New 4 STARS Review for Forever Winter from Night Owl Reviews!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
A Hero's Heart on Goodreads
DEA field agent Jarrett Brandt
returned home on his Harley Davidson to visit his brother’s grave, not to
reconnect with his first true love. Now widowed with a son, Marissa Reinn
Brandt expected nothing from the one who broke her heart—the twin brother of
the man she married—but when her son offered him a place to stay for Christmas,
she agreed for son’s benefit. As they rekindled the flames of love and lust
that once bound them together, an enemy from his past and a trusted mentor from
his present threatened to destroy everything they held dear.
Please mark as TO READ!
Monday, October 28, 2013
The Harvesters Review/Blog Tour
Thank you, Ashley Hill, for sending me The Harvesters for an honest review.
I usually don't read horror stories but I often watch horror movies. I'm very desensitized when it come to blood, cannilablism and gore so this short story (about 30 pages) didn't really scare me, even though it reminded me of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jeepers Creepers.
SPOILERS!!!
The main character, Ashley, is strong and determined to survive. When she's with her boyfriend, however, her fearlessness disappears and she becomes a scared, screaming female that Jason has to protect. Jason is just as strong and determined but not as scared as you might think. He's keeping secrets from Ashley which leads to a great cliffhanger. They both kill to survive and, by the end of the book, Ashley notices dark changes in Jason's attitude and appearance, which is understandable after the hell they went through.
Personally, I think these 'dark changes' aren't changes at all. I think she's finally seeing him beneath his kind, sweet exterior and that's he's just as messed up as the deranged redneck family they just killed (which, in my opinion, is what the cliffhanger leads the reader to believe).
I wish I knew how Ashley and Jason were kidnapped by the crazy, cannibalistic family to begin with. All we know is that they were doing a job (what is this job?) for Jason's dad when they were taken. The book begins after they had been captured and tortured for a little while.
The author did a great job plotting the story but, instead of showing the reader what was happening through Ashley's or Jason's eyes, she was telling us. Telling and Showing dramatically affects the reading style of a book. She also used Passive Voice instead of Active which slowed down the flow of the story. Telling and Passive for most publishers is a no-no, even with first person narrative, but self-published authors sometimes play by a different set of rules.
Still, even though this story didn't scare me, I did enjoy it. I'm especially intrigued by the cliffhanger and I can't stop thinking about Jason and his true intentions. I'm anxiously awaiting the next short story in the Harvesting series.
3 Stars.
Thank you again, Ashley Hill, for a copy of the book.
I usually don't read horror stories but I often watch horror movies. I'm very desensitized when it come to blood, cannilablism and gore so this short story (about 30 pages) didn't really scare me, even though it reminded me of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jeepers Creepers.
SPOILERS!!!
The main character, Ashley, is strong and determined to survive. When she's with her boyfriend, however, her fearlessness disappears and she becomes a scared, screaming female that Jason has to protect. Jason is just as strong and determined but not as scared as you might think. He's keeping secrets from Ashley which leads to a great cliffhanger. They both kill to survive and, by the end of the book, Ashley notices dark changes in Jason's attitude and appearance, which is understandable after the hell they went through.
Personally, I think these 'dark changes' aren't changes at all. I think she's finally seeing him beneath his kind, sweet exterior and that's he's just as messed up as the deranged redneck family they just killed (which, in my opinion, is what the cliffhanger leads the reader to believe).
I wish I knew how Ashley and Jason were kidnapped by the crazy, cannibalistic family to begin with. All we know is that they were doing a job (what is this job?) for Jason's dad when they were taken. The book begins after they had been captured and tortured for a little while.
The author did a great job plotting the story but, instead of showing the reader what was happening through Ashley's or Jason's eyes, she was telling us. Telling and Showing dramatically affects the reading style of a book. She also used Passive Voice instead of Active which slowed down the flow of the story. Telling and Passive for most publishers is a no-no, even with first person narrative, but self-published authors sometimes play by a different set of rules.
Still, even though this story didn't scare me, I did enjoy it. I'm especially intrigued by the cliffhanger and I can't stop thinking about Jason and his true intentions. I'm anxiously awaiting the next short story in the Harvesting series.
3 Stars.
Thank you again, Ashley Hill, for a copy of the book.
