Book Review: Unseen by Stephanie Erickson

Title: Unseen
The Unseen Trilogy Book 1
Author: Stephanie Erickson
Publisher: Pickles Press
Publish Date: November 19, 2014

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It has been quite the ride this week with fantabulous book after fantabulous book!!

Stephanie Erickson kept me in the book hangover with The Unseen. Mac has always been odd because when she was a little girl she realized she could read others thoughts. A doctor provided her with iLs. Mac wears this device on her ears. It plays music and drowns out the thoughts of others allowing her to concentrate. Ever since she was little, she has always wondered why she has this ability and if she is as alone as she feels. One day she sees a man watching her and from there, things change. She has hard choices to make and it will always change her.

I am looking forward to the following books in this series to see if Stephanie Erickson develops the others in the Unseen that appeared occasionally while Mac was in training. I am so enamored with the back stories of good solid characters. I would also love to read more about Mac as she was growing up with her adoptive mother and her best friend.

One of my favorite parts of the is book was simply the focus of Mac's situation with her iLs. I have never heard of this and now that I have read a little, I am sure it is very prevalent. I cannot imagine the aid iLs provide to children and adults who need help quieting the mind and focusing. I myself may have worked better with them as my mind only shuts off when doing yoga.

Goodreads Description: Mackenzie Day constantly struggles to silence the voices in her head. The inner thoughts of those around her intrude upon every aspect of her life, threatening to turn it into chaos.

All her life, she thought she was alone as a mind reader—a freak.

Then a member of a secret organization called The Unseen suddenly introduces himself, and she’s immersed in a world she never knew existed. They teach her to hone her skills as a reader, but to what end? Secrets surround her, humming just out of reach, filling her with questions.

Who are they? What do they do with their mind-reading abilities? In the end, just how far will Mackenzie go to be part of The Unseen?



Book Review: Slice and Dice by Mariana Thorn

Title: Slice and Dice
A Skylar Wolfe Mystery Book 1
Author: Mariana Thorn
Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly
Publish Date: July 10, 2014

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From page one, Mariana Thorn had me with Skylar's character. She is feisty, funny, sadistic and loves food and coffee as much as I do. This is the kind of series I want to take when my husband and I finally go on our honeymoon. It is so light and I was laughing out loud the entire book!! Not one to take on a plane bc then the people around me will be annoyed with all the laughing. Course I don't really care!!

Skylar is a strong, sexy, young and vigorous woman who embraces being female. She uses her wiles to make fun of others around her purely for her own enjoyment. But she is also extremely smart and quick. As a private detective and a sexy one at that, this comes in handy. She is constantly underestimated and that is the perfect place for her!

Book one takes us through a normal case for Skylar working with the local police department. She uses her skills to aid while getting to know the lead detective who has a cuteness to him. 

Goodreads Description: “Nothing good ever happens before ten in the morning.” ~Skylar Wolfe
Skylar Wolfe is far from your average PI. Full of snark with purple hair and a quick tongue with no filter from her brain to her mouth, trouble always seems to find her and she always drags her cousin Levi along for the ride.
But this last bit of trouble she seems to have fallen into is the deadly variety. There’s a corpse at her door (no really, I’m completely serious) with her name all over it. It seems she has pissed off the wrong person. Being Skylar, the list could be a little long. She teams up with Norcrest’s new delicious lead detective, Aiden Livingston and then leads the hunt to find the person responsible.



Book Review: When the Chips are Down by Anne Rasico

Title: When the Chips are Down
Author: Anne Rasico
Publisher: 
Publish Date:  June 23, 2013
118 pages, ebook

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Amazon

This book was SO much fun and what a surprise! I came across this book on facebook and the cover immediately grabbed me. It is so fabulous and right on with the storyline. Nice job on the cover!!

The main character Brooklyn was so fun because she just awoke from a coma and has no idea how long she has been in it. Come to find out not only has her family moved, but the entire world has changed. It has become controlled by microchips implanted in society. She is lucky enough to have a few friends who decided to stay off the grid. They are extremely well developed characters. I really liked them all. I related to them and was completely rooting for them. Even a bit later in the book, a character comes up that appears to be a bad guy, but ends up helping, to their demise. Really a fun read!!

Goodreads Description:
You’re part of their system. You’re just another number on a long list of anonymous integers. You’re breathing their air, you’re taking up their space, and you ask for their protection by willingly handing over your freedoms and now you’re in their way!
Can’t you hear them outside? You said something didn’t you?
They’ve watched your every move and heard your words and now that you know the truth, they want your silence.
They’re here for you now.

When Brooklyn awakes from a two year coma, the world around her has changed like she never imagined. Everyone is now required to have a microchip implanted in their arm, but it's no ordinary microchip.

Her friends are convinced that the chip controls people's minds, as they've seen everyone's behavior become increasingly strange. While seeking refuge on a secluded farm with her friends, Brooklyn learns of a secret plot that will ultimately destroy the world. She and her friends must act to expose the truth before it's too late.


Cover Reveal: Vampire Ascension by Eva Pohler

Please help us celebrate the reveal of the epic conclusion to The Vampires of Athens, written by the Amazon bestselling author of The Gatekeeper's Saga, Eva Pohler.


Vampire Ascension Puzzle Parts A

To celebrate, we're giving away a Kindle Fire HD and a $25 Amazon gift card.  We're also playing games and giving away other prizes, including signed paperbacks, the Athena Locket, and the Medusa T-shirt on July 13-14 on Facebook.



Vampire Ascension Puzzle Parts B  

A teen from New York studies abroad in Athens and discovers that vampires and demigods are real at a time when war is brewing between them. After making friends on both sides, she unwittingly becomes a catalyst to an uprising, led by Dionysus, lord of the vampires. In this final installment, Gertie, Jeno, and Hector struggle to bring a peaceful resolution to the war in Athens, but any success they make comes at great cost. How many more people must die for freedom and justice? The teens quickly learn that nothing is fair in love and war. Sometimes even love requires a terrible price. Join us for the final reveal on July 13th on Facebook here. Vampire Ascension Cover reveal  

And you can enter to win the Kindle Fire HD and $25 Amazon gift card here. Kindle Fire Giveaway Image 

Eva's Author Pic 2About the Author: Eva Pohler is the Amazon bestselling author of The Gatekeeper's Saga, The Purgatorium Series, The Vampires of Athens Series, and The Mystery Book Collection. She also teaches writing and literature at a university in San Antonio, where she lives with her husband and three children.