12 Days of Christmas! Day 12- The Night Circus

The Night Circus

By Erin Morgenstern

Why has a sequel not come out about
this book yet?  Do you like magic?  Circuses?  Imagine a world where you had the power to do phenomenal things, but there was a price to magic.  There are different ways of teaching and learning, and magic is something that has to be studied quite strictly.  But what do you do when the two people meant to battle to the death magically end up falling in love?

This was quite hard to put down.  I absolutely love this book.  Love!


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12 Days of Christmas! Day 11- The Outsiders

The Outsiders

By S. E. Hinton

This book is amazing!  Think of a combination of Romeo and Juliet and West Side Story, but then written in a way that allows young people and young adults to fully understand the differences in society and how every action you take has a consequence.  Though love isn't the driving force in this book, this book will cause you to reevaluate your life.  Everything you have and take for granted someone else may be struggling to obtain.  Not everyone is of the same class, and although people have vastly different experiences, it doesn't mean that you should think less of them.

My students loved this book and felt quite connected to it.  We had a dress up day and not only my students, but the whole school participated.  The students loved how the book had them evaluate how they would react in scary situations and they learned from class discussion that not everyone lives the same way.



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12 Days of Christmas! Day 10- Old Magic

Old Magic

By Marianne Curley

Sometimes people don't grow up in the average household with two parents.  Kate is one of those people.  She grew up with her grandmother living on a house on top of a hill (sort of like a small mountain).  On top of that, Kate and her grandmother are different.  Her grandmother runs a small shop and is known for being a witch.  Because of her differences, many of her classmates shun Kate.

One day, a new boy comes in to school and Kate senses something about him.  She brings him to her grandmother and they learn that something is seriously wrong with Jarrod's family.  Together, perhaps Kate and Jarrod can learn to look past differences and come together, learn, and defeat what stands in the way of Jarrod having a proper future.

This book is so great!  Like many other books it shows that beauty is only skin deep, and that being empathetic is always a positive thing.  I've reread this several times throughout the years and it's pure magic.


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12 Days of Christmas! Day 9- The Alchemyst: The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel

The Alchemyst

The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel

By Michael Scott

One of my absolute favourite more recent YA book series.  These books are the most amazing mixture of history and fantasy.  Some historical people/creatures/gods make appearances, and most of the time they are portrayed acting the same way that they would have during their life span.  With tons of twists and turns, there is always something bigger and more surprising around the corner, even if you think you've figured out what is going on.

Two teenagers, Sophie and Josh, become involved in a legend.  The legend of Nicholas Flamel.  Supposedly Flamel can never age, and his secret is in a particular book.  A book that Dr. John Dee intends to steal.  A book that could have dire consequences in the wrong hands.

These books are incredibly hard to put down.  Buy them and you will be living with legends, Sophie, and Josh for a while.


If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

12 Days of Christmas! Day 8- Storm Front

Storm Front

Book 1 of The Dresden Files
By Jim Butcher

If you've been reading this blog at all you would have realized how obsessed I have become with the Dresden Files book series.  Adult situations, realistic outcomes.  Dresden can't rely on magic for everything.  He has to rely on his smarts more than anything, and those that he knows and trusts.  He has a support group which is quite necessary for cutting off any bad guys and not ending up in jail himself.  Not only that, but this is a book series, which means there is always more to read!  I love encouraging people to start series of books, because generally if you love one, you'll want to read more.  I love when people find a new world they can inhabit and fall into.

This synopsis is actually the biggest synopsis of any of the Dresden Files books I've read thus far.

For Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name.

This book is a must read- and so is the entire series!


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12 Days of Christmas! Day 7- Life After Death

Life After Death

By Damien Echols

This isn't about dying.  Not in the traditional sense.  A lot of people take life for granted, especially their freedom to wear what they like, listen to what they like, and have a choice in what faith they practice.  Some places are still full of witch hunts and prosecutions, where if you are a bit different from the societal norm you can end up not only ostracized but blamed for something you never did- something that will end up leeching away your life.  Freedom isn't free, and sometimes how you portray yourself will be the only character witness to something you may have no idea about.

Imagine that you were young, still in high school, and that you knew you were poor.  Meet Damien Echols, who experienced that and so much more than he ever bargained for when he, along with two friends, was blamed for ruthlessly murdering children.  Damien's world changed drastically when he was blamed for something he didn't do and he is sharing that experience in this life altering book.  You'll learn about the prison system, what goes on behind the scenes, and what government may not want you to know.  Luckily for Damien, he now has a second chance.  Will it make up for his lost innocence and the years he spent in jail?  No.  But if nothing else, Damien can now truly live.


