I’ll catch up with you.”

“Don’t be long.”

She ducked her head and hurried away, anxious to get out of sight before he realized just how annoyed she was. She shoved the door open into the hallway a little harder than was necessary and ran into a solid body. She stumbled, throwing out her arms for balance.

“Oh, I’m so sor—” Strong hands caught her, and she looked up into Seth Lormarc’s glittering green eyes. “You!”

His eyes widened in surprise. “Do I know you?”

A spark of unexpected awareness ran up her arms, and she tried to shake off his grasp. He held tight until she was steady. “No, but I know who you are.” She looked pointedly at his hands. “Take your hands off me.”

“No problem.” He released her and stepped back, a smile parting his lips. “Are you always so charming?”

She frowned at him, ready to give a sharp retort, then hesitated, realizing how rude she’d been. “You’re quite right. Mother would be appalled at my manners. Thank you for your assistance. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Certainly.” He moved to one side.

Her throat suddenly dry, Kam hurried past and down the hall. Insufferable Lormarcs. She entered the powder room and took a deep breath. The mirror revealed her heated cheeks, and she dipped a handkerchief in the water basin to cool her face. Why had she reacted so strongly, been so impolite? Was it the lazy smile he’d made little attempt to hide or just her anger at Caleb spilling over onto the first male she saw?

Bio:

Ally Shields grew up in the Midwest along the Mississippi River and currently resides near Des Moines. Writing has always been a part of her life, but in 2009, after a career in law and juvenile justice, she turned to full-time fiction writing. Her first urban fantasy novel, Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch Book One) was published in 2012 and the seven book series was completed in 2015. She loves to travel in the US and abroad and incorporates many of those settings into her books. Ms. Shields can be contacted through her website or twitter (@ShieldsAlly).

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Book review - The Haunting, By E.M. MacCallum

Have I mentioned how much I love that I get to work with some great authors doing my reviews?  If I have not, let me tell you now.  There are some great authors I have blogged books for and they have given me some of the best books to read.  I can't wait to see what comes next from these authors.

That being said, I have the third book in the series I recently reviewed.  The first book was The Demon Grave.

Let's get on with the review...

Book Title: The Haunting

Author: E.M. MacCallum

Publishing Date: August 13, 2015

Page/Word Count: 325 pages

BLURB:

One by one, they are losing the battle.

With the shock of death ringing in their ears, the group has to face one final test.

The Challenge is a classic haunted house and the creatures within are out to twist truths and reveal dark secrets.

Nora has to overcome her strange familiarity with the Demon's Grave as well as her infatuation with the demonic overlord, Damien. But, not everyone wants her there, and she could end up fighting for more than just her friend's freedom. 

Pros: Great characters, great story line

Cons: The story doesn't need to end!  

Overall rating: Highly recommended!

Impressions: Great book, part of a great series

Review:

Alright, so I got very lucky with this one.  I was asked to read this book in exchange for an honest review.  I was beyond excited when the author sent me this book to read.  I loved the first two and was giggly when the author e-mailed me and asked me to read this book.  I read it as soon as I could!

This was a great way to wrap up the two previous books.  The characters are well developed and I love how they interact with each other.  The chemistry between them, be it good or bad, was great and I wish more books had characters that worked together.  

I still have a mad crush on Damien.  Until I find a new book boyfriend, he is going to have to settle for me, haha.  He is just a great character and I love how he interacts with Nora.  They have this relationship that leaves you wondering what is going to happen to them.  The ending to the book leaves me hoping that I get to see more of them, to see what happens.  I am not going to give it away here, just know I want more!!

The book was not rushed and this author timed things perfectly with this series.  She didn't seem to rush things, which meant that if she couldn't get to it in one book, she put it in the next.  I love that, because you shouldn't have to rush from point A to point B.  You need to flesh out your story and E.M. did that with this book, with the whole series.

If you have not read these book yet, I suggest you grab this one, and the other two, and start reading.  I warn you though, you will not get to put them down until you are done.  They are that good!  I read this one again in one night, like I did the first two.

