5 STARS | Lenobia's Vow by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Title: Lenobia's Vow
Series: House of Night #9.5, House of Night Novellas #2
Author: P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical
Elements: Vampires, Deities
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-1250000248
Published: January 31st, 2012
Source: Library
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Destined
Purchase: Kindle | Hardcover

A great journey...

A new love...

A dark secret revealed...

Evreux, France, 1788: Before she becomes Zoey's favorite professor and the House of Night's fearless horse mistress, Lenobia is just a normal sixteen-year-old girl--with enough problems to last a lifetime. As the illegitimate daughter of a powerful baron, she has never quite belonged, and instead has to watch her spoiled half-sister, Cecile, get anything she wants. As if that's not enough, her remarkable beauty draws unwanted attention wherever she goes. For once, she would just like to fit in.

But when fate intervenes, Lenobia suddenly finds herself surrounded by other girls on a ship bound for New Orleans, where they will be married off to the city's richest Frenchmen. And they're not alone. An evil bishop who is skilled in dark magic makes the same journey. His appetite for lovely young women makes him dangerous--most of all to Lenobia, who caught his eye back in France. So she remains hidden, making secret visits to the ship's stables, where a handsome young man and his beautiful Percheron horses soon capture her attention.

Will they make it to land before the bishop discovers her true identity and a powerful evil breaks loose? And will Lenobia follow her heart, even if it puts lives at risk? Find out more about one of your favorite professors in the next heart-thumping House of Night novella.

In Lenobia's Vow, we see Lenobia's past and the events that eventually brought her to the House of Night and Nyx. Lenobia's story is full of hopefulness, terror, and heartbreak.

(SPOILERS)We see the hope of a young woman wanting to find love and happiness in the New World; but that hope is threatened by an evil man, steeped in Darkness, stalking her every move. But Lenobia finds a Light in that Darkness that keeps her hope from burning out. Upon arrival in New Orleans, Lenobia falls terribly ill and is left in the care of the evil bishop. His unholy plans are thwarted when a Vampyre Tracker Marks Lenobia as a fledgling. But he doesn't give up that easily, and when Lenobia's Martin comes to her aid, he meets a heartbreaking end. But to ensure Lenobia's safety, he makes sure to take the bishop with him. Heartbroken over the loss of her love, Lenobia leaves for the House of Night, and as she leaves the burning city behind, she reinforces her vow to never love another man for as long as she lives.

We get a peek at how the world was in the 18th century. Slavery was going strong and the Catholics lead with and iron fist. But we also see that in the New World, New Orleans specifically, that there was more leniency in the acceptance of different peoples. Those traveling to the New World in the 18th century were like those who came to America in the 20th century hoping to live the American Dream. The hope for a better and happier life.

I loved reading Lenobia's story and finding out why she refuses to feel anything for another man and what she meant when she said she's encountered Darkness before. We also get to see that her love for horses came well before she was ever Marked.

(SPOILERS)Then there's Martin! He's just so sweet! I loved the vow they made to each other to only love the other and no one else. It was really heartbreaking at the end when he promised Lenobia that he would love her forever and that he would find her again. But if my suspicions are correct, he has! In the form of Lenobia's cowboy (sorry, I can't remember his name) who we met in Destined. It can't be a coincidence that he arrived with a Percheron and sporting those gorgeous green eyes. The appearance may change, but the eyes never do. I can't wait to see if I'm right and if Lenobia will figure it out or continue to push him away.

One thing I was kind of disappointed about was that, unlike in Dragon's Oath, there wasn't a clear connection from the past to the present.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

P.C. Cast was born in Watseka, Illinois, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. Since her tour in the USAF, she has been speaking and teaching professionally.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

At 19-years-old, Kristin is thrilled to be coauthoring the YA series, THE HOUSE OF NIGHT, with her mother. The first book in the series will be her first published novel. She has won awards for her poetry, as well as served as journalist for her intermediate high school newspaper, Tiger Tales, and as editor for her high school magazine, Tiger Eye. Kristin attends Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and is working hard to fulfill her goal of becoming a veterinarian without bankrupting her mother. One of the Scottinators belong to her, although we’re not telling either of the dogs that she’s going to someday be their veterinarian. Kristin would love to hear from her fans, and can also be reached through her mother’s website.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

4 STARS | Winging It by Deborah Cooke

Title: Winging It
Series The Dragon Diaries #2
Author: Deborah Cooke
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Dragons, Shapeshifters, Mages, Deities, Ghosts, Werewolves
Publisher: NAL
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0451234896
Published: December 6th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Flying Blind
Purchase: Paperback

Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It’s bad enough that she’s the target of the Mages’ plan to eliminate all shifters—she also has to hide her true nature from her best friend Megan, a human. For her sixteenth birthday, all Zoë wants is one normal day, including a tattoo and a chance to see hot rocker Jared.

