Review: Saving Halloween by Lisa Ard

Title: Saving Halloween

Author: Lisa Ard

Format: E-book (Kindle)

Read: Dec 29-30, 2012

Rating: 3/5

Recommend: For 3rd Grade and Up.

Summary: When book-smart Anne Parson meets Halloween Spavento, she sees exactly what she wants to see -- a friend. Halloween waves away trouble, magically silences school bullies and offers Anne unfailing friendship. But, when the Spavento family's enchanting exploits are exposed, will Anne face her fears and save Halloween?

Review: I had received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  Anne's parents had high expectations from her. They ensured that she did well in school, but weren't the kind of parents who would spend a lot of time with her. She didn't have friends, and in fact she was a target for bullies, that is until Halloween Spavento and her family. The townsfolk like the Spaventos despite their eccentric hobbies, well everyone except the bullies. Anne does end up becoming good friends with Halloween, and the strange traditions (talking to deceased relatives) don't bother her.

However, thanks to Mrs. Spavento, who overhears the bullies talking in a shop, saying that they “hate Halloween,” and she thinks that they mean the holiday, not her daughter, they will be planning and hosting the best Halloween party the town has ever seen!

I did like this middle grade story, and I do like how Ms. Ard tells her story, however I did find this book a little lacking and I can't entirely put my finger on just why that is. But, it is a good read for a young advanced reader, and definitely as a good balance of spooky and not spooky. Definitely a good book to read around Halloween.   

Shelving Choices: Do Not Read & Did Not Finish

Books come in all shapes and sizes. Good stories, bad stories, and in between stories. We’ve read them on our own, we’ve had to read them for school or various other reasons. Some we will read again, others we will never come near again unless we are desperate for something to read (and even then we may consider other sources before touching these books). I’ve noticed a trend of some people starting what is essentially called a Do-Not-Read list, and I was currently browsing a shelf with this particular title on a goodread user’s profile and several of the books on this shelf are on my to-read shelf and I’ve no intention of removing them from my to-read shelf (and I will read them eventually).


Beyond that, I do not understand why some of these books are on there. They are good books, they are best sellers and look very, very interesting. I have actually seen an author’s entire collection of stories on this shelf and it disturbs me to think that someone would slight an entire author for whatever reason. There is some drama with a NYT bestselling author over her husband calling a reviewer a psycho on an amazon.com review, and the various atomic bomb size fall out and drama that came with that, but other authors I don’t understand. Someone explain to me why you would blacklist all of an author’s work without any reason that I can think of?

Difference in opinion aside, what would make you shelve a book “Do Not Read” or “Did Not Finish”, or would you simply not do such a thing? I’ve one book that I’ve shelved “did not finish” or “abandoned” simply because I couldn’t get past some of the issues with it and my review reflected that. Beyond that, I’ve finished everything else I’ve been given to read, and ultimately I will not shelf a book “do not read” or “did not finish” unless there is a lot of problematic errors and issues with the writing style that I simply cannot get past. If your book drives me crazy (and not in an “OMG I LOVE THIS” type of way) it will be made known in my review, and ultimately in various shelving choices when I choose my options on goodreads.

Do you have books like this? Are they all in a specific genre or by a specific author? Inquiring blogger wants to know!

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.  

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 

Author Read and Review Corner

Alright, so through various groups that I am part of on Goodreads, I have come across some epic books that I've been given a chance to review by the author.  Today's blog post will feature a handful of books by various authors that I've been given the pleasure of reading their books.

Alright, are you ready for a showcase of four fantastic books?  I know I am! So, let's get started.

First book on the list, is A Story not Wished to be Read by Nicola Black.  This is a collection of poetry and is actually quite good, nothing about it ruffled my feathers like some poetry is known to do.  My review was short, but this is by far a four star book, and one that will keep you thinking long after you've read through this short collection.  Review: A Story not Wished to be Read by Nicola Black.

Now, from poetry we venture off into some Dreadful Beginnings, which is the first in the Penny Dreadful series by Marty Shaw.  This book is cute, and I'm looking forward to reading more about Penny and Dr. H. as the series progresses.  Epic book here.  I mean you've got a teenage heroine with pink highlights, strange and mysterious Doctor (complete with nifty and mysterious suitcase of epic demon slaying things), and Penny's new "company car" is a hearse! Review: Dreadful Beginnings by Marty Shaw

From a teenage demon slayer and the strange Dr. H we go to the story of Heather Robbins who has finally escaped her hometown and is beginning her freshman year of college, her own apartment, and so much more, but wait, it's all been a dream?  Spending time in a coma, Heather has created this life in a dream.  She must now press forward and begin finding out the truth, but will she lose all that she has fallen in love with when she finally finds it? Review: Reflection by Jessica Roberts

