Love at the Electric Review Tour

Blurb:

Walking wildfire Sam Owens gets Lillian hot in all the right ways, but there's more to the software CEO than just a pretty face. And a great body. And… Oh, right. He’s the enemy, according to the contract she signed with his rival. So when they secretly meet up for movies at The Electric, Lillian can't get too involved with Sam. She could lose her job. Her reputation. And her heart.

Sam is in love with his company, his image, his video games, and his ability to avoid commitment--at least until he levels up with attorney Lillian Walker. With her love of campy horror flicks and a body that makes him want to howl like a cartoon wolf, Sam’s found his leading lady. Too bad getting close to Lillian means tangling with her boss, a supervillain in the making.

In the nights leading up to Christmas, movies at The Electric mean more than just mutant toads and cannibal fruitcakes. Between shenanigans with old flames and an arch nemesis out to destroy any future they might have, Sam and Lillian learn the hard way that falling in love isn’t as easy as it looks on screen. When the past gets in the way of a perfect “the end,” there’s really only one solution--if werewolf Santas can bring them together, zombie ex-girlfriends can keep them together.

After all, anything’s possible at The Electric.

Excerpt:

“I ship you guys now,” Ravi said, out of the blue.

“What?”

“Shipping. Fandom. It means I’m invested in seeing you two kids stick together. So I heart your relationship. Sam’s attitude sucked for so long, but since meeting you, he’s really coming around. That’s why I want to move forward with this gaming division now. He’s like a newborn. Soft and big-eyed and completely vulnerable.”

“There isn’t a relationship at the moment. It’s kind of a work-in-progress.”

“Everything’s a work-in-progress. If it weren’t, nothing would improve. Sam’s improved a lot.”

Lillian sighed. “That’s true. But this time, the problem isn’t Sam. It’s me.” Suddenly embarrassed, she groaned and shielded her eyes with her hands to avoid Ravi’s intense gaze. “Ignore me. Please.”

“You don’t know me well enough yet to make me shut up so, no. Not going to ignore you, and I’m going to tell you what I think. You’re running bad code.”

Her eyes darted up from beneath her palm shield. “I don’t consider myself an idiot but, what?”

 “Okay, coding is all about input and output. To input tense code… I mean, inputting good code produces the desired output. If my code is bad, I get a demented program. You only get what you put in, so if you’re only giving Sam part of your code, or only bad code, then he can’t give you what you want because he can’t debug your issues. He has to see all of it to understand.”

My Review:

4.5 stars

This was an amazing read. To start, Sam and Lillian are an adorable couple. I loved their chemistry, including the should-they-or-shouldn’t-they dynamic. Having to see them fight to choose between their careers and taking a risk for love was well written, and brought the story up, rather than bogging it down in a (potentially) inane trope.

The only thing I liked more than them was the humor. I loved, loved, loved the geeky humor as it tickled my little geek heart and had me laughing out loud throughout the book. It fit into the story well (and defined this author’s writing style), and kicked it up from a 4 star read to a 4.5.

My only complaint was that the villain’s plot villain was overshadowed by the romance, to the point where I felt unsatisfied at how quickly things wrapped up and felt like Preston still hadn’t fully gotten his due by the end of the book. The information that came at the last minute, out of left field, felt especially rushed and out of place considering the flow of the rest of the book.

Outside of that, I would love to see this couple again, and while this is the first book I’ve read from this author, I doubt it will be my last.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

Jenn Hughes writes romance with a heavy dose of humor. A lifelong love of all things sci-fi, combined with her day job in marketing, IT, and graphic design, infuses her writing with tech-centric and geeky references.

When not reading and writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and gardening at her home in North Carolina. You might also find her gaming, repairing computers and electronics, experimenting with mixed media art, or finishing furniture.

You can find her online at:

The Bristol Beagle, Port Bristol’s Trusted Source for News

Author Website    |    Twitter    |    Instagram

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Z-BOT Review Tour

Blurb:

Chris Johnson never really started living until he died. Orphaned, fostered, and drifting through life, the twenty-seven year old programmer had no family, little money, and few friends. But he also had no enemies. So, who the hell killed him? After an experimental process brings him back from the dead as a zombiebot, he gets the chance to find out.

Heather Logan’s latest process uses nanobots to reanimate a corpse. Half robot, half something raised from the dead, Chris is her first successful resuscitation. Questions abound. What is it? Is it truly alive, a machine, or some kind of zombie-hybrid?

