Mother.GAMER.Writer

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 Controllers Review Source: PublisherReviewer: MeI cannot start this review without first saying, OMG. Yes, page after explosive page I found myself screaming OMG aloud and at the top of my lungs. I feel like I’ve been sent on a crashing plan ride and Jus didn’t even bother to warn her passengers about the dangers of flying on the Denazen airline. Just as I adored Touch the first book in the Series, I am also swooning over Tremble. The story begins shortly after book two, Toxic ends. We’re introduced to a surly Dez reeling from Kale’s decision to sacrifice himself in order to save her life. Slowly dying because of the Six trials and emotionally beaten down by the loss of Kale, Dez’s life is quickly taking a nosedive into oblivion. *Cries Cries* Her friends attempt to loosen her up a bit and give her a night of fun. What should be a familiar trip back into old Dez territory, leads to a shocking sisterly reunion and a heartbreaking one when – OMG – Kale shows up at the party. Kale doesn’t realize who Dez is, or remember any of their time together. All he knows it that Kiernan (Dez’s sister) is the object of his affection and Dez (who in his mind is Kiernan) is someone he wants to hurt for destroying his entire world. Sounds a bit confusing eh? We’’ it’s not in the land of Supremacy. Because of a Six’s ability, Kale’s memories have been rewritten so to speak and now everything he believes is a lie. The Kale we all fell in love with is now nothing more than a shell of a person full of hate with powers that are ready to kill anyone in his way. Unfortunately, Dez cannot do anything about Kale’s situation because as they quickly learn, his powers have grown and make him almost unstoppable. *tear* In the meantime to take her mind off her Kale problems, Dez works with the other members of the Underground to find other Supremacy kids and alert them to the coming danger. However, the Underground are not the only ones looking to get their hands on Sixes, Denazen is hot on their trail too. The thing I love most about reading a Jus Accardo novel is the action. One emotional action packed moment is always followed by another, and another, and another, and another until all you have is an EPIC adventure cemented in angst, powerful writing, and characters you will hate to love, love to love, and love to hate! AH, I adore me some Dez. She is so raw and never deviates from her true self. Despite her hardships and everything she’s had to endure, she still remains the loyal, quick-witted, brave, spitfire girl from the first novel. Kale though, gosh I just wanted to cry during the first half of the book. He was pretty ruthless and dang near broke my heart with how awful he was being to Dez. Still though, I love him and was rooting for their relationship the entire time. Overall, I can’t say much about the book without giving away spoilers so I will just end this review with nothing but the highest praise. If you haven’t had the chance to read Touch or Toxic, I suggest you do so before picking up Tremble because the emotional journey truly is EPIC and will probably give your heart palpitations late into the wee hours of the night.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4 Controllers Review Source: PublisherReviewer: HeatherWhen I first read, If I Were You, I was unaware that there were journals. I mean they’re mentioned in the book, but the author actually wrote out the journals in three short story lengths. I got the privilege of reading the first two, but I’m dying to get my hands on the last one. When you first read, If I Were You, you’re whipped into the after effects of a woman named Rebecca. Small snippets of her life are revealed, but the journals delve you deep into her world as she becomes engrossed into the world of art and sex. She’s careful and cautious or at least she wants you to believe it. Perhaps she even believed it herself at one point. When it comes to her master though, it appears all bets are off. The two journals were a nice companion read to If I Were You, and you can read them before or even after. It’s nice to see the woman Sara (From If I Were You) is trying to find and help, but at the same time she too makes a lot of the same mistakes. If you’re going to pick up If I Were You, and if you enjoy steamy, erotic romance then you definitely should, go ahead and grab the journals too. It really helps to shine a light on the hidden world that both Sara and Rebecca joined.