Review- The Forgotten Ones

Title: The Forgotten Ones

Author: Laura Howard

Rating: 5/5

Summary:
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

My Review:
 I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and not in a bad way, it's just I forgot what the book was about at first and as I began to read I was swept right into the story of a lovable girl and a great new take on faeries.
I liked Allison right away content to be with her family and working hard to carry out the plan she has to be able to care for her mother. When she faces a whole new world and a dark enemy she is strong enough to face it to save her loved ones. I must admit I was not to keen on Ethan at first, the player hot guy so full of himself, but he did grow on me when his softer side showed. I found some of the names really strange I know they are faeries and old but it was hard to read them and remember how to pronounce them, maybe I am just simple but their names did not stop me from enjoying the story :)
I really enjoyed the Irish folklore take on the faeries, it was neat to read something fresh as many fae stories contain a lot of the same characters, but this one was new and fun and I loved that about it.
I was pleased with the fast pace of the story it was a fun read that I got through quickly as I could not put it down and I found myself wanting so so much more. I can't wait to see what happens next, things got very exciting and mysterious and I would love to loose myself in this world once again.
If you love faeries this book is for you and even if you don't I know you would enjoy this it is a perfect blend of all the things a great book needs and even without all the fae stuff it is still an awesome story of family, friendship and love.   

About the Author:

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn't until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

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