Description: Ally is a girl with a magical secret. On Homecoming night, she finds herself in a situation where she is between life and death. Can her special gifts save her?

Well I gotta say, I dont necesarily love this book. The book had an ok storyline and the characters were ok. But let's get more detailed:

The Good: Well, one good thing i picked up on was the awesome friendship. I really liked Ally and Courtney's relationship. It's a sweet friendship. Another thing i like was the fact that it took place in AZ (the most beautiful place ever) although the writing doesn't really meet any of my five senses. I like that its short, but i think there seems to be too much put in it for it being so small. There seems too much structure writing and not enough descriptive writing. It was very matter of factly. I do love the cover though!

Series Info The Dream Series Book 1: Ally Book 2: Unknown

The Not So Good: Unfortunately, I have found a bunch. I actually feel bad because i really try to find the good in every book, but these issues are sort of important to me. (1)I think Ally was cruel to Ryan. Without giving away the story, i think she was rather winchy! (2) I dont like how Ally needs to get "new teeth, hair and clothes" to get friends. And i dont like that she became a snob when she was starting to become popular. I think rude, snobby winches causes problems for everyone...like in this story.

Overall, I give Ally 2/5 stars! There are some good things in this book but altogether I'm just not sure they are enough. I'd recommend this book to an older reader that just wants a short (about 30 pages) book to preoccupy themselves but I wouldn't however recommend it for a very young reader or a reader who wants a very immersive story. I'll probably read book 2 because i'd like to see if she grows up.

Description: After the inexplicable disappearance of Lilly Taylor's parents, she has no choice but to move to Canada where she unravels some frightening yet intriguing family secrets... Her whole life had been based on a lie. Lilly had grown up in a loveless home with a father who she had barely ever seen and a mother who was... well, not very motherly. After they mysteriously disappear without a trace, Lilly is sent to Canada where she finds a whole new way of life. A life filled with love and people who care for her. But that's not all she discovers, Lilly also finds out that she isn't who, or what, she thinks she is. Lilly has a very special ability and it's just a matter of time before her true self starts to shine. And when it does, her life will never be the same again.

Well I gotta say, I really liked this book a lot. The book had a great storyline and I really liked the characters. But let's get more detailed:

The Good: I loved the setting! It starts in London then moves to Canada! The author does a great job make the reader feel "on location". Which is great because i probably have no hope of traveling to either place any time soon.

I also really liked protag Lilly. She seems a little naive (esp. with the hair cut and dyeing)in the beginning but I grew to like her throughout the book. I also liked Rose and her Grand dad. The love interest in this book (while maybe a bit rushed) seems pretty genuine, esp for a character of her age. She's like 13/14..not like 16/17, so i could see her quickly falling for a older guy. (It does seem a bit odd though how all the females in this book are in love with guys much older...but maybe that's just me!)

Series Info Raven Series Book 1: Raven Book 2: December Moon Book 3: The Lost Soul

The Not So Good: Well there aren't many things to dislike about this book...but I've pinpointed a few. First, being the british english that the book is written in. While this isn't really a negative, it just made it a bit hard for me to understand some words or what things meant.

Second thing is the family aspect. I understand that this book is probably written for readers that are younger (therefore, needing to have a strong family bond)but im just not a heavy family person. lol wow, i know that probably sounds weird, but it's true... I had a colorful childhood and don't really have a family to rely on. So for me, it was hard to relate with Lilly in that respect. Like when "something" happens, the whole family rushing over to help and show concern... That just seems sort of weird to me. It's totally not the book/authors fault though, because I'm sure that's how a family is "supposed" to act!

Overall, I give Raven a 4/5 stars! Its a great book, esp. for younger reads! I will be continuing with the series and do recommend the book.

