Category Archives: YA

Dark, Fantasy, NA, New Release, Paranormal, Review, Suspense, Thriller, YA

#NewRelease – #Review – Bless Her Dead Heart: A Southern Paranormal Suspense Novel (The Righteous Book 1) by Meg Collett

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Bless Her Dead Heart: A Southern Paranormal Suspense Novel (The Righteous Book 1)

 

The day Loey Grace Keene and her best friends condemned a man to death was the day she knew she’d never leave Righteous, Tennessee. Running her grandparents’ coffee shop and old farm distracts her from the sins of her past. ’Course, that’s until she discovers the town’s preacher impaled in the cemetery’s oldest tree.

There ain’t never been a storm in Righteous like there was the day Jeronimo James blew into town. He might be Blackmore Baptist’s new preacher, but Loey’s instincts warn her to stay away from his black eyes, cowboy swagger, and motorcycle. His arrival on the heels of a murder, plus his odd questions about salted graves and hallowed ground, lands him smack dab at the top of her suspect list.

Loey’s search for the killer uncovers the magic beneath Righteous’s ancient superstitions and a family secret that further binds her to the town. For centuries, the Keenes have kept Righteous’s threads knotted together, but something sinister is tattering the Seam.

Unless Loey can catch the otherworldly killer and embrace her calling as a Keene, the Seam between Righteous and a pocket world will be ripped forever, unleashing a hungry, vengeful creature onto the God-fearing folk of Righteous.

The Righteous Series is the twisted sweet tea of Southern paranormal suspense. Delve into a world of mysticism, where the lies run as thick as the accents and the superstitions are born of real and powerful mountain magic.

 

Goodreads

 

“Sometimes we have a little bit of devil in us, but most days, we have a whole lot of good and that should count for something.”

 

This is southern superstitions at it’s finest! Loey has lived in the town of Righteous her whole life being raised by her grandparents. They have all sorts of superstitions but for someone who has lived here their entire life you don’t think twice about them. She lives next to the cemetery and also helps take care of it. During a storm that comes out of nowhere she finds the pastor dead. Shortly after, Jeronimo James, the tall, dark, and handsome, stranger comes rolling into town and he is asking a lot of questions. She starts to question some of the superstitions that she more or less took for granted. This opens up a lot from the past. So many things are starting to fall into place and seem like she is getting answers but things are also so twisted with the magic that is all around that she finds things aren’t always as they seem. “Magic is like religion. No matter where you are in the world, religion exists in some way, …. Magic is similar. It’s interpretation changes depending on geography and culture.” Righteous is a southern religious town full of lies and sweet tea. Everyone puts a smile on their face and spins pretty lies but Loey is done with it. She wants the entire truth. She wants the truth for and from everyone. This is a thrilling, magical, twisted story that will keep you on your toes right to the very end. There are dark aspects of the book but not everything that is dark is paranormal. It’s super intriguing, thrilling and suspenseful. A definite page turner! But look out! What would be worse than the book ending? One heck of a cliffhanger! I am totally hooked on this series and completely invested. Bless Her Dead Heart is written beautifully! Can’t wait to continue the series!

 

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Meg Collett

Meg Collett is from the hills of Tennessee where the cell phone service is a blessing and functioning internet is a myth of epic proportions. She and her husband live in a tiny house with three dogs and not enough couches. She’s the author of the bestselling Fear University series, the End of Days trilogy, and the Canaan Island novels. Find out more at her website www.megcollett.com.

Fantasy, New Release, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, Sci Fi, YA

#Review – Scorch Song (Firebloods #2) by Casey Hays

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Scorch Song (Firebloods, #2)

 

It took one week to turn 17-year-old Jude Gallagher’s life on its head. She finally understands the meaning behind the ring, the last gift her father gave her before his death. She’s surrendered her heart to the one boy who will keep it safe, and she’s uncovered the mystery of the heated music that thrums through her blood like a second life. That should be enough problem-solving for a lifetime.

But the summer is just beginning.

When Kane O’Reilly gets himself into serious trouble with the Fireblood Contingent, Jude will risk everything to save him. And to do it, she must learn to trust the word of a Fireblood who wants her for himself.

Enter the world of the Firebloods in this sizzling sequel.

