Tag Archives: fantasy

September 10, 2015 · 5:00 am

Author Showcase and Review of “The Surprising Enchantress and The Price of Scorn”- Kae Elle Wheeler (Kathy L Wheeler)

As you scroll down, you’ll notice that I’m reviewing only book 3 and 4 from the Cinderella series. Technically, Kae (Kathy) only requested me to read The Price of Scorn. However, since she graciously sent The Surprising Enchantress too, I offered to read and critique it as well.

I wondered though, since starting the series midway, would I grasp what’s going on? Would skipping book 1 and 2 hinder me in any way? Missed vital info from the prior two.

Rest assured, Kae said I’d be able to follow along quite easily. With that said, she went ahead and forwarded me background information so I had a recap before diving into these two tales.

I admit, the information posed quite useful. Therefore, I decided to pass along the “cliff notes” to you all.

🙂

 

Kindle
Paperback
 
Finding his mysterious princess by trying her glass slipper on every maiden in Chalmers Kingdom sounded like a brilliant scheme until the silly thing slid quite easily on the foot of the wrong girl. Now how is Prince Charming supposed to find his true love? Unbeknownst to either, his mother, the queen and her feisty twin (Cinderella’s infamous fairy godmother) have a lesson to impart—impulsive decisions, do not a future king make!
 
 
Kindle
Paperback

Lady Pricilla is a modern woman. Marriage and children? Hah! She has brains and intends to use them. But Sir Arnald is different. Isn’t he? And how will they survive when they discover villains embroiled with smuggled goods and danger? 

 
Kindle
Paperback

 
Delusions of grandeur? Happily-ever-after? Lady Esmeralda is destined for life with a fluttering eye syndrome—a deterrent to any prospective intended. Alessandro de Lecce’s efforts to save Chalmers Kingdom and future heir are nil without Lady Esmeralda’s assistance. There is more to this fluttering-eye miss than meets the . . . eye!
 

Kindle
Paperback


Fourteen years after Prince Charming and Cinderella are crowned as King and Queen of Chalmers, Cinderella and her sisters gather at their mother’s deathbed. Lady Hildegard Roche has nothing but resentment and scorn for the stepchild who culminates all that was stolen from her.
Stunned to silence, the sisters learn how tragedy shaped their mother into the woman she became. The question is: Can they forgive her?

 
 
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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
According to the back cover of The Price of Scorn, Kae states this story was for readers young and old. I do think that’s true to some degree; as in aimed towards the more “mature”. 


IMHO: I don’t think certain aspects of The Price of Scorn are suitable to the younger crowd (HS and younger). There were parts which I wouldn’t allow a teenager to read. For me, I wouldn’t feel comfortable allowing my child to read about men forcing themselves upon a woman. It wasn’t in graphic detail but there was enough presented to warrant the need for me to wait before I allow this into their hands.
 
With that said, I liked the Stepmother’s backstory. We all knew she wasn’t born despicable and Kae’s insight into her history shed some light into why she was named the “Evil Stepmother”. 
 
After learning about everything she dealt with, do my feelings towards her change at all?
 
Nah, not really. 
 
Just because your heart has been hardened by acts done against you, it doesn’t justify the need to spread hatred onto others. But, that’s just my opinion. 
 
As for my feelings on The Surprising Enchantress, this story would be ok for a teenager. There was mild violence (slam from villain to heroine). They’ve seen these acts during movies – aka superhero films. 
 
I should note I enjoyed Esmeralda’s story more than her mother’s. 
 
Her ailment was unique. Lashes that touched her cheeks – fluttering that caused noticeable wind. Oh, the images I had in my head. 🙂
 
As for Edric, that little stinker reminds me of my youngster. Quite the handful but also a joy to be around. 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)  
Score: ❤❤❤

 
 

Website ~~~ Blog 

 

Kathy L Wheeler, born in Presque Isle, Maine, actually grew up in Dallas, Texas area. She migrated to Boulder then Longmont, Colorado and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a BA focus on Management Information Systems and vocal music minor.
Kathy writes historical and contemporary romance. She an active member of the Oklahoma Romance Writers, loves the NFL, holds NBA Thunder season basketball tickets, adores musical theater, reading and writing—and just to round things out—karaoke. Besides belonging to her local RWA Chapter, OKRWA, Kathy belongs to other chapters of the national organization as well: The Beau Monde and DARA.
Kathy lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her musically-talented, attorney husband, Al. They have one grown daughter (who just had a baby) and one bossy cat, Carly, who acts as if she was the rescuer rather than the rescue-ee!

