QUICK REVIEW: "Oubliette" (Cloud Prophet Trilogy, book 2) - by Megg Jensen

“OUBLIETTE”

(Cloud Prophet Trilogy, book 2)

by Megg Jensen

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Reychel thought she was finally free. She was wrong. Everyone saw her gift of prophecy as a blessing, but her gift is uncontrollable. No one alive can teach her to manipulate her unique gift and the answers she needs lie buried within a madman’s journals. She’s thrust in the midst of a brewing war and the only uniting factor for her people is their belief in the Prophet.

Will Reychel learn to control her gift or will she be forced to deliver a false prophecy that could lead her people into a violent war?

REVIEW

The second book in the Cloud Prophecy series, “Oubliette” was a good read. It picks up right where the first book left off, and the reader gets to meet a whole array of new and fascinating characters. A slow-moving, yet interesting storyline with unpredictable twists, keeps the reader riveted; and the open ending leaves as much as necessary to be continued in the third and final installment of the series.

My only complaints are that “Oubliette” didn’t have that same “oomph” as what the first book, “Anathema” had for me; and I couldn’t feel the chemistry or connection between the characters who are portrayed as being lovers.

On the whole, Megg Jensen’s unsophisticated writing style makes “Oubliette” an effortless and relaxing read. Recommended for readers aged twenty and under.

 

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QUICK REVIEW: "Thicker than Blood" (Marchwood Vampires, book 2) - by Shalini Boland

“THICKER THAN BLOOD”

(Marchwood Vampires, book 2)

by Shalini Boland

REVIEWED BY: Ellen Fritz

OVERVIEW

Aelia lives in 6th century Byzantium. She is sixteen years old and her life is about to change forever. She doesn't yet know it, but she holds the fate of thousands in her hands and her actions will echo across the centuries.

Fourteen hundred years later the lives of Madison and Alexandre are once again plunged into danger. To save Madison, Alexandre is forced back to a world he thought was dead and buried. But time is running out. The chase is on...

Chilling and fast-paced, Thicker Than Blood is the supernatural sequel to Hidden. It combines passion and drama with a historical twist.

REVIEW

If Madison and Alexandre thought their troubles were over, they were sadly mistaken.  In “Thicker than Blood” they, together with their families, are once again plunged into a world of adventure, danger and life threatening situations.  On the other hand we have Elia's story which is set in sixth century Byzantium.  Finally it looks as though we are going to get some answers to questions which arose in “Hidden”, the first book of the Marchwood Vampire series.  Answers that fill us in on how exactly the vampires came to Byzantium and what caused the strange sleeping disease that had disabled so many vampires for fourteen centuries.  Not having had much time to experience life as vampires when they were newly created in the nineteenth century, Alexandre and the other Marchwood vampires only knew that sunshine - and now ultra violet light - can kill them.  In this book they also discover other dangers to their existence, as well as the possibility of being put back to sleep if they are not careful.    

Once I started reading, I simply could not put this book down.  With action and adventure and fear for these beloved characters' lives and well-being from the very first few pages, combined with suspense that just never lets up until the final page, it is not surprising that the author - who is a genius with cliff-hanger chapter endings - switches back and forth between sixth century Byzantium and modern day Cappadocia and England, with ease; thus ensuring that the reader keeps turning the pages.

The characters truly come to life - Alexandre, still the nineteenth century French aristocrat, Freddy, the British aristocrat of the same time period and on the modern end of the scale, Madison and her brother Ben.  Add to this variety of characters a few sixth century individuals and the story is as colorful as it gets.  As all the characters are realistic - not all good or bad - the suspense becomes unbearable when a traitor seems to be working with the enemy.  

The author's comfortable story telling ability combined with her extremely neat writing, makes “Thicker than Blood” sheer pleasure to read.  For those who love a bit of romance, the love between Madison and Alexandre is beautifully and tastefully described and will definitely touch your heart. 

This thrilling and beautiful book deserves more than 5 stars, and will have the reader looking forward to many more from Shalini Boland. 

 

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QUICK REVIEW: "The Many Lives of Avery Snow" - by Christy Sloat

“THE MANY LIVES OF AVERY SNOW”

(Past Lives trilogy, book 1)

by Christy Sloat

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Avery Snow led a boring, no thrills life. After her father left the family when she was young, Avery’s mother died when she was only twelve, leaving her all alone except for her Aunt Paulina. Now, at twenty-six, Avery is very used to being lonely.

