From Goodreads: Is precognition a prescription for happiness or disaster?

The good things in life are coming together for Kristina Collins. She’s found her ideal home, her career is on track for mega success and the man of her dreams has finally come back into her life.

In Fate, the first installment of the Timeless Trilogy, Kris Collins discovers the benefits and risks of having precognitive visions while being stalked by a serial killer. Her friends can’t help her, the FBI can’t save her; she must save herself.

The Timeless Trilogy heroines, Kristina, Veronica, and Cassandra, each deal with paranormal abilities as they discover and rediscover eternal love.
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I really enjoyed that this is an adult novel, but not in the sexual sense.  It’s very well written, with a little romance, but it’s not over the top and it’s a very clean read.  While there is a serial killer on the loose, Grace spares her readers the gruesome details, leaving it all to the imagination, which, in my opinion, is sometimes more graphic than actually putting it in words, depending on the reader.  It is refreshing to read a well-written psychological thriller that not only glues the reader to the pages as it unfolds, but also keeps the plotline wholesome.  I love this genre, but very often I find that this type of writing gives too many bloody details, or revolves around a character’s sexual fantasies, and those things tend to make me ill.  Fate doesn’t do either, focusing mainly on Kris and her precognition as she comes to terms with her stalker.

What starts out as a routine story about three friends quickly turns into one woman’s nightmare as she is targeted by a relentless serial killer.  The fact that Kris’ pre-cognition tips her off that something terrible is coming deepens the suspense within the novel, and I really enjoyed it.  While I wasn’t sure where the story was headed in the very beginning, Grace quickly makes it clear as she sets up the background for the story through a sleepover at Kris’s secluded beach home.  Friends Roni and Cassie are more or less minor characters, but they help set the tone of the story prior to the plot thickening and the imminent danger being revealed.

I really liked that Kris didn’t attempt to battle her stalker all on her own.  This isn’t one of those silly horror stories where the main character is too stubborn to ask for help.  While Kris originally chalks up her premonitions to paranoia, when it becomes clear to her that she is in real danger, she seeks help.  This adds to the believability of the novel, and made me really like Kris as a character.  Although she is pre-cognitive, adding a paranormal feel to this novel, she isn’t stubborn and she makes logical choices, first alerting her dreamy neighbor, Nick, and then the police.  The cast of characters that Grace presents here are extremely interesting and easily likeable, all except the stalker, Damien, and I thoroughly enjoyed having an insider’s view into his mind as it allows the reader to see just how much of a twisted genius he really is.

This novel is a roller coaster ride of emotion, leaving the reader in constant suspense as s/he knows what’s coming, but not when it will happen.  This is a truly great read, and with a little more editing and fine-tuning in terms of the few grammatical errors and typos, this story will be perfect.  Overall, I am very impressed by this first novel in the trilogy, and will definitely be reading the next two novels, Spellbound and Destiny, especially as each sequel will focus on a different heroine.  In Fate, Roni and Cassie are only side characters, and the reader learns just enough about them to whet the appetite, but there is room for them to grow.  And it looks like that is exactly what Grace plans to do, giving both Roni and Cassie their own novel in this trilogy.  I can’t wait.  Four and a half stars for Fate.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

The Seventh Throne Lands Top Cover Art and Ties for 3rd in Top Novel in the 2011 Tor.com Readers Choice Awards

Seventh Star Press is proud to announce that The Seventh Throne, the third title in Stephen Zimmer’s urban fantasy Rising Dawn Saga, won the Top Cover Art category and tied for 3rd in Top Novel in the 2011 Tor.com Readers Choice Awards.

The 2011 poll was conducted in January by Tor.com, the website for the world-renowned fantasy publisher Tor. The poll was open to all levels of authors and presses. Many SSP titles received votes, but The Seventh Throne emerged early as a top-ten contender and finished strong in the two categories it was eligible for. Patrick Rothfuss’ The Wise Man’s Fear won Top Novel of 2011, with Scott Sigler’s The All-Pro coming in second, and Brandon Sanderson’s The Alloy of Law tieing for third with Stephen Zimmer’s The Seventh Throne.

The Top Cover Art of 2011 award represents Matthew Perry’s first readers’ poll award for Seventh Star Press, though his reputation for producing outstanding artwork has been growing rapidly with his numerous illustrations and covers created over the past 3 years.

Author Stephen Zimmer also received recognition for his Harvey & Solomon short story “An Island Sojourn”, which placed fourth in the Top Short Story of 2011 category. The steampunk short story was from the Dreams of Steam II: Brass and Bolts anthology, edited by Kimberly Richardson, from Kerlak Publishing.

The Rising Dawn Saga was debuted in 2009 with the release of The Exodus Gate. The Storm Guardians, the second title, followed in 2010, and The Seventh Throne was released in August of 2011. Involving supernatural realms, a modern day setting, and filled with dystopian and apocalyptic undertones, the Rising Dawn Saga contains the depth, richness, and layers more commonly found in epic fantasy series. Drawing upon myths and lore from across the world, the saga follows the story of an ensemble of human and shape-shifting characters pitted against a movement called the Convergence.

