Review: When Gold was Black by Michele Amitrani

Title: When Black was Gold (The Story of How Fossil Fuels Forever Changed Humankind and Planet Earth)
Author: Michele Amitrani
Published: April 27th 2016 by Michele Amitrani
Genre: Sci-fi, Enviroment, Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:

Hiroto Takahashi is one of the most popular living ecopols on Earth, a man who has dedicated his entire existence to harmonizing the needs of our civilization, and the needs of our planet. 

His job is to nurture a sustainable and long lasting relationship between mankind and nature. A man whose innovative ideas saved the planet from itself at a time of need. Real, sound solutions that forever solved and satiated the problems of global warming. 

Invited as the main guest on Centuries, one of the most popular TV shows on Earth, the ecopol answers some of the toughest questions regarding the survival of our planet. He addresses the concerns of pollution, the plummet in energy supplies, cutting edge eco-technology, the relationship between population and environment, renewable energy, city planning and the doom our species faced at the beginning of the 21st century and how we avoided it. 

Welcome to Centuries.

| Amazon |

*Received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Thanks, Michele!

My Thoughts
I think When Gold was Black is one of those stories that everyone should read at least once in their lives and then truly take a moment to think about what it means for us and the future of our world. It may be a short story but that doesn't mean it doesn't pack a punch.

I don't often read much in the sci-fi genre but a story by Michele is a must-read and Amitrani always writes about such interesting characters and subjects, things I don't read about as often as I should.

Overall, I enjoyed When Gold was Black a lot. It's a thought-provoking story and I always love Amitrani's take on what the future might be like.

About the Author

Michele Amitrani is a young self-published author living in beautiful British Columbia. He has grown up writing of falling empires, space battles, mortal betrayals, monumental decisions and everything in between.
He now spends his days traveling through time and space and, more often than not, writing about impossible but necessary worlds.
Omnilogos is Michele’s debut novel and the prologue of an action packed Sci-Fi saga drenched with what some has called the sense of awe typical of Asimov’s Foundation series.
His previous Sci-Fi short story, ‘When Gold was Black’, has been praised as ‘powerful’, ‘intense and inspiring’, ‘really well-written’, and ‘original’.
When Michele is not busy chasing dragons or mastering the Force, you can find him at MicheleAmitrani.com or hanging out on Facebook at /MicheleAmitraniAuthor.

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Blog Tour: Dream of Me by A. Star (Review + INT Giveaway)

Title: Dream of Me (The Djinn Order, #2) 

Author: A. Star
Published: January 19th 2016
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Steampunk
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:

Glory St. Pierre never thought so many lies could hold so much truth, especially when her entire life has been one of those lies. Now that she knows who she really is, she must find a way to come to terms with it before the Djinn sorcerer Rasputin and his steel army descend down upon the human and Djinn realms, wielding magic so dark even her own Djinn lover, Irving, is wary of it.

Their only hope to save the realms are a couple of hunters and the Lords of the Djinn Order, four powerful Djinn who have remained elusive for centuries. Armed with her only granted wish, a fabulous airship, and the Djinn she loves by her side, Glory will embark on a quest to find the four lords and enlist their help. But there is a reason the lords have been in hiding, and once this tiny band of adventurers awakens them from their slumber, they will set off a chain of events that has been in the making since the beginning of time.

There is no turning back now.

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Wish For Me is on sale the week of the tour so hurry and grab a copy!

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Thanks to A. Star and Xpresso Book Tours for letting me be a part of the tour!

 My Thoughts 

Dream of Me was my first read of 2016 and it did not disappoint, although there were parts of the book that frustrated me.

I had a hard time liking Glory in this book. In Wish For Me she was a kick-ass chick but in this she drove me quite insane. She'd do something dumb telling herself she knew just how wrong it was but would do it anyways, and then turned right around, and would admit that she should have never done what she just did in the previous chapter. I can understand the occasional screw-up but it felt never-ending this time around. I was also bothered by how Glory and Irving's relationship seemed to blow up so often, they were very back and forth with each other.

