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The Time Smugglers by Rosie Morgan – a Review

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The Time Smugglers by Rosie Morgan – a Review

 

The Time Smugglers
The Camelot Inheritance series – Book # 2
by Rosie Morgan
Release Date: October 30, 2013
The Time Smugglers

Link to order The Time Smugglers: Amazon

Description:
It’s been a year since Arthur Penhaligon swapped his skateboard for a sword and became a reluctant, teenage hero – and a Guardian of Cornwall.
Twelve months since he and his friends found themselves among time-travellers and ancient knights.
Fifty-two weeks of wondering what would happen next. The waiting is almost over.
On Cornwall’s shores, old and new enemies are gathering, more deadly and more powerful than the four Guardians could ever imagine.
Memories will live and the Time Keeper will be named. There will be bloody battles, death will finally claim its prize and a tiny green dragon will make its mark
…
Nick still jokes (all the time), and Gawain’s Uncle Kitto is just as mysterious. Tamar is even more feisty and Arthur discovers that some old enemies will not die – well not quite.
…
‘A long-limbed figure scrambles over the rocks accompanied by a midnight-feathered bird. On the cliff path, a Watcher observes the man and the bird, before disappearing with a crackle and a ‘woomph’ into another century.
Meanwhile Arthur, Nick and Tamar sit together on the hillside above the beach, three of the four Guardians, unaware that the peace of the last year is about to be shattered in the cruelest way possible

 

Review: 
In less than a complete first chapter, author Rosie Morgan thrust me back into the scenic, coastal town of Cornwall, England and guess what?  I missed this wonderful cast of characters and was delighted to accompany them on their next quest in The Time Smugglers (The Camelot Inheritance).  It’s a year later, but it’s been strangely quiet.  Everybody’s thinking it, after the upheaval of last summer (read review of The Golden Sword here), but impulsive Guardian, Nick, voices the sentiment.  Oh, oh…that’s an open invitation if I ever heard one!

“But it’s been a whole year since we saw him and everything’s been so…normal.  I’m beginning to wonder if anything’s ever going to happen!”

The adversarial Crow Man has located Arthur at his aunt’s home (whom is also a valuable piece of the roundtable, if you will) and his vengeance is as fresh as the summer day.  Before long, the Crow Man resumes his menacing role and the “four musketeers” (tagged by Nick) scramble to elude him lest they engage in his vendetta for the death of Matearnas a year ago.  Oh, the battle comes, rest assured, but timing is everything as you’ll discover in this sequel. 

Ms. Morgan introduces time travel, instantaneous and mind-jarring, as a central theme.  Watchers are summoned from individual posts throughout the world across time (Joseph in Egypt, a young Leonardo Da Vinci in Italy), but they’re of the animal variety as well!  The cats are back, hooray, but we are treated to helpful aviary and aquatic friends as well.  Arthur and his Guardians are surrounded by protectors (bless their hearts), though it seems wholly unfair to supervise/observe their charges, but not be able to defend them when threatened. 

“The Rule states that we must never intervene, but at times it is a hard command to follow.”  They were quiet as they contemplated their commission:  to Watch those assigned to them – but never to interfere.

A scene was particularly brutal and I was furious that harm came to one of our beloved characters!  Mental communication, or “deep listening”, lends a hand to speedy exchanges of information (fortuitously preventative on occasion), but they’re also costly to Arthur’s well being (the dark forces inflict agony upon his senses).

That’s when Arthur happens upon a book that unfolds as necessary (difficult to decipher in its current state).  Each Guardian, chosen for their unique traits, is being approached and assigned a duty regarding the safety of Arthur and his momentous undertaking.  Tamar, the sole female, has been designated the Time Keeper and she gets involved in plenty of “hairy” situations (remember this key word).  Unfortunately, as Arthur is evading their clutches, Arthur’s Guardians/friends have become nearly as valuable; they know his honor would never allow those he loved to be sacrificed.

“There are some who refuse to recognize your birth-right Art, an’ Tamar is also a Guardian; they believe that you will be weakened without her.”

A series of developments/revelations at their proper time lead to the inevitable, climactic showdown between light and darkness.  So many interesting events!  A sea of boiling water, Watchers come to life (trust me, they’re so cool), animals rallying to assist and thwart threats…it’s a magical book.  We even join the legend and interact with King Arthur, Lancelot and Excalibur!  My tiny criticisms involve character development and too many confusing exchanges.  The description of the Watchers, emphasis on the plural, because there are many, forced me to re-read several lines of dialogue.  It was at times difficult to keep up with who was talking during dialogue (Walker, Fisherman, Writer?), and I wasn’t always certain who was friend or foe.  While we had a good idea of Matearnas’ intentions in the debut novel, the new villain, the Lady of Darkness, or as “she calls ‘erself the True Queen of Kernow”, her role came on a bit late.  The dark forces, led by this self-proclaimed queen, are opposed to young Arthur assuming the ultimate power, but this woman, evil incarnate as she may be, is not fleshed out enough to understand her purpose.  Perhaps I’m missing something from the legend of King Arthur? 

Ms. Morgan is writing/editing book 3 and I am ready to read it in its earliest stages.  I love the camaraderie, the contemporary influence on a historic legend, the involvement of secondary characters, and the magic that is woven throughout its pages. 

