The Raven by Mike Nappa

• Series: Coffey & Hill (Book 2)
• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Revell (September 6, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800726456
• ISBN-13: 978-0800726454

About the Book:

As part of his regular street performance, a deception specialist who goes by the name The Raven picks his audience's pockets while they watch. It's harmless fun--until he decides to keep the spare wallet a city councilman doesn't seem to miss, hoping for a few extra bucks. When he finds not money but compromising photos of the councilman and his "personal assistants," The Raven hatches a plan to blackmail the man. However, he quickly finds himself in over his head with the Ukrainian Mafia and mired in a life-threatening plot code-named, "Nevermore."

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill must scramble to sort out the clues--and their complicated feelings for each other--to rescue The Raven and save hundreds of lives from a wildcard bent on revenge.

Mike Nappa snags readers from the first page of this fast-paced thriller--and he never lets go until the end.

My Thoughts:

Wow!  What a complex and thrilling ride!  Mike Nappa has crafted a suspenseful series with a unique literary twist.  Threads of Edgar Allen Poe weave through some intense reading, adding an almost gothic feel to a modern day criminal procedural.

The series opened with "Annabel Lee", a mystery concerning a young girl kept hidden away by her uncle and the race to discover the why behind the hiding.  That story was mind-blowing, and I was very eager to read what Mike came up with next.

"The Raven" introduces us to a street magician with a series problem: owing money to a crime syndicate that has deep ties within the community.  Sam Hill and Trudi Coffey will have to join forces once again to uncover just what "Nevermore" is and find a way to stop it.

Mike has a wild imagination and I love it!!  Talk about a well-crafted story structure.  Make sure you start reading early afternoon because you won't be able to stop once you've turned the first page.  And when the pieces all fall into place...have tissues handy, because your jaw will drop and you may go into shock (drooling could ensue!).

I truly cannot wait until the third book releases.  Unfortunately, I must wait.  Fortunately, you don't have to wait at all to pick up a copy of "The Raven".  But don't stop there!  Get a copy of "Annabel Lee" as well! This book gets my "Oh The Feels" award.  Until then,

Mark Your Place,

Deena

Accelerant (Book 2, Abiassa's Fire) by Ronie Kendig

• Paperback: 439 pages
• Publisher: Gilead Publishing (October 14, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1683700481
• ISBN-13: 978-1683700487

About the Book;

He'll destroy the world. But first he has to save it.

The Nine Kingdoms bleed. Leaderless, ravaged, the land awaits deliverance from Poired Dyrth's devastating campaign. But what if one blight can only be cleansed by another?

The promised Fierian is known by many names. Judge. Destroyer. Scourge. And now one other: Haegan, Prince of Seultrie. Once a cripple, now a gifted Accelerant, Haegan can no longer run from the truth. But neither can he be reconciled to it. He knows only one thing for certain: as the only able-bodied heir to the Fire Throne, he must return to the Nine and fight for his people.

But there are insidious forces at work. When reality itself falls into question, Haegan struggles to know where to fight, whom to trust. Caught between duty to his country and duty to the world, Haegan must see clearly enough to choose the right path to save the world.

My Thoughts:

Buckle up, my reader!  I'm about to do it again...but you'll be glad I did.

Ronie Kendig has made a mark on the fiction world with her authentic military fiction.  In fact, her tagline is "Rapid-Fire Fiction".  I'm a huge fan, and I'm always on the lookout for a new book from Ronie.  Now she has embarked on a journey with YA high fantasy fiction and with her first book I thought she had outdone herself.

However, with "Accelerant", Ronie has turned the genre on its head.  The story is unique, the ideas are fresh, and the characters are engaging.  Most important, you can feel Ronie's passion on each and every page.  The scenery is rich and lush, the dialogue is snappy and crisp, and the purpose is clear and filled to the brim with allegory and faith.

This is the book series Ronie was born to create.  I actually have 'first time reader' envy, jealous of the fact that you all have something to look forward to reading that is so great, so epic, so mind-blowing...I have chills.  So put "Accelerant" on your wish list (better yet, pre-order).  Get a copy of "Embers" now, and dive in with Haegan and company to save the Nine Kingdoms.

