Release Announcement - Configured (YA Dystopian)

New release today, Oct. 20, 2016

 Configured

by Jenetta Penner

Description off Amazon:

In the future, love will make you a traitor.

120 years after a virus decimated earth’s population the survivors thrive in safety, away from the death and destruction of the Outerbounds. But there is a price. Divided into three levels of intellect, Citizens focus solely on duty. Emotions are pointless, even dangerous.

Due to her advanced intelligence, seventeen-year-old computer genius, Avlyn Lark was separated from her twin brother at birth and raised by adoptive parents. She gained privilege, the ideal future. He dies. Avlyn barely knew him yet remains bound to his memory.

But following a string of rebel intrusions on the city, Avlyn receives a cryptic message. After which, she begins seeing visions of her dead twin, not to mention a strange power she doesn't understand starts to emerge. The mysterious radical who urges Avlyn to join their fight becomes her link to answers. Freedom. Love.

Opportunity calls, but if she says yes will she lose it all?

Configured is the first novel in a Configured trilogy that poses the question: does humanity need love for survival? Fans of Divergent, Matched, and the Maze Runner will love this world of dark secrets, intrigue and thirst for a better tomorrow.

Buy Configured today to read a YA Dystopian/Light Romance that will leave you wanting more!

Click here to find buying options on Amazon.

Author Spotlight - Michelle Areaux

Hello Everyone. Today, I am spotlighting author Michelle Areaux. 

If you are a fan of YA novels and love ghost stories you are in luck!

Michelle Areaux has written a series (currently 3 books) about a teen girl named Sadie who can see ghosts! Driven by a strong sense of justice she makes it her mission to solve their murders and reveal the truth of past events. 

Book 1: 

Wicked Cries

For 16-year-old Sadie Sanders dealing with the dead is growing tiresome, especially when they expect her to play messenger to the afterlife.

Up until recently, Sadie had been able to juggle her double life without anyone detecting she was not only an average high school student, but a messenger to the dead as well. When Sadie's dad decides to move the family to Salem, Massachusetts, Sadie wondered if the move would be the fresh start she needed to leave her old, wicked life behind and become a normal high school girl.

Only Sadie was wrong, dead wrong. Once in Salem, Sadie finds a hidden journal from Elizabeth, a once persecuted witch who documented the last few days of her terrifying life. Desperately wanting to push the journal aside and begin her new life, Sadie finds herself haunted by Elizabeth, but this time is different.

Book 2: 

Wicked Lies

Sadie Sanders believed her life couldn’t get any worse when her parents moved her from sunny California, to gloomy Salem, Massachusetts. Of course Sadie was wrong, dead wrong.

After a dangerous and almost deadly first year in Salem, Sadie’s parents decided to send her away for the summer to visit her Aunt Morgan in the small town of Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Seeking normalcy from her twisted life, Sadie hoped her stay in the small Kentucky town would be the break she needed from her paranormal obligations and a way for her to escape the demons that haunted her. Of course, Sadie was wrong.

Unfortunately for Sadie, her job as messenger to the dead never stops, not even for summer vacation. Soon after arriving in Nicholasville, Sadie discovers a murder that has been haunting the town for centuries. Refusing to ignore the injustice of what she uncovers, Sadie sets off on another wild adventure.

In Wicked Lies, Book Two of the Wicked Cries Series, Sadie's quest for justice just may be the one thing that finally ends her career as a messenger to the dead; and her life.

Book 3:

Wicked Truths

Death seems to follow seventeen year old Sadie Sanders everywhere she goes–literally. As a mediator to the dead, she must constantly face fighting demons and the occasional angry dead girl.

After a dangerous and almost deadly first year in Salem, Sadie’s parents decided to send her away for the summer to visit her Aunt Morgan in the small town of Nicholasville, Kentucky. After uncovering a murder hidden for centuries, she embarked on a deadly mission to solve the crime while trying to enjoy her summer vacation.

