Showing posts with label Sadie Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sadie Review. Show all posts

Thursday, October 29, 2020

Review from Sadie: Of Heart and Wings (Dragon King Series, #1) by Debbie McQueen (M/M Paranormal Fantasy)

 



 

Raiden is the firstborn son and heir to the throne. When his father is injured, the weight of the crown is heavier than ever. At seventeen years old, Raiden isn’t sure he can live up to the king’s legacy.

 

Egan is a dragon who appears human. He works for his family as a blacksmith. The secret he must protect keeps him from getting close to anyone.

 

After a chance encounter, Raiden discovers Egan’s secret. They form a friendship forged by trust, it soon blossoms into something neither of them expected. The strength they find in each other may just help them rise up to meet their destinies.



 

Amazon 

US- https://amzn.to/31WgaAj


Canada-https://amzn.to/36FkA2H

 

UK-https://amzn.to/2GxC3iV

 

France-https://amzn.to/2I6sh7R

 

Australia-https://amzn.to/36H6UEb




Of Heart and Wings is book one in Debbie McQueen’s new series called the Dragon King Series. This first-person narrative is a journey about Raiden, who is discovering his truth about himself and what kind of king he will be. With his father ill, he must step up and be the leader his people and younger brother need. 


While out hiking on his own, a normally fatal slip almost cost him his life except he was rescued by a dragon. Creatures that everyone thought were no longer in existence. He also makes a new friend, Egan. These two males soon realize that they share a connection. And the dragon, well, I love me a good dragon story and this did not let me down


This is a sweet M/M story about finding your truth and embracing who you are. I am personally excited to see more stories coming out that are not your typical boy/girl romance. 

McQueen also has created a beautiful landscape in her writing helping you picture where the boys live and the difference in lifestyles.  I will say the first chapter gives you a lot of set-up but keep reading. The story that unfolds is worth it,






Debbie McQueen has been married to her loving and supportive husband for eighteen years. They have two amazing kids that share her love of musicals, singing, fairies, dragons, and superheroes. Debbie is an avid reader and loves to read YA/NA, PNR, Urban Fantasy, Thrillers, LGBTQ stories, and more.


Debbie is an affirming Christian who is proud to continue learning and serving as an LGBTQ+ ally and advocate. She has learned more about God’s love through the beauty of a diverse creation and strives to support her friends and loved ones, as well as the broader LGBTQ+ community. She proudly gives out Free Hugs at Pride events, and also works with a service organization that helps support LGBTQ youth in Southern California.


Author Website-readers can learn more and order signed paperback copies (US only) 

Paperback is live on Amazon, ebook releases October 11th

www.authordebbiemcqueen.com

 

Goodreads link

https://bit.ly/2Yqakqe

 

Facebook Reader group-

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2719749851604784/?ref=share

 

Facebook Author Page-

www.facebook.com/authordebbiemcqueen

 

Instagram page-

www.instagram.com/authordebbiemcqueen

 











Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Review from Sadie: Blog Tour & Giveaway: Winds of Fear (Fearless Series #3) by Glede Browne Kabongo (Adult Psychological Thriller)

 

Winds of Fear
Glede Browne Kabongo
(Fearless Series #3)
Publication date: October 23rd, 2019
Genres: Adult, Psychological, Psychological Thriller, Thriller

Their dark secret could destroy her family

When Abbie Rambally meets the couple next door for the first time, she’s convinced something isn’t right. Why are the Paynes so fascinated with her oldest son and why do they ask so many probing questions about him? Then Abbie’s loyal and dependable nanny quits without giving notice, and Jenna Payne is only too happy to step in and help out. But Abbie begins to suspect that the Paynes’ choice of neighborhood was no accident.

Though Abbie wants to believe she can trust her neighbors, too many things about the couple don’t add up. So when a stranger in a café calls Jenna by a different name and insists they’ve met before, one thing becomes clear. If Abbie doesn’t uncover what the Paynes are hiding, her family will be in terrible danger.

From an award-winning author comes the latest installment in the “gripping and powerful” Fearless Series. This nail-biting psychological thriller can be read as a stand-alone, and will leave you breathless until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Winds of Fear follows Abbie Rambally, and how her past is catching up to her. Having fallen in love and then having a child with the wrong man has had her looking over her shoulder ever since. Now she has a new life, adored by her husband with whom she's had two more kids. Life seems to be going well until the new neighbors show up. Strange things begin to happen, and when her oldest son is taken, she must look to her past to help her discover where to find him. 


Now, I had some issues with the book going back and forth between first-person and third-person It starts off switching every chapter then becomes random. Not my favorite, but the storyline itself was interesting enough to keep me reading. There were two chapters that go back to the past that I felt were not needed and pulled me from the read, but Kabongo keeps you interested in the mystery of what will happen next. As a mom myself, I could feel the pain of a child being taken through the character. There are some emotional moments that could be triggering.



Author Bio:

GLEDE BROWNE KABONGO writes gripping psychological thrillers–unflinching tales of deception, secrecy, danger and family. She is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of The Fearless Series, Swan Deception, Conspiracy of Silence, and Mark of Deceit. Her love affair with books began as a young girl growing up in the Caribbean, where her town library overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. She was trading books and discussing them with neighbors before Book Clubs became popular.

Gledé holds a Master’s degree in Communications, and was a featured speaker at the 2016 Boston Book Festival. She leads workshops on publishing and the craft of writing and hopes to win an Academy Award for screenwriting. Gledé lives outside Boston with her husband and two sons.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram


GIVEAWAY!
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Thursday, February 27, 2020

Sadie's Review: I Know When You're Going To Die by Michael J. Bowler (Young Adult Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense)




Title: I Know When You’re Going To Die
ISBN: 978-1-7333290-0-2
Genre: Fiction – Paranormal. Mystery. Thriller. Suspense.
Audience: Young Adult and Teen (age group 13+)
Edition: Paperback, 212 pages, $9.99
eBook, $2.99
Audiobook $12.95
ISBNs: Paperback - 978-1-7333290-0-2
Audiobook: 978-0-9903063-1-3



Author: Michael J Bowler
Publisher: Michael J. Bowler, Author
Publication Date: February 25, 2020
Distributor: Amazon, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital


Leonardo Cantrell is a painfully shy sixteen-year-old who cannot look people in the eye. One night while he’s volunteering at a homeless shelter, an old man forces eye contact and gives Leo the power to see Death.
His best, and only, friend—J.C. Rivera—thinks this new power is cool until Leo accidentally looks into J.C.’s eyes and “sees” his murder, a murder that will occur in less than two weeks. Stunned and shaken, the two boys sift through clues in Leo’s “vision” in a desperate effort to find the killer and stop him before he can strike.
Aided by feisty new-girl-at-school, Laura, the boys uncover evidence suggesting the identity of the murderer. However, their plan to trap the would-be killer goes horribly awry and reveals a truth that could kill them all.


Is knowing when and how someone is going to die a gift or a curse? And if you knew about your best friend’s death, would you tell them? Do you stop it?

That is what High School student Leo needs to figure out. Michael J. Bowler does it again. Pulling you into someone’s world and taking you along for the journey. If you have been here before, you know I really can’t get into first person yet Bowler has me hooked the instant I read it. His characters are recognizable if you have ever been around teens. Which, working at a high school, it’s a big part of my life.

Leo and his best bud J.C., opposites in looks and actions, but they both fear going through life without the other. This story is more than a possible murder mystery and how to stop it, but a story about coming of age. How as teens, or any age, one small change can completely change the course of action.

If you have a teen in your life, get them this book and one for you . You should not be disappointed.




Author Information

Name: Michael J Bowler

FB: michaeljbowlerauthor
Twitter: MichaelJBowler
Instagram: MichaelJBowler

Bio: Michael J. Bowler is a former teacher, adoptive parent, lifelong child advocate, author of The Lance Chronicles series—books with multi-racial and LGBT characters that deal with significant issues facing American youth today, and Spinner, a horror thriller featuring teens with disabilities as the heroes.  






Audiobook Version is also available on a multitude of platforms.

