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The Dimensional Shift by Frances Pauli

MelHay, May 8, 2013

Chloe's still working her job as a housekeeper as the tourist season comes to a close. Cleaning one room of a single man, Chloe is shocked to see a woman with almond shaped eyes enter from the balcony, who eyes the golden pyramid covered in strange shaped symbols. Chloe's boss tries to talk Chloe into a match making with the man, but she thinks he has a wife. The handsome single man, Andrew, claims to have no wife or know who the woman was. Chloe finds herself saving the strange pyramid from the woman, once again, intent to steal it, and that he had left behind when checked out. Only to find the handsome man is interested in Chloe as an...employee? Could there be other signals there too? In a dimensional world, where many run parallel and slightly different from the next, Chloe is learning how to tend to the needs of many strange being and making friends. Things start to get mysterious at her new job, thefts of the Dimensional Hotels access cards and more are happening. Who's to blame? And is Drew sending mixed signals to Chloe?

Fun read with a scifi dimensional twist to the world. Loved the dimensional twist to the world and never knew what I'd encounter next. And Andrew....*sigh* Lovely. Gentle start to a lovely couple. Chloe made me smile through out.

I could go on with scenes that made me smile, but I don't want to ruin the read for you, so keeping it short.

First page, I was smiling at Chloe with 'hitting the deck' to hide from her long winded (and alien obsessed) neighbor. IN HER OWN HOME!! LOL! I did enjoy Chloe's easy going personality. And grew with her in feelings. Chloe has an ability to attract good humor from others. Andrew, Drew as he goes by with Chloe and the nice looking single man, seems to know more than he's able to share. And maybe even more comfortable with Chloe than a business owner (manager) should be. But they could make such a cute couple.

Actually, I really enjoyed all characters and the creation of the Dimensional Shift idea. I enjoyed that I didn't know what would walk around the corner next, or what species Chloe would have to clean the room of next. Or what would happen in this unpredictable place. A hotel that caters to inter-dimensional travels in between dimensions. Great fun quick read.

I will be getting the rest of the books in this series!

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Vampire Voyage by Kelly Lougheed

MelHay, May 8, 2013

***NOTE: There are spoilers for Previous Books***

Last semester was the exchanged St. Judas School of boy's coming to Hawthorn School. Now, it's the girls turn for Spring Break. The girls are heading to an eastern European school for boys. Downfall...the boys are Vampires! Charity is excited. Resulting from the events of the boys visit last semester, her ghost teacher Ms. Van Tessel and now vampire best friend Louise, are nervous. The first day there Louise gets invited to a party. A party Charity is excited about until she learns she can not go. A vampire party. Louise is uncomfortable at the party with the boys working to break her vow regarding human blood. Yet meeting a well read cute boy, agrees to a party the next night. Charity talks Louise into going and taking her... to see and talk to Nicholae. But, human blood drinking vampire party with a human walking in...could not end well? But learns of a scheme to turn the girls of Hawthorn School that are visiting.

Now the girls get the feel of what the boys had while visiting their all girls school last semester. All eyes, of the opposite sex, are on the girls as they are introduced and move about the school. The same feel the boys felt in The Graveyard Gymnasium. We are hoping the boys have...matured some since then. Or at least the ones left in Romania are.

Charity and her eccentric thinking. She's a tenth grader with boys hot on her mind, one boy in particular - Nicholae. She cracks me up with her creations and stories of "what's going to happen." She definitely has an overactive imagination. A brilliant imagination and in the same smarter than she knows. Charity might not have the grades, but she is a smart girl. The things she thinks up, and the angles she thinks. The girl knows things when she applies herself to something. The small quick jokes she makes to herself, made me smile.

Ivan, who's trying to *help* the girls with information, but Charity doesn't fall for it. She feels he's the evil mastermind behind an evil plan - based solely on his hair style. Louis is taken with the boy and doesn't believe Charity. When Charity goes undercover to weasel out the plan details and thwart the scheme, things get complicated with the strong vampires. Maybe Charity can find the slayer center she felt before, to save her co-students.

Oh! There was a little surprise here, or two. One was the feelings one has for Charity. And the other, well, I can't tell you that as it's a little twist you will enjoy in the investigation to stop the vampires.

The beginning builds the places and brings you to know the characters, then you go right in with the troubles of vampires. This is a cute book and one I would suggest to young teenage/preteen girls. It's a touch of Urban Fantasy and young crushes but with a strong girl that will come though.

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Jessica McClain #02: Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson

MelHay, April 23, 2013

Jessica's been having it rough. Supes are out to get her, attacking her at about ever turn. And it's taking all she has to not run off to find and save Rourke, but she knows she has to be prepared and get information first. There are rumors flying among the Supe world about her, or who she could be and what's to come - prophecies. One Imp attacker tells her they will find her. The demons do not want her to rule and they are hunting her. Everyone in the supernatural world 'knows' of Jessica, except Jessica. She's still trying to adjust to just the wolf part and so much more as it surfaces as Jessica gets her lead on the goddess who's holding Rourke and she fights her way through hell's demons to get to him.

Quick start right back into the world with Jessica. Jessica starts right off throwing punches as she has always done all her life. Fighting to survive. Love the heart racing start early on, and holds to it through out.

Jessica's mind is made up and she won't let anyone stop her. The drive is pushing her. She will go through any and all sorts of hell to find and get Rourke, her mate, back. Jessica is so different and learning of the supernatural world, along with herself, as she goes. Even the world of demons, which the werewolves have never dealt with. New beings and creatures are going to come at the top-of-the-food-chain wolves, and they are going to have to get ready for it. With Jessica at their side.

Jessica is more powerful than she ever even imagined. And others are taking all this in along with what they can learn from the prophecies. Demons are surfacing, and in the end have Jessica on their short list.

Jessica makes new allies. Ones she might be grateful to have, but also ones that might cause a stir in the werewolf world, and maybe even the supernatural world as a whole. I really liked the new friends we come across here, and how they open up the supe world to us sharing knowledge. Wonderful new bonds created.

We end the book with questions of a few, but the story of finding Rourke is completed here. There are new happenings to come, and the ending sets those up to come. Dang, can't wait for Cold Blooded!!

Constant heart-racing read, keeping the heart pounding with fevered worry and anticipation as Jessica fights for her love, friends, and her life.

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Bloodright by William Greenleaf

MelHay, April 12, 2013

Returning from his run Nathan Oakes realizes it's not the rising sun brightening the sky over Manhattan, in the South and to early. Seeing a red pinpoint of light, which the whole city saw then started to move on in wonder. Kathy Stratton is woken in the wee hours of morning, called to Washington to investigate the red light from outer space. Her expertise in astronomy is needed. Then, when she goes to her window in San Francisco, she too can see the glowing effects of the red light. Nikki Jamison, a young girl intrigued by the light she sees in the sky decodes the message it relays when starts blinking. From her desert home, she does the one thing that feels child-like - uses a flash light to say they are welcome. To Nikki's surprise, the beings that visit her will change her world and bring her together with others she never thought possible.

Wow. Great Science Fiction read. Interesting meeting the 'Teddies.' Quick start on the first page. No time wasted meeting and getting to know the characters, we get to know them through the happenings as the light appears and the aliens appear. I appreciate the quick start, and getting to know the characters in this way. No wasted words.

The characters:
Nathan Oakes - a brilliant business man of Manhattan, who's called to Arizona by his sister in worry of what is happening in her front yard. And plays a big part in saving his niece...and the world.

Kathy - A doctor of astronomy. She's taken with the thought of beings from outer space and what they could introduce us to in the way of universe, technology, and so much more.

Nikki Jamison - a 15 year old smart girl with a science fiction love and knack.

Zeke and Simon - The aliens! Oh, Guardians? Hmm, you'll have to read to find out. ;) Human's had a nickname for them as they appear to look like... Teddies. lol.

Oscar - A man unhappy in his job and aimlessly wondering through life. He is attracted to the same thing Nikki is...the Deirrikon and what he felt looking into it's eyes. Needing to see and feel it again, to know if it was real.

We see many other characters, of course, that make this story interesting with different personalities and goals when aliens with promise come. But will anyone thing long enough on the bigger picture to see what's happening?


We follow along by day and time to see how fast things happen on earth, and with the different time zones until we end up in the same place. And the timeline is important to keep in mind as well. Every couple chapters there is a short interview with Lori Kelcher. A little girl who felt the Echtros come and what happened to her parents and home. She's also visited by Progo prior and tried to help. These are touching glimpses from her. And you learn how special she.

This doesn't read like high tech science fiction stories. This is a story with an alien present, and learning more are out in the universe. There is science talk, but not much beyond what one would have in school, which is in the early pages. The people in the story are not all scientists so have to explain, but is of the happenings with the people not the technology. Great for story readers. Anything mentioned in science or facilities, the location and function is given to keep us in the know. I would even suggest this for YA readers even though it's an Adult book. Well done!

This looks to be a stand alone book. However, there are a few strands left open that I'm curious if the author will take them to continue with this idea. The story is complete, but I think it would be interesting to read more.

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Outpost (Enclave #2) by Ann Aguirre

MelHay, April 5, 2013

Deuce, Fade, Stalker, and Tegan have been in Salvation for two months now. Deuce trains at night with Stalker, Fade's been keeping his distance, and Tegan is healing and fitting in wonderfully like the others. Deuce is...struggling with the new ways above ground here in this fort city. Growing season is close and Deuce wants to help in the only way she knows, as a Huntress. She earns respect by displaying her strength, but others don't agree with the change in roles for a female. When the crops are ruined by Freaks, Deuce suggests an Outpost to watch over them, and her friends along with Longshot stand up with her. What Deuce, Fade, and Stalker learn out here of the Freaks will be astounding and frightening.

I asked my son, who read this book at the same time as me, to share in reviewing. His answers are short as he's afraid to spoil anything to come and being thirteen not sure the way to twist the words yet.

(M = Me, K = Kiddo, my 13 yr old son who's new to this reviewing thing)


The Setting….
M: Where do we start? We start in a fort town, then move to the Outpost watching over the fields. Did you like the setting?

K: Yes. It was different from the first one because the first one was underground and this one is above ground in a fort.

M: Yes, gives you a whole different view of the world.

The Freaks…
K: They are getting smarter! But some people are too scared to realize it. Scared of the freaks and sit behind the fighters to deal with it.

M: You predicted this in the first review! There is a lot more to them than we suspected. I can’t wait to learn the whole story and see what comes of the Freaks. What about you?

K: I think they’ll get smarter again. I think they will act like normal people do. And see more of them, they are the point of the story.

M: The Freaks bring a whole new dynamic to the story.

The Characters….
M: We have Deuce, who’s struggling here with being in a whole new atmosphere and living arrangements than she’s use to.

K: She wants to fight freaks because that’s all she knows.

M: Yep, and she finds a way to keep to her believes.

K: Uhhh, somewhat.

M: Why do you say that?

K: Because she still has to do other stuff, like her person she’s living with gives her a dress and she has to wear it. She does have to act like a girl sometimes.

M: Ah, yes, her character is evolving with the atmosphere she’s in. The lovely lady that takes her in, like a mom. And learns the difference between boys and girls.

We have Fade! Poor Fade…. Now no spoilers! About him.

K: He’s quiet and doesn’t do much.

M: But he fits in better than she does.

K: Because he’s quiet.

M: This is his element, he came from topside. But he struggles too. We can’t say too much about Fade in or out of town. But him and Deuce find new ground between them…

M: We still have Tegan and Stalker too. They seem to fitting in rather well.

The Feeling while reading….
K: Surprised for some things. Like when Fade got captured and his reaction to it.

M: Yes. I agree. I was afraid knowing what Deuce and company knows of the freaks, I had a feeling of trapped in Salvation because it was fort. I liked when they went out to the Outpost. We really started to learn more about the Freaks there.

What about the relationships of the main company?

K: They change.

M: Good or bad?

K: Both.

M: Lol, okay we wont spoil for anyone and go on with that topic.

The End…
M: I know you have strong feelings about this ending. Want to share?

K: Not surprised because I knew it was going to happen. But it was different. The book hints at it coming.

M: I remember when you finished this book. You came right to me, handed over the book, and said, “There’s going to be another.” Giving me a strong look. It was kind of a cliff hanger ending, do you think?

K: Sure.

M: The ending leads you into wanting the next book. I can’t wait to get it. Are you looking forward to it?

K: Yes. I do want to know.

M: Would you suggest this book?

K: Yes. Rate it a 7-7.5 out of 10. (I’m a tough rate.)

M: I would have to agree with you.

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