Review- Altered: Revelations of the Evolved

Title: Altered- Revelations of the Evolved

Author: Shawnda Currie

Series: The Evolved Trilogy (Vol 1) 

Summary:
Abandoned by her family, Lacey is sent to a juvenile detention center known as Clear Waters. Her teen years don't look promising until she is befriended by a mysterious stranger named Taylor, a gorgeous guy whose captivating eyes seem to stare into her soul. Convinced she is in danger at Clear Waters, Lacey joins Taylor in a daring escape. As she meets Taylor's group of friends, she discovers that they're more than they seem - they've been sent from the future to head off an evil corporate plot that will lead to a world war unless averted. With Lacey as their only hope to prevent a grim future, Taylor shows Lacey how to tap into her
psychic abilities known in his time as evolved humans. Travelling with her new friends, she discovers the magic of love while she grows into the powerful warrior chosen to make the difference to the world!

My Review:
                         * I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
 I read the summary for this book and I was very interested, and I will tell you it did not disappoint. I was pulled in right off the bat, attached to Lacey, curious about her history and also her future. Time travel has always been a cool idea to me and I thought the author gave a good explanation as to how it was achieved, the addition of evolved humans with multiple abilities made things that much more exciting. I wish there was more back round on the mission, I mean I get that they only know pieces for everyone's safety but I wanted to know a bit more about who they worked for etc. but I am sure that's the hook to get me to move on the series in hopes that it contains answers and yes I would like to continue on!!
I felt very sorry for Lacey, in many parts of the book I wanted to hug her and tell her to keep strong, and keep strong she did despite what she faces both before and after meeting Taylor are some pretty big losses and betrayals for such a young girl. My favorite line of hers was:
         "That was the hand that was delt to me and ultimately brought me to where I was today."
Showed me her willingness to accept the world she lived it and what she had to face. I just wish I got to know more about her abilities like how they knew she would have them, why does she have them? and what else can she do? yes I have a lot of questions and again I am sure it's to keep me reading the series, so well played Shawnda Currie, well played!!
 I really liked Taylor too he had a cute sense of humor and I always love the protector, like a modern day knight in shinning armor. I would recommend this book to all sci- fi lovers or anyone who likes a good read.

Review- Scapemaker (Scapemaker 1)

Title: Scapemaker

Author: Steve Cypert

Series: Scapemaker book 1

Rating: 4/5

Summary:
Matthew is the son of Mr. Nicholas Namely, a local high school teacher. But unbeknownst to Matthew, his father is a dreamscaper whose classroom is connected to the dream-world. From his classroom, his students enter the halls of Scapemaker, a dream-world high school for young dreamscapers.

Following a couple of heartfelt tragic events, Matthew is compelled to investigate the unbelievable mysteries surrounding those events and is propelled into a whole new world. Matthew and his mother, Mae, are soon coerced into moving across the country for his father's strange medical needs. While attending his new school, Matthew comes to know the secrets that Daedree, an annoying girl from his former high school, has locked away. Matthew also meets Amber, a beautiful enigmatic girl who leads him to Mr. Xoner's classroom. While there, he learns the art of dreamscaping (which has been in the Namely bloodline for thousands of years). 

Matthew will come to know of Nox Celare, otherwise known as The Sandman, who is after a special element called Magineum. Neck deep in skinwalkers, sandsleepers, zombies, soul feeders, ghosts, dream-world criminals known as “night terrors” and more, Matthew learns he is in over his head. Matthew must not only solve the mysteries surrounding those tragic events, but he will also have to protect the Magineum with his life and find a way to be with the one girl of his dreams. Filled with secrecy, mystery and a forbidden tangle of young love, this new life will lead Matthew to unbelievable characters with the most extraordinary abilities he could never have imagined.

Scapemaker will keep you grounded in the real world while at the same time make the fantastical world around it that much more possible and enduring. This tale of young adult paranormal fantasy will keep you guessing and wanting more.

