Book Review - Red Hill

Hello, lovely people of the blogosphere! It's Hump Day already. Can you believe it? Today I'm bringing you a book review of a zombie apocalypse novel. Yes, I know I have a couple of Indie titles to write reviews for (and I'm about halfway through each of those), but when I get hold of a book by one of my favorite authors, all else becomes obscure. I read those as though they're gonna disappear any moment if I don't. Case in point: Tomorrow, you're getting a review for the latest Rick Riordan title. So, be patient, those Indie reviews are coming! Grab your comfy chairs, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and let's get going!

A little about the title on the chopping block today:

Title: Red Hill
Author: Jamie McGuire
Genre: Horror
Length: 369 printed pages
Links to buy: Kindle $7.36 Paperback $11.67 Nook $7.99

Synopsis:
When the world ends, can love survive?

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone makes fighting for tomorrow an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?

Red Hill grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until its stunning conclusion. This is #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire at her unforgettable best.

On to the gnarly stuff!

I saw this title was released when it appeared in a weekly meme on Heather's Book Chatter and just knew I had to pick up a copy. I loved Beautiful Disaster and couldn't imagine a book that held my attention as much as that one did. Obviously, Ms. McGuire could. I ran out and grabbed a copy of Red Hill from Amazon, only to devour it in one sitting. Time to move on to my review!

From a reader's perspective:
Holy moly, what can I say? This isn't your typical squishing of zombie heads kind of novel. Rather than focusing on the terror that would consume the planet if zombies rose, this one looked at the human element and the fallout of a disaster of this magnitude. When the whole world goes to crap, what are people thinking? What would they do for survival? Red Hill delves deeply into what makes people tick during a crisis, and shows how they can rise up and be more than they ever thought they could. Some of the horrible things that happen during times of upset are brought to light, and the evil that lives inside some people is waved under your nose like a smelly rag. I found myself punching the air a number of times, and wondering how in the hell Ms. McGuire could describe two people in the story I could relate with so strongly (Scarlet and Nathan). I was kept sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, and sobbing like a little girl. One of the things I love about Jamie McGuire's writing is her ability to not go on tangents with description; there's just enough so I can paint the scene and the characters in my own head.

From an editor's perspective:
One or two misused words (peak rather than peek), but everything else was brilliant.

My rating:
1 Star for giving me awesome zombie action
1 Star for those well-rounded characters I felt for
1 Star for great pacing and perfect word painting
1 Star for making me cry and showing truth
1 Star for the level of most excellent editing found in this book
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars! I'd give it ten if I could. Recommended to anyone who loves a nail-biter that will leave them with a book hangover because they were sad it came to an end.

I hope you all enjoyed that review! I really hope you all pick up a copy of Red Hill. Yeah, I know it's pricey as far as e-books go, but it was totally worth every penny.

While you're here, please go enter my giveaway on Goodreads for your chance to win a printed, signed copy of Mystic~Coralie, book five in the series. Here's the link:

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Coralie

by Jo Michaels

Giveaway ends November 05, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Vote for Your Favorite Cover

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Today, I'm busting out the cover considerations for I, Zombie, my NaNoWriMo 2013 novel. I'm gonna start by giving you the synopsis, then the three cover choices, and then a poll so you can choose your favorite. I did this when I wrote The Bird for NaNo 2012 and we had a lot of fun. Just something light for this dreary, rainy Tuesday in Georgia. Enjoy!

Title: I, Zombie
Author: Jo Michaels
Genre: Horror
Length: TBD but at least 50k words!
Synopsis: It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.

When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.

Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?

Now for the cover choices! In order. Note: click on them to see them larger!

Now for the poll!

Which cover for I, Zombie is your favorite?
	I love #1! I think the image suits the synopsis.
	#2 is rockin' cool! The closeup gives me the tingles.
	#3 hit the nail on the head! Scary and bloody!
pollcode.com free polls

Thanks for playing along, everyone! I'll announce the winning design next week.

