Saturday, December 30, 2017

The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five by Kate Armitage


The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five by Kate Armitage
Published by Crooked Cat Books
Published on December 27, 2017
Genres: Humor & Satire, Dark Comedy, Literary Humor
Page Count: 271
Source: Publisher/Author
Format: eBook
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Description: With newsfeeds full of perfect pouts, hot-dog legs and the self-proclaimed hashtag-blessed, it’s hard not to feel inadequate. How has everyone figured out how to live their best life except you?

That’s what Kylie wants to know. She thought she would spend her twenty-fifth birthday having a mini-break not a mini-breakdown. After an evening of finger-food and snide remarks, Kylie decides that things must change. Naturally, Alexa disagrees. She doesn’t think anything needs to change and is quite happy plodding on with her best friend by her side. 

So, when everything changes for the better for Alexa, while it’s going from bad to worse for Kylie; will it tear them apart?


Hello Readers.

Have you ever had a birthday that made you stop and reflect on how far you have gotten in your life? Did you obtain the success that you thought you would by that point? Kylie finds herself having a quarter of a life crisis. She has not reached any of the points in life that most people expect one to achieve by this age. It doesn't help that some of her own family members feel the need to constantly remind her of her shortcomings. Add in her best friend who seems to really have this whole adulting thing under control. It is interesting to see how they mesh together. Both are very relatable.

I am rating this book Four Red Books because there were moments where I wanted to shake both of the main characters. This book was well written and I find myself looking forward to reading more of her work. She has a way to not only captivate your attention but makes you want to read more. Hoping that there will be a sequel. Will definitely recommend.


InkedBookDragon




Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Holiday Chaos



Hello Everyone!

I am sure that you have noticed that I have been quiet for a couple days. I have fallen into that part of the year where the holidays completely take over everything. I apologize for my absence and for the absence that will soon follow. December is all kinds of crazy. 

I cannot help but wonder how many of you have lives that are complete chaos because of the holidays. This is the one time of year where sane people become completely insane. I have seen a grown man sit in an aisle of a store and cry because they did not have heavy cream. I have seen two adult women fight over some hideous "Now" toy. SMH. 

All I want for Christmas is to climb into my bed with books and some snacks and just stay there until it is 2018. Now I am wondering how many of you are wanting the very same thing. 


May the Chaos of the Season not completely destroy the joy.


InkedBookDragon





Sunday, December 17, 2017

Series Spotlight: The Series of Unfortunate Events



A little blurb about the series:

If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched and will most likely fill you with deep despair.


Hello Readers.

It has been years since I have read these books but I am thinking that a reread is in order very soon. They have been brought back into the forefront with the Netflix adaptation so I thought that I would spotlight them. This is a series that will draw you in on the first book and will carry you along until the end. You feel like you are a part of it. You are taken along these adventures and feel all the ups and downs as the children find their way. For those of you that have not read them, I highly recommend that you do. For those of you that have, join me in a reread. With this roller coaster, I could use a friend of two.