I know this is a lot darker and more adult than most of the books I've posted.  I've met Damien Echols and heard him speak.  He's a well grounded and greatly spiritual person.  I had my reservations about him and about buying his book, but when you see him stand there and read the passages aloud you can hear the sad truth ring with clarity.  He is sharing this not only to get his past off his chest but so others know what it's like.  Until he gets a full pardon, he is still considered guilty of his crime.  The circumstances that drew him in for questioning were ludicrous and as scary as it may seem, it could also happen to you.


If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

12 Days of Christmas! Day 6- Feed

Feed

By M. T. Anderson

Think that perhaps you or someone you know is becoming overly reliant on technology?  M. T. Anderson thinks that dependency can become deadly, given government supervision.  What if everything you did, thought, saw, was monitored?  Perhaps there will come a day when computers aren't outside of us and instead are installed in our brains.  The only let down?  If something happens to the computer, if it malfunctions, what would happen to us?

This book has incredible language for the futuristic time it is based on, which is easy to read and understand.  The concepts of doing whatever you can to fit in, and trying to be yourself despite adversity are quite prevalent with youth today.  Part of what this book does so well, is showing just how addicted to technology the majority of people have become as well as showing that you it's important to be able to stimulate and entertain yourself without technology.

I have met M. T. Anderson and he is incredible.  This isn't his first book for Young Adults, and each book has a distinctly different voice.  If you like historical fiction, look to Octavian Nothing.  More of a vampire type of person?  Thirsty was written just for you!

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Denise Moncrief's Victoria House

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 267

Synopsis:

Haunted by a dark mystery in her family’s past...
When Tori Downing takes possession of the abandoned Hamilton estate on the longest peninsula on Lake Jefferson, Arkansas, she avoids revealing her connection to the ill-fated Hamilton family. Is the glowing image that shimmers in the second floor window of Victoria House the ghost of Victoria Hamilton? Can Tori handle moving into a house with paranormal activity...again?

Tormented by a scandal she thought she’d left behind...
Until she leaves her career at the Arkansas State Crime Lab behind, she never even considers moving to Lake Jefferson, but the fallout from scandal gives Tori a very good reason to escape to Hill County and refurbish and restore the old family mansion. She settles into her new life...until the old accusations from her past start resurfacing.

Attracted to a man haunted by secrets of his own...
Drawn together to solve the murder of Jared Crenshaw, Tori and Lt. Grayson of the Hill County Sheriff’s Department dive into a tangled web of jealousy, deceit, and revenge as they attempt to solve both crimes, Jared’s death and the mysterious death years ago of Victoria Hamilton. Grayson’s past keeps interfering with his present, causing turmoil in both his professional life and his personal life. Can their love survive revealing the truth—from both the past and present—surrounding the tragedies at Victoria House?

 Review:
Tori was only moderately mentioned in the first Haunted Hearts book, but if she upset Grayson, you wanted to get to know more about her.  Grayson has a thing for the supernatural, something that he doesn't let everyone on the force know about.  Grayson may not have much of a reptuation to protect, but he still had to keep his job, and that isn't something he can do if everyone thinks he isn't mentally stable.  Can Grayson overcome his insecurities and work with another female, trying to protect her?  Can Tori allow herself to be protected and can she truly let Grayson in?

Author information:

Suspense, She Writes

Where the road to happily ever after takes a suspenseful detour. Fast paced twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. Romantic happily ever after moments that take your breath away. Paranormal romantic suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Want to know a little bit more about Denise? She's a Southern girl who has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.

Accounting is a skill she has learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She's been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

You can connect with Denise at
http://www.denisemoncrief.com
http://www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor
http://www.twitter.com/dmoncrief0131

http://www.amazon.com/author/denisemoncrief

 Book Buy Links:
Victoria House
Amazon $2.99 http://amzn.com/B00O5CUHUM
Smashwords $2.99 TBD
Barnes and Noble TBD

Laurel Heights
Amazon $2.99 http://amzn.com/B00N0795WY
Smashwords $2.99 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/471791
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/laurel-heights-denise-moncrief/1120310149?ean=2940046138290

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12 Days of Christmas! Day 5- Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

By Betty MacDonald

Illustrated By Alexandra Boiger

All children have issues from time to time.  No one is ever the same as another.  Yet Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle knows everything there is to know about children.  If there is an issue, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle can solve it.  Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's house always smells like cookies, and she always treats children with respect and as equals.  Maybe half of her magic is from giving children choices, and not expecting them to bow down because they are younger.

