Unbound

Anyone who has followed my book reviews, knows that I love supernatural and spiritual warfare fiction novels. That is precisely why I jumped at the opportunity to review Unbound, the first novel in The Omega Trilogy by J.B. Simmons. It is based in the near future where technology has advanced quite considerably with people allowing themselves to be implanted with a device known as precepts, a computer that responds to your thoughts and enables only you to have access to it unless you agree to sync with another user. Everything in this future is activated by a wrist like implant that allows you to pay for items or even activate users to your internal precept. Security is the main goal in this new futuristic world and those lucky enough to pass the test, can become spies for the International Security Agency or ISA to combat terrorists threats all over the globe.

Elijah Goldsmith, a young Jewish man who is among the wealthy and finishing up college has applied but not without much reservations. Elijah, like his Bible predecessor, has been having what he can only call nightmares of a dragon rising from a giant hole in the ground in the city of Rome after a great earthquake. A charismatic man is also there who speaks to the dragon and then Elijah wakes up. Each night without fail he experiences the same nightmare even with the help of the sleep pills he's been taking to avoid having them. He is struggling with his own faith because none of these things make sense to a Jewish boy. Jesus was just a great guy and nothing more right? The book of Revelation is just something that should never been added to the Bible because all it contains is symbolic myths of a future that some man dreamed. Is not real right? Or is it?

I received Unbound by J.B. Simmons compliments of Believers Media for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the book for my honest review. The opinions contained here are strictly my own. While the reviews on this novel compare it to a mix of The Da Vinci Code meets Hungry Games meets Left Behind, I would disagree. It is more along the lines of Left Behind with a bit more science fiction tossed in for good measure. It was an enjoyable read but the storyline took quite awhile to get to the meaning of the purpose of ISA and Elijah's involvement with it as well as the friends he interacts with along the way. While knowing this is the first novel in the series, I felt the author raced a bit to get to the action level, the purpose of Elijah's dreams, and kinda left us feeling left behind ourselves. I am hoping that the next novel might offer a bit more than what this one did and I was left feeling like I really wanted to know more before moving forward. I would rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and for fans of books like Left Behind, you might want to check this one out as well.

For more information about Unbound, J.B. Simmons or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Unbound by J.B. Simmons

You can find J.B. Simmons on Facebook to stay up to date with all his latest novels.

You can pick up a copy of Unbound through Amazon or your local book retailer.

Edna in the Desert

Picture a place in the middle of the desert. A place in which there are no other buildings around. No restaurants. No stores near by. No wireless service. No Internet. No life, at least according to Edna. This where she will spend her entire summer. Her grandmother, an unfriendly old woman with her hands on her hips like a five-star general. Her creased, emotionless face emerged in the sun would be her only human contact besides her grandfather who sat perpetually on the porch in his rocking chair until it was time for bed.

When Edna's parents are finally at wits end on what to do with her combativeness in both high school as well as trying to raise her in their household, they agree that spending the summer with her grandparents in Desert Palms might be the only thing that will work. The more they punish her the more disrespectful she becomes. But Edna doesn't consider Desert Palms a town, more like "coordinates on a map. After her latest incident at school involving socks, her father finally had had enough. Both of her parents had undertaken a military-like approach to this maneuver, and they were not turning back despite what she promises to do.

This would be the final straw. Her parents refused to consider medication and there was increasing pressure from the therapist to send her to a psychiatrist. It was time to do something radical. It seems she was always looking to prove herself to people and she simply didn't have respect for anyone.

"Edna, you have no respect for others. It can't go on, and it's not going to be tolerated,' Jill said.

"If it can't go on, it won't need to be tolerated. You're getting illogical-"

"And you're getting a lot of time to think."

Edna pictured herself trapped in her grandparents' dreary world. She was no longer sure if she was breathing. Hopefully she would pass out quickly and die. Until then she couldn't reveal any further weakness. Perhaps if she seemed happy about this idea it wouldn't seem like enough of a punishment, and her parents might change their minds. She could only hope that there was no way they were serious and that this was merely a sadistic joke, but the main challenge at the moment was to keep from crying."

I received Edna in the Desert by Maddy Lederman compliments of the author herself and eLectio Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. I think every parent can relate to this novel partly because at times our children have had that stubborn rebellious streak in them. That no matter what we try to take away or how many times we might punish them, the behavior remains. I love the approach that Edna's parents take to send her to a place where there is no technology, no internet, nothing remotely similar to a life she left behind. IN fact, they just got a telephone so they aren't that far behind in the times. She has to learn to contend with things for the entire summer and her grandmother is definitely NOT someone you'd want to upset. The desert will offer more than Edna could bargain for and in many ways she will not return as the young girl she was when she arrived. There is some age appropriate material in this novel that I would strongly suggest isn't ideal for young teens when Edna encounters Johnny, a seventeen year old boy she finds she is attracted to. I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars for that reason and is a true coming of age story in many ways. This is Maddy Lederman's debut novel and I know that this will be the first of many in her future!

For more information about Edna in the Desert, Maddy Lederman or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Edna in the Desert by Maddy Lederman

You can also find Maddy Lederman on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels. 

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: eLectio Publishing (September 9, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615884733
• ISBN-13: 978-0615884738
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches

Anomaly

There are only a handful of humans remaining after the Nuclear War decimated what used to be the world as we know it. Only for those of us left, we don't have any memory of that world. All we have are the lessons we study about the world that once was. We are segregated by generations and in my Pod C, there are only about thirty of us. Each of us has a talent that only we alone possess. For me, Thalli, I am a musician. I can read and create music as though that was all I was born to do. For my roommates they have their own special skills, cooking, inventing, designing and even logical thinking. We are kept away from the other Pods B and A, as they are another generation ahead of us. We have no parents and we don't even consider those of us dwelling in this Pod as friends really. We just go about our days like we're supposed to only for me, I am considered an anomaly, because I think. I ask too many questions. I wonder why more than I just accept things like my Pod mates. My only ally is Beck who is a wonderful scientist and who sense there is more to me than I am supposed to be.

Whenever illness comes, we are removed and never seen again. They call it annihilation and we cease to be. Thanks to a group of scientists known as The Ten, we are able to live and find ways to grow food beneath the ground. We can't go above because the air is toxic and we would simply die. So for now, we continue to work on finding a way to survive in this existence, but if they learn that I am not all I am supposed to be, it will be my turn for annihilation. Only scientists are allowed to ask questions and to wonder why. I am simply to create music. However when I am asked to play an old piece of music left behind by the world before us, I can't hide the emotions that the song brings out in me. Now I am moved to isolation and the experiments begin to see if I possess anything that can be useful before I am annihilated.

But will the world I believe is my home turn out instead to be a virtual one? A simulation so real that all of my senses are engaged and I can not longer differentiate from what is real and what is not? What is my true calling in this life? Is there hope for something more than simply what I was created to be? How much longer will I be allowed to live before I am no longer a viable option?

In the novel Anomaly by author Krista McGee, Thalli is a young girl who begins to wonder if there is something more than what she has been lead to believe her whole life. She knows nothing of parents, love or God other than what she is reading about through her history lessons on her learning pad. This calls into question what would happen if just a handful of humans remained on the earth after a horrible nuclear war. How would they survive? What would they do to maintain law and order in their society? This is just that premise that Krista breathes to life in this dystopain fiction that sounds like a futuristic version of Lord of the Flies. I absolutely LOVED all the shifting of realities and soon found myself questioning what is real or isn't in this wonderful science fiction young adult novel. For anyone who loves this type of genre, you will not be the slightest bit disappointed.

I received Anomaly by Krista McGee compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for a favorable review. Knowing how quickly we are creating our own virtual reality's in video games, this one really took me by surprised and wondered just how far along are we really. This really does create a sense of what if, when you read this one and makes us question just how beneficial is technology in the future. How will this world survive if we found ourselves in the situation Krista created in this novel. This is definitely a novel that makes you wonder how you would handle creating a lasting remnant if given the chance. How much freedom would you allow people to have? I rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and there's even some discussion questions included for book groups or small group study.

For more information about Anomaly, Krista McGee or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Anomaly by Krista McGee

You can find Krista McGee on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Anomaly on the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here.


Krista McGee is celebrating the release of Anomaly, the first book in her new YA dystopian series, with an iPad Mini Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card (download Anomaly to the iPad!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 31st. Winner will be announced at Krista's website on August 2nd.

Spread the word about Krista and her giveaway HERE!

Hobo

If you're looking for a delightful story with a beautiful message of love and hope for your teenage child, then look no further than Hobo by Sandra Farris. It's truly a short story of a boy named Joby Richards who while out exploring around the woods and lands near his house, he comes across a dog he calls Hobo. Hobo is actually a tan-colored dog who belongs to Mr. Robbins, a local hermit and trapper who is usually gone for long periods of time, often leaving his dog behind.

Joby has a really affection for the dog and begs his parents, Sarah and Ben Richards to let him take care of the dog while Mr. Robbins is away from his home. While considering his offer, his parents insist that he gets permission from Mr. Robbins first but until Joby does, they insist he keep some distance between himself and the dog considering he seems a bit wild at times.

However when a stranger shows up at the Richards farm one day in need of help, they learn he has been attacked by a local dog that fits the description of Hobo. His parents remind Joby that the dog doesn't belong to him and he may be in danger if he gets too close. The stranger, a man named Smith tells the family he isn't done with the dog and if he sees him again, he will shoot the dog.

I will leave the rest of this delightful story a mystery and will have to say that it truly does have a powerful message behind it. It's also a must for pet lovers everywhere!!! I received Hobo by Sandra Farris compliments of the author for my honest review and I have to say it reminds me a bit of a shorter version of Old Yeller which has always been a classic and a favorite of mine! I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars! This book is available on ebook format!

For more information on Hobo, Sandra Farris, and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Hobo by Sandra Farris

You can also find Sandra Farris on Facebook by clicking here.

13 Little Blue Envelopes

Ginny Blackstone, a 17 year-old-girl has always admired her eccentric Aunt Peg, who has traveled all over the world, experiencing life on a whim and just going with the flow of things. When she learns that Aunt Peg has died of a brain tumor without being able to say goodbye, Ginny learns of an unexpected plan that her Aunt Peg hatched in her moments of clarity. She receives a letter from Aunt Peg with $1000 cash and instructions to get a passport, purchase a ticket to London and take only what she can fit in a backpack. She can't take any electronic devices like cell phones, lap top or even any extra cash or ATM card. She is also not allowed to browse the internet before she leaves to gain any travel information about London.

There is one stop she must make before heading to the airport, she has to stop at the 4 Noodles in New York and retrieve a package. She can not open the package until she is on the plane. So Ginny does what most of us might do, she carries out the instructions and heads for New York to retrieve the package. While in route to London, she learns the package contains a letter and 13 little blue envelopes. The letter is once again from Aunt Peg who instructs her that each of these envelopes contain a task for her to complete. Once she completes the task, she can open the next envelope until she reaches the end. What Ginny learns through completing these series of tasks is that she gets to spend time with her Aunt Peg even though she isn't around and in the process learns a lot about herself along the way.

I received 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson as a Free Kindle Ebook and am so glad I did. Even though this book is written for the Young Adult audience, it's truly got a message tucked within the pages of this book that everyone needs to read. So the question is what if you received a message containing $1000 and instructions to obtain a passport and ticket to London, would you go? Trust me, you're going to love this book and now my 18-year-old daughter is planning on reading this one right after me. I would rate this adventure a true 5 out of 5 little blue envelopes!

For more information on this book, the author and even where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the link below:

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Invisible

Lola’s not pretty. Lola’s not popular. Lola wishes she could disappear … and then one day she does just that…

For seventeen-year-old Lola Savullo, life is a struggle. Born to funky parents who are more in than she could ever be, Lola’s dream of becoming a writer makes her an outsider even in her own home. Bullied and despised, Lola still has the support of her best pal Charlie and Grandma Rose.

Not only is she freakishly tall, Lola’s a big girl and when forced to wear a bathing suit at her summer job as a camp counselor, Lola’s only escape from deep embarrassment seems to be to literally vanish. Soon after, she discovers the roots of her new “ability”.

Slowly, with Charlie’s help, Lola learns to control the new super power. The possibilities are endless. Yet power can be abused, too…

Then, when tragedy strikes, Lola must summon her inner strength, both at home and at school. She has to stand up for herself, despite the temptations and possibilities of her newfound super power.

A coming-of-age story that will warm the heart.

My Review:

Who hasn't wished at some horrible point that they could simply disappear or become invisible? This is just the beginning for a girl like Lola who is constantly being bullied at school based on her appearance of being tall and fat unlike the others in school. However when a boy by the name of Jon suddenly takes an interest in her seeing past her outer appearance, Lola feels that she can trust him with her new found secret in hopes of finally finding the perfect guy for her.

Along the journey through her year in school, Lola's source of contentment lies with her grandmother who confides in her that the power she possesses is a family secret! She teaches Lola how to use it not for revenge on those that have hurt her but to use it for the benefit of making her a better person. She struggles dealing with her parents who seem to be stuck in their own high school years, dressing and acting much younger than they really are, and a sister who will never understand the personal struggles, Lola faces.

This is such a great book for anyone who has ever been faced with the challenge of peer pressure or bullying. This story teaches Lola that rather than seeking revenge, she should use her abilities to see them as they really are and in the process come to a unique understand that appearances on the outside really aren't who people are on the inside.

I received Invisible by Jeanne Bannon compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and found such great insight on seeing things from a different perspective on those that have dealt with peer pressure and bullying and how they really feel on the inside. For that reason alone, this rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are some uses of profanity in the book but it doesn't take away from the storyline, however some readers may find this offensive.

Here's an extra special treat, this ebook is available on Amazon and Smashwords for only .99 til December 16th! For more information about the book, the author and even where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Invisible by Jeanne Bannon

You can also follow more reviews on this book tour by clicking here.

Becoming Me: Diary of A Teenage Girl - Caitlin #1

If you have ever wondered what the average high school girl would write about in her diary, then look no further than Melody Carlson's, Becoming Me: Diary of A Teenage Girl, Caitlin #1 . The reader is taken into the diary of Caitin O'Connor, a sixteen-year old Junior in high school dealing with all the things a typical girl would and chronicles her journey in a diary.