InkedBookDragon



Books in Series:
  • The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1)  -  1999
  • The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #2) - 1999
  • The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #3) - 2000  
  • The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #4) - 2000
  • The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #5) - 2000
  • The Ersatz Elevator (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #6) - 2001 
  • The Vile Village (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #7) -  2001                        
  • The Hostile Hospital (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #8) - 2001
  • The Carnivorous Carnival (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #9) - 2002
  • The Slippery Slope (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #10) - 2003
  • The Grim Grotto (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #11) - 2004
  • The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #12) - 2005
  • The End (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #13) - 2006
Additional:
Books 
  • The Beatrice Letters - 2006
  • Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography - 2002/2007
  • The Puzzling Puzzles - 2004
  • The Blank Book (Journal) - 2004
  • The Notorious Notations (Journal) - 2006
  • The Dismal Dinner (Short) - 2004
  • 13 Shocking Secrets You'll Wish You Never Knew About Lemony Snicket (Short) - 2006
  • A paperback release of the series, featuring restyled covers, new illustrations and a serial supplement entitled The Cornucopian Cavalcade happened with The Bad Beginning: or, Orphans!, The Reptile Room: or, Murder!, and The Wide Window: or, Disappearance!, but stopped after the third.
  • Humorous quotes from the series were used in a book published under the Snicket name, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid.
  • All The Wrong Questions - Lemony Snicket's All the Wrong Questions is a four-part young adult series focused on Snicket's childhood working for V.F.D. It is set in the same universe as A Series of Unfortunate Events and features several of the same characters and locations. The first book was entitled Who Could That Be at This Hour?, and was released in October 2012. The second, When Did You See Her Last?, was released in October 2013, and the third, Shouldn't You Be in School?, was released in September 2014. The final book, Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights? was released on September 29, 2015.**
Movie - Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events was released on December 17, 2004. It encompassed the first three books.
TV Show - A Series of Unfortunate Events was adapted into a series on Netflix. Season One (consisting of eight episodes that cover the first four books) was released on January 13, 2017.
Video Games - Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a video game based on the books and film (more so the film, as the name and many plot elements seen in the movie but not the book are seen) that was released in 2004 by Adrenium Games and Activision for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, and PC. 
Board Game - A board game based on the books was distributed by Mattel in 2004, prior to the movie. The Perilous Parlor Game is for 2–4 players, ages 8 and up. 
Card games - The Catastrophic Card Game. For 2-4 players, ages 14 and under.



Lemony Snicket's Page
Amazon


*Picture contains the covers from the original release and custom covers. The custom covers are by Juniper Books.
**All the Wrong Questions

Author Spotlight: Marcus Miller


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: MARCUS MILLER


"Like the main character in my book, I also ran away from home at a very young age and was thrust into the underbelly of society where age matters not, and the only respect you receive is bought with strength and toughness. And like Steve Rawlings, I also survived against long odds, and am now able to tell some of my stories, and those of the characters I met along the way. My travels took me across the U.S. and through Central and South America and the Caribbean. I have worn many hats in his life, some of them being a cowboy, sailor, boat captain, scuba diving instructor, commercial diver, small plane pilot, gunsmith, hunting guide, rancher, horse trainer, firearms instructor, self-defense and edged weapons instructor, and adventurer.

Because I never completed high school or attended a college, my personal education was derived from working and living on the streets, back alleys, fetid jungles and dank ports in third world countries.

As you can tell, I have not experienced what might be considered a normal life. In fact, I have never known anyone whose life came even close to mirroring mine. As I traveled the world I absorbed my experiences and of those, of people I met on my journey's, and now I'm able to wrap these experiences into stories I hope will be enjoyed by my readers. I've always been a story-teller, and many over the years have encouraged me to write them down, but until I was laid up last year with a knee injury I never took the time. When I started writing, the words came easily, telling my stories as if I was in a room of eager listeners. I haven't stopped writing since. And I never want to stop....."

Published Works:
The Redemption Wall
Slave Tracks (The Redemption Wall Book 2)
The Forgotten Man
The Ghost Operator (The Forgotten Man Book 2)

Facebook
Amazon


I have encountered a number of authors since I started blogging and they all have interesting stories on what brought them to writing. Marcus Miller is one of those authors that can captivate your attention in basic conversation. I greatly enjoy every opportunity that I have to talk to him about his craft. The man doesn't have just one story to tell. He has many and wants to share them with the world. Readers are truly honored to get to be a part of his literary adventures. I look forward to seeing where he takes us.


InkedBookDragon





**Bio above from his Amazon Page and is not my personal words.


Saturday, December 16, 2017

My Lady Jane (The Lady Janie's #1) by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows


My Lady Jane (The Lady Janies #1) by Cythia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
 Published by HarperTeen
Published on June 7, 2016
Genres: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, Historical
Page Count: 512
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardback
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Description: This comical, fantastical, romantical, New York Times bestselling, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey is “an uproarious historical fantasy that’s not to be missed” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

In My Lady Jane, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind YA fantasy in the tradition of The Princess Bride, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history—because sometimes history needs a little help.

