Bite Me (The Puritan Coven #1) by Louise Cypress

Morgan Taylor-Jackson can't wait for high school to end. In six months she leaves for UCLA and says goodbye to La Jolla, California and her parents' messy divorce. But when Morgan is bitten by a four-year-old boy, she becomes infected with a mysterious condition. Fever, insomnia, and a new bustline are only the beginning; Morgan morphs from nerd to bombshell.

As far as Van Xander is concerned, all vampires are evil, even the ones who reject human sacrifice and call themselves Puritans. When Helsing Incorporated sends Van to La Jolla to investigate the local coven, Morgan is his prime target. Pretending to be interested in her, Van asks Morgan out and puts her through a series of tests to determine her killer nature.

Morgan is thrilled to be dating a hot guy like Van and falls for him hard. As Van strings Morgan along, he grows increasingly guilty. Morgan is kind, compassionate, and a gooey romantic. Just as Van's mind begins to change, evil forces threaten everything. When prom night arrives, there are only two ways out of the ballroom: death or immortality.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * 

Sometimes I just get in the mood for a paranormal romance.  I've been reading less of this genre lately and I miss it.

This is a young adult book, with the characters being in high school so naturally they feel and act young.  I don't know that I really felt connected emotionally to the characters, but I did enjoy the story.  I really liked Morgan.  She is a kind person and that always resonates with me.

The whole vampire romp can get to feeling very cliche because how many different ways can you really do vampire, right?  I thought the author did a good job of giving me some slightly varied ideas and scenarios so this felt like it's own story and set it apart from others.  I liked that for most of the story Morgan really had no idea what she had become.  

Overall I liked the story.  There are two more books in this series as of right now and I've got them on my list to read when that paranormal urge strikes me.  They are all on Kindle Unlimited so that is good news for me!

Content:  kissing (I can't actually remember exact content details, sorry!  It's been a few weeks since I read it.  oopsy)

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Shattered Worlds, Author Jane Redd Spotlight and a Giveaway!

Escape into twenty-three epic worlds that will leave you breathless.

From dystopian nightmares to gorgeous steampunk and fantasy settings to fairy-tale retellings and beyond, SHATTERED WORLDS has every story you've been dying to get your hands on!

This unique Young Adult/New Adult collection, inspired by the creative minds of today's New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling authors, promises to satisfy your cravings for action and adventure as you experience rune magic and time-travel, overthrow corrupt governments, meet reapers and aliens, battle dragons, fall hopelessly in love, and break ancient curses, right alongside some of the bravest characters in fantasy fiction!

Each book within this collection is exclusive to the set and can't be found anywhere else.

Preorder now for your passport to SHATTERED WORLDS!

Purchase Links

Amazon // iBooks // Nook // Kobo // Google Play

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35122753-shattered-worlds

Meet Author Jane Redd!

Writing under Jane Redd, Heather B. Moore is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than a dozen historical novels set in ancient Arabia and Mesoamerica. She attended the Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican International School in Jerusalem and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. She writes historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore, and romance and women’s fiction under the name Heather B. Moore. It can be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom.

Join H.B. Moore’s newsletter list for updates at www.hbmoore.com/contact.

Visit JANE REDD BOOKS on Facebook for series updates.

Social Media Links

Website // Amazon Author Page // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Goodreads

The Grim Reaper has been collecting souls of the dead for hundreds of years, but even the Master of Death has to pass on his reign. Unfortunately, his progeny is not quite ready to replace him.

Cora Grim, daughter of the Grim Reaper, is suddenly thrust into her father’s role. Leaving the Underworld on her own to bring back the dead souls, she discovers that the Master of Death neglected to tell her one thing. She can still fall in love.

You can pick up Mistress Grim as part of the Shattered Worlds box set.  I had the privilege of reading Mistress Grim pre-release and I really loved it.  It has romance but intrigue, danger and action as well.

Cora is the daughter of the Grim Reaper.  She defied my ideas of what a grim reaper would be.  I loved her heart, courage and determination.  And Leo?  Ummm, yumma yumma.  Sign me up for some of that.  He and Cora were perfectly matched and they fought hard to have that.

