Pages

Showing posts with label H.D Gordon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label H.D Gordon. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

{Review} The Halfling (The Aria Fae Series #1) by H.D. Gordon

28444587Posted by Melanie
Release Date: February 2nd, 2016 
Finished Date: January 9th, 2016
Publishers: Self Published
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Source: For Review
Format: eARC
Pages: Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US 
 
Being seventeen and an outcast is hard. Being seventeen and only half human is harder.

When Aria Fae gets cast out of the Peace Brokers, a secret supernatural organization that’s trained her since infancy, and is left to fend for herself in the human world, she finds herself in Grant City, intent on attempting a normal human life.

As a Halfling, Aria has abilities that are a little underused in the flower shop she lands a job at. And when her new friend Samantha Shy enlists Aria to help investigate her mother’s death, the two girls decide to become vigilantes.

A new drug called Black Magic is running rampant in the streets of Grant City, turning people into supercharged maniacs. With Sam’s mad computer skills, and Aria’s Faevian abilities, they may be just the heroes Grant City is in need of.

Or they may find out they’re in way over their heads, and their mutual crush on the same guy is the least of their worries.

The Review: The Halfling is the first book in the new Aria Fae series by the amazing H.D Gordon and takes place in the world of her other series – Alexa Montgomery Saga and Surah Stormsong novels – but you don’t have to have read those to enjoy this.
As the synopsis states- Aria Fae is 17 and on her own after being cast out of the Peace Brokers, an organisation that has trained her since she was a child. She finds herself in Grant city living in a run down neighbourhood, forced to get a job to survive and see her through school until she graduates. She immediately finds a friend in Samantha Shy when she stops the school bully from abusing her and they find that they have a couple of things in common. When she confides in Sam that she is a Halfling – half fae/half human – they begin an adventure as vigilantes with Aria being the masked avenger and Sam being the brains behind the outfit. They find out that because of a new drug flooding the city, people are becoming increasingly violent and women of all ages are going missing or being killed….. so let’s hope these girls know what they’re getting themselves into.

So, this was awesome! I always know I’m going to get a good read from this author and I was not disappointed.
Aria is a kick ass character and even though she seems quite pitiful and struggles with depression, she gets the job done. I love a good female lead character and Aria is definitely capable of looking out for herself, she is very likable and easy to connect with often making my heart ache for her and what she was going through. It was actually refreshing to see a character such as Aria deal with mental health issues, describing how she would be pulled into certain moods and such… it makes her more relatable. She and Sam were a great team and it’s nice to see these two come together through shared tragedies and bolster each other up, they each open each others eyes to different things and ways of life and share a friendship that you can tell will stand the test of time. Aria gets a love interest in this but it doesn’t take over the story and to be honest I was more interested in her mysterious brooding neighbour who has the potential to be something more???
The storyline was fab and just what I have come to expect from this author. The scenario of women going missing, a drug that is affecting people in strange ways and murders aplenty set up Grant City as quite the scary place to be. The story was very super hero-esque and reminded me of Arrow or Flash with the hero being out to make their city safe whilst a computer genius(s) backs them up in their lair. Aria’s back up were Sam and Matt and they were like a little family instead of a team, they also brought some light heartedness to the plot which was nice. For most of the story, the enemy is faceless and could be anyone, getting clues were hard come by but there was plenty of action when Aria was in masked mode and this injected a lot of excitement to the plot, she was an epic fighter and had a parkour/free running style to her self and her combat. I thought the story also had a gritty, real feel to it and could easily be a great book without the supernatural element. I thought the pacing was great also and my only grumble is that I wish Aria had been a bit older but this is just the beginning and I can tell it has a lot more to give. I am left with huge questions - I really want to know more about Thomas Reid - but liked the conclusion to this and it was tied up nicely, so now I can’t wait for more! 


Thank you to H.D. Gordon for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 
 

Friday, 21 August 2015

{Review} The Company Store by H.D. Gordon

25129878Posted by Melanie
Release Date: August 3rd, 2015
Finished Date: August 10th, 2015
Publishers: Self Published
Genre: YA, Dystopia, Romance
Source: For Review
Format: eARC
Pages: Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US

Thanks to the greed of man, Earth is dying. Climate change and human greed has wrought mass destruction over the planet, and a fraction of the population remains.

The Company Store controls the last civilization, known as the Single Nation Circle. Those outside the Circle are Outliers, outcasts and gangsters who do whatever it takes to survive.

Samuel Poe is the 18-year-old leader of the Poe Boys, the Northern Outlier gang. With resources ever dwindling, Sam knows he must be the toughest of the dogs fighting over the scraps if he hopes to keep himself and his people alive.

When Sam meets Anna Rose, daughter of Mr. Company, the most powerful man in the dying world, he finds himself in a deadly race toward resources and a new life.

Much like those of their ancestors, the choices of the two star-crossed teenagers will echo through the ages, the fate of the human race resting on their shoulders.