At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren’t for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.

Like that could go wrong.



Hello Readers.

I was debating on if I should review this one or not since it is from 2016 and I am attempting to focus on newer books these days. It has stayed in the back of my mind since I read it earlier this year and I think a book that lingers for that long deserves to be acknowledged. Also, there is a sequel to this releasing this coming year. With that knowledge, how could I not review it?

I have always been one that enjoys a good laugh. I am one that is given to random laughter at times when I remember something that happened in the past. Heaven forbid I attempt to tell a story that I deem funny because I will end up laughing the entire time and not get the words out. I tell you all this because this book made me laugh so hard at some parts. The humor would hang around and I would chuckle at inappropriate times if it crossed my mind. There is something to be said about a book that can bring that much joy. 

Being a lover of historical fiction and romances, I was tentative with this one because I feared that the fantasy aspect would completely remove all historical accuracy from the story. That was not the case. There are actual facts that have been peppered in there. The fun part is trying to figure out what was true. Some details were obviously fantasy. However, some were very much accurate. Have fun trying to choose which was which.

I am rating this book Four Blue Books because it was a delight to read but there were a few spots of timing issues. It is not often that a storyline can take me in like this one. I did not want to put it down. Ready for the sequel. Highly recommend.


InkedBookDragon

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Author Spotlight: Joel Crofoot


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: JOEL CROFOOT

Joel Crofoot was raised in northern New York state on a large family sheep farm, then left home to join the United States Marine Corps at 18 years-old. After spending four years in Japan as a radio operator, Joel re-enlisted into the bomb squad (explosive ordnance disposal) and was stationed out of California. Two tours to Iraq later, Joel decided to leave the Marine Corps to pursue higher education and recently graduated with a doctorate in psychology in July of 2017. 

Published Works:
Michael's Passion (A Series of Angels Book 1) - September 7, 2016
Ramatel's Vow (A Series of Angels Book 2) - December 3, 2016
Asael's Nature (A Series of Angels Book 3) - May 27, 2017

Amazon
Joel's Blog
Facebook
Twitter


I have had the opportunity to have many discussions with Joel. He is witty and quite fun to talk to. He loves writing and sharing his work with others. His life experience is interesting and I look forward to seeing how it will come into play with his future works. He is definitely one to watch.

InkedBookDragon





**Bio above from his Amazon Page and is not my personal words.





The Crims by Kate Davies


The Crims by Kate Davies
Published by HarperCollins
Published on December 5, 2017
Genres: Children's Books, Mysteries & Detectives, Homor
Page Count: 304
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback (Hardcover)
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Description: The Addams Family meets Despicable Me in the first book of this new trilogy, perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket and Pseudonymous Bosch!

The Crim family is full of notorious criminals. Notoriously inept, that is. Uncle Knuckles once tried to steal a carnival. Great-Uncle Bernard held himself hostage by accident. Aunt Drusilla died slipping on a banana peel. But Imogen is different. She was born with a skill for scandal. A knack for the nefarious. A mastery of misdemeanors.

Despite her natural talent for all things unlawful, Imogen got out of the family business years ago. But when the rest of the Crims are accused of pulling off a major heist—which seems doubtful, to say the least—Imogen is forced to step in to clear their names. Because only a truly skilled criminal can prove the bumbling family’s innocence….


Hello Readers.

I had such high hopes for this story. The premise promised to be a good one. I enjoy Lemony Snicket and any book that is said to be similar to that excites me. I wish that I could say that this book lived up to my expectations but it didn't. Don't get me wrong, it is not a bad book. However, when a book is slated as something, I get disappointed when it falls short. 

