I Wrote My First Book

Saving Sylvia Heart By Nicole Ruiz,
What a thrill it is to see those words. Writing this book was definitely a journey, I found myself scrolling through the Facebook page called Y.A.N.A. also known as You Are Never Alone, an out reach campaign to help kids who have been bullied and hurt themselves. I read the stories these courageous kids had to say and no surprise here, a lot of them were from girls. Girl who suffered at the hands of a boy they thought they loved.

Later that night I was on the phone with my own wonderful Boyfriend Ryan and I said to him I wanted to reach out to these girls and tell them they can be saved that they can be loved but the only way I knew how to do this was through writing. What Ryan said next really surprised me, he said "Why don't you write a book?" I sat there and let his words sink in for a moment and realized it was a good idea.

Thus Sylvia Heart was born, a seventeen year old small town girl who is dating her so called high school sweet heart who batters her and honestly makes her regret living. Sylvia reflects on what made her fall for Max Irwin her demonic boyfriend as her feelings become twisted when freshman to Edison High Damon Wolfe crawls his way into her heart.

Through out the writing of this book I wanted to give up, it isn't long you can really just call it a Novella. A short story if you will. But I wanted to give up so badly because I felt like every word sounded wrong and that no one would want to read my story. Ryan kept pushing me to finish my book and when I did we sat down for a long phone conversation and I read him the entire book. My heart was in my throat the entire time I was frightened by the fact he was silent through out the reading. When I finished he said to me "I Love It" so after some grammar checks and running it through spell check six or seven times I hit send to KDP Kindle Digital Publishing, before I could lose my nerve.

The next morning my book was published and it was out there for everyone to see. I was ecstatic. I Ran into my Mom's room holding my laptop and showed her my book was for sale on amazon. She was proud of me because she has always wanted me to pursue my writing. Posting the links on my personal Facebook people started reading my book and the personal messages started pouring in. My friends and people I never met truly fell in love with Sylvia and felt her pain.

I am so happy I published this book I am very proud of it though I am sure it is full of flaws, it is flawed but it is mine. With the encouragement of Ryan and my lovely friend Falisha Alteres who posed for the cover photo my dream to publish a book became a reality. As for what's next I have no idea, I don't like to put a time table on these kinds of things so when I write again I'll be sure to let you all know. Below you will be able to find links to the book through amazon and smash swords.

http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Sylvia-Heart-ebook/dp/B009GCNVIG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349999747&sr=1-1&keywords=saving+sylvia+heart    On amazon it costs One dollar.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/239320 on Smashswords it is for free

Well I Am Back

Hey Readers,

Sorry I've been gone for so long we all know how crazy life gets. So I am still reading Midsummer's Nights Fling by the lovely trio of ladies Lacey Weatherford Jackson, Belinda Boring and Kamery Solomon. You can be expecting a review on this steamy book pretty soon.

Keep Reading Your Romances and Keep Your Clothes on :P

The City Of Bones..The Movie

I am probably late on finding this out, but I am just as excited as anything. Today is the first day of filming for The City of Bones a book that is being turned into a movie and is due to be released August 2013. When I first read The City Of Bones it had been from the first page and I became addicted to the series. I am really excited to see that it will be a movie soon and I really truly hope they do not Eragon Movie this book. I am sure any fantasy fan knows what I mean by "Eragon Movie" it. Meaning leave a lot to be desired and over all destroy a good book. Though that hasn't happened in awhile so I have faith this will be an accurate representation of the novel. The director of this film has never adapted a book into a movie before so I am a little more then concerned. The production company is the same one that brought us films like Hancock and Zathura, though those are good movies this company also brought us Ultraviolet (for the record i loved this movie) which crashed at the box office Also they brought us Ghost Rider (for the record I loved this one too). So given the company's history I am not totally confident they can pull this off. If it was Paramount Pictures or Lions Gate I'd be much more comfortable. Of course regardless of how good or bad it looks I will more then likely see the film in theaters. 

