Saturday, June 15, 2013

Winter Fire by Laurie Dubay

Winter FireWinter Fire by Laurie Dubay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, Winter Fire is something else! I really enjoyed it, I love the way the author allows you to be a part of her characters process in growing! I have been so blessed with my read for reviews lately because the majority of them are amazing, and Winter Fire among the top! The scenery was just amazing in this book, allowing it to pull you deep into the story as if it were a true vacation from real life. I love when a book can quite literally be an escape from your own world. And Winter Fire has proven to allow just that, with its fast pace story line and the diversity in the characters! Truly amazing!
The story setting is in the winter on a mountain full of lush and beautiful scenery, and if that wasn’t the icing on the cake it’s the sports that the author embeds into Winter Fire so well. I love snowboarding and have tried it a few times (I’ve been skiing since I was 3) but after finishing this story I was praying for snow in June and a wonderful mountain to start some lessons with the perfect man of the hour Bren… dreamy.. sexy... funny... sweet… ohhh Bren. *clears throat* I guess more about the story and not my newest book boyfriend Bren huh? Ok, well he isn’t the only wonderfully written character, in fact he was among many. You have the versatile Jenna who makes a great Main Character, then her mother who you seen slightly peppered in throughout the story. Oh, and Frey and his twin sister Frieda; LOVE THEM! Drag is quite and also Frieda’s lover boy, but you slowly fall for their relationship and secretly crave some of your own. With all the cuties out of the way you have bad ass Sky, who when you start to watch throughout the book remains on indecision row, it hard to know how to think of her until you finish the story, and that’s when you can’t help but love her! ‘Uncle’ Val, who is something else altogether brings the family together in a way that brings a true realism to the plot! And Loki… hmmm, I let you form your own opinion there. I know I know it seems like a lot of characters but they each add their own spice to this marvelous story and plot, which I think you’ll end up falling in love with just like I did!
I haven’t read many books on of about Norse Mythology, so it’s easy to say this is my favorite right now, but that’s what this story is about, if you hadn’t figured that out by the blurb yet, then, SURPRISE! I’m not entirely sure about the accuracy to the story and real historical mythology, but if it matched I do believe Athena and Zeus have a popularity war on the horizon!
If you are looking for a witty, sweet, romantic and semi action pact book then here you go! You definitely don’t want to miss out guys, and I recommend this to anyone who can read, not just young adults but everyone everywhere. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

PS- I totally can't wait for book two!!

View all my reviews

Friday, June 14, 2013

Black Sea Gods (Chronicle of Fu Xi)Black Sea Gods by Brian Braden
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

*This was given to me free via the Read It and Reap program in exchange for an honest review.*

Okay, after reading the first 20 pages I kept shaking my head thinking... what!?! Maybe I'm just not smart enough to keep up but this book, it just seemed like too much, and the names oh my goodness, ridiculous! I mean I couldn't even remember them, but that might have had something to do with their lack of personality, who knows.
I hate writing a bad review, especially for read to review books or just indie authors in general, but there wasn't one thing in this story I loved or even liked. The only reason I finished it was because I said I would and didn't want to go back on my word, though I kind of wish I had because the further I got into the story the head-shaking was upgraded to just plain pissed off.

I hate when you read a book and you feel stupid during or after. It wasn't that I had a hard time with the grammar or vocab, just the mythological aspect, and I openly admit to being uneducated in that department, but still this was something else all together, not just mythological but kind of tied up with biblical aspects as well, and I simply just didn't get it. After reading other reviews I thought maybe it was just me, but then I had my husband TRY to read it and after page 23 he was like "never again" and shot out of the room yelling it over and over. Needless to say it wasn't just me, or maybe I married stupid as well, but I doubt that.

The beginning of the book dragged on and on, and I literally had to re-read half this book because I thought I had missed something. The characters were just boring the plot though semi new and inventive dull and impossible for me to follow. I think this book could have been executed differently and then maybe I would have liked it more, but maybe not.

So far I have loved fantasy book based on mythology, but this one just kept putting me to sleep. Basically guys I didn't like it AT ALL, but I'm not going to say much else because this is just my opinion and you might enjoy it, maybe if you like complicated names and weird plots impossible to follow and make you want to jump in a cold shower just to wake yourself up after the contagious fatigue leaking out this book. If you do try good luck and gods speed.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

[Review] Gabriel's Watch (The Scrapman Trilogy #1) by Noah Fregger

Gabriel's Watch (The Scrapman Trilogy, #1)
5/5 STARS


So everyone who reads my reviews know I read the WHOLE book! From blurb or dedications to Acknowledgments. From the way Noah writes so far I know this is going to be a great book, I'm already needing my tissue box.
Finished Review!

Yep, as predicted I'm in fan girl mode! This book was spectacular! Noah Fregger is without a doubt my favorite author right now! The world he allows you to be apart of is morose, morbid, sometimes down right scary but you still feel astounded by the love, passion and emotions embedded deep in Gabriels Watch.

Have you ever read a book and by the end you just sit looking at the last page shocked that something that marvelous could be written!?! Because that is exactly how I felt after being so hooked on every word in this fascinating and creative story! What I wouldn't give to be inside Noah's mind for just one day! I mean seriously, how on earth did he come up with Such a fresh and prolific plot! And sweet lord the characters are so advanced and deep. They make the world in this story addictive and intoxicating!

This is a post-apocalyptic story, teeming with action and adventure and even some romance. The main character Miles has an air about him that I never saw coming. When I first started I was captured by the mystery of the plot, the who, what, when, where and why. But somehow in a matter of 15 pages I was laughing at the witty inner dialog if Miles and tearing up because of his heartbroken past. Even with everything he went through he prevails and continues to grow into a man with more humanity than any of the one left on earth. I know this is a fictional book, but you can't help but stop reading for a second and think, wow, this guy is something else, a GOOD man, then you end up shaking your head and mentally slapping yourself because you aren't in the world, it's not real. BUT SERIOUSLY!! That's just how amazing he painted the picture that is this story.

In addition to the amazing Miles you have the ever witty, elegant but very much foxy Alice! She has moments in Gabriel's watch that makes you want to plow into the story and either console her, offering comfort and hugs or brief moments when you want or need to baby shake her for her as I call the 'Alice moments'. Overall the characters were epic! Completely out of the park amazing! I never do the whole blurb/review but I will say that Mile's and Alice having the strength and tenacity to try to survive not only together but for one another after the demise of mankind, it leaves you contemplating if you would handle the situation with the same finesse, truly beautifully written.

Gabriel's Watch is not like your average day dystopian, this one has a untouched and utterly unique story line. If you haven't read the FREE first five chapters, I recommend it, like now, as in go to Noah Freggers website, download and read... now! You'll thank me later, because this story is definitely worth the time! I recommend this to anyone and everyone, though I think you should probably be over the age of 15 or 16. That's all I can really say about this book, beside, READ IT NOW!

Saturday, June 8, 2013

[Review] Crimson Footprints by Shewanda Pugh

 
 
3.5/5 
STARS 
Jun 08, 13  


bookshelves: awesome-covers, kick-ass-women-characters, made-me-laugh, read2review
Read from June 06 to 08, 2013


I received this book from the Read it and Reap review program, Shewanda Pugh donated some copies for read2reviews.

Overall I gave this book 3.5 stars, it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

Usually I stick with young adult books, with a side of paranormal and fantasy but I'm glad I stepped out of the box and gave this contemporary romance a try because it was a good read.

Crimson Footprints is a familiar tale of girl meets boy but they are both from opposite worlds, think Cinderella but with more family issues and haters. Deena is a hard working women who is conflicted with the choice of budding career and her family, plus our sexy Tak's (the main character rich boy) father is her boss.

This story has trials and tribulations, loss and lots of emotions flying around. The author did a wonderful job and I felt the book had true depth. The tragedy in the book moved me and the love story touched me. I think the love story alone is worth the read!

So if you are looking for a good hunker down with a glass of wine and become engrossed in the story kinda book then you have to give this one a try.

PS- I totally dig the bi-racial twist, I have to say I haven't seen many books out there with them and I praise the author for writing about it with taste! I hope others follow in her trend!
 

[Review] Born Wicked (Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood


5/5

bookshelves: awesome-covers, favorites, magic, whitches-brew, young-adult, smoking-hot-studs, read2review, made-me-laugh

Read from July 07 to 08, 2012



Okay, so this book was surprisingly good, actually good doesn't cover it, perhaps we should go with exceptional, down right electric, transcendent, stunning... well you get the point. I will admit it started out slow, but it evolved into an exquisite story full of passion, trials and tribulation that drove you to pulling out your hair in anguish! When I finished this book (about 10 seconds ago) I was stunned it was so good. I thought with the beginning it would turn out to be another dud, but no it was a diamond!

This story is full of love, passion, duty, strength, turmoil and anything else you wish to be in an breath taking story. I doesn't capture you right away, but when it does it's like an addiction you can't feed enough. I think the character personality shine and take a life so vivid you can literally see them unfold. Often I read books and they are so mediocre anymore I forget the names of the characters in a matter of seconds after completing the book but I know that there is no chance in hell (sorry for the Pg-13 term) that will happen. I am truly touched by the way this story unfolds.. mind you I am a little pissed at the cliff hanger but alas I can't tell you more with our spoiling it.

I would recommend this to anyone, it's perfect for all ages! If I could, I would start knocking on doors advertising... (but that seems a little silly/over the top) so I'm going to stick with telling you that I read some of the reviews on for this book and almost skipped it in fear that I would be wasting my time again, I hope none of you make that mistake. This book is not in the least bit confusing and yes the love story is not like twilight, but let me tell you the family loyalty and the camaraderie in this book is inspiring. In addition there is in fact a beautiful love story it's just not like most teen books where girl see's the boy and say's "oh your the one" and they ride off into the sunset.

Well enough on my rambling on and on, I think you get the picture. I loved this book and I think you will too!