Instead, the Pyr throw her a birthday party but ban Megan from attendance, putting Zoë in a tight spot. Things get even worse when Zoe is invited to the popular kids’ Halloween party and Megan’s left out. Zoë knows the party is a trap laid by the host, an apprentice Mage. When Megan gets a last-minute invite, Zoë must save the day—and her best friend—without revealing her fire-breathing secrets . . .

Zoë's adventures continue in Winging It. When her two worlds collide, someone's bound to get hurt. Between fighting with her human best friend, pining over her rocker love interest, worrying about her parent's marriage, and being hunted by the Mages intent on destroying all shifters starting with her, Zoë's got a lot on her plate. No pressure.

In Flying Blind, Zoë was just coming into her powers, and I found her to be quite immature. She was letting herself be ruled by her emotions, and wasn't leading the way she could have. But in Winging It, Zoë has experience and she leads intelligently, and uses her intuition to help her make decisions. She's definitely to be admired in this book. Not only does she have personal family and friend drama being dumped on her, but she also has the Mages coming at her too. She's in a stressful position, but she keeps her cool and does what needs to be done.

I did find Meagan, Zoë's best friend, a little annoying for most of the book. The way she was always getting upset when Zoë didn't tell her every...little...thing just really irked me. It's totally unreasonable for Meagan to expect Zoë to tell her about things that Zoë clearly stated she could not talk about. Everyone has something they can't or won't tell someone else about, and being a very private person myself, I was just really irritated by Meagan's attitude and treatment toward Zoë.

I loved the addition of the love triangle between Jared, Zoë, and Derek in Winging It. While Zoë is waiting for some kind of commitment from Jared, Derek makes his way in and is there for Zoë when Jared is not. Derek's dependability is what could sway Zoë to finally give up on Jared. The thing is, Jared doesn't know about Derek. I have a feeling that this triangle could potentially be painful for one or all of them. It'll be interesting to see what direction Deborah will take it all.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Deborah Cooke also writes under the names Claire Delacroix and Claire Cross.

Deborah makes her home in Canada with her husband. When she isn't writing, she can be found knitting, sewing or hunting for vintage patterns. Deborah Cooke has always been fascinated with dragons, although she has never understood why they have to be the bad guys. She has an honors degree in history, with a focus on medieval studies. She is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales and fantasy novels, and has written over thirty romance novels under the names Claire Cross and Claire Delacroix.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

4 STARS | Blue Exorcist Volume 4 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist, Volume 4
Series: Blue Exorcist #4
Author: Kazue Kato
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Japanese Manga, Fantasy, Paranormal, Graphic Novels
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-1421540474
Published: October 4th, 2011
Source: Library
Rating: ★★★★
Series Reviews: Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3

While most of the students at True Cross Academy head home for the summer break, Rin and his classmates are sent to a training camp in the forest district, and the right to go on a real mission is riding on their performance. Locating and recovering their objectives in the woods is tough and will require teamwork, skill and more than a little magic--and Rin will have to learn to rely on his friends. But is Mephisto masterminding something behind the scenes?!

Rin has finally made friends with those in his class, but Mephisto comes along and ruins everything for Rin. Mephisto sets his brother, Amaimon, after Rin again, but Rin's friends are threatened and in order to protect them, his true identity is revealed. Now friendless once again, Rin must work to control his blue flame and pass the Exorcist exam in six months to prove to everyone--but most importantly, himself--that he's not a monster.

I really liked the moment when Rin is caught by the big moth and tells everyone to go on ahead--because he plans on using his flame to get free and doesn't want them to see--but Suguro insists on helping Rin escape and tells him the he doesn't need to do everything alone because he has friends to help him. The only sad thing about that moment is when Rin questions how they would feel if they ever found out that he is a child of Satan.

