Faerie Song Series by Michele Barrow - Belisle Book #Review

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Book 1 Adventure wasn’t something Lorelei was interested in. Gifted with two otherworldly talents for singing and healing, she’s always shied away from her gifts, preferring anonymity, over attention. But when she meets Adrius, with his dangerous mystique and eyes that peer into her soul, her uneventful life becomes irrevocably altered. Adrius knows more about her than any newcomer should, including the condition of her mother’s mysterious illness. Accepting his offer to help leads her into a terrifying world, where Elves are even hotter than Legolas, and Faeries.... are nothing like Tinkerbell. The two magical beings are fire and ice opposites. One Lorelei can’t help falling for, and the other she's compelled to be with. Now she’s trapped in their world, expected to prevent a war between witches and faeries, or forfeit her mother’s life. As secrets unravel, Lorelei must fight to save much more than her mother’s life. One mistake could put the fate of his world- and her soul, in jeopardy.
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   Book 2 To save the Faery world and her mother’s life, seventeen year old Lorelei sacrificed everything, and the dangerous bargains she made in Nevermore had lasting repercussions. Now safely back in her own world, Lorelei seems the same to her high school friends and her supernatural boyfriend, despite the dark magic growing within her. Love across dimensions is complicated, especially when an invisible veil between the two worlds is sealing, threatening to separate Lorelei and Adrius forever. Determined to find a solution, Lorelei resorts to exploring her new found powers. But when her friends fall ill, and her healing touch only makes things worse, Lorelei can’t help but wonder if she's responsible. Nightmares from the Nevermore tighten their icy hold when someone arrives determined to destroy Lorelei’s world, starting with those closest to her. Once again she’s forced to choose between her family… her friends… and a love that was ill-fated from the start.
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Antionette's Review:
This book was very addicting. I couldn’t believe how  much was in one book. I kept thinking the books gonna cut off here and I’ll have to wait on whats next. Ok… The story.  A teenager lives with her mom who’s into the music scene with a career and with that comes a lot of travel. So she is left alone… a lot.  This can make for very trying teen years.  Then add the voices she’s heard since she was a little girl that she's gone thru years of therapy for… poor thing.  She meets this amazing hot new guy, Adrius…. and her whole world is flipped upside down. Theres so much story to try and include without giving away too much…She is a healer though. Her grandmother ran a tea shop and would teach her different teas that could help people. She never really thought anything of this. It was just what it was. When her grandmother passes, she is left to continue her work. Her mother falls ill overseas and she has to find the right tea mixture. the right herbs to heal her like before. I know… when was the before?  Gotta read the book.  Adrius takes her out to try and find the herbs that are rare that time of year in the forest areas… and she falls… literally …  into faery land.  This is just the first 1/3 of the book. I am in love with this author for all that was included.  The things she finds out about herself, her parents, the life she once thought was real…  so much has been hidden and now so much is on her shoulders to save a whole race of people. Action, romance, confusing teen situations.. Its all in here.

I was given this book for my honest review, and now you have it.

  BIO A dreamer at heart, Michele BarrowBelisle has always lived with one foot in this reality and one foot in another, one of her own imagining. So it follows that she would grow up to write about the characters from those enchanting worlds she knows and loves so well. A fan of all things romantic, her young adult novels are populated with scintillating witches, vampires and fey. Her bestselling debut book series Fire and Ice (Faerie Song Trilogy) was optioned for a major motion picture this year. Michele resides in southern Canada with her hubby and son who indulge her neverending obsession with reading, writing and most importantly… chocolate.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Website: www.michelebarrowbelisle.com (join my mailing list)
Blog: www.michelebelisle.blogspot.ca
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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/MicheleBarrowBelisle/ e/B00BVRJADY
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Tumbler: http://michelebarrowbelisle.tumblr.com/  

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Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace #BookReview

If there’s one thing that Bridgette Reynolds has learned recently, it’s that the perfect shoes, the perfect hair, and the perfect dress do not make for the perfect proposal. In fact, sometimes they make for the not-so-perfect breakup. Now, Bridgette must do everything in her power to win Adam back. She knows they are meant to be. And nothing will stand in her way—not her friends, not her grandmother, not even the fact that Adam is now engaged to Serene after a whirlwind romance. Focused on her plan to win Adam back, Bridgette isn’t expecting Ian—her college best friend, her love, her big regret—to come back into her life. They sink back into their comfortable friendship as if no time has passed at all, making Bridgette start to question her feelings for Adam. But Ian has a few secrets of his own . . . secrets that could shatter their friendship once and for all. Bridgette has to make some major decisions—should she speak now? Or forever hold her peace?

