a Rafflecopter giveaway
Congratulations to Shanese L. for winning a copy of Shadow Sight + Swag!
Be sure to contact me at shadowhunters_jace_clary@hotmail.com with your email and I'll pass it along to the tour host!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Giveaway Winner: Shadow Sight (+Swag)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to contact me at shadowhunters_jace_clary@hotmail.com with your email and I'll pass it along to the tour host!
Challenge Review: Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent
Series: Soul Screamers #6
Author(s): Rachel Vincent
Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
Elements: Demons, Necromancers, Reapers, Bean sidhes
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN, Harlequin Books
Format: Paperback, 346 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-373-21061-9
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Source: Bought from Book Depository
Rating: 5/5
Tagline(s): The last thing you hear before you die.
Summary: I died on a Thursday--killed by a monster intent on stealing my soul.
The good news? He didn't get it.
The bad news?
Turns out not even death will get you out of high school...
Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking life is much harder than Kaylee Cavanaugh expected. After weeks spent “recovering,” she’s back in school, fighting to stay visible to the human world, struggling to fit in with her friends and planning time alone with her new reaper boyfriend.
But to earn her keep in the human world, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls, and when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won’t keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn’t just gambling with her own life….
Review:
Kaylee Cavanaugh's death was inevitable, but no one expected her life to end the way it did. It was a Thursday when Kaylee's life ended and her afterlife began. It has now been a month since that fateful day and Kaylee's going back to school. But pretending to be alive is harder than it looks. Then when Kaylee goes on a practice soul retrieval, she comes face-to-face with an old family enemy. The stakes have risen and it's not only Kaylee's soul at risk.
Where If I Die had an air of hopelessness, inevitability, and soul-crushing heartache; Before I Wake has an air of being left adrift, but has undercurrents of power and heart wrenching beauty. Fan, myself included, wondered if Rachel Vincent could out-do If I Die, and she blew it out of the water with Before I Wake.
I think we see Kaylee's true strength in Before I Wake. She has always been strong, no one will contest that, but in Before I Wake we see her at perhaps her weakest and still she manages to pull herself together. Kaylee is like the heart of the group--when she died, the group crumbled, they are only strong as long as Kaylee is. Kaylee's experience with death and her subsequent afterlife have made her stronger and has made her value life even more than she did when she was alive.
Kaylee's selflessness is epic. There really is something "intriguing" and "rare" about it. And that is why Avari wants her. I liked the way Thane described the differences between Kaylee and Avari: "You protect people with lies, and he manipulates people with the truth. You keep saving those who've hurt you, and he hurts people who've done him no harm." Kaylee's unrelenting selflessness is what makes her one of my favorite heroines. I'm glad that she didn't lose it when she died. But there are consequences that come with that selflessness; some are good, some are bad, and some are lasting and can never be taken back.
The addition of Luca to the gang was refreshing. We met him in Never to Sleep, and it was great to learn a bit more about him. Luca's abilities as a necromancer are pretty creepy, though. He's like an undead radar--he can tell you where the reinstated (i.e. Tod, Kaylee) are located, where a corpse can be found, AND he can reanimate the dead. It just makes you shiver in revulsion. But aside from his creepy abilities, Luca seems like a pretty great guy, and to be able to handle Sophie he must have unlimited patience. I don't know how he does it.
I absolutely LOVED the developments in Tod and Kaylee's relationship. Their relationship seems more natural and effortless than Kaylee's relationship with Nash did. Kaylee and Tod started out as friends, grew to care and love each other, and now they are facing forever together. Their hearts literally beat for each other, and they are the only thing that makes the other feel truly alive. I couldn't help but swoon. I love how well they compliment each other. Tod refers to Kaylee as being the strongest person he's ever met, but I loved how when Kaylee was weak or vulnerable, Tod was her strength. I am so very happy that Kaylee chose Tod. I don't know how she withstood his charms for so long.
Here are some of my favorite Tod/Kaylee quotes:
"Forever used to feel like a curse. Now it feels like a promise." (Page 65)
"You make me feel alive. Every time I touch you, I feel like there's some kind of charge flowing between us. Like tiny little bolts of lightning, setting me on fire." (Page 67)
"You don't make me feel normal. You make me feel amazing, like I'm more alive now than I was back when my heart beat on its own." (Page 118)
"How is it possible that every time you open your mouth, I--" fall more in love with you "--melt a little more? Seriously. There's nothing in here but mush." (Page 129)
"Not much scare me anymore, but I'm terrified of losing you, Kaylee. I don't want to let you go long enough for that to happen." (Page 188)
And these are only in the first half of the book. There's a lot more mushiness to enjoy and swoon over.
We wondered if Rachel Vincent could out-do If I Die and she more than did so with Before I Wake. Now with the series finale coming in With All My Soul, Kaylee's out for revenge and I can't wait to see how Rachel Vincent will bring this series to a close. I have a feeling it will be one of the best finales I've ever read and I'll be sad to see it end.
About this Author:
The Before I Wake Mini-Reading Challenge is hosted by Rachel @ Fiktshun!