The Convergence is guided at the elite levels of economic and political power, with the solitary goal of bringing the entire world under its control. With unprecedented technologies, and the support of dark powers from the Abyss, the Convergence looks unstoppable to Benedict Darwin, the An-Ki, and many others who struggle in a rapidly collapsing society. Provocative and engaging, the series enjoys a growing and loyal audience.

The fourth title of the projected seven book series is slated for the fourth quarter of 2012.

All of the Rising Dawn Saga books are available in softcover and a variety of eBook formats including the Kindle, Nook, iBookstore, and Sony-Compatible ePub options. The series has also inspired The Annals of the Rising Dawn, a new short story eBook series initiated with the recent release of Temples Rising. The short stories are set within the world unveiled in the Rising Dawn Saga.

For further information, and links to press and reviews, visit www.seventhstarpress.com. Matthew Perry’s site can be found at www.perrypixel.com and Stephen Zimmer’s can be found at www.stephenzimmer.com

Contact: C.C. James

Public Relations, Seventh Star Press

ccjames@seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky.

Goodreads: With nowhere else to run to but the Hollows, Kiera Hudson finds herself in a world like no other. Entrusted with a secret, she has to make her way to the mysterious Light House set hundreds of miles beneath the Earth. As she makes her journey, Kiera’s companions are being murdered one by one. But is the killer amongst them and is it Elias Munn?

Not knowing who to trust, who to love and who to believe, Kiera makes the most dangerous journey of her life, in search of the Elders hidden within the walls of the Dust Palace. With time running out, Kiera knows she must finally choose which race should live and which race should die.

The final installment in Kiera Hudson Series One.

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O’Rourke’s final book in the first Kiera Hudson Series has left me breathless, and I am on pins and needles waiting for the second series to begin.  O’Rouke is already hard at work writing his newest series, a continuation of the first Kiera Hudson Series that will take on a completely different perspective from what we’re used to, and you’ll see why when you finish Vampire Hallows!  

Wow!  This is such an epic read, and the entire series has been riveting, but overall, I have to say that this final novel is my favorite.  So many things happen in this novel, so many things change, so many characters die, friends become foes, foes become friends… and the one extremely well kept secret… the one I’ve been dying to know, have speculated about, and have bitten my nails to the quick about… is finally answered.  And, yes, it is shocking!!!  While I thought I knew who Elias Munn was on many an occasion as I read the entire series, I actually only got it right once, and that was only in a fleeting guess.  Upon the true revelation, I was flabbergasted and devastated, but O’Rouke has set it up so perfectly as this final novel grabs your attention, takes you for an amazing ride, and then leaves you dying for more. 

I am in awe of O’Rouke.  He’s flawlessly tied together five and a half books in this series, drawing upon events from past novels in order to bring it all together in this epic conclusion, while also setting the stage for the new series. I can’t even fathom how O’Rourke does it all, but he’s an amazing writer.  And you know what I love about this book the most?  While it’s dark, and it’s sad, by the end the reader is engulfed in happiness again.  It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but rest assured everything works out well in the end, and the next epic read is on the way, with the release of Kiera Hudson: Dead Flesh coming out in March!  Hallelujah, I am in love with this series and cannot wait for more!  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Good looking, athletic, and smart, Gil Marsh is the most popular kid at Uruk High School, even though he is only a junior. When Enko, a new kid from Montreal, shows up, Gil is wary. Yet Enko is easy going and matches Gil’s athletic prowess without being a threat. Soon, the two become inseparable friends, practicing, studying, and double-dating.

Then suddenly, to everyone’s shock, Enko succumbs to an aggressive cancer.

When Enko’s parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko’s grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.

Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil’s quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.

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I am sorry to say that, while I had high hopes for this novel, I actually struggled with it for a few different reasons.  First, I found it to have a somewhat forced pacing and it just didn’t grab me.  Events seemed to happen in a very quick succession without giving the reader much time to digest the information.  For instance, one moment Gil and Enko hate each other, and the next moment they’re best friends, but I personally never felt like the story gave rise to these events.  They just seemed to appear on the page without much explanation for the reader.  I’m a reader that enjoys a story that takes place over time not only in the story, but also on the pages as well, and I didn’t find that within Gil Marsh.  Time does pass in the novel, a lot of time, but it tends to happen all on the same page, and I tend to have a bit of difficulty with that as a reader.

Second, I felt the same in terms of the characterization as I did with the pacing.  While the reader is given background knowledge, I never felt a direct connection with any of the characters.  Gil and Enko become best friends, but there isn’t anything to really solidify that for the reader; I never felt like they were fleshed out to any point that I could relate to them.  I also was confused by their relationship as, aside from becoming best friends seemingly overnight, the descriptions of their interrelations tend to give off a feel for a romantic relationship and not just a deep friendship.  Perhaps it was just my perception of the story as I read, but there were many different circumstances within the novel that made me question Gil and Enko’s actual relationship, such as Gil’s obsessive description of Enko being a beautiful boy, them holding each other, etc.  I don’t know if this is what Bauer was planning when she wrote the novel, and as I haven’t read the original story of “Gilgamesh,”  I can’t say if they’re supposed to be great friends or lovers, but I do know that these descriptions left me a bit confused.

