Sheila’s Reviews – Page 16 – LDS Women's Book Review

Star Cursed by Ashley Lavering

Posted by Sheila Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Apr 122013

Product Description

Title: Star Cursed (Curse of the Beast book 2)

Author: Ashley Lavering

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance/ Beauty and the Beast Retelling

Paperback: 276 pages

Publisher: Silvermist Publishing LLC (February 19, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0985570334

ISBN-13: 978-0985570330

Tour Host: Lady Amber’s Tours

FTC FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by : Sheila

Book Description:
Seventeen-year-old Tayla will never forget Beast’s fiery-venom spreading through her body like an infection. Now, with her best friend Chel’s help, she must find a human true love before the last petal falls from her enchanted rose or the full moon will transform her into a wolf forever.

But Tayla never expected that her biggest obstacle would come from inside—a wolf presence threatening to take her very soul. At every turn, the she-wolf exploits Tayla’s weaknesses and gains enough control to sabotage her dates. Tayla struggles to control her unruly wolf and her forbidden attraction to Beast. But can she resist his southern charm, the she-wolf’s attraction to his alluring scent, and still fall in love with a human?

Tangled in a web of wills, Tayla must risk everything to break the Curse of the Beast. With failure and possible death looming overhead, Tayla will do anything to find true love. But will one moon cycle be long enough to conquer her wolf and remain human? Or will she become a permanent member of Beast’s pack? Find out in the second installment in the Curse of the Beast series.

Excerpt From Star Cursed

Brayden held the door open for me as I climbed out of the car. I tried not to cringe seeing the movie house again, but I couldn’t stop my lips from pulling into a hard line. My wolf felt my unease and paced in my mind, adding to my nerves. I knew Brayden was different from Kyle. There was no comparison, but that night still haunted me, and seeing the place where Kyle had assaulted me left me a bit unnerved.

“Are you okay?” Brayden’s hand rested lightly on my lower back.

“Umm.” I shook the bad memories and turned a smile on him. “Yeah. Sorry. It’s been awhile since I was here last.” Like months. He looked confused, so I lied, “It just looks different. That’s all. Why don’t we get our tickets?”

“All right.” He still looked unconvinced, but let it go.

We arrived at the ticket booth and both spoke at the same time, “Two for Lights and Brimfire.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” I looked off to the side of him. “I just thought, that well, since I asked you and all…”

He chuckled. “Tayla, it’s okay.” I looked up at him and the smile on his face tugged mine back into place. He continued, “And I always pay, even if the girl asked me.” He winked at me and my knees wobbled from the fuzzy warmth creeping into my stomach. A rumble of agitation pushed through from my wolf, but it only gave me more confidence that this guy was it.

We picked the seats right in the very middle. To me they were the best seats in the house. I wasn’t sure about the movie. It was some war movie. I felt bad that Beast had to be subjected to it. At least he hadn’t had to run here. He had insisted on drive his own truck.

I felt Beast slink in behind us. He was a few rows up, wearing his trademark black trench coat and kept his head low. As people filled into the theater, they gave him a wide berth. I didn’t blame them. Honestly, he looked like the grim reaper or something.

The lights dimmed in the theater and the previews started. I offered Brayden a licorice. He smiled, and my heart stuttered. Even in the dark, his smile lit the world.

“Thanks for coming,” I whispered.

“No problem.” He grabbed another licorice. “Thanks for the invite.”

“Hey.” I shouldered him. “That’s my licorice,” I teased.

He shoulder knocked me back. “Then you shouldn’t have given me the first one. Now I’ll eat the whole bag.”

I made a great show of hiding them in my jacket and we both chuckled. He was easy that way. I didn’t feel like I had to be someone else. Not like with Kyle.

Why am I thinking of him?

I mentally scolded myself and relaxed back in my chair, leaning close to Brayden. He didn’t scoot away and hope warmed my chest. I was careful to only breathe through my mouth and had practiced clamping down on my wolf senses, not wanting a repeat of the gym scene. The heat of his arm against mine was comforting, and the way he periodically gave me sideways glances made my heart flutter.

The movie started but I was too focused on Brayden to watch. That was until the battle scenes demanded my attention. My wolf was riveted to the carnage on the screen and, to my horror, was licking her lips. I almost dry heaved right then. I shrunk from the movie and from her. I covered my eyes with my hands, praying it would stop her blood lust and my rolling stomach. I’m sure I whimpered or something equally as embarrassing, because Brayden lifted the armrest and pulled me close. I snuggled into his chest.

“We can leave,” he whispered, tickling my ear.

“I don’t want you to miss your movie,” I responded, trying not to breathe as I was happily surrounded by his strong arms.

He squeezed me close. “All right.”

