New Release! City of Slaves by Stephen R. Burns

 

Title: City of Slaves

Series: The Desolate Kingdom Series

Author: Stephen R. Burns

 

City of Slaves is Book #2 in The Desolate Kingdom Series

 

Blurb

 

It had been a hundred years since the angels brought the Storms that nearly wiped out humanity. Only one great city on theWest Coast remained. As the decades passed, the people thought they were safe.
They were wrong. 
The angels returned, slaughtering a third of the city and enslaving the rest. Cale "Sendz" Edsen was one of the few soldiers who survived, but he could not escape the horror of what he had seen. Of what he had failed to do.  
For nine months he had lived out of a bottle,drifting into the alleys of the Empty Gate, the roughest and most vile part ofthe city, the only section yet to be swallowed by the angels.
He thought his life was over. Until he killed one of them with his bare hands. Hands that were stronger than they should have been. Hands that mirrored the creature he'd just killed.
But the angels know who he is. What he is. And they're coming for him.

 

 

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About the Author

Stephen R. Burns is the author of THE LAST ANGEL. He penned his first story when he was ten and has been writing ever since.
Despite his excitement over the release of CITY OF SLAVES, the second book in his Desolate Kingdom series, the most important event in his life happened in 2008 when he met his wife, Bethany, who for reasons beyond his understanding, fell in love with him. They have a couple of spoiled cats and between the two of them, live in a household overflowing with books.

Links for City of Slaves: Amazon.com ; Amazon.ca

Links for The Last Angel (Book #1): Amazon.ca ; Amazon.com

 

Check out what Stephen is up to on his webpage: www.stephenburns.ca

or connect with him on social media:

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Sarah's Review of Shopaholic To The Rescue by Sophie Kinsella

Becky Bloomwood is at it again! This time she is bringing along her family, friends, and one, shall we say, enemy, on a trip to Las Vegas. This book picks up right where the last one, Shopaholic To The Stars, ends. In the newest installment, Shopaholic to the Rescue, Becky and her group rent an RV and head off on a search for Becky's father, Graham, and Tarquin, her best friend Suze's husband. Graham and Tarkie abruptly left Los Angeles to take care of "something". With no one knowing what the two are up to, Suze and Becky's mom are worried and are convinced they have to find them. So Luke becomes the driver and they set off from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in search of the two men, all while encountering many interesting events along the way. Becky feels as though it could be her fault as she ignored her father while he was in LA and is harbouring a lot of guilt. Also, her best friend Suze has suddenly taken up with Becky's enemy, Alicia, and Becky feels threatened.

Once again, Sophie Kinsella takes us on a wild ride with Becky and her family and friends. There is never a dull moment. And while I love Becky's normal wild demeanour, for the majority of the novel you realize that something is very much off. She is not her normal self and her quirkiness has gone astray. Between feeling guilty with her father and wondering if her friendship with Suze is over, Becky falls into a bit of a slump. But through it all we see her husband, Luke, standing by her and holding her up. But with the lack of Becky's wild ramblings and crazy schemes, I found that I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as the others. That being said, I did enjoy it and it was a nice easy read and the themes I found running through the book are great.

The main themes I found important in this book were those of friendship, love, and right and wrong. We see the struggle between Becky and Suze with their friendship. They have been through everything together, but something is going on with Suze, and Becky isn't sure their friendship is strong enough. But Luke pushes her to see her true self and to overcome any obstacles. With this push Becky is able to confront her fears and realize that not everything is at is seems to be. True friendship can withstand any tests thrown at them. We need to consider ourselves lucky if we have even one friend in our life with whom we can confide anything in. And I can't help but feel grateful to have a true friendship that can stand the test of time and distance.

It's endearing to see the theme of love in this book. We see how true love can help you through some tough times and true love is forever. It's honest, forgiving, and strong. We see this theme between Becky and Luke, Suze and Tarquin, and also Becky's parents. They each have their own challenges to overcome, but the love they have for each other helps them through it.

The last theme I wanted to touch upon was the contrast between what's right and wrong. Of course there are quite a few instances in the book where the characters are faced with what to do, but ultimately the good always outweighs the bad and the truth always comes to surface.

