I love finding new local authors and Jeffrey Cook has set up another great AFK event you simply must check out! For more information, see the flyer below or visit the event’s facebook page here.
Author Archives: rachelauthorbarnard
Book Review: I Am the Alpha by AJ Downey and Ryan Kells
I Am the Alpha by AJ Downey and Ryan Kells
A Paranormal/Action/Romance Novel published by Second Circle Press (08/04/15)
Summary:
Chloe never knew that her father, a stern accountant who is continuously disappointed in his daughter and her life choices, is none other than the Hangman, the deadliest Wolf-Kind hunter of his generation. Chloe just wants to make her own choices in life, but all control is taken from her when William kidnaps her. She puts up a fight at every turn, but eventually finds out why she was chosen. When she learns that her father killed William’s father and Alpha of the Pack, her feelings towards William as a kidnapper soften. When he is gentle and cares for her well-being, Chloe begins to see things from his perspective and to see him for the strong protector type he really is.
Keywords:
Wolf-Kind, Kidnapped, Hunters, Alphas, Twins, Murder, Harsh Laws, Violence, Fleeing, Fighting, Change, Seattle, Healing, Pack, Bitten, Mate, Stubborn
My Review:
I couldn’t put this book down. AJ Downey’s books are so tense and exciting that it is hard to stop reading them. I’m eagerly awaiting the second and third books in this series.
There were parts, granted, that delved into the annoying tropes of paranormal/romance books, but I almost didn’t care because I was so enthralled with what was going on and how the characters were interacting. I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
AJ Downey and Ryan Kells delve upon the surface of something fascinating: discrimination and pure hatred of wolf-kind/hybrid. This is a concept that makes the easy-read paranormal/romance into a deeper book.
“As reviled as he was, I was my father’s daughter in some of the more important ways. The ones that really counted. Having a backbone was one of those ways. I was also my mother’s daughter. Even though she’d died when I was young, she’d taught me understanding. To look beyond the surface. Past the color of people’s skin, past their clothes or where they lived or how they were raised.” (Kindle locations 3777-3781).
Downey and Kells also go just deep enough into Pack politics and the biological particulars to build a world that I’m interested in. I’m not usually interested in paranormal, though Downey has shown me the better side of romance novels, but I Am the Alpha has more going on than most novels.
Chloe has the right amount of stubbornness and she continuously, at first, fights back even against an insurmountable foe as William. She has spit and fire within her and doesn’t give up until she has completely exhausted all possibilities for escape. Toward the end of the novel, though, she gets even stronger and more stubborn in her convictions. William is a good balance between gentle, sympathetic man to jerk captor wolf-kind. He is the character I most liked.
This novel was published by Second Circle Press on August 4th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75
Links for more information:
Book Review: The Keepsake: An Empress Chronicles Book (The Empress Chronicles 2)
The Keepsake: An Empress Chronicles Book (The Empress Chronicles 2)
A Fantasy Novel published by Words in a Hurry (09/21/2015)
Summary:
“The way I see it, you can choose love or you can choose control. Not both” (The Keepsake by Suzy Vitello).
The Empress Chronicles continues with the twining stories of the Empress Elisabeth of Austria from 150 years in the past and Liz from present day Oregon. They are connected through the keepsakes: a diary and three lockets. Empress Elisabeth, affectionately known as Sisi, has accepted her fate to wed the emperor and give up on her previous crushed romance. Liz knows that history is not kind to Sisi and writes in the diary, telling Sisi not to marry the emperor. Sisi, at first doesn’t understand, but gradually comes to believe both in the diary’s ability to cross time and the advice that Liz of Port Land gives her. Meanwhile, in present day, Liz has her own issues to contend with but can’t let go of the diary or in her unfailing faith in the fact that she could help Sisi and change history forever.
Keywords:
Teens, Drama, Finding Yourself, Disorders, OCD, Family, Fitting In, Love, Adventure, Connecting, Engaging with the World, Brave, Giving In, Trickery, Gossip
My Review:
It took a while to get back into the second book of the Empress Chronicles, as the story of the Keepsake continues right where the Empress Chronicles leaves off. Since I had read book one quite a while ago, I had trouble catching up with what was going on in book two, but all the characters I enjoyed were there and all their interesting personality quirks were still in full force. Liz was still very much held down by her OCD, but in a different way. Now she was aware of when it was affecting her and she was trying to overcome her own quirks so that she could ‘engage’ with the world. Sisi is still as dramatic as she was in book one.