Stars: 5 of 5

Amazon Link: Buy it here

Goodreads Link: Click Here

Twitter Link: @EMMacCallum

Facebook Link: On Facebook

Webpage: http://www.emmaccallum.com/

Book Review - Valamine, By Jane Stoker - BLOG TOUR

So I have slowly but surely been getting myself caught up on my reviews.  I have gotten a nice little system going that gets the reviews out and in between book I can read something not on my review lists.  It keeps me from getting burnt out.

This time around we have a blog tour book...

Valamine

(Book One – Lover’s Rift series)
Jane Stoker

Book Title: Valamine

Author: Jane Stoker

Publishing Date: April 18, 2015

Page/Word Count: 188 pages

BLURB:

Valamine is a gifted healer, and her life studying with the herb witch, Elder-Sha Ameena, is peaceful. When her home is attacked and her elders slain, the fate of the land is thrust upon her with the dying breath of her mentor. Now she must leave everything she knows and journey to a far-off city to stop the forces of hell from overwhelming her world. But it isn't the daemons, hungry for her blood, making her nerves shatter and her heart pound like a tribesman’s drum, it's the two hundred and fifty pounds of lean, toned warrior sworn to keep her from harm.

Fighting is what Nyle lives for. He relishes the rush of battle, even with the odds against him and a horde of daemons bearing down on him. When he’s tasked with the latest mission, it is a seemingly simple one—protect the girl, save the world. Easy enough for a skilled warrior who prides himself on coolness under pressure. Something about the bold healer though is testing his restraint to beyond breaking, and he can’t keep his mind on the game. But if he fails and the daemons come, how can he face losing his bewitching Valamine

Pros: Excellent characters, great storyline

Cons: Felt like some pieces were missing

Overall rating: Very Recommended

Impressions: My first impressions of this book were that it was slow starting out for me.  There was something missing.

Review:

When I started this book I felt a little lost.  We started out in a battle.  I love when we get action right away, but I felt like we didn't get enough back story to really understand what was going on.  The bad guys were there and there were a lot of them. Yet later in the book, they are talking about a portal or rift being in the school. 

You don't get any idea on how they are getting out if the rift is still sealed.  I would think that they would have noticed Daemons coming through at the school so I really want to know where they were coming from. I feel like this is a hole in the story that was not explained.

I loved the book as whole though.  Once I let the whole not knowing where the Daemons were coming from I found that I really enjoyed the book.  The characters were well thought out.  I wish we could have had more back story to help us understand why they were the way they were.  I find that I can connect and relate better to characters when I know more about them.

I can't wait until the next book in this series.  I want to see what happens next.  I did find that once I got into the book I was hooked and couldn't get out. I read it all in one sitting.  It just took me a bit to get myself all engrossed in the book.

Stars: 4 out of 5

About the Author

Jane Stoker

Jane is the author of Valamine, the first instalment in a fantasy romance series based in a magical world on the verge of

When she is not teaching or sloping off to write fantasy romance, Jane devours TV drama box sets – the more

paranormal and post apocalyptic the better. She also like to walk the dog in the surrounding woodlands; a setting

Jane lives in Surrey with her husband and two sons.

Find Jane at: https://www.facebook.com/janestokertheauthor

_______________________________________________________________________________

Book Details: Novel

Genre: Historical Epic Fantasy Romance

198 pages – 66,300 words

e-book ISBN: 978-1-925296-04-4

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-925296-05-1

$3.99

Buy Links

BDP SHOP: http://www.bottomdrawerpublications.net/#!valamine/c1zbj

AMAZON US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VWA36BM

AMZ UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1925296059/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk?tag=chrome03-21

iTUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/valamine/id984946242?mt=11

 B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/valamine-jane-stoker/1121724696?ean=9781925296051

  KOBO:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/valamine

For more information:

www.bottomdrawerpublications.net

info@bottomdrawerpublications.net

On Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25278521-valamine

Cover Reveal - The Book-Tainted Winter, By T L Greylock

About the Book

Title: The Blood-Tainted Winter

Author: T.L. Greylock

Genre: Mythological Fantasy

Raef Skallagrim wants to take the sea road. His ship is fast and sleek, his crew skilled and eager, and they will seek out new lands and win fame in the eyes of the gods. But Raef’s father refuses to allow the journey and when a stranger brings word that the king is dead and a gathering has been called to choose a successor, Raef must set aside his dream for his duty to his ancestral lands and his father.