The Review: H.D. Gordon sure does give her reader food for thought in her latest offering. As the synopsis tells us – Earth is dying. Every resource is controlled by fat cat corporations – namely The Company Store – led by Mr Company. What remains of the population have formed groups; those within the Single Nation Circle are ran by Mr Company and everyone contributes to a big pot in some way so that they can receive allotments of food, water etc. but the downside is that you are forever beholden to the ‘The Company Store’. Those people who aren’t born there and live outside of its walls are called Outliers and they also have groups that are ran by cunning gangster like leaders giving their existence an organised crime syndicate kind of feel, where they will do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of their ‘families’. Things are very dire for everyone but none more so than the Outliers. Samuel Poe is the leader of the Poe Boys and he runs the Northern region, surviving in caves and the last remaining forest area. Sam may be young at 18 but he has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders as leader, he views each and every one of those in his care as his family and has done some terrible things to ensure all of their safety. He is an intelligent young man considering he hasn’t had much of an education, but street smarts are always worth a lot more in a savage world. One day, Sam stops a girl from being hurt and escorts her to the walls of the circle, they are both drawn to each other but the trouble that will come from their relationship has danger written all over it and when each side is threatened by the others – how will they stop the inevitable? Can they save everyone? Or will they all keep up hostilities and kill whatever is left of a dying Earth and its inhabitants? I really loved this book, the author could write the phone book and still reel us into her world. I’m not a massive fan of dystopian novels but I love this author and I love a story with a message. Sam’s character is very complex and multi layered, he has the persona of a hard man, he is a brute, an enforcer, a leader – someone who gets things done at any cost but we are also privy to his thoughts and motivations which gives us another layer to him. Through that we get a grasp of his intelligence, how he views the world, the people, his surroundings and his responsibilities so that you’re left without a doubt that he is more than capable of his burdens. When Anna Rose comes along, we see a softer side to him, his coldness melts for this girl, he would risk anything for something so sweet in his harsh life because Anna had an innocence about her that beckoned him. Their moments together were incredibly sweet, they gave an air of forbidden romance too with her being from the SNC and him being an Outlier and I loved how it offset the harshness of their world. The storyline was great, I can’t go into it as much as I would have liked but it really grips you and takes you on a race against time kinda journey. It was rather slow going in the beginning as the world is built up, you could really get a sense of desolation for the Outliers and to live there is to face a survival struggle every single day where not only are food and water fought over but everything! People would sooner kill you than have you in their territory and the more savage you are, the more likely you will survive. It gives a long glimpse into the breakdown of civilisation and what will become of the people. The Outliers aren’t the only savages though because those with power in the SNC are not afraid of abusing theirs either, especially when it comes to the Outliers and what people think of them. The story steadily introduces problems between all of the leaders and you can really feel the mountain of tension that will come crashing down. There is a mutual goal that Sam & Anna Rose much strive for, we feel the imperativeness of it throughout the story and it’s easy to route for them but always thinking what will happen to everyone else at the same time. Then the chaos builds and we are shown the true face of a lot of characters that leads to an epic showdown of their own making. The story is bleak, it is violent, it shows humanity at its worst…. But also at its best and what some people will do for the greater good – even forsaking their own selves. It has a message of love and hope but it also is a stark warning that this could come to pass, if we don’t wise up about our world, treat her with care, stop the pollutants, chemicals, nuclear waste even everyday rubbish plays a part – we will lose her, she won’t be able to sustain us anymore… and that to me is scary and also a tragedy. So please, while you enjoy this story, also be mindful to its message and pass it on… or this could very well be a glimpse into our future. 

Thank you to H.D. Gordon for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 
 

Thursday, 4 December 2014

{Review} Santa's Little Helper by H.D. Gordon

23352203Posted by Melanie
Release Date: October 31st, 2014
Finished Date: November 28th, 2014
Publishers: Self Published
Genre: Horror
Source: For Review
Format: eBook
Pages: 384
Buy: Amazon UK Amazon US

He shows up in a white box, with a bright red book under his arm... 
He wears a jolly grin and hat, a suit with gold bells and green yarn... 
He watches you for Santa, or so his red book claims... 
But though his grin is jolly, he's not here for fun and games...

The children have been chosen, such precious little souls they are... 
And may the Gods be with them, if they wish to make it very far... 
For Santa's Little Helper does not say, but knows important things... 
He knows when you've been bad or good, and what monsters stalk your dreams... He knows when you are sleeping... He knows when you're awake... He's picking out his presents... He's got some souls to take...

The Review: Santa’s Little Helper is a fab read and something a little different for author H D Gordon. I don’t really want to say too much about the plot but I will have to try and not make it too spoilery.
The story revolves around 5 children – Manny, Michael, Emily, Benny & Tuck – all 4 or 5 yrs of age and from various families backgrounds which includes some issues such as domestic violence, single mother bringing up a child alone, a father that works away and a child whose parents think he has special needs. They make an interesting bunch of characters and I wasn’t the only one interested in them….. Out of the blue, each child receives a white box… and in that box is a red book that tells the story of the Elf that accompanies the book in the box. For some reason, when each child is given the gift…they all want to be as far away as possible from it but are each made to keep it in one way or another. Each child knows that this elf is not what it seems, its sinister smile broadens, it moves unaided when you’re asleep and there is a tangible sense of evil infecting each family….the children are scared as the elf terrorises each child…. And each child knows that the teeth hidden under the façade of a jolly face are used to eat more than candy canes… he eats children! And these 5 are his prey… will they make it to Christmas day?
So, I loved this book and it definitely had a Stephen King feel to it.  I was a bit dubious about reading a book with 5yr old characters as the main focus but one thing the author is good at, is her younger characters - they all have an old soul feel to them and it’s clear to see how they would come to the attention of such evil. Their voices, feelings, thoughts and actions came across very well and they did indeed make for a great read. I loved the storyline and it is different to anything this author has done in the past but shows how she can put her hand to any genre. I liked the way the children’s chapters came across and were interspersed with chapters from their parents, giving the viewpoint of the child who was living the drama and the parent who was watching their child succumb to a living nightmare. We also got some good views of their home life which in some cases, is just as messed up as the situation they’re in. It all builds a very detailed picture of the way the evil affects each household. The Elf was a great way to inject the horror/suspense into the story, Elves are meant to be happy, cheery and super psyched for Christmas – well, you can forget that here – this elf is a force to be reckoned with and knows just how to pull on these children’s fears and the adults too. The atmosphere of the book is palpable and steadily gets darker & more sinister as each part passes, this is not a fluffy Christmas tale, it has horror, fear, anxiety, suspense and death all focussed around a group of kids that will hopefully beat their demons. Great read! 

