Daily Archives: September 18, 2016

Sep 18 2016

Ink: A Mermaid Romance by Melanie Karsak

 

ink-a-mermaid-romance
Ink: A Mermaid Romance
by Melanie Karsak
✩✩✩✩✩

Ink: A romantic mermaid adventure. She kicks butt when needed.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It most definitely won’t be the last. I was surprised by the ability the author had to create a full, well balanced story in a novella. The world building was astounding, and the pace and tension great. I couldn’t put it down. If I had a complaint, I would say it was the lack of depth to the romance between the two main characters, Ink and Hal. Mainly I would have liked to see it more developed. A longer version of the book would have allowed this. (Hint, hint to author). But all in all, I loved it.

From page one, Ice shows us her strong character, and confident sense of self. She can make the hard decisions, yet doesn’t allow the hardships in her life to make her less than a loving, giving person. She just isn’t going to stand for injustice. She does what she has to, no matter that her heart isn’t in it. Duty comes first. But when things start to fall apart, or things start exploding, or the shooting starts. She doesn’t sit around weeping, she takes action.

I would love to see more of this series. I loved or hated (if they deserved it) the characters, and I can’t stop myself from laughing every time I think of a gator shifter named Hal. Great book!

SYNOPSIS

A mermaid princess destined to wed a handsome king…

It sounds like a fairy tale, but the reality is far murkier.

Ink, Princess of the Florida Atlantic mers, is slated to wed the ancient enemy of her tribe, the King of the Gulfs. After years of war that led to countless mer deaths, as well as the genocide of aquatic shapeshifters and the freshwater mers of Florida, Ink’s marriage will bring lasting peace.

Or so it seems.

Mere hours before she’s supposed to leave the ocean for her customary year as a drywalker, Ink meets Hal, an alligator shifter who warns her that a storm is brewing. There is malicious intent behind Ink’s marriage—and worse, meeting Hal has also caused a storm to rage in Ink’s heart. Nevertheless, loyal to her tribe, Ink will put aside her feelings and journey to Miami to marry the decadent King Manx.

Ink soon learns that her only hope of surviving the crashing force swelling around her is to tap into a power deep inside—a forbidden power that might destroy them all.

Available on Amazon – Free with a Kindle Unlimited Subscription

Melanie Karsak and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month.  Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend.  There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs.  Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”.  So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested.   You can check it out here.

Melanie Karsak is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.

Indie Bookfest

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016

  • 4th Annual Author/Reader Event     Indie Bookfest LoogOrlando/Altamonte Springs, FL
  • October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
  • FREE BOOK SIGNING
  • October 8th, 2016
  • 3:00-6:00 PM

 

Sep 18 2016

Review – Dark Hope by HD Smith

dark-hope
Dark Hope by HD Smith
by HD Smith
✩✩✩✩

Dark Hope is an engrossing book, with incredible world building. I couldn’t put it down, but found myself confused at times by the sheer amount of things happening. I kept reading because I needed to know how Claire got stuck working as the Devil’s assistant and what her real place and purpose there was.

The book is very fast paced, with enough tension, that you won’t want to put it down for a second. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see what happens. While most things were tied up at the end. You are still left with the need to find out what happens in the next chapter of Claire’s life, or unlife.

As for Dental. There are always the exceptions, but for the most part. No one gets Dental!

I recommend this to other Urban Fantasy lovers, but not “romance only” readers. This is an adventure, one hell of an adventure, but definitely not a love story.

SYNOPSIS

After five years of working for the Devil, Claire Cooper believes she lives an otherwise normal life. Until she finds herself in jeopardy for a murder she did not commit. Desperate to save her life and soul, she enters Purgatory, but runs afoul of the Devil’s sister, Pagan Queen Mab. Mab has her own agenda and uses Claire to get even with the Devil. Claire learns each ruler is in a race to discover “the girl” in the prophecy to fix time. As Claire peels away clues to the real killer, she realizes she must outwit the Devil’s children or end up a prisoner in Purgatory forever.

Available on Amazon – Free with Kindle Unlimited Subscription

HD Smith and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month.  Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend.  There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs.  Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”.  So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested.   You can check it out here.

HD Smith is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.

Indie Bookfest

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016

  • 4th Annual Author/Reader Event     Indie Bookfest LoogOrlando/Altamonte Springs, FL
  • October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
  • FREE BOOK SIGNING
  • October 8th, 2016
  • 3:00-6:00 PM
Sep 18 2016

Review – The Last One by Tawdra Kandle

the-last-one
The Last One (The One Trilogy Bk 1)
by Tawdra Kandle
✩✩✩✩ 1/2

A romance with both heart and humor.

It took me a few chapters to warm up to both of the main characters in this book.  The characters not the writing.  The writing kept me reading.  Great pace, and just enough tension to keep you turning the pages.  No it was Sam.  He was being a bit of a dweeb.  Oh sure, he rescued the girls when they had car trouble, causing them to be stranded by the side of a country road, in an area they were unfamiliar.  Meaghan being passed out only vaguely remembered that he was nice.  But Sam was so nice the next time they met.  She returned to town.  This time completely sober, and aware, to pick up her car that had broken down.  When she goes to thank him for his help, he rips into her for being irresponsible.  Not that he should care, it’s not like they are going to meet again.  Meaghan returns to school in Savannah hurt and pissed off.  She’s not sure why she lets how he reacted bother her so much, it not like they are going to see each other again, Right?

Wrong.  Meaghan gets placed not only in Sam’s hometown as a Art teacher for the summer, but in his very house.  Needless-to-say, sparks fly.  They both fight their attraction for each other.  Meaghan doesn’t do commitment, and Sam thinks he’s too old for her, plus he thinks she’s a city girl, and could never be happy out on a farm.  Even a farm with no real farm animals.  Apparently dogs and cats don’t count.

Their journey is laughter, tears, ups and downs, and a bit of soul searching.  Will they be able to overcome the obstacles in their way.  And if so, how, when, and where?  It’s not always the end point that matters but the journey along the way.  

In this journey, I came to understand both Sam and Meaghan more, and to fall for a few of the supporting characters as well.  Don’t try to read this book without at least a couple of hankies at hand.  But do read it.  It’s worth the frustration at Sam and Meaghan’s behavior at the beginning.  They are still young yet, and a worthwhile romance is rarely easy.  All in all a very enjoyable read, that I can easily recommend to others.

SYNOPSIS

+++This is a New Adult Romance, intended for readers over 18. It contains scenes for mature readers.+++

Meghan Hawthorne is restless. The last year has been a roller coaster: her widowed mother just married a long-time family friend. Her younger brother unexpectedly became a father and a husband. Everyone’s life is changing. . .except for hers. As she begins her final summer of college, Meghan’s looking for excitement and maybe a little romance. Nothing serious; this girl just wants to have fun.

But the only man for Meghan turns out to be the last one she expects.

Sam Reynolds doesn’t need excitement, and he doesn’t want romance. Fun is out of the question. He’s been the steady, responsible one since his parents were killed, and serious is his way of life.

When Sam rescues Meghan alongside a dark Georgia backroad, she falls hard for his deep brown eyes and slow drawl. But making him see her as more than just a party girl won’t be easy. Sam’s tempted by the fiery young artist, even as he realizes that giving into his feelings will mean radical change. . .maybe more than he can handle.

Nobody ever said love was simple.

AMAZON               B&N               GOODREADS               ARe

Free on most platforms

 

Tawdra Kandle and I will both be attending #IBF2016 next month.  Please make sure to come by and say “Hi” if you attend.  There are still tickets available for those who haven’t purchased theirs.  Also, if I get enough comments, I’ll hold a drawing for a “Reader’s Ticket”.  So don’t be shy in letting me know if you’re interested.   You can check it out here.

Tawdra Kandle is a #IBF2016 Featured Author.

Indie Bookfest

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
INDIE BOOKFEST 2016

  • 4th Annual Author/Reader Event     Indie Bookfest LoogOrlando/Altamonte Springs, FL
  • October 7, 8 & 9 – 2016
  • FREE BOOK SIGNING
  • October 8th, 2016
  • 3:00-6:00 PM