When factions split at the gathering to choose a successor, Raef finds himself mired in bloodshed and treachery. Forced to make an uneasy alliance with a man he does not trust, Raef must navigate the tides of a war among three kings while seeking revenge for cold- blooded murder.

But winter has come early to Midgard, and even the gods will feel the cold.

Author Bio

T L Greylock drinks tea (English Breakfast with milk), likes neon-colored socks, and once held an epic pigeon-racing tournament in the gardens of The Tuileries.

Links

www.tlgreylock.com

twitter.com/tlgreylock

facebook.com/tlgreylock

Giveaway

Win a signed copy of the book.

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Book Review - When Lightning Strikes , By Kathleen Rovner

I think this is a week of Mondays, or at least it feels that way.  Just so much to do and not enough of me to get it all done.  Some days I just think that I spread myself too thin.  It happens, but let me tell you, I am not a fan of it.  I am exhausted.

That being said, I have been reading, a lot.  So there will be reviews coming, because, well, books!

On with the show....

BLURB:

Julie Marin is a talented dancer, and her family has the means to make sure she can live her dream. Her life is close to perfect—until the night she leaves practice late and gets attacked.

Then her world takes a terrifying turn. With no notice, her family has to pack up and move overnight. And they won’t even tell her why.

Now everyone around her has secrets—her brother, her parents, and the disturbingly alluring Lucas Black, a new teacher at her school. And there’s definitely something going on in the small town the Marins move to.

When Julie finds herself drawn to the arrogant but handsome Rory, nothing makes any sense. Is she just paranoid, or is she going crazy? Will these secrets destroy everything Julie has worked for—or destroy her as she fights against them?

A 300 page young adult fantasy with romantic suspense.  

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Book Title: When Lightning Strikes

Author: Kathleen Rovner

Publishing Date: May 7, 2015

Page/Word Count: 217 pages

Pros: Great idea, great characters

Cons: got a little lost at times, some ideas didn't seem fully fleshed out

Overall rating: Good book

Impressions: Fasted paced from the get go, some spots were slow.  Some things were lacking a "body" if you will.

Review:

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal)

So I had high hopes for this book.  The idea was great and I liked most of the characters. Unfortunately some parts just felt rushed or lacking in information. The idea behind the story was a well thought out idea, and I can tell that the author wanted to make sure it was done well.  Sadly I felt lost in some areas, like the idea was there but the words never made it to the page.

Julie was a good character, but I could not love her.  I just didn't feel like I connected with her.  I felt like she was annoying at times.  I feel like her part of the story was actually the parts that were lacking something for me.  I think she needed to be flashed out more. The parts of the book that I got the lost the most in involved her and her random trains of thought.

I think that with a little work this book could be a great one.  With a little fleshing out of things it cold become one of those series that everyone loves.  I just don't see that yet.

I loved the hanger at the end though.  That little tidbit was enough to make me want to know what happens next.  I am willing to give the next book in the series a try, with the hope that things get fleshed out better. 

Stars: 3 out of 5

Amazon Link: Buy it here

Goodreads Link: Click here

Book Review - Runes, By Ednah Walters

So I didn't get much sleep last night, all because of a book.  I started reading and I couldn't stop until I was done.  It has been a while since I was kept up by a book.  Usually I can make myself sleep, but last night that was not happening.  Since that did happen, I decided that I needed to share the book with you all.

On with the show...

