Fairylicious / Tiffany Nicole Smith

Reviewed by: Sooz

Genre: Middle Grade

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

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Author:

Tiffany Nicole Smith is a teacher and writes for young adults. She lives in South Florida and enjoys horror, action and fantasy movies.

For more, visit the author’s website.

Description:

Bex Carter is a misunderstood sixth grader who can’t seem to do anything right. She still believes in fairies even though all of her friends have grown out of that phase. On her birthday, Bex wishes for fairies for her friends, but when they show up things don’t go exactly as she hoped.

Appraisal:

The premise of Fairylicious intrigued me. A young girl wishes for fairies on her birthday, and her wish actually comes true. But there’s a problem – there is always a problem. The fairies are a bit off and every wish they grant comes true, but not in a perfect way one would expect from fairies.

Bex Carter, a sixth grader, is a likable character even if she constantly finds herself in trouble because she’s misunderstood. Her parents are out of the picture and their grandmother is raising her and her younger sister.

However, I felt there were some issues from the get go. Bex is a female athlete, the only one in her school, and her classmates, especially the popular girls, ridicule her for it. I dislike the idea that a girl can’t be athletic without it being an issue for others. Perhaps, I take this personally because I played sports and was on sports teams from middle school through college, but I never had an issue as Bex did in school, and I feel it portrays girls who want to be athletic in a bad light.

In addition, the fairy portion of the story started too late – 25 percent of the way into the book before they showed up – and the book’s ending fell flat compared to the rest of the story. I am not even sure the fairies were necessary to the story.

Fairylicious could have used a tightened storyline to make it flow better.

It was cute and did well at portraying attitudes of pre-teens. I also enjoyed the friendship between Bex and her friends.

I just felt very disappointed by the end.

FYI:

This the first book in a series.

Format/Typo Issues:

The version I received didn’t have breaks in the right place and jumped from one section to the next without warning.

Rating: ***Three Stars

Angelstone (Dark Angel #2) / Hanna Peach

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Epic/ Urban Fantasy

Approximate word count: 85-90,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: NO

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Author:

“Hanna began to write at the tender age of seven, starting with a daring and questionable autobiography entitled Go Suck a Lemon. Perhaps it was a little before its time.

After leaving school she agreed with everyone who said she needed to get a degree and a real job to become a proper adult. She kept writing as a hobby. After starting (and never finishing) several degrees and switching from multiple careers, she finally decided that being a proper adult was overrated. In 2012, she sold everything, moved to Europe and began to write full-time...She is currently residing in England.

She is addicted to coffee and chocolate and would one day like to own a dragon.”

For more, visit Peach's website or Facebook page. 

Description:

“After escaping from the Hollows, Jordan takes Alyx and Israel to Aradale, a secret Rogue community, where they appear to be safe − for now. But did they bring the enemy with them? ’Mini‘, the strange and speechless young girl they rescued from the Hollows, is not as she seems. Why was Elder Michael keeping her locked up? What is she hiding?

Out in the mortal cities, pieces of Black Stone, the only material that can disrupt the angels' healing abilities, continue to be stolen to make weapons for Samyara's dark army. Alyx and her friends must stop them, but this means infiltrating holy and guarded places to steal the Black Stone − a monastery in remote China, a mosque in Saudi Arabia, an art gallery in Florence and a cathedral in Peru. Can they win this deadly race against the Darkened?”

Appraisal:

Angelstone starts off where Angelfire left off. Alyx, with Jordan’s help, is learning to refine and control her new powers by manipulating the DreamScape, but she must get a handle on her anger. I liked that the fact that these angels are imperfect beings. They are not all-knowing and they each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

The plot in Angelstone is fast moving with a lot of twists and turns as Alyx, Jordan, and Israel stumble through relationship problems. The die is cast with Alyx as Israel's guardian, but how personal that relationship becomes remains to be seen. As Israel learns more about who he really is there is a lot of emotional turmoil. Can you imagine how hard it would be to stand up against an angel? I really liked that Israel is coming into his own in this book. Jordan also has an eye for Alyx, who may actually be a better match for her since he is Seraphim, but the chemistry isn't there like it is with Israel.

