*Book Review* Little Peach by Peggy Kern (YA/Contemporary)

Published by: Balzer & Bray
Released: March 10, 2015
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Format: E-Book, 208 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

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When Michelle runs away from her drug-addicted mother, she has just enough money to make it to New York City, where she hopes to move in with a friend. But once she arrives at the bustling Port Authority, she is confronted with the terrifying truth: she is alone and out of options.
 
Then she meets Devon, a good-looking, well-dressed guy who emerges from the crowd armed with a kind smile, a place for her to stay, and eyes that seem to understand exactly how she feels.
 
But Devon is not what he seems to be, and soon Michelle finds herself engulfed in the world of child prostitution where he becomes her “Daddy” and she his “Little Peach.” It is a world of impossible choices, where the line between love and abuse, captor and savior, is blurred beyond recognition.
 
This hauntingly vivid story illustrates the human spirit’s indomitable search for home, and one girl’s struggle to survive. 

Little Peach, by Peggy Kern, is a realistic contemporary young adult story that shines the light on one of America's darkest problems; child sex trafficking. The narrator of the story is 14 year old Michelle "Little Peach" Boyton who runs away from her drug addicted festering pustule of a mother, and ends up believing she's been saved by Devon aka "Daddy" when he takes her in, and gives her a roof over her head.

"This is reality, whether you like it or not."

Michelle's journey should outrage you. It should move you to take action. It should make you think of the reasons why these kids find themselves running away from abusive homes where their parents boyfriends, girlfriends, or drug providers take advantage of them to the point where they feel useless and helpless. I need to repeat what other reviewers have said. Reading Little Peach should definitely come with warnings. There are disturbing and brutal scenes of rape, child molestation, and violence.

"Unlike a bag of heroine, a girl can be sold again and again."

Thanks to the authors own research in Brooklyn, New York, this story is heartbreaking. Like other readers I trust, I had a hard time not feeling outraged and ashamed by our system that let's these poor kids fall through the cracks where they are never heard from again. It's no wonder that we have such a huge missing kids situation on our hands when the law turns a blind eye to what is happening right in front of their eyes.

I appreciate that Kern has written this story. It needs to be read by everyone, no matter how uncomfortable it makes YOU feel. I'm also sending a warning to the medical community, especially nurses. Stop treating abusive kids as though it is THEIR fault!!! Treat them like they are human beings, and not scum you can throw away.

**I received this book for free from (Balzer & Bray/Harperteen) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Book Review* Hunting Season by Nikki Jefford

Series: Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter # 4
Publisher: Nikki Jefford
Source: Nikki Jefford
Format: E-Book, 320 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

It’s better to be a hunter, not prey.

Ever since her partner was kidnapped, Aurora Sky has been on a personal mission to get him back. To do that she needs the vampire responsible for destroying her life.

In order to have a snowball’s chance at success, she’ll have to team up with her most loyal friends, including a certain vampire in black with a provoking talent for distraction.

Old cravings aren’t easily quenched, nor past passions. With knowledge comes danger and Aurora is at risk on all sides.

Hunting Season is the FOURTH installment in the Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series by Nikki Jefford. Picking up where Bad Blood left off, Dante is still missing after being caught by Giselle, and Aurora has finally been told the truth about what she really is. As a background, Aurora has been through a whole lot since she "died" in a car accident 10 months ago and was forced into joining a secretive government agency intent on wiping out dangerous vampires. This comes with lots of secrets that are slowly being revealed, including some regarding Jared and Agent Melcher.

The vampire hunters are all unique in that they ALL have AB positive or negative blood. With a simple bite from a vampire on one of the hunters necks like Aurora, they become easier to kill. Aurora, Dante, and Valerie Ward are all hunters, while Noel Harper is an informant who has totally changed since discovering the truth about what really happened to her. There have been other secondary characters introduced, but needless to say, they've found their way off stage quickly.

Going into Hunting Season, and apparently straight through to Whiteout (Aurora # 5), there are plenty of questions to go around. Will Aurora and her new "friends" finally get the answers they need? Will they bring down the one vampire, Jared, who has caused so much pain and suffering to EVERYONE involved in this story? Will Aurora rekindle her feelings for Fane, or will Dante win out in the end? Will Aurora, Noel, Dante, and Valerie find a way to their own happy endings by bringing down Melcher's group, or will they burn out and fade away like those left in Valerie's dust?

Let's get to the meat and potatoes of this story. Aurora is still under a microscope by some powerful vampires, who know she was involved somehow in the murder of a vampire. But, she's got more important things on her mind like finding a way to capture Jared, and trade him to Giselle for Dante's release. I dare say that Noel has come a long way, so has her relationship with Aurora after finding out that they are both the same. Noel has taken the news a whole lot better than Aurora has. That's not hyperbole. That's just fact. I do appreciate that the subterfuge between the two has been resolved essentially without any bloodshed.

Aurora's relationship with Fane is apparently back on after being in the dumpster for several books. If you think Valerie will remain silent, you are deeply in denial. Jefford does a bit of recap on how Fane became a vampire, and how he met Joss. I think this was a good time for the reminiscing since Aurora is having a hard time understanding her situation, or being around others who can't even start to imagine all the crap she's been put through. Aurora's entire way of thinking has to change or she will not last as long as Fane, or Joss have.

On my final note, I dare say I am a bit disappointed in this installment. I want a reconciliation on Jared's storyline asap. Hanging around for FIVE books doesn't nothing for my blood pressure or stress level. I also wish that Aurora would just make a final choice between Dante and Fane and be done with it. I don't need this angst hanging over Aurora's attempt at escaping the chains that bind her to Melcher. It's scary to say, but I actually am glad that Giselle is looking at more participation, especially now that the cat has been let out of the bag about Melcher, and Aurora and crew know they are in for a very long haul if they expect to survive.

Next in Series: Whiteout # 5 releases June 20, 2015

**I received this book for free from Nikki Jefford in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

Other Books in Series:

     

     

*Stacking The Shelves* Easter Edition

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks!

Hello all you book lovers and fiends! No major additions to my TBR pile from Hades this week. What I did get, will tide me over. It's amazing how many unresolved requests I still have via NG and Edelweiss, but it is what it is. There are (3) giveaways (US only) currently happening. Check out this week in reviews for more information!

The Week in Reviews:

Monday - Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Additions to My TBR Pile 

Tuesday - This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (Review)

Wednesday - Dark Alchemy by Laura Bickle (Review & Giveaway)

The Diamond Conspiracy by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris (Review & Giveaway)

Thursday - Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman (Review & Giveaway)

Friday - Garden of Dreams & Desires (Review)

Saturday - Hunting Season by Nikki Jefford (Review)

Sunday - Happy Easter! 

Post Easter Week Books to Read & Review (Subject to last minute change)

Monday (4/06) - Little Peach by Peggy Kern (YA Contemporary)

Tuesday (04/07) - The Fire Sermon (Post-Apocalyptic) 

Wednesday (04/08) - Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost (PNR)

Thursday - (04/09) Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott (YA)

Friday - (04/10) Dark Heir by Faith Hunter (Review, Excerpt, Giveaway)

Saturday - (04/11) Claimed by Sarah Fine 

Blog Tour (May 1, 2015)

Borrowed via Library

Received via NetGalley or Edelweiss

Amazon Deals of the Week

*Book Review* Garden of Dreams and Desires by Kristen Painter

Series: Crescent City # 3
Publisher: Hachette/Orbit
Releases: April 7, 2015
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback, 368 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Tourists are disappearing at an alarming rate. While Augustine and his lieutenants attempt to find them, Harlow and the evil spirit possessing her remain Augustine's true focus. Freeing her from the spirit's grasp is all he can think about, especially with no real solution on the horizon.

Then he discovers the tourists are disappearing because the witches are stealing souls to cast a dangerous chaos spell. Before he can stop them, Harlow becomes their victim. Now he must race the clock to set her free and end the witches' machinations before the chaos spell strips every fae in New Orleans of their power and bring fae rule to an end. 

Garden of Dreams and Desires brings the Crescent City trilogy to a close. Kristen Painter has created a world where 40 years from now, othernaturals have come out into the open, and live among humans. In New Orleans, Fae Guardian Augustine (Augie) Robelias watches over the city that has become a major tourist destination for those humans intrigued by the othernaturals which includes a variety of fae, witches, and voodoo practitioners.

Augie more than has his hands full in this installment. Giselle Vincent, her sister Zara, and sorcerer Ian DuFrene are continuing to scheme up trouble for the Fae. Harlow Goodwin is still being possessed by her twin sister Ava Mae who refuses to accept anything but complete and total takeover of Harley's body. If that wasn't enough, tourists go missing and amongst them is the son of Senator Pellimento who wants to be President of the Southern Union. She truly loathes the othernaturals and makes plans to take them all down, starting with the Guardian of the City, Augustine.

As with the previous installments, Painter intermingles her story between not only Augie, but Harlow (Harley) Goodwin, and witch Giselle Vincent. Painter loves to create situations that force our characters into looking deep inside themselves for answers, and there is plenty of intrigue, mystery, and suspense as well. The secondary characters like Lally Hughes, Dulcinea, Cylo, Fenton, and Olivia Goodwin give this series a bit of depth and therefore avoids the boredom factor.

Let's talk about the character development of Harley, shall we? From the onset of this series, Harley hasn't exactly been the strongest character in a Painter written story despite her talents for computers. In fact, she scorned her heritage for way too long, and then was forced to face it when dealing with her rogue father. In this installment, we see the character that Harley was meant to be. She's strong, she's feisty, she's accepted her fae heritage, and she uses her fae talents to fight back and become a useful part of Augie's team. I am glad that the Ava/Harley angle didn't drag on for the entire story, and I am especially happy that Harley and Augie have put their antagonism towards the other and become a team.

Now comes the hard part. While I adore Kristen's world building and characters, I don't like the fact that this book ends the trilogy. There is entirely too much that has been left on the plate uneaten. Unlike the House of Comarre series which had FIVE books, this apparently is Painters last foray into the realm of Urban Fantasy. There are, of course, questions. Does Augie and his mother finally reconcile? What is the deal with Ian? Will Olivia ever find her way out of the fae plane?

**I received this book for free from (Hachette/Orbit) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review**

Other Books in Series:

      

*Book Review & Giveaway* Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Series: Seraphina # 2
Publisher: Random House Children's
Released: March 10, 2015
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover, 608 pages
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy


The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself—for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she’s held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny? 

Shadow Scale, the sequel and final installment in the Seraphina duology, picks up roughly three months after the events of Seraphina. Seraphina, our half dragon, half human protagonist, has become entangled in the political welfare of Goredd. Not only is Seraphina the unofficial translator between dragons and humans, but she also becomes her kingdoms official emissary.

At the behest of Queen Glissenda and Prince Lucian Kiggs, Seraphina travels to far reaching lands in search of other half-dragons who can help stave off a civil war, and a dragon invasion. I dare say that the first half of this story was a bit on the slow side as Seraphina and her entourage, which includes Abdo, travel far and wide to collect the half-dragons which she is connected to by her inner Garden of Grotesques.

Hartman does really well in creating not only the abilities of the half dragons, but the cultures of the lands they call home, and the fact that Seraphina's journey is anything but smooth because of her connection to one of the major villains of the story, Jannoula, who can enter the half-dragons minds and control them. The only one who is immune, is Seraphina but I won't spoil that story plot for you.

With Jannoula's shadow nipping at her heels at every turn, a civil war closing in quickly on Goredd, and Seraphina not able to discover where her uncle Orma disappeared to, Hartman proves that she can write the unpredictable. There are definite plot twists, surprises, and dragons galore! There is also the interesting romantic possibilities that includes Glissenda, Lucian, and Seraphina. I would have been fine either way, but to say what happens in the end, will just ruin it for future readers.

Considering that we've had to wait nearly three years for Shadow Scale, I dare say that I am a bit miffed and perhaps expected a whole lot more from this final installment, including the romance angle. This is a story that has a cast of hundreds, and Hartman does a fairly impressive job of keeping them all involved in the story. For me, the most intriguing characters were Abdo,  Camba, and Pandowdy. But, let's not forget that Jannoula forces Seraphina into becoming the heroine she needs to be.

**I received this book for free from (Random House Children's Books) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

Other Books in Series

I am giving away (1) copy of Shadow Scale to those who live in the US.

Sorry folks, but I can't afford international shipping.

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*Book Review & Giveaway* The Diamond Conspiracy by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris

Series: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #4
Publisher: Penguin/ACE
Released: March 31, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book, 368 pages
Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction

*Book Blurb*

Having narrowly escaped the electrifying machinations of Thomas Edison, Books and Braun are looking forward to a relaxing and possibly romantic voyage home. But when Braun’s emergency signal goes off, all thoughts of recreation vanish. Braun’s street-wise team of child informants, the Ministry Seven, is in grave peril, and Books and Braun must return to England immediately.

But when the intrepid agents finally arrive in London, the situation is even more dire than they imagined. The Ministry has been disavowed, and the Department of Imperial Inconveniences has been called in to decommission its agents in a most deadly fashion. The plan reeks of the Maestro’s dastardly scheming. Only, this time, he has a dangerous new ally—a duplicitous doctor whose pernicious poisons have infected the highest levels of society, reaching even the Queen herself.

After romping their way across America in Dawn's Early Light, Eliza Braun and Wellington Books are on their way home to England. But, as they are flying home and finding a bit of romantic enjoyment along the way, Eliza receives a distress signal from her group of former street urchins called the Ministry Seven. After running into some serious trouble, the Ministry is in dire need of her help, which forces Eliza to use her imagination, and ingenuity to get them to France before it's too late.

In the meantime, The Ministry has found itself under attack by The Department of Imperial Inconveniences at behest of the Queen Victoria. Ministry agents from around the world are finding themselves hunted down and eliminated by The Department known for cleaning up messes. With Director Sounds Phantom Protocol in place, we end up with the return of ex-Agent Bruce Campbell, and for the first time ever, the introduction of a group of Ministry agents that have been hanging in the background from the very beginning of this series.

People, if you haven't read the first THREE books in this romping good time of a steampunk series, you should be! Eliza, as I've said many times now, is one of my favorite heroines of the steampunk genre. She's a bit on the gun ho side, and likes to blow things up. But, she's also not afraid of her own shadow, and takes on villains with a smile on her face, and a snarky comment to go along with it. Eliza's relationship with the Ministry Seven is brilliantly done. They are her eyes and ears on the streets of London, and I do love that the kids have such a positive effect on who Eliza has become.

The relationship between Eliza and Welly has FINALLY come to the light of day! They've been flying around each other like hummingbirds ever since Eliza found herself in the Archives. I did mention the "KISS" that hung over the couple in Dawn's Early Light. Never worry my little mushrooms! Ballantine and Morris unleash the forces that are Eliza and Welly and nothing will ever be the same again!

The Diamond Conspiracy is the book for major revelations, shocking surprises, and end of certain story arcs, and a beginning of another. It is an epic adventure right from the beginning. We get the long awaited peek into the Ministry Archives which has tempted and teased readers and the Maestro as well. We also get a look into the backgrounds of Welly, who is more than just THE Archivist for the Ministry, and Director Dr. Basil Sound whose own secrets and revelations are just shocking, if I may say so.

The Diamond Conspiracy is the fourth book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris and I dare say one of the better stories of this series. With the cliffhanger ending, I am definitely eager to find out what happens next!

**I received this book for free from (Penguin/ACE) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**'

I am giving away (1) copy of The Diamond Conspiracy as part of this blog tour.

Please, you MUST be at least 17.

You MUST be a US resident as I can not afford to pay the high cost of shipping.

I would love that you follow this blog, and spread the word about this book!

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*Blog Review & Giveaway* Laura Bickle's Dark Alchemy

Welcome to the Dark Alchemy Tour!
Today, I am offering you a review and giveaway!

Publisher: Harper Voyager Impulse

Released: March 24, 2015

Source: Edelweiss

Format: E-book, 316 pages

Genre: Urban Fantasy

ISBN: 9780062389862

Stephen King’s The Gunslinger meets Breaking Bad in Laura Bickle’s novel Dark Alchemy.

Some secrets are better left buried…
Geologist Petra Dee arrives in Wyoming looking for clues to her father’s disappearance years before. What she finds instead is Temperance, a dying Western town with a gold rush past and a meth-infested present.

But under the town’s dust and quiet, an old power is shifting. When bodies start turning up - desiccated and twisted skeletons that Petra can’t scientifically explain - her investigations land her in the middle of a covert war between the town’s most powerful interests. Petra’s father wasn’t the only one searching for the alchemical secrets of Temperance, and those still looking are now ready to kill.

Armed with nothing but shaky alliances, a pair of antique guns, and a relic she doesn’t understand, the only thing Petra knows for sure is that she and her coyote sidekick are going to have to move fast, or die next.

My Review

Geologist Petra Dee has come to Temperance for a change of scenery after a devastating loss on an oil rig she was working on for several years. She has also come to Temperance searching for clues as to what happened to her father 20 years ago. What Petra finds is a town that blends a bit of the former gold rush, a meth-infested population, a rancher who holds sway over the entire town, mysterious ravens, the presence of not only a Alchemist looking for immortality, but a group of supernatural men called The Hanged Men who self heal.

The most interesting characters you need to know about are Petra's side kick known as Sig, the Coyote/familiar/friend/savior; Mike, the park ranger who is pretty much over his head; Gabriel, one of the lead Hanged Men who works for rancher Sal Rutherford; and Maria Yellowrose whose uncle Frankie is a clairvoyant and sees things while heavily into alcohol. I loved Sig most of all. He's one of those characters that you wish you could take home with you after the story ends.

Bickle uses a heavy dosage of alchemy to tell her story. Probably the most you will see in an Urban Fantasy novel in a very long time. The town of Temperance was founded by an alchemist named Lascaris. There is another alchemist, Stroud, cooking elixirs to keep his hoards happy while searching for the missing element needed for immortality. And, Petra's father apparently was into alchemy as well and uses creepy means in contacting her.

Except for the setting of Temperance, Wyoming for the story, it has absolutely nothing to do with westerns. Most likely, other readers have been drawn in by the luring cover with Petra in her cowgirl outfit and ravens flying around in the background. I will say that Bickle, who wrote The Hallowed Ones, loves creepy stories. Dark Alchemy is no exception.

Dark Alchemy is not your typical Urban Fantasy novel. I would dare compare the story to a cross between Breaking Bad and Supernatural. Dark Alchemy is apparently a standalone novel, but I would not be shocked or surprised if author Laura Bickle revisited these characters again in the future.

Available at  

Amazon    BN   

Google Books    HarperCollins

About the Author:

Laura Bickle grew up in rural Ohio, reading entirely too many comic books out loud to

her favorite Wonder Woman doll. After graduating with an MA in Sociology – Criminology from Ohio State University and an MLIS in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she patrolled the stacks at the public library and worked with data systems in criminal justice. She now dreams up stories about the monsters under the stairs, also writing contemporary fantasy novels under the name Alayna Williams.

Her work has been included in the ALA’s Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 reading list and the State Library of Ohio’s Choose to Read Ohio reading list for 2015-2016. THE HALLOWED ONES and THE OUTSIDE are her latest young adult novels.

www.laurabickle.com

https://twitter.com/Laura_Bickle

https://www.facebook.com/Author.Laura.Bickle

1 copy of  Dark Alchemy by Laura Bickle

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