Recommendations and Reviews

The Crimson League!

The Crimson League – My Review!!

I have learned to like doing book reviews here at the home of The Gemstone Chronicles. Not only do I get to read books and voice my opinion, but I also get to help and encourage writers (especially Indie writers like me) by getting the word out about their work. Such is the case this time as I get to review Victoria Grefer’s The Crimson League.

The Review:

The book opens in a rather grim world where a sorcerer has killed the members of the ruling family and taken control. He uses his magic to exact revenge on the population for opposing magic and those who wield it. The citizens, taxed to poverty, begin to rebel with the aid of The Crimson League. Kora, the main protagonist, discovers she is The Marked One during a journey to a village to trade on the black market. Rescued from capture – or worse – by members of The Crimson League from soldiers of the sorcerer King, Kora joins the resistance movement.

The book follows Kora’s adventures as she grows into her own power as a sorceress and details the lives and relationships that affect her and her world’s very existence. Interspersed throughout are surprises and twists that will keep the reader wondering what will happen next. As usual, I will not give away the story or be a spoiler, but I really enjoyed this one. It is a bit long, especially as the first book of a series, but well worth it.

The writing, plot, and character development were topnotch. I loved the way Victoria Grefer created a world that I could relate to and yet still wondered if such a place could truly exist. She also wove some contemporary vocabulary into the story, which further allowed me to connect with the story.

I really liked this book. I enjoy the way Victoria Grefer set up the second book of the series in the epilogue. Again, I won’t give it away, but read this one!! Well Done Victoria Grefer!! My rating: 4.5 Stars!!!

Fade To Silver!

Fade To Silver – My Review!!

I read the first book of The In Between series a while back and immediately had to get the second book of the series Fade To Silver. I was not disappointed!

The Review:

The premise of the series is there is a shadowy group that has a cadre of visionaries who foresee murders and report the events in the dreams. The group then sends in a team to intercede and prevent the murders. The first book introduced us to Adie, who has been having dreams of murders for a number of years. She was recruited into the IPA by Jeff(who she falls for) and meets Dannika, another visionary with a troubled past (and present).

Now, let’s fast forward past The In Between and into the second book Fade To Silver.  Adie has left IPA for a time to attend college and pursue a soccer scholarship. Leaving soccer one day, she sights Rens, one of her antagonists from the first book. Jeff tries to chase Rens down, but Rens escapes. That event leads Adie away from school and back to IPA. Dannika, however, is now in research and Adie is operating on her own. She steps into another girl’s dream, where she and the unknown girl witness a murder that IPA cannot stop. It leads IPA to Montana to investigate the events.

I haven’t forgotten Dannika. Rens captures her, hits her with a memory scan, and convinces her to come with him to Montana to visit Raile (the girl whose dreams Adie had entered) to help her interpret her dreams. IPA discovers that Dannika is missing. With their resources split between finding Dannika and trying to discover the meaning of Raile’s and Adie’s  dreams, IPA is stretched to the breaking point.

Will Dannika remember who Rens is? Will Adie find Raile and get to the bottom of the dreams and stop more murders? For that, you will just have to read Fade To Silver!

My Rating:

I wasn’t sure that Catherine Converse could top The In Between. While I am not sure she did, her second book is every bit as good as the first!! I gave The In Between 4.5 stars and will be giving Fade To Silver the same 4.5 Stars! As before, Bravo Catherine Converse!!

I have turned on the author spotlight for this week and today’s featured author is Sonia Taylor Brock! Sonia is an Atlanta-area author, so it is my pleasure to highlight another Georgia writer!!

Sonia’s urban fantasy book that I am highlighting today is The Inheritance of a Swamp Witch.

The first in the Swamp Witch series, this story takes place in the Swamps of Southern Louisiana. Told in the Cajun dialect, it is about the adventures of a young man into the surprising world of the supernatural. He is shocked to learn that the world he has been accustomed to is not what it seems. In fact, nothing is what it seems. He discovers Witches, Dragons, Trolls, Fairies and Angels are only the tip of the iceberg.

Author Bio:

Sonia Taylor Brock, Author currently self published, has written two books, THE INHERITANCE OF A SWAMP WITCH and A WITCH’S WELCOME. Both of THE SWAMP WITCH series, the books are the result of a wonderful conglomeration of Cajun Creole culture and bringing legends of old into a modern focus in this urban fantasy. New twists on the creation of Vampires, Were creatures, Angels, Trolls, Titans and magic and how they mesh with today’s world where humans understand The One God and the power of prayer. These books use humor and adventure to tell the story.

She has also written a series of short stories that revolve around the main character of THE SWAMP WITCH series and how she affects changes in the destiny of the people she meets. Sonia has worked with several publications throughout her career such as The Cullman Times, Creative Loafing Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Facility Safety Management Magazine, Galz Magazine and published articles in Trade Publications as a Marketing Professional throughout career.  Sonia is a colorful person and characterizes her life development as constantly evolving and never ending. She refuses to be old and professes to have a young mind even it does seem to forget more things now. She loves to Live, Love, Laugh, Dream and dance in the rain. Sonia currently lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with her Husband James and her daughters and grandson.

