A Sneak Peek @ Zombie Candy by Frederick Lee Brooke!

Please enjoy this excerpt from Zombie Candy, a genre-bending mystery by Frederick Lee Brooke. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

They sit at long tables under grape arbors. Heavy bunches of grapes hang from the vines. An eight-piece dance band in white tuxes and black bow ties plays tunes from every decade. Heavy silver dessert forks and coffee spoons rest untouched on the linen tablecloth. She can’t eat another bite. All the glasses, at least, she has used: white wine, red wine, water.
A light breeze comes up. It feels heavenly on her face. With nightfall, the heat has gone out of the air. The heat must be trapped in these old stone walls — the walls of the farmhouse, the walls surrounding the vineyard. The aroma of fresh herbs floats from a nearby garden, rosemary, and mint, she thinks as she watches people dancing. The bride, her beautiful white dress with the daring silk bodice; the groom’s parents, a man with close-cropped gray hair and a red rose in his lapel, and his wife in a shimmering blue dress that looks specially made by an Italian designer.
She keeps one eye on the young man in the navy suit with the green silk tie. He looks like something Michelangelo might have sculpted, then breathed life into. This young man knows everyone here, and has danced every dance for the last hour. But he’s dancing with both older and younger women, probably cousins, friends, the mothers of cousins and friends. She has no idea who he is.
She feels outclassed in her red silk dress from Bloomingdale’s. She had worn the same dress at a wedding in June in Chicago. No one here has ever seen it. If there are any more weddings this fall, she will just have to go shopping in Siena or even Florence, that’s all there is to it.
“May I have this dance?”
Like a vision, Michelangelo man stands beside her. Has somebody cast a magic spell here? How did he sneak up on her like that? She didn’t even notice the song had ended. Or that another one had started.
“I’m not much of a dancer.”
“We’ll see.” He tugs her hand.
“Really, you don’t have to.” He obviously feels a duty to make sure every woman in the place gets at least one dance.
“Of course I don’t have to. I’ve danced with all the women I was obligated to dance with. Now I want to dance with you.”
She doesn’t need more arm-twisting than this. He leads her to the dance floor. The band is playing a quiet song from the 1940s, she thinks, something familiar. Grape arbors surround the dance floor and fill the air with sweet perfume. He turns and puts one hand around her waist. “My name is Giancarlo,” he says, switching to Italian.
“Candace,” she says. “I’ve been here for three weeks. I can’t believe I’m at this beautiful wedding.”
“Your Italian is marvelous.”
Your lips are marvelous, she thinks. Your curly hair, the color of black coffee, and your handsome chiseled face are marvelous too. But you can’t say such things to a man you’ve never met before. Not in Tuscany. At least not before the end of the first dance. He glides around the floor, leading her with slight shifts in his weight, slight pressure with his hands. Her feet know where to go, just as her mouth knows how to form the words.
“We don’t have weddings like this in Chicago. The food … the music … the grapes.”
“My uncle’s house is nice,” Giancarlo agrees. “But I am sorry for Lucia. She has married a playboy. I do not think they will be happy.”
“They certainly look happy.”
Giancarlo makes a face. “I should not talk about the details. I know him. I’ve known him all my life, and he will never change. I tried to talk to my cousin, but she is in love and blind. What can we do?”
Giancarlo’s smile, Candace realizes, has a hypnotizing effect. Thank God a fast dance is starting, the Bee Gees. He makes no attempt to bring her back to the table, merely releases his hold on her waist.
“You are a beautiful dancer,” he says when the Bee Gees song ends. The band takes a break. Everyone is leaving the dance floor. Her heart sinks. Somehow she has managed to cling to him for two dances, something no woman before her had managed. Now he will bring her back to her table, his duty done. He will go back to his people.
“Thank you for the lovely dances.”
“Come, let’s get some fresh air. I’ll show you around,” Giancarlo says. And the really amazing thing is he doesn’t let go of her hand.

