tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44207831238401492542024-03-05T21:40:18.784-05:00Read to my Heart's ContentWhat the heart gives away is never gone, it is kept in the hearts of others."
~ Robin St. JohnReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-47178690518314450632019-10-03T16:37:00.000-04:002019-10-03T16:37:41.950-04:00Exam Center Finds: Caster by Elsie Chapman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LC4yYzjiF6U8Rarmu2LV5_Hv-hnPo3G3Kg1Yx3A7r2bZ_YZn77u8dPtbyXmRW3xZvNFizUjpDho4z74CzYttA7xiXA3s4SaQbV5HaUDqnTNrtKogwL9aTQ8n0YcAGwraR6N8zLGagBA/s1600/43319656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9LC4yYzjiF6U8Rarmu2LV5_Hv-hnPo3G3Kg1Yx3A7r2bZ_YZn77u8dPtbyXmRW3xZvNFizUjpDho4z74CzYttA7xiXA3s4SaQbV5HaUDqnTNrtKogwL9aTQ8n0YcAGwraR6N8zLGagBA/s320/43319656.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Caster</span></u></i></b><br />
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<b>Author:</b><br />
<b>Elsie Chapman</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Publisher:</b><br />
<b>Scholastic Press</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Date of Pub:</b><br />
<b>Sept 3, 2019</b><br />
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<b>Source:</b><br />
found at the local library in the red exam center for reviews.<br />
hardcover; 336 pages<br />
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<b>Genre:</b><br />
urban fantasy, magic, YA<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Synopsis:</i></b></span><br />
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<br /><br />Avatar: The Last Airbender meets Fight Club in this action-packed fantasy about a secret, underground magic fighting tournament.<br />If the magic doesn't kill her, the truth just might.<br /><br /><br /><br />Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister, Shire. As with all magic, everything comes at a price. For Aza, it feels like everything in her life has some kind of cost attached to it. Her sister had been casting for money to pay off Saint Willow, the gang leader that oversees her sector of Lotusland. If you want to operate a business there, you have to pay your tribute. And now with Shire dead, Aza must step in to save the legacy of Wu Teas, the teahouse that has been in her family for centuries.<br /><br /><br /><br />When Aza comes across a secret invitation, she decides she doesn't have much else to lose. She quickly realizes that she's entered herself into an underground casting tournament, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Real magic, real consequences. As she competes, Aza fights for her life against some very strong and devious competitors.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When the facts about Shire's death don't add up, the police start to investigate. When the tributes to Saint Willow aren't paid, the gang comes to collect. When Aza is caught sneaking around with fresh casting wounds, her parents are alarmed. As Aza's dangerous web of lies continues to grow, she is caught between trying to find a way out and trapping herself permanently.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span></blockquote>
Dude! Look at that cover, though!!?!?! I love it! I love it when covers can essentially give us everything we need to know about the book {although we don't know that until we read the book} and<b><i> Caster</i></b> does just this. <br />
Lotusland is a complicated land where full magic casters are shunned because of the damage they have caused to Earth. They are illegal and hunted down by enforcers called Scouts. <br />
And Aza is just that -a full magic-user<br />
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The world-building in<i><b> Caster </b></i>is very descriptive. As Chapman described each sector, all of your senses are used to imagine each Sector. The tea sector, where Aza and her family reside, seemed to make crave all my favorite teas as I read the descriptions. The spice sector made me hungry for curry and all my favorite spicy foods. <br />
I was thoroughly impressed with how our author could insert into the story with her use of storytelling.<br />
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I found myself relating to Aza in more ways the longer the story went on. I understood her grief and felt her pain, trying to keep her family in their home and legacy. Most of all, I mourned for her and the loneliness that she seemed to exude out to everyone. I loved that Aza was a kick-ass heroine who knew she had flaws but also learned to adapt and learn from them. <br />
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Aza was quick-witted and had loads of street smarts to get by with the gang that followed her around trying to collect " honor marks" in exchange for protection from them. <br />
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The magical tournament makes me think of <i>Mortal Kombat.</i> And of course, <i>Fight Club </i>as well. But <i>Mortal Kombat</i> is what really popped in my head every night she fought in the different sections of the tournament. </div>
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<b><i>Caster</i></b> is a wonderful read!! You will be second guessing every clue you get and you will still be shocked a few times as well. I freaking love that there isn't a love interest in this story. It was refreshing to read a YA story that wasn't about falling in love and the plot following that arc of the story. Not that I don't enjoy the YA romance; but I just really liked that Aza was the main focus of the story. </div>
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<b><i>Caster</i></b> was a gritty fantasy about the magic that isn't all rainbows and wands. It shows us that magic hurts. It can be painful and it can destroy even when it is trying to save. What a great way to incorporate how we treat the Earth now into a fantasy story with magic!! I can't wait to read more from Elsie Chapman and I do believe we may see more of Aza and Lotusland. </div>
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I can't wait! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rating:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Connect with Elsie Chapman:</b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://twitter.com/elsiechapman" target="_blank">Twitter </a>| <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elsiechapman/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5441417.Elsie_Chapman" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://elsiechapman.com/" target="_blank">Website|</a></b></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-70860525206335032662019-09-05T00:20:00.000-04:002019-09-05T00:20:21.596-04:00Been Reading but I have been Living to My Heart's Content<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wow! Just wow! It has been forever since I have posted anything to this blog. <br />
<br />
It almost seems like I had given up on ever getting back to blogging about anything, really. <br />
<br />
And then:<br />
<br />
I found myself. <br />
<br />
My real self. Through learning what I love, who I love, and where I am the happiest at. <br />
<br />
And now I am ready to get back to blogging.<br />
But...<br />
<br />
It isn't just going to be a book blog. No, this is going to be so much more than that. <br />
If I have found just the most amazing yarn I have ever knitted with and I want to scream it from the rooftops...<br />
<br />
Can't I just do it here?<br />
<br />
If I get so excited about some pour paintings I have created and I just want to share my love with all of you<br />
Wouldn't this be the place to do it?<br />
<br />
So I am keeping the title of the blog for now { until I figure out how to change it} but I will be adding more than just reading to my heart's content. <br />
<br />
But books will always be my first love. <br />
Always. <br />
<br />
Thanks to everyone that stood behind me and waited patiently on me to get my butt in gear. I appreciate every one of you so much. Thank you.<br />
<br /></div>
ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-61851199347417607722016-10-25T11:11:00.000-04:002016-10-25T11:11:37.390-04:00eARC Review: Scorched Souls by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef {Book 3 in Chosen Series}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjASyvMfynUwGZYc0dqj5t7m4CwLxQAayZkHsNNo5bI4WkvqA54dF_2I6J2B2hoHZpBUAJovR7FA8KmCU6mJ-o4GdzWtTSqTjSQQctgLMHTMPJOX-CBmao8pkg5FJDwk-XQpbi1uYNqw/s1600/scorched-souls2-683x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjASyvMfynUwGZYc0dqj5t7m4CwLxQAayZkHsNNo5bI4WkvqA54dF_2I6J2B2hoHZpBUAJovR7FA8KmCU6mJ-o4GdzWtTSqTjSQQctgLMHTMPJOX-CBmao8pkg5FJDwk-XQpbi1uYNqw/s320/scorched-souls2-683x1024.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Title:<i> Scorched Souls</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Author(s): Jeff Altabef; Erynn Altabef</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Series: <i>Chosen, book 3</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Publisher: Evolved Publishing</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Genre: Scifi, YA thriller, paranormal, action</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>Source: received from authors, Novel Publicity, ebook, 13+</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><b><i>Synopsis:</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i>Fate
and destiny clash in the explosive, heart-pounding conclusion to the
award-winning Chosen series.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i>~~~~~</i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Survival is not enough.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Alliances will be formed.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Loyalties tested.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A choice made.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i>My
name is Juliet Wildfire Stone and I’m not just a Chosen, I’m the Alpha… and the
fate of Earth rests in my hands.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i>When
I finally met the Prime Elector, he wasn’t anything like I expected. He was
supposed to be our mortal enemy, a monster I needed to destroy to fulfill my
destiny, yet he was nothing like that—he’s young, brilliant, and looks like an
angel.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i>Caught
in the middle of a conflict between two ancient foes, which threatens to rip
Earth apart, I must do what is right at all costs. To choose my fate, and
Earth’s future, I will need to navigate a new path, form unlikely alliances,
and solve ancient mysteries forgotten for centuries.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><i>Yet
I cannot do it alone. Will the other Chosen follow me? Do I have the strength
to make the right choice, or will the people of Earth be enslaved for all time?</i></span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26824650-scorched-souls?from_search=true" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC5CLFSKdq-UlwlESjG-c4EmbHHcwNpIhCWxpPX9Ca2gQAp_sgNX9d3yEllPDaycfFQ18zSSjsEHEghoxG-mlEShUM6x0v7-5kBxD2DBereleSSHzs1gyHcEB5qhij1FBxHS8Dl-Xr1U/s1600/pink+add+to+goodreads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">It's finally here! The last book in the series, Chosen, by Jeff and </span>Erynn<span style="color: #444444;"> Altabeff, a </span>father daughter<span style="color: #444444;"> author team!! </span><b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>Scorched Souls</i></span></b><span style="color: #444444;"> is such a perfect title to this story. It is literally the embodiment of how the characters feel; how I feel after reading this! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I want to thank the authors for sending me the e-book, and also a huge shout out to <b>Novel Publicity</b> for thinking of me too. You guys rock!!</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Now, I need you to remember that this is the last book in the series. I try my best not to reveal spoilers, but sometimes when you are discussing the last book, that is impossible to do. So if you haven't read the other two books then please run and grab those books before you even read this. </span></i></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #b45f06;">Scorched Souls </span></i></b><span style="color: #444444;">picks up around about where </span><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Brink of Dawn</span></i></b><span style="color: #444444;"> leaves off. All of the Chosen are together, having survived a battle and losing their mentor, Stuart. They are all a little shaken, but Juliet, our main protagonist, seems to be feeling the effects of her choices. She still feels guilty for killing and she worries more and more about the other Chosen. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">There is also a budding relationship between Juliet and Connor that seems to give her strength when she needs it most. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I am grateful the authors did not make this into a love triangle with Troy. I love Troy and I believe what he and Juliet shares transcends any physical love. Troy is her best friend, her brother, maybe even her Jimny Cricket, or her conscience. Their relationship is magical and I appreciate the fact that it wasn't lessened by turning it into a love triangle. Thank you!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I believe this book is a literary masterpiece because of the utmost care that is put into creating characters that are believable, realistic, and lovable. Yes, our main characters have powers and abilities that most of us don't, but that doesn't take away from us being able to relate to them. It just shows us more of how human they become when they are forced to bear such responsibility. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">These people are wracked by fear, anxiety, guilt, and self-doubt; yet they overcome all of this to protect each other every day. They also show us love, respect, honor, intelligence and bravery in every choice they make. I honestly believe lots of teens today could learn from Juliet and her friends.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I know I have, even being a lot older than these characters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">There is a quote that Juliet's grandfather tells her and I absolutely love it:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><i><b>"The Wind Spirit isn't always good, and Coyote isn't always bad." </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Honestly, I believe that sums up life perfectly. Every person has both inside them. You have to look at their actions and try to find their soul to see the "goodness" that you need to find. Wonderful quote!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">There are lots of concepts discussed through the book, including the American Indian culture, as well as the essence of souls, and forgiveness. I think an important concept that gets addressed is death. There are different aspects and beliefs out there and I like that the book caters to other beliefs as well. And of course, I love how there are many common similarities to the Spirit World in different beliefs. Great job!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">There is non-stop action in Scorched Souls, and we are traveling to England this time, Connor's hometown. So we get to explore a little more about our resident good bad boy's past. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I have always wanted to visit England and through the beautiful and detailed descriptions, I feel like I was right there with everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I feel like a great way to sum up Juliet and her progression is a quote from our friendly neighborhood hero, Spiderman:</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0b5394;">"With great power, comes great responsbility."</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Juliet continues to get stronger and stronger and struggles with controlling the power as it flows through her body. She is faced with a difficult decision that could destroy everything she holds dear. Even throughout all of this, though, she doesn't lose sight of her humanity. She continues to grasp what it means to be human, to contain a soul. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">And of course as well as being introduced to some new characters, we are allowed a reunion with some returning characters from the other two books. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">I will warn you that the ending is a hard one. We do lose people and you will shed some tears. But I also understand the need for this ending and I think you will too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><b>The Takeaway:</b></span></div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Scorched Souls</span></b></i><span style="color: #444444;"> is a fantastic ending to a wonderful series that combines aliens, faith, American Indian culture, and secret societies to give us a story that is wholly satisfying and soul embracing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Don't forget to check out the sponsored giveaway posted <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2e77192111/" target="_blank">here</a>. And remember to grab your own copy at:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Purchase:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/Scorched_Souls" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Connect with our Authors:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Jeff Altabef:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><i><a href="https://twitter.com/JeffAltabef" target="_blank">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://www.jeffaltabef.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>|</i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jeff-Altabef-Author-479282732198216/?fref=ts" target="_blank"> Facebook </a>|<a href="http://www.jeffaltabef.com/newsletter" target="_blank"> Newsletter</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">Erynn Altabef:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/erynnaltabefauthor/" target="_blank">Facebook|</a></span></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-66938896973275792412016-10-24T08:18:00.000-04:002016-10-24T08:18:48.520-04:00Spotlight Post for Scorched Souls by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef: The final book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Welcome to <b><span style="color: #b45f06;"><i>The Scorched Souls</i> <em>Tour! </em></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Welcome to another exciting Spotlight Tour with Novel Publicity. Today, I’m sharing the spotlight for Scorched Souls, the final story in the Chosen Trilogy by Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Don't forget to enter for your chance to win some great prizes including an Amazon Gift Card, a Paperback of Scorched Souls and a dream catcher!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I lean back in my chair; he’s dumped a bucket of ice water on my head, and the chill settles into my bones. “So the Chosen were set up to fail. You’ve planted a bomb on the planet to explode when the Deltites take over.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He nods, a smug self-congratulatory grin on his face. “A Heart Stone to be precise. It was the only logical action to take.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Bile burns my throat. “But billions of humans live on the planet.... They will all die. They have souls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Still, my father’s logic is undeniable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> “Another complication has developed.” Two different human faces materialize above us and hover in front of the image of Earth. “The woman’s name is Summer Stone. She’s what humans call Native American, and is the mother to the Alpha among the Chosen. The man is not from her tribe. He’s what they call Irish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“The calculations behind the Chosen were extremely advanced and fragile.” A third face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">joins that of the others. “The Alpha’s name is Juliet Wildfire Stone. She was supposed to be born from a union between two members of the same Native American tribe. That genetic combination was the only way humans could produce a Chosen strong enough to be an Alpha and draw power from the other three. The secret order had specific rules regarding this, yet they failed to heed them. Fools! I can’t predict what the outcome will be of this particular pairing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Her eyes seem to sparkle, but I shake my head. These are only holographic images. I can’t read too much into them or let my imagination cloud my reason. “I don’t understand the problem. Either she is powerful enough to be the Alpha, or she isn’t. Since you want them to fail, why do you care?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My body turns weak. I’m lucky I’m already sitting. It’s unthinkable, but it’s the only thing that might frighten my father. “You’re afraid she’s an... abomination.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I can’t rule it out. Even if she is, she won’t be strong enough defeat an Elite, but we can’t take any chances. I want you to go to Earth. Make sure the Chosen fail and never find out about our plans. They can’t tell the Deltites about the Heart Stone I’ve planted on the planet. If they retrieve that crystal, all would be lost, and they could use its power against us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Me.” I point to my chest. “Why me? Why not send someone else, someone who has already proven—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“I trust no one else with this! You will succeed and return to Alpha, and when you return you will take the final test. This way we have an excuse for your... reluctance to finish the final exam.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Two small discs fly into his hand, and he hands one to me. “This one is programmed with my brainwaves. You will use it when you have succeeded. I will keep the second here, so I can contact you... if need be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If pure evil exists in this universe, it’s sitting next to me, and I am this monster’s son. What does that make me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/smarturl.it/Scorched_Souls"><img class="alignleft wp-image-18188 size-full" src="http://www.jeffaltabef.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/scorched-souls2-683x1024.jpg" height="284" width="177" /></a></span><span style="color: #660000;"><i><br /></i><i>Fate and destiny clash in the explosive, heart-pounding conclusion to the award-winning Chosen series.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>~~~~~</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Survival is not enough.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Alliances will be formed.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Loyalties tested.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>A choice made.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>My name is Juliet Wildfire Stone and I’m not just a Chosen, I’m the Alpha… and the fate of Earth rests in my hands.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>When I finally met the Prime Elector, he wasn’t anything like I expected. He was supposed to be our mortal enemy, a monster I needed to destroy to fulfill my destiny, yet he was nothing like that—he’s young, brilliant, and looks like an angel.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Caught in the middle of a conflict between two ancient foes, which threatens to rip Earth apart, I must do what is right at all costs. To choose my fate, and Earth’s future, I will need to navigate a new path, form unlikely alliances, and solve ancient mysteries forgotten for centuries.</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Yet I cannot do it alone. Will the other Chosen follow me? Do I have the strength to make the right choice, or will the people of Earth be enslaved for all time?</i><i><br /></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jeff Altabef is an award-winning author who lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jeff is very happy and proud that his co-author for the Chosen Series is his teenaged daughter, Erynn Altabef. Wind Catcher, the first in the Chosen Series, has won the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Coming of Age Novels, the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award for Best YA Fiction and a Mom’s Choice Award.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those who like telling stories.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><em><strong>Connect with Jeff on his <a calibri="" font-family:="" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20style=" sans-serif="">http://www.jeffaltabef.com">website</a>, <o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Erynn Altabef is an avid reader, dancer, and community activist. Some of her favorite authors are Veronica Roth, Joelle Charbonneau, and her dad! (That would be Jeff Altabef.) She just started her freshman year at Connecticut College is proud to be a camel!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><em><strong>Connect with Erynn on <a calibri="" font-family:="" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3C/span%3E%3Cspan%20style=" sans-serif="">https://www.facebook.com/erynnaltabefauthor/">Facebook</a>.</strong></em></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-37367739648658990872016-10-10T09:03:00.000-04:002016-10-10T09:03:44.082-04:00The Extraordinary October Tour: Extraordinary October by Diana Wagman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi All! Today is my stop on the <span style="color: #a64d79; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Extraordinary October Blog Tour </span>hosted by Xpresso Reads. The minute I saw this beautiful cover and read the synopsis for the story, I knew I had to have this book.<br />