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September 8, 2015 · 5:00 am

Author Showcase / Interview and Review of “Dream Student” and “Dream Doctor” – J.J. DiBenedetto

 Welcome, J.J. DiBenedetto!!
 
 
 
1. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
 
(J.J.) I’ve been writing since at least junior high school.  But I didn’t really finish anything of any length until after college, and I never really did anything with those stories.  It’s not until about 3 years ago, when a friend sold her first novel, and I decided, “why can’t I do that, too?” and then I got moving.
 
2.  Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
 
(J.J.) Usually, I try to work on a different story, or skip ahead to a scene I know I need later in the book, just to get myself writing something.  It generally works.  But there have been times I’ve gotten stuck for 2-3 weeks before I could really pick up writing again.
 
3. Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
 
(J.J.) I’ve got my day job (in the marketing department of a large non-profit organization), taking care of my Mom, spending time with my wife, and then there’s being trained by my cat.  All that keeps me very busy!
 
 
4. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?
 
(J.J.) It’s no secret with me – everyone knows.  Friends and family are all very supportive, and I’m grateful for that!
 
 
5. Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
 
(J.J.) Frank Herbert, Stephen R. Donaldson, Nick Bantock, Alistair Reynolds, Katherine Kurtz – I think that’s a good start to a list!
 
 
6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
 
 
(J.J.) Obviously I’d love to see my own books on the screen.  I think the Dream Series would make a fantastic TV series or series of movies on the Hallmark Channel or someplace similar.  I can totally see Danielle Panabaker (Dr. Caitlin Snow on “The Flash”) playing Sara.
 
 
Danielle Panabaker – aka Sara
 
 
For someone else’s book, I would love to see Mark Helprin’s “Winter’s Tale” adapted properly as a movie.  I don’t know who I’d cast in it (but definitely not Colin Farrell!)
 
 
7. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
 
(J.J.) I’m working on the final book of the Dream Series (Dream Wedding, out October 20th). Once that’s done, I’ve got a couple of ideas about what will come next, but right now all they really are is ideas and not even fully formed yet.
 
 
8. Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
 
(J.J.) All my books are on Amazon, and you can see them at http://viewAuthor.at/JJDiBenedetto.  They’re in a series, so you should read from book one straight onwards – time passes and life happens to the characters as the books go on.
 
 
9. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
 
(J.J.) They can visit my website: http://www.writingdreams.net.  Or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DreamSeriesBooks.  Or on twitter at https://twitter.com/JJDiBenedetto.  Or via email at mailto://james@writingdreams.net.
 
 
10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
 
(J.J.) Basically, THANK YOU!  to everyone who’s read my books, everyone who’s been supportive and encouraging, and to my friends and family, my wife most of all.
 
 
Ok ladies and gents, before you run off, I want to share my thoughts on book 1 and 2 in the Dream series. I’ve also attached images for the entire series so make sure and check them out as well. 
 
Oh and don’t forget to drop us a line below!! 
 
 
 
 

College junior Sara Barnes thought her life was totally under control. All she had to worry about was her final exams, Christmas shopping, applying to medical school – and what to do about the cute freshman in the next dorm with a crush on her. Everything was going according to plan, until the night she started seeing other people’s dreams.

It’s bad enough that Sara is learning more than she ever needed to know about her friends and classmates, watching their most secret fantasies whether she wants to or not. Much worse are the other dreams, the ones she sees nearly every night, featuring a strange, terrifying man who commits unspeakable crimes. Now Sara wonders if she’s the only witness to a serial killer – and the only one who knows when and where he’s going to strike next.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Between adjusting to life as a newlywed and trying to survive the first month of medical school, Sara Alderson has a lot on her plate. She definitely doesn’t need to start visiting other people’s dreams again. Unfortunately for her, it’s happening anyway.
Every night, she sees a different person and a different dream. But every dreamer has one thing in common: they all hate Dr. Morris, the least popular professor in the medical school, and they’re all dreaming about seeing him – or making him – dead.
Once again, Sara finds herself in the role of unwilling witness to a murder before it happens. But this time, there are too many suspects to count, and it doesn’t help matters that she hates Dr. Morris every bit as much as any of his would-be murderers do.

 
 
 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
Have you ever wondered what your friends or family dream about at night? Especially when you see them smiling or hear them talking in their sleep. Since I have two chatterboxes living with me, I admit I’m curious. 
 
To walk in happy dreams would be a kick. Heck, I wouldn’t mind stepping into the mind of some wacky ones, too. Maybe not ones with giant ants though (referencing passage in book). 
 
However, to step into the dream of a killer and watch helplessly as they end a life. Man, that’s rough. On one hand, you could do as Sara did and use the dreams to your advantage; save a life. On the other hand, you’re watching a murder unfold and might not be able to help. What that would do to a person’s psyche…. Can’t even fathom. 
In Dream Doctor, Sara is engrossed into a more twisting mystery. She steps into the dreams of many “suspects” and has a real conundrum on her hands. Who wants Dr. Morris dead and who’s actually trying to kill him? 

Doesn’t this sound like the theme to a Lifetime Movie? *grins*

My only small issue with the story was the jerky feeling I had while reading it. Comparison: Have you ever ridden with someone who was attempting to learn to drive a stick? 

Stop. Start. Stop. Start. Repeat! 

That’s how the flow of the book was for me.

However, I did enjoy “viewing” the dreams right along with Sara. J.J. made me, as a reader, feel like Watson to her Sherlock. 

 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2
 
 
Want More? Then check out these titles too!! 
 

 

 

 

 

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August 26, 2015 · 5:00 am

The Eternity Road by Lana Melyan (Book Review)

YA Paranormal

 

When her best friend’s brother tells her that two strange men are following her, Amanda thinks that Craig is just being overprotective. Amanda has nursed a secret crush on Craig for years, but he’s never seemed to notice or care about her before.

But Craig’s warning coincides with a strange dream, and Amanda starts to get the sense that nothing in her life is what it seems to be—and that perhaps nothing in her life will ever be the same again.

Then Hanna and Craig start acting really strange. They forbid Amanda from going anywhere without them and insist that she’s in danger.

What Amanda doesn’t know is that Craig and Hanna are Hunters. And their job is to protect Amanda from the vampires chasing her so that she can fulfill her mission. The only catch is that Amanda has no clue she even has a mission to fulfill…

 

 

 
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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

This book might be geared towards the YA crowd but I found enjoyment in it as well and I’m well above the teeny-bopper age bracket. 
 
Now, it’s not a real shocker who Amanda really is or shall I say was. Lana obviously wasn’t attempting to keep us guessing. This book was about Amanda’s journey to the knowledge hidden deep within and reclaiming her life. 
 
Along the way, the group of hunters lost key family members. 
 
Power is tempting and when one of your own craves the dark side….. watch out. I won’t name names of who were the casualties of the battle but I will say more than one of the good guys died for their cause — to protect the human race against evil. 
 
Ladies and gents, young and old, I can say (without a single hesitation) you will adore this book if you fancy vampires, witches, and immortal hunters.  
 
And after you read this tale and see the words “to be continued”, you’ll be saying the same three little words I am about to type……..  
I WANT MORE!!! 
 
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
 Score: ❤❤❤❤❤
 
PURCHASE LINKS: Kindle / Paperback
 
 
 
 

When she came home from work one day and, tired, crashed on the couch in front of the TV, she found her daughters (13 and 17 years old then) watching some TV show with horrible monsters. She couldn’t convince them to switch the channel, so she watched it with them. Later she would love that show as much as they did. That TV show was “Buffy The Vampire Slayer.” She was always interested in supernatural stories, but this was something new, something different, that made her want to create her own story in that genre.

 
Twitter: @lanamelyan

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August 22, 2015 · 5:00 am

Author Showcase/Interview and Review of “Programmed to Please” – Jenna Ives

 

Very human Tau Cetus police agent Jai Turner is sent undercover as a Beautiful Dolls sex robot in order to bring down the planet’s most notorious arms dealer, Marque Callex. Jai’s assignment is to use the Beautiful Dolls’ legendary sexual techniques to coax information out of Marque on his illicit dealings – information that will lead to his conviction.

Reclusive arms dealer Marque Callex only accepted an invitation from Beautiful Dolls because with his deadly line of work – and the dangerous secrets he’s keeping – he can’t afford to let a real woman into his life. But neither Jai nor Marque are what they seem, and their week together has consequences neither expect.

 
Buy now at Amazon.com!!
 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
A world with sexbots? Yeah I can totally see that coming to pass. With the way technology is advancing, I have no doubt a life-like robot isn’t being developed somewhere in a lab right now. 

Creepy? 
Maybe. 

My real concern is how sanitary the bots will be to their “renters”. I mean, if I were to purchase the services of a sexbot (not saying I would), I need to make sure it’s been scrubbed since the last “user” had its fill of it. 

Hello, germaphobe over here!!

Thankfully, there was no actually BOT BOINKING happening between Jai and Marque. Jai merely pretended to be one, rather convincingly too. Of course, when you are as lonely as Marque, you’ll believe it because you’re starved for a few moments of happiness. Real or not. (Special Note: There was some robot fun during a “training” session. Jai had to learn how to sexual perform as a robot.) 

Luckily for him, the feelings he developed for Jai saved him. Literally and figuratively. 

All in all, I liked this book – a lot. It wasn’t all about the sex. It had a solid plot and that plot wasn’t pushed to the backside while we watched repeated sexual scenes splashed across the screen/pages. 

For me personally, I think a story is golden when the plot is not throw out there like an afterthought. 
So with the combination of great sex scenes and a solid plot, which wrapped up nicely with no lingering “WTF” moments, I’m highly suggesting you order yourself a copy today. 

 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
 
Buy now at Amazon.com!!
 
 
 

1. Welcome, Jenna Ives! For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business? 
 
(Jenna) I started telling stories to my two brothers and little sister when I was about eleven, so you could say the creative gene came out in me at a very early age. From there it was easy to put the stories down into print.
 
 
2.  Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
 
(Jenna) My critique partner says there’s no such thing as writer’s block, just bad planning. I’ll bet you can guess she’s a plotter, LOL! I’m a “pantser” (I write by the seat of my pants) so sometimes I DO experience writer’s block, but I believe that if you know how your story starts and how it ends, then getting there is part of the fun, even if sometimes you stumble along the way! If I feel blocked, I take a
nap. Or a walk. The mind is very good at thinking even when you don’t think you’re thinking, LOL. The answers will come and the “block” will dissolve.
 
 
3. Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
 
(Jenna) Well, I have a day job (actually two jobs) so I don’t have a lot of free time. At night and on the weekends I try to write as much as I can, but I DO have a standing date with my husband. We go to an afternoon movie and out to dinner every Saturday.
 
 
4. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts? 
 
(Jenna) Ha, ha… my mom knows that I’m a multi-published, award-winning author, but she also knows my stories are too sexy for her to read. A few people at work know I’m a romance author, but they don’t know my pseudonym.
 
 
5. Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If
you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.  
 
(Jenna) “Favorite” is hard, because I read across a wide genre of titles. I love historical fiction, so Dorothy Dunnett and Bernard Cornwell would definitely be on that list, but I’ve also read and enjoyed Stephenie Meyer and Suzanne Collins.  Anne Rice was writing about vampires before they were trendy, and as for romances, Leigh Court is definitely a favorite.
 
 
6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
 
 
(Jenna) I think The Legend series by Marie Lu would be awesome on-screen.  As popular as Insurgent/Divergent/Allegiant, for sure! I don’t know who I’d cast, though…
 
 
7. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further. 
 
(Jenna) Right now I’m just finishing up book 3 in my Tau Cetus chronicles, a slightly-futuristic series which features police agents and Beautiful Doll sex robots working to save their planet.  The titles are Programmed To Please, Programmed To Protect, and the third, Programmed For Power, should be out shortly!
 
 
8. Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order? 
 
(Jenna) You can find my books on amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, anywhere books are available J  The order is listed above.  I also have The Initiation Of Isabella with Samhain Publishing, and there’s Snow White And Her Seven Lovers, which is a modern-day take on the fairy tale!  The title says it all…
 
 
9. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
 
(Jenna) Fans can contact me at jenna@jennaives.com, follow me on Twitter @JennaIvesAuthor or connect on Facebook.  I’m part of a multi-author blog at http://fierceromance.blogspot.com.
 
 
10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
 
(Jenna) I write romance novels because with all the challenges and stress in our daily lives, I like to guarantee that a reader of my books can escape into a story with a happy ending.  We all deserve that!
 
 
 Ladies and Gents, I hope you enjoyed my interview with Jenna Ives. If you have any questions or comments for Jenna, by all means, leave her a message below. But before you do, make sure and keep scrolling down because she has a whole lot more to offer!!  
 
 
 
   
 
 

The saga of futuristic police agents and sexbots continues…

Tau Cetus police agent Leith Wyatt is tasked by the ruling High Council with overseeing the production of a robot army for the planet’s defense. Wyatt doesn’t trust the oily robot manufacturer Anson Carron, and when Carron gives Wyatt the Beautiful Doll sexbot Ginger as a gift, Wyatt knows it’s a trap — Beautiful Dolls are legendary for their addictive sexual prowess. Wyatt tries to resist the Doll, but Ginger is sweet, kind, sexy, and every intimate encounter puts him deeper under her spell. And when Wyatt discovers Carron’s plan to overthrow the High Council in order to grab control for himself, Wyatt must decide whether his loyalty lies with the planet he’s sworn to protect, or the megalomaniac creator of the android he now loves.

Buy now at Amazon.com!!

 
 

In her position, what would you do?

Three months ago, I woke in a hospital ER. Poisoned. With no memory or money. On the day I was discharged, my ER doc offered to let me move in with him and his 6 friends. I only planned to stay until my memory returned & I could figure out if someone really had tried to kill me, but something about these seven men attracted me powerfully enough to want to explore it.Intimately. That is, until the day my fiancé showed up…

Buy Now at Amazon.com!!

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August 8, 2015 · 5:00 am

Witchlock by Dianna Love (Book Review)

Witchlock vanished in the 13th century … or did it? 

If Atlanta falls, Witchlock will sweep the country in a bloodbath.

After finally earning her place among the Beladors, Evalle is navigating the ups and downs of her new life with Storm when she’s sucked into a power play between her Belador tribe and the Medb coven. Both groups claim possession of the Alterants-turned-gryphons, especially Evalle, the gryphon leader. But an influx of demons and dark witches into Atlanta threatens to unleash war between covens, pitting allies against each other as a legendary majik known as Witchlock invades the city and attacks powerful beings. Evalle has one hope for stopping the invasion, but the cost may be her sanity and having to choose which friend to save.


 
 REVIEW 
 
This book had a few lull moments such as the repeated “We need to talk” instances between Storm and Evalle. But, this latest tale in the Belador series had more action-packed, eye-opening, moments which outweighed the slow parts. 
 
One such example, Isak and Adrianna interactions. These two are going to make quite the power couple once they get to the coupling part. A match has been lit and unfortunately we will have to wait until April 2016 for Dianna to flame this smoldering fire. In case you didn’t know, that date refers to the next Belador release – “Rogue Belador”.
 
 

 

Heart Rating System 
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
 
Purchase Links: Kindle / Paperback

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