REVIEW and TOUR: Mice by Kfir Luzzatto

Phantom Lover

by Kfir Luzzatto

genre: Paranormal Detective Series It was bad enough, I can assure you, finding a half-naked ectoplasm sitting at my desk, but she had to talk nonsense too.

Buy: Amazon / Smashwords

 

MICE

by Kfir Luzzatto

genre: Paranormal Detective Series “Where the hell are they coming from?” When Frankie asked a question, it always sounded like he was placing the blame on someone—me, in this case. Instead of answering, I squashed the white mouse that had just climbed out of his coffee cup. The mouse had the consistency of putty and felt like it; no bloodshed was involved in the squashing.

Buy: Amazon / Smashwords

 


RATING: 3 stars

REVIEW: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a short novella about a paranormal detective, or maybe it was a detective series with paranormal parts to it.The storyline was okay. If the story was any more drawn out however, it would have been boring, so the length was about right for the action.
I found the characters that were living to be one dimensional, however, all of it was made up by the ghostly character whom I absolutely adored. From the main character, Dave Callaghan, to the oracle he goes to for help (called the Cornflake Oracle) to a possible romantic interest, I didn't find there was much character development or storyline. I didn't feel any of the sparks fly between Dave or his romantic interest until the very end when it was obvious there were some sort of feelings.
Ultimately, Mice was a short novella that was cute and quick to read, but don't expect anything life-altering out of it.

Meet the Author:

Kfir was born and raised in Italy, and moved to Israel as a teenager. He acquired the love for the English language from his father, a former U.S. soldier and WWII veteran, a voracious reader and a prolific writer. With a PhD in chemical engineering and a long family history that he needs to live up to, Kfir work as a patent attorney and heads the patent law firm that was established by his great-grandfather in Milan, Italy, in 1869. Kfir lives in Omer, Israel, with his full-time partner, Esther, their four children, Michal, Lilach, Tamar and Yonatan, and the dog Elvis. Writing has always been Kfir's passion and for almost four years he wrote a weekly "Patents" column in Globes (Israel’s financial newspaper), which also yielded his only (if he can help it) non-fiction book, THE WORLD OF PATENTS, (a not-so-boring tale of what patents are about, in Hebrew), which was published in 2002 by Globes Press. Kfir loves writing short stories but has too many novels waiting to be written (and possibly not enough years ahead of him to write them all), so now he mostly writes full-length fiction. His other passion is working with other authors on stories he loves and that's how he wound up serving on the editorial board of The Harrow Press as Anthology Editor. You can read about Kfir's books here. He loves them all, but never had greater fun than when working on “HAVE BOOK WILL TRAVEL”, a YA fantasy that he wrote together with his son, Yonatan.
 Follow on Twitter: @KfirLuzzatto
 Find Kfir on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kfir.luzzatto
 Kfir's Blog: Click HERE
 Kfir's Amazon.com page: HERE
 Kfir's Goodreads page: HERE
 Kfir's Smashwords page: HERE
 Kfir's Literary Addicts page: HERE

Phantom Lover Tour:

MICE Tour:

REVIEW: To Tempt A Viking by Michelle Willingham

Title: To Tempt A Viking
Author: Michelle Willingham
Series: Forbidden Vikings #2
Publisher: Harlequin
Published Date: expected Jan 21, 2014
ISBN: 9780373297733
Buy It Link: Amazon

Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: Warrior Viking Ragnar Olafsson stood by as his best friend claimed the woman he desired the most. There was only one way to quench the deep darkness within him—become merciless in battle.
When Elena is taken captive, fearless Ragnar risks everything to save her. Now they are stranded with only each other for company. Suddenly every longing, every look, every touch is forbidden. Elena could tempt a saint—and sinner Ragnar knows he won’t be able to hold out for long!
Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
The time period this book is set around is, I'm guessing about 800-1000 CE, since the scene is set in and around Ireland. The author doesn't really say, that would have been helpful from the beginning.
The characters are alright. Nothing really to pull your heartstrings over, or make me emotionally invested in them. Ragnar is your typical alpha male, who overcomes all sorts of pain and adversity by becoming even more of an alpha male. Elena is the barren wife of his best friend, emotionally destroyed over not being able to bear children for a man who she really doesn't even love. Styr is the jerk of a husband who gets captured, thus forcing Elena and Ragnar together for the requisite amount of time.
The only thing that kept me reading this book was wanting to see how her marriage to Styr would be dissolved, after all, how else would a happy ending come about? Thankfully this was the one thing that kept me reading because it actually ended up being a situation which emotionally invested me, and I wanted to go into the book and slap all three of the main characters.

