From Goodreads: Time is running out … the Dark that’s been chasing Syd for many lifetimes has finally caught up with her …

Sydney Roberdeau lost her parents as a young girl. Waiting for her life to start and the freedom that will come with her eighteenth birthday, Syd spends much of her time haunting the local cemetery. It is there, stretched out among the dead, that she feels most alive, most at home. Until one rainy night when Beau, Sarah and T.J. crash her ghostly sanctuary, appearing out of nowhere, turning her already inside-out world one degree past upside down.

Syd must now revisit past lives, dressing in the bodies of her previous selves … bone dressing. Her only chance to outrun the evil breathing down her neck is to face her own worst nightmares and her strongest desires. But if she can’t stay out of trouble in this life, how can she possibly fix mistakes from past lives? And just how many lives has she lived, loved and lost? What is Syd exactly, and what will she risk for the life of a man she doesn’t remember, the man she spent a lifetime with, the man she loves? Everything … including her very own life?

Bone Dressing, the first in a series of seven books, will carry Syd and Beau on an adventure that transcends life itself.

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Bone Dressing is the story of Syd, confused and hurting, looking for her place in the world.  Found by unlikely allies in a graveyard, Syd begins to connect the dots of her past and her true identity with their help, while her adversaries comb the world looking to end her life.  This was a very interesting concept for a novel.  I was drawn into the story from the first page as Syd watches her school burn, and the story then backtracks to the events leading up to the opening scene.  This novel packs a lot of information into it, creating a non-stop action novel that will leave readers confused if they don’t pay explicit attention, especially as there is a huge character change within the novel.

This novel doesn’t give away many answers concerning Syd, her background, or the other major characters within the novel, which may frustrate readers looking for a quick explanation.  However, as this is the first novel in a series of seven, I look forward to obtaining the answers to this mysterious and intriguing series as the novels are released over time.  Three stars.

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

From Goodreads: Fate can be unkind. Would you dare to look back and risk her wrath?
When you’re a child of the favela, in the Valley of Steel, you know that Fate comes like a whirlwind, lifting some to great heights and slapping others down with no reason.

Ivan, rescued first from an orphanage in the slums of Rio de Janeiro and then from the bleak streets of Ipatinga in Brazil’s Valley of Steel, has been favored by Fate. When a call from Brazil interrupts his privileged life in America, he learns his best friend has committed suicide in the rugged Valley of Steel and only he knows the real reasons why.

This is the story of one man’s journey home after a self-inflicted exile. The story of a boy who saw more than any child should, and the man he grew into-and how that man came back to the Valley of Steel to avenge his childhood and stare down the demons of his past.

It is a story of survival, redemption, and joy. Of childhood memories that burn in the soul-and what happens when one man has courage enough to fan the flames and face the fire.
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King’s memoir is a very powerful book detailing his life growing up in poverty in Brazil’s Valley of Steel.  Although his childhood was difficult, with a mother who beat him incessantly, a father who was distant, authority figures who brought more terror than protection, and friends who came and went, King adds humor to this retelling of events, inviting the reader into his life to laugh and cry alongside of him.  Perhaps the most riveting aspect of the memoir is that, unlike many memoirs today, King does not dwell on all the bad in his life, harboring hatred or dislike to those that hurt him.  His respect for people, their beliefs, and their experiences is refreshing.

After much time away from the Valley of Steel, King returns to pay his respects to his childhood friend and confront his past.  Told through a series of stories, King’s memoir is a riveting tale that all should read.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: What if you knew the exact date and time the world will end, what would you do? Sam Tucker was faced with that dilemma when he began getting visions of the Earth’s demise. Luckily for him, he was able to save his family and as many people as he could before the tragic event occurred, and he did so with the help of unknown visitors. With Earth now destroyed, Sam, his family and thousands of other lucky survivors must live the rest of their lives on a faraway planet in a Dome that simulates life on Earth. But Sam’s mind can’t seem to rest as a few questions arise. Why did the aliens save them? How did they know about Earth’s sure fate? And exactly what are they hiding?

Emma Tucker begged for an escape from her boring life but never in a million years did she think it would come at the destruction of Earth. Living on a new planet and finding it difficult to get rid of her rebellious habits, Emma finds herself making friends with a member of the alien race and it soon develops into an unexplainable love; a love that is more dangerous than she could ever imagine. While her father is searching for his own truths, she has no idea that she is stumbling on a truth of her own.

