Dissolution by Lee S. Hawke Review

Hey readers, Ethan here on this Tuesday to share my thoughts on yet another awesome read. I've been all over the place in 2016 reading from just about every genre. That being said, I've been craving a good sci-fi dystopian. And boy did I find a great one! (Well, technically speaking it found me...) This time on the chopping block? Dissolution by Lee S. Hawke. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

What would you sell yourself for?

Madeline knows. She’s spent the last eighteen years impatiently waiting for her Auctioning so she can sell herself to MERCE Solutions Limited for a hundred thousand credits. But when the Auctioneer fails to call her and two suits show up at her doorstep, Madeline discovers there are far worse bargains to be made.

So when your loved ones are in danger, there’s a bounty on your head and your entire city might turn out to be a lie… what would you sell yourself for?

     

Lee S. Hawke

Hi, I'm Lee. I'm a science fiction writer by early morning, a technology lawyer by day, and an avid reader in all the other spare moments I can find. I have two dogs, a robot vacuum named Cinderella, and probably spend far too much time online learning things and arguing with people. These facts all may or may not be related.

At the end of the day, I write because the world is such a brilliant, bloody, fascinating place. I write because not a day goes by without me learning something new and thinking what if…

And I write to connect people with stories. If just one person reads something of mine that makes them look at the world a different way, then I'll count that as a success. So thanks for joining me on this journey.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

*****

My Thoughts:

As anyone who follows my reviews well knows, I love a good dystopian novel. For far too long I’ve heard “dystopian is dead/dying’, yet incredible new stories keep flying into my inbox. I still haven’t quite figured out why the bookish community has written off this fascinating genre. With so many unique twists on dystopian literature floating out there, I’m confident there’s something out there for all readers.

Last week I was contacted by a new indie author about a new release that really caught my eye. It’s been a while since I’ve devoured a new sci-fi dystopian, but I couldn’t pass this one up. Could Dissolution live up to the hype?

Yes! And then some!

While I won’t go so far as to say that Dissolution was the most original idea I have read in the genre, I was still engrossed from page one. It’s a short read (clocking in at just over 100 pages on my Nook), that I was able to devour in just one sitting. It’s fast-paced and written with a fresh voice I haven’t seen in some time. Hawke is definitely an author I will be watching!

When it comes to the plot, Dissolution reads much in the same vein as other dystopians such as Veronica Roth’s Divergent or Sarah Negovetich’s Acceptance series. A futuristic society divided into factions, following the story of one rogue girl looking to make a difference and change the future forever. What’s different? Oh boy. Hawke makes her mark, let’s just say that. Madeline (our heroine) doesn’t mess around.

Dissolution is truly the first ‘new adult’ dystopian novel I have read. The stakes are higher and it’s filled with far more adult themes than other novels in the genre I have read. The entire story has an incredible dark/ominous tone that definitely will leave you full of reflection by the time you finish. While the language and content are more than appropriate for young adult readers as well, Dissolution is one of those stories that really begs for more mature readers and thought. It’s truly a testament to the unique writing style of Hawke to provoke such thought with a novel such as Dissolution.

The story isn’t bogged down with world building or rules, but Hawke still manages to give us a complete setting that is easy to follow throughout the story. Definitely worth checking out for all readers looking to add something new to their TBR.

I’m not quite sure what Hawke has planned for the future of this series, but I know that this reader will be watching her career intently! Don’t miss this opportunity to add this incredible new dystopian read to your TBR today. I am so excited to be granting Dissolution by Lee S. Hawke a well-deserved 4-star review. Highly recommended to all fans of sci-fi and dystopian, you won’t regret this read!

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you tonight on the subject of Dissolution by Lee S. Hawke. An incredible, short novel that will have you falling in love with the dystopian genre all over again, you won't want to miss this one. Add it to your TBR today! Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading! 

-Ethan

Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2) by Sarah Negovetich Review

Hey Readers! Ethan here on this Sunday evening for the first of two reviews I'll be sharing. I've been on a reading spree lately and I am so excited to share my thoughts. First up is the sequel to one of my favorite reads from 2015, a novel from a debut author that really opened my eyes to an amazing part of the book world. This time on the chopping block? Rite of Revelation by Sarah Negovetich. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author!

Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2)
Author: Sarah Negovetich
Release Date: December 4, 2015
Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Dystopian

          

The Cardinal plans to execute seventeen-year-old Rebecca Collins, just as soon as he gets what he needs to solidify his rule over the United Territories. Faced with certain death, Rebecca discovers not everyone is under the Cardinal's control. A new alliance helps Rebecca and her friends escape the PIT, giving Rebecca a chance to live the life her Rejection took away.

But the Cardinal needs her in order to stay in power, and he doesn't care who has to die to bring her back to justice.

Her last fight was a push to survive. This time, Rebecca has a life that might be worth dying for.

Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich knows you don't know how to pronounce her name and she's okay with that.

Her first love is Young Adult novels, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty; it's accurate if not exactly motivational. We should come up with a better cliché.

