The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Arley Cole

February 6, 2012 By 1 Comment

The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Arley Cole
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (224 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Acwellen Lex’Magen rules as liege lord of a small country bounded by forbidding mountains and powerful neighbors. When the neighboring baron, allied with a powerful wizard, attempts to take over his land, first by political, then by covert means, Acwellen finds an ally of his own in Enith Roweson, an unassuming blacksmith who possesses powers he’s only known of in legends. As he attempts to unravel both the plots against him—-including the nature of the monsters sent to assassinate him—-and the mysterious powers Enith is only beginning to understand she has, he also finds himself falling in love with the blacksmith’s daughter.

Enith is no lady. She’s the blacksmith’s daughter and is living with her uncle and his family after her father’s death. His wife tries to teach her appropriate ladylike talents, but the lessons don’t take. Enith likes working with metal and that’s it. Then a silly princess comes to town and upsets her whole life…

Ms. Cole’s words wisk you away you on a magic-filled tour of a medieval world with predators that reminded me of ones I’d met in the Lord of the Rings series. It seems everyone has a bit of magic and many don’t know how to use it. That makes the story even more fun to read.

Juliana is in love with a guardsman and doesn’t want to marry the prince. A proper treatment is very important cheap cialis for sale for patients to seek treatment as soon as possible. These vegetables http://appalachianmagazine.com/category/faith/page/3/ generic discount levitra contain indole-3-carbinol, a compound helpful in boosting sex drive. It is just a dysfunction that will settings your head and it is features causing lack of urge for food, sleep loss, mood shots, since a good physical intimacy is paramount to a conjugal relationship, the absence of the same can disrupt an otherwise happy relationship or marriage. tadalafil online cheap Many researches were carried out which resulted to only one thing: their drugshop discount levitra no rx is effective. Enith must challenge the right of Juliana to claim her betrothed to stop the marriage. The challenge turns into a sword fight between the two suitors and everybody is surprised when the prince actually marries Enith, right then and there in the courtyard. However, the parents involved are NOT charmed by it.

The author gives you ambushes, invigorated fights and near death on almost every page. You won’t be bored reading this story. I especially liked the fight between good and evil; magic was used for evil and foiled by good magic. It’s easy to pick out the good and bad characters in the story and it only took me a chapter to know that Enith and Acwellen are a good match for each other. The author takes you through an early romance that matures at the end of the story and it’s a sweet tale.

Ms. Cole also weaves enough nuances in the story to let you know that the adventure is not quite over. The evil wizard is still alive, Nerian (Acwellen’s best friend) has not realized all his potential yet, and it wouldn’t be hard to develop another book to continue the story.

I hope she does, I’d love to read more about this world and the characters that people it. If you like fantasy, I know you will too!

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The Belonging by Eric Del Carlo

February 2, 2012 By 2 Comments

The Belonging by Eric Del Carlo
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (16 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

A teenager’s attempt to fit in with the new kids in town takes an out of this world turn.

When first contact is made with the alien race Khondra, Flynn is excited and interested in the newcomers. So, when a group of Khondra youngsters enroll in his high school, he’ll do anything to be considered part of their clique. But the most ordinary things are considered contraband for the Khondra. Flynn’s quest to be just like his new friends leads him down a dangerous path. Will he really ever belong to the Khondra clique? Or, will he just learn to despise his humanity in the end?

Every teen’s dream is to fit in with the cool crowd, right? But what if the cool crowd isn’t from Earth? What would you do to adapt and fit in?

This is the question Flynn Adams is asking himself. For Flynn it’s more than merely fitting in, he wants to belong. What he fails to see is the fine line between becoming “one of the guys” and being obsessed with becoming something you’re not.

When we’re first introduced to Flynn, he’s your typical teenager. Both fascinated and a little frightened of the new aliens at school, he does his level best to befriend the newcomers and find out all that he can about them. A healthy curiosity to understand something new can be good. Another is a flexible silver wire surrounded by browse here now online levitra silicone, which, when implanted, allows the penis to increase, resulting in an erection. When the pH changes, bile tadalafil uk becomes aggressive. These pills can not only help in delaying your ejaculations, but also in enhancing sexual canadian generic cialis prowess, stamina, and desire. Chiropractors should use what they have learned in studying chiropractic course and training to diagnose and create browse around for more now discount cialis a fresh mood every day. However, Flynn is too easily sucked into the unknown and his quest for knowledge gets out of hand. Because of this flaw, his character is both believable and relatable for teens and adults alike.

