Gilded Cage (The Canary Club Novelettes #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin Review

Hey readers, Ethan here with a new review for you guys. I'm so excited to be sharing my thoughts on this first novella in a new series from one of my all-time favorite authors, Sherry D. Ficklin. Get ready for a new historical adventure that'll rock your socks off! Read on to see my thoughts on Gilded Cage, the first in Sherry's new: Canary Club series. Before we get to my thoughts, here a bit about the novel and our author:

Gilded Cage
The Canary Club Novelettes, Book 1
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Published: December 1st 2016
Publisher: Spark Serials

Genre: YA/Historical/Romance

Series Website: http://thecanary.club/ 

The Canary Club series consists of three novelettes which together form a stunning prequel to the full length novel, The Canary Club.

About the book:

A dazzling story of star-crossed lovers set against the backdrop of gritty prohibition-era New York City and the dangerous gangs who ruled the streets.

Masie, the flaxen-haired daughter of notorious bootlegger Dutch Schultz, returns home from boarding school to find her family in crisis.Her mother is dangerously unstable, her father’s empire is on the brink of ruin, and the boy she once loved has become a ruthless killer for hire. To keep her family’s dangerous secrets Masie is forced into a lie that will change the course of her future–and leave her trapped in a gilded cage of her own making. As she watches her world fall apart, Masie must decide whether to take her place in the hierarchy, or spread her wings, leaving the people she loves, and the life she despises, far behind her.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | GoodReads

About the Author:

Sherry is a full-time writer from Colorado and the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best-selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
Sherry also writes New Adult fiction under the pen name Ranae Glass and appears as a guest speaker at several conventions annually. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin. She is represented by Nadia Cornier of Firebrand Literary.

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*****

My Thoughts:

As most of my readers well know, I am a historic fiction freak! I love everything and everything to do with historical literature and am always searching for something new. I've always been of the mindset that the historic genre is the big opportunity the YA market has, but that's another story. With one of my all-time historical series (Stolen Empire) already under her belt, I had no doubt that entering into yet another literary universe of Sherry Ficklin's would be an adventure well worthwhile. 

The raging 20s, gangsters, mobs, booze, and rubes: what could be better?

Gilded Cage is a rip-roaring good time! An incredible start to a series that's sure to be the 'bees-knees'.

I'll go ahead and admit that I'm one of the few readers lucky enough to have read Canary Club (Release TBA) [having been fortunate enough to beta-read it for the author]. That being said, I was foaming at the mouth for more from the characters and world that Ficklin created. Even I was shocked at how blown away Gilded Cage left me.

While a quick read, Gilded Cage is everything readers will be looking for and more. A great introduction to the plot and, more importantly, the life of our heroine, Masie Schultz. Our young ingenue will steal your heart and leave you begging for more. Any fan of Ficklin's will well-know her talent for crafting strong female characters and Masie certainly doesn't disappoint.

True to the setting, Ficklin's Canary Club novelettes hold nothing back. They're gritty and dark, complete with a mysterious, yet jovial-tone that fans of the Jazz Era are well acquainted with. Straight from the worlds of Gatsby and Bill McCoy, Ficklin will jazz her way into your bookish hearts with Gilded Cage.

Come for the words, but stay for the party!

It should come as no surprise that I am granting Gilded Cage a near-perfect 5-star review. Be sure to grab yourself a copy today and let's get this joint a-swinging! The perfect read to start your holiday reading season out right!

*****

Alright readers, you've heard the word! Now get-to-gettin' and grab yourself a copy of Gilded Cage today! Huge happy release day to the incredible Sherry Ficklin. Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Gilded Cage (The Canary Club Novelettes #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin Release Day Launch

Gilded Cage
The Canary Club Novelettes, Book 1
Author: Sherry D. Ficklin
Published: December 1st 2016
Publisher: Spark Serials

Genre: YA/Historical/Romance

The Canary Club series consists of three novelettes which together form a stunning prequel to the full length novel, The Canary Club.