“And in a dusty corner of a bedroom, a book flips wide open.  Its pages turn, a blur of ink, until they slow and stop.  A picture of a magical island, crowned by a castle and encircled by ice, illuminate the empty room.

The book – and the island – wait.”    

As will I…as patiently as possible.  🙂

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author

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Wild Card by Jamie Wyman – a Review

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Wild Card by Jamie Wyman – a Review

Wild CardLink to order Wild Card: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
It was bad enough that gods gambled with human souls, but Catherine Sharp’s soul just had to be won by the Greek goddess of Discord, Eris. As if working a dead-end tech support job didn’t suck the life out of her as it was. Now, Cat finds herself performing random tasks for the goddess in her free time.

But when Coyote, the Native American trickster himself, claims to have won her own soul in Mayhem’s weekly poker game, Cat wants in on the action. With five sneaky gods upping the ante, Cat needs to find a way to collect the winning chips that could save her soul.
Marius, a handsome yet irritating satyr with his own debt to Eris, might finally come in handy for something. If they play their cards right and work together, Cat and Marius may just get their freedom back. If they don’t kill each other—or fall in love—first.


Review:

What’s better than a Las Vegas setting?  Hitting Sin City with this gal by your side!  In an unusual (but eventually explained circumstance), Catherine is allowed into the world of the immortals.  It seems she bargained with Eris, the goddess of strife, and lost her soul in the negotiations.  Wild Card by Jamie Wyman bets on Cat (couldn’t resist!) to attend a huge bash at Caesar’s Palace summoned by the deity herself.  If Cat cooperates, her servitude may be terminated.  How can she pass it up?  She hates to be entangled in their affairs as it is.  Ok…so Cat complies, but what does she do upon arrival?  What exactly is she supposed to do at this gala where her human biology will not go undetected?  What exactly is this deal that allowed Cat’s path to even cross with Eris?  And more importantly, can Eris be trusted?

“Listen closely, Cat, for this is all the aid I will give you.  There are four others in the game.  Each of them has a token.  Procure these, bring them to me, and you may get the freedom you desire…Follow your instincts, call in favors, break a few laws…I don’t care how you do it, but if you want your soul back, you will get the tokens.”

Oh, I’ll tell you what aid Eris provides:  Discord of course!  Seems the ancient goddess lost Cat’s soul in a poker game and has lined up Cat, the poor victim, to retrieve tokens from the other 4 players of the game:  Coyote, Maui, Puck and Loki.  Poor Cat has to be subjected to lascivious offers, harassed and hunted by magical creatures that are desperate to win her soul, and this is just a collection of “IOUs”; they’re “all in” for Cat’s soul (you know it’s clever!)  All of this work without certainty of freedom.  One set of jailers for another.  Are you wondering what I am?

“…I can’t understand what’s so special about your soul that all of these gods are willing to take it, let alone fight for it tooth and claw.”

Enter the love interest.  Wyman introduces us to Marius the satyr, personal assistant to Eris (though seemingly disgruntled) and Cat’s unlikely consort.  His description would make any girl swoon:  Drop-dead gorgeous with olive colored skin and a British accent.  Marius just came across as overly confident and smarmy to me.  It sounds like he’s willing to help Cat, the situation is just that dire, but I’m still undecided.  Is Wyman setting him up to be Cat’s lover?  Too soon to tell (plus Marius has painful confessions of his own).  Yes, I am reading and reviewing in tandem! J  Cat’s sworn off the otherworldly, so he better start earning her (my) respect.  To complete Cat’s life, in a good way as far as I can tell (man, I’ll be pissed if that backfires!), is Flynn, Cat’s BFF and technomage (synergy with machines and electronics).  He is a tattooed, lanky, red-headed magical being who owns a punk club and is willing to do whatever Cat needs to keep her safe.  I sense a romantic declaration has been trying to surface, but timing is everything and now is not it.  There is a major twist, a few in fact, that surprised me and made me reconsider all the players’ motives.  Some of this book reads like a prequel would have answers to certain unknowns, but Ms. Wyman takes a languid approach to its finale.

Written with a fresh tone, a contemporary hipster humor, and all around enjoyment, Wyman’s writing appealed to me instantly.  Lovers of mythology and the varying pantheons will delight in all the character references.  While love triangles are usually loathsome to me, I can’t exactly classify this as such.  Marius and Flynn are just 2 great guys who are forces in their own right; each contributes to Cat, but there is another who will throw you off (twist, I mentioned it).  52% in and it’s a simmering attraction between Cat and Marius.  It made me crazy, but crazy for more!  A fae encounter (or “mindfuck”), reassess Cat’s state of affairs.  I was in complete disbelief/denial while simultaneously outraged, but it allowed Cat an inner reflection for honest perspective and discourse.        

What ensues is a mission to reach the pivotal poker chips and Eris herself.  Jumping through hoops is putting it mildly and Eris is no help whatsoever:

“Gather my trophies.  Claim your reward.” 

Trouble is…these other players (and their pawns)?  They’re hardly harmless:  Faeries, Kupua, former lovers, Demigods and deities!  They are quite impressed with Cat’s tenacity and otherness (it’s a word; I looked it up).  Cat has to survive trials and tribulations galore.  Wyman depicts amazing action scenes!  But the unraveling of truths?  WOW.  There’s so much going on…so much for you to love!  

Now all you have to do is read this book to find out how it all culminates.  What a terrific read!  Ms. Wyman explores character backgrounds, supplies empowering moments and revelations, seduces and fools us, and ultimately delivers the Wild Card.  A big YAY for having read this book! 

Beneath my fingertips, chaos became order.  Take that, Eris!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Christmas Kisses by H.M. Ward- a review

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Christmas Kisses (Winter Kisses #1) by H.M. Ward-a review

Christmas Banner 2

Christmas Kisses
Winter Kisses #1
by H.J. Ward
Release Date: December 2012
Genre: contemporary, romance, adult

Christmas Kisses

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

How hard is it to NOT have sex with him? Lust has melted Holly Connelly’s brain and it’s all Ryan Darcy’s fault. He’s been ruthlessly flirting with her for the past three years. Ryan’s a sex god complete with sinful body, endless wit, and an orgasm-inducing smile. One sultry look from him will make her panties jump off her body. His endless string of one-night stands has Holly thinking she’ll be just another conquest. Since she actually has feelings for the guy, it makes it that much harder to put off his advances. When they get trapped together by a snowstorm, it’s all she can do to resist him. If Holly says yes, she’ll probably regret it. If she says no, she’ll always wonder what if.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Holly and Ryan have been pining after each other for 3 long years, but never acted upon it for fear of rejection. They couldn’t be more wrong! Now that Holly’s home for winter break…will they get their Christmas miracle? Not only had I heard so many positive things about H.M. Ward, but realizing Christmas Kisses fell under the New Adult genre, I jumped at the opportunity. It gave me so much more than I expected, it was my own little Christmas gift!

I thought we were going home. I thought we’d chat and catch up along the way, and maybe share a goodnight kiss.

I’ve never been more wrong about anything in my life.

Ugh…STILL swooning as I write this review! Holly is back in Long Island six months after a hasty two-step to Texas (see what I did there?). A bad breakup will do that to a broken-hearted girl. Seems Ryan was left out of the loop over Holly’s mad dash and realizes it mattered to him; he wished he would have known Holly was leaving to…to…finally tell her how much he liked her. Had Holly even suspected Ryan reciprocated her feelings…well, we wouldn’t have this terrific book, now would we?

An impromptu meeting at a club reignites those repressed feelings! The time to act is now (especially since Holly is flying back to school on January 1st), but Ryan and Holly are so unaccustomed to being more than friends (they’d always enjoyed each other’s company while silently drooling over one another), that the awkwardness sets in…and fires off a series of misreads that had me clamoring for clarity!!! That’s part of the allure of this genre, however. NA follows high school into college when experimentation is at its peak and the lead couple is supposed to misunderstand, to confuse the obvious. You know you were there once upon a time! [Symbol] It’s the magic we feel/read when courage to reveal their true feelings surfaces.

My brain says we should just tell him. My heart thinks we should just tell him. My body thinks we should just take the syrup over there, pour it over his sexy body, and lick him.

I loved it all…pre-admissions and post-swoons. It was a fantastic read! Angst, joy, steamy seduction, and most important: Making the best out of missed opportunities. The cover models graced one of my favorite books, so I am not embarrassed to say it was a package deal! You cannot go wrong with this book and I will be researching more by this author.

The 132 page short story may be titled Christmas Kisses, but so much more happens along the way in this delight!

Reviewed by Carmen

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Allure by Lea Nolan – a Review

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Allure by Lea Nolan – a Review

AllureLinks to order Allure: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Description:
Worst. Summer. Ever.

Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper’s sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries.

Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Face with the horror of a soul-eating boohag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all.


Review:
“It’s hoodoo…Not voodoo.  That’s a religion.” 

In case you were unclear, 14 year old Emma, apprentice to Miss Delia, the most powerful hoodoo Gullah root worker of the Lowcountry in South Carolina, will clarify the misconception and race against a deadline to save her BF, Cooper Beaumont from a 300 year old curse.  When you meet this young lady, you’ll know that this sort of urgent matter — it’s all in a day’s work for this gal!  Allure is book 2 in the Hoodoo Apprentice series by Lea Nolan.  I loved her writing style, the flow of the story so much, not only do I clamor for book 3 (please say there’s a book 3!), but I’ll retrace my steps in the meantime and start at the beginning with the debut novel, Conjure!  By the time I’m done with that, you should be ready to go…right, Ms. Nolan?  😉

While Allure launches straight into a fast-approaching target date of 3 weeks (Cooper’s 16th birthday) to break the curse, we’re immediately given snippets of information detailing missing Gullah artifacts pivotal in Conjure.  Overlapping mysteries including a stolen pirate’s dagger and a missing family heirloom are interwoven throughout the story, but Ms. Nolan features them all diligently.  Sure, Cooper’s soul is the most important (can’t lose focus there, lol), but the suspense behind the subplots were just as intriguing.  The 80-carat family heirloom ruby stolen from Cooper’s father, Beau, whose description resembles that of Jabba the Hut (minus the rotting bologna odor), detours off the main storyline, but snatches center stage when further explored by Emma, her twin brother, Jack, and Cooper, as it connects to the Beaumont curse Cooper is so desperate to avoid.

Sabina, an African queen with a brutal sense of justice…used her mystical hoodoo powers to seek revenge.  She…cursed the Beaumont progeny forever by stealing their souls when they come into manhood, turning them unspeakably dark and corrupt. 

A murder to be solved (along with identification of a tar-like substance found on the body), an unplanned stay from Miss Delia’s haughty great-granddaughter (intent on spoiling Emma and Jack’s young love), a shady investigator with a dark agenda, and all kinds of hoodoo magic, spell conjuring, and boo hags ultimately find its way back to the heart of the matter.  This isn’t stereotypical teenage amusement at play, but supernatural threats that are based in deep-rooted vengeance.

Before you know it, latent effects of the curse are taking root within Cooper and he begins to detach from Emma and Jack (the trio have been BFFs for years). 

My jaw drops as I stare at him, transfixed by the strange hue of his irises.  His eyes have always appeared to change shades, but I’ve never seen this one, ever.  It’s cold.  Lifeless.  Perhaps even soulless.  A chill ripples through me.  Is this proof that the Beaumont Curse has begun to set in?              

Will breaking the Beaumont curse rid Cooper of his sudden obsession with Miss Delia’s great-granddaughter?  Just when you hoped things/emotions would settle down, Ms. Nolan ramps up the hoodoo action, with even more action, and the mother of showdowns leaves you with baited breath (and a wicked oath for interference).  Quick resolutions?  Where’s the fun in that?!  BRING ON BOOK #3!!!

I loved the care, the respect, afforded to the practice.  Ms. Nolan clearly dabbles in the art or has done a marvelous job of research.  The gathering of herbs and exotic ingredients to execute a spell felt as if they were being concocted in my home.  I could almost smell the lemon verbena!  I got such a kick out of her flare for the dynamic imagery:  Referring to the first deputy on site of the murder scene, she described him as “a thick-necked, muscle-bound specimen of crime-fighting prowess”, or when explaining the impossible, she refutes, “But that’s like telling an ice cube not to melt in this heat”.  When voiced by a 14 year old girl, Ms. Nolan gives you hope for the next generation!  Even when Emma’s hoping justice is served, her indignation lies on the person mistreating hoodoo; for using it with malevolence.  I loved this young lady!  I did gasp, and gulp, when reading a kiss between Emma and Cooper that was just too “advanced” for my tastes.  Tracing kisses behind her ear…yiker bikers, slow down!  It didn’t go beyond that, thankfully, and we end up in love with young love…well, sort of.  An unexpected change of plans keeps Emma and Jack in South Carolina.  How long till Cooper and Jack notice Emma keeps looking over her shoulder from the supernatural threat that has a personal bone to pick with her?

It was indeed my pleasure to meet a lovely cast of characters, each equally impressive and unique.  I did end the story on an “Awww…”, so I’ll say it again:  I’M READY FOR BOOK 3!!!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice – a Review

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The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice – a Review

The Heavens RiseLinks to order The Heavens Rise: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Goodreads

Description:
New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice brilliantly conjures the shadowed terrors of the Louisiana bayou—where three friends confront a deadly, ancient evil rising to the surface—in this intense and atmospheric new supernatural thriller.

It’s been a decade since the Delongpre family vanished near Bayou Rabineaux, and still no one can explain the events of that dark and sweltering night. No one except Niquette Delongpre, the survivor who ran away from the mangled stretch of guardrail on Highway 22 where the impossible occurred…and kept on running. Who left behind her best friends, Ben and Anthem, to save them from her newfound capacity for destruction…and who alone knows the source of her very bizarre—and very deadly—abilities: an isolated strip of swampland called Elysium.

An accomplished surgeon, Niquette’s father dreamed of transforming the dense acreage surrounded by murky waters into a palatial compound befitting the name his beloved wife gave to it, Elysium: “the final resting place for the heroic and virtuous.” Then, ten years ago, construction workers dug into a long-hidden well, one that snaked down into the deep, black waters of the Louisiana swamp and stirred something that had been there for centuries—a microscopic parasite that perverts the mind and corrupts the body.

Niquette is living proof that things done can’t be undone. Nothing will put her family back together again. And nothing can save her. But as Niquette, Ben, and Anthem uncover the truth of a devastating parasite that has the potential to alter the future of humankind, Niquette grasps the most chilling truths of all: someone else has been infected too. And unlike her, this man is not content to live in the shadows. He is intent to use his newfound powers for one reason only: revenge.


Review:

I’m stumped.  It’s not too often I have almost zero idea how to begin a review.  Hardest part of all?  My thoughts are coming across as fragments, or adjectives, more accurately (I realize I’m guilty of it myself — irony isn’t lost on me).  The Heavens Rise by Christopher Rice (*gasps*, it’s really, truly Anne’s son) was so…intriguing yet confusing…it’s hard to put into words what my final opinion of this book is.  Bear with me as I get the assembly line of my brain cranking…and construct said thoughts into proper, complete sentences.