She enjoys her job at Sunrise Estates, it’s the one place where she doesn’t feel left out. Her boss, Kerri, is her best friend and Lucy O’Shea, a resident at the home, is a good friend to her as well. The night Lucy dies in Avery’s arms she delivers a haunting message to Avery. She tells her that there is a man looking for her from a past life. And he will stop at nothing to have her.

Now Avery is unable sleep for more than a few hours, her dreams are keeping her awake. She is too terrified to sleep for the dreams are too vivid and too real. The only catch? She cannot remember what they are about. Until her Spirit Guide, Ianni, comes to help. Ianni shows Avery her past lives and tells her about the man who is stalking her soul. Now Avery remembers every life she has ever lived and she remembers the man she shared them with. He will not give up until she falls in love with him. The problem is Avery is in love with someone else. Ianni must help keep Avery from making the wrong choice. One her soul doesn’t want. She also must keep her safe from the Dark Guides who are after Avery.

REVIEW

I really love the awesome cover and the title of this book. I couldn’t wait to start reading it, and I finished it in less than a day.

Spirit guides with wings that change color, malevolent dark guides that steal souls, reincarnation, a fascinating take on Hollywood celebs, and a love that spans over lifetimes, are only a few of the elements that makes “The Many Lives of Avery Snow” an intriguing story with an easy to follow plotline. The few flashbacks Avery and Landon have of their past lives together added more color to the story, and all the loose points got tied up nicely at the end; but there is also enough of an open ending left to be continued in book two of the series. These, of course, were the highlights for me, but unfortunately there were also a few negatives along the way, which I feel necessitates the three-star rating.

Although this story has an interesting premise, my personal opinion is that it lacks depth. Some of the main characters were a little flat, but a few of the secondary characters were more likeable. At times I found the pace a bit slow, with too many repetitive details and way too much exposition that didn’t leave a great deal to the imagination.

Even though it ended up not being much to my taste, “The Many Lives of Avery Snow” held my interest straight to the end. Christy Sloat’s simplistic writing style makes for an engaging read suitable for the younger paranormal romance reader. 

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QUICK REVIEW: "Midnight Hunter" - by Bonnie Bernard

“MIDNIGHT HUNTER”

by Bonnie Bernard

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Donna McCormick is a smart, pretty college student whose twenty-first birthday is a week away. Unfortunately, so is her murder - unless the mysterious man from the darkness can reach her first. 

Donna is pursued in her dreams by a man who claims to be her Eternal Partner. During her waking hours, she’s cornered by another who claims to be the same. There’s only one problem: neither is entirely honest. 

Or, for that matter, entirely human.

Eight years earlier, Donna’s life was dealt a terrible blow with the untimely death of a little brother who was left in her care. Ever since, Donna has yearned to get a normal life back – and despite her best friend Mo’s efforts to the contrary, Donna has almost managed it…at least until the Underworld cracks wide open, scattering chaos and spilling out every shifty force under the moon. Most of them want Donna dead, but some will stop at nothing to keep her alive. 

Too bad she doesn’t know which is which. 

With death following Donna like a shadow, she turns to her best friend for help. But instead of help, Mo offers only more mystery. And she knows more about the Underworld than she's willing to admit.

Now, Donna must choose: Cling to the mortal world where she feels safe, or embrace the Underworld where her dreams – and nightmares – come true.

One thing’s for sure - doing either one might get her killed in both.

REVIEW

I had loads of fun reading this book. I can’t believe it was so far down in my to-be-read pile and it took me so long to get around to reading it. “Midnight Hunter” is a gorgeous, fun, lighthearted, sassy, sometimes terrifying, quick read!

I loved the main characters, but my very favorite character was Mo. She’s fun, hilarious, super feisty and brutally honest…and she has no problem belching loudly in public places. The camaraderie between her and Donna is a familiar one, formed by way only a childhood friendship can. These characters aren’t just likeable, they’re completely lovable.  The dialogue between these two girls will at times have you in stitches. But I also have to stress here that the further I got into the story, I found that all is not what it seemed.

As much fun as it was being drawn into Donna’s world, and breaking out into hysterical laughter time and again at Mo’s antics, much of the story thoroughly freaked me out and had shivers running down my spine. You know those movies in which the cops in a small town go really bad and you can’t turn to them for help and they’re actually much scarier than the bad guys? This book will take you right there. And then you’ll get to the parts where some characters start acting all creepy…I’m getting chills just thinking about it. Really, there will be times while reading this novel, you’ll check under your bed - just to be safe.

Bonnie Bernard’s wonderfully quirky writing style is outright unique. Laced with laugh-out-loud humor and choc-full of adrenaline-pumping thrills and chills, the author proves to have a natural knack for taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride of different emotions.

So you, you and you! Whether you’re eighteen or eighty one, this book is for you. Give it a go and then come back here and thank me for enthusiastically for recommending this absolutely amazing five-star read! 

 

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QUICK REVIEW: "Loving the Rain" - by Jeff LaFerney

“LOVING THE RAIN”

by Jeff LaFerney

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Mind powers are to be kept unused and secret. At least that's what Clay Thomas believes until a determined rival from his past enters his life, seeking revenge. When Clay discovers that his athletic son has his own mind powers, they set out together to undo consequences from Clay's past and to put an end to Jack Harding's plans. As his enemy closes in and Clay and Tanner's powers grow, Clay is forced to choose between protecting his secrets and protecting those he loves most. Loving the Rain is a suspenseful story about an exceptional man forced to face the choices of his past and the extraordinary love and forgiveness that finally offer him peace from a lifetime of secrecy.

REVIEW

Here’s a book that took me by complete surprise. When the author told me it had a lot of sports in it, I wasn’t too keen to read it, but because I’ve read the other two books in the Clay and Tanner Thomas series, I was curious to see where it all started. As with “Skeleton Key” and “Bulletproof”, the second and third books in this series, “Loving the Rain” also turned out to be an exceptional read!

Written with what I’ve come to recognize as the author’s signature tongue-in-cheek humor and an insightfulness into the human character, Jeff LaFerney not only explores the upside of what it is like to have parapsychological powers and the power to manipulate minds; but also the consequences of what happens when good people use those powers irresponsibly, no matter how well intended. Of course, no mystery novel is complete without a vengeful villain, and Jack Harding is no exception. His character adds new dimension to the term “bad guy”.

This being the author’s first novel, I’m adequately impressed by his impeccable writing which enticed and engaged me from the very start of the book. Solid characters, gripping dialogue, a surprise tearjerker ending, and a unique plot which keeps the reader guessing and in suspense until the very last page, makes “Loving the Rain” a memorable book.  

To sum it all up in one sentence - Jeff LaFerney’s writing is an absolute joy to read, and this book deserves a rating of ten stars!

 

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QUICK REVIEW: "Timeless" (Immortal Love series, book 1) - by Amy Richie

“TIMELESS”

(Immortal Love series, book 1)

by Amy Richie

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

After the earth is crippled by the asteroid Jewell, vampires come to the aid of the survivors. Some only want to help, others merely want to protect their way of life. And some simply have to be stopped.

Eva was created for one purpose, to kill notorious vampire Dominick Letrell. Neleh has devised a plan that cannot fail; travel back in time to when Dominick was his weakest and attack him there. Along with the help of David, the most intelligent vampire alive, the plan is set in motion. But then suddenly everything goes wrong and Eva is trapped in the past with no memory of why or how she got there. What happens when all the rules change?

Timeless is a story of betrayals and secrets and a love that will change everything.

REVIEW

What a spectacularly superb read! “Timeless” is one of those books I’ll be reading again and again.

As it is often the case, the beautiful cover caught my eye, but the blurb suggested it’s a romance novel, so I pushed it to the bottom of my to-be-read pile. I’m not a fan of romance – no sirree, not at all. So once I got around to reading this fantastic book, I was quite surprised to find that the cover blurb isn’t doing justice to this outstanding storyline.

“Timeless” is more than your average paranormal romance novel. It is an action-packed time travel adventure with a feisty, Lara Croft-type female lead, super-hot vampires that makes certain other vamps look like timid fairies; and it taps into every emotion the reader can possibly feel for characters in a book – love, hate, anger, fear, excitement, trepidation, relief – to name but a few.

Aside from a few grammar errors which can be easily overlooked, the story grabbed me from the very first word and I found it hard to put down; at the same time hoping it wouldn’t end. This is really one of those rare books where I actually liked every single character, as they were all so life-like and well-rounded. What I enjoyed most about it is that the romance was not the main focus of the story, but there’s still more than enough in it to leave any hardcore romance fan weak-kneed.

“Timeless” is a brilliantly written, fast-paced story that draws you into a future world, takes you back to the past, makes you fall in love, and then takes you back to the future again, to a world much different than the one we know. Amy Richie has crafted an unforgettable tale of love, betrayal, friendship and revenge that will leave the reader longing for more of her splendid writing.  

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QUICK REVIEW: "Little Orphan Anvil: The Shades of Fate" - by Joseph Beekman

“LITTLE ORPHAN ANVIL: THE SHADES OF FATE”

by Joseph Beekman

REVIEWED BY: Ellen Fritz

OVERVIEW

With the discovery of a "legendary" pumpkin patch in the dark of the deadwoods, the witch returns in this second installment to the tale of magic and metal. The Land of Iron and Anvil is once again threatened with the dark magic of the witch, and the little robot, Anvil, along with some new and old friends, must venture into the shadowy lands of the realm to stop her wicked ways...and seal her fate.

REVIEW

Who would imagine that three children going into the woods looking for a legendary pumpkin patch, could unleash destruction upon the land of iron and anvil - and possibly the whole realm - by simply uprooting one of these pumpkins?  Many years after the evil witch has been killed by one of the three children’s parents, she is still lurking in spirit form ready to awaken as soon as one of her magical pumpkins is harvested.  As though that is not enough, these pumpkins have some deadly magic hidden inside them.  When the two boys, Jonathon and Haley, are possessed by spirits and go off to do the bidding of the witch, Tabitha is left with the task to try and stop imminent disaster.
  
If you are looking for a book with adventure and suspense from the word go, Shades of Fate is definitely for you.  I for one could not put it down until I had read the very last sentence.  The vivid descriptions of scenery and weather conditions create an atmosphere of constant foreboding, thus turning the whole reading experience into a thoroughly scary edge-of-your-seat journey. 

The author crafts the most unique characters I have ever encountered in the fantasy genre.  There is Tinspar, a thoroughly unattractive looking character, who is bound to steal your heart.  Then, of course, there is our favorite little robot droid, Anvil, who, together with his creator, Will, is called out of retirement to help save the realm.   On the other hand, there are the malevolent creatures who serve to make the journey of those who hope to save the world, difficult and dangerous.  Wisp-fly bats, oil slicks and roots that grab you as you pass are just some of the dangers that’ll send chills down your spine.  Even the places through which they travel have names like “The Valley of Gloom” and the “Cemetery Hills” - just creepy enough to make the hair on the back of your neck rise.

I would recommend this book as a keeper to all ages.  However, young children and the faint of heart might want to read this story well before nightfall.  Although this is the sequel to “Little Orphan Anvil”, it can also be read as a standalone, as the author gives enough back story during the course of this book.       

Five stars and a huge cheer for “Shades of Fate”, and I hope that we'll soon see more of Joseph Beekman's entirely unique brand of fantasy.  This is definitely one writer who can never be accused of borrowing from others. 

 

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QUICK REVIEW: "Saving Bobby" - by Crystal Cattabriga

“SAVING BOBBY”

by Crystal Cattabriga

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

When Bobby's world came crashing down on his thirteenth birthday he knew his life would never be the same again. After losing most of his family before ever becoming a teenager. Bobby was determined not to lose the only person who had truly loved him and was always there for him; his mom. Struggling with the fear of losing his mother to cancer Bobby takes it upon himself running away in search for a way to save her. Along Bobby's journey, he meets Annie, a 'runaway.' Together, they embark on a road where they both find a friendship that will last forever and the true meaning of God. Will Bobby save his mother in time and will Annie go back to the life she had? Experience this journey with Bobby and Annie and feel the power of true determination, and what God can do if you just let him into your heart....

