The New Book Review

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Showing posts with label Fiction: Paranormal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiction: Paranormal. Show all posts

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Reviewer Covets Novel's Protagonist!

Title:  Wolfe's Heart: Touch of the Irish:
Part 2 (Touch of the Irish: A Collection of Short Erotic Fantasies Book 1)
Author: Savannah Morgan
Genre:  Literature & Fiction / Paranormal / Romantic Erotica
ISBN #:   B013GR1GOM
Reviewer's Rating: 5 star



Reviewed by Tracey Quintin originally for Goodreads


This is the first book of Savannah Morgan's that I've read and let me tell ya it's a GREAT story.
I'm not usually one to read books of fairies, dragons, wolves, etc. but I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, characters, and dialogue!

There was the perfect combination of description and conversation which I love.

There were moments I cracked up at some of the comments made by the characters and moments I was nervous about what might happen to the main characters, Aidan and Samantha.

I felt for Aidan and the responsibilities he has on him. Not only that but he has a tender and protective side that oh so shines through! Totally flipping hot! I only wish I was Samamtha!
Samantha, the beautiful gal, hasn't a clue what she's in for. She steps up and really shows her strength and support when it's most needed.

That's all I can share without giving.any of the storyline away.

Let me say, if Aidan was real he is MINE! I'll keep him in my heart as mine anyway.

Very well done Savannah! Highly recommend and will be reading more of Savannah's work for sure!
Don't miss out on this great story!

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Savannah Morgan connections:


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Gut Reaction Reviews of Psychological (and Literary!) Fiction

TITLE: Saints in the Shadows
AUTHOR:   Alana Cash
ISBNs: 13: 978-1497511170
10: 1497511178
GENRES: Psychological/Paranormal/Literary Fiction


Reviewed by Don Grant originally for  Gut Reaction Reviews and Amazon  
 
 
https://gutreactionreviews.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/thum.jpg         Madame Budska or Maud Strand………  ****
Wow. Sometimes one finds a diamond in the rough. Having been asked to review this book I bought it for my kindle as I was drawn to the description which said it “dabbles in provocative subjects such as psychic phenomena, economics, morality, masochism, color, jazz, history, and a bit of romance with an NYPD detective”.   I was not disappointed.

First, let me talk about the negative aspect of the book. The author would have made this even better with just a bit more editing and maybe one more pass with a copy editor. Each scene change has a heading which in the beginning was distracting but I will say as the story developed this was not as bothersome.

The story itself is gripping and I found it hard to put down. The writer draws you in quickly and at times I forgot I was reading a work of fiction. If you have ever seen a film with a famous actor who makes you forget that you are watching them act, then you know what I mean. The transition from past to present was easy to follow and never “pulled” me out of the story.

The character, Maud Strand, is one I would like to read more about. She seemed to me, to be more interesting than Madame Budska. Based on the title the author seems to disagree, hopefully she will change her mind.

The ending was slightly rushed and left me wondering about what was going to happen to Maud. Maybe it all wrapped up too fast. But I will say I look forward to more books by Alana Cash.  This gets a well earned four stars!
 
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  The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Lisen Minetti Reviews Paranormal Romance

Title: Fallen Redemption
Author: RB Austin
Author's Website: http://rbaustin.com
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 978-1-61935-260-5
Link to Purchase Book: http://www.amazon.com/Fallen-Redemption-Trihune-Series-ebook/dp/B00E49OQ12/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381662190&sr=8-1&keywords=fallen+redemption

Reviewer by Lisen Minetti originally for her blog 

Synopsis:

Cade committed himself to saving lives before he learned the full consequences of his life-altering decision. It wasn’t until he was tending his sick wife that he learned the enormity of what he’d done and he was unable to save her from the monster he had become. Consumed with guilt and praying for absolution, he threw himself into killing every Fallen he could find to save the humans he’d sworn to protect. But then Emma, deliciously mortal and completely forbidden, swept into his world, stirring an overpowering desire. Now he’s not only fighting soulless creatures, but also his inner cravings, trying to maintain his distance and continue on his path to forgiveness. He can’t afford to lose control again and sacrifice another love.