If you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year, add me as a buddy by clicking here.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

A Guest Post by Allyson Gottlieb

Happy Monday, blogospherians! Today, I bring you a guest post about playlists by author Allyson Gottlieb. If you remember, Allyson did an interview last Monday where she shared her love of music and what it means to her as a writer. In case you're new to the blog, I'll remind you that Allyson is one of the authors attending UtopYA Con 2014. Tickets for that event are now on sale. Click here to get yours! Without further ado, I bring you:

Adding the Second Dimension: The Importance of Having a Book Playlist

by Allyson Gottlieb

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." —Plato

Of our five senses, the two big ones—the ones we are constantly using to perceive and understand the world around us—are sight and sound. To have one without the other would be to get only half the story.

So why should our writing be any different?

Making a playlist can be very fun (it’s also an excuse to do nothing but lie around and listen to music for a couple hours, hello?). My playlists aren’t meant to be listened to while you read the book, but rather as more of a supplementary thing.

When picking songs, I look for lyrics that remind me of certain moments in the story. Maybe a specific character, maybe an important scene, maybe a central theme or idea. I’ve noticed that I tend to use more indie-type artists or obscure songs by popular artists—they just fit the feel I’m going for more. But who knows? Maybe you’ve written a chick lit romance that goes perfectly with Kelly Clarkson and Katy Perry.
With Darkest Legacy, since it’s a shorter piece, I decided to do something a little different. Instead of a more general full-book playlist for each installment, I’m doing a series of character-centric playlists to go with every novella specific to the character that features most heavily in it. (For example, the one to go with Darkest Legacy was for Tamara since we see the entire story through her eyes. The one for Darkest Shadows will be for Valentine since it’s told half in his perspective.)

To give you a better idea of what I’ve been talking about, here’s one of the entries from the Tamara playlist:

“Falling” by The Civil Wars

Why am I feeling so guilty?

Why am I holding my breath?

Worried about everyone but me

And I just keep losing myself

Please, please tell me you know

I’ve got to let you go

This song manages to capture the strange and heart-crushing emotion of “falling out of love”, and between the dreamy instrumentals and the softness of Joy Williams’ voice, it does a very nice job of putting you in the head of someone who’s been through what Tamara has. Beautiful and haunting.
You can see the rest of the Tamara playlist here: Linky

See? I’ve got the song and artist, a snippet of the lyrics, and my explanation for why I chose it. Pretty easy, right?

It’s okay if only some of the lyrics fit and not the whole song—that’s why I include the specific snippets. It’d be pretty impossible to find a song where every single lyric fits the idea from your story.

And a word about explanations: It’s likely you will find a song or two that foreshadow or tease some major turning point or plot twist in the novel. (I certainly have.) Don’t shy away from including them by any means. Remember, most of the people who see the playlist will likely be people who’ve read your book. But for those who haven’t, just word the explanations carefully.

Even if the song isn’t about a spoiler, the explanation shouldn’t be too specific. Everyone is going to interpret music differently, just as everyone reads a story differently. That’s why I don’t see my playlists as being a background track for my books. They’re just another way to live inside the world I’ve created, touching another one of the senses.

~ Allyson

Guys, give this little lady's book a shot!
Title: Darkest Legacy
Author: Allyson Gottlieb
Genre: YA Paranormal
Length: Approx 51 Printed Pages
Amazon Link: Kindle $0.99

Description:

A fast-paced, high-stakes novella

Everyone has secrets they'd prefer stayed buried.  But information wants to be free... and so does Tamara Kingsley's ex-lover, incarcerated on the maximum-security prison planet, Alpha.

Tamara has done things she's not proud of, but that was years ago.  Now the headmistress of the Silvermist School of Magic, she has an honest life, one that makes her happy.  For the last twenty years she's fought like hell to keep it that way, and she thought she had succeeded.

She's about to find out just how wrong she was to think her past was dead and gone.

Follow her on the Web! 

I do hope you all take a chance on this book, it's a great read!

Don't forget to check out the interview with Allyson from last Monday.

Do you have a playlist for your book(s)? Link 'em up in the comments!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Fall into UtopYA Party Weekend Post Three

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I give you something to peruse over the weekend. Those lovely ladies from the Fall into UtopYA Party have, once again, brought you some awesome new releases you must check out and a great giveaway! Without further ado:

 Twisted by N.L. Greene

***Attention***

This book is recommended for mature readers.