Thank you to H.D Gordon for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Monday, 17 March 2014

Blog Tour for Joe 2: White Sheets by H.D Gordon; Review

20652630 Posted by Melanie
Release Date: March 26th, 2014
Finished Date: March 13th, 2014
Publishers: Self Published
Genre: Paranormal, Suspense
Source: For Review
Format: eBook
Pages: Unknown
Joe Knowe sees things before they happen. Bad things. Just a couple months ago it was a psychopath planning a massacre at the college she attended. Now, she's facing a whole different kind of madman, and one potentially far more dangerous. 
To keep the pending disaster from happening, this time Joe will have to get up close and personal, making herself at home in the lion's den, and attempting not to be swallowed whole. 
Will she be able to keep herself and those around her from drinking the Kool-Aid? Or will they all end up under white sheets? In this second installment of the thrilling JOE series, H. D. Gordon takes you into the heart of a cult, the mind of its leader, and the lives of his followers.

The Review: White Sheets is the second book in the Joe series by H.D Gordon and it did not disappoint, in fact it was awesome!
So, Joe Knowe is special, she sees things before they happen, she draws them, has flashes warning her of death but it’s brought her nothing but trouble, last time we met Joe there was a college campus shooting that could have been way worse had Joe not intervened and this time we find her having another BAD premonition, the kind that she cannot ignore, the kind that would be devastating with countless victims, young and old…. And it’s up to Joe to avert this in the only way she knows how…. She’s about to go undercover in a religious cult to make sure those white sheets are not needed.
I loved this book, it is equally as enthralling as the first in the series and really unputdownable.
I find it easy to connect to Joe’s character, she has an innocence about her in spite of all of the atrocities she has seen. I like that she retains her gentle nature when she could easily become hardened and I thought this book showed a maternal side to her but also brings her bravery to the forefront. It always amazes me how people thrive in the worst of situations and Joe definitely does that, she is quite a sorrowful character, life has been hard on Joe and rejection has been a major factor for her which is why so few people know of her gift. She’s about to let someone else in this time around and I was so pleased about that, it was nice to see Michael hang around after the events of book one and that his feelings are continuing to grow, this is just what Joe needs to continue to blossom and I like that he gives her a little peace.
The storyline was just as awesome, this time around we have a religious cult and we all know how those end up – Kool-aid anyone?- as with book one, we know from the prologue what is going to happen, it’s the premonition that Joe receives and then the book is a battle against time to stop the tragic events unfolding. Again, the book is told from multiple POVs which gives you a very balanced view of what is going on in all areas and I find that I really like that about these books, not only do we get Joe trying to prevent the event, we get the thoughts of the ‘father’ and his ramblings & paranoia, we get Joe’s friends – Michael & Mr Landry – who need Joe to understand she isn’t in it alone, then we get a few members of the ‘family’ where we get into the mind set of how they become so subservient to this man, how they excuse behaviour and what doesn’t feel right and we even get the POV of a news reporter that has started to do some digging…. All very interesting and weaving together perfectly. The intensity of the story is high, the anxiety, the panic…..you feel the time ticking, you wonder if today will be the day, you feel & witness the events unfolding from all angles and are right with all of the characters as we see the drama spiralling down to doomsday, routing for Joe to put a stop to it…. But will she??
This is just another wonderful story from H.D Gordon & she never disappoints, I couldn’t recommend these books enough especially if you need something a little different from the rest, Joe is a unique character that anyone will take into their hearts.


H.D. GordonAbout this author:
H. D. Gordon is the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga. Blood Warrior, the first book of the Alexa series was her debut novel and has held a spot in the top 100 fantasy bestsellers for over a month. Half Black Soul is the second book in this series and H. D. plans to complete Alexa's tales by the end of 2012. In June of 2012, Joe, a fantasy novel about a young clairvoyant, was released as well. H. D. is a lifelong reader and writer, a true lover of words. When she is not reading or writing she is raising her two daughters, playing a little guitar, and spending time with her family. She is twenty three years old and lives in the northeastern United States.

Friday, 13 September 2013

Blog Tour for Falling Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel #2) by H.D Gordon; Review + Author Interview

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: September 15th, 2013
Finished Date: August 19th, 2013
Publishers: Self - Published
Source: Bought
Format: Kindle 
Pages: Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

Surah Stormsong’s life has fallen down around her in the past week. Her father is in a coma induced by demon poison, two Highborn Sorceresses have been murdered, and a crazed Sorcerer by the name of Black Heart has made it his mission to take the kingdom for his own. As princess, and next in line to the throne, Surah is his primary target. But he’s not the only one she has to look out for. 
Now, Surah is on the run, having just helped Charlie Redmine escape from the castle dungeons. This makes her a traitor in the eyes of many, as Charlie is not only a common man suspected of murder and treason, but also Black Heart’s younger brother.
The stars are crossed against the two lovers, the universe trying to keep them apart. In the end, will the stars align for Surah and Charlie, or will they fall from the heavens, dead and lifeless, like the tears of angels?

