Author Appreciation, David McAfee

The "Guys" Perspective with David

Author David McAfee, Saying Goodbye To The Sun (A Bachiyr Novel)

 Review and Giveaway

New York City, 1986.
The name of the beautiful woman in the red dress is Raine, and Vincent Walker has no idea she’s about to change his life forever – by ending it.
Now, impossible as it is to believe, Vincent is turning into a vampire. He sets out to find the woman who changed him, hoping she can take it back. Instead, he finds himself at the mercy of the infamous Council of Thirteen. Not wanting to risk any of its more valuable servants, The Council assigns him the task of bringing her back to be punished for turning him without permission. If he succeeds, the woman he loves will be no more. If he refuses, the Council will take out its anger on him, instead.
But Vincent is not the only one looking. Something driven by a century-old vendetta hunts them both, and it won’t stop until they are destroyed. If Vincent can find Raine first, the two may be able to disappear together. But he is beginning to like the growing evil inside him. Already he wonders if he will save her, or kill her himself.

The story is told from Vincent’s POV, a human turned vampire in the mid-1980's by a stunning yet flawed vampire, Raine. 

Vincent sees a girl in a bar and feels a connection, like an invisible string binding them; he thinks she is the kind of girl that would never go out with him. Against his better judgment he asks her if he can join her; “Please do, Vincent” was her reply and he was so happy he didn’t notice she already knew his name. The evening was wonderful until she backed away from him shaking her head, then turned and ran out the door. She was gone before he realized what had happened, but she couldn’t stay away. She surprises him by reappearing in front of him, giving him a kiss, telling him to run and then disappearing again. 

 Vincent decides to stakeout the bar where he met Raine. After three days he finally spots her, she is running from someone.  He pursue’s and ends up saving her from her would be attackers.. Now he needs answers. Why were they after her? Why was she running from Vincent? She told him she was running from him because she was trying to protect him from herself.  In a heated moment of passion, she bites Vincent. 

In McAfee’s fabulously woven world, vampires aren’t made without approval from “The Council of 13”; and Raine did not get permission.  Let’s just say if Vincent didn’t have bad luck, he wouldn’t have any luck at all!  The council finishes turning him and sends him after Raine.  The story flows and moves well, you can almost SEE Vincent and The Council lurking in the Shadows. 

This was my least favorite McAfee book, that being said, if the worst of his works is still a good book that says a LOT for ALL his books.  I definitely recommend this book along with it’s companions in The Bachiyr series.. 33AD, After and 61AD.

I rate it 4/5 Quills!

Up for grabs, A SIGNED Paperback copy of Saying Goodby To The Sun!

The usual rules apply guys; you have 24 hours to claim your prize once we notify you and you MUST complete all REQUIRED sections of the Rafflecopter or your entries won't count.  Goodluck everybody and Thank you to Mr. McAfee for such fabulous swag.

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Treasured Thursdays: Harry Potter Style Part 2

Treasured Thursday is a weekly event created by Touya over at The Reader's Garden that is all about our most treasured. I'm hosting it here now, for those of you who are interested in joining me. This month, as you all know by now, we are ALL about Harry Potter, so we decided to focus on HP specific topics. This week we are all about our most treasured member of the Weasley family. 


This may be the hardest question I will ever have to answer. With the exception of Percy, I love ALL the Weasleys! Molly Weasley may be the very best mother ever written period. And Arthur Weasley's muggle obsession makes me laugh fondly at him. Bill is the big brother we all long for and Charlie is good-natured and loves animals. Then we come to the twins. How I adore Fred and George Weasley!  They have some of the funniest lines in the series. But I have to say my most treasured Weasley is...

Ginny Weasley.

She is fierce, loyal, smart, stubborn, funny and one hell of a powerful witch. Her no nonsense attitude and quick temper make her a dynamic and lovable character. She's loved Harry pretty much since the day she laid eyes on him and she never really gave up on him. That is HARD for a teenage girl to do! And she did it! She is always ready to jump in to help a friend or her family. It doesn't matter what they need or what it might cost her; she's there and she packs a wallop. 

"I'm three years older than you were when you fought You-Know-Who over the Sorcerer's Stone, and it's because of me Malfoy's stuck back in Umbridge's office with giant flying bogeys attacking him -"

See what I mean, she means business. Just a few  of the reasons why Ginny is my most treasured Weasley. 