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Sparks has created wonderful characters and situations in her debut novel, the Dome, and I found myself unable to put the book down until its completion.  Told from two different viewpoints, the reader follows both Sam and Emma as they journey across the galaxy as the earth is destroyed.  Both father and daughter have many issues that they must work out, the newest of them being placed into the Dome to live freely on an alternate planet, but not all is what it seems.

Having both Sam’s and Emma’s perspectives of the situations surrounding them was refreshing—I really enjoy having multiple narrators within a story.  I also enjoyed that Sam and Emma didn’t rehash the same experiences, but actually had their own stories inside of the novel, creating two stories in one. 

This is a great adult novel (there are some graphic sexual experiences), complete with romance, suspense, and mystery.  I really did enjoy it and cannot wait for the sequel, especially since the end of the Dome left off in medias res.  Four stars.  

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

From Goodreads: Old Loves Die Hard…and in the worst places. In Old Loves Die Hard, Lauren Carr continues the rags-to-riches story of Mac Faraday, an underpaid homicide detective who inherits two-hundred-and-seventy million dollars and an estate on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, from his birth mother on the day his divorce becomes final. Mac is settling nicely into his new life at Spencer Manor when his ex-wife Christine shows up—and she wants him back! Before Mac can send her packing, Christine and her estranged lover are murdered in Mac’s private penthouse suite at the Spencer Inn, the five-star resort built by his ancestors. The investigation leads to the discovery of cases files for some of Mac’s murder cases in the room of the man responsible for destroying his marriage. Why would his ex-wife’s lover come to Spencer to dig into Mac’s old cases? With the help of his new friends on Deep Creek Lake, Mac must use all of his detective skills to clear his name and the Spencer Inn’s reputation, before its five-stars—and more bodies—start dropping!

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The second novel in the Mac Faraday series, Old Loves Die Hard, is a wonderful mystery novel involving the murder of Mac Faraday’s ex-wife.  Carr has again created an action packed suspense novel, bringing back the beloved characters of Mac Faraday, Archie, police Chief David O’Callaghan, and the ever-mischievous Gnarly.  I absolutely loved the many twists and turns within the novel, keeping me on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded.  Carr’s superb characterization causes the reader to feel like they’re a part of the story, as if the characters are close friends.  I really enjoyed this novel, especially as Carr continues to surprise me at every turn within her stories; I never saw the ending coming, and I highly recommend this series to any reader looking for a great murder mystery with wonderful characters, lots of suspense, and endings that will leave you reeling.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: What started out as the worst day of Mac Faraday’s life would end up being a new beginning. After a messy divorce hearing, the last person that Mac wanted to see was another lawyer. Yet, this lawyer wore the expression of a child bursting to tell his secret. This covert would reveal Mac as heir to undreamed of fortunes, and lead him to the birthplace of America’s Queen of Mystery and an investigation that will unfold like one of her famous mystery novels. Soon after she moves to her new lakefront home in Spencer, Maryland, multi-millionaire Katrina Singleton learns that life in an exclusive community is not all good. For some unknown reason, a strange man calling himself “Pay Back” begins stalking her. When Katrina is found strangled all evidence points to her terrorist, who is nowhere to be found. Three months later the file on her murder is still open with only vague speculations from the local police department when Mac Faraday, sole heir to his unknown birth mother’s home and fortune, moves into the estate next door. Little does he know as he drives up to Spencer Manor that he is driving into a closed gate community that is hiding more suspicious deaths than his DC workload as a homicide detective. With the help of his late mother’s journal, this retired cop puts all his detective skills to work to pick up where the local investigators have left off to follow the clues to Katrina’s killer.

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Carr is an exceptional writer, keeping the reader glued to the pages as her murder mystery unfolds.  I was drawn into the story from the very first page as it jumps directly into the action with Katrina’s murder.  What I really enjoyed about this novel, aside from the thrill and suspense it created, is that Carr created every character with a purpose.  There are no space filling characters within the novel at all; each person somehow connects back to the murder in some way and plays a vital role in figuring out the truth behind the many murders that ensue throughout the novel.

I really enjoyed the character of Mac Faraday.  Faraday, having come into millions of dollars, is thrust into the midst of a rich life, yet he doesn’t allow such extravagances to go to his head.  He is an extremely likable character with a nose for detective work, refusing to give up, even when it seems the trail has run cold. 

