Blog Tour Post! Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway of Lightning Rider by Jen Greyson

Synopsis: For Evy Rivera, thunderstorms have always caused her physical pain, but she's never known why. When a record-setting storm arrives on the same night her father finds ancient ancestral documents, Evy is set aglow with mysterious tiny lightnings she can command. Even worse, she alerts some people in the universe who've been looking for her family for a very long time.Thrown back into ancient Spain and tasked with killing a Spanish legend, she must train alongside Constantine, a sexy yet obstinate Roman warrior.
Ilif Rotiart, her quasi-mentor, is appalled at Evy's skill. He would prefer to train her father and keep Evy on the sidelines—where women belong. 
 Penya Sepadas claims she's Evy's rightful trainer, and she has the prophecy to prove it. Penya doesn't share Ilif's misogynistic attitude, but she does have her own agenda...and her own secrets.

Evy must sort through the lies and find the truth behind her family's time-traveling past before the wrong history obliterates the future. She’s spent her whole life fighting for her place. Now, as the first female lightning rider, she'll dedicate her existence to fighting to save the world.

But will Evy learn to manage her lightning and find the truth before it's too late?

 

(You can read the full description here on Goodreads.)

 

Let me start by saying that I'm so happy that I get to help promote one of my favorite books of this year, Lightning Rider. This is my first time participating in a blog tour, and I can't think of a better book to start my tour experience :)  

WOW... yes, the capitals are necessary. Lightning Rider was an absolute thrill to read, and I couldn't be more satisfied after finishing it. I'll start with a quick summary: Evy, the main character, finds out she has the power to time travel using lightning. This ability has been in her family for generations, and only men have wielded it in the past. She's the first female "Lightning Rider" as these time travelers are called, and she also has the power to use lightning as a weapon. Ilif is the man who has guided the past generations of Rivera lightning riders through their journeys and travels, and once Evy and her father travel for the first time, he shows up to "train" her father. He's either a male chauvinist, or he has some other issues with women, and he refuses to acknowledge Evy's obvious potential. Evy does some time traveling on her own and gets involved in a battle that happened approximately 2000 years ago. It's during this battle that she meets Constantine, the warrior soldier with a tragic past. Evy and Constantine must work together to win the battle not just for the era in the past, but for the sake of the future as well.

I really liked that the plot was complicated enough to keep me curious, but still easy to understand. Just when I thought that I'd (mostly) figured things out, the author would introduce a new obstacle or piece of information that would shake things up for all of the characters. Evy was kept in the dark about many things related to her time traveling, but as the story progressed she kept fighting for more information, and she got it. This made for an even-paced book, and there was no point where I felt uninterested in what was happening.

Evy was an awesome narrator/main character. She didn't take crap from anyone, and she refused to let people control or manipulate her. (Except for her scumbag ex-boyfriend. Apparently, she was terrible at picking the "right" guys, but that really wasn't visible during Lightning Rider except for the very beginning. Unless you have something against broken-hearted, muscular Roman warriors...more on that later :D)  Her biggest flaw was her hot-headedness. She not only recognized her personal obstacle, she tried to work on fixing it as the book progressed, and it was clear by the end of the story that she had really improved and gained more control over her actions and words. There were no clichéd supporting characters; even sexist Ilif didn't act in a ridiculously unreasonable manner. I mean, he was unreasonable, but not manically-cackling-evil-professor unreasonable. Each character, even the minor ones, had real strengths and flaws. (Honestly, my biggest pet peeve with many of the books I've recently read is the stereotypical characters.)