I was pulled in from the very beginning of this story and it was over way too soon.  I wanted more of Cora and Leo.

Meet the other authors in this fantastic boxed set:

Shattered Worlds Authors

- J.L. Weil, USA Today Bestselling Author

- J.A. Culican, USA Today Bestselling Author

- J.A. Armitage, USA Today Bestselling Author

- N.R. Larry, NYT and USA Today Bestselling Author

- Jane Redd, USA Today Bestselling Author

- Miranda Hardy, USA Today Bestselling Author

- Julie Hall, International Bestselling Author

- Cameo Renae, International Bestselling Author

- Jen Minkman, International Bestselling Author

- Cindy M. Hogan, Bestselling Author

- Elana Johnson, Bestselling Author

- Rebecca Rode, International Bestselling Author

- Audrey Grey

- Nichole Giles

- Katy Haye

- Cortney Pearson

- Elizabetta Holcomb

- Ali Winters

- Kristy Tate

- Liz Long

- AG Henley

- Ainsley Shay

- Jay Noel

- Emily Martha Sorensen

The Shattered Worlds authors have generously offered to give away 17 e-books to one winner. Fill out the form to enter! Open INT.

Entry-Form

Beyond by Catina Haverlock and Angela Larkin

“Dangerous. Wrong. She could be so close to finding out who I really am, and I don’t want to think about how badly that could damage her. If I have any conscience,
I’ll turn and run. But I can’t let her go.”

Presley Hale has no idea the guy she just told off in the school parking lot died in a drowning accident four months ago. Why would she? It’s not like she knows she can see the dead. Stunned by Presley’s sixth sense, Landon Blackwood rethinks his planned departure and begins tracking her to find answers to their mysterious connection.

When their complicated relationship turns dangerous, they learn that tampering with the boundaries of death comes with consequences. Can Landon save Presley from the insidious spirits who have marked her for death, or was their love doomed from the beginning?

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I haven't read a good paranormal/supernatural type romance in a bit so this book felt fresh and new to me.  I loved the mountain setting of Truckee, Nevada.  I drive through Truckee all the time on my way to California.  It's a beast of a place in the winter!!  You sure don't get many books set there but I loved it!

The characters in this book were good.  I liked them and the way they all connected to each other.  Presley has the weight of the world on her shoulders with a special needs sibling that is mostly her responsibility, moving to a new school only to be bullied and having an absentee father.  Presley has a serious disposition to go along with her tremendous responsibility.

I felt that the relationship between Presley and Landon progressed naturally and easily.  I enjoyed their interactions.  The story definitely kept me interested because I honestly wasn't sure how things were going to end.  The build up to the end was fantastic.

The ending left me confused though.  I didn't love it.  After this huge build up with the Vigilum, I guess I was expecting a bit more.  It felt rushed.  I can't say too much without giving things away but the place and time where Presley and Landon ended left me with so many questions.  It didn't really resolve the "how" of things and I was frustrated by it.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this book.  These authors show a lot of promise and I'll be watching to see what comes next from them.  (a sequel in the spring of 2018 which will maybe give me some answers to those unresolved questions?)

Content:  bulling, some kissing

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Aspen Everlasting by Kathryn Cooper

Aspen Foster thinks she’s just a normal sixteen-year-old, but when her car’s caught in a flash flood, Aspen and her sister discover the superhuman strength they never knew they had.

Soon Aspen learns she’s not normal at all. She’s an Evermortal fairy, with powers beyond her wildest dreams. But the more Aspen finds out about her family’s past, the more dangerous her future becomes.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

Aspen Everlasting is a YA paranormal book.  It would be great for the younger side of YA because the characters are younger and this book is clean.

The pacing of this book is good.  I felt like I had time to get to know the characters even when events were moving quickly.  This book revolves around Aspen and her family of Evermortals.  It's a likable bunch of people and I was interested in their stories and their success.  I liked the movement between "worlds" as it gave me a sense of grounding along with a sense of adventure.

