War of Rain by H.W. Vivian

War of Rain by H.W. Vivian
Publisher: LuLu Publishing Services
Format: Paperback
Source: Received for review.

Fifteen year-old Miri lives in a desert village called Boreala, which competes with the city of Stratos for Rain - the equivalent of Holy Water. During a confrontation while gathering Rain, Miri accidentally kills a citizen of Stratos, and unintentionally starts a heinous war. Now it is up to her to find the God of Rain, Kalono, and ask Him for an invention that can bring both peace and war before Boreala is destroyed.

This was a really hard book for me to rate, I really did enjoy this book but at the same time it feels like it took me forever to get through. The story has a really interesting premise where the world is pretty much destroyed where it barely rains and there are little to no natural resources left and the humans have reverted to living in small villages and trading for goods and specialized products just like they did in the past.

I really liked Miri. She was tough and even though everything under the sun was thrown at her she always managed to come out on top. Philippe was my favorite character however. He's such a sweet boy and even though how he was raised should have affected how he acted it seems to have the complete opposite effect on this gentle boy.

The action through this novel kept me reading just to find out how it all ended. The fights were amazingly detailed and described and I do love some blood and gore. So if that isn't your type of thing maybe you could skim over those parts.

All in all I am extremely glad I was contacted by the author to review this book. I loved her previous novel Chasers and I'm looking forward to starting the companion novel for this story as well.


I received a copy of this book for review purposes this has in no way effected my views on this book and all opinions expressed are my own.

 

How to Protect Your Neighborhood from Circus Werewolves by Mick Bogerman

How to Protect Your Neighborhood from Circus Werewolves by Mick Bogerman
Series: Slug Pie Story, #4
Publisher: Slug Pie Stories LLC
Format: Paperback
Source: Received for review.

The circus is in town, and Mick Bogerman has a fail-proof plan to sneak inside the adults-only Macabre Pavilion. But there’s something weird about the A. Linville & Purnima Bros. Circus this year. Angry parents and crying kids exit early by the carload. Maybe it’s the clowns. Yes, they wear the standard stark-white faces and red bulbous noses, but underneath their painted smiles, there’s something not quite right. What's more, after the full moon rises . . . they howl. When Mick and his friends rescue a caged boy from the clown’s clutches they set off a series of disasters that threaten their entire neighborhood. Can Mick become the leader his neighbors need and protect them from the pack of hungry predators infiltrating their town?

When I was contacted by the publisher to review this book I was crazy excited to because I have read and reviewed the first three books in the series and absolutely loved them. This book was no different and to be perfectly honest this book has been my favorite so far.

It was great to see that Mick, Finley and their friends were up to their usual shenanigans and back to dealing with paranormal stuff in their little town. These kids have a lot of street smarts and can really handle themselves in any situation. Which is a good thing when you have werewolves hunting you down and threatening your town.

The action was great in this one I felt like so much happened and the book never once got dull. I love how all of the characters seem to be getting closer and helping each other out. That cliff hanger though why would you do that to me? I really want to know what is going to happen with Savannah in the next book!

If you haven't picked up this series yet I highly recommend it. It's great if you have kids or even if you're just a big kid at heart. These books are great fun and have enough action to keep adults entertained as well.

I received a copy of this book for review purposes this has in no way effected my views on this book and all opinions expressed are my own.

 

Tales of the Zodiac: The Goat's Tale by P.J. Hetherhouse

Tales of the Zodiac: The Goat's Tale by P.J. Hetherhouse
Series: Tales of the Zodiac, #1
Publisher: Amazon Createspace
Format: Paperback
Pages: 465
Source: Author for review.

The Tales of the Zodiac is a series inspired by Celtic mythology, Arthurian legend and, most importantly, astrology. Living in a time when Mother Nature has resumed control, the human race has regressed back to its feudal past. It is here, in two civilisations gripped by political intrigue and religious fanaticism, that the tales take place. We begin with Capricorn - The Goat's Tale.

When I was contacted by the author to do a review for the blog I was immediately intrigued by the books description. The premise sounded like something I have never seen done before in a novel and I am glad to say that I was not let down at all.

This book is unique, it has action and adventure. It seems kind of like fantasy but it also seems like it could happen for real too.