But someone wants to steal Heather’s secret process and put her out of the picture permanently. Chris, with his new superpowers, is the only thing standing between Heather and an assassin’s bullet. Is he enough of a hero to save her?

Excerpt:

Chris’s curiosity piqued. Seriously, computer-controlling-me, you don’t even want to acknowledge her? How rude.

“Is it working? Is he mobile? God, this is so exciting.”

Okay, a little over-the-top bubbly for his tastes, but she did seem nice.

Heather extended her hand flat out toward Chris. “See for yourself.”

“This is it?” Amber’s tone ratcheted up an octave. “Oh my God, Heather, he’s gorgeous!”

Heather’s eyes were dancing. “Amber Harris, meet Christopher Johnson.”

Chris Johnson. He really hated being called Christopher.

“Oh. Oh wow. How do you do?”

His head swung toward the newcomer now. “I am in proper working order.”

Real smooth, dumbass.

Amber’s auburn tresses framed an attractive, pleasant face with big green eyes. Her just-slightly-too-big mouth spread in a broad grin.

She held out her hand toward him.

Chris’s gaze went down to the offered hand. Take it, dummy. That slight tingle on the left side of his head again. His right hand placed the spoon it held on the table and took her hand, offering a single shake before letting go.

Amber placed the palm of her hand against his cheek. “He’s so warm, so life-like.”

Heather chuckled. “With the exception of brain function, he is technically alive again. And even there, the EEG picked up an anomaly. Actual brain wave activity.”

Amber’s big eyes widened even farther. “You think a part of him might still be in there?”

“It’s something I need to check out once the computer has fully integrated with the brain. That could take a few days. We may have to delay Phase Two.”

My Review:

4.5 stars

When I started this book, I had no idea what to expect. The book sounded unique and weird (hello, zombiebot?) and I thought I’d either love it or hate it. Suffice to say, I loved it.

The characters were amazing. It would have been very easy to overplay the mad scientist role or tormented zombie, but Heather and Chris were both well-rounded and fun characters. Heather’s sense of humor alone cracked me up (literally a page after I thought she was basically Dr. Frankenstein, she made a similar joke), and Chris’s internal monologue while struggling to regain control of his new body/existence was hysterical. Plus, their chemistry was off the charts!

I also enjoyed the plot and the sci-fi elements. The nanobots and the process behind creating a z-bot were thought out and made sense, rather than just being a magical plot hole fixer tool. And I enjoyed the mystery and action behind figuring out what was going on and who was out to get them.  

All in all, this book offers a wacky premise and delivers on it. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a little something different.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

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Author Bio and Links:

S.C.Mitchell is a writer of paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy romance, who crafts unique and wondrous worlds where characters explore, romp, and fall in love. Whether traveling through demon-filled dimensions, deep space, or ancient mythological heavens, heroes and heroines, face fantastic challenges on their pathway to enduring love.

Webpage    |    Blog    |    Facebook

Twitter    |    Amazon Author Page

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Oleavine Neem Oil Review

Neem oil has been used for thousands of years for its wide range of applications. Being rich in Omega 6 & 9 fatty acids makes neem oil suited for soothing skin and hair care. Neem oil helps protect, nourish, and moisturize dry and sensitive skin and is commonly used to relieve skin irritation. It also adds shine and helps tame and condition rough or frizzy hair. 

Neem oil is also commonly used as a natural bug and mosquito repellent and in organic farming.

Neem oil has a very strong earthy smell that is an acquired smell for many, but is commonly mixed with other oils or added to skincare or hair care products, which help mask the smell while still providing the desired benefits.

This neem oil is carefully processed to retain active ingredients, not extracted with chemicals, and every batch is tested for quality. 

My Review:
4.5 stars

I had never heard of neem oil prior to reviewing this, so I was excited to try it. This neem oil is actually a blend of two different types of neem oils, one from younger neem trees and the other from older trees. I liked this aspect of mixing the two, since then you get added benefits from both.

The only downside is the smell, but that’s apparently common for neem oil. The smell isn’t as bad when mixed in with other ingredients, such as adding this to other ingredients when making soap, so it’s manageable. I used this in combination with my lotion, which helped decrease the smell while also leaving my skin feeling soft and moisturized. You only need to use a small amount of this, which is another bonus as it lasts longer.