Keeping Samyara from stealing the remaining pieces of Black Stone is the main plot thread in this book though. Samyara is a shifty devil and seems to be one step ahead of our heroes. Several things turn dark and deadly even though new alliances have been made and should have been called upon but never were. Things are always darkest before the dawn, right? Old friends are brought back into the story where the angels may be over extending their welcome by putting them in danger. Honestly, you would think that some of the older angels may have offered a better suggestion here, but Alyx seems to be calling all the shots. The end of this book is devastating and abrupt with a huge cliffhanger.

FYI:

Angelstone is the sequel to Angelfire (Dark Angel #1). You can check out its review here.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant errors in editing or formatting.

Rating: **** Four stars

The Battle of Stryker Pass / Susan Stuckey

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Fantasy/ Coming of Age

Approximate word count: 10-15,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: NO

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Author:

“Susan Stuckey currently lives in the Midwest and is a wife and mother. She writes stories of duty and honor, courage and sacrifice, with dollops of magic and loyalty tossed into the mix.” Find out more about Stuckey and her other stories at her website or connect on Facebook.

Description:

“An implacable enemy. A desperate stand. Stryker Pass is the last hope of Clovis Telmar’s people to stop the invading Halurdow. Outnumbered six-to-one, the followers of the Twin Gods prepare for their ultimate battle, an all-or-nothing defense of the pass leading to the soft heart of all the Kalieri Kingdoms. Clovis Telmar, son of the Chief of the Wolf Clan, holds the key to the defense of Stryker Pass, but why should the anxious defenders follow the lead of a 12 year old boy?”

Appraisal:

The Battle of Stryker Pass is a novelette that contains the history of Ms. Stuckey's fantasy world Aldura. She is weaving together an impressive ground work for an epic fantasy of grand proportions.

The Halurdow's are brutal invaders and followers of their jealous God Urdow whose aim is to wipe-out the Kalieri race. Clovis is just a boy who has received a divine plea and is unsure about his untested abilities to really be of any assistance to the Kalieri protecting Stryker pass. Although every Black Wolf in the area has converged to offer their support, which is a sign to the leaders of the Kalieri forces that he is to be listened to.

Clovis alone is able to see past his insecurities and offer a plan that may just work if he can figure out how to pull it off. This is a powerful coming-of-age war story and leads Clovis to an unsure future. The plot is well paced and Ms. Stuckey has done an excellent job building her fantasy world and the magical elements that may help the Kalieri survive the Dark God Urdow's fit of rage. I have found all the the Kalieri Tales I have read so far engaging and can't wait to read more.

FYI:

Based on the stories I have read in this series, I don't think the reading order is important. That may change as the stories continue though.

Format/Typo Issues:

I found no editing or formatting problems.

Rating: ***** Five stars

UK Kink (British Invasion) / Silence O'Shea

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Erotic Romance

Approximate word count: 25-30,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: NO

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Author:

“Silence O'Shea lives in a tiny woodland town in the extreme Northern U.S., where the lusty locals generate enough heat to melt the polar ice caps. As in any good Catholic town, dirty deeds are afoot behind closed doors. Some people just have to share their exploits--and Silence is a superb and trusted listener. She’ll never spill secrets, but that doesn’t mean she can’t use the naughtiest bits and most colorful characters as inspiration for her work.”

For more, visit her website or Facebook page.

Description:

“Before she can say “male strippers”, Cait finds herself not only the caretaker for the men of Fire from Lancashire, but also falling for one of the gorgeous dancers. And Oliver would happily take her six ways to Sunday, if he weren’t contractually bound to keep his hands off. Then his mate offers a solution: Their employer might fire one man for ravishing Cait…but certainly not all of them. Right?”

Appraisal:

This was a fun change of pace for me. I thought I would dip my toes in to see what I thought. I enjoy sexual tension as well as the next reader and this author stated in the bio on her blog that she would appreciate any feedback advice, suggestions, support, compliments, angry fists of rage raised to the sky. She also referred to herself as a "Purveyor of Sassy Smut". So, I immediately liked her style.

This novella is well paced, and while it is erotic there was a story and the characters are realistic to a point, it was a fantasy come true. Caitlin needed a career change, one with a lot less stress. She found one,  basically being a mother figure for five gorgeous  Male British strippers in Vegas. Things were great for the first couple of years. She gained their respect and admiration as she kept them on task and in line. She worked out with them, lost weight, and developed true friendships with them all. The banter between the guys and Cait was entertaining, engaging, and comical. You are able to get a real sense of each of their personalities. Then during the Christmas season she ended up caught under the mistletoe with Oliver. Secretly he was her favorite, and after that one amazing kiss things got complicated for the whole troupe.

