Reader's Favorite

Monday, October 21, 2013

Alterant (Belador, #2) by: Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love BOOK REVIEW

Alterant (Belador, #2)Alterant
Belador, Book Two
by Sherrilyn Kenyon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alterant is the second book in Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love's combined efforts series Belador.

Ok, I'll come clean, I LOVED this book. I loved the first book. There was something about Tzader and Quinn and even Storm that just exudes sex appeal and raw manness right out of the book. I just was intrigued by them, captivated and couldn't put the books down. While I was waiting for this book to arrive, after reading the first, I read some more of Sherrilyn Kenyon's books, and how she makes the draw, the appeal and the grab of the male characters come across in writing is beyond me. I am not talking sex scenes, but just in the protection of a lady, the kindness, the way they talk and act. It is just amazing!

So back to the story, this book picks up right at the end of book one, Blood Trinity. Yes, book one ended in a cliff hanger, and normally I hate those, it just makes me so made, but in this one all I wanted was to get the next book and read it. This one again just kinda ends in the middle of the story, I mean some things are resolved but new things are opened and just as those are about to begin, the book ends. It has me clawing at the computer to get the next book!

Evalle is slowing learning that not all men are to be rejected. That the hurts of one man does not apply to the whole of mankind. Although being an Alterant puts her in a class below others, she still fights for truth and justice. And she just may have found that someone knows more about the Alterants and where they came from. It just might help her to understand, but as always, there is a catch. Can she trust someone who has betrayed her in the past.

Evalle isn't the only one to have their lives and futures played with. The Goddess Mecha is playing in a number of lives, including that of Tzader and Brinna. To be honest, there were times when I wanted to smack Mecha and tell her to butt out, but she is the Goddess so I guess she can do whatever she wants, but I find her a little hard to like after this book. It's just a little scary the way she thinks people should give up true happiness to do her bidding.

This book had a pronunciation key at the end of the book, which I loved!! Wished it had been in the first book, but I found that I was pronouncing things correct. The "evil" druids that are trying to take over are called the Medb, which if you know Gaelic is pronounced Maeve. That happens to be my daughter's name, so I had to tell her about her role in the book. As a family we always find it neat to see names we know in a book, and since my kids all have very traditional old Irish names, I never see them in a book. Sherrilyn Kenyon has changed that. She has included my daughter in this book, and in the League series, my son Tiernan is one of the characters! Wow! Now how often do you see that?!

This is a great book, a great series and even more a great author. I am looking forward to reading more of this series and more by this author.

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Of Dreams and Shadow (Forget Me Not, #1) by D. S. McKnight BOOK REVIEW

Of Dreams and Shadow (Forget Me Not, #1)Of Dreams and Shadow by D.S. McKnight
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I belong to a number of book groups, writing groups and reading groups. In one of those groups, I was asked to read this book and write a review for the author. I agreed, because I love to read and write, but I made it clear that my review would be my honest opinion, they agreed and and I read Of Dreams and Shadow on my Kindle.

You might call it a Young Adult novel, since the main characters are teenagers in High School. I really didn't think of it that way, I barely remembered at times they were in High School because of the story. Even if you think you don't like anything labeled as Young Adult, give this a try, it's really not what you would think of as Young Adult, a little more mature.

The story starts with the disappearance of a bright little four year old girl named Sarah, that is witnessed by the next door neighbor boy, Chase also four, but no one can believe what he tells them. It's a mystery. Fast forward twelve years and a new family moves in next door to a teenage Chase, and they have a teenage daughter his age.

As Jenna adjusts to moving from the big city of Charlotte to the small town of Parson's Cove, in the middle of the school year no less, she makes friends and enemies. She thinks the boy next door, Chase is an enemy, but there is more beneath what he is thinking, every time he sees her he is reminded of Sarah.

The story plays out as Jenna and Chase learn to be friends, and learn more about the truth of what really happened to Sarah. It was just as Chase saw it happen, it is just that it doesn't make sense then, now at the older ages, and learning the things they do, it makes more sense.

