Review: Raining Embers (Book #1) by Jessica Dall

Genre: Fantasy
Published: November 3, 2015
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing, LLC
Pages: 280
Source: Sage's Blog Tours / Author
Synopsis:
Palmer Tash always follows the path of least resistance. He has an unusual disability involving his hearing. But in theocratic Latysia, being different isn’t a good thing, so he conceals his problem.

Brier Chastain’s malady is even more debilitating, and she often must take to her bed for long periods. Her days are spent in meaningless pursuits as she awaits an arranged marriage.

When Palmer and Brier are kidnapped on the same night, they meet and discover that their so-called disabilities are actually budding powers. They are the incarnations of Order and Chaos. With their country on the brink of war, the two must step into their predestined
roles and learn to take control of their own destinies.

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Google│Red Adept Publishing│Kobo│iBooks

About the Author:

Jessica Dall finished her first novel at the age of fifteen and has been hooked on writing ever since. In the past few years, she has published two novels, The Copper Witch and The Porcelain Child, along with a number of short stories that have appeared in both magazines and anthologies.

In college, Jessica interned at a publishing house, where her “writing hobby” slowly turned into a variety of writing careers. She currently works as both as an editor and creative writing teacher in Washington, DC.

When not busy editing, writing, or teaching, Jessica enjoys crafting and piano, and spending time with her friends and family. She can most often be found at her home in Maryland with a notebook and her much-loved, sometimes-neglected husband.

Author Links:

Website│Twitter│Facebook

My Rating:

★★★☆☆

Review:

I received this book from Sage's Blog Tours for the book tour, all reviews and opinions are my own. If you would like to check out the rest of the blog tour click here for the official schedule. 

The plot is what hooked me from the beginning, I mean who wouldn't want to read about Order and Chaos. I really enjoy books with gods in them so this one was right up my alley. The beginning of the story was a bit slow for me which I expect in the fantasy genre since you are building a whole world basically from scratch. So I could have overlooked that but the characters seemed a bit flat at least in the beginning. As the story progresses the two main characters loosen up a bit and show a bit more emotion and of course the action gets really good near the end.

The relationship between Brier and Palmer was confusing, at times it seemed that Briar was playing with Palmer and at others seemed like she really liked him. I understand for some of their time together it was under duress but when they were in the clear and had time together they could have talked about it a bit more, also for Palmer who is supposed to be omniscient sure has no clue when it comes to Brier or anything happening with women. Like I expressed above they do loosen up a bit and you do see some emotions between them and I think Rosette did a lot just by being there which kept them together and made them seem closer.

Rosette is one of my favorite characters, she brings people together without trying to hard. She also has some wicked powers that I would like to know more about. Is she the embodiment of another god or are her powers just randomly given to her. I can't really say to much about her and the ending because spoilers but she is so wicked and awesome when helping Brier. I am glad she is part of the group and a help even though she is a little kid.

I hope to see more of Rosette and her family with Brier and Palmer in the books to come. I think this series could turn into something fantastic. Though the first book didn't leave off on a cliff hanger it is the first book in a series, so I am intrigued on what is going to happen next.

Review: Confessions of a Punk Rocker (Book #0.5) by Nessie Strange

 

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Published: September 22, 2015
Publisher: Etopia Press
Pages: 183
Source: Red Moon Book Tours
Synopsis:

Jack Norris just lost his best friend—who also happened to be his band’s drummer—to a drunk driving accident. As he navigates the uncertainty of the band’s future, as well as his own personal demons, his life spirals out of control. To make matters worse, his dead friend is back, and it’s wreaking havoc on Jack’s sanity. When a new acquaintance not only hooks him up with a drummer, but promises to help get rid of his ghostly stalker, Jack’s life does a one eighty.

Drew MacLellan, the new drummer, is helping to bring the band back from the dead. He’s also got an insanely hot older sister who is definitely not Jack’s biggest fan. Jen MacLellan is nothing like the women Jack’s dated in the past, but the more he gets to know her, the deeper he falls. The only problem is, she’s got a boyfriend. Caught between his growing attraction and the desire to do the right thing, Jack does everything he can to keep things as just friends. The longer it goes on, the more he realizes it isn’t possible. Can Jack win the heart of the woman he’s fallen for? And can he figure out how to help his dead friend rest in peace...permanently?

