The Blazing Glass (Sons of the Sand #2) by Kimberly Loth | ARC | A Book Review

This is book 2 of the Sons of the Sand series. I am a member of Kimberly Loth's ARC group so I get all advance copies of her books. I really enjoyed all her stories and hopefully, I will have time to read all her other books. Like the Dragon Kings series which I only read the 4th and 5th book. I have not read the first three. And there is also another series which I have not even started yet. I haven't also read The Thorn Chronicles and the Omega Mu Alpha Brothers series. Yes, too many books, too little time.

This installment came with a lot of surprises. It was like my birthday. A lot of unexpected things and revelations were in this book. They came one after the other that I just can't help feeling bombarded by all these development. So, it was not so hard to get carried away by the events in this story. Gabe and Liv are finally together but the relationship does not promise to be all rainbows and roses. It comes with a lot of complications with Gabe being a genie and all that came with it. Liv, on the other hand, also has a secret of her own which she doesn't know at all. And, I was right on my suspicion that the bizarre fact of her grandmother not being able to talk is something. And it was. Wow! I felt like I was wiped out by a big wave and is still trying shake out the water that hit my face and head. The number of revelations and the implications that came with them are just so astounding and unbelievable. This story has just topped the ante. And it's not just about genies anymore. It's more and I love it!

Dangers and secrets. This story will make you crazy with the additional complexities poured into the mix. And the cliffhanger ending does not help, either. This story spells large O-M-G! Oh, my genie! Oh, my Goddess! I am so excited for the next book. I want to be surprised again as to how the story will go from here. I think, it can go anywhere from here and anything can happen. I think I should be prepared to be blown away, again. 

I give this book 5/5 sharp sickles. I can't wait for the next book. I have high expectations and I am sure, Miss Loth will never fail to make things absolutely even more amazing. I just can't help but say, Congratulations! This is unbelievable!

Never before had I had something that I could waste so much time on. It was a beautiful thing. Mindless yet satisfying.

- Kimberly Loth, The Blazing Glass - 

Thank you, Kimberly Loth for the ARC.

Other books in the series:
The Smoking Lamp (Sons of the Sand #1) 

The Glowing Sands(Sons of the Sand #3)

The Exploding Sky(Sons of the Sand #4)

The Smoking Lamp (Sons of the Sand #1) by Kimberly Loth | ARC | A Book Review

Here comes another one from the master storyteller. I don't know where Kimberly Loth get her stories from but it seems that there is no way they are running out. Congratulations on this new series!

This story is definitely smoking hot! Not just the genie but the story is really out-of-this-world amazing. A totally new take on the genie-in-a-bottle tales. I think it's time we outgrow Aladdin and meet new genies. Yey!

As you may have noticed, I have reviewed quite a few of Kimberly Loth's books. Since I first stumbled upon one of her books, the first one was Skye, since then, I have always looked forward to reading a new book from her. Her stories just have a way of making me remember how I fell in love with books, stories and reading, in the first place. Her stories always take me to a different, new and magical world where I can take part and get swallowed in it. A world where I could step into the shoes of the heroes and feel like them. It is a world of endless possibilities where I am not constrained by anything. Worries or anything else.

This new story unlike the others takes the old and brought it out into the modern world. A genie was freed from his bottle-prison in modern-day America and was as lost and confused as expected. Luckily for him, he has someone like him who has been in America for a few years who can orient him about this new culture and new world. And that things are different now and the rules may have changed from about a thousand years ago.

I know I just met Liv, Ty and their ever-silent grandmother but I already liked them. Ty has my dream job. A travel photographer. Liv is her younger sister who sometimes tags along on his international travels. This story started in Egypt when Liv bought ten pretty bottles from an Egyptian souvenir shop as a gift for her friends in the US. And the rest of the story will smoke you out of your senses.

A main character that is in her most vulnerable because a boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend. A very loving and adorable brother who has the coolest job ever. A mute and mysterious grandmother who cooks very delicious food and pastries. Twin best friends who have an obsession with books and fictional characters. A genie who has been imprisoned in his bottle for far too long and there could be more of them. This is easily the mix of curious and interesting characters and adventure that you are looking for. What are you waiting for? Don't just stand there wishing, get the book now!

I give this story 5/5 old perfume bottles. I really enjoyed the story. It's far from Disney's Aladdin story we know. The genie here is not really that nice like Aladdin's genie but may actually kill his master. Scary right? Really, be careful what you wish for. I don't think I would wish for anything, if in exchange my life would be drained out of me. This is definitely a series to watch out for and follow. Well, I am on the author's ARC team already, if you want to join us, then join the Facebook group now! Don't miss out on this new and amazing story or your wish just won't be granted. 

Everything was better with cinnamon.