There were moments where the story drug and I can see where the target audience (8-12 years) may get bored. The characters were enjoyable but I found myself mixing them up. There were points where a character was mentioned pretty much just to be mentioned and served no true purpose to the scene. There were holes in the story that I am hoping will be addressed in the other two books.

I am rating this book Three Orange Books because it didn't move me. Marketing it the way that it was marketed created a level of expectation that it could not meet. It was a good idea and the potential is there. It will be interesting to see how the trilogy reaches completion. 


InkedBookDreams


Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Reading Challenges 2018

Hello again!

If you are like me, you might be looking for the perfect reading challenge for you. There are many out there and I can't decide on which one I want to do. I am definitely going to do the Goodreads one again but I may end up working on multiple ones. Here are the ones that I am interested in. Are any of you going to work on a reading challenge?







Decisions. Decisions. *Pondering this*


InkedBookDragon

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Series Spotlight: Aurora Teagarden Series by Charlaine Harris



A little about the first book: REAL MURDERS* 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris, this first book in the Aurora Teagarden mystery series combines the excitement of solving the crime and the charm of Southern hospitality. 

Aurora Teagarden, small town librarian and true crime buff, is looking forward to the monthly meeting of the Real Murders Society, a group of fellow crime enthusiasts who share a unique interest in historical murders. The Society meetings are the highlight of Roe’s social life in sleepy Lawrenceville, Georgia, and she’s ready for a quiet night of discussion, coffee, and cookies. But after she finds the body of a Society member in a staged crime scene eerily similar to the one the group was supposed to discuss that very night, Roe finds herself at the center of a murderous story of her own.

As the killer strikes again, it’s obvious that members of the Real Murders Society have become targets of a knowledgeable copycat. With the help of handsome police detective Arthur Smith and the town’s dashing new resident, mystery novelist Robin Crusoe, it’s up to Roe to discover if the murderer is one of the group’s own and to piece the perplexing puzzle together before another body appears.


Hello Readers.

This week's series that I want to spotlight is the Aurora Teagarden Series by Charlaine Harris. I chose this series to spotlight because I read it during a rough time in my life and it helped me through it. I was hooked from the first book and had to read every one that was available immediately. I started the series later so I didn't have to wait for the first eight books (1990-2003).

The author took a huge break with this series. It wasn't until 2016 that she brought us back to Aurora's world in her books. She had been involved with other projects so continuing this series took a backburner for a bit. I was delighted when I found out that another one was coming. 

Aurora will most likely either remind you of yourself or of someone you know. She has that familiar quality that is both lovely and reassuring. Her curiosity and intelligence tend to get the best of her and lead her into some interesting situations. I don't want to spoil it for you so I won't go into more detail. 

I highly recommed this series. I am sure many of you have encountered other works by this author but this is one that should not be ignored. I will admit, there is definitely some "Aurora" in me. I have a feeling that there is a little "Aurora" in all of us. 


InkedBookDragon


Books in Series:
  • Real Murders               
  • A Bone to Pick               
  • Three Bedrooms One Corpse
  • The Julius House
  • Dead Over Heels
  • A Fool And His Honey
  • Last Scene Alive
  • Poppy Done to Death
  • All the Little Liars
  • Sleep Like a Baby
Additional:
Short Story: "Deeply Dead" which appeared in Murder, They Wrote.
TV movies: "Aurora Teagarden Mystery: A Bone to Pick"
                    "Real Murders: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery"
                    "Three Bedrooms, One Corpse: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery"
                    "The Julius House: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery"
                    "Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery"
                    "A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery"
                    (Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel airs them.)



Amazon

*Blurb from Amazon
**Picture from www.recordedbooks.com

Friday, December 8, 2017

Dawning Ascent (The Pearson Prophecy) by Jen L. Grey


Dawning Ascent (The Pearson Prophecy Book 1) by Jen L. Grey
Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Published on December 7, 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Page Count: 262
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
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Description: Power comes with a price. 

Treated like an outcast in her own kingdom, Ariah learned to live in the shadows. But as she comes into her powers, she catches the eye of her life long crush and an unlikely ally. Trusting either of them could help her along a dangerous journey... or could bring her journey to a dangerous end.

When enemies come to light and distrust spreads, Ariah's safety is put in jeopardy. If she places her trust in the wrong people, her hidden powers will be unveiled to those who wish to use them against her.

To survive, Ariah must learn who has her best interests at heart. If she chooses wrong, it could mean not only her own death, but the crumbling of the entire country.

Game of Thrones meets Practical Magic in DAWNING ASCENT, a coming of age fantasy read for adults and young adults alike!


Hello Readers.

Dawning Ascent was one of those books that I had trouble putting down. I love a good fantasy that transports me to another place. It started off strongly. The author set up the story so well that it flowed beautifully. It was well written and I was greatly impressed by the character development. This did not feel like a debut novel.

I find myself wanting to write a lot more but I would end up giving away important details and I hate spoilers. I have the story playing out in my head and I want to share everything. However, I won't but I will say that this book left me longing for more. I was drawn in deeply and cannot wait to see where the story will take us.

I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it was a phenomenal book. I am still in amazement that it was a debut novel. The only true downside that I found is that I was left with a cliffhanger and am a bit frustrated that I have to wait to see what happens. Highly recommend.


InkedBookDragon

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Becoming Charlie - Part One by Kristie Haigwood


Becoming Charlie: Part One by Kristie Haigwood
Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Published on December 3, 2017
Genres: Literature, Fiction, Coming of Age
Page Count: 252
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
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Description: My name is Charlie, and I'm invisible. Well, not literally, but until one of the most popular guys at Eden High saved my life, nobody even knew I existed. Sean Reese gave me more than my life back that night. He gave me friendship.
And maybe, just maybe, I can save him, too.

Will he still be my friend when he finds out my secret?


Hello.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I had never read anything by this author but I thought that the premise looked promising. Who hasn't felt invisible at some point or another? How big an impact can one friend make on your outlook in life?  Also, I was dying to know what Charlie's secret was. 

We have all been invisible at some point or another. I really related to the main character on that aspect. You can be in a room filled with people and be invisible and lonely. Some of the invisibility may be self imposed while some just happens. I once took a class for an entire semester and I think that maybe two people besides the professor knew that I existed and that was only because of group work. 

This story was extremely well written. From the first page, the reader is transported into Charlie's world and feelings. The invisible girl that doesn't fit in. High school is so full of cliques and this was a great look at how it feels to be on the outside looking in. Add in the insecurities that come with being that age. Immensely relatable.

I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it is just that good. There was no real lag time in the story. It flowed so well that I was upset when it ended and it hit me that I have to wait for more. The character development was very well done and I look forward to seeing how they continue to evolve in the next book. Highly recommend.


InkedBookDragon






***NEW RELEASE*** Dawning Ascent (The Pearson Prophecy, Vol. 1) by Jen L Grey


Game of Thrones meets Practical Magic in DAWNING ASCENT, a coming of age fantasy read for adults and young adults alike! Releasing December 7th, Dawning Ascent, by Jen L. Grey Only 99¢ for a limited time! http://amzn.to/2je7WOI #YA #Fantasy #TBR @authorjenlgrey


Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Author Spotlight: Angela Stevens



AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT: ANGELA STEVENS

Angela Stevens is the author of the contemporary adult romance books, The Cocktail Series. She also writes YA/ New Adult Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal and has a Children's Classic Style Fantasy book (8-12y.o).

Angela is British born but moved to the United States a decade ago. Always a keen traveler, she has enjoyed spending time living outside of her native country. She is an ex-teacher and the mother of two children. When empty nest syndrome threatened, Angela turned to writing novels to fill her growing free time. As her hobby grew she found storytelling began to fill her waking hours.

