Review: Joan the Made by Kristen Pham

Joan the Made

Author: Kristen Pham

Release Date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: Self-Published

Throwbacks Book #1

ASIN:   B079B2RF82

Genre: Young Adult SciFi

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

On Joan Fasces' eighteenth birthday, she discovers that she is cloned from the famous Joan of Arc. But being cloned in America comes at a steep price. Segregated and oppressed, clones are forced to act as docile servants to the rest of the Evolved population.

Joan can either run from her fate and spend the rest of her life in hiding, or she can join a Throwback rebellion populated by clones of the greatest leaders in history.

JOAN THE MADE didn't really jump out at me and say READ ME, but I was intrigued enough with the blurb that I thought I should give it a shot. I had no problem getting into the story once I started reading.

I thought the clone concept was super interesting and it was shocking to see how this world treats them. Joan grew up thinking she was evolved but finds out she is a throwback on her 18th birthday. EVERY dream and plan she had was thrown out the window. I liked Joan. She of course goes through a stage of 'why the heck me', but she takes to her new fate and uses it to her advantage.

There is a little bit of romance in JOAN THE MADE. It is nothing to write home about, but it is there. The ending really threw a wrench in a few things. I have a few theories that I can't share due to spoilers, but these theories make me interested to read more and find out if they will come to pass.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

New Releases: 5/20-5/26

Tue. May 22nd

84K by Claire North
All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella’s Stepmother by Danielle Teller
Furyborn (Empirium #1) by Claire Legrand
Tiger Striped: Shifters Unbound (Shifters Unbound #11.5) by Jennifer Ashley

Happy Reading!!

Cover Reveal: Relegation by Karri Thompson

Relegation
The Van Winkle Project #3
Release Day: June 4, 2018
Add it on Goodreads

The end is near—and I’m fated to save humanity.

I’m feared, yet revered. The presidents are leery of me, but I’ve read the files. And I know the truth—at least, I think I do. And I’m the one who is going to tell the clones. They deserve to know.

Michael and I have been forced to fight, to kill. We’ll do anything to keep our daughters safe and free. But we can’t do it alone. There’s a rumor about a secret society eager for battle… and we’re going to find them. Help them end the government’s corruption.

It’s my duty, my calling as the first mother of the new world I want to create.

This started with me, and that’s where it’s going to end. 

Haven't started the series yet? Check out the first book, Mirror X!

Purchase on Amazon
Purchase on iBooks
Purchase on B&N

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Growing up in San Diego, California, Karri Thompson spent much of her years at the beach, reading novels, tanning, and listening to music. At SDSU, she earned a BA in English, MA in education, and her teaching credential. As a wife, mother, and high-school English teacher, she began writing novels, giving all of the compelling plots and unique characters in her head a home. Victorian literature rocks her socks, and when she’s not writing, jogging, going to concerts, or watching her son play football, she’s reading Dickens.

Find Karri and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Week in Review: 5/13-5/19

Books Received for Review

Stray Magic by Kelly Meding

Books I've Read

Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill
Whisper by Lynette Noni
Prisoner of the Crown by Jeffe Kennedy

Reviews Posted

Shades of Midnight by Debbie Cassidy

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Monday- Promo + Giveaway for A Fistful of Frost by Rebecca Chastain

* Wednesday- Promo for Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon

* Friday- Guest Blog + Giveaway for Everything Under the Sun by Jessica Redmerski

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?

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Guest Blog + Giveaway: Everything Under the Sun by Jessica Redmerski

UFI welcomes Author Jessica Redmerski. Thanks for Joining us!!

Playlist | EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN 

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN is a long and intense journey through a post-apocalyptic society, where two people who meet under terrible circumstances learn not only to work together and save one another, but to fall in live with each other as well. It’s no doubt that music played an integral role in the crafting of many scenes throughout the novel.

Here is the playlist for EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN, along with a few notes about which scenes were inspired by the music, and vice-versa.

PIERS FICCANI – A STORM IS COMING
JAMIE COMMONS – THE PREACHER
HOZIER – WORK SONG – A piece of the chorus: “Lay me gently in the cold dark earth” inspired one of Atticus’ quotes: “When you die,” I whispered, “you won’t need the soil to hold you, Thais, because I’ll be right there next to you holding you myself.”
MADONNA – LIKE A PRAYER – One of the sings they dance to in the cabin
THE SOUND OF SILENCE – JOY WILLIAMS FEAT. HUDSON TAYLOR
BOB SEGER – NIGHT MOVES – One of the songs they dance to in the cabin
KATE VOEGELE – HALLELUJAH – The main song I listened to while writing the book; also the song Thais is always signing to herself
IMAGINE DRAGONS – BATTLE CRY – The arena scene
MUMFORD & SONS – I WILL WAIT – I imagined this song when they were with the gypsies, dancing around the fire
GIPSY KINGS – TRISTA PENA
LED ZEPPELIN – GOING TO CALIFORNIA – Atticus hears this song in the cabin, while he’s thinking about Thais.
TREVOR MORRIS – VIKINGS 18 FLOKI APPEARS TO KILL ATHELSTAN – I thought of this song a lot during the most dramatic and intense scenes.

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Jessica Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, international bestseller, and award winner, who juggles several different genres. She began self-publishing in 2012, and later with the success of THE EDGE OF NEVER, signed on with Grand Central Publishing/Forever Romance. Her works have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Jessica is a hybrid author who, in addition to working with a traditional publisher, also continues to self-publish. Her popular crime and suspense series, In the Company of Killers, has been optioned for television in the United States by actor and model William Levy, and a film exclusive to the Dominican Republic.
She also writes as J.A. Redmerski.

Find Jessica and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter 

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Everything Under the Sun
Kindle Paperback

Thais Fenwick was eleven-years-old when civilization fell, devastated by a virus that killed off the majority of the world’s population. For seven years, Thais and her family lived in a community of survivors deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. But when her town is attacked by raiders, she and her blind sister are taken away to the East-Central Territory where she is destined to live the cruel and unjust kind of life her late mother warned her about.

Atticus Hunt is a troubled soldier in Lexington City who has spent the past seven years trying to conform to the vicious nature of men in a post-apocalyptic society. He knows that in order to survive, he must abandon his morals and his conscience and become like those he is surrounded by. But when he meets Thais, morals and conscience win out over conformity, and he risks his rank and his life to help her. They escape the city and set out together on a long and perilous journey to find safety in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Struggling to survive in a world without electricity, food, shelter, and clean water, Atticus and Thais shed their fear of growing too close, and they fall hopelessly in love. But can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them? 

Excerpt #5

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN – JESSICA REDMERSKI – COPYRIGHT 2018 EXCERPT #5: “TAKE IT.”

“Are you still angry?” I asked him.
“About what?”
“Giving the bread away to those people.”
He shook his head against the quilt.
“No, Thais, I’m not still angry.”
After a moment, he said, “Thais?”
“Mmm-hmm?”
“Don’t ask me to kiss you again.”
I paused, tensed. “Why not?” I was afraid of the answer.
We continued to look up at the stars. Behind us the horses whickered and their tails swished about. A light breeze combed through the trees, carrying the bitter and sweet scents of pine and honeysuckle with it.
Finally, Atticus answered, “Because whatever you want from me, Thais, I’d rather you just take it.”
I wanted to cry.
I smiled to myself instead.

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Review: Shades of Midnight by Debbie Cassidy

Shades of Midnight

Author: Debbie Cassidy

Release Date: May 17, 2018

Publisher: Self-Published

Chronicles of Midnight Book #4

ASIN:  B07B4FQMPS

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: Author

Our choices have consequences, and Harker is about to deal with a bucket load of consequence.

