So I have been wanting to share this with everyone ever since I began talking to Claudia from Phatpuppy Creations and now that I finally can I am thrilled to do so.  This is the cover for book two of The Guardian series, Cursed and it just screams Sophie to me.  The book is due out in Feb 2012. 

What will book two be about?

Just as Gabe was settling into his new life he was reminded that darkness is destined to always follow him. Gabe’s new friends have created a world full of happiness he never thought he could have, but when Sophie and others begin acting out of character Gabe must get to the bottom of it. Will he be able to help them before it is too late or even worse before Baal finds him.

Be ready for book two, buy Sacred Bloodlines today!

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

Amazon Description:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games,” a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

My Review:

How the heck am I just now reading this book? It seems like everyone I know is finishing the second or third book. I suppose it’s because my to read stack is so high. One of my friends told me about the book and she almost seemed embarrassed. She clearly loved it but kept adding “for a kid’s book.” OK, I read this book and there is nothing about this book I would say is just for kids. Sometimes young people are called upon to do extraordinary things. It doesn’t make their story less spectacular. If this were just a young adult book about having a boyfriend I might say, hmmm perhaps this is not meant for me. This book is filled with extremely grown up concepts.

Alright, off my soap box….

The best way I can describe how I read this book is that I devoured it! It was delicious! It is one of those you start reading in the bath and realize your hot water has become an ice bath because you have been in there so long. Once your pruned toes are back to normal you jump back in and can’t put it down until your done. Yup, that was me.

We are in a time full of so much unrest it is not hard to imagine our nation falling. Considering this book takes place in a post America time it was easy to say “what if” and imagine it to be true. A new society is in power and the Capitol rules 12 districts. It is really interesting because each district is important in its own way. They supply different things like electronics or agricultural goods.

At one point a long time ago there had been a rebellion against the capital that had failed. The capital decided what better way to remind the districts how weak they in fact were than to host the hunger games each year. How it works is they choose 2 children from each district between the ages of 12 and 18. They fight to the death until there is only one kid standing (see what I mean by not being child concepts).

The entire thing is televised so that everyone throughout all the districts can be reminded of just how little power they actually have. There were some holes here and there in the structure of the new society and how it all worked but the rest of the story is so strong these are easy things to over look.

So when I started reading the book I made this assumption the main character Katniss would find a way to get around killing anyone. I mean how can she be the hero of the story if she is a killer. Well my eyes were glued to the page when I read how Katniss made her first kill. My mind was then further blown when she seemed proud of herself.

Did I find Katniss disgusting and immoral after she headed down this road. Somehow no! I don’t know if its the writing or some of the other things revealed to us in the book but I felt sorry for her. Sorry for her? Yeah, her trainer in the book had survived the hunger games and now he is an alcoholic hot mess. You see how a soul can be squashed and then tormented for the rest of their life when they make the hard choice Katniss did.

Alright, if you haven’t read The Hunger Games yet hurry up and go read this five star book. I am off to read the 2nd book!

Smokeless Fire was one I read on my own and not through my book club.  I have read Samantha’s work before so I was really looking forward to this new one.  I try to read indie writers whenever possible and she is one who does not disappoint.

Amazon Description:

Smokeless Fire – Book One in the Fire Spirits, a YA paranormal romance series.
FEAR THE HEAT…
For the last two years Ari’s life has been anything but normal and on her 18th birthday, when her friends surprise her with a gimmick genie claiming to grant wishes, Ari discovers the truth. The tragic and strange occurrences surrounding her 16th birthday were not coincidental and her life is never going to be the same again.

Ari’s real parents are not normal. They are not loving. They are not human.

They are myth.

They are Smokeless Fire.

They are Jinn.

My Review:

How exciting to read a book that is about something not so mainstream.  I have actually never read a book about Genies so this was a completely new experience for me.  Samantha’s way of describing the Jinn word is spectacular.  I felt like I could see it and almost touch it.  It is also really fun to read a story about such mischievous creatures!

I read a lot of books where I have trouble getting attached to characters but that was not the case with this one!  Ari is smart, beautiful, dramatic and also full of so much compassion.  She has a best friend, Charlie, who is hooked on drinking and drugs after some bad stuff goes down in his life.  Ari is committed to helping him even though she has a lot to think about in her life as well.

If anyone has read my book Sacred Bloodlines they know I LOVE action.  I think I may have even gone overboard with it in book two, Cursed.  I can’t help it, I am a girl that loves a lot of action.  Well guess what, this book is jam packed with it!  Yeah, I am a chick who likes a little gore in my books, what can I say?  Oh and I almost forgot, as if learning about the Jinn and Kings are not enough you also discover some pretty awesome creatures.

And oh boy, don’t get me started on Jai.  His sarcasm makes me weak in the knees.  Ok, maybe its the way he kicks some serious butt but I do love his personality a lot too.  While Charlie has had it rough and I feel for him I am all about Jai!  This is one of the few love triangles I have read where I didn’t feel like the guys characters were predictable and cliche.  Kudos to Samantha for pulling that off!

Oh my, and all I can say is major cliffhanger!  Looking forward to the next book!  Five star read for sure.

***BTW, I posted this review on amazon but it showed up under my husband’s name and then wouldn’t let me change.  I bet he would like the book too though, lol!

Is it really December 1st, 2011?  It is so hard to believe how my life has changed over the past five years.  My oldest daughter, Zoe, turns seven on the 5th.  Besides the fact it is hard for me to accept I could possibly have a seven year old it is a rather exciting time for her as well.  Her reading has improved so much and she is finding a real passion for it which of course excites me.

When I quit the mortgage industry in 2006 and took my creative endeavors on the road as a full time artist and photographer scraping out a living was hard enough.  The idea of actually being able to write for a living seemed impossible.  I have to admit I still don’t see myself as ever selling enough books to make a real living but I get to live the life none the less.

What do I mean?  I have an amazing husband who happens to be doing well enough with his own business that he wants me to focus on my books.  My online art stores have been shut done and painting has stopped.  My paint brushes have been traded in for a keyboard.  I thought this would be an easy transition because I love to write so much but after five years of pushing my art business I am finding it difficult to let it rest.  I am also one of those people who has trouble giving up an income producing option and gamble on something that may never see real profits.

I have done it though and as a result Book 1 was released on time and I am 20,000 words closer to book 2.  I have about half a dozen book ideas mapped out that I am excited to get to so I know 2012 will filled with a lot of new releases.  My husband worked with some amazingly talented people to get my new website up, sexy huh?  It is nice to be married to a web developer sometimes!

The Christmas shopping is nearly done.  The presents have already started to be wrapped.  The decorations are up and my heart is so warm this holiday season that I have such a support team around me.

Friends helping me edit, strangers giving me pep talks, a husband being an all around laundry doing, dinner cooking, super dad, hard working amazing man.  With all of these people in my life I can honestly say I don’t want or need anything else for Christmas.  My stocking is so full.

Stay tuned in the next few days… I hope to have a surprise on the horizon when it comes to the cover of book 2.