Review: Who R U Really? by Margo Kelly

Who R U Really?
By Margo Kelly
ISBN 13 9781440572760
Number Of Pages 240

It's only a game. Please say it's only a game?
To say that Thea’s parents are overprotective is an understatement. She has to let them know wherever she goes, and her time on the computer is extremely limited, to the point that she can hardly check her email, never mind visit video and chat sites.
Thea discovers an online role-playing game that seems to be somewhat educational, and initially her parents ease off the coddling. However, Thea soon becomes overly involved in the game, as she hides her involvement and lives a double life, hiding the game even from her best friend. Thea flirts with a boy she met in the game, the much-older Kit, who seems to like Thea just as much as she likes him.
Soon, Thea is receiving cryptic texts from Kit. He asks her to meet him, and vaguely discusses the idea of the two of them being “together” forever. Thea’s not sure if that means suicide, but she is unable to ask anyone for clarification of help, because she’s lied to most of the people that love her, and feels she can no longer trust anyone apart from Kit. At this point, Thea longs to return to her old, boring life. But Kit knows her in a way that no one else in her life ever has - or does he? Is Kit playing a game with Thea? Or is she the pawn in the game he’s playing?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review

This is one of those books that every teenager should read. Seriously. If you have kids, you need to buy this book for them. It's quite a chilling tale of a young girl who befriends a guy online, having no idea who he really is. As you can probably imagine, he isn't who he says he is. He's a predator. The fact that this kind of thing really happens, scares the bejeesus out of me. If I were a mother, I'd do anything in my power to prevent my kids from being on a computer - ever. Yes, that's how this book will make you feel.

The character I loved the most was Thea's mother. The author has clearly experienced something horrendous herself to be able to produce such a moving book (it actually says so on the sleeve) but I'd have known even if I hadn't picked up on that tidbit. Thea herself is a very annoying teenager who risks losing everything important to her, including her best friend in this eye-opening book that I can't recommend enough. Amazing, moving, scary and alarmingly realistic.

Margo Kelly is a native of the Northwest. She earned a Business Administration degree, started up and sold a business, ranked as a top recruiter for a major direct selling company, and has spoken in front of hundreds of people teaching recruiting and sales tactics. Margo’s inspiration for Who R U Really? came from her daughter’s narrow survival of a man she met in an online role-playing game. Margo and her daughter are reaching out to schools, church groups, and community groups to provide information on spotting and unmasking an Internet predator.

Review: Who is Mackie Spence? by Lin Kaymer

Who is Mackie Spence?

Author: Lin Kaymer

Published by Merit Press

Jeremy's friend, Mackie Spence, seems different. She doesn't act like the same person he's grown up with all his life. And Jeremy would know. In the last year, he's paid close attention, as that funny little girl suddenly turned into a knockout. But now something is beyond weird. He didn't see much of Mackie during the summer that followed her near-drowning incident. But it's September, she's back at school, and Jeremy can't explain the changes in her. After all, he's a jock who understands science and math, not girls like Mackie. Still, when both of them volunteer at the wild animal shelter, he sees how huge, wounded birds calm to her touch. And that's just the beginning. When Jeremy, who's falling hard for Mackie, starts to feel protective of her, keeping an eye on her as she makes her way through the woods and coves of the small Puget Sound island where both of them grew up, he sees things he finds hard to believe. Mackie is still Mackie, but she's also someone beyond normal human experience. So who is she? Or...what is she? How can Jeremy protect Mackie from her fate? Should he even try, or is he interfering in something so big and so ancient that it doesn't even have a name? And while he may love Mackie, is he going where mere mortals are forbidden? To save the girl he loves, Jeremy must solve puzzles that will not only change his future, but the way he understands life, forever.

Goodreads

Amazon

My Review

Quite an unusual evocative novel with a charming mythical undertone throughout. I had some issues with the first person narrative in that the main character seemed quite a bit younger than his actual age. I also found the mythical epilogue quite odd - I would have put that at the beginning of the book as a prologue. It just didn't quite work for me at the end.

Having said that, as a whole I enjoyed Who is Mackie Spence? It was very easy to read and kept me eager for the action - which there wasn't actually very much of, but the relationship between Mackie and Jeremy was so sweet that it made up for it. 

Something I was particularly fond of throughout the book was the author's knowledge of sick and injured animals which came through strongly during Jeremy's and Mackie's volunteer work at the animal shelter. (I loved Number 26!) and I must commend the author's beautiful description of Puget Sound - reading the book really made me want to visit! 

All in all, a charming book for young adults.

Lin Kaymer is deeply attached to the wildlife of Puget Sound. Lin worked as a graphic designer and newspaper columnist. She loves to write during the rainy months of the year. Her favorite writers include Charlotte Bronte, Alexandre Dumas, Ruth Ozeki, Charlaine Harris, and Studs Terkel.
To learn more visit Lin's website.

The Fourth Moon by Darren K. Bourke

The Fourth Moon by Darren K. Bourke

Hardcover, 256 pages

Expected publication: March 24th 2015 by Emerald Book Company In The Fourth Moon, Darren K. Bourke guides you on a journey to optimal, sustainable and leveraged success. The path begins with the First Moon (strategy), continues to the Second Moon (implementation), proceeds to the Third Moon (maintenance), and finally takes you to the ultimate goal, a place only a small percentage reach: the Fourth Moon (leverage).
Managers and business owners who reach the Fourth Moon can expect to . . .
• earn higher profits
• work less if they want
• create more lifestyle options
• increase personal net worth
• be truly authentic and in control of their lives
• maximize the value of their business
• breathe new life into their daily routines
• refine their life’s purpose and meaning
The Fourth Moon metaphor is simple, elegant and proven. Once the underlying principles are understood, managers, business owners, and their teams can immediately implement them by following a step-by-step process.
Whatever your challenge, The Fourth Moon will guide you through each stage of your journey to achieving your ultimate goal. 

My Review

This is certainly an interesting way of teaching business owners how to develop their business and ultimately, if they have what it takes to reach the so called 'Fourth Moon' (basically become rich and uber successful!). Darren Bourke basically takes one such 'business' and guides it through the several moons of Jupiter (sounds weird, but it totally makes sense when you start reading). It's actually quite an enjoyable and easy read, considering its written like an actual story to engage the reader. It works. I enjoyed it. I read this book to try and improve my own mis-guided attempts at promoting my work as an author. While this book certainly isn't aimed at authors as such, it is aimed at small businesses and therefore there were times when I realised his 'teachings' could help me. But all in all, I'd say it is a good companion to anyone starting out in business, or anyone whose business has hit a rut.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review: Wrong Side of the Grave

When Eric Jansen takes a seat behind his drums, every girl in the place takes notice. Not that he’s surprised. He’s had decades to practice. Still, there’s that other thing…
He’s an alien. Offworlder. Take me to your leader, fall from the sky, space invading, phoning home, UFO jockey. A swipe of the tattoo on his arm will reveal his true form which locals call Mothman, a winged creature formed of ashen gray skin and glowing red eyes. Eric is one of the last of his dwindling, offworld species.
So when the recently deceased of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, start walking and talking, the Men in Black mark Eric as suspect number one. It will be up to Eric and his inner circle to solve the mystery before the black suits lock him up and throw away the key.

A fun read, Wrong Side of the Grave is a fast-action Teen Sci-Fi Mystery with a paranormal twist. 

Parent Approved: Contains no profanity or sexual content.
Cover Design by Joshua Labello, Envy Ink

My Review
OMG this is one of the best YA books I've read in a while. Super fun with vampires AND alien beings (actually, the vampires ARE some of the alien beings which is a really cool idea), this took me just a few hours to read as it was so light and easy. I absolutely loved it!
It's a very unique take on the whole vampire tale which will have you sitting on the edge of your seat for sure. I totally fell in love with Eric, he is such a likeable character with his cute rocker look (he carries his drumsticks in his back pockets and then uses them to kill.... no that would be telling you too much!) and swagger. His best friend is a bit of a geeky book blogger which really appealed to me (for obvious reasons) and he lives in a space ship! What's not to love? The waking dead, graveyard visits, funeral homes and Men in Black just makes this a really quirky, fun read.
I'm trying to find something negative to say but I just can't... there isn't a single thing I didn't like about this book.
I also love the fact that it's suitable for every age group with no profanity and no sexual content. I highly recommend it!

Wrong Side of the Grave Buy Links
Amazon | Apple iBooks | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Order your signed Paperback directly from the author

Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand

Whisper by Heather Hildenbrand

New Adult Paranormal Fantasy

The Cherokee believe when a person dies, their soul is reborn. Life is repeated. An endless cycle of lessons to be learned, love to be found, destiny to be fulfilled. For the past six months, in every flower, every bird, I’ve imagined my parents, relieved of their human forms.
Now, after five months at the Skye View Wellness Center, it was summer. A time for parties and friends, but that’s the last thing I want to do. So when my best friend Erin convinces me to attend a bonfire at Eagle Point, I can’t handle the crowd full of sympathetic stares or drunken class clowns who would use my tragedy as a way into my heart – or my pants. The solitude of the woods offers an escape, until I stumble upon a boy, unconscious and bleeding, his pockets stuffed not with identification but with poetry illustrating the beauty of dying. I’ve seen enough death. I will not leave this boy’s side.
Even after he wakes, when the only thing he can remember are visions of events that haven’t happened yet… 

Add to Goodreads

Purchase

Amazon

Barnes & Noble:

My Review

I absolutely loved this book! It reminded me a little of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, but for a slightly more mature audience (and I adored that book too!). Whisper had me hanging on every word, desperately wanting this beautiful stranger to remember who he was and why he was in the woods that night. When he does wake up, I love how the two of them interact with each other The fact that she gives him a name like she would a lost dog just sums up the kind of person she is.

I developed such a fondness for Whisper (what an amazing name, huh?), who had been through such hell herself. She is a broken soul and it's only when you get to the end do you realise just how broken. And it's not just the tragedy of losing her parents, there's so much more to it than that.

The fact that the author delved into Cherokee traditions particularly interested me. I do love to learn about people with deep spiritual connections and perhaps that is another reason why this book spoke to me like it did.

Not only will Whisper leave you breathless, it's also beautifully written by Heather Hildenbrand - a name I'm sure we'll be seeing lots more in the future and I know I can hardly wait!

About the Author:

Author of Across the Galaxy, Whisper, and the Dirty Blood series. I write, read, and fuss at my kids. Oh, and I do laundry, lots of laundry. I’m pretty good at it, too. Sometimes I even read WHILE doing laundry – and fussing at my kids. I’m a multi-tasker.

For more information on my books, release dates, or just general stalker material, um, I mean FAN material, visit my website. www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com. I love hearing from readers!

Likes and dislikes? I love vintage tees, hate socks with sandals, and if my house was on fire the one thing I’d grab is my Amazon Fire TV! (oh yeah, I’m a fan of puns.)

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Review: Drawing Amanda by Stephanie Feuer

DRAWING AMANDA is set in the under-parented, high-expectation world of a Manhattan international prep school. Fourteen-year-old budding artist Inky Kahn is still smarting from the death of his father. He thinks he’s found his big break when he bonds with the developer of a new computer game and snags a coveted drawing assignment, for which he uses his secret crush–Amanda–as a model. 

But unbeknownst to Inky, the developer has a dangerous past, and is using his computer game to lure and stalk teenage girls. And Inky has inadvertently led Amanda right into his path. Blinded by his own ambition and sulking from his father’s death, Inky hides from the truth. Will Inky, with the help of Rungs, his cybergeek pal, discover the treachery in time and save Amanda before the creep ensnares her–or anyone else?