My nose pressed up against his shoulder, a potential happy place for me if it wasn’t for my wolf. I was too close and could taste the tang of animal blood on my tongue. I quickly closed my mouth. When I was forced to breathe, the smell of farm animals was strong, but not as strong as the metallic smell of blood. It all reminded me of the first time I met him.

The smell overwhelmed my senses and I felt my control slip. I closed my eyes, focusing on restraining the wolf struggling against her cage. She wasn’t going to ruin this for me. I refused to pull away, but the thought of dead animals was too disturbing, and the smell was stronger than that day in the gym. My mind wandered from its task. Had he killed an animal today? But the horror that should have washed over me was replaced with a heady need. I breathed deeply and pressed my body closer, quickly losing control. The smell was delightfully tantalizing and my stomach grumbled, transporting me to a childhood memory of Aunt Lily’s jello cake.

My mouth watered, as I pictured the cake. It smelled so real that I could almost taste it. I opened my mouth and skimmed the cake with my lips, biting down softly. My teeth met more resistance than I was expecting. I was about to bite down harder when large fingers slid between my teeth preventing me from my dessert. I growled and threw my head back, only to have Beast’s strong arms capture me in a vice grip around my torso.

“What the—?”

Brayden’s voice snapped me out of my delusion of a childhood dessert. My eyes flew open and I took in his disgusted expression as he rubbed his neck. His hand came away wet with my saliva. His gaze darted to his left shoulder where his shirt was several shades darker, thanks to my drool. Horror washed through me, but before I could utter a word of apology, Beast tugged me out of my seat and hauled me out of the theater. I could still hear Chel and Brayden.

“Oh,” Chel said. “Eww. I’m so sorry. Maybe her blood sugar was low.”

“What?” Brayden’s disbelieving voice sliced me. How would he love me now?

“You know people do all sorts of weird stuff when their blood sugar is low,” Chel explained.

“Oh, like biting me?”

I could imagine his eyes narrowing in anger.

“Umm,” Chel hesitated, obviously surprised I had actually bit him. “Was it just a nip? I don’t see any broken skin.”

That news sent a trickle of relief over me. At least, I hadn’t drawn blood.

“That isn’t the point. She bit and slobbered all over me. My animals don’t even get me this bad!” he hissed back. His voice sounded like he had stood and was walking out of the theater as well. Chel didn’t respond. I’m sure she was trying to process the whole thing.

“And who was that guy?” Brayden asked.

“Oh, just a friend.”

“She has some stalker friend to pull her from dates when she starts biting them?”

“No.” She giggled nervously. “I guess you smell so good she just wanted a taste.”

I cringed, mortified even more than I already was. Way to go, Chel, now I really want to hide. The night air hit my face as we exited the theater house. Beast strode a few yards more before depositing me against the wall, where I slumped down to the ground and hugged my knees.

Almost too low for me to hear, Chel’s date, Dalyn, responded, “You can take a taste of me anytime you like, Chel.”

“You’re all nuts,” Brayden said.

“Wait, I’ll drive you home,” Chel called after him, her voice getting louder as they neared.

“Don’t bother. I’m safer walking.” He pushed open the door. Our eyes met for a moment before he stormed off.

I hung my head. “Oh, Beast,” I whispered. “What have I done?”

To my surprise, he chuckled. “So you nipped him?” He shrugged his shoulders but the mirth was still there.

I glowered at him. “Then why did you swoop down and carry me off if you didn’t think it was a big deal?”

“The nip wasn’t what I was worried about, but the real bite you were going to give him next would’ve drawn blood, and then it was unlikely you’d be able to stop.” His lips hitched upward. “That would have really made your wolf crazy.”

“That meddlesome she-devil!” I ground out between my teeth. “She ruins everything.”

“If you’d learned to control her better, you would’ve smelled the animals on him and stayed far away from him in the first place.” His eyes twinkled as if laughing at an inside joke.

Before I could retort, Chel came out of the doors, her date trailing behind her. “Dalyn, will you start the car for me and bring it around?” She tossed him her keys before he responded.

“Sure.” He eyed me with a mischievous glint. I felt Beast vibrate with an inaudible growl. I agreed. Dalyn’s look sent chills up my spine, like he was assessing a hooker or something. Yuck! I was definitely telling Chel to stay away from that one.

With Dalyn in the SUV and out of hearing, Chel demanded answers. “What just happened?”

I scowled at my knees. “He must’ve slaughtered a cow or something yesterday because his stench was so much stronger today, and my wolf got the better of me.”

“But you bit him?”

“It’s her! I would never do that. Eww. He must think I’m a freak.” I groaned, placing my head in my hands. “He was so perfect, too.”

Chel patted my shoulder, but it wasn’t soothing; nothing was, with this wolf in my head.

