Book Review of Gabby, The Protector: Finding Forever (Gabby, Angel of God: Angel Adventures Book 2) by Greg Sandora

Book Title: Gabby, The Protector: Finding Forever (Gabby, Angel of God: Angel Adventures Book 2)
Genre: Christian Fiction

Pages: 345

Author: Greg Sandora

Date Published: 9 September 2015

Synopsis:
Ancients foretell Political Power rising from unimaginable darkness. In The Protector, Gabby is given an earth assignment that puts her angelic powers to the test. Take the journey into Heaven in this epic battle between good and evil. A Presidential candidate is destined to rise to power and destroy mankind. Will his dark secret keep him from the highest office in the land? Can Bo and Gabby defeat the most powerful evil in the Universe before it's too late?

Review:

Gabby, The Protector by Greg Sandora
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Angel Adventures series. I liked it.

Bo Garrett is a wonderful character. He is a man who has had his faith tested and won. With a new career as a baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, Bo finds himself helping the angel, Gabby with one of her assignments. Evil is lurking and they have one chance to stop it from invading the political arena.

This is not a book I would typically pick up, nor is it one of the first genre's on my list. However, as I have previously read the first book in the series, I decided to read it once I heard it was available.

I started reading this book and was glad to meet Bo and Gabby again. Although I found myself turning the pages, I just couldn't find it in me to love the story. It's the basic good versus evil story.
I am not the most religious person out there, but I am not a non believer either. Some of the thoughts shared by Gabby are quite deep and meaningful. This book is not only religious, but deeply political and touches on matters that resonate with the common man, things like housing, urban renewal and social care; I know these are important issues. But, I don't know if I was in the proper mood to read this story, as I struggled to care about the characters. Kolbe Zane is basically a psychopath in my opinion, and is determined to become the next President of the United States. Johanna Kearns is the former Secretary of State and is Kolbe's cousin, though they were brought up as brother and sister. Their greed and immorality make them the perfect target for evil. As the story unfolded, I felt they received their just desserts, though I felt pity for Johanna in the end. However, I reached the end of the book with mixed emotions. Though I liked the story, I am not sure whether or not to continue with this series.

Greg Sandora has written a most unusual Christian Fantasy. His writing style is relatively fast paced and his characters are interesting.

Due to some violence, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I recommend this book if you love Christian Fiction. - Lynn Worton

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About The Author:

Greg is originally from Maine. He lived and worked in Portland for years before moving to Southwest Florida. His first book, All In: The Race for the Presidency, is a Presidential Thriller, or some might say White House Thriller. Think the Crime and Passion of the Godfather meets the Romance and Innocence of Camelot. The story is packed with action and adventure. One reviewer writes: "Jack Canon's American Destiny is very intense. Early in the Book I knew I had to put my seat belt on, I was sure this was going to be one hell of a ride, and boy it was. One thing I especially appreciated in this author's Book is just how he was able to bring the story across with so many twists and turns that all came together masterfully."

The sequel to All In is titled: Love, Lust and Loyalty, Women of the White House. It's a story of Kindness, Passion and Courage. It has all of the components of the first book, but leans toward a Presidential Romance Thriller. The sequel is just as action packed, but with more spice, some reviewers say it's sensual. To quote one reviewer - "Unsurpassable, this story is darn good, a real work of art. Women of the House by Greg Sandora has been written with a vibrating "passion" if that terminology didn't exist before - it does now....I found that Jack was the kind of guy I liked immediately while Sandy was just perfect - I chose to review it because of the mystery behind it."

Greg's Angel Adventure Series includes Gabby, Angel of God and The Protector, Kingdom of Heaven. Both are Supernatural Romance Thrillers involving an angel, Gabby, and a man named Bo. During a visit to Bar Harbor, Maine Bo encounters a beautiful angel named Gabby; quite accidentally, he is told - she wasn't supposed to make him aware of her existence. His purity of spirit, kindness and capacity for love has revealed her to him. He falls hopelessly in love with the beautiful creature, as humans cannot resist angels. Both books fit nicely in the Supernatural, Romantic Thriller, and Paranormal and Time Travel genres. All Greg's books have adventures and thrills, are fast paced and have hilarious moments.

Greg's mom and dad were artists, his father painted and his mother wrote poetry and loved to garden. Most Saturdays the family loaded up the 1970 Chevy Impala to trek to a one man show somewhere or other. Greg took a different track graduating with a business degree; owning and operating an Award Winning Franchise Fitness Center in the Portland area for 15 years. Currently, Greg is living in Florida with my beautiful wife and children, following his passion, writing.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter

New Release Book Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: Tiny Glitches by Rebecca Chastain @Author_Rebecca

Book Title: Tiny Glitches

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy

Pages: 373

Author: Rebecca Chastain

Date Published: 12 January 2016

Synopsis:

Life isn’t exactly normal for Eva Parker: the stronger Eva’s emotions, the faster nearby electrical devices die. Eva can’t have a cell phone, use a computer, or be in a car for more than a few minutes without killing it. Dealing with her electricity-killing curse makes living in modern-day Los Angeles complicated enough for Eva—and that was before she was blackmailed into hiding a stolen baby elephant and partnered with Hudson, a sexy electrical engineer Eva just met.

