Exiled Review

Everything and nothing you ever heard about aliens is true in RaShelle Workman’s book Exiled.

This story is an amazing first look into earth from an alien’s point of view. Not your normal green alien with big glassy eyes but a beautiful silver Kelarian. Venus is the Princess of Alayeah, the biggest kingdom on Kelari and is exiled to earth with her Formytian, Zaren for the highest crimes against the planet. Zaren is able to get a message out to the gods before he leaves the planet and is able to get the gods to allow Venus entry back to the planet if she can complete a quest of the utmost importance, help a human boy, Michael, find true love. Venus thinks this will be easy and must complete this task as quickly as possible because if the atmosphere of earth doesn’t kill her A.L.T. or The Order might.

RaShelle does an amazing job developing these characters from the very beginning. Within the first couple pages you already feel as though you know enough about the characters to call them your friends, within the first few chapters your family. By the end of the book they become a piece of you. I can’t lie, after I finished reading this book and found out there wasn’t a sequel yet, I shed a tear. I was not a happy camper. BUT!!!!!! There is a PREQUEL! It is a short story about the gods of Kelari, Ith and Aetha. Once you read Exiled you will understand just how awesome getting to read Aligned really is.

Will the human government find her and run their evil tests on her or will the rouge alien group kill her before she can make it back to Kelari? Does she complete her quest and make it back to avenge her family, irrihunter and take her rightful place as Queen of Alayeah? Read Exiled to find out!

Get Exiled for Free on Amazon HERE! Get Exiled Free on Nook HERE!
Get Aligned for 0.99 on Amazon HERE!

The Secret of Ella and Micha Review

Yes, please. Thank you, may I have some more? Holy Cow! Really that’s the one phrase I can think to use to describe the newest book from Jessica Sorensen. This book is unlike any of her other books and she still hits the nail right on the head.

The Secret of Ella and Micha is the story of two young adults who find themselves in a catalytic moment that changes everything. After that night, Ella disappears to the one place no one will find her, college, and Micha is forced to deal with the loss of his best friend. 8 months later everything changes. After months of searching, Micha finally catches a glimpse of someone who looks like she could possibly be Ella and he gains a new fervor in his search of her. Ella, on the other hand, can’t stay in the dorms forever and has to go home for the summer, where only a tree and a chain link fence separate her new life from her old.

Her college roommate and only girl friend, Lila, embarks on this journey back home with Ella only to find out Ella may not be the person Lila thinks she is. Ella doesn’t get much time before the tingles of her old life come back and she forces herself to regain composure and not fall back into her same bad habits. This is working out fine for Ella until they see each other. When Micha sees Ella get out of the car he cannot help but go to her. With 8 months of searching he finally finds her and it is far from the reunion he hoped for. Can this change over time? Can Micha get through this Barbie shell that holds the girl he longs for so deeply? Can Ella face what changed her and finally come to terms with her less than happy past? Check out the Secret of Ella and Micha when it comes out in a few weeks to find out!

Until then, here are some of my favorite teasers.

- I head for the side door of my house, but Micha blocks path, his hand coming down on the car like a railroad track barricade. He drags his lip ring into his mouth, with a passionate look on his face, like he might kiss me or something. Then he leans toward my ear, lowering his voice to an intimate level. “Come with me somewhere. Please. I’ve been waiting eight months to talk to you.”
I flinch at my body’s fiery reaction that his voice emits. “I can’t talk to you, Micha.” I back up, bumping my hip on the edge of the car. Tears threaten up, but I haven’t cried in over a year and I refuse to break down now. Spinning on my heels, I rush for my house.

-“I said I was fine, Micha.” Her voice is tight as she forces back the tears. The girl never lets herself cry, even when her mom died.
“No you’re not,” I say, steering her by the shoulders toward me. “And you need to let it out.”
She shakes her head, staring at the floor. “I can’t.”
I tuck my finger under her chin and raise her head up. “Yes, you do. It’s killing you inside.”
Her shoulders quiver as she leans into me. Her head rest against my chest and she lets me rub her back. It’s not much, but it’s enough.

Jessica Sorensen has outdone herself this time. This book is very different from everything else she has written and it only goes to show what an amazing author she truly is. She developed her characters so well, there is not a moment of their lives you weren't a part of and it only makes the ride better. If you've loved every other book Jessica has written prepare to have your mind blown. She will have you begging for more!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Fallen Angels Review

 

I don’t know whether I want to hug Cassandra for keeping me on the edge of my seat for 3 days or if I want to pinch her for her ability to keep me from thinking about anything else for 4.