Half the book, I felt like Sisi slowed down any action that was happening in the book. In her time, the past, not much happened to a young lady and most of the plot was brought out through gossip and intrigue. Liz, in her modern times, was much more interesting than Siis, at least for the first half and rising action of the story. When Liz decides to intervene in a big way, that’s when both Sisi’s life and Liz’s life jump into action and the story really gets cooking.
I loved all the details regarding the past and all the interesting details regarding Willow and her chosen lifestyle. Willow’s Kombucha-goat cheese farm-lifestyle was fascinating to get a good look at, especially from Liz’s point of view. Sisi’s lifestyle, that of someone in the upper class, in old Austria, was also very fascinating.
Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this story in exchange for my honest review.
This novel was published by Words in a Hurry 09/21/2015 and is available on Amazon here.
TLDR Star Rating: 4.25
Links for more information:
Book Review: The Hunted (The Marian Series #2) by Taylor Hohulin
The Marian by Taylor Hohulin
A Steampunk/Pirate Sci-Fi Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (8/17/15)
Summary:
Ethan Denby is still trapped in Duncan’s body: the former captain of the Marian, a ship full of illegal water harvesters. Now it is more imperative than ever for Ethan to swap out of Duncan’s body as the Other World is closer and closer to claiming his new body. It is harder than ever to find a solution as Ethan has nowhere else to turn after the Cloud Priestess screwed him over and he was forced to kill Jarvis in self-defense. It isn’t until one of the mercenary twins finds a book of the Cloud that Ethan’s hopes are revived. He might well be able to swap back into his former body and former life after all. The adventures take the Marian and her crew to more HydroSystem wells and through more dangers, as more than just the HydroSystem workers are out for their blood, now it seems the entire Empire is after the Marian’s crew to claim the price on their heads.
Keywords:
Illegal Water Harvesting, Water Scarcity, Criminals, Soul swapping, Steampunk, Ship on Legs, Navigation, Well, Extraction, Water Police, Teenagers, Captain, Mercenaries, Trouble, Pirates, Post-Apocalyptic, Own Agenda, Death, Other World
My Review:
The Hunted begins with a new character in the same world as the Marian. She is a mercenary. Her name is Scarlet and she has a story. When she is given the task of killing the Marian’s crew she hesitates. She is human. She has a moral conscience. Then again, she has taught herself to forget the faces of those she’s killed. What makes the Marian and her crew any different? It is not one bad man having her kill another bad man. The Marian steals from the rich to give to the poor and though they are one drop in the bucket against HydroSystems monopolization of the world’s remaining water, it is enough of a rebellion to give Scarlet pause in her murderous task.
Ah Scarlet. We lost one female only to gain another. Bonnie for Scarlet, a worthwile exchange, though I wonder what in fact happened to Bonnie and if we will ever find out. Why Bonnie, after all? Why not have someone else kidnapped in book one? Only because Hohulin gave her the most obstinate personality that she was the one who insisted on going with Ethan in the first place. She was the only one that could have been sacrificed at the time for the book to continue.
As Jackie puts it, nobody is trying to find Bonnie, they are only after Duncan and righting the soul swap that left Ethan out of his body and world. This creates great tension between Jackie and Ethan as Ethan is mostly to blame for allowing Bonnie to go to the Cloud and get captured.
Scarlet was one of my favorite additions to the Marian, she had such a great backstory and added much to the plot. She was conflicted but resolute. She was the strongest character. “She collected all the anger at being turned into a killer before she could turn into a woman, all the frustration at being given an identity she couldn’t control, and all the horror at having two fathers taken from her.” (Kindle Locations 3755-3757).
I love the idea of different types of mercenaries that Hohulin introduces and how he defines each type, giving more shape to the politics going on in this world and how everyone has their part to play. Kyle and Kale are given more definition within this context as well and I enjoyed seeing more to them than was revealed in book one.
The Players in the front describing all the characters was very helpful and I’m always glad when authors re-iterate who is who and what is most important.
The plot clicked into place, things from book one, small almost insignificant details were brought to life in book two. What a great continuation and I can’t wait for more from Taylor Hohulin.
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on August 17th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.75
Links for more information:
Book Review: The Marian by Taylor Hohulin
The Marian by Taylor Hohulin
A Steampunk/Pirate Sci-Fi Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (9/19/14)
Summary:
In a world where water is scarce and the people must buy it from a company called HydroSystems Worldwide that jacks up the price, Ethan Denby is tossed into the soul of a ship’s captain. But where there is no water there are no oceans and this ship called the Marian, powered by coal, walks on legs. Not only must Ethan contend with being in a different body and a different time altogether, he has been marked to be taken from this world and to Those Beyond, a place nobody would ever want to go.