Review:
In her debut novel, RB Austin has taken a subject that has been done to death and breathed new life into it. In a world where we have millions of books to read and ideas are no longer new, this is extremely difficult, but she does it with ease.

For me, this was far less a novel about vampires than it was about the internal struggles of Cade as he battles centuries worth of regret only to question everything he knows when meets Emma. RB’s writing shines in her depiction of Cade’s inner conflict and his journey to overcome it. Emotions swirl and I was sucked into his turmoil, and his uncertainty, right along with him.

And then there is Emma. Spunky, strong-willed Emma. I have found in most romance novels, the leading lady never truly stops to question why she is falling fast for her hero. Not so much with Emma. She wonders every minute what the hell is wrong with her. Whereas Cade is busy dealing with his centuries of fear and doubt, Emma questions her sanity at every turn when she is confronted with Cade’s world and any feelings she may have for him. And I love that about her. She is not one of those sappy female characters who swoon and flutter for the man – jabbing her finger into his chest while giving him a piece of her mind is more her style.

The interaction between them, and between Cade and the rest of his brothers (the Trihune) is engaging to say the least, and I really hope that RB explores those secondary characters more in her next book.

Of course, Fallen Redemption is not all about the feelings that have sparked between Cade and Emma – Cade and his brothers still have to worry about saving the souls of the humans around them from the Fallen, including dealing with a force stronger than they have ever encountered before.

I know earlier that I said this was a novel about vampires, but I think just leaving it at that sells the story short. When I think of vampire novels, the same old images are conjured up – evil blood sucking fiends allergic to sunlight and garlic that have a penchant for hunting the innocent. Or the opposite: the Stephenie Meyer induced phenomena of sparkly teenage vampires who just want to be normal(ish).

RB has created a universe where her characters are nothing like this. In fact, she almost never refers to the Trihune as vampires – she only uses the word six times in the entire novel. I personally wouldn’t even consider it a book about vampires. Because really it isn’t. Two forces of immortal beings fighting against one another in the ultimate battle of good vs evil – light vs dark; yes. Vampires, not so much.

I highly suggest giving this book a read, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

If you want to connect with RB Austin you can find her on her blog, 2unpublishedgirls, which she co-writes with her sister. In fact, that’s where I first found her – which then inspired me to go get her book. You can also find her on Goodreads, or even better go right to Amazon, where her book is for sale, currently for $2.99 (less than you’ll spend on coffee this week! And it will last longer too!)

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
RB Austin
www.rbaustin.com 
Creating worlds in which love transcends the normal
FALLEN REDEMPTION, available NOW, published by Soul Mate Publishing
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Editor Is Fan and Reviewer for New Thriller

Title – "Breaking Limbo"
Author – Kelly O’Callan
Publisher: Kelly O'Callan; First edition (September 1, 2013)
Genre or category – mystery & thrillers, suspense, paranormal
ISBN-10: 1490484744
ISBN-13: 978-1490484747
Available on Amazon
Kindle ASIN: B00EXBVFCE
Reviewer: Nina Meditz

I am Nina Meditz, editor and friend of the author, Kelly O'CallanI have known Kelly a couple of years and had the privilege of reading some of her earlier work, which I loved. When she told me she needed an editor for her new book, Breaking Limbo, I immediately volunteered to help her with the process. To say that I am a fan of her work would be an understatement.

Breaking Limbo is unlike any book I have ever read before. Kelly tackles the unspeakable subject of teen suicide, an issue that is all too relevant in today’s world, from the perspective of eleven teens. These young souls have all taken their lives due to extremely difficult personal problems and end up together in a limbo-like, supernatural realm called Destaris. There they are introduced to Maree, a spiritual guide, whose mission it is to help them learn the lessons needed to leave this realm and move on to the next world. Maree, however, has her own reasons for wanting them to succeed. In order for her to be freed from this realm and reunited with her own soul mate, all eleven souls must leave Destaris. 

