Power Book Tour!

Power 
(The Descendant Trilogy #1)
By Theresa Jones  
Released:
eBook provided by the Author for honest review,

The Blurb: 
 
Thousands of years after the battle between the angels, when Lucifer was defeated by Michael in the Heavens, the war is still being fought on Earth by the humans who have their Power, the Angel’s Power. 

Allison Stevens is a 21 year old single mother who gets thrown into the middle of this battle when Damien, the Leader of the Rising, decides to hunt her down and kill her because he fears she is the descendant prophesied to save the world. 

David, a member of the Order, takes Allison under his wing in order to show her the ropes, and hopefully groom her into being the one they have been waiting for. The only problem is that they start to grow more attached than a teacher/student relationship should allow.

But that isn’t all. Damien wants to open the Seven Seals and bring about the apocalypse and it’s up to Allison to not only save herself and her family, but save the world, all while trying to keep her heart from breaking.

No problem… right?

POWER is the first book in a New Adult (Mature YA) Paranormal Romance Trilogy and is the debut novel for author Theresa M Jones

Jenny's Review:

   First of all, isn't that cover gorgeous? Love it!

   What a wonderful start to what I can only imagine is going to be a great series. 
I must say I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Power. Angel power? I can dig it. One girl to save the world while trying to figure out her own heart? This had to have been written with my tastes in mind. 21 year old single mother? Hold up, say what? Now we're stepping out of my typical territory. New Adult is the, pardon the epic pun-fail, 'new' big thing, but it's not something I've really had the urge to read. But when I was approached by the author about reviewing Power, I figured what the heck, and I'm glad I did.
   I really liked the overall idea of Power. One girl, a descendant, could be the key stopping the ultimate war of good vs evil. Sounds like the makings to a great book right? Each person who has power is a descendant from atleast on of the nine Primitus, or women who were chosen because of their virtue and given power from the angel Michael. The actual power that people have is really neat, it's like this visible energy and each person has their own color. It kind of reminds me of show Dragonball Z with the whole powering up. I know, I pulled that COMPLETELY out of left field. But there's just something about the imagery of being engulfed in this colorful Power. Kinda beautiful. Every person had their own gifts be it mind reading, telekinesis or healing, on top of having this power. And I don't think I'm explaining it all to well, but trust me it's pretty cool how Allison uses her power in battle to invade people's minds.
    The point of view switches through out the story though the main focus is on Allison. While sometimes this can throw me off in a story, I did enjoy it here and getting to know other characters a little better. Believe it or not, one of my favorites was seeing inside Damien's head. Damien is our villain here, and how often do you get to peak inside the villain's head? At one point he's talking, and he just starts thinking how much he loves his voice. Narcissist? Um yeah, I'd say so. But I loved it. Sometimes you just need a bad guy and not someone who is simple bad because of their logical intentions.
   I really only had two issues while reading Power. The first being that it did take me a bit to really get involved with the story. Yeah, there were several scenes that caught my attention and kept me going, like the first time Allison releases her Power, but it wasn't until about half way through that Power and I really clicked.
   The second is really more just my personal reading preference than anything else. I prefer to be shown things instead of just told how they happened. I love dialogue and seeing characters reactions. I feel like I missed out on what could have been some really great scenes because the character who was telling the story at the time simply said this is how it was handled and this is what the other people did in response. I think because of this I didn't fall in love with the characters as much as I could have and at times it causes the story to come off as wordy.
  I did appreciate the relationship between David and Allison. One of the main reasons I steer clear of anything where the MC is over than 19 is because it's usually about Lust bunnies getting it on, on any available flat surface. Don't worry, there are a few moments between the two that heat up the page.
   Over all, Power is a fantastic debut and I'm definitely interested in seeing what's in store for Allison and Sammy and company.


About the Author:
Theresa M Jones is just a regular small town, Texas girl. When she isn't at work at a local Medical Equipment provider,you can find her at home with her husband and two beautiful (and rambunctious) kiddos. In her spare time- as if there ever was such a thing as "spare time" - she reads and reviews books on her book blog, and writes paranormal romance novels. POWER (The Descendent Trilogy #1) is her debut New Adult (Mature YA) Paranormal Romance novel.