- Kimberly Loth, The Smoking Lamp -  

Other stories by Kimberly Loth--

Dragon Kings:

Skye (The Dragon Kings #4)

The Kings (The Dragon Kings #5)

Stella and Sol:

God of the Sun ( Stella and Sol #1)

Prince of the Moon (Stella and Sol #2)

King of the Stars(Stella and Sol #3)

Queen of the Dawn(Stella and Sol #4)

Sons of the Sand:

The Blazing Glass (Sons of the Sand #2)

The Glowing Sands (Sons of the Sand #3)

The Exploding Sky (Sons of the Sand #4)

Solomon's Bell (The Genie Chronicles #2) by Michelle Lowery Combs | A Book Review

I had been quiet lately. I had been unable to post reviews. For this month, I only have three so far and we are already half way in June. I am still playing catch up. I don't know if I will eventually be able to write reviews right away after reading a story. I had found that it saves a lot of time and on electric bills if I post more than one review at a time. So, instead of posting a review everyday, it makes a lot of sense to post multiple reviews at least once or twice in a week. I can cover a lot of items on my TBR in between writing and some other things happening in life.

This story follows right after Heir to the Lamp. You can check out the review here. I read this last month right after the first book. I was so entranced by the story that I had to read the second book right away. There was no use waiting or taking a break. This talks about the myth of the bell of Solomon. Yes, the one in the bible, that same guy. This bell is purported to have magical powers of great proportions. 

I am in awe as to how the author presented Solomon's bell into being a part of the story. It was very clever and the background story was very finely done. It became part of the story without a glitch and brought an all new level of adventure to this already packed fantasy. The fact that the story went from about genie in the modern times to time travel, mythical creatures and ancient artifacts is just so much experience in one story. I was really pulled into it all. Just like being sucked helplessly into the a whirl-wind, I was brought to adventures beyond my imagination can conjure. 

This story also reminds me of another book--Snow in August by Pete Hamill. This story and that of Hamill's both have golems, rabbis and Prague in them. Did I say Prague? Yes, Prague with its own old astronomical clock tower, old churches and castles. Oh, I just love the story of how that clock tower came to be and how it stopped ticking. Prague. It's not everyday that I get to read stories about this place. With its own set of lore and myths that is both for the admirers and the not. Even if you are not a fan of myths and artifacts, this story will have you mystified. I wouldn't know what to expect in the next book. I am all for surprises. Thank you so much World Weaver Press for the review copies. Hope you would still give me that chance to review the next book without having to pay for it.

I give this 5/5 old church bells. I don't care if they are Solomon's or not. Mythical or just plain old rusted bells. Just like the tolling of the church bell which spurs you to attention or pulls you back to the present when your mind wanders, this book will call your attention and will not let it waver or stray again. I was like a child introduced to a world of wonders that are so new to me. This book just opened up another world that I thought adults like me will no longer visit and appreciate.

I am curious as to what other stories and genre the author has. She has a likelihood of ending up in my favorite authors list.

Gran believes that time changes people, but a part of me believes--just this once, maybe--that Gran is wrong. I think it's people that change people.

- Michelle Lowery Combs, Solomon's Bell -  

Heir to the Lamp (The Genie Chronicles #1) by Michelle Lowery Combs | A Book Review

I have just finished this story about two days ago. This is one of those great stories that I was fortunate to came upon. I found this through World Weaver Press' newsletter. After reading the blurb, my curiosity was piqued so I signed up to review this book. They sent me the first two books in the series. Thank you!

Obviously, as suggested by the title, this is about genies or djinns. Aside from the very popular Disney's Alladin, I have only read one other book about djinns (Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens). It was a good story too. Having not read a lot of books with the same topic just added fuel to my interest. What kind of genie story this could be?

The story is similar in a way to the story I have mentioned earlier. The main character is the also a girl and there is a genie in the story. Both stories have young heroines that are out to find and prove themselves. And this is where I draw the line separating the two stories. There could be a lot of ways in which they are different. Heir to the lamp is more current in its setting and characters. It also tends to be hilarious since it never failed to paint a smile on my face because of its sometimes annoying yet cute characters. Just like I am, you will find you can't decide if the Terrible Twosome are too cute and smart or just plain little devils. You will definitely wish that the Lawsons were your neighbors.

Again, this is a story of a thirteen-year old finding her roots only it was so freaking unbelievable and awesome. Unbelievable like crazy. Are-you-for-real-kind-of-crazy. The main character Ginn or Virginia was just finding out about her biological parents and her origins alongside just becoming a teenager with its perks and downside. Knowing about where she came from made her appreciate more the blessing of what a great adoptive family she has, even though they are loud and chaotic most of the time. She never lacked for love and support from them, even from the Terrible Twosome.

The story transported me to a marvelous adventure. There were no carpet rides but it was amazing none-the-less. This felt like a story within a story with all the other fictional and mythical characters and creatures being introduced. Turning the Grimm Brothers into the bad guys was not really unheard of but it was novel enough to me. One thing is for sure, I like this genie story and I can't wait to get on to the next book.

I give this 5/5 genie lamps. This magical journey is both entertaining and addicting. I can't help but dive into the next book because my curiosity got the best of me. I am so happy I found this book or more appropriately, this book found me. Thank you again, World Weaver Press for the copy. 

I keep my size-four figure safely enclosed in a generous layer of bubble-wrap. It's the only reason I'm wearing a size twelve.

- Michelle Lowery Combs, Heir to the Lamp -

The next book in the series:

Solomon's Bell (The Genie Chronicles #2)