The Review: 4.5 Flowers! 

Falling Stars is the awesome follow up to Shooting Stars (book 1) in the Surah Stormstrong series by the equally awesome H.D. Gordon.

We pick up straight from where we left off with Surah & Charlie having teleported out of the dungeons of the castle and far away from Theodine Grey, who has witnessed the depth of their relationship and has revenge in mind so plots to not only win Surah over and make her his but to put Charlie Redmine in his place permanently. Elsewhere, Black Heart is plotting too and his plotting is quite the opposite, he wants his brother at his side and Surah Stormstong out of their lives once and for all which will only help his plans for the uprising. Suddenly… the magic is gone! And with the King in a coma and Princess Surah ‘m I a’… Theodine Grey thinks that now is the time to begin his plot… only he isn’t the only one with an agenda as the vultures circle and power hungry people emerge with murderous intent. Surah finds herself in a helpless situation because she needs to save her father, needs to save Charlie, needs to save her people…. but who will save her when she’s branded a traitor? When everything she holds dear is ripped away from her and people she thought she could trust turn into the biggest betrayers of all.

This was just amazing! I love Heather’s works, seriously, she is sooooo good at pulling you into her worlds a wowing the sh*t out of you. I loved the progression of everything in this.. we get character progression aplenty as Surah & Charlie’s relationship deepens showing a softer side to her, getting a glimpse of the person underneath the walls she has built and Charlie baring most of his soul to her, willing to risk everything for a little sip of happiness with Surah – so sweet, I was left hanging for those moments. I loved that we got to know Charlie a lot more in this as he attempts to show Surah what type of man she is getting involved with and it’s a shocker, I would have never thought him capable of what he confesses but at the same time Surah shows him just how capable she is and they seem to fit together perfectly like they are two of the same people but from different places. They aren’t the only ones revealing more of themselves either but I will let you find that out.

The storyline is certainly picking up as players are set into place and plots & schemes start to become apparent and very focussed on our lovers. Danger seems to follow Surah & Charlie at every turn whether they are facing an army of fae, a whole city of angry people or individuals who would mean them harm – they will face it….together.. as they should always be. We begin to get the bigger picture throughout this, as I said the players are placed and whilst they all have one common goal, the way they would get there is different and that is where the danger becomes even more apparent and well, lethal. It was very revealing in more ways than that though because we get a lot of Charlie’s background and see what had set Michael (Black Heart) on his path of destruction and we will find out just how far he will go to strip the Highborns of their power, we also get a little insight into Theodine Grey too. The action is great, I like to see Surah in action, it reminds me that she isn’t this soft spoken princess that people have on a pedestal and also of the woman who challenged the ‘sun warrior’, she was really justified as she dished out her punishments in this but leaves me a little afraid for some people holding secrets from her, which some are – bigstyle! I appreciated the different povs, I love to get into everyones mind-sets and this is good for that and to keep us up to date on events elsewhere too. I especially love the chapters with Samson, I really love that animal with his faith, loyalty & love for Surah.. I wonder what would happen if he were to become human? What would his intentions be to Surah considering the depth of his love? In the end I was left feeling a little bittersweet, but hopeful and with lots more questions that are begging to be answered.

 All in all, this book was awesome, filled with lots of action, plotting & scheming, secrets & lies, revelations and a nice big chunk of romance that sweetens the heart….. but also making my heart pound with every page. Seriously cannot wait for the next book. 4.5*s
Author Interview with H.D Gordon

•          Tell us how you came up with the idea behind this series?
H.D. Gordon I’ve always loved a good star-crossed lovers story, and because I love fantasy and paranormal as well, having the characters be non-human was sort of a given for this one. I like to force my characters into bad situations, and see how resourceful they are at getting out of them, how their decisions change them, what drives their actions. Surah and Charlie came to me first, just as Alexa came to me when I first wrote Blood Warrior. It’s usually that way with me. I get a character or characters, a single scene (usually the opening scene) and let the characters take it from there. Then comes the story ideas. The characters lead me to them.

•          Why did you choose this topic? The magic that can be amplified with stones?
I’m not sure how to answer that. I don’t necessarily choose anything. I do, however, try to live the scenes in my books as much as I can. I literally close my eyes and try to put myself there. Like watching a movie…only it’s not just watching, it’s also playing ALL the roles. The stones were just something that happened. Kind of like Surah and Charlie were something that just happened.

•          What was your biggest challenge in creating this series?
The pressure of living up to the last series. (sheepishly smiling now, but also being honest) I know Alexa and her crew were quite popular, and I never want to disappoint my readers. However, I also have no desire to tell the same story over and over, to create the same characters over and over, so I knew this series would be very different from Alexa’s. My hopes are that by the end of Surah’s tales, the readers will love her and her story just as much as Alexa’s, if for totally different reasons. While I can’t promise you will love everything I write, I can promise you will always get something different, something new. But all the stories I write are also connected in some way or another, and if you pay close enough attention, you just might see the world in which I write from a grander viewpoint. Give me ten years, you’ll see what I mean.