 

Goodreads

 

Searing sequel!  Scorch Song picks up right where Firebloods leaves off, so yay! Jude’s life has literally been turned upside down and nothing is as it seems. As she is learning more about her nature and Firebloods more questions come out. As she has only had one person, Kane, to guide her she feels comfortable. But when Rylin approaches her knowing a ton about Firebloods things really get confusing and heated! The journey that Jude goes on throughout this story is intense. She has to learn about herself and her own feelings about what the meaning of right and wrong is, but also to ultimately pick sides. I can’t tell you about the story, no matter how much I really (really, really, really) want to because I can’t spoil it. But this author has a way with words that make you feel and see this world through Jude’s eyes. So much that you really will feel like you are there. And every emotion that this author wants you to feel…well, rest assured, you are gonna feel them! Jude’s journey is a lot of self-discovery but she also finds that things are never what they seem. A new character will be introduced that we seen, for a small moment, in Firebloods but is going to make a huge impact on the story and Jude’s life.  I cannot tell you enough how much you need to reach Scorch Song. But first read Firebloods! Bravo, Casey Hays, nothing cold about this one!

 

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Casey Hays

Casey Hays lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. She is a former high school English teacher turned YA and NA author. She loves Young Adult Fiction as well as historical, supernatural, fantasy sci-fi, and dystopian–all with a twist of romance. She is the author of six books. Her short story “Edge of a Promise” is featured in the collaborative anthology PREP FOR DOOM, published June 18, 2015. Currently, she is working on a series of novellas for Arrow’s Flight, as well as her latest YA paranormal romance series, Firebloods, based on the legend of the Phoenix.

When Casey isn’t writing, you’ll find her in Zumba class, skiing the slopes, or singing at the top of her lungs. She loves Jesus Christ and never passes up a good cup of coffee.

Please visit her website, www.whisperingpages.com.

The Cadence

~Arrow’s Flight Series~
Breeder
The Archer
Master

~Arrow’s Fight Novellas~
The Scent of Lilac
A Heart of Flesh (coming September 30, 2017
A Tongue of Fire (forthcoming)
A Soul of Stone (forthcoming)

~Firebloods Series~
Firebloods
Scorch Song

 

Apocalyptic, Coming of Age, Dystopian, Fantasy, New Release, Review, Sci Fi, Suspense, Thriller, YA

#New Release – #Review – Gen One by Amy Bartelloni

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Gen One

 

Generations after robots conquered Earth, the remaining population survives in the ash of their defeat. Within their walls in Authority City, bots test and develop super soldiers. Rumors of horrible experiments are enough to keep humans in line. At least, most humans.

Eighteen-year-old Delilah O’Connor scavenges the ruins with her friend Zane, and Gen, a generation one bot they repaired off the grid. Gen’s curiosity gives Delilah hope for the future, but not enough hope to go against the Authority. She finds Zane’s dreams of a human resistance pointless, and it’s enough to keep their on-and-off relationship mostly off.

When they discover two dead guards in a shady trading stop known as the Banks, everything changes. Framed for the murders and pursued by Authority bots, Zane takes Delilah to the only safe space he knows—the headquarters for the Human Coalition. Even there Zane isn’t safe. When he’s captured, Delilah and Gen must join an unlikely alliance of bot and human to go in to Authority City and save him before he becomes another casualty. Things in Authority City aren’t as they seem, they’re worse. And Delilah might lose more than her friend within its walls.

 

Goodreads

 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

 

“Sometimes you had to get dirty to survive. It was a trick she’d learned in the Banks.” This is a post apoc thriller full of the human spirit along with super bots that may have souls. Delilah’s life goes from a life of plain grimness scavenging in the outer lying areas with her best friends Zane and Gen (a generation one bot) to being an outlaw with everyone trying to kill her. Her life just went from one extreme to the next. After she and Zane find a couple of bodies that were murdered she is abruptly brought into the life of the human coalition and once she is in and understands what they are fighting for she has no other desire but to join them after Zane has been taken. Zane has been trying to protect her and not have her get in the middle of the fighting between the humans and the bots but now that she is in she comes to the realization that this is bigger than her and she must fight to help save humanity for the humans and bots alike. She has come to realize that some of the bots may have souls as she sees this with Gen everyday with her curious nature and human feelings. Not all bots are bad. Delilah has a dormant strength that comes out in full force as she is forced to decide what the right thing to do is. She goes from being fragile and needing protection to being a brave and fearless protector. The transformation was amazing! There is tons of action as they have to infiltrate Authority City where the bots reside and maintain the rule over humans. As they are basically planning a suicide mission they have to get as much intel as possible. As more of the plan comes forth she finds that more people are involved than she ever thought they would. It is so full of twists and turns that you absolutely have to keep reading just to get to the next part and find out what else is going to happen. I can’t tell you any more about the actual story because I don’t want to give anything away but the plot twist is INSANE!

