Mini Book Review: The After House by Michael Phillip Cash

Title: The After House
Author: Michael Phillip Cash
Publisher: Chelshire Publishing
Date of Publication: Sept. 30 2014
Source: received from author in exchange for my honest opinion


Book Synopsis:

Remy Galway and her daughter Olivia are rebuilding their life after a failed marriage in a 300 year old cottage in historic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Little do they know, another occupant is lurking in the haven of their own home. Will the After House be their shelter or their tomb?

My Thoughts: 

It seems whenever I read something from Michael Phillip Cash, I find myself enjoying this author more and more.  He is highly talented and impresses me with his wisdom for the supernatural premise of storytelling.  I always start his books thinking they will be slightly scary, but then find myself falling in love with the characters and the plot.
The After House was no different.  I loved this story!  The cover is beautifully crafted and does cause me to believe it will be slightly frightening but I was wrong.  It personally didn't scare me at all; but it did make me question the shifting shadows in my own home.

Mr. Cash pushes us to question what we aren't sure about and forces us to contemplate the unknown, such as ghosts and the paranormal.
I loved the interaction between the characters in this book so much!  Olivia is adorable and it is hard to imagine her as a "spawn of Satan" as Eli likes to refer to her.  It seems everyone in the story is important and ties in to the past as well as the future of the town.   I loved the research done to create such a wonderful love story.  I really think this is one of my favorite books by Mr. Cash.

I highly encourage anyone to give this book a try.  I literally finished it in one day and was hoping for a little more too!  I would love to read some more about the other characters beside Remy and Hugh, as I felt they are what added to the story more than anyone else.

The After House was a great story and made a day that started out rough, eventually turn into a wonderful evening!  Everyone, please try this book out!  You will not be disappointed!

Get Your Own at:

Amazon |

Connect with Michael Phillip Cash at:
Goodreads| Website| Twitter| Facebook|

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: Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel

Title: Dearly, Beloved
Series: Gone With the Respiration Book 2
Author: Lia Habel
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Date of Publication: Sept. 25, 2012
Source: digital galley from NetGalley, 496 pages
Order your copy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Can the living coexist with the living dead? 

That's the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as "The Laz" hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.

Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.

Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren't the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder's crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.

As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora's scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of "The Laz" and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus-and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.   -book blurb


My Feelings:
Habel takes the creepy appeal of zombies, the futuristic machinery that enthralls us now, and the societal demands of the Victorian Era; combines them all to create a novel that made me smile, cringe, and laugh out loud at times.  But it definitely made me think, long after I had finished the story.  

The setting was confusing at times just because of the way society acted, yet all of the technological equipment kept me grounded in the future.  There were times I wanted to scream at these folks, " there are zombies everywhere, some good, some bad, and you are more worried about how society views whether you are chaperoned properly." It was downright comical at times, but I think it also made us see that there are those people who will still care about what other people think with the world falling down all around them.  Good lesson for us all, huh?

The characters were to die for, no pun intended.  (Okay I know it was cheesy but I just couldn't help it.)  If I had to pick one favorite this story it was the characters.  
Bram was handsome in nature and caring.  I can see why Nora feels so much for him.  Yeah he is a zombie but remember the old adage, "beauty comes from the inside first"?  Bram truly has beauty on the inside.  He genuinely cares for the living and the dead.  He is a true leader and his snarky comments always made me smile.  
 Nora is rash, passionate, foolish and very determined, almost to the point of stubborn.  In truth, she got on my nerves at times, and other moments I couldn't help but smile and just beg to give her a hug.  She is so loyal to those people she cares about that hell hath no fury for those that tries to harm them.  She is one tough kick ass heroine. I don't want to give too much away but she is very special and may be what this zombie filled world needs to carry on in peace.  
Pamela reminded me of myself the most.  I know most people always associate with the main character, and Pamela isn't just passing in the wind, but she is more like a supporting character in my opinion.  
She discovered that she was willing to do just about anything to save her brother, her family, and her close friends.  (In an  apocalypse I would bet I would get over my fear of blood and heights to do the right thing.) Of course after everything has settled down for the most part, the panic starts to set in.  She suffers from anxiety attacks with the added stress of being responsible for her family.  
This is me!!!  Except I am not living with zombies or in the apocalypse...I think.  
When she finally reaches her limit and just doesn't give a **** (you know) I actually said out loud, "YOU GO GIRL!!!!"

Most stories cannot pull off the multiple POVs but Dearly, Beloved wouldn't be able to exist without them.  There are so many people that make a difference in this novel, it was only right to get their thoughts and emotions fed to us through their own eyes.  Even the antagonist had his own chapters and we were able to see the whys of what he did.  It didn't mean I agreed with him but Michael truly believed what he did was the right thing.  Let's just say I think Michael went off his rocker a little bit there.  

Through the many POVS we were able to glimpse who the real monsters were and who the perceived evil creatures were.  I loved the fact that our author showed us that the actions of the living and the dead caused the evil in the world.  It was also important to show how such good intentions could be the death of us all.  

I felt like Bram and Nora were meant for each other.  I haven't read book 1, Dearly, Departed, but I felt like Habel gave us enough background information to keep everything exciting but still easy to understand.  I do look forward to reading the first book so I can see how Nora and Bram really fell in love. 
  Their love is scandalous among the rich families, which both care nothing for.  The social graces Nora keeps is in most for her father's sake, but doesn't care for the fake and phony families of high society.  I think this truly bothers her when she finds out that someone helps her that could be her mortal enemy.  The plot thickens! :)

The plot has so much going on you cannot possibly get bored with it.  I love how Habel took issues that we are dealing with today: racism, fear of the unknown, peer pressure, etc.  and crafted it into a story of the future with zombies.  
These zombies have a lot of heart that will truly change the way you look at the reanimated dead ever again!  The ending was spectacular in every sense of the word and I can't wait to delve into more of the Dearly world! 

Favorite Quote:

"I love you Nora. I will think you beautiful when I have no eyes left to see.  I will remember your voice when my ears go.  You can't hold on to me forever, but I will hold onto you until I am nothing but dirt."

-Bram, Dearly, Beloved

I gave it five hearts!