A huge shout out goes to Giselle from <b><i><span style="color: #a64d79;"><a href="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://xpressobooktours.com/2016/07/28/tour-sign-up-extraordinary-october-by-diana-wagman/&source=gmail&ust=1476165431209000&usg=AFQjCNFQqcrcQFOBDSlTekcTW5oQa3xSQg" target="_blank">Xpresso Reads</a></span></i></b> allowing me to be a part of this tour. And thanks to Diana Wagman for sharing the protagonist, October Fetterhoff, with the world. I think you will enjoy her as much as I did.<br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Title: <i>Extraordinary October</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Author: Diana Wagman</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Publisher: Ig Publishing</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Date of Publication: Oct. 11, 2016</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><br /></b></span> <span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b><i>Synopsis:</i></b></span><br />
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<i>October is an ordinary girl. From her plain looks to her average grades, there seems to be nothing special about her. Then, three days before her eighteenth birthday, she develops a strange itch that won’t go away, and her life is turned upside down. Suddenly, she can hear dogs talk, make crows fly, and two new and very handsome boys at school are vying for her affections. After she starts “transplanting” herself through solid rock, October learns that she is not ordinary at all, but the daughter of a troll princess and a fairy prince, and a pawn in a deadly war between the trolls and the fairies. Now October will have to use all of her growing powers to save her family, and stop a mysterious evil that threatens to destroy the fairy world.</i><i><br /></i><i>In the fantastical vein of authors such as Julie Kagawa and Holly Black, Extraordinary October takes us on a magical journey from the streets of Los Angeles to the beautiful and mythical underground fairy kingdom.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Extraordinary October</span></b></i> is an interesting book that's about a young girl about to turn 18, who gets a terrible itch and her whole world she knows gets flipped on its head! She slowly starts to realize elves, fairies, trolls, and magic is real. And she, October, finds herself embroiled in all of it. </div>
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First off, the protagonist's name is pretty cool and unique : October. It's hip, fun, and festive! </div>
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The one thing that I really admired about our main character, <i><span style="color: #a64d79;">October</span></i>, is that she isn't perfect. She is immature, hormones going 100 miles an hour, and she makes mistakes. Sometimes a lot. There are times that she can learn from her mistakes; other times she doesn't. I think this trait makes her more relatable to most teenagers than any other characters. </div>
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Speaking of other characters, the supporting ones are very entertaining. There were times I enjoyed them more than our main one. Especially, Luisa and Chris or Green. They were honest and kind.</div>
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I also enjoyed seeing the magical world through October as she slowly accepted what she was seeing. The little scenes that played out while she was out and about: the man talking to little buzzing creatures, the woman with the elf on her shoulder, and of course hearing animals talk. </div>
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Who wouldn't want that little power?!!? </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Extraordinary October</span></i></b> seems to be a character driven plot solely relying on our characters to get the story moving along. Therefore at times I found it to be exciting but others it moved a tad bit slower than usual.</div>
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There were times I thought the "Ha, ha, ha" after every joke got old. I would have liked less of those and more credit giving to the reader to reach the inference to the joke without the explanations pointed out each time. </div>
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I also wasn't too happy with the obvious love triangle that was put out there from withing the first few chapters. There was also a huge insta-love concept that could have been toned down a good amount and we could have still developed the blossoming relationship found there.</div>
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Other than these techniques, I found <b><i><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Extraordinary October</span></i></b> to be a fun read, with a surprising twist about the villain and even her own parents. The ending, I felt, was overall an enjoyable one with no noticeable cliffhanger. It was well rounded and could be a stand alone or even the first book in a series. </div>
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I would have to give this book a 3 heart rating! <br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>Want to pick up your own copy?</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><i><span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Extraordinary-October-Diana-Wagman/dp/1632460378" target="_blank">Amazon</a>| </span></i></b><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/extraordinary-october-diana-wagman/1123511397?ean=9781632460370" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: #741b47;">B&N| </span></i></b><b style="color: black; text-align: start;"><i><span style="color: #741b47;"></span></i></b></a><b style="color: black; text-align: start;"><i><span style="color: #741b47;"><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-ca/ebook/extraordinary-october" target="_blank">Kobo</a></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b><i>Get to the know the Author:</i></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79;">Author Bio:</span></i> </div>
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<i>I have always written and always wanted to be a writer, but didn’t think I could make a living at it. So I became a mime. (You can imagine what my father had to say about that.) I worked on the streets of NYC with two partners, stopping traffic in front of the Met and annoying tourists. When, to my great surprise, that didn’t work out, I returned to school in film–thinking screenwriters made a living. And when I had ten scripts and my agent had stopped returning my calls, I wrote a novel. I did it just because I wanted to love writing again and not think about selling or casting or marketability. That novel was Skin Deep, and it’s a testament to writing from your heart that the first person to read it, bought it. I’ve been trying to write from the heart ever since.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b><i>Giveaway Time:</i></b></span></div>
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We are super lucky today to be a part of this amazing giveaway going on right now! You have up for grabs some beautiful fairy lights to help light your way in your darkest hour. </div>
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Be sure to click on the link below to be taken to the rafflecopter for the giveaway!<br />
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-35215281127814804182016-08-15T22:04:00.000-04:002016-08-15T22:04:11.398-04:00The Russian Tattoos: Prisoner by Kat Shehata; Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Reads<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi, yall! I am here today to review the book Russian Tattoos: Prisoner by Kat Shehata, and I am also a part of the blog tour for this book. Huge shout out to <a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2016/06/03/tour-sign-up-russian-tattoos-prisoner-by-kat-shehata/">Xpresso Reads</a> for putting this all together and allowing me to be a part of it. Just click <a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2016/06/03/tour-sign-up-russian-tattoos-prisoner-by-kat-shehata/">here</a> if you would like to follow the tour stops.</div>
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Don't forget to check at the end of the review for an international giveaway and good luck!!!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian Tattoos: Prisoner<br />
by Kat Shehata<br />
Published by Limitless Publishing<br />
Date of Publication: Aug 2 2016<br />
Genre: Dark romance, suspense, New Adult, 18+</td></tr>
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<i><span style="color: #990000;">American tennis player Carter Cook is being held prisoner by the Russian mafia…<br />Carter is the obsession of mob boss Vladimir Ivanov, a man she once loved. Now a mafia war has erupted on his home turf, and Vladimir’s enemies have put a bounty on her head to force him to surrender. If she is captured, his rivals will deliver a deadly ultimatum—his life in exchange for hers. The price for Carter’s freedom is Vladimir’s blood.<br />Vladimir holds ultimate power as godfather of the Ivanov Bratva…<br />He spent five years in a Siberian prison camp and has earned every tattoo inked into his skin. He is a powerful man who rules his crew with an iron fist.<br />But his enemies have discovered his only weakness—Carter. Vladimir knows if she stays in his world, he is handing her a death sentence, so he vows to get her home and never interfere in her life again. Giving up the woman he loves is the only way to protect her from the bad guys—including himself.<br />Vladimir’s rivals have a different plan for the ill-fated couple…<br />Some punishments are worse than death, and the head of the Ovechkin Bratva will go to any length to seek vengeance and inflict maximum suffering on Vladimir.<br />Carter may be Vladimir’s weakness, but she is also his only hope for survival. When the boss of the Ovechkin family threatens the man she loves, she must fight for Vladimir’s freedom before their rivals can deliver the fatal blow.<br />Love is blind—but it could also be deadly.</span></i></blockquote>
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;"><b>My Review:</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I didn't really know what to expect when it came to</span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;"> Prisoner</span></i><span style="color: #666666;">. I thought maybe I could read book 2, even though I hadn't picked up book 1,</span><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Obsession</span></i><span style="color: #666666;">. That is a no no! You must read book 1 before you read book 2!!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Which is probably a big fat "duh" for most people but I am weird. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">So I did read book 1 and it pushed my emotions to the wall. There are some things in it that just screamed at me "NOOOOO!" But there were other parts of it that I really liked. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Of course, you have to understand that <b><i>Russian Tattoos</i></b> isn't your typical romance. I think the author was intending it to be more of a dark romance/BDSM type deal. Without the leather whips and playtoys. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">It is also not marketed towards Young Adult (hell no) and has some definite erotic scenes in the storyline. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">So when you look at those factors, then it is a little bit easier to get past the rough treatment of Carter. But not completely. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Honestly, I didn't know if I was going to love it or hate it until I realized that is what really great writing is. The ability to push me to such extremes and wreck my emotions so harshly. I was crying with both books. I may not agree with everything that happens to Carter because of Vladimir and his goons but I don't think the author does either. Or at least, everything isn't going to be sunshine and roses when you are dealing with the Russian Mafia. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I believe that is what the author is trying to convey to us, as well as the fact that love is blind. Love doesn't see the dangers, just what the heart wants. And for Carter, she wants Vladimir even when she knows he may not be the knight in shining armor she expected. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">The plot was amazing and I loved the details Shehata went to to make it feel like we were a part of the Russian mafia scene. It is gritty and she doesn't romanticize it as much as you would expect in a romance book. She shows us the dirty behind the scenes side of it, and through this, we also get to see the lesser of the two evils. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">The characters are a mixed blessing to me. I like Carter's spunk but couldn't stand her immaturity when it came to her life. I kept having to go back and check to make sure she was in college, instead of high school the way she acted most of the time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Besides her immaturity, I did see some similarities of myself in her. Especially, the low self-esteem. That was a major point with me as I was hoping she would stand up for herself more while I knew I have some of the same issues she deals with too. </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000;">Vladimir</span></i><span style="color: #666666;"> is the "sexy Russian" we all dream about at night. Actually, when I pictured Vladimir, Illya from the movie, <i>The Man From U.N.C.L.E.</i> would pop into my head. Of course, that isn't a bad thing at all. I love that character! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"> Vladimir has a very pronounced dark side to him being the </span><b><span class="" style="color: #990000;">pakhan</span></b><span style="color: #666666;"><i> </i>of his family in the Russian mafia. I liked the bad boy type he played but he became very scary when he drank. And vodka is a major object in his Russia. There is definitely issues there besides the fact he is the leader of his bratva in major crime. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Then there is Boris. Ah, Boris. I have this love/hate relationship with Boris. As I read through with Boris, I kept reminding myself that he was raised in a completely different environment than what anyone in America was used to. Am I condoning him for some of his treatment of Carter? No way. But I am trying to understand from his viewpoint. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">He is loyal to a T. Family is everything to him. His family, though. I think he admires Carter but thinks she is too naive and immature for her own good. No argument there. And Boris believes in the using the belt. Very much. But again, we need to remember that Russia is a completely different environment than where Carter grew up. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Later, we understand how this "iron fist" attitude comes to help everyone in the family and how Boris isn't the only one who relies on it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">In Prisoner, we get meet other characters that are important to the story, but I feel these three characters are the ones you will interact with the most. Although, I do love me some Dimitri, the sisters, and Pasha. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">There really isn't a good vs bad guy here. There are just different degrees of bad guys. And the really really bad guy is the "douche bag" who we all want to sucker punch. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I also really appreciate the research that was done into the Russian mafia, the Russian culture, and the language to give us a well-rounded book that seemed to be very in the know of its characters and backgrounds. In fact, I would love to read more about Russia from a historical standpoint because it does have a beautiful side to it too. And I loved the language so much! Da!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">All in all, I was torn between loving this book and despising the treatment of Carter. I loved the plot, some of the characters, and the descriptions of the Russian dealings. I enjoyed the banter Carter put out but at the same time, I still think she needs to learn when to let it go. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">There is also a lot of dark moments in the both books. It makes for some major suspense but at the same time, some may have gone a little too far. It's all in the reader's point of view. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I give <b><i>Russian Tattoos : Prisoner</i></b> four hearts. I loved it more than the first book and I feel like we really get a more in-depth look into Vladimir and Boris. And Carter finally gets some growing up out of the way. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Oh and there is a huge cliffhanger at the end of both books. I am talking "holding on by one finger" type cliffhanger. So if you're not a cliffhanger type person you may want to think hard about reading it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30343800-russian-tattoos"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMC5CLFSKdq-UlwlESjG-c4EmbHHcwNpIhCWxpPX9Ca2gQAp_sgNX9d3yEllPDaycfFQ18zSSjsEHEghoxG-mlEShUM6x0v7-5kBxD2DBereleSSHzs1gyHcEB5qhij1FBxHS8Dl-Xr1U/s1600/pink+add+to+goodreads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><i>Get your own copy at :</i></b></span></div>
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<b style="color: #990000;"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Russian-Tattoos-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01INZ4P9U/">Amazon</a></i></b></div>
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<b style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Connect with the Author:</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b><i><a href="http://www.katshehata.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/katshehata">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katshehatafans">Facebook </a>| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/64088.Kat_Shehata">Goodreads</a></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><i>Author Bio:</i></b></span></div>
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<i>Kat Shehata’s first career involved caring for exotic, dangerous, and adorable animals as a zookeeper. As an author, Kat weaves her love of animals into her work. She is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling children’s book Animals on the Other Side wrote with Sylvia Browne.<br />She is an avid tennis player and spends her free time playing matches in a recreational league in Cincinnati, Ohio. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from Wilmington College, a professional writing certificate from the University of Cincinnati, and a master’s degree in creative writing from Spalding University.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">Click<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d04251231348/" target="_blank"> here</a> to be taken to the Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. My html is just not wanting to cooperate. </span></span></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-51408113213552910162016-06-22T10:46:00.000-04:002016-06-22T10:46:35.534-04:00Waiting on Wednesday : Three Dark Crowns <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i>It's been awhile since I have participated in a WoW post, but I want to get back into blogging regularly more often so I thought this would be a fun way to do it! </i></b><br />
<b><i>This is a great way to get to know fellow bloggers and find out what they can't wait for! Huge thanks goes to <a href="http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Breaking the Spine</a> for creating such an awesome concept. Head over there for all the details. </i></b><br />
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<b><i>So what is my Waiting on Wednesday pick, you ask? </i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Three Dark Crowns</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">by Kendare Blake</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Date of Publication: </span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sept 20, 2016</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">From Goodreads:</span></i></b></div>
