Becoming Psychic Magazine, March 2014 - Book Review Link

Becoming Psychic Magazine, March 2014 Issue



I am so excited to announce that I am the new book reviewer for Becoming Psychic Magazine. The March issue is now live, so please enjoy the whole magazine for free this month.

 

Just go to the March Edition, and click on the cover to read it now. And enjoy!

 

And to get you extra excited to read it, my Book Review is on pages 74 & 75. The book I reviewed is How To Read an Egg: Divination for the Easily Bored by Colette Brown. Just click on the link to find out what my thoughts are of the book. You know you are curious about a title like that. Am I right? I'd love to know your thoughts on it. And don't forget to enjoy the rest of the magazine. Beautiful pictures and great topics fill the March issue.

 

Happy Reading!

Book Review: October Baby by Eric Wilson



October Baby - Goodreads

 

October Baby is a story of feeling lost or something big is missing from your life. As well, it is about finding that something amongst what you had all along. Eric Wilson creates characters that we can laugh with, cry with, and learn to see through new eyes with. He has created a heart-felt story out of a difficult topic, and he has done it very well.

 

Hannah Lawson is a university student who has grown up with many medical issues. From frail bones and hip surgeries to severe asthma, Hannah's body has been through a lot. After passing out during a play, Hannah finds out that her parents had adopted her as an infant. But even more surprising is the fact that she was born after a failed abortion. To find out that her birth mother didn't want to keep her was one thing, but she wasn't even supposed to be alive. What would someone do in this position? How do you react?

 

After some inventive ideas from a creative character named Truman, Hannah's best friend Jason comes up with the final persuasion to get her to come along on a Spring Break trip to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Jason points out that Mobile, Alabama, Hannah's birth place, is on the travel route. This may be a way to get answers for her questions about her birth mother.

 

This journey is one of Hannah finding out important information, but also the other characters along for the ride. What each one discovers about themselves helps towards the final scenes for Hannah. This is an important self discovery for Hannah, and the story itself has some wonderful messages on trust, love, and forgiveness.

 

I enjoyed October Baby very much. I think it is a great read that brings a softer light to a heavy topic. It is subtle in its Christian perspective and would be great for the non-Christian reader. I also look forward to viewing the movie that this book is based on to get a visual perspective of the story.

 

 

 



Mini Review: The Rough Guide to Social Media for Beginners

The Rough Guide to Social Media for Beginners (Goodreads)

 

 

The Rough Guide to Social Media for Beginners is an excellent book for the newbie to social media. I found it very informative, and it contains a lot of step-by-step pointers with wonderful helpful pictures.

 

Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ are all touched upon enough to give even the greenest computer wiz the confidence to start using them.

 

I highly recommend this book for youth, adults, and seniors that may want to start working in these social media realms. It may also be helpful for the intermediate user to hone their skills.

 

~ cross-posted on Goodreads

 

Book Review: Gemini The Heir by Kristen DaRay

 

Gemini The Heir (Goodreads)

 

This is the second book in Kristen DaRay's Gemini trilogy. It takes place a year after the first book ends. Carson is getting more comfortable with her new life as Princess Carsona of Emreiana. Having become proficient in the Emreian language, Carson and her mother are working on how to win the war on planets. Meanwhile, Carson is trying to stall her bonding ceremony with her betrothed, Aaronmon. The chemistry between Carson and Aaron is growing stronger, and more tests are appear around every corner. Will Carson be able to love Aaron in the way she desires? Will Aaron ever be the greatest love in Carson's heart?

 

With an ongoing and enjoyable plot, Kristen DaRay has done better with the editing process in this book than in the first. There is still further work to be done in spelling, grammar, and word choice but I am pleased at the ease I was able to enjoy this story. The plot build was much quicker in this book and made for a smooth, easy read.

 

I am looking forward to the third book in this series. The story has grabbed hold of me, the characters are likable and enjoyable, and I am anticipating good things to come with Kristen DaRay's next installment.

 

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

~ cross-posted on Goodreads



Book Review: Gemini of Emreiana by Kristen DaRay

Gemini of Emreiana (Goodreads)

Carson Emrel is eighteen years old with top grades, great friends, and is in love with her boyfriend. She has been raised by her aunt since her parents were killed in a car crash when she was just a baby. Putting together her valedictorian speech and looking into college should be her biggest issues in the near future.

 

Things change when Carson starts having strange dreams about a guy who later shows up in her kitchen, with her aunt, and informs her she is an alien. The guy from the dream is not only her bodyguard, sent to Earth by her very much alive mother, but he is also her betrothed husband to be. It seems that Carson's life just got a little more complicated.

 

Carson turns out to be the Princess of Emreiana, her birth planet. She is in danger, has to keep secrets from her friends and boyfriend, and is wondering how to trust her aunt that has lied to her for eighteen years. Carson is an enjoyable character and has a humorous, yet strained, relationship growing with her new betrothed, Aaronmon. His character is a great addition that helps round out Carson, move the plot along, and the relationship that grows between Carson and Aaronmon is a critical piece to understanding the story behind the storyline.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the story that Kristen DaRay has created in Gemini of Emreiana. Unfortunately, the grammar, spelling, and incorrect wording that fills the book was a hindrance to that enjoyment. I would love to see this manuscript again after a full edit. Leaving the book as is could hinder the book from getting the positive reviews that Kristen DaRay's story deserves. With a turtle-pace start because of the errors, some readers may be turned off and not give it the chance it deserves. The second half of the story builds up nicely and is quite enjoyable. I felt there were some descriptions during the main scene later on that were a little more graphic than I would have expected within the flow of this story. I also felt that having the definitions at the beginning of the story or on each page that the words appear for the first time would be very helpful. Being at the end of the book was pointless for me as I had already figured out what they meant myself.

 

Overall, I like Kristen DaRay's story idea that she presents in Gemini of Emreiana enough that I was happy to have the second edition to read right after finishing this one. I stand by the though that a good editing will raise the positive reviews for this book, and bring more followers to DaRay's trilogy.

 

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

~ cross-posted on Goodreads

WWW Wednesdays - January 15, 2014

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading?

The Rough Guide to Social Media for beginners

The Fellowship of the Ring

Gemini of Emreiana

 

 

• What did you recently finish reading?

 

 

My reviews of these can be found here: Beyond My Bookshelf



• What do you think you’ll read next?

 
I have an ever-growing To Be Read shelf on Goodreads of over 2300 books. I also have 17 indie books waiting to be read and blogged. So many words; only one pair of eyes!

I am doing the Lord of the Rings read & discussion at Tolkien Readalong from January to June 2014. If you are a Tolkien fan, come join the fun.

Besides that, there are many things I must read. Romance, mystery, paranormal, humour, fiction, non-fiction, biographies, and everything else! I love the printed word!

Now, what about you? What are you reading? 

Book Review: Cloaked in Fur by T.F. Walsh

Cloaked in Fur, T.F. Walsh

Set in Romania, Daciana, or Daci as everyone calls her, works at the Animal Research Institute where she tracks animals and their behaviour as an animal specialist. She sometimes lends herself to the police on animal attack crimes. Her boyfriend, Connell, is on the police force and is bothered that all the latest attack victims are linked to Daci. Not to mention that Daci has been hiding any information about herself from Connell. One piece he might want to know about is that his girlfriend is a Wulfkin - half wolf, half human.

Deep in the forest is where Daci's wolf pack resides. Sandulf is the Alpha, or pack leader, and he has a few secrets of his own. One of them could be very deadly if it isn't discovered soon. Enre, Daci's friend and former lover, is still very much in love with her. He intends to help Daci get the secret elixir that will make her completely human. But time is running out, and they still have to find the recipe for the elixir and stop whatever is killing humans just outside their wolf den.

I am happily surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I love wolves, romance, and a good storyline with some mystery thrown in here and there. And that's what I received when I was drawn in by the first paragraph. Cloaked in Fur is filled with action throughout, and just when you think you have it figured out, T.F. Walsh throws a wrench in to stir it up. I like sitting on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what the next chapter will bring. I was more than satisfied with this novel. It was fun, a quick read, and T.F. Walsh gained a new fan. I look forward to see what else this author can string together.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

~ cross-posted on Goodreads