Thursday, March 5, 2015

The Hell of It by Peter Orullian


The Hell of It by Peter Orullian

This was a free short story that I read on Tor.com. I didn't realize that they offered these shorts until I started seeing them in my Facebook feed. So, like a sci-fi junkie, I click each time I see one and read.

One thing that I love about these Tor shorts is the artwork for the cover image!

THE HELL OF IT starts out strong. The world building is pretty awesome and unique. A father and son struggling on the docks, a missing mother, a whole heck of hopefulness. It was the tragic ending that ruined it for me. If it had turned out differently I would have added another star, but the author broke my heart a bit.

3/5 stars

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The Unleashing (Call of Crows #1) by Shelly Laurenston



The Unleashing (Call of Crows #1)
by Shelly Laurenston
 
After reading the blurb this was a book that I was excited to get my hands on. This book started off great but slowly seemed to go… nowhere. The story seemed to get lost in all the kick-ass, cool girl high school-ness, and pop culture references that make sense if you might live in LA or somewhere closer to the west coast. I seriously felt lost, and the best parts, the interactions between Kera and Vig, were short lived and far between. Still, it was entertaining, I just didn’t love it :(

3.5 stars
*ARC received by the publisher for an honest review.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Get a sneak peek of LET HER GO on Kindle Scout

Every year I enter a book in to some type of contest, last year it was SPARROW MAN in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. That book did very well but didn't make it to the final round. I independently published and readers love it. Still a win!

So, new year, new book, new contest.

LET HER GO has been submitted to Kindle Scout were readers get to nominate the book for a publishing deal. It's only up for 30 days (Feb 25 to March 27), so please please please, take a read, nominate and share with friends :)

FYI: LET HER GO is a contemporary romance, it's a bit different from my regular stuff, but still fun and exciting with a fantastical twist.

Here's the direct link: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3Q32I8E0QP48I
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Thursday, February 19, 2015

Bird Box by Josh Malerman





Bird Box was a great read. Intriguing and mystifying. If your looking for answers as to why this world is the way it is, this isn't the read for you, you'll never get those answers. But if you want to read something dark and gritty that will keep you guessing, then pick up this read.

4/5 stars!

Thoughtful by S. C. Stephens



ARC received from the publisher.

This was the first book I've read by this author. Sadly, it was not my cup of tea. I had a hard time connecting with two people who were having an affair behind their Best friend and boyfriend's back. It didn't set well with me. People make mistakes, but this dragged on and on with a long, drawn-out drama.
The cover is great and the blurb was intriguing, but this wasn't for me.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

True North by Liora Blake



 
 
TRUE NORTH is a fun, sweet contemporary romance. It’s a story about a country girl novelist and a bad boy rocker who fall for each other. Each has their own baggage and they’re guarded in their own way, watching their relationship develop around their issues was so much better than the billion of insta-love romances that are out there. This book kept me up reading until 4am and then I finished it the next day. I haven’t done that in a while. The main character, Kate, gets frustrating at times but it’s understandable, she’s had a tough go. I put my kindle down at 50% and literally rolled over and hugged my husband in the middle of the night while he was sleeping. Reading about a character living through your worst fears-in this case the loss of a loving husband-can help you remember to appreciate them a bit more.

Overall a great read.

4/5 stars

I received an ARC for an honest review



Sunday, February 1, 2015

Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton



According to Publishers Weekly, “In this powerful beginning to a complex family saga...Dayton excels at creating memorable characters.”
SEEKER is billed as a Young Adult fantasy novel. And while the characters are memorable and the family saga complex, there is something off.

What I loved: 
The relationship between Quin, John and Shinobu. This book reminded me nothing of the Hunger Games or Divergent, but at times I did find myself thinking it reminded me a bit of Clockwork Princess with the love triangle.
The little physics class about traveling between dimensions was fun.
The deceptions and family secrets intriguing, but not as intriguing as Maud’s character.


What I didn’t like: 
Wait, what’s a Seeker and what are they seeking? And why did Quin suddenly become this magnificent healer for 18 months and then we never revisit that power and it was never hinted at in the first place?

Parts of this book are great, but there’s something missing and the 18 month span in Hong Kong seems out of place in a book like this. It’s a good fantasy read, but lacking in the world building. Maybe book 2 will bring it all together, but the story didn’t draw me in enough to feel like I have to read the next one.

3/5 Stars

**I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review**