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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett

In a world once protected by the Gods the tables have turned and the chosen are now the forsaken. Bulikov, once a place of prosper is now in ruins and its people ruled by those they once conquered. When a professor researching the forbidden history of the people is murdered Shara Thivani is brought in to investigate. What she learns will change everything and those Gods long thought dead may not be after all.
City of Stairs is an intriguing story that will keep you guessing and asking for more. It is a refreshing space n on fantasy that you're sure to love

Friday, December 12, 2014

The Snow Garden by Christopher Rice

The Snow Garden is a mind-blowing thriller that makes you question your own morals while keeping you on edge! Christopher Rice has once again managed to work his subtle complexity magic is this coming - of -age thriller about a young man that has an affair with his professor and all the madness that ensues.
Randall is a young gay man who has befriended Katherine during their first few months at the elite Atherton University. Both have a history that they keep close to their hearts and as Randall pursues a secret affair with a married male professor their relationship is strained to the limit.
When the professor's wife dies in what most believe is an accident due to her own intoxication a series of strange events are set into motion that leads Randall to believe that their is more to the story. His search for the truth brings many people down and some to their deaths and Katherine discovers that her good friend isn't at all who she thought he was.
The Snow Garden is a tangled journey through the souls of its characters and I know I've probably said it before but it REALLY applies to this novel; you won't see the ending coming!

Sunday, November 23, 2014

The Barefoot Queen by Ildefonso Falcones

The Barefoot Queen is a beautifully imagined novel that pulls you into the world of Caridad, a recently freed slave. The writing is vividly detailed and gives you the sense of experiencing Caridad's heartbreaks, struggles and triumphs alongside her.
When her cruel master dies upon a ship bound for his homeland she finds herself a free and utterly alone woman. Abused and turned away at every turn she finally finds refuge with a gypsy family. Milagros, the granddaughter of a powerful gypsy befriends her and shows her the first kindness she has seen in her life.
She is separated from Milagros only to find her again amid a sea of turmoil when war is declared on the gypsies. Caridad joins her friend in the struggle for the gypsy way of life and true freedom.
The Barefoot Queen is one of the most fantastic historical novels I have had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. I look forward to more from Mr. Falcones and will definitely check out his previous novels; Cathedral of the Sea and The Hand of Fatima.

*I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

The Secret Journal of Ichabod Crane by Alex Irvine

This is the journal of one Ichabod Crane who has seemingly come back from death to stop the four horsemen of the apocalypse from destroying the town of Sleepy Hollow and eventually the world. With the help of Abigail Mills, his witch wife Katrina (once thought dead but found to be in purgatory) and many others Crane must adjust to present day U.S.A to stop the Headless Horseman from bringing his fellow horseman to being and bringing his master Molloch to our world.

So if your a fan of the Sleepy Hollow television series you will recognize most of what is in this book. There is a lot of more in-depth background for Ichabod as well as how he humorously adjusts to modern things such as cell phones, football and Black Friday.

If your a die-hard fan I recommend it. If you missed a few episodes this will catch you up or if you are just starting to watch the show this will be invaluable.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician is an enchanting surprise that I really enjoyed reading. At first I thought it was more a YA novel and that I might not like it a whole lot but it quickly changed my mind.
  Ceony is a young lady recently graduated from Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined. The excited and ambitious young lady had her heart set on picking the medium she would use for magic but circumstances threw her, quite literally, into the arms of the paper magician Mg. Thane.
Through Magician Thane's eccentric teaching style she learns to appreciate paper folding magic and the man himself. When his wife,turned evil magician, rips his heart from his chest only Ceony can save him in time.

The novel is full of whimsical surprises such as a dog made purely of paper and a paper skeleton for a butler. It has its dark moments which keep it exciting for older readers. I would love to see this book made into a movie, it could really be majestic with the right team of special effects experts.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Thirteenth Tower by Sara C. Snider

I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the next. The story is very engaging right from the start with clever twists.
Young Emelyn never knew her parents. She was abandoned as an infant on the steps of a wealthy family and raised by their cook. As she grew she became a servant in the household and never thought that anything else would become of her until one day the world was turned upside down. A town celebration is overtaken by an wicked force which causes everyone to behave contrary to their norm. Emelyn is saved from some frightening characters by a man that happened to wander into the village and a pair of Magisters.
The town is a mess and Emelyn decides to leave with the Magisters who are looking for the source of the chaos that they are discovering in several villages not just Fallow. Through their travels she discovers that the Magisters know more about her parents than they want to divulge and that there is something more to Emelyn than meets the eye.
Emelyn is a character that you can really sympathize with and enjoy. She bumbles her way through and gradually gains more confidence; growing before your very eyes.
 I also  love the character of Cobbe she's the wonderful, eccentric character that every great novel needs.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

John Grisham is having a giveaway to promote his new book!

http://bit.ly/1sf1gPa   click to enter. One winner will be chosen each week for 15 weeks to win an autographed copy of John's latest book Gray Mountain. One lucky winner will receive who enters and shares will win all 33 of John's books!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

The Falcon Throne by Karen Miller

The Falcon Throne is the first installment of a new epic fantasy series that is sure to delight. There is plenty of back-stabbing, unbelievable betrayals and murdering mayhem to keep all readers interested from cover to cover.
  Balfre is the hot-headed megalomaniac set to inherit the Harcian duchy but his father, Duke Aimery has serious doubts about his son's fitness to rule. When guardianship of the Green Isle is given to his brother Grefin instead of himself Balfre becomes determined not only to make Harcia his own but to take the neighboring duchy of Clemen and proclaiming himself king of the united duchies. With the help of a witch named Izusa and his trusted man Waymon he sets out to sabotoge not only his obvious enemies but his father and brother as well.
  Roric if the bastard and reluctant duke of Clemen. Coerced into taking the duchy from Harald, the rightful but awful duke, he has stumbled through his rule - haunted by the unplanned death of Haralds infant son. Life is further complicated when his trusted advisor insists that he must marry his daughter in hopes that an heir will calm the duchy's nerves but a loveless marriage and no sons only causes Roric more despair. His soft-rule has opened him up for conquest and with the death of Aimery looming and Balfre's rule he must resolve his feelings and become the duke that Clemen desperately needs.
  I REALLY enjoyed this book and was sad to see it come to an end. Looking forward to the next novel and hoping Ms. Miller writes faster than Martin!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Vines by Christopher Rice

Christopher Rice is fast becoming a master of supernatural thrillers that creep-you-out long after you finish the novel. The Vines is both entertaining and exceptionally different from most supernatural thrillers.
 The Vines takes place on the historic plantation of Spring House where there is something evil hiding and waiting for its chance to be set free. Its chance arrives in the form of Cailtin, the young and unhappy woman that has inherited the cursed land.
 When Caitlin finally comes to her senses and accepts that her husband is a no-good cheat she runs-off to kill herself unable to cope with the betrayal and the realization that she has been so foolish. Breaking her glass she tries to slit her wrist just like her wonderful, cop husband taught her once - so that it couldn't be repaired. To her astonishment, instead of dying something comes out of the ground, something hungry and looking for human blood and rage to set it free, the vines.
  Screams come from the shed where her husband has taken his latest fling and as everyone runs to see what it the matter the vines heal Caitlin's wounds and her cowardice. The hussy reappears bloody and crazed but where is her husband?
 As Nova, the land keeper's daughter, searches for answers it is a race against time to stop the evil that has been unleashed by Caitlin who has been changed by her experience. She is obsessed with revenge, the revenge and redemption that the vines seek. Nova discovers that the plantation's bloody slave history holds the key and it will take all her courage to end the cycle and free the land.
 The Vines is yet another terrific novel from Christopher Rice that is so engrossing I read it in two nights!

Friday, September 12, 2014

The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan Kellerman,Jesse Kellerman

  Full of plot twists that you'll never see coming The Golem of Hollywood is one of the best thriller's you'll read this year! When Jacob Lev is mysteriously transferred back to homicide to investigate a murder he discovers more than he bargained for. He only has a decapitated head to work with and when its surprising identity is discovered it leaves him on a chase across the world. Not only must he discover the gruesome past of the victim but he stumbles upon a family secret as well. A secret dating back to Adam and Eve's children.
  The Golem of Hollywood is an engrossing thrill-ride that won't let go. You will enjoy this book!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr

A Cast of Stones is the story of young Errol a reluctant and altogether unlikely hero who is pulled away from his ale barrel by a compulsion to join the church.
  His life changes the day he agreed to carry an important message to the local Pater and is nearly killed for his trouble. Luis, the Pater's friend, Errol discovers is actually a Reader; a position of great import in their world. Through pure coincidence it is discovered that Errol is also a reader and a compulsion is placed upon him; he must get to the Abby or die.
  The trio leave along with Liam a big brute of a boy that Errol is jealous of but then who wouldn't be? Liam seems perfect in every way much to the dismay of Errol. They must hurry to the side of the ailing King who has no heir for when he dies something dreadful is said to happen; the barrier that keeps them safe shall drop.
  This is a terrific adventure that grabs your attention from the first page and compels you to read on. I really enjoyed everything about it and the ending was not at all predictable! Errol is a character that at first you think is not worthy of being the hero, in fact you might not even think that he is, but soon proves himself. The action is pretty much non-stop once bumbling Errol learns to use a staff, a weapon he seems made for.
  There is something for everyone in A Cast of Stones and I look forward to reading the next installment.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

The Abyss Beyond Dreams by Peter F. Hamilton (Release date is October 21st)

I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan, I'm more of a fantasy and historical fiction person but I was intrigued by the synopsis and decided to give it a try. At first I was bored by the Sci-Fi techno-terminology in the beginning but I felt a good book lied just around the bend so I kept at it. I'm glad I did. It was a creepy, keep-you-up at night roller coaster.
  In the far-reaching future we will live for hundreds of years thanks to all kinds of enhancements we can receive. Our bodies can stay permanently at whatever age we choose, we can block pain when injured, etc. Unfortunately, its a little trickier keeping ourselves from being eggsumed.
 This novel is like The Walking Dead meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Star Trek. The void is a place where spaceships are lost and people do not return but a planet exists within it that holds a secret. It can sustain human life AND it can take it. The people who become stranded there can build a society but they must first defend themselves from the being that wish to destroy them.
  There are strange eggs on the planet. Eggs that lure you in and then consume you only to spit you out later as a flesh-eating, human-looking, monster. The military patrols must search out and destroy each new egg that is dropped from the mysteries "trees" that produce them before the others discover and save them. Their only goal is to destroy all of the humans and reach fulfillment once again and please the Skylords. Where did these being come from and can they be completely eradicated before its too late?
 I'll be looking for more from Peter Hamilton in the future.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Private Down Under by James Patterson

I love a thriller that keeps me guessing and Private Down Under is just such a novel! When Private is celebrating their opening in Sydney a young man wanders into the proceedings and promptly dies. He's been tortured and it looks like the Triads are responsible but why? Also a string of grisly tortures is taking place of young, wealthy women. What's the motive? Is a serial killer one the loose?
I love the character of Darlene, she kind of reminds me of Abby on NCIS. The man with the plan, Craig is a complex and engaging character that always gets his man, if I may be so cliche, but will he solve the link between the victims in time to save another woman's life or will his meddling cousin, a police officer with a vendetta against him, ruin his chances?

Monday, August 25, 2014

The Reluctant Queen by Geraldine Evans

I really enjoyed this book. I think the writing style could use a little polish but that's just nit-picking really. This was an exciting telling of Mary Tudor and her struggle to just have a happy life away from courtly intrigued. First she is shipped off to France to marry the elderly King Louis who is kind to her but soon dies. She has to fend off the unwanted attention of his step-son because she loves another. When she gets wind that her brother, King Henry, might be plotting another royal match she convinces her love to marry her. Eventually she wins Henry's forgiveness for defying him but her life is far from peaceful. She just wants to have a family and be happy without court politics but her husband and her brother seem determined to drag her into it.
Mary is a remarkably resilient and free-spirited character who loves her family madly but keeps her principals even in the face of her brothers infidelities and betrayals, her husbands ambitions and her willful daughter. One of the best Mary Tudor books that I have read.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Snuggle giveaway

You can win a snuggle bear and a coupon for a free product. Who doesn't love Snuggle?

http://h3.sml360.com/-/3ag

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

List of best selling books of 2014 so far.

Got this from Book Riot's Facebook page.


bestselling books of 2014 thus far. Today in Critical Linking: http://bookriot.com/2014/07/08/critical-linking-july-8th-2014/



Personally I like the Divergent trilogy and just because a novel is YA doesn't mean that it doesn't deserve accolades. A well written book is a well written book regardless of genre.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Chance to win an ebook bundle.

Got this from Brandon Sanderson's Facebook page. Find this post on his Facebook page in the next 24 hours and share it for your chance to win.


Share this photo in the next 24 hours for a chance to win this ebook bundle! Contest details below.
The Cosmic SciFi Bundle at http://StoryBundle.com/SciFi is available only until Wednesday night. It includes works by Anne McCaffrey and Jody Lynn Nye, Frank Herbert, Jay Lake and Ken Scholes, Michael A. Stackpole, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Mike Resnick, Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason, and Peter J. Wacks, along with me, Brandon Sanderson. This is a great lineup, and in the tra...
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Saturday, July 5, 2014

The Boleyn Reckoning by Laura Anderson

If you are a fan of Philippa Gregory you will love The Boleyn Reckoning by Laura Anderson. Anderson takes a fascinating look at the lives of young Elizabeth, her brother King William and their friends Minuette and Dominic. It is a story of love, betrayal, honor, treason and redemption.
Minuette is an endearing character who is torn between the man she loves, Dominic, and their dear friend since childhood King William.. Unknown to the rest of the kingdom in the fact that Dominic and Minuette have secretly wed and their plans to tell William are curtailed when he falls deathly ill.Upon his recovery he has sworn his undying love for Minuette even though he must defy the French by calling off a previous betrothal. \
When their secret is revealed they must flee for their lives with help of their friends such as young Elizabeth who is patiently awaiting her turn at the thrown. The country is in an upheaval over the impending invasion of France and possibly Spain and yet William is consumed by the betrayal of his friends.
Can everyone finally make peace? Can William redeem himself from the monster he has become?
This is an excellent book that I finished at precisely midnight on the second day.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

Cop Town is a gritty, down and dirty look at what being a cop - let alone an unwanted female cop, in Atlanta during the 70's was like. Now don't get me wrong it doesn't dwell on the whole female thing and isn't a 'pitty me' book. The characters are realistic if not disturbing at times and the author doesn't hold back on the discrepancies between white male cops and their 'colored' counterparts as well as women.
When a cop killer continues to terrorize Atlanta the corrupt 'good ol' boys' are looking to pin it on anyone and scare all the local degenerates into giving up the perpetrator. When Maggie's brother Jimmy becomes a target she must buck the system and investigate for herself. Jimmy's story isn't adding up and someone is determined to kill him and silence witnesses. Along with the help of a brand-new recruit, Kate, Maggie must find out the truth before a false confession leads to tragedy and a killer gets away with murder.
Cop Town is one of those novels that you won't be able to put down and will leave you happy that you weren't a cop in the 70's.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Shattered by Kevin Hearne

I loved this book and plan on reading the rest of the series. It is a humorous and action filled urban fantasy, well I'm not even sure you can call it that it may need its own category. Hearne does an excellent job of telling the Iron Druid's tale and somehow manages to blend multiple belief systems into a coherent story. You get everything from modern humor to old Druid cursing fits, Jesus to Brighid and lets not forget the Wolfhounds!
 In this installment Atticus (a.k.a. the Iron Druid) must help his archdruid learn about modern society while trying to decipher whom is trying to kill himself and his lady. Meanwhile said fair maiden (a druid that he himself trained) is battling an ancient evil that has taken over her father's body and is spreading a fatal plague. All of his characters are engaging and this is a novel that you could easily read in one sitting, not because its so simple but because its so damn good. Oh and did I mention that Loki makes an appearance?
Definitely a 5 star rating for this one.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

Words of Radiance is  the second novel in Sanderson's hugely popular Stormlight Archive series. Picking up six years after the assassination of the Alethi king this novel is non-stop action and a joy to read. The Assassin in White returns and this time sets his sights on all the kings/princes of the lands and it seems as if no one can stop him until Kaladin ( a military slave who amazingly works his way up to a position of power) arrives with his extraordinary (and secret) abilities. Shallan, a young woman struggling with abilities of her own, is determined to stop the return of the Voidbringers. This brings her and Kaladin together and it is soon discovered that their goals are intertwined.
Words of Radiance is truly an amazing epic journey that you will love going on. The internal struggles of the characters will endear them to the reader and make them so real you will root for their success from beginning to end. Sanderson has done a terrific job with this one.

Monday, February 10, 2014

The Anomaly by Wendy Joyce

Zia is Soul that breaks all the rules but means well just the same. She just can't seem to fathom what she is doing wrong or why the Guides are cross with her. She just isn't like the other Souls in Haven. Every time she is sent to Earth to be born she messes up and the some in Haven fear she will turn from One (sort of like God) and become one of Niie (basically Satan) When Zia is assigned Alpha for a Guide and comes to care for her 'sister' Jen; she finally starts to get the hang of her purpose. Unfortunately when she meets on the Neutral Ground in her next 'life' she must battle balance and keep it from shifting in Niie's favor.
This was an excellent book that I couldn't wait to get back to everyday. Zia is a complex and hilariously fun character who bumbles her way admirably through to her destiny. Full of unique concepts and terrific character you will enjoy The Anomaly - I guarantee it.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

The Execution by Sharon Cramer

This is a captivating novel about a priest and a prisoner but so much more. When D'ata performs his unenviable duty of giving absolution to the condemned on the eve of their executions he is startled by what he finds, a young man with his features. Upon further inspection he discovers that the prisoner is actually a twin brother he never knew about.
D'ata was abandoned on a church step as an infant and grew-up the golden boy of a rich family being groomed for a life in the church until she came into his life. His condemned brother remained with their mother until her life ended and his continued in an orphanage until he was finally given in apprenticeship to a devious innkeeper.
The story of their childhoods and how they came to this place in their lives unfolds beautifully and even the hardest heart just might shed a tear as they tell of family and loves lost, cruelty and kindness, and what choices have brought them to this moment.
I enjoyed this book and hope to see more from Sharon Cramer!