Emergence by C Michelle Jefferies

One day as I was talking about my book on Think Tank, I came across C Michelle Jefferies and we learned we had something in common. Australia. I'd lived there, she'd written a book set there - in the same place I'd lived. I was thrilled to get her book in my hands and I eagerly read it, finding all the parts of Canberra that I missed. The story is amazing. Here is the synopsis:

Hit man, Antony Danic, has never killed an innocent man. At least, the corporation he works for has never given him a reason to think otherwise—until now. Reeling from a series of complications and troubled assignments, the assassin is desperate for some downtime. As he sits on a white sandy beach in Tahiti watching his wife play in the waves, he can almost feel the ten-day vacation start to ease his tired muscles and calm his racing thoughts—until a messenger from his employer delivers a death threat.  In a matter of seconds, the hunter has become the hunted. As he scrambles to find a way out of his “till death do us part” contract, he’s faced with the decision of a lifetime. Continue with business as usual and kill another innocent man—or do what’s right, even if it puts his family in jeopardy.

I was hooked on this book. I hadn't expected the intensity of the story when I first started it but I couldn't put it down. Antony is a very likable guy for being an assassin. He really wants to make the world a better place in a way he knows best, one bad guy at a time. His wife, Elite, has always wanted children and helps with fundraisers for orphans. Antony's handler, Catelyn, always seems to contact him at the most inconvenient times for jobs but he must obey or face the consequences. The relationship that Anthony has with his handler is enjoyable to read. I love that they play off each other in a not so nice way.

As the story progresses, Anthony begins to find his work assignments becoming a little too suspicious for him and he begins to wonder who he's working for. Gage, a good friend and old roommate, steps in and helps investigate using his computer smarts to track everything going on within the group that Antony works for.

This book is a must-read for those that love suspense. I can't wait to dive into her next book.

You can learn more at about Michelle at: www.cmichellejefferies.com

                                      Her blog is here: cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com

Created by Cindy M Hogan

I love suspense books. I love to be pulled along, surprises lurking in every corner. When I first picked up Cindy M Hogan's Watched, the first book in the series, I was excited to read it. I was not disappointed. The story was amazing and I hungrily waited for book two, Protected. I finally had that one in my hands and couldn't put it down until the last page. When I was given the opportunity to read and review the third book in the series, Created, I jumped at the chance. Again, I was not disappointed.  If you love suspense, you'll love this book.  

First the synopsis:

Ari and her friends find themselves in an independent spy school in Belgium, Bresen Academy. Test scores reveal her true abilities and the director wants to send her onto to more advanced training school immediately. She is given a two week reprieve to explore the school's training program and hopefully make amends with both Reese and Marybeth. Despite her lack of advanced training, the director convinces Ari she would be the best fit for a mission that surfaces in Prague with a group calling themselves Division 57. Uncertain, but wanting to please, she agrees. She quickly discovers there is nothing easy about being a spy and finds her very life on the line. 

From the beginning of the book, I was suspicious of the school that Ari was sent to. It seemed a little too convenient that she was sent to a spy school. However, the lessons she learns while she is there is priceless for what she needs for her life. She is pit against people that have been in the school since they were five years old.  It turns out the school was legit but there are things that still aren't quite right.

The missions that Ari is sent on were great. I could feel the adrenalin and she raced from one part of her mission to the next. I loved watching her come up with solutions to get out of situations, escaping danger in the nick of time.

If you want a suspenseful, yet fun book for you or for your teens, this series is perfect for you. I couldn't get enough and I only hope there are more to follow! 

You can find her book here:  www.amazon.com

You can learn more about the author here: cindymhogan.blogspot.com

                                                    and here: watched-thebook.blogspot.com

Priestess of the Eggstone by Jaleta Clegg

After having read Nexus Point by Jaleta Clegg, I waited patiently for the sequel. There was a cliffhanger at the end and I had to know what would happen between Tayvis and Dace. I was not disappointed when I finally got Priestess of the Eggstone in my hands.

Here is the synopsis:

It isn’t Dace’s fault she leaves chaos everywhere she goes.

She didn’t know Belliff, the company who hired her to courier sensitive materials, is a front for the Targon Crime Syndicate. She finds out when she steps into the middle of a Patrol raid on Belliff’s offices. The Patrol and Targon both want her. But that’s nothing. Her copilot has an entire sentient species chasing him for stealing their god. The two of them set off on a desperate chase to get the Eggstone god back to avert war with the Sessimoniss while evading the Patrol and the Targon Syndicate.

But the Eggstone isn’t just any rock. The Patrol isn’t chasing her for the reasons she thinks. And Targon’s days are numbered.

Dace took any job she could and didn't realize that taking the job at Belliff would be so dangerous. She despised her ship, Twinkle but it was her ship. She hires a copilot, Jerimon, before delivering the shipment. Things begin to go quickly downhill as she learns that Jerimon is in trouble with the Sessimon She is angry with the feelings she has toward Jerimon and does her best to keep him away.  Meanwhile, Tayvis is trying to keep with the chaos that Dace has left in her wake so that he can pass along an assignment from Patrol.