A Kick-ass Urban Fantasy with a slow burn reverse harem romance.

Angels, Fallen, nephilim and Arthurian legend are given a fresh twist in this sexy, thrilling urban Fantasy series. Fans of Lost girl and True blood will surely enjoy it.

There isn't much new that I can say about the series after reading SHADES OF MIDNIGHT. The characters continue to grow, the reverse harem has progressed and the storyline is on path to an epic conclusion in SAVIOR OF MIDNIGHT.

The action was once again bumped up a notch in SHADES OF MIDNIGHT. There isn't a lot of downtime for the characters.

Let's talk about he romance. There was a bit shocker in the beginning of SHADES OF MIDNIGHT, but after the shocker the other romances were able to grow, so although it was hard it was necessary.

I will admit that I don't love all the characters, but the main-main characters definitely have me in their corner. There are still a lot of questions and things that need to happen, thankfully we have another book. I will be finishing out the series with SAVIOR OF MIDNIGHT when it's released.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Promo: Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon

Going Down in Flames
by Chris Cannon
Release Date: June 30th 2014
Entangled Teen

    If her love life is going down in flames, she might as well spark a revolution.

    Finding out on your sixteenth birthday you’re a shape-shifting dragon is tough to swallow. Being hauled off to an elite boarding school is enough to choke on.


    Since Bryn is the only crossbreed at the Institute for Excellence, all eyes are on her, but it’s a particular black dragon, Zavien, who catches her attention.


    Zavien is tired of the Council’s rules. Segregated clans, being told who to love, and close-minded leaders make freedom of choice almost impossible. The new girl with the striped hair is a breath of fresh air, and with Bryn’s help, they may be able to change the rules.


    At the Institute, old grudges, new crushes, and death threats are all part of a normal day for Bryn. She’ll need to learn to control her dragon powers if she wants to make it through her first year at school. But even focusing on staying alive is difficult when you’re falling for someone you can't have.

 

Check out the Going Down in Flames series (click on images for Goodreads links):

Going Down in Flames is on Sale for $0.99!

Purchase Links for the series:

Going Down in Flames: https://entangledpublishing.com/going-down-in-flames.html
Bridges Burned: https://entangledpublishing.com/bridges-burned.html
Trial By Fire: https://entangledpublishing.com/trial-by-fire.html
Fanning the Flames: https://entangledpublishing.com/fanning-the-flames.html
Burning Bright: https://entangledpublishing.com/burning-bright.html

Excerpt from GOING DOWN IN FLAMES:

He blinked in confusion. “What do you want to know?”

Time to ask the million-dollar question. No matter the pain it caused, she needed to know. “Who is your intended?”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

Wrong. “It matters if you plan to spend the rest of your life with her.”

“She’s a friend.” He didn’t meet her gaze.

Bryn heard a door close. Miss Enid and Valmont had retreated into the bedroom to give them privacy.

She inched closer. Electricity sparked between them, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. “I need to know.”

He took a deep breath and met her gaze. “My intended is Nola.”

No. Freaking. Way.

Nola? His intended was Nola? How in the hell was she supposed to compete against the dark-haired Barbie? She couldn’t. Dropping her hand from his chest, she backed up a step.

Zavien closed the distance between them. “I swear. She’s a friend.”

Wanting to believe, she placed her hand over his heart and searched his eyes for the truth. “If she’s a friend, then what am I?”

He skimmed his fingers along her jaw and down her neck. Warmth radiated from his touch. He settled his hand at the base of her skull, leaned close, and whispered, “You are temptation.”

She held her breath as he lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. Time seemed to stand still. His mouth moved against hers. Melting against him, she fisted her hands in his shirt and tried to pull him closer. He wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her body flush against his.

Too soon, he pulled away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m not sorry you did.” She traced her fingertips along his jaw. For so long, she’d been unsure of his feelings. Now she knew.

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Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies.

Author Links:
   

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