Category Archives: Uncategorized
Book Review – Rosy by Suzanne Tyrpak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As a fan of author Suzanne Tyrpak’s other novels (both which are more historical in nature) I was pleased to discover that she writes just as well no matter the time period or sub-genre of the book.
Not every author can pull of a novel with some of the things that this one contains (violence, betrayal, sadism) without it being bleak and depressing. Tyrpak’s that talented- even after reaching the novels conclusion I felt light and sated the way one does after feasting on a worthy tome.
Spooktacular Giveaway Hop
Have I said before how much I love this time of year?
Mmmm. Fall. Halloween. English Toffee lattes and Sweet potato pies.
And of course, for all the wonderful chances to get FREE books and swag through the seasonal Blog hops! I’m participating in one such Halloween hop that has soooo many participating Authors and sites that my head is spinning and I’m giddy with the excitement of it all.
In case you don’t understand how a “hop” works, just click the banner above and find yourself with gads of other sites to “hop” on over to. Each site is giving something away, whether free books or cool swag, so definitely check out the other sites and see what you can win!
Now, for my Giveaway:
I’m offering up a paperback copy of Kill Me for your reading pleasure, an ebook copy of Kill Me, and a cool little mini-poster that features the Kill Me cover art (autographed too!)
Mini Book Review – WBI: Witches Bureau of Investigation by Richard Capwell
WBI: Witches Bureau of Investigation by Richard Capwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Fun, zany book geared towards a younger audience, but surely fun for the adults as well. The kids were funny, and the supporting cast of characters quirky, “real” and should make for interesting plot lines in the future. (I’m assuming this is a series, or will be).
The magic is of the Samantha Stevens / Nanny McPhee variety and not too scary or heavy for the younger kids either. Off to see if there is another book out yet 
The Blurb from Amazon:
By chance, eleven-year-old twins Nate and Herman Howe meet Mrs. Weatherby, a retired member of the Los Angeles branch of Witches Bureau of Investigation. The boys ask her to help find their mother, who has been missing for six months. Reluctantly, Mrs. Weatherby agrees, though all of her licenses to work magic have expired. She reaches out to her old colleagues, for information and assistance, but they soon uncover a dangerous plot that threatens the safety of the entire world. The Bureau may be compromised, so it’s up to Mrs. Weatherby’s band of old agents to follow the clues and keep the horrors of history from resurfacing.
Book Review – Broken Shell Island by Dalya Moon
Broken Shell Island by Dalya Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
First off, I really need to point out that this book was totally clean. As in, G-rated-not-so-much-as-an-innuendo clean. Those of you that know my work might have been confused, so I felt like I needed to clarify that from the get-go.
Now, to the meat of things. Broken Shell Island was one heck of a ride. It’s been a while since I’ve read something targeted to the often-more imaginative younger generation and reading this book reminded me of the magic of innocence and how inventive and creative writers can be when they shrug off the status-quo of adulthood.
Moon writes with crisp clarity, even when the story calls for suspended disbelief. After reading this book, I’m almost convinced that there really is a Broken Shell Island out there, and this novel was just a clever book-inside-a-book-inside-a-book plot!
While the writing style pulled it all together, the perfected details made this story. The Goats! I loved those little guys. And the tiny, bubbling bit of magic that saved the day– just goes to show that no matter how inconsequential a talent, it could very well come in handy in the right moment.
I’ll certainly read more books by Dalya Moon, even though my tastes usually run more adult.
Alex Owens Has A New Website
There are always thing that need doing when it comes to publishing and promoting, and one such item on our To Do list has been (for a while) was to get Alex her own author site.
Well, procrastination be damned! We’ve finally done it.
So hop on over to Alex’s new site, sign up for her email updates and take a glimpse into her sometimes-warped mind.
The Official site of Author Alex Owens
Related articles
- Kill Me featured on Indie Author Anonymous (quirkygurl.com)
- Kill Me, by Alex Owens is now available on iTunes! (quirkygurl.com)
Kill Me featured on Indie Author Anonymous
I just got some exciting news… our novel Kill Me was featured as a Golden Review book over on Indie Author Anonymous!