Now back in Salem, Sadie has found another hidden secret in the wicked town. Secret underground tunnels are hidden under the streets of Salem, beckoning to those with wicked souls. When Sadie encounters a ghost named Laura roaming the streets of Salem, she and her friends Noah and Lucy must uncover the clues leading to Laura’s death, which is made even more complicated by the fact that Laura has no memory about her life or death. To make matters worse, Sadie must also track down the person who has been sending her threatening messages in an effort to stop her mission for justice.

In Wicked Truths, the third instalment of the Wicked Cries series, Sadie learns that some secrets are meant to stay dead, for the truth, once it has been uncovered, may be wickeder than she could have ever imagined.

You can win a copy of the first two books, Wicked Cries and Wicked lies from a contest spanning Oct. 1 - Oct. 31, 2016 here at: A Bookish Halloween Giveaway Contest

Also by Michelle Areaux, and Free for Kindle Unlimited:

Runaway

For 17-year-old Hallie Romano, living the life of a princess was great, until her entire world was transformed by four simple words; do you trust me? Now, after witnessing a brutal murder carried out by a prominent mob boss, Hallie has to make a decision. Should she trust Jackson, her gorgeous lifelong friend or stay behind and deal with the implications of what she witnessed? Hallie finds herself haunted by the crimes she witnessed as she flees in search of safety and freedom. Hallie seeks normalcy in a twisted game of chase as she and Jackson uncover they are being hunted. Traveling around the world to exotic locations, Hallie and Jackson encounter numerous obstacles and dangerous situations. But for Hallie, the most difficult obstacle to overcome is her growing attraction to Jackson. Can Hallie push aside her feelings for Jackson? Can Jackson continue pretending he isn’t in love with Hallie? Can they make a new life for themselves? Or worse, can they can protect themselves?

About the Author:

Michelle Areaux was born and raised in Nicholasville, Kentucky where she currently resides with her husband Anthony and two sons, Connor and Cooper.

Michelle attended the University of Kentucky where she earned her Bachelors in English Education and Asbury University where she earned a Masters in Secondary English Literacy. Currently, she works as a middle school language arts teacher in Lexington, Kentucky.

Michelle Areaux on Twitter

Book Spotlight - The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes

The Ugly Teapot

by Fred Holmes

Description off Amazon:

Fourteen-year-old Hannah Bradbury loved her father so much that she worried about him constantly. After all, he was a photographer who traveled to the most dangerous places in the world.

To allay her fears, each time he came home he brought her silly gifts, each one with supposed magical powers: the Seal of Solomon, the Ring of Gyges, even Aladdin’s Lamp. It was that lamp Hannah found the most unbelievable, for it looked like an ugly teapot. Nevertheless, her father assured her it was real, and made her promise to save her three wishes for something very special.

Then . . . six months later . . . the unthinkable happened. Her father was killed while on assignment to Baghdad. And so on the day of his funeral Hannah did something she never thought she would ever do.

She took out that teapot and gave it a rub . . .

The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes is a timeless tale, filled with magic and adventure. More importantly, it will make you believe in the overwhelming power of love.

Links:

Fred Holmes Official Site

Fred Holmes on Facebook

Fred Holmes on Goodreads

Buying options on Amazon

Video promo on youtube:

Wicked Cries (REVIEW)

Wicked Cries

Author:  Michelle Areaux
Category: YA Paranormal

Suitable for: Young Teens

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle - first digital edition

Pages: 253

Description: This story is about a teenage girl name Sadie who speaks to the dead. She has made it her job to relay messages from the dead to the living. When she moves to an old home in Salem, MA and finds the diary of Elizabeth, a girl who lived during the Salem Witch Hunt, she decides to solve the mystery of what happened to Elizabeth. Elizabeth aids her in her search for answers by coming into her dreams to talk to her and show her the past.

In Short: A YA paranomal novel ideal for ages 10-16, due to the dramatic style of the story and the characters. Sadie is a very dramatic teen girl, for example when the popular girl (nicely) invites her to a party she decides to start a fight with her unprovoked. If you love supernatural themed novels with a ton of drama, check this one out!     

Pros: The ending was great. I was so glad Sadie was able to rewrite history. The story is more about the development of Sadie's character than the ghosts. She starts as a very reclusive teen who pushes away anyone who tries to get close to her but in the end she has warmed up. She becomes closer to her parents, establishes tighter friendships than she had ever had before and truly begins to appreciate the people around her instead of feeling so alone and exiled by her secret. Overall, the story is good. My favorite part was when the ghost was once again invading her dreams but this time her boyfriend Noah was there too. That really creeped me out wondering how he was there and what the connection was. I noticed this story drew a lot of parallels between Sadie's life and the life of Elizabeth who was alive hundreds of years ago during the Salem Witch Hunt. I think the similarity between the two girls and their lives was a nice touch.

Cons: This book needs a lot of editing. There are many types of errors: wrong word usage, grammar/punctuation, unnatural dialogue, plot holes and a lot of things that just don't make sense. For example a character will leave, but then a moment later they are still there talking and then they leave again. Or when the arsonist confessed to her that he started the fire and why, and then later she started to get suspicious that the fire was arson. There are a lot of inconsistencies like that, and things out of order, which is the reason for the star deduction. Please note that I am reviewing the digital first edition, if in time you are able to get a later edition that includes editing you may not have this experience. *Update: there is a 2nd edition now available on Amazon. 

Parent's Guide:  Clean book - there is no vulgar language or sexual content.

I was given a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Find it on Amazon. 

The Iron Web - Discovery (REVIEW)

The Iron Web - Discovery

Author:  Kristin Ravelle
Category: YA/NA Paranormal

Suitable for: Young teens+

My Rating: 4 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 165

Description: Bryn is a 21 year old woman who lives in Penrith England. She is a very inquisitive person who doesn't go with the mainstream and instead questions the OED that controls all adult's lives. Her questions lead her into ancient texts, hidden passages in old British buildings and eventually to the horrible truth about the OED's activities. Using her control of light she must battle her way to safety.

In Short: This quick to read novella has some really great, fresh ideas. The characters use old magic in unique ways. I would describe it as Earth Magic vs. Sci-Fi. Set in a futuristic, technologically advanced world the characters use ancient knowledge and power to conspire against the regime. This first novella in the series focuses on showing us this unique world and the cast of characters.

Pros: This is a truly unique idea and blend of genres. The main character is written to be very relatable which makes it easy to become one with her story. The blossoming love story is exciting. The pacing of the novel is fast and fun. The technologies and magics are very unique and creative ideas. I really like the way the protagonist uses "light magic" and how she explains it works. The "talking through trees" magic is really interesting as well. The character development is good, especially for a novella. This book does kick off the series well, making me curious to see what will happen in the next stage of their journey. If you like the idea of a paranormal ya series set in a dystopian UK definitely check this one out.

Cons: My only tiny little issue was where it had ended. I wish the characters would have arrived at their first stop, not gone in, but just arrived at the gate before it ended. I know in the next book they will arrive and their adventure will really kick off and I would definitely like to read that. Like many novellas this book only has Act 1 and 2. Exposition and a call to adventure with the major climax and resolution occurring in a later book in the series.

Parent's Guide: This book is pretty clean. No violence, no sex. The language is mild.

I was given a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. 

This book is currently only $2.29 on amazon.

The Ghost of Schafer Meadows (REVIEW)

The Ghost of Schafer Meadows

Author:  Beth Hodder
Category: Mystery

Suitable for: Young teen and up

My Rating: 4 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 147

Description: This story is about a twelve year old girl names Jessie that has to move with her family because of her dad's job. They move to a remote place that is reported to be haunted. But instead of ghost problems they have problems with jewel thieves.  Jessie and her dog Oriole find clues to help the sheriff find the thieves.

In Short: This book is a cute story. It's a fast read with likable characters and beautiful scenery. The mystery keeps you wondering until it's all revealed in the end by a clever girl and her dog.

Pros: I could get into the characters and scenery in this book. The setting is in a place of beauty and the cast is very likable. The mystery between the ghosts and thieves had me wondering what was going to happen next.

Cons: I had no notable issues with this book. 

The Julius Romeros Extravaganza Part 1 The Bearded Girl by Hayley Lawson-Smith (REVIEW)

The Julius Romeros Extravaganza

Part 1 The Bearded Girl

Author: Hayley Lawson-Smith

Category: Fiction

Suitable for: Pre-Teens and up

My Rating: 5 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 422

Description: This is a whimsical tale of a precious little girl born with a beard. The story covers interesting periods of her life from her birth through her childhood and into adulthood. This book gives you a fresh perspective of “side show freaks” and a new definition for the word family.

In short: This is a humorous story filled with a unique cast of bizarre characters. I especially loved the animals in this book and I thought the chimpanzee Maestro was really funny. If you are looking for a very different story and a feel-good book look no farther!

Pros: Even though this book has a sad theme of a girl with a beard who is rejected by almost everyone it is written in such a beautiful way that doesn’t sadden you but instead gives you hope and joy. This book is also very humorous and has a lot of creative details. The characters in this book are truly imaginative! I have never read about a more eccentric group of people.

I was sent a free copy of this book by the author for an honest review.

Find the author on Twitter

Visit the Author's Blog

Find this book on Amazon

Kindle edition on Amazon

Shara and the Haunted Village by Jeffrey Getzin (REVIEW)

Shara and the Haunted Village          

Author:  Jeffrey Getzin

Category: Mystery/Adventure

Suitable for ages:  Young teens to adults

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Pages: 156

Description:  This book is about a woman named Shara that is very down on her luck.  With no money and no job. She accepts an offer that sucks her into a world of danger and adventure. A world with a wizard, demon, ghosts and men that can’t be trusted.  The setting of this book takes place in a ancient, mysterious village. Shara and her companion much find a way out.

In Short:  This book takes you to a haunted village which contains a wizard, a demon and ghosts. You find yourself wondering what is real and what is not while you eagerly read to find out how they get out?

Pros:  This book is an incredibly fascinating read that is full of adventure. I found the characters to be especially unique and wild.

Cons: I sometimes had a hard time visualizing what the author was describing. 

No Way Out (Scary Short Stories) Free Children's Book for Kindle

 No Way Out  

And Other Scary Short Stories 

By MJ Ware

            If you are looking for some spooky stories for children that are not too scary you should check out this book. You can find it on amazon here. It is currently free. Put this on your kindle to keep your kids entertained on long car rides and during other boring times.

            It is a total of about 60 pages and is comprised of various spooky stories featuring monsters, zombies, aliens and more. Below I will give a spoiler free description of the stories and my general impression of them. 

No Way Out

            This is the first short story in the book and my least favorite. I don't know how much children would enjoy it. The characters are pretty annoying, the story was irritating and I didn't like the ending. I really didn't like the bit about the cat. I think if you read this story to your child they will bug you to find out how it ends because what happens to the characters in the end isn't clear. I'm sure the ending was designed to be scary and dramatic but I don't think kids will see it that way. They'll just want to know what happens next. This story was definitely skip-able but the rest of the book was actually really good. 

The Price of Friendship

            This is one of my favorite short stories in this collection. Its a pretty interesting twist on making deals with demons that I think kids would find entertaining. It makes for a fun quick read and isn't scary so it could be told as a bedtime story. 

Hobgoblin Horror

            This story was one of the scarier of the collection. Being a monster story this probably wouldn't be the best one to read to a small child before bed. It's about a creature that will kill you if you see it. It's slightly gory. This is a pretty entertaining read that I think many kids would like. 

Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb (Extended Preview)

            This is a 5 chapter sample of a full length book. This was definitely my favorite story. As a child I LOVED goosebumps books and I know I would have loved reading this zombie book. Its about a couple kids that find themselves the sole survivors of a zombie outbreak in their town. Its full of action, danger and humor. It's scary but not too scary. After reading this your child will probably want the full book which is currently $2.99 for the kindle edition and can be found here. 

Zack & Zoey's Alien Apocalypse (Preview)

            This is another preview of a full length book. This story is about aliens that like to eat fat people. Its pretty humorous and I think small children will really love that it also has pictures in it. Out of all the stories included in the book No Way Out - And Other Scary Short Stories this one is probably geared for the youngest age group. I think children would find this story a little scary and exciting to read. The full length version of this book is currently only $0.99 for the kindle version at Amazon and can be found here.