Book Review (276): Wildest Dreams - Toni Blake

Wildest Dreams

by Toni Blake

Publication: 26th November 2013

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 400

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It: Amazon / Kindle | B&N / Nook

Indiebound | iTunes

From the seductive rhythms of Bourbon Street to the sultry climes of the bayou, a woman's search for the truth leads her into danger and passion beyond her wildest dreams . . .

Advertising executive Stephanie Grant knows how to sell an idea, but she's never had to sell herself before. Walking into The Big Easy's most exclusive bordello, however, she's ready to do just that. What Stephanie doesn't expect is to encounter a man who sees right through her disguise, laying bare not only what she wants, but what she needs.

The lithe blonde who glides up to Jake Broussard's bar could have any man she chooses, but that isn't her endgame. The ex-cop quickly catches on to Stephanie's real plan, and it won't be long before Chez Sophia's rich and powerful clientele do the same. Stephanie's playing with fire. Good thing this hometown boy likes it hot.

My Thoughts.

Wowza! Wildest Dreams by Toni Blake is a red-hot read with a couple that has sizzling chemistry and who will steam up the pages.

Stephanie has come to New Orleans to hunt for her sister Tina, after discovering that Tina has started working as a prostitute and hasn't contacted her for some time she becomes worried and so goes undercover herself as a prostitute at Chez Sophia's where she meets the barman, ex-cop Jake who can tell straight away that she's putting on an act and calls her on it.

Worrying that she may unintentionally get herself hurt Jake agrees to help search for Tina and use some of his old police contacts, after a past tragedy Jake has cut himself off mostly from everyone, but Stephanie seems to be wriggling herself into his life more and more, and as much as he tries to fight it, the chemistry is too strong and they soon find themselves giving in to temptation.

But when Jake starts feeling guilty about being this happy will he put an end to this love affair, can Stephanie find her sister before anything terrible befalls her, and finally will these two finally admit their feelings for one another and give love a chance together?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Toni Blake is a new author to me and I will definitely be on the look-out for her previous books, the characters were intriguing and never dull, the location was perfect and I loved the storyline.

I give this 4/5 Stars.

About Toni

Toni Blake is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty novels published in numerous languages. Her heartfelt and sensual stories are known for taking readers on an emotional journey.

A RITA®-nominated author, Toni is the recipient of numerous awards for her books, including the National Readers Choice Award and the Booksellers Best Award. Her work has also appeared in Cosmo.

Toni's most recent and hugely popular Destiny series takes place in a small Ohio town where coming home means finding your true heart and maybe even your true love.

Website: http://www.toniblake.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorToniBlake?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorToniBlake

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/402788.Toni_Blake

(ARC) Book Review (275): Palace Of Spies (Palace Of Spies #1) - Sarah Zettel

Palace of Spies (Palace of Spies #1)

by Sarah Zettel

Publication: 5th November 2013

Publisher: HMH Books For Young Readers

Pages: 368

Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository

A warning to all young ladies of delicate breeding who wish to embark upon lives of adventure: Don't. 

Sixteen-year-old Peggy is a well-bred orphan who is coerced into posing as a lady in waiting at the palace of King George I. Life is grand, until Peggy starts to suspect that the girl she's impersonating might have been murdered. Unless Peggy can discover the truth, she might be doomed to the same terrible fate. But in a court of shadows and intrigue, anyone could be a spy—perhaps even the handsome young artist with whom Peggy is falling in love...

History and mystery spark in this effervescent series debut.

My Thoughts.

Palace Of Spies is the first book in The Palace Of Spies series by Sarah Zettel.

Set amidst the intrigue of King George I and his life in court, with the possibility of a Jacobite uprising, this book will keep you on your toes as you navigate your way through this deceptively, intriguing story of mystery and deceit, as we try to unravel the secret plots and plans of the spies in the King's court.

Young and poor orphan Margaret 'Peggy', is thrown out of her Uncle's house after she refuses to marry the man that she is betrothed to, luckily for her she is the spitting image of a Lady Francesca, lady in waiting of Princess Caroline, after the death of Francesca, Peggy takes on the identity of Francesca and resumes her place at court.

She soon discovers that Francesca may have been murdered because of something she knew, not knowing who to trust or who may or may not be a spy Peggy becomes friends with an artist's apprentice Matthew whom she soon develops feelings for, but is he secretly a spy, or could it be Francesca's secret lover Robert a footman soldier who may have fallen into the clutches of Francesca's enemy Sophy, who is out to get Francesca any way she can.

When she uncovers a plot against the current ruler who can she trust to help her?

Will she survive long enough to reveal this secret?

This was such an extremely well written historical novel, with enough heart pumping action to keep you turning the pages in a hurry to get to the thrilling end, Zettel has written an amazing story that I can't wait to continue on with in the next book.

I give this 5/5 Stars.

Sarah Zettel is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. She has written eighteen novels and multiple short stories over the past seventeen years in addition to practicing tai chi, learning to fiddle, marrying a rocket scientist and raising a rapidly growing son. She is very tired right now.

Website: http://www.sarahzettel.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahzettelsbooks?ref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarah_zettel

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/110249.Sarah_Zettel

(ARC) Book Review (274): Pull Down The Night (The Suburban Strange #2) - Nathan Kotecki

Pull Down the Night (The Suburban Strange #2)

by Nathan Kotecki 

Publication: 8th October 2013

Publisher: HMH Books For Young Readers

Pages: 352

Genre: Paranormal

Age Appropriate:Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository 

This year at Suburban High School is just as troubling as the last. A curly-haired girl ghost is disrupting lives with dreaded “kiss notes,” and students are inexplicably sinking into depression. Bruno—the new kid on the block—finds himself at the center of the mystery when he discovers his natural map-reading abilities are actually supernatural. When the reluctant hero isn’t engaged in cosmic battles against evil, Bruno is swooning over the mesmerizing Celia (from The Suburban Strange) and navigating the goth sensibilities and musical obsessions of the Rosary, her über-chic clique. A hypnotic coming-of-age novel that chills and thrills.

My Thoughts.

Pull Down The Night is the second book in The Suburban Strange series by Nathan Kotecki.

I really enjoyed this book so much more than the first one, I found that I liked Bruno the lead protagonist in this book more than I did Celia the lead in The Suburban Strange, and while Celia is a main supporting lead here, I think I prefer reading about her character this way, I didn't really relate to her or find her that interesting the first time around which didn't help, Bruno was more intriguing and he wasn't a clone the way I felt Celia tended to be.

It's a new year at Suburban High and Bruno and his brother Sylvio are new students, on their first day they attract the attention of the 'Rosary' a clique which was a main component in the first book, with three of the six members now off at college, it's up to Celia, Marco and Regine to keep it going.

Throughout the book Bruno finds out he is a 'Kind', a person who has a special ability that uses them for good unlike the 'Unkind' who use their's for bad, with Celia as his Ambassador he has the ability to memorize maps, buildings and shortcuts which leads him to his main power which he will gain once he fulfills his first admonition (a task written in verse which he has to decipher in order to complete it).

With another year of strange occurences, student's are receiving 'kiss notes', which contain a day, time and place, which usually result in students discovering their boyfriend/girlfriend cheating on them at that exact time and place on the note given to them by a ghost of a character from the first book, whom I was very glad to see and was upset when this character was killed off.

With a new mystery on the last page of this book I look forward to the third instalment to see what happens next and whether we have ourselves a new lead character or one of the two that we've already had.

This series seems to be improving with each new release, and I eagerly await next year.

I give this 4/5 Stars.

Nathan Kotecki lives in North Carolina. He is also the author of The Suburban Strange.

Website: http://thesuburbanstrange.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nathan-Kotecki/289027994454201

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nathankotecki

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5413207.Nathan_Kotecki

Book Review (273): Lightbringer (Lightbringer #1) - K.D McEntire.

Lightbringer (Lightbringer #1)

by K.D. McEntire

Publication: 15th November 2011

Publisher: Pyr

Pages: 319

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Barnes and Noble | Books A Million | Amazon

A YA urban fantasy/romance set in a world a breath away from our own. Similar in tone to Tithe and Unleashed, this story tiptoes down the line between love and horror as Wendy discovers herself and the darkest parts of the afterlife. Wendy has the ability to see souls that have not moved on-but she does not seek them out. They seek her. They yearn for her . . . or what she can do for them. Without Wendy's powers, the Lost, the souls that have died unnaturally young, are doomed to wander in the never forever, and Wendy knows she is the only one who can set them free by sending them into the light. Each soul costs Wendy, delivering too many souls would be deadly, and yet she is driven to patrol, dropping everyone in her life but her best friend, Eddie-who wants to be more than friends-until she meets Piotr. Piotr, the first Rider and guardian of the Lost, whose memory of his decades in the never, a world that the living never see, has faded away. With his old-fashioned charms, and haunted kindness, he understands Wendy in ways no one living ever could, yet Wendy is hiding that she can do more than exist in the never. Wendy is falling for a boy who she may have to send into the light. But there are darker forces looking for the Lost. Trying to regain the youth and power that the Lost possess, the dark ones feed on the Lost and only Wendy and Piotr can save them-but at what cost?