It’s cool enough that the good folks over there chose to feature Kill Me, but to aslo recognize that it has great ratings so far is even better! (*Golden Review books have to have at a minimum 10 reviews on Amazon, and have an average of 4 stars or better on the 5 star scale.)
This from their post…
GOLDEN REVIEW Book! “Kill Me” by Alex Owens
**Every GOLDEN REVIEW book has at LEAST 10 reviews; averaging a four star rating.**
“When I started reading Kill me, the first in a trilogy by new author Alex Owens I expected the usual – Vampires, Intrigue, Drama and a little bit of Spice. What I did not expect was the hilarious writing! A few pages into the book and it is crystal clear that Owen’s strong suit is her ability to hit the funny bone every few sentences. ”
Read more over on IndieAuthorAnonymous now!
Kill Me, by Alex Owens is now available on iTunes!
Finally! The first book in the new Blood Chordseries, Kill Me, is available on iTunes via the iBook store. I’d post a link directly to it, but I can’t figure out how to snag the link 
If anyone knows how to snag a direct book link from iBooks, I’d sure love to know!
Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! The Hubs, Kiddo’s and I are off to an extended weekend of relaxation in the mountains of VA! I’m going to sit by a waterfall and zone out… even if it kills me
Source: alexmody.com via Karen on Pinterest
“Kill Me” Novel is Rolling Out to More Vendors (with coupon code!)
Hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday. Seriously
The first novel in the Blood Chord Series, Kill Me, has finally ended its ninety-day stint in the Amazon Select program, so now it’s on the way out to the other major book retailers. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks to show up everywhere, so I’ll have to pop back in with updates as they become available.
For now, you can view (or better yet, purchase, which would earn you major book karma points!) Kill Me at the following vendors:
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Amazon: Kindle ebook or paperback
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Paperback via Createspace
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Barnes & Noble: ebook
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Smashwords (multiple ebook formats)
- And also KOBO (added 7/17)
And to give readers something to get lost in while lounging on the beach or by the pool, I’ve decided to offer a coupon for 50% off the list price at Smashwords.
Just click the link, add the book to your cart and input the coupon code: RV36V and you will be able to download whatever ebook format will work with your ereader. But hurry, the coupon is only good through August 1st!
Happy Reading!
(All vendors will be listed on the Blood Chord Series site, so check there too!)
The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton – Quickie Book Review
The Mind Readers by Lori Brighton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Mind Readers is about… you guessed it, a girl that can read minds. On the cusp of adulthood, the main character has become used to hiding her ability so that her and her grandmother don’t have to move again and start over. “Self-preservation first” is the motto. But motto’s can only get a girl so far…
Overall, a great paranormal tale with enough intrigue and twists to keep most adults happy despite the YA (read: PG-ness)and what seems like a promising start to a new series. I can’t wait to see what book two holds and how things will pan out after the ending of this first book. Read it!
Jolie Wilkin’s Series (Books 1-3) by HP Mallory – Quickie Book Reviews
Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory (Jolie Wilkins Book #1)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
**I read book 3 first (as an ARC) and loved it. So I went back to the beggining of the series to get my Rand / Sinjin fix!**
In some regards, this series starts out as a lot of typical paranormal chick books. Under-confident gal meets mysterious stranger, her life is upended and in the end she gets her hunk and some wicked-cool superpowers.
But this was not your typical paranormal.
Yes, Jolie has a little business reading people’s cards (fortunes) but her powers are hit-and miss. Other than her cat and an adorable BFF, she doesn’t have much of a social life. Then in walks Rand– a hunky, aloof guy with a job offer and more curiosity about her than Jolie can bear. But it’s not all “White Knight swooping in to save the day”. Oh, no.
The twists and turns are almost addictive. And the men, oh, the men. Introspective Rand. Hot-blooded (cold-blooded) Vampire Sinjin. Don’t expect your typical love triangle though.
As with the rest of the book, Mallory keeps every facet of this series fresh, smart and sassy. She knows how to build the uh, tension, as the story reaches it’s climax, only to leave the reader wanting more
Toil and Trouble by H.P. Mallory ( Jolie Wilkins Book #2)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
**I read book 3 first (as an ARC) and loved it. So I went back to the beggining of the series to get my Rand / Sinjin fix!**
I adore this series, even more than I love Nutella, the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, or my inexplicable love of all things 80′s. I loved watching Jolie as she becomes her destiny. I become frustrated right along side her when Rand is being hard-headed, and (dare I say it?) I blush when she does at the latest of Sinjin’s attempts to woo her.
I reviewed the Third Book a while back here, but I’ll repost for again for convienence
Witchful Thinking by H.P. Mallory (Jolie Wilkins Book #3)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having not read the first two books in this series, I expected to be a little behind while reading it. But there is enough back-story in this book that I got most everything that happened prior to this novel. I could see that as a lot of filler for someone who had already read the previous books though, but I guess that’s the price you pay for trying to keep everybody happy.
Overall, I really liked the main character Jolie, and I seem to be just as confused about her possible love interests as she is. (I wanted to whack Rand upside his handsome face a few times and Sinjin surprised me quite a few times too ~swoon!) The plotting kept me going and I finished this book in about three hours on this lazy Sunday afternoon.
That being said, a few things bugged me. Jolie doesn’t want to be the Queen, yet she seems to be falling right into the “I’m the Queen, so you have to do it” mantra. Also, a few things seem to be accepted a little too easily, or forgotten fairly quickly. Take the Prophetess (or priestess, I forget already) Mercedes… Surely I can’t be the only one who smells something rotten in Denmark here. She finds out something, or somehow knows a helpful tidbit, and no one questions it. Even when it seems hinky.
I’ll read more by Mallory of course, back to the beginning to see if that makes me feel better about this book. Overall I really liked it, but I wanted to love it– you know?
My only regret now is that I have to wait for the fourth book to come out!
Moon Dance by J.R. Rain (Vampire For Hire #1) – Quickie Book Review
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting take on the VAMPIRE mythology (including a nod to some old school myths). Well written and I will be reading more from this author.
I instantly felt a bond with Samantha, a tough-on-the-outside wife and mother with her own insecurities, despite being a kick-arse vampire private investigator. Her husband is growing more distant by the hour, she’s jugular-deep in her latest case, and even though it’s been a few years since an attack left her this-side of supernatural, she’s still struggling with the morality and reality of her situation.
Once I realized that this was a “vampire Mom” series, I couldn’t wait to read it. (Other than the new Blood Chord Series, I don’t know of any other similar ones) Let’s face it, we aren’t all 19 and wet behind the ears, so it’s nice to read about a woman like me doing things I only wish I could do
(Oh, and I hope karma comes back to bite the hubs in the arse!)
Hot Summer Reads – 5 Urban Fantasy e-Reads for 99-cents!
*** Hot Summer Reads! 5 Hot Urban Fantasy e-Reads Just 99 Cents Each – June 26th and 27th **
See the special Amazon sale page at: http://amzn.to/LCNvnE
My newest release, Kill Me, has some fabulous company for this two-day special event. For a short time, readers can grab a copy from Amazon at a steep discount!
The books included in this promo are:
So what are you waiting for? Go on and snag a few on-sale Hot Urban Fantasies before the prices revert back to normal!
Book Review – The Eve Tree by Rachel Devenish Ford
The Eve Tree by Rachel Devenish Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect while reading this book, and it turned out to be a little more literary than I had anticipated (in a good way!)but overall I adored The Eve Tree. It’s a compelling cross-section of familial shortcomings, and how those shape our lives.
Set on a family farm in a time where a crawling forest fire threatens everything, the family converges to make preparations. Three generations of people that grew up on the land, nurtured from and by it, struggle to come to terms with themselves and each other.
The author’s writing style is simple at time and lyrical at others, but throughout the novel her prose is cohesive fluid and I made myself slow down from my normal break-neck speed while reading it because I didn’t want to miss her evocative turn of phrases. Stellar writing and compelling plot made for a A+ novel!
