Greylands - Isobelle Carmody written by Tracey Panton

Greylands by Isobelle Carmody

 

Publisher: Ford Street
Publication Date: October  2012

Pages: 189

 Format: paperback

Price: AUD $18.95

Age Guide: 12+

 

Blurb:

 

One wakeful night in the aftermath of his mother’s death, Jack enters a land devoid of colour or scent. Here he meets the tragic laughing beast and Alice, a strange girl with a secret.

Will Jack escape before the terrifying wolvers find him?

Or is he destined to be trapped in the Greylands forever?
Only the cats know...

 

Review:

 

This book really made me look at grief in a new light. The metaphors are really great and once revealed it all makes perfect sense. My favourite metaphor is what Alice carries with her always. I never would have guessed what it was. It was one thing that really had me intrigued.

 

I got so involved with the story that when I reached “The Middle” chapter I remember that what I had been reading was a story within a story.

 

Isobelle has really done an awesome job writing this book. She really deserves a pat on the back for this great book that helps us understand how kids or even young people may deal with their own grief.

 

5/5

Uncontrollable by S R Johannes is out today!

Hi Everyone!
In a bit of a change from the normal pace, I'm doing a shout out to one of our longtime followers and favourite authors, S R Johannes.  Her new book, Uncontrollable launches today, and while I'll guiltily admit I haven't got to read it yet, as my reading pile is out of control these days, I've tried to make up for it with a review of one of her other books that I read while on holidays recently.
Happy Reading!
Andrea.


A bit about the book:

Uncontrollable is the second book in "The Nature of Grace" series by　
S.R. Johannes.　Untraceable, the first book in the series, has won and been nominated for several awards including Winner of the　2012 IndieReader Discovery Award　(YA),　2012　Georgia Author of the Year　(YA Nominee), and a finalist in　The Kindle Book Review's　"Best Indie Book of 2012 (YA)".


Book Summary
As 16-year-old Grace recovers from tragedy, her science class is chosen by Agent Sweeney at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to help with research on the new "Red Wolf Reintroduction Program".　

While she’s excited about helping with the conservation of the endangered wolves, Grace knows this means being outdoors in the worst winter recorded, in a place she no longer feels comfortable. It also means working closely with Wyn (her ex) and his annoying girlfriend (Skyler), a girl whose idea of getting close to nature is picking silk plants and growing fake plants.　


After a couple of wolves show up dead, Grace almost quits. However, when a fellow project team member goes missing, Grace continues the assignment under a renewed suspicion that someone might be sabotaging the conservation program. She quietly begins to hunt for clues.　


Little does she know, she is being hunted too.　

Uncontrollable  To get a copy:Uncontrollable is on sale in paperback and ebook at all major booksellers including Amazon, Apple and SmashwordsIf you haven't read Untraceable, you can get it in paperback and ebook at all major booksellers.

Author Bio

S.R. Johannes is the author of award-winning and Amazon bestselling　Untraceable　(a teen wilderness thriller) and new tween paranormal,　On The Bright Side. She has also published short novelettes as well as a teen romance anthology with 16 other authors titled,　In His Eyes. 　

S.R. Johannes is a winner of the　2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards　(Young Adult) and was also recently nominated for 2012　Georgia Author of the Year　(Young Adult).　Untraceable　was also recently named a Finalist in　The Kindle Book Review's　Indie Book of the Year (YA)

After earning an MBA and working in corporate America, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing.　 She lives in Atlanta, Georgia　with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.　

　

Suffocate - A Breathless Novelette

Suffocate - A Breathless novelette

Author - S R Johannes

Reviewed by: Andrea

Suffocate takes us on a trip to a future where the air we so often take for granted is poisonous, and the earth is hot and barren. People have been living in a Biome so long whey have almost forgotten what life was like before. But for Eria, and indeed the entire population of her Biome, today is a momentous occasion. Today Eria's father will take the first steps outside in years, and try to ascertain if they can leave.

But before that happens, there are some secrets that must be uncovered. Secrets that could prove deadly to Eria and her family. Secrets that strike deeper than she had ever imagined.