My thanks to Ronie for an advance copy of "Accelerant" in exchange for an honest review.  "Accelerant" releases in October...plenty of time to enjoy "Embers"!  Plenty of time to discover how Kaelyria Celahar was able to pass the mantle to her brother Haegan...and that's all I'm going to leak!  "Accelerant" and "Embers" both are 'One For The Ages', people.

So don't miss out.  While we eagerly wait for the third book (eagerly and impatiently),

Mark Your Place,

Deena

Throwback Thursday: Embers by Ronie Kendig

About the Book:

HE'S COMING FOR THEM. AND THE KINGDOM.

Haegan and Kaelyria Celahar are royal heirs of the Nine Kingdoms, but Haegan is physically crippled. What chance does he have against Poired Dyrth, the greatest enemy the kingdom has ever faced, who wields fire with a power none can match?

Their only hope is forbidden: Kaelyria must transfer her fire-harnessing abilities to Haegan. When she does it comes with a terrible price: Haegan's disability is healed, but only by being transferred to Kaelyria. This act unleashes their father-king's wrath.  

Haegan must flee the kingdom alone with two impossible tasks: Find a cure for Kaelyria and stop the coming war with the omnipotent Poired Dyrth.

My Thoughts:

Truthfully, this is the greatest time to be alive if you love high fantasy and speculative fiction, especially within the inspirational fiction market!  We've a host of authors who's talent runs with the big dogs of the genre, and I'm thrilled to introduce you to the newest star in my reading universe!

Ronie Kendig earned her author stripes crafting rapid-fire, take-no-prisoners military suspense, and she has several series' in today's marketplace.  With "Embers", she makes her high fantasy debut, giving us the first volume in what promises to be the epic saga of "Abiassa's Fire".

For an author to strike the literary nail on the head within this genre, several elements have to come together in a perfect reading storm.  In my humble opinion, not only does "Embers" fire on all fictional cylinders, but this novel quickly moves Ronie to the head of the fantasy class of authors!

World building?  Check.  Imagine a world in which those in power can wield the power of fire, and engage with those known as accelerants, and spark people to get their attention?  And that's just the surface: wait until you meet your first raqine!

Strong characters?  Check.  From Prince Haegan, forever paralyzed due to an unknown poison, to his beloved sister who will do anything to heal her brother, to the band of wacky and hearty misfits the prince encounters on his coming of age journey, every single person you'll meet will intrigue you and capture a piece of your heart.

Plausible story?  Check.  As always, a prophecy is at the root of the story, but discovering the prophecy is only half the fun!  Defeating enemies as wide and varied as the ones Ronie gives us?  Yeah, that's the other half (so want to meet a Jujak!)

This book clocks in at just under 500 pages, and not one page nor word is wasted as the story unfolds.  Yes, a lot of unfamiliar names and locations pop up, but the reader learns along with the prince as you both discover this fantastical world together.

Cliff hanger?  Unfortunately, check and check!!  I can barely stand the wait until the second volume arrives!  But "Embers" is a novel I'll be reading multiple times, just for the joy of encountering this magical, fantastical world again and again.

My thanks to Ronie for an advance copy of "Embers" in exchange for an honest review.  This high fantasy cannot get a high enough endorsement from yours truly.  I envy your first read of "Embers"...I truly do.

Unblemished by Sara Ella

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 11, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718081013
• ISBN-13: 978-0718081010

About the Book:

Eliyana can’t bear to look at her own reflection. But what if that were only one Reflection—one world? What if another world exists where her blemish could become her strength?

Eliyana is used to the shadows. With a birthmark covering half her face, she just hopes to graduate high school unscathed. That is, until Joshua hops a fence and changes her perspective. No one, aside from her mother, has ever treated her like he does: normal. Maybe even beautiful. Because of Joshua, Eliyana finally begins to believe she could be loved.

But one night her mother doesn’t come home, and that’s when everything gets weird.

Now Joshua is her new, and rather reluctant, legal Guardian. Add a hooded stalker and a Central Park battle to the mix and you’ve gone from weird to otherworldly.

Eliyana soon finds herself in a world much larger and more complicated than she’s ever known. A world enslaved by a powerful and vile man. And Eliyana holds the answer to defeating him. How can an ordinary girl, a blemished girl, become a savior when she can’t even save herself?

My Thoughts:

I shouldn't do this to you.  I really shouldn't.  But I have to.  I just cannot hold it in any longer!  Sara's book won't release until October, which doesn't seem like very long....but you haven't read my review yet!  So buckle up...

"Unblemished" is a carefully crafted work of magic and wonder that I believe will set the young adult literary world on fire.  Sara introduces us to Eliyana Ember, a normal teen with a desire for an everyday life.  One problem: El has a crimson birthmark that covers the right side of her face, swirling and creeping like vines along her profile.

Kids today are just flat mean.  The taunting and teasing is endless, and it's created a self-consciousness for El that holds her back in life.  Then there's Joshua, her next door neighbor and her current heart crush.  El thinks he has feelings for her, but he goes hot then cold, and she cannot get a clear read on their relationship.

Soon Eliyana realizes that the world she's lived in isn't all there is, and she is drawn into an existence she's unprepared for and unwilling to participate in.  (Except for Joshua.  For him, she'd go anywhere and attempt anything.  Been there myself!)  It's a world of differences and similarities, a world of danger and of wonder.  A world of unique abilities, and two dueling forces: the Verity and the Void.

A world where kisses have meaning, and love can last a lifetime.  So can hate.  A world that, like ours, needs a savior.  I found myself lost within the pages of "Unblemished", transfixed and mesmerized.  Every chapter brought a new delightful detail to the surface, and when all of the pieces began to merge together near the end...

...I almost passed out for holding my breath.  No, literally.  I stopped breathing, and had to remember how.  With as many books as I have on my TBR pile, I rarely have the chance to re-read something I've enjoyed.  For "Unblemished", I will make time.  As I said, you will be able to get a copy in October, but I urge you to place your order now.

"Unblemished" has to get the attention it deserves.  For me, this book is "One For The Ages", right up their with L'Engle, Lewis, and Tolkien.  Today's general market YA fiction writers could learn a few things from Sara Ella.  And the literary world would be a much better place for readers.  Until then,

Mark Your Place,

Deena

Top Ten Tuesday: 7 Reasons I'm So Stoked about YA Fiction

I'm so stoked about YA fiction in today's market!  Especially within the inspirational market...and I'm about to tell you why:

1) Realism: forget sparkling vampires and warm and fuzzy werewolves--we have a host of intriguing characters and creatures to choose from today!  From weather control in "Storm Siren" by Mary Weber to fulfilling prophecy in Serena Chase's "Eyes of E'veria" duology, you can find something for just about any taste.

2) Originality: I just finished an advance copy of a novel that releases in October, and my mind?  **blown**.  Sara Ella is a new voice in publishing, but you will remember her forever.  Her debut, "Unblemished", is so carefully crafted your jaw will drop at the detail and care she takes with her world-building.  Then there's powerhouse author Jill Williamson and her "Blood of Kings" trilogy, now expanded to include 3 subsequent books...again **blown away**.

3) Length: many of today's books are over 400 pages in length (be still my heart!), which provides a lot of rich reading material.  And every page is necessary, with nothing wasted.  So prepare to block out a huge chunk of time, because you'll be playing my favorite game "Just One More", be it chapter or book or page.

4) Availability: the authors are easy to stay in contact with.  With Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and so many social media platforms, it's easy to find your favorite author and let her (or him) know just how much you loved the book.  And take advantage of it...this is an under-appreciated area of writing and every drop of encouragement is gratefully accepted.

5) Word of mouth: no matter if you have a blog or you haven't gotten around to starting one yet, you can leave reviews all over the internet.  Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christianbook.com are the usuals, but GoodReads, Facebook, publisher sites...the possibilities are endless.  And every review is gold to an author.

6) Talent: once upon a time we had stories about dragons...and maybe King Arthur.  We had Middle Earth and Narnia. Now, we have a world of Reflections, Authority City (see Rachelle Dekker's "Seer" series), and don't get me started on K.E. Ganshert's "The Gifting" trilogy.  It takes place in 'our' universe, but not really...her version is 'WOW'!

7) Price: thanks to e-books, you can try out a book by downloading the first few chapters.  Most of the time, that's enough to know the investment is worth it.  But it's possible to read 'for free' through Amazon's KindleFree program, often publishers are offering the first book for a low price, and authors are organizing launch groups you can join--for free.  Just be faithful to the commitment you make to the author.

And that's just the tip of the literary iceberg.  Need a recommendation?  I'm here.  Got a recommendation?  I'd love a comment!  Until then...

Mark Your Place,

Deena

Told You Twice by Kristen Heitzmann

• File Size: 3497 KB
• Print Length: 417 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: bHd Books (August 11, 2016)
• Publication Date: August 11, 2016

About the Book:

Alexis Murphy is done messing with the wrong kinds of men. She could not be happier planning a personalized Grace Evangeline wedding with her fiancé, Jeffrey, who is so right for her. Or is he? 

Stage star and spokesmodel, Bo Corrigan, could be the ultimate disruption. Alexis—Exi—is caught by his talent and sexual magnetism. Yet under the glow, she senses trouble, not only danger from Bo’s past mistakes, but something inside tearing him apart. 

From the moment Bo sees Exi, he knows she’s special, but not only that—she’s real. Unlike the theater scene he’s been immersed in, she sees the man he is and won’t stop until she’s reached inside and brought that person from despair to life … if only they have time. 

With violent forces against them, can they get beyond the damage to love that heals and restores? 

My Thoughts:

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this one.  I've read many novels by Kristen, and I've enjoyed them all (my favorite is still Halo).  With "Told You Twice" and her previous book ("Told You So"), her writing takes on a realism that could make some readers uncomfortable.

And I don't know how I feel about that.  Exi (cute nickname) is drawn to Bo, and he is a total bad boy.  He's seen things and done things that could make your hair curl.  Still, Exi sees the true man inside the bad boy, and she's determined to help draw him out.

Bo, intent on feeding his wild side, also feels drawn to Exi, but he knows he isn't good for her.  He turns up the volume on his badness, and the consequences finally catch up with him.  This is when the book really drew me in.  The transformation is real and powerful, and the realism is chilling.

But the detail is gritty (not explicit or gratuitous), so it's definitely not your mama's romantic novel!  If you crave romance that feels more anchored in the real world, then this is your kind of book.  If you choose your reading as more of an escape, you might want to find different reading material.  I encourage you to sample "Told You Twice" and see what you think.

My thanks to Kristen for an advance copy of "Told You Twice" in exchange for an honest review.  This is definitely "one to watch".  Until the next review,

Mark Your Place,
Deena

Sit, Stay, Love by Dana Mentink

• File Size: 765 KB
• Print Length: 226 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0736966072
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (April 1, 2016)
• Publication Date: April 1, 2016
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

About the Book:

Take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you're ready for a lesson in love...Tippy style.

Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother's elderly dog, Tippy, he's quick to call on a pet-sitting service.

Gina isn't thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can't abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy.

As Gina travels through Cal's world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too...

Discover the charming story of Tippy, the dog who brought a family together.

My Thoughts:

What a fun story!  This was a great summer read, and "Sit, Stay, Love" will have you giggling on one page while tearing up on another.  Tippy is hilarious!  I wouldn't mind a pup like her!  The story reflects on judging someone without really knowing them first.

Cal tries to come across as a typical professional jock, but he has more layers than even he realizes. And Gina seems like a scatter-brain, but her heart is huge, and she draws the real Cal out for us to fall in love. If you have ever known you were more than you appeared and just wanted a chance to show your real stuff, this is a story that will resonate with you.

My thanks to my friends at Harvest House Publishing for an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I'm giving "Sit, Stay, Love" my 'One to Watch' award.  This book is available now, and the sequel "Fetching Sweetness" is up on my to-be-read list.  I'll review that one soon, but until then...

Mark Your Place,

Deena