January Black by Wendy S. Russo-Review and Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Book Description:January Black

 Sixteen-year-old genius Matty Ducayn has never fit in on The Hill, an ordered place seriously lacking a sense of humor. After his school’s headmaster expels him for a small act of mischief, Matty’s future looks grim until King Hadrian comes to his rescue with a challenge: answer a question for a master’s diploma. More than a second chance, this means freedom. Masters can choose where they work, a rarity among Regents, and the question is simple. What was January Black? It’s a ship. Everyone knows that. Hadrian rejects that answer, though, and Matty becomes compelled by curiosity and pride to solve the puzzle. When his search for an answer turns up long-buried state secrets, Matty’s journey becomes a collision course with a deadly royal decree. He's been set up to fail, which forces him to choose. Run for his life with the challenge lost...or call the king’s bluff.  

My Review

 One of my favorite quotes in the book was this, "Old books are like people," Matty's grandmother had told him when he was young. "They are more than the sums of the words within. They have unique histories and personalities that change with time. Each one has a spirit that attracts its kindred souls within readers."

In January Black we find a world of the future in another land/world that is similar to Earth. So much of this book is a mystery for 3/4 of the book. Slowly secrets are unraveled and the plot starts making more sense. There are some scary things that hit close to home. These people have lost their freedoms and the government has taken over control of their lives. It's interesting to see the whys behind this part of the story.

There is a nice teen romance between Matty and Iris. It felt real as their friendship grew into love. 

January Black is a very well written YA novel that has a fascinating world built by Wendy Russo. It does has a slow start, but if you hang in there you are in for some mind blowing revelations near the end.

Purchase January Black at these locations...

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Amazon Kindle

Praise:
~Refreshingly intelligent and loads of fun! I lost a few hours as I read this book. It's a Young Adult novel that is refreshingly and astonishingly intelligent, and the love story is perfectly played out. 

~Christine Ashworth, Amazon Review The mystery was intriguing - I loved how Wendy Russo weaved in all her secrets throughout the book, how she incorporated just enough to keep you reading, while never actually divulging much of anything. I was guessing for most of it and that's pretty hard to make me do. ~Julie, Clean Teen Reads Wendy Russo has created a masterpiece. ~Ivan Amberlake,Author

   Book Trailer
 

Meet Author Wendy S. Russo:

Wendy S. Russo got her start writing in the sixth grade. That story involved a talisman with crystals that had to be found and assembled before bad things happened, and dialog that read like classroom roll call. Since then, she’s majored in journalism (for one semester), published poetry, taken a course on short novels, and watched most everything ever filmed by Quentin Tarantino. A Wyoming native transplanted in Baton Rouge, Wendy works for Louisiana State University as an IT analyst. She’s a wife, a mom, a Tiger, a Who Dat, and she falls asleep on her couch at 8:30 on weeknights.  

FACEBOOK * WEBSITE * TWITTER

GOODREADS * AUTHORGRAPH

More Information:

January Black 100th Amazon Review Giveaway

  Blog Tour Giveaway
 $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/8/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.   
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Blog Tour Review of, Protected (Watched Series Book 2), By Cindy Hogan

Product Details:

• Title: Protected (Watched Series Book 2)
  
• Author: Cindy M. Hogan
  
• Paperback: 341 pages
• Publisher: Brigham Distributing (March 24, 2012)
• Genre:YA, mystery/suspense, romance,
• ISBN-10: 0985131802
• ISBN-13: 978-0985131807

Book Description:

She has the guy. The terrorists have been taken care of and she is on the brink of being popular. Life is GREAT! Until they find her. Now she must run and leave behind everything she knows, including herself. 



My Review: 

Protected is the second book in the Watched series. (Read my review for the first book, Watched, here.) I think this was an excellent second book in a series! It picked up right where the first book left off. I have to say that Christy is one of my favorite YA female characters. The reason why, is that she is smart, cute, and most of all is she portrayed as a "real" teen. Even though she is in this horrendous situation, she still is a 16 year old girl and she thinks like one. Sometimes YA female protagonists sound and act like the women who write them; not so in this case. Cindy Hogan writes a realistic character and how a 16 year old would talk and think. 