Noah, Millie and Niquette (Nikki) Delongpre of South Louisiana vanished, leaving only scraps of their SUV as evidence of foul play.  A week later, Marshall Ferriot flings himself off a 31st floor, resulting in a permanent, vegetative state.  Coincidentally, he’s the person of interest Nikki’s BFF, Ben suspects, but Marshall’s been whisked away to Atlanta and is, well, unable to speak.  In The Heavens Rise, we go “backwards” — gradually introduced to pivotal characters whose personalities and background give rise to motive and ultimately lead us to conclusive pieces of the puzzle.  I followed the serpentine path (lots of snake references within) of events and revelations, but the unraveling of twists had me begging the girls to “Ask Dad!”, and simultaneously yanking out my hair during WTH reactions.  Billed as a supernatural thriller, it incorporates much more.  I did not expect mind control and monsters to play out and those elements are a huge departure for me.

In an impromptu romantic fail, throwing Nikki and himself in the pool of her new home (known as Elysium), Marshall and Nikki were exposed to a parasite of unforeseeable destruction whose properties “were the color of skin, and they were everywhere, clustered together in beige clumps that looked like shredded human flesh.”  Nikki only noticed the “swamp sperm” (she tactfully labels, NOT) when she desperately tried to get away from Marshall’s sexual assault in the water.

He had taken her by both shoulders and slammed her head into the side of the pool. 

Total psycho, right?  This is a handsome, young boy from an obscenely wealthy family who gets girls “shitfaced” on Zima in order to have his way with them (perversely preying on the starved-for-attention “nerds” who were willing to allow him the use of implements and keep it secret).  Nikki’s rejection (even though Marshall was instrumental in her break-up with BF, Anthem) threw his obsession into overdrive:  a girl whose very name filled the remnants of his soul with sustaining rage.  Headaches, nausea, and other symptoms following the incident gain momentum and allow Nikki and Marshall the disturbing, not to mention intrusive, ability to absorb/control a person’s mind.

“It flows through you on a kind of conduit we can’t see.  The person completely loses all consciousness as a result…This is not possession.  You can’t see the world through their eyes.  The mind-control aspect…well, it’s just a by-product, you see.  A by-product of the fact that you can draw the person’s fundamental quantum material into your body by metabolizing part of it.”

Perhaps we can even add a bit of sci-fi to the book’s description?  I must say it bordered on the outlandish for me when the mind control theme was further explored.  While it may have explained the hows of it all, it couldn’t recapture my previous interest.  Perhaps it was the measured pace in which Mr. Rice addressed the parasitic effects that made me impatient?  This was unlike any other book I’d ever read; perhaps I was the only reader 226 pages in who needed more facts? 😀  A disjointed span of 8 years was also distracting when I had to re-read passages and/or look at the beginning of the chapter for clarification.  Nikki was the genesis behind Marshall’s fury, but her character wasn’t sufficiently fleshed-out.  We learn about the gaping hole her absence causes for her best friend and boyfriend, but…well, there’s just SO much more for you to discover.  I found it odd that Mr. Rice kept alluding to a “coupling” between Ben and Anthem; grief is brutal and can drive us to desperation, but I don’t know if Nikki would have approved?  Maybe we should ask Nikki?  WHAAAT?!  Invisible intervention like that of a guardian angel breathes new considerations.  I think we should tag the fantasy element to the list of themes touched upon in this book.        

Seamlessly interwoven is an homage to Katrina, but with a bold emphasis on its neglect and racism of the poorer classes.  A brave and personal opinion to say the least!  The setting, the graphic details, they were deftly written and clearly Mr. Rice’s forte.  His honesty and imagery were quite evocative, adding another layer of depth to his narrative.  I was disappointed in the end because there was such a “negative” shift that sits uneasy in my mind.  If we’re fortunate enough to have Mr. Rice visit TRC, I’d love to understand his reasoning.  I won’t forget this book any time soon!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Becoming A Legend/Winning The Legend by B.Kristin McMichael-a review

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Becoming A Legend/Winning The Legend by B. Kristin McMichael-a review

 The Blue eyes trilogy

Becoming a Legend June 2013Becoming A Legend
The Blue Eyes Trilogy #2 (YA)
by B. Kristin McMichael

ABOUT THE BOOK: June 14, 2013

Arianna Grace is about to turn seventeen and her life has been very complicated lately. She is the leader of four clans of night humans: dearg-dul, baku, tengu, and lycan. While the four clans seem to get along better with each other, there is internal conflict on both sides of her family, not to mention the three boys vying for her attention.

Edward Lucan is making a chase for the power to lead the baku clans and is playing his cards by using his nephew Andrew to lure Arianna into a trap. Unfortunately for Lucan, Andrew has his own plans. He has spent the last year waiting for Arianna to see him as more than a friend, and he now finds it necessary to make a move for her affection, despite his uncle.

In the dearg-dul estate, Arianna discovers that the ambitious Lord Seeger has been laying his own strategies for power and is slowly poisoning her. After getting away with her grandfather’s murder, he is setting his sights on her. Luckily for Arianna, her team is on to all of the plans and is making some plans of their own. Will it be enough to keep Arianna safe? Several people close to Arianna have been keeping secrets. If Arianna is to take power and control of the night, she will need to know the truth. Will someone finally tell her what it truly means to become the legend everyone is waiting for, before it is too late to turn back?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW:   When we last visited with Arianna, everyone wanted a piece of her. Current status: EVERYONE STILL WANTS HER…even if it means going to war! Let’s step back into the world of day and night humans in the sequel, Becoming a Legend, by B. Kristen McMichael.

