5 Mini reviews (Jan-March)

A Heart For Copper | Sharon Lynn Fisher

Published by: Silkwords, June 6th 2014

Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy

Pages: 67

Format: Ebook

Source: Silkwords, via Netgalley

An automaton created by an inventor's son, Copper has finally been given a heart by her young master. Her choice of whether to keep the key or give it to him will determine what happens next in this "pick your path" steampunk fairy tale. 

Will she join his family in their English country manor, where she'll be forced to consider the question of whether she's really human? Or will she search out the quirky alchemist responsible for giving her life? Will her master hold onto her heart, or will she be tempted by the charms of an automaton man?

This little book was a cute, steampunk tale. I liked the premise of the story, and the choose your own adventure format of the book, even if I did get mightily confused at first. It's easy to follow the progression of the story and fun to choose the outcome, to decide which choices the character makes.

I feel that the choices I made resulted in a much shorter story than the other choices would have made, but I'm pleased with the tale. I would love for it to continue, and for Copper's story to be explored more, since the end is left wide open. The one thing I didn't like was that there was a romance element between the MC and her 'master'. As usual, I hate this term and this trope, but I loved there was an alternate option, with a pretty cute boy who was more like Copper than her master. The brevity of the story didn't allow for much, if any, character development, and I didn't understand or connect with any of the characters but I suspect I would have if it were longer. The same goes for the world building - it was impressive for such a short story, but I needed more.

All in all, a unique steampunk tale in which a clockwork girl learns to make human choices - I wish it was longer!!

These are the choices I made

I keep the key.

Stay with Hephaesta and Silk.

Characters ★★★☆☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Periwinkle Cove | Cassandra Pierce

Published by: Less Than Three Press, March 18th 2015

Genre: Adult, Paranormal, LGBT, Mermaids

Pages: /

Format: Ebook

Source: Less Than Three Press, via Netgalley

One year ago Darcy's lover, Gail, died in a mysterious accident at a seaside cottage. When Darcy learns that she has only three months to live, she decides it's time to return to the cottage, both to ready it for sale and to prepare for her own end.

Instead, she finds herself attempting to discover what really happened to Gail. Assisting her in the quest is Livia, a mysterious new acquaintance with a peculiar connection to the sea who claims she also may know a way to save Darcy's life...

Had high hopes for this book, since it's a f/f romance and features mermaids, but the execution let it down. From the first page I wasn't completely sure I liked it, and by halfway through I knew I didn't. The main character falls into insta-love with a woman in one conversation (she mentions the love interest understanding her in a way no one else ever did), something I expect from some YA but not adult fiction, and I could tell it wasn't going anywhere I wanted to read. 

DNF at 48%

Bone Gap | Laura Ruby

Published by: Balzer + Bray, March 3rd 2015

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Pages: 369

Format: Ebook

Source: Balzer + Bray, via Edelweiss

Everyone knows Bone Gap is full of gaps—gaps to trip you up, gaps to slide through so you can disappear forever. So when young, beautiful Roza went missing, the people of Bone Gap weren’t surprised. After all, it wasn’t the first time that someone had slipped away and left Finn and Sean O’Sullivan on their own. Just a few years before, their mother had high-tailed it to Oregon for a brand new guy, a brand new life. That’s just how things go, the people said. Who are you going to blame?

Finn knows that’s not what happened with Roza. He knows she was kidnapped, ripped from the cornfields by a dangerous man whose face he cannot remember. But the searches turned up nothing, and no one believes him anymore. Not even Sean, who has more reason to find Roza than anyone, and every reason to blame Finn for letting her go.

As we follow the stories of Finn, Roza, and the people of Bone Gap—their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures—acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the sum of who we are.

Everything about this book suggests I would love it. It doesn't hesitate to explore important topics like race and feminism. It's magical realism. Everyone and their dog rates it. But I just can't get into it. I've read, over the course of three months, 22% and I cannot get into it. I can't connect with the main character, can't figure out what the plot is, and I don't have a shred of interest in what happens - which I should have by this point. The only part I liked was one scene from another characters POV but I haven't heard from her since. I've tried around six times to read more than a few percent at a time but it's just not for me right now. I'm sad to say I can't finish this, but hopefully a few years from now I'll try it again and adore it. We'll see.