Suffocate had a relentless pace that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole novelette. There is a well constructed society, and a scary sounding future laid out within minutes, and I enjoyed discovering secrets with Eria about her society and herself. I can't give more plot details without some major spoilers, however I will say that there was enough twists and turns for a full length novel jammed in the thoroughly enjoyable pages!

I sometimes felt (as i do with most novellas/novellettes/short stories) that I would have liked more time to explore aspects of the characters and the story, however what was there had me begging for more. I can't wait to see what will be forthcoming in installment #2

4.5/5


 

Review by Tracey of The Down-under 12 Days of Christmas by Michael Salmon

The Down-under 12 Days of Christmas by Michael Salmon

 

Publisher: Ford Street
Publication Date: 1 September  2012

Pages: 32

 Format: trade hardcover and paperback

Price: AUD $19.95 HC $12.95 PB

Category: Xmas story, poetry

Age Guide: 3+

 

Blurb:

 

Santa Claus has landed outback and is busily checking his list. The kangaroos are in charge of all the presents and his koala helpers are not being much help at all!

And are those crocodiles really “a-snoozing?”

With surfing sharks, skiing snakes, dancing dingoes, leaping lizards and lots more, Michael Salmon’s Aussie characters come to life in pictures and verse.

Welcome to Christmas ‘down-under’!

 

Review:

 

This is one really groovy version of the 12 Days of Christmas.

 

The pictures are amazing and the words are very quirky.

 

I loved reading this and I am sure that my future kids will really enjoy this book.

 

5/5

Review by Tracey of Riggs Crossing by Michelle Heeter

Riggs Crossing by Michelle Heeter

 

Publisher: Ford Street
Publication Date: September  2012

Pages: 360

 Format: paperback

Price: AUD $19.95

Category: YA

 

Blurb:

 

A girl is found in the wreckage of a car crash. Severely injured and psychologically damaged, the girl cannot or will not tell the authorities who she is or where she comes from. Her carers call her ‘Len’, after the name embroidered on the jumper she was wearing when she was found.

Secretive, intelligent and abrasive, Len is moved to a children’s shelter. Slowly, Len’s repressed memories fight their way to the surface of her troubled mind. and an evil figure from her shadowy past comes looking for her.

 

Review:

 

This book is amazing!!

 

 It gets right into the mind of Len. Riggs Crossing digs deep into the world of the criminal underworld. I found it to be a huge eye opener as it really puts things in a whole different perspective. I have done Certificate 3 &4 in Community Services and Heeter’s work really put youth work in a new light for me. She has written something that really pushes the idea that not every young person is brought up with a loving and caring family.

 

Len is a character who doesn’t trust easy and when she starts remembering her past you can really understand why she is the way she is. The way we are raised has an impact on how we live our lives and how we treat people in our society.

 

5/5

 

Blood Storm - Rhinnon Hart

Blood Storm – Rhiannon Hart

Publisher: Random House Australia
Publication Date:  1 August 2012

Pages: 364

Format: paperback and ebook

Price: AUD $18.95

Category: Young Adults

Blurb:

The rain wanted to be ocean; the ice in the mountain caps wanted freedom. The clouds above my head rumbled like a growling wolf, impatient to release their burden. I turned to Renata, heard her gasp and knew my eyes glowed blue.

I spoke a single word. ‘Rain’

Zeraphina and Rodden have defeated the Lharmellin leader, but could the rest of the vicious creatures still be active? The two travel across the sea in search of the elusive ingredients that will help them to destroy the Lharmellins once and for all. Along the way, shadows from Rodden’s dark past come back to haunt him and Zeraphina must grapple with something more terrifying than her hunger for the north: her mother’s determination to see her wayward daughter married to a prince at all costs.

Review:

WOW! Such a mesmerizing read. Rhiannon Hart has written yet another enticing read.

This series just keeps on getting better. Stephanie Meyer had better watch out, this is by far a more enthralling read than Twilight.

There is so much darkness throughout  the book but the romance that is stirring between Princess Zeraphina and Rodden really makes for a juicy read.

Zeraphina becomes more than just a princess, she does things a respectable royal would not, she goes travelling the countryside alone with Rodden, who is seen by most as a commoner. From this I caught that Zeraphina doesn’t want to be seen as just a princess, she actually wants yo help the people of Brivora. The feeling of sitting in a thrown bore no interest to Zeraphina because you can’t see what people need by staying in a castle and not visiting the people under your rule.