As far as the characters go the main character, Gruff was not my favorite. I loved Morrigan and Shara though. Morrigan was funny and constantly had me entertained even when the situations the characters were in seemed dire. Shara was a fantastic character as well, she was mysterious and not much about her is shown in this novel so I'm eager to find out more about her.

If you're into stories that have a lot of depth then definitely give this one a try. The entire time I was reading it I was fully immersed in the story and really didn't want to put it down. Though be warned there are some words throughout the story that seem to be part of the language of the characters and don't make much sense. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series to see where the characters head to next.



**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

How to Destroy the New Girl's Killer Robot Army by Mick Bogerman

How to Destroy the New Girl's Killer Robot Army by Mick Bogerman
Series: Slug Pie Story, #3
Publisher: Slug Pie Stories, LLC
Format: Paperback
Pages: 168
Source: Publisher for review.

When Savannah "Van Demon" Diamond comes to town she ruins everything for Mick. She takes over his favorite hang out, outruns him in gym class, and worst of the worst—his little brother has a crush on her. Devising a plan to get her kicked out of school and moved out of Beachwood is simple. Dealing with Savannah’s mind-blowing revenge is Mick’s most challenging adventure yet.
Join Mick as he thwarts insidious traps and deadly weaponry, fighting against the most cunning of enemies. Catastrophe looms for all of Beachwood unless Mick can put aside his pride, join forces with his rival, and destroy the new girl’s killer robot army.

 

When I was contacted to review this book I was so excited seeing as I really enjoyed the first two books in the series. This installment was just as wonderful as the first two and has me eagerly awaiting the release of book four.

 



 In this installment we get to meet a new character, a girl named Savannah. At first I didn't really like her but she quickly grew on me. She was witty and clever and all around fantastic. Mick and Finley were as lovable as ever and had me laughing out loud.

The story is written like a how to guide like the first two books and the pace is just as quick. There is never a dull moment with the shenanigans that the characters manage to get into and the problem that the kids were trying to fix was really cool. Who doesn't love killer robots?

If you want a fast paced, fun story for your kids (or if you like middle grade yourself) definitely give this series a chance! The characters are great and the stories are interesting and have quite a bit of action.

 

**Copy provided via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

Destiny's Gate by Lee Bice-Matheson and J.R. Matheson

Destiny's Gate by Lee Bice-Matheson and J.R. Matheson
Series: Paige Maddison, #2
Publisher: Friesen Press
Format: Paperback
Pages: 283
Source: Review.

Live from a place of love. It conquers all that is evil. Shaken by the haunting from Conall, Paige Maddison hopes to put it behind her. When Paige's premonitions, nightmares, and ghostly visions return, however, she realizes there is no way of getting back to the normal she once knew. Try as she might to adjust to her new life at the O'Brien Manor, dark forces begin to brew on the grounds of the haunted O'Brien estate. Paige becomes the unwilling target of the Earthbounds, anguished souls who seek revenge and retribution. But where there is darkness, there is also light. Through an enigmatic string of events that has her questioning who she truly is, Paige soon learns that she is not only being watched over by guardians of both the spirit and mortal realms, but also being called upon by a greater power beyond her wildest comprehension. As her world is turned upside down, Paige faces a life-changing dilemma: Should she embrace her special gift and fulfill the destiny that is unfolding before her? Or will she succumb to the evil that surrounds her and deny her true identity? Destiny's Gate, book two in the Paige Maddison Series, follows the young heroine on her personal journey of discovering inner strength, undying loyalty, and the profound power of unwavering love.

 

Even after reading the first book in this series and not liking it I had high hopes that this book would deliver the excitement and creep factor that I was hoping for. Unfortunately I was left feeling unenthusiastic and tired after struggling through this book. I had hoped that since the book was longer it wouldn't feel as rushed as the first book but it ended up feeling like everything was being pushed just for the sake of something happening.

 

I still did not like Paige. She is still just as unappealing as she was in the first book and I found that I enjoyed her character less as the book went on. I just ended up not really caring what happened to her and in a book where the plot doesn't grab me I hope the characters do.

 

Even after finding out what she was and what she could do Paige seemed way too calm about the whole situation. It just didn't seem realistic. The story seemed to drag on and I kept having to put the book down because I was getting extremely frustrated with the pacing and Paige.

 

I will not be continuing with this series. It was way too hard to get through this last book and I don't like feeling like I have to force myself to finish a book or series even if I am not enjoying it. Don't let my feelings discourage you however, you may love the book, it just was not for me.

 

 

 **Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

Wake Me Up Inside by Lee Bice-Matheson

Wake Me Up Inside by Lee Bice-Matheson
Series: Paige Maddison, #1
Publisher: Friesen Press
Format: Paperback
Pages: 104
Source: Review.

Wake Me Up Inside is a ghost story centered around a strong teen-age heroine, Paige Maddison, who is forced to move with her parents from Toronto to hicksville Ontario, to help look after her ailing grandparents. It is a story of discovering one’s heritage and uncovering secrets. What will Paige learn about her family’s past and what will she discover about herself as she moves through this journey?

Paige discovers that her maternal family home is a mansion called O’Brien Manor along with a guest house, condemned cottage and a graveyard. Before Paige leaves Toronto, she has nightmares and visions but does not realize they are of this place until she meets the ghosts haunting the Manor…

 

I was really excited to start this series when I was asked to review the first two books in the series, I was expecting a thrilling ghost story that would keep me guessing and would be really creepy and would keep me up at night hurrying to find out what happened. Unfortunately, the ghost story was not that interesting, the character's didn't really have me enthralled and the story somehow managed to drag by slowly yet at the same time everything felt rushed.

 

The plot sounded really cool, a girl having to go live in a fancy house where there seems to be a lot of secrets and ghostly things keep happening. It didn't really live up to everything it could have been, if only the book was longer maybe the story could have been developed more and it wouldn't have been resolved so quickly.

 

I did not like Paige at all. She was foolish and selfish. She only thought about herself and I did not really care what happened to her. The only characters I really liked were her grandparents even if they were kind of weird.

 

This book did not work for me, but if you like ghost stories but aren't into really creepy ones this one might be the way to go for you. The book is really short but keep in mind that the ending ends up being quite rushed.

 



**Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

Blind Stitches by J.B. Chicoine

Blind Stitches by J.B. Chicoine
Series: N/A
Publisher: Straw Hill Publishing
Format: Paperback
Pages: 300
Source: Review.

Nikolai Solvay has been dreading his sister’s wedding, but when his father dies unexpectedly two weeks beforehand, his return to New Hampshire promises to rake up his worst nightmares.

Meanwhile, talented young seamstress Juliet Glitch has been putting the finishing touches on the wedding dress. Mother of the bride—former prima ballerina and Russian expatriate—asks Juliet if she ‘would hem her blind son Nikolai’s trousers for the funeral’ … and the wedding.

When Juliet meets Nikolai, he draws her into the whirlwind of his unraveling family that makes her own quirky domestic situation seem normal. Confronted with the Solvay’s delusions and narcissism, Juliet must decide if her developing relationship with Nikolai is worth the turmoil as she deals with her own unreconciled past.

Either way, Nikolai cannot stave off the repressed memories surrounding his mother’s defection from the Soviet Union twenty years earlier. Against the backdrop of autumn 1989, during the Glasnost era, Nikolai’s family secrets crash alongside the crumbling Berlin Wall.

 

When I was offered the chance to post the Q&A with J.B. Chicoine I jumped at the chance because the book sounded really interesting, I was also offered the chance to read and review the book. Unfortunately I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

 

The book went way too slowly for me. I was hoping for more mystery than what was in the book and a little more action. What I got instead was a romance that seemed to progress too fast and a mystery that didn't really start unfolding until halfway through the book.

 

I did love the whole Russian aspect to it. I love learning about Russia and the fact that the book is set during a time where the Berlin wall was coming down and communism was still very much alive in Russia was a huge bonus that kept me reading, I really wish that there had been more of the history involved with the book though.

 

The thing that I enjoyed most about the book was the ending. Not because it was over but because so much happened. I don't want to give away spoilers but that ending seriously surprised me. I may eventually give the authors other books a try but for now I don't think I was in the mood for an adult romance.

 

 

 **Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid by Mick Bogerman

How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid by Mick Bogerman
Series: Slug Pie Story, #2
Publisher: Slug Pie Stories, LLC
Format: Paperback
Pages: 141
Source: Publisher for review.