Kelly does a wonderful job of creating each of the characters with detailed background stories. The reader is allowed into the minds and personal circumstances of the teens and Maree prior to their arrival in Destaris. Her vivid description of this unusual realm makes all the supernatural events easy to visualize and quite believable. The element of surprise and constant unpredictability of the story keep the reader engaged page after page, chapter after chapter. The bottom line is that this is a unique and riveting story which makes it difficult to put down once you start reading it.

You can find Kelly’s book, Breaking Limbo, on Amazon in Kindle (currently being offered for free) and print format at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=breaking%20limbo%20kelly%20o'callan
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Goodreads Reviewer Gives Erotica Five Stars

Title:  Water Ecstasy
Author:  Alexa Busnell
Genre:  fiction, erotica,  paranormal
AISN: B00E57E7XA
 Published by Amazon Kindle KDP
 
 
Reviewed by Meghan R for Goodreads and Amazon 


A fantasy story with a refreshing erotic bent, Alexa Busnell’s ‘Water Ecstasy’ is something I haven’t seen in years: a well-written tale you will actually love sinking your mind-teeth into.

‘Water Ecstasy’ is about a girl, Coral, who has the ability to create—“conjure” is the preferred word—water. Apparently, it is a rare, important power, yet Coral cannot accomplish it without having the necessary elements. And so she embarks on an arduous, highly risk journey toward a far-away continent, along with her most loyal friends. Obviously, it’s not at all a walk in the park, as the journey has to wend its way through dangerous landscapes and unfriendly territories, and Coral and her party have to use wit, cunning and skill to survive and reach their destination. And believe me, the journey is a white-knuckled, edge-of-your-seat adventure—sexually charged in the right places, of course.

A novel of the fantasy genre, ‘Water Ecstasy’ is so skillfully written—Busnell is such a seasoned writer that she has deftly sinewed this tale with enough verisimilitude to make every moment—every character—as believable as today’s headlines. You take ownership of Coral’s desire to do what she has always wanted to do—and you’re there, beside the girls and their new-found allies, as they persevere to get what they want. The emotional resonance of their ultimate goal is such that you keep turning the pages, starving to know what happens next. And for me, that’s what a good fantasy story is all about—to make you suspend your disbelief so much you forget you’re reading fiction.

Fans of the erotic fantasy genre—especially those who love a strong-willed heroine—will love every page of Busnell’s ‘Water Ecstasy’. A perfect read on a rainy weekend. Five stars, no less.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Netherlands Reviewer Loves Native American Fiction




Title: Where The Rain Is Made
By Keta Diablo
Keta's Keep Blog: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com
Genre: Historical/Paranormal/Native American
Nominated for Bookie Award by Authors After Dark
Available at http://www.amazon.com/Keta-Diablo/e/B002BODURI
ASIN on Amazon: B00771XAUW
Five Stars

Reviewed by Bersaba originally for Amazon 

I absolutely loved this story. It paints a rich and vivid picture of the Dog Soldiers and their way of life, fitting this history into the story in such a way you learn a lot about the Dog Soldiers without being lectured. I really liked how Diablo doesn't try to turn the Cheyenne into 'noble savages' as sometimes happens in romance, but how she writes them with both their good and bad sides, making them more real and recognisable this way.