The Harvesters (Harvesting Series #1) By
Ashley Hill
Publication Date: November 28th 2012
Genre: Young Adult/ New Adult Horror
Summary
When she finds her boyfriend shackled to a white metal table Ashley feared for the worse.
On a small trip of dropping off a package for Jason’s father, the young couple never thought they would be running for their lives. Running away from supposedly friends whom in turned to be a family of harvesters.
Human harvesters and they are looking for something specific. And Ashley just might be the perfect match for that something.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/
Teaser (Excerpt)
"Jason…” I whisper
down into the cold, dark basement.
Listening
but I hear nothing in response. Turning, I then look up to the basement door
making sure no one comes up from behind.
Taking
the last few wooden steps down, I call out his name again, “Jason?”
This
time I caught someone murmuring my name. Purchase Links:
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/gp/
Barnes & Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Smashwords- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/327662
Author Bio
I'm a college student still trying to get a handle of the adult world. When I need to get away from it I lose myself in books, my own writing, and in spending time with my amazing boyfriend which he supports me to no end.
Finding my passion in books has led me to finding a passion in writing my own fictional stories back in 2009, I have turned this into a dream career and going one step further I would love to open up my own book store.
Social Media Links:
Ashley’s Blog: http://www.paranormalsisters.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The Romance Reviews (TRR) November Splash Party Starts Soon!
More than 400 participating publishers and authors, including yours truly on Nov 10th, are giving away over 400 prizes to lucky winners.
Check out this site for more details:
Check out this site for more details:
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Love and Other Games Blog Tour and Review
Thank you, Aria Kane, for sending
me this ebook copy of Love and Other
Games for an honest review.
The author wrote these characters with so much feeling that I easily identified with both Ty and Nadia. I understand his need to have childish fun but he was also professional businessman. I also understood why Nadia was so straight-laced—pride means everything to her—and Ty was the perfect guy to help her cut loose.
The only issue I had with the novella, which is a very little issue, is that they fell head over heels for each other way too fast. Then again, love at first sight does happen in the real world, and Nadia and Ty were so perfect and great together that it made sense.
Brenna Jessup despised the Olympics and the athletes more than anything else. She believed that the athletes are spoiled and that they only care for themselves. When the business she works for lands a high-stakes deal, Brenna becomes the official photographer for the US Hockey team against her wishes.
Colton Campbell, the newest starting center on the team, is everything she despises. Cole is used to getting what he wants, including women, but Brenna doesn’t fall under his lustful spell. He’s determined to win her over using any means necessary. What he doesn’t expect is that Miss. Prim and Proper fights back. After minor pranks on each other escalates into Brenna accidently injuring Cole during practice on the rink, Brenna finally lets down her icy guard and Cole acts human, instead of an egotistical horn dog.
The author wrote completely believable characters and the spark between them was flaming hot! I laughed so much as Brenna found out what Cole did with her camera—God, I wish I had those pics!—and I especially loved the scene when Cole and Brenna were stuck in a closet for almost an hour.
The love that blossomed between them happened gradually over the course of about a week. They got to know each other on a level that most people didn’t see. Once she finally opened up about why hated Olympic athletes, he finally realized Brenna was the woman for him. Even though she was emotionally distant and unavailable, he taught her that not all men are untrustworthy, that some men, like himself, can change for the better. By doing so, she ended up taming the playboy and his wild ways.
My only problem was an editing problem. I don’t understand why semi-colons were often used when commas would have worked better. Then again, I read an ARC, so hopefully those little issues were fixed in the final product.
Anyway, this was a great book.
Evangelia Milonas is an excellent skier but she’s so shy that she doesn’t have many fans and people think she’s a snob. At first, so did I. She acted haughty and superior but you soon learn that it’s all a façade. She’s a private yet very emotional person with a caring family and a sense of honor. She’s the kind of person you’d want for a best friend.
Brandon James had it rough as a kid and now, as an adult, he’s determined to be the best at what he does. As a journalist, top in his field, he’s not afraid to stomp toes and hurt feelings to get what he wants—and he wants Lia’s story, with or without her approval.
He tricks Lia into trusting him—which I admit was pretty clever and funny at first—but he started feeling guilty about it too late in the story in my opinion. It really irked me that it took him so long to realize what he was doing was very wrong and to finally admit the truth, which he did only after she found out from other sources. Yet, even though he started out as selfish, he really came through in the end. He was her hero—just as he vowed to be. Without his help, Lia and her family would have lost everything—their farm and pride—and without him apologizing in the amazing way that he did, he would have lost her forever.
