The Keeper of the Stones (Jake West #1) and Warriors of the Heynai (Jake West, #2) by M.J. Webb Review ~Kami

The Keeper of the Stones (Jake West #1)

by M.J. Webb 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9630640-the-keeper-of-the-stones

http://www.amazon.com/Jake-West-M-J-Webb/dp/1447778804/ref=la_B0049OUVD4_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357710683&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/M.-J.-Webb/e/B0049OUVD4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

This book was gifted to me by the author for an honest review. Thank You.

Jake and his friend Ben open a mysterious box with magic stones, hidden in his grandfather's attic. His grandfather tells him that for three hundred years, the men of their family have been safeguarding the stones in the box. “Well, the box was made in a land called Rhuaddan. … It exists in another dimension, and the only way to get to it, is through that light you saw appear earlier, the one coming out of the box.” Brothers King Artrex and evil King Vantrax are at war. Sawdon, Boghias and Adrob are sent by Vantrax to retrieve the stones and kill the Keeper. Jake and Ben go through the portal to Rhuaddan. The two boys meet an escaped slave Verastus and are taken prisoner by Princess Zephany.

The writing is very descriptive but it is also full of cliches which I didn't really like. I wasn't immediately drawn into the story and I didn't become too emotionally involved with the characters. I was liking it better almost halfway through when the battle between the rebel army and the evil wizard Vantrax started. I was really having a problem with this guy's name. In my head I kept thinking Valtrex. Definitely unfortunate and inappropriate.

The story got better and towards the end I was liking it. Maybe I will like the second book better. I'm giving this one 3 stars.

Warriors of the Heynai (Jake West #2)

by M.J. Webb

 This book was gifted to me by the author for an honest review. Thank You.

This book starts where the last one left off, in a hospital and someone close to Jake is dead. “The stones were a mighty weapon given to the people of Estia by the Heynai, spirits who entrusted the box to the Keepers, ancestors of Jake's from Earth. It had survived centuries, protecting the world and countless others from harm, and Jake and Ben had broken it!” This book starts out pretty good. The writing is stronger and there are less cliches. I am still confusing Vantrax's name with a herpes medication in my head. I was liking Jake more in this book. Ben is kind of annoying. I wasn't really caring at all about any of the other characters. Jake, Ben, Tien and Verastus are on a quest to restore the broken stones. King Artex is trying to raise an army. Vantrax is trying to kill off everyone and raise a zombie army. There are a lot of exciting moments happening. Towards the middle I started getting bored again. I would read a little, then get bored, then go back to it and read a little. But I really had a hard time getting into it and it wasn't really holding my attention too well. Once The Battle of Dassilliak started I was liking it again and it was getting really exciting. This author writes really good battle scenes and I was getting into them but the filler in between was boring me. The book ended well and got really exciting. I was liking it again towards the end. This book was better than the first one. If that continues to hold true then the third book should be the best. I guess I will need to pick up the last book so as to see how this series ends. 3.5 stars.

Deep into the Soul by J.L. Vallance....great read much recommended ! 

Deep Into The Soul ( the guild series) is a terrific paranormal/supernatural story with romance. the author writes amazing characters and such a intriguing mysterious plot it keeps you hooked. Vivienne Drake a 30 something women struggles through day to day life since she was sixteen and her life was turned up side down with the murder of her mother and loss of her fathers support. With the love and guidance from amazing friends she finds life tolerable. Although Vivienne (Vivi) has nightmares that literally brings her into a world she only experiences while asleep she cannot figure out why these nightmares feel so real and how she can stop them from controlling her life. In  comes Calum McCort a man with a mysterious secretive life that shows and teaches  her where she belongs and answers questions about her past. This story has twists and turns and is hard to put down. This author has amazing creativity introducing you to a world of Daemonium, Guardians, Lucifer and The Guild. I highly recommend this and cannot wait for number 2! 

~ Nanee

The White Lilac by Christina J. Adams Review ~Kami

The White Lilac

by Christina J. Adams 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13506458-the-white-lilac

http://www.amazon.com/The-White-Lilac-ebook/dp/B007BF9TO0/ref=la_B007BID39Y_1_1_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1357592300&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Christina-J.-Adams/e/B007BID39Y/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

This book was gifted to me from the author for an honest review. Thank You!