Third, I found the journey into Canada to be a little bit strange.  Once Enko dies, Gil is devastated, which is understandable, but his journey into Canada with barely any money and no sure destination struck me as odd.  The fact that the journey seems to jump from one bad situation to the next also left me feeling somewhat depressed—I was hoping for a story that shows the healing process, but didn’t really find it as I read.

In all honesty, I found that this story isn’t really my style, mainly because of the lack of pacing and characterization.  I, personally, just wasn’t drawn into it; it was okay, but not for me.  Two stars. 

Random House Children’s Book has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on February 28, 2012.

From Goodreads: The year is 2021. Natural forces have changed our world. As the Earth’s magnetic poles have shifted, pressure on the planet’s mantle layer is building. The bottom line…earthquakes now wreak havoc in areas they have never occurred before.

In Mexico, members of an archaeological team investigate the remains of an ancient village uncovered by a quake; racing to prove their theories about the civilization that once lived there. But, disaster strikes when the accidental destruction of an artifact unleashes a worldwide agricultural plague.

Halfway across the continent, Douglas Abledan, a blind computer technologist, embarks on a long-anticipated vacation. On the plane to Chicago, he meets world-renowned agricultural pathologist Cara Cordelia, but their chance meeting could cost them both their lives.

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I really enjoy books that deal with the future, and while Blind Traveler’s Blues isn’t too far in the future, the technological advances and changes that I enjoy so much are present, and prove to be quite epic and interesting.  I loved Bennett’s descriptions of the gadgets Douglas uses throughout the story, and his character was phenomenal as well.  Having lost his eye sight in an accident a few years prior, Douglas is a kick butt hero relying on his other four senses, that of smell, hearing, touch, and taste.  The fact that he’s not exceptionally bitter or harboring a “woe is me” attitude quickly elevated him in my opinion, making him an easily likable hero that the reader can’t help but root for as the story progresses.

In terms of his abilities, Douglas is a normal person, and I really enjoyed that about this novel.  While his other senses are heightened, he doesn’t hold any superpowers and everything he is able to do makes perfect sense, even as he determines the real cause of death of a woman he met on a plane.  This was a great mystery novel, and it’s intertwining of the future, natural disasters, plagues, and murder provided a riveting read. 

I especially enjoyed the dramatic irony Bennett provided by allowing the reader to know who the villain was throughout the story.  While it is always nice to be surprised by the villains reveal at the end of a novel, I think the fact that the reader knows who, how, and why adds to the believability of Blind Traveler’s Blues.  Through knowing the villain’s identity and thoughts, we are able to see exactly how Douglas is able to piece everything together, even though he is blind, and it’s plausibility is stunning.   

This is a very well written novel and it is, in fact, a stand-alone sequel to another of Bennett’s novels, Blind Traveler Down A Dark River.  Having not yet read the prequel, I can personally attest to this novel’s ability to keep the reader up-to-date even though it is a sequel.  Rest assured, you don’t have to read the prequel to understand events in this great novel.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: 2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn’t have.

If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe “opportunity” isn’t the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1: “Lied to Our Parents”). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up “Skipping School” (#3), “Throwing a Crazy Party” (#8), “Buying a Hot Tub” (#4), and, um, “Harboring a Fugitive” (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.

In this hilarious and bittersweet tale, Sarah Mlynowski mines the heart and mind of a girl on her own for the first time. To get through the year, April will have to juggle a love triangle, learn to do her own laundry, and accept that her carefully constructed world just might be falling apart . . . one thing-she-shouldn’t-have-done at a time.

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I have to admit that I put off reading this novel for a while because I was worried that it would be all about illicit behavior and sex, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it really wasn’t.  Yes, the parents are out of the picture due to some ingenious leg work by April and Vi, but it’s not just a tale about girls and boys gone wild.  It’s really more so a story of love, betrayal, and coming of age in the real world.  Growing up.  And it’s a really cute tale that took hold of me from the very beginning and didn’t let go until I turned the final page.  This was a fantastic read!

Now, while I don’t think some of the situations within the novel would actually come to pass, or are one hundred percent believable, I am able to easily overlook that because Mlynowski is such a superb story-teller!  The situations the girls find themselves in are comical on the one hand, yet present real life morals on the other.  And, the characterization within the novel is amazing!  I was afraid that April would be a bit bratty and selfish after reading the first few pages, but I found that I really took sides with her and cared about her as the story unfolded; she’s a very well written character that evoked protective feelings from me as I read.  I’d like to meet her in real life; I think she’d make a great friend, and I truly enjoyed reading about her rollercoaster of a ride junior year as she begins to figure herself out.