All Mick Bogerman wanted to do was teach his little brother how to swim in the coolest swimming pool in town. He didn’t ask to take care of a bunch of Sea-Monkeys while he was there. He certainly didn’t mean to morph one of them into a mermaid by feeding it genetically enhanced super food. No one is more surprised than Mick when the creature starts luring unsuspecting adults into the deep end of the pool. Adults who don’t resurface.
Join Mick as he battles a powerful adversary: a bloodthirsty mermaid who hypnotizes with a golden gaze, shatters glass with a piercing shriek, and reveals her true menacing self by the light of a full moon.

 

I loved this book as much as I loved the first in the series. In this installment we get to follow Mick and Finley around as they deal with a mermaid. This installment had more moments of suspense where I was wondering just how Mick and Finley were going to survive the ordeal they got themselves into.

 

This story was written in a how to style guide like the first, this one however was longer and seemed to be more detailed than the first book in the series. This was a great thing because I really wanted to spend more time reading about the boys shenanigans and all of the trouble they got themselves into.

 

I didn't really like PJ in the beginning. He was selfish and snooty, and really only thought about himself and what he wanted. He really grew on me as the book went on however and I'm really hoping that there is more of him in the third book. I'm also really looking forward to seeing more of Mick and Finley's adventures.

 

Much like the first book in this series, this novel is full of humor and suspense with monsters thrown in that Mick has to deal with. These books really fly by as you're reading them and I highly recommend them if you're a middle grade reader or just want a quick fun story. I will definitely be picking up the third book when it comes out and continuing on with this series.

 



**Copy provided via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

An Ancient Gift and Other Stories by Jeanne Grunert

An Ancient Gift and Other Stories by Jeanne Grunert
Series: N/A
Publisher: Grunert Family Holdings, Inc.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 55
Source: Author for review.

An Ancient Gift and Other Stories is a collection of three “light” horror stories. These tales of the paranormal are akin to old-fashioned campfire stories - stories that offer a sense of the uncanny without the gore.

“The Glove” offers the chilling tale of a woman recounting how her grandfather’s prejudices - and gift for sorcery - terrorized a neighborhood boy. Is her son at risk, too?

“Friday Night Visitor” features the old trope of a deal with the devil. But unlike fiddle contests of old, Rita, our heroine, must guess a riddle to unveil the identity of the visitor and save the guy she loves.

“An Ancient Gift”, the title tale, offers glimpse at a reluctant psychic. Anna and her sister Amy are charged with clearing out her grandmother’s house for the real estate agents when they uncover an unusually wrapped package in her father’s childhood closet, a deck of antique tarot cards. Did their father have the ancient gift of divination, and does one of the sisters have it, too?

 

Don't let my two star rating fool you, I did enjoy the three short stories within this book quite a bit. However, I truly went into it thinking they were going to be creepier than they were. However, this is not necessarily a deal breaker because they were creepy in their own way, just not to the point where I was terrified.

 

Honestly I think the three stories would be good for middle grade readers who like creepy stories but aren't necessarily allowed to read all of the extremely scary ones out there.

 

I enjoyed the last story, also the one the book is named after, the most. An Ancient Gift delivered what I was hoping for with these stories. It was creepy and I was really looking forward to finding out what happened to the two sisters. The first story The Glove was strange, I didn't know what to expect and the ending definitely made me want to know more about the characters and what happened. Friday Night Visitor was my second favorite, the whole mystery surrounding what was going on and how everything turned out definitely kept me entertained.

 

The major issue I had with this book was the grammar and spelling mistakes. It took a little while for me to deal with the mistakes and accept them but it didn't make the book less enjoyable overall. With a little more editing I think this book would be good to go.

 

The three stories that make up this book are quick reads and they are definitely mysterious. If you want something that you will fly through that will have you curious as to what is going to happen in the end I would recommend you check this out. You may end up loving it more than I did.



**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

Stones of Power: The Exile by Eric Buffington

Stones of Power: The Exile by Eric Buffington
Series: Stones of Power, #1
Publisher: Center One Publishing
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Source: Author for review.

In a world where each person is born with a magic ability, the island of Denall is on the verge of an attack from a power hungry sorcerer, Mordyar, as he scours the world in search of the Stones of Power. While the stones are gathering and their power begins to be revealed, four boys leave their village on a rite of passage into adulthood and are swept into an adventure that will make men and heroes of them, if they can survive.

