Saturday, April 2, 2011

Review: Seeing for the First Time by Nicole Zoltack

Seeing for the First Time
Author:Nicole Zoltack
Release Date: March 8, 2011
Publisher: Echelon Press
What you See is What you get Book #1
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Author for Review 



For the last ten years, Ana has spent summers with her Gram. With nothing to do, the closest beach two hours away, and Gram, who Ana is convinced is crazy, always in her garden talking to things that aren't there, Ana is bored out of her mind.

One day, Ana sees strange colors floating around Gram as she works in her garden. Gram says they're fairies. She can "See" them, and there are others who can see things. Ana's a Seer, too.

When Gram gives Ana a book that explains about the many different creatures, like selkies, unicorns, vampires, and others, Ana gets curious. She is shocked when she comes across the entry about famous werewolf hunting parents.

Determined to learn where she fits in, Ana's summer gets a lot more exciting as she sets off to find out what she can "see." Only problem is, she's not sure what to do when she finally discovers the truth. And she's not sure she'll live to tell anyone.

SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME is the first of a series of 6 short stories titled What you see is what you get. It is an extremely fast read at just 17 pages. The characters definitely were likable and the story was catching. Ana is strong willed and didn't freak out completely and lose her head when she had all the reason to. I had an issue in the beginning, Ana goes from saying her Gram is completely crazy in one paragraph and just a couple paragraphs later she has completely accepted her Grams explanation of what they are and turns to being extremely excited about the information with no hesitation and it just seemed like a way to fast turn around for a teenager. Other than that I enjoyed the little journey as Ana figured out what kind of seer she is.


I gave it a 3/5 stars

Friday, April 1, 2011

Review: Betrayal by Lee Nichols

Betrayal
Author: Lee Nichols
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Haunting Emma Book #2
ISBN:   1599905698
ISBN13: 9781599905693
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: From Author for review 


Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great when she's battling the wraith-master Neos, but terrible when she's flirting with fellow ghostkeeper (and soul mate) Bennett. When ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power, and that's not something Bennett can handle. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school with fellow ghostkeeper Natalie. When a new team of ghostkeepers arrive—one a snarky teen boy, the other a British scholar—Emma finds solace in training for the battle against Neos. But as the team grows stronger, they are threatened by an unknown force. One they thought was good. As chilling and page-turning as Deception, this sequel will grab readers and hold them to the last page. No one is safe from suspicion as Emma closes in on the traitor.

I was REALLY surprised by this series. I won book one DECEPTION from Goodreads and immediately contacted Lee to see if she was looking for reviewers for book 2 because I was just blown away with how much I truly enjoyed reading DECEPTION. Ive read plenty of ghost story's but the author takes it a step in a different direction and it totally works for me. Full of twists and surprises Emma and her friends kept me happy to read more. The explanation of all the different ghost keepers continues and new characters are introduced. Emma learns more about her family and who she is. I had a bit of a hard time with Emma and Bennett's relationship and the way the ending plays out with Bennett, I'm not sure where Lee is taking it but I guess that is part of the reason I will keep reading lol. It was a fun and fast read and I will be picking up SURRENDER when it hits the shelf.


I gave it 4/5 stars

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Review: Surrender the Dark by L.A. Banks

Surrender the Dark
Author:L.A. Banks
Release Date: March 29, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
Angels/Celeste Jackson Book #1
ISBN:  1451607784
ISBN13: 9781451607789
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher for review tour


Celeste Jackson has fought all her life against a fog of hallucination and substance abuse, but it’s not until she meets her protector, Azrael, an angel who has left the safety of the Light, that she learns of the evil forces that have been trying to ruin her, and why. A fierce battle for control of the mortal realm is brewing, and only Celeste—with the help of the Remnant, her half-human, half-angel brethren—can stand in the way. Together, Celeste and Azrael must gather an army of sensitives to defeat the dark powers that have ruled humanity for centuries, but time is running out. If Azrael surrenders to his growing desire for Celeste, he risks being trapped among humanity forever. But the longer he stays, the harder she is to resist. To save the world, Celeste must draw on her own dark experiences with addiction to help Azrael overcome the one temptation that could possibly make him an eternal prisoner—his obsession with her.

I'm going to hide now before you start reading this to dodge the rotten tomatoes you are going to throw at my head for going against the grain. I just could not get into this book as a whole. I have said many times before I dont enjoy books that are heavy on the religious/spiritual side and I have to say SURRENDER THE DARK has been the heaviest with religion I have picked up. If there was a category labeled Paranormal religion this would be at the top of the stacks. It wasn't just the heavy religion stuff that threw me off but the over explaining of things as well. There was seriously pages of inner dialogue from both Celeste and Azrael that could have been cut with no complaint on my end and the book would not have suffered at all for it. Sure there was some great action, characters, and supporting characters but I just could not get into the story as there was just so much religious talk attached to everything. Now to be fair YES this is a fallen angel book so I do expect there to be some sort of religious mythology and talk in the book but there was just way to much of it for me personally to enjoy the rest of the story. I will not continue reading the series, it just isn't my cup of tea.

I gave it a 2/5 stars

Winner: Theresa Meyers Giveaway

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PRIZE: One Signed copy of The Truth About Vampires


The winner chosen by Random.org is…




Jolene Allcock and Family






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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Guest Blog and Giveaway: Vivi Anna

UFI welcomes Vivi Anna Author of Glimmer. You can find my review of Glimmer HERE. Thanks for Joining us!!

WISH UPON A STAR

As all authors do, I often fantasize about my books being made into movies or TV shows.

(as an aside, I’m actually fortunate enough to be developing two of my book series into TV shows. One is at the going to big networks stage, and the other is with my Hollywood manager looking for a good producer)

If I were to get a chance to cast for my book GLIMMER, I would definitely suggest Milla Jovovich for main character Nina Decker. She’s actually who I pictured when I first started writing. I love her look, so fierce yet sensual. I think she embodies strength and kickassedness without being masculine. My favourite movies of hers are The Fifth Element, the Resident Evil movies, and Ultraviolet.

For hero Severin Saint Morgan it’s really a no-brainer. Alex O’Loughlin is the only actor I see as the sexy alpha werewolf. Plus he’s an Aussie like Severin. I’m not ashamed to say that I plastered my walls with pictures of Alex as I wrote this book. Inspiration can be so…stimulating. He was drool worthy in the show Moonlight. That show totally made him a star over here in North America. It’s a shame it’s still not on. I like him in Hawaii Five-O too.

And who would write the script, well I would of course. I have experience in adapting my own work.

And the director, well that’s easy too. Guillermo del Toro is the only choice. It’s his imaginative creative genius with films like Pan’s Labyrinth and Hell Boy II that inspired the fae world I created in Glimmer. My fae aren’t the whimsical beings from fairy tales but malevolent, beautifully grotesque creatures. Think Prince Nuada from Hell Boy II, instead of pretty Legolas from Lord of the Rings.

If you had the power to adapt any book, which would it be, and who would you cast?


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Author Bio:

A BAD GIRL at heart, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her original unique brand of fantasy fiction. Whether it's in ancient Egypt, or in an apocalyptic future, Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.

Once shot at while repossessing a car, Vivi decided that maybe her life needed a change. The first time she picked up a pen and put words to paper, she knew she had found her heart. Within two paragraphs, she realized she could write about getting into all sorts of trouble without suffering the consequences.

When Vivi isn't writing, you can find her causing a ruckus at downtown bistros, flea markets, or playgrounds
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Glimmer
2/15/2011
Available in ebook

Although Nina Decker's father is one hundred percent human, her mother is not. She belongs to an ancient and rare race of people called the fae. But these fae are not those written about in fairytales, with pretty gossamer wings and fairy dust, no they are sinister, malevolent and unkind, dwelling in another realm called Nightfall. More prone to destroy than to create. Abandoned at the age of ten, to be raised by her father, Nina has never forgiven her mother for that or for ruining her father. A man of only sixty, he appears to be closer to eighty with a frail body and mind. He's been fae-struck and is slowly fading away to nothing. This is one of the reasons why Nina has never gotten too close to any one man. She doesn't want to seal his fate like her father's has been.

But she can't deny her fiery connection to Severin Saint Morgan, a sexy as hell werewolf and the alpha of the Vancouver wolf pack. He's an Australian immigrant working at the university as an associate professor, and the publicized face of the werewolf species. He makes her blood boil with desire and makes her tremble with fear. But its only when her mother reappears with startling revelations about an upcoming war between the fae and the werewolves that Nina realizes that she may be a pawn for both sides.

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Find Vivi and her books
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Visit Bewitching Book Tours to find out where Vivi has been
and where she will be next on her GLIMMER tour.
__________________________________
 

Winner will receive
- One PDF Copy of Glimmer




 RULES
1)  Answer Vivi's question above =)
2) This giveaway is open to US followers only
3) Must leave an email address so I can contact you.


Giveaway Ends 4/6/2011 at 10pm EST
Winner will have 48 Hours to reply to my email or I will pick another
Winner chosen randomly with the help of random.org

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Monday, March 28, 2011

Review: Glimmer by Vivi Anna

Glimmer
Author:Vivi Anna
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Sold By: Amazon Digital Services
Nina Decker Book #1
ASIN:  0765328089
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Review copy source: Author for participation in book tour


Although Nina Decker’s father is one hundred percent human, her mother is not. She belongs to an ancient and rare race of people called the fae. But these fae are not those written about in fairytales, with pretty gossamer wings and fairy dust, no they are sinister, malevolent and unkind, dwelling in another realm called Nightfall. More prone to destroy than to create. Abandoned at the age of ten, to be raised by her father, Nina has never forgiven her mother for that or for ruining her father. A man of only sixty, he appears to be closer to eighty with a frail body and mind. He’s been fae-struck and is slowly fading away to nothing. This is one of the reasons why Nina has never gotten too close to any one man. She doesn’t want to seal his fate like her father’s has been.

But she can’t deny her fiery connection to Severin Saint Morgan, a sexy as hell werewolf and the alpha of the Vancouver wolf pack. He’s an Australian immigrant working at the university as an associate professor, and the publicized face of the werewolf species. He makes her blood boil with desire and makes her tremble with fear. But its only when her mother reappears with startling revelations about an upcoming war between the fae and the werewolves that Nina realizes that she may be a pawn for both sides.


I enjoyed Nina from the first chapter. The story was intriguing and filled with information to keep you interested. The book as a whole was super fast and easy to read. The romance and connection between Severin and Nina was apparent from the moment they were introduced. I loved the way the author expressed Nina's flaws. She just wants to be human and nothing else and she really struggles with accepting anything having to do with her mothers side of her heritage. There is a cliffhanger at the end which drags you into being excited about what will come next.


I gave it 4/5 stars