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Zombie Candy eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include $550 in Amazon gift cards, a Kindle Fire, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

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Purchase your copy of Zombie Candy for just 99 cents
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About the book: Weaving elements of mystery, horror and romance in a hilarious romp that starts in Chicago and ends in a quaint medieval town in sun-drenched Tuscany, Zombie Candy is a genre-hopping knee-slapper of a novel. Get it on Amazon.
About the author: Frederick Lee Brooke has worked as an English teacher, language school manager and small business owner and has travelled extensively in Tuscany, the setting of part of Zombie Candy. Visit Fred on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Guest Blogger: Monique Domovich- Author of Scorpio Rising and The Sting of The Scorpio

Today I have Monique Domovitch as a guest blogger on the Book Blub!

She is having an exciting 99cent promotion for her books, Scorpio Rising and The Sting of the Scorpio and is also doing a mega giveaway on her blog. Go check it out to win gift certificates to Amazon and free books!

http://MoniqueDomovitch.com

Deciding to become a writer was a natural extension of falling in love.

People often ask me what attracted me to the life of a writer, and I have to say it was a natural extension of falling in love…with books, which I have been for as long as I can remember.

I remember my mother taking me to the public library when I was as young as four years old. That was when she introduced me to Madeline, the little schoolgirl. As teenager, I discovered Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames, and then Harlequin books. And then I really fell in love for the first time. I was in England where my friends introduced me to a book by Wilbur Smith. I think I hadn't read ten pages of his book--can't remember the title anymore--when I knew this was it. I could spend the rest of my life in bed with this writer's books.

Over the next few years, Wilbur Smith’s books made me discover Africa, where I met animals I'd never heard of, and villains the likes of which I hope to never meet. I was swept into his stories of love and passion and greed; stories from which I never wanted to walk away. I devoured book after book of his, until, of course, the inevitable happened. I caught up with every last one of his books and was facing a long void until his next book hit the stands. And I, fickle reader that I am, had an affair with a few other authors, and then it happened again. I read Dominic Dunne. And wham. I was in love again.

With Dominic Dunne’s books, I spent time with the truly rich and the truly manipulative. How can anyone forget books like The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, or An Inconvenient Woman, or A Season in Purgatory? Once I discovered them, I was hooked. Forgive me Dominic, for I betrayed you too when I discovered my next big love, Nelson De Mille.

De Mille is a master of sharp, snappy talk, and he makes all those words come out of the mouth of a sexy good cop with a bad attitude--John Corey. Now here's the funny part. I don't really know what John Corey looks like, except that he has scars on his chest from some bullet wounds. I also know that John Corey is almost as fickle when it comes to love as I am when it comes to favorite authors. He seems to fall in love with a different woman in almost every one of his adventures. That is, until he met and married Kate. But who knows, so far she's only been around for a couple of novels. For all I know she'll be dropped off, maybe even killed in the next book, and then sexy John will be available again and I can go on dreaming.

Now here's something you might not know about me. I'm married, and—get this—my husband doesn't mind my little dalliances with all these authors...as long as I don't meet them in person that is.  And why am I blabbing about all these loves of mine? Because, every time I start a new project, I hope with all my heart, that I infuse my novel with enough passion and ambition and greed that when you, dear reader, read my work, you will fall—perhaps just a little bit—in love with my characters. And I promise to love you right  back, even knowing that I will never be able to write fast enough to keep your from someday leaving me for some other writer.

C’est la vie! 

Monique

Monique Domovitch lives with her physician husband and their three dogs. They divide their time between their homes in Canada and La Jolla. Find her at http://MoniqueDomovitch.com

About the books:

Summary of Scorpio Rising (The Scorpio Series, #1)

Set in New York and Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real estate, Scorpio Rising takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s through the tumultuous lives of its heroes. 

There is Alex Ivanov, the son of a Russian immigrant and part-time prostitute. He yearns to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and fortune. His dreams of becoming a world-class builder are met with countless obstacles, yet he perseveres in the hope of someday receiving the recognition he craves. 

Half a world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs into the arms of a benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out that her boss has an ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her living through her art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted attention of her early abuser. 

Monique Domovitch’s debut novel, Scorpio Rising, is a compelling tale filled with finely etched characters and a superb understanding of the power of ambition. Scorpio Rising promises to resonate with all who once had a dream.

 Summary of The Sting of the Scorpio (The Scorpio Series, #2)

In Scorpio Rising, Monique Domovitch presented a compelling tale filled with colorful characters and the manipulation of power, ambition, and greed. Now she gives us its spellbinding sequel, The Sting of the Scorpio, where Alexander Ivanov returns to New York with his new bride, Brigitte. 