The angst was believable, although the solution was not the best, but that was also where the story took shape. Of course it didn't work out as planned in the long run. But it was one hot night for Caitlin and all the stakes were changed. After that night was where the story pulled me in the most, it was the journey the characters take that drew me in, not the sex by itself. I mean sure the sex was hot and fun to read but it was after that steamy night that I enjoyed the most. Caitlin was insecure, like most women are, and her coming into her own made this a worthwhile story. The fact that most of the guys were gorgeous and supportive was icing on the cake.

FYI:

Explicit sex and language that may not be acceptable for all readers. Some British turns of phrase and slang were used but they were not hard to follow.

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four stars

Will / Dan Cardinal

Reviewed by: Pete Barber

Genre: Literary Fiction

Approximate word count: 95-100,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: YES

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Author:

Dan Cardinal was born and raised in northern Wisconsin. He double-majored in English and Computer Science at UW Madison and lives in his home town with his wonderful wife and three lovely children.

Description:

Only days ago, Will Brown’s wife and three-year-old daughter were killed in a freak road accident—both of them wiped out instantly. Soon after the funerals, living in his marital home in Midland, lower Michigan, wrecked with grief, and surrounded by in-laws, friends, and well-wishers who don’t know what the hell to say to him, Will has a brain fart and decides to run . . . to a remote cabin in Michigan’s UP Upper-Peninsular.

Appraisal:

Gosh, this is a terrific story. Let’s get the mechanics out of the way first--tight writing, clean editing, engaging and compelling scene setting. Yeah, well, those things may sound trite, but they certainly help a story along--Mr. Cardinal is a hell of a writer.

But it’s the characters, Will and his supporting cast, that make this a great story. They all felt real to me: his concerned father, his understanding boss, and most of all the locals in the tiny town situated a two hour hike from his cabin.

I know nothing about black bears or living in remote, cold places in the far north of America. Nor do I ever want to shoot a deer and field dress it, but I trembled along with Will as he waited for the big buck to shift into his sights. My heart raced when I wondered if the momma bear protecting her cubs, or Will, would win in their battle of wits and survival. I loved his dog, Max, as much as Will did.

Most of all, I felt Will’s heartache at the loss of his wife and child. I joined in his journey and agreed with his unorthodox recipe for curing a broken heart. Running away to the middle of nowhere seemed logical. The tiny cabin into which he poured his energies provided--through his physical endeavor--focus, a solace if you will. His father, although concerned when his only son ran from a good job and a steady existence, still supported him, and in a personal way empathized because he’d too lost his wife too soon.

And then the locals: a few scraped a decent living from tourists in the summer and full-timers in the winter. But many others, like Will, had cut themselves off from the ‘real world’ for personal reasons and became so married to the isolation that, like frantic beasts caught in tar sand, they were no longer able to extract themselves.

Would Will end up like them, unable to leave? Would his life become so inwardly focused on surviving the tough winters, and alcohol, and solitude, that he’d die alone and full of regrets like Lars Jackson. Or could he grasp onto a woman’s love like a lifeline and trust her enough to help him overcome his inner demons and break away? Could Will become a new person, a good person, a better person?

Well, if you’re interested in finding out. I suggest you read the story for yourself. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Format/Typo Issues:

None!

Rating:  ***** Five stars

Everyone But Us, Tales of Women / V.S. Kemanis

Reviewed by: Sooz

Genre: Women’s Fiction / Short Story Collection

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: NO  Smashwords: NO  Paper: NO

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Author:

V.S. Kemanis is a California native. She’s an attorney with a background as a criminal prosecutor. Kemanis is also an accomplished dancer. Kemanis currently resides in New York.

You can learn more about her at her website.

Description:

Seventeen stories about women from all walks of life.

Appraisal:

V.S. Kemanis offers short, yet remarkable glimpses into the lives of women. Her group of short stories reflects women of all different types of backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, and ages.

Kemanis does a nice job of getting into the heart of a moment. Since these are short stories, they usually focus on a certain time and place, a turning point in their lives. One of the most interesting aspects, however, is how the stories are so different and yet similar.