It contains underage drinking, drug use and sexual content.

Synopsis:

Growing up isn’t always easy. But for most teenage girls, they can rely on their best friend to help them get through the process. A BFF is something that is truly treasured and completely irreplaceable. You share all of your secrets, and are loyal and honest with each other, even when you’re acting just a little bit crazy. You have each other’s backs no matter what and you form a bond that is virtually unbreakable.

At least that’s what normal teenage girls experience.

Nat and Mel have been bestie’s since childhood and Nat has followed her blindly ever since. But as Nat’s friendship with Mel begins to lead her down the wrong path, she starts to question the sincerity of their relationship. Nat starts to see Mel’s manipulative, deceitful ways become more focused on her. Will Natalie hold on tight to the friendship she’s had her entire life, no matter what it cost her? Or will she let her heart lead her to a relationship that’s not so twisted. 

Add Twisted to your Goodreads shelf. Buy on Kindle for $2.99, in Paperback for $12.99 

About this author

N.L. Greene, who is 1/2 of the author duo Riana Lucas, has decided to venture outside of the Fantasy world that she and her best friend created with Poppy and The Deadly Flowers Series to write a few books on her own. While she loves working with her best friend, writing solo has allowed her to explore interest that had solely been her own. She spends a lot of time reading her favorite authors which range all over the place and in every genre, but spends just as much time with her husband and two daughters, traveling, shopping, and playing video games. Nichole was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Florida, where she and her high school sweetheart live with their two children.

Author Contact Links: 

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Amazon  

Supernova by Elizabeth Sharp

Blurb:

On Cleo’s first day at St.
Aloysius Gonzaga Academy, things get pretty weird pretty fast. After being confronted by a strangely hostile boy, she meets two girls and instantly bonds with them. Before long danger threatens the entire student body, in the form of a soul eating possessor fae. When her brother is savagely beaten and left in a coma, the girls decide to use their fae powers to become superheroes and stop the possessions.

They quickly learn things are a lot more complicated than they had ever imagined. A government plot that had begun when they were infants endangers them all, and a demented former soldier bent on revenge is after them. The line between friend and foe has become so blurry, Cleo has no idea who she can trust. Will their superhero plot help them save the day, or just get them killed?

Buy Links

Amazon B&N Smashwords

About the Author:

Elizabeth has a near crippling Facebook addiction, dwarfed only by her need for Dr. Pepper. A self-proclaimed techno geek, she loves  cell phones, computers, tablets and all things technological. The internet has to be the greatest invention since the wheel, in her opinion. She lives in a quiet subdivision with her husband, one-year-old son, three cats, and far too many electronics. It’s quite possible she has some raccoon in her DNA, because she loves glitter and anything that
sparkles. She enjoys making jewelry and costumes. Halloween is her favorite holiday since it’s the one day of the year that you can be whatever you want.

But her first love will always be writing. Otherwise, hearing voices in her head would make her feel schizophrenic.

Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads

Ghost Hold by Ripley Patton

The long-awaited second book of The PSS Chronicles is finally HERE! GHOST HOLD by Ripley Patton is now LIVE ON KINDLE, and will be coming out in paperback in late-October. If you've read GHOSTHAND, the first book in the series, you know why this is so exciting. If you haven't read it, what are you waiting for? Go grab it now (available on Kindle, Nook, Kobo and in paperback), so you can dive right into the second book as soon as you're done.

Blurb:

Olivia Black is back.

Only this time she's not the one in need of rescue.

Samantha James, rich, popular, and an award-winning composer at age seventeen, is the next target on the CAMFers' list. In order to convince Samantha to come with them, Olivia and Passion must pose as cousins, blend into the most affluent high school in Indianapolis, and infiltrate a mysterious cult known as The Hold.

Olivia doesn't expect it to be easy, even with the PSS guys backing them up. But what she discovers over the course of the mission will call into question everything she ever believed about her ghost hand, her family, and especially about Marcus, the guy she is undoubtedly falling in love with. 