The real estate industry is ripe with opportunity. Blessed with irresistible charm, ambition, and the single-minded obsession to succeed, Alex plots and manipulates his way to almost mystical success. Everything he touches turns to gold, but it’s never enough. When a hostile takeover bid leaves him struggling to save his beloved company, he suspects those closest to him of plotting his downfall. 

Brigitte, the beautiful redhead who abandoned her country and her career to become his wife, feels alone. In return, Alex has betrayed her time and again, each indiscretion cutting deeper into her soul. 

Brigitte’s son, David yearns to be an artist, but Alex’s plans leave no room for such frivolous goals. He grooms a reluctant David to become the heir apparent until a devastating tragedy attracts the attention of another young man. 

The Sting of the Scorpio is a rich tale of a man at the mercy of his own greed and a woman bound by her need for love.

You Came Back: A Novel by Christopher Coake

Quoted form the author's website: Thirty-something midwesterner Mark Fife believes he has successfully moved past the accidental death of his young son Brendan, as well as his subsequent divorce from his college sweetheart Chloe. He’s successful, he’s in love again, and he believes he’s mastered his own memories.But then he is contacted by a strange woman who tells him not only that she owns his old house, but that she believes it to be haunted by Brendan’s ghost. Will Mark–who does not believe in ghosts–come to accept the mounting evidence that Brendan’s is real? Will his engagement to his new love Allison be threatened by the reappearance in Mark’s life of Chloe–who does believe? If the ghost is real, what can these two wounded parents do to help their son? 

Do you believe in life after death, heaven or ghosts? This is a heart wrenching story of the loss of a child and death of a family. Normally, this is the type of book that I would avoid. I don't consider stories with dead or dying children to be much of an entertainment. They just make me sad. However, I was intrigued by the possibility of the child returning as a ghost.

The story examines the question of life after death and really addresses has some thought provoking concepts. It also examines the grieving process and it's affect on those left behind. I think that this might be a great book for a book club to read and discuss. There are many different theories that could inspire some very stimulating discussions.

There is, of course, so much sadness throughout the novel. The feeling can be very dark and depressing. Any time I find myself skimming pages, something is wrong. I was skimming. To be fair, I only skimmed a few parts. With some good editing, it might have kept my interest. It is a fine line to walk, since the grieving process is a main theme and cutting too much or the wrong parts, could lead to less empathy with the characters and the story could loose it's impact. Ultimately, this is a very small complaint and shouldn't discourage anyone from reading this book.

Overall, the author did a great job with a really difficult subject. I felt the depression that the father suffered through and the craziness of the Mother seemed totally rational at times. The secondary characters were interesting and well rounded. They added more depth to the story and each was affected differently by the death. The ending is bittersweet, but it did leave me feeling some hope for at least one of the characters.   

Audiobook Release “Bookended by Beauty Queens”

Bookended by Beauty Queens, a hilarious and heartwarming women’s fiction novel by Victoria Marshal, has now been released in audiobook version!

Angie Palmer likes her life just the way it is–private. She has no desire to entangle herself in complex friendships, and her relationship with her two beauty queen sisters is safely distant.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as planned.

When disaster strikes her Grandmother, Angie takes her into her home. A life with Grandma comes a world full of changes, and new friends, including Val, a drag queen with hopes of being the next US-Gay Beauty Pageant winner. Angie is determined to keep Val at a distance. Val has an instinct for knowing what is in Angie heart.

Just as Angie gets comfortable with Grandma living with her, a budding friendship with Val, and a new romantic interest, everything takes an unexpected turn.

Val becomes the victim of a violent crime and ends up in a coma. Angie begins a struggle against Val’s family who wants to remove their son from life support.

Suddenly her private life becomes very public, and her world becomes a media circus. Angie is caught in a clash between religious beliefs and gay rights.

Through many twists and turns, Angie discovers a new appreciation for family, friends, and love.

In the end, Angie learns that a life filled with people to care about is never too crowded.

Bookended by Beauty Queens is available in Audiobook format from Amazon and itunes.

What the critics say:

“I have never laughed so hard in my life.  Don't get me wrong this is not just a comedy there is a dramatic turn of events that I will not spoil you will have to read.”

~ Lisa Markson, Read the Full Review.