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 3 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: CrayloaKymThis is a coming of age story where finding who you truly are and the essence of being can be refreshing. Being fifteen and having Cerebral Palsy, Aiko has typically turned to trying to be as invisible as possible, to the point she writes manga under a pseudonym and distributes it throughout school and town where it is becoming quite a hit with the locals, including the boy she really likes and just so happens to be one of the leading stars. Her mom is a vivacious artist who has always sought out inspiration through the demise of Aiko’s disability and enamors the art world on a global scale. When her art takes them to Paris, Aiko finds there is more to the world and it is time she stepped from her shell and become her own woman. At first glance, the cover is confusing. The title is Gadget Girl and there are pictures of egg beaters, pliers, a utility knife, and a sculpting knife. Is this book about a girl and gadgets or a girland tools? When I think of gadgets, I think of calculators, spy equipment, computers, and anything specifically techy and nerdy. After reading the synopsis, I was even more confused. I’m still not seeing “gadgets.” Author Suzanne Kamata does a splendid job building really emotional intact characters that are genuinely likable and easy to relate to. Aiko’s story is a common one of disability,single parent, teenage insecurities and longing to have some sense of resolution in knowing her real father and figuring out what her mom is hiding and why. Where I found problems, was other than Aiko and her mother, the characters were only seen on the surface and a bit more depth to the supporting characters could really have carried this story further. Kamata has a talent for building the world around her characters which tends to pick up the weight of the story where it lacks. The reader gets an array of adventures in Gadget Girl taking you through multiple settings. From a high school to a cafe in Paris, these moments throughout the book kept the story moving along despite the story itself feeling slow and only mildly alive. I felt the story was denied real feeling and just slipped through the events as it progressed through the chapters. Aiko wrote her own manga, however, it would have been nice to have delved a bit deeper into this story line, after all, it is the name of the book yet it only had a surface story in the book. She writes it under a pseudonym, her friend’s brother prints it and they distribute it, even throughout Paris and the story line is about a girl, much like Aiko, and her woes of life. It really had too small of a role in this book. Chapter after chapter I kept saying this is where the climax will be. But it just never came. This is where she will have her big romantic moment; it never came. She will find some medical trial for her Cerebral Palsy; it never came. She will find her dad and hear his side; it never came. I was even more distraught when finishing up Chapter 36, I went to turn the page and that was it. The End. I was actually perturbed as it lacked an ending all together. I actually scrolled around a bit to make sure my Kindle hadn’t skipped forward, but no. That was it. While the book did have my emotions on a roller coaster throughout the chapters, it just so happened to have been a kiddy roller coaster missing all of the thrills of the ups and downs. While I wouldn’t buy this book, I would say if you have absolutely nothing left to read and the library has a copy, to pick it up. You won’t hate it, but you won’t love it either.

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 3 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: SarikaDrowning In You follows a story of two broken individuals who find solace in the arms of each other. Where Charlee is a good-girl, kind, honorable, Dexter is anything but. A harrowing event tied together their history, ruining Dexter’s image and further complicating the attraction that exists between the couple. I don’t want to give away too many details, but needless to say Drowning In You will provide a full, entertaining plot that romance-novel lovers will enjoy. The idea of this story was absolutely enthralling. I believe the concept of a girl being irrevocably in love with some she should despise is both intelligent and risky, although I believe the author pulled of this concept sufficiently well. I thought the relationship between Charlee and Dexter was representative to many modern ones today: relationships where your own sense of rationale disappears because of your own feelings for the significant other. One of the hidden undertones in the story was that love, indeed, does triumph all: and when you do love someone, all the lines between right and wrong disappear. However, this idea could have been strengthened by a heavier emphasis on the character development of the protagonists, which was seemingly absent throughout the book. I also consistently enjoyed the writing style in this novel. The dialogue was relatable, funny, and fast-paced, and her descriptions were very visually stimulating at times. However, often I found that the transitions between paragraphs or sentences were choppy, which deeply impacted the overall effect of the book as it severely interrupted the consistency of the text. Moreover, I found quite a few plot holes in this novel, including the involvement of Dexter’s ‘best friend’ Eliot in the book. The love triangle that followed seemed a bit too forced, and hindered the development of a significant theme: the dysfunctional nature of love and heartbreak. Also, the crude language towards the end seemed rather unnecessary and also quite out of place. However, the book was equipped with witty exchanges and the cliffhanger ending certainly left me dazed and excited. I would recommend this one to romance novel fans looking for a slow-paced read.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 Controllers Review Source: NetGalleyReviewer: HeatherIt’s not any big secret how much I’ve fallen in love with Kristen Callahan. I think I’ve stated this before, when I reviewed her first and second books from the Darkest London series. What I love most is that you can pick up wherever, but starting at the beginning is always fun too. I don’t do spoilers, but I will say that the first three books follow the lives of three sisters. The third book covers the eldest, Poppy and her beloved husband of fourteen years, Winston. Poppy’s kept secrets from not only her husband, but her family too. In book three they all come crashing down on her. Winston also has a dark secret, a pact that is so far in his past he’s forgotten about it. When their secrets collide, the couple only has four days to solve their case, but will it save or destroy their marriage? This has the same voice that I’ve come to love from Callihan. Witty, strong women and men face off at every turn. No one is weak, but each has weaknesses. Typically it’s the warring couple, and that’s great because it leads up to some awesome tension and big explosive moments. This one, like her last, brought in some steam punk elements. They mainly revolve around the SOS, or the Suppression of Supernaturals. I hope this continues, because I think it’s a wonderful addition to the world she’s created. I’m looking forward to the next in the series! If you enjoy romance, with paranormal, historical, and fantasy twists this is an author to follow. If I wasn’t already in love with London than I am now, because she portrays this underground in a beautiful way, without getting flowery or dull. Her characters are real, not full of frippery ladies, and she writes debauchery well enough without it being overly slutty.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 ControllersReview Source: NetGalleyReviewer: MeDare You To is a gut-wrenching tale of pushing the limits, relinquishing control, and finding yourself in order to become who you are meant to be. I knew going in this novel would be explosive. Last year, Pushing the Limits was one of my top reads of 2012 and rocked my Contemporary Romance socks off. Dare You To is no different. The subject matters and themes of the novel are razor-sharp tough but also a reality for some of today’s youth. Not everyone lives a glamorous rock star life and others function just enough to make it through the day. And Dare You To doesn’t touch lightly on these gritty subjects. It thrusts you into the middle of Beth and Ryan’s struggles and forces you to live them angrily, crying, and in fits of rage and passion as they do. Coming from a group of misfits with troubled (and that’s putting it mildly) pasts, I knew Beth was going to be a character that would melt my heart right off the pages. Her skin is so thick and heart so closed off to others except the few she allows in, it was hard to imagine anyone cracking or causing a small tear in her I-will-beat-your-a$$-if-you-even-look-at-me exterior. Her home life is brutal. And I’m sure anyone who’s dealt with an alcoholic parent or relative can relate. The constant torment caused by her mothers’ addiction left invisible flesh wounds on Beth’s skin. But like any kid, she still craved her mother’s love and would do anything to save her mother from herself. This unconditional love lands Beth at a new school and living with an uncle – and his new wife – both of whom she despises. It even puts her in the path of the all-American high school baseball star, Ryan. Although I thought her love interest would be someone else, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I began to adore Ryan. He too was in a rut. Attempting to please his parents, Ryan does what he’s told even if he doesn’t agree. Reeling from the abandonment of his brother, Ryan only wants to play ball and make his parents happy. On the outside he personifies everything a kid should strive to be. While on the inside he’s holding onto hope and dreams of bringing his family back together and living a life he’s chosen and not one that his parents chose for him. And when he meets Beth, the niece of a famous town baseball player, he views her as his ticket in and a way to make everyone happy. This seems to work until he starts to fall for the girl with the filthy mouth, unlikable personality, and nose ring. Katie McGarry knows how to write and portray rich, passionate, raw characters. The entire ensemble in the book felt real. Like you could pluck them out and place them in any home down the street. The love story is simply amazing and you’ll find yourself rooting for them until the very end and then wanting more long after it’s done. I can’t give this series enough praise. Even though Dare You To works as a standalone title, I do recommend reading Pushing the Limits because it too is an epic read and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one in the series, Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits, #3) . *swoon*

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Audiobook purchaseReviewers: Heather and DiayllDiayllEvery trepidation I had about the Sookie Stackhouse series in the last book, Deadlocked, disappeared (thank goodness) in Dead Ever After. As a Super-Fan of this series, the final installment truly warmed my heart. It is by far, one of my favorites out of the thirteen book series because we finally get our headstrong Sookie back *yippee*! Oh how I missed her and her quirky self. And I can’t deny, I was hooting and hollering the whole time. With every funny line and the return of some of my favorite characters, Dead Ever After rocked my supernatural world. Things are crazy in Bon Temps and of course, our heroine is in the middle of it all. Sookie has managed to make numerous enemies over the course of the last twelve novels and it’s definitely come back to bite her in the arse. Now framed for a murder she didn’t commit, Sookie must uncover which supernatural creature she’s pissed off the most. But not only does she have many enemies it turns out Sookie also has many friends – friends who come to her rescue and band together to help uncover Bon Temps last mystery. Thank you Ms. Harris for bringing back the wonderful mystery to the series! The three areas on which I judge these books are the mystery, the romance, and character development. In the last couple of novels, the mystery has been a little bland and if you’ve been with us since the beginning the you know Harris’s books are known for having an epic mystery to uncover – which usually leads to things being blown up, people dying, and sh*t hitting the fan. In Dead Ever After, we see the return of the mysterious aspect to the novels. There is less, OMG-who-will-I-bang and more fun-loving lets-solve-this-thing, happening. I think this allowed Sookie to develop more as a character. Her love life for once was able to take a back seat allowing readers to just enjoy the whodunit. While somewhat predictable, it was still enjoyable. And it did contribute to my overall enjoyment of the audiobook. I know some people (fans) are going rabid over the ending. However, I am not one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed to story and enjoyed investing my time in Sookie. Although she may have made one too many mistakes and hasty decisions (and slept with way too many people), she is still the heroine that introduced me to Urban Fantasy/PNR and still the heroine I love the most. Do I wish there was more? Of course! Would I read it all again? You bet! Sookie in the end had to find herself. We all make mistakes and let our hearts lead us down paths we shouldn’t be traveling. It’s our job as people to let things go, move on, grow and learn. I think that’s exactly what happened in Dead Ever After, Sookie came to terms with herself and decided what’s right for her. And frankly, I couldn’t be happier! My Rating4.5 out of 5 Controllers HeatherI went in blind, refusing to read spoilers or the opinions of other fans. For me this series has always been way better than the show will ever become, but I started watching the show long before I picked up the actual series. With that said, I don’t have years invested into the books, but I became hooked the moment I picked up my first Sookie Stackhouse novel, and read them straight through. For the past two years, I’ve picked up the books with increasing haste, and devoured them in a day. This time, I savored the story knowing it would be the last. We all have our teams, and I’ll leave mine out. The story itself in Dead Ever After was excellent. We have the Sookie we’ve all come to love, with her quirky, laughable sayings. She gets herself caught up in a few messes, though they are never really ever her fault. But the most enjoyable, for me, was having everyone back in the same book. I got to “listen” as all the past favorites came together for one last final hurrah. Does Sookie get a HEA? Maybe she does, maybe it’s just for right now, and we’ll never know for sure. If you’ve fallen in love with crazy Sookie, and go into this book wanting to read her end, then pick it up and give it a read. This is her series as much as it is the author’s series, and I knew that no matter what anyone else said (or thought) that I would read it for myself.My Rating5 out of 5 Controllers

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 ControllersReview Source: PublisherReviewer: MeNorse Mythology is not dead! And thanks to Marr and Armstrong, kids can be reintroduced to some amazing gods and fascinating characters in Loki’s Wolves. This novel is perfect for Middle Graders and Teen readers who love to explore unique worlds and can’t get enough of non-stop action. In the small town of Blackwell, South Dakota, where news travels fast because everyone knows the ins and outs of everyone else, lives a young Matt Thorsen. Youngest brother in the Thorsen bunch, son of a sheriff, and direct descendent of Thor himself. Because of who he is and his famous ancestor, Matt struggles everyday to find an identity all his own. He’s not interested in being a carbon copy of his brothers nor does he like living in the shadow of his father. Yet he isn’t quite so sure he wants to be entirely different either. After the Seer names him as the Blackwell Champion to fight during Ragnarok, Matt must soon decide if he truly is a leader and if he can create his own destiny by staying alive. Loki’s Wolves is something FIERCE. I would have never dreamed a Middle Grade read would fascinate me so much or keep me up into the wee hours of the night scouring pages. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book like this (as I try not to compare books to other books). With its fresh original take on gods often overlooked, I enjoyed every minute of the chaotic action. I’m pretty sure I’ll never look at Mount Rushmore the same way again. Matt is a complicated character. Heck each character is a complicated character. Layered beneath what they present on the outside, is a lot of inner struggle to find themselves and not be hindered – good or bad – by their respective families stigmas. Fen is one of my favorite in the book. As bull-headed as he comes across, he really is a gentle soul with a heart of gold – most of the time. His cousin Laurie is an awesome chick. She’s tough, doesn’t take any crap from the boys, and usually has a way of saving them when they get into trouble. These three misfits make the ultimate ragtag combo. After the others eventually join the group, and not without challenge, they all light up the pages with their varied personalities, qualms, quirks, and eager tenacity. Overall, if you love a quick action-filled read then I definitely recommend Loki’s Wolves. Parents, if you’re looking for a fun read for your children then make sure you add this to their reading pile. The author’s stated that they wrote it for their sons, well don’t be discouraged because girls will fall in love with its charm too, frantically flipping pages and desperate for more!

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 2.75ish 3 ControllersReview Source: Audiobook purchaseReviewer: MeI have written and rewritten this review at least five times. Arclight is one of those novels that in theory sounds absolutely amazing but in the end was just not for me. I tried to love it. I tried to get on board with The Fade and our MC Marina. But alas, I couldn’t fall in love with the world the way I desired. *sighs* Let’s start with what I liked…the first ten or fifteen chapters where the world is introduced and we get a glimpse at human life after the epidemic? hit mankind. People are truly scared because no one is safe from The Fade. The creatures that come out at night and infect you with organisms and can take over your entire body (at least this is my assessment of them; it’s still something I’m trying to grasp). It started off as it should, frightening and with me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. And then… It all unraveled. What began interestingly weird, then got even more peculiar, turned out to be a (WEIRD) twisted science fiction read. Arclight is a bizarre take on experiments gone wrong and creatures that go bump in the night. It’s eloquently crafted and the words spring from the pages, however despite having an immense amount of heart, it still manages to leave a sour taste in my mouth. WTF The Fade? WTF is up with the heroine? WTF is really going on in this book!? Okay, if I am to be a hundred percent honest, I have no idea how I feel about this book. It’s super crazy and tries to wear many different hats and wears none of them really well. The mystery is predictable. The Science Fiction is hard to understand. The love triangle is creepy. Arclight is an epic freak-show of friendly/not-so-friendly monsters and terrified humans with parental issues. Had I actually been reading this instead of listening to the audio I’m almost a thousand percent certain I would have DNF’ed it. Why? Because if I had to keep rewinding my audio, think about how many times I would have had to re-read something in the book. Probably twice as many just so I can try to comprehend the main characters inner dialogue with The Fade. Don’t get me wrong, I liked how she communicated with the Fade, heck I was on board up until the big reveal. What I didn’t appreciate, is how she responded to the big reveal. She knew she was different. And yet when the answers to her questions presented themselves, she pretended like it was impossible. Um hello, didn’t you and I just experience the same thing about 50 pages ago? Though what really ticks me off about the whole thing is the ending. There is a semi-LOVE Triangle and I absolutely hated it by the time the story was over. Both leading boys are likeable and I didn’t really see anything that I disliked about their character or personality. I just loathed the rationale our character chose for picking her man at the end. This is probably the only book I’ve read where I’ve been pissed off beyond belief at our characters choice. SPOILERSThis might be spoilery but I will just go ahead and say it: It seems that our character flat out disowned her people when she made her choice. Because her eyes had been “open” so to speak to the human world, she decided to stay and forgo her life as one of THEM. She had a sister, true love, and a family with them yet she wanted to stay with humans why…I’m not exactly sure. I had to rewind and re-listen to it over and over again to grasp the concept that she didn’t go back. And this is a series? At the very least she should have been sad! *sighs* I won’t be returning for the next one. I have no interest as her life as a human unless she plans to go back to The Fade and we get to see how they live and interact.END SPOILERS Clearly I’m despondent. Maybe even disgruntled. I wanted to LOVE it so bad but I couldn’t. Had I not been confused and then aggravated at the ending I think this would have been an excellent 5 Controller read. However, my rating is based upon what’s presented. And what’s presented, while not terrible, is unlikable. At least by me anyways. Overall, give it a whirl if you’re into weird science fiction. I’m definitely interested to know what others think as it will probably appeal to many but not all.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: HeatherI was pretty excited to review Fractured Soul, book #2 in the Fractured Light Series by Rachael McClellan. I’m new to the series, and will suggest you pick up at the start, but was able to follow along just fine. However, some major stuff happens (no spoilers teehee) and I would have loved to be able to start with the first book. If you are reading this for the romance (swoon), start with the first book! Llona finds herself at Lucent Academy, a school for auras and furies that her Aunt Sophie runs. She’s spent her whole life in the real world, went to a normal school, but the girls here are the complete opposite: spoiled and sheltered. It’s all done in the name of safety from the Valkan race, which feeds off of the Aura’s blood, ingesting the light, in order to remain strong. When Llona first arrives, she feels off, as if something is terribly wrong at the academy. Naturally, she begins to snoop, with the help of her new friends and her Guardian love. Instantly, things just don’t add up and you find yourself sucked deep into the plot. Llona has already lost too much, so when the life of her guardian’s threatened, she begins to withdraw into her own foreboding thoughts, and pushes everyone away. Then again, she has a secret. One that could destroy her, one that could consume her, and cause her to harm the very people she’s trying to save. Overall, loved it. I can’t wait to read more and as soon as I have a free moment, I will read the first book. This is an enticing read that I didn’t want to put down. I laughed, I cried (seriously at the end), and I really fell in love with Llona, and I’m interested to learn more of Liam. Part of me wants to slap Sophie though, I mean she’s not horribad, but she’s not winning aunt of the year awards either. Regardless, every character’s well written with a distinct voice. I’d recommend this series for older YA readers, and of course those of us adults who like them too.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 ControllersReview Source: PublisherReviewer: MeICONS was an EPIC hit for me! I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been stuck in a romance/paranormal rut or because I just freaking love aliens, but I loved it. Read it in a day and a half. And then decided to re-read it to see if I felt the same emotional high. Thankfully, I did. Honestly, I had no clue how this book would turn out, nor what to expect from the characters. So I dove in, wide-eyed and patient. And let the narrative take me away. After the first chapter, I was HOOKED. DROWNED. Submerged by the connection between the main characters and the world they lived in. Most often, I was shocked, in love, teary-eyed, and over-the-moon. Every word breathed onto the pages drew me in and kept me there until I finished. And it is a looooong book. But gosh it was so WORTH it! This novel is told from Dol’s perspective. Though it is mostly about Dol, we also glimpse into the lives of Ro, Tima and Lucas. Each teenager is identifiable and very well written. At no point did I feel one character out shined the other. Each character had their own personal hardships and it was easy for me to fall in love with them for their personalities, struggles, and their constant need to survive. And how each chose to survive. Some made decisions that broke my heart and made me want to curl into a ball and cry myself to sleep. Others made decisions I loathed. But, I still rooted for them. Cheered them on until the last sentence. This shows the authors true talent. Making someone love characters they should hate, and root for two people to be together who shouldn’t, is an amazing feat. And yes, there is a LOVE TRIANGLE. One that I actually cared for, though I’m still not certain which fantastic boy I want to win the girl. Both Ro and Lucas are great in their own way. Though Ro is just so dang beautiful on the inside. Neither is the “typical” swoon worthy character but in this type of setting and with their upbringing, it works in their favor. There is nothing I would change about them, and you’ll see why if you read it. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend ICONS to anyone looking for a Dystopian fix with a different style of characters. They are awkward at times, but they are lovable complex teenagers trying to survive in an unlivable world. The novel is VERY different. Rough around the edges with its own unique spark. Make sure you buy this one when it comes out May 7th. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: NetGalleyReviewer: HeatherIf you haven’t read The Immortal Rules, go read it now. While you could attempt to read The Eternity Cure without it, you’ll miss out on a lot of the back story of not only Allie, but you’ll be head scratching at a lot of the world. Plus, everything I write below will kind of be a huge spoiler. Allison the vampire has left Zeke and her human friends at Eden. It wasn’t overly difficult seeing as she is a vampire and it’s a sanctuary for humans only. She’s on a mission to find her maker. The man that gave her the choice and taught her how to become a monster. “But what type of monster you become us up to you…” Torn between the pull of his call and a new one, Allie must make a decision. Her blood brother, the murderous renegade prince whom tried to kill her, or her maker. Nothing is simple in this chaotic world filled with deadly viruses, vampires, and mutant creatures that threaten the population of bloodbags and camps alike. This follow-up to The Immortal Rules didn’t disappoint. It had the right amount if suspense and surprise to keep me engaged and turning pages. The end was a bit predictable, but I’m ok with that. It didn’t ruin the experience and I’m looking forward to the next story. I still love the story of Allie and Zeke. I know, I know vamp/human has been done to death. These two are different. Perhaps it’s because we see it from her side, and not a human perspective. Maybe it’s because Allie really isn’t like other monsters. She’s a katana wielding badass who won’t hesitate to save people she cares about, even if Hunger tells her to eat them.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 3 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: AuthorReviewer: SarikaA Shade of Vampire is a cleverly written novel that follows a young girl’s journey into the realm of the unreal, a world that is, to most of us, non-existent. She is taken captive by an infamous vampire Derek Novak who turns out to be quite not what she was expecting. There were several things I loved about this book. The secret vampire world of the Shade was absolutely fascinating, it was amazing to see how the author visualized a secret vampire destination would be organized. The history behind this world was enthralling, and it was interesting to see how a world with no pretenses, no limitations, and no rules to hide behind would function. Moreover, I whole-heartedly loved the light and dark imagery in this novel. The author really tried to portray Sofia as a speck of light infinite darkness, and that came across really well. In this aspect it has a major link to a famous play, Romeo and Juliet, which too uses brightness and darkness to symbolize good and evil respectively. The concept of a vampire owning a personal ‘slave’ was quite repulsive to me, however, and it was relieving to see the idea of owning someone else go from a novelty into a disgrace for the main protagonists in the book However, the romance aspect in the novel wasn’t as spectacular as I expected it to be. The protagonists felt too much for each other in an extremely small time frame, depriving the reader of a chance to root for their relationship or understand their characters better. Sofia’s reactions to certain things were too unbelievable for my liking; romantically, the story was very predictable. Seeing as the book was written from a two-person perspective, it gave us a well rounded look into the plot, which perhaps made up for the lack of characterization for both protagonists. Despite these flaws, the book was an enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced romance, and fans of paranormal fantasy will love this one.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: AutumnNot having read the first volume of this Crimson Romance Trilogy I was unaware of the protagonists’, Calliope the Soother’s, back story but it did not take me long to be pulled into her world of magic and mystery. I really connected with Calliope’s character of being someone who instinctively needs to care and help everyone in the world feeling a deep kinship with the populace. Love interest, Krystoff Dubhar, being a half vampire wizard and slowly corrupted by dark shadows seems like the natural polar opposite for the pure hearted white magic using Calliope. However their love is one for the ages, instant attraction for each other saves Krystoff but angers his mother Riona queen of shadows and darkness. Beautifully portrayed scenery makes you feel as if you are in the witch’s village surrounded by fields and flowers seeing the decorations for their celebrations. By contradiction, the realm ruled by Queen Riona sends chills of musty fog through your mind imagining the slime oozing moss and decrepit forests. Krystoff’s mother is by the least amount of words the most cruel and soulless woman character to be found in fiction writing. The phrase “well that escalated quickly” was never used more appropriately than to describe Calliope and Krystoff’s intense relationship, turning from fascination and curiosity to a strong sexual fire. I really was impressed by the side characters depth and strength to pull along the plotline in a positive way and improving the main characters resolve. Even the most of minor characters evolve farther into the story giving a greater background to this world shimmered by magic. Following the journey of Calliope as she tries to discover her true feelings, power, and loyalties I think everyone would gladly believe in her ability to accomplish anything. I honestly cannot wait to read the first and next volume in this dark fantasy series. Joyfully I would recommend this book to many of my friends who share the same interest in the genre.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: NetGalleyReviewer: MeWell change my name and call me Meg, who knew Witness Protection could be so much fun! When I first read the synopsis for this book I knew it was going to be different, maybe a little strange, and hopefully jammed packed with mystery and surprises. Needless to say my expectations were high, mega high. So high that if I’d been disappointed I might have cried – and been slightly mad. Thankfully, I was NOT disappointed. In fact, I was pleasantly flabbergasted and deeply engaged with every flip of the page. The Rules for Disappearing, though slightly predictable, blew me away with its charm and page-turning secrets. In the beginning we are introduced to “Meg”, a girl whose family is in hiding for reasons unbeknownst to her. Once again she’s been uprooted from her “life” and forced to relocate to the middle of nowhere and start all over again – and this time she doesn’t have her beautiful hair or natural eye color for comfort. Her younger sister is suffering dramatically as a consequence of the move and Meg is determined to make her life as normal as possible. Her mother, who’s now a full-blown alcoholic, and her father who keeps himself emotionally closed off, are no help and only add to her mounting list of problems. Try as she might, Meg doesn’t want to get involved or make friends. They only thing she wants to do is find out why her family must be protected. However, when Ethan enters the picture her outlook begins to change and suddenly she begins to care about everything more deeply than she planned. This is one of those novels that has a solid beginning, middle and end. Yes, it’s a liner path with predictability but it doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the story. You want Meg to win, you want her sister to smile and laugh again, and you want her to fall in love with the sweet country boy. And mostly you want her family to be okay and out of the program. It forces you to feel for their entire family and cheer them on as each member finds their place and happiness again.My final thought: I highly recommend The Rules for Disappearing to everyone. It’s quality reading with an enjoyable adventure. And it deserves a spot on your bookshelf!

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 3.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: AuthorReviewer: AimeeKayCan I give a character more stars than a book?I mean really can I?I absolutely love Rae! She is funny and down to earth. In fact she is the topmost reason why I enjoyed this book so much and eagerly want to read the next one in the series. Plus, I can honestly say this is one book that I didn’t mind the first person point of view simply because of how entertaining seeing into the main characters head was! As for the book itself….I DID enjoy it but it had some flaws. There are parts that I wondered about…first being the main characters decision to worry about the health of her friend’s cat before her own. I understand loving animals but when she is obviously injured to the point of not being able to walk on her own I think maybe she should have gone to a doctor not to feed the cat. I understood it ended up being a key point in why she isn’t found by the bad guy but still. Then there is her swear jar, somehow one of the other main characters in the book knows all about it but it isn’t explained how he knows about it. Then there is in the one scene were they are trying to save the world. Maybe it is just me but I don’t understand how they solved the problem? I reread it a few times and still didn’t see it the way the characters did…maybe it was just me? The final issue I have is the romance in the book. It isn’t all the story is about, which is fine. But, while reading I got the impression that there was going to be some sort of conclusion or definite romantic situation…but it never happened. While maybe it is something that will be further explored in the next book I really got the impression that SOMETHING was going to happen. I’m also not too sure I like the brewing love triangle, but I will wait and see how that one goes. The summery itself hints at romance as well but it isn’t billed as a romance so I can’t say there was any real type of false advertising. The whole thing is though that even with the above mentioned issues I still loved the book and I know the main reason is Rae. Yes the world the author has created is interesting and yes I liked the story and the other characters but Rae just kinda overshadowed all of that. As for the boo itself I’m giving it 3 & 1/2 out of 5 controllers I really can’t ignore the issues I had…However I’m giving Rae herself 5 outta 5 controllers with a royalty award! The book is only .99 cents for an e-copy on Amazon at the moment I definitely think it is worth spending it to see what I mean. I’m definitely gonna try to get my hands on the sequel to this one.