easy bake coven by liz schulte

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Wednesday, March 27, 2013 2 bookish peeps...

Easy Bake Coven
Title: Easy Bake Coven
Series: Easy Bake Coven #1
Author: Liz Schulte
Page: 350
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover Rating: 4.5/5
Summary (GoodReads):
For Selene Warren being a witch is no big deal. She dabbles in harmless magic with her friends and never thinks much about it. However, when a stranger who seems to know her shows up at her studio and her grandmother is brutally attacked, her simple life becomes complicated. A world of elves, half-elves, fae—and one peculiar Sekhmet named Femi open up to her. She will discover that fairy tales are real, politics are ugly in any world, and there is a lot more to her life than she ever dreamed possible. This new reality threatens swallow Selene whole, but with a forgotten past beating down her door, she will have to dive in to save her future.

My Say:
I’ve been reading a lot of withes and paranormal lately. I know that and I’m not complaining. For now, I think they are been drugging me with luscious story that I cant say no or put down. A story about Selene, part Elf and part human character totally intrigued my interest and I was delighted to learn that the whole story is totally intelligent. The storyline is exciting and developing quite ok throughout the whole story till the end. I love all the characters and each of them, which I don’t think is too crowd because they have a reason to be on there, which also complete the story. I also found that the story is funny and with few quirky dialogues in between the lines. Even though there was a lot of chapters, they are short chapters and it kinds of made the story have a fast pace, which I think the book can be read in one sitting, other than you will fill wasted if you put it aside for a moment. On the other hand, I have to say that I imagined Cheney as Legolas @ Orlando Bloom the whole time. I don’t know but he seems to fit the character. All in all, I think anyone who adores paranormal romance, elves, and witches, should pick up and read the book. It’s very entertaining and fully recommended it as I will get her next sequel in the series.

Promo: Easy Bake Coven #2
Hungry Hungry HoodooTitle: Hungry, Hungry, Hoodoo
Synopis: One simple revelation about her past turns Selene Warren’s life upside down. Determined not to let her elf half ruin her future, she fights for the love she’s found at Cheney’s side, despite her increasing doubts about the bond they share. However, when her studio burns down, a new enemy emerges and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. To save one of her friends from a gruesome death, she must expose who she was and put more than just her life on the line. Her only hope is deciphering her past in time to save them all, but the more she learns, the less she can trust anyone.

About the Author 

Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn't always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more. When Liz isn't writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.

Follow Liz Schulte: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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the foundlings by r.m. garcia

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Monday, March 25, 2013 1 bookish peeps...

Title: The Foundlings
Series: The Foundlings #1
Author: R.M. Garcia
Page Count: 396
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended Age: 16+
Awards: Received 2nd place in the 2011 Reader View Awards
Summary (GoodReads):
After the worst year of his life, all Donnie wanted was happiness, and when he met Abbie, he was sure he had found it. But their happiness together is placed in jeopardy after a chilling a encounter. They are dragged in to the world of Vampires. Orphaned, now they must fight to survive, fight to live and fight to keep their love alive. They find themselves outcasts in this world, the world of the Foundlings. In the vampire world of Foundlings, their kind is hunted mercilessly. Donnie and Abbie meet Espee and Nox, who along with other Foundlings stand to protect their members. As the leader of the den, Espee teaches them to survive, to hide, and to avoid detection from the formal Bloodlines. You see every vampire originated from a Bloodline Source, and each Bloodline could only birth a certain number of vampires from its Source. As it turned out, Foundlings complicated the formal Bloodlines’ plans and their possible numbers. For every risen Foundling, there would be one less vampire available to the corresponding Bloodline. Every formal Bloodline down the line, from the Reich all the way to the Old Ones, cared little for Foundlings. The reason for their hatred was unknown to every Foundling. To every Bloodlines, these bastard offspring, these “accidents,” were simply intolerable.