“Bookended by Beauty Queens by Victoria Marshal is a fast-paced, tension-filled read full of characters you will fall in love with despite yourself.”

~ Kat Duncan, author of numerous romantic suspense novels, such as “A Lady of Worth” and “Sunda Cloud”, Read the Full Review.

“The author does an excellent job weaving many story elements into a fine fabric of action, romance, courtroom drama, social issues, and female relationships. There’s a little something for everyone.”

~ Tia Bach, author of “Depression Cookies”, Read the Full Review.

“You have to read Bookended By Beauty Queens, it is beautifully written, great plot, and good charge gets that you would just love. This is definitely a book that will give you another way of seeing things from another perspective.”

~ Juana, blogger at A Little Bit of Everything, Read the Full Review.

“The characters are easy to fall in love with and support. Victoria opens up all of our minds and lets us see how things really are. You will laugh and cry which I find is wonderful in a book. This will be a re-read for me.”

~ Babs, blogger at Babs Books Bistro, Read the Full Review.

Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

   Quoted from GoodReads:
Maybe it was those extra five pounds I’d gained. Maybe it was because I was about to turn the same age my mother was when I lost her. Maybe it was because after almost twenty years of marriage my husband and I seemed to be running out of things to say to each other.

But when the anonymous online study called “Marriage in the 21st Century” showed up in my inbox, I had no idea how profoundly it would change my life. It wasn’t long before I was assigned both a pseudonym (Wife 22) and a caseworker (Researcher 101). 

And, just like that, I found myself answering questions.

7. Sometimes I tell him he’s snoring when he’s not snoring so he’ll sleep in the guest room and I can have the bed all to myself.
61. Chet Baker on the tape player. He was cutting peppers for the salad. I looked at those hands and thought, I am going to have this man’s children.
67. To not want what you don’t have. What you can’t have. What you shouldn’t have.
32. That if we weren’t careful, it was possible to forget one another.

Before the study, my life was an endless blur of school lunches and doctor’s appointments, family dinners, budgets, and trying to discern the fastest-moving line at the grocery store. I was Alice Buckle: spouse of William and mother to Zoe and Peter, drama teacher and Facebook chatter, downloader of memories and Googler of solutions.

But these days, I’m also Wife 22. And somehow, my anonymous correspondence with Researcher 101 has taken an unexpectedly personal turn. Soon, I’ll have to make a decision—one that will affect my family, my marriage, my whole life. But at the moment, I’m too busy answering questions. 

As it turns out, confession can be a very powerful aphrodisiac


Let me start with the title.  It is possibly the only thing I didn't like about the book.  I caught the reference to Catch 22 by Joseph Heller immediately, but I really didn't like that book when I read it as a teenager many years ago.  I might like it now, but at the time, I was just too young to relate to the characters.  I couldn't imagine how Catch 22 could possibly be successfully incorporated into a story about marriage.  I am not a fan of books about marriage in general. (I've been married for 26 years and while I love my husband and my life, I don't find it all that entertaining.  I read for fun!)  The cover art is pretty, but it didn't entice me to open the book.  So, Wife 22 ended up in my “to read” pile.

I happened to pick the book off the top of my stack when I was too lazy to figure out where I had left the book I was currently reading.  Before I knew if I was half way through the book!

The format of the book is unique, and captured my attention immediately.  It alternates between Facebook posts, emails and survey questions, along with text.  It mirrors the way most of us relate IRL (in real life).  I found the format to be great fun to read.

I want to be Alice Buckle's friend!  Alice is a totally relatable character.  She is flawed, quirky, funny and just a little neurotic.  She is so...real!   Melanie Gideon has created one of the more memorable characters of the year.  I can see why the movie rights were snatched up before the book was even completed.  I only hope that the movie does justice to the book.

Of course, there is a twist to the plot and I saw it coming pretty far in advance, but it really didn't matter.    The story continued to hold my interest and I couldn't wait to see how it all played out.  I wasn't disappointed.

Wife 22 is throughly entertaining and a sweet reminder of all things that I love about marriage and family life.  Pick up a copy and take it to the beach with you!  Then pass it on to your best girlfriends  and plan a girls nite out for the future release of the movie.

Thanks to the publisher and author for supplying me with this advance copy.  I return, I offer my honest review.