Arianna has now spent a year in this world, primarily under the guidance and tutelage of her Great Uncle, Gabriel (Baku from her father’s side), and Devin, the sole day human who represents Arianna’s now deceased maternal grandfather, Lord Randolph (Dearg-dul). Together, they protect her from those clans wishing to claim her (to produce offspring — yikes, she’s only 17!) and prepare her for adhering to the rules of the legend. Problem is? No one quite knows the legend! Every clan (13 in all) knows bits and pieces, each a piece of the larger puzzle if you will, but only Lord Randolph knew how to compile the facts and enact it: The legend stated she must have a keeper of each race to gain power over all the clans. Problem is (and there are many), Lord Randolph never intended for Arianna to embrace the legend. But the disarray following his death (and the fact that it’s a year later and the clans agree Arianna is far from completing the prophecy), their thirst for power, and how can they get it from Ari, overrides their patience. As a consequence of her refusal to marry (again, she’s only 17!), the clans collectively unite against Ari and declare war. In an effort to placate them, Ari agrees to a Tournament of Champions as a compromise. Each clan will send a representative to fight for her hand.

Now it was time for her to fight to be free to live her own life. Arianna had one month to prepare to meet her fate. She would either save the night human world or destroy it.

Aside from the unreasonableness of the competing clans, Ari has to contend with her own keepers (those who will supply blood for her sustenance and become irreversibly connected to her), the emotional intensity of those relationships, sabotage, physical and mental training, and her own maturity with developing powers. I liked Ari more in the sequel because I believe she is a gentle person who is trying to survive in a world of contention. The attachments aren’t a YA-love triangle convention that bore us to death. Becoming a Legend delves deeper into the WHY of it all and allowed me to feel empathy for Arianna. I couldn’t help but compare her plight to that of Merida from Brave and even to mild-mannered Jean Grey who transforms into the Dark Phoenix when her powers are released. Awesome women, right? There is so much world building HERE; you really must read from the beginning of the series to understand the terminology, but you’ll be glad you did.

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Winning the LegendWinning the Legend
The Blue Eyes Trilogy #3 (YA)
by B. Kristin McMichael

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 31, 2013

Arianna has gathered the outside clans to decide her fate in marriage. A tournament will be held, and she is the prize, whether she wants to be or not. The only thing she can do is watch men fight over her, or is that all she can do? Thanks to her team’s well-made plans Arianna has other strategies in place, and hopefully one just might get her freedom.

As the men gather and she learns more about the night human world, there are new allies to keep close and more enemies to keep even closer. Some even hold more secrets to her legend and possibly the actual reason to her existence. Now Arianna must decide what to do with the fate she has been dealt. Time has come to step out of the shadows of the men who protect her, and into her own power. The time is now for Arianna to take control, and fight for the destiny she wants to live

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW:  In keeping with my visceral reactions, book 3, Winning the Legend, translated to Hunger Games meets X-MEN! The tournament to compete for Arianna (aka the ultimate prize) is on, but fluctuations of many sorts are changing the course for all involved. The fabled legend may not be so idyllic. Ari is either to become an unrivaled peacemaker…or the harbinger of death!

She didn’t want to have the contest, but it was her choice to go through with it to protect everyone she loved. By having this competition, her clans avoided all-out war.

And so the contestants entered her estate to begin the process of elimination (by ranking lost matches). The competition takes center stage for this book, but I have to admit that my complaint was the competition manipulation. While some clans hid nefarious plots to win (regardless of rules), most of the participants were intent on winning Arianna’s affections. At the end of Becoming a Legend, Ari complies with part of the legend’s promise (I didn’t want to spoil it, but it’s necessary for this to make sense): Ari drank the blood of her keepers to fortify her strengths and prevent disease. Arianna trained during the 1 month lapse in time for the tournament, but she really threw her own name into the ring (remember the Merida reference?) because of the effect/potency of drinking the blood. I’d say that’s advantageous. But it didn’t end there. A few select members of her guard joined the competition as well. Needless to say, they collaborated to minimize the competitors’ chances. The Sidhe king became a major player in the challenge, but also the main proponent to win Arianna by any means necessary. I understand that each clan had its own agenda, but Arianna was just as duplicitous…and that left a bad taste in my mouth.

I admired Arianna’s tenacity and willingness to defend and unite her clans, but there were too many fundamental inequities that prevented fair play. Arianna MATED to one of her keepers! Not disclosing that knowledge…well…let me move on. Not all results are perfect, however. Arianna becomes the veritable guinea pig (picture Rogue from X-MEN) at the recommendation of an uneasy alliance when plans go astray. Catastrophes are avoided, but Ms. McMichael does provide a healthy dose of pain and loss. Love is tested, loyalty is questioned, and suspicions become a necessary warning system.

