Review: Beginnings (The Plague): Book 1 by Danielle Blanchard Benson

Thank you to Making Connections(a group on Goodreads) and the author for allowing me to review this book!

Genre

Apocalypse/Zombie

Publication Date

February 5th, 2012

Publisher

Midnight Engel Press

Available At

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Format

Ebook
Paperback

June, 2012: A couple of small bombs are exploded in a Rio de Janeiro favela and Tijuana, Mexico; few casualties but riots and looting follow.

July, 2012: A mysterious plague which turns normal humans into flesh-eating cannibals destroys Central and South America and decimates large swathes of Europe and Asia.


August, 2012: Governments worldwide collapse, chaos ensues and the plague mutates into something much more than anyone could have anticipated.

Join a group of survivors from Europe and the Americas as they search for a way to patch their lives back together while dealing with personal issues from their former lives which continue to haunt them. Nothing lasts forever, not even the beginnings of the plague.  


Review
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars


When I first started reading Beginnings, I have to be honest and say that I couldn't get into the story. I found the bouncing around from each different person too distracting, never giving me a connection to any of the characters. I set it aside for a couple of days then picked it back up determined to finish and find something that I liked. I mean, zombies? Yes! I will forever be a fan of zombie books, so when I say I was determined, I was determined!


I must have been able to switch my brain off and just let the story lead me, because once I picked it up again, I became a fan. The multiple POV's became insightful and needed with so many different characters coming and going. The zombies, of course, were a huge plus and the mystery had my interest piqued.

 I'm not a huge fan of political reads, there's nothing wrong with them, they just aren't for me. Beginnings delves into politics and conspiracies. Oddly, it never bothered me, it made the story and continued to add to it. I did find it a little odd that every single character was well versed in the worlds politics. Each character comes from different backgrounds (American, Brazilian, Irish, French, and many mixed) yet they ALL knew soooo much about the politics of most continents, nations and governments. This never subtracted from my reading experience, just something that I found odd. 


There are so many characters in Beginnings that I can't and won't talk about each one. I'll highlight: they were all well-developed. I never found them lacking in any major way. I did have some issues with the dialogue, it was good for the most part, but some conversations just didn't roll out naturally. Mostly, it was when someone would talk about love or their feelings, it seemed forced and took a little bit away from the story, but not enough to greatly disappoint me. Just mildly. And along those lines, the most natural character (in my opinion) was Rousin. Everything about her just flowed in such a natural way, she quickly became my favorite.

I'm excited to continue the series! The ending will have those wheels in your head spinning as you try to decipher which way the story will go. Reader discretion: There are some scenes that might make some readers uncomfortable. Definitely an adult read, but one that shouldn't be missed out on!

Review: Tomorrow Land by Mari Mancusi

I was fortunate enough to receive this book from the publisher through NetGalley

Publication Date

March 8th

Publisher

NLA Digital Liaison Platform LLC

Available At

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Can true love survive the end of the world?

Imagine finding your first love, only to be ripped apart by the apocalypse. Peyton Anderson will never forget the day she was forced to make a choice--between her family--and Chris Parker, the bot she'd given her heart. Now, four years later, as she steps from the fallout shelter and into a dead and broken world, he's the only thing on her mind.

All Chris "Chase" Parker wanted was to take Peyton away and keep her safe from harm. But he waited for hours in the rain on judgement day and she never showed--breaking his heart without ever telling him why.

Now the two of them have been thrown together once again, reluctant chaperones to a group of orphaned children in a post-apocalyptic world where the dead still walk. . . and feed. As they begin their pilgrimage to the last human outpost on Earth, can they find a way to let go of old hurts and find the love they lost--all while attempting to save what's left of the human race?

Review

Genre: YA Post-Apocalypse

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Tomorrow Land not only has zombies, but it is set in the future. I found this an interesting mix along with the hauntingly beautiful cover.

When I first started reading I instantly became cautious about Peyton's character. She appeared whiny and shallow, instantly stereotyping Chris as a tech-head and deeming him unworthy. As the story progresses Peyton's character shows growth which was much appreciated, making her a better female protagonist. Within the story we get a mixed point-of-view that alternated between Chase(aka Chris) and Peyton. This helped us gain insight into each character as they each experience either different or the same things. 

