Review ~ The Survivors by Amanda Harvard

TITLE: The Survivors

AUTHOR: Amanda Harvard
COPYRIGHT: 3/29/11
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES: 283
SERIES: Yes book 1

REASON FOR READING: Look really good and I was itching to buy something with my kindle

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
In 1692, when witch trials gripped the community of Salem, Massachusetts, twenty-six children were accused as witches, exiled, and left for dead. Fourteen of them survived.
The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family's sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back.
On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she's sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all...
HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR?
The Survivors will steal your heart and invade your mind. Fall into the pages of Sadie's life, a world so frighteningly similar to your own, you'll find yourself wanting to go to the Montana mountains to find the Survivors for yourself.
And it is only the beginning

THOUGHTS/OPINION:

The book was slow and confusing at parts then at other parts it was information overload HOLY CRAP. There were times I was flipping back through the pages hoping I could remember where that quote was and MY GOD at the end I was so lost and yet so interested I basically had to re-read half the story all over again. But, that is a good thing b/c usually when a book is slow I lose interest. This book however, had it all love, mythology, magic, action, mystery, and travel. Who could ask for more?

THINGS I LIKED:
- I enjoyed the overall story line I thought it was very interesting and the characters kept me interested enough to continue reading. I wanted to know who the Winters were I wanted to know how you could kill a Survivor.
- I loved the love story and how sweet they were:
Ex: He didn’t say much, but he held me closer and closer as he made his way up one arm and down the other until he had kissed every single scar. It was the most intimate experience I had ever had. I was so vulnerable like that, my secrets exposed. But he didn’t pull away in fear, and he hadn’t been repulsed. Instead he took great care to show me how these scars hut him too, and how he cared for me –scars and all.

I seriously fell in love with him all over b/c wow what a great moment.
-I loved that the hero and heroine had never had sex before and were very modest they didn’t want to unless it was with a special person. And can I say in fact they did not have sex in this story and I was happy to be able to read something with SEX being the main point. It was refreshing for once!

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:

There were so many different mythological creatures I had a hard time keeping everything straight on what was important to the story and what I could forget.

- I seriously got sick of all the name brand crap the author used. I get it they have money and they wear expensive crap I don’t care. It was like reading JR Ward again without the gangsta talk

Ex: He looked like he was pulled straight from the pages of editorial ads in Vogue – Ralph Lauren Black Label, maybe Prada, or even some of the more subdued Dolce and Gabbana. His jeans were nice and dark but worn in – Dolce, I was pretty sure – and fitted. And he had on a crisp white Dior dress shirt. He’d removed his chocolate velvet sport coat – I recognized it from Ferragmo’s fall catalogue from the year I came to Nashville…

I DON’T CARE get over it.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Right now I’m holding on to it and I will purchase the next one which will determine if I keep this one or not.

Would you recommend this book? Yes it had some flaws but all in all it was an engaging story.

Favorite Quotes: The quote with the scars my gosh that was beautiful.

Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
Ebook Challenge

Reviewing Next:
The Discovery of Socket Grenny by Tony Bertauski

Review ~ Wayward Soul by Kim Bowman

TITLE: Wayward Soul
AUTHOR: Kim Bowman
COPYRIGHT: 2/15/11
TYPE: paranormal romance
PAGES: 57
SERIES: not that I know of

REASON FOR READING: Saw it offered on the BLB tour and it looked interesting

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
When Zanna Seoul accidentally causes the death of a fellow spirit guide’s charge while trying to save the life of the man she loves, she is stripped of her position and banished to Earth to die. In the spirit world, one doesn’t mess with what’s written. With Zanna no longer guiding him and his memory of her erased, Owen Nash is left wide open as the target of the vengeful spirit guide who feels he’s been wronged. A guide who also happens to be a werewolf. Once on Earth, Zanna refuses to stand by and watch Owen die, so she intervenes again, setting off a chain of events that could mean death for all of them if she doesn’t go back and undo the mess she’s made. Can Zanna succeed before the werewolf does

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay keep in mind this book is literally 57 pages. But in that 57 pages you learn of a culture, a world that didn’t exist, punishment if you break the laws, love and a couple of near death experiences that make it all somehow a very interesting yet quick read. Seriously I actually enjoyed it.

