Taste of Kiwi: Blog of Author Shelley Munro

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I’ve read a lot of young adult stories during the past six months, and snapped up a copy of The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau when it was offered at NetGalley.

Here’s my teaser:

No matter how hard I worked, I wasn’t good enough to be chosen for The Testing.

As I leave the stage and am given hugs of congratulations by my friends, I can only wonder, What will I do now?

page 15, The Testing

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies–trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

The Testing is due for release on 4 June 2013.

Download the free e-prequel for The Testing

Review:

When I started reading The Testing, I immediately drew mental comparisons between the Hunger Games trilogy and the Divergent series. There are many similarities. The Testing is a story about Cia, a graduating student who is on the cusp of change. She wants to receive a higher education, but must face The Testing and compete against other students to win a place at university.

I found the first chapter a little slow, but the pace and plot picked up, hauling me along for the ride. While some people might say this book is nothing different, I found the story entertaining and once past the slow start, read it in huge gulps.

Cia is an engaging character. She’s kind and doesn’t only think of herself. I enjoyed the growing closeness between her and Tomas. Their relationship wasn’t forced but grew organically out of the plot.

The ending was a bit abrupt and there were some plot strands that were not tied up at the conclusion. This is the first book in the series, and I expect I’ll learn more in the next instalment.

Anyone who enjoys dystopian stories will like this one. Certainly fans of Hunger Games and Divergent will enjoy Ms Charbonneau’s take on a dystopian plot. I enjoyed The Testing and will definitely look for book two in the series.

Storm Force

Omega Force #1

Susannah Sandlin

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Date of Publication: March 19, 2013, in serial form for Kindle; July 9, 2013, in print, digital, and audio.

ISBN: 978-1477807576

Word Count: approx. 90,000

Amazon

Book Description:

As leader of the elite counter-terrorism team Omega Force, former army ranger Jack “Kell” Kellison is always focused on getting the job done. So when a Houston high-rise is bombed and the governor killed or missing, Kell’s mission is clear: infiltrate the group suspected of the bombing and neutralize the threat by any means necessary. But once Kell meets beautiful chief suspect Mori Chastaine, he realizes there’s more to this case than meets the eye. And more to Mori than any man—any human man—could imagine.

Mori Chastaine is running out of options. Suspected for a crime she didn’t commit, forced into a marriage she doesn’t want, she sees no escape—until Kell walks through her door. A lifetime hiding her true nature warns her Kell might not be who he seems. But he could be the only one able to help save more innocent humans from becoming pawns in an ancient paranormal power play. If Mori reveals her secret, will Kell join her fight? Or will she become his next target?

Review – Storm Force by Susannah Sandlin

Storm Force is episode one of a serial.

A terrorist attack starts Kell and his paranormal team, Omega Force, on a new assignment. He’s new to the job and new to the reality of shifters inhabiting the world along with humans. The team members are feeling their way and gradually growing into a cohesive force. Mori Chastaine is part of an environmental action group who are suspected of the terrorist attack. Kell arrives to join the group and hopefully learn the truth from the inside. Meanwhile the FBI arrest Mori.

This first episode introduces us to a lot of characters, both human and paranormal, plus the aftermath of the terrorist attack. There’s a lot happening in a short time. The last chapter really shook things up, raising my curiosity. I ended the serial thinking, “What????” so the author did her job well. She’s made me ponder what happens next. How will Omega Force handle the situation? What happens to Mori, to Kell? I’m presuming that there might be a romantic connection between Mori and Kell, but so far it’s not hinted at. I’d definitely like to read the next episode.

This serial was provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.

About the Author:

Susannah Sandlin is the author of paranormal romance set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night. A journalist by day, Susannah grew up in Alabama reading the gothic novels of Susan Howatch and the horror fantasy of Stephen King. (Um…it is fantasy, right?) The combination of Howatch and King probably explains a lot. Currently a resident of Auburn, Alabama, Susannah has also lived in Illinois, Texas, California, and Louisiana.

Website: http://www.susannahsandlin.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susannahsandlin

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susannahsandlin

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5828129.Susannah_Sandlin

Indie Bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781612183541

New Episode Release Schedule for Storm Force

March 19–episode 1

March 26–episode 2

April 2–episode 3

April 9–episode 4

April 16–episode 5

April 23–episode 6

April 30–episode 7

May 7–episode 8

May 14–episode 9

The release date for the complete book is July 9.

Today I’m reviewing a vegetarian cook book.

Blurb:

Fifty scrumptious and savory soup recipes for any season

These time-tested, easy-to-manage recipes for soups of all flavors have one thing in common: loads of healthy vegetables. Whether you’re looking for a hearty supper or a light weekday lunch, Fix-It and Forget-It Vegetarian Soups offers delicious choices to make in your slow cooker or on your stovetop, such as:

Vegan Chili·      Corn Chowder·      Homemade Vegetable Soup·      Sweet Potato and Ginger Soup

And much more!

Review:

As the title suggests, this book contains a collection of vegetarian recipes for soups, stews and chilis. The recipes are from home cooks and most of them are perfect to cook in a crockpot/slow cooker.

What I liked about this book:

1. The recipes give an indication of preparation and cooking times.

2. The ingredients were all things I’d find in my fridge or pantry.

3. As a New Zealander I often find American recipes use measurements that I need to convert. This book is easy to follow with no maths required. Measurements used are cups and spoons.

4. The recipes were appealing. I’d be happy to try most of them, and they weren’t overly complicated.

5. They’re mostly recipes that can be made ahead and are perfect for busy cooks.

6. It’s a vegetarian cook book!

What I didn’t like about this book:

1. The title suggests that there are soups, stews and chilli recipes. While this is true, the majority of the recipes are for soup with only about four chilli recipes and one or two stews.

2. Not every recipe has a photo to go with it. I think that most cooks like a photo so that they can compare their final dish with the one in the recipe book. At least that’s what I do when I’m cooking. I like to think that my dish turns out just like the one in the book.

Conclusion:

This is a handy and inexpensive book to have in your cooking library. It would be a great gift for a busy parent or maybe a student who flats and doesn’t have much time to make nutritious dishes. It would also be excellent for a beginner cook since the instructions are clear and concise.

Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase Fix-It and Forget-it Vegetable Soups, Stews and Chilis

Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.

But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.

He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

This is a bonus novella and part of the Elemental series.

Breathless features Nick Merrick, twin to Gabriel. I can’t say much about this short novella without giving spoilers, but it sure packs a punch. Like many teens, Nick struggles with his identity and making his way in the world. It’s harder for Nick because, not only is he an Elemental but he has a twin plus family expectations weighing him down. He’d like to leave and go to an out of state college, but he’s worried about family reaction.

His girlfriend Quinn is also struggling with making her way. Her family situation is becoming worse and she is fighting to keep her head above emotional waters. Quinn’s way of coping is acting out in outrageous behaviour.

Enter Adam, a dancer, who is the impetus for change in both Nick and Quinn.

The author has skilfully woven emotions through every page, and I really want to learn what happens next. I love this series and this novella is a great addition. Highly recommended.

Received via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Available 30 April 2013

In this emotional and powerfully erotic tale of love and redemption, a tender vicar’s daughter and a tortured war hero discover that sin may be their only salvation.

When Mary Smith’s corrupt, debt-ridden brother drags her to a seedy pub to sell her virtue to the highest bidder, Alasdair Thornham leaps to the rescue. Of course the marquess is far from perfect husband material. Although he is exceedingly handsome, with a perfect, strong body, chiseled jaw, and piercing green eyes, Alasdair is also too fond of opium, preferring delirium to reality. Still, he has come to Mary’s aid, and now she intends to return the favor. She will show him that he is not evil, just troubled.

Review:

Alasdair Thornham is a good man, but he’s addicted to opium. He finds himself in a pub where an auction is taking place. Mary Smith’s brother is selling off his virginal sister in order to earn money to pay his debts. Alasdair realizes something is wrong with the woman, suspects the use of drugs, and decides to act. He buys her, and thus starts an adventure that changes both of their lives. At first Mary fights the situation, but Alasdair decides they should travel to Scotland and get married.

Both Mary and Alasdair are great characters. Alasdair, in particular, is interesting and not your typical hero. He’s addicted to drugs, and although he doesn’t care about himself, he tries to do the right thing for Mary and to protect her with his name. Once she is safe, he’s determined to complete his downward spiral into drugs and oblivion. Mary will be his last good deed. Meanwhile, Mary hopes to go to London to find her missing mother—she’s recently discovered her mother is still alive and that her parents weren’t married—then she intends to disappear and leave her husband to his insanity. Both main characters have solid goals and set about trying to make them happen. But the stakes change when they make love. Gradually, their feelings for each other shift, and it was wonderful to watch.

The secondary characters—Mary’s brother and Alasdair’s cousin—are both determined to stop the marriage. They’re both motivated by greed and money, and make suitable villains, forcing our hero and heroine to take action.

