Blood, She Read by Sara Hubbard: A Review

Whatever you think this book is going to be about, you are probably wrong. It's that and so much more. When I first read the blurb, I thought 'Teen psychic helps the police on a murder investigation. Haven't I read this somewhere before?' Oh, no. That little portion might have sounded familiar, but what evolves from that is anything but. This is a unique story in and unto itself and it has so many twists and turns, you will almost feel your head spin. But that's a good thing because it keeps you guessing from beginning to end and if there's one thing I desire in my books, it's that I have no idea what's going to happen from one page to the next. Which is quite a feat as I am a writer myself and I often find myself figuring out what's happening or who did what long before the reveal. Well, this one kept me guessing and I loved it!

Aside from a simply amazing plot and twisty-turny storyline, there are the characters. They are so well drawn, they are like real people - with all of their flaws and foibles. I found myself loving some and loathing others, learning to like ones I originally loathed and hating ones I originally liked. That is quite a feat! Usually, if I don't like a character from the beginning, it's almost a given that I won't like them at the end and vice versa for the ones I like. But this book turned that philosophy on its head. For instance, I couldn't stand Petra's mother for most of the book - she was just so un-mother-like and mean to Petra that I had to wonder why Petra didn't run away from her. I won't give away what happens, but you do see a different side of her elsewhere in the book. Same goes for Tommy. In the beginning, I didn't like him very much, but he has his moments later in the story. I won't reveal what character is a flipside of that because it might spoil the plot, and you definitely should discover it for yourself. The two characters who I always liked from beginning to end, however, are Petra and Finn. They are just so sweet together, even when they're keeping secrets from each other.

In short, this is a little gem of a book and I have a new author to add to my favorites list. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

The Dark Heroine by Abigail Gibbs

For lovers of Twilight and A Discovery of Witches comes a tale about the blurred lines between family, love, and loyalty from a 17-year old Oxford-bound debut author

Do you fear me Violet Lee?
Do you know what I could do to you?

A chance encounter on a deserted street plunges Violet into a world beyond her wildest imaginings-a world of elegance and beauty where aristocratic vampires live for decadent pleasures…a place from which there is no escape…
But beneath the splendor lies a darkness, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous heir to the throne, Kaspar Varn.

As Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds, they soon discover that it's a passion that comes at a price…
(From Edelweiss)


My Thoughts:

This book is presented as a piece for lovers of Twilight and A Discovery of Witches and boy, does it deliver! I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first started reading it, but I got hooked fast and just sped on through to the end, eager to discover what happened to Violet and Kaspar. This is an amazing little treat of a book!

It has everything: Engaging, complex characters, legends, prophesies, more twists than a pretzel, and at its heart, a love story. Violet and Kaspar are destined to be the next Bella and Edward but with one little exception: Violet is Kaspar's equal from the start. She is no meek miss and she matches him wit for wit, insult for insult. She is not afraid of him. She's fascinated by him, but not obsessive in her fascination, and she is loyal - to Kaspar and her family. So when she is faced with a tough decision, it is not something she takes lightly. She wants to protect everyone she cares about and do what is in the best interest of all. And Kaspar - oh, my! Devilish, desirable, incredibly hot, and torn between his heart and his duty to his family. The very definition of a romantic hero. Watch out, Edward, you may have met your match!

What I love about this book is that it is filled with characters you want to love and root for, but who can sometimes disappoint you, and the story is not predictable. Just when you think you know what's going on, something happens to make you realize you might not know as much as you thought. It keeps you guessing, it keeps you intrigued, and you might just gobble it up whole, like I did. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Abandon by Meg Cabot: A Review

About the Book:

After the accident, 17 year old Pierce tries to start over. But even after moving to a new town and starting a new school, he still keeps showing up — always when she least expects him, but exactly when she needs him most.

One thing she knows for certain: John Hayden may be irresistible, but he’s no angel. 

But if Pierce lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself spending all of eternity in the one place to which she swore she’d never return . . . .

. . . his world: The Underworld.


(from the Author's website)


My Review:


I think I'm like many people out there who have a fascination for Greek mythology, which would explain the resurgence of it in out culture lately (hello, Clash of the Titans!), no more so than in literature. Everywhere you look these days, there is some rendition or another of famous - and maybe not so famous - Greek myths. Of those, the tale of Hades and Persephone seems to be the most popular. There are many different renditions of it and I have read quite a few, but I have to say that, to me, the one who got it absolutely right is Meg Cabot. In her hands, this story becomes a masterful work that is both engaging and thrilling.


One of the issues I have with other retellings is with the heroine, the Persephone-ish character. In some cases, she comes off as too weak, in others as kind of whiney, and her interactions with the hero might leave the reader to wonder, Why does Hades love her so much? But in Abandon, the author strikes just the right balance with the character, here in the persona of Pierce Oliviera. From the very first, I was drawn to her, curious about her story and the aftermath of her accident. From the first, she was presented as an interesting character that I wanted to know more about. And the way she dealt with the Hades character seemed more natural and organic to the plot. I liked that she wasn't immediately awed or cowed by him. Yes, she was a little wary of him, but when she encountered him on the other side, she had no problem going toe to toe with him - but not in a I'm-a-princess-I-want-to-get-my-own-way kind of manner. It was more like she was calling him out to do the right thing. And she wasn't a wishy-washy type who just waited around for someone else to save her. She actually tried to do something for herself. All in all, she was just a more likable heroine than others before her.


As was the Hades character, in the form of John Hayden. The author strikes just the right balance of mystique, machismo, and angst with John. He is shown in some telling moments of humanity, whether they be tender or terrifying, as he wages a battle over his feelings for Pierce and the problems she presents to him. Whatever else is going on, he is always there when she needs him most - which is more than can be said about some of the people who profess to care about her, and the relationship progresses in a way that just seems right, natural. Not forced, as in some other renditions. This relationship just seems real, like it really could happen despite his role in life. I never once questioned why he was interested in Pierce or the fact that they were supposed to be together. I believed it to be true.


Aside from Pierce and John, Abandon is filled with interesting characters, a few of whom might seem stereotypical at first, but, boy, do they surprise you! Suffice to say, all is not quite as it seems at the outset. There are some interesting surprises, some of which will have you thinking, I didn't see that one coming. I know I did. The same with some of the plot twists. The way they were all woven together with the myth of Hades and Persephone was just masterful and I ate up this nugget of gold in less than a day. All I can say is - I need to get my hands on the sequel, Underworld, ASAP!


Final Verdict: Amazing book by an amazing author. Once again, Meg Cabot delivered and made this my favorite rendering of the Hades/Persephone myth. So if you want to read a modern take on the myth, this is the one to read. Highly recommended. 

Gift by Andrea J. Buchanan: A Review

Blurb:

High school sophomore Daisy Jones is just trying to get by unnoticed. It doesn't help that she's the new girl at school, lives in a trailer park, and doesn't even own a cell phone. But there's a good reason for all that: Daisy has a secret, unpredictable power-one only her best friend, Danielle, knows about. Despite her "gift" (or is it a curse?), Daisy's doing a good job of fitting in-and a cute senior named Kevin even seems interested in her! But when Daisy tries to help Vivi, a mysterious classmate in a crisis, she soon discovers that her new friend has a secret of her own. Now Daisy and her friends must deal with chilling dreams and messages from the beyond. Can Daisy channel the power she's always tried to hide-before it's too late?

My Review:

In a market glutted with paranormal themes of all kinds, this one stands out as truly unique. Daisy's "gift" is truly different than any other out there and the author does a wonderful job of unveiling it and weaving it into the story. But it's not your average paranormal story for another reason: interwoven within the story of Daisy's gift is another story, one from the past, which she thinks is only a nightmare. I won't give it away here, but suffice it to say that it is an intriguing tale in and of itself.
And the characters? I loved them, each for their own reasons. They are not just your stock characters. Each time you think you have them figured out, you will be proven wrong. Each has their own unique tie to the story (but which one?) and they are full-bodied and believable even within the context of a paranormal story.
There are some very interesting and intriguing twists and turns in this story that will leave you breathless with wonder - or holding your breath until you reach the very end. All in all, a very satisfying read.

Ednah Walters, Author of Betrayed: Guest Post and Giveaway

Into the Past

by 

Ednah Walters

Books from the present I wish I had at the ages 5, 11, 16 and 20.

Age 5 – I wish I had Amelia Bedelia (funny), Magic Tree House (informative), the Bailey School kids (they’ve been around, but are fun) and Magic School Bus (educational), Junie B. Jones (hilarious), ABC Mysteries and Carmen Jones Mysteries.

Age 11 – Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Pendragon series, Eragon series, Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine books, Alex Rider series, Artemis Fowl series.

Age 16 – Vampire Dairies, Vampire Academy, House of Night series, Hungers Games, Vladimir Todd series, Daughters of the Moon series, the Princess Diary series, Unwind and other books by Neil Schusterman, the Uglies, The Mortal Instrument series, The Immortal series, The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, Blue Blood series, Unearthly, The Iron Fey and many more….

Age 20 – Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Sherilyn Kenyon books, actually any romance-fantasy, urban fantasy, contemporary and chicklit books. I read everything from romance to espionage as long as it is good.

And now for the giveaway! Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter and good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Angel Eyes Contest - Win a Nook Color!

Celebrate with Shannon by entering her "Angel Eyes" Giveaway and connecting with her during the Author Chat Party on 6/26!

Find out what readers are saying here.

One "angelic" winner will receive:

• A Brand New Nook Color
• A copy of Angel Eyes by Shannon Dittemore

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on June 25th. Winner will be announced at the "Angel Eyes" Author Chat Facebook Party on 6/26. Shannon will be hosting a book chat, testing your trivia skills and giving away some great prizes!

So grab your copy of Angel Eyes and join Shannon on the evening of the June 26th for a chance to meet Shannon and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 26th!

Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan: A Review

I don't do DANGEROUS.

Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha—that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing—and I don’t know if I can get it back.

Then there’s Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me....

Nightwatchers: When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

My Review:

This was one of those paranormal stories that stick with you. Dark, sinister and thoroughly enthralling. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to more from this author/series. I just liked everything about it. The characters were well fleshed out and engaging, the story was mesmerizing, and I was captivated from start to finish. I even regretted when I reached the end because then it was over - and I didn't want it to be!

 If you like your paranormals dark and edgy with smart characters to match, then you'll definitely want to check out the Dark Kiss. I'm so glad I did.