I’ve also started using this to help keep with my frizzy hair. I haven’t noticed a huge difference yet, but I’m going to keep using this and will update if necessary. All in all though, I thought this made a great addition to my beauty routine, and would recommend giving this a try as well if you deal with dry skin.

*I received this in exchange for an honest review.*

The Lost Concerto Book Review

A woman and her young son flee to a convent on a remote island off the Breton coast of France.  Generations of seafarers have named the place Ile de la Brume, or Fog Island. In a chapel high on a cliff, a tragic death occurs and a terrified child vanishes into the mist.

The child’s godmother, Maggie O’Shea, haunted by the violent deaths of her husband and best friend, has withdrawn from her life as a classical pianist. But then a recording of unforgettable music and a grainy photograph surface, connecting her missing godson to a long-lost first love. 

The photograph will draw Maggie inexorably into a collision course with criminal forces, decades-long secrets, stolen art and musical artifacts, and deadly terrorists. Her search will take her to the Festival de Musique, Aix-en-Provence, France, where she discovers answers to her husband’s death, an unexpected love―and a musical masterpiece lost for decades.

A compelling blend of suspense, mystery, political intrigue, and romance, The Lost Concerto explores universal themes of loss, vengeance, courage, and love.

My Review:

4.5 stars

Wow…what can I say? This book was phenomenal. I’ll admit, while I originally thought it sounded interesting, I didn’t think I would like it this much. That last line of the blurb? Sums up this book perfectly. While I had a hard time getting into the story at first, I soon was anxiously reading, wondering what was going to happen next. I was traveling along with Maggie, trying to figure out all the plot twists while connecting on an emotional level as well. The fact that I not only connected with these characters, but connected with them on such an emotional level surprised me. To go from disliking a character to rooting for him, feeling Maggie’s grief and pain like it was my own…yeah, I was very emotionally involved.

As for the plot…well, I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that while sometimes, I saw some of the twists coming, I was still blindsided by others. The story hardly ever got dull, and I didn’t want to have to put the book down to go to class.

While I was expecting a good read, I wasn’t expecting this to be one of my favorite reads of 2015. That being said, I highly recommend you give TLC a try, as it is a marvelous read. You won’t be disappointed.

*I received this in exchange for an honest review.*
*This is a sponsored post.*

Throwback Thursday - My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! by Wade Kelly

I originally read My Roommate's a Jock? Well, Crap! back in May of 2013, and it’s still to this day a favorite of mine. If you haven’t read Wade’s work, this is definitely one of her lighter works, and a great place to start with her books. And now, for your entertainment…

Blurb:

It's easy to become cynical when life never goes your way.

Cole Reid has been a social recluse since he was fifteen, when he was outed by his high school baseball team. Since then, his obsessive-compulsive behavior and sarcastic nature have driven away most of the population, and everyone else hates him because he's gay. As he sees it, he's bound to repulse any prospective friends, let alone boyfriends, so why bother?

By the time Cole enters college, he's become an anal-retentive loner—but it's not a problem until his roommate graduates and the housing department assigns Ellis Montgomery to move in with Cole. Ellis is messy, gorgeous, straight, and worst of all, a "jock"!

During a school year filled with frat buddies, camping expeditions, and meddling parents, Cole and Ellis develop a friendship that turns Cole's glass-half-empty outlook on its head. There must be more to Ellis than a fun-loving jock—and maybe Cole's reawakening libido has rekindled his hope for more than camaraderie.

My Review:

4.5 stars

This was my first taste of Wade’s work, and I absolutely loved it! This is one of those books that has big reactions from the readers; either you'll love it or you'll hate it, there's not a whole lot of middle ground. I loved the quirky language that fit the characters, and there were times I just couldn't stop laughing, it was so funny. The characters are quirky (especially Cole) and the writing style is different than what you’d usually expect as well, which was very refreshing to me. I also didn’t mind the multiple POV changes that much since it fit into the story and added to it (in my opinion), but not everyone will like the jumping POVs.

The only downside is that the book started dragging a bit in the middle and near the end, but all in all, it was a great book that I'd highly recommend.

Lost in My Mind: Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injury Review

Lost in My Mind: Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injury is a stunning memoir describing Kelly Bouldin Darmofal's journey from adolescent girl to special education teacher, wife and mother -- despite severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Spanning three decades, Kelly's journey is unique in its focus on TBI education in America (or lack thereof). Kelly also abridges her mother's journals to describe forgotten experiences. She continues the narrative in her own humorous, poetic voice, describing a victim's relentless search for success, love, and acceptance -- while combating bureaucratic red tape, aphasia, bilateral hand impairment, and loss of memory.