I was totally captivated by both Blood Song and Blood Storm I  can’t wait to see what Hart has in store for us in the next book of the Lharmell series.

5/5

The Maximus Black Files – Dyson’s Drop by Paul Collins

 Maximus Black Files – Dyson’s Drop by Paul Collins

Publisher: Ford Street
Publication Date: August 2012

Pages: 335

 Format: paperback

Price: AUD $19.95

Category: Science fiction

Age Guide: 12+

Blurb:

In a galaxy of cutthroat companies, shadowy clans and a million agendas, spy agency RIM barely wields enough control to keep order.

Maximus Black is RIM’s star cadet. But he has a problem. One of RIM’s best agents, Anneke Longshadow, knows there’s a mole in the organisation.

And Maximus has a lot to hide...

Review:

An outstanding galactic read by Paul Collins.  Action and suspense filled Dyson’s Drop.

Dyson’s Drop is the second instalment in the Maximus Black Files.

I haven’t had the chance to read  MOLE HUNT the first instalment of The Maximus Black files, I thought I’d struggle to catch the main thread of the story but I found the opposite. I had no trouble reading Dyson’s Drop. I felt it easy to read and full of great adventure, I soon caught on to what had happened in MOLE HUNT. 

Travelling through n-space is what reminds me of  the way Jack O’Niell and his team travelled through the Stargate on the television series Stargate-SG1 featuring Richard Dean Anderson.

An amazing and intriguing character  was the Envoy. He seems sneaky and yet so wise. He’s a seer and he can obviously see great potential in both Maximus and Anneke. The Envoy appears to be mysterious, he only tells Maximus what he needs to know. There is more to the Envoy than you first see. It’ll be interesting to read what he does in the next instalment of the Maximus Black Files titled IL KEDRA.

Technology is really advanced in The Maximus Black Files. You really get the sense that it could one day be here on our planet.

This has to be the best believable science fiction books I have read (not that I have read heaps of them!)

IL KEDRA is going to be another great book and one I look forward to reading!!

5/5

book Review: Minna & The Valentine – S.G. Rogers Review by Tracey Panton

Minna & The Valentine – S.G. Rogers

 

Publication Date:  1^st February 2012

Format: ebook

Pages:  64

Category: Romance

Blurb:

Minna has a secret. Her father, ex-dragon jockey Wynn Westerfield, will forever hold a grudge against wizards. Because it was a wizard who caused his career-ending accident, Minna struggles to hide her incredible magical powers from him…and from the world.

Evan Valentine has attended a prestigious magical academy on scholarship, although he’s managed to conceal that fact fr...moreMinna has a secret. Her father, ex-dragon jockey Wynn Westerfield, will forever hold a grudge against wizards. Because it was a wizard who caused his career-ending accident, Minna struggles to hide her incredible magical powers from him…and from the world.

Evan Valentine has attended a prestigious magical academy on scholarship, although he’s managed to conceal that fact from everyone. He’s on the fast track to success with his apprenticeship to wizard Thaddeus Bartholomew, and Evan’s carefully constructed life doesn’t include a certain beautiful girl whose powers rival his own.

Although Minna and Evan don’t realize it yet, their destinies have been intertwined for years. When a threat arises, Minna and Evan must travel to another reality to retrieve a dangerous magical artifact. Can Minna and Evan learn to work together, despite their mutual mistrust? Or will their explosive romantic attraction lead to disaster?

Review

Such a romantic story. Goes to show that two people can really share an electric connection.

Minna and Evan’s relationship sparked with electricity right from their very first meeting.

I loved how Rogers brought Minna and Evan together, it was beautiful. Thaddeus is certainly a wise wizard especially when it comes to love.

However short this was I enjoyed every moment especially when the sparks flew!

I’d love to learn more about both Evan and Minna before they first met. It would be interesting to see them both grow up in their separate ways.

5/5

Where to buy

Astrea Press

Guest Post from Author Joanne Troppello

Joanne Troppello is an author of romantic suspense novels.  She has published three books: Shadowed Remembrances, Mr. Shipley’s Governess and Bella Lucia. Currently, she is working on her new writing project, The Paradise Redeemed Series. Joanne is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. She enjoys interacting with readers at The Mustard Seed Blog.