 

The author does an amazing job with the world building and character building as well. This is one of those stories that you can’t help but being able to feel like you are there right in the middle of the action. You start to feel like you really know the characters and that they are real.  The emotions run strong and are heartfelt. The story is rather mind-boggling and a little scary (in a good way) because it makes you think about all of the what-ifs as our technology advances….just something to think about, haha! The end of the story is set up perfectly for a second book. Amy Bartelloni is a new author for me and she has me hooked! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Bravo!

 

Amazon

 

Amy Bartelloni


Amy Bartelloni is a reader, writer, & coffee addict who lives with her husband, 3 children, and various animals in the northeast US. When she’s not playing mom-taxi, you can find her with her nose in a book or her head in the clouds. A people watcher and science fiction junkie, she still believes dreams can come true. Some of her favorite authors include Neil Gaiman, Jasper Fforde, Paulo Coelho, and Stephen King.

Coming of Age, Family Orientated, Fantasy, Time Travel, YA

#Review – Ashenland (Love Through the Sands of Time, #1) by Gianna Scannell

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Ashenland (Love Through the Sands of Time, #1)

It is the year 1197 BC in Troy of the Dardanelles.
Calypso is seventeen, mistrusting and mischievous. She should be; she’s a princess. She hates her town and everything in it, and dreams to one day fly away from there. She hates royal chores and responsibilities and wants nothing to do with it, but on her death bed her mother makes Calypso promise that the rebellious princess will care for her dad and her people. Uncapable to fulfill her pledge, Calypso plunges into deep depression. She’s on the verge of suicide when, one night, a fiery snake flies over her city and burns it to the ground. Alone, confused and scared, tears streaking her soot-plastered face, Calypso invokes her dead mother now understanding how much she really loved everyone she has lost.

Mother Earth hears her, and standing on the ashes of the burnt city the two forge a pact. Calypso and her father will live, but she must not fall in love, marry or have children. She must find and bring back from the future a special person, a boy who loves ancient Earth. With his help, the princess will have a chance to change the destiny of the people she once despised.

Daniel Hiempsal is also seventeen, and has a passion. He studies ancient climates with the guide of his father, a famous archaeologist. A vision comes to him, in the shape of a girl, and she asks that he follow her to her past. Temptation is great; he could see with his own eyes the world he loves so much. But when Calypso returns to Troy with Daniel, time travel has turned him into a ghost.

Daniel is not a common ghost, like, say, a ghost from the past who has gone through some horrific ordeal and finds himself undead. No, Daniel is a ghost from the future, who carries in his brain information unheard of in the Bronze Age, and he sure needs all of his wits if he wants to make it through this neck-breaking, dizzying adventure and return to his normal times.

Started on a bad note and with a lot of mistrust and insecurities, the relationship between Daniel and Calypso slowly blossoms. In the end, they forge a friendship that overcomes the barriers of space and time.

 

Goodreads

 

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

 

This is a story where the past and the future collide, literally. Calypso is the princess of Troy and she is a spoiled princess at that. Extreme tragedy starts when her mother, lying on her death bed, makes Calypso promise to take care of her father and her people. Next thing you know her whole world is being destroyed by a huge fiery snake. Her village is burned and destroyed. With very little life left, she calls on the gods, Mother Earth specifically, to help her. She is sent on a quest to go to the future to find Hiempsal and bring him back to help free Mother Earth. She is unhappy as no one believes in her anymore. The journey takes Calypso to the future to Daniel and then back to her time and on the quest to save the world. The journey leads them into lands with extreme prejudices and some full of love. The relationship between Daniel and Calypso is fun and eye opening. They have a connection that at the end will bring a tear to your eye. This story is full of history and gods of the past with an amazing tale of friendship. A fun story!

 

 

 

Gianna Scannell

Years have passed since Gianna Scannell became an adult. Though she went on to a very serious and at times heartbreaking profession, she never lost the sense of wonder that is typical of adolescents. She sees herself as an eternal teen and enjoys writings by teens or for teens. She was born in Italy, the country of poets, opera composers and singers. She is an eternal optimist and still believes in the future.