Title: Destined
Series: None
Author: Jessie Harrell
Theme: Greek Mythology, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars

Description

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.
As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

What I Thought

Amazing!! This is the first ever book I've read about Greek mythology! I've seen other books around like The Goddess Test, but I think Mythology in general never really interested me. My Kindle recommended this book to me because of all the other Indie Books i'd been buying at that time. I just bought it without even reading the synopsis...then i just started reading! After about 2 pages, I figured out the theme real quick, but i didn't shy away and I'm so glad i didn't!

This book was actually beyond amazing! It really blew me away especially considering my lack of passion for the subject matter. The story really struck a cord with my emotions! At times, i was sad, happy amused, dewildered, annoyed and even jealous! The characters that you are supposed to hate, I hated and the ones you are supposed to love, I loved them! The character's overall are were great and well developed. The one thing I really learned in this book is to never under estimate a scorn woman's wrath! HEHE... You should really read it!

Favorite Scene

Pysche's first moments exploring her new home!

Favorite Quote

"Good Heavens, Psyche! How'd a pigeon get in here?" - What can i say...it was funny! lol!

More about the Author: By day, I'm an appellate lawyer. By night, I'm a wife, mother of two, and author/lover of all things Greek mythology. I'm a native Floridian, frustrated world traveler, unrepentant dreamer, lover of acoustic music and not-so-closet geek. Destined, being released November 17, 2011, is my first novel. Stay tuned for Beneath the Surface, co-written with the amazing Nikki Katz. Read more about Jessie Harrell.

Title: Haven
Author: @HopeCollier
Series Info: The Willows #1(not sure how many books)
Theme: YA Paranormal Romance
Rating: 5 Hearts; Extreme Love!

Summary: At the beginning of the story, Ashton is at her birthday party when she gets a disturbing call...her dad has had a fatal heart attack leaving her alone in the world (since her mother died when she was a baby). He lives far away in another state...so to attend the funeral, she decides to take a road trip there vs flying, hoping she can clear her head and come to terms with her emotions. Along the way some bizarre things start to happen and she learns some secrets from her parents past, that very much affect her now, since she is the last in the family. She also meets a smoldering love interest on this road trip, which has a startling connection to her families past. Throughout this adventure, Ash has to learn who she is and who to trust! Almost no one is who they seem and everyone is hiding something.

My Overall Thoughts: I really really liked this book!! It very much reminded me of twilight but with more story than "falling in love. The end" Well i guess there was that chase scene... But anyway! This book was amazing! Ash reminded me sooo much of myself. Like her love of sweet tea and books! From the physical description i think she even looks like me!! Lol..its true though!! But anyway, the action was good and the romnace was heartbreaking...but awesome. This book was astonishly well written. I loved all the descriptive paragraphs about feelings, sights, and smells. Some authors forget this, but not this one! Thanks for that!!
What I Liked: I liked the Love! I dont want to give to much away, but there are 3 "sort-of" bfs here. (Ash only wants one of them) and with them comes hurt and betrayal. Poor Ash, her emotions are strong..and sad. I also like the ending!
What I Didn't Like: The only think id say i didnt like was all the twists and turns. Well i cant say i didnt like them...but i felt a little confused sometimes. Its not becasue the writing was poor...its just that Ash's world is SO detailed and connected. Like everyone is connected somehow....it just becomes she much to remember! It is very well thought out by the author...but im still going to re-read a bit to be sure i have everything down! :) I have bad memory issues!! And just for the record, the twists and turns in the story arent a negative, they are just the lowest thing in the book....but the whole book is def 5 stars! My review template has "What I Didnt Like" so i had to add something here! :)
My Favorite Quote: "We would also encourage the use of proper swim attire." Haha from the hotel swimming pool scene...one of my favorites!!

Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Author: Carrie Ryan
Series Info: Book 1 of 3
Theme: Zombies, PostApocalyptic, Dystopian
Rating: 5 Hearts

Summary: Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

My Overall Thoughts: The town in which the main character lives is surrounded by a fench. There is nothing outside of the fench except woods...and zombies! There are no other towns..or at least thats what everyone is told and is urged to believe!! Although...somehow there are these trails that go off into the woods...Do they really lead to nowhere?

I must say, i really loved this book!! The writing was greatly detailed and beutifully paced. It was nice to see the characters grow and change from just believing everything they hear to discovering things from themselves. I really love the action and zombie scenes!! I was very suspenseful, the whole book was sort of exhausting. For the whole huge journey i was like "Aaahhhhh get there already"..or get somewhere besides walking around on the trails. Im still undecided about the ending and where they actually "get".
This was my first zombie book ive ever read i really liked it. Before i read it, i half expected a human zombie love thing...but its pretty clear in the first few pages that that wont be happening! I like that the book is different in that it focus on life, loss, faith and strength instead of only love. This is why i gave it 5 hearts.
What I Liked: I really like the "love" in this books. Not only the romance but Mary's love for her family, friends, and self. Mary has to go through SO much loss and destruction...but she doesnt get too bitter.
What I Didn't Like: I didnt like that the part right towards the end when they get to the end of the path...I dont want to spoil it...but youll know what i mean when you get there!! It just seems so unfair...its like "WHAT? You have got to be kidding me"... In actuallity its a very realistic and possible situation...im just soo used to YA having perfect sweet endings where everyone lives happily ever after. Ms. Ryan is not afraid to leave the sugar coating elsewhere. These things werent enough of a dislike to lower the rating though.
My Favorite Quote: "We are our own memory-keepers and we have failed ourselves."

Heeyyy Guys,
I have a super surprise for you all today.... an review, a interview, a widget AND a giveaway!! Squee! Author P.T. Michelle ( @PT_Michelle ) and i have been working on this behind the scenes. Amazon has recently made the first few chapters embedable...so heres a snippet!! Hope you enjoy and keep scrolling down for your chance to win!!!!!

My Review

Title: The Brightest Kind of Darkness
Author: P.T. Michelle
Series Info: Book 1 of The brightest Kind of Darkness
Theme: Darkness vs. Lightness, Dreams, Fate
Rating: 5 hearts

Summary: Nara has an unusual gift. She came see her entire next day in her dreams. While she tries not to interfere, one day when she dreams of a bombing in her school she cant stay quiet... but soon her life starts getting chaotic. She meets a new gut at school Ethan who seems to be able to balance her..but suspcious, dangerous things start to happen and she cant tell whos behind them!

My Overall Thoughts: Excellent!! The action started from the very first page!! The timing and pace were great!! The romance was sweet and steamy! The mystery was infalliable with soo many twists! The authors writing style was beautiful. I was blown away by how perfect the book seemed, especially considering it was self published! Other self pubished books ive read had errors or were very short. This book didnt have any of those problems!! Its def ready for prime time! I honestly think its ranked in the top books ive read this year!!

What I Liked: My favorite part of the book, beside the scorching hot Ethan, was the last chapter. The last chapter is very visual and it is there that you learn the meaning behind the title and the cover! Its so vivid i felt like i was part of the story. The last chapter also introduces a new mystery to be explored more in book 2. The ending left enough open to make for a great sequal but tied up enough that you feel satistfied. I love the ending...although i continue to think about Nara and Ethan. I miss their story! (Fyi: a short story and a print copy will be coming out in November, then book 2 sometime after that)

What I Didn't Like: Honestly, the only thing i didnt like was the format...Ive come to depise kindle!!! Its soo slow and laggy on my android...maybe my phone is too slow..but i almost screamed with the sluggishness!! It was very distracting when i was reading...i much prefer the moon reader ebook app!! I will have to remember this!! As for the story or reading i didnt find anything to dislike!!

My Favorite Quote: "Knowing what was coming-even if i didnt like it- was better than not knowing what would happen if i changed something."