Her debut novel, Lemon Drops and Love grew out of her voracious appetite for reading. After one particularly momentous year, where she consumed over one hundred paper backs, Angela Stevens decided to attempt her own. The story is set in her local town and the setting for her love story was partly inspired by her passion for ice hockey. "I discovered ice hockey when I first moved to America. We went first to see an Anaheim Ducks game when I was visiting L.A. We all loved it so much when we came home we went to watch our local team. Now I'm a rabid Washington Capitals fan, and can often be found 'rocking the red' at the Verizon center supporting the Washington Capitals."

In Angela's stories, you will always find a hero to fall in love with and a heroine who will be worthy of his love. Her characters are three dimensional and down to earth. She writes with a strong voice and in a gritty style weaving tension and suspense throughout her narrative. Her characters come to life and whisk you away, whether into a romantic or fantasy setting. Whichever you chose, be prepared to laugh out loud, cry and fall in love.

Angela began her writing career on wattpad.com and she highly recommends it for anyone beginning writing or for someone wanting to get their stories out there. Part writing site and part social media, the website has been the driving force in getting her work published.

Angela is an eclectic reader, but romance is always her fall back genre. She will try pretty much anything but generally avoids reading science fiction and crime thrillers. Some of her all-time favorite books are The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, anything written by Kristen Ashley or J.A. Huss, Eva Luna by Isobel Allende, and J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood.

When it comes to her own work, Angela has a hard time deciding which is her favorite. Let’s face it, it is like asking her to choose her favorite child. So, if she had her arm forced behind her back, she’d probably opt for Dark N Stormy, because the character development of Finn was about as perfect as she has ever done. Though, perhaps she might change her mind and say An Unbreakable Will, because she just loved the group of hunky warriors who made their appearance in that book and sparked off a whole new series of their own. But if you ask her next year, she is probably going to say Rebekka’s Child. A whole new genre and style, this book has given her sleepless nights for almost two years and as long as she finishes editing, it will be the book she is most proud of.

Social Media
https://www.angelastevens.net
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaStevens
Or follow Angela on Twitter. @Angelastevens13
Published Works

The Cocktail Series (Steamy Contemporary Romance)
Lemon Drops And Love published 2014
Ice Cold Mint Juleps published 2015
Dark N Stormy published 2016
Learning To Love Southern Comfort published 2017
Finding Comfort In Champagne published 2017
Champagne Moments (companion Novella and prequel) published 2015

The Vargr Clan Trilogy (Contemporary Fantasy)
The Wolf You Feed published 2014
Hold On published 2015
An Unbreakable Will published 2015
The Splits In My Skin published 2016

The Black Walker Warrior Novels
Blood Or Destiny published 2016

Standalones
Mariquita (written by Angela Stevens and Illustrated by Matthew Moir, Children’s book) published 2015

Coming In 2018
Blood Brothers: A Black Walker Warrior Novel publishing January 9th 2018
Rebekka’s Child (standalone) Magical realism- (set in1876 Iceland)
Ambushed (working title): A Black Walker Warrior Collection of Short Stories
Also book 1 in a new Romance collection, coming soon…




I have had many conversations with Angela. She is a lot of fun to talk to and absolutely adores writing. She is actually one of the authors that helped take me out of my comfort zone with reading. I hardly ever would read romances of this form and then I read the first book in The Cocktail Series and I was hooked. She exhibits a true mastery of her craft. I geniunely look forward to reading more.

InkedBookDragon


Amazon


*Bio information provided by author upon my request.

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Be Careful What You Wish For by A.C. Hutchinson


Be Careful What You Wish For: A Short Story by A.C. Hutchinson
Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Published on October 31, 2015
Genres: Horror, Short Story
Page Count: 13
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
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Description: When David Patzpowski takes his breakfast at a motorway diner, he discovers the clientele to be a little on the strange side.


Hello again.

Yes. I know that I just reviewed a different short story by this author but I can't review that one and not review this one. I have to share this one with you. Another great piece from this author. Well written with excellent characters. Definitely one that was thought out. Surprising end.