Stories include an elderly woman who has difficulties at the grocery store, a woman who uses her looks to her advantage as she seeks her identity, and another who gets her wrinkles surgically removed. There is also a young girl who thinks of her friend as immature as she wants to leave with a stranger and another who thinks about her live-in boyfriend’s male co-worker only to discover a big secret.

Not all the stories are impactful. Some are too quick to consider or not relatable, maybe even a little confusing. But the overall impact of the stories shows tales of how lives can be so interesting and unique if we just take a moment to stop and listen – which became an overriding theme in the final story in Everyone But Us.

Format/Typo Issues:

No issues.

Rating: ****Four Stars

#Free for your #Kindle, 4/3/2014

The author of each of these books has indicated their intent to schedule these books for a free day for the Kindle versions today on Amazon. Sometimes plans change or mistakes happen, so be sure to verify the price before hitting that "buy me" button.

The Jewish Holidays-Stories of Empowerment, Activities and Games for Kids, Teens, Teachers and Parents by Dr. Orly Katz

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Two Birds (A Short Mystery) by Vicki Tyley

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Author's interested in having their free book featured either here on a Thursday or a sister site on a Monday, visit this page for details.

Hustle / Tom Pitts

Reviewed by: Keith Nixon

Genre: Crime

Approximate word count: 70-75,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

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Author:

Tom Pitts learnt about life on the mean streets of San Francisco where he still lives, works and writes today.

You can learn more about the author at his website.

Description:

Donny and Big Rich work the streets for a living, turning tricks, doing drugs in their spare time in an endless downward spiral. But Rich reckons he has a meal ticket out in the form of Gabriel Thaxton, one of his clients. He's a wealthy man and wouldn't want his secret to be out there.

The trouble is Thaxton's already being blackmailed...

Appraisal:

My expectation was raised when I saw the introduction to Hustle was by Les Edgerton - that the story would be of a certain type and quality. And I wasn't wrong. Hustle is a tightly written novel with a straightforward, no nonsense plant, excellent cast of characters and a real treat to read, surrounded by some testing subject matter.

Everything about this novel is neat. There are few characters and all are very well drawn. Pitts managed to make me care about and like or hate the whole cast. Donny and Big Rich are two kids who spend their time waiting for a score, whether selling their bodies to a client or taking drugs. Donny is new to the scene, Big Rich the more experienced hustler who teaches Donny the ropes.

There's Thaxton, once a tough lawyer, able to get any criminal off any charge - a legal version of Gordon Gecko - but now a shadow of his former self. He's paid a very high price for his success. He's being blackmailed by one of his ex-clients, a drug addict called Dustin. He's truly excellent, a lunatic of the highest order. Dustin has something over Thaxton and is using it to his advantage. And finally Bear, by name and nature, another of Thaxton's clients, but one who's trying to help him. And that's pretty much it for the cast, with another couple of ably supporting bodies.

Successive chapters flip between Donny and Rich, hatching their plan, executing it, then realising it's not going to work as planned, cut in with narrative on Bear or Thaxton. The conclusion is very well done. As I said, a real treat.

FYI:

Violence, swearing and drug taking.

Format/Typo Issues:

Nothing worth mention.

Rating: ***** Five Stars

Traveling the Cambodian Genocide / Noah Lederman

Reviewed by: BigAl

Genre: Travel Narrative

Approximate word count: 8-9,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: NO  Smashwords: NO  Paper: NO

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Author:

“Noah Lederman writes the travel blog Somewhere Or Bust. His travel writing has appeared in the Boston Globe, the Economist, the Chicago Sun-Times, Islands Magazine, Draft Magazine, and elsewhere, including numerous blogs and in-flight publications. He is completing a novel about an infant survivor of the Cambodian Genocide and a memoir about his grandparents' lives in the concentration camps and his journey to uncover those stories.”

Description:

“Traveling the Cambodian Genocide is a collection of poignant travel essays and striking photographs from travel writer Noah Lederman. Lederman takes readers to the unexplored sites that the Khmer Rouge had once used to commit acts of genocide in the 1970s. But these essays go beyond revealing a sense place; they are moving profiles of survivors and the younger generation of Cambodians, who, decades later, are still impacted by the atrocities. While these essays deftly portray a people's search for justice, answers, normalcy, and opportunity in a country still rife with corruption and covered with land mines, the author reveals heartfelt moments of beautiful innocence and relentless optimism, allowing readers to laugh and believe in the nation's hopeful future. One third of all profits from this book are being donated to a charity that helps Cambodian children and families.”