The big question that Mephisto presents in this volume while Rin is fighting Amaimon is:

"While demons are pleasure-seekers who can only destroy, humans are weak because they walk the middle path. So which will it be for you?"

It'll be interesting to see what path Rin will take. Will he become the demon he was born to be? Or will he walk the middle path? I'd like to see Rin take a path that would not only make Father Fujimoto proud, but one that also leads him to follow his beliefs and what he thinks is right.

I think my favorite part of the whole volume was when Rin was undergoing questioning in front of the Grigori and Mephisto is going on and on about how he asked Father Fujimoto to save Rin so that they could use him as a weapon against Satan. Rin's had enough and explodes declaring:

"I'm not a weapon or a demon lord or a savior!!! I'm Rin Okumura!!!! Someday I'm going to be the strongest Exorcist!! All of you remember that!!"

Rin always gives the best declarations and you can tell that he's going to d everything to prove his words correct.

This volume ends with the beginning of a new story arc, so I'm excited to see what happens next!

Website | Goodreads

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.







Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

4 STARS | Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Stolen
Series: Women of the Otherworld #2
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Werewolves, Witches, Demons, Vampires, Shamans, Sorcerers, Voodoo Priests
Publisher: Plume
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0452285934
Published: September 28th, 2004
Source: Library
Events: Women of the Otherworld Series Challenge
Rating: ★★★★
Series Reviews: Bitten

Elena Michaels is back--and she has company. Leading a mission of vampires, demons, shamans, and witches, Elena is lured into the net of ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe, who is well on his way to amassing a private collection of supernaturals. He plans to harness their powers for himself--even if it means killing them.

For Elena, kidnapped and imprisoned deep underground, unable to tell her friends from her enemies, choosing the right allies is a matter of life and death.

Being the only female werewolf makes Elena a hot commodity. But in Stolen, she's not the only one being hunted. Witches, vampires, shamans, sorcerers, half-demons, and voodoo priests, are among the other supernaturals being captured and imprisoned by Tyrone Winsloe and his cohorts. Elena will need the help of her Pack and a group of supernaturals to bring down the lab and free the other captives.

In this second installment in the Women of the Otherworld series, Elena is introduced to the reality that there are other supernatural beings in the world besides werewolves. In the group Elena meets intent on eliminating the threat Ty Winsloe and his lab presents; there's Paige and Ruth the witches, Adam the half-demon, Cassandra the vampire, and Kenneth the shaman.

Just as Elena meets these people for the first time, we as readers are introduced to them as they will make future appearances throughout the series. Others in this group will take over as narrator and show things from their places in the world of the Women of the Otherworld. So we're meeting the full cast for the first time! It was kind of exciting. And what's great is that no matter who the narrator this, every character will eventually make a guest appearance, so we don't have to say goodbye to anyone!

But back to talking about Stolen. I have to say that I really enjoyed the downfall of Ty Winsloe and the lab he funded. Elena and the other captives were supposedly "guests," but they were kidnapped and locked up. The scientists thought they were all that and knew what they were talking about in regard to the different species, but in reality they knew nothing and didn't take Elena's warnings seriously. I mean, who's going to know more? The person who's actually a werewolf (or what have you) or a scientist who's just learning about them? And then there's Ty Winsloe himself. He totally disgusted me, but he was like the perfect villain. I just found it very satisfying when it all blew up in his face. Very satisfying, indeed.

I liked that Elena was more open and accepting of her feelings for Clay in this book. She doesn't lie to herself anymore about loving him. Their devotion to each other is something to be admired. Every time Clay would say "darling" I could imagine his Southern accent and it made me want to swoon every single time he said it. I don't know how Elena could push someone like Clay away. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for them, as well as everyone else we met in this book.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

5 STARS | Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight

Title: Meeting Destiny
Series: Destiny #1
Author: Nancy Straight
Age Group: Young Adult, New Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Nancy Straight
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B003U2RUP8
Published: August 31st, 2011
Source: SupaGurl Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★

Lauren is visited in her dreams for years by a stranger claiming to be her destiny. Destiny becomes reality when paths cross during a failed robbery attempt. Lauren and the stranger experience chemistry like no other and now her doubt over her long time relationship with her high school sweetheart is not her only secret...someone else knows about her keen intuition and sixth sense.

A mysterious clairvoyant seeks Lauren out and tells her not only of her life now but what the future may hold. Soon Lauren is in the middle of a murder investigation and a questionable friendship with the key suspect. Law enforcement, friends and family are concerned for Lauren but unfortunately they are unaware of the true danger... Sinister forces are at work and will stop at nothing to destroy Lauren's abilities.

I absolutely ADORED this book! If I could give Meeting Destiny an infinite rating to show how much I love this book, I would do it in a heartbeat. Meeting Destiny has everything it takes to make my favorites list: the characters are real and lovable, the romance is absolutely swoon-worthy, the story is intriguing and engaging, and most importantly--MEETING DESTINY MADE ME FEEL SOMETHING. The number one thing a book has to have to become a favorite of mine is that it has to make me feel something deeply. It has to make me feel emotionally attached, and Meeting Destiny did just that.

I really liked how the paranormal doesn't take a front seat in the story. Lauren's dreams help her recognize Max, her "destiny" when she finally meets him. Her "sixth sense" warns her of imminent danger and a vague sense of people in general. Then there's her, I guess you could say "guide," Rewsna, who gives her advice telepathically when she truly needs it. These aspects are subtle and are seamlessly woven into the story without overtaking it and drowning out the other aspects of the story.

I thought that the roles a soul plays in the day-to-day life of another was interesting. There's Tempters, Instigators, Protectors, Anarchists, and Mates. We know that Max is Lauren's Mate, but it's cools to see her make the connections between herself and others in her life.

I loved Lauren and Max as the main characters. Lauren has a heart of gold and a strong sense of justice. Max is patient and has a great capacity to love. And Lauren and Max together just makes me want to sigh. Their love may be fast-paced, but that's explained as Destiny in action. It's sweet and pure and totally makes you want to swoon. I also like that Max is still somewhat of a mystery by the end of the book.

I found Meeting Destiny to be reminiscent of Kristie Cook's Promise. Lauren, Max, and even Seth have their counterparts in Alexis, Tristan, and Owen. The story of a young woman with a special purpose, always in danger, and meeting her soul mate are also similar. Even the ending is similar. Though their frameworks are parallel, these two books are also very different. I didn't notice the similarity until I was thinking about what to write for this review; but just as Promise and the Soul Savers series made it's way into my heart and quickly became one of my favorite series, I know that Meeting Destiny and the Destiny series will become a favorite as well.

I can't say much about the ending, but I will say that it's a really emotional part of the book and not what I was expecting. I want to badly to know what happens next after such a powerfully emotional ending. I can't wait to see what's next for Lauren and Max.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Nancy was born in Sioux City, Iowa, left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled in rural SC with her husband and two children.

She enjoys reading all types of Paranormal and Young Adult literature.

Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

4.5 STARS | Forgiving Trinity by Liz Reinhardt

Title: Forgiving Trinity
Author: Liz Reinhardt
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Liz Reinhardt
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B006PU8NBW
Published: December 23rd, 2011
Source: Liz Reinhardt
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★.5

At seventeen, Trinity McCabe has already made enough mistakes to fill a lifetime. Especially the one where she got high, drove a car, and almost killed a dog. And then let her friend Aidan take the blame.

She’s clean now and desperate to fix the messes she’s made, but first she’s going to have to get out of her pajamas.

As Trinity struggles to stop sleepwalking through life, she faces the painful, tingling sensation of waking up. It’s sometimes embarrassing (she really didn’t want to have lunch with Aidan’s mom), sometimes terrifying (group therapy is beyond intimidating), and sometimes, amazingly enough, pretty romantic (who’d have though Aidan would be such a great kisser?)

Trin is lucky, though—luckier than she deserves, she’s sure—and she doesn’t travel this road alone. Her family, her therapist, and her new friends are all pulling for her. And it turns out, some of them have made pretty big mistakes, too.

But before she can embrace her new life completely, Trinity has to be forgiven by the one person who is holding out the hardest: herself. It’s not easy changing everything, especially when you don’t think you deserve a second chance. Trinity might make an even bigger mess of things before she figures that out.

When the smoke clears on her latest disaster, will anyone still be standing there?

Forgiving Trinity is a much darker and serious book about addiction that I've read up to this point. There are points when the story is pretty slow, but I think that works best with the seriousness of the story. Forgiving Trinity is a really interesting story, and I loved reading from Trinity's POV as she struggles to come to terms with the events of her past and start living life again. We see this from a psychological viewpoint and what goes through the mind of a person recovering from addiction.

I really liked that Trinity wasn't the only character that needed to overcome past events. Aidan also struggles with recovering from addiction, and Ruth struggles with recovering from an assault. The fact that the two people that are closest to Trinity aren't seemingly perfect and can understand and relate to her was also appealing. In other books I've read about addiction the people closest to the one recovering seem too perfect and the one recovering feels ostracized. That's not the case in Forgiving Trinity. Trinity, Aidan, and Ruth can all find strength in each other and their commonalities.

Aidan and Trinity's relationship was really beautiful, but also really fragile. The fragility is what makes it feel real. I think that they became too close to each other too soon. Aidan was looking for an emotional connection and Trinity was looking for a physical connection, but they ended up offering each other the opposite of what they wanted. There were points when they were completely in sync, but then something would happen to put them out of sync. In the beginning of the book, Trinity and Aidan moved too fast; wanted too much and didn't offer enough. The disruption in the middle of the story is probably the best thing that could have happened for their relationship; it put things in perspective for them. By the end, they slowed down and I'm sure that they can appreciate each other more now.

Though I absolutely loved this book, this story, and these characters; this is definitely not a book for everyone. But I believe that it's worth it to give this book a shot, whether you end up liking it or not. Liz Reinhardt is an amazing writer and I look forward to checking out her other works.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Liz Reinhardt was born and raised in the idyllic beauty of northwest NJ. A move to the subtropics of coastal Georgia with her daughter and husband left her with a newly realized taste for the beach and a bloated sunscreen budget. Right alongside these new loves is her old, steadfast affection and longing for bagels and the fast-talking foul mouths of her youth.

She loves Raisinettes, even if they aren't really candy, the Oxford comma, movies that are hilarious or feature zombies, any and all books, but especially romance (the smarter and hotter, the better), the sound of her daughter's incessantly wise and entertaining chatter, and watching her husband work on cars in the driveway.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

5 STARS | Finding My Faith by Carly Fall

Title: Finding My Faith
Series: Six Saviors #2
Author: Carly Fall
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction
Elements: Aliens, Psychic Abilities, Spirits
Publisher: Westward Publishing
Format: eBook
ASIN: B007EZ5F72
Published: February 27th, 2012
Source: Bewitching Book Tours
Events: Book Promotion | Review Request
Rating: ★★★★★

Growing up in a small Northern Arizona town, Faith Cloudfoot’s life was spent playing in the forests surrounding her house under the protective eyes of her father, and learning about the legends of her Native American heritage.

Yearning for more out of her life, she moves to Phoenix, Arizona at the age of twenty-three where she is kidnapped and almost killed.

Rayner has a special ability, one that weighs on him like a curse. He can see spirits trapped in between life and their final resting place. Because he can’t do much to help them, he studiously ignores them. He concentrates, instead, on working with his fellow warriors to right the wrongs caused by the evil criminals from his home planet.

When Rayner sees Faith in her spirit form while investigating a lead in Phoenix, his attraction to her is immediate, yet he follows his own personal code and ignores her cry for attention. When he realizes that she may be a stepping stone to getting him home to his own universe, he engages Faith and begins to use her as a means to an end: going home.

As the attraction grows stronger, Rayner finds himself breaking all sorts of self-set rules, as well as the code of ethics set by him and his fellow warriors. When Faith nears death, Rayner realizes that he must do everything in his power to save her, because if he doesn’t, he may just lose himself.

Being someone who has not had the pleasure to read the first book in this series, The Light Within Me, I was glad that the author provided some background information. Because of this, one doesn't have to have read the first book to understand Finding My Faith. In fact, I became really curious about Noah and Abby's story when they were introduced in this book, and I can't wait to go back and read their story for myself. Because I have not read The Light Within Me, I can base this review solely on Finding My Faith, since I have nothing to compare it to.