Finally, I HAVE to talk about the romance. I was really happy that the romance didn't overpower the book, and that the author didn't use dozens of love scenes. I think that they would have cheapened the book (I can't really think of a better phrase) and I was able to stay focused on the plot of the story. Constantine is the love interest, but he's much more than that. He's in charge of training Evy for the battle. More specifically, he helps her learn to control her lightning powers and use them as a weapon. By training with Constantine, Evy was able to focus on her inner self and use her emotions to her advantage with the lightning. (I have some theories about his importance to her that I'm hoping will be confirmed in the future ;D ) From the moment Evy first sees him, there's an obvious attraction, but while she definitely acknowledges it, she doesn't let it cloud her judgment. Constantine is what you might call "perfect" physically. Lean, muscular, in shape, luscious locks, etc but his personality is far from perfect. He's damaged from events in his past and he uses his warrior status to help numb the pain, to turn off his emotions. He, too, was hot-headed, but he had a bit more control over his tongue. Their romance was real, with arguments and disagreements and heated moments of passion ;) No insta-love...yay! They really improved each other, which is the best kind of relationship in my opinion.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read a series with action, realistic fantasy, a strong female lead, and a bit of romance. Anyone, that is, who doesn't mind a sprinkling of adult content ;)

And now for an exclusive excerpt *drumroll*... This is in the beginning of the story, when Evy's trying to make it home during a storm. You know how authors can just trap you in a book within the span of a few paragraphs? Yeah, this is the part that trapped me.

 

*********************************************

A brilliant flash washes the night away as a sizzling bolt of electricity pounds a forty-foot pine on my left. Sparks rain down as the entire canyon lights up like it’s noon.
The shockwave nearly tears me from the bike, and my guts twist as if I’ve just slammed a pint of Jack Daniels. I gasp. Pain sears me, locking my muscles. My fingers clamp down on the throttle, and I can’t pull them free. Dash instruments illuminate like they’re powered by a thousand volts, and the engine races. For a millisecond, the bike tries to die and time freezes.

Blackness surrounds me.

How the hell does the power go out on a mountain?

Another blinding light bombards me. I flinch and tuck my cheek against my shoulder, waiting for the lightning strike.

The intense white fades into a sandy color stretching in every direction. An older woman stands at a completely different roadside. My bike is gone.

"Abuelita?" I ask, stunned this is what death looks like.

She steps closer, and as she does, I realize it’s not her. Profound sadness tugs the wrinkles around this stranger’s eyes until they almost melt into her leathery cheeks. A mournful wail in the opposite direction spins me around. Amid a pile of bodies, a small child clings to a limp hand. I choke back a cry and raise my hand to my mouth.

Crumbled buildings lean on each other for support. Bodies, some alive and most not, clutter the doorways. The stench of decay and forgotten life overwhelms me.

"You’re too late," she says.

"Where am I?" My words are barely a whisper. Please don’t let this be hell.

"Spain."

I blanch. "No. No this is . . . somewhere else. This is a war zone. Why does Spain look like this?"

"Because she never fell to Rome. Start at the beginning, rider."

Another flash of lightning.

I’m yanked away with the snap of a slingshot and plunged into darkness.

**********************************

(If that didn't just pique your curiosity, I don't know what else could.)

I'm giving away one ebook copy of Lightning Rider! Just enter through the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Author Bio:
From the moment she decided on a degree in Equestrian Studies, Jen Greyson’s life has been one unscripted adventure after another. Leaving the cowboy state of Wyoming to train show horses in France, Switzerland, and Germany, she’s lived life without much of a plan, but always a book in her suitcase. Now a wife and mom to two young boys, she relies on her adventurous, passionate characters to be the risk- takers.
Jen also writes university courses and corporate training material when she’s not enjoying the wilds of the west via wakeboard or snowmobile.

You can check out Jen's website at http://jengreyson.com/
Follow Jen on Facebook and Twitter!

Check out Lightning Rider on Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, or here on The Writer's Coffee Shop.
 

Beauty Review: Revlon Crazy Shine Nail Buffer

Wow, I can't believe how fast the last few weeks have gone by! So much has happened in my personal life (and professional life, too) that I lost track of the days, gosh. Ending the year at the program where I tutor fulltime was crazy fun, and I am so glad to finally be on summer break :)

I've been wanting to review this buffer for a while, but it got put on the back burner behind some bigger reviews. While I may not have ten paragraphs to say about this one, it definitely deserves a place on my blog.

I first learned about the Crazy Shine buffer from a previous acquaintance, and I was impressed with her results. She had used the buffer before I saw her, and I would have sworn she had a topcoat of nail polish on if she hadn't then literally grabbed me by the hand and buffed one of my fingernails before I could even protest. (I was kind of scared because I had never before in my life buffed my nails, and it seemed so weird to be scrubbing them like that!) After buffing, she shined my nail...and that was when I was completely amazed. 

The buffer pad itself is pretty easy to hold onto, but the smooth side can get a bit slippery (especially if your hands are sweaty or wet when holding it.) I use the rough green side to buff for about ten seconds, and then I rub the white shiny side on my nail for about 5 seconds or until I see a satisfactory shine :)  It's really amazing how shiny it makes my nails!  I rarely, if ever, wear nail polish because I am a hands-on activities kinda person, and nail polish would just be a hassle. This buffer lets me have a manicured look without spending more than five dollars. Best of all, no chemicals on my nails and no chipping!

The edges of the buffer wear out quickly, which stinks because the edges are the easiest part of the buff pad to use, but it's not difficult to position my nail over the center of the pad. Revlon sells these in regular sizes and to-go sizes, and I personally like one of the smaller pads (the flower shape one) because the petals are so conveniently sized for my nails, with extra edges to use. I'm not a religious buffer (once every few weeks and on special occasions) so my pad lasts a few months. Of course, more frequent buffing = more frequent pad replacement :)

I recommend this to pretty much everybody! If you want smooth, shiny nails without the hassle of nail polish or salon prices, this is THE product for you.

Lia's Rating: Remarkable!
 

Snack time review! Nabisco Birthday Cake Golden Oreos

This is a cookie only wielded in the most desperate of times. Times when people like me who maybe used to eat vanilla frosting by the spoonful for dessert need something mindblowingly sweet to get rid of one helluva craving. This week has been a desperate time for me. I'm less than two weeks away from wrapping up the school year at my tutoring program, and life has been one big pile of paperwork. These cookies just showed up in my snack cabinet a few days ago (thanks, family, for the weird and awesome foodz I always find in there!) and I needed to try one, if only to hate on them like almost everyone else I know. 

They taste so. Flipping. Sweet. And they really rock that fake-birthday-cake-borderline-bubblegum flavor, which I found worked strangely well with the golden cookie. I think this is one of those snacks where you really like it, or you really don't. You can practically feel the sugar attacking your teeth as you chew them. (12 grams of sugar for two cookies...I was surprised!) But sometimes...sometimes I just really need a junk processed cookie. These were so bad and yet so good. I mean, they obviously tasted nothing like real vanilla icing OR a proper birthday cake, but seriously if my taste buds could smile they would have resembled toothpaste commercial actors. All I needed were two of these golden beauties to satisfy my super craving. T-t-t-t-t-tasty ;)

Would I buy these again? Well, I didn't buy them in the first place, so wrong question! Ahem, as delicious as they are, I don't think I would buy them myself, because no one else in my house would eat them and I wouldn't buy a package of oreos to polish off on my own. I WOULD, however, recommend them to anyone with a serious vanilla sweet tooth.

Lia's Rating: Loved it! 

I do have to mention that I also tried the birthday cake chocolate oreos. The flavor combo of fake bday cake and the not-so-sweet chocolate cookie was, in my humble opinion, absolutely disgusting. Against the chocolate, the "icing cream" or whatever you want to call it was completely plastic-y. They didn't work well together. Blegh, I say! BLEGH!
 

Not my usual review!

I've been reviewing books and beauty products for a few months now. While I love reading, and testing out makeup & moisturizers, I also like trying new food! And maybe it sounds silly, but if I find a really good recipe or snack or chocolate bar, I want to spread the word about it. :) (And if I try something disgusting, I want to send out a warning post about that too lol.) So today's review is going to be of a snack I just tried.

I'm a HUGE fan of cheddar cheese, and the many (healthy and unhealthy) snacks coated in it. A family friend who is hopelessly in love with Veggie Straws recommended the Sensible Portions Smooth Cheddar Potato Straws. And of course, I tried them.