Can Donnie and Abbie's love survive? Can Espee figure out a way to protect her kind? She sees something in Donnie, something she has never seen in any other Foundling. Will he be the key?

My Say:
I like the book cover so much and I think it looks very classic and vintage. Maybe only in my eyes. The story on the other hand was actually quite satisfying since I was intrigued after reading the synopsis. The last classic vampire book I've read was Dracula. Reading this one seems to remind me of it. The author actually introduces the other side of vampires, as if they do act and live like any other human beings. The mixed of history manipulation kind of interesting, i.e Vampire Nazis. I have to admit that is genius. However, of course there's a flaw, I felt like he has many to tell, i.e, characters, which me sometimes lost track of it. But the main characters are great. The love relation they have, for me is enough to say that they do have the sparks, but to say it has blown me away, not really. Other thing that totally made me hooked was that I was fascinated by different bloodlines and powers that they have. I thought that was cool. I'm very looking forward to read the sequel, to know how much will the characters grow.

Note: I got a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Author Guest Post

What would happen if there are vampires really blending into our human community? Would it be like what happened in X-Men?

I actually cover this in The Foundlings, it’s actually a big part of joining a Bloodline, a process that I called the detachment. Its sole purpose is to make sure no one would be looking for you, and that you would not be on any missing persons lists. After a generation those files are closed and you can move about freely, even establishing a new identity.  I surmised that since technology is so advanced today, that faking ones death was really the best way to go to stay completely hidden. There are others too, but in the Foundlings this is the detachment that is selected.  I think that if the general population knew about vampires, that yes they would hunt them down. So I believe that vampires would do as they have always done, place thralls in power to control the flow of information, and by extension protect their secret.  Like in X-men specialized techniques would evolve to deal with the threat, which some organizations that are in conflict with the vampires now use.  Foundlings in many ways are like Mutants from the X-men, they cannot join the Bloodlines nor would they be accepted by the government, or would they, hmmm? Sorry lost my train of thought there, but I may explore that concept in the future. Readers who like the X-men should enjoy the book immensely. One of my readers, who enjoyed the book, drew many comparisons to the X-men as he read the story.  After he made that comment I began to see them as well. For example the Reich Bloodline has an ability which they call the “Die Mauer” It translates into “The Wall” in German. This ability allows them to turn their flesh into living marble, a lot like Colossus’ ability to turn his flesh into living metal. I hope that after reading the guest post you decide to give the story a try.

About the Author

Born and raised in NJ, R.M. Garcia is the son of Puerto Rican parents who moved to NJ from PR shortly after getting married. He has two younger siblings, twins, Eric and Erica. Growing up he was a simple child who never asked for much because his imagination provided him with everything he would ever need. He was considered a dreamer by all of his teachers, but he never thought that was a bad thing. R.M. was initially very shy until he got older and stopped caring what others thought about him. Either you liked him or you didn’t but he was always true to himself. He has been called weird, quirky, funny, and trustworthy; all titles he holds dear. R.M. originally wrote the short story of The Foundlings when he was still in High School and it was not until much later that he fully developed it into a book. Back in the day, he used to write poetry and often compared his work to the work of a friend, Travis, who was far better at poetry in R.M.’s opinion. After High School, R.M. moved to Florida where he attended college before dabbling in varied professions over the next several years. Such jobs included Hotel Manager, Accountant, Insurance Agent, Travel Agent, Customer Service Rep, Draftsman, and even a Fry Cook. When R.M. started writing his book, he realized that writing was his true passion and what he is ultimately meant to do.

R.M. loved writing The Foundlings and even if it does not become a bestseller, he will continue to write. God willing, and with the help of his fans, The Foundlings will make a mark in the literary world.



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endless by tawdra kandle

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Wednesday, March 20, 2013 2 bookish peeps...

