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book cover 01Tutor in a Box: The Guide to the Best Free Education Resources on the Internet
Smashwords : Barnes and Noble
Chris Mason
Education, Internet and Computers

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REVIEW ONE

In a technological ideal world, we would have eBooks that updated themselves automatically when the link moved, dead-ended, or went out of business. Because we don’t live in such an ideal world, any book whose content is based on live URLs needs constant supervision to be user-friendly to its readers.

Christopher Mason’s desire to provide “free educational resources on the internet” is to be applauded. It takes a good deal of a person’s valuable time to research every free educational site, and when I say research – I mean to find, analyze, and judge each site for quality of content, quantity and details of content, and reader usability. Additionally, Mason’s decision to craft his book according to “high school periods – Math and Science, Language, Recess, Social Studies,” etc. is to be applauded, as is his cross referencing resources to save readers time. I also appreciated Mason’s Rating Table.

I was also extremely impressed by the quantity and quality of the online sites that Mason found. In checking out everyone of the links he included in his book, I often found myself straying to some of the sites and spending an inordinate amount of time working through the sites and enjoying myself greatly. That said, I unfortunately found over 25 links that were problematic (listed below).

There are some issues with Mason’s book that I would like to discuss:

  • Mason begins the book with this statement: “Now wait I heard that, so did your neighbors that loud groan of ‘Oh my god school.” I would definitely leave out the word ‘god’ and substitute ‘gosh’ or some less offensive application of ‘god.’
  • I am confused about Mason’s statement of “Large quality of information found on the internet.” In my opinion, “large” should be replaced by a more applicable word.
    • Rating Scale
    • Website layout
    • Quality of Information
    • Quantity of Information
    • Amount of multimedia
    • Uniqueness either in design, content delivery or some other feature
  • I was unable to find the music sections and free clip art section on http://mrssmoke.onsugar.com
  • Beginning with “Period One: Math,” it would be very helpful for Mason to insert a horizontal lines between each link topic.
  • When Mason uses the word “resources,” as in “A database of resources from all over the internet . . . “ I would like to see more details about what type of resources – which here include Art and Music, Exercise and Eating Healthy, Government, Health and Safety, History, Jobs, Math, Money, Online Safety, Reading and Writing, Science, and Social Studies.
  • It never became clear to me what how the rating scales worked. For example, under “Reference” there are three ratings: one at four and two at five. What does this mean?
  • Again, Mason uses the phrase “topics on several subjects” under Hippocampus. As a parent perusing this book, I would like to know what subjects are included. This happens more often than not – in that Mason only give a very general sentence about the content. If I were a parent searching for help with, let’s say, Derivatives, I would want to know if this site included such information.
  • I was surprised that the requirements for this book were a Windows operating system – with no mention of those of us who own Macs.
  • This will be my last mention of the lack of detail, even though it is pervasive throughout. On the mathisfun.com site, grades one through seven are color coded to help the readers. Additionally, and the site includes sub-categories such as index, Data, Geometry, Numbers, Puzzles, Money, etc. I checked out the seventh grade math, and the content is too immature for seventh graders. Mason should mention this.
  • One additional concern is the inclusion of sites similar to Cliff Notes, such as “thebestnotes.com” and “Pink Monkey.” After teaching for 13 years, students do not know the difference or don’t care about the difference between cutting and pasting and doing their own thinking and writing. Such sites, similar to Cliff Notes, should be monitored – and should be introduced with assignments and applications that shoe the value and the dangers of using such sites.
  • Additionally, the OWL website from Purdue (http://owl.English.purdue.edu/owl) is not specifically for middle school. I worked on this site while I attended Purdue, and it exists mainly for university students.

Links that didn’t load for me:

I don’t know where this book is related to editing, but there are serious syntax errors and spelling errors in the book.

In my opinion, it would not take a great deal of work to make this an exceptional book meant exactly for what Mason intended it.

J. Doran
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

Tutor in a Box looks like a wonderful resource for parents who are either struggling to help their children with their homework from a traditional scholastic setting, and for parents who are homeschooling.  It provides a huge amount of information in the short book, and is well worth the price.

The subject break down makes it easy to navigate to the general section, though once in the section the ease of navigation begins to break down.

Each resource offered has a brief explanation for what the link is about, which helps determine if that is where you want to go, and is supposed to be rated.  The ratings tend to wind up clumped together every three or four entries, which can make it hard to determine exactly which site gets which rating.  Also, the site names are not highlighted, which lets them blend into the text.  It took me a few pages to figure out the site name was directly above the link.

Once that little bit is figured out, there’s still some issues with graphics that continue past the edge of the page.  Most do not contain information, but the few that do are hard to decipher because some of the content is clipped.

Overall, for what the book is billed as: a resource for parents and students, this is a wonderful book and well deserves a solid 5 out of 5 stars.  The presentation suffers due, I think, to the type of material, and the fact this is definitely not a “read from front to back” book, which winds up making this a 3 out of 5 stars for presentation.  I still would recommend this to anyone seeking a solid reference guide, just with the disclaimer that it may be a little confusing to navigate.

K. Caffee
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

book cover 01Lex Talionis
by Aaron Meizius
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REVIEW ONE

A fast , pacy start from the beginning which quickly draws you in, making you interested enough to keep turning the pages.

The two main characters are typical of the majority of friends where one is more dominant than the other. Everyone likes a bad boy who turns good but in this case the bad boy gets worse and is a real hard nosed villian.

Isaac spends most of their friendship feeling overshadowed and somewhat resentful towards his friend, these feeling intensify as they move into adulthood and go to the same University and then out into the work place as practising lawyers.

This book has lots of twists and turns and little sub plots throughout with a lot of surprises along the way.

Any sex and violence is hinted at and not written graphically but left to one’s imagination, making this book suitable for everyone.

A good, suspensful short story which I can definitely recommend.

C. Taylor
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

This book really intrigued me. First you have Isaac, who is determined, but not very brave. Then you have Michael. You can tell from the beginning that he has a lot of influence on his friend, and is the one in control of their friendship. Something is off about Michael, but you can’t really put your finger on it. After Michael’s girlfriend goes missing, and there is a falling out between Isaac and Michael it seems like everything is in the past. Then Michael shows back up and old ghosts start to haunt Isaac. He can’t give up the feeling that Michael caused something to happen to Alyssa when they were in college. This causes him to start his own search for the truth. What he finds along the way is trouble, and a string of coincidences that are too much to ignore. I was very surprised by what Isaac found out more than once. You can tell Michael is bad news, but how bad is he? I was also surprised by the lengths that Isaac was willing to go to find the truth. He risks everything to expose Michael, and finds more than what he bargained for. This book will keep you guessing, and it will surprise you. Intrigue, suspense, and shady characters will keep you wondering to the very end.

B. Mulder
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

When school and subsequent college friends Isaac and Michael have a big falling out it’s over a girl, Alyssa. Alyssa goes missing in the first year of law school and is never seen or heard from again. Isaac is haunted by her disappearance and his old feelings over Alyssa are ignited when he faces Michael in a case fourteen years later. Pursuing his suspicions about his former best friend Isaac is consumed with finding Alyssa.

Meizius writes quite a malevolent antagonist in Michael with hugely sinister undertones, but I found myself rooting for the underdog Isaac as he battles for morality to find out what happened to Alyssa and bring the culprit to justice by putting his life, marriage and career on the line.

A gripping legal thriller.

B. Ahmed
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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

book cover 01 ichurch
Angry Movie Guy
Izzy Church
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REVIEW ONE

I was one of the lucky readers who was given a free book by the author and for that I am really both happy, glad and grateful. I have always had a thing for romantic comendy books, after a long and stressful day at work I find it relaxing to sit on my couch and have a good laugh. This book gave me a good laugh and at the same time made me fall in love with the characters. The author has her way around words that brings the character to life. Reading through the pages made me feel as if I was right there with the characters, witnessing what was happening. This is one of those books that makes you think, feel, cry and laugh along with the characters. I’d hate to giveaway anything because I think readers should go through the same rise and fall of emotions as I did but this book is about a struggling film critic whose torn between fame and the woman he fell in love with. This is a great book and I am definitely recommending this for everyone to read.

C. Smith
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

Charlie was a movie critic, a very grumpy movie critic. He wasn’t always a out spoken jerk, he was a nice guy but he got sick of being taken advantage of. He had hallucinations of himself out of his body and of his dream girl. Then his dream girl becomes reality, and he just so happens to totally ruin any chance of ever having her in his life. Now the challenge is on and he is going to win her back in his life. But could he have gone too far for her to forgive him?

This was an interesting read. If you are looking for a light-hearted rom-com, this will tickle your funny bone. I laughed out loud with some of the comments he made, I had to explain to my husband what was so funny. I think that Ms. Izzy Church’s writing was easy to follow, it was my first read for her and I enjoyed it.

Charlie was a little off his rocker but that’s what made his character. You find yourself relating to him and understanding exactly why he is the way he is. I did get a little confused with Astral Charlie’s presence and I wasn’t really sure as to how he helped the situation but he didn’t take away from the story. Charlie was a closet hopeless romantic though and all he wanted to do was woo the girl of his dreams into his arms but instead he unknowingly pushed her far, far away from him. Poor poor Charlie! He seems like such a sweet obnoxious guy.

There were no sexual parts to this story just kissing and talking but there is a little language. 🙂

L. Bergeron
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

This is an interesting take on a love story, let’s call it critically ironic romance. Angry Movie Guy is, as you may have guessed, about a movie critic. And like many critics today, Charlie “The Snake” Evans (Zimmerman) is rather rude and flippant, often not having any concern about how his review will come across to or affect those he criticizes.That is until he unwittingly annihilates and demeans the woman, Alex (Alexis) Rasner, he is falling in love with.

Charlie has dreamed of being a well-known movie critic since he was young. After attending college to obtain his degree and pounding the pavement non-stop in search of someone to take him on. He was ready to give up until the day he caught a break, an angry review was printed in the paper. An acquaintance of his father’s saw it, and took the bull by the horns – or the snake by the tail – and created the Angry Movie Guy. Charlie Zimmerman became known as the Charlie “The Snake” Evans and the Angry Movie Guy who went from a media stunt to get people to watch the news to a man with a show of his own. Quickly rising to fame, much like his mother Evelyn Zimmerman did in pictures many years before.

Charlie’s mother had passed on suddenly when he was a young boy and his father took it very hard. Barely able to take care of himself, his father Ray, sent Charlie to live with Aunt Hilda. Hilda was eccentric and Charlie didn’t have the happiest of childhoods which left him with a very sour taste for life and helped in creating the Angry Movie Guy persona. Charlie loved his mother and missed her dearly only wanting to make her proud, though he found himself in a place in life that she would not be very proud of. He didn’t know how to change it or where to go.

That is until he met the woman of his dreams at the showing of his favorite movie. He was awestruck to the point that he didn’t get her name or number, let alone have the chance to her his. He was beginning to believe she was a hallucination and didn’t really exist. That is until he ran into her again at the premier of an indie film he was critiquing. This time he was able to give her his business card before completely flaking out and running off, again.

Charlie’s viewing of this indie film had not gone as expected. He did not have a reserved seat and was forced to sit between two larger woman that didn’t leave him room to breathe. Then the muscle head behind him threatened to pound in his head if he didn’t shrink down in the seat. And to top it off his favorite jacket got stuck and ripped before having soda spilled down the front of him. It seemed that maybe the poor guy was getting back a taste of his own medicine, especially since it was after this experience he ran into the woman of his dreams and didn’t stick around long enough for proper introductions. If he had maybe he wouldn’t have been as rough as he was the next day giving his review of the indie film.

It just so happened that the film he shredded to pieces was written by Alex Rasner, better known as Lexi, the woman of Charlie’s dreams. In his rant of slander Charlie referred to the “man” who wrote the movie by a multitude of horrible names, his ranting and raving continued the entire show and he never let up. Getting all his aggression out on the film that he actually felt for the situation he was in, never did he think he was shoving his foot and the rest of his body past his mouth and down his throat.

Now Charlie had to find a way to win back the woman he loved, but had no idea where to start. Would he be able to overcome the persona? Would she allow him the opportunity to explain himself? Or was he doomed to simply be the Angry Movie Guy, forever?

The way the author wrote the story was a twist on the comedic romances that are so prevalent today. The use of Charlie’s ethereal self and his dreams to help fill in the background was a touch of genius. I give this film two thumbs up and two middle fingers…what do I mean by that? Well read the story and you will find out.

M. Clark
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

book cover 01 dgonzalez
The Five Kingdoms of Severi
Dora Gonzalez
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REVIEW ONE

This fantasy adventure follows the story of two young men who must fight for their lives and those of their countrymen.  In true epic fantasy fashion the story takes a while to get going, with plenty of world building along the way.  I only wished there were a few less discussions about the beautiful sword.  Other than that and a few confusing pov switches, I greatly enjoyed Five Kingdoms.  I appreciated Gonzalez’s imaginative narration and sense of old world folk lore.  I could see myself surrounded by rolling brooks and singing birds wandering through the forest right along beside Edwin and Alden.  If you savor sword fights and prefer to lavish yourself in the lore of yesteryear, pick up Five Kingdoms of Severi today!  4 stars and off to a great start!

Ashley Kemp
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

I was completely sucked in to this book. There were so many surprises and revealed secrets I was really kept on my toes. Why is Edwin’s dad so determined to teach him how to fight, what is the queen up to, why is Edwin’s mom sneaking around, who are the oracles and what are doing, and who is the man that controls the dark magic?  If you are paying attention you might catch the very small little hints for the biggest secret, but chances are you won’t and there is no way I’m going to spoil it. There is magic, mystery, danger, and adventure on a grand scale with a tapestry of characters’ stories woven together in a way that reminds me of Terry Brooks’ Shannara series. There are so many things that must happen for things to be set right and only a small few who know how necessary those little things are. The characters come to life with their struggle to survive, and their flaws that cause them to make mistakes along the way. They are so very real to you when you are reading that I already feel like they are friends that I need to check in with and see how they are doing. I cannot wait to read the second book. My only complaint is that there were moments where I felt like I was missing a little history or background on some of the relationships. Dare I suggest a prequel? I don’t think that the extra detail would be fluid in this book as it would slow down the story line, but there were a few times where my curiosity was dying to know what had happened in the past. Other than that I think that the story is great, the characters grow throughout the book, and I was left wanting more. If you are a fan of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and a little mystery I highly suggest you read this book.

B. MulderFor TJs
Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

I enjoyed this very much! I’m really happy to add author Dora González to my fav authors. The writing style captivated me from the beginning and had me hooked to the story.

The story is from multiple perspective in third person which I loved cuz it fitted perfectly with the story. I loved the different POV’s of characters. I liked to know them all and how all of them added to the story line.

Edwin is the main character in this most of the time lol. As I said earlier it has multiple POV’s which made me feel everyone was main characters even the POV’s from antagonist (I don’t mean the main villain but a character who can get on the good side).

So Edwin and Alden are the main characters but I enjoyed the POV’s of their parents. I liked that fact cuz I’ve not read YA books from parent’s POV which was new and great for me!

I liked Alden in beginning but by end I liked Edwin more. They were both nice.

I loved this book and am looking forward for the sequel and Dora’s writing. Got the book in exchange of an honest review.

S. Mohite
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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

book cover 01
The Moon-kissed Chi
Grinelda Markowitz
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REVIEW ONE

The Moon-kissed Chi is a book about a fictional city called Kalaydan, its rules and culture, and the families and royalty in charge. It follows a young woman named Gayadnae, a girl who is supposed to begin preparing to become a powerful woman but tries to choose another direction instead.

As the story builds, you begin to learn that the higher-ups in the ruling family have some alternate plans, and they choose to follow their own interests instead of those of the culture. This is when the plot of the book really starts to pick up.

The authors descriptive writing style really made me feel like I was part of the story, and it kept me involved along the journey. Great book, one which I can definitely recommend.

M. Anderson
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REVIEW TWO

This book starts the adult content of with a bang! The women are straight forward about what they want and when they want it. By the end of the book I was left wanting more. At the beginning I was a little confused because of the lack of back ground information but after I started putting the details together I really was hooked on this book. The story takes place on an alien planet where the women harness chi from the sexual energy of men and while they use the same words we do sometimes they are spelled differently. I was also intrigued by the way the culture is set up and the power the woman possess over the men. There is some talk of the training the women go through to learn to harness chi which caught my interest as well. I found the sexually word play between characters very entertaining and there was more than once I was chuckling over the teasing that was going on. Some of the scenes left me a little breathless with the images running through my mind. Throw a teen aged rebellious daughter in to the mix and it has all the makings of a great story. Then you also have a servant woman who is no ordinary servant and has her own way of trying to influence things from the shadows. She has her own agenda and secrets. Are they good or bad? If you don’t like minimal romance in your stories this is not the book for you. There is love, passion, and pleasure to be had, but this is a very sexual culture and thus the romance or courting is very minimal. I was surprised by the way the book ended and was left with the feeling of where is the rest? So, yes I will be looking for the sequel because I can’t wait to see what happens next!

B. Mulder
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

I really loved reading this book because it is about powerful experiences. The characters in the book makes the whole story interesting. Their names alone are interesting. As I begin to read this book, after the second chapter, I could not put the book down. I felt that the book gives a lot of adventures action and was well put together. The chapters are very short but that is what I really like about this book because it does not take that long to find out what happens next. This was a really great read for me!!!

C. Destine-Pierre
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REVIEW FOUR

This is my first time to read the work of Grinelda Markowitz and I can definitely say that this won’t be the last. Markowitz did a really great job at plotting the story line flawless from the characters to the twists of the stories. This is the kind of book that makes you think, feel and jump with the characters. It’d be a shame to give away anything. This book captivated my attention from the first few pages and I was left intrigued by what would happen next. I liked how the story unfolded and enjoyed the many interesting twists. If you’re really into sci-fi like I am then this would contain everything that your heart desires, packed in one book that is one click away for you to read. I can’t wait to read the next installment of the book. Definitely recommended!

A. Sedniev
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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

book cover 01 mrobertson
Michael Robertson
The Alpha Plague
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REVIEW ONE

I was completely lost in this book! It was like I was watching an action/horror movie and couldn’t look away because I would miss something. Rhys’s desire to get to his son and save him despite the odds drew me in and I kept rooting for him the whole time. Also, the fact that he tries to do the right thing no matter what makes him such a likeable character. There are so many men in his position that just give up on their kids because of their ex that you want him to find a way to be with his kid. There are so many things in this story that are realistic and tough. Would you be able to kill a child that is now a reanimated corpse? Would you hesitate to help someone when you have a chance to get out? So many moral questions come together in this book that I was fascinated by the choices Rhys had to make. Then there is his companion Vicky whose guilt makes her doubt what kind of person she really is. Together they make an interesting team in their fight to survive. The scenario in the book is so plausible it’s scary. People’s paranoia can be a very powerful thing and I don’t doubt for a minute that a government would use it to their advantage. Then there is the terrorists who don’t care about the lives they destroy. It is a powerful combination that I don’t doubt for a minute could come true. The scientist is the personification of what we fear one could be. No remorse, living only for his work and studying the science of a situation instead of caring about people. I find it interesting that the government is a faceless entity. There are no specific officials in charge except the local police. I think it adds to the paranoia side of their existence. I highly recommend this book for any zombie fan especially those who liked World War Z even though these zombies are not that fast they still move at a pretty good pace. The only negative thing that comes to mind is some people might have trouble handling the zombie baby scene and maybe the school children. However, I think these moments really show the reality of what someone would have to face in such a situation.

B. Mulder
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

The Alpha Plague is an apocalyptic survival thriller done right. Working well as a stand-alone though in actuality the first of a series, this novel covers just the first few hours of a viral plague:

Falling within the broader category of zombie apocalypses, this take is toward the rage spectrum of 28 Days Later rather than the lumbering Walking Dead variety, which makes it all the worse for Rhys and his kick-ass partner-by-circumstance Vicky in his quest to escape Summit City and save his 6 y.o. son, Flynn, who’s at school some miles away.

Rhys and Vicky are fallible protagonists with limited resources, but courage and determination worthy of rooting for in this non-stop action thriller.

J. Kintigh
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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

book cover 01 mpotashMillie and Cupcake
Mildred Potash
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REVIEW ONE

This is a sweet, simple tale of a girl determined to have a pet. When she is denied a puppy, luck favors her by putting a rat in her path. Told in easy to understand language suitable for the target audience of preschool and beginning readers. It is engaging enough to lure the youngster to explore the story further on their own, and has a gentle lesson that parents can appreciate: Be kind, be responsible, and pets can be friends as well.

For me, there was a minor glitch between the first page and the rest of the story, as there was an abrupt shift from the introduction to the actual story, but that is soon forgotten as the tale unfolds.

Even though this is written for the younger readers, the characters are presented in a realistic manner, and have some depth to them. They are not so complex that a new reader will become lost, but enough to prevent parents reading it to their youngsters feel as if the story is a waste of their time. The pace has the same type of delicate balance – easy going enough the younger readers can remain captivated, yet fast enough older readers shouldn’t become bored with the story.

Because of the lessons included within these pages, the fact that there is character development should be no surprise. Millie, the young girl who stars in this book, edges out of the persistence that is often associated with preschoolers into a slightly more mature kindergartner smoothly and believably. (Even down to to the hiding her actions because she thinks its against her parent’s wishes.)

Over all, this is definitely a book I think anyone with a youngster should have. A hearty five out of five stars from me. (I wonder if four-legged, furry children count?)

K. Caffee
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

My kids loved, loved, loved this book! My daughter is six and my son is four. I started by reading it to them at the same time and they were fascinated by this story. I had to reread it twice. I read it to each of them separately and again got requests to read it over again. The art work is nice and age appropriate with scenes that my kids could understand when they looked at it. They were thoroughly entertained by the idea of a pet rat and were excited at the end when there were babies. The opening of the book seemed slightly out of place to me but did not bother them at all. They couldn’t wait to see what was in the closet. They were so happy when Millie got to keep her pet and talked about it the next day when I asked them if they liked the book I had read. I will at admit that at first the idea of a pet rat seemed a little strange but the more I read it the more that it really doesn’t matter what type of pet Millie has. What matters is that she took care of it and loved it properly, and that is what sticks with my kids the most.

B. Mulder
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

I was drawn to the book because of the illustrations and the story line. I was curious to see who Cupcake turned out to be in the story and enjoyed that the story ended up being about Millie and her pet rat.  While the book does not refer to information on the rat, the blurb talks about how the author wants to share how rats are clean and trainable. Unfortunately, I did not get that from the book.

The vocabulary seems quite consistent regarding a specific level of reading, except for the inclusion of the word “responsibility.” While the illustrations are superb, I was not fond of the one that separated Saratoga from New York with a jagged line, since New York had not been mentioned yet at this point.

There are some issues that cause some concern for me. For example, the mixing of verb tenses, within sentences and throughout the book, is disconcerting. The mixture of pronouns in some of the sentences also could be confusing. Also unclear is the show-and-tell that Millie participates in at school: The illustration shows that Millie takes Cupcake to school, and yet the text does not support this.

The point in the story when Millie’s parents tell her that they know she has a rat as a pet would be a good place to share information about how rats are clean and trainable.

With some revision work and editing, this could become a sweet book for youngsters.

J. Doran
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW FOUR

This is a cute story about a little girl who wants a pet of her own very badly and the little critter that befriends her. The illustrations make the story even better. It is a decent book to read to young children.

M. Clark
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW FIVE

“Millie and Cupcake” is a delightful children’s book that teaches children and their parents the value of caring for a pet. Millie wants a puppy but her parents feel she is too young to have one. On moving to New York fate takes a hand and Millie’s dream comes true. Hearing a noise in her closet she discovers a black and white rat. She names her Cupcake and the adventure begins. Opting to keep it a secret from her parents, Millie cares for Cupcake herself. It is only when she introduces Cupcake to her class for show and tell that the truth comes out. This is a wonderful little book about responsibility and love. My 5-year old granddaughter inherited a bearded dragon from her adult cousin and loves him as much as her dog Scout. Children are not restricted by adult preconceptions and the adorable Millie is a perfect example of how children are often more accepting than their parents.

E. Horton-Newton
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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

book cover 01 dddragao

D. Drache Dragao – The Welter War
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REVIEW ONE

Sometimes in life we tend to say things that we believe to be true, but when the facts come up and smack us in the face with brutal honesty we are forced to reconsider our stance on the situation. It doesn’t matter how much we want something to be true if it is not then we cannot force it to be so. This is a lesson that all must learn and if they are to grow from the experience then they must humble themselves and admit that they were wrong.

The Welter War by D. Drache Dragao is a story that displays this message through the growth and humbling of one of the main characters, Michael Bennett. He starts out as the reigning IFB Welterweight title belt holder who believes that boxing is a much tougher and more “real” sport than MMA. He is married to a lovely woman and has a young son who is his namesake. As the story progresses Michael learns many valuable lessons. He and his wife have a conflict which ends up causing them to separate during which time he finally accepts the challenge to step into the cage and fight the world renowned Elijah Moore.

Elijah Moore has been facing tough times of his own. His best friend and partner of three years was killed in an alcohol related automobile crash. He is holding a secret from everyone that could ultimately change the way others view him, and may create a large backlash when Elijah finally reveals the truth about him being bisexual. He is also trying to continue with a project his late partner started at the local LGBT center teaching self defense classes to school-aged children. With all of these items on his plate he is also having some family concerns of his own.

As you can tell by now, this story is very complex and elaborate in the range of issues that it covers. If you are prepared to read, listen and learn about the plights of two very honorable men and those around them, then I suggest you pick up your copy of The Welter War and begin reading. The values instilled through the writer’s words will ring true to you and have you looking at life in a whole new light.

M. Clark
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

Book Review: Alone But Not Lost by Bob Summer

Book Review: Alone But Not Lost by Bob Summer

Love the book cover on this one.

bsellers alone but not lost

Ajoobacats Blog

Sin, named out of spite by her abusive and angry mother, lives locked away in a part of a huge house that was years ago a residence for the mentally ill. This is the house she lived in with her mother and step-father, Glyn, who has been incarcerated for a couple of decades now. News of his release unsettles and terrifies Sin, who despite extensive security and only communicating with her handy man, Hawk, through an intercom, is slave to her obsessions and compulsions. However, what happened all those years ago to drive Sin to take these measures is horrific but seems to be catching up with her.

As much as I love the psychological thriller genre, I didn’t feel fully immersed in this novel until just before the halfway mark, when it became totally unputdownable and morphed into more of a whodunit and a whodunwhat. Just when I thought…

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Book Review: The Doctor’s Daughter by Vanessa Matthews

Book Review: The Doctor’s Daughter by Vanessa Matthews

I can always find good reads at Ajoobacat’s Blog.

vmatthews alone but not lost

Ajoobacats Blog

I chose to read and review this book for Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team.

This well-written dark historical mystery tells us about Marta Rosenthal, daughter of renowned psychiatrist Arnold Rosenthal in early nineteenth century Austria. Marta herself is a bright scientist, who yearns to conduct her own studies and be known for work in her own right, she is encouraged by family GP Leopold Kaposi, to plan to branch away from her father. Marta then meets the enigmatic Elise, a doctor, recently qualified from Paris, who has ambitions to further her career in the field of paediatrics and a gift for manipulation that has aided her to get far. Both women are trying to make it in what is very much a man’s world, however, they do not realise the extent to which both their lives have been manipulated.

This thriller unravels tantalizingly drawing you in to the characters, who…

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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers


Rachel Rossano – Honor
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REVIEW ONE:

This is very much a medieval romance, but set in a fictional land. Lord Dentin is Securer of the Realm.

That means he works to find wrong doers, and enforce the law. Even if that means going around the wishes of a devious King. He is in the middle of one task when a Baron is murdered. Dentin must find the killer and protect those in danger.

Lady Elsa is attending her sister’s wedding.  Her mother is playing matchmaker, and her brother is trying to use Elsa to get himself out of debt.

With so many men trying to arrange things to their own advantage,  killing any who get in the way, there is a lot of danger about.

Just because he has a killer to find doesn’t mean the King is giving him anymore timid to carry out his wishes,  and an impatient King is just as dangerous as the killer.

As I love my historical books , this was a joy to read. A clean romance with lots of action and adventure.  It is the 2nd in the series,  but can easily be read as a stand alone.

P. Winmill
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is in the YA genre and really sticks to it. Yes, there is passion and the attraction between the hero and heroine is very much there, but the adult details are left to the imagination which is very refreshing. To me it was like oh my, he’s going to kiss her! Darn it they closed the curtain! I found that it did not detract from the story at all and actually left more room for the plot to hold me captivated. There are many layers to Elsa and Simon’s story and I find myself wondering about the full story of Simon’s past. I have not read the first book so this was my introduction to Rhynan and its people. I loved the way the author gave details about the characters’ pasts without making them big long paragraphs that interrupted the story. It was quick little tidbits that let you know what was influencing their thinking. It made the story flow nicely for me since I was new to the series. I also enjoyed the way the book went back and forth between the hero and heroines’ perspective on what was happening. While usually this means that the same story is shared twice this time it helped keep things moving and let you know exactly what was going on because of the various things happening in secret with each character. It is very well done. I don’t really have anything big to complain about. There are no major typos or grammar issues to bother the reader and detract from the story. The beginning of the story didn’t hook me right away as I had to wait a little bit to figure out what was going on, but once
I caught on to the fact that there was secrets on both sides I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. It is sad to think that family members would treat each other the way that is shown in some parts of the book but sadly it does happen. These moments are handled well, and with just enough truth to make an impression, but not make them the focus of the story.

B. Mulder
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

After finishing Duty, I had been eagerly anticipating the release of Honor, which is the second Novel in the series.

Let me first say that because I’m familiar with the writing style of Rachel Rossano, I already knew to expect a story with an intriguing plot, well-developed characters which enable the reader to establish a like or dislike for them, and just an overall well-written book. Honor did not disappoint, and I can honestly say that I believe Rachel’s writing skills have even grown beyond what I expected.

Rachel did a great job of getting the reader to develop a genuine attachment to Elsa. Dentin, her love interest, is a bit more mysterious and will have the reader second-guessing him, but you still want to root for him. The story follows the two on a romantic journey which is interrupted by many outside situations. It has a bit of a Romeo and Juliet type feel, in a good way. The book was easy to read and understand, and kept my attention the whole time.

Highly recommended to people of any age.

C. Johnson
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW FOUR

An intriguing book with two  mixed elements which create an exciting new read. We have the medieval element mixed with romance and done in a way not to favour one genre over the other, as the author has the skills to entwine the two together and create a world that allows the characters to develop and grow around each other. We follow the noble earl tasked with the enforcement of the laws of the land, a sacred duty that sometimes brings him into conflict with the King and the other high and mighty in the land. In the course of his duties he meets Elsa, a strong minded woman not willing to bend but the two dance well around each other till they face up to what others are pushing on them for other reasons.

N. Thomas
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW FIVE

Reading Honor, I was afraid that by “clean” historical fantasy I would also be getting something very bland. Not that clean books are bland–far from it–but you will always get some of the authors who think that clean is synonymous with plain. Thankfully, this book is anything but boring!

Somewhere between Gail Carson Levine and J.R.R. Tolkien, the book is set in a fantasy world of olden times. As a rule, I don’t usually read historical romances because they are all the same after a while. One thing blurs into another, but not here. The most memorable thing are the strong characters. They have actual personalities, and you can either love or hate them easily.

I love, love, LOVE the medieval times, and I have ever since I was little and watched the Disney version of Robin Hood! Even now, I love anything set during the times of kings, queens and knights. The valiancy, the fights, everything about it is so exciting! While Honor does tone down the violence quite a bit, it doesn’t take away from the authenticity of it.

When a book is set in a specific place and time, I get disappointed if it’s not accurate. Honor is definitely accurate! I love reading a book where you, as a reader, can tell the author not only did their homework, but really cares about the details in their story.

This was great fun for teens, adults and anyone who likes sweet romance with a good plot.

K. Smith
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

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Review – The Splendour Falls

Bibliophibian Inc.

Cover of The Splendour Falls by Susanna KearsleyThe Splendour Falls, Susanna Kearsley

Looking at the reviews for this book, I had to laugh at how many people compared Kearsley’s work to Mary Stewart’s. Including myself, I’m afraid, which leaves me wondering if Kearsley embraces that or is rather sick of it by now. But truly, some of the plot things here are right up Stewart’s street, too: the moment where the villain kisses the heroine, that charged moment between them. Except that there’s something more subtle here: the villain isn’t purely villainous, but motivated by love as well. There seems something genuine in his attraction to the heroine, his interest in her.

And Kearsley is much harder on my heart. As with Season of Storms, I found myself falling for a character who didn’t make it to the end of the book. Kearsley did a great job with character, much more so than Stewart: I can…

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Spelled by Betsy Schow – Book Review

Spelled by Betsy Schow – Book Review

Mad Tea Party Book Reviews

Spelled

By: Betsy Schow

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Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

To start off, the cover of this book is GORGEOUS!

“When invited over to a tea party, the only acceptable behavior is to eat every last crumb and drop. Then, even if it turns you big or small, don’t forget to say thank you with a tip of the hat. – Hatter’s Mad Manners” Since this book included a Mad Hatter/Alice in Wonderland reference, I have to start with it because I love it!

This book is a mashup of all of the familiar fairy tales we all know and love, but focuses mainly on The Wizard of Oz.  Some of the characters that are mentioned are Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, and other similar characters. But the author focuses on one girl named Dorthea, who is the princess of her kingdom.

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Undertow by Michael Buckley – Book Review

Undertow by Michael Buckley – Book Review

Mad Tea Party Book Reviews

Undertow 

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Author: Michael Buckley

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Pages: Goodreads says 384 pages, but the PDF that I received was 241.

Genre(s): Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Dystopia, Alien, Urban Fantasy

Publication Date: May 5, 2015

Review: This book was a really pleasant surprise. It was really good. I enjoyed it thoroughly from cover to cover.

The main character is a teenager named Lyric Walker (such an amazing name). She is a strong and independent heroine that is so refreshing to see and read. She was amazingly realistic and made decisions that were grounded in the reality that she lived in. Her moral compass was inspiring and a reader could only find themselves rooting for her throughout the whole book. She is a multi-layered character, with reasons behind all of her layers.

Another aspect of the characters that I loved was that all…

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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

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Her Last Chance – Danielle Lee Zwissler
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REVIEW ONE

I am not a huge romance comedy reader but I loved the spiritual element to this heart-warming novel, which was far from sanctimonious. Katherine is given a second chance from God to find and be with her soulmate, Warren. However, this time she’s a career woman in New York aspiring for her dream job as advice columnist for The New York Times. Her boss is evil and she has had a crush on a co-worker for eight years.

When she gets a call from her mother to help out and look after her father in Connecticut, after an operation scheduled in ten days time, she reluctantly agrees. Just before she leaves she faces a huge humiliation, but Katherine isn’t the type of character likely to go down without swinging. She faces a week of matchmaking, hiding her real employment circumstances and misleading her family, oh and falling for a guy, but will Katherine choose happiness?

REVIEW TWO

I’m the type of person who dips in and out of romantic novels. We all need a bit of romance. I am intrigued by the cover of this book.  As I read, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story. It starts from a dark place as we follow Katherine as she rebuilds her life and looks for that last chance, life is never what we expect to be and like a mystery novel this has several twists to it.  I won’t say much about where she obtains some of her best advice. It is one of the best written books I have read this year, the author shows a delicious skill and wit in her writing. You can tell that a lot of love and thought has gone into her writing . The main characters interconnection makes the book more than just a romance.

N. Thomas
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

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Jena Baxter – Veiled Memories
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REVIEW ONE

This book is not your normal love or angel story. It is very unusual and very good all at the same time. I love all of the detail that is given about the locations the characters are in. I could picture everything so clearly and feel their emotions so strongly it was like I was standing in the room with them.

The angels in this story are very human in the way that they feel love, regret, shame, and anger that they don’t feel like unearthly, heavenly beings. I felt like I could sympathize with their struggles to battle the fallen and demons that prey on humans.

There are a couple of shocking moments where I was very surprised about what an angel had done because I would never have pictured a heavenly being doing such a thing. Ilan is warrior angel and struggles with obedience and different events that happen in his life. He doesn’t know who his parents are or what happened to them to cause him to be an orphan at a young age. This plays, I think, into his struggles to be obedient to those in charge. Thankfully, he has friends that are there to keep him from ruining everything and falling from heaven.

He is given the assignment of being a guardian to a woman named Lily and her husband, and there is where his biggest problem happens. He falls in love with his charge, but has to give her up. In order to fulfill his duty he wipes her memory of him clean, but still watches over her, loving her without being able to have her. Ilan’s close friend, Eytan, is placed as guardian of Lily’s daughter and helps Ilan cope with being a guardian.

When tragedy strikes, he and his friend go above and beyond what is necessary to protect as many people as possible. Will he ever be with the women he loves? I’m not sure but it is worth finding out. There isn’t much to complain about when it comes to this book. I think that some people may feel like the angels are too human with all the emotions running through them in this book, but I don’t think that it detracts from the story at all. In all I found it to be well written with good solid characters.

B. Mulder
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

What do you get when you mix fallen angels, guardians and warrior angels with humans? A wonderfully written book that has great morals.

That is exactly what you will find in this book of love and loss, family and friends, and finding out what one is capable of doing when put in compromising circumstances. There were a couple stumbling blocks from an editorial stand point but once you become enthralled with the story itself it’s easy to get past that and see the values this story holds.

This is definitely one to shelve for a rainy day read when you have time to enjoy the complexity of the characters in the story as well as their roles.

Ilan is a warrior angel who fought many centuries along side his best friend and bonded brother, Chayan, until the day he fell. Chayan committed the worst atrocity possible, he took a humans life, though it was done in order to protect the female he was guarding he still has to atone for that sin. This forced Ilan to take on a different perspective and a different role, one he learned to love.

Ilan not only looked after the female that Chayan lost his life for but another as well. He learned a great deal about himself and human behavior in the process. And through him we learn many valuable lessons to ponder.

M. Clark
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

This story is about the difficult time angels have trying to do their work, when the humans they are trying to help won’t listen. Even the ones that can see him expect more from him than is possible for him to do.
Ilan has a bonded brother, Chayan who falls because he killed a human that was hurting a girl he was guarding. Ilan is devastated by the loss of the person who is closer to him than any other being.

Then he has big problems with his next assignment.  His emotions are almost human, his love for the people he looks after intense. He faces punishment for not doing what the Ancient one has ordered. Some of his superiors have their own reasons for the assignments they give him. These will push him to his limit.
I cried a lot reading this. Ilan really is put through the emotional wringer. Our hero is more human than he should be, but he is strong and incredibly brave.  Maybe in the next books poor Chayan will be redeemed. When Ilan finds out whom his father and uncle are he is going to be more angry than any angel should be.
Only the pure at heart can see our hero. So next time a child is talking to an invisible friend,  relax, it’s a guardian angel.

P. Winmill
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW FOUR

Once again, I took on a book with no idea what I was getting into.  The description did state it was a paranormal romance, so I thought I had some idea.  This was nothing like what I expected.   This book goes onto my shelves with a smile, since the plot does not revolve around the romantic element.  Well, not that much around the romantic element.

Well paced, it definitely keeps you on your toes wondering what’s coming next.  A few times things felt just a touch rushed, but this is perfectly forgivable, as the scenes this happened in were scenes of chaos and destruction.  If things aren’t a bit rushed under those circumstances, I’m not sure when they would be.

The world building was minimal, as most of the story occurs right here at home.  Most of the scenes that draw from current reality had enough information to let you know it wasn’t in your own home town, yet left enough unsaid you could envision them occuring just about anywhere in the environment.  Such as the war-torn village, or the big cities.  The one time when a specific city was mentioned, there wasn’t enough detail for me to say “yes, this is it” or “this varies wildly from the actual city”.  Others who may have been there will probably have some more to say on that bit.

The character development was wonderful.  Complex, and fully developed characters definitely set the stage for this story.  There is a lot of introspection with the main characters, as they live through both the hum-drum of their regular lives and the unexpected upheavals of death and broken rules.  For some, the consequences are more dire, for others there is reward at the end.

While this book is part of a series, the story contained within its covers comes to a well rounded conclusion, and does not leave you hanging over the cliff waiting on the next one to arrive.  The only difficulty I had with the book wasn’t with the story, but with the formatting.  I was given a PDF file, and those don’t reflow so well for screen size, so there were places with large gaps in the text, or chapter titles on the wrong page.  Not something that jarred me out of the story, though.  Overall, a nice 4 out of 5 stars.  Once it hits the shelves, I may take a second look at the formatting issues, and if they are corrected in the reader apps, will be giving back the last star.  Well done!

K. Caffee
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW FIVE

TBA

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Juliet Marillier – Cybele’s Secret

Juliet Marillier – Cybele’s Secret

Cybele’s Secret
by Juliet Marillier
Bibliophibian Inc.

Bibliophibian Inc.

Cover of Cybele's Secret by Juliet MarillierCybele’s Secret, Juliet Marillier
Review from 27th January, 2011

To my surprise, I actually enjoyed Cybele’s Secret more than Wildwood Dancing. The main problem I had with Wildwood Dancing was the predictability, and maybe the tortuous way everything went wrong, and so the pacing… For the most part, Cybele’s Secret was better, in that respect. I didn’t figure out the whole plot in the first fifty pages as I did with Wildwood Dancing, so it didn’t drag so much for me — and when it got to the last part, I was hooked, toes curling with excitement, grinning like an idiot: the lot.

My main criticism of Cybele’s Secret is how very, very similar Paula’s tone was to Jena’s. The two sisters are alike, but… Not so alike, I’d thought. I might have been reading the same narrator, though, or so it seemed to me… And the separation of…

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Megan Shepherd – A Cold Legacy

Megan Shepherd – A Cold Legacy

Megan Shepherd – A Cold Legacy
Madman’s Daughter Series
What’s She Reading

What's She Reading?

I just finished reading Megan Shepherd’s A Cold Legacy, the third in her Madman’s Daughter trilogy (expect a review soon). I know that I’ve already posted twice today, but here’s one more. Consider it a teaser of sorts.

“They say a sort of peace falls over you when you know that you’re going to die. I had seen enough people die to know that wasn’t true, and yet as I watched the storm grow closer, I did feel a strange calm. It was a letting go of the determination that had kept me alive this far. It was the acknowledgment to Death that he had won, and I was a fool for thinking I could defeat him. I’d cheated him enough for one lifetime.”

– pg 354

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Robert Galbraith – The Silkworm

Robert Galbraith – The Silkworm

The Silkworm
by Robert Galbraith
The Friendly Bookworm

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star1     star1     star1     star1

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Published: 2014

I’ve read the first bestseller by “Robert Galbraith” aka JK Rowling, The Cuckoo’s Calling and thoroughly enjoyed the read and so I was excited to pick up the next novel in the series. Honestly, based on some of the reviews that I have read, it seems I was fairly lucky not to have the influence of the Harry Potter world creeping into my head as I read both the books, as a lot of people couldn’t seem to adjust.

I do have to give Rowling credit here though, the voice of the The Silkworm’s narrator can’t be compared to that of Harry Potter. She does a very good job in distancing herself from that Harry Potter world, not only in genre and plot but also in her writing style. I did not see any resemblance between the two…

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A.G. Howard – The Moth in the Mirror

A.G. Howard – The Moth in the Mirror

The Moth in the Mirror
by A.G. Howard
Mad Tea Party Book Reviews

Mad Tea Party Book Reviews

The Moth in the Mirror

By: A.G. Howard

18602075

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

This is a novella that is told from Jeb and Morpheus’ POV. It was meant to be a glimpse of what was ahead in Unhinged.

It is only about 40 pages, but they are a wonderful 40 pages. I think I would love anything that included Howard’s character, Morpheus.

This novella was primarily to showcase Morpheus’ inability to understand what Alyssa sees in Jeb and in return, he wants to better understand his rival in order to win Alyssa’s affection.

It also shows what was going through Jeb’s mind when he was separated from Alyssa in Splintered.

Loved this short novella!

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M. Pax – Boomtown Craze

M. Pax – Boomtown Craze

Boomtown Craze
by M. Pax
Originally posted on >Angus48’s Blog

Angus48's Blog

Boomtown Craze

by M. Pax

Boomtown Craze

Craze is the name of a Verkinn barkeep on the almost forgotten planet called Pardeep.  Pardeep has a distinction in that it is directly adjacent to a Lepper, or stargate in space, which you would think could stimulate business.  Well it needs a little help.  The planetlord is a whack-a-mole character named Pauder who is always in full PTSD mode with a bazooka.  Pauder is not sure that he wants Craze dream of successful business to succeed if it will mean more people coming to his world.

The cast from the first 2 books is back:  Meelo the Fo’Wo snitcher, Dactyl the squat ex-lawman, Rainly the sort of android woman and several others.  No less than three subplots are occurring in this addtion to the Backworlds series.  Something that I love in world building is when humans are genetically altered to survive an environment rather…

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Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

Reviews by TJs Virtual Book Tours Reviewers

PC Zick's, Behind the Bar

P.C. Zick – Behind the Bar
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REVIEW ONE

This is a very impressive and well done book. I was really taken back by the story line. Susie and Reggie is a couple who are trying to figure out what they really want. With a lot of twists this makes for a very exiting romance novel. You can tell how much the author really put in everything she has into this book and takes what she does very seriously. The authors’ power of detail makes the book very exciting, she always keeps you wondering and thinking and making connections. The author does a great job of keeping the dialogue between characters interesting and makes the book a page turner. Overall, I would say that this book was well worth my money but more importantly, it was worth my time.

C. Johnson
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

I have read several novels by the author now. Her writing really blows me away with her attention to detail. Her descriptive writing style really brings the novel to life. The reader follows a couple who have been dancing around each other too long about their true feelings and we follow them as they have new temptations come between them, will they realise what is right for both of them. A great read and I look forward to reading the authors other books, the author has a great eye for detail and has a wealth of experience to make you believe in what she writes.

N. Thomas
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW TWO

P.C. Zick’s, Behind the Bar, is a tale of two lovers, Reggie and Susie caught in the miasma of ghosts from the past, the shadow of childhood fears and the unrealized confusion of dissimilar hopes for the future. At the start of the story, both love each other deeply while not yet with heart and soul.

Zick’s skillful blending of tension, untruths and complex relationships has the reader enthralled as each new sub-plot unfolds. High school friends with a dark secret, a woman’s buried memories from an unhappy childhood and the emotional legacy left by parents who were themselves not whole nor healthy as adults, make it clear that Susie’s fairytale dreams were only that – dreams.

When all seems lost and never meant to be, the author brings to a satisfying close, a story of love that is, always was, and should ever be. After all, when you start from the premise that two individuals, hopelessly and irrevocably in love, is the ideal precedent for marriage, the reader hopes to the very last word that it will be so for Reggie and Susie. Find out if Susie and Reggie will also have the fairy tale wedding and life together, when you read, Behind the Bar.

Though I found many aspects of the entwined relationships to be amusing, I also found the background story to many of their problems, hang-ups and attitudes equally fascinating. There’s no bond like old team mates, and there is no bond stronger than that between sisters and best friends. I recommend this book to romance enthusiasts for many reasons. One, the author captures a setting and placement in time that is presented so that it is easily visualized. The second reason I recommend this book is that the various couplings are done with a fine enough brush that the details serve to contrast and complement the varied relationships very well. Though more for any reader than just fans of romance, the qualities which clearly mark this for a romance book are crafted with refinement and care so that any reader can enjoy the reading as I did.

T. Jones
For TJs Virtual Book Tours

REVIEW THREE

Susie is at a wedding. Her boyfriend, Reggie, comes off as being a little self-centered. He continually gets asked a certain question that he doesn’t want to answer. You’ll find that you want to yell at Susie but then you’ll realize that she won’t hear you no matter how loud you’d get.

Our author has created a book that can be a quick read but it can also be frustrating. If you have just a few hours that you want to spend reading a book then you may want to check this one out. But be warned, some of these characters can be very frustrating. You wonder how they got to the point in which we first meet them. One thing that may help is that if you haven’t read Behind the Altar, which is book one, what a great time to catch up on the series.

I found that until I got to around the halfway point, I was easily distracted. But even though I thought Reggie a total jerk, there was just something that caught my attention and I just didn’t want to put the book away. The author also had me feeling that Susie is just too good for him. Which ends up being a great incentive to see what’s in store for her characters – how is she going to finish the trilogy?

A positive about the story is that I had no trouble picturing every scene as it unfolds. A negative was how Reggie treated Susie. But then again there are men out there that do treat women that way and that just adds some realism to the story. Is it a story I would read again? If I wanted the complete trilogy experience then yes I would. If I considered it as a stand-alone would I read again? Probably not.

I just didn’t feel that Reggie and Susie had a connection that loving couples should have. And there were other interesting characters that I would love to read more about. My experience with this book didn’t turn me off from reading more of what this author has to offer. Not every writer has the same writing style and readers have to broaden their horizons and check out authors they’ve never read before. And because the book wasn’t a totally bad experience, I would go back and read book one so that I can get ready for when book three comes out.

L. Reynolds
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REVIEW FOUR

This is awesome book about love and betrayal. Susie has been with her boyfriend Reggie for 5 years. When they attend their friends wedding Dean and Leah. Everyone is asking when Reggie will ask Susie to marry him. Reggie love Susie but he can not see himself as a married man, after what his father did to his mother. Reggie decides that him and Susie must take a break from each other. Susie is really hurt, Susie see Sally Jane hanging around Reggie more and more. When Susie learns that Sally Jane has gotten Reggie to agreed to book a band at the Tavern,the pain is to much for her. Sam ask Susie out when he learns that Reggie has broke it off with her. Their first date does not turn out well. Trevor comes to town and tell Reggie that he their to collect the money owe to him, little does he know that the FBI is going to arrest him.Susie heads to New York to see her sister Lisa and get away from everything, she learns that she is pregnant. Susie also wants to know what truly happen to her father, Lisa tells her all see knows and say that she needs to ask Reggie, Dean and Sam.

When Susie arrives back in town, she goes to Reggie to find out the truth. Can Susie overcome all the betrayal she experiences from Reggie and still have love for him?

OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE BOOK: This book is a love and betrayal triangle story. The ending is surprising. This is a must read of a totally love story and romance.

V. Lee
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REVIEW FIVE

I did not read the previous book in this series, so that may be why I didn’t feel much of a connection with the characters. It has a good story line, and the character building was great. However, I didn’t feel like there was a lot of spark between the main couple. I didn’t feel like there was much passion except when they were fighting. It is more of a sweet story, then a romance. Like a movie on the Lifetime network, it leaves you warm and fuzzy from the great ending. Suzie and Reggie have come to a crossroad in their relationship. Suzie wants more than Reggie is willing to give. After Reggie suggests they take a break from each other, there is a major fight and they split up. A former crush comes back to town, and tries to tempt Suzie away from Reggie. At the same time an old friend tries to become more than friends with Reggie. During their split, secrets start to come out in the light of day in their personal and professional lives. One of these secrets ends up getting Suzie mugged at gun point. This leads to Suzie questioning a lot of things about the past. Suzie goes to her sister for answers, and ends up with more questions about their family past. Reggie is tormented about his family past as well. In the end both Suzie and Reggie have to decide if they can put the past to rest and be together, or go their separate ways. I really liked the characters in this book. They fight, argue, and forgive. There is a lot of love; I just didn’t feel much passion. It is like the main lovers were in a rut just going about their everyday lives till there was too much frustration for it to continue to be the same old thing. I liked the storyline, but it didn’t suck me in. For me it was not a book that I just had to stay up all night to read because I couldn’t stand to put it down, but I still really enjoyed it.

B. Mulder
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REVIEW SIX

With this book, I loved the characters.

The author brought me into the story with the emotional roller coaster of life.

With the ups and downs of a relationship being told of, the main couple lived together, worked with each other,loved each other. He had problems with marriage due to his parents marriage. She had problems with trust also due to her father.

Most of the story is in a small town setting where the main characters lived,loved and grew up together. Friends became enemies, lovers did not trust each other due to the insecurities of their own. They learned that there is more to their past than what is remembered. She blocked what happened the night her father left and her mother was taken to the hospital. Her mother came home and beat her mother so badly that she lost a baby. This later left her mother depressed and no will to live.

The father , she thought left, was killed when he walked out in front of 2 of the towns fab four high schools football heros. These 2 later turned to financial geniuses, who were into gambling and loan sharking.

This story has many twists and turns, most make sense, a few are harder to understand until you get further along into the story. It keeps you turning the pages with these twists in the story.

The plot of this chapter in the series revolves around one couple, her sister and her ex, the previous story in the series main characters, getting married. This is what leads the male to believe he should not get married because of what his father told him as he was leaving his mother. “I only married your mother, because she was pregnant” the trapt man belief that he did not want to end up in.

P. Smith
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