Sarah divides her time between writing YA books that her husband won’t read and working with amazing authors as an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency. Her life’s goal is to be only a mildly embarrassing mom when her kids hit their teens.

You can learn more about Sarah and her books at www.SarahNegovetich.com.

Goodreads * Website * Twitter * Facebook

*****

My Thoughts:

In a bookish world gone crazy, it takes a whole lot for a debut series to stand out above the crowd. For a while now, nay-sayers have been howling that "dystopian is dead", pushing people away from the genre in fear of no original content. To this people I say, ARE YOU CRAZY? Woah. Flashback to one year ago when I got my hands on, and devoured, the first installment of this series, Rite of Rejection. I was absolutely astounded. Blown away to the point where a book I read at the very end of 2014 became one of my favorite books all year. Crazy right?

How could Rite of Revelation ever hope to live up?

Book one ended us on a humongous cliff hanger. Probably one of the biggest ones I've seen in the genre, but boy did it pay off! While I will admit that I was slightly disappointed that book two doesn't pick right up where book one left off (can't say why for spoiler reasons), Negovetich more than makes up for it with the incredible twists and turns we see right from the first pages of Revelation. It's a fast-paced non-stop plot that keeps you moving until the very end. There is not a lull in this story at all. Action packed sequences of turmoil and heartbreak will forever change your views on revolution from the eyes of Rebecca and the gang. 

One of the most intriguing aspects of Revelation was Negovetich's methods of developing her characters. We still follow the same gang (now with a few new additions), but each and every character trait we discovered in book one is magnified tenfold. We can really see each character's tragic flaw in such full detail that makes their development at times much like a disaster, so hard to watch, but so hard to look away. Negovetich really upped the ante this time with her characters. Emotions are explored, uncertain futures are tried, and we find our characters facing the toughest decisions of their entire life. Sure, life in the PIT was awful, but is the outside world any better? Can a rag-tag group of outcasts really hope to make a difference?

I don't know about other readers, but the biggest themes I got out of Revelation were the theme of forgiveness and redemption. Acceptance is key in the lives of Rebecca and the gang, but the ability to forgive those who have done them wrong, their society, their world in an effort to move forward. Not only forgiveness, but their individual character's respective journeys towards redemption is such an emotional crutch in this series. That takes strength the likes of which most novels never scratch the surface. I think that's quite possibly the reason this series is so close to my heart. It is so much more than a 'surface' level story. There is a lot at stake her, but on the forefront and the background for all the characters involved. 

Negovetich really brought her A-game with the setting in book one. As I previously have noted, her setting of the PIT was one of the most well-written settings I have read. While book two took us away from the PIT, we still see some incredible writing on Negovetich's part. The descriptions alone are enough to have you smelling the pine of the forests and feeling the thick tension in each dramatic scene. I am really excited to see what Negovetich can do with the next installment of the series which will take our gang to new places with new adventures on the search for justice in revolution. 

Original, thought-provoking, and exceeding all expectation, Negovetich soars with Rite of Revelation. An action-packed sequel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, begging for book three! 

As you can clearly see, I absolutely loved each and every second of this second adventure with Negovetich and her beautifully crafted tale of dystopian amazingness. Rite of Revelation was everything I wanted and more. It should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting this incredible novel a well-deserved 5-star review! I highly recommend this read to all fans of dystopian, young adult, or sci-fi fiction. You will not be disappointed. Add this series to your TBR today!

*****

Book One, Rite of Rejection available now! Click the cover to see my thoughts on book one!

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Rite of Revelation by the incredible Sarah Negovetich. This is one series that you do not want to miss. Add this to your TBR ASAP! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

A Bit Witchy by Danielle Fisher Review

Hey Readers! Ethan here on this Sunday evening with another review for you, I'm pushing out all the Halloween awesome this week in celebration of the big day yesterday. Don't you fret, I've got even more amazing Hallowreads for you to enjoy too! This time on the chopping block, I'm featuring the debut novel from Mrs. Danielle Fisher, A Bit Witchy. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

Eighteen year old Lena Ashlen is in the middle of an identity crisis, and the people in her life aren’t helping. Half of her school thinks she’s crazy while the other half has no idea she even exists. Her father and stepmother barely see her through the bottom of their wine glasses, and her only friends are guardian angels who are terrible cheats when it comes to poker. The only constants in her life are her obsessive crushes on both chocolate and Glenn Storm. In between losing her bra, her pride, and her best friend, Lena has no idea how she’ll survive her senior year.

When guardian angels begin disappearing and everyone thinks she’s to blame, Lena becomes trapped in a case of mistaken identity. But when Glenn and his chaotic family offer to help her find out the truth, she’s forced to ask herself whether she’s the one who’s mistaken. In between the lies and secrets of a past life gone bad, Lena soon learns that if she’s ever going to prove they have the wrong girl, she’s going to need to find the bit of witchiness inside us all.

