FREE Today!! Book Review: Waterfall (River of Time #1) by Lisa Tawn Bergen

February 2011, 384 pages.

Amazon Description:

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. In Book One of the River of Time series, Gabi and Lia are stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, boring, and dusty archeological site … until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

           

And thus she comes to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

 

My Review: Waterfall is the story of two sisters who travel to Italy for the summer while their archeologist mom goes through ruins. They enter a tomb with their mom and somehow end up in the same place--only it's 1332. There are real knights and real battles. The sisters, Gabi and Lia, are separated and it's now a quest to find one another and return home. But a lot of things stand in their way.

I really enjoyed the writing style. The common here and now expressions, words, language was true to form and had the people from the middle ages baffled. I love how self reliant and tough Gabi is. I wanted to hate Lady Rossi, but she was so sweet that hating her was hard to do. Ah, Marcello.....a swoon-worthy character. Tough, yet sweet. Fun, fun time travel story.

This book is FREE on Amazon right now. Be be warned--once you start the series, you won't want to stop!! Pick up your copy here .

Blog Tour and Book Review: Keeper of Reign by Emma Right

Tour Schedule

  Keeper of Reign Books written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it? For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema. Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.  

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    Author Emma Right Emma Right is a happy wife and homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, two bunnies and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and His Word deeply, and when she doesn't have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one. Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.

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  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/9/13   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt:


THE WARNING GRANDPA gave had frightened Jules then, as it did now.

“Jules, the days are coming,” Grandpa Leroy had said, that bleak day as they sat before the fireplace. “One day, Gehzurolle will intensify his efforts against us. Beware of that day.”

Picking up his Ancient Book, Grandpa read, “Suspecting the lives of the now insignificant Fairy Elves will be restored to the former glories they once enjoyed, the Scorpents and their leader, Gehzurolle, the Lord of Shadows, will be driven to distraction. After many failed attempts to annihilate the Race throughout the centuries, Gehzurolle will scheme to extinguish every inhabitant of the land because finally a Keeper has invited him into our Kingdom. He will spare no Elfie. Not even those who work for him.’”

“But which Keeper would do something like that?”

“One who’s desperate. When you see the signs, Jules, you must flee. You and everyone in our family. Immediately!”

“But why, Grandpa?”

“Because it means he’s close to succeeding. He will seek us Keeper families first because without the Keepers and our Books our Kingdom cannot survive. I entrust this knowledge to you for you will take over from your mother as Keeper of the Book, just as she’d taken over from me.” His grandfather’s gentle blue eyes locked with Jules’s own green ones.
 “But how will I know when this will happen?”

“The Ancient Book says thieves will come to steal—so beware. But these are no ordinary burglars, Jules. They will destroy everything in their path. Whatever happens they mustn’t get our Book.”



My Review:****--4 Stars. This story had a very reminiscent feel to it for me. It reminded me of stories I loved when I was younger, although it was in no way a copycat--stories like The Labyrinth, The Never Ending Story, The Secret of Nimh (ones I watched over and over again). I just felt those same types of feelings while reading this book that I felt back then watching these movies.

I loved the feeling of the adventure and of the realization that certain ties, those of family and close friends, are strong, especially when faced with a challenge such as this one. I really liked the way Jules changed his feelings toward a friend because they were forced to work together. Sometimes in life, we realize that things aren't always the way we think they are.

I also really loved the way this story has elements that the whole family can enjoy. There aren't any questionable scenes or offensive language. There are fantasy parts; mysteries to be solved; creatures; friendship; and adventure galore.

My only complaint is that it seemed to end suddenly, but I'm guessing since it's labeled as a Book 1, there will be a sequel that will add to the story. I hope I'm right! :)

Book Review and AWESOME Deal!! Edenbrooke: A Proper Romance by Julianne Donaldson

*****--5 Stars.
March 2012, 264 pages.

Amazon Description: Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

My Review: Marianne is living with her spinster aunt and grandmother, while her father grieves the loss of her mother in France. Her twin sister, Cecily, is living it up in London during 1816. When Marianne receives an invitation to go to Edenbrooke, her mother's friend's estate, to meet up with her sister, she jumps at the chance. On the way there, her coach encounters a highwayman and she ends up at an inn, where she meets Philip.