Amazon | Shelfari | Goodreads

The Fast Five: Interview with P.T. Michelle

1. How did you pick the names for your charcters?
I initially chose Nara's name when I heard the name Inara on a TV show (shout out to Firefly!). When I started researching the meaning behind Inara, I was so excited because the description of "illuminating or ray-of-light" fit perfectly into the theme of my book "lightness vs darkness". Ethan's name means "solid and enduring" and that's also a perfect name for his character, because he's already been through a lot in book one and will have to face even more trials in book two.

2. I love quotes!! What would you say is your favorite Quote(s) from the book?
Here are a few quotes from Brightest Kind of Darkness...

Ethan had this knack for leaving me breathless and teetering. Like a chair tilted on two legs, I was never sure if I was going to topple over or land on solid ground.

Ethan clasped my wrist and pulled me into his arms, holding me close. “I’ll always be here for you.”

Ethan leaned close and I closed my eyes as he lightly kissed my cheekbone, then my forehead. He had no idea that his gentle kiss had melted something inside me, how much I craved the physical connection.


3. If you could summarize your book in one sentence, how would that sentence go?
Brightest Kind of Darkness is about a girl with the ability to see the future, but when that power fails her, will the boy who seems to know her better than anyone be able to save her?

4. What can we expect from book 2?
Book two takes Nara and Ethan even deeper into uncovering who and what he is. At the same time, Nara will have to make some difficult decisions about her own heritage and the responsibility her powers bring her. There will be more mystery, new dangers, surprising discoveries and of course the stakes will be raised for Ethan and Nara. Can their romance survive it?

5. Since this series tackles dreams and seeing the future, what other ya theme would you like to explore in your writing (ie fairies, vampires, contempory topics etc)?
I'd like to write a story that incorporates magical realism or maybe an alternate reality. I think I'll always have some sort of paranormal element or unique twist in my books. I just can't seem to stay away from it.

More about the Author

P.T. Michelle is the young adult pseudonym of Patrice Michelle, author of fifteen romance novels and novellas. When P.T. isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature.

P.T. loves to hear from readers. If want to share your thoughts on her books, click on the contact link above and send her an email.

She’s currently hard at work on the next book in the series.

Her Blog | Her Twitter | Her Facebook

The Giveaway

<center><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0058J4KSQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=margasbooks-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0058J4KSQ" title="Click to Order"><img src="http://margaretskipper.webs.com/widgetdarkness.gif" width="90%" border="0" alt="Click to Order" /></a></center>

Wheee after all that scrolling... FINALLY the giveaway!! Ok, so the giveaway is for THREE (3) winners. Each will win the Ebook (amazon kindle version) of The Brightest Kind of Darkness!! (**If you dont have an actual Kindle device, you can read it on any iphone or android using the free app -OR- you can try the new cloud reader, where it just shows up in the internet browser! Check out the Amazon Kindle Help page for more info on reading Kindle books.**)

To Enter, all you have to do is add the widget to your blog. If you don't have a blog or webspace, you can also add a link back to this post on either twitter or fb (once a day, with a max of 7 total).

Each person can get up to 15 entires (1 for widget posting, 7 for twitter, and 7 for fb) although only one is required to have a chance to win. For each entry, please make a separate comment below with a direct link and your email or a way to contact you. At the end of the contest (Tuesday, Oct. 11th at midnight), I will randomly pick 3 winners out of the comments using random.org. This is open to anyone who is able to receive and view kindle books!



**GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE**

Did i forget something or do you have a question? Just use the "contact me" button on the bottom bar or leave a comment! Thanks!

Title: The Brightest Kind of Darkness
Author: P.T. Michelle
Series Info: Book 1 of The brightest Kind of Darkness
Theme: Darkness vs. Lightness, Dreams, Fate
Rating: 5 hearts

Summary: Nara has an unusual gift. She came see her entire next day in her dreams. While she tries not to interfere, one day when she dreams of a bombing in her school she cant stay quiet... but soon her life starts getting chaotic. She meets a new gut at school Ethan who seems to be able to balance her..but suspcious, dangerous things start to happen and she cant tell whos behind them!

My Overall Thoughts: Excellent!! The action started from the very first page!! The timing and pace were great!! The romance was sweet and steamy! The mystery was infalliable with soo many twists! The authors writing style was beautiful. I was blown away by how perfect the book seemed, especially considering it was self published! Other self pubished books ive read had errors or were very short. This book didnt have any of those problems!! Its def ready for prime time! I honestly think its ranked in the top books ive read this year!!

What I Liked: My favorite part of the book, beside the scorching hot Ethan, was the last chapter. The last chapter is very visual and it is there that you learn the meaning behind the title and the cover! Its so vivid i felt like i was part of the story. The last chapter also introduces a new mystery to be explored more in book 2. The ending left enough open to make for a great sequal but tied up enough that you feel satistfied. I love the ending...although i continue to think about Nara and Ethan. I miss their story! (Fyi: a short story and a print copy will be coming out in November, then book 2 sometime after that)

What I Didn't Like: Honestly, the only thing i didnt like was the format...Ive come to depise kindle!!! Its soo slow and laggy on my android...maybe my phone is too slow..but i almost screamed with the sluggishness!! It was very distracting when i was reading...i much prefer the moon reader ebook app!! I will have to remember this!! As for the story or reading i didnt find anything to dislike!!

My Favorite Quote: "Knowing what was coming-even if i didnt like it- was better than not knowing what would happen if i changed something."




Amazon | Shelfari | Goodreads

While i know that everyone has already reviewed Twilight in like...2007.. Im sort of just getting to it! :)

5 Hearts

--SIDENOTE: Ive been out of town for a while (meaning all summer) so i havent really had time to blog at all...that an the fact that i have NO internet sort of renders my blog as a desert wasteland...sort of like my life.. (lol joking..that was too funny not to say :P) But anyway, i found the COOLEST app on my android phone for composing text and it has export! Wow imagine that...my blog just might survive after all....maybe my life will turn around....just maybe! :P (Dear lord, please help me remember my blogger password!) Also, blogger for android only allows pictures that sort of float above the text...no textwrap or anything... :( So i made easy templates for my reviews. --

Ok, so for Twilight! What else can i say beyond i loved it. When i say love i mean true love for the literature. I am aware the Kstew is amazing to alot of people and the Rpattz is sexy (as hel*) to most people, but my love is for the story without consideration to the actors! (Although i struggle with some rob-obsession)

Before twilight was a movie, i loved it!! As soon as i saw it at walmart (the only place i bought books back then) i bought it and read it the same night. Maybe it helped that i lived in phoenix and was about to louisiana the "most humid place in the continental US" as Edward where say (with a crooked grin)! It was probably the cover too....i love me some apples! (Although Mango is my friut of choice at current, just opened a mango debit acct)

Before twilight, i didnt read. Well obvious i read but not fiction works and never for pleasure. I guess the pleasure of reading about Edward ruin me because now i read alot!! I get annoyed when i cant and supered annoyed when bothered while reading. I suppose twilight was a hook that caught a lonely little fish that was me. _verysince then its been an everylasting reeling motion towards shore...gosh i hope i never get there!

I dont think i need to explain what Twilight is about or what happens in it.... "She falls in love with a mysterious strange who turns out to be a vampire" pretty much sums up the story line. The pacing is sort of slow as far as Bella always cooking or doing chores, but i think that builds a stronger bond to the character for me. The writing is beautiful and funny at times. The characters are realistic and interesting. As far as twilight "book 1" i dont have any dislikes! (i have issues with the others.)

I think readers in general either hate or love twilight... both sides have huge backing. I cant say for sure but i guess the movie or something might have something to do with it. Or issues with stephanie. I can defiately see those issues. But i think twilight is perfect for what it is: an imaginary story with real emotions. Thats the only way i can look at it.

What do you think? Id love to hear you comments! Thanks so much for coming by!