Dodging repeated attempts on her life made by ruthless corporations hunting the elephant is easier for Eva than quelling her growing affection for Hudson, and while protecting an elephant is hard, controlling her curse is a lot harder. However, Eva must do both, because if she lets her emotions free and falls in love with Hudson, neither of them will survive.

Enchanting and quirky, TINY GLITCHES fuses electrifying romance and high-voltage suspense in a rollicking adventure.

Review:

Tiny Glitches by Rebecca Chastain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful and quirky romance. I loved it!

Eva Parker is an unusual character. I liked her a lot, but wanted to shake her at times. She is a Feng Shui consultant with an unusual gift. Unfortunately, she has a problem with electricity - she absorbs it. This powers her ability to see the emotions of people as pictures/hallucinations. This makes it awkward when getting from one place to another, or staying in one place too long, which leads to batteries dying and power cuts. When she gets embroiled in a situation involving a stolen elephant, she needs to keep her wits about her. However, Hudson Keyes muddies the waters even more and she finds herself falling for him.

This is a wonderfully quirky romance, full of action, adventure, danger and weird and wonderful characters. It is told through the eyes of Eva. I started to read and was quickly swept away. I fell in love with the descriptive writing. I could picture each and every scene with clarity. The characters are lifelike and likable. I giggled at a lot of the descriptions of the emotional visions that Eva sees, though some are a little disturbing too. I loved the two characters, Atlas and Edmond. These two bumbling cousins had me chuckling at their antics. Also, the mention of baking and cakes kept making me feel hungry. I don't know how good Edmond's cakes really were, but my mouth was watering every time there was mention of it and the coffee cake too, which is Eva's favourite dessert. Therefore, either eat something before you start this book or you'll be salivating at it too.

The story took me on a roller coaster ride from beginning to end. I did feel, however, that the plot had a few holes in it, which left a few loose ends. I still felt that Hudson's past was not explored enough. There were hints, but the reader has to make their own interpretation of what the images Eva sees around him mean. He never actually confirms or denies things, as Eva never comes out and asks him about his life. Therefore, he remains a bit of an enigma. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these characters.

Rebecca Chastain has written a wonderful comedic romance. I love her fast paced writing style. However, the flow seemed a little choppy at times. I have not read any other books written by this author, but I would definitely read more of her books in the future.

Due to some scenes of an explicit nature (though not as explicit as some I've read), I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book if you love quirky contemporary romances, or paranormal romances. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

         

Excerpt:

The trailer rocked, the heavy metal frame groaning in protest. The trailer wasn’t wide, and before the baby elephant could stampede more than four steps, it mashed against me, pinning me to the wall. I scrunched my toes in my open sandals and braced for a mauling. The elephant flapped her ears and the hem of my skirt fluttered. My eyes popped open.

“Good elephant, you don’t want to hurt me,” I said, wriggling to the side. “Please don’t eat me.”

“I think elephants are vegetarians,” Hudson said, coming into view at the open back of the trailer. He stepped inside and pulled the door shut behind him.

“It looks hungry. Maybe it’s starved beyond reason. And look at those feet. It could cripple me with a single step. Oh God, what are you doing?”

The elephant snuffled me with her trunk. I backed up as far as my handcuffed wrist would allow. She followed. The moist tip of the trunk prodded my knee below the line of my skirt and beelined for third base. Dirty sandpaper skin scraped up my naked thigh.

“No! No, no, no, no. Bad elephant!” I twisted and thrust my butt away from the elephant, the tendons in my shackled arm radiating fiery pain from my bruised wrist to my shoulder. Doubled over as I was, if the wild elephant charged, she’d slam into my solar plexus and rip my arm clean off.

The elephant’s trunk reversed direction and constricted around my ankle. I squeaked. Bright brown eyes lifted to my face. The trunk tip released me to molest the straps of my sandals. I shimmied to the side, easing the pressure on my arm.

“That’s a good elephant. Keep your trunk to yourself and I’ll—eep!”

The elephant swung her head to look at Hudson, pivoting on a back foot, rocking the trailer. It took me a moment to recognize the incongruous sound.

“You’re laughing? Now?” With my ass in the air and my body contorted painfully around an unpredictable killing machine, he had the audacity to laugh? Shooting Hudson a glare, I squeezed between the elephant and the wall of the trailer and straightened, sidling closer to the bar I was handcuffed to. The man had great crow’s-feet when he grinned, the bastard.

Author bio:

Rebecca Chastain is the international bestselling fantasy author of A FISTFUL OF EVIL, A FISTFUL OF FIRE, and MAGIC OF THE GARGOYLES. She has found seven four-leaf clovers to date, won a purebred Arabian horse in a drawing, and once tamed a blackbird for a day. Dreaming up the absurd and writing stories designed to amuse and entertain has been her passion since she was eleven years old. She lives in northern California with her wonderful husband and two bossy cats. TINY GLITCHES is her latest novel.