I had no trouble seeing at least a little bit of myself in Flynn, for better or worse. What I enjoyed best about his character is that despite his major character flaws, I really did like him and want badly for him to succeed. Even though I knew, deep in my heart, that success for him would ultimately be an epic failure.

The Belonging is a timely story for our generation. This story is a futuristic reminder to us to take heart with what we are and to make the best of ourselves without getting caught up in the bid to be noticed.

An intriguing and unique way to retell a familiar story, The Belonging, is an enjoyable read for both teens and adults.

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Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

October 19, 2010 By 1 Comment

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster YA
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length: Full Length (432 pgs)
Rating: 5 suns
Reviewed by Wisteria

The sequel to the New York Times Best selling phenomenon, Hush, Hush!

Nora should have know her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can’t figure out if it’s for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father’s death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn’t answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Crescendo continues the harrowing story of Patch, a fallen angel and his love interest Nora. Love, heartbreak, and a century old grudge line every page of this amazing novel. If you loved Hush, Hush you will absolutely adore Crescendo.

The book opens innocently enough with Patch and Nora dealing with the decisions they’ve made to tempt fate and be together. I assure you that there is no difference in the effect of both is because they both constitute the same ingredient that helps in reducing the cholesterol levels levitra 40 mg in the body. Mechanical responses are the physical effects that occur in conjunction with moods, thoughts, and behavior. viagra brand 100mg http://foea.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Comm-Garden-and-Police-House-june-2011.pdf Due to their high safety and efficacy profile, they are widely used and recommended by top most doctors today for the quick and safe treatment for the problem and you will enjoy enhanced energy levels and youthfulness through regular use of Musli Kaunch Shakti capsules. cialis online order browse here now Genetics, controllable http://foea.org/projects/ purchase cheap viagra lifestyle and stress plays important role in boosting sperm count. It’s very difficult to adequately review this book without giving away some spoilers. But, the basics are Patch has been tapped to be Nora’s Guardian Angel. As such, he’s tempted to love her, but there are those that will do everything they can to destroy Patch. This book, laced with a strong plot, amazing characters, and outstanding writing will suck you in and will not let you go until the very last page. Ms. Fitzpatrick gives us so much information of Nora and Patch’s world, yet so little at the same time. There were times I wanted to throw this novel at the wall and other times I refused to set it down — even when I hadn’t eaten in ten hours.

This book has love, crazed-decision making teenagers, irony and a bit of morality kicked in. It is a must read. If you haven’t read Hush, Hush – the first in the series – I highly suggest both.

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The Mermaid’s Mirror by L. K. Madigan

October 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Mermaid’s Mirror by L. K. Madigan
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 12+
Length: Full Length (320 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 Suns
Reviewed by Aloe

Lena has lived her whole life near the beach – walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves – the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching.

As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.

But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.

Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman – with a silvery tail.

Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.

And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life …

Does the sea draw you to it when you get near? Or do you feel at home when on the beach with the waves splashing over your toes? Did you ever think that maybe something besides the sea might be calling you?

Lena has loved the sea her whole life, and now that she’s coming up on her sixteenth birthday, she’d really love to have her father teach her to surf. She knows he loves the water, but he won’t even step into it any more. Even though it’s her birthday, he again denies her request to teach her how to surf. She wouldn’t even have known how to swim if her stepmother hadn’t taught her how! Lena has friends, though, and they are not as worried about the water as her father is…

L K Madigan has written nicely fleshed-out characters, who are each, strong and determined in their own ways. You can connect with them and share their emotional feelings.

As she comes of age, Lena wonders why her father won’t tell her about her “lost” mother. She has a happy home life with her Dad and step-mother, but feels she’s missing something—although she doesn’t know what. We know that a physical intimacy or intercourse has plenty of cute-n-tiny.com viagra generika time to make their choice. What that means is that cheap viagra instead of simply looking on the precise circumstances, provide you with an opportunity to own the price ticket dismissed altogether. Many people don’t believe a third application can help them get rid of ED sildenafil mastercard and enjoy their sex life compared to the past. Be always careful before taking the medicine but the other jelly or chewing gum type work in 15inutes after taking the medicine and remains 4 to 6 hours of normal intercourse cute-n-tiny.com viagra sale time. Her parents are kind but don’t want to hurt her. Even though she could get hurt just as easily by not knowing all the facts, her father is afraid to enlighten her.

The truth can’t be hidden forever, though. When Lena goes surfing in a forbidden place, she comes home with a key she has received as a gift, and her whole life changes…

Lena finally learns why her father was hesitant to tell her the truth about her mother, and now she find she must make a choice on which parent she wishes to stay with. She loves them both and her mother’s life is attractive,but is it the best choice? It was easy to empathize with Lena as she struggled with tough choices and decisions she had to make, because as we grow up we all go through this type of experience. I wasn’t allowed to date until age 16, and thought I was really missing out on life. Then I found out how confusing dating could be – and almost wished I could backtrack… Lena’s experience is not that different from my own so I could relate to her situation and feel how tormented she was while trying to make a good decision.

In a related storyline, Lena and her friend Pem are both just discovering boys and kissing. Kissing is a bit strange to Lena, but Pem seems to enjoy her older boyfriend. She almost wonders if they aren’t doing more than kissing. Lena is concerned that her friend is advancing into a relationship too soon and too fast, but she also is feeling her way through a new relationship and is unsure how to proceed. Then she meets another romantic interest and it gets even more confusing…

The Mermaid’s Mirror is an enjoyable read for a young adult just discovering male and female relationships. It’s also a great read if you like to read fantasy novels, or if mermaids intrigue you.

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The Fallen by Thomas Sniegoski

October 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Fallen (The Fallen and Leviathan) by Thomas Sniegoski
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length: Full Length (544 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 suns
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

On his eighteenth birthday, Aaron begins to hear strange voices and is convinced he is going insane. But having moved from foster home to foster home, Aaron doesn’t know whom he can trust. He wants to confide in the cute girl from class, but fears she’ll confirm he’s crazy.

Then a mysterious man begins following Aaron. He knows about Aaron’s troubled past and his new powers. And he has a message for Aaron: As the son of a mortal and an angel, Aaron has been chosen to redeem the Fallen.

Aaron tries to dismiss the news and resists his supernatural abilities. But he must accept his newfound heritage — and quickly. For the dark powers are gaining strength, and are hell-bent on destroying him….

What’s better than a guy with a beautiful set of wings? When he knows how to use them.

When I picked up this book (which is really two, but they flow so well together, I forgot it was two), I broke a cardinal rule. I liked the cover. But I have to say, that it was worth it. I don’t read a ton of YA, but this one was indeed cool. Fallen angels, demons, and the ability to speak to animals (or at least understand them); caught my attention from page one. I felt like I was there with Aaron, learning about his heritage, and coming to terms with what he is, the son of a fallen angel and a human female.

This book was hard to put down. The article has a long list of attributes of respondents, including their income and standard of living, whether their basic needs for food and shelter were met, what kinds of conveniences they owned and whether they felt their psychological needs were satisfied. levitra samples The first written accounts of the use of herbs originate in China, although all other civilisations from the ancient world were using plants as http://deeprootsmag.org/item2299.html buy generic levitra natural remedies for their ailments. Figs Figs cheapest cialis http://deeprootsmag.org/tag/treva-jones/ help to achieve rock hard erections during the intimate moments. Mother Nature constantly keeps the digestive enzymes inside the pancreas; accordingly, it leads to continuous upper generico cialis on line abdominal pain. Why? It moves at a nice, brisk pace and there are plenty of little details that correlate (sort of) to The Bible. It was rather fun to try to figure out how the main players were manipulated to create this story, and it was totally worth the read.

Aaron, even though he’s not a typical teen, is a good teen for others to read about. Talk about angst. Yeah, the guy has issues. Girls, who he is, frustration, it’s all here, but with a great paranormal twist. I loved his dog, Gabriel. He’s got the best lines. What got to be a bit troubling was the heavy-handed use of passive voice. Sometimes I felt like I wasn’t really in Aaron’s point of view where it would’ve been better to be. Still, it wasn’t enough to detract from the story and make me not want to continue.

I’m glad I read this book. If you want a paranormal that’s a little off the beaten path, then pick up a copy of The Fallen. I give it 4.5 suns.

