jbronderbookreviews

A Man of Genius by Janet Todd

(Excerpt from Goodreads) A Man of Genius portrays a psychological journey from safety into obsession and secrecy. It mirrors a physical passage from flamboyant Regency England through a Europe conquered by Napoleon.

The pair leaves London for occupied Venice, where Ann tries to cope with the monstrous ego of her lover. Forced to flee with a stranger, she delves into her past, to be jolted by a series of revelations–about her lover, her parentage, the stranger, and herself.

My Review

4 stars

This story starts in 1816 in London and ends in Venice. Ann is a successful gothic novelist and one of a few women that are starting to break ground in this area. Ann meets another writer, Robert. At first she is fascinated with him but ends up finding herself obsessing about him and his genius. Robert starts out interesting but the longer Ann is with him and his selfish, violent behaviors she starts seeing his true personality. But although she sees the truth she also cannot find it in herself to leave.

This is an amazing story. You can tell that Janet Todd has a lot of knowledge about the 18^th century and London and Venice. I found myself instantly falling into this story. Ann is such a strong, independent woman yet finds herself with such an unstable partner. All I could do was sit back and pray that she could survive this relationship.

It’s a topic that you see often but it is executed perfectly in this story. The rich environment just makes this book even better. If you like historical and gothic stories you need to get this book. I admit that I am not usually a historical reader but I’m very glad that I received this book.

To purchase A Man of Genius make sure to check out Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.

I received A Man of Genius for free in exchange for an honest review.

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Decimation (Angels & Demons – 3) by Tich Brewster

(Excerpt from Goodreads) Armageddon has arrived and the kings of hell are out for Hannah’s blood.

Hannah is the only one that can destroy hell and save the world from destruction. She diligently trains with her father in preparation of her final battle with evil. The task of slaying demons in the few short months that she’s been a Devada has changed her — she’s no longer the scared, innocent girl she once was.

When she rescues a frightened little boy, she gets more than she bargained for. He is the host body for Liehijon and Liehijon is the key to finding Satan.

Tich Brewster

Tich is an Oklahoma resident and the mother of five. Her passion for reading started at an early age when her Aunt Vicky gave her the novel Heidi for Christmas. She didn’t start writing until middle school, after being inspired by her best friend’s short stories. “Genny’s stories weren’t just great but they inspired me to put my pen and paper to good use.” Tich never thought of publishing her works until working with Teresa on the Royal Blood series.

Excerpt from Decimation

The house shook with such force the sheetrock split, raining chunks and powder onto Hannah’s bedroom floor. Raum stood, putting himself between Hannah and the door. He reached for the gun he kept at the back of his waistband and frowned when his hand found none.

Gripping Hannah’s hand, he tugged her with him to her nightstand to retrieve her gun from the drawer. “Stay behind me.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Understood?”

“Babe, you know that I’m stronger now.” She tugged on his shirtsleeve. “It’s not necessary to put on your macho pants and try to keep me out of danger.”

He trained the gun on the door and turned to face her. “Yes, I realize that you are stronger now. Heck, you’re more powerful than I am, but that does not, I repeat, does not mean that I won’t do everything in my power to protect you from Hell.”

The floor beneath them vibrated rhythmically, it reminded Hannah of vibrations from a giant’s footfalls. The vibration stopped right outside her bedroom door. Both of them watched the door, bracing themselves for what was to come.

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My Review

4 stars

Hannah has been training to stop the kings of hell. Ever since she killed one of their brothers they are intent on stopping her. But Hannah is drawn to a young boy that seems to be the vessel for Liehijon and it’s hard for her not to comfort the child as the demons rage inside of him. Thrown in a human suffering from the bite of a hellhound and the hound itself and Hannah will need to be on the top of her game.

This is a real quick read as we meet up with Hannah coming into her Devada powers. It’s so hard to watch Austen having to suffer with the demons especially after losing his parents. I do really like Raum, he is so supportive of Hannah. But he is also a key to open a gate to hell. Thank goodness someone is looking out for him.

This is a quick story in the Angels & Demons series. I have not read the other books in this series but it didn’t take me long to figure out what is happening. I will definitely be going back and starting from the beginning. I just can’t wait to see what happens next.

To purchase Decimation make sure to check out Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.

I received Decimation for free from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.

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The War of Words by Amy Neftzger

Sometimes there’s no better way to understand reality than through fantasy, and the best way to find truth may be in a book – if you can find the right one.

Battles against darkness, a quest for truth, and a search for the book that no one can read are all part of the fantasy adventure in The War of Words. As an evil sorcerer wages war by using mysterious shadows and seeks to gain control by confusing the residents as to what’s real and what isn’t, the fate of the kingdom rests in the hands of Kelsey and Nicholas.

As the youngest officer in the king’s army, Kelsey fights the evil sorcerer s shadows on the battlefield as she explores the kingdom searching for the key to winning the war. Nicholas, a young sorcerer in training who is mastering his craft, discovers how the right words can change the course of the future.

