Fate's Hand: Book One of The Celtic Prophecy by Melissa Macfie

Fate’s Hand is a wonderful debut novel that makes you fall in love with the author’s writing and look forward to her next book. If you’re into fantasy books full of mysticism, come join the club of Melissa Macfie’s fans. If you like action-packed, mind-twisting, but at the same time elegant and gentle novels, again, you won’t be disappointed. This book is quintessence of thriller and romantic novel, and it just couldn’t leave me indifferent. I sat to read a few pages before sleep and found myself turning page after page late at night, as it’s impossible to put the book down not knowing what happens with Brenawyn next. Judging by the book cover, you may think that it is about medieval times, but the heroine is a modern-day American girl whose life once changes drastically. She’s pursued by the gods and is believed to be the priestess. Her strong character deserves respect! And the love storyline complements the general plot very nicely. The author is generous enough to share with us some juicy details. The only thing I would change about this novel is its size, as 200 pages is almost nothing for a great book like this, so I wish the author inspiration and I will definitely read the next book!

Escape From B-Movie Hell by M T McGuire

Escape From B-Movie Hell falls into many genres. If I had to pick a few, I’d say it’s a British comedy sci-fi adventure, and plus, it’s also YA. The reason why I decided to give it a try is that I’ve been kind of tired of the usual YA books lately, and this sounded like a light, easy read. I was not disappointed!
First off, while the main protagonist here has to deal with a serious problem (annihilation of the human race, duh), the book has all the fun and cheerful tone of Futurama (which I love). Yes, sometimes it’s weird, but that’s the point, because it’s the ground for original humor. There’s a fine line between ridiculous scenes and subtle humor of the situation.
I totally enjoyed the diversity of characters here, and I’m not talking race or sexual orientation (which is kind of a hot subject in literature at the moment), but alien creatures that were well-developed and fun to read about. Eric would be my favorite. It’s just such a breath of fresh air, to read about a funny alien character! Andi’s great too – she’s strong and smart and witty, and to my relief, she didn’t turn out annoying, like it often happens in YA books. There must be something wrong with me – I just don’t like girls that much :D
There are some serious ideas in the book as well, and I always like that in a YA story, but they don’t overtake it, turning it into something tedious. The author definitely has a potential and a unique voice, and I hope we’ll get to read more great books for teenagers from her!

Going Underground (Going Underground #1) by L.N Denison

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

I’ve never had a doubt that the mankind has great potential in cruelty, and the dystopian authors strengthened my belief. Firstly, this book reminded me of George Orwell’s “1984”, where all people are also divided into classes and strictly follow the orders of the government which acts within the totalitarian model of power. Then I remembered another book, “The hunger games”, written by a modern author Suzanne Collins. I could clearly see a parallel between Katniss and Jen. Being rather young (Jen is only 18), they have a brave heart to endure all the difficulties that the fate has in store for them.

The laws of this so-called government are aimed at keeping people in terror, depriving them of the last hope to overthrow the power.  The government has authorized itself to execute tortures. Anyone from the poor class may become a “guinea pig” for the medical experiments conducted by the government. Pure bloods Vs Non-pure bloods remind us about the Hitler’s regime. Nice picture of the near future, isn’t it?

But why is dystopian genre so popular? It’s popular because the authors try to turn our attention to the major problems of our society, exaggerating them to the point of nonsense. Are all of the comforts of life available now for the poor and the rich? Is there freedom of expression? Freedom to be who you are? Discrimination, be it race discrimination or sexual orientation discrimination? We have lots of problems to deal with, and that’s the point of this book.

I loved the characters, the tension created by the author, and I definitely support the choice of the topic, as we need more books giving us brain food. 

The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton

Cameron Winters has always been different-she has a secret. She has the ability to read minds. Who doesn't at one point-wish they would be able to read the thoughts of others, be it out of curiosity or selfish needs? It isn't that way for Cameron. She has never wished for it and to her, it is not a gift, but a disability; something that causes her feelings of exclusion and not being able to belong-there will never be anyone who truly understand her, and be able to accept her for what she's capable of ... and who she really is. It wasn't until she met Lucas-the handsome new student in her class-who she feels an unexplainable attraction towards and who shares the same secret as her, did she felt a sense for belonging for the first time. And so Cameron allows Lucas to show her the world of mind reading-a new place, and an escape from those who labeled her as a "freak". But what she was not expecting was another prison, obstinate love, and betrayal.

Although I found the synopsis attracting, I honestly have to say that I was not expecting too much from a FREE kindle book. But this YA, was like a hidden gem in a pile of rocks. I went through many kindle Young Adult novels-searching for a good book and most of the time end up disappointed. That isn't the case for The Mind Readers; the saying "you get what you pay for", does not work for this piece.

The pace of the book was okay. It was also a very quick read-207 pages or so-as I stated above it may vary, depending on the device.

Ending wise, to some people it may seem as an erupt closure, because some of how the secondary characters were left without a conclusion; I however view it as one of those captivating ending or "cliff hangers" that is meant to keep the readers wanting to know more and purchase the second book. Though unlike many other books, where this kind of strategy may end up being a downfall ... it works well for me here.

I was charmed by this read and would definitely recommend it!

The Gifting (Gifting #1) by K.E. Ganshert

I was pleasantly surprised that I liked this book so much. Reading the description, it sounded a bit like a cliche coming of age story. Plus, being YA as well, I was a little skeptical. I'm a grown up and all, so a YA book has to be pretty exceptional to grab my attention. But it was free, so there was no risk in giving it a shot.

This is beautifully written, and it grabbed me from the first page. The only thing I didn't care for was how Tess was so down on herself all the time. I kept waiting for some pivotal moment where she would begin to change in that aspect. I think that's just a character trait I naturally don't care for in people though, and not necessarily discrediting to the author's work. Tess did eventually become bolder and more courageous, and I was glad to finally see it happening.

There were suspenseful moments that were tense for me. That's a true quality of a good book, if it makes you feel like you're living through it.

All in all, I'm excited to see what happens next!

Bound (Arelia LaRue #1) by Kira Saito

This was a great introduction for an indie author. The author wrote each character distinctively; each has flaws or traits that made it easy for me to relate to on some level. At least one character was more mysterious than the others, creating a bit of intrigue. I liked that each character had their own issues. It made them more real for me as no one is perfect. The main character can be a bit impetuous and rude, but it was apparent to me that these reactions were defense mechanisms born out of her life experiences, and as such, made her all the more believable.

I especially loved the amount of information the author imparted about voodoo/hoodoo. Most books that speak of voodoo/hoodoo, do so in a very superficial or vague way. There's usually only basic references to the most pop-cultural aspects of voodoo, such as queens, spirits, gris-gris and, of course, dolls. This book was completely different. It's obvious the author spent a lot of time researching the subject. It made for a more fascinating read. The author describes the spirits, both in appearance and in aspects of their magical domains. She even goes into surface details about the uses and various components to make charms or spells. All of which drew my interest more deeply into the book.

I will definitely read the next book soon!

The Legacy of the Key (Ancient Guardians #1) by S.L. Morgan

I really loved these books! I fell totally in love with Levi, Harrison and Reece.. I finished all 3 books in a matter of days and when they were done, I started reading them all over again, just slower. Levi is gorgeous, he is romantic and honest and a true gentleman, with amazing confidence and a sense of humor, everyhing you need in a man. Harrison is funny and kind and I love his sarcastic nature. Reece is strong and adaptable, she is not a damsel in distress that needs saving! I love that this book is light and adventurous! It doesn't delve into dark depressing realms for too long, it is a light hearted amazing read that makes you feel almost powerful with the characters! The characters of the book are well developed and beautifully connected. Read the books, they are wonderful!

Frey (The Frey Saga, #1) by Melissa Wright

I rather liked this one. Liked it enough to buy the second book and I am glad to say it ended peaking my interest for book three.

No glaring spelling or word errors worth noting. Good for a free book. M. W. shows some writing skills here. Frey is bound to prevent the use of magic. Her power starts to return and there are surprising results. Along with her powers being taken so are her memories. The author executed this very well. She feels or knows people/things and not sure why she has certain reactions. Now the part that cost a star is a bit of repetitive reaction to her use of magic and return of memories. This worked most of the time because of the nature of her being magically bound and the negative effects involved. This carried across the first two books and just almost went once too far. It felt like it was resetting the story about 30 pages to be done again the last time or so. I am being vague here to prevent spoilers. In the end it was done well and I am glad to say at the end of book two this is all resolved and I await book three.

Weaving Destiny (The Soulkeepers #2) by G.P. Ching

Just finished reading the second book in the series and I was so hoping for the next to be available so that I could quench my curiosity. Jason and Malini seem to be two star-crossed lovers fated to be woven in different destinies. Malini's strong, unwavering faith in herself and her friends is about to be challenged. Who is she and how does she fit into this band of Soulkeepers? Then there is Dane. Katrina. Mara. As Good and Evil battle it out, we find more back story and more depth is brought to the already captivating cast of characters. New characters are introduced and new plot lines develop, but are not fully explored.

The Soulkeepers by G.P. Ching

This is a neat interpretation on spiritual beings and their presence on Earth. I was thrilled that I picked up this book, even though I got it for free...I'm definatley buying the next book Weaving Destiny. I couldn't put it down, and finished it within 3 days...I loved it. I'm about to start reading the second book in a few minutes!! If you enjoy studying about the decendents of David, Abraham, or even of Lucifer, this is a cool opinion! Highly recommended!

The Girl In The Box by Robert J. Crane

The reviews for these books were mixed. But I got them anyway because I know peoples reading interests vary. I'm glad I did! I loved these books! They caught my attention from the very beginning and I never found myself bored or skimming through the pages. Many reviews were bashing the main character Sienna for having a bad attitude. But really, she's a 17 year old girl who doesn't have experience interacting with other people, of course her attitude will be different. But either way, I found her quite interesting. I'm usually not a fan of stories like this, but I fell in love with these books! I read the first 3 in a week and had to buy the 4th right away. Only thing I don't really like is that the books are recapped in the beginning like we had just picked them up and need to know what's going on.

By the time I've reached Book 10 in the series, my interest has waned just a bit, but this is still nice writing, good character development. (10 books is a long series... but suddenly I'm excited that there's a whole second series utilizing the same characters!) The premise is pretty typical "super hero" type fare - sort of like X-Men in the powers - but a more global expanse to the story. Violence? Sex? Well, yeah, there's a bit of violence, sort of comes with the premise. Sex? No, nothing to speak of. Anything sexual happens "off stage" and is left to the reader's imagination.

Forbidden (Arotas Trilogy #1) by Amy Miles

I chose this review because I love how the either told the story and shed how anybody who's different can still love no matter what. Also I love how she put in comedy, romance ,paranormal, and different categories in this book.

I truly believe that Bram Stoker's Dracula is one of the greatest love stories that started the romanticising of the vampire. This story has hints of Dracula and a character known to hunt vampires an vlad the impaler. Although the names make your brain associate their names with their actions, the characters are still unique, fresh, and alive with love and mystery. Of course revenge is part of any good love story...don't you think? This is fairly one of the my favorite books and I've read A LOT of books. I will definitely be reading more books by Amy Miles.