REVIEW: Turning This Thing Around by Keith Maginn

Title: Turning This Thing Around
Author: Keith Maginn
Series: none
Published Date: January 1, 2011
Publisher: Author
ISBN: 9781481276184
Buy It Link: Amazon

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Turning This Thing Around is an inspiring memoir of overcoming personal struggles. This brutally honest, deeply personal account of redemption takes readers on a moving spiritual journey.
Confronted with a myriad of obstacles–a debilitating arthritic disease, narcolepsy, anxiety and depression–the author was outwardly happy, but inwardly miserable. Pushed to the lowest point of his life, Maginn shares how he gradually turned things around and used his experiences to grow as a person.
Supplemented by heartfelt poetry by the author and with quotes from Gandhi to Dr. Wayne Dyer to Eckhart Tolle, Turning This Thing Around has universal themes that speak to nearly everyone, as we all must face challenges as part of being human. It is a self-help memoir of sorts: the author discusses not only what he overcame, but also how he did so–and how others can, too. 
Unlike many popular memoirs on the market, this is a story that more people can relate to. Maginn was not raised in an eccentric family (Jeannette Walls in The Glass Castle, memoirs by Augusten Burroughs), nor did he travel to Italy, India and Indonesia, as Elizabeth Gilbert did in Eat, Pray, Love. Rather, Turning This Thing Around is a story of a normal young man’s resiliency when battling extraordinary circumstances.
Review: I received a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
From the beginning, the author pulls you into the struggles that he faces on a daily basis. Mental illness, while slowly being accepted, still carries a large stigma, and a large burden of people not understanding it. If you don't suffer from depression or anxiety, or any of the plethora of different emotional illnesses out there, you can't really understand it. It doesn't always just have a psychological reason, sometimes, like the author, if you're put into a great deal of physical pain, that can send you into a spiral of emotional debilitation.
As a person that has gone through clinical depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and generalized anxiety, I could completely relate to his struggles. It was inspiring to me to see that someone could pull themselves through, with professional help, instead of the daily battles that sometimes ensue without professional help.
I do have to warn future readers however, this book can be a trigger, if your issues are not under control. I thought I had a pretty good leash around my PTSD and anxiety, but this book triggered me and sent me into an anxiety spiral. It ended up for the best because now I do have a better hold of my anxiety, with help.

REVIEW: King Hall by Scarlett Dawn

Title: King Hall
Author:  Scarlett Dawn
Series: Forever Evermore #1
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Australia
Published Date: Aug 1, 2013
ISBN: 9780857990679
But It Link: Amazon

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: A fresh, meaty, sink‐your‐teeth‐in‐and‐hold‐on‐tight new adult fantasy series kicks off with King Hall…

King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.

Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing: survival. Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing — The Mystical Kings. Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace — her burgeoning friendships with the other three Rulers: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental.

Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life. Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the Revolution.

Review: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....

I really liked this book. The characters were engaging. Even though I didn't really get to know Lily's mate much as a character, I still felt her loss. I am still expecting something to happen between her and the Vampire future king. And speaking of Vampires, I want to see the expected scene between her and the current Vampire king. I know it will happen, the question is, when?
The whole idea behind mates wasn't explained very well, so I'm not quite sure if it could develop, or if its just immediate. That's definitely a drawback, in fact the whole background between the Commoners and the Mysticals isn't very well explained by the author. Perhaps a prequel should be written, or the world will be explained more in the next book. For a first book, though, the whole world building should have been explored more.
In spite of this, however, it is a good book that moves at a fast pace. The characters are engaging. The storyline is interesting. I am looking forward to the next book.

REVIEW: Bible Stories for Grown-Ups by Wilson Harp

Title: Bible Stories for Grown-Ups
Author: Wilson Harp
Series: none
Publisher: Wilson Harp Books
Published Date: 2000
ISBN:  9781479372133
Buy It Link: Amazon.com

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Bible Stories for Grown-Ups is a collection of 39 Bible stories written for adults who have little background in the Bible. These stories are told in simple, modern language to be easily understood by anyone who is interested in learning more about what is in the Bible.

From Abraham, to David, to Jesus, and Paul, these stories start at the creation of the world and go into the founding of the Christian church. Whether a first time reader or someone who just wants to refresh their memory of what the Bible holds, you will enjoy this collection of stories.
Review: I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book to me in exchange for an honest review.
Thirty-nine stories from the Bible that we're all relatively familiar with from Sunday school, but they're not watered-down, child versions of them. I really enjoyed reading each story from an adult's perspective, without the extraneous stuff from the Bible. The author successfully condensed each story into a short story version, while keeping all of them important details.
It was nice to have the original text reference so that I could go back and re-read from the Bible.