I loved how Finding My Faith has a mix of genres; there's a little bit of something for everyone: sci-fi action, supernatural abilities, and sweet romance. All of this is blended so well together that this book can't be put into just one genre.

It might seem kind of cheesy, but I really liked how Rayner and Faith always seemed to have everything in common. Not only are their backgrounds similar (each grew up in the forests of their respective homelands), but they also just so happen to like the same foods and TV shows. Their both spiritual people and love nature and the outdoors. And both are free-spirits; although Rayner lost that when he came to Earth, meeting Faith made him want to live again instead of just floating along.

I love legends and folklore, so I really like the legend of The Woman With Fire for Hair and the Red-Eyed Wolf Warrior. The legend states the a woman of the Navajo with flaming red hair and an man with glowing red eyes will produce a son that will be able to harness the earth's energy. This son will only be born when the Earth needs him most, it could be a few years or hundreds of years until he's born. Until then, The Woman With Fire for Hair and the Red-Eyed Wolf Warrior will not age, the Warrior will not lose his wolf spirit, and only after then son is born will they begin to age as humans do. This legend really works in Rayner and Faith's favor. Neither of them will age until their son is born, and who knows how long that will be. And Rayner won't lose his SR44 form (though the legends says wolf spirit, for Rayner it's his SR44 form).

I was kind of disappointed that we never got to see the Colonist's demise. With how hyped up Hudson ans Cohen were to hunt him down, I was looking forward to seeing his downfall. Everyone likes seeing the bad guy lose in the end, but we just don't see it in Finding My Faith. Also, the Colonists are portrayed as these vicious killers, but the Colonist in this book just wasn't. It was just disappointing reading about how they are trying to catch and kill this Colonist and we never get to see it when they finally do.

Other than my issue with how weak I found the Colonist to be, I really loved Finding My Faith. I can't wait to see what's next for the Six Saviors.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Carly Fall lives in Arizona with her incredibly supportive husband, their son and their dog. She enjoys the weather in Arizona, and when she isn't writing, you can find her spending time with her family, or lazily floating in the pool.

Carly has spent twenty years writing business materials, and Shackled to the Night was her first foray into fiction.

Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

5 STARS | Kings & Queens by Courtney Vail + Guest Post

Title: Kings & Queens
Series: Kings & Queens #1
Author: Courtney Vail
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Suspense, Contemporary
Publisher: Little Prince Publishing
Format: eBook
ASIN: B005AJMCY8
Published: July 4th, 2011
Source: SupaGurl Tours
Event: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★

In Cedar Creek, forget baseball... Violence is the new celebrated pastime.

Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father's fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek...or, no...maybe Alec...maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again.

All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they're sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it's not like she cries wolf. Not really. They'd be freaked too, but they're not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse. So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do...try to I.D. the nut jobs before they act.

But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she's left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.

Courtney Vail's Kings & Queens has a complex and vivid story. At times, I found myself confused about some of the events that took place and how they came about. The characters and their individual POV's are just as complex, but each is really unique. I didn't really understand what was going on with the dreams of disaster--were they real premonitions or just their minds playing off the events happening in real life? And there were times when we are fed so much information that it can be overwhelming sometimes.

It may seem like I only have negative things to say about Kings & Queens, but there's an equal amount of positive things about this book as well. Though there were moments when I was confused and overwhelmed, the story itself is so intriguing that I kept wanting to read more. The mystery and suspense surrounding the events of the story keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters and their stories each have a depth that makes them unique and very likable--you can relate to the characters. So there's this huge mass of interconnecting stories that all meet with the main plot of the Kings and Queens and their mission. This book's complexity is what makes it worthwhile to read. Sure, it can be confusing at times, but it's also so engaging you won't be able to stop reading.

Courtney Vail has a sequel to Kings & Queens, Sapphire Reign, coming out that takes place 10 years in the future, and Majesty's world is a lot more dangerous and darker. It is not a Young Adult book, but I'm going to make sure to read Sapphire Reign to sate my curiosity about Majesty's life after Kings & Queens.

HOW DREAMS AND OTHER WEIRD THINGS AFFECT ME:

Hi. I’m the author of the YA suspense novel, Kings & Queens. I love dreams. They are a well-spring of inspiration for me. A dream is what kick-started my plot for Kings & Queens actually. I overheard two guys in the woods planning a church massacre and escaped them in this little town, and that’s where my story was born. Dreams also factor into my plot in different ways.

My parallel protagonist, Derek, has a reoccurring nightmare of a past mistake he can’t shake. He doesn’t acknowledge the guilt of what happened, because that’s weakness to him, and he can’t speak of it since he’s blood-bound to silence, so in his sleep, it taunts and haunts him. He tries to bury it, but in his sleep, he can’t escape it. But, something happens to create a glitch in his dream, and the event shockingly changes to something else entirely, and the difference ends up changing him.

Majesty, my main protagonist, can’t squelch sick feelings in her stomach that terrible things are going to happen. The first time she brushed off a major nudge, her father ended up near-headless in a ditch under a blanket of safety glass, so she begins to take the ominous more seriously. Soon, her dread over other tragedies somersaults into bloody nightmares.

Warren Niles, resident Goth, dreams of a church shooting, but he’s left without much detail and more questions than answers. He hopes to just chalk it up to nothing but a dream, but it won’t let go. What if his anger actually drove him there, to that ugly, vicious place? Or what if it happened, not of his hand, and he’d done nothing to stop it? How could he live, knowing?

Most of my books have been inspired by dreams. In addition to Kings & Queens, its sequel, Sapphire Reign sprung from this dream about a little girl who was psychically linked to a serial killer, and my short story Carousel also came from that dream too. It was originally the prologue to a story about this art therapist, Vivien, nicknamed Evie, but that was before I saw the light. I was working on two stories separately, but they fit together beautifully in tone and concept, and a literary merger took place and resulted in Sapphire Reign. And Dropping Like Flies came from a noise right on the cusp waking up. I heard this intercom noise that sounded like hospital chatter and that was just enough to stir my mind.

Usually when I dream, I don’t take them as real or prophetic, but the dreams that spawn inspiration are different than my others. I’m not always in them or they are more vivid or strange. If a dream was premonitory, I believe I’d know because weird things happen to me all the time.

Like, I do sometimes dream things before they happen and get slapped with déjà vu. It’s usually bland stuff, nothing major, conversations mostly. And I won’t know until the moment has passed in reality, but it will be a couple days later, and I’ll shake my head or shudder knowing, wait, I dreamed this. Like, one time in high school, people were talking about sheep. Um, sheep do not come up in conversation every day. They just don’t, so I flipped. I had dreamt that exact conversation days before. Or I’ll be with people in a dream, and I’ll see them days later in the same clothes they were wearing or at the same location.

An example of a weird thing: in my newswriting class in college the course book was packed with info you had to turn into articles. Sometimes you’d get names of people but not always. I always made up names, but one time, I was like, you know what, I’m just gonna use the name of someone I know. The story was about a hero, and Guy McCaslin, my high school basketball coach, guidance counselor, Bible teacher--Hey, it was Christian school. Whadaya want. Those guys are spread thin for squat pay. Pretty heroic if you ask me--seemed like a winner. Anyway, the day after I turned in my paper, my prof asked me to stay after class. So, nervously, I did.

He said, “Who is Guy McCaslin?”

Um, yeah, I told that same stacked bio.

He said, “Well, that’s weird. He’s best friend’s with my son, and my wife and I are good friends with his parents. We all lived in Oregon. I’ve known him since he was a little tyke in my Awana’s class.”

Wait! What??? That’s weird??? Weird? That’s like THE understatement of the century. This is so beyond weird!!! Here I was in Virginia, far, far away from my home in Massachusetts & Mr. Guy Smiley, and they’re all from OREGON, AND the FIRST time I use a REAL name, I pick the ONE guy HE knows???? And he knows him well? What are the freaking odds? One in a million? Or billion, maybe. I don’t know, I suck at math. But, I mean, think of all the people you know or know of, all the names you could choose from. I have social photographic memory, I never forget anyone, so I have a lot, A LOT of names in there. The odds are totally insane and mind-blowing. Yeah, I’m going to repeat insane because it IS. It was like winning the lottery. I FREAKED. I dashed back to my dorm and prayed up a storm for him and his family. It can never hurt to pray, and usually, if something like that happens, I assume it’s for a reason, so, that’s what I did. Just in case. But, I mean, it still to this day trips me out.

