REVIEW: The Emerald Tablet by Joshua Silverman

Title: The Emerald Tablet
Series: Legends of Amun Ra #1
Author: Joshua Silverman
Published Date: September 15, 2012
Publisher: Enchanted Forest Press
Genre: Fantasy YA
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Buy it Link: Amazon
Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis: Leoros doesn't have many friends. The son of a scientist and archaeologist, he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros' world is turned upside down.
When an archaeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.
On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together by forces neither understands.
Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.
Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.
Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, lose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?
There is darkness in everyone.

Review: I'd like to thank Promotional Book Tours and the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story itself was great. The writing was good. I didn't feel very connected to the main characters of Leoros and Atlantia, feeling like he was kinda bleh, and she was a scaredy cat. The one scene that really showed how spineless she was, was when she had a nightmare, granted it was a bad nightmare, a really bad nightmare. But then she gets out of bed, gets in her vehicle and drives all the way over to where Leoros is to cuddle with him. That is called dependence, probably co-dependence, since he seems to be the same way with her.

The biggest issue I had with the book however is what detracted the most from the reading, and that was the formatting. There were a few times where there was such a break in the story line I had to go back and read the last page or two to make sure I didn't accidentally miss something. There was also no clue as to when there was a switch between planets, so I found myself catching myself and asking where I was. There were page numbers in the middle of pages, chapter numbers at the beginning of each page, and the cover image on every other page. As a reviewer this was extremely distracting for me. 

I'm hoping that the published for-sale ebook is not this way.

BLAST and GIVEAWAY: Unfinished Businness by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Genre: Chic Lit, Paranormal When Angela's mother Fran dies and comes back as a ghost, Angela's ordinary life turns into a carnival show, starring both Angela and her nosy, dead mother. It seems Fran's got some unfinished business on earth and she's determined to get it done, no matter what. When Fran returned, she reignited her daughter's long suppressed psychic gift, one she neglected to mention to Angela, and now Angela sees ghosts everywhere. And they won't leave her alone. Fran can't help but stick her transparent nose where it doesn't belong, making Angela's life even crazier. Now Angela has to find a way to keep her old life in tact and help the dead with their unfinished business, all while trying to keep her dead mother out of trouble. And it's a lot for one woman to handle.

Purchase Unfinished Business: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the Author

Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is a freelance writer based in Cumming, GA. She lives with her husband and three children, two dogs and one cat. Carolyn doesn't see ghosts, but swears she'd be okay with it, as long as it was only during daylight hours.   Follow the author: Website | Facebook | Twitter        
 
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EXCERPT: Born in Sin by Camelia Miron Skiba

Synopsis: Loathing the thought of his beloved Oriana in the arms of another man, fearless Zyraxes delivers death upon the Roman enemy. With only the rugged land as his bed and the sky as his blanket, trouble finds him often.

Summoned to aid Oriana’s father in the war against two powerful enemies—one of them Oriana's savage husband—Zyraxes proves himself worthy of more than just noble titles and coin. But he wants none of it. What he wants is her.

When Zyraxes discovers a broken and nearly dead Oriana, though forbidden, he disregards her father's orders to leave her to her death, and instead chooses to protect and conceal her. Will saving her be enough to win her heart? Will his part royal lineage make him worthy of her love?

EXCERPT:

“Such a fool!” Oriana’s eyes brand me with their intense glare. “Galtys’ women don’t awake everyone with their moans. Galtys’ indiscretion doesn’t offend me, but your actions do.” With both hands Oriana covers her mouth, blinking fast and shaking her head. “I … apologies, I do not know what got into me … a proper lady does not speak about such matters. Apologies.”
“Oriana, I …” A foreign heat burns my face. “I … the women outside this chamber do not come in for good reason … people think of me as a … if my behavior were different than what they all know me for they’d suspect I hide something. I cannot draw attention to myself without risking your discovery. My duty is to keep you safe even if I must do things you disapprove of.”
I hold her gaze when she looks at me as if reading my mind. Long ago I gave her my heart but she was too blind to see my love. Too blind or not interested. Granted I never spoke of my feelings, but my actions prove them. It never occurred to me that my behavior causes her grief.
Oriana sighs. “I am nothing but a burden to you … I have no right to tell you what you can or cannot do. Your life is in danger because of me and yet I demand … I behave so childish.” She smiles briefly then looks down at the cloth in her lap. “I do not know how to show my gratitude for everything you have done—”
“By the gods, Oriana, stop it!” I get up and walk away, turning my back to her. “I do not want your gratitude.”
She comes behind me, her  Oriana scent—dewy earth, freshly cut grass and gladiolus enthralling me. In a small voice she says, “There is nothing else I have to give. I have no possessions, no gold to repay you.”
I turn and seize her arms, anger and desperation blinding me. “Who speaks of gold or ransom, woman? Have I asked for any of those? Have I?”
She opens her mouth to say something, pain twisting her face. When it finally dawns on me how rough I am, it’s too late. Galtys pushes me away whilst Oriana leans onto Thera, barely walking to the bed.
I reach for her. “Oriana!"

Author Bio:

Who I was yesterday … I’m no longer today, nor will I be tomorrow. Each day I grow a little. I stumble, get up, and learn something. I wish and dream and want and look to the future.

Who I am is not important, but what I leave behind is.