•          How long did it take you to write?
A month to a month and a half is my usual production time for a book. I’m a minimalist writer, and I prefer to get it all out as soon as possible. I treat the prose like poetry, or attempt to, at least, so that hopefully the words fall right on the page. They mean very much to me, those words.

•          How many books will be in the series?
Three, I think. But then again, Alexa was supposed to be three, and ended up being four. I never know until I get there. But I can tell you the third book is titled Crossing Stars, and either way, Surah’s tales will be completed by the end of 2014. More than likely sooner.

•          When you introduced Surah in the final Alexa Montgomery book, was it because you already had her series in the works and were introducing her to us or was she a character who was introduced and you thought she would make a good leading lady and therefore wrote a series for her?
I’d been bouncing back and forth about a spinoff, but had no real ideas for it. Then, while writing Alexa, Surah just showed up, and I was taken with her. I try my best not to make too many plots or plans, and rather just write what wants to be written. It helps me to stay true to my craft. I write for money, but I don’t write for money. Ya dig? I don’t consider what is selling, or what others are writing. Sometimes this works heavily to my disadvantage, but I figure at some point my true readers will feel comfortable picking up anything I write, knowing that whether they are interested in the genre or not, they will be getting a good story. This is the best I have to offer.

•          Are Surah & Charlie fated?
Mmm, that’s quite the philosophical question, ain’t it? You probably don’t want to get me started, just ask my former philosophy professors from college. Short answer, yes. Are not we all? Einstein believed that time was not linear, that the past and present and future all run parallel, but he also believed that the present could not just affect the future, but alter the past as well. I’m losing you, huh? I’ll stop. I’m losing my damn self.  Charlie and Surah have a definite outcome. I think I know it. But I could always be wrong. Either way, it is definite.

•          Will we find out even more about Charlie’s background?
Oh, yes! This book will really open up all the characters, especially Charlie. He’s so open to me now that I think I love him more than I ever loved Kayden. Gasp, right? I fuckin’ loved Kayden. Charlie’s history is rich, so is Surah’s, as they would have to be seeing as how both characters have lived for so long. In Falling Stars we learn a lot about both of them. 

•          Who would you have play Surah & Charlie, Theo & Michael in a movie based on the book?
I can never answer this question when asked. To me they are unique souls, so it’s like asking someone who would play them in a movie. They’d be like, uh, I’d play me, of course. So I don’t know. I’m sure someone out there could do them justice, but they just are who they are, only existing in the imagination. 

•          Who is your favourite character and why?
Samson, probably. I’ve got a thing for beasts. They seem to be more honest than people. Truth, to me, makes for good stories.

•          I absolutely love Samson! How did you come up with him? Will we get more of his background? He seems to have a good story to tell and I’m curious to see if the way he adores Surah will affect the relationships he made with his own kind.
Thank you! I love that huge cat, too! Samson is in this book, of course, and plays a major role. The chapters from his perspective were among my favorites to write. Book three is where we really dig into him more, though. This book is about tough choices mainly for Surah. Book three is where Samson, and many others, will have to seal their fates.

•          What’s next for Surah? Seems like she has some huge decisions to make.
Absolutely, she does. Well, what can I say? She will either get her HEA, or she won’t. I like to think the good thing about me as an author is that you never know what the heck I will do. I guess we’ll just have to find out.

•          Is book 3 ready? Can you give us a release idea?
Not yet. But it will be ready in a timely fashion. As a reader, I hate waiting for the next book, so I promise you won’t be waiting long.

•          Can you give us a teaser for book 3?
I love you for asking this question! Sadly, I can’t. It’s bad luck. Also, your guess about book 3 is as good as mine. I won’t know shit about it until I sit down and put it to the page.

•          Do you have any other books that you’re working on that you could tell us about?
Yes, I surely do! I am finishing up my eighth book right now, which is a horror book, and certainly my best work to date. However, this book won’t be self-published. I’m going to try to find a house for it. I’ve told close to no one the details of this book, but you’ll get a chance eventually. You have my word. 
My next project after the horror novel is a sequel to Joe, my paranormal thriller. I’m jumping out of my skin to revisit her. Despite being the least widely read of my titles, she’s my proudest child to date. Sales or no, I am compelled to carry on with her.
Then, of course, will be the (probably) final book in the Surah series. It should be out by very early 2014. 
And the list goes on…

•          I saw a little something about the return of Alexa & Kayden…. Care to elaborate?
You saw that, huh? Well, yes, that’s right. If you continue to read my works, you will eventually see those two again. You will eventually see everyone again. After Surah, I will do another series set in different parts of the same world. Then another. And another. Each will have new characters, new issues, new creatures…Until inevitably this world reaches a huge breaking point, and all of the heroes you’ve met will have to come together to set things to rights. Kind of like Avengers, I guess. All separate stories that make pieces of a much bigger whole. That final series should be pretty epic, as you will know Surah, Alexa, Kayden, Charlie, and all the rest that have yet to come. It will be quite a grand scope, I should think.

•          Will we ever read of Nelly again, I feel she was left in a sorry state at the end of ‘Redemption’ and would love to see her get a HEA?
Nelly is a hero too. Her story has not ended. None of their stories have. Really, it’s just the beginning. You’ll see what I mean.

•          What book have you read lately that blew you away?
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain! Oh my sweet Gods! I was humbled, blown away. I’d picked it up as a child, and couldn’t really appreciate it. It is not a book for children, despite what they’d have you believe. I’ve never seen such perfection on the page. I thought to myself, this is what you should be doing, this is how you do it. I’m in the process of writing two short stories that I’d like to have the same feel. Completely different from Huck Finn, but with that kind of…truth. If I can learn to capture the world the way Twain did, I will die a happy lady. Even if no one ever reads those stories but me. It took me back to my childhood, reminded me why I do this in the first place.

Thank you so much for having me! Your support throughout my journey has meant the world!

About this author:
H. D. Gordon is the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga. Blood Warrior, the first book of the Alexa series was her debut novel and has held a spot in the top 100 fantasy bestsellers for over a month. Half Black Soul is the second book in this series and H. D. plans to complete Alexa's tales by the end of 2012. In June of 2012, Joe, a fantasy novel about a young clairvoyant, was released as well. H. D. is a lifelong reader and writer, a true lover of words. When she is not reading or writing she is raising her two daughters, playing a little guitar, and spending time with her family. She is twenty three years old and lives in the northeastern United States.

Thursday, 28 March 2013

A Review for Shooting Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel #1) by H.D. Gordon

Shooting Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel, #1)Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie
Release Date: March 15th, 2013
Finished Date: March 17th, 2013
Publishers: Self - Published 
Source: For Review 
Format: Kindle 
Pages:  Unknown
Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Once upon a time, a common boy fell in love with a princess. It was a hopeless, forbidden love, grown in a world where sorcery and magic rule over all. Now, dark times are brewing, and destiny will bring them together, while fate works to keep them apart. Extraordinary battles will be fought, and extraordinary choices made. Join the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga for the beginning of a tale of star-crossed lovers and magic, of hope and love and loss, of desperate wishes made on stars. 

Sign up's for the Newsletter here!
http://hdgordon.com/

Book Trailer done by H.D. Gordon while writing for inspiration
http://youtu.be/-W10dR3mvJY

The Review: Fans of HD Gordon’s Alexa Montgomery Saga (AMS)will already be familiar with the main character of Shooting Stars as we met her in the final book and boy did she make an impact, it looked like she could give Alexa a run for her money so I was so happy when I found out Surah Stormsong was getting her own series. The synopsis may be short and sweet but to be honest, it hits the mark pretty well. Hundreds of years ago, Princess Surah suffered a tragedy that broke her heart…. At the same time, so did a common boy… both found solace in each other forming a connection that would remain despite never seeing each other again…..until now. 
“There’s a storm comin’” – Brad Milner 
No truer word had been spoken by the bars patron as a chain of events begins to unfold, starting with the murder of a highborn woman and the theft of the Black Stone which in the wrong hands could give great & evil power to the beholder. Called in to investigate, Surah finds herself face to face with the boy from her childhood – Charlie - only this time he’s all man and that connection can still be felt. Both are keeping secrets, both of their lives will be put on the line…. Can they trust in one another?

 So, I really enjoyed this. As I mentioned earlier, Surah had been a stand out character in the last book of the AMS and I was looking forward to meeting her again. I can’t help but compare her to how she was then to how she is now and whilst she is a great character, she seemed more formal, stoic and guarded in her own world whereas she was bad a$$ when facing Alexa, maybe it was because the reason she had to confront Alexa was now gone and not controlling her, that this is what we have left, BUT – I know she is in there still so I’m happy to ride the story. I think she is at her best in bad situations and there can only be more of those to come. I absolutely adored her pet/friend Samson, he is one of the only ways we see a softer more vulnerable side to Surah – I don’t want to say too much but I love him – simples. The story, with it being a first book is full of world building and getting to know the characters. This world seems different from the AMS even though it is set in the ‘same’ world and again seems very formal, think royalty/highborn with magic in abundance and commoners with little or next to no magic – did someone mention an uprising?. We have a ready made bad guy with a history that just begs to be told, a potential waiting in the wings kinda bad guy & possibly a puppet master all set up to bring multiple threats to this series. We have a kind of fated love romance thing that seems to just about be sprouting and the only thing missing is a prophecy, I’m willing to set that aside for some soul mate action though (pretty please) ;) It was an exciting read told from multiple POVs (which I’m starting to actually like) opening up a world not just filled with magic but also with new people, places, animals etc. and even though it is set in a world we have read about before, it feels new, like we haven’t been there before and the expansion gives the author so many possibilities because if I can be interested in a jungle with an animals POV, it’s got to be good right? Also, even though I’ve mentioned the AMS a few times, this could actually be read without reading those and the reader wouldn’t feel like they were missing anything. This is a great start to the Surah Stormsong series though and I look forward to more. 

Saturday, 29 December 2012

A Review for Redemption (The Alexa Montgomery Saga #4) by H.D. Gordon

Redemption (The Alexa Montgomery Saga, #4)
Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie
Release Date: December 21st, 2012
Finished Date: December 23rd, 2012
Publishers: Self - Published
Source: For Review 
Format: Kindle   
Pages: Unknown
 
The final test is here.

The war is no longer a worry of tomorrow, but a reality of today.

Turning back is no longer an option. Maybe it never was.

It is time for Alexa Montgomery to look fate in the eyes.

Death waits there for certain. The only question is... for who?

Go to
http://hdgordon.com/ and sign up for the newsletter for updates.

The Review: This is going to be so hard to write, not only is this, the last book in the series but it also the most heartbreaking. It will be so easy to spoil things so I’m just going to try my best…
 
If you’re reading this then obviously you have been in it from the beginning, you know the story and you know the players and you also know that everything has been leading up to this point, to the epic showdown between the tyrannical King William and the people who want their freedom, who want to be able to live their own lives and right in the centre is Alexa & Nelly – the Sun Warrior and the Saviour. In book 3 ‘The Rise’ we found out exactly what Nelly is capable of with disastrous results and her secret is out, there is no turning back and people will choose their sides. Alexa takes Nelly and her followers back to neutral territory so that they can plan and set the wheels of war in motion but when the various residents find out who Nelly is and what she is capable of, it seems like she is never going to be safe anywhere. Alexa is forced to make some hard decisions in her efforts to keep Nelly alive and the true nature of the prophecy a secret but at the same time, Nelly is doing everything she can to prevent her vision coming true of Alexa’s death…. Meanwhile, King William takes a more barbaric approach in his preparations for war, no one is safe and there are no boundaries he will not cross to achieve victory. As they head towards the final showdown and the prophecy comes into play, death is a certainty….. will Alexa & Nelly come out of this alive & victorious?
 
I freaking loved this!! Even just the last 20% blew me away, left me speechless and yeah, in tears.
 
As I mentioned earlier, this is difficult to review because it’s so easily spoiled – for the most part we get a slower pacing full of strategy, every player is being placed and the board is being set, battle lines have been drawn and we see the sides firmly established. Alexa is leading the rebellion and the majority still believe she is the saviour which is what she wants in order to protect her sister, that has what her life has all been about and even though she knows it will probably spell her doom, she has accepted it and will follow through to the last and we find that there isn’t anything that she won’t do for Nelly. King William is also setting his war wheels in motion and there is nothing he won’t do to keep a grasp on his power…. Both he and Alexa are constants…. But he doesn’t bank on the variables and he can’t fathom the drive of oppressed people or the strength of unconditional love and they all head to an epic showdown that was just WOW! That’s all I’m saying about it, you need to read it to appreciate it and it is EPIC, and it is heartbreaking, and it is breathtaking, and it will have you on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding and wishing for everyone we love to make it…
 
I have loved the characters, Alexa will remain a favourite of mine for a long time, she has everything I look for in a female MC, Kick ass, snarky, always battling with her darker side & her fierce protection& love for her sister shone bright. I loved that through the darkness and despair that she got to have a soul mate, her Libra Kayden and that brought her some much needed solace & happiness, it brought tenderness and sweetness to a harsh life and they are a couple I will remember. I will always remember Nelly as a character that I underestimated, that was a really good realisation especially when we found out just who she really was and then when we find out what her strength is and what she is destined for thus giving the series two main leading ladies that shared the bond of sisterhood and I would love to think that I could do for my sister what these two would do for theirs.
 
I have loved the whole series, it’s made it into my 2012 top 5 and I will definitely need a re read of all the series at some point. HD has created a great scenario with the world they live in, the different supernaturals, the prophecy and the characters which made this an excellent read and I have been hooked from start to finish. Even at the end of the series we were still meeting new characters and given new things to ponder on that hopefully will lead to another series because I’m not quite ready to give up on this world. As for the actual ending…. Am I happy? No! Do I understand? Yes! Go read it and come back to see if you agree…..
 

Saturday, 20 October 2012

A Review for The Rise (The Alexa Montgomery Saga #3) by H.D. Gordon

The Rise (The Alexa Montgomery Saga #3)
Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie
Release Date: September 25th, 2012
Finished Date: October 8th, 2012
Publishers: Self-Published
Source: ARC, For Review
Format: Kindle
Pages: Unknown
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US 

The supernatural world in which Alexa Montgomery has found herself is on the brink of war. 

She is charged with the task of raising an army, defeating an evil dictator, and struggling to contain the bloodthirsty monster that lives within her.

These are things Alexa can handle, but when the person she loves most in the world takes a turn for the worst, Alexa's loyalty and determination will be tested in the most horrifying of ways. 

Will she be able to rise to the challenge, or will her love for her sister kill her once and for all?

The Review: **Spoilers from books 1&2**

The Rise is an excellent addition to the Alexa Montgomery Saga as their supernatural world heads to the brink of war…

At the end of book 2 we found Alexa & Kayden had succeeded in their mission to free her mother from her prison who then informed her that it isn’t actually Alexa that will bring peace to their world, it is Nelly!! And Alexa has left her unprotected……….and in the hands of the King!

So as we start book three, they are in a race against time to get to Nelly and get her away from Two Rivers before people find out her true nature. Alexa can feel the urgency, she knows something is amiss and it is because the King has Nelly and she’s about to reveal herself in the worst possible way, setting off a chain of events that will bring our friends even closer to war!

What else can I say except I loved it, I have so much love for this series and I’m really invested in the characters and their world. I think this book really set things in motion for what is to come for Alexa, Nelly, Kayden and their followers, it’s like the pieces have shifted and are set in place ready for battle. Alexa is still struggling with her own issues, namely her monster but that takes a bit of a backseat when what she faces in this is heart-breaking on all fronts. Tbh, I have no idea how she is not in a mental facility with everything she is going through…. But that makes for a better character, I know it endears her to me – seeing her struggle and fight for everything, even her own will – well, it puts her above many of my own favourite characters who are all strong, fierce, kick ass women in their own right. Her world is ripped apart and everything is changing, the only constant really is Kayden, her Libra and I love that she has him, I love that when her world is going to hell that he is there and can calm her and give her solace in a way no one else can. Now this book is where Nelly finally lets loose – big style – and with that there is no going back, the cards are on the table and the sides are drawn but the bad guys aren’t the only ones who will suffer for the revealing of this power and it’s definitely going to hasten the Kings plans, which we learn more of in this.

The storyline is just as engrossing and the supernatural world that they live in is expanded upon so we meet more people, more species & more places – one in particular is really interesting – we get re-acquainted with people we have met before and find out some surprising things that make you wonder just how much of Alexa’s life is her own. I appreciated the added POV of the King, I like to get inside a ‘baddies’ mind just as much as I like ‘love interests’ POVs and we get a good insight into what he’s planning which adds the anticipation factor to an already fraught situation. I don’t want to go into much of the plot because this book is rather heavy on reveals and things happen directly because of those reveals so to let anything slip would most definitely spoil a lot of what’s going on. Just know that this is a game changer, expect the unexpected for nothing is written in stone, just as you think you know where it’s going to go and can predict what’s going to happen next - it doesn’t -and believe me when I tell you that you are in for some shocking events that you never see coming but will totally make you wish you had the next book laying right beside you so you can drink in more of this awesome story. 

Saturday, 10 March 2012

A Review for Half Black Soul (The Alexa Montgomery Saga #2) by H.D.Gordon

Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie
Published Date: 31st January 2012
Finished Date: February 13th, 2012
Source: For Review from Author
Format: Kindle
Pages: 245

The Blurb from Goodreads: In the past few weeks Alexa Montgomery has had her entire world flipped upside down. She's gone from living a semi-normal teenage life to a life full of vampires and werewolves who all expect her to deliver them from the control of an evil dictator. Alexa is the last of her kind; a Sun Warrior, and now she has left the safety of Two Rivers to search for her mother, but she's left her sister behind to do so, and Nelly is the one person that she was told that she must always protect. Kayden, a vampire who is Alexa's other half, has followed her on her journey. But, secrets are about to come out, relationships will break and danger lies just up ahead. Will Alexa be able to get through all of this and make it out alive? And, will she be able to protect Nelly from danger when she is so far away?

The Review: ***This may contain spoilers for those who haven’t read Blood Warrior***

You want my immediate reaction after reading this book?
What the ****, no way!  It cannot end there. . . .  but it did and now for the wait for book three.

This is an excellent sequel to Blood Warrior, we pick up right where we left off – Following the information received from the Lamia, Alexa has left the safety of Two Rivers in search of answers and the location of the notorious prison Dangeon where her mother is supposedly being held. She leaves everything behind, her sister- Nelly, her boyfriend - Jackson and her Libra- Kayden. She swore to her mother she would always protect Nelly and she has left her in capable hands as she figures that she is better off staying within the safety of the city. She has a rocky start to her journey and begins to feel out of control but she has been followed by the only person who can bring her around – Kayden – and they embark on the journey together this time. While Alexa is off in search of answers, her disappearance causes Nelly to search for a few of her own and she is unprepared for the answers she is about to find. Everything she believed is unravelling and people aren’t always who they seem but who will protect her now that Alexa is gone as it becomes increasingly hard to keep her secret and her ever increasing power? As Alexa battles to control her warrior side and what she must do, will she come out of it both physically and mentally?

Well the author has done it again, pulled me in hook, line and sinker. Another must read book as we follow Alexa on her journey with Kayden as she tries to keep her ‘monster’ under control and to do what’s right by those who view her as their saviour. When the book starts we read Alexa saying that what she needs is redemption so right off the bat I was thinking ‘what has she done? She really struggles in this book with her warrior side, they are like two separate entities in one body both struggling for domination, a struggle that has to come to a head real soon. Not only that but we see her really vulnerable, doubting herself, feeling guilt, feeling like a monster and a crazy person. All I could think was poor Alexa, so much responsibility and the weight of the world on her shoulders and Kayden, aww – if you didn’t love him in book one you will in this, he’s just awesome, he has her back all the time and you know that if the tables were turned and it was him in Alexa’s position, it would still be the same way but with Alexas’ support. I am definitely team Kayden, they were made for each other. I also think I may be slightly in love with him, he makes my heart do flip flops. Nelly came into her own as well in this book as she experiments with her powers and starts to make decisions for herself, she starts to feel powerful at the same time as feeling rather vulnerable and that brings out a new side to Nelly, a positive side. I think I have definitely underestimated her as a character because she is proving to be one to watch and I’m hoping she is going to come through for Alexa, as she has always done for Nelly.  Both girls have their fair share of ups and downs in this and it was nice that we were getting the story from both of their points of view especially since they were away from each other so we were getting two stories, keeping up to date on both locations as events unfold. I also loved the one Kayden chapter we got – Please, can we have some more? I think this book has a more emotional feel but it was still full of action and discoveries, the pacing is great and really grips you because you don’t know what’s coming next. I love everything about it, the characters, the storyline, the world they belong to and it always leaves me wanting more which this book definitely does with its massive – I wouldn’t say cliff hanger as much as I would say drop-off point! OMG that was most cruel, bring on the next one. . . . Tomorrow? Please?

I would also like to mention that I love Soraya & Akiras’ characters, they are too cute and seem like old souls in young bodies with their innocence, acceptance and knowledge.
 
Design by Imagination Designs
Graphics by Octopus Artis