Thursday, September 29, 2016

The Promise Kitchen by Peggy Lampman


Title: The Promise Kitchen
Author: Peggy Lampman
Genre: Adult, Women's Fiction
Length: 380 Pages
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Release Date: August 16, 2016
Source: Goodreads FirstReads
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Food, friendship, family, and a fresh start. Shelby Preston, a young single mother, is at a crossroads. She feels suffocated by her hardscrabble life in rural Georgia and dreams of becoming a professional chef. Lord knows her family could use a pot of something good. In Atlanta, Mallory Lakes is reeling from a bad breakup. The newspaper food columnist is also bracing for major changes at work that could put her job at risk. Determined to find the perfect recipe for how to reinvent herself, she gets involved in the growing farm-to-table movement. But an emotional setback threatens to derail everything she’s worked for. Shelby and Mallory couldn’t be more different. But through their shared passion for food, they form an unlikely friendship—a bond that just might be their salvation. This heartwarming and lyrical tale reminds us that family isn’t necessarily whom you’re related to—it’s whom you invite to your table. This is a new release of a previously published edition titled Simmer and Smoke; it contains twenty delightful recipes.


*****
The Promise Kitchen is quite an in-depth look into the lives of small town southern areas. Shelby comes from a low-income family in a town with no prospects or promises for her or her daughter. Shelby has big dreams, she wants to be a chef. And she appears to have the talent, but there's no place for her to find out at home.

So she ventures into the big city, leaving her daughter behind, to follow her dreams, get a job, and move her family to be with her. Shelby's struggle was incredibly real. I could feel the frustration as every time she got a couple steps ahead, something would go wrong and she'd end up almost back at the beginning. When her daughter gets sick, she thinks it's all over for good. But she has found a guardian angel she didn't know about.

Mallory is on the opposite end of the spectrum. She has a good job that she says she loves. To all appearances she has everything on track and going the right direction, but it's all a lie. Her life begins to spiral out of control and her friends aren't who she thought they were. As she fights to find her new way, her path corsses with Shelby and our stories collide in quite an interesting fashion.

I loved this book - but at times Mallory's story was a little too depressing. I know depression is real and very difficult to pull out of, but this drop into depression seemed a little more like wallowing in self-pity than an actual downward spiral. But don't let this little comment scare you away. I think the writing and storyline of The Promise Kitchen was amazing.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Virtual Fantasy Con

Virtual FantasyCon is a fun and interesting online event happening in October and best of all it’s free. The location is your computer. You can drop by any day during the event and check out the booths for that day. There will be authors, bloggers, editors, artists, and publishers to list just a few. There will be a Cosplay booth, Blog Hop Hunt booth, panel discussions, and a new booth this year an Author Cache Sale booth (This booth is new and is only for the participating authors on the day of each event. Books on sale for $1.99 or 0.99 can list these books in the comment section below for guests to find and buy.) It is put together by lovely people like Carol March, Raven Williams, Denise Garrou, and others who have worked behind the scenes to make this event happen.

It’s a place to catch up on your favorite author and discover new authors. There is epic fantasy, urban fantasy, dark fantasy, children’s fantasy, and YA fantasy to name just a few of the different types of authors that will have a booth during the event.


To find out more about the event check out the following social media links:





Monday, September 26, 2016

The Secret Lives of Rock Stars Book One by Suzanne Lazear



The Secret Lives of Rockstars
by Suzanne Lazear
Genre: NA Urban Fantasy/Elfpunk
Release Date: September 26th 2016
Leap Books: Shine

Summary:


Saving the world, one tour stop at a time.
Eighteen-year-old Bitsy Butler has never quite fit in, not with the dragons who raised her, the druid who took her in, or even with the non-human members of the cirque noir punk band she thinks of as family. Her chance to prove she can make it on her own comes with her band's first big solo tour. It’s all going according to plan when an angel walks into a bar and demands help with his demon problem. 
If she doesn't step up, a magical war will break out, threatening Arizona and all those who call it home. With the help of a human, a sexy dragon, and the members of her band, Bitsy must stop an angry mob of chaos demons before the band leaves for their next tour stop.
It’s nice to be needed, but Bitsy has no idea how to defeat the demons and she just might get herself killed trying. But then, at least one problem would be solved...
Fitting in doesn’t matter if you’re dead.