BLURB

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.
------------------------------

Book Title: Runes

Author: Ednah Walters

So I got this book from Amazon for free.  I find some of the best books that way.  This was no exception.  I loved, loved, loved this book. It was a random pick for my before bed reading and it just so happens that once I started it I couldn't stop.  This book had me in it's grasp!

I loved the characters.  Raine was a bit annoying at times, but she was a teenager so it was to be expected.  If a teenager is not annoying you at some point, then there is something wrong. Raine was a well developed character though, and the pain she has already felt by the time the book starts is enough to make her more real.

The love triangle in this one is predictable, but that is not a bad thing.  I knew as soon as each male was introduced that we were going to see it happen.  I am not sure which guy I am rooting for either.  Both have their qualities.  I know that Raine has made up her mind already, but I think that she needs to keep an open mind.  I tend to go for the underdog types, and the best friend is the underdog in my opinion. 

The whole idea of this story is new, which is rare in the urban fantasy genre right now.  There are so many series popping up that it is hard to find something that is not like everything else.  This one is definitely different.  We all need something new and fresh in the genre.

Without giving away the ending, let me just say I was so upset that I had to turn off my Kindle.  I can't wait t get my hands on the next one.

Pros: Characters, Storyline, Idea

Cons: The ending killed me.

Overall rating: Highly, highly recommended!!

Book Review - Exodia, By Debra Chapoton

I love that I have so many books to read and review. Sadly my work in the real world has been keeping me so busy that I have not had the time to do all the reviews that I need to get done. I also have been slacking after I read some and not getting the reviews up as quickly as possible. I feel like a horrible book reviewer right now. Sometimes there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done you need to get done. On with this show...

Book Title: Exodia

Author: Debra Chapoton

I got this book in exchange for an honest review.

I will be honest, I am all about the end of the world, starting over again books.   Even when it's really just technology not working and things changing for people.  This book is part of this kind of genre for me. It was very well written and definitely was far more then I expected.

It was not hard to empathize with the characters and I felt like I really got to know them.  I was able to make myself part of their world through out the book.

Over all I am definitely looking forward to the next one in the series.  The ideas for this story were so well thought out that I want to see where she goes with the next book.  I love when I can watch a story unfold as I am reading them.

I will not tell too much about the story itself, because if you are anything like me you hate to have spoilers before  you read something.  That being said, I loved the idea of the tattoos on people, with certain colors meaning certain things.  It was different and it really did help you see how the world had been divided after things went downhill.  You see things from both sides of the story and have the main character right there in the middle, trying to figure out where he stands, where he comes from.

Pros: The characters are so well written.

Cons: I am not a fan of when a book can be paralleled with s bible story.

Overall rating: I would definitely recommend this one.

Book Review - Affairs of the Dead and Requiem for the Living, By A.J. Locke - Red Moon Book Tours

So I really enjoyed the two books that I got as part of this blog tour. Once I started reading them I couldn't put them down. I am actually very excited about getting to read the next one, assuming there is one. It leaves you hanging at the end of the second, cliff hangers are like that.

Both books are highly addictive and they are definitely worth the read.  I am going to post the review for the book we are here for, Requiem for the Living as well as the book that comes before it.  They are both wonderful books. Don't forget about the giveway at the end of the blog!  I would personally love to have the little plush dog.  Luna was my favorite :).

Description:


Necromancer Selene Vanream helps ghosts settle their affairs so they can move on. But when breaking the rules gets her in trouble, she's bumped down to tracking ghosts trying to avoid the afterlife. Ghosts like Ethan Lance, who claims he was kicked out of his body when someone else jumped in. Which might be plausible--if such a thing were possible. And if Micah, Selene's partner, didn't pull her into an investigation of brutal murders that lead directly back to Ethan.