          

Danielle Fisher

Danielle is a writer, a reader, and a lover of everything covered in cheese. When she’s not adding books to her “Want to Read” list on Goodreads, she’s trying to corral her three daughters into a semi-normal life in Bel Air, Maryland. She shares this insanity with her incredibly patient husband, her favorite black, golden retriever, an occasional snake, mouse, and a family of squirrels. The latter 3 live in the attic, but she counts them anyway.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website

*****

My Thoughts:

As anyone who often reads this blog can attest, I am not picky about what I will read and review. I've dabbled in nearly every genre and have found something to enjoy about each. In addition to that one of my absolute favorite finds come from a debut author. I love reading from a brand new author. In fact, I've been following many of my favorite authors since they themselves were debut-ers. It's a thrilling and exciting time in a young authors life to have your works read and reviewed for the very first time. Each time I read from a debut author though, there's that nagging voice in my head telling me to be careful and tread lightly. I didn't know what to expect going into this read, much like others from debut authors, but i can definitely tell you one thing, Danielle Fisher is one author to watch!

In true One Guy's Guide to Good Reads fashion, I'll go ahead and get my negative thoughts out of the way first.

First, I found the title for this one to be a bit misleading. I love witches. Witchcraft is among my favorite paranormal trope. Regardless of the title bearing 'Witchy', this novel does not feature witchcraft. Sure Lena was 'bewitching', but she certainly was not a witch, to my disappointment. Now that being said, the novel was still full of paranormal goodness, which I'll get to later.

Secondly, I won't lie to you guys, the plot for this one wasn't the easiest to follow. It took me far longer to read this novel than it should have because I found myself having to re-read several passages to understand what was happening. It eventually turned into one of those situations where I stopped asking questions and plowed through in an effort to eventually have Fisher answer all my questions in the end. Unfortunately not all of them were answered and I was still left rather confused about many things within the plot and the world Fisher created, but the main overall plot was finished and close off by the end. While the plot may have been a bit off, this may have been something that I personally found fault with and may not be the opinion of other readers. I think this may have something to do with my third fault.

Finally, I found this short novel to have a cast that was entirely too large. There were more characters and names floating around in this 200 page story that I often see in an entire series. It was a struggle placing names with faces and remembering who was who, especially when some characters were seen for only the briefest of times. Now each character was well written and I think Fisher did a great job laying out the specifics and backstory, but in the final pages I found myself asking 'is this person important? Why were they here?'

Okay enough of the negatives. You guys are going to think I didn't care for this one at all, which is totally untrue.

While I did mention I had a hard time deciphering the plot, in the end I still found it to be overall enjoyable and worth the read. It wasn't so much that I didn't understand 'what' was happening, it was more 'why' is this happening (does that make sense?). It's not uncommon to see this in the first novel of a series that will later answer some of these questions, but as of now I am unaware if this is a standalone or if there are more novels on the horizon following Lena and her adventures.

Can I also very quickly mention how much I love the cover to this novel? Seriously! How eye catching! I cannot wait to get my hands on this one!

My favorite part of this novel was the writing style. Danielle Fisher has one of the most unique styles that I have seen. She writes with massive amounts of emotions intertwined with the perfect moments of humor to give her stories the greatest impact. Each chapter packed a powerful punch. On more than one occasion I found myself laughing aloud, rather embarrassingly. Thankfully I read this one while I was alone, otherwise I'd have gotten some crazy looks. Honestly though, this did not read like the work of a debut author. The writing style and eloquently crafted words read as those of a seasoned professional, proving there are huge things on the horizon for Fisher and her career. While this one may have been a YA Paranormal, I would absolutely love to see Fisher use that same elegance and humor to craft a YA Contemporary novel, I believe she'd be the perfect fit for that genre!

I am a huge paranormal reader and while I thought I'd seen it all, nobody has brought out the uniqueness that Fisher has when it comes to guardians and fate. Fisher took the lore and completely twisted it on its' head, creating a unique and original spin on the trope. With a well-developed backstory and all the perfect flashbacks to keep the reader in the know, Fisher lured me into a world that I was more than impressed with.

Another high point for A Bit Witchy was the setting. Fisher did an incredible job with the settings in the novel. I could clearly imagine each locale, complete with the perfect word choices for setting the tone in each. I found myself completely immersed in Lena's world as though I were standing right at her side watching the drama unfold. It's a testament to the talent of Fisher and her word choices that readers have this type of reading experience.

As you can clearly see, I have quite a few thoughts on this debut novel from Danielle Fisher. While I found several faults with the novel, I still found it to be an incredible debut effort from Fisher and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. Fisher's quick wit and beautifully crafted words will keep this reader coming back for more. With all this being said, I am granting A Bit Witchy a well earned 3.5-star review. A recommended read for all fans of Young Adult Paranormal novels! Add this one to your TBR today!

