Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Mark Tufo

Zombie Fallout 7: For the Fallen
by Mark Tufo
372 Pages
Published by CreateSpace, October 7, 2013
Genre: Horror, Zombies, Apocalyptic, Humor
ASIN: B00FP87V6I
ISBN: 1492953261 

Review by Shay Festa, A.K.A. The Bookie Monster

Mike is back. The battle with Eliza is past. Now Mike must strike out once again in a desperate race against time as his son and best friend are succumbing to the zombie virus within them. What he does not know is that an old foe has risen up and a more insidious threat has emerged to not just the Talbots but all of humanity.

When I grow up, I want to be Mark Tufo! This author is fantastic. He manages to once again spin a tale of terror while still managing to make me laugh out loud. His newest piece of work has earned the coveted Five-Star Fire Rating from the Bookie Monster.

Zombie Fallout 7 is the latest in Tufo's line of great titles. Without Eliza to keep the zombies at bay, it's an all out dog fight for the survival of Mike Talbot and company. The race against time is on for BT and Justin, still infected and in danger of turning. Once again they battle zombie and man alike. Not to mention the ever present Henry the dog stinky pooting, which is almost worse than zombies. (Having two dogs, I can tell you...there is nothing worse than puppy poots)

The zombies are getting smarter. They show signs of thinking and planning. They've even begun assessing situations and running away when risk outweighs reward. But the real stand out for this reader is the banter between Mike and BT. Tufo continues telling the story from the perspective of Mike's journal entries. And Mike continues to be a highly sarcastic and sometimes self deprecating narrator.
Mike: "I don't know what you're talking about. Blame the black man carrying it." 
BT: "Oh, it's always the black mans fault, right Talbot?" 

Mike: "Look at the evidence.
"
The only problem with a Tufo book is that it ends! This reader is impatiently already waiting for book 8. If the humor doesn't get you, then the unique story line and well thought out characters will. Much like me, I suspect you won't be able to put it down. This latest installment is every bit exciting and captivating as the first book. A feat hard to achieve as most series fall victim to waning and regurgitated story lines. Each book in the Zombie Fallout series has been original and there has been no decline in momentum.
'The nose of the truck dipped down as I drove off the road and into a culvert. My heart skipped a beat or seventeen as I dug the front end into the upslope. The wheels spun for a moment. I think it was zombies who actually saved us. A few slammed into the rear end and lent just enough force to allow my rear wheels to catch and make the truck start up the other side. I rolled down my window. "Thanks for the push," I yelled as I waved. It's quite possible I wasn't completely under control of my own emotions. Lack of blood flow to the brain most likely being the cause. See earlier part about heart skipping beats. "You are fucking nuts," BT yelled, looking around I think for another seat belt to strap over himself.'
I listened to the audio version, narrated by Sean Runnette, and was pleased at the dry humor his voice injected into the story. The only thing I would have liked to see differently is the voice chosen for Tommy. It was just a touch too juvenile for me.

Zombie Fallout is one of the best zombie series on the market. It doesn't hurt that Tufo is a fellow Bostonian, either. If you haven't read them yet...well, shame on you! Get to reading! You won't be disappointed.

About the Author:
Mark Tufo was born in Boston Massachusetts. He attended UMASS Amherst where he obtained a BA and later joined the US Marine Corp. He was stationed in Parris Island SC, Twenty Nine Palms CA and Kaneohe Bay Hawaii. After his tour he went into the Human Resources field with a worldwide financial institution and has gone back to college at CTU to complete his masters.

He has wrote the first installment of the Indian Hill trilogy in college, it sat in his garage until July 2009 when he published it on Kindle. He has since written the Zombie Fallout series and is working on a new zombie book. He lives in Maine with his wife, three kids and two English bulldogs.


For news on his next two installments of the Indian Hill trilogy and upcoming installments of the Zombie Fallout series, visit him on the web at www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Tufowww.marktufo.com, or zombiefallout.blogspot.com. And follow him on Twitter @ZombieFallout.

Purchase Links:
Amazon
Kobo
Barnes & Noble
Audible.com





About the Reviewer:

Shay Festa a.k.a The Bookie Monster reviews horror and paranormal books, with an emphasis (but not limited to) zombie fiction. She is currently working hard on completing her debut zombie fiction novel, Time of Death.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Maria Violante



Review by Cloey

You have got to read this one...






BirthMarked
The Markers, Book 1
Maria Violante


Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Taliesin Publishing

Date of Publication: 10/03/2013

ISBN: 978-1-62916-008-5




Book Description:

Charlie Kale knows life isn't easy. But for the first time, this truck driver might have finally found her little piece of happiness. She's got it all—her big rig, friends, a great mentor, and a man about to join her on the road.

That is, until the good things in Charlie's life all fall apart, and she finds herself at the mercy of a sexy but mysterious gunman who claims to be a member of a secret order dedicated to fighting the supernatural monsters that filter over into our world.

She's given a choice—join up or die, and while the gunman might be insane, Charlie’s hell-bent on not dying.

Too bad it looks like that might not be an option.











When I read the guest post by Maria Violante here at Cloey's I was blown away, it was so funny I wanted to read the book. What got my attention was the way Ms. Violante wrote about characters who were so crazy she ended her interview early. Well, I am glad that I read her book. 

I loved it and recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining read.

I can't put my finger on the reason why though. It could be because the book was an easy read. I was so into the story and when it ended all I could say was what? Wait a minute it's over? The story flowed quickly and easily and I was hooked from the first page to the last. Or, it could have been Charlie, the horny 20 something year old truck driving spitfire with daddy issues. Hmmm, it could be the fact that there were no love triangles with vampires or werewolves - a breath of fresh air there. I don't know. Maybe I like it because Charlie is a little chubby but she's no whiny, wimpy, girly-girl who constantly makes bad decisions - yes that's it. I loved the idea of a group of truck drivers saving the world too - that's hilarious! 

The story is funny, sad, entertaining and well done. I want to read it again and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Ms. Violante you have a new fan.





About the Author


Well-traveled and uncoordinated, Maria Violante is the best-selling author of several books in the realm of speculative fiction--all of them crossovers that require hyphens in the genre description (see:
gladiator-dystopia-rom-sci-fi, shifter-western-historical, or gunslinger-mercenary-urban fantasy.)

She enjoys a well-roasted coffee, Bell's Winter White Ale, and lives in Michigan with her Chihuahua, Beau, also known as “Piggy Wiggy”.

www.Mariaviolante.com

@violanteauthor

www.Facebook.com/ViolanteWrites/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5110151.Maria_Violante















Monday, May 6, 2013

Stacey Kennedy


Review and an excerpt by Stacey Kennedy










I’ve found you, fur ball.

Nexi peered from behind the large oak tree and spotted the small log cabin nestled in the thick forest. The porch light cast a warm glow into the night. Fog settled over the lush grass, and the night was dark, eerie.

Stepping away from her hiding place behind the tree, she strode forward and gripped the dagger tightly in her hand. Keeping the silver blade pointed outward, she climbed the cabin’s porch steps, taking each one slowly to avoid detection.

Once she arrived at the front door, she wrapped her hand around the door handle. Rich hunger for revenge burned in her veins and made her intent on one thing: to slaughter the werewolf who escaped the night of her parents’ murder. Not caring what awaited her, she stormed inside, dagger pointed, ready to kill.

The simple cabin had two large brown couches near a wood-burning stove, a kitchenette behind the living room, and a quilt-covered bed resting in the back. And that was it; there were no other rooms to investigate. No secret hiding places she could see.

No damned werewolf.

She cursed, shut the front door behind her, then trotted down the steps to return to her hiding spot. On her way across the yard, she glanced at the space to the right of the tree, which looked much like a heat wave, indicating that the portal to the Otherworld remained.

In some places around the world—or the Earthworld, as supernaturals had called it—there were permanent portals to the supernatural realm. This portal had only appeared because Nexi had travelled to this cabin from the Otherworld. Once she passed through the portal again, the gateway would vanish.

Magic had its perks. Quick travel was one of them.

Nexi shook her head at how normal all this magical stuff seemed now. Just over a month ago she’d never believed in anything that went bump in the night. Now she knew all those things existed, and in fact, she was one of them.

To her horror, she had learned that her birth mother, Tillie, had been murdered by a power-hungry vampire, Lazarus. All those years ago, her birth father, Drake, had protectively decided to block Nexi’s supernatural abilities. He had planned for her to live and die as a mortal. Now with her return to the Otherworld and the removal of the block on her true identity, there was no going back.

She was no longer plain, human, Nexi Jones.

She was Nexi Jones, part guardian, part witch.

Looking away from the portal and to her hiding spot until the werewolf returned, she hurried her steps. She wasn’t ready to return to the Otherworld yet. Not until she had the werewolf’s head as her wall ornament would she dare go home.

Just as she neared the tree, a woodsy scent that had nothing to do with the forest mixed with the citrusy aroma of aftershave. A blink of an eye later, the dagger she held was now at her throat, a hard body closed in on her back.

“You smelled lovely when you arrived.” The low voice by her ear held a faint English accent. “But I never imagined you’d be so pretty.”

The blade pressed into her skin, not drawing blood, but implying that if the werewolf chose, she’d be destined for the grave. “I’m…”

“Going to explain yourself.” He lowered the dagger, took hold of her arm, and jerked her forward.

In a few short strides, the werewolf tossed her through the threshold of the cabin, and slammed the door behind them. He sauntered to the couch, sat down, and regarded her. “Now then, darlin’.” His olive skin was stunningly flawless, and his chocolate-colored hair was spiked tall. “Why would a pretty lass like yourself plan to attack me?”

“Don’t move.” That charm wouldn’t fool her. “Stay right where you are.”

“My mouth is the only thing moving.” His slanted amber eyes raked over her. “Would you like me to stop talking?”

“No.” She hesitated then added, “Only your mouth can move. Nothing else. Tell me what you know.”

He gave her a long look. “I’d be glad to tell you anything you’d like, love.”

His kind face and soft voice wouldn’t trick her. He was a werewolf. She was certain, which was another oddity.

After the block on her supernatural abilities had been lifted, she could identify a supernatural creature as if knowing the difference between a brunette and a redhead. “Tell me why you killed my family.”

“That’s an interesting accusation.” He cocked his head, studying her with a frown. “But I think the more important question is who are you?”

She lifted her chin. “The lass who’s going to cut off your furry wolf balls.”





Werewolves Be Damned
Magic and Mayhem, Book One
Stacey Kennedy


Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance


Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Date of Publication: April 15, 2013


ISBN: 9781622661046

ASIN: B00CBFZVU6







Amazon BN Kobo iTunes



Book Description:

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.

But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.












About the Author:

Stacey Kennedy is an urban fantasy lover at heart, but she also enjoys losing herself in dark and sensual worlds. She lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, who gave her a happily-ever-after. Together, they have two small children who can always make her smile, and who will never be allowed to read Mommy’s books. If she’s not plugging away at a new story, you’ll find her camping, curling up with the latest flick, or obsessing over Sons of Anarchy and Game of Thrones.

Website - http://www.staceykennedy.com/

Blog - http://www.staceykennedy.com/blog

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/AuthorStaceyKennedy

Facebook Fan Page - www.facebook.com/StaceyKennedyFanPage

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/Stacey_Kennedy

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3473046.Stacey_Kennedy

Amazon Author Page –

http://www.amazon.com/Stacey-Kennedy/e/B004G9KR9A/








This story has sexy Guardians, Vampires, Werewolves, and one kickass girl named Nexi who is out for revenge. This my kind of story. Nexi is not one of those timid, whiny, oh-why-me kind of characters and I like that in a story. Ms. Kennedy's style of writing reminds me of Rachel Vincent who writes novels for young adults. If you don't know R.V. – she is a best selling author, yeah Ms. Kennedy has the magic to be a best seller and the talent to stay there. This book is well written and the story is good. I would read another novel by Stacey Kennedy – keep them coming.


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