Book Release: Dakota Captive

Today is a very exciting day for author Alythia Brown. Her new book, Dakota Captive, is being released. I had the pleasure (although she may tell a different story, ha) of working with her as her editor for this book. In other words, yes. I am totally biased about how awesome this book is. (Hey, at least I'm honest about it!)

Dakota Captive is the first book in a trilogy. To give you an idea about the storyline, read the blurb below. In the meantime, allow me to explain to you why this is such an awesome story and why you need to go buy it as soon as you're done reading this blog. The story line is rich with vivid descriptions of both people and places. From the moment you first meet the Earth Spirits, you're captivated by who they are - their distinct personalities find a place within your heart quickly. Charli is thrown one curve after another and she handles each one with the combination of vulnerability and strength that comes from being a strong-willed and independent teenager. When she finds herself falling for the one man she shouldn't after trying to nurse a broken heart from the ex-boyfriend who just won't quite give up the fight for her, she does the only thing she can: survive all the chaos and find her way.

The process of working with Alythia to uncover the polish and shine of this amazing gem was truly enjoyable. She was enthusiastic, receptive to observations and suggestions, and most importantly, determined to present this book in the greatest shape she could. Go. Buy. This. Book.

Book Blurb

When the evil spirit of Jumlin returns with his army of Offspring, the Earth Spirits are summoned to protect the Lakota. Unbeknownst to Charli, these Earth Spirits are a sacred secret. So she probably shouldn’t have spied from behind a rock when they shifted from their animal forms, she shouldn’t have taken pictures, and she definitely shouldn’t have gotten caught. Now a hostile prisoner, Charli is forced to walk a long journey to reach the one man who can erase the knowledge of the Earth Spirits' existence from her mind.

Naturally, Charli thinks all she needs to do is keep her big mouth shut, get her memory erased, and go home. But Jumlin’s Offspring are stalking her. Since no one can explain this unusual behavior, it becomes imperative to enter the Other World--a place where the Lakota have lived traditionally and without foreign oppression (but not without menacing dragons). Aside from being kidnapped, whisked away to a foreign world, hunted, and forced to live amongst strangers, Charli must come to terms with a new nuisance: she's falling for one of her abductors.

Meet the Author

Alythia Brown was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now lives with her husband and their three small children. She found her inspiration to write Dakota Captive after traveling to North Dakota to return an authentic peace pipe to the Lakota Natives. The artifact had been picked up after the Massacre of Wounded Knee in 1890, and eventually ended up in the hands of one of her ancestors—who, in turn, told everyone it was a wagon spoke. Alythia is the author of two short stories, published in the Mertales anthology, and she aspires to publish many more books for children, teens, and young adults.


You can find Alythia at her website, on Facebook, and on Twitter (@alyconnorbrown). If you'd like to learn more about her other books, you can go here.

Finally, here is the link to the first stop in her book release blog tour. Go check it out!

Book Birthday Bash: Medusa, A Love Story

Welcome to today's stop on the Birthday Bash Blog Extravaganza! We're celebrating the birthday of the first book in Sasha Summers' Loves of Olympus series Medusa, A Love Story.

About the Book

It's said love can change a person. Medusa wasn't always a monster…

Medusa is ruled by duty, to her Titan father and the Goddess Athena. She's no room for the tenderness her warrior guard, Ariston, stirs. When Olympus frees her from service, her heart leads her into the arms of the guard she loves... and curses her as the creature with serpent locks.

Ariston goes to war with a full heart... and dreadful foreboding. He learns too late of the danger Medusa faces, alone, and a Persian blade sends him into the Underworld. But death, curses, nor the wrath of the Gods will keep him from returning to her.

Poseidon will use Greece's war to get what he wants: Medusa. He does not care that she belongs to another. He does not care that she will be damned. He is a God, an Olympian, and she will be his.

Review

Holy moly, people. If you have any love for, interest in, or curiosity about the Greek pantheon at all, GET. THIS. BOOK. There are multiple links below to help you acquire this gem of a story.

First, what a unique and truly beautiful slant on the story of Medusa. We have this character who we all more or less know - or so we think. Ms. Summers has opened a door to a whole new view of Medusa as a woman and as a pawn of the gods. There are moments where you ache with her and for her as she tries to find her way, when so many others have laid claim to her future.

Ariston - could someone please deliver me my own? I'd like one posthaste. He is the epitome of honor, valor, and what a man should be. The depth of his love, the lengths he will go… I am not one to swoon, but allow me this once, m'kay?

As for Poseidon, well. Capricious, arrogant, wild as the seas that he rules. Ms. Summers has brought to life the very turbulent and demanding god of the ocean in a way that makes him so very real. I definitely caught a little tug on my heart strings for him at one point.

I didn't see the ending coming and it was beautifully done. This was a novel that not only kept a good pace, I couldn't put it down. I read it during an overnight shift because I just couldn't stop! This is one that I could read over and over, and never tire of it. I can't wait to read the next one!

About the Author

Sasha is part gypsy. Born June 9, 1974, stories have always played an important role in her life. Her passions have always been storytelling, Hollywood, history, and travel. It’s no surprise that her books include a little of each. Her first play, ‘Greek Gods and Goddesses’ was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Here are some of the places you can find Sasha!
Website/Blog                               Twitter                           FB Author Page
Goodreads                                   Pinterest                         YouTube

Ready to get your own copy of Medusa, A Love Story? Here are a few places you can find it.
B&N                         Amazon                      Kobo                            All romance ebooks

Giveaway!

You can enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here. Make sure you hit all the stops along the way to increase your chances of winning the following prizes: 

• Autographed copy of Medusa, A Love Story (Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #1)
• Autographed copy of For the Love of Hades (Loves of Olympus Series, Bk #2
• Thea (owl) Necklace
• "Medusa" car charm
• Series Swag

Book Review: Violet Midnight

Damn Lynn Rush for another amazing story! I have got to stop reading new series when they first come out, because I absolutely HATE waiting for the next book to come out to find out what happens next.

We are introduced to a new world of vampires and vampire hunters in Violet Midnight. Emma Martin is a strong young woman dealing with the normal college routine... well, normal except for the detecting and hunting vampires part. Emma isn't quite the normal girl she pretends to be. She's strong, she fights well, and she has a few other surprises up her sleeve. She's alone, however, in her battle against the dark - or so she thinks.

When Jake Cunningham sees Emma fighting, he realizes that she's the answer to his two year quest for answers about who and what he is. More than that, she's perfect for him, and he can't quite help himself when she feels so right to him and so right in his arms.

When Jake's family surfaces with its dark legacy, the couple must fight for their love in an unexpected way.

Overall, I enjoyed the story line. I wasn't very surprised by some of the characters' behaviors (I won't say who) and I felt that (even with the great backstory) the romance built really quickly. But the pace was great, no slowing or lagging, and Rush handled the twists beautifully. 

Book Review: Collision

In Collision, we're introduced to Sienna Wolfe, a fairly reasonable and practical woman whose world is turned upside down when a golden-skinned alien crashes in her backyard. In saving him, she unwittingly sets herself on a collision course with the US military and another alien force plotting to enslave the Earth. What is a girl to do? Why, rally the troops, of course!

I think what I enjoyed most was seeing the development of Sienna as not only a warrior, but a leader, and the recognition that being a leader requires hard choices. Sometimes she surprised me with her choices, but I never felt like the choices she made were uncharacteristic of her. Rae does an amazing job keeping Sienna's development believable and true to who she is in the context of her changing world.

And let's not forget the relationship she has with her new love... smoking hot!  There are other, equally enjoyable, characters that give this novel some depth. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Alas, Berinn Rae had yet again made me regret starting a series right at the beginning... because now I have to wait to find out what's going to happen. Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long. Right, Berinn?  :-)

