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Friday, August 30, 2013

Apex
By Glyn Gardner
 



First let me say I love zombie books.  I was really anxious to read this one since it is written by a nurse and I am a nurse.  First of all it passed on one of my pet peeves.  Glyn was very realistic when describing medical procedures and how the nurse character, Jen, is afraid when doing them.  She must make some hard choses to work way beyond a nurse’s knowledge or people will not survive.  As a nurse I understand that watching and assisting a doctor is a world of differences than attempting to do it yourself.  It would be scary to know that someone’s life rested in your hands and you don’t have accurate training to accomplish what must be done.  Do you try anyway, because if you don’t, they will die.
I liked the other character in the book also.  Jen’s husband Mike is good man and tries to protect the people he cares about.  They help save the kid next door and we get to see her quickly develop into a responsible young adult who can take care of herself.  The first two military guys they join forces with to escape the zombies are great.  Ssgt Brown and Private Jackson take the duty of defending the people with them very seriously.
If you are bad person in this story, you had better beware.  Gardner has gruesome ways of weeding out the undesirables.  The one fault I found with this book was that I really didn’t read anything different from most zombie novels.  The redeeming part is that the characters haven’t gotten very far in their journey when the first novel comes to an end.  I will read the next book in the series because Apex is well written and keep my interest all the way through.  I read another review where someone was complaining about spelling errors. What I have to say to them is “get over it.”  That is not how I judge a book.  If it is a good story and I like it the errors are trivial.  In this novel the characters are well written and I found myself really rooting for the heroes to make it and in some cases for the villains to get eaten. 
 


Thursday, August 22, 2013


                  Going Home by A. American


It is amazing how quickly civilization deteriorates when people become desperate.  This book really played into my fears of government conspiracy theories.  When an EMP hits and wipes out everything that is electronic, Morgan is on a business trip and 250 miles from home. Morgan is an over the top prepper that has prepared for just about any kind of scenario.  He wonders how long it will take before mankind turns back to the survival of the fittest.  He gets his answer almost immediately. 

Jess is a young adult, who has been away at college and just wants to get home to her parents.  She is ill prepared for her journey home, but is very aware that it not safe for her to travel alone.  She convinces Morgan to let her travel with him. Along the way they meet Thad, a trunk driver, which is also trying to get home. They all decide that since at least part of their voyage is in the same direction, there would be safety in numbers. 

They make friends with another, Sarge, who has unbelievable set up.  It seems like Sarge is ready for anything. He is ex-military and still has friends that know what the government is up too.  When he fills his new friends in on what is really happening, they discover it will be much harder to get home. 

This book is filled with pits and downfalls that would become very real dangers if the people that keep things running smoothly were on longer here. They have to literally fight for their lives to make it home to their families. Their moral integrity has to change for them to get by in this new reality. This book will keep you on your toes wondering what will befall our heroes next. 

The author is very knowledgeable of human nature, guns, gadgets and things it would take to survive if we were suddenly left without the electrical power then dominates everything we do. We normally unmindful that we depend on it to powering out houses, cooking, having a clean water supply to basic communication. The writer of this book really makes you wonder how well you would endure if suddenly you had to figure out new ways or revert to old knowledge for doing almost anything.  How many people would just give up?  How many would try to forcefully take what belongs to others?  How many would honestly try to find new ways to get by?  It would be like a permanent, primitive camping trip. Just imagine, your cell phone, computer, air conditioning, television, radio, and kindle doesn’t work and these are things you can live without.  How long could you survive on the food you current have in your possession?

I loved this book. I learned about all kinds of things I never know existed.  There are all kinds of new survival toys I want after reading Going Home.  This book also made me want to be better prepared for any type of emergency.  It really made me realize how spoiled we as Americans are.  I already had a big fear of how much of our lives the government has control over and this book really shows how easily they could gain total command.  Really looking forward to starting Surviving Home, the sequel.
Amazon linkhttp://www.amazon.com/Going-Home-Novel-Survival-ebook/dp/B00DMBMRYQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377234725&sr=1-1&keywords=going+home

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

 www.theindieview.com on your site
I would like to do reviews for Indie View. I love finding new writer to love and sharing them with you. www.theindieview.com on your site

elfwitch loves books Policy


Review Policy

 So you want your book reviewed by elfwitch loves books?  Ok so here we go. First the facts. I have only been doing this for a short time, but I really love it. Reading has always been a passion for me.  I love to share when I read something I really love and I doing so with people with like minds. Really makes it wonderful.  Not to say I may not challenge readers to give their own point of view in form of comments. I feel reviewers can really help a book reach its audience.  I have read a ton of books because of positive reviews.