Tomorrow Land is told in alternating chapters, one is four years ago(leading up to the plague) and the other is when Peyton is finally released from the bunker. The alternating chapters are artfully crafted to lend an insight to each character and the background surrounding the plague. It also shows us how Peyton and Chris changed as the hardships of life in a post-apocalyptic world became more and more present.

Although I found Tomorrow Land enjoyable, I also found it lacking. I just couldn't convince myself to be truly invested in the characters or their story. The characters were a little under-developed for my taste and the overall story was too neat, predictable and convenient. It was all too easy, way too easy when they had to travel four-hundred miles(without cars, with eight children) in a desolate land filled with people-eating-zombies. When there was trouble it was easily overcome and since this is a zombie book I was expecting more fighting especially when Peyton was so radically equipped to fight. There was potential, but the story just felt skimmed over.

If you are a fan of zombies or post-apocalypse stories then you should check this out. It's suitable for readers of all ages and both genders.

Review: Made Up by Emma Jackson

I was lucky enough to receive a copy from the author through the group, Making Connections, on Goodreads

Life hasn't been much of a fairytale for Katia recently, but when she lands her dream job as a makeup artist, it seems like things might be about to change.

Whisked off to join a film production in the vibrancy and magic of India, she has to face a fire-breathing dragon in the shape of her new boss and solve complex riddles, such as whether Owen Walker, the movie's gorgeous leading man, is a serial womaniser, a knight in shining armour, or something in between. . .

Because learning to tell the difference between fact and fiction, might just be the key to finding her happy ending.
Review
Genre: Contemporary Chick Lit/Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

 I was instantly swept away by the stunning characters as they negotiate through their adventure.

You are graced with a wide array of characters from the sweet, yet jaded female protagonist, Katia, to the rumored womanizing Owen, to all the in betweens. We get to see through Katia's eyes, feeling what she feels, temporarily walking in her shoes. Emma Jackson writes in such a way that I was instantly evoked to become invested in Katia's character and her well-being.

A sweet, budding, uncertain romance starts to take place as the pages grow fewer. Although, this is a romance story, the romance takes a step back as we discover the personal demons that Katia struggles to battle. Not all of them are her own. Made Up produces emotions that are hard to ignore, conveying struggles that some women may have to deal with that all women will be sympathetic to. The pace was well-thought out, never being rushed to produce something that would have been unnatural and too coincidental. Everything flowed together nicely, I was never left wanting because I was completely satisfied with the story and the characters.

I was extremely gratified by the end, but also severely disappointed because I grew attached to the characters of Made Up, desperate to read more. But behold, Made Up is in fact the first book of a trilogy, so my my disappointed was turned into anxious excitement.

Made Up is currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

Review: Revenge(Blood and Honor#1) by Dana Delamar

I received a copy of Revenge, from the author through the group Making Connections on Goodreads, for an honest review

A woman on the run. A damaged Mafia don. A rival bent on revenge. . . 

Kate Andretti is married to the Mob-but doesn't know it. When her husband uproots them to Italy, Kate leaves everything she knows behind. Alone in a foreign land, she finds herself locked in a battle for her life against a husband and a family who will "silence" her if she will not do as they wish. When her husband tries to kill her, she accepts the protection offered by a wealthy businessman with Mafia ties. He's not a mobster, he claims. Or is he?

Enrico Lucchesi never wanted to be a Mafia don, and now he's caught in the middle of a blood feud with the Andretti family. His decision to help Kate brings the feud between the families to a boil. Attacks from without and within push them both to the breaking point, and soon Enrico is forced to choose between protecting the only world he knows and saving the woman he loves.

Review
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

If you are intrigued with Mafia aspects and the inner workings or gritty, dark stories than this is a book for you! Revenge is a fictional take on Mafia life in Italy that will have you questioning the line between reality and fiction, that is how well written this book is!

Well-developed characters help carry the story, they are perfected in their own way from sweet, endearing Antonio, rugged Ruggero, untrusting, jaded Kate, emotional Enrico and the purely evil Carlo. The relationships that are created and shattered all hold a significant part for the story and I'm guessing, for the future stories of Blood and Honor. Kate and Enrico were both agreeable characters that each have their own personal struggles that send them(and the reader) on a roller coaster. You ultimately are able to sympathize with each of them, making you eager for a happy ending.

