Stacking the Shelves #1

Hi! Welcome to my first Stacking the Shelves post.  What is stacking the shelves? Well, here is some information for you, taken from Stacking the Shelves Official Launch Page on Tynga's Blog

How to participate?

It’s super easy!

• Create your own Stacking The Shelves post. You can use my official graphic or your own, but please link back to Tynga’s Reviews so more people can join the fun! 
• You can set your post any way you want, simple book list, covers, pictures, vlog, sky is the limit! 
• I am posting Stacking The Shelves on Saturdays, but feel free to post yours any day that fits you. 
• Visit Tynga’s Reviews on Saturday and add your link so others can visit you!

• Visit other participants link to find out what they added to their shelves!

So, what has been added to my shelves this week, mainly review books, and all of them are electronic copies, which means I'll be reading them at home until I can get a new kindle.  *sadpanda* I miss my kindle. Anyway...new on my to review shelf are:

This just came out today, I had my review copy at 4am as an Amazon gift from the Author who I know from Goodreads, and he is AWESOME! Currently, he has an office that I am jealous of, and that would be a beach in Hawaii! Like no joke! He is writing on gloriously perfect sandy beaches and just living it up while he and his wife travel! So jealous! Check him out here: David Estes Author Page on Goodreads.

This is another book that I received from the author for an honest review, I had posted on one of the Amazon Kindle groups that I have a review blog, and she sent me this book.  I've not yet started it yet, but I am getting there! Honest!

That's all I've gotten this week.  Nothing too exciting on the front here.  However, had I found this a couple of weeks ago, I would have made a bigger post.  Still debating on vlogs >.> and seeing if I want myself seen on video and all that.

My Roommate got Me something AWESOME!!

So, I get a phone call on my way home from my roommate, checking to see where on my journey home I am.  I was on the last bus getting ready to come home and she's like "Good, come see me when you get home, I've something for you."  To which I respond, "...Okay..." and tell her I will see her when I get home.

Flash forward about thirty minutes.

I'm home, and after giving the kids the groceries to put away I go in and see my roommate and find out what she's got for me.  Knowing that we don't have the money to replace my Kindle right now, I'm  wondering insanely what it could be.  So, she shows me this envelope that has a very familiar logo on it.  Looking closer I see that it is the logo of Dante's.  To which I SQUEE like a rabid fan girl (which as most of you know I have a tendency to be concerning some things) - and this particular series is one of them. LOVE LOVE LOVE Karen Chance.

My roommate requested some of the freebies from her site, and after emailing Karen and explaining why she was requesting it, had it personalized for me.  It came with two bookmarks, a magnet, a label with Dante's logo on it and Karen's autograph, as well as a little gold signed copy sticker to go on the front of the book.  Picture below, and I seriously am absolutely EPICALLY HAPPY!

Sunday Morning

Good Morning everyone! *checks the clock* Yup, it is still morning.  I actually slept quite well last night, and tonight I'v gotta go to bed early because I have to work in the morning.  Bleh for that.  I'd rather stay here and work on my ever growing to be reviewed list.  My list is quite extensive as most of you know, I finished Dark Passage yesterday, but I've also still in the middle of reading The Forbidden Land, and I've not yet lemminged on Tigana by Gay Gavriel Kay, an extensive and epic read that I am doing for Sword and Laser for their group read this month.

The reviews I need to get done this week are:
     Gallies

1. The Bastard by Brenda Novak (the title is Honor Bound for the published copy)
2. One Moment by Kristina McBride
3. Code Named Verity by Elizabeth Wein
4. Scars by Cheryl Rainfield

    Author Read and Review

1. Dark Passage by Griffin Hayes
2. The Sky  Inside You by Marco Moreno Flores (need to read)
3. Jaguar Sun by Martha Bourke (need to read)

    Need to Post to Smashwords

1. Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever
2. Reflection by Jessica Roberts
3. A Story Not Wished to be Read by Nicola Black

Beyond that, everything is kinda up in the air with things here at Confessions of a Bibliophile.  I've got a couple of things brewing, and waiting on some questions back for an author interview series (that has kind of stalled).  I've got to also get together for another give away or two.  But, since my desktop has kind of finally decided to bite the big one for the most part, I've been working on my netbook which is much smaller and I can't do much on as I want to.  So, things are going to be slow, and I'm not sure where my external CD drive is so I can install my camera software for bibliophile eats...which saddens me. 

Other than that, is there anything that you my dear readers would like to see from me? I've also been considering a video review of things, or just an update of my TBR list :) Awesomeness! 

Cover Reveal: Determinant by A.M. Hargrove

Alright ladies and gentlemen.  You've seen my feature on the Guardians of Vesturon, well, there is a new book coming out in that series, book three! Determinant, and it will be coming out at the end of this month, June 30, 2012! YAY! So, onto the reason we are here...the revealing of the COVER of Determinant! YAY!

• Series: Guardians of Vesturon
• Genre: YA Paranormal Romance (with Sci-Fi Element)
• Heat: HOT!

Isn't that an awesome cover?! I mean really?

Determinant blurb: January St. Davis, on her own since the age of sixteen and struggling to stay in college, thinks she’s scored in a major way when she lands a paid summer internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.  One evening, after working an especially long shift, a chance encouter with a group of mysterious men alters the course of her life.  