Book Review: Wasteland

Lynn Rush has packed one heck of a punch with Wasteland. David, whose mother used him to negotiate a deal with Lucifer, is half-human, half-demon, with a contract to find whoever his Master tells him to find (called a Mark). Recently released early from a hellish punishment a few years early, he's set on the trail of his newest Mark. Instead, he mets Beka.  Beka, on the other hand, is a Guardian. Her soul purpose in life is to protect humans from demons. Her job, when they meet, is to protect the Mark that David is hunting. When they meet? The chemistry is instantenous and off the charts.  The only problem is that David's punishment was solitary confinement - of the sensory deprivation kind - and to give in would mean the end of his humanity. Once David and Beka meet, the chemistry and the challenges that face them keep you turning pages, devouring until the end. Then? You are quite impatient for the next book! I don't want to give anything away, but Lynn Rush definitely had me going for a minute, unsure what was really happening and if they could make their love work. David is strong and honorable, but sensitive to whether or not he is worthy of love - or of a second chance. I'm not usually a fan of first person perspective, but Lynn made it genuine and believable, without drowning us in David's internal thoughts. The sizzle between David and Beka is palpable and vivid; you can't help but root for them to find a way. My only question is this - when do we get to see them again, Lynn? How long do we have to wait?

Book Review: Ruined

Kinley Baker has created an intricate and vivid world in her novel, Ruined. The mythology surrounding the world's development is fresh and unique. More than that, she's populated this world with rich and amazing characters. Jessa is endearing and warm, with a quiet inner strength that has you rooting for her from the beginning. You find yourself waxing and waning with her emotions, cheering her on. A couple of times, I caught myself fussing at her for some of her decisions, which just made her more real. It took some time for me to warm up to Vale. In the very beginning, I felt like punching him, hard. But, clever Kinley Baker opens your eye to who he is. He is everything a good leader should be, with a thread of vulnerability that endears him to you. There are still a few moments where you want to punch him, but he wouldn't be a good male lead otherwise. And this is just the two main characters. There is political intrigue, overlap from other worlds, and several other endearing characters that I cannot wait to read more about soon (in case you were wondering, Kinley Baker, that was a hint.) If you're looking for something with a unique feel, you're going to want to pick up a copy of Ruined.

Book Review: Journal Through Your Grief: Guided Journal Handbook to Work Through Loss

As a mental health professional, grief is a fundamental part of any healing process. We carry grief for long periods of time and it changes us in many ways, some subtle and some not so subtle. Mostly, however, we struggle to work through it and move forward. We struggle to know how to help someone we care for who is grieving.

I hesitate to say that this workbook is simple, because it's not. It gives you prompts to journal about some very precious memories, some very deep feelings, and some unresolved thoughts and feelings. However, it is simple in that it allows you to be yourself, and to express yourself, in a very honest way.

Robyn Lindsey provides 30 journal prompts that are thought-provoking and that touch the heart. More importantly, they touch the grief that is inside. She offers several different ways of approaching the prompts, to take it at a pace that is comfortable to each individual, while still allowing them to deal with their grief.

This would be a great tool for any mental health professional, as well as anyone who is working through grief issues. It's currently available in both paperback and in Kindle format on Amazon.com

Review: Soul Reborn

Soul Reborn by Jean Murray 





Premise: The Egyptian God of the Underworld, Asar, had his soul stolen by an evil goddess. As a result, he is forced to feed on human souls. Consumed by hate, he's vowed to destroy the goddess and all who were part of her release from confinement.

Lilly, a Nehebkau huntress, catches the eye and attention of Asar, not only for her beauty and warrior nature, but also because of the brightness of her soul. She and her two sisters are heavily involved in trying to undo a curse that's caused those contaminated to become soulless creatures. However, Lilly has a secret that could cost her - and Asar - everything.

Reivew:  I'll be totally honest. Reading the brief description of the back of this book didn't really sell me on it. I wasn't really sure if I would like it.

Jean Murray's rich world and equally rich but real characters completely blew me away. She has not only crafted a vivid and easy to imagine world, but the characters who inhabit it are believable. I found myself rooting for both Asar and Lilly - and yelling at them for poor choices, too. Asar was a fascinating character who, despite having lost his soul, was still very complex and deep. Lilly was a wonderful heroine with her own hidden wounds, strong but gentle.

The pace was excellent, not too fast nor too slow, and I couldn't put the book down. I read it in one sitting. Her very clever intertwining of the real world and Egyptian mythology made this a unique and wonderful read. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure or romance (or both).