Connect with Sonia:

• Facebook Author Page:
• Twitter:
• Author website:

Book Links:

• Good Reads:
• Amazon link:
• Barnes and Noble:

Sonia has written and published the second book of the Swamp Witch series. Entitled A Witch’s Welcome, I have included the cover photo below.

Book Links:

• Amazon.com:

Visit Sonia’s links, check out her books, buy them, read them, and leave a review! I know she would appreciate it!

It is time for the author spotlight here at the home of The Gemstone Chronicles. Tonight we turn the floodlights on author Jessica Kong and her paranormal romance novel A Lost Kitten.

John McCall labels the attack on the Sea-anan Empire as a nightmare.  He escapes the enemy’s invasion.  Stranded on a distant planet called Surreal, he quickly learns the true meaning of nightmare when he discovers his soulmate is of “the mist.”  With a tyrant destroying his empire, and his family missing in action, John must decide whether to remain on the ghost planet with his soulmate or return to the land of the living to locate his family.

Jasira Eversole is drawn to the powerfully built outlander.  John’srugged good looks and chiseled body compel Jasira to reach out and touch him. Being of the mist, Jasira knows she will not be able to feel John, but she cannot resist his pull. The richness of John’s hair, the firmness of his muscles, and the clean scent of his skin all take Jasira off guard. She swiftly realizes John is her intended mate. Now, Jasira must somehow convince the young warrior that they are two halves of one soul without chasing him off Surreal, leaving her to a lonely existence as mist.

Book Links:

Amazon link:

Barnes and Noble:

Author Bio:

Jessica A. Kong lives in Somerset, New Jersey with her loving husband of twenty years and teenage triplets.  She is an avid reader of fantasy, futuristic, and paranormals. When she is not reading she enjoys arts and craft, puzzles, and crocheting.

Connect with Jessica Kong:

• Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6533956.Jessica_Kong
• Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Kong/155150417957328
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AreoMc
• Author website: http://www.seaanan.com

Visit Jessica’s website and blog. Find her book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble, read it, write a review, and recommend it to your friends! I know Jessica would appreciate it!!

Connect with me:

Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads! Let’s talk about books, reviews, gemstones, or just about anything else.

The Griffin Cryer

It is amazing how an ordinary act can have extraordinary consequences. This is what happened to Frankie Shaunessy when she tries to call her dog home. Instead, she summons a griffin from another world, complete with his Rider – wearing fancy dress! That is how The Griffin Cryer by Julia Hughes starts!

Frankie is determined to help Balkind, the griffin, and his rider return to their own world. Her efforts, set against the backdrop of a young woman trying to balance school, friends, teenage angst, and a tragic family situation, make for a compelling and entertaining story.

I loved the character development in this novel. Balkind is not your usual griffin. He is sweet and loves attention. His rider is rude and demanding. Frankie’s parents are solid parental types, but have their own issues.  Frankie, as with most young people, is complex and finds that friends aren’t always friends and enemies aren’t always enemies. Romance isn’t always like the movies, and relationships within the family can be difficult. But, in the end, love and friendship always win!

The story itself grabbed me from the start (who doesn’t love supernatural things happening in a graveyard) and kept its hold on me until the end. It follows Frankie’s life from finding Balkind and his rider, through a romance with her dream guy, and back to helping Balkind and the rider get back home. I did get a little confused toward the end when Frankie has to help her brother, but the story sorted itself out.

I think this book is suitable for all ages and all genres. It has some romance, teen issues, paranormal elements, suspense, and fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book to be added to your to-be-read pile!

My rating 4.5 Stars!!

Lisa Day

It’s another author spotlight day here at the home of The Gemstone Chronicles. Today the beacon shines on Lisa Day and her Native American/Western romance novel Wolfkeeper’s Woman.

Synopsis (from the author):

A furiously proud Indian warrior Wolfkeeper killed her husband and stole her infant son. Hate for the white people filled him. He had need of the child. His goal; the child must live.

He needed the mother to accomplish that goal. When lust grew he wanted more than just her body. He wanted her heart and soul. Not anyone or anything would stop him from his goal. When she refused, Wolfkeeper decided to take them one small piece at a time.

Book Link:

Connect with Lisa Day:

• Good Reads:
• Facebook Author Page:
• Twitter:
• Pinterest:

If you are in the mood for some Native America/Western romance action, check out Lisa’s book. She has a couple of other books out as well!

Other titles by Lisa Day:

The Stepbrothers

Check out all of Lisa’s books, buy them, write a review! it doesn’t have to be long. Just a few words about your thoughts provides great feedback to the author. I know she will appreciate it!

Connect with me:

Have we connected on social media? If not, maybe we should! I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. If you frequent any of those, find me and say hi! I enjoy meeting new friends. Let’s talk about books, reviews, gemstones, elves, magic, and just about anything else that interests you.