But when the whole mess puts Selene's life in danger, she suddenly has very personal reasons to get Ethan's body back. Between her uncomfortable relationship with Micah, and problems with her boss, Selene learns just how much trouble it can be when you don't follow the rules..
__________________________________________________________________  

Book Title: Affairs of the Dead

Author: A.J. Locke

I got this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the paranormal books that don't always follow the mold.  I have read many series where the lead is a woman who can do all kinds of magic, but you hardly ever see a side effect.  You don't have that in this series.  We see from the get go that Selene is going to have to deal regularly with what happens to her when she uses the gifts she was born with.

The characters are definitely strong and easy to love.  I can see this book growing into a long series that keeps us all engaged for years to come.  It reminds of all the wonderful series that we have today that always have fresh, great ideas.  I feel certain that A.J. can keep this going for a while.  That is the great thing with writing in the paranormal genre.

As soon I finished this book I wanted to read the next one. I love when a series pulls me in like that.

Pros: Engaging characters, wonderful storyline

Cons: I feel like some areas were just a little rushed.

Overall rating: Highly recommended!

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

Description:

Selene is slowly dying...too bad that’s the least of her problems.

You could say that Selene Vanream has a lot of problems. First there’s the Rot that’s slowly killing her, despite everything Ilyse and Micah are doing to find a way to save her. 

Then there’s Andrew, the ghost of her boss who is anchored to the living world. Selene would like to ignore him, but anchored ghosts with unsettled business turn into anchored beasties, so she can’t write him off. The government has sent a team to post up at Affairs of the Dead and keep an eye on her, which includes making sure she plays up to Andrew to keep him from turning. 

On top of that, someone is using Selene’s new power to create anchored ghosts for their loved ones to keep around. Not good since the culprit doesn’t have a clue about that whole anchored beastie angle. Now Selene has a criminal to catch while trying to stay out of the hands of government goons who have stripping her reanimation power on their agenda. 

When Micah and Ilyse finally find a way to save her, Selene thinks she can cross one bad thing off her list--until she learns the terrible price that must be paid to keep her alive. Full plate doesn’t cover it. Overflowing plate doesn’t cover it. Selene’s plate has damn near exploded.
 __________________________________________________________________ 

Book Title: Requiem for the Living

Author: A.J. Locke

I got this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story continues in this book and it was great from the get go.  I love that we get the characters that we fell in love with in this book. Selene is back of course and still dealing with all the issues that seem to follow her around.  She is like a magnet for the unlucky to happen to her.  I think that is why I like her so much.

The story in this one flows much better in my opinion, but really the first book and this one are both wonderfully written.  I can't wait to see what the next one holds for us.  I am excited.

I can say that I have fallen in lust with Micah.  I would so love to have someone like him in my life. Hehe.  There is always that one character you just love in your books as you read them.  I am glad we get to see him through out this book. I also want to say this, I hate hate hate Andrew.  He reminds me of all the men I hated when I was still dating.

Now, without giving away anything, because that is not how we roll here at Reading, Writing, and What Not, the ending of this book left me feeling all kinds of confused.  I actually had to read it twice to understand exactly what A.J. did and then I was left screaming that I needed the next book to find out what will happen next.  Selene really did throw us for a loop in her actions.

Pros: OMG the action was great! The characters are still strong.

Cons: I think I want more about Micah's family.  The ending left me screaming.

Overall rating: Highly Recommended!!

Excerpt:

There were a few things that made me feel like my day was not off to the best start. For starters, I had overslept by an hour and a half so I was monstrously late for work. Then there was the scent of smoke creeping into my bedroom accompanied by loud swearing, which meant my ghost roommate had made a disaster of whatever he was trying to procure for breakfast. The sky was overcast so it’d probably be a rainy day. I had a slight headache…and oh yeah, I was looking into my backyard at my Yorkie, Luna, digging furiously in the dirt. I was almost certain what she was trying to unearth wasn’t one of her toys.

I stood there for a few moments more, trying to decipher what it was that Luna was pawing at, then shook my head and ran out of my bedroom. I almost collided with Ethan, who was on his way to my room with a frying pan in his gloved hand and the charred remnants of what he’d come to dub the wake-up bacon.