Even Gnarly, Faraday’s inherited German shepherd, plays an important role within the story, which surprised me as I hadn’t realized his importance within the novel prior to certain events that unfold within the story.  Carr’s ability to tightly knit together her characters and storyline, along with love, betrayal, mystery, and intrigue, is a testament to her sheer writing capabilities. 

Carr not only kept my attention throughout the entire novel, but also kept me guessing the identity of the murderer known as “Pay Back.”  It seems that everyone is a suspect in this novel, and I must admit that, in the end, I was shocked to find out who the real murdered was.  Carr’s talent for creating mystery and suspense is evident within her writing and I am excited to begin the next novel in the series, Old Loves Die Hard, as I cannot wait to find out what happens to Mac Faraday next.  Five stars.

From Goodreads: Clair Campbell finds out on her 16th birthday that she’s not going crazy like women in her family are rumored to do, but that she’s become a witch, with powers she doesn’t know how to control.

Soon Clair is caught up in danger and boy drama that includes her best friend, Keith, who may or may not be after her powers (and her heart). Clair has to master her powers quickly in order to save her family. And get the guy.

Trouble is. Which one does she want more?

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Adams has created a wonderful cast of characters that are endearing to the heart.  Told from Clair’s point of view, the reader becomes privy to Clair’s humor and wit as different situations befall her and her friends while she tries to make sense of her life.  Adams draws the reader in from the beginning as Clair turns 16.  This day is supposed to be every girls dream, but for Clair it’s more or less a nightmare.

I really enjoyed this unique novel.  It’s extremely well written and the story itself is just so cute.  I laughed aloud more often than not as Clair explains her thoughts and feelings over finding herself a witch.  There is even a little gross humor concerning a certain female plague that hits once a month, but for me that was more comical than gross—though male readers may disagree.

I absolutely loved the character development within the novel.  The relationship between Clair and Keith was real and romantic at the same time, and I cannot wait for a sequel to the novel as Clair and Keith continue their relationship and Clair learns more about her powers and family heritage.  I highly recommend this novel to readers of all ages! Five stars.

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

From Goodreads: When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Ivy has heard it all before – that her father, who left when she was seven – was involved with the darkest of magic.

Making the rumors worse, someone uses an evil spell book to bring back two of history’s most nefarious killers. Ivy’s got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits that want her and her friends dead: the school’s resident bad boy and hotter-than-brimstone demon, Nick Marcelli. Nick’s offering Ivy more than his help with recovering the missing book – he’s offering her a way to ditch her scaly reputation as a lizard-lover. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and as Ivy soon discovers, it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to survive long enough to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end.
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Muto has written a beautiful debut novel that will charm the hearts of readers both young and old.  From the very beginning, the novel draws the reader in as Ivy’s life quickly spins out of control when she changes Spike, her friend’s pet lizard, into a human for what is supposed to be an evening of fun.  The daughter of a dark magician, Ivy is able to delve deeper into magic than is normal for a teen her age and, therefore, is regarded as potentially dangerous by those in her town, especially after the lizard fiasco.

I really enjoyed this book.  There is mystery, intrigue, suspense, and romance all packed into this wonderful novel, gluing the reader to the pages as the non-stop action ensues. I thought the idea of regulars and kindred people living side by side was an ingenious idea and really added to the story.  The fact that vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and regular everyday people all live together in the same community is enchanting and reminds me of the Sookie Stackhouse novels, which I love, but Muto’s novel is a much cleaner, YA friendly read. 

Muto is a very talented writer, fleshing out all her characters and their struggles as they work together to try and stop the murderers set loose upon their town by an unknown foe through a book of dark magic.  Throughout the novel, Ivy continually grows, coming to terms with her fears, though she must ultimately decide between her friends and the powers of the dark arts given to her through The Book of Lost Souls.  I highly recommend this novel for all ages and cannot wait for the next book in the series!  Four and a half stars!

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

From Goodreads: He leaned his head close to my ear and whispered, “Are you afraid?”

Chrystine had had more reason than any other time of her life, even when facing one of the rampages of her drunken father. But she wasn’t afraid. And that was odd, because although Aaryn, the person asking her that question, was her best friend, he was also a vampire.