I really enjoyed the book, it only took me two days to read, and that is only because I had to put it down and stop reading for awhile to take care of the family, or I would have read it straight through! I liked it! Young adult, ok they are teens, but it wasn't the annoying coming of age that a number of young adults have been recently. Paranormal, in a way but not as much as you would think. It's more about the idea that there is more than just life or death, but something in between.

I found it to be well written, to captivate my senses and draw me in. Yes, there were a few times when I wanted to smack Jenna in the head and say "Girl, are you dense?" but only a few, and then I had to remember she is suppose to be a junior in high school, so maybe I should cut her some slack.

This book stands on it's own, but from the ending, I can see where there is an opening to carry on with the books ideas and move into another story. I liked that it stood alone, that I didn't feel I needed another book to finish the story. It ends on a good enough note that you feel the closure of the story and you can move on, it's not a cliffhanger. I am so tried of reading books that end leaving you guessing and you have to read another just to get closure.

Overall, I gave this a high rating, and I normally don't do 5 stars, but it deserves them. It was just a good book that anyone can enjoy, not just young adults, trust me I have teens at home, so I am no spring chicken and I loved it!

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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Harry's First Christmas by G. Norman Lippert BOOK REVIEW

Harry's First ChristmasHarry's First Christmas by G. Norman Lippert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

J. K. Rowling may have given Harry Potter life and a voice, but G. Norman Lippert has given voice to the previous generation in this booklet, James and Lily, Sirus and Remus and to the next generation in the James Potter series. He follows the original perfectly without a catch in the voice, you would swear it was the same author!

This small book gives a little insight into the first Christmas, just before James and Lily were killed. You see the deep friendship between James, Sirus and Remus. You can understand Pettigrew's seduction into being tempted to give them up, and there is a brief encounter with Lily and Servus.

It just fills in what you have probably already imagined in your head would have been happening, but it is enjoyable to read it.

This is fan-fiction, which means that this book is free to anyone. You can download it from Goodreads or from the authors website for free, he can not sell it. Also all of his James Potter books are free because they are fan fiction, thus it takes him longer to write them since he still has to pay the bills somehow. So this is my soapbox speech, if you read any of the fan-fiction and enjoy it, support the author and buy some of his other works so that he can continue to give us the fan-fiction. I do, and I really want more James Potter books.

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James Potter and The Morrigan Web (James Potter, #4) by G. Norman Lippert BOOK REVIEW

James Potter and The Morrigan Web (James Potter, #4)James Potter and The Morrigan Web by G. Norman Lippert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

James Potter and the Morrigan Web is the 4th book in the series. It is in a genre called fan-fiction, which means that is is based on the ever-popular Harry Potter series, but not written by the same author. This being the case, Norman Lippert does a wonderful job staying true to the charcters and the places of the original book.

Now, for my little soapbox speech, since this is fan-fiction, you can not buy these books. They are only available for free on his website. Yep, he doesn't get a dime for writing them, just our love of them. Anyone who knows writing or reading books, knows what it takes to write a book. Now, Norman is honest in that he would like to write the 5th book, already has a title, but is just not sure he can. My plea to everyone, if you have read any of the James Potter series, you read this review and you like it, buy some of this guys other books. They are all good. Let's support this guy though the works that he does get paid for so he can continue to write the ones that he gives us for free.

This book begins with the veil of secrecy being torn. when that happened the great Wizard city of New Amsterdam, which would be like New York City and just happens to be about fifty feet in the air above New York, so when the veil is gone, all the sudden, all these Muggles see this great city above them. Of course it freaks them out! Now, this of course brings out the different factions of people, the ones who want to repair the veil quickly and return to a world apart of wizards and muggles seperate, another that wants to make use of the tear and try to live together in harmony, and then the age old group that wants to enslave the muggles even if it means acting like they want harmony first.

I find this a history repeating itself theme, it happened in the Harry books. Voldemort rose, the next generation cme along and he was able to rise again, now with the next generation of James, the threat is rising again. But don't think it only happens it books, it happens in real like all the time. Let's see, Slavery in United States, Holacaust in Germany, genocide in Africa and on and on the list goes, we never seem to learn from our mistakes. The same things happen over and over again.

As a parent, this was one thing I loved about the Harry Potter and now the James Potter books. I could read them with my kids, and we could enjoy the stories and another world, but at the same time, the themes, the issues could be brought back and related to current events and things that are going on in our world today. It was a wonderful way to have a conversation with my kids. I think it is a great tool for any parent, and everyone knows that parents need all the tools they can get in keeping communication open with their kids.

It's really hard to give much about the book without giving it all away. Just know that all your favorites are there. Professors Longbottom and McGonnal, James, Albus and Lily, Rose and Scopious, Ralph and Zane. Of course it would be a Potter book without a visit from the old guard, Harry and Ginny, Ron and Herminoe and even Haqrid.

The story is well-written, it's captivating and entertaining. It keeps you wanting to read, and although it is completely different than the Harry Potter series, it doesn't feel that different, it seems natural that things would have grown and changed, although not much in the time that Harry has been away from school. It all just works well together.

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James Potter and the Vault of Destinies (James Potter, #3) by G. Norman Lippert BOOK REVIEW

James Potter and the Vault of Destinies (James Potter,#3)James Potter and the Vault of Destinies by G. Norman Lippert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The James Potter series is a fan fiction book written by Norman Lippert in response to the Harry Potter series, taking up after it and following the next generation.

I have enjoyed the James Potter series, enjoyed catching up with the characters. I still liked this book, and although I thought it was well written, it was more of Mr Lipperts own though. This book took place in the United States at their wizard school, and I found that even as it was good, I really missed Hogwarts, there is just something magical about Hogwarts and England that the USA can't convey.

Still it was a great adventure and school ending, and it fulfilled a need to continue on with the story.

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James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing (James Potter, #1) by G Norman Lippert BOOK REVIEW

James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing (James Potter, #1)James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing by G. Norman Lippert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I found this book by chance as I had just downloaded the Goodreads App to my new phone and I was searching ebooks available through it, this came up and since I had loved the original series I knew I had to try this.

This is a book written not by the original author of the Harry Potter series, J K Rowling, but by another author and it is written in a genre call fan fiction. This was new to me but apparently there are a great number of these type if books written. The other thing I learned was that the author of this book does not make any money on this book because the characters are registered to another author, but he still writes them for the fans who want them.

This book follows Harry and Ginny's first born, James in his first year at Hogwarts. James finds his own adventures at Hogwarts even without Voldemort around to cause havoc. James has to deal with his own fears and expectations. He is worried about living up to his fathers expectations although his parents put no pressure on him, he still feels like a failure when he doesn't make the Quidditch team,

This book is well written and a tribute to the original books. It deviates from the original making this more his own but that doesn't bother me. The connection between the characters of the original and this book are wonderful and really make you feel it all goes together. It was such a joy to return to Hogwarts.


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AUTHOR: G. Norman Lippert

Author:  G. Norman Lippert
Goodreads Author Page
Author's Website                        

James Potter Series
1.  James Potter and the Hall of Elder's Crossing
E-Book Link                    My Review Link                   E-Book Link
2.  James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper
E-Book Link                    E-Book Link
3.  James Potter and the Vault of Destinies
E-Book Link                    My Review Link                   
4.  James Potter and the Morrigan Web
My Review Link

E-Books on Goodreads.com
1.  Harry's First Christmas
E-Book Link                    My Review Link
2.  Merlin's Gift
E-Book Link
3.  Petra's Getaway
E-Book Link


Other Books - not in a series

The Girl on the Dock - A Dark Fairy Tale
Author Website Link                  Amazon Link

The Riverhouse
Amazon Link

Ruins of Camelot
Amazon Link

Flyover Country
E-Book Link


***Please note****
The James Potter books are in a genre called FAN FICTION meaning they are based on another author's work, which means that this author can write the stories, but can not sell them. They are available on his website for free.  This means that it takes longer for him to write on, as he needs to write a book that does sell to pay the bills so he can write the FAN FICTION.  Once you read one you will understand why this is such a great thing, and why I am begging you to support this author so that he may continue to write the free FAN FICTION books.  Thank you!!