Copyright © 2013 CAMELIA MIRON SKIBA

Contacts:

WEBSITE:   LOVE. WTHOUT YOU  http://authorcameliamironskiba.com/
E-MAIL: authorcameliamironskiba@gmail.com
GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4864495.Camelia_Miron_Skiba
TWITTER: @CamiSkiba
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: Camelia Miron Skiba

Virtual Book Fest at Literary Addicts

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BLAST and GIVEAWAY: No Brainer by AJ Lape

No Brainer

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery Two weeks before junior year, Darcy hops a plane to Orlando for a little R&R with her best friend Dylan and his family. Fresh off the heels of solving three murders in Valley, you'd think she'd sit back and enjoy the vacation capital of the world…maybe if you're a noun. Darcy Walker, however, is nothing but verb. Before her feet hit the Orlando soil, she's meddling in the disappearance of a five-year-old boy who vanished six months earlier. With authorities still no closer to solving the case, Darcy is shanghaied by her impulsivity and runs headlong into that proverbial burning building, convinced she can bring him home. She travels down a road that not only follows this missing child but branches off into the corrupt and sinister world of mob activity when she tampers in a case on which Dylan's detective grandfather is working. After a near disastrous midnight meeting in a warehouse and a date with a mechanical bull, Darcy realizes she might've bitten off more than she can chew. Add the boiling flirtationship with her best friend and the appearance of his romantic rival, and she is in over her head. Will she survive a life of flirting with death too easily? Or will her flirtationship with Dylan become the actual death of her instead? For a girl with a habit of finding dead bodies, No Brainer gives Darcy Walker more of the same…surprising twists and turns…and running for her life. Purchase

Book #1 Grade A Stupid

Book #2 No Brainer

About Author AJ Lape

A. J. lives in Cincinnati with her husband, two feministic daughters, an ADD dog, a spoiled hamster, and an unapologetic and unrepentant addiction to Coca-Cola. She studied English, Journalism, and Political Science at Morehead State University and left the business world when her daughters were born. Her love for suspense and a good story was spawned from watching Mystery Science Theater with her sister during childhood. That and any B movie with comedic undertones they could get their hands on. When she’s not riding that razor-thin line between creativity and insanity, she likes to read, watch too much cable TV, or cheer like a banshee at her daughters' sporting events. She’s a huge hometown sports fan and loves to watch the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds whenever she can. A. J. loves to connect with fans! If you would like to receive emails of upcoming releases, please sign up for her distribution list by visiting her homepage at http://www.ajlape.com and clicking the “contact” tab
Follow AJ Lape: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon
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REVIEW: Return to Finndragon's Den by Richie Earl

Title: Return to Finndragon'sDen
Series: Tales of Finndragon #2
Author: Richie Earl
Published Date: 5/29/13
Publisher: self published by author

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Summary: Welsh siblings, Megan, Emma and Scott are home and reunited with their mother having been told never to return to Dafydd’s Kingdom. The problem is that the children haven’t found their father. There’s also the matter of the prophesy about the siblings defeating the evil wizard. How can they stay away when the Kingdom needs them?

Review: I'd like to thank the author for allowing me to read both books in this series in exchange for an honest review. 
This book picks up a few weeks after the first book leaves off. Even after months of not reading the first book, it was extremely easy to pick right back up where I left off with no confusion. Maybe it was because of this, that it was easier this time around for me with the Welsh names and British jargon. 
I liked how the author was able to close the series with a happy ending all around, but it was almost too neat. , too well wrapped up. From the final battle scene to the last page, it was only a few pages and so much was wrapped up in such a short amount of space.
The pace of the book was great. As soon as it started to slack off, the pace picked right back up with some new calamity. 
This would be a great book for kids from 9-15, and if you're an adult who likes YA fantasy, it would be good for you too!

REVIEW: I'm Nobody by Alex Marestaing

Title: I'm Nobody
Series: none
Author:Alex Marestaing
Publisher: self-published by author
Published Date: Feb 1, 2013
ASIN: B00BA26RKY
Buy it Link: Amazon

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: Caleb Reed is losing his mind, at least that’s what his father thinks.
If it were only the show - America's Funniest Home Videos - the same taped episode he's watched every night for the last six years - then perhaps his parental unit wouldn’t worry so much. But there’s far more to the thirteen year-old’s manic daily regimen that makes even Caleb himself question his mental health. 
For starters, there's his obsessive worry about the abandoned mansion across the street, and then there's that curious note someone left on his doorstep. It's neatly folded, black ribbon wrapped, and signed by a stranger named Emily Dickinson.
"I'm nobody. Who are you?" it reads. "Are you nobody too?"
In time, more of these strange, poetic messages arrive, silently beckoning the agoraphobic seventh grader to venture further and further from the safety of his home in order to retrieve them. Are the notes from Iris, the YouTube obsessed eighth grader who has begun filming an indie film on his street? Has his deceased older sister returned from the grave to deliver some sort of message? Or are the pages actually from the pen of Emily Dickinson, the reclusive and long dead 19th century poet? 
With his sanity in question, Caleb Reed's entire existence depends on finding an answer.

Review: I'd like to thank the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Wow...what a book. The first chapter I was pulled in....OCD in a child, oh and then there's the mystery behind the sister's death. And how the family unit not only is so dysfunctional, but helps feed this poor kid's psychosis. How is this all going to play out?

I couldn't help but root for poor Caleb as he ventured out further. Towards the end of the book though, the twists and turns were heart-breaking, andjust when you think the book's all wrapped up, another twist turns you 180 around and provides some sort of hope.

This was such an amazing read for a middle grade book!