Steamy Excerpt: 

Marcus crossed back to the faucet of the now-full tub and turned it off. He bent over and turned on the jets, which kicked up a lot more steam and a lot more noise. I was starting to melt inside my own clothes, and he must have been too, because when he turned back to me he was slipping his t-shirt over his head.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice coming out a little strangled.

"You and I need to talk," he said, letting the shirt drop to the floor.

"Yes," I said, trying not to gawk at his chest and the way the steam swirled into it, his PSS shining back and coloring the mist a soft blue hue. "But can't we do that with our clothes on?"

"We need to talk where I'm sure no one can hear us," he said, his hands going to the snap of his jeans. "They don't put bugs in bathrooms because the moisture corrodes them." The snap was undone. The zipper was next. He had on red tartan boxers. "Plus, not many people plot and plan in the john." He slid the jeans down his legs, turned, slipped off the boxers, and stepped into the tub, sinking down into it with an audible moan.

I stood there stunned. I had just seen Marcus naked. He'd just stripped to his beautiful bare ass right in front of me as if it were nothing. Yes, we'd been sleeping in a tent together for weeks, and making out, but when one of us changed clothes, the other still looked away. Marcus and I had not gotten naked together. We hadn't even come close, because I always held back. I couldn’t even bring myself to reach my hands inside his shirt. What if my flesh hand accidentally went into his chest and disrupted his PSS? Even worse, what if my ghost hand reached into him and pulled something horrible out? I was pretty sure either of those scenarios would be a serious buzz kill to our intimacy.

"Do you have any idea how long it's been since I've had a bath?" he said, almost a purr, laying his head back on the edge of the tub and closing his eyes.

"I—no—I haven't had one for like a month," I stammered, looking down at the tile floor, completely flustered.

"Olivia," he said softly, and I looked up to find his eyes boring into me, dewy drops captured on those thick dark lashes. "Come here."

I crossed obediently to the side of the bath, both relieved and a bit disappointed to find that the burbling of the jets obscured most of what was in it. Except his PSS chest. It glowed and pulsed like some half-submerged, cerulean, underwater treasure.

Marcus put his hand out for mine. The invitation was obvious.

This was crazy. There was no way we were going to be able to talk, coherently, in a bathtub together.

"It's a big tub," he said, nodding at the other end, "and I promise to be good."

Yeah, but it wasn't just him I was worried about. If I got in the tub with Marcus, I would be in the tub with Marcus. "But I—" I looked down at myself. I had on my sleeping tank with no bra underneath, my sweatpants, and underwear.

"You have no idea how relaxing this is," he said, slipping his hand back into the water and closing his eyes. Either he was taunting me, or giving me a chance to undress without him watching. Probably both.

"You bastard," I muttered under my breath. I slipped off my shoes and sweatpants and padding barefoot to the far end of the tub. I was not going in completely naked. I wasn’t that much of a fool. I kept my tank and underwear on and stepped into the hot swirling water. As I slid down into it, jets pounding my butt and back, the wet heat rising up and swallowing all my aches and pains in its pure liquid magic, I couldn't keep the moan from escaping my lips either.

And I didn't miss the effect that sound had on my bath mate.

One of his lean, muscular legs brushed mine, trembling. And his eyes widened. And his breath came a little faster across the water, far less relaxed then it had been only a moment before.

What are people saying about Ghost Hold?

5 Luminous, Vibrant Stars!
A Thrilling, Wild Adventure with Danger, Intrigue and Excitement. And A Chilling End Sure To Haunt You!  - Hazel G fromCraves the Angst Reviews

I can promise you, I will read as many books in this series as Ripley can create because it truly is a stand out series with stand out characters. – Ghost Hand and Ghost both chosen as Indie Book of The Week by Ali at My Guilty Obsession.

Ripley Patton is a master storyteller! She creates a world that is not only harsh and unforgiving but most importantly, unforgettable. Jess from Inside the Pages of a Book

"BRAVO. A GREAT book! Better even than the first. I abso-fucking-lutely LOVED IT!" – Former librarian and bookseller extraordinaire, Angie Chute

To find out more about Ripley and The PSS Chronicles, be sure to check her out on

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Her Website 

From Gods by Mary Ting

Synopsis:
Did you just see a flash of lightning across the sky on a clear sunny day? It’s not from Mother Nature. It is most likely from Mason Grand, swoon-worthy demigod, one of Zeus’s descendants.

