Category: Dragon Girl Press

Rodeo Man (Cameron Cowboys: Book 1) by Margaret Watson

On By JolieIn book review, Dragon Girl Press, Non ARC2 Comments
Rodeo Man (Cameron Cowboys Book 1) by [Watson, Margaret]

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: October 7th, 2016

Genre: Romance

Series: Cameron Cowboys

Rodeo Man – Book 1

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Book synopsis:

Rodeo star Grady Farrell is devastated when a gruesome leg injury ends his career. The rodeo was his life, and retirement gives him too much time to think about Becca Johnson, the woman who betrayed him. But when Grady buys a ranch in Cameron, Utah, he comes face to face with Becca again.

Becca is no longer the insecure teenager Grady remembered – she’s now a strong, confident woman. She’s never stopped loving Grady, but she knows she can’t get too close to him. Becca is hiding a huge secret – she can’t let him find out that her daughter is his daughter, too.

When Grady finds out the truth, will this new betrayal destroy their second chance at love?

My review:

Becca Johnson was once involved with rodeo star Grady Farrell. In an attempt to get him to come home from the rodeo, she told him that she was seeing someone else. It backfired on her big time when Grady basically told her to have a nice life. The prologue ends with her feeling sick to her stomach and thinking that it was due to the stress of her and Grady ending things. I was once a stupid teenager and did stuff like that to try to get a guy to come to me. Like Becca, it blew up in my face big time. So when I read that, I read it while smirking.

The book flashes forward 9 years later. Becca has grown up. She is now a veterinarian, owns a partnership in the practice that she works for and is the single mother to an 8-year-old girl named Cassie. She is doing well for herself but has never forgotten Grady. Well, wasn’t she surprised when she arrives at the Flying W Ranch to float horses teeth and finds out that Grady is the new owner. The old owner, Sy Ames, lost the ranch to Grady while playing cards. I did pause while reading and think to myself “They still do that (put the property up when there is no money)?”

Becky is carrying a lot of baggage due to her relationship with Grady. A lot and it shows in her interactions with him. She half-lies about things and withholds other important things. Very important things, which drove me kinda nuts. So I didn’t blame Grady for not being very happy when he found out her big secret. I would have been just as shocked and upset as he was.

There are sparks flying between the two of them which Becky tries to ignore. About half the book was her ignoring the sparks between them but when they gave in, the sex was out of this world good. And, guess what!!! They used protection. I swear I did a double fist pump when I read that (if you have been reading my blog, you know my views on fictional unprotected sex….lol).

Becca is also being stalked by someone. Who, she doesn’t know. She does have 2 suspects that she tells the police: Sy Ames, the ex-owner of the Flying W Ranch and Grady’s new ranch manager, Ron Perkins. The author did a great of keeping you guessing as to who the stalker was up to when he was revealed. I was surprised at who it was. Also, I loved Becca’s creative use of plastic wrap to keep the stalker in place while waiting for the police….lol.

I will say that Cassie was the cutest thing, ever. She actually reminded me of my daughter when she was that age. They both love horses and my daughter actually really loved watching the rodeo on TV.

The ending was pretty typical of a romance novel, not that it took away from the book at all. Everything was wrapped up nice and I am expecting Grady and Becca to have a HEA. I can’t wait to see where this series goes and who the book will be about next. The author introduced some pretty interesting characters.

I would give Rodeo Man an Adult rating. There is mention of sex. There is mild language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Rodeo Man. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Necrobloods by Lauren Stock and Robert Stock

On By JolieIn book review, Dragon Girl Press, Non ARC1 Comment

Necrobloods by [Stock, Lauren, Stock, Robert]

5 Stars

Publisher: Dragon Girl Press

Date of publication: November 10th, 2015

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

16 year old Celeste Boyd casts Elemental magic. With the great battle coming, she and her best friend Gena are learning more about their abilities. Even more pressing, though, are the basketball finals and the mysterious new boy in school, Carter Wells. Celeste now has to choose between her crush and Carter, who is showing quite the interest. And then there are the crazy dreams with the huge dragon eye…

My review:

Another great book from the authors Lauren and Robert Stock. Also, another book that is going on my “must get B when she turns older” shelf. I seriously have a list of books that I am getting her which includes Lauren and Robert’s Tamzin Clarke series.

I liked Celeste. She was your typical teenager with a twist. See, she lives in Salem MA and she can cast Elemental magic. She also plays basketball and is crushing on her friend Gena’s older brother and the popular boy in school. Life is good for her.

Then the principal of her high school is murdered, and she meets Carter, the gorgeous new kid in school. Sparks fly between them, which I thought was cute. Later on, that night, while she was lying in bed, her nightmares begin. The next day, at Gena’s pool party, Luke and Sean get into a fight over her, and Celeste faints. While she faints, she has a bizarre and gross vision involving blood and Luke.

Fast forward a few days, and Gena fills Celeste in on something that her parents had been keeping from her. Every thousand years, there is a war for dominance between Elementals and Spirituals. 10 people from each faction are called to an arena, and they fight each other to the death — the last faction standing rules for the next thousand years. Anyone from the ages of 16 on can be chosen. And guess what, the thousand years are about to be done with. Of course, Celeste is pretty upset that her parents never told her.

From this point on, the book gets pretty impressive. Another character is introduced, Camille, who is a Spiritual and who seems to hate Celeste on sight. Carter and Celeste’s relationship heats up, as does her relationship with Sean. I was wondering who she was going to choose and wasn’t surprised by her choice.

There are a couple of twists in the book that took me by surprise and a couple I did see coming but weren’t prepared for.

The ending of the book was great, and everything was wrapped up perfectly. I was left wondering if there will be a book 2.

I would give Necrobloods an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread Necrobloods. I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Tamzin Clarke v The Mummy (Tamzin Clarke: Book 2) by Lauren Stock and Robert Stock

On By JolieIn book review, Dragon Girl Press, Non ARC3 Comments

Tamzin Clarke v the Mummy by [Stock, Lauren, Stock, Robert]

Publisher: Dragon Girl Press

Date of publication: July 23rd, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy

Series: Tamzin Clarke

Tamzin Clarke V Jack the Ripper – Book 1 (review here)

Tamzin Clarke V The Mummy – Book 2

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

Life was finally getting back to normal after Jack the Ripper turned Tamzin’s town upside down. 

New excitement surrounds the Mummy Extravaganza exhibit at the science museum. Tamzin’s dad has received some of the artifacts, and he seems to have a past with the curator of the exhibit, Miral Nefertari.

Amidst all the excitement, people have started disappearing. Tamzin has been having dreams about pharaohs and priestesses from ancient Egypt. Could this have something to do with the scarab brooch she found in her father’s antique store?

Tamzin is on the case.

My review:

I am in love with this series!!

I reviewed Tamzin Clarke V Jack the Ripper back in September. I was impressed that a high schooler could write such an engaging book. Well, I am going to repeat that for this book. I am also going to say that the author is a very talented young lady (man, I sound so old saying that).

The book starts with Tamzin and Daniel talking. Daniel has told her how he feels about her, but Tamzin isn’t sure how to take it. She was flattered, and she likes him, but she has a boyfriend (Jimmy). Plus, there is the fact that he is a ghost, and he is the brother of her mother’s partner.

The next day, Tamzin is working in her dad’s antique shop when she receives a shipment of Egyptian items. They are going to be featured at the local museum in a pyramid exhibit called the Mummy Extravaganza. While she is unpacking (and checking) the items, she comes across an ankh that almost calls to her. A little weirded out (as I would be), she grabs a scarab beetle that had been shipped to her dad a few weeks ago. She puts it on (it’s like a brooch), it starts crawling on her, BITES her and she passes out. While she is passed out, she has a vision of a pharaoh and a high priestess. These, from the view of the servant girl and the pharaoh, continue throughout the book.