Another thing I loved about Protected is how Christy is in the Witness Protection Program. There is so much that happens to her as she is "trained" in how to live her new life. I was fascinated by how many things she had to learn in able to protect herself from the terrorists. Many of these things/techniques come in handle throughout the book. There are many exciting things that occur, but there is also much character development happening at the same time. In Protected, Christy also learns about relationships and is able to look back at how she has treated others. This whole series is one that I would feel very good about letting my teen read. Christy has high moral standards, and they are tested in this book, but she always stays true to herself. What better message can we send our teens than this?

I also want to applaud Cindy on such great writing. When I read her books I don't want to quit reading until I am done with the book. The suspense is high in Protected throughout the book. If you haven't read this series yet you need to. This series is a great combination of YA romance, mystery/suspense and action. 

To get your own copies of Watched and Protected go to Amazon.com. The e-book copies are only $2.99. 

To visit other blogs on the Protected tour go to Cindy's blog to check out the list. 

About the Author:

Cindy Hogan enjoys spending time with and writing about unpredictable teenagers. If she's not reading or writing, you'll find her with her own teen daughters or her fun husband. She graduated with a BA in secondary education.

***I received a review e-copy of Protected. In no

way did this influence the honest review that was

given.***

Blog Tour Review of, On Little Wings, by Regina Sirois

Product Details:

•  Title: On Little Wings
• Author: Regina Sirois
  
• Paperback: 362 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (December 16, 2011)
• Genre: Young Adult General
• ISBN-10: 1468096478
• ISBN-13: 978-1468096477

Book Description:

Jennifer must do the impossible – bring her mother home. When a family is torn apart by death, two sisters take violently divergent paths and the story of their family appears to end terribly and abruptly. Two decades later Jennifer never dreams that the photo she finds stuck between the pages of a neglected book will tear open a gaping wound to her mother’s secret past. Abandoning her comfortable life with her parents and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska, Jennifer’s quest for a hidden aunt leads her to the untamed coast of Maine where she struggles to understand why her mother lied to her for sixteen years. Across the grey, rocky cove she meets Nathan Moore, the young, reluctant genius surrounded by women who need him to be brother, father, friend, provider, protector and now, first love. The stories, varied, hilarious, and heartbreaking, unfold to paint a striking mural of the shattered past. As Jennifer seeks to piece together her mother’s story, she inadvertently writes one for herself.

My Review:

 I grew up in a small town in Idaho. Small towns are charming, but secrets don't stay secret for long.They have such a unique flavor that they draw you back, many years after you have left. The setting of On Little Wings, is a small town in Maine. Main character, Jennifer, stumbles upon an explosive, family secret that threatens to tear her world apart. Jennifer finds out that her parents haven't told her the truth about not having any extended family members. She has an Aunt Sarah, whom she eerily resembles, more than her own mother. Jennifer sets out, on her own, to contact her Aunt and go visit her in the town of Smithport, Maine. While there, Jennifer learns about life and love.

This story is beautifully written. The town is brought to life with amazing descriptive writing. You could almost feel the wind blowing the ocean water on your face, and smell the salty fragrance of the sea. It is so captivating as you fully experience this journey! I also loved how all of the characters are so well developed. You meet a neighbor boy, Nathan, who Jennifer starts to fall for soon after arriving there. He is a complicated character for being only an 18 year old young man. I loved Aunt Sarah, and her willingness to love so many people unconditionally, even her long, lost niece. The old woman, Little, a former actress, who carries many hidden stories within her own soul, but willing to help Jennifer heal wounds in her family. You also can't help but be amused by the old men, The Jacks, who spend all of their time in a fishing boat. They made me laugh many times. You can understand why Jennifer is pulled into the drama of this quaint town, and doesn't want to leave. 

The best part of the story is when you see the healing that takes place in her family. There are so many broken hearts from life happenings and misunderstandings. You will also be surprised at who's the catalyst behind this coming together of family.

I really loved, On Little Wings! Teens and adults, will find this book to hold many messages, as you reflect on your own life and family relationships. This is a clean book, funny characters, and also a few tears shed as Jennifer grows and changes. You won't want to miss reading this YA literary fiction.

  "On Little Wings" is available at Amazon, both in Kindle and paperback.


***UPDATE: The author, Regina Sirois, just commented down below and told me something exciting!! Here is what she said...