Hero of My Heart is an unusual historical because it takes place away from the social scene of London. The hero and heroine attempt to steal in order to get what they need, and suffer the consequences when things go wrong. I liked the unexpectedness of this story, and enjoyed the closure at the end. An unusual and satisfying read that takes the reader on an emotional journey while two people learn what they want isn’t exactly what they need. Recommended.

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hero of My Heart is out on 8 April 2013

Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Grave Intentions

First Book of the Grave Series

Lori Sjoberg

Genre: paranormal romance

Publisher: Kensington Publishing

ISBN: 9781601830067

ASIN: B009T9SCDA

Number of pages: Approx. 289

Word Count: 96,100

Amazon B&N

Book Description:

He’s handsome, reliable, and punctual-the perfect gentleman when you want him to be. But this dream man is Death’s best agent-and now he’s got more than his soul to lose . . .

One act of mercy before dying was all it took to turn soldier David Anderson into a reaper-an immortal who guides souls-of-untimely-death into the afterlife. But the closer he gets to atoning for his mortal sin and finally escaping merciless Fate, the more he feels his own humanity slipping away for good.

Until he encounters Sarah Griffith. This skeptical scientist can’t be influenced by his powers-even though she has an unsuspected talent for sensing the dead. And her honesty and irreverent sense of humor reignite his reason for living-and a passion he can’t afford to feel. Now Fate has summoned David to make a devastating last harvest. And he’ll break every hellishly-strict netherworld rule to save Sarah…and gamble on a choice even an immortal can’t win.

Review:

David Anderson is a reaper and one of Death’s more experienced agents. He’s been given the task of training a new reaper to collect souls.

Sarah Griffin lives in the same apartment building as David and is responsible for her grandmother, a psychic who lives in a home. Sarah doesn’t believe in things that go bump in the night or her grandmother’s visions. She works at Cava Technologies where she conducts trials and searches for cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s.

With my love of paranormal romance, I was pre-disposed to like this book and it dragged me in from the first line – Death never took a holiday.

I enjoyed the plot and the way the two main characters David and Sarah met and interacted and the obvious attraction between them, but it was the secondary characters who lifted this book and made it extra entertaining. There was the grim reaper rookie Adam and the big dog he rescues, Sarah’s grandmother and her horrid boss plus Samuel, the reaper’s boss, and the other reapers working the same area. This sounds like a lot of secondary characters but it all works beautifully.

On the whole the plot was entertaining and kept me reading, although it could really only end one way and remain a romance. In that sense it was predictable.

One thing I didn’t really understand was the reaping itself and how the sentences (the number of years) were decided. I got that it was blood spilled and lives taken but it seems to me that a soldier should get a bit of a pass unless they go mental and kill indiscriminately. I understand this is the start of a series and I hope this area will be explored a bit more in latter books.

Grave Intentions is a paranormal romance (not erotic) with a cast of strong characters and I enjoyed reading it very much. I look forward to further instalments.

This ebook was provided to me free of charge by Net Galley for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.

A Time for Everything

Ann Gimpel

Blurb:

Siobhan Macquire’s fortune has attracted a string of men who are out to drain her for everything they can get. Her last boyfriend was no exception. Furious at being used—again—she goes for a walk in the Highlands.

With the weather worsening, she wanders alone for hours. She’s soaking wet and starting to get scared when someone calls out to her. A striking-looking man emerges from the mist. Except there’s something wrong. His kilt is way too long and he talks with an archaic accent. Siobhan soon finds herself not only lost in the countryside but also in time.

Review:

Siobhan Macquire (or Sam as she’s usually known) comes from a wealthy family and men are always after her for her money. When her latest boyfriend entices her to pay for a trip to his Scottish home then deserts her, Sam is furious and heartbroken. She goes for a walk and manages to get lost in the Highlands. It’s wet and miserable and she’s relieved to come across a man. He’s dressed in a long kilt and plaid and at first takes her for a young boy. Sam thinks he’s a reenactor and is glad of the rescue, but wishes he and his friends weren’t taking the concept quite as far.

A Time For Everything is a short story about a woman who finds love in an unexpected place. The plot is fairly straightforward with no real surprises, but the ending did leave me with a happy sigh. The story is told from Sam’s point of view, communicating her frustration with both her life and her present condition well.

Angus, her Scottish Highlander, is the strong, silent type. He’s a bit of a mystery man, and I would have liked to know a little bit more about him. He speaks with a Scottish accent, yet his dialogue didn’t irritate me as sometimes happens with dialects.