Title: Endless
Author: Tawdra Kandle
Series: King series #4
Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 3.5/5
Summary (GoodReads):
After the tumult of her high school senior year, all is right in Tasmyn Vaughan’s world. She’s attending college with her boyfriend, and she’s learning to control her powers. Everything is finally perfect, until it isn’t. When her new part-time job leads to more than she bargained for, she is thrown into a deadly fight against forces of evil that she didn’t even know existed. Mastering her extraordinary gifts—along with the strength of an endless love—may be the only weapon that can guarantee her a happily ever after.

My 2 Cents:
I read the book without actually realizing the book is book 4 and the final book in the King series. From the start, the story was compelling and I was literally drawn till the last page. Tamsyn is a very cool girl character. She has superpower and she does not seem to hate or like it. She’s more like just okay with it, which make me think how cool she is. I can’t say that without reading the first 3 books, but I’ve read reviews about them and I think I might have been right. Michael on the other hand is super hot. He’s cool, not too cocky or too protective (which sometimes make me feel bored of typical boyfriend character). He is a boyfriend that every girl would want one. The author also made their love relationship so natural; maybe because the book is already the final book, but I have no complaints about that, just love them. I think the story is very constructive, the flow is good and I don’t think I missed any part of the story. Towards to the end, I think the author also did a good job to summarize up the story. It’s not like very predictable happy ending, it makes you wonder a bit and I would probably think that is genius way to make readers wanting more. That being said, I hope I can read more from the author as I am actually got Fearless to read. Yeay!

About the Author


Tawdra Kandle is the author of THE KING SERIES, a young adult urban fantasy quartet. Born in South Jersey, Tawdra published her first short story at the age of 13 in Child’s Life magazine. During the early years of her marriage and motherhood, she wrote articles and columns on parenting and homeschooling, as well as some homeschooling curriculum. THE KING SERIES is her first published full-length fiction. Tawdra currently lives in central Florida with her husband, and children, both skin and fur types. And yes, she has purple hair.
Follow Tawdra Kandle:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

Check out the entire King Series:
Book 1: Fearless
Book 2: Breathless
Book 3: Restless
Book 4: Endless


Tawdra Kandle is giving away an awesome swag pack. Please visit HERE to enter the giveaway!

Note: I receive a copy of the book for an exchange of an honest review. This will not affected my review in any way.

crimson flames by ashley robertson

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Friday, March 15, 2013 2 bookish peeps...

Crimson FlamesTitle: Crimson Flames
Author: Ashley Ribertson
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover Rating: 4/5
Summary:
Half-vampire Abby Tate is determined to learn more about the sorceress powers that were awakened inside her when she was turned into a vampire—making her a whole new hybrid species. There’s a group of rogue vamps banding together and forming a Resistance against the vampire governing body, The Head Council, and Abby’s newly discovered powers are the key to the Council’s victory. Now the Resistance will do anything possible to remove the hybrid threat, and with no other options, Abby is forced to rely on the aid of the Council, yet can she trust the very vampires that hunt for her human lover? And even worse, can she fight the unwelcome attraction that’s growing between her and one of those ancient vampire rulers?

My 2 Cents:
I read the book without reading the first book in the series. I dont know the history of it but I could say the I can pick up the whole story. I love vampires, including the sparkling one. Give me any vampire book, than I would totally immense in it. Same goes to Crimson Flames. How crimson the flames would be? With a lot of actions, skills and kicking character like Abby, what could I ask for more? Abby makes me thinking about Kate Beckinsale in Underworld. So freaking awesome, with a lot of actions, deep glaring eyes. Oh, so sexy. The story line is actually kind of impressive. How many books will incorporate magic/sorcerer in? So many time it was always Vampires and Werewolf love interest or hybrid, and then this one just will make a new trend of it. There's lot of power progressive in the book, the character keep growing and well-shaped. I like Abby, I like her personality and I could imagine her as independent girl. I know it will have another sequel for sure, but I like most, I dont think felt there's a cliffhanger in the story. Her writing is good, I mean she picturing Abby and other characters without any too much details. It is just pack and condense, very straightforward. The book is totally recommended.

About the Author 

Ashley RobertsonAshley Robertson resides in sunny Orlando, Florida, and loves writing about anything paranormal. She also composes poems and songs, though she learned long ago she doesn't have a singing voice. When she isn't writing you'll find her spending time with family and friends, training in her home gym, traveling and exploring new places, and drinking fine red wines and gourmet coffees from her Nespresso machine.

Find her here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads
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This tour will start March 1, 2013. Please also join the Crimson Flames Release Day Party on March 1st. 

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secrets by darcia helle

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Wednesday, March 13, 2013 7 bookish peeps...


Title: Secrets
Author: Darcia Helle
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover Rating: 4.5/5
Published: August 2012
Summary (GoodReads):
SURVIVAL; Samantha’s monsters aren't under the bed; they’re the people she calls Mom and Dad.
ESCAPE; She makes it out alive, her sanity barely intact.
LIESShe creates a new past that fools everyone, including herself.
HOPE; A life filled with love and security teeters on its base of lies.
SECRETS; When it all comes crumbling down, will Samantha make it out alive?

My Say:
This book is actually kind of psycopath-ish. I have no idea what it would be to be in the character's shoes. It was definitively draining my emotion to really feel her. Can you imagine the whole family members are crazy? Like literally crazy? The writing of the story is actually quite straight forward, straight to the point, of course you will not get the whole picture first, but that's the beauty of reading an unpredictable twist story. The characters are realistic though quite unbelievably mean. Now I know why secrets are so important to Samantha. What to tell if the past of your life will be a threat towards your future? Yeah, it sounds too unrealistic, but I don't think it's impossible to not to happen to anyone. A fiction could be from a real life story, don't you think? I'm quite impressed with Samantha of how she could bear all the burden of her secrets, even more when her secrets are near to be exposed. It was very intriguing that every page I turn to made me feel nervous. This is my first book of Darcia Helle and very impressed. The book is really recommended.

Note: I received a copy of the book for an exchange of an honest review.
**have adult content and language not suitable for below 16**

Author Guest Post 

What's your opinion about white lies? Seems like everyone lies when they want to keep the secret unbroken. 

This is an interesting question. The vast majority of people tell white lies every day. Imagine what life would be like if we were forced to tell the complete truth all the time. Your coworker brings her new baby to the office to show him off, and asks, “Isn’t he beautiful?” You say, “No, actually he’s the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen.” Or you visit your parents and your mother excitedly asks, “What do you think of the new living room furniture?” Your reply is, “The color is hideous. What were you thinking?”

In these instances, most of us will opt for the white lie. We’ll agree the baby is beautiful and tell our parents the living room looks great. We don’t do this as much for our own benefit as to spare the feelings of the other person. No one is getting hurt by these white lies. I think of them as a form of social etiquette.

Sometimes what we consider to be a white lie is more about a keeping secret. Maybe you don’t want your best friend to know you’re still in touch with her ex-husband. You keep that secret from her in order to preserve your relationship. This kind of lie of omission is different than a white lie in that it is often more about benefiting the person telling the lie or keeping the secret. There’s more of a gray area here. In a sense, you’re still lying to protect the other person’s feelings, but you’re also being deceitful to protect yourself. And someone is often hurt by this type of lie, which makes it less a white lie and more an outright lie.

When I did the final edit for my novel Secrets, I did some research into the science and psychology of keeping secrets. Of course, lying isn’t necessarily involved in secret keeping. Sometimes we choose not to speak on the issue at all, hiding whatever the secret is in silence. Other times keeping a secret involves telling elaborate tales, lies woven together that stretch far beyond the white lie. What I found in my research is that the main reason we keep secrets is to avoid judgment. I think this is often true of why we tell lies, as well. Maybe you’d be embarrassed if your coworkers knew you’d been married to the same man three times, having divorced him twice early in your relationship. You lie to them, using your first wedding date as your anniversary. You ask your husband to do the same. Clearly, you and your husband are both lying and keeping a secret. But you’re not hurting anyone by doing so. It’s not anyone else’s business how many times you marry and divorce the same person.