"I want your readers to know that in celebration of over 160 reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, I am holding a gratitude promotion. Because I've been blessed by my readers I am giving back today (March 16, 2012)and offering my amazon ebook completely free! Not a penny. Just click and own forever. It's the least I could do. Thank you!"
 
http://www.amazon.com/On-Little-Wings-ebook/dp/B006MITQRC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

About the Author:

Regina Sirois is 90% reader and 10% writer, and as such, her loyalty lies with readers. She believes a book should do more than mildly entertain- it should change us. She graduated summa cum laude from Missouri State's Department of History and English and settled in the golden wheat fields of Kansas with her High School love. She is currently doing laundry (probably) and raising her two daughters. She fell in love the day she learned to read and cried the first time she did a word problem in math ("But it's not a problem..." sob, sob. "It's a story!"). In her debut novel, "On Little Wings," Regina Sirois holds nothing back as she dares to make us believe. You can learn more about the author here.

 

Review of "Don't Fear The Reaper" by Michelle Muto

Product Details:

• Title: Don't Fear the Reaper
  
• Author: Michelle Muto
  
• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 331 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Dreamscapes, Ink (September 23, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005P4534O

Product Description:
 
Grief-stricken by the murder of her twin, Keely Morrison is convinced suicide is her ticket to eternal peace and a chance to reunite with her sister. When Keely succeeds in taking her own life, she discovers death isn’t at all what she expected. Instead, she’s trapped in a netherworld on Earth and her only hope for reconnecting with her sister and navigating the afterlife is a bounty-hunting reaper and a sardonic, possibly unscrupulous, demon. But when the demon offers Keely her greatest temptation—revenge on her sister's murderer—she must uncover his motives and determine who she can trust. Because, as Keely soon learns, both reaper and demon are keeping secrets and she fears the worst is true—that her every decision will change how, and with whom, she spends eternity. 

My Review:
Don't Fear the Reaper has a beautiful cover that pulls you in.The first chapter of this book is one of the most haunting, breath-taking and heart stopping I have read. In fact, the first paragraph quickly shows Michelle's awesome,descriptive writing style.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for they are with me. I repeated my version of the psalm as I watched the ribbon of blood drift from my wrist. I’d hoped it would be a distraction—something to stop me from wondering what my sister’s dying thoughts had been. Exhaling slowly, I let the emptiness consume me."
-Michelle Muto. Don't Fear the Reaper (Kindle Locations 53-57). 

 (Spoiler Alert!!)
I will be honest and tell you exactly what happens; Keely commits suicide in the first chapter of this book, because she thinks that she was responsible for her twin sister, Jordan's death. When I said that this book is breath taking, I meant it. There are some graphic scenes as she does the deed, but not so gruesome to make you sick. You literally hold your breath waiting to see if she follows through, and then to see if she is really dead. I do want you to know though, suicide is NOT glorified in this novel, in fact, it is exactly the opposite. Author Michelle Muto, does a marvelous job of showing the great remorse that Keely has about what she has done. She shows how much Keely wishes she could be alive again. She especially shows the sorrow she is enduring, seeing how much she hurt her parents, by killing herself.

The interesting concept in this book is how the recently dead person is first taken by the reaper and then either an angel takes their soul to Heaven or a demon takes the soul to Hell. In Keely's case, her fate has not been decided yet. She has to "hang out" or stay Earthbound, with the reaper that took her from her body and the demon who will probably take her to Hell because of her committing suicide. The interesting thing is that I really liked both the reaper, Banning, and the demon Daniel. They really grow on you. You start to care about them and frankly that is scary, so I chalk it up to Michelle's fantastic writing! This book is a fast read and I could not put it down. When I say that, I mean it. 

The demons in this novel are down right scary. They pull no strings and are always out for the kill. This book is more on the dark side, but not depressing. By the end of the book, you feel enlightened by the lessons that Keely learned from her experience. 

Don't Fear the Reaper is one of my favorite books of 2011. It is for upper teens and adults. This book will move you; it will make you laugh, cry, cringe and hold your breath in anticipation. I know I was left thinking about this book and the characters and I will be for a long time. 







About This Author:
Writer of urban fantasy, the paranormal, and all things eerie and curious. Lover of scary books and funny movies, sports cars, chocolate, and changes of season. Owned by two incredible dogs and an iMac. Author, wife, sister, freelance tech writer, and IT geek. 


To learn more about Michelle please visit her website at:

http://michellemuto.wordpress.com/ 

 

 

 

**I was given a review e-copy of this book. In no way did this influence the review that was given.**

My Blog Tour Review of "Watched" by Cindy Hogan

Synopsis:
It takes more than a school trip to Washington, D.C. to change fifteen year old, Christy’s life. It takes murder. A witness to the brutal slaying of a Senator’s aide, Christy finds herself watched not only by the killers and the FBI, but also by two hot boys. She quickly discovers that if she can’t help the FBI, who want to protect her, it will cost her and her new friends their lives.

My Review:
Christy comes from a small town where she considers herself brainy and not very popular. On a trip to Washington D.C., that she won through a scholarship, her life changes in many ways. She not only witnesses a murder (Which is written in great detail and made my stomach turn), but she also experiences the attention of two boys in her life.

I love that this story was placed in Washington D.C. I loved visiting this area many years ago. I wish that I could have gone on a school trip like this, minus the murder Christy and her friends witnessed. Cindy does an excellent job of describing the many sites found in D.C., without bogging the reader down with too many details. I appreciated this aspect of Cindy's writing.

Watched is a good combination of a thriller and teen-age romance angst. Christy and her friends are being followed throughout the story. The thing that keeps you on edge is trying to figure out who is really the good and the bad guys. The FBI agents make you wonder if they are there to truly help Christy or are they really there to harm her? Then Christy also has a problem with the two young men, Rick and Alex. They are both chasing her and being only 15, Christy is not sure how to handle them. Christy does a lot of soul searching as she is dealing with the attention from these boys. She struggles with her morals and values that she was taught back at home. There are some good lessons for teens in this book. I felt for Christy as she found herself in situations, that she knew she could have prevented, if only she had stuck to what she believed in. This character does grow and change on this school trip. It also makes me want to lock up my 13 year old daughter and never let her out of the house.

I don't want to give anymore of the plot away. I want you to read this one on your own. I liked Watched and I am looking forward to the next book in the series called Protected. Cindy is finished writing the first draft and starting on the edits. Please make sure that you read below to see how to enter to win a gift certificate from Amazon.com.



Here is the info from Cindy's blog telling how to win a Gift certificate from Amazon.com by leaving your own review of Watched here and at Cindy's blog. Also, you can purchase Watched for only $2.99 as an e-book.

All week long you'll get to read reviews of Watched on some fun blogs and have chances to win prizes. Some of the blogs are even giving away signed copies of Watched. Go visit the blogs on the list below and find out what the buzz is all about.

You could also win a $10 Amazon gift card just for writing your own review of Watched in the comment section of this blog or emailing it to cindymhogan at yahoo dot com before August 12th.

That gives you plenty of time to read it and review it. Buy an ebook (only 2.99 right now)here for Kindle or here for Nook or print books here.

Earn 5 bonus points by posting your review with a link to buy Watched, on your own blog before August 12th. Make sure you comment with a link to your site so I can give you the 5 bonus points.


Check out these fun blogs on these days and you just might win something super fun!

Monday, July 18th Lisa Ann Turner -fun stuff about me. And Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Tuesday, July 19th Canda's Inkblast

Wednesday, July 20th Teen Book Guide and

LDS Women's Book Review

Thursday, July 21st Fire and Ice

Friday, July 22nd Star Crossed Book Reviews

Monday, July 25th Ink Drop Interviews- more fun stuff

Tuesday, July 26th Why Not Because I Said So

If you visit all the blogs on the day they post the review/interview, just leave me a comment here that you did by Wed. July 27th for the 5 bonus points to win the $10 gift card.

Have fun!

Biography:

Cindy M Hogan graduated from BYU with a B.A. in education. She is inspired by the unpredictable teenagers she teaches. She loves the outdoors and spending time with her husband and two daughters. Most of all, she loves to laugh.

Where to find Cindy M. Hogan online:

Website: http://cindymhogan.blogspot.com
Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: http://watched-thebook.blogspot.com

Where to buy in print:

Purchase Watched for Nook. (Bargain price at $2.99!)
Purchase Watched for Kindle. (Same bargain price as above!)
Purchase a paperback copy of Watched.


I was given a free review copy of Watched. In no way did this influence the review that was given.