A Rockin' Review of The Enemy's Table by Charlotte Woollard

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Charlotte Woollard's The Enemy's Table is a solid debut novel.  I'm not sure if this is actually a genre, but I'd call it Christian paranormal romance.  At any rate, in The Enemy's Table, both angels and demons are real and at work in a small town where teens are mysteriously committing suicide in droves.  While the deaths do appear to be self-inflicted, it's clear that something fishy is going on.  Our main character, Beryl, a southern beauty with a faulty heart but a strong spirit, finds herself targeted at the middle of this conspiracy that is apparently linked to a group of high school wrestlers-- including her new bad-boy love interest, Holden.

Feeling-wise, I'd call this book a Christian Twilight.  No, there's no vampires, but the small-town high school romance, paranormal aspects, and teen drama have a similar feel.  I was worried that it might get preachy, but while it was clearly message-driven, I did not feel that it ever interfered with the story.  Ultimately, I think I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed reading Twilight, and it would be a great choice for a teen looking for a belief-centered story.

What I liked best:  Beryl was definitely a charmer, and I really enjoyed her falling head-over-heels for Holden, this bad boy that everyone warned her about.  I also loved that she made her own decisions about him, which weren't based on what other people told her to think.

Though I felt the pacing was a touch slow in the middle, I think this was a well-written debut novel that shows Charlotte Woollard has a lot of promise.  The ending packed plenty of punch and excitement, as well as some great emotional pull that was truly touching.  I was rooting for Beryl and Holden all the way, and was really satisfied with the way it all turned out.

Connect with Charlotte Woollard

 

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A Rockin' Review of Gailene's Vow by Stuart Land

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Stuart Land has written a fun, sexy, exciting vampire adventure that is sure to please.  The story in this book weaves between the lives of two women-- Gailene, who lived in the past, and Zondra, who lives in the present.  Both of these women portray strong, distinctive characters, but each are full of their own complexities and driven by their histories as well as the events around them.  I loved that this was not another of those entirely predictable vampire stories, but was its own thing.

Normally, stories that jump between viewpoints are a little annoying to me, but Stuart wrote this one so well that it didn't bother me at all.  As a matter of fact, I really enjoyed the contrast between old-world, society-hopping Gailene and new-world, motorcycle-riding Zondra.  I also loved the interplay between the two perspectives, and how all the pieces of the puzzle gradually came together.

Another treat in this book was the complexities of the characters.  Even the minor characters were done really well.  I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Zondra and Calverton, the (kind-of) butler.  I also really liked how Gailene had so many faults and yet I felt for everything she was going through.  She was truly well-rounded and real.

All in all, a really fun book!  I'm glad I read it and am sure I'll be checking out more of Stuart's work in the future.

Connect with Stuart Land:

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A Rocking Review of Billy and the Cloneasaurus by Stephen Kozeniewski

5 out of 5 Guitars! (or stars!)

Let me start by saying don't be fooled by the title. It sounds a little silly and I think it might put some people off, but I will say that this has to be one of the best books I've read in a while.

So, here's the deal, if you love 1984 (like I do!) you will enjoy this book. The influence of George Orwell's classic is all over this book - but in a good way. And judging from the references I would guess that Kozeniewski is a fan too.

Right from the opening page this book had me hooked and intrigued. I honestly couldn't put it down. The concept is simple enough - what if the world was populated by clones? What if you were a carbon copy and individuality was an alien concept? And what if one day you suddenly realised that you could be different - you could stand out?

Now, I will just say that as a big fan of 1984 I could see a lot of similarities, but it worked in the books favour rather than against it.

The downside is, I can't say too much about the plot here without giving too much away.

But honestly, I can't recommend this book enough. It might not be everyone's cup of tea - but if you enjoy 1984, Fahrenheit 451 and similar books, and you like a little humour mixed in with your sci-fi, pick up this book.

A great read!

Check it Out on Amazon

Take a look on Goodreads

 

A Rockin' Review of Choosing the Right Way in Any Decision: compounding the right decisions that will transform your life ...by Tiffany Hurd

Choosing the Right Way in Any Decision by Tiffany Hurd was surprising and refreshing.  I expected the typical experience of wading through pages and pages of regurgitated self-help advice.  This book, however, was short, sweet, and directly to the point, distilling the information into a potent nineteen pages.  There was nothing to wade through, nothing to put me to sleep-- just the meat of the subject made simple and clear.

