Book Review: Kindred by Erica Stevens

Kindred is a paranormal novel bursting with emotional turmoil, spilling feelings all over the prose like the wet tears of Cassie, the protagonist.
From the first page I was held captive by a scene of unrest. We learn that events of the past have dictated a rather unsteady future for Cassie and her two best friends. Born vampire hunters with inherent gifts to equip them against the fanged miscreants intent on wiping out their race, they've come to accept their responsibilities. In the first few chapters this is made quite clear, a scene even detailing a face off between hunter and vampire - action at its best.
Then a stranger by the name of Devon moves to town, and suddenly Cassie is disarmed by his charm, the effect he has on her and the aloof manner that sets him apart from others. What is it about her that draws him near, and for that matter, why can't he seem to stay away from her?
Honestly, I had to take a step back and remind myself that not every book that starts with action and twisted secrets will continue on that path. This novel is clearly an exploration of romance and the conflicted emotions of two people at war with their own inner demons - the journey being how they overcome their differences.
I appreciated the author's dedication to honesty and the insatiable urge to describe every little caress, thought and expression crossing her character's faces. I never doubted the significance of each encounter or the feelings portrayed. What did annoy me was the constant repetition, paragraph after paragraph of the same conflicting emotions readdressed without resolve or reason for reminding the reader of its significance. I also found the prose heavily burdened with unnecessary adverbs; 'sighing softly', 'laughing lightly', 'frowning heavily' - just to name a few.
Apart from a few personal grievances, I did appreciate the simplicity of the story and the heightened sense of drama crafted in every page. I'll be rating Kindred three out of five fangs.

Synopsis:

What do you do when the one you love is also you worst enemy? Trapped in a destiny she does not want, Cassie finds herself lost and adrift, until he walks into her life, turning it upside down and awakening her in ways that she never dreamed possible. 
Cassie is stunned and devastated to learn that she belongs to a long line of vampire slayers known as The Hunters. A murderous rampage by a group of elder vampires has left the Hunter line decimated and the remaining Hunters scattered around the world. With her friends Chris and Melissa’s aid, Cassie struggles to rid the world of the monsters that murdered her parents. Though Cassie knows it is her fate, she chafes against her heritage, and is resentful of the shortened lifespan that has been placed upon her by the circumstances of birth. Struggling to get through every day, Cassie finds herself simply going through the motions of living. That is, until Devon arrives. Tall, dark, and mysterious his arrival turns the school, and Cassie’s life, upside down. Fighting against her fierce attraction to him, and the chaos he represents in her carefully ordered days, she is irresistibly drawn to him. Though worried that what she truly is will place Devon in danger, she is unable to fight her feelings for him. He is the one light, and the only source of hope she has in a world that revolves around death and fear. What she does not know is that Devon has some dark secrets of his own, secrets even more frightening and dangerous than hers. Secrets that threaten to tear them apart forever.

Book Review: Ever Shade by Alexia Purdy

Ever Shade is the first book in the Dark Faerie Tales series by Alexia Purdy, an uncomplicated novel about a young girl called 'Shade', seemingly human, but very quickly inducted into the world of the supernatural.
An epic tale begins, Shade is drafted into a Faerie queen's cause to save her throne and subjects by obtaining magical waters from the Santirian Mountains. It's uncertain exactly why Shade is involved, and you never really find out why this water is so important, but the journey seems to be the true object of the tale.
A quest for the brave, we meet some interesting characters along the way. Warriors of righteous might, disfigured princes, crazy, riddle-driven queens, and of course, an abundance of fey. We are offered a snippet of each character, some background information, and are often rewarded by a showing of their gifts in deliverance of an action-based sequence.
What I liked about this story was the writer's imagination and clear delight in her craft. I also liked that I was often confused by the misleading, romantic interludes that left me guessing as to the true intent of Shade's heart. Even now, though drawn to several characters, I'm at an impasse as to who I think she should choose - if anyone at all given her blasé attitude towards any and all encounters.
Unfortunately, that's where my enjoyment of this story ended, and although I will not critique the writer's ideas, as these were compelling, I was not enamoured with the editing or lack of clarity in the sentence structure.
I was flooded with pointless adverbs that I found often confused the imagery and over-crowded what could have been simplistic paragraphing. Metaphors were slung around like a backyard football, clumsy and sometimes falling short of point. Combine this with a lot of double descriptions, and I felt as if I was reading every sentence twice.
As I said, the ideas are wonderful and the passion is evident, but it was difficult for me to get past the wording. I rate this novel two fangs out of five, based entirely on what I believe to be easily redeemable with stronger editing. But please remember, this is but the opinion of one, not a general consensus and certainly not an errant dismissal of the writer's obvious passion and creativity.

Synopsis:

For Shade, a chance meeting with a powerful Teleen faery warrior who wields electrical currents and blue fires along his skin has her joining him on a treacherous mission for the good Seelie Faerie Court across the land of Faerie. Magic and malice abound and nothing is what it really seems to be.
The evil Unseelie Queen and her treacherous allies are round every corner as Shade makes her way across the breathtaking landscapes of the world of Faerie, which exists alongside the mundane human world. Shade discovers her own uncharted magic and meets some of the most powerful warriors in Faerie while battling evil dryads, conniving Teleen guards and challenges on her life with every step in a world where nothing can be taken for granted.

Symphoni Blog Tour with T.M Scott

Today I have the pleasure of being one of the tour stops for a dear friend and fan, author Tianna Scott. Symphoni is Tianna's first novel, and like all Indie author's, she needs our ongoing support to keep her writing dream alive. So please, take the time to have a read through the synopsis for both Symphoni and her short story, Legend, as well as check out her links. And please, feel free to leave comments or ask as many questions as you like.
Oh - and check out the interview!!!!!

Symphoni: 

Life hasn't been too easy for Greg Daniels lately. When he arrives at school on the first day back from summer vacation, he finds that things are much worse than he could have ever thought.

Stuck in the middle of an ancient feud between the Olympians and the Titans, Greg discovers that the line between good and evil isn't always clear, and his allies might be more dangerous than the enemy.

Legend Blurb:

MY Symphoni. All mine.
All Legend had to care for in his life was his twin sister, Kassandra. They did everything together, including various jobs for the Titans who were their creators.
That is until Legend meets Symphoni. Strong, beautiful and extremely difficult, Legend finds himself wanting to know more and more about his new enemy. But as they get closer, his loyalty is tested and he must choose between his family and the woman he loves.
With Obsession Comes The Ultimate Betrayal. Will  Legend be able to sacrifice everything for Symphoni?

Author Bio:

T.M Scott loves writing. With passion, drive and a taste for the unusual, she enjoys reading and writing new and different things. Doing her best to always think out of the box, her writing usually starts off as an insane scheme of some sort before she works out the finer aspects and turns it into something great! Her heroines and heroes are never the typical 'beautiful' people, meaning they all have some sort of quirk or oddity about them that makes them unique and refreshing characters everyone can relate to.

Symphoni was her debut novel and her work has been featured in the horror anthology, The Withering Darkness. She lives in Los Angeles, California with her daughter Ariyanna.

Buy Links:

Amazon Paperback - Symphoni, Amazon E-book - Symphoni, Goodreads - Symphoni, Goodreads - Legend

Author Links:

Goodreads Profile, Amazon Profile, Facebook, Blog Site



Author Interview:

1. Describe your novel in twenty words or less.

Greg meets his soul mate only to discover that he’s the deciding factor in the war between the Olympians and Titans. 

2. What were some of the biggest obstacles that you had to overcome while writing?

Getting over the worry that people might not like my work and just writing what I wanted to write. 

3. Are you also a reader, and if so, what’s your preferred genre?

I love Adult Paranormal. Big fan of Kresley Cole and Kerralyn Sparks! 

4. If you could have dinner with one person dead or alive, who would it be and why?

It would probably be a toss up between JK Rowling and Bette Davis. I know... weird choices but I absolutely LOVE Harry Potter and just being around JK Rowling would make me happy forever. As for Bette Davis, I’m a huge fan of her movies and would love to have a chance to talk to her and see how she really was outside of Hollywood. 

5. Do you have any weird little habits that get you in the writing mood—downing a bottle of wine, eating an entire bar of chocolate, fornicating on a porch swing?

MUSIC! Music is a huge part of my writing process and I definitely need music to get my juices a-flowin! 

6. What sets your book apart from others in the same genre?

I think what sets my book apart is... the main character Symphoni. She’s strong, beautiful, has a few extra pounds on her, but is completely comfortable in her skin. She doesn’t need someone to save her constantly and I think YA needs that more now than ever. 

7. Okay, so I bet you secretly hate one of the characters in your novel. Who is it and why?

There’s a character named MJ. She pisses me off to no end. So much so that I considered killing her off but she DOES have some redeeming characteristics that saved her. 

8. You’re on death row and it’s your last meal. What will you choose to eat?

Well I WOULD say a food that I’m allergic too... in an attempt to cheat them out of my killin... but since I’m not allergic to anything yet... chicken enchiladas, salad, chicken rice, and tequila. Gotta go? Mind as well just go drunk!!

9. Tell us three crazy things about yourself that you wish no one else knew (I promise I won’t post this … but I lie).

Ok... um... 1) I’m afraid of Nuns. They freak me out. All... judgey and stuff. 
2) My room is insanely messy and I hardly ever clean it. It drives me nuts but I always forget. Lol. 
3) Sometimes when I’m nervous... I speak with an English accent. Lol. A BAD one at that!

10. Are you a scruncher or a folder? (Yes, this is a toilet paper question)

Definitely a folder. Lol. But I use A LOT of tissue even though I don’t always need it. 

11. If you had to pick one song to be the soundtrack to your novel, what would it be and why?

For Symphoni it would be... Sugar, Were Going Down by Fall Out Boy.
For Legend... Under The Water by The Pretty Reckless or Slept So Long by Jay Gordon

12. Do you have any future projects lined up that you want to tell us about?

Right now... I’m working on a book called Dragon's Revenge. It follows Kaida Dewi, a Dragon Princess, on a quest for revenge against men who came and destroyed her Kingdom. It should be out later this year hopefully! 

13. E-book or paperback, what’s your preference?

Paperback definitely! They have the best scent! The feel of them in my hand is amazing too. I love my kindle and kobo but they can’t compare. 

14. What books or authors have most influenced your writing style?

Ummmm... Gail Carriger maybe. 

15.          If you were stuck on a deserted Island would you choose:
a)            A total hottie to keep you company over the lonely nights ahead.
b)            A solar powered Kindle with limitless reading potential.
c)            Tom Hanks and Wilson to help get your ass off the Island.

Well.. it depends... is this a smart hottie that will help me build a raft to leave?? If he is... then A... lol. If not then... c. 

16. Who has been your biggest support on your writing journey, and please, feel free to add my name here …

Well other than the AMAZING Kristy Berridge... there’s my mom, dad, my daughter Ariyanna, my cousin Tiarra who helped me name my characters, my cousin Kim who helped me come up with the finer points,  my sister Nesha for just being there. 

17. What is one of your favourite scenes from your novel? Feel free to provide a small excerpt to entice the readers.

“Symphoni!” I yelled. “You need to calm down!” She still glared at MJ, her lip curling up at the corner. “Symphoni, you’re gonna hate yourself in the morning!” Finally she turned and looked at me, not looked, glowered at me. “I mean it!” She stepped towards me, dropping her hands, the wind dying down. “There’s nothing going on here, Symphoni. I promise.” The wind was gone and her eyes were turning back to hazel but the tears continued to flow, hopefully we could deal with that next.

“Did you know that we had sex?” MJ said, in her most condescending voice. 

Black eyes. That’s all I saw before all hell broke loose. The hurricane picked up, swirling at full speed. I stumbled backwards onto the bed as Symphoni stepped towards MJ. The air crackled around her as the two faced off, I scrambled to my feet to only be slammed back down by wind. “Symph-” She clapped her hands together and thunder erupted in the room, bouncing off the walls and busting out the windows. I clamped my hands over my ears and ducked as the glass rained down around the room. MJ shrieked and I looked up as she dove to the side. Symphoni paid her no attention as she continued to walk over to the window. 

18. If you had to cast your characters, who would you reconcile to play their parts?

Greg: Michael B. Jordan
Symphoni: Logan Browning
MJ:Elena Satine
Legend: Ben Barnes
Kassandra: Anna Popplewell

19. Any last words? (feel free to write Kristy Berridge is super awesome right here)

First things first.. Kristy Berridge is AWESOME!!! lol. And I want to thank everyone for joining me today for the interview!!! 

Have a great one!

Kristy :)

Book review: Pyxis by KC Neal

Pyxis, aptly titled "The Discovery" is a novel, for my mind, designed only to introduce you to the idea of a future plot and the building of strong character foundations.
Pyxis presents the idea of something compelling, a story involving a pyramidal group of teens - protagonist Corrine, her best friend Angeline, and her sometimes-maybe-boyfriend Mason. 
Formed by the trappings of high school, but forging closer upon the discovery of this mystery box known as the "Pyxis", and the novel attempts to explore its purpose and the reasons why these kids have been chosen.
Interestingly enough, you never find out what the Pyxis is. In fact, the novel doesn't explain much of anything bar family secrets never to be fully revealed. I felt bogged down by several chapters exploring a cookie experiment using unidentifiable liquids from the Pyxis box bearing no hypothesis or result. Following these lack-luster chapters with shared nightmares of fog between Corrine and Mason and I started to think we might be getting somewhere - at least some answer or deeper deluge into their meaning, but then boom, the novel is pretty much at its end.
I wish I could say that I enjoyed Pyxis, but with a million questions unanswered and no discernible plot direction, I can't imagine picking up the next installment as I wasn't left wanting.
I cannot fault the writing style, the descriptive content, or the dialogue, as this was very consistent throughout the novel. Imagery was particularly creative and the introduction of some sinister characters did give the book promise, but with too much space in between explanation, no moments of suspense and very little intrigue, I can only rate this book two out of five fangs.

Synopsis:

Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Things take a strange turn when she uses her late grandmother’s food dyes for a bake sale, and her customers suddenly find her irresistibly alluring. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same dreams of a dark force that consumes everything in its path. 
Pursued by shadowy figures and a crazy woman with secrets from the past, Corinne must find out who her grandmother really was. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she is destined to protect this world--and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free.

Kristy :)

Book Review: Bound by CK Bryant

Let me just start off by saying that Bound by author CK Bryant is riveting, action-packed, and downright enjoyable. From the first page to the last I was enmeshed in the complicated world of the mousy Kira, and her rambunctious best friend, Lydia. Not to mention, the charismatic, but somewhat domineering Octavian, Lydia's brother and protector, and Kira's awakening crush.
After a photo shoot in the wilderness goes wrong and Lydia is forced to confront her troubled past and explain the inconsistencies in her personality to her friend Kira, the author takes us on a journey with zero backward glances. Learning of Lydia's true heritage and Octavian's role, Kira begins to understand that the world is so much bigger than she believed. Dangerous assassins and tales of another world place the understandably confused Kira at an impasse. Does she go back to the world she knows despite no longer having a place in it? Or does she learn to accept the truth her friends reveal, bind herself to Lydia and become something so much more than her fragile human mind can accept?
Bound is a fast-paced novel eloquently written with detailed imagery, relevant dialogue, and an ever-thickening plot designed to turn pages. The characters are compelling - Octavian for his almost brutish charm and in-congruent softness. Lydia for her two personalities - compassionate, genuine sister and friend teamed with the hard-as-nails fighter and defiant princess. Kira, initially believed as insignificant and fragile, soon hardens from the sum of her experience, gaining loyalty, perseverance and respect.
What I loved most about this novel was the genuine balance between action, intent, dialogue and blossoming romance. Information was streamed with relevant pause and attention to detail. Coupled with nefarious agenda and the prospect of hope, Bound is a gripping story with plenty room to manoeuver in future releases.
I happily rate this novel four fangs out of five.

Synopsis:
When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira's life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she's falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive.

Kristy :)

Book Review: The Mystic Wolves by Belinda Boring

The Mystic Wolves  is the first book in the aptly named Mystic Wolves series. It can be classified mostly as paranormal romance as there were enough heated gazes, sordid caresses and looks of longing to make you want to take a cold shower.
Interestingly enough this story has nothing to do with boy meets girl like so many other paranormal romances currently on the market. In fact, the Mystic Wolves are a well established pack, settled in a sleepy town and ruled by a charming and confident alpha known as Mason. Already tethered to his proposed mate, Darcy, it was refreshing to see an established relationship without the need for a lot of back story or those awkward "I'm attracted to you but can't tell you because I want to be ridiculously mysterious" moments. That is not to say that there wasn't a lot of self-doubt between the mated pair.
The novel begins with a tragic event, the death of a beloved pack mate that sets a range of events in motion. What was originally classed as a possible accident soon becomes clear to the alpha as something more. His pack and those that he loves are under threat and with a strong alliance with the local vampire king, Mason believes that he can protect Darcy from the same fate as his sister.
But can all the vampires be trusted? Are Mason and Darcy merely pawns in a game much bigger than are capable of playing?
Truthfully, I struggled with a few sections of this novel - mostly the sweet and sentimental alpha and the overly affectionate relationship he shares with Darcy. I'm all for a bit of sexual teasing but honestly, these two werewolves were at it constantly with absolutely zero follow through. I found that the sexual nature of their interaction was often inappropriate and unnecessary - a derailment from the importance of the actual story, especially after recent deaths and moments of intense despair.
What I did like was the sub-plot when it wasn't focused on Darcy and Mason's foreplay. I enjoyed the moments of action, the shape shifting and the conveyed emotions both in character speech and action. The last few chapters were compelling and an appropriate climax to an otherwise mostly sedate story. Imagery was sufficient and the lead into another novel was a hanging promise but not exactly stirring.
I will happily rate this novel two and half fangs out of five. It was enjoyable but it wasn't as gripping as I might have liked.

Synopsis:

What would you do if a simple errand takes a deadly twist, turning you from cautious prey to dangerous predator?
Someone is trying to send a deadly message to Mason, arranging the deaths of those he loves and it puts the entire pack and Alpha on high alert. Darcy understands the primal instincts driving her beloved Mason's commands. With the help of those he sets as protectors, she learns about herself and the things she'll need to help support her Alpha and pack. When events turn dire however, one truth offers her strength - once given, oaths are unbreakable ... even if it means risking it all.

Book Review: Club Dead - Zombie Isle by Dane Hatchell

This could just be one of the shortest stories I've ever read - possibly the grossest. 
Club Dead: Zombie Isle, delves very quickly into a rapid fire plot with no particular protagonist, merely a narrative perspective of vacationers quickly regretting the decision to head to the tropics. Character names are irrelevant as they all soon fall victim to a mysterious illness that quickly sweeps across the island and claims the humanity of everyone present.
In all traditional sense this story is zombified. Flesh is eaten in abundance, people turn rapidly and others are killed for their internals as they are far too good to resist. The typical snowball effect of this horrific disease quickly exemplifys the downfall of those who are still alive. The action is limited to tearing flesh, oozing gore and streaming blood. We don't really see retaliation as the story flows quickly to conclusion, the night's horror chased by the eventuality of certain death.
Overall I enjoyed the short read and the explicit details, but I was never drawn, repulsed or awed by any one moment as there was never pause to develop emotional connections with the characters. As a short story this is to be expected, and if judging on face value, eloquence of writing style or pointed plot then I will rate Club Dead: Zombie Isle two fangs out of five.

Synopsis:
A ridiculous undead romp on the beach. Three couples arrive at a Caribbean resort when a plague turns its residents into human flesh eaters. The story is told from multiple points of view. It's the perfect companion to an adult beverage while working on a tan.

Book Review: Sin by Shaun Allan

This is without a doubt the most difficult book review I've ever had to write. I've even had sleepless nights over it, wondering how best to phrase my opinions without overly swaying the thoughts of other readers. So here I go ...

Sin, aptly named after the decidedly self-depreciating and clearly troubled protagonist, Sin Matthews - walks the fine line between sanity and the musings of a mentally unbalanced character. Chained by the oppressive nature of his ability, Sin is convinced that his darker nature controls the fate of those around him. A mere flip of a coin shows the troubled past of sinners and his unleashed ideals rock the boat between life and death - death almost always the punishment befitting the crime.

Sin despises his lack of control and the ever expanding weight of responsibility that rests upon his shoulders. So he seeks solitude in a mental institution under the care of Doctor Connors, a man driven by power and an underlying desire to control Sin and his credible ability. With brief appearances from minor characters and a deluge into teleportation, the basis of this story does not spread its wings particularly far.

For me, Shaun Allan is an exceptional writer - witty, creatively descriptive and blooming with insane but aptly collated analogies that often left me with 'laugh out loud' moments. However, it was hard for me to weigh up the brilliant word-smithing versus the deathly sedate pace of the somewhat lackluster story line.

At 25% into the story we were still extensively and excessively rehashing some relative points of interest in the past, consistently interspersed with random ramblings. At 50% I seriously considered not finishing, wondering in retrospect what the point of the story was and how the plot-to-date had not progressed spectacularly. This was where I warred within. As 'Sin' is written from the perspective of an insane man, I could appreciate the constant deviation in plot as a true reflection of character, but as a reader it drove me absolutely insane and I coincidentally found myself skipping whole paragraphs in favour of getting back on point.

At about 75% I was finally drawn into the culminating story, the web of deceit and the climatic ending that left me breathing a sigh of relief and silently applauding Sin's personal growth and wicked retribution.

As I've said before I've been very torn with this read - enamoured with the author's writing style, sense of humour and original idea, but unfortunately the constant deviation from point infuriated me as a reader intent on purpose. Therefore, I can only rate this novel two out of five fangs despite my admiration for the author's obvious skill and writing passion.

Synopsis:

Dead, dead, dead. Say it enough times and it becomes just another word.
What would you do? Could you kill a killer? Does the death of one appease the deaths of a hundred? What about that hundred against a thousand?
What if you had no choice?
Meet Sin. No, not that sort of sin, but Sin, crazy as a loon (you ask Sister Moon), and proud of it. Sin locks himself away in a mental home and, every so often, gets violent. That’s only so they’ll give him those nice drugs, though. The ones that help him forget.
It’s a pity they don’t work.
Sin, you see, has a serious problem. Well, it’s not so much his problem, as ours – yours, mine and everyone else’s. People die around him. He doesn't like it and he can't help it. But someone else knows, and he has to stop them... and himself...
Flip and catch...

Book Review: Demon Girl by Penelope Fletcher

Faries, just your average dainty, pale-faced, silver-tipped, winged creatures filled with the spirit of nature, bound by magic, and determined to frolic. These impossibly playful beings are often portrayed as medlsesome and sweet, but in Demon Girl, the fairies are anything but impish. These fairies are bound by magics and the anocrynistic rules of their tribes. They are fast, strong, and decidely violent ... and super bloody awesome.
Demon Girl follows the story of Rae Wilder, an orphan growing up in a changed world, a violent and seemingly unbelievable, irrepairable world. The human race was almost wiped out by demons - vampires, fairies, shifters, and other creatures of the supernatural realm. The Clerics now protect the surving humans, hoarding them like cattle behind purpose built walls and fences designed to keep the demons on one side, and every one else on the other.
Rae dances the fine line between following the rules of the Cleric and wanting to explore the unknown. She has always been a little different, even known as an outcast. She has few friends, and certainly doesn't think twice about slipping through the wall and dissapearing into the forest beyond.
In a whirlwind of intrigue, action, and information overload, Rae is faced with a new world of possibilities. She uncovers the truth about her past, finds herself tied to a sexy fairie-boy called Breandan, and to top it off, somehow gets mixed up with a mysterious vampire known as Tomas.
Did I enjoy this novel? The simple answer is yes. The first few chapters are filled with a riot of quick moving action sequences and enough unfolding plot that losing interest seemed impossible. The characters are consistent and easily likeable, I even found myself drawn to the characters with darker natures and appreciating their part within the story.
About mid way through the novel I found the plot travelled in a few circles. Restlessness settled in where not too much happened as a lot of background detail was being offloaded. I did see the writer's perspective about the summarising of this information, but I still wanted the story to move forward. And, once it did, I had trouble putting the book down. Rae's continued self-exploration and confusing and often exciting trysts with seemingly unlikely characters kept my nose between the pages.
Despite some spelling and slight grammatical issues, the text flowed easily. I have little complaint with this novel other than the fact that it ended. I will defnitely be seeking out the rest of the novels in this series. I rate Demon Girl four out of five stars.

Synopsis: Rae Wilder has problems ...Supernatural creatures swarm the earth, and humanity is on the brink of extinction. Stalked by a handsome fairy who claims she is like him, demonkind, Rae thinks maybe it was a mistake breaking the rules by going over the wall into demon territory. Plunged into a world of dark magics, fierce creatures, and ritual sacrifice, she is charged with guarding a magical amulet. The changes to her mind and body are startling but rather than accept her purpose, she struggles against who she is supposed to be. Throw in a big lust for a vampire who can't keep his hands off her, and life starts to get complicated. Rae is forced to make the ultimate choice; to live and die human, or embrace her birthright and weild magics that could turn her into something wicked, a force of nature nothing can control.

Book Review: S.P.I.R.I.T Firestorm by Dawn Gray

First of all, let me start off by saying that I wasn't particularly eager to read this novel, mostly because the cover image doesn't speak to me. There's nothing about it that jumps out and says, 'pick me up and read me'. The monotone wash of grey and the old creepy house feel a little generic, as do the unstylistic font and general lack of 'wow' factor. But alas, after reading the novel, the image is in fact the essence of this very story, and I now understand why the author chose such imagery.
S.P.I.R.I.T follows the story of Samantha and Zander, two seemingly ordinary people thrust together under the strangest of circumstances. As they learn of developing gifts, past connections, and an unsettling truth that the supernatural realm is very real and very present, it forces them to uncover the mystery surrounding their coupling and the double layered reality crossing paths in the most unimaginable way. Ghosts, demons, and lies from the past see them struggling to unlock the reasons for their current endangerment but it also sees the strength and abilities within each of them grow - their blossoming love forging a connection stronger than even death itself.
S.P.I.R.I.T, despite the non-stop revelation of mystery, followed by battles with the unseen, or tangible crossovers from past encounters, was heavily littered with romance. The interaction between Samantha and Zander bordered on the fast-pace unrealistic connections of Mills & Boons characters. I did however appreciate Samantha's initial reluctance to trust anyone given the situation thrust upon her. She seemed to take a little longer to warm to heavy petting rather than her male protagonist that basically shadowed her every footstep.
The characterization was good, however, there was a lack of descriptive text on other minor characters. Alas, when something unfavourable occurred, I found that I cared little for their welfare as I was given no reason to embrace these minor characters as anything other than props to continue the story of Zander and Samantha.
What I did enjoy was the overall story, a thoroughly interesting concept that straddled just the right amount of supernatural element and action sequences. I also didn't mind the romance, bar the pet names and it's actual relevance to the story as a whole.
What I didn't like were the grammatical errors. I'm an author, and I make mistakes too, and usually I do overlook these knowing how hard an author works to produce any novel, but unfortunately there was one every couple of paragraphs - often very distracting.
Overall, S.P.I.R.I.T Firestorm was an enjoyable read with a little bit of something extra to your standard paranormal romance. With a carefully unfolding plot and an expected, yet satisfying ending, it was easy to give this book three out of five stars.

Synopsis:

When Samantha Ricketts finds herself in a town half-way across the country, her only worry is how did she get there, but when her life is saved by a handsome and mysterious man, the connection they feel is almost more than she can stand.
Zander Smith was only acting on his instincts and training when he moved the dark-haired woman to safety but what he got from his heroics wasn't the distressed woman that he thought he was helping but a fireball of fury that sparked a storm within himself.
Together they tap into the supernatural to uncover the mysteries surrounding the strange town they were slowly growing fond of before they became a part of its history.

Kristy :)

The Great Kindle Debate

To Kindle or not to Kindle ... that is the question.
I say bugger it. Kindle away - once you can figure out how.
As many of you may know, I'm a first time author, lucky enough to be wrapped in the warm arms of a safe and ever present publisher to guide my way. But, naturally, being the stubborn woman that I am, I figured I didn't need a hug while circumventing the mystery that is the E-book.
Okay, stop laughing. I know many of you have been reading E-books for years, mostly because of convenience and in some instances, the variance in price between paperback and digital format.
Finally, this little hobbit has joined the revolution. I've always thought that sniffing the pages of an old book and feeling the paper between my fingers was what reading was all about. But, as I slip into bed at night with my phone, holding it with what I might add as 'one hand', and not needing a night light to see the text, I find myself questioning what the hell I was waiting for?

The Hunted was originally printed in paperback, the safe and most easily recognised form of distribution. And, I have been happy with this until now, knowing that a vast majority of the planet has joined the digital revolution, and as such, I have put my head down and my bum up to revise my tactics.
Research was my first portal. I was sucked into hours of fine print, scouring every digital media site in the hopes of finding a host for my book as an E-book file. I finally settled on Kindle Direct Publishing for a couple of reasons. One, the profit margin is good. Two, they offer the best form of digital protection for your books to avoid unpaid sharing. Three, the process is relatively simple to set up - if you're not a total jackass like me, scream and cry all over the keyboard because you have super high expectations of presentation.
Anyway, after figuring out MS Word styling, converting my document into HTML, and reading the entire book from start to finish to make sure all type-facing was correct, I tried uploading. This is fine if you are keeping your headings simplistic. Naturally, I have to be different.
So, with Mobipocket now downloaded, I've imported my HTML file, inserted all the text pictures into my document, and I've created a PRC file which allows fancy headings etc to be uploaded to Kindle with minimum fuss.
Alas, four wasted hours of tantrum chucking and crying, three days to read and review, half an hour to upload and check for imperfections and boom - it's done.
Then I find out I suck because I'm an Aussie!
Kindle Direct Publishing pay directly into US bank accounts of via check. I don't have a US account, nor can I open a cool Swiss bank account like they do in the movies because it doesn't make an ass bit of difference when requiring a 'routing number'. So what do I do? I go for the 'check' option, knowing that I have to wait three months to get it, suffer conversion rates, and then wait for my Australian bank to re-submit the cheque back to the US for release before the funds are cleanly deposited into my account. PS - Thank you IRS for the 30% tax deduction I will also receive upon money leaving the country.
Nice.
BUT ... Despite these few minor set backs, I am exceptionally happy with the quality of the upload. My fee breakdown is more than reasonable and Amazon have been excellent at answering any queries I may have.
I am going to be one happy camper - especially if you buy a copy or at least click on the link below and 'like' it.
Yep, that was not a hint. I am about as subtle as a brick to the face ;P

Kristy :)
(The Hunted Kindle Link)

Pre-Hunted Tour Giveaway!

Hey everyone,

To celebrate my blog tour starting on Sunday the 1st of April 2012, I am giving away the Kindle edition of The Hunted for free! Yes you heard me, for FREE!

The giveaway only lasts for one day and will be available for download tomorrow, Thursday the 29th of March 2012 from 12.00am Pacific standard time, and finishes at 11.59pm Pacific standard time. Don't miss out on your chance to grab a copy and get involved with the tour! Also, if you could follow my blog while you're here and click the 'like' button to help wit the promotion and my ranking on Amazon, I'd really appreciate it!

I hope you all enjoy. If you do, post a review on Amazon and Goodreads. If you don't - keep it to yourself! (Kidding ... no I'm not.)

Have a great day everyone!

Kristy :)

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!