Blog Tour Stop: Raksha by Frankie Rose

Raksha
by Frankie Rose
Publish Date: March 2013

She has no name.

She has her knives; her training; her halo.

The first and second give her the tools and the skill to defeat the opponents she is pitched against each month. The third frees her from pain and fear. From any kind of emotion at all. Everything is as it should be. Everything is as it should be, until…

FearPainAngerHappinessDesireGuilt

Love.

When a newly-named Kit escapes the Sanctuary after killing her best friend, the last thing she needs is another knife in her hand. Or Ryka, the damaged, beautiful blonde boy, who she refuses to let save her. Still learning how to process the onslaught of her new feelings, the sights and sounds of Freetown are overwhelming and strange. There are a hundred differences between her old home and her new one, but one thing remains starkly similar: the matches. Yet where the blood in the Sanctuary landed only on the colosseum floor, Kit will quickly learn that a river of red runs through Freetown’s very streets.

Freed from the oppression of a society who stole her right to feel, the true horror of her old life leaves Kit wondering if she really has been freed at all. Would she be better off without the crippling horror of all the blood on her hands, or is the love of one boy worth living through all the pain?

Raksha is the call of the dead. The rumbling chant for fresh blood from the other side, the demand for sacrifice. The colosseum is behind Kit. The fighting pits await.

You have been called to the fights.

First thing’s first.  Thank you to the tour host and Ms. Frankie Rose for allowing me to participate.  I am very honored. 

I’ve been dragging my feet.  Many other blogger friends have continually recommended Frankie Rose to me and I’ve just never picked one up.  There was always something else to read.  Now that I’ve read one of Ms. Rose’s books I feel like a total DICK for waiting so long.  For which I am sorry. 

The world Ms. Rose has built in Raksha is beautiful.  Not in beauty as in physical appearance but beautiful as in so very real and believable.  The story isn’t littered with multiple scenery like some and its simplicity makes it all that much more realistic.  It breathes is the best way to describe it.  

Kit is very human, very flawed.  She goes through a lot and (I believe) is stronger for it.  However, there’s stuff she goes through that does in fact make her weaker as well.  Her confusion is a very real, very palatable, very relatable. 

Ryka is… magnificent for lack of a better word.  He is truly beautifully tormented though hides it very well.  He also has an arrogance to him that isn’t enough to make him conceded but enough to make the reader realize he uses that to cover the torment which I find FACINATING.

The story is extremely fast paced.  There’s no way to lose track of detail or information but it definitely moved from point A to point B without hesitation or taking the scenic route.  It’s very well told and very well thought out.  

Raksha is one of those books that once started cannot be put down until finished and every interruption better be life threatening or else.  Definitely a must read for all dystopia, action packed readers.  

My Rating

GHB Tours Blog Stop: Born in Flames

Born in Flames
Candace Knobel
Published: September 2012

Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.

Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.

In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?

I will begin by saying thank you to Ms. Knoebel for allowing me the opportunity of reading her story.  And then thank you to Girls Heart Books Tours for allowing me once more to participate in the fantastic tour.  This will be a completely spoiler free review because quite frankly it should be read. ^_^

I haven’t read many modern day dragon books.  Other than one other actually I’ve not really found them to be as on par as other paranormal books.  However, always willing to try something before knocking it I decided to read this one as well.  And I’m so very happy I did.  

From the first page we dive into the story of Rory and Fenn.  And I do mean literally dive.  There’s no long winded back story or monologue.  From the start the book is ripped with action.  

The characters themselves feel very carefully thought out.  They were well developed and even some of the side characters have this feeling of completeness about them that’s rare in most books.  It’s almost as if every character gets their ten seconds of fame.  It was really quite refreshing. 

As noted briefly above, the story moves.  From the first pages to the last the activity is riveting.  Saying “I’m just going to read one more chapter” isn’t feasible with this book.  It must be read at once or the suspense of what’s happening next will be murderous. 

Overall I enjoyed the book.  It was well written and fast paced.  The characters are a world of their own and the plot is unique in its style.  I would definitely recommend this for all readers of paranormal. 

My Rating:

Girls Heart Books Blog Tour Stop: Gemini of Emreiana by Kristen DaRay

Gemini of Emreiana 
Author: Kristen DaRay

My entire life has been a lie: My parents didn't die in a car accident. They're not even dead. I'm not American. I'm not even human. I have strange powers, and I'm the heir to the throne of the planet Emreiana.

If I take the crown, I have to leave behind everything I have known here on Earth. I would have to say goodbye to my friends and leave behind Kyle, the boy I've loved since I was five. If I don't, then I risk the Bremoir finding me here on Earth and destroying everything I love.