Skylar Rome is supposed to be having the best summer ever before she heads off to college. Little did she know, her whole life was about to change while visiting her cousin. Nearly drowning at the beach due to unknown forces, one of the Grand brothers she’d just met, Mason, saves her life. Cool, collected, mysterious, and dangerously good-looking, Skylar is drawn to him from the start. Though she knows he is the type of guy good girls stayed away from, it seems he is always saving her life, and the attraction was inevitable.

Upon meeting the brothers, strange things begin to happen. When she accidentally kills one of the brothers, it throws her life into turmoil, as they search to find the answers. Implausibly, she gets caught up in a world of the descendants of ancient gods, all who have super powers. Not only is her discovery difficult to accept, evil beings are after her. Running out of time and running for her life, she must unravel a mystery. What do they want from her? Forced into a battle set into motion long before she was born, will she find the answers, or will she die trying?

From Gods purchase links~

Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords

TEASER:

“You’re wet. You should take off your clothes.”

What a way to avoid a question! Skylar blinked her eyes in disbelief. Did she hear him correctly? “Excuse me?” Not wanting to assume he was really asking her to strip off her clothes, she didn’t move a muscle, but the way his piercing eyes laid on her, she might as well have already been naked. Then she inwardly gasped when he started to unbutton his shirt. Her eyes shot to the floor, then back to him, and then to the floor, wondering what she was supposed to do in this awkward moment.

“Here. Go change in the restroom. You don’t want to catch a cold.” He placed his shirt in front of her.

She looked up to see him shirtless for the very first time. With all the right curves and tightness, he looked like a statue of a god. He was beautiful and perfectly toned, with satin-like skin, which looked like it would be smooth to the touch. And there was a small tattoo shaped like a lightning bolt on his upper right arm, toward his shoulder. Way too sexy!

As warmth flushed her face, she tried not to stare, but there was no way around it. “Umm…you won’t have a shirt,” Skylar said, thinking that was the most idiotic thing she had said so far, but she couldn’t think when he was half-naked in front of her.

“I’m not cold, but you will be.”

Mason was right. Skylar didn’t realize she was shivering until she placed her hand out to take his shirt. The adrenaline from the initial shock had kept her warm, and now it was wearing away. The blasting air conditioner didn’t help either. “Thanks.”

Just as she pivoted right toward the restroom, even though she was deathly scared to go back, Mason gripped her arm. “Wait. Don’t go in there without me.”

His sudden protectiveness surprised Skylar, but then again, he had saved her.

Bio: Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.

Mary's Social Contact Links:

Facebook ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

Blog ~ Goodreads ~Goodreads ~ Pinterest

Enter Mary's Release Day Giveaway here,

but don't forget to scroll down and enter

The Fall into UtopYa Party Giveaway too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meant for Her by Raine Thomas

Blurb:
Photographer Sierra Stratton views the world through a lens all her own. She has an uncanny sense about people, something that often causes her trouble. When she meets the sexy and brooding Evan Dorsey, her intuition tells her he’s suffering, and she wants to be the one to help him.

Evan isn’t open to help from anyone, however. His focus is on his Major League career and making himself as marketable as possible for his upcoming free agency. He plans to ride out the season in Atlanta and then sign with another team, away from the painful memories that haunt him.

Someone’s eager to send him on his way, too. Between anonymous threats and equipment sabotage, it’s clear he’s earned himself an enemy along the way. To him, it’s one more sign that he’s right to move on.

But Sierra threatens his conviction. Her contagious smile proves hard to resist, as does her kiss. She tempts him in ways he never anticipated, making him question his plans for the first time. If he’s not careful, she might just convince him that he’s meant for her.

Add Meant for Her to your Goodreads shelf.

Meant For Her can be purchased at Amazon.com

About Raine Thomas:

Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of best-selling YA and NA fiction. She followed her life-long passion for all things literary and earned her bachelor's degree in English with a focus in Creative Writing from Georgia State University, then her master's degree in Humanities from Central Michigan University. Having grown up in places such as Chicago, Atlanta and Orlando, much of her writing reflects these settings.

Raine is a hopeless romantic with a background in the fields of mental health and wedding planning...two areas that intersect far more than one would think. Her years working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges inspired her to create young protagonists who overcome their own conflicts. When she isn't writing or glued to e-mail or social networking sites, Raine can usually be found vacationing with her husband and daughter on one of Florida's beautiful beaches or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Raine Thomas Contact Links:

Goodreads ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There you have it! Good luck in the Rafflecopter giveaways!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Book Review - Intrusive Memory

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! Today is another book review day. Yeah, I heard that cheer! I get to tick off another box for my wonderful December, 2012 series of posts where Indie authors had the unique opportunity to sell me their books (and win one of mine!). I've knocked quite a few off my list already. Once I'm done with this one, I have just two more to go. Sit back, relax, grab a cuppa, and let's get rolling.

First, a little about the book on the chopping block today:

Title: Intrusive Memory
Author: Leonardo Antony Noto
Genre: Autobiography/Child Abuse
Length: 222 printed pages
Link to Purchase: $2.99 Kindle $8.99 Paperback

Synopsis:
Intrusive Memory is the true story of how I overcame a hellish childhood, pulled my life back together, and realized my dream of becoming a physician. This book is not for the fainthearted. It begins in the mental hospital where I spent much of my childhood after being removed from my home by Child Protective Services, then whirls the reader through a cascade of pathological environments including a violent military school and Mississippi jail. This is the story of how I fought against the odds and against my inner demons to survive, claw my way into medical school, and succeed by graduating in the top of my class!


**Will not appear in my final review:
You all know I'm a graphic designer. Because of that, I oftentimes take a moment to comment on a book cover. This one blew me away with it's arresting image and bold typeface. Very nicely done.**

Now, on to the good stuff!

I purchased this book on Amazon after picking up a sample and getting sucked in by the story. Intrusive Memory is haunting, to say the least, and will make you  thankful for what you have right in front of you. Enough cavorting around, on to the review.

From a reader's perspective:
I got sucked right into the world portrayed on the pages of this book. Being the child of an abusive mother is one thing; being the victim of such extreme abuse as outlined in this story is something else altogether. To give you an idea of how vested in this tale I became: I grew angry at the parents for not being there like they should've been, the administration for not stepping up and taking responsibility along with proactive measures, and the system in general. I wanted to step into the book and slap people for being callous, catty, and manipulative. I cared about what happened to Leo by the end. So, there's the good. For the bad, I have to say the asides where the author took page upon page to tell me about how this diagnosis is made or how that symptom is recognized were unnecessary and threw me right out of the story (Leo's progression). In my opinion, these things would've been better left for an afterword (author Robin Cook oftentimes does this). Then, if I wanted to read it, I could've; I wouldn't have had to slog through it to keep getting my meat and potatoes. They made what could've been a very satisfying meal into an endurance of stamina. But it pulled at my heartstrings and had a great level of tension throughout (a saving grace).

From an editor's perspective:
This book is in severe need of an editor. There were a number of instances of the wrong word being used. Sown (which means to plant something in soil) and sewn (which means to stitch one thing onto another) were confused often. Run-on sentences were everywhere, and I wished many times the author used commas more frequently (not something you hear me say often). Filler words ran amok and I highlighted half the book for spelling, grammar, punctuation, or other errors as I was reading. With a great editor, this could be a runaway best seller.

My Rating:
1 Star for making me keep reading
1 Star for making me angry at faceless characters on a page
1 Star for giving me a character I could care about
- 1 Star for the amount of medical information in the story
- 1 Star for overall editing/writing quality

Overall, a solid 3 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy a book that makes you think, or even one that makes you appreciate your situation (I hope it's better than Leo's), this is a great choice.

I do hope you take the time to pick up a sample of this book. You may decide to keep reading, like I did, and enjoy yourself very much.

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Nominated for a Liebster!

Happy Wednesday, good people of the blogosphere! I'm happy to announce I was nominated for a Liebster award by the lovely Rebecca Fyfe from the Chapter Book Challenge blog. Today, I answer the questions put forth by her here. Sit back, relax, and read on!