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Sadie Review: Review, Book Blitz & Giveaway: Confession of a Sex Kitten by Mila Rossi (Adult Contemporary Romance)


Confessions of a Sex Kitten
Mila Rossi
Publication date: August 30th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Striving to be the sex kitten Avery Taylor portrays on her blog is a lot harder than she imagined, but having a hot, new neighbor move in next door sure gets her imagination going. His green eyes alone would give a girl the vapors. And yet, getting involved with someone so close just isn’t in the cards for Avery, even if her inner kitten is telling her that all rules are meant to be broken once. Or twice. Or as many times as it takes to get familiar with James’s one billion abs.
James Mardin moves to NYC to focus on family and work. Quirky Avery just plops into his life out of nowhere. She’s the last thing he needs, and yet, he can’t seem to stay away from the damsel down the hall, especially after he stumbles upon her secret blog. A sexy goofball lusting after him? It just wouldn’t be proper if he didn’t make her fantasies come true.
With views to die for, neighborly favors to return, and secrets to uncover, James and Avery are in for a treat. The attraction is evident, but is it enough to get them through snarky family remarks, burning buildings, and the heat of a typical New York summer?

Confessions of a Sex Kitten by Mila Rossi is a cute story about a young woman, Avery, trying to reinvent herself after a relationship gone wrong. With a push from her bestie, Avery starts a sexy blog, which ends up in an email to her sexy hot neighbor, James. 

James’ apartment looks right into her’s. Together they find Avery’s inner sex kitten waiting to be unleashed. Now with a title like Confessions of a sex kitten you might think this book is going to be HOT hot. Sorry. Though there is sexy talk and some sexy scenes, Rossi let’s your imagination finish what the couple has started. It is a cute story but I felt I waited to long for the conflict to arise and was over rather quickly. 

This is a fun, little fantasy read. I liked that there were blog posts added into the story and would like to have had more. 




EXCERPT:
She walked into her bedroom, kicked off her shoes, and removed her earrings before starting to take off her dress. As she contorted every way possible to reach the zipper in the back, her eyes locked on her neighbor watching TV in the dark. She continued fiddling with her dress, not thinking much of James lounging in his chair, seemingly absorbed in whatever show or movie he was watching, when the light from his television illuminated his bare chest and abs, rising and falling in rapid succession.
She forgot about her dress now hanging down to her hips, and squinted in concentration, trying to get a better look. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned and hung loosely at his sides, while his rolled-up sleeves revealed those forearms she always stared at. What really got her attention though, was the fact that he seemed to be panting.
What in heaven’s name is he doing?
Except for one bare leg, the rest of him was hidden by the television. And then it hit her. He was masturbating, probably to porn. Her pulse started to race and her palms got sweaty as she watched the dark fuzz on his chest and abs move up and down in perfect rhythm. Not even a fire alarm going off could have chased her away from the window, but what could, was James turning his head and locking eyes with her across the distance.
  1. MY. GOD!
She had a split second to give him the courtesy of a blush before she tried to bolt from the window, tripped over her cat, and crashed to the floor with much humiliating noise as her flailing hands knocked over the night lamp. For the next couple of minutes, she remained spread out on the floor like a flattened pancake. The throbbing in her ears turned out to be her heartbeat and her lungs seemed devoid of air as she inhaled deeply, wincing at the pain in her ribs. Roger thankfully seemed unfazed by the fiasco and sat in the corner, licking his tiny jewels.
A knock at the door made her head snap around so quickly, she almost caused further injury to herself.
“Who is it?” she shouted in the most casual voice she could pull off.
“It’s me,” a deep, husky voice replied.
Great, first he catches me spying on him and now this.
“What’s up?”
“Are you alright? I heard a loud noise.”
“No shit,” she mumbled to herself, staring at the ceiling. “I’m fine, thanks!”
“Can you open the door?”
Her eyes darted in his direction.
“Um, I’m getting ready to go to bed.”
“I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, James. Go back to your…apartment.” She’d almost told him to go back to jerking off.
“Open up, Avery, so I can have a look for myself. You looked like you crashed pretty hard.”
Great, so he’d seen her. Good grief.
She shifted with a groan, but managed to pick herself up and head for the door. She stuck her arms through the sleeves of her dress, but didn’t bother with the zipper in the back.
“All fine,” she said, opening the door just a crack to smile at him. Her expression froze as she gaped at his body still displayed in all its glory, except now he wore pants. She had to summon all her control not to run her hands over the hair covering his chest, leading down into his pants.
“Avery,” James said, getting her attention.
She blinked rapidly and looked up at him. “Hm?”
He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
“What are you doing?” she asked alarmed.
“Making sure you’re still in one piece.”
He closed the door and turned her every which way to see if she was bleeding, at least that’s what she assumed he was doing. She winced when his hand ran over her left side and he looked at her concerned.
“You’re hurt.”
“No, I’m not. Nothing a drink or some medicine won’t cure. Maybe both together,” she grumbled as an afterthought.
He looked like he didn’t believe her.
“I’m fine,” she repeated, doing a mini-dance. “See? All good. Now go back home and let me get some sleep.”
He touched her side again and she winced once more.
“What the hell are you doing?” she gritted.
“Proving that you’re a liar.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the sofa. “Sit.”
She gave him an annoyed look.
“Sit, Avery, before I’ll make you.”
“Fine.” She plopped down.
He knelt before her and touched her ribs gingerly, watching for her reaction. “Can you lift your arm?”
She did so and gave him an I-told-you-so look.
“Can you bend side to side?”
She did and felt a tug. “It hurts a little, but not much. I can manage.”
“Good. Then nothing’s broken.”
Her eyes lowered to his hands wrapped around her waist. Her skin was on fire at his touch, even through the fabric of her dress. If this was how her body responded now, she wondered what it’d feel like without any barriers.
His hand slid along her side in what felt decidedly like a caress. “Be more careful next time.”
Confused she stared into his eyes, mere inches from her. “With what?”
“Your choice of entertainment.”
She felt herself blush to the very roots of her hair and cleared her throat. “I didn’t see anything.”
He held her gaze and tightened his grip on her, causing her breath to hitch. “Yes, you did. And you liked it.”


Author Bio: 
Mila Rossi is a contemporary romance author who writes feel-good stories - no angst here. She creates heroines who don't back down, stand up for themselves and insist on freedom and independence until the right man comes along. Then all rules are thrown out the window. The heroes must be clever, generous and able to throw a girl over their shoulder.
Mila has seen the world and loves to write about it. She also loves to paint vintage anime characters, belly dance, try new foods and perfect her archery skills. She wishes she could partake in extreme sports but only allows her characters to tempt fate. Her own chances of causing disasters are just too high.
Mila also writes historical romance under the name Alice Lake.

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Monday, July 29, 2019

Review from Sadie - Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: The Rogue King (Inferno Rising #1) by Abigail Owen (Adult Paranormal Romance/ Shifter Romance)


The Rogue King
Abigail Owen
(Inferno Rising #1)
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Publication date: July 30th 2019
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Kasia Amon is a master at hiding. Who—and what—she is makes her a mark for the entire supernatural world. Especially dragon shifters. To them, she’s treasure to be taken and claimed. A golden ticket to their highest throne. But she can’t stop bursting into flames, and there’s a sexy dragon shifter in town hunting for her…
As a rogue dragon, Brand Astarot has spent his life in the dark, shunned by his own kind, concealing his true identity. Only his dangerous reputation ensures his survival. Delivering a phoenix to the feared Blood King will bring him one step closer to the revenge he’s waited centuries to take. No way is he letting the feisty beauty get away.
But when Kasia sparks a white-hot need in him that’s impossible to ignore, Brand begins to form a new plan: claim her for himself…and take back his birthright.

I have not been this excited about a book in months! Thanks to Abigail Owen and her book, The Rogue King, as she has rekindled the flame of reading for me. And her Dragon shifters sparked a flame in me too. Wink wink.

This story brought dragons, wolves, and phoenixes all together in a human world setting. Literally the world, since they travel all around the globe. Opposites really do  attract in this suspenseful love story with some very hot, sexy scenes. When I say hot, I mean there is fire involved. You will have to read the book to understand.

Brand, our hunky dragon shifter has no clan and trusts only himself. Kasia has been separated from her family because of dragons and can be too trusting. They have to work together in order to survive. Surviving is a tall order for the two of them. Now with sexy dragons flying about, my favorite character is Maul. He is a hellhound. Doesn’t shift. But he is the best dog a gal could ever want. He even teleports. I want my own hellhound after reading this. The prologue sucks you in immediately and  pulls you further into their world that by the time you finish the epilogue you need book two. I need to know more of what happens to the clans.

Owen does create a wonderful depiction of the world and you can see the shades of blue or gold as each dragon flies by. The only thing that I didn’t care for was occasionally in the descriptions she would throw in a word here and there that didn’t flow. It felt like she just wanted to throw in a big SAT word. That, I found distracting and not needed.

Overall, what a fun story and I am excited to see what happens next.





Author Bio:
Multi-award-winning paranormal romance author, Abigail Owen, loves plots that move hot and fast, feisty heroines with sass, alpha heroes with heart, a dash of snark, and oodles of sexy shifters! Other titles include wife, mother, Star Wars geek, ex-competitive skydiver, spreadsheet lover, Dr. Seuss quoter, eMBA, organizational guru, Texan, Aggie, and chocoholic.
Abigail grew up consuming books and exploring the world through her writing. She attempted to find a practical career related to her favorite pastime by earning a degree in English Rhetoric (Technical Writing). However, she swiftly discovered that writing without imagination is not nearly as fun as writing with it. She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her own personal hero, her husband, and their two children, who are growing up way too fast.
For the latest news and exclusive excerpts, sign up for her newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/Lw2XH
Abigail also writes award-winning sexy contemporary romance and romantic comedy under the name Kadie Scott. AND sweet contemporary romance under the name Kristen McKanagh.

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Monday, March 25, 2019

Review From Sadie: Book Tour: The Lady Raven by Rebecca Henry (Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retold)

















The Lady Raven
A Dark Cinderella Tale
Rebecca Henry

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retold

Publisher: Austin Macauley

Date of Publication: November 30th 2017

ISBN: 1786935783
ASIN: 978-1786935786

Number of pages:175
Word Count: 48,863

Cover Artist: Austin Macauley

Tagline: For those who have an affinity for magic, witches, dark fairy tales, and the macabre...




In The Lady Raven, Rebecca Henry tells the tale of Zezolla, a little princess abandoned by her father into the hands of her evil stepmother and wicked stepsisters. A familiar fairy tale you may think but all is not as it appears. The reader is soon drawn into a web of witchcraft, lies and deceit, and gradually realizes that this is no typical fairy tale, but a dark and macabre take on one.

Zezolla is treated with the utmost cruelty, neglected and vilified, and left to live in the damp cellars of the castle. The only friends Zezolla has are her beloved raven and her pet wolf. Her only comfort lies in the loyalty of the creatures of the forest, and her mother's hazel tree.

Will Zezolla have the power to escape her torment and ultimately save herself from the unscrupulous clutches of the king? The Lady Raven is a compelling tale, and one that is not for the faint-hearted.


If you enjoy reading different Cinderella themed stories then you may like The Lady Raven by Rebecca Henry. If you don’t care for any Cinderella tale, move on, you won’t like this book. As for me, I do like and try to find different tellings of the story, especially anything that is more interesting than the Disney version. The Brothers' Grimm or the movie EverAfter, with Drew Barrymore, would make that list. When this story opens up, it starts with her back story about her parents and her uncle. It was something that was ever barely touched on in any other story. But that was the end of my new and different story. Soon she ended up with her father dead and becoming the servant girl to her five sisters whose names were pulled from the Disney story and EverAfter. Not sure if that was done as an homage to the other stories or if the author could not come up with something more creative. Even that cat’s name was Lucifer. Thank you Disney. There were a few changes. Raven hair instead of blonde. She was a witch and her magical mom was a tree.Yup, a tree. Like I said it had some points that were different but overall was predictable, but still enjoyable.




Amazon     BN     Smashwords





Excerpt:

 Zezolla entered the forest, twig in one hand, shattered glass in the other. She moved effortlessly through the night as if she herself had wings which carried her. She came to a clearing, a streak of moonlight shining on the frozen ground. “This is the spot, my love.” The raven flew into the sky circling Zezolla as she dug into the ground. “Remember the order, my princess. Plant the twig and then the glass.”
“I call upon the spirit of my mother. I command you to leave the grave in which my mother’s body rests. Awaken now and bring forth the tree of life!” Zezolla held her hands up to the moon invoking its powers. “I am the daughter of the witch Avelina. I invoke the powers of the night. Come to me, my mother’s spirit. I welcome you!” A silver mist traveled above. The raven flew down to his princess. “She is coming, princess.” Zezolla watched as a tiny branch came forth from the dirt. Slowly it grew, taller and taller. More branches came. Zezolla thought she saw the figure of a woman in the tree. Shards of glass formed together creating glass leaves, dangerous to anyone who touched it - anyone but Zezolla. The princess stood up amazed by the beautiful sight before her. “It is complete, my love. My mother is here and her spirit resides inside the tree.” A remarkable hazel tree stood before her, 15 feet tall with a small opening at the base big enough for Zezolla to fit through. She examined the leaves running her long fingers over the glass. “It cannot cut me my love.” She held out her arm for the raven to perch. “But it will be dangerous to anyone else who tries to touch it.”
The two men made it to the barrier, gasping in horror. “What entrance is this!?” cried out Jack. “This was never here. There has never been an entrance to the forest.” Jack backed away, terrified that Zezolla awakened a spirit inside the forest. “It’s just a narrow passage. It must have been caused by the cold ice.” concluded Edward logically.
Jack shook his head. “No, Hexe did this. She has opened the forest. Who knows what evil lurks inside? These grounds are now cursed.”
“If that is true then I will not venture in.” Edward turned to leave but Jack stopped him. “This might be valuable to me Edward. If Hexe possesses some magical entity inside the forest then I want it.”
Jack grabbed Edward by the collar and moved him through the opening. Edward clung to his knife, jumping at the sounds around them. “There is a light coming from beyond the trees. Could be lightening. Let’s go see what Hexe is up to.” Edward tried to turn back, but Jack had a strong hold on him. “Courage man! You’re no better than a scared boy.” snarled Jack.
Zezolla, unaware of the servants approaching, entered the hazel tree. Edward ducked down behind a bush as he saw Zezolla disappear.
“We must leave now! I told you this would be our death! She is a witch! Did you just see how she entered that glass tree?!”
Jack was too fascinated to leave. He had never witnessed true magic before. “I want to take a closer look.”
“What? Are you mad! If you go near that tree that will be the end of you!”
Jack did not listen to Edward and walked over to the magical tree which was shimmering in the moonlight. “I just want to see it. Stay where you are if you are afraid,” Jack snorted.
“To hell with curiosity. I don’t want to end up without my head like Princess Guinevere. Go on then, you fool! Go see your magical tree.”
The tree seemed to call to Jack, beckoning him forward. “It’s so beautiful. Look at the sparkling leaves.” He reached out to touch one. The branch moved slicing his finger off his hand. Jack screamed in pain, clenching his finger to his chest. He tried to run away, but the tree caught him in her branches.
Edward stayed hidden, watching in horror as Jack cried out for help. “Edward, help me!”
“Stupid fool. I told him not to get closer.” muttered Edward
The tree tightened its grip around Jack, cutting him as it squeezed. “Please! I am sorry! Please let me go!” The tree would not accept Jack’s pleas and brought down another branch lined with razor sharp leaves. “No! No! Please, I will do anything! I will protect the princess from her stepmother. I swear to protect her as long as I live! Please, spare me!” The branch came down, slicing Jack’s throat with a row of deadly leaves.
“She needs no protection. I am with her now.” said the tree.


About the Author:
Rebecca Henry is the author of two novels, The Lady Raven and Louisiana Latte. In addition to writing, she is also an avid vegan, gardener, crafter and practices yoga.