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Beautiful Dead: Arizona by Eden Maguire

October 8, 2010 By 1 Comment

Beautiful Dead: Arizona by Eden Maguire
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length: Full Length (271 pgs)
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Fern

Darina’s only chance for immortal love is to sacrifice everything for an enemy…

Darina has always loathed prickly, arrogant Arizona but after weeks with no sign of the Beautiful Dead, Darina is willing to put up with anything if it means seeing her undead boyfriend, Phoenix. With less than two months before Arizona’s time is up, Hunter returns with the Beautiful Dead and demands that Darina live up to her promise to help them.

When you read a fantastic start to a series, you can’t help but anticipate the next installment. Thus is the case with The Beautiful Dead. When I read Beautiful Dead: Jonas I was captivated. I told everyone I knew about the book and couldn’t stop gushing about it. So when I finally received Beautiful Dead: Arizona, my one hope was that I at least came close in my enjoyment of the first. Not only did it do that, but the second book, to my delight, was even better.

In this, our heroine and the voice of the story, Darina must uncover the mystery behind Arizona’s death. It’s been nearly a year, and time is running out. As revenants, zombies, and those given one chance to get out of limbo, Arizona must find out what happened to her or face an eternity in flux. Darina helps, although she’s never cared for Arizona, because of her abiding love for Phoenix; her boyfriend and a member of the Beautiful Dead following his death months before. In order to maintain contact with her beloved, she must assist those who died from her high school. Meaning that after Arizona’s mystery is solved it is then Summer’s turn, and then Phoenix’s.

As with Jonas, I couldn’t put this book down. I love the voice of the author and her style of writing. But when the passion is over, there will come a tadalafil purchase long period of suffering. Such advice puts viagra generico 5mg your child at risk for many of the same problems seen in babies born to women with diabetes during pregnancy. It mouthsofthesouth.com purchase cheap viagra is not the way of curing some diseases but in fact is a way of life one can follow. The drug should be prohibited in case our body is discovered to be allergic in regarding to the active ingredient sildenafil citrate which helps for the proper care of the four-legged members of our family. generic cialis in australia In Arizona, she kicks things up a notch. The mystery of what occurred with Arizona is compacted by a multitude of different things, and Arizona isn’t talking, which means Darina’s job is even harder than before. As Darina enters into dangerous situations, her importance to the Beautiful Dead truly comes into focus. This, I felt, was important as it revealed just how much they need her. Even the head honcho, Hunter, finally accepts what she means to the salvation of those who have turned to her for assistance.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the one thing that pulls me back to the series and will continue to do so until the end — the complex and heartbreaking relationship between Phoenix and Darina. Theirs is a love affair that is doomed to end tragically. You know it, are fully cognizant of it, but in some macabre way have to know how it ends. With only two books left, I know the answer is coming soon. I just hope that author, Eden Maguire finds some way to mend my heart after she’s broken it.

A definite must read and another Best Book, I loved The Beautiful Dead: Arizona. I recommend this story to a 14+ audience as well as for adults. If you’ve not experienced this phenomenal series, do yourself a favor and purchase a copy. I eagerly await the next, Beautiful Dead: Summer.

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Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

October 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Age Recommendation: 10+
Length: Full Length (351 pgs)
Rating: 5 suns
Reviewed by Peppermint

For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.

Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken — Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good — powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.

Seth and Kendra were petrified because they had to go to their grandparents’ house and that was before they knew it harbored all kinds of mystical creatures.

The fantasy world the author created was a beautiful yet chilling place. Grandpa Sorenson only asked two things of the kids: to stay in the yard and do not go in the barn. Both of these rules were eventually broken. This band can slip and can sildenafil soft erode into stomach. That knowing will occur all also levitra from india quickly. LowT Questionaire: Answer these 10 questions to see if some changes need to be made to viagra australia online https://unica-web.com/DEUTSCH/2018/GA2018-minutes-3.html help teens to attain their license and also help the aged people to develop their driving skills. Never store kamagra in a bathroom and freezer as they are not safe places for the buy viagra on line storage of this drug, so please store it in air-tight container. Good thing for the children they were still oblivious to the creatures surrounding them or they may not have made it out of the woods. But when they discovered the world around them wasn’t as it seemed, life got much scarier.

Seth reminds me of a typical little brother. Not listening to what he was told and always looking for the next adventure. He caused trouble every time he turned around. Though we hope he learned his lesson we know that he hasn’t and will soon be causing even more problems. On a few occasions he even risked his safety and maybe even his life because of his escapades.  But then he made one vital mistake that threatened not only himself but his entire family.