I connected very deeply with Lia. I loved the family dynamic and how much they supported her. She was so mature and dedicated to her sport. I got the feeling that she couldn’t enjoy skiing and being at the Olympics as much as she should have because of the stress she felt to land a sponsor and to save the family farm. She went through a lot of that worry on her own. Even though Brandon irritated me, I understood his reasons and motivations for his lies. If I had been in his shoes, I would have done the same thing. He was desperate for a great story to save his career. The author did a wonderful job describing each character so well that the reader just can’t help but understand and fall in love with both Lia and Brandon.
The ending with this story differs than with the other three. Lia and Brandon agree to spend the next year together to work on a new project—their strong feelings for each other will obviously bloom into love—but there was no guarantee of anything permanent after a year. Of course, a HEA isn’t needed to make a great ending for a great story. The book is perfect just the way it is.
Amy Peirce met a charming, drop-dead gorgeous foreigner at a party and the sparks flew. The next morning, however, she woke up in his bed and he’s gone. Mortified by what happened, she ran out as quickly as possible. It took sexy Norwegian ski jumper Erik Andersen two days to find the shy redhead. Once he explained why he ‘ditched her’, as she claimed, and they make up, they slow down their hot and steamy relationship to get to know one another.
Amy is overly protective of her little sister, who is a 17 year old Olympic figure skater; Erik doesn’t expect to win a medal because of an accident at the last Olympics, yet he is completely fine with that. He’s at the games to support his team and to watch over his younger teammates. They both have dreams in life but they let other people or things hold them back. Together, however, Amy learned to have fun and Erik gained more confidence and improved his game.
Erik is adorable!!! I love tall, blond men with a sexy accent. Amy and her best friend call him the Viking and that description fits—other than Vikings having tempers. He’s so calm and peaceful. He’s also very blunt, which makes him seem so innocent. He doesn’t speak English fluently so his conversations with Amy were at times either funny or problematic. He doesn’t explain himself well sometimes and she overacts, leaving him completely confused. The language barrier was the greatest threat to their budding relationship. Other than that, there wasn’t anything else standing in the way of their happiness.
The author did a great job matching these two people together. They both are business-oriented—meaning she has a business degree and he plans to open a ski school—so their future together is destined. They just really clicked, even beyond great sex, and made each other happy outside the bedroom.
Find the book at: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
I loved how these individual
stories flowed together with characters from one story being mentioned in
another and how each story shared similar settings, locations and the Lucky
Torch. They don’t need to be read in order as printed in the book but that’s
how I read them anyway.
4 STARS!
4 STARS!
My Reviews...
SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!
Trouble with Gold by Melinda Dozier is the first novella in the
anthology.
Nadia Hoffman is a straight-laced, career-orientated Swiss woman who dreams of making her father and family proud by landing a prestigious job at the official Olympics Committee Headquarters. She meets US Snowboarder Ty ‘Trouble’ Madsen after his teammates chain him up outside in zero degree weather as an initiation prank. They are instantly attracted to each other but she refused to have anything to do with a man known for causing trouble. Soon after, Nadia is upset that her friends called her ‘no fun’ and decides to prove them wrong. So, instead of following her head, she followed her heart and jumped into a free-spirited, spontaneous relationship with Ty. What started as a winter fling soon turned into something much deeper than either Nadia or Ty expected. Even though the couple never said the words ‘I love you’, they clearly felt it.
Nadia Hoffman is a straight-laced, career-orientated Swiss woman who dreams of making her father and family proud by landing a prestigious job at the official Olympics Committee Headquarters. She meets US Snowboarder Ty ‘Trouble’ Madsen after his teammates chain him up outside in zero degree weather as an initiation prank. They are instantly attracted to each other but she refused to have anything to do with a man known for causing trouble. Soon after, Nadia is upset that her friends called her ‘no fun’ and decides to prove them wrong. So, instead of following her head, she followed her heart and jumped into a free-spirited, spontaneous relationship with Ty. What started as a winter fling soon turned into something much deeper than either Nadia or Ty expected. Even though the couple never said the words ‘I love you’, they clearly felt it.
The author wrote these characters with so much feeling that I easily identified with both Ty and Nadia. I understand his need to have childish fun but he was also professional businessman. I also understood why Nadia was so straight-laced—pride means everything to her—and Ty was the perfect guy to help her cut loose.