Something I am very excited about though is the fact they chose very good actors to play the characters Literally taking the descriptions of the characters and bringing them to life. 

I think they chose a great actress to play the main character, Clary Fray. She has the fiery red hair and deep eyes we are introduced to in the novel and she has many Clary-isms about her. To be honest though I have not seen Lily Collins act in much of anything though she was in Priest which gives me some expectations that she is ready for a film of this caliber. Given that Priest was an action film and supernatural we can only hope she is ready for this. 

Now the actor they chose for Magnus, really has surprised me. When I pictured Magnus Bane I found myself imagining more of a Lafayette type character from True Blood, which if you are not familiar with True Blood is a character who is a medium and a very flamboyantly gay black man. But everyone does have a certain idea when they try to envision a character. I've never seen Godfrey Gao in anything before and I am hoping he can live up to the expectations a lot of fans will have for him. I know Magnus is flamboyant but not overly so and he has a aura to him that screams power. So far it looks like Godfrey can scream power now lets see him walk the walk as well as talk the talk. It really isn't enough to just look good when you are becoming a character from a book. 

Though I haven't seen a majority of these actors act before I am happy with a lot of the choices. They look exactly like they were described in the book the only two I was worried about was Clary and Magnus. Seeing as the movie is due to come out next year I don't think we will have to wait long for a teaser trailer which I am eager to see how well or how badly they are doing with this production. 

Well I have said my piece, I am excited but on edge with this film. Because I love this series so much I really hope we end up with a heart stopping film. Other then my usual book reviewing I will keep posting updates on the film as we get information and I will probably write about other book-to-movie journeys. 

Pretty Sacrifices By Devin O'Branagan

Pretty Sacrifices By Deven O’Branagan 

In the epic continuation of the life of Glory Templeton you follow Glory through her trials with love, life, and good vs. evil. Now a sworn Warrior of Light Glory has to save the ones she loves from Demoness, Nyx’s powerful hold or face the consequences. Meanwhile her friend Kaia from the Moonstone coven is forced to realize her love for Evan and has to make the ultimate sacrifice. 

This book bent time and broke my heart while at the same time gave us some amazing looks at how some of the characters came to be the way they were. We get to see one of my favorite characters once again Jinx and her goth girls in both the past and present day. Instead of just being a paranormal romacy-action book this time Pretty Sacrifices took on a very Sci-Fi feel making you question whether or not time is a straight line. 

Dominic the hot romantic angel we know and love returns in this book to win Glory’s heart and offer her protection you get to see a side of him in this story that was hidden in the other book, his loving side that would honestly do anything to make Glory happy. Zane the other competitor for Glory’s heart is back as well but not as the vampire we know and love but as a man from the past as we get a chance to explore his relationship with the woman Glory is connected to the mysterious and gorgeous Hope-Zane’s long since dead wife. Both men end up winning you’re heart its really hard to pick a side, which means whomever she ends up with you will be cheering in the end.

We are introduced to a sweet little girl Belle Starr and we get to see Glory be a mother and not just a hero, overall this book blew my mind. I was clinging to every page and couldn't put it down. This book re-defines a page turner for me I couldn’t even begin to think about anything else I found myself contemplating this book even when I was at work and like with the first book Glory I am sure I will be thinking about this book until the third installment comes out. 

Darkness Falls Series By Jessica Sorensen

Darkness Falls Series By Jessica Sorensen 

Book One and Book Two of this series brings you into an intricate heart stopping world where you can trust no one but yourself everyone lies and you cannot go out at night. 

Kayla Juniper is the main character of this horror style thriller, she is a warrior a solider first, a teenage girl later. Victim of a life full of lies and horrible experiments these books lead you through her journey to save the world, with instructions by the man who brought the world destruction himself, Kayla needs to regain her memories and become bigger then herself. 