Book 4 of the Mortal Instruments series starts back in New York after the battle for the Instruments with Luke and Jocelyn preparing for their wedding, Simon dating two beautiful women, and Jace and Clary training (mostly ;)). When things start to go wrong they go wrong for everyone. We get our first idea that something is wrong when Jace begins having horrible nightmares about killing Clary, and a dead infant shows up in the alleyway of Beth Israel Hospital. Simon, even with his Mark of Cain, isn’t safe either. Grey hooded figures keep trying to kill him. Soon, Jace is playing bodyguard for Simon, Clary thinks Jace doesn’t love her anymore and Jocelyn is on the edge of sanity after seeing the dead infant and realizing it looks just like Sebastian (Jonathan “the real one”).

We see a lot of change in the characters in this book, and it is wonderful to see how much thought the author put into how the battle in Idris would effect everyone. We see a new fervor in the Shadowhunters and a new passion in the werewolf clan. Everyone, in New York at least, seams to be happy with the accords and ready for a new life. But are the old ways willing to give up that easily? Just read City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare to find out!

The Vision Cover Reveal!!

Jessica Sorensen has done it again. I can't fathom how she does this every time but her books are like a fine wine, they only get better with time. It is true again for the new cover of The Vision Book 3 in The Fallen Star series. So without further ado, from
FAB

to FIERCE!
 

Looks like I need to clear some space in my book shelf for all these new releases!

Giveaway Time!!!

My winner from last week never claimed her prize so it is back on the market!!! Enter here for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of Violet on the Runway by Melissa Walker. The Contest starts now! Let's share the love! a Rafflecopter giveaway

One Happy Puddle Jumper!

Now, I know I have mentioned my favorite little man on here a time or two but today he totally warranted another blog post about the light of my life and my number one source of laughter, Sirius Black (the wet blonde one).

Now with a face like his there have been loads of questions as to his lineage. Everyone goes straight to pit (which I am completely fine with, its all about the owners not the breed), but if you actually look at him he is wrinkly leading us to cross our fingers for a French Mastiff mix. However, with our last couple weeks and his recent shenanigans we are pretty sure he is a lab. First he jumped into the lake behind our house now today he wanted to play in the rain. In my utter amazement at a dog enjoying a rain storm, I had to shoot this video to prove it. FYI the "puddle" he is playing in is actually our drive way. We live in Florida and as every Floridian knows "When it rains, it floods." Enjoy the video. I hope you laugh as much as I did. (Oh yea, and watch it till the very end... it gets really awesome in the last 5 seconds.)

Bait Review

 

50 shades move over! I started reading Bait not realizing it would get quite that steamy but man I am thankful it did!

Bait by Annie Nicholas is a story about a girl who is used as bait (hence the name) to lure rogue vampires to their death. She has never had any reason not to believe her handler, Colby, until she finally met her target. Rurik was nothing like the other rogue vampires she met, he had class and dignity and actually spoke to her instead of at her. She was still going to follow orders, still lure him to his death, until he drugged her and snuck her out the side entrance (men). When they arrived at the plain steel door in the alley that was their destination, Rurik changed again. He swore to protect her, to not let her die, and that is when she started doubting Colby. When the private party was attacked and Rurik helped her escape she knew something was really wrong. Now “Rabbit” as Rurik so affectionately calls her, has to find the truth and pick sides in a battle far larger than any of the Vampire Slayers could possibly imagine. All of their worst nightmares are true and they toe the thin line between the Nosferatu and the vampires of today.

 Annie Nicholas was able to write a book worth a $2000 ticket to Budhapest. Her imagery and descriptions of the country were enough to make me look up the trip for my honeymoon! The entire time I was reading it, I felt like I could turn around and touch the city and characters. Even those you only knew for a minute, Marie for instance, will always hold a place in your heart. Not to mention, Rurik! Christian Grey move over, this is my man of choice. All and all this book was nothing like I expected and that just made me like it even more. Now I just have to read the next book in the Angler series, Catch.

Here are the links for a free copy on Amazon and Nook. 
  

Wild Child Review

Ever wonder what kind of stuff you will find at the bottom of a lake? Wild Child by Mike Wells totally answers that question!

This story starts off, as any great book should, with two kids doing things they shouldn’t. Two friends Brie and Kyle are hanging out on Kyle’s father boat enjoying the afternoon when Brie gets the idea to race to the cliffs. After much badgering from Brie, Kyle finally agrees when the worst thing possible happens, a speedboat not watching the water seams to run over Brie in the water. Kyle is mortified and searches for her but realizes he must get back to the boat if he really wants to help find her. When he gets back to the boat he tries to start it and finds Brie climbing aboard with a huge scar on her stomach. She tells him about her injury and the miraculous green water that saved her. Brie takes him to it and tries to get him to partake in its healing powers. Kyle however doesn’t feel safe and wants to take it to have it tested by the biochemists at his school. When this happens everything goes south. The government shows up at his college and Brie needs the water to survive. Will he be able to ditch the Feds and help his friend or will they fail? Read Wild Child by Mike Wells to find out! 