“You know what the worst part is?” I ask, looking up to see Chel raise her eyebrow. “She tricked me. She used my memory of Aunt Lily’s jello cake to convince me to bite him. I didn’t even know she could do that!”

“Jello?” Chel asked.

Beast cleared his voice.

“What?” I demanded.

“That isn’t exactly true,” he said. I lifted a disbelieving eyebrow at him. “Just hear me out. The smell, it was delicious to you?”

“Only after she tricked me into thinking it was cake. If I had consciously thought of it as blood, animal, whatever, I never…” I couldn’t say the rest.

“That is where you are wrong.” Beast paused until I looked up at him. “To your wolf, animal scent and blood are delicious, and so the best way you could understand those feelings was to relate it to cake.” His voice lost its teacher tone when he got to the last word and turned more playful. “It must’ve been some delectable cake. Maybe my blood lust would curb a bit if you made it for me.” He winked.

“Shut up.” I smacked him in the leg, but couldn’t resist the smile that spread across my lips. I had my wolfish friend back and was determined to side-step as many rift-creating topics as possible.

Chel bit her bottom lip. “I’m not sure I can fix this, Tay. A little drool I could explain away, but…”

My frown was back. I’d lost Brayden. “Thanks for trying. I guess we should stay away from cowboys.” I gave Chel a rueful grin.

Chel puffed out air and rubbed her temples. “Friday night is a cancel then.”

“Oh?” Why did things always go to crap?

“Yeah, one of Brayden’s roping buddies. But after he hears Brayden’s story, he’ll be canceling before I get a chance to do it.” She gave my shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll find a replacement.”

“Ah!” I buried my face in my hands. “Why did she have to bite him? Stupid wolf.” She growled at me and nipped at my mind, causing a throbbing headache.

Beast crouched down to my level and tucked a finger under my chin. His touch held soothing warmth, but I fought it. I deserved to feel the crushing weight of my actions. The pressure on my chin increased until I could no longer resist his strength. My face tilted up to him, but I refused to look him in the eyes. At least, in that I still had the power to defy.

“Stupid is the last word I’d use to describe you.” As if by its own accord, my gaze lifted and was met by the warmth coming from his eyes. His thumb grazed my jaw, and both my wolf and I trembled ever so slightly. He noticed my reaction, and his eyes lit with mischief. “And if he had been a werewolf, I guarantee you would’ve gotten a different response.”

I couldn’t breathe. What he implied was too direct to misinterpret. A horn blasted, and I jerked, breaking the spell. Beast lifted his head to look at Dalyn, giving me the needed release to breathe.

My Review

Star Cursed is the sequel to Curse of the Beast by Ashley Lavering. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I would suggest doing that first. It could be read alone, but why do that to yourself. Having the background story will make the second book a much more enjoyable read. Tayla is back with more troubles than before. She not only has her old boyfriend to deal with but also The Beast. This book has it’s share of great romance and super angst. Can I just tell you how much I love The Beast? My heart breaks for him as he tries to do the right thing for Tayla. He loves her so much, but knows that she would be better off and having the curse broken.

You will love this retelling of Beauty and the Beast with a werewolf twist. I can promise you that you will be sitting on the edge until book three is in your hand.

Available as E-book: Kindle, Nook, Smashwords; and paperback: Amazon

Add to your Good Reads shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16155124-star-cursed

Author Bio:

A nomad at heart, I currently claim Nevada as my home. I have a wonderful husband and two young children that put up with my “writing time.” When she’s not pondering a spell that will magically calm the ferocious winds that plague the air around her, you can find her, with notepad in hand, frantically jotting down ideas in those short moments between caring for her girls and working full time at the Elko Institute for Academic Achievement.

Art and science have always been my yin and yang. Throughout my college career, I shifted between the two, but in the end I graduated with a Bachelors of Mathematics and Science from the University of Wyoming.

Charging into adventures and discovering something new has always been a passion of mine, but as a teenager I used to run screaming from a reading or writing assignment. Looking back, the irony isn’t lost on me. Now you can’t catch me without a book in hand or without an open word document. Every time a new idea pops into my mind my heart races and my hand twitch to write it. In that moment, I have my writer’s high and pray it will sustain me through thousands of hours of revision.