And yes, there is sex in this novel.  But, it’s tastefully done.  This YA novel doesn’t give the reader play-by-play erotic descriptions, but rather just brushes over the act, as it should.  I was very thankful for this, especially as I’m noticing that many YA novels are now leaning towards more explicit descriptions of the act in their books, and that’s not something I want to read about in my novels, especially a YA book.  I also loved that sex is not glorified as the end all be all of April and Vi’s lives, and that there are very real consequences involved.  This made the story very endearing to me, as well as the superb characterization, hilarious situations, and fabulous morals.  Mlynowski is an outstanding writer and I will definitely be reading more of her work!  Five stars!

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

From Goodreads: My Little Pet Dragon is an amusing picture book featuring 28 adorable pieces of computer-generated artwork (similar to what you would see in a Pixar movie). The book is about 30 pages in all, and is best viewed in color.

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I don’t usually read or review children’s book as I have no children, but I saw this picture book the other day and thought I’d try it out.  I also came across the following information about it on goodreads:

“As an added bonus, 100% of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the family of Alyssa Mowery. Last October, Alyssa was struck by a car while crossing the street with her friend Mia Decker (deceased) and sister Rain (minor injuries). Although Alyssa has awakened from her coma and said her first word since the accident, she has a long way to go. With your contribution and support, you can make a difference in this young girl’s life.”

Now, since the book was written, Alyssa Mowery has gone on to the road to recovery, which is awesome!! So, the proceeds from the book are no longer just going to her, but now to the author, which is certainly fair.  I think it is a rare author indeed who is willing to give up all of their profit in order to help someone else, and I found it really intriguing. The last author I saw to do something like this is Joshua Grover-David Patterson (and he’s still doing it), and so I like to support these authors, because I think their heart is in the right place.   

So, anyway, even though I don’t have children, I bought this book, and I read it too, because it’s very short.  Gordon has cute pictures of the baby dragon and all the things he does for his owner, like helping him brush his teeth and the like, so I think it’s good for really young children.

From Goodreads: When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

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This is a very interesting story that reminds me of my favorite off air TV show, Heroes.  I absolutely loved that show!  Like Heroes, Accardo’s characters harness some amazing powers that, in the wrong hands, can lead to heartache and death.  And, with a cast of characters that readers won’t soon forget, Accardo has created an epic tale that demands an encore. 

Dez and Kale’s story is an enticing one, especially as Kale’s gift is more like a curse.  With a touch that kills, he’s lived a very lonely life, cooped up as a prisoner of Denazen Corporation for as long as he can remember.  This creates the premise behind the exciting storyline as Kale enters the real world, meets Dez (who isn’t as different from Kale as he thinks), and elicits an all out war between those with abilities and those who want to harness their power. 

I really enjoyed this story.  Kale is a very dreamy character and, inability to touch aside, he’s a very ideal young man.  He’s a perfect gentlemen, and his blossoming relationship with Dez was extremely interesting to watch, especially as his sheltered life leaves him without understand of many situations, creating both comical and sad revelations as he continues on his journey.  Accardo is a very talented writer with a vivid imagination that captivated me from the very first page as the story began to unfold.  And, the battle between good and evil has just begun.  I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for an action packed read, and of course, anyone who enjoyed Heroes.  Four stars.

I purchased this book from Amazon.

From Netgaley: In the shadows of a graveyard, a SHOT rings out…

Hannah Esh fled the Home Valley Amish community with a broken heart, throwing herself into her worldly dreams of a singing career instead. But as much as she tries to run from her past, something keeps pulling her back. On a whim, she brings four worldly friends to the Amish graveyard near her family’s home for a midnight party on Halloween. But when shots are fired and one of her friends is killed, Hannah is pulled back into the world of her past.

The investigation into the shooting uncovers deep-buried secrets that shock the peaceful Amish village to its core. Determined to prove her value to the community she left behind, Hannah attempts to bridge two cultures, working closely with both handsome, arrogant FBI agent Linc Armstrong and her former betrothed, Seth Lantz, now widowed with a young daughter.

Caught between Seth and Linc, between old and new, Amish and worldly, Hannah must choose her future. Unless a killer, bent on secrecy, chooses it for her.  

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This mystery novel drops the reader right into the middle of the action as Hannah and her goth friends decide to spend Halloween in an Amish graveyard  near her childhood home.  Yet, unbeknownst to her, the graveyard on which she treads holds more than just the dead buried there, leading to an intense murder mystery as Hannah and her friends become victims of a graveyard shooting.  As the investigation unfolds, Hannah is forced to move back home to her Amish roots, facing the same situations and people she ran away from so long ago, including the man who broke her heart.

Return to Grace is an intense mystery novel that had me captivated from the very first page.  I love novels about the Amish way of life, and when these stories are combined with that of a mystery, one of my favorite genres, I am eager to read them.  Like Marta Perry, Harper weave’s an intricate tale of murder, love, and betrayal within the Amish countryside, juxtaposing the quiet Amish life with the hustle and bustle of the fast-paced city as Hannah’s community is drawn into the public’s eye due to the violence she survived in the graveyard.   

