Wednesday, November 19, 2014

10 Reviews, 1 Post; Featuring Titles by: BETTER HERO ARMY, MIA THORNE, IAIN ROB WRIGHT, PRASHANT PINGE, SHARI SAKURAI, MARILYN PEAKE, SHEENA HUTCHINSON, & JOE SHARP

 Welcome, friends! As some of you know, I had been 'down' with an illness that compounded an already chronic condition that I have, thus putting me more or less out of action for awhile. In an effort to get caught up with non-book-tour reviews, I decided to group the reviews I had waiting to be written, but unable to sit up long enough to write. So please read, enjoy, buy! I recommend them all.

 --Rebecca, your sinister (ha ha) sister

Didn't see your review here? Read the note at the bottom of this post! =D



  * * * * *
 Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment
Plagued States of America #2
by Better Hero Army

Genre: Zombie Horror

* * * * *

Along with the first and third book in this series, I was gifted "PLAGUED: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment" by the author and I had a pretty good feeling that I was going to love this series. Not JUST because it was a zombie book and I'm a horror genre junkie, but because I was intrigued by the titles and wondered what each one meant.

Book #1 begins on Biter's Hill, while this book takes place on Rock Island a month after the Biter's Hill catastrophe. We meet a new character, Army Ranger Lt. Mason Jones, and reconnect with an old friend when the muck hits the rudder and Mason's new appointment proves to be a deadly one.

I have to say that I loved this book even more than the first one, especially with the introduction to a secret science facility and a dead-eyed scientist that has no qualms about testing on zombies. Or people. This book ranks up there as one of my all-time favorite zombie novels.


 

    * * * * *
 Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment
Plagued States of America #3
by Better Hero Army

Genre: Zombie Horror

* * * * *

Along with books #1 & #2 in this series, I was gifted "PLAGUED: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment" by the author and I had a pretty good idea that I was going to love this series. Not JUST because they're zombie books and I'm a big horror genre junkie, but because I was intrigued by the titles and wondered what each one meant.

Book #1 begins on Biter's Hill and #2 at the secret Defense facility on Rock Island, while this book takes place around a week after the obliteration of Rock Island, at a relatively safe location in Biter's Bend. We rejoin Tom and zombie half-breed Penelope Hope (survivors from Biter's Hill), as well as Army Ranger Lt. Mason Jones (escapee from Rock Island), and other favorite survivors from the previous two books. Tom's father, Senator William Jefferson is all over the news, but this time it's not due to his war against zombies in the Plagued States. His helicopter has gone down in a quarantine zone and Tom is determined to rescue him. But he's going to need help.

Primarily told from Penelope's perspective, she and her friends will learn an awful truth about what she is, and that there are far more like her than anyone previously suspected.

As did the first two books in this series, PLAGUED #3 gets a rousing 5 Stars!

Read my review of Book #1, "PLAGUED: The MidAmerica Zombie Half-breed Experiment".



    * * * * *
 Protecting Their Mate
The Last Pack, Part One
by Mia Thorne

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

* * * * *

I was offered the opportunity to read PROTECTING THEIR MATE, Part One (35 pages), the first part of a new Kindle Unlimited serial featuring a werewolf who knows very little of what she is, and why she is in a fever of need. It isn't until she is rescued from starvation, abuse, and imprisonment that she begins to learn that the fever inside her is a biological imperative. Ashley Todd is in heat.

Can I say that I feel a little naughty for having really gotten into this book? This might just be the first erotic book that I have read and itched to read more when it was done. Generally the language in books like this tends to make me twitch, and it did here too, BUT the writing was fantastic from Mia Thorne. Sexy, steamy, hot, and with a woman with some meat on her bones! I absolutely recommend this to anyone loving erotic paranormal romances!!

GOODREADS | AMAZON


    * * * * *
Ravage
by Iain Rob Wright

Genre: Apocalyptic Horror

* * * * *

**This is more of a shout-out to a horror author I really enjoy, as I've posted a review (but not blogged it) before.**

The Book Description:

FIRST PEOPLE GOT SICK. THEN THEY GOT VERY SICK..
Nick Adams is just a normal guy. He loves his family, appreciates his home, and covets his car. But he absolutely hates his job. Which is what makes it so difficult that not a single customer has come by his store today. It seems as though there’s a bug going around, something that has come out of nowhere and is keeping people at home. Still, it’s probably nothing to worry about. People get sick all the time.

And besides, things are finally starting to look up. Nick’s first customer of the day has just stumbled through the door…

HIS DAY IS ABOUT TO GET WORSE..
It won’t be long before Nick’s entire life is turned upside down, sending him on a frantic journey through a ravaged world that will ultimately lead him 500 feet upwards to a hilltop amusement park. Is it the last safe place on Earth, or are the monsters at the top of the hill even worse than the ones below?

WELCOME TO RIPLEY HEIGHTS. WHERE THE FUN NEVER STARTS.

 ---

My thoughts: I absolutely loved this book. Loved it. It wasn't just another zombie apocalypse, hack/slash/run, it was deep in character and not hard to believe.

There were a lot of extra words that looked as if the author had forgotten to delete them and I itched to message him myself and offer to do it for free, but the writing was so excellent that I forgave easily. =D



   * * * *
 Sceadu
by Prashant Pinge

Genre: Fantasy

* * * *

SCEADU: YOUR SHADOW HOLDS A SECRET was gifted to me by the author after I spotlighted the book on my blog, and I was thrilled to have the chance to read to review it.

The book introduces us to 9 year old Matilda and an ancient, leather bound book she came home from the library book sale with. What follows are the dreams, nightmares of slithery shadows suffocating her. But it's not until her parents and aunt are called away on an emergency and her two older cousins are left to look after she and her brother, that Matilda goes missing...

Transported to a world of fantasy and danger, Matilda and the others kids will be faced with more adventure and mystery than they ever could want, as they find themselves in Sceadu, a shadow land with a prophecy foretelling the destruction of the home they left behind.

Learn more by reading my spotlight on "Sceadu"; includes a Q&A from the author! And check back soon for an upcoming interview with Prashant Pinge!



  * * * *
Demon's Blood
by Shari Sakurai

Genre: Paranormal Horror

* * * *

I was given the opportunity to read this book by the author, this story revealing the darkness of vampires, and though they are not completely inhuman, they are not the romanticized version of vampires. 

Taku and his lover, Thane, were forced to flee from Tokyo in hopes of settling somewhere more peaceful and starting over, but that is not to be. Now in England, it seems that Thane still cannot control his violent urges and it soon gets them into a world of hurt.

While I enjoyed the book's darker, more traditional elements, what really did it for me was the inclusion of the Japanese culture and the author's skill in portraying it (I assume, as the extent of my knowledge in Japanese culture comes from my fascination with Japanese movies). Shari Sakurai writes wonderfully and I'd like to see more from her!



  * * * *
 Shade
by Marilyn Peake

Genre: YA Paranormal Mystery

* * * *

I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read to review SHADE after I expressed my interest to the author. In love with her style after reading another book by her, I wanted to read more: even if it wasn't a horror.

Her name is Galactic Shade Griffin and she curses her mother for it. She's also not too keen on the string of boyfriends, drugs and alcohol her mother indulges in and Shade is desperate for distraction. She soon discovers it at her new school, where she finds friends and an outlet for her artwork. And that's not all.

Shade's new attic bedroom actually belongs to the ghost boy who haunts it and she's going to need his help.

SHADE is a novel about a teenaged girl suffering from a neglectful and abusive mother, which drives her to cut herself, and because of this, it might not be for everyone. It was emotionally challenging for me but not taboo, and this allowed me to enjoy the story and the girl it's about.

READ My REVIEW of "Mutation Z: The Ebola Zombies",
also by Marilyn Peake!


 * * *
 Seraphina
The Awakening
Seraphina #1
by Sheena Hutchinson

Genre: Paranormal Romance

* * *

**I was given the opportunity to read "Seraphina: The Awakening" and the recently released book 2, "Seraphina: Initiation" as part of the series' blog tour.**

Sera is your average kind of girl, still living at home, feels like she's nothing special and maybe a little boring. Something is missing from her life; she feels incomplete. She's having dreams about a man she's never met and she has a crush on a cute coffee shop owner. So wouldn't it figure that her first date with him goes a little spooky haunted kitchen type of deal?

An accident triggers a change that alters her forever, and her mystery dream man just so happens to be real - and her guardian angel.

Unfortunately, I wasn't really drawn into the story and didn't invest in the characters. For me, Sera's miraculous (well, an angel WAS behind it) make-over turned me off. It felt like she wasn't good enough just as she was, and now she has no memory of her past to go along with her angelic new looks, super senses, and slayer powers. I did kind of like Jack and angel Nathaniel, though he went from being angry about his demotion to guardian angel to instantly in love at first sight. I'd have preferred a little more leading up to it. So even though the book didn't overly appeal to me, it WAS well written and WILL be exactly what many readers enjoy, so if you like Guardian Angel, good vs evil, paranormal romances, you should really check it out!

Please check out the spotlight I did on SERAPHINA; it includes an excerpt and Guest Post by the author!



 * * *
 Seraphina: Initiation
Seraphina #2
by Sheena Hutchinson

Genre: Paranormal Romance

* *  *

**I was given the opportunity to read "Seraphina: The Awakening" and "Seraphina: Initiation" as part of the series' blog tour.**

SERAPHINA: INITIATION picks up after the first book, with Seraphina a newly changed woman and moved in with her fallen angel boyfriend. She's still trying to adjust to life as a demon slayer, a woman with new looks and new powers, and her guardian angel Nathaniel must begin training her. It's good vs. evil, there are secrets to be revealed, battles to be fought, and more questions will be asked as the devil comes to town in his quest for Sera.

If you enjoy Guardian Angel romances, good vs evil paranormal battles, you just might want to check it out!

Read the spotlight I did on SERAPHINA: INITIATION; it includes an excerpt and Guest Post by the author!



* * *
 Viral House
by Joe Sharp

Genre: Horror

* * *

VIRAL HOUSE isn't about your everyday, run-of-the-mill haunted house, as recovering alcoholic Paul soon discovers. Along with Cheryl, a woman he meets in a bar who is searching for her missing brother, Paul will go looking for a drug dealer peddling more than just street narcotics.

And it's all going to go down on Orchard Street, in a house infected with a hive mind virus that wants to assimilate all who enter.

A pretty decent book but definitely not what I was expecting.



WHEW! So I *still* did not get to all of the reviews I have to post, so I will be doing another Catch-up day on Nov. 24th, and will feature titles by authors J.C. Andrijeski, Robert Evert, Irene Helenowski, T.L. Onyx, and more! I also have interviews coming up with Nikki Rae, Richard Alan, Prashant Pinge, Irene Helenowski, and T.L. Onyx!! So STAY TUNED!!!!! 

And thank you.

<3

1 comment:

  1. This was a lot of reviews in one bite! I hope you feel better soon, and just know I am hoping for you on this end! And remember, a break from blogging is always allowed, if needed to get better.

    Loving the reviews <3

    Check out my review and giveaway: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/11/shatter-point-blog-tour-review.html

    ReplyDelete