She wrote Ashenland after years of education about the Bronze Age, particularly about the people who inhabited Asia Minor during the Bronze Age. It is fortunate that recently many landmark discoveries were made about that age. This added a sense of place to her novel, the first of a series of four.

She is a retired US-trained trauma surgeon and a former professor of Basic Sciences at the St James School of Medicine-Anguilla. She lives in St John US Virgin Islands with her husband Denis and her german shepherd dog Kiki.

Beside the many technical publications in medical journals, Dr. Scannell is one of the authors of the Memoir ‘Being a Woman Surgeon’ published by Gordian Knot Books. Her story carries the title of ‘Dissecting the Soul of a Woman Surgeon’.

Fantasy, Paranormal, Review, Sci Fi, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#WOTR – #Review – A Touch of Frost by Terry Maggert

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A Touch of Frost

Gideon Frost is the last survivor of Ravenwood, an orphanage scheduled for destruction at the hands of a vicious politician. Over the past century, hundreds of children have vanished, lost forever to witches who use their souls as fuel for life everlasting.

On the run and alone, he’ll find help in an unlikely place, when the missing children reach out to him from the land of the dead, asking him for the one thing he can deliver.

Justice.

But Gideon won’t fight alone. Samira Alexander is a sorceress who can bridge the worlds between life and death, and she’ll stand beside him as they fight against the killers who want far more than just Gideon’s silence.

They want his power. They want his soul. But Gideon won’t give up either without a fight, and the witches of Ravenwood are about to learn a painful lesson.

 

Goodreads

 

A Touch of Frost is a super creepy story with plenty of greed and magic to go around. This is an intense story between good and bad, light and dark, and the battles between both. Gideon is the last orphan from Ravenwood and has been hiding since he “escaped”. He has barely been making it and barely getting by while hiding on the grounds of Ravenwood. Then one night, he has been found. But not just by anyone but by a ghost. Actually the ghosts of Ravenwood. He has never belonged to himself and has found a purpose by trying to help the ghosts. Then we get the villains. The ones who kill to continue life as they please, the bad witches. Marina is a witch who is trying to cover up the past of Ravenwood as her mother was the one responsible for it’s demise. As the Society gets involved to help Gideon, the witches are moving forward to get stronger. Again, it’s down to good versus evil and who will come out on top. Overall this is a very intriguing story but it moves slower than I expected. It took me a while to figure out what part Gideon and the Society were going to take in this and exactly how the witch coven would come into play as well. But as the story moved forward it all came out and we are left with a need to want more of this story and to see what direction it is going to go in. I am definitely intrigued and am looking forward to book 2. I need to know more about Gideon’s story and exactly how he is going to play a part in the future installments.

 

 

 

Terry Maggert

Left-handed. Father of an apparent nudist. Husband to a half-Norwegian. Herder of cats and dogs. Lover of pie. I write books. I’ve had an unhealthy fascination with dragons since the age of– well, for a while. Native Floridian. Current Tennessean. Location subject to change based on insurrection, upheaval, or availability of coffee. Ten books and counting, with no end in sight. You’ve been warned.

Fantasy, Paranormal, Review, Sci Fi, Suspense, Thriller, YA

#Review – Shade (Oracle of Senders, #1) by Mere Joyce

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Shade (Oracle of Senders, #1)

Fourteen-year-old Callum Silver sees dead people. It’s not a gift. His family thinks he’s crazy. Sometimes he thinks he’s crazy. He has no friends. He’s forced to live his life surrounded by nothing but the searing pain, sickening smells and desperate moans that accompany the murdered ghosts who seek him out.

When he’s offered a place at Camp Wanagi, the ten weeks in the French countryside isn’t a vacation, it’s a lifeline. A way to meet others like himself and prove his ability can offer more than years of loneliness and expensive therapy bills.

Run by a mysterious group known as the Oracle of Senders, Camp Wanagi brings together teens from around the globe who all possess the unique ability to see the dead. While Cal is relieved to find others like him, he learns quickly that not everybody experiences the spirits as he does. Some of the campers revere their abilities and don’t understand his hesitation, while others—like quiet bookworm Meander Rhoades—have good reason for wishing they could get rid of their ‘gifts’.

While researching their final project, Cal and Meander find an unmarked grave which reveals aspects of their abilities neither knew existed, forcing Cal to decide if the torture of seeing ghosts is worthwhile and, more importantly, if being a part of the Oracle of Senders is necessary, dangerous…or both.

 

Goodreads

 

 

“I see dead people”….One of the best lines ever! In this case, Callum, doesn’t feel like this is the best thing to happen to him.