Now, having said all that I did enjoy Dream of Me. I adore A. Star's books, and they are pretty fast reads. I loved the steampunk creations, and Irving's airship (so awesome), and Qazi the pilot was a fun new addition to the story. It's hard to say a lot about the story itself without giving anything away but it's like nothing else I've read.

Overall, Dream of Me was a great read. A little frustrating for me (I have a hard time liking female MCs sometimes) but a fun read. It has plenty of adventure, and romance, there's even an Irving chapter too (I love male POV), and the ending was pretty bad-ass. So, if you're a fan of fantasy and romance I definitely recommend this series for you.

 About the Author 

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She loves to read it, and she damn sure loves to write it. She is the author of the Mythos: Gods & Lovers series and the Djinn Order series. She is a night-owl and a coffee junkie, and the only sneaker she would be caught dead wearing are Converses.

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 Giveaway 
1 winner will receive an ebook copy of Wish For Me + 2 Djinn Order bookmarks.
Open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 25th

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Review: Sepherene: The Complete Chronicles by Daniel Beazley

Title: Sepherene: The Complete Chronicles (The Sepherene Chronicles, #1-4)

Author: Daniel Beazley
Published: August 9th 2015 by Daniel Beazley
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Religious, Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
In a time where religion has become no more than a convenient commodity and angels bask within their god-like existence upon the mortal planes, can Sepherene the fallen angel find the path to redemption and at what cost? She has chosen Lucius to journey with her but his past is hidden beneath a dark shroud and he carries troubles of his own. As he is drawn deeper into an ancient struggle between good and evil, will he be able to stay upon the right path or will darkness obscure the way?

The Sepherene Chronicles tell a tale of unity and righteous endeavour where the line between good and evil becomes ever more blurred. As humankind reaches out into the far corners of the universe and colonises extraordinary worlds along the way, the struggle for hope continues against overwhelming odds. With adversity lurking in every shadow, will the bond between man and angel provide the only path to survival?

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I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks Daniel!

 My Thoughts 

I read the first part of The Sepherene Chronicles back in January and was blown away by Beazley's take on fallen angels. I have a hard time finding angel stories that I enjoy and these are the best that I have found. There's action and adventure, mystery and a cool futuristic setting.

There are also so many great characters besides Lucius and Sepherene including smugglers Iolaus, Shon and Cal who help them out quite a bit. Who doesn't love pirates, am I right? I especially loved the variety when it came to the fallen. We learned each one's unique history, no matter how small their part in the story.

Beazley's writing is beautiful and the descriptions of his future grand and truly creative. The fight scenes are absolutely epic with heads rolling and quite a bit of blood spilled.

Overall, Sepherene: The Complete Chronicles is a pretty serious story with wonderful characters and is a must-read for any sci-fi fan.

 Favorite Quote 
"The man's indifference had lit an anger within Lucius that he'd never been able to extinguish. As he got older, even the hard spirits and powdered spice hadn't managed to dampen the burn. His torment had always remained, even when the effects of the drug-induced oblivion wore off."

 About the Author 

Daniel Beazley was born and raised in the South West of England. He began writing in 1996 whilst spending some time in the sunny climes of Sicily. This continued periodically whilst working in the Army and then the Police; living in various parts of the country as well as overseas.

Daniel now lives with his family in the rural countryside of Devon.

Official Site | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Wattpad |

Cover Reveal: Tome by A. Star (#TomeReveal, @DianthaJones)

I am a very happy fangirl today because I get to share the cover for Tome with you! This is sure to be another amazing series by A. Star so make sure to add it to your TBR list.

The cover is hot, yo!

~

Tome

by A. Star

Publication Date: Summer 2015

Series: Knights of the Joust #1

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

I knew Tome was going to ruin my life the second I laid eyes on him.

It wasn’t the sexy tattoos or his deep black eyes that warned me of danger. It was his secret. The one he never spoke of. The one he never meant for me to find out about. But then we fell in love and I got tangled up in his world of fast cars and underground street racing. And that’s when it happened.



He ruined me.

*****

I knew I was going to destroy Jules’ the moment she walked into my life. I didn’t know when, I didn’t know how. But I knew it was inevitable.



I wanted to love her and so I did. But then my secret caught up with me and exploded in my face. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way and I never could have imagined how bad it would be.

I destroyed her. I destroyed us. I destroyed our love.



And now I have nothing.

ADD IT ON GOODREADS

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She loves to read it, and she damn sure loves to write it. She is the author of the Mythos: Gods & Lovers series, the Djinn Order series, and the Knights of the Joust series. She is a night-owl and a coffee junkie, and the only sneaker she would be caught dead wearing are Converses.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Review: Bloodrush by Ben Galley

Title: Bloodrush (The Scarlet Star Trilogy, #1)

Author: Ben Galley
Published: December 16th 2014 by BenGalley.com
Genre: Fantasy, Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
“Magick ain’t pretty, it ain’t stars and sparkles. Magick is dirty. It’s rough. Raw. It’s blood and guts and vomit. You hear me?”

When Prime Lord Hark is found in a pool of his own blood on the steps of his halls, Tonmerion Hark finds his world not only turned upside down, but inside out. His father's last will and testament forces him west across the Iron Ocean, to the very brink of the Endless Land and all civilisation. They call it Wyoming.

This is a story of murder and family.

In the dusty frontier town of Fell Falls, there is no silverware, no servants, no plush velvet nor towering spires. Only dust, danger, and the railway. Tonmerion has only one friend to help him escape the torturous heat and unravel his father’s murder. A faerie named Rhin. A twelve-inch tall outcast of his own kind. 

This is a story of blood and magick.

But there are darker things at work in Fell Falls, and not just the railwraiths or the savages. Secrets lurk in Tonmerion's bloodline. Secrets that will redefine this young Hark.

This is a story of the edge of the world.

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I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks Ben!

 My Thoughts 
I have to start off by saying that Bloodrush has one of the most original storylines that I have ever read.

"Welcome to the wild west, he thought. Last stop before Hell."

The story follows thirteen year-old Tonmerion Hark, Merion for short. The story begins in London, where we learn Merion's father has been murdered and Merion's life is again turned upside down as he learns he's to be sent to America to live with his aunt until he's old enough to take over his father's estate. Tonmerion and his friend Rhin the faerie soon make their way across the Iron Ocean to Fell Falls, Wyoming. The frontier town is a drastic change to what Merion is used to and he isn't a bit happy to be there or with his Aunt Lilain, the local undertaker. We also meet Lurker the prospector and his magpie Jake.

I don't want to give the entire story away but I just have to mention the rushing. Merion learns he's a Bloodrusher as his father was which means he has the ability to drink blood from an animal or creature and take on some of the abilities from them. It was amazing how many kinds of shades there were to learn of and as I said I don't think I've ever heard of a story like that.

I also love that it has a western setting, I don't read westerns so this was a nice compromise. It's a great new setting for me and the railwraith creatures were scary fun and the Shohari were an interesting lot.

Overall, I loved everything about this book. Sometimes I wanted to thump Merion for the things he did but you can't help but love him and I really want to see Lurker and Lilain get together! I would recommend Bloodrush to anyone who loves amazing characters (Lurker was my favorite), magick, and some mystery thrown in.

 Favorite Quotes 
"Hearts are treacherous things. At times they can beat so proudly it feels as though they will burst from your rib cage at any moment. They can drum a tune to run to, or fight to, or love to. But they are not to be trusted, for every heart will skip or slump, sickeningly so, and always when you need it not to."

"It was his first acceptance of failure, of frailty and the inexorable. He hated himself in that moment. But hate can make men, and thirteen-year-old boys, do marvellous things."

 About the Author 

Ben Galley is a best-selling purveyor of tall tales and dark fantasy from the UK. He is the author behind the gritty and epic Emaneska Series, as well as the upcoming western fantasy series, the Scarlet Star Trilogy.

Aside from writing and dreaming up lies to tell his readers, Ben works as a self-publishing consultant and Guardian Masterclass tutor, helping fellow authors from all over the world to publish and sell books. His guide Shelf Help will tell you all you need to know about DIY self-publishing.

Official Site | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Review Tour: Lover, Divine by A. Star

 Let me start off by saying that the fangirl in me is very happy after reading Lover, Divine. I am a huge fan of Diantha Jones who also writes as A. Star and I am thrilled that I was able to take part in this review tour. Thank you, Diantha!

 

Title: Lover, Divine (Mythos: Gods & Lovers, #1)
Author: A. Star
Published: February 25th 2014
Genre: Romance, Mythology, Adult
Rating: 5 Stars
Read Count: 1
Synopsis:
Born into one of the wealthiest families in Ireland, Siobhan Law has status, privilege, and a secret: The Greek gods of Olympus and their kingdom in the clouds are real, and her family acts as one of their agents on Earth.

When the beautiful immortal celeste Liam Argyros shows up claiming to have come to Earth to deal in the affairs of the divine, Siobhan finds herself unable to resist his charms. New to the game of passion and seduction, she quickly ends up in over her head, sinking deeper with every attempt Liam makes to win her over.

But Liam’s divine mission is far more complex than she ever imagined and nothing is truly as it seems. Because Liam has a secret of his own: He is Apollo, Olympian god of the Sun, and his mission will never be complete until he has claimed Siobhan’s heart forever.

WARNING: For readers 18+ only. Contains adult language and sexual situations.

 

Lover, Divine is on sale for $.99 March 17-22! 

| Amazon | Barnes & Noble |
 

My Thoughts

"Fate is one scary bastard."

Lover, Divine is a contemporary Greek mythology story which takes place twenty-odd years before Diantha's Oracle of Delphi series and it tells the story of how Siobhan Law and Apollo (major player in the OOD series) met and fell in love. From the beginning there is no denying that Apollo wants Siobhan who is part of an Influential family, mortals who know of the Greek gods and help with their earthly affairs.
Star's writing kept me hooked as it always does whether it's one of her young adult books or adult and the tension between Siobhan and Apollo is HOT! I also love anything to do with Ireland so with Lover, Divine being set in Ireland and those beautiful accents, I was definitely in love. Music also plays a huge part in the book since Apollo is a musical genius and Siobhan a whiz at the violin and my favorite, the drums.
It's hard to say a lot about the story because for readers who haven't read the Oracle of Delphi series, I could give away some spoilers but the ending is so sweet! You OOD fans know what I'm talking about...
Overall, Lover, Divine was a lovely story. Siobhan is a tough and loving character who isn't willing to take any crap from anyone and Apollo is his smug and gorgeous self as always. The setting and scenes between them are perfect and the input to the Oracle of Delphi books was interesting.
 

Favorite Quotes

“You are fated to me and I will have you. That, my Irish darling, you can bet your pert and proper ass on."

"I was in love. With Apollo, with the music, with the universe."

About the Author

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She likes to read it, and she damn sure likes to write it. Her first adult romance/fantasy novella is called Invasion, an alien romance about sacrifice. Lover, Divine is the first release from the Mythos: Gods and Lovers series. Future releases under A. Star include, King, Desired (Mythos: Gods and Lovers #2), the Love & Steampunk series, the Purr, Inc. stories, and more.
 

Official Site | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Tour wide giveaway

Open INTL:

--3x Signed copy + swag

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Xpresso Book Tours

Cover Reveal: Lover, Divine by A. Star

Today I get to help reveal the gorgeous cover for the first book in A. Star's new series, Mythos: Gods & Lovers.

Check out Lover, Divine...

Lover, Divine by A. Star 
(Mythos: Gods & Lovers #1) 
Publication date: February 25th, 2014
Genres: Adult, Mythology, Romance

Synopsis:

Born into one of the wealthiest families in Ireland, Siobhan Law has status, privilege, and a secret: The Greek gods of Olympus and their kingdom in the clouds are real, and her family acts as one of their agents on Earth.