Oh, come on, now… How do I pick ONE? There are so many wonderful people in the Weasley family and so many great things to say! Ginny, with her adorable crush on Harry (who doesn’t think that’s cute?); Mr. Weasley, with his obsession with Muggle creations; Gred and Forge… Or is it Fred and George? ;) … *siiiiiigh * Can’t I just say who I do NOT like and be done with it (*cough*Ron*cough*)???

No? I have to pick? Damn it. Fine. If I absolutely positively HAVE to pick a Weasley who I love the most it’s…

                                             Molly Weasley. 

And no, it’s not (100%) because I’m pretty sure Miss Mel is gonna say the twins ;)

No. This woman has gone through so much bullcrap it’s not even funny. She starts off as this sweet little woman, who really has no other purpose besides, “Ron’s Mother” (don’t lie, anyone who saw the movies first called her that at some time or another!) and she is so much more than that.

It’s proven later in the movies, and I hope it is proven in the books even more, Molly is fierce and isn’t afraid of ANYONE when it comes to protecting her children. Usually, I just want the parents in books to go under a rug and stay there and then maybe have a sweet moment or two with the kid, because the stories I read are usually about THE KID and the parents just get in the way. BUT! I want more of Molly!

Especially near the end…

“Not my daughter, you bitch.”

Chills. Literal CHILLS. I was blown away by Molly Weasley, and her caring behavior, to the other-side-of-the-coin ferocious protectiveness she holds so easily. My all time favorite; no contest!

Ron Weasley. Sorry, hate me all you want but can you imagine what is was like for him to be compared to Harry for the better part of his young life? To be an afterthought since his best friend was “The Chosen One”. He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named really nailed it in The Deathly Hallows (your mother wanted a daughter, your mother said she’d prefer me as a son, who would want you instead of Harry Potter) I’m surprised he didn’t go postal a long time ago! I always root for the underdog.

Fat Chances by J.S. Wilsoncroft: Review

Annie is a normal, overweight 18-year-old senior in high school, until she meets Cory, the sexy, super hot Zumba instructor that turns her life upside down. Plagued with extreme insecurity due to her excessive weight, Annie learns to love and to love herself. Through Cory, she learns that she is lovable.“Fat Chances” will warm your heart and reminds us all that it’s what’s in the heart, not on the body, that counts. (from Goodreads)

Fat Chances is a short, fast read by J.S. Wilsoncroft. I was approached by the author for a review and the synopsis caught my interest.  Annie, the main character is the narrator of the story. I have to say I tried hard to like Annie. However, she spent so much time feeling sorry for herself and being negative that it was nearly impossible. You feel sorry for her, yes, but you also want to shake her to get her head straight. 

I am a big girl. No doubt about it, I always have been. However, I learned to be ok with myself because I like who I am on the inside and my husband, family and friends  love me just the way I am.  I was a little peeved that Annie didn't really start to like herself until she lost a few pounds. It felt like she was still judging herself by her looks and what she appeared to be to the world. 

That being said, I liked the romance and the story of Annie and Cory's relationship as it finally got off the ground. I laughed a lot while reading this and enjoyed Wilsoncroft's writing style. I'll definitely be checking out her other books. 

My Rating: 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Group Book to Movie Review

For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts."

Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst. (from Amazon.com)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the series by J.K. Rowling. It's also my very favorite book in the series.  We meet even more new characters and watch as Harry struggles with new information about his parents lives and ultimately their deaths. In this installment Rowling introduces us to the dementors of Azkaban and I have to say, they are the stuff of nightmares.  Honestly, the dementors scared me more than the thought of Voldemort. This is also where learn about Animagi, wizards who can transform into animals. Rowling really outdoes herself in the plotting of this novel. She ratchets up the suspense and intrigue and tiptoes over the line from children's book to something just a tad bit darker and more mature. I loved every second of it. 


Harry's determination to fight the dementors effect on him brings us some of the most heart-wrenching moments in the series yet. I know I teared up quite a bit while reading this book. Also, we meet two of my very favorite characters ever in this book. I am talking of course, about Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Professor Lupin is a wonderfully complex addition to the Hogwarts staff. And Sirius Black, where do I begin? His character has so many layers and different facets, (not that we get to see them ALL in this book, sorry) and he's just disarmingly vulnerable in his slightly crazed ways in this book.