“It’s burnt, but I figured waving it under your nose would still get you out of bed any—Hey, what’s wrong?”

I brushed past Ethan and ran into the yard where I snatched up Luna, then had a good, hard look at what she’d been wrestling with. I’d been hoping that it was some oddly shaped root or five fingered toy I didn’t remember buying for her, but no, it just had to be the worst possible thing.

A human hand.

Bio:

A.J. Locke is originally from Trinidad and Tobago but has resided in New York City for over ten years. She knew early on that she wanted to be a writer, penned her first novel at fourteen, and hasn’t stopped since. Creating is her passion, and other than writing she enjoys drawing, painting, graphic design, and any other creative whim that may take her.

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Requiem for the Living (The Reanimation Files Book 2) Buy Links:

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Affairs of the Dead (The Reanimation Files Book 1) Buy Links:

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 To go along with the tour I am having a GIVEAWAY! The Grand Prize winner will receive: A Yorkie Plush (in the novels, Selene has a pet Yorkie named Luna), a Rune necklace, a signed paperback copy of Affairs of the Dead an e-book copy of Black Widow Witch, and a $10 Amazon gift card.

Note: In order to win the grand prize you must complete (and show proof) ALL the items on the Rafflecopter! The giveaway will run from June 8th - June 30th. 

If more than one person becomes eligible for the Grand Prize, I will use a random number selector to pick the overall winner.

You also have a chance to win great books from Etopia Press, Rune Necklaces, and Amazon Gift Cards. Those prizes do not require total completion of the items on the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review - Angelfall, by Susan Ee

I realized that not all review blogs have much of anything else on them.  That is not a bad thing, just something I noticed.  I tend to start my posts with a little fluff.  I think it helps me personally so I can get into the flow of writing.  Sometimes I go days, weeks without writing a review and I need to get back into the right mindset.  Does that make sense?

Anyway, I am a huge coffee junkie.  I have to have my cup each morning, sometimes I need way more.  I have days when I go through a whole pot and it's not enough to get my brain out of the fog.  I found this image that fits me so perfectly.

So today's book is one I got from the Kindle Unlimited selection.  Some of the books i find are not worth my time, but this one had me up all night reading it.  I just couldn't put it down and I am all excited that the next book is available for me to get through Kindle Unlimited as well.  I foresee another night of reading and no sleeping.

On with the show.....

Book Title: Angelfall

Author: Susan Ee

This book started out strong.  I loved how you didn't get a sugarcoated, happy start.  You get shove right into the middle of the bad times for the characters.  You have Penryn, the main character, trying to save her mother and sister.  It isn't until you are already vested that you learn that her mother is suffering from a mental illness.  It fit though.  I loved that her issues actually helped Penryn get fro one point to another. 

When I picked up this book for my Kindle, I had hoped that it would be one of those books you can't put down.  I have read some great stand alone books lately but I have been craving a good series to get lost in.  This book is a great start for the series.  I am excited to start the next book.

I was recently asked about my book boyfriends.  When I answered that question, I had not finished this book yet and I have to say that I am fast falling for Raffe.  I think his struggles and his cocky, "I'm better then this" attitude, conflict with each other and there are times when you can see the chinks in his armor. He is definitely how I picture an angel to be, but there is more to him and as you read through the last chapters you can see that he is really struggling with a lot in the world he comes from.

I think this would definitely be a book I would recommend to all the people who love a good series. It keeps you engaged and wanting more through out the whole book.  I think the only draw back I have is that there is some back story missing.  You get how the world has fallen to where it is, but I want more story on Penryn and her family.  And I most definitely want more on Raffe. 

Pros: Massively engaging, great characters, great storyline

Cons: Needs more back story to help understand the characters better

Overall rating: Highly recommended!

Book Review - The Black Lotus, by Claire Warner

You just have to love three day weekends.  I got so much done and did a lot of reading.  The blog will be part of a blog tour that starts on June 1st.  We are trying to get the blog out there more and if you are an author reading this, please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you get your book out there. 