Explore an enchanted maze, uncover the power of words, and learn about friendship in this whimsical tale.

​Buy the book:   Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Book Depository

Amy Neftzger

Author’s Bio:

Amy Neftzger is the author of fiction books for both adults and children. She has also been published in business and academic journals, as well as literary publications.

A few of her favorite things include traveling, books, movies, art, the Oxford comma, and gargoyles.

Connect with the author:  Website   Twitter   Facebook

Author’s Interview

Which one of your characters was the easiest to write?

Newton was by far the easiest. Newton is a real gargoyle that lives and travels with me and has developed quite a personality. I think his character was fully formed before my teenage son suggested that I put Newton in one of my books. Note to parents: Newton is several hundred years old and has a rock solid constitution, so if you visit his FaceBook page you’ll notice that he sometimes drinks a lot of wine with no ill effects. From that standpoint, he may not be a great role model for children.

Do you write every day?

Yes, at least an hour every day and on some days I write for several hours because I’m working on a deadline or special project for a journal. On those days I try to break up the writing so that I’m not sitting too long at one time. I try to get some exercise every two hours, because I find that it keeps my mind fresh.

What do you do about writer’s block?

I don’t really get writer’s block because I always have several projects going on at once. If I’m not sure how I want to work out a particular scene, I will often change projects and focus on something else for awhile. I find that these things work themselves out when I try to ignore them. I often change between fiction and nonfiction projects, also. I don’t know if staring at the same thing too long may cause tunnel vision, but I’ve haven’t bothered to find out.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing since I was in the second grade. I won a poetry contest when I was in the third grade (note: you may be relieved to know that I no longer write poetry). My first fiction book was published in 2003, but I had published nonfiction before then.

Why do you write fantasy?

Because I love it. I often think that fiction and fantasy reveal truths that we can’t always see with the naked eye. It’s like those stars that disappear when you look directly at them, but as soon as you look just to the right or the left you can see them clearly. I think that fantasy is one of the best ways to understand reality.

My Review

4 stars

The kingdom has a spell of darkness on it. It makes people forget so most doesn’t even realize they are at war. Kelsey is the youngest officer in the army and knows she has seen shadow people although no one else has. Others are also working together to try and stop the sorcerer and his shadow army. From a young sorcerer to even a gargoyle they are learning about words and how important they can be.

This is a great story for mid-grade readers. Kelsey is a strong character that fights for what she knows is right. I admit that Newton is my favorite character. But this books has a wide variety of characters for all readers. But the part I liked the best was how the kids learn morals while learning about words and how important they are depending on different uses.

My only complaint was this is the third book in a series and I didn’t realize that. I was not completely lost not having read the other two books but I do feel that it would have made the characters more familiar going into this book. Having said that I did really enjoy reading War f Words.

This is a great story for kids to adults. I really liked it and will be checking out the other two books in the series.

I received War of Words for free from iRead Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

Prizes: ​

Win 1 of 5 print copies (USA) / 1 of 5 ebooks (international)

1 of 2 $25 Amazon gift cards (international) (12 winners)

12 prizes in all!

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Orconomics: A Satire by J. Zachary Pike

(Excerpt from Goodreads) Brimming with swords, sorcery, and wit, Orconomics: A Satire introduces Arth, a world much like our own but with more magic and fewer vowels. For the licensed wizards and warriors of Arth, slaying and looting the forces of evil is just a job. The Heroes’ Guild has turned adventuring into a career, selling the rights to monsters’ hoards of treasure as investment opportunities. Corporations spend immense sums sponsoring heroes to undertake quests, betting they’ll reap the profits in plunder funds when the loot is divvied up.

Questing was all business for famous Dwarven berserker Gorm Ingerson, until a botched expedition wiped out his party, disgraced his name, and reduced him to a thieving vagabond. Twenty years later, a chance encounter sees Gorm forcibly recruited by a priest of a mad goddess to undertake a quest that has a reputation for getting heroes killed. But there’s more to Gorm’s new job than an insane prophecy; powerful corporations and governments have shown an unusual interest in the job. Gorm might be able to turn a bad deal into a golden opportunity and win back the fame and fortune he lost so long ago.

Promising fun, fantasy, and financial calamity, Orconomics: A Satire is the first book in The Dark Profit Saga, an economically epic trilogy.

J. Zachary Pike

J. Zachary Pike was once a basement-dwelling fantasy gamer, but over time he metamorphosed into a basement-dwelling fantasy writer. By day Zack is a web professional and creative-for-hire, but at night he returns to his lair to create books, films, and illustrations that meld fantasy elements with offbeat humor. A New Englander by birth and by temperament, Zack writes strangely funny fiction on the seacoast of New Hampshire.

My Review

5 stars

In the world of Arth, The Heroes’ Guide has turned slaying and looting into the economy of the world. Now you can invest in different quests with the possibility of profit from the loot that may be claimed. This story is about Gorm. He went on a quest that ended badly and has been disgraced. But he is confronted by the Guild that gives him the option of go on a quest for a mad goddess or death. So, Gorm gets the rejects of all quest companions and is now trying to make the best of a crummy situation.

