Monday, June 23, 2008
The Tiniest Tiger by Joanne L. McGonagle
5 Stars...
Perfect for children ages 4-8.
The Tiniest Tiger is a wonderful and charming tale of a small kitten who becomes lost while chasing a butterfly. And in the process of looking for a new home ends up at the zoo and eventually finds the perfect home. The story is beautifully illustrated and filled with interesting facts about endangered cats and I would very much recommend it as a great way to teach small children about nature and conservation...
Children and adults will revel in this charming and brilliantly told tale of a forlorn and scruffy little kitten with a black stained nose and a striped tail that tries to find a home among the “big” cats that reside at the local zoo. Young readers will especially delight in this truly literary and fully illustrated lesson that advocates the protection of endangered species. When a stray kitten loses her way and is displaced from the only alley she has ever known, she squeezes her tiny body under the fence at the zoo and begins a long and tireless hunt for a home. Her search leads her to a tiger and into a lion’s den by way of a cheetah, clouded leopard, puma, jaguar, bobcat, and an ocelot. She learns a lot about what she isn’t, but gets no closer to finding a home until she is spotted by the zookeeper’s daughter and learns that there is truly a special spot for every cat—even the tiniest tiger—under the sun.
A portion of the proceeds from the sales will benefit conservation projects for endangered wild cats in Africa,Asia,North America, and South America, through the Conservation Fund of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Angel of Death by Leigh Savage
3.9 Stars
Leigh Savage comes through with a solid effort in her first novel, Angel of Death. This paranormal/vampire story contains interesting characters that I grew fond of. This was the first vampire story that I have read and I did find the genre enjoyable in this book. Leigh's imagination took flight while writing this book and took us on Mika's and Domonic's journey. She leaves the door wide open for a sequel story with some of the secondary characters introduced in this book.
Reviewed by Rachel E.Moniz for Kasey's View...
The task at hand? Save the elder vampires from the plague of "the endless sleep." As a hired assassin, Mika Shadow knows not to let emotions get in the way. Given her skills and gifts, she's known as the Chosen One amongst her people. During her mission to steal the formula for anti-aging, and the elixir of life for the vampires, Mika finds herself facing the kidnappers who shattered her world as a young girl and abducted her from her mother. Her past comes roaring back to life! As she is dealing with those demons, Mika also finds herself falling for her target. She only has four strict rules for selecting a mission or dismissing it. The fourth and final one - No emotions allowed - falls flat the minute she meets Domonic.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter
5 Stars...
A recommended read...
After centuries alone Anya, the beautiful Goddess of Anarchy and Lucien the cursed half-demon known as Death meet striking sparks off each other that would almost set the pages of your book on fire...
I found The Darkest Kiss to be a fast and fun read that was even better than the first book. All of the characters in the book are extremely interesting and
Lucien and Anya who are a perfect match for each other are no exception. Sure at times Anya seems a little silly and frivolous but anyone who has ever read Greek and Roman Mythology would know that the author is dead on in her interpretation of her personality. The Gods and Goddesses were always portrayed as being silly and childish but at the same time they could also be deadly if crossed.
The Lords Of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter is my newest guilty pleasure...
She has tempted many men… but never found her equal.
Until now.
Though she has lived for centuries, Anya, goddess of anarchy, has never known pleasure. Until Lucien, the incarnation of death—a warrior eternally doomed to take souls to the hereafter. He draws her like no other. And Anya will risk anything to have him.
But when the merciless Lord of the Underworld is ordered by the gods to claim Anya herself, their uncontrollable attraction becomes an anguished pursuit. Now they must defeat the unconquerable forces that control them, before their thirst for one another demands a sacrifice of love beyond imagining.…
Heart Of The Draue by Dana Lyons
5 Stars...
-a wonderful new time travel romance about an ancient prophecy and a love that could not be denied...
Dana Lyons as really outdone herself with this story weaving a complex tale of ancient legends and modern life together. The world building is so well done and fascinating that will find yourself almost believing that this story could actually have happened...
If you enjoy stories about distant times and tender love stories then you are sure to love Heart Of The Draue...
He longed for someone he’d never even met.
For lone wolf archeologist Eric Beck, love has always been out of reach—something he’s been searching for since the day he was born, never knowing where to look. But on an unexplored hill near Stonehenge, something calls to him. Someone calls to him. And on the day of the summer solstice, his entire existence is about to change …
To love him would set an unthinkable destiny in motion.
She was Aydyn. Powerful. Beautiful. Druae. Living long before Eric’s time and bound by sacred duty to see through a prophecy that could mean the end of her people. With Eric’s arrival through the stone circle, a passion is unleashed—a love written in the stars and designed to reveal the fate of the Druae.
Heart Of The Draue is available from Black Lyon Publishing.
Author: Dana Lyons
ISBN: 978-1-934912-00-3
Price: $16.95 paperback
Price: $8.00 Ebook (PDF format)
Pages: 216 paperback
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Darkenbane The Fountain by Kimberly Adkins
5 Stars...
A recommended read...
