Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison Review

Once Dead, Twice Shy

Madison Avery Trilogy Book One

By Kim Harrison

On the night Madison was attending her prom, she hooked up with a guy who was not her date, left with him, and then he killed her. It turns out the guy was a reaper, and before he could take her soul she snatched his amulet which has allowed her to appear normal, well as normal as a girl with purple hair and skull earrings can be. Now she is determined to get her body back and put an end to her curse once and for all.

I picked up this book from the online library that I frequent because it sounded interesting and I have read some of Kim Harrison’s work in the past, The Hollow Series. I didn’t anticipate how much fun this book would turn out to be, the main character for instance was one of a kind with a quirky sense of humor and struggling to be happy with whom she is, quickly becoming a highly relatable and entertaining character. It only took me a couple of hours to read this book, the audio version is only six hours long, making this a quick and enjoyable read when you have a couple of hours to kill. The only problem I had was that this trilogy started with a short story in Prom Nights From Hell anthology, I have not read this book and I didn’t realize this walking into it, so the Novel picks up right away from where the short story left off (or so it seems) though the author does a brilliant job in catching you up after a while the beginning is a bit confusing. Making in a re-print the publisher will add in the short story, fingers crossed!

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

The Price of Redemption By Gavin R. Dobson Review

The Price of Redemption

By Gavin R. Dobson

Appletree Capital Management of London has just been appointed by CSF, a large American financial group, to oversee their expansion to the international scale. Soon though things begin to become peculiar, and then deadly.

Ok so the good things first.. This novel is well written as well as it seems to be well researched (I am not a financial mogul so I cannot say one way or another as factual). It is a corporate espionage book full of the big bad big brother coming down on the independent London office trying to remain virtuous. Not a bad story line all in all, the problem I had was that it was muddled down with so many seemingly useless details I had a hard time making it through. For instance there were a good two pages where it was nothing but an itinerary; this does not make for exciting reading, though towards the end the story did pick up immensely. The other big problem I had was that the author tried to incorporate romance into the main story line. I repeat tried, it ended up falling flat, there was no real emotional connection written into that story line which is a shame considering it would have made the ending much more poignant.

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry Review

Patient Zero

Joe Ledger Book One

By Jonathan Maberry

Joe Ledger has been sought out for a very interesting mission, to stop the new face of Terror. When he must kill the same terrorist twice in one week he knows there is no way he can turn down his latest assignment. What if there is more to the newest Terrorist threat than just the jihad extremist?

 

I am not a huge fan of zombie novels there have only been a couple so far that I actually enjoyed; most seem to be all about zombies taking over and less about an actual storyline. This take on the genre is absolutely fascinating taking into account the struggles America has been facing and twists it into something truly frightening as the war on Terror now has an all new meaning when the dead begin to come back to life after being injected with a new strain of prion disease. Since not much is known about Prion Disease it has seem to have become a favorite for zombie fiction, which is fine by me it adds an all too realistic take on life after death. Not only does Jonathan Maberry create a vivid novel that is sure to leave you with the heebie jeebies but he also incorporates a fascinating storyline between each of the taskforce members. He also creates members in the taskforce that are relatable and from a military spouse point of view absolutely realistic in the way that they interact with each other. I definitely recommend this novel, especially if you are just beginning to feel out the zombie genre. 

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

Being Light by Helen Smith Review

Being Light

By Helen Smith

While Roy Travers is helping to install a new state of the art bouncy house, a freak gust of wind picks him and the bouncy house up dropping him in Paradise, where he meets the only other resident Sylvia. Meanwhile his wife, Sheila, is continuously searching for her husband after a while she comes to believe whole heartedly that Roy has been abducted by aliens and is determined to get him back.

Once again Helen Smith comes up with a quirky and interesting cast of characters, though this book surrounds Roy and Sheila’s problems the author manages to encompass many varied side stories that will leave you going “What in the world?” The only problem I have is that you must pay strict attention to the characters names, the author incorporates so many stories that they flow into each other, for me this is a problem since I have a horrible time remembering character names. That being said the book itself is fun and witty, the author is so descriptive in her narration of the London scenery you can see exactly what she is talking about without having ever been there. I definitely cannot wait to see what else this author has in store, especially considering this book has one of the worst cliffhangers I have ever seen.

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

What Dies in Summer by Tom Wright Review

What Dies in Summer

By Tom Wright

Jim Beaudry is a teenage boy whose dreams are haunted by a young woman, a dead young woman. One day Jim and his cousin L.A. stumble upon the dead body of the girl that has been haunting Jim’s dreams she had been brutally raped and murdered. Over the course of one summer these teenagers who have been through so much in their short lives find out that there is more hell that they must eventually endure.

Tom Wright creates two characters whose lives are so troubled that you cannot help but feel for them and hope that they will be able to pull through this new situation and hopefully find a better life in the end. But this is not all, the author creates a world you can envision easily, his scenes are flawless in there execution pulling you into the moment and even though there is a touch of supernatural it is subtle making it all the more believable. I am not sure who I would recommend this book to, it is a brilliant blend of horror and mystery with touches of romance and young adult, and you will either love it or hate it. As for me I enjoyed it immensely.

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

The Truce By E. Milan Review

The Truce

By E. Milan

In an instant your life can be over but what happens afterward? This is a question many people ask, for Aaron and Amber there is life after death they both wake up in Purgatory. They can both sit and wait for their chance to be lead to Heaven but when they learn that there may be another way neither one is content to wait. To get to Heaven they must first travel through hell, once they are there though they are pulled into an epic battle two and a half millennia in the making.

I didn’t quite know what to make of this book but the synopsis was interesting enough to grab my attention, the author starts right off in killing his main characters in some cases this is a bad thing but in this case it proved to be an interesting take on the here-after. I am no master of theology so I won’t go into Purgatory or Heaven and Hell that is up to the readers discretion, what I will say is as a work of fiction this novel is along the lines of an epic fantasy including a battle that could only be imagined and is truly fun to read. This isn’t a romance novel the romance itself is shallow and not as heartwarming as it could be but it is a fantastic action adventure.

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

The Sin Collector by Jessica Fortunato Review

The Sin Collector

Book One of The Sin Collector Trilogy

By Jessica Fortunato

Liliana was born a Sin Collector taking the sins of those who are dying so that they can be at peace in the world here after. She has seen many things in her one hundred years of life and it has been a long time since she has performed the ritual to collect sins. She has started to live her life as a normal person working at a library until one day a request for a book of Sin Collectors comes through the library making her afraid for her life.

This is an interesting novel it is very much fantasy with hints of mystery and romance. Liliana is a strong willed woman who rides around on her motor cycle like she owns the place which is fun to see in a character, girl power and all that, but she is also kind and caring with a great amount of love to give making her a diverse and provoking character. When you add in the story line and even the back story Jessica Fortunato creates a world unlike any other with Sin Collectors and an organization determined to kill off each one and when people from Liliana’s past come back into her life the drama that ensues is palpable. This book is worth the read, it’s not very long but the author fills every page with drama and intrigue.

For More Reviews be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

Exiled by J.R. Wagner Advanced Review

Exiled

By J.R. Wagner

James has been falsely accused of a murder he did not commit and exiled to The Never. Though James is the Anointed One, a powerful sorcerer who will bring about the end of the Epoch Terminus a war between the Faithful, those who believe in magic, and the Unfaithful, those who do not, in The Never James does not have any powers in this strange land where even the plants are dangerous. Along the way he meets a woman who shows him how to find water that makes him feel stronger and introduces him to her village where they have been awaiting him to save them all.

The main story line of this book is very interesting but it’s the secondary story line that became quite irritating. The Secondary story line is a mass of events that took place after James was discovered to be the Anointed One and mainly involves James’ mother the irritating part is that they have no flow to them for instance in one chapter his mother is visiting the seer and roughly a hundred pages later it is his mother and father on their way to the seer.  This notwithstanding it could definitely use a bit more editing there are several places where the he is confused with she and vice versa, this would not be so bad but when there are both male and female in the scene it makes it confusing. I would like to see what happens next, this book just ended abruptly I think to get the reader to check out the next book, all in all it’s not a terrible book the main story line is actually quite enthralling just be sure to pay attention to the dates on the secondary one!

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

Neophyte by Emmalee Aple Review

Neophyte

By Emmalee Aple

Addisyn White died two years ago, but three days after her death she was reborn as an angel. Not a full-fledged angel it will take her five years to become one, she is still mostly human and must still go through training with her Link five other angels who will protect her and teach her. There is Hunter her companion in this new life that can read her thoughts and will always share a special connection with and then there is Greysan, handsome and kind and the love of her life. When Addisyn is sleeping on the porch and her Link has left to run an errand a fallen angel stumbles upon her leading to Addisyn being in the greatest danger of her life, and this is just the beginning.

This is an interesting book full of romance and intrigue, the author has taken a new look at angels and most of them are just like all of us. Emmalee Aple creates an intricate and unique world where angels are born or created when a person dies protecting someone else, with elders and companions it is certainly an interesting perspective and then the author brings a beautiful romance to all of this that makes the book worth the read. Though I still have one major question why is Addisyn so important? I am hoping this will be answered in the next book. The only problem I found with this book is that it needs to be edited as it is right now it is riddled with grammatical mistakes but even though this is an issue, Emmalee Aple’s writing is actually quite remarkable.

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

Time Trick by Tom C. Underhill Review

Time Trick

By Tom C. Underhill

Jim can’t believe what has happened to him in the moment of spending time with a prostitute he is transported back into the past and one slip has altered his entire future. Jim returns to the present through his climax until he does something he must desperately try to take back with another visit, hopefully undoing the damage that was done.

I do enjoy Tom Underhill’s writing and his thought provoking endings but this short story is not for me. I know a lot of people use adultery to stimulate their audiences and raise their anger and this story certainly manages to do that with me. However, this story certainly manages to take the phrase “be careful what you wish for” to a whole new level.  

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

The Deliverer by Jason D. Morrow Review

The Deliverer

By Jason D. Morrow

What if death was only the beginning of your story? That is where we find Silas Ainsley, he is being hunted down by creatures and the only way to save him his protector stabs him through the heart. Silas is then transported to Marenon where anyone who has died prematurely is taken to keep living, “life after life.” Once Silas is there it turns out to just be the beginning of his story that he had actually been born there and it was prophesied that he would be the deliverer, of what we do not know.

For years people have debated on what happens after we die and Jason D. Morrow has come up with a very interesting answer, we keep living in a separate world full of magic and strange creatures. Though this book was interesting and Jason D. Morrow jumps right into the story submerging you completely, it does need some more editing. All in all it was entertaining, leaving you wanting more and ready to read the next book to see if Silas can fulfill his destiny.

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

The Spaces Between by Martin Gibbs Review

The Spaces Between

By Martin Gibbs

“We are all complex knots, interwoven and intertwined.”

Qainur and Zhy meet in the local tavern Qainur is a traveling mercenary and Zhy is the local drunk. Qainur manages to convince Zhy to accompany him on his journey north to find a wizard who may be able to teach him magic. Along the way they are joined by Torplug who is on his way home after studying magic at the university. The three end up having to fight for their lives as they are hunted by demons and elite warriors’ known as the Knights of the Black Dawn. Why we travel with the three unlikely companions we are also introduced to Blimb, a simple minded man who is able to talk with Zhy’s deceased father, Zhy’s father begs for Blimb’s help saying his son is in grave danger and only Blimb can help him. But that is only one twist of the knot in this story, we also join Blimb’s father on his journey to protect the temple in the north that is the only thing that stands in the way of a horde of demons over taking the world.

Each story is complex and beautifully interwoven in this novel. At first it seemed a bit slow but the further I got into the book the more I became entranced. Martin Gibbs did a wonderful job, just as I was getting angry with the book Martin Gibbs completely blindsides you and has you wondering what in the world is going on. It was absolutely unexpected and extremely addictive I definitely recommend giving this book a try and if Martin Gibbs wanted to guarantee you would read the next book he could not have ended this one any better.

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

Pool of Souls by Cheryl Landmark Review

Pool of Souls

By Cheryl Landmark

Cazlina Narzan has an extraordinary gift; she is able to communicate telepathically with animals. This very gift turns out to be highly instrumental when she decides to join the army set out to destroy the evil queen Saranor’s reign.  Along the way she joins forces with her brother, Gareth, and an unlikely ally a horse thief whom she met while he was in the process of trying to steal her very own horse. Together this unusual group of soon to be heroes destroy the source of the Queen’s terrible power the pool of souls, which consumes whomever is thrown into it allowing the Queen to use their very essence as her own.

This fantasy novel is action packed from beginning to end with such a strong heroine you won’t want to stop reading for even a moment. Cheryl Landmark did an amazing job in creating her world the only thing I wish, is that it had a map so I could better visualize the terrain the people where having to transgress.  Some of the details where a little lacking but Cheryl Landmark was still able to help you visualize with what she wrote, I am just greedy and want to know more.

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

To Purchase this Title:
Amazon
Smashwords
CreateSpace

Generation by William Knight Review

Generation

By William Knight

What if when you died you were completely aware of what was happening to you, the bugs eating your body and the rotting of your limbs? William Knight’s book brings that very question to life, in a disturbing and realistic way combining genetic modification with the locked in syndrome. Not only does William Knight manage a gruesome novel but he also weaves an addictive tale, Hendrix Harrison is a reporter searching for the truth behind people who have been seen after they have died, Sarah Wallace is a scientist whose body farm start to lose its inhabitants, they work together to put a stop to the evil pharmaceutical company whose drug is directly responsible for these people remaining conscious even after they have started to rot.

This book was absolutely amazing, definitely a new twist on the popular zombies who are mindless murdering creatures. The descriptions are so well written and vivid if you don’t think “eww” at least once there is something seriously wrong with you. If you want a book that will make you reconsider being cremated this is the one for you. 

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

To purchase this book you can find it here:

Amazon

Branded Faith by Tom Underhill Review

Branded Faith

By Tom Underhill

A man sits in a tavern listening to the people talking around him and flashing back to the life he once had living with monks. As we listen, we learn that this is not just any man but an extremely gifted man who does not always use his gifts for the greater good.

Tom Underhill is quickly becoming one of my favorite short story authors. This one like the last one I reviewed, Ghost Writer, was absolutely fascinating. Not only does the nameless man in the tavern have a special gift, we also follow his struggle with what he can do. This short story is definitely worth the read.

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

@BookWormRflects

The Haunting by Shirley Jackson Review

The Haunting of Hill House

By Shirley Jackson

Dr. Montague is an occult scholar who invites three people to be his guest at Hill House in hopes that he may find evidence of the house’s notorious hauntings. At First things are just merely spooky and the residents merely laugh it off, until the manifestations take a more sinister turn.

This novel is absolutely spine tingling it has all you need for a heart fluttering good time, a maze of a house, children laughing in the night, even a statue that seems to watch you every move. I have seen the movie, it’s actually one of my favorites, but even the movie is dull in comparison. Though I am glad they left Mrs. Montague out of the movie, she only managed to annoy me more than anything. I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for something that will give you the heebie jeebies in a short time frame, it is only about 200 pages long but Shirley Jackson manages to definitely leave her mark.

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect

Now You See Her by James Patterson Review

Now You See Her

By James Patterson

Would you risk your life to save the life of a stranger?  This is the dilemma Nina Bloom finds herself facing.  Nina has been in hiding since she found out she was pregnant eighteen years ago, but when an innocent man is about to be executed for a crime he didn’t commit Nina is the only one who can save him. 

This was an intense suspense filled novel; James Patterson has managed to capture our attentions from the very beginning and does not let it go even after the end.  The book starts off with the history of Nina and why she is now in hiding and continues until she faces the demons from her past and they are laid to rest. This book is definitely worth the read, and the audio book was a lot of fun for me I especially enjoyed the added sound effects. 

As always if you have any requests or recommendations email me at:

Reflections.of.a.BookWorm@gmail.com

Be sure to visit my blogs at:

http://reflectionsofabookworm.wordpress.com/

http://bookwormrflects8.blogspot.com/

You can even follow me on Twitter

                                               @BookWormRflect