CLONES: The Anthology – Review

Title: Clones: The Anthology

Genre: Sci-Fi

Author: Many

Publisher: Holt Smith LTD

Publication Date: May 24,2016

Format: Ebook

Pages: 256

Rating: 4.5

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

CLONES: The Anthology

Human cloning.
Technology evolves faster than we do.
The law shields us from our worst temptations.
But the opportunity is there, dangling just out of reach—perfection and ascension… or delusion and destruction.

In this collection of clone-themed stories, ten of today’s top speculative fiction writers explore our morality, our built-in societal restraints, and reflect upon our state of grace.

Similar is not necessarily the same.

“CLONES: The Anthology” features stories from Amazon bestselling authors Rysa Walker (the Chronos series), R.D. Brady (the Belial series), Susan Kaye Quinn (the Singularity saga), Best American Science Fiction notable Samuel Peralta (Faith), and USA Today Bestselling and Multi-Award Winner P.K. Tyler, plus five more of today’s top authors in speculative and science fiction.

My Review:

This was a great collection of little clone stories that made you think about the pros and cons of cloning. There were stories that were very futuristic, scary, and had very probable issues that could arise if we did clone people. I really enjoyed the twists that some of them had and the arguments for and against following this path of technology. I think this would be a great book for discussions, like book clubs, since so many different ideas are brought to light in each story.

                         

The Witches of Panay – Review

Title: The Witches of Panay

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Author: Fayr Willow

Publisher: Unknown

Publication Date: May 27, 2016

Format: Ebook

Pages: 169

Rating: 2

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

 

Blurb from GoodReads:

I was a normal girl, went to school, stayed out of trouble, and did my homework. I hung around with my best friend, Chantelle, and worked part-time at my Mama’s floristry. My life on Earth was as normal as anyone’s could be, other than my being a witch. Nothing exciting ever happened. That was, not until the day Jake arrived. Then, slowly everything changed.
Now, I find myself entering Magickal realms, talking to animals, and encountering monsters that I thought were just myths. I am told I am the Chosen One. I have a job to do. I have to save the Earth.

My Review:

I hate giving bad reviews but this book just annoyed me. The first few pages were great and made me want to read more but once 11 years had passed my enthusiasm for the story fizzled. The main character, Larissa Emi, was not at all a normal 16 year old and it seemed like everyone talked down to her like she was only 6 instead of 16. When she was 5 and fleeing for her life with her friends and family she seemed like a powerful witch, but at 16 it was like she didn’t even know spells anymore. As I read on it got even worse, now she has to go on a quest to repair the Aurora Borealis  and defeat the Dark Witch to save all the galaxy, all with practically no training. She does have moments of “great power” but she seems as clueless as the humans that live on Earth that know nothing about the paranormal. Parts of the story reminded me of reading The Golden Compass (which I loved) and it wasn’t subtle enough to seem like it’s own story. Needless to say I was very disappointed.

#EllieKeys Honor Anthology (New Release)

Title: Honor Anthology

Author: Emily Snow, Chelsea Camaron, MJ Fields, Daryl Banner, Lacey Black, S.M. Donaldson, Misha Elliott, Ellie Keys, Amanda Lanclos, Ryan Michele, and Dawne Walters

Release Date: May 30, 2016
All Proceeds Donated to Honor the Sacrifice Charity

For Memorial Day 2016, eleven authors have come together to honor those who lost their lives while defending our freedom. Enjoy eleven brand new military-themed stories, which may contain a few familiar faces. 

Through happiness, struggles, love, loss, appreciation, and sorrow, these stories will leave you red hot and wanting more. 

All proceeds from the sales of The Honor Anthology will be donated to the Honor the Sacrifice charity. 

*Contains adult language and content not suitable for readers under the age of 18* 

 

OUR MISSION 

To honor, assist and raise support for our Veterans, active Warriors and their Families who sacrifice so much through selfless service to our nation.

 

 

 

Includes stories from: 

NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Emily Snow 

USA Today Bestselling authors Chelsea Camaron and MJ Fields 

along with 

Daryl Banner 

Lacey Black 

SM Donaldson 

Misha Elliott 

Ellie Keys 

Amanda Lanclos 

Ryan Michele 

Dawne Walters

HOSTED BY:

Denial (Careless Whispers #1) – Review

Title: Denial

Series: Careless Whispers

Series Number: #1

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Author: Lisa Renee Jones

Publisher: Gallery Books

Publication Date: November 24, 2015

Format: Ebook

Pages: 321

Rating: 5

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb From GoodReads:

Book one in the CARELESS WHISPERS series. This is a standalone spin-off of the INSIDE OUT series (soon to be a TV show) that follows Ella Ferguson, Sara McMillan’s best friend.