I am rating this short story Four Red Books because I found myself a little upset about the length. Well developed to be so short. I wholeheartedly feel that the premise could have been used towards a longer piece. Once again impressed with the way that the author draws the reader in. Will be keeping an eye on him. It will be interesting to see what he has for us later on. Will be recommending.

InkedBookDragon


***NEW RELEASE*** Becoming Charlie by Kristie Haigwood



Blurb:
My name is Charlie and I'm invisible. Well, not literally, but until one of the most popular guys at Eden High saved my life, nobody even knew I existed. Sean Reese gave me more than my life back that night. He gave me friendship. And maybe, just maybe, I can save him, too.

Will he still be my friend when he finds out my secret?



 ***NEW RELEASE***
BECOMING CHARLIE
"A 5 star wonderful read!"

"Such craftsmanship."
"Her first YA book is solid gold!"
Author: Kristie Haigwood
Photographer: Ramona Halford
Cover Designer: Darkmantle Designs
Cover Model: Riley Haigwood
US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077X4FBZJ/
UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077X4FBZJ/
CA:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B077X4FBZJ/


My name is Charlie, and I'm invisible. Well, not literally, but until one of the most popular guys…
AMAZON.COM

Monday, December 4, 2017

Hotel Z: A Short Story by A.C. Hutchinson


Hotel Z: A Short Story by A.C. Hutchinson
Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Published on March 25, 2017
Genres: Horror, Short Stories
Page Count: 18
Source: Purchased
Format: eBook
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Description: Welcome to Hotel Z, the best place to sample merchandise anywhere in town. We catch them fresh and don't keep them too long – that's the secret. But be careful, sometimes they bite!

Hello Again!

Zombies. Need I say more? Yes, zombies are every where and many people think that they have been done to death. (Pun intended.) I am one that enjoys a good zombie story. I have never really been able to pinpoint exactly why I enjoy them to the extent that I do. I guess some things cannot be explained.

I am rating this Four Red Books because it was a great read. The premise was not something that you see often and I really liked that. Very well written. It was predictable but that did not take from the story. I wish it had been longer. There was definitely the potential there to be a longer story. I look forward to reading more of the author's work.


InkedBookDragon


Sunday, December 3, 2017

Room 119: The Whitby Trader by T.F. Lince


Room 119: The Whitby Trader by T.F. Lince
Published by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Published on December 14, 2017
Genres: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Page Count: 282
Sources: Author
Format: eBook
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Description: High-flying trader Dean Harrison has it all – the London penthouse apartment; the fast car; the beautiful wife. But when the threads of Dean’s life start to unravel, they do so with alarming speed.

Following the advice of a frail stranger, Dean sets off for Welnetham Hall Hotel and is plunged into the mysterious world of Room 119 – a world where nothing makes sense. How does everyone in the hotel know his name? Why does he travel there on a train line that shut down over fifty years ago? And who is the sinister man in black who pursues him wherever he goes?

As he gradually pieces together the puzzle of Welnetham Hall, Dean is forced to re-evaluate his life and realises that nothing is more important to him than his wife and daughter. Desperate to get back to them, he vows he would lay down his life for the people he loves.

It’s a promise he may have to keep. 


Hello Readers.

Room 119: The Whitby Trader was one of those books that I wasn't quite sure what to think when it was given to me. A first novel by a new author. Those tend to make me nervous. I have found that they are either fantastic, decent, or just not that good. I went into this book with only having skimmed the blurb because I wanted a clean slate going into it.

It started out on a high note which both excites me and makes me nervous. Start out too high and you can only go down from there. That was not the case here. The flow was good throughout the book. Full of humor, intrigue, and emotion. I found myself wanting to read more. I could even look past the inclusion of a clown. *shudder* (There is nothing creepier than a clown.)

This was one of those books that ran the gamut of emotions. I was laughing out loud at some parts and ugly crying at other parts. It is refreshing to encounter a book that draws you in and not only makes you think but also feel. Add in a spash of the totally unexpected and you really have something.