If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining time-travel A Time For Everything will suit you well.

This book was given to me by the author and Bewitching Book Tours in return for an unbiased review.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~ Grab your current read

~ Open to a random page

~ Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

~ BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

~ Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I had the pleasure of reading Stellarnet Rebel by JL Hilton recently, and I’m currently reading the follow-up story Stellarnet Prince, which came out at Carina Press this week.

Here’s my teaser:

“When Tikat invaded my world, when they took away my family, I swore to the Great Ocean that I would devote my life to the freedom of the people,” said the Glin.

“Then go home!” yelled a colonist who looked like he hadn’t eaten or bathed in a long time. “I’m trying to sleep.”

page 69, Stellarnet Rebel

Welcome to Asteria, a corporate-owned, deep-space colony populated with refugees, criminals and obsessive online gamers. Genny O’Riordan has shifted in from Earth determined to find a story that will break her blog into the Stellarnet Top 100, and even better–expose the degradation of the colony’s denizens.

Duin is an alien–a Glin–a hero of a past revolution against the Glin royal family, yet branded a terrorist. Duin speaks every day in the Asteria market, hoping to spur humans to aid his home world, which has been overtaken by the evil, buglike Tikati.

When Genny and Duin meet, what begins with a blog post becomes a dangerous web of passion and politics as they struggle to survive not only a war but the darker side of humanity…

94,000 words

Purchase Stellarnet Rebel

REVIEW:

Blogger, Genny O’Riordan moves to Asteria to join her current boyfriend, to report on life in the colony and to find a story that will propel her blog into the big league. During her tour of the colony, she comes across her first alien—a Glin. She’s fascinated and immediately sees the seeds of a great topic for her blog.

With Genny’s help and friendship, the plight of Duin’s race is brought center front, but there are some people who don’t support her cause. Her strength of conviction brings danger and unexpected love.

The thing I liked most about Stellarnet Rebel is the world building. JL Hilton has done a wonderful job of creating the Glin, an alien race who are tribal hunter-gatherers. Like humans they are capable of verbal and written language. They can reason and solve problems. They’re amphibian-like in appearance, have a bald head, no visible ears and large eyes, consisting mainly of iris. Their skin is speckled in shades ranging from taupe to grayish-green. They wear a form-fitting garment that resembles a wetsuit.

Not only do the Glin fit seamlessly into the story, but all the technology and the way the colony functions is blended into the plot without weighing down the reader and making them feel as if they’re reading a science textbook.

I’ll admit that I didn’t warm to Genny straight away. At the start she seems a bit self-absorbed, but I soon lost that impression. Once she meets Duin and starts to help him, I found her more likeable. Duin is determined to free his people and passionate about his cause, despite the backlash and racist remarks from people who don’t understand. He’s a great character.

I enjoyed Stellarnet Rebel very much and raced through the smooth plot in no time. Highly recommended.

This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

BOOK BLURB: FORBIDDEN MIND

She reads minds. He controls minds. Together, they might get out alive.

Sam thinks she’s months away from freedom. After spending her life in a secret school, rented out to the rich and powerful as a paranormal spy, she is ready to head to college like any normal eighteen-year-old.

Only Sam isn’t normal. She reads minds. And just before her big going-away party, she links to the mind of a young man who changes everything.

Drake wasn’t raised as a ‘Rent-A-Kid.’ He was kidnapped and taken there by force. But his exceptional physical strength and powers of mind control make him very dangerous, especially to Sam.

When they meet, Sam is forced to face the truth of her situation, and to acknowledge that not all is as it seems in her picture-perfect world. For what awaits her on her eighteenth birthday isn’t a trip to college, but an unexpected nightmare from which she may not be able to escape.

To survive, they must work together.

But will their powers be enough to save them before it’s too late?

REVIEW:

She reads minds. He controls minds. Together, they might get out alive.

Forbidden Mind is a fast-paced Young Adult story that pulled me in straight away. This story is told in first person with some chapters from Sam’s POV and others from Drake’s POV.

Sam lives at a school for gifted children. It’s a super secret school and occasionally the kids go into the outside world to carry out assignments that require their para-powers. Sam can read minds, but when she finally leaves the school at age eighteen, she wants to pursue her art. One day she hears a new voice speaking directly to her, but his identity is a mystery. There are also a few odd things happening at the school that are making Sam uneasy.

It’s difficult to say much more about the plot without giving away spoilers, but this is an easy book to read with the plot propelling the reader toward the shocking conclusion. I enjoyed the characters, both the two main characters and the support cast and found them engaging and likeable. The gradual peeling back of the truth behind the school is well done.

My only quibble is the abrupt ending. I would have liked a bit more of a resolution. This is the first of a trilogy. Books one and two are currently available with book three due out on Oct 2 2012. I expect all the loose ends will be tied up once I’ve read the rest of the series.

If you enjoy a pacey young adult read with interesting characters, a little danger and some plot twists, this is one for you.

This book was received from the author and Innovative Online Book tours in exchange for an honest review.

Author Bio:

Kimberly Kinrade was born with ink in her veins and magic in her heart. She writes fantasy and paranormal stories for children, YA and adults and still believes in magic worlds. Check out her YA paranormal novels Forbidden Mind and Forbidden Fire and her illustrated children’s fantasy chapter books Lexie World, and Bella World, all on Amazon.

She lives with her three little girls who think they’re ninja princesses with super powers, her two dogs who think they’re humans and her husband, also known as the sexy Russian Prince, who is the love of her life and writing partner.

For a list of her books, check out: http://Amazon.com/author/kimberlykinrade

Website: http://KimberlyKinrade.com

For a fun fan experience, join the team at I.P.I. at http://IPIAcademy.com

For kids and parents of young kids, join the Lost Kids at http://ThreeLostKids.com

Twitter: @KimberlyKinrade

IPI Twitter: @IPIAcademy

Facebook: /KimberlyKinrade

IPI Facebook: /IPIAcademy

Email: Books@KimberlyKinrade.com

The Zombie Always Knocks Twice
E. Van Lowe

Hollyweird #1

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Imajin

Cover Artist: Ryan Doan

Kindle ebook: 978-1-926997-74-2

Trade paperback: 978-1-926997-81-0

Page Count: 177 pages

Book Description:

Hollywood California, Swimming pools, movie stars… and now the risen dead

Hollywood can be a difficult place to grow up, especially if you’re Kristine Golden, a fifteen-year-old necromancer with a sworn duty to lay the risen dead back to rest and no desire to be in the movie business.

When handsome deadie Alex Romero swaggers into her life, Kris must keep her promise, despite her growing feelings for him. If that’s not enough to give a girl a headache, a murderous zombie comes knocking at Kris’ door, rocking her world and threatening her family.

Can Kris solve the mystery of the rampaging zombie before someone else winds up dead? Or will the walking dead take over Hollywood and turn it into… Hollyweird?

REVIEW:

The Zombie Always Knocks Twice is a first person young adult story featuring female protagonist Kris Golden. This is book one in a new series called Hollyweird.

On the surface Kris is a normal fifteen year old girl. She lives in Hollywood and has an agent who books her auditions for shows. She goes to school, works part time at Disco Diva’s Diner, and has a father who loves her even though he smothers her a little. Oh, and she doesn’t have a boyfriend and is failing algebra II. Just a typical teenage girl…

But Kris is also a necromancer. She can spot the walking dead and raise the dead, but it’s her sworn duty to lay the risen dead back to rest. It’s a duty Kris takes very seriously, even though she worries about her peers thinking she’s weird. It’s a secret she doesn’t talk about, except with her family and the man who trained her.

Kris is busy working at the diner when she spots a dead girl. The girl takes off, and Kris gives chase. Unfortunately the dead girl is fast and she evades Kris. Thus starts Kris’s search for the dead girl and the person who raised her from the dead. Then there’s murder…

Kris is a very likeable character. She adores her solo parent father, but has problems after the return of her runaway sister. She’s a loyal friend and determined to carry out her necromancer duties to the best of her abilities.

Alex, her romantic interest, is interesting—a famous actor—and I’m curious as to where this relationship will go. I grew to like Alex. Despite his fame, he comes across as sincere.

The rest of the secondary characters have their own agendas, and they usually end up making Kris’s life more difficult. I enjoyed the Hollywood setting with Kris’s semi-normal world jostling up against the world of movie stars.

My only quibble is that the story took a couple of chapters to get going for me, but after that it was plain-sailing with excellent chapter hooks that kept me turning the pages.

I loved The Zombie Always Knocks Twice. Once the story hits its stride it’s fast paced and enjoyable with each plot twist complicating Kris’s life. The main puzzle of the dead girl is solved by the end of the story, but the subplot related to Kris’s romantic interest isn’t tied up yet. Even so, I was happy with the conclusion, and thought Kris was both courageous and likeable—the perfect heroine. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended.

This book was provided by the author and Bewitching Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase The Zombie Always Knocks Twice