DNF at 22%

Toxic Love | Jax Garren

Published by: Silkwords, June 22nd 2014

Genre: Adult, Post-Apocalyptic

Pages: 187

Format: Ebook

Source: Silkwords, via Netgalley

A mutation allows Chloe to breathe the poisoned air of post-atoxalyptic USA. GenFriends promises her a life of luxury and ease … as soon as she picks a man to start making babies with. 

SilkWords LLC is the go-to source for interactive women’s fiction. Blurring the line between fiction and gaming, SilkWords.com offers high quality romance and erotica that allows individual readers to choose how stories proceed. Two formats are available: branched fiction ("pick your path") and linear stories that are produced with reader participation. Future phases will focus on development of a SilkWords community by adding more levels of interactivity for both authors and readers. SilkWords is a place for smart, busy, adventurous women to unwind and have fun. To learn more about our unique reading experience, visit www.silkwords.com.

I was hoping this would be a great little story, like A Heart For Copper, but I didn't enjoy it. I didn't connect to the main character, wasn't such a fan of the post-apocalyptic setting (since very little history was actually explained), and the romance just didn't feel right from the get go. I started to get the sense that it was more an erotic story with hints of apocalypse than the other way around, as I'd assumed. Possibly the cover should have tipped me off, but I was optimistic. Wish I liked this, but couldn't.

DNF

Lois Lane: A Real Work of Art | Gwenda Bond

Published by: Capstone, March 4th 2015

Genre: YA, Mystery

Pages: 17

Format: Ebook

Source: Capstone, via Netgalley

In high school art class, Lois Lane demonstrates her undeniable talent . . . but not for painting.

This is an official teaser short story for the young adult novel LOIS LANE: FALLOUT that takes place before Lois moves to Metropolis.

This short story is jam packed with personality, energy, and enthusiasm. I absolutely LOVED it! I wouldn't have thought it possible to get such a strong sense of Lois in these few pages but Gwenda Bond proved me wrong. This is such a fun little tale and gives the perfect insight into Lois's initiative and detective skills, and I for one cannot wait to get my hands on Lois Lane: Fallout.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Cover Reveal: House of Royals by Keary Taylor

House of Royals by Keary Taylor 

Expected June 21st 2015 

Genres: Fantasy, New Adult

Every town has its history and skeletons, but Silent Bend, Mississippi’s are darker than most. Ruled from the shadows by the House—the immortal Born and their aging, enslaved Bitten—everyone knows not to go out after dark and that the police will never look into crimes involving blood.

Alivia Ryan didn’t know the man who claims to be her father through a will even existed until she inherits the Conrath plantation. Instead of the sleepy house she expects, she finds a mansion and a staff who look at her with fear in their eyes.

Ian Ward tried to kill Alivia the first time they meet, and then insisted he train her to defend herself against the House, who he claims will try to manipulate and take her in for their own political reasons. And the growing attraction between them will threaten their lives—Ian is a sworn enemy of the House.

In Silent Bend, people disappear, the threat of a demented King and the legend of his resurrecting Queen hang over everyone’s heads, and proving loyalty means far more than blood. You’d better watch who you trust in this town…

About the Author:

Keary Taylor grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now resides on a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two young children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night. She is the author of THE EDEN TRILOGY, the FALL OF ANGELS trilogy, and WHAT I DIDN'T SAY. To learn more about Keary and her writing process, please visit www.KearyTaylor.com.

https://www.facebook.com/kearytaylor

https://twitter.com/kearytaylor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3420702.Keary_Taylor

Reading round up (71)

Reading round up is a weekly journal where I record my daily reading progress, my thoughts on each book as I read it, and any books I've acquired during the week.

23rd March

Finished Beauty Awakened by Gena Showalter and all the things I didn't like about the first book were improved upon! Only 1 sex scene! And only one use of the word decadent (and even that was decadence, so it doesn't really count.) This book was just what I needed.

