Current Reading List

My Current Reading List

Hello everyone, just wanted to update you on my current book queue. The following is a list of read-for-review books I have lined up to read (the list is not necessarily in order). Click the name of any book to find it on Amazon. All of these books have been given to me for free by the author or their publisher in return for my honest review. (reviewing policy) So keep an eye out for the upcoming reviews of the following books:

The Kasari Nexus by Richard Phillips

This is a Sci-Fi novel and a continuation of the Rho Agenda series. I have loved this series so much so far. These books are detailed and intelligently written. The alien tech is ingenious. I am currently reading this novel and it's really exciting. The story is taking off several years after the last book ended and I'm getting to see how the world was so drastically changed in that time by the previous events. I'm definitely eager to finish this book so keep an eye out for my review.

My reviews for the previous Rho Agenda books can be found here. If you love Sci-Fi this series is one of my top recommendations. Richard Phillips is a very intelligent person and talented writer which is clear in the quality of these novels.

Review now available here.

The Iron Web - Discovery by Kristin Ravelle

This is a NA (new adult) Dystopian Paranormal novel. This novel has a really unique concept and I'm really looking forward to getting into it. It's not too long at 165 pages. It is currently $2.29 for kindle, if this is a genre you are interested in, pick up a copy and we'll read it together and discuss it. Here is the synopsis off Amazon:

Penrith, Wales.
Bryn is turning 22 and must register for One Earth Dynamic ID.

Buried in the mysterious N800 texts is a horrifying secret, an ancient evil that Bryn feels compelled to unearth. A secret that may underpin One Earth, the global agency that monitors and tracks everyone.

Curran, gorgeous, tortured OED fugitive, finds sanctuary with Penrith’s underground, Luxent, and discovers Bryn and her strange ability to throw condensed light. And unexpected love in a world suddenly seeming to go mad.

Can Bryn’s primeval earth magic help Luxent overcome other worldly forces and the OED or will her growing feelings for Curran and learning the horrifying reality of the OED only lead down the road that goes straight into its ancient and evil web, the Iron Web?

Review now available here



Wicked Cries by Michelle Areaux


This is a YA Paranormal Mystery. I had the pleasure of having a nice discussion with the author, Michelle Areaux about her inspirations for the novel. She told me how she was inspired by the Salem Witch Trials and that she did a lot of research on that in the writing this novel. Our protagonist in this story plays messenger to spirits, and it's going to be interesting seeing what secrets the ghost of Elizabeth has to share. 

There is a chance you could win a copy of this novel here. This giveaway contest is going through the entire month of April. 

Also, stay tuned for my Q&A with Michelle Areaux in a few days. Michelle Areaux is a debut author, a mother, and a teacher with some insights on how to promote literacy to our kids.  

Review now available here

Spying on the Boss by Janet Lee Nye

This is a Harlequin Romance novel by debut author Janet Lee Nye. If you can't tell by now I love variety in my reading list so I'm happy to include a good ol fashion harlequin romance. I don't generally review harlequin romances because they tend to have a male/female dynamic that is a bit outdated (the man is always in charge type of deal). But I'm giving this novel a go because it features a nice change of pace where the woman is the boss. I always love a good romance novel and I'm looking forward to reading this.

Here is the synopsis off Amazon:

A difficult childhood left Sadie Martin more interested in work than anything else, including romance. But she'd be a fool not to notice that her newest employee is scorching hot. As long as he works for her, though, he's off-limits. Her company—sexy guys who clean houses—comes first. So why are Wyatt Anderson and his adorable niece always on her mind? When attraction turns into more, suddenly everything is a lot more complicated…and, frankly, a huge mess. What Sadie and Wyatt need is a clean slate. For understanding…and love.


The Zarion: Saving Mankind by J.E. Grace

An intriguing Sci-Fi novel by a debut author. This book is free with Kindle Unlimited! Here is the synopsis off Amazon: 

Davis Summerfield thought he was retired and living the good life; that was before he had to accept an offer he wasn’t at liberty to refuse. Interplay, a secret government agency wants him to head up their space exploration/research department, but he soon learns there is an infiltrator from within.

Along with his staff, he discovers the missing link in the human DNA. What seems like the answer to a lifelong mystery, only leads him to find out other shocking truths; Conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, underground rebels, and the possible annihilation of planet Earth.

Discovering his destiny, he must now face the biggest challenge of his life…help save mankind. Only, will he be able to convince them to trust him in time? 

Bleak: The First Mission and Bleak: The Story of a Shapeshifter by Ian Martyn

The first is a short story prequel and the second a full novel. 

Synopsis from Amazon:

Bleak is a manipulant human clone, a shapeshifter. He and his kind are considered an abomination, unless…

In putting down the rebellion the Confederation used the ultimate spies. Creating, against all conventions on the use of human clones, the manipulants, shapeshifters. However, in peace time their continued existence threatens to end the career of General Niias. So now they must be eliminated. After months on the run Bleak, is cornered in the Grand East Ground Hub of Metrakis’s main space port. Until that is, a desperate Catrinas Pekrov of the Confederation intelligence Unit decides she might have a use for his particular talents after all.

Bleak’s circumstances and programing give him little choice, involving him in a plot that will threaten the stability and future of the newly united Confederation. 

The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith

This book is a fiction/fantasy novel that is free with kindle unlimited. A spin-off sequel to the original story that takes place when Snow White's daughter is getting married. This book sounds like a darker story and a new twist on the fairy tale we are familiar with. It should make for a quick, fun read at 155 pages. If you like shows like Once Upon a Time this may be the book for you. 

Synopsis off Amazon:

What happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone?

