Review: Silver Threads by Jade Kennedy

Author: Jade Kennedy
Title: Silver Threads
Publication: May 31st 2012 
Publisher:  Valley Press
Pages: 34pp.
Source: Kindle Lending Library

Synopsis"'Silver Threads' is the first collection of poetry by Jade Kennedy, one of the most recent literary talents to emerge from the city of Hull. Like the 'white wild flower sprung up between the cracks' of her opening poem, Jade's poetic voice has its roots in urban reality, its attention fixed at the sky, and a considerable elegance of its own.The poems are filled to the brim with rich, descriptive images to savour, illuminated by moonlight and a scattering of stars - and a sincere respect for our literary heritage, with subtle nods to Robert Frost and Virginia Woolf along the way. Put simply, this is a collection that deserves a place in your life and on your Kindle; download it now to see why." 

Thoughts: This is a nicely composed collection of poetry. Though sometimes poetry goes over my head but these poems have an interesting tone and are beautifully crafted. I think the author did a wonderful job expressing different moments and emotions in these poems. She has a way of making the words visually transpose into these little "threads" of inner thought. Needless to say I enjoyed the experience and think anyone will enjoy and identify with some part of this collection. Overall, good short read. Check out one of the poems below.

Expectations
My spine wills to arch
in a beautiful. brittle curve inwards in my core.
Fingers fused to pale knuckles
as if sculpted into marble;
a questioning gesture.

My left arm is folded across my chest,
a shield of bones 
defending my breath and pulse.
Neck twisting brightly
to make me listen evermore.

If my lips and tired eyes
contorted into unconscious forms,
would I be perfection?

Blast:The Stone Guardian by Theresa McClinton

Tagline: When myth becomes reality, reality becomes a nightmare.

Blurb: Like any other teenager in America, Ashley just wants a normal life. But growing up in an orphanage for the insane is anything but normal. After endless therapy and increasing medication, her nightmares have only gotten worse. 

Probably because they’re not nightmares.

When Ashley’s mysteriously abducted, she finds a reality even less normal than the orphanage. And she discovers something else—she’s no ordinary orphan. Faced with enemies thought to only exist in fairy tales, Ashley discovers she possesses a powerful Maya bloodline. She’s the daughter of an ancient Maya Guardian, whose duty is to protect the Stone of Muuk’ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. But first she must get it back from Sarian, a power-hungry demigod who slaughtered the last guardian—Ashley’s mother. Without the stone, all will be lost. 

When she meets Arwan, a hot Belizean time bender, his delicious olive skin and dark eyes make her feel a little less alone. But his gentle whispers and reassuring touch might not be all they seem. How can she balance love and duty when it’s up to her to prevent the rising of the underworld? Especially when the guy she loves might be its crown prince…

 Author Bio
A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa started her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and features articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult paranormal romance. Since then, Theresa has gotten married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having stepped foot on the soil of over a dozen countries, traveled to sixteen U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, she will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

Purchase: Amazon | BN 

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Day 2 of 12 days of Books

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Day 1
Dizznee- Winner of Wanderlove
Josephine Patten Hawkins-Winner of an Arc of Wake
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Review: Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Author:  Lauren Destefano
Title: Sever
Series: The Chemical Garden Trilogy
Publication: February 12, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: AroundtheWorldArcTours
Synopsis

Time is running out for Rhine in this conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Chemical Garden Trilogy.

With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.


Thoughts:Having escaped her plight in the red light district and making it home in the previous book, Rhine finds herself back where it all began. Desperate to protect her sister-wife, she pleads with Linden to keep her safe. Torn between his love for his wives and his father, Linden seeks out his father's estranged brother to house Rhine until she is well enough to travel. As her brother, Rowan's, antics become more frequent, Rhine is determined to reach him as she may be the only one to stop his madness but what she discovers is more sinister and confusing than she could ever imagine. 

Rhine is an alright as female lead, she knows what she wants but she doesn't and this leads to emotional turmoil. What she seems able to find in abundance is trouble every time she runs, she finds herself in more precarious situations and further from the freedom she so desires. Now, the character that most intrigues me would be the one left in the dark, Linden, it's his desire to believe in the good of his father and Rhine that makes him so appealing. Of all the characters his intentions seemed the most innocent and caused me the most conflict as he was seen as the enemy but I couldn't help rooting for him to get the "main" girl, Rhine in the end. Vaughn, the scientifically calculating mastermind makes me sick to my stomach, his only saving grace is his love for his son, other than that the man is crazy.

The whole disease defect concept is interesting yet I still don't get it nor the how or why Rhine is so important. The whole taking girls to make them into baby making machines to keep the population going and to have test subjects seems cruel and quite disturbing. I really was not expecting that ending, absolutely shocking.  This is truly a warped dystopian society. Overall, the writing is well done and though the story moves slowly for me, this is a thought provoking read. So, I recommend it to those that like twisted dystopian books.

Guest Post & Giveaway:World of Shell and Bone By Adriana Ryan

About the Author:Adriana lives and writes in beautiful Charleston, SC. A huge fan of spooky stuff and shoes, she enjoys alternately hitting up the historic graveyards and outlet malls. World of Shell andBone is her first book.

Website | Twitter | Facebook  | Goodreads

Buy World of Shell and Bone: Amazon 

Which was your favorite scene to write? What scene was hardest to write and why?

Can I pick two favorite scenes? The one I had the most fun writing was probably the scene with Ceres’s birthday party. I loved writing it. I think I was smiling the entire time as I imagined all those kids getting dressed up for the first time in their lives and actually looking forward to an event like normal little kids should. I also had fun bringing out Vika’s softer, more girly side. :)

The one that touched me deeply the most was the scene where Vika and Shale finally “do it.”Not the mandated “it,” but when they do it because they fall for each other. I wrote that from my soul, and I really felt like I was in the moment.

The hardest scene to write was probably the one where Vika sees her mother for the last time. Without giving too much away, I was really sad for Vika and wanted to gather her into a hug. But it had to be done (said the evil writer).

World of Shell and Bone
By Adriana Ryan
In a world ravaged by a nuclear holocaust, Vika Cannon knows there are no guarantees: no guarantees of safety, no guarantees that your neighbor is not actually a spy for the government, and no guarantees you’ll be allowed to emigrate to a new life in Asia.New Amana is dying. Food and water are scarce, and people suffering from radiation-caused mutations—the Nukeheads—are the new class of homeless.Vika has just one purpose: to produce healthy progeny using a Husband assigned by the Match Clinic.Unhealthy children are carted away to Asylums to be experimented on, just as Vika’s little sister Ceres was, eight years ago. Parents incapable of producing healthy progeny are put to death in gas chambers.When she’s assigned a Husband shortly after her twentieth birthday, Vika expects him to be complacent and obedient. But Shale Underwood has a secret. He is a member of the Radicals, the terrorist group intent on overthrowing the government. And Shale has information about Ceres.As she learns more about the Rads’s plan, Vika finds herself drawn to Shale in ways she’d never imagined.When freedom calls in the way of a healthy pregnancy, will she betray her government and risk death for Shale and Ceres?

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Blast & Giveaway: Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman

The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman
A total meltdown. The whole school watching. Now Poppy’s an ex-straight-A with no Plan B.
When Poppy Johnson throws away a full scholarship to Columbia, she can only blame the jelly beans. The yucky green ones? Midnight cram sessions and Saturday’s spent studying. The delicious red? The family legacy: Columbia, and a future in finance. Except now it’s starting to look like Poppy’s jelly bean theory is wrong. School has been her life until, but maybe it’s time to start living now.
Poppy has thirty days to try a new life. No school, no studying. Just jumping into every possible world. Thirty days to find her passion, her path, and maybe even love.
The Jelly Bean Crisis is officially on.

*** Praise for The Jelly Bean Crisis***

"The Jelly Bean Crisis is a heart warming and thought provoking story, especially if you're in the process of figuring out your life!"  - Ajoop On Books!

"This book had me riveted. Completely riveted the entire time. The Jelly Bean Crisis was instant love for me."  - Book Briefs.

"It's a beautifully told story that you'll be thinking about long after you finish reading."  - A Pocket Full of Books.

If you're looking for a smart contemporary YA read, then The Jelly Bean Crisis is for you!

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Amazon Kindle


***Book Blast Special***
Get your Kindle copy of The Jelly Bean Crisis for 99 cents!
http:// www.amazon.com/The-Jelly-Bean-Crisis-ebook/dp/B008PODAAK

About the Author

Jolene Stockman is an award winning writer, speaker, and an expert for Girlfriend Magazine Australia. She is a Master of Neuro Linguistic Programming, and one of the youngest in the world to achieve the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. Jolene lives in New Zealand, and is the author of Total Blueprint for World Domination. The Jelly Bean Crisis is her debut fiction.

Website * Goodreads * Twitter *Facebook * Blog

 $100 Book Blast Giveaway
Ends 12/21/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Jolene and leave the others blank.

Open to anyone 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's permission. 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. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Celebrating the Release of Futhermore: An Anthology

Happy release day! Furthermore is here and we are all so excited to share it with you.
A first date, a lottery, treachery and deceit. Sometimes fate has other plans. Sometimes there’s more to tell.

In Furthermore, seventeen original stories take you on a journey through worlds here and beyond. From the depths of the earth to the embrace of the sea, your favorite series continue. Prequels, alternative views, and new scenes give readers a chance to experience more than originally told. Including stories from Rebekah Campbell, David Estes, Amber Garr, Karen Amanda Hooper, Stephanie Judice, and Leigh Michael.
The best part? In honor of those who lost the battle and those who continue to fight, all proceeds from this anthology will be donated to cancer research and support.
Find out more about your favorite characters from The Darkness Through the Light Series, The Dwellers Sage, The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, The Kindrily Series, Saga of the Setti, and Annabelle’s Story.

And now for some teasers…

“Emily Jenkins, corrupting young men. What would people say?” He tutted at me and as if by magic, I spotted an elderly lady walking along the pavement, scrunching up her nose to stare at us. – Surprise Visitor (The Darkness Through the Light Series)

When I thought I might make her lips too swollen from my rough need of her, I pulled away. Those half-open dark eyes could’ve pulled me into Hell, and I would’ve gladly followed with a stupid smile on my face. - Jeremy’s Heart (Saga of the Setti)

Even when you know it’s the right thing to do, running away from home is never easy. They’re not good people. I can’t stay here anymore. – The Runaway-Tawni’s Story (The Dwellers Saga)

He smiled and my heart melted. One look like that and I second guessed every decision I made. – Rift (The Syrenka Series)

I had to entertain myself somehow, and being around these ridiculous humans made me homesick for a land I left centuries ago. – Human Resources (The Lelia Marx Novels)

This too shall pass. I mentally repeated it over and over, hoping Nathaniel’s injury wasn’t as bad as my crumbling heart made it out to be. – The Sound of Love (The Kindrily Series)

Perhaps the hardest thing to accept about one’s fate is that it can take years to unfold. But when it does, it’s worth every second, every breath, and every dream. – Fate (Annabelle’s Story)

Buy now for Kindle, Nook, and Paperback

GIVEAWAY TIME

Like what you see? Be sure to enter our giveaway! Win signed paperbacks, ebooks, and swag from all of the authors. Open internationally!

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