I enjoyed reading this book and found it to be relevant and fresh.  Hurd's approach to the subject is broad enough that her advice can apply to anyone, but specific enough to be useful.  Within this book you will find advice about making decisions, managing your time, and attaining personal growth.  The ultimate goal is to grow into the successful person that you would like to be.

Purchase on Amazon

Check out Lightknocks, a website where Tiffany Hurd and Jerome Jackson blog about personal development, positivity, and growth.  They also showcase artists from creative industries such as music, film, and writing.

Check out Lightknocks on Facebook

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Tiffany ‘Tito’ Hurd is a video producer from Lynchburg, Virginia. She graduated from Liberty University in 2011 with a B.S. degree in Communications. She now owns and operates a freelance business, Dazed Ent., and spends her extra time in personal development. Her heart is to inspire others, provide in any way, and lead a revolution with her generation. “Are you ready to be apart of something revolutionary?”

A Rocking Review of The Tale of Atterberry (The Faire Pendant Series, Book 1)

     

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Rating: 5 Guitars

Find it on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:

Glenna's life is anything but ordinary.  The daughter of Renaissance festival vendors, Glenna's days are filled with magic and medieval reenactments as she travels the faire circuit with her family.

Then one day, Glenna's life changes forever.  With the help of a pendant, she discovers Otherworld.  An enchanted realm, Otherworld is the land in which all of the myths and magic woven by the Renaissance players comes to life!

Suddenly, Glenna is thrust into a quest filled with danger and deception when Atterberry, a great and powerful magician in Otherworld, needs help recovering a stolen item.

Can Glenna find the item in time?  Can she summon the courage to become the medieval hero the residents of Otherworld expect her to be?  And perhaps most importantly, can she jugle both her life in the real world and her life in Otherworld without damaging either?

Why it Rocked:

This book reminded me why I should get back into reading not only YA Fiction but also middle grade fiction as well.  The characters in this book were what caught my attention from the start.  Glenna and her friends were all unique and interesting in their own way.  Glenna especially was very energetic and likable as a character, which made the story that much more enjoyable to read.  I love it when characters are interesting and unique because it brings the story to life rather than having it fall flat.  

I also really enjoyed the setting of the book.  The description of the world and the encounters that occur are vivid and envelope the reader in Otherworld and the Renaissance location.  It made me feel like just outside my door was this magical location, which I love in books!

Overall I found this book to be very enjoyable.  I would highly recommend it to adults and middle school age children alike!  I left this book craving more and I'm definitely anxious to get my hands on more work by this author!

A Rocking Review of The Proceena Crusade #2

   

Genre:  Science Fiction/Fantasy

Rating: 4 Guitars

Find it on: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis:

Andora Clabar-Bankov is struggling to cling to her uncle's shattered corporate empire.  She's obsessed with restoring it to greatness and cleansing the stain of a generation-old betrayal.  But her estranged husband has other ambitions and plans to seize the remains of L.J.C Enterprises for himself.

Khali and Tarik Al Saad are the sons of one of the Wolf Republic's greatest heroes, but that's all they have in common.  Tarik is a world-weary soldier who now opposes a government he feels has lost its way.  Khali is an ambitious war hawk who resents his brother's politics and what they are doing to his career.

But, as the galazy inches closer and closer to war, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.  A horrible conspiracy begins to come into focus and the galazy will need heroes on both sides to stop this madness  Can Tarik and Khali work together to stop the Wolf blood lust?  Can Andora put aside her imperial dreams and Wolf animosities in time to save the galazy from self-destruction?  And, can they do anything about the shadowy new empire that threatens to rise from the ashes?

Get this gripping page-turner and find out!

Why it Rocked:

After a considerable amount of time away from this book series I was worried that I would lose the spark that the characters had in the first book.  But once again I found myself diving head first into an awesome world and surrounded by brilliant characters.  While I definitely liked the first book better than the second I was very pleased to discover that this book was no less action packed than the first.  It took me into a world that I was familiar with and expanded and shaped it around me.  I enjoyed the fact that, like in the first book, the characters were well developed and had the ability to connect with the reader.  I will say once again that I had to readjust my reading style a bit to get back into the flow of this book but once I did it was an easy and engaging read.  Well done to the author T. Allen Diaz!  I hope to read more of your books in the future!