A white lie is typically defined as a lie told to avoid upsetting the other person. This is not a lie told for self-gain or to hurt someone else. Given these parameters, a lot of the lies we tell each day, the ones we claim are white lies, are just plain lies.

To answer your original question, I think true white lies are a harmless and often beneficial part of our daily interaction. But we need to be clear in our own minds about the reason we’re telling them. 

About the Author 

Darcia Helle lives in a fictional world with a husband who is sometimes real. Their house is ruled by spoiled dogs and cats and the occasional dust bunny. Suspense, random blood splatter and mismatched socks consume Darcia’s days. She writes because the characters trespassing through her mind leave her no alternative. Only then are the voices free to haunt someone else’s mind.


Find her here:
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog | Website

Giveaway Details:
 • 2 print copies of Secrets
• 10 ecopies of Secrets in any format Giveaway is worldwide.


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winter shock by sally dubats

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Sunday, March 10, 2013 0 bookish peeps...

Book two in "The Grimoire Chronicles" series, “Winter Shock” is a paranormal fantasy novel that you’ll never forget! If you love paranormal romance, urban fantasy, Witches and Wicca, paranormal mystery, paranormal horror, action and survival, “The Grimoire Chronicles” series is definitely for you!

Title: Winter Shock
Series: The Grimoire Chronicles #2
Author: Sally Dubats
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover Rating: 3/5
Summary:
“Trenton drugged and kidnapped me. I was powerless.”
Cassie’s neighbors have secrets, and she is one of them. A Witch taken against her will to an isolated, frozen wilderness on an impossible quest, Cassie defends herself against Trenton who has gone over to the dark side. One minute he’s adorable and charming, and the next weird, uncaring, and hostile. And now, Cassie fears for her life. Winter Solstice draws near, and Cassie performs magical spells to gain clarity. Instead she is shocked by visions and mind jumps into the lives of strangers on the brink of disaster. Why is she in a hostile, threatening wilderness? What is causing the horrific visions? Cassie discovers there is much more at stake than her own survival. To survive, she must overcome impossible odds.

My Say:
The book is the sequel in The Grimoire Chronicles, Veil Between Worlds. Even though I have not read the first book, I think we can catch up without knowing much details in the first book. I think the story was ok. I was not really excited reading it because I dont really into the characters. I think the chemistry between the two character of love interest is not really there. I would say Trenton is trying too much to be cool. Hey, maybe it's just me. But I must admit, the story has good plot line.Minus the dialogues. I feel awkward about those quite immature dialogues. Also, maybe it does not have a complementary between the plot line and the characters that made me less drawn to. The magic and fantasy the author created was quite realistic and me me wondering al the time. Of course, there's twist and turn that spice things up, which is a good thing and made the book better. But I still recommend readers to try. Maybe you will have different opinions about it.

About the Author

Sally Dubats is a published author of a non-fiction compendium on the practice of witchcraft called Natural Magick: The Essential Witch’s Grimoire. Her current project is an 8-book fantasy series, The Grimoire Chronicles. The first two books are complete, and Veil Between Worlds and Winter Shock have received critical acclaim. She has held editorial positions for green non-profit organizations, and was the editor of a metaphysical newspaper for several years. Sally is Wiccan and continues to practice and research the Craft.

Find her here: Website | Twitter: @sallydubats | Facebook | Facebook Author Page | Purchase from Amazon

hidden wings by cameo renae

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Friday, March 08, 2013 0 bookish peeps...

Title: Hidden Wings
Series: Hidden Wings #1
Author: Cameo Renae
Rating: 5/5
Cover Rating: 5/5
Synopsis (Amazon | GoodReads):
Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise. As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered. Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is. A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

My Say:
I actually want to give it 1 star. because I hate a cliffhanger when the book if so good that you might melt all the way to the finishing line. Then I know it would not be good because 1 star means no one ever pick the book later and I dont want that. Go Cameo! The book is so so so cool! The best part I think it would be the fast pace of the story. I dont even realize I can finish the book in one sitting, couple hours. However, the whole situation of the book only took a few days, and quite awkward a little bit, but I will look at it in a positive way when most people would say, lives can change in blink, right? Also,when there's boys  fighting over a girl, I usually find it irritating, but somehow Emma is not all over the boys (and yes, the boys are CUTE!) which made her looks so cool. She's independent, can I say she was like tough like Katniss Everdeen? Ops, sorry THG fans! Yeah, she is a great heroine character, as well as other characters. The progress of the book and the characters are well developed. I totally hope that the sequel of the series will be as good as the 1st book or better. The book is totally a book you cant miss to read. Pick this now and ensure you will not frustrated.

Book Excerpt:
“Thanks guys. I’m gonna miss you SO much,” I said, as tears stung my eyes again.  
“We’re going to miss you too! What are we going to do without you our last, crucial year? We’re finally going to be seniors,” Lia said, her eyes tearing as soon as she saw mine.  
Jeremy looked at me, and a single tear grazed his cheek. He quickly turned away and lifted his glasses, quickly wiping his face with his shirt. That was the first time I’d ever seen Jeremy get emotional.“You guys will be fine. And it won’t be forever. I promise to email and send pictures.” 
“You better,” Lia said, wagging her finger at me.And then… something happened. A sudden euphoric feeling; an unexplainable heat shot through every cell in my body. My pulse quickened, along with my breath, and tingles pricked my skin. Arush of adrenaline flooded my veins and my surroundings began to haze. I grasped onto the edge of the bed, taking in long, deep breaths.  
“Hey, are you okay?” Jeremy asked, scooting over to me, grabbing hold of my shoulders.  
“Emma, what’s wrong?” Lia called, jumping behind me, pounding my back.Hello! I’m not choking! I wanted to speak those words, but I couldn’t answer them. It was like all the breath had been sucked out of my lungs.Then…there was a knock at the door, and we all turned to look.

About the Author:

Cameo Renae was born in San Francisco, CA, was raised in Maui, Hawaii, and recently moved with her husband and two teenage children to Alaska. She loved reading from as long as she can remember. C.S. Lewis’ - Chronicles of Narnia - sparked a fire in her soul which made her want to create her own wondrous, magical worlds, and awesome characters to go on adventures with. Writing is her passion, and right now, her head is stuck in the YA genre. Her debut novel, In My Dreams, was picked up by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing and was re-published December 14, 2012. Her newest novel, Hidden Wings (Book 1 in the Hidden Wings Series) was also published with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly on January 18, 2013. One day she hopes to find her own magic wardrobe, and ride away on her magical unicorn... Until then... she’ll keep writing!

Giveaway Details:
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include:
·         One (1) Signed print copy of Hidden Wings
·         One (1) Hidden Wings themed bracelet
·         Two (2) eBook copies of Hidden Wings
·         Five (5) Signed Hidden Wings Bookmarks
·         One (1) Handmade Hidden Wings Bookmark
Giveaway is International.




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the chronicles of trellah: the perpetual rain by t.s. graham

Written by Darlyn Azlinda At Thursday, March 07, 2013 1 bookish peeps...