About the book:

A dazzling story of star-crossed lovers set against the backdrop of gritty prohibition-era New York City and the dangerous gangs who ruled the streets.
Masie, the flaxen-haired daughter of notorious bootlegger Dutch Schultz, returns home from boarding school to find her family in crisis.Her mother is dangerously unstable, her father’s empire is on the brink of ruin, and the boy she once loved has become a ruthless killer for hire. To keep her family’s dangerous secrets Masie is forced into a lie that will change the course of her future–and leave her trapped in a gilded cage of her own making. As she watches her world fall apart, Masie must decide whether to take her place in the hierarchy, or spread her wings, leaving the people she loves, and the life she despises, far behind her.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | GoodReads

Excerpt:

It’s dark when I finally roll to my feet, wrapping my lavender satin robe around me. I wait until I’ve heard Daddy and JD leave before sneaking from my room and out onto the terrace. Butler has left a plate of pasta for me, covered with a tin lid to keep it warm in the hopes that I might eat. My stomach growls at the scent of garlic and pesto, chipping away at my pathetic attempt at a hunger strike.

Taking my seat I lift the lid and dig in, stopping only long enough to breathe and drain a bottle of red wine. By the time I’ve finished I’m full and sleepy and enjoying the soft tingle of drunkenness as it spreads through me.

Maybe that’s why I don’t hear the front door. I don’t hear the footsteps approaching me from behind. I don’t even hear his breath until I feel the weight of his hands on my shoulders, rubbing in gentle circles. “How you feelin’, Mas?” Vinny asks.

Relaxing back into the chair I look up, unable to keep the sour grin from my face. “Never better.”

Releasing me he steps around the table, helping himself to a seat. “That’s not how I hear it. I hear you lay in bed all day feelin’ sorry for yourself”

“Can you blame me?” I ash harshly, straightening in my chair.

He’s still for a minute, then pulls the fedora off his head and plays with it in his hands. “I’m sorry about your ma, she was a fine lady.”

I snort, the booze in my belly making me bold. “She was a nut job and everyone knew it.” Now he looks up, his thin lips downturned at the edges, “She was good to me.”

Signing I stand, helping myself to the crystal decanters on the tray. “She loved you like her own,” I offer gently as I pour myself a drink. “It’s the only thing she was good at, loving people. Wasn’t great at taking care of them, though.”

She’d tried to take care of Daddy at first. I know she always secretly hoped he’d change his ways, as if her love could make him a better man. But, as much as they may want to, people don’t really change. Time passes, choices are made, but we are who we are in the end.

“Is there anything I can do?” he asks, twisting in his chair to look at me.

I just hold up my glass, “This seems to be helping.”

Standing, he walks over, taking the glass from my hand and swallows back the contents in one gulp. 

“Never drink to feel better, Mas. That’s not how the stuff works.” I frown, pushing past him, “Don’t tell me what to do.”

He stops me, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward him until the tip of his crooked nose is touching my forehead, “I’m not gonna let you throw yourself away like she did.”

His words are sharp and they cut like glass.

I shut my eyes against them, against the closeness of him, the heat radiating off his body, the smell of bourbon on his breath. Part of me demanding to push him away, the other part wanting to lose myself in him.

“You left,” he continues, his tone accusatory. “You left so you wouldn’t have to watch—but I watched. I watched the light in her go out. I won’t watch that happen to you, Masie. I can’t. So you’re going to have to be strong. Because we need you. I need you. It’s awful dark here, Mas. We need you to be the light.”

The first tear slips from beneath my closed lids. Maybe it’s the desperation in his voice, or the fact that he’s right, but something in his words strikes me to the core. It’s tempting, far too tempting, to drink the pain away, to let it eat me from the inside out until there’s nothing left to hurt.

But I can’t.

I can’t be like my mother. I won’t.

About the Author:

Sherry is a full-time writer from Colorado and the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best-selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.
Sherry also writes New Adult fiction under the pen name Ranae Glass and appears as a guest speaker at several conventions annually. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin. She is represented by Nadia Cornier of Firebrand Literary.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Digital Horizon (#Hacker #3) by Sherry D. Ficklin Review

Hey readers! Ethan here tonight with another review for you guys. I've been closely following this series since the very beginning and it keeps getting better with each passing novel. Plus the author is one of my all-time favorites, win-win right? On the hopping block tonight? Digital Horizon, the third novel in the #Hacker series by the incredible Sherry D. Ficklin. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

One wants justice. 

One wants redemption. 

One just wants revenge. 

Still reeling from her devastating loss, Farris is barely holding it together when she’s approached by a covert government agency. The IDC is recruiting the best hackers in the country to form a team capable of tracking down and thwarting cyber terrorists. When they make her an offer she can’t refuse—a shot at catching the people responsible for the death of her father—she’s all in. But success will mean forging new alliances, betraying the people she loves, and trusting an old enemy. If she succeeds, she might finally get the closure she needs. If she fails, the digital world will crumble at her feet, putting thousands of lives at risk and exposing the world’s most dangerous secrets. In the dark web, where anything can be bought and sold, this talented young hacker just might have to sell her soul to get what she’s after. The question is, who’s buying?

          

ABOUT SHERRY D. FICKLIN:

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

Sherry is a full time writer from Colorado and the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she's on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs. Sherry also writes New Adult fiction under the pen name Ranae Glass and is a contributing writer for fangirlish.com.

*****

My Thoughts:

As my readers well know, Sherry D. Ficklin is one of my all-time favorite young adult authors. Her works transcend across genres and shatter boundaries, leaving only awe in their paths. Back in the fall she released her newest series, a YA mystery sci-fi thriller that set the stage for a saga I wasn't too sure about. While book one and I may not have seen eye to eye, book two really upped the ante and had me singing its' praises. But could Ficklin continue the trend?

Absolutely!

Digital Horizon is my favorite in the series thus far, by-far! Wow!

Rather than rehash the events of the previous two novels, I'd like to jump right in with my thoughts on this one.

First and foremost, HOLY YA. Woah people. Ficklin didn't play around this time. This is one mature YA novel, definitely pushing the boundaries in only the way Ficklin can. Adult themes, situations, and language are prevalent, but in such a way that make this YA hard hitting and so much more realistic from others we see int he same genre. I continue to be absolutely astounded by Ficklin's writing style.

Anyone who is following this series will well remember than book two, In Too Deep, ended on one of the most emotional notes imaginable, changing Farris' life forever. That heartbreak and emotion aided Digital Horizon in becoming one of Ficklin's most well-written stories to-date.

When it comes to the plot of Digital Horizon, I was thoroughly impressed. I'll be honest, I'm not much for the spy/James Bond-esque novels, but Ficklin changed thoughts with this one. Unlike the previous two novels, this 'mystery' isn't quite the same. While we're definitely still hunting a villain, the stakes are much higher. And our girl Farris definitely has some work to do. Not even old enough to drink and Farris is handling matters of international security like a champ. She's truly the perfect heroine! Digital Horizon packed such a huge punch in terms of the plotline that I couldn't set it down. I absolutely devoured this one. It's action-packed and fast-paced so any reader will fly through this one.

Not only did Digital Horizon see a much more mature plot, it also so a much more mature Farris. The biggest issue I had with the beginning of this series was the immaturity I saw in our main characters and their struggles, it wasn't the type of writing I was used to from Ficklin. Through three amazing stories now, Farris has grown and really come into her own. She's fierce in every aspect of the word and truly an incredible character role model for an entire generation of readers. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Farris in future installments of this series.

As I've already mentioned several times now, this novel is definitely more for the mature-YA readers. Sex, violence, and language are all present here and help to contribute to some of the novel's most hard-hitting themes. While definitely something to take note of, it definitely did not hinder my reading experience in the least bit. In fact, I was loving every second. It's authors like Ficklin who understand the capacities of our youth who are moving the industry forward by not sugar coating the realities of young adult life in the twenty-first century.

This story really touched me in an awesome way and left me with incredible hope for the remainder of the series. I absolutely cannot wait to see what we can expect in book four of the series. It should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting Digital Horizon by Sherry D. Ficklin a near-perfect 5-star review. I couldn't recommend this series more highly if I tried. To anyone looking to add something a bit different to your TBR, look no more! Check out the #Hacker series today!

*****

Don't miss out on book one, available now for FREE!

Click the cover below for more info and to read my thoughts!

Alright folks, that's all I have for you on the topic of Digital Horizon by the incredible Sherry D. Ficklin. You guys all know she's one of my all-time favorite authors and this read only cemented that even further! Don't miss it! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Digital Horizon (#Hacker #3) by Sherry D. Ficklin Release Day Launch

Clean Teen Publishing is excited to announce the release of Digital Horizon, book three in Sherry D. Ficklin's #Hacker series.

Reeling from the death of her father, Farris is on the verge of losing everything. When an unexpected offer lands her a summer internship inside a secret government think tank filled with hackers, she leaps at the opportunity to get some answers. Someone has done the unthinkable, penetrating a hack-proof system and stealing vital military intel--which may have lead to her father's death. 

Finding those responsible will mean teaming up with old enemies, trusting strangers with secrets of their own, and sacrificing what little happiness she's managed to cling to, all in the name of revenge. But when the trail leads her deep into the dark web and a hacker capable of launching an attack on US soil, Farris and her team will have to go further than they thought possible to bring him to justice and avoid all out war.

Watch the Trailer!

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Playing With Fire (#Hacker Series Book 1)

One brilliant young hacker.

One experimental government aircraft. 

One chance to keep it all from going up in flames. 

Still recovering from her troubled past, Farris is no stranger to change. But when the military transfers her father across the country to an experimental aircraft squadron, settling in to a new life is the least of her problems. As a series of apparent computer glitches threaten the security of the fleet and the blame falls on her father, she decides to put her computer skills to use digging up the truth. Soon she's drawn into the perilous world of a hacker who is determined to ground the fleet--at any cost.

When all signs lead to someone close to her as the mastermind, Farris will have to burn more than bridges to get to the truth. She will have to risk her fragile new life to uncover the identity of the cyber criminal before they can escalate from harmless tampering... to all out murder.

Watch the Trailer!

Get Your Copy Here!!!

                                                
In Too Deep (#Hacker Series Book 2)

One talented hacker. One dead body. One explosive secret.

When one reckless night leads Farris Barnett to the dead body of a classmate, she’s as willing as everyone else to write it off as a suicide. That is, until cryptic messages start coming in from someone who knows the truth, and they want Ferris on the case. Putting her hacker skills to work, she begins to unravel the life of a victim who might just have been the guiltiest of them all. Her personal life in turmoil, Farris turns to the only person she can trust to help her get to the bottom of things—a friend on the verge of becoming much more. Together, they confront a killer with a secret not even she could have decoded.

The biggest bombs, the ones that do the most damage, are the ones you never see coming.

Watch the Trailer!

Get Your Copy Here!!!

                                                              About The Author

  Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

Connect With Sherry Here

   

Stolen Empire by Sherry D. Ficklin Digital Box Set SALE!

Hello Royals! I'm excited to announce that the digital box set of the Stolen Empire Series will be on a very special limited time sale on 2/2. Normally the box set, which contains all three Stolen Empire novels, runs 9.99. But on 2/2, we are dropping the price for one day only. You will be able to get Queen of Someday, Queen of Tomorrow, and Queen of Always for the bargain price of just $0.99!

Don’t miss the series dubbed a “must-read romance” by the USA Today and “An entertaining and racy read” by School Library Journal. Fans of the hit TV show REIGN will devour this scandalous glimpse into the life of one of the most vibrant women in history.

The Stolen Empire series is a decedent look at one of history's most scandalous queens, Catherine the Great of Russia. Beginning with her humble origins and culminating with her coronation, this series offers a fanciful glimpse inside the life of the dynamic, strong young woman who won the hand of a king, the heart of a nation, and, ultimately, sacrificed her own innocence on the throne of an empire. The trials and tribulations of court life left their scars on young Sophie—the girl who would be Catherine, but she faced down every obstacle with the courage and grace of a queen.

Grab your copy here!

In Too Deep (#Hacker #2) by Sherry D. Ficklin Blog Tour (Excerpt + Giveaway)

Clean Teen Publishing is excited to bring you In Too Deep, the second book in the #Hacker Series by Sherry D. Ficklin.

One talented hacker.
One dead body.
One explosive secret.
When one reckless night leads Farris Barnett to the dead body of a classmate, she's as willing as everyone else to write it off as a suicide. That is, until cryptic messages start coming in from someone who knows the truth, and they want Farris on the case. Putting her hacker skills to work, she begins to unravel the life of a victim who might just have been the guiltiest of them all.
Her personal life in turmoil, Farris turns to the only person she can trust to help her get to the bottom of things—a friend on the verge of becoming much more. Together, they confront a killer with a secret not even she could have decoded.
The biggest bombs, the ones that do the most damage, are the ones you never see coming.

Excerpt:

I release his hand a moment before we hit the water, the icy cold waves like shattered glass as I drive through the surface feet-first. Every inch of my skin stings on impact, the oxygen pushed from my lungs. Below the surface, I feel a wave roll over me, the tide dragging me toward the shore.

Kicking my legs, I finally surface, sucking in a deep breath just before another wave crashes over me, threatening to take me back under. It’s only luck that allows me to bob above the water, wiping the hair back from my face. I open my eyes. A few feet away, I see Cole break the surface, gasping for air. Whipping around, he searches for me in the darkness. Catching sight of me, he laughs, cupping his hand and dragging it across the water, sending a spray at my face.

I splash him back, feeling giddy as the adrenaline floods my system. It’s a dizzy, relieved high, sort of like the feeling you get at the end of a roller coaster ride. Part of me is just glad to be alive, the other much braver part cheers to do it again. Just then, a familiar tug grabs me as the tide begins to pull me back out to sea. With a jerk of my head, I turn and swim for shore, checking to make sure Cole is following.

As soon as I feel the sand under my feet, I stand up and begin walking to the shore. Within minutes, Cole is beside me, wringing the water out of his black T-shirt.

Every step is labored, the waves pushing and pulling against my legs. My denim shorts and pale green tank top are soaked and heavy. Even the wind blowing across my bare arms hurts as we hike onto the shore and collapse to our knees, laughing.

I roll onto my back, too elated to care about the sand sticking all over me. The moon is just rising on the horizon, huge and full, its light bouncing off the choppy surface of the water.

“Feel better?” Cole asks, still catching his breath.

I put my hands on my chest. “Yeah, I kinda do.”

We sit there like that for a few minutes, just enjoying the rush of adrenaline and the sound of the waves fracturing against the sand. Finally, he breaks the silence.

“What’s that?” he asks, jerking his head down the beach.

I roll over, squinting against the darkness. A huge lump of something has rolled up on shore a few yards down from us. My first thought is that it looks like a black trash bag. Then I see something else, something that looks a lot like a hand.

“I think that’s a person,” I say, climbing to my feet.

Cole is already upright, jogging toward them. As soon as he gets there, he stops, dropping to his knees and reaching out. I follow behind. The closer I get, the more the crumpled body comes into focus. Cole rolls him onto his back and puts two fingers on his neck, checking for a pulse.

There’s no point, really. His face is waxen and swollen, his eyes wide and milky white, staring up at nothingness. His blue lips are parted, white sea foam bubbling from his mouth. The face is familiar; it’s a boy from our school. Not someone I know well, but someone I’ve seen around enough to recognize.

“That’s Mac,” I say.

Cole clasps his palms against Mac’s chest and starts doing compressions, but I put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. It’s too late. Much too late.

Mac is dead.

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Playing With Fire (#Hacker Series Book One)

One brilliant young hacker.

One experimental government aircraft. 

One chance to keep it all from going up in flames. 

Still recovering from her troubled past, Farris is no stranger to change. But when the military transfers her father across the country to an experimental aircraft squadron, settling in to a new life is the least of her problems. As a series of apparent computer glitches threaten the security of the fleet and the blame falls on her father, she decides to put her computer skills to use digging up the truth. Soon she's drawn into the perilous world of a hacker who is determined to ground the fleet--at any cost.

When all signs lead to someone close to her as the mastermind, Farris will have to burn more than bridges to get to the truth. She will have to risk her fragile new life to uncover the identity of the cyber criminal before they can escalate from harmless tampering... to all out murder.

Order Your Copy Today!!!

                                                              About The Author

  Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

Connect With Sherry Here