Review: Between Seasons by Aida Brassington

SUMMARY: Patrick Boyle dies in the fall of 1970, just days before he's due to report for the Vietnam War draft, which seems like a good thing until he realizes he's stuck in the house with no indication of when he'll be escorted to heaven. And after his parents leave the house, he's trapped without company -- until a mysterious woman who can channel his memories buys the house forty years later. The spring brings with it new life, but falling in love with the new owner may only bring heartbreak to them both.

REVIEW: Oh man, did I love this story! I've read stories about people being stuck in the afterlife many times, but this was so different and unique...and totally bizarre. Between Seasons is so clever and imaginative. I thought I would get bored with following Patrick around for awhile but there was still so many little things to keep me intrigued. Then enters Sara. She's the new owner with a trouble past and a family that doesn't understand her. I loved her character and she seemed so genuine and honest. This story envelops a heartfelt romance unlike an others I have read. When I finished this book I had to just sit there and reflect on everything for awhile. Warning....you are left hanging a bit. I cannot wait for the sequel North of Frost though, and I'm sure anyone who reads this will feel the same!

♥Shelby

The Childe Blog Tour: Author Guest Post with Favorite Reads!

Favorite Reads: Traditionally Published

So just because we’re self-published authors, does not mean that we don’t still absolutely LOVE books that are traditionally published. So without further ado here’s list of books that we grew up loving, a list of those that we currently love, and also a list of those we know we’ll love once we read them:

Carol’s Favorite Reads Growing Up:

First of all I must say that I LOVE to read. I’m also not a genre snob either, and thoroughly enjoy reading many types of books. Here are some that I read when I was younger and can read over and over again:

- Dracula by Bram Stoker - who doesn’t love a good book with bite!

- The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - I so wish I had a wardrobe like theirs!

- Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell - who doesn’t like a book about war and romance!

- The Stand by Stephen King – a plague and a determination to survive against an age old evil? Count me in!

- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien - a world of make-believe with a touch of epic fantasy? That’s right up my alley!

- Salem’s Lot by Stephen King - a writer going back to a town and finding secrets he wished he never uncovered, ohhh I like the scary stuff.

Carol’s Favorite Current Reads:

- Let’s Roll by Lisa Beamer

- Anything by Sherilynn Kenyon (both her Adult and YA series)

- Anything by Lynsay Sands

- Anything by Kerrelyn Sparks

- The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Carol Wants To Read:

- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

- A Discovery of Witches by Deborah E. Harkness

- The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

- The Tiger’s Curse Series by Colleen Houck

- The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Adam’s Favorite Reads Growing Up:

I’d like to echo my mom’s sentiments by saying that I LOVE to read as well! As a child I used to devour books and was infatuated with the Goosebumps series and the Fear Street series. Unlike my mom though, I’m picky about the genres I read. I usually stick with YA paranormal, fantasy, or contemporary. I also read some MG if the story really catches my attention. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve read and enjoyed many books in all different genre’s, but I tend to read only for escape and I find that I have the most fun when I read YA novels. Here are some books that I consider to be my favorite reads while growing up, and that really helped shape my love for reading:

- Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine

- Fear Street Series by R.L. Stine

- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton – This one’s a classic kids, enough said.

- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl – I wanted to be Charlie when I was a kid!

- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll – Oh the imagination and the originality in this book…I loved it.

- Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm – What’s not to like about the ORIGINAL fairy tales.

Adam’s Favorite Current Reads:

- Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (Yes all of them, haha!) – This series literally lit a fire in me to read as many YA books as I could humanly possible.

- The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins – I’m not really a big fan of all these YA dystopian novels that have been raved about recently, but I really enjoyed this unique and harrowing story of survival!

- Hex Hall and Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

- Clarity by Kim Harrington.

Adam Wants To Read:

- The Paranormalcy Series by Kiersten White

- The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead

- The Tiger’s Curse Series by Colleen Houck

- The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

- The Diary of A Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney

REVIEW: The Initiate by Megg Jensen

SUMMARY:
Forced into becoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay with her boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will her lack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to a painful death?

Before Anathema...                                                                                                                                   
Before Sleepers...
There was The Initiate
Over a thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic with them. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates every ten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One.

REVIEW: Um Hello??? Has there every been anything Megg Jensen has wrote that I didn't like? Answer = NO! I loved this short connecting the two trilogies. The story of Eloh is wonderful, and puts a lot into perspective after reading the Cloud Prophet Trilogy and Sleepers.  The whole sacrificing ritual is insane! In the Initiate you will realize just how strong Eloh is. I seriously want to spoil it for you all and say what happens....Gah! Reviewing can be so hard!!! *stomps feet* Now that you know how bad I want to tell you more about this story, I hope that you go read it for yourself. And EVERYTHING else that Megg has written. And in case you're wondering, I won copies of Anathema and Oubliette in a giveaway awhile ago. This started my love for all these books. I know I talk about them a lot, so I just wanted to make it clear that I don't get paid for reviews or anything. Just write about what I love.

♥ Shelby

♥ Shelby