Seaborne #1: The Lost Prince by Matt Myklusch

Description

When thirteen-year-old Dean Seaborne runs afoul of the Pirate King, he is given one last chance to redeem himself before he gets thrown to the sharks. His mission? Find and steal the treasure of Zenhala, a mysterious island where gold grows on trees. Dean infiltrates the island, posing as its legendary lost prince, but the longer he stays in Zenhala, the more he questions his mission—and himself. Forced to undergo intense and fantastical trials to prove his royal lineage, Dean can’t help but wonder if he really is the lost prince he’s pretending to be. With sea serpents, assassins, and danger on all sides, he might not live long enough to find out.

Matt Myklusch is the author of the Jack Blank Adventures, a middle grade trilogy published by Simon and Schuster, Aladdin. All three books: THE ACCIDENTAL HERO (2010), THE SECRET WAR (2011), and THE END OF INFINITY (2012) are in stores now.

Matt’s new series, SEABORNE, will be published by Egmont USA. Book 1, THE LOST PRINCE is slated for a spring 2015 release.
ISBN9781606845257
Price16.99
Currency USD
Edition Hardcover


My review: Seaborne #1: The Lost Prince by Matt Myklusch

5 STARS

This is a exciting adventure, with pirates, a fabled island where gold grows on trees, trials to prove worthiness of royal, and pirate battle. You don't want to stop reading. You can never guess where the story is going to go next. It is also a clean read.

The characters are a good mix of bad guys you hate, bad guys that you love to root for and some you just love. Dean Seaborne is the main character that the story centers around.

Dean is 13 year old. He tried running away from the Pirate King. He is almost fed to the sharks.
He is given one more chance to find out why Gentleman Jim has been sending less money to him.
Dean gets taken on with Gentleman Jim. He is only their a short time but his ways rub off on Dean.

One-Eyed Jack the Pirate king. He is feared by plenty. The pirates pay him a tithe. He does not care who he hurts or kills.

Gentleman Jim Harper captain of the Reckless. He only robs those who can afford it. His crew are all children. He does not harm anyone if he can help it. They scare them. Most of his crew are loyal.

Ronan is first mate on the Reckless. He is smart, big and does not give up.

The setting for this book is the Caribbean and Bermuda Triangle.

The adventure draws you in from the first chapter. The story is fast paced. It is creative. I liked the sea monsters or at least one of them.

Dean's life is at risk for most of the book. Some of his enemies are known others you are not sure of till they are revealed.

The target audience is 8 to 12 years old. I think a lot more will like it. I loved it and I am a lot older. My 23 year old daughter loved it too. I think fans of Ranger Apprentice, Percy Jackson, Brotherband, and Harry Potter will like it too.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Egmont USA. In return I agreed to give honest review of it.

Explosive Alliance by Susan Sleeman (First Responders #2)

Description

RACE AGAINST TIME

The last thing Krista Curry expected to find in a soccer stadium was a time bomb. When she alerts explosives expert Cash Dixon, she becomes a local hero. But the attention could expose her real name—and the infamous past she fought to escape. Cash promises Krista protection from the bomber's retaliation. Yet she hesitates to trust him as she sees his suspicion about her grow with every question she dodges. She can't expect Cash to continue to safeguard her unless she tells him the truth. Now Cash must decide if she's an innocent woman or guilty accomplice. But the clock is ticking down—and the real bomber is still on the loose…

First Responders: Brave men and women alert and ready for danger and love

Series: First Responders

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired; Large Print edition (May 5, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0373676786

ISBN-13: 978-0373676781

 

My review: Explosive Alliance by Susan Sleeman (First Responders #2)

 

4 STARS

 

Good suspense, mystery, Christian  with a touch of romance.  I like that there are a few strong female characters.  Has some twists I was not expecting but liked. The message to trust God to help you through the tough times.

 

Krista Curry does not trust police but she goes to them to try and stop a bomber and save lives.  She is a widow who is going by a different name. She teaches preschool.

 

Otto is her grandfather and is fighting cancer.  He is enjoying being at a game.

 

Cash Dixon is working the game for a friend.  He just happens to be a explosive expert.  He is bored and notices Krista and flirts with her.

 

When Krista sees someone walk away from his backpack and she tries to let him know he forgot it.  He does not come back for it so she opens it and sees a bomb.  She wants to yell but knows panicking the crowd is dangerous she remembers the Cash the cop not far away and goes gets him help.

 

Krista knows they will blame her and if they find out that the police think she murdered her husband Tobi.

 

The setting was Portland Oregon area.