You can get them in a pack of 1 oz servings, or in a 7 oz bag (that has seven servings, if you eat your portion according to the convenient serving size info on the back. 38 Straws!) On the front of the bag, the straws appear coated in that pretty orange cheese powder. Alas, this is not the case. The straws have almost NO cheese flavor whatsoever. You're lucky if you can actually see the stingy sprinkling of cheddar on any of them. All you can taste is the potato! It's like a bland form of pringles. And I'd deal with the texture (like very crunchy styrofoam) if these straws actually had an appealing flavor, but unfortunately for me they don't.

I love what the company does with the portion info on the back, but the product just isn't tasty enough for me. If I'm going to taste potatoes, I'd rather eat a potato chip. But I'll give other veggie straw flavors a chance... I'm kind of excited about trying the ranch flavor!

Lia's Rating: Okay (will not be buying again!)

Review of Nothing More, Nothing Less by Ashley Dukart

 

Note: This is an older YA/New Adult novel. This book contains mature content.


*I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Ashley Dukart for providing me with a copy!*

 

 When Brandon finds that his mother committed suicide, he blames himself for her decision. His guilt drives his young life into a downward spiral of drugs, drug dealing, and violent repercussions when his “business partners” don't get what they want. Haunted by the past memories he often relives, his brothers, who don't always seem to understand him and what he's going through, desperately try to help, but as life becomes further entangled, will Brandon find the escape he so desperately needs before it's too late?

 

    This was quite an intense story for me to read. I mean, I've read some pretty dark and/or emotional novels, but this one affected me differently. I'm pretty sure it's because those other emotional reads have been paranormal or fantasy books, and this was...well, it was much more real. The way that addiction destroyed so many lives and ruined so many opportunities struck a chord with me, and caused me to reflect on events in my own life.

    The main character, Brandon, is one of those people who has you shaking your head with disapproval one minute, then shaking your head with sympathy the next. The story really revolves around the life choices he's made and their miserable aftermath. You just want to grab his drugs and get rid of them forever. Brandon starts out as a self-medicator with an appetite for drugs, alcohol, and ladies. Mostly drugs, though.They free him from the burden of having to feel, which is apparently a heavy burden on him. (I really disliked him in the beginning because of this. His apathy, his lack of caring about, well, anything.) He has two brothers who are honestly concerned about him, and they try to get him to stop using, with no success. They let him live in their home, where he spends most of his time recuperating from crazy nights out. You soon find out that Brandon not only uses drugs, he deals them too. Many issues he faces in the novel are due to his poor choice of a "career."

    As the story progressed and pieces of his tragic past were revealed, I felt more sympathetic towards Brandon. One bad decision led to another horrible consequence, which led to another bad decision, which led to another consequence... it was a vicious cycle of sorrow, anger, and apathy. Sometimes he really did try to make the right choice, but a previous decision or consequence ruined it and he was dragged back into the world of drugs. There was no miracle rehab, no "love conquers all - even addiction" romance, no religious enlightenments to draw Brandon out of his dire situation. He had to realize, on his own, that life was not better because of drugs...it was worse.

    I appreciated the reality of this novel. Brandon's story did not have a perfect happy ending. (I mean, just as a forewarning, this author was not afraid to kill off characters!) As much as I enjoyed the story, however, I had a few issues with the writing. There was some irritating repetition of certain phrases or ideas. For example, every time Brandon was with a girl, the author would say that the characters "claim" each other's mouths/bodies etc. over and over. Another issue I had is that every time a new character was introduced, even if they were just a really minor character, Brandon would describe what they looked like. It made me think that these characters would return later in the book, or had some unknown importance, but that wasn't the case. 
    Overall, the issues didn't detract from what was a riveting story. You may be blown away by the ending, but it leaves you with a sliver of hope...not just for Brandon, but for anyone else in the real world using drugs. I would recommend this book to older readers willing to read about the harsh realities of heavier drug use, from a user's point of view.

Lia's Rating: Liked It

Check it out on Goodreads here! (There's currently a giveaway happening, ends May 31st)
Check it out on Amazon here!