Review: The Last Ride By James A. Thomas

Title: The Last Ride
Author: James A. Thomas
Ebook







Goodreads synopsis:

Camelia is a recently orphaned teen who has to make it to her estranged grandparents' home in South Dakota or face foster care. But she's too young to travel alone, and she doesn't have enough money.

Bear is Camelia's neighbor, an aging biker with a terminal illness who is determined to make one last run to the big Harley riders' meet in Sturgis.

Camelia talks Bear into taking her along, since her grandparents live less than thirty miles from Sturgis.

Together with Bear's younger sister and a friend, they take off on Harleys, planning on going the long way and soaking up the scenery.

Things go well for a while, and it really is a dream vacation. Then people they meet start turning up dead. The group learns that a mass murderer known as the Northwest Killer is operating in the area. That's bad enough, but it soon becomes apparent that they are somehow psychically linked to the man.

For Camelia, it becomes less a matter of reaching her grandparents than of simply staying alive.

The Last Ride is a road novel, with death riding along. While it’s technically a young adult book because of Camelia's age (14), adults who don't require sex or four-letter words in their reading material should find it an interesting read.

My Review:

Camelia is a fourteen year old orphan. Her parents were killed in automobile accident and her Aunt walks out on her. Camelia is all alone with no money and no guardian. She has no one to turn to except her estranged grandparents in South Dakota. How is she going to get to South Dakota with no money? Besides she is too young to travel alone. Then she meets Bear her next door neighbor. Bear is going on one last ride to the big Harley riders' meet in Sturgis, only thirty miles from her grandparent's home. Camelia talks Bear into taking her along for the ride. On the ride they tell everyone they meet that Bear is her grandfather. It being illegal for Bear to take her other wise.

Bear's younger sister Mac and her friend Dori joins them on their journey. Along the way people that they have met and helped start turning up dead. The killer is dubbed the Northwest Killer. They all even meet the Northwest Killer, at first they don't realize that he is the killer. But it doesn't take them long to figure it out.

I really enjoyed following Camelia and Bear along on their ride. The author makes you feel everything that Camelia is feeling. James Thomas describes everything in a way that you can actually image that you are there seeing what he is seeing in his writing. If you enjoy reading "tear jerkers" then this is the book for you.

I won a copy of The Last Ride by James A. Thomas from LibraryThing for review.

Look for James A. Thomas on the web:

Goodreads - James A. Thomas
Goodreads - The Last Ride

Purchase The Last Ride:

Amazon

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Wishlist Wednesday #12

Wishlist Wednesday is a book blog hop where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

• Follow Pen to Paper as host of the meme.
• Please consider adding the blog hop button to your blog somewhere, so others can find it easily and join in too! Help spread the word! The code will be at the bottom of the post under the linky.
• Pick a book from your wishlist that you are dying to get to put on your shelves.
• Do a post telling your readers about the book and why it's on your wishlist.
• Add your blog to the linky at the bottom of the post on Pen to Paper.
• Put a link back to pen to paper somewhere in your post.
• Visit the other blogs and enjoy!

On My Wishlist:

Title: The Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel (The Dark Tower #4.5)
Author: Stephen King
ebook:
Pages: 322
Published: April 24th 2012
Publisher: Scribner

Goodreads synopsis:

In The Wind Through the Keyhole, Stephen King returns to the rich landscape of Mid-World, the spectacular territory of the Dark Tower fantasy saga that stands as his most beguiling achievement.

Roland Deschain and his ka-tet—Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler—encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two . . . and in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past.

In his early days as a gunslinger, in the guilt-ridden year following his mother’s death, Roland is sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a “skin-man” preying upon the population around Debaria. Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, the brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast’s most recent slaughter. Only a teenager himself, Roland calms the boy and prepares him for the following day’s trials by reciting a story from the Magic Tales of the Eld that his mother often read to him at bedtime. “A person’s never too old for stories,” Roland says to Bill. “Man and boy, girl and woman, never too old. We live for them.” And indeed, the tale that Roland unfolds, the legend of Tim Stoutheart, is a timeless treasure for all ages, a story that lives for us.

King began the Dark Tower series in 1974; it gained momentum in the 1980s; and he brought it to a thrilling conclusion when the last three novels were published in 2003 and 2004. The Wind Through the Keyhole is sure to fascinate avid fans of the Dark Tower epic. But this novel also stands on its own for all readers, an enchanting and haunting journey to Roland’s world and testimony to the power of Stephen King’s storytelling magic.

Why did I choose The Wind Through the Keyhole for this weeks Wishlist Wednesday?

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors. I have read and own all of The Dark Tower books. So I can't wait to read The Wind Through the Keyhole. I know it will be just as good as all of the other books in the series. I loved all the characters in The Dark Tower series, Roland, Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy. Stephen King is a great writer.

Look for Stephen King on the web:

Web site - Stephen King
Web site - The Dark Tower
Web site - Stephen King Library
Goodreads - Stephen King
Goodreads - The Wind Through the Keyhole
Stephen King's Radio Station - WKIT 100.3

Purchase The Wind Through the Keyhole:

Amazon

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Review: Unfinished By Carol Oates

Title: Unfinished
Author: Carol Oates
Published: August 13th 2011
Kindle Edition
Pages: 30









Goodreads synopsis:

Jonas is already raising eyebrows at his new school and Cathy's day isn’t going much better. Everyone is acting as if she isn’t there, her twin is usurping her friends and her occasional boyfriend is moving on. Can she convince Jonas to help her before it’s too late?

My Review:

Everyone has started to ignore Cathy including her twin sister Lottie and her boyfriend. Lottie has also started hanging out with her best friend Delia. Cathy does not like the fact that she is being friends with Delia. Getting mixed up with Delia will get her in trouble and possibly cause her to lose her life. She doesn't want her sister following in her foot steps.

A guy, Cathy has never seen before shows up at school. Cathy thinks he is cute and wonders why he acts like a nerd when he is not. Jonas doesn't ignore Cathy like everyone else does. Cathy needs Jonas' help to save Lottie. Jonas can't or won't help someone like her. He use to help people like Cathy and he lost everyone he ever cared about. Can Cathy save Lottie? Will Jonas help Cathy? You will just have to read Unfinished to find out. I don't won't to reveal any more spoilers and ruin it for you.

Unfinished is a very fast read not because it is a short story. It will grab your attention and keep it until the end. It is a very well written story. I would have like to have known more about Cathy and her sister's life together. More about Jonas and who he is.

Look for Carol Oates on the web:

Web site - Carol Oates
Goodreads - Carol Oates
Goodreads - Unfinished
Facebook - Carol Oates
Twitter - Carol Oates

Purchase Unfinished:

Amazon

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Top Ten Tuesday #14

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and Each week we will post a new Top Ten list that one of our bloggers here at The Broke and would LOVE to see your top ten lists! the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics, check them out here!

This weeks Top Ten List

Top Ten Books On My Summer TBR List

1. The First by Sara Zaske














2. The Fall David L. Dawson
















3. Zombie Fever: Malaysia Outbreak by B.M. Hodges















4. Fire & Ice (Icefire Trilogy) by Patty Jansen
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Staying Human by Kyle Tobin















6. The Mayfair Moon (The Darkwoods Trilogy) by J.A. Redmerski















7. Full Throttle by T. C. Archer















8. The Witching Pen (The Witching Pen Novellas) by Dianna Hardy















9. The Sands Of Time (The Witching Pen Novellas) by Dianna Hardy















10. Dark Passage (Chosen #1) by M.L. Woolley

What is on your Top Ten this week?

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Witchcraft By Emma Mills - Blog Tour + Giveaway

Title: Witchcraft (Witchblood #2)
Author: Emma Mills
Expected publication:June 25th 2012
Ebook




Book Description:

Jess is no ordinary vampire. Protected by the Manchester vampire clan, and initiated by her family’s east coast American coven, she is sought after by every dark witch and warring vampire faction. Jess must fight if she wants to keep hold of her friends, her sanity and finally her existence.

As the dead bodies of human girls begin to stack up, and her recently accepted vampire boyfriend, Daniel, finds himself in prison, Jess goes on a crazy, forbidden trip to London, racing against time to save an old friend and solve the mystery behind Daniel’s incarceration. In battling new enemies and finding new friends, Jess’s confidence finds room to grow, but who will she lose along the way?

My Review

Jess, a seventeen year old girl who is half vampire and half witch. She is not like other vampires who bites a human to drink their blood. Although she doesn't bite them she still drinks human blood that comes from a pack. She is afraid that if she drinks from a human she will not stop before she drains them of all their blood and they die. Jess is a very independent girl who likes no one telling her what to do. She likes to make her own choices and on occasion does.

Eva, Daniel's maker finds Jess' families Book Of Shadow and gives it to her. Jess being half vampire, half witch everyone wants Jess to be a part of their "family" especially now that she has her book of Shadow. The white witches, the witches that practices black magic and other vampire clans all what Jess. Jess is a very powerful witch and they want her on their side. Jess is a new witch and doesn't know how to use her powers. She needs someone to teach her how to use them.

When her human friend Alex comes up missing she wants to go looking for her on her own but Daniel her maker and Eva won't allow her to go by herself. Jess being a newly turned vampire it is to dangerous for her to be around humans by herself. But when Daniel is arrested by the angles, Eva being his maker is allowed to go with him to his cell. With Daniel and Eva gone Jess leaves with Luke to find Alex on her own.

Witchcraft is a very intense read that keeps the adrenaline flowing with all the twist and turns. You don't want to put it down, you want to keep turning the pages to find out what is going to happen next. I felt like I was in the same room as Jess seeing and feeling what she felt and saw. Emma makes you feel as if you are a part of Jess's world with her writing skills. It is like having esp you see the things that Jess sees through Emma's eyes. If you have not read Witchcraft then you need to read it now unless you have not read Witchblood the prequel to Witchcraft then you need to read Witchblood then Witchcraft.

About the Author:

Emma Mills is happily married with two lovely children. She has always loved reading and writing and after much debate decided to self publish her debut novel Witchblood in January 2012, the sequel Witchcraft will be published in June. She began writing paranormal YA fiction after aquiring an obsessive love of supernatural teen novels...And yes she is a Twilight fan...She decided to write her own supernatural story based in Manchester in the UK, near where she lives and grew up. Except she couldn't decide whether to write about vampires or witches, so she chose both! In the High Peak it's often dark, windy, cold and very very wet... and easy to get inspiration!

Thanks to the author Emma Mills I am giving away a copy of her new book Witchcraft book 2 in the Witchblood series. The giveaway will be from June 18 to June 22. Enter by Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Look for Emma Mills on the Web:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads- Author Page

Goodreads- Witchcraft

Purchase Witchcraft:

Amazon

Smashwords

Purchase Witchblood:

Amazon

Smashwords

Be sure and check out the other blogs on the tour for Witchcraft

Tour Schedule

16/06/12- Readaraptor
17/06/12- BookAngel Booktopia
18/06/12- The Avid Reader
19/06/12- Susan K Mann
20/06/12- The Caffinated Diva
21/06/12- Eleusinian Mysteries
22/06/12- Sister Spooky
23/06/12- Bookaholics
24/06/12- What's Beyond Forks
25/06/12- Witchbloodthenovel

I was given a copy of Witchcraft by the author for review.

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Blog A Quote #5

Blog A Quote is weekly meme hosted by Michelle Chew Writes. Each week we will be sharing a quote from our favorite books. For more info and to sign up visit Michelle Chew Writes.

My quote for this week is from Hollowland By Amanda Hocking

“This is the way the world ends; not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door.”

I like this quote because it reminds me of Stephen King's The Stand. At the beginning of the movie The Stand there is a poem that starts out "This is the way the world ends". The Stand has been one of my favorite books since the first time I read it.

What is your favorite quote?

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Stacking The Shelves #5

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Where each week we share the books that we have added to our shelves during the past week. This includes books that we bought, borrowed from the library, received from the author for review, books that we won. They can be either physical books or ebooks.

You can find out more about Stacking The Shelves from the official launch page.

Received from author for review













Darkness Breaks (Darkness Falls Series, Book 2) By Jessica Sorensen





Won from Goodread First Reads












Midnight Child (Midnight Guardian Series, Book 3) By Bryna Butler





Sent by Full Moon Bites from author for Blog Tour













Full Throttle By T. C. Archer





Amazon Freebies











Blood Awakening (The Blood Burden Series) By Wenona Hulsey















Grimsley Hollow - Eve of the Beginning By Nicole Storey















Bound to Remember, a Paranormal Romance (Book 1 of the Spellbound Series) By Lola James















The House on Blackstone Moor (The Blackstone Vampires) By Carole Gill

What did you add to your shelves this week?

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Review: Intuition By J. Meyers

Title: Intuition (Intangible 0.5)
Author: J. Meyers
Published: October 17th 2011
Ebook
Pages: 51





Goodreads synopsis:

Intuition: A Bonus INTANGIBLE Short Story

Luke and his twin sister Sera have unusual abilities. Hers is a gift—she can heal with a touch of her hand. His is a curse—he can see the future but he can’t do anything about it.

On a hike up the mountain, Luke has a vision unlike any other—one that leaves him terrified. Knowing that it will come true—and that he must do everything in his power to stop it—leaves his own future uncertain.

Don't miss the first book in the series, INTANGIBLE, on sale January 2012.

My Review:

Unlike most I read Intangible before I read Intuition. Even though I read Intangible first I still enjoyed reading Intuition. It was very well written with an introduction to Intangible the first book in the series. Which is also J. Meyers début novel. Intuition introduces us to Luke's visions. Visions that he has never been able to stop or do anything about. Having vision and not being able to prevent them depresses Luke.

Intuition introduces us to Sera's gift also. Sera can heal with just a touch. She has no idea how it works. She is just over joyed that it does and that she can help people. Sera and Luke have always kept their gift a secret from everyone. The outside world would not understand and think they are freaks.

I recommend that you read Intuition before reading Intangible although I did not. It will give you a little incite to who Sera and Luke are and what they can do. Reading Intangible first will not in any way ruin Intuition. I am glad that I read it.

Look for J. Meyers on the web:

Web site - J. Meyers
Goodreads - J. Meyers
Goodreads - Intangible (Intangible #1)
Facebook - J. Meyers
Twitter - J. Meyers

Purchase Intuition:

Amazon

Purchase Intangible:

Amazon

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