Book Review: Abducting Abby by S.E. Smith

Abducting Abby by S.E. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Plot 3/5
The basic story about alien dragon shapeshifters with symbionts crashing on Earth, mating with humans, and taking them back to their homeworld, with a species-level expansion subplot (finding mates to, well, mate with) and a faction war in progress, was intriguing.

Characters 4/5
The characters are well described and easy to imagine, including the dog, the symbionts, and Abby’s antagonist at the beginning. Character description-wise, the characters are well done. Character development-wise, some reactions, and acceptance of the situations seemed too fast, almost forced instead of coming naturally.

World-Building 5/5
The setting and the descriptions of both Earth and the alien planet, coupled with the base idea of alien dragon shapeshifters with symbionts, are well done.

Cover Design 3/5
The cover is average, in my opinion; it doesn’t give me a clue about the alien’s aspect, the Dragon-shapeshifting aspect, or the symbiotic relationship with the aliens. It appears like just another romance cover.

Spice 3/5
There are two main issues with the spice.
(1) The Abby Zoran relationship was Insta-love, rushed and instant. Even with the trope of a Dragon shapeshifter, it was rushed
(2) Abby, a virgin, goes from having sex one time with Zoran to expertly accepting anything he wants to do to her, like some sex professional.
A slower buildup and acceptance of both (1) and (2) would have made the plot and spice more believable.

Pace 3/5
The events happened quickly, including the relationship, transformation, and acceptance by Abby.

Engagement 4/5
Despite several eye-rolls with insta-love, insta-intimacy, and insta-nymphomaniac status for Abby, who accepts and performs every and any sexual act, despite being a virgin the day before, the story kept my attention.

Standouts
Alien shapeshifter Dragons with Symbionts!

Overall, the story was entertaining and kept my interest.
I give this one 3/5 stars overall.

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Book Review: Bone Dressing

Bone Dressing by Michelle I. Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Michelle Brooks has created an interesting, fantastical and mysterious world in Bone Dressing, centered on a young lady named Syd Roberdeau. Syd, just shy of 18, has already received some pretty hard knocks out of life for someone so young. It’s turned her into a troubled teen, trying to discover who and what she is to become in this world. The book starts off inside Syd’s head and we begin to understand her character—she’s quite a firecracker! Syd is amazingly smart, witty, loud spoken and free with the mouth. Syd tells it like it is, she has strong character and isn’t afraid to show it.

Syd, lives at home with her step-parents—or at least until her 18th birthday. She has plans to be on her own. Although, those plans come a bit sooner than later, as the troubled teen flees from her house after getting grounded, and not liking that one damn bit! Setting her school on fire also has a bit to do with it too! Syd finds herself in the place where she feels most at home, where she actually spends most of her time—the cemetery.

In the cemetery she meets a mysterious trio, Sarah, a “young-old” little girl, who speaks like a “curly sue”, but has the wisdom of ages! Syd also encounters TJ, a black panther with special powers to help Syd’s soul occupy the past lives of the dead who inhabit the cemetery. Then there is Remy, a.k.a. Beau—a handsome young man who is also a stabilizing force for Syd.

After the troubles at school, Syd begins to understand a little more about the trio she met in the cemetery. Syd slowly discovers her new friends can help her correct the wrongs of her past lives. TJ’s purpose is to temporarily transfer Syd’s soul to those corpses in the cemetery, where Syd can re-animate these bodies, “dressing in their bones” and right the wrongs of these past lives. As if Syd did not have enough to worry about! Beau plays a role similar to a guardian angel for Syd and he is able to calm her, protect her, and bring her to her senses when she’s over the edge. And little Sarah is on a diplomatic mission to keep the peace between all of them.

Syd’s first “bone dressing” experience transforms this book from a story about strange paranormal forces into a wonderful love story about two soul mates. The story inside the first corpse Syd re-animates is incredible, highly visual and inspiring. It’s a tale about childhood love growing into a soul mate connection with opposing forces trying to thwart this young couple’s happiness. Mix that in with passion, love, lust, devotion and…shape-shifting and what you have is one captivating, young adult, paranormal, and romantic story!

Once Syd met the trio of Beau, Sarah and TJ, I was unable to put this book down until I finished. Ms. Brooks is hard at work on the second installment in the series, The Dreaming, and I for one am counting the days down until her release date! If you are a fan of young adult, romance and paranormal genre’s I highly recommend this series. I honestly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series. I rate this one a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

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Michelle I Brooks

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Michelle I. Brooks  – her web site is located here:
Bone Dressing is available on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Michelle is also listed as a goodreads author!

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Teaser about the next book in the Bone Dressing Series– The Dreaming…

“As Syd faces the dangerous mysteries waiting for her in the mistakes of her past, she must leave the comforts of her world behind her in book two, Bone Dressing: The Dreaming. The time for best friends and midnight escapes to her hiding place, the cemetery she calls home, is over. Now she must find a way to embrace her destiny, her future … and her past.”

Read more about The Dreaming on Michelle’s website…also take a peek at an excerpt from the book as well!

Book Review: Shadows & Dust

Shadows & Dust by Yvonne Nicolas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Vampires, demons, and hunters, oh my! This novel starts out fast-paced and doesn’t disappoint! Havoc, a motorcycle-riding, sword-swinging, Glock toting, supersonic power-wielding, badass bold beauty takes you on a wild adventure in a war between the dammed and the living. Vampires consume demons and become as hard as hell to kill hybrids. But our huntress heroine is up for the challenge with her newfound shadow drifter young helper. It is a wonderful good vs. evil story with just a twist of friend/family/foe alliances found in those whom you might not expect. This story has tons of flavor like a great cup of java and is a superb read. Yvonne Nicolas brings vampire hunting to a new height! Bravo!

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