The only issue I had with the novella, which is a very little issue, is that they fell head over heels for each other way too fast. Then again, love at first sight does happen in the real world, and Nadia and Ty were so perfect and great together that it made sense.
I really enjoyed this short
story.
Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller is the second novella.
Brenna Jessup despised the Olympics and the athletes more than anything else. She believed that the athletes are spoiled and that they only care for themselves. When the business she works for lands a high-stakes deal, Brenna becomes the official photographer for the US Hockey team against her wishes.
Colton Campbell, the newest starting center on the team, is everything she despises. Cole is used to getting what he wants, including women, but Brenna doesn’t fall under his lustful spell. He’s determined to win her over using any means necessary. What he doesn’t expect is that Miss. Prim and Proper fights back. After minor pranks on each other escalates into Brenna accidently injuring Cole during practice on the rink, Brenna finally lets down her icy guard and Cole acts human, instead of an egotistical horn dog.
The author wrote completely believable characters and the spark between them was flaming hot! I laughed so much as Brenna found out what Cole did with her camera—God, I wish I had those pics!—and I especially loved the scene when Cole and Brenna were stuck in a closet for almost an hour.
The love that blossomed between them happened gradually over the course of about a week. They got to know each other on a level that most people didn’t see. Once she finally opened up about why hated Olympic athletes, he finally realized Brenna was the woman for him. Even though she was emotionally distant and unavailable, he taught her that not all men are untrustworthy, that some men, like himself, can change for the better. By doing so, she ended up taming the playboy and his wild ways.
My only problem was an editing problem. I don’t understand why semi-colons were often used when commas would have worked better. Then again, I read an ARC, so hopefully those little issues were fixed in the final product.
Anyway, this was a great book.
The Girl Behind the Gold by Aria Kane is the third novella.
Evangelia Milonas is an excellent skier but she’s so shy that she doesn’t have many fans and people think she’s a snob. At first, so did I. She acted haughty and superior but you soon learn that it’s all a façade. She’s a private yet very emotional person with a caring family and a sense of honor. She’s the kind of person you’d want for a best friend.
Brandon James had it rough as a kid and now, as an adult, he’s determined to be the best at what he does. As a journalist, top in his field, he’s not afraid to stomp toes and hurt feelings to get what he wants—and he wants Lia’s story, with or without her approval.
He tricks Lia into trusting him—which I admit was pretty clever and funny at first—but he started feeling guilty about it too late in the story in my opinion. It really irked me that it took him so long to realize what he was doing was very wrong and to finally admit the truth, which he did only after she found out from other sources. Yet, even though he started out as selfish, he really came through in the end. He was her hero—just as he vowed to be. Without his help, Lia and her family would have lost everything—their farm and pride—and without him apologizing in the amazing way that he did, he would have lost her forever.
I connected very deeply with Lia. I loved the family dynamic and how much they supported her. She was so mature and dedicated to her sport. I got the feeling that she couldn’t enjoy skiing and being at the Olympics as much as she should have because of the stress she felt to land a sponsor and to save the family farm. She went through a lot of that worry on her own. Even though Brandon irritated me, I understood his reasons and motivations for his lies. If I had been in his shoes, I would have done the same thing. He was desperate for a great story to save his career. The author did a wonderful job describing each character so well that the reader just can’t help but understand and fall in love with both Lia and Brandon.
The ending with this story differs than with the other three. Lia and Brandon agree to spend the next year together to work on a new project—their strong feelings for each other will obviously bloom into love—but there was no guarantee of anything permanent after a year. Of course, a HEA isn’t needed to make a great ending for a great story. The book is perfect just the way it is.
Worth More than Gold by Ana Blaze is the fourth and last novella in this great
anthology.
Amy Peirce met a charming, drop-dead gorgeous foreigner at a party and the sparks flew. The next morning, however, she woke up in his bed and he’s gone. Mortified by what happened, she ran out as quickly as possible. It took sexy Norwegian ski jumper Erik Andersen two days to find the shy redhead. Once he explained why he ‘ditched her’, as she claimed, and they make up, they slow down their hot and steamy relationship to get to know one another.
Amy is overly protective of her little sister, who is a 17 year old Olympic figure skater; Erik doesn’t expect to win a medal because of an accident at the last Olympics, yet he is completely fine with that. He’s at the games to support his team and to watch over his younger teammates. They both have dreams in life but they let other people or things hold them back. Together, however, Amy learned to have fun and Erik gained more confidence and improved his game.
Erik is adorable!!! I love tall, blond men with a sexy accent. Amy and her best friend call him the Viking and that description fits—other than Vikings having tempers. He’s so calm and peaceful. He’s also very blunt, which makes him seem so innocent. He doesn’t speak English fluently so his conversations with Amy were at times either funny or problematic. He doesn’t explain himself well sometimes and she overacts, leaving him completely confused. The language barrier was the greatest threat to their budding relationship. Other than that, there wasn’t anything else standing in the way of their happiness.
The author did a great job matching these two people together. They both are business-oriented—meaning she has a business degree and he plans to open a ski school—so their future together is destined. They just really clicked, even beyond great sex, and made each other happy outside the bedroom.
I really loved this book.
Thank you, Aria Kane, Kara Leigh
Miller, Ana Blaze and Melinda Dozier for these wonderful stories.
Love and Other Games
is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes
competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane,
and Kara Leigh Miller. It releases October 1st from Swoon Romance in all
major electronic formats.
Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze
Amy
Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart,
is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near
the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper.
It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running.
Everyone
knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in
2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for
his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have
him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another
chance at the podium. With a little bit of luck, these two might have a
shot at something worth more than gold.
Trouble With Gold by Melinda Dozier
US
snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only
getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle
him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.
Reception
and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with
the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she's not the kind of girl who
lets her hormones get in her way. A professional performance could help
her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new
assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making
that difficult.
Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?
The Girl Behind the Gold by Aria Kane
Greek
aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm.
Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her
no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won
her a place in fans' hearts.
“Come
back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This
is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover
the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can
charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story
is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia.
The
two strike a deal that should get them both what they want - but
neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need.
Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller
Colton
Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of
being an Olympic hockey player. Despite Brenna Jessup's abhorrence for
the games and the athletes, she's hand-picked as the official
photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. When a faux pas by Brenna
almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton
doesn't want apologies -- he wants retribution! And he knows just how to
get it -- and her -- in the process.
Find the book at: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Blog Tour Giveaway
Fractured Legacy Release Day Blitz
Can Kaylyn figure out how to stop a spirit that has been looking for her since she was a child?
Available October 22
Fractured Legacy by Skye Callahan
Kaylyn Anderson's fascination with abandoned places and dark creatures kindled her work as a paranormal investigator. But when dreams begin to distort reality, she questions what is real and pulls away from everyone she trusts. The opportunity to investigate the Teague Hotel--a long-abandoned landmark that has always piqued her curiosity--provides a chance to redeem herself. Unraveling the hotel's secrets won't be easy, but Kaylyn soon finds herself the target of a dark entity that has been trapped in the building for decades.
If Kaylyn stands any chance of defeating the spirit, she'll have to accept that her fears are real and convince fellow investigators that she hasn't lost her mind.
Read the first 3 chapters on WattpadFollow along with the Release Tour for interviews, excerpts, reviews, and a chance to win a signed paperback (US), bookmarks and Fractured Legacy swag in the Rafflecopter giveaway.
About the Author: Skye Callahan
Skye Callahan was born and raised in Ohio and has seen enough unbelievable stuff to feed a lifetime of paranormal stories. When not writing or working at the dayjob, she hangs out with her ethnomusicologist husband and pet ferrets, reads, and takes long walks through the cemetery.
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | BlogSaturday, October 19, 2013
Fractured Legacy Review/Blog Tour
Thank you, Skye Callahan, for
sending me an ARC of Fractured Legacy
for an honest review.
When I first heard about this
book, I thought it was a full-length romance novel with paranormal/horror
elements. In fact, it’s a novella (53 pages) with very little romance and full
paranormal/horror focus. Still, I liked this book and couldn’t put it down.
SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!
I thought it was an ingenious
idea that the author started each chapter or new scene with one of the main
character’s name to advise the reader of the POV used. The chapter headings
were beautiful in the old Celtic style.
This book followed Kaylyn
Anderson and Jonah Troyer as they navigated the perils of the Teague Hotel and
the inner politics of their jobs with the Aicil Corporation.
Kaylyn was a very private,
secretive person. She’s spunky and strong-willed. She carried the weight of the
world on her shoulders, which is commendable, and did so without help. Jonah
and Cole—her sister—kept trying to help her and, even though she eventually
accepted their assistance, she did so grudgingly. She tried to act so strong
and self-assured, which only made her look vulnerable and unreliable, even
immature at times.
Jonah was an awesome
character. He’s protective and responsible, the type of man who would give you
the shirt off his back. For being the boss of the office, I loved it when he
had to call his big-wig dad for advice and help. I liked it as he dictated new
rules and flouted his horn to the employees under his command. Unfortunately,
since he was portrayed as a strict boss who doesn’t answer to his subordinates,
I felt that he explained himself and his reasons to Kaylyn a little too often
but it made for great dialogue.
I wish I could’ve learned more
about Jonah’s Irish background. The scene with his mother’s spirit visiting
Kaylyn was awesome but, since Kaylyn couldn’t really remember the out-of-body
experience until the end of the book when she, Jonah and Cole battled the evil
entity (and at that time they didn’t have a chance to properly discuss it), the
scene felt like a let-down. Still, we got to know more about his mom and
Kaylyn’s own legacy that was intertwined with the hotel.
The H/h never once kissed or
showed much romantic feeling toward each other. They became fast friends
throughout the course of the story, which was about a week, and I could tell that
they cared for each other but I didn’t see the spark of love between them. Maybe a little lust—from Kaylyn—but not
from Jonah. After they lived together for a few days, they both thought they
acted like an old married couple (which was very sweet), and I agree with that.
Old married couples act like best friends, not lovers, which was how Kaylyn and
Jonah acted. Kaylyn did, however, catch herself thinking about Jonah’s chest
and his sexy cross tattoo on his back a few times (lust) and her sister told
her not to sleep with the boss—which is great—but that’s basically the extent
of their relationship.
Even though I enjoyed this
story, there weren’t enough detailed character descriptions and scene
developments in my opinion. Still, that didn’t take away from the catchy, fresh
dialogue or the characters themselves and the way they viewed their world. For
example, the author rarely mentioned, if at all, Jonah’s and Kaylyn’s physical
attributes. All we know is that Kaylyn isn’t as tall or lean as her sister,
Cole, and that she has long hair that she sometimes wears in a low ponytail (we
learn that she’s a brunette on page 48). Jonah has at least one tattoo and that
he can brush his hair to the back of his neck.
The climax, after the evil
entity lured Kaylyn to the hotel, felt rushed. The reader is led to believe
that the brunette woman from Kaylyn’s dreams is the bad guy but then we find
out that Kaylyn’s birth mother is also brunette, who is the good, protective
entity. So, since both the good and bad entities have the same hair color and that
the author typically described them as good, bad or brunette, it was sometimes
hard to know whom the author referred to.
I had a lot of questions by
the time the story was done but I suspect the author will address them in the
following book. The main questions that stick out in my mind are: Why didn’t
Kaylyn panic or cry when she found out that she was adopted (Cole showed more
emotion than Kaylyn did) and that she was actually about 3 years older than she
thought she was (she believed that she was born in 1989, but her parents
adopted her in 1987, a year after the fire at the Teague that killed her birth mother
in 1986)? What role did Emerson play at the time of Kaylyn’s birth mother’s
death? Why was Jonah transferred from Paris?
This novella is the first in
the Darkness Bound series. The series will continue with Kaylyn and Jonah. I’m
anxious to see how their friendship morphs into romance and how the author
plans to wrap up all the loose ends. The characters kept me entertained and I’m
rooting for Kaylyn every step of the way! I have so many questions (as you can
tell from my review) and I didn’t even post them all. I’m antsy for answers.
I look forward to the next
book!!!
3 Stars.
Again, thank you, Skye
Callahan, for the ARC.
Fractured Legacy
Available on Amazon, October 22, 2013.
Kaylyn Anderson's fascination with abandoned places and dark creatures kindled her work as a paranormal investigator. But when dreams begin to distort reality, she questions what is real and pulls away from everyone she trusts. The opportunity to investigate the Teague Hotel--a long-abandoned landmark that has always piqued her curiosity--provides a chance to redeem herself. Unraveling the hotel's secrets won't be easy, but Kaylyn soon finds herself the target of a dark entity that has been trapped in the building for decades. If Kaylyn stands any chance of defeating the spirit, she'll have to accept that her fears are real and convince fellow investigators that she hasn't lost her mind.
Goodreads |Wattpad
About the Author: Skye Callahan
Skye Callahan was born and raised in Ohio and has seen enough unbelievable stuff to feed a lifetime of paranormal stories. When not writing or working at the dayjob, she hangs out with her ethnomusicologist husband and pet ferrets, reads, and takes long walks through the cemetery.
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Excerpt
Cole
was out of the car and at least ten steps ahead by the time Kaylyn
closed the passenger door. She shook enough dullness from her head to
manage a quick sprint to catch up. Each thump of her foot against the
ground echoed through her head, drowning out the latest spiel from her
sister—yet another lecture.
Something is seriously off with this family dynamic, Kaylyn thought.
“He was supposed to meet us at the main entrance,” Cole said, pulling on the front door. “But it’s locked.”
“So… lecturing me about being late was all in vain?”
Cole clicked the heel of her boot against the concrete porch, her lips pressed into a tight line. “Or he gave up on waiting.”
“Five minutes, Cole. No one gives up after five minutes.”
Kaylyn and Cole peeked through the windows on either side of the door.
“Well, I don’t see anyone around,” Kaylyn said.
“I have a bad feeling.”
No. Not today. Whether
Cole’s bad feelings turned out to be accurate or not, they always meant
Kaylyn was about to have a shitty day. When little sister had a bad
feeling, everything got done the hard way.
Kaylyn
closed her eyes, reaching deep to muster enough energy to keep up and
whispering a silent plea for Mr. Edwards to rush to the door and
apologize for losing track of time.
Her plea was answered by a crash somewhere on the second floor of the house.
“Fuck,”
she muttered, with little regard to who might hear it. An elderly
couple glared in the direction of the two girls, probably convinced that
they were planning to rob the old house. They may have been at the edge
of town, but the historic district was always alive with sight-seers
and antiquers.
Clue: It
GIVEAWAY
Visit all 14 blogs to collect the words for the passcode to enter the Giveaway!
Tour Schedule:
October 14-A Creative Mind
October 15-Sunshine & Mountains Book Reviews
October 16-My Beautiful NightMare
October 17-Room With Books
October 18-Ch’kara SilverWolf
October 19-Amber Daulton Author
October 20-All in a Book
October 21-Dawna Raver
October 22-Release Day BLITZ!!
October 24-Once Upon a YA Book & Taylor Grace
October 25-Sydney Aaliyah & Because Reading is better than real life
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Forever Winter at B&N
I'm so happy that Barnes and Noble finally has Forever Winter up on their site.
Check out the link here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forever-winter-amber-daulton/1117149624?ean=2940016744605
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Cover Reveal: Vision
TBR - 2014
Blurb:
The light is darker than you think…
When
seventeen-year-old Bobby Pendell begins to have blinding migraines
followed by frightening hallucinations, he fears there’s something wrong
with him. Then murder rocks his sleepy town and the visions that put
him on trail of a killer—also make him the prime suspect.
Author bio:
Lisa
Amowitz was born in Queens and raised in the wilds of Long Island, New York
where she climbed trees, thought small creatures lived under rocks and studied
ant hills. And drew. A lot. She is a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved
Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for
nearly seventeen years. She started writing eight years ago because she wanted
something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably
because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children. Lisa is
represented by Shannon Hassan of Marsal-Lyon Literary Agency. shannon@marsallyonliteraryagency.com
BREAKING GLASS,
released in July, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first published work.
VISION, the first of the Finder series, will be released in 2014.
Lisa Amowitz is available for guest
appearances, Skype visits, school visits, libraries & interviews. Please
contact her for scheduling.
Website:
Email: mommatoo@optonline.net
Social Media:
Friday, October 11, 2013
Edits
My edits for 'A Hero's Heart' are finally done. The book is set to release later this month!!!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Business Cards from Vistaprint
I just bought a pack of 50 business cards for my debut novella, Forever Winter.
I LOVE these cards!
(Okay, it's a little blurry since the picture is blown up but you get the idea!)
Friday, October 4, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Edits for 'A Hero's Heart'
I'm so thrilled!!!! I just found the edits for A Hero's Heart, my latest contemporary book, in my inbox!
Thank you so much, everyone at BTGN, for helping perfect this project.
It should be due out later this month for the Christmas rush!
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