I felt like the ending had resolution but it kind of left things in a place where future books could be a possibility.  I think there are three siblings here with continuing stories to be told!

This was a fun book.  I enjoyed reading it!

Content:  Some mild violence and fighting scenes, some kissing

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions expressed are my own.

The Hunter's Moon (The Secret Warrior #1) by Beth Trissel

Seventeen-year-old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she's hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers.

Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home.

And that's just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets...

 * Amazon * Goodreads *

The premise of this book is fantastic.  I love the whole concept and idea- it really has merit- but something in the actual execution of this book left me less than thrilled.

I have read so many YA paranormal books.  Some great, some not so great.  This one turned out to be not so great, but still, the concept had so much potential.

The characters were just not compelling, their personalities lacking.  Morgan left me yawning but the love and devotion she had for her brother may have been her one redeeming quality.  

There were information dumps that had me skimming and I didn't get the attraction between the main characters.  This one just wasn't my favorite.

Content:  swearing

Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

Society girls from New York City circa 1890, Dacia and Lou never desired to know more about their lineage, instead preferring to gossip about the mysterious Romanian family that they barely knew. But upon turning seventeen, the girls must return to their homeland to meet their relatives, find proper husbands, and—most terrifyingly—learn the deep family secrets of The Claw, The Wing, and The Smoke. The Florescus, after all, are shape-shifters, and it is time for Dacia and Lou to fulfill the prophecy that demands their acceptance of this fate . . . or fight against this cruel inheritance with all their might.

With a gorgeous Romanian setting, stunning Parisian gowns, and dark brooding young men, readers will be swept up by this epic adventure of two girls in a battle for their lives. 

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

At first I wasn't sure if I liked this cover, but the more I look at it the more I actually like it.  It is a great representation of what lies inside.  There is nothing generic about this book cover.

I have been a fan of Jessica Day George for a long time.  My girls have loved her books.  I am still a fan of Jessica, but this book actually didn't do it for me.  There were parts of it I really liked but overall I just didn't fall in love.

Let me tell you about the things I did like about this book.  The two main characters are cousins.  They were distinct personalities and I could see obvious growth in them throughout the book.  Dacia and Lou have a close connection and I really enjoyed them.  Lou more than Dacia, if I'm calling out a favorite.

I also liked the set up with the different shape-shifters-  The Claw, The Wing and The Smoke.  They are all parts of the same family who protect the Draculas.  It was cool and combined with the Romanian setting it felt textured and meaty.  It is obvious that the author did her research and homework to make this book feel as authentic as possible.

Somehow the execution of this book was lacking a bit for me.  I felt as though I was trudging through some scenes.  It felt heavy and long.  I have read so many YA paranormal books with shape-shifters and this one just fell short of some of the best ones I've read.  

See Me (Zombie Love #1) by Susan Hatler

Amy Love, a high school junior, plays a Ouija board with friends one night and unintentionally connects with someone whose, well, not visible to the naked eye. When her body’s taken over and her soul is stuck watching helplessly—she’s terrified. When the zombie guzzles bologna that she will have to work off at the gym—she’s angry. And, when her zombied body pulls up a news article on her laptop about a boy named Jonathan Miller who was recently in a car crash—she’s . . . intrigued. 

When the zombie chooses another host, Amy learns that the zombie is actually teen Jonathan Miller, son of the famous Maisy's Meow comic creator Jacob Miller. Jonathan tells Amy he doesn’t know whether he’s dead or alive, only that when he’s not in a body, she is the only one who seems to know he exists. 

Amy decides to help Jonathan discover what happened to him and, when they can’t find his body, they try to find a substitute—preferably one that isn’t occupied. On the journey, Jonathan leads Amy into all kinds of danger. To her surprise, he also leads her heart to somewhere unexpected. She’s always heard of love at first sight, not love at first fright, but how can Amy be falling for a boy she’s never even seen?

* Amazon * Goodreads *

I have to be honest here.  When Susan Hatler sent me this book to review, I was all kinds of worried.  I'm not really a zombie lover.  I don't like books that scare me and zombies really aren't my thing.  And Ouija boards?  No, not at all.  So yeah.  I was worried I wouldn't like this book and I wasn't even sure if I wanted to read it.  Then I was worried about telling the author that I didn't like it because I really like her writing and her other books.  I decided to settle in and check it out though because I know Susan writes so well and I've always loved whatever she sends me.  I trust her.  So much worry.  And for NOTHING because I really liked this book!  :)  Phew!!

If I were classifying this book though, it wouldn't really be as a zombie book but more of a ghost book.  If you have seen Ghost, it was kinda like that scene where Patrick Swayze goes into the body of Whoopi Goldberg to communicate.

Amy Love.  (what an awesome name!)  Amy struggles with finding her place in a reorganized family.  She feels invisible, like nobody at home or school cares to see the real her.  One day at school she is "zombied" or taken over by Jonathan, a spirit who can't find his own body.  Amy is kicked out of her own body.  She can "feel"  Jonathan when he is a spirit and the two of them make a connection.

I love how the title of the book "See Me" directly relates to the whole theme of the book.  It includes both main characters and runs on surface level but also delves deeper.

This book wasn't scary at all.  It wasn't creepy or anything.  It was a new twist on an old idea and it was really fun to read.  There was no swearing or sexual content which of course makes me very happy.  I love clean YA books!  And I love Susan Hatler.  I'm going to add this book to my daughter's "OK" reading list because I think she will enjoy it too.

The Mind's Eye (SYNSK #1) by K.C. Finn

A girl with a telepathic gift finds a boy clinging to his last hope during the war-torn climate of Europe, 1940.

At fifteen, Kit Cavendish is one the oldest evacuees to escape London at the start of the Second World War due to a long term illness that sees her stuck in a wheelchair most of the time. But Kit has an extraordinary psychic power: she can put herself into the minds of others, see through their eyes, feel their emotions, even talk to them – though she dares not speak out for fear of her secret ability being exposed.

As Kit settles into her new life in the North Wales village of Bryn Eira Bach, solitude and curiosity encourage her to gain better control of her gift. Until one day her search for information on the developing war leads her to the mind of Henri, a seventeen-year-old Norwegian boy witnessing the German occupation of his beloved city, Oslo. As Henri discovers more about the English girl occupying his mind, the psychic and emotional bonds between them strengthen and Kit guides him through an oppressive and dangerous time.

There are secrets to be uncovered, both at home and abroad, and it’s up to Kit and Henri to come together and fight their own battles in the depths of the world’s greatest war.

I'm happy today to be featuring another book from Clean Teen Publishing.  I was originally going to review a different book but then I went to the Clean Teen Publishing website and thanks to their content guide, realized that that book was not going to be a good fit for me.  Instead, I picked this book which I found free on Amazon and already had in my stash.  :)  

I love Clean Teen Publishing and I'll tell you why.  They are not censoring books, they are giving information on content so I can make decisions about the books that will be the best fit for me.  They give me knowledge.  I love that.  Here's the picture of content for The Mind's Eye .  

You can go to their website and read the full disclosure.  You can do this for any book they publish.  With pre-teen and teenage readers in my house, this is such a useful tool.  Everyone has different comfort levels regarding content and it's nice to know I can know I can find out content before I read.  Yay for Clean Teen Publishing!

The Mind's Eye is set during WWII.  Kit and her brother have been sent off to live with another family in Wales for their protection during the war.  Kit is in a wheelchair, struggling with a debilitating disease which gives the story an added element depth and interest.

Kit is a strong girl.  She gradually comes to realize her strength as she pushes herself to do hard things- both mentally and physically.  It's always nice as a reader to feel like a character is growing in some way.  Kit's was a marked growth and it was so satisfying to see.  

This book created real images in my head that played out much like a movie.  The story held my interest and I wanted to keep reading until I was done.  There was a simple, sweet innocence to this story.  Kit's relationship with Henri was one of growing friendship, loyalty and eventually love.  The supporting cast of characters were all fantastic.