First, I love this book and can’t wait for the next installment. Second, Cal is such a relatable character, of course he would be if you could see dead people too…or can you? Third, the supporting characters and the world building are perfect!

This is a YA paranormal story. Cal is the main character and sees dead people. But he sees only those who have been murdered. They have an interestingly difficult effect on him. Everyone thinks he’s crazy, his family has dumped tons of time into therapy, but with an offer from Camp Wanagi he may be able to put some of this to rest. He doesn’t get much info on what Camp Wanagi is all about and it is run by a secret organization but he has high hopes of trying to find someone like him or to shed some light on why he sees the dead. This story follows Cal and a group of 14 year olds that all have special abilities with spirits of all sorts. Each person’s ability is different and some of the others feel that it is a gift while others feel it is a curse. The summer for all the campers is quite the experience for all of them. As they hone in their abilities and the spirits come forth, they find that they all need each other more than they realized. This is an incredible story watching the campers changing. No, transforming into the young adults they want to be.

I can’t tell you how good this book is as I just can’t get the words right. Mere Joyce is a new author for me and I am hooked. I can’t wait to check Mere’s other books and I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!

 

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Mere Joyce

Mere Joyce is a Canadian author of books for young adults. Her writing includes contemporary tales, high-action mysteries, and her personal favorite—ghost stories. When she’s not writing, Mere can be found recommending books as a librarian, or spending time at home with her husband and two sons. She’s also been known to be a selective, yet highly enthusiastic fangirl.

Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, NA, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, Shifters, Suspense, Wolves, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#WOTR – #Review – Sacrifice of the Raven (The Union Series 4) by Shawn Reilly

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Sacrifice of the Raven (The Union Series #4)

 

When Ari Lake, guardian to his brother the Keeper of the Union, and a Labrador Retriever in his ani-shift form, wakes from his less than favorable rescue from the Gothi, he soon learns that he is still, to a certain extent, being held captive. This time, however, it is by different captors and for solely different reasons—there is something that they wish for him to see. When his eyes are opened to the revelation of yet another enemy threat rising up to come against his brother, and a potential traitor is revealed under inadvertent conditions, heartbreak automatically ensues. Afterwards, in the shadow of a waning moon, carrying the knowledge that Asher is falling in love, all too quickly, with Elle Ison, Ari sets out to do the one thing he was born to do, and that is to protect his brother anyway he can, even when that means the possibility of sacrificing himself in order to keep Asher alive.

Asher Lake, a wolf in his ani-shift form and Keeper to the body of ani-shifts known as the Union, knows one thing; he wants Elle Ison to be more than just a sealed contract. After learning of potential dangers in the woods of Brokenridge, he sets out to find Elle and his brother Nixon, who have run off in search of answers that could end the Raven’s curse on Asher’s life—a cruse which states that if he falls in love he will die. When he finds Elle, it’s all he can do to convince her how he feels. But time and peace are items that the Lakes know little about. Soon after, not only does he suffer severe physical pain along with the heart wrenching agony of betrayal, he leads his brothers, the Circle, and the Blackbirds into battle against the Gothi. All the while hoping that Elle will accept the fact that he was chosen specifically because the Elder’s and Grant knew that he would always, gladly and wholeheartedly, sacrifice himself for the ones he loves.

 

Goodreads

 

In every sweet moment there always seems to be a knife waiting to cut. This pretty much sums up the entire book, a beautiful disaster. Every time they are making headway or going in the right direction there is another PLOT TWIST! In this story we find more enemies and find some new friends and allies. Asher is breaking down and has confessed he wants Elle. Elle confessed she wants Asher. But now they have different obstacles standing in their way. On top of this Ari is still missing but is safe. He was given the opportunity to see what was really going on and now all the brothers are smack dab in the middle again. A lot of loose ends are brought together in this story with all the proper twists and turns to get you there. The books are all very intense and this one is no different. All of the characters are fighting their own personal demons while having to fight the Gothi. Many different emotions are flying around, along with wraiths! The Lakes are taking back control of the Union and Asher, as the Keeper, is doing what the Keeper is supposed to do, lead. There are traitors and unexpected allies around every corner. Continually keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next. This was a very exciting and suspenseful installment to the Union Series. A lot of questions get answered but I have so many more questions! I literally finished this book and started book 5 right away, which has been incredible so far. This is a series that is completely consuming. I go to bed thinking of the characters and wake up ready to find out what happens next. I am still rooting for Asher and Elle in the end! I’m biting my nails trying to figure out if they will get their happily ever after….oh and a few others too!

 

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Shawn Reilly

fan page, https://www.facebook.com/shawnreillya…

When it seemed like I was only an F away from flunking out of the sixth grade, a retired schoolteacher took me under her wing. After some tutoring and testing, she informed my parents that the reason I was having trouble in school wasn’t that I was dumb but instead dyslexic. When my stepfather heard this, he decided to take me to a used bookstore with the belief that the best way to improve my reading skills was to read. Some of the books were hard to get through at first, but with his encouragement, I refused to give up. We made many trips to that bookstore, and I especially loved the science fiction and fantasy sections. Then one day, after complaining about the ending of a particular book, my stepfather told me that if I didn’t like the books that I had been reading, then to write one myself—so I did.

My first attempt resulted in a horribly written western when I was fourteen, staring a cocky gun-slinging cowboy by the name Curt Calhoun. Curt along with his seven brothers, who all shared C names in common, may never have seen the pages of a book, but that was the day I started writing, and never stopped.

Shawn Reilly lives in Mt. Comfort Indiana. She has three beautiful and talented daughters, one very loving and supportive husband, and an overweight American Pitt Bull Terrier named Noah. When she’s not writing she’s spending time with her family, boating and fishing, and attending signings. She is the author of The Union series and The Children of the Alliance Trilogy. She supports those with Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and animal rescue.

Website
http://shawnreilly.wixsite.com/shawnr…

Fantasy, Paranormal, Part of a Series, Review, Sci Fi, Shifters, Suspense, Writers on the River Attending Author, YA

#WOTR – #Review – Halfway Drowned (Halfway Witchy #4) by Terry Maggert

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Halfway Drowned (Halfway Witchy, #4)

 

Something is wrong with Carlie.

A magical storm. An ancient shipwreck. A hidden evil.
All three are tied together as Carlie must defend Wulfric against his past, which emerges after a raging storm tears across Halfway Lake.
When government agents descend on Halfway to investigate the mysterious shipwreck, Carlie discovers that all is not as it seems.

A thousand years old, the Viking ship holds bones. And secrets.
Not everyone went down with the ship. There were survivors, but they might be less than human. They cross paths with Carlie in a showdown that will bring her own secrets to light, for saving Wulfric came with a cost. Now, it’s time for her to pay.

Dive in with Carlie as she fights to save the one person she can’t lose.
Herself.

 

Goodreads

 

“The time for pure magic was past. It was time to bring out my b***hcraft.” Yep, this is Carlie! She is our resident witch of Halfway that has an incredible talent for waffles and has an amazing love for Vikings (hey Wulfric!).

If you have followed this series you know that Carlie is our resident witch of Halfway and she does not take kindly to “visitors” (the things that go bump in the night) wreaking havoc on her beloved town. Out of the blue a Viking ship surfaces in the lake and this brings all the visitors to gawk and the government to come investigate. Things aren’t always what they seem and Carlie is a pro at this stuff. However, this ship hits home for Wulfric and brings up his very distant past. While they are both trying to work through the craziness that this ship has brought on they are both battling other demons. Wulfric is dealing with his past and Carlie has to deal with her future. Carlie is a very strong and resilient character but is very down to earth. And her love for her town and family is ginormous! Include the craziness that they are dealing with and her snarky remarks and this story will have you laughing out loud and the next minute having you deep in thought trying to figure out the next move. This is one of those stories that will suck you in from the beginning and keep a strong witchy hold on you until the very end.

At the risk of giving any spoilers I am going to give you a couple of my favorite lines:

My words were lost in a rumble of thunder that shook the air in my chest. Raindrops the size of baked potatoes slapped against my skin in a constant, frigid pounding, driven by the vicious wind. The howling rain felt like a car wash run by sadistic gods, determined to scour off my skin.

I am many things, but my humanity and witchcraft would coil around each other like warring serpents until dawn, when I would ask and answer a power far greater than my own soul. The answer I was granted would determine nothing less important than the rest of my life, but the need to ask the question was overpowering. I could not go on without knowing, and for Wulfric’s sake – and my own – I would not be denied.

In other words, you must read this! P.S. Be sure to check all the covers out. They are some of my favorite!