I like reading Susan Sleeman's  books. They keep it exciting, clean and fast paced.

 

I was given this ebook by Net Galley and Harlequin.  In return I agreed to give honest review of Explosive Alliance.

 

 

 

Heir to Murder by Elle James (The Adair Affairs #4)

Description

Series: The Adair Affairs (Book 1847)

Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Harlequin (May 5, 2015)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0373279175

ISBN-13: 978-0373279173

In this thrilling conclusion to The Adair Affairs by New York Times bestselling author Elle James, the long-lost Adair heir is finally revealed!
Thanks to a DNA test, ranch hand Noah Scott discovers he's heir to a billion-dollar fortune. Now an Adair, Noah must come to grips with his true identity and the shocking murder of his real father. Then he discovers that the one woman he thought he could trust was spying on him for his siblings, and he cuts Rachel Blackstone out of his life.
But his father's killer has never been caught… With all those close to Noah targets—including Rachel—Noah needs to set a dangerous trap…using himself as ultimate bait.

 

My review:  Heir to Murder  by Elle James  (The Adair Affairs #4)

 

Finally find out who the murder is.  Lots of drama, action, betrayal and sex in this last book of The Adair Affairs.  I have missed the third book of the series.

It is official that Noah is really the kidnapped Jackson Adair all grown up.  Noah does not know who to trust now that he has realized that he has been lied to all his life.  He thinks Rachel is the only one he can trust now.

Rachel has been keeping her own secrets from Noah. She tries to tell him.  When Noah finds out he leaves. Rachel then is almost run over.

 

Their is so much betrayal that everyone is afraid to trust each other.  Especially when it was family that had taken Jackson years ago. 

 

Who is trying to kill Rachel and  Ruby now?

 

Ruby has finally found her son.  How hard would that be to have your child kidnapped?  Her in-laws did not accept her and took the baby away. 

 

It is full of emotional baggage,  as everyone comes to realize who they can trust and try and protect those who are in danger now.  Lots of love scenes.

 

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Harlequin.  In return I agreed to give honest review of Heir to Murder.

Remake by Ilima Todd New Book trailer and Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift card

Remake is the first book of a trilogy.  My review of it can be found http://readalot-rhonda1111.blogspot.com/2014/10/remake-by-ilima-todd.html I enjoyed Remake and gave it 5 Stars.

It now as a good book trailer. Now you can see it too.
here's the trailer link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9loevy-pQI you can view the trailer now, .

 

We’re hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway too celebrate. It’s pretty simple to enter.  ($25 Amazon Gift Card)

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TITLE: Remake

AUTHOR: ILIMA TODD

Page Count: 304 pages
Genre: YA Dystopia
Format: Hardcover

RELEASE DATE: October 14, 2014
 There were twenty members of my batch. We were raised androgynously until our seventeenth birthday. That was the day of our Remake. The day I found what the Prime Maker had been hiding from us all along. The day I discovered who I was and, eventually, who I really wanted to be. The day I learned the truth. The day that started me on the path to change everything.

Book Description:
Nine is the ninth female born in her batch of ten females and ten males. By design, her life in Freedom Province is without complications or consequences. However, such freedom comes with a price. The Prime Maker is determined to keep that price a secret from the new batches of citizens that are born, nurtured, and raised androgynously.

But Nine isn’t like every other batcher. She harbors indecision and worries about her upcoming Remake Day—her seventeenth birthday, the age when batchers fly to the Remake facility and have the freedom to choose who and what they’ll be.

When Nine discovers the truth about life outside of Freedom Province, including the secret plan of the Prime Maker, she is pulled between two worlds and two lives. Her decisions will test her courage, her heart, and her beliefs. Who can she trust? Who does she love? And most importantly, who will she decide to be?

Open Season for Murder (A Mac Faraday Mystery Book 10) by Lauren Carr

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2015

“It’s Ashton. Robin, it’s me, Ashton.”

Spring is in the air. In Deep Creek Lake, the burst of blossoms on the trees has the effect of a starting pistol in the race to get the resort area ready in time for the seasonal residents return to Spencer, Maryland.

This year, the Spencer Inn, Mac Faraday’s five-star resort, has the added duty of preparing for the Diablo Ball, an annual benefit event that used to kick off Deep Creek Lake’s summer season. The exclusive gala has drawn in A-listers from across the country—including suspects and witnesses connected to Ashton Piedmont, a young woman who had disappeared while skinny dipping in Deep Creek Lake five years earlier—days after the last Diablo Ball.

Intrigued by a mysterious phone call from a young woman claiming to be Ashton, retired homicide detective Mac Faraday can’t resist diving head first into the cold case. But he’s not the only one. Someone behind the scenes has gone to a lot of trouble to bring Ashton Piedmont’s friends and enemies to the Diablo Ball—which promises to be a gala event to die for!

   File Size: 616 KB

Print Length: 252 pages

Publisher: Acorn Book Services (June 1, 2015)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Language: English

ASIN: B00WDR6AJI

About the Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday and Lovers in Crime Mysteries. Her upcoming new series, The Thorny Rose Mysteries will be released Spring/Summer 2015.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. This year, several books, over a variety of genre, written by independent authors will be released through the management of Acorn Book Services, which is currently accepting submissions. Visit Acorn Book Services website for more information.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes.

She lives with her husband, son, and three dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. 

 

 

 

My review: Season for Murder (A Mac Faraday Mystery Book 10) by Lauren Carr

 

5 stars

 

You wait for a good book and then you hurry and read it and now I have to wait all over again for more from Lauren Carr.

I love Mac Faraday Mysteries.  The main characters are fun, hard working and likeable.  They have good traits but are human.

 

Mac Faraday inherited on the day he divorced 270 million dollars from his birth mother a famous  mystery writer Robin Spencer. Mac was a homicide detective.  Now he helps solve murders for a hobby in Spencer, Maryland. 

 

Archie Monday is now married to Mac.  She used to be his mother's editor and research assistant.  She came with the house Mac inherited.

 

Gnarly is a German Shepherd who is very smart.  He fights the bad guys and eats whatever he can find. He brings a lot of humor to the story. Mac inherited him from Robin too.

 

David O'Callaghan is Spencer police chief.  He is Mac's friend and half brother.

Mac and Archie are going to host a fundraiser that his mother Robin started  the Diablo Ball to raise funds for the animal shelters.  Everyone wants a invite it is the social invite of the year.  It takes place in Spencer Inn a 5 STAR resort that Mac owns now too.

 

5 years ago Ashton Piedmont disappeared.  Everyone assumes she drowned in Deep Creek Lake.  Now someone wants Mac to look for her.  A news show wants to interview everyone about Ashton .  Someone is forging the invitation to the Diablo Ball.

 

Everyone who was around Ashton's life 5 years ago is back now. Some come back every summer and some were being blackmailed to come back. Some just want to create trouble for others. Plus a new reality show is being filmed at the same time.

 

There is lots of drama, crimes , murders and laughter that surrounds the Diablo Ball.  As usual Gnarly is in the middle of everything. Hated to have to keep putting the book down. I loved reading Open Season for Murder.

 

I am excited to read Lauren Carr new series Thorny Rose mystery too.

 

I was given this Arc to read by Lauren Carr and I agreed to give honest review of it.

The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor by Amy Reade Giveaway ebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor

Publisher: KENSINGTON (April 28, 2015)
E-BOOK 250 Pages
ASIN: B00OEW5SR0


Synopsis:

“Do you know what stories Sarah could tell you about the things that happened in these little cabins? They’d curl that pretty red hair of yours.”

Outside of Charleston, South Carolina, beyond hanging curtains of Spanish moss, at the end of a shaded tunnel of overarching oaks, stands the antebellum mansion of Peppernell Manor in all its faded grandeur. At the request of her friend Evie Peppernell, recently divorced Carleigh Warner and her young daughter Lucy have come to the plantation house to refurbish the interior. But the tall white columns and black shutters hide a dark history of slavery, violence, and greed. The ghost of a former slave is said to haunt the home, and Carleigh is told she disapproves of her restoration efforts. And beneath the polite hospitality of the Peppernell family lie simmering resentments and poisonous secrets that culminate in murder—and place Carleigh and her child in grave danger…

 

 

 

About This Author

Amy M. Reade is also the author of Secrets of Hallstead House, a book set in the Thousand Islands of northern New York, where Amy grew up. After graduating from Cornell University, she went on to law school at Indiana University in Bloomington. She practiced law in New York City before moving to southern New Jersey, where, in addition to writing, she is a wife, a full-time mom and a volunteer in school, church and community groups.  She lives just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic Ocean with her husband and three children as well as a dog and two cats. She loves cooking and all things Hawaii and is currently at work on her next novel.

Visit her on the web at www.amymreade.com or at www.amreade.wordpress.com.




Author Links:

Website http://www.amymreade.com

Blog http://amreade.wordpress.com

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/amreadeauthor

Twitter @readeandwrite.
 

My review: The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor by Amy Reade

 

4 STARS

 

This has lots of drama, history, romance, mystery all rolled in one.  It keeps you guessing on who was doing what to whom.  It is fast paced book.  I liked the characters. Especially how welcoming everyone was to Lucy and played with her.

 

Carleigh Warner came from Chicago to help her good friend Evie Peppernell and her family help restore their family antebellum mansion.  Carleigh is divorced with a three year old daughter Lucy.

 

Cora-Camille Chadwick-Peppernell  wants her house restored before she dies.  She has been more concerned about the farm than the house up till now.

 

Some members of the family want to get investors in on the restoration of the property.  They would rather make money than spend it.  It causes a lot of grief over the plans.  First Carleigh gets a threatening phone call in the middle of the night.  Then murder comes to the estate.

 

There is a lot of history about the period of the manor and even the slave quarters.  Just a taste of what they went through.

 

I would love to see the house all restored.  It sounds beautiful. especially the ballroom all decorated for the party.

 

The setting for the book is Charleston, South Carolina. On a old family farm or plantation.

 

I was given this ebook to read by the author so I could give a honest review and be part of The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor blog tour.

Giveaway: ebook The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor by Amy Reade

Starts May 2 ends May 4

To enter leave a comment below with name & email address.  Winner will be picked with random pick.  Winner will have two days to respond to email or another winner will be picked.


Tour Participants
April 27 – I Wish I Lived in a Library – Review, Giveaway
April 27 – Griperang’s Bookmarks – Interview, Giveaway
April 28 – View from the Birdhouse – Review, Giveaway
April 28 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!  – Guest Post, Giveaway
April 29 – Jane Reads – Review, Giveaway
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April 30 – Melina’s Book Blog – Review, Guest Post, Giveaway
May 1 – Teresa Trent Author Site – Review, Interview
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Wedding Haters Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon gift card or Paypal cash

Sometimes I am spacey. I planned on sharing this earlier and just realized that I had not done it. There is still 10 days left to enter the Giveaway so come check out the Wedding Haters and enter to win.




Wedding Haters by Melissa Baldwin

The exquisite dress, the dazzling menu, the family drama . . . It’s the day every girl dreams of, and Madison Wales is no exception. Her wedding plans seem to be going perfectly thanks to her very talented wedding planner, Sienna Harris. That is, until her grandmother and her two overachieving, bullying cousins suddenly want to become very involved in her big day. But . . . why? Madison’s perfect wedding dreams are dashed as things slowly start to unravel. With family drama in her midst, she wonders if her cousins are behind each disaster or if she has truly become a paranoid bridezilla. Will Madison be able to withstand all of the pressure and finally stand up for herself? The idea of eloping with her fiancé, Cole, is looking better everyday, even if it means leaving her dream wedding behind. Will she make the right choice?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Excerpt

“There you are. Why did you run off so abruptly?” She sounds very concerned. I contemplate explaining everything to her, but I’m not sure I want to share the skeletons in my closet just yet.
“I’m sorry. I’m just a little nervous about seeing my cousins. I haven’t seen them in a while,” I explain.
“Don’t you worry! When it comes to family, it doesn’t matter how much time goes by,” she says as she pats my arm.
This woman has no clue what is about to take place. My grandmother alone is a piece of work; thankfully, they have met and really got along well. I’m secretly hoping that the Ellie I spoke with on the phone is the Ellie that shows up tonight. Susan and Cole leave as I take a few more minutes to myself. As I stand, there in Susan’s perfect guest bathroom it occurs to me that maybe I’m completely over-reacting. Ellie and I did have a good conversation, and ultimately they have gotten their way by being asked to be in the wedding. That should be enough for them to be on their best behavior and not make themselves look bad in front of my new family.
Just then, I hear the doorbell ring and hear several female voices. Cole knocks on the door.
“All hell is about to break loose, are you ready?” he says, raising his eyebrows. He grabs my hand.
“I’m ready, but the question is, are you?” I lean up on my tippy toes to give him another kiss, and we head to the living room as if we are walking into a lion’s den.





Author Melissa Baldwin

Melissa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications; she has always had a love for writing. An avid journal keeper, she fulfilled her dream with her debut novel, An Event To Remember . . . Or Forget.
Melissa resides in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and young daughter. She is a master at organization and multi-tasking. Her daily jobs include mother, chauffeur, wife, PTA President, Fitness Trainer, and now Author.
When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, fitness, decorating, fashion, and taking a Disney Cruise every now and then.

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$50 Blast Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 5/11/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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