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│Google│iBooks│All Romance E-Books│Etopia Press

About the Author:

Nessie is a Massachusetts native and mother of two who has dabbled in everything from abstract painting to freelance sports reporting. She also loves a good story, whether it's reading or writing one. The first two novels in her Living Dead World series--Living Dead Girl and Reaper Madness--were published in 2014

Author Links:

Website│Blog│Facebook│Twitter│Amazon│Goodreads│Pinterest

My Rating:
★★★★☆

Review:

I received this book from Red Moon Book Tours for the book tour, all reviews and opinions are my own. If you would like to check out the rest of the blog tour click here for the official schedule.

I also have a review of the second book here.

This was really good and I am glad that we get to see from Jack's point of view on how some events happened and what he was thinking. The whole first book is only from Jen's point of view so I am so happy to read it from his. And now by the end of this one we understand some things that happen in the first book, it all makes sense after this one. Why he can see his dead best friend and then what he does in the end to make things different so he can't see them anymore.

Even though some times Jack is a mess and messes up his life he is still sweet and a good guy, I liked how Jen's best friend PJ was always in Jacks corner egging him on and pushing him towards Jen. I would like to see her later on in the story or a short story of her as well, she seems like she has and interesting background.

I do not like Jacks family or his brother very much I feel he kind of set things in motion for how they ended up in the first book. He needs to go jump off a cliff or something I am wondering if he will also make a appearance in future books or are we done with him and that life of theirs that they left behind?

This was very good and now all I can think about is the next book in the series. I need more! I hope this is just a taste of more to come. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

My eyelids strain against gravity. Last night’s binge hangs in the back of my throat, threatening to reappear. Maybe. All I know is the inside of my mouth tastes like a used tissue and my head throbs, right between the eyes. I don’t even remember how I got home.

“Hey, Jack, get up.” The door swings open and my brother Ashton pokes his head in. A beam of light cuts through the darkness and stabs me square in the face. Am I still drunk? Groan. I shouldn’t have had those last three beers. Or that shot of whiskey to top it off. Right now, any sudden movement would be a bad idea.

“Dude?” Ashton widens his eyes at me and jerks his head to the side, a move that’s one part impatience, but mostly asshole.

I fold my arms behind my head to show him I’m not in a rush to do anything. This will piss him off even more, I’m sure of it. It’ll also give me time to scrape the fuzz from my brain. “What.”

“Uh, funeral?” He looks at his watch. “It’s nine-thirty and we need to be there in forty-five minutes.”

As if I could forget something like that. My buddy Eben got tanked a few nights ago and lost control of his car. It flipped over, skidded across the median, and smashed into the concrete barriers on the other side. They say he died instantly.

“And?”

His eyes look like they’re ready to roll back into his skull. “And you need to get your lazy ass out of bed. Now.”

Right. Get out of bed. It doesn’t seem possible that I’m burying one of my closest friends today. A wave of dizziness washes over me as I try to sit. My eyes snap shut. That’s it, I’m never drinking again. “Chill the fuck out. I’m getting up.”

“Yeah, well, get a move on.” He stands in the doorway with his arms folded across his chest and watches me. Could he be any more annoying?

“What?”

“If I leave the room, you’re just gonna sit there instead of coming out to the kitchen. Where the rest of the band is already waiting, by the way.” He cocks his head to the side. “They’re pretty much always waiting on you, aren’t they?”

“Go fuck yourself,” I mumble while I untangle my legs from the blanket. I’m holding my breath now. It’s funny how smells like stale air and dirty laundry seem magnified when you feel like you’re gonna puke.

Ashton shakes his head. “Grow up.”

I shoot him a dirty look, but don’t answer.

“Sometime today.”

“Do I at least have time to shower, or are you gonna stand there with the stopwatch if I do that too?” I grab a towel from the floor and brush past him, slamming the bathroom door behind me.

“Hurry up, Jack.” His voice is thankfully muffled by the door.

The shower turns cold after the first couple minutes. I stay under the water anyway, tilt my head back and focus on the mosaic of peeling paint and mold spots above me. Man, I never realized what a luxury hot water was until I moved in with my brother. I’m shivering to the point my teeth chatter together by the time I get out, but I couldn’t possibly be more awake.