Keywords:
Illegal Water Harvesting, Water Scarcity, Criminals, Soul swapping, Steampunk, Ship on Legs, Navigation, Well, Extraction, Water Police, Teenagers, Captain, Mercenaries, Trouble, Pirates, Post-Apocalyptic
My Review:
The premise is intriguing. Everyone involved has a goal. There is a lot of tension. When there’s not enough water and you have to buy it from a monopoly, there are some people who would rather steal the water than pay the man. What a great book of the person versus the corporation.
The author tossed up what could have been a predictable plot with the concept of the Cloud and the fantasy/sci-fi bit with soul swapping. Ethan Denby doesn’t fit into this world and that’s what makes both him and the world so much more interesting.
I loved the characters. Each had their own unique personality. Bonnie is the token female who wants to be tough but has a difficult time in the apocalyptic environment. Jackie is the wild and unabashed engineer who will put himself at risk for the Marian and for Bonnie, his sister. Tucker is the good natured ship’s doctor who doesn’t make much of a fuss and you almost forget he’s there until he acts as a mediator. Percy is the man with the past who picked up the role as captain without a second glance behind him and is a bit rough around the edges. The Navigator is the crazy one, a crazy genius that is. Ethan is the bewildered newcomer who wants to just get home but has an amenable personality that gets along with most everyone. Lester is the cook who can’t cook and abides no waste on the ship. Buddy is mostly just an added voice and sometimes devil’s advocate as well as resident book-keeper and poetry writer. The Marian is the steampunk post-apocalyptic Mad Max type ship they travel on. Jarvis is the too smart for his own good can’t see beyond his own nose face of HydroSystems (the enemy).
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on September 19th, 2014 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.50
Links for more information:
Book Review: Damaged & Dangerous: The Sacred Hearts MC Book VI by AJ Downey
Damaged & Dangerous: The Sacred Hearts MC Book VI by AJ Downey
A Romance Novel published by Second Circle Press (09/27/15)
Summary:
“If some things are worth the risk… is this one of them?” (Kindle Location 1402).
Their relationship is dangerous. Red-Thirteen is a spy amidst the Suicide Kings MC, trying to scope out their plans before they can damage the Sacred Hearts MC an further. Coon was just one of the club girls, but the SKMC was no gentleman’s club, and it broke Thirteen’s heart and almost made him blow his cover when he sees how Pig-Pen and the whole club abuses and disrespects Coon. Thirteen won’t let down his brothers at the SHMC, but he won’t stand idly by and watch Coon continue to take abuse. At the first opportunity, Thirteen places trust in her hands, showing her how good a man really can be, but can she really trust him?
Keywords:
Romance, motorcycle, club, friendship, loyalty, family, POV change, best friends, bad days, sexual content, darker sides, violence, graphic violence, past life, moving on, strength, brave, jewelry
My Review:
This felt like the end of the series and yet almost none of the Old Ladies from any of the previous books were present. It was an entirely different story, yet a starkly familiar story, from the other books. There was a woman, she needed help. There was a man, he swoops in to save her from her situation. But the context of the other SHMC ladies was absent until the very end.
This book was also different in that it was deep into enemy territory, showing plainly the bad stuff happening at the Suicide Kings lair and at the heart of it is Dani (Coon). She has the most gut-wrenching story of all the ladies. Her abuse is terrible and even though Downey doesn’t go into too much detail, there is quite enough to make you cringe and to side with Dani, even if it means killing off all the members of the Suicide Kings. As long as it starts with Pig-Pen, the worst of the worst.
This book had so much action and so much tension, you’re definitely going to be holding your breath until the end. This entire book was like the climax of the series.
This novel was published by Second Circle Press on September 27th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 5.00
Links for more information:
Call for Submissions: Stories of Seattle (an Anthology)
Call for submissions for a Seattle Anthology: Stories of Seattle (working title)
This anthology will feature what Seattle is best known for, the places and the people and the feeling of being here. The purpose of this anthology is to showcase Seattle from an insider’s perspective. The stories should center around the ‘destination’ you choose such that the reader will gain a deep understanding of what it’s like to visit that place. Any person who has never been to Seattle should be able to imagine living here from the stories. The stories do not have to be true and they can be any genre.
Stories should be approximately 200 to 1500 words each. You may submit up to three stories.
Consideration will be given first to submissions received before October 31st, 2015.
You may choose from the below destinations or pick your own that is an iconic Seattle or Seattle area destination.
Please also answer the following questions to include with your submission. We will be using some or all of the answers in the backend matter of the anthology or/and within your ‘about the author’ section at the end of your submission(s). If you would like, you can provide a short (under 100 words) author biography and a black and white author photograph to be included in your ‘about the author’ section.
- What do you like most about Seattle?
- What do you like least about Seattle?
- What is your favorite restaurant/café?
- What is your favorite book or movie that features Seattle?
- What is your favorite local product?
- What makes you a Seattleite?
If you would like to help with copy editing or provide editorial help for this anthology, please let me know.
Send to rachel(dot)author(dot)barnard@gmail.com, the author name you wish to have credited for the story, the Seattle location you chose, answers to the ‘about the author’ questions and any additional about the author information you would like (up to 100 words) as well as your submission (up to three stories). Please also sign and return This anthology-Author Contract.
Possible destinations:
| Alaska Way Viaduct | Market Ghost Tour |
| Alki Point | Microsoft Campus |
| Archie McPhee | Molly Moon |
| Argosy Cruise | Museum of Flight |
| Ballard Locks | Northwest Trek |
| Bellevue Strawberry Festival | Olympic Sculpture Park |
| Benaroya Hall | Pacific Science Center |
| Beoing Factory Future of Flight | Paramount Theatre |
| Bill Gates’ House | Pike’s Place |
| CenturyLink Field | Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium |
| Chihuly Garden and Glass | Ride the Ducks |
| Costco | Seattle Aquarium |
| Dick’s Drive-In | Seattle Great Wheel |
| Discovery Park | Seattle Pinball Museum |
| Elliot Bay Book Company | Smith Tower Observation Deck |
| EMP | Snoqualmie Casino |
| Fremont Troll | Snoqualmie Falls |
| Frye Art Museum | Space Needle |
| Gas Works Park | Starbucks Original |
| Hat N’ Boots | Teatro ZinZanni |
| Jimi Hendrix Grave Site | Twin Peaks (North Bend) |
| Lake View Cemetery | Underground Seattle |
| Lake Washington | Unicorn |
| Lighthouse at the Lime Kiln State Park | UW |
| Lunchbox Laboratory |
Submissions received:
- Snoqualmie ice cream, Maltby
- Costco, Seattle
Book Review: Spectre of Intention by Tonya Macalino
Spectre of Intention by Tonya Macalino
A Cerebral Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel published by Crystal Mosaic Books (12/10/2013)
Summary:
“…Kaitlin Osgood, Senior VP of Sales and Project Management for Countermeasures International. She was smart, she was competent, and she would find a way through this.” (Pages 61-62).
You might describe Kaitlin Osgood as having ‘two faces’ or being schizophrenic at times, but she has evolved to become Kaitlin, shedding her old life and self and personality as Ashley Porter. She is well into becoming a woman of business and success -as new and improved Kaitlin- when her current job leads to a run in with her old life and people she knew as Ashley. When her job and self are threatened, who will she turn to in order to get out of trouble – solid businesswoman and professional Kaitlin or street tough thief Ashley?
Keywords:
Two-sided, Female Main Character, Sci-Fi, Space Elevator, Security Team, Professionals, Criminals, Violence, Threats, Thief, Past Life, Friends, Lover, Rebuilding Oneself, Sensing Emotions, Talents, Secrets
My Review:
The moment the book begins, it is as if the reader has been dropped into the middle of the story and the author gives no backstory or catchup or narrative explanation. As a reader you must glean as much information as you can to figure out what is going on. To help, you can re-read the summary of the book, as it gives the most precise explanation for what and who the main character is.
This story operates on the principle of the untold story as the author does more showing then telling, leaving the reader to go, “what?” It is difficult to understand what is going on and what the characters are thinking. The reader is on the outside looking in, left to the whims of what is going on and what the characters are saying without narrative guidance or character thoughts to guide the reader. It is difficult to grasp what is going on, especially at first.
The author brings to life the story of ‘what if.’ What if you had the superpower of… What would you be like? How would you live? What could you do if you had that power? Kaitlin is blessed (or cursed as is always the questions) with one such power and this book explores a piece of her life when another part of it intrudes and tries to take over. For those who like Science Fantasy novels that skirt the edge of philosophical, you might like Spectre of Intention
This novel was published by Crystal Mosaic Books 12/10/2013 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 3.50
Links for more information:
Book Review: The Night Bridge by S.A. Huchton
The Night Bridge by S.A. Huchton
A Fantasy/Romance Novel published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. (08/10/15)
Summary:
The little girl who believed in magic is now in her twenties and about to let go of her childhood friend forever, but when the mysterious Light Man shows up again and in great need, she will set aside her adult prejudices and believe once more. Eran is not just a magical man and he didn’t just show up in Shari’s time and place on accident. He was sent to her not to help Shari, but to be helped by her.
Keywords:
Fantasy, Romance, Evolution, Theory, Bridge, Distance, Love, Reality, Protection, Help, Save, Menace, Fighting, Technology
My Review:
One thing I know for certain about S.A. Huchton (aka Starla Huchton) is that she knows how to write a great romance, no matter the genre. Her romances are the most compelling, no matter if they occur within sci-fi or fantasy.
The Night Bridge had that pull that happens in a good romance where there is an inevitability that will make your heart lurch because you love the characters so much and their romance is so sweet that to tear that apart would devastate you as much as the characters.
I felt that this book was a bit rushed and a lot of the events seemed to happen as if they were in a bubble and not within the realm of a normal (our) world. Also, Shari was dead set against getting to know or even let her romantic feelings towards Eran take over and then suddenly (mostly all of a sudden but she does think it through) she changes her mind and is head over heels in a whirlwind fast romance.
This novel was published by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. on August 10th, 2015 and is available on Amazon here.
TL;DR Star Rating: 4.25
Links for more information:
Call for Submissions: Stories of Seattle (an Anthology)
Call for submissions for a Seattle Anthology: Stories of Seattle (working title)
This anthology will feature what Seattle is best known for, the places and the people and the feeling of being here. The purpose of this anthology is to showcase Seattle from an insider’s perspective. The stories should center around the ‘destination’ you choose such that the reader will gain a deep understanding of what it’s like to visit that place. Any person who has never been to Seattle should be able to imagine living here from the stories. The stories do not have to be true and they can be any genre.
Stories should be approximately 200 to 1500 words each. You may submit up to three stories.
Consideration will be given first to submissions received before October 31st, 2015.
You may choose from the below destinations or pick your own that is an iconic Seattle or Seattle area destination.
Please also answer the following questions to include with your submission. We will be using some or all of the answers in the backend matter of the anthology or/and within your ‘about the author’ section at the end of your submission(s). If you would like, you can provide a short (under 100 words) author biography and a black and white author photograph to be included in your ‘about the author’ section.
- What do you like most about Seattle?
- What do you like least about Seattle?
- What is your favorite restaurant/café?
- What is your favorite book or movie that features Seattle?
- What is your favorite local product?
- What makes you a Seattleite?
If you would like to help with copy editing or provide editorial help for this anthology, please let me know.
Send to rachel(dot)author(dot)barnard@gmail.com, the author name you wish to have credited for the story, the Seattle location you chose, answers to the ‘about the author’ questions and any additional about the author information you would like (up to 100 words) as well as your submission (up to three stories). Please also sign and return This anthology-Author Contract.
Possible destinations:
| Alaska Way Viaduct | Market Ghost Tour |
| Alki Point | Microsoft Campus |
| Archie McPhee | Molly Moon |
| Argosy Cruise | Museum of Flight |
| Ballard Locks | Northwest Trek |
| Bellevue Strawberry Festival | Olympic Sculpture Park |
| Benaroya Hall | Pacific Science Center |
| Beoing Factory Future of Flight | Paramount Theatre |
| Bill Gates’ House | Pike’s Place |
| CenturyLink Field | Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium |
| Chihuly Garden and Glass | Ride the Ducks |
| Costco | Seattle Aquarium |
| Dick’s Drive-In | Seattle Great Wheel |
| Discovery Park | Seattle Pinball Museum |
| Elliot Bay Book Company | Smith Tower Observation Deck |
| EMP | Snoqualmie Casino |
| Fremont Troll | Snoqualmie Falls |
| Frye Art Museum | Space Needle |
| Gas Works Park | Starbucks Original |
| Hat N’ Boots | Teatro ZinZanni |
| Jimi Hendrix Grave Site | Twin Peaks (North Bend) |
| Lake View Cemetery | Underground Seattle |
| Lake Washington | Unicorn |
| Lighthouse at the Lime Kiln State Park | UW |
| Lunchbox Laboratory |
Rachel Author Barnard 