Here are a few places you can find me on the Internet:

Website: http://www.rebeccachastain.com

Newsletter: http://www.rebeccachastain.com/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccachastainnovels

Twitter: @Author_Rebecca or https://twitter.com/Author_Rebecca

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5660379.Rebecca_Chastain

GIVEAWAY:

Link

Enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card: http://www.rebeccachastain.com/tiny-glitches-release-blitz/

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Book Review of Hunter's Shadow (Golden State Hearts Trilogy Book 2) by Kathy DiSanto @Kathy_DiSanto

Book Title: Hunter's Shadow

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 292

Author: Kathy DiSanto

Date Published: 23 December 2015

Synopsis:

Candy Johnson was born to be a PI–sharp, shrewd, and gutsy. Unfortunately, fate didn't get the memo.

Temporarily trapped in a small-town gym teacher's life, Candy is marking time until she can make her big career change, when the mystery that's George Price drops right into her lap. Sure he's got a face and body to die for. He's also got the personality of a three-pound dumbbell and doesn't know his volleyballs from a hole in the ground. If Price is who he claims to be, Candy's Mother Theresa.

When she decides to investigate Donnerton High's newest and most aggravating faculty member, she runs across some very interesting quirks in Pinhead Price's personality–flashes of tall, dark, and dangerous she finds almost impossible to resist. Before long and against all good judgment, she starts to fall, and fall hard, for a man who bears all the earmarks of a wolf in nerd's clothing.

But what will she do when she discovers the shocking truth about George?

Review:

Hunter's Shadow by Kathy Disanto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Golden States Hearts Trilogy. I absolutely LOVED it!

Candy Johnson is a wonderful character. I liked her when I met her in the first book in the series, For Love or Money. She's a bit of a trouble maker, wrapped in the disguise of an gym teacher. Her curiosity knows no bounds, and has a tendency to double dare her best friend, Jen, as she did in For Love or Money. This time, her curiosity is focused on the replacement gym teacher, George Price. However, could this amateur sleuth have bitten off more than she can chew?

George Price is an enigma, wrapped in a gorgeous package. An undercover DEA agent investigating a corporation using locals to grow drugs, he finds himself intrigued with the nosy gym teacher.

This is a fun, lighthearted and entertaining read. I started to read this story and was quickly hooked. The characters are likable and lifelike. The story is quirky and the scene in the bar with Bear made me giggle. There is also plenty of intrigue and danger, as well as smoldering romance. Due to the descriptive writing, I could picture all of the scenes with clarity. When the author revealed George's real name, I breathed a sigh of relief. This character was in no way a "George Price". However, to find out what his name is, you'll just have to read the story yourself, as I'm not going to spoil it for you. I will say that once I found out what it was, I burst out laughing at the irony of it. Karma really has a sense of humour (or at least the author has).

In a way, this story was a little bittersweet for me because I haven't read a sweet romance like this for some time, and it reminded me of how much I loved to read them. I cut my romance eye teeth on books such as this as a teenager and read them faithfully for many years. As an adult, my reading habit has seen a shift in genres, but I will always have a soft spot for romances such as this one. I can't wait to read the third book in the trilogy!

Kathy DiSanto has written a fantastic, sweet contemporary romance. I love her writing style, which is neither too fast nor too slow and the flow is wonderful; each scene flowed into the other like liquid. I am a huge fan of this author and will definitely read more of her books in the future.

As this book does not contain explicit scenes of sex (although there are some sensual ones), I highly recommend this book to teens (aged 15 upwards) and adults who love sweet contemporary romances. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

       

About The Author:

Kathy's publishing career dates back to 1997, when she published a two-book romance series with Bantam's Loveswept line. The first book in the series, For Love or Money, won a 1997 Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award.

In 2012, Kathy self-published two thrillers. Amanda's Eyes, the first book in a series featuring crime reporter A.J. Gregson, is a paranormal thriller that has garnered a 4.4★ average on Amazon and was a semi-finalist in Kindle Book Review's 2014 Best Kindle Book Awards. Her second thriller, Why Live?, is dystopian science fiction.

Current projects include the sequel to Amanda's Eyes, remixes of her two romance novels, and posts to her blogs Write Minded (on the writing life) and Momma D's Diary (a humorous look at aging and retirement).

As a communications specialist with a major university, Kathy wrote more than one hundred features for print and the web. Now retired and writing full-time, she enjoys meditation; reading; live performances by her sons (both professional musicians); brisk walks with her rescue dogs, Molly and Lucy; and playing handy gal around her 92-year-old, 4-square home in Martinsburg, WV.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Twitter ; Facebook ; Goodreads

Audio/Book Review of Keeper vs. Reaper (Graveyard Guardians Book 1) by Jennifer Malone Wright @Jennichad217

Book Title: Keeper Vs. Reaper (Graveyard Guardians Book 1)
Genre: NA Paranormal Romance

Pages: 392
Audio Run Time: 8 Hrs 17 Mins

Author: Jennifer Malone Wright

Date Published: 12 August 2014 (E-Book)

16 June 2015 (Audio Book)

Synopsis:

When her father died, Lucy Mae Estmond inherited the family business. She has known all of her life that she would be in line to watch over the souls of the recently passed, keeping them safe from the Reapers.

