Amy Joy Lutchen Guest Post

What it means to me to be an author (besides the obvious parenthood of a block of written words):

For me, it started with one meaning: control. You see, my story, Renhala, started as a single piece of paper littered with a hodgepodge of written fears and tragic events from my life, with one very tragic event taking me the longest to write down, the very one I wrote the smallest: the assault. These very small words, which I thought had the biggest impact on who I was at that time, were sitting there on the page, laughing at me, despite their puny size. I stared, and stared at those words, often fighting with myself to roll the paper up and toss it away, but I knew it really wouldn’t be gone. Those words were going to haunt me forever, as well as the humiliation associated with them—the humiliation inflicted by the hands of a total stranger on a very dark day of my life.

But one day, out of the blue and in a moment of surprising triumph, I gathered my strength and flipped that stupid piece of paper over and began writing more words, different words. These words began as a small story about a young woman who was assaulted who loses her mother—her only support— to disease, which then morphed into another story of a young woman who suffered the same fate, but befriended some new, supportive friends. As the magic began flowing freely from my fingertips, this same young woman then mastered a new weapon and her destiny was changed forever. I finally felt better about myself—felt better about life—for I was shaping future events. I wrangled those ugly words and fought them down hard, wrestling and dodging blows, until I took CONTROL. I took control, and took those words and kneaded them, molding them into exactly what what I needed, into something inspiring and uplifting: the mystical land known as Renhala.

*********

I know, that no matter who you are and where you’ve come from, you’ve had some kind of tragic event, or maybe multiple moments of tragedy, muddy your life. Perhaps it was the death of a loved one, or sickness, or bullying, or an assault. Whatever it was, or even is, just know that you can gain the advantage. You can wash yourself of the bad. Write the words down. Write those words down as a poem, short story, epic novel, rap song, whatever, but just write them down. This is how you’ll take the first step in control. This will be your literary therapeutic jam session. This is how you’ll change the future.

Change your life by changing the words…

If you’d like to take a journey into Renhala, you can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Renhala-ebook/dp/B009I3SO9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356750829&sr=8-1&keywords=renhala 

or here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/240460a

nd fun stuff here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16050736-renhala

Links to me: www.renhala.com

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AmyJoyLutchen

https://twitter.com/karmiccandy

Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson

Synopsis: 

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls-with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird… 

The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, were beasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region-until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren't aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?

Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha's family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy-or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it's coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so rough. 

Review: 

I really enjoyed the novella that introduced these sisters and the world they live in, I liked it so much I gave it five stars. So I was pretty excited to read the full length novel, because while I do like novellas, novels have always been my favorite. Another thing that made me look forward to this book is how all encompassing this world is. What I mean by that is there are so many books out there that focus on one set of supernaturals, like vampire books, shifter books, etc. I love when I get to read a book that has all kind of supernaturals in it, they all have to learn to coexist, which almost never happens, and it creates some great situations and cultural clashes. So now that you know why I was looking forward to the book, let me tell you what I actually thought of it. 

First off I have to say that the pacing on this book was an improvement from the novella. The novella was a great read, although it started off a little slow on the pacing, and I think that's because it had to convey a lot of information to the reader in a short amount of time. The book though is right on point for pacing. It starts off strong, and continues all the way through. I am always impressed when a book can maintain good pacing throughout, what it means for you as the reader is be prepared, you aren't going to want to put the book down, it's too much fun! 

Another one of the cool factors of this book is how much diversity exists not just in the world building, but also in the core group of characters themselves. Each sister has such different personalities, and such different abilities. It makes each one interesting in their own respect. I think the only way to refer to the sisters is as an ensemble cast. Books that tackle having so many "main" characters can be difficult, they risk becoming overwhelming to the reader, and having too many main characters can mean that it takes longer for the reader to develop an emotional connection with all the characters. I really didn't feel like I had that problem with this book. I really enjoyed all the characters, it was actually pretty easy to keep them all straight because they are all so much their own individuals. I have to say that Robson handled it like a pro. 

I really enjoyed the secondary characters too, I felt like they each brought something different to the table, and helped to keep the book exciting. There is definitely some romance in the book, so I think the PNR fans will enjoy the book, although I think as the series evolves the steam factor will probably increase in a very enjoyable manner. 

Overall, I have to say I really did enjoy the book. It was just a fun ride. I felt like from beginning to end everything was just so much fun to read and I loved the characters, all of them. I'm sure you could draw a lot of parallels from this series to others, which is the case for all books, but Robson did a great job carving out a place just for her characters and stood on her own two feet. It's a great start to a series that I can't wait to read for years to come. 

Georgia L. Jones Guest Post!

I would like to start by saying “Thank You” to Urban Fantasy Reviews for having me as a guest on their blog.  I appreciate the opportunity.

I am coming up on the launch of my second novel in the Remnants of Life series, Witches.  It actually launches on Saturday, December 1.  I’m very excited about it and just did an interview with our local newspaper today.  The reporter asked me a lot of questions about the process, so I thought I would address that in this guest post. It seems to be something that many people are interested in and I believe like my books, that I have an unusual story…so here goes.

My basic story is not that of rags to riches, that would just be too easy.  I have written my entire life.  I have always enjoyed jotting things down and I recall spending an entire day, at a family gathering many years ago, using a paper plate as my easel to paint a picture with words. I created a story where everyone present had a part, some good and some bad.  I have just always written things down, usually in some form of fantasy. 

When I first began to think of Legends of Darkness, the first book in the series, I didn’t see it as a series.  I saw it as a single book with an unusual story. I wanted to create something different from everything else I was reading.  I wanted to incorporate different things into the storyline.  I remember thinking how awesome it would be to have a book that incorporated a little history, legend, and myth all wrapped up in a storyline that would be unique and unusual.  That was my goal, to create something different. I had the book brewing in my mind for a year or so before I ever wrote the first word.  I couldn’t find my beginning.  Finally, the beginning of the book presented itself to me and I began to write.  I’m one of those weird old fashioned people that have a computer, but actually enjoy the act of writing on paper with an actual pencil.  (Yes, I really said pencil.  That’s what I use for my original manuscripts.)  I was about halfway through the storyline when I pulled out another notebook and started keeping notes in it also.  There was just so much more to the story that wouldn’t fit in the story of one book.  My characters began to take shape along with other creatures that I knew I could use later.  So, at that point I had two notebooks with scribbles that nobody, and I do mean nobody, could ever understand.  In my mind it was taking shape as a series though.  I would wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and pull out my notebook to jot a reminder.  By the time I was done with Legends of Darkness, I had the whole series drafted to be a five book series. 

I have been asked if the series stays on course with my outline, as I write each book…the answer to that is “Not completely.”  As I write, things change.  Sometimes they are small details, and sometimes entire characters die, for one reason or another, but the actual plots of the other books have remained the same.  So far the biggest changes have been in the worlds that I’m creating.  As they grow and my world building talents evolve so does the future of the books in those particular locations.  By the way, I love the world building aspect. 

I write my first draft on paper then for the second draft I transfer it to the computer.  On my first novel I did so many drafts that I lost count, probably somewhere around ten.  On the second book, I did six rewrites.  I have heard authors say that they don’t like doing the edits and rewrites, but I really don’t mind it.  I like adding and taking away from the story where it is necessary. 

I was one of the lucky people that found a publisher in a fairly timely manner.  I finished Legends of Darkness in July of 2010 and I was officially picked up by Blackwyrm Publishing out of Louisville KY on September 5, 2011.  I looked for a little over a year.  I had sent out many query letters and got just as many polite rejections in the way of form letters.  I got a little discouraged and then I would revamp my query and send it again.  It was a rough process, but I still consider myself lucky.  I actually pitched to Blackwyrm at Fandomfest in Louisville KY in July of 2011, which was a year after Legends was done. I attended Fandomfest in Louisville and was able to get a spot in the “Pitch Your Project” session that they held at the convention. I got the chance to talk with them over the course of the weekend and felt really comfortable with the company and their selection of very talented authors.  I was thrilled to be accepted by them. I am very pleased with how Blackwyrm is growing and the quality of the books that they put out.  I feel like they take great pride in everything that they put their name on and as an author that is very important to me.

If you would like to know more about me, my writing, or my publisher, here is the links to the sites:

WWW.GEORGIALJONES.COM

WWW.BLACKWYRM.COM

Look for me on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Georgia-L-Jones/153669898006729

Legends of Darkness, Witches, and The Official 2012 Survivalist Handbook are available on Amazon or at any bookstore…

Violet Midnight by Lynn Rush

Synopsis:

Blending in with her college co-eds proves difficult for vampire Hunter, Emma Martin, considering the mystical tattoo on her wrist glows whenever Vamps are near. And after three months of silence, the glow is back with a vengeance. 

Jake Cunningham witnesses Emma, a violet-eyed beauty, using unimaginable powers to fight off a fanged creature. Finally, after two years of searching, he may have found out what he's become--a Hunter, like Emma. 

Thankful for an ally in the fight against the Vamps, Emma finds hope and comfort in Jake's arms. As she learns more about her new love's family and its dark heritage, she may be forced not only to hunt them but to sacrifice her life to save Jake's soul. 

Review:

I'm a little biased, because I already liked Lynn Rush's writing long before I picked up this book. I'm not sure how she does it, but there is never really a point in any of her books I've read where the story lags. The pace is always right on point and they suck you in to the point where you want to read the book in one sitting, and then get made you don't have the next book in the series in front of you to read. 

This book is no different. Once again, the pacing is really great. It felt like every scene in the book, every POV, was necessary and compelled the story forward. It was really easy to take a liking to Emma. I really like strong women who are protective of those around her but don't let men control them. In fact if anything Emma is the last person on earth who would let a man control her. 

I do have to admit I did take a bit longer to like Jake, and it wasn't really anything against him, he's a good guy, it just took me longer in the book to really identify with him and start pulling for him as a character. I think maybe part of it was how strong his instant connection to Emma was, but when you get further along in the book everything starts to click and make sense. 

But back to Emma and her amazing kick-butt attitude. Like I said I love when the chick is the one kicking butt and taking names. And what I really loved about Emma is that she was actually the one training and pushing Jake to be a better Hunter. Another thing I really liked about Emma is that no matter what she was true to herself and her beliefs. She has a great head on her shoulders. 

I like Ava, Emma's roommate, and there were a couple of other good secondary characters along the way. But I really liked Ava the most, I can totally see how she and Emma are such good friends. And I really hope she continues to play a role in the coming books for this series. 

I don't want to be too spoilery so I don't want to talk to much about the bad guys, but I am guessing if you read the synopsis you know they are Vamps. And of course the big bads in the book aren't going to be your everyday Vamp, oh no, they pack a bit of a punch, and they have quite the history behind them. Although by the end of the book you (as well as Emma and Jake) get the feeling that there is something more going on behind the scenes that they just don't know about yet. 

For some readers, I know you are a bit vampired out. I get it. I myself have suffered from vampire fatigue syndrome. But I do love a good vampire book, and what makes a good vampire book is when the author takes the run of the mill vampire lore and makes it into something unique, just for their books. And I felt like Lynn did a good job with this. From mysterious mystical tattoo, to prophecies, to their various strengths and weakness, it all makes for a good book; not to mention Emma isn't a Vamp she's a Hunter who is going to take down every Vamp she finds. I get the feeling there aren't going to be any warm and fluffy "misunderstood" vampires in this series. 

Long story short, I think this a great read. For anyone who likes Urban Fantasy, this is a great and fast paced book load with action. For anyone who is a big fan of Paranormal Romance, to say the chemistry between Emma and Jake is hot would be a gross understatement. So if you are looking for a book or a new author to try out, I seriously recommend this one and anything written by Lynn Rush! 

The Weird Girls by Cecy Robson

Synopsis: 

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls-with one tiny exception: they're products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, a little weird… 

The Wird sisters are different from every race on earth-human and supernatural. When human society is no longer an option for them, they move in among the resident vampires, were beasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region. Could this be the true home they've longed for? Um, not quite. After the sisters accidentally strip a witch of her powers in a bar brawl, they soon realize the mistake will cost them. Because to take on a witch means to take on her coven. And losing the battle isn't an option. 

Review:

I like these preview novellas, they give great insight into what the next books are going to be like. There are a cheap and easy way for prospective readers to try out characters before a series really starts. And in my experience with preview novellas, they have never let me down and always gets me super psyched about the upcoming books, and this novella was no different. 

The pacing in the novella was really good, and full of action. Celia was a likable character for me, she is beyond ready to do anything to protect her family. And she has the inner "beast" to back it up too. If I had to have one complaint about the entire thing it would be the intro scene at the bar, the bar brawl that starts it off, the action happens so quickly that sometimes I had to re-read a couple of sentences to make sure I got what was going on. But at the same time the scene was so chaotic that it makes sense that it would be a little chaotic for the reader too. 

I like the trials that Celia had to go through, they were insane, and I was sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I don't want to really tell you about the trials because not knowing what they were up front made it all the more suspenseful. 

I do have to say that I really hope one of the witches from the coven makes it into the next book, I would love to see if there ends up being a relationship between Celia and her family and that of the coven. 

Overall, I think the book was really a fun read, one I totally enjoyed and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. The next book out is Sealed with a Curse so look for it to come soon! And in the meantime you should really check out this novella! 

Welcome to Demos by Jonathan Lister

Synopsis: 

Demos City is a typical urban American town on the East Coast. The city has restaurants, politicians, schools, corruption, and werewolves-just like every other city. Resident werewolf Leon Gray only wants to raise his daughter Shauna away from a traditional pack structure and the criminal past that forces him to make a living as a bar bouncer. 

When he winds in the same cell as investigative reporter David Hastings, Gray may never get his life under the radar back. Hastings, up to his neck in Izods and dreams of winning a Pulitzer, has irritates the nerves of powerful figures in Demos. Leon agrees to provide security for Hastings as her attempts to uncover corruption in Demos City politics. 

Leon's rewards? Enough money to provide Shauna with an education the werewolf could never afford on his own. The catch? Hastings has a pair of hired killers on his trail. These murderous professionals have experience, a varied weapons arsenal and one of them even knows how Hastings takes his espresso in the morning. 

To make matters worse, Nathaniel Poole, Alpha to the pack Leon left behind, has returned to Demos City to introduce himself to his long-lost niece-Shauna. Gray Suspects Poole has an ulterior motive in reappearing in Shauna's life. If only Leon knew just how right he is. 

Even as Leon tries to protect his daughter, he may unknowingly damn them both. 

Review:

I have always liked shifter books, when I was first venturing into the urban fantasy field I found vampires first and then I found the shifters. I enjoyed the books with shifters more than vampires (with some exceptions of course). It's been a while since I have read a really good werewolf book so I had high hopes for this book. 

There are a lot of good elements within the book, so i am going to go over those first. I thought the author had a pretty good command of being able to paint pictures for the reader, the descriptions were really good. 

I also thought the amount of effort, which is clear from reading the book, on developing the backstory was pretty good. You can honestly tell that the author went to a lot of effort to give the characters depth and enough backstory to make them really interesting and pop out to the reader. 

While there were somethings that I really did appreciate about the book there were also so elements within it that needed a bit of work. I think the most difficult thing for me to deal with was the different POVs. I think the POV shifts were not cohesive to the story and sometimes were jarring enough to through me off and make me want to reread to make sure that I was sure about what was going on. 

Another problem, and it's a common one with self-publishing, is editing. I think the author could have seriously done with another set of eyes to go through the manuscript and pick up on the typos and missteps. That being said every book has at least one typo, but in books like this when there are enough of them for you to notice, that's when it gets annoying.

Even with the not so good elements, the book wasn't a bad read. The pacing was pretty good and it was good enough for me to keep reading. 

Summit at Sunset by Jaz Primo

Synopsis:

Powerful vampire Katrina Rawlings and her human mate, Caleb Taylor, are once more drawn into dangerous circumstances. Representatives of the most powerful and influential vampires from around the world converge upon a scenic mountain retreat located in Slovenia's Upper Bohinj Valley for a summit of historic proportion. Mystery leads to treachery, and events quickly spiral out of control. With the fates of both vampires and humans in jeopardy, Katrina desperately struggles to reconcile the balance of worldwide vampire power against honoring her commitment to the love of her life. Unwilling to be rendered helpless, Caleb initiates a desperate gamble that leads to a mortal decision. Meanwhile, the sexy and sassy vampire, Paige Turner, spearheads her own mission involving both surprising revelations of heart and grave circumstances for those around her. 

Review:

I had a hard time deciding on what to rate this book, teetering between good and great on my scale, so as with baseball, tie goes to the runner. There are a lot of little elements in this book that make me appreciate it so much as a whole. 

First, I love that Caleb is always getting into things her shouldn't be getting into. I can't tell you how many stories I have read where the woman is always sticking her head in places it shouldn't be and then big bad man comes and saves the day. It's so refreshing to see the tides turned a little, and see Caleb to be the one who isn't always following the rules and ending up where he shouldn't be. 

Paige is a great character as well. Honestly she provides for a lot of the comic relief in the book. Kat is very much the hard ass, and knows how to get her scary on more than most. So with Paige you have kind of a balance since Paige isn't nearly as serious. The two of them make for a great dynamic in the story and it's a lot of fun for readers too. 

I like books like this that kind of get the supernatural community together for a pow wow, it always makes for a fun time because there is always so much more going on beneath the surface, and you get to experience the culture of the supernatural society. Both things are great experiences for the reader. 

Overall, I think this is a really good book. I think anyone who enjoys urban fantasy is going to really enjoy this book. I think paranormal romance readers will enjoy it as well, but it doesn't have a lot of the more graphic scenes that some of the PNRs have. That being said I would still recommend it! 

The Sidhe World Part 2 Review by S.A. Archer

Synopsis:

Champion of the Fey

The fey are Fading, Extinction is inevitable. Lugh, one of the few fey to survive the Collapse, is already beginning to suffer the effects. Only a long shot quest to recover the artifacts might be able to restore the source of fey magic. And the first artifact Lugh seeks is dead in the heart of wizard territory. 

Addicted

Suffering from the addiction to the Sidhe Touch, London is obsessed with finding a source of magic that can ease her curse. Unfortunately, premium magic like the Touch comes with one heck of a high price. Working off the debt she's racked up to the dealer may well terminate her addiction once and for all, because nothing's more dangerous than doing a Changeling's dirty work. 

Scars of Silver

Malcolm is Sidhe, the only race that possesses the coveted magic of the Touch. He's also an untrained teenage runaway who only just discovered that he's fey. He though the fey would have each others' backs. That's what he honestly thought…until he met a Changeling. 

Review:

First off it's hard to review these without giving a lot a way of the prior stories. So much of what is the basis of these stories comes from the others, and so I obviously don't want to ruin them for you. Each one of these little short stories, is a super easy and fast read, I think they are all around 20 pages, so it's not a bad read if you are short on time. 

The world is pretty complex so if you are jumping into the stories in the middle you may need some time to catch up with everyone, or you may be slightly confused, although the author does a good job of contextualizing. 

Each story tackles on small subplot of the bigger picture, and you quickly notice how interconnected they are. For instance, London has the Touch, and Malcolm being an Earthborn Sidhe would be highly desirable to people who have the Touch. And that is just one example. 

The characters are coming more and more into their own, each with their own paths to take and growing into themselves more and more as things progress. I think this series is a fun read and it will be interesting to see how things evolve in the next round of stories. 

Dream Catcher by Stephanie Smith

Synopsis:

Displaced in a strange and hostile city with no memory of her previous life, Breena finds a friend and savior in music shop co-owner Ciaran. Caught in a relationship he can't seem to end, Ciaran's whole life is upheaved by the arrival of Breena and mystery of her origin. Yet neither Ciaran nor Breena can shake the feeling they've met before; and as Breena finds her place in the city and begins a new life the two find their easy friendship growing into something more. But as the truth of Breena's otherworldly origins comes to light, she soon finds that the very nature of what she is could make it impossible to ever truly be with Ciaran. 

Review:

Self-publishing has done great things for a lot of people, and the vast majority of the books that I review on this site are self-publishing. You hear a lot of stories online about how books that are self-pubbed are in need of editing, and this is so the case for Dream Catcher. This book has an interesting premise, and could have been a very good book, but in it's currently form, it is more of a draft than a novel. 

The characters are interesting, and the love story going on Breena and Ciaran could be compelling, but there was lot left undeveloped or worked out. I think part of the reason this is is because the story has a tendency to jump around a bit too much. It leaves the reader with a sense of disjointedness. Another issue with the character development is that the POV doesn't really give much insight into what the characters are thinking/feeling as the story goes on. I think if you the reader had more insight into the characters the story would work a lot better. 

Overall, I think this is a good premise, and the beginnings of what could be a good story, but the execution needs work. This story feels like a first draft, and the reader will definitely be able to pick up on it. 

Inhale by Kendall Grey

Synopsis:

After years of suffocating under her boss's scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won't let anything-or anyone- stand in her way. not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won't take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn't been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he's summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country. 

Review:

Since I was a little girl I have always been a huge fan of whales, I find them to be fascinating creatures, so I like that this book has something to do with whales as well as having profits donated to whale education. I have to say that of all the books with paranormal elements in them that I have read, this one has a really unique premise, which is always refreshing to me. 

I have to say in terms of the world building, I think it might be too complex for some people to grasp onto right off the back. There is a lot of information that goes into explain how the word works within the book, and in a couple of spots I felt like the author was guilty of a couple of info-dumps. There are a lot of things people might need to reread a couple of times to make sure they got the meaning. I think the world building aspect needs a bit of work in that respect, although it is a unique world, so props to the author for their imagination. 

The romance level is very heavy in this book, there is definitely some hot and steamy sex scenes within the book. That being said they didn't feel forced, like they were just their for the sake of having them. They felt organic for the characters, and I think it is easy to really enjoy the character both separately and even more when they are together. 

The pacing in the book is really good, so it's an easy read in that respect. I would have enjoyed the book more if the world building had been better fleshed out, but overall I think it was a solid book. I think anyone who is looking for a unique take on urban fantasy would enjoy this book, especially the people who love paranormal romance, this book would be right in their wheelhouse. 

Last Car to Annwn Station by Michael Merriam

Synopsis:

Mae Malveasux, an attorney with Minneapolis Child Protective Services, is burnt-out, tired, and frustrated. Passing on an invite from Jill, her flirtatious coworker, Mae just wants a quiet night in. Leaving the office late, she's surprised to find the Heritage Line streetcars up and running and hops aboard, eager for a trip home. 

But this is no ordinary streetcar. Death is one of its riders, and Mae is thrust into Annwn, a realm of magic and danger. 

Mae's life is turned upside down as human and fae worlds collide. Her budding relationship with Jill takes a perilous turn when they are hunted by mythical beats, and Mae is drawn into a deadly power struggle. With Jill at her side, Mae must straddle both worlds and fight a war she barely comprehends, for not only does the fate of Annwn rest in her hands, but the lives of both a human and fae child… 

Review:

I have to say this is a very interesting story. I always find it interesting when a man writes from a woman's point of view, sometimes its done really well and sometimes it just rings as a man saying what he thinks women think about. I have to say that this was a pretty good women's point of view, especially since the man author wrote a book with mostly women main characters. 

This to me felt more like a romance set in a paranormal/fantasy setting. There is definitely romantic intent on Jill's part toward Mae, and I personally think they are pretty cute as a couple. I think Jill is a solid character, much more sure of herself than Mae. She is more the aggressor in the relationship, but also she is a stanch fighter for those she cares about, especially Mae. 

Mae I think is a highly inquisitive person, she wants to get to the bottom of thing, even when people try and shoo her away from them. This is how she finds herself in the middle of two worlds, the human world, and the fae world. She takes this newfound knowledge and ends up embroiled in more than even she bargained for. But Mae is a good person at heart, so she tries to do the best she can under the circumstances, and help as many people/worlds along the way. 

I think this is a pretty decent book. I think anyone who enjoyed paranormal romance will enjoy this book. Also is you are looking for a romance that is a lesbian romance, then this is your book, it's a solid romance, with good foundation. The paranormal elements are also interesting and intriguing, and keep you turning the page. 

Seven Point Eight by Marie Harbon

Synopsis: 

Seven Point Eight is a twist of sci-fi confusion that asks some interesting questions. If you had special abilities to travel out of body, what would you do with them? Where would you go? What would secret agencies do with these abilities? And ow far could you go?

A physicist begins a quest to measure the soul but soon finds himself drawn into the world of the enigmatic Max Richardson, where research is sold to the military at the highest bid. However, he soon discovers another purpose when an extremely talented young psychic enters his life. He devises a project and builds a team to stretch the frontiers of exploration, only to make a reality-shattering discovery…

Review: 

Ultimately this book has a great concept. It's very science fiction at it's core, that someone can find a way to project themselves to other parts of the world and then later, realizing they can do it to places as far away as other planets. There are other species if you will in the book, once again another science fiction element, and one done quite nicely. I didn't feel like anything was to contrived or didn't fit with the story. 

As with most science fiction books there is almost always an element of science that the author portrays to the reader, to explain how the mechanics of the world the story takes place. I felt like in this book the author did a pretty good job explaining everything on a level that was decently easy to grasp even if you didn't do so well in high school physics. 

That being said there were some confusion issues within the book. There were several times where I felt I had to go back and reread a couple of passages to makes sure I understood what was going on. I think it was partly a case of too much going on too quickly and partly a case of moving timelines. While the author does make an obvious effort to try and make it as easy as possible for readers to understand what is going on and when, I felt that sometimes it fell a little short. 

There is also a romanic element in this book, one I very much appreciated, mainly because it added variety to the situations and kept the book from becoming to one directional. That being said I found Tahra to be way more likable than Max. There relationship felt rather forced by Max through much of the book. And when you add in Paul I have to say that while he is more likable as a character his situation makes things precarious at best. 

Overall, I think this is a really intriguing concept, and it was decently executed by the author. I think there are a lot of elements which may have made it more difficult to make everything super easy for the reader to pick up on. I think if you like science fiction then this book should be a nice read for you, especially if you like a little romance in your science fiction. 

Killer in High Heels

Synopsis:

L.A. shoe designer Maddie Springer hasn't seen her father since he reportedly ran off to Las Vegas with a showgirl named Lola. So she's shocked when he leaves a desperate plea for help on her answering machine--ending in a loud band. Gunshot? Car backfire? Never one to leave her curiosity unsatisfied, Maddie straps on her stilettos and, along with her trigger-happy best friend, makes tracks for Sin City in search of her MIA dad. 

Maddie hits the jackpot, all right. She finds not only her dad, but also a handful of aging drag queens, an organized crime ring smuggling fake Prada pumps, and one relentless killer. Plus, it seems the LAPD's sexiest cop is doing a little Vegas moonlighting of his own. In a town where odds are everything, Maddie bets it all on her ability to out-step a vicious murderer. She just hopes her gamble pays off…before her own luck runs out. 

Review:

Once again another murder mystery with Maddie. I really liked the first book in this series, as I said in my earlier review of Spying in High Heels. I was super excited about this book, mainly because I had such a fun ride with the first book, and the authors tone is just so enjoyable to read. I have to say that I am glad to see that the authors tone has remained completely consistent, I love the humor infused through every aspect of the book. I could really see myself wanting to sit down and have dinner with Maddie, she's just so funny and likable. 

This second book is much more Maddie seeking out trouble, that trouble finding her. In the first book, he boyfriend just up and disappeared and she responding in a neurotic but somewhat normal girlfriend way. This book Maddie has to cross state lines to find the trouble, although in her defense she did just get a rather unnerving voicemail from her long lost father, so I can understand the desire to see him out. 

The one thing I didn't really enjoy about this book, and maybe "not enjoy" is to strong a term, but I felt like some of the threads in the story were not completely wrapped up. For instance, Maddie meets Felix, a writer for the tabloids, who helps/follows her around looking for his next story. When all the action is done, basically he disappears, Maddie picks up a paper and reads what he wrote. I could have done with at least some kind of after action interaction between the two of them, after all they did survive some pretty insane circumstance. 

Another thread that wasn't fully wrapped up to me, was the relationship Maddie has with her father. Again when all the action was over with, Larry leaves Maddie a phone message, and she listens to it, but that is kind of where things end. You don't see the two of them getting together and really talking, no working anything out, or even a promise to keep in touch; just an unreturned voicemail. 

Those two things aside, I really enjoyed the book. It was another really fun time reading along with Maddie's adventures. There was some really interesting new characters to pop up, most I assume only for this book. But some characters have the potential to continue on with the series, like Marco, who was amusing for me from the beginning. I can't wait to see how things continue forward with Ramirez, I really love the chemistry between him and Maddie. 

Overall, this was a really solid second book, and I would recommend it to just about anyone. Who doesn't love a good mystery with some humor thrown in?

Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright

Synopsis:

Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds, second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment. 

Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend MeShack and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat's raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help, as they fight for her attention. 

While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: will she find the psycho or die trying?

Review:

I have to say that this book was very real written. It's super refreshing when you open a book and it's written really smartly. I enjoyed reading the book, and the descriptions were really spot on, I could paint a picture in my own head about what was going on. 

I have to say that Lanore is a pretty unique character, she's definitely her own girl, and I think if you lined her up next too characters from other books she would definitely stand out in her own right. She doesn't take crap from anyone, but she's also a really good friend. She's the kind of person you would want to have in your corner. Lanore has some really complex relationships throughout the book, especially with the men in her life. She has this whole triangle thing going on, and there is a lot of history to go behind it. I had a hard time trying to choose which guy I wanted her to end up with. I think that's a pretty impressive feat by the author. In most love triangle situations, sometimes I like both guys (as was the case with this book), but oftentimes it's super easy for me to choose the guy I want the girl to end up with, it's visceral, my gut instinct telling me which one I like more. I didn't have that with this book, I was genuinely torn. 

If I had to pick the one thing I didn't enjoy as much as the other elements it would have to be the level of violence. For me it just wasn't my thing. Now in no way did the book have violence just for violence sake, there was always a reason that the author painted, but for me I prefer books that are more character driven with a little less violence in them. I will say that I think the violence in the book helped keep the pacing level up higher, which I enjoyed. 

I think if you are looking for a unique take on the genre you should certainly give this book a try. There is a lot of action, some romance, and generally a little bit of everything, so I think just about anyone could find some elements within this book that they enjoy. 

Spying in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

Synopsis:
L.A. shoe designer, Maddie Springer, lives her life by three rules: Fashion. Fashion. Fashion. But when she stumbles upon the work of a brutal killer, her life takes an unexpected turn from Manolos to murder. And things only get worse when her boyfriend disappears - along with $20 million in embezzled funds - and her every move is suddenly under scrutiny by the LAPD's sexiest cop. With the help of her post-menopausal bridezilla of a mother, a 300 pound psychic and one seriously oversexed best friend, Maddie finds herself stepping out of her stilettos and onto the trail of a murderer. But can she catch a killer before the killer catches up to her...

Review:
So I bought Gemma Halliday's series in bulk, something I never do. I mean what if I hate the first book, then I am out all the cash and stuck with the rest of the books in the series. But as ashamed as I am to admit it, I decided I liked her before I even read the book, because of a cover of hers a saw (shockingly enough the cover I liked was of a book I didn't even buy). Well thank goodness, I loved the first book. I have already moved onto the second book in the series and I am enjoying it, but more on that later.

I've always liked a good mystery, and I have always liked an author who can paint a picture of the main character with humor. I think Halliday excels at both of these. There were several points during the book where I laughed out loud. As a character Maddie is totally a mess. But she's a great mess. She is living in LA in a studio apartment, in a relationship with a man it turns out she doesn't know as well as she thought, and spends literally the entire book avoiding finding out something that could change her entire future. But I love that she is a mess, she's quirky, has a hilarious job designing kiddie shoes, and is constantly running from one drama to the next (all of which could have been avoided if she didn't have the ever-increasing desire to find out what is going on, but where's the fun in that?)

I also really love the cop in the story, Ramirez, he just rolls with the crazy that is Maddie. She follows him all the time in her bright red Jeep and she is so convinced he doesn't notice her, but of course he knew every time and thinks it's funny. I think part of the reason why I enjoy the dynamic between Ramirez and Maddie is because Halliday is so good at creating anticipation between the two of them. I found myself waiting for the two of them to be in the same room together, and then I kept pulling for them to find a way to be together. Halliday is also really good at making the reader (i.e. me) believe that Ramirez is super hot. I can only imagine how good he looks.

I have to say that in terms of the mystery element, I thought I had it figured out. And to be fair, I was pretty close to being right-ish. It wasn't until like 2 pages before Halliday revealed all that I had actually figured it out correctly. It was fun reading it, and I did enjoy watching all the different elements of the mystery coming together.

I would have to say just about anyone would enjoy reading this book. It's got a great mystery, a lot of fun humor, and a great steam factor that I can only hope gets better in the next book. Give it a try!

The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams

Synopsis:
McKenzie was a normal college student, save for one little twist: she's a shadow reader, someone who can both see the fae and track their movements between our world and the Realm. It's a gift for which she has been called insane, one for which she has risked family and friends-and one that has now plunged her into a brutal civil war between the far.
With the reign of the king and his vicious general at an end, McKenzie hoped to live a more normal life while exploring her new relationship with Aren, the rebel fae who has captured her heart. But when her best friend, Paige, disappears McKenzie knows her wish is, for now, just a dream. McKenzie is the only one who can rescue her friend, but if she's not careful, her decisions could cost the lives of everyone she's tried so hard to save.

Review:
I was a really big fan of Williams' first book, I think if I had to boil it down to one element that took her first book over the top for me, it would be her pacing. It was one of those books you really didn't want to put down, and so I had big hopes for her second book. I am happy to report that The Shattered Dark has the same awesome pacing as her first, and I really didn't want to stop reading until I finished (thank God for caffeine or I never would have made it past 3am).

I really like McKenzie, I feel bad for the hand she was dealt in a lot of respects. I can totally understand her desire to have a more normal life. After the events of the last book McKenzie is literally in the middle of some big time fae events, and the stakes couldn't be higher. And now with her friend Paige missing it just makes the stakes even bigger for McKenzie.

One of things I really love about Williams is the way she paints the relationships between characters. Oftentimes I feel like authors need to take time out of the action in order to give the reader a full sense of the relationships between characters, but Williams has an amazing way of keeping the action jam packed while putting together relationships that the readers not only understand but can pull for. I really enjoyed this book further exploration of McKenzie and Aren. I liked Aren from the minute I read him on the page, so being able to find out more about his backstory in this book was great. Plus I love watching/thinking what is going to happen next between these two. Kyol is also in this book, although not to the extent of the last, but he definitely keeps things interesting.

I think maybe the think I enjoy the most about McKenzie is that a lot of things that happen to her are completely beyond her control, but she makes decisions that are true to herself even when in the hardest of positions. I like that about her. She is really a fighter in every sense of the word. She's super enjoyable to read, and an extremely likable character.

There is so much more I would love to say about this book, but I don't want to give everything away. This book is such a great ride, finding out what is going to happen next is so much fun, so I don't want to ruin that for anyone. But that being said, if you enjoyed the first book, you will certainly enjoy the second. And if you haven't given Sandy Williams a try yet, than you should. She has great characters and amazing action. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Sandy Williams Guest Post

The Origins of The Shadow Reader World

One of the questions authors are often asked is, “Where do you get your ideas?” Oftentimes, the answer is, “I don’t know,” but in the case of THE SHADOW READER, I can pinpoint the exact moment the idea. Well, not the moment as in the date and time, but I know what triggered the idea: the music video for Evanescense’s Bring Me to Life. About three minutes into the video, Amy Lee is hanging onto the edge of a building. Paul McCoy is standing over her, angry and singing, but trying to pull her back up on the ledge. I loved that song and loved that scene, the dark, desperation of it. It stayed with me long after the video finished, and now, whenever I hear Bring Me to Life, I can picture it again vividly. 

Bring Me to Life hit the airways in 2003. I didn’t begin writing THE SHADOW READER until November of 2008 (three years before TSR was published), so that scene, that idea, simmered in my mind for five years. I thought about it off and on, speculating about what that scene could turn into, and sometime between 2003 and 2008, I became a huge fan of science fiction romance (namely, Linnea Sinclair’s sci-fi romance). I thought this scene would be perfect in a sci-fi book.

I knew instantly that the woman dangling off the side of the building and the man leaning down to save her were enemies. I needed a reason for the man to save her, something she could do that no one else could. At the time, I thought that special skill of hers would be to track ships when they disappeared into space in a flash of light. She was going to be working for the Government at some military installation, and the guy - who excels at crazy, risky schemes - breaks in and steals her away.

That setup is almost identical to what I ended up writing in the first chapter of THE SHADOW READER, only I’d recently fallen in love with urban fantasy, and I’d just finished writing a book where a fae played a small, but important role. I was intrigued by that fae and her people. I decided it would be a good idea to write another urban fantasy, so I took that scene in my head and tweaked it, making it take place here in the real world. Once I found McKenzie’s voice, everything fell perfectly into place.

Other songs have inspired scenes in my head. Music is just so good at capturing anger, distress, love, and fear. When I write, my goal is to reproduce those emotions, only I try to do it using my words, not an artist’s voice. I can’t wait to discover the stories the song-inspired scenes in my head turn into after they simmer for a while.

 
 Sandy graduated from Texas A&M University with a double major in political science and history. She thought about attending law school. Fortunately, before handing over her life’s savings, she realized case studies weren’t nearly as interesting as novels and decided to get an MA in Library Science instead. She worked as a librarian until her husband whisked her off to London on an extended business trip. She’s now back home in Texas, writing full-time, raising newborn twin boys, and squeezing in time to play geeky board and card games like Settlers of Catan, Dominion, and Runebound.