#409 ~ Alexandria

Alexandria by John Kaden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars





Centuries after the collapse of the civilised world as we know it, a peaceable forest tribe are murdered, their children and stolen and taken to what on the face of it could be a Utopian Society at the Nezran Temple.

However, all is not as it seems and their new world is built on lies, megalomania and tyranny, and is very much Dystopian.

The main protagonists, Jack and Lia, were childhood sweethearts, and many years later they manage to escape following a small raid by others. On the so called attackers gives them assistance to escape, put is horrendously tortured to find out where Jack and Lia have gone.

On the run from the young adults not only have to navigate their way through an alien and hostile environment, but have to follow the vague directions given to find the answer to all their questions. All of which has to be done whilst avoiding vicious foes and the Nezran Scouts out to kill them.

It was wonderfully paced, with nice twists, turns and glimpses of kindness and humanitarianism.

There was a downside though, and that was the cliff-hanging ending. I've just checked John Kaden's blog on GoodReads, and he announced in September 2013 that there will be a sequel eventually, so fingers crossed it won't take too long - this could definitely turn into a saga of epic proportions.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading of their travails, awarding 4 Stars. If I'd had the ability to give half star ratings, there is not doubt it would have been 4.5. Why not 5? Well, there were a few errors/bug bears that kept it off the top spot - please see the fuller Blog Post #409 in January 2014.

Can I just say that the cover artwork was stunning, and really says so much about the world that Jack and Lia inhabit. Kudos to the author for choosing it.


Product Details:

I featured this as a DSOA back in April 2013 - yes, I am that far behind with my WTR list!

You can download a copy HERE.

Listed price for the Kindle file is currently £2.56 - excellent value for money, and the paperback is £8.85.

444 pages
Indie Published by John Kaden the Author
Genre:  Fiction, Futuristic, Fantasy
No overt sexual content


Errors/Bug Bears:

Loc 1548:  The caravan curves around back of the Temple ...

This is a bug bear:  The caravan curved around behind the back of the Temple ... 

Loc 1878:  In the high cloistered dormitory, a group of new boys crowds around the thin windows.

It would have been better to use crowded around.

Loc 2140:  You used laughed at me all the time.

Correct to:  You used to laugh at me all the time.

Loc 2993:  A family of deer traipses through the grass....

It would have been better to used traipsed.

Loc 3486:  ...feeling a pang of desire to go be with them.

It's a difference between North American and Queen's English, it should really be:  ...feeling a pang of desire to be with them.

Loc 4638:  ...and asked us to come find you.

Again, the difference between North American and Queen's English, it should be:  ...and asked us to find you.

Happy reading.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Fire on the Island

(The Vigilati Series)

JK Hogan

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Romance > Fantasy > Futuristic > Ghost

Indie Writer (Self-published)

*Introducing a New Author to the Blog*

I am taking a bit of a chance on this one today, it has 5 stars .... but only 1 review ..... and I'm never certain if that is a fix up (obviously if it isn't I apologise).  What the heck it's an interesting synopsis:

“She who wields the mark is the barrier between man and monster. She is the daughter of gods, the mother of man, protector of all. Vigilati Usque Ad Mortem”

All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother’s insanity and the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla learns that she alone can end it.

Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He doesn’t expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will turn his world upside down.

Together with a facetious shapeshifting animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when the veil between the worlds is lifted. As the war for their souls wages around them, Isla and Jeremiah will risk it all for love—a love neither had ever thought possible.

It has North American spelling (sorry about that), but what the heck I'm giving it a go and adding it to my WTR pile (Want to Read) - which is always the best thing to do with the freebies, as it's never certain they hang around, so at least this way I secure it for naught.  I digress, click HERE to get your copy.

I am so desperately far behind with my reading, and by default reviewing ... still working away at March, with a book case of books received from Authors/Publishers and even more ebooks waiting in line from them, as well as my own DSOA's.  Still, the brat is back at school and today is a free day to read, read, read ... hopefully, I will have got the Pirate read I'm working on out of the way!

Have a good one peeps.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Frog Tale

JT Schultz

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Romance > Fantasy > Futuristic > Ghost

Indie Writer (Self-published)

*Introducing a New Author to the Blog*

Who doesn't love a Fairy Tale?  So today, I thought I would select this one .... which had caught my eye the other day.

Prince Luciano Mercury is doomed. The arrogance and blatant rudeness of youth combined with the attitude of being infallible has sentenced him to the curse of a witch. Instead of being hot and happy, he is turned into a wounded frog with no chance of survival. Then Chloe came along and his world changed forever.