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<br /><br />Every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born: three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.<br />But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins. The last queen standing gets the crown.<br />If only it was that simple. Katharine is unable to tolerate the weakest poison, and Arsinoe, no matter how hard she tries, can’t make even a weed grow. The two queens have been shamefully faking their powers, taking care to keep each other, the island, and their powerful sister Mirabella none the wiser. But with alliances being formed, betrayals taking shape, and ruthless revenge haunting the queens’ every move, one thing is certain: the last queen standing might not be the strongest…but she may be the darkest.</blockquote>
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So what are you waiting for?</i></b></div>
ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-8470354560594775802016-06-10T03:17:00.000-04:002016-06-10T03:17:32.983-04:00Book Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas A.K.A the book that stole my heart away!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A Court of Mist and Fury</i></b><br /><b>Sarah J. Maas</b><br /><b>Bloomsbury/ May 2016<br /><i><span style="color: #990000;">Book 2 in A Court of Thorn and Roses</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i>Synopsis:</i></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.</span></i><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.</span></i><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.</span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span></div>
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<b>I have found the book that if I never read another book as long as I live, I can die happy knowing I found this treasure. Of course, I would very much like to read the next book; but I am beyond fulfilled having this novel in my possession. </b> </div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">A Court of Mist and Fury</span></i> brings together all these chaotic and beautifully surreal characters crashing towards us creating this friction that forms these majestic scenes in our heads, our hearts, and our souls. I am forever changed by this novel and I wouldn't have it any other way. I finished reading it today and I can't find myself in the bed even now. I don't want this "glow" to end just yet. But I honestly don't think I will ever lose any of the happiness Maas has given me. </b></div>
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<b>There are so many emotions rolling around in this story. And I relate to Feyre more than I thought I could with a fictional character. After the turmoil she went through Under the Mountain, Feyre finds herself in mental agony all the time. She is severely depressed, and suffers from panic and anxiety that is enough to break the world apart. </b></div>
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<b>I understand the panic and anxiety all too well. I have watched myself go from a fun loving adventurous person to someone who is scared to death to go out in society in case I can't protect the ones I love most. </b></div>
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<b>To see someone so strong, so amazing experience some of these same terrors was heartbreaking for me. But it was also a light in the darkness. I may be able to get through my panic just by keeping Feyre in my mind. I wept so long and knew right then that this book was <i>my </i>soulmate. </b></div>
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<b>There was even a time while reading, that I thought to myself:</b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">"I may not survive this book. My heart is so ensconced with these characters, I will be completely changed forever</span></i>."</b></div>
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<b>And I was utterly right. I am wholly changed.</b></div>
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<b>I loved <i><span style="color: #cc0000;">A Court of Thorns and Roses</span></i> but that love is infinitesimal compared to the adoration I have for this second book in the series. </b></div>
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<b>There isn't much I can say that isn't absolute love for <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">ACoMaF</span></i>; I had no issues at all with the characters, the plot, or the world building. </b></div>
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<b>There were certain characters that I wanted to wrench their necks. You don't fall in love with a free spirit and then try to cage it. Never does that turn out well. </b></div>
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<b>And then there were other characters that I couldn't steer my thoughts away. </b></div>
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<b>The descriptions used to show us the Night court was enchanting. The city there, Velaris, had me picturing Savannah, Ga. I don't know why; I just did. Perhaps, Savannah is my home in my heart, no matter where I am. </b></div>
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<b>I don't really want to give anything away in case you haven't read the first book yet. Honestly, I had to get my reactions down before I exploded from the emotions that were taking over. Rage, despair, and utter devotion. But more importantly, hope. So much hope...for Lucien, Feyre's sisters, the Night Court, and yes, even Tamlin. </b></div>
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<b>Please if you have ever loved stories about Fae, about magic, and love - then give this series a try. Do you instead yearn for a strong female character who grows and learns what she needs and loves? Do you need to see characters fight for what they know is right; although they most definitely will stumble along the way? Then you need to read this series too. It is more than just a paranormal romance. It's more than just a book about magic and the different Fae courts. This novel is soul wrenchingly complicated at times; simply perfect at others. </b></div>
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<b>Maybe as I start to process everything better I can come up with a better review. I don't know. But I do know that I am eternally grateful to Ms. Sarah J. Maas for creating this masterpiece and sharing it with the world. I feel like she has given me a piece of my heart back that I didn't even realize was missing. </b></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17927395-a-court-of-mist-and-fury?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0THFFsyPCOWFNdXe1U9Ad1-WpARhSqdKncTdZjS8BDNkqTrf473jVaBpSb0Lreq7E7K12F_KI3WomYoy62qotWgi7JW7TpYnwK-TPhzaHfb9kNgXVORwyiDRtlCG8jI4pvb1HNUBfaEI/s1600/pink+add+to+goodreads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Available at:</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Court-Mist-Fury-Thorns-Roses-ebook/dp/B015FELXQ0?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B015FELXQ0&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_glide_bb&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-court-of-mist-and-fury-sarah-j-maas/1123052907;jsessionid=E1F4C92C735700A391DE76A06C833F7D.prodny_store01-atgap07?ean=9781619634466&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20IncM000004" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble </a>| <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Court-of-Mist-and-Fury-Sarah-J-Maas/9781619634466?ref=grid-view" target="_blank">The Book Depository</a> |</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">Connect with Sarah J. Maas:</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3433047.Sarah_J_Maas" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="http://sarahjmaas.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/SJMaas" target="_blank">Twitter </a>|</span></i></b></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-44947505079586996032016-06-02T07:54:00.000-04:002016-06-02T07:54:30.777-04:00Book Review: Cockroach Invasion by Sherry L. Meinberg<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Title:</span> <i>Cockroach Invasion</i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Author: </span>Dr. Sherry L. Meinberg</b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Publisher: </span>Archway</b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Date of Publication: </span>June 30 2014</b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Age Range: </span><i>8 and up</i></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138;">Genre: </span><i>fiction, educational, children's literature </i></b><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b><i>Synopsis:</i></b></span><br />
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<i><b>Cockroach catastrophe! The third graders are in for an exciting and scary experience, as cockroaches take over their classroom. How will they act? What will they do? What would you do? What will they discover about cockroaches?</b></i><i><b><br /></b></i><i><b>Nobody loves a cockroach! They make nasty houseguests; the ick factor is very high. But most cockroaches live outdoors and never come in contact with humans. The Cockroach Invasion challenges our assumptions and raises awareness about cockroaches and the role they play in our ecosystem. It expands readers' minds and stimulates their imaginations, while contributing to the appreciation of biodiversity. It teaches readers to think twice about underloved yet necessary creatures.</b></i><i><b><br /></b></i><i><b>The Cockroach Invasion entertains and informs. It is a delightful read for all ages, stunning in its underlying messages: self-reliance, open-mindedness, and respect for all creatures with which we share our world. No matter how you feel about cockroaches, you are guaranteed to find them fascinating!</b></i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22799733-the-cockroach-invasion?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0THFFsyPCOWFNdXe1U9Ad1-WpARhSqdKncTdZjS8BDNkqTrf473jVaBpSb0Lreq7E7K12F_KI3WomYoy62qotWgi7JW7TpYnwK-TPhzaHfb9kNgXVORwyiDRtlCG8jI4pvb1HNUBfaEI/s1600/pink+add+to+goodreads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b> </span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Cockroach Invasion</b></span></i> was a fun and interesting read that had all of my boys saying "Ewww!" a few times throughout the book. There was comedy, lots of learning, and really great illustrations that helped make the <i><b>Invasion </b></i>that more fun!<br />
<b><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Cockroach Invasion</span> </i></b>is about an elementary school that gets overtaken by cockroaches; the bugs are coming in through the sink in the kids' bathrooms. Instead of looking at the obvious negative aspects, the teachers decide to use this situation as a learning tool and the kids embark on a journey to learn everything they can about cockroaches. I think this fact alone is what made me love Cockroach Invasion even more because it teaches children to always try to look at the bright side of things. What a great advice for us all!<br />
Through this book we learned more about cockroaches than I ever thought I would. Using the <b>KWL</b> chart, the boys and I were able to discover these insects' habitats, the different kinds, their needs, and even their origins. (The KWL chart is three sections labeled :<i> Know</i>; <i>Want to know</i>; and <i>Learn</i>. Students then proceed to fill out in the appropriate columns. This chart is a wonderful tool to get your kids writing as well as learning.)<br />
As well as learning facts about the different cockroaches, we get to see some very entertaining illustrations that I believe were created from the students in the author's classrooms. That was very exciting for the boys to see kids there own age getting their artwork in a published book! <br />
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<i><span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Cockroach Invasion</b></span></i> is a great way to get your kids reading with the help of an unlikely character: the Cockroach! And who knows, you just might enjoy the creepy crawly side to learning too!<br />
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<i>* I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Everything I have expressed has come from my own mind and are my own opinions. </i><br />
<i>**We used this book as a study guide learning about cockroaches for homeschool.</i><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b><i>Pick up your copy at:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cockroach-Invasion-Sherry-L-Meinberg/dp/1480807478?ie=UTF8&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1480807478&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=x_gr_w_glide_bb&tag=x_gr_w_glide_bb-20" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cockroach-invasion-dr-sherry-l-meinberg/1119899569?ean=9781480807471" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> |</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b><i>Connect with the author at:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/71146.Sherry_L_Meinberg" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> |</b></span><br />
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-19227046218164823782016-05-28T15:22:00.000-04:002016-05-28T15:28:00.776-04:00Book Review: Moldylocks and the Bear by Bertram Boo {Plainfield Chronicles Book 2} <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: <i>Moldylocks and The Bear</i></b><br />
<b>Author: <i>Bertram Boo, Plainfield Press</i></b><br />
<b>Series Order: <i>The Plainfield Chronicles # 2</i></b><br />
<b>Publisher: <i>Plainfield Press</i></b><br />
<b>Date of Publication: <i>Sept. 23/ 2014</i></b><br />
<b>Age Ranges: <i>Middle Grade (my 8 yr old loved it though)</i></b><br />
<b>Genre: <i>Kids fiction, Fairytale retelling, mystery, kids comedy</i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Synopsis:</span></i></b><br />
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<i>The zombies of Plainfield are back in this fast-paced, limb-flinging follow-up to the bestselling "Scar and the Wolf." Meet a whole new batch of characters, discover new places around town, and find out what happens to lost little body parts trying to find their way home.<br /> <br />Moldylocks LaMort has always felt like she's the biggest loser in Plainfield. But now she finally has a chance to get some respect -- and get out of town -- by winning the lead role in "Grizzlylocks," Plainfield's annual town musical.<br /> <br />Moldylocks should be a cinch to win. After all, she's the biggest bear expert in Plainfield. But her arch-enemy, Jeminy Stinkpit, wants the role, too, and she and her mom will do anything, legal or not, to get it. To make things even more complicated, a family of *real* bears has just moved into town, and Moldylocks finds out she really didn't know anything about bears at all.<br /> <br />See what happens as Moldlocks's life goes from bad to worse to disastrous until she's finally forced to answer some hard questions:<br /> <br />What would you do if you found out everything you knew about someone was wrong?<br /> Will she betray a friend to get what she wants?<br /> Will she be able to drink bee barf?<br /> <br />Find out in "Moldylocks and the Bear" -- a story about losers, winners, the new kid in class, musical theater, bearrorism, and mismatched feet.<br /> <br />And, of course, zombies.<br /> <br />Basically, it's the story you know, just brainier.</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17847572-scar-and-the-wolf" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0THFFsyPCOWFNdXe1U9Ad1-WpARhSqdKncTdZjS8BDNkqTrf473jVaBpSb0Lreq7E7K12F_KI3WomYoy62qotWgi7JW7TpYnwK-TPhzaHfb9kNgXVORwyiDRtlCG8jI4pvb1HNUBfaEI/s1600/pink+add+to+goodreads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span><br />
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<b>I have to say I absolutely love this series! The first book, <i><a href="http://superreadingkids.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Scar and the Wolf,</a></i> just totally won me over. It has drama, mystery, and comedy. Oh and the best part? There is zombies. But zombies more for kids that can still be entertaining to grown ups too. </b><br />
<b>So, yeah, I love a series that is basically geared toward the middle grade crowd (although my 8 year old still enjoyed it). In a way, that is a huge compliment to the author because it is that interesting that it can keep a 30-something woman hooked to the last page. Bravvos!</b><br />
<b>So each book takes a different fairy tale, like Goldilocks and the three bears, and completely turns it on its head. There is zombies in it, a deeper storyline and morals that can still teach us today. And there is lots of comedy. </b><br />
<b>Our main character, Moldylocks, is this little zombie girl who is a huge fan of Bears. Of course, she is a fan of the misconception of bears. Besides bears, she is also a talented actor in the local plays. Moldylocks puts up with bullying from the popular girl at school and the other classmates and seems to be lonely a lot. </b><br />
<b>The local theater where her mom directs is putting on a huge play about Bears and is having a contest for the main part. This is Moldy's chance to get out of Plainfield through the acting scholarship up for grabs. </b><br />
<b>But she isn't the only one who wants that part and Moldylocks ends up learning more about Bears than she ever thought possible, especially when a family of bears moves into the area.</b><br />
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<b>These bears are pretty awesome! They have a great sense of style, have wonderful taste in music, and have the most wonderful attitude when it comes to less than appealing neighbors. </b><br />
<b>In fact, the way this trio of bears deals with the judgmental and rude zombies is something we could all learn from, myself included. Skip, Muffy, and Brockster open up their home to the zombies trying to show them bears aren't the vicious killers everyone believes them to be. </b><br />
<b>Unfortunately, the town is too caught up in the rumors to actually give this family the benefit of the doubt. There are only two zombies that will open their minds and hearts to this family to learn the real truth about bears. </b><br />
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<b>The set of characters in this book are truly well written. We see Moldylocks grow as she learns throughout the story that not everything is as it seems. I think one of my favorite characters was Phileas. He was just a darling! </b><br />
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<b>The characters were amazing and the morals in the story were enough to make me fall in love with the story but then the creativity shown throughout will knock your socks off!</b><br />
<b>Simply put, <i>Moldylocks and the Bear </i>is a fun book to read!</b><br />
<b>The different names will give you a chuckle:</b><br />
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<b>"<i><span style="color: #e69138;">Stinkpit Manor, Ebnerzer Rotbody, Calvin Gutbucket.</span>.."</i></b></div>
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<b>And then there is the descriptions of the different zombies that will make you snort out loud:</b></div>
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<b>"<i><span style="color: #e69138;">Emily Shank was just a leg, Tom Head was just a head with no body, and Arnold was the hired help with just a body and no head..</span>."</i></b></div>
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<b>And finally, the alliteration is astounding too!</b></div>
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<b><i>" <span style="color: #e69138;">back-up's back-up was backpacking; A finger flinger finder's fee</span>..."</i></b></div>
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<b>However, there is a few grammatical errors that I found through the book. It wasn't enough to take away from the story, but you may want to remember this if you will not be reading out loud to your kids. My kids and I actually made a little game of it and if they were reading by themselves they would bring to me any errors they found and we could correct them accordingly. </b></div>
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<b>But again, it was just a few and nothing that would take away from the overall story. </b></div>
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<b>Overall, <i>Moldylocks and the Bear </i>is a wonderful story that is filled with heart, fun, and lessons that all of us could learn from. </b></div>
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<b>And of course there is zombies! What's not to love?</b></div>
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<b><i>*<span style="color: #134f5c;">I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Everything expressed here is my personal feelings and opinions. </span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Pick up your own at:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moldylocks-Bear-Plainfield-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B00NUX8PGU?ie=UTF8&keywords=Moldylocks%20and%20the%20bear&qid=1464461939&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> |<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moldylocks-and-the-bear-bertram-boo/1121288217?ean=2940046596922" target="_blank"> Barnes & Noble</a> | </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Connect with the author at:</i></span></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5610519.Bertram_Boo" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> || <a href="http://www.plainfieldpress.com/" target="_blank">Website </a>|</b><br />
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-17921354930672948102016-03-14T00:06:00.000-04:002016-03-14T00:06:41.805-04:00Ebook Sale blast!! Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What’s better than a new
book? How about a new book that only costs $2.99? If you haven’t had the chance
to start the BECOMMING JINN series by Lori Goldstein, or even if you just want
to have a eCopy as well, now is the perfect time to pick it up! <br />
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<span style="font-family: "lobster two"; font-size: large;"><i>About The
Book</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">BECOMING JINN</span><br />
<em>Becoming
Jinn #1</em><strong>Author:</strong> Lori
Goldstein<br />
<strong>Publisher:</strong> Feiwel &
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One of the Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror
of 2015 by VOYA Magazine<br />
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Harry Potter meets Twilight in
debut novelist Lori Goldstein’s magical tale of sixteen-year-old Azra, a
teenage girl whose Jinn ancestry transforms her into a modern-day genie. With
the power to grant anyone’s wish but her own, Azra pretends to be human,
spending her days at the beach, enjoying a budding romance, and evading her
Jinn destiny. But when she discovers she may not be like the rest of her circle
of Jinn, will her powers save or endanger them
all?</div>
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<span style="font-family: "lobster two"; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22718738-becoming-jinn?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Add To Goodreads</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lobster two";">Praise</span></div>
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"<strong>This well-written title . . .
will not stay on the shelf."</strong> -- VOYA Starred
Review<br />
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<strong>"The only thing it left me wishing
for was the sequel!"</strong> -- <em>New York Times</em>
best-selling author Anna Banks<br />
<br />
<strong>"A fresh,
gently subversive tale with a new strain of paranormal problems at its
core."</strong> -- B&N Teen Blog<br />
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<span style="font-family: "lobster two"; font-size: large;"><i>About The
Author</i></span></div>
<a href="http://imgur.com/JTg2szP"><img align="left" src="http://i.imgur.com/JTg2szP.jpg" height="201" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px;" title="source:
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Born into an Italian-Irish family (hence the short
temper and the freckles), Lori Goldstein grew up in a small town on the Jersey
shore and now makes her home outside of Boston in a place close enough to the
ocean that on the right day, she can smell the sea from her back deck, and yet
it still takes an hour to get to the beach. She earned her bachelor’s degree in
journalism and worked as a writer, editor, and graphic designer before
embracing her love of fictional people. When not writing or reading (preferably
from a sandy local), Lori can be found chatting books, obsessing over
<i>The Vampire Diaries</i>, and perfecting the art of efficient
writing through <a href="http://twitter.com/loriagoldstein" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. <a href="http://www.lorigoldsteinbooks.com/">www.lorigoldsteinbooks.com</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "lobster two"; font-size: large;"><i>Giveaway</i></span> <o:p></o:p><br />
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<strong>One Winner
will get a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card</strong><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Open Internationally<strong> |</strong> Must
be 13 + To Enter<strong> |</strong> Sweeps/Giveaway accounts are
NOT eligible to participate.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-36569212693966004822016-01-24T02:19:00.000-05:002016-01-24T02:19:36.514-05:00Book Review: Brink of Dawn by Jeff Altabef & Erynn Altabef<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Title</b>:</span> <i>Brink of Dawn</i><br />
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Series:</span></b> <i>Chosen</i><br />
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Author(s):</span></b> Jeff Altabef & Erynn Altabef<br />
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Publisher</span></b>: Evolved Publishing<br />
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Date of Publication:</span></b> Nov. 28,2015<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: large;"><b>Goodreads Synopsis:</b></span><br />
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<i>Follow-up to the multiple award-winning Wind Catcher</i><i><br /></i><i>They walk among us as if they are gods.</i><i>Only the Chosen know what they are.</i><i>Only the Chosen know to fear them.</i><i>And only the Chosen can defeat them.</i><i><br /></i><i>Evolved Publishing presents the second book in the multiple award-winning Chosen series of young adult mystery thrillers, which feature an American Indian fantasy and supernatural theme, from the same author who brought you the award-winning thriller Shatter Point, and his daughter.</i><i><br /></i><i>Juliet Wildfire Stone and her best friend, Troy Buckhorn, barely escaped their sleepy Arizona town alive. Now they’re speeding to New York City to find the three other Chosen. The Chosen must band together to face an ancient foe that threatens all humanity.</i><i><br /></i><i>Yet Juliet doesn’t know whom to trust, and strange things are happening in the City.</i><i><br /></i><i>The Chosen will be tested, their resolve questioned, and their flaws exposed. Each must decide whether he or she will fulfill their destiny—or run. To defeat the enemy, they must stop battling among themselves and overcome their own struggles.</i><i><br /></i><i>Only one can lead them. Will Juliet embrace her powers in time?</i><i><br /></i><i>Brink of Dawn picks up where the multiple-award-winning first book in the Chosen series, Wind Catcher, left off, but it can also be read as a stand-alone novel. Continue the adventure! And be sure to watch for the third and final installment in this exciting series, Scorched Souls, to launch in late 2016.</i><i><br /></i><i>AWARDS FOR WIND CATCHER:</i><i>WINNER: Readers' Favorite Awards -- Gold Medal 2015: Young Adult Coming-of-Age</i><i><br /></i><i>WINNER: Mom's Choice Awards -- Silver Medal: Young Adult Books</i><i><br /></i><i>WINNER: Beverly Hills Books Awards - 2015: Best Young Adult Fiction</i><i><br /></i><i>WINNER: Awesome Indies -- Seal of Approval: "A treat to read."</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26824716-brink-of-dawn?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_fWSVvtkXElgFyjsiNWmmN8c8veM-qRfo0iYsyC8IppQJmL07bZTE619-5yaKqAnZZiiHUfVyzPWNprLgzdaHTQWEz8U-N6o_w7n_Ryu0unmKPZtNzPKCWWmIhuT8VMFLKCl3nj5YVQ/s1600/pink+add+to+goodreads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span><br />
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<b>Is it possible to actually fall </b><b> in love with something or someone more than you already are? </b><br />
<b>Yep, absolutely possible.</b><br />
<b>And that is pretty much what has happened with this series, these authors, and the characters. <i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Chosen</span></i> series really does keep getting better and better. </b><br />
<b>I love that in the second installment, <i><span style="color: #351c75;">Brink of Dawn</span></i>, we delve deeper into the prophecy and realize it isn't only central to Native American folklore; it gives us similarities and examples from the other major religions too. So just like in the book where we have very different people from all walks of life coming together for a common purpose, we see that the beliefs have more in common than most people realize they do. It is truly a breath of fresh air in this day and age. </b><br />
<b>Our main character, <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Juliet</span>, is still recovering from losing someone very close to her in the first book, <i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Wind Catcher</span></i>, as well as trying to reconcile herself with the fact she will have to commit crimes she may not be able to forgive herself for, even if it is to save the planet. In this book, Juliet has to learn more about herself as she goes into a self-imposed exile internally. </b><br />
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Troy</span> is still there protecting his best friend, Juliet, and learning more about himself as well. We see a tremendous growth in each of these characters as they learn their importance in each other's lives. </b><br />
<b>We are also introduced to a few new characters that play pivotal roles in the progression of the story. <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Connor</span>, a young man who is very troubled and drinks to deal with the pains of the past, is an interesting character that I have to say I really enjoyed. He proves the point "never judge a book by its cover" to be true time over time.</b><br />
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Akari</span> is super fun! I also love that we get to see Japanese mythos brought in and are able to find similarities between it and the other mythos in the story. Akari is a strong and tough female but still has issues that she must learn to overcome. She has panic attacks when she least needs to have them and I just find myself loving her so much because I , too, suffer from panic attacks. I can definitely relate, even if I can't save the world from powerful aliens! </b><br />
<b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Blake</span> is also an enigma in his own right too. At first glance, you would think he is a pompous and spoiled young man, but we soon come to find out he has the biggest heart you could imagine. He, just like his counterparts, have some serious issues that he will have to work through to save the world.</b><br />
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<b>I found myself reading <i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Brink of Dawn</span></i> nonstop and having a very hard time putting it down to do routine things like eat, sleep, or teach. This is a story that has an exciting plot, relatable and lovable characters, and a theme to die for. </b><br />
<b>I highly recommend this series to anyone that loves fantasy with a mixture of the different mythos (including Christianity) and has a scientific appeal to it too.</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i>Connect with the Author:</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7055582.Jeff_Altabef" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.jeffaltabef.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>| <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffaltabef" target="_blank">Twitter</a>|</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i>Get your own Copy:</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brink-Dawn-Jeff-Altabef/dp/162253316X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453619410&sr=8-1&keywords=Brink+of+Dawn" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brink-of-dawn-jeff-altabef/1122866067?ean=9781622533169" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> |</i></span></b></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-6289367445275263172015-12-01T00:52:00.001-05:002015-12-01T00:52:20.768-05:00Brink of Dawn Blog Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway hosted by Novel Publicity and Jeff Altabef, Erynn Altabef<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-CA"><strong>Welcome to the Brink of Dawn Tour<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA"><strong>hosted by <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/" target="_blank">Novel Publicity</a></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><strong>Authors Jeff Altabef and Erynn Altabef<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><strong>Follow-up to the multiple
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<span lang="EN-CA"><em>They walk among us as if they are
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<span lang="EN-CA"><em>Only the Chosen know what they
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<span lang="EN-CA"><em>Only the Chosen know to fear
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<span lang="EN-CA"><em>And only the Chosen can defeat
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<span lang="EN-CA">Juliet Wildfire Stone and her best friend,
Troy Buckhorn, barely escaped their sleepy Arizona town alive. Now they’re
speeding to New York City to find the three other Chosen. The Chosen must band
together to face an ancient foe that threatens all humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Yet Juliet doesn’t know whom to trust, and
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<span lang="EN-CA">The Chosen will be tested, their resolve
questioned, and their flaws exposed. Each must decide whether he or she will
fulfill their destiny—or run. To defeat the enemy, they must stop battling
among themselves and overcome their own struggles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Only one can lead them. Will Juliet embrace
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<span lang="EN-CA"><strong><i>Brink of
Dawn picks up where the multiple-award-winning first book in the
Chosen series, Wind Catcher, left
off, but it can also be read as a stand-alone novel. Continue the adventure!
And be sure to watch for the third and final installment in this exciting
series, Scorched Souls, to launch in late
2016.</i></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: large;"><strong>About the Authors</strong></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><img alt="jeff altabef" class="alignleft size-full
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Jeff Altabef is an award winning author who lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of "telling stories," he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller, was his debut novel. Evolved Publishing has published Jeff’s second thriller, Shatter Point, which won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Fall 2014 in the category of Best Thriller.<br />
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Jeff's first young adult novel, Wind Catcher: A Chosen Novel was published in March by Evolved Publishing. He's extremely excited that his daughter, Erynn Altabef, is his co-author on the Chosen Series. As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those that like telling stories.<br />
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As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those who like telling stories.</blockquote>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: large;"><b><i>~Excerpt ~</i></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA">Please enjoy this wonderful excerpt from the novel<b><i> Brink of Dawn </i></b>and be sure to enter the giveaway afterwards. And when you get the chance, run out there and grab this book as well as the first one. YOU will not be disappointed!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brink-Dawn-Jeff-Altabef/dp/162253316X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448947617&sr=8-1&keywords=brink+of+dawn" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><i>Amazon</i></span> </a>|</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: large;">~Excerpt~</span></span></div>
<i><b><br />“You don’t have to do this, Jules.” Troy cocks his head to the side a little, the way he does when he’s worried about me.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The warm expression in his eyes melts my heart. What would I do without him?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He’s always looking out for me. I used to get into fights, but even when they were my fault, he’d always stand up for me. Now I need him more then ever. The fate of the world is at stake, and he’s still here beside me, standing up for me. He’ll die to protect me if he has to, but I don’t need him to protect me anymore. I need him close, to wrap his friendship around me like a blanket, to connect, to feel human.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lately I’ve had a hard time feeling human without him.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“When was the last time I did something I didn’t want?” I smirk, but my words ring hollow, untrue—at least for me. I’m always stuck doing chores for other people, and now there’s an entire destiny to fulfill that’s been thrust upon me. I’d rather be normal and have nothing to do with this future, but we don’t get a chance to pick our destiny. At least I didn’t.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“What’s your mom going to say when she finds out?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Since when are you worried about my mom? You’ve been getting me in trouble since we were in kindergarten. Your name has been etched at the top of her Undesirable List since we were six. I’ve seen it. She keeps it posted on the refrigerator.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Troy arches his eyebrows. “Hey, your mom loves me! I’m the other child she’s never had.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Are you serious?” I shoot him a half smile so he knows I’m joking.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Everybody loves Troy. Still, he’s not on the college track, and Mom wants me to go to one of the best colleges so I can make tons of money and become a big shot lawyer, like her or some other Master of the Universe that has no fun and works way too hard.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Mom’s back home and we’re here. She doesn’t get a vote.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He frowns. “It’s just that... once you do this, you can’t undo it. It’s forever.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Really. That’s the point.” I shove him lightly in the chest. I’m old enough to make up my own mind, but he’s just trying to protect me, so I can’t get too angry with him.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“What are your classmates at that fancy private school going to think when they find out?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I pause for a second and look at him. I mean, really look at him, and peer past the handsome exterior: the almond-colored eyes, the chiseled chin, and the long raven hair that falls past his broad shoulders in a tight braid.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Beyond his confident shell, deep in his soul, he harbors doubts that trouble him—doubts he’ll never share with me. He’s making believe life will go back to normal once I fulfill this destiny—if I fulfill this destiny—but that’s not possible. Normal has become a bad joke, but I won’t shatter the illusion for him. He needs to sort events into a pattern he understands and imagine a time when life returns to what it was for us. It’s how he’s coping with the situation. I need to be strong for him. I can’t weaken his defenses, even if fears riddle my mind at every turn.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I straighten my back. “You know I don’t care about what they think at Bartens. I want to do this. I need to do it.” The wind kicks up, and the cool night air sweeps against my skin, leaving an army of goose bumps in its wake.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The almost full moon lights the cloudless sky. We inch toward the store and hesitate at the door. A red neon sign reads Lost Souls Tattoos in the front window. I take a deep breath and shove the door open, and a bell jingles above us.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No one’s in sight. Pictures of various tattoos line the walls of the small rectangular shop.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Toward the front left is a glass case with a cash register on top, and farther in the back are a massage table, some bright lights, and a chair with wheels on the legs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A woman strolls from a back room. She’s in her twenties, gaunt with sharp features, smoky gray eyes, short hair, one nose ring, and small hoops that circle the edges of her ears. She holds a half-eaten wrap as she ambles toward us. “What do you guys want?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She wears a loose gray T-shirt and tight jeans. Brightly colored tats cover her left arm, mostly eagles and hawks, and on the left side of her neck is a teardrop the size of my palm.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“I want a tattoo,” I say casually, as if ordering a cheeseburger at McDonalds.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She points to a sign taped on the cash register. “You’ve got to be eighteen for me to give you a tattoo, and there’s no way you’re eighteen.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I’m almost sixteen. In the right light I could pass for eighteen, but she probably has a lot of experience with underage teenagers asking for tattoos. Still, I feel a lot older than eighteen and that should count for something.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“No one else is here. It’s late and this tattoo is really important to me.” My voice whines slightly at the end. I wish it hadn’t.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Why?” She crosses her arms against her chest and arches her eyebrows upward. Two gold rings, one in each eyebrow, bob up and down.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />An invisible door creaks open. I’ll only get one chance to persuade her to give me the ink. Her teardrop tattoo stands out and must be important. Grief dulls the sparkle in her eyes and shows in the muscles that tighten her jaw. She’ll relate to my story, if it’s truthful.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“I need to remember someone who died recently. He was really important to me.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Who?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“My grandfather. I called him Sicheii, and he raised me like a father. He died to protect me.” Tears moisten my eyes. The tears are real, as Sicheii’s death is a fresh wound. People tell me the pain will get better with time, but they don’t know what they’re talking about. They mean well, but this hurt will always be fresh. He’ll always be gone, and it’s my fault. The woman’s face softens. “Just for the sake of discussion, what’re you looking for?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Troy drops the satchel looped over his shoulder, smiles, lifts his T-shirt, and reveals his well-muscled chest and copper skin. Across his heart is a blue tat of two twisted arrows in a circle. Each arrow features different feathers and arrowheads.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The woman glides toward him and examines the ink on his chest. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and symmetry. She clearly admires it and perhaps wouldn’t mind trying to copy it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Her eyes widen as she lingers over the details. “What does it mean?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I hesitate. What am I going to tell her, the truth? That the symbol represents the ancient Order of the Twisted Arrows? Or that my grandfather unwittingly injected me at birth with alien DNA, which has changed me forever? Or that I’m one of four Chosen thrust into a battle for our world against a powerful enemy called from a different planet?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />None of those explanations will get me a tattoo. She’d probably chase us from the store. I settle for something bland. “It represents an old society he belonged to. It meant everything to him. It was kind of a... club.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />At least it’s not a lie. She’s probably used to people lying to her and would catch a whiff of one right away.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She traces the circle with her finger. “Is it some weird Native American thing?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“You could say that.” Native Americans use tattoos generally to identify with certain tribes or to honor their animal spirit guide. I’m half Native American on my mom’s side, and Sicheii was her father. I have long black hair, an oval face, coffee-colored eyes that are round but not quite round enough to be beautiful, and a long, pointy nose I inherited from my Irish father. I look Native American except for the ghastly nose.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The tattoo artist leaves Troy and slides in front of me. She stands close, no more than a foot away, and traces of vegetable wrap linger on her breath. I’m taller than the average person and stand at least three inches higher than she does.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She studies my face for a long moment; perhaps she’s trying to see if I’m serious. “What’s your name?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Juliet Wildfire Stone.” I never used to tell people my middle name. It embarrassed me. Now I realize it’s who I am, part of my identity.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Wildfire, huh? I can see that. Where do you want the tattoo?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I roll up the right sleeve of my T-shirt. “My shoulder would be great.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She nods. “It’ll cost you two hundred cash, and you can’t tell anyone you got it here.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Done.” I hand her four fifty-dollar bills.<br /><br />She locks the door to the shop, guides me to the table in the back, and places a pillow on one end. “You want it the same color?”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I jump on the table. “Yep.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She gestures for Troy to come close. “Keep your shirt up. I want to get it just right.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Two hours later, she wipes my arm with a towel. “That’s so weird.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“What’s wrong?” My heart jumps. Did she just totally mess up my arm and leave me with some ugly circle thing?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Troy’s smiling, so how bad of a job could she have done?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Usually it takes a couple weeks for the tat to heal. It always bleeds a little or gets puffy, but your arm already looks perfect, as if the ink had been on it forever.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She hands me a mirror, and I smile. My tattoo is exactly the same as Troy’s. Exactly the same as Sicheii’s had been.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I shrug and hop from the table. “I’ve always been a fast healer.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My DNA’s been changed, so my body can regenerate itself almost instantly. I didn’t know that before. It’s just another one of my abilities, as Sicheii would say. I’ve started to think of them as aberrations.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I have five so far: I can hear other people’s thoughts and read their emotions; I can possess animals for a short period of time; I have increased strength and speed; can move things with my mind; and heal instantly. There will probably be more, but they scare me. With each new one, I become less human.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“We’d better head out.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I step toward the door, and she grabs my wrist. “Wait. I want to take a picture of the ink for the wall.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“You can’t.” I yank my arm away from her.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“I won’t take your face. Just the ink.”<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />“Tough.” She scowls at me, but I ignore her and march outside.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When we leave the store a sharp pain stabs through my head, as though someone has taken an axe to my skull and cleaved it in two. A wild rage burns through me, and all of a sudden I’m inside a villa next to a piano.<br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Breath catches in my throat, all the strength saps from my body, and I plummet to the ground.</b></i></blockquote>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-54267354062981424492015-10-09T09:03:00.000-04:002015-10-09T09:03:50.820-04:00Blog Tour: Here They Lie by D'Ann Burrow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hi everyone!! I was so honored to get to participate in this blog tour hosted by <a href="http://xpressobooktours.com/2015/08/26/tour-sign-up-here-they-lie-by-dann-burrow/" target="_blank">Xpresso Book Tours! </a></div>
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This is a really great book and I cannot wait to share my review with ya'll. Also, don't forget to check out the giveaway going on too! Thanks again!</div>
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<span class="il"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Title</span></b><span style="color: #222222;">: Here</span></span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222;">They</span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span class="il" style="color: #222222;">Lie</span><span style="color: #222222;"> by D’Ann Burrow </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><b><span style="color: #990000;">Series:</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> (The Bloodstone Legacy #1) </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">Publication date:</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> October 5th 2015</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">Genres</span></b><span style="color: #222222;">: New Adult, Southern Gothic</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26093521-here-they-lie" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads </a><br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">Book Synopsis:</span></b></div>
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<i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>Reese Everett’s aunt picked a bad time to die. Just weeks after a car accident left Reese’s mother unable to travel, her aunt’s house needs to be emptied and sold, leaving Reese as the only member of the family who can do the job. She typically wouldn’t balk at the opportunity to sift through her aunt’s collection of antiques, but when she arrives in Devil’s Vale, Georgia, she discovers the family house in a state of disrepair she won’t be able to handle alone.</i><i><br /></i><i>Colton Waters is back in Devil’s Vale – whether he likes it or not. After he loses his acceptance to medical school with no explanation, he’s left with a single job offer…one that will return him to the hometown he’d hoped to escape.</i><i>When an errand to help his sister ends in a meeting with Reese neither will easily forget, Colton takes a job as her temporary handyman.</i><i><br /></i><i>The longer Reese stays in town, the more she realizes the condition of her aunt’s house isn’t the only thing she hadn’t expected when she made the trip to Devil’s Vale. Reese isn’t the only gifted member of the family – her aunt Kate has been practicing the family business…the business Reese has been sworn never to discuss.</i><i><br /></i><i>After a ghostly visitor arrives one night, Reese and Colton learn Kate wasn’t the only one practicing the darker arts. They begin to uncover secrets that refuse to stay buried.</i><i><br /></i><br />
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<i>Here They Lie won the Young Adult Romance Writer’s 2014 award for New Adult fiction.</i></blockquote>
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<b><i><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">My Review:</span></i></b><br />
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<b>I really love a book that gives so much ado to Southern history. Actually, I really love any history; but I can't help but be partial to Georgia history because I am from GA!</b><br />
<b>It's also really cool when you're reading a book and you see the town you live in mentioned as being only 30 minutes away from the fictional setting. That is almost as good as seeing your state on TV! That is a great way for me to share a intimate familiarity with the book, Here They Lie. </b><br />
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<b>As I was saying, I love history and it is amazingly cool that the main character, Reese, is an anthropologist, or at least one in the making. Reading the beautiful descriptions of the old houses and the town of Devil's Vale; you can definitely tell the author is a huge Southern history fan. She does such a wonderful job of world building that you really feel as if you are taking a stroll through town. </b><br />
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<b>Besides the wonderful world building, the characters are also interesting too. Each person in Devil's Vale seems to have some sort of magical power that again makes the story that much better. Devil's Vale is this tourist town based on pretend magic (according to the tourists) which in reality is real magic! It is very creative!</b><br />
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<b>The area of the town is what adds to this intense ghostly feel of the story. The dark swamps, with the silent forests, and the very bumpy and old dirt roads just makes it feel like someone is always watching. And yes, there is this creepy fog. Even, as I write this right now, living on a bumpy dirt road, there is fog everywhere surrounding my house. Its is freaking awesome!</b><br />
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<b>The plot was also a pretty creative one too! You get pulled into the story and swept up with the characters as the past and future seem to collide together. Even as you get to know some of the more prominent characters, there is this nagging sensation that nothing is as it seems. </b><br />
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<b>However, the pace did seem to move a little slow at times. But instead of the tempo, we get more in depth with the history of Devil's Vale and its inhabitants. It seems to be a fair trade.</b><br />
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<b>There was also a couple other areas that I didn't enjoy- like the alternating point of views. It was confusing without a sub title telling who was talking at the time. There was one time, it was talking about driving the jeep through the woods to the house and I literally didn't know who it was: Reese or Colton, especially since they both have a jeep. </b><br />
<b>Another irritation was the amount of sex going on in this book. Now let me explain myself first. I am not a prude; I love erotica and try to experience all types of genres. However, it just seemed like our two main characters would have sexual relations at the drop of a hat. And that's cool ; but we are talking about major plot events that were pretty sad and devastating and they seemed to getting ready to do the dirty jig. </b><br />
<b>It just seemed to stretched; instead of letting it just happen. </b><br />
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<b>Other than these mishaps, I still enjoyed Here They Lie very much. It has lots of twists and turns, with such a cool understanding of ghosts it was hard not to love this book. It is full of rich history and it has my home state in it. I am really loving the Southern Gothic genre and I think Here They Lie is a great asset to the genre.</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;">Buy Links Here:</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b>Kindle: </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01638N2I4" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/dp/<wbr></wbr>B01638N2I4</a><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">iBooks:</span></b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/here-they-lie/id1046047369?ls=1&mt=11" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">https://itunes.apple.com/us/<wbr></wbr>book/<span class="il">here</span>-<span class="il">they</span>-<span class="il">lie</span>/<wbr></wbr>id1046047369?ls=1&mt=11</a><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">Kobo:</span></b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/here-they-lie" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">https://store.kobobooks.com/</span></span><wbr></wbr><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">en-us/ebook/</span></span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">here</span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">-</span></span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">they</span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12.8px;">-</span></span><span class="il" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">lie</span></a><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">BN</span></b>: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/here-they-lie-d-k-burrow/1122740209?ean=2940150953215" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">http://www.barnesandnoble.<wbr></wbr>com/w/<span class="il">here</span>-<span class="il">they</span>-<span class="il">lie</span>-d-k-<wbr></wbr>burrow/1122740209?ean=<wbr></wbr>2940150953215</a><br />
<b><span style="color: #660000;">Google Play</span></b>: <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/D_K_Burrow_Here_They_Lie?id=74ulCgAAQBAJ&hl=en" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">https://play.google.com/<wbr></wbr>store/books/details/D_K_<wbr></wbr>Burrow_Here_They_Lie?id=<wbr></wbr>74ulCgAAQBAJ&hl=en</a><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><b>Connect with the Author:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><b><a href="http://www.dkburrow.com/" target="_blank">Website </a>| <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8382621.D_Ann_Burrow" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>| <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dannkburrow" target="_blank">Facebook </a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/DKBurrow" target="_blank"> Twitter |</a></b></span><br />
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<i>D’Ann Burrow once told her preschool teacher she wanted to be a witch when she grew up. That simple comment signaled the start of a life-long fondness of things that go bump in the night. As she grew older, she could most often be found with her nose buried in a book, and she was especially fond of the Nancy Drew series as well as anything by Christopher Pike or Stephen King. Occasionally she’d take a trip to the world of the classics where The Scarlet Pimpernel and A Little Princess reigned among her favorites. She’s lost count of the times she’s read Little Women.<br />Today, D’Ann enjoys the world of Supernatural, stories about guys with fangs, and she’s seldom met a disaster film she hasn’t liked. When she grows up, she’d like to work at the Haunted Mansion. Until then, watching Ghost Hunters will have to count as research.<br />D’Ann writes about secrets people keep. Even the bravest heroine or a guy with a heart of gold has a few skeletons in the closet they’d rather not share with the world. When those secrets get out, things get interesting.<br />A Texas native, she knows making great guacamole is an art form. As a theater mom, she’ll happily chat about Broadway musicals by the hour. Molly and Lizzie, the family furry ones, are frequent stars of her Instagram account.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b><i><u>Tour wide giveaway:</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b><i><u>2 x $15 Amazon gift cards (International)</u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b><i><u>2 x Signed copies of Here They Lie (US Only)</u></i></b></span></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-12090752049783397982015-09-25T00:06:00.000-04:002015-09-25T00:06:38.961-04:00It's a REVEAL and a Giveaway!!! Sin Eater Episode 1.1 by Pavarti K. Tyler & Jessica West<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You've heard rumblings
about it, now it's finally here. <b><em>SIN EATER</em> </b>by Pavarti K.
Tyler and Jessica West is available now on Amazon.com. Check out the giveaway at the end of this post! <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<strong>Episode
1.1 is FREE 9/25 & 9/26 so grab your copy NOW.</strong> After
that it will be $0.99 or free on Kindle Unlimited: <a href="http://smarturl.it/SinEater1.1" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Episode 1.2 is available
now for $0.99: <a href="http://smarturl.it/SinEater1.2" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<hr />
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://smarturl.it/SinEater1.1"><img alt="SinEater1.1" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-9403" src="http://www.pavartiktyler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SinEater1.1-206x300.jpg" height="300" width="206" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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From Award-Winning
Author Pavarti K. Tyler and Speculative Fiction Author Jessica West, comes a
Dark Urban Fantasy serial about evil, and the next step in its evolution. <br />
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<br /></div>
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<strong>**This is
Episode ONE in a seven part urban fantasy/horror
serial**</strong><br />
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<br /></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>A Sin Eater
who battles demons for souls<br />A Priest who must protect what he
most desires, even from himself,<br />A rogue Romani mortician with an
attitude, a secret, and a powerful weapon,<br />And a Secret Order of the Church
who knows more than they’re saying…<br />Nikolai Grekh is the
last Sin Eater.<br /> <br />Born into a world
rampant with demon possession, Nik Grekh struggles to keep Hell’s hordes from
consuming the world, but he grows weary of the constant battle against sin.
Evil grows stronger as more souls are lost. With each new possession growing
increasingly violent, Nik fears he may be losing the war.<br /> <br />When Nik confronts a
demon he can barely defeat, he reaches out to the only man who can save him.
The only man he trusts. The one man he can never have…<br />Evil has resided
alongside humanity since the beginning of time, feeding on our weaknesses, our
vices. Our sins. It hungers for our souls, its demonic offspring possessing
humans, corrupting, manipulating, using us as unwitting pawns in a supernatural
chess match for the ultimate price: life.<br /> <br />The Crucifixion of
Christ saved humanity once. What will it take to save us this time? </i></blockquote>
<em><o:p></o:p></em><br />
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
<i><o:p></o:p></i><br />
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<strong>*contains
mature content, offensive themes, and general
deviance*</strong><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sin Eater 1.1 is
approximately 10,000 words or 45 pages, and is the first of seven episodes in
the first season of the Sin Eater serial. <em>If you don’t enjoy serials,
you can <a href="http://smarturl.it/SinEater1Box" target="_blank">pre-order the full Box Set on
Amazon</a>.</em><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<hr />
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<br /></div>
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<strong>A Note About
Serials: </strong>These are not stand alone books, however, if that
drives you crazy, you can <a href="http://smarturl.it/SinEater1Box" target="_blank">PREORDER
the full box set now</a>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://smarturl.it/SinEater1Box"><img alt="Season1Box" class="size-medium wp-image-9405 aligncenter" src="http://www.pavartiktyler.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Season1Box-300x261.png" height="261" width="300" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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For those reading alone
as each episode is released, here is the full schedule: <br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Sin
Schedule</strong><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p><table></table>
</div>
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</div>
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<br />
<strong>Episode</strong><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
<strong>Publication
Date</strong><br />
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</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Episode 1<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
9/25/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Episode 2<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
9/25/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Episode 3<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
10/9/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Episode 4<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
10/23/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Episode 5<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
11/6/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Episode 6<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
11/20/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Episode 7<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
12/4/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
Box Set<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
12/15/2015<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<hr />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Read an
Excerpt</strong><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Nik's hand
dripped blood and his forehead throbbed. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">"You
can't kill this man and that's the only way you'll get rid of me. You can't
take an innocent life without opening yourself up to my kind. So go ahead, kill
him, and then I'll wrap myself in your shell and consume your soul." The monster
licked its lips. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";"> “Bullshit.” </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">The leaky, red
eyes of the demon’s host displayed the first real signs of fear. It was all but
beat. He was almost finished. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">"Behold
and obey. By the power of Christ, invested in me by the Kingdom of Heaven and its
mighty King, I command you to yield. For this vessel is a child of God, sacred
unto him." </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Beads of sweat
popped out on the brow of the man before him, now crouching and glaring up at
Nik. One side of his face had melted away, leaving only sinew and bone. He
curled his arms and fists, making his biceps bulge with effort. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">His voice,
empowered by his birthright and emboldened by experience, rang clear in the
night. "I exorcise thee, every unclean spirit, in the name of God,"
Nik pressed his bloody palm against the demon's forehead, "and in the name
of Jesus, and in the name of the Holy Spirit!" </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Nik drew the
sign of the cross on the demon's flesh with his own blood. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">"Tell me
your name! The blood of Christ compels you!" </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">The man's
bulging muscles shook. He ground his teeth, trying his best to stop from
revealing his name and giving Nik the only thing he needed to destroy him. He
screamed, a long and low furious yell that revealed the only thing that might
have kept him safe: "</span><span style="font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Naamah<span style="background: white;">."
</span></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Nik slapped
his wet palm onto the man's sweaty forehead. "I exorcise thee, </span><span style="font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Naamah<span style="background: white;">, in the name of God, and in the name of Jesus,"
Nik's hand burned the man's flesh, but he couldn't stop, "and in the name
of the Holy Spirit." He pulled his face close until the two were
eye-to-eye. </span></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">The black from
the demon's eyes receded into its head, traveling the surface of the man's skin
and turning it gray. He opened his mouth and a black cloud rushed out, choking
its former host as it was expelled. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">The monster
let out a shriek as the last of its hold on the man was ripped out, sliding out
of his human host's mouth and into a black glob on the street. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">The man came
to his senses. Confusion showed in his eyes as his mind was once again able to
access his body. As the evil left the man's body, he slumped to the ground and
Nik lowered with him. Nik stayed just long enough to make sure the man's pulse
was stable. His job was to get the evil out, not to worry about what happened
after. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Nik’s head
spun, he was too exhausted, sick, and confused to reason it out. He’d exorcised
the demon. That’s all that mattered. He’d figure out the particulars later. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="LO-normal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">The blood on
Nik's hand glowed a deep red in the darkness as he reached out and grabbed the
evil before him. With a silent prayer, he picked it up, black sin wrapping
around his fingers like tentacles. Bile rose in his mouth at the thought of
what he needed to do next. Twice in one night. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">The throb in
his head began again and Nik stuffed the evil into his mouth, swallowing its
slick putrid essence in one gulp. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">Nik stood, but
he swayed and leaned heavily on the wall to his left, unable to see through the
dark haze that descended over his eyes. He felt like someone had snuffed him
out. Cold gripped his body, seeping into his bones, pulling him down, crushing
him in its icy fist. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Droid Serif",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Droid Serif";">He instantly
regretted treating this one as he had every other. He should have known better.
There was nothing about this possession that had been like the others. After
everything he went through to beat this thing, he came right back around to the
same thought as before. This would be the one that killed him. <br />
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<strong>And now the fun
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="e2e7719286" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2e7719286/" id="rcwidget_fnwir6v9" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter
giveaway</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><o:p></o:p></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-28746854333604391002015-08-15T00:30:00.001-04:002015-08-15T00:30:59.137-04:00Blog Tour: Book Review & Giveaway: The Redeemers by Kate Morgan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeoa3_ptWBOO66ir8hknC-OE70g_D8Eaydb9obuTqaaBN9VL4_A-ec5Js0vY65vQfFIOaG68R-R7PuekVotGzaBobvcoUvNtwt00JKodV2TO3Nm6YJoLMm1yQ2QCMI8pvueQlHPp3UaM/s1600/RedeemersBanner+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBeoa3_ptWBOO66ir8hknC-OE70g_D8Eaydb9obuTqaaBN9VL4_A-ec5Js0vY65vQfFIOaG68R-R7PuekVotGzaBobvcoUvNtwt00JKodV2TO3Nm6YJoLMm1yQ2QCMI8pvueQlHPp3UaM/s320/RedeemersBanner+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hi everybody! I am so happy to be a part of the blog tour for the book, <b>The Redeemers</b> by Kate Morgan. I want to send a huge thank you to the author as well as <a href="http://www.memyshelfandi.com/" target="_blank">Me, Myself and i</a> for putting this together and allowing me to take part in it! Ya'll Rock! </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixdkdD8u1vUvUNlvEUIs3WdtzgU-68slSRGW8dFEybVSBOU6HwbYenr7bwXqJK56nLFgvsqtQ7ilWtHl0BvQxKyzUVkBTCnXxCjzJ4763XkgUhyphenhypheny3KFb2W_jmacu8jrqAvhN_0t2W8ao/s1600/RedeemersCover_Morgan+%2528Loweecey%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixdkdD8u1vUvUNlvEUIs3WdtzgU-68slSRGW8dFEybVSBOU6HwbYenr7bwXqJK56nLFgvsqtQ7ilWtHl0BvQxKyzUVkBTCnXxCjzJ4763XkgUhyphenhypheny3KFb2W_jmacu8jrqAvhN_0t2W8ao/s320/RedeemersCover_Morgan+%2528Loweecey%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;">ABOUT THE BOOK</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #242423; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">THE REDEEMERS<br />
Author: Kate Morgan<br />
Publisher: Dark Recesses Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SYNOPSIS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Long after the Great War life flourished again, in no small part due to The Redeemers' help and guidance. It was a simple life, but a good one. Annie's world made sense...until one fateful day when everything of value is ripped from her.<br /> With nothing left to lose, Annie embarks upon a quest for the dark, disturbing truth of why - never imagining how deep the trail leads.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Find it </b></span>:</blockquote>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/:%20http://www.amazon.com/Redeemers-Kate-Morgan-ebook/dp/B013EQ4EJE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1438710674&sr=8-10&keywords=the+redeemers" target="_blank">Kindle</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26034538-the-redeemers" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> |<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>The Redeemers</b> was a very exciting read. I love books that can take different interpretations of a religion and turn it into a mystery and thriller. It also helps to throw in some cult like tendencies in there to keep things turned up a notch. Kate Morgan does this and more with <b>The Redeemers</b> and keeps us on the edge of our seat the entire time. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The setting in the story had me imagining the medieval times but it is actually set in the future. I don't think this is a mistake on the author's part; actually I feel this is a creative way to show us how much civilization has lost through the Great War. Every thing has returned to this simpler time in life and technology is nonexistent. It is almost like an alternate universe, perhaps? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The main character, Annie, has to deal with such physical and emotional turmoil, it is hard for us, as the reader, not to feel her pain intensely. The graphic writing of the torture she endures just in the first few chapters is very vivid and intense. It appeals to all of our five senses, making sure we grasp the situation just as Annie tries to understand it. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Even after the physical torture is over, the mental torture continues throughout the book. A lot of it is by Annie herself because she has such a hard time of trusting people. Can you blame her? Absolutely not. But not being able to relax and trust anyone can do a lot of harm to someone already hurt. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The world building was excellent. I felt like I was transported to each village Annie goes into and felt like I could just reach out and interact with the scenery. And when Annie sees all the old books, my heart jumps for joy. It was hard to contain my excitement for her as she was able to ponder over each one. The descriptions are right on target and I loved to watch as Annie learned more about what each Page meant to others. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The plot was so original! It takes an interesting concept and adds this cult like thriller to it as well as mystery and a feeling of "Who can I trust" ideas to it. I really did love The Redeemers! It was creepy, eerie, and just left you with this huge cliffhanger at the end that had me screaming for the next book asap! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I think if you enjoy any of the things I described above, you should definitely give <b>The Redeemers</b> a try. It was overpowering to my emotions to be in the dark through the book alongside Annie. We learn as she learns and it becomes that much more sinister to us too. </i></span><br />
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ABOUT
THE AUTHOR<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Kate Morgan is a darn good cook. She grows her own veggies, knits stuffed monsters, and watches lots of Hammer Horror.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiyAwRtk3qEZ0D1-BOadm704BM0qBd0OXT4hKwKSzH10ZN4P0KKAQjmRP_AAfQAeXZwbBsre7639NVaPNIVuW5NqmTlCTeLXWxBUDWJ2Mm1FsrbNVsc6w4AopksWOxzeydI1nzZECFKY/s1600/IMG_1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiyAwRtk3qEZ0D1-BOadm704BM0qBd0OXT4hKwKSzH10ZN4P0KKAQjmRP_AAfQAeXZwbBsre7639NVaPNIVuW5NqmTlCTeLXWxBUDWJ2Mm1FsrbNVsc6w4AopksWOxzeydI1nzZECFKY/s320/IMG_1969.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Connect with her at:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26034538-the-redeemers" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.blogger.com/:%20https://www.facebook.com/KateMorganHorror" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/KateMorganBooks" target="_blank">Twitter</a> |</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="background: white; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">GIVEAWAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3 Winners will each get a
handmade Redeemer amigurumi!</span></b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
Ships In US Only. By Entering you are agreeing to the terms and conditions in
the Raffecopter Form. </span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You may be asking yourself, "What is an amigurumi?" Well here is a pic of the adorableness!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXqamEngUU9M4yDeKoHQFUm0ohT4qLP9Evdg2fAauqbVtiHD4d5L7uXs0oQLBE10xlunkjU63sqdf-rkBA6XzmAUOQXWcxabTuIEYqoP6QgCuO2eb76RXHiJitJCAzXCeubzvxzxyA88/s1600/redeemer+amigurumi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXqamEngUU9M4yDeKoHQFUm0ohT4qLP9Evdg2fAauqbVtiHD4d5L7uXs0oQLBE10xlunkjU63sqdf-rkBA6XzmAUOQXWcxabTuIEYqoP6QgCuO2eb76RXHiJitJCAzXCeubzvxzxyA88/s320/redeemer+amigurumi.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Isn't that so cute? I love it and it takes a lot of craftiness to make, so a huge shout out to our author, Kate Morgan, for that!</span><br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-44709989103907605962015-07-07T02:01:00.000-04:002015-07-07T02:01:08.186-04:00Blog Tour Book Review: Logos by John Neeleman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: <i>Logos</i></b><br />
<b>Author: John Neeleman</b><br />
<b>Publisher: Homebound Publications</b><br />
<b>Date of Publication: March 2015</b><br />
<b>Source: from author; <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/logos/" target="_blank">Novel Publicity</a> blog tour</b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Book Synopsis:</span></i></b><br />
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<i><strong><strong> </strong></strong>While novels and cinema have
repeatedly sought after the historical Jesus, until now none have explored what
may be a more tantalizing mystery—the Christian story’s anonymous creator.
Logos is a literary bildungsroman about the man who will become the anonymous
author of the original Gospel, set amid the kaleidoscopic mingling of ancient
cultures. Logos is a gripping tale of adventure, a moving love story, and a
novel of ideas. None of this should be regarded as out of place or incompatible
in a novel about Christianity’s origin. Dissent, anarchism, and revolution—and
incipient Christianity was no less these things than the Bolshevik, the French
or the American revolutions—inevitably have involved ideas, adventure, and
romance.<br />In A.D. 66, Jacob is an educated and privileged Greco-Roman
Jew, a Temple priest in Jerusalem, and a leader of Israel’s rebellion against
Rome. When Roman soldiers murder his parents and his beloved sister disappears
in a pogrom led by the Roman procurator, personal tragedy impels Jacob to seek
blood and vengeance. The rebellion he helps to foment leads to more tragedy,
personal and ultimately cosmic: his wife and son perish in the Romans’ siege of
Jerusalem, and the Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and finally
extinguishes Israel at Masada. Jacob is expelled from his homeland, and he
wanders by land and sea, bereft of all, until he arrives in Rome. He is still
rebellious, and in Rome he joins other dissidents, but now plotting ironic
vengeance, not by arms, but by the power of an idea.<br />Paul of Tarsus, Josephus, the keepers of the Dead Sea Scrolls,
and even Yeshua, the historical Jesus himself, play a role in Jacob’s
tumultuous and mysterious fortunes. But it is the women who have loved him who
help him to appreciate violence’s dire cycle</i></blockquote>
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<b>I am so happy to be a part of this blog tour for the book <i>Logos</i>. Don't forget there is a lots of prizes available as well; so make sure to check out the rules and deadlines for those prizes at the end of this post. Huge thanks goes to <a href="http://www.novelpublicity.com/logos/" target="_blank">Novel Publicity</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7662060.John_Neeleman" target="_blank">John Neeleman</a> for providing this opportunity!</b><br />
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I was pretty stoked when I seen the description for this book on the Novel Publicity's website for upcoming blog tours. <i> </i>That description blew me away and I knew; just knew I had to take part in this tour. <b><i>Logos</i></b> is really one of kind and I don't think there will ever be a book that can come to close to the it in this magnitude. <br />
First off, we need to make sure you know this is a fiction story. It is a theory on who could have been the creator of the Bible and therefore, the Christianity movement. So, when you come in to the story, you definitely need to have an open mind. I think the story appealed to me because I consider myself more spiritual than religious, per say. I love historical fictions and this creative mystery was one of the best!<br />
I love that the author, Mr. Neeleman, gave us an inside view into the religious concepts we learned from the Bible, but with a twist to it. This twist is what really makes<b><i> Logos</i></b> become an epic journey for one man and in many ways, for ourselves as well. <b><i>Logos</i></b> makes us expand our mind as we give in to the "what if" situation that has presented itself.<br />
I was just amazed at the amount of research and hard work that went into making<b><i> Logos</i></b>. As you read through the story, you see this huge amount of diversity of the different peoples known to inhabit that area in that time period. The descriptions are so well laid out it turns <b><i>Logos</i></b> into a 3 D artistic design instead of just a book. <br />
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<b><i>Logos</i></b> also introduces us to some well known and beloved characters but changes them up to make them seem new to us all over again. Many familiar names pop up in <b><i>Logos</i></b>, including Paul, Josephus,and Yeshua (Jesus) too; but we are also introduced to some new characters as well.<br />
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Our main protagonist, Jacob, is a complex character that goes through some serious hardships to become a very important person. I love that we see Jacob as a human with flaws and misgivings, and he learns through his mistakes as he goes through many battles, to become wise in his years. <br />
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As much as I did love the creativity put in the pages of the book; <b><i>Logos</i></b> was also terribly long. It seemed to pay attention to detail a little too much, insofar as describing every little thing intensely. I love detailed world building, but at the same time you have to know when to pull back. <br />
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All in all, <b><i>Logos</i></b> was a spectacular journey into the fictional beginnings of Christianity through the eyes of a man that goes through many spiritual and physical changes to find himself. <i><b>Logos</b></i> has massive twists and turns that surprised me over and over. It has a mixture of emotions running through it, including love as well as heartbreak. I found myself crying at the horrors Jacob witnessed and experienced in his life. Mr. Neeleman created a interesting story that combines politics, historical accounts, religion, mystery, and even romance to make a well rounded novel for someone with an open mind to enjoy. <br />
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<i><strong>About the author: </strong>John
Neeleman spends his days working as a trial lawyer in tall buildings in
downtown Seattle. He lives in Seattle with his wife and children. He also
represents death row inmates pro bono in Louisiana and Texas. As a novelist,
his editorial model is historical fiction in a largely realistic mode, though
there are hallucinatory passages that reflect Neeleman’s concern with
philosophical and spiritual matters, in part a residue of his religious
upbringing. He was raised as a seventh generation Mormon, and rebelled, but
never outgrew his interest in metaphysical concerns.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em><strong>Connect with John on his <a href="http://homeboundpublications.com/our-authors-2/john-neeleman/" target="_blank">publisher’s website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/john.neeleman.79" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnRNeeleman" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7662060.John_Neeleman" target="_blank">GoodReads</a>.</strong></em>.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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.<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Get <b>LOGOS</b> at <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Cb%3Ehttp://www.amazon.com/Logos-Christianitys-Origin-John-Neeleman/dp/1938846265/%3C/b%3E" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Cb%3Ehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/logos-john-neeleman/1121216806%3C/b%3E" target="_blank"> Barnes & Noble</a>.</span></em></strong><o:p></o:p><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></em></strong>
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<strong>About the prizes:</strong> Who
doesn't love prizes? You could win one of two $50 Amazon gift cards or an
autographed copy of <i><b>LOGOS</b></i>!
Here's what you need to do...<o:p></o:p></div>
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<li><strong><em>Enter
the Rafflecopter contest</em></strong></li>
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<li><strong><em>Leave
a comment on my blog</em></strong></li>
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That's it! One random commenter during this tour will win
the first gift card. Visit more blogs for more chances to win--the full list of
participating bloggers can be found <a background:="" color:="" elvetica="" font-family:="" font-size:10.0pt="" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Cspan%20style=" imes="" mso-bidi-font-family:="" new="" quot="" roman="" sans-serif=""> http://www.novelpublicity.com/</a></div>
<br />
. The
other two prizes will be given out via Rafflecopter. You can find the contest
entry form linked below or on <a 10.0pt="" background:="" color:="" elvetica="" font-family:="" font-size:="" href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Cspan%20style=" imes="" mso-bidi-font-family:="" new="" quot="" roman="" sans-serif=""> http://www.novelpublicity.com/</a><span style="background: #FFFBCC; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">logos</span><span style="background: #F1F1F1; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">/</span><span style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span>
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Good luck!<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><strong><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="c17c24a9153" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c17c24a9153/" id="rcwidget_9gsdw4om" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
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<b>http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YzE3YzI0YTkzYTJkODQ0ODQxZDUwNTUwMTQ3OTkxOjE1Mw==/?</b><o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-79427507654229869372015-06-30T08:00:00.000-04:002015-06-30T08:00:03.120-04:00It's a COVER REVEAL!!!! Love Always, by Sonya Loveday and Candace Knoebel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://candaceknoebel.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/la-title.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="LA Title" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2647" height="258" src="https://candaceknoebel.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/la-title.jpg?w=660" width="400" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong>Hi everybody! It's pretty exciting around here today! We are having a cover reveal; that's why! Sonya Loveday and Candace Knoebel are hosting the <i>Love Always</i>, reveal and we couldn't help but want to be a part of it! Look at that beautiful work of art; it is absolutely gorgeous! </strong><br />
<strong>So ya'll make sure to click through and look at this romantic book and don't forget to enter the giveaway hosted by the authors at the end of the post. Good luck!</strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">TITLE</span>:</strong> <em>Love
Always,</em></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Authors:</span> </strong>Sonya Loveday &
Candace Knoebel</div>
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<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">COVER DESIGN:</span> </strong><a href="http://www.najlaqamberdesigns.com/" target="_blank">Najla Qamber Designs</a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">GENRE:</span> </strong>Contemporary
Romance</div>
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<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">RELEASE DATE</span>: </strong>August 25th,
2015</div>
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<em><span id="freeText16729672244247284230">I’ve met boys like him before.
Rich. Bored. Always wearing a silver-spooned smile. But there is something
different about him that piques my curiosity. The way he looks at me, like he
is staring through the bars of a gilded cage he’s never left. Like he is one
breath away from suffocating beneath a mound of responsibilities. He is
different from the rest because he doesn’t wear his money… his money wears him.
I just don’t think he knows it yet.</span></em>She’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. She’s everything
I’ve never been able to be. Carefree. Whimsical. A dreamer. Her laugh is
infectious. She is irresistible. I can’t help but be drawn to her with an
intensity that steals my breath and muddles my senses. I want to know her, need
to know her, but how can I allow myself that liberty when I don’t have the
freedom to make my own choices?<br />
<span id="freeText16729672244247284230">Phillip and Maggie think they
have it all. Even though they come from opposite backgrounds, they each have
bright futures paved out, with no distractions holding them
back.</span><br />
<span id="freeText16729672244247284230">Until the fateful day they meet
each other.<br /> </span><br />
<span id="freeText16729672244247284230">After a brief, adventurous time
together in The Hamptons, Maggie and Phillip find themselves saying goodbye
just as the spark of love flashes intensely between them. Can their budding
connection be enough to survive the pulling tides of change, or will they drift
apart before they even have a chance to explore what could have
been?</span></blockquote>
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<a href="http://amzn.com/B010EEG3J8" target="_blank">AMAZON</a> ** <a href="https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/love-always-9" target="_blank">KOBO</a> ** <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-always/id1013033230?mt=11" target="_blank">IBOOKS</a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">Sign up for the blog tour now by clicking <a href="http://goo.gl/forms/6yhTnHAh0o" target="_blank">HERE</a></span>!</strong></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Follow her on
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sonyalovedayauthor" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a>, <a href="https://www.twitter.com/sonyaloveday" target="_blank">TWITTER</a>,
or her <a href="http://www.sonyaloveday.com/" target="_blank">WEBSITE</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Enter
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-77013873009393995862015-06-19T22:09:00.000-04:002015-06-19T22:09:30.800-04:00eArc Book Review: Damaged by Avelyn Paige<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i>Title: Damaged</i></b><br />
<b><i>Author: </i>Avelyn Paige</b><br />
<b><i>Publisher: </i>Self</b><br />
<b><i>Date of Publication: </i>May 3 2015</b><br />
<b><i>Source: received from author for honest opinion</i></b><br />
<b><i>Level: Mature 18+</i></b><br />
<b><i>Pick up a copy: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00X3C6FSS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00X3C6FSS&linkCode=as2&tag=retomyhesco-20&linkId=SXO3JDKA5TLLFYUM">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=retomyhesco-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00X3C6FSS" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/damaged-avelyn-paige/1121862684?ean=9781511404273" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> |</i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Book Synopsis:</span></i></b><br />
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<i>Evie Carter has faced trials and tribulations her entire life. Her teenage years have been ripped away from her as she battles cancer. Just when things can’t get any worse, her doctor delivers the news that it’s finally time to make a life or death decision. Her options are limited and come with deadly consequences. The miracle drug that is meant to save her life changes her on a cellular level. She might not be damaged anymore, but she might just be damned in her new life.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b> </span><br />
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<b>First off, look at that cover! It is a pretty badass representation of Evie, our protagonist in the story. Just from that cover, we can tell this is going to be a very gritty and dark story.</b><br />
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<b><i>Damaged</i> makes us question how we would be willing to go in order to live our lives, no matter the circumstances. It puts us in touch with our morality and makes us look deep into our hearts to see how we could cope with the price. </b><br />
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<b>Our protagonist, Evie Carter, has a type of cancer that is incurable. The doctors have tried everything and yet it keeps coming back. Then they pose the question to her : can we try something controversial and new? Left with no other options besides giving up, Evie decides to try this unexpected drug. </b><br />
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<b>This is when her life gets even more turned upside down. </b><br />
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<b>I can totally understand why Evie went for the drug trials; I probably would have done the exact same thing. No one wants to look death in the eye at such a young age. It is not in us to just give up. So right then, we see that Evie is a fighter. </b><br />
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<b>This is when we see the development of Evie's character more when she has to literally try to cope with her morality and new abilities, while trying to learn who she can trust and not trust. </b><br />
<b>I did feel like Evie was a little too forgiving for my tastes; but at the same time, I guess I can understand how alone she must have felt without anyone. </b><br />
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<b>I did enjoy watching Evie learn her body's powers and limitations and really just learning to live again. She is only in her twenties; yet she really hasn't experienced life as a young adult. </b><br />
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<b>The world builiding was decent. As I was reading this book, I felt that the pacing was a little slow and I was seeing this as a three star book.....</b><br />
<b>But then we got close to the end and OHMYGOODNESS!!!! The last few chapters were freaking amazing! There was so much action and drama; I was pretty much speechless!</b><br />
<b>And it gives us this to die for cliffhanger! </b><br />
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<b>Basically, <i>Damaged</i> is a pretty good book. It has this science fiction kinda feel to it with some definite drama scenes mixed in with it. One of my favorite parts is that we get to see Evie grow as a character and person. She gets to experience life; albeit not the life she would have chose, but still life. And the ending is wonderful! </b><br />
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<b>Of course, this is a gritty book with lots of cursing in it and it does have some sexual scenes in it as well. But I would urge any adults to give <i>Damaged</i> a try. It will make you think about how far you would go to beat death. </b><br />
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<b><br /></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Connect with the Author:</i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13914653.Avelyn_Paige" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.avelynpaige.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/AvelynPaige" target="_blank">Twitter</a> |</i></span></b></div>
ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-48558888713686026752015-06-16T21:28:00.000-04:002015-06-16T21:28:54.941-04:00Book Review: The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Title:<i> The Darkest Part of the Forest</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Author: Holly Black</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Date of Publication: Jan. 13 2015</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Source: bought, hardcover, 324 pages, YA</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Get your own copy:</b></span><br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316213071/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316213071&linkCode=as2&tag=retomyhesco-20&linkId=A3NHWTOHPUHBM33X">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=retomyhesco-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316213071" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-darkest-part-of-the-forest-holly-black/1119439640?ean=9780316213073" target="_blank">| Barnes & Noble </a>|</b><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i>Book Synopsis:</i></b></span><br />
<blockquote>
<i>Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.</i><i><br /></i><i>Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.</i><i><br /></i><i>At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.</i><i><br /></i><i>Until one day, he does…</i><i><br /></i><i>As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?</i></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
I love Holly Black!!!!!<br />
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I mean how can you not love her?? She takes these simple concepts, like fairy tales, that we have all read growing up and she flips them upside down to create something all new. <br />
And scary. <br />
I always feel so free and sophisticated reading her books; which I know doesn't make sense. But her books just gives me these awesome feelings when I get immersed in her world building.<br />
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Darkest Part of the Forest</span></i></b> is simply beautiful! I find myself slipping into my childhood memories wandering around in the woods behind my parents' house. I remember pretending to battle evil forces while riding my pretend white stallion as I rescued everyone that needed it. <br />
Relating so strongly to the premise of this story, I found myself trying to savor each and every part of the story. But being that I love the story so much I actually ended up reading through it within two days. <br />
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Holly Black does this amazing job of developing characters that can be so complex; so intriguing you wish they were real. I adore Hazel and Ben; I think Jack is Prince Charming in a nutshell; and the Horned Boy is eerily seductive and mysterious. <br />
She has this immense imagination and comes up with such creative creatures that it is hard not to wish there really was a Fairfield where magic happens all the time. Black makes magic seem like it really can come true; even if it contains more of a darker side to it. <br />
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Besides doing a fantastic job of creating characters, Black has this incredible talent to paint a world that seems so real as if you could just reach out and touch it. Her storytelling skills is unparalleled. Through her imaginative storytelling she is able to make the words on the pages come to life and adds a more intimate dimension to the story.<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Darkest Part of the Forest</span></i></b> channels some of our basic imaginations concerning fairy tales but then it delivers something else entirely. It gives us the allure of the magic; but it also forces us to see the darkness the power can bring as well. I love this book and I honestly wanted to read more and more with these characters. I really hope that Ms. Black will take us back to Fairfield one more time in the future. <br />
It is definitely a magical experience. <br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i>Connect with the author:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/25422.Holly_Black" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hollyblack" target="_blank">Twitter </a>| <a href="http://www.blackholly.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | </i></b></span></div>
ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-79152084319246835172015-06-12T13:26:00.001-04:002015-06-12T13:26:46.463-04:00Book Review: A Heart's Deceit by Cege Smith {Bloodtruth 4}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i>A Heart's Deceit</i></b><br />
<b><i>C</i>ege Smith</b><br />
<b><i>Bloodtruth book 4</i></b><br />
<b>Published March 4, 2014</b><br />
<b><span style="color: #990000;">Get Your Own at:</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IRSFMOQ/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IRSFMOQ&linkCode=as2&tag=retomyhesco-20&linkId=4NYNR224ZJDAODKI">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=retomyhesco-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00IRSFMOQ" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> | Barnes & Noble |</b><br />
<b style="color: #990000;">Connect with author:</b><br />
<b style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://www.cegesmith.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18209136-a-heart-s-deceit?ac=1" target="_blank">Goodreads|</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cegesmith" target="_blank">Twitter</a></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">Source</span></b>: <i>I did receive this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion of it.</i><br />
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<blockquote>
<i><br /></i><i><br /></i><i>In the stunning conclusion of the Bloodtruth series, rules have been broken. Queen Angeline Robart must face the consequences of her actions if she ever hopes to keep the Alteran throne.</i><i><br /></i><i>As Angeline’s abilities grow stronger, it quickly becomes apparent that uncovering the lineage of her wraith is the key to everything. To secure her throne and banish her enemies forever, Angeline must become a master manipulator to find the answers she needs to save herself and her people. But her past doesn’t intend to let her go that easily.</i><i><br /></i><i>In order to escape a death sentence, Connor Radwin gave into his basest instincts. Now that the time has arrived to return to his former self, he finds it more of a struggle than he ever anticipated. But he is unwilling to leave Angeline’s side; despite the fact that he knows she has to marry someone else.</i><i><br /></i><i>With old foes emerging at every turn, Angeline’s time is running out. She is about to find out how far she will go to save her people. In this high-stakes game of deceit, the loser pays in blood.</i><i><br /></i><i>The complete Bloodtruth Series:</i><i>Heiress of Lies (Bloodtruth #1)</i><i>The Queen's Betrayal (Bloodtruth #2)</i><i>Trials of Truth (Bloodtruth #3)</i><i>A Heart's Deceit (Bloodtruth #4)</i><i><br /></i><i><br /></i></blockquote>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i>My Thoughts:</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<i>Is this really the last book? We have been on such a tremendous journey with Connor and Angeline that I find myself not really wanting it to end. But alas...all good things do come to end. Right?</i><br />
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<i>I know I enjoyed watching both of these characters to grow and emerge as stronger, more complex characters than they started out as before. Angeline has been through hell and yet she still did everything as regal and lady like as she could; even when she had to kick ass and take names! She is definitely what it means to be a Queen as she puts the people she loves before her desires and truly learns the meaning of sacrifice. </i><br />
<i>I love that she learns to embrace her supernatural self and also learn to hold her own against those older and more "wiser". </i><br />
<i>And then there is Connor. I love that name so much (probably because one of my twins is named that too)! Connor was the complement to Angeline's powerful self. I enjoyed it immensely when these two worked together because they were that good together. Their interactions were written superbly and made you love these characters even more. </i><br />
<i>The plot of the series has always been an interesting one involving vampires and magic and I love that we get many secrets revealed in the last book, <span style="color: #cc0000;">A Heart's Deceit.</span> I may have suspected some of these secrets; but it was still nice to see them come alive in the book. </i><br />
<i>We also have a lot of characters that seem to lose their heads....literally. In some cases, I was sad because I would have liked to see them in a more positive way. But it was a good way to tie up some loose ends. But again, I would have liked to see more story lines with some of these characters. </i><br />
<i>Overall though, I think this was an exceptional ending to a amazing series that kept me reading into the wee morning hours. I know that if you like fantasy with vampires and magic mixed in , then you would really like the <span style="color: #cc0000;">Bloodtruth </span>Series. You should definitely give it a try!</i><br />
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-66992290821709868602015-06-10T12:47:00.001-04:002015-06-10T12:47:13.203-04:00Book Review: Sweet Sleep { The Children of Ankh} by Kim Cormack<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: <i>Sweet Sleep</i></b><br />
<b>Author: Kim Cormack</b><br />
<b>Series:<i> The Children of Ankh</i></b><br />
<b>Publisher: Corvallis Press</b><br />
<b>Date of Publication: Aug. 5 2014</b><br />
<b>Source: <i>received from author in exchange for my honest opinion</i></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Book Synopsis:</span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>What would you do if you discovered that everything you’ve ever known to be your reality was a lie? What if…The things that go bump in the night, things you thought were simply a figment of your wild imagination are in fact very real? Would you live your life differently if you knew you were going to be corrected…erased from this world sometime around your sixteenth birthday? You and your twin sister were never meant to be born. There will be no place to run…No place to hide…You won’t even know they’re coming…Do you have what it takes to survive your Correction? Do you have what it takes to leave your humanity behind?If your answer is yes then hold on tight... …it’s going to be one hell of a ride!</i></blockquote>
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<b>My Thoughts:</b><br />
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As soon as the first chapters begin to unfold in Sweet Sleep, we are thrust into a tumultuous event that really sets the stage for the dark future our main characters are running into headlong. It is gruesome incident that rocks the small town as well as everyone that is close to the twins, Kayn and Chloe. <br />
But that is just the beginning.<br />
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<b><i>Sweet Sleep</i></b> explores the concepts of destiny, reincarnation, and magic in a way that I haven't seen before. The Children of Ankh are a new and creative way of digging into the "immortals" and the magic they hold. <br />
Although the plot was extremely interesting, I did feel like there was, at times, information overload. Some of the explanations were too long, and others seemed to be repeated a few times throughout the book. <br />
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Kayn and Chloe, the twins and main characters, were intriguing characters. I have twin sons, so I always love to read stories that involve some type of twin interaction. Kayn and Chloe seem to share some intense abilities that are imaginative and interesting as well as a tad sad too. I also enjoyed the other characters in the Ankh group, including Frost and Grey. They were interesting and also added humor to the dark story. <br />
I didn't really cozy up to Kevin at all. I liked him as the friend, but anything else and it just didn't play out for me. <br />
Even though I enjoyed the characters I did feel like there were just too many characters being introduced, especially towards the end. I didn't get to really know some of these characters because I was trying to keep up with all the others that were being brought into the story at an alarming rate. <br />
The story was also really long and I would have liked it to have been shortened or perhaps, made into another short story? I'm not sure how that could have played out. <br />
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There is a love triangle involved (or perhaps a love square) but it is not like the other triangles we have seen in other romance novels. It will be interesting to see how this plays out for the major characters. <br />
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All in all, <i><b>Sweet Sleep</b></i> is an originative journey into the magical characters we are introduced to as they sort through the physical and emotional pain they have to experience to become even greater. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pick your own copy up: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1625289979/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1625289979&linkCode=as2&tag=retomyhesco-20&linkId=NS3BQE27F6QPVVHJ">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=retomyhesco-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1625289979" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sweet-sleep-kim-cormack/1120673846?ean=9781625289971" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a>|</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Connect with the Author:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.kimcormack.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>| <a href="http://www.twitter.com/kimcormack" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4456923.Kim_Cormack" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> |</b></span><br />
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-23406214920484919392015-05-26T17:35:00.000-04:002015-05-26T17:35:12.210-04:00Quick Reviews: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><b>Throne of Glass</b></i><br />
<b>Sarah J. Maas</b><br />
<b>Bloomsbury USA Childrens</b><br />
<b>May 7 2013</b><br />
<b>paperback, 404 pages, bought, high fantasy</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">From Goodreads:</span></b><br />
<blockquote>
<i>In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
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<b>I have officially found my new favorite fantasy author! Of course, I have a lot of favorites; but Sarah J. Maas is on fire with her writing!! Seriously, she is one awesome creative lady!</b><br />
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<b><i>Throne of Glass</i> has everything you would expect in a high fantasy: magic, fighting, and a little bit of romance. What makes it much different is our protagonist is a kick ass female. Celaena is one of the coolest heroines in the Young Adult genre right now. </b><br />
<b>She is a huge complex character that has this exterior that seems so solid and strong; but then when we start delve deeper into her actions we see how broken she really is. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>There is a hint to a love triangle but it doesn't overtake the plot at all. Rather, it works well with the problems that arise throughout the story and brings out the positives of both male characters. I don't know how she chooses but I kinda agree with her choice as well. He is AWESOME SAUCE! </b><br />
<b><br /></b><b><i>Throne of Glass</i> introduces us to a world that could be so beautiful if it wasn't ruled by this evil man who sucks the life out of everything special. That is what is amazing about the author's writing, she can construct this dark awful person and then turn around and create someone so good that you have to have hope for the world. She gives us a world that holds both darkness and light as well as a character that has both traits battling inside her. </b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>I loved this book right off the bat and jumped on ordering the next two books instantly. If you are huge fantasy fans or even just love strong kick ass heroines who are intelligent and super funny then I urge you to pick this book up. It is witty and snarky and has some awesome fight scenes that are comparable to epic movies. </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3433047.Sarah_J_Maas" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>|<a href="https://twitter.com/SJMaas" target="_blank">Twitter</a>|<a href="http://sarahjmaas.com/" target="_blank">Website</a>|</span></div>
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-66720174780102672882015-05-16T13:03:00.000-04:002015-05-16T13:03:21.428-04:00Book Review: Never Fade {Book 2 in The Darkest Minds Series} by Alexandra Bracken<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Title: <b><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16150830-never-fade?from_search=true&search_version=service" target="_blank">Never Fade</a></i></b></div>
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Author: Alexandra Bracken</div>
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Series: <b><i>The Darkest Minds</i></b><br />
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion</div>
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Date of Publication: Oct. 15 2013<br />
Source: bought, paperback, Apocalypse, YA</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Synopsis:</b></span></div>
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<i>Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster.<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her.<br /> </i><i><br /></i><i>As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?</i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><br />
<i>So <b>Never Fade</b> is one of those books that really reaches down deep and clenches your heartstrings with all the strength it has; and you are left wondering if you will survive reading it. </i><br />
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<i>Well, you do survive. But you have definitely lost some tears on it. </i><br />
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<i>Of course, this is an apocalyptic book and it does seem to follow the certain ideals that are associated with stories from this genre: the crushing despair the characters have, and the terrible situations kids are put into to survive. </i><br />
<i>But with <b>Never Fade</b> it seems to take it up even a notch or two. The crap that these characters have to go through is just awful. And yet there is always that one character that seems to be able to hold out hope that something will change. God bless that character! Because without him/her, this story would be depressing. </i><br />
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<i>Now I am not saying that <b>Never Fade</b> was bad; on the contrary, it was a deep read that left me questioning society as a whole even now. Seeing the bad things that are happening in the country today, it made me wonder if this is what our country is heading for in the future, sans the supernatural powers the kids have. <b>Never Fade</b> has a gritty storyline that makes the reader take a closer look at the lies the government tells in this story. </i><br />
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<i>And I, personally, really liked our main protagonist, Ruby. She is a fighter and a lover. She tries to be distant and hard but she can't help but connect with the other kids on her team. And when she does, I believe Ruby becomes stronger for it. It is a big change from what she was in the first book, <b>Darkest Minds</b>. In <b>Never Fade,</b> Ruby is more in charge of her powers and more confident of herself. She is still in pain and still scared but she doesn't let the fear control her. Ruby also learns more about her "power" and finds out more secrets that help her throughout the book. </i><br />
<i>However, I had already figured out some of these secrets much earlier than Ruby did and thought she was a little slow to catch on to some things. </i><br />
<i>We see old characters and are introduced to some new characters in the second installment so there is really never a dull moment in the plot lines. </i><br />
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<i>If you enjoyed <b>Hunger Games </b>or even <b>Divergent</b>, then you should give <b>The Darkest Minds</b> series a try. It has elements of both of those two books mentioned above but also sprinkles in some "X-Men-esque" ideas into the intense emotional threads that go along in the story. </i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></i><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1423159330/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1423159330&linkCode=as2&tag=retomyhesco-20&linkId=VUWUXPLFBD22AFHU">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=retomyhesco-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1423159330" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-fade-alexandra-bracken/1115863561?ean=9781423159339" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> |</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><i><a href="http://alexandrabracken.com/" target="_blank">Website </a>| <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbracken" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2973783.Alexandra_Bracken" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> |</i></b></span><br />
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ReadtomyHeartsContenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02384881229776376534noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4420783123840149254.post-38410274889660923972015-04-02T17:53:00.000-04:002015-04-02T17:53:26.742-04:00Daddy & Daughter Review: Corrupted by Robert J. Crane {Book 3}<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Title: <i>Corrupted</i></b><br />
<b>Series: <i>Southern Watch</i></b><br />
<b>Author: Robert J. Crane</b><br />
<b>Publisher: Midian Press</b><br />
<b>Date of Publication: Nov 6 2014</b><br />
<b>Source: received from author for our honest opinion of it</b><br />
<b>Ages: MATURE 18+</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23518120-corrupted?ac=1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_fWSVvtkXElgFyjsiNWmmN8c8veM-qRfo0iYsyC8IppQJmL07bZTE619-5yaKqAnZZiiHUfVyzPWNprLgzdaHTQWEz8U-N6o_w7n_Ryu0unmKPZtNzPKCWWmIhuT8VMFLKCl3nj5YVQ/s1600/pink+add+to+goodreads.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Goodreads Synopsis:</span></b><br />
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WARNING: Due to graphic language and disturbing content, this book is intended for MATURE READERS ONLY.<br /> <br />Midian, Tennessee is the site of a gradually deepening apocalypse. Demons haunt the town, causing unexplainable deaths that leave local law enforcement mystified. Demon hunter Lafayette Hendricks and Sheriff's Deputy Archibald "Arch" Stan are on the case, however, and with the aid of their significant others and a pair of demonic Officers of Occultic Concordance, they'll chase down every lead they have to find the killer...until they uncover something utterly unexpected. For something dark and twisted has come to Midian with one evil intention: the desire to corrupt innocence utterly and completely...<br /> <br />...something that will burn the very world around them to ash.</blockquote>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;"> Daddy's Review</span></u></b><br />
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I am telling you that this series just keeps getting more and more exciting! At first, I was a little skeptical about reading these books but my daughter really wanted to challenge me to get out of my "westerns only" reading and try something new. <br />
Well, now I can honestly say I am glad I did. This writer, Mr. Crane, is darn talented. It is just sad you can't find him in every bookstore but only online. I would like to see him everywhere because he definitely deserves it. <br />
I have to say, so far, Corrupted has been my favorite book. It has a lot of surprises in it, good and bad, and the bad guy this time is pretty sick! <br />
I swear every time I read these books, it is like there is a movie playing out in my mind. It is really easy to picture the scenes throughout the book. <br />
I really enjoy that Arch's wife has a more major part in this book. There are also some pretty funny parts too. I really like how the whole story seems to be progressing; but I still think the Sheriff should have a more vital part with the gang. <br />
But all in all, Corrupted was so good with super realistic fight scenes that the bad language really took a backseat for me!<br />
I have give this one five stars!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>My Review (Daughter's Review)</u></b></span><br />
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What I love the most about Robert J Crane's writing is his originality. Trust me, some of the bad guys in this book you will probably never find them in any other demon genre. You know you are going to get something totally unexpected and more than likely, it will be hilarious. <br />
I just love how Mr. Crane was able to take something so innocent and healthy and then turn it into some mass killing machine. Kudos to you, Crane. <br />
We see some of our favorite characters in this as well as meet a few new ones. I personally, love the warlock even though I know he is a bad guy. He is just a likable bad guy. <br />
And of course I am loving that Arch's wife is in the action, so to speak. There is so much more to her and I love that she is being incorporated into the story a little more each time. I really think that Allison Stan is one of the strongest characters in the book, the quiet brooding strong. <br />
I still enjoy the demon officers, Lerner and Duncan, and think it really opens up the whole gray area that Crane is so good with writing. Yes, they are demons but are they inherently evil?<br />
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There is some major plot twists throughout Corrupted that will have you gasping in surprise and laughing out loud too. <br />
There is one specific scene that really had me thinking of the Ghostbusters movie. Think of the whole "keymaster, gatekeeper" idea and you will understand. I loved that scene so much! Even though it was pretty creepy; it was still pretty awesome! <br />
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Overall, Corrupted was a really fun and really intense read. There was this major darkness (even more so than normal) saturating the whole story line that kept the story from being too crazy and silly; but instead made you deal with some very shocking and intense themes that people today sometimes face. I feel like each book is leading up to this whopper of a story thread that is going to bring the reader down to our knees. Each of these books gets harder as there is more things for these people to lose. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Get your own copy at:</u></b></span><br />
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