Snippets

Awakened by Krys Fenner My rating: 4 of 5 stars A quick YA fantasy! First off, I think all cats are magical, not just catalynx like Byglesworth! I think he was my favorite character of all, especially in how he interacted with those around him. Naimh, the main character is 13 years old, & way in over her head. He father had been keeping a secret from her until she started showing signs of her magical talents. I felt so bad for this poor kid, having to deal with issues no child should with almost no information at her disposal. I have to admit, I was angry with her father through most of the book. He kept so much from her, he thinks for her safety, but I think she should have been preparing for her roll in life before hand. My only qualm with the book was the dialect. I think I would have appreciated it more, had I been reading it allowed, instead of in my head, so I could wrap my mouth around the cadence and accent. On the page, it was hard to get into the flow. There w...

V Games by Caroline Peckham My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was a-mazing! Survival of the fittest. Hunger Games with vampires (and without the stupid love triangle). V Games in an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. It was so hard to put down and get stuff done (like sleep and cook supper). The story is told in dual perspective, with the majority of chapters going to the heroine, Selena. A girl sent to prison and then disappearing (without anyone to care, besides her mother) to be used as a contestant in the V games. Varick provides the opposite perspective, a vampire that has belonged to the Helsing family for a century or more. In the beginning, he is pure vampire, full of bloodlust & uncaring. His character has probably the best arc of the story as he finds threads of his former humanity. The romance is light, though I expect there will be more in future books! This book is totally different than any other vampire story I’ve read before. The story itself feels fresh a...

Hey, pack family! If you bought a paperback copy of Pack of Freaks, then you got this pattern in the back of the book. I thought I'd share my test knit with you! When I began editing, I knew I wanted to include a link to a comparable pattern to the one Gretchen uses in the book. I looked through some patterns and couldn't find any that I liked, so I wrote my own. Most of the ones I read through were knitted in the rounds and I wanted something more beginner-friendly so I took some measurements and gave it a go. To start, I didn't follow my own instructions. I didn't choose a soft yarn. I just grabbed a color I liked out of my pile. It did soften a bit in the wash, and I'm hoping it will soften with wear and washing, to get just the right amount of slouch. I'll let you take a gander at the pattern before I talk (type? write?) your ear off (eyes out? No, that sounds way grosser!): I took some pictures of the progress: The beginning...

Moss and Clay by Rebekah Jonesy My rating: 5 of 5 stars Let me start off by saying I love mythology in all its forms, be it ancient, folklore, or urban legends, it all fascinates me! Moss and Clay dives right into it, mixing Mab, the fairy queen, with modern-day America and urban legends. The story is well researched and beautifully written. I love the balance between Gillian’s newness and the memories she acquired from Mab, her father, and the Troll King. The police officer seems like he has an interesting lineage (7th son of a 7th son!) we only find out what Gillian does, so I hope he shows up again so we can learn more! Lastly, Pitch. I love this take on a kelpie. I’d love to see more kelpies in literature. Also, one of his forms is teased, but not revealed. I’m leaning towards loch ness monster, though we’re denied a description as Pitch himself wants to keep it secret (hence while I think Nessy) I can’t wait for book 2! Now that we’ve seen a siren, I want to see what c...

Lycan's Blood Queen by Catherine Edward My rating: 5 of 5 stars Lycan’s Blood Queen is a fast paced fun read. This PNR has it all: action, romance, mystery, drama! I enjoyed following main character, Mia, as she slowly uncovers her true nature. She is both strong and compassionate, two qualities that need to go together more often in female leads (it seems they are most often one or the other). The romance had a slow build up through the first half, then blossomed through the second. It was nice seeing the couple being what the other needed. The over all feel of the story is very much like the Underworld movie series, but with better character development. I can’t wait to read the sequel! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Available for preorder on Amazon for $3.99 View all my reviews

A Bite of Havoc by Miranda Brock My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was absolutely un-put down-able! Seriously! It’s hard to believe that Casamir could be redeemed after the events of Cirque Du Shadow: Book One, but Ms. Brock pulled it off with grace and style. Fiona was a fun new addition to the cast! She is bold, talented, friendly, & strong. I suspect that Whisper, her fox, is more of a familiar than a pet, especially with his judgement of Casamir! I love it when a villain becomes sympathetic, with a solid reason behind their madness. As for the villain in Bite, they were a total surprise. Love it! We also get a peek behind the madness that is Iris/Irwin, I cannot wait to dig into that one! I know that Mia’s story comes next, but I’m also hoping for a romance for Drum. The big softy needs his own happily ever after! Ms. Brock’s writing & style grows with each book and I’m loving reading through that journey. Someone needs to snag the rights for Cirque Du Sha...

Something Blue by Kristy Nicolle My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love a good Dystopian novel & I love a good romance. This book has both! The world the author created is fascinating. Arranged marriages based on a scientific formula was bound to have a dirty underbelly. It was all handled brilliantly! As for the romance (I’d probably put this book into the New Adult category, rather than YA), while the couple had their frustrating moments, they had a purpose. I loved how their romance and Valentine’s character arc meshed so well together. I also loved how real the story felt, despite the science fictiony feel of it! Available on Amazon for $6.99 View all my reviews

I think it has probably been waaaaay too long since I've written a book update on myself. It is time, pack family!  Pack of Freaks: Beasts Among Us - Book 2 is about to be released on the world. August 14th, to be exact!  I spent almost all of yesterday and today formatting and uploading the ebook and paperback onto KDP and I'm happy to say I'm done! I'm just waiting for the paperback to be approved so I can order my proof. If the computer screen tells the truth, it's gorgeous! Alright, so as the title of this post says I'm revealing the cover for you. You can see it above, right? How about a better look! This is the ebook cover. Say it with me: Oo! Aah! But wait there's more! I give you the full paperback wrap! This sensational piece of art was created by Mirella Santana. You can check out more of her work HERE (and I highly recommend you do!) How about a better look at the blurb: Being alpha isn’t easy. Gretchen wants a no...

Childhood's End by Jennifer Reynolds My rating: 5 of 5 stars This short story, set in the Shore Haven world, is fantastic! I think it may be and. Reynolds’ best short yet! It’s a great addition to the story line and I think you could get away with reading Childhood Ends before Shore Haven, though you’ll definitely want to read Shore Haven after, if you do. I really felt this one, right in the gut! Preorder on Amazon for $0.99! View all my reviews