The soul eating Reapers have been a plague upon the Earth, stealing souls and leaving the Keepers as the only thing that stands between Heaven and Hell. The factions despise each other and have warred for generations.

Then Lucy discovers an ancient legend predicting the arrival of the Chosen One, destined to bring forth an end to the Reapers. The surprises continue when she realizes she is that person. For Lucy, being the Chosen One doesn’t change much. Fighting Reapers is just another day in the life of a Keeper.

When she meets Jack Walker, they both realize they have an insane, mutual attraction. Too bad that he’s been sent to prevent the prophecy from coming true. His only mission: to kill the Chosen One.

Review:

Keeper vs. Reaper by Jennifer Malone Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in an intriguing NA series. I enjoyed it.

I downloaded this on to my Kindle, but due to time issues was not able to read it. So when the author offered me a complimentary code for an audiobook copy in return for an honest review, I gladly accepted.

This book is narrated by Kelsey Osborne. Unfortunately, I don't know what it was, but I found that her voice, although young and energetic, sometimes set my teeth on edge. I mean no disrespect. She read the story clearly, but there was just something about her reading style that rubbed me the wrong way. I cannot put my finger on the reason why. Other readers/listeners may not have the same reaction.

Lucy Mae Estmond is not your typical character. She is a Keeper, or protector of souls. I have no idea what age she is, but she acted like an angst-filled teen rather than a responsible adult at times. I struggled to like her due to the self-pity party she had going on. Granted, her father had just passed away and she felt emotional, but I felt like strangling her on occasions.

Jack Walker on the other hand is a fantastic character. He has his faults and is a total jerk, but he seemed more mature and with it than Lucy. He's a Reaper and the enemy of the Keepers due to the fact he eats souls to survive. He also happens to be the son of the Emperor and Empress of the Reapers, and has been sent on a mission to kill the chosen one.

I started to listen to this book and received a shock. It's not often a book starts out with an explicit sex scene. However, once I got over that little surprise, I began to understand why the author would do that. It shows the reader the supposed personality of the character. I'm just glad I was listening to it with my headphones on, or my Dad would have had a huge shock too and I would have been completely embarrassed! Anyway, back to the review. Once I got over that stumbling block, I really enjoyed meeting the Estmond clan. They are as complex and diverse as any family. They fight with each other, as siblings do, but if one of them is in danger they band together and are a formidable team when threatened. Jack's best friend Aiden is also intriguing. He's got a tough job, being Jack's friend, but he's ambitious and determined to rise in the ranks of the Reapers.

The story is a little predictable at times, especially near the beginning. It is told through the eyes of Jack, Lucy and Aiden. However, there are a few twists and turns that kept me hooked. The mystery of the prophecy regarding the "chosen one" made for an interesting twist. However, there is not much romance between the two main protagonists in the beginning. In fact, they don't interact until quite some time into the story. However, once they meet, things get interesting. There's a spectacular fight scene near the end of the book that got my heart racing, and now I am looking forward to reading Keeper of the Peace as soon as possible.

Jennifer Malone Wright has written an intriguing start to a series. I love her fast paced writing style and the flow of the story was wonderful. I have read only one other book by this author, but I would definitely read more of her books in the future.

Due to scenes of explicit sexual situations and the liberal use of bad language, I do not recommend this book to young readers under the age of 18. I do, however, recommend this book if you love new adult paranormal romances with spunky heroines and sexy heroes. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

            

About The Author:

Jennifer Malone Wright is best known for her short story series, The Vampire Hunter's Daughter. Other works include the follow up to The Vampire Hunter's Daughter series called The Arcadia Falls Chronicles, The Graveyard Guardians series, and her vampire novel called Savior. Jennifer also co-authors a series called Once Upon A Zombie Apocalypse as well the Beary Tales series.

She resides in the beautiful mountains of northern Idaho with her husband and five children where she practices preparing for the zombie apocalypse. Just kidding!

But seriously, between the craziness of taking care of her children, Jennifer has little time left for herself. The time she does have left, usually leading far into the night, is spent working on her beloved fiction or chatting with her equally crazy friends.

Jennifer also loves coffee, has a passionate affair with red bull, wishes the sushi were better where she lives and dances while she cleans.

Author Links:

Website: www.jenniferwrightauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjennifermalonewright
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jennichad217
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4824985.Jennifer_Malone_Wright

Cover Reveal: River James (Rockers of Steel Series #3) by M.J. Fields @mjfieldsbooks

We are thrilled to share the cover of River James by M.J. Fields today! River James is the third book in the Rockers of Steel series and is releasing everywhere on January 31, 2016!