Twitter- @MrsTheresaJones

Goodreads: Author Theresa Jones

Blog: Keepin Up with the Joneses In the Book World

And Facebook: TheresaMJones

In Review: Florence

Florence (Florence Waverly #1)
by Ciye Cho
Released: July 1st, 2012
eBook provided by author for honest review

The Blurb:

   Seventeen-year-old Florence Waverly is put of her depth. Literally. Kidnapped and taken below the waves to the mer world of Niemela, she is the ultimate gift for merman Prince Kiren: a human familiar tied to his side. But nothing is what it seems amid the beauty and danger of a dark ocean.
   Every Niemelan has a role to plat, from the mermaids who weave towers out of kelp to the warriors who fight sea monsters. But in trying to survive, Florence will end up in the middle of a war between two brothers: Kiren, the charmer inexplicably drawn to both her and the monsters; and Rolan, the loner who has been pushing her away since the day they met. But in order to take a stand- and find out where she belongs- Florence will have to risk is all, her heart... and her very soul. 

  
   I must admit I was a little apprehensive about reading Florence.I've only read maybe two other books about mermaids before reading this one and I had no idea what to expect. How are the mermaids going to be portrayed? Will this hold true to how I see mermaids or will it bash my child heart? And how the heck is a human going to survive in this underwater world among mermaids??
  But all my worrying was unnecessary because Florence was actually pretty great. It's one of the books that you just love and you can't really put your finger on why. You just do. But I guess that doesn't make for a very helpful review does it?
   I think one of the things I liked most about Florence was the world in general. It's just really neat from the protective dome made out of jelly fish to a giant sea anemone thing that hugs everyone while they sleep. Oh! And underwater volcanoes! It was just really neat to see how everything at the bottom of the ocean was woven together to create this world that is rather similar to our own. Even the animals had a place in it all. There's this understanding and harmony between the Niemelans and the animals, it was 
  I loved how the Niemelans themselves were described. They're so colorful. They not just humans with fish tails slapped on where legs should be.
   I know I've gone on about the world of Niemela, but the story is great too, I promise. I love when characters find their niche in unexpected places. While Rolan may have told her several times that every Niemelan must have a role to play and she spent a good part of the book still finding her role, to me it felt like she really did fit in more in this underwater world than she did back on the surface. She adapts quickly and excels at little things that as a human she shouldn't be able to do. I really did spend most of the book expecting Florence to sprout a tail.
  There was very little I didn't like about the book, if anything at all. I was a little confused on what a familiar actually is, but I may have missed the explanation and it really isn't big enough to take away from the story at all.
  Over all I definitely recommend Florence if you're looking for a "fish out of water" or uh, human off land? type of read. (Yeah that was a horrible joke...) And after the ending I'm certainly looking forward to seeing what's in store for everyone in the sequel.

In Review: Phantoms of Fall

Phantoms of Fall (Haunting Ruby #2)
By Joy Elbel
Release date: Dec. 1, 2012
Copy provided by author for honest review
Available at Amazon

The Blurb:

Love demands sacrifice... but how much?

With the haunting at Rosewood far behind her, Ruby thinks life with Zach will now be perfect but she couldn't be more wrong. In reality, her problems have just begun. As the season changes, so does everything else. Zach's behavior takes a disturbing turn, classmates unleash a new band of torture, and new friends become new enemies. Worst of all, Rita unveils a startling revelation about the summer's events -Ruby's close brush with death may have opened her up to the other side. Now knowing that what happened over the summer could be just the beginning of a very long battle with the supernatural, Ruby is faced with a tough decision. Should she reveal this fact to Zach or do what she swore she would never do again -lie? The mounting stress has devastation effects on Ruby -or is something else that cause? Paranormal activity in the school creates more danger for Ruby and Zach than she ever imagined possible. Their love is tested in more ways than one as Ruby faces The Phantoms of Fall.

Holy Raging Teenage Hormones Batman! But I'll get to that later....

   So, Phantoms of Fall picks up not too long after Shades of Summer. Just when Ruby and Zach think they have nothing left to worry about and they get to have a normal relationship things start to fall apart. Ruby discovers the girl's locker room at school is haunted, Zach has become possessive and angry, attacking any guy who even looks at Ruby, Rita reveals that Ruby will never escape ghosts which could lead to the end of her and Zach's relationship, that is if Zach's witchy ex-girlfriend doesn't break them up first.

   Like the first book, I was able to devour this book fairly quickly. There's quite a bit to like here. The ghost's past and Ruby's present once again parallel each other and I always like when that happens. By the end of the book, Ruby is practically reliving what the ghost went through almost as if she's possessed. People get pushed, someone falls down the stairs, and Ruby ends up showering in blood (course she only thinks its blood) Yay, for paranormal activity!
    But it's not just the paranormal that plagues Ruby. There's trouble in paradise! Misty is stepping up her game in trying to get Zach back for herself using Ruby's insecurities for her benefit. Really, what's high school without the mean girl? And on top of that Zach develops this random angry possessive streak. He seriously blows a gasket when a guy jokingly hits on Ruby and she wants none of that. Good Girl! Despite wanting to smack him, I rather liked this new development in Zach. It makes him less perfect, which is how he's described by Ruby. A lot. After the way emotionally intense relationship they had in Shades of Summer I was happy to see Ruby so conflicted trying to decipher Zach's actions against his words while trying to figure out her own feelings and hormones.
   Unfortunately, despite Zach's outbursts and Ruby's secrecy these two are still so intensely in love in wears on me. I'm not opposed to them being love. No, let them be in love. That's great. But their relationship is still just so intense. I wish I had a better word to describe it. When they're together somehow they always manage to express their undying devotion to each other. And Ruby is on ball of raging teen hormones. She wants Zach bad, like can't think of anything else bad, and we get a peak inside Zach's brain for a chapter and he's right there on the same wave length. It got to be so much it covered up everything else that was going on at times. I just want to grab them by their chins and say, "You're teenagers. Slow. Your. Roll!" Is that the adult in me talking? Yeah, maybe. But I like to believe teenagers aren't as completely sex crazed and ooey-gooey in love as these two. Maybe I'm just naive.
   Over all, it was a good read, you just have to dig it out from under the tidal wave that is Zach and Ruby's Love (or lack there of) life. I am interested to see where the story goes because Oh my! What a cliff hanger!


Haven't read Shades of Summer yet? Check out my review and be sure to enter for your chance to win a copy of both Shades of Summer and Phantoms of Fall over on our Indie Monday post with Joy Elbel.

In Review: Shades of Summer

Shades of Summer (The Haunting Ruby series #1)
By Joy Elbel
Release Date: Oct 28, 2012
eCopy provided by author for honest review
Available on Kindle

The Blurb...

Love ... the only thing more powerful than death.
Seventeen year old Ruby Matthews spent the last year of her life crippled by guilt and grief over the death of longtime friend and boyfriend Seeley "Lee" Lucas. Feeling that a change of scenery might snap her back to reality, Ruby's father moves the family out of their home in the Philadelphia suburb of Trinity and into the small town life in Charlotte's Grove, Pennsylvania. Life is better here for Ruby- she quickly makes friends with handsome Zach Mason and his twin sister Rachel. Every moment spent with Zach makes life and love seem possible again. But passion comes with a high price. Things are not what they seem at Rosewood, the Matthews' historic plantation style home. Paranormal activity at the mansion intensifies as she draws closer to Zach . Is it Lee- coming back to claim her hear and maybe even her soul? Or is it something more sinister hiding in the shadows? Ruby must delve into her own past and the history of Rosewood to solve the mystery before it's too late.

    It's no secret I love a good ghost story. It's just something about the paranormal that grabs at my attention and says hey look at me! Read me! Looove me!
So of course, when I was approached about reviewing this book I jumped at it. And I'm very glad I did.