 

 

 

Terry Maggert

Left-handed. Father of an apparent nudist. Husband to a half-Norwegian. Herder of cats and dogs. Lover of pie. I write books. I’ve had an unhealthy fascination with dragons since the age of– well, for a while. Native Floridian. Current Tennessean. Location subject to change based on insurrection, upheaval, or availability of coffee. Ten books and counting, with no end in sight. You’ve been warned.

Fantasy, Sci Fi, YA

#Review – Faye Magic (The Othala Witch Collection) by Jo Michaels

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Faye Magic (The Othala Witch Collection)

 

**This is a standalone novel written in the world of Othala and may be read independently of the other books in the collection.***

Welcome to Sector Sixteen of Othala.

Prepare yourself. It’s a competition like no other.

Think: The Hunger Games meets The Selection.

The last one standing wins the man.

Meet Morgan LeFaye Woodenson. She has her life planned out. She’ll marry Sawyer, the love of her life, and they’ll run into the sunset to be nomads, surviving off the land, not reporting to anyone, free to live their lives as they see fit.

At least, that was the plan until the imprisonment.

When reagent Orinthal’s wife dies suddenly, Faye is forced from her home and thrown into an arena to compete with every other nineteen-year-old girl in Sector Sixteen for the highly coveted place at his side. If she doesn’t win, she dies; if she does win, she loses everything she loves.

Deception and ruthlessness fill her, and she’s determined to find a way to hold on to her dreams—even if that means becoming someone she never thought she’d have to.

Want More from the Othala Witch Collection?

Visit www.fallensorcery.com

 

Goodreads

 

What a great read! Just like the synopsis says this is sort of like a cross between Hunger Games and the Selection but full of magic and shifters. What more could you really want? Well I’ll tell you…tragedy, love, hate, and a great villain! Faye, along with all other 19 year olds are brought to an arena and are expected to fight to the death and the winner gets to marry the ruler, Orinthal. He takes a new bride every ten years but his current wife died. These girls have no say in being part of this or not, no choice. Faye has an incredibly hard time with this as she had a plan for her life. She makes friends with some of the other girls and has no idea how she will be able to kill them. But she plans to win so that she can take out Orinthal as well. The bonds that she makes with some of the characters before the arena become incredibly strong. Including a certain guard named Grant. They have no idea why but they have a magic pull to each other but can’t express this or they could be killed. Once in the arena Faye meets some beings that she thinks are monsters. But what she really needs to figure out is who the real monsters are and exactly who she can trust. She is constantly running in multiple directions trying to figure out what to do. Crazy twists and turns pop up and her long lost mother shows up with some crazy truths. I can’t give you much more as I do not want to spoil the story. It was nothing like I expected it to be. The world that has been built will pull you in and as the characters come to life you will not want to put this down. It’s action packed both magically, emotionally, and physically *wags eyebrows*. It’s a great spin and a must read!

 

 

 

Jo Michaels

Jo Michaels is…

Hi, I’m Jo. Let’s forget all the “Jo Michaels is blah, blah, blah” stuff and just go with it. I’m a voracious reader (often reading more than one book at a time), a writer, a book reviewer, a mom, a wife, and one of the EICs at INDIE Books Gone Wild. I have an almost photographic memory and tend to make people cringe at the number of details I can recall about them and/or their book(s). My imagination follows me around like a conjoined twin and causes me to space out pretty often or laugh out loud randomly in completely inappropriate situations.

I have a degree in graphic design, and my journey to the end was one few students who begin that program ever complete. However, this was one case where my memory and OCD tendencies helped me. Graduation was one of the most amazing days of my life. But, my most amazing day was when my now husband proposed. Every little girl dreams of being Cinderella someday, and he pulled off the proposal of fantasies.

At the risk of sounding cliche, I’m going to let it out there and say how much I absolutely adore the man I’m married to. Along with my children, he’s my whole world.

I’ve lived in Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia, but I’ve had my feet in almost every state. Traveling is something I adore, and have plans to someday see the Mongolia I’ve written about in Yassa.

One of my favorite things is hearing from fans! You can find me on social media most any day of the week. Connect! I’d love to hear from you.21

Fantasy, Sci Fi, YA

#Review – The Variant Saga: Books 1 – 4 (The Variant Saga #1-4) by J.N. Chaney

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The Variant Saga: Books 1 - 4 (The Variant Saga Boxset)

 

Goodreads

 

 

 

 

The Amber Project:
Holy dystopia! The Amber Project is a great dystopian journey. This is a genre I love to read and sometimes get a little iffy on how much it will differ from others in the same genre. The author sets the setting so that you are right there. The characters all feel incredibly real. You will connect with them very quickly. Humans are trying to keep their race going while living underground. The earth has been destroyed by the gas, Variant. During the entire story you are given snippets of audio recording from past and present regarding Variant and the various experiments the scientists and the military have been working on. During all of this you live and feel what the genetically altered kids are going through. You see why and how they are taken from their homes and sent to a place where they are trained like soldiers. And finally you experience the changes that they face internally and externally. They are forced to go to the surface for a mission. Many things are unknown and very dangerous. The journey they take and the uprisings going on below the surface are sure to keep you stuck on the story. The ending is very well written. It’s enough to wrap up this story but more than enough to keep you waiting on pins and needles for the next. This is my first story by JN Chaney and absolutely, under no circumstances, be the last. Well done!

Transient Echoes:
Just wow! I need more! This story picks up a few years after The Amber Project. We find out that Terry has been transported to another planet. Mei is working at the ruins but also has her own agenda on trying to find out what happened to Terry. The point of views go back and forth between the unknown planet and Earth. The world building is incredible. Earth is still nothing like we know of it today and the way the author describes the new Earth and the unknown planet that Terry is on is hard to resist. We get to experience Terry’s trials as he decides if he is going to continue to survive or not. And on the other hand we see Mei and John go through their own trials deciding if they need to move forward or not, on the low, to try and find out what happened to Terry. Both sides meet great new characters and many new journeys start. I have to warn you that this story is not like The Amber Project. Our characters have grown and are in completely different areas of their lives. I love how Transient Echoes compliments the Amber Project. It’s different and exciting! Kudos to JN Chaney for another great story!

Hope Everlasting:
Oh my gods! The story just keeps getting better and better. Each installment in this series is different from the other one. The world building expands in the greatest way and each new character is full of surprises. All the characters add something unique to the story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And best of all…who can you trust? Loyalty and trust are huge in this story. Everyone is in search of the truth and an impending war is upon us. Our characters from Earth are right in the middle of the mess. Everlasting is a city full of technology and power. This city cannot breath the Variant air. All of the other natives to Kant are more primitive and with many different religious beliefs. When all of this clashes things really get out of hand. It’s a very emotional book that just does not stop. There is the perfect combination of emotion and action to make this an incredible addition to this series. Sending kudos to the author on this one! Well done!

The Vernal Memory:
An outstanding conclusion to this series! Just wow! The rebellion has made themselves known to our Earthling characters. For me, I found trust and loyalty were major factors in the story in general. Once again I found this to get stronger throughout this story. Throw an intense amount of greed in there and you have the perfect twist to an amazing ending. Terry has set out to help Garden (the rebels) find a weapon to help stop the Leadership in Everlasting. John Finn (Terry’s best friend from Earth) is helping Everlasting to locate Garden to bring the rebel leader in. Mei Curie (our other Earth best friend) is working on locating a cure for the Variant air. When all of them end up on different sides of this war the rollercoaster of action and emotion get intense! All of our Earthlings have made special bonds and friendships with natives of Kant. This is a place of the impossible becoming possible. Curiosity and countering traditional thought is what brings this book out on top. The twists and turns in this story are more than enough to justify the late nights spent reading this series. Once again this author has given us another amazing story that makes this series absolutely extraordinary. Bravo!!

 

J.N. Chaney

Get a FREE book from the author right here: http://jnchaney.com/stay-up-to-date/

JN Chaney is the author of the Variant Saga and several other books. He gets his kicks from playing Mario, watching old movies, and going for long hikes. He loves chatting with his readers, who are consistently awesome in all the best ways.

Chaney moves around a lot, but right now he’s in Florida, living in an isolated bunker waiting out the inevitable zombie apocalypse that’s sure to get us all.

Books by JN Chaney:

The Variant Saga – follow a group of genetically engineered children as they struggle to survive in a desolate future where humanity is on the verge of extinction and a new age has already dawned.

The Other Side of Nowhere – A collection of strange tales, each focusing on a completely different concept. Between werejackals in Africa, the first sentient AI, and a Georgian farmer who transcends reality, this bundle of stories will keep you on the edge.

Their Solitary Way – The story of Genesis like you’ve never seen it. Adam Kadmon is the captain of the Eden, a colony ship escaping a dying world. He and his fellow survivors must find a new home, and quick, if they hope to give humanity the second chance it so desperately needs.