Hannah is a complex character, torn between what is “right” and what she wants.  Though she’s donned the gothic lifestyle to replace that which she has lost, she hasn’t truly given up her past.  Her struggle is very vivid and real, extremely believable, and I couldn’t help but be drawn in by her, rooting for her all the way.  She has many difficult choices to make, including whether to stay and join the church, marrying Amish, or go back out into the world—should she survive the murderer on the loose. Harper’s cast of complex characters throughout this novel were extremely well written and I enjoyed them all, especially the characters of Seth and Linc as they both vied for Hannah’s attention, offering her different pieces of the world that she yearns after.

This whodunit style novel is extremely original and entrancing, especially as everyone is a suspect.  I was surprised by the identity of the murderer, though, in retrospect, the foreshadowing was there, and the case against the actual culprit is extremely strong.  Yet,  I didn’t see it until the killer’s identity was revealed.  I truly enjoy novels that are able to keep me in the dark until the last possible moment, and Harper has done a truly amazing job writing such a complex story. It’s very well written and I highly recommend it to all.  Five stars.

Harlequin Publishers has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on February 28, 2012.

From Goodreads: Marley Claviger is just trying to get her life together. Stumbling into an ancient conflict between celestial forces is going to make that a whole lot harder…

When Marley wakes up to a phone call from a pair of terrified children, she doesn’t expect to be pulled into a secret war. She rescues them from an empty house and promises to find their missing uncle. She even manages to feed them dinner. But she barely feels competent to manage her own life, let alone care for small children with strange, ominous powers…

And when a mysterious angelic figure shows up and tries to claim the girls, it all falls apart…

Plagued by visions of disaster, Marley has no idea what she’s gotten herself into, but she knows one thing: magical or not, the kids need her.
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This is a very intense story with great world building and characterization.  Marley, a young woman struggling to keep herself afloat, suddenly finds herself in the midst of a battle between good and evil, throwing her already chaotic life into even more disarray. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Marley’s character, especially as she matures throughout the story, going from a woman full of anxiety to a more self-assured person willing to do anything to protect those she cares about.  She is a very believable character, and I loved that she is flawed, just like the rest of humanity.  It was refreshing to have a genuine heroine that wasn’t always sure of herself and was afraid, and yet persevered to do what is right.  Having no previous dealings with children, it was also comical to see her interact with the four-year-old twins who are being sought after by a band of sinister creatures.  Marley’s inexperience shines through as she tries to figure out what to do with the girls, what to feed them, how to communicate with them—and as if this isn’t anxiety provoking enough for Marley, the girls uncanny abilities, and the abilities of those attempting to take the girls from Marley, all add to this enticing story.

Now, the young girls do see a lot of things that no child should ever see, and some readers may find this a bit jarring—especially as the children become extremely distraught on many an occasion, worried that the adults in their lives will abandon them as everyone seems to have already done.  It’s a bit heartbreaking, and I definitely thought, many a time, that these girls were witnessing way too much to come away unscathed, and my heart hurt for them.  Although a fantastical story, Tzavelas gives her characters and their feelings extreme human qualities, which, in my opinion, makes it a very well written story and the girls are an interesting pair, adding depth to the story.

I really enjoyed the otherworldly feel of this novel as well.  While good and evil converge on Marley’s world, confusing her beyond belief, the author creates an amazing array of action sequences as Marley finds herself on the run.  Unsafe and scared, Marley must trust people she wouldn’t normally give the time of day, and rely on them to keep the girls, and herself, safe.  This is a really good read.  Four stars.

Matchbox Girls is set to release tomorrow, February 21, 2012

I received a ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: Why do bad things happen to good people? Simple. In the ancient war between the Angels of Light and Darkness, the Dark won. Now it is the job of an undercover force simply known as The Army to rectify that.

Using every tool available, The Army has worked to liberate our world from The Enemy for thousands of years, slowly and painfully lifting Mankind out of the dark. On the front of the great Conflict are the Angelkillers, veterans of the fight with centuries of experience.

Jonah Mason is an Angelkiller, and his cell is targeted as part of a plot to unseat a very powerful Minion of The Enemy. Mason and his troop are drawn into a battle that stretches from real-time to virtual reality and back. The Conflict is about to expand into cyberspace, and if Mason is unable to stop it, The Enemy will have gained dominion over yet another realm.

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Angelkiller is an interesting take on the battle between heaven and hell, a battle that has been morphing along with society for thousands of years.  And, as society evolves and moves forward, so do the tactics taken to fight The Enemy.  Jonah Mason, the main character throughout this novel, has been fighting the Darkness for far too long to remember, meeting with his newest cell group through online gaming.  This was a very interesting development within the story as it gives each member the anonymity and privacy they need to discuss their plans for action against the Darkness without leaving the comfort of their own home. 

