Category Archives: Uncategorized

5 REASONS WHY I LOVE  THE ALMOST HUMAN SERIES

1. I love the characters. I found them to be funny and relatable. Felicity starts off a bit on the immature side, but as the story progresses she really grows into her character. I loved her! I think lot’s of people can easily relate to her, as well as all the other characters. (I too felt she was a little immature at first.  You can really see the growth though in her character from the first chapter up until the last.)

2. Thought the beginning starts off a bit predictable, the story has a nice a curve ball that you really don’t see coming. (Again, it does start like any other paranormal book in the genre, but the surprises the author gives the readers you don’t really expect!  And those endings! Talk about some cliffhangers!)

3. It has plenty of action to keep you entertained until the very end. Enough said. (With plenty of surprises as well!)

4. Melanie Nowak has a way of describing things that you feel like you’re right in the story watching everything play out before your eyes. Every emotion that Felicity goes through, you go through too. I loved this! (So true!  You could imagine a TV show or something like that playing out in your mind.  She did a wonderful job in the descriptions without going overboard.  There is nothing worse than a book getting bogged down by all of the narrative and descriptions.  I think the author balanced this out really well!)

5. This series is a bit raw and sweet at the same time. I am a huge fan of authors not holding back, and Melanie Nowak definitely doesn’t! I highly recommend this series! I will say though it’s definitely more NEW ADULT than Young Adult. (Yep. Definitely for the older teens, but one that adults will love no matter what genre it is classified as.)

Thank you girl for coming over to my blog to share your thoughts on Almost Human! Come back anytime!

Melanie Nowak has always had a vivid imagination and a fascination for the paranormal. Acting and singing in theatrical productions throughout college and in church had always been a passion. However, upon conceiving the idea for the Almost Human series of books, she discovered a previously unknown passion for writing! Not only can she finally put her over-active imagination to good use, but she can create characters she loves, and she gets to play all of the parts!

Upon completion of the first trilogy for Almost Human, the author made the decision to publish her books independently, thus maintaining complete creative control of her vision for the series. She has founded WoodWitchDame Publications, published her first four novels, and plans to release many more for this exciting series!

Melanie Nowak lives in New York with her loving husband, two young sons, and an ever growing collection of pets. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, and a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science.

ALMOST HUMAN ~ The First Trilogy ~ 3-in-1 Edition
In this paranormal fantasy, chapters alternate perspective between a vampire and a young woman, as they join an ensemble cast of characters to navigate difficulties of addiction and desire; perils of zombies and vampires; and struggles with abuse, morality and… college.

Vol. 1: Fatal Infatuation 
Felicity views going away to college as an opportunity to mature into a confident young woman, but her new beginning turns out to be more of an adventure than she bargains for when she finds that her school is plagued by vampires!

Cain is an elder vampire who displays quiet confidence even as he struggles to overcome sins of his past. Surprisingly, he found that in losing his life he gained his faith and a purpose.

His mission: find the hostile vampires that inhabit this small college town, and educate them to live in peace with humans. Their leader, Sindy, is a wicked temptress who has set her sights on Felicity’s new friend Ben. She will be difficult to control, but after meeting Felicity, Cain’s most difficult task lies in controlling himself.

Vol. 2: Lost Reflections
Felicity has helped her friends to escape the venomous vixen Sindy, but cannot divine the motives of Cain, the vampire who captured first her gratitude, and then her heart.

She finds the historical account of Cain’s past enthralling and frightening. Now she must determine whether the addictive venom in Cain’s kiss is clouding her judgment, and if his thirst for her blood is a driving force too strong for their love to conquer.

It’s difficult to contemplate such questions while under the attack of a vengeful vampire and his zombie slaves. Felicity’s heart has already been lost to Cain; will she lose her life as well?

Vol. 3: Evolving Ecstasy
The relationship between Cain and Felicity has crested to a peak that leaves them unsure whether to step back from each other for safety, or jump into a future united in death.
The venom of Cain’s bite could protect Felicity from hostile vampires, but it would give him a measure of psychic control over her as well. Would Felicity only accept becoming a vampire, due to his addictive venom, coupled with the foolishness of a young girl in love?
Perhaps there is a brighter future for her in the human world. Is Cain’s desire for Felicity’s love worth the loss of her life?

Vampires live only for lust and pleasure in the eternal twilight of Vamp City. But the city’s magic is dying. The only person who can restore it? A beautiful woman from the mortal world…one who knows nothing of the power she wields. Quinn Lennox is searching for a missing friend when she stumbles into a dark otherworld that only she can see–and finds herself at the mercy of Arturo Mazza, a dangerously handsome vampire whose wicked kiss will save her, enslave her, bewitch her, and betray her. What Arturo can’t do is forget about her–any more than Quinn can control her own feelings for him. Neither one can let desire get in the way of their mission–his to save his people, hers to save herself. But there is no escape from desire in a city built for seduction, where passion flows hot and blood red. Welcome to Vamp City…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Veronica Roth is a twenty-two-year-old debut author and a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s creative writing program. While a student, she often chose to work on the story that would become Divergent instead of doing her homework. Now a full-time writer, she lives near Chicago.

I will be the first person to admit that my pile of to-be-read books has grown out of control.

My name is Amy and I am addicted to books.

I have noticed though that the books I have bought and added to the pile seem to have certain things in common.  Some of these things are good and some of them are bad.  You know how it is when you get a book that has had so much hype that you just buy it and not even really know what it is about?  Yep, that has happened to me.

I have also been noticing that many of the books have been grating on my nerves lately.  I am not sure if it was the recent reading slump that I was going through, or if the book really didn’t fit for me.

There are always certain things that will make me put down a book and there are always things that keep me interested.  Lately though, those aggravating things are growing.  I wanted to share a few things that will quickly turn me off to a story — no matter the genre — and make me shy away from further books like them.

COVERS
–Time for confession two.
My name is Amy and yes I will judge your book by your cover.
Now I am not saying that if the cover is horrible I will never try the book.  Let’s put this in a different perspective though.  Imagine walking along the shelves at your favorite book store.  You are gazing at all of the books and wondering which book you should pick up.  You see one that catches your eye and you pick it up to read the back blurb.  Did you just do what I think you did? Yes, you picked up a book based on the cover — which can include the title font, artwork, or author name – and picked it up instead of the other 30 or so books on that shelf.  If your cover is done poorly or doesn’t catch my interest within the few seconds I glance at it, chances are I am going to move to the next book. First impressions mean more than you think.

SEXY SCENES
When reading in the romance genre — whether it be erotica, PNR, UF, or just contemp — the main thing a reader is looking for is some sexy scenes.  Yes, there is an inner smut monster inside of my brain.  I will devour a book in no time flat if the romance and chemistry lead to amazing sex scenes.  It is a fantasy and an escape for a reader when we read these scenes.  Not only does the writer need to walk the fine line of too much info and not enough info in these scenes, but they also need to create the scene to be believable.  Sex in the shower?  Yes it can be sexy, but one that isn’t too much of a thrill for me unless you work the scene correctly. Don’t give me images of pressing that woman against the glass shower door and pounding into her!  When I hear this, all I can think about is that girl probably breaking the glass or sliding all over.  When that glass breaks, it won’t feel so sexy.  Also what is up with authors thinking sex in the woods or dirt is sexy?  Bark burns hurt and who the hell wants dirt, leaves, and rocks trying to wedge in your hoo-ha? Not too sexy is it.

ALPHA CHARACTERS
Alpha characters in books can be the best thing ever!  Whether it is a man or a woman who is in charge of the scenes in a book, there is no denying the appeal that can be there for the reader when they command our attention.  Just remember though,  when that character is in full Alpha mode, we need a character to balance them.  I can’t stand when a woman alpha gets all high and mighty and doesn’t have a friend, partner, or hell even an inner goddess to put her in her rightful place.  The same goes for the male Alpha.  He needs a counterpart of some kind to bring him down when he gets too high on his ego.  Seriously, well rounded characters are ones that have someone who is keeping them in line.

These are just a few examples that will make your book or break it for the reader — at least in my opinion.

What are some deal breakers for you as a reader that will make you give up on a book?
What makes them great hits for you when they rise above your expectations?