Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Book Review - Chasing Forgiveness

Happy Wednesday! You know what today means, right? Not only a book review for all you awesome people, but there are just two more days until the weekend! I don't know about you, but I use that time to recharge my internal batteries. Let that put a smile on your face as we go along here. I'm including this in the roundup over on the Time for Books 2015 Review Team's page. You should check it out. Many reviews on there. Anyway, this is a book I worked on for INDIE Books Gone Wild. I did the edit, the formatting, and the cover. I have to tell you, Tia really blew my mind with this novella. There were so many questions in my head about these characters, and I was excited just to read this installment. Anyway, let's get going!

As always, I'll kick off with a little about the book up for review today:

Title: Chasing Forgiveness (Tala Prophecy Companion Novella)
Author: Tia Silverthorne Bach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Length (print): 110 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $0.99 (limited time) ~ Amazon Paperback $7.99

Blurb:
When terror strikes, forever altering your life, it doesn’t ask permission or forgiveness.

Madeleine and Amélie’s quiet lives are ripped apart by a creature they never imagined could exist outside a horror story. Their mother is murdered, their father is missing, and the only safe haven is with a family full of secrets. But rescue comes at a price.

Ripped from the light of youth, the sisters are forced into the shadows—where they meet brothers Rafe and Rowan.

It’s not the time for infatuation or love, but the heart rarely listens to reason.

Now, the young women have decisions to make. Will they be able to achieve their unified goal of stopping evil, or will it consume them from the inside out?

They soon learn some choices can’t be undone.

~ Now, let's get to the review!

I grabbed a copy of this book on Amazon as soon as it hit the shelves. Yes, I'd already read it; I wanted a copy of it forever. It's that good. I'm sure, if you're a fan of the series, you've been wondering about the four characters featured in this story. I was drooling to learn more. Madeline is such a strong personality, and the way she acts around Reagan and Rowan has always had me questioning what was really going on there. Anyway, let's get to the good stuff.

From a Reader's Perspective:
I felt for the sisters, Madeline and Amélie, from the first scene. Of course, I'd already developed a little affection for them from the series. Being able to see how close they were to one another, and how protective Madeline is of her sister, brought me a new level of understanding of their characters in general. I like them a lot. They seem like the type of girls I want to hug and slap at the same time. Why slap? Because some of their actions had the "uh oh, this won't end well" feeling. I could see it, but they were clueless (isn't it always more difficult to see your potential errors when you're the one IN the situation?).

Rafe reached a new level of low for me in this story. I had a mad hate on for him before; now, I think I'd strangle him if I could. He's so very evil. I understand why (you'll have to read the books to find out), but that doesn't mean I have to let him off the hook for his actions.

Bach did a great job of pulling me in and showing me the angst each sister struggled with. Not only with one another, but also with their change of lifestyle. There's a sensitive topic in the forefront of this novella. While it's a clean (intimacy fades to black) book, it touches on some squeamish areas for some people. That being said, I think the author handled it with a magic touch. Pacing is great, and you can probably read through this story in an hour or so. It's everything a companion novella should be.

From an Editor's Perspective:
Dear me, I hope you don't find any errors. I didn't.

Rating:
1 Star for showing me how sisters can be at odds and still love one another
1 Star for giving me an emotional ride
1 Star for making me despise Rafe even more than I already did
1 Star for treating such a sensitive topic with a gentle touch
1 Star for writing style and pacing
Overall: 5 out of 5 stars! Recommended if you like a quick, YA paranormal read that isn't the usual stuff.

There's a giveaway of a paperback copy going on right now. Here's the entry form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you gonna snag it while it's on sale?

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

Jo

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

New Release - Chasing Forgiveness

It’s finally here!

Chasing Forgiveness is a prequel novella in the award-winning Tala Prophecy series.

About Chasing Forgiveness

When terror strikes, forever altering your life, it doesn’t ask permission or forgiveness.

Madeleine and Amélie’s quiet lives are ripped apart by a creature they never imagined could exist outside a horror story. Their mother is murdered, their father is missing, and the only safe haven is with a family full of secrets. But rescue comes at a price.

Ripped from the light of youth, the sisters are forced into the shadows—where they meet brothers Rafe and Rowan.

It’s not the time for infatuation or love, but the heart rarely listens to reason.

Now, the young women have decisions to make. Will they be able to achieve their unified goal of stopping evil, or will it consume them from the inside out?

They soon learn some choices can’t be undone.

Author’s Note: This novella can be read as a stand-alone.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway #2
8 signed paperbacks are up for grabs via Goodreads.


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Chasing Forgiveness by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Chasing Forgiveness

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Giveaway ends May 20, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

About the Author


Tia Silverthorne Bach has been married to her college sweetheart for twenty years, has three beautiful girls, and adores living in sunny California. Her daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is an avid reader and rabid grammar hound.