The growth of Harry, Ron and Hermione and even some of the professors is fantastic to witness. Professor Snape reaches new levels of nastiness because of Harry's new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who actually seems to know his subject!  Tension is high between Ron and Hermione because her new pet seems to have it out for Scabbers. With the telling of Sirius Black's story we learn about how things were when Voldemort was at the height of his power. It's chilling, to say the least. Things are definitely getting more interesting at Hogwarts.


This book really cemented the series in my favorites of all time. It's not rushed or drawn out, the mysteries unfold with perfect pacing. The action, suspense and intrigue combined with Rowling's wit and humor made this book absolutely perfect, in my opinion. I loved that I had NO idea where she was going with the series in general or this book individually; I was just along for the amazing ride.

My Rating:

And now we move onto the movie. Sadly, this is where the movie adaptations start to go downhill in my opinion. I made myself watch this movie again, just so I could be sure I still despised it. I'm sorry to say, I still do. There isn't a whole lot screenwriter Steve Kloves and director Alfonso Cuaron got right here, in my opinion. I have 4 pages of notes, front and back on the things the omitted, changed or just fouled up. I promise not to go into lots of detail or rant for that long. But there are a few things I need to say. 

First of all, if Harry got a letter from the Ministry of Magic for Dobby using a hover charm in his house the previous year, WHY would he be magically lighting his wand to do his homework in bed? This irks me. It's the little details that don't mesh with the canon that get under my skin and make me want to boycott Hollywood.  And unfortunately this is just the first in a LONG line of snafus. 

The Weasleys are so important to Harry in the books, I hate how they make them almost trivial in the movies at times. The twins shine in all  seven books and they get cheesy synchronized jokes in the movies. None of their true comic brilliance shows. Frankly, it disgusts me. Ginny is another who has been cut out of important scenes in the movie. Important events are forgotten completely, like Harry's birthday, when he receives cards for the first time and Christmas when he receives a mysterious gift that causes the trio to separate by gender  for a time. All completely swept under the rug. The stress of preparing for exam time is totally forgotten.  

  

Let's talk about the new cast members. The brilliant Gary Oldman is Sirius Black; he is perfection in the role. Emma Thompson brings the batty Professor Trelawney to life beautifully. And then we have Professor Remus Lupin. David Thewlis is a wonderful actor, don't get me wrong. He is NOT, however the actor to play Lupin, to me. He's too old and honestly, he creeps me out. 

The thing that bothers me the most about this movie, though, is the way they pick and choose where to use Harry's invisibility cloak. They botched this completely. Harry's cloak is an important weapon in his arsenal.  Why would he NOT use it? Also, where is Gryffindor's glorious Quidditch triumph? There's no Oliver Wood, no Cedric Diggory and no hilarious Lee Jordan commentary. 

There is so much more wrong with this movie. I won't bore you with all of my observations though as they are sure to get repetitive. Suffice to say that I was not in any way, shape or form impressed by this movie. They destroyed one of my favorite books of all time. 

My Rating:

This is more than generous in my opinion, I only did two because there are some films later that will make this one look brilliant. 

I shall be honest with you, readers. I have been unimpressed and bored-to-tears with Harry Potter books 1 and 2. I don’t know if it’s because I remembered those movies, or because I simply thought they BOTH read like children’s books, but I didn’t like either of them. Didn’t hate them, either, but I wasn’t thrown off my rocker in excitement. And I like to get thrown off my rocker.

So, to say my expectations for The Prisoner of Azkaban were low would be an understatement. I actually was considering bowing out of the book portion of the reviews and just saying my opinion on the movies because I couldn’t stand continue with all the blandness when I have a to-read list longer than a centipede..

But! Hot damn, I’m glad I didn’t! The third book, in my opinion, knocked the other two out of the way and rocked so hard I simply couldn’t walk away. And sitting at work with my nose in a book and going, “Lemme finish this chapter!” when people wanted to check out…Well, let’s just say I got some weird looks…

I digress. The Prisoner of Azkaban is a non-stop thrill-ride from cover to cover and has the best lines ever! I actually saw some chemistry with Harry and Ginny (which I thought was the dumbest coupling ever just watching the movies…like, really?), was reminded even further why I love the Weasleys, (especially the twins, oh my gosh), and saw again, hey, Neville has a purpose! I loved Hagrid and Dumbledore in this book and for once, was not thrown off by the Dark Arts teacher (anyone else noticing a pattern, there?)

For the first time since starting this series I actually WANT to pick up book 4 and get right into it! Wasn’t bored for a single moment and I’m really glad I didn’t give up on this!

My Rating:

…Now, ah. For the past two movie reviews I’ve been asking what the bloody hell is wrong with you movie-haters, because they were so close to the books, and I’ve never seen anything so good, yes? And me, being me, assumed this would be the same case—Love the movies, dislike the books…
…

I UNDERSTAND THE RAGE NOW, PEOPLE!

Honestly, what the ever-loving—?! This was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen! Just in the first fifteen minutes they knocked out nearly 80 pages of USABLE and GOOD material, with hilarious commentary and awesomeness! Now, I understand that you can’t just sit and watch Harry doing nothing and have a voice-over tell you what he’s thinking (yes, I dislike that in movies) but REALLY? I don’t want to give away any spoilers but…but… God.

Here, I will give hinty-spoilers. WHERE THE HECK DID THE WEASLEYS GO?! They had a major portion of the first few chapters and had a big ole bite of the suspense and what did we get? Mrs. Weasley fussing over Harry per usual, Mr. Weasley doing something that NEVER HAPPENED in the book and the twins causing trouble? What? Where was Percy? And Ginny? No wonder I didn’t like Harry/Ginny—THEY HAVE NO DEVELOPMENT!

Another thing—why didn’t we just change Ron’s name to Sniveling Moron, why don’t we? I can’t be this air-headed—I don’t remember Ron whimpering and whining and being a total bother the entire book. Sure, he was still Ron Weaselby but….ugh.

And here’s the weekly Where’s-Draco? complaint.. Seriously? He is in the book so much MORE and he isn’t so cry-cry either. Who wrote the script? Who directed this? The entire crew should be fired, less the cast. God.

I’m doing a lot of yelling in this review, aren’t I? I’m sorry. I’ll try to keep it down…No promises. I’m mad.

Whoever directed this movie should be banned from Hollywood productions. This isn’t some cheap, Tim Burton rip-off we’re doing here, where all you do is add creep music and lighting to make things spooky, it’s HARRY FRIGGIN’ POTTER, dammit! World-wide sensation and you, Director, made it tacky. Congratulations… AVADA KEDAVRA! You see? You’ve made me a Voldemortella. Very nice.

It’s kind of obvious I’m not impressed with this movie, at all. As a book-to-movie, and just as a movie. Just…no.

My Rating:

And that's being generous cuz I've seen worse movies!

“Vernon Dursley speaking” Lord give me strength, I want to strangle the life out of this man, bring him back with one of Harry’s spells, then strangle him again! That being said, Kudos to Rowling for giving us someone (aside from You-Know-Who) to HATE! This is one of my favorite books of the series, our introduction to Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

In a way, the writing grows with each book just as Harry does, yet another reason I love this series! The storylines have grown as well, especially with this book; death and revenge, the feeling of being completely powerless. The plot is more mature and involved this time around, compared to the first two books. In Harry’s third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he has no idea what’s in store for him and his friends.

There is always an adventure at Hogwarts just waiting for Harry and company to arrive, and this year is no exception. Enter Sirius Black, the feared prisoner of Azkaban. He has escaped and it would seem he is heading straight toward Hogwarts, or better yet, straight for Harry. Security is tight and Harry has cabin fever; he also has his cloak of invisibility which enables him to attend the field trip to Hogsmeade; permission slip be damned! The strange and questionable are not so far out of the ordinary with these books; but I immediately noticed Hermoine’s ability to be in several places at once. ‘Hermione’s Secret’ is my favorite chapter in this book.. “Now, pay attention… If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight.” So much happens in this third installment of a beloved and well written series that I can’t even begin to name it all. It would be hard not to break our No Spoilers rules as well!

I will leave you with this; the story I took away from this book in particular is the easy way out is not necessarily the out to take. Loyalty, trust, friendship and love encompassed with an innate sense of right and wrong are what you should hold on to. Harry Potter is like a fine wine, he simply gets better with age.

My Rating:

And now on to the movie…. 

The first Harry Potter movie I took my youngest son to see, he was 7 at the time. He spent a good portion of the movie with his head buried in my lap! I LOVED the tagline for the movie poster “Something Wicked This Way Comes!” Harry is having a difficult time at home with his family (I use that term with vile disgust) as usual and longs to be back at Hogwarts, his true home. These movies have a knack for grabbing your attention from the start and not releasing you until they roll the credits! We start with Aunt Marge, it seems to have been ingrained into the Dursleys at birth, the ability to be utterly loathed by anyone you come in contact with! Let’s just say I think she got what she deserved in the end.

The Knight Bus; I can’t imagine it moving from the pages to the screen any better, I truly loved the way it played out. True to form though, the movie leaves out some good stuff from the books. Percy Weasley, for example; his appearance in the movies is almost a cameo, he was much more present in the books.

Harry finally makes his way back to Hogwarts but it is not the happy homecoming he was expecting. The school is placed on lockdown with the addition of the dementors; loved the movies take on them as well, I think it was spot on. This movie included a lot more from the books than it’s predecessors in my opinion, thank goodness! Thrust back into Harry’s magical world we are introduced not only to the Dementors but Black and Remus as well. I especially liked the classroom scene with Remus and the closet where Harry conjures a Dementor on accident. Oh and the way Remus helps him perfect his Patronus Charm; was that not a brilliant stag rendition?!

The director was able to move the darkness and the uncertainty that is Harry’s world in book 3 to the big screen ALMOST flawlessly. Buckbeak was beautiful as was Hermoine’s fist in Malfoy’s face. At the time I watched this movie it was my favorite of the 3, it has since been replaced, but it is still one of my favorite movies ever!

My Rating: 

Dark Confluence by Rosemary Fryth: Review

The small Queensland country town of Emerald Hills is under siege.

Jen McDonald, a small, neat, almost-overlooked spinster in her fifties faces a quandary. Traumatised by a car accident after seeing a mysterious, dark-shrouded figure on the road, the last thing Jen wants to be is a heroine. Is she losing her mind, or is there a far more malign reason for the terrible storm, frightening deaths and vanishings, and other mysterious goings-on in Emerald Hills. Jen feels trapped, not only between warring factions of the Fae, but also by her desire for one of them and that she may be fated by her special gift to be the town’s defender. (From Goodreads)

I have to admit I don't normally go for the more terrifying books. However, Dark Confluence by Rosemary Fryth is just too good to pass up. It's spooky without being cheesy and not over the top with gore and violence. Instead it's fantastically scary, suspenseful and thought provoking. I lost sleep while reading this book, it's definitely a page turner! 

I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, Jen. She is an incredible heroine. She finds herself at the center of a paranormal crisis in the small town where she lives and instead of running from the trouble, she learns how to face it. Brave, compassionate, and selfless, Jen makes it very easy to get behind her. I also enjoyed that the main character wasn't a teen, but a grown woman. It's nice to read about adults from time to time. 

Fryth's tale is creepy but filled with the beauty of the Australian countryside. It's written in the third person which I love because you get to see the story progress from different perspectives. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and I will definitely be checking out the rest of Fryth's work.

My Rating:

He Said/She Said with Aaron Patterson:Interview, Review & Giveaway

All Airel ever wanted was to be normal, to disappear into the crowd. But bloodlines can produce surprises, like an incredible ability to heal. Then there’s Michael Alexander, the new guy in school, who is impossibly gorgeous…and captivated by her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she can hear the sound of pages turning, and another, older story being written. It is the story of an ancient family, of great warriors, of the Sword of Light, and the struggle against an evil so terrible, so far-reaching, that it threatens everything. Airel knew change would be an inevitable part of life. But can she hold on when murder and darkness begin to close in and take away everything she loves? Will she have what it takes when the truth is finally revealed? {Goodreads}

HE SAID

Airel is a normal 17 year old girl with a normal family and the stock best friend and confidant Kim; someone she can share anything with.  At school she falls instantly for the new boy Michael and, almost immediately notices some things are not quite right.  She is changing, her skin appears flawless, she is hearing voices in her head and she notices that she heals very quickly.  Things start getting even stranger when, while at a movie with her friends, she witnesses a murder and the murderer stares right at her.  Running away to the restroom to hide the murderer follows her in but is distracted with the chaos.  And now our story really begins.   Seems a little odd to me though,  that she would run away from her friends and hide in the bathroom (?)

The story splits and has a flashback to 1250 BC.  Here we are introduced to Kreios, an angel, and his wife; the story takes an interesting turn here with the events that unfold.  There are rules that he must break  in order for his child to survive; but, by doing so he alerts the Seer (nasty demon) to his location and The battle between Good and Evil ensues. The past and present stories mixed well, as the story switches back and forth it keeps you wondering what the link is to the past.  I think I liked the flashback parts of the story more so than the present.  It was fast paced and had plenty of action.

I think the present part of the story could have used a little more development of the characters. And maybe a little bit less of the teenage angst.  The story was over all very entertaining and, though a touch slow in places, keeps your interest.  A refreshing twist on the usual angel-demon themed story as well!

I rate it 3.5/5 Quills;  I recommend  this book to anyone that likes angel/demon stories.

SHE SAID

What an intense book! Lots going on from the first page, Airel will grab your interest from the start. Lets start with Airel, at first I found her annoying, she is definitely the atypical teenage girl from the start.  You have no idea what is happening with her for a good part of the book, once you get more in depth and her story unfolds she becomes more likeable. The mystery with her was one of the things I enjoyed most about the book in the end; she is suddenly plagued with these bouts of sickness for no apparent reason (there really is but I can’t give away that juicy detail!  I will say the mystery begins with the murder at the movies!!).  Then there is a killer (or two), a stalker and a HAWT guy!  Throw in a dash of mystery and a secondary story that goes back thousands of years and we have ourselves an intriguing read.

Alas, there were a few parts throughout the book where I was confused. There are multiple characters added to the mix as well as the back and forth of the storyline and, I got them mixed up a time or two. Once I got the flow of the back and forth with people/places/things I was able to enjoy the book more. 

There are some intense battle scenes in the “past” story that I really enjoyed, well written and described by Patterson.  And then he weaves some of this into the “present” story as he brings Airel’s mysterious history more to light. The “past” stories turned out to be one of my fav aspects of this book as the “present” stories with Airel and Michael were at times a bit juvenile to the point I wanted to skip on to Kreios (past).  That being said, this was still a good read.  Any fans of Angel books would love this series.  Patterson left us with a cliff hanger but, thankfully Michael (book 2) has been released so we can go straight to the next chapter in Airel’s life.

Patterson brings an excellent message to teen girls in the book as well. 

"you don't need a man to love you and make you special, you are special because you are you.”  Kreios to Airel.

It was another aspect of this book that annoyed me, Airel thinking she is nothing without Michael’s love.  I screamed out “YES!” when I got to this part in the book.  When I initially finished the book I focused a lot on what I didn’t like.  After tossing it around in my head for a few days I began to focus more on what I liked and the aspects of the book that enthralled me; It would seem that the Author wrote the book with either his own daughter or a young women in his life and how he see’s her, in his mind.  It made me look at the book and the characters in an entirely different way.  He doesn’t write Airel negatively at all!  What starts out as a young, confused and slightly naïve girl becomes a strong selfless young women; willing to put her life on the line to protect her friend and her family.  Kudos Patterson!  But, that’s just my two cents!

I’m riding the fence between 3/5 and 4/5.. so I guess I’ll just tear a Quill in half!  3.5 out of 5 for me. 

Of course, I had to pick around Patterson's head and get more insight into the author of this series.  Here is my interview with author Aaron Patterson (giveaway details to follow)...

*Tell me a bit about yourself.  I am a boy trapped in a mans body. I was home schooled and moved about 25 times from the age of 1-18. I have three kids, a daughter and two boys, they rock!

*Where were you born and where do you call home? I was born up in Post Falls Idaho and now live in Boise Idaho.

*What was your inspiration for Airel; Michael? I got the base from the Bible. There are two verses on these angels that let heaven to marry and not much else is said about them, i thought it was cool and I have not read many other books that have this kind in them. Most fallen angel books are with the first coup who fell so I wanted to do something on the group who left for love. I know...so romantic!

*I simply must now, how did the idea for your history/story of the Fallen Angels come about; Research or just a Fantastic idea? I took the dates from the Bible as well, it all took place around the real times these angels left. I tried to keep the layout of the lands and times in sync with how it could have been back in 1250 BC.

*For those who are unfamiliar with your novel; Airel,  how would you introduce it? It is a story about a girl (Airel) who finds out she is related to an angel named Kreios. Part of the book is in 1250 BC and the other part is set in Boise Idaho, present day. It is a thriller in a way, and has some paranormal elements... If you like YA, thrillers or just something different you might enjoy Airel.

*What are the Pro's and Con's to being an Indie Author? I am my own publisher, I have around 40 other authors I publish for so I love it. The pro's are more money, time and control. The con's, well, it is a lot of work and some people do not give you instant respect, but I prefer earning it anyway.  

*Whom in your life would you say has influenced you the most? Everyone...I learn something from everyone I meet, how to do something or how not to do something. I had a great friend who once said, "Every man is my teacher."

*What has been the most interesting comment (or review) about your book? Lol, well I write as a 17 year old girl, so you girls are all over the map so I get some that say I nailed it and others that say I should not even try. I guess most say it is right on so I will just assume the ones who don't relate are weird. =)

*Who is YOUR favorite Author? Don't have one...there are so many it is hard to choose.

*What are you reading right now? I am reading "Unearthly" by Cynthia Hand and "Darkroom" by Joshua Graham.

*Tell us your latest news. Book 2 in the Airel saga just released, MICHAEL, and I have a new thriller series about to come out called BREAKING STEELE, (A Sarah Steele Thriller).

*Thus far in The Airel Saga we have Book 1/Airel and Book 2/Michael; will there be more? Yes, Book three is Uriel and Book four will be Kreios.

*In addition to The Airel Saga you've written several other novels; would you like to fill us in on your other books? I have a bestselling thriller series called the Mark Appleton Series. Book 1 (SWEET DREAMS) Book 2 (DREAM ON) Book 3 (IN YOUR DREAMS). If you like shows like CSI or Bones you will love this series...I must warn you though....it is like Fringe...some weird stuff happens.

*Finally, what advice would you give to other budding Indie Authors................. LEARN, WRITE and BE NICE! So many indie authors just do not take the time to learn the business. There are a tone of people out there taking advantage of authors who do not know better. Write, do not get bogged down marketing, you need more books so keep going and don't give up. Last, be happy for your fellow indies. If someone is doing well, be happy, so many get all butt hurt and mean, just look at some reviews, it is bitterness and if you let yourself get to that place you will never make it.

Okay guys, be sure to complete all REQUIRED tasks for the rafflecopter and, Good Luck!

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Operation: Find Daniel- Mel's Pick

Now that you've read my review of Sovereign Hope and the interview I was lucky enough to do with Daniel, you get to see who I think should be on the cover of book 2, Eternal Hope!  


I took this task very seriously. Let's see how Farley describes Daniel the first time she meets him and we'll see what you guys think of my choice! 


"Tall, black long-sleeved tshirt that hid half his hands, black jeans-she couldn't see his shoes-black hair that curled in a wet mess about his face, sticking to his skin. His strong jawline was clenched tight, and a pair of startlingly cool green eyes picked her apart with scientific precision.  There was something fierce and angry about them that made her tremble a little. Fate must hate her. He was far too good-looking to be someone she had just crashed into."


So, I chose Anthony Greenfield, a male model and quite the nice looking young man, in my opinion. I think, with his hair maybe a bit longer, he would be PERFECT for Daniel! 

I had to share this picture, first, mostly because he's shirtless and I know we ladies love to ogle the shirtless men. Ahem, anyway, back to business. Here's another picture of him so you can all compare, but I really do think I've picked a winner. 

What do you think guys? Have I chosen well? Be sure to pick up a copy of Sovereign Hope and read ALL about my new favorite book boy! 

Soveriegn Hope by Frankie Rose Blog Tour: Review, Character Interview & Giveaway

Everyone has a soul

Some are just worth more than others

Farley Hope was seventeen when her mother disappeared. In the last six months not much has changed, except that her eighteenth birthday came and went and still no sign of Moira. Her life is just as complicated as it always was. Since her father died in a car crash before she was even born, she’s officially parentless, and to top it all off she’s still suffering from the hallucinations. Mind-splitting, vivid hallucinations- the kind prone to induce night terrors and leave you whimpering under your covers like a baby.

The last thing on her mind is boys. Farley is on break from St. Judes’ when she meets Daniel. It’s not some casual run in at a party, or even a blind date with friends, though. Daniel is the guy following her in his 1970′s Dodge Charger; the guy standing at her window in the LA lunch hour traffic, trying to persuade her to leave everything behind and follow him. And he's hot as all hell. 

The moment Farley lays eyes on Daniel, everything changes. He is cold and withdrawn, but there are cracks in his harsh veneer- cracks that betray the secrets he is trying so hard to hide. Farley is drawn into a world that will shake apart everything she thought she ever knew. There are truths out there that she must learn: that a person’s soul is their only real currency, and there are people who would do anything to take hers; that loving someone can hurt so much more than hating them; but, most importantly, when your future is predestined, there is little you can do to change it.

Farley Hope is prophesied.

Her coming has been awaited for hundreds of years.

She is destined to end the tyranny of the Soul Reavers.

To do so she must die.

Sovereign Hope is the first book in The Hope Series by Frankie Rose.  When approached about being part of this blog tour, I was excited to be part of it. Just from reading the synopsis, I knew I would like this book. I wasn't wrong. It was one of the best books I've read  so far this year. I'm going to try hard not to gush, but I'm not making any promises, guys. 

Sovereign Hope is a fast-paced, suspenseful thrill ride from beginning to end. It had all the ingredients a great book has; lots of action, some romance, captivating characters, unique plot, lots of humor and heart.  It was so well written, you feel like you are in the midst of all the action. It really is the ideal book for me. 

The  characters are complex and likable; very well developed.  Daniel is my new favorite book boy. He is just a phenomenal character. His sarcasm and somewhat cranky demeanor mask a really sweet guy and you can't help but adore him. (Or at least I couldn't.)  Where to start with Farley-she is such an amazing character; strong, determined, brave, funny & loyal to those she loves.  Her entire world has been flipped upside down but she doesn't lay around and cry about it. She goes after answers! She is determined to find out what happened to her mother and she doesn't dwell on what harm could come to her in the process. That selflessness coupled with her tenacity make her a wonderful character to read about.  

The story is told from the points of view of both Farley and Daniel and I loved being able to see the story come to life from both their perspectives.   This book is jam-packed full of action and I never saw the twists coming at all. The romance was SO well done, too. Not overly hearts and flowers but realistic to the situation the characters are in. I just loved it!!  This is probably the very best book I've read so far this year, I cannot wait for the second book! 

If you love paranormal young adult books then this one is definitely for you! A must read in my book! 

My Rating: 

Check out the awesome book trailer guys! 

And now our interview with Daniel, my new favorite character! 

Hi there, Daniel! First of all I’d like to say thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, we know how busy you must be right now.

 Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hey. What d’you wanna know? I guess you’re not after my shoe size? *arches eyebrow.* My name’s Daniel Montisauri. I suppose you could say I’m a little different to other guys. I may look like I’m eighteen, but trust me- I’m not. I’d hardly say my life was easy before Farley came along, but things have certainly grown more complicated since then.

Can you tell us what has been your favorite decade so far? What did you love about it?
Probably the 1920’s. So much changed during that time. I mostly loved that time because the first cars were available for public purchase, and I spent a long time taking them apart and learning how to put them back together again, figuring out how to make them go faster. The world changed so massively during the twenties. You only need to take a look at the fashion to work that out. Life was less…restrictive, I guess. Exciting.

What kind of music do you enjoy?
I like to play classical guitar, but I listen to a bit of everything. I’m big on classical. I definitely don’t listen to much ‘pop’ music today. I don’t find there’s much talent involved in the songs that plague the radio. I love rock from the seventies, mainly because of Aldan. I love lots of indie music. The Heart and The Head are probably one of the only bands I listen to that are contemporary, along with The Avett Brothers. 

Describe your idea of a perfect Saturday night. 
One where I didn’t have to kill anyone would be nice. I wouldn’t care where we were or what we were doing so long as Farley and I were together, and we didn’t have any worries. It’d be a relief to not have to look over our shoulders or panic about who might be waiting around the next corner. Being that carefree would put everything into perspective, I think. We could be sitting in my car, watching traffic for all I cared, so long as I had her and she was happy.

What’s your favorite food? 
Farley introduced me to Thai food the other day. Right now, it’s Pad See Ew. 

How are things going with you and Farley? 
*narrows eyes* Fine. We’re still getting to know each other. That’s all I’m willing to say. She’s not here to speak for herself, but…I’m happy. *Smiles awkwardly and stares down at his Converse*

Can you tell us anything about what’s next for you two?
Next? We’re headed to Montana. I have friends there who might be able to help us find Agatha and the others. That’s where I also part own some property. I usually live there when I’m not in LA. I hate the city, and the mountains there are really beautiful. I know Farley’s not really looking forward to meeting my friends. She’s scared for some reason, but I know they’ll love her. Tess and Oliver will be with us anyway, so she’s got nothing to worry about.

Thank you so much for answering our questions. Good luck with everything to come! 
Uh, thanks, Mel. We might need it….

And the second book trailer for Sovereign Hope!

About the Author: 

Frankie Rose was born in the United Kingdom, but now lives with her husband in sunny Australia.

She officially makes things up for a living, and when she's not doing that, she is generally making paper birds out of receipts and old lists or taking photographs that make her smile.

Find Frankie Rose:

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