From dreams created in a coma patient to the New England Immortals, see, I told you this would be a unique and entertaining venture going all over the place!  Andrea Dayla is heading off to college, leaving her Uncle behind, and heading to the town of Hanover, however little does she know that the stories her Uncle has been telling her have been truthful, and not just superstitious nonsense. She meets Shane Brennen and falls in love, but being a teenager and being in love is only half of it right?  Something has to go horribly wrong doesn't it?  Yup, turns out Andrea is only one in a long line of immortal vampire hunters - wait doesn't that mean she has to kill her boyfriend? Just great! Review: Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever

All of these books are among my favorites and I will definitely be looking for more books in each of these series (save for the poetry book because it isn't in a series).  I've fallen in love with these characters as we are all inclined to do when we get our hands on a good book.  Take a look at all of these books and you will hopefully fall in love with them as well.

Review: Believe by E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever

 Title:  Reflection
Author:  E. Leighanne Grimm-Weever
Rating: 4/5

Summary:   Vampires don’t really exist right? That’s what Andrea Dayla always believed despite her Uncle’s stories and constantly painting Vampires and things in such a bad, evil light.  Heading off to college, leaving the only life she’s ever known Andrea meets Shane Brennen and his family, and falls in love.  However, it turns out Andera is only one in a long line of vampire hunters and her new boyfriend is a Vampire.  As if relationships aren’t already complicated enough lets throw that in the mix! Andrea just needs to believe.

Review:  I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Okay, aside from a few spelling errors, I absolutely LOVE this story.  Vampires are one of my favorite creatures to read about, and how the mythos have been changed through different series is something I either love or hate, this one I love.  I was sucked in at the beginning, and I want a Shane Brennen of my own, because damn, Edward Cullen has nothing on this sexy man.

The different relationships in this story had me hooked, and I’m looking forward to reading more of this story as it unfolds in future books.  The relationships flowed effortlessly Andrea and Shane, Jack, the entire Brennen family (who I wish is my family), her Uncle and Roger, her mother, and all of it simply worked perfectly.  I love that Andrea was able to get close to everyone and show them how to understand and be at ease with what they were and how each situation was different. 

It also helps that I am a sucker for a good love story, so Andrea and Shane were really my biggest driving force in finishing this book – and it’s a paranormal love story, brownie points there! That ending is something I am still hooked on, that’s all I gotta say about that.  Definitely a must read.

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: Dreadful Beginnings by Marty Shaw

 Title:  Dreadful Beginnings
Author:  Marty Shaw
Rating: 5/5

Summary:  ~There are things out there. Dark and scary things that will kill you in strange and terrible ways. They live in shadows and feast on blood. They don’t belong in our world, but they’re here. You don’t have to freak out, though, because there’s this guy out there too. He calls himself Doctor Horror and he fights those bad things, but he needs help in his fight against the darkness.

Lucky for him, I’m the right girl for the job.~ (Taken from goodreads.com)

Review:  I received a copy of this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

Written in a teenage girl’s POV this story is absolutely wonderful.

One of my favorite set of quotes from this book:
"What's that?"
"the ultimate weapon for killing demons"
"It's a suitcase ."
"Well, yes, it is but it holds the ultimate weapon against killing demons"
Yeah, it actually happens, and yes it is actually a suitcase that is filled with all sorts of interesting things that will help Penelope fight demons. 

The cover of this book completely got my attention, like no joke, it is one of the best covers and so completely fits this story and series.  Dog.  Bone.  Enough said. This book is SHORT, but not super short.  It will have you most definitely begging for more by the time you get to the last page.  This series is bound to do well.

It begins with Penelope Dire, just out of high school, working a crappy telemarketing job, she doesn’t want a boring desk job, and can’t really conform to the “office life style” and thus quits.  However, she really doesn’t know what was waiting for her when she left that desk job and met Dr. Horror.  A spell for prosperity and love kinda goes wrong and releases a rather nasty demon, and Penny must now help Dr. Horror slay it. 

Teenage girl with pink highlights – just the image you want for a demon slayer right?  Oh, and seriously, you’ve got a kick-butt heroine, strange and mysterious Doctor complete with NIFTY suitcase, fantastic writing, the pacing was just perfect, oh yeah, and Penny’s new company car, a HEARSE!  Because that’s just the ride for the demon slayer right?! Come on now? You know you love it.

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: A Story not Wished to be Read by Nicola Black

 Title:  A Story not Wished to be Read
Author:  Nicola Black
Rating: 4/5

Summary:  This is a collection of poetry and the story is hidden amongst the poems that are in the collection.

Review:  This short read, and by short I mean eight pages, is quite a good read for a poetry collection. You read through poems centering on things that everyone can relate to such as faith, love, loss, pain and other emotions, and there is the sense of begging to make the reader understand, to delve into deeper thought concerning the works within. 

This deceptively short read will give you plenty to think about after you’ve turned the final page, and just what exactly was that story that did not want to be read?


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