I loved these two books I read them back to back and I felt my heart beat racing and found myself looking around the corners as I walked out of my room at night. A third book is due in Fall of 2012 and I am biting at the bit to get my hands on that book. This series does not know where to give you a break right as you think you know whats going on and you try to relax while reading you find yourself back on the edge of your seat again. I started the second book at eleven at night and didn't put the book down until i finished it at six in the morning. 

Jessica I can’t wait to see what else you have up your sleeve!.

Well I'm back!

Wow its been awhile since i've been able to write, you think with the summer here-or nearly over. You'd have more free time, not exactly the case but i'll be writing when I can so keep your eyes out!

Born Wicked By Jessica Spotswood

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/sLKv1zsU7U4


Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood, is a novel about three sisters who are witches by birthright and are forced to hide their abilities in a rapidly changing world. The girls lost there mother two years beforehand and ever since then Cate Cahill has had her hands full keeping her powerful sisters in line and is daunted by her future where she must make a decision at the age of seventeen, announce her betrothal to a man of good standing or join The Sisters a group of cloistered women who in there own right oppose the leading power in this world called The Brotherhood. The brotherhood in short are witch hunters who control the lives of the young women living in there towns. These men decide who the women marry, where they live and what they do with there lives and continuously preach about the evils of women. Cate has to desperately hide herself and her sisters or be persecuted as Witches, the harshest crime in the age. 


This book is captivating and makes you fear for the characters, you begin to fall in love with the girls and Cate. You begin to feel there pain there sorrow and there joy. The world they live in almost seems real and opens the doors to what could be considered one of the best YA witch novels to come out in 2012. I cannot wait to read the sequel in the fall. 

Chasing Nikki GiveAway

The lovely and talented Mrs. Lacey Weathorford is holding weak long give aways on her blog to honor the official release week of "Chasing Nikki" anyone who is a fan of Lacey knows she sometimes will release her new novels a little early, I guess she just gets to excited :D. So run on over to her blog and enter the contest to win some Chasing Nikki swag, her contests are easy to enter and always worth a try. I'll keep you updated about further give aways. Cheers!

Lacey's Blog: http://www.laceyweatherfordbooks.com/2012/03/chasing-nikki-book-swag-giveaway.html

Witch Hunt By Devin O'Branagan

Witch Hunt By Devin O’Branagan

When Leigh married into the Hawthorne family she knew they had a huge secret, and she never asked any questions she just trusted her husband. She didn’t even ask quetions when he son started to have premonition like dreams and her daughter started doing little tricks.

After the tragic death of Leigh’s father and brother in law a fanatic preacher begins a Witch Hunt that cannot simply end without death. As her world falls to pieces around her Leigh begins to learn about her new family, their past, present and future.

All the while the story goes back and forth between the current events happening to Leigh and her Inlaws and the past run ins the Hawthornes had with prejudice and Witch hunts in the past.

Packed with action and love, magic, sacrifice and history these Ms.Devin takes you on a wild ride through time. While you get to know Leigh, you get to know the women of the family who came before her, the tragedies that befell the women of the past and how strong they had to be.

Even though Leigh wasn’t born to be a Witch she becomes one and leads the Hawthornes from yet another tragedy into a hopeful future.

This book is a page turning heart stopping, thought provoking novel full of blood lose gain and power. It reminds us that no matter what we can prevail.

Chasing Nikki By Lacey Weatherford

Chasing Nikki By Lacey Weatherford

Once again best selling author Lacey Weaterford succeeds in bringing tears to my eyes in this heart breakingly beautiful romance about young love. The book opens up to introduce use to the main character Chase, a partying playboy who for the time uses girls as a distraction instead of looking for love. When he is caught drunk and arrested its the last straw for his mother.

Widowed mother and trouble son move to the house his mother grew up in out on a farm with his drill sergeant like grandfather and doting grandmother. Instantly you fall in love with the grandparents and your heart bleeds for Chase, whose life is spiraling downwards ever since the death of his father.

On his first day of school he meets Nikki, a gorgeous girl who was burned by a football player and forever sworn off dating them. Chase being an intrepid young man and ex-quarterback sees a challenge and takes to the chase.