Chloe Starling knows there are no such things as dragons. However one has haunted her worst nightmares for years. Her belief in fairy tales got laid to rest as a child but when a handsome prince walks into her family’s home she can’t help but wonder if he is the pet frog she kissed.

One fateful night, a relentless witch and a love that survived over a decade come down to one thing―the kiss of true love.

For your copy of the download click HERE, as usual I would advise that you don't hang around - as they seem to be going off free download quite quickly a lot of the time (most of last week's selections are now back to listed prices).

We had a fabulous day yesterday at Barcombe Mills, but OMG was it hot ... probably the very last thing I needed at the tail end of having a terrible virus.

Today's going to be a bit easier, Lou is meeting some of her Friends from School in Eastbourne, and Guy and I have some personal meetings to take care of, apart from that it's just going to be maxing and relaxing for me.

I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day (my Status is show at the top of the Side Bar on the Blog) ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

A Wonderful World

ST Rogers

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Science Fiction > Futuristic

*Introducing a New Author to the Blog*

I was taken by the monochromatic nature of the cover first, and then the description seemed just a bit different from my normal selections.  So today, we have a shortish novel by the American Science Fiction Writer, ST Rogers:

It’s the future. A new serum has been invented that significantly slows the aging process. Humans who get the serum injections before the age of 24 can expect to live 500 years if not forever. But the possibility of eternal life has changed the world perspective on God and the importance of religion. In reaction to this trend, an anti- technology, religious faction called Human 1.0 has formed in the South. Members of Human 1.0 are banned from society because they refuse to get the serum injections, believing it against God’s Will.

Meanwhile, Sara Brunson, a scientist predating the valuable injections, hopes to leave a mark on the world in her remaining years. She works day and night in the lab to create a robot with human emotions and free will. She succeeds with Fisher, an emotional, philosophical robot with blinding intelligence. Fisher struggles with his synthetic humanity and voices the desire to create, to invent, to build more robots like himself. Sara allows Fisher to build, but where should she draw the line? Could Fisher build something dangerous? How much freedom is too much? Fisher’s creations spiral out of control in this epic tale of religion, technology and the lust for power. Could this be the End of Times?

Click HERE to get your download copy, but as always, I'm not sure how long it will be available as a freebie.

On Amazon today my rating is (<) 3,528. I suppose that I'm still heading in the right direction, but very slowly now. I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day ....... so if you find the Daily Kindle Downloads info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback  on some of my reviews (which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks).

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Time Rider (Rise of the Skipworths) ~ Mallory Kane

*NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost

Indie Writer (Self-published)

I'm all about Time Travelling at the moment, and this new release caught my eye ... actually, I had something a little different planned, but it's not on free listing now unless you are a Prime Member (I will pop a link at the bottom just in case you are though).

Not much of a description for the Time Rider, but I think I'll give it a whirl:

Kristen Skipworth, plagued by her empathic power, has been captured by a dangerous and sexy man who thinks he's been sent from the future. Will her efforts to help him be the death of her?

"He wasn't supposed to be hampered by emotion. It was a pain in the ass to have feelings." Rider

"If you're so intent on killing me, wouldn't it have made more sense to leave me IN the building when it exploded?" Kristen

If you fancy giving it a try as well, click HERE for the free download.

As I mentioned earlier in this post, my original choice The Angel of Rosetown by Jennifer Hanning is still available as a free download for Prime Members - I have a copy and would recommend you give it a try.

On Amazon today my rating has gone down a few places to 6,050 (<) - I am still heading in the right direction.  I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download at Amazon

Binding Spells (Tales of the Latter Kingdoms) ~ Christine Pope

*NEW Author

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Historical > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost

Publisher:  Dark Valentine Press

My choice today was based firstly on the cover .... it just goes to show the benefit of a good one! Plus it's still in my favoured genre of Romance, even though it has a fantasy, futuristic, ghost twist to it.  No review on it so far, but she's a fairly established author published by Dark Valentine Press.

You can find it quickly over at Amazon by clicking the large title just above the cover photograph, or click HERE,  As always, please bean mind that I have no guarantee how long they will stay available for free download, so if you are reading this post retrospectively, you may well have to pay for it - I will review it as soon as possible and report back on it's merits.

This morning my ratings slipped back a tiny bit to 11,805.  I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay

My Daily Selefor Kindle Freebie Download at Amazon

Bonded (The Prequel to The Mating) ~ Nicky Charles *NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Romance > Suspense > Futuristic, Fantasy & Ghost

Today's choice is a full length futuristic, fantasy, ghost type romantic suspense prequel to "The Mating".  Quite a few reviews so far, with the ratings averaging out at about 4.5 stars.

You can find it quickly over at Amazon by clicking the large title just above the cover photograph, or click HERE,  As always, please bean mind that I have no guarantee how long they will stay available for free download, so if you are reading this post retrospectively, you may well have to pay for it - I will review it as soon as possible and report back on it's merits.

I cracked this morning, and tracked down a Kindle Fire 8.9 HD (they only had the 16 GB version though), and getting a bit of a charge before I treat myself to an afternoon reading.   

This morning that my Amazon Reviewer status dipped even lower back to 12,568.  I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' some day .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay

#333 (#51 of 2013) - A Dark Kiss of Rapture ~ Sylvia Day *NEW AUTHOR

A Dark Kiss of Rapture ~ Sylvia Day

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost

Description:

Of all the Fallen, Raze’s hungers are some of the darkest and most insatiable. His brazen seductions cost him his wings, leaving him soulless and immortal, the most dangerous of seducers. He has roamed the earth for aeons  hunting the rogues of his kind and protecting the humans who provide him with blood and sex. He is content with his life and the transient pleasures that flow through it... until one night and one woman change everything.

Kimberly McAdams is smart, beautiful, and wealthy. She can have any man she wants, but the moment she sets eyes on the lethally stunning Raze she knows he’s the man she needs. As one searingly erotic night burns into something deeper and far more vital than either of them expected, an adversary from Raze’s past sees a chance for revenge. Twisted by hatred, she will take from Raze what was taken from her—the precious gift of love.

Product Details:

I got this as a freebie Kindle download in February 2013, currently though it is listed as 77p.  You can either click HERE on the large title above the cover photograph to take you to the product.

Short story - 72 pages

* * * *

Summary:

Honestly, it was a little slow to get going, but it did bed in after a chapter or 2.  I can't tell a lie, it's a short one - possibly it might have eased the start, if it had been slightly longer and the beginning of the story was told in a less rushed way, in other words a bit more substance to setting out the plot.

All of the above, makes it sound like I didn't like it ..... actually, I really did, it seems an interesting concept - the whole fallen angel thing.  

If there were any typographical or grammatical errors they were so few that I didn't notice.

I'm looking forward to the others in the series, and given the above I think a 4 star read all round.  Highly recommend for anyone who is in to vampiric tales.

Hugs

Kay

#332 (#50 of 2013) - Suddenly a Bride (Across the Stars Book 1) ~ Ruth Ann Nordin

Suddenly a Bride (Across the Stars Book 1) - Ruth Ann Nordin

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Contemporary > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic, Sci-Fi

Description:

Rilo An comes from a world where there are no women. What he longs for is a life mate: someone who'll complete him, someone he can love who'll love him back, someone who'll ease the aching loneliness that haunts his life.

So he leaves his world, takes on the Earth name Chris West, and makes a payment to Star Systems Unlimited for a life mate. When he bonds with Caitlyn Davis, he thinks life can't get any better. But she was married before, and memories of her deceased husband still linger around her home. Will he find a place in her heart or will he have to become like her first husband in order to get her love?

Product Details:

I managed to get this as a freebie Kindle download in February 2013, but at the time of writing this post is is listed as £1.93.

234 pages long.

* * * *

Summary:

Okay, I have to be a bit careful here, as I don't want anyone to think that I am slagging off the book or the author, which I most definitely am not.

My first Novel by Ruth Nordin was at first dismissed as awful, but then when I literally had nothing else to read I forced myself, and secretly enjoyed it.  There is something endearing about the cheesiness of her novels.  At first I thought that was an accident, but as I've read a few more I've decided that it can only be by design.

This here book, was a little confusing at the start, but go going.  Chris, the main character was so naive and sweet I actually loved him.

It's not a huge literary work, but it does delivery in the happiness and cute spectrum, and especially where I've been in my head the last day or so, it has been a welcome treat.

Not badly priced at £1.93 for this 3.5 star read (probably 3 stars on Amazon).  Give it a go if you are looking for light and frothy.

Hugs

Kay 

My Daily Selection for Freebie Kindle Download

Shadows Eternal Curse ~ J Dorothy *NEW AUTHOR

Kindle Store > Books > Fiction > Romance > Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost

Back to Romance for today's selection, except this is a Fantasy/Futuristic/Ghost thing going.

So far it has had one review,but it's from regular Reviewer on Amazon (although a word of caution she tends to award 5 stars to most things).

To judge for yourself if this one has merit you can find it quickly over at Amazon by clicking the large title just above the cover photograph, or click HERE,  As always, please bear in mind that I have no guarantee how long they will stay available for free download, so if you are reading this post retrospectively, you may well have to pay for it - I will review it as soon as possible and report back on it's merits.

This morning that my Amazon Reviewer status dipped even further to 11,407 ... but the good news I managed to finish and review a book, so it might just go up a tiny bit by tomorrow.

I would love to get to the top 1,000 Reviewers' .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay

#315 (#33 of 2013) - I Married an Alien ~ Emma Daniels and Ethan Somerville

I Married an Alien ~ Emma Daniels & Ethan Sommerville

Kindle > Fiction > Time Travel 

Description:

When Ruth Clarke volunteers for an experiment to see into the future, she thinks it's a bit of a joke. But when Professor Jackson ups the power, Ruth ends up catapulted three hundred years into the future, into the body of Anita DeBurgh, a beautiful woman half her age.

Anita is on her way to another planet called Terron to fulfill her tour of duty as per the requirements of The Treaty. So when Ruth arrives she very quickly finds herself married to Jordan Demantena, who claims she is his life-mate.

As Ruth struggles to acclimatise to marriage to a tall, handsome and incredibly sexy alien, there are intergalactic terrorists after Anita.

Ruth and Jordan are soon running for their lives, trying to discover just what Anita knew and how to stop a potential war between Earth and Terron that could cost millions of lives.

Product Details:

I picked this up as a freebie Kindle download, and at the time of writing this post it is still listed as free.  You can go straight to the Amazon page HERE.  Obviously, if you are reading this post retrospectively I cannot guarantee that it is still available for free.

Novella - 158 pages

Book 1 in the Treaty Series

* * * *

Summary:

With a title so full of cheese that it could easily pass for a Welsh Rarebit, and a Kitch Regency Cover image I was dubious to say the least for this offering.

It isn't something I would usually go for, but as I've got a two fold challenge for myself this year (to read as many freebie downloads and widen my book horizons) I decided to risk it.

What I got from my perception of title and cover combined, was in fact so very different, and a real treat in point of fact.

The Prologue was the weakest part, as it was claggy and a little confusingly written.  I would seriously suggest a some re-working should be undertaken to fix it, which would go a long way to ramping up the book's possible rating.

Whilst I loved Ruth/Anita characterisation, it was a little weak in places and a tiny bit of a pity fest.

I completely fell in love with Jordan.  My favourite scene is where he scents his mate.

There were minor typographical and grammatical errors, which it would be nice to see fixed.  There were additionally inconsistencies in names - this is a bug bear of mine - however the writing was overall well done and the problems mentioned didn't irritate me overly and put me off the book, or alter the ultimate rating.

This could easily run the distance as a full length piece of fiction if it could be tightened up and developed a little more.

Having gone into it expecting nothing in particular, I was very pleased to find that actually it was difficult to put down, so a 4 star rating (4.5 if I could) for this offering by joint authors.

I am looking forward to the next in the series, and will be downloading that very shortly.  I can't wait to find out what happens to the smelly and stained Professor.

As a footnote, I notice that neither of the authors have "About me" pages on Amazon.  It would be very nice to find out a bit more about them.

Hugs

Kay

Daily Selection for Free Kindle Download

New Atlantis Bundle (Books 1 to 3) - Nhys Glover

Now for something completely different for today's selection as a freebie Amazon Kindle download as a link at the top of this post, or by clicking HERE.

It is 165,000 words across the 3 books and is classified as Fiction > Romance > Futuristic/Fantasy/Ghost.  I wouldn't say it was my usual reading, but as it gives a lot of bang for absolutely no buck, and I'm trying to explore new genres I decided to feature it.  A review won't we forthcoming for a long time as I have so much reading material at the moment (most of it freebie downloads too), and I would be interested to know if anyone finds this one - or indeed any - of my selections worthwhile.

At the hospital yesterday Guy was asked to take part in a survey, and the lady doing it saw my Kindle and asked if I use it a lot (as apparently she does), we got chatting and she didn't know about freebies on Kindle .... so that's another convert to the blog! 

My Amazon Reviewer status has risen a little bit to 33,395.  I would love to improve upon this though .... so if you find the Daily Kindle Download info useful please go over to my Reviews on Amazon and leave me some positive feedback - which helps my rating, and will earn you my grateful thanks.

Hugs

Kay