Ashley’s Links:

Amazon Author Page link: www.amazon.com/author/ashleylavering

Amazon Links for Ashley’s books:

Curse of the Beast http://www.amazon.com/Curse-of-the-Beast-ebook/dp/B007YVYJUK/ref=la_B007ZXQR0C_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341002105&sr=1-1

Star Cursed (Curse of the Beast bk 2) http://www.amazon.com/Star-Cursed-Curse-Beast-ebook/dp/B00BBRPS4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361602307&sr=8-1&keywords=ashley+lavering

Facebook Page link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Curse-of-the-Beast/162476580509579

Facebook Profile link: http://www.facebook.com/ashley.laveringauthor

Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/AshleyLavering

Website/Blog Link: Creative Thoughts: http://www.ashleylavering.blogspot.com/

Goodreads Book link, for each book:

Curse of the Beast: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13479898-curse-of-the-beast

Star Cursed (Curse of the Beast bk 2): http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16155124-star-cursed

Goodreads Author Page link: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5750992.Ashley_Lavering

Cragbridge Hall: The Inventor’s Secret by Chad Morris — Combined Review

Posted by Mindy Book Reviews, Combined Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Mar 202013

Cragbridge Hall: The Inventor’s Secret

Author: Chad Morris

Publisher: Shadow Mountain

Published: March 5th, 2013

ISBN: 978-1-60907-326-8

Hardcover: 326 pages

FTC FYI: Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy and Sheila

Backcover Summary

Imagine a school in the year 2074 where students don’t read history, but watch it happen around them; where running in gym class isn’t around a track, but up a virtual mountain; and where learning about animals means becoming one through an avatar.

Welcome to Cragbridge Hall, the most advanced and prestigious school in the world. Twin siblings Abby and Derick Cragbridge are excited as new students to use their famed grandfather’s inventions that make Cragbridge Hall so incredible. But when their grandfather and parents go missing, the twins begin following a trail of clues left by their grandfather. They must find out where their family is, learn who they can trust, and discover what secrets are hidden within Cragbridge Hall.

Abby and Derick soon realize they are caught in a race with a fierce adversary to discover their grandfather’s greatest secret–a dangerous discovery that could alter both history and reality.

Mindy’s Review

5 out of 5 stars. Oh my goodness, where do I start? I loved everything about this book. Cragbridge Hall: The Inventor’s Secret is one of the biggest reasons I love reading and reviewing middle grade. It is one of my favorite reads of the year so far. Everything about this book is so exciting and fun. It is a non-stop thrill ride. You will not be able to stop reading until you are finished. My favorite thing about The Inventor’s Secret was The Bridge. To be able to see events from history unfold before your eyes, but be amazing. There is another great message in this book about facing your fears, and being brave. Abby is faced with many obstacles when she arrives at school. She already feels that she shouldn’t be there. She feels out of place for not being magnificent at something, like her super genius brother Derick. Her grandpa gives her some advice before school starts.

Grandpa slammed the bottom of his cane onto the floor. “Abigail Cragbridge, you are just as good as, if not better tan, every other student in that academy. When they said “no”, I had to prevent them from making a terrible mistake. you’ll be one of the best things that every happened to that place.”

“You don’t have to–”

“I’m completely serious,” Grandpa interrupted. He grabbed Abby’s face by the chin. “You have heart, Abby.” page 7

Abby learns right away that she is not “welcome” because she only got in to Cragbridge because her grandfather made it so. She finds a friend, Carol, who accepts her for who she is. By the way, Carol ends up being one of my favorite characters. This book has humor, heart, and is tons of fun. I recommend it anyone who loves a great adventure.

Sheila’s Review

Cragbridge Hall Book 1: The Inventor’s Secret is about a school for intelligent kids in the year 2074. Here they don’t just read about history, they live it! There are so many things in this book that made me wish I could teach at a school like this. They truly make learning fun by being able to virtually experience their lessons.

Our twin protagonists, Abby and Derick, are excited to go Cragbridge Hall, because this is their inventor, Grandfather’s school. There is an adventure around every corner. Soon the fun turns into a race against the clock, as they have to discover their grandfather’s hidden secrets. These secrets could save the lives of their parents and grandfather who have been kidnapped by a very dangerous enemy.The coolest thing in the book is “The Bridge”. This is what enables someone to experience history firsthand, and even to ultimately travel in time! I have a particular love for time travel books.

Even though this book is written for a middle grade audience, it doesn’t feel like it when you read it. Every age can read and love this book! Though there are great lessons for the reader in this book, they are not preachy or too blatant. I can’t wait to get back on track so I can read it out-loud to my 2nd grade class. I know that they will LOVE it! My own kids are vying to see who can grab it first when I’m done writing this review. This book will someday make a very awesome movie! I predict…yes I’m looking into the future…that this series will become very popular and will find it’s own place in literary history.

Author Links

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Publisher / Blog

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Blog Tour Reviews of, Aura, by Rebecca Talley

Posted by Sheila Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Mar 152013

Product Details

Title: Aura
Author: Rebecca Lynn Talley
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (December 4, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1481002449
ISBN-13: 978-1481002448
FTC FYI: We were given review e-copies in exchange for honest reviews.
Reviewed By: Sheila and Mindy

Book Description:

“I half-turned to her and shrugged, still processing what I’d seen, or at least what I thought I’d seen, in Ms. Neal’s eyes—like they weren’t hers. Obviously, they were her eyes, but it looked like she’d plucked them from someone else’s head. A dead someone else’s head.”