Over time they fall in love, they understand each other and they make plans for the future until tragedy strikes on what is supposed to be a night to remember.

The relationship between Chase and Nikki is beautiful and romantic, every girl reading this book wants a boy like Chase in their life and every guy who even hears about it wants a girl like Nikki. The character development is gradual and very pleasing.

This is a book you cannot put down not for a second so if you haven’t read it yet you may want to save it for a day when you can sit down and just read it because you will laugh you will cry you will fall in love with Chase and Nikki and cheer them on until the very end. As I read this book I couldn’t help but find myself crying, I cried for Chase and his pain and I cried for Nikki and her silent struggles.

Now I never read plain romance novels to be totally honest this is the first romance novel that wasn’t paranormal that I have read, and I loved it. I loved everything about it, I was hooked from the second I read the first page and had difficulty thinking about anything else other then this book when I was at school. The only other time I’ve cried over a book was when I read Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, it takes quite a lot for a book to evoke tears from me but their were tears and my heart swelled with each romantic moment or gesture.

Like with her other books the last line of this novel will never let you forget Chasing Nikki.

Mortal Obligation By Nichole Chase

Mortal Obligations By Nichole Chase

Mortal obligations is part one of a three part series called The Dark Betrayal Trilogy. Opening up with a description of our main character Ree Mckenna. She seems to be perfectly human and she appears to lead a perfectly human life. That is until a group of teens attack Ree and her friends. This groups is called The Dark Ones some other worldly creatures that sound as if they are a demon-vampire experiment gone wrong. In the space of one chapter Ree and her friends are whisked away to a nearby island where they are told they are the descendants of Gods and Ree is there trump card in an age old war. With the help of her immortal gaggle of friends and friend and mentor Sophie, Ree has to win the war or the course of history will change for ever and humans will become slaves to the Dark Ones.

Mortal Obligations is a fast paced book causing you to lose touch with reality and start checking the shadows for dark ones. Supernatural powers and gods are perfectly married in this short but tantalizing book. With a pleasant amount of heart break and romance you can’t help but fall in love with Ree and all her flaws and untamed power.

So far I love the charecters in this book, its not very easy juggling so many power players and developing there personalities but Ms. Chase manages this perfectly. The fact the Gods can visit their immortal grandchildren is a thrilling add on.

Ms. Chase presents an otherworldly tale that capture your imagination and throws you into a different version of our own world where wars are raged in secret and the fate of the world lies on the shoulders of one girl.

The Twilight Saga By Stefanie Meyer

The Twilight Saga By Stephanie Meyer

This review will tell a personal story as to what Twilight did for me and why I still enjoy it so many years later. When I was in my freshman year of high school, alot was going on in my life. I was staying in a lonely place away from home and we visited the library once a week and I could only take out one book at a time. With a begrudging sigh I began to read Twilight, they would often find me sitting in a tree outside of the house reading it slowly soaking up every detail. By the next library visit I was ready for the next book. I took the universe Twilight provided me with and made it into an escape a place where I could be a vampire and run away from the dark times in life. In the beginning It did really give me a lot. A place to run away too. By this time I had exhausted my harry potter books and was looking for something new and I found peace in Twilight. It was an emotional get away in a horrible time in my life.

The plot is well thought out though Bella is painted to be far to much the damsel in distress and not every girl likes being painted that way. I certainly did it so I found myself changing her as I read the books in my mind to make her more like me. Edward started out as everyone’s ideal man and turned into a bit of an over bearing boyfriend-husband then reverted back to being the ideal man.

Jacob is my favorite character he is strong and powerful and as he progresses through the series his character just gets better and better. I love his relationship with bella and to be honest I wish she had decided to stay with him but that would have made for a far less interesting story and make Edward a rather redundant character.

I really do not like the fact the vampires “sparkle” in the sun, remove sparkling from one of their traits and they are a picture of perfect modern day vampires. If I could talk to Meyer directly I’d advise her against the sparkling because it takes away from the small amount of fear we are all supposed to have for the vampire.