Elfwitch loves books is a book blog, that specializes in horror, speculative fiction, mainly paranormal and science fiction themed mediums. I will also review Indie Books of all fiction genres, just because I get really excited about discovering new writers. At the current time about of my new favorites are Indie writers..

At this time I am the only reviewer for my blog and unfortunately the best I can do is 2-3 books a week. I have some other reviews in mind but have not gotten them on board at this time.

The reviews are based solely on opinion, whether that opinion is negative or positive. If your book is reviewed, please expect honesty. It is my opinions, nothing more, nothing less. If I absolutely hate a book I will not review. If I can’t praise the book or give a constructive review I will not leave one.  Not much offends me, be it graphic gore, or sex. In fact if I is part of the story I enjoy it.  I just don’t want to review books that are written just for the sex. It is just not the tone I wish to set for my blog. All  queries will be accepted, but responses are not guaranteed.

Book Formats

  • Bound Books
  • ARCs/Galleys
  • eBooks (PDF)
  • Audio Books (no windows media files please)

GENRES

I am selective on genres because I try to keep elfwitch loves books on a certain theme. Mainly horror based, but also with a paranormal tone.. So books in the following genres are the only books accepted. Independently & Small Press are accepted:

  • HORROR
  • URBAN FANTASY
  • Dark Fantasy
  • YA Paranormal
  • SCIENCE FICTION
  • FANTASY

Other Things To Consider:

Elfwitch loves books will also post Press Releases if it is a pertinent update that readers of my blog would like to know about.

Elfwitch loves books will also post about products or events that are paranormal in nature if I believe the item or event is something my readers would like to know about.

If you are ready to request a review, please klgicurn@yahoo.com.  Submission does not guarantee a review.

FAQs

Where are your reviews posted?
 
Along with elfwitch loves books reviews will also be posted on Amazon.com, I also post on Facebook, where I have 1000+ friends, twitter with 500+ followers and Goodreads.com, but my priority is Amazon.com

 

What do I include on review posting?

  • Book Cover
  • Author web presence (Facebook, Twitter, Website)
  • Links to purchase on Amazon.com & BookDepository.com
  • The Review
  • Trailer – if it is made available

 

Do you review every book you receive for review?

If I read the book it will get reviewed, but sometimes there are books that I am unable to finish and if I haven’t been able to get into the book enough to give a review, the book will not be reviewed.

What is your turn around time for a review?

I am not able to give a time frame for reviews. If there is a certain time period you would like your book featured, please let me know and we can work out a promotion.
ARCs – I will try to review ARCs before the release
http://thedanobrienproject.blogspot.com/2013/07/kindle-fire-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ThoughtsFromTheDanObrienProject+%28Thoughts+From+the+Dan+O%27Brien+Project%29&utm_content=Yahoo%21+Mail

Chance to win a Kindle fire.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Necropolis Now by Vincenzo Bilof

Are you brave enough to read this? I dare you to.  It is some of the best descriptive writing I have ever seen.  I wanted to read parts of it peeking through my fingers, like with a scary movie.

Vega and Miles are mercenary teammates, which are a couple in the loosest sense of the word.  Vega is a true badass, adrenaline junkie, with a major guilt complex, but it doesn’t stop her from being a gun for hire.  Ex-Military, Special Forces, Miles is also a force to be reckoned with, even with his serious cocaine habit.

They join up with Bob, the mercenary they often work for to rescue a VIP from a smoldering Detroit.  The city is supposedly under siege from looter that are in the process of destroying everything in their path, But the looters are really zombies.  The VIP they are hired to save is really a brilliant, highly decorated veteran, turned serial killer that makes pictures with his victim’s bodies and blood.  His name is Jim Traverse and he is currently in a mental institution, Eloise Fields, only because he wanted to get caught.  Traverse is in love with a beautiful cannibal porn star, Mina who may well be the cause of this zombie invasion.  They escape the nut house together when all hell breaks loose.

Does that sound like enough action and gore yet?  Well, Vincenzi Bilof , the author of Necropolis Now, doesn’t thinks it is.  So add in an Ex-cop and the producer of Mina’s porn movies, with his desperate desire to save Mina, because he is in love with her too. Next in the lineup is a young attorney searching for his heroin addicted brother and the strung out junkie sibling himself.

Still not enough?  Ok, how about a notorious drug dealer and little girl, Shanna , that Vega does not know but, is obsessed with saving.