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1VzCOnP 

Amazon UK: http://goo.gl/Y4H8U6 

iBooks: https://goo.gl/6vAYa7 

B&N: http://goo.gl/WSvoDu 

KOBO: http://bit.ly/River_KOBO

Blurb:

When he fell in love, he fell hard. When he lost her, he lost his will. Drugs, sex, and rock and roll—in that order—became his life. River James, the drummer for Steel Total Destruction, loved the brotherhood he formed with his unlikely best friend and his band mates, and the family he found in his label until one tragic accident takes it all away in the blink of an eye. Twisted metal, shattered bones, crushed dreams, and torn wreckage causes deep, dark secrets to be revealed and he quickly turns to the sure things in life: drugs and women. Will he find himself in the wreckage or will he lose his way in the smoke and debris?

The first person in her family to graduate from high school and college, Keanna Sutton is flying high on her accomplishments. She has the career and man of her dreams…or so she thought. While recovering from a break-up she has a chance run-in with a tall, handsome, silver-tongued drummer who tests her strength and ability to hold her own tongue. She desperately tries to ignore the implausible attraction to River - a man she knows will be no good for her. When she finally throws caution to the wind, she finds herself getting rocked the only way a badass like River can: hard and nasty. Will the hottest night of her life end there? Or will she lose herself in a man whose only promise is that a lady always comes first?

 

Catch up with all of the Rockers of Steel!

Memphis Black - ON SALE NOW - ONLY $.99!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1NmdGxg Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/MemphisBlackUK Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/MemphisBlack_AU Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/MemphisBlack_CA iBooks: http://bit.ly/MemphisiBooks Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/memphisblackmj KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/memphis-9 Google: http://bit.ly/MemphisGoogle

Finn Beckett

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1M5kgot Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/FinnUK Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/FinnBN iTunes:http://bit.ly/finnibooks Kobo: http://bit.ly/FinnKOBO1

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author M.J. Field's love of writing was in full swing by age eight.Together with her cousins, she wrote a newsletter and sold it for ten cents to family members.

She self-published her first New Adult romance in January 2013. Today she has completed six self-published series, The Love Series, The Wrapped Series, The Burning Souls Series, The Men of Steel Series, Ties of Steel Series, and The Norfolk series. MJ is a hybrid author who publishes an Indie book almost every month, and is signed with a traditional publisher, Loveswept, Penguin Random House, for her co-written series The Caldwell Brothers. Hendrix is available now, Morrison was released on December 22nd, 2015. There is always something in the works, and she has three, yes, three, new series coming out this summer, and fall. MJ lives in central New York, surrounded by family and friends. Her house is full of pets, friends, and noise ninety percent of the time, and she would have it no other way.

 

AUTHOR LINKS:

TWITTER | FACEBOOK |AMAZON | GOODREADS

Audio/Book Review of The Martian by Andy Weir

Book Title: The Martian
Genre: Science Fiction/Thriller

Pages: 385
Audio Run Time: 10 Hrs 53 Mins

Author: Andy Weir

Date Published: 13 February 2014 (E-Book)

22 March 2013 (Audio Book)

Synopsis:

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he's alive - and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plainold "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills - and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit - he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Review:

The Martian by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 7*

A friend recommended this book. Although I had heard about this book being made into a movie, I was a little worried about the hype and whether it would be worth it. However, I can categorically say that I LOVED IT!

I decided to get this in audiobook format, due to time issues. R.C. Bray brought this story to life with his characterizations. I really enjoyed listening to him. His narration and diction was perfect. I would definitely consider listening to more books narrated by him.

Mark Watney is a fantastic character. I fell in love with his determination and wit when he finds himself stranded on Mars, alone, after his crew members think he is dead and evacuate due to a severe sand storm. If I had been in his shoes, I think I would have gone crazy.

I am a huge science fiction/thriller fan. I started to listen to this story and I was hooked right from the beginning. I can now understand all the hype and why this book was made into a movie (which I haven't seen yet, though I am now determined to get the DVD for it since it's no longer available in my local cinema). This is a dramatic, heartwrenching and hopefilled story. I am still slightly emotional about this book (can't you tell?).

I love how the author managed to keep the tone of the story light, considering the darkness of the subject matter. He also kept the story's intensity high with dangerous situations, though with comedic results at times. The warmth and wit that he gave his characters made them lifelike and likable. The technical aspects of the story were dumbed down slightly for the layman and, although some of it did go over my head, I mostly followed and understood it. I will say, however, mathematics was never my strong suit, so had to take the author's word for it with regards to several calculations made. Nevertheless, I found myself riveted as the tale unfolded. As I reached the end of the story, I found myself on a roller coaster ride of hope, worry, terror, joy and happiness. I did think that the author could have ended it in a different way if he wanted to. I'm not sure if that would have been as well received, but could conceivably be just as realistic. I must admit that I did prefer the ending he went with in the audiobook, which I understand to be a re-imagined ending rather than the original. However, I cannot comment further as I've not read the book, so do not know if this change was made on the Kindle and print versions too.

Andy Weir has written a fantastic space thriller. To say that this is his debut novel, it is a remarkable achievement. I love his fast paced writing style and the flow was fantastic. He's found another fan! I hope he's got something else cooking on his computer being released soon, and I can't wait to find out what it is.

Due to the frequent use of justified (in my opinion) bad language, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I HIGHLY recommend this book if you love a rip roaring science fiction/action/adventure/thrillers. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

            

About The Author:

ANDY WEIR was first hired as a programmer for a national laboratory at age fifteen and has been working as a software engineer ever since. He is also a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of subjects like relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. The Martian is his first novel.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; 

Book Review of Hannah's Heartache - A Master of Whitehall Novelette by Rick H. Veal

Book Title: Hannah's Heartache - A Master of Whitehall Novellette

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Pages: 64

Author: Rick H. Veal

Date Published: 1 May 2015

Synopsis:

Hannah Richards has her life all planned out … she was born and raised in tiny little Waycross, Georgia … and she wants nothing more than to spread her wings and fly away. She wants to experience life and find out what the world holds in store for her. It looks to her like all her plans are about to come together … she graduates high school in two months … has a full scholarship to her favorite college … and she’s the captain of the cheerleading squad … which she has single-handedly guided through to the State wide finals in Savannah. But after arriving in Savannah, she wakes to find herself thrust headlong into a new world … and it’s anything but the world she expected.

Review:

Hannah's Heartache by Rick H. Veal
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful short story. I really enjoyed it!

Hannah Richards is a wonderful character. I liked her very much. A cheerleader at school, she finds herself thrown into a world she didn't know existed. With the help of Agalia (or Gale as she is now known), Hannah slowly comes to terms with her new life as an immortal.

Having previously read all of the Master of Whitehall novels, I was eager to read this novellette. As it is only a short story, it didn't take me long to read.

Hannah's story touched me deeply. The story is told through her eyes. Her story could have ended a lot differently if Gale had not found her. Nevertheless, I am glad that she did. I enjoyed getting to know her a little better as she pieced her shattered life back together. Changed by an unknown rogue, Hannah now faces the future with an immortal family that are as formidable apart as they are deadly together. It was nice meeting all of the characters from the previous books again too: James, Katelyn, Dale, Lexi, Charlotte Ann and Sarah. It was like meeting up with friends. My only complaint is that the story was too short! Be that as it may, this is a charming story and I wonder if there will be anymore books in this saga? I guess only time will tell.

Rick Veal has written an intriguing short story. His characters are lifelike and likable. His writing style is fast paced. The flow of the story is wonderful, this kept me turning the pages. He's now on my favourite authors' list. I would definitely read more of his work in the future.

There are no explicit scenes, so I recommend this book for younger readers aged 13 and up . - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

               

About The Author:

Rick H. Veal was born sometime during the last half of the twentieth century in the upstate of South Carolina and has spent the majority of his life there. He joined the Navy immediately out of high school becoming an aircraft mechanic. During a six year span he sailed four times around the world and had the pleasure of visiting eighteen different countries. He says of that time that he did about two thirds of everything there was to do and was accused of taking part in the other one third.

After returning home he attended The University of South Carolina graduating with a double Associates Degree with Honors. He completed his education at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in History and Education. Since that time he has worked in the education field as a teacher and in various management positions in industry. He currently lives alone and shares his home with his 'daughter', a six year old Tuxedo cat who graciously allows him to think he actually owns the house. Her name is 'Daddy's Pretty Girl' but she will actually answer to anything except 'Late for Dinner'.

His two favorite authors are Anne Rice and Clive Cussler. He enjoys Cussler's storytelling ability and Rice's attention to detail. He considers Anne Rice, The Grand Dame of Vampire Writers, to be the architect of the modern vampire genre. Her works are the foundation on which current writers continue to build and expand the field. He believes that current writers of vampire lore owe her a huge debt of gratitude for laying that foundation. Clive Cussler, his other favorite author, is the quintessential American storyteller, one who is able to spin a yarn that draws the reader in from the very beginning. Both of them have a way of bringing their characters to life so that you feel as if you personally know them. Veal hopes that his readers will be able to see the influence of those two great writers in his writing as he tries to convey the same believability with his characters.

He has been a reader for most of his life and enjoyed much of what he's read. He has always enjoyed reading about and watching movies on the subject of vampires. He was completely hooked by Barnabas Collins in 'Dark Shadows' way back in 1966. After reading all the vampire books he could ... Rice, Smith, Harris, Craine, Meyer ... he decided that if they could write a vampire story, then so could he and he set out to do just that.

He decided that a setting with a rich history surrounding it would be ideal for a paranormal love story. Charleston and the surrounding Low Country of South Carolina, replete with an abundant history of ghosts and the unknown, combined with the lore of Vampire stories just seemed to be made for each other. So tying the two together he formed the initial idea and built on it from there.

The result of his efforts is The Epic Saga of The Master of Whitehall, a sweeping three volume narrative set in historic Charleston and the surrounding Low Country of South Carolina. A forth novel, the first of a two volume prequel to The Master of Whitehall, is in progress with one more planned for a total of five volumes in the series.