I also started Fire Study by Maria. V. Snyder (101 pages read!) which is ALREADY PERF. Somehow way better than Magic Study, so I guess I just didn't like the Keep. I'm really liking Moon Man, and loving Leif (Always loving Leif!)

And I read 12% of Of Sea and Stone by Kate Avery Ellison, a book I've recently had the urge to read for no good reason. So far Of Sea and Stone is alright, but I can tell it's just set up. Waiting for the good stuff! (Although loving the hate-hate relationship between the two MCs!!)

24th March

I read 51% of Of Sea and Stone and this went in a completely different direction than expected. Hate Nol. Not sure about the story. And I'd like the setting if it didn't have the feel of an ordinary city plonked underwater... And that's not even mentioning how the MC and her situation feel entirely disassociated... (A girl who hs been a slave her entire life, and been punished by her masters, would not just shrug off a mistake. She'd wait for the blows to fall.)

25th March

I finished Of Sea and Stone which wasn't terrible but not good either, and I read 103 pages of Fire Study which is way better than Magic Study but I can't put my finger on what makes it so awesome.

26th March

I started Rite of Rejection by Sarah Negovetich (10% read.) It's a strange mash of futuristic dictatorship and 19th century traditions. I don't see how the US could have reverted to a 1800s society but I don't hate the idea of it.

I also read 72 pages of Fire Study, bringing me to 276. This book just gets better and better.

27th March

Had a strange day today so didn't get much read. I'm at 18% of Rite of Rejection (8% read today) and I don't know where this is going. Part of me likes it, part of me doesn't. I'm on page 396 of Magic Study (120 pages read) and this is perf. Valek almost dying and Lief being angry at Yelena both made me cry but it's still perf.

28th March

Finished Fire Study (45 pages) which was AMAZING. I am so glad I didn't read this series years ago, because now I have more Yelena and Valek to read!! <3

29th March

I read 23% of Death Marked by Leah Cypess which isn't as good as the first book so far :(
I also read Assassin Study by Maria. V. Snyder (15 pages) which was SO DAMN COOL. Valek POV makes my heart do a happy dance.

Books finished this week: 4
Books DNF'd this week: 0

 Witch Hunter | Virginia Boecker

Starborn | Lucy Hounsom

I AM SO DAMN HYPED TO HAVE THESE. ESPECIALLY STARBORN. THE PRECIOUSSSSSS.

I also got these AMAZON FREEBIES:

Divided | Eloise Dyson

Vengeance | AE Watson

Awoken | Sarah Noffke

Snow White Sorrow | Cameron Jace

The Arctic Code

Beauty Awakened

Magic Study

Of Sea and Stone (scheduled for April 1st)

Fire Study (date TBC)

Blitz: Orenda by Ruth Silver

Orenda by Ruth Silver 

(Orenda #1) 

Published December 5th 2014 by Booktrope Publishing

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Join forces with a parallel universe.

Dark forces, magical creatures, and the world Lil thought she knew collide when a dream transports her to the strange world of Orenda. Stunned and terrified, Lil comes face to face with her doppelganger, Willow, who possesses the ability to travel between the two worlds. Everything Lil knows logically says that Orenda can’t exist, but a small clue may be proof that it was more than an ordinary dream. With the threat of her sister in danger, Lil crosses dimensions but it may cost her even more than she bargained for.

A sword wielding girl, the eternal suit, and a parallel universe come together in this action-packed Young Adult fantasy adventure that will keep readers of all ages turning the pages.

 FREE on Amazon and iTunes right now

About the Author:

Ruth Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She has written under three unique pseudo names and penned well over a hundred stories. 

She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, "Deuces are Wild", which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories. 

Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She runs her own book blog and also enjoys photography and traveling.

http://writeawaybliss.com/

https://www.facebook.com/writeawaybliss?_rdr

https://twitter.com/writeawaybliss

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7022586.Ruth_Silver

GIVEAWAY

Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Ends April 2nd

a Rafflecopter giveaway