The story begins in our present day New Orleans,after Hurricane Katrina. Wow! When you pick up this book and open to the first page, you are taken away! Its a "can't put down" read. Kimberly immediately takes you through magic portals to other worlds or dimensions, you decide...
She introduces her characters in such away, you feel as if you know them well. When Hayden meets Jasmine, you can feel the heat that emanates between them come off the pages. Hayden is every woman's secret desire for a "Prince Charming".
Truly, this is a fast and fun read as Kimberly leads you through the mazes of time with Jasmine's and Hayden's adventures intertwining until they meet again...and again....and again....so the story goes....
I would definitely rate this a great big 5, one of those reads that you just can't bring yourself to put down.
Kathy Jennings reviewing for Kasey's View
“You must follow your heart—
for the answers you seek may save us all yet.”
A brass key. A note. A handsome stranger near a fountain in an abandoned courtyard. On a sultry New Orleans evening, Jasmine takes these only clues to her identity and follows them to a place she’d thought only existed in dreams and ancient faery tales.
Through a doorway in time, Hayden has come from the dangers of his dying kingdom to the most beautiful woman he’s ever known. Bound by his royal blood to retrieve the lost prophecies and end a war, he soon finds his quest, his destiny, and his love are all entwined with Jasmine more than anyone ever knew.
Darkenbane The Fountain is scheduled for release August 2008.
Author: Kimberly Adkins
ISBN: 978-1-934912-05-8
Price: $14.95 paperback
Price: $6.00 Ebook (PDF format)
Pages: 192 paperback
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Night Life by Elizabeth Guest
4. Stars...
Night Life is book one of the interesting new Pharaoh's Rising series by Elizabeth Guest. The story which is a quick read starts with the Pharaoh's death in 1192 B.C.E. and quickly fast forwards to modern times when he awakens to face an old enemy...
Some of the things that I enjoyed about the story is all of the information about the Egyptian culture. The author's vivid descriptions of an ancient world really brings the story to life. And the character development of the dark and powerful Adrian King is excellent, I truly believed that he could have been a great Pharaoh who was betrayed and murdered by someone who should have been above reproach...
The story is enjoyable and I'm looking forward to reading the sequels but it could easily have been a five star story except for a couple of things. First the reader is left with some questions that are never answered, for one thing what causes the ancient Egyptians to change into vampires in the first place? And is Christine really the soul gatherer ? If so just who is She-Who-Must-Be-Feared? It is sometimes difficult to answer all the questions in the first book of a new series but hopefully they will all be answered in book two which is due to release on July 1 2008...
Ancient Egypt takes a bite out of modern-day Las Vegas.
Once a pharaoh, Adrian King has awakened thousands of years later-as a vampire. Now the owner of the Royal Palace in Vegas, he is falling for Egyptologist Christine Day. But others have awakened who will not rest until Adrian is destroyed again, even if it means taking the only true love he's ever known.
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter
5 Stars...
The Darkest Night kicks off the Lords of the Underworld series about six immortal warriors bound for centuries by an unbreakable curse. Maddox, the hero of this story who has been infected with the demon called Violence is cursed to die a slow painful death every night, only to awaken in the morning always knowing that he will die again that night...
Maddox lives a lonely existance until the day that he meets the beautiful Ashlyn, a woman who knows first hand what it's like to live tormented by a curse...
All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member—a man trapped in a hell of his own.
Neither can resist the instant hunger that calms their torments…and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction—and a soul-shattering test of love….
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The Chocolate Heiress by Shari Thayn
5 Stars...
The Chocolate heiress is a wonderfully fun blend of mystery, suspense, misunderstandings, amnesia, and above all else love...
Zoe Jones loves bright colors, short skirts and chocolate, she's also madly in love with Martin O'Neil who doesn't seem to notice just how gorgeous and sexy his late wife's best friend really is. Or so she thinks...
It's been three years since the death of his wife and during that time Martin has tried to be both mother and father to his little girl while at the same running his own business. And he's just starting to realize that most of that wouldn't be possible if not for his fun and sexy friend Zoe...
Who exactly is Zoe Jones?
Full of life. Unpredictable. Supermodel looks. Zoe is a far stretch from anybody’s idea of a typical anything, and much too “big city” for the small town of Grand River. She’s also developed a fondness for Martin that just might rival chocolate, and for the first time in her life she feels as if she really belongs somewhere. Well, sort of!
Once married to Zoe’s old college roommate, Martin O’Neil has a little dilemma on his hands. See, Zoe is his daughter’s favorite person and the one woman on the planet who makes his own heart turn flips. Is taking advantage of a case of temporary amnesia a dirty trick or an absolute necessity? Either way, he just might be the one in for one dangerously sweet surprise.
Author: Shari Thayn
ISBN: 978-1-934912-04-1
Price: $TBD paperback
Price: $TBD Ebook (PDF format)
Pages: TBD paperback
Scheduled for release July 2008.
The Chocolate Heiress is available from
from Black Lyon Publishing