Ella Ferguson awakes alone in Italy, unsure of who she is, and a gorgeous man has claimed her as his own. He’s tall, dark, and sexy, with money and power, the kind of man who makes a girl want to be possessed. And he does possess her, whispering wicked wonderful promises to her, stealing her trust and her heart. Soon though, the past finds her, yanking her from a cocoon of passion and safety. Everything is not how it seems. The truth will shatter her world, but it can set her free, if it doesn’t destroy her first.

My Review:

Ella wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there or who she is. The only reason the reader knows her full name is because the blurb tells us. She does end up remembering her first name but not her last, so this is the only thing we know about her that she does not (unless you’ve read the Inside Out series which I have not yet). The story is told from Ella’s point of view so we know as much as she does (other than her name of course). This story has everything I love, suspense, mystery and some romance. It takes off with a bang and carries you on a roller-coaster ride that leaves you panting and screaming for more. So yes, it’s a doozy of a cliffhanger with a whammy of a hangover. But it is SO worth it! Kayden is a wildcard, he’s the one protecting her and trying to help her figure out who she is. Problem, he seem familiar and that would’ve raised some red flags for me but having a hot guy demanding to protect you can cause thoughts to be forgotten. I do love the fact that Ella isn’t just some damsel in distress though, she is tough and smart with just enough vulnerability to make her believable as a character. All I can really say is this…

GIMME THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!

                    

Midnight Burning (The Norse Chronicles #1) – Review

Title: Midnight Burning

Series: The Norse Chronicles

Series Number: #1

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Author: Karissa Laurel

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

Publication Date: July 7, 2015

Format: Ebook

Pages: 280

Rating: 4.5

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb from GoodReads:

Solina Mundy lives a quiet life, running the family bakery in her small North Carolina hometown. But one night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that Mani is dead. Driven to learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex-Marine, is the only one willing to help her.

As Solina and Skyla delve into the mystery surrounding Mani’s death, Solina is stunned to learn that her own life is tied to Mani’s friends, his death, and the fate of the entire world. If she can’t learn to control her newfound gifts and keep her friends safe, a long-lost dominion over mortals will rise again, and everything she knows will fall into darkness.

My Reveiw:

This story was told from Solina’s point of view so we know as much as she does, which is nothing, other than her brother seems to have been killed by a wolf. There are so many questions that arise that remain unanswered until close to the end, which leaves you with a cliffhanger. The build-up to that cliffhanger was brilliantly written. Even with all the unanswered questions I felt like I really knew each character, choices they would make and how they would react. Ms. Laurel did an excellent job turning this centuries old myth into a present day possibility.

The characters are awesome, you have the simple Solina, the tomboy Skyla, the brooding Thorin, and the laid back comedian Val. I loved getting to know each and every one of them. Solina is the perfect daughter, doesn’t rock the boat in any way but on this journey she starts to overcome her fears and learn to live. Skyla is the perfect friend, she comforts yet doesn’t let Solina wallow for too long. Thorin, well he seems to love control but doesn’t seem to like to communicate which was a total piss me off. And Val seems to just want to get laid lol. It’s more than that but I don’t want to give anything away.

Favorite Quotes:

“But everyone’s abrupt departure left me alone in the company of the Patron Saint of the Perpetual Erection” – Solina thinking of Val.

“That was a real gem of an apology,” I said. “I’m polishing it up. Maybe I’ll get a setting made for it and wear it around for others to envy.” – Solina talking to Thorin.

                                                                                                           

#EllieKeys Honor Me by Chelle Bliss (Release Tour & Review)

NEW RELEASE

Honor Me, Men of Inked Book 6, by Chelle Bliss

City & Suzy are back!

I had everything I ever wanted—a wife, a kid, with two more on the way. I was living the American dream. After the babies were born, we hit a rough patch. I did everything to prove my love, to show Suzy that nothing was more important than her. After some work and a lot of time, we found our groove again. Just when life had evened out, a familiar enemy came back to haunt us. It wasn’t my past that followed us, but my brother’s. When the danger gets too close, I’ll do anything to defend my family. There’s nothing more important than the people I love, and I’ll protect what’s mine—even if it costs me my life.

Excerpt

Suzy glared at me. “What’s this we shit? I’m the one with two aliens inside of me, trying to claw their way out of my body. I’m the only one pushing them out of my tiny vagina. Not you. Not her. Me!” She waved her hands frantically in the air. “I’m the one doing everything while you sit there calm, sexy, and without your body splitting in two. I’m going to be the one tearing wide open as I push two humans and their giant Gallo heads out of my body.” She collapsed, gasping for air, and closed her eyes.

I bit my lip. Pregnant Suzy was unpredictable, but in-labor Suzy was just downright scary. “I know, sugar. You’re doing all the hard work. I’m just here to cheer you on and support you.”

Her nostrils flared and her eyes grew wide when she glanced up. “Support me? If you want to support me, you’ll never knock me up again. You want to cheer me on?” She rolled her eyes and made a noise low in her throat. “Stop fucking talking.”

I braced myself, waiting for her head to do a 360. I brought my mouth right next to her ear. “My sweet little wife, you beg for my cock every day. It takes two to tango, sweetheart. I didn’t put you in that bed.” I lowered my voice further, whispering, “Your sweet little cunt did.”

About the Author

Chelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. Currently she’s written a dozen books in three different series. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and hamster.

Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.

FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

Review:

5 Stars

***I was gifted an advanced copy of this book  in exchange for and honest review.***

 

I cannot express in words just how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Bliss hooked me from the very start of the read. I couldn’t believe I was on edge from the very beginning. Loving the devotion and adoration shared between City and Suzy would be putting my feelings lightly. It takes a special kind of male to stick by a woman when she is in the midst of one of the most trying times of her life. In times when she questions her sanity and everything that comes with it having a supportive, loving, and understanding male in her corner can be the catalyst to get her through it.

 

I devoured this book. The family connections and dynamic had me cracking up. There was a point in the story that had me wanting to take a trip to have a sit-down chat with the author to let her personally know just how I felt about a particular scene that had me crying like a newborn baby.

 

If you haven’t already set the book to be your next read, I would suggest you rectify that issue as soon as possible. 

 

Thanks to Chelle Bliss for such a worthy read to take my mind off of my many projects and make me smile. It was well worth the time I spent away from my tasks.

HAVEN’T READ THE MEN OF INKED? NOW’S YOUR CHANCE TO START FOR ONLY 99 CENTS!

AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | KOBO | GOOGLE

 

 

#EllieKeys Reign Again by Ellie Keys (New Release & Giveaway)

Title:  Reign Again

Author: Ellie Keys

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date:  May  17th, 2016

Synopsis: 

Sometimes I wish it would rain.

                Sometimes I wish it would pour

                                But most times

                                                I just wish I could learn to soar

Learning to soar

I’ve spent most of my life living for others, guided by another and shown what “is best” for me. One morning, I decided I’d reached the end of my rope with the life I was leading. That was the morning I became Reign again.

~Reign Amethyst Jeffries

Teasers:

Excerpt: 

“I was looking for my clothes so I could make my exit. You didn’t leave that information in your note.”

His smile faltered when he looked at what was left of my dress that I’d been wearing the night before. The look he was sporting had me giggling because he looked like a little kid that figured out he shouldn’t roll his toy car in the street with other cars. Very specific example there, might want to get out a bit more, Reign.

“What was that last bit there? What specific example?”

His look and words had me realizing that I hadn’t just thought that, I’d actually spoken that aloud.

“Ha. Yeah, that was in reference to something that I was thinking, which I believed I’d said only in my head. Okay. We’re going to move passed that one. I need to get something from you.”

At his quirked eyebrow and questioning glance, I quickly corrected my statement.

“I mean, I need some clothes or pants. I can’t leave here with just this shirt.”

He gave me an appreciative once over and muttered something to himself. Was he actually attracted to me or just the fact that there was a half-naked woman in front of him? Hold on, or was he recalling something we did last night?

“Did we … did you and I have sex last night?”

My face must’ve reflected the sheer terror that I felt at the possibility that I did something that stupid. I’m a mother. I cannot have idiotic moments like that. The man is “fuck me until I don’t know my own name” hot, but I don’t have time for getting caught up in a moment.

“Relax, Reign. We didn’t do anything.”

My face fell. I was scrutinizing his features as I relaxed about the fact that we hadn’t done anything, but I needed to be sure.

“You’re sure? Nothing, absolutely nothing, happened between the two of us?”

His chest moved up and down as he released a chuckle then an exasperated sigh. His hands moved to his pockets as he responded.

“Reign, I assure you, nothing happened between us last night.”

The way he adamantly spoke told me that he was telling the truth. Now, I felt like a fool because I wanted to know why nothing happened. We were obviously attracted to one another. I mean I was checking him out and he was doing the same. Chewing the inside of my jaw, I thought about last night and tried to remember the details. I really wanted to know why we hadn’t done anything. Since we hadn’t, how in the hell did I end up in his shirt?

“Reign, I can see the cogs of that brain of yours working. There are several reasons why we didn’t do anything. For one, I prefer conscious women when engaging in sexual activity. Call me old fashioned that way. Two, I don’t make it a habit to bring women to this place. It is where I lay my head when I have to work. I left the party last night with you and brought you here. On my way here, I called a doctor friend of mine and she came to check you out. She’s the one that changed your clothes from the ones you got sick all over. FYI, you got mine as well. She helped you clean up and put you in that shirt. Third, she could barely get you out of the clothes you were in. You fought Marlena the entire time. Call me crazy, but I don’t fight women to bed them. I prefer a willing participant.” He smiled then shook his head before adding, “In the spirit of full disclosure, I rifled through your bag to find your phone so I would have your number to call the famous woman who passed out on me last night.”

Purchase Links: 

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | I-Tunes

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author: 

Ellie Keys is an author of contemporary romance, paranormal romance and mystery. She spends a great deal of her time lending her unrelenting pen to the voices that have taken over her mind. The characters that readers will find in her works have a demanding nature. Ellie is thrilled to be able to share the stories from the wealth of works that she has created.

She lives in Georgia with her son. Her loves outside of writing are reading a good book and losing herself in a great movie. Inspiration comes from everything around her. There is a great deal in store for lovers of romance and suspense seekers. She invites you to follow her via social media.

Social Media Links:

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#EllieKeys Third Base by Heidi McLaughlin (Cover Reveal)

We are proud to show you the all new cover for THIRD BASE by NYT Bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin!

Buy Links

Amazon US → http://bit.ly/TBZon

BN → http://bit.ly/TBaseBN

Kobo → http://bit.ly/TBKobo

iBooks → http://bit.ly/TBibooks

Synopsis:

Ethan Davenport is already Boston’s most eligible bachelor. In his second season with the Boston Renegades he has set his eyes on the girl behind the visitors’ dugout.

That girl is Daisy Robinson, a journalism student at the University of Boston and a die-hard Renegades fan.
But with new found love comes challenges and Ethan and Daisy have to deal with his crazy schedule, school finals and his presence on her campus for some much needed media training.

For Ethan nothing can come between him and Daisy, until a secret that she’s been keeping threatens to destroy them both.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

$25 to LulaRoe (two winners) and $25 to Amazon (two winners)

eBook of Third Base (ten winners)

Author Bio:

Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she’s isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games

Newsletter | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

 

Releasing May 17th

Reign Again

Her story is my story – Ellie Keys, Author

Pre-order here:

Pre-order Purchase Links:

Amazon| B&N| I-Tunes|Kobo

Sometimes I wish it would rain.

Sometimes I wish it would pour

But most times

I just wish I could learn to soar

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan. My mother’s gypsy nature was something that I inherited and would carry with me the rest of the days of my life. I didn’t think I would become that woman—my mother— but here I stand in front of my old house. I have movers in front of me loading up a truck to take me to my newest digs. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. This is probably my fifteenth move in my thirty-two years of life. My hope is this is my last. I know my son will be happy if it is. It is his tenth in his minuscule thirteen years of life. I don’t know why I couldn’t set down roots before, but I’m looking forward to not doing the moving thing anymore.

To understand why I am making this next move, one has to know the reasons I’ve made so many before. Strap in, it’s about to get interesting.

For me, that saying of “everything is coming up roses” doesn’t apply. As I stated before, I grew up in Detroit. I was born on one side of the city then was moved to the other. We moved from one place to another most of my life. As a child, I had this idealistic picture of my mother and who she was. My “father” was one that I despised with everything that I was and everything that I am. How he survived as long as he did without one of us taking his life is a true example of the words discipline and self-control. Meaning, it took all of our willpower not to bring harm to him. It was out of respect for our mother that he lived as long as he did.

The man that my mother eventually married tended to get off on tearing down the spirits of those that surrounded him. He had a lasting effect on each of us.

At the age of four, I didn’t know any better. My real father wasn’t part of my life and wouldn’t be for some time later. The man that lay down with my mother to create me is another chapter in my life. He shapes it some years in the future. The man that I knew as my “father” was an all together different breed of man.

I’ve learned that he wasn’t as rare as I thought him to be. I learned that he was part of a group of men that tended to live and get off on snatching happiness from those around them. It’s how I’ve always seen him and probably always will. His attempt to change had come at a time that was too late for him to erase the damage he’d already done.

To say the man was abusive would be putting him into a category that dials down what he was. He was the arbitrator of pain and torture in our household. Hearing my mother’s cries will probably torture me for the rest of my days. I’m sure there were times when we were happy, and I have moments of recollection when we smiled or laughed, but it’s overshadowed by the never-ending oppression of a small-minded little man.

 I learned what a crack pipe was at the age of six. By the age of seven, I understood that I had more of an education than the man that was supposed to be my father figure. When I turned eight, I understood the phrase “unfit mother” because my own was brought before me and my younger brother by the man that coaxed her into trying a drug he’d first been selling then was addicted to himself. It would be something that would be his crutch for the rest of his life and hers from that time on.

That year was the game changer for our little unit. My mother stopped singing as much. We walked on eggshells more. Fear became a gripping entity within our home. It was the fifth person that took up residence in the house. There was no longer any freedom to move about as normal individuals. It was life attempting not to “wake the beast” that year and all the years after.

 

~Six day, just 6 days until it releases~

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