In the fight between good and evil, Light is your only weapon.

Crystal Scott finally feels like a normal teenager. She has a lead in the high school play, a best friend, and a gorgeous boyfriend. With prom only a few days away, Crystal’s ordinary life seems perfect.

Endowed with great Light because of her virtuous choices and her inherent gifts, Crystal’s aura has become visible to those with the ability to see auras. Unfortunately, her power has also attracted the attention of demons intent on destroying all Light.

When Vincent Crandall, the human host for a powerful demon, discovers that Crystal’s Light is strong enough to disrupt the connection between demons and their hosts, he realizes she may be able to sever the connection altogether. Determined to stop her from interfering with his plans to rule the world, he sends operatives to neutralize her Light.

After the operatives fail to disable Crystal, Vincent decides he must harness her power for himself. He kidnaps her parents, and Crystal is thrust into battle against a demon army she didn’t even know existed. With the help of a mysterious young man and his mother, Crystal must learn to use the power within her before Vincent kills her parents and exploits her Light.

Excerpt From Aura…

“Looks like we’re right on schedule for the summit meeting with the other divisions.” Vincent smiled as he continued. “I’m sure you’ve heard that upper management is considering combining the southwestern and western divisions and I’m in line to head the merger. Of course, I plan to make the western division a strong competitor for our eastern comrades. The east coast currently out sells and out performs us, but I plan to change that.”

“Sir, we do have a problem,” Jack said. “In Colorado. Silver City.”

Vincent glared at Jack. He didn’t like being interrupted especially with news of a problem. Vincent was set to take over the western half of the United States, something he’d been working toward since he started with the organization right out of college. “What kind of problem?”

“There’s this . . .” His sentence trailed off.

“What, Jack? There’s this, what?” He emphasized the last word.

“Disturbance.”

He pursed his lips and then said, “What does that mean?”

Chris, a man in his early thirties with cropped black hair, cut in, “A very recent associate in Silver City has reported a disruption of control over the host.”

“Then take care of it.” Vincent had no time for this, not with the summit meeting looming. He ran his fingers through his thick hair attempting to settle his bubbling anger. His powers of persuasion were far more successful when he was calm.

Jack leaned forward, making his chair creak. “Apparently, a teenage girl there can interrupt the connection in our newer, and possibly weaker, associates.”

“Preposterous.” Vincent blew out a breath. Was he working with morons? A teenage girl? Absurd.

“If she has enough Light to sever the connection between our associates and their hosts—”

“Yes, yes, I know. You don’t have to explain it to me, Jack.” Losing associates, and thus control, in any city reflected poorly on the organization, and on him. Vincent couldn’t have that.

“What should we do?” Chris asked.

Vincent closed his eyes for a moment, considering his options. He drew a deep breath and gazed at Priscilla, head of associate training. “Neutralize the girl.”

Sheila’s Review:

I’m a big fan of Rebecca’s writing. This is her first offering in the YA paranormal genre. What did I think of Aura? It was a success! It had so many things I’m looking for when I’m selecting something for my teen daughter to read. It had a strong protagonist, who also has very strong morals and values. It showed a teen faced with making important decisions in her life and choosing between good or evil.

Crystal finds out that she is so much more than the average teen. Because of the many good choices she has made in her life, she is filled with a great light within her. Her aura can be seen by those who can detect aura’s…those that are good and evil. The problem is, Crystal’s light is so strong that she can destroy demons and their evil. So they come after her and the action begins. Not only is this a great story of morals, but also a story of action and suspense. I really liked the way it ended, and leads perfectly into a second book. Crystal is a character that I really like, and can’t wait to see how her powers grow in the next installment. This book will be enjoyed by tween, teens and adult readers.

Mindy’s Review

I really enjoyed Aura. I thought Crystal was an amazing character who stands up for herself no matter what the cost. There was one part towards the end I thought was a little too “trusting” on her part. But, all in all, there was some great action and suspense. Crystal is a great example to teen-age girls everywhere. In real life, they won’t have demons chasing after them, but it’s a great example of standing up for what you believe in, and letting your Light shine.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Rebecca’s Top Ten Ideas for Making Time to Write

1. Work through scenes or plot snags in your head while doing errands, washing dishes, or taking a shower

2. Make a list of all that you need to do each day and schedule a time for writing

3. Get up early (before the family does or the workday begins)

4, Stay up late (after the family is in bed)

5. Take along a laptop and write while at the dentist’s office or waiting for kids to finish activities or during your lunch break

6. Use the 15-30 minutes while dinner’s cooking to write down ideas or a scene

7. Give up TV

8. Give up other hobbies like knitting, sewing, playing the piano and use that time to write

9. Plan what you want to write so you can make the most use of even a few minutes here and there

10. Write instead of eating–ha ha, just kidding. Use a recording device to talk through a scene while folding clothes then go back and transcribe it later

Goodreads * Amazon

Author: Rebecca Lynn Talley

Rebecca Lynn Talley grew up in the gorgeous seaside city of Santa Barbara, CA. She met, and married, her husband, Del, while attending Brigham Young University. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Communications. She currently lives in rural Colorado on a small ranch with a dog, too many cats to count, and a herd of goats. She and Del are the proud parents of ten wildly-creative, multi-talented children.

Rebecca is the author of a children’s picture book, Grasshopper Pie (WindRiver 2003), a children’s chapter book, Gabby’s Secret (DuBon Publishing 2011), four novels, Heaven Scent (CFI 2008), Altared Plans (CFI 2009), The Upside of Down (CFI 2011), and Aura (DuBon Publishing 2012). She has also authored numerous children’s stories and articles for both print and online magazines.

When she isn’t writing, Rebecca loves to date her husband, play with her kids, swim in the ocean, and dance to disco music while she cleans the house. She has folded at least one million loads of laundry, baked hundreds of batches of chocolate chip cookies, and eaten 5,478 gallons of ice cream.

Contact Rebecca, and find more information about her, here

at these locations.

Twitter * Facebook * Website * Blog * Aura Blog

Reviews

This YA urban fantasy is fantastic! The story grabbed me from the start and kept me enthralled until the end! I love books that keep me thinking about the characters and events and possibilities even after putting them down…Aura is one of those books! Rebecca Lynn Talley has created characters you care about in a world begging for the special gifts they possess. I love the premise of Aura and imagine I’ll be enjoying many more Light vs. Demon novels in the future….at least I hope there are more to come!
~KindleQueen

I loved the clasic good VS evil in Aura. I loved that Crystal made the conscious choice to be good inspite of feelings and doubts. I also loved the idea of demons posessing somone who had made dark choices, or greedy bargains. The book is clean and well handled inspite of the serious subject matter.Well done.
~C. Michelle Jefferies

This is one of those books that you hope will become widespread enough to make a positive impact in this world. Personally, I think this is a book every teenager should read and I will definitely be passing it along to my own kids. Thank you, Rebecca, for writing a beautiful story with a wonderful message! I hope you keep at it because now I want a sequel!
~Rachael Anderson

Aura sucked me in from the first page. The book is intense and well-written. I loved that Crystal is innocent and makes a conscious choice to stay that way in the face of intense pressure. I would recommend Aura to young adults on up.
~Cami Checketts

Wonderful, wonderful message. Probably the most solid moral message I’ve ever read in contemporary literature, but without being too heavy or feeling like a lecture. You could almost look at it like an allegory, I think, representing real life with fictional symbols. I’m trying to explain without giving anything away, and I think I’m doing a bad job. Anyway, I have four boys, but if I had a girl, I would definitely have her read it. The story is imaginative and creative, Crystal is a strong but believable heroine, caught up in high school cares and not realizing her own potential or the battle that is waged around and for her. I thought at times it was a bit predictable, and that the first half of the book drug a little. It probably could have been told quicker or perhaps made a little more interesting. But all in all, I enjoyed it. The story kept me going and the characters were sweet and compelling.
~May Abbey

Wow! I got this book for free and LOVED it! I can’t wait to read any follow up books! (There WILL be follow up books, right?) In this story Crystal is full of light, thanks to making good choices, and she has to figure out how to keep the light in the midst of high school where temptation runs rampant and where she just wants to be an average girl! I like that things never went too far, and I felt like it was very well-written, with rounded out characters!
~Tamera Westhoff

Review for, Within the Dark Hills, by Sian Ann Bessey

Posted by Sheila Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Mar 092013

Product Details

Title: Within The Dark Hills
Author: Sian Ann Bessey
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications Inc.; 1st edition (April 26, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 160861106X
ISBN-13: 978-1608611065
FTC:FYI: I was given a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description

Publication Date: April 26, 2012

Desperate to escape the unwanted advances of a cruel master, chambermaid Annie Morgan runs miles through stormy weather to find sanctuary at the home of Reverend and Mrs. Davies. Without family and tainted by scandal, she’s in dire need of a new identity and an occupation to match. Equally bleak is the future of Evan Powell, a miner who harbors dreams of escaping the black mines that are slowly killing him and finding refuge under the promised blue skies of America. But recently, the wife who Evan adored died, leaving the devoted father struggling to care for his young daughter, Jane. To benefit both Annie and Evan, the kindly reverend arranges a marriage of convenience, one that is quietly contracted in a hasty ceremony. An event that sparks pointed gossip among those in the small Welsh town and outright rejection from Evan’s family. Annie must tread carefully lest she let slip anything about her past, particularly when she learns that her former master has been afoot, inquiring about a missing maid. More importantly, she feels she must avoid any emotional entanglements with Evan, who remains devoted to his beloved deceased wife. But as Evan works with Annie to care for Jane, Evan knows their relationship is growing into something more and must face the torments of a divided heart. And in the midst of Mormon missionaries preaching a strange new religion, disaster strikes the town and Annie’s troubled history can no longer be hidden.

My Review:

I had a hard time getting into the book at first.The first almost 50 pages were dedicated to an accident in the mines. The author goes into a lot of detail about the mines, which had some interesting details. I was just thrown for a loop when the cover showed this beautiful, prim and proper lady, and the story I was reading didn’t go along with my expectations for the novel. Once I got over that, and got into the story more, I enjoyed the characters. Annie and Evan are both good people who had been dealt with many harsh cruelties in life. Even though the romance between them was predictable, it was sweet and worth reading about.

There is also action and a lot of drama in this novel. Life for nineteenth century underground coal miners was harsh for the workers and their families. The author did a great job of portraying what happened to these miners, and what daily work was like for them underground.

There is LDS religion brought into the story, as the missionaries come into the small mining village. This causes quite a stir within the village. But this didn’t turn into a huge conversion story, but does affect the main characters.

This story will truly be enjoyed by women and older teen girls who love historical fiction, some action, drama, along with a nice romance.

Within the Dark Hills has been nominated for a 2012 Whitney Award in the Historical Fiction category. It can be purchased HERE.

About the Author:

Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, and grew up on the island of Anglesey off the north coast of Wales. She left Wales to attend Brigham Young University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Traveling has given Sian a deep appreciation for a world full of diverse cultures. Through her writing, she introduces her readers to some of the places she has come to love, especially her Welsh homeland.

Sian is the author of several LDS novels and children’s books. She has also written articles for the New Era, Ensign, and Liahona magazines.

Blog Tour Review of, Stitch, by Samantha Durante

Posted by Sheila Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Feb 152013

Product Details:
Title: Stitch(Stitch Trilogy Book 1)
Author: Samantha Durante
Paperback: 322 pages
Publisher: Samantha Durante (July 31, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0985804602
ISBN-13: 978-0985804602
FTC: FYI: I was given a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa’s body screams at her to run… but yet she’s powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees – and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell – Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn’t figured out yet is that she’s not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university’s idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface…

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.

My Review:
I really loved this book! I really liked the aspect of how things shifted so much not even half way into the book! What you had assumed was happening, was really all a facade! This was such a clever premise! I also really liked the spunky main character, Alessa and her devoted sister Janie. This book is a fun read with a lot of action. It also is a great combination of paranormal and dystopian. This book/series is touted as being “twist-laden” and that’s exactly right! I can’t wait to see what is revealed in the next book. I think the most surprising thing about Stitch, is when you realize that this is the first book written by Samantha Durante! Congratulations to her for such a successful first book!

Excerpt From Stitch

Alessa held her hand up. “Just save it, Janie. My mind is made up, and nothing you say is going to change it. I’m going to warn Isaac, and I don’t care about the consequences. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try.”

Janie looked like she was about to argue, but she let it go. “Okay, fine. I have to go to the library now, but we can talk later. Just… don’t do anything rash,” she pleaded.

Alessa just gave Janie a stony glare. She could see the hurt on Janie’s face and felt a pang of remorse, but she just couldn’t seem to let the anger go.

Janie turned and left, closing the door cautiously behind her, and Alessa dropped into her desk chair. She was shaking with rage from head to toe.

Download the free sample chapters here!
Are you a fan of Stitch? Like the Stitch Facebook page and sign up on the Contact page to be notified when the sequel, Shudder, is available.

Looking for more Stitch Trilogy? Spinoff stories, character interviews, and more available here!

Amazon Prime members: Stitch is currently available to borrow for FREE from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library!

****Here is an interesting post from Samantha Durante about why she chose to write a Dystopian novel. Enjoy!

Why I Chose Dystopian: by Samantha Durante, author of Stitch

I’m so excited to be here and to share a little about why I chose to write Stitch – my very first book – in the dystopian genre.

There are literally HUNDREDS of book genres to choose from, but when I started coming up

with ideas for Stitch, there were only two that I knew right away Stitch might fall into: paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi. (And in fact, I wasn’t able to choose just one, so it’s actually a little bit of both!)

Dystopian stories have been incredibly popular lately, particularly in the young adult market (see: Hunger Games, Divergent, Pandemonium, etc.). And though I didn’t realize it until I discovered all these new dystopian series recently, I’ve always been drawn to dystopian settings – The Giver, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451 were some of my favorite books as a kid. So this begs the question of what exactly it is about dystopian books that’s got me and all these other readers so excited.

