Thursday, June 28, 2012

Book Review: Daywalker: The Beginning-Nightwalkers, #1

Today's review is on Daywalker: The Beginning-Nightwalkers, #1 by J. C. Stone

Daywalker is a fantastic read that captures the reader instantly, and takes them on a wild and crazy ride along with its main character Lacy Logan.

At just 21-years-old, Lacy is excited to be opening her own business as a Paranormal Investigator.  Her career is cut short however when a hotter-than-hell, gorgeous man appears in her office, and literally sucks the life out of her and vanishes.

She doesn't know it, but she is a Daywalker.  And Nightwalkers, like the one that attacked her, seek out supernaturals like her to take their power so that they can walk in the sun.

Everything about Daywalker is perfect except..........it's just to short!! At just 38ish pages, I feel a little jilted.  I would love to see this as a full-length book. *hint, hint*

4 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon 

Monday, June 25, 2012

Book Review: Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird

Today's review is on Billy Purgatory: I Am the Devil Bird by Jesse James Freeman

I finished reading this book last night and decided to hold off on writing my review. I wanted some time to think about it before putting my thoughts down on "paper". It's a bit difficult because, though there were parts of the book that I really enjoyed, there were some chapters that I didn't.

Most of the book focuses on Billy Purgatory and his life, but some chapters switch the focus to his mother's. In fact, I feel that there were a bit to many chapters about Emelia Purgatory for my taste. I mean the book is about Billy right?

And speaking about Billy, do ten-year-olds really say the word Broad? I haven't heard any. Also, I know the main character's name is Billy Purgatory. You don't need to tell me that over and over and over. It also would have been nice to have some type of time frame in the book. I mean, he's ten, then twenty-two, and then some time passes and he's how old now??

Overall, I like the premiss of the story. Vamp's, Zombies and other creatures are abound, and all Billy wants is to find his mom. (At least towards the end.)

Billy's life is far from normal. Though on the surface he seems like every other 10 year old, he skips school, get's suspended, is pretty much emotionally neglected by his father, and lives in a hobble. As if that's not bad enough, he decides to help a beautiful girl only to find that she is a vampire.

Little does Billy know that that particular beautiful vampire will become a permanent fixture in his life and in his heart, and his life will never be the same.

Billy Purgatory is one of those books that you simply have to read for yourself to see if it is something you enjoy. The writing is descriptive enough that it pulls you in from the first chapter, even though there are some editing mistakes.

At any rate, now I have to read the second book just to find out what happens next. So many books to read, with so little time to read them.


3.5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon



Friday, June 22, 2012

Book Review: Darkness: The Brookehaven Vamipres, #2

Today's review is on Darkness: The Brookehaven Vampires, #2 by Joann I. Martin Sowles

After waiting so long for this second installment in the Brookehaven series, I am left with mixed feelings. One thing for certain is that compared to Laney; in my opinion, Darkness is basically a flop.

Laney was so needy and whiny throughout the entire book, and because it has taken so long for this book to come out, I couldn't remember if she was as bad in the first one. Though there were moments between her and Oliver that were exciting, most of the time it was pretty boring.

Though the book description makes it seem bigger than it actually is, Laney did suffer from a traumatic event. Without knowing exactly who the perp. responsible is, Oscar is suspected to be involved.

After being bitten by a werewolf, Carter struggles to recover. No one in the group knows what will happen when the Full Moon rises, and when it does everyone is surprised with the outcome.

There were ample opportunities in Darkness where the author could have "run with it", but unfortunately she didn't. This, along with the massive amount of editing mistakes, Darkness shouldn't even earn 2 stars, but I'm feeling generous today.

I sincerely hope for two things in regards to the next book in the series:
             1. That it doesn't take as long as Darkness to come out.
             2. That it get some serious editing done.


2 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Book Review: Tundra 37

                Today's review is on Tundra 37 by Aubrie Dionne

Deciding to branch out of my comfort zone a bit I agreed to read Tundra 37.  What I found was science fiction romance that could melt even the coldest of hearts.  Fluctuating between chapters of the past and the present day, the reader can't help but to fall in love with the characters.

We have all had thoughts of the world ending as we know it.  In Tundra 37 it actually does.  There is hope however.  Scientific advancements have allowed for space travel aboard the Expedition.  It's only hitch is that it will take twin sisters with amazing abilities to make it happen. They will have to become a part of the ship itself.

The people responsible for the ship and its expedition want the human race to continue.  This means that they are accepting only the best candidates to live on the ship.  These include those higher up in the "class" system and those with the best genes. 

Three hundred years after the ship has left Earth, Gemme is sitting in her office going over the computers matches when she is interrupted by Luna.  Use to getting exactly what she wants, she offers Gemme an chance to see the Seers in exchange for making sure that she is matched with Lieutenant Brentwood.  Just before the ship is thrown into a meteor shower though, Gemme's own name appears on the matching screen along with Brentwood's. 

Having to land on an ice covered planet, Brentwood, along with a small team are sent out to find a new fuel source.  But there is something else out there that one of the Seers wants, but it could do more damage than good though.

Can the four members of team Alpha Blue find the alternate fuel source before time runs out for the rest of the colonists on the ship? 

Well written, Tundra 37 was a surprisingly good book.  (Though there were some editing mistakes.)  I look forward to reading the next installment in the series.

3.5 of 5 stars
Available at Amazon


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Book Review: Special Offers

                Today's review is on Special Offers by M. L. Ryan

This short 170 page book offers a fresh new twist on the paranormal genre.  It's a bit like Mission Impossible meets The Body Snatchers without the gore and violence.  Yes it has a some romance, but it is not the total focus of the story. What it is, is a page turner that will keep you fixed to your seat until you reach the very end.

The main character; Hailey Parrish, is a 30-year-old divorced woman who hasn't been with a man for about three years. Considering herself "ordinary", she is surprised when the handsome Alex Sunderland seems interested in her.  More surprising though is the spark between them, and I mean an actual spark. 

Alex is able to explain why Hailey has been having such strange cravings, and why she is hearing a voice in her head.  Surprisingly, it all comes down to the spur-of-the-moment purchase of an Amazon Kindle.  The one that Sebastian Kess' essence is inhabiting.

Hailey is a quirky, funny character who just needs a bit of encouragement to see how strong and beautiful she really is. And Alex is the perfect man to show her.

I don't normally read an entire book in just one day, but with Special Offers I did just that.  The only thing keeping this piece from getting a full four star rating is the editing misses.  I can't help but to repeat my mantra:  Edit, edit, edit, and then edit yet again.

3.5 of 5 stars
Available @ Amazon


Sunday, June 10, 2012

Book Review: 8-The Previously Untlod Story of the Previously Unknown 8th Dwarf

Today's review is on 8: The Previously Untold Story of the Previously Unknown 8th Dwarf by Michael Mullin

As Mullin states in this book, many tales that have been spun by authors such as The Brothers Grimm, have been altered through the years to provide the elusive Happily Ever After.  Truth be told however, not everyone gets that happy ending.  Nor does good always triumph over evil.  That is just one reason why I really enjoyed 8.

Written with the prose of a seasoned rhymer, 8 is filled with witty sarcasm that flows effortlessly from one sentence to the next.  (If you can read this book without a smile on your face, I would be very surprised.)

What really happened to Snow White?  In 8 you're given an even more plausible rendition; than that of Walt Disney, with the help of the unknown 8th dwarf.

Quick witted and all around cute, I love this dark take on this well loved tale.  But what happened to the 8th dwarf in the end?  Give me just one more page to let me know.

4 of 5 stars
Available @ Amazon

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Book Review: Wolves Among Men

             Today's review is on Wolves Among Men by Penlelope Sweet

Wolves Among Men is a fast-paced adventure that has the potential for being a really good book. With a decent story line and the beautiful flow of the authors voice, it's a shame that it's riddled with editing mistakes.

Ethan Harlow and his sister Cordillia are trying to live their lives the best that they can after the death of their parents. Ethan takes responsibility for his baby sister and would do anything to protect her and keep her safe. After all, all they have is each other now. It's funny though, how everything can change in one moment. How a normal life can turn to chaos. And that's exactly what happens.

One evening, Ethan is attacked and left for dead only to be "rescued" by a strange and beautiful woman. But after waking up in the ICU, Ethan notices some strange changes in himself. Unknowingly, Ethan has become a Werewolf.

What follows is a story of love, loss, and friendship amongst a war. A war that Ethan has unwittingly started by breaking a treaty between wolves. Wolves that protect humans, and wolves that eat humans. Now he'll need the help of all of his new friends and the woman who changed him to end it.

I really wanted this book to be better than it actually is. I could feel for the characters as I was pulled into the story. I didn't want to put the book down. I had to see what was going to happen. Sadly however, there are just so many editing mistakes.

Proper punctuation is missing, wrong words are used, quotes where they shouldn't be. It seems like the book didn't even go through editing. Readers deserve a bit better than that no matter how much the book costs.

2 of 3 stars
Available @ Amazon

*****After this review was written, I was informed that the author is in the process of rewriting and reediting this book.*****