This is an amazing story! I love fantasy and when I saw this book I couldn’t wait to get reading it. This turns you normal fantasy quest on its head with a disgraced dwarf and a group of companions that are more likely to kill each other than work together.

I was laughing all through this book. From the farmer haggling over a reward for running off goblins to Noncombatant Paper Carriers (NPC) to protect them from injury from the agents of light. As a child that grew up around Dungeons and Dragons this book was perfect. I can’t wait to read other books from Pike.

To purchase Orconomics make sure to check out Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and J. Zachary Pike’s website.

I received Orconomics for free from Sage’s Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.

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Scar Tissue by MC Domovitch

(Excerpt from Goodreads) When successful model Ciara Kelly wakes up in hospital, remembering nothing of the weeks she has been missing, her only clues are the ugly words carved into her skin. According to the police she was a victim of the Cutter, a serial killer who has already murdered three women. For her protection the police and her doctors give a press conference, announcing that because her amnesia is organically caused, her memory loss is permanent. But, whether her memory returns or not is anybody’s guess. Overnight, Ciara’s glamorous life is gone. Her scars have killed both her modelling career and her relationship with her rich boyfriend. With nothing to keep her in New York, she returns to her home town of Seattle, moves in with her sister and goes about building a new life. But when her sister lets it slip that Ciara’s memory is returning, the killer comes after her again. If Ciara is to stay alive, she must keep one step ahead of the Cutter.

M.C. Domovitch

MC Domovitch is the author of nine novels. She is hard at work on her tenth, Seeing Evil, due out in Fall of 2016.
She lives with her physician husband and their two dogs, diving their time between homes in Canada and the Florida Keys.

My Review

5 stars

We start with Ciara running for her life. She has escaped something and while trying to get help is hit by a car. At the same time her kidnapper is talking on the phone with another party about the escape. Ciara ends up in a coma and awakens to learn that she has scars all over her body, been the victim of the serial killer the Cutter, and has some brain damage. Her modeling career is over along with no longer having a rich boyfriend. She returns to Seattle to live with her sister and get her life back in order. But two years later she may have had a memory and her sister tells Ciara’s ex-boyfriend. This puts Ciara back on the radar when the Cutter wants to stop Ciara permanently.

This is a great thriller. You can’t help but feel bad for Ciara. She has made her own place in life although it is very private and quiet. But when the Cutter comes back it is one mad rush for her to figure out who the killer is and to try and stay alive. I loved the paranormal abilities she gets and I love how it comes into play in the end of the story.

I quickly read Scar Tissue in two days. I got caught up in the story and thought I knew who the Cutter was but I admit that I was wrong. There was lots of action and a great story. If you want a great thriller to read I recommend you check out Scar Tissue.

To purchase Scar Tissue make sure to check out Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.

I received Scar Tissue for free from Worldwide Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

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Dark Matter (Steve Nastos – 2) by RD Cain

(Excerpt from Goodreads) After being recently cleared of murder charges, the disgraced and out-of-work police detective Steve Nastos reluctantly teams with his brash and similarly disgraced lawyer Kevin Carscadden for a paycheck. Nastos—who built his career on channeling the shadowy instincts within him to hunt dangerous predators—takes on a mission to track the whereabouts of Lindsay Bannerman, a troubled teen who is missing from her wealthy adoptive home. The trail Nastos and his lawyer pick up is one with a sadistic abuser on the other end and littered with lies, deceptions, and lifeless bodies. Torn between spiteful former colleagues—detectives who maintain Nastos belongs in prison for homicide—a wife who wants her husband to finally liberate himself from the darkness that fuels him, and the promise he made to a stranger to find Lindsay, the search is a race against time before everything vanishes forever into the dark matter.

My Review

4 stars

Steve Nastos has had a rough go lately. He has lost his job as a police office. He has been working as a private investigator with an old friend but his wife keeps hounding him to retire. Then Steve is asked to look into the disappearance of wealthy girl Lindsay Bannerman. Against his better judgment, Steve agrees. But this case is going to be hard when Steve learns that Lindsay is adopted and has a history with undesirable people making the suspect list increase dramatically.

This story bounces between several different points of view, from Steve to Lindsay to the killer and others in between which really kept the story moving. Steve is one of those people that move in the grey of right and wrong. He does things that many might consider excessive but he is someone that knows what needs to be done, pretty or not. And with these killers he is going to need every bit of that skill.

I have not read Cherry Beach Express, the first book in the series but that has not affected reading Dark Matter. The killer is very twisted and gets what he deserves. I really liked this dark thriller and if this is the kind of books that you like I recommend you get your copy of Dark Matters today.

To purchase Dark Mater make sure to check out Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.

I received Dark Matter for free from the author, a long time ago, in exchange for an honest review.

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