HARBINGER

 Matthew Cox delivers another science fiction/paranormal winner.  You don’t always get sci-fi with plot and characters, but he presents a well-rounded story that keeps you wanting more.  I swear, he’s the master of ending a chapter where you can’t wait to read the next one.

 

Onto book 6!

HEIR ASCENDANT

 Wow!  This isn’t just a great start to a new series.  It’s a very dark young adult dystopian.  In some ways, its an adult book.  The language is adult, and plenty of evil things happen in the story. 

 

The world building is powerful and intense.  Its like our world enough to be believable, but different enough to suck you in and leave you wondering what will happen next. 

 

Maya is loveable and realistic.  The action is nonstop.  This book has all of Matt’s trademarks and I can’t wait to see where the series takes us.

THRALL

Book 3 delivered a realization to me about why I love this series so much.  The characters continue across the series and they grow.  They don’t keep making the same mistakes.  Each book is complete in itself, but as the series continues, it forms a well-rounded world with realistic characters.  I’m at the point where I expect to meet the characters in real life. 

 

THRALL is another excellent installment.  If you’ve read the first books, don’t miss out on this one. 

GUARDIAN

Book 4 delivers the same action and supernatural drama as the first books in the series, along with believable characters that are Matthew Cox’s trademark.  You will root for Kirsten to soar.

I like that the series isn’t all about romance.  Lately, you can’t find an adult book, not even an adult science fiction book, that doesn’t have romance in it. 

LEX DE MORTUS

Another winner from Matthew Cox!  This is an interesting mixture of science fiction and ghosts.  The characters are real.  The situations keep you on the edge of your seat.  This is a remarkable series of crimes, peril, and the paranormal.  This isn’t a book you want to fly through, but rather, it is one to savor and enjoy.

Note: This book continues after book 1, so definitely book 1 first to truly enjoy this masterpiece.

Kim Possible (Live Action)

 Jordan Bradt: Kim Possible was one of my favorite TV shows.  I knew they had come out with a live action movie, but I hadn't been too interested until it came up as a suggestion while I was looking for a movie to watch with my son.  

He actually enjoyed it, and at the end, he wanted to do the same fighting moves.  Is it bad that I can't really tear it apart?  Maybe its because I didn't watch it a lot (or ever) as a kid.  The movie was cheesy, of course, and you could tell the special effects were special effects, but it all worked as a kid movie.  

It brought in many elements of the TV show, like Shego and Bonnie, and it was awesome seeing Christy Carlson Romano.  It felt as if the creators tried to make it as fun as possible without really adhering to realism, and it worked.  I liked the actress who played Kim, and Ron wasn't too bad.  

I came away from it with a strong sense of positive feminism.  Girls can kick butt without feeling bad about it.  They were bada**.  

Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire

 Jordan Bradt:  This was one of my favorite DCOM movies when I was younger.  I loved vampires, and I loved Sabrina.  "Aunt Hilda" from Sabrina stars as a the mom.  This was a spookier movie, and it wasn't on all that often, so when the Disney Channel did play it, I was riveted in front of the television set.

I'm not 13 anymore, and alas, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.  It was still a pretty cool movie, and I think its great for preteens who want something a little scarier than normal, but not too scary.  Its a Halloween movie for kids.  

Of course, I had some issues with it...

1. Malachi Van Helsing sucks.  It takes him forever to cast a finding spell to point him in the right direction.  He was driving around for hours.  He didn't think to do it earlier?  Then when he actually battles the vampire, he's knocked out easily.  Not to mention that he and the vampire are in the same grocery store, and he somehow doesn't see him.  

2. Van Helsing is like a weird version of Dean Winchester from Supernatural.  The outfit, the job, the car... Did the Supernatural people see this movie and decide to make Van Helsing 100 times cooler?  I don't get why Mom and Van Helsing even "hit it off" at the end.  Is Mom desperate for companionship?  (Not the vibe I got during the beginning of the movie.) She doesn't even know him.  How is she not still reeling from the fact that her boyfriend was an actual vampire?

3. Speaking of Mom...I LOVED her story in this.  Strong, single woman power!  She is rocking it as a single mom (even if she does make a couple mistakes, but we're all human and they are believable).  She is an ex-rocker, and when she takes the stage, she comes into her own.  She remembers who she is and she SHINES!  She even turns down the vampire before he entrances her because she's remembering how much she loves herself.  I was cheering for her.

