Tuesday, July 31, 2012

REVIEW: "HAOLE WOOD" - by Dee DeTarsio


HAOLE WOOD
by Dee DeTarsio

REVIEWED BY: Ellen Fritz

OVERVIEW

When San Diego weather caster, Jaswinder Park, is mysteriously summoned to the island of Maui in Hawaii to help her grandmother, she ends up losing her job. This fair-haired, light-skinned foreigner, called haole by the natives, decides to stay in Maui for a couple of days until she can figure out what to do with her life. She realizes that her quick trip to Maui may not be all she’s hoping for when:

-She has to bail her Hawaiian/Korean grandmother out of jail for possession of pakalolo.

-The only thing she can understand her grandmother say is: “Not that.

-She can’t decide which hurts worse, her sunburn, hangover, or memories of the night before.

-She’s labeled the “Liquor Licker” on the front page of the Maui News in a photo that shows her doing a shot of tequila with a hunky Hawaiian who’s been found dead.

-It seems she’s had orgasms that have lasted longer than her career.

-She scrapes the bottom of the barrel to find her guardian angel. 

Beautiful fabric found in her grandmother’s closet unfolds a future for Jaswinder as she designs sensuous silky wraps called sunshminas that provide sun protection. She tries for a Hollywood connection, but her company, Haole Wood, has some growing pains. From trying to find a killer, to selling her sunshminas, to lusting after Dr. Jac, the island dermatologist, to trying to ignore her so-called guardian angel, can Jaswinder learn to embrace the island way of life? Aloha!

REVIEW

Haole Wood is definitely the funniest and wittiest book I have read in quite a while.  When Jaswinder Park has to bail her grandmother out of jail for the possession of pacalolo, her problems on the Hawaiian island Maui have just started.  After losing her job as a san Diego weather caster, getting a really bad sun burn, being photographed with a murder victim and being beaten up by said murder victim's mother, Jaswinder's stay on Maui is turning out not to be much fun at all.  Bring into this equation the handsome dr. Jack and a rather unusual, wisdom spouting guardian angel and you have a story that demands to be read in one go.

As one failed attempt to solve the murder and to start her own business followed another, I started to wonder whether Jaswinder could do anything at all without botching it.  This would be serious was it not for the humorous way in which the story is told.  The main character has a unique capacity for getting herself into wildly embarrassing situations and saying just the wrong thing at the wrong time.  The reader gets a look into Jaswinder's thoughts and inner dialogue which are, even at the most serious moments, absolutely hilarious.  The author frequently refers to popular culture which gives the whole story just that much more life and credibility.
   
Colorful descriptions of the people of the island and the natural scenery adds to the magic of the book.  Meet Zev, Bronco and Kenny, the hot surfers, who try to teach Jaswinder how to surf, Lana Ho the stunningly beautiful island entertainer and of course Jaswinder's Halmoni who only knows two English words. 

If you are looking for a hilariously funny and extremely lively story, Haole Wood is the book for you.  Amidst all this humor and excitement, there are some pearls of wisdom tastefully worked into the dialogue and thoughts of the characters.

Not only does Dee DeTarsio write an excellent and spellbinding story but she is an absolute genius with wordplay.  There are even some sweet romantic scenes for those who like a bit of romance in a book.  Haole Wood is a must read deserving of far more than 5 stars.

 


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“Haole Wood” by Dee DeTarsio has 14 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Monday, July 30, 2012

REVIEW: "BETWEEN" (Crossroads saga, book 2) - by Mary Ting


BETWEEN
(Crossroads Saga, book 2)
by Mary Ting

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

As the alkins head back to Crossroads, Claudia leads her normal life; but not for long. Having a special soul, Claudia attracts danger, and she soon finds out who Gamma asked to watch over her. The Twelve, known as Divine Elders on Earth, are very much involved when they find out that Aliah, one of the God’s first angels, escaped from the Abyss when the gates were opened by Aden. Needing Claudia’s soul to escape the only place Aliah can reside–a place between Heaven and Earth–he sends his demons in search of all Claudia Emersons on Earth. Taking her soul will enable him to be released from Between and cross over to Crossroads, which would give him immense power. As more secrets are revealed Claudia learns about the venators—nephilim, demon hunters. Now two opposing forces must work together in order to save Claudia and humanity from the most dangerous angel ever created. But along the way, trust becomes a big issue. Will love be enough to keep Claudia and Michael together? Who will make the ultimate sacrifice? Who will betray them all?

REVIEW

As much as I enjoyed the first book in the Crossroads saga, I enjoyed this second book even more!  It was such a treat meeting up for a second time with my favorite characters from the previous book.