She is an award-winning, multi-genre author and an Editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. From an early age, she escaped into books and believes they can be the source of healing and strength. If she’s not writing, you can find her on the tennis court, at the movies, reading a good book, or spooning Jif peanut butter right out of the jar.

Connect with the Author:
Sign up for her Author newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bif19P 

Available Books:
Chasing Memories (Tala Prophecy, Book 1)
Chasing Shadows (Tala Prophecy, Book 2)
Fractured Glass: A Novel Anthology
Depression Cookies (women's fiction)

Coming Soon:
Chasing Destiny (Tala Prophecy, Book 3)

YEAH! Go get you one!

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

Jo

Monday, April 13, 2015

Featured Author - Natasha Hanova - Publication Spotlight

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, as every Monday, I'm bringing you information about an author. This time, it's Ms. Natasha Hanova! If you missed my interview with Natasha, you can check it out here. She's giving away a copy of the book below in paperback and a $10 Amazon gift card, but you gotta go to the interview to enter! Get your clicking fingers ready and let's get going!

Title: Edge of Truth
Author: Natasha Hanova
Genre: YA Dystopian/Paranormal
Length (print): 302 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $2.99  ~ Amazon Paperback $9.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Synopsis:
Citizens who report to work on time, obey the Overlord’s laws, and stay off the Synbot’s radar, live long lives. Long, dull, monotonous lives.

It’s not a bad plan for someone with a hidden, emotion-based ability to trigger earthquakes. In a world pitted against her, sixteen-year-old Rena Moon strives for a life beyond working herself to death at the factory. Seeing an alternative, she risks selling relics from the forbidden lands at Market. It becomes the worst decision she ever made. Someone kidnaps her best friend in exchange for the one thing that would end her oppression.

Driven by loyalty, Rena and seventeen-year-old Nevan Jelani, soulful composer, green thumb extraordinaire, and the secret love of her life, plot to rescue her friend and reclaim her salvage. Still, the thought lingers whether Nevan is a true hero or another thief waiting for his chance at her loot. Events spin wildly, deepening Rena’s suspicions and pushing her limit of control. With more than her chance for freedom at stake, she must decide if she’s willing to kill to protect what’s precious to her. For once, the Overlord isn’t holding all the power, but can Rena live with being reduced to what she’s trying so hard to escape?

Yes, she only has one book out right now, but another one is coming VERY soon!

What are you waiting for? Go check it out.

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

Jo

Friday, April 10, 2015

My utopYA Awards Eligible Books

Happy Friday, good people of the blogosphere! Today, I'm talking to the utopYA academy about the books I have (or have worked on) that are eligible for an award and in which categories. Ready? Let's get going!

Title: Fractured Glass - A novel anthology
Authors: Tia Silverthorne Bach, Jo Michaels, Casey L. Bond, Kelly Risser, and N. L. Greene
Genre: YA Sci-Fi, Paranormal, Fantasy
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by Jo Michaels
Best shero - Sloan
Best bestie/buddy - Diego
Best Kiss - Sloan and Diego
Best Editing (edited by Tia Bach and Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)

Here's the cover:

Title: Chasing Forgiveness
Author: Tia Silverthorne Bach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by Jo Michaels
Best shero - Madeline
Best Companion Novella - The Tala Prophecy Series
Best Editing (edited by Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)

Here's the cover:

Title: Renaria - Into the Adyton
Author: J. L. Wilson
Genre: YA Fantasy
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by J. L. Wilson
Best Paranormal book
Best shero - Leda
Best hero - Alex
Best Editing (edited by Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)

Here's the cover:

Title: Chasing Shadows
Author: Tia Silverthorne Bach
Genre: YA Paranormal
Eligible for:
Best Cover (paranormal) - designed by Jo Michaels
Best shero - Madeline
Best Book (paranormal)
Best Editing (edited by Jo Michaels of INDIE Books Gone Wild)
Best Series (paranormal) - The Tala Prophecy Series

Here's the cover:

Thank you to all the members of the Academy! Fingers crossed!

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

Jo

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Separated Words = Different Meanings

Happy Thursday, everyone! Here's hoping you've had an awesome week so far. Today, we're going into a couple of words that mean different things when separated or put together. Yeah, it's Thursday and time for a writing tip! *grin* Grab those pens and notebooks and let's get going!

First up:

awhile vs a while

The first one is an adverb meaning for a while; the second is a noun.

Quick check: If you can replace the segment with the phrase for a while and it still make sense, it's correct.

Second on the list:

everyday vs every day

Everyday is an adjective that means something occurs every day or is ordinary. In the second part, every is an adjective modifying the noun day.

Quick check: If you can replace the segment with the phrase each day and it still makes sense, it's correct.

Next:

anymore vs any more

Anymore is an adverb; any more is an adjective.

Quick check: If you can replace the segment with the phrase nowadays, and it still makes sense, it's correct.

Lastly:

everyone vs every one

The first is an infinite pronoun, the second is a possessive pronoun.

Quick check: Replace the segment with the phrase everybody; if it still makes sense, it's correct.

Do you have any that drive you batty? Share!

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

Jo

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Book Review - Ensnared

Happy Wednesday, everyone! It's been a hot minute since I gave you a book review, but the 2015 Review Team is kicking it out. So far this year, they've read and reviewed 136 books. Wow! If you'd like to check out the reviews, go here. Let's get going on my review for the day. I'm super excited about this book, and I can't wait to share my thoughts.

Here's a little about the book:

Title: Ensnared: Splintered Book 3
Author: A. G. Howard
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy/Fairy Tale
Length (print): 416 pages
Buy links: Amazon Kindle $9.99  ~  Hardcover $12.81

Blurb:
After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She’s determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world—a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts.

In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that’s gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

***Will not appear in review elsewhere. OMG at the covers on this series. What amazing branding, huh? I wanna crawl in there and be. So beautiful! Mad love for the cover designer. Well done.***

I snagged a hardcover copy of Ensnared over on Amazon not too long ago. Man, was I eager to get into this story. I've read and reviewed the first two novels in this series, and I loved them. Book three couldn't get to my grubby little hands quickly enough. I had to find out what happened next with Alyssa, Jeb, and Morpheus (what an awesome name). Well, I wasn't disappointed. Let's get to the meat of the review, shall we?

From a Reader's Perspective:
There were zero inconsistencies through this series. I was sucked into Wonderland once again and ensconced in the darker side of the world quickly. Pacing was perfect; I didn't feel rushed or like the story was dragging at any point. All plot points were tied up beautifully: Where Alyssa's dad came from; the relationship between Alyssa, Jeb, and Morpheus; the curse Red put on Alyssa in book one; and the plague attacking Wonderland. Overall, there were no hokey moments where I said, "I knew that was coming." Many things kept me on my toes, guessing, only to be proven wrong.

I don't do spoilers, so I won't tell you how the love triangle worked out. What I will tell you is: It was exactly as it should've been. A perfect ending to a trilogy.

Alyssa isn't perfect. Her flaws make her feel human, and being able to root for a character is one of the building blocks of a great story.

You'll love the descriptions of the creatures in Anyelsewhere and Wonderland. A. G. does a great job of painting the madness, and it'll draw you right in. I love the puns, too. There's nothing quite like a novel that gives you the idea of something and lets you fill in the blanks with your imagination. Howard is exceptionally skilled in letting the reader's mind be creative.

From an Editor's Perspective:
There were a couple of missing commas and comma splices, but nothing I'd write home about. Beautifully edited.

Rating:
1 Star for tying all plot points up so wonderfully
1 Star for giving me the perfect ending
1 Star for vivid descriptions that didn't go too far
1 Star for giving me a main character I could love
1 Star for great editing
Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. Recommended for fans of books that show you something new and different from everything that's been done.

Have you read it? What did you think? If you haven't, do you plan to?

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

Jo

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Cover Reveal - Chasing Forgiveness

Chasing Forgiveness is a prequel novella 
in the award-winning Tala Prophecy series.

Cover design by Jo Michaels

About Chasing Forgiveness

When terror strikes, forever altering your life, it doesn’t ask permission or forgiveness.

Madeleine and Amélie’s quiet lives are ripped apart by a creature they never imagined could exist outside a horror story. Their mother is murdered, their father is missing, and the only safe haven is with a family full of secrets. But rescue comes at a price.

Ripped from the light of youth, the sisters are forced into the shadows—where they meet brothers Rafe and Rowan.

It’s not the time for infatuation or love, but the heart rarely listens to reason.

Now, the young women have decisions to make. Will they be able to achieve their unified goal of stopping evil, or will it consume them from the inside out?

They soon learn some choices can’t be undone.

Release Date: April 14, 2015

Author’s Note: This novella can be read as a stand-alone.




Giveaway

Sign up for the author’s newsletter for exclusive sneak peeks and giveaways at http://eepurl.com/bif19P.

Everyone who subscribes by April 12, 2015 will be entered into a drawing for an eBook of Chasing Forgiveness, which will be delivered on release day. Ten copies are up for grabs.


About the Author


Tia Silverthorne Bach has been married to her college sweetheart for twenty years, has three beautiful girls, and adores living in sunny California. Her daughters were born in Chicago, San Diego, and Baltimore; and she feels fortunate to have called many places home. She believes in fairy tales and happy endings and is an avid reader and rabid grammar hound.

She is an award-winning, multi-genre author and an Editor for Indie Books Gone Wild. From an early age, she escaped into books and believes they can be the source of healing and strength. If she’s not writing, you can find her on the tennis court, at the movies, reading a good book, or spooning Jif peanut butter right out of the jar.

Connect with the Author:

Available Books:
Chasing Memories
Chasing Shadows
Fractured Glass: A Novel Anthology
Depression Cookies (women's fiction)

Coming Soon:
Chasing Destiny

Heck yeah! What do you think? Is it pretty? :)

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

Jo