*****

Alright folks, that's all I have for you on the topic of A Bit Witchy by Danielle Fisher. While it wasn't without its' faults, I still found it to be worth the read! I cannot wait to see what Fisher does next. Be on the look out for more awesome Halloween-ish reads as the week goes on. Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Hexed Hearts by Becca Vincenza Book Blitz (Excerpt + Giveaway)

Title: Hexed Hearts

Author: Becca Vincenza
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 8, 2015
Cover Designer: Airicka’s Mystical Creations

Colette had known all her life that she was half human and half werewolf. She had no expectations of a life filled with love and adventure.

Everything changed on her 21st birthday. A curse cast by witches centuries ago set things in motion, things she could have never imagined. A past that Colette has no clue about has come back to steal her away.

When Hunter, her destined but very unexpected mate, arrives, she is at a complete loss. She must learn to forget an old love and how to make room for a new love.

The curse is being recast and Colette must stop it in order to save the wolves, all the while finding who she really is.

This is a New Adult, there is some subject matter not suitable for those under the age of 18  

Excerpt

 “That is what you are going to wear?” I asked eyeing Griffin’s light blue t-shirt and dark washed jeans. He looked down at himself then looked at me.

“Why? What’s wrong with it?” he asked.

I narrowed my eyes. I crossed my arms and pressed my lips together. My nose scrunched a little. I looked down. I thought I was the epitome of a stealth mission we were going on. There was a lot of digging in my drawers and closet, but I finally found my black yoga pants and long sleeve shirt. Sure, the shirt was just a pinch too small. It rode up sometimes and the sleeves stopped just before my wrist. Unfortunately, it also stretched over my chest snugly. I saw Griffin take a couple peeks. Sometimes even he was a pig. I was seconds from slapping him. I grabbed the combat boots that I had owned for years and slipped them on.

“You don’t understand covert mission do you?” I muttered as I pulled on my last boot. I looked over at Griffin and he held in his laughter.

“Ass.”

“I heard that.”

“You were meant to,” I said with a smug smile.

Griffin clapped his hands together and I looked over at him. He had a huge smile on his face, the smile I had seen many times in our youth. I was glad for Griff, Liam and Nick. They knew how my childhood wasn’t a happy one so they made sure our childhood was full of adventures. Many of those adventures were not sanctioned by Keith, Isaac, or Rose. Most of the time, they were our secret, though as I got older I began to doubt Isaac hadn’t noticed our antics.

Griffin had the same look on his face as he used to when we would sneak out as children. I held in my own laugh now. It was nice to see the Griffin that I had grown up with, the one that kept me sane for years.

“Alright sir, let’s do this.”

Most of the bedrooms were on the second story of the house. Griffin could make the jump easily enough. I had more strength than a human but I didn’t trust myself not to break or at the very least strain something. I waited for him to go first and Griffin stood outside my window.

“Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!” Griffin yell-whispered up to me. I rolled my eyes as I climbed out my window. I was going backwards and I could feel his eyes on my backside. I turned and stuck my tongue out at him.

“Why my prince I didn’t realize you were such a gracious ass.”

“Well when I see one, I see one.”

*****

Becca Vincenza

Becca Vincenza lives in wonderful Michigan. She has a love for Skittles, rainbows, Star Wars, and reading about hot men. When she’s not wearing her author hat, she’s working to pay off her student loans for her recently acquired English degree. She recently released the two books in her Rebirth Series and is set to release the third at the end of the year.

FIND BECCA VINCENZA

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

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Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Hexed Hearts by Becca Vincenza. I have to say that this has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2015 so I cannot wait to devour it! Be sure to add it to your TBR! Special shout out to the author, and my good friend, Becca Vincenza and the incredible team at XPresso Book Tours for allowing me to participate. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Hunted (Donovan Circus #3) by Liz Long Review

Hey readers, Happy Thursday! I've got an awesome post for you guys tonight. A review of the third installment of one of my all time favorite series, written by one of my all time favorite people. It's a win-win, right? Head for the big top and secure your seats, this three-ring circus is about to take off with Ringleader Liz Long at the helm. Come one, come all, up for review tonight is Hunted, book three in the Donovan Circus series! Here's a bit about the novel and our author before we get to my thoughts.

Lucy Sullivan finally belongs with the gifted Donovan Circus. Members are finding their rhythm, even the new folks from the Grayson Circus who joined after the last attack. Lucy feels like a trusted leader who can win the gifted battles and prevent humans from discovering their existence.

When tragedy strikes camp, a distraught Sheffield sends Lucy and her gifted team to hunt down the enemy – Alex, a Chameleon with a wicked ability for war. He’s out for blood and won’t stop until Lucy and her friends are dead.

This time, it won’t be Lucy’s gift that is tested – it will be her morality. To save her circus, the price will be greater than she ever expected. This time, she will lose someone she loves. And it will change everything.

About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. Her newest book A Reaper Made is an NA Paranormal tale of a Reaper using magic to save her family from demons. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website  I  Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Amazon Author Page

*********************************************************************************

My Thoughts:

"...there must always by hope, Lucy Sullivan."