Goodreads

Review

I loved the sound of this book when I first read the synopsis and I figured I would probably enjoy it and that I did. However I didn't feel a deep connection to the characters or to the story itself, possibly because I felt its appeal would apply to more of a younger reader. I am a huge fan of YA, don't get me wrong, but I felt this was more middle grade than anything else. Having said that, it was a thoroughly well written piece of fiction that I would definitely recommend to younger readers.
What particularly struck me was the international feel of the book – I enjoyed that the main characters came from a wide variety of backgrounds and that each one had some serious issues that they were dealing with. Add to that the fact that the story itself dealt with some pretty serious issues as well (like paedophilia) makes this a great read to recommend to school aged kids.

Amazon

Short Review: Betrayed by P.C Cast

Series: A House of Night Novel (Book 2)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1ST edition (October 2, 2007)
Language: English

ISBN-13: 978-0312360283

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She's come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.
Amazon
Goodreads

My Review
Although I did enjoy this book, I didn't think it was quite as good as the first and some of the things that happened towards the end of the story really left me cold and confused. Or perhaps I was just angry at the turn of events! But I'm not going to say any more otherwise I'd be giving too much away.
All in all, the main character pretty much continues as she was - although she's clearly messed up because she can't make her mind up who she wants to be with (this kind of irritated me a bit - I mean, three guys?!), but on the whole an enjoyable sequel. I'd like to continue with the series but I'll probably wait a few months until I get the next one!

Day Two of the Morgan Sisters Virtual Tour

Well, yesterday went brilliantly well over at the Writers Ally with YA author S.A Larsen and I'm delighted with all the good wishes from all my friends, author pals, readers and social networking buddies!
And I woke up this morning to find yet another awesome review of The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw:
" The Ghost Of Josiah Grimshaw :well suzy has done it again ! loved suzys raven saga didnt think she could get any better .The ghost of josiah Grimshaw had me hooked from the very start and all the way threw . had a hard time putting this book down as I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. I thought the book was extremely well written and I found myself so engulfed in the story I felt as though I was right there in the middle of it all. I am desperately wanting more, I can't wait to see what happens next. A must read!! The only downside is i have to wait untill may for book 2"

** HAPPY DANCE **

Today I can be found on the brilliant YA author E.J Stevens book blog, From The Shadows, where I'm briefly talking about the man who inspired the book. I'm also on author Tony Riches excellent blog with an excerpt from the book. So come join in the fun!

Book Review: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by HP Mallory

When I first got this book (I bought the kindle version), I thought it was a YA fantasy book... I was wrong, it was definitely more chick lit meets fantasy than for very young adults. It's got a smattering of rather sexy scenes in it and quite a few swear words... not that it matters to me of course. I'm a big girl, I can handle it ; )
The book was far better than I thought it would be. In fact, it was excellent. Beautifully written, the story flowed particularly well and the characters were just so cool. I did think it was amusing that almost all of the men in the book were mightily sexy, all smouldering good looks and a tad on the horny (!) side though. But I'm assuming that it was written like that on purpose, a bit tongue in cheek, if you get my drift?
The story follows Jolie Wilkins, a medium who discovers there is much more to her talent than originally meets the eye. In comes Rand, a gorgeous hunk of a man who isn't actually a man, but a warlock. You can probably imagine the kind of things they get up to, and you'd be almost all right. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble is a must-read. I would recommend it to everyone old enough to be reading this kind of thing!
5 Stars

Asylum Lake by R.A Evans: a real page-turner

Being a real scaredy cat I usually tend to avoid reading anything that might freak me out a little, but lately I've succumbed to a number of thriller/horror movies (and really enjoyed them!) so I figured I would take the plunge and try to read something within the same genre. When I first read the blurb on Asylum Lake, I decided to give it a go.
The first night I started reading, I woke up in a cold sweat after having a really scary nightmare! It didn't put me off though and I persevered. I am so glad that I did. R.A Evans has a real talent for the written word and, other than the odd minor spelling error, I couldn't fault his beautiful prose. The story flowed brilliantly and I found it to be a real page-turner. Although I was expecting the ending to conclude with more of a bang, it did leave me feeling more than satisfied.
Asylum Lake would make a terrific movie.... are you listening Hollywood? R.A Evans is a name you should be taking notice of!
All in all, a fantastic thriller / horror (still not sure what to call it!). I shall eagerly await Evans' next novel.