4. I don't remember the vampire dude's name.  The closed captioning was even on and I kept reading his name, but whatever.  He wants to entrance a woman to be his bride forever (I guess), but he and the mom don't get along.  He's continuously put off by her and disgusted.  He doesn't share any of her interests.  Is that really who he wants to spend eternity with?  Wouldn't you rather have someone you got along with?

5. Why do these single parents in Disney movies have grand houses?!  What kind of job did Mom have that she could afford that mansion in a nice neighborhood?  

6. Why are the kids always upper middle class?  I can remember never relating to them, and I still can't relate to them.  Why weren't any of the kids poor?

\7. Duffy, the boy's best friend, was so annoying.  What exactly did he do to be a good best friend?

8. Last, but not least, why was it okay for the little brother to run off with Van Helsing?  Van Helsing should have taken him back home.  Instead, he drove around with him for hours looking for the vampire and sharing a sandwich.  I don't mean tearing a sandwich in half.  Van Helsing took a bite and then the little boy bit into the same area.  Creeper alert!

DIVISION ZERO

I knew I was in for a good book because Matt wrote it, and I love his Vampire series.  The book is set in the future and Division Zero is a police force that investigates the paranormal.  This one had more action than some of his books.  Its fast paced, never slowing down for a breather.  I wish I could have read it in one sitting.  The characters are all real and emotional as all of his characters.  If you’re looking for a thriller with a unique take on psionic abilities, check out DIVISION ZERO.

A VAMPIRE’S GUIDE TO ADULTING

Book 10 is just as entertaining. Matthew Cox knows how to take a vampire story to the next level with realistic characters you can’t get enough of. Even though this is book 10, the story is still going strong. It doesn’t start to peter out, as some long series do. While you can read this book and enjoy it for its own merits, I suggest you start at the beginning. You won’t be disappointed in any of the books.

Creatures of Myth and Reality by A.K. Morgen

Creatures of Myth and Reality by A.K. Morgen

One of my favorite things in life is mythology…which is probably why I wrote The Ragnarök Prophesies series. I loved getting to delve into this belief system and modernize some of the themes. What, exactly, would Ragnarök look like in the twenty-first century? Who would be called to stand against Fenrir and his beastly offspring, Sköll and Hati? How would those heroes handle it? The Ragnarök Prophesies series explores all of these ideas, and the myths behind them.

But equally as exciting to me was getting to bring some of the creatures from Norse mythology to life. Sköll, Hati, Hugin, Munin, Geri, Freki…there are so many, and each has his (or her) own history and story. It's fascinating to me.

But my love of mythology and mythical creatures doesn't stop with the Norse canon. In belief systems throughout the world, we find sentient creatures who live and fight amongst mankind. And as we've learned over the years, they're not always as mythical as we thought!

In one of my favorite tales, Odysseus and his crew faced extraordinary odds on their journey to their homeland (Ithaca) after defeating the Trojan monarchy and laying waste to Troy. Odysseus and company were captured by Calypso (who wanted to marry Odysseus), forced to battle a Cyclops, contend with angry gods, and required to sail their way through the horrors of Scylla and Charybdis.

If you're familiar with the Odyssey, you know Charybdis was a sea monster who sucked unsuspecting ships into the depths of the ocean via a frightfully powerful whirlpool. Across the strait from this sea monster stood Scylla, a beast with many heads who legend says was no kinder to seafarers than Charybdis. Forced to choose between the two, Odysseus chose to face Scylla, and promptly lost six of his men.

Most believe Scylla and Charybdis were mythical beasts cooked up in Homer's mind, but that's not quite true. In reality, such a dangerous passage exists in the Straits of Messina. On one side sits Charybdis, a whirlpool. On the other sits Scylla, a large grouping of dangerous, rocky shoals. Neither are sea monsters, obviously, but it's not hard to see why Homer thought they were.

And Scylla and Charybdis aren't the only mythical monsters that aren't quite as imaginary as we believed. The world is full of mysterious creatures we've been told don't really exist, but actually kind of do.

Here are some of my favorites.



Hobbits - Remember when you first realized Hobbits weren't real? If you're like me, you were beyond disappointed. But don't count the hobbits out just yet! Several years ago, researchers discovered the bones of a group of tiny people in a cave in the Indonesian island of Flores. These little people stood three feet tall and had skulls one third the size of a modern person. Yes! Hobbitses were real! 

