[Audiobook Review + Giveaway] Blown Circuit‏ by Lars Guignard

Lethal Circuit (Circuit Series #2) by Lars Guignard and narrated by Russell Jonas
Genre: 16+ Spy/Techno Thriller
Available Audio from Audible.com 

About the Book:

Michael Chase is back.WARNING: Blown Circuit, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the #1 spy thriller, Lethal Circuit, is here. If you don’t like turbo-charged action adventure, then you’d better find some place to hide.

But now he has enemies. Deadly enemies.
Good thing Michael is in no mood to play nice.

Michael survived China. Barely. But now he’s got bigger problems. A pair of coordinates broadcast on an obscure frequency have brought Michael to Istanbul, Turkey where credible chatter has emerged that a terrorist group plans to use a devastating device to hold the world hostage.

Designed by Nikola Tesla, arguably the greatest inventor of the Twentieth Century, the device is experimental, it is capable, and it has been missing for almost sixty years.

If Michael is to prevent a catastrophe, he’ll need to get to the device before the Conspiracy or risk upsetting the global balance of power forever. Of course, finding the Tesla Device is one thing, knowing whom he can trust with it is another matter entirely.

To survive, he’ll have to do both. If he doesn’t, what started as a bad day is about to become a disaster.

Can Michael fight his way through the lies and deception to save the world?

If you can’t get enough of the action of Lee Child and Vince Flynn, the intrigue of Robert Ludlum, and the adventure of Clive Cussler and James Rollins, you are going to LOVE Blown Circuit!

 Book can be found at:

 Audible |  iTunes | Amazon  | GoodReads

After receiving coordinates from his father, Michael goes to Istanbul to check it out and see if he can find his father and free him from whoever has kidnapped him. But it's not as simple as it seems and he finds himself in the middle of a situation where he has to help terrorists to find Tesla device that could destroy millions of people. The only problem is who Michael can actually trust and who is there only for the money.

Wow. Lars definitely did it again! I absolutely loved the first book in Michael Chase series but find Blown Circuit to be his best work yet. With amazing writing, he brings to life more adventures and dangerous situations where Michael can find himself out of with his incredible mind. Every situation is so descriptive, the reader finds himself caught in the middle of it, not being able to put this book down. 

Audiobook Notes: Amazing performance by Russell Jonas! I could not have picked a more perfect narrator for Michael Chase story and definitely think that he brings a lot to the table with his voice. Sometimes narrators tend to overlook the action part of the story and forget that their speed needs to match the story and Jonas definitely knows exactly when to do that. Amazing!

About the Author:

Lars Guignard is a former film and television writer and a graduate of both McGill University and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. His debut thriller novel, Lethal Circuit, has been
an amazon top 100 Technothriller since its release.
Guignard has wanted to write Indian stories for kids ever since he attended a boarding school in the majestic Himalayas. The time he spent in the “school above the clouds” affected him
profoundly, and once he returned home to North America he was struck by the lack of children’s stories from India available in our culture. Since India is such an incredible country, he decided
to write a series of action adventure books for young adults about India to introduce young readers to this magical, mystical land. So if you’re looking for a great book adventure for kids, try Ghost Leopard today!

Author Sites:
Website | Twitter | Facebook 

About the Narrator:

Russell Jonas is thrilled to make his audiobook narrator debut with “Blown Circuit.”  Russell has worked in commercial voice over and television since 1999 and has appeared in forty stage plays in New York City and in 46 states, including the Tony Award-winning Shakespeare Theatre Company. Russell teaches The Art of Acting at Southern Methodist University.

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[Book Review] Dark Luminance by E.M. McDowell

Dark Luminance
by E.M. McDowell 

Quantum energy. Unlimited power. Humanity’s salvation. The Frameway Project promises all of this and more, and Mackland Luther is guiding the project to its final culmination. 

On the eve of what promises to be their biggest breakthrough, Mackland and his friends, Billy and Sean, prepare the test that will provide the almost limitless power needed to take the human race into the future. Initial success and excitement quickly turn to horror as the Frame goes out of control, ripping Mackland and his friends from their world and depositing them in a world that is completely different yet strangely familiar. Along with Lily, a hard-charging security guard that was caught by the Frame along with them; and Grizzly, a rough yet gentle survivalist they meet in this new world, Mack and his friends must figure out some way to understand and undo whatever brought them here if they ever want to return to their own world. 

But first they must survive an increasingly dangerous world full of undead drug addicts, giant mutants, and a relentless telepathic madman who will do anything to get his hands on the Frame for his own purposes.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Dark Luminance is an incredible story that is a mix in between of Doctor Who and The Walking Dead. With main characters being thrown into a parallel universe filled with zombies, it is action-packed and very fast-paced that keeps the reader on his toes. 

From the very beginning, I didn't really know what to expect from his author. With all of the scientific talk, it seemed like the author got a little carried away with all of the information. When starting a book, I like to ease into it, to make sure that I can get into the plot without being too overwhelmed. But after few chapters, I realized why the author did the beginning like this. With parallel universe, it was important to understand the background of what happened. I would have liked to see a smoother transaction. 

Main characters were well developed and with a fast plot, it was great to see how the description of these events planned out. The world-building itself was great and the zombies, or Psidead, was a refreshing read from all of the other, "regular" zombies. With a couple things that I could not have looked over, this is a pretty entertaining story that alot of zombie-lovers can find great.

[Book Review] The Summer I Wasn't Me ‏by Jessica Verdi

The Summer I Wasn't Me
by Jessica Verdi 

Lexi would do anything to keep her broken family together. Even if it means denying who she really is.

You are on the road to truth. Help is on the way. 

The road signs leading to New Horizons summer camp promise a new life for seventeen-year-old Lexi. Ever since her mom found out she was in love with a girl, her broken family has been pulled even further apart. But Lexi swears she can change. 

Denying her feelings is harder than she thinks. And when she falls heads over heels for one of her fellow campers, Lexi will have to risk her mother's approval for the one person who might love her no matter what.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

The Summer I Wasn’t Me was disturbing, horrifying, fun, sweet, and kind of sad. It definitely played out differently than I thought it would. Every since her mom found out, Lexi knew that she had to do something. So she went to camp that was considered as "degayifying camp. Ever since her father died, she is afraid that her mom would be able to hand much more and will completely break. She is willing to go through the camp and change just to make her mother happy. Then she meets Carolyn.

New Horizons, the camp which promises to pray the gay away, is really really horrible. I have never known what exactly went on in those camps but it was really sad. Personally, I'm okay with gay community and glad they find happiness but the people that run those camps put me in shame. 

The Summer I Wasn’t Me really showed me that there are people that hope they can be normal and not feel like they are freaks. It's sad because teenagers should not go through that and just be happy and start off their life the right way. The writing and the characters were terrific, I loved it!

[Book Blitz Giveaway & Review] Face Time by S.J. Pajonas

Face Time 
by S.J. Pajonas

After the best first date ever, Lee thought Laura was funny, intelligent, and impulsive; a whirlwind of bright laughter and happiness. Laura loved Lee's sweet smile and the way he expertly filled in every awkward pause. He held her hand and then pulled her in for the most perfect kiss she’s had in years. What could possibly be wrong? Just the 7000 miles that separates them the next day.

Even though Lee has gone home to Seoul, Laura can't stop thinking about him. What starts as an innocent text thanking him for their dinner date becomes something much more: someone either of them can't live without. But Laura's got a live-in mother going through a midlife crisis, and Lee's stressful traveling schedule means they'll be apart for some time. Life, family, and a complicated past also get in the way, and they're both going to need actual face time to figure it out.

Told from both Lee and Laura’s point of view, FACE TIME is a funny, romantic, modern-day story about two people who connect across the world.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Face Time was a very fast and enjoyable read and it was really cute! It has pretty much everything - family, work stress, past relationships, and trying to learn to be in relationship with someone who's thousands of miles away. 

Story begins when Laura goes to her regular bar and gets stood up by her coworkers. Again. But her night brightens up when she meets Lee. He travels for work and not her type but she is very attracted to him and after one date, cannot stop thinking about him. Lee is also very interested in Laura and after his previous relationship, he wants to be with somebody that can make him happy and Laura is just the girl. The only problem is that she lives in New York and he's in Seoul and the only way to have some sort of relationship is text and FaceTime.

I loved the idea of reading about a digital relationship and how it would work. It was really cute and I could connect with all the characters. The only issue that I had was that the conversations weren't that significant and I would have rather read about some of the complications in the relationships then the every-day talk but it was still a cute read and I enjoyed it.

About the Author:

S. J. Pajonas loves all things Asian and has been in love with Japan and the East for as long as she can remember. Writing about Asia and Japan came naturally after studying the culture and language for over fifteen years. She studied film and screenwriting first and eventually segued into fiction once she was no longer working a full-time job.

Face Time is the first novel in the Love in the Digital Age series, and Pajonas’s first foray into Korean culture and families. Along with Removed and Released in the Nogiku Series, she continues to take the cultures of Asia and weave them into stories that appeal to people from around the world. Her writing is described as unique and unpredictable. Expect the unexpected.

Stephanie lives with her husband and two children just outside of New York City. She loves reading, writing, film, J- and K-dramas, knitting, and astrology. Her favorite author is Haruki Murakami and favorite book is The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.

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[$50 Book Blitz Giveaway] Life in Palace by Catherine Green

Life in the Palace by Catherine Green

“We need to talk,” Tal said. Then I knew it was going to go badly. ‘We need to talk’ is the conversational equivalent of walking into your basement without turning on the light, on a dark and stormy night, when a known psychopath is on the loose. You might as well cut to the chase and slit your own throat.

Chloe Diaz assumed three things: that when Tal said that she was one of The People sent from heaven to maintain the cosmic balance, it was code for ‘I’m a pamphlet distributing, incense burning, religious weirdo;’ that the gorgeous Seth Wilks would never be her soul mate and that she’d never have to choose between them. Chloe was wrong.

Now the future of the world is in her hands, but what if price is too great to pay?

Download a FREE copy now!

 Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Chloe on Facebook * Seth on Facebook

This is a brief description of the plot:

After a lifetime in the shadow of her sister, Chloe is severely phobic of the chronically cool. Seth is everything she avoids; a pre-med philosophy major who works in a bar, plays in a band and is so good looking that grown women stare at him in the street. But it’s hard to say no to your soul mate. Thinking she’s maxed out her supply of destiny, Chloe settles down to enjoy the happily-ever-after.

Tal says that she’s one of The People sent from heaven to maintain the cosmic balance. Chloe assumes this is code for ‘I’m a pamphlet distributing, incense burning, religious weirdo.’ Actually Tal’s main extracurricular activity is fighting the forces of Oblivion. The People never need to hide what they are because no one ever believes them. Until Chloe does.

Chloe sets out to help Tal and The People as much as she can as an outsider. Seth says as long as no one wears their underpants on the outside Chloe can do what she likes. What he doesn’t say is that he’s also one of The People, although non-practicing. But as the Final Battle draws nearer, Chloe realizes it’s time for Seth to go collect his regulation sword. The only thing standing in his way is her. Seth says he’ll give up his place in heaven to stay with her. Chloe must choose between Seth’s soul and her own happiness.

Praise for Life in the Palace

An interesting take on the paranormal romance genre. …..While other books in the genre have unrealistic buy in to the acceptance of someone from the outside entering a “new world” Life in the Palace handled it from both the main character looking in and the dwellers of the Palace looking out at this person trying to enter their world. …….I am so happy to hear that there are more books in the series! – Yonit on Goodreads

I loved this world that Catherine Green created. I happily lost myself in the life & deep love between Chloe & Seth …..I loved the attention to detail, the fleshing out of the world around them, the obvious growth of all the characters… Even the heartbreaking choices made at the end.
Book two I cannot wait to read! – Ebon Darkmyth on Smashwords

Loved it, great story line, fun characters and after reading it and thinking deeply about the duality of our lives, it made my prayers come alive! – Rebecca Wittenstein on Amazon.com

This book introduces you to a whole host of characters that you want to meet in real life. ….The action keeps you reading, while the budding love between Seth and Chloe makes you breathless. A great read. – Cypora Cohen on Amazon.co.uk

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Author Catherine Green

Catherine Green writes fantasy books featuring religious characters in a brazen attempt to make the people in faith communities seem less weird. She lives with her husband, children and three marginally neglected goldfish. When she’s not writing, or pretending to be one of her characters on Facebook, she has been known to cook dinner.

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[Book Review] The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner 
by James Dashner

"If you ain't scared, you ain't human." 

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers--boys whose memories are also gone.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It's the only way out--and no one's ever made it through alive.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

The Maze Runner is an incredible Dystopia book that takes us to a Maze where boys of different race and age have been taken to survive and figure out the Maze. 

Story begins when Thomas wakes up in a box that gets him to a field full of boys. Not knowing who he is, where he came from, or what has happened, he feels like this is familiar and he already went through it. Finding out that he in a Glade - place where the boys work and live, has shaken him up but he wants to know more and be a Maze Runner. Maze Runners are the ones that go out into the maze every single day and draw the maps that might help them escape from their nightmare. 

Wow. I'm not really sure what category this book goes into but Science Fiction/Dystopia is one of them. There needs to be a special genre for novels like Maze Runner, Fire & Flood, and Hunger Games. The Maze Runner offers a complex and detailed world building as well as making us wonder until the last minute what the story behind it is. I saw glimpses of the twists that were coming up but never expected what actually happened. Definitely recommend this to all ages.

[Book Review] Blood Always Tells by Hilary Davidson

Blood Always Tells
by Hilary Davidson

Dominique Monaghan just wanted to get even with her two-timing, married boyfriend, a washed-up boxer stuck in a toxic marriage to a dangerously spoiled socialite. However, an elaborate blackmail scheme soon lands her in the middle of an unexpected kidnapping... and attempted murder. But who is actually out to kill whom?

Desmond Edgars, Dominique’s big brother, has looked out for his wayward sister ever since their mother was convicted of murdering many years ago, so when he receives a frantic phone call from Dominique in the middle of the night, he drops everything to rush to the rescue. But to find out what has really happened to his sister, the stoic ex-military man must navigate a tangled web of murder and deception, involving a family fortune, a couple of shifty lawyers, and a missing child, while wrestling with his own bloody secrets...

Hilary Davidson's Blood Always Tells is a twisted tale of love, crime, and family gone wrong, by the multiple award–winning author of The Damage Done and Evil in All Its Disguises.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Blood Always Tells was an incredible story about what means to lose a family and stick to them even after they are gone. It had everything. Amazing plot, great characters, and non stop action with twists that noone could have predicted. 

Story starts off when Dominique puts together a plan to set up her ex-boyfriend Gary to tell her the truth about his wife. Spending a weekend together should give her enough time to put her plan in action but when a guy in the mask kidnaps them and takes them to the middle of nowhere, Dominique has to find a way out. 

Desmond gets a phone call from his sister Dominique that she's in trouble. Ever since he turned his life around, he would do anything for his sister to ensure that she is safe and sound. But finding out the murderer can get him into a lot of trouble with the law and the bad guys and the only way to decide who is the real killer is to follow the leads.

You know you read a good mystery book when you almost cry when it ends. It's so hard to find a good one too because you usually know who did it and don't even want to continue with the story. But Hilary Davidson definitely has an amazing talent for keeping the reader in the dark. I can't believe these twists actually got me, which is hard to do, and I enjoyed every single page. 

Definitely recommend to anyone who's been looking for a good mystery book or looking to change up the genres!