Author Archives: Pam

Written in My Own Heart’s Blood – Review

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Image from Goodreads.

Image from Goodreads

Title:  Written in My Own Heart’s Blood

Author:  Diana Gabaldon

Published:  June 2014, by Delacorte

Genre:  This is tricky. Historical Fiction, Suspense, Romance

Buy:  Amazon

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Okay, so this is book eight of my all time favorite series, ever.  If you haven’t read Outlander (book 1), go read it.  It does take some people a little bit to get into, but once I read the first two books there was no going back.  Hi, I’m Pam, and I’m addicted to Outlander.  I even ordered Starz so I could watch the series.

Anyways, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood.  Kind of a gross title, but eh, what are you gonna do?  I recently wrote a review about another favorite series of mine, and I was glad that it was finally ending on book eight.  This series however, I don’t want it to end.  Ever.  I love the characters and Mrs. Gabaldon is just an amazing writer.

My one wish would be that it would go to two POVs, Claire’s and Brianna’s.  I like novels with singular POVs and that’s how Outlander started out.  I get that Mrs. Gabaldon wants to tell the stories of other important characters, but Claire is my favorite, and I felt like this book was lacking a bit in the Claire and Jamie department.  I wanted more!

But I’m sure I’ll get more….in the next book.

So if you haven’t picked up Outlander, and you like historical fiction, what are you waiting for?

And if you’ve read it and don’t like it?  I don’t even want to talk to you.

Just kidding. A little.

My Rating: 5 Stars

5

 

 

 

 

Serpent on a Cross: Release Day Blitz

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Serpent on a Cross Cover

 

Dennah Dubrovnika is a formidable hunter and talented healer. However, she cannot control her own powers, which have suddenly reawakened in the aftermath of her mother’s violent capture by a powerful warlord who destroyed their village in his wake. As she races to free her mother, Dennah is accompanied by Jeth, the man she loves. But she’s increasingly, inexorably drawn to the mysterious Skallon who is allied with her greatest enemy.

Will Dennah be able to gain a measure of control over her magic or will she lose everything and everyone she loves to its raging inferno?

Serpent on a Cross is Book One in a Jewish fantasy adventure series set in Medieval Eastern Europe.

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Author Bio:

Wendy C. Garfinkle was born and raised in South Florida. She moved to Northwest Texas Wendy Garfinklein her early 20s, but returned to South Florida eight years later. She holds five degrees, including MA and MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. She’s a poet, reading addict, and collector of interesting clothing tags, which she recycles into bookmarks.

She has served as a copy editor and reader for Hippocampus Magazine, an online nonfiction lit journal, and as a reader for the James Jones First Novel Fellowship. Wendy is a crime analyst for a local law enforcement agency, and lives with her teenage son.

To see what Wendy is currently working on, visit her at wendycgarfinkle.com.

 

Social Media Links

http://wendycgarfinkle.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wendy-C-Garfinkle/667623273323781

https://twitter.com/wendygarfinkle

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6913803.Wendy_C_Garfinkle

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22911766-serpent-on-a-cross

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 

 

 

 

 

***This isn’t a review, but I still feel a need to disclose that I manage Serpent on a Cross and do get profits from sales.***

 

Up From the Grave Review

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Image from Goodreads

Title:  Up From the Grave

Author:  Jeaniene Frost

Published: 2014 by Avon

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Buy:  Amazon

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This is the last book in one of my favorite series, and that’s okay with me.

This series started out amazing.  I absolutely LOVED the first three books.  But then things, well, they were still pretty great, but it just wasn’t the same.  You know how the excitement of first love fades?  Well, I felt something like that.

So the fact that this was the last book in the series is okay with me.  I think it’s time.  Now, don’t get me wrong, this was still a great book.  I’m just glad that Ms. Frost is ending on a great note.  So basically, if you’re already reading this series, definitely read this and finish the series!

And if you haven’t read this series yet, give the first one a try, it’s so fangtastic.  😉

My Rating:  4 Stars

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***My husband purchased this book for me.***

 

The Species Within Review

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Title:  The Species Within

Author:  Kimberley Clark

Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Erotic Urban Fantasy

Buy:  Amazon

This book is intended for ages 18 plus.