I was originally interested in this novel because of this usage of cyberspace; I used to have friends really into gaming, and I wanted to see where Blalock was going with this concept.  It turns out the terminology is a little bit beyond me, I’m not a gamer and I don’t know very much about all the logistics of it, but I was able to follow Blalock fairly well as the story progressed, explaining how everything worked while adding suspense to the story, especially once these gaming sessions are compromised and not everyone is who they seem to be. 

Though the story jumped around a bit, Blalock does a good job bringing all the pieces of the puzzle together, referencing prior scenes and making them all fit together nicely.  Yet, I didn’t feel as connected to the characters within the story as I had hoped, and I think the anonymity of the story overall has a lot to do with that.  While I would have liked a lot more character development, I also don’t think it would have fit with the story, especially as the members of the cell are meant to give away as little information about themselves as possible.  Thus, I wasn’t attached to any specific characters, but I enjoyed them nonetheless.  I think readers especially interested in technology and the gaming world will really enjoy this story.  Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: When the sixteen-year-old runaway Chap is mistaken for a missing boy named Cassiel, his life changes dramatically. Chap takes on Cassiel’s identity, gaining the family and friends he’s always dreamed of having. But becoming someone else isn’t as easy as he hoped—and Chap isn’t the only one hiding a secret. As he teeters on the brink of discovery and begins to unravel the mystery behind Cassiel’s disappearance, Chap realizes that he’s in much deeper danger than he could have imagined.

After all, you can’t just steal a life and expect to get away with it.

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Valentine has written a great mystery novel revolving around a mistaken identity, a daring theft, and a possible murder.  Chap relays his story through a first person narrative, making it easy for the reader to connect with him.  First person limited is my favorite point of view because it allows the reader a direct line to the narrator’s thoughts, creating a deeper connection between the reader and narrator than, say, a third person narrative.  I was glad to see that Valentine evoked this point of view, giving me an insider’s perspective of everything that happened, heightening the suspense and mystery as Chap begins to fear for his life. 

This is a great mystery novel, and watching Chap attempt to fill in the gaps concerning the disappearance of Cassiel, the boy he’s pretending to be, is quite enjoyable.  It was amazing to see how all the pieces fit together, and Chaps back-story—where he came from and why he was on the run—was exceptionally interesting.  In retrospect, the intricacies of the novel make perfect sense, yet I never noticed how any of the piece fit together until Chap made the connections for me.  That, in my opinion, is good writing.  I was pleasantly surprised throughout the novel, and I was especially happy with the way Valentine ends the novel—there are too many stories out there that leave off on a sad note, and this was a nice change.  Four stars. 

Disney-Hyperion has been extremely gracious in allowing my to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to it’s release on February 21, 2012.

From Goodreads: It’s a year after 9/11.  Sniper shootings throughout the D.C. area have everyone on edge, trying to make sense of the random acts of violence.  Meanwhile, Craig and Lio are just trying to make sense of their lives.

Craig’s crushing on quiet, distant Lio, and preoccupied with what it meant when Lio kissed him…and if he’ll do it again…and if kissing Lio will help him finally get over his ex-boyfriend, Cody.

Lio feels most alive when he’s with Craig.  He forgets about his broken family, his dead brother, and the messed up world.  But being with Craig means being vulnerable, and Lio will have to decide whether love is worth the risk.

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I received a copy of this novel as part of an ARC tour back in May of 2011, and I must say that this is a truly beautiful novel.  The amount of depth Moskowitz pours into her characters is amazing, and I am in awe of Moskowitz’s sheer writing capabilities.  I read this novel in one sitting; it was that good.  Originally drawn to the novel due to its relation to the Beltway Snipers that ravaged the Maryland/D.C./Virginia areas, I was floored by the intensity of the characters, Craig and Lio, as they struggle to make sense of their tumultuous lives while also dealing with the anxiety of the sniper shootings and remnants of September 11, 2001.  This was a beautiful blend of history and fiction, and Moskowitz stays true to the harrowing events of 2002, adding much strength to this powerful novel.  The vivid descriptions and alternate perspectives of the characters allows the reader to become one with the story, connecting with the events and characters in a way that makes the reader feel as if they are in the story themselves.

I absolutely loved the different perspectives Moskowitz portrays through the voices of Craig and Lio as each chapter alternates between them, giving the reader access to their inner thoughts and feelings through the first person narrative.  Confused and hurting, both Craig and Lio pour out their souls while looking for redemption from their metaphorical ghosts, and they are extremely real, deep characters.  Moskowitz is a superb writer of the male persona, and I was truly inspired by this coming of age novel.  The book is completely character driven as Craig and Lio come to terms with their pasts and future, and I was in love with the novel from the very first page.  This is not an action thriller, but rather an in-depth look at the human psyche, a look into the very soul of humanity, including its triumphs and fears.  It is a superb read, and I highly recommend it.  Five stars.

