4 star #bookreview - Enslavement by @MelindaFriesen #ya #dystopian @chapterxchapter @RebelightBooks

Welcome to the blog tour for Enslavement by Melinda Friesen. Here's some book info and below is my review!


Blurb from Goodreads:

"One world. One currency. One bright future."

That's the promise made by OneEarth Bank after a global economic collapse--but only for those who accept the insertion of a commerce chip.

When Rielle's parents refuse to comply, government officials tear her family apart. As punishment for her parent's crimes, Rielle is forced into a Community Service Contract--a legalized form of slavery--and sold to a wealthy, abusive banker.

The Banker's secrets hold the key to Rielle's freedom, but will she risk prison or even death to escape and search for her family? 

Buy at Amazon

My Review:

I enjoyed Enslavement and look forward to the next book. The editing and formatting were topnotch. The book started with a bang and the author did an excellent job building an unfortunately possible-sounding world. It was easy to make an emotional connection to the main character, Rielle, as she is torn from her family and essentially sold as a slave, although the authorities claim she’s just being rehabilitated for any criminal learnings she may have received from her parents who refused to have tracking/financial chips inserted.

Rielle reacts to her out-of-control situation by controlling the only thing the can – her voice. She refuses to speak to her owner or any of the other “Contracts.” I appreciated this as a device to have Rielle fight back, but I thought she could have worked harder to find other ways to communicate and do more than just react to one of her fellow Contracts who might have a way out, or to really understand her owner’s nephew who clearly has some kind of secret.

Rielle did her best to stand up to her owner and take punishment to protect the others. She is clearly strong and smart. The only real complaint I had was that Rielle did nothing to cause her own salvation. Other people put the opportunities in place and she had to be pushed into them. Then she waited to be rescued. It wasn’t until the last line of the book that we see that she intends to fight the system going forward. And while this nicely sets up the sequel, I would have preferred to see her be more proactive at least through the last quarter of the book. But again, the writer’s skills and world-building do ensure that I look forward to the next book and seeing a more active fight.

I rate this 3.8 stars, rounding up to 4 in most systems. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

About the author:
Melinda Friesen was born in Portland, Oregon. She attended school in Texas and met a vastly interesting Canadian man, who she allowed to drag her to his home in the wilds of Manitoba, Canada. Living in an igloo wasn't easy. Wait. She didn't actually live in an igloo, but that would make this story much more interesting. 

Among her accomplishments are surviving -40 degree weather, gestating four human being inside her body, and staying happily married to that Canadian man for over 20 years despite the weather conditions he's exposed her to. And she writes too! 

Cover Reveal & #giveaway - Summer of the Oak Moon by Laura Templeton #M9BFridayReveals

Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Summer of the Oak Moon by Laura Templeton

presented by Month9Books!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Rejected by the exclusive women’s college she has her heart set on, Tess Seibert dreads the hot, aimless summer ahead. But when a chance encounter with a snake introduces her to Jacob Lane, a black college student home on his summer break, a relationship blooms that challenges the prejudices of her small, north Florida town.

When Jacob confesses that Tess’s uncle is trying to steal his family’s land, Tess comes face to face with the hatred that simmers just below the surface of the bay and marshes she’s loved since birth. With the help of her mentor Lulu, an herbal healer, Tess pieces together clues to the mysterious disappearance of Jacob’s father twenty-two years earlier and uncovers family secrets that shatter her connection to the land she loves.

Tess and Jacob’s bond puts them both in peril, and discontent eventually erupts into violence. Tess is forced to make a decision. Can she right old wrongs and salvage their love? Or will prejudice and hatred kill any chance she and Jacob might have had?

Title: Summer of the Oak Moon
Publication date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Laura Templeton

Laura Templeton lives near Athens, Georgia, with her husband, son, and a menagerie of animals. When she’s not writing, she enjoys gardening, learning to figure skate, and taking long walks on the quiet country roads near her home. Something Yellow is her debut novel, and her creative nonfiction has appeared in various publications.

Author Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

(Winners will receive their book on release day)

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4 Star #bookreview Mara Valderran

Amazon blurb:

Sixteen year-old Madeline has struggled with epilepsy for most of her adolescent life, leaving her something of a social pariah. Things go from bad to worse when she wakes up from her first grand mal seizure in an extremely unfamiliar world but surrounded but familiar faces. Her hometown is in ruins, the aftermath of a Cold War turned hot. 