And after giving it some thought, I think it comes down to a few factors: uncertainty, morality, and hope.

1. Uncertainty. We’ve all seen the news reports the past couple years – between the economy, the environment, and the unending global violence, it’s pretty obvious: our world is on a downward spiral. At least, it certainly feels like that sometimes. And when you look into the future and it’s all of a sudden unclear where things are going, it gets you thinking: what if things actually got worse? Like, much worse? What would it be like? Am I prepared? Could I survive?

2. Morality. So the media has got us down on ourselves and wondering if our civilization can

even make it, and as soon as you open that can of worms, all kind of difficult questions present themselves. What would I do to survive? With limited resources, how do you decide who gets to survive? Who makes that decision? What happens if I don’t like the answers to these questions? How could I do things differently? But am I any more qualified to come up with answers than the next guy? We all know what’s right and wrong in the normal day-to-day but what happens when the world gets turned on its head? Do the rules change?

3. Hope. And I think this is really the crux of the whole dystopian genre – when the world ends, and everything is terrible, and you’re forced to do things you don’t even want to think about just to keep on living, what do you have left? Hope. Only hope.

I think this is a fundamental feature of human beings – that inner optimism, the ability to remind ourselves that there’s something out there worth living for even when our world crumbles beyond our wildest nightmares. So we start thinking about how we can solve the problem – how would I structure our society to make something better? What could I change that would create a better outcome? After all, every dystopia is just a failed utopia – someone’s unsuccessful attempt at making the world a better place. So dystopian books force us to ask ourselves what we would have done differently, and thereby tap into that inner well of hopefulness, that unbreakable conviction that somewhere there is a right answer, even if we haven’t figured it out yet.

For me, dystopian books are all about the “What If,” and that’s a game I love to play. So with the Stitch trilogy, we’ll get to play “What If” through (the protagonist) Alessa’s eyes – to see how she answers these questions, how far she’s willing to go, and what factors will push her to bend her own rules. And as we watch Alessa struggle to find her place in a transitioning society, we get to ask ourselves: what would I do?

Author Bio:

Samantha Durante lives in Westchester County, New York with her husband, Sudeep, and her cat, Gio. Formerly an engineer at Microsoft, Samantha left the world of software in 2010 to pursue her entrepreneurial dreams and a lifelong love of writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, Samantha is currently working full time for her company Medley Media Associates as a freelance business writer and communications consultant. Stitch is her first novel. Learn more about Samantha at www.samanthadurante.com.

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway for, Fractured Soul, by Rachel McClellan

Posted by Sheila Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Sheila's Reviews

Feb 012013

Product Details

Title: Fractured Soul
Author:Rachel McClellan
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc. (February 12, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1462111807
ISBN-13: 978-1462111800
FTC: FYI: I was given a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description

Publication Date: February 12, 2013

Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her newfound friends and home, but the dark plot that is threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!

My Review

This is the second book in the series. I was blown away by the first book. If you didn’t read the first book, here is a synopsis of what happened…

About Fractured Light

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

I loved Fractured Light, and I started reading Fractured Soul cautiously. You know about the “2nd book curse” in a series right? Many times they are never as good as the first book. Well…you are NOT going to find that to be the case with this book.It is just as good or better than the first book! Many reviewers rate books by stars,I rate my books by what I’m doing while I’m reading a book. If I’m having a hard time staying awake and can easily put a book down to go to sleep, well…you get the picture. With Fractured Soul…I didn’t EVER want to put this book down, even when I could hardly keep my eyes open. I also was jumping in my seat, and exclaiming things out-loud; such as, “I can’t believe she just did that!”, “Oh no!!”, and, “Run!!”. Yes, people have told me I’m very annoying while reading a book like this or very entertaining.

There are so many things I loved about this book! The action is so consistent and very little down time. Main character, Llona is still a beautiful, independent, kick-butt girl. There really isn’t a love triangle in this book. Llona loves one guy, but there are things keeping them apart. Once again there is a mystery in this second book that keeps you guessing until the end. Speaking of the end….explosive!! You can finally breathe at the very end of the book, because you will be holding your breath in tense excitement. This YA Paranormal thriller is a must read for teens and adults. Rachel has created a story that you will love reading from beginning to the end.

You have a chance to win a copy of Fractured Soul here at my blog, Why Not? Because I Said So! I’m so excited that the publisher is offering you a chance to win a copy! Also, because I have over 1000 followers, this is opened Internationally! You can enter in the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Author Bio

Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel’s love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…

Find Rachel

Buy Fractured Light

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Buy Fractured Soul

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Older Entries Newer Entries