Review: Mermaid

Mermaid by Kate O'Connor
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Release Date: March 22nd 2013
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

How far would you go for freedom?

Harvesting seaweed for World Food Co. is the only life genetically engineered sea drone Coral has ever known. 

Nothing in her short, monotonous life prepared her for a chance meeting with a boatful of strangers who force her to question everything she is.

When the opportunity arises to change her place in the world, Coral finds herself caught between a powerful company and the family she was so desperate to leave. 

Struggling to unravel the tangle of politics and love, time is running out as she fights to learn the hardest lesson of all – what it means to be truly human.

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I’ve got to say Mermaid by Kate O’Connor isn’t exactly what I expected it to be, but I genuinely enjoyed the Science Fiction twist. This new take on mermaids was clever and original. Instead of being a creature from the sea, these mermaids or rather drones were genetically created with a mixture of human cells and technology.

The eight legged drones, technically they were arms not legs, were created by a company to grow and manage their seaweed and things that are used in their food products. Most drones follow orders and take commands without questioning things or having any thoughts of their own really, except for Coral, later known as Cora.

Review: Divine Sanctuary (Divine Trilogy #3)

 

Divine Sanctuary (Divine Trilogy #3) by Cheryl Kaye Tardiff
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Release Date: June 15, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:

In the Divine trilogy finale, the heat is tripled when CFBI Agent Jasi McLellan must rescue Emily, the ghost girl that haunts her dreams; expose her own mother's killer; and uncover a murderer that preys on the weak at Sanctuary, a controversial cult nestled in the woods near Mission, BC.

Something insidious lurks behind the safe haven of Sanctuary's wrought iron gates. Led by the charismatic Father Jeremiah, the cult's idyllic lifestyle seems perfect on the outside. But a lethal hunter is on the prowl, and in a carefully executed game of cat and mouse, the body count rises.

Along with Victim Empath Natassia Prushenko, Psychometric Empath Ben Roberts and Special Consultant Brandon Walsh, Jasi follows three trails of clues that lead to one terrifying conclusion: home is not always the safest place on earth.


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"Divine Sanctuary" is the third book in the "Divine Trilogy" by Cheryl Kaye Tardif. Normally I don't read books in a series unless I've read them from the start, but I was told that "Divine Sanctuary" would read as a standalone book, and I was pleasantly surprised that was true. While reading, I wasn't confused about anything and Tardif did a good job creating a story that works on its own as well as part of a series.

The story revolves around a CFBI Agent named Jasi McLellan, who is part of the PSI branch of the CFBI. The PSI branch is a secret one whose agents have paranormal abilities that help them solve their cases. Jasi, for example, is a Pyro-Psychic. That means that if someone is killed by fire, Jasi can gain more information from the scene by smelling the smoke from that fire.

The main mystery in this book comes when one of Jasi's friends gives her a call because a woman she knows has been missing for awhile after investigating the inner workings of a cult called Sanctuary. This woman is a reporter who went undercover in order to prove Sanctary and the man who runs it aren't all that they appear. However, once she stops checking in, her friend gets worried and wants Jasi to investigate. This all happens right before the remains of a body are found in the incinerator at Sanctuary, prompting the need for an investigation. Jasi and her team go in to Sanctuary to find answers, but what they find wasn't necessarily what they were expecting.

Book Blitz: Athena's Ashes (Star Thief Chronicles #2)

Athena's Ashes (Star Thief Chronicles #2) by Jamie Grey
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Romance, Science Fiction
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

It’s Renna’s biggest job yet – convincing MYTH leadership that she’s put away her lock picks and is ready to save the galaxy, despite the dangerous implant in her brain. But with the Athena on the run, she’s working solo and facing her most ruthless enemy, the traitor Pallas, who’ll go to any lengths to destroy the MYTH organization. Including framing Renna for a devastating assault on MYTH HQ that leaves their defenses crippled and hundreds dead.

Now that MYTH believes she’s a dangerous double-agent, Renna escapes their firing squad before they put more holes in her than a pair of fishnet stockings. But the ticking time-bomb in her head is the one thing Pallas needs to complete his master plan and he’s not about to let her get away. Even worse, he’s discovered the only thing that will bring Renna to her knees – threatening Captain Nick Finn.

Out of time and options, Renna’s got one shot to take down the traitor before he annihilates everything she loves, even though winning this battle may cost her everything.

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Except:

Renna turned as Dr. Samil entered the room. The young doctor wore a pleasant smile despite the slightly frazzled appearance of her long blonde hair escaping the messy bun she always wore. Renna leaned back against the edge of her bed. “Do you always have to look so happy at the prospect of stabbing me with those instruments of torture?”

Dr. Samil’s blue eyes sparkled. “For someone who’s done her share of killing, I can’t believe you have a needle phobia.”

“We all have our weaknesses,” Renna said with a shrug. “Pointy, shiny, metal bloodsuckers just happen to be mine.”

Samil set her holopad down on the counter and pressed her thumb to the scanner to unlock the drawer. She pulled out a tray of tools. “I guess it’s time for the torture to begin.”

Book Blitz: Catch My Breath (Catch My Breath #1)

Catch My Breath (Catch My Breath #1) by Lynn Montagano
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 17, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon ♥ B & N

Book Description:

Lia Meyers’ plan for a relaxing Scottish vacation is short-lived when one uncharacteristic moment of clumsiness lands her in the arms of a dangerously attractive Englishman.