I liked the world that was lightly touched on. It had just enough that I grasped what was occurring but didn’t overload me where the story got lost.

The characters were fleshed out as well as one can be for 57 pages. I liked the way it worked between a spirit guide and a mortal

The ending was a little ugh with the epilogue and no I won’t ruin it for you.

Dislikes: the shortness of the story didn’t leave it much room and would have been a fantastic story fleshed out more.

The villain was seriously a villain for no other reason than that and well I thought it would’ve been cooler with a better back story but hey she only had 57 pages LOL I can’t ask for more right?

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Sure I’d re-read it

Would you recommend this book? Yeah it was quick and cute

Challenges:
Out Do Yourself
E-book Challenge
BLB Tour





Additional Links:Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours

Disclaimer:
Disclosure of Material Connection: i am a member of the Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours and a copy was provided to me by the author. although payment may have been received by Book Lovin' Bitches Ebook Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review nor was there an obligation to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely mine and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Review ~ The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

TITLE: The Restorer
AUTHOR: Amanda Stevens
COPYRIGHT: 5/1/11
TYPE: Urban Fantasy
PAGES: 384
SERIES: Yes the first in a series

REASON FOR READING: The summary just looked amazing! I had to have it

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.


It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims—lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I was beyond surprised at how much I loved this book! First off the book is about a graveyard restorer (how often do you see that as a job description?) who sees ghost. Yeah you saw that right she works in a graveyard and yet sees ghost however, she pretends to not see them in order to protect herself. The problem she runs into Devlin who is haunted (has his own ghost that are attached to him) and she has a major attraction to. Things get weird from there. There is a dead body, a secret society, ghost, a mystery, more dead bodies, and well the mystery between what Devlin is doing to Amelia and how that is affecting her.

THINGS I LIKED:
- I loved Amelia she was a great character with a twist. She always played it safe until Devlin and now she is stuck in an attraction she knows can’t end well but for the life of her can’t stop. It is actually something I believed in not a we’re madly in love the moment we saw each other thing. Ms. Stevens did an excellent job of making me feel Amelia’s connection to Devlin and his personal struggles

- Did I mention that I loved the job that Amelia has. First off she restores graves and graveyards and she has a blog very cool!

-This book was not a romance but had enough of an attraction to draw me in. Plus I have to admit this book was creepy there were a few nights I had to sleep with the bathroom lights on. Trust when I say that it was creepy and yet it sucked me in and I had to finish it in order to find out who was killing all these people, and why was the killer communicating with Amelia?

-My gosh the author is very poetic I was surprised at how beautiful this author wrote. There were times the description was so well done I felt and smelled the things Amelia was doing and smelling. (Including the goose bumps and freak outs she had!)

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- If I had to pick one thing I didn’t enjoy about this book it would be the root doctor’s slang/talk/mumble stuff I had to skim past it the accent was bad.

-Other than that and the whole secret society plot line that you will have to read about in order to understand I loved this book!!!!

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Yeah this is a must re-read especially when the next one comes out!

Would you recommend this book? I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone looking for a good thriller/creepy feeling book with an excellent mystery!

Favorite Quotes:
Scorching fingers of sunrise began to creep over the horizon. A mild breeze stirred the palmetto fronds and deepened the scent of the magnolia blossoms that peeked like roosting doves from nests of dark, glossy leaves. Pg. 99 I believe? My kindle notes and I don’t get along!

This is when Amelia describes Devlin: secretive eyes and brooding demeanor were powerful libations to a closet romantic like me. In spite of his modern trappings, he had an old-world air about him. An intoxicating fusion of Byron, Bronte and Poe with a modern twist. And like the fictional creations of the aforementioned, he had a deadly weakness. He was a haunted man. ~ Love it!! Want to say page 11 I might be wrong bear with me on the kindle notes.



Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
E-book Challenge

Reviewing Next:
Wayward Soul by Kim Bowman

Review ~ The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

TITLE: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
AUTHOR: Jennifer Ashley
COPYRIGHT: 2009
TYPE: historical romance
PAGES: 320
SERIES: Yes the first one in the Highland Pleasures series

REASON FOR READING: It’s been on the TBR shelf forever and had excellent reviews. I finally decided I had to know what it was about.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
The year is 1881. Meet the Mackenzie family--rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. A lady couldn't be seen with them without ruin. Rumors surround them--of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz.


The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He's also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women.


Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama--an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband.


And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay first and foremost I love a hero with a disability. It can be he’s blind, stupid, limp, or just bitter I love it. And Ian has one I personally thought it was a form of autism (the highest functioning form) but I’ve heard other theories. No matter what it is he had a hard life from a child on. I also love a spirited female who is okay with what she has and doesn’t need more and Beth is that woman. These two characters are explosive from page one and interesting. They made me laugh, they made me sad, they may me happy and they made me laugh. Throw in all the brothers and their S.O’s and I was hooked.

The mystery was there enough that I could figure it out but couldn’t. I loved all the twist and turns of Ian’s life and what happened to him. I enjoyed learning about Beth and her life and even when she did some stupid things I actually excused it b/c hey it’s Beth and she was doing it for Ian.

This book has mystery, love, action, and well meddling brothers. It also has ming bowls from China which will make since when you read the book and it has history. All in all I didn’t find much that I didn’t like the only quip I have is the dreaded baby issue that ALWAYS occurs and well annoys the crap out of me. That being said I can’t wait to read the next one!

Are you keeping it or passing it on? For sure keeping it

Would you recommend this book? Yes I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical romance


Don't be alarmed there is a new cover. I Personally prefer the old but what can you do?

Challenges:
Out do yourself challenge
TBR challenge

Reviewing Next:
The Survivors by Amanda Harvard

Re-Review ~ Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco

TITLE: Unshapely Things
AUTHOR: Mark Del Franco
COPYRIGHT: 1/30/2007
TYPE: urban fantasy
PAGES: 305
SERIES: Yes first in a five book series so far

REASON FOR READING:
I apparently read this the first time in September of 2007. Since I had the next ones in the series I thought I should re-read it in order to remember for the next books.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
In the alleys of the decrepit Boston neighborhood known as the Weird, fairy prostitutes are turning up dead. The crime scenes show signs of residual magic, but the Guild, which polices the fey, has more "important" crimes to investigate and dumps the case on human law enforcement.


Boston police call in Connor Grey, a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator-whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf. As Connor battles red tape and his own shortcomings, he realizes that the murders are not random, but part of an ancient magical ritual. And if Connor can't figure out the killer's M.O., the culmination of the spell might just bring about a worldwide cataclysm

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
For some reason the first time around I was absolutely madly in love with this book. I thought it was awesome. Since my second reading of this book my thoughts have changed. I thought it moved really slowly in parts. I felt like a lot was being set up and a lot of history was being told.

Now that I’ve said all that please keep in mind it could be because this was a re-read so I might have been remembering the book over and over again. I did enjoy the characters I did enjoy the mystery aspect. I liked that Connor Grey reminded me a lot of Harry Dresden but not so much that I was rolling my eyes and constantly comparing him to my Harry.

I liked that Connor had something wrong with him something that took him from being SUPER powerful to an almost human like state. And he had a good group of friends that stood by him and helped whenever possible.

What I didn’t like is how whinny he came off sometimes. Poor me, I can’t do this, wow I was so powerful and now I can’t do anything. It got a little old after a while and I wanted nothing more than to reach through the page and shake him. I am glad that eventually he learned that while he didn’t have all the power he did have some uses.

The mystery was good enough that I couldn’t remember who did it which is because I usually remember things like that but for some reason this time I just couldn’t and that was nice. It’s also a big fear when re-reading that I might remember everything and thus not enjoy the re-read. Once I got to the middle part I was back on track and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? This will depend on the second book if I enjoy it I will keep the series if not I will put it on the giveaway list.

Would you recommend this book? I do think so far this series is pretty good. If you like the Harry Dresden books then this will be right up your alley



Challenges:
Re-read Challenge
Out Do Yourself Challenge

Reviewing Next:
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

Review ~ Switched by Amanda Hocking

TITLE: Switched
AUTHOR: Amanda Hocking
COPYRIGHT: 2010
TYPE: YA fantasy/romance
PAGES: 304
SERIES: Yes I think there are 3

REASON FOR READING: I got a Kindle and this was SUPER cheap so I thought as a first purchase it would be interesting.

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):
When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Man the concept blew me out of the water. Trolls that are beautiful and powerful the catch they are changelings which really threw me b/c I associate those with fairy for some reason. So needless to say the plot had me at page one. The sad part was Wendy she is 17 ½ and I get that her mother tried to kill her b/c she knew deep down she wasn’t human. I get that and I get that you realize yourself you just don’t fit in. That beings said can you whine any more about how unfair life is that you’re a troll, that you don’t belong, oh and hell you’re a princess how sucky is that…

Yep keep that pace throughout the second part of the book. Then enter Finn the dashing young tracker who sends our little princesses heart all a pitter patter. So much so she turns into Bella in Twilight where she is so OBESSED she can’t see straight, she can’t think and GOD forbid she listens to anyone that this isn’t going to go well. Needless to say this book had some wonderful things and some things that reminded me that while YA is good it’s not something I should read regularly.

THINGS I LIKED:
- I LOVED the world-building it blew my mind the way it was set up. I can tell there are still more twist and turns coming in the next few books but as of now I’m digging the world.

- I like the concept of changelings and how Wendy doesn’t approve of them. I think that had she been loved by her mother then she might be different but I see her point and I like how that was incorporated.

- I actually like pretty much all of the characters minus Wendy at times. I really couldn’t connect with her but the other characters were fascinating enough to hold my attention.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- Wendy and the whining that being said I work with teenagers regularly so I understand how they are. Which might be why I just can’t take it all the time especially when I’m reading to escape.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing

Would you recommend this book? I actually would and have so far recommended this book to the YA readers out there and to some friends who enjoy great world-building




Challenges:
Out Do Yourself
E-book challenge

Reviewing Next:
Not sure hoping either book 2 in this series or Unshapely Things a re-read.

Review ~ Fireproof by Eric Wilson

TITLE: Fireproof

AUTHOR: Eric Wilson
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: Christian Fiction
PAGES: 284
SERIES: No

REASON FOR READING: It’s been sitting on a shelf for years and I thought now was a good time to read it.

SUMMARY (from Good reads):
Inside burning buildings, Captain Caleb Holt lives by the firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner. Yet at home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules. Growing up, his wife Catherine always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter... just like her father. Now, after seven years of marriage, she wonders when she stopped being "good enough." Countless arguments and anger have them wanting to move on to something with more sparks. As they prepare for divorce, Caleb's father challenges him to commit to a 40-day experiment: "The Love Dare." Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees, for his father's sake more than for his marriage. Surprised by what he discovers about the meaning of love, Caleb realizes that his wife and marriage are worth fighting for. His job is to rescue others. Now Captain Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever... rescuing his wife's heart.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
I have to admit this book hit a little too close to home for me. I went through a divorce about 3 years ago and the beginning of this book was my marriage to a T so it was hard to push through it. However, watching how Caleb worked and struggled every day to be a better man, husband, and Christian blew my mind. And I have to say I cried, I cheered, and most of all I smiled with the ending. I wish this had been around when things were starting to go south for me but I have to say this is definitely something I think everyone in a relationship should read and heck if you’re brave like me take the Dare and see what happens in your life.

THINGS I LIKED:
- I loved watching these two people who were ready to throw in the towel fight for each other. I loved watching the struggle and the redemption b/c we have all been there.

- Watching Caleb turn into the God fearing, loving husband, and wonderful man he was supposed to be wowed me if that’s even a word. It was amazing watching him transform his life to be a better leader and spouse.

- The way Caleb transforming took hold of everyone around him. It’s true what they say anger spreads fast but love spreads and stays. When a person does things out of love it last forever.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I admit I stopped reading and skipped over the parts at the firehouse. I’m going to get stoned here but I’ve never really cared for firefighting books. I just don’t so the ribbing and things in the fire house didn’t really appeal to me.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping as a nice reminder

Would you recommend this book? Yes I highly recommend anyone getting into a relationship to read this or anyone in a committed relationship to read this and even try the dare




Challenges:
Out Do Yourself Challenge
TBR Challenge

Reviewing Next:
Switched by Amanda Hocking