Thomas, the boy that stomped on her heart a year ago, and his brother Brandon have been hiding her away since the explosion that killed her parents. The Lord Commander, now running the southern territories, believes Madeline died with them and the brothers need to keep it that way. The biggest problem? The explosion happened when she was twelve. 

Madeline isn’t sure what to believe. The brothers insist her memories must be of a dream life she created while in her coma. But when she returns to the reality she knows, they insist this war-torn world must be the dream. She doesn’t know if she’s truly caught in the middle of a brewing rebellion or teetering on the brink of insanity. As she finds herself flipping between the two lives, her heart becomes torn between two versions of the same boy and the lines between her realities begin to blur.

Buy here.

My Review:

Altar of Reality has a unique concept in that the main character switches reality during epileptic seizures. Not a fun way to visit another reality, but boy, what a great way to imagine what craziness could be happening during a seizure.

I like alternate reality stories and this had a nice combination of fantasy and sci-fi. To me, the concept was more interesting than the relationships, which felt a bit off and hard to keep sorted. I didn’t feel an emotional tie to any of the male characters, so that made it hard to root for any direction. But the side relationships with Madeline and her aunt and also the girl Ana who appeared in both realities were interesting and I’ll look forward to seeing them explored. Some of the characters felt a bit like those in the Wizard of Oz, someone who had to be there, but didn’t have a solidly developed personality. Especially the uncle, the Lord Commander, who felt like a caricature set up to prove that religious people are prejudiced and anti-gay.

Madeline did a great job in the alternate reality where bombs had destroyed they world she knew. It wasn’t a pleasant existence, but rather than whine or try to trigger her return, she jumped in to not only survive herself, but help other create a new existence. The people around her, helping her, teaching her, were all great characters and I expect they’ll develop further in the sequel.

I felt the book really got into the swing of things about 10 pages from the end, which was a bit too much cliffhanger for my preferences. But the device worked, and since the writing was strong at the end, I do want to read the next book. I look forward to the sequel continuing the ramp up that worked well and starting strong and staying that way.

The formatting and grammar were all top-notch, so that gets points from me as well.

I think anyone who likes alternate reality type books will enjoy this, and those who are more into love triangles (pentagons?) will have fun as well.

Recommended, 4 stars.

Winter horse update - and ... the ... move that isn't moving

We try to give our horses a break during the winter, and this year, the weather has cooperated, rather forced the down time to be more significant than normal. Usually southern Colorado has fabulous winter weather, sometimes even better than summer for someone like me who hates to sweat just for existing. This year has been cold, windy, and snowier than usual.

Can I really complain? No. Because those of you dealing with the storms back east are getting it way worse. We did put one of our horses in training - with amazing results. He can sidepass over a dozen 55 gallon drums, pirouette around a block with his front feet on top, and walk through dangling pool noodles - those are devil spawn according to my arabs!

Here's the really annoying part. We were supposed to have moved from Colorado to Oregon the first week of January. Then late January (which had perfect weather). Now, who knows. Maybe mid February. Maybe mid-March. Maybe April or May. Doesn't wok well for my control freak personality!

All because of the white buffalo. An organization that breeds white buffalo is renting the property we're trying to buy. And apparently they aren't real inclined to move. Partly because, well, moving 25 buffalo isn't easy. Partly because the people haven't found their dream house - and think they'll be able to afford $800,000 later this year because people will be giving the their life savings. I'm guessing none of that will happen and they'd stay forever, even though they don't want to be there. They just don't want to put any effort into taking control of their own lives even though people have found temporary places for the buffalo for them.

As much as this is affecting us, (I was supposed to start a job in Oregon today, we sold our tractor equipment and can no longer run our hay business, my husband's job won't have the same down time in the spring, and my mom's health issues will be much better at lower altitude) I really feel sorry for the seller. He isn't getting rent now, he isn't getting the money from our purchase, and will now have to pay higher capital gains on what is supposed to be his retirement nest egg. He's having to fight through an eviction from people willing to pull guns on process servers. And he's a nice guy, I'm sure he doesn't want to do this, but what choice does he have.

So I sit here in a half-packed house and map out riding trails in Oregon. But at least I have more time for book reviews! So bring them on. If you've got a book ready for review, a cover reveal, or book launch, just drop me an email. Now if the wind will stop blowing, I'm gonna go ride!

Book release & #giveaway - Invaded by Melissa Landers #ya

Awesome! I've been waiting for this one.

I'm thrilled to help Melissa Landers with her release week launch party for INVADED! See a note from Melissa below and make sure to enter the giveaway.

Hey, fiction lovers. I’m Melissa Landers, author of the Alienated series (YA sci-fi from Disney-Hyperion), and today I’m bouncing with excitement because THE SEQUEL IS FINALLY HERE!

It’s been a year since we left Aelyx and Cara onboard the intergalactic transport, and INVADED begins with an emotional goodbye as they part ways—Aelyx returning to Earth to salvage the alliance, and Cara continuing to L’eihr to serve out her part of the student exchange. While they’re apart, our star-crossed lovers will face assassination attempts, betrayal, crippling self-doubt, and a sadistic alien Phys Ed class. (Because there’s no escaping PE, even in another galaxy.) When Aelyx and Cara finally reunite…well, let’s just say it’s combustive. ;-)

What do reviewers think? I’m glad you asked!

“Readers will love the seamless blend of suspense, humor, and romance set against an interstellar landscape. Dual narratives and a tightly plotted mystery keep the suspense running high, and the chemistry between Aelyx and Cara smolders.” –Booklist

“Excellent character development and integration between modern reality and science fiction. Teens will be rooting for the galactic couple while enjoying the action and suspense that runs through the two volumes.” –School Library Journal

“The protagonists' forced separation gives greater depth to their romance. Each learns to turn a critical eye upon the flaws of their native societies while confronting genuine obstacles to a future together. These complications only underscore the growing sense of menace that propels the narrative to an action-packed climax.” –Kirkus

I hope you’ll make tracks to the nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of INVADED! If you’re snowed in, here are some easy links to bring the sequel right to you:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iBooks

Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

Indie Bound

Indigo

Books-A-Million

Bio: Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information, or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr | Instagram

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble and an autographed swag pack, complete with mini posters of BOTH books! This giveaway is open internationally, and due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

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Cover reveal - Losing the Ice by Jennifer Comeaux #ya #romance

Losing the Ice (Ice #2)

by Jennifer Comeaux 

Release Date: 02/23/15

Summary from Goodreads:

Courtney and Josh are in love and excited to finally compete as skating partners. When they take the ice for their first competition, they want to show everyone, especially Josh's family, they are the perfect pair. But ice is slippery, and one misstep puts all their dreams in jeopardy. Now they must show each other both their love and their partnership are strong enough to survive.

Pre-order for only $.99:

Book One:
(linked to Goodreads below)

Crossing the Ice (Ice #1)

by Jennifer Comeaux

Release Date: 08/03/14

Summary from Goodreads:

Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though...

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?

Buy Links:

    

About the Author

Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is travelling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. Jennifer loves to hear from readers! Visit jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com for contact information and to learn more about her books.

Author Links:

    

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Cover reveal - Soulspark by Eliza Tilton #ya #romance

I'm thrilled to host the cover reveal for one of my good friends and critique partners. Please comment on the cover below - is that beautiful or what?!

SOULSPARK is YA Contemporary Romance sure to rip open your heart and stitch it back together. Here's the blurb: Dealing with the loss of her mother, seventeen-year-old Jessica Stone tries to find an escape from the pain by secretly medicating herself with Xanax, but the anxiety increases, crushing her and her grades.


Then she meets Caleb Jonas, the pastor’s son at her mother’s church. Between his cute dimples and love of fast cars, Jessica is completely smitten, and the feeling is mutual. But dating a Christian boy isn’t easy. He doesn’t party, and he never goes past first base. Jessica struggles with his faith, since it makes her question her own, but for the first time since her mother’s death, she can breathe. Life is finally shifting into a state of happiness.

But that happiness shatters when Jessica catches Caleb kissing her ex-best friend—and step-brother’s girlfriend—Rachel, the girl who used to be like her sister, and the same girl who betrayed her once before. While her stepbrother hints at a deeper connection between the two, Caleb insists it was a one-time mistake and begs forgiveness.

With contradicting stories coming at her, Jessica isn’t sure who to believe, but sometimes the truth is better left undiscovered and she’s about to find out why.

ADD TO GOODREADS HERE!

SOULSPARK is scheduled to release this spring!

Author Bio: Eliza graduated from Dowling College with a BS in Visual Communications. When she’s not arguing with excel at her day job, or playing Dragon Age 2, again, she’s writing. Her stories hold a bit of the fantastical and there’s always a romance.

She resides on Long Island with her husband, two kids and one very snuggly pit bull. Her YA Fantasy series, The Daath Chronicles, is published by Curiosity Quills Press. Author links: Twitter / Tumblr / Website / Pinterest / Facebook