Rykerian Yarrister, a Guardian of Vesturon with unearthly powers and impossibly gorgeous looks, finds himself at odds over the human female he recently saved from certain death.  When it seems he is on the verge of winning her over, she is ripped from his hands by a strange and powerful being, threatening to destroy her if his demands are not met.

Do Rykerian and the Guardians have the ability to meet this fierce barbarian’s ultimatums, or will January suffer a horrid demise?

Excerpt of Determinant

I was lost in the events of the day and the amount of work I had and I was still nursing my wounded ego as I headed out of the lab.  As I made my way down the corridor, I noticed six men advancing toward me. 

It wasn’t their actions I noticed so much or even the way they walked.  And though it was an oddity for them to even be here at all, it was their attire that captured my attention.  They were dressed identically, in an extreme fashion, much like members of a gang or secret society.  Large and muscular, they wore black vests and their bare arms were almost completely tattooed with tribal symbols of a sort.  Metal bands criss-crossed their chests and their legs were tightly encased in leather.  Knee high boots and black gloves finished off their ensembles. 

As I neared them I felt my flesh tingle and the hairs on the back of my neck come to attention.  Gooseflesh erupted and alarms started clanging in my head.  I sucked in my breath and as I did, my eyes connected with the apparent leader.  I say this because he was in the front of the formation as they plodded along.

Time stood still as our eyes connected.  His were an uncanny shade, lavender with hints of indigo and specks of silver.  It was a hue I was unfamiliar with but they were intriguing and fascinating.  The alarms were still ringing in my ears and the air felt electrically charged around us. 

“Halt!”

I turned into stone.  I couldn’t move a muscle.  He cocked his head as his eyes bore into mine. 

“Breathe!”

I distinctly heard his command in my mind and I was helpless to disobey him.  I felt myself take a deep cleansing breath.  I questioned him with my eyes.  He flicked his head toward his men and they stepped back several feet.

“Who are you? Why are you here?”

I was confused by the demanding questions swirling in my brain but felt compelled to answer him.  I had never used mind reading to communicate, but I was sure he would hear my answer.

“I’m January St. Davis.  I’m here working on an internship for college credit.”

“You are human?” he asked with incredulity.

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that.  Why would he want to know if I was human?  What a ridiculous question!

ABOUT A.M. HARGROVE

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life.  So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase.  Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head.  Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window.   She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.

A.M.’s Boss:  Hello.

        A.M:  Hey Boss, I'm calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate.

A.M.’s Boss:  Why ever would I want to do that?

A.M.:  Because I quit!

                            A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.

A.M.:  Hey hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?

A.M.’s Hubs:  Sure...having some car trouble?

A.M.:  Not at all.  I don't have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job.

A.M.’s Hubs:  WHAT?!

A.M.:  It's time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist.

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a young adult paranormal romance author of self-published ebooks.  Her series, The Guardians of Vesturon, centers around a family of six siblings and is a mix of humor, mystery, suspense and of course, love.  Survival and Resurrection are her first and second full length novels, and Beginnings is her prequel novella to the series.  Determinant, her third in the series will be released 6/30/12.

(It didn’t really happen like that, but you get the idea!)

WHERE YOU CAN FIND DETERMINANT AND A.M. HARGROVE

Amazon: http://amzn.to/I5RCcQ

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/Lg7mJm

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/JwH3yf

iTunes: http://bit.ly/uChmR3

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=a+m+hargrove

A.M. Hargrove's Blog: http://www.amhargrove.blogspot.com

Website: htttp://www.amhargrove.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/anne.m.hargrove

Facebook: http//:www.facebook.com/guardiansofvesturon

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amhargrove1

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove

Goodreads Fan Club: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/71364-a-m-hargrove-s-fan-club

This stop on the Determinant Cover Reveal Blog Tour was made possible by the A.M. Hargrove Fan club on Goodreads.com.  I am glad I got a chance to participate and highly recommend this series to any and all YA book lovers.  

Feature Friday: Guardians of Vesturon Series

Hey everyone! Welcome to today's Feature Friday.  Yeah, I like names for my features especially when I do them like this.  Today I will be focusing solely on the A.M. Hargrove series The Guardians of Vesturon.  As of right now, this series has three books: 

1. Beginnings: Prequal to the Guardians of Vesturon
2. Survival
3. Resurrection

These books are fantastic, and you can find most at least two of them for free at a couple of different locations: Amazon.com and Smashwords.com.  The third one is relatively cheap, and it is WELL worth the purchase price.  Why am I focusing solely upon this series today, well it goes hand in hand with a post I've got coming tomorrow! If you've been following it, currently there is a cover release tour for the next book in the Guardians of Vesutron series, and I will be revealing that here tomorrow. However, there will be reviews of the first three books in this series, as well as my favorite picture from the A.M. Hargrove Fan Group on Goodreads.com, in the "What does your Guardian look like?" thread.  So, look out for the eye candy coming up in a bit. 

Blurb: You met the Guardians of Vesturon in Survival and Resurrection. Now read about how their parents, Rowan and Annalise met in Beginnings, the novella Prequel to The Guardians of Vesturon. Learn more about Rowan and how Annalise unwittingly captured his heart and how his chance meeting of her took him on a journey of forbidden love.