The romance and action in this story are well balanced and fit together perfectly, weaving a bittersweet lovestory that's not just about Cesca and Meko, but about a whole way of life. The one thing I could say against this story is that I would have loved to read more from Meko/Ethan's point of view as he's a very cool and intriguing character and I'd have loved to read a bit more about what makes him tick. I really hope Diablo decides to continue this series as I for one will surely read any sequel.
 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Tiffany Loves Books and Loves This Paranormal

 



Descended 
Fallen Guardian Saga #1
By Debra Ann Miller
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Published by: Amazon & Debra Ann Miller
ISBN-10: 1480177806
ISBN-13: 978-1480177802
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely Recommend
Reviewed by Tiffany originally for Amazon and her Tiffany Loves Books blog 


So... I started reading this novel feeling a little lost. Let me be honest, it had been a while since I read the blurb and I had no clue what I was getting myself into. Well that being said, the preface drew me and was a total distraction once chapter one started. It was a kind of over-anxious attempt to complete a puzzle while only having one piece. Make sense? I was in over my head. I managed to maintain this sense of confusion for the first couple of chapters...
 
Then I completely fell in love. The story is well set up and once the story telling starts I was completely swept up into it. It is an impossible to put down, action packed, romantic, suspenseful read that is captivating. Miller manages to always maintain the element of the unknown that allows for many surprises and constantly keeps the reader guessing. I love how Miller does high school drama. It is unique, well done and never boring or dull. I love Vie's wit and her quick and smart responses. I love the wide array of well-developed characters, the attention to detail and a very well done third person narration.

All in all, it is an excellent read. I was completely captivated and am looking forward to the sequel. I love the resolution to this novel- It ends well yet it left all this intrigue and a few unanswered questions which make reading the sequel a must. I love the romance in this novel and how utterly spellbinding Descended is. This is a read I definitely recommend.

 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Insatiable Readers Blog Loves Alibi's Ghosts



Title: Alibi's Ghosts, The Larger-Than-Life Small World of a Medium's
Daughter
Author: L.S. Hullinger
Author website: www.lshullinger.com
Genre: middle grade paranormal, mystery novel
ISBN 0985186224


Reviewed by Gina for her blog  Satisfaction For Insatiable Readers



Whew! With a title like that, how can you NOT stop and take a look…or at least I knew I couldn’t. I love the  word play in the title; “larger than life”…small…and medium (though obviously not speaking about someone’s size in this case). It really makes a word loving  girl like myself sit up and take notice. Now, on to the story…

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IMRD_2LOzEg/UP3jGCnNebI/AAAAAAAASnM/jVIr6fA_wsM/s1600/cover.alibisghosts.jpgAlibi  (aka Alexandra Vernon) is a great kid through and through; in fact, it’s no
wonder the spirits choose to communicate with her….she’s a gem! She feels with
her whole heart and listens with her entire being despite the fact that those open aspects of her personality get her in trouble more often than not. Well, you can’t really blame the parents entirely, I mean if you found your child making Dagwood sandwiches every night three days in a row when they don’t even know what one is or vehicles moved without explanation and a somewhat guilty looking eleven year old close at hand, you might be skeptical to believe every word that leaves her mouth as well. LISTEN UP parents…the kid is not always fibbing! Such is the case here and thanks to Alibi’s mother she has a little
leeway (I should hope so considering her line of work) but it doesn’t mean
that she can explain away anything and everything away due to ghostly
influence…especially since some of those influences have to remain a secret!
(Aka her grandfather’s and cousin’s presence….SHHH!) Oh my; wasn’t life
suppose to be easier when you were eleven? *sigh* Anywho…

The character building here was just enough to get you involved in their lives without over educating you on the who/when/why/where/how of it all; a good balance for both the target audience and beyond. Their interactions with members of the community help show a world more accepting than that of witch-hunting times but yet not ready to set a place for their lingering aunt’s or uncle’s spirits at the supper table. This acceptance and non also extends to Alibi. We see and feel it with her friend Daisy who happens to come for a visit during this week of week’s. She’s always been jumpy of Alibi’s mother’s powers, let alone their ghost magnet of a house, but what will happen if she finds out Alibi sees ghosts too? That’s a story for another slumber party, but the results may surprise you. Moving forward…

