Book Review: Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl

Title: Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy #1)

Author: Melissa Pearl

Publication Date: February 27th 2012 (first published November 4th 2011 on Smashwords)

Source: Purchased for my own reading pleasure

Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected.

Gemma's parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be "used and abused", as her mother always says. Afraid she might accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life askew... Harrison Granger.

Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can't stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.

My Thoughts

   

I first stumbled upon this book a few months ago while on Smashwords and was intrigued enough by its blurb to buy it.

It then sat unread in my e-reader on the ever increasing and hardly never getting read tbr pile.

It wasn't until I read an article in a small local newspaper that I realized the author, Melissa Pearl was a fellow Kiwi and that was enough to spark my interest again for Golden Blood. 
And after some funny and interesting emails, I was lucky enough to purchase a signed print copy from the author.
 
Gemma is a little awkward and shy, and does her utmost to keep everybody in her life happy, often to her own detriment. She feels extremely guilty for having uprooted the family from their previous home and so in an attempt to not repeat past mistakes, has pretty much cut herself off from society.
 

Gemma is slowly and lovingly drawn from her shell by Harrison, a cute and seemingly unattainable boy who is intensely and inexplicably drawn to her. 
Their ensuing love story is sweet and full of awww moments.
 
Golden Blood is a really great read.
The characters are very well written and draw you in straight away.
The story flows easily and the time travel element is intriguing with the possibilities and twists and turns, literally endless. 

I can not say enough good things about Gemma and Harrison and Golden Blood without alluding to spoilers, so I'll keep it zipped except to say...read it, buy it, get it now!
You will not be disappointed :) 

I'm so glad I got it in print but sometimes those impulsive e-book buys should just go to the top of the reading pile because Golden Blood is a golden read and a perfect 5 star one at that :)

LINKS

Melissa Pearl on facebook
Author's Blog
BUY IT from Amazon
Goodreads

BUY IT from The Book Depository

Chael's Luck Blog Tour Starts Today

I'm excited to be taking part in the blog tour for Chael's Luck by

the awesome Mireille Chester.
Here's the tour schedule for all the participating blogs, so do 

pop on over and take part.
And be sure to come back here to 'My Book Chatter' on the 

10th of April for 

my interview with Mireille and an excerpt from Chael's Luck...and every commenter on 'My Book Chatter' 

will go into the draw to win an e-copy of Chael's Luck.
And even better, every person to comment during the blog tour will go 

into another draw for a chance to win some more copies 

of the book and swag packs from the author :)

Chael’s Luck Blog Tour Schedule

April 1- A Diary of a Book Addict http://adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.com/

April 2- Starry Night Book Reviews http://starrynightbookreviews.blogspot.com/

April 3- Books Complete Me http://www.bookscompleteme.com/

April 4- Twimom101 Book Blog http://twimom101bookblog.blogspot.com/

April 5- The Book Mystress http://thebookmystress.blogspot.com/

April 6- Author C.A. Kunz http://cakunz.blogspot.com/

April 7- Melissa Stevens melissastevens.us

April 8- Worlds Away Book Blog http://www.carlylelabuschagne.com/

April 9- Book Passion for Life http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/

April 10- My Book Chatter http://mybookchatterchat.blogspot.com/

April 11- Paranormal Book Club http://paranormal-bookclub.com/

April 12- Scribblings of Wendy Jane http://wjsmithblog.blogspot.com/

April 13- A Page Away http://pageaway.blogspot.com/

April 14- M.E.Franco, Author http://mefrancoauthor.blogspot.com/

April 15- Forever Lost in My Own World http://mireillechester.blogspot.com/

April 16- Read2Review http://read2review.com/

April 17- Forever Lost in My Own World http://mireillechester.blogspot.com/

Book Review: Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer

Title: Dead Radiance (Valkyrie #1)

Author: T.G Ayer
Publication Date: February 25th 2012
Publisher: Evolved Publishing

Source: Purchased for my own reading pleasure

That day I knew for sure. I'd lost control of my tears then. They fell in huge, mocking drops. I stared at Joshua through those bitter tears, my heart missing beats as I tried to remember to breathe.

I finally knew what the glow meant.

I was a freak and Joshua was going to die.

Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras — Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.

The new foster kid, Aidan, isn’t helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human.

Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she’d never belonged?

My Thoughts

After reading the first chapters online I had high hopes for a great book, and Dead Radiance did not disappoint.

I can quite happily report that I thoroughly and enthusiastically LOVED this book.

I LOVED the story. 

Norse mythology threaded into an intricately woven teenage tale of loss and hardship, mystery and intrigue, first love, deceit, self discovery and more.

I LOVED the characters.

Bryn is a typically normal kid dealing with the heavy burden of being in the foster system and never quite fitting in anywhere, while struggling with a strange and haunting ‘gift’. 
Her quiet and soft nature at odds with the realisation of what she is to become, Bryn is both challenged and tormented by that new life.

Aidan is cute bad boy, come geek, come secret agent, come saviour, come love interest, come everything! 
He is secretive and intriguing and has strong and confusing feelings for our heroine that will ultimately lead to his possible demise.  

The secondary characters also, are interesting and diverse, with a couple of complete little biarches you’ll want to slap a time or two thrown into the mix.

And lets not forget the Norse Gods.
Some I think you will love and want to learn more about, others, well with their holier than thou attitudes we'll lump them in with the biarches!!

I LOVED the writing. 
The story flows smoothly and effortlessly from the page. 
It is clear and concise without unnecessary fillers and overly detailed sentences that do nothing more than fill the word count.

T.G. Ayer has written this book in a real and believable teenage voice that I literally could not put down. 
After dropping my three girls off at school I sat down with coffee and snacks at hand, and except for toilet breaks and an unexpected storm front closing my daughter’s school early, I did not move until I was finished.  

Dead Radiance had me completely engrossed, I lost myself amongst its pages and I was enraptured with Bryn and her story.

A beautifully written and endearing tale, Dead Radiance is a definite 5 Star read ~<;]

LINKS

T.G. Ayer on facebook

The Valkyrie Novels on facebook

Author's Blog

Dead Radiance on Goodreads

Buy it at Amazon

Book Review: Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Title: Touch of Power (Healer #1)

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Publication Date: December 20th 2011

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley

Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

My Thoughts

Because of the many, many reviews of this book that flooded the blogging world all at once, I had put off reading it for fear of boring everyone with yet another review.

Man, I was missing out because Touch of Power is an exceptionally good read.

As always Ms Snyder's world building skills are magnificent and you very quickly get a sense of this world and its people.

The cast of characters is great, all of them diverse and interesting and incredibly endearing.

Avry is a really gutsy, stubborn, naive, lovable, sassy miss that immediately stole my heart. Her tanasity and fierce belief in doing what is right, is both commendable and foolish.
 

Belen and Flea will sneak up on you and worm their way into your soul (and then tear it apart, possble tissue moment for some)
 

And Kerrick, be still my aching heart, the man is gorgeous.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous-enough said!

All I can really say to you is READ THIS BOOK!

An easily given and well deserved 5 Star read ~<;]

Book Review: Cold Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Title: Cold Blood (Dirty Blood #2)

Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Publication Date: November 22nd 2011

Publisher: Accendo Press

Source: Received from the author for an honest review

Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process.

At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here? 

My Thoughts

Cold Blood is just as exciting as the first book Dirty Blood (you can read my review for book #1 here), but in new surroundings with all new pressures and with some great new characters.
 
Cambria or 'goth girl' as she lovingly refers to herself is a particular favourite. She has a quick wit and kick arse attitude which fits well with Tara's  personality.

Wes is more in the background in this instalment and I really did miss his presence but that's not to say there was no love interest for Tara (I'm not telling, spoiler free remember!)

Another great instalment in the Dirty Blood series, Cold Blood has action, intrigue, bitch fights, an awesome twist and so much more.

Cold Blood is an excellent read, 4 Stars ;]

Book Review: Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Title: Dirty Blood (Dirty Blood #1)

Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Publication Date: April 28th 2011 (first published April 1st 2011) 

Publisher: Accendo Press

Source: Received from the author for an honest review

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

Now, all I can do is accept the truths that are staring me in the face. One, Werewolves do exist. And Two, I was born to kill them.

My Thoughts

Dirty Blood has a great cast of characters that are not cliched and over done and I enjoyed Tara immensely. She's witty, a little smart mouthed and by no means a push over.

Dirty Blood is definitely a new and exciting version of the age old werewolf story, complete with new history, myths and legends (and not a vampire in sight!)
This book is bold, refreshing, and an entertaining read.

A great 4 Star read

LINKS

Authors Blog

Facebook page

On Goodreads

Buy it at Amazon

Cover Reveal: Taste by Kate Evangelista

I stumbled upon this gorgeous book cover and just had to share.
I must say, Taste sounds great too, see blurb below :)
Its release date has been slated for Fall 2012 

(thats approx sometime after September for non U.S readers)

I'll definitely been adding this to my 'gotta read' pile

Taste by Kate Evangelista 

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.