The Amulet, Vol 1 The Stonekeeper ( The Amulet series) by Kazu Kibuishi

Usually on Friday's I volunteer at my kids school library during my kindergartners library time. Today however do to the weather I decided to stay home. As I sat down and realized I finished cleaning and everything early and now I have some extra time on my hands I decided to pick up a book that is a part of a graphic novel series my oldest ( a second grader now) loves.   I got these for him because he was showing some hesitation reading books with a lot of words and not a lot of pictures (that was awhile ago he says he's been reading them since before 1st grade. Could be true but I think it was at the beginning of first grade.) Anyway, anytime I hear someone say they can not seem to get their kid to read a book I always recommend this series because it was what got my oldest to love reading. He doesn't just read graphic novels/ comics either he enjoys a variety of books but this series is one he continues to get excited about and this author is one he actually keeps an eye on to see if there is anything new coming from.

I'm babbling trying to explain how cool this series is. At least from my oldest's point of view.

I usually flick through the books he picks out and make sure there is not anything I do not approve of him reading. I try not to discourage him from reading anything that he wants to read with in reason.  I never actually read this graphic novel until today.

Amulet, Vol 1 The Stonekeeper
Amuler series
Kazu Kibuishi 

Synopsis from Goodreads

Graphic novel star Kazu Kibuishi creates a world of terrible, man-eating demons, a mechanical rabbit, a giant robot---and two ordinary children on a life-or-death mission.

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.
Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

My Review

4/5 Stars

First thought You killed someone in the first few pages of a kids book! Wait Disney movies kill people off too. Okay, shock over. 

I likes how the mother helped keep the kids upbeat when the moved into the old home and had to clean it and on the way there she was understanding of their feelings and was encouraging them to like their new home. Even encouraging Emily to learn more about her great grandfather. Just not be like him.  

Emily was super brave for a kid who watched her father die and her mother get snatched by a monster.  She took responsibility of her brother and the amulet and decided to help save her mother and the world that they were in.  I liked the Emily has choices not just that she has to do something because she was given the amulet but she had the choice to.  She also had the choice to seriously hurt someone but she made the choice to let him live even though he wasn't the nicest of beings.   I like that she lets her younger brother help out and notices when he might be better suited for the situation because of his past favorite past time ( like my son, most kids and some adults...its gaming) 

The story was great. A little dark but you get the whole light at the end of the tunnel feeling. That the characters will achieve what the set out to do. I also enjoyed the whole family thing.  The illustrations were wonderful. I even slowed down and went back to look at the artwork. I look forward to reading this series and being able to talk about it with my son. It was a great start to a fantastical adventure. 

Now that I think about it I'd recommend this to kids around middle grade but like I said my son has been reading the series for awhile so, maybe use caution it does have monsters and evil doers and its a little dark but not so much that I wouldn't say you shouldn't read this with a younger kid. I'm actually thinking about starting it with my youngest soon.

Great characters, Wonderful story and artwork, a quick read ( at least for me, an adult), fantastical adventure. I'll continue to recommend it to others and look forward to reading it with my youngest and continuing the series.

How To Kill Yourself in a Small Town The Redneck Apocalypse Series By eden Hudson

How To Kill Yourself in a Small Town
The Redneck Apocalypse Series
By eden Hudson

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The holy champion chosen to save the world is enslaved to a sadistic fallen angel and losing the battle for his sanity.
The guy chosen to save the holy champion is his binge-drinking redneck brother.
So, basically, the world is screwed.
Meet the Whitney boys:
Colt—a mentally unstable holy soldier with a rapidly deteriorating hold on reality. His last plan to rid the world of evil either failed horribly or went off without a hitch. With the constant torture and brainwashing, it's getting hard for him to remember.
Tough—a smart-mouthed honky tonk hero addicted to music, women, and good times. He hasn't spoken to Colt in five years—not since their disagreement over a nymphomaniac vampire turned into a drunken slugfest—but they're still brothers. Tough knows he can't leave Colt fighting for his life and his sanity alone. The question is whether Tough can fight off his personal demons long enough to save Colt from the literal ones

My Review
5/5 Stars

Wow.. this book was super hard to put down. I’m pretty sure my kids had to pry it from my hands in order for me to make dinner.
At first I was confused but intrigued so I pushed on and the whole wonderful dark story unfolds. Even though I say its dark and honestly gruesome at some points there was some great lighthearted funny parts that bring some light into the serious stuff.
It was told from many points of view but done so in a way that just seemed to make the story so much better. The characters were wonderfully flawed and you couldn’t help but like Tough. I couldn’t help liking Mikil for how horrible and twisted she is.
There so much into this crazy story and it all just comes together so wonderfully. Great twists and action. The setting seems like any small town except with paranormal and the paranormals don’t even stand out they’re just there ( not sure if that made sense but it does to me).
This is a book that has me kind of at a lost for words trying to tell you how much I enjoyed it. I just want to be like YES, you should read this crazy awesomeness and just read it because I found it amazing, but don’t read it if you’re looking for ‘drool worthy’ vampires or other ’swoon worthy’ paranormal characters. These vampires are cruel even when the don’t want to be,The holy warriors are damaged possibly beyond repair and the fallen angels are vile but they are just perfect for this story. This isn’t a story that leaves you with a ‘awww how sweet’ feeling at the end it left me with a “holy sh*t! what? Why did it end? I want more!”
Its a crazy page turning thrill ride. With the twists, action and characters you can’t help but keep reading and being excited for what might happen next.

# Nerd ( Hashtag #1) by Cambria Herbert

#Nerd
(Hashtag #1)
by Cambria Herbert

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two people from completely different worlds are about to be thrown together…

In more ways than one.

She wants to keep her scholarship. He wants to stay on the team. An awkward alliance doesn’t even begin to cover Rimmel and Romeo’s relationship.

But that’s about to change.

It starts with a dare. An initiation. A challenge.

Quickly, it turns into more. But when you’re a victim of your status, there is no room for anything real. The rules are clear and simple.

Stick to your circle.

And never fall in love with anyone on the outside

My Review
3/5 Stars

It was cute. Typical Nerd and Athlete fall in love story. They’re from opposite worlds could they ever really be together? Rimmel is adorable she’s going to school to be a vet and spends most of her time at an animal shelter talking to a one eyed cat. Romeo is a top notch, sought after, charming football player who needs Rimmel as his tutor to help with his grades. He sees something in her that he likes and she likes him too. She tries to fight it at least a little.


Theres more go on than just their relationship also. Roman has his own stuff with a Frat he’s pledging for and Rimmel has her own secrets.


Cute story for those days you want a quick adorable read or if you like the college nerd and jock romances. Reminds me of that movie She’s All That.

Mismatch ( #2, Omega Beginnings Miniseries) by Lizzy Ford

Mismatch
#2, Omega Beginnings Miniseries
by Lizzy Ford

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Short story #2 in the Omega Beginnings Miniseries ...




Mismatch hasn’t always been a statue standing guard over the Temple of Artemis. Once upon a time, thousands of years ago, he was a man who led a privileged life. Like the Greek monarchs before him, he fell victim to the family curse: he was turned to stone and forced to keep watch over the temple of a Greek god or goddess.




Out of the blue, five-year-old Alessandra breaks the spell. Mismatch seeks out the shy, young crown princess next in line to the family curse and warns her about her fate in the hopes of saving her from the living death.




He returns when Alessandra is in danger, but the powers behind those seeking her are prepared for anything.




Even the grotesque prince

My Review

Another great installment.

I enjoyed reading things from Mismatch’s point of view and I find it interesting how he can hear Alessandra calling for him. Also I like the mysteriousness of Ms. Nettles in the ending. Maybe there is something more to Alessandra’s cuddly protector.


I’m really enjoying these character introductory type short stories. We get a feeling for how they are and what their background is. It’s getting more excited for the series!


Wonderful flow to the story you get sucked in and keep turning the pages.


I’m looking forward to the next installment. Another great cliffhanger of an ending.

Xander's Chance by Lizzy Ford

Xander’s Chance
(Damian Eternal #1)
Lizzy Ford

Synopsis from Goodreads:

As the single-most powerful vampire on the planet, Xander is the ultimate bored predator with too much time on his hands. He manipulates the minds of immortals for fun and bullies around the Gods, while guarding the secret source of his power, a crystal that can wipe out the planet. But beneath the surface, he’s a shrewd creature who learned the brutal lesson of why there must be a balance between good and evil. An unwilling protector of the playthings known as humans, he knows when and where to use his power – and never to let anyone close enough to betray him. It’s easy to do, since he has the power to read the minds of everyone around him.




Except for one: Jessi, an innocent looking woman with an unusual talent who shows up unexpectedly in his life. Her sudden appearance is too convenient to be coincidence or chance. Xander determines quickly that she was sent by someone, but he can’t read her mind to discover why.




Jessi’s secret – and Xander’s – have the power to forever change the human world. Intrigued by a new sort of challenge, Xander won’t know how much danger he’s in, until he’s placed his fate in the hands of a woman whose betrayal will cost either his heart or his life.

My Review:

4/5 Stars

This book was a fun, action filled continuation of the War of Gods saga. In the Saga we get introduced to an Original named Xander. A vampire who is born from two human parents not created. He is the strongest there is.

In this book we get Xanders background what made him what he is. From a sweet little boy who cared more than anything for his mother to a famous, cocky, self assured, kick butt, reluctant protector of humans playboy who spends his nights with a plethora of women who get kicked out in the morning by his assistent without the chance of a repeat nightime preformance ever again.

Then he meets Jessie. Jessie is a women who isn’t falling for Xanders charms, well at least she isn’t letting her self. She has become Xanders replacement assisted while his is on vacation, but….. she is faking it. She is there to get something from Xander that the Black God wants, that is her only focus. Xander enjoys manipulating people minds but when he meets Jessie he finds that he can not sense her and that intrigues him. He catches on very fast that Jessie is not suppose to be his replacement assistant and he messes with her. To the point where Jessie pretty much quits every day. Their bickering back and forth was cute Jessie even though she got flustered a lot she gave as good as Xander did.

The action scenes were great and I enjoyed the flirtatious bickering between the characters. Also reading what Jessie was going through trying to accept a world filled with vampires, oracles, gods and naturals with special abilities and trying to protect her cousins from some horrible vampires. She could have just relied on Xander for protection but she is so used to taking care of everything herself and she’s not sure she can trust Xander especially since she plans on betraying him which becomes harder for her the closer she gets to him and the more he opens up to her. I liked how we get a sense of the good inside Xander. He definitely protects what is “his”.

Also, we get more of the characters from the War of Gods saga.


What I’m trying to say is. I enjoyed this book. It was a fun action filled read with some romance and lots of flirting. I’d say read the War of Gods saga first to get a better understanding of the characters though.

Alessandra an Omega Beginning short story by Lizzy Ford

Alessandra
#1, Omega Beginnings Miniseries
by Lizzy Ford

*I received this ARC for my honest review*

Synopsis

Short story #1 in a prequel miniseries for the “Omega Series” (launching in late 2015)

Five-year-old Alessandra is obsessed with Disney movies, tea parties and just wants a real birthday party for once in her life. But normal kids don’t bring their toys to life for afternoon tea or see the colorful threads of magic and energy clinging to everything around them.

Normal kids don’t know that gargoyles feel pain, either, or invite one to live in their closet.

On her sixth birthday, Alessandra begins to learn the truth. She’s special, and the men in the black van are coming for her.

My Review

5/5 Stars
Alessandra is an adorable little girl with a big heart. She hated seeing a gargoyle suffer after he was broken by older boys so she fixed him with a magical green ribbon that she can see and manipulate. She ended up with a huge night time protector who comes in handy when the men in the black vans come to find her and take her.


This is a very cute and intriguing mini story. You get a look on how Alessandra’s day usually goes. Introduced to Mismatch and Mrs Nettles and get absorbed in a world like ours but more magical and all from a very special little girls view.

I like the idea of having a mini series to introduce us to the characters for her “Omega Series”


The ending leaves off with a great cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to the next story.

Hardcore Volume 1 by Staci Hart

Hardcore Vol1
Staci Hart

I was given this ARC from the author for my honest review.

Synopsis:

Cory James has never known a life where she wasn’t running. Running from the cops, her home, her past. Running from love. The only time she’s free is when she throws on her hood and takes to the roofs to become a part of New York, to climb to a place in the city where she doesn’t feel alone.

Stealing is nothing, lying inevitable, byproducts of survival. A way for Cory to provide for herself and for her younger sister, Jill, give her the life Cory couldn’t have, and for five years, Cory set up a long line of teetering dominos, one by one, choice by choice.


Meeting Van is the first domino to fall, and once they crash into each other, it’s only a matter of time before her whole world is in danger of falling apart. She can tell herself over and again that she doesn’t care, but it’s a lie. She knows it from the first time she says his name, but she can’t let him in, not when she has a job to do, a job that could rip her life apart at the seams. One that she’ll have to betray Van to finish.

He’ll follow however high she can climb, but she can only run for so long before she has to choose.

My Review

5/5 Stars

I LOVED this! I don’t read many books that are labeled erotica because to me they tend to have shoddy stories with just a bunch of sex scenes. This one caught my attention though and I have to say the story is wonderful and if you need those hot sexy scenes you still get those as well.

Cory was an excellent character. Kind of tough as nails, spit in your face, punch ya if you tick me off , say what I think type girl who also if she liked you she had your back and would do anything to help you and would stick up for you. There isn’t many people she let in through the huge walls she has built up around herself though and she has some pretty big secrets. Van is persistent, reliable, artistic, someone who challenges her and one who can possibly scale those walls Cory has built and someone who can keep up with her. Hopefully she’ll tell him the truth. I even enjoyed the evil Jade and her jerk wad brother. I loved hating them. The world building was done well and everything was easily pictured. I really liked how the scenery got described on the run. You can easily picture the walls that were climbed, the city, the fire escapes, the warehouse were the girls lived, Vans apartment building and the artwork that was beautifully described.


This books has it all Great Story, Kick butt/ smart mouthed/ mysterious female lead, Gorgeous /knows what he wants male, A evil chick you’ll love hating, Hot sex scenes, Wonderful world building , female thieves and adrenaline pumping action.


Volume 1 of Hardcore grabbed me and had me turning the pages non stop till the end and Oh what an end it was! I’m excited to grab Volume 2 and continue the story especially after what went down between Jade and Cory.