In fact, she was surrounded by hundreds of vampires. But they weren’t your typical vampires. They were Stregoni Benefici, the good kind. Nor was Chrystine your typical fairy. She was the Golden Healer, and she alone could save the Stregoni Benefici from the Dark Enchantress.

But can Chrystine figure out the Dark Enchantress’ secret and defeat the evil vampires without destroying the good ones as well, without destroying Aaryn?
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This novel was completely different from anything I’ve ever read.  Yes, there are vampires and fairies, but they aren’t the traditional type we are all used to.  These characters are Christian, praying to God for guidance in the war against the dark enchantress.  This was a really interesting concept, but to have vampires—traditionally dark, damned entities—praying to God was a bit jarring.  The first time references were made to God and Christianity, I did a double take.  While the story itself is completely original, especially the religious aspect, I still find myself struggling to pull away from tradition.  I have always loved the idea of good vampires versus evil vampires, but I’ve never thought of them as religious by any means, so this novel presented some interesting concepts for me to think about.

I really enjoyed the romance portion of this novel.  Aaryn and Chrystine are a wonderful couple and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.  Schulze has creating an entire cast of endearing characters and I found this aspect of the story quite enticing.  I also highly enjoyed the lore that Schulze created surrounding the vampires, including skin color changes, their abilities, and how they came to be created.  It is apparent that Schulze spent much time perfecting her characters and I think this is a great read for all ages.  Three stars. 

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

From Goodreads: The nation’s capital that serves as the setting for the stories in Edward P. Jones’s prizewinning collection, Lost in the City, lies far from the city of historic monuments and national politicians. Jones takes the reader beyond that world into the lives of African American men and women who work against the constant threat of loss to maintain a sense of hope. From “The Girl Who Raised Pigeons” to the well-to-do career woman awakened in the night by a phone call that will take her on a journey back to the past, the characters in these stories forge bonds of community as they struggle against the limits of their city to stave off the loss of family, friends, memories, and, ultimately, themselves.

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I had to read this compilation of short stories for a course I took in order to teach AP classes.  Quite honestly, I’m not really one to enjoy compilations of short stories—I tend to avoid them in the classroom and I rarely read them for fun because I don’t care for them.  Needless to say, I really didn’t care for this book.  The short stories weren’t interesting to me, and I personally found a majority of them inappropriate.  Perhaps I’m old fashioned, but I don’t think that every story needs references to sex or cussing to validate it, and I find myself becoming uncomfortable when I read stories like these. 

These stories were frustrating for me in that many of them just seem to end with no conclusion.  They read in the same fashion as Flannery O’Conner, and as I wasn’t a fan of her writing either, it makes sense that these short stories also wouldn’t be for me.  I do understand the premise for these short stories as Jones is writing what he knows, but I personally need something much more upbeat.  One star.    

From Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield “protects” them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there’s nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says…

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a “dark party” to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she’s ever known, including the people she loves the most.

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This novel has a very interesting concept, but overall, I think it’s very similar to many dystopian novels that came before it.  While I did like the novel on the whole, at times I felt that originality and characterization was a bit lacking, leaving something to be desired as I read.  Neva and Sanna are both tired of the unexplained disappearances and Government sanctions, yet these characters are underdeveloped in a way that stops me from making meaningful connections with them.  While I do understand their plight and anger with the Government, I found that I wasn’t swayed one way or the other as I read.  I found the same to be true in regards to the romance between Neva and Sanna’s boyfriend, Braydon.  The attraction itself was never truly explained and left much to be desired on the characterization front.  Neva’s newfound attraction, based on a make-out session during a dark party, seems much more carnal than meaningful, and her ability to stab her friend in the back didn’t make her a very likable character, in my opinion. 

This novel is set up for a series, as the ending leaves the reader hanging, but I am yet unsure if I will be continuing on with the series.  While I think the concept is there, this book didn’t pull me in as I had hoped.  Two and a half stars.

I received a copy of this novel from Hachette Book Group, via Netgalley.

From Goodreads: Steven is sent by his village to slay the fearsome beast that threatens them, he suddenly realizes that he doesn’t know what a dragon looks like, where it lives, or how to slay it. But Steven’s village has fostered the talent of telling tales. Steven trades once-upon-a-times with the people he meets along the way and each remarkable story leads him a step closer to understanding the true meaning of his quest. All roads lead to the dragon.

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Originally, I thought this would be a great bedtime storybook for young children as there are so many interesting stories within the novel, and it seems to be written for a younger audience.  Then I came upon a story about a missionary’s illicit relationship with a young woman and thought, hmmm… maybe this isn’t bedtime material after all.  That was the only occasion to make me feel that way, so I began to think again that perhaps it really could be read to young children regardless (skipping that one portion of the story).  Then I got to the end of the book and decided to nix that idea all together as Steven meets a woman in his travels and…  While the novel is not “dirty” by any means, there are some stories in it that I wouldn’t want to read to my five-year-old.  The more I think about it, though, I don’t know if I want my middle graders to read some of those stories either, and so, as you can see, this is a difficult review to write.  I’m not sure what age group the novel is appropriate for, in all honesty.  As an adult, I found the concept of the novel great and thought it would be interesting for kids, as it’s not really for adults, but now I’m not so sure it’s for kids either.  Perhaps YA will like it, though I feel like it may be beneath their reading level. 

Audience aside, I think this novel was very craftily put together.  Everett is a wonderful storyteller and his many different renditions for how Steven’s hat came to be are very clever.  I liked the coming-of-age portion of the novel as well, as Steven goes from being extremely naive to learning about the world.  I also found it interesting that there are many archetypal characters within this novel and many Biblical references were made, though they are not necessarily blatant and may require some critical analysis to come upon.  Overall, I think the novel was pretty good, though I could have done without the questionable portions of the stories.  Two and a half stars. 

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

From Goodreads: A man recalls his life of addiction, abandonment, and anger as he faces death at the age of thirty-four. Told through the voice of one man, but written through the words of his brother – this memoir novelette describes the troubled life who was rejected by one woman at an early age but found solace in another.

Author’s Note:

When I was nine years old I picked up a lead pipe and prepared to hit my fourteen-year-old half brother in case he did something to my mother. That brother died two hours after my twenty-ninth birthday when he was only thirty-four. Throughout the years, I often thought about how he shaped who I eventually became as a person. I was always the good kid, straight A’s, never getting into trouble and very bent on being a productive part of society – the opposite of the older brother I had when most young boys want to try and emulate that older sibling.

But later in life I began to think about what life must have been like for him. I had always thought he was offered the same opportunities I had been given from our parents but he still had a very difficult life that I never could fully comprehend as a child. I decided to try and get inside of my brother’s skin to write this memoir of his life. My brother’s life was a novelette – too long to be considered a short story and too short to be a novel.

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This is a beautiful memoir detailing the life of Johnny, the author’s brother, who struggled throughout his life to find his place in the world and, ultimately, pushed everyone away in the process.  This novelette is very interesting and had me captivated from the very first page as Johnny explains his thoughts from his death bed—unable to speak to those around him, his mind drifts between the past and present, jumping back and forth to allow the reader to view the whole spectrum of his life. 

I really enjoyed the fact that this unconventional memoir is told from the perspective of Johnny, even though Gregory is actually the writer of this memoir.  It is obvious that Gregory spent much time grappling with the question of what life was like for Johnny, a young man scorned by one mother and loved by another, yet still unable to accept this love.  This is a very well written, deep, poignant memoir that I highly recommend to readers of all ages.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: Life can be cruel for a servant girl in 1850s London. Fifteen-year-old Abi is a scullery maid in Greave Hall, an elegant but troubled household. The widowed master of the house is slowly slipping into madness, and the tyrannical housekeeper, Mrs. Cotton, punishes Abi without mercy. But there’s something else going on in Greave Hall, too. An otherworldly presence is making itself known, and a deadly secret will reveal itself—a secret that will shatter everything Abi knows.

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Albert Whitman & Company have been extremely gracious to allow me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release today, and I must say that I am intrigued!  This is a great novel, full of suspense, mystery, and betrayal, and I was hooked from the very beginning!  Abi, a poor scullery maid, obtained my sympathy within moments of meeting her.  She is kind, quiet, and alone, her mother having died the previous year from cholera, and with no one to defend her, Mrs. Cotton, the overbearing house keeper, repeatedly abuses young Abi. 

In order to get back at Mrs. Cotton for all she’s ever done to the servants of the house, Abi and her friends attempt to scare Mrs. Cotton into thinking that her deceased sister has come back to haunt her.  However, the prank becomes chillingly real as some otherworldly force descends upon the house, causing Abi to question all she’s ever known, including the circumstances related to the death of her mother.

I loved the many twists and turns within the novel, especially the ending as I never saw it coming.  Ford has created wonderful characters and has put together a beautiful story of love and betrayal, gluing the reader to the pages as this haunting tale unfolds.  His use of imagery and crisp diction depicting the 1800s transports the reader back in time, causing him/her to feel one with the story, a feat few authors are able to master.  Though the action in the story slows from time to time, Ford is able to keep the reader easily engaged as the story reaches its climax and all is revealed.  Four stars.

From Goodreads: The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother’s prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady’s maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.
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WOW, just wow!  This is a wonderful read!  I received a copy of this novel from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, via Netgalley, and though excited, was afraid that I would be a tad bit lost as I hadn’t yet read the prequel, Once a Witch.  Luckily, this is not the case at all.  Always a Witch is more than capable of standing on its own, and while reading the prequel always helps, I found that Always a Witch gives the reader all the background knowledge he/she needs to understand the sequel fully.  Now, of course some tidbits of information from the first novel were touched upon, giving away some small portions of Once a Witch, so if you don’t want any spoilers, I highly suggest reading the books in order.  But, if you’re like me and occasionally read books out of order, then rest assured that reading Always a Witch first won’t ruin Once a Witch.

MacCullough is a truly gifted writer, creating a beautiful tale of selflessness in which Tamsin must choose to do the right thing.  With the many twists and turns within the novel, I was pleasantly surprised and enamored as I read, making it impossible to put the book aside until I finished it all, in one sitting.  That being said, I’m dying to get my hands on Once a Witch!  I am in love with both Tamsin and Gabriel and cannot get enough of them—and it is my understanding that Gabriel takes up a good chunk of Once a Witch, while he shows up a lot less in Always a Witch.  They are such a great match, and Gabriel makes me swoon a bit, so it only makes sense that I backtrack and read the original book that starts it all.  I am excited to get the background to their story, and find out more about Tamsin’s family and their Talents as it’s such an intriguing tale.  I highly recommend this book!  Five stars.

From Goodreads: Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help.

But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.

Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

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I picked up this novel with trepidation as there are already many mixed reviews out concerning Misfit, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this novel or not.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that this novel is actually very well written, with just enough characterization, background knowledge, action, and romance for it to be a perfect piece for a lazy afternoon. 

Skovron does a wonderful job blending past and present in his novel as Jael begins to understand what it means to be a half-breed, part demon, part mortal.  The first time the story jumped into the past, I was a little taken aback as I wasn’t ready for it, but Skovron easily transitions between the two stories and it was really interesting to learn about Jael’s parents prior to her birth.  Skovron’s use of both Bible stories and Greek mythology was also a nice touch as I haven’t read a novel that combines the two ideas together before, and it made for a very interesting read. 

While I do prefer a first person narrative, I did come to enjoy the third person narrative as it gave me access to knowledge and ideas that the first person narrative does not.  Overall, I think this was a good read and I suggest those interested in stories about the underworld read it.  Three and a half stars.

ABRAMS books has been extremely gracious to allow me to read and ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on August 1st, 2011.

From Goodreads: For the first time in her life, Rain has a choice to make. The thirteen-year-old slave girl lives in the country of Yoan, where slaves aren’t allowed proper names, let alone anything else. After being sold by a gambler and bought by a thief, she’s freed by an eccentric young noble, about whom many rumors abound. Some say his manor is haunted, his horse can fly, and that he’s actually a devil.

Now that she’s free, Rain must decide what she will do with that new freedom. Her choices will lead her to new friends and many adventures, none of which she could have possibly expected.

Fans of Harry Potter and Howl’s Moving Castle will enjoy this magical tale about choices, consequences, and what it really means to be free.

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I really enjoyed this novel.  Daley has done a magnificent job creating an endearing novel with an important underlying message against all forms of slavery.  While I would classify this novel as a MG/YA novel, it is great for all ages.  The action is non-stop, with much suspense and mystery as Rain and her newfound “family,” Seranfyll and Coal, embark on many adventures that cause them to grow as individuals, while also presenting the reader with multiple life lessons.

Perhaps the most remarkable portion of this novel is actually in the author’s note, in which Daley states that, while Rain is “exceptionally fortunate… [the] stories of many slaves are not so happy.  Slavery and human trafficking are real symptoms of the greed and indifference that plague our world today.  It happens all over, from Asia to Africa, India to North America, Australia to Europe.  No nation is immune.”  This statement is jarring, but true.  While slavery might not be in the same form as it was 200 years ago, different forms of it still exist all across the world, and I commend Daley for writing a novel that deals with this subject, causing the reader to stop and think about this story on a much deeper level.

Daley has created a wonderful novel that draws the reader in, causing him/her to feel, through laughter and tears, right alongside of the characters.  I was surprised by how much of a connection I felt with the main characters as the story unfolded—Daley’s ability to create in-depth, real characters is a testament to her sheer writing capabilities and I am hoping for a sequel to this fun, meaningful novel.  Four stars. 

While reading Dreams Unleashed, by Linda Hawley, I was intrigued by the references to current political leaders and events that the dystopian novel utilized.   Hawley has been gracious enough to guest blog with us today to explain her reasoning, so, without further ado, I give you Ms. Hawley:

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I’m honored to guest blog today; I was asked to speak to my choices in using current political icons and events as a forerunner to future events in Dreams Unleashed. 

As a reader of dystopian novels, I always wonder how things got to the condition they are in (in the future), so as a writer I wanted to ground my story and explain to readers how things got so bad in the year 2015.  Because of the chaos in America and globally in the past several years, it seemed natural to take those events and use them in my fictional trilogy.  For example, I’ve used the financial crisis (bailing out the banks and having people’s retirement accounts go bust) as a springboard for future calamities that Ann (the protagonist) has experienced.  Using current events grounds the reader, even though they’re reading about the future.  I made sure when writing Dreams Unleashed, that there was balance between the characters and current events, so that readers weren’t overwhelmed.

When I first started writing Dreams Unleashed, I wasn’t writing the novel in first person.  Then, when I reached about one-third of the way, I realized that I needed to switch to first person, so that I could bring Ann’s passion about current events to the reader.  That brought power and passion to the story that wasn’t there before.  Think about it—Ann is a member of a subversive government organization that will charge her for treason if they learn she’s a member.  She believes so much in the cause that she risks her life and liberty. 

Besides current events, I took technologies that are already in use today, and projected the use of those technologies for the future.  I did a great deal of research to ensure I got it right, and what I learned rocked me to the core.  The truth is that almost every industrialized nation is either currently tracking, or has plans to track humans through RFID.  When I learned this, I could see that I had found a framework for Ann’s fight against the government.  It’s a chilling reality for our future.  In the next two books, more future technology will be revealed.

With all this control the government has through RFID and other technologies, I also wanted to show another side of technology in the future.  So I created Sinéad, the computer with the Irish accent.  I thought Sinéad brought balance to the other uses for technology.  Sneak Peak:  There is an event with Sinéad coming, that will show you how heroric she really is.

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Thank you so much Linda!  I absolutley LOVED Dreams Unleashed, and your reasoning behind the use of political icons and events is fascinating (and a tad bit scary!) 

To read my review of Dreams Unleashed click HERE.

The eBook version of Dreams Unleashed is available for purchase NOW for $2.99 (for all eBook readers) at:

Smashwords:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/61373

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VDGJK

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dreams-unleashed-linda-hawley/1031408704?ean=2940012935533&itm=1&usri=dreams%2bunleashed

You can read a free sample of Dreams Unleashed at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VDGJK

The print version of Dreams Unleashed will be published the week of June 20^th.

Linda’s website is:  http://lindahawley.com/

Linda’s blog is:  http://lindahawley.com/b2e/blog5.php

From Goodreads: It’s the near-future year of 2015, where technology governs life.  In this dystopian world, governments control their citizens by tracking them with RFID.  The right to personal privacy does not exist.  The heroine, Ann Torgeson, having been trained by the CIA as a paranormal spy at nineteen years old, has enhanced abilities.  Twenty-five years later, she lives a double life:  first, as a technical writer for a tidal energy company in the Pacific Northwest, and second, as a member of the worldwide anti-government subversive organization, called GOG.  When Ann’s vivid dreams turn real, she questions whether the doorway between her subconscious and reality has been permanently altered.  When she starts to dig into her past, her present begins to unravel, leading the reader through events that twist and turn everything upside down.  Question everything you know is essential in this trilogy.
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This is a really cool novel.  It’s well written, complex, interesting, funny, scary—this novel has it all!  Hawley has written a wonderful debut novel depicting the not so distant future with a “Big Brother is watching you” mentality.  The government’s involvement in individual lives is scary and, though the book is fictitious, the references to real/current political issues and people aides in making the novel that much scarier for the reader.  I was actually very impressed by Hawley’s ability to add both real and embellished events to her novel, and I was a little thrown off the first time Obama’s name was mentioned—Hawley’s use of real people and events brings the reader out of the land of fiction and strikes fear in their hearts, making them begin to question where our world is heading.  I think this was ingenious and really enjoyed this aspect of the novel.

In fact, I enjoyed all aspects of this novel.  The beginning drew me in very quickly as Ann is running from the FBI, and I was wrapped into the story in moments.  I will admit that, in the beginning, I struggled with separating Ann’s reality with her dream world, but as Hawley explains Ann’s life to the reader, it becomes obvious when Ann is dreaming and when she is not.  These lines will again begin to blur later on in the novel as Ann’s CIA training comes to the forefront but, by that time, the meshing of the dream world versus reality was extremely easy to follow.

In the beginning I was confused by the chapter titles, as they tend to jump around a lot—2015, 2011, etc., but I quickly learned that this backtracking was essential to the story.  Although everything is currently taking place in 2015, Hawley takes the reader back to 2011 and even the early 1990s in order to paint the background from Ann’s life in the “here and now,” which I really enjoyed once I figured that out (I’m a little slow…).

This novel is the first in the trilogy and I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the novels—it is that good!  The paranormal aspect of the story was unexpected, but I found myself enamored by Ann’s ability and routing for her along the way.  Four stars!

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

From Goodreads: All of the world’s dreams are about to die. The Shadow People have come. Always near, they linger in the darkness, ready to devour dreams, hopes, aspirations and desires. . .

Aisling, having lost her dream of becoming a fashion designer, learns that she’s a Faerie changeling. Disquieted by the fact that her faerie parents are kidnappers, she has decided to rescue the human child she was exchanged for, but her “sister” is no longer among the faeries, having been taken by the Shadow People. Ith, the Lord of Shadows, is trying to control the dreams of mankind, which are under the protection of the faeries, so they’re at war.

Aisling, who doesn’t believe in dreams any longer, is falling in love with a handsome, mysterious stranger – one of the Shadow People.

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This is a very well written, descriptive novel.  O’Bannon is a very talented writer, and it’s the first novel I’ve read depicting faeries in their own realm, complete with wings.  Yet, while the story has a very interesting premise, I must admit that it just wasn’t for me.  The pacing in the novel was sporadic, with huge fight scenes materializing almost instantly, and then long slower scenes depicting fashion or dialogue that didn’t seem central to the plotline.  While I liked the story idea and the characters, I did struggle with the quick succession of events; it seems that the novel jumps around a lot, and I’m a reader that needs chapters to break apart different events in order to keep them all in order in my mind.  That being said, I do think those interested in fairies will enjoy this novel—there is love, betrayal, war, etc.; it just personally wasn’t my forte.  One and a half stars.

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

From Goodreads: Two years ago, archaeologists Frank and Beverly made the discovery of their lives.

Today Frank’s old partner and one of their digging assistants, Romerro, hold up Frank at gunpoint for the new secure location of Pandora’s Box that only he knows. However, Bev and Romerro are merely the puppets whose strings are pulled by a sinister puppeteer.

The granddaughter of Bev’s old Anthropology professor holds the key to opening the box, which could cause then end of humankind. The only question left to know is, will Frank keep the box from the only one who can open it, or will he fall and leave the world in Pandora’s hands?

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I thought this novel’s intertwining of the Adam and Eve story with Greek Mythology was really interesting.  I’ve read many novels that deal with Creation, and many novels that deal with Greek Mythology, but I’ve never read one that brings them together, and Rux does a wonderful job creating suspense and anticipation as the novelette unfolds.  The very beginning draws the reader in as they’re dropped into the middle of a “stick-up,” in which Frank and his family are being terrorized by unknown gunman.  From there it’s a rollercoaster ride all the way to the end, which, though it leaves the reader hanging, has set itself up for an interesting sequel, one that I hope will be longer as Dux has whet my appetite for this story through this well written novelette.  Three stars.