Book Review of Medusa’s Desire

Book Review of Medusa’s Desire

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Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Title: Medusa’s Desire
Author: E.B. Black
Genre: Fantasy Romance

 

Blurb : 

It all started the day her god raped her.

She transformed into an abomination through his touch. Her skin grew scales. Her eyes turned red. She screamed for help, but all who saw her became stone.

Medusa thought she would be alone forever, until the day a man came to kill her and fell in love instead. Now Perseus is running from those who hired him as he continues to love a girl who could kill him with a glance.

About the Author:

 

E.B. Black lives in southern California with her family and two rottweilers. She daydreams about dressing up like a necromancer for Halloween and about new fantasy worlds she can throw her characters into.

Contacts:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Amazon

Review

I have always been fascinated by Medusa and her sisters.  Her punishment always seemed extreme, even for petty, childish gods.  I love the view of this author and how in this book Medusa retains her humanity, even when viewed as a monster.  The portrayal of Medusa as a good person who was just terribly unlucky is a sad view of the myth; however in this story she isn’t to be pitied.  She takes everything that life hands her and makes the best of it, something I continually wish I had the ability to do.

I love the strong character development and the sort of archetypical actions of some of the characters.  This was an excellent fresh look at an ancient legend.

I give this story 4 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

New Book Promotion for Exhale

New Book Exhale Exciting news you heard here first. This book now available.

We’re celebrating the release day of Exhale, a YA contemporary romance novel by author Jennifer Snyder. Today only, Exhale is available at the discount price of $0.99 for the eBook, to celebrate its release!

You can purchase Exhale from Amazon, B&N or Smashwords!

Read an Excerpt

Kyle sauntered over to us with so much added swagger in his step that I thought it was beyond laughable. “Ladies,” he winked, as he placed his movie on the counter for one of us to ring up.

When Jane froze like a complete idiot, gawking at him like he was some celebrity or something, I shifted to the computer.

“A Cheech and Chong movie, really?” I asked, not surprised in the least by his less than stellar movie pick.

“Really. After you get off, you want to come over and partake before watching this hilariousness?” He asked, leaning against the counter, his bright green eyes glittering in the fluorescent lights.

“I don’t think so,” I said, allowing my distaste for his recreational use of marijuana to lace my words heavily.

“Come on, Kat, just once. It would be fun. Promise.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me suggestively and I felt my cheeks betray me as they heated with embarrassment for the second time in his presence.

“I’ll pass, Kyle. Thanks for the offer though,” I insisted. “One night on this movie?”

“Yeah,”

“That’ll be $3.00,” I said, holding my hand out for the money.

“One of these days, my persistence is going to pay off and you’re going to say yes to me, Kat. When you do, you’re going to be so incredibly surprised by me and my charming ways that you’ll be kicking yourself in the ass for not saying yes to me sooner.” Kyle grinned confidently as he handed me five bucks from his wallet.

I smiled and shook my head as I got him his change. Sometimes, he could be so freaking arrogant. That was it, that was what turned me off about him completely—his personality. A person’s personality really played a part in their looks. Kyle and Derek might both be drop-dead gorgeous guys, but their personalities were what made them so different to me. Unfortunately, for Kyle, I wasn't into the whole cocky, arrogant guy thing. I was more into the quiet, reserved kind of guy. Derek’s personality was definitely more to my liking.

“I doubt that,” I sneered. “Here’s your change. Enjoy your movie.”

About Exhale

Title: Exhale Author: Jennifer Snyder Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Inhaling in life is easy. It’s the exhaling—the letting go— that’s the hard part.

Katie Elliot has always known the Conner twins. For years she secretly pined after one, while playfully averting the advances of the other. Once upon a time, she was fine with that. Then came the moment when her twin of preference kissed her and changed everything.

As if realizing love can be complex—even when it’s reciprocated— isn't hard enough, tragedy strikes, tearing Katie and the boy she’s always desired apart. Finding herself torn between love and guilt, Katie must learn when it’s acceptable to let go—when it’s finally okay to exhale.

Author Bio

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is an instant coffee lover with an obsession for spiral bound notebooks and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

Find out more about Jennifer Snyder’s next book on her blog. Visit her Twitter or Goodreads.