From what it's like with her best friend Beanie, who has been with her through thick and thin, dealing with a father who was addicted to cocaine and subsequently left her and her mother, Beanie is the friend, who Caitlin believes will always be there for her. Until she wonders what it would be like to hang out with the popular kids. When Caitlin is involved with Jenny Lambert, cheerleader and the most popular girl in school, during a honor society task for decorating for the Valentine's day dance, Caitlin, soon discovers that life on the other side isn't always greener. Choosing to ignore her friend Beanie, rather than risk introducing her to the popular group she is now a part of, she finds life is a whole lot different.

When Caitlin is invited to a birthday party of Heather's boyfriend and her parents agree to let her go, simply because she is attending it with Jenny, she finds out that the parents aren't home and alcohol is now flowing. Even though she knows better than to drink at the party, fearing what may happen to her if her parents find out, she nonetheless agrees to let Jenny driver her home, after Jenny swears she's fine to drive. She writes that even her parents have cautioned her against under age drinking, she tells that no one told her how to avoid what to do when a friend is drunk and you have no way home.

I received this book compliments of Glass Roads Public Relations for my honest review and think that both parents and teens should read this book together. It definitely gives parents an idea from a teen's perspective on what they think and what is important in their lives growing up in high school. It provides an outlet that parents and their teens can open discussions up to what they can do when faced with any of this situations and create a more open communication with their kids. I would rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know what is going on with our kids today and what they are thinking.

For more information about this book, the author or where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Becoming Me: Diary of A Teenage Girl - Caitlin #1 by Melody Carlson

You can also find Melody on Facebook by clicking here.

Under a Fairy Moon

Every garden has the possibility for a child with an imagination. For Addy Marten, her garden belonged to the neighbor Mrs. Tavish, who rumor has it was a reported witch. Yet whenever Addy saw her, she was just an old woman, in a brightly colored flowered dress with a large hat who loved working in her garden and talking to her flowers.

Whenever Mrs. Tavish wasn't in the garden was when Addy would sneak in, to the deepest part, beneath the thick overgrown shrubs, next to the bubbling creek to the center where the statues stood. This is the place where her imagination came to life and where the garden would become more than just a make believe place for young girls to play.

In the novel, Under A Fairy Moon by T. M. Wallace, the reader is immersed in a magical world of a little girl who has just moved into a new home in Windy Falls and discovering all kinds of wonder locked within the garden of her neighbor Mrs. Tavish. She takes part in an adventure with a young boy in a yellow raincoat named Conner, when they both become separated in the world and must reunite before the Mid Summer. A perfect blend of A Secret Garden meets Narnia, the reader is in for a delightful surprise from the very first page. For anyone who dreams of Wonderland and becoming their own Alice, then this is truly the book for you. Just the kind of magic that makes us all children once more.

I received this book compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review, and can't wait to read this one with my 13 year old daughter who is bound to make this one a personal favorite. Filled with the delights of any child, in a secret world that adults don't know about, this feels like The Bridge to Terabithia meets Alice in Wonderland. You aren't quite sure if she is imagining it all or if this is really happening. I would rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and great for middle school readers who love fantasy adventure books. This one will not want to be one that is missed.

For more information about this book, the author and where to get a copy of this enchanting book, please click on the links below:

Under A Fairy Moon by T. M. Wallace

Tyger Tyger

Teagan Wylltson thinks her friend, Abby is joking. But Abby swears that she's psychic. And she's dreamed that horrifying creatures - goblins, shape-shifters, shadows, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty - are hunting her friend.

Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives.

Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dream, because he's talking about goblins too...and about being the Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind.

Finn has survived alone on the streets since he was twelve, so he knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right.

The goblins are coming. (Excerpt from back cover)

My Review:

The story telling and writing style form this author seems a little disconnected at first. It took several chapters of character development and background to really get moving for me. I did like the book once it kicked into 3rd gear after about chapter 5 to really get interesting. Once hooked though, it takes you to a magical world filled with wonder, mystery and intrigue. I would like to continue reading the Goblin War Series books if the characters and plot catches you earlier within the first 3 chapters.

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton, is definitely geared for a young adults read! The imagination of the author takes you into a different story unlike any that are out in the market today. The Celtic History telling and mythology from the time tells about Goblins and the old world of Ireland which is very interesting. I am going to pass this onto our children to see how they like it. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars due to the first few chapters just seemed to be a little hard to get through as you learn about the main female, her friends and a mysterious stranger that comes to live with her family.

I received this book compliments of Kersten Hamilton personally for my honest review and can't wait to read the next in this series of books. For more information on the book, the author or where to purchase your copy, click on the title of the book below:

Tyger, Tyger