Not everything is OK in Tamzin’s world. Her mom is still in the hospital, recovering from her attack from Jack the Ripper. Her dad is enchanted with a new friend, the new museum curator and is at the museum helping her with the exhibit. Jimmy, her boyfriend, is growing distant with her. The only good thing is Daniel, the ghost. Tamzin is helping him try to figure out why he was murdered over 30 years ago. Also, she is forced into campaigning for Mayor Turner…who has decided to run for governor. So, yeah, she has a lot on her plate.

From there on, the book gets excellent. People are reunited, people break up, a toy monkey is trying to protect Tamzin, and The Mummy makes his appearance.

The ending was not something that I expected. I loved how the author introduced the next book (which I can’t wait to read).

How many stars will I give Tamzin Clarke V The Mummy: 5

Why: A great and inventive take on The Mummy. I would definitely let my early teen on up reading this book.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Teen

Why: No sex (some very innocent kisses), very mild violence

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Tamzin Clarke V Jack the Ripper by Lauren Stock and Robert Stock

On By JolieIn ARC, book review, Dragon Girl Press, NetGalley3 Comments

Tamzin Clarke v Jack the Ripper by [Stock, Lauren, Stock, Robert]

Publisher: Dragon Girl Press

Date of publication: January 19th, 2016

Series: Tamzin Clarke

Tamzin Clarke V Jack the Ripper – Book 1

Tamzin Clarke V the Mummy – Book 2 (review here)

Where you can find this book: Amazon

Book synopsis:

Tamzin Clarke’s life seems to be falling into place. She has Jimmy, her musician boyfriend, and a solid group of friends. She’s been taking dance class for ten years, and has been promoted to instruct a first year tumbling class. She works in her dad’s antique shop on the weekends, and is proud of her grades in school.

Then she meets Daniel, the one who makes her question everything. Who is Daniel, and why does he keep disappearing?

When her sister is murdered, Tamzin’s mom is the lead detective on the case, which soon turns into a serial killing spree. The deaths mirror the case of Jack the Ripper, but there couldn’t be a connection. Could there?

Tamzin is now on the case.

My review:

When I saw the title of this book, I almost passed it over and thought to myself “Really.” Then I read the blurb and got intrigued. Jack the Ripper, the most infamous murderer in history, being written into a YA book? Hmmmmm. Then the bad thoughts happened, mainly along the line of “this book is going to suck” and “I shouldn’t read/review this book because I know I will give it a low rating.”

I am happy to say, that not only did the book not suck but I am not giving it a low rating. This book was a great read with two storylines that are blended well together.

The book starts with Tamzin’s much older sister, Vickie, being murdered by a caped gentleman while she is undercover to catch johns.

That’s when I met Tamzin. She is devastated by her sister’s death but she has a great support system of her mother, father, boyfriend, and friends to help her through it. On her way home from dance class, where she teaches  5-6-year-olds, she meets a mysterious boy who she finds out is named Daniel.

She works for her father in his antique shop, and in her spare time, she babysits a young girl in her class. In the meanwhile, three more murders are committed by Jack Angel.

One day, after her sister’s funeral, the creepy owner of the club down the street stops in to see if her father has any new items. While he is there, the little girl who Tamzin babysits for comes in, and the creepy guy gets even creepier by sniffing them and saying that they smell good.

Later on that day, Tamzin gets a phone call from her mother saying that Maxine is missing. So what does Tamzin do, she decides to go and track down Max herself with Daniel and her friends.

I loved Tamzin. She was spunky, bright and came across as a sweetheart. But she shouldn’t have gone running off after Max. A big no but, hey, what is a heroine is supposed to do.

Daniel was an enigma for most of the book. I couldn’t figure out how he was disappearing. When Tamzin figures out who Daniel is, I was surprised.

Jimmy was alright. I can understand his jealousy when Tamzin starts spending time with Daniel.

The end of the story was great, and I loved that the author attempted to humanize Jack the Ripper.

How many stars will I give Tamzin V Jack the Ripper? 5

Why? This is a book that I would feel comfortable letting my tween daughter read. Well written and fast-paced, it takes you on a wild ride!!

Will I reread? Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes

Age range: Teen on up

Why? Very clean (no sex or foul language). There is violence but it is tastefully written.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**