My Review:

4.5 stars

Wow. Just wow. While this book was hard and painful to read at times, especially when hearing from the perspective of Kelly’s mother, having to watch her child go through this, it is also one of the most inspirational, moving books I’ve ever read as well. While I had heard of TBI in psychology courses, I never knew just how difficult living and dealing with it can be. It’s amazing all that the author has gone through, from ill-prepared teachers to struggling with relearning simple tasks that most people take for granted, such as walking and driving. And yet she still managed to succeed and now uses her experiences to help others.

I liked how this book balanced learning about TBI, while still allowing me to connect with the author and experience her emotions.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Throwback Thursday - Enos by Zarug Thane

Okay, so I’m still feeling a bit nostalgic. Plus, I was the first person to review this book. So here’s a review I did back in December of 2013.  This is one of those books that I felt like I shouldn’t have liked just based on the beginning, and then by the end of the book, I fell in love with it. It’s hard to explain…oh well, hopefully my review of Enos makes more sense.

Blurb:

Enos is a private investigator with a problem: he’s four months behind on the rent, and he hasn’t had a decent case in months. When the beautiful Jayleen walks into his office, matters go from bad to worse. Not only is she hoping to locate her missing roommate (who will almost certainly appear on her own within a matter of hours), Jayleen isn’t able to pay Enos’s normal rate. At least, she isn’t able to pay in cash....

To his surprise, Enos discovers that not only is Jayleen’s roommate truly missing, the young woman has been kidnapped for a most sinister purpose, by powers best left alone. There are dark forces at work, and Enos finds himself far more involved in the simple missing person case than is good for him.

Continuing his practice of having sex with anyone who doesn’t say no fast enough, Enos is soon in danger not just of eviction, but of evisceration.

Warning: For Adults Only. Heterosexual and homosexual behavior; coerced and reluctant participation; light dominance and discipline. 

My Review:

4.5 stars

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book, especially after reading the warnings, so I was looking forward to something different. And this book certainly delivered. Though, I should warn you, this is apparently book 2 in a series, which I wasn’t aware of when I read Enos, so I would recommend reading the first book well...first.

Anyways, this was an interesting and conflicting book for me. I had quite a few problems with it, and yet I loved it. Though, my biggest problem was that I was thrown into a paranormal world with no explanation or background. However, like I said above this is book 2, and I did not read book 1 first, so I’m assuming the world building was primarily in that book. When I realized that, I wasn’t quite so upset at being so lost.

And the sex...truthfully, I was a bit against all the sex scenes at first. I know this is an erotic romance, but there was so much sex. I’m normally not a big fan of tons of sex scenes, and while there were times where I just wanted the story to move on, Enos surprised me. I actually liked reading most of the sex scenes, as they were all different and exciting (and included both heterosexual and homosexual scenes). I didn’t get overly bored reading them, which is unusual for me, which definitely made me enjoy the book more

Problems aside, I greatly enjoyed this book. Because for all the problems I had with it, I couldn’t put it down. I was drawn into the story, and I can’t wait to read the first and the third book in the series so I can learn more about this world. And considering I spent the majority of the book clueless about the world the story was set in, and ended the book with tons of questions in my head, I actually loved this book. Therefore, I would definitely recommend this book, as it surprised me and captured my attention to such a degree that I was able to put aside my problems with the book and truly enjoy it.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Throwback Thursday - Sursein Judgement by Jet Mykles

Rynn made a mistake in taking the drug hextasy with his fiancée. It was supposed to be the ultimate sexual high, except that you have to sleep with the one you desire most. If you don't, your body won't be satisfied and you'll die. Rynn lived, Lynnette didn't, and now her parents want someone to pay. Either luck or Surseine, the god of justice Himself, takes pity on Rynn by putting his trial in front of one of His judges. Sursei are graced by the god they represent with the power to see truth and Sursei Shasertai finds Rynn innocent of murder.

But the drug is still out there and Shasertai and the people who travel with him are determined to root out the drug lord responsible for its existence. Shas invites Rynn to join them. He goes willingly, fascinated by the judge who gave him a second chance at life.

Rynn might be innocent and straight, but Shas isn't. He's gay, happily so, and very much drawn to the farm boy whose simple innocence is a balm to one who can hear through the lies. What he hears is that Rynn's not gay, so he vows not to get involved. Until another drug, another time, gets in the way...and then he and Rynn will have to deal with the each other's truths and their growing attraction.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.