Check out the first book: Procythian Reign

Artistic Choices AKA You Can't Please Everyone

I think of myself as a crafty writer.  The words are important.  To me, it's as important how you tell about what happened as it is that you have an engaging, interesting story.  One of my reviewers called me "a magician with words", which is embarrassingly flattering, but also a beautiful metaphor for a story.  I love the idea that a well-told story is a weaving of a special kind of magic, subtly casting a spell on the reader. 

When I wrote E, I made some very careful choices about how I wanted to tell the story.  One of those choices was in regards to world-building.  I chose not to go in depth about the complexities of the society I had created.  I did not explain how certain things had come to be, aside from dropping a few hints.  My story is told in first person, so I felt that the scope of the world was limited to what my character was seeing and perceiving, and that the immediate threats to her well-being far superceded any pondering over government, politics, and so on.  I felt that world-building needed to happen on that immediate level.  On the level that was most relevant to the story.  Did that leave some questions?  Yeah, of course it did.  However, that was also my intent.  I wanted my readers to ask those questions, as they are relevant to the ongoing story.  I thought of them as teasers that would draw my readers into the bigger picture.

To a large extent, this all worked as intended.  I have those readers who totally got what I was doing, and they are on board one hundred percent.  I've had lovely reviews that have praised the world-building and many readers who have made comments about the unique world, etc.  Then, on the other hand, I have a handful of readers who did not like that I held those things back.  They wanted answers to the questions that were raised.  They wanted them now!  So, essentially, the choices I made did not please everyone.  However, they did have the desired effect in both groups of raising questions and offering teasers that lead into the next story.

The hard part is when people take off a star on a review for something that I intended to be a certain way, and absolutely would not change about my story.  I love reviews, and even the ones that are not entirely positive are well worth reading in my opinion.  I love to see what is happening in my readers' minds when they read my story.  But yeah, that missing star can be painful, especially when a reader claims to have loved the story in the review!  I think the thing is, we need to sometimes focus on what readers are saying in reviews, not looking at the missing stars. 

For me, I know that my sequel has to include answers to some of those questions, and more world-building, which is all on track with how it was going to be anyway.  I'm headed in the right direction.  The main lesson I have learned as a writer is that I am never going to be able to please everyone.  That just reinforces that I really write for myself, because I love to write.  Sharing my stories with others is just an added bonus.  I will continue to stay true to what I believe is the best way to craft my stories, and I believe that ultimately, that will lead to success.

A Rocking Review of The Commons: Book 1: The Journeyman

Find it on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Synopsis:

Paul Reid died in the snow at seventeen.  The day of his death, he told a lie - and for the rest of his life, he wondered if that was what killed him.

And so begins the battle for the afterlife, known as The Commons.  It's been taken over by a corporate raider who uses the energy of it's souls to maintain his brutal control.  The result is an imaginary landscape of a broken America - stuck in time and overrun by the heroes, monsters, dreams, and nightmares of the imprisoned dead.

Three people board a bus to nowhere: a New York street kid, an Iraq War veteran, and her five-year-old special-needs son.  After a horrific accident, they are the last, best hope for The Commons to free itself.  Along for the ride are a shotgun-toting goth girl, a six-foot-six mummy, a mute Shaolin monk with anger-management issues, and the only guide left to lead them.

Three Journeys: separate but joined.  One mission: to save forever.

But first they have to save themselves.

Why It Rocked:

This book is the first installment in The Commons series.  As an urban fantasy series this book established a world that most who were reading could relate to, at least at the beginning that is.  I really enjoyed the fact that when the reader first starts this book it isn't set in a fantastical world.  It's set in America.  And when you first start it it definitely doesn't seem like fantasy.  The author establishes a place that readers find familiar before throwing in all of the amazing fantasy elements and I for one appreciated that.  The author's creativity makes each one of the characters come alive and thrive before your eyes.  I could feel myself connecting on some level with each of the characters and that made this book so much more enthralling.  I will say I was a bit nervous about this book as some of the urban fantasy I've been reading lately hasn't been up my alley, but I'm extremely glad I picked this one up!  I am definitely looking forward to more from this author.

A Rocking Review of The Subtle Fiend by Jane Dougherty

 

When reality becomes a nightmare, only dreams can save the world.

Deborah, daughter of the fabled Green Woman, has disappeared, and Hera, another grey-robed schoolgirl, has become the hostage in her place. Hera fears she will be left to languish, unnoticed and forgotten, in her prison cell. But the honesty in her eyes touches a young Black Boy, her prison guard—Amon.

Amon is destined for a military career, but convinced of the innocence of his prisoner, he begins to question the laws and values of his city. In befriending Hera, he risks his life by standing between her and the most powerful man in Providence—the Protector.

The Protector’s new hostage will serve her purpose. After all, one veiled girl looks much like another. But if Deborah has joined her mother and her host of myths and stories, the sham will be revealed. To hang onto power the Protector determines to destroy the Green Woman's allies within Providence by lighting the sacrificial fires of Moloch. When the flames have burned out none will be left, not even the child at its mother's breast.

As the flames of evil leap and dance in Providence, Hera and Amon resolve to defy the Protector, with courage as their only weapon.

 Buy this book on Amazon

Firstly, let me say I did not intend to review this book, at least not right away.  Somehow, immediately after finishing the last book, I found myself on Amazon clicking the "Buy Now" button.  I simply had to have it.  I had to know what came next in this amazing series.  But honestly, part of me was thinking this one couldn't be as good as the first, especially considering I knew already that this book left the main character of the first novel behind for a little while to focus on telling a different aspect of the story.  I was so wrong.

The second book in The Green Woman series does not disappoint at all.  In fact, it is even better than the first.  Seriously.  

You want characters you can root for?  Characters you will love for their humanity and admire for their growth?  Got it.  I loved so many of the characters in this book (of which there are quite a few, but somehow Jane keeps all those balls in the air without confusing the reader or losing the strength of the connection with each character).  Every time the perspective switched to a different group, I experienced that little disappointment of leaving the last character behind, but then immediately found myself caught up in what was going on in the new scene.  My level of engagement with the characters and the plot was very high.  I did not want to set the book down at all!

Speaking of plot, wow, there is a lot going on in this book.  When Jane heard that I was reading the second book, she emailed me something to the effect of "You really don't need to read that one.  It's just what's going on in Providence in the meantime."  To which I say, Jane, you are indeed crazy.  If I had missed this one, I would have missed sooooo much.  "Just what's going on in Providence" is epic, moving, heart-breaking, and absolutely not to be missed.

Emotion:  This book reached up and slapped me in the face.  Literally.  I have bruises to prove it.

I could ramble on all day about how amazing this book is, but I am afraid to say too much.  Here is the bottom line:  Put this series on your to-read list.  If I recommend one series to people right now, it's this one.  It's one of the best things I've read in a long time.  I now have the third book, Beyond the Realm of Night, in my possession, and it is all I can do to make myself not read it so I can make some progress on the waiting list of review books instead.  (Sorry all you waiting authors out there, but blame Jane, not me.  It's completely her fault.)

Connect with Jane Dougherty:

Jane's Blog
  Jane Dougherty on Goodreads
Jane Dougherty on Twitter

Book 1: The Dark Citadel on Amazon US

Book 1: The Dark Citadel on Amazon  UK

A Rocking Review of Gold-Diggers, Gamblers And Guns

Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 Guitars

Find it on Goodreads/ Amazon/ Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

During Prohibition, Galveston Island was called the "Free State of Galveston" due to its lax laws and laissez-faire attitude toward gambling, gals and bootlegging. Young society reporter Jasmine (Jazz) Cross longs to cover hard news, but she's stuck between two clashing cultures: the world of gossip and glamour vs. gangsters and gamblers. 

After Downtown Gang leader Johnny Jack Nounes is released from jail, all hell breaks loose: Prohibition Agent James Burton’s life is threatened and he must go into hiding for his own safety. But when he’s framed for murder, he and Jazz work together to prove his innocence. Johnny Jack blames her half-brother Sammy Cook, owner of the Oasis speakeasy, for his arrest and forces him to work overtime in a variety of dangerous mob jobs as punishment. 