When I was younger my grandmother used to tell my sister, cousins, and I stories about pirates.  Sometimes, though, we didn't get to hear personalized stories about the four of us fighting pirates.  Sometimes, she read us this book.  This book was so well loved that the cover, a paperback, was in tattered bits by the time it was read to us- the original copyright is 1947.  Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a million times more fun than Mary Poppins and Frauline Maria (no offense, Julie Andrews) because there is always an adventure to be had, a lesson to be learned, but Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle always allows you to have the fun, adventure, and lesson on your own.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

12 Days of Christmas! Day 4- Howl's Moving Castle

You've seen the film.  The film is awesome.  You know that's more awesome?  This book!

Howl's Moving Castle

By Diana Wynne Jones 

This book has everything for all ages!  Worried that one may be a bit too young?  This book was written with a perfect tempo for reading aloud, the phrases easily rolling off the tongue.  Though written for young people, everyone can get something out of Howl's Moving Castle.  There is deeper characterization, more characters, and more adventures than in the Miyazaki film.  Just some of the lessons include: beauty is more than skin deep, you can only do as much as you're willing to allow yourself to, not everyone is what they seem, and complaining never helps you solve a situation.

I love this book!  This book makes me want to write magic stories, because this story allows every character to go on an adventure without romance being the primary objective.  While there is some romance, looking for romance is not at all why Sophie and her two sisters Martha and Lotte get into all the mischief that they do.  They want to experience life, go on adventures, and have good fortune.  It takes them some time to realize that anyone can have anything, so long as they work for it.


I can't guarantee that all people will feel how I did after I happened to pick this up from the Rivendell bookstore in Montpelier, Vermont but I, for one, am absolutely smitten with this story and wish that Miyazaki had stuck closer to the original.  Check below for the trailer to the movie.  This would be another great story to get children involved with, and then allow them to see the movie afterwards (which would also lead into a perfect lesson about how books and movies differ, an important lesson for any school age children).

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

12 Days of Christmas! Day 3- A Little Princess

These 12 days are really getting to me.  It seems that a ton of books I've read seem to be subliminally coming at me and saying "Gifts for children/teenagers?  Pick me, pick me!"  Today's book is based on something I saw online that I disagree with.  Apparently some people think that it's better not to call your daughter (niece, etc) a princess.

What's wrong with being a princess?  Being a princess is hard work.  You have to remain poise and collected no matter what adversity strikes you.  You have to do what is good for all above what is good for yourself.  You must also be kind.  Are those not the attributes many like to see in not just women, but all people in society?  There is a great deal of difference between "princess" and "damsel in distress."

A Little Princess

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

Not everyone gets to have a happily ever after.  Sometimes families are torn apart by work, especially if someone is in the military- something many young people face with their parents today.  Sarah Crewe has always been with her father, until one day he is going to be shipped off to war.  Despite her father's absence, Sarah continues to live with the morals and values he has taught her: that you should always try to remain collected and calm, even when upset, that you should be kind to everyone and stand up to those who are not, and above all else, that you should maintain your own self worth because no one can ever knock you down if you believe in yourself.  

The pink leather bound copy of this book can be bought here from Barnes and Noble, and is one of the multitude of leather books currently on my bookshelves.  

This book has also been made into two movies, one with Shirley Temple and one with Eleanor Bron.  I prefer the second movie, from 1997.  I actually saw the movie before I read the book, which is rare for me.  This movie also fixed some of the racial tension that is in the book which while common at the time, is not acceptable today.

A link to where you can buy this movie can be found here.

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Review of Jim Butcher's Death Masks

Death Masks

The Dresden Files: Book 5

By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Date/Time Started:
Date/Time Finished:  December 11, 2014 12:06am

Genre: Adult Fantasy
Number of Pages: 464

Synopsis: 
Harry Dresden, Chicago's only practicing professional wizard, is hired by a mysterious priest to find the stolen shroud of Turin.

Review:
Holy Hell.  Almost in a literal sense.  So Dresden has to find the stolen shroud of the Turin, which has magical powers- not because it's magical but because so many people believe that it is magical.  Once again the Fist of God comes to show us just how powerful faith can be.  While Harry is stuck dealing with bad guys Susan reappears, and he now sees that they have both changed, hopefully for the better.  Between a duel he's forced into, the case he took to find the shroud, and dealing with his feelings for Susan, Harry Dresden once again finds himself in a difficult situation that it would take a hell of a wizard to get out of.  Oh, and what's with every demon mentioning his mom?  Surely that's got to be important later on...