A little about the award:
The Leibster award is giving to wonderful blogs with under 200 followers. The word "Liebster" Means sweetheart in German. In accepting this award I am contractually obligated to answer 10 questions of Becky's choosing and then command 5-10 other people to answer my similarly worded questions.

1. Why were you drawn to writing?

Wow. What a question. Writing is like breathing to me. I've always done it. I think it grew from my love of reading and my crazy imagination. When I was in first grade, I wrote a story called The Caterpillar (my mom still has it) and it got me a gold star. I think that was the first time anyone ever praised me for something I'd written and it went a long way. In seventh grade, I wrote a story that was so good, my teacher asked me what book I copied it out of. Again, bolstering my confidence. Later on, I began to write short stories I only shared with my mother. Being a book-nerd wasn't something my circle of friends would've accepted too readily. Once I hit college, I took English classes for fun; no longer caring what people thought (and I took a lot of crap for it even then). But it was so relaxing for me! I guess the answer to your question is, I'm drawn to writing because words have always been a huge part of my life. My sister worked in the library and my mom is a voracious reader.

2. How many years have you been making or trying to make writing your career?

I started in earnest in the winter of 2011 when I began writing Yassa. I also wrote The Abigale Chronicles - Book One during Yassa's cooling period. That was kind of my test book. Since I wanted the launch of Yassa to go off without a hitch, I tested sales platforms and formatting requirements with my Middle Grade novella. I learned a lot and I'm really happy I had the foresight to do that. I guess I'm coming up on my two year writing anniversary. That's mind-boggling. Without great supporters like The Best Boyfriend in the World, I'd be out of the writing game for sure.

3. Are you published? Where?

Everywhere fine e-books are sold and via Createspace for print copies of all my titles. Here are a couple of links for you:
Amazon Author Page
B&N
Smashwords Author Page

4. What is your favorite part about writing stories?

Making up new friends. Hanging out with them in my head, listening to them talk, and gaining a better understanding of human nature. Am I freaking you out yet? *grin*

5. What is your favorite genre?

To read, I love anything but romance novels. They just don't appeal to me. I'm a Historical Fiction fan for sure, I've gotten into chick-lit some, and I adore Young Adult books. To write, I'd have to say my favorite genre is fantasy or paranormal. I have so many books in the works it's nauseating.

6. Where do you find your inspiration?

Everywhere. People I see and meet, news casts, conversations with my kids, and nature are probably the top inspiration providers.

7. How active is your muse?

She visits me every single day. I block out time for her to come in and join me. Because of my writing schedule, she knows just when to show up. To give you an idea of how productive scheduling can make you, over the last two years I've written almost 400k words and published over 320k (not counting my blog, which has 400+ posts).

8. If you could have a conversation with your muse, what would you say?

I talk with her every day, too. She's a jolly lady, really. We talk about life, writing, and book covers.

9. What are the latest projects you are working on?

Loaded question! Well, the next book in my Mystic series, Coralie, will be releasing the end of this month. I'm working on the sixth book in that set, Markaza, a YA urban fiction novel titled M, a contemporary fiction novel titled Player, a zombie novel titled I, Zombie, and I have a chapter of an NA paranormal novel about a young woman who's running from a past she can't remember.

10. What plans or dreams do you have for your writing in the next year?

I plan to publish every book I've started, and come up with something totally different for NaNoWriMo this year. I've scrapped the chapter I wrote on I, Zombie and I'm starting it from scratch (did you catch that pun?). I wasn't loving the first person, present tense. I'm thinking first person, past tense will suit it better. I was only about 2k words in so it's not a total loss. Besides, it had to be tossed and re-born since I plan to use it for NaNo. Gotta be from the beginning and all that! I have my chapter outline down and wrote a quick synopsis I'm happy to share:
It's the end of the world as we know it.

Trixie Collins is a normal teen making her way through high school. One night at a party, a boy comes on to her and won't take no for an answer. As she jerks her arm away, his fingernails cut into her skin.
When she finds her dog's mutilated body and realizes she's to blame, she starts to think maybe the zombie apocalypse they've been screaming about on the news isn't a hoax after all. Worse, she begins to think maybe she's one of the infected.
Now it's a fight for life as she joins together with her brethren to stop the humans intent on destroying them. Are zombies all bad, or is it just a huge misunderstanding?