I’ve indulged in several YA stories, but this series is designed for a genuinely young audience. My lack of patience doesn’t care much for “hand-holding” writing (where I’m being directly led/told rather than follow/assume a natural progression of storyline). On the other hand, there were explanations or issues that could have used more detail or another pair of eyes to minimize inaccuracies. I’m convinced there were a few contradictions.

Arianna is thrust into an incomprehensible world at the age of 16, but quickly realizes her role cannot be taken lightly and demands her active participation. The journey is not an easy one; she has to adapt to a new environment as a leader (pretty heady responsibility!), but she’s surrounded by a devoted cast of characters who figure it out alongside her. Discover the sights and sounds (and a diet that thankfully got easier!) of this supernatural world. Hear Arianna roar as she gains confidence! I wasn’t jumping-for-joy happy with the culmination of the story, as I so favored one character in particular, but Ms. McMichael treated us to some insight at the end of Winning the Legend: Stay tuned for a spin-off!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copies supplied by the author.

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Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Dead by Lena Diaz – a Review

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Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Dead by Lena Diaz – a Review

 

Ashes, AshesLinks to order Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Dead:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
What she doesn’t remember … will kill her.

One by one the letters arrive at the FBI office in Savannah, Georgia. Inside, each bears a name—a victim of a twisted crime—and the singsong phrase Ashes, ashes, they all fall dead. Special Agent Tessa James becomes obsessed with finding the killer whose victims are crying out to her for justice.

When sexy, brilliant consultant Matt Buchanan is paired with Tessa to discover who’s sending the “Ashes” letters, he discovers a serial arsonist who is leaving nothing but murder in his wake. Inexplicably, the clues point to Tessa herself, forcing her to realize that if she can’t remember the forgotten years of her past, the name on the next letter will be hers


Review:

I’m usually very resistant to take on an entire series for review, but starting out with the latest installment is SO out of my comfort zone, thank goodness Lena Diaz writes incredibly intriguing books!  Ashes, Ashes, They all Fall Dead, book 3 in the Nursery Rhyme series, was so thrilling, I propose to think outside the box more often.  In fact, I intend to retrace my steps and start at the beginning.  I will delight in every delicious detail of suspense Ms. Diaz supplies.  Oh, yeah…I’m a fan (of alliteration, too!).

“I’ll give you one week, seven days, to prove this isn’t a hoax and develop at least one solid lead – and I do mean solid, like granite.  If at the end of the week you can’t convince me this isn’t a hoax, then you agree to drop this and never bring the letters up again.”

The 3 year hunt for a serial arsonist has resulted in unsolved, cold cases.  A fierce determination to bring closure to families and a niggling, unswerving desire to decipher the taunting, sing-song nursery rhyme “Ashes, ashes…” (included in letters found at the crime scenes) forces Special Agent Tessa James of the FBI to work alongside P.I./consultant, Matt Buchanan.  Ms. Diaz had me swooning pretty early on over the physical attraction and seductive banter between Matt and Tessa (their 6 year age difference was a modern-day nod), but once they displayed their expertise, their unique abilities contributing/flowing seamlessly together, you recognize their compatibility.  These two worked together before on the “Simon Says Die” investigation (Top of my To-Be-Read list!) and the bickering didn’t bode well for this current assignment.  But differences (denials of attraction) aside, two heads are better than one to track a killer. 

Matt’s customized software and state-of-the-art equipment, that gives Quantico a run for their money (add genius innovator right after swoon-worthy), begins to transmit more data than ever and they hit the ground running.  When Tessa’s own name pops up as a match from partial fingerprints found on the most recent letter, the investigation (and Tessa’s back story) goes into overdrive.  As does their attraction for one another.  Matt silently fantasizes during a pause in their research:

If she’d just get past her silly hang-up about their age difference and let that luscious hair of hers down out of the tight braid she wore, he could show her the advantages of making love with a younger, more energetic, enthusiastic man.  There was something to be said for stamina in the bedroom.           

I know you’re swooning.  I swooned just now in solidarity!  🙂  I thoroughly enjoyed being a fly on the wall during their investigation/brainstorm sessions; two brilliant minds collaborating to bring resolution to the murders. Of course believing myself to be Tessa, particularly during flirtier, more sensuous moments made a great book even more delicious! 

The scenes provided by Ms. Diaz to depict an arsonist’s compulsion were disturbingly fascinating.  Comparing living room wooden floor planks to matchsticks waiting to be lit…*shudders* This, and more, is what will grip you in Ashes, Ashes…An underground enclosure had me gasping in oxygen with empathetic gulps!  The overwhelming darkness pervading every possible angle…Ms. Diaz’s descriptive writing thrills the senses.

I hope you can tell I really enjoyed this book.  Ms. Diaz’s website referred to this book as her “newest” and “third installment”.  Do you think that means there’s more to come?  I’ll despair if she planned to end the series here! 

Ms. Diaz even interspersed Star Wars references throughout the book for a little levity!  I’m obsessed.  🙂    Get ready to readjust your mountain of TBR – this one deserves to be devoured!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Author

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Scorched by Mari Mancusi – a Review & Guest Post

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Scorched by Mari Mancusi – a Review & Guest Post

Scorched

Links to order Scorched: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Description:
Trinity
Don’t leave me here… It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she’s going crazy. It wouldn’t be a big surprise—her grandpa firmly believes there’s a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it’s begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it…

Connor
He’s come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.

