Dark Territory by: J. Gabriel Gates and Charlene Keel Review

Title: Dark Territory
Author: J. Gabriel Gates & Charlene Keel
Publisher: HCI Teens
Pages: 476
Format: Paperback
Series: Tracks #1

Description:

In the quaint town of Middleburg, an abandoned train yard and old railroad tracks form the dividing line between two rival gangs—the posh, preppie Toppers and the working-class Flatliners. When Raphael, the leader of the Flatliners, falls in love with Aimee, a Topper girl, the rival gangs prepare to do battle . . . but not with guns and knives. Their martial arts training dictates a strict code of honor, which all of the gang members adhere to. The only hope for peace between the rival gangs lies within the giant X formed where the railroad tracks cross. The awesome power contained in the X sends the Flatliners and the Toppers on a mystical quest to fight against malevolent forces that threaten the existence of Middleburg—and maybe the world.

My Review:

I received this from HCI Teens for a honest and fair review, and oh my god this was totally different then anything I have read lately.  This story had me on the edge of my seat, seeing aspects of the story of Romeo and Juliet.  You have the flatliners who are a misfit group doing the best they can in a society where the Toppers succeed and the flatliners just try to get by.  Nass is new to Middleburg and the last thing he needs is to join a gang but what he sees in the flatliners is more than a gang, he sees friends helping each other trying to get by.  He also meets Dalton who he is smitten with.  The toppers are the typical spoiled rich kids, minus Aimee who has returned to town after being in an institute after the death of her boyfriend Tyler.  She meets Raph and is instantly falling for him.  He treats Aimee like a person and doesn't shun her since her return.  Master Chin teaches the kids martial arts and warns them that bigger things are happening.

I enjoyed this the action was incredible, the humor was just as great and a refreshing read for the supernatural aspects.  You really feel like your with the gang in their various situations.  Definitely a great series can't wait to read the next one called Ghost Crown.

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One For the Money by: Janet Evanovich Review

Title: One for the Money
Author: Janet Evanovich
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Rating: 5 cups
Series: Stephanie Plum #1

Description:

ONE FINE MESS
Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash-fast-but times are tough, and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family...

ONE FALSE MOVE
Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. As does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants, to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is in hot water-wanted for murder...

ONE FOR THE MONEY
Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight-and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man...

My Review:

This book is the beginning of a series about Stephanie Plum who finds herself in desperate need of a job having been unemployed for the past 6 months.  She's about to loose her apartment, have her utilities cut off, and loose her car.  She goes to her mother's house for dinner where her parents tell her about Vinnie Plum's business and how he may have work for her.  She heads to Vinnie's bent on getting a job and after much persuasion blackmails Vinnie into hiring her as a bounty hunter, which Stephanie knows next to nothing about.  Her first case is to bring in Joe Morelli an ex cop being charged with murder.  The good side would be Stephanie would get $10,000 the bad part Morelli doesn't make it easy to for Stephanie to get her money.  In the meantime she meets Ranger who teaches her some bounty hunting tips.  This book was packed with action, humor *gotta love Grandma Muzur*, relationships and the occasional dinner with the folks. 

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Huber Hill and the Dead Man's Treasure Trailer

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Megan's Way Free Download

Melissa Foster is offering a free download of her book Megan's Way that is about to be made into a movie. Check it out here!

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Summer's Crossing by: Julie Kagawa Review

Description via Goodreads:

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.
Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist.
An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

My Review: 

I loved this book, as the two boys who use to be friends are working with each other to best the Summer Queen.  While you are reading from Robin Goodfellow's perspective I enjoyed seeing them somewhat get along.  It does show how they use to be very close and even Meghan can't separate what friendship lies deep down.  Definitely different then the books that are told from Meghan's prospective.  This one was purely about the guys.  I laughed and could feel the missing element from the trio.  Be interesting to see how The Iron Knight plays out.

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A New Prospect by: Wayne Zurl Review

Description via Goodreads:

Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style.

The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn't have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam's personal friend.

Jenkins' abilities are attacked when Lovejoy's influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators.

Feeling like "a pork chop at a bar mitzvah" in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn't kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture.

In true Jenkins style, Sam turns common police practice on its ear to insure an innocent man doesn't fall prey to an imperfect system and the guilty party receives appropriate justice.

A NEW PROSPECT takes the reader through a New South resolutely clinging to its past and traditional way of keeping family business strictly within the family.

My Review:

This book was great it combined humor, mystery, southern people and over all you get to meet all the people within the town. When Cecil Lovejoy is killed they are over run by possible suspects. They have the women he swindled into doing things they may not have, they also have family members who keep telling the police to butt out. Jenkin's wonders what everyone is hiding and who's complaining about them trying to catch a murder. In the end I didn't even have the suspect right. I loved this book definitely worth purchasing, you won't be disappointed in the least. This author is very skilled in his writing and telling of a murder mystery story, along with adding the southern slang.

I received this book via Pump Up Your Book Promotions for a honest and fair review.

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Ghellow Road by: T.H. Waters Review

Description via Goodreads:

Ghellow Road is a literary diary of a young girl's journey through the tangled labyrinth that is her life. Theresa's story begins in a large midwestern city where she is born to loving parents in 1965. For a brief moment in time, her life is full, as is her heart, and the world is hers to receive without consequence. As time passes and Theresa grows, supernatural forces begin to shape her existence, no matter how carefully her father colors the empty spaces of her world. After a series of tragic events, Theresa and her family seek refuge in a small Minnesota town nestled near the shores of Rainy Lake. She creates a new life for herself there, sharing adventures with friends and riding the ups and downs of adolescence. Yet through it all, her mother remains forever lost in the prison of her own mind and forever lost to Theresa. The young girl feels as though she is leading a double life, one that no one else could possibly understand. She begins to peer at the world as if looking through a thick, black veil, never certain which pieces are illusion and which are not. Through the kindness and support of the townspeople, She eventually summons the strength to survive. This is a story of tragedy and triumph. This is the story of my life.

My Review: 

This book was definitely different you follow the story of Theresa as she battles with her ill mother who suffers from schizophrenia which seems to really make it hard to be a good mom, her father who bears the weight of the world, dealing with the kids Mikie and Theresa, and his sick of wife.  When he can't bear it anymore he commits the unthinkable.  The kids get up rooted to their mother's parents house, Mikie finally has enough and finds himself shunned out of the house to live with someone else.  While Theresa gets passed around like Candy to whoever will care for her.  Theresa spends much of her time raising herself, she also learns that people don't treat her the best work wise due to her mother talking to invisible people.  This book was raw and great way to learn how damaging mental illness can be. 

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Adult Book Blogger Friday Hop #1

Adult Book Blogger Friday Hop #1

This blog hop is one is for a specific group. In order to do tag along you have to primarily have a book blog that reviews and post adult content. In other words, if you read adult romance books, then you can play tag along. Sorry YA or erotica readers, but if you read both (I know some of you do) you can tag along also. Just make sure you have both YA and adult romance on your blog.

I wanted to do this not only for myself, but for others out there that are looking for more adult book blogs.

It doesn't matter what you read if its paranormal, suspense, historical, contemporary or mystery. As long as it is adult then your in.

Now I wanted to let people know, if you don't have a blog and like these kind of reads, please click on a link and if you like the blog then follow that blog. You can comment on there post that you found them from the tag along.

Link to the Original

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Guest Post: : B.A. Chepaitis

  Disturb Me

    My novel, The Fear of God, is second in a series of books featuring Jaguar Addams and Alex Dzarny, two telepaths who work in a future prison system, rehabbing the worst criminals by telepathically making them face their fears.  In this novel, Jaguar has to rehab Sardis Malocco, a cult leader who’s blown up a bunch of her people, and may have plans to create the End of Days. 

    The plot itself was a joy to work with – there’s nothing like pushing your characters into a corner then making them save the world.   But what was even more fun was developing the relationship between Alex and Jaguar. 

    In the first novel they were at odds, and only slowly, tentatively, drawing closer to each other.  In this novel Alex gets to the point where he realizes he prefers Jaguar’s company to that of other women.  Mostly this happens when Jaguar actually finds him in bed with another woman, and silently goes away.  After, he asks her why she didn’t announce her presence and she says she didn’t want to disturb him.

    “Disturb me,”  he says.  “Anytime, under any circumstances.  That’s your prerogative.  To disturb me.”

    You have to love a man who recognizes that any real relationship  - between friends or lovers, between a reader and the book even - is a disturbance.  Then to go on and say you want it.    That’s just cool.   But for me the phrase has deeper implications.

     You see, I want to disturb people with my writing.  Not all the time, and not in every way.  I like to give my readers a fast-moving plot that keeps them hooked, so my structure sticks to ancient narrative patterns that have their roots in all good storytelling formats.  I’m not out to reinvent the wheel that way. 

    But I also want them to come away from reading one of my books with their hair a little wind-blown, their horizons broadened into new possibilities of behavior, new possibilities of consciousness.   So I disturb them with characters who live on the edge, with language that tries to capture what it’s really like to have psi capacities, with a woman who curses colourfully and a man who is both courteous and powerful, and questions about things like what’s the difference between what we imagine and what we produce, between what’s sacred and what’s religion.  

     I’m grateful to both Jaguar and Alex for giving me a way to do this kind of thing for my work, though I will say that  Jaguar has probably disturbed me more than she’s disturbed any reader, or Alex. 

    But that’s okay.  Like Alex, I say that’s her prerogative.  To disturb me. 

   

BIO: Barbara Chepaitis is the author of 8 published books, including The Fear Principle  and The Fear of God featuring Jaguar Addams (Wildside Press), and the critically acclaimed mainstream novels, Feeding Christine and These Dreams. Her first nonfiction book, Feathers of Hope, is about Berkshire Bird Paradise and the human connection with birds.   She’s writing a sequel which tells the story of helping our US Troops in Afghanistan rescue Eagle Mitch.  Barbara is founder of the storytelling trio The Snickering Witches, and faculty coordinator for the fiction component of Western Colorado’s MFA program in creative writing.  

Barbara’s website:   http://www.wildreads.com

Barbara on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=615302442

Jaguar on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jaguar-Addams-and-the-Fear-Series/135879429815445

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The Fear Principle by: B.A. Chepaitis Review

Description via Goodreads Site:

Dr. Jaguar Addams knows about fear. On a satellite prison called Planetoid Three, she establishes a telepathic link to her subjects. She confronts their demons. And makes them her own . . . They were known as the Killing Times, when serial murder reached epidemic proportions. Victims of hard-edged crime demanded hard-wired punishment, and the new prisons were born. Now one determined woman, a survivor of that dark age, tries to rehabilitate killers by tapping into the source of their obsessions: their worst fears. Her name is Jaguar Addams, and she is about to face the most challenging subject of her career. The ultimate assassin. A dangerously disturbed woman who will teach Jaguar the true meaning of fear.

My Review:

This book was sent to me for a honest and fair review.  This is the second book about Dr. Jaguar Addams who is a doctor on Planetoid Three who deals with criminals by making them see their fear.  In the Fear Principle she gets handed a double case one investigating a con man, the other is the case of an assassin, who they are trying to figure out who hired her.  What Jaguar learns is shocking.  Also she mounts a rescue for her boss Alex who has been kidnapped.  A great read and wonderful adventure

 

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New Books I Got Today

Today I went to Target and was weakened when I entered the book area so here are the books I got today:

Title: The Blue Bistro
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Format: Paperback
Pages: 356

Description:

Adrienne Dealey has spent the past six years working for hotels in exotic resort towns. This summer she has decided to make Nantucket home. Left flat broke by her ex-boyfriend, she is desperate to earn some fast money. When the desirable Thatcher Smith, owner of Nantucket's hottest restaurant, is the only one to offer her a job, she wonders if she can get by with no restaurant experience. Thatcher gives Adrienne a crash course in the business...and they share an instant attraction. 

But there is a mystery about their situation: What is it about Fiona, the Blue Bistro's chef, who captures Thatcher's attention again and again? And why does such a successful restaurant seem to be in its final season before closing its doors for good? Despite her uncertainty, Adrienne must decide whether she'll move on, as she always does—or finally open her heart…

Title: Beach Lane

Author: Sherryl Woods

Publisher: Mira Romance

Format: Paperback

Pages: 360

Description: 

In the close-knit community of Chesapeake Shores, Maryland, Susie O'Brien and Mack Franklin's "not dating" claim befuddles everyone, especially since the two spend every spare minute together. Susie's thrilled when their friendship finally heats up. Then, just when happily-ever-after seems within reach, Mack loses the job he loves and Susie faces a devastating diagnosis.

But O'Briens always unite in a crisis. Even her cousin Jess, Susie's rival for most of their lives, becomes her staunchest supporter --- especially when Mack's former lover comes to town. The stakes are higher than ever before, but Susie's definitely up to the challenge ... as long as Mack's right there by her side.

 Title: One For The Money
Author: Janet Evanovich
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Format: Paperback
Pages: 320

Description:

Welcome to colorful Trenton, New Jersey, and the wild and wonderful world of Stephanie Plum. In One for the Money, rookie "apprehension agent" Plum may be a bit wet behind the ears, but nobody's gonna take it easy on her; especially her first skip, an ex-cop and murder suspect named Morelli.

Title: Two for the Dough

Author: Janet Evanovich

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbooks

Format: Paperback

Pages: 325

Description: 

Kenny Mancuso shot his childhood buddy Moogey Bues and then jumped bail. Now bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is on the case to track Kenny down. Then someone finished Moogey off, Kenny can't be found, twenty-four coffins are missing, and there's some ex-army heavy artillery roaming the streets.

Title: Nightshade

Author: Andrea Cremer

Publisher: Speak (Penguin Group)

Format: Paperback

Pages: 454

Description: 

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Title: The Good Thief

Author: Hannah Tinti

Publisher: Random House Digital

Format: Kindle 

Description:

Richly imagined and gothically spooky, The Good Thief introduces one of the most appealing young heroes in contemporary fiction and ratifies Hannah Tinti as one of our most exciting talents writing today. 

Twelve year-old Ren is missing his left hand. How it was lost is a mystery that Ren has been trying to solve for his entire life, as well as who his parents are, and why he was abandoned as an infant at Saint Anthony’s Orphanage for boys. When a young man named Benjamin Nab appears, claiming to be Ren’s long-lost brother, his convincing tale of how Ren lost his hand persuades the monks at the orphanage to release the boy and to give Ren some hope. But is Benjamin really who he says he is? As Ren is introduced to a life of hardscrabble adventure filled with outrageous scam artists, grave robbers, and petty thieves, he begins to suspect that Benjamin not only holds the key to his future, but to his past as well….

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Fear of God Review by: B.A. Chepaitis

Description via Book Cover:

The children of Revelation looked skyward, waiting for the End of Days. On Planetoid Three, Jaguar Addams enters the minds of criminals. She lives in the shadows of their fears...and chases them into the light.

The followers of the Revelation Sect are preparing for the Second Coming, Stockpiles of weapons were found when federal agents stormed the home of the fanatical leader, Sardis Malocco. Now Jaguar must resort to using a virtual reality environment of Heaven to get to the root of Sardis's fear of God-before Revelation's zealots unleash their own apocalypse upon the world...

My Review:

This book starts off with a revelation Sect that is commiting suicide before the federal agents showed up to take them to Planetoid Three, They manage to catch Sardis and her companion Philo.  Philo uses a deadly toxin to cripple one of the workers who tries to get into his mind.  Which allows Philo with enough time to escape as everyone rushes to help the worker Rachel.  Jaguar finds herself trying to deal with Sardis to determine what toxin was used on Rachel looking for a cure, Jaguar is forced to use a VR (virtual reality) place to determine what Sardis is afraid of to make her realize the seriousness of what is going on.  The downside is Jaguar is an empath and the VR world works against the empathic ability.

Jaguar also feels responsible for what is happening to Rachel as it was Jaguar who trained her.  Jaguar who banged on the glass giving Philo the means to inject Rachel with the toxin, and Jaguar is forced to watch her protege fall apart medically.  Jaguar has to get inside the head of Sardis who thinks she has died and is in heaven little does she know she is far from heaven.  What a great story that truly kept me on the edge of my seat!

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Stories of a Lifetime by: Hugh Aaron Review

Description via book jacket:

Stories from a Lifetime carries readers through a widely diverse series of life's peaks and valleys with poignant, clear-eyed vision and understanding that is only gradually gained across the course of a lifetime through endurance and honest appraisal of the emotional roller coaster that we all ride.


My Review:

This book was not your typical one story type book, this book follows many short stories.  Some span during times of war, some are simple relationship stories.  I found each one of them moved me to some degree or another.  Definitely a great book to curl up on the couch and read.  It doesn't require you to read the whole book in a sit through you can read each story about 1-3 pages and find yourself drawn into the short story.  I liked the ones about the businessman dealing with his nephew and the one where another business owner got sucked back into a job after he had been let go.  Definitely a great book to have on your book shelf.  Hugh Aaron did a great job writing these short stories.  A treasure for anyone to have. This book was sent to me via Pump Up Your Books Promotion for a honest and fair review.

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Arcs for Review #2

These are arc's received from FSB for honest and fair reviews:

Title: County Line
Author: Bill Cameron
Publisher: Tyrus Books
Pages: 401
Format: Paperback
Source: FSB Media
Description:

When the steadfast Ruby Jane Whittaker drops out of sight, dogged ex-cop Skin Kadash sets out to discover what drove the woman he loves to leave her life behind so suddenly and without explanation. The discovery of a dead man in her apartment followed by an attack from a mysterious stalker leads Skin first to California, then across the country on a desperate journey deep into Ruby Jane's haunted past—and toward an explosive confrontation which will determine if either has a future.

Title: Liquid Smoke
Author: Jeff Shelby
Publisher: Tyrus Books
Pages: 280
Format: Paperback
Source: FSB Media
Description:

Private eye Noah Braddock has finally found peace in his once tumultuous relationship with Detective Liz Santangelo and has called a tentative truce with his alcoholic mother, Carolina. So when lawyer Darcy Gill demands that he look into a hopeless death row case, he's more interested in catching some waves before San Diego's rare winter weather takes hold. Then Darcy plays her trump card: the man scheduled to die—convicted of killing two men in cold blood—is the father Noah never knew.

Title: Screams & Whispers
Author: Randall Peffer
Publisher: Tyrus Books
Pages: 286
Format: Paperback
Source: FSB Media
Description:

Randall Peffer is back with another story of international mystery moving from Cape Cod to Vietnam.


Title: Untouchable
Author: Scott O'Connor
Publisher: Tyrus Books
Pages: 380
Format: Ebook
Source: FSB Media
Description:

It is the autumn of 1999. A year has passed since Lucy Darby's sudden and unexpected death, leaving her husband David and son Whitley to mend the gaping hole in their lives. David, a trauma-site cleanup technician, spends his nights expunging the violent remains of strangers, helping their families to move on, though he is unable to do the same. Whitley an 11 year-old social pariah known simply as The Kid hasn't spoken since his mother's death. Instead, he communicates through a growing collection of notebooks, living in a safer world of his own silent imagining.

As the impending arrival of Y2K casts a shadow of uncertainty around them, their own precarious reality begins to implode. Questions pertaining to the events of Lucy's death begin to haunt David, while The Kid, who still believes his mother is alive, enlists the help of his small group of misfit friends to bring her back. As David continues to lose his grip on reality and The Kid's sense of urgency grows, they begin to uncover truths that will force them to confront their deepest fears about each other and the wounded family they are trying desperately to save.

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It's Monday what are you reading? #15

It's Monday What are you Reading? Is a weekly bookish meme where we get together to share what books we've read in the past week, what books we're currently reading and what new books we're planning on reading in the coming week along with any reviews or interesting posts. It's hosted by Sheila @One Person's Journey through a World of Books

Finished This Week:

Stories from Home by: Hugh Aaron

Currently Reading:

The Fear of God by: B.A. Chepaitis (Pump Up Your Books Promotions)

A New Prospect by: Wayne Zurl (Pump Up Your Books Promotions)

Airel by: Aaron Patterson (Pump Up Your Books Promotions)

Up Next to Read: 

Huber Hill and the Dead Man's Chest by: B.K. Bostick (NetGalley Arc)

Spellbound by: Cara Lynn Schultz (NetGalley Arc)

What are you reading next?

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Arcs #1

Hey so I thought I would start a recurring post where I show books I've received for tours of reviewing.  So here goes:

Title: The Fear of God
Author: B.A. Chepaitis
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Format: Paperback
Pages: 217
Source: Pump Up Your Book Promotions
Blog Tour Date: 7-13-2011
Description: On Planetoid Three, Jaguar Addams enters the minds of criminals. She lives in the shadows of their fears . . . and chases them into the light. The followers of the Revelation Sect are preparing for the Second Coming. Stockpiles of weapons were found when federal agents stormed the home of the fanatical leader, Sardis Malocco. Now Jaguar must resort to using a virtual reality environment of Heaven to get to the root of Sardis's fear of God-before Revelation's zealots unleash their own apocalypse upon the world . . .





Title: Seers
Author: Heather Frost
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Format: Adobe Editions
Pages: 331
Source: NetGalley & Book Tour
Blog Tour Date: September
Description: When Kate Bennett survived the horrific car accident that claimed her parents' lives, she knew her world would be forever changed. But she never could have imagined how dramatic these changes would be. Feeling like a freak, Kate tries to hide her unwelcome new ability to see people's auras – that is,until she meets Patrick O'Donnell, who seems to be able to disappear at will. When Kate and her remaining family begin to be haunted by Demons, her only hope is to stay close to Patrick and other Guardians like him. Somehow, Patrick lies at the center of the mystery, and Kate soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble. Caught up in a war she barely understands, with enemies only she can discern, Kate quickly learns that in war everybody loses something...or someone.

Title: The Sleepwalkers
Author: J. Gabriel Gates
Format: Adobe Editions
Pages: 338
Publisher: HCI
Source: NetGalley
Description: -->

“Privileged and popular Caleb Mason is celebrating his high school graduation when he receives a mysterious, disturbing letter from his long-lost childhood playmate, Christine. Caleb and his jokester friend Bean decide to travel to his tiny hometown of Hudsonville, Florida, to find her. Upon arrival, they discover the town has taken a horrifying turn for the worse. Caleb’s childhood home is abandoned and his father has disappeared. Children are going missing. The old insane asylum has reopened, and Christine is locked inside. Her mother, a witch, is consumed with madness, and Christine’s long-dead twin sister whispers clues to Caleb through the static of an A.M. radio.

The terrifying prophesies of the spirits are coming to pass. Sixteen clocks are ticking; sixty-six murdered souls will bring about the end of the world. As Caleb peels back layer after layer of mystery, he uncovers a truth more horrible than anything he had imagined, a truth that could only be uttered by the lips of the dead.”

Title: Vanish: A Firelight Novel
Author: Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Adobe Editions
Pages: 198
Source: NetGalley

Description: Full of sizzling romantic tension and page-turning action, the next installment in the Firelight trilogy raises the stakes in Jacinda’s life. After revealing herself as a draki to hunters to save Will, the boy she loves, Jacinda and her family must return to the safety of the pride. But her fellow draki no longer trust Jacinda, so her sister, Tamra, and their prince, Cassian, are among the few who will even talk to her. Jacinda longs for Will to keep his promise and come find her, even though she knows it is not only unlikely, it is dangerous. When, against all odds, he does track her down, Will’s reappearance sets in motion a deadly chain of events that nobody can stop.

Title: Airel
Author: Aaron Patterson
Publisher: Stonehouse Ink
Format: Adobe Editions
Pages: 472
Source: Pump Up Your Book Promotions Book Tour
Tour Date: July 19, 2011
Description: All Airel ever wanted to be was normal, to disappear into the crowd. But bloodlines can produce surprises, like sudden mysterious illness. Then there’s Michael Alexander, the new guy in school, who is impossibly gorgeous…and captivated by her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she can hear the sound of pages turning, and another, older story being written. It is the story of an ancient family, of great warriors, of the Sword of Light, and the struggle against an evil so terrible, so far-reaching, that it threatens everything she hopes for even now. Airel knew change would be inevitable as life went on. But can she hold on when murder and darkness begin to close in and take away everything she loves? Will she have what it takes when the truth is finally revealed?
 

Title: A New Prospect
Author: Wayne Zurl
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Format: Kindle (mobi)
Source: Pump Up Your Promotions Book Tour
Tour Date: 7-18-2011
Description: Sam Jenkins never thought about being a fish out of water during the twenty years he spent solving crimes in New York. But things change, and after retiring to Tennessee, he gets that feeling. Jenkins becomes a cop again and is thrown headlong into a murder investigation and a steaming kettle of fish, down-home style.


The victim, Cecil Lovejoy, couldn't have deserved it more. His death was the inexorable result of years misspent and appears to be no great loss, except the prime suspect is Sam's personal friend.
Jenkins' abilities are attacked when Lovejoy's influential widow urges politicians to reassign the case to state investigators.

Feeling like "a pork chop at a bar mitzvah" in his new workplace, Sam suspects something isn't kosher when the family tries to force him out of the picture.
In true Jenkins style, Sam turns common police practice on its ear to insure an innocent man doesn't fall prey to an imperfect system and the guilty party receives appropriate justice.
A NEW PROSPECT takes the reader through a New South resolutely clinging to its past and traditional way of keeping family business strictly within the family.

* Feel free to share in the comments any new exciting books you are reading or reviewing or tours you are having!

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Black Widow and The Sandman by: L.L. Reaper Review

Description via Goodreads:

Children in Cuba are suffering an agonizing death. The cause-a toxin released by a terrorist organization hell-bent on genocide. The scientific community is at a loss, and the Cuban government can no longer hide the truth from its citizens. Cuba's only chance lies in the capable hands of a reclusive scientist from the country that is believed to be behind this terrorist attack-the United States of America. Roman "The Sandman" Tate is the most sought-after mercenary in the world. When he is ordered to protect scientist Jeanette "Black Widow" Mason, he finds she is much more than scientific equations. The two join forces to create an antidote and stop those responsible for the mysterious illness before more children die and Cuba follows through on its promise to retaliate.

My Review:

What an incredible story of two tough fighters who are up against a deadly toxin that is causing harm to children in Cuba. Black Widow is the scientist who can determine a cure if she can get a handle on the targets. Sandman is there to protect her so they can be successful. Mixed among this the growing attraction between the two. Neither one counted on a romantic attraction to transpire. The writing is great really has you on a wild adventure wondering if they will figure it out in time. The two are also dealing with demons of their own that they need to battle through, but atleast they can do it together.

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McNally's Dilemma by: Lawrence Sanders Review

Description via Goodreads:

Lawrence Sanders made a career out of improving upon other peoples' ideas. At the time he wrote THE ANDERSON TAPES, the device of using a tape recording as a narrative device was just coming into fashion. His use of the tape format has never been equaled.

At the time he wrote THE FIRST DEADLY SIN, serial killers (though they weren't yet called that) were becoming major villains in crime fiction. Except for the work of two other writers -- Thomas Harris and Shane Stevens -- I don't think SIN has ever been equalled.

And while one can't say that the McNally series -- his latest spate of bestsellers -- is up to the standard of THE THIN MAN or Lord Peter Wimsey -- the dual inspiration for these books -- Sanders does a damned good job of melding them into a contemporary series.

One thing up front: A gritty, realistic private eye series this ain't. And isn't supposed to be. McNally is the ne'er-do-well son of a brilliant lawyer. After he flunks out of Yale Law, Daddy sets him up as the investigative wing of the law firm. He gets involved in various Palm Beach scandals filled -- as are most of Sanders's books -- with lots of sex, violence, and fey commentary on the mores of the rich and/or horny.

In MCNALLY'S DILEMMA, we encounter a nice, twisty mystery that begins when a socialite who admits to murder asks McNally to help keep the press away from her beautiful daughter. How can he say no? But as he looks at the case, McNally wonders if anybody connected to it is telling him the truth. Various conflicting motives and stories emerge. How will McNally sort it all out?

Sanders was a pro's pro. He could and did do just about everything one can with various forms of popular fiction. The McNally books are pure entertainment. Sanders had a good eye and ear for the habits of the idle rich, and those talents are very much on display here. 

My Review:

This book had everything action, adventure, mystery, whodunit's, we follow the main character Archy McNally as he investigates both blackmail from a portrait of a great grandfather who was with the Titanic when it sunk.  And a wealthy murder.  As with any great mystery the ending was a complete twist and I loved it.

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Happy Fourth of July

Happy 4th of July from Community Bookstop

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It's Monday what are you reading?

It's Monday What are you Reading? Is a weekly bookish meme where we get together to share what books we've read in the past week, what books we're currently reading and what new books we're planning on reading in the coming week along with any reviews or interesting posts. It's hosted by Sheila @One Person's Journey through a World of Books

Finished This Week:

Too Many Pears by: Jackie French (NetGalley Arc)

The Monkey and the Toolbelt by: Chris Monroe (NetGalley Arc) 

Black Widow and the Sandman by: L.L. Reaper (Pump Up Your Book Promotions)

Currently Reading:

The Fear of God by: B.A. Chepaitis (Pump Up Your Books Promotions)

A New Prospect by: Wayne Zurl (Pump Up Your Books Promotions)

Stories of a Lifetime by: Hugh Aaron (Pump Up Your Books Promotions)

Airel by: Aaron Patterson (Pump Up Your Books Promotions)

Up Next to Read: 

Huber Hill and the Dead Man's Chest by: B.K. Bostick (NetGalley Arc_

Spellbound by: Cara Lynn Schultz (NetGalley Arc)

What are you reading next?

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Too Many Pears by: Jackie French Review

Description:

Pamela the cow loves pears, and will do just about anything to get them. But will anyone else ever get to eat a pear again? Certainly not until Pamela has had her fill . . . and chooses something else to eat!

My Review:

This was a great story about Pamela a cow who has a love for pears.  She loves to eat all kinds of pears and the family tries to come up with ways to stop Pamela pear love.  In the end the only thing that cures it is apples.  Definitely a great picture book for all ages of kids.

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Monkey with a Toolbelt by: Chris Monroe

Description:

Clark has an enormous problem. Someone is sabotaging his uncle's seaside resort! What does he do? He calls Chico Bon Bon, the Monkey with a Tool Belt. Chico and his tools tackle Clark's problems, but as soon as Chico fixes one thing, something new breaks! If Chico can't stop these shenanigans, he'll never get to go surfing! 

My Review:

This book was so cute we follow Chico Bon Bon who gets invited to Clark's Uncles resort.  Along the way Chico finds many things that need fixing.  When he gets to the resort he figures out what is going on to cause things breaking, and even gets some surfing in as well.  I think kids of all ages will enjoy this story.

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