Still want more?  How about an endless supply of zombies?  This novel is truly bloody and gory and I loved every minute of it.  Not for the squeamish or the faint of heart.  If you are tough enough, it is a wonderful read, that will keep you on your toes.  Necropolis Now is available now and the sequel will be out soon.  Can’t wait.
                                   

Monday, August 5, 2013

http://www.rainydayramblings.com/rainydayramblings/something-wicked-returns.html                                                                                             

Don't know what the prize will be yet, but it will be something good. Check back in a couple of days to find out.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Pretty As She Dies by Rhiannon Frater


Imagine waking up buried in a shallow grave and having to dig your way out. You have dirt in your eyes and mouth. You are choking on it. You have no memory of who you are or how you got here. Now imagine you make it back to your dorm room only to discover that you are dead. This is the situation Amaliya finds herself As Pretty As She Dies begins. Amaliya is a Texas heavy metal rocker, college student who has to find her ways with the hunger of a new vampire and her psychotic maker that is out to destroy her on the trail. Her life before has not been easy and it has suddenly gotten a whole lot more difficult.
Along the way she is lucky enough to develop a relationship with Cian, the master vamp of Austin. Cian knows just how evil Amaliys maker can be from personal experience. Cian has a small group of loyal followers that include a human girlfriend and the son of a famous vampire hunter. He also has a human servant who has some vampire strenghths from years of ingesting his master’s blood. Roberto, the human servant is jealous, arrogant and does as he pleases, while claiming he is only doing what is best for his master.
Amaliya discovers she has powers to control the dead, which is not surprising since her grandmother can see ghost and the vampire that turned her is a necromancer. The Vampires of San Antonio want Amaliya so they can control Cian, but have no ideal of the extent of Amaliya’s powers until it is almost to late. This is an amazing story of love, betrayal, survival, family bonds and learning to adapt. Becoming a vampire may be the best thing that ever happened to Amaliya if she can survive long enough to find out.
There is so much more to this book that a simple review cannot do it justice. Rhiannon Frater is a wonderful weaver of words. I felt like I was part of the book and not just an observer. I have been mesmerized by everything I have read by her. This is definitely a book that is hard to put down and leaves you anxious for more.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

PRETTY WHEN SHE DESTROYS by Rhiannon Frater

 
This is a wonderful novel. It is currently the latest in the "Pretty As She Dies" series. Amaliya and Cian are an amazing vampire couple, who are surrounding by their group of supernatural and human friends that must attempt to save the world as we know it. The ancient vamp known as The Summoner created them both. He plans to destroy mankind and rule over the world of supernatural beings with an unwilling Amalyia at his side. The scariest part is that he is also a necromancer. He pasted this ability on to Amalyia and Bianca, another of his fledglings. The Summoner already controls Bianca. All that stands between him and his control of the world is Amaliya, Cian and their cabal.
 
I was really disappointed when Rhiannon announced that she had released the final novel in her "As the World Dies" series but after reading "Pretty As She Dies" books I am all right with this, because I realize Rhiannon can repeatedly create world that I can get lost in and become part of the book. She is truly talented and never fails to pull me in and develop characters I can't help but love. I have said this in a previous review but her characters feel more like people I know, than someone that was invented for a book. Rhiannon has a way of giving more and making you care about them. She has made it into my list of favorite authors that rate immediate read list of their new books.
 
I can't wait for her next book, series or whatever she decides to write. Keep them coming Rhiannon and I promise to keep reading them.


Reasons Why Bloggers ARE the Seven Deadly Sins:
Lust - FICTIONAL BOYS GALORE. Need I say more? How many of you can say you HAVEN'T swooned, or wanted to elope with a boy in a book? I thought so.

Greed - Staring at your bookshelf and STILL wanting more books to pile on that thing. Who cares if it's sagging over! MORE BOOKS.

Sloth - Forget about life, I've got a book. I think I'd rather lay in bed reading than write that history paper.

Gluttony - Um, I don't know about you but I LOVE to snack while I read. Namely, chocolate.

Pride - Staring at your beautiful bookshelves and wondering how you got so lucky.

Wrath - When publishers reject your heartfelt book request for that one book you want so desperately!

Envy - This has got to be the easiest. Can you say you haven't ever been a teensy bit jealous at the sight of other bloggers piles of books that you don't have?
http://bookhavenextraordinaire.blogspot.com/2012/11/bloggers-seven-deadly-sins-reincarnated.html