eArc Book Review: Damaged by Avelyn Paige

Title: Damaged
Author: Avelyn Paige
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: May 3 2015
Source: received from author for honest opinion
Level: Mature 18+
Pick up a copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Book Synopsis:

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.

My Thoughts: 

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.

Damaged 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.  

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.  

This is when her life gets even more turned upside down.  

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.  

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.  
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.  

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.  

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.....
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!
And it gives us this to die for cliffhanger!  

Basically, Damaged 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!  

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 Damaged a try.  It will make you think about how far you would go to beat death.  

Connect with the Author:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter |

Double Book Review: Destiny & Power by Robert J. Crane

Title: Destiny
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box book 9
Publisher: Reiknonos Press
Date of Publication:  March 30 2014
Source: received from author in exchange for my honest opinion.  Kindle, 259 pages
Ages: I would say 18 +


Book Synopsis:

NOTE: This is a tightly intertwined series wherein each book builds on previous volumes.
In the aftermath of her confrontation with Sovereign, Sienna Nealon finds herself low on allies. The organization Century continues their genocide of the entire race of metahumans unchecked, working toward an ultimate goal that they have yet to reveal. Sienna must race to find the answers before it's too late, because Century's final attacks are beginning... and if Sienna and her allies fall, there will be no one left to stop them.

My Thoughts: 
I don't think I need to say but I am going to anyway.  If you haven't read any of this series: STOP!  Don't read these reviews because I can promise it will be some type of spoiler.  Instead, go and grab the first three books for free here.

So I have come to rely on Mr. Crane as my go to author when I really want some neck snapping action and intense fight scenes.  When I want a book that is gritty, raw and isn't afraid to take the huge jumps needed to give me what I need and want as a reader, I pick up a Robert J. Crane novel.

See, I have been reading novels by Crane for a few years now and I have come to understand a little bit about him now.  First off, he is an amazing writer.  But he is also one of those writers that loves to dispose of characters we can't help but fall in love with.  Yeah, one of those guys.  He takes away the characters that make us feel and connect to the story in a deeper way.  And we curse him.
But....
Perhaps, that is what makes him an extraordinary storyteller.  He creates such complex and multifaceted characters we can't help but connect with them.  Then, we become so vested in these characters that when something terrible happens to them, we, the readers, experience extreme emotional loss and crushing heartbreak.
Maybe, just maybe, that is the true definition of an excellent writer.


And that is what Destiny does to us: it takes our heart and throws it to the wind.  It's like Reed just ripped it out our chests and played frisbee with it.  I had to really harden myself to finish this series; hell to finish his books, without breaking down into an emotional mess.  But we have to remember this isn't a "black and white world" (thank you Sienna for that sage advice)

You want a black and white world where we can live by the laws?  I'm here to tell you that you're going to drown in the grey.  This isn't law and order and justice for mankind.  This is survival.  This is the law of nature- a pack of wolves who are going to eat you in the dark of night, and you can either shoot them first or get devoured. Your choice.

I love when there is more grey in the stories than it being cut and dry.  It makes for a much more interesting look in to what people are willing to do , and not do when they are being threatened.  Like fatally threatened.  In Destiny we see how far Sienna is willing to go to protect the ones she loves.  Of course,  I think we already knew how far she was willing to go anyways; but it is still funny to see Scott finally coming to terms with it.  
And yay!  We get reconnected with an old friend in Destiny as well.  I am so glad this guy is back.  I really look at him as a father like figure for Sienna, in a good way.  No hidden agenda.

Oh and we see a lot of killing in this book too.  Of course, it wouldn't be a Robert Crane book without it, right?  But, hey look on the bright side- Sienna isn't the one doing all of it this time.

It's actually pretty hard to do a review on a book that is so far into the series (without giving something away) and still be inconspicious about the plot.

Let's just say relationships will be forged and we will lose important people.  People I didn't want to lose but with the loss we are also introduced to new characters.  I have a serious feeling we will see these characters again down the road.  I am usually not into getting new characters so late into a series, but it works for Crane because I know he always has a purpose.
There was one part that was pretty confusing for me, but it might also have to do with the fact that I am not a huge fan of time travel ideas.
But all in all, I loved Destiny.  I also love how Crane went into naming the books.  It's simple.  But at the same time-that one word conveys so much about the story.  I mean it feels like Sienna is fighting her own Destiny.  Everyone's destiny.  Can she overcome what is in store for her and finally make her own fate or will she drown in the imprisonment of her supposed Destiny?
We will definitely find out in the next and last book, Power.

Title: Power
Author: Robert J. Crane
Series: The Girl in the Box Book 10
Source: received from author in exchange for my honest opinion.



Book Synopsis:

The epic conclusion to the Girl in the Box series.
Sienna Nealon seems like a woman beaten. Imprisoned by her enemies, facing the extinction of her entire race, she is up against overwhelming odds. But overwhelming odds have never stopped her before. In the final volume of the epic Girl in the Box Series, Sienna Nealon must face her fears, face her foes, and then go up against the single most powerful man in the world - Sovereign - in order to save her world from complete and total destruction.

My Thoughts:

This was the all time best naming of a book ever?!!!  Sienna definitely comes into her power in every single way possible and I couldn't be more happier for everyone.  She is finally able to pull every piece of herself together to do what has to be done, in a way that I was totally not expecting.  Believe me, you will be re-reading this book a few times.  I did.  And every time was like the first.  I have to say this book was probably my favorite book of all time.  I loved the ending, loved the beginning and middle.
And the action is over the top beautiful and flawlessly graphic; which we love of course.  If you picked up the that first book, Alone, and fell in love with Mr. Crane's writing style and genius then Power will make breathless with adoration.  Everything comes full circle and I enjoyed every freaking minute of how everything falls in place and unfolds the way it does.

I don't know what to say without giving something away.  All I can say is if you have vested your time in any of these books, then you owe it to yourself to finish the series.  Power will blow you away with twists and turns surrounding it.  Sovereign will surprise us but Sienna does too.  And we get a new character, Harper, that I hope we see again in the future.  Please!
But just say the action doesn't get you (are you crazy?) well the humor will definitely grab you.  All the books , except maybe one, has the classic Sienna snarky humor that I love.  Honestly, I think Sienna and Vaste would get long so well in all their snarky goodness.
{Vaste is another character from another series of Crane's I fell in love with first}

I just...really I am speechless.  I loved this book sooooo much and I don't really want to say too much to give it away.  Let's just say that you need to read the book!  Like right now!

I would prefer to give it a million of stars, hearts, anything I can get my hands on; but alas I only go up to five hearts.
I think my Destiny, though, is to own this entire series in paperback as well as digital.  The authors I absolutely adore, like Anne Rice, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, goes in a special bookcase in my home.  Well guess what?  I am getting this series in paperback and it will have its special place there too.
Well done, Mr. Crane.  Well done.

Connect with Robert J. Crane:

Goodreads| Twitter| Website| Facebook|

Grab a copy for yourself at:
Destiny
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Power
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Book Review: Legacy by Robert J Crane {Book 8 in The Girl in the Box series }

Title: Legacy
Series: Girl in the Box
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Reikonos Press
Date of Publication: 2013
Source: received from author/also bought as well


Goodreads Synopsis:

Time is running out for Sienna Nealon. The mysterious organization Century is only weeks from wiping out the entire metahuman race. But just as Sienna has made the decision to fight them, her past catches up to her and she finds herself in the hands of the U.S. Government. Secrets long buried begin to rise, putting Sienna and everyone she cares about directly in the path of Century...and in a desperate search for the identity of their leader, Sovereign, a man who has plans of his own for Sienna.

My Thoughts:

This is one of those moments when you realize the author has really come into his/her own.  They have created the book that really shows you how much they have worked, how much they have grown, and just how damn good they really are.  
Legacy is that book.   I find myself wanting to blubber on and on about how good this book is.  I loved it that much.  It is powerful and brings together some very interesting characters that I think was genius, and inevitably to make them come together for the showdown that is coming. 
I have always been a huge fan of Crane; he is that undiscovered gem in a sea of self publishing stardom.  If you have not given this author a go I sincerely urge you to.  Mr. Crane can craft a story with so much emotion and creativity that you will find yourself being drawn into the plot experiencing every detail with the characters.  
I honestly feel like Legacy was the "holy grail" for me.  I found nothing, absolutely nothing that I disagreed with, and it just came out perfect.  
One of the reasons was how the chapters were set up.  I loved how he did flashbacks and then present day when it was relevant. And the flashback chapters were executed wonderfully.  The plot lines flowed so well and there was never a dull moment.  The action scenes were even better choreographed and I swear Crane pays so much attention to even the smallest detail, like how the guns are aimed correctly to the type of gas mask Sienna used, that helps us really feel like we are there in the room where the fight is going on.
Sure we could say this is a "guy" book from all the action, fighting, and gore that it pertains but it isn't really even that.  It is everyone's book.  There really is something in Legacy that spans different genres to bring many readers to its pages.  Sienna has really come into her own.  And I loved the remorse she shows, as well as someone else who I was hoping would come to their senses eventually.  There are so many emotions that decorate the pages of this book: guilt, forgiveness, understanding, empathy, and of course fear.  
Then to make a great book even better you add humor to the mix.  Even though Sienna has finally grown into a powerful and deadly young woman, she has kept her comedic relief that has really made this story what it is.  Even in the face of danger, Sienna can still crack a joke?  That is guts right there.  

Last flashback chapter is utter mastery.  I think I read it the whole time with my mouth slightly agape.  Loved it so much!  
We do find out some secrets in this book but Legacy really feels like our climatic book.  I don't know if that makes sense, but it just feels like so many things just came together and fit perfectly with the story.  Now is that to say that the book is loads of happy?  No.  And if you are used to Crane's work, you know he will make us cry with someone that had to kick the bucket.  But I think he puts a lot of thought in the decision and it isn't done easily.  I'm sure he is just as attached to these characters as we are, at least I hope so.  

All in all, I really believe that Legacy brings together many characters that have just added perfection to this book.  This was the most thought provoking book in the series for me and I just felt that Crane has achieved pure writing genius with this one.  
Or simply put ......Mastery.  

I had to give Legacy:

Get your own copy:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: The Grimm Chronicles Vol.1 by Ken Brosky & Isabella Fontaine

                                                                         Tour Schedule

The Grimm Chronicles
200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world. Literally. Now the characters of the Grimms' stories walk among us. With every day that passes, they grow more evil. They are the Corrupted, and only a hero can stop them.
For 18-year-old Alice Goodenough, that means taking precious time off from her summer vacation. In addition to volunteering at the local library, Alice must stop the Corrupted who are now actively hunting her down. With the help of her magic pen and her trusty rabbit friend, the world has suddenly gotten a lot more complex. The Corrupted are everywhere, and only Alice can see them for what they truly are.

This book contains the first 3 episodes of the critically acclaimed series

Episode 1: Prince Charming Must Die!

Episode 2: Happily Never After

Episode 3: Revenge of the Castle Cats

Additional features for this special edition:

- An introduction

- Two special "Lost Diaries"

- A behind-the-scenes interview

- A collection of original Grimms' Fairy Tales

The Grimm Chronicles is intended for Young Adults aged 13 and up. The goal is to provide Young Adult readers with a strong, charismatic young woman in the role of the hero and provide readers with a positive protagonist who uses her brain to overcome obstacles life throws in her way.

My Thoughts:
Hi everybody!  This is my stop on the fantastic Grimm Chronicles Blog Tour hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer.  Please make sure to click on the top button  of this post where it says Tour Schedule to see all the other wonderful blogs participating.
The  Brothers Grimm fables are so fun to read and then to have someone elaborate on them and make them into something so much more was very enjoyable for me.   Alice, our lead character, is tough but with this really naive side to her that is heartwarming.  I like the fact that she isn't all gun ho on killing a lot of bad guys, and instead tries to think through each situation, trying to determine if they should really die.  Alice is truly a great female protagonist because she exhibits many positive traits that young ladies nowadays could really look up to and the fact that she is such a lover of books is also a plus for me!
The writing is wonderful too!  The original Brothers Grimm stories are so versatile that the authors really used some creativity to come up with the plot lines for The Grimm Chronicles to be so additive.  In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  I know that seems weird but Alice is a pretty kick butt hero and she has to juggle work, high school, family and her magical ability to slay evil book characters all in a day's time.  I had a blast reading this story.  It is fun and I love Alice's weapon.  In an another way I also got a Harold and the Purple Crayon feel to it but definitely geared more for young adults.  There are so many different magical characters you meet through these stories it's like a taking a trip down fairytale lane but with a more modern twist.
Also, Alice's sidekick, Br'er Rabbit, was the perfect addition.  I have always been a huge fan of those folk tales and I am so happy that authors included him in the stories.  I think I did a happy dance when I seen his appearance in the book!
All in all, The Grimm Chronicles Vol. 1 are an amazing story to dive into, no matter what age you are.  I think if you like a lot of action mixed in with lots of magic and still have that young adult feel to it then this is the book you need to be reading!  It's a great story and I give it five hearts!

Also Available Volume 2 of the Grimm Chronicles

Book 4: The Orphanage of Doom

Book 5: Blood and Thunder

Book 6: The Order of the Golden Dragon

Praise

“5 stars!” ~ Bookies Book Blog

"Highly recommended for all who love fairy tales and the YA genre." ~ My Cozie Corner

"All in all the books were excellent." ~ LilyElement

"If you love fairy tales and them being turned into modern day stories you will love these short stories." ~ Mom With a Kindle

5 stars (out of 5) ~ I Am, Indeed

“Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky’s incredible talent for storytelling takes the reader on an amazing action-packed ride fueled by endless creativity and limitless imagination. TGC is like a high-stakes version of Harold and the Purple Crayon meets a contemporary, above ground Alice in Wonderland. “ ~ Bookfetish

“I absolutely loved this book! No, let me rephrase that, I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK! Nope, that doesn't even do it justice. Vol. 1 has the first three stories from the 12 that will ultimately make up the chronicles.” ~ Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

Purchase:

The Grimm Chronicles: Volume 1

Book 1: Prince Charming Must Die!

Book 2: Happily Never After

Book 3: Revenge of the Castle Cats

The Grimm Chronicles: Volume 2

Book 4: The Orphanage of Doom

Book 5: Blood and Thunder

Book 6: The Order of the Golden Dragon

About the AuthorsKen Brosky received his MFA in fiction writing from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He also teaches English at Madison College. This is his first Young Adult series.
Isabella Fontaine owns a farm in Wisconsin and enjoys reading weird books like House of Leaves. This is her first Young Adult series.

Website * Facebook

Tour Giveaway

5 Kindle ebook copies of The Grimm Chronicles Volume 1

Ends 3/15/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Quick Book Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi {Book 2}

Title: Through the Ever Night
Series: Under the Never Sky book 2
Author: Veronica Rossi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of Publication: Jan. 8, 2013
Source: gift for Valentine's Day, hardcover, 341 pages
Get Yours at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Goodreads Summary:

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.
Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?
In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

My Thoughts:
I love when a series keeps getting better and better, holding you in with the emotion, angst, and adventure that first one had, but gives you even more this time around.
Through the Ever Night has did just that!   I love that you can truly see the change the characters have went through; they refuse to become static and still same as always.  Aria has changed the most and most definitely in a good way.  She has become stronger, more intelligent, and even more in love with Perry.  She seems more sure of herself and Perry, although, she knows she will never be accepted in his clan.
Perry has become stronger as well; learning to become a leader the people need but may not want.  We meet new characters in this story that cause me many headaches because I dislike them so much and we meet other characters that I have smiled at the likability of their personalities.
The plot just keeps getting trickier and trickier but trust me this is a good thing!  We see what the leader of the Dwellers is truly capable of and yet it still surprises me at the evilness he contains in himself.  His son is another matter.  I don't particularly like him but I understand him a little more.
Many alliances will be questioned in this book but many will come shining through.  There is a huge twist that shocked the you know what out of me but didn't take away from the story at all.
I still love the relationship that grows between Aria and Perry.  In the beginning they hated each other and now they are in complete understanding of each other.  The love they share is mutual and strong, though they do seem to question it for the wrong reasons. Everyone else seems to be pulling them apart when I just want to scream at them to trust each other instead.
Ms. Rossi definitely did not disappoint us with all the action filled scenes she created in Through the Ever Night.  I love how she took a Young Adult romance story and made it into so much more.  It isn't just romance, it is action, fantasy, and dystopian.  It even has tidbits of comedy in it which makes it even more great for me.
This is a exciting adventure that you go on through the eyes of Aria and Perry, trying to save the people they love from the the ever crumbling world they are trying to escape from, all the while trying to find a way to be with the one person that fullfills their love and longing.
Each other.

I give this wonderful book five hearts!

Book Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Title:  Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky Book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of Publication: January 3, 2012
Source: bought on Kindle, 389 pages
Want to fall in love with your own:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Goodreads Description:

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.
As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.
They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers abarbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY
The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure

My Thoughts:
I was curious, very curious about this book but never seemed to be able to pick it up.  Then I seen it was on sale for the Kindle for 2.99 and I just couldn't pass it up.  Then once I started it, I literally had a very hard time putting it down.  It was so easy to get lost in this very different world where the sky has these fire storms almost everyday, as well as these different people who are blessed with these amazing gifts based upon their dominant sense.

When I first got started with Under the Never Sky, my mind kept drifting back to Greek gods and goddesses; but I am not sure why.  There are a few things that would point it that way, for example, there is a place called The Delphi, that seems like a shrine in its sense too.
But I am still not sure if it is based loosely on mythos or not.  Maybe you can figure it out and let me know.

The action is pretty non stop.  It begins with action and is pretty much going throughout the book.  I really loved the plot of this book.  Yes, it is a love story; but it so much more than that too.   It is about loving your family, your neighbors, and your land enough to want something better for yourself.  To believe in yourself.  Even when no one else does.

Now, let's talk about the characters.  It was impossible not to fall in love with these guys.  They are funny, harsh, romantic, blunt, and most importantly, interestingly real.  Besides the different powers some of them had, I could actually see some of these people out about in society now.  Well at least I wish I could call some of them my friends.
Like Roar.  Okay so I usually talk about the main HEA first, but nope not this time.  I just had to talk about Roar first.  He is what you would call a supporting character.  But he is much more too.  Roar is the one guy every girl wishes were their big brother (I know I do).  No matter what,  Roar is the one guy that will do everything in his power to take care of you, whether you are girlfriend, sister, mom, or hot Dweller chick.

Okay now I can talk about the protagonists now.

Aria, is a Dweller who basically lives in these pod like structures that have all kinds of cool (and scary) technology that allows them to do a lot of imaginary things.  For example, they have this SmartEye device that goes over one of their eyes, almost like contact lenses, and it allows them to communicate, visit all these different places; basically be the Internet.  We see through Aria's eyes that they are so dependent upon this technology that when they lose it for a little while everything goes completely nuts.
I like Aria.  She doesn't complain too much; isn't a whiny character like I have read with a lot of in other books.  Aria is smart, beautiful, and willing to survive, even if she doesn't know how.

Then there is Perry.  He actually has this really cool, beautiful name but I will save that one for you to read.
Perry is tough but fragile as well.  And trust me, we all like a guy that can kick ass but also understands the beauty and love in things.  I think what drew me to Perry at first, was the kindness and love he has for his nephew, Talon.  Perry loves him like a father, and would risk his very existence on him.  Perry is a great friend, a handsome man, and someone that loves his people very much.  Actually, I think he cares for all people, as long as they are a decent and fair kind of folk.

These two, Aria & Perry, together are very interesting and very funny to read as they get to know each other through the good and the bad.  Probably one of my favorite things about this novel is how these two protagonists got to know each other, instead of instantly being in love.  In fact, I liked the idea that they couldn't stand each other, but through closeness they learned to be friends.  That one aspect made their relationship even more realistic, even in a fantasy type world.

The plot lines flow so fluidly through this story that is so easy to get caught up in the beauty of the writing, the beauty of the world as well as the frightening power behind it, and the awesome fighters that Aria and Perry become to save each other.
There is a lot of plot twists that I didn't see coming but totally hooked me in right away.  Not to mention the upstanding job the author did of the world building and the explanations of the different sense based powers.  Very, very well!
It was refreshing to find these characters that are up against so much: a terrible antagonist who is heartless, a sky that can kill from its storms, and clans that are demented; and yet our protagonists can still find the beauty in the killer sky, the calmness in the smells and sounds surrounding them, and the love in the smallest gestures too.  The people in Under the Never Sky are resilient which gives us all hope for the future.
This is five hearts all the way!

~~~~~~~~~~~Favorite Quotes~~~~~~~~~

"Do the clouds ever clear?" she asked.

"Completely? No. Never."

"What about the Aether? Does that ever go away?""Never, Mole.  The Aether never leaves."She looked up. " A world of nevers under a never sky."She fit in well then, he thought. A girl who never shut up.

Another reason to call it the never sky, she thought.  It never did what you wanted. 

If there was no fear, how could there be comfort? Or courage? 

Connect with Veronica Rossi:

Goodreads | Twitter | Website |  

ARC Review: Omega by Robert J. Crane {The Girl In The Box Book 5}

Title: Omega
Series: The Girl in the Box book 5
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher: Reikonos Press
Date of Publication: Feb. 8, 2012
Source: received from author for honest review of it
Get Your Own At: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Goodreads Description:

Omega - a shadowy organization that is synonomous with power in the metahuman world. They have hunted Sienna Nealon since the day she first left her house, killed countless Directorate agents and operatives, and now they unveil their greatest plot - Operation Stanchion, a phrase whispered to Sienna by an Omega operative almost too scared to speak the words aloud. Now Sienna must track the pieces Omega has in motion, journeying across the upper midwest to confront the forces that have plagued her since she first stepped into the metahuman world before they can land their final stroke - and bring an end to the Directorate forever.

My Thoughts:

I have read this author's works for a while now and it seems to be that he keeps getting better and better, surprising us with what he is capable of next and how far he is willing to go to write that masterpiece.  

Well, I believe Omega came pretty damn close to it.  It is full of emotion (to the point where my heart literally broke and tears flew out of my eyes in all directions ), action, and this deeper darker mankind that scares the hell out of me but still pulls me in because it is that captivating.  

Mr. Crane has a true talent of putting simple words to paper that have the tendency to pull the reader so far into Sienna Nealon's world, it is hard to come back to reality.  And for some of us, it is sad to leave the crazy world of metahumans, the gods of old, and a really kick ass heroine who is one of the bravest and honest people we could ever get to know.  And yes, she is a literary character.  

My warning to all of those who have not gotten into this series yet is to STOP reading here (this is book 5 so it will definitely have some kind of spoiler in it without it meaning to) and go pick up book one so you can join all of us fans that know The Girl In the Box Series is soon to be a classic along with many others, including Mr. Tolkien and Mr. Lewis.

We are thrown right into the action; which I really do love about Crane's writing style.  He can write a fight scene worthy of the big screen or video game time.  It is epic indeed!  One of the first things I came to notice about our protagonist this time is how mature she is.  Sienna has came a long way since book four and she shows it with her leading the junior M Squad, her calm demeanor with the team, and the more interaction with Old Man Winters.  I actually came very close to liking his character, because he seemed to having a fatherly interest in Sienna; but he still has this aloofness about him that makes me question his loyalty to her.  But time will tell and it does indeed.

Reed is still around and I absolutely love Reed!  I have to say he is my favorite male character in this book, besides Kurt.  Yes, I know Kurt can be a douche but I don't know why-but I feel like Kurt is ......Kurt.  Sorry I can't explain anymore than that; it is just this warm feeling I have toward Kurt.  

And of course, Zack has forgiven Sienna for her failings and they are still working on the relationship between the two of them.  I think the no touching rule bothers Sienna much more than it does Zack and it seems to always be a stresser on their fragile relationship.  But the two seem good together so it works out and we get a little more this time for them.  

I really love the way Crane used the old gods, for example Thor and Odin, to describe the different powers that some people had.  And there was a lot of references to Chris Hemsworth, which totally works for me because I seriously loved him as Thor, and it is good to see Sienna's humor still in tact.  So if I were to label this would it be possible to say mythology too for it?  I would like to think so because of what Omega holds in their hands.  But that is the beauty of this series: it crosses many different genres and has something for everyone in it, whether it be urban fantasy, science fiction, a little bit of mythology, and romance.  Of course there is also action, suspense, and it is most definitely a thriller; so yeah, something for everyone.  

Now, I was warned from the author that this could possibly be a tear jerker, and so I will pass along the same warning for you.  There is so many twists, turns, and complete surprises that it will be very difficult to not have one little tear escape.  Then again, you could be like me and whisper to yourself," I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry!"  Only to find yourself at the end bawling like a baby because the author, Mr. Crane, decided to put something so heartbreaking in our midst that it was impossible not to let our emotions take over.  

And you know what?  I love the author even that much more for it.  He has a plan for our favorite hero and though the road there will be sad, happy, terrible, and joyous, I have a good feeling he will help us see the series to its end.  Now, we may not get there unscathed; whether it be sleepless nights, eyes red from crying long and hard, or our thoughts always drifting to Sienna and her plights, causing us to spill milk we are pouring into the kids' cups (okay, I guess I can't blame that one on the book), but we will make it there.  And I know that I will be loving every minute of the journey.  

I gave Omega five hearts!  

Connect with Robert J. Crane:

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ARC Review: Family by Robert J. Crane {The Girl In The Box book # 4}

Title: Family
Series: The Girl in the Box book 4
Author: Robert J. Crane
Publisher/Date of Publication: Reikonos Press/ Nov. 27, 2012
Source: received from author for honest opinion of it
Get you own copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Goodreads Synopsis:
Just hours after finding Andromeda and crossing paths with her mother, Sienna Nealon finds herself up against a bigger threat than ever before. Omega, the organization that unleashed Wolfe and others upon her, has declared war on the Directorate and the first strikes have already landed. Facing the seemingly unstoppable forces of Omega and Sienna’s own mother, the Directorate seems poised for defeat when a new threat rears its ugly head - a traitor in their midst, one that may mean the destruction of everything Sienna has come to care about.

My Thoughts:

I feel like determining an author that has that "timeless" writing style about them takes more than just how many books they have out there in the market and whether or not they are published by "big name" companies or self.  My determining factor for deciding if a book/author is a classic is the quality of it.  Is this a novel(series) I will go back and read over and over again? Does it have characters that grip me and won't let go even after I have finished the book?
Robert J. Crane has developed a series ( two in fact) that has done just those two things.  The characters in The Girl In The Box Series has taken my world and turned it upside down.  In a good way, though.  I will find myself folding clothes and out of the blue I will consider another option that could happen to Sienna, her mother, or Zach.  I have even had dreams about these stories because I was so engaged in the lives of these people.
And yes, I have read Alone, the first book, a couple of times since I have read it that first time.  There is always another point I can pick up and look at from a different angle.  I love it!
I believe the writing muses have reigned down all of the creative gifts they could think of to help Mr. Crane reach his full potential with these stories; and he has!

From all of that, I just wanted to point out that Family is probably one of my favorite installments of this series so far; and that is saying a lot since I enjoyed all of them!  I do believe these books are timeless and  I believe Crane will be one those classic authors that everyone can enjoy.
Okay enough of my fangirling and swooning but I just needed to get that out of the way.

Family pretty much begins where Soulless left off: they are running for their lives, but now they Andromeda, a very special meta with very special powers.  Sienna is a jumbled mess of emotions in this story and we learn as much about her as she learns about herself.  We delve much deeper into the rocky relationship she has with her mother through flashbacks she has in important and stressful moments.  I enjoy flashbacks-as long as they are used sparingly.  I do not, however, like when every other page is a flashback.  Crane, thankfully, didn't do that here.  He chose to give us a crucial piece of  insight through these flashbacks that were placed carefully in the story.  We were not bombarded with flashbacks like the waves crashing upon the rocky shores.
Also there is a lot of heartbreak in Family.  The kind of heartbreak that can rip out your still beating heart leaving you gasping for breath as tears fall down your face. The pain Sienna goes through in the plot left me so hurt for her as well as some of the pain she caused others, including Zach.  But hey, don't worry it is not just full of tears and grief, because let's not forget that Sienna is a snarky chic!
Even in the most dire circumstances, Sienna finds the time for a little humor- I mean come on, just because you are fighting off these insanely bloodthirsty metas that are trying to tear you apart piece by piece doesn't mean you can't throw sarcasm into the mix.  Observe:

"Succccubus," he hissed, his black hair and red eyes caught in the light of the helo's spotlight.
"Vaaaaaaaampiiiiire," I said, mocking, and I stomped his mewling friend in the face before I took a step away from the protrasted blond fiend.
-55%

 And of course: vampires!  I knew Crane was considering doing a project with vampires, but I love how he worked the concept into this series and made it work with the plot wonderfully.  These vampires are the "bloodhounds" of the meta civilization and are portrayed in a very animalistic way.   I mean think about it; if we have metas that can shoot water out of their body, create a windstorm, are encased in fire, then the vamps aren't that far off.  This keeps us on our toes, so to speak, as to what else Crane will surprise us with in the future.

Family just pretty much took my breath away, made me laugh, made me cry, and shocked the hell out of me with all the secrets that get revealed in this one.  I liked the way it ended, not really as a cliffhanger but more of a declaration.  Of course with secrets being revealed, we have new ones being discovered too.  Crane showed us how his writing has improved through Family, and has also promised us that he can, and will deliver on great story telling no matter the cost.

If you have never been a fan of sci/fi but enjoy urban fantasy or subjects comparable to X-Men, Fantastic Four, or even the Justice League, I urge you to give this series a try.  This is undoubtedly one of the BEST science fiction/UF/action series I have ever had the pleasure of finding.
Seriously, it reads like a movie being played in your mind and I could definitely see its worth on the big screen.
I give Family five hearts.  I wish I could give it a hundred thousand stars, hearts, etc. and I cannot wait till the next book, Omega.

Contact Robert J. Crane:

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ARC Review: Chase Danger Super Spy: Pirates of Pineapple Island

Title: Chase Danger Super Spy: Pirates of Pineapple Island
Series: Chase Danger Super Spy book 2
Author: Lisa, Chad, and Chase Oliveria
Illustrations: Adam Goodman
Publisher: Magic Fire Music Studios
Date of Publication: August 2012
Source: received from author for honest opinion of it.
Get Your Own: website


Synopsis:

7-year-old super-spies Chase Danger and Princess Ali Bali must think fast when they discover pirates have stolen Zalezgon's magical pineapples. But that's not all! Ali's little brother Aiden has been kidnapped by the dreaded pirate Captain Looney, who is planning on taking over the world with his newly invented Weather Rockets!
Hang-gliding, jungles, giant sharks, super Roller Coasters, pirates, and a sky-dive will keep your children's attention from start to finish and give them a thirst for adventure!

Mom's Thoughts:
I just love Chase Danger!  If you just look at the cover you can tell this is one little boy who can get the tough jobs done!  But then add to the mix, a mysterious little girl and they make a great team that makes this book for both boys and girls. I love the graphics in this book.  All the different colors, the different characters  being portrayed, makes me get excited and my children are no different!  When we got book #2 in the mail, all I could hear was squeals of happiness as they ripped open the packaging to get their hands on this book.  Do you know what makes this book even more better?  The fact that it brings together all of my boys.  My nine year old twins love it because of all the action and different spy gadgets; my seven year old adores Chase and Ali Bali and loves reading it out aloud, and my four year old loves to sit among his older brothers listening to the read-along cd that comes with it; not to mention he loves sword fights.  I think this would be the perfect gift for that reluctant reader or any child that just loves a really good story! ***** stars for me!

Anthony and Conner's Thoughts:
We loved the first book but I think this one just made it even better!  When we first got our hands on this book, (we jerked out of our mom's hands-sorry Mom) all we wanted to do was just look at the pictures before we even started reading it.  Anthony and I just love the pictures!  We have even tried our hand at drawing a couple of Chase Danger scenes, but we aren't really that great at it.
Anthony: Okay hands down, my favorite part is when they ride the roller coaster and then shoot into the sky!  This is why I will not ride a roller coaster at Six Flags; you never know when this could happen!  (Okay, so it is probably next to impossible...) But it was pretty exciting reading about it.  I really like Chase but my favorite character is Ali Bali.  She is so tough and I think she makes a great friend for Chase.
This is one of those books that is great for older and younger kids, girls or boys.
Conner: We have really gotten into comic books lately.  Our dad bought us a lot of comics the other day.  That is a major reason I like Chase Danger so much.  It is written out like a comic book would be.  It is easy to follow along to and the read along cd makes all the action seem to come alive.  After listening to it the first time, our little brother, Jace, picked up a toy sword and started pretending he was Chase.  It was really funny, but even more funnier when our other brother, Mikey, decided he was going to be Captain Looney.  He does that part really well-he is kinda crazy.
I like that we have this story that all of us can enjoy.  It's something that us big kids can read, but little kids get a real kick out of all the funny scenes, like with the shark. In fact, we all kinda laughed at that one. I am a huge fan of spy movies, like Spy Kids, and this series is a lot like that.  It is funny, exciting, and has a lot of interesting different characters.  Even the villains have some cool parts; but it the most fun watching Chase and Ali put the bad guys away.
I wish we could give it more than five stars; like a hundred!  Because it is really that great!
Mikey and Jacey's Thoughts

Mikey: I think it is super cool that Chase and I are the same age.  I always like to imagine the different things I could do, like travel to outer space, but it is really fun to act out the scenes from the Chase Danger series.
Chase and I have a lot in common, but most importantly, we get our strength from eating pizza! I love pizza, though not really pineapples much.  My favorite scene was Operation Baby Safe.  I love little babies and it was funny when Chase said, "born potty trained!"  I can understand how Aiden gets his feelings hurt from his sister.  My brothers tend to do that to me and it is easy to think they don't care about me.  I am just glad my feelings can't set off rockets!  That wouldn't be good at all!  I really liked the surprise we find out in this book and I can't wait for book 3!
Jacey:  I love the sword fighting!  Yah!  I like to hear the sounds that come from the cd and I always get to turn the page too.  I am even learning which words are Chase, spy, and Danger.  I really like this book a lot and I always get really excited to hear it before I go to bed at night.  Sometimes, its fun just to listen to the cd, and other times I like hearing my mom read the book to us.  She does pretty good voices with our different stuffed animals and she can read books pretty good too.  I want to give this book as a present to our cousins for Christmas.

All in all, we have all talked and decided Chase Danger Super Spy and The Pirates of Pineapple Island deserve five stars!  This is one of those books that you can read over and over again and it just keeps the excitement level constant!

Make sure you stay tuned in the next few days because we will be having an interview with someone very special to this series.