Release Day Review: Sacrifice

Title: The Sin Collector: Sacrifice

Author: Jessica Fortunato

Released: August 30th, 2013

Print Length: 191 pages

File Size: 277KB

Goodreads info here, visit the book's website

Disclaimer: I did receive a free ARC of this book in order to review prior to release. This however did not influence my review in any way.

Here's the official trailer for the book:

Now for the review:

A Must Read with Surprising Twists and Turns! 

After reading both The Sin Collector and Thomas, I had been eagerly awaiting the next installment in the series and Fortunato doesn't disappoint with Sacrifice! I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an advanced copy for review and I devoured the entire book in one sitting (Okay, it was really two but only because I had to drive home from work. I immediately opened the book back up because I just had to know what happened next!)

Sacrifice starts about a year after the first book and follows Liliana as she tries to give her family a "normal human" life, the problem is she and her family aren't normal nor human. She wants nothing more than to settle down and stay in one place with those she loves now that their enemies from the first installment are gone. But when other Collectors are suddenly killed it quickly becomes obvious that the life she's been hoping for isn't going to happen, at least not any time soon.

I loved the first two books, but Fortunato has really outdone herself with this one. It was a much smoother and polished book overall. There was just the right amount of tension to keep the reader turning pages, with enough of the mushy emotional stuff to keep the action from overwhelming the reader. Sacrifice is full of twists and turns that the reader doesn't see coming.

Reading through the book it dawned on me just how much Fortunato has grown as a writer, and it really showed in Sacrifice. There were a few times in the book that something was left a bit unexplained, such as the meaning of the Castus brand, or how the bad guys always found Liliana and her friends. But without knowing what the next installment has in store for us, I guess I'll just have to wait and see before making any final judgments on that.

Speaking of which, stop back by my blog on Sept. 6th, when Fortunato explains a bit about the Castus brand during her blog tour. Trust me, you don't want to miss this!

Overall I was thoroughly impressed with Sacrifice and I cannot wait to see what happens next for Lily, her friends and family, and yes even the bad guys. 

Treason Blog Tour Stop - Review and a Giveaway

Title: Treason (Book 2 of the Grimoire Trilogy)

Author: S.M. Boyce

Released: Oct. 27th, 2012

Print Length: 424 pages

File Size: 825 KB

Goodreads info here, visit the book's website and author's website

Disclaimer: I did receive an ARC copy from the author in order review it for the tour. This however did not influence my review in any way.

Masterfully Written! 

Awe Inspiring!

In Treason, book #2 of the Grimoire trilogy by S.M. Boyce, we once again delve into the magical world of Ourea. Everyone Kara Magari loves ends up dead, so the more she feels for Braeden the more she pushes him away, which frustrates him to no end. Braeden on the other hand believes he’s a dead man walking anyway so it doesn't matter how hard Kara pushes he intends to change her mind. Until all heck breaks loose in Ourea and both are faced with tough decisions that lead to dire consequences. Both must learn that sometimes you must embrace the bad within if you want the good to prevail in the end.

The details of the world surrounding Kara and Braeden are amazing. The pure imagination that it required on Boyce’s part is truly awe inspiring! Even though there are a lot of details and descriptions, it’s presented in a way that doesn't bog the reader down, instead it makes you turn the next page in pure wonder. I never found myself skipping ahead past some of the descriptions as I have in other novels. In fact it was almost as if I was playing a movie in my head as I read. 

The fact that Ourea can be such a dangerous and deadly place would not sway me from wanting to pay a visit there were it real. That being said, I definitely would not want to get caught up in the politics there! Boyce surely picked the perfect title for this book. There were so many twists and turns spread throughout the novel, in fact there were a couple of times I had to pick my jaw off the floor and ask myself I read that right (not because the wording is confusing or anything, but just out of shock).

Just like in Lichgates (review here) there is wit and humor sprinkled throughout which is even more enjoyable since after reading the first book I had a better understanding of the different relationship dynamics. There is a good mix of emotions in the book as well. Boyce was able to strike a balance between tension, action and emotion. I didn't think it was possible for me to like it more than the first book, but I do. This series is definitely one of my all time favorites. 

And because I loved the series so much I've decided to give two copies of the e-book away.  Two winners will be picked on Nov 11th, 2012 and each will be able to choose either Lichgates or Treason!  Enter using the Rafflecopter at the end of the post.  Also don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour, there are a couple scavenger hunts, reviews, interviews, guest posts and prizes to be won!  In addition Boyce is hosting a Grand Prize Giveaway that ends Dec 31st!

About Boyce

S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries, and she updates her blog a few times each week to keep you entertained.

Connect with Boyce

Website | Blog | Advice for Writers

Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Pinterest | Youtube

Goodreads Page | Amazon Page

Lichgates

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon: USA | UK | Germany |  France | Spain | Italy

Buy the Paperback

Bonus Features

Goodreads | Book Trailer | VIP List 

 Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)

Treason

Grab Your Copy:

Amazon: USA | UK | Germany |  France | Spain | Italy

Barnes & Noble | Smashwords 

Buy the Paperback

Bonus Features

Goodreads |  VIP List 

Win a guest appearance in Heritage (The Grimoire Trilogy #3)

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Review - The Burning of Isobel Key

Title: The Burning of Isobel Key

Author: Jen McConnel

Released: Oct. 1, 2012

Print Length: 284 pages

File Size: 1817 KB

Goodreads info here, visit the book's website and author's website

Disclaimer: I did receive a free ARC copy of the book to review. However this did not influence my review in any way.

Here's the official trailer for the book:

Now for the review:

Wonderfully Written.  

There's Something for Everyone!

In her debut novel, The Burning of Isobel Key, Jen McConnel transports readers to the beautiful land of Scotland where she shows us the lives of two different women with so much in common, yet separated by centuries. Louisa begins to feel like a complete failure when she quits her dead-end job right before the holidays. She has no idea what she wants to do with the rest of her life, and as her mother keeps reminding her, at 27 she isn’t getting any younger. To make matters worse, her best friend Tammy seems to have her life completely together, to include an amazing job that even sends her to Scotland on business. When Lou tags along she begins a spiritual and emotional journey that will change her life forever. Isobel Key was a healer who was accused of witchcraft in the 1600s and was burned at the stake for her crimes. Can Lou solve the mystery of what really happened all those years ago and allow Isobel’s soul to finally rest in peace?

This book has a little bit of everything all rolled into one. There is mystery, romance, a touch of paranormal/occult, as well as a bit of history thrown in for good measure. I loved that it was set in Scotland because it was an angle on witch trials that I hadn’t viewed before. I love doing research on the Salem trials (as wells as other American witch hunts) and never thought to check out any of the trials in Europe, so it was a nice change for me. The folklore and stories peppered throughout the novel were a great touch as well.

I found I also related to Louisa very well. A lot of her insecurities are the same ones I’ve faced for decades. The spiritual questions she faced are those I’ve often asked myself. But above all I can definitely relate to being close to 30 and still having no idea where you are headed or what you really want for yourself. And who hasn’t had a close friend that seemed to have it all figured out, the one we held a touch of envy because they seemed so perfect? The characters are very well written and have multiple layers to them.

Overall I loved the book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read, no matter the genre preference.

Buy here:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | CreateSpace 

Aftereffects: Zombie Therapy - Book Review

Title: Aftereffects: Zombie Therapy

Author: Zane Bradey

Released: Feb. 26, 2012

Print Length: 232 pages

File Size: 288 KB


Goodreads info here

Visit the author's website

Intriguing Twist to the Zombie Genre!

In Aftereffects: Zombie Therapy, author Zane Bradey provides a unique twist to the zombie genre. A cure is created and administered to the zombies, returning them to their normal human state. The only problem is, they can remember the things that happened and who they ate while they were zombies. That’s where Dr. Victor Frenzel comes in; he is a therapist who offers counseling to those who were infected. But Dr. Frenzel must battle his own issues as during the height of the zombie epidemic he watched in horror as the zombies ate his wife. Now with each new patient he takes on, he is left to wonder if they were one of the ones that consumer her while he was left watching helplessly. 

I have to admit at first I was a bit skeptical, as I don’t usually read zombie stories. They just don’t generally appeal to me. But I was intrigued by the fact that these zombies have been cured and that the story was going to be more about the psychological aspects of how to deal with what they have done as well as the good Doctor treating those that may have been responsible for his wife’s death.

Bradey managed to bring these aspects of the novel out wonderfully and I could feel the horror and disgust that some of the patients felt for the things they did while infected. I do wish there would have been a bit more character development with the patients even though this is more the doctor’s story than theirs. I felt it would have added to some of the scenes where the reader gets to see what happened when they were infected etc.

Another aspect that irked me a bit was the sudden end. I can’t really expand on it without giving away some major spoilers. It left a lot of questions and a bit of confusion as to what was going to happen next. At the time I didn’t realize there was a sequel in the works and couldn’t fathom why an author would end a story so open ended without one. The book felt incomplete with the ending and left me a bit frustrated, but that’s just me. I know lots of readers enjoy cliff hangers, especially when there is a sequel as it lets them imagine all sorts of things while they wait.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book and I will definitely be reading the next installment.

Buy here:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes&Noble | Smashwords

The Sin Collector: Thomas Book Review and Giveaway!

Title: The Sin Collector: Thomas (Short)

Author: Jessica Fortunato

Released: July 20th, 2012

Print Length: ?

File Size: 105KB

Goodreads info here, visit the book's website

Disclaimer: I did receive a free ARC of this book in order to review prior to release. This however did not influence my review in any way.

Here's the official trailer for the book:

Now for the review:

Powerful Struggle Between Love and Duty! 

Stunning Twist at the End!

Shortly after the release of her debut novel The Sin Collector, Jessica Fortunato held a contest asking her readers which character they would like to learn more about. The winning character was Thomas and this is his story.

War always comes at a great price. Thomas knows this better perhaps than anyone. Thomas has seen many wars come and go during his unending lifespan. The death and destruction of war, as well as his lonely existence as a Collector, has caused his heart to harden, but when he meets a fellow Collector named Emmilina his heart begins to open just a touch. Then Lucy, a sweet and beautiful mortal pries it open the rest of the way. But soon Thomas must choose between his duty to yet another war and spending as much time with Lucy as he can. He feels that as an immortal who cannot be hurt, much less killed, it is his responsibility to fight in the war and protect as many soldiers as he can. He also knows that each minute he is away from Lucy is one he'll never get back. No matter his decision, he'll have to live with the consequences for the rest of his life.

Fortunato has definitely mastered the art of drawing a reader into a story with emotions. The characters and their lives are realistic and believable. I felt everything Thomas felt from anger, to happiness, to grief. There is a full array of experiences which kept me from feeling disappointed at the end as I tend to do with most short stories. That's not to say I didn't want more, because I did! It's just that the story felt complete, there were no big questions remaining or confusing loose ends.  I've read this short several times and can see me reading it many more while I wait for the sequel to The Sin Collector to come out!

Not Even There - Short Story Review

Title: Not Even There

Author: J. Scott Sharp

Released: April 27, 2012

Print Length: 13 pages

File Size: 98 KB

Goodreads info here, visit the author's blog

Disclaimer: I did receive a free copy of the novel in order to review. This however did not influence my review in any way.

Great Twist on the Teenage Love Triangle! 

In the short story, Not Even There, Roger is one of the students that seem to fade into the background at school, and so is his best friend, David. They’ve been friends for years and have been through so much together that it seems nothing can break the bond they’ve forged. In fact, they are more like brothers of sorts than friends. But when David tells Roger he is in love with Libby (who happens to be the girl he is head over heels for as well) things begin to sour quickly. Roger must decide if his heart is more important than his friendship, and quickly. If he makes the wrong choice, there will be consequences no one can foresee.

Sharp transported me right back to high school. I immediately felt a connection with the main character, Roger. I remember well the insecurities I felt as a teen, especially when it comes to romantic interests and friendships that can be quite delicate at times. Sharp manages to get into the head of a teenage boy and show the emotions so realistically that one can’t help but get absorbed into the story.

Not Even There reminded me why I usually don’t read short stories; I always want more. I’m glad I had a chance to read this one though and am looking forward to reading more works by Sharp in the future.

Child of the Jotun - Book Review

Title: Child of the Jotun

Author: Juliana Loomer

Released: April 11, 2012

Print Length: 380 pages

File Size: 824 KB

Goodreads info here, visit the book's website

Disclaimer: I did receive a free copy of the novel in order to review. This however did not influence my review in any way.

Here's the official trailer for the book:

Now for the review:

Great Story about a Woman who Finally Finds Herself 

In her novel Child of the Jotun, Juliana Loomer weaves the story of a nun from California who flees to Norway when she is notified by the parole board that her stepfather is released from prison. Once in Norway she begins a spiritual transformation and realizes that she no longer fits with the Catholic Church and leaves behind her life as a nun. Soon after her arrival in Norway, Jennifer meets a “Mountain Man” who both frightens and intrigues her at first and after some time, the two become connected in more ways than one. He begins to teach her of the “Old Ways” and her place in this new life. The two have more than her stepfather to battle along the way though. 

First I have to say, I absolutely love the cover art!  I enjoyed the storyline for the most part; however it wasn’t the thriller I was expecting. From the description on Amazon I thought it would be more about the demons that were chasing her. The novel seems to focus on the spiritual and romantic part of her journey, which I am not a fan of unfortunately. I do love the idea of the ancient gods and the main plot of the story, just not the particular way the journey was written.

There were many large (and uncommon) words throughout the novel as well, which made it a slightly difficult read for the average person. Perhaps I feel this way because I tend to read Young Adult novels, which tend to be quicker and easier to read. There were also several Norwegian terms used and while the author does provide a glossary at the end of the novel, reading it on a Kindle made it a tad lumber some to check it over and over. In addition, the novel could really use a once over by a good editor, there were numerous typos or splintered sentences in the book, things that would be very easy to miss if you were speed reading or if you were the writer and knew what it was meant to say.

Overall I enjoyed the story though I probably would not read it again. The plot was interesting and I did feel a connection to the characters and that propelled me to read the rest of the book.

Read Me Dead - Pre-release Book Review

Title: Read Me Dead

Author: Emerald Barnes

Released: April 25th, 2012

Print Length: ?

File Size: 403 KB

Goodreads info here and visit the book's website

Disclaimer: I did win a free advanced copy of this book from the author during an event. This however did not influence my review in any way.

Here's the official trailer for the book:

Now for the review:

In her newest book Read Me Dead, Barnes gets the reader to ask themselves a tough question. If you knew a deadly secret, would you keep it, even if it meant a killer might go free? Alex has kept a secret from everyone, including her twin brother for 7 years, but soon the truth will have to come out. She was there the night her parents were murdered and has been haunted by the memories of that night. She’s been afraid the man who shot them would come back for her as he promised if she ever breaks her silence. In an attempt to keep him safe, Alex breaks up with her boyfriend even though she is still in love with him, and as an extra twist she soon becomes attracted to one of their best friends. The question is who will she pick and will they ever be safe? 

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of the book and once the action started I couldn’t wait to see what was going to come next. I wanted to know who the killer was and if Alex and her friends/family would all make it out without harm. Unfortunately I didn’t quite feel a connection with Alex as a character as much as I hoped I would. I’m not sure if it was the character or if it was the style the book was written in, but even though I wanted to know what happened to them, I wasn’t emotionally invested. The main character was a bit on the weak side throughout the majority of the book (granted I might have been too if I thought I was going to die at any moment) but for some reason I just couldn’t feel sympathetic towards her (or her incessant crying). I often felt that she went a bit overboard with the waterworks and that was a big turn off for me, though I’m sure there are many who don’t mind it.

The writing style was a tad over descriptive for me as well. It was almost like reading a script where it details step by step each action taking by each character. I know there are many who enjoy the large amounts of descriptions but I often found myself either getting lost in them or wanting to skip over them entirely. Again, it’s just not my cup of tea style wise. I still give it four stars however because the plot is there, and once things really got going about midway through the book I was hooked and couldn’t wait to read the ending (which was a complete surprise by the way). I’m glad I read it and was definitely worth taking the time to read it. I really did enjoy it, it just wasn’t a “new fav” novel for me.

Available Tomorrow (April 25th, 2012)!

Buy here:

Amazon US

The Sin Collector - The Book Review

Title: The Sin Collector

Author: Jessica Fortunado

Released: Feb. 6th, 2012

Print Length: 134 pages

File Size: 230 KB

Goodreads info here

Visit the book's website

Here's the official trailer for the book:

Now for the review:

Very Thought Provoking!  

Excellent Take on the Sins of Mankind!

In The Sin Collector Jessica Fortunato makes the reader weigh the consequences of their sins, without passing judgment. Her novel introduces a new type of immortal, the Collectors, who spend their days collecting the sins of mortals, easing the burden those sins place upon mortal souls. Those actions come with a hefty price for the Collectors.

Liliana is 120 years old and has spent the last century of her life in loneliness. Being around humans hurts too much for her as she always feels their sins and being with her own kind is deadly. She has what most humans would die for, immortality. Lily doesn’t have to eat or sleep and can’t be physically hurt, though she seems to try a few times during her love affair with her motorcycle. The only way for a Collector to die is at the hands of the Castus, and supposedly they’ve been gone for years. Yet, there is an ache inside her that continues to grow. Immortality doesn’t come cheap, she must be careful not to allow anyone too close for fear they discover her secret. Just as she begins to accept her fate of being alone for the rest of eternity a figure from her childhood reappears during a set of strange events. Will he be her salvation or her damnation? Suddenly everything she thought she knew about being a Collector is cast in a shadow of doubt.

Fortunato does a fantastic job of creating a back story full of myths to explain the existence of Collectors and makes these myths truly believable. There is an immediate connection to the main character and I was quickly drawn into her world. I felt her emotions and had the same questions she had throughout the novel. There was just enough sarcasm to the dialogue without going overboard and sounding fake or unlikeable. I was able to find myself rooting for Lily during her adventures and felt her heartbreak as if it were my own when her beliefs are shattered and joy for her when things went her way.

This book touched my heart in that it made me wonder who has had to live with the burden of my own sins. It made me think of my life and how I have lived it, and would I do anything differently if I knew there were really Collectors there to take on that burden. Overall this book is one of my new favorite must read novels. The only negative I found was that I was disappointed once I reached the end of the book. It was much shorter than I realized and found myself wishing there were at least a few more chapters. Though there is an upside to my disappointment, I am now eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!

Buy here:

Amazon US

The Forever Girl - Book Review and Giveaway!

Title: The Forever Girl - Sophia's Journey (Book 1 of the series)

Author: Rebecca Hamilton

Released: Jan. 26th, 2012

Print Length: 352 pages

File Size: 869 KB

Goodreads info here, visit the book's website

Disclaimer: I did win a free copy of this book from the author during a Twitter event. This however did not influence my review in any way.

Here's the official trailer for the book:

Now for the review:

Most Refreshing Take on Vampires Since Christine Feehan Created the Carpathians! 

In her New Adult paranormal/urban fantasy novel, The Forever Girl: Sophia’s Journey author Rebecca Hamilton brings a fresh and exciting twist to the classic vampire and shape shifter saga. Sophia Parsons discovers a whole world of immortal creatures exist alongside humans when she attempts to rid herself of the constant static that invades her mind. She casts a spell hoping to quiet the noise, but instead the noise changes into murmurs and whispers that she can’t quite understand. Along the way Sophia is thrust into this strange and dangerous cast of characters while trying to rid herself of the family curse causing the noise, including Charles whom she feels an instant connection with. She quickly learns that no one is who she thought they were, and popular myths of witches and vampires have a bit of truth to them.

Hamilton definitely did her research for this novel and accurately depicts the Wiccan rituals and beliefs, right down to the discrimination Wiccans face in towns so small that there’s no escaping the rumor mill. She also does a wonderful job with the dialogue, and I loved some of the off the cuff remarks made between Sophia and Charles, as well as Sophia’s internal thoughts. I quickly began to feel the emotions racing through Sophia, especially when it came to her hesitations in the romance department and the fear of being hurt.

The only reason I did not give the book 5 stars, and I wanted to very much, was there were a few times where I wanted to reach through the pages and strangle Sophia and her insecurities. The back and forth waiting to see if Charles and Sophia were going to finally give in to their feelings drove me crazy. It was just a tad much for me, but for fans of romance novels it may not be. There were a few more elements that were a little hard to believe but I can’t go into too much detail without giving away spoilers, so suffice it to say that I work with law enforcement during my day job and once or twice things didn’t happen as it would in the real world. These are easy to overlook in the scheme of things and didn’t ruin the novel for me at all, but felt I had to note it J. Overall I loved the book and I cannot wait for the next in the series!

The Grimoire: Lichgates - A book review and more!

Title: The Grimoire Lichgates (Book 1 of the Trilogy)

Author: S.M. Boyce

Released: Oct. 14th, 2011

Print Length: 408 pages

File Size: 674 KB

Goodreads info here, visit the book's website and author's website

Disclaimer: I did win a free copy of this book from the author during a Twitter event. This however did not influence my review in any way.

A Delightfully Witty and Exciting Fantasy Novel! 

Definitely a Must Read!

In her debut fantasy novel, The Grimoire: Lichgates, S.M. Boyce successfully engages the reader in a wonderful yet at time terrifying new world, Ourea. Kara Magari has no idea of the journey she faces when she first discovers a magical book that transports her to Ourea. After losing her mother, Kara must deal with the fact that her father (and everything else she’s known and loved) is gone as well. Throughout her adventures in Ourea, Kara meets quite the cast of characters, some who are delighted that there is now a new Vagabond (Kara), and others not so much, but all of which seem to have an agenda of their own.

Boyce does such a wonderful job at creating a world that at times I forgot it wasn’t real. While reading, I began to understand the culture, the politics, and even in some ways the very magical essence of Ourea. And while I wouldn’t want to take on the new responsibilities Kara must deal with, at times I was definitely envious of her chance to see some of the beautiful sights that this world bestowed. There were only a few times where I would get lost in the details and descriptions, though I’ll admit this may be more to do with staying up way past my bedtime to see what happened next, rather than due to any flaw in the writing. The dialogue between the characters is often witty and the banter between Kara and Braeden made me laugh many times. The only time the dialogue ever seemed awkward or forced, was when it fit the situation which made the scenes all the more realistic.

The only complaint that I had upon finishing the novel was that it simply wasn’t long enough. I wanted more and am eagerly looking forward to the next two books. In the mean time, I intend to read Lichgates at least once or twice more!

Buy here:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | CreateSpace | Monkeybars