Again, the author didn’t disappoint. Aside from the eye-catching cover and the finer little details on the inside of the book, the reader can also look forward to the continued, heart-achingly sweet romance between Claudia and Michael, unforeseen plot twists, action-packed battle scenes, a host of new characters, and an ending that will leave you breathless and begging the author to hurry up with the next book in this saga. And that is only the proverbial tip of the iceberg.

An exquisitely crafted novel with beautiful settings, romantic tension and memorable characters with personal struggles, that crawls deep into your heart, “Between” is an extraordinary read that will have the reader reluctant to let go before getting to the very last page. Well done Mary Ting, for writing yet another book that I will be highly recommending to others, and which I simply couldn’t put down!

 


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“Between” by Mary Ting have 60 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

COVER REVEAL & EXCERPT: "BEYOND" (Crossroads Saga, book 3) - by Mary Ting


BEYOND
(Crossroads Saga, book 3)
by Mary Ting
(Release date: September 12, 2012)


OVERVIEW

Torn between the past she can't remember and a future she isn’t ready for, Claudia feels at a loss. With unanswered questions, she is certain there is more to her past than just being a venator. Finding the missing pieces in her life won’t be easy because duty calls. When mysterious dark shadows get released, an apocalypse sets in motion. The venators and the alkins must work together once again. Knowing Claudia would be the key to destroying the demons that were released, a familiar stranger appears to protect her. Drawn to the beautiful angel, Claudia finds she must unravel the mysteries of her past in order to help save the world. Who is the angel assisting her and why does she feel a strong connection to him? Time is running out. Will she discover all the secrets before it’s too late?

EXCERPT

Shaking her head, she looked at Davin. Her heart was hammering out of control. Even with angelic powers, she was deathly scared of heights. Building up her courage and the willingness to face the consequences of what she was about to do would be worth it all if she could find the answers. Without any further thought, she lit up a sly smile. “See you when I see you.” She took a perfect dive, right into the alley, landing on her two feet as her hand touched the ground to steady her. Wow! That was awesome.
Claudia looked up and saw Austin and Davin looking down on her.
“Stay right there, we’re coming down,” Austin demanded as his body was half way out the window.
Claudia stood up in a hurry. “No! Forgive me, Austin and Davin, but I need to do something for myself. Don’t worry about me and don’t follow me.” Claudia darted out of there at lightning bolt speed. There was no way they would know which way to go or how to find her. Claudia ran so fast she felt like she was going through a wind tunnel. Her hair flowed behind her while the air brushed against her skin made her feel free and alive. She sped her way to the highway, occasionally stopping to figure out which way to proceed. The only place she truly felt a sense of belongingness was at Gamma’s house, where she left her purse and that is where she would go.

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Monday, July 23, 2012

REVIEW: "THE DRACULATA NEST" (A Red Wolf novel) - by John Hundley


THE DRACULATA NEST
(A Red Wolf novel)
by John Hundley

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Clifford Crane has led a tough life - failed marriages, bankruptcy, drug addiction, and a mind-numbing dead-end job. But he's made it through, and now he's a few short years from retirement. He's looking forward to his golden years, until he meets an ancient Uwharrie Indian shaman, who turns him into a werewolf. She believes Clifford is the red wolf foretold in prophecy, the one who will unite the wolf packs and lead them to victory over the vampires for once and all time. Too bad she doesn't tell Clifford that before she dies. Now, rescuing beautiful young women from the clutches of the undead has its rewards, but will it pay the rent for the next thousand years?

The Draculata Nest is the first in a series of Red Wolf novels, depicting a world where vampires are mere generations away from realizing the goal for which they were originally created, the enslavement and destruction of mankind.
In book one, Clifford finds himself a lone wolf, still grieving the loss of Claire Deerfoot, the one who brought out the beast that lay dormant inside him most of his life. Without the pack bond that keeps a wolf sane, he struggles with his dual nature and the strange compulsions that urge him to prowl the night. When he rescues a beautiful young coed from a visiting vampire, one who is hunting illegally in the territory of the local nest, Clifford suddenly finds himself a target of revenge.

The visiting Draculata Nest still thirsts for the blood of young Danielle, and now they want to spill Clifford's blood as well. But an unlikely ally surfaces in Roland Trudeau, a high-ranking vampire in the local nest, whose welcome aid seems too good to be true. Clifford soon finds himself drawn into the middle of a vicious game of vampire politics, a game where losers die.

REVIEW

Admittedly, the premise had me hooked. Even though I’m not a huge fan of vampires and werewolves which have been overdone to the point of boredom and eye-rolling, this book sounded as though it could be something different. And indeed it was, but rather disappointingly so.

A few chapters into the book, it still hadn’t captured my interest enough to keep reading. The very first thing I found a little distasteful, is the sixty year old main lead lusting after two co-eds. It didn’t work for me and left a sour taste in my mouth. I also wasn’t too fond of Danielle’s character, as she came across as the stereotypical male fantasy - an airhead with a body to die for.

The story was different from anything I’ve ever read before and I have to give the author kudos for his imaginative writing and a few terrific plot twists, hence the three-star rating. But at times I found the writing too detailed with unnecessarily lengthy explanations which had me skimming over some of the pages to get to the final chapter.

This being the first book in the Red Wolf novels, I’m hoping that some of the main characters will be more fleshed out in the next books, as I found a few of them a little one-dimensional and underdeveloped. Overall the writing is good and the story is unique, but my personal recommendation is for this book to be downloaded only when it’s free. 

 


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“The Draculata Nest” by John Hundley has 4 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Saturday, July 21, 2012

REVIEW: "THE WILD" (Hayle Coven series, book 4) - by Patti Larsen


THE WILD
(Hayle Coven series, book 4)
by Patti Larsen

REVIEWED BY: Ellen Fritz

OVERVIEW

Syd has what she’s always wanted. Thanks to her demon’s sacrifice, she is finally normal. Why then does she want her magic back so badly? It really sucks to find out Brad was only into her because of her power. And even Quaid is keeping his distance. Her loss couldn’t have come at a worse time. A storm is brewing, one that could devour the entire world. Syd refuses to accept she will never be a witch again, doing everything she can to track down the Chosen of the Light and rescue her demon. If only the ordinary life she’s been building didn’t interfere.

REVIEW

They say, be careful what you wish for, and in “The Wild” Sydlynn Hayle finds out exactly what that means.  She had always wanted a normal life just like any other teenager.  Now she has that; her demon taken from her and her magical power somehow bound.  When Brad Peters - who had been attracted to her because of her magic and his own latent magic - dumps her, and Quaid Moromond seems to be ignoring her, she starts regretting her wish for normality.  Add to this the frustration of not having her demon and her magic when the coven is in dire need of her help, and we have a very frustrated and sorry-for-herself young girl.  The dreams that she and her friend Pain have, add an unexpected twist to an already exciting and suspenseful story.   

As is usually the case with Patti Larsen's books, I simply could not put the book down.  Apart from continuous action and nonstop suspense which kept me riveted, the author has a tremendously comfortable and easy-to-read way of telling the story. I particularly loved the quirky and often hilarious dialogue.  Talk about hilarious, Syd's thoughts and inner dialogue had me howling with laughter.  Even while thinking serious thoughts, Syd still has a funny way of expressing things to herself. 

Except for normal developmental changes, the author kept all her characters' personalities consistent throughout the series so far.  This helps the reader to love, understand and sympathize with all the characters - even the not so nice ones.  She brilliantly integrates Syd's normal life of school, friends and boyfriends into her paranormal dealings with the coven, thus making the story so much more believable. 

I would advise readers to get the first three books in the Hayle Coven Series before reading “The Wild”.  A huge cheer for Patti Larsen for another beautifully told story and a well deserved five stars.

 


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“The Wild” by Patti Larsen has 4 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

REVIEW: "BITE ME" - by Mike Faricy


BITE ME
by Mike Faricy

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Another Dev Haskell tale, they can be read in any order you wish. Wise cracking, back slapping, wrong thinking PI Dev Haskell has just landed his dream job, providing security for people who don’t need it in the first place, until someone shoots at them in broad daylight. Things quickly fly out of control and Dev suddenly finds himself under the police microscope, literally tied up in a relationship and dodging a growing pile of bodies that all seem to be linked to him. Another in the entertaining Dev Haskell series from Minnesota’s Master of the Bizarre, Mike Faricy

REVIEW

I’m new to Mike Faricy’s books, and reading the premise for “Bite Me” I was a little skeptical that it might not be a book I would enjoy. But on the recommendation of a good friend with similar tastes in books as what I have, I took a leap of faith and gave it a go. I was not disappointed!

What an enjoyable and wonderfully humorous read it was. Dev Haskell is a one-of-a-kind character - you either love him or hate him. I found him very entertaining and the calamitous situations he got himself into had me devouring one chapter after the other.
The only downsides were a few unnecessary grammar errors, and a rather abrupt ending, but I nonetheless enjoyed the book tremendously and had a hard time putting it down.

Great story, a few twists, realistic characters, superb dialogue, and a lot of laughs made this a fantastic read! I’ll definitely be reading the other Dev Haskell novels as well, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book, “Bombshell”, being released in September 2012. “Bite Me” is more than deserving of its 5 star rating!



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“Bite Me” by Mike Faricy has 9 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Friday, July 13, 2012

REVIEW: "The Citizens" - by L.M. Smith


THE CITIZENS
by L.M. Smith

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Imagine a town where you can stay out as late as you want, wake up when it suits you, you never have to go to work, and everything is free for the taking. Sounds perfect right? But what if you can’t remember where you are or how you got there? What if you can’t ever leave? And what if the only other people around are hostages, just like you? Would you still want to stay?

Jasmine Marshall certainly didn’t think so until she met Justin Beck; a dashing active-duty member of the United States Army and fellow hostage. With him around life in Kolob might not be so bad after all … or so she thought. There are vampires and psychics at the breakfast table! Disturbing acts of torture and senseless violence are commonplace. Biochemical warfare is a very real threat, and the town’s mayor is an elusive mad-scientist obsessed with his own theories about December 21, 2012!

In a place where one has everything to gain and nothing to lose, one thing reigns true: nothing in Kolob is ever as it seems.

REVIEW

This is definitely going to be on my top ten list of mindblowingly awesome reads of 2012. I’m not kidding. I was knocked off my feet by the downright intensity and splendid storyline of this book!

Other than for me to simply beg you to go get this book - no matter what the purchase price – and move it to the top of your to-be-read list, here are a few reasons why I can guarantee you’ll agree that this book should be either made into a tv series, or at the very least be nominated as one of the best fiction books published this year.

For starters, I’ve never read a paranormal book with this type of plot. It’s way past unique. It’s completely different and it keeps you guessing right from the start until the very end - and then some. That’s only one of the reasons why I couldn’t put this book down. I just couldn’t figure out what was going on or what was going to happen next. Talk about twists and turns; there’s absolutely no way you can predict the ending – and what a shocking and surprising ending it is! I’m a little upset that we’ll have to wait some time for the next book in the series, but like they say, good things are worth waiting for, right?

Secondly, you’ll love the characters. Initially you might not like all of them, but close to the end, they are no longer the same people they were at the start of the book; and once you’ve read the stunner ending, you’ll find that you’re disappointed to have to say goodbye to five characters who’ve become more like friends, instead of mere fictional characters.

Third, the plot in this book moves at a nice and steady pace. There’s never a dull moment, and with all that is happening in the story, it keeps you on the edge of your seat because you’re constantly expecting something dreadful to happen next. How can you not? You have five diverse characters trapped in a small town in the middle of who-knows-where, with absolutely no way out. Every time they try to escape, something awful happens to them. Oh, and there’s no-one else in the town with them…or is there?

Last, but not least, the author’s distinctive writing style engages, and keeps you guessing and pouring all your reading energy into a book that gives new meaning to the word “unputdownable” (which is not really a word in the dictionary, I know, but any bookworm will agree that it should be). The sincerity and genuineness of the characters draws you into the story and lets you experience their fear, confusion, anxiety, their hopelessness, but also their will to survive. In addition, there is plenty of heart-racing action in the last few chapters, and at one stage I thought to myself, “Eat your heart out Lara Croft”!     

To sum my gush-fest up – this is an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind, read. L.M. Smith now has a new and devoted fan who will be reading all her future books. It’s a pity the highest star rating is only five, because I happily give this amazing book ten out of ten and a standing ovation!




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“The Citizens” by L.M. Smith has 5 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

REVIEW: "Before You Go" - by Ella James


BEFORE YOU GO
by Ella James

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Margo Ford just became an heiress. Not the Paris Hilton kind. Her billions came after her father died and her insanely wealthy, insanely absent mother officially claimed her. Unfortunately, some terrorists noticed, and they hatched a plot to kidnap her. After a news report goes awry, reporting that Margo *has* been kidnapped, and her mother offers the humiliating sum of $500,000 for her return, Margo doesn't want anything to do with her *#$!@ of an egg donor. Then she is sentenced to a summer of "protection" on her mother's private island. Not the Oprah Winfrey kind. This one has an astronomical observatory filled with scientists, including Logan Greer, a super hot, super infuriating planet-hunter. Hiding out from kidnappers has never been so boring... until suddenly it isn't anymore.

REVIEW

Well now, this book was a lovely little surprise. It was easy to read, it tugged at my heart and left me wanting more.

This is the first book I’ve read by author Ella James, and I was adequately impressed by the rhythm and flow of her writing. The story moves at a leisurely pace, and I finished it in no time. As I’m not much for romance in books – and this is a romance novel aimed at YA readers – I must admit that I quite enjoyed the emotional tug-of-war between the two main characters, Margo and Logan. He wants her, but can’t have her; she wants him, but he wants to follow his dream. And that is exactly what made it such a great story. It’s like the odds are just stacked against them, and until almost right up to the end, you’re still not sure whether or not they’ll be able to overcome these obstacles to be together. Unlike most romance novels, these two characters didn’t just fall into each other’s arms at the start of the book - which of course I thoroughly enjoyed that they didn’t.

Then there’s also super-rich, sophisticated, aloof Cindy, Margo’s mom. You’ll just love to hate her.

If your ears are delicate to profanity, then give this book a miss. If not, head on over to your favorite book dealer and get your hands on this charmer by a splendid author!

  


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“Before You Go” by Ella James has 17 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Monday, July 9, 2012

QUICK REVIEW: "Shadows & Voices: A Holly Silverstone Adventure" by Jason Ellis


SHADOWS & VOICES: A HOLLY SILVERSTONE ADVENTURE
by Jason Ellis

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

Meet young Holly Silverstone, the girl who sees daisies turn to butterflies ... who dreams of places that she has never been to ... who is invited to study at the elusive and enchanting Highlands Academy of truth and excellence.

The voices will come, one-thousand and one, the voices will come. Fear is the key, fear to see. The voices will come, one-thousand and one, the voices will come.

As Holly took a sip of her tea and held the piece of paper between her fingers, veins of ink slowly crept across the paper. She wanted to drop it and scream … yet a more powerful part of her made the fingers on her hands grasp the letter even tighter and her eyes open wider.
The ink seeped and whirled around, forming words;

We have a question for you, Holly.
Do you want to know how the daisies turned to butterflies?

REVIEW

Amazing plot twists, fantastic character development, stellar writing and a superb storyline adds depth and richness to this fabulous book. As soon as you think you’ve got things figured out, something unpredictable happens. Although it’s aimed at younger readers, this book grabbed me from the first chapter and wouldn’t let go until I was done reading it. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

 


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“Shadows & Voices: A Holly Silverstone Adventure” by Jason Ellis has 22 reviews on GoodReads. Read it here.

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Thursday, July 5, 2012

QUICK REVIEW: "The Drinking Game" - by Chris Redding


THE DRINKING GAME
by Chris Redding

REVIEWED BY: Books4Tomorrow

OVERVIEW

A redheaded bundle of trouble steps out of her Porsche and into a disillusioned detective's already complicated life. The cop wants to retire, but can't until he proves his dead partner didn't kill himself. The heroine, a psychological profiler, would like her fiancé laid to rest with police honors, but she can't until she provides evidence he wasn't a killer. Since they both want to help the same person, the two reluctantly join forces. Will they catch the murderer before the heroine becomes the next victim?

REVIEW

This being the second book I’ve read by Chris Redding, “The Drinking Game” was an enormously enjoyable read! It is as exhilarating and captivating as “Blonde Demolition”, the first of her books I’ve ever read.

I loved the complexity and sincerity of the characters. They are the complete opposites of each other and it wasn’t love at first sight. Throughout the story the two main characters - ruggedly handsome, tough-as-nails Detective Sean Gaudette, and FBI Special Agent Jennifer O’ Grady, a sizzling hot redhead with an attitude to match – are at each other’s throats and both fighting their inescapable attraction to one another. The sexual tension between them is so palpable it’ll have you wishing you could lock them in a room and shout at them to get on with it!

Although I’ve enjoyed the story immensely, there were times I got a little confused between the two villains, and after finishing the book, I still had a few questions that were left unanswered. I found the ending to be somewhat predictable, but the action and drama had me flipping through the pages, and constantly taking a breather just to slow my heart rate down.

The author has a certain magic with words and by making use of some magnificent wordplay that tickles the mind, engages the reader right from the start; begging for it not to be put down until the very last page. With a writing style similar to that of James Patterson, easy-to-relate-to characters, and a storyline flowing at a leisurely pace, this is an intriguing read that will take you to a place where the grey area is the fine line between right and wrong.

This was not my usual YA read, but a book I’m highly recommending for more mature readers, due to the explicit - but tastefully-written - adult content. A definite must-read!!

 


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TIME-OUT!

I’ve been an avid blogger and reviewer since October 2011. It has changed my life in so many wonderful ways! I’ve met other reviewers ...