I love Philip!! He's such a tease and seems to thrive on making Marianne blush. Marianne is so impulsive and not like the typical stuffy lady. Their banter was great fun.

These Proper Romances are so romantic and clean and a ton of fun. This one is told in the first person and is a story sure to win any Regency-Lover's heart!!

This book is only $1.99 on Amazon right now!! If you'd like to purchase it, click here.

Book Review: Left Neglected by Lisa Genova

January 2011, 352 pages.
Source: library copy

Amazon Description: Sarah Nickerson is like any other career-driven supermom in Welmont, the affluent Boston suburb where she leads a hectic but charmed life with her husband Bob, faithful nanny, and three children—Lucy, Charlie, and nine-month-old Linus.

Between recruiting the best and brightest minds as the vice president of human resources at Berkley Consulting; shuttling the kids to soccer, day care, and piano lessons; convincing her son's teacher that he may not, in fact, have ADD; and making it home in time for dinner, it's a wonder this over-scheduled, over-achieving Harvard graduate has time to breathe.

A self-confessed balloon about to burst, Sarah miraculously manages every minute of her life like an air traffic controller. Until one fateful day, while driving to work and trying to make a phone call, she looks away from the road for one second too long. In the blink of an eye, all the rapidly moving parts of her jam-packed life come to a screeching halt.

A traumatic brain injury completely erases the left side of her world, and for once, Sarah relinquishes control to those around her, including her formerly absent mother. Without the ability to even floss her own teeth, she struggles to find answers about her past and her uncertain future.

Now, as she wills herself to regain her independence and heal, Sarah must learn that her real destiny—her new, true life—may in fact lie far from the world of conference calls and spreadsheets. And that a happiness and peace greater than all the success in the world is close within reach, if only she slows down long enough to notice.
 
My Review: Sarah is a very career oriented woman who is left with a traumatic brain injury that completely changes the world as she knows it.

First of all, I have to say that I kept checking the little library tag to make sure this wasn't an autobiography. It's told in first person and the details, thoughts, and feelings shared with the reader, both before the accident and afterwards, were very real. Not only is Sarah dealing with a very demanding job, but she's also trying to juggle the many hats of a wife and mother and the accident couldn't have happened at a worse time.

Secondly, I thought, because of the nature of the story, this would be a very dark and depressing book, but it really wasn't. It was told in a very matter-of-fact way and there were always little glimpses of hope that became reality.

I liked the message, intended or not, that family is what truly matters--not a big house, vacation home, nanny, money, etc. It's kind of sad that it took this accident for Sarah to realize this. I love how things ended up, although the ending felt a little rushed to me, given how much detail was spent on the first 95% of the book.


I was surprised that this is a real condition.

Content: there are a handful of cuss words; there are two mentions of intimate moments (or lack of), with the second being a little more straightforward (not erotic, by any means) and fades to black before details are given--it is between a married couple.

$100 Book Blast: A Wicked Kind of Dark by Jonathan K. Benton

A Wicked Kind of Dark Robert Duncan no longer believes in magic. A mysterious call about a blood moon, however, leads him back to the magical world of his childhood and to Luthien, the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, who he loved and lost. As Robert unravels the secrets of his childhood, darkness enters his life and an ancient evil awakens. To have any chance of defeating the dark forces that would destroy two worlds, Robert must find Luthien before the rise of the blood moon. He must, once more, believe in magic … A Wicked Kind of Dark mixes vast and spectacular fantasy landscapes with gritty urban reality. A must-read for people of all ages who believe in the power of imagination, and the importance of never losing touch with your inner child.

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Author Jonathan K. Benton Jonathan Benton always wanted to write books, having won first place in a short story competition when he was ten. Inspired by writes such as Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Jonathan first discovered the crossover genre of literary/fantasy while reading Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes. Jonathan grew up in New Zealand, dreaming of travelling to London and finally making the pilgrimage in his mid-twenties. Returning from England, he settled in Australia, the country he now calls home, and decided to take his writing seriously.

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BookBlast Giveaway $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/22/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Review: The Others by Kristin Bryant

*****--5 Stars.
September 2013, 192 pages.
Source: Copy from author for review

Description: A dangerous adventure to save a distant world Ryen is just a normal guy trying to do his job. Unfortunately, that job includes trying to save his distant world on the brink of disaster.

Ryen is on a mission to Earth to find the answers to his distant world’s most critical questions. While searching the Yucatan Peninsula for a mythic figure—a savior—who would live a perfect life and ultimately die to save their souls, Ryen meets Savannah, a beautiful woman hiding a painful past. On their dangerous adventures together through the untamed jungles of Mexico, he can’t help but fall in love with her. As his time runs out, Ryen must decide if he is willing to give up everything he has ever known and loved to stay on Earth with Savannah.
The Masters, a powerful clan of corrupt leaders, are plotting to take back Earth, the sacred planet, from the humans. Ryen and Savannah are thrust into the middle of The Masters’ plot.

My Review: I thought the premise sounded very interesting. I believe that there are worlds without number that have been created and have often wondered if there is another planet somewhere out there with life on it. That's exactly what this story showed. Ryen and his friends were basically human, but just not from Earth. So...I found it interesting, but I was blown away by how much I actually enjoyed it. There was (clean) romance; suspense; fantasy elements; religious overtones; and a lot of action/adventure. I not typically a huge fantasy fan because some of it is very strange and out there, but this was just the right amount.

I love Ryen!! He was charming enough to find the information he needed, but kind enough to treat people with respect. He didn't take advantage of people and their situations, he just did his job. I love how determined he was and how he was willing to sacrifice everything for what he truly wanted and believed in.

Savannah is such a strong and brave girl!! I cannot imagine traveling the world alone and being able to protect myself the way she did. She was skeptical, with good reason, yet was willing to follow her heart, no matter the cost.

Mateo, Chase, and Claire were all a lot of fun and were such good friends--the kind who stick by each other through thick and thin.

I loved seeing the pieces of the puzzle fit together and the adventure really kept me flipping the pages. I was surprised to find myself on the last page. I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author.

Content: kissing; man and woman share a bed, but nothing happens; a handful of mild language; violence and death, but not overly graphic; drug use and the negative effects.

**I received a copy from the author for review and this in no way influenced my opinion**

Author Bio:
Kristin Bryant graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Education and obtained her Masters of Education from California State University, Fullerton. She now teaches psychology and anthropology for a virtual high school. She lives in Orange County, California with her husband and two sons. Kristin was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in February of 2013. She is continuing her fight and looks forward to the completion of treatment at the end of the year. Her first novel, The Others, will be released September, 2013. Visit her at kristinbryant.com or her writing blog at http://imwritingabook-author.blogspot.com/

September is for Sequels GIVEAWAY Hop!!

 

Welcome to the September is for Sequels Giveaway Hop!! I'm giving away a paperback copy of City Limits (Rhea Jensen book #3) by Sheralyn Pratt. **US RESIDENTS ONLY PLEASE**

Here's a synopsis: In the third installment of the Rhea Jensen series, Rhea's best friend Kay McCoy moves to Salt Lake City to keep a closer eye on Rhea, and Rhea worries that Kay wants things to go back to the way they were in Los Angeles - clubbing, dancing, and men. But when Rhea agrees to do a simple, harmless favor for Kay, she unwittingly sets off a series of events that ends up with a secret society appearing right at her door. The stakes are higher than ever - solving the case means more than just collecting her weekly paycheck. This time, it's a matter of life and death.

My Review: ****--4 Stars. Another great book in the Rhea Jensen series. This one was a little different, however. I wasn't really sure what was going on with the mystery. It all started with a suicide attempt that Rhea and her friend, Kay, witnessed. A secret society wanted to keep things covered. Very fast-paced, intense, and original, but I didn't really get many hints about who they were running from and what was going on. I really enjoyed the romance angle. But....it was a cliff-hanger. I can't wait to read the next book (and final, I believe) in the series. I have really enjoyed this series so far!! FYI--This is LDS fiction, but religion isn't a dominate thing.

 Feel free to enter and then hop on to the next blog for a chance to win there!! Thanks for stopping by!!

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