Review: THE DEEP (The Island #3) by Jen Minkman

The Deep (The Island #3)

by Jen Minkman 

The world is never-ending.
I never realized just how much space there is – how far and wide the water around our island stretches out. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I may have believed that a second Wall ran around Tresco, containing the infinite waters so we wouldn’t all wash over the edge and plummet down into the depths.’

Leia and Walt are on their way to the Other Side, where the legendary land of Cornwall awaits them. Tony, their new friend, has told them that all wars of the past have been forgotten and the citizens of Bodmin and Dartmoor live in peace. People adhere to the tenets of an old religion that preaches forgiveness and non-violence.
However, Walt and Leia soon discover that even a peace-loving, ideal society like this one may have its flaws. While on a forbidden trip to Exeter, the old city of their ancestors, the two Islanders discover more about the new world than they ever bargained for.

Secrets run dark and passions run deep in this thrilling conclusion to the Island novella series.

Review:

I am so excited to share the 3rd installment of THE ISLAND trilogy with you all! I have really enjoyed this novella series, and The Deep was even better because it's actually a full novel. Leia and Walt finally travel to the world across the water, and what they find is both surprising and a little terrifying. 

Just like the other 2 books in this series, The Deep is a wonderful, captivating read that will have you glued to the pages.With the story told from alternating perspectives, the reader gets to see what's happening both in Cornwall and in Tresco at the same time. A new narrator is introduced and we finally get a much closer glimpse into some extremely interesting characters.

I highly recommend The Deep and the entire The Island series. It's a clean read and will hold your attention so much that you won't be able to put it down. Haven't read the first 2 books?

Start from the beginning!

Click the covers to read my reviews.

Grab your copy of The Deep today!

KOBO | AMAZON UK | GOOGLE PLAY | SMASHWORDS 

Release Day! LAST IMPRESSIONS by AJ Aalto + special content

Here’s what’s been happening!

Want to know more about Last Impressions? Check out the spotlight.  Read the synopsis, get a teaser, and enter win! Just CLICK HERE!

Meet and Greet! Get to know the main character in the Marnie Baranuik Files; Marnie herself! Read my interview with her by CLICKING HERE!

Always wondered what author AJ Aalto’s life is really like? Find out on our A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… post by CLICKING HERE!

LAST IMPRESSIONS is going to be a movie! Ok, not really. But the book has been cast by author AJ Aalto herself! Want to know who she envisions as Harry? What about Marnie or Kill-Notch? Check out the fabulous cast of Last Impressions by CLICKING HERE! 

READ MY REVIEW OF LAST IMPRESSIONS HERE!

Have you read Touched yet? What about the rest of the books in the series? You can enter to win the ENTIRE series through the rafflecopter form below. We are giving away 7, THAT’S RIGHT 7, complete series packs to some lucky winners! And one lucky winner will get a signed glossy of AJ herself!

ENTER HERE

Don’t want to wait? Check out the Amazon links below to grab your copy today!

Touched (Book 1)

Death Rejoices (Book 2)

Cold Company (Between the Files Short Story)

Dirt Nap (Between the Files Short Story)

Last Impressions (Book 3) OUT NOW!

Ok, it's time for that SPECIAL CONTENT I mentioned earlier. Ready? Grab your ticket below!

Standing amidst a pile of cardboard boxes, most of them open and partly disembowelled, Harry was waggling a phone at me urgently; when I flipped off the music, he smiled.

“The Orc Quarter is on fire, love,” he informed me. “The fire chief like you to pop over and take a peek.”

I felt my brow knit. “I’m sorry, the what?”

“The Orc Quarter in Schenectady.”

“Schenectady,” I said, seeking clarification, “New York...”

“Just the place, yes.”

 “Has an Orc Quarter?”

“Well, I assume they must have, ducky, if the Schenectady Fire Department is ringing you up to attend to it,” he chided and then tried to hand me the phone. When I scowled at it, he clucked his tongue.

“There are two preternatural biology labs in Manhattan, and a branch of Gold-Drake & Cross,” I said. “Why do they want me?”

“One wonders,” he agreed. “Shall I inquire?” I rolled my eyes; Harry mistook this as a request, and spoke into the phone. “Might one inquire as to why you are requesting the presence of Ms. Baranuik of all people?”

I sighed and downed the rest of my espresso, wishing there was more; I had a feeling I was going to need it.

Harry relayed, “The fire chief says the Schenectady police have one resident in custody and he is refusing to talk to anyone but the Litenvecht Späckkenhuggar.”

I waited for the rest of it. When there wasn’t any more, I prompted, “And?”

“Apparently, ducky, that would be you.”

“I’m the Licken-Vicken Spackle-Hugger?” I pointed at my chest with a gloved finger. “I am?”

“Quite so.”

“What the hell is a Lite-Brite Spunk-Shucker?”

 “Since the Orc language is a largely borrowed tongue, and Orcs originated in the area now known as Sweden, I’m going to translate the phrase roughly as either ‘small killer whale’ or ‘little Orc killer.’”

My jaw dropped. “But I’m not the little Orc killer.”

“This I know.”

“I’ve never even seen an Orc outside of blurry videos and a preserved foetus in an UnBio lab library.”

“This does not surprise me in the least. Nevertheless, the fire chief would like you on site as soon as possible, and when you’re done with that, the Schenectady police have an Orc in custody with whom you should speak.” When I did not take the phone from his outstretched hand, he noted, “My heavens, but your entrepreneurial spirit certainly does leave much to be desired.”

I was tempted to answer the phone with “how did you get this number?” but I figured that might not be good customer service. Instead, I listened for sounds of drooling or panting or chewing on the other end, and when I heard no such monster noises, I cleared my throat.

"Hi, there! I'm the Licken-Spicken Spacken-Hacker, how may I help you this morning?”

Connect with AJ on Facebook or Twitter.

Last Impressions Character Casting & Review

Are you like me? Do you like to picture who would play the characters your're reading about in a book? Well, I do it all the time, and I am so excited that AJ Aalto, author of The Marnie Baranuik Files has graciously shared her dream cast for book 3: Last Impressions.  So, who does this amazing (yet freakishly strange at times) writer picture playing her characters? Read on to find out!

Dream Cast for Last Impressions

STARRING

Don't they all make a very beautiful cast?!

Trust me, if this book was going to be a movie, AJ has picked the perfect cast! She did mention that Jason Statham was selected as Agent Mark Batten (and I quote) "on account of his resting jerk face." Also, she think's Agent Gary Chapel has more hair than Mitch Pileggi, but he's got the overall look going for him. If you haven't read the book yet, I can't wait for you to meet Combat Butler and Constable Shenck. Keep reading for my review!

Did you miss my interview with Marnie or the "Day in the Life of AJ Aalto"? No problem. Follow the links below.

Interview with Marnie

Guest Post - A Day in the Life

REVIEW:

Oh yea! She’s done it again! AJ Aalto has written a sparkling yet freakish tale of ghosts, poltergeists, and a creepy priest with ghost-sniffing dogs. (Weird right?) But sticking to tradition, Marnie has gotten herself into some hot doodie! And this time, she’s in Canada. Yep, after a little trouble back home, Marnie decides to head “home” to help solve a case.

As usual, she’s full of wit and sarcasm and well… trouble. But we get a glimpse at a different side of Marnie as well. She has some serious moments, and I think she might actually be growing up. Ok, that might be going a little far, but she is seriously starting to consider some options. I mean, this time she’s in over her head, but that’s not about to stop her. She takes names (literally, although it takes some time to figure out who’s name’s she’s taking), kicks some butt, well really it’s invisible butt, but… That’s a lot of buts.

Ok, ok… seriously, there is something that is so spectacular about this book that makes it completely stand out from all of the other adventures Marnie has tackled. What it is you ask? IT’S ME! No really. I’m in this book. It’s pretty freakin’ cool if I do say so myself. Ok, so that might not be that interesting to you, but (there’s another one!) I promise as I read I told my husband, “There’s my name! Oh… there it is again. And…” You get the idea.

Anyway, in short, this is of course another CAN’T MISS read. I think readers will really begin to see a different side of Marnie and another character favorite of mine: Agent Mark Batten (aka Kill-Notch). Yep, we learn a little more about him too. And of course there’s Harry (and now I’m picturing Jude Law speaking non-sense and backing brownies). So get ready! Because you’ll want to grab Last Impressions as soon as it hits the shelves on June 13^th!

PRE-ORDER Last Impressions TODAY

Haven’t read the other books in The Marnie Baranuik Files? Get entered below for your chance to win the ENTIRE SERIES!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RELEASE DAY: Unstoppable by S.R. Johannes

Hooray! Unstoppable is out today!

Unstoppable is the third book in "The Nature of Grace" series. The series has won and been nominated for several awards including: winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult), a Silver medalist (2nd place) in the IPPY awards (YA Fiction). She was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category), a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult of 2012, and a YA Finalist in the US Book News Best Book of 2012. 

Kirkus reviewed Untraceable as "A thrilling story is a dramatic entanglement of mystery, deception and teen romance.  The action flows like a brisk mountain stream interspersed with rapids, holding suspense to last page."

If you like a page turner, you will love this series!

Unstoppable - Book 3 Summary

After everything that has happened, Grace moves to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee, and hang out with old man Rex, Birdee's "friend with benefits". Grace quickly befriends Dylan, Rex's nephew, and Dylan's girlfriend, Sadie, who is a die-hard teen activist. Sadie spends her time leading protests against the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for animals or the flimsy law.

One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace and her friends rescue an abused—and endangered—Florida panther. She and Birdee spend time rehabilitating the animal. But when the panther runs off, Grace follows it to Uncle Bob's, a large roadside zoo they all have been protesting. One that is illegally filled with a variety of endangered and exotic animals. Before she can rescue the panther, she and her friends are kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge. 

Only this time, Grace is the prey. 

During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace and her friends are offered one chance at survival, but only if they reach civilization before being caught. With a small head start and very little supplies, only time and skill stand between the hunter and the hunted. But out in the Everglades, there may be more dangers than Grace realizes.

Against all odds, Grace must make it out alive and win, or everything she holds dear could be lost.

On Sale Now! 

Unstoppable is on sale in ebook. The paperback releases later this month. 

(Note: if you have another ereader device - see these instructions for getting a Kindle ebook converted to your ereader. It's easier than you think.)

If you haven't read Untraceable or Uncontrollable, you can get them in paperback and ebook at all major booksellers including Amazon, Apple, Smashwords, and B&N.