Purchase Exhale from Amazon, B&N or Smashwords! This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Giveaway and Book Review of The Darkening Dream

Giveaway and Book Review of The Darkening Dream 

Sponsored by Innovative Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

BLURB:

The Darkening Dream is the chilling new dark fantasy novel by Andy Gavin, creator of Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter.

Even as the modern world pushes the supernatural aside in favor of science and steel, the old ways remain. God, demon, monster, and sorcerer alike plot to regain what was theirs.

1913, Salem, Massachusetts - Sarah Engelmann's life is full of friends, books, and avoiding the pressure to choose a husband, until an ominous vision and the haunting call of an otherworldly trumpet shake her. When she stumbles across a gruesome corpse, she fears that her vision was more of a premonition. And when she sees the murdered boy moving through the crowd at an amusement park, Sarah is thrust into a dark battle she does not understand.

With the help of Alex, a Greek immigrant who knows a startling amount about the undead, Sarah sets out to uncover the truth. Their quest takes them to the factory mills of Salem, on a midnight boat ride to spy on an eerie coastal lair, and back, unexpectedly, to their own homes. What can Alex's elderly, vampire-hunting grandfather and Sarah's own rabbi father tell them? And what do Sarah's continuing visions reveal?

No less than Gabriel's Trumpet, the tool that will announce the End of Days, is at stake, and the forces that have banded to recover it include a 900 year-old vampire, a trio of disgruntled Egyptian gods, and a demon-loving Puritan minister. At the center of this swirling cast is Sarah, who must fight a millennia-old battle against unspeakable forces, knowing the ultimate prize might be herself.

Online Reviews

"Wonderfully twisted sense of humor" and "A vampire novel with actual bite" -- Kirkus Reviews

"Inventive, unexpected, and more than a little bit creepy!" -- R.J. Cavender, editor of the Bram Stoker nominated Horror Library anthology series

"This book will satisfy any fan of the vampire genre and then some!" -- Must Read Faster

"In a similar vein to George R.R. Martin's writing style, Gavin often dangles his characters in the maws of danger and doesn't shy away from ... their blood being spilled." -- Andrew Reiner, executive editor of Game Informer magazine

"Now this is a vampire novel! It flows so perfectly between character point of views, it's a great blend of historical fiction, mythology and paranormal." -- Little Miss Drama Queen Reviews

"Action-packed and suspenseful, and there were twists all over the place." -- Les Livres

"Andy Gavin has taken a bevy of supernatural elements, compelling characters, and an intricate and superbly developed storyline, and expertly weaved them together to create an original and enthralling book." -- Word Spelunking

BIO:

Andy Gavin is a serial creative, polymath, novelist, entrepreneur, computer programmer, author, foodie, and video game creator. He co-founded video game developer Naughty Dog and co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter. He started numerous companies, has been lead programmer on video games that have sold more than forty million copies, and has written two novels including The Darkening Dream, a dark historical fantasy that puts the bite back in vampires.

ONLINE LINKS:

website: http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/andygavin

Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/andygavin

GR: http://www.goodreads.com/asgavin

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/andrewgavin/

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Gavin

BUY NOW LINK:

Amazon:  

Giveaway:  1 50.00 GC , 1 Signed Poster, 1 Signed Game,  and 4 Bookmarks

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Main Character Bios:

Sarah Englemann: Our Protagonist

Sarah thinks of herself as a normal seventeen year-old. Well that's not exactly true, she's pretty sure she's exceptional, but only when it comes to school and books. The rest of it: fitting in, boys, that doesn't come as easy.

And she certainly doesn't believe corpses can leave their graves and try to kill you! But the undead can be convincing. Not to mention that she keeps having these horrible visions.

The bookish thing, that she gets from her father. And he isn't exactly Joe cool either, even if he is named Joseph. But things are clearer for him. He doesn't have to fit in, he's got his Rabbi cronies from the old world to hang with. But this is 1913, and Sarah's a modern woman. No way she's going to put up with corsets, no vote, and popping out a big brood.

Again, none of this takes into account what happens when something really old takes an interest in her. A sorcerer who was ancient when Sarah's people crossed out of Egypt has turned his evil eye her way. And Papa Joseph has his secrets too. Turns out the family wasn't the only thing he brought to Massachusetts from Europe. But he's sure all that is ancient history.

However the dead have all the time in the world. The vampire Nasir has been sent to sniff around. And he loves a good hunt.  To further complicate things, this is finally the year when Sarah meets that boy.

Alex Palaogos: The exotic newcomer

Alex's life right now is boring, and he knows it.

Sure the move to America was exciting: the train ride across Europe followed by the luxurious ten-day party that was the steamer crossing. But after unpacking last May, he settled into a monotonous regimen. He reads, wanders around the yard, rides his horse Bucephalus, or plays chess with tight-lipped Dmitri. In the evening or early morning Grandfather is more likely to be awake, but even when they do talk, the old man is usually distant and distracted.

So when he meets Sarah and her friends, the opportunity to talk to people who aren't servants or wheelchair-bound octogenarians is just too good to pass up. Besides, she's a girl, and a smart and beautiful one at that. Hell, if he was bound to a post and forced merely to watch her, he'd count the day well spent.

Then they find the body - and common as ordinary evil is, Alex knows better. Grandfather does to. It has to be one of them. One of those things. New world or not, wherever you go things stay the same. The old man insists Alex stay out of it.

But standing on the sidelines is no way to impress a girl.

Review

I seriously couldn’t put this book down.  I loved the cultural references and how that impacted the main characters and their interaction.  When I was about the age of the characters in the story (ok a little younger) my best friend was Jewish and I found the culture fascinating.  I still do, so I loved that the main character was Jewish and how that culture impacted her and her choices.

I found all the characters to be well-rounded and believable.  The story was rife with descriptive detail, yet you never felt that the author was spending time describing things. I just felt like I was in the story.  I could picture everything.

I give this story 5 out of 5 clouds and recommend it for everyone.  I plan to let my kids read it since they enjoy the genre.  It would be the perfect Christmas gift for your fantasy/vampire reading fan (and no I don’t get paid to say that).   J

This product or book may been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Giveaway and Book Review of The Silver Sphere

Giveaway and Book Review of The Silver Sphere

Sponsored by Innovative Book Tours

Welcome to Books, Books, and More Books.  I am pleased to share my review of this book with you.  Thank you for visiting and please come again.

Blurb : 

Shelby Pardow never imagined killing someone. That's about to change.

While hiding from her troubled father in the local library, Shelby stares at a flashing instant message on her computer: YOU ARE NEEDED. She discovers a portal that opens and teleports her to the planet Azimuth, where soldiers await. Here, she is not a child but a warrior, Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members imprisoned by Malefic Cacoethes, the daunting leader of the Nightlanders.

Malefic, the evil spawn of the demon Biskara, razes towns and cities in his quest to rule Azimuth, and yearns to turn his forces against Earth. Yet every time Biskara gets close to achieving his malevolent goals, the Assembly uses the Silver Sphere, a sophisticated armillary device, to thwart him.

With the Assembly deposed, Biskara directing Malefic's conquests, and the Silver Sphere out of reach, Shelby is thrust into an unforgettable quest with her fellow Kin. She must learn to kill and lead an army into battle, or Azimuth—and Earth—will fall.

About the Author:

I’ve been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.

Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.

For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.org.

Contacts:

·        Website  http://www.thesilversphere.org.org

·        Facebook   AuthorMichaelDadich

·        Twitter  @MichaelDadich

·        Goodreads   http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/5737280?shelf=to-read

·        Amazon paper book

·        Amazon Kindle Button

Book Trailer:

Excerpt:

Welcome to the Release Day of The Silver Sphere 

by Michael Dadich 

Please be sure to join the Facebook event today 

Buy it Here

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Review

Well, I don’t know about you, but I love fantasy literature and this book was right up my alley.  I loved the concept of earth children being called to save another world.  I especially loved that they were children who had a rough life.  I thought it was sweet that the librarian, Mr. Dempsey, didn’t just dismiss Shelby’s words as nonsense like a lot of adults do to kids.  And I loved that he ended up going through the portal also.

That said, I did have a difficult time following the book initially.  It jumps around in who it follows as there are several main characters.  After the first few chapters I got used to the changing views, but it did confuse me somewhat initially.

Overall, this is a really good book.  I give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.

This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.