The imagery is well laid out, to the point where the reader will feel immersed in the bellisimo Italia and the culture surrounding the Mafia. There is corruption, violence, blood and gore, death, hard decisions and the expected romance. In other words, this story has grit that will either have the readers cringing or increasing their reading speed. I was drawn into the story from the absolute beginning, unable to put the book down. The dialogue was simple perfection, where you could hear the Italian accents dripping from each character(save Kate). Dana Delamar expertly weaves in Italian words that flow flawlessly, giving the story an authentic Italian feel. Bestowed with many point-of-views throughout the story we are able to fully soak up the Mafia aspect as we get an inside look at both sides of the bigger 'family'. Yet, the story still carries a hint of mystery. Dana Delamar has obviously done a tone of research regarding the Italian Mafia, successfully turning it into a fictional story that will grab your attention, rendering you useless until you are satisfied at the end.

Blood and Honor will be a four book series, each taking a closer look at different characters involved in the Lucchesi Family. I found Revenge to be the perfect introductory story to the ones that will follow, allowing us to become attached to the future main characters and understanding their roles.

Revenge is available at Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble

Review: The Emerald City(Osworld #1) by J.A. Beard

I received a free copy of this book from the author, J.A. Beard, from the group Making Connections on Goodreads.                                                                          

In this loose re-imagining of the Wizard of Oz, Kansas teen Gail Dorjee has tried to escape from the pain of her parents' death by retreating into a hard shell of anger and sarcasm.

When her aunt and uncle ship her off to an elite Seattle boarding school, Osland Academy, she spends her first day making enemies, including the school's most powerful clique, the Winged, and their leader, the ruthless Diana.

Social war and the school's uptight teachers are only mild annoyances. Mysterious phone outages, bizarre behavioral blocks, and strange incidents suggest Osland is focused on something much more sinister than education.

Now Gail has to survive at Osland with a pretty pathetic assortment of potential allies: her airhead roommate, a cowardly victim of the Winged, and Diana's cold but handsome boyfriend, Nick.

Review
Genre: YA Fantasy/YA Paranormal
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
An enthralling, modern take on the Wizard of Oz told through the captivating voice of Gail Dorjee. You get the whimsical aspects of the old story that are expertly interlaced with new twists that will have the characters eagerly reading to the end.

I think we all know the characters and plot line of the Wizard of Oz, but just to do a minor recap(without giving anything away): We meet the reminiscent characters, the courageless, the brainless, the heartless along with many other important characters. The group comes across trials and tribulations also reminiscent of the forever loved tale of the Wizard of Oz, but it carries all on it's own with added paranormal twists and a little, barely-there romance that is a great set-up for the adventures to come. A journey of self-discovery along with the battles of good vs. evil. J.A. Beard will keep the readers guessing, never alluding to the ending even though this is a re-imagining of a famous story. He expertly keeps the story fresh and extremely interesting, told from the perspective of a fierce, anger-ridden teen that many readers will fall in love with. J.A. Beards brilliant, vivid imagery will help transport the reader as the story takes place.

I only had on minor issue, it seemed that the author started The Emerald City as a story in the third perspective, but then changed it to first person. There were some 'she's' or 'hers' instead of 'me's' or 'mine's'. This however, did not overtly detract from the story, it was only mildly bothersome.

I recommend The Emerald City to every and all readers regardless of age or gender. This is an epic adventure that you are not going to want to miss out on!

The Emerald City is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. Get your copy today!

Review: The Sin Collector by Jessica Fortunato

I was lucky yo receive a The Sin Collector from the author through the group, Making Connections on Goodreads.

"The Sin Collector" follows the life of Liliana, a born Sin Collector. She has spent over 100 years absorbing people's sins so they may rest in peace come death. However when she meets another Collector, one who insists everything she's been taught is a lie, Liliana must make her way from sunny L.A. all the way to the streets of Madrid. Searching for answers to a question we all share. Why are we here? The friends and enemies she makes along the way only seem to blur the line between right and wrong. Can Liliana fight the Castus, an organization bent on killing off every Sin-Eater? Should she trust her head or her heart when the two most important men in her life are fighting alongside her? Then there is the worst question of all, who will be left when the dust settles.

Review
Genre: Paranormal/Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Sin Collector, the debut novel from author Jessica Fortunato, is a completely new concept that is fresh, new and oh, so intriguing.

