Scavenger Girl: Season of Zoetica by Jennifer Arnston (Scavenger Girl #5)

Synopsis:

Haunted by her past and unsure of her future, Una slowly realizes not everything is as it appears. Disenchanted with plans and progress, her attempts to do what’s right while keeping those near her safe, continue to fail. When a battle outside the gates of the Resistance leaves them vulnerable to the encroaching world, Una learns the true cost of war and the reality of what lies ahead. Frustrated with the Council, and struggling to control the battle within her own spirit, her grip on humanity slips and the beast within grows stronger. After losing control one too many times, Una flees far from her friends and family in an attempt to protect them from the single greatest threat to their survival...her.

Review:

Scavenger girl has been such a rollercoaster of a series and I cannot believe this is over. And I am kind of hoping it's not especially after reading this final season and being left wondering with that surprise ending.

Una has grown so much already but life has even more to throw her way in Season of Zoetica - no human being should have to be put through so much but Una manages to come out fighting. Although she nearly loses herself in all the turmoil, pain and heartache, Una still manages to pull herself through and fight for her family, her children and all of Ashlund, to bring down the terrible rule of her Uncle Reinik.

This series is full of characters I loved, there isn't one person who didn't fit the story or wasn't needed to carry on with Una's journey through life. Her love for Calish, Hope, Marsh and her children is at the centre of all she does and all she feels and is what saves her soul every time she's about to lose it and give up. She is an incredible heroine, who is allowed to make mistakes as all humans do and learn from them.

I must admit I was slightly taken aback by the ending. It left the story somehow untold and I just need more, if just for Una's sake.

Fabulous read, massive thanks to Jennifer for allowing me to be part of Una's journey. It's been fantastic.

My rating: 5/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Silver Dagger by Alistair Cross (The Vampires of Crimson Cove #2)

Synopsis:

Brother against Brother

Life in Crimson Cove has been good to the Colter Brothers since Gretchen VanTreese was staked and her horde of vampires scattered. Brooks is once again human, and Cade, the rare Sire Gretchen had determined to take as her mate, is in love. Then the unthinkable happens: Gretchen rises from the grave, and the brothers are torn apart, their lives - and the peace between them - shattered.

A Trail of Blood

When Cade comes into possession of an ancient ceremonial dagger he awakens a power so deadly it defies comprehension. Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the little mountain town, leaving a trail of blood that leads to a truth Sheriff Ethan Hunter doesn't want to face. And unknown to either of them, Gretchen is preparing to reopen her notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset - and building an army to destroy her enemies and reclaim Cade Colter as her own.

A New Breed of Evil

The streets are no longer safe, nor are the forested paths, for a new and unknowable evil has come to Crimson Cove and everyone - vampire and human alike - must come together in order to survive.

My review:

Oh what a perfect series, but I wan book three now! Please don’t leave me hanging and thirsty (pun intended) for more…I am hooked and and now my teeth are well and truly sank into this series I can’t stop thinking about what is to come next. But enough silly puns, here’s my views.

First book left me nice and warm inside, feeling as accomplished as Brooks, Cade and Ethan were feeling. We were all happy and living in a land of friendly vamps only and nothing could spoil the happy picture. We unless you are still a vampire in retrograde i.e. Brooks, and you maker gets a wake-up call. So yes, happiness over, please welcome feelings of fear, anger and misery all round.

Book two is so different. The author deals with a deep an dark depression of the main character Cade following just one tragic death too many and gosh does he deal with it. Anyone that has ever experienced depression either from themselves or from a loved one, will be familiar with everything Cade is going through.

And then we have the vampires. The goods ones (but are they) and the bad ones, that we were all hoping were asleep forever. Ethan is awesome by the way, he has a lot on his shoulders and tries to do right by all and it only gets him into more trouble. Brooks is dealing with his own guilt and transformation and suddenly I really like him – he has grown into a brilliant character that you just want to read about.

This book has it all: blood, death, tragedy, love, ex-wives, fiancés, hunger, revenge, depression, hope…the list could go on. It’s edge of the seat book and I really cannot wait for the next book brings. Please hurry!