When the beautiful immortal celeste Liam Argyros shows up claiming to have come to Earth to deal in the affairs of the divine, Siobhan finds herself unable to resist his charms. New to the game of passion and seduction, she quickly ends up in over her head, sinking deeper with every attempt Liam makes to win her over.

But Liam’s divine mission is far more complex than she ever imagined and nothing is truly as it seems. Because Liam has a secret of his own: He is Apollo, Olympian god of the Sun, and his mission will never be complete until he has claimed Siobhan’s heart forever.

 About the Author 

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She likes to read it, and she damn sure likes to write it. Her first adult romance/fantasy novella is called Invasion, an alien romance about sacrifice. Lover, Divine is the first release from the Mythos: Gods and Lovers series. Future releases under A. Star include, King, Desired (Mythos: Gods and Lovers #2), the Love & Steampunk series, the Purr, Inc. stories, and more.

Official Site | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Review: A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Title: A Walk to Remember
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Published: 2000 by Grand Central Publishing (Originally Published in 1999)
Genre: Romance, Adult
Rating: 4 Stars
Read Count: 3
Synopsis:
There was a time when the world was sweeter… when the women in Beaufort, North Carolina, wore dresses, and the men donned hats…Every April, when the wind smells of both the sea and lilacs, Landon Carter remembers 1958, his last year at Beaufort High. Landon had dated a girl or two, and even once sworn that he’d been in love. Certainly the last person he thought he’d fall for was Jamie, the shy, almost ethereal daughter of the town’s Baptist minister… Jamie, who was destined to show him the depths of the human heart—and the joy and pain of living.

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 My Thoughts 

Everyone knows just how sweet a love story A Walk to Remember is...if you don't you need to get with the program and have a book/movie marathon, okay?

In the book, Landon Carter takes us back forty years from 1999 to 1958-1959 Beaufort, North Carolina (proud NC girl right here) where he tells us about how he fell in love with Jamie Sullivan. Being teenagers, most of Beaufort High doesn't understand Jamie, the bible carrying, plain clothes wearing preacher's daughter who doesn't drink or date and likes to spend her time at the local orphanage. Seventeen year-old Landon finds himself needing a date to the dance and after asking every other girl he could, he asks Jamie knowing she helps pretty much anyone that needs it.

Jamie in turn asks Landon for a favor and slowly Landon falls for Jamie as they spend time together rehearsing for Reverend Sullivan's Christmas play. Which of course means he breaks the promise he made to Jamie before the dance...

For a short time Landon and Jamie are happy and in love but eventually Jamie reveals the secret she's been hiding since that summer. I'm sure you know what it is but I won't blab it.

Okay, this may give it away but it was just so dang cute I had to post it.

A Walk to Remember is a pretty short read but it has a whole lot of heart, it's a sweet and clean love story, religious (not preachy) and one that will have you crying.

Okay, that definitely gives the ending away but oh well.

If you do watch the movie keep in mind it's updated from the '50s version of the book but the story is just as beautiful and it's got Shane West and Mandy Moore who are perfect as Landon and Jamie.

 Favorite Quotes 

“It wasn't that long, and it certainly wasn't the kind of kiss you see in movies these days, but it was wonderful in its own way, and all I can remember about the moment is that when our lips touched, I knew the memory would last forever.”

“It was, I remembered thinking, the most difficult walk anyone ever had to make. In every way, a walk to remember.”

 About the Author 

With over 50 million copies of his books in print, Nicholas Sparks is on of the world's most beloved storytellers. His novels include seven #1 New York Times bestsellers, and all his books, including Three Weeks with My Brother, the memoir he wrote with his brother, Micah, have been New York Times and international bestsellers, and were translated into more than forty languages. Three of Nicholas Sparks' novels—Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, and The Notebook—were also adapted into major motion pictures. The author lives in North Carolina with his wife and family.

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