                                                                                                                                -Elias

Freaks. Abominations. God's mistakes. For years, those who are different have been persecuted. Sought out and exploited for their differences. Laughed at, mocked by the public. Not anymore.

If book have taught me anything, it's that we can only truly expect two things out of life. A beginning, and an end. Everything that happens from Point A to Point B is merely a page filler. Whether you live a life of excellence, or a life hiding in the shadows, each person has a story to tell. Not many can tell that story as well as Mrs. Liz Long.

For fans of the Donovan Circus series, Hunted is everything you are looking for, and then some. Heartache, turmoil, justice, mystery, and enough tension to slice through a tin can: hold on to your top hats people, this series is going places!

Last summer when I met Liz, it didn't take me long to fall in love with Lucy Sullivan. A spunky, brave, intelligent young woman with quite the secret: she's a firestarter, and she's not the only one. The world of Donovan Circus is full of some of the most 'gifted' individuals imaginable, but how does the series hold up after its' third installment?

Picking up shortly after the close of Burned, we see immediately how much our heroine, Lucy, has grown over the short time it has been since she returned to Sheffield Donovan's troupe. In near-full control of her powers, Lucy is out for blood: justice and revenge are coming, Donovan style.

It's remarkable to me just how much story Liz Long can fit into such few pages. While readers may take note that Hunted is the shortest book in the series thus far, I can assure you that it is by no means any less fulfilling. These pages are filled to the brim with as many emotions as a novel can hold.

When it comes to plot, Liz Long does not disappoint. Each and every page of this novel packs a punch, leaving you breathless. You will not be able to put this one down (side note: I literally couldn't stop reading, my beta-version didn't have chapter divisions! Haha!). Liz digs deep and answers some hard questions that readers have been wondering about for three books now. Finally, we're beginning to see what's really happening in the 'gifted' world. The agenda is big folks, much bigger than we thought.

While the plot took a couple of twists that I was not expecting, I wasn't disappointed at all. Some reviews have commented on the deaths of a couple of key characters in this one, but I believe that any true fan of this series can come to understand why these actions were necessary. TRUST ME, I was more upset that I care to imagine at one point, but at the end of the day, all sacrifices were made for the greater good, and with Liz Long at the helm, each emotionally draining scene was handled with grace and elegance.

Like it's predecessors before it, Hunted deals with a number of hard hitting themes. Family, loyalty, maturity, love, staying true to yourself, sacrifice, and so many more themes are explored. Unlike the other two stories, this one is so much bigger than just Lucy. For the first time, we really get a look at the big picture and see how the actions of a few are really effecting the 'gifted' community as a whole. Lucy has to make some extremely hard decisions in this novel, but with an excellent head on her shoulders, she manages to handle it all and live to fight another day. But will she be able to come to terms with her inner demons to tackle the task at hand?

Hunted is the first novel in the series that really takes us away from the fields of the circus. The Donovan gang is on the hunt for Alex and his minions, searching high and low for any leads. Their journey takes them from inside the security of the Donovan grounds (or are they really secure...?) and deep into Appalachia to help secure the future for 'Gifteds' everywhere. The hunt for Alex is on!

Liz's writing style continues to amaze me. Nothing is too heavy and everything has exactly the right amount of emotion. Like I mentioned before, this story isn't an easy one to read, but I believe that it may pack Long's best punches yet! The witty dialogue and well developed settings and plot lines in Hunted really help to showcase the amazingness that is Liz Long. I have no doubt that one day we'll be seeing Liz's name in lights!

The tone for Hunted is much darker than its' predecessors. And with good reason. Lucy and the gang aren't out for fun, their out for blood. Unfortunately, Lucy and the gang have learned the hard way that fooling around isn't going to solve their problems. It's only with precision and unwavering bravery and intelligence that the team is going to pull out of this alive!

I think my absolute favorite part about Hunted was the incredible character development that we see. Lucy was very heavily showcased in books one and two, so book three was a great opportunity for readers to learn more about our supporting cast. Including some of my favorite characters, Gabriel, Keegan, Elias, and Nikolas. I will make one complain for this novel when it comes to the characters, we don't see nearly enough Gabriel. Gabriel, the empath and sometimes love interest to Lucy Sullivan (one of my favorite characters). I will say that Gabriel still does play an important role in the story, but I'm crossing my fingers for lots of Gabriel in the next book in the series. Keegan and Lucy's relationship really grows a lot in Hunted, which really adds some heart to the story. Nikolas really stepped up his game in this story and Long does an incredible job with his storyline.

As you guys may remember, Elias has been my favorite character since day one and I am very excited to say that he plays a HUGE role in Hunted, in fact, maybe the most important role. Just saying. We finally get some much needed back story on his role in history, as well as how his powers developed and some of his emotional personal history as well. Elias fans will not be disappointed.

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone, that I absolutely loved everything about Hunted. I may be bias, but this may have been my favorite installment yet. Not only does Liz write an incredible story, she also blows her universe wide open with this novel and shows that there is so much more out there in the 'gifted' world. Long's possibilities are endless when it comes to this series. I can't speak for anyone else, but I can definitely say that this guy will be a fan of this series until the very end. This being said, it is my great honor to grant Hunted by Liz Long a very well-deserved 5-star review! Here's to the next great installment in the Donovan Circus series! Does anybody have any info on book FOUR?! Kudos to you Liz Long, Hunted was everything I was looking for and more. I could not be more proud to be a fan of this series!

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Check out my reviews of Gifted and Burned, the first two novels in the Donovan Circus series by clicking on the covers below!

          

Alright folks. What do you think? Does Hunted sound like your kind of read? As any of you regular readers know, Liz Long is one of my favorite indie authors. She's been an incredible supporter of mine and she and this series have become extremely special to me. It was a great day when I met Liz and I cannot wait for all the bookish memories we've yet to make! If you guys love a great read and are looking for something a little outside the 'norm', I've got your new favorite author right here! 

Be sure to add Hunted to your TBRs today! Let me know what you think in the comments below!

-Ethan

First Friday Artwalk: Author Signing at Bookmarx 12/5/2014

Hello all! Happy Saturday! No reviews or promos for you on this post, I just wanted to post about my incredible experience meeting four new authors last night in the hopes of introducing them to all of my readers! As some of you may, I currently am residing in the Springfield, MO area. The first Friday of each month, Springfield hosts the First Friday Artwalk where local artists and businesses showcase their trades. The event has always been a favorite of mine and usually draws a big crowd!

Here recently our area was granted a huge gift in the form of a new-used/Indie bookstore downtown, Bookmarx. Bookmarx has been open for business for a while, but I have not had the opportunity to head down and check it out until now. After last night, I can definitely say I will be a regular customer now! Before we get to the event specifics, click the links below to learn more about First Friday Artwalk and Bookmarks!

Seriously, if you are ever in the area you are going to have to check these out, so much fun! I am hoping to get in contact with the owners of Bookmarx soon to discuss getting some more awesome authors in there and maybe making some Indie Author book donations! Woohoo! Now anyway, as I was saying I headed out because I saw where local authors were going to be signing copies of their latest works. Thankfully I already knew one of these amazing ladies and she gave me the heads up! Here's the specs:

I'll be honest. I have lived here for five years now and had never heard of ORA. Apparently there are many, many more book organizations like them in the area and I am going to have to get involved in them all now! Meeting these authors was such an incredible experience and I had such a great time. You guys all know how I feel about meeting authors. They are all rock stars to me! Be on the look out here on the blog because I will definitely be featuring these ladies in the future. Here's a bit about each author so you guys can get to know them as well!

Barbara Bettis

I love to read and I love to write. I love creating stories of other times and places, of heroines ‘to die for’ and heroes to live for. And, of course, happy endings.

Find Barbara Bettis

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS |

Terri Lee

Let's get the basics out of the way first shall we? Born and raised in northern California, that part of the country will always have a piece of my heart. My family moved to Missouri in my teenage years and when the love of my life walked through the door at my summer job...well that's when my heart truly found it's home. As with all good things, when I least expected it. Of course it didn't hurt that the first thing he did was offer to buy me a chocolate malt. Forty years later I am still married to my High School sweetheart, who has always been my biggest cheerleader in whatever schemes I dream up. And believe me, I'm capable of dreaming up almost anything. We have a Golden/Lab named (Elizabeth Bennett) Lizzie, who is my muse, my steadfast writing partner. She offers only the kindest of critiques. Not to be outdone, our cat, Baby Kitty, is a card carrying terrorist, whose only mission in life is to thwart any goodness that comes my way. I make my home in a small rural town outside of Springfield, MO. The sort of place where the adventures reside only in the stories I weave, which is just the way I like it.

Find Terri Lee

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

S.J. McMillan

I live in Southwest Missouri with my awesome husband and our three lively children. My guilty pleasures include, but are limited to, reading whatever I can get my hands on, watching reality TV, singing loudly, and dancing terribly. My real passion is writing. I started writing poetry in high school. Over the years my writing has evolved into creating Urban Fantasies. I get immersed in the lives of my characters, in their struggles and in their triumphs.

*I am currently reading McMillan's City of the Gods series and love it! Review coming coon!

Find S.J. McMillan

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

Brandy Nacole

Gemini Brandy Nacole is a writer of urban fantasy books. She is the author of the Shadow World series and the Spiritual Discord series published by Ponahakeola Press. A reader from a young age, Brandy has always loved folklore and stories of beings that go bump in the night.

Brandy lives in Arkansas with her husband, three never stopping kids, two snooty cats, two very lazy bearded dragons, and one mellow turtle. She is a member of the Ozark Romance Authors in Springfield, Missouri. Whenever she’s not reading or writing, Brandy is spending her time outdoors wheeling, hiking, playing amateur photographer, and enjoying a good laugh.

*Side note. Found out last night I will be hanging out with Brandy at UtopYAcon 2015 in June! WOOHOO! This will definitely not be the last time you hear about her!

Find Brandy Nacole

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS 

**BONUS AUTHOR 

(Author was not part of the signing but was there saying hey at the time! Woohoo!)

Ellen Harger

I’m Ellen. I’m a word gypsy and emotion sifter, writing about broken condoms, unhappy marriages and women’s issues. Filled with sass and snark, my novels live at the chick-lit end of women’s fiction and women’s fiction end of chick-lit.

Find Ellen Harger

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | GOODREADS

 

Me with the group last night during the signing! Loved getting to meet these awesome ladies!

Alright guys, I will have a longer post later and more to say on the topics of ORA, local signings, Bookmarxs at a later time. As for now, I have more awesome reads to finish before the weekend is up! I hope you will all take a minute to check out all of these authors and 'like' them on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and stop by their sites to show them some love. Tell them Ethan sent ya! They were all incredibly nice and loaded me up with signed swag and personalized hand sanitizer (yes you read that right) for stopping by! Under their suggestion, I will be attending many more events hosted by the Ozarks literary communities in the hopes of meeting more awesome authors and getting involved. Know of some local events in the area? Let me know! 

Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Gifted (Donovan Circus #1) by Liz Long Review + GIVEAWAY

Hello readers and Happy Wednesday to ya! I'm coming down from my high after the amazing response I received from my #TopeReads2014 post I did yesterday (check it out by clicking here) and wanted to keep the fun going with another awesome post for you guys today! Today I am going to be reviewing for you guys an awesome novel by one of the fantastic indie authors I had the great pleasure of meeting at UtopYA a couple of weeks ago, Mrs. Liz Long! While this isn't Liz's newest novel, it is her debut novel and the first in a series I HAD to check out! I'll explain just why later. Today, we're checking out Gifted by Liz Long! Never heard of it? That's okay, because by the end, I can promise you you'll be wanting to know you YOU can get your hands on a copy for yourself!

First off, let's start off with the official synopsis and cover for Gifted!

Even in a world of freaks, being a Firestarter is considered a dangerous Gift.

Lucy was born with the ability to create and control fire. She longs to leave the human world for one filled with Earthshakers, Transporters, and Chameleons, to name a few. When she rejoins the circus, it’s everything she hoped it could be: new friends, a potential love interest or two, and a place where she can be herself.

When troupe members begin turning up dead, however, Lucy is suspected of foul play. She must not only prove her innocence but also realize the full extent of her power. To find the real murderer, she must uncover the truth behind her father’s fiery legacy while figuring out whom to trust within her new circle. Little does she know the history of the Donovan Circus and its enemies might actually destroy the entire gifted world.


 **Add Gifted on Goodreads**


Can we talk about this cover for just a second. How cool is that?! Seriously one of the coolest and most unique covers I have ever seen. Ultimately what spoke to me while checking out Gifted! Cover is circus-themed, fireball front and center. what more could you ask for? Seriously. Going on my list of favorite book covers! If I ever write a book, I know who I'm contacting, just saying!

Now that we've read the synopsis and that AMAZING book cover, let's learn a little bit about out author, Liz Long:


Liz Long

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series. Burned is the second adventure. Her second book Witch Hearts, a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers, is available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback.

To learn more about Liz, visit her website: http://lizclong.com.

Find Liz Long

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Liz Long’s Goodreads *

Before we get to the awesomeness of my thoughts on Gifted, I have two videos I would like to share with you! First: the official book trailer for Gifted!

         


The second video I have to share with you guys is a real treat. This Google hangout actually took place just this evening and features Liz reading an excerpt from Gifted as well as answering questions about the series from bloggers! Very cool insight and way to hear all about Gifted from the author!

         


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My Thoughts on Gifted:

As I type this I have JUST finished Gifted and have so much to say I can't hardly get it all down in time. Let me just say this: I am completely and utterly speechless. I love paranormal, I love New Adult fiction, and I LOVE anything circus themed but holy-hell Batman, I was NOT expecting that read to effect me the way it did. Woah. Seriously. If I was to do a Top 5 Reads of 2014 (that weren't necessarily publishing in 2014) Gifted would be VERY high on that list. Okay, let me calm down and start from the beginning.


Circus life is one of my very favorite things to learn about. As a historian, I have always been drawn into the history of the American circus. I'm not going to go into a rant here, but lets just say that circus life has had one long and interesting history over the past two centuries. Whenever I think of a circus theme or a side show or "freaks", my mind immediately goes to a 1930's-ish vibe with sideshows and sword swallowers and bearded ladies and I love it! Has anyone seen that movie Freaks? Seriously the scariest movie I have ever seen, but anyways. I. Love. Circus. History. This is why I was drawn to Gifted. At UtopYA I was literally walking down the hallway and saw Liz's circus themed table and literally stopped in my tracks and walked up to her and said "is your book about a circus'". THAT'S how drawn in I was. Gifted, however proved to be way more special than even I thought.


