Booklover Book Reviews

Two arrivals for me this week, one the old-fashioned way and one via email, both for review:

NO REMORSE by Ian Walkley

(Amazon | B&N | Book Depository)

His best friend’s daughter, Sophia, has been abducted. Not an ordinary kidnap for ransom. But then, Lee McCloud is no ordinary man. Having witnessed his sister kidnapped when he was fourteen, this is McCloud’s opportunity to deliver some badly needed justice. But things don’t go as planned. Desperate to save Sophia at all costs, McCloud finds himself forced to team-up with Tally, a computer specialist in a secret organization that targets the mega-rich sponsors of terror. Tally wants nothing to do with McCloud either, but quickly they find themselves on a collision course with Sheik Khalid, an exiled Saudi whose ruthless ambitions feature a key role for Sophia. With time running out for Sophia, and their haunted pasts catching up, McCloud and Tally begin to realize where the evidence is pointing, only to find they’re trapped in an even bigger conspiracy. Hunted by enemies on both sides and conflicted by their feelings for each other, they must be willing to trade their lives to save Sophia and stop a horrific plot that will have devastating consequences for an already unstable world.

SNAP: NEW TALENT, #2 Kandesky Vampire Chronicles by Michele Drier

(Amazon)

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Mailbox Monday is currently being hosted by Martha @ Martha’s Bookshelf.

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Have you entered my current international giveaway of a paperback copy of the wonderful war romance novel, LOVE IN THE YEARS OF LUNACY by Mandy Sayer? Entries close 12 May.

* * * ENTER NOW * * *

Thank you to all those that entered to win a copy of the ebook SNAP The World Unfolds by Michele Drier.

The randomly selected winner is:

Cean

Congratulation Cean, you will be receiving an email from author Michele Drier very soon with instructions on how to download your free ebook.

If you were not lucky enough to win a copy, do check out SNAP The World Unfolds yourself – it’s a fun and entertaining read!

Some more great book giveaways coming up here on Booklover Book Reviews over the next couple of months – watch this space!

Michele Drier, author of SNAP The World Unfolds (read my review) has kindly offered me another copy of this ebook to give away to one lucky reader.

SNAP The World Unfolds by Michele Drier is an entertaining light vampire romance set against the world of celebrity journalism.

This is fun and escapist reading and the first book in a series that I can see becoming my new secret indulgence.

If you would like to win a free copy downloadable from Smashwords (hence lots of ebook formats available) just enter using the form below.

You can gain 3 additional entries into this random draw by providing a link to this giveaway on your website/facebook/twitter. Just include a link to that in the entry form.

SORRY – ENTRIES CLOSED. See winner announcement here.

SNAP The World Unfolds Synopsis

SNAP, a multinational celebrity TV show and magazine, is the holy grail for Maxie Gwenoch. When she snags the job as managing editor, she’s looking for fame, fortune and Jimmy Choos. What she finds is a media empire owned by Baron Kandesky and his family. A family of vampires. They’re European, urbane, wealthy and mesmerizing. And when she meets Jean-Louis, vampire and co-worker, she’s a goner.

The Kandesky vampire family rose in Hungary centuries ago. They gave up violence and killing to make a killing on the world’s commodities markets and with that beginning they built SNAP, an international celebrity multimedia empire. Now cultured… and having found food substitutes for killing… they’ve cornered the world market for celebrity and gossip journalism.

They haven’t fully left the past behind. Their Hungarian neighbors and rival vampire clan, the Huszars are starting to ramp up attacks, maybe looking to start a war to take over all the Kandeskys have built.

Maxie believes she’s found her ultimate career. She doesn’t realize that she’s found a family feud like none other, a centuries-old rivalry between vampire families, with her as the linchpin. Bells ring with Jean-Louis, but she doesn’t realize they’re alarm sirens until she learns that Jean-Louis is second in command of the Kandeskys…but by then it’s too late. (Amazon)

BOOK REVIEW

I am not normally one to read vampire novels. In fact the only other novel I have read with a vampire in it was The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. But Michele Drier’s debut novel SNAP The World Unfolds is something quite different.

SNAP The World Unfolds is an original modern interpretation of a European vampire society that does not take itself too seriously. The main character Maxie Gwenoch is a feisty career woman. She is as independent as they come and accustomed to being in control. But when she steps into the Kandesky’s corporate empire she has left control far behind, whether she likes it or not…

SNAP The World Unfolds by Michele Drier is an entertaining light vampire romance set against the world of celebrity journalism.

What is particularly refreshing about this plot line is the Kandesky vampire family do not want Maxie for her blood, they want her for her brains and business acumen.

Michele Drier’s writing style is straight forward and easy to read, and the romance sweet and lingering rather than hot and heavy. Fun and escapist reading for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

“You look better than last night,” he began. “I hope you slept well.”

“I did. I had odd dreams but I’m recovered.” As he looked at me, I could see him beginning to glimmer.

“I’d thought when we went hunting in LA you were interested in me, but maybe I was wrong.”

“You mean with your line ‘I’ve waited years’?” I wanted to be snide then realized he really may have.

“I told you that it wasn’t really a line. Now you know the truth. It has been years.”

SNAP The World Unfolds finishes on a precipice, being the first book in the SNAP series featuring Maxie Gwenoch and the Kandesky’s. I am now eagerly awaiting the second instalment, SNAP New Talent, which will be released in Spring (US) 2012. I can see this series becoming my new secret non-literary indulgence.

BOOK RATING: The Story 4 / 5 ; The Writing 3.5 / 5

BOOK DETAILS:  SNAP The World Unfolds (Amazon – Kindle)

Genre: Romance,  Sci-Fi-Fantasy, Action-Adventure

Author Information: Michele Drier has come to fiction later in life, having her first career in journalism and then managing not-for-profit agencies. She is a member of the Society of California Pioneers and Sisters in Crime.

• See Michele Drier’s official website
• Read Michele Drier’s interview with Lisa Haselton on SNAP The World Unfolds

Other reviews of SNAP The World Unfolds: Sarah Glenn

Other title by Michele Drier: Edited For Death

* I received a copy of this novel from the author for review purposes. My receiving this book for free in no way affected my ability to express my honest opinions about it.

SNAP The World Unfolds by Michele Drier is a light vampire romance set against the world of celebrity journalism.

I am not normally one to read vampire novels. In fact the only other novel I have ever read with a vampire in it was The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. But you know what, I am pleasantly surprised at just how much I am enjoying this novel – it is great!

My teaser:

Hands down, this was the oddest reception I’d ever gotten at any of the many jobs I’d had. I was so stumped that I hitched my bag higher on my shoulder and slowly turned around, looking for a chair or couch or door, something. But this was it. The polished steel elevator doors behind me, the high, long, black marble counter in front of me and endless reflections of blond heads. (Page 9)

Find out more about this, Michele Drier’s debut novel, SNAP The World Unfolds.

Looking forward to reading your teasers!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. 

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