I’m a practical joker and can somehow totally rock an innocent vibe at the same time, so I mostly come out unscathed. This is what tells me there is a God, and that He has a sense of humor. Even though my victims may skip on the payback, God always gets me back, and I’m sure he’s laughing.

Weirdness like that happens to me all the time. So, if I dreamt something truly prophetic or meaningful like any of my characters have, I’d take it for premonitory. I’m sure it would feel different from other dreams, and I would pray and do whatever I could to help out in the situation.

Do weird things happen to you, or do you find dreams inspirational, meaningful or premonitory?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.

Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →

5 STARS | Hunted by Cheryl Rainfield

Title: Hunted
Author: Cheryl Rainfield
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Suspense
Elements: Psychic Abilities
Publisher: WestSide Books
Format: eBook
ISBN-13: 978-1934813621
Published: December 15th, 2011
Source: JKSCommunications
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★

Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where having any Paranormal power is illegal. Caitlyn is on the run from government troopers, who can enslave, torture, or even kill her, or make her hunt other Paranormals. When Caitlyn settles down in a city, she falls for Alex, a Normal (someone without Paranormal powers), which is dangerous because he can turn her in. And she discovers renegade Paranormals who want to destroy all Normals. Caitlyn must decide whether she's going to stay in hiding to protect herself, or take a stand to save the world.

In a world full of fear and hate, Caitlyn and other Paranormals are persecuted for their abilities. On the run since the Riots that took her father and brother from her, Caitlyn only has her mother. When they finally settle in a city, it's one of the most dangerous towns they could have chosen. What Caitlyn doesn't expect is the support she gains in Alex and Rachel. And when someone from her past resurfaces, Caitlyn's going to need all the help she can get.

In quite a few dystopian stories I've read with supernatural elements that paranormals are out in the open with acceptance or mild persecution., but in Hunted the persecution is anything but mild. The world of this book is brutal; Paranormals are enslaved, beaten, killed, and even forced to turn on their own if they want to live.

I admired Caitlyn's strength in the face of adversity and her determination to do what's right. Even when she's pressured by her long-lost brother to help in a revolt that would turn the persecution on to the Normals, Caitlyn refuses to cause that kind of pain for someone else, even a Normal. She knows that not all Normals hate Paras, which is evident in her friendship with Alex and Rachel.

Something that I really enjoyed in Hunted that made the story unique was how it was sibling VS. sibling. It's not very often you see siblings fighting such a deadly battle against one another. Caitlyn's fight with Daniel is really bittersweet and emotional.

Hunted is chock-full of action and emotion. I really loved this book and I think that with the way it ended it could easily be made into a series. I'm left wondering what kind of changes were brought about by the events at the end of Hunted.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

I love to read. Books nurture me, helped me survive the abuse I endured as a child and teen. I also love to write. I write fantasy books and edgy, realistic fiction for teens.

My fantasy books often hold hope that I need, and feel others might need, too, while my realistic fiction is gritty, intense, and emotional. All of my books have fragments of the abuse I experienced. I write about some of the harsh things teens go through...things that I think shouldn't be hidden. But I also write about healing, hope, and love, and finding courage and strength.

In SCARS (WestSide, 2010), Kendra must face her past and stop hurting herself before it's too late. It's my arm on the cover. There's a lot of me in SCARS; like my main character, Kendra, I am an incest survivor, I used self-harm to cope, and I'm queer. In my teen paranormal fantasy/dystopian, HUNTED (WestSide, Oct 2011), Caitlyn is a telepath in a world where that is illegal, and she must choose between saving herself or saving the world. Like Caitlyn, I know what it's like to have my life threatened, to face oppression, to experience torture, and to break free from cult or from a group of oppressors. And I know what it's like to have to decide between hiding my true self or being who I am, even if that means danger to myself. I drew on my experience with cults and ritual abuse in creating the world that Caitlyn lives in.

In STAINED, my upcoming YA novel from Harcourt (2013), Sarah, who has a port wine stain and some body image issues, is abducted and must find a way to rescue herself. Like Sarah, I was often imprisoned for long periods of time as a child, had my life threatened, and had to rely on my own strength to survive.

Books were my survival during my childhood, and my journey into myself. Books give me hope. I hope mine will give you hope, too, or something that you need.

Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

Continue Reading →