When a bookie is murdered, Jazz looks for clues linking the two murders and delves deeper into the underworld of gambling: poker games, slot machines and horse-racing. Meanwhile, Jazz tries to keep both Burton and her brother safe, and alive, while they face off against each other, as well as a common enemy. A soft-boiled mystery inspired by actual events.

Why It Rocked

This is the third installment of the Jazz Age Mysteries. Since each book involves its own mystery, they can each stand alone. However, you might enjoy them more if you pickup book one, Flappers Flasks and Foul Play, book two, Bathing Beauties, Bootleggers and Bullets. These books explore a very unique time in American History, the days when alcohol was prohibited. This gave rise to gangsters and all sorts of illegal activity and these books follow a society reporter on the hunt for a good story and the Federal agent tasked with enforcing Prohibition.

I think this is the best one yet. Lots of action, higher stakes and even more romance (which I love). This starts with an attempted murder and then turns into a murder investigation and then things really get out of control. Some questions from the first two books get answered and resolved. I love all the Jazz Age references and found this to be a great mystery read.

About Ellen
Ellen Mansoor Collier is a Houston-based freelance magazine writer and editor whose articles, essays and short stories have been published in a variety of national magazines. During college summers, she worked as a reporter (intern) for a Houston community newspaper and as a cocktail waitress, both jobs providing background experience for her Jazz Age mysteries.
A flapper at heart, she's worked as a magazine editor/writer, and in advertising and public relations (plus endured a hectic semester as a substitute teacher). She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Magazine Journalism and served on UTmost, the college magazine, and was active in WICI (Women in Communications), acting as president her senior year.
Flappers, Flasks and Foul Play is her first novel, published in 2012, followed by the sequel, Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets, released in May 2013. Gold Diggers, Gamblers and Guns is the last novel in her Jazz Age Mystery series, published in May, 2014. She lives in Houston with her husband and Chow mutts, and visits Galveston whenever possible. 
Website/ Facebook/ Goodreads

A Rocking Review of The Mirror Stage by J.J. Stone

Genre: Mystery/ Suspense

Rating: 4 Guitars

Find it on Goodreads

Synopsis

Ada Brandt wants everyone to think she’s normal. A writing professor at a local Seattle college, she personifies the saying “those who can’t, teach” after a few failed attempts at becoming an author led her to the classroom. She owns a chic little house, drives a sporty car, and comes home to her dog after a long day at work. You’d never know she’s the daughter of one of Seattle’s most infamous serial killers — a fact Ada has labored her whole life to bury. 

Then the FBI’s BAU team arrives to investigate a recent murder spree and Ada is strong-armed by the BAU’s bull-headed lead agent James Deacon into helping with the investigation. As Ada and the BAU dive deeper into the case, two things become glaringly apparent: this is not a typical murder case, and catching their suspect is only the beginning of an investigation that will alter the lives of everyone involved. 

The Mirror Stage is the first installment of The Imago Trilogy and is J.J. Stone’s debut novel.

Why It Rocked

I loved how this book came at you from multiple angles. You get to see things from the perspective of various FBI agents, the killer himself and our heroine Ada. I sometimes find this distracting, but the multiple points of view really add to this story. Ada is quite an interesting character. Her father is an infamous serial killer and twenty-five years after she witnessed her father killing her mother, she is asked to be an analyst by the FBI in a series of murders that reach a little too close to Ada's home.  I enjoyed seeing how although she continued to struggle with her past, she is able to provide important insight to the investigation. Even though you know who is behind all of the killings, there is still a sense of mystery as you come to realize that there is more going on. My only complaint and its a little one, it that it ends. It felt like the connections between the characters were just starting to get solidified and just as we become aware of a greater threat, it ends and on a crazy cliffhanger. Since this is supposed to be first in a trilogy, I look forward to more in this series.

A Rocking Review of Arcadia's Gift by Jesi Lea Ryan

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Rating: 4 Guitars

Find it on Goodreads

Synopsis

When sixteen year old Arcadia "Cady" Day wakes in a hospital after experiencing what can only be called a psychic episode, she finds her family in tatters. With her twin sister gone, her dad moved out, her mom's spiraling depression and her sister's boyfriend, Cane, barely able to look at her, the only bright spot in her life is Bryan Sullivan, the new guy in school. When Bryan's around, Cady can almost pretend she's a regular girl, living a regular life; when he's not, she's wracked with wild, inexplicable mood swings. As her home life crumbles and her emotional control slips away, Cady begins to suspect that her first psychic episode was just the beginning...

Why It Rocked

So this starts off slow and sad but once it gets going, it really takes off! There is quite a bit of time setting up how Arcadia and her family deal with a tragic loss but it is through that loss that Arcadia discovers her unusual gift. As far as paranormal stories go, this was original and enjoyable. I've heard of empaths before, but seeing it play out in the middle of a tragic event was fascinating.  In fact, once Arcadia starts to learn how her gift works, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The love story was great and the ending is abrupt and leaves you wanting more. The good news is the sequel is just as good, if not better!

Keep On Rocking

This is the first book in the trilogy. Then next book is Arcadia's Curse and there is a short prequel called The End of the Line. The prequel is FREE and puts things into an entirely different perspective. This series gets better with each book and the teaser prequel has me chomping at the bit for more!

A Rocking Review of Dead Energy by James M Corkill

 and 1/2

Genre: Thriller/Sci-Fi/Action/Adventure

Rating: 3 1/2 Guitars

Find it on: Goodreads

Synopsis

 When the Americrude tanker left Valdez Alaska, she was filled with 12,000 tons of heavy crude oil. When she enters the Puget Sound in Washington, the oil mysteriously vanishes without a trace. The Coast Guard cannot find an oil spill, and the corpses of the crew are discovered frozen in the snow on a mountain one hundred miles away.

Soon panic grips the Pacific Northwest when the oil in the Alaska pipeline and west coast refineries vanishes without a trace. The only clue Alex has to work with is a dollar size crystal found in the hold of the empty oil tanker. Can Alex and his friends solve the mystery before it’s too late? Or will the United States succumb to DEAD ENERGY

Review

 The first thing I thought when I started reading Dead Energy was how similar it was to Clive Cussler. Having looked at James M Corkill’s profile online I think that’s probably the style he was aiming for.

Let me say that this is not my kind of book. I’ve never been a spy/thriller type person, but the slightly sci-fi element of this book was what attracted me to it when it showed up on our review list, and I thought I’d give it a go.

Unfortunately it has a few flaws. For a start, as a woman I felt a little put off by some of the female characters. It’s a common problem in these kinds of books, and I doubt a male reader would notice it, but for me it was off-putting. There was a lot of bitchiness, helplessness and ‘oh dear me, I’m just a poor little girl’. The female characters seemed to either be hard, domineering cows, or sweet delicate little flowers. It makes the book feel very old fashioned. I wanted to like Christa – the main female character – but when she was constantly mooning over whether Alex liked her or not, or getting all teary when he rejected her and she’d only known him a week, I wanted to give her a little slap.

The second problem I noticed was kind of explained again when I looked through the author’s profile. This book was originally written in the late 90’s, released in 2001, and then rewritten and re-released in 2013. The problem is that it’s dated, and feels it. When the main character uses a video camera to record an event and later they remove the ‘video cassette’ to play it, it instantly dates the book horribly. They don’t even make video cassettes any more. Perhaps an older reader wouldn’t be so jarred by this, but I just felt it threw me out of the story. When I’m reading an older book it doesn’t bother me so much, but seeing as this was re-released I would have liked the author to have updated the technology. Cell phones and tablets and all of it. Unless he wants this to be set in the 90’s in which case it needs to be specified somewhere I guess.

Now those problems aside I am going to give this book 3.5 guitars. Because for the right audience I think this book could be very well received. I think that anyone a fan of Clive Cussler and his type would thoroughly enjoy this.  I’m just not the target audience.

The writing is good and solid. The plot is well done and there were some great touches in there (the parts showing what happens to a society when panic sets in) that I really enjoyed. It was a fairly original idea, and the main character of Alex Cave was fairly likeable.

All in all a nice solid book that I think will appeal to its target audience very well.