Kindred Spirits by Julianne Lee

Quoted from GoodReads: Shelby adores her new house, until she learns it’s haunted by a grieving Confederate soldier. When a mystical spell in a hidden diary transports her to the nineteenth century, where she becomes the writer of the diary, she finds herself torn between wanting to go home and needing to stay. She realizes she is the only hope for the survival of the family she has come to love.


The blurb for Kindred Spirits caught my attention immediately! Haunted house, Confederate soldier, a spell and a hidden diary... Sounds like my kind of book!

As it turns out it is really two stories in one.  The story of Shelby as she travel back in time and the story of Mary Beth as she travels to the present day.  This is a theme that has been done again and again, but it usually works...

I really enjoyed the first part of the book as Shelby tries to solve the mystery of the ghost.  I loved the way the ghost was presented into the story.  I'm a sucker for time travel stories and was intrigued by this new twist of meeting the romantic lead as a ghost in the present day.   I would have like this part to be drawn out a bit longer, to prolong the anticipation of what was to come.

I was bothered by a few minor issues as I read.  First, I think that having switched bodies would be much more disorienting than it appeared to be to these two women.  The author spent some time on this, but then just moved on.  I would think that every time someone used her name or she glanced at her reflection the shock of switching bodies would be renewed.

I was also surprised by the fact that Shelby as Mary Beth knew how to use a quill pen and ink.  I expected her to make a huge mess initially, but she didn't.  I have no idea why this was an issue for me, but it was.  Shelby also had several instances of using terms and expressions that should have appeared as very odd, at the least to others in the civil war era, but no one made any comments about it.

Overall, Kindred Spirits is two sweet love stories woven into one.  My criticisms are minor annoyances that struck me as out of character, but may not concern other readers at all.  This book is an entertaining, easy read that would be a great book to take to the beach this summer.

Thanks to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for the copy of this book, in exchange I offer my unbiased review.

Into the Mist: Silver Hand by Steve Finegan

Quoted from GoodReads: Thirteen-year-old Gabe Wrenn has always taken refuge in his imagination. Refuge from his hovering mom and bullying brother. Refuge from the smirks and stares of his classmates. Refuge from his epilepsy. But now his imagination seems to be running wild. And he can’t stop it. And the only person Gabe can confide in is a girl who thinks his "weird brain" is the key to unlocking the secret of the Brynmor Witch.


Into the Mist: Silver Hand begins with Gabe, our reluctant hero, moving to a new town.  Gabe has Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) and apparently was an outcast at his old school, because of this. Gabe  escapes and takes comfort in  his art.  He spends his time drawing a character named Corvus, a crow man.  Corvus turns out to exist in another world that Gabe begins to visit.

I found Gabe to be a very realistic character.  He had the same fears and dreams that most thirteen year old boys experience.  I think that young male readers will truly relate to him.  He is the underdog in this story.  Then, his TLE flairs up and he suddenly becomes Mabon, the hero in another fantasy world.  I really liked the use of TLE as part of the story.  As the plot evolved, the TLE, a condition that in Gabe's mind, made him a freak, became his portal into the world of Mabon.

Gabe's Mother is a character with some major issues.  She is beyond over protective of Gabe and appears to have some serious mental health problems of her own.  She seems to have played a big part in making Gabe feel that his TLE is a major disability and that he will never be a "normal" kid.

Gabe's Dad is somewhat detached from the whole family.  He does try to make Gabe feel accepted and encourages him to be independent at times, but for the most part he seems to be at work or in the basement writing his novel.  There is some mystery as to why the family made the move and it is a source of tension between his parents.

The story of the Brynmor Witch is in the background  of Gabe's story.  I didn't quite understand how the Brynmore Witch was connected to Mabon's story.  It was never fully explained.

Mabon's story is interesting but again there were several questions that were left unanswered.  I know that is the first of a series of books, but it just didn't provide enough answers to satisfy me.

The story seemed to drag at some points.  There were several  fight scenes that seemed too long to me, and I found myself skimming over them.  However, this might be well received by teen aged male readers.

The abrupt ending left me feeling cheated.  I really wasn't exactly sure what had transpired and then it was just over.  It didn't feel like a cliff hanger because I wasn't really sure what had just happened.

So, the big question is will I read the next book?  Sure.  I really like Gabe and want to see him succeed in his world.  

Elanraigh: The Vow by S.A. Hunter

Quoted from GoodReads: "Only Thera of Allenholme hears the voice of forest-mind…and heeds its warning . Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh forest-mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream; black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life. As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way? "


Elanraigh is a place I want to visit! The world in this novel is so well developed that I could almost believe it exists. It is a unique fantasy world where the forest is a sentient being that communicates to some of the characters.There is a troop of  fierce female soldiers and strange forest creatures. Elanraigh has a medieval flavor with some speech patterns that resemble old English.

Thera, the main character is on the cusp of adulthood.  Her parents are strong role models for her. Thera is the daughter of a Duke and therefore in an inherited leadership role.  She also has supernatural gifts that come with a spiritual leadership role. She is a strong female character, but she isn't perfect. She makes mistakes.  She also learns to acknowledge her mistakes and strives not to make the same mistake again.  She's a bit headstrong and can let her temper get the best of her.  These flaws make her all the more likable and give this tale a realistic hero,

There is just a tiny bit of romance.  I would have liked to know more about Thera's love interest Chamak.  He seems to have some special gifts similar to Thera's and they appear to be a good match.  I hope to see more of Chamak in the future additions of this series.

The only thing I didn't like about Elanraigh is the ending.  I know it is probably the most logical place to end, but I'd waited the whole book for Thera to reunite with Chamak and I just didn't have enough time with them before the ending of the book.  A few more scenes would have appeased my need for a bit more romance between the two.  I look forward the reading the next book and the continuation of their story.

The cover art captures the Thera I had envisioned fairly well.  I did not see the cover until after I had finished reading it on my kindle,  I can't quite figure out what the line over her cheek is...a stray hair?  I would have removed it.

 Overall, Elanraigh  is a fast and easy read. The writing is well done.  There were a few parts that seemed to drag a bit, but not enough to distract me from the plot.   Young adults as well as older adult fans of fantasy will enjoy this book.


Thanks to BookRooster.com  for the copy of this book. In return for the copy of the novel, I offer my unbiased review.

Socialpunk by Monica Leonelle

I participated in the blog tour for Socialpunk, but I wasn't sure I would actually get around to reading it before the publication date.  My to read pile is overflowing...

 As I have mentioned before, I am easily sucked in by a beautiful cover. I  have to admit that I wasn't particularly captivated by the cover art or the title.  The Socialpunk cover just didn't interest me. I didn't care for the yellow and green of the cover or the art. As for the title, it might have been fine if the cover was different, but combined with the lack of  eye catching art, it just didn't work for me. I would not have picked this one off the shelf.  I sincerely hope that others don't have the same reaction-

 Since I was part of the blog tour, I thought I should at least skim the first chapter or two. Wow!  I was halfway through the book before I knew it!   It just sucked me right in and kept my attention.  It also gave me plenty of  concepts/questions to ponder when I wasn't reading.

Socialpunk is a dystopian young adult novel.  While it has a few similarities to other books of that genre, it also is very original.  Monica Leonelle, the author, created a world (s) with some interesting social structure and new technologies that captured my imagination .  For example, the primary mode of transportation is running and characters are rewarded for how much influence you have over others with "clout" instead of money.  The world building is well done and original.

The main character/hero of the book is Ima, an Asian American teenager.  A refreshing change from the usual blonde, girl next door type.  Ima did suffer from "reluctant hero syndrome", which seems to be a common ailment in many other books I have read lately.  She really does become stronger and grow as a person (literally)as the story progresses.  I always enjoy reading about strong female heroes and Ima eventually meets that criteria.

The other characters are also unique.  Vaughn is my favorite character, because you don't know much about him.  He is a man of few words, but he proves he has a good heart.  His mysterious nature keeps the reader engaged and of course, mysterious men are always attractive.  I hope we get to know him better in the next book in this series.

The writing is easy to read and the actions is nonstop.  The plot is well thought out and revealed slowly, with just enough information to keep the reader involved and anticipating more.

There are some sexual encounters in this book that are essential to the plot.  The sex is tastefully done, without too much detail.  For this reason I would recommend the book for older high school aged children and up.  Younger teens may also miss the social commentary which is one of the most important parts of this book.  Be prepared for a cliffhanger ending that will leave you dying to read the next book!  I can't wait the read the rest of this series!

Thanks to the author for the copy of this book. In return for the copy of the novel, I offer my unbiased review.

Thereafter by Anthony Schmitz

Quoted from Amazon.com:
Clarissa Brimsley, the narrator of Thereafter, is long dead, but she still has work to do. The object of her attention is her mother, Audrey. Sixty years after the fact, Audrey is stuck trying to make peace with the idea that she killed Clarissa in what was not entirely an accident in the home. She has never moved from the once-splendid house, now fallen into ruin, where Clarissa died. She has never truly stopped thinking of the girl.


After Audrey's sons ship her off to a nursing home, they sell the house to a young couple, Mag and Wald. They intend to rehab the old wreck, sell it, buy another and build a fortune. Those plans get derailed when Mag senses that the house is speaking to her. She finds a trunk of abandoned photo albums, filled with pictures of Audrey and Clarissa. In those photos Mag imagines a path to the future. She will make herself as happy as Audrey seems to be. She will have a child of her own.


Mag learns more of the truth about Audrey and Clarissa, but only after she is pregnant. Her efforts to ensure the safety of her child lead her into a complex relationship with Audrey. The old woman’s reluctant attempt to help Mag is complicated by unintended consequences and an unexpected choice.


I really loved the idea of this story. A dead child spends 60 years watching her living family from the "Thereafter". What a great concept. I was really excited to begin reading!
I wish I could give this book a wonderful review. However, it is a mediocre read. I hate giving negative review, and this one isn't entirely negative. I do promise to give fair reviews and my opinions are not always positive.

Let's start with the good. The author, Anthony Schmitz started with a great concept. His writing is easy to read and really has a nice pace and flow that is not at all distracting from the story. The characters are interesting. The relationships between the characters could have resulted in some intriguing situations.

So, what was the problem? I had to think about this for a few days before I could identify exactly what was missing from this book. There were several things I had problems with. Most of it was lack of information. I wanted to know more about the characters, more about the Thereafter and more about the relationships between the characters. The ending of this book was too abrupt and convenient for me. I also became distracted at times, by trying to figure out who was speaking and having to re-read parts. I was most disappointed by the lack of a strong plot line. I felt like the story drifted along aimlessly until the author got bored with it and finally wrote the abrupt ending. I think that with a stronger plot, many of these problems would resolve.

Okay, Why do I have two book covers?  I wanted to comment on the alternate covers.  The one with the baby is just creepy, given the subject matter.  The e-book that I received had the cover with the door, which really like.

Overall, this book left me feeling unfulfilled, but I would not take this author off my "to read" list just yet. Schmitz has lots of potential and some wonderfully creative ideas. I would certainly read his future efforts.

Thanks to the author and LibraryThing for the copy of this book through the Member Giveaways. In return for the copy of the novel, I offer my unbiased review.I really loved the idea of this story. A dead child spends 60 years watching her living family from the "Thereafter". What a great concept. I was really excited to begin reading!
I wish I could give this book a wonderful review. However, it is a mediocre read. I hate giving negative review, and this one isn't entirely negative. I do promise to give fair reviews and my opinions are not always positive.

Let's start with the good. The author, Anthony Schmitz started with a great concept. His writing is easy to read and really has a nice pace and flow that is not at all distracting from the story. The characters are interesting. The relationships between the characters could have resulted in some intriguing situations.

So, what was the problem? I had to think about this for a few days before I could identify exactly what was missing from this book. There were several things I had problems with. Most of it was lack of information. I wanted to know more about the characters, more about the Thereafter and more about the relationships between the characters. The ending of this book was too abrupt and convenient for me. I also became distracted at times, by trying to figure out who was speaking and having to re-read parts. I was most disappointed by the lack of a strong plot line. I felt like the story drifted along aimlessly until the author got bored with it and finally wrote the abrupt ending. I think that with a stronger plot, many of these problems would resolve.

Overall, this book left me feeling unfulfilled, but I would not take this author off my "to read" list just yet. Schmitz has lots of potential and some wonderfully creative ideas. I would certainly read his future efforts.

Thanks to the author and LibraryThing for the copy of this book through the Member Giveaways. In return for the copy of the novel, I offer my unbiased review.