And this week's book review...

Book Title: The Black Lotus 

Author: Claire Warner

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the get go this book held my attention.  The prologue gave me an idea of where the book was heading, like so many have started doing, but it did not prepare me for the full idea and how the characters all got from point A to point B.  It was a well thought out idea and the book holds great promise for a series.

This book was definitely not like most of the paranormal romance that you read.  You get from point A to point B and the two main characters fall in love/get married.  That is not what happened here and I am glad it didn't.  Sometimes a nice change of pace helps bring freshness to a genre.

I do wish that we got more back story about the "issue" the characters are facing.  I felt a little confused about what they were dealing with.  It wasn't enough to take away from the story but I feel like we could definitely use more back story.  I just would love to know how they all ended up the way they are.

I can say that as a character Melissa is a great main character.  She is definitely not your simple, happy girl who does what her family wants her to do.  No, she is stubborn, feisty and definitely a handful.  I love women like this though.  You get so many period women who do exactly what their families want.  She was not one of the those girls.  She made the story more fun, with her own idea of what she needed to be doing.

I can't wait until the next book so I can see where everything goes for these characters.

Pros: The characters are strong and the story is well thought out.

Cons: More back story needed, and sometimes things felt a little rushed.

Overall Rating: I would definitely recommend this book!

Book Reviews - The Merriweather Witches Series, By Tricia Schneider

Alright, so I got a set of four books that are tied together into a series.  I sat down yesterday, while doing massive amounts of laundry, and decided to get to reading them.  When I have a deadline I like to get the books read before then just in case something massive happens at work or elsewhere.  You never know when things will fall apart somewhere.  The life of a social worker.

I am going to give you all four books here...

Book Title: The Witch and the Wolf

Author: Tricia Schneider

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).

So this was the first book in the series.  I wouldn't call them full books, they were more like novellas and I would have surely found them in one book together, like the way Stephen King sometimes does his novellas.  I am only using that format as a example.  Tricia's books are not horror like Mr. Kings' books.

The idea behind the plot was wonderfully thought out. I did have some problems with this book though.  I think that at times things were way too rushed. I know that idea behind the romance genre is find love, living happily ever after.  I think that there were just not enough steps to get from point A to point B.  I get that the characters come from the paranormal side of things, but I just feel like there were many steps left out.

I think that if the author would draw it out more, make it longer, she could give the story more depth. I felt like there were definitely things missing.  You have a main character that is already in love in less then 24 hours.  While I do believe in love at first sight, this was almost too much for me.  I also think that the issues were all prettied up and finished too quickly.  I get the happy ending idea, but I feel like there was no enough "struggle" for this ending.

Yes, we had a werewolf in this one, but it seemed to be a back story, not a main point. I wanted more on that.  I felt like the author just threw that in there to give her male lead something supernatural.

Overall I think that the idea for the story had merit, but I think that Tricia should have fleshed it out more.  I think that if she would take it from novella to full book she could flesh out the idea more and make the story into something grander.  The idea of the evil family member that was going to do bad things to the main character was a great start, but I just felt like it was very rushed.  She wanted to get from meeting your two main characters, the love interest and the protagonist, to them being in love.  There was just not enough between there to make me see them really love each other.

Pros: The characters were likeable. The idea behind the story was great.

Cons: It was too fast.  There was no depth.  The ending was too rushed.

Overall rating: I don't know if I would recommend this to anyone until it is fleshed out more.

Book Title: The Witch and the Vampire

Author: Tricia Schneider

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).

So this is the second book in the series that Tricia Schneider wrote.  I liked that it took place at the same time as the other story, just in a different location.  Again, this was a novella, not a full book.  I use that term because these are not full novel length stories.

I think that the idea behind this one was a bit more thought out.  There was more struggle to this one and I liked that.  The characters in this one were a bit more "grr" for me and I liked that.  I think that it helped with the story.