I do love the way Kinsella weaves the tales of her characters throughout the story and how she hooks you and pushes you to read 'just one more page'. While this wasn't my favourite Shopaholic book, I did thoroughly enjoy it and really took the message to heart. We need to remember what's truly important in our lives and be grateful for what we have. We need to do what is right in our hearts and pursue what we consider to be righteous.

Kindred Salvation Cover Reveal!

Title: Kindred Salvation

Series: Divine Hunter #3

Author: L.J. Sealey

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release: TBC

 

Blurb

 

Hell wants an angel. . .

 

Against her better judgement, Lacy Holloway is getting used to her life with Michael, but falling deeper in love with him is only bringing more uncertainty about their future together. And then there's the other little problem: God only knows why her dead sister is still hanging around, but she is secretly glad. Living with the man she loves, and having Beth back in her life, Lacy is hiding her concerns behind the normal life she so desperately craves.

 

Things have been quiet in Oakland, but calm wasn't usually on Michael's radar, and for good reason. Now the dead are stirring and when Michael and Jaret discover a mass grave in Cincinnati they suspect Varesh has returned.

 

Their suspicions are heightened the moment Michael comes face to face with a past he knows very little about, and that past comes with some shocking news. Overwhelmed by what he's learned, and desperate to stop his evil enemy, Michael finds himself on the hunt for a woman who is closer to him than he could have ever imagined. But if Hell finds her first, the repercussions will be devastating, not just for Michael, but for the whole of mankind

 

Who will get to her first? Angel or demon?

 

Full Jacket for KINDRED SALVATION

 

 

Other books by L.J. Sealey:
• AWAKEN (Divine Hunter #1) is currently *FREE* on eBook.
• DARK DELIVERANCE (Divine Hunter #2) 

• EVO - A Divine Hunter World Novel (Divine Hunter #2.5) *Can also be read as a standalone*

 

 

 All books are available in eBook and Paperback

 

 

About The Author

 

 L.J. Sealey was born and raised in a little Welsh town by the sea. It rains a lot, so she often has a great excuse to sit at her writing desk and while away the hours at her laptop.

She still lives in N.Wales and when she’s not travelling around the country working with her husband – who is a professional singer – or singing backup vocals herself, she likes to read and watch her favourite TV shows which normally includes plenty of CSI, The Vampire Diaries and endless amounts of sitcoms. Being addicted to reading about vampires, demons, shifters and angels, she has always had a thing for all things paranormal and is a big sucker for impossible love stories. So it was inevitable that when she started writing herself she would mix the two together.

 

 

 

 

Stalker Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads | Google+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah's Review of The One (The Selection #3) by Kiera Cass

The One is Kiera Cass' third novel in The Selection Series and in my opinion it was the best one. In the final installment of determining Prince Maxon's future wife, America is surprised that she has made it this far. When she first entered the Selection she would have never thought she would still be here, so close to Prince Maxon's heart and the crown. The competition gets heated inside the palace walls as the threats from outside those walls are also increasing. It is starting to become very clear to America what she needs to do and how much she could lose if she doesn't fight for the future that she wants.

Cass does an amazing job with her writing. Her words are very illuminating and she easily paints a picture in your mind. By the end of this novel you have no doubt just who America is, as well as the other main characters. They have all evolved so much throughout the three books and each one has grown from the experience. Cass makes it so easy to follow, it is very well laid out. I felt you could really connect and identify with her characters.

Cass is an inspirational writer. Her storylines are so well planned and the ease at which they unfold is mesmerizing. Her words pull you in and make it such an easy, hard to put down read. I found that when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it, just waiting to get back into her world.

There are a few overpowering themes throughout the series and this book. The main one being love. But one that I found very intriguing was the theme of good and evil. We see this portrayed within the caste system as well as the fight with the rebels against the palace. We even see America struggling internally with what is right and wrong in her heart. What I love about Cass's writing is that her characters are raw. We see right into the heart of America, even if she is confused and struggling. I'm sure we have all had at least one experience in our lives in which we can relate. America is a substantial heroine and doesn't waver from what she believes in right. She has solid morals, is very strong willed and doesn't falter even under the King's steely gaze.

After I finished reading this book, I started thinking about all of the underlying stories going on and I find it very interesting how she mirrors the tension between the girls and finding love inside of the palace with the tension building outside of the palace walls with the Northern and Southern rebels. As Maxon gets closer to choosing "The One" the rebels also get more and more threatening. And with that, Cass ties everything up perfectly, delivered in such a beautiful package. She brings back small hints at things from previous chapters and books to perfectly align them together, all the of pieces falling into place. Nothing is left undone.

This book is easily a new favourite. So if you are looking for a light, easy read, with a good plot and strong characters, I'd highly recommend The One.

Sarah's Review of The Elite (The Selection #2) by Kiera Cass

The Elite is the second book in The Selection series by Kiera Cass and in this book we find that the selection has been narrowed down from 35 to just six. With such a small number of girls left the competition has become more intense as the girls try and win Prince Maxon's heart and crown. Most of the girls know what they want, but America is still trying to figure out what her heart desires. Is she falling in love with the Prince or does her heart still belong with her first love, Aspen? America needs to decide quickly what it is she wants. Before it's too late.

As we move further into the Selection, we learn more about the Prince and his parents. We also learn more about the remaining girls and their personalities begin to shine. This second book is full of drama and intrigue. We see America struggling with her heart's desires. One minute she thinks she loves Aspen and the next minute she seems to be falling for Prince Maxon. It did get frustrating with her constant back and forth. It seemed that every time she was with one of them then she was swept away into their world and she could only imagine her life with him. But the minute they left she was confused again. This is a typical love triangle in which she can see herself with both men and loves them both, but is struggling as to which one she loves more and is meant to be with. But while she is struggling with her emotions, the other girls know what they want and are fighting for it.

Even though the girls are fighting for the same thing and only one of them can have it, we start to see some friendships develop. Being in similar circumstances seems to create sympathy among the girls and since they are in it together they begin to grow closer to one another, just like Queen Amberly made lifetime friendships with the girls she was in the Selection with. I like how we learn more about Queen Amberly and with the girls we realize how true her words are. The differences between the King and Queen are quite evident and help to make the story an interesting one. They help to balance out the good and the bad and we learn why Prince Maxon is the way he is and how he has so much compassion in his heart.

Amongst all of the love triangles and some backstabbing drama, there is a whole other story developing with the rebels. We are learning more about the two groups and how differently they operate and why. Cass is good at relaying just the right amount of information when it's deemed necessary in order to create chaos and drama in the castle and in the castes.

Even though some parts I found to be predictable, there were many times where I was shocked and blown away at the turn of events. This book is a quick and easy read with good description and storytelling. You really get a sense of the setting as the girls are thrown into circumstances taking them all over the castle.

Amongst the love story there is such a strong tone with good versus bad. Not only with the King and Queen, but with the rebels. We learn sometimes you don't know everything and what might look terrible and incriminating from the outside really isn't so. You need to be fully informed of everything before you make a decision that could affect a lot of other people.

I think the thing I loved the most about this book is that, even though America struggles with who she loves, the girl she is never waivers. If anything, her integrity, morals and values are made stronger and she sticks to what she believes is right, even if it could cost her everything. She isn't broken by a man or bending her beliefs in order to please somebody else. She does what she believes is right because she is the one that has to live with the decisions she makes and the consequences.

Sarah's Review of The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass

I recently picked up the trilogy for The Selection by Kiera Cass and I am so glad that I did. The first thing that caught my eye were the beautiful covers for the books and when I read the backs of them I thought I'd give it a shot. When I first began reading The Selection I thought it was going to be like a cross between The Bachelor and The Hunger Games, just without all of the backstabbing, fighting and bloody battles.

The Selection starts off with a letter. Thirty-five girls from across the country of Illea are chosen for a once in a lifetime chance to become the next princess to the handsome Prince Maxon. It is their only chance to escape their caste system and leave the life they were born into. By being one of the thirty-five and a part of the Selection they are taken up by fancy dresses and sparkling jewels all while fighting for the heart of Prince Maxon. While almost every girl dreams of being given this opportunity, one girl, America Singer, dreads being chosen. If she is chosen she would be forced to have to leave Aspen and their secret love. It is a secret because he lives a caste below her and that type of relationship is normally forbidden because women are not to marry below them. But being one of the chosen she is forced to leave her family and her love, Aspen. She finds herself in a competition for a crown that she just does not want while living in a huge palace that finds itself under attacks from violent rebels. But then America meets Prince Maxon and everything she thought she had wanted and had dreamed about may not be as good as what her future could be.

I have to say that I did love this book! It spoke to me as a teenage girl and I fell in love with the characters right from the start. It's an interesting world Cass has created and while some people may find it unbelievable, it does make for great storytelling and sets up their world for many possibilities. America Singer isn't like most teenage girls, but there are certain characteristics that she possesses that make it so easy for, I believe, any teenage girl (or woman) to relate to. She is a strong heroine who speaks her mind, even if it means she could get herself into trouble. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Even though she is thrown into this world of royalty which is so far from the caste that she has grown up in, she somehow remains true to herself and retains her core morals and values. She did not want to do the Selection, but she did it to help out her family and because her secret love, Aspen, asked her to. And she couldn't deny him that if that was what he truly wanted. Aspen comes from a caste below America and couldn't imagine taking away the opportunity for her to have everything she needed, when he could hardly afford to support her. When we finally meet Prince Maxon and learn more about him, it's grounding to see that he isn't the stereotypical Prince. He is kind and heartwarming, and incredibly swoon-worthy. While America is mainly there for her family and to get away from Aspen, she decides she may as well become friends with this Prince. But I don't think she realized what that friendship could lead to.

I found all of her characters well rounded and solid. Every personality is unveiled at the right moment and we learn what we need to when we need to. From the heroine, to the Prince, to the forbidden love, to the maids and then to the other girls, each character is essential to the fabrication of the story.

Cass is an exceptional writer. She takes her words and weaves such magic that you are pulled right into this world. She doesn't overload you with mundane details, but gives just the right amount of description so you can picture it in your mind.

America has to try and figure out what it is she truly wants. And we find her going back and forth a few times as to what she thinks she could live with. I think we can all relate to the indecisiveness you can feel as a teenager and at any age. Whether it be love, work, home or anything else, we all face times when we have to make a big decision and I like how America does not rush her feelings but takes things one day at a time.

I personally loved this book and if you are looking for a light and easy read while being entertained and swept up into another world give this series a shot. I am glad that I picked up these books as the trilogy so I don't have to wait to dive into the second one, The Elite.

Sarah's Review of The Last Angel by Stephen R. Burns

The Last Angel is the first novel in "A Desolate Kingdom Novel" series by new author Stephen R. Burns.

The story begins one hundred years after the world faced what is known as the Storms. The world is no longer as we remember, instead it has become a desolate wasteland, much of which is uninhabitable. With the Storms came what the people called angels, but these angels aren't what you would expect. They have fangs and are ugly creatures whose only purpose it seems it to terrorize the humans that remain. Most people could not fight and kill them, they just didn't have the guts. But then you meet Tommy. Tommy isn't like most people. When his family and friends were threatened and killed by these creatures everything in him changed. He could kill them. And the townspeople made him Sheriff of New Angels. Tommy didn't think anything could be worse than what had already gone down, until he kills the giant angel and is forced to make a decision with the child. What is to come has you on the edge of your seat.

Burns does an amazing job with his unique characters and storyline. Each character is so strong, well-developed and believable that I found myself drawn to them right from the beginning. I particularly enjoyed how both of his lead characters were equally valid and strong even though one was male and one was female. They both exhibited strength and stamina. It really shows equality through the ages. He uses rich descriptions and strong narrative to keep things fast paced. I found myself turning page after page waiting to see what was coming. His storyline was very unique and unpredictable. If you think you have it figured out, just wait, there are so many twists and turns and unexpected circumstances things just keep flowing. There is so much creativity in the world he has created and even though it is nothing like the way our world is today, it is easy to picture it through his words.

What I really loved about his book is not only that it was very entertaining, but it also looked at bigger issues, such as gender equality, religion, and slavery, all while being a paranormal fantasy book. It's funny how just because you are used to doing something a certain way you think that it's the correct way. Sometimes our eyes need to be opened up beyond our world, and see things from others perspectives. His book also shows us that two wrongs don't make a right. Burns also takes a look into how important friendships are and what true friendship means. How far would you go to save your friend?

I would highly recommend this new series to my friends. I think this novel is the first in what is to be a great series! Can't wait to read the next one, City of Slaves.