Author Contact Links

Joanne's Blog: The Mustard Seed

Find Joanne on Facebook

Find Joanne on Twitter

Why I Love Romance & Writing Happy Endings

The willing suspension of disbelief was first utilized by the English poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Basically, if a writer can impart a human element and an aspect of truth into the story, the reader will be drawn in and willingly suspend their disbelief and fully engage in the far-fetched tale. 

Isn’t that why we read fiction novels and short stories and go to see movies? We want to be entertained and forget about our lives for the moment and transport to another world. In that process of being transported to another world, I tend to enjoy happy endings for the characters involved. My husband, on the other hand, always teases me that sad endings are fine too because that’s real life. Then I usually come back with I have enough issues in real life and that’s why I want to escape into happy endings. Due to my affinity for happy endings and all things romantic, when I decided to write novels, I naturally fell into the romance genre. However, I also enjoy a good mystery, so romantic suspense really feels like home to me.

Writing romance novels gives me a chance to focus in on the hero and heroine and not get bogged down by having to deal with a whole bunch of characters. However, someday I may decide to write that epic dramatic tale with multiple plotlines and several main characters—but not today or at least not in the near future. Right now, I’m in love with love stories.

Who doesn’t enjoy creating dashing heroes and fair maidens in distress? Okay, so maybe that’s too much of a stretch, but I like the dynamic of creating well-developed characters that fall in love. I want to tell their story. I am a true romantic at heart. I guess that’s why I’m a sucker for a great romantic drama or comedy. True, the formula is always the same in those movies as well as novels—but I revel in the fact that as an author, I can use that time honored formula and make it my own. Using creative ways, I can dream up exciting plots with twists and turn, all the while sharing a true love story with readers who feel the same way—they love happy endings.

True, real life isn’t always a bed of roses and I don’t want to create a fantasy world. Weaving real life elements into the story is the cement that holds everything together. I want to show that true love is true when it can weather the storms of life and come out stronger. It grows through trials and tribulations and with a decision to stick together through good times and bad times, love will always win out.

As a reader, I want to read a book which portrays this perspective that there is such a thing as true love. It embraces romance, but like a diamond—has many facets. True love is able to endure the daily pressures just like it welcomes romance and roses into the relationship. True love knows the difference between both sides to the relationship, but can’t co-exist without the other. A fire starts with a spark, then bursts into full flame and if not tended to, will die out. That’s where fanning the flame comes into play—I want to know that the hero and heroine, not necessarily live happily ever after, but live together in true unconditional love in the real world.

Are you a kindred spirit—do you love romance and happy endings?      

The Vampire Hunter's Daughter Part 4 - Jennifer Malone Wright By Tracey Panton

The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter Part IV – Jennifer Malone Wright

Publication Date: 15 Jan 2012

Format: ebook

Category: Young Adult

Blurb:

 

In the fourth installment of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter, Chloe and the other vampire hunters are suffering the aftermath of the vampire attack on their community. Many hunters were injured, and loved ones were murdered. More than that, there is a loss of security and peace since the hunters' safe haven was breached and invaded. Chloe and Drew struggle just to get along and understand each other without Luke there to guide them.

During this period of uncertainty, Chloe and Drew both try to live a normal life as teenagers by going to the New Year's bash, she with Gavin and Drew with Christina, Chloe's recent rival. Chloe is, once again, reminded that nothing is 'normal' in her life any more, when she begin to show signs she's developing supernatural gifts from her father's bloodline, too.

The bash does little to lift her feelings of guilt and responsibility for the attack on the community, because she knows it's her presence there that caused the vampires to attack the hunters. Th... (Read more) In the fourth installment of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter, Chloe and the other vampire hunters are suffering the aftermath of the vampire attack on their community. Many hunters were injured, and loved ones were murdered. More than that, there is a loss of security and peace since the hunters' safe haven was breached and invaded. Chloe and Drew struggle just to get along and understand each other without Luke there to guide them.

During this period of uncertainty, Chloe and Drew both try to live a normal life as teenagers by going to the New Year's bash, she with Gavin and Drew with Christina, Chloe's recent rival. Chloe is, once again, reminded that nothing is 'normal' in her life any more, when she begin to show signs she's developing supernatural gifts from her father's bloodline, too.

The bash does little to lift her feelings of guilt and responsibility for the attack on the community, because she knows it's her presence there that caused the vampires to attack the hunters. This attack nearly took the life of her only remaining family member from her mother's side. She doesn't want to put anyone else she loves at risk.

Before she has time to put any plans into action, a surprise phone call from someone unexpected sets the wheels in motion. Chloe now knows what she must do...

Review:

This series just keeps getting better and better!!

I’m really loving all the changes that Chloe is experiencing. She is such an amazing character. Chloe is so easy to follow and it’s hard not to love her.

Chloe feels really responsible for the recent attacks on the Vampire Hunters and feels it’s her responsibility to right the wrongs because it’s her the vampires are after. I admire her in her decision to leave the safe community of the Vampire Hunter’s. 

Her father may be a vampire and she is part hunter/vampire and is still unsure of her powers.

Will these new powers be what helps her overpower her father or will they cause her problems. I look forward to finding out in the fifth instalment of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter.

5/5

Where to buy:

Smash Words

Jennifer Malone Wright

The beach House - Helen McKenna by Tracey Panton

The Beach House – Helen McKenna

Publisher:  Joshua Books

Publication Date: 2011

Format: Paperback

Pages: 507

Category:  Fiction

Blurb:

Nothing much happens in the small Queensland town of Sunset Point, which is just the way the locals like it. So, when an outsider with grand plans threatens to demolish an iconic local landmark and build a huge resort, the battle lines are drawn.

Young journalist Jessica hopes to make it big with her coverage of the court case, but first she has to appease her editor and put a human interest spin on the situation. At first glance the five people she chooses to background have little in common; but it soon becomes apparent that staying at The Beach House has changed all of them in some way.

In telling the stories of Kate, Simone, Tom, Clare and Jack, Jessica too learns some important life lessons.

Review:

This book is filled with wonderful stories of people who have spent time staying at The Beach House. They have nothing in common bar the house itself. One thing that happens during each stay at The Beach House if life changing.

It’s beautifully written and inspiring.

At first it looked like a huge story but it’s not, it’s divided into sections where each of the five tell their story of their stay at The Beach House. It started off from Kate’s stay in 1994 to Jack’s stay in 2003.

There is great diversity throughout each story.

Jim Stewart is a life guard at Sunset Point and appears in each story. In Jack’s story Jim appears more and we learn a lot about Jim and his life at Sunset Point.

5/5

Where to Buy:

The Beach House

The screaming Season - Nancy Holder by Tracey Panton

The Screaming Season - Nancy Holder

Publisher: Razororbill An imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Publication Date: March 17 2001

Format: Paperback

Pages: 328

Category: Young Adult

Blurb:

IF A GIRL SCREAMS INB THE WOODS AND NO ONE IS AROUND TO HEAR HER, DOES SHE MAKE A SOUND?

                                           

Possessions: me

-          My sanity? they think I’ve lost it.

-          The ghost of Celia Reaves (with me always)

Possessions: them

-          Do they know ghosts are living inside them?

-          Do they shed them as carelessly as their other possessions?

-          Hatred that’s immortal.

Review:

I had great pleasure reading this book. Possessions and The Evil Within really got me reading and I flew through these books.

Holder’s writing really is magnificent. She really has a way with writing powerful stories. The entire series was filled with ghosts and so many nights filled with terror.

Lindsay’s time at Marlwood ended well. She endured so much during her short time at the very expensive boarding school. It really had me on edge the whole time .

I really felt for Lindsay, right from the very first time we are introduced. The loss of her mother and her breakdown before Marlwood must have been tough for her but somehow she managed to cope with that plus all the extra things that she experiences during her time at the boarding school.

Lindsay had so many people turn on her for unexplained reasons, and yet she survived and showed that she is a strong person.

Life really can be so confusing and even in death life seems to get the dead down especially for those that haven’t yet moved past their hurts from living on this earth.

I rate this book and the entire series 5/5 I will defiantly be reading more of Nancy Holder’s works.

Where to buy:
Book Depository

Amazon