REVIEW: Muckross Folly by JL Austgen

Title: Muckross Folly
Author: JL Austgen
Series: Evelyn Morgan #2
Publisher: DreamPipe Publishing, Inc
Published date: March 1, 2013
ASIN: B00B8LZSOS
Buy It Link: Amazon

Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis: Reeling from the destruction of her team at the hands of her deputy, FBI agent Evelyn Morgan vows revenge against her nemesis, the assassin that planned the operation, Omar Ben Iblis. The trail leads to an old friend, well-connected and well placed in Washington's political establishment. When he refuses to help, Morgan must scramble to find the pieces to the puzzle. While investigating, she discovers a vicious new menace, more cunning and deadly than anyone she has ever faced. Trained and mentored by Ben Iblis, this new threat has already struck her family, and if Morgan doesn't act quickly, she'll be the talented protégé's next victim.

Review: I'd like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Evelyn Morgan, the FBI agent is back, and tracking her nemesis, Ben Iblis, who she has been after her entire career. Ben Iblis is the most heartless, cruel villain I've seen in a book in a long time, having even killed the woman that he supposedly loved in cold blood, after having killed her parents in front of her.
Ben Iblis shows up at Evelyn's apartment claiming he is going into retirement and wants her off his trail. What she doesn't know is that he's currently training the second generation, a beautiful, heartless woman, just as smart and savvy as Evelyn, Penelope Morelli. Put two incredibly smart, strong women in the ring against each other, and you just know that sparks are going to fly!
The way the author writes is incredibly detailed, but not to the point where its too wordy. You feel like you're in the middle of the scene, a fly on the wall, in the scene between Evelyn and Ben Iblis in her apartment. Its an absolutely incredible read. When the plot twist happens, and tragedy strikes, as a reader, you can't help but be pulled into it.

REVIEW: NIV Essentials Study Bible

TITLE: NIV Essentials Study Bible
AUTHOR: various
SERIES: none
PUBLISHER: Zondervan
PUBLISHED DATE: November 26, 2013
ISBN: 978-0310442417
BUY IT LINK: Amazon

RATING: 5 stars

SYNOPSIS: The NIV Essentials Study Bible helps you quickly and easily understand, interpret, and apply God’s Word to your life. The variety of features in this Bible presents a multifaceted, exciting format for studying Scripture. There are many different ways to explore God’s Word: question-and-answer studies; detailed in-text study notes; timelines, photos and charts; helpful devotional insights; and profiles of Bible characters. Now you don’t have to choose, because the NIV Essentials Study Bible provides you the chance to explore the Bible using all these study methods and more. With each of these lenses included in one Bible, you will discover how to best understand the essentials of Scripture.This edition includes the entire NIV Bible text with the world’s best notes for learning. It incorporates the finest content, images, and study tools from the most popular Bibles that are loved and used by Bible readers just like you. It features:

• Flyover Lens: Start each book of the Bible with the right perspective from easy-to-read introductions from the popular Essential Bible Companion.
• Unpack Lens: Easily understand and interpret Bible passages with bottom-of-the page study notes and in-text charts from the best-in-class NIV Study Bible.
• Dig Deep, Look Close Lens: Understand the fascinating historical significance of the Bible with articles and photos from the bestselling NIV Archaeological Study Bible.
• Q&A Lens: Get concise, easy-to-grasp answers to your most perplexing questions about the Bible with questions and answers from the beloved NIV Quest Study Bible.
• People Lens: View Scripture from the perspective of the 100 most important people in the Bible with notes for the student of any age excerpted from the timeless NIV Student Bible.
• Guided Tour Lens: Get a bird’s eyes view of Scripture with a Guided Tour, also excerpted from the category-leading NIV Student Bible.
• Insight Lens: Find meaning in the Bible by reading these magazine-style call-outs from the NIV Student Bible.
• R&R Lens: Reflect & Respond with this quick inspirational focus time, which unveils the sweeping narrative of the Bible as seen in the award-winning The Great Rescue, NIV.

REVIEW: I'd like to thank BookSneeze and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I can't say enough good things about this Bible. I truly loved how the publisher combined parts of several different study bibles into one. I have an NIV Study Bible, so the notes at the bottom of the page were nothing new to me. However, the geek in me loved the notes from the Archaeological Study Bible.
The maps at the beginning of each book helped to clarify the geographical region visually, and the notes on some of the important people of the Bible helped to teach about them more in depth.
The reading plans gave me inspiration to take up the reading of the Bible that I completely fell through with earlier this year. I'll make this a New Year's resolution, again.
The language in this Bible was very understandable, the NIV version is definitely one of my favorites for ease of reading, instead of stumbling over thee's and thou's. If I'm going to read the Bible, then I want to be able to understand what I'm reading, otherwise it does me no good. Reading the entire Bible is a huge undertaking, one that not many of the population do. The history presented in the Old Testament is so old, the culture is so vastly different from ours, the archaeological notes in this study bible help to clarify the why's behind the people's actions, or little details that we may not understand because its such a vastly different culture than our own.