Massive thanks to Alistair Cross for writing such a perfect series and his publicist for introducing me the books.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Crimson Corset by Alistair Cross (The Vampires of Crimson Cove #1)

Synopsis:

Welcome to Crimson Cove

Sheltered by ancient redwoods overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson Cove is natural.

When Cade Colter moves to town, he expects it to be peaceful to the point of boredom. But he quickly learns that after the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the little tourist town takes on a whole new kind of life – and death.

Darkness at the Edge of Town

Renowned for its wild parties and history of debauchery, The Crimson Corset looms on the edge of town, inviting patrons to sate their most depraved desires and slake their darkest thirsts. Proprietor Gretchen VanTreese has waited centuries to annihilate the Old World vampires on the other side of town and create a new race – a race that she alone will rule. When she realizes Cade Colter has the key that will unlock her plan, she begins laying an elaborate trap that will put everyone around him in mortal danger.

Blood Wars

The streets are running red with blood, and as violence and murder ravage the night, Cade must face the darkest forces inside himself, and perhaps even abandon his own humanity, in order to protect what he loves

Review:

Well this might just be one of my favourite supernatural series. It is a mature mixture of Vampire Diaries, Dracula and Anne Rice books and somehow it works. It is a bit dirty; it has great characters, fabulous setting and secrets of night creature that are being slowly revealed throughout the story.

Cade turns up in Crimson Cove after the death of his mother, he comes to live with his brother Brooks that has made the little town his home a few years back. Things are going great for the brothers, until strange characters start turning up around Cade – pale, cold people that makes the hairs on his neck stand. Throw in the strangely protective behaviours of local Sherriff and friend Ethan and you have a great mix to start up paranoia in anyone.

And then Brooks gets a new, secret girlfriends and that’s when all goes downhill for Cade and Ethan. Cade gets a quick lecture on the night life creatures that have been roaming the woods of Crimson Cove for centuries and a battle to save his brother commences.

It’s a great-paced novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and am already reading the second instalment. Alistair Cross has skilfully married the good and evil here and shown that not all that appears evil actually is.

Thank you to the publisher and author for copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Scavenger Girl: Season of Toridia by Jennifer Arntson (Scavenger Girl #4)

Synopsis:

Navigating a new life she never thought possible, Una becomes restless living in luxury. When the death of someone close to her reveals the true nature of one of Ashlund’s most powerful men, she flees the protected gates of her perfect home, through the scorching heat of Toridia and into the shaded wood. There, she encounters Kash, a man more powerful than the gods themselves, leader of the criminal faction referred to as the Woodsmen. In an exchange for her trespasses, he grants her a painful covenant forever binding her to her choices. Requisite to her release, he pays an unsettled debt to Una, a favor so petrifying, it is considered a curse by any other standard. The weight of responsibility is great, but is it hers to bear alone?

My review:

Fourth book in the Scavenger Girl Book series and what can I say – I love it even more.

The rain has stopped, the sun is out and the country is in deep trouble. Unrest is rising and Una is once more caught right in the middle of it. With the woodsmen threatening the authority’s power and people of Ashlund losing their faith, Una feels responsible for the people’s safety and survival.

Through more pain and beliefs of better life, Una ends up adopting a group of children whilst carrying her own and whilst trying to work out the best way to help the people that have been left homeless and starving following the devastation of the flood or last season. Of course, saving the children has consequences for Una and everyone else around her, that she could not predict even with her great gift.

It seems that every decision she takes brings her more pain and struggle and takes her away from her husband Calish. She must decide where her loyalties lie and whether she wants to follow her love, or follow her beliefs.

So much happens in this book and as much as I loved all the other books, this is so far my absolute favourite. Probably because I feel that Una had to grow up and embrace her role as a powerful woman that earns respect and people’s love through actions rather then words. I cannot wait to see if she finds happiness, but I have a feeling that the author has much more to tell before Una gets a rest. And that’s a good thing because I don’t want this journey to end just yet.

Fabulous writing, excellent characters, clever setting and politics that somehow echo what is happening in the world right now. Again, I applaud you Jennifer and please keep writing!

Massive thanks to the author for keeping me in the fabulous world of Ashlund – please don’t stop.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Follow Jennifer on:

Twitter – @JennArntson

Facebook – Scavenger Girl

Website - Scavenger Girl

Scavenger Girl: Season of Hytalia by Jennifer Arntson (Scavenger Girl #3)

Synopsis:

Una feels herself changing and for good reason. With new blood and new life comes new responsibility. Against Una’s warnings, Calish takes matters into his own hands. In a desperate act to protect the woman he loves, he makes an irrevocable agreement with the one person in Ashlund he should avoid. But when the promises given to Calish seem to turn against him, Una finds refuge in an unlikely place. All traditions and social status are turned upside down in the blink of an eye and suddenly birthright doesn’t matter so much. There is a secret hidden in the hills, and the rains of Hytalia are not the only storms that Una will be forced to face. 

My review:

Third part of the amazing Scavenger Girl series and once again reader will not be dissapointed.

Una comes home after her imprisonment with a secret she cannot hide from her family for long, especially her healer mother. She suffers flashbacks, visions and nightmares and although she should be happy to be with her own kind, she knows the peace won't last for long. Blue is still determined to own Una in any was possible.

Her own feelings for Calish are putting them both in difficult situation and danger and they both must face decision that will shape the future for the whole family.

This third book was sort of a turning point. I felt like Una and Calish have grown up become adults with real live responsibilities, unlike Blue, who is still a little boy throwing toys out of his pram and making life difficult for himself and everyone around him.

I really enjoyed learning about the resistance and Una and Nik's relationship and their journey together as the seers of the camp.

I cannot wait for the next book and again this is another one I think Netfilx should make into a fab TV series.

Well done Jennifer and please keep writing!

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Scavenger Girl: Season of Talium by Jennifer Arntson (Scavenger Girl #2)

Synopsis:

When the gods leave and evil freely rules Ashlund, Una and her family bear down for the season of darkness. Seemingly safe in the comfort of her own home, she explores her newly acquired gift with the help of her loved ones. Within days, her plans are interrupted and instead of fighting boredom, she finds herself fighting to survive. Trapped in a situation where there is no escape, Una endures the worst the Authority has to offer. Who knew family could be so kind...or so ruthlessly cruel? For all the things her parents taught her about surviving in a world set against them, they never prepared her for this. Una is about to discover the true demons of the dark were here all along.

My review:

I have been waiting for this book and wow, it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the first book and thought that this could not get any better, but hey, I was wrong. It does get better. Much better.

The first book left off with Una returning home after the festival at the end of the season of Atchem, torn between saving her family by marrying Blue (a man she got to fear and hate) and her true love for Calish, her once so-called brother. Una learned a lot about herself, including her biggest secret she must guard with her life – that she is a Seer.

As the family enter the season of Talium and with it its darkness, monsters hiding in the shadows and danger everywhere (from wolves and citizens alike), Una hopes for a rest and time to get to understand her new relationship with Calish and to understand more about herself, what she has gone through and what is expected of her.

However, time is not on her side though and soon after her return Una has a vision that will change the course of her life once more. She understand clearly, what she has to do and sacrifice in order for her family to stay safe.

This second instalment is much darker in its context then the first, given us a real insight into the twisted minds of the Authority and what goes on behind the closed doors. We also learn more about Una’s family, the political plotting and the power that comes with being the Lord of Authority and ultimately the puppet master in all things political and religious. Una has to grow up and fast, making friendships where she would never expect and finding herself to be a much stronger person she would ever think herself to be.

As you can tell, I love the books and I cannot wait to read the next one. I just hope it will not be too long before I can get my hands on it!

Massive thanks go to Jennifer for once again allowing me to read her fabulous book.

My rating: 5/5

Author's website: www.scavengergirl.com

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Scavenger Girl: Season of Atchem by Jennifer Arntson (Scavenger Girl #1)

Firstly I would like to say a very Happy Birthday to Jennifer and happy publication day. And thank you very much for letting me be part of your author journey.

Jennifer Arntson

Author, dreamer, and sworn enemy of Caillou

Jennifer Arntson has a long history of crafting tales that people find unbelievable, but often true. As an observer of human and social development through the ages, a curiosity of faith, and dedication to the underprivileged of the developing world, Jennifer finds her creative outlet in stories and fables. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children, and a mini-farm of otherwise useless animals where the family eagerly caters to their every need.

Synopsis:

Stripped of their birthright and shunned by the people of Ashlund, Una and her family are forced to live on the fringe of society as Scavengers. When the family experiences a sudden change of circumstance, Una takes new freedoms, free from the Authority, her family and possibly her fate. Pulled between the life she's always known and a world where status and rituals are everything, Una struggles to understand a culture that has rejected her family and celebrates death. Time is running out and she can't stop thinking about what she fears the most: the coming of her womanhood and her subsequent price when she's taken to the Sellers Stage. As the Festival of the Three Moons draws near and she learns who she really is, will Una find the courage to do what it takes to ensure her family's survival, or will she find the faith to follow her heart?

My review:

I love a bit of fantasy and this book fits right into that genre. The synopsis I was sent didn’t give too much away which is how I kind of prefer to receive books. I can then really make up my own mind.

Right from page one you are thrown into the harsh world of Ashlund, where Citizens live by strict rules under the power of the priests and the threat of being excluded from the high society. On the other side of the coin you have the Scavengers (or Reclaimers). They live on what they can grow and find and make themselves. They also live in constant fear of being hunted, tortured and murdered by the Authority, who makes this their sport of choice.

Una is a teenage girl on the brink of womanhood, who has only ever known living as a Scavenger with her parents and two brothers. But things are starting to change. With the upcoming Atchem festival where girls are pretty much sold based on whether they are fertile or not, strange things start happening around her. She has dreams that too real; a horse they reclaim seems to understand every word she says.

And then there is Blue. The Citizen that pays Una the attention a lover pays to his sweetheart. And behind Una’s back a plan is being hatched between Una’s parents and Blue’s grandfather that would change her life forever.

But revelations within her own family threaten everything Una knows and she sets of on a dangerous path decisions that will shape everyone’s future. The bonds within her family are threatened and only her own instinct and understanding can stop a disaster.

I don’t want to give any more away. I loved the book and can’t wait for the next installment. A massive thanks to the author for sending me the book – I was very happy to share my review.

My rating: 5/5

Website: www.scavengergirl.com

Available to purchase from: free e-book on publication day 21/10/2017

Amazon UK

Amazon US

When I Wake Up by Jessica Jarlvi #blogtour #ariafiction

Firstly I would love to say thank you to Yasemin at Aria for letting me be a part of this #blogtour. I am rather partial to a bit a crime fiction and this book certainly didn’t miss the mark.

Synopsis:

A breathtaking, heart-pounding, dark debut, sure to delight fans of The Girl on the Train and Before I Go To Sleep.

When Anna, a much-loved teacher and mother of two, is left savagely beaten and in a coma, a police investigation is launched. News of the attack sends shock waves through her family and their small Swedish community. Anna seems to have had no enemies, so who wanted her dead?

As loved-ones wait anxiously by her bedside, her husband Erik is determined to get to the bottom of the attack, and soon begins uncovering his wife's secret life, and a small town riven with desire, betrayal and jealousy. 

As the list of suspects grows longer, it soon becomes clear that only one person can reveal the truth, and she's lying silent in a hospital bed...

My review:

Brilliant book. What more can I say?

Every page and every chapter took me on a journey I wasn’t expecting. I changed my mind about each character so many times my head is still spinning now.

The book begins with Anna being attacked. Whilst she is lying in a hospital bed in a coma, we start learning about the people around her. We learn about her husband Erik, who drove me absolutely potty and I can only describe as Anna’s third selfish child, who on the surface seems like the devoted husband. Nut has secrets of his own.

We learn about her student Daniel and his unhealthy obsession with her, but who could blame him, taking into account his own painful background.

And we also start learning about her other relationships - the ones from Anna’s second life that she hides from everyone else.

This book journeys into the deep, dark corners of every character’s soul and takes you through all their dirty laundry, their deepest secrets and desires and just proves that not all is what it seems.

I don’t like giving the plot away and you wouldn’t want me too. This book is a page after page of discovery and really worth the read. Very clever writing with many plots and twists and turns. Just my cup of tea – surely life would be boring if we could work everything out from the start?

Thank you to the author and Aria Fiction for access to this book in return for this honest review.

My rating: 5/5

About the author:

Born in Sweden, Jessica moved to London at the age of 18 to obtain a BSc Hons degree in Publishing and Business. She worked in publishing in the UK for a number of years before heading to Chicago where she edited a magazine for expats. Back in Sweden, she completed a Masters in Creative Writing. Since 2010, Jessica has taught journalism and media at a local university, and has spent the last five years as the marketing and PR manager for a British firm. Last year, she was one of the winners in the Montegrappa Prize for First Fiction at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Jessica is married with three spirited children, and although she's known for her positivity, her writing tends to be rather dark!

Follow Jessica

Facebook: @JessicaJarlvi

Twitter: @JessicaJarlvi

Website: www.jessicajarlvi.com

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Kobo

iBooks

Google Play

Follow Aria

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Please visits my fellow bloggers for more reviews of this fab book:

The Note (Eddie Collins novella) by Andrew Barrett

Synopsis:

I’m Eddie Collins, a CSI.

Ever had that feeling of being watched but when you turn around no one’s there?
I have. 

It was raining, and I was working a murder scene around midnight when that prickle ran up my spine. If I’d listened to that feeling, if I’d thought back to my past, maybe I could have prevented the terror that was to come.

Back at the office, I found a death threat on my desk.

I had no idea who sent it or why they wanted to kill me.

But I was about to find out.

My review:

I love Eddie Collins. Especially his grumpy, no-nonsense approach to anyone who rubs him up the wrong way – which seems to be most people he works with. 

Interestingly though, when he gets the note, he seems to forget everything he has learned in his job and drives straight into danger’s arms. 

This is a very quick, entertaining read that keeps you glued to the pages until you can breathe a sigh of relief at the end. For a short thriller story I also found myself giggling at Eddie’s demeanour in the face of death as Andrew Barrett somehow manages to make Eddie seem very real, which is exactly the sort of character I like in a book.

Thank you to the Andrew Barrett for access to this book in return for this honest review.

My rating: 4/5

Author’s website: http://andrew-barrett.co.uk/

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

My Daddy The Serial Killer by Cindy Kovacik

Synopsis:

Katelyn Deason was young, naive, and innocent at six years old.

That is, until she made the mistake of descending those cellar steps and viewing the first of many horrors down below.

You see, her father wasn't who she thought he was. He wasn't the loving and "normal" daddy that all the other kids had. He was very different.

She soon realizes how different as the years pass and unspeakable things begin to happen.

Will Katelyn be able to cling to her sanity after witnessing all of Daddy's horrors?

My review:

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from this novel and I must admit I wasn’t expecting it to be so evolved. It follows Katelyn from six years old when she first sees a woman tied to a chair ready for to be tortured by Katelyn’s father.

From then on the book follows Katelyn’s live and her adaption to the life her daddy serves up never having any friends until she’s a full grown teenager; then quickly following a life of drugs, sex and self-distraction.

What is intriguing is the complicated psychology of the relationship between a damaged child and her murderous father. They continue to play a game of cat and mouse throughout the book with Katelyn losing at nearly every corner.

This is certainly a book that will stay on my mind. It is very cleverly written with a real insight into a child’s mind.

A massive thanks you goes to the author for giving me access to this.

My rating: 4/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US