"The World's Toughest Book Critics" have weighed in, and it's high praise for Trellah! "An excellent choice for readers eager for a suspenseful, emotionally satisfying fantasy adventure." 
Kirkus Book Reviews 

The Chronicles of Trellah
Title: The Chronicles of Trellah, Book One: The Perpetual Rain
Author: T.S. Graham
Pages: 164
Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 2/5

Summary:

Fourteen-year-old Sophina Murray will be the first to tell you: Bad luck comes in threes. First, her father is lost at sea. Then, the rains start . And don't stop. And finally, her little brother is taken from his bed by a monster straight from her worst nightmare. A glimpse into the parallel universe of Trellah - a land of giant trees, bizarre creatures, and a glowing red mineral with mystical properties - convinces Sophina that all may not be lost. But first, she'll have to survive in a hostile world where her darkest fears live and breathe. Trellah is an original and realistic fantasy for ages 12 to 112. Parental guidance suggested for advanced readers ages 10-11 for moderate elements of horror. 


My Say:
The book is full of imaginations. Maybe a little like Alice in Wonderland with a Fringe-ish kind of Twist. However, the book has the horror that I feel like it is well complimented the adventurous storyline. Apart of the adventure, the story started with mysteries. I know it sounds as if the book is complicated read, but trust me, the author did it well to make simple with words and full of emotions. Sophina, losing her father and a missing brother are very tough for a 14-year old girl to accept and face it alone. Of course, with no one to be with her, looking for her brother is the best way to avoid her from being lonely forever. And now I know why the author love Sophina the most (please read the interview below!). As I love Harry Potter and The Lords of the Ring, I love the magical things the author included in the book. Simple words to describe things in sentences made my imaginations easy. Even with simple words, not too much unneeded details, the characters in the books are actually quite well-developed. It has a progress which increased, at the right pace towards the ending. Until I reached the last page, I never thought the story is already ended. For a debut novel, I think T.S. Graham made his bid well.

Interview with the Author

What inspired you to write the book?
My family, without question. Having read countless bedtime stories to my five daughters, I decided it was time to spin them a tale from my own heart and mind.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why should we love him/her too?
For me it’s Sophina, because she is a combination of all five of my daughters. She is brave, loyal, stubborn, and there is no one else like her in this world or any other. When times get desperate, her mind gets sharper. I think that’s what most people look for in a hero.

Tell us why people should read your book?
If you’re looking for a fresh take on the YA fantasy genre, free of vampires, witches, werewolves, magic, and talking animals, then “The Chronicles of Trellah” may be just what the doctor ordered. If you’re obsessed with the status quo, then my book may be out of your comfort zone.

What books have most influenced your life?
For me it’s always been about Stephen King. He has the talent and education to write Pulitzer Prize winning works, but he chooses to thrill and entertain instead. He taught me to write for myself and my audience (in this case YA), and not to worry about what those who prefer works outside my genre think. A writer’s genre can change with each new book, but they always need to put their intended audience ahead of the big-time critic who might scoff at their creation.

What is the most recent book you read?
I have two girls under the age of 6, so it’s all about picture books at my house. The stories we revisit the most are “Where the Wild Things Are,” “The Napping House,” and anything by Dr. Seuss. I would love to write a children’s book someday. In many ways, I think it would be harder than writing a novel.

If you are not a writer, who would you be?
A scientist. It would be my job to find a safe, natural cure for folks who suffer from irrational stress. Seriously…. No matter how many times you ask certain people to take a deep breath and chill, it never seems to work. My wife and children are not included in this equation. They’re always chill. ;p

Any advice for young authors?
Always write for yourself first, your audience second, and… well, there is no third. That’s it.

About the Author 

T.S. Graham was born and raised in midcoast Maine. He has worked as a sea urchin diver, fish monger, home renovator, and in several group homes for children and adults with disabilities. His original screenplay, Stone's Point, written as Clint Elliott, has won multiple awards. He studied English Literature at the University of Southern Maine, where, despite developing a strong dislike of the traditional curriculum focused on old, dead (and boring) scribes, he somehow managed to graduate with honors. His greatest influences are writers like Stephen King and Michael Crichton, whose talents would have allowed them to write more literary fare, but they chose to thrill and entertain instead. He now lives on a horse farm with his beautiful wife and five daughters, two poodles, two cats, two happy turtles, four playful ferrets, three fish, a corn snake named "Tiger," dozens of chickens, and, of course, four awesome equines. The Chronicles of Trellah, Book One: The Perpetual Rain is his debut novel. 

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Purchase this book on Amazon. 

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chasing the witch by jessica gibson

Written by Darlyn At Monday, March 04, 2013 0 bookish peeps...


Title: Chasing the Witch
Author: Jessica Gibson
Series: Boston Witches #2
Pages: 229 (pdf)
Rating: 4/5
Cover Rating: 4/5
Summary (Goodreads):
After the events of Mark of the Witch, Jilly at last begins to breathe easier though her powers are still growing. But can she harness them in time to confront a new chain of events that threatens to change everything? Caroline has finally accepted her life as a witch, but when a stranger comes into her life she's forced to question her family loyalty. The sisters are thrown together to protect a young girl from the enemy determined to hunt her down. Can they save her -- and themselves?

My 2 Cents:

I read Mark of the Witch few days before cant wait to finish the second book. As I predicted, the second book is much better even when there's a few unsatisfactory scenes in my opinion. The best thing I like about the book is more details on Caroline, the other twin sister. Normally, it's either a balance with the hero and heroine, but this time, I wont say Caroline is only a supporting character when she's also a heroine. When there's a minor clash between Caroline and Jilly, I was kind very nervous, in case Caroline will lose her way or vice versa. Blood is thicker than water. No matter how bad your sibling is, they're still pat of you. That was what I thought about Patrick, the so-called evil brother of William. There was a twist about him that O would never have guessed, but it happened. All the characters played their part quite good and I was impressed with new powers too (Maybe I just love superheroes and spells too much). Of course, when there's a sequel, means there will be new character as well, and lead to another cliffhanger! As much I love the book, this part made me kind of hate it. In a good way though. I would love to read the author's third book in the series. Hope it will be real soon!

About the Author


Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she’s down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the “someday” section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write. Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future. Aside from writing, she runs an online event planning business called the Release Day Diva. In addition to novels, Jessica writes and maintains the blog Book on the Bright Side. Keep up with Jessica and her latest releases and events on her blog.

Find her here: Website \ Author Blog \ Book Blog \ Facebook \ Twiter \ Amazon Kindle \ Amazon Paperback



mark of the witch by jessica gibson

Written by Darlyn At Friday, March 01, 2013 0 bookish peeps...
Title: Mark of the Witch
Author: Jessica Gibson
Series: Boston Witches #1
Pages: 89 (pdf)
Rating: 3.5/5
Cover Rating: 4/5

Summary (Goodreads):
Magic flows through Jillian Proctor's veins as surely as blood, but so far her life outside Boston has been peaceful. William Morgan blows into Jilly's life like a hurricane, unleashing her magic and sending her out of control. Unknowingly, William brings an enemy who only wants to posses the power of the witch. Jilly must learn to harness her magic before she loses it - and everything in her life is destroyed.

My 2 Cents:

This book is the first book of Boston Witches series. Physically, the book is a short story of a twin sisters, Jillian (Jilly) and Caroline. How I root for sisters protagonists! Once, I read a book (which I love the movie, Practical Magic) also about sister's act, not twin though. It was quite a while I read something like this. It is such a great read to know that both characters get even and ample story about them in a book. I don't think either of them get outshone by one another. It's a great love story too, just when one of them facing marriage's problem. There's also William, a hunk that is immortal, has love interest with Jilly and I think they made a lovely couple even though Jilly is kind of fierce? The story is quite straight forward and quite predictable. Maybe there's one flaw that I would highlight here; character's development is just so-so.But even with that, the characters are still likable. I like them. However, the next book is way better!
 

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