The Voice by Jennifer Anne Davis @AuthorJennifer @SPNHeather

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Book Trailer

The Voice Book Trailer

Synopsis:

During her abduction and assault, Audrey begins to hear a voice. She hopes she’s not going crazy, because after what she’s experienced, that’s the most logical explanation. However, as she begins to listen to the voice, Audrey realizes that someone may be telepathically trying to help her.
Unfortunately, rescue isn’t all she needs. In order to leave behind the constant reminders, she flees to her Aunt Kate’s house in San Diego, and assumes a new identity. It works—until the eighteen-year-old twin boys who live next door threaten to break through the protective walls she’s worked so hard to build.
Between Caleb going out of his way to befriend her and Justin avoiding her at all costs, Audrey doesn’t know if normalcy will ever find her again. But one thing is certain: When a familiar danger resurfaces, it’s the same voice that she turns to—a voice that is not only real, but a lot closer than she realizes.
Gripping and tastefully told, The Voice is a story of healing, trust, and courage.

Review:

Why should you read it? It is one of the most compelling novels written on the subject. While it does have it’s moments of shear sadness, it has so much love and healing. In order to overcome such a torturous ordeal the main character Audrey tries therapy and behavior therapy with little success. The fact that she had such a traumatic experience and survives is amazing. The fact that she can actually heal and trust is remarkable.

Character wise, I liked how her family and friends never gave up. Although she had best friends calling and passing by that she didn’t see, they didnt give up. I was so torn up at her brothers and how they loved her, but didn’t know how to deal. Her Aunt Kate was just as strong as Audrey. The dream boat neighbors Caleb and Justin played the most important role. Their story, as well as their Mom’s is remarkable and touching.

When I read it and saw this was the author’s first book I was shocked. When this is a debut, just imagine what is in her brain ready to be written on paper. I am so happy to come to know Jennifer Ann Davis and call her a friend. Read the book!

I am giving a copy away and so is the author DONT miss the chance to support her and to read a wonderful book! ENTER

Author Jennifer Anne Davis

Jennifer graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in English and a teaching credential. Afterwards, she married her high school sweetheart, worked as a legal assistant, and taught high school English. Jennifer is currently a full-time writer and mother of three young children. Her days are spent living in imaginary worlds and fueling her own kids’ creativity.
The Voice is her first novel.

Links:

Web = Facebook = Twitter = Pinterest = Amazon = Goodreads

3Apr2013

The Voice by Jennifer Anne Davis @AuthorJennifer @SPNHeather

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Book Trailer

My interview with Jennifer Anne Davis

Jenn

Is there any personal experiences with hearing voices? More than a Mothers intuition.

No, there isn’t. The only thing I’ve ever encountered is my own voice inside telling me something, usually when I’m faced with a dangerous situation. The hard part is listening to and trusting myself sometimes.

Do you believe in it?

I actually don’t believe in telepathy. However, I have heard that a lot of times twins have a special connection. I’m not a twin, but I have a sister and we’re very close. I feel like we can almost read one another’s minds sometimes!

Anything similar between you and Audrey?

Not between me and Audrey. However, she is loosely based off of someone I crossed paths with while teaching high school. This particular person wasn’t kidnapped and sexually assaulted, but she was date raped. I wanted to be able to bring up the topic of sexual abuse without having the story be all about it. I wanted to touch upon it, to be able to open the door for communication on the matter. But for me, the story is about so much more than what happened to Audrey. It’s really about her journey to recovery.

How do you feel being a Mom of three to write about a kidnapping?

In all honesty, having a child kidnapped and/or sexually abused is my worst nightmare. It’s one of the reasons I decided not to write a sequel for this book. Even though it ends on a positive note (I’m trying not to say too much about the ending) it isn’t a place I can go back to right now. When I wrote the flashback scenes, I had to put myself in Audrey’s position to be able to write her, and it was a really dark and scary place to go to. I can’t even imagine my own kids. But that’s kind of the point. I want teens to feel empowered to stand up for themselves. If something makes them uncomfortable, they should say something, and parents need to listen and take it seriously. If anything, I hope this book opens the door for conversations between moms and their daughters about sexual abuse.

Author Jennifer Anne Davis

Links:

Web = Facebook = Twitter = Pinterest = Amazon = Goodreads

3Apr2013

MATCHPLAY by Dakota Madison @ShortonTimeBook @Tale_of_Reviews

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

MATCHPLAY is a New Adult contemporary romance novel by Dakota Madison.

Book description

A Girl, a Guy, a Tournament and a Challenge

The Girl: At a time when most girls obsess about homecoming and high school prom, Rainy Dey spent her senior year caring for her dying mother. So when her father drops her off at college to start her freshman year, his words of advice to his bookish daughter are to start acting like a young person and finally have some fun.

The Guy: College senior, Aaron Donavan, aka Mr. Hot-and-Knows-It, is President of the Clubhouse, a social club for the college’s most wealthy and popular guys. Aaron can have any girl on campus except the one who challenges and excites him the most—Rainy Dey.

The Tournament: Every year, the senior members of The Clubhouse engage in a golf-inspired tournament to see who can sleep with the most freshman girls. When Rainy finds out about the tournament, she believes Aaron’s only interest in her is to score points by taking her V-Card.

The Challenge: Can Aaron convince Rainy that his feelings for her are true and that she won’t be just another notch on his tournament scorecard?

REVIEW IN A FEW WEEKS

Goodreads

Twitter

Web

2Apr2013

Update on my Ratings and Reviews

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

I had to think and create a new policy. If you are a reviewer, blogger, reader or author check my “How I rate and Review” Page

2Apr2013

Fractured Soul (Fractured Light #2) by Rachel McClellan @rachelmcclellan @DarkWorldBooks

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

“FRACTURED SOUL” EXCERPT:

After a minute I peeked around the trunk. Not far away a form moved in and out of the shadows. I couldn’t sense if the thing was Vyken or human, but the moment it stepped into the light of the full moon, and I saw its face, I knew it was a Vyken. And by its slender form, I guessed a woman, but I couldn’t tell by the face, which was missing half of its leathered skin. The other half was a rotted skull with a green, moss-like substance clinging to the cheekbone. The bone was a dirty yellow, the same color as her two rows of broken teeth.

She looked around and sniffed like she was searching for something. Her eyes jerked to the tree I was hiding behind. I ducked farther behind it and held my breath, my heart pounding and sweat breaking on my brow. Any other day I would’ve jumped at the chance to fight, but I was still too afraid of what Liam had told me and of what I already knew. Was I seeing my future?

“I smell you, Aura,” the woman said. Her voice was deep and raspy.

I left my hiding spot and ran as fast as I could, crashing through the forest, arms outstretched. I pushed my already exhausted legs hard as I hurdled over, under, and around what felt like an Amazon jungle.

The Vyken chased after me, making a strange sound with her throat, almost like a pig grunting. I looked back at her and saw that the sound was from the wind moving between exposed cords on her neck where there was no skin. The sight and sound of her made me find a second wind, and I sped up.

Bursting through a tall bush, I moved to take a step but found nothing but air. I fell, more like bounced, end over end down a steep hill. I didn’t stop moving until I landed in cold water. I sucked in air and quickly stood up. In front of me was a lake the size of a football field. Moonlight stretched across it like a lit-up road. I looked around. Other than a steep incline around the water’s edge, most of which was covered in trees and bushes, there was no easy way around it.

I thought about climbing back up the hill, but even as I thought it, I heard the female Vyken coming closer. Having no other choice, I moved farther into the cold water until, once again, my foot found no ground beneath me. A sharp drop-off plunged me into the water. I gasped at the shock of it and swam backward to keep my eyes on the top of the ridge.

Just then the hunched-over female appeared. I took a deep breath and dipped beneath the water’s surface. A few feet away I spotted a branch attached to a fallen tree lying at the bottom of the lake. I swam over and took hold of it to keep me from floating up.

Through the clear water, I could just barely make out the Vyken’s form as she made her way down the incline. When she reached the water’s edge, she paused and scanned the surface. After a moment, she turned and began to move back up the hill. Just in time too because my lungs were burning.