The first thing that shocked me about Gifted was it's setting. Not that it takes place in a circus, but the time period. While the specific date could be argued, it takes place in a relatively modern time period. While there is no discussion of cell phones, there are discussions of video games and nice RV campers that definitely give the book a modern feel. I have never read a modern day circus themed anything. That was a HUGE plus for me.

Secondly, the characters were AMAZING. Okay. First we have Lucy, our main female character who is this awesome "fiery" redheaded, 24 year old firestarter who is returning to Donovan Circus to start over. Upon arriving we meet Sheffield Donovan, ringleader for the circus with a few secrets of his own. Later we meet fellow firestarters Nikolas and Keegan (also good-guy love interest), the Greek room mate and runner, Delia (I read all of her dialogue with an accent, darn my year of Russian), Finley the shapeshifter, Bianca the transporter, Brooklyn the telepath, and a whole host of other amazing characters with some awesome powers like controlling the elements (a personal favorite of mine), telekinesis, and SO MANY MORE! Oh by the way, did I mention Gabriel? No. Oh yeah, well, he just happens to be the bad boy love interest who may end up being the coolest character in the book and has a passive power, he's an Empath! Crazy right? Imagine what this cast of characters do when pitted against one of the most most evil of book villains I have read in ages! Yes. This is definitely a read you wont regret.

Many of the review claim it's like X-Men meets the circus, well guess what everyone? X-Men is quite possibly the most amazing thing in the world, in my book. You probably won't meet a bigger X-Men fan than me. We've actually talked about this before on one of my Chelsea Fine posts (because she is a fellow X-Men fan as well)!  Those reviewers were spot-on! And to talk of Long's writing? Any author who can write an amazing New Adult paranormal fantasy novel and include as many superhero and Star Wars references as she was able to is definitely a plus in my book! I particularly enjoyed the entire scene devoted to conversations about the casts favorite superheroes including some nods to one of my favorite X-Men who would actually make a lot of sense in this novel: John Allerdyce (bonus points if you know who he is without looking it up). Many may look at this and think "how could this possibly be a NA read?". Well, I won't spoil any plotlines, but Long is quite the word wizard. She gifts us this fantasy filled world and then throws in some very adult elements such as sexual abuse and inhumane and ruthless murder. Got your attention now? So while this may seem like a fun YA read, don't let it fool you! I was pleasantly surprised! There is also drinking and lots of smoking (it's a circus, d'uh) just in case you still thought it was a YA. Don't let it deter you though!

As many of you guys know, I love and support the NA genre to the fullest but have had an awful time as of late coping with the sudden direction the genre has taken. What started out as a fun new genre about the experiences of college age adults (18-26ish) has now essentially turned into YA+Explicit Sex. That's not how I roll. I am all about a romance in a novel, but I don't want to read a story where the romance is the story! Gifted is EXACTLY what I am looking for. If you guys listened to the video above you will have heard Liz describe Gifted in two ways: first it's an adventure and second it's a mystery. No talk of it being a romance at all. This is a perfect read for any guys out there who are looking for a read to enter into the NA genre! While there is a romance/love-triangle in the story, it is very well written (perhaps a little one sided, or maybe that was just me)! It does not lead the story, but it does build the storyline in some very important ways. Seriously guys. I can't say enough about what this novel/series could be doing for the NA genre with enough help from readers and bloggers!

The storyline of the novel actually finished up with a very nice ending that paves the way for several more books in the series. While I have only read the first, I will be starting book two, Burned, immediately. After speaking with Long, I have learned that there is a draft of book three and the potential for several more in the series. I can't speak for anyone else, but I will say with certainty that this fanboy will be reading every one of them. Kudos to Long on her debut novel. I have been thoroughly impressed! Another thing I really could not stop thinking about while reading this is the enormous possibilities this series have if it were adapted into a television show. I often think about that with books and think that this would DEFINITELY go over great as a TV series. To any TV people out there *flashing light here*! All-in-all a five star read for me over here. I don't have a rating system in place here, but this book is pretty doggone high on my favorites list right now! Check it out everyone, you will not be disappointed!


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Alright guys, now that you've read all about Gifted, you probably want to know where you can get your hands on a copy for yourself! As of right now the book is available in both ebook and print format from Amazon! Here's a promo graphic for where you can get your copy of Gifted today! Feel free to share/use this graphic! 

Click this little guy to order your copy of Gifted now!

What would an awesome review be without an even more awesome giveaway to follow? You read that right, it's GIVEAWAY time!! Up for grabs this time are 2 ebooks of Gifted! 4 super easy entries available. You guys know the routine! Fill out the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alright guys, that's all I have for you on the topic of Gifted by the amazing Liz Long! I would really love to hear from anyone who reads this incredible novel so we can talk all about it! After you read it be sure to review it on both Amazon and Goodreads! Review always are huge helps to authors. Recommend this to friends, they won't be disappointed! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan