Monthly Archives: June 2012

SUFFOCATE (Breathless) YA by S.R. Johannes

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SUFFOCATE (Breathless Novelette) YA by S.R. Johannes

SUFFOCATE (The Breathless Novelette Series #1) YA by S.R. Johannes

SUFFOCATE is a short story (May 2012 release)  introducing the premise to S.R. Johannes new young adult The Breathless Novelette series.

Eria Stevenson is excited. Today her father, Dr. Duke Stevenson will step out of the artificial eco-system that for centuries everyone on the planet has called home. The promise of another life outside of the Biome will be greatly increased if the suit lives up to the hype and testing that her father and his young assistant Ash have worked so diligently trying to perfect. With the thousands of spectators in attendance, Duke enters into a world of the unknown, only to find himself suddenly in a fight for his life.

Eria is stunned. Everyone around appears oblivious to the horror that is claiming her father. But with sudden clarity Eria knows what was happening to her father is no accident.

Ash has been taken hostage. Blamed for the accident, he has been imprisoned in a holding room, while the soldiers and security hunt for Eria. Escape is not an option when the only safe place is outside the Biome where no human is able to survive. But Ash has one more hurdle, to access the computer data surrounding the EcoSys projects and the bio-suit, only he finds more damning information then he first thought possible. Knowing there was only one remaining suit, Ash and Eria will have to make a decision that could end one of their lives. But what Ash reveals to Eria will make the young woman re-consider everything anyone has ever told her. Has her entire life been a lie?

SUFFOCATE is a great short story. Fast paced, interesting premise and a curve-ball that no one saw coming. I am looking forward to reading the next book in S.R. Johannes’ Breathless series-Eria is in for the ride of her ‘life’.

reviewed by Sandy

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UNTRACEABLE (YA) by S.R. Johannes-a review

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UNTRACEABLE (YA) by S.R. Johannes-a review

UNTRACEABLE (YA) by S.R. Johannes

SPOILER ALERT !!

UNTRACEABLE is a Young Adult novel best described as a mystery from the Nature of Grace series by S.R.Johannes. Following the disappearance of her father, 16 year old Grace refuses to give up the search. When the local law enforcement close the book and file the case under missing and presumed drowned, Grace makes it her mission to discover how an experienced forest ranger, such as her father, disappears without a trace and is presumed dead by his fellow employees and friends.

Growing up in the Smokey Mountains, Grace thought she knew everything and everyone who hiked through the hills and wooded areas. Searching for clues, Grace encounters Mo, a 17 year old, who claims to be a geology student studying the rock formations in the area. But when the pair stumble-upon 2 strangers hunting for bear, they soon become the prey. Escape is their only option, when the hunters set their guns and knives on two unsuspecting teens. But it is the realization that these hunters had no problem shooting humans as well as bears. 

Grace’s is determined to find out what happened to her father. Defying her ‘too often’ absent mother is easy, but getting past the sheriff will take some quick action and a plan. With her best friend Wyn as look out, Grace sneaks into the station, only to find, that the information about her missing father reveals more than she had ever thought.

Betrayal and sorrow will follow Grace throughout the storyline. Thinking you know someone only to find out they are at the centre of the controversy will break Grace’s heart as well as her faith in love and friendship. The death of her childhood pet will push Grace to look deeper into the mysterious strangers, but it is her friendships with Mo and Wyn that will suffer the most. Grace’s search for her father will be successful, but the revelation will only lead to more pain and suffering when the very people she thought were helping, are the very people who are responsible for so much sorrow.

Untraceable is a well-written novel. S.R.Johannes writes a compelling mystery with twists to the storyline that will keep you wondering. There is an underlying dark tale that involves death and murder, and at times goes beyond what I consider appropriate for a Young Adult novel. The physical violence and attempted murders is a regular occurrence and apparently goes unnoticed by both the locals and law enforcement throughout much of the story. Untraceable is a look at life in the wilderness and the people who call it home. I am looking forward to reading the next chapter in The Nature of Grace by S.R. Johannes

 Reviewed by Sandy

UNSPEAKABLE (YA) by S.R. Johannes-a review

UNSPEAKABLE (YA) by S.R. Johannes

UNSPEAKABLE is the Young Adult short-story (found In His Eyes anthology or on Smashwords) written by S.R. Johannes. The introduction to the Nature of Grace series, Unspeakable follows two lost souls as they wander the forests hoping to find something or someone, told from a different POV. The Nature of Grace series is told from the heroine’s POV but Unspeakable looks at life from another’s POV.

Written in first person POV, the reader follows through the eyes of the narrator while he walks the terrain of the forest and land. When he chances upon a wounded fawn caught in a trap, he soon realizes he may not be alone. Where there is a trap, the hunter is not too far behind.

But it is the sight of a beautiful young woman, wandering and taking note of the land, that captures his attention. When he returns the next day, hoping to find her again, he realizes the danger that she has quickly put herself in. Trapped by the hunters, the young woman soon becomes both prisoner and prey, and there must be something that he can do, to prevent the inevitable from happening.

Unspeakable is a quick read, basically a chapter in length that introduces some basic information about the Nature of Grace series. At this point, we are not privy to names or destinations, but as a prologue Unspeakable will leave you wanting for read what happens next

Reviewed by Sandy

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Alexis Morgan’s Paladins Series Synopsis

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Alexis Morgan’s Paladins Series Synopsis

Paladin Series

DARK PROTECTOR – Book 1
Release Date: June 27, 2006

How many more times must this immortal warrior die before he can claim the only woman he desires?

Devlin Bane: Born a Paladin, his is a member of an a ancient band of warriors locked in a centuries-old war against evil.

His destiny: To die over and over again to protect mankind from the Others, only to be revived each time by his mortal Handler.

But his fierce strength and courage cannot save him from gradually becoming one of the monsters he was born to destroy.

Dr. Laurel Young, who has spent years training to become a Handler, must remain detached from her patients. But each time she revives the darkly compelling Devlin Bane, he claims a little more of her soul and incites in her desires that grow wilder and wilder—even as he inches closer to losing his humanity. As the war against the Others grows more desperate, Laurel and Devlin can’t help but give in to the fierce hunger that’s sizzled between them for so long. Now they’ll face the ultimate battle together—to save a dark, passionate love that goes against every rule as they join forces t fight an enemy who is closer than they ever imagined . . .

Comments:
This is a story about a love that could not be denied (granted, aren’t they all).  I loved this book and it was the first I read by Alexis Morgan… It verified me as a fan.  I love her warriors, men who feel they are only born to fight to hold the enemy back from crossing the barrier into our world, with no hope of recognition or a love of their own.  It is a lonely life where they live to die, be brought back from a gruesome death to die again.  Devlin is one of the best fighters they have, he is their leader, the one they all depend on… but he has died too often, soon he will have no humanity left in him to hold on to.  Laurel is the Doctor who cares for him, and comes to love him with all her heart and soul.  She is the one who keeps him sane in a world of brutal battle for survival.  She is his world and reason for living.

DARK DEFENDER- Book 2
Release Date: December, 2006

As a Paladin warrior, Blake Trahern fights and dies again and again to keep mankind safe from the Others. Sensing his humanity slipping away with eachbattle, he retreasts from the world . . . until the one person with a hold on his soul needs his help. It’s been twelve years since Blake vanished from Brena Nichol’s life, years that have turned her from a love-struck teen into a headstrong, sensual woman. He’ll fearlessly give his life to protect her–yet he dare not risk his heart.

Brenna is stunned by Blake’s reappearnace, and by a shocking discover about her father. Everything she has ever believed is thrown into question–everything except the desire that Blake still ignites. But as they search together for a traitor among the Paladins, danger looms: the next battle could tip Blake into madness, destroying his life, his soul . . . and the only woman he has ever loved.

Comments:
This book carries on from where Dark Protector leaves off… this time with Blake Trahern… Devlin’s second in command… another powerful warrior.  Another man who fights to keep our world ours, like his boss he had fought and died time after time and is on the cusp of being lost.  Brenna is his anchor, his salvation, his light.  It is a touching story, and you really feel for these men who fight with no recognition and no hope for salvation… But they are beginning to find that there is hope for them, for each one who finds love, finds a reason to hope for the future.  Hope is everything, hope is the light at the tunnel that lead them home.

IN DARKNESS REBORN –Book 3
Release Date: June 26, 2007

Once a warrior for the Others, Barak q’Young is caught between two worlds—exiled from his homeland, and a pariah among his enemies, the Paladins. While hunting a betrayer who’s selling the precious blue gems that light the Others’ world, Barak must aid geologist Lacey Sebastian in her research for the Paladins. Barak is instantly drawn to the fiery, beautiful woman, but Lacey initially despises the enemy intruder. Soon she sees beyond his violent past, though, finding the dark warrior intriguing—and extremely sexy.