This was a fun read from beginning to end. I love the interaction between the characters and how they worked together. I felt like I was on the ship with Dace and could feel the tension when things went wrong. Jaleta did a great job with her imagery of the ships that Dace traveled in.

You can learn more about Jaleta on her website: http://jaletacleggauthor.blogspot.com

                             Learn more about Jaleta here: http://jaletaclegg.blogspot.com

You can purchase Priestess of the Eggstone here: http://www.amazon.com

GUTGAA Blog Hop

Sorry I'm late but here is my Bio for the Meet N' Greet:


-Where do you write? My living room couch more often than not. That way I can write while my little ones play.

-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?   My son. Ok, really, I see my grandma's chair I got when she passed away in February.

-Favorite time to write? Evening when the kids are in bed. Or throughout the day if my kids aren't being too mischievous.

-Drink of choice while writing? Soda of some sort. Right now? Grape soda

-When writing , do you listen to music or do you need complete silence? I love
Piano Guys on Pandora. I can rarely do ANYTHING in complete silence. It stresses me out!

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it? My writing group had a theme "The worst day ever" for a writing exercise. I thought it would be fun to twist it and have a girl who has always been lucky get her luck stolen. I had so much fun with it and such good feedback from my group as a short story, I decided to expand it. It's been a lot of fun watching it come to life.

-What's your most valuable writing tip? Keep going! There are times when you're frustrated because a book isn't going how you want, or you received some not-so-great feedback and you just want to give up. That's when you have to try harder. Remember why you love to write and keep on going!

So, what does your month of September look like? Anything you’re looking forward to (book releases? bloghops? conventions?  Time for wip?) ??

Right now I'm just editing, editing, editing my book. I move to other projects as I wait to get critiques. I want to try and get my story out to a few places by the end of the month.

Thanks for taking the time to get to know me!

The Guardians of the Hidden Scepter by Frank L Cole

I knew Frank Cole's name from his books, Hashbrown Winters. I had gotten them for my son and I wanted to get the next Hashbrown Winters book for him at an Authorpalooza. I saw the cover of this new book and I was instantly interested. I couldn't get it at the time but I was happy to see Frank at another signing and I made sure to get my hands on it then. 

Here is the synopsis:

Amber never dreamed her archaeology class would turn into a top secret mission that would take her across the globe, but when her teacher goes missing, Amber realizes it's up to her to protect the Hidden Scepter or risk unleashing an ancient power too terrifying to imagine. 


I enjoyed the book from the beginning. The characters were fun to meet and get to know. I automatically thought that Amber and Joseph would get together at the end, only to find that there would be twists and turns I didn't expect. I was quite thrilled! Trendon was my least favorite character at first because of his sarcasm and laziness but I grew fond of him and liked him by the end. Amber was smart and I loved her photographic memory, where she could go back and find clues in different places she had originally looked past.


I was very interested in the places they visited and the description allowed me to go there in my mind. I wanted to travel to visit those places! The story was intense and the bad guys were truly bad. Overall it was a very fun story and great for kids. I can't wait to have my son read it because I know its a book he will enjoy.


You can purchase Frank's book here: www.amazon.com


You can find his website here: http://www.franklcole.com/
  

Partials by Dan Wells

Dan Wells has a been a favorite author of mine since reading I am Not a Serial Killer. I stared at the cover of the book for quite some time as it sat on a bookshelf in my bookstore, begging me to read it. I finally sat down and read it, enjoying every second of it.

When I found out he was coming out with another series, I was thrilled. Partials is completely different from his original trilogy but it's still his incredible writing that pulls you in.  Here is the synopsis:

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

I went to Dan Wells' book signing, where he read chapter 10 to us. I was excited to get my hands on the book. As soon as I got home, I pushed all of my other books aside and dug in. I was not disappointed.

Kira is a strong willed girl who wants the best for her patients. She did what she could to fight for what was right for her city and those in it. I loved the support from her friends as they helped her fight to find the antidote for RM. 

There are a few different "enemies" that are portrayed in this book, which I like because it keeps you turning the page. The government is doing everything they can to keep control of the people, including questioning your comings and goings, and lowering the age when they want you to start having children to sixteen years old. The Voice wants the government to repeal the law and allow more freedoms. And then of course, there are the partials. Kira must do everything she can to find a cure, even if that means going against her government and everything that has protected her.

The imagery of what New York and the rest of the east coast could look like if the world was wiped out was just amazing. I could see the vines taking over buildings and the wild animals wandering the streets.

This is a must read. I can't wait for the second book in this series.  

You can learn more about Dan and his other books here: http://www.fearfulsymmetry.net/

You can purchase his books here: www.amazon.com

Time Gangsters by Berin Stephens

I went to an Authorpalooza at Barnes & Noble to find more books and to visit friends. I found out that Berin Stephens had a new book coming out, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  Time travel and 1920's gangsters. What more could you want in a book?

I was excited when it finally came out this February and headed over to his book launch. After taking quizzes about events in the 1920's and another about gangster terms (which I royally failed), I headed home to read the book.

I loved it! Here is the synopsis:

When Billy discovers a hidden cache of ancient coins, it isn't long before a gang of thugs swipes them right from under Billy. Plotting to use the magical properties of the coins to seize power in the past, these power-hungry gangsters will do anything to reach their goal. Their future threatened, Billy and Danny must race through time to steal back the coins---before history is changed forever!

There's nothing like waking up to a guy holding a tommy sitting at the end of your bed. And the action just goes from there. It isn't just Billy's house that was broken into either. His next door neighbor, and cousin, also had someone break into her room. They meet up and try to figure out what's going on.

They discover coins that are magic, hidden in Danny's room. Each coin (or medallion as Billy's friend, Wheezy, liked to remind them) has a magical property and Billy wanted them all for himself. Soon he, Danny, and their friends are mixed up in time travel drama.

This was a very fun, well written YA novel. It's a great read for any age and I can't wait to share it with my son. The terminology was great and the way he characterized the gangsters allowed you to hear them speaking gangster talk. Now if only I could borrow their teleportation medallion...

You can purchase this book here: www.amazon.com
                                      and here: www.deseretbook.com

His website is here: http://berinstephens.com/

On Little Wings By Regina Sirois

I was excited to try a new book called On Little Wings.  I'm always looking for a new book and was thrilled to dive into this one.  I was rewarded with a beautiful story that captured my attention and had me entangled in the world until the last page. 

First the synopsis:

Jennifer must do the impossible – bring her mother home. When a family is torn apart by death, two sisters take violently divergent paths and the story of their family appears to end terribly and abruptly. Two decades later Jennifer never dreams that the photo she finds stuck between the pages of a neglected book will tear open a gaping wound to her mother’s secret past. Abandoning her comfortable life with her parents and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska, Jennifer’s quest for a hidden aunt leads her to the untamed coast of Maine where she struggles to understand why her mother lied to her for sixteen years.

Across the grey, rocky cove she meets Nathan Moore, the young, reluctant genius surrounded by women who need him to be brother, father, friend, provider, protector and now, first love. The stories, varied, hilarious, and heartbreaking, unfold to paint a striking mural of the shattered past. As Jennifer seeks to piece together her mother’s story, she inadvertently writes one for herself.

This story begins with Jennifer just having heard a secret that had been kept from her all her life. She thought her mom had been an only child, only to find a photograph of her mother and her aunt. She was furious and left the house to go talk to her friend.  On a whim, she and her friend decided to call her aunt and find out if her aunt even knew Jennifer existed. Her aunt was thrilled to hear from her and they enjoyed their talk on the phone.

Jennifer decided that she wanted to get to know her aunt, so with her mom's grudging permission, she headed off to Maine to meet the family she never knew she had.  She met many people from her mother's past and learned more about her mother than she ever thought she would.  She fell in love with the scenery, the way of life, and the people in the small town of Smithport and had a hard time leaving when the time came.

Along came Nathan, a shy, intelligent neighbor boy. He was tutored by her aunt and he would go and "read lines" each night with her aunt. It was a great way to share a line from a poem, story or anything else they'd read for the day and discuss what was on their mind.  Jennifer got caught up in the line sharing and it helped her learn more about herself and those around her.  Nathan captured her heart, even after promising her best friend that she wouldn't find a boyfriend while she was gone.  She also met Little, a spunky old woman that lives next door. I loved Little. She was a great character that kept the story going with her wonderful tales she'd tell.

I have always been in love with Maine. It's a place where I want to visit someday. Having the story set in Maine just makes me want to go even more.  The imagery in this book was amazing. You can hear the waves, smell the sea air, and feel the emotion running through the town - the sadness, anger, longing, and eventual peace. 

Regina's website is here:  http://reginasirois.com/

You can purchase her books on Amazon here: Paperback

                                                             and here: Kindle

Variant by Robison Wells

From the first time I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I needed to read it.  When I finally had it in my hands, I couldn't put it down.  I enjoyed every second of it and was sad when I hit the last page.   Here is the synopsis:


Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.
Where breaking the rules equals death.
But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.


It sounds fantastic, right? The synopsis can't do it justice.  He does such a great job of shaping Benson. You felt for him and just wanted things to be good for him.  Which, of course, in this type of book just doesn't happen. 


Imagine arriving at what promises to be a nice, posh academy, only to have two students try to escape as soon as the doors open.  There are no adults and all the students have their own jobs - which includes teaching.  


There are specific rules that they have to follow and if they don't they get detention - which you really don't want to get!  The students decide to team up and get their specific jobs in order to keep the peace because of the violence in the past.  Benson comes in and messes it all up by trying to do jobs his own way - resulting in chaos.


I couldn't get enough of this book. The writing style was amazing. I felt that I was there and I could feel the adrenaline rushes along with the characters in the book.  The horror of some of the experiences just made me want to keep reading until the very end - late into the end.


I highly recommend this book. I can't wait for the sequel!


You can buy his book here: http://www.amazon.com


His website is here: http://www.robisonwells.com/