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Antionette's Review: Think back to high school and college. To the days of innocence and love and friendship. This book has a little bit of everything. At first I thought Bridgette was a whiny self indulgent young woman. She comes off as needy. Believe it, she's not. I. Really enjoyed this book. Definetly not my usual book style. I read on a whim for a review. So very much worth it. In the beginning she's dating Adam. Two years and she thinks he's going to propose, and he ends the relationship. She is devastated and stalkerish. Even continues a friendship with his family. Then pops in her college best friend, and the love of her life...there's so so so much more to this story. I hope that was enough to suck you in. You are welcome. I was given this book for my honest opinion...here you have it.

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About the author:

By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last... but it probably won't.  

Follow Becky:

Website: http://www.beckymonson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeckyMonson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmonsonauthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Becky-Monson/e/B00DMB4HYY

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/BeckyMonson

Literary Addicts: http://literaryaddicts.ning.com/profile/BeckyMonson

     

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Verona is a bottom feeder. She is the one mer in her clan who is considered the ugliest and least intelligent. Growing up with the constant bullying and abuse wasn’t the worst of what her kind had in store for her. At seventeen years old, she must now endure “The Reckoning.” The scales will measure her worth to her clan. Will she endure thirty days as a land-walker to gather information and knowledge to appease her clan and return a valued member? Will she wait three years, until she is twenty, and find a mer of her kind to accept her and marry her? Or will she suffer exile for the rest of her life? Genre: YA

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Sue's review: 

This is a new author for me and I was really impressed with how much I enjoyed this novella. Looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I loved the way that the author described Verona and all that she went through. The story itself is heartbreaking but it wraps you up and makes you want to keep reading. I don't write spoilers - so I refuse to say exactly what all happens but it is an awesome book!!!

I received a copy of Scales in exchange for an honest review.

 

Pauline Creeden

Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.   Follow Pauline Creeden: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter  

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Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace by Becky Monoson #review

If there’s one thing that Bridgette Reynolds has learned recently, it’s that the perfect shoes, the perfect hair, and the perfect dress do not make for the perfect proposal. In fact, sometimes they make for the not-so-perfect breakup. Now, Bridgette must do everything in her power to win Adam back. She knows they are meant to be. And nothing will stand in her way—not her friends, not her grandmother, not even the fact that Adam is now engaged to Serene after a whirlwind romance. Focused on her plan to win Adam back, Bridgette isn’t expecting Ian—her college best friend, her love, her big regret—to come back into her life. They sink back into their comfortable friendship as if no time has passed at all, making Bridgette start to question her feelings for Adam. But Ian has a few secrets of his own . . . secrets that could shatter their friendship once and for all. Bridgette has to make some major decisions—should she speak now? Or forever hold her peace?

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Review by Sue:
Let me start with saying that Becky Monson is a new author to me - and I had never read anything that she has written until now!!! AND - I can guarantee that I will be looking for more of her books to read!!!

I love love love that way the story starts and progresses. The way that Becky pulls you in with the beginning of the book was amazing. Had me wondering exactly what was going to happy and who was going to stop who's wedding??? I loved how she flipped back to college years in some chapters - to bring you totally up to speed with things that had happened in the past for Bridgette and Ian.

I don't write spoilers - so I do NOT want to tell you what happens in the book, BUT - I will warn you - that once you start reading this book, you will find it had to put the book down until you read the final page!!! YES - it is that GOOD!!!! I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.

 

About the author:

By day, Becky Monson is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. In her debut novel, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last... but it probably won't.  

Follow Becky:

Website: http://www.beckymonson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeckyMonson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmonsonauthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Becky-Monson/e/B00DMB4HYY

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/BeckyMonson

Literary Addicts: http://literaryaddicts.ning.com/profile/BeckyMonson

     

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Dark Pursuit by Jennifer Chase

From the International Award Winning EMILY STONE THRILLER SERIES: Vigilante detective Emily Stone has covertly hunted down killers and closed more serial cases than most seasoned homicide cops combined. Her exceptional profiling skills and forensic techniques, along with deductive crime scene investigations, have made her a compelling force that cannot be beat. She has reached her ultimate breaking point and now must face her toughest opponent yet – her biggest fears. With preciseness, the Tick-Tock Killer has taken his next child victim and promised to dump the body precisely four days later, mocking police and the community. Stone struggles to balance her inner demons and ghosts from the past, against the wits of a brutal and cunning serial killer in an all-out battle of psychological warfare. Can Stone save the next child in time? Dark Pursuit is an action-packed cat and mouse game that will take you to dark places rarely explored.

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  About the author: Jennifer Chase is an award-winning author and consulting criminologist. She has authored five crime fiction novels, including the award-winning Emily Stone thriller series along with a screenwriting workbook. Jennifer holds a Bachelor degree in police forensics and a Master's degree in criminology. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists. Twitter: https://twitter.com/JChaseNovelist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jennifer-Chase/208188122534165 Blog/Website: http://authorjenniferchase.com/

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The Andromedans by Elizabeth Lang #BookReview

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find out who you really are. After being kidnapped by a bounty hunter and getting mixed up with a band of rebels, Adrian and Kali are finally together. They find a quiet corner of the galaxy to live in peace and...who are we kidding... Just when they think it's safe, the unthinkable happens. Adrian, a man who prides himself on the perfect mind, loses everything, forcing Kali to revisit what she is willing to do in order to save him, and this time the stakes are even higher. Not only does Adrian's life hang in the balance but the survival of two galaxies. Just who are these Andromedans and why are they willing to go to such lengths to destroy us? What do they want with Adrian? And who is crazy enough to go to the Andromedan galaxy to rescue him?

My review:

If you are looking for a unique scifi series, The Empire Series is a great one. The Andromedans is book 3. New characters are introduced and the action gets a little quicker. The main characters seemed a lot more developed and connected in book 3. I enjoyed this book a little more than the first two. The parallel stories going on in both galaxies are fun to read and intriguing. I definitely will be reading the next book. I am really curious to see how this story will progress. 

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About the author: Elizabeth Lang is first and foremost, a geek with the obligatory love of science fiction and fantasy. She spent most of her life in the computer industry designing computer systems for world domination the mundane industry of life insurance, which is surprisingly, not as exciting as it sounds. Now she creates enchanted worlds of magic, explores the human condition in the light of future technology and civilizations, and dreams about world domination. Or at least, some of her characters do. Her first book, The Empire was fortunate enough to be a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and she has never looked back.   Author Social Media Webpage: www.elizabeth-lang.com Facebook: Elizabeth Lang Twitter: @Elizabeth_Lang Pinterest: Elizabeth Lang  

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The Empire and The Rebels by Elizabeth Lang #authorPost

  The Empire All Adrian Stannis wanted was a quiet corner of the galaxy where he could work on his beloved scientific experiments, but unfortunately, he was born into a world at war, where his people are struggling for survival against a vastly superior alien invasion force and he is a genius who was trained for the very thing he hates, the creation of deadly weapons. Not to mention, he appears to have been genetically mated to a telepath by his government and he doesn’t find her…uninteresting. In fact, she appears quite intelligent. So what will happen to this solitary man when his peace is shattered in every way possible and there is nowhere left to run? Buy on Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Smashwords

The Rebels  Adrian, Kali and Adrian’s personal assistant, Bryce are finally free of the oppressive Empire. They hide on a planet called, Orasis, a tech-4 world on the Outer Rim whose only usefulness is a low-grade source of Tri-Iridium ore. Not the kind of place to find the most advanced weapons scientist in the galaxy. Things go well, relatively, and Adrian and Kali finally have time to develop the relationship they didn’t think possible. Adrian and Bryce even start up their own fix-it business. Then a stranger arrives on the planet. Buy on Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Smashwords

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The Rise of SFR

My first love has always been science fiction and fantasy, though why those two are always lumped together like conjoined twins, always amazes me. Sure they're about flights of imagination, one into the past and one into the future, but beyond that, they couldn't be more different. Oh well. Perhaps musings for another post.

Today's blog is about SFR,  Science Fiction Romance. For those who have never heard the term, that's all right. I never did either, until after I wrote The Empire.

I never envisioned The Empire as a romance, even though the two central characters are involved in a relationship that is key to the story, but the story isn't about their romance. Very much like Matrix where Neo's main motivation is his love for Trinity. So, it was quite a surprise the first time I was told that my book might be science fiction romance.

First, I had no idea there was such a sub-category. And second, it is NOT a romance. I don't read romance.

I entered The Empire in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and as a lark, submitted it for both the science fiction and romance categories, perhaps to prove to myself that it wasn't a romance.

You probably know where this is going. The Empire didn't win in the science fiction category, but it was a finalist in the romance category.

That was when I began to taking SFR more seriously. That's where this blog comes in.

What is SFR? Is is good? Is it bad? Is it 'real' science fiction? Are you going to get girl cooties from reading it? Those are questions that are bandied around these days.

In the past, science fiction was more often the bastion of men, venerable writers like Asimov, Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury and the like, people who peer into the looking glass and bring us back a glimpse of the future. I loved them. I grew up with them. They defined geek.

Their audience was primarily adolescent males. So, it wasn't surprising that science fiction was about the science, and character development was skimpy.

That is one of the controversies today between the purists to whom science fiction is primarily about the science and not about the characters or relationships, or icky stuff like male-female dynamics-- unless it's about men and female cyborgs.

One of the first science fiction novels that most people, myself included, seem to remember with romantic elements are the Pern series by Anne McCaffrey and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

On the Mirriam-Webster website, science fiction is defined as “fiction dealing principally with the impact of actual or imagined science on society or individuals or having a scientific factor as an essential orienting component.”

'Soft' science fiction deals with the human dynamic in a science fiction setting, meaning character development is the primary, though not necessarily the only focus.

Science Fiction Romance falls under this umbrella. As greater numbers of female authors enter the sci-fi genre, these kinds of stories have increased, becoming their own legitimate sub-categories, to the horror of traditional purists who claim that these are just regular stories with a sci-fi backdrop, not real sci-fi.

While that is true in some cases, I respectfully disagree. Many of these stories take aspects of our current society and imagine their natural, or unnatural progression into the future.

The future isn't just about science and technology. It's about politics, social engineering, human dynamics, and even romance. How will all of these things look like in the future? Perhaps these aren't science fiction stories, but future fiction stories and SFR is one aspect of it?

Then, of course, we have sci-fi with romantic elements, romance stories with sci-fi elements, and science fiction with romance as the central theme.

Why the distinction? Because SFR seems to be a bastard child of the RWA (Romance Writers of America) too. According to their definition, romance stories must have a central romance and fall within HEA (“Happily Ever After”). So some stories slip through the cracks and are slapped with an anemic 'sci-fi with romance elements' label. These sub-genres are here to stay and as they develop and move into the mainstream, perhaps they will be recognized as science fiction, period. Or maybe they will become Future Fiction, a glimpse into the development or devolving of human society.

Thank you for letting me guest on your blog. It's been fun.

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About the author: Elizabeth Lang is first and foremost, a geek with the obligatory love of science fiction and fantasy. She spent most of her life in the computer industry designing computer systems for world domination the mundane industry of life insurance, which is surprisingly, not as exciting as it sounds. Now she creates enchanted worlds of magic, explores the human condition in the light of future technology and civilizations, and dreams about world domination. Or at least, some of her characters do. Her first book, The Empire was fortunate enough to be a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and she has never looked back.   Author Social Media Webpage: www.elizabeth-lang.com Facebook: Elizabeth Lang Twitter: @Elizabeth_Lang Pinterest: Elizabeth Lang

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