This isn’t just a story about a medium, her daughter and the
community in which they live and serve. At it’s heart is a mystery that needs
solving and from the looks of things, Alibi’s gonna have to be the one to do
it. It requires a quick mind (check!), an uncanny ability to both listen AND
understand (check!), and a pureness of heart only obtained from wanting
nothing more than to help someone in need (i.e. no earthly gain for
oneself…check! Hey, clearing your name of trouble isn’t an earthly gain
folks…just a useful byproduct of giving your assistance….). For all those
reasons and more, it makes a great read for both the younger set and the young
at heart. Though dealing with spirits and the afterlife, it doesn’t do so in
an uber-creepy way leaving it accessible (hat’s off to the author on that
accomplish!) while helping to explain some of these concepts in an honest and
open manner.

In conclusion, a wonderful read from a new-to-me author
that I would recommend to one and all no matter the time of year. It’s a fast
read with a lot of heart that will raise your spirits higher than her cousin’s
crow (Poe) can fly (yep…her cousin had a pet crow that sorta warns her when
his pranking self is about…hehe). So if you’re ready to take on the problems
of the living with the help of those that have passed, grab your clue sheet to
record your observations and H.I.B.E.S. events (or Heavily Influenced By
Entity Spirits events) and embark on a little paranormal adventure with Alibi
and friends. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

 
~ For more information on this title as well as her Hullinger's other works, visit her official
site
or follow along on Twitter. This book was released in print June 2012
and should be available now on a bookstore shelf or online retailer near you. She has another work out right now entitled Cyndi Hazard, Empathic
Detective
that from the chapter sample at ‘Alibi’s’ end…sounds
like another great pick for the old wish list!

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Review Blogger Reviews Paranormal Thriller

Shadowed,
by Ken Hughes
Author's Web site: www.kenhughesauthor.com
Genre: paranormal thriller
Print ISBN: 978-0-9850484-0-2
E-book ISBN: 978-0-9850484-1-9

Review by Charlene Mabie-Gamble originally for Literary R&R 
Description:

Paul lives in hiding, struggling to control preternatural senses no secret is safe from and certain that nobody suspects he exists. He searches the city for answers, using his power and a few self-taught tricks to outwit those who have something to hide and still he cannot remember what drove him away from the people he loved. And now Paul must risk everything to protect the family he left, make peace with a woman he's wronged and face enemies more ruthless than his worst fears, to at last learn what has transformed his life. Because the one person who knows, is the one who did it to him.

Charlene's Review:

Paul has some unusual abilities that have led to him becoming estranged from his family, friends, and most of the world. He stalks through the days searching for the cause of his abilities, as well as trying to right the wrongs of the world. When he finds out his family is in danger, he reconnects with them, rather cautiously, and through a series of events, faces the one who he believes is responsible for changing his life.

This was an amazing suspense tale. The focus on the book is Paul, a victim of a mysterious transformation that allows him to use his five senses in ways unheard of before. Despite being an unwilling victim, he does his best to bust corruption around him, and to protect his family.

Before I realized it, I had read the book through in one evening. The degree with which this novel moves will completely sweep you in. Paul is a very complex character as he struggles to understand what happened to him, and how much of the consequences is his fault. Facing unknown forces, betrayals, and even risk of death, Paul begins to piece together his past, and to hopefully, right the future.

There are a lot of twists and turns, dead-ends, and suspense, all the way to the final page. It is left wide open for a sequel, that I hope to be just as riveting.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Consider Young Adult Novel by Denise Kim Wy

Title: Please Stay
Author: Denise Kim Wy
Genre: YA, Paranormal, Romance
Word Count: 54, 110
Learn more at Goodreads
Purchase at
http://www.amazon.com/Please-Stay-ebook/dp/B008W8D3LU


Summary
Kymberly Gray is happy with her life. She graduated from her dream school and landed a great job in New York. She’s coming home to Northridge to celebrate her dad’s birthday, when a chance encounter with Ethan Richards turns her life upside down.

Seven years have passed, and as far as Kym is concerned, Ethan is happily dating her best friend, Michelle West. They haven’t seen each other ever since the night Ethan asked her the question that haunted her dreams as she left Northridge. Now, as fate decides to bring them together, bringing back bitter sweet memories as they visit the places that witnessed their evolution from childhood friends to awkward teens dealing with love, peer pressure and entering the real world. As the day draws to an end, the question remains, has Ethan already moved on, or is he still waiting for Kym’s real answer to his question?

Please Stay is a young adult romance novel filled the awkwardness of young love, regret and a surprise twist in the end.

 
~Learn more about Denise Kim Wy at
www.denisewy.com. She blogs at denisewy.blogspot.com. Follow her on Twitter @denisewy
 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Multi Award-Winning Author's New Mystery Reviewed

Title: For Keeps: A Sam Moore Mystery
Author: Aaron Paul Lazar
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
eBook: $4.99
ASIN: B008OXZLR2
Author’s website: lazarbooks.com
Author’s blog: aaronlazar.blogspot.com
Amazon buy link
I turned the last page of For Keeps by Aaron Paul Lazar and sat with my mouth open repeating the word “wow” over and over again. I was mentally exhausted from the waves of emotion that I had just ridden for the past two days. I had traversed from intrigue to shock to anger to grief and back again. I actually had to take a few days after finishing the book before I started this review because my heart and mind were racing so fast that I’m sure the review would have just been a bunch of random babbling. I had to let myself settle down before putting my thoughts to paper. Now that’s a reaction to a book if I’ve ever heard one!
Sam Moore thought his life would be quiet after retiring from his practice as a family doctor in East Goodland, New York and planned to fill his time with gardening and spending quality time with his family, but after finding himself caught up in two mysteries over the past year, it has been anything but quiet. Now, a body has been found at the Twin Sisters Inn, and the coroner wants Sam on the scene right away. Why him? Lou knows that he’s retired, but for some reason she has asked specifically for him. Arriving at the inn, Sam’s past comes back to haunt him when he finds out that the murder victim is a flame from long ago. Ginger Kennedy was her name, and she lit up his world one Spring Break in Miami during his senior year of medical school. Ginger Kennedy was just a fling though before he met his future wife, and he has been a happily married family man for many years now, so why would Ginger have showed up in town and circled Sam’s number in the phone book? That’s what the police are beginning to wonder too. What follows is a whirlwind mystery where once again Sam’s brother, Billy, reaches out to him from the beyond to guide Sam to the identity of the killer. All Sam has to do is take hold of the green marble in his pocket when it grows hot and Billy whisks him into the past or another location in the present to provide Sam with the clues he needs to solve the mysterious deaths that begin to pile up. But will Sam be too late this time? Will Billy’s clues be able to save Sam from the ultimate heartbreak?
I met and fell in love with Sam Moore and his family in book one of this series, Healey’s Cave, and now two books later I am more deeply attached to this family than ever. Sam is honestly the most warm and caring character that I have ever encountered in a book, and I am always drawn to him like a bee to honey, and the relationships that he has with his wife, Rachel, and his children and grandchildren, touch me to my very core. I feel like if I could somehow jump into the story and walk into Sam’s home, he would welcome me with open arms. I know what you are thinking – he’s just a made up character from a book – but Lazar is such an incredibly talented writer that Sam has become as real to me as the people I encounter in my everyday life. I feel like I know him personally. I can feel his warmth and love, and through Lazar’s almost photographic descriptive skills, I feel like I have walked through the rooms of his home and visited his favourite haunts in East Goodland. This is because Lazar makes Sam very observant of the world and people around him, and we get to see everything very clearly from his point of view. Lazar describes everything in such detail and so convincingly that even if you had no interest in gardening, for instance, you would probably want to try it by the end of the book because you can actually feel the joy and satisfaction that Sam gets from working outdoors. I also love the fact that in each successive book in the series, Lazar provides us with more and more details of Sam’s past from different angles (this time being the women in his past) which help us to understand how his character has been shaped throughout his life.
 
What I will remember most about this book was how it affected my emotions. When an author can bring me to tears more than once in the course of a story, he has achieved the ultimate goal in my mind, to make the reader connect to the characters on all levels, so that it becomes almost personal. Never has the climax of a book taken me so by surprise and made me so upset with an author, but then with the true talent of a gifted writer Lazar redeemed himself by taking an idea the average mind would not want to accept, that if written by anyone else would probably just come across as silly, and breathed magic into it in a way that made me believe unconditionally. I was truly mesmerized by this book, and I can honestly say that I have never been so blown away by the ending of a novel. I actually felt a painful wrench when I turned the last page of the book as if I was being physically torn away from the Moore family.
 
What is the secret to Lazar’s success? Besides his amazingly addictive storylines, the one thing that always leaps out at me is his secret combination of a close knit and loving family centred on Sam’s warm-hearted character set against a good old-fashioned murder mystery which provides the perfect contrast between good and evil.
When an author writes so many different series and churns out the individual books with lightning speed, I often wonder if they are going to start getting repetitive or boring, but not so with Aaron Paul Lazar. He always seems to have a bottomless well of ideas from which to draw his stories, and each one is fresh and new. Lazar, as a writer, has perfected the ultimate recipe which appeals to all readers’ palates, whether mystery lovers or not. I can honestly say that he has quickly risen to the top tier of my favourite authors list, and I now anxiously await each new novel that he writes.
 
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More About the Author

Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming Twilight Times Books releases. His other books are:
DOUBLE FORTƉ (2012, author’s preferred edition)
UPSTAGED (coming 2012 author’s preferred edition, eBook and print)
MAZURKA (2009, AUDIO BOOK 2012)
FIRESONG (2011, AUDIO BOOK 2012)
DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU (coming 2012)
FOR KEEPS (JULY 2012, AUDIO BOOK coming 2012)
FOR THE BIRDS (2011, AUDIO BOOK, coming 2012)
SANCTUARY (coming, 2013)
LAZAR'S BOOK ON WRITING:
WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1, 2, 3 (AUG 2012)
AWARDS: WINNER 2011 EPIC Book Awards, BEST Paranormal * FINALIST 2011 FOREWORD BOOK AWARDS * WINNER 2011 Eric Hoffer BEST Book, COMMERCIAL FICTION * 2X FINALIST Global eBook Awards 2011 * Preditors & Editors Readers Choice Award – 2nd place 2011* Winner of Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s 9th Annual Noble (Not Nobel!) Prize for Literature 2011 * Finalist Allbooks Editor’s Choice Awards 2011 * Preditors&Editors Top 10 Finalist * Yolanda RenĆ©e's Top Ten Books 2008 * MYSHELF Top Ten Reads 2008 * Writer’s Digest Top 101 Website Award 2009-2012
 WEBSITES/BLOGS:
http://www.lazarbooks.com
www.murderby4.blogspot.com
www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Monday, September 26, 2011

Debut Novel Gets Solid Five Stars from Steve Spencer

"A Ripple in Time" - Angel of the Titanic.
Julia Hughes
Website: A Ripple in Time
Paranormal/adventure/romance
No ISBN indie/self published.
 Cick here to see sample or purchase
Available for Kindle

Reviewed by
Steve Spencer , originally for Amazon. A 5-Star Review.


With "Angel," Ms. Hughes didn't quite knock it out of the park. She did, however, bang the ball into the gap for an easy stand-up triple--and for that, she deserves every one of the five stars I'm giving her. (She's British, so I hope she'll forgive the baseball analogy. I guess the cricket equivalent would be hitting a "four" instead of a "six.")