My Review:
           * I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the idea of this book, being aware in your dreams an able to control what happens even some with special abilities. This is always something I have thought about and never really read about so I enjoyed a bit of a change, it felt kinda like Harry Potter with a twist.
 I must admit it took me a bit to get into it, I know now that most of the information at the beginning was needed but at some points it felt over mysterious to me,  I know that may not make sense but I don't really know how else to explain it.
 I thought the dream world was well established and I liked the small twists to zombies and vampires. There was lots of good action scenes and it just gor better towards the end making me sure I want to continue on with this series to find out what will happen now that most questions were answered only to raise a butt of new ones.
 Matthew seemed like a bit of a dull character to me, maybe cause I'm a girl and he's a boy I just didn't really get him, but one thing I will say is I really liked his head strong determination to clear his fathers name always a plus in my book. I may not have fully connected with Matthew but there were a lot of other fun characters that I enjoyed and I am interested to see were they will lead each other. 
 Overall I liked this book and if you like mystery, fantasy and fun you will too.

Leticia (Leticia 1)

Title: Leticia

Author: Lindsay Anne Kendal

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Summary:

Leticia has a dark secret, and somebody somewhere knows what it is. After being tormented and brutally attacked, it becomes obvious they want her dead. A mysterious group come to her aid. They want to fight by her side and help her win the war someone has declared on her. Together, they present a force to be reckoned with. Love, loss and longing put strains on the alliance. Not only must they fight their enemies, but their own fears and desires. Leticia must also face a harsh reality. If she wants a happy future, she must first confront her past.

My Review:

 I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was a different take on werewolves and other supernaturals and I liked it a cool story if survival, love and loyalty.
 Leticia was a great character she had found ways to survive over the years and even after being dealt a crushing blow of betrayal she manages to find an odd way to survive and then deal with the aftermath. She discovered who she was and who she wanted to be and even after everything she wants to believe there is a good in everyone. Sometimes I wanted her to let her guard down and trust Nancy and Tristan cause I did right away, but I understood her hesitation. 
 Jackson oh Jackson be still my beating heart, the handsome brooding man ready to lay down his life for his family and Leticia. There were moments when I thought he was being a bit childish, I know he was the way he was fir a reason but after everything he had seen from Leticia I couldn't understand why he would continue to act as he did, didn't stop me from rooting for him and thinking he was a cutie.  At some points I found his dialog a bit cheesy and I laughed (in a good way) if I was meant to swoon I did not but I did not hate it.
The last half had me on the edge of my seat I thought I had all the answers and then the curve ball that I did not see coming. The ending was a huge WTF moment for me, that cliffhanger had me reeling. I found this series to have lots of the things I enjoy action, friendship and mystery and I would like to continue on and find out what happens next.

About the Author:

I have lived in Droylsden, Manchester, all my life. I live with my parents, my younger sister, Cheryl and her little girl Faith.
I never knew what I wanted to do with my life until I began writing. This is my dream. I get most of my inspiration from music, I’ll sit there listening to it and suddenly I’m no longer in the room. My stories play like videos in my mind, then I go and write them down.
I’m a very dark person, I love anything spooky, supernatural, or unexplainable, and so that’s the genre I want to write in for the rest of my life.
I love watching scary films, although I find it very hard to find one these days that actually frighten me.
I also love getting creative with graphics. I've designed over twenty book covers so far. I create promo art and even book trailers.
I have had a love of photography from being a child. I have literally thousands of photographs which I have taken over the years. Now, I have a professional DSLR camera and I'm looking to do photography as well as my graphics as a sideline project.

Author Links

Blog –  http://lindsayannekendal.blogspot.co.uk/

 Website  http://www.lindsayannekendal.com/
 Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lindsay-Anne-Kendal-Author/205994872781867

Buy Links

Kindle  http://tinyurl.com/chgdcul
Paperback  http://tinyurl.com/ca2jmk4

Raksha

Title: Raksha 

Author: Frankie Rose

Rating: 5 stars

Summary:

She has no name. 

She has her knives; her training; her halo. 

The first and second give her the tools and the skill to defeat the opponents she is pitched against each month. The third frees her from pain and fear. From any kind of emotion at all. Everything is as it should be. Everything is as it should be, until… 

Fear Pain Anger Happiness Desire Guilt

Love.

When a newly-named Kit escapes the Sanctuary after killing her best friend, the last thing she needs is another knife in her hand. Or Ryka, the damaged, beautiful blonde boy, who she refuses to let save her. Still learning how to process the onslaught of her new feelings, the sights and sounds of Freetown are overwhelming and strange. There are a hundred differences between her old home and her new one, but one thing remains starkly similar: the matches. Yet where the blood in the Sanctuary landed only on the colosseum floor, Kit will quickly learn that a river of red runs through Freetown’s very streets. 

Freed from the oppression of a society who stole her right to feel, the true horror of her old life leaves Kit wondering if she really has been freed at all. Would she be better off without the crippling horror of all the blood on her hands, or is the love of one boy worth living through all the pain?

Raksha is the call of the dead. The rumbling chant for fresh blood from the other side, the demand for sacrifice. The colosseum is behind Kit. The fighting pits await.

You have been called to the fights.

My Review:

I was gifted this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Now the first thing I am going to say is you need to go out and get this book and then read it immediately, and yes as I am sure you can tell I LOVED this book and I have to say if you get it and don't like it that is not my fault you are just crazy :), now for my reasons why I enjoyed this book so much.
 I am a huge sucker for a Colosseum battle or in some cases in this story a pit fight, I love the gladiator type stories, I don't know what it is and I can't explain it I just do and this book did not disappoint me in this. The author wrote a fantastic battle scene every time, I could  see the action in my mind perfectly like being transported to the front row of the fight.
 The Halo that the citizens of the sanctuary wear was so interesting to me, that people would willingly allow this and just march through life without feeling was something I have not read before and I loved watching Kit realize a world with emotions and learn how to control them. It made me think about how maybe we take them for granted and I really enjoyed the underlying message it left behind for me that own emotions and thoughts of individuality are important in our every day life. It also gave a different take on the fights for the people who wore Halos and those that did not and the reasons why they took part in them.
 Each character in the story were fantastic even the evil ones had their place helping the story form. Kit and Ryka make my top ten couple for sure maybe even top five. Two fighters brought together in a strange situation and they find more in each other than they thought possible, I loved watching them teach each other and grow. It was neat to see the world threw Kit's eyes as she learned to hide and handle emotions she did not like that a lot of times were brought on by Ryka. I thought Ryka was a great leading man strong and protective, doing the best he can for his family, mostly the lovely Olivia his younger sister I was attached to her right away and as an older sibling I felt his struggle to do the best he could for her.
 The ending was the best and worst part so much action heartbreak and many other emotions which was great but now I have so many more questions I did not want this book to end the last page left me reeling and I wanted so much more.
 so as you can tell I thought this book was fan-freaking-tastic a perfect blend of action, adventure, heartbreak, love and control of the masses, if you like any of these things READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!

About the Author:

Frankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia. 

She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.

Guardian Of Time (Shardwell series book 2)

Title: Guardian of Time 

Author: A.Gerry and C. Hall

Series: Shardwell Series book 2

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Summary:

Magic, Demons, arranged marriages, and war.
Margariete, is a young sheltered princess who wants to marry for love and when she thinks her father has arranged a marriage for her to an older man she runs away and learns something of her world and about trust and loyalty. She also learns about her new developing powers, and makes new friends.

My Review:

  I received this book free in exchange for an honest review, I was also gifted book 1 and after reading it about a month ago I was very glad to get time to read this one and I was not disappointed  this book was excellent and in my opinion better than the first.

 When I started I was expecting something different but I am very glad it was the way it was, weaving a beautiful story that answered a lot of questions I had after book one. I loved the old world charm in this book, Love and loyalty filled with duty and sacrifice that comes with tradition and birthright, throw in some evil kings and a plot for revenge and I loved every second of the story that unfolded.

 I loved the characters in this one just as much as the first maybe more. The twins Raeylan and Margariete strong is their love for each other and their younger brother, determined to save each other, the ones they love and the people of their kingdom. I was as blind sided as they were by the betrayal of a close friend and the crazy events that unfolded quickly just when I thought they were safe. I also found myself heart broken by Elsiwen`s tale, she wished to be a loyal friend to Raeylan and Margariete and so many hardships stood in her way and I see many more to come in her future.