 

I'm generally not a huge fan of fantasy but I really want to try to read more of the genre. I was definitely surprised by the amount of enjoyment I had reading this book. I ended up getting absorbed in the story and rooting for the characters to pull through. And there was enough action to keep me turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen next.

 

The whole idea of these boys having to leave their village at 18 for a whole year to become men was interesting. The trouble they continually found themselves in was nerve wracking because I became so invested in these boys' story that I did not want anything horrible to happen to them, which of course everything that could go wrong did and although I didn't want that to happen I'm glad it did. Throughout the book Kaz really develops from a boy to a strong willed man.

 

The characters were a huge part of why I liked the story. Kaz was optimistic and no matter what happened he would do anything to help his friends. Farin was snarky and hard headed but he ended up being one of my favorite characters in the end. I was not as fond of Bendar as the others. He seemed off to me, throughout the book I kept wondering just what he was up to but I will say that he eventually grew on me.

 

If you're a fan of epic fantasy I think you would really enjoy this. It has adventure and action plus it focuses heavily on friendship and growing up. Even if you're like me and don't find yourself loving fantasy I really recommend giving this a try. You might just end up really loving it. I will definitely be reading the sequel when it's released since I need to know what happens to the characters.

 

 

**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**



Redcliffe: The Adventures of Two Southern Girls by Kathryn B. Hauer

Redcliffe: The Adventures of Two Southern Girls by Kathryn B. Hauer
Series: N/A
Publisher: Redcliffe Management LLC
Format: Paperback
Pages: 207
Source: Author for Review

Having a best friend makes everything more fun! Join Caroline and Cassie as they chase down a runaway horse, rescue an orphan, teach hummingbirds to eat from their hands, visit a blind fortune-teller, unite star-crossed lovers, organize an elaborate Christmas pageant, and lose a little girl in a hide-and-seek game gone wrong. Sounds like fun any girl could have, doesn't it? Guess what - Caroline and Cassie live in South Carolina back in 1840, without cell phones, TVs, or cars. But living back then doesn't put the brakes on their crazy, fast-paced lives. Do you think that girls in history were dull and dutiful? Not these two partners in adventure...in a house where the grown-ups aren't paying much attention, Caroline and Cassie get in - and out - of their share of trouble. Redcliffe is a book-within-a-book where modern-day best friends Bailey and Bianca lead readers to our heroines. When Bailey and Bianca go to their teacher's wedding, a mean guest shocks them with unkind words. The stories their teacher tells them explain that racist comment and take the girls back into the antebellum South where they - and you - get to know Caroline and Cassie. Living on an immense Southern cotton plantation means plenty of excitement for two fun-loving girls. Can Caroline and Cassie manage to stay out of trouble for more than one chapter? Find out in this lively novel where girls like you have non-stop adventures.

 

If you know me at all then you know I enjoy Middle Grade novels immensely. When I had the chance to read this book for review purposes I was beyond excited. I absolutely love anything to do with the American South around the time of the Civil War this includes the antebellum period as well as reconstruction.

 

Even though this book happens mostly during the 1840's in Pre-Civil War South Carolina, the beginning and end of the book is set during modern times focusing on a Caucasian and African American set of friends. The rest of the story is during the 1840's and focuses on a plantation owner's daughter who just so happens to be friends with the girl who is her slave.

 

For the most part the book is kept pretty light, which is good for the age level it is intended for, there are however times when the harsh realities of the time period are shown which I was grateful for. It was handled in a way that wouldn't be too harsh for middle grade children but still shows that life for slaves wasn't a wonderful thing.

 

Out of the two sets of girls, Caroline and Cassie were my favorites. They were smart and interested in learning. They didn't let the stigma's of the time they lived in get in the way of their friendship even though Caroline technically did own Cassie, I really do believe that they cared about each other. I think if more time was spent with Bailey and Bianca that those characters would have been interesting as well, but since only 3 chapters were spent with them I didn't really form any attachments to them.

 

As much as I enjoyed the focus and how it was portrayed, the grammar was a major issue for me. There were times where I was reading and there would be a word out of place or an extra word that didn't need to be there and it really threw me off.

 

Even with the issues with the grammar, I think this would be a good book for Middle Grade readers because it introduces history in a way that isn't too brutal but also promotes understanding that life was not good for slaves during the Civil War era.

 

 



**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**