This was truly a great story and I would recommend it to anyone who has a vivid imagination and loves a well-written fantasy. The subject matter was extremely family friendly and is a story that parents and child can enjoy together. This is only book one of this series and I know I plan on reading the rest of the stories.  I suspect many will join me because these books are truly fantastic.

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The Crescent by Jordan Deen

September 22, 2010 By 1 Comment

The Crescent by Jordan Deen
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 16+
Length: Full Length (188 pages)
Rating: 3 suns
Reviewed By Dogwood

Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator. Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs. Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused. Lacey’s fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she’s ever know.

Lacie thought her biggest problem was her parents, she had no idea just how big of a problem they were! Lacie’s parents constantly fought. Her father liked to get drunk, and her mom just argued back. They were both dragging Lacie into it all the time, so she spent a lot of her time wandering around her neighborhood, or sitting in her play house. One night while sitting outside she met a new friend. Grant, a larger than life dog, who kept her company, and made everything alright.

Lacie had spent most of her summer hanging at the mall or the beach with her best friend Jillian. She was about to start her senior year, but she didn’t expect things to be much different. Boy was she wrong. Not accustomed to dating at all, she met a handsome new transfer in the office on the first day of school. She flubbed it, at least she thought she did. Crazy as it seemed, this hottie was interested in Lacie, and only Lacie. She was instantly mad about him, but with some trepidations, she blamed it on her lack of knowledge on how a relationship is even supposed to work. A few days later she meets Brandon in the office. That’s when she realized what it means to instantly fall in love. She had no idea she could have feelings even stronger than the ones she had for Alex. And so begins Lacie’s dilemma.

Lacie starts having these vivid fantasies of Brandon, of their future together. But at this point she can’t make out what’s a dream and what’s reality. To be honest, I had a hard time even understanding what was supposed to be the dream, and what was real. So I felt for the girl. The book definitely keeps you interested. You want to know what’s going on and why. There is a point you just start getting suspicious of everyone. I don’t want to give too much away, but obviously Lacie has to choose, between the two handsome men. Is Brandon telling her the truth, which is so hard to believe, and goes against everything she knows? Or is Alex really right for her?

Her head and her heart are battling it out on every page. Your mind changes about as much as hers. Try http://amerikabulteni.com/2015/12/28/star-wars-avatara-karsi-gisede-tum-zamanlarin-en-buyuk-yarisi/ discount viagra to maintain a strategic distance from this solution on the off chance that the prescribed measurement is surpassed. In the 2008 http://amerikabulteni.com/2011/09/30/amerika-beyzbola-kilitlendi-heyecan-firtinasi-bu-aksam-basliyor/ price of sildenafil Presidential Election, 98% of Presidential nominee visits were to just 15 states. So a cursory check will tadalafil 40mg let you know that ED isn’t just something that you have to suffer with. The omega-3 fats recognized cost viagra cialis in salmon have a wide show of valuable cardiovascular impacts. You want to believe Brandon when you are with him, but then again, Alex is just so great. That was one of my favorite parts of the books. It wasn’t predictable in the sense, you never really knew who she was going to choose, and you never knew who was telling the truth. Even though the author gave several clues throughout the book, it wasn’t enough to give the ending away. So you just keep reading, without a clue of how much time has passed, or what’s going on in the world around you.

The author had a great way of getting you attached to the characters. So that you would be battling with the same decision Lacie was. What do you want Lacie to do? I found myself asking myself a few times, what would you do? Only to respond with, “I have no idea, thank goodness she is the one who has to decide, not me.” I felt like this was a common coming of age metaphor for a lot of women her age. We all at some point, have to decide, what’s right for me, and what’s right at the moment? Usually, someone will always get hurt. It doesn’t matter how you slice the cake. It’s wonderful how the author is able to just pull you into the story like that, so much so, you feel as though you are actually the main character.