As I read these books I fell in love with the characters despite there flaws and fell in love with there world. I love the Volturi they are the picture of power in Twilight and the government/dictatorship that oversees all vampires. They are exactly how a vampire should be ruthless and cruel but elegant beautiful and full of power.

When Breaking Dawn was released I read it more out of obligation then enthusiasm, I figured I’ve gotten this far why not read the last book. I found it to be boring at first but much more interesting near the end.

The movies depict the books perfectly but they seem to make Bella out to be worse then she is in the books and I feel like if they stayed more true to her character there would be a lot less Bella haters out there. The same goes for Edward they had Rob Pats act far to serious in a capacity that he didn’t seem capable of. I have seen every movie and I will round out the series but watching the final movie this summer.

This series is NOT the next Harry Potter it is by far not as good as The Hunger Games, standing alone this series is OKAY not amazing not incredible just...ok. It makes me happy when I am sad and brings back the soothing notions I found from the books when I was first exposed to them. The movies are entertaining thought Breaking Dawn Part 1 was very very weak and highly disappointing.

I've always admired the cover art for Twilight, the first book gives you the image of forbidden fruit. That in itself is foreshadowing what is to come as are the rest of the book covers.

Not everyone enjoys Twilight, I am not the biggest fan at all times but I do enjoy it and I remember how it helped me when I was fourteen. Now that I am nineteen seeing the movies is just how I am rounding out the final chapter of this saga. A well done book series, a good group of movies, a great get away for a young girl in trouble, I am not a twi-hard I just manage to enjoy the story written even though it isn't entirely all that great.

Incase anyone was wondering i am......Team Jacob <3 haha.

So many books so little time

As you can tell I am inundated with books to read and soon review so far my kindle library consists of over fifty books haha I wish they had a section for when you finish a book to put it off to the side but alas they don't. So i'll be posting as much as i can while i read. Book review coming up for Witch Hunt.

The Grey Wolves Series By Quinn Loftis

The Grey Wolves Series by Quinn Loftis

The Grey Wolves Series, can be described in two word-heart stopping. Author, Quinn Loftis manages to pain a picture depicting a world that lives beneath our very own. One ruled by Wolves, where Alphas are the absolute power and love is so strong it can kill and preserve the species. In the first installment we are introduced to a quirky average teenager by the name of Jacque Pierce and her two partners in crime Jennifer Adams and Sally Morgan. Up until the arrival of one certain Romanian heart throb Fane Lupei, there lives had appeared to be pretty normal.

After a sneaky plan to meet the estranged foreign exchange student Jacque begins to change, Markings appear on her back and suddenly a voice is in her head, belonging to none other then Fane. As true love blossoms a rival Alpha steps forward challenging Fane to a fight to the death, the prize-Jacque’s Heart.

As we eagerly devour the second book Blood Rites, we are taken deeper into the world of the Canis Lupis or werewolves for that matter. Jacque’s Father crawls out of the woodwork all while Jacque, Sally and Jen are placed in the intensive care unit due to a serious care accident. Meanwhile hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, Cynthia a doctor responsible for the care and treatment of the three girls is cooking up something and it isn’t to make them feel better.

The long awaited Third book to the series, Just One Drop tells the story of Jennifer Adams and her struggles with tall dark and handsome Decebel, Beta wolf to the Romanian pack. After being told she had enough wolf blood in her system to be considered a member of the pack things heat up between Jen and Decebel leaving readers screaming at there books and kindles begging for the romantic rendezvous we all see coming a mile away. Just as there relationship seems to be forming there Alpha informs the Romanian Wolves they are to attend a gathering for unmated males and females to ensure the continuation of there race. While sexy and sassy Jen toes the line with Decebel’s heart, a plan to overthrow the Romanian Alpha is set in motion and all is not what it seems.

Loftis captures your mind and imagination and shows us a world that we all secretly wish could exist, I mean who doesn’t want to know there are some hot werewolves out there looking for someone to call there mate? With heart pounding action scenes, beautiful character development and comical moments to break the ice she shows an improvement in her writing and enthralls fans young and old. With a pinch of action a dash of blood and a whole lot of romance and sexy werewolves you have the recipe for the perfect Paranormal Romance Novel.

Now I have to sit here and wait, dreaming eagerly of her next book Out of The Dark.

Of Witches And Warlocks-By Lacey Weatherford

Of Witches and Warlocks by Lacey Weatherford

Where to start with this amazing book series? It has witches, it has warlocks, it has demons and soul mates, romance and sexy encounters and absolutely swoon worthy men. What is not to love? Christmas day 2011 I was given a kindle fire. Being a fan of books about Witches I simply searched the word “Witch” and I stumbled upon Lacey’s First book “The Trouble with Spells”. After buying the book I spent the better part of that day eating up the story and dying for more I purchased the rest of the series.

Through out this series you are introduced to Portia and Vance a couple of kids with wicked powers who just can’t seem to catch a break. When all seems well in there lives, well Lacey just throws you another curve ball and your left asking yourself “what the Hell just happened here!?”. Each page is riddled with delicious romance, and action that could require CPR. If just reading about Vance didn’t already stop your heart that is.

After discovering she is a Witch Portia Mullins is thrown through a series of loops while she basks in learning about magic and becomes better aquatinted with the mysterious Vance Magnum life is good. But not for long, Without giving to much away, Portia has to learn how to use her powers to save the ones she loves and even when the storm calms its not over through out the series she has to deal with the death of coven members the betrayal and redemption of her best friend and the person she loves most falling into the hands of dark magic. Vance turned demon by his father must battle his inner darkness and conquer his instincts in order to save the one he loves and in the end have what they always dreamed of.

This series is a pure work of art, I am not joking when I say you need to go out and read these books. Whether you own a kindle or your would rather have a paperback novel in your hands the books are available in both formats. You will laugh with the characters cry with them, feel there joy and even though its all over you’ll go on your knees to Lacey begging for more.

The books are honestly so good that two months later the final line of her last book still rings in my head.

The Mystic Wolves By Belinda Boring

The Mystic Wolves Series By Belinda Boring

“What would you do if a simple errand takes a deadly twist, turning you from cautious prey to dangerous predator?”

The mystic wolves series are a series of short but well written and well thought out books, all are apart of the same story and every single one of them leaves you on a painful yet pleasurable cliffhanger. Featuring the hot and sexy Mystic wolves-both male and female. Mason, leader and alpha is over protective of his soon to be mate Darcy and her best friend none other then the Alpha’s sister. Two trouble makers and best friends.

Having lost his parents at a young age Mason is at a loss when a terrible tragedy shakes the pack to its after a errand gone awry foundation. The intimate moments between Darcy and Mason leave you needing a cold shower and wishing for a man so devoted to you for your own. Belinda takes an interesting look into Pack life and what it means to be a werewolf and the job it is for the pack to protect not only each other but the innocent lives around them and the alliances they have made. Introducing a familiar peak into the vampire hierarchy, Belinda gives us a look at an angle not commonly explored. A world where wolves and vampires can and are allies.

Each book flows into each other smoothly leaving readers begging for more. Romance, death, broken trust and conflict clash like bulls going head to head in this non-stop action series.

Hello and Welcome

My Name is Nicole, 19 year old college student, Avid reader and creator of Written Portals. I love to read and ever since I received a Kindle Fire for Christmas I have been introduced to a new world of novels by self published authors. While I do plan on reviewing books other then self published, the majority of my reviews will be of self published books. I was inspired and encouraged by two authors I admire, Lacey and Belinda. They encouraged me to do what I wanted to which is write reviews and write my own books. Currently I am working on my own book but that won't be published for a very long time so in the mean time I will continue to read often and review as much as I can.