This is a fantastic introduction to this series, providing some back story to Rowan and Annalise's relationship.  This is Ryan Yarristar's history, how his parents met and fell in love.  Annalise worked in the cafeteria and Rowan fell in love with her, he had to save her.  However, being heir to the leadership of Vesturon, Rowan is forbidden to mate with a woman beneath his station and Annalise most certainly is below his station as she is a member of the working class.  Review: Beginnings: Prequel to The Guardians of Vesturon

Blurb: "Maybe I was caught between the two worlds. I was having serious trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality."

While on a backpacking trip in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, nineteen-year-old Maddie Pearce finds her world has been thrown into a vortex and is madly spinning toward the impossible. Abducted by a mad psychopath, Maddie narrowly escapes with her life. But that is only the beginning. Her mysterious rescuer introduces her to a world that Maddie has difficulty accepting as reality. Will this strikingly gorgeous stranger be the key to her future or will she return to her mundane world, scarred from her experience? Follow Maddie as she is forced to make difficult decisions that carry her to mysterious places.

Book one of the Guardians of Vesturon starts us off into the story of Maddie, who has been abducted by a psychopath, and narrowly escapes.  However, things will not be going back to normal, considering her mysterious rescuer has now introduced her to a world that she can't quite wrap her head around and accept it as reality.  Can Maddie return to the mundane world knowing what she currently knows, and what role does this mysterious stranger hold for her future?  Review: Survival by A.M. Hargrove

Blurb: Rayn Yarrister, the first-born son and Leader of The Guardians, has been imprisoned on Vesturon for breaking their most sacred of covenants. He is suddenly jolted by Maddie's telepathic pleas for help, as her life hangs in the balance. Can he alert The Guardians in time to save his soulmate? Or will he face his trial alone and broken without his one true love? 

In Resurrection (Book 2), The Guardians of Vesturon are facing their biggest challenges as Earth is threatened by an invading species from a distant planet intent on destroying it for its resources. The Guardians, as protectors of the universe, have been assembled to defend not only Earth, but other vulnerable worlds as well. The Yarrister family is threatened by an unknown entity intent on discrediting them. Will they uncover this plot in time to save themselves from ruin? Will The Guardians succeed in stopping the Xanthians, or will Earth be invaded and ravaged by this marauding species?

This is the second (or third depending on how you look at it) book in the Guardians of Vesturon series by A.M. Hargrove, and is just as epic as those that came before it.  There is more Rayn and more Maddie and did I mention more Rayn? Things of course go from bad to worse, what with Earth being threatened by an invading species intent on destroying it for resources.  Guardians now must be assembled to defend Earth but other worlds as well.  Oh, and there is also a threat against the Yarrister family as well, so what's going to happen? Review: Resurrection by A.M. Hargrove

Now, I promised you eye-candy, and you shall have eye candy! These are some of the images that portray "What our Guardian looks like..."

 

These images were gathered from sources around the world wide web, and I do not hold any of the copyrights to these images.  All are sourced to their original owners.  The model in images one and four is Jesse Pavelka, and is omg smoking hot.  

Review: Resurrection by A.M. Hargrove

Title: Resurrection (The Guardians of Vesturon #2)
Author: A.M. Hargrove
Rating:  5/5

Summary:   Earth is being threatened by an alien species, threatening to destroy the planet for its resources.  Also, there has been someone trying to bring the Yarrister family to ruin.  Will they be discredited or will they uncover the plot?  More importantly will Earth be saved?


Review:   This is the second book in this series and I fell in love all over again with these characters.  The progression was something that I loved and the way that the characters came together.  The flow was very natural and organic.  Resurrection picked up right where the first book, Survival, left off.  Maddie needed help, she was seriously injured and the only way to help was to again break all the rules and bring her to Vesturon to be healed.

A.M. Hargrove’s skill at world building is something I absolutely adore, because we get to see more of Vesturon, Rayn’s home. The descriptiveness of the world makes me want to be able to go there and experience the richness of the world myself.  It is such a wonderful place and the overall descriptiveness of the book is something that I enjoyed.

I loved the fact that the character growth continued through this book, and everyone that I loved came back in this book to continue to grow through the different struggles and learn more about themselves.  Also, I adored the fact that the relationship between Maddie and Rayn was not rushed, but allowed to grow naturally and that you could actually feel the connection between them. 

Definitely enough action to keep you entertained and most definitely going to leave you wanting more!

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com

My reviews can be found here:

http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Review: Survival by A.M. Hargrove

Title: Survival (The Guardians of Vesturon #1)
Author: A.M. Hargrove
Rating:  5/5

Summary:   Nineteen-year-old Maddie is abducted by a psychopath, and manages to narrowly escape with her life.  However, her rescuer is an enigma, and opens up Maddie to a world that she has trouble accepting as reality.  She then has some choices to make, to return to the mundane world, or to follow this mysterious stranger who may have some key to her future.


Review:    This book is by far one of my favorites, and it is so full of emotions.  I laughed and cried and laughed again.  It also helps that there are some swoon-worthy sexy men in this story (Rayn and his brothers).  With the amount of well thought out characters in this book, A.M. Hargrove, did an epic job of ensuring that we knew who was speaking and when, especially during the final scenes of this book when the point of view constantly jumped around. 