This is book 5, so go out and get the other four!  Then, continue reading on!  As always Butcher writes enough to give you the idea, without throwing unimportant details at you.

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

12 Days of Christmas! Day 2- Harry Potter

I was originally going to post about a book for a slightly younger audience but there is so much buzz about Harry Potter right now since J. K. Rowling is posting 12 short stories on the Pottermore website for her 12 days of Christmas, that I surely couldn't wait to write about my favourite boy wizard!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

By J. K. Rowling

My thoughts:
I received this book from my aunt for Christmas when I was 10 which is, in my opinion, the absolute perfect time to get a book about wizards who go to a magical school when they are 11.  Harry Potter and the characters within the novel are completely relatable.  For me, given that I, too, have no parents (though mine did die in an actual car accident, as far as I know), and given that I also have a scar on my forehead from my parents' accident (though it is not lightning shaped) there was no way I would ever give up on Harry Potter, or his ability to have a great life.

My Synopsis:

Harry Potter lives in a cupboard under the stairs of his aunt and uncle's house.  While his cousin is a spoiled brat, Harry lives much like a beggar, who must do whatever is asked of him so he isn't yelled at or abused.  He knows something strange is going on when he begins to receive letters, letters that even mention that he has the cupboard under the stairs as a bedroom.  Although his aunt and uncle try to keep him from the letters, there is no way to fight destiny.  What will become of Harry when he realizes who he really is, who his parents really were, and how his parents were really killed?

Age Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for children/young people around 9-10 or older.  I found that the books grew with me, as I aged between each book, with the final book coming out when I was an adult.  Although I have known some people that have read these books with children, I feel that the magic that is these books should be something everyone can experience on their own.  The books were originally written at the young people level, and slowly travel up to young adult as the characters age, with language easily understood by people around the 10 year age.

If you visit J. K. Rowling's Amazon Author Page you can learn more about the woman behind the fabulous world of Harry Potter.

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12 days of Christmas! Day 1- Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky

Today I'm going to do something slightly out of the ordinary and begin 12 days of Christmas, where I recommend 12 different books on twelve different days for potential Christmas gifts.  I was considering, and still am, one for each level of reading: a children's book, a middle level book (Young People or Young Adult), and an adult book.  For now I'll start with just one a day, but if you'd like more, please feel free to leave a comment below! :)

Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinksy

This book holds a Caldecott Honor metal on the cover, is meant for young children, and is overall amazing.

Everyone has heard the story of Rumpelstiltskin but not everyone has been able to see the story in such vivid pictures as Zelinsky has painted.  Getting this book out of the school library had been the first time I had heard and seen this story outside of Reading Rainbow.  I took this story out again and again throughout the years, and now am purchasing it for friends' children.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Flintlock by Ashley Nixon: Cover Reveal

Remember how much I loved Cutlass by Ashley Nixon? Book 2, Flintlock, is due out on April 15th!


Were you here when we revealed the brand new cover for Cutlass, the first book in the Cutlass Trilogy? If not, check it out HERE! Now it's time for BOOK TWO!

Let me remind you who the genius is behind these books:

Author Ashley Nixon's Bio:

Ashley was born and raised in Oklahoma, where the wind really does sweep down the plains, and horses and carriages aren't used as much as she'd like. She has a Bachelor's in English Writing and a Master's in Library Science and Information Technology. When she's not writing she's either working out or pretending she's Sherlock Holmes. Her obsession with writing began after reading the Lord of the Rings in the eighth grade. Since then, she's loved everything Fantasy--resulting in an unhealthy obsession with the 'geek' tab on Pinterest, where all things awesome go.



Links to social media:

Website
http://ashley-nixon.com

GoodReads
https:/ /www.goodreads.com/author/show/5199530.Ashley_Nixon

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com /ashleynixonauthor

Twitter
https://twitter.com/AshleymNixon

Blog
http://ashley- nixon.blogspot.com

Links to where Cutlass is sold:

Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Cutlass- Ashley-Nixon- ebook/dp/B00JUI2QJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408409804&sr=8- 1&keywords=cutlass+by+Ashley+Nixon

B&N: 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/c utlass-ashley-nixon/1119322567?ean=9780991132300

FLINTLOCK WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER SOON!