First as always thank you Kristen DaRay for allowing me the privilege of reading and thank you Girls Heart Books for allowing me to participate.  Secondly I have to apologize as this review is going to be kind of short as I am also in the middle of fast drafting. ^_^ With that being said I’m going to jump right into the meat and potatoes of this. 

This book is an awesome read.  The environments are so vivid and realistic yet original and (in special circumstances that I’m not going to spoil) believable without question.  The author does a fantastic job of making the reader believe they are present in the book.  

The characters are also well thought out and well developed.  As a reader sometimes it’s hard to find the connecting point to be able to empathize with the character but that issue is not present here. Every character has their quirks and they were just as real as the environment they moved through. 

The story is pretty fast paced.  I – at least – could not put it down.  Each scene leads into the next in a constant flow that it makes it impossible to say to self – just one more chapter. There are a couple of missing factors that I’m sure will be clarified in editions to come but otherwise there were no confounding moments or huge plot holes to drive a reader mad. 

My Rating:

Girls Heart Books Blog Tour Stop: Alpha Girl The Review

Alpha Girl 
Wolfling Saga Book # 1  

By Kate Bloomfield
Genre: New Adult/Mature YA ( 15 & up) Paranormal Romance
**not intended for audiences younger than 15 years of age, as it contains scenes of a sexual nature, and coarse language.  Please do not read if you are easily offended.**

Seventeen year old Rose Goldman is highly unpopular in the little town of Halfway. Ever since the 'attack' when she was a girl, people and animals have been afraid of her. She gets bullied in school, and called 'wet dog' because of the way she smells, despite being extremely hygienic. However, life takes a turn when a new teacher starts at Halfway High. Mr. Stone, the quirky and charismatic English teacher is twice Rose's age, but she feels an unexplainable pull towards him from day one. Despite her better judgement, Rose pursues a friendship with Mr. Stone, who seems unable to stay away from her.

What is pulling this unlikely pair together?

First thanks must go to the author and Girls Heart Books Tours for their time and allowing me to participate in the tour. I’m extremely thankful for that. Secondly, I’m going to warn now that I am possibly jaded. 

Paranormal books are frequent.  Even so this one had a slight twist in the synopsis so I said, let’s give it a go. 

The environment is typical small town.  There are nice wooded areas nearby and we have all the amenities of a small town, including mean ass classmates that have known you for a good portion of your life and slutty best friends, but I digress. 

Rose is semi typical for a teenage girl.  She’s extremely guarded and self conscious in some things – see reference to mean ass kids above.  It doesn’t so much break her; instead she’s more introverted for it.  She’s pretty apathetic to the hand she’s been dealt which drags on the storyline slightly. 

Due to a required spoiler that I’m not willing to give away – I will not discuss Mr. Stone.  Instead I will simply say – OMG! And leave it at that. 

The story progresses slowly.  It’s more of a build up to blow out the mind of the read rather than an instant action packed gratification.  But it’s worth it.  There are many – and I do mean many – unexpected twists and turned that do cause a mind numbing WTF which give the story a healthy dose of umph.  

Overall it was a good story with good characters.  For me, as I said, I’ve been slightly jaded by paranormal so it didn’t quite meet my high standard but it wasn’t bad at all.  

My Rating:

Guest Review: First Visions

First Visions

Second Sight Series Book #1

By Heather Topham Wood

Publication Date: April 27, 2012 
Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother's home.

Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can't control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.

First thank you to the ladies of Girls *Heart* Books for allowing me to guest review! I enjoy every second of it.

After reading paranormal for so long it’s almost weird reading something more every day.  I was slightly expecting to be bored or uninterested.  However, I can say this is definitely an attention grabber. 

I love Kate.  She’s the kind of person that can be admired and respected.  She was dealt a tough hand and instead of being the whiny-my-life-is-so-hard heroine she sucked it up and punched through it.  It was awesome, and refreshing. 

Jared was typical drop dead gorgeous, smart, funny hero, but I wasn’t really interested in him so much as I was interested in the character growth he gave to Kate. He doesn’t grow much himself, but he does make important choices that will perhaps effect the series and his growth as the story progresses. 

The story is very fast paced.  Once started there’s no putting it down until it’s done.  It’s really easy to read and really easy to follow which makes it extremely pleasant and enjoyable.  It’s a little on the short side, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

Overall I’m very pleased this was the book that I read to take a break from the paranormal.  It definitely was worth it.  I would recommend this for all romance, crime fiction, action readers.