I'll be having a vote on the blog next week sometime for cover choices. I do hope you'll all come back and give a click!

That was fun! I hope you all learned a little about me.

Now for my nominees and ten questions (nominees must have fewer than 200 followers):
Lost in a Sea of Words - Felicia Tatum
N.L. Greene Author
Chanda Hahn Author

1. Do your children read and how do you feel your writing has influenced them?
2. Do you have a routine to get your creative juices flowing?
3. Is there one genre you prefer to write over another?
4. What kind of snacks do you keep on hand while you write?
5. Is there a particular moment in your life where you knew you'd be a writer?
6. Who is your biggest cheerleader and what have they helped you accomplish?
7. What's your favorite book cover (on one of your books)?
8. Have you ever done a public engagement event?
9. Do you write about your surroundings or think up new places?
10. What do you think is the most important thing for a writer to keep in mind?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Book Review - Darkest Legacy

Happy Tuesday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I bring you another book review. Remember last week when I talked about a super surprise review? Well, this is it. You may remember my post from yesterday and the lovely author I interviewed. I picked up a copy of her book (call me intrigued that someone so young could be so awesome) and decided to write a review for you all. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and relax. Here we go!

Before we get to the review, here's a little about the book on the chopping block for today:

Title: Darkest Legacy
Author: Allyson Gottlieb
Genre: YA Paranormal
Length: About 51 printed pages
Link to Amazon: $0.99 Kindle (Part of Select so if you're a member, you can borrow it for free)

Synopsis:
A fast-paced, high-stakes novella

Everyone has secrets they'd prefer stayed buried.  But information wants to be free... and so does Tamara Kingsley's ex-lover, incarcerated on the maximum-security prison planet, Alpha.

Tamara has done things she's not proud of, but that was years ago.  Now the headmistress of the Silvermist School of Magic, she has an honest life, one that makes her happy.  For the last twenty years she's fought like hell to keep it that way, and she thought she had succeeded.

She's about to find out just how wrong she was to think her past was dead and gone.


Let me start off by saying I LOVE this cover! Not only does it fit the book inside perfectly, it's genre proper and beautiful.

On to the good stuff!

I did an interview with the author, Allyson Gottlieb, on my blog and was so intrigued, I picked up a copy of her book on Amazon. I'm astounded at the level of writing found in Darkest Legacy and I'm looking forward to the sequel; which she assures me is in the works. Now, for my review.

From a reader's perspective:
I could identify with Tamara Kingsley. She came across as a confused young lady and a strong woman. I love tales with strong female leads and this one didn't disappoint. Just when you think she's beaten, she comes back with a vengeance. World building was good, but I did get a tiny bit confused in the beginning of the book and ended up putting it down. Took me two sittings to read the whole thing, and it's pretty short. I know there's a sequel in the works so I'm holding out hope the author delves more deeply into the world in later tales. This one introduced the characters and built them well. For a short story, there was a lot of great development and information. Being a reader who doesn't like a lot of fluff and description (filler), I was pleasantly surprised how much fit between the cover pages. By the end, I cared about what happened to Tamara and was solidly in her corner. I'm looking forward to learning more about her in the next book.

From an editor's perspective:
There are a number of pronoun issues throughout and I'd like to see the author use more contractions (especially in speech). However, there were no redundancy issues or misspellings. It just needs a good proofreader to make it sparkle like it should.

My rating:
1 Star for wonderful world building
1 Star for giving me a character I'm now super curious to learn more about
1 Star for lovely tension (especially at the end)
.5 Star for great writing
- 1 Star for the confusion at the beginning of the novel
- .5 Star for need for a proofreader
Overall, 3.5 out of 5 stars! We all know I round up, not down, so this book gets a 4 overall. Highly recommended if you're looking for a quick, fun, well written read.

I hope you all take a chance and pick up this book. It was a lot of fun to read. At $0.99, what do you have to lose?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo