Book Review: THE OPPOSITE OF EVERYONE by Joshilyn Jackson

Title: The Opposite Of Everyone
Author:  Joshilyn Jackson
Category/Genre: Contemporary Adult
My Star Rating: 4/5



Goodreads Blurb:

Born in Alabama, Paula Vauss spent the first decade of her life on the road with her free-spirited young mother, Kai, an itinerant storyteller who blended Hindu mythology with Southern Oral Tradition to re-invent their history as they roved. But everything, including Paula’s birthname Kali Jai, changed when she told a story of her own—one that landed Kai in prison and Paula in foster care. Separated, each holding her own secrets, the intense bond they once shared was fractured.

These days, Paula has reincarnated herself as a tough-as-nails divorce attorney with a successful practice in Atlanta. While she hasn’t seen Kai in fifteen years, she’s still making payments on that Karmic debt—until the day her last check is returned in the mail, along with a cryptic letter. “I am going on a journey, Kali. I am going back to my beginning; death is not the end. You will be the end. We will meet again, and there will be new stories. You know how Karma works.”

Then Kai’s most treasured secret literally lands on Paula’s doorstep, throwing her life into chaos and transforming her from only child to older sister. Desperate to find her mother before it’s too late, Paula sets off on a journey of discovery that will take her back to the past and into the deepest recesses of her heart. With the help of her ex-lover Birdwine, an intrepid and emotionally volatile private eye who still carries a torch for her, this brilliant woman, an expert at wrecking families, now has to figure out how to put one back together—her own.

The Opposite of Everyone is a story about story itself, how the tales we tell connect us, break us, and define us, and how the endings and beginnings we choose can destroy us . . . and make us whole. Laced with sharp humor and poignant insight, it is beloved New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson at her very best.

My Review: 

**I received a complimentary advance reader's copy in exchange for a honest review**

Holy heart-wrenching, suspenseful mess!  This book was an emotional roller coaster, filled with self-destruction and masochism to the nth degree.  And I loved every minute of it!

Generally, I don't enjoy contemporary novels.  I crave fantasy and supernatural, something that takes me from the angst of everyday life and tosses me in the middle of a stranger's world.  Or hey, at least a little spice.  Maybe this one clicked with me because it had so much Hindu mythology laced in the story-line, allowing me to face how uncomfortably familiar Paula's character and world were to my own.

I loved the character growth and the complexity of dysfunction present, but what struck me the most here was the writing itself.  I have never read anything from Joshilyn Jackson before; I was not prepared for the purity in her words.  Somehow, Ms. Jackson is able to make an anxiety attack sound poetic and abandonment read like a lyrical masterpiece.  She is by far one of the most talented writers I've found.

My one and only complaint is how long it took me to warm up to Paula.  She was a balls to the wall badass, and even though we're given a fishbowl view into her childhood to better understand why, it wasn't until about half way through the book that I actually liked her.  I was more invested in the story than the main character for the better part of the read.

Cover Reveal: DESTROY ME by Shana Vanterpool

Destroy Me
Shana Vanterpool
(Crystal Gulf, #1)
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: March 8th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

DESTROY ME is book one in the New Adult romance Crystal Gulf Series.
Bach lives his life with honesty and without restraints, happy to be known as a sexy as all hell, unapologetic asshole.
When he drinks, he drinks hard.
When he wants a woman, he makes sure she knows it.
When he opens his mouth, it’s either to piss someone off or to turn someone on.
You can normally find him with one hand on a bottle and one hand on a woman, trying to forget his past.
Harley Evans is ta wenty-one-year-old year old college student. She’s a good girl who fell hard for Dylan, who’d promised her forever. But Dylan, Bach’s best buddy, lied.
He enlisted in the Army, crushing Harley with equal parts anger and sadness. She’d already lost her father to that choice. Heartbroken, she falls back into depression.
Stuck in Crystal Gulf all summer with little to do, Harley needs a distraction. Enter Bach, sexy as f*#ck distraction, ready and willing.
Dylan’s not all bad though. Before he left, he asked Bach to watch out for Harley, knowing she’d never go for a guy like Bach. She’s too good for him. Too good for anyone.
But Dylan was wrong. He never should have left them together. Bach is there to pick up the pieces Dylan left behind. Soon pieces aren’t enough. He wants more, needs more Harley.
DESTROY ME is dark, sexy, heartbreaking, and intoxicating.

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Author Bio:
When I walk into a book store I feel at home. When I smell the pages of a brand new book things make sense. When I read I am who I always wanted to be. I read to escape and I write so others can as well. My family, my actress dog Bella, coffee, and a steamy love story are a few of my most precious things. My Sweet Demise is my debut new-adult contemporary romance novel.

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Cover Reveal: EYES LIKE LIGHTHOUSES WHEN THE BOATS COME HOME by Dane Cobain

Eyes Like Lighthouses is Dane Cobain’s first book of poetry, distilled from the sweat of a thousand memorised performances in this reality and others. It’s not for the faint-hearted. 

“I’ve never seen anyone do a stream of consciousness piece as talented as that. Very impressed.” – Mark Allard-Will, author of Saskatch-A-Man and co-founder of Cuckoo’s Nest Press 

“Dane’s poetry is a multi-layered spiral of the macabre, quirky humour and disjointed imagery. Not only does he make you think, he captures the small forgotten moments of everyday life.” – Nikki Dudley, co-editor of Streetcake Magazine 

“…[Dane] combines concrete detail with socioeconomic concerns.” – Lorna Wood, associate editor of Gemini Magazine

Release Blitz: WOLF'S TEMPTATION by Ambrielle Kirk & Amber Ella Monroe

Paranormal Romance

Date Published: January 23, 2016

In Wolf’s Temptation, Dawson Caedmon gets more than he bargains for when he agrees to help Alessia—a witch in peril—uncover a mystery surrounding her heritage. Their findings reek of danger, but Dawson will do anything in his power to keep Alessia from harm. His temptation may cost him his life. But is she or isn’t she truly his mate? Courting a witch and a perceived enemy could threaten the peace within the Pack. Is learning the truth worth the risks?

About the Author

National Bestselling author Ambrielle Kirk writes multicultural erotic romance. Her alter ego, Amber Ella Monroe, writes paranormal and fantasy stories with romantic elements. As a bestselling author in several sub-genres, she's 2012 Swirl Award winner and 2014 Romance of Novel Excellence (RONE) Award nominee in the paranormal categories. She's a PAN member of RWA, FF&P RWA, and co-founder and treasurer of CIM RWA.

She loves weaving tales where undying love is the main element. When she's not writing, she's plotting. When she's not writing or plotting, she's reading. Her reading and writing tastes varies between anything from alpha bad boys and billionaires to vampires and shifters. She's a thirty-something year old wife, mother, book hoarder, 90s music fan, earl grey tea drinker, dark roast coffee fiend, platform and stiletto shoe collector, Keurig lover, and martial arts/action movie fanatic.

Visit her on the web at booksbyambrielle.com or amberellabooks.com.

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Book Review: MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza

Title: Mila 2.0
Author: Debra Driza
Category/Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi
My Star Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Blurb:

 Mila 2.0 is the first book in an electrifying sci-fi thriller series about a teenage girl who discovers that she is an experiment in artificial intelligence.

Mila was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was a girl living with her mother in a small Minnesota town. She was supposed to forget her past—that she was built in a secret computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology. However, what Mila’s becoming is beyond anyone’s imagination, including her own, and it just might save her life.

Mila 2.0 is Debra Driza’s bold debut and the first book in a Bourne Identity-style trilogy that combines heart-pounding action with a riveting exploration of what it really means to be human. Fans of I Am Number Four will love Mila for who she is and what she longs to be—and a cliffhanger ending will leave them breathlessly awaiting the sequel.

My Review:

Thanks to Debra Driza, I learned something about myself I would've never suspected: Turns out, I LOVE androids!  Okay, maybe I'm not a hardcore sci-fi robots and mayhem fanatic, but when the android is a 16 year old girl who thinks she's human...count me in! 

I found this book in, of all places, the dollar tree.  That gorgeous cover snagged me, and before I knew it, Mila 2.0 bypassed my entire to-be-read pile.  That's a big pile, guys. 

Mila started her connection with me on page one, and it was all over from there.  Her character was deep and incredibly well developed, as were her relationships with those around her (well, except with Hunter, but I'll get into that later).  Her emotions, her perceptions...I felt them all like they were my own.  I mean, think about this:  Debra brought an android to life better than so many authors manage to do for a HUMAN character.  Talent, folks.  The action was incredible (holy fight scenes!).  I even had to stop reading at some parts just to let me adrenaline catch up.  I think the ending spot for this particular book was justified; yes, CLIFFHANGER alert!  But!  The spot marks the end to that part of Mila's life.  Everything else is a new story (which, I might add, has already been ordered from Amazon).

Now, about Hunter.  I don't buy into instant love in books, and that's exactly what this was.  She shares one date with the guy and suddenly she's willing to jeopardize her life AND her mothers to sneak a call to him?  Nahh.  Yeah, she's a teenager, but that doesn't make her stupid.  Also, I kind of felt like the book could've been about 100 pages shorter.  There was a lot of repetition, a lot of saying the same thing a dozen different ways. 

Still, I'm telling you, BUY THIS BOOK.    

Release Day Blitz: AMERICAN LAW by Camille Taylor

AMERICAN LAW by Camille Taylor

Series: Law Series Book #2

- SYNOPSIS -

An enemy of the state, Dmitry Ivanov has nowhere to turn…

A gifted hacker no online firewall can keep out, Dmitry has an affinity for anything with a computer chip. On a business trip to the U.S. he unwittingly becomes entangled in a conspiracy that puts both America and himself in grave danger. Now being hunted by the U.S. Government, Dmitry turns to the one man he can trust—CIA Agent Lucas Gates.

Elena Ivanova puts family before love…

Terrified for her brother Dmitry, Elena takes the first flight out of Moscow to the U.S., unsure of what she’ll find. For the past eighteen months she’s struggled to come to terms with Lucas suddenly distancing himself—especially after falling for him during their ‘Russian Incident.’ But after her husband’s death, was investing her heart in another man really the best move to begin with? Men hardly kept promises. It was anyone’s guess if Lucas would be different.

There’s always an exception to the rule…

Lucas can’t turn down Dmitry’s plea for help. Already caught up in Dmitry’s predicament, there’s also the fact he’s Elena’s brother, and Lucas will do anything for her—even if that means putting his career on the line. But when they come face to face, the connection is deeper than ever, and with danger at every turn, the stakes are that much higher.

The race against time is on to discover who is behind the plot to frame Elena’s brother, and why—before Dmitry is arrested and charged with treason.

- PURCHASE -

Amazon Kindle US: http://amzn.to/1JG3Qbp

Amazon Kindle AU: http://bit.ly/1l15WXF

Amazon Paperback US: http://amzn.to/1W0O24V

::: THE LAW SERIES :::

Book 1: RUSSIAN LAW - http://amzn.to/1TQqz55

- ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
Camille Taylor is an Australian author who resides in the Nation’s Capital with her small dog. She was the typical 90’s kid and was raised on Goosebumps, Roald Dahl and Paul Jennings. In her teens she began reading the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie and in later years found Christine Feehan, Janet Evanovich and Julie Garwood.

She started writing at sixteen and enjoys spending time with her family, doting on her nieces and nephews, writing the many stories floating about her head and working on her genealogy where she can trace her heritage to England, Scotland, Ireland and Russia.

Her other interests include, anything creative – such as scrapbooking and drawing and has travelled across Western Europe, New Zealand and the UAE, after spending a year living in London. She’s also dabbled in tae kwon do.

Limitless Publishing: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/camille-taylor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CamilleTaylorAuthor

Twitter:https://twitter.com/CamilleTaylorAu

Website: https://camilletaylorbooks.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7791241.Camille_Taylor

Book Review: ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW by Jordan Elizabeth

Title: Escape From Witchwood Hollow
Author: Jordan Elizabeth
Category/Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
 My Star Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads Blurb:
Everyone in Arnn - a small farming town with more legends than residents - knows the story of Witchwood Hollow: if you venture into the whispering forest, the witch will trap your soul among the shadowed trees.

After losing her parents in a horrific terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, fifteen-year-old Honoria and her older brother escape New York City to Arnn. In the lure of that perpetual darkness, Honoria finds hope, when she should be afraid.

Perhaps the witch can reunite her with her lost parents. Awakening the witch, however, brings more than salvation from mourning, for Honoria discovers a past of missing children and broken promises.

To save the citizens of Arnn from becoming the witch’s next victims, she must find the truth behind the woman’s madness.

How deep into Witchwood Hollow does Honoria dare venture?
  

My Review:

*I received a complimentary copy of this story in exchange for a honest review*
 
It took me longer than I thought it would to write this review because I really had to absorb this story after the shocking ending.  It would be unfair, though, to judge the whole book based on the last few pages alone, so here we go:

This was such an interesting story!  I loved how the same basic legend was told from the perspective of three different women from three different time periods.  At first, this was very confusing to me and I often lost track of which character's story was being told when.  This kept me from really enjoying the story since I kept having to pull out and think to myself, "Wait, which one is she again?"  But, I quickly got used to the 'time-hopping' and once I got to know the characters it flowed nicely.  Very well written, and characterization was on point.  But...Jordan...That ending, though?! Why would you do that to me??