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review 2019-01-15 14:33
Book Blitz: Analiese Rising by Brenda Drake with Giveaway

Analiese Rising
Brenda Drake
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: January 8th 2019
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

 

Half-Blood meets Antigoddess in a thrilling, romantic new series from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Drake.

 

When a stranger gives Analiese Jordan a list of names before he dies, the last thing she expects to see is her own on it. Not. Cool. Her search for answers leads to the man’s grandson, Marek, who has dangerous secrets of his own. Both are determined to unlock the mystery of the list.

 

But the truth is deadly. Analiese is a descendant of the God of Death, known as a Riser, with the power to raise the dead and control them. Finding out she has hidden powers? Cool. Finding out she turns corpses into killers? No, thank you.

 

Now the trail plants her and Marek in the middle of a war between gods who apparently want to raise an army of the Risen, and Analiese must figure out how to save the world—from herself.

 

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

 

EXCERPT

 

The classroom smells like a funeral home.

 

Hushed voices pulse over the pairs of students hunching over trays spaced across the counters. The odor of bodies fresh out of gym class mingles with the scent of formaldehyde.

 

Hair dampens at my temples. A crematory would be cooler.

 

Not many have finished their assignments. Only a few overachievers sit in the rows of empty desks on the other side of the room, their tasks completed, proud smiles on their faces.

 

Mrs. Cryer shuffles around the tables watching over us—a reaper waiting for lost souls, her bony finger pointing out errors. She shuffles around with purpose. She shuffles around without direction. Then she stops at our table, her eyes peering over reading glasses.

 

“Mr. Bove and Miss Jordan, you two are falling behind,” she says, a disapproving tsk in her voice. She only uses last names when she wants to emphasize her warning. “Best hurry before class ends.”

 

She continues shuffling around.

 

Biology is my least favorite class. Mrs. Cryer’s assignments are outdated. It’s her last year teaching, her retirement long overdue. Stern and direct, she’s not the sort of teacher I usually like, but I do. There’s an underlying kindness to Mrs. Cryer. A kindness hiding in her eyes, evident in her actions.

 

One of the things I like about my school: my brother, Dalton, is in the same grade. We’re not twins or anything. Actually, we’re cousins. His parents adopted me when mine were killed in a boating accident on Lake Como in Italy. I don’t remember them. I was two when that all went down.

 

The thing I hate about school: Dalton’s in my biology class.

 

“Come on, Ana.” Dalton slides the dissection tray closer to me. “I did all the setup. Just make the first cut.”

 

The little green body looks rubbery—almost fake—crucified to the tray with pins as it is. I push strands of dark hair from my face with a latex-gloved hand. I could’ve opted out of this barbaric ritual of separating body parts from an innocent frog.

 

Why did I even agree to this?

 

Author Bio:

 

Brenda Drake is a New York Times bestselling author of young adult fiction. She grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother's animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she's not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!

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review 2018-04-18 19:20
Polarity In Motion
Polarity in Motion - Brenda Vicars

Title: Polarity In Motion
Author: Brenda Vicars
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Polarity in Motion" by Brenda Vicars

My Thoughts....

I found this novel a good thought provoking and touching read for any young adult and parent. What will happen as fifteen year old Polarity is put in a unfortunate situation? I liked how this author was able to 'address many level of bullying, social media, mental illness, racial discrimination, drugs and relationships' that so many youngsters can relate to. Even with all of this it is so hard to believe people can be so cruel. So, in the end how will this story end about a nude photo that goes viral? A bag of drugs and more? OK, to find out who put the photo out there and more you will have to pick up 'Polarity in Motion' to find out. How will Polarity 'save herself by saving someone else?'

I really enjoyed 'the love in the message about inequity that involved 'Polarity's road to self discovery.' The author did a great job giving the readers some amazing characters that were presented and handled the different issues so very well in this young adult novel. "Polarity in Motion" was definitely a compelling story to read and definitely learn from it.

Thank you to the author for a good read.



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review 2016-07-04 21:27
Forbidden Love In Timbuktu: Woman From Another Land
Forbidden Love in Timbuktu - Brenda Smith

Title: Forbidden Love In Timbuktu: Woman From Another Land
Author: Brenda Smith
Publisher: Xlibris U. S.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Forbidden Love In Timbuktu: Woman From Another Land" by Brenda Smith

My Thoughts.....

"Forbidden Love In Timbuktu: Woman From Another Land" will keep your attention till the very end and will leave you wanting to know more. This author did a excellent job at giving the reader one good story of Kieta Toura, a native from Timbuktu. Ms Toura did not have the greatest life but after her father took her from her home to the Soyinka's to live with them under the watchful eye of Wakesa maybe life would not be so bad for her. Becoming friends to the Soyinka daughter Marissa life was going good and even greater meeting a certain person. But would her life be the same after something horrible happens to her though the dealings with the 'new rules of citizens to follow?' The characters in this read were all very well developed, portrayed and so believable that you find yourself feeling you are right there in the mist of what all is happening. The story really picks up as we find Kieta being taken from one country to another and to some good people. Now how did that come about for Kieta? It looked like finally Kieta was going well with her new family, in school and even having found a good friend. However, there was always the desire for Kieta to know what had happen to her friend in Timbuktu and how did she get to where she was now in Florida. As life goes on for Kieta she is now in law school in New York having been blessed to do so by her new family but still Kieta wanted to know how she had gotten to America from Timbuktu and what had happened to her dear fellow whom she had loved so very much. The way this author brings this out to the reader was very well done and with saying that I don't want to tell to much more because believe me there is another part of this story that centers around what Kieta's friend Charlotte brings to the table. Who would have ever thought this would happen for Kieta but I started to get the idea of something was happening with Kieta's girlfriend Charlotte boyfriend [Jason]...who was a detective. Now, I really will really stop here and say this is definitely one of those story that you will not be able to put down and in the end well, you will see for yourself what I am talking about. Would I recommend this novel? YES for it will have you turning the pages rapidly to the end to find out how this will all come out!

Thank you to the author for the gift of a signed copy "Forbidden Love in Timbuktu" for my giving my honest opinion of the read. I enjoyed it so well I brought a Kindle copy so I could listen to it too!

 

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url 2016-03-26 21:12
FREE Romance at Amazon
Now and Then - Brenda Rothert
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review 2016-01-17 05:54
Home to Cedar Branch
Home to Cedar Branch (A Quaker Café Novel) - Brenda Bevan Remmes

Title: Home to Cedar Branch
Author: Brenda Bevan Remmes
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Series Quaker Cafe #2
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Home to Cedar Branch" by Brenda Bevan Remmes

My Thoughts....

Now this was one story that had a little bit of it all from some mystery to even Christian fiction. From boys getting into trouble[snooping], from violence at home, to adultery, murder, breaking out of court, Quaker's helping, more shooting to family healing. To put this all into one story all I can say is that this author gives the reader quite a story full of drama dealing with spousal abuse/kidnapping. This family of Katy and Hank will keep you turning the pages to see what was coming next. Be ready for many twist and turns and I will say that the ending did surprise me and did leave me with some mixed feelings having some unanswered questions.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.

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