REVIEW

“Saving Bobby” is a lovely, heartwarming story about a young boy undertaking an extraordinary journey to save the life of the one person he loves most – his mother. Told with sheer honesty from the point of view of a thirteen year old boy whose life unexpectedly changes for the worse in a matter of minutes, we get to know Bobby as an ordinary and uncomplicated kid whose life revolves around that of his mother, and the lengths he would go to, to save her.

This book has surpassed all my expectations and delighted me with a fast-moving plot, and a storyline that begs the reader to believe in miracles, angels and a world where people still care about each other. The only downside I could find is that it needs some editing, but other than that, this is a story that will stay with the reader for a long long time.

I highly recommend this enchanting book for fans of Christian fiction and anybody in the mood for a tearjerker read.

 

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QUICK REVIEW: "Crossroads" (Crossroads Saga, book 1) - by Mary Ting

“CROSSROADS”

(Crossroads Saga, book 1)

by Mary Ting

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Claudia Emerson has a good friend who shares the same first name and last name. That friend unfortunately dies in a tragic accident during homecoming dance. Claudia is distraught at the loss of her friend, but is even more disturbed by her dreams, which seem to take her to another place called Crossroads. Unknown to her, Crossroads is like a second heaven, a place between heaven and earth. It is where the souls of humans in comas or near death experiences may wander. Where, Claudia meets Michael, a nephilim, a half angel, half human, whom she often meets in her dreams. It turns out that this isn’t her first visit to Crossroads, which is an enigma for no human can ever travel there until Claudia. 

Now the fallen and demons are after her, suspecting she must be special and it is up to Michael and the other nephilims to protect her. Her dream becomes a nightmare as more secrets are revealed, about who she really is, and the true identities of the people she loves most. Can Michael fight his growing feelings for Claudia and protect her as a guardian angel should?

REVIEW

“Crossroads” by author Mary Ting is an awe-inspiring, exhilarating, one-of-a-kind read. It has all the elements necessary to keep paranormal-romance fans turning the pages at a steady pace – danger, excitement, beautiful angels, evil demons, breathtaking scenes, and kick-ass battles between good and evil, reminiscent of the tv series Supernatural, but on a bigger and grander scale.

As all who’ve been following my reviews probably know by now, I’m not a fan of romance. And if it’s sappy romance, it’s a no-go for me. I have to make an exception in this case though. Mary Ting has done an exceptional job in making me fall head-over-heels in love with more than one character in this book. I mean we’re talking drop-dead gorgeous angels here. One more dazzling than the other. The romance between Claudia, the human girl, and Michael, her guardian angel, is so skilfully and delicately written, that I couldn’t help but experience every emotion they felt for each other as if it was my own. It takes quite the writer to be able to make a hardcore, anti-romance-nazi such as myself get to the point where I can’t wait for Michael to fold Claudia inside his wings and proclaim his undying love for her. OK, I’ve used the cliché, but trust me when I tell you that the author unexpectedly wooed me off my feet with her natural talent for writing romance and infusing it with enough magic to hit you right at the centre of the heart.

Of course, whiny, weak, wimpy female leads are also a huge pet peeve of mine and I always start a new book with trepidation as to what sort of spoilt brat protagonist I’m going to have to bear with for the next 300 or so pages. I was happy to find that Claudia, our leading-lady-girl-in-distress, is actually one who can fend for herself and stand her ground. Sure, she’s being protected by a mini-platoon of guardian angels and what not, but when she’s on her own, this girl faces her foes head-on. Bravo Mary Ting, for not following the norm and for breaking away from the clichéd helpless teenage drama-queen protagonist and giving us the heroine we all dream to be. Incredibly, throughout the numerous devastating trials Claudia faces in this book, she emerges a stronger and more mature character in the final chapter; one that at the very least begs respect and admiration.

“Crossroads” surprised me, it thrilled me, it kept me reading until my vision blurred over with tiredness in the wee hours of the morning, and it pushed the boundaries of my imagination to explore a new world created by an author who evidently has no limits to her own imagination and creativity. Readers who have a void in their lives left behind by losing someone dear to them, will find solace and companionship in this book through comforting and insightful words, sensitively written by someone who also had to endure and deal with such a loss before. This being the author’s debut novel and the first book in the Crossroads saga, I am impatiently looking forward to reading the next two books as I am of now a self-confessed addict to the exquisite writing of Mary Ting.

 

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