My Thoughts.

Lightbringer is the first book in the Lightbringer series By K.D McEntire.

Lightbringer started out very slow for me, I struggled to initially wan to pick it up again once I'd set it down, but I persevered and it did get better, onfortunately not as good as my high expectations were, I'd had this book on my wihlist for a very long time and I guess I built it up in my head.

I guess what really annoyed me most about this book were the characters, our main heroine Wendy and her younger twin siblings Jon (he was the most normal of all three) and Michelle (chel for short) were totally messed up and that's because of their parents or lack thereof, with their Mother in some kind of coma and their Dad away working more than being at home, and Wendy stuck having to deal with the task of not only going to school and reaping but having to take care of all the household chores and pretty much having to raise her younger siblings as well, even when her Mother was well she was stuck with all of this, while her Mother who is also a Lightbringer would spend her time doing just that while taking away her eldest child's childhood to do the job that she was meant to be doing.Their was no redeeming features in her Mother whatsoever, their Dad isn't that great a parent either.

I did however like Piotr, a Rider tasked with looking after the Lost (spirits of children) and keeping them safe from the Walkers (souls that have gone bad whom feed on the Lost) and when some of his and his fellow Riders charges go missing he sets out to find and rescue them, eventually crossing paths with Wendy who hides her true identity from Piotr who blames the Lightbringer for his troubles.

These two have an attraction towards each other as impossible as it seems with Wendy being alive and Piotr well..not, Wendy's best-friend Eddie has been in love with Wendy for some time now but his feelings aren't reciprocated as much as he'd like them to be but he's still there for her whenever she needs him regardless of how often she turns him down.

And then there's the evil White Lady, who I had guessed her true identity about halfway through the book but I still thought was a pretty good twist regardless.

I'll still continue on with the rest of the trilogy, I'm intrigued now to see how this series will end, I'll get to it sooner or later.

I give this 3/5 Stars. 

About the Author

K. D. McEntire is a mom and animal lover currently living just outside of Kansas City with her husband, sons, and two cats. KD spends her miniscule free time reading, writing, and battling her Sims 3 addiction. She loves Wil Wheaton, Stephen King, Joss Whedon, gaming, comic books, and all things geeky.

Website: http://kdmcentire.com/index.php

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KD-McEntire/298151520111

Book Review (272): The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) - Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith.

The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1)

by Clay Griffith, Susan Griffith

Publication: 18th November 2010
Publisher: Pyr
Pages: 301
Genre: Paranormal/Steampunk
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
Buy It: Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository

Vampire predators run wild in this exciting steampunk adventure, the first in an alternate history trilogy that is already attracting attention. In 1870, monsters rise up and conquer the northern lands, As great cities are swallowed up by carnage and disease, landowners and other elite flee south to escape their blood-thirsty wrath. 

One hundred fifty years later, the great divide still exists; fangs on one side of the border, worried defenders on the other. This fragile equilibrium is threatened, then crumbles after a single young princess becomes almost hopelessly lost in the hostile territory. At first, she has only one defender—a mysterious Greyfriar who roams freely in dangerous vampire regions.

My Thoughts.

The Greyfriar is the first book in the Vampire Empire trilogy by the husband and wife duo, Clay and Susan Griffith.

You know how they say not to judge a book by it's cover, well I'm guilty of it, including this book, I'm not a big fan of the cover and so I wasn't in any kind of hurry to read it although the synopsis sounded really good, but I was given the chance to review it and I'm incredibly happy to say that I loved it!

I very much enjoyed immersing myself in this world that Clay and Susan have created, the perfect combination of paranormal (I love my vampires), steampunk and action all thrown together into an alternate history set in 1870.

We have a strong heroine in Princess Adele of Equatoria, engaged to be married to a man that she has never met, all for political reasons, her fiancée Senator Clark who also happens to be a vampire hunter sets out to rescue Adele after she is kidnapped by the vampire Prince Cesare, who hopes to discover the secret war plans that Equatoria have planned against the vampire race.