The perfect opportunity for a much needed holiday romance? Wrong! Lia’s still reeling from the mother of all bad breakups, and she really doesn’t have the patience for Alastair Holden – despite his effortless charm and cute British accent.

Arrogant and totally inscrutable, he’s exactly the sort of guy she wants to avoid but can’t: the man behind the mystery proves just too tempting to resist.

Drawn to him, Lia is forced to battle with her own insecurities, and the closer they become, the more she recognizes her own weaknesses as she peels away his layers with every night they spend together. Discovering the past Alastair is so desperate to conceal, Lia must decide if they can heal one another together or if their deepest fears will tear them apart.

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No Review is a “Bad” Review

I had a nightmare recently that someone gave my book half a star. Not just one star but HALF a star. *whimper*

As a debut author, reviews are something I try not to dwell on. Do I want reviews? Yes. Lots of them. Good ones. Bad ones. Middle of the road ones. That means people are reading and having some type of reaction to the stories I’ve written. Any review is a form of publicity and as the saying goes “there’s no such thing as bad publicity.”

So what do you do when a review isn’t so glowing and fabulous?

Think of it this way. Anybody who reviews a book has spent time and energy thinking about it. They’re spreading the word. The beauty about a bad review is whatever it was about the story that particular reader didn’t like might be exactly what someone else loves. Seriously. How many times have I gone to see a big, loud special effects laden movie because some critic said it lacked substance? Too many to mention.

Blog Tour: Sister Surrendered

Sister Surrendered by Darla M. Grese
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Memoir
Release Date: April 11, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

When you’re a twin, loneliness is somewhat unfamiliar because you’ve always had each other. So when a twin passes, the other is left unprepared. Our loyalty was steadfast and our devotion to one another, solid. Our love was unconditional no matter what the circumstances.

I’m so grateful every day for the memories of the joy and laughter that we shared together. I know the bond that Kelli and I shared is impossible for anyone to replace. This memoir has become something so much more than initially intended. It’s become a documented journey barely scratching the surface of the love between two sisters. And surprisingly, it’s also become an outlet for me to speak candidly and honestly about my struggles with the cause of Kelli’s death.

This is a love story turned tragedy. An exposure of one of the greatest healthcare failures killing Veterans and civilians, and a cry for help to remedy the fiasco. I’ve stressed about who I would mention in this book, nervous that I would hurt someone’s feelings by not mentioning their names. But I’ve realized that it’s impossible to do.

Kelli had so many great friends, some I’ve never even met. I need each person to know who has taken the time to reach out to me in whatever capacity that if it weren’t for your heartfelt show of support and love, I don’t know that I would be able to muster the energy to even get up each day. Kelli, we did it.

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Sister Surrendered, my memoir, is a book that I wish didn’t exist. I wish I could replace the word Surrendered with perhaps prospered or flourished. But I cannot.

How did this happen? How did I lose a battle that I fought so hard for? Why did I settle the case? Why did I have to write my memoir that ended in such avoidable tragedy? These are questions I’m left with each and every morning, after nights filled with nightmares, sadness and feeling s of defeat.

Every story should have a great ending right? By the time we finish the last paragraph, we’re leaping to our feet, applauding and celebrating that happy, “feel-good” ending. And dammit I wish by the time you finished my book, you’d be doing the same. But the truth is, you’ll end up angry, sad and maybe even baffled. You’ll be left with questioning a system that’s now currently under fire in most media outlets, the Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Book Blitz: Alec (Slater Brothers #2)

Alec (Slater Brothers #2) by L.A. Casey
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 17, 2014
Buy Links:

Amazon

Book Description:

Keela Daley is the black sheep of her family. She has always come second to her younger cousin Micah. Even in the eyes of her mother, Micah shone bright, and Keela faded to black. Now, in adulthood, Micah is a bride-to-be and the spotlight is solely on her. Keela is a low priority…or so she thinks.

Alec Slater is a bachelor, never one to bed the same woman, or man, twice. He is a free agent who does what he pleases and answers to no one; that is until a fiery Irish redhead with a temper to match her hair colour knocks him on his arse. Literally.

She hates to admit it, but Keela needs a favour from the cocky Slater brother, a huge favour. She needs him to not only escort her to Micah’s wedding, but to also pose as her boyfriend. Alec agrees to help Keela, but has certain conditions for her to abide by. He wants her body and plans to have it before anyone can say I do.

What he doesn’t plan on is losing his heart as well as the possibility of losing his family when someone from his past threatens his future.

Alec owns Keela, and what Alec owns, Alec keeps.

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Excerpt:

I gripped onto my phone and car keys as I closed my bedroom window. I told Storm to stay put, but it feel on deaf ears because he didn't move an inch or even wake up. I ran down my hallway and unlocked the locks and the bolt on my door then flung it open and sprung into the corridor.

I closed my front door, locked it, then ran like a bat out of Hell down the hallway, down four flights of stairs and out into my apartment complex’s car park. I sprinted towards my car and only realized I was in my nightdress when the cool breeze hit me and made me shiver.

"Fuck!" I snapped as I unlocked my car, got into it and started the engine.

I didn't think of changing clothes, just about getting my shoes on and then getting out to my car. I wasn't going back inside to change; I had to get to Aideen and make sure she was okay before changing clothes even became an option. It was okay though; I didn't show off any valuables. The nightdress was just a little short, it was black so I didn’t have to worry that it was see through, at least I got lucky with that. The weather was good tonight as well, it was cool but not windy or raining.