Appraisal:

For such a small book, the length of a long short story, there are a lot of subjects kicking around my head that I might discuss.

One is the nature of travel and travel memoirs. I think when most of us think of travel it’s the family summer vacation. (Yes, some of us travel for business, but that’s an entirely different animal most of the time.) Personal travel is going to have a goal, whether we’ve actually thought about it or not, of seeing new things, visiting friends and relatives, or “getting away” from our normal routines. A change of pace. For some, this list includes learning about something, possibly art, history, or just what it’s like in another country or a different area of our own. The travel narrative or memoir is a way to vicariously experience travel we’d like to do some day or wouldn’t do on our own due to financial or logistical reasons, or because doing so would take us too far out of our comfort zone. Cambodia has never been on my list of must visit places for all of those reasons, but I’m glad to have had a small glimpse of what visiting there would be like by reading Traveling the Cambodian Genocide.

The other things I keep thinking about are much more specific to this book. Many people of a certain age are at least vaguely aware that during the 70s when the US was involved in a war in Vietnam, the bordering countries of Laos and Cambodia were also at war. In these instances they were civil wars with the fighting between two groups within the country. We might also be aware of the issue of unexploded mines scattering the countryside in the aftermath and the dangers that implies.

Through this book, Lederman explores the ongoing effects of that civil war in Cambodia with a close-up look at the human costs, prompting and answering a couple questions in the process. What is life like for Cambodians today? What might the world do to help?

Format/Typo Issues:

No significant issues.

Rating: **** Four stars

Crush / S.L. Baum

Reviewed by: Fredlet

Genre: YA/Dystopian

Approximate word count: 50-55,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: YES  Smashwords: YES  Paper: NO

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

Ms Baum enjoyed sci-fi books and movies as a kid. In her teens she began reading supernatural/paranormal novels. Other interests include crafting, baking, part time teaching, and most importantly being a wife and mother. She is the author of The Immortal Ones series. This book is the final novel in the Lush series.

For more, visit her blog or facebook page.

Description:

“During Bluebell’s Lush Ambassador tour of the Concords, Three was attacked. The Council imposed a mandatory curfew, suspended nonessential travel, and ordered her back home to One. Before leaving for home she receives a cryptic message telling her, “Make your father remember. It’s the only way.” Will Bluebell be able to find the truth before someone discovers she knows more about Concord than any Citizen should?”

Appraisal:

I had mixed feeling when starting to read Crush; happiness to be back in Bluebell’s world with her friends, sadness knowing it will be the end of the series, and apprehension about how it would be resolved. Ms Baum did not disappoint!

As Blue gets ready to return to One after the attack, Gill confides to her that “we” were not involved in the explosion as The Council is implying. During the broadcast of Blue’s last public performance in Three, a mysterious message falls from the sky telling her to “Make your father remember. It’s the only way.” This sets Bluebell and Thorn on the path to discovering what happened to Blue’s mother as well as what The Council is really up to. The heightened security and not knowing who is safe to talk to, complicates their plans.  There are many twists and turns on the way to the finding out the truth. Just like in Lush and Hush the moment will come when you realize where this title comes into play. Ms Baum messes with your head while confusing you about how you feel about the different characters and who is to be trusted. It made me feel like I was in Bluebell’s shoes trying to figure it out. The scenes between Blue and her father as he remembers were touching.  In the end, the choices that had to be made by all the characters and what is beyond Concord were realistic, fitting, and included some surprises. All in all a very satisfying ending where everything is made clear. Although, I am “crushed” that it is over.  I’ve enjoyed Ms Baum’s The Immortal Ones and Lush series, so I look forward to what she has in store for her readers next.

FYI:

Crush is the final novel in the Lush series following Lush and Hush. Reading the proceeding books in the series is necessary for a complete understanding of this book.

Format/Typo Issues:

This review is based on a beta (pre-release) version and I’m unable to judge the final product in this area.

Rating: ***** Five Stars