As soon as you begin to read, you are hit with the loneliness that drips off of Liliana. It's a powerful emotion that everyone will easily empathize with. Although Liliana is lonely, she's still an adept female protagonist. She's strong, resilient, determined and loving. She also has a hilarious sarcastic flare that adds life to her character. Billy is sweet, caring and fierce at times, but his character is cloaked in suspicion along with Olexanders character. Olexander(in my eyes) was a powerful addition to the set of characters. He has his Old-World charm, protectiveness(of his small Sin-Collector family), he's compassionate, but with that said, you can never be certain where the suspicions should truly lay. Olexander and Billy(but really the author) expertly place suspicion into the readers mind. I was constantly asking the question, who can Lily trust?

The plot line will keep you entertained as you keep trying to figure out the end result. This is quite an adventure that Lily undergoes! There is action, a little bit of romance, suspense and mystery. The main focus in the plot was the paranormal and suspense with a light order of romance. The romance was sweet and innocent as Lily is faced with two men from her past. There are religious undertones, but it stays simple with the characters' beliefs/faith. The ending is satisfactory, tied up nicely with a hint of what to expect in the next installments. Although, there were some things that were left unexplained. I hope they will be in the next book. This was an enjoyable read with great characters and a fresh concept, recommended to all ages and genders!

Here's a quote that I found hilarious. . .

"Truth  was, I didn't really want to die today. I was in the middle of a really good book, and being alive had always worked out for me. . ."

The Sin Collector is available at Amazon

Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight

I was fortunate enough to receive a free copy of Meeting Destiny from the author, Nancy Straight, through Smashwords. And that wouldn't have been possible without the fantastic group Making Connections on Goodreads!


Lauren is visited in her dreams for years by a stranger claiming to be her destiny. Destiny becomes reality when paths cross during a failed robbery attempt. Lauren and the stranger experience chemistry like no other and now her doubt over her long time relationship with her high school sweetheart is not her only secret. . . someone else knows about her keen intuition and sixth sense. A mysterious clairvoyant seeks Lauren out and tells her not only of her life now but what the future may hold. Soon Lauren is in the middle of a murder investigation and a questionable friendship with the key suspect. Law enforcement, friends and family are concerned for Lauren but unfortunately they are unaware of the true danger. . . Sinister forces are at work and will stop at nothing to destroy Lauren's abilities.

Review
5 Stars!!


Meeting Destiny completely and utterly blew me away! The first two chapters do a great job in setting up Lauren's character. We learn that she is courageous, caring, big-hearted, true to herself, stubborn(the good kind) and smart. She is the type of girl who knows who she is and won't let anybody else dictate that for her. She is strong of mind, partly from her 'intuition', but also from the strength that it takes to do the right thing. If and when she makes a mistake, she fixes them instead of letting them fester. We come across so many female protagonists that let their mistakes carry that it was a complete breath of fresh air to read about a character that had the courage to fix them straight away.

After the first two chapters, we get introduced to Seth(more than the quick glimpse we got of him in the very beginning) and Max. They are both stand-up, young men that will instantly start pulling at your heart-strings. Max is undeniably gorgeous, but without the big-head. He will give any or all 'bad-boy' favorites a run for their money. He is the exact opposite of a 'bad-boy', genuinely a nice person and very capable of melting hearts. Seth is also a sweetheart that you can't help but sympathize with. He cares, whole-heartedly, for Lauren, but he also has a slight conniving, stubborn streak in him(but who wouldn't in his situation?). Nancy Straight's characters are all fleshed out becoming more and more real as you read about them. There is no choice, but to fall in love with each and every one.

The plot line will hold your attention, refusing to let go beyond the very last word that you read. There is obviously romance with elements of paranormal and there is also suspense. These were intricately weaved together to create a mesmerizing story that readers of all ages will instantly love. There are ups and downs in Meeting Destiny that will have readers gripping their Kindles in anticipation, hope and maybe sometimes even fear.

Nancy Straight, being the cunning author that she is, throws a curve ball at the end instead of the expected straight. Readers will be scrambling(maybe even clawing) as fast as possible to get their hands on Destiny's Revenge, the next book in the trilogy. Mercifully for us, all three are out, waiting for us to gobble them up!

Meeting Destiny is available at Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble