Guest Post - Aubrie Dionne, Author of Colonization, Talks about Aliens

Why I wrote about benevolent aliens instead of crazy/scary/evil ones.

Crazy/scary/evil aliens are so much more fun to write about, aren’t they? They could take over people’s bodies, exterminate entire populations, read their minds, suck their brains….ah all the options….it makes me excited just thinking about it. So, why did I opt for the world peace version in Colonization?

Well, these aliens first appear in Paradise 21, the first book in my new adult space opera series. They’re meant to contrast with humans, who have made Earth unlivable through wars, overpopulation, greed, and over extending their resources. These aliens had created a perfect society of peace, understanding, and living in harmony. They outlasted their own sun, while humans destroyed the Earth long before its time should have been up. That’s the message in Paradise 21, and you finally get a glimpse of who they were in Colonization: Paradise Reclaimed.

Andromeda, the main character, gets to meet one of them. Not alive, of course, because their population has been wiped out by something threatening her own colony, but readers of Paradise 21 will get a further glimpse into the aliens’ world and how they’d interact with humans. The threat on Paradise 21 isn’t crazy/scary/evil aliens, it’s something much more subtle and insidious.

See for yourself in Colonization: Paradise Reclaimed.

“Forbidden love on a paradise planet that’s anything but paradise...Dionne’s Colonization will keep you guessing.” – Cherie Reich, author of Defying Gravity

Blurb:

Finding a new home has never been so dangerous.

Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer

assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.

But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius's ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to protect her new home. What she didn't expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?

About the Author:

Aubrie Dionne writes science fiction fantasy with romantic

elements. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade,

Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora

Wolf. Her books are published by Inkspell Publishing, Entangled Publishing,

Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She’s also a professional flutist in

New England.

Please visit her website: http://www.authoraubrie.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2964057.Aubrie_Dionne

Blog: httphttp://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

Twitter: @authoraubrie

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You can buy the book at:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Inkspell Publishing

Nicole's Review:

There's not much more you can want from a story than you receive in Colonization. Scifi fans will love this story. Romance fans will love this story. There are so many twists and turns. Colonization is a story to be read and reread.

Catching Fire Book Review

From Goodreads: Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol-- a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before... and surprising readers at every turn.

My review: I loved Hunger Games. As soon as I finished, I left to go see the movie. That night, I opened Catching Fire on my Nook. I read it just as quickly as I did the first book. I absolutely loved Hunger Games, and I thoroughly enjoyed Catching Fire although I thought it was a little slow in the beginning but when it picked up, boy did it pick up!


I loved how Katniss and Peeta and Gale remained true to their characters throughout the story At reading Hunger Games, I was Team Peeta. During different parts of Catching Fire, I kept switching teams. I also loved one of the new characters - Finnick. I even liked Johanna.


I wasn't sure that Suzanne Collins would be able to keep up the fast-paced action and the thrilling roller coaster ride but she definitely succeeded with this volume. I loved that we got to see the different districts. And Rue's poor family...


One thing that irked me? The ending. Or wait, I should say the non-ending. Because the book doesn't end. It just...stops. If there's one thing I hate, it's reading stories in a series that aren't complete books. The overarching storyline obviously isn't going to be tied up in the first or second book in a trilogy but they should still have a legit ending. I thoroughly enjoyed The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong but the ending ruined it. She just stopped the book in the middle of the story. That's not an ending. I haven't picked up the rest of the books in the trilogy because I was so annoyed by the non-ending.


What did you think of Catching Fire? I already can't wait for the movie to come out!

Hunger Games Book Review

It's been a little while since I've posted a book review. I would love to do one a week but that's not realistic so I'll aim for at least one a month.

Because the movie came out, I desperately wanted to read the trilogy before I saw the Hunger Games movie. It didn't take me long to read the all three books.

From Goodreads: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.

My review: The Hunger Games was a fast-paced, well written story that grips you from the first sentence and doesn't let go. It's one of those stories that you can't get out of your head, one that haunts your dreams.

I love to read action and adventure stories. This one was definitely not lacking in action! And Katniss is a wonderful character. Peeta is so sweet, Gale a perfect best friend.

The Hunger Games touches deep subject matter. Just how far are you willing to go to survive? Would you volunteer to take someone else's place knowing that you will have to kill or be killed and will most likely die for you efforts?

Stories that I can't stop thinking about weeks after I've finished reading them make up most of my favorite stories. Hunger Games was one such story.

Have you read the Hunger Games? What did you think of it? Did you see the movie?

Mind over Mind Book Review

Mind Over Mind

by Karina L Fabian

From amazon: Deryl Stephen's uncontrollable telepathic abilities have landed him in a mental health institution, where no one believes in his powers. But when Joshua Lawson, a student of neuro linguistic programming, takes part in a summer internship, he takes the unique step of accepting Deryl's reality and teaches him to work with it. As Deryl learns control, he finds his next challenge is to face the aliens who have been contacting him psychically for years-aliens who would use him to further their cause in an interplanetary war.

My review: This book was a refreshing read, both fantasy and science fiction or science fantasy. The blending of the two genres was well done, but the best part for me was the character of Deryl. Strong and yet unsure, Deryl learns not only how to control his powers, he also learns who exactly he is. Mind over Mind is the first in a trilogy and a lot of times, the first books in trilogies tend to just stop and not have a real ending. Mind over Mind has a satisfying conclusion as it sets up for the second book. Thank you, Karina, for a worthwhile and entertaining read!

Book Review - Destruction from Twins and Four Hundred Days

"Lor Mandela - Destruction from Twins" Book #1 in the Lor Mandela Series

Through the selfish acts of a twin enchantress, the world of Lor Mandela is sentenced to its untimely death. Only one can save it--the appointed Child of Balance, Audril Borloc. All hope seems lost, however, when shortly after her fourth birthday, Audril disappears without a trace. Audril Borloc must be found! When a group of Lor Mandelan spies travel to Earth in search of the little girl with black hair and bright blue eyes--traits that on Lor Mandela are exclusive to the ruling Borloc family--they instead find sixteen-year-old Maggie Baker. While the age difference between the girls is obvious, Maggie has the Borloc traits--evidence enough for the desperate spies. Suddenly, Maggie's mundane existence is transformed into a thrill ride of twists and turns as she begins bouncing back and forth between her hometown of Glenhill, Iowa and the strange and diverse lands of Lor Mandela. Amid battling a ferocious two-headed beast, being abducted by a lawless clan of Shadow Dwellers and falling head over heels for the son of an evil warlord, Maggie soon discovers that her blase reality could be the REAL fantasy, and that the fate of Lor Mandela may depend entirely on her.

My review - Destruction from Twins is a powerful, riveting read. Author L. Carroll sweeps you away into a fully real fantasy world and does not let you go until you reach the end.  The world building is top notch. Destruction from Twins has everything - characters you can't help but cheer for, diabolical monsters, magic, plenty of action and adventure, and romance too. So many twists and turns, you can't help but turn the pages. And the ending - what an end! I couldn't turn to the sequel fast enough!

Book # 2, "Lor Mandela - Four Hundred Days", Coming July 15!

When Audril, the heiress to the Lor Mandelan throne, sneaks away to Earth to save one of her dearest friends, she finds that a power hungry tyrant from her own world has begun systematically obliterating towns and cities to get her to turn herself over to him. On Earth, she meets a wildly eccentric old lady named Teedee Venilworth whose imaginary butler/fiancé supposedly holds the key to her success. But how can someone help if he doesn't exist? Could it be that creatures who dwell in shadow are not exclusive to Lor Mandela? Book number two in the Lor Mandela Series, Lor Mandela – Four Hundred Days, is an action-packed whirlwind of intrigue and fantasy. Join the extraordinary characters from the first book, (both the good and the evil), as they traverse the haunted corridors of Alcatraz Penitentiary, travel via portal to an ancient castle on the cliff shores of Ireland, and meet a foreboding race of mystic warriors known as the Solom. Soar on the back of a large horse-like creature to the Northern High Forests and discover that on the picturesque world of Lor Mandela, your friends can become foes, your enemies your allies, and just because someone dies, it doesn’t always mean that they’re dead.

My review of an ARC - The ending of Destruction from Twins left me dying to read Four Hundred Days, and author L. Carroll did not disappoint in the slightest. Again, I was swept up into the story. What I loved most about L. Carroll's writing is how real the characters are. Each one is different and unique and you can't help but fall in love with them. I loved that Tabbit and Lortu had a major role to play in this book. Good or bad, they are all multi-dimensional. One of the things I love about fantasy is that anything can happen and this book follows that to a T. Again with the twists and the turns, with plenty of backstabbing and not knowing who to trust, this book is even more action-packed then the first one, and I hadn't thought that could be possible. And once again the ending just leaves you dying to read more. L. Carroll, you have a fan in me.

I received this as a review copy from the author. This did not in any way affect my review. 

Reviewing Wednesday - Possession by Elana Johnson

First, I was a bad blogger yesterday and didn't blog so I have two links for you today for the Champion of Valor blog hop! Yesterday, I was over at Lila's blog and I hope you stop on by and check it out. Today, Ambur is hosting me and I'm talking about selkies. Don't forget to comment for a chance to win swag and my entire Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy!

And now for today's review.

POSSESSION by Elana Johnson

From Goodreads: Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Review:


I was able to get my hands on an ARC of Possession and let me tell you, I was stoked to read it! This book features a well-drawn heroine that you can't help but root for. Vi is playful and defiant and wants to do things her way. I love how fierce and loyal she is. She made the book for me.


And Jag. Don't get me started on Jag! Wonderful and handsome and dreamy... I am definitely team Jag!


This book is full of layers. Not just with the worldbuilding but with Vi's background. This book is fulled with so many ups and downs, it's like a wild roller coaster ride that will leaving you breathless and begging for more. The ending especially, it just killed me.


Possession is a book that I must get. I had to pass on the ARC I read, but boy, did I not want to.


Thank you, Elana, for a wonderful read that I cannot stop thinking about. And to me, that is a sign of a wonderful book.

GIVEAWAY: Happy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop and Personal Demons Review

Thank you I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and Once Upon a Twilight for hosting this blog hop!

Welcome to the Happy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop! This is my way of giving thanks to all of my followers and runs from 12:01 AM on Wednesday, April 20th to 11:59 PM on Monday, April 25th, midnight.

Each participating blog is hosting their own giveaway with their own entry requirements. All participating blogs are linked up through the Eggstravaganza linky HERE.

To enter, you must be a follower and leave a comment. (+1)

For additional entries:

follow me on twitter (+1)

spread the word (through your blog, FB, or twitter) (+1 for each, leave a link in a comment if you can)

like me on facebook (+1)

sign up for my newsletter (+5)

And what am I giving away?

A $10.00 Amazon giftcard!

Here's my suggestion as to what you should buy:

 Blurb:

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years keeping everyone at a distance—-even her closest friends—-and it seems as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can’t seem to stay away from him.

What she doesn’t know is that Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s soul. It should be easy—-all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than just Frannie’s soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.

My review for Personal Demons:

"If there's a Hell on Earth, it's high school.  And if there's anyone distinctly qualified to make that statement, it would be me."

How could you not want to keep reading after that first line? Once I started Personal Demons, I had a hard time stopping. I loved the characters. There's demon Luc, hot and sexy. Then there's Gabe the angel, wings and all, dreamy and good. Both love human Frannie, a human with a special power that has her wanted by both Heaven and Hell. She's tough and yet fragile with a troubled past and a tortured soul. Her thoughts were sassy and I enjoyed being inside her head. I enjoyed the dual POV of Luc and Frannie, and the present tense didn't bother me like other books have. It was fun watching Luc and Frannie grow and change throughout the novel. Gabe changed too but to a lesser extent. And I loved that love conquers all, even angels and demons.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

  If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which side would you choose? Are you sure about that?

I rate this book:

I won a Personal Demons t-shirt in a contest and had hubby take a pic of me reading the book. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that you couldn't see the cover until I uploaded the pic onto the computer. Oh well.

Book Reviewing

Since I'm a writer, I love to read. I think it's a given: writers have to love to read.

Because of this love to read, I have been reviewing for the site the Long and the Short of It for awhile now. I had originally seen a call for reviewers for Dark Diva Reviews and applied there but the position was full. I mentioned to keep me in mind when another opening occurred and saw that LASR was now looking and so I jumped at the chance. Free books? I'm there!

Dark Diva Reviews has changed hands from Jade to Melissa and Melissa recently emailed me to see if I was still interested. Of course! So I am now a Diva!

But, I'm not just a reviewer for DDR. I, along with Em, am now one of their editors. This role will serve to broaden my horizons as a writer, better my own writing, and help out DDR. It's a win win! I am so grateful for this opportunity. Thanks, Melissa! And I know I'll enjoy working with Em.

So, my blog readers, let's talk about reviews. Have you ever bought a book from reading a review? What would you like to see in the book reviews you read? Would you consider becoming a reviewer ever?

Yet Another Review for Woman of Honor

Title: Woman of Honor (The Kingdom of Arnhem Book 1 )
Author: Nicole Zoltack
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing Inc.
Copyright: 2009
ISBN : 978-1-936000-03-6
Genre: Fantasy; Romance
RATED: 4
Reviewed By: Lynn 7/29/09

Arnhem 1155 AD

Aislinn of Bairdhe wants to honor her brothers death by becoming a lady knight and maintaining her family’s prestige in the knighthood. At the age of 7 years Aislinn is at the right age when one starts the training as a page. As she makes her journey to the castle to consult the King to let her train as a knight. King Patrick grants her wish to begin her training. With many years of training looming ahead of her, she has to put up with the ridicule of the other pages just because she is a girl, and the worst one being Prince Caelan who also is training to become a knight.

As the years slowly go by Aislinn and Caelan go from being antagonistic to each other to becoming close friends to falling in love . As their training continues towards their upcoming knighthood, the underlying threat of war with the Speicans is always close at hand. Aislinn is committed to serve Arnhem and become ths Kings Champion. When its time for Caelan to take over the occupancy of the throne, can Aislinn who now is a Lady Knight stay committed to Arnhem or will she give her heart and her life to love.
This then is the story of a young girl who has a dream and embarks on the journey to bring her dreams to realization. It always amazes me how Authors of fantasy books can come up with the names of their characters. This was such a interesting read to watch the characters mature from children to young adults. This book kept be interested from the very beginning . For a fantasy book to hold my interest it has to grab me at the very beginning and this book did just that as in my mind I kept urging Aislinn on to make her dream come true.