Don't forget to follow the author on twitter @MikeWellsAuthor and check out the second book in the series Lilith.

Body and Soul Review

When I saw the title of this book, I was intrigued. When I read the first chapter I was enthralled. When I made it to the third chapter I was enslaved! 

Body and Soul by Jamie Loeak follows the summer vacation of Kate, the daughter of a lawyer and a marine biologist. When they move to Florida for the summer, Kate is forced to start all over again, but by now she is used to it. Her second day at the beach house she meets Rico, and that’s when her world changes. Her move to this quaint beach town begins her spiral into the world of Light and Dark and Kate is stuck in the middle. As Kate’s nights continue to get weirder, her friendship with Rico and Adrianna gets stronger, for the first time in a long time she has friends. When Rico sits Kate down and tells her what is really happening to her, things start to click for Kate and she is forced to make a decision lie down or fight. With the help of Rico and Adrianna, Kate fights the darkness and the demons trying to possess her soul, all while falling in love for the first time. Ah vacation.

This book is an amazing first to the series by young author Jamie Loeak. With part of the story set in my hometown, and the part in a city I live near now, I can honestly say she does a beautiful job capturing the character of her settings. Her attention to detail and ability to give you just enough will pull you through this book until you can’t handle it anymore and you will LOVE IT! I think this is the first of many great books from this wonderful new author and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. You really will love this book, body and soul.

The Newest way to reach my blog

In an effort to spread the love of my blog further, I found a website where you can create your own QR code embedded with a link to your site, in my case this blog!

It's pretty awesome and for once I actually feel tech savvy :)
If any one else is interested in a QR code for your page here's the link!

Amazing Strings

So this is not my normal blog post, but sometimes in life you have to make people aware of the amazing things around them and this is one of those moments. This is 2Cellos. Luka and Stjepan who play the most amazing cello ever, and I'm not talking about Mozart and Bach (which I'm sure they would be awesome at also), I'm talking Michael Jackson and pop music. Check out their video for Smooth Criminal below and like their facebook page here.

 

Now that I can tell you are all in love, here is the link to their official music store. :) 

The Mortal Instruments: City of Glass Review

In City of Glass, we find ourselves right back where we left off. Jace, Alec, and Isabelle are heading to Alicante with Maryse and Robert Lightwood for a hearing about what to do with Valentine. Clary is supposed to join them but Jace has Simon meet him at the Institute to convince him to keep Clary in New York where it is safe. Unfortunately, even the institute isn’t safe with Valentine having 2 of the 3 Mortal Instruments. In a life or death situation, Jace is forced to break the rules again and bring an injured Simon through the portal and into the Glass City. When Clary arrives at the institute a few hours later ready to see Idris for the first time she realizes something went horribly wrong. She uses her rune writing ability to create her own portal to Idris and find the friends that left her behind. Thankfully, when she arrives, Luke is there to save the day and she finds herself recuperating at Amantis’ house. This book is not short on action by any means, Simon gets jailed by the new Inquisitor, we find Hodge is still alive, and Sebastian is not who he seems.

We see fear and pandemonium overtake the Glass City as Valentine and his demons are able to enter the city and disable the wards. He gives the Clave a choice, surrender or die. With Luke and Clary there to fight the good fight, we find out whether or not the Clave is willing to find out if an allegiance with the down worlders is a good idea or something they should fear more than Valentine’s ultimate rule. What will they decide? Read “City of Glass,” the third in the Mortal Instruments Series to find out.

(I apologize for the short review but my fingers wanted to give away too many spoilers, it was that good.)

Don’t forget to check out the next book in the Saga, “City of Fallen Angels.”

The Mortal Instruments: City of Ashes Review

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. DO NOT READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

 

In the second book of the Mortal Instruments series, City of Ashes, we find the gang back together but more strained than ever. With the newest realization that Jace is actually Valentine’s son, his home life with the Lightwoods, who have been his surrogate family for the last 7 years, is far from normal. We also find Clary’s new living situation a bit strained as well.