On the eve of her only daughter, Princess Raven's wedding, an aging Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion. The ceremony itself promises to be the most glamorous social event of the decade. Snow White’s castle has been meticulously scrubbed, polished and opulently decorated for the celebration. It is already nearly bursting with jubilant guests and merry well-wishers. Prince Edel, Raven's fiancé, is a fine man from a neighboring kingdom and Snow White's own domain is prosperous and at peace. Things could not be better, in fact, except for one thing:

The king is dead.

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old.

It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what "happily ever after" really means?

Only time will tell as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront The Reflections of Queen Snow White. 

The Whisper Trilogy by Dana Faletti

This is a 3 book YA series that includes the following books: Whisper, Wake, War and Wonder. 

I love series books because you tend to grow really attached to the characters in them; simply because you witness them go through so much and even change as a person. I'm looking forward to seeing how Callie's character will be developed throughout the trilogy. 

Amazon synopsis for Whisper:

Callie Evans is named after a muse from Greek mythology. Little does she know she is actually an angel, an Arc sent from Heaven to do battle with Darks on Earth. Her specific targets are Raysers, demons who prey on the souls of teens.

Callie’s mind has been Cloaked for the past sixteen years, so she has forgotten who and what she really is. On her sixteenth birthday, all she really wants is a cell phone and a date with Joshua Pride, the super-hot new guy at school who harbors a secret of his own. Instead, Callie is visited by Silas and Jules, a pair of outlandish Micro Angels whose job it is to coach newbie angel warriors in training. The gift they bear is her true identity. While the rest of the world grows up and moves on, Callie will stay sixteen forever, a permanent structure on the teenage social scene. After all, this is precisely where the battle between good and evil is being waged, and she is a highly sophisticated weapon.

Now, Callie isn’t sure whether her biggest problems are the stinky demons she must seek and destroy or the celestial law stating that Arcs are meant to be solitary soldiers. Her unexplainably magnetic attraction to Joshua and the fact that he seems to dig her right back is also a source of confusion for Callie. Should she allow herself to get close to him if he is ultimately going to forget her after a year or so passes, and what is it about him that draws her in and steals her senses? Will she be able to fall for Joshua without falling into the hands of the evil that's out to destroy her?


Enthralled by Ryan Gish

This is very exciting because this is a new release (Apr. 2, 2016) by debut author Ryan Gish. I don't know about you but I love having the opportunity to discover new authors. This book along with "Wicked Cries" I received from Black Rose Writing in return for my honest review. They have quite the assortment of books so give them a look, they also offer a $2/month book-a-month deal. 

Check out this eerie synopsis of Enthralled:

Like all things in Shane McCall’s life, a trip to the grocery store for a gallon of milk should be simple. No decisions required. Especially not the kind he’s forced to make when an old woman attempts to steal his three-year-old son. And after returning his children home safely, nothing would have pleased Shane more than to forget the incident ever happened. That was several hours ago. Before the strange man bit a chunk out of Shane’s arm. Before the cryptic word showed up on his son’s bedroom wall. Before the screaming began.

A Minor Happy Ending by Shaan Ranae 

This is an Adult/NA Romance novel by debut author Shaan Ranae who recently appeared on my blog for a guest post. Be sure to check it out and read the excerpt! I am lucky to have quite a few new releases in my reading list and this one is no exception being released: Mar. 26, 2016. 

This novel is about a girl torn between two different guys. if you like the drama of a love triangle look no further. 

Synopsis:

Recent high school grad and free spirit, Dyllan Prescott is planning on a summer full of fun with friends and her boyfriend, Nick who happens to be her best friends brother. Nick is the epitome of the typical nice guy. Kind, caring, but he becomes too attached, too quickly for Dyllan. Her boyfriend shelf life doesn’t usually last too long, but she is trying extra hard not to disappoint her best friend, Max. She begins to navigate through her new relationship with blinders on.
All is well until Dyllan’s personal wet dream, Jace Harvey enters the picture. The chemistry between Jace and Dyllan is undeniable. When Jace confesses his feelings, Dyllan is conflicted with her loyalty for her friends as well as her attraction for Jace.
Jace Harvey is a man with a complicated past and has never really known love. He can’t resist her. He’s sure that she’s made to be his. If Dyllan can make up her mind about her feelings for Jace, will she be prepared when Jace has a dilemma of his own? Can she live with his secret or will she be forced to make a decision neither of them are prepared for?
A story of young love, bad choices, and obsession. Can young love survive when lies threaten to tear it apart? Will Dyllan find her happy ending or will she settle for A Minor one?

Black Waters by India R Adams

I am stoked to read this YA Fiction/Romance. This is the sequel to "Blue Waters" which I wrote a 5 star review for. You can currently get Blue Waters for free here. I did a very fun Q&A with India R Adams. She is an absolutely delightful woman and very talented author. My big praise for the novella "Blue Waters" is in the way so much emotion and plot was packed into so few pages. It is very well written. If you like YA novels and want to go on an exciting ride grab these books. 

Here is a little teaser for "Black Waters" off Amazon:

The blue water Whit once loved now looked black because it was claiming her, taking her from me.

Whitney Summers is Link’s best friend. He would do anything for her, even sacrifice their friendship to protect her. Whitney believes she understands what is transpiring in her life, but so much stirs beneath the surface. As her closest friend and protector, Link faces the darkness in his own life to guard the girl he loves.
This is Link’s story…

There was no beauty in her dying that day… 

Murder in Absentia by Assaph Mehr

Another crazy-exciting novel in my list. I love Historical Fiction/Mystery and this adds some more variety to my queue. This novel blends reality and fantasy in a historical setting. It is free with Kindle Unlimited.

Here is the synopsis off Amazon:

A young man is found dead in his bed, with a look of extreme agony on his face and strange tattoos all over his body. His distraught senator father suspects foul play, and knows who to call on.