I love historical fiction and I loved that element in this book.  The ending leaves off with room for a sequel, but didn't leave me utterly hanging, which I really appreciated.  I love me some happy endings.  :)

As I mentioned above, I picked up this kindle book free on Amazon.  Hopefully it will still be free when you read this.  And hopefully we will get a sequel to this great book.

Tortured Souls (Orion Circle Book 1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

Oh, wow.  Okay.  So here's my take.

I don't know if this is what I would call paranormal.  Are ghosts and demonic possesed people paranormal?  When I think paranormal in books, I think vampires, werewolves, aliens, freaky super power enhanced people...  This was all about ghosts, tormented ghosts who are trapped and need released from the nightmare of a demonic dude still torturing and posessing humans in his quest to return to a human form.  FREAKY.

For me, paranormal is one thing.  Demonic possession is another.  The title of this book has it right though, these are tortured souls.

This book was well written, fast paced and engaging.  It held my interest as a reader and didn't let up.  I liked Kacie and her friends and I liked how they worked together.  Everyone had a role to play.  Logan was sweet and gentle with Kacie.  It was easy to like him.  The story was fluid and the places and events were clear in my mind.  Maybe too clear.

Yes, I am a bit of a chicken.  I admit it freely and without hesitation.  For me, this book was over my freaky lines.  It made me uncomfortable but that is a completely personal reaction.  It has nothing at all to do with the writing because I will also freely admit that this book is well written and engaging.  All the way through.

Content:  There is frequent swearing and profanity as well as all the above mentioned demonic/satanic things which include human sacrifice and rituals.  There is violence.

You can purchase "Tortured Souls" at Amazon.

On Tour with Storm Siren by Mary Weber: Review and Giveaway!

Storm Siren (Storm Siren #1)

by Mary Weber

Publisher: Thomas Nelson / HarperCollins

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

I feel like I've been waiting forever to get to read this book.  I signed on to do the review tour months ago and this book has been sitting there, staring at me for SO long.  It took great restraint to leave it alone until now.  Isn't the cover amazing?  I love it.  It is perfect for this story.

I seriously don't know where to start with this book.  There is so much to say but I have to be so careful as not to give anything away.  That is going to be hard.

The words in this book had such beautiful moments -flowing, full of imagery and emotion.  Worlds were created for me with those words.  I loved it.

This book literally sucked me in from the very first page and did not let up at all.  I felt like I was on one continuous roller coaster ride- start to finish.  And it was a fast roller coaster.  This book was always on the move.  There was nothing stagnant or lulling.  I started this book in the morning and finished it at night.  There was no way I was putting that book down for long.  Honestly, I couldn't read a book like this every day not just because nothing would get done, but it was emotionally exhausting!  I loved every minute of it.  Ha.  (I just read back through this paragraph and it sounds like I'm a crazy person but I'm leaving it just the way it is because I feel kind of crazy right now)

I loved Nym.  Yeah, she's a tough girl but mostly that toughness protects her beaten down spirit.  Nym has been through so, so much.  My heart ached for her.  As a reader, I am always looking for characters who are challenged and grow in some way.  I want to see enlightenment and empowerment through that growth.  I got that one hundred percent with this book.

Yeah, this book was good.  Great even.  BUT.  Anyone who has read this book will know exactly what I'm ranting about and those of you who haven't yet read this book (I say "yet" because you really ought to pick this book up) will just have to wonder at my adamant and heartfelt ranting vagueness.

<start rant>

WHAT!?!  That is the ending?  That is what you just gave to me?  The faithful, invested reader.  I am NOT happy with that ending.  The last few chapters- WHAT?  You cannot do that.  But, wait.  Yes you can because you just did it.  I thought the first two heart wrenching things were bad and I was ready to rant about that but then you went and ruined everything with that LAST LINE?  WHAT?!  I don't even know what to do with this right now.  Yeah, I'm annoyed.  I feel like everything was just ripped away from me.  EVERYTHING.  All I can say is that there better be a book two, and it better come out soon.  That was just mean.

<end rant>

Don't let the rant scare you.  If a book can evoke feelings like that, there must be something good about it.  It would be worse if I closed the book and didn't care much about not getting the ending I wanted.  SIGH.  

This was so well done.  If you love fast paced paranormal fantasy type books with magic and danger, you are going to LOVE this book.  I'm now handing this book off to my daughter.  I can't wait to see how she reacts to this book.  I know she is going to love it.

Content:  No swearing (there are some words in place of swearing that mean nothing to me in my world but were obviously swear words to them) and no sexual situations.  There is quite a bit of violence.

Goodreads * Amazon paperback  * Barnes & Noble (B&N) * Bookdepository * Kobo

Aside from Goodreads, I hang out on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and my BLOG. Come say hi!

Officially though: Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean. She likes orange trees, tattoos, and ALL the music. ;0) 

BOOK 1 in my YA fantasy STORM SIREN trilogy releases Aug 2014 from Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins. Eep!

Website: http://mchristineweber.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7391763.Mary_Weber

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mchristineweber

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marychristineweber

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/maryweberYA/

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Son of War Daughter of Chaos by Janette Rallison: Review, Excerpt and $25 Giveaway

 

Aislynn is accustomed to watching for the enemy. Her parents instructed her from the time she was young to look for the signs: people with greater than normal strength, eyes that can glow green, and have the ability to jump long distances. Over the years, Aislynn has come to view her parents’ fears as quirks—things that get in the way of having a normal high school life. When Aislynn’s mother dies under suspicious conditions, her father doubles his restrictions. But all his precautions can’t stop the boy with glowing green eyes from finding Aislynn. She realizes too late she’s been drafted into an ancient Egyptian war, whether she’s prepared or not.  

AMAZON

Am I allowed to whine first in a review?  Is that uncool?  Well, I've just got to whine a little teeny bit.  I'll tell you why.  Whenever I read a book by Janette Rallison (or C.J. Hill) I walk away frustrated because I know the next book will take FOREVER to come out.  The wait between books seems SO, SO long.  (best whiny voice here)  Why can't they just come out sooner so I don't have to wait so long?!  Why are there no promises of a next book already in the works?  Why?

Okay.  Whine over.

I only say all that because I love this book.  My daughter loves this book.  We had a sob fest over the fact that we'd have to wait so long get the next book- if there even will be one.  (oh.  did I say the whining was over?  oops.  my bad.)  It's the same deal with the Slayer series.  You know?  I need the next books faster than they are coming out.  What can I do to help that process along?  Send the author chocolate?  Or maybe just write really awesome reviews so everyone else will want to read the books too and then we'll all join up together and WHINE.  It probably won't work.  The author has five kids and she's probably immune anyway.  It happens with kids.  

This book is paranormal with an Egyptian twist on vampires.  They aren't vampires, but yeah, they kinda are.  I loved all the Egyptian stuff, it was cool.  I could imagine easily every setting that the story took me from the hot Arizona monsoon (I've lived through those) to the sand in Egypt (I haven't been there) and on the east coast beach.  I feel like I traveled the world in this book.  I even went to Antarctica and England!  

I loved the struggle Aislynn had between what was right and what was wrong for the two warring groups.  Those lines seemed so blurred to her- especially when love and loyalty came into play.  It was interesting to me how I felt that confusion too.  I love when the female leads are smart girls, resourceful and also compassionate.  That is exactly what I got with Aislynn.

This book has awesome pacing.  I was compelled to keep reading.  I didn't want to put it down and I was maybe just slightly annoyed when I had to in order to feed the children.  :)  I love books that leave me wanting more.  The action and romance was evenly distributed to give the book a balanced feel.  My favorite scenes were the ones with rain references.  Oh, kissing in the rain is hot.  H-O-T.  

So, yeah.  Another fantastic book by Janette Rallison.  Who, if she has any compassion and mercy in her heart will beging writing the next book today.  :)

Content:  Clean 

Enjoy the following excerpt!

I was on my feet and running down the path before I could fully process what was happening. The dark swarm flew toward me. Their wings sounded like the dull hum of an incoming storm. I didn’t have to see them to know they were scarabs—the flesh-eating kind. The Horusians had pinpointed our location and flown in beetles to kill us. How they found us, I didn’t know.

As I fled down the slope, I slipped. My feet jerked out in front of me. I hit the ground, hard, skidding and then flipped over. I tumbled down the slope, clawing at the ice, trying to get a handhold. White flashes of snow jumbled together in my vision. Finally, I hit a flat spot. I managed to stop, pick myself up, and run again. Panic wrapped around me. I couldn’t make it off the ridge before the scarabs reached me, and even if I could, I had nowhere to hide from the beetles on this open stretch of land. Still, I ran. I wouldn’t stand still for death.

 

Janette Rallison is old. Don’t ask how old, because it isn’t polite. Let’s just say she’s older than she’d like to be and leave it at that. Janette lives in Chandler, Arizona with her husband, five children and enough cats to classify her as “an eccentric cat lady.” She did not do this on purpose. (The cats, that is; she had the children on purpose.) Every single one of the felines showed up on its own and refuses to leave. Not even the family’s fearless little Westie dog can drive them off. Since Janette has five children and deadlines to write books, she doesn’t have much time left over for hobbies. But since this is the internet and you can’t actually check up to see if anything on this site is true, let’s just say she enjoys dancing, scuba diving, horse back riding and long talks with Orlando Bloom. (Well, I never said he answers back.)

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Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/24/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Never Forgotten by Kelly Risser and Clean Teen Publishing

One minute Meara Quinn is making plans for the summer before her senior year. The next she finds out that her mother's cancer has returned and they're moving away from the only home she's ever known. Every day becomes a struggle as Meara tries to cope with her mother's illness while being forced to move to another country to live with grandparents who are strangers.

Add weird visions of a father who was absent her entire life and top it all off with one whopping secret that everyone seems bent on keeping from her, and Meara has the perfect ingredients for a major melt down. The only things keeping her from coming unglued are some new friends and Evan—the son of her mother's childhood friend—who seems to know Meara almost better than she knows herself.

Together with Evan and her friends, Meara embarks on a new journey to unlock the secrets that will not only tell Meara who she is, but what she is.

I'm really excited about today's post.  This is the start of a new relationship between myself and Clean Teen Publishing, who I will tell you about more and in great detail after my review of this book, Never Forgotten.

First, I do love the cover of this book.  I love when book covers make sense and represent the story held within.  This one is pretty!

I will say that I enjoyed the story here, and the journey of Meara.  To me, this book was more sedate in it's telling.  Maybe gentle and lulling would be a better description.  There were no heart pounding moments or moments of desperation where, as a reader, I wanted to just tear through the pages to find out what was going to happen.  The paranormal aspect is minimal in this book but will definitely pick up in the next book.

I liked all the characters in this book, they were easy to imagine and I felt like I was there, hovering over them throughout the book.  I could easily see in my mind where they were and what they were doing.  Even thinking back now, I have clear pictures in my head.  I love when I get movies in my head!

Meara deals with a lot of heavy issues in this book.  Her mother's cancer, moving to a new place and leaving her life and friends behind, learning about a father she has never known, weird things happening... there is a lot going on.  Meara is a character that is easy to like though.  I was rooting for her.  It was more of in an outside way though.  Me, on the outside looking in on a great story.  I just needed that emotional connection to pull me in and make me a part of the story.

There are sexual encounters in the book.  They are not described in any detail, but you know it happens.  There are some instances of mild swearing and some under aged drinking.

Of course the ending left me hanging, wanting to know more.  I do believe the next book (Current Impressions) will be out soon!  You can purchase Never Forgotten at Amazon.  **As of today 7/28/14 Never Forgotten is FREE on Amazon!!  I don't know how long that will last but get it while you can!

Now, let me tell you a bit about Clean Teen Publishing!  I first came across them when I read the book "Rising" (which I loved).  They had a scan code in the book that led me to a content disclosure.  What?!  I love that!  I was so impressed and I wanted to know more about this publisher and why they were doing what they were doing.  Here is their statement on the matter.

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR READERS:
AT CLEAN TEEN PUBLISHING, WE BELIEVE THAT OUR READERS DESERVE TO KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT THEY ARE READING. WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN CENSORSHIP; WE BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO KNOW. EVERY READER, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR AGE IS, HAS CERTAIN BOUNDARIES THEY DON'T WANT TO CROSS. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO CONSISTENT RATING SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR BOOKS LIKE THERE ARE FOR MOVIES, MUSIC AND VIDEO GAMES. WE BELIEVE BY OFFERING A WIDER RANGE OF DISCLOSURE ABOUT THE CONTENT OF OUR BOOKS, WE WILL GIVE READERS OF ALL AGES AND PARENTS, A STRONGER SENSE OF COMFORT ACCORDING TO WHAT LIES BETWEEN THE PAGES.

WITH THAT SAID, WE WILL NOT DEEM WHETHER A BOOK IS APPROPRIATE OR INAPPROPRIATE FOR ANY PARTICULAR AGE RANGE. OUR DISCLOSURE IS SIMPLY FOR YOU TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE BOOK AND WE LEAVE IT UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH READING.- See more at: http://www.cleanteenpublishing.com

This is exactly what I have always wished for.  Honest.  I do not want censorship, I just want to know and be able to make my own informed decisions.  Finally.  This is a publisher I am willing to stand behind.  Not because every book they publish will be books that I personally love, but because they are willing to give me information so I can choose the books I will be most comfortable with and what I believe will be most appropriate for my children.  I love that.  LOVE.  So, check them out.  Visit their website.  Check out the content disclosures.  Tell me what you think!

Moonless by Crystal Collier

MOONLESS is Jane Eyre meets Supernatural.

In the English society of 1768 where women are bred to marry, unattractive Alexia, just sixteen, believes she will end up alone. But on the county doorstep of a neighbor’s estate, she meets a man straight out of her nightmares, one whose blue eyes threaten to consume her whole world—especially later when she discovers him standing over her murdered host in the middle of the night.

Among the many things to change for her that evening are: her physical appearance—from ghastly to breathtaking, an epidemic of night terrors predicting the future, and the blue-eyed man’s unexpected infusion into her life. Not only do his appearances precede tragedies, but they are echoed by the arrival of ravenous, black-robed wraiths on moonless nights.

Unable to decide whether he is one of these monsters or protecting her from them, she uncovers what her father has been concealing: truths about her own identity, about the blue-eyed man, and about love. After an attack close to home, Alexia realizes she cannot keep one foot in her old life and one in this new world. To protect her family she must either be sold into a loveless marriage, or escape with the man of her dreams and risk becoming one of the Soulless.

This book started off rough for me.  There was so much confusion.  The story felt choppy and I was having trouble staying with it.  It was like pictures being blipped in front of my face that gave me impressions but never enough.  I don't mind not knowing some things but as a reader I do like to feel like I know something that is going on.  I need something firm to latch onto.  It took so long for me to get to that place and I guess for me that was frustrating.

I had a hard time with the insta attraction and the "go away, come back, go away, come back" thing going on in the first half of the book.  This book says it is Jane Eyre like but I didn't get that vibe.  I love Jane Eyre but this book didn't bring that feel for me through the writing or anything else.  

The more I got into the book the more I understood but it just took so long.  Even in the end I still didn't have all the answers or know everything though.  Maybe the next book will tell the tale?  There are still so many unanswered questions.    

The last third of the book was the best part for me.  I finally felt like I knew the characters enough to know what they were about.  The story line picked up, the urgency picked up and I became more invested in the story itself.  I never felt an emotional connection to the characters but I think my favorite character was actually Miles.  He was the one I wanted to know more about.  He was the one I was rooting for and worried about.  

I did appreciate the mild resolution in the end, something positive to focus on, and lots of hope for the next part of the story.  I am interested in the next book because I feel like I have a handle on more of what is going on now, even though I don't know everything.

This is a clean YA paranormal book.  There is some passionate kissing but nothing more.  That is something I really appreciate, especially in the YA book world.  

You can purchase Moonless HERE.  The sequel is being released July 14th.

You can find out more about the author, Crystal Collier, and her books at the following places:

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