Buy Link: Amazon


 


About the Author
Suzanne Lazear spins tales of the fantastic. She’s the author of the New Adult Elfpunk The Secret Lives of Rockstars (Leap Books) and the YA dark fairytale steampunk series The Aether Chronicles (Flux). Suzanne lives in Southern California with her daughter and husband where she’s trying to make tiny dragons out of wool. One day she’ll actually create a working cupcake cannon.


Author Links:

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Darkside Sun by Jocelyn Adams


Title: Darkside Sun (Mortal Machine #1)
Author: Jocelyn Adams
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: March 10, 2014
Source: NetGalley
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

The dead have been waiting for her...

Addison Beckett tries hard to pretend she’s normal, but she’s far from it. Since she was six years old, she’s seen the world around her unraveling, as if someone is pulling a thread from a sweater and it’s all slowly coming undone. When she ignores it, it goes away, so that’s what she does.

Enter her arrogant-but-hot professor Asher Green. He knows all about her special brand of crazy. In fact, he might be just as nuts as she is. Asher insists that the dead from a parallel dimension are trying to possess the living in this one. And since Addison seems to be the only one who can see these “wraiths,” she just might be the key to saving the world.

Addison wants nothing to do with Asher or his secret society, The Mortal Machine. But as their animosity grows, she finds it harder and harder to ignore the chemistry between them. And when she discovers that Machine laws forbid her from touching him, she realizes that’s all she wants to do.

Stop the wraiths. Break the rules. Save the world. All in a day’s work.

Normal was overrated, anyway.
 


*****
The world of Mortal Machine is amazing. I loved the concept of the rifts, the secret society, their abilities, and the strange creatures that hung Addison. She started seeing rifts when she was young, but never imagined just what they really were and why they seemed to follow her. She's a great character, full of emotion and reality. So when that reality cracks (literally) she goes into a strange spiral, and only her stubborn streak seems to keep her sane and moving forward.

Asher is a dick. Even when he's being nice he's a dick. He seems to have his reasons and we get a glimpse of these near the end. I've seen this labeled a romance, and perhaps it turns into one, but right now it definitely isn't. Lots of romantic elements floating around, but definitely not what I would call a HEA or HFN ending.

The members of Mortal Machine are all quite unique in their own ways. From the outfitter to the soldiers, each personality adds a little something to the world and Addison's perception of what is going on. One of them is up to no good though - some serious no good. And when Addison tries to find out who it is, she finds out all sorts of crazy stuff about herself. 

I love how Jocelyn Adams revealed new aspects of the characters. It had such a natural flow and while much of it was a surprise, it all made sense and really clicked together as soon as it happened. Her trail of breadcrumbs was impeccable. I need to find out what happens next now!

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

The Trouble With Ghosts by A.L. Kessler



A.L. Kessler presents
The Trouble with Ghosts (Here Witchy Witchy Book Three)
Cover reveal
September 13th, 2016
Release day: November 7th, 2016

Genre: Urban Fantasy


Poltergeists, severed thumbs, and lies… 

PIB agents Abigail Collins and Nick Averin are rattled when a handful of severed thumbs are found at an abandoned house, but neither of them expected it to link to a decades old murder with strange ties to the paranormal world. When Abby’s greatest enemy seems to be helping her from afar, it’s clear that there’s more to this case than the duo first believed. 

Past cases come back to life… 

Levi is avoiding questions and being even more vague than normal when a new vampire comes to town claiming to be on the case involving blood starved vampires. It’s a fight against time and lies for the two agents. 

Pre-Order: Amazon





No More Black Magic: Free on Kindle Unlimited

Explosions, body parts, and black magic are all part of Abby Collins’ typical day. As the top Paranormal Investigation Bureau agent, she only gets the best cases, but when the Cult of Ra comes to play she might be in over her head. Finding a murderer while up against a hex, an overprotective coven, and a stubborn werewolf reminds her that nothing in the paranormal world is easy. As the death toll rises and a decades old crime, linked to Abby, is uncovered, disturbing information is brought to light. Abby must unlock an ancient language steeped in black magic to uncover the truth before the murderer comes for her.


Deathly Magic: Free on Kindle Unlimited

Zombies... When Abigail Collins heard Nick’s theory on their current case, she knew he had to be crazy, but when a zombie shows up in her apartment she has no choice but to believe him. A renegade necromancer bent on manipulating witches and murdering innocent people runs amok in town and Abby and Nick have to stop them before more bodies pile up. Further complicating matters two PIB agents step onto the scene, claiming a link between their case and Abby’s. To top it all off, blood starved vampires are causing chaos in the city. It’s just another day for PIB Agent Abigail Collins, full of blood, monsters, and explosions.




A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance and urban fantasy author known for her best selling Here Witchy Witchy Series. She’s a member of the Pikes Peak Writers and Midnight Writer’s in Colorado Springs, CO. Her most recent work is the fifth book in her Dark War Chronicles, the Edge of Darkness and plans on releasing the third book of the Here Witchy Witchy book in November 2016. Her addictions to coffee and chocolate keep her fueled through her busy life of being a mom, author, student and wife. You can learn more about her on her website www.amylkessler.com


Friday, September 9, 2016

Calm Before the Storm by Larissa Ione


Title: Calm Before the Storm (Rising Storm Season One: Episode 5)
Author: Larissa Ione
Genre: Adult, Contemporary
Length: 106 pages
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc
Release Date: October 22, 2015
Source: Purchased
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Secrets, Sex and Scandals … 

Welcome to Storm, Texas, where passion runs hot, desire runs deep, and secrets have the power to destroy… Get ready. The storm is coming. 

Marcus Alvarez fled Storm when his father’s drinking drove him over the edge. With his mother and sisters in crisis, Marcus is forced to return to the town he thought he’d left behind. But it is his attraction to a very grown up Brittany Rush that just might be enough to guarantee that he stays.


*****
I really like Marcus, and so far he's remained out of the crazy drama that is Storm, TX. But he remained out of it because he left. Now that he's back in town, sparks are flying between him and the Senator's daughter and her family is not happey about it.

Marcus grew up on the "wrong side of town" with the "wrong type of people" and the Rushes want something "better" for their daughter. Ya...lots of air quotes in that one. I really dislike this family. They are the bad guys here and they are going to have a hell of a time making me like them again (except for Brittany - she's good).

Marus isn't one to let a little family dislike stand between him and the girl he wants to be with. But he has his own family issues as well. Lots of things happening in Storm. This was another one on the sweeter side and I liked it, but I need my drama now please!


Storm Rising
Season One

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner


Title: Missing, Presumed (DS Manon #1)
Author: Susie Steiner
Genre: Adult, Crime
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: The Borough Press
Release Date: February 25, 2016
Source: Purchased
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Mid-December, and Cambridgeshire is blanketed with snow. Detective Sergeant Manon Bradshaw tries to sleep after yet another soul-destroying Internet date – the low murmuring of her police radio her only solace.

Over the airwaves come reports of a missing woman – door ajar, keys and phone left behind, a spatter of blood on the kitchen floor. Manon knows the first 72 hours are critical: you find her, or you look for a body. And as soon as she sees a picture of Edith Hind, a Cambridge post-graduate from a well-connected family, she knows this case will be big.

Is Edith alive or dead? Was her ‘complex love life’ at the heart of her disappearance, as a senior officer tells the increasingly hungry press? And when a body is found, is it the end or only the beginning?
 



*****
If you love guessing up until the very end, then this is the book for you. Clues and misdirections abound, mixed perfectly to lead you down countless potential trails of exploration. Manon is a unique character and the first book in this series shows us how intricately woven her personal and professional lives. Both sides of her life have such an impact on each other and I really enjoyed being fully immersed into her life (and it's an interesting one).

My one and only dislike about Manon is she is a bit too depressed most of the book. She's a little too lost at times, and one period of being lost is followed up by another one - while she may be on the ball professionally, her personal life is a mess - but I needed a little bright side to it before the end of the book.

But, we're really reading this for the crime. Edith is missing, foul play is almost certain, and the police are rapidly running out of time. This part of the story was beyond perfect. I really enjoyed seeing the glimpses into Edith's parents' lives and the lives of her friends that are involved in the investigation. Things don't go smoothly, and things go horribly wrong at one point. In fact, I think it's safe to say it all starts to fall apart. 

But there is a solution to the case. It isn't what I expected (which is good), but looking back through the bits and pieces of clues I can see it (which is good). It's a little out there, but completely believable. If  Manon could just find a little light in her life, then I think this book would be just about perfect.


Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Deviate by Tracy Clark


Title: Deviate (The Light Key Trilogy #2)
Author: Tracy Clark
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Length: 356 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Tormented after a daring escape, Cora Sandoval must find a way to stop the Arrazi from murdering innocent people and from violating, using, and killing the Scintilla for their powers. She must also accept one bitter betrayal: Finn Doyle—the Irish boy who has both a piece of Cora's heart and soul—is Arrazi...

On the verge of extinction and sought by those who would either consume or destroy them, Cora and the remaining Scintilla survivors must solve the mystery of The Light Key. If they fail, the truth will stay buried forever and mankind will pay the ultimate price.

No longer will she hide.

No longer will her loved ones be hunted.

And she will have her vengeance...even if she shatters her heart in the process.
 



*****
Lots of crazy stuff going on in this one. The love triangle exists - and it isn't as bad as some of them are - I understand this one at least. We have good guys turning bad, and bad guys turning good, and I'm pissed because people die (no way am I going to tell you who). There was almost too much going on at times. Lots of new characters and I had a small problem keeping them all separate (partly because I was trying to see what happened next and flew through the book).

One of the great mysteries will be revealed and it's a bit of a doozy. I didn't quite see it coming, at least not all the way. I think the highlight of the story was all the secrets and mysteries that were revealed. There are a couple big ones that shocked the heck out of me that I didn't see coming at all.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*


The Light Key Trilogy


Friday, September 2, 2016

Scintillate by Tracy Clark


Title: Scintillate (The Light Key Trilogy #1)
Author: Tracy Clark
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Length: 304 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Release Date: February 4, 2014
Source: NetGalley
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark.

Cora Sandoval’s mother disappeared when she was five and they were living in Ireland. Since then, her dad has been more than overprotective and Cora is beginning to chafe under his confines. But even more troubling is the colorful light she suddenly sees around people. Everyone, that is, except herself—instead, she glows a brilliant, sparkling silver.

As she realizes the danger associated with these strange auras, Cora is inexplicably drawn to Finn, a gorgeous Irish exchange student who makes her feel safe. Their attraction is instant, magnetic, and primal—but her father disapproves, and Finn’s mother orders him home to Ireland upon hearing he’s fallen in love. After a fight with her father, Cora flees to Ireland, both to follow Finn and to look for her missing mother.

There she meets another silver-haloed person and discovers the meaning of her newfound powers and their role in a conspiracy spanning centuries—one that could change mankind forever…and end her life.
 


*****

This book certainly started off with a bang. We dive right in to Cora's life as she fights to survive some mysterious illness. She starts seeing things and no one can really figure out what is wrong with her. This is a major changing point in her life, and it was a great way to start the book with a hook.

Cora is a really well-rounded character. She has her friends, that are amazing, but she isn't the most popular girl in school, she isn't the most unpopular either. Her life is incredibly ordinary up until this point - an overprotective father, a step-mother that loves her, and suddenly she sounds like any other teenager. But her illness changes her and suddenly everyone is spouting colors all around them.

Enter the meat of the story, and one of the points in a potential love triangle (I'm hoping not - I'm not a fan). Finn is one of the popular kids, but he seems to really like Cora - almost too much. He's a little bit of a stereotype at first, but once Cora heads to Ireland to find him, he becomes a whole other person. It was a great spin in the story and has tons of potential going forward for the best kind of drama - the kind that you have with yourself.

Lots of lore, especially Irish, but other cultures mixed in as well, all done very well. I loved how they all played off each other. Plenty of excitement and adrenaline with a dash of romance (maybe) for good measure. I really want to see what Cora's in for next, and where the lore is heading, this is not a book you can just walk away from without having the next.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*