Flintlock Book Blurb:

Barren Reed hopes to protect the Orient from his tyrant uncle, but his plans to make the King’s life a living hell aren’t supported by the Elders of the pirate community. As it stands, Barren has earned the Elders’ disdain for his carelessness, and they threaten him into exile if he makes one more mistake.

Barren’s not the only one feeling the Elders’ wrath—they don’t trust Larkin either. Worse, Barren can’t comprehend Larkin’s wish to have a relationship with her father, and the secrets she’s forced to keep create a tension that may pull them apart forever.

When the Pirates of Silver Crest begin to die, bullets laced with dark magic are to blame. With more and more of these weapons infiltrating the Underground, discovering who’s behind the dissemination is no easy feat. As fear and tension mount among the people of the Orient, Barren and his crew find themselves in a race against time to stop the spread of dark magic before the world of Mariana spirals into collapse.

All right, so I've introduced you to the first book in the series, the amazing author behind these fantastic pirate books, I guess it's time to FINALLY share the cover!!!!

Here it is!!!!

AMAZING RIGHT!?!?!?!

Show your support for Author Ashley Nixon by also stopping over to visit the other amazing blogs who have signed up to help us spread this fantastic new cover as far and wide as we possible can!!!

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If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Laurel Heights by Denise Moncrief

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 349

Synopsis: 

A dark cloud of deceit hovers over her family tree...

Left an estate by an aunt she’s never met, Laurel Standridge takes possession of Laurel Heights, hoping it will be the safe haven she needs to recuperate from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson. Secrets long buried rise to the surface when her cousin James is murdered and dumped on the highway just outside the gates of Laurel Heights.

Her past trails her to the mountains of Arkansas...

Caught in an obligation Chase Peterson feels he cannot ignore, he agrees to help his brother Rand take back the property he believes Laurel stole from him, but Chase remains at Laurel Heights after he discovers Laurel took nothing of Rand’s away with her except nightmares, fading bruises, and a broken rib.

Unexplained disturbances shatter her hopes of a normal life..
.Are the strange bumps, thumps, and bangs reverberating through the night caused by the murderer of Laurel’s cousin James, someone Rand has sent to exact his revenge, or a disturbed soul existing in another dimension, trying to communicate with the living? Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than lust. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights?

Review:

Opening in the midst of an abusive situation between Laurel and Rand, the reader cannot help but feel for her.  Life couldn't be easy when you have to worry about a very dangerous man sending people after you, even if he can't reach you himself.  After such an event one would think to become hard, calculating, and not very trusting, yet Laurel lets the first handyman in that agrees to help her restore her house to help her make it a bed and breakfast, without asking any information about him.  Despite sleeping with an aluminum bat, you'll find yourself wanting to nudge Laurel during a course of odd decisions she makes.  Chase, though originally sent to get something from Laurel, seems to be the rational force.  Between Laurel's past with Rand and Chase's relationship with him, they have a lot of barriers to overcome if they are every to truly trust each other, not to mention a few cops and some very odd paranormal house activity to figure out along the way.  Though there is some overwriting, most of the novel flows quickly between characters and situations that may or may not be supernatural.  If you like good, clean paranormal romance, this is definitely the book for you!   

Author information:

Suspense, She Writes

Where the road to happily ever after takes a suspenseful detour. Fast paced twists and turns that keep you turning the pages. Romantic happily ever after moments that take your breath away. Paranormal romantic suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Want to know a little bit more about Denise? She's a Southern girl who has lived in Louisiana all her life, and yes, she has a drawl. She has a wonderful husband and two incredible children, who not only endure her writing moods, but also encourage her to indulge her writing passion. Besides writing romantic suspense, she enjoys traveling, reading, and scrapbooking.

Accounting is a skill she has learned to earn a little money to support her writing habit. She wrote her first story when she was a teen, seventeen handwritten pages on school-ruled paper and an obvious rip-off of the last romance novel she had read. She's been writing off and on ever since, and with more than a few full-length manuscripts already completed, she has no desire to slow down.

