Review: Midnight Burning

Midnight Burning
by Karissa Laurel

Synopsis

Solina  Mundy  lives  a  quiet  life,  running  the  family  bakery  in  her  small  North  Carolina hometown. But one night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that Mani is dead. Drivento learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex-Marine, is the only one willing to help her.


As Solina and Skyla delve into the mystery surrounding Mani’s death, Solina is stunned to learn that her own life is tied to Mani’s friends, his death, and the fate of the entire world. If she can’t learn to control her newfound gifts and keep her friends safe, a long-lost dominion over mortals will rise again, and everything she knows will fall into darkness.

Review

This is the kind of book I live for - some mystery and romance? And and and - mythology is mixed in there? Yes, please! The story has a great pace and it had me reading it from cover to cover (and annoyed when I had to put it down to attend to life - ugh!). I don't want to go into depth with the characters, but they are wonderful and well-rounded characters. It's truly a thrilling book with likable characters. Solina in particular is a strong female character - which any fan of this blog will know how much I love strong female characters/protagonists. 

All in all, this is a thrilling story that will keep you wanting more!

Verdict

So - where's book 2?? *thumbs up*

About the Author

Karissa Laurel always dabbled in writing, but she also wanted to be a chef when she grew up. So she did. After years of working nights, weekends, and holidays, she burnt out and said, “Now what do I do?” She tried a bunch of other things, the most steady of those being a paralegal for state government, but nothing makes her as happy as writing. She has published several short stories and reads “slush” for a couple of short-story markets.

Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for speculative fiction. Sometimes her husband convinces her to put down the books and take the motorcycles out for a spin. When it snows, you’ll find her on the slopes.

Karissa also paints and draws and harbors a grand delusion that she might finish a graphic novel someday.

Follow Karissa Online:

Web page: http://www.karissalaurel.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/karissalaurel

Twitter: @karissalaurel

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KarissaLaurel

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/karissalaurel

Youtube Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0YLj4g3Di0

Review: Doon & Destined for Doon

Doon
by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon

Synopsis from Amazon:

Veronica doesn’t think she’s going crazy. But why can’t anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes?

When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna’s great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation.

Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica’s daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they’ve longed for… or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.

Review

I had seen copies of Doon at the local bookstore and it always caught my eye. It caught my eye because it has a gorgeous cover. The green background and that fantastic dress? Yes, please! I still hadn't gotten around to buying it when, suddenly, I was given the opportunity to read it and it's sequel, Destined for Doon, for review. 

Technically, I was offered Destined for Doon to read for review when I joined the BookSparks blog tour - but I cannot start a story on anything but it's first volume. So, I asked if I could read Doon first and voila! So, many thanks to the publisher :)

Now, I was not expecting to get as enthralled as I was with this book. Scotland and its lore has never interested me, but I thought, let's give it a try. I am very glad that I did! The authors of this book do a great job of never letting the story slow down too much - there is action everywhere! Also, I loved how the characters are each given their "turn" to "talk" i.e. each chapter is based on a different character's POV. I very much enjoyed the characters, best friends, Veronica and Mackenna. I loved...LOVED that the book started off almost in the middle of what other books may consider the "main" story. I am completely aware of how much nonsense that sounds like, but hopefully you understand when you read it. 

The story is fully of mystery, friendship, fantasy...and romance. A mysterious boy who shows up when you need him, a friend by your side and an adventure into a gorgeous but unknown land? What is not to like?

Anyone who reads my blog knows that this is a spoiler-free zone. I don't want to ruin any book that you, dear reader, may want to pick up later on. Just know, that I read both Doon and Destined for Doon - and neither disappointed me. Both are gorgeous books giving us a glimpse into a world we can only dream of - and it's fantastic. 

So, read Doon and then read...

...you will NOT regret it.

Verdict

Do you really need more after that opus? :) These are honestly great books and I am not just saying that because I was asked to review them - I can't finish books I don't like!

Buy the book:

• Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1lhJVUg
• Amazon Hardcover: http://amzn.to/1pL8F7k

About the authors:

Carey Corp lives in the metropolitan Midwest with her loveable yet out-of-control family. Carey wrote her first book at the age of seven, and currently begins each morning consuming copious amounts of coffee while weaving stories that capture her exhaustive imagination. She harbors a voracious passion (in no consistent order) for mohawks, Italy, musical theater, chocolate, and Jane Austen. Carey’s debut novel for teens, The Halo Chronicles: The Guardian, earned her national recognition as 2010 Golden Heart finalist for best young adult fiction and was recently featured at the 2012 RT Booklovers Convention in Chicago in YA Alley.

Lorie Langdon has over ten years of experience writing online and print advertising for a Fortune 500 company, and left her thriving corporate career to satisfy the voices in her head. Now as a full-time author and stay-at-home mom, she spends her summers editing poolside while dodging automatic water-gun fire, and the rest of the year tucked into her cozy office, Havanese puppy by her side, working to translate her effusive imagination into the written word and continue to build the young-adult-focused blog, HonestlyYA.

Connect with the authors:

Carey Corp:

• Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1qqj0BL
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/careycorp
• Website: http://www.doonseries.com/
• Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1pez6SL

Lorie Langdon:

• Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1nagUFl
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LorieLangdon
• Website: http://www.lorielangdon.com/
• Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1AyddRT

Promo Spot: Balance Keepers

What's it about?

The Fires of Calderon is Book One in Lindsay Cummings's epic Balance Keepers series. These exciting fantasy adventure books are full of magic, mystery, friendship, and humor and are perfect for fans of books like Brandon Mull's The Candy Shop War or the Unwanteds series by Lisa McMann.

Bestselling author of the Skeleton Creek series Patrick Carman describes The Fires of Calderon as "fast paced and packed with adventure," and Peter Lerangis, bestselling author of the Seven Wonders series, says, "Wow!"

With themes of friendship, self-discovery, and courage; both boy and girl main characters; fierce creatures to battle; a mystery to solve; and a boarding school that could be described as Hogwarts underground, there's something for every reader to enjoy in this contemporary—and fantastically imaginative—spin on the classic Journey to the Center of the Earth.

When eleven-year-old Albert Flynn follows a mysterious map deep into the woods, and then under the woods, he discovers he's a Balance Keeper—someone with special magical skills for keeping harmony in fantastical underground worlds. Together with his teammates Leroy and Birdie, Albert must master his magical talents in time to stop the fires in the Calderon Realm from destroying New York City above.