With the arrival of the inquisitor to the institute we find Jace fighting for people to believe him. The inquisitor sends him to the cells of the Silent Brothers to await trial by the Mortal Sword, when he hears a sound no man could make, the sound of death. Valentine comes back for the second Mortal Instrument with a greater demon at his side to do his bidding. When he visits Jace in his cell, Jace finally realizes this is his fight and he will not stand for his father’s behavior. Clary, Alec, and Isabelle swoop in to release him from his cell and are found in the perfectly wrong place at the wrong time.

With the realization that the adult shadow hunters will not take what they say seriously, the group decides to go ask the Queen of the Seelie Court for her allegiance in the fight to come.

The queen with her love of twisting words and making everyone squirm, tricks Clary into indebtedness to the Queen with only true loves kiss to free her. After that gripping show of affection we see Simon disappear only to reappear later with Rafael, the leader of the Vampires. Now that he is officially no longer a “mundane” he struggles with hiding his new found fear of sun from his parents and helping Clary and the shadow hunters hunt down Valentine a second time to stop him from unleashing hell on earth.

In this book we learn that not only Jace, but Clary as well, has some extraordinary gifts thanks to their father Valentine’s experiments. With her newfound talent she helps the shadow hunters in ways they do not fully comprehend and if they did they might not like.

This second book in the series is just as gripping as the first. With all the romance, death and normal ups and downs of a teenager’s life, I found myself constantly screaming at the pages urging them to keep going and feeling every cut and tear of the characters. Cassandra Clare has done it again.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Review

 

Whether you believe in angels and demons or not, you cannot deny they make for an amazing story. The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare is no different. Clary is just your normal girl, until she sees what she thinks is a murder. But, how can it be a murder when the body disappears into thin air? That was her first run in with the shadow hunters. From there her whole world changes, her mother is kidnapped, there is a Ravener Demon in her apartment, and now she can see demons. With her best friend Simon by her side, she is thrust into the shadow hunter’s world and into self-discovery when she finally finds out the truth about her family.

I loved watching the characters grow throughout this series. Cassandra did a wonderful job building the relationships of the shadow hunters: Jace, Alec, and Isabelle. While each character is very different, they work together to achieve amazing results. The addition of Clary and Simon into this mix proves important in reminding the shadow hunters who they are and who they should be, especially for Jace, who finally finds out he is capable of love when he meets Clary.

Throughout this book we meet all of the other down worlders: The children of the moon, the children of Lilith, the nightwalkers and the fey. We learn with Clary about their place on earth and how everyone can help each other.

In the first book, City of Bones, we meet Valentine. He is the leader of the Circle, who was thought to have died during the last Accords, and Clary’s father. He is obsessed with power and killing all demons and down worlders to create a perfect world filled with shadow hunters. He has his wife, Clary’s mother, in the hopes of waking her from a sleeping spell in order to find the location of the Mortal Cup. This cup will give him the power to turn any human into a shadow hunter, if the transformation doesn’t kill them first.

With Clary thrust head first into this new world she never knew existed she is forced to make some hard decisions. When Simon gets turned into a rat, kidnapped and taken to the Vampire lair at Hotel Dumort, she has to decide if a “mundane” is worth saving. When she finds out the truth about her Uncle Luke, she has to decide if he can be trusted and when she finds out the truth about who she is, she has to decide if it is worth letting the Silent Brothers into her mind to unlock secrets she was never meant to know.

In the end she finds out a secret she could have lived forever not knowing, not only does she have a father she thought was dead but someone very close to her is actually her brother.

Edible Cookie Dough

Now it's time for every girls best friend to be revealed! I found this edible cookie dough recipe in a cookbook and OMG is it amazing. The book is "The Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook: Cookies, Cakes, Candies and More" By Lindsay Landis. Could you ask for a better cookbook? I think not.
So today I am posting the base recipe for all of the fun stuff in her book and that is edible cookie dough! Now we all eat the break and bake raw anyways but this is egg free so you can eat it without testing the salmonella gods.

Edible Cookie Dough
 Ingredients
1/2 cup (1 stick) room temperature, unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar (the white stuff)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons milk or cream (I used vanilla soy milk and it gave it an awesome flavor)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups All Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (really? ha I used about a cup. The more the merrier)

Instructions
In a large bowl, beat butter and both sugars with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy (it takes closer to 3 minutes for this to happen so don't get discouraged.) Mix in milk and vanilla. Stir in flour and sat and mix on low or by hand (use a wood spoon or else you lose some dough to the whisk and no one wants wasted cookie dough) until incorporated. Stir in Chocolate Chips.

Enjoy immediately and often :)

Here is a picture of what my friend Danielle and I did with our cookie dough! Its called Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies. Check out Lindsay's book for the full brownie recipe.

Here is a link to the book on amazon. The Cookie Dough Lover's Cookbook.