Enter Felix the Fox, a professional investigator. In the business of ferreting out dark information for his clients, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a traditional magician – but something in between. Drawing on his experience of dealing with the shady elements of society and his aborted education in the magical arts, Felix dons his toga and sets out to discover the young man’s killers.

Murder in absentia is set in a fantasy world. The city of Egretia borrows elements from a thousand years of ancient Roman culture, from the founding of Rome to the late empire, mixed with a judicious amount of magic. This is a story of a cynical, hardboiled detective dealing with anything from daily life to the old forces roaming the world.

This is a story of Togas, Daggers and Magic - it will appeal to lovers of murder mysteries, ancient Rome and fantasy.

I also have some Children's books in my queue. 

A couple short-but-sweet illustrated books with positive messages for small children. 

Love Your Body (The Fruitable Friends Book 1) and  Are You a Good Listener? (The Fruitable Friends Book 2)

"Love Your Body" teaches children self-esteem and the importance of healthy habits. "Are You a Good Listener" teaches children the importance of listening to others and how to be attentive. 

I think these books are ideal to read with the child and discuss with them all the points the books are making. 


The Rules Series by Hanleigh Bradley

This 3 book Romance series is a total of 407 pages. Find the series on amazon currently $2.99.

Broken Rules:

Aurora Stone knows what it means to keep the rules. She's lived with the expectations of the people around her. The only person who's expectations aren't met? Hers. On the spur of the moment, Aurora decides to break the rules. Only the list seems endless and Aurora is a little overwhelmed by it. When she sees Landon sat at the bar watching her, she makes a split second decision that might just change her life, one broken rule at a time. The list of broken rules quickly exceeds the number of rules they keep as they embark on this whirl wind adventure of control and chaos.

Enforced Rules:

​When Landon Peters met Aurora Stone everything changed. His world began unravelling and his sense of control seemed lost. Aurora's ability to make his rules seem completely irrelevant terrifies him, especially when he rashly invites her to his parents' house for dinner and he accidentally allows her to see more than he would like. With control out of his reach though he might just push to enforce the rules between himself and Aurora in a desperate attempt to reclaim the control he craves. After all, he told Aurora he would help her break her rules but he hadn't planned on it being at the expense of his own.

Revised Rules:

Now that Landon and Aurora are together they try to put their rules behind them but it might be easier said than done. Living together so early on in their relationship seemed like a great idea when Aurora first moved in, but a few weeks in they are beginning to realise that they both have flaws. Especially when life gets even more complicated and neither one of them feels in control of what's happening around them. Together, they learn that control is often fleeting but those moments of control can be hot and extremely intense, especially when the person you love is giving you that control, and losing control can be even more exhilarating when you lose it together.

The Cain Children by Brett Lane

In the not so distant future, scientists stumbled upon a discovery. They learned to isolate and identify the gene in a child's DNA that makes them susceptible to killing for pleasure, to become a serial murderer. Not every child with the gene kills, but every serial killer has this gene, called the Cain gene after the first murderer in the bible. 

There is no cure for the gene and since not every child with the gene kills, a new government agency called the Guardians is created. They are instituted to monitor the children born with the genes and to take appropriate actions once the genes manifests itself and they prove to be killers.
Only carriers of this gene can pass it along to their children, so even those that don't kill, can sire children that may. 

This is the dilemma - end the outbreak by possibly killing the innocent, or eliminate all carriers to end all possible murder in the future. 

Follow the story of the Cain children as well as the Guardian program scientists that monitor them while posing as their parents. What do they do when they find out the children are on the wrong path? What would happen if a child finds out he is being monitored by the program? What happens to the innocent children in the program?

Trigger Warnings for this book include: murder, rape and torture. 

Inside Out by Jack Kearney 

This Semi-Autobiographical Fiction Suspense Thriller is 206 pages.

As an actor, Danny Belson has played many criminal types, but as the prisoner transport bus pulls out of the LA county jail, the realization of his conviction overwhelms him. The irony is that only six months ago he taught an acting workshop at the same institution he is now going to be incarcerated in. Danny had been chosen to take part in California's answer to New Jersey's highly acclaimed “Scared Straight” by actually working with the inmates of the Medium Security Federal Prison in Lompoc. In his short stay, Danny made some interesting friends as well as unforgiving enemies. 

Utilizing a groundbreaking format, Follow Danny as he goes from a care free beach volleyball loving, pool shooting, actor, who's only worry is knowing when his next audition will come, to a convicted murderer. Written using flashbacks, with no chapters, learn what a struggling actor goes through, and how, after his incarceration, Danny's life is turned INSIDE OUT.  

Upcoming Release!

My Wolf and Me by India R Adams

I've gotten my hands on a copy of this upcoming book, how cool is that. This book will be released in a couple weeks and is available for pre-order. Check it out.

Description off Amazon:

Their love was innocent.
Their friendship was pure.
Their fear was real.
Their danger was true.

When little Marlena is left to care for an abandoned wolf pup, her parents see their irrevocable bond, and this humble family embarks on an adventure trying to care for the needs of a rapidly growing wolf, and the needs of their headstrong daughter. The comical complications of such a venture only darken when Marlena, now a high school student, witnesses her wolf shift… into a young man.

Secrets and the pure hatred from a man out for revenge take Marlena, her family and her wolf on a heartbreaking journey of devastating loss, captivity, and ultimate sacrifices.

This love story will haunt you well after you finally set this book down. 

Review available here

Keep an eye out for my reviews and let me know what you are reading! 

Q&A with India R Adams

Q&A with Author: India R Adams

Hello Everyone! I am excited today to be chatting with India R Adams the author of 'Blue Waters' which I recently reviewed here. Blue Waters is a YA Romance novel with a thoroughly exciting plot. Soon I will be reading for review the sequel Black Waters. If this is a genre you are interested in, pick up the book and we'll read it together! 

India R Adams

How did you get started on your writing journey?

​             By accident. I've been through a lot throughout my childhood, so, as an adult, I started reading self help books. A wonderful journey in itself that eventually led me to writing. I finished a complex book and was completely intrigued about the possibility of reenacting (in your mind) ​a part of your life. Giving it a different outcome to find some closure and healing. The next morning when I woke, I experimented​ with this notion​. It was quiet. Everyone still sleeping while I laid in bed reliving a memory. As I rewrote my history, I began writing Serenity.​ After a few drafts, she took a life of her own and has become quite the story.

What inspired the Tainted Waters series? 

​            Partly, ​my (at the time) seventeen-year-old daughter. She's a pistol. My rebel without a cause... I enjoy her complexity. She's a thinker, a dreamer, a fighter, and a beautiful person.​ The character that was born from this inspiration, Whitney, took shape of her own and told me her story.

 

How do you meet such challenging deadlines? 

            Blue Waters​ and Black Waters are my novellas to date. The rest of all my books are novels and epic novels. Presently, Serenity sits at 130,000 words. She's a massive novel that was written eight years ago. Over the years, she's become a 4 book series and a beta's favorite. Challenging deadlines have been with preparing and enduring 2 novellas and 4 novels (including Rain and Serenity—my biggest books) in editing—all at the same time. But, I got an idea in my head to offer fans the beginning of several series to see which one they enjoy most. So, I've been working crazy hours to make this happen between November 2015 and April 2016. Whichever series receives the most responses, will determine which book I released next. ​

What has your writing schedule been like? 

​            For the past 8 years, I write (or rewrite)​ for approximately 10 to 12 hours a day. Hours vary, depending on when the house is quiet or what stage the book is in. Creating a story, headphones are my best friend. Sometimes I pull all nighters because my brain is spitting out scenes like the 4th of July fireworks! Rewrites and editing take silence for me. 

The characters in Blue Waters were so charming and I thought their friendships were so touching. How do you create such great characters? 

​            First of all, thank you for the compliment. Very sweet of you. I get asked this question a lot, and I'm still not completely sure of the answer. Other than these characters seeming so real to me, I believe it's a combination of things. I've been fortunate to have some great friends throughout my life. I taught theater and believe understanding your character helps​ bring them to life. And I simply love banter. I find it very entertaining in books and in real life. 

Blue Waters was an emotional ride full of shocking plot points. What can we expect in Black Waters? 

​            O​h, Black Waters . When I think of this novella I can't help but smile. It wasn't supposed to even exist! Blue Waters was written to be my free giveaway in exchange for my email newsletter subscription (which it still is). I never expected the response and love I am receiving for this novella. So, what can you expect? Answers. Answers that shocked me as I wrote them. I cried many times writing this sequel. Two characters (you already know well) stole my heart. I loved them before, now I ADORE them. I won't say more and give away any spoilers but positive responses from betas has the third installment, Red Waters, already in the works. If fans want Red Waters in a hurry, I'm hoping they will let me know so I push it to the top of my list:)​ Maybe we could start a #redwatersmustbe ? lol! Don't forget, a review of Blue Waters on Amazon or any online retailer, gets you Black Waters for free. Just contact me through my website so we can confirm. Then we will email you your eBook. Yay!

Besides the Tainted Waters series do you have any other projects planned? 

​            My Wolf and Me is the next book I'm releasing. This stand alone novel will be available on April 26th (pre-sale within weeks). Then, on March 31st, I'm releasing the first NA novel of the Haunted Roads series, Steal Me . Steal Me is already available for pre-sale. This will be followed by the first release of A Stranger in the Woods, Rain another NA novel. The last scheduled book is Serenity the first YA novel of the Forever series, and will be released July 26th. If your readers want to sign up for my newsletter, they will receive discounts on jewelry deigned for characters of my books, and for the awareness of human trafficking/sexual slavery. Yes, I'm always trying to find ways to empower perfect imperfections.

What advice could you give to young people who hope to someday become writers as well?

​             Do it because you love it—not for money. Write, stay open minded, learn from your critics but don't be influenced to turn away from the love of expressing yourself through story. Keep writing (you'll get better), read, and learn your craft. And most importantly, never stop dreaming. If I had, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Thank you so much for listening to me! Hope to hear from you all soon!

My Wolf and Me - Release Date: Apr. 26, 2016

Their love was innocent.

Their friendship was pure. 

Their fear was real. 

Their danger was true.

When little Marlena is left to care for an abandoned wolf pup, her parents see their irrevocable bond, and this humble family embarks on an adventure trying to care for the needs of a rapidly growing wolf, and the needs of their headstrong daughter. The comical complications of such a venture only darken when Marlena, now a high school student, witnesses her wolf shift… into a young man. 

Steal Me - Release Date: May. 31, 2016

“Some relationships have hidden truths that few can survive. Only us strong ones can dare listen to, and have the balls to stay and bear witness to, the result of irrevocable damages. So tell me, Maverick, are you one of the strong?”

Maverick, unfortunately, is well aware of Tucker’s meaning. Mav has recently lost his father, his mother is slipping into a depression, and his little sister is in desperate need of a parental figure. But now he’s losing his heart to Tucker’s mysterious sister, Delilah. As Maverick squints into the sun, looking at the beauty standing in front of the lake, he wonders if his heart is crazy for begging him to take on yet another tragedy. 

India R Adams Official Website

Novels by India R Adams on Amazon

India R Adams on Twitter

India R Adams on Facebook

Parent's Guide and Trigger Warnings

"Parent's Guide"

          I have added a new section to our reviews called the "Parent's Guide." This section will contain a brief explanation of any potentially inappropriate content a book may contain and "Trigger Warnings." From reading so many other book reviews I have noticed that people react very differently to the content in books so this will be my way of warning if a book may contain any material that may be objectionable for some. Common topics would include: sexual themes, violence, gore, swearing, and other obscene language. The "Parent's Guide" will have only a rough explanation of some of these topics you may encounter in the book. This will be a good resource for you if some topics are complete nonstarters. However, the Parent's Guide will not be perfect. I am not a professional rating evaluation specialist. For example, I apologize if at times I do not put "swearing" as a warning for example because the curse words slipped by my attention. I will try to take extra care to note any subject matter that could be objectionable in all of the future books I read for review. I have tried to add some trigger warnings to past book reviews but unfortunately cannot recall in great enough detail some of the inappropriate content. 

          "Trigger Warnings": Trigger warnings have been becoming more commonly used these days and are used to warn someone who may have had past traumatic experiences that the information they are about to read may have similar themes in it that could trigger a painful emotional reaction for them. Commonly topics that Trigger Warnings are use for are: abuse, rape, torture, or other kinds of violence. Book reviews for books that contain any of those previously listed topics will have a "Trigger Warning" listed in the Parent's Guide with a explanation of what kind of trigger, but none of the gory details. 

          Sexual Themes: I will describe the sexual content in a book as either: detailed/graphic (i.e. commonly found in erotica), or: sex scenes that are not overly detailed (common in lighter romance novels), or: implied sexual encounters (sometimes found in YA (young adult) books).

          Violence: I will include in the Parent's guide the warning of "violence" if there is any kind of harm acted upon one person by another in the book. This could include even small acts of violence and also the use of firearms. I will most likely not include any warning for violence that happens off-screen as it were. For example, in a murder mystery if the person is killed but that scene is not portrayed to the audience I may not think to add a violence warning. 

Macabre Menagerie (Horror Short Story Collection) (REVIEW)

Macabre Menagerie

(Horror Short Story Collection)

Author:  C.L. Clark
Category: Psychological, Thriller, Horror - Short Stories

Suitable for: teens+

My Rating: 4 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 161

Description: This book is a compilation of I believe 12 short stories of the Horror genre. Each story is completely unique from the last and the book has a great variety.    

In Short: Grab this book and gather around the campfire! These tales would make absolutely wonderful short reads for anytime you want to creep out yourself and those around you. So, be sure to pick this one up before your next camping trip.

Pros: This book contains some really unique, eerie stories; there are monsters from supernatural to science fiction genres. I labeled this as a psychological thriller because some of the stories are very thoughtful or play on common human fears (like the Dentist for example). The stories range in degrees of scariness with some being more exciting or thought provoking than scary. A lot of the stories have shocking endings, and I am nothing if not a true fanatic of amazing endings. This book is well written and contains a lot of great details to help draw you in, in the limited amount of time short stories have to work with.

My two favorite stories from this book were: 'Coffee and a Slice', and 'The Sound of Nothing'. Coffee and a Slice: not one of the scary ones but quite mind blowing and had a wonderful ending. The Sound of Nothing, total psychological thriller. It was tense from the start and full of twists.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would suggest this book to a very wide audience. I would certainly read more by this author. 

Cons: Overall this book was great, there were only a couple stories that I didn't find very thrilling and/or scary.

Parent's Guide:  This book has some violence, and suggestive themes. I don't remember anything being very graphic.

$0.99 Kindle version on Amazon. 

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

Giveaway! Win a novel and Nail Polish - CLOSED

Welcome to our giveaway contest!

For the month of April in 2016 (Apr. 1 - Apr. 30) You can enter to win these prizes: ebook of Wicked Cries by Michelle Areaux, large bottle of Tears of an Angel nail polish and a large bottle of Weeping Angel nail polish from the vegan friendly beauty supplier, A'dor Beauty Supplies. 

Enter via the rafflecopter tool at the bottom of this post. Contest is open to residents of The United States and Canada. The winner will be e-mailed shortly after the contest to ask for the mailing address you would like the polish sent to.

Wicked Cries is a YA paranormal mystery novel by debut author Michelle Areaux.

Synopsis: 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 now, Sadie has been able to handle it, but after a deadly car crash, Sadie’s job has become personal. Now, Sadie finds herself haunted by Elizabeth, a girl who has a secret to share. Sadie is being transported into the life of Elizabeth, dreaming about the events uncovered in her diary. Sadie can't tell anyone about her secret, not even her own family. They wouldn't believe her, or worse they would try to stop her from continuing her journey to truth. Sadie has a choice to make. And it's not going to be an easy one.

5-Free (toxic chemical free) vegan friendly nail polish by A'dor Beauty Supplies

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Debut Author Shaan Ranae (GUEST POST)

First of all, I wanted to thank O.D. Book Reviews for allowing me to barge in on their blog and also for helping me announce the release of my debut novel, A Minor Happy Ending. Three years in the making and it's finally here. I'm so excited to share Dyllan and Jace’s story. When I first set out to write AMHE (A Minor Happy Ending), I was almost to the point of addiction with reading. My genre of choice is Romance, almost every kind of romance. As a romance junkie, I decided that I had a few good stories under my belt, but I wasn't sure about the whole writing thing. I had to reeducate myself, but I'm still learning. Always learning. Friends at work proofread and gave me their own personal reviews which in turn gave me the confidence to continue with the publishing process. I utilized editors and formatters to help me on my journey as well as sending annoying emails to so many bloggers begging for a review, if not a release day post. I will achieve my first goal to publish on March 26th, but my main goal is that if I can at least help one reader escape for a few hours and they feel satisfied after reading my book, then I'm happy.

The story…………….

Jace & Dyllan have a unique relationship, hot, loving, and playful. Both Jace and Dyllan can be jealous and insecure. Both are hot tempered, but sweet at the same time. Dyllan blurts everything that enters her brain and Jace never says enough. It's a story of firsts. As Dyllan attempts to navigate through her first summer of adulthood, she's planning for summer fun, but is forced to make adult decisions. Her journey has its drama, comedy, and of course love. It is suggested only for readers above the age of 18 due to adult language and scenes. The F-bomb may be used some.

Excerpt:

"Is it a gooooood dream?" He continued as he wiggled his eyebrows up and down. I shook my head and feigned disappointment and quickly retorted,

"Yep, I was dreaming of those blue eyes of yours!" He smiled and nodded. "That sexy crooked smile!" I said and his smile began to grow showing pearly white teeth. "And we can't forget my favorite part, babe." He looked at me with pride on his face. I knew he thought I was going to talk about his man parts! Gosh, even my Jace couldn't get over his man parts. It must’ve been a guy thing. I continued further, "and your big, no that doesn't do it justice, your huge..." I could tell he was on the edge of his seat waiting for the ultimate compliment.

"Ego!" His gorgeous blue eyes widened in surprise and an ornery smile displayed. He jutted his nose towards the ceiling and huffed in feign disgust. He replied with a devilish smile on his face as we pulled into my driveway, "Ego, huh? Well well well!" Something was about to happen and I wasn't quite sure what he had up his sleeve, but I would be keeping my eye on him. I reached for the door and he was quick to match my actions. I ran for the front porch to evade the

retaliation for my smart ass comment, but I forgot that I couldn't run and I failed at my half brained attempt to out-run someone who was in better shape than me. He caught me quickly by the waist and tackled me to the ground. His hands reached up and began to assault each muscle that rested between my ribs. I was in a fit of giggles to the point that I began snorting at fairly loud decibels.

I hope you enjoyed the little piece of their world. Thank you in advance for helping me live out my dream! 💕💕💕💕

Currently writing three new stories, A Happily Ever After, a follow up novella for AMHE. Also started a story for one of the main characters in AMHE, but it may ruin the story to tell you now. 😂 Then one that just came to me one night that I'm pretty excited about.

Thanks for reading

Shaan Ranae

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2 Giveaways on Goodreads

A couple of wonderful authors that I follow on Twitter have alerted me to giveaways of their books running right now on goodreads. Check it out:

RED by Nicole Collet

"Two lovers, one fate, one twist: it will all hang on the roll of a die. This is the story of a forbidden love and a journey of self-discovery. Like life, it’s paved with drama and humor, passion and lust, questions and the mysteries surrounding their answers."

Contest: Mar. 13 - Apr. 13, 2016

Topaz and the Green Fairies by Pat Frayne

“For once in his young life he had a sense of self-reliance and what a responsibility that truly was. Whatever happened to him on this journey had the power to make him stronger. Or he could let it destroy him”. 

Contest: Mar. 20 - Apr. 4th, 2016



Join me on goodreads here.

The Julius Romeros Extravaganza Part 3: The Return To Greener Pastures (REVIEW)

The Julius Romeros Extravaganza Part 3: 

The Return To Greener Pastures

Author:  Hayley Lawson-Smith
Category: Fiction, Adventure

Suitable for: Pre-teens+

My Rating: 5 Stars

Format Read for Review: .pdf from the author

Pages: 328

Description: This book is the third book of the Julius Romeros Extravaganza series about the bearded girl and her circus family. In this leg of their journey they are trying to escape an evil ringleader and get the kidnapped septuplets back home to their family.   

In Short: The Julius Romeros Extravaganza series features a feel-good story line, a unique and unforgettable cast, tons of action, adventure and excitement, laughs, happy-tears, and awesome animal characters. It is simply a brilliant book series and this was my favorite book of the series. Although you could read it without reading the first two you would miss out on too much character back story and not be able to fully appreciate the perfect ending this book has.

Pros: This book is perfectly paced, I actually read it in one night because of how engrossing it was. It had the best ending which featured one resolution I had been hoping to see from book one! The ending was absolutely satisfying including many great resolutions and opportunities for our band of heroes. I was excited to see that this story featured a sweet love story (or two) which was fitting as our hero's story wraps up. It is a very unique tale that is well written and clean. I think all ages would enjoy this series.

Part 3 Paperback 

Part 3 Kindle

Part 2 Kindle     REVIEW for Part 2

Part 1 Kindle     REVIEW for Part 1

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

Orbs (REVIEW)

Orbs

Author:  Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Category: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror

Suitable for: Adults/Older teens+

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 328

Description: Orbs is a tale of an alien invasion and the handful of survivors that found themselves quarantined in a state of the art facility. It is a Sci Fi Thriller filled with danger and a ton of questions about just what the heck is going on.   

In Short: Overall this is an interesting story with non-stop action that will keep you drawn in. If you are a big sci-fi fan you'll most likely want to get the entire series because this one book alone wont give you the full story.

It begins in medias res (in the middle of things) with our main character already en-route on a dangerous ride to a mysterious destination. The fast paced style of writing is engaging right at the start. For a while you watch the events unfold with curiosity until it leads up to a classic alien invasion scenario.

Pros: The pacing is incredibly fast so you never get bored. It has an excellent knack for getting the reader hooked and unable to put the book down. I finished this book very quickly because of how fast paced it was. The "Orbs" are an interesting and terrifying new concept. The alien breeds are interesting and I'm curious what other aliens will be in the following books. There is interesting technology used in the story and I also enjoy a fun AI character who shows signs of evolving. The main character is a strong woman who is likable and a good leader, I found myself genuinely caring about her struggle. This book blends sci-fi and horror and manages to balance being dark and light. As grim as things may seem at times there are also victories and in the end there is hope for our heroes. This book does a good job of taking you on an emotional ride with a lot of downright scary and tense moments. This book is written more like a movie than a novel and as a result you can see it playing out in your head even as the cross-cuts move you to a new time and place with each chapter. There is much potential for the character development to continue into the next book. The foundation is already there with the revealing of the character's origins. There are elements of many genres in this book making it diverse and adding to its overall quality. There is for sure sci-fi, as well as elements of suspense, thrill, action, adventure, horror and even some romance hidden under all the turmoil. I think this book would be very appealing to those who like alien invasion sci-fi novels set in dystopian, post apocalyptic Earth.

Cons: Alone this book does not have a satisfactory ending. I felt there was no real resolutions. However, I imagine you discover that further into the series. Some of the characters seemed a bit cliché and only served as accessories. For example, there is the typical hacker guy who is socially inept, his back-story is classic, attended MIT, recruited by the government, but unfortunately he never really does much with his skills throughout the story. Same goes for the engineer, his skills are never used. The very fast pacing of the book caused some issues. The death scenes, although brutal, were not sad because they were written like a Band-Aid being ripped off. The dialogue was rushed and the meetings the team held never seemed to last more than a minute and didn't involve much productive discussion which was a bit unrealistic. The characters lacked some realism because they never seemed to stop, take a breath, think or even panic despite everything happening. *spoilers* The aliens and what they were doing with the water seemed unbelievable. I didn't really understand their intention of moving every drop of water to where? With all of us humans dead why not just move in to our nice wet planet? I unfortunately was unable to suspend disbelief any longer by the end of the book.

In summation, I think this book has potential, and reading the entire series could be worth looking into for anyone looking for a alien invasion survival series.

Parent's Guide:  This book has swearing, violence, gore, and some sexual content (not extremely graphic). 

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

Blue Waters (REVIEW)

Blue Waters

Author:  India R Adams
Category: YA, NA, Romance, Fiction

Suitable for: teens+

My Rating: 5 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 112

Description: I honestly don't know how to describe this book. I don't want to use the description off Amazon either because I don't want you to get any spoilers. If you go on the ride that is this story without any previous knowledge of the plot you will truly enjoy the intrigue it has to offer. I will say it is about a girl named Whitney and her group of friends, her love story, and her devastating losses. It is a beautiful story.     

In Short: Stellar addition to the YA Romance genre. People who are fans of this genre will certainly enjoy this novel. It is a well written emotional roller coaster. It has an intriguing plot with tons of depth, a wonderful cast, great heroes and a sweet love story.  

Pros: This book is very well written and a quick read that is fast paced and full of action. The characters are charming and well developed. The love story although it starts off too fast reaches a point where it progresses at a perfect rate. What I love most about this book is how intriguing the story it. It stars off so mysterious and then starts solving mysteries for you while throwing shocking plot points at you. Absolutely wonderful. I was so surprised by many of the events that occurred. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be and it was a wonderful change of pace from other novels of the genre. Our heroine Whit is a very remarkable character. I truly sympathize with her because of all of the struggles she has had to endure. The great writing of the novel makes you feel hopeful for her despite her troubles, so it isn't at all depressing. With the plot as exciting as it is I could argue this is of the Thriller genre as well.

Cons: This isn't so much a criticism as a note. Like in many YA novels the characters fall in love instantly, this is just the style of YA Romance. I understand this happening because of the quick pace and shortness of the novel. I guess I would have liked to see some communication between the pair between the time they met and the time of their first date. Maybe seeing them connecting more and more via text messages before they fell in love on that first date would have added realism for me. However, the pace of the love story does improve and this doesn't ruin anything for me.    

Parent's Guide:  Some swearing, some violence (abduction), drug reference, sexual reference no graphic details. 

Find it on Amazon 

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

Guest Post by Author D.R. Ransdell

The following is a guest post by author: D.R. Ransdell
Author of: Mariachi Murder,  Island Casualty, and  The Secret Lives of the Pink House Cats: Prose Poems by Five Felines
Find her on twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_ransdell

Meeting the Unexpected

One of the priceless aspects of being an author is that I get to meet interesting people I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Sometimes such meetings are virtual: that’s how I met Simon (STRAY BULLET) Duringer, who interviewed me for his website. Last week I met Franci Washburn; we were doing a joint reading on musical mysteries at Antigone’s, a local, independent bookstore. The irony is that we both work for the same department at the University of Arizona!

But often I meet people who are even more unexpected. A month ago I contacted Antigone’s to see if they would carry my books. Sure, no problem. They would take copies on consignment, and all I had to do was to show up and sign the paperwork. It didn’t matter what time I went in; either way, all the necessary paperwork would be behind the desk.

Yet somehow I didn’t make it to Antigone’s. The store was less than two miles away, and I had a car. It was a store I enjoyed going to anyway--even though it’s one of those dangerous bookstores where you always find something you like. Yet day after day, I didn’t go. Oh, I didn’t have time before rehearsal. Oh, they might already be closed. Oh…. I had a wealth of excuses.

Now I understand why. I had some kind of weird universal clock that was ticking. When it finally went off, I headed for Antigone’s. As instructed, I asked the woman behind the desk about my paperwork.

“What was that last name again?” the woman asked.

“Ransdell. That’s R-A-N….”

“Did you say Ransdell?” a female customer asked enthusiastically. “How do you spell that?”

After I confirmed the spelling, she became practically joyous. “I’m a Ransdell too!”

My dad had always maintained that Ransdell was an English name. Although it’s a more common name now, it used to be that whenever we were traveling to a new city, my dad would check the local phonebook for other Ransdells. He hardly ever found one. Here, however, was a Ransdell standing right before me!

“Let me introduce my husband,” the woman grinned. “He’s the ‘real’ Ransdell.”

We exchanged information about our family histories. Keith’s relatives had come from Missouri. As far as I knew, mine had come from Illinois. I wasn’t too sure, however, and neither was Keith. I vowed to ask my dad for more details; Keith vowed to take a look at a few genealogical websites. Then we congratulated one another on our unusual names. Keith laughed about the way some people insisted on Rans-DALE instead of RAN-sdell. I shared my mirth over the many ways my students have chosen to misspell my name. Somehow the string of three consonants gets them into trouble. Thus I have been renamed everything from Ransted to Rendell.

Keith and I had a delightful conversation about our ancestors—both the ones we knew and the ones we could only guess about. And I was able to share information with them about the area. I learned from Keith that Ransdell meant Raven’s Dell. While I should have guessed at the etymology, I’d never actually thought about it before. Best of all, Keith’s wife was so excited to see her name in print that she bought one of my books.

Soon we parted ways, but I had learned two valuable lessons. One was that there is real joy in being an author and meeting people who otherwise would not have crossed your path. The other was that sometimes you procrastinate, unknowingly, for exactly the right reason. When you finally perform the task at hand, it might turn out to be the exact most perfect moment. I’ll never chide myself for procrastinating again!



Find her on twitter: https://twitter.com/dr_ransdell

Island Casualty (REVIEW)

Island Casualty

Author: D.R. Ransdell
Category: Mystery

Suitable for: Teens+

My Rating: 5 Stars

Format Read for Review: Paperback

Pages: 243

Description: Andy Veracruz desperately needing a vacation accepts an invitation from a new friend to visit her in her home on a Greek island. His vacation should have consisted of swimming by day and visiting the taverna at night to hear the wonderful music of his friend. However, his trip doesn't go as planned and his life is threatened numerous times. He seems to be the only one concerned about the man who turned up dead on the first day of his trip, but that concern may just be the end of him.

In Short: This is a well paced mystery novel that goes as follows: it starts with excellent character development, then the plot takes an intriguing twist and you find yourself getting more and more curious as the story progresses, then it gets exciting and full of action, finally the mystery is solved in a whirlwind of surprises.   

Pros: The book is so descriptive and the characters are so well crafted that I completely lost myself in it by the middle. This is the first book that has so thoroughly sucked me in that I felt like everything was real. Even the conversations were genuine, especially between Rachel and Andy. In real life men and women often have a way of talking to each other where they aren't really understanding each other, it can be difficult to communicate and so much gets left unsaid. That is how this book is. It isn't phony, where everyone says the right things, makes grand romantic gestures and lives happily ever after. No, this book is real, from start to finish. I'm dying to know what happens between our heroes, Andy and Rachel, in the next book of the series.

Another great thing about this book is that it is a perfect stand-alone! You do not need to read the first book to know what is going on and you do not get left on a cliffhanger at the end. The conclusion is solid and satisfying and the only cliffhanger is what will Andy's life be like now, and what will Rachel do next. The mystery wraps up nicely and is almost suspenseful in its reveal. I was definitely happy with the resolution and didn't see that ending coming.

I'm blown away by the overall quality and fascinating story in this book and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Parent's Guide: There are sexual references but the sex scenes are not described with any detail. Some violence (shooting guns), mild language. 

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

Find the author:

www.dr-ransdell.com

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Island Casualty on Amazon

Fur Ball Fever (REVIEW)

Fur Ball Fever

 Author:  Maureen Fisher

Category: Mystery & Romance

Suitable for: Adults

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 298

Description: This book is both a steamy Romance novel and a Murder Mystery. The mystery is multi-leveled and unveiled as two characters work to solve different crimes that are all intertwined. The love story is passionate and the crimes are equally fascinating. It starts with the disappearance of a poodle and gets a lot more complicated from there.  

In Short: This book is exciting, fast paced, full of action and romance, and incredibly fun to read. I think primarily adult women, those who like both romance and mystery novels will find this a great read.

Pros: The characters are very well developed and quite likable. You get a vivid impression of their personalities, feelings, fears, backgrounds and so on. Everything is very believable and the love story doesn't fall into the trap of being cheesy. This story has a very satisfying ending and I appreciate that this is a perfect stand-alone book. I thought the mystery was good, not cliché, and not predictable. There is not much else I can say without giving away spoilers so I will just say overall I think it was a good story and I very much enjoyed reading this book.

Parent's Guide:  This book has swearing, some violence, drug reference, some kink and sex scenes.

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

Buy it on Amazon. (Free with KindleUnlimited)

Deedee Divine's Totally Skewed Guide to Life (REVIEW)

Deedee Divine's Totally Skewed Guide to Life

Author:  Diana Estill

Category: Humor

Suitable for: Teens+

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Format Read for Review: Kindle

Pages: 228

Description: This book is a series of essays each about Deedee Divine's life experiences or just general opinions on things. The topics are things most adult women can relate to; family, food, travel, holidays, dieting, health concerns, shopping, IBS, car seats and so on. Reading this book is much like reading a humorous blog with each entry being short, concise and entertaining. Although this book seems clean enough for most ages I think adult women would be the best audience for relating to the content.   

In Short: Deedee Divine is definitely someone I would like to hang out with. She has a ton of funny stories, a knack for getting herself into situations, and a great sense of humor that is sarcastic at times. For example she comically describes alternative meanings to road signs. This quote about a road sign is my favorite: "Stop When Flashing - Flashers who stop generally get caught!" Some of the stories are also very sweet and romantic; she shares with us some lovely memories of vacations and special occasions with her husband and kids. Overall this is a feel-good read that covers a variety of topics.

Pros: Because each chapter is a single essay it is easy to pick this book up and read at your leisure. I enjoyed reading this book and read it quickly in 2 nights. Most of the stories are entertaining and some are down right funny. This is one of few books that has gotten audible laughs out of me. It is well written by an experienced writer with no blatant editing errors. The settings and events are descriptive and believable. The flow of the book works well even with the structure of it being a series of unconnected essays.