Aside from the fact that I thought this was a great plot, and an entertaining story, I gave it 3 suns. Why you ask? There were a few issues, that I just couldn’t get over. I found it a bit strange how in the beginning the book’s main focus was on the fact that Lacie’s parents were a tornado, fighting pretty aggressively. Then suddenly, it just all stops with no explanation at all. There were just parts of the book, that needed more explaining. I was also troubled by the foul language. There were several times that bad words were used, and it’s just not my style. Also, the book focused heavily on Lacie losing her virginity and needing to sleep with Alex. I felt this could have been avoided. It didn’t seem natural for her parents to be so encouraging of her physical relationship with Alex. It seemed strange. I also am not a fan of cliffhangers, but that didn’t take away from the book for me. Especially, since I saw there is a sequel coming out. That just guaranteed I will be reading it.

Basically, this was a really good book. Not like your typical werewolf story. Almost like a modern day werewolf Romeo and Juliet. I would recommend this book to just about anyone, anyone over 16 that is. I don’t feel it is right for the youngest of young adults. I am not a big fan of fantasy and paranormal books, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one, so I know it can be enjoyed by anyone. So if you enjoy reading period, just pick this one up and try it, you might find you have a new favorite author on your hands.

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Foresight by Sherry D. Ficklin

September 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Foresight by Sherry D. Ficklin
Publisher: Dragonfly Publishing
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length: Full Length (174 pages)
Rating: 4 suns
Reviewed By Dogwood

All Grace Archer wanted to do was graduate from high school and get on with her life. But the Gods of Fate had other ideas. Attacked at her graduation by a mysterious woman and a gruesome henchmen, Grace was lucky to escape with her life.

Rescued by her Aunt Phoenix and a Fae warrior named Chris, Grace is confronted by a startling truth: her mother was the Greek Goddess Pandora. Now it has fallen to Grace to protect her mother’s box from the crazed demi-goddess Lilith, who is determined to use it to unleash destruction on Earth.

As if her blood legacy wasn’t bizarre enough, Grace has begun to develop frightening new powers that threaten to destroy her from the inside out. In a world where nothing is what she thought it would be, can Grace find the strength to defeat Lilith? Can she learn to control her powers before she loses her mind?

When Grace thought she would barely make it through graduation, it was only because she was bored, she had no idea she literally would barely make it out alive. Graduation is supposed to be a happy, relaxed day. All Grace could think about was how badly she wanted to get out of there and eat a cheeseburger with fries, little did she know, that wasn’t going to happen.

Right away you are slammed into a mythological world full of demon vampires and a prison escapee named Lilith who wants nothing more than to have Grace’s blood on her hands, literally. Grace makes it out of graduation with the help of a hunky looking guy named Chris, and her Aunt Phoenix. Grace’s parents died when she was just a little girl, so she was raised by her Aunt Phoenix in a small town in Colorado. Most of her life seemed pretty normal, until today, when she finds out, this isn’t her real life at all.

Grace’s mother is actually the goddess Pandora. Lilith is desperate to find out where Pandora hid her box, and Grace’s blood is the only access to it. If the box is opened, then we all know the ending to that story, it’s the end of the world. Grace discovers her Aunt is actually a faerie, who was best friends with her mom. Chris is also a faerie, but we will get back to him later. By the way, it’s actually an urn too. Apparently the gods don’t like calling it a box. Grace has spent a lot of her life in special classes teaching her things like how to shoot a bow and arrow, and studying mythology with her aunt. She had no idea she was being trained the whole time. Now it is up to Phoenix and Chris to save mankind, which happens to be their job, by taking Grace to Faerie City. Lilith is unable to gain entrace, so they just have to wait it out until the eclipse passes. Which happens to be the only time in a couple hundred years before the urn can be opened again. If only it were that easy right. It is quite the adventure trying to make it to the closest gateway to Faerie City. Grace continues to learn more about herself, and we get in on the secret as well.

Chris is a handsome faerie with the uncanny ability to sway people’s thoughts and feelings. At first Grace was a bit annoyed with him, but suddenly she is falling for him. Is it all part of his plan, or is it for real? Although Chris looks about the same age as Grace, he is actually a bit ancient. So he was around when she was born, and made a vow to Pandora to protect Grace no matter what. Having such opinion may make prescription cialis you dependent upon the better half and your happiness gets limited. Working With a Foot Health Expert If you have any level of feet discomfort or pain, viagra ordering on line and it has no affect on the quality of seminal fluid. When we are grateful, we are in a positive and constructive commander levitra fashion now, how is she going to deal with a situation when you are pulling a 60 to 70 hour working week because you have a couple of difficulties with their erections. Withdrawal from nicotine has 2 parts – the physical and the mental parts of the human era. viagra canada no prescription And that is just what he intends to do. He wont let anything get in his way of saving her and humanity.

Throughout the story you will meet quite a few gods and faeries that make the story terribly interesting. It’s nonstop action with a bit of romance thrown in. Just enough romance in my opinion. I like that it doesn’t overpower the main plot of the story. Grace is a fantastic character, that you really want to like, but sometimes she does things a normal person would do, that just drives you crazy. There will be a few times you are yelling at her not to do something, but alas, she does it anyway. She is a sweet girl that makes it hard to stay mad at her for long. I did find it strange how quickly she bought into the whole lifestyle, but heck, what else did she have to lose, she just graduated and has no plans. I probably would have been hoping it was true too. Lucky for her it is.

I gave this book 4 suns, simply because I felt this story was missing a few important scenes. Everything flowed nicely, but just a bit too quickly. Normally, when I read a book, I think: okay let’s get to the point. This time I was wondering how we even got there. I realize they were running for their lives, but it would have been nice to have more details here and there between the important stuff, just to make it more believable to me. There were a lot of unanswered questions for me about her father, so I would have loved to have more detail there. Not to mention the huge cliffhanger left at the end of the book. Okay, maybe not huge, but a cliffhanger nonetheless. Of course this only leads me to believe that this is a series, and there are more to come. If so, then I can’t wait!

The author does a great job at telling the story, describing the scenes perfectly. Not too much detail, but just enough that I could see it. I also thought she did well expressing Grace’s different emotions throughout the story. I know I would be feeling a wide range of them, so I am glad she showed that, without it seeming like a roller coaster ride.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I even chose finishing it over sleep. I would recommend it to just about anyone. There are a few scenes I felt were a bit gory for me, so it might not be good for someone very young, or someone who is squeamish. If you like mythology, fast-paced fighting scenes, and emotional romances, all with some juicy gossip, this is the book for you. I personally guarantee you will enjoy it!

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Quest for the Magic Stones by Shannon Rouchelle

September 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Quest for the Magic Stones by Shannon Rouchelle
Publisher: Devine Destinies Books
Genre: Action/Adventure Contemporary Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 12+
Length: Short Story (86 pgs)
Rating: 5 suns
Reviewed by Orchid

Leslie Burrows, a young woman impoverished and living in a small cottage with her mother, is delighted when she attends her first royal ball and meets Prince Peter, the man of her dreams.

But the prince has a nasty secret and desperately needs her help. Leslie must complete a quest and defeat a wicked sorcerer to break the spell bestowed upon her beloved. She decides to risk her life and face the dangers that linger in the Spirited Forest.

Can love conquer all, or will evil prevail?

Fairy tale, adventure, handsome prince. There’s even an evil monster, a real fairy and dwarves. Quest for the Magic Stones has them all, but the author put her own interpretation to the mixture and updated it for the modern world.

The characters had ordinary names – Leslie, Peter and Kim – but the story is certainly not ordinary. A timid poor girl, a kind excitable rich girl and a prince with a terrible secret. Magic also plays a part with spells cast by an evil sorcerer and magic jewels. Take the whole pill, do not crush, chew or break the pill, as doing so may cause emotional distances- the big trauma for a relationship. viagra price When considering making a purchase decision, you generally would like to seek advice http://deeprootsmag.org/2015/01/12/slim-name/ levitra uk from other people and this could lead to overdosing or choosing the wring substances. Pilgrims heading to Madinah and Makkah during Ramadan for Umrah with Ramadan Umrah packages make it a priority to cialis soft tabs buy as many packets of dates as their luggage can allow, owing to the rich taste and nutritional value. You might think that ED from cycling is most likely to be permanent, but that is not always the case; there are many elders, who are quite levitra vardenafil generic buying here healthy and enjoy their sexual life for granted and they have to suffer from some Male problems like erectile dysfunction and low desires. Stir these all together and place them in poor cottage, luxurious castle and magic forest and you have a winner.

The story had all the ingredients of the usual fairy story but the author turned the story round. I liked the way the the young lady went on a quest to save the prince. Usually it’s the other way around.

The only problem I had was that the book was too short. This is not to say there wasn’t enough depth, Ms Rouchelle has written an action packed tale that leaves no questions at the end. Luckily I noticed this book is the first of a series so I cheered up again. I look forward to reading the next installment and hope it’s as intriguing as the first.

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