   This book sucked me in from the beginning. I loved it. I laughed and face-palmed several times. I think it's great when a story can evoke a physical response from its reader. It also put me to sleep, in a good way. It was one of those times where you're reading and before you know it it's 5am and you're like "oh crap!" because if you don't go to sleep soon you'll get caught (in this case by my husband who will give me "the eyes" that make me feel guilty for choosing reading over required sleep), and then you're brain just kinda clicks off.  Yeah...

   One of my favorite things about this book was the character Rachel. I would love to have a best friend like her. She is like this perky, nerdy cheerleader person who would pull these references out of left field that made me what to reach through the page and give her a fist-bump. Also, the house that Ruby moves into is pretty epic. Definitely a place I would love to see in real life. It reminded a little of Beast's castle from Beauty and the Beast except, well plantation style.
   I love connections made within stories, whether it be dates or common names/name meanings or similar order of events. I like how things can all be tied back and connected to something. And that's what we get here.  History meet present. Now be friends and mingle! Love it! It's like a game almost, picking out all the connections and trying to guess what's going to happen and what ghost is who. It probably has a lot to do with why I like ghost stories in the first place. History.

   My main complaint however, is with Zach and Ruby's relationship. It became too ... intense, too fast for my taste. I'm not talking physically intense, but emotionally. Ok... I'm all for love at first sight. It's a great thing to believe in and can make for a great story. And I loved watching Ruby fumble over herself whenever she ran into Zach. It made her so personable. And just adored seeing how confident Zach was about his feelings for Ruby even when he just laid eyes on her. He knew what he wanted and it was great how you could just see it even when Ruby didn't believe it and she's the one telling the story. That being said, when the two did become an item it evolved into something way intense, like bypass awkward first kiss and hello I would die for you, you complete me. Their love also felt a little insecure for how strong it was. The last third of the book they were constantly repeating their devotion to each other. I got to the point where I wanted to take them by the hands and say, "You love each other. I get it. Big circle of soul completion going on. Can we focus on gtfo-ing the ghost so you two can have big smoochies?"

  Over all, an enjoyable read and if you like ghosts and romance you should check it out. I know I'm pretty curious about the sequel now after a little teaser at the end of the book.

Co-Op Review of DiSemblance

DiSemblance
By Shanae Branham
Release date: August 20, 2012
Received from author in exchange for honest review

What the back of the book has to say ...

Jason Tanner lives between two worlds.

Problem is, only one of them is real.

   As a computer prodigy, Jason has spent his life with limited social contact due to his father's secretive work on a hologram machine that can create digital immortality. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, Jason is targeted as the killer's new fall guy. Having spent much of his youth living in the virtual world his father created, he must now go on the run if he is going to save himself, his brother, and the beautiful girl next door.

An exciting, action-packed ride to a future happening today, Shanae Branham's modern techno-thriller is the perfect exhilarating adrenaline rush for a a techno-savvy generation. Expertly weaving cutting edge technology with almost unbearable suspense, she crafts wild, white knuckled thriller that pushes the boundaries of science. Full of intensity and extraordinary vision, DiSemblance attacks the senses as it challenges the mind and imagination. 
 

 Note on review: italics are person specific thoughts.

   To say we enjoyed this book would fall short of the truth. We freaking loved it and that's saying something when BOTH of us like it. We can count the number of books we've both read on a three-fingered hand (not including the Harry Potter series, that's just a given). Our reading tastes are just that different. So finding a book that appeals to both of us is a true gem.
   One of the main things we loved so much about DiSemblance is how fast paced it is. It grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let you go until long after the words have ended on the page. Just when you think you have a moment to rest -
   Nick:  It grabs you by the shirt, throws in the car, and floors it onto the road without even letting up on the gas. It is literally that fast. Forget waiting on a new chapter to get things started. It just starts it in the next paragraph. Almost like watching a movie that is wasting no time to get to the good stuff.

   We also loved the mystery. So much so that it's sparked a new love for mysteries in Nick. We had no idea where this book was going! But, you know, in a good way.
   Jenny: Ugh! I don't know how many times I shouted, "Argh! I have no idea what's going to happen next!!" and I pride myself in being able to guess such things in books I'm reading!


  There is so much more that we loved about this book we could go on, but we don't want to ruin all the wonderful twists and turns. We will say that guys are clueless jerks at times even when they're trying hard not to be, but girls don't always understand either. And your mind is your greatest weapon.

 As far as what we didn't like, well, that's a pretty short list. It would have been nice to get to know a few of the characters a little more. Maybe more about Boston and her camera or more about Jason's brother Isaac.

    One thing's for sure, few characters walked out of that story without a concussion. No better way to knock a man out than with the butt of a gun!

We recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast paced mystery.
Jenny:  And the holodeck from Star Trek.


   Be sure to check out our first My Indie Monday post where we've invited Shanae to share a little bit more about DiSemblance with us. There just might be a giveaway. Oh, who are we kidding? Of course there's a giveaway! Because we love you and we love this book and we'd love for You to read This Book!

In Review: A Quarter of Magic

A Quarter of Magic
By Zoe Tyson
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Self-published available through Amazon
(Digital copy was provided by author for an honest review)

Description as listed on Amazon

Fantasy Adventure for Young Adults from Zoë Tyson. In a World born out of magic lives 14 year old Miloney Merren. In his World humans are ruled by an immortal species of creature. And the creatures have one major rule. A human must never have magic. Unfortunately for Milo, he does... And it’s getting out of control. Will he be able to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to help his family and friends? "When magic becomes dangerous, you need to remember one thing. It will either define you or kill you." 

Pair that summary with this beginning....

"There were three things that Miloney Merren wished for on a daily basis.

One, was that he wished he lived somewhere else. Two, he wished he could swap his sister for a nicer one. And three, he wished the horrible creature that stood in the corner of his classroom would die.

Today was no exception. Milo still fervently wished for all these things. But unfortunately, none of these wishes were possible, because one, he wasn't allowed to live anywhere else -ever. Two, no amount of magic could turn his sister into someone else. And three, the horrible creature that stood in the corner of his classroom was immortal."

... And you have what I would say are the makings for one great book.

    I was immediately drawn into Milo's world eagerly reading to know more. More about Magic, more about potions, where do the exiled go and what the heck is a Terramang and why are they so vile?! Unfortunately, I wasn't drawn in for very long. I found myself getting distracted about half way. I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book, but it just wasn't for me.
   What I did enjoy about this book was the concept. People have Magic! And it's not like casting spells type of magic, but more along the lines of abilities; sensing emotions, seeing the future, turning invisible. How cool is that? Anyone found with Magic is exiled to a place called Orlost where eventually they have their magic taken from them, rather harshly too. Orlost is a whole other world, in fact there are several worlds all linked by portals and each portal is guarded by a Crosspatcher. I really liked the idea of different worlds and I wish I had gotten to see more of them, specifically ones the other kids who team up with Milo came from. I love seeing the worlds that authors create in their books.
    There were a few neat plot twists and an interesting character or two that the kids meet in their journey, but I couldn't over look a few things that brought the story down for me. First of all, it read like a middle grade read, which doesn't bother me at all, I love middle grade, but there were several times that the kids didn't sound like kids. They often used words that I wouldn't imagine 14 year-olds using in every day conversation. Also, I'm the type of person that likes to be shown things instead of told and it felt like whenever there was a unexpected occurrence a character piped up with an explanation. I like to figure some things out on my own and as they happen. One of my biggest issues though, was that I got lost a little too easy. Certain things happened during the story that just sat funny with me. Two characters disappear only to show up towards the end with very little explanation as to their disappearance. It was like their game pieces were suddenly swiped from the board. And while I'm all for killing characters to create a drive in your main character or evoke emotion in your readers, there were a couple deaths that seemed pointless.
    While this book may not have been my cup of tea, it doesn't mean that someone else won't love it. If Magic and adventure sound like your thing give it a look. It's definitely worth giving a try.