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Blurb

Kira, a huntress plagued by dreams of fire and pain has worked
 tirelessly to rid her city of the scourge that has nearly destroyed
 it…nostvores, mythlend creatures with dark and vast appetites for
 blood and sex. She does this not only because they had killed so many
 people in her life, but also because she has an edge that no other
 human had…she has their abilities. The problem was, these abilities
 were killing her and she feared time was no longer on her side.
 
 So the moment she found out that Darius, a nostvore leader was
 threatening to awaken an indestructible species to help him enslave
all humans and mythlends, and that she may be the key to his plan, she
 knew her only choice was to risk her life with the little time that
she had left and join her enemy to find out why, and to make sure his
plan failed.

If that wasn’t dangerous enough, the more time she spends with the
Vanatre nostvore Emmerich, and the mooran Kuron, who she brings with
her for protection, the less she wants to kill them. Instead, she
feels an unexplainable attraction towards them both, and she fears
surrendering to such desire with either is a deadly game to play, for
she would not only be risking her life, but quite possibly her heart.

 (Blurb from the author.)

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Ms.  Clark approached me many months ago for a review, and life got busy, so I apologize for taking so long getting to it.

This book started off fantastic.  In fact, it reminded me of Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series (which I love!)  As you saw from the blurb, Kira is a huntress, who kills the nostvores (aka vampires).  This isn’t so hard for her because she shares a lot of the same abilities.

Kira’s a hard ass, she is a supreme fighter, and at one point she was tortured.  Most people would cave; she didn’t.  Like I said, this girl is tough stuff!

I really loved loved loved the beginning of this book, but then it went from awesome to good.  Kira has an attraction to a certain vampire, but she has a real tough time accepting it.  It’s just so back and forth (for her) that it just drove me nuts.

Another thing, that I kind of got bored with, was there was a point of view from the ‘bad guy’ Darius.  I don’t know, I think it would have been more suspenseful if his point of view was left out all together.  I’m kind of impartial to singular point of views in stories though, so that’s my personal opinion.

All in all, Ms. Clark is a very talented writer.  And if you like paranormal romance I would give hers a try.

My Rating:  3 stars

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***I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.***     

 

 

Six Strings Review

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Title:  Six Strings

Author:  Jen Sanya Williamson

Published:  June 2014 by Booktrope

Genre:  Young Adult,

Purchase:  Amazon

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Blurb

Riley Witt is running out of time. 

Battling Alzheimer’s disease, Riley’s grandmother Mary suffers from memory loss, mood swings, and a tendency to wander off. 

As senior year approaches, Riley has to face the reality that the one person she depends on most is slowly fading. Making matters 
worse, when Mary does remember the past, she tells tales of time travel and visions. As Mary’s version of the past gets more confused, Riley knows they are running out of time together. 
But when Riley discovers a guitar belonging to a famous rock star at Mary’s house, the truth behind the crazy tales finally comes out. 

SIX STRINGS tells the story of Riley’s journey back to 1973 where she enters a world of music, long-lost family, and first love. Her adventure is all about discovering her past, understanding her present, and figuring out how to step into her future.

(Blurb from publisher.)

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Let’s be honest here, I read this book in two nights.  It was so good I couldn’t put it down.  I got pulled back into my teenage years, but in a good way.  I’m not saying that Riley had it easy though, because she definitely didn’t.

Riley’s summer leading into senior year is basically taking care of her grandmother who has Alzheimer’s.  Riley and her grandmother were/are super close, so this is heartbreaking.  Sometimes her grandmother is perfectly coherent, other times she wanders off and is in her own world.  So when Riley’s grandmother tells her that Riley is going to have the ability to travel through time soon, Riley doesn’t know if it’s just her grandmother’s illness talking.

But it’s not, and Riley travels back to the 70’s.  I loved it.  I felt like I was back in time with Riley, living with the hippies.  Riley meets a guy, well two guys in a band, but I’m not going to say much more because I don’t want to give anything away.

You guys should really read this book.  It’s the first in a series, and it’s fantastic.  Although the time travel is in there, it doesn’t feel like a fantasy, more like contemporary young adult, with a little romance added in.  I can’t wait until the next one comes out!

My Rating:  4 ½ stars

***I need to disclose that I received this book free from the publisher, Booktrope.  And I also work for Booktrope, but in no way did that sway my opinion on this book.  I also receive no monetary gains from giving this book a good review.  This review is based solely on my honest opinion.***