I fell in love with Maddie as a female lead, she is fun and carefree, but she has her own skeletons to deal with – the death of her parents and keeping her emotions bottled up instead of talking about them. She is one of those characters that are easy to like, however, there were a few inconsistancies with her that I was able to get past for the most part. 

Rayn, how could you not fall in love with him?!  He is sweet and caring and pretty much everything that a girl could want.  I love reading his point of view, his love for Maddie and the conflict that it creates in him, and yet you still know that he would do anything for her.

The different points of view was well managed, and the transitions between the points of view was handled in such a way that there was no confusion. One of my biggest issues was the initial switch from Maddie to Rayn and we had to once more experience everything all over again but from a different perspective.  It however, did nothing ot chance the story or give us new information other than further show us Rayn’s feelings for Maddie, which didn’t need quite so far a trip back in time. 

I have to bow down to A.M. Hargrove for her absolutely wonderful imagery.  The descriptions of the scenery, mountains, and etc, was so very beautiful, and it made me wish that I was there.  The creation of this world made me want to hike again and there is no such place here where I could adequately hike and emerse myself in something as vivid as this world that she’d created.  Her writing style, is definitely one that I enjoyed and kept the flow of the story done quite well.  In truth the only issue I had with this book was the cliff-hanger ending! Seirously?! GAH!

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com

My reviews can be found here:

http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Review: Beginnings: Prequel to The Guardians of Vesturon

Title: Beginnings: Prequel to The Guardians of Vesturon
Author: A.M. Hargrove
Rating:  5/5

Summary:  Annalise is a member of the working class.  She works in the cafeteria.  Rowan, soon to be leader of Vesturon sees her and falls in love with her.  However, since she is beneath his station he is not permitted to marry her.  This is a fantastic love story that tells the story of Rowan and Annalise parents to Rayn Yarrister.


Review:  This is a heart-felt love story.  Telling the story of how Rowan and Annalise, parents to Rayn Yarrister met.  This is a story of individuals who conquer society’s boundaries, fall in love and ultimately create a family.  It is a fantastic prequel to Survival and Resurrection, the next two books in the Guardians of Vesturon series.  This story inspires hope in fairytale type love, that when you find the right person for you, you will be willing to do anything and everything within your power to be with that person. 

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com

My reviews can be found here:

http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews

Good Evening...

Ugh! Today could have ended better for me..in so much that my desktop could be functioning (or at least clinging to its last traces of life) a lot better than it currently is.  Letting it cool and come down from its current tempertantruming over night and probably most of tomorrow while I am at work, and we shall see what happens then. But, it should NOT influence anything I've planned here.  Tomorrow shall be an epic day here at Confessions of a Bibliophile...why you ask? Well, let me tell you...

There is this EPICALLY AWESOME series written by A.M. Hargrove called The Guardians of Vesturion, and I've read all the books to date, and will be reviewing them tomorrow, as well as showcasing a couple of uber hot guys, that will make you think very, very indecent thoughts (if you are amongst my female followers, and probably make you jealous if you are amongst the male counter parts).  That segment is going to be titled "What does your Guardian look like..." and I took it off the A.M. Hargrove Fan Club page on Goodreads.com.  It is AWESOME, and the boys are delicious.

So, look for the reviews and special showcase to A.M. Hargrove's Guardians of Vesturion series...from prequel to book 2.  Speaking of A.M. Hargrove, there will be another EPICALLY awesome event concerning her coming up on the 23rd of June...so if you aren't paying attention you will miss it! Seriously!

Right now, I am working on my netbook, which doesn't have near everything I need on it, but it will still function and get everything on it that I will need to get things done.  The only thing I haven't installed on it is Adobe Digital Editions and Kindle for PC (and I might get around to it to finish Tigana and the galleies that I have to read)...though I'm still considering lemming it on Tigana (and we all know that isn't something that I do unless I absolutely cannot finish a book.  Tigana hasn't gotten that far for me yet).

What else is going on here? Oh! I won a free copy of Crimson Midnight by Amos Cassidy, and I will eventually get around to reading that.  I also have half a dozen other thing that I am needing to get around to reading...and I've also got reviews that I've done that I need to repost on Smashwords because stupid me forgot to post them over there and now Smashwords is pestering me about a review.  I also need to remember to format them properly so that they don't look disgusting when I post them.  Beyond that, I've still got a bunch of stuff to get done, that I've been horribly behind on (in case you haven't seen my reviews that need to be completed, and the more I read the longer the list gets...UGH!).

Galley Galore 3.0 will also be coming out this week, as will another small Author Read & Review corner.  The only other event that I've got coming up will be something involving Amos Cassidy, but that won't be until August.  Also, in August I will be able to post the epic awesomeness that is the review for one of the gallies that I've read.  I think I've also got one that I can post in July...I will have to check my calendar (which I need a new one of) and also double check publisher requirements on Netgalley.  I feel like I'm rambling, I really do, but this is stuff that I need to get out and need to ensure that I have all in one place...and it was also a vent concerning my computer being a party pooper and throwing a tempertantrum.  I really need a new computer and a new kindle damn it.  *sniffle*

Alright, I think I'm done with this update for the time being. I will possibly add more if I think of anything, but as of right now, I've been up since 3 am and it is closing in on my bedtime, and God knows that I need my beauty sleep.  Also, made some epic tastiness tonight, and you may just see it show up on the next bibliophile eats...unless I decide to do something else.

Lots of love,
Caedy :P

Bibliophile Eats: Triple Chocolate Fudge B-Day Cake

So, May 27th was my roommate's birthday and I chose to make her a cake.  She is a chocoholic, so we went with the same cake mix we used for the brownies we made for her on Mother's Day! Huzzah! I mean can you ever go wrong with chocolate? But instead of the cherry vanilla frosting, we went with traditional cream cheese frosting, because well that is epic as well.  This was the most recent baking project between me and little bit, my roommate's 9 year old daughter.

Eggs, four this time to keep it from being too crumbly! Worked like a charm with the second batch of cupcakes and worked fantastically with the cake.  This did two I think they are 8" round cakes.  My favorite silver mixing bowl <3 I love it.

Yum! It's chocolate, how wrong can you go with that?! In this house, not wrong at all!

This shot is kinda dark, but after it cooled and I frosted it, there were a few bits of cakey goodness stuck to the bottom of the cake pan so I scooped those off and broke them apart and used them as additional decoration on the cake.  Made it extra yummy! 

Mmmm...double layer triple chocolate fudge cake with cream cheese frosting for a wonderful birthday surprise!

$200 Amazon Giftcard give away

Want to win a $200 amazon giftcard? I know I do...click the link below to be taken to the giveaway!

$200 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Galley Galore 2.0

Hey all! Welcome to Wednesday.  On this spectacular hump day, I am featuring some reviews of galley copies of books that I'd been privileged enough to receive through Netgalley.  This edition of Galley Galore will be featuring five books total, four of which are in one singular series.  I've still got a couple of fantastic galleys to review for you, but for some of them you are just going to have to wait a while because they aren't due out for another couple of months yet.  The books featured in this edition of Galley Galore are: Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, and Shadow Moon all by Marilee Brothers and make up the Unbidden Magic series.

Without further rambling from me, here is the first book up for review today...

Book blurb: When Grace's husband, Adam, inherits a cottage on the Yorkshire moors, they leave London behind to try a new life.  A week later, Adam disappears.  The following year, Grace returns with her baby daughter Millie.  She is desperate for answers, but resigned to preparing the cottage for sale.  With no one prepared to divulge their secrets, Grace finds herself unwilling to trust anyone.  Then, just as snow fall threatens to cut her off from the rest of the world, she makes a terrible discovery.  In the aftermath, she realizes that she has been looking in the wrong place for answers all along.  In the wild winter weather she sets out to reclaim her daughter from the one person seemingly intent on taking Millie away, praying that she will reach them in time.

This book was awesome and earned four stars from me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves reading mystery and thriller books because while there are some gothic undertones, it is quite a thrilling read!  Review: Beneath the Shadows by Sara Foster

Moonstone book blurb: A sickly mother.  A tiny house trailer.  High school bullies and snarky drama queens.  Bad-guy dudes with charming smiles.  Allie has problems.  And then there's that whole thing about fulfilling a magical prophecy and saving the world from evil.  Geez.  Welcome to the sad, funny, sometimes-scary world of fifteen-year-old Allie Emerson, who's struggling to keep her and her mom's act together in the small-town world of Peacock Flats, Washington.  An electrical zap from a TV antenna sets off Allie's weird psychic powers.  The next thing she knows she's being visited by a hippy-dippy guardian angel, and then her mysterious neighbor, the town "witch," gives her an incredible moonstone pendant that has powers only a good-hearted "Star Seeker" is meant to command.  "Who, me?" is Allie's first reaction.  But as sinister events begin to unfold, Allie realizes she's got a destiny to live up to.  if she can just survive everyday life in the meantime. 

This is the first book in the Unbidden Magic series by Marilee Brothers, and I'd actually received all four books from the publisher via Netgalley and so did not get a chance to look at any of the cover art until after I'd read the books and added them to my completed reads over on Goodreads.  I do like the covers of all four books and am quite glad I got the chance to read this series.  Review: Moonstone (Unbidden Magic #1) by Marilee Brothers

Moon Rise book blurb: Her mom's still dating losers. Her boyfriend's gone back to Mexico. Dad still hasn't told his wife and kids that she exists. At school, the drama queens and bullies still rule. But worst of all for Allie Emerson--aka the Star Seeker of an old Gypsy prophecy--is that her powers have taken a hike. She can't read minds anymore. She can't move stuff just by looking at it. The other Star Seekers are counting on her psychic gifts more than ever, and the evil Tri-marks are closing in, eager to snatch her magic moonstone necklace while she's helpless. The hot new guy at school is ready and willing to fight her battles, but he comes with some wicked baggage. Dear Diary: I'm a little worried. My new BF is a demon.

Welcome again to Allie Emerson's funny, scary, amazing, and always unpredictable life, as the girl voted least likely to save the world from evil.

Moon Rise is the second book in the Unbidden Magic series, and is just as good as the first in the series.  We learn more about Allie, and in this part of her life her newly found powers have done what she initially wanted them to do - gone away - she can no longer do the things that she could before, and evil is closing in, but Allie has no way to stop them with her powers gone.  Oh, and lets start dating a demon while we are at it!  It yet another page turner by Marilee Brothers.  This one, like the first got four stars from me. Review: Moon Rise (Unbidden Magic #2) by Marilee Brothers 

Moon Spun blurb: Junior's back from Mexico with his movie-star entourage. Beck's using his half-demon charms to "heal" a new girl. Mom's still wacky and now she's dating Principal Hostetler. High school is still an obstacle course of drama queens, bullies and nutjobs. The Trimarks are still a menace, and the moonstone pendant has revealed even more mind-boggling powers. In other words, Allie Emerson's life as the Girl Voted Least Likely To Save The World From Evil has gone from Weird to Super-Charged Super-Weird, and it's about to get even weirder. You're a faery princess. So says the mysterious Ryker, whose handsome talents include turning himself into a hawk. By the way, he and Allie are destined to marry. In faery land--Boundless. If they can save it from forces even more deadly than Trimarks and high school. The third book in the Unbidden Magic series plunges readers into a rich other-world of danger, humor, romance, fable, fairytale and magical destiny.

Moon Spun is the third installment of the Unbidden Magic series, and another reason for me to love Allie all the more.  Lots of interesting things continue to happen to dear Allie since her discovery of her powers.  Oh, wait, now we add faery blood into the mix - as if she didn't have enough to worry about.  Thanks Ryker, who can turn himself into a hawk...and is destined to marry Allie (GAH! Boy #3 already!).  This book pulls you into a rich other-world, Boundless, the faery land that is under threat greater than the Tri-Marks and high school.  What will happen to Allie in this installment? Oh, and did I mention that JUNIOR IS BACK FROM MEXICO?! Beck is still around too.  Dreamy, dreamy, and dreamy that is what Allie's got before her. Review: Moon Spun (Unbidden Magic #3) by Marilee Brothers

Shadow Moon blurb: Allie Emerson is hoping for a few quiet months to catch her breath after a summer that included the discovery she is not only a twin and of faery blood, but also destined to play a pivotal role in faery world. School has barely begun when Allie must kiss her hope of a normal year goodbye.

She can't escape her unfinished business with the fae, the Trimarks, or Junior Alvarez, who is making it clear he plans to win her back. Signs, portents and whispers are pushing Allie to "find the girl" before it's too late. Hoping her twin can help her solve the riddle of their destiny, Allie uncovers old secrets and begins a cross-country journey that puts her in more danger than ever before. If she succeeds, she may just find the answers that can save everyone she loves.

Allie is a twin and part faery! Right, so much for being a normal teenager, and some downtime.  Seriously, I think my head would explode if I didn't at some point get a nice long vacation and some time to myself.  However, Allie's hopes for a normal year are dashed right at the beginning of the school year.  There is unfinished business abounding from the fae, to Junior, and the ever present menace of the Tri-Marks.  

Junior wants her back, like with a vengeance.  Also, everything is pushing Allie to find "the girl" and in the mean time, she ends up having to travel cross-country and hopefully save everyone she loves if she can find the right answers!  Definitely a fantastic installment to this series and by the Gods I want more! Review: Shadow Moon (Unbidden Magic #4) by Marilee Brothers

So, there you have Galley Galore 2.0.  Five EPIC stories that you must read! 

See you next time! 

Cae 

Review: Shadow Moon (Unbidden Magic #4) by Marilee Brothers

Title:  Shadow Moon (Unbidden Magic #4)
Author:  Marilee Brothers
Rating: 5/5

Summary:  Allie is a faerie princess, destined to marry Ryker, and she’s a twin.  After all these discoveries, all she wants is some down time to process it and catch her breath, however, that is not going to be allowed.  Any hope that Allie had of a normal school year is gone, and she has countless levels of unfinished business with the fae, the Tri-Marks and the returned Junior Alvarez, who wants her back in a major way.  This danger filled cross-country journey will provide more twists and turns into Allie’s already convoluted life and hopefully she will find the answers and save everyone she loves.


Review:  Two words: CLIFF HANGER! Dear god, I am restraining myself from tracking down Ms. Brothers and begging for an ARC of book number five that she is working on.  Seriously, I want it that bad.  This book was fantastic, this book was even more of a rollercoaster than the other books in the series.  The adventure and excitement in Moon Spun have NOTHING on the twists and turns of this book. 

The play on government conspiracies, the threat from our own government added to the mix, was something expected yet unexpected.  Something I once thought as filler has become its own full blown storyline, and there was absolutely nothing that I could find fault with aside from the fact that it ends on a cliff hanger and those drive me crazy with want for more.

I seriously had to struggle to put this book down and do other things, like work and tend to household chores.  It was that good, and you cannot look away. She has a twin, and an evil looking fae who pops in and out at the weirdest times.  Also, there is the fae posing as a preacher who has evil motives.  Then we meet Sammie, who Allie has a psychic connection to.  A suspension right before the holiday, Allie is vindicated by Nicole, and this opens up the path to begin searching for her sister.  A unique mix goes along for the ride: Junior, Faye and Sammie.  However, things take a drastic turn and this search soon becomes a fight for Allie and Sammie’s life.

I wish Beck had gotten a bit more page time aside from a phone call every now and then, but perhaps it  is a good thing, because of Beck’s succubus heritage.  Junior has fallen out of favor with me, but he regained a lot of it in this installment, and I’m looking to see what develops between him and Allie in the future installments.  Another beau that is absent in this installment is Ryker, but there are some hints that lead me to believe that there maybe some kin between he and Beck.  However, the hawk feather comes through.

Sammie has become one of my favorites and I love the connection between she and Allie.  One that we do not know how close it is until the very end of the story, and I can’t wait to see more of her.

If you’ve not read this series, it is never too late to start.  There is something in it for everyone, and I am anxious to see what else is in store for Allie and her band of merry misfits. 


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Review: Moon Spun (Unbidden Magic #3) by Marilee Brothers

Title:  Moon Spun (Unbidden Magic #3)
Author:   Marilee Brothers
Rating:  4/5

Summary: Beck is healing a new girl.  Junior and his entourage are back from Mexico.  Mom is now dating Principal Hostetler.  Tri-Marks are still a menace and the pendant has revealed even more mind-boggling powers.  Allie Emerson’s life as the Girl Voted Least Likely To Save The World From Evil has gone from Weird to Super-Charged Super-Weird, and the rollercoaster ride of weirdness is not over yet.  Enter the mysterious Ryker, who can turn himself into a hawk btw, divulges that Allie is a faery princess and destined to be his bride.  Wait, what?! Yeah.  Oh yeah, and the faery land, Boundless, is dealing with a threat bigger than the Tri-Marks and Allie and Ryker gotta save it.


Review:  This one is just as compelling as the first two in the series, but this one has a flavor all its own.  It picks up shortly after where Moon Rise left off, summertime is here and the faeries are out to play.  Beck is in Seattle and with his departure Junior returns.  However, we also have mysterious boy number three, Ryker, who is now after Allie’s heart.

The threat in this book, thankfully is not the Tri-Marks, but in a whole new world, the Faerie Land of Boundless.  Allie’s grandmother needs her help to free the faeries of the forest from the prison they’ve been in for years.  There is a changling who wants to return to Boundless, and oh yeah, if Allie goes to Boundless, the land of her grandmother, she may never be able to return to her home.  Sounds good right?!  We learn more about her heritage in this book, her grandmother is a faerie queen, and her father has a mysterious heritage as well.

Another well written installment to this series, and kudos to Ms. Brothers for creating such a wonderful world and delightful characters – that I adore! Also, I do have to feel for Allie, I mean, the boys keep coming out of the woodworks to woo and protect her regardless of what she wants.  Allie would be just peachy settling down and being a normal teen, but that isn’t in her cards.  I love that we get this glimpse into her grandmother’s world and what it means for Allie’s future.  I love how she is further coming into her own as she bargains and stands up for what she wants.  I am more than ready for the next book in the series to see what twists and turns Allie comes across and if any more woo and protect hotties come out of the woodworks.


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Review: Moon Rise (Unbidden Magic #2) by Marilee Brothers

Title:  Moon Rise
Author:  Marilee Brothers
Rating: 4/5

Summary:  Allie’s powers have taken a hike, she can no longer read people’s minds and move things by looking at them.  Junior is gone off to Mexico to become a soap opera star (not something I’m thrilled with), however, Allie’s got enough to worry about.  The evil Tri-marks are closing in, wanting to grab the moonstone necklace while she is helpless, the Starseekers need her more than ever, and there is a new guy in Allie’s life that is ready and willing to fight her battles.  Oh yeah, and new hottie is a demon, always a plus right?


Review:  This was an exciting follow up to Moonstone, and a wonderful continuation of Allie’s story in the Unbidden Magic series, however, my one pet peeve is that Junior got shipped away to Mexico.  Sadness there.  However, that sadness faded away at the introduction of the new hottie on the block, this story is filled with twists and turns that are prevalent on every page and it was hard to put down once I started it.  Allie is starting to learn more about her powers, but much like her mother Faye, her grandfather will reveal nothing of what he knows, and she also has the potential to reveal secrets about her mother’s past.

Allie’s grown up quite a bit in this one, she’s growing stronger and more mature as the story goes on, and the timid Allie has been left behind.  Brothers did a fantastic job growing her up in this second book, allowing her to become a strong equal in the war of good versus evil.   Also, I truly enjoyed the introduction of some new faces Beck and Nicole, the twins.  The mixture of a nun and a succubus, with some Shaman training, that is the yummy Beck.  I also liked the inclusion of Grandfather Claude in the mix, however, saddened that he may not be around much longer, and it did annoy me that he is as closed mouthed as Faye. 

There were some questions I had about Allie and Beck’s relationship and not understanding the reason for the “pretending” of boyfriend/girlfriend when they were clearly both into each other.  Perhaps there was something more along the lines of Allie’s age, as she’s only fifteen and Brother’s is skirting the line for a more realistic setting.  The message sent to young adults by having innocents discovering the opposite sex for the first time. 

I do look forward to reading more installments of this series, this book is definitely one I would recommend along with the first, because with this series, if you do not read them in order you will miss out on important information.


If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Review: Moonstone (Unbidden Magic #1)

Title:  Moonstone (Unbidden Magic #1)
Author:  Marilee Brothers
Rating: 4/5

Summary:  Allie lives in Peakcock Flats, Washington with her mom.  Every day life has the typical filler of every fifteen-year-old’s life: high school bullies, snarky drama queens, bad-guy dudes with charming smiles.  Oh, Allie also has this prophecy to live up to about saving the world from evil.  Her psychic abilities are jump started by an electrical jolt from a TV antenna which brings forth a hippy-dippy guardian angel and the gift of an incredible moonstone pendant from the town “witch,” who just happens to be Allie Emerson’s next door neighbor. 


Review:  The story starts off a touch strange, but it quickly becomes exciting and more suspenseful as you progress.  Kudos to Marilee Brothers on her first attempt, and as a self published book there are a few flaws, but that is to be expected, and they did not bother me too much, except for the failure to set the ‘rules” so to speak for the many magical talents Allie is now in possession of by the end of the book. 

Allie’s powers are telekinetic and they are amplified by the moonstone pendant that she is given by her eccentric neighbor, however, there are others that want the pendant as well, and now Allie’s world is filled with quite a bit more than your average high school drama, she has now started her part in the age old battle between good and evil, however she isn’t sure who she can trust. 

The characters are pretty well developed, and they are the type you can either love or hate.  Allie just wants a normal life, and actually wants her powers to go away when they first manifest themselves.  She is also more grown up than her mother Faye, who you just want to shake and smack some sense into.  Junior is the local bad boy, former gang member and now trying to right his wrongs and keep himself out of trouble.  I love the interaction between Allie and Junior and the potential for a budding relationship is so strong, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
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Life In General...

UGH! Why do I even bother setting up a schedule, trying to keep a routine? Every time I try, something gets in the way and throws a complete WRENCH in the system and nothing ever gets done.  Well, UGH! Just UGH! The past few days have been nightmarishly devoid of any productive activity, thank you neuropathy.  Between my wrists and various other things I've been absolutely stagnant.  I got up yesterday's release party post, only because I had that one prepared after I'd gotten the images it was just a matter of publishing it at the right time.

Everything else, is still sitting backlogged and waiting to be shoved forward so everything behind it can be moved.  I've still got books 2-4 of the Unbidden Magic series to write for Galley Galore 2.0, and I still have to write reviews for Galley Galore 3.0, as well as get up the initial theme that I was going to get up today.  I also have today's Bibliophile Eats to get up, since I missed last weeks, shame on me.  Either way, I have a lot to do to catch up to where I want to be (and I've made publishers wait long enough to see the reviews over on netgalley, which I've just received 2 new galleys from).  Also, I want to update my blog, personalize it and make it my own rather than just use templates from blogger, not that I have anything against them...I just want my own.

So, I'm going to try and get busy...oh and did I mention I still have cleaning to do *twitch*

The Dryad Quartet Release Day Party!

So, remember that special event that I told you about! Well, it is HERE! Welcome to the Release Day Party for books three and four of The Dryad Quartet by Katie Jennings!  Who wants free books? Everyone! Well, there will be a giveaway for US and International residents!  One lucky US resident will win a signed print copy of ONE of the four books in this series or one International winner will receive an Ebook copy of all four books! Use the widget below to enter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Three: A Life Earthbound

Her name was Rhiannon, and she was Earth. 

She was graceful, intelligent, and undoubtedly a workaholic. She could put a crack in the Earth’s surface a mile wide and grow the loveliest flower ever to have existed right beside it, a contradiction she held with both reverence and pride. For she herself was something of a contradiction: a girl, seemingly free, but silently trapped within her own heart and mind, never to be released.

Or so she thought. She never wasted much time on impractical dreams or wishes she figured could never come true. But all her life one person has been there, a constant reminder of the true girl living behind her mask of cool indifference and solitude.

But the tides of her fate were changing, and her helplessness building as a master plan was in the works that would only bind her wrists further, and destroy everything she never even thought she could have.

Throw in a dash of murder, vicious accusations, and plenty of family drama, and it could very well be a recipe for freedom, or for death.


Purchase A Life Earthbound A Life Earthbound on Amazon

Book Four: Of Water and Madness

His name was Liam, and he was Water. 

His heart was as expansive and deep as the ocean, with emotions that could both rage like storms and soothe like a clear and quiet stream.  He lived for the smell of rain, and thrived in the knowledge that it was he who made it fall.

But while most everything in his life seemed to be going great, there was still this impending doom just over the horizon, threatening to wipe his home completely off the map.  All he had to do was rise to the challenge and fight once the war came.

But there was just one little problem:  he had gone, quite simply, mad.

Not that he knew it, nor did anyone else.  But he wasn’t himself any longer, and the truth behind the lies would eventually come out.  And when it did, Liam would discover the burned bridges and the destroyed hearts he’d left in his wake.

It was a funny thing, madness.  A funny, cruel, and violently destructive thing.

Purchase Of Water and Madness: Of Water and Madness on Amazon

Katie Jennings

Katie Jennings is a mid-twenty-something year old girl with an imagination for days and a supportive husband who thinks she’s a colossal nerd. She writes because she loves it, and because breathing life into characters is the greatest escape she’s ever found.  Most of her time is spent puttering around online, editing her latest book, or feeding people food to her cat.  She lives just north of Los Angeles, and enjoys reading fantasy and romance novels, watching Once Upon a Time, playing around on Photoshop, and finding new music to fall in love with.  She believes in, above all else, happy endings.

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/dryadquartet

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Blog:  http://katieajennings.wordpress.com/

Website:  http://www.katieajennings.com/index.htm

Other Books in the Dryad Quartet