Kindle | Paperback | Hardcover

So, as I stated above, my copy of the novel came as part of an ARC Tour, in which each participant was given a week to read the novel before shipping it off to the next reviewer.  As the reviewers of this copy of GONE, GONE, GONE, our job was to write all over the novel, add photos, drawings, etc., so that when it gets back to Hannah Moskowitz, it’s a highly personalized, beautiful copy that proves its traveled the whole United States.  I was the first to receive the book on the tour (which will extend into April as the book is set to release April 17th), and I had a wonderful time reading Hannah’s musings and adding my own commentary.  I’ve included a few photos below for all to see how truly cool this ARC Tour was!

From Goodreads: When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family’s summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day. T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He’s almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn’t bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family – and a stack of overdue assignments – instead of his friends. Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.’s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter. Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.’s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

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This is an amazing story.  There are very few novels out there that actually cause me to swoon for days upon end after completion, and even further still that haunt my dreams.  Yet, On the Island has done exactly that, tenfold.  I am in awe of Garvis-Graves, she has literally rocked my world and I can’t get her novel out of my head.  It’s a perfect story; the reader can’t help but become attached to both Anna and T.J. as they embark on this incredible journey spanning eight years of their lives.

I will admit, I was a bit skeptical when my friend, Tammara Webber, told me I just had to read this novel.  Not because I doubted Garvis-Graves writing ability, but because I was nervous about a novel dealing with a 30-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy marooned on an island.  Yeah, you’re there with me, you know what I’m talking about.  But, ladies and gentlemen, rest assured, it’s nothing like that. Yes, there are sexual situations, but it’s not what you’re thinking, at least, it wasn’t what I was thinking when I originally heard of the story.  Yes, there is romance, but it’s not rushed, remember, this novel takes place over eight years, and throughout all this time, Garvis-Graves draws the reader in, building up both Anna and T.J. into respectable, caring people that you can’t help but root for as they battle the elements to stay alive—to stay sane.

I laughed aloud while I read.  That’s an extreme rarity.  There’s just something about “Operation chase a chicken” that made me giggle, as did many instances on the island as Garvis-Graves creates a superb picture in the readers mind of what life must really be like for Anna and T.J.  I cried too.  A lot.  But, mostly those tears were tears of joy, though sometimes they were not, and I felt like a piece of me was dying alongside the characters as events unfolded.  This is a very powerful novel.

I began reading On the Island at 11:30 at night.  I had every intention of just perusing it until I was ready to sleep.  But, let me tell you, sleep didn’t come that night.  I stayed up until 4:30 in the morning, until I turned the last page, and even after that, I couldn’t have gone to sleep if I had wanted to.  This story is an epic tale combining love, suspense, laughter, and sorrow, and I am still in awe, days later.  I need to read it again.  Right now.  Five stars.

And, do you know what?  In 30 minutes I will be posting a giveaway for this novel, which will have both signed paperbacks and ebooks available, making a total of seven winners.  Stay tuned, you don’t want to miss this!

From Goodreads: “Once upon a time, there was a castle with huge arches and tall golden towers that reached high above the cobble stone walkways toward the open blue sky. In this peaceful land lived the king’s best man Neil with a legend to tell of more than five hundred years.

Followed by the brave and pushed forward by the arms of future peace for all in his kingdom, he carried the mighty torch of peace for all.

Far to the edge of the Green Sea was the west end of the Mystic Mountains. This was believed to be a different land. There lived the one who commands the shadows of darkness, evil sorcery, and the never-ending quest for chaos. Once loved by many yet misled by the temptations of power and greed, he felt deep into the jaws of evil and the forces of pain, corruption, and decay. This dark sorcerer was not just a villain but a powerful warden of the wicked and the face of death to the pure. Argon was his name, and he was now the emperor of his own sinister world!”

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I am sorry to say that this novella isn’t for me.  While I think the idea of the storyline and the ensuing adventure is interesting, there were a few too many discrepancies for me to enjoy it.  One of the issues I had with the novella is that it jumped around a lot, interrupting the natural flow of the story, while also creating excessive repetition as the same ideas were rehashed throughout the segments.  Along the same lines, the overabundant use of exclamation marks made it difficult for me to read as the extensive usage took away from the novella; hence, I found myself focusing more so on the punctuation than the actual storyline.  I felt like every sentence needed to be read with gusto, but it didn’t fit the lines within the story on many an occasion, and so I found myself hung up on this minute point.

While the timeline of the novel is not necessarily clear, it seems like this story should take place in the distant past, yet the dialogue and even the names are what I consider to be much too modern for it to make it real.  I do enjoy fantasy, but I am always looking for validity within the pages, and I unfortunately didn’t find it in this novella.  I’m not sure if this created the reason for my lackluster response to the multiple characters within the novella as well, but I also found that they didn’t really  interest me.  All in all, I felt like this novella was telling more than showing, and so I wasn’t drawn into the story as much as I had hoped.  This novella is probably best suited for a younger MG aged child as they will be able to focus on the story at hand and less on the other elements within the novella.  Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.  One and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: In almost no time at all, Lucy Leary has managed to become one of the most high-profile vampires in history. The problem is, she has angered the Enforcers, a vigilante group of vampires who consider it their job to keep vamps out of the public eye.