But on their tail is Greyfriar who originally rescued Adele before she was captured, Greyfriar who is a secret identity of a character in the book, and whom I had pretty much guessed  who it was before it was revealed to the reader.

Held in the Tower Of London for quite a bit of time, she finds herself associating a fair bit with Prince Gareth, Cesare's brother and heir to the vampire throne, Gareth is very different to all the other vampire's around and Adele finds herself not fearing him as much as she should.

After escaping she finally reunites with Greyfriar and they make their way to Scotland where Adele discovers she has powers that could potentially destroy all vampire's forever!

An extremely enjoyable read that I hope to continue on with at some point.

I give this 4/5 Stars.

Clay and Susan Griffith are the authors of the Vampire Empire trilogy -- The Greyfriar, The Rift Walker, The Kingmakers.

"Vampire Empire is transforming genre fiction." Paul Goat Allen, B&N Explorations.

If you're on Facebook, please think about going to www.facebook.com/vampireempire and clicking LIKE. If you done it already...Thank you.

Clay & Susan Griffith are a married couple who have written and published together for more than a decade. Their credits not only include two novels for Bantam Doubleday Dell in the mid-1990s and another novel for Pinnacle Entertainment Group in 2002 but also numerous short stories published in many anthologies, some featuring noted genre characters like Kolchak the Night Stalker and The Phantom. They've also written scripts for television and published graphic novels. The authors have attended many cons multiple times over the years, including World Fantasy, WorldCon Science Fiction, ComicCon (San Diego), DragonCon (Atlanta), HeroesCon (Charlotte), and other smaller conventions.

Blog: http://clayandsusangriffith.blogspot.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vampireempire?fref=ts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/clayandsusan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/57858.Clay_Griffith

Book Review (271): Long Live The Queen (The Immortal Empire #3) - Kate Locke.

Long Live the Queen (The Immortal Empire #3)

by Kate Locke

Publication: 12th November 2013
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 320
Genre: Paranormal/Steampunk
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It: Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository

Xandra Vardan thought life would be simpler when she accepted the goblin crown and became their queen, but life has only become more complicated. Everyone -- vampires, werewolves and humans -- wants the goblins on their side, because whoever has the goblins - wins. 

Queen Victoria wants her head, Alpha wolf Vex wants her heart, and she still doesn't know the identity of the person who wanted her blood. What she does know is that a project from one of the 'secret' aristocrat labs has gotten free and she's the only one who can stop the perfect killing machine -- a sixteen year-old girl. With human zealots intent on ridding the world of anyone with plagued blood and supernatural politics taking Britain to the verge of civil war, Xandra's finding out that being queen isn't all it's cracked up to be, and if she doesn't do something fast, hers will be the shortest reign in history.

My Thoughts.

Long Live The Queen is the third and final book in The Immortal Empire trilogy by the fantabulous Kate Locke.

Unfortunately Kate's writing is so incredibly fantastic that I'd finished this book in no time. the house could have burned down around me and I wouldn't have had a clue, but it means no more of this unbelievably good series set in a richly detailed world with extremely likeable characters and a completely original and addictingly, intriguing plot.

So this is it, we've finally come to the bittersweet end, I really didn't want to have to say goodbye, I'm so invested in these books, this series and although I feel that the series ended perfectly, I still want more!

Maybe a spin-off, short stories or something, I need my fix!

Everything came to a close so well with no unanswered questions left for the reader to sit and wonder about. 

I think that the addition of Ali was a stroke of genius on Kate's part, I thought that  something might come out of Vandra's captivity in the labs, in the second book 'The Queen Is Dead', but not that, never in a million years would I have guessed that it would be a road that Kate would go down,  but I'm so glad that she did, I feel that Vandra's needed an opponent who was worthy and at her level.

I was also very surprised by the reveal of the mastermind of all the experiments taking place in the labs, I really had no clue myself so it was a very good shock and totally unexpected on my part.

All of my favorite characters made their appearance in this finale, it should set a benchmark of how exactly to end a successful and popular series.

I implore all of you that haven't yet picked up these books to get on it because you are missing out!

This series is definitely one of my favorites and I will be eagerly awaiting whatever Kate releases in the future.

A huge and very well deserved 5/5 Stars.

Kate Locke has always enjoyed making things up — a trait that often got her into trouble as a child, but by which she enjoys making a living. Before writing fiction full time she worked as cook, a journalist and in a photo finishing lab where she saw enough pictures of naked people to rival Hugh Hefner. A guy once asked her out after giving her a role of film that he expressly requested she develop and print. The entire role was images of him stark naked in the woods. And no, that’s the kind of thing you just don’t make up.

In her late 20s Kate sold her first book and enjoyed a 10 year career writing under a different name. Her love of fantasy and the paranormal refused to leave her alone, and one day, while sitting on the couch thinking of making a very scary career move, she started jotting down notes for a book she wanted to write just for the pure enjoyment of it; a book just for herself. That book became God Save the Queen. Her agent thought they could sell it — Kate wasn’t certain. Then, the day after having her gall bladder removed (again, can’t make this stuff up), Kate got the call that Orbit books — her dream publisher for God Save the Queen — had made an offer. And it’s been more exciting than she ever imagined.

Like Xandra Vardan, the heroine in God Save the Queen, Kate values those she loves above all else, and has hair a color not typically found in nature. Unfortunately, Kate’s comes from a bottle. She’s married to a fabulous man who doesn’t seem to care what she does to her hair, puts up with her occasional* craziness, helps her plot, and treats her like she’s the best thing since lipgloss.

Kate Locke is pseudonym for Kathryn Smith aka Kady Cross.

Website: http://www.katelocke.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/klockework

Book Review (270): The Queen Is Dead (The Immortal Empire #2) - Kate Locke.

The Queen Is Dead (The Immortal Empire #2)

by Kate Locke

Publication: 5th February 2013

Publisher: Orbit

Pages: 352

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Steampunk

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It: Amazon Barnes & Noble The Book Depository

Nothing lasts forever---and immortality isn't all its cracked up to be.

When her brother Val gets in over his head in an investigation of Half-Blood disappearances and goes missing himself, it's up to Xandra, newly crowned Goblin Queen, to get him back and bring the atrocities to light. Xandra must frequent the seediest parts of London, while also coping with what she is, the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who wants her head. Add this to being a suspect in a murder investigation, a werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy, and Xandra barely knows which way is up. One thing she does know is that she's already lost one sibling, she's not about to lose another.

My Thoughts.

The Queen Is Dead is the second book in The Immortal Empire trilogy by Kate Locke.

This series is fantastic, and I hate the thought that this series isn't any longer, I don't want to say goodbye to these characters that I've fallen in love with.

Kate has a way of drawing you in with her captivating writing and equally entertaining and lovable characters.

I'm going to try and make this review as spoiler free as possible for those who haven't yet gotten around to reading any of the two books (and if you haven't well then you need to remedy that A.S.A.P!).

After the events at the end of the first book 'God Save The Queen', our heroine Vandra is having to get accustomed to her new role, whilst trying to put off making it official all the while trying to come to terms with the way her life has changed dramatically, after the shock of discovering what she really is as well as the betrayal and lies of those who kept it hidden from her and whom she thought that she could trust. 

I'm so excited that we get more of the smexi Alpha wolf Vex, I love his character and his relationship with Vandra, especially in this book when she feels as though he is the only one that she can trust.

Vandra's relationship with the Goblin horde/plague strengthens in this book with more page time devoted to them and their lives underground, we also get to spend more time with Goblin Prince William, who is is becoming a major character in this series, and is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

With the disappearance of her brother Val, Vandra finds herself in a race against time to save him before his captives either use him in a macabre show or start to experiment on him like some of their other prisoners.

Full of action, adventure and an extremely kick-ass well dressed heroine. this series will have you intrigued the whole way through.

Highly recommended!

I give this 5/5 Stars.

Kate Locke has always enjoyed making things up — a trait that often got her into trouble as a child, but by which she enjoys making a living. Before writing fiction full time she worked as cook, a journalist and in a photo finishing lab where she saw enough pictures of naked people to rival Hugh Hefner. A guy once asked her out after giving her a role of film that he expressly requested she develop and print. The entire role was images of him stark naked in the woods. And no, that’s the kind of thing you just don’t make up.

In her late 20s Kate sold her first book and enjoyed a 10 year career writing under a different name. Her love of fantasy and the paranormal refused to leave her alone, and one day, while sitting on the couch thinking of making a very scary career move, she started jotting down notes for a book she wanted to write just for the pure enjoyment of it; a book just for herself. That book became God Save the Queen. Her agent thought they could sell it — Kate wasn’t certain. Then, the day after having her gall bladder removed (again, can’t make this stuff up), Kate got the call that Orbit books — her dream publisher for God Save the Queen — had made an offer. And it’s been more exciting than she ever imagined.

