Jan 28, 2013

2

Review of Blood Shadows by Lindsay J. Pryor

Hey everybody! It's time for this book to get back in the spotlight. I hosted a book tour for it here a few days ago, but I hadn't finished reading it by the time the tour came around here. Yeah.... But it did just finish it a little while ago, so now I can actually finish the review I started for the tour.

Make sure that you do end up checking out the tour post to see an interview with the author and to read the first three chapter of the novel for free!



For vengeance - would you trust a vampire?

For justice - could you betray your family?

For love - are you ready to question everything you believe in?

Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of 'third species' beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit's most powerful agent. Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy - a master vampire - comes with a death wish. Many have tried, but few have survived.

For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation. With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane's help she is next.

She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy. The vampire who despises everything she stands for. Or die.


***


Lindsay J. Pryor's debut novel. I know she said that she's been writing unprofessionally for years, but still. Wow.

First off, I absolutely adore the world she's put into place here. Everything is so well formed with its own history and culture that it really feels like I'm living in Blackthorn whenever I'm reading. Every character has a story to tell (or not to tell if they have anything to say about it, ehem, Kane....), and I love to hear from them all.
 
The things about Blood Shadows that I've appreciated the most so far is how invested the author gets into the little details. She won't just skim over the minor plot points and give a little summary that says this and this and this happened but that it doesn't really matter too much.... Of course it matters! If it's not important, then it doesn't need to be in there at all! The little details really do count when you throw yourself into a story, and I'm really glad that they're not forgotten here.

My favorite parts of the novel come more from Kane's perspective, even though I feel like I probably shouldn't like him so much. He's extremely manipulative, devious, and follows his own agenda at all costs, but he's a very interesting character to follow, so I love him anyway. I tried really hard not to like him so much because he's honestly not that nice of a person, but I couldn't help myself. Ask anyone, I never like the "bad boy" type of characters, but Kane got under my skin from the moment he broke into Caitlin's apartment to kidnap her in the middle of the night (see, not nice!) and he's stayed there ever since.

The ending, or at least the part leading up to it.... well, I'm not really sure what I think about it. Yeah, I guess I can understand it, but it didn't really feel like the whole epic showdown that was being led up to throughout the whole novel. I don't think anybody even technically died. And yes, I do have to say technically because there were some slightly nontechnical deaths there for a little bit.

I do have a few questions, and if you haven't read this book yet, this is the time where you tune out. If you have read it, or are just curious about my questions, you can highlight the text for it to show up.

For one, I wasn't exactly so sure about the necessity of a soul. When the soul ripper takes it out, you die, yet Kane was able to remove Caitlin's and she was fine. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the soul ripper steals your astral body too...? I don't know.

My other question is more of a technical detail, but it confused me all the same. I'm assuming that Caitlin's mom was a shadow reader (and I could be totally wrong) because it sounded like it was hereditary and she passed the book along to her. But then Kane said the only way to remove a shadow reader's soul was for them to give it up. Well, her mom died when the soul ripper took hers, and I highly doubt that any of that was willing. 

Just questions, but still, they made me wonder. Overall, they didn't bother me at all. I loved everything in this book, especially because none of the characters were perfect, but still so amazing in their very own way.

Rating: 5 stars



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A copy of the novel was provided for us in exchange for an honest review.


0

Coming Soon.... #5: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

These are a Must Read. 



The Retribution of Mara Dyer doesn't come out until Fall 2013!! Keep a look out!!


Gabby
0

Review of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin


Mara Dyer doesn’t think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can’t remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn’t believe that after everything she’s been through, she can fall in love.

She’s wrong.


***


This. Book. Is. Incredible! I loved it! Put it this way, I finished it in under twenty-four hours. That ought to tell you how amazing it is.

At the very beginning, one becomes hooked. We are informed of the protagonist being a girl who doesn't even know what her name is. Interesting? Well, there is more to the story. Apparently, there was an accident. A building collapsed. Tragic right? Or so we think up until we get further into the book and we find out the cause of the collapsed asylum. I did mention that the building was an old, dilapidated asylum? That is enough of foreshadowing to get you through the first several chapters. Up until the first death. Or should I say murder? What I love so much about this book is how much suspense there is! Every chapter ends so abruptly that you are eager to turn the page and see what happens next. It should be like that with every book, but sadly its not.

Now, the characters Noah Shaw: the sexy, British boy who plays the guitar, loves dogs and hates Florida. The one who everyone seems to think is a bad-boy but who deep down, is truly just a loving, sweet, sarcastic bad boy. See the difference? It seems as though he and the protagonist, Mara have a lot in common. More so than anyone has a right to believe.

Mara Dyer: The girl who all the drama is happening to. She has her own personal stalker. Doesn't that tell you how important she is? It should. She is the one who the psychologists are calling crazy, schizophrenic and trying to institutionalize. Sounds as though her life is the bomb, huh? On the bright side she is the..wait, I can't ruin the book!

When people think of crazy people, they think of white lab coats, pills, and probably even the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. But this brings a whole new twist on what suspense, psycholgy and coo-coo is.

Rating: 5 Stars


For When Words Aren't Enough



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Michelle Hodkin grew up in Florida, went to college in New York, and studied law in Michigan. She is the author of the Mara Dyer trilogy, including The Unbecoming of Mara DyerThe Evolution of Mara Dyer and The Retribution of Mara Dyer. Visit her online at MichelleHodkin.com.









Gabby

Jan 25, 2013

2

Blood Shadows Book Tour: Thoughts, Interview, & Preview



Welcome to our stop of Lindsay J. Pryor's Blood Shadows book tour, hosted by







Lindsay J. Pryor's debut novel. I know she said that she's been writing unprofessionally for years, but still. Wow.

First off, I absolutely adore the world she's put into place here. Everything is so well formed with its own history and culture that it really feels like I'm living in Blackthorn whenever I'm reading. Every character has a story to tell (or not to tell if they have anything to say about it), and I love to hear from them all.

My favorite parts of the novel come more from Kane's perspective, even though I feel like I probably shouldn't like him so much. He's extremely manipulative, devious, and follows his own agenda at all costs, but he's a very interesting character to follow, so I love him anyway.

The things about Blood Shadows that I've appreciated the most so far is how invested the author gets into the little details. She won't just skim over the minor plot points and give a little summary and say that this and this and this happened, but it doesn't really matter too much.... Of course it matters! If it's not important, then it doesn't need to be in there at all! The little details really do count when you throw yourself into a story, and I'm really glad that they're not forgotten here.

So you could definitely say that it's so far, so good. Or, so far, so AWESOME! The plot has dragged me around all over the place, and I've been guessing the entire time. I'm still in the midst of trying to figure out exactly what's going on and who's up to what, but there's no way that I'm giving up now. I love the story, and I love the characters, and I really love the world they're living in. If I was rating just what I've read so far, I'd say that five stars aren't nearly enough to even begin to cover it.



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Jan 23, 2013

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Review of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Leo Tolstoy’s classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.

In their world frivolous liaisons are commonplace, but Anna and Vronsky’s consuming passion makes them a target for scorn and leads to Anna’s increasing isolation. The heartbreaking trajectory of their relationship contrasts sharply with the colorful swirl of friends and family members who surround them, especially the newlyweds Kitty and Levin, who forge a touching bond as they struggle to make a life together. Anna Karenina is a masterpiece not only because of the unforgettable woman at its core and the stark drama of her fate, but also because it explores and illuminates the deepest questions about how to live a fulfilled life.


***


Now, I know that this is quite out of the norm for our blog. I know that this book is not supernatural or anything magical. Still, I have a passion for the classics and thought, "Hey, why not?" So, for any one who might want to read something out of the norm, here you go.

Let me start off by saying that this book is LONG! I know, that is a little obvious, but I feel the need to express it. It took me two weeks to read this book and seeing as how I read "Gone with the Wind" in three days, the length and details of this book can be determined with that information.

So when the book starts off, we expect it to be about some woman named Anna Karenina right? Well, its not. That is the first unique thing about the book. The book begins with Oblonsky, the unfaithful older brother to Anna. So this in itself is something to help foreshadow the events of the book. Basically, there is an affair which gives you a pretty good foreshadowing of what is to come....Need I say more?

Throughout the book, the point of view changes but the point remains the same. Love. Betrayal. Death. What more could you want?


For When Words Aren't Enough....

Yes, it's for the movie, but it's still pretty close!


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Gabby

Jan 21, 2013

4

Watcher Book Tour: Review, Intiverview, & GIVEAWAY



Welcome to our stop of Audra Middleton's Watcher book tour, hosted by
































































I really, really, really liked this book. It's a perfect example of the epic fantasy genre (or as one of my friends (you know who you are) keeps telling me its called, high fantasy), but it still has a little bit of that contemporary feel to it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore authors like Tolkien, but is it too much to ask for just a little dry humor? Maybe even some sarcasm?

Oh, and yes, I did just compare this book to Lord of the Rings. The one and only, multimillion dollar grossing, seemingly never ending trilogy that is an icon for all things fantasy. But where Lord of the Rings is your adventurous, quest-riddled journey, I'd consider Watcher to be more of a true story at heart with pieces of that woven in there.

And what a story it was. The novel starts off when our two main protagonists, Watcher and Benaiah, are just kids, goes with each of their separate journeys until they unexpectedly meet each other (which is undoubtedly the best scene in the book), and then continues with them together for the rest of the novel to play out in every epic proportion imaginable.

It was interesting to really watch the characters grow up instead of having to make due with only a few flashbacks to childhood at best. Little Ben stole my heart from the very first time I met him, and I was about ready to take out Imala or anybody else who tried to corrupt the inherent goodness that lived within him. Having to see him go through battle at first almost killed me, and I deeply regretted what he had to deal with in order to grow up, along with the incidents that led to his aunt having to raise him alone (even though Marta would find a way to make me smile pretty much every time she opened her mouth).

Watcher intrigued me from the very beginning, but I never really connected with her until she started spending time with Ben and her past was revealed (in pretty much the coolest way possible, I might add). Her selective naivety and very understandable questions on many overlooked topics (such as the necessity of clothing) were always much appreciated.

And then there's Kitty. Kitty's just so awesome that he deserves his own paragraph. Honestly, how many friendly bears do you know named Kitty? Yes, a bear named Kitty. How awesome is that?! He is extremely protective of Watcher and is the best friend she could have ever asked for, even though his concerned licking has disturbed quite a few. Kitty is the literal epitome of being a big teddy bear, and I absolutely loved him for it.

I can't wait for book two!

Rating: 5 stars

 

The Excerpt


War threatens to destroy the world of Anthelion unless the holy man, Goran, can solve his prophecy riddle. For every clue he finds, another obstacle surfaces. An orphan girl, Watcher, becomes his responsibility. As if parenthood itself isn’t daunting enough, she keeps a bear for a pet and transforms into her forest surroundings to avoid socialization. Hope momentarily emerges when Goran finds Benaiah, the Chosen Son of the prophecy. Only he soon discovers Benaiah is a social pariah on the verge of embracing darkness. 

When Benaiah and Watcher unexpectedly meet, the two outsiders find in each other a sense of belonging they’ve never known.  Now their emerging love promises to bring about the very war Goran is struggling to prevent.





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January 20 - Meet and Greet at Reading Addiction Blog Tours
January 21 - Review & Interview at Marked By Books
January 22 - Interview at Mom with a Kindle
January 23 - Interview at A Dream Within a Dream
January 24 - Review at My Reading Addiction
January 25 - Interview at Wintry Words
January 26 - Interview at Love in a Book
January 27 - Review & Interview at My Cozie Corner
January 28 - Interview at Lovely Reads
January 29 - Promo at Intriguing Reads
January 30 - Review & Interview at Stressed Rach
January 31 - Review at Emily's Bookshelf
February 1 - Interview at Brooke Blogs
February 2 - Review at Say it with Books


A copy of the novel was provided for us in exchange for an honest review.

Jan 18, 2013

0

So I've Been Thinking.... #5: "Twist" Endings


Hey, Luke! You know that guy in the cape? The one with the funky mask? Yeah, him. Well, I don't want to spoil the surprise, but he's your dad!

The good news? He only kinda sorta wants you dead.

The bad news? Gender confusion appears to run in the family. You may want to get a new haircut.


They're everywhere. Those ultimate "surprise" endings that nobody except for the majority of the human population ever saw coming. They may have started off okay, and probably even have a pretty good premise, but they're overworked and hinted at so much that there really isn't much guessing left by the end of the story. At that point, all of the built up tension falls flat, and you're just left thinking, oh well, I guess that was sort of nice.

That's not what I want out of my books! I'm what you'd call an "active reader," always trying to figure things out along with everybody else in the story. I try to be a part of the novels I'm reading as much as possible because if I take the time to invest myself in the story, I'm going all the way. That's just how I do things.

I recently read a story (that shall remain nameless, no book bashing here) with this problem. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it as a whole, but it just didn't do it for me. The characters were great, the premise was awesome, and a whole lot of time was invested into world building, but it just seemed too.... predictable.

When I was able to see every major plot point coming, including the huge "twist" ending, the book lost a lot of its appeal. I basically had the entire storyline, sans minor occurrences, mapped out in my head. That took pretty much all of the fun out of reading the book because if you already know what's going to happen, then why keep going?

Good books, and I mean really good books, drag you along to the very last page. You're always completely immersed in the story, never breaking the suspension of disbelief by your own fulfilled predictions. There is no way you're putting that book down because you know that you'll never be able to sleep until you figure out what really happens.

That's not to say that you can never guess anything right in book, just that the story shouldn't be so transparent that you can see all the way to the ending after the first few chapters.

Now, I'm not saying that the only good books out there have that element of mystery to keep the readers guessing because that's not true at all. There are absolutely amazing books that never even try to twist and turn to confuse the reader, but they are very evident about that. You start running into problems when there's this highly extensive dramatic build up to some great reveal that never seems to live up to itself.

So what do you guys think? Do you like to be actively involved in figuring out the story, or do you usually just go along for the ride? Are you bothered when even really good books turn out to be completely predictable?


Jan 16, 2013

2

I Kissed a Dog Book Tour: Excerpt & GIVEAWAYS




Welcome to our stop of Carol Van Atta's I Kissed a Dog book tour! This tour is hosted by

Chloe Carpenter isn't like other women. She can communicate with animals. A gift she unwrapped following one of her frequent dances with death. 

In her otherwise wacky life, she's finally found a semblance of sanity working at the Plum Beach Wildlife Park, where her unique talents can make life or death differences for the animals in her care. That semblance is shattered when a new veterinarian roars into the park in his spiffed up sports car and sets his golden gaze on her. If she had her way, he'd roar right back out. 

Problem: He's her new coworker and he's saved her life twice - in the past twenty-four hours. 

Zane Marshall, Enforcer for the Pacific Pack of purebred werewolves, has a job to do - figure out who or what is mutilating the young men of Plum Beach. 

With orders to find the woman who talks to animals, he accepts a position working alongside the fiery Chloe Carpenter, a female who ignites his interest far more than he ever expected. Remarkably, she's the one elusive female with potential to bring meaning and passion to his empty existence. 

Problem: She despises him. 

Together, they're forced to unravel a mystery of supernatural proportions, a murderous mystery with eternal implications for everyone. In the process, they discover opposites really do attract. 

Major Problem: Zane is pledged to another woman, and she'll do anything to keep him from Chloe.







 

The Excerpt


Click here to read all of Chapter One.

 

The Giveaways


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

The Tour

January 5 - Guest Blog at Fangs, Wands & Fairydust 
January 8 - Promo at Cover2CoverBlog
January 10 - Guest Blog at Rabid Reads
January 11 - Guest Blog and Review at Books Books and More Books 
January 13 - Guest Blog at Reading Between the Wines
January 16 - Promo at Marked By Books 
January 17 - Promo at Frankie Blooding's Bookshelf
January 18 - Interview at Paranormal Romance News
January 20 - Review at Books, Books, and More Books
January 21 - Interview at Paranormal Book Club
January 24 - Excerpt  at Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books
January 26 - Interview at Books & Tales
January 30 - Interview at Beauty but a Funny Girl
January 31 - Interview and Review at Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews 
January 31 - Review at She Wolf Reads 
February 1 - Interview and Review at Happy Tails & Tales
February 3 - Promo at Fetch Me My Fainting Couch
February 4 - Promo at Mama Knows Books
February 6 - Guest Blog at Buffy's Ramblings
February 11 - Review at TBQ'S Book Palace
February 13 - Interview at What's Beyond Forks?
February 14 - Guest Post at Monique Morgan
February 21 - Guest Blog and Review at Adventure Into Romace
February 27 - Guest Blog and Review at The Book Maven
February 28 - Review at Vampire Romance Books




Jan 12, 2013

0

Secret of the Songshell Book Tour: Review, Interview, & GIVEAWAY



Welcome to our stop of Brian Tashima's Secret of the Songshell book tour, hosted by














































Joel Suzuki gets a huge surprise when he bumps into his favorite rock star while walking down the street. You see, this particular rock star -- multiplatinum bandleader Marshall Byle -- is supposed to be dead.

Joel gets an even bigger surprise when Marshall makes him the offer of a lifetime: the chance to become a rock star himself. There's a catch, of course, but this one is a little different. To unlock the shortcut to success, Joel must travel to an alternate world where his unique brain waves can be combined with the sound waves of music to create magical effects. If he can learn to harness these powers, he will be able to write songs that capture the hearts of millions.

As a sensitive sixteen-year-old with Asperger's Syndrome living in a single-parent home, Joel leads a stressful life full of bullies, bad grades and money woes. Figuring that stardom will solve all of his problems, he accepts Marshall's offer. But once Joel arrives in the new world, he finds himself faced with an unexpected audition that is unlike anything he has ever imagined....



Brian Tashima was born and raised in Hawaii and has been a resident of Vancouver, Washington since 2000. In addition to being an author, he is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who has won a Hoku award (Hawaii’s version of the Grammys) and has had his music featured in short films, international compilations, and numerous other forms of media. He is currently a member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), Willamette Writers, Northwest Independent Writers Association, and three Vancouver/Portland-based rock bands.




January 7 - Guest Blog at Mom With A Kindle
January 7 - Promo and Review at Honest Variety Books
January 8 - Interview at Fang-tastic Books
January 9 - Interview at Roxanne’s Realm
January 11 - Guest Blog at The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
January 12 - Interview and Review at Marked By Books 
January 12 - Interview at Books, Books The Magical Fruit
January 13 - Guest Blog at Monique Morgan
January 14 - Guest Blog and Review at Moosubi Reviews!


A copy of the novel was provided for us in exchange for an honest review.