The Enforcers will stop at nothing to find her, even if it means leaving a trail of fire and corpses in their wake.

Now, Lucy and her companions must choose whether to run, fight, or surrender. But first, they need to determine the consequences of their actions for themselves, and the world.

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The final book in Patterson’s Blood Calling Series, The Enforcers offers an action packed, riveting story to readers, as well as the perfect closure to this amazing trilogy.  Patterson’s novel brings back the beloved characters of Lucy, Wash, and Emma, as they fight not only to clear their names, but also for justice against the Enforcers, a group of rogue vampires who take it upon themselves to wipe out any and all vampires who threaten to reveal their way of life.  Bring into the mix a human now on the Enforcers’ radar due to helping his vampire friends move during the daylight, an angry “baby” vampire wanting nothing more than to go home to her parents, and a police investigation hot on their tails with the Enforcers closing in from the other side, and you’ve got an amazing adventure.  Patterson expertly weaves his tale, explaining the intricacies of not only the characters and their dilemmas, but also the mysterious Enforcers. 

Up until now, the Enforcers have always been a serious threat, but Lucy, the protagonist, didn’t always understand exactly how dire their situation really was.  As the story unfolds, and the reader learns more about the Enforcers bloody beginnings and Emma’s close brush with death at their hands, it becomes clear that the Enforcers will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who stands in their way, and if that means killing an entire township of humans in their quest, so be it. 

I loved the presentation of the Enforcers, the group that should represent good, a policing force for the underground vampires, but they’re anything but that.  The Enforcers’ heartlessness and self-preservation is the perfect foil for Lucy and her friends as she attempts to do the right thing, but how far will she and her friends go to protect themselves and everyone they love?  Caught between the desire to live in safety and the need to protect the innocent, Lucy, Wash, and everyone else must make some extremely difficult choices, and not everyone will walk away unscathed, making this an intense, but wonderful read. 

I was surprised by the conclusion of the novel, yet it works perfectly with the series and, though a clean ending, leaves room for more if Patterson ever decides to continue the series, which I hope he does.  The Blood Calling series an enthralling series, and it’s come so far since the very first book.  I think this is the best book of the series yet.  Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads: “Please God, if you’re listening, keep Rachel safe.” She couldn’t turn her back on her family in their time of need. So when her sister was injured, financial expert Andrea Hampton traded the big city for Amish country to help turn her grandmother’s house into an inn. But life with the Plain People took a treacherous turn when a string of accidents and pranks threatened her family. Someone didn’t want the secrets the old house harbored to come to light. Trusting anyone-even the handsome carpenter who seemed so genuine-was a battle for Andrea, but her life depended on her ability to find the truth.

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This is the first novel in The Three Sister’s Inn series, and I must say it’s an absolute gem.  It’s another story of mystery and intrigue surrounding the Amish countryside as Andrea attempts to piece together the acts of violence and figure out who is stalking the house before it’s too late.  Although this novel doesn’t deal specifically with the Amish like Perry’s Amish Suspense Series does, it’s still set in Amish country where there is a more laid back, cozy atmosphere among the residents.  Thus, Andrea, her family, and Cal are at a loss as strange events continue to occur around them, and a lone figure is seen stalking the house.  This is a great suspense novel and I really enjoyed it, especially as I found myself to be just as confused as the characters when it came to fingering a suspect.  I was highly surprised by the ending of the novel and the turn of events as they came to light, and I think Perry does another fantastic job writing this series, fleshing out the characters, and add a bit of romance into the mix.  I plan to read the other two books in the series ASAP.  Four stars.

From Goodreads: Leah Miller’s peaceful life as a member of the Spring Township Amish church shatters when she’s accused of theft from an Englisch home in which she works. Even if she is not charged, if the crime is never solved, she will live under the taint of the theft and may never be able to participate fully in her Amish community. Josiah King, friend of Leah’s brother, is drawn into helping Leah—and discovers the ‘little sister’ he’d always tolerated has grown into a strong, appealing woman.

But what future can they have together if suspicion makes Leah an outcast? As they attempt to learn the facts behind the accusation, danger grows around them. It’s only through their trust in each other and the support of a faithful Englisch friend that Leah and Josiah can find their way through a tangled, dangerous maze to the truth.

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I’ve always been interested in the Amish, and Perry gives us an in-depth look into the Amish lifestyle through her fantastic novels, while also adding mystery and intrigue.  This is a very quick, compelling story concerning Leah as she’s accused of stealing a very expensive ring from one of the women she works for.  It’s an intense novella and I really enjoyed the authenticity Perry provides through her research of the Amish lifestyle.  While not a murder mystery like the other novels in the Amish Suspense series, this is a wonderful “who-done-it,” casting doubt on multiple characters, including Leah.

Perry is a very talented writer and her story is so compelling that I was draw into it from the very first page.  Having read Vanish in Plain Sight, and now this novel, it is obvious that I need to read more of Perry’s work, as she is a fantastic author.  Four stars.