This one was again still too short for my liking.  I think that it needs to be drawn out more, giving the story more life.  This one has a better struggle in it.  The evil family member in this one is the same as the first, but we get a better idea about him.  I still think there is more there.  I think his part could be made larger, with more depth.  There was just not a lot of depth in the story.

I know that romance is a way of escape, but there was not enough to escape to in this story.  We are brought into the story at the right time but shoved right back out again before we can really settle in.

I do like her idea on vampires.  She has put out there that they only feed on the full moon.  I liked the idea, but what I really want is to know how he became a vampire.  I also didn't like that he just threw out there that he was 100, with nothing else to go with it.  That should have had something to go along with it.  I get that the love interest understood what he was, but I don't care who you are, you tell me you are 100 and I am going to ask some questions.

I am also struggling with the side story that was in this one, with the vampire hunters.  There was just nothing there and it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Pros: The struggle was a bit more pronounced in this one.

Cons: Still too fast.  Too many openings that were left unopened.

Overall rating: I don't think I can recommend this one yet.  If she can draw it out more, I might be able to tell others to read it.

Book Title: The Witch's Thief


 Author: Tricia Schneider

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).

So as this series goes, the stories get more to them.  When we get to the third in the series, it feels like the author is starting to flesh out more things.  I still feel like the story is rushed in this one, but we see more then just getting from point A to point B in this one. As the series progresses, we see more in the stories and that helps a lot.

This one takes place in the same time frame as the first two, and I think that as we get to the end of this one we finally get to start moving past that time frame, due to needing the other characters to come to the location in this one.

I felt like this one has more potential and sadly we were left with a hanging issue.  The "bad guy" in this one had no closure.  I hated that and I wish we could have seen more into the reasoning and thinking of the evil man.  I am being very vague here, but I am just not sure how I want to talk about him.  I don't really know how to fit him into things.  The mad, crazy man was shoved on us and I think that we need back story.  We see the death in the very beginning and then never hear of it again until we are shoved into that story toward the end.  We need more there.

I still feel like the story is lacking something.  I think that there needs to be more added to this one.  I do like that in this one we have a more plausible love story.  They knew each other many years ago and have come back together.  This was more real for me and I could see them coming back together, as opposed to the "I just met you but in less then 24 hours I love you and will marry you" idea we get in other stories.

Pros: This story was fleshed out more.  The love interests were better portrayed.

Cons: Again, still far too rushed.  We need more back story on the antagonist.

Overall rating: I think I could almost recommend this one, if it was given more back story on the bad guy.

Book Title: The Witch's Kiss

Author: Tricia Schneider

I received this book in exchange for an honest review (LoP or Lovers of Paranormal).

Alright, so this is the fourth book in the series.  Of the four, this one felt like it was on the right path from the very beginning.  This one did not feel nearly as rushed.  The main characters were in the last book and the struggles started there. Part of the back story in the previous book are the main point in this book.

So we have a demon and a ghost in this one.  I love that they can't be together to start with and it was not until the very end they even told each other how they felt.  The struggles in this story were better and it gave us a chance to see them trying to do the right thing before they ended up together.

We have a random fiancee, other women who have been with the male lead, and internal struggles that keep the characters away from each other.  I think that this helped make the story more then the others.

I am still struggling with the shortness of the story though.  I would love to see this one drawn out more.  Give us more trying to fix the issues, give us more back and forth between the male and female lead, to show us how they work together.  I just want more!

The ending was still very rushed for me.  We did take longer to get from point A to point B but it was still very fast.  The ending was too pretty, if that make sense.  They took all the problems and tied them up in pretty little bow.  I think it should have been drawn out more, made to feel more plausible.  Well as plausible as a paranormal story can be, with witches, vampires, werewolves and demons.  But I think you understand where I am coming from here.

This is the book that feels more thought out.  I have to wonder if perhaps this was always the end game, but the others were just small steps to get to this one.

Pros: More story, more struggles.

Cons: Too short, the ending was too pretty.

Overall rating: This is the one story in this set of four books I can safely recommend to others.