Amazon     |     Loose ID     |     ARE


My Review:

4.5 stars - Originally read in April 2012

I loved this book! It had everything I love in a book: an engaging storyline, a well built and interesting world, wonderful and lovable characters, plus plenty of drama and action. What's not to like? I also loved the fact that this wasn't the typical gay for you love story where a straight man who's never had gay leanings sees an openly gay man and is suddenly convinced that he's gay too and has zero angst about this. I also like that while Rynn starts the book as an innocent farm boy, it's not overdone throughout the book. We get to see Rynn grow and develop as a man as he goes out and experiences the world. We even get to see Shas grow up and mature a bit, which I liked. My only complaint was that the story ended. I would love to see more of Shas and Rynn and I'd love to see a certain bodyguard and a certain Marshall get their HEAs...

One Night in Dublin - Review

Visit this post to read an excerpt and to enter the giveaway to win A Piece of Ireland: A real plot of land in Ireland, as part of a land preservation scheme in the West Cork Gaeltacht.

My Review:

4.5 stars

First off, I have to say…this definitely brought out the Irish in me. One Night in Dublin was a short, light, fun read that cracked me up. I don’t usually enjoy reading about one night stands (they tend to turn into clichés or into ridiculous, implausible results), so I was a bit wary when picking OND up. I admit, the fact that it was set in Ireland helped convince me, though I wasn’t expecting the amount of Irish culture and…character the author included. I went in thinking the author would just use Ireland as a passport stamp, yet she took the time to really add that aspect into her story, which definitely made me enjoy it more. I also liked how the portrayal of Sive’s one night stand didn’t turn into a total cliché. However, it was the humor and witty dialogues that really sold it for me. I could hear the characters talking in my head, it was so realistic and natural, and I absolutely loved it. And to top all this off, the plot twists alone…well, I won’t spoil them here. All I have to say is, give this a read. It’s a fun read, and very much worth the time and money.

How I felt after reading this book:

Triple Strength Omega-3 Review

Triple Strength Omega-3 

- The Gold Standard natural fish oil concentrate
- Made with IFOS 5-Star Certified fish oil
- Each 1,200 mg fish oil softgel contains 1,060 mg of Omega-3s (750 EPA, 250 DHA, 60 other EFAs)
- Exceptional purity - No foul breath, fishy aftertaste or burps
- Sourced from Alaskan deep ocean waters (NOT from farm-raised fish)
- Pharmaceutical-grade - Tested and certified by 3rd party labs to ensure purity and potency
- Guaranteed free of harmful Mercury, Dioxins, PCBs, and toxins
- Exceeds GOED, CRN Voluntary Monograph, and International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS)
- MSC certified "Sustainable" fish oil source
- 100% sourced, purified, and manufactured in USA

My Review:

4.5 stars

So for the next step on my health New Year’s Resolution: start taking supplements. And one of those supplements was Omega-3s. Not only did my doctor recommend them, but Omega-3s are all around good for your health, and I had been on them before.

Now, I’ve only been taking these for about a month, so I can’t say anything yet about the long-term effect of taking these, but what I can say is that this is one of the best fish-oil supplements I’ve tried. I wasn’t left with a bad aftertaste or bad breath, and I looked into some of the specs and was impressed. The other thing I liked was that you only needed to take one a day (though you could take more if you wanted). And you can take it before any meal, so it’s easy enough to remember to take it. Plus, you get a 180 day supply (6 months) in each bottle. That’s about 20 cents a day, another plus in my book.

The only downside to these pills were that they were slightly hard to swallow, especially when I was in a hurry. All in all though, these were great Omega-3s, and I would use this brand again.

*I received this product in exchange for an honest review*

The Sunken Review Tour

Blurb:

In the heart of London lies the Engine Ward, a district forged in coal and steam, where the great Engineering Sects vie for ultimate control of the country. For many, the Ward is a forbidding, desolate place, but for Nicholas Thorne, the Ward is a refuge. He has returned to London under a cloud of shadow to work for his childhood friend, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Deep in the Ward's bowels, Nicholas can finally escape his strange affliction – the thoughts of animals that crowd his head. But seeing Brunel interact with his mechanical creations, Nicholas is increasingly concerned that his friend may be succumbing to the allure of his growing power. That power isn't easily cast aside, and the people of London need Brunel to protect the streets from the prehistoric monsters that roam the city.

King George III has approved Brunel's ambitious plan to erect a Wall that would shut out the swamp dragons and protect the city. But in secret, the King cultivates an army of Sunken: men twisted into flesh-eating monsters by a thirst for blood and lead. Only Nicholas and Brunel suspect that something is wrong, that the Wall might play into a more sinister purpose--to keep the people of London trapped inside.

Excerpt:

Soaking his cloth in the bowl of warm water beside him, Joseph Banks unscrewed the medicine bottle on his lap and tipped a few drops onto the sodden rag. He turned toward His Majesty King George III and motioned for him to remove his clothes.

The King lifted his tunic over his head, and Banks once again marvelled at the results of his treatments. He'd been physician to the King for nearly forty years — for as long as England had been without a Parliament — and his medicine had not only cured the King's madness, but had remarkable effects on his person. At ninety-two years old, George's muscles still retained their firmness. His skin pulled taut around his body, showing none of the telltale brittleness of a man his age. His physique was that of someone forty years his junior, aside from the burns and blotches that marred his once flawless skin — a side effect of Banks’ unusual treatment.

George had barely aged since Banks had begun administering to him. As a wide-eyed youth just out of medical school, Banks had been appalled at the King's rapidly deteriorating condition. The court doctors were stumped, and Queen Charlotte — May Aether protect her soul — had called on him after reading his revolutionary essay about the healing effects of certain lead-based tinctures.

         

His Majesty had been so incoherent, so close to death, they dragged his son before Parliament and declared him Regent before Banks had even uncorked a medicine bottle. No one expected him to recover, but he did. With remarkable control of his faculties, King George III marched down to Parliament and disbanded it, declaring the Council of the Royal Society the new governing body, and had the Prince Regent — his own son — executed for treason. The other princes died a few months later of an "unknown" illness (brought about by a certain substance Banks added to their brandy), and several of the more outspoken politicians met with a similar fate.

England's new government handled both religious and secular affairs, and proved remarkably effective. The country ran so smoothly that, despite some of his more radical decisions, no one had questioned George's sanity since. At least, not openly.

         

While Banks tended to his wounds, the King discussed the competition entries. Rolls of drawings, scale models, and intricate moving machetes decorated his private chambers. Whatever entry King George chose, it would be Banks’ job to force this decision on the rest of the Council at their meeting tomorrow. It will take all of my persuasion to convince each Council member not to vote for his own church's designs.

         

Banks’ hand slipped, knocking a blister off one of the sores. Bright, metallic blood oozed down the King's torso. Banks went to wipe it away, but the King swatted his hand. "Enough of that, Joseph. I have something to show you."

The physician set down the medicine, and the King handed him a roll of drawings. "This is the winning design."

Banks unrolled the first drawing, revealing a detailed map of London, completely encircled in a wide iron wall. His eyes widened as he recognised the hand who had designed it.

"Are you certain, sire?"

"Of course I'm certain." George pulled his tunic on, fastening the buttons with deft fingers. "He couldn't have designed anything better if he were privy to my plans. Since Stephenson refuses to budge, I don't see why Brunel shouldn't be the one to build me what I need."

Panic rose in Banks’ throat. "But sire, it's Brunel. He shouldn't have even been allowed to enter the competition. The Council will never agree—"

"That is why I have you, Joseph. With your powers of persuasion, I'm sure they'll soon see things our way. I knew it was the right decision letting him into the Society."

Banks sighed. "Choosing Brunel will anger the poets, the Aetheriuns, Turner's folk, not to mention Stephenson and his Navvies. This could drive a wedge between the sects that we cannot repair." It will shift even more power into the Great Conductor Sect, was what he didn't say.

         

"Then it will be time again to purge the Council of my enemies. I want this Wall, Joseph, and any engineer who opposes Brunel also opposes me, is that understood?"

Banks choked back his fear, and opened the plans again. This time, he tried to imagine this monstrosity surrounding the city, the high iron wall crisscrossing the districts, more of a fortress than a city. There had been an attempt, at least, to make it appear less intrusive — the architect had decorated the outer faces with rows of straight Ionic columns supporting a row of decorative arches and pedimental sculpture — homage in iron to the classical motifs so in vogue right now.

George watched Banks scrutinise the plans as he smoothed his clothes. "The design is certainly commendable," Banks managed at last.

"Who is the architect?"

Banks squinted at the name scrawled in the corner. "Nicholas Rose. I've never heard of him. He's certainly not a member of the Royal Society."

"I wouldn't expect Brunel to work with one of the established architects, not with most of them joining Turner's church. You're to bring Brunel to me, Joseph, tomorrow. And I'll see this Nicholas Rose, as well, if you please."

         

Joseph was about to protest, when a loud crash sounded from across the palace, followed by a long scream, cut haltingly short.

         

Banks turned to the King, horror in his eyes. "Sir, not again—"

"Attend to that for me, won't you, Joseph?" the King smiled. "It seems another of my children has broken free of the nursery."

My Review:

4.5 stars

I’ll warn you right away…this is not for the faint-hearted. Not only is this a long read (over 500 pages), it’s full of action, adventure, and intrigue. If you’re looking for a light little beach read or such, this is not the book for you. However, if you’re looking for the ride of your life, grab your copy and buckle up.

I could tell you all about the characters and the world they live in. I could tell you how well-written they all were. How I was drawn into the world and the lives and actions of the various characters. How I kept trying to give advice to the characters about what they should do while reading and how emotionally involved I got.

I could also tell you how the plot drew me in. How this was so much more than just a mere steampunk or paranormal novel. How the twists and turns kept coming and surprising me. How I couldn’t put the book down, even when I was exhausted.

I could tell you all this, but quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to spoil this book before you read it. All I can say is that I highly recommend you give The Sunken a chance.

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December 8: My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews

December 15: It's Raining Books
December 29: The Crafty Cauldron
January 5: Sharing Links and Wisdom

Author Bio and Links:

S. C. Green is the author of the dystopian steampunk series, The Engine Ward, as well as humorous fantasy At War With Satan (under the name Steff Metal). Her latest novel, The Sunken, explores an alternative Georgian London where dinosaurs still survive.

She lives in an off-grid house on a slice of rural paradise near Auckland, New Zealand, with her cantankerous drummer husband, their two cats, and their medieval sword collection. She writes about metal music, her books, living off-grid, and her adventures with home-brewing on her blog.

Stay up to date with S C Green's books by signing up to her newsletter or like her Facebook page. 

Buy Links:

Barnes & Noble     |     Amazon

Fulcrum Gallery Artwork Review - Invictus Print

My Review:

4.5 stars

I was asked if I would be interested in reviewing one of Fulcrum Gallery’s prints. Being an art fan with very eclectic tastes, I agreed. At first, I was blown away by all the many options available, and finally decided to just look at the canvas word art since I particularly like word art. After spending two hours (yes, I did spend two hours looking), I decided to choose a print featuring the iconic poem Invictus against the backdrop of a rocky coast's lighthouse.

How it was supposed to look according to my specs.

Next, I was able to customize my print. The customization was easy, as there was an interactive image that would change to demonstrate what your print would look like depending on the options you chose. Warning: make sure you have plenty of time to pick and choose, as this process can be very time consuming. First, you could choose to either buy a simple print of the image, or you could choose between 3 other options: laminate, canvas, or frame. Depending on which of the three you chose, you could then go on to customize your entire print, from the type of wrap and brushstrokes you wanted to the type of frame and mat color (the color in between the frame and your print) you desired. There was a wide variety of choices, and yes, I did try them all to create my perfect print. I finally decided on the canvas museum wrap with regular 0.75” bars and no brushstrokes.

After I created my ideal print, I placed my order and waited. In the meantime, I visited their helpful article on how to hang canvas artwork (there's an article on how to hang framed art as well) and their blog. A week later, I received my very securely packaged print in the mail. In fact, I had a bit of a hard time removing it from the packaging, it was so well wrapped! However, it was worth the effort, as the canvas print turned out beautifully. It came exactly as I had ordered it, and  I absolutely love it, and it now has a very prominent place on my wall.

I had a great experience with Fulcrum Gallery, and would highly recommend giving them a look at the very least. The only real con that I ran into was the price. Some of the options could get quite pricey, especially when you take the shipping into account as well (mine would have cost over $120). However, the great part about that is that Fulcrum Gallery always seems to have some kind of sale going on. Whether it’s 40% everything in the store or 50% certain types of prints, they constantly have sales going, so don’t let the price tag scare you away. Plus, Fulcrum Gallery has a 30 day, 100% satisfaction guarantee, no questions asked return policy, even on their custom art, so you can shop with confidence.