Time travel's been done before; so has the Titanic; so have Merlin and Excalibur--but to put it all together and make it work demonstrates artistry of a high order. I won't give away the added twist, except to say that it pushed me out of 4 stars and into 5. I think you'll like it, too.

For American readers, the British punctuation may be disconcerting in places (I don't know what their rules are). Also, "its" and "it's" are reversed throughout, and there are one or two historical solecisms (Stonehenge was not one of the original Seven Wonders of the World, the ancient Greeks having never seen the place); but none of that detracts appreciably from the story, and I can recommend "Angel of the Titanic" to you wholeheartedly. "

~A Ripple in Time is Hughes debut novel.


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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Title: Adams Point -
Series: Book Three in the Legacy Series
Author: Elena Dorothy Bowman
Genre: Paranormal/Futuristic
ISBN: 1-59431-452-7
Format: ebook/print
Publisher and reviewer's rating: 4.5 Blue Ribbons


Reviewed by Chrissy Dionne for Romance Junkies Reviews

SNIPPET

Guests are disappearing, unwelcome ghosts are making their presence known and the resident ghosts are nowhere to be found. Welcome to ADAM’S POINT, the final book in Elena Dorothy Bowman’s LEGACY series. It is sure to hold you spellbound as you experience the wonder of an ancient prophecy and it’s effect on everyone who visits the area.


When we last visited Adam's Point in the previous book, Gatekeeper's Realm, readers were left with many questions regarding the spirits that inhabit the made over inn which had once been known as Pierce House. Guests have disappeared and there's a sinister wraith hoovering over the building. Some of the guests have opted to return to Caleb's Cove where they believe they'll be safe from the danger lurking at Adams Point, but are they really?

Ethan, Abigail and the guests who chose to remain at Adams Point have no clue what to expect from the wraith or what to do to appease it. With two couples already missing, Tony's mysteriously disappeared, and unbeknownst to anyone at Adams Point, Jill, one of the guests whom Ethan had dropped off in town has also disappeared. The apparition obviously intends to do whatever it has to in order to ensure his demands are met and until then Ethan, Abigail, Tony and the guests are all at its mercy.

Abigail harbors hope that Jacob, one of the original ghosts - and a friend, will escape the wraith's clutches long enough to clue them in on what needs to be done to release them all from the nightmare in which they've found themselves. In the meantime, the men devise plans to find and rescue the missing people while protecting the women. One of their plans is for the women to leave Adam's Point and stay at Caleb's Cove where they'll be safe. Only it soon becomes painfully obvious that the wraith's plans don't include allowing any of them any measure of safety. The only way to satisfy it is to return to the Inn and attempt to appease it somehow. Where have the missing people disappeared to and why? Will Jacob be able to break the wraith's hold and return to Abigail to let her know what's going on and what needs to be done to correct the situation?

After reading Gatekeeper's Realm I was fascinated with the characters and the vivid imagery that enthralled me throughout the storyline. I'm thrilled to say that Elena Dorothy Bowman's continuation of the story in Adam's Point contains all the same traits that have made the LEGACY series a thrilling read. I loved the men's alpha attitude and determination to protect the women and had to laugh at the women's not-without-us attitude. While the sinister apparition kept me guessing at what stunt it would pull next I was really hopeful to meet Jacob and learn just how he could help satisfy the wraith. I do have to confess while I was quite sure there would be a happy ending for the couples, I wasn't anticipating the emotions which I experienced at the end of the story - sorry I can't say more because it'd give too much away.

I would recommend reading all three of the books in the Legacy series - House on the Bluff, Gatekeeper's Realm and Adam's Point in order to fully experience the wonders carefully hidden and guarded in this fascinating house/inn.

© Copyright 2003 by RomanceJunkies.com
Reach the reviewer at RJchrissydionne@yahoo.com.

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Journey to the Rim of Space and Beyond
http://elenadb.home.comcast.net
http://www.sarahslanding.com
http://www.myspace.com/elenabowmanauthor
http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.