Thank you to the author for sending me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it was a delight to read. Definitely does not feel like a debut novel. I look forward to seeing what else the author has to offer us in the future. Highly recommend.


InkedBookDragon

Saturday, December 2, 2017

The Redemption Wall by Marcus Miller


The Redemption Wall by Marcus Miller
Published by Independently Published
Published on October 7, 2017
Genres: Action & Adventure, Western, Thriller & Suspense
Page Count: 353
Source: Author
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Description: An epic action novel of adventure and personal discovery through the eyes of a young man fleeing from a rich and powerful family. Luke Canfield is born into a ranching dynasty but is subjected to horrible abuse by his fanatically religious father. The redemption wall is the place where Luke’s father inflicts corporal punishment on him, almost daily, and Luke endures it for years until the only person left to defend and protect him, his grandmother, suddenly dies. Finding the courage to escape his persecution, he is offered a way out, but must travel alone, quickly maturing as he gains experience along the way, across the U.S. from Oregon to Florida, in an attempt to meet up with a family offering him protection on a sailing vessel in the Caribbean, but he must arrive before the family sails away. His odyssey is a tale of fear, hunger, abuse, adventure and courage through the eyes of a quickly maturing young man. Set in 1967, in a world experiencing drugs, free love, and racial tension and in a time when the words, child abuse weren’t spoken out loud.


Hello Readers.

This book practically fell into my lap. I wasn't looking for it. I wasn't trying to find it. It found me. It did not feel like I was reading a story but rather being told a story in person. From the very beginning, I was pulled into the life of the main character. He was extremely relatable and my heart went out to him. It was interesting to see how the characters evolved as the story progressed.

This book was captivating and very well written. It was so raw. So pure. It was so real at times that I was overcome with emotion. There were moments that I wanted to reach inside and hug the main character. Not many books cause those emotions in me.

I am rating this book Five Blue Books because it was devastatingly beautiful in a way that changes the reader forever. I look forward to reading future books by this author. He is definitely one to watch.

InkedBookDragon


Friday, December 1, 2017

Series Spotlight: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher





A little about the first book: STORM FRONT* 

In the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series, Harry Dresden’s investigation of a grisly double murder pulls him into the darkest depths of magical Chicago…

As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put it mildly, stinks. 

So when the Chicago P.D. bring him in to consult on a double homicide committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name...


Hello Readers.

The first series that I want to spotlight is The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. The reason that it is first is because I fell completely in love with it after reading the first one. Granted, it has gotten much better with each addition but it had me. I found myself completely enthralled and then deeply saddened when each book concluded. 

Harry Dresden will take you to places that you never dreamed. These books are full of humor, action, romance, revenge, and so much more. They are beyond fabulous. The writing is phenomenal. I cannot rave enough about this series. 

I don't want to spoil it for you so I won't go any deeper. All I can say is that if you like this kind of series, read it. Read it immediately. It is truly that good. 


InkedBookDragon


Books in Series:
  • Storm Front               
  • Fool Moon                 
  • Grave Peril
  • Summer Knight
  • Death Masks
  • Blood Rites
  • Dead Beat
  • Proven Guilty
  • White Night
  • Small Favor
  • Turn Coat
  • Changes
  • Ghost Story
  • Cold Days
  • Skin Game
  • Peace Talks - No release date as of yet.      
Additional:
Book - Side Jobs - Short Stories
TV show - The Dresden Files (Not the greatest representation)
Graphic novels:

  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Storm Front, Volume 1: The Gathering Storm
  • Storm Front, Volume 2: Maelstrom
  • Fool Moon, Volume 1
  • Fool Moon, Volume 2
  • Ghoul, Goblin
  • War Cry
  • Down Town
  • Wild Card
  • Dog Men
Roleplaying game - The Dresden Files Roleplaying Game



Amazon

*Blurb from Amazon
**Picture from White Night