Caleb
He’s everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head—a dragon that won’t be tamed

 

Review:

I have been dying to read a dragon-themed book and Mari Mancusi’s Scorched ignited my interest.  Complete with time travel, mystical creatures, opposing missions, and even a bit of YA romance, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and hope my review encourages you to take flight into this world of fantasy.  

In a last ditch effort to save the waning museum, Foxx’s Fantastical Fossils, an artifact is brought in to attract tourism:

“But what is it?” she asked, reluctantly turning away from the egg and back to her guardian [grandpa], her eyes filled with questions.  “What could it possibly be?”

“Why isn’t it obvious?”  He stepped towards the case, a slow smile spreading across his whiskered face.  “It’s the world’s last dragon egg.”

From 200 years in the future, post-dragon apocalypse, Connor time travels to retrieve the last dragon egg before it hatches and lands in the hands of his twin brother, Caleb, member of the Dracken (dragon sympathizers).  Although incredulous of its existence, 16 year old Trinity cannot deny she hears the dragon’s voice in her mind…who calls out to her and is curiously named after her deceased mother.  Is she NOT supposed to be freaked out?!

Scorched was reminiscent of the Terminator movie:  Trinity is caught between rival factions, conflicting stories, and this is just between the brothers!  Connor’s mission mantra stuns Trinity, “Sacrifice one to save the world”:

“Judging from its transparency, I’d say we have about a week before it hatches,” he told her.  “We’ll need to find a way to destroy it by then.  The sooner the better…

If we succeed, will you start to disappear?

It doesn’t work like that.  My timeline has already been established.  There’s no way to alter that.  But by destroying the egg, we can set your world on an alternate time line.  One that doesn’t end in apocalypse.”

Caleb, meantime, endeavors to dispel all nonsense Connor was spewing.  Caleb spills brotherly vendetta drama about the death of their father and reveals convincing facts that would result in Trinity’s death at the hands of Connor, a dragon hunter, unless she faced the truth.

“The truth?  Trinity repeated with encroaching dread.  She turned to Caleb, trying desperately to swallow down her fear.  “And what truth might that be?”

“That dragons have the power to save our world,” Caleb replied matter-of-factly.  “If only you could first save them.”

Boys…keep it in the family!  Who to trust…who to believe?  Only one thing’s for certain:  Each brother has his own agenda…with startling revelations about Trinity’s true purpose in the dragon movement.

Scorched delivered a fast-paced, engaging style while the storyline developed.  I really enjoyed the formatting of the book; segments divided to delve into and explore each brother and their respective plights, along with Trinity’s own background (a great heroine with an emotional story), and even the pivotal dragon, Emmy.  Based on Ms. Mancusi’s descriptions, these were magnificent beasts resplendent in their graceful flights and afforded, through battles and training, their own honor and loyalty.  It was a joy to read!

I went on to Ms. Mancusi’s webpage, eager for details of a sequel (the open-ended finale leaves you wanting more!), but didn’t reveal more on this particular story.  Whaaat?!  I can only hope she returns to this wonderful cast of characters in the future.  Like I said, Scorched was a great introduction into a genre that eluded me for too long.  I get it…I want it! 

Find out what it means to be Fire Kissed! 

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher


Guest Post

What is your perspective of the difference of YA and New Adult?

New Adult is a new term that has become a kind of catchall for books with protagonists in their late teens (college age) to early twenties. Most of the new adult books currently running up the bestseller lists are contemporary and have more similarities to the romance genre than the YA genre—with a centralized romance as the main plot.

That said, I believe as time goes by the new adult category will widen to include more paranormal and sci-fi/fantasy titles. Just like with the Shomi line that I participated in back when I wrote for Dorchester. Those titles—Razor Girl and Moongazer—were published before the new adult term came around and were designed to “bridge the gap” between YA and adult romance. Now that I have the rights back to these titles I was able to re-release them officially as new adult books. (With new titles: Tomorrow Land and Alternity.) I’m glad there’s now a place where they fit.

Scorched is a Young Adult title. But some of the themes in the book will resonate with older readers as well. The idea of trust, for example. How do you learn to trust again when everyone in your life has let you down? And who is worthy of that precious gift of trust? It’s something Trinity has to decide—and the fate of the world (and the dragon race) depends on her making the right decision.

I think one of the reasons so many adult readers get into the young adult genre is because of the stories themselves. A good story with a good plot and interesting, well-defined characters will appeal, no matter what the biological age of the characters. For Scorched, if you like stories about time travel, dragons, fantasy and adventure then I encourage you to check it out—whether you’re sixteen or sixty. After all, where it’s shelved in the bookstore doesn’t matter in the end.


About the Author yellowMari MancusiMari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small–so she chose to write about them instead. Today she works as an award-winning young adult author and freelance television producer, for which she has won two Emmys.

When not writing about fanciful creatures of myth and legend, Mari enjoys goth clubbing, cosplay, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and her favorite guilty pleasure—playing videogames. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Jacob, daughter Avalon, and their dog Mesquite. 

Mari is pronounced like the name Mary.
Mancusi is pronounced man-COO-see. 
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