Like Xandra Vardan, the heroine in God Save the Queen, Kate values those she loves above all else, and has hair a color not typically found in nature. Unfortunately, Kate’s comes from a bottle. She’s married to a fabulous man who doesn’t seem to care what she does to her hair, puts up with her occasional* craziness, helps her plot, and treats her like she’s the best thing since lipgloss.

Kate Locke is pseudonym for Kathryn Smith aka Kady Cross.

Website: http://www.katelocke.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/klockework

Super Six Sunday – Super Six Books that are way too long on my TBR Pile

Super Six Sunday is an original bookish meme hosted at Bewitched Bookworms and inspired by “Top Ten Tuesday” from The Broke and The Bookish . You can see the weekly schedule of themes here.

Super Six Books that are for way too long on my TBR Pile

..and need to be read ASAP! 

Unfortunately I seem to have a tremendous amount of extremely popular books still on my TBR pile, but with the amount of review books I have I never seem to get enough time to sit down with a book of my choosing, so here are my Six Books That Have Been On My TBR Pile For Way Too Long!

Divergent - Veronica Roth

The Fault In Our Stars - John Green

Anna Dressed In Blood - Kendare Blake

Legend - Marie Lu

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Cinder - Marissa Meyer

So What Are The Top Six On Your TBR Pile?

Book Review (269): Earth Girl (Earth Girl #1) - Janet Edwards

Earth Girl (Earth Girl #1)

by Janet Edwards

Publication: 5th March 2013

Publisher: Pyr

Pages: 271

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon  Barnes & Noble

2788. Only the handicapped live on Earth. Eighteen-year-old Jarra is among the one in a thousand people born with an immune system that cannot survive on other planets. Sent to Earth at birth to save her life, she has been abandoned by her parents. She can’t travel to other worlds, but she can watch their vids, and she knows all the jokes they make. She’s an “ape,” a “throwback,” but this is one ape girl who won’t give in.

Jarra makes up a fake military background for herself and joins a class of norms who are on Earth for a year of practical history studies excavating the dangerous ruins of the old cities. She wants to see their faces when they find out they’ve been fooled into thinking an ape girl was a norm. She isn’t expecting to make friends with the enemy, to risk her life to save norms, or to fall in love.

My Thoughts.

Earth Girl is the first book in the Earth Girl trilogy by Janet Edwards.

I liked this book so much, the concept sounded so appealing being set in the future, add in the intriguing characters and great dialogue and you end up with this fabulous story.

It's 2788 and Earth is a planet only inhabited by the handicapped (or apes as civilians from other planets refer to them as), people who as babies who can't with their immune system tolerate the atmosphere anywhere but Earth and can't portal to other worlds, and so most are abandoned by their families with the belief system that it's an embarrassment to have a child with this problem.

Jarra is one of these kids, angry and bitter at the way she and all handicapped are treated she enrols herself at a school for the norms who will be spending the next year on Earth at a dig site to find artifacts and lost pieces of history that were abandoned in the haste to leave Earth.

Creating a new background for herself as the daughter of military parents, Jarra ends up being the smartest and most knowledgable student in her class, much to the amazement and chagrin of her teacher who is the only person that's knows of who she really is.

Soon Jarra starts believing her own lies and gets swept up in a romance with Fian a boy in her class - a norm from another planet.

But when a severe solar storm strikes where Jarra is staying she and her fellow students will be helping to save the lives of some of the military, who have crash-landed on Earth and have only hours to live buried under the rubble of a collapsed building.

Join Jarra as she falls in love, discovers the norms aren't as bad as she'd convinced herself they are and helps to save a whole lot of people proving that the handicapped can do just as much as and are as normal as the well - the norms.

I highly recommend this book and I look forward to the next book 'Earth Star'.

I give this 4/5 Stars.

Janet Edwards lives in England. As a child, she read everything she could get her hands on, including a huge amount of science fiction and fantasy. She studied Maths at Oxford, and went on to suffer years of writing unbearably complicated technical documents before deciding to write something that was fun for a change. She has a husband, a son, a lot of books, and an aversion to housework.

You are welcome to chat to Janet on twitter.

Website: http://janetedwards.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanetEdwardsSF
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JanetEdwardsSF
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5415711.Janet_Edwards