Though neither can resist the passion that blazes between them, Barak is torn between loyalties, hiding a secret gift that could prove useful to Lacey’s research, at the sacrifice of his own people. But when Lacey is kidnapped and held hostage, Barak realizes that he will do anything to save her . . . even risk his own life.

Comments:
This third book three is about a forbidden love… the story of the sister of one of the warriors who guard the barrier from invasion, and one of the invaders… he is not just any invader though, he is one of the chosen guardians from the other side… he is a man of honor caught on the wrong side, for we find out here that as we have guardians on our side of the portal the keep the enemy out, the enemy has a form of law enforcement on the other side, trying to keep their people in their own word… it is hard to do though when the world they live in is one of many controlled by a son that is dying… here we find that they crave the sun, the light we take for granted.  But in finding it they find madness… not all are susceptible to the malady though.  Barak is one who is safe, and saved by the warrior’s sister. (Her brother is not at all happy about this and it causes a fair amount of trouble, until Barak can prove himself worthy.

REDEEMED IN DARKNESS –  Book 4
Release Date: December, 2007

A female leader from the Other world, Lusahn q’Arc can’t forget the Paladin warrior she met in battle–his chiseled body and piercing, thoughtful eyes still haunt her dreams. When Lusahn learns that her missing brother Barak is alive and working with the enemy, she arranges to meet him–but it is not Barak who apears, but Cullen Finley, the Paladin who torments her memory. Intense attraction instantly burns between them despite their rival loyatlies, and they can’t help surrendering to passion. Yet their time together is limited, for soon Cullen must return to his own world–with or without Lusahn. But when carefully laid plans go awry, they must fight for their forbidden love–and to keep one another alive.

Comments:
Barak’s sister Lusahn  is one of the best enforcers in her world, she fights to keep her world safe and sane under the influence of a dying sun… She meets one of the warriors from our side of the barrier, and against the laws she is sworn to maintain she protects him and guides him back to the barrier and safety.  Theirs is a love that cannot be denied, on her world there can be no future for them, but Cullen will not leave her and together they will fight to make a life for themselves… You find there are sides to the worlds you never suspect, for even on a dying world there are those who would profit from the misery of others, and trade the best from their world to those on the other side who do the same.  It shows how much people are alike no matter how different they are or how far apart.  The story plot winds around you and pulls you further into the series.

DARKNESS UNKNOWN – Book 5
Release Date: February 2009

Gwen Mosely’s life changes forever when she stumbles across a handsome stranger, unconscious and left for dead in the woods behind her farm. Cut up and bleeding, he’s barely survived a vicious battle, but the real shock is how quickly his wounds heal—a gift he shares with Gwen’s teenaged half-brother Chase.

Jarvis Donahue can’t keep his eyes—or his strong, capable hands—off the sexy redhead who rescued him. He finds warmth of Gwen’s smile and the desire in her eyes are impossible to resist, but there’s a problem. Jarvis immediately recognizes Chase as a fellow Paladin in the making, a warrior born to defend mankind in the relentless battle against the Others. Neither Gwen nor the boy know it yet, but Chase will need Jarvis’s help coping with the compulsion to fight that is written in his blood and in his bones. Although Gwen may hate him for it, Jarvis is duty-bound to secretly introduce Chase to the dangerous fate they both share.

As the barrier between the two worlds weakens, the threat grows perilously close to Gwen’s farm. Jarvis is torn between protecting his lover, but without revealing his true identity, or betraying his people’s secret and risk losing her forever.

Comments:
A wounded warrior, a soft hearted heroine…  who can resist… they find they share similar backgrounds… that of the DNA which connects them as members of the Paladins… he also finds a love he never expected…  more and more you are pulled into their world, and you find out secrets as they do as they explore more facets of the world around them… it leaves you looking for more… someone is manipulating things about them, dealing in things best left alone… it is almost like an ongoing mystery.

DEFEAT THE DARKNESS – Book 6
Release Date: March 2010

Hard-eyed and hard-bodied, Hunter Fitzsimon isn’t what Tate Justice expected in a tenant for the apartment above her garage. Terse and intensely private, Hunter’s mission is to protect a narrow stretch of the barrier between Earth and Kalithia against the Paladins’ ruthless enemies — a job that would be much easier without his sexy landlady nosing around. So when she follows Hunter into the woods late one night, he decides to teach Tate a lesson with a passionate kiss that brings her to her knees…and unexpectedly ignites red-hot desire deep in his soul. But the warrior’s dark and dangerous world is no place for his fiery lover. Does possessing Tate mean turning his back on his brethren…or will Hunter forsake the woman of his dreams for the harsh duty he’s always known?

Comments:
Again our drool-worthy Paladins are out looking to find the holes that allow the invaders to cross the barrier… Hunter is a surly male, no doubt about it, but he doesn’t stand a chance against the heroine… She hasn’t a chance of resisting the lure of the hero… standard paranormal romance… no doubt… but the scenery is so worth it.  And the story pulls you in further as the plot thickens.

BOUND BY DARKNESS – Book 7
Release Date: May 2011

As the daughter of a Regent, Sasha has long known about the secret underworld of the Paladins and their work protecting her kind from the dark forces on the other side of the energy barrier. So when she is sent on her first solo investigation, on the path to becoming the first female Regent, she is determined to get the Seattle Paladins in line. Offering sanctuary to their Kalith enemies is simply unacceptable!

But when she meets Larem, she is inexorably drawn to a dark and valiant warrior who is not at all what he appears to be. As the power struggle between Regents and Paladins rages on, someone starts making attacks on her life. Sasha must choose between loyalty to her own kind and the warrior she loves . . . with the very fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

Comments:
Larem is one of the others, an alien… Sasha is law enforcement…  it is an attraction they both must, but cannot fight… watching the battle of wills between the two of them is not only amusing, but interesting as they pit their minds against the corruption of their worlds. 

THE DARKNESS BEYOND – Book 8
Released June 2011

D. J. Clayborne has finally met his match. After weeks of playing cyber tag, a mysterious hacker bests D.J. at his own game. His nemesis downloads a top-secret history of the Paladins, forcing him to go on the hunt. The trail leads D.J. straight to Regina Morrison, a woman who is as sexy as she is talented in the cyber world.

Reggie has been working around the clock to stop a legendary computer hacker from accessing her clients’ files. She just hasn’t told her boss she found the intriguing culprit weeks ago. The last thing she expects to have D.J. show up on her doorstep and that he’s even sexier than his evasive avatar. Now they’re flirting with a dangerous line between duty and desire.

Reggie’s deep investigation gets her kidnapped by the Others and forced across the hostile energy barrier into an alien world. Now it’s up to D.J. to track down the captivating woman whose ability to break through his firewalls is also breaking through to his warrior’s heart.

Comments:
DJ is a computer wizard who works behind the scenes (and at the front when need is there)… he is legend in the computer world, though no one knows who he is… except Reggie… she has cracked his system, but it brings danger  It is DJ to the rescue… and the competition between the two hackers is lots of fun as well. 

DARKNESS ON FIRE – Book 9
Released September, 2011.

Penn has struggled for years to overcome a devastating injury to his sword arm. He’s been forced to sit on the sidelines and watch his friends fight and die while all he can do is watch.

Then Devlin offers him a mission: a mysterious woman called to warn them that someone is threatening the stability of the barrier near the Yellowstone caldera, which could destroy both worlds. Penn packs his guns and his sword and heads for Wyoming to assess the situation.

Brought to our world as an infant, Jora b’Larth has spent her entire life living in fear of being discovered by her people’s enemies, the Paladins. But now the stakes are too high to worry about her own safety.

Penn and Jora join forces to face a common enemy. To save their worlds, they’ll risk their lives-and their hearts.

Comments:
There is a lot of action in this one, and it cannot be the end of the series… members of the elite from both sides are joining forces to keep their worlds safe…  they are bringing the ones who threaten the safety of our world to justice… and as they do they are finding that there is more than unity in their fight… but love.

Final Comments – Paladin Series:
The series pulls you into their world, it makes you understand what makes the aliens tick… and exposes the weaknesses on both sides of the barrier, for you find that these valiant men and women who fight so hard to secure and balance the worlds involved are Betrayed by the very ones who are the ones who are meant to guide them.

Synopsis done by MaryAnn and Barb

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Marta Acosta-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

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MARTA ACOSTA-Interview with the Author

The Reading Cafe would like to welcome author Marta Acosta.

WEBSITE LINK: Marta Acosta

TRC: Hi Marta and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to start with some background information-please tell us about yourself.

Marta: I’m the author of the Casa Dracula series and Nancy’s Theory of Style. I’m a northern Californian, born and raised, and the beautiful landscape and moderate weather here inspire me. I was the only daughter in a pack of boys, and I think one of the reasons I loved reading was to enjoy female companionship, even if it was fictional!

TRC: What is the title of the first novel you ever wrote and what was your inspiration behind the storyline?

Marta: The first novel I ever wrote was called Mystery Dance. It was a noir thriller and was never published because editors said it was “unmarketable.” It was inspired by people I saw every day in my neighborhood, yet never met. I wondered about their lives – and their secrets.

TRC: Do you have a specific style of writing?

Marta: I think my writing tends to be clean and succinct. It’s usually marked by humor.

TRC: You also write humorous novels under the author-name Grace Coopersmith. What was your decision behind the dual-personality model?

Marta: My agent and editor suggested another name since I was switching genres. Some authors use different names for every genre. It’s too much work for me to keep up with two identities, though, and my fans couldn’t find me.

TRC: At The Reading Café, we believe that Young Adult novels are no longer just for teens. Many authors write YA storylines knowing that grown-ups will be reading their books. What would you say to our many readers about Dark Companion and its attraction for the adult reader?

Marta: I wrote Dark Companion as a novel featuring a teenage character, not as a teenage novel. I spend a lot of time with teens and know exactly how very bright and complicated they are: I don’t talk down to them, and I didn’t “write down” for them. The story and characters are as complex as anything I write for an adult audience. Actually, many teen readers like my Casa Dracula series and I hope they’ll enjoy my YA!

TRC: Dark Companion is your new Young Adult release for July 2012. Would you please tell us something about the premise behind the storyline?

Marta: When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She’s even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper’s cottage in the center of the birch grove.

Something’s not quite right about the school — she thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She’s also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.

The school is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, but the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

TRC: Where did you come up with the idea for Dark Companion? In which genre would you place Dark Companion?

Marta: Jane was selected to attend the school also because she’s impoverished, emotionally damaged, and will be easy to exploit by The Family. I often deal with the idea of the haves and have-nots in life.

I call Dark Companion a contemporary Gothic YA, and I use many of the tropes of classic gothics: a single girl in an isolated setting, mysteries, a supernatural element, a large and ominous building…

TRC: There were parts in the story that I let a tear or two fall-quite heartbreaking in some scenes. Did I over react, or was it your intent to pull at the heart-strings of unrequited love?

Marta: You didn’t overreact! The story is an homage to Jane Eyre and one of the most heartbreaking moments in Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel is when Jane’s heart is breaking and she’s declaring her own humanity. I always cry at that scene.

TRC: Jane Williams, the heroine, has suffered greatly throughout her young life especially within the Child Protective Services. Did you have to do any research for the novel with regards to foster care or are some of Jane’s experiences based in reality?

Marta: A good friend, who is a social worker, has told me about the conditions for foster kids and for gang youth. I’ve followed news about the foster care system, met foster parents, seen documentaries, and known high-achieving foster kids who have heart-rending personal histories.

Readers ask “Why does such a smart girl do what Jane does?” but kids who’ve suffered abuse and have no guidance or love often make terrible mistakes. I wanted Jane to learn from her errors and then make better choices – and she does when she befriends Mary Violet and begins to know her stable, loving family.

TRC: There are some other potential storylines in Dark Companion. Do you have any plans for future novels involving Jane, Jack and Lucian? A trilogy or perhaps a continuing series?

Marta: I’m working on Mary Violet mysteries. A character like MV is very close to my heart because I have a penchant for silly girls who are more than merely silly. MV’s very smart and loving and I can see her getting into all sorts of shenanigans.

TRC: If so, would you please tell us about your next novel?

Marta: Besides the MV mystery, which I’m calling Mary Violet and the Mystery of the Silent Songbird, I’m working on a gothic ghost story about two young women who haunt each other across time. It’s set in modern Northern California and the Gold Rush Barbary Coast.

TRC: Was there anything you found particularly challenging about writing Dark Companion?

Marta: Can I say tech issues? Gadgets and online culture (MySpace who?) change so rapidly that they’re outdated by the time a book is actually released. Cell phones alone ruin great plot devices. As an author, sometimes I want a phone to get crushed so a character must struggle to survive.

TRC: Many authors bounce information and ideas between each other or their spouses and family members. With whom do you share ideas and information, and why?

Marta: I share my ideas with my agent because she’s the one who will have to sell a book. My husband and family try to be patient with me nattering on about stories, but they never offer any feedback except my mother, who thinks I should write a book about my father’s life.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Marta: Only that I’m always happy to hear from readers!

LIGHTNING ROUND

FAVORITE FOOD: homemade tortillas with slices of avocado

FAVORITE DESSERT: chocolate cake

MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE: semi-sweet!

FAVORITE TV SHOW: I just went through an insane ten-season marathon of MI-5, a British intelligence agency series. The amazing cast included Richard Armitage, who also starred in one of my favorite miniseries, North and South. I like competitive talent shows, but I record them and then fast-forward through the filler.

LAST MOVIE YOU SAW: I tried to watch Hall Pass and it filled me with the desire to fly to LA and slap the scriptwriter and director for wasting the casts’ talent.

FAVORITE MOVIE: Only one? Oh, no! Possibly The Philadelphia Story with Kate Hepburn.

LAST BOOK THAT YOU READ: It’s a gardening book, The Rose by David Austin, because everything is blooming right now!

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? I have two insane rescued pointers, Betty von Snoggles and Bosco de Gama, who will leap over things rather than run around them.

FAVORITE FLOWER: I couldn’t chose one, but I’m very fond of antique varieties of rose, the simplicity of pansies, nicotiana scenting the air at night, and the cheerfulness of native dahlias.

LAST VACATION DESTINATION: My last big vacation was London, my favorite city, a few years back. More often I visit the wine country ranch that inspired the setting for my Casa Dracula novels.

TRC: Marta, we would like to thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions. It is always a pleasure to meet the real person behind the author. Dark Companion is a wonderful and novel idea and we wish you all the best.

Marta: Sandy, thanks so much for having me here at The Reading Café and for taking the time to read my book and ask such thoughtful questions!

************GIVEAWAY************

Marta is offering one eligible member of The Reading Cafe a paper copy of her latest release DARK COMPANION

1.  You must be a registered member of The Reading Cafe.  If you are not a member, please register using the LOG-IN at the top of the page or using one of the social log-ins.

2.  If you are using one of the social log-ins, you must include your email address with a comment, so that we may contact you if you are a giveaway recipient.

3.  Open to continental USA and Canada only.

4. Contest runs June 23-27, 2012

 

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DARK COMPANION (YA) by Marta Acosta-a new release review

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DARK COMPANION (YA) by Marta Acosta-a new release review

DARK COMPANION (YA) by Marta Acosta

Dark Companion is the July 2012 new Young Adult release from author Marta Acosta. An interesting concept and premise, Dark Companion will introduce a new breed of paranormal characters and reveal some surprising twists. This is not another vampire story.

Jane Williams has been raised in the foster care system since she was orphaned at the age of 6. Following an attack by her father that left Jane in a coma for 3 months and her mother dead, Jane awakens with no memories of what has happened and little else to explain the mysterious voice and emanation that soothed the dying child. Growing up in a foster system where she was never accepted and emotionally battered, Jane focuses her drive and energy into her schoolwork and studies. At sixteen, Jane is awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Birch Grove Academy and life as she knows it, will change forever.

Birch Grove is a private school for girls. Most are from rich, affluent families with names tied to the community. When Jane arrives she is immediately accepted by a small group of friends, and finds herself centre stage with the headmistress and her family. The acceptance is immediate and she is treated like a fragile bird. And Jane’s sense of unease is doubled when she finds herself attracted to headmistress Radcliffe’s son Lucian (Lucky) and oddly repelled by her son Jacob. But it is Jacob who will eventually become her life-line and source of knowledge in a world of unknowns and firsts.

Birch Grove was founded in the belief of whispering Birch trees and stories of supernatural beings. There are no vampires or werewolves found on the mysterious grounds of the private estates. But it is the whispering of the trees, that will call to Jane, when the ‘Lady in the Woods’, will revisit the young orphan at a time when she is needed the most. And it is never revealed what is the source of Jane’s true self.

Throughout the storyline, Jane longs for a relationship with Lucky- a relationship based on attraction and love. But Lucky’s need for Jane is the one thing she never expected-Lucian Radcliffe required a ‘companion’. When the previous candidate disappeared suddenly, Jane was the next in line as a suitable ‘companion’ for the young man entering into a new phase of life and existence. And it is the truth as to why she was ‘recruited’ to Birch Grove Academy that will send Jane spiraling back to her old life and so-called friends. But it is Jacob, the bane of her existence that will be her constant guardian and breath of fresh air, in whom she finds a kindred friend.

Among the many characters, we are introduced to a Jane’s friends from her previous life-Wilde and 2Slim, and her new BFFs Mary Violet, Hattie and Constance: and Albert Mason the chemistry professor who lost his wife the previous year in a tragic accident that was reported as a suicide. But it is the mysterious death of Claire Mason that will have everyone at Birch Grove academy questioning the true nature of the ‘companion program’ and its’ affects on those they love.

Dark Companion is a young adult, paranormal fantasy storyline. An interesting concept, the ‘companion’ program will both amaze and repel based on the young teens’ reactions to new found feelings of lust and need. I found myself wiping a few tears when Jane experiences the heartache of rejection and the wonder of first love. But it is the love of a young man that will aid Jane in a life-altering decision that will affect everyone she now calls a friend. I am hoping Marta Acosta continues to write about the characters first introduced in Dark Companion. Although there was no cliffhanger, there are some loose ends and potential storylines yet to be told. Dark Companion is a fantastic new story from Marta Acosta.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Richelle Mead-Giveaway Promotion

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Richelle Mead-Giveaway Promotion

With the release of Richelle Mead’s latest in the Bloodlines series-THE GOLDEN LILY, The Reading Cafe is offering a promotional giveaway to 2 lucky members.

1. To qualify, you must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the LOG-IN at the top or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you register using one of the social log-ins, you must post your email address along with your comment. We have to be able to contact the winners using an email address.

3. There will be 2 prizes awarded. One signed copy of Richelle Mead’s graphic novel FROSTBITE.  One signed copy of Richelle Mead’s THE GOLDEN LILY. (sorry no choice)

4.  You MUST post a comment on either THE GOLDEN LILY review or the GIVEAWAY thread.

5.  The giveaway is OPEN to eligible members in continental USA and Canada only.

6.  Eligible winners will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to respond.

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THE GOLDEN LILY (YA) by Richelle Mead-a new release review

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THE GOLDEN LILY by Richelle Mead-a new release review

THE GOLDEN LILY by Richelle Mead.

The Golden Lily is Book 2 of the Bloodlines series by Richelle Mead. It picks up right after Bloodlines ends and all I can say is WOW!!! This is one of those books that you start reading and can’t put down, even though you are sleepy and have to work in the morning and you know you will be cranky!! It is just that enjoyable!

Bloodlines told the story of a group of Moroi (good vampires), dhampirs (half breeds) and an Alchemist’s (human) exploits at a private High School in Palm Springs California! Someone has tried to assassinate the sister of the Moroi Queen and this motley group is hiding in a place no one will suspect! Vampires can’t take the heat or sun and what more perfect place to hide than at one of the hottest places on earth!! The vampires, dhampirs and Alchemist Sydney have become a self made family! We learn a bit more about the Human Alchemists, human magic and there is even a group of vampire hunters in the Golden Lily.

I believe this book really is about Sydney and learning more about her thought processes and her evolving relationship with “her family”. She is the anchor of this group, the logical one who prefers her beige wardrobe and who doesn’t seek attention. She is such a great character full of wisdom, but she has some lessons to learn too! She has few social skills and manuvering around normal teen concerns in high school is hard for her, but it is so funny for the reader! Richelle Mead develops wonderful characters that have flaws, but that can also laugh at themselves. This is the book where Sydney and Adrian can shine!! Adrian is the previously dumped boyfriend of Rose Hathaway from Vampire Academy. He is in Palm Springs to heal, have some fun and because of his bond with Princess Jill.

Sydney and Adrian are both such wonderful characters! They are similar in many ways, they both make me laugh out loud, but for different reasons. Sydney doesn’t know she is being funny many times and Adrian describes himself as “the wacky vampire”! They are both smart, even though Adrian hides his brilliance behind his mischevous ways. Who else would buy a classic 1967 Mustang when he can’t drive a stick shift or can he? Sydney steps in to help, because the Mustang is her dream car! Coincidence? I don’t think so!! When they are in scenes together, watch out and grab a swooning pillow!! They have such perfect chemistry and balance each other so well. I don’t know what Richelle Mead has in mind for them, the whole human and vampire issue, but I am sure that it will be great!! They are so protective of each other and like Adrian tells her, “you make me want to be a better person”. We see Adrian’s vulnerable side too when he meets his disapproving father for lunch. Sydney is there to remind him of his true character. His partying ways don’t fool her and she can see the real Adrian.

Like I said, Sydney is growing as a person. We are seeing a different side of our uptight girlfriend! She even has a boyfriend in this installment! A boy named Brayden who is like an exact replica of her! They have the same tastes, like the same boring activities, but are there any sparks?? Especially when her “family” interferes and they can’t even remember his first name! Sydney is still a loyal Alchemist, but she has nagging doubts about their beliefs. The whole belief that all vampires are inferior and to stay emotionally uninvolved with them. She knows that her new friends are good people and she is willing to follow her heart AND her logical mind. I think that this topic of loyalty to her beliefs will play a big part in her evolution as a person. Sydney is also learning about her magical side. She resents her school advisor, Ms Terwilliger who makes her translate spellbooks during her independent study. Ms Terwilliger knows that she is picking up the spells “through osmosis” and becoming receptive to the whole magic business. This training helps save the day against vampire hunters and we wonder, what exactly is Sydney? The bad vampires found her blood repulsive, she has magic in her blood, what else will she be able to do? I have a feeling that it is going to be incredible!

I am just loving this series! It is a continuation of the Vampire Academy, but can be read alone. There are new characters and some of our old favorites visit. Hello Dimitri!! A man who scores pretty high on the attractiveness charts, has a Russian accent and can look cool wearing a long leather duster in Palm Springs California! I have read the ending of The Golden Lily multiply times and my jaw continues to drop……….Oh, what is Richelle Mead planning?

Sorry Carmen, but I am officially TEAM ADRIAN now!!! I hope that everyone enjoys this series, it is written for both teens and adults!

Reviewed by Jules

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MY LADY MAGE (Warriors of the Mist 1) by Alexis Morgan-a new release review

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MY LADY MAGE (Warriors of the Mist 1) by Alexis Morgan

MY LADY MAGE (Warriors of the Mist #1) by Alexis Morgan

MY LADY MAGE is the first novel and new release (July 3, 2012) in Alexis Morgan’s new Warriors of the Mist series.

From the back cover: The legendary Warriors of the Mist-cursed by the gods-can be summoned only when a champion is needed and the cause is just.

Lady Merewen was desperate. The citizens of Agathia were suffering under Duke Keirthan’s rule and her own people were forced to endure the abusive nature of her Uncle Fagan. Calling upon the powers of the mage, Merewen summoned the Damned Warriors from the depths of their watery hell, knowing that to call upon their services was a pact not to be entered into lightly. Hoping the tales of Warriors held true, Merewen forged a magical alliance with the men she would soon come to call friends and family.

Captain Gideon had led his Warriors throughout the centuries. And it had been many years since they were last summoned from the river near Agathia. But the sight of the beautiful woman, standing before them had Gideon hoping their centuries of suffering would be enough to allow the Lady of the River to finally forgive and allow the men a peaceful and well deserved ever-after. His men had endured their loneliness and years of depravation without complaint. Knowing it was his words and pleas that forced his men into the watery depths so many centuries ago, Gideon was hoping this summons would finally free he and his men. With only 3 months to complete their duty, Gideon will soon realize that it is more than a beautiful woman’s summons that has called to him but to his heart as well.

Merewen possesses a power, a magical ability and it is with her power that she was able to keep her Uncle Fagan from truly destroying the Keep that she and her late-father had once loved and cherished. But Fagan needed Merewen in more ways than one, for she was to be a pawn in a game of Dark magic between Fagan and the elusive Duke Keirthan. And it was the Dark Magic that will force the Warriors to reconsider the exact nature of the evil surrounding the people of Agathia and the Keep where Merewen’s people resided. Merewen, as true heir to the Keep, knew that Fagan’s hold over the people was only temporary, but it was his cruel and evil temperament that brought both physical and emotional pain to many including his wife Alina.

We are introduced to Gideon’s fellow Warriors of the Mist along with their ‘companions’ in battle and life. The mage-marked Kane who silently bears the burden of a dark family history; Murdoch who knows that to act on his true feelings could result in sorrow for someone in who he has grown close: the scholar Duncan who continually searches for the truth behind the growing power of evil: and the young warrior Averel who stands tall and proud ready to protect everyone at a moments notice. But it is the warrior’s individual companions known as Shadow, Hob, Scim, Ebony and Alabaster, and Kiva who will battle along side their banished brethren and know that even in hell, everyone needs to call someone or something their own.

There is a dark evil and magical power that surrounds the Duke and those he commands. The blood bond formed between Fagan and Keirthan will force Fagan into a alliance that he will no longer value and one that will ultimately end the lives of those he once trusted as well as his own. But it is the growing relationship between Gideon and Merewen that will reveal to the Damned that perhaps all is not hopeless, and that maybe the Lady of the River will look upon their centuries of duty and finally forgive them their mistake made so many years ago.

Alexis Morgan writes a wonderful tale about 5 Warriors Damned to suffer eternity under the watery depths of the river near the village of Agathia. The novel is fast paced, well developed and never falters. With the introduction of 5 warriors, there will be plenty of storylines and heroes to break your heart and win over any reader of both fantasy and romance. A great start to a new series. I am looking forward to HER KNIGHT’S QUEST-Warriors of the Mist #2

Copy supplied by author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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