I have so many more questions as to what will happen next, how do they all end up on earth, and how will Reaylan save them. I was so skeptical of him in book one but I know have faith and I am rooting for him. I MUST CONTINUE THIS SERIES!!!!!! I love the direction it is headed and I can not wait to see it all come together.

 So as you can tell I absolutely loved this book and I would recommened it to anyone especially if you love action, mystery and a bit of fantasy.

starseed

Title: Starseed

Author: Liz Gruder

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Summary:
Kaila Guidry has always known she is different. After all, her mother insists Kaila hide her hair under a tin foil shield and a wig before leaving the house. When Kaila meets Jordyn Stryker one day at school, she starts to understand the origin of her mother’s seemingly irrational fears.
Jordyn Stryker was born and raised far from Earth, a starseed, one of six new students sent undercover to Louisina’s Bush High to learn human ways. When Kaila is pushed to her limit by high school bullying and cruelty, Jordyn steps in and awakens her to a new reality, and to love. Out of loyalty to him, Kaila looks the other way when the real purposes of the starseed begin to unfold.
As the horrific plan behind the starseed visit to Earth moves forward, Kaila and Jordyn, caught in an impossible love, must face who they really are and decide where their true loyalties lie.




My Review:
*I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review*
First of all I want to comment on the cover it just kinda threw me a bit, although I am one who can sometimes judge a book but its cover I must be honest and say that I don't think I would have picked this up on my own but I read the summary before seeing the cover and it pulled me in, I did enjoy the book and I just put the cover out of my mind and carried on.
I found this story to be a nice look into human nature, how we have the ability to love so fiercely and even the power of feeling sadness and lose and how it helps us see beauty in life. I liked that the process of Kaila being "awakened" she taught the aliens what being human is all about.
Kaila was very relateable to me, she loved her family but longed to know a sense of normalcy. Her bond with her paw paw really hit home for me as he reminded me of my grandpa and his undying love for his family, trying to put Kaila first even as he struggled with cancer brought tears to my eyes on several occasions and  it was also through his love and battle that Kaila found meaning in being human.
Now confession time I dont usually read Alien books they just sort of unsettle me they have so much power and control and this one is a prime example, so much evil and darkness but when they finally opened up to emotion a few were what I would call saved and I was glad a few of the characters found some sort of happiness.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I would recommend this to sci-fi and Alien lovers.

Frey (The Frey Saga1)

Title: Frey

Author: Melissa Wright

Series: The Frey Saga book1

Rating: 4.5/ 5

Goodreads Summary:
Unaware she's been bound from using magic, Frey leads a small, miserable life in the village where she's sent after the death of her mother. But a tiny spark starts a fury of changes and she finds herself running from everything she's ever known. 

Hunted by council for practicing dark magic, she is certain she's been wrongfully accused. She flees, and is forced to rely on strangers for protection. But the farther she strays from home, the more her magic and forgotten memories return and she begins to suspect all is not as it seems.

My Review:
 I got this book free a long time ago off smashwords and when a friend read it and liked it I decided to check it out, and I am sure glad I did it was a great tale of adventure, betrayal, a bit of love, and a young girl trying to find answers.
 Elfredra (or Frey as she is called) was a great character I found her complex and easily relatable she is trying to find her place figure out were she belongs, she can't use magic then in comes strong, silent, sexy Chevelle and things start to change very quickly. I was so invested in the two of them wanting to know where they were going and why. I felt like Chevelle was Frey's night in shinning armor (Sort of) and although my faith in him was shaken a few times I like to believe he ment well.
 Then in their travels they meet Steed, who I believe was the perfect blend of Charm, comedic relief, and protector I liked him instantly, and he is not the only addition to the group and I liked them all they each brought something speacial to the table and helped the story flow, and they all in their own way helped Frey to become the bad ass she was by the end.
Speaking of the end what an ending it was, I am left wanting more and very very interested to see what could happen next. When I get the chance I will for sure be continuing this series to find out what will happen to these characters I am rooting for.