His other works include Jennifer's Ghost, a short story set in beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina and Hannah's Heartache, a Master of Whitehall novelette, set in Savannah, Georgia.

It has been said that that if you want to write, you should "write the book you want to read, and then others will want to read it too". That is exactly what he hopes he has accomplished in his own writings.

All of his books, Katelyn's Chronicles, Lexi's Legacy, Dale's Descent, Jennifer's Ghost and Hannah's Heartache are available at Amazon.com in both print and e-book formats.

Should you wish to receive a personally inscribed and signed copy of any of his books please contact him directly for more information. He can be contacted via e-mail at author@prtcnet.com, his website, TheMasterOfWhitehall.com, or on Facebook at Rick H. Veal.

Author Links:

Amazon Author Page ; Goodreads ; Facebook ; Twitter

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: WitchWar (Witchblood Series Book 5) by Emma Mills @EmmaMwriter

I am pleased to be a part of this blog tour for WitchWar by Emma Mills. Please check the book out below, read my review, enter the giveaway and get yourself a copy.

Book Title: WitchWar

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Pages: 292

Author: Emma Mills

Date Published: 8 January 2016

Synopsis:

In the final book of the Witchblood series we find Jess and her friends ten years on, about to battle with enemies on all sides, as the supernatural world crashes into the human domain.

With everybody’s lives on the line Jess will need to work out who she can trust before a deadly witch hunt threatens to uncover them all. Death and love will once again consume her life, but only one side can win.

*If you haven’t tried the WitchBlood Series, the first book ‘WitchBlood’ is free to download.

WitchBlood Amazon US    WitchBlood Amazon UK

Review:

WitchWar by Emma Mills
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fifth and final book in the Witchblood series. I loved it!

Jess James is a wonderful character. I have enjoyed watching her growth from an angst ridden teen to a formidable vampire and witch (or Vitch as Brittany calls her). It's now ten years later. Jess and Daniel are still very much in love. However, trouble is brewing on the horizon. The supernatural world is threatened with exposure. Can Jess and the gang stop it in time?

This story hooked me from the first page and I read this book in one sitting. I must admit that I have missed these characters, as they have become friends. Not only do we meet with the previous characters of the series, such as Brittany, Daniel, Eva, Sebastian, Luke and Saffy (to name but a few), Leo and Brooke from WitchFire also make an appearance.

The story took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotion from beginning to end. The story is full of action and danger. I loved the way the story unfolded; there are several twists and turns that surprised me. There are also several fight scenes. However, there was one that was extremely intense and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. There is also a huge twist that I didn't see coming, it left me in tears. I won't say whether they were happy or sad ones, as that would be a spoiler. I reached the end of the story with bittersweet feelings. This series has been a journey into a unique world of vampires, witches and angels. It has been an absolute pleasure to read and I am sad that it has come to an end. However, all good things must come to an end and I am now looking forward to finding out what the author comes up with next.

Emma Mills has written a fast paced story that flows beautifully. It is also a masterpiece of originality. I have never read anything like it before. This author is on my favourite authors' list and I will read any book written by her in the future.

I highly recommend this YA Paranormal Romance if you love stories with vampires, witches and angels. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews


Purchase Links:

                 

About The Author:

Emma Mills is a stay-at-home mum. She shares her home with her husband, two children, a dog, 3 cats, a house rabbit and a tankful of fish. Once her youngest child started school she began to write.

WitchBlood was published in January 2012, swiftly followed by WitchCraft and WitchLove. Emma published what she had intended to be the finale of the series, WitchHunt, a week after moving her family south to Somerset, in November 2013. A prequel to the series, WitchFire, followed in 2014.

However, after fans began asking for more, a plan began to develop. The Witchblood Series didn’t feel finished, so WitchWar was born. Emma says now that she has written WitchWar, she feels that the series is complete. WitchWar is set ten years after WitchHunt. It has everything you want from a supernatural final book: fear, heartbreak and resolution.

Find Me Here:

http://www.witchbloodthenovel.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3460411.Emma_Mills

@EmmaMwriter (Twitter & Instagram)

https://www.facebook.com/Witchbloodthenovel/

GIVEAWAY:

A giveaway for an Amazon voucher and goodie bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sales Promo: Two Paranormal Romance Boxed Sets featuring Nine Hot Alpha Heroes by Felicity Heaton for just $0.99 each!

Two Paranormal Romance Boxed Sets featuring Nine Hot Alpha Heroes for just $0.99 each!

New York Times best-selling paranormal romance author Felicity Heaton has added a new boxed set to her Eternal Love collection. This time, the set features FIVE sexy shifters to go with her FOUR sinful vampires in the first collection. The great news is that to celebrate the release of the second collection, she’s offering both boxed sets for only 99c / 99p each at all retailers right now!
That’s right, you can get your hands on Eternal Love: Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set and Eternal Love: Vampire Romance Boxed Set for only $1.98!
Here’s a little more about each set plus links to all the retailers:
Eternal Love: Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set

Step into the dark, dangerous and seductive world of werewolves and big cat shifters in this amazing limited time only boxed set of shapeshifter romances packed with passion, forbidden desire, emotion and suspense... and love that will last forever.