You can connect with Denise at
http://www.denisemoncrief.com
http://www.facebook.com/DeniseMoncriefAuthor
http://www.twitter.com/dmoncrief0131

http://www.amazon.com/author/denisemoncrief

 Book Buy Links:
Victoria House
Amazon $2.99 http://amzn.com/B00O5CUHUM
Smashwords $2.99 TBD
Barnes and Noble TBD

Laurel Heights
Amazon $2.99 http://amzn.com/B00N0795WY
Smashwords $2.99 https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/471791
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/laurel-heights-denise-moncrief/1120310149?ean=2940046138290

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Jim Butcher's Summer Knight

Summer Knight
The Dresden Files: Book 4
By Jim Butcher

Star Rating: 

Date/Time Started: November 11, 2014 3:55pm
Date/Time Finished: November 24, 2014 4:40pm

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Number of Pages: 388

Synopsis: 

Private detective/wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden is suckered into tangling in the affairs of Faerie, where the fate of the entire world-and his soul- are at stake.

Review:

Not only do we get to learn more of Dresden's past as a certain lady from his youth resurfaces, but we get to see a whole new side and understanding of the relationship between Dresden and his godmother.  While Dresden manages to get twisted into affairs between the fairies he comes to realize that he must look to the resources he has, trust, and stop pushing all of the strong people in his life away.  Although Dresden thought he was helping people by pushing them away, he realizes that everyone needs help at times, and there is nothing wrong with asking for or accepting help.

This book is the fourth in a series, which means, of course, that you really ought to go out, get, and read the first three!  Every book Butcher has written in this series features detailed characterization, great interlocking plots, and all in a fast paced style that shows the reader what is going on and draws the reader in without being overly detailed or caught in minute points.

Author Information: 

The Dresden Files are the first books that Jim Butcher managed to get published.  He is also the author of the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, Cinder spires.  He is a gamer, including tabletop, video games, as well as LARP.  He still lives in his hometown, Independence, Missouri.

For a more detailed biography of Jim Butcher, as well as a way to purchase his books, see his Amazon page.

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.

Review of Cutlass by Ashley Nixon

Star Rating: 
Date Started and Date Finished: September 22, 2014 12?am, September 28, 2014 12:22am finished

Genre: YA Fantasy
Number of Pages: 439


Synposis:
Notorious pirate Barren Reed has one thing on his mind: Revenge against the man who killed his father.  So kidnapping his enemy's fiance seems a perfect plan... until he actually does it.

Larkin Lee is more than a pretty face and fiance to a powerful man.  Her fierce personality is enough to make any pirate want to push her overboard.

But when the King of the Orient comes to Barren with a task--to find the Bloodstone, a powerful gem thought to only exist in legend, Barren sees another opportunity to destroy his enemy.  Together, Barren, Larkin and a crew of pirates set off to find the stone, only to discover it caused the death of Barren's own mother and Larkin's, too.  As his strongest allies turn into his greatest enemies, and the life of the girl he kidnapped becomes more important than he ever dreamed, Barren's quest for revenge becomes a fight to save the Orient.

Review:
I'll start this review with stating that I didn't originally know there would be a book tour for this party, but after going to the book launch I couldn't help but purchase the book because I needed to read it, and know what happened to the characters introduced, and like always, I had to know what happened next.  This book was hard to put down!

Cutlass is a pirate story but there's something for everyone: avenging family, trying to do what is right and noble to save your family, and realizing that sometimes, what you thought you knew isn't true at all.  Barren and Larkin discover wonderful and curious things about their families while on their journey.  While there is a hint of romance, this is by no means a romance book.  With all of the pirate action and treachery, this book is a must read.  Although this book is listed as YA Fantasy, the situations and characters are so deep and developed that I hadn't realized the genre until a few months later, when it was listed as YA on the book tour.  I absolutely adore books that so seamlessly fit between YA/Adult because they bridge the gap that many feel as they begin to assimilate into adult society.

Author Information:

Ashley was born and raised in Oklahoma, where the wind really does sweep down the plains, and horses and carriages aren't used as much as she'd like. She has a Bachelor's in English Writing and a Master's in Library Science and Information Technology. When she's not writing she's either working out or pretending she's Sherlock Holmes. Her obsession with writing began after reading the Lord of the Rings in the eighth grade. Since then, she's loved everything Fantasy--resulting in an unhealthy obsession with the 'geek' tab on Pinterest, where all things awesome go.

Links to social media: 

Website | GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Links to where book is sold:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cutlass-Ashley-Nixon-ebook/dp/B00JUI2QJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408409804&sr=8-1&keywords=cutlass+by+Ashley+Nixon

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cutlass-ashley-nixon/1119322567?ean=9780991132300

If you like this review, and the writing style of this quirky reviewer, please consider visiting and liking my Facebook author page: Lizzy March.