The Kraken - In addition to being an ominous sounding monster to release, the Kraken was pretty terrifying to behold, according to those who wrote about this sea creature. In reality, the Kraken myth didn't quite hold up until a Japanese crew filmed a Colossal Squid not long ago, at which point we learned the Kraken might not be so mythical after all. The Colossal Squid can grow to fifty and sixty feet. They also have wickedly sharp hooks up and down their tentacles. Kinda creepy, right?

Dire Wolf - These video game characters are much larger and stronger than their gray wolf counterparts. They're excellent hunters. They're also rather terrifying, but they don't exist. Anymore, that is. Dire wolves were real once upon a time, but they went extinct over 16,000 years ago. 

Berserkers - According to Norse myth, the Berserkers were skilled warriors who possessed superhuman strength and prowess on the battlefield. They were hard to kill, and some even turned into frightful wolves in the heat of battle. These bad boys were one of the greatest weapons the Norse people possessed. We've always assumed this was just a myth, but turns out we were wrong. Sort of. The Berserkers didn't turn into wolves, but they did take a powerful hallucinogen that made them the lean, mean, crazy fighting machines history remembers.

*post previously published in 2013
About the Author:

A.K. Morgen is the Amazon Bestselling author of the Ragnarök Prophesies series. She lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of sixteen years and their furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army.

She graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law. 

She puts her education to use as a 911 Dispatch Supervisor, where she's responsible for leading a team of dispatchers as they watch over police, EMS, and firefighters for her county.

Ayden also writes steamy romantic suspense under the penname Ayden K. Morgen. You can visit her online at http://akmorgen.com or at the links below.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/akmorgen1
Twitter: http://twitter.com/akmorgen
Instagram: http://instagram.com/aydenmorgen
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k8v9e2
Tirgearr Publishing: http://www.tirpub.com/akmorgen
AllAuthor: http://akmorgen.allauthor.com/

About FALL (The Ragnarök Prophesies: Book Two):

How do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?

Those called to stand guard against the end are broken, and Sköll and Hati run free. Now Arionna Jacobs and Dace Matthews face a threat unlike any before. Ragnarök is coming and they aren't strong enough to stop it. 

Arionna thought she understood sacrifice, but she never counted on her destiny tearing Dace apart. Ever since she nearly died, he has been consumed with guilt. Now it threatens to turn him into the monster he always feared. 

It's up to Arionna to stop him before it's too late, but the path to hell is paved with good intentions, and Dace is hurtling toward self-destruction. This time, Arionna isn't sure she can save him from himself. 

Can she convince him to let the past go, or is her true destiny to sacrifice her heart in exchange for the lives of the people she loves?

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Catch up with FADE (The Ragnarök Prophesies: Book One): Amazon Worldwide | All Retailers

AN INTRODUCTION TO PARANORMAL DIPLOMACY

These titles keep getting better!  This is another fun adventure with lots of funny moments and aw moments.  Its great that this book focuses so much on family.  Not many books do.  While I know this isn’t a young adult novel, in many ways it feels like one, and its refreshing to see Sarah be so close to her family. 

Of all the books of his that I’ve read, Sarah is my favorite character.  I want her for a friend…but without all the craziness of being a vampire.

A VAMPIRE’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING HOLIDAYS

Book 8 is just as witty and clever as the first seven books.   It’s only been a couple months since Sarah was turned into a vampire.  I love how quickly the series moves along, without much time lost in between books.  Sarah is a strong character who never got on my nerves, even when she did typical teenage things. It’s a series you can’t stop reading.

ORDINARY PROBLEMS OF A COLLEGE VAMPIRE

Book 7 is another fun installment.  Sarah wants to be a normal 18-year-old girl, but she falls short of that.  Her adventures are always intriguing, with lots of laugh out loud moments. 

HOW NOT TO SUMMON DEMONS

Book 5 is my favorite so far.  I laughed.  Quite a bit, in fact, and it usually takes a lot for me to laugh out loud at a book.  Its smart and funny.  If this series was made into a sitcom, I could see it becoming the next big thing.

THE PHANTOM ORACLE

Book 5 is just as entertaining and exciting as the rest of the series.  I like the little tidbits about Sarah’s character, the nuances of her life.  She’s a well-rounded character who isn’t all about the drama and adventure, despite those being important aspects of the story.  I would love to see this as a TV sitcom.

THE LAST FAMILY ROAD TRIP

The cover of book 4 sets the stage for a melancholy book of a family reconnecting.  I imagined lots of reminiscing.  Well, what I got was so much more!  I should have known to expect the weird and outstanding from this series.

Like the other Vampire Innocent books, book 4 doesn’t let you go.  Its fun, with high energy, and by the end you’re going to be sad that there isn’t more…but that’s what book 5 is for!

BENGARIA’S WAR

This book is the type of adventure novel that sucks you in from the start.  I love how complex it was.  There was so much depth to the characters and setting.  Reading it was like watching a science fiction movie.  The details and description bring it to life.  5 stars!

THE ARTIST OF RUIN

This is book 3, and sometimes a series can start to stall as the number of books progresses.  That is definitely not the case for this series.  Even in book 3, Sarah is still going strong!

This continues to be one of my favorite vampire series.  Its not cheesy.  Sentences aren’t filled with clichés.  These books are refreshing and leave you feeling good, instead of annoyed or weirded out.  Check out this series if you’re getting sick of the usual vampire books.

Note: I did speak with the author.  I was thinking this was young adult, because most vampire books these days are for young adult.  It isn’t young adult, although young adults can certainly enjoy it.

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO FANGS

This is book 2, and it had been a while since reading book 1.  I skimmed book 1 before starting this one, and it didn’t take me long to get right back into the story.    

This story had just as much excitement, adventure, and the antics of a quirky teenager to leave me happy.  She isn’t all quirky, but there’s enough there to make her realistic without ever being annoying or perfect. 

I really like this idea of vampires.  Sarah still clings to her humanity.  I found it refreshing.  It isn’t like the normal vampire books, so it doesn’t feel old or overused.  I can’t wait for the next book!

OF MYTH AND SHADOW

Wooo.  Where do I start with this book?

For one things, its gigantic, come in at a whopping 896 pages.  I personally love longer books.  I feel as if I become more immersed in them.  The story isn’t broken up as much.  I feel more grounded in the characters and setting.  I spent more nights than I would like to admit to reading this because I wanted to see the next chapter.

This is an epic fantasy at its finest.  It reminded me of the epic fantasies I loved back in high school.  There are elves.  Humans.  Demons.  Destroyer.  I can see this as a three-part big screen movie. 

This is only book 1.  I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!  If you want to get lost in a story, this is it. 

TWO STEPS FORWARD

I received a copy of TWO STEPS FORWARD by Suzanne Woods Fisher in exchange for an honest review from Revell Reads.  This is the third book in the Deacon Family saga.  I have read other books by this author and found them just as realistic and captivating.  Her characters are engaging.  They remind you of people you meet in the real world.  Her Amish experiences seem well researched and reflect on what I’ve learned about the culture from visiting Amish farms in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 

This is a simple book in the fact that it is straightforward, but still very interesting.  The day to day lives suck you in.  There’s just enough drama to keep you reading, but never becomes heavy or overpowering.

If you’re looking for an entertaining Amish adventure, look no further!

THE END OF ALL HALLOWEENS

This is another fun book by Matthew S. Cox appropriate for younger audiences.  It has enough adventure to keep them interested, and enough character growth to entertain adults. 

This third installment is about Halloween.  It comes complete with lots of laughs and lots of cringes.  There’s edge of your seat excitement.   

I’ve recommended it to my teacher friends who instruct upper elementary and junior high.

ALIENS ATE MY HOMEWORK

This is a fun book, and the perfect escapism to read during a pandemic.  It’s a children’s book, and it amazes me how the author can switch so seamlessly between adult books and children’s books.  I didn’t read anything in here that wouldn’t be appropriate for a kid.

This is the second book in the series.  Its been a little while since I read book 1, but I was able to get right into the story and connect again with the characters. 

This is a great, quirky story about best friends and how good versus evil isn’t always what you think.  5 stars, and a high recommendation.

WORDS OF HOPE FOR WOMEN

I received a copy of WORDS OF HOPE FOR WOMEN by Carolyn Larsen from Revell in exchange for an honest review.  Its like a “words of wisdom” book, but the message is more hopeful.  I found it particularly useful during this pandemic when I’m stuck at home away from many people I love. Each passage seemed to be speaking directly to me.  I highly recommend it, especially during this time of lockdowns and quarantines.  There will be a passage that speaks to you too.  You might really need those words to help get you through.

Chapter 15 – Hope for Guidance – spoke the most to me.  I could connect to the descriptions.  Life is chaotic right now even if I’m living it from within my house.

I liked how small the devotional is.  It fits perfectly in my purse.

THE GIRL WHO FOUND THE SUN

I admit that maybe reading it during the pandemic wasn’t the best idea, but it still served as a great source of escapism.

The plot is realistic.  Chillingly so.  I found myself wondering what I would do if I was in Raven’s place.  The characters and setting felt so real.  My heart broke for those suffering. I can’t really imagine living in an underground bunker for my life!

Be warned: this is the kind of book that won’t let you go until you finish it.

UNSCRIPTED by Davis Bunn

I received a copy of UNSCRIPTED by Davis Bunn from Revell in exchange for an honest review.  This is a novel that shows the darkness in people, and it also showed the light.  I was engaged from the first chapter to the last, and at the end, I felt as if my life had been enriched by reading it.  The characters were relatable, and the dialogue was realistic.  I enjoyed the setting, which took me to a new world (I’m from a village myself). 

I think my favorite part was how fast the story flowed, and the conclusion was satisfying.  There was never a dull or dry moment.

Five stars from me.  Check it out if you’re looking for some escapism. 

Tales from Five Different Worlds

This was a delightful collection of short stories!  I loved the imagination in each story.  They were unique and make for an excellent escape from the real world.  I enjoyed that they were long enough to make you care about the characters and immerse you in the setting, but they were short enough that you could finish the short story in one night.

THE CURSED CROWN by Matthew S. Cox

It had been a while since I read an exciting, fast-paced fantasy adventure.  THE CURSED CROWN fulfilled that need for me.  The queens are strong willed.  They stick to their beliefs.  I loved the theme of acceptance.

Overall, a great book for young adults and adults.  They are characters to believe in and root for.

This is the second book in the series, and it wrapped things up nicely, but it also felt open to more books.  I hope there will be more to come!

Kill for You - Release

20 to 40 million people currently live as slaves. Over 60% are women and children like Faith Donovan in Ayden K. Morgen's new release, Kill for You. To help end human trafficking and slavery, Ayden is donating 100% of release day (March 17^th) proceeds from the book to Operation Underground Railroad (@OURRescue), a global nonprofit that rescues child victims of human trafficking and then works to prosecute and convict perpetrators.

Grab the book from your favorite retailer today (March 17^th) to help support this incredible cause!

https://books2read.com/KillforYou.

(10% of proceeds after release day will also go to Operation Underground Railroad).

You can also donate directly to Operation Underground Railroad at:

https://my.ourrescue.org/fundraisers/books-with-purpose

About Kill for You

The last thing Detective Octavio Hernandez expects to find at the scene of a mass gang-related shooting is a brown-eyed angel standing bravely in the midst of the chaos. One look at Faith Donovan and the homicide detective knows there's more to her than meets the eye. She's keeping secrets that just might help bring down Los Zetas, one of the biggest drug cartels in Los Angeles.

He just has to convince her that trusting him is worth the risk.

Forced upon a mother who didn't want her and enslaved by a gang that refuses to let her go without a fight, Faith's life has never been her own. She thought she'd made peace with her fate…until Octavio sweeps in and carries her out of her blood-soaked cage.

Faith trusts no one, but the hardened detective makes it difficult to remember why. The way he cares for her makes her ache for what she never thought she'd find: love and a family of her own. But trusting him when she knows he has an ulterior motive is one of the most difficult things she'll ever do.

He swore to give her the freedom she craves, but when the secrets she holds paint a target on her back, keeping that promise will prove no easy feat.

To secure her freedom and win her heart, this detective will move mountains. And take down anyone standing in his way.

Kill for You  is the second book in a series of interconnected full-length novels featuring law enforcement officers willing to do whatever it takes to protect the women who need them most. Each book can be read as a standalone, has no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA.

https://books2read.com/KillforYou

Love Changes Everything

I received a copy of LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING: FINDING WHAT’S REAL IN A WORLD FULL OF FAKE by Micah Bertaeu from Revell in exchange for an honest review.  It includes a forward by Jentezen Franklin.

I found this book refreshing in the light of other “self-help” books that deal with “true love” and “soul mates.”  I’m not saying true love and soul mates don’t exist.  I just don’t care for a lot of those books that make it seem as if you should dive into a relationship with the first person who makes eye contact with you. 

This book talks about the kind of love that you need, the kind that helps you grow, that helps you to help other people.  Love should make you the best version of yourself.  It shouldn’t bring you down.