CRAVED BY AN ALPHA
Having turned his back on his snow leopard pride, Cavanaugh has been counting the days until he’s free of a role he never wanted—one that separated him from his fated female and stands between them. But just days before he’s free to be with her, Eloise walks back into his life and demands he save the pride from the tyrant he left in charge. As they travel to Bhutan, will Eloise be able to resist the burning need that Cavanaugh reignites in her and remember her place in the pride? And can Cavanaugh find a way to save his kin and claim the future he craves with the woman he loves?

HUNTER’S MOON
The horror of the night he failed to save his werewolf pack from the cruelty of their vampire masters has haunted Nicolae for one hundred years, driving him deep into the Canadian wilderness in search of peace. That peace is threatened when unfamiliar hunters and the scent of blood lead him to a beautiful vampire and a hard decision—face his past and help her or risk losing everyone again.

EMBRACING THE WOLF
The night Amon revealed that he was an alpha werewolf and she too held the gene in her blood, Kat fled his pack, but no matter how far she runs, she cannot shake the ‘beast’ inside her or the knowledge that one day she will mature into a werewolf—into Amon’s mate. Four years on and now a member of the Werewolf Control Forces, Kat hides in plain sight among their ranks, each night fighting the ‘beast’ inside of her and hunting rogue werewolves with a vengeance. But when she discovers Amon is dangerously close to turning rogue and only she can save him, will she hunt him or will she embrace the wolf to save them both?

IN HEAT
A heat wave isn't the only thing making London too hot for lawyer Kim. She's been spending each night with a man who sets her body and heart on fire. The problem? He's a man who always sprouts black fur and purrs, and he's only a dream. Walking into her office, the last thing she expects is to meet Erik, a man who sends her temperature soaring and who resembles her dream guy exactly. As the flames of passion between them burn white-hot, Erik is willing to risk everything to claim his fated mate, but when his secret is revealed, will Kim turn her back on him or give him the forever after he craves?

CRAVE
Callum has come to the city of romance on business, not pleasure, but when he sets eyes on a gorgeous werewolf in a nightclub, he can’t ignore the dark carnal craving she ignites in him. His work for Vampirerotique, the erotic theatre he runs with three other vampires, can wait. The only thing that matters now is satisfying his sinful hunger for a woman who most vampires would consider an enemy.

Get it now from:
Amazon Kindle Stores: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Kindle UK | Amazon Kindle Germany | Amazon Kindle Canada | Amazon Kindle Australia
Apple iBooks Store: Apple iBooks US | Apple iBooks UK | Apple iBooks Australia | Apple iBooks Canada | Apple iBooks New Zealand
Other Stores: Barnes and Noble | Kobo Books | Google Play
Eternal Love: Vampire Romance Boxed Set

Step into the dark, dangerous and seductive world of vampires in this amazing limited time only boxed set of vampire romances packed with passion, emotion and suspense... and love that will last forever.

HEART OF DARKNESS
A vampire prince intent on avenging his murdered sister, Aleksandr Nemov won’t stop until the hunter’s line is extinct. Each kill pushes him towards the darkness all vampires hold within their hearts and devolving into a beast. Time is running out as he tracks the last hunter to Prague. There he finds a beautiful woman who could be his one chance for salvation, but is it already too late for him?

SEDUCE
Bloodlust runs in Antoine’s veins, a dark master waiting for the day it will reign over him. Now a woman with a pure soul and wicked intentions has him in her sights and is determined to crack the ice around his heart, and she might just save or damn him. When Sera discovers the shocking truth about his past and the darkness that lurks within, will she be strong enough to seize his heart or will she lose him to the ghosts that haunt him?

A PROMISE OF PASSION
Alicia is a vampire hunter, unable to find a man strong enough to love and accept her for who she is. When Kassian, a tall and seductively handsome vampire walks into her life and vows to protect her, she doesn't know what to think or feel. His eyes make promises that his searing touch backs up, but can she get past the fact that he’s a vampire and accept him for who he is?

SEVENTH CIRCLE
Lincoln is a powerful pureblood vampire with a problem. He's caught up in a prophecy and has little time left to unravel the mystery of the contract between his lord and the Devil before he dies. When witches foretell that a vampire hunter will save his life, he's prepared to work with his most hated enemy, but he isn't prepared for the forbidden desire he feels when he meets her.

Get it now from:
Amazon Kindle Stores: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Kindle UK | Amazon Kindle Germany | Amazon Kindle Canada | Amazon Australia
Apple iBooks Stores: Apple iBooks US | Apple iBooks UK | Apple iBooks Australia | Apple iBooks Canada | Apple iBooks New Zealand
Other Stores: Barnes and Noble | Kobo Books | Google Play
The price of these two fantastic boxed sets will go up in February, so be sure to grab your copy today to avoid disappointment!

About Felicity Heaton

Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too. If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series. If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Tsu | Pinterest | GoodReads