I was about to push up when all of a sudden she stopped and turned back around. I bit the insides of my cheek to keep from instinctively taking in a breath.

She returned to the water’s edge, and what she did next had me frantically looking around for an escape. Her black boot slid onto the water’s surface, and as soon as it touched it, the water beneath her foot turned to ice. Another step. More ice. An ice bridge was being created wherever she moved. Ten more steps and she’d be standing directly above me.

Although I was terrified, my lungs no longer cared. I let go of the tree branch and began to float up, but just as I was about to break the surface and gasp for air, something took hold of my ankle and pulled me down.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Rachel McClellan

Rachel McClellan was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel’s love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was…

Website – Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads

Dark World Books
www.darkworldbooks.com
Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

We’re excited to announce a tour for Fractured Soul, the second instalment in the YA paranormal series Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan. The tour is running from April 1st to May 3rd, 2013. There will be reviews, interviews, excerpts and giveaways +

a special International giveaway that will run on our site only!

ENTER

2Apr2013

Fractured Soul (Fractured Light #2) by Rachel McClellan @rachelmcclellan

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Fractured Soul

(Fractured Light #2)

Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page!

What others are saying:

“I love these books! A kick-butt heroine and a hottie love interest, with a refreshingly original concept. Be prepared—once you start, these are hard to put down.”

—Paula Cotton, book reviewer at ReadingLark.blogspot.com

“Fractured Soul is a brilliant sequel, exceeding even the remarkable first book in the series. It will haunt your every waking moment between the times you’re reading it, and it will stay with you long after you’ve finished. It’s an amazingly well written and engrossing story that I highly recommend—after you’ve read the first one, of course.”

—Cindy Bennett, bestselling author of Geek Girl & Rapunzel Untangled

Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Fractured Soul Book Trailer

About Fractured Light (Book #1)

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble

Rachel McClellan

Website – Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Goodreads

Dark World Books
www.darkworldbooks.com
Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Fractured Soul Tour schedule:

April 1st | ReadingRenee (Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 2nd | Ash Krafton’s Demimonde (Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 3rd | White Sky Project (Author Interview)
April 4th | Frankie Blooding’s Bookshelf (Excerpt)
April 5th | Happy Tails and Tales (Review, Author Interview, Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 8th | Darkest Sins (Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 9th | The Ferryman’s Wife (Review, Author Interview)
April 10th | The Avid Reader (Character Interview, Excerpt)
April 11th | Nomi’s Paranormal Palace (Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 12th | Justified Lunacy (Review, Author Interview)
April 15th | Road to Hell series (Author Interview)
April 16th | Realms of an Open Mind (Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 17th | Mind Reader (Character Interview, Excerpt)
April 18th | Unputdownable Books (Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 19th | Sapphyria’s Book Reviews (Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 22nd | JennRenee Read (Review, Giveaway, Excerpt)
April 23rd | Tana Rae Reads (Excerpt)
April 24th | Seeing Night Reviews (Review, Giveaway)
April 25th | ReadingRenee (Review)
April 26th | Romancing the Dark Side (Character Interview, Giveaway)
April 29th | Much Loved Books (Excerpt)
April 30th | Shah Wharton’s WordsinSync (Author Interview, Giveaway, Excerpt)
May 1st | Bittersweet Enchantment (Author Interview, Giveaway)
May 2nd | Mother/Gamer/Writer (Review, Giveaway)
May 3rd | The Reading Diaries (Review)

2Apr2013

The Only Exception by Magan Vernon @MaganVernon @SPNHeather

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Fiercely liberal Monica Remy prefers to blend in. Despite her tattoos, piercings, and outspoken personality, she transferred to Central to escape—before she finds out that her next door neighbor is the ultra, Republican, liberal, tight ass conservative governor’s son, Trey Chapman. This is such a perfect set up to start the book off. The BEST couple I have read about in a while.When you read this book please know that it will make you smart! I learned a few things! Monica has a room mate that starts her college transfer off to a bad start, Trey next door makes it worse. When the cops come for a marijuana room mate situation I sadly found humor in it. She just can’t win, things are making her feel alone and when she goes to work serving up coffee he shows up. Then a class debate project forces them together.

There is a few pretty decent sized reveals. I really don’t want anyone to say what they are. It will ruin the effect these events have. The family conflicts, the school conflicts and the fact he is next door is just priceless.

Such a fabulous read. I love the author and the fact that this is a debut blows me away! (Get it ? a political book ok I’m laughing Bill Clinton!) Trey’s politics seem to be “not so bad” before you know it. He adores her way of keeping him in his toes. He likes a challenge and Monica is a BIG challenge. in many ways. They are sort of destined… .I LOVED it!

The author: (who I love!)
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Magan Vernon started out by writing olympic fan fiction and now writes YA and New Adult fiction. She lives with her husband and kids in the insurance capital of the world and still dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal for most books read in a single sitting. You can find her online at http://www.maganvernon.com

BUY THE BOOK!

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Diesel
GoodReads
Itunes
Kobo
Sony
Smashwords

Magan Vernon-NA and YA author

My Trey has to be Seth Meyers, I love him, he is cute, and political satire is his art form!

My Monica

Lauren Ambrose seriously she is SOOO perfect. I love her AUBURN hair (inside joke)

1Apr2013

Roll Call by Glenn Langohr @rollcallthebook

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Roll Call

Before I start I will say I am an avid reader and always fall for a good crime book. I love justice system books, and books about cops, detectives and the FBI. That alone, tells you I am a fan of this genre. What I loved was the book was real. The lifestyle, the time and the people are written in a very intimate way. That being said, if someone is bad or on a path toward being bad and you can make the character appealing, you got a reader engrossed. So when the book starts you are introduced to BJ (Benny Johnson), who is very similar to the author’s own personal experiences. When you get the childhood and dysfunction you are thrown into what BJ considers his only path. The book is “based” on actual events; it is not any single persons POV or narrated. What I liked, was when BJ was talking through his process. What people won’t see is how smart he was. He tried to plan making money, then buying a house. Some aspects of his life were very thought out concerning money. This was a troubled guy that you know is being bad, doing bad and acting bad, but still I was so praying for his redemption.

Nothing is roses and fairy dust here. When BJ is put down and at his lowest he turns to what he thinks is the only way he can make money, selling and dealing drugs. Nobody he encounters other than his brother and his friend Joe are trustworthy. For BJ, he sees that his future is planned and the outcome is jail. He never had expectations he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

After his first round in prison he meets Natasha. She never judged him, she accepted him. If I say there was a love story there, I don’t think you would believe me. I loved BJ even more when he was with Natasha. I can’t give spoilers, but I know he was loved by her. As you are making the journey things and events will start to come together around the police. BJ starts to create his own little empire drawing in some people from the past. When things in the drug world are gaining momentum and move from pot to some hard drugs, BJ is caught between loyalty and betrayal. While in prison he truly learns the meaning of being loyal. The system that the prisoners come up with to communicate is remarkable. They are self-segregated, if that makes sense. They always have one another’s backs and these men turn out to be far more loyal in the end.

The second half of the book is where you see that he is not fearful of jail. He could be angry at all the circumstances that play into his life, but he never has a pity party. Even when the police, the detectives and his Dad are looking down at him, he was in control. The thought process was “do enough speed so I am awake for days at a time and calculate each and every deal.” Every time he felt like he was free a Detective would show up. It was a nice sunny day let me ride the motorcycle up PH. Nope BJ turns and there is an unmarked watching him. He was under surveillance because of his past. He struggled with his new found life for a long time. Everywhere was the name Bob Prescott.

I agree that God’s plan plays a major factor in BJ’s redemption. He realizes that to get to where he is, nothing shaped him as much as making mistakes and finding forgiveness. Without that how can he overcome a detective, a crooked cop and a lawyer who needs his ass kicked? So many times I thought this could be a great movie or a series on HBO. Yes there was violence and drugs and it was pretty mild considering the subject matter.

Nothing I can write will do the author’s work justice. I can’t glamorize the Southern California lifestyle, mostly because it is where I live and daily life is excess. I carefully thought who I would cast for the roles. That will come soon.

The author: