The Readiacs

A group of girls doing a lot of reading!

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Night of the Purple Moon by Scott Cramer (@cramer_scott)

[rating=4]

If I had to choose five words to describe this book, they would be intelligent, innocent, mature, poignant and engaging.

Night of the Purple Moon tells the story of a group of pre-pubescent kids who are left parentless after a deadly comet passes through Earth.  For months everyone has been looking forward to seeing the comet pass through and Abby Leigh and her family are no exception.  They've talked about it at school and over dinner and so finally, when the night arrives, everyone takes their ringside seats to witness the experience.

Little do they know that with such beauty comes such terror, for the comet leaves destruction in its path. Deadly vapours fatally attacks every adult and leaves Abby, her younger siblings and, it transpires, their schoolfriends to fare for themselves. However, as word finally gets to them on what this virus is, they soon find out that they have bigger fight on their hands as they realise that their bodies are ticking timebombs - as soon as they hit puberty, they too will succumb to the deadly virus.  When word finally gets out that there is a cure, Abby and her friends know what they have to do but the question is, do they have enough time to succeed?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story for many reasons but mostly because it takes a subject that could easily have been over exaggerated and handles it with compassion.  I've read similar stories with the same subject matter recently and have been disappointed about how the authors have taken every opportunity to turn the entire book into a gore-fest with survivors taking on a Lord of the Flies hierarchy role and being full of unnecessary gratuitous violence.

Scott Cramer avoids this route and has written a story that is every bit as subtle as it is detailed.  Abby and her friends are slightly younger than most characters in YA novels - the average age being 12 or 13 - but don't let that detract you from reading this. The maturity with which Abby and her brother handle the circumstances they are in should be applauded.

Night of the Purple Moon is a combination of many elements - there is romance (the exchanges between Abby and Kevin are especially sweet) there is conflict (rival gangs without bloody violence) and there is heartbreak (tissues are needed for a particular scene involving our main character) and there is hope.

Mr Cramer writes intelligently, he doesn't over-glamorise violence like a lot of books in this genre and he tells a story that is sympathetic towards his characters.  For a story that could easily fall into the 'zombie/virus' category, that is a refreshing and welcome change.

Book Description: Space germs wipe out virtually everyone who has passed through puberty.

Abby Leigh is looking forward to watching the moon turn purple. For months, astronomers have been predicting that Earth will pass through the tail of a comet. They say that people will see colorful sunsets and, best of all, a purple moon.

But nobody has predicted the lightning-fast epidemic that sweeps across the planet on the night of the purple moon. The comet brings space dust with it that contains germs that attack human hormones. Older teens and adults die within hours of exposure.

On a small island off the coast of Maine, Abby must help her brother and baby sister survive in this new world, but all the while she has a ticking time bomb inside of her -- adolescence.

Author: Scott Cramer Published: 12 March 2012 Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

To buy Night of the Purple Moon on Amazon UK, click here: To buy Night of the Purple Moon on Amazon US, click here:

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Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon

3 [rating=3] stars

 Sixteen-year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her computer-hacking skills to stay safely anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in an empty warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there, Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side.

Enter Peter Gregory. A rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with Noa’s talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation threatens his life. But what Noa and Peter don’t realize is that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who’d stop at nothing to silence her for good.

Filled with action, suspense, and romance, this first book in a new trilogy offers readers nonstop thrills.

REVIEW:

When I first started Don’t Turn Around I thought it was a dystopian novel. Only after reading about a third of it, did I realize it was a contemp/sci-fi sort of novel based around computer hacking.

Noa has been in foster care for nine years, spending the last year pretending to be living with a family. In and out of homes until she couldn’t take it anymore and was able to create a fake foster family by hacking into the necessary databases, State welfare, DMV all by learning the Linux system in public school.

She’s kidnapped by a corporation who is trying to find a cure for a disease that is killing the youth. When she escapes a man-hunt ensues. This company is determined to find her and she’s determined to figure out who they are.

Peter Gregory is a computer hacker who is to nosey for his own good. He finds himself bored and decided to snoop around his father’s desk and finds a file. More curiosity drives him to hack into this company’s server to find out who they are. Only to find himself face down on his floor by some thugs, his computer taken and his front door missing.

Something like this would likely deter people from looking further, but not Peter. He hires one of the hackers from his own hacking website to find out more.

He hires Noa.

While she’s hacking for him, Peter is discovering that his high school turned college girlfriend is no longer in love with him and his parents are part of this mystery company. As if things can’t get any worse for Peter, his parents kick him out.

Noa discovers that the company Peter is looking into is the same that kidnapped her and she’s being watched.

What happens next is a cat and mouse game of mystery and murder.  Noa learns that this company takes street kids because they won’t be missed – but Noa isn’t a street kid, she has a fake family who works and pays rent, so this is where I became really confused as to why she was targeted. Maybe the sequel will shed more light on this.

Don’t Turn Around reminds me of The Net with Sandra Bullock.

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COVER REVEAL: NATURALS by Tiffany Truitt

Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.

NATURALS is the second book in The Lost Souls trilogy, and follows the dystopian hit CHOSEN ONES.

Amazon | Goodreads | Tiffany's Website | Tiffany's Twitter

About Tiffany

 Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of  one McDonald's and Banana Rats (don't ask) she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman(5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

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Review: Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo

Title: Murder Takes Time (Book 1 in the Friendship & Honor Series) Author: Giacomo Giammatteo Rating:  [rating=4] Genre: Mystery Publisher:  Inferno Publishing Publication Date: April 2012

Review:

I used to read a lot of Murder Mysteries. Somewhere along the last few years, I stopped and this book is making me wonder why. Murder Takes Time is an excellent read. From the background behind Tony, Nicky, and Frankie's lifelong friendship to trying to figure out who is behind the terrible murders, this book had me hooked. A lot of books and movies tend to go overboard with mob stories but I felt like this was realistic view of situations people in the mob might go through. Giammatteo has a very raw way of telling this story, he doesn't add in too much extra detail which is always good as it sometimes steers away from the main plot, especially in a murder mystery.  The characters were all very believable as well but I did feel at times that it was difficult to know who's point of view the story was from as it tends to jump from person to person mid chapter. That being said, I still highly enjoyed this book.

There are some violent and graphic situations in this story but if you can handle it, then you should definitely pick up this novel. Giacomo Giammatteo has a guarantee on his website that if you don't like this book, he will give you the next book free. I have a hard time believing that many people have taken him up on this offer because it's hard not to like Murder Takes Time if you like mysteries. To read this gripping novel, go to Giacomo's website.

Summary:

A string of brutal murders has bodies piling up in Brooklyn, and Detective Frankie Donovan knows what is going on. Clues left at the crime scenes point to someone from the old neighborhood, and that isn't good.

Frankie has taken two oaths in his life—the one he took to uphold the law when he became a cop, and the one he took with his two best friends when they were eight years old and inseparable.

Those relationships have forced Frankie to make many tough decisions, but now he faces the toughest one of his life; he has five murders to solve and one of those two friends is responsible. If Frankie lets him go, he breaks the oath he took as a cop and risks losing his job. But if he tries to bring him in, he breaks the oath he kept for twenty-five years—and risks losing his life.

In the neighborhood where Frankie Donovan grew up, you never broke an oath.

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Time's Daughter by Anya Breton

Title: Time's Daughter Rating:  ★★★ Genre: YA / Supernatural Publisher:  Smashwords Release Date: April 19, 2012

Review:

I stumbled upon Time's Daughter while I perusing Smashwords one day looking for something to read that didn't make me want to pull out my hair. When I found Time's Daughter, I couldn't have been more pleased. Often, self-published works get a bad reputation, but Anya Breton proves that self-publishing sometimes rolls out some diamonds among heaps of coal.

What I Loved:

1. Character Development. I loved that Aeon didn't know about her powers and that she stumbled upon them while she was emotionally charged. Though she knew who her father was, she never assumed she'd be like him in any way. In fact, she dreaded it.

2. The Love Story. Aeon and Alex do not fall instantly in love and I loved that. It was more realistic to have a slow build than a wild and passionate love affair. It gave me time to really like Alex before the relationship officially started.

3. The Mythology: I loved that Aeon was  the daughter of Chronos but that the story doesn't ultimately get caught in that typical child-of-a-God way. Think the Percy Jackson series meets Matilda meets YA.

4. Her name. Aeon Still. Stops Time. I laughed out loud when I figured out what her power was. It was priceless and slightly Dickensian. Bravo Anya!

What I Didn't Love:

1. There was absolutely no reason for Aeon to be in a reality TV show. It was off-putting and cheesy, to say the least. And because I have absolutely zero love for reality TV, I almost put the book down.

2. Though I understand the bad boy Supernatural creature thing (after all, who didn't fall in love with the Wolves of Mercy Falls?), the panthers here seemed forced, almost like Alex had to be a panther because Aeon couldn't be the only one with secrets. The fact that they were both featured in the reality TV show was contrived and make me cringe.

3. The ending was cheesy. I wanted more. There were so many more badass villians that could have appeared in later books, but the epilogue negates any future series novels. I am not a fan of the epilogue in general unless it's in a series like Harry Potter. You know the story is completely finished because school is over, and everyone needs the wrap-up. But after a single book, it doesn't work for me.

Overall, I'd recommend this book and also consider picking up other books from Anya. She's a talented writer and she's proven that self-publishing is not a mark of a bad writer. She's an Indie writer that fits right in with Stacey Wallace Benefiel or Ali Cross.

Synopsis:

In this sweet young adult love story, sixteen-year-old art nerd Aeon Still is the unwilling subject of a documentary about average American teenagers. She must quickly come to terms with the identity of her mystery parent, Chronos, the god of time, the realization that she wields extraordinary power, and the trials of keeping the town safe all while hiding her secret from a camera crew. Her life is further complicated by the interest of the enchanting new guy in town, Alex, who harbors a secret of his own

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Broken City by D.D. Chant

Title: Broken City Rating:  ★★★★ Genre: YA / Dystopia Publisher:  Smashwords Release Date: February 7, 2011

Review:

Twenty-year-old Deeta Richards has a lot to deal with. She's young and unmarried, though she cares for her siblings as well as the unofficially adopted children of her best friend, Tom, and Professor Jepson. I love well-done dystopia and Broken City was one of those books I couldn't put down.

What I Loved:

1. Okay, so I love a realistic romance, not one of those wishy-washy, cry your heart out, type teenage romances that seem all too common. Deeta has an unspoken love for her best friend, Tom. She won't admit it to him because she barely admits it to herself. 2. Recreation of a post-apocalyptic world. I love a well-developed dystopian society, one with thought-out and detailed rules (think Veronica Roth). The society in which Deeta lives is a crime-ridden "murder for the barest of necessities" kind of place. There seem to be no rules except stay away from the Andaks. 3. Star-crossed love. So, I should be way beyond the star-crossed lover thing, but when we find out what Tom is Andak, I felt that familiar fluttering in the pit of my stomach. And I know that he and Deeta had to make it work. There was just no other option - at least not for me.

What I Didn't Love:

1. Deeta's reaction to Andak society. This was her first trip outside her compound and she's kidnapped (who didn't see that coming!) and brought into the Andak society. And we find out that the Andaks are filthy rich. Though Deeta resists her new living arrangement and longs to get home, she adapts to Andak society life a little too easily. 2. I wish the trip outside the compound had been more detailed. After all, Deeta has been dreaming of it her entire life and then when we finally get to go outside, it's dark. We can't see anything. And she's kidnapped - also in the dark. It was a little underwhelming.

Overall, I would recommend this book. I loved the idea that one's love for friends and family can make all the difference. Tom was quiet and mysterious and had a smoldering love for Deeta that we could all see though she seemed blissfully clueless. The story was great as both a dystopia and a new adult romance.

Synopsis:

deeta richards has never seen the outside world. before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in. tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and tom knows only too well that deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. then tragedy strikes and deeta and her Sister jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. why does Tom know so much about these people? and why do they know so much about him? as this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems...

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LOOK at this GORGEOUS Cover!

Two Seattle 16-year-old Shape Shifters, Jatred and Jasmira, are torn between following their hearts and protecting the order of the world.

The ancient Shape Shifter Races—the Winter wolves and the Summer leopards—exist on Earth, living among humans and perfectly fitting into modern life. Their secret societies are organized, each united by their own laws and traditions.

Two Goddesses, Crystal and Amber command their respective Races. One is on a quest to tilt the scale of power to her side. The other will never let it happen, even if it means sacrificing Jatred and Jasmira’s love.

The Amulet commissioned to bring stability into the world remains hidden and concealed with the help of advanced technology. Jatred is the guardian of the Amulet and key to the Goddesses’ conflict.

The forces of nature are disrupted. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions rake the world. The Goddesses go to war and summon all their Shifters to join in the conflict. Jatred and Jasmira fight not only for their star-crossed love but to protect the future of both Races and humankind.

Find Angela here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Linkedin | Goodreads

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Naturally, Charlie is an Absolute Must Read! By @slscottauthor

Four [rating=4] Stars

Twenty-five year old Charlotte “Charlie” Barrow is caught between her old life and the one she is beginning to build when she crosses paths with a handsome stranger on the subway. Not looking for romance, she closes her heart off to the possibilities of love. With a knack for mishaps, Charlie maintains her sense of humor while befriending the kind stranger who seems to be there at all the right times.

New York freelance writer, Charlie Adams, is forging his own path beyond the expectations of the society circles of his childhood. Rejecting family money, and fast-lane friends, he is snubbed by his family as he follows his own compass to a life more extraordinary.

Through a coincidence of events, they come to rely on each other for comfort. This is the tale of two Charlies learning to trust again while fighting their fates to create their own destiny.

REVIEW:

First thing I’m going to say is that I’m pretty damn honored to be among the first few who are able to read this story. I have followed the writings of SL for about two years now, so when she asked if The Readiacs would be interested in covering her work, I jumped at the opportunity.

And I’m glad I said yes. I started Naturally, Charlie and finished within three hours. This fast paced contemporary story about friendship and lovah’s is an absolute pleasure in the romcom category.

The character development is spot on. Each supporting character has a purpose and they are used for just the right amount of time. In fact, SL could, if she hasn’t already thought about it, spin-off with the characters of Justin and Rachel and maybe give Connor a story.

Charlie B is that down to earth girl from Chicago who just happens to land the golden boy in college. When life leads them back to NYC – Charlie soon finds out that her happiness is short lived. Everything she thought she knew about love and life was nothing but a sham. She works to rebuild her life after losing what she thought most important.

Charlie A is that Manhattan boy we all oogle. He comes from money and was expected to take over the family business, until he decided he wanted something different and his parents shunned him. Now he does what he wants and it makes him happy. Honestly, you can’t help but feel sorry for him when you meet his mother and cousins – crazy train left the station and forgot to take them along for the ride.

The Charlies “meet” on the subway – it’s that moment we’ve all had. Or as James Blunt aptly sang “I saw your face in a crowded place, and I don’t know what to do, ‘Cause I’ll never be with you.” I thought of this song throughout the entire book, curious to know if SL used it in her playlist. Anyway, they have a moment and before either of them can do anything – Charlie B is gone.

Lady luck is on their side when Charlie A spots her at a bar with her friend Rachel. The only and majorly huge problem is that Rachel has already latched onto Charlie A and Charlie B does the right thing, and leaves even though she knows they (her and Charlie) have a connection.

It’s in the most unlikely circumstance that the two Charlies become friends, he doesn’t cheat on Rachel, and as a reader I was itching for the hook-up. The well written sexual tension oozes off the pages. The character banter is amazing – there are many laugh out loud moments as well as moments when you’ll need a Kleenex or two.

A very unique dynamic that SL has used over the years is the high society dysfunctional family, I don’t know if she intends to do this, or this is just how this particular storyline worked out. It’s interesting to say the least.

Now why I didn’t give it 5 stars - I was set to give it 5 – up until the epilogue. For me an epilogue is a preview of the next book. For some it’s closure. In this particular case I felt it was years of the character’s lives jumbled into a few pages. There was one particular scene that I could’ve done without – it was definitely not needed.

Regardless of my Star count, Naturally, Charlie is well worth the read. SL has done an amazing job putting together a well thought-out storyline that is both entertaining and heart-wrenching and Charlie A does a very nice job charming your pants off.

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After Ever by Jillian Eaton

After Ever starts as a fresh and feisty novel that caught my attention from the get-go. Winnie, the protagonist, has a sharp tongue and an even sharper inner monologue that sets her apart from the other, somewhat generic female leads and this is what made this story interesting.  Her dislike for her dad’s girlfriend brought some humour to what, essentially, were pretty dire circumstances.  Girlfriend #3 is a bad excuse for a step mother and it’s Winnie that plays guardian to her little brother, Brian.

When her dad takes the family off for a winter holiday, Winnie can think of nothing worse, so when she meets geeky Sam, with his love for sweater vests, Winnie finds someone else to talk too, even if her acidic tongue leads the reader to believe that she doesn’t enjoy his company.

However, Winnie finds that when her life is in danger – or to be exact – taken from her, she realizes that Sam is more important to her than she thought and when he suddenly gets taken away from her, she tries everything she can to get him back.

I had high hopes for this story when I started reading it, however if I’m honest, once Winnie died and transitioned across to the After, things just started to get a bit too confusing for me.  I found the banter between Winnie and Sam to be too distracting and, at times, frustrating – especially when Sam is trying to explain to Winnie what has happened to her.  Don’t get me wrong, I understand that the author wanted to show Winnie’s confusion; but her constant interruptions and diversionary questions towards Sam, made the story far too confusing and hard to follow – so much so I found myself skipping huge chunks of text just so I can find Sam’s explanation of what had happened so I could understand it for myself.

After Ever is a cross between an angst coming of age novel, crossed with a paranormal ‘after death experience’ with an added pinch of ‘zombie nation’ and for me that was one genre too many.  I felt that we needed more character expansion and explanation as the story progressed and we met Elysia and Francesca and what, exactly, their connection was to each other.

The story ends with a cliffhanger (if not a little abruptly), which paves the way for a sequel as Sam and Winnie’s adventure continues. Whether or not I will be invested in finding out what happens next, depends on how their relationship develops with each other.

Maybe you guys can let me know what you think after you’ve read it.

[rating=2] and a half.

Title: After Ever Author: Jillian Eaton Published: Out Now

Summary:

“Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you can’t die again in a thousand different ways.” 

For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s unexpected death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she has her hands full. Courtesy of a thin patch of ice and failed swimming lessons, all of that changes in the blink of an eye.

In death Winnie will find the answers that eluded her in life, and a whole slew of other questions she never thought to ask. Like why is she stuck with Sam for a guide? Sure, he’s funny and cute in a geeky sort of way, but he wears sweater vests… and loafers. For a girl who has tattoos on her face and glue in her hair, it’s not exactly the best match up.

But when Sam is taken and his very existence threatened, Winnie must make the ultimate choice between cowardice and courage. Faithlessness and loyalty. Family... and love.

Suspenseful and action packed, After Ever is a must read for anyone who ever wondered: what happens next?

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Moon Dust by J. E. Nicassio

Title: Moon Dust Rating:  ★★★★ Genre: YA / Paranormal / Romance Publisher:  Pulse Release Date: August 14, 2012

Review:

Since reading Pittacus Lore's "I Am Number Four," I didn't think I was going to be able to find any other paranormal alien story I would like. I was dead wrong.

Samantha Hunter is a strong female protagonist with an interesting secret and an even more interesting life. After moving to New Mexico to start a new life with her father, it isn't long before Sam meets Lucien, a mysterious bad boy with whom she falls in love.

What I Loved:

1. Sam's hair changes colors, which signifies her emotional changes as well as foreshadows the coming apex. 2. The dialogue is incredibly realistic. 3. The relationship between Lucien and Sam is not forced. It seems natural. She asks the right questions and he gives her that I-Don't-Know-How-You're-Going-To-Take-This look. 4. The angst-ridden and undying teenage love. In this book, it literally spans galaxies. 5. Sam. As far as female protagonists go, I was hoping for a strong one (finally!) and got my wish. Sam's awesome. She was realistic and her emotions matched the situations perfectly. 6. Lucien. C'mon. Who doesn't love a bad boy as the male lead (think Dean Winchester). He's a bad boy because he's secretive, but that doesn't mean he's not willing to practice some good old fashioned chivalry and keep Sam comfortable, even when she feels like she could fall apart.

What I Didn't Love:

1. I don't know about you but my interest wanes when I see things like 'four months later.' The time span itself really isn't important. And if you need the before/after, a simple 'less than a week later' would suffice. 2. The term 'gray' when used in speaking about aliens. It's overdone. I wish the term had been more creative. The entire novel was so different from anything else I'd read that I was a little disappointed to see such a common term used. For me, it took a little bit the book's amazingness away.

Overall, I loved Moon Dust and highly recommend it. It's a quick and easy read (only 259 E-Pub pages) and I blasted through it within a couple of hours. But it was definitely entertaining and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel!

Synopsis:

Samantha Hunter's life is transformed after a tragic accident kills her mother and brother in the mountains of Western Pennsylvania. Before, Samantha lived on the edge...she was fearless; after, Samantha was merely taking up space...she was dispirited. However, meeting up with Lucien Foster from New Mexico moves Samantha's life in meaningful new directions. She senses an otherworldly connection to Lucien, and before long he pulls her back to life. Samantha soon realizes that her and Lucien's paths have crossed before and begins to figure out his mysterious identity. Unlike Samantha, Division Six, a rogue covert government organization, has known about Lucien and his siblings for years, placing him in grave danger - and only Samantha can save him. However, if Samantha saves Lucien, he must leave her behind to save her...will saving Lucien mean losing her one true love?

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Review: The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley

Title: The Color of Snow Author: Brenda Stanley Rating:  [rating=4] Genre: YA Fiction Publisher:  Tribute Books Publication Date: June 2012

Review:

All her life, Sofie has thought she was living under a curse. Her father kept her secluded from the world to protect others. When Sofie's Papa is arrested for shooting the boy she loves and her only friend, she is taken away from him and forced to live with extended family she never knew and questions everything she was ever taught about herself and the world around her.

I think the author did a great job at capturing the feelings of Sophie and the hardships she had to face when she learns everything about her family's past. I also felt that the scenery descriptions were lovely, there was something very serene about the way it all came together. I did like the fact that Brenda wrote this book in different points of views in different periods of time but at a few points in the story, it would jump to Sophie's point of view in the present or future. It wasnt explained who's POV it was or when it was written (which was different than the rest of the chapters which clearly stated that information) so I thought a bit of clarity on that end would have been nice. While the love between Sophie and Damien was very pure, I didn't really FEEL their love, nor did I ever get a sense that she loved him other than the fact that he was her first and only friend. More descriptions of their time spent together while growing up would have brought this story together beautifuly.

I also enjoyed the fact that while there are religious aspects to this story, there were all different sides presented and the Author didn't try to steer the reader to believe in any certain religion.

It's hard to read about a girl who thinks she doesn't deserve love or that she needs to hide from love because she will end up hurting others. It was great to see Sophie have such a wonderful support system of family and friends to help her realize that she deserves to be happy and that sometimes what we are taught in life isn't always true, just like the color of snow isn't always white.

All in all I did thing that The Color of Snow was a lovely book. To check it out for yourself, go to Brenda Stanley's website.

Summary:

When a beautiful 16-year-old girl named Sophie is found sequestered in a cage-like room in a rundown house in the desolate hills of Arbon Valley, Idaho, the entire community is shocked to learn she is the legendary Callidora--a baby girl who was kidnapped from her crib almost seventeen years ago and canonized in missing posters with portraits of what the fabled girl might resemble. Authorities soon learn that the cage was there to protect people from Sophie, because her biological father believes she is cursed.

Sophie is discovered after the man she knows as Papa, shoots and injures Damien, a young man who is trying to rescue her. Now, unsocialized and thrust into the world, and into a family she has never met, Sophie must decide whether she should accept her Papa’s claims that she is cursed and he was only trying to protect others, or trust the new people in her life who have their own agendas. Guided by a wise cousin, Sophie realizes that her most heartbreaking challenge is to decide if her love for Damien will destroy him like her Papa claims, or free her from past demons that haunt her mind.

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The Emerald Isle by @kate_hinderer

In a genre that is wildly saturated with vampires, werewolves, zombies and dystopian hierarchies that make armys out of their offspring and/or send them to fight for survival; I am always on the lookout for something different to keep my imagination entertained. And so I was relieved to find that Emerald Isle by Kate Hinderer is about a different race of mythological creatures. Welcome to the world of the Mermaids.

Or, Mermen to be precise. Two of them. And they are both vying for the attention of our protagonist, Audyn.

Audyn is working on Fascination Island - a high brow exclusive holiday resort - as a lifeguard, having run from her life in New York after finding her boyfriend in a compromising position with her so called best friend.  She throws herself into her work with a new resolve - no boys, no distractions and no serious relationship.  To put it simply, Audyn is a woman scorned. So when she learns from Linley, a girl who introduces herself one day, that her brother Tristan has taken a liking to her, Audyn is not pleased. In fact, she's down right outraged as it intervenes with her 'no boys' plan. Enter Levi, who is shy, sweet and everything Tristan is not and Audyn quickly makes up her mind which of the boys she wants to be friends with.

But like everything, all is not as it seems and she soon finds out that first impressions aren't always the right impressions; Audyn quickly realises that shy and endearing does not necessarily mean safe and trusting. When Levi leads Audyn to danger, it is Tristan that comes to her rescue but not before revealing the true nature of both the boys' heritage - one that is meant to be kept hidden from human eyes...

Tristan and Levi are mermen from rival tribes that pretty much hate each other. While one tries their hardest to protect Audyn, the other does everything he can to change her into one of them. But when a bigger danger emerges all three have to join forces to save the merpeople from a fate that isn't worth thinking about.

I have mixed feelings about this book. At first, I found it very hard to like Audyn because she came across as being pretty mean and rude to any member of the opposite sex who tried to be friends with her.  There's having a 'no boys' rule and there's having a 'don't even try it or I'll stab your eyes out' attitude and Audyn fell into the latter.  Not that it stopped Levi or Tristan who seemed to enjoy her 'treat ‘em mean, keep ‘em keen' attitude.

I wasn't sold on how the relationship between Audyn and Tristan developed. One minute she hated him, the next she loved him and it was only towards the latter part of the book that I was convinced about Audyn's feelings towards him.

Storywise, however, this book fared better.  Whilst there are hints very early on that merpeople would play a key part in this story, the build up to the climax - and ultimately the root of why Levi and Tristan despised each other - was nicely told. In fact once the drama started to unfold, what started off as an okay read turned into quite the page-turner.

For fans of YA paranormal thrillers with a hint of romance, this has everything: A feisty protagonist; the tall, brooding boy who falls head over heels for our lead female; the threat of a love rival; together with the thrill of a whole tribe of people being in danger; finishing with the sad redemption of one character.  Whilst The Emerald Isle does seem to follow this pattern, it holds its own by bringing in a tribe of mythical creatures that hasn't really been touched on before.

The Emerald Isle has a mix of predictable romance and unpredictable drama and for that reason I would recommend adding this book to your reading list for some escapism on a rainy day.

[rating=3]

Title: Emerald Isle (A Fascination Island Book) Author: Kate Hinderer Available: Out Now

Product Description:

To escape a bad break-up and fighting parents Audyn takes a job as a lifeguard at Fascination Island. The posh five-star resort lives up to its name in every way, including the strange rules the owner has about entering the water at night. Despite declaring it a boy-free summer, it isn’t long before the shy, endearing Levi and the mysterious, tattooed Tristan begin vying for her attention. When Levi tries to push his advantage and Tristan comes to the rescue, Audyn realizes there is more to both these boys and the island they inhabit. Suddenly, she’s forced to acknowledge a reality she’d never considered and to pick a side in the conflict that has been waging for decades.

For more details on THE EMERALD ISLE and Kate Hinderer, visit her blog here

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Wicked Sense - Cover Reveal

Calling all witch fans - this is for you!

Witches inhabit our world, organized in covens and hiding behind a shroud of secrecy— the Veil.

Skye’s London coven sends her to Seattle’s Greenwood High to find the Singularity, an unusually gifted witch who may break the Veil and trigger a dangerous new era of witch-hunting. Things get complicated when Skye meets a charming new classmate, Drake. Skye’s job becomes even trickier when she clashes with Jane, an intimidating rival witch.

Drake falls for the mysterious Skye, but odd accidents, potion mix-ups, and the occasional brush with death kind of get in the way of romance. Once he discovers Skye is a witch, he goes to war for her, even though his only weapons are a nice set of abs and a sharp sense of humor.

Fighting off wicked Jane and the other dark forces hell-bent on seizing the Singularity's immense power, Skye and Drake will risk everything to save the covens.

Going on a date has never been harder.

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Exclusive Interview with Carmen Falcone & Giveaway

Today we are sitting down with Carmen Faclone, author of A Vengeful Affair. Let's see what she has to say!

Don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom for your chance to win an e-book!

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? I really enjoyed writing Vivian and Javier’s first kiss. It had tons of buildup, and at that point he wasn’t sure who she really was, and she was slowly changing her mind about him. But the hot kiss – and the discussion that followed – added tension and deepened their inner conflicts.

How did you come up with the title? It was a lovely suggestion from my editor. I had a different one initially, but we wanted something that would tell the reader right away what the book was about. We brainstormed, and came up with A Vengeful Affair.

What project are you working on now? I’m just finishing a book about a feisty heroine who kidnaps the hero to prevent him from expelling a tribe of Brazilian Indians that are illegally occupying his land. Then I’ll get started on a lovely story of a spoiled, broke L.A. socialite and the rough Texan cowboy she gets mixed up with.

Will you have a new book coming out soon? No, but I might have good news soon. J

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with? I don’t know if I would go back to my characters… I feel they have a lovely ending and I don’t want to spoil that. I love all kinds of different tropes. I think the important thing is to have likeable and strong characters.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment? On an earlier draft of A Vengeful Affair, someone said Vivian Foster, my heroine, was weak. That was incredibly hard to hear, but I was glad someone told me because the heroine I had in mind wasn’t the one on paper. So I had to make revisions to make sure the readers saw what I saw: Vivian is resourceful, strong, compassionate, and intelligent. She has turned into a hell of a heroine, if I may say so myself. J The best compliment? It has to be people taking time to read my book, and emailing me about it, writing reviews and recommending it to their friends. It’s such an extraordinary experience to have people enjoy your work.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Everyone says to write, and guess what? They are right. Write as much as you can, and try to hone your craft and push yourself. Share your work with critique partners and learn as much as you can. Be humble, and be open to listen to people’s ideas and feedback. If being published is your dream, don’t give up! Ever. J

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans? Thank you so much for your support and loyalty, and for allowing me to share with you Vivian and Javier’s story. I can’t wait to share other sizzling stories in the future.

Tell me about your experience with Entangled. All I have to say is “WOW.” They are a force to be reckoned with. I met some Entangled editors and authors in Chicago at the RT convention, as well as at a lovely Entangled retreat last week in Vegas. Everyone is talented, super nice and willing to work with you. They want to give the reader the best book possible, and what else can an author ask for?

  A Vengeful Affair is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Click here to read the first chapter free.

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Do you need an outlet to express yourself?

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Fangirlish - a site dedicated to all those things that make us squeal is looking for writers. If you aren't familiar with Fangirlish <---- click there to check it out. The short of it, a site for all things Fandom related.

So if you are die hard Vampire Diaries fan or Glee has you singing every week - Fangirlish is looking for you to be their expert!

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The Boar King by Michael Evans

Title: The Boar King Rating:  [rating=5] Author: Michael Evans Genre: Drama/Suspense/Thriller/Tragedy Release Date: June 20, 2012

Review: Wow when a book takes you in, sometimes your mind finds itself building the world around what you're reading. It certainly did in this case. Think Lord of the Rings meets Narnia, but the creatures are not kind.

The Kingdom of Demos thought they were safe and strong. Sometimes with confidence comes ignorance. King Jayson found this out the hard way. Introduce his sons who wish to stand up for their father, the King, just to be laughed at. Then the children (all of them) witness the horror of their kingdom being taken over and their parents beheaded in front of them. I honestly found myself in tears reading this.

Liam finds himself with an unusual gift the King of Boars wants to use as his own weapon. Liam puts all his trust in his family and decides to join this enemy army and heads it up. Of course his family sees this and finds him a traitor (but they do not realize what he's doing... yet!).

Of courese one of the sons escapes and calls on the tree people to build an army so they may invade... but is this the right decision to make? What will be the consequences? Mr. Evans I cannot WAIT to read more!!! When the story did end I found myself saying out loud, "NO! This can't be it! I want to know what happens next!" Please... please let us know!

Summary: The Battle Lord is a fantasy epic story that takes you through a world of battles, magic and treacherous plots.

Even the mightiest kingdoms must fall, and the Royal city of Demos is no exception.

The aftermath, what becomes of the victims is not quite as certain. Barbarians, known as the Boars of Idas, a country only known for its brutality, overthrows the royal family of Demos in an ambush.

The King and Queen are publically beheaded, leaving three of their four royal children to be enslaved under the Boar’s regime.

The fourth child, Second Prince of Demos Liam bar Jayson, however, has a particular destiny laid out for him, one that not even his parents knew of but had been whispered since the dawn of time in the winds, for anyone that could hear it.

And Urd of Idas, the leader of the Boars, heard everything.

To Liam, being anointed the head of Urd’s army is the chance of a lifetime to seek vengeance for the beheading of his parents; but in this world of magic, mystery and schemes, nothing is certain except, at the end:

Only One Can Win!

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Exclusive with Nicola Marsh & Giveaway

We are excited to sit down with Nicola Marsh, author of Not the Marrying Kind.

How many of you said you'd never get married, only to tie the knot? Leave your story below for a chance to win a copy of Not the Marrying Kind.

The Readiacs: What inspired you to write NOT THE MARRYING KIND?

I don’t have time to watch much TV but my hubby is a TV addict, particularly news and current affairs shows. One evening I happened to be walking through the room when I heard an advertisement for an upcoming current affairs show featuring the latest trend: divorce parties.

In that second I knew I had an unusual theme for a book! I love taking contemporary ideas and putting a twist on them. So my Divorce Diva, Poppy Collins, was born. A party planner with a difference…organizing divorce parties!

The Readiacs: Are there any more in the series, if so how many?

Absolutely! Tentatively titled NOT THE BLUSHING KIND is book 2, Ashlee’s story (with a very sexy theme!) and book 3 NOT THE LOVING KIND, Sara’s story.

[caption id="attachment_4721" align="alignright" width="200"] Not the Marrying Kind[/caption]

The Readiacs: If so, have you planned the entire storyline, and do you know how it's going to end?

I’m a pantser when I write, which means I have a vague idea of plot to start with but I let my characters lead me where they want the story to go. As for knowing where it’s going to end, that’s easy. In happily-ever-after 

The Readiacs: Was there any particular scene/chapter that was your favorite to write?

I love characters who banter and Poppy and Beck did a lot of that throughout the book, sparking off each other and making me smile. I think my favorite to write would be the pool scene, where Beck’s surprise visit to Poppy at his house in Red Rock Canyon results in a rather hot encounter!

The Readiacs: Which books are you reading right now?

I’m reading Robin Covington’s ‘A Night of Southern Comfort’ and if I didn’t have deadlines, I’d read it straight through. It’s that good! I’m blown away by the fact she’s a debut author.

The Readiacs: What's next on the agenda?

I’ve just started writing book 33 for Harlequin, featuring a WAG and a publishing CEO. Promises to be huge fun!

Release-wise, next up is MARRYING THE ENEMY (Harlequin Presents Extra), releasing in September, closely followed by WEDDING DATE WITH MR. WRONG (Harlequin Romance) and FALLING FOR FLYNN (Crimson Romance) in October.

The Readiacs: Tell us one thing about Nicola that we won't be able to find on the Internet?

My weight!

Praise for Nicola!

USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair. She’s had 32 books published with Harlequin Romance and Presents series, a fun, flirty contemporary mainstream romance BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD with Entangled Publishing (nominated for Romantic Book of the Year 2012) and sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Her first category romance for Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence series, NOT THE MARRYING KIND, releases July 2012, with another category contemporary romance FALLING FOR FLYNN releasing with Crimson Romance October 2012.

Her urban fantasy young adult novel SCION OF THE SUN releases November 2013 with Month9Books.

She’s also a Waldenbooks and Bookscan bestseller, has finaled in a number of awards, including the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, HOLT, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and has won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

She loves interacting with readers so you can find her:

Website | 
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

NOT THE MARRYING KIND BLURB:

Who said marriage had to be convenient?

LA party planner Poppy Collins has kept her side business—planning divorce parties as the Divorce Diva—under wraps, but keeping her sister's company afloat is proving tougher by the day. When a new divorce party prospect gives Poppy the opportunity to save the day and boost her bottom line, she can't pass it up. But this time, she's about to get way more than she bargained for…

Vegas golden boy Beck Blackwood knows Poppy's secret, and he's not afraid to use it to get exactly what he wants—a wife. With his reputation and corporate expansion plans on the line, the only way he can repair the damage is by getting hitched, and fast. And if blackmail is the only way to get Poppy to the altar, then so be it…

But they're in the city of high stakes, and Poppy has a few aces up her sleeve. Now it's time to find out if they're playing to win…or if they're playing for keeps.

Link to excerpt | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | YouTube

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