The year is 2734. “When the first Earth colonists landed on Beta Earth they saw a fertile land waiting to be cultivated, but they weren’t the first living creatures here. … For most of the year it was easy to forget these fish were there, but once every eighty years, during the jigger’s mating season, they released a toxic dust into the air that is much stronger than all previous years.” 15 year-old Caryn has been genetically altered to hold her breath longer than humanly possible over 41 minutes and she has scales. The White Lilac will swim and retrieve the Haydon cure. To retrieve the Haydon cure from the anemone where it is found means death. Four years ago Caryn's friend Heather drowned. Caryn is determined to be the one to find the Haydon cure and sacrifice herself. Caryn will be the 16^th White Lilac.

The T-Man tells 16-year-old street kid Kai to steal a ruby and in payment he will tell him where Kai's mother is and why she left him. If Kai doesn't deliver the ruby in four days, T-Man will have him killed.

Caryn is allowed to leave the Compound and travel the city for three days. Kai runs into the room where Caryn is by accident and she chooses him for her companion.

This book is really good. I really liked the writing and all the suspense and tension. It confused me at first with the changes in point of view each chapter. When it is Caryn's chapter, the point of view is first person. When it is Kai's chapter, it is third person. But once I got used to that I thought the story was just amazing and exciting. 5 stars.

Outsider (Outsider #1) by Micalea Smeltzer Review ~Kami

Outsider (Outsider #1)

by Micalea Smeltzer

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13562180-outsider

http://www.amazon.com/Outsider-Series-ebook/dp/B007OWPBQU/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357460325&sr=1-1&keywords=outsider+micalea+smeltzer

This book was gifted to me by the author for an honest review. Thank You!

Sophie is moving in with her grandmother in Virginia. The first night there she hears wolves calling outside her window. The last four books I have read have had a hot guy on a motorcycle protecting the girl and the last three the hot guy on the motorcycle has been the protagonist's soul mate. These girls are making me seriously jealous! I want a hot guy on a motorcycle who is my soul mate. I guess it saves time. You meet the guy, and BAM he's yours. Blue-eyed Caeden is super yummy. And Sophie is very feisty. ““Sophie was fine up until the point where she fell flat on her face when she got a look at my delicious abs,” he said and pulled up his shirt rubbing his chiseled stomach.” “My basement floor is now flooded with your drool.” “You have the gift of the purest, most kind, forgiving, all-consuming, true love.” “Bring on the shackles baby, I'm your slave.”

This books starts in September. Sophie's first shift into a wolf will be on her 18^th birthday, January 16^th. I was really liking this book. I liked the banter between Caeden and Sophie. The rival pack adds a lot of tension and excitement to the plot. Travis is a really, horrible, scary villain. Thinking of another shifter council in the shifter series by Rachel Vincent, they would have been executed a long time ago by an enforcer. This wolf council seems more lenient towards murder and torture of innocents. And this group doesn't seem to have an enforcer to do the dirty work. Though this group of wolf shifters seems a bit smaller than the shifter packs in Rachel Vincent's series. The other difference may be because this is a young adult book and Rachel Vincent's series is adult. But it does seem a little strange that Travis only gets a scolding like: 'bad wolf. No more of that.'

Caeden starts spending the night in Sophie's room to keep her safe. They hide this from her grandmother which I personally don't think would work. The grandmother is also a wolf, wouldn't she smell Caeden in the house? Caeden is the Alpha and leader of his pack which is a lot of responsibility for an 18-year-old. He does the best he can but he is afterall just a boy. Great leadership comes from experience, I think.

Caeden takes Sophie to the woods and a cave. As I was reading this I was thinking that 'how come they're not worried about bears?' but I guess since it is January all the bears would be hibernating. And I guess smaller animals would be afraid of the wolves and know to stay away.

I really liked this book a lot. I was seriously getting into the interaction between Caeden and Sophie. They are so funny and cute together. I really want to read the next book in this series and find out what happens with the big, bad, wolf: Travis. I am surprised that the author is only 19. She shows a lot of maturity in her writing which can get only better with experience. 4 stars.

Touching Smoke (Touch #1) by Airicka Phoenix Review ~Kami

Touching Smoke (Touch #1)

by Airicka Phoenix 

http://www.amazon.com/Touching-Smoke-Touch-Series-ebook/dp/B008RB72NW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357423307&sr=1-1&keywords=touching+smoke+by+airicka+phoenix

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15705572-touching-smoke

Sixteen-year-old Fallon has been having reoccurring dreams about a girl named Amalie. Her father died when she was four and her mother has been dragging her around Canada 'traveling'. My immediate thought at this point is to wonder if they are on the run from something. Fallon's mother drops her off at Lady Clare’s Academy: “an exclusive boarding school for the very gifted and very rich”. Then evil figures whose hands are on fire chase her. A mysterious boy rescues her. “It was like watching some crazy paranormal TV show in person with my mystery guy being the good guy sent out to kill the fire-throwing demons terrorizing the town.” Isaiah is smoking hot. Mutants are chasing Fallon and Isaiah protects her. He isn't entirely human and neither is Fallon. 4 stars.

Significance (Significance #1) by Shelly Crane Review ~Kami

Significance (Significance #1)

by Shelly Crane 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16282066-significance

http://www.amazon.com/Significance-Novel-Shelly-Crane/dp/1463695403/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357335429&sr=1-1&keywords=significance

http://www.amazon.com/Shelly-Crane/e/B0055Q9PWS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Maggie is having a bad year. Her mother left her. Her boyfriend left her. She is graduating from high school and bummed out that everyone leaves her. Her dad is so depressed about his wife leaving him, that he lost his job and can't emotionally be there for his daughter. He doesn't even cheer or clap for her as she graduates. Then Maggie saves the life of a boy who isn't paying attention as he starts walking across the street. Caleb is Maggie's significant and they imprint with each other. Caleb, his cousin Kyle and their family are not entirely human. Maggie is told that she has to be with Caleb to survive. There are rival clans that want to hurt her. I don't know, meet your soul mate and then get super powers? Doesn't sound too bad to me. “You’re everything. All I want is for you to be happy and safe.” I really liked this book a lot. It is a quick read. The writing is really good. I really enjoyed the characters a lot. Caleb and Maggie are so cute together. “Never in a million years would I have believed I’d have found the love of my life at a stop light after I saved his life.” 5 stars.

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole review ~Kami

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)by Kresley Cole

http://www.amazon.com/Poison-Princess-Arcana-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B007EDYRTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357251934&sr=8-1&keywords=poison+princess

http://www.amazon.com/Kresley-Cole/e/B001I9Q6P0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13450339-poison-princess

This book starts out with a prologue on day 246 AF or after the flash. Apparently there is an apocalypse and the prologue takes place after the apocalyptic event, then the first chapter takes place on day 6 BF, or before the flash. Evie's sixteenth birthday is the day of the apocalyptic event, the flash. Before that she was in a mental institution because she had been having hallucinations. Evie and her friends are “popular bowhead cheerleaders” which makes her seem very vapid and shallow except for the secret she is keeping from everyone about what really happened on her summer vacation, her stay in the institution and her violent hallucinations. A group of bad kids on motorcycles from the other side of the swamp show up at Evie's school. “To go from their Cajun, poor – and adamantly Catholic – parish to our rich town of Louisiana Protestants …?” Jackson Deveaux is the tall, gorgeous, drinking from a flask in high school, leader of the gang of Cajun misfits. And he seems rather obsessed with the pampered princess Evie. Plants move on their own for Evie. She is terrified that her mother will have her committed again like she did to her grandmother. “I'm a Tarasova, Evie, a chronicler of the Tarot. I know things that nobody else on earth knows. And you're the Empress. Just like the card in my deck. One day, you'll control all things that root or bloom.”

Before you can say, 'Oh My God The Apocalypse', there are zombies, militia and cannibals. Seven months later civilization has crumbled completely and Jack and Evie are reunited. Here is where I feel, Evie starts acting seriously stupid. If I was surviving an apocalypse the first thing I would do is align myself with the first strong dude who wouldn't beat me to protect me. And a guy who is actually decent and cares? Perfect. But Evie doesn't trust Jack and doesn't want to have anything to do with him. She actually thinks she has a chance of survival? She can't cook. She has no survival skills. She can't shoot a gun. She is useless or de'pouille. Except for her Arcana powers.

Jack and Evie meet some of the other cards. Matthew is The Fool: “Crazy like a fox.” Selena is The Moon, The Archer: “Behold the Bringer of Doubt.” “Joules. Master of Electricity. The Tower Card.” “Eyes to the skies, lads!” “The Temperance Card … Calanthe. She wields the Weight of Sins.” Gabriel, the Judgement Card: “I watch you like a hawk.” Finn is The Magician. “Don't look at this hand, look at that one.”

This book is so good I am still reeling. I am so upset that I have to wait an entire year to get the next book in the series. 5 stars.

Major Arcana of the Tarot:

Number	Name
None (0 or 22)	The Fool
1	The Magician
2	The High Priestess
3	The Empress
4	The Emperor
5	The Hierophant
6	The Lovers
7	The Chariot
8	Strength
9	The Hermit
10	Wheel of Fortune
11	Justice
12	The Hanged Man
13	Death
14	Temperance
15	The Devil
16	The Tower
17	The Star
18	The Moon
19	The Sun
20	Judgement
21	The World