Tour Review: Blood and Whiskey by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
Series: The Cowboy and the Vampire #2
Author(s): Clark Hays, Kathleen McFall
Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Paranormal Romance
Elements:
Publisher: Pumpjackpress
Format: PDF, 362 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-9838200-1-7
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Wanted: Lizzie Vaughan, Dead or Alive
Relationships are always hard, but for a broke cowboy and a newly turned Vampire, true love may be lethal.
After barely surviving an undead apocalypse in The Cowboy and the Vampire, Tucker and Lizzie hightail it back to quirky LonePine, Wyoming (population 438), to start a family. But she’s got a growing thirst for blood and he’s realizing that mortality ain’t all it’s cracked up to be when your girlfriend may live forever. With a scheming Vampire nation hot on their boot heels and a price on her head, how far will Lizzie and Tucker go to protect their unlikely love?
Blending evolution, religion and an overly sensitive cow dog named Rex, Blood and Whiskey drags the Vampire myth into the modern west, delivering double-barreled action, heart-pounding passion and wicked humor.
Review:
REVIEW WILL BE POSTED LATER. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
Clark Hays grew up in Montana in the shadow of the Tobacco Root Mountains. In addition to his fiction work, he is a cowboy, a published poet and occasional food critic. Recently, he was nominated for Pushcart Prize for short fiction and not so recently for a Rhysling award for poetry. Clark brings a deep knowledge about the modern west, weaponry, country music and existentialism to his writing.
Kathleen McFall grew up in the heart of Washington, D.C. She worked as a petroleum geologist and, later, as a journalist, and has published hundreds of articles about scientific research, energy and natural resources. An interest in the overlap of science and mysticism are an essential aspect of her fiction writing. She received an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship for fiction writing.
Learn more at http://cowboyandvampire.com/
and www.facebook.com/cowboyandvampire
and www.facebook.com/cowboyandvampire
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR BLOOD AND WHISKEY
“Riveting, existentialist underpinnings give it depth, the book is a thriller, upping the ante in every chapter, as bullets fly and relationships strain under the weight of old loyalties and new revelations …”
“It’s more than just the details that set this series apart. Rather, it’s the way the authors utilize those details to create meaningful conflicts and world-altering choices for the characters.”
“Those who missed out on the first book will really have to hang on if they want to follow what’s happening, but it’s worth it for this tale of love and blood in the modern West.”
Kirkus Reviews
Tour Hosted by Bewitching Book Tours
Tour Hosted by Bewitching Book Tours
Tour Review: The Cowboy and the Vampire by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall
Series: The Cowboy and the Vampire #1
Author(s): Clark Hays, Kathleen McFall
Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Paranormal Romance
Elements:
Publisher: Midnight Inc.
Format: PDF, 394 Pages
ISBN: 9780738721613
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Reporter Lizzie Vaughan doesn’t realize it, but she has 2,000 years of royal Vampiric blood coursing through her veins. Neither she nor Tucker, her cowboy lover, has any idea that Julius, the leader of the undead, has a diabolical plan to reign over darkness for all eternity—with Lizzie at his side.
Lizzie battles for her life—and her soul—as she and Tucker find themselves caught up in a vampire war, pursued by hordes of Julius’ maniacal, bloodthirsty followers.
Who will be left standing when the sun rises?
Review:
REVIEW WILL BE POSTED LATER. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
About these Authors:
Clark Hays grew up in Montana in the shadow of the Tobacco Root Mountains. In addition to his fiction work, he is a cowboy, a published poet and occasional food critic. Recently, he was nominated for Pushcart Prize for short fiction and not so recently for a Rhysling award for poetry. Clark brings a deep knowledge about the modern west, weaponry, country music and existentialism to his writing.
Kathleen McFall grew up in the heart of Washington, D.C. She worked as a petroleum geologist and, later, as a journalist, and has published hundreds of articles about scientific research, energy and natural resources. An interest in the overlap of science and mysticism are an essential aspect of her fiction writing. She received an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship for fiction writing.
Learn more at http://cowboyandvampire.com/
and www.facebook.com/cowboyandvampire
and www.facebook.com/cowboyandvampire
PRAISE FOR THE COWBOY AND THE VAMPIRE
“Deliciously dark, witty.” Booklist
“A must read for fans of vampire fiction. It’s one of the best in the genre that I have read this year.” A Chick Who Reads Book Blog
“Rawhide romance with bloody fangs. The Cowboy and the Vampire delivers unremitting fun, and a damn good read.” Diana Troldahl, Freshfiction.com
“Writing duo Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall has succeeded in writing a unique story among all the vampire books that are out there today.” Bertena Varney, examiner.com
“Back from the dead!” Jeff Baker, The Oregonian
“Sexy, dark, witty, and nothing less.” Erin Cole, author of Grave Echoes
Tour Hosted by Bewitching Book Tours
Monday, July 30, 2012
Challenge Review: Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #5
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Angels, Deities, Witches, Sorcerers, Ghosts, Necromancers, Demons, Wraiths, Nymphs, Magicians
Publisher: Bantam Books, Random House Inc.
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 495 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-553-58708-1
Release Date: May 31, 2005
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): The afterlife isn't all it's cracked up to be....
Summary: Former supernatural superpower Eve Levine has broken all the rules. But she's never broken a promise--not even during the three years she's spent in the afterworld. So when the Fates call in a debt she gave her word she'd pay, she has no choice but to comply.
For centuries one of the ghost world's wickedest creatures has been loosed on humanity, thwarting every attempt to retrieve her. Now it has fallen to Eve to capture this demi-demon known as the Nix, who inhabits the bodies of would be killers, compelling them to complete their deadly acts. It's a mission that becomes all too personal when the Nix targets those Eve loves the most--including Savannah, the daughter she left on earth. But can a renegade witch succeed where a host of angels have failed?
Review:
Eve Levine is used to breaking the rules, but she has never broken a promise once she's given it. The Fates are calling in the favor Eve promised in return for them returning Lucas and Paige to the living world. The demi-demon known as the Nix escaped her prison and has been roaming the world for about 100 years. After a number of failed attempts, the Fates are asking Eve to capture the Nix so she can be placed in an even stronger prison. The hunt becomes personal, though, when the Nix begins targeting those Eve loves the most--her daughter Savannah, and her guardians Lucas and Paige.
With the help of Kristof Nast, Jaime Vegas, and the angel Trsiel, Eve sets out to capture the Nix and protect her daughter. But with this mission being Eve's inaugural quest to angel-hood, Eve will need to choose between accepting angel status to better protect Savannah, or refuse and stay in the ghost world with Kristof. Whatever she chooses, it is forever and there will be no going back.
To be honest, I wasn't sure I would like Eve's story, or Eve herself. But I really liked Eve after reading Haunted. Eve really is a great mother and I can understand Savannah's love for her mother better now. Eve's dedication to Savannah, even in death, is so powerful, and her rage and frustration at not being about to protect and comfort her anymore is so heartbreaking.
Eve also brings out the better part of Kristof, Savannah's father. I even grew to like him a little. We get to see how Kristof really feels about Eve and Savannah, and his regret over missing so much in Savannah's life and what he missed out on with Eve before they both died shows a more caring side of Kristof that we didn't get to see when he was alive. I feel that if he had been given the chance, he would have made a pretty great father.
There were two tension breaking moments that I was really entertained by. The first was when Eve and Kristof scare Jaime's stalker ghost and the other haunters away. They definitely won't be bothering Jaime again. The second was when Jaime called Stonehaven to speak to Elena, but gets Jeremy on the line instead. Jaime is just too cute with how flustered she becomes just from talking to Jeremy over the phone.
If I hadn't been watching The Untouchables on MeTV for the past few months, I never would have noticed the reference to Eliot Ness in the Cleveland 1938 chapter when the Nix inhabits Agnes Miller. It's awesome when I notice references like that that others may overlook.
Anyway, I was glad that my first impression of Eve ended up being wrong. After reading Haunted, Eve has become one of my favorite characters in the Women of the Otherworld series. The next book, Broken, brings us back to Elena and the Pack where Elena has her own favor to uphold.
About this Author:
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.
PART OF....
Challenge Review: Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercy Thompson #3
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Werewolves, Fae, Shapeshifters, Ghosts
Publisher: Ace Books, Penguin Group
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 287 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-441-01566-5
Release Date: January 2, 2008
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled me upper lip so she could get a good look as my sharp teeth. I might only weigh thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator...
Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape--but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.
Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...
Review:
In Iron Kissed, Uncle Mike and Zee call in the debt Mercy owes them for borrowing fae objects to kill two vampires. Someone has been murdering fae on the reservation, and with Mercy's nose she may be able to sniff out who did it. BFA agent O'Donnell was present in each of the victim's homes, but when Uncle Mike and Zee pay the guard a little visit, they find him dead in his home. Now Zee is being framed for the murder of O'Donnell. Mercy, great and loyal friend that she is, will not let Zee go down for something he didn't do. At least not without a fight.
Mercy couldn't have gotten herself in a more dangerous situation than sticking her nose (literally) into fae business. Though she was asked to help, she has gained the attention of some very powerful fae, ones who aren't very happy with her knowing their secrets.
First, there is the Great Carrion Crow, who goes by the name Nemane, who also happens to be blind. She finds Mercy sniffing around O'Donnell's place and having possession of one of their treasures. Then there is The Fideal, who catches Mercy sniffing around the local Citizens for a Bright Future chapter. He decides that since he hasn't had a good meal in a while, Mercy will make a great snack. It's amazing that Mercy is still alive considering how much trouble that nose of hers gets her into.
The treasure that I mentioned Mercy being in possession of is a walking stick that is supposed to cause its owner's sheep to bear twins. For some reason the walking stick has grown attached to Mercy and will show up wherever she is. I thought it important to mention the walking stick because it appears in future books and sometimes plays a key role in saving Mercy's life.
We learn about a couple anti-fae groups in Iron Kissed. The first is the one O'Donnell was a member of, Citizens for a Bright Future. This anti-fae group is more for the common, blue-collar person. Whereas the John Lauren Society, which is the largest anti-fae group, is geared toward those of the high class variety. Coincidentally, the lawyer Mercy hired to represent Zee is a member of this group.
Another cool thing that is revealed to us is what Zee really looks like beneath his glamour. By my mental image, he looks pretty awesome!
The side story in Iron Kissed centers around Mercy's indecision concerning Adam and Samuel. Warren warns her that she needs to choose one or neither of them before one of them loses control. They both have been in pretty good control of themselves, but Adam is more restless and his temper more volatile.
We learn the reason for this lies in Adam's mate claim being unfulfilled. When Adam claimed Mercy, a spot was opened for her in the pack, and that opening (which has not been filled) is a weakness within the pack. Adam is absorbing the effects and that leaves him constantly on edge. So there is a lot more to Adam's claim than Mercy thought, so she needs to really think about her choice.
Ben was a character that I had a love-hate relationship with. But when Ben had a one-on-one talk with Adam it really made it easier to understand him. His hatred of women and his feelings about the rape he was accused of really make sense after this. Ben even seems to soften toward Mercy after this point. Ben is probably one of my favorite characters in thise series now.
Mercy shows great strength in the face of a terrible circumstance. But it will take time for her to heal completely and I can't wait to see how she grows after this point.
About this Author:
PART OF....
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Tour Review: Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole
Title: Dante's GirlSeries: The Paradise Diaries #1
Author(s): Courtney Cole
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Lakehouse Press
Format: ARC, 180 Pages
ISBN: 2940014599726
Release Date: June 24, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Kismet Book Tours}
Rating: 5/5
Tagline(s): Love is all that matters...
Summary: I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.
Until this year.
And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:
1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.
2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.
3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.
4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.
5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.
Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference?
But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl.
My heart just might be crazy.
Review:
Reece Ellis is on her way to board the airplane that will take her to London for the summer when she literally bumps into Dante Giliberti. Turns out they're both on the same flight, but as they are preparing to take off, another plane explodes! Thinking it might have been a terrorist attack, Dante and his security team exit the plane taking Reece with them. That's when she finds out who Dante really is: the son of the Prime Minister is Caberra and heir to the Giliberti Olives billionaire family.
When you're (happily) stranded in a paradise country with a gorgeous guy and his "epic hotness," is love enough when everything is working to keep you apart? Will Reece be strong enough to protect her heart?
OhMyGosh, I loved Dante's Girl! There is something about airport meetings that I find irresistible. I love the anticipation of finding out what will happen to the couple. And then there is the chance meeting that is just so romantic.
Reece is a down-to-earth Kansas girl. There is nothing I didn't like about her. What I loved most about Reece is that once she gives her heart to someone she doesn't accept anything less than what she deserves. She will not stay with someone who does not love her back. Reece has a great sense of humor, too. Her internal ranting and hysterics were so hilarious--I was laughing throughout almost the entire book.
Every girl at some point in their life wishes to be whisked away by Prince Charming. For Reece, that prince happens to be Dante Giliberti. Dante has princely charm and good looks, a great sense of humor, and he's even chivalrous. At one point, Dante defends Reece after learning that one of his friends bruised her arm. But like many princes, Dante's only real flaw is that he feels the need to please his father in everything, even if it makes him unhappy. This flaw in Dante causes Reece quite a bit of heartache, but she also can't deny the truth in his words when he tells her that he loves her.
While the romance is sweet and heart-wrenching, there's also a bit of mystery and suspense. When Dante's friend, Nate, is sen talking to a boy named Vincent from the farmlands of Caberra, Reece knows right away that something isn't right. Whatever the plan is, Reece is caught in the cross hairs and in the aftermath is evacuated and taken back to her parents. The question of what happened to Dante and if she'll ever see him again you'll just have to read Dante's Girl to find out!
About this Author:
Tour Hosted by Kismet Book Tours
Friday, July 27, 2012
Tour Review: An Improper Wife by Tarah Scott and KyAnn Waters (Giveaway)
Author(s): Tarah Scott, KyAnn Waters
Genre: Historical Romance, Erotic Romance
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing
Format: PDF, 194 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-85715-961-8
Release Date: May 7, 2012
Source: Tour Host {FMB Book Tours}
Rating: 4.5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: A proper young lady should never attend a Masque...Aphrodite is no lady.
Betrothal to the callous Lord Blackhall painted a future devoid of love. Upon his death, Lady Caroline Wilmont is promised to the younger brother. Caroline refuses to allow her first taste of desire to be at the hands of a man who would rather have any woman but her. This, her last night of freedom, is to be a memory of lust that she can take with her throughout her loveless marriage. As Aphrodite, Caroline attends a masque determined to find a man to initiate her into the intimacies of erotic love.
Taran Robertson, Viscount of Blackhall, makes no secret that he despises his obligation to marry the Sassenach heiress chosen for him by his father. As a last foray before his wedding, he attends a masque. However, the spirited vixen he meets and seduces has secrets...secrets that just may reveal he’s to have an improper wife.
Review:
The setting is Newcastle, England, 1798. Lady Caroline Wilmont is due to marry Taran Robertson, Viscount of Blackhall, the very next day and become Viscountess of Blackhall. But this night she is Aphrodite, attending a Masque for a last chance at feeling any kind of passion before entering her passionless and loveless marriage to Taran. While fleeing to the gardens of the estate, Caroline meets the "kilted god" and he shows her a night of passion she'll never forget. But as the night winds down and it's time to part ways, Caroline recognizes the eyes of the "kilted god" as those of her soon-to-be husband. Now Caroline needs to deceive her husband into believing her to be the proper wife she's expected to be, not the passionate lover her had in Aphrodite at the Masque.
Taran Robertson has not hidden his resentment in being forced to marry is deceased brother's fiancee. During his last night of freedom, he attends a Masque at his friend's urging. The woman he meets in the gardens dressed as Aphrodite is a mix of "innocence and sin, Heaven and sweet Hell," and manages to bring him to his knees. But his Aphrodite has secrets. And as Taran is returning home to Strathmore with his new wife, Aphrodite's secrets hint that his wife may not be as proper as she seems. But who ever said that he wanted a proper wife?
I loved Caroline as the heroine. She's strong, opinionated, and stubborn. She stands up for what she believes in and doesn't back down from confrontation. And at the risk of losing everything, she tries to take her future into her own hands. That's what the night at the Masque is all about.
I was glad that Taran turned out to be the exact opposite of what Caroline thought him to be. I really liked how he would do pretty much anything for his family. And let's not forget that he's a gorgeous Scottish man with a delicious accent and wears a kilt. I mean, there's just something really hot about a man in a kilt. I'm sure you can all agree ;)
I really enjoyed Caroline's antics to get out of the marriage. My favorite was her black mourning clothes at her wedding. That was just too funny and took a lot of guts.
And the mystery surrounding Caroline's family and her father's death add a little something extra to this romance story.
An Improper Wife has it all: action (both in and out of the bed), adventure, and romance. I would read this book again in a heartbeat!
About these Authors:
Tarah Scott
New York businesswoman and award-winning author Tarah Scott is published by Loose Id, Etopia Press, The Wild Rose Press, and Silver Publishing. Professional affiliations include Paper, Candlelight and Quill (PC Quill), where she is assistant director, and leads Word Zone, a weekly critique group, as well as participates in Creative Heights, an intense peer critique group. Tarah is a Southwest transplant to the Northeast where she began her writing career.
KyAnn Waters
KyAnn Waters is a multi-published, award winning author of erotic romance. She lives in Utah with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She spends her days writing and her evenings with her family. She enjoys sporting events on the television, thrillers on the big screen, and hot scenes between the pages of her books.
GIVEAWAY:
Tour Hosted by FMB Book Tours
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tour Review: A Threesome Wedding Adventure by Louisa Bacio (Guest Post+Giveaway)
Title: A Threesome Wedding Adventure
Series: The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf #3
Author: Louisa Bacio
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance
Elements:
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Format: PDF,
ISBN:
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Planning a wedding can be stressful and crazy-making. Planning three weddings at the same time? That’s insanity. While The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf embark on a nuptial excursion, Silver & Nick hold down the home fortress in New Orleans.
Series: The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf #3
Author: Louisa Bacio
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance
Elements:
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Format: PDF,
ISBN:
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Planning a wedding can be stressful and crazy-making. Planning three weddings at the same time? That’s insanity. While The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf embark on a nuptial excursion, Silver & Nick hold down the home fortress in New Orleans.
And as if everyone doesn’t have enough to deal with, the Voodoo King comes calling with a magic elixir that diminishes sexual inhibitions and an eerie quiet spreads across the French Quarter. Life as they know it may never be the same.
The threesome is forced to put off honeymoon bliss in order to banish the demons of their past, and embrace the uncertainty of the future.
Review:
REVIEW WILL BE POSTED LATER. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
Louisa Bacio enjoys soaking up the sun in Southern California, and spending time with her family.Bacio’s work includes the Sex University series, with her debut novel Physical Education and the follow-up All-Girls Academy. Her story “Two’s Company” can be found in I Kissed a Girl: A Virgin Lesbian Anthology. Other short stories can be found in the Seducing the Myth anthology, and Rekindled: An Anthology of Reunited Lovers.
In addition to writing and editing, Bacio teaches college courses in English, journalism, film studies and popular culture.
Drop in for a visit
Available via http://www.ravenousromance.com/ and
other Online retailers.
Guest Post by Louisa Bacio:
Paper vs. Plastic (eReader)
By Louisa Bacio
The division remains between paper vs. plastic (the eReader). It used to be that I was a hard-core paper lover. My home office shelves overfill with hardback, paperbacks, magazines galore. The first writing conferences I attended years ago, I carted home boxes of extra books … many of which then sat on my office floor unread.
Sigh.
When eReaders came on the market, my husband “encouraged” me to jump on as an early-adapter. He figured less clutter in the house. For the most, part, that’s proved true. Still, I come home from my monthly chapter meetings with OCCRWA with signed copies of the latest releases. Because at a chapter event, there really isn’t a way to purchase ebooks. Or is there?
I wonder. After going to the RT Conference earlier this year, and seeing the ebook signing with electronic copies sold via All Romance eBooks, it’s made me wonder. Maybe.
Still, there are those moments when only paperback will do. Like in that first 20 minutes of an airplane ride when electronic devices cannot be used. (I do hear that some airlines are considering changing that law.) Or on the beach or in the bathtub. If you drop your $6.99 romance in the bath water, you can usually let it dry out and pick up the crinkled reader. If it’s a $100 reader … you’re out of luck.
Then there are those authors like Stephen King, one of my absolute favorites, who releases in hardback first and then electronically a month later. If you’re a fan, you want it right away. The last time I carted around one of his 1,000-page novels – The Dome – I cursed him though. It was simply bulky and unmanly to lug. I swore that next time I’ll wait that extra period for convenience’s sake.
Notice how I haven’t talked environment yet. It’s one of those benefits that people usually list. For me, ultimately, it comes down to the story – I like a good book, and whether that’s paper or plastic doesn’t really make too much of a difference.
From one bibliophile to another – thank you for hosting me! I greatly appreciate it.
GIVEAWAY:
Tour Hosted by Bewitching Book Tours
Tour Review: Chains of Silver by Louisa Bacio
Title: Chains of Silver
Series: The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf #2
Author: Louisa Bacio
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance
Elements:
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Format: PDF,
ISBN:
Release Date: November 18, 2011
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Adopted at birth, Silver Ashe discovers her blood brother Trevor Pack is a werewolf, with a vampire and witch for lovers. All her teachings about the evils of the paranormal Others come into question. She runs to a family friend, Nick, for help.
Series: The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf #2
Author: Louisa Bacio
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance
Elements:
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Format: PDF,
ISBN:
Release Date: November 18, 2011
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Adopted at birth, Silver Ashe discovers her blood brother Trevor Pack is a werewolf, with a vampire and witch for lovers. All her teachings about the evils of the paranormal Others come into question. She runs to a family friend, Nick, for help.
Nick Stake takes his hobby as a vampire hunter personally. He strives to rid the world of evil bloodsuckers. When his best friend’s “kid” sister comes to him for advice, Nick discovers Silver’s more than grown up. He battles his growing desire for Silver and blindly holds true to his convictions.
Once Silver reaches her sexual maturity, she’ll inherit her full genetic heritage and turn into a werewolf. When death comes calling, Silver and Nick must face their darkest fears in order to break free from the chains that bind.
Review:
REVIEW WILL BE POSTED LATER. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
Book Trailer:
About this Author:
Louisa Bacio enjoys soaking up the sun in Southern California, and spending time with her family.Bacio’s work includes the Sex University series, with her debut novel Physical Education and the follow-up All-Girls Academy. Her story “Two’s Company” can be found in I Kissed a Girl: A Virgin Lesbian Anthology. Other short stories can be found in the Seducing the Myth anthology, and Rekindled: An Anthology of Reunited Lovers.
In addition to writing and editing, Bacio teaches college courses in English, journalism, film studies and popular culture.
Drop in for a visit
Tour Review: A New Orleans Threesome by Louisa Bacio
Series: The Vampire, The Witch, and The Werewolf #1
Author: Louisa Bacio
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Paranormal Romance, Erotic Romance
Elements:
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Format: PDF,
ISBN:
Release Date: April 7, 2011
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Haunted by paranormal abilities that she can’t control, and plagued by nightmares about a demon that seeks her soul, Lily Anima travels to New Orleans in search of salvation.
In
the French Quarter, Lily dives into the paranormal world and enlists the help
of an unlikely couple: a vampire, Lawrence Justice, and a werewolf, Trevor
Pack.
As
the trio encounters ghosts, voodoo and unspeakable evil, will Trevor and
Lawrence be able to help Lily turn her powers into a gift rather than a curse?
And when Lily discovers that she needs to lose her virginity in order to
embrace her powers and get the demon off her back, will the twosome be able to
survive as a threesome?
Review:
REVIEW WILL BE POSTED LATER. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
About this Author:
Louisa Bacio enjoys soaking up the sun in Southern California, and spending time with her family.Bacio’s work includes the Sex University series, with her debut novel Physical Education and the follow-up All-Girls Academy. Her story “Two’s Company” can be found in I Kissed a Girl: A Virgin Lesbian Anthology. Other short stories can be found in the Seducing the Myth anthology, and Rekindled: An Anthology of Reunited Lovers.
In addition to writing and editing, Bacio teaches college courses in English, journalism, film studies and popular culture.
Drop in for a visit
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Challenge Review: The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkest Powers Trilogy #3
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Young Adult Fiction
Elements: Necromancers, Werewolves, Sorcerers, Witches, Ghosts, Demons, Zombies
Publisher: Harper Teen, Harper Collins
Format: Hardcover, 391 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-06-166283-6
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: My name is Chloe Saunders. I'm fifteen, and I would love to be normal.
But normal is on thing I'm not.
For one thing, I'm having these feelings for a certain antisocial werewolf and his sweet-tempered brother--who just happens to be a sorcerer--but, between you and me, I'm leaning toward the werewolf.
Not normal.
My friends and I are also on the run from an evil corporation that wants to get rid of us--permanently.
Definitely not normal.
And finally, I'm a genetically altered necromancer who can raise the dead, rotting corpses and all, without even trying.
As far away from normal as it gets.
Review:
Now that Chloe and her friends are safe with Andrew and his rebel group things seem to be settling down. They have a warm place to stay and tutors to help them control their abilities, but there are dangerous secrets roaming the halls of the old house and unrest is forming among members of the rebel group. When a member of the group witnesses Chloe's true power, fear and greed lead to betrayal as Chloe and her friends are forced to run again.
When their enemies begin to close in from all sides, help comes from an unexpected but very welcome ally. Chloe knows that life on the run won't be easy and nothing will ever be close to normal again, but she's come to accept this life and the person she has become.
In the very first chapter Chloe has a visit from the ghost of a Volo half-demon who lures her to the roof with the promise of information on the experiments. It is later found out that he was the nephew of Todd Banks, the founder of the Genesis Project. Royce and his cousin, Austin, were the first subjects if the very first Genesis Project (yes, there was more than one wave of testing), but even more disturbing is that there are also the Icarus and Phoenix Projects. What those entail, no one knows, but it can't be good. But back to Royce. He is a very disturbing ghost and not very nice (i.e. using his Volo powers to pelt objects at Chloe), even when he was alive. He's probably one of the most powerful ghosts that Chloe has had to deal with so far, and he's very persistent, in a twisted way.
I found the members of the rebel group so infuriating. They used to work for the Edison Group at one time, so they should very well know what EG is capable of, but when Chloe tells them all that has happened to them, they chalk it all up to her overactive imagination. Margaret, the necromancer, annoyed me the most. She took Chloe to a cemetery! How stupid can you be to take a genetically altered necromancer, with unknown abilities, to a cemetery full of corpses? Chloe even warns her that all she basically has to do is step into a cemetery and bodies start rising. But it's not until the ground cracks open in earthquake-like proportions, the dead start moving and moaning, and the living begin screaming, that she believes Chloe tell the truth.
One good thing came from Margaret though. I had been wondering about Chloe's necklace, what its function is and the reason for its color change. The necklace is supposed to reduce a necromancer's glow. That is what the ghosts see and Chloe's is really (and I mean REALLY) bright. But when Chloe asks why it changed color (from ruby to sapphire to amethyst), Margaret blanches and just says something about superstition. So I'm still left wondering about the reasoning for the color change.
I loved how defensive Chloe becomes of Derek. Andrew voices his concerns about how "attached" Derek seems to Chloe and how it's different for Derek with his wolf instincts than it is for Chloe. Chloe realizes that they don't see Derek, they only see the werewolf. Chloe can relate to Derek very well and understands his position better than anyone. They both have powerful abilities that can be quite dangerous, and because of that people only see what they are and not who they are.
I felt kind of bad for Simon in this book. Simon and Chloe went on their first date, but when he kisses her at the end of the night, he realizes that there is someone else. It looks like Chloe was leading him on all this time, but she didn't even realize the truth of his words until that kiss. This creates a wedge between Simon, Chloe, and Derek for a little while. After Derek completes his first Change (yay!), Simon gives Chloe a drawing of her crouching beside a black wolf with her arms around its neck, and a message for Derek saying "It's okay." This makes me wonder if Simon had walked out to the woods unawares when Derek was Changing. How else could he have known what Derek looked like as a wolf? Seeing Derek and Chloe together during his Change would definitely show Simon the bond forming between the two of them. But I liked that he bowed out in typical sweet Simon fashion by giving the drawing and message.
Another message that Chloe received is after she freed the demi-demon Diriel. Diriel's master demon tells Chloe to "Grow up strong, little one. Strong and powerful." I can't wait to see just how strong and powerful Chloe will become.
Book Trailer:
"You're telling me you can raise the dead simply by summoning?"
"Yes."
"My God," she whispered, staring at me. "What have they done?"
Hearing her words and seeing her expression, I knew Derek had been right last night. I'd just done something worse than raising the dead--I'd confirmed her worst fears about us.
About this Author:
Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed. 
Tour Review: Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens (Giveaway)
Series: Ivy Granger #1
Author: E.J. Stevens
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Urban Fantasy Fiction
Elements: Psychic Abilities, Demons, Witches, Fae, Unicorns
Publisher: Sacred Oaks Press
Format: ARC, 145 Pages
ISBN: 9780984247585
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Source: Author {E.J. Stevens}
Rating:
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Some things are best left unseen...
Ivy Granger's second sight is finally giving her life purpose. Ivy and her best friend Jinx may not be raking in the dough, but their psychic detective agency pays the bills--most of the time. Their only worry is the boredom of a slow day and the occasional crazy client--until a demon walks through their door.
Demons are never a good sign...
A demon attorney representing the water fae? Stranger things have happened. And things are about to get very, very strange as a bloodthirsty nightmare hunts the city of Harborsmouth.
There's blood in the water...
Kelpies have a reputation for eating humans. Unfortunately, Kelpies are the clients. When an Unseelie faerie this evil stalks the waterways of your city, you have to make hard choices.
The lesser of two evils...
Review:
REVIEW WILL BE POSTED LATER TODAY. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.
Chapter 2: Excerpt
I sniffed the air and smelled a whiff of sulfur. Oh, Mab’s bloody bones! My hand snagged a crucifix off the desk and I started muttering the Lord’s Prayer. I may not follow any particular faith, but Kaye had taught me a trick or two. Ten to one odds my client wasn’t bothered by today’s intense heat.
Color me pixed—the guy sitting on the other side of my desk was a demon. My hand, the one holding the crucifix in a white-knuckled grip, was starting to shake.
“You seem to have some inkling as to my lineage, however I am not here for myself,” he said. “Hell has no interest in you…yet. I represent a client, someone very powerful who requires your special services.”
“You’re telling me that you’re some other dude’s lackey?” I asked. My hand steadied as I held the crucifix out before me.
“Attorney,” he said, shooting me a narrow eyed glare.
“Lower than a lackey then,” I said.
I was playing with fire, or brimstone. I should order the demon to leave, but there was something intriguing about his story. I couldn’t help becoming curious. Someone had made a deal with a devil, literally, to gain my services. I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or die of fright.
At least I knew my instincts were good—this was definitely going to be a long day and this really was a client from Hell.
About this Author:
Shadow Sight, the first novel in the Ivy Granger urban fantasy series, goes on sale in trade paperback and ebook editions July 24, 2012.
GIVEAWAY:
PART OF....
Monday, July 23, 2012
Tour Review: Twice Cursed by Jacqueline Paige
Author: Jacqueline Paige
Genre: Supernatural Fictions, Paranormal Romance
Elements: Witches
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Format: PDF, 265 Pages
ISBN: 978-1-60313-924-3
Release Date: February 2, 2011
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours}
Rating: 5/5
Tagline(s): ~NONE~
Summary: Maddy is the oldest witchling to ever attend the Hidden Cove Academy, having been cursed as a teen; she’s forced to have a solitary life outside of her own magical community. With her magic so dangerously unpredictable, she rarely takes the chance on mixing with the general public.
From one harmless trip to a museum she finds herself spellbound yet again by an invisible boundary, caused by a three hundred year old curse, dictating that Maddy must stay close to the stunningly sexy Colin.
Being stuck with a tall, dark, incredibly lick-able stranger can’t be all that bad, right? Until they discover if they get too close the spirits bound with the curse will take over their bodies ... at the same time if they’re too far from one another the curse will kill them both.
Will the curse's secrets be unravelled in time or does certain death await them both?
Review:
Maddy Darcy was the brightest student at Hidden Cove until she turned 15 years old and her mother passed onto the High Council. When her eyes changed color from green to turquoise, it was evident that someone placed a blocking curse on her powers, causing her to be the oldest witchling in the history of Hidden Cove. Now 27 years old, Maddy rarely ventures out in public for fear that her powers will cause harm to those around her.
When Maddy takes a rare trip to the museum to see an exhibit showcasing Scottish and Irish artifacts, she has a brief encounter with Colin Gregor when they are both viewing a Scottish quaich from the 1600's. Colin and Maddy go their separate ways, but Maddy feels a trace of magic from out of nowhere. Now Colin and Maddy can't be more than 60 feet from each other without intense stomach pains that get worse the farther apart they are.
It is discovered that Colin and Maddy are somehow tied to the Scottish vessel by a red aura indicating that the strongest emotions are involved in the curse. As time to find a way to break the curse dwindles and the future looks uncertain, one thing Maddy knows for sure: She's been twice cursed.
Forbidden starcrossed lovers, feuding families, and a curse of the past, all tie Maddy and Colin together now in the present. Robert MacGregor and Brenna Darcy--one from a Scottish clan, the other from an Irish clan--fell in love. But when their families found out, they were forbidden from seeing each other. Unwilling to part, Robert and Brenna ran away together. As their families chased after them, though, Robert and Brenna were killed in an accident, which then sparked a feud between the MacGregor and Darcy clans that lasted for over 60 years. In an attempt to bring peace to the clans, one of the MacGregor's placed a curse upon a quaich, stating that should a MacGregor and Darcy love each other and the bloodlines unite, peace will finally come to the clans.
I really don't think that Colin and Maddy find this curse very peaceful (and who uses a curse to bring peace?). Incredibly painful stomach pains assault them if they are too far apart and they start to "wither," but if they are too close the spirits of Robert and Brenna begin to take them over. Basically if they are too far apart they risk death, and if they are too close they risk possession. This is definitely not a peaceful way to bring about peace for their families. It doesn't hurt that Colin and Maddy were already attracted to each other before the curse took hold, so they aren't completely miserable being stuck with each other.
I loved the Scottish and Irish history and ancestry in Twice Cursed. These cultures are two of my very favorites and I love reading books that incorporate it in the story. I've always loved the richness of these culture's history and mythology, and though Twice Cursed focuses on ancestry, the richness still manages to show.
There were many great tension breakers that kept me laughing even after the last sentence. I loved Colin's reactions to the "dragon lady" Alice. The way she gets under his skin and cracks his carefully placed calm exterior is just too funny. And I can't forget to mention Sarabi's attempts at match-making. A huge black panther familiar trying to play cupid for a twice-cursed, 27 year old witchling and a gorgeous, shell-shocked science geek, is not something you see every day.
I was a little disappointed with the ending. Since Twice Cursed is a stand alone novel, I thought that the conclusion was too open-ended. It leaves the impression that there is more to come, and then leaves you disappointed that there isn't. I thought that an epilogue chapter was needed to tie up the book. Other than that, I liked that there was happiness for Colin and Maddy in the end.
About this Author:
Jacqueline Paige is a world class multi-tasker being a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and having a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance —with just a touch of suspense.
Jacqueline lives in Ontario, Canada and avoids the ever changing weather of the region she lives in by creating other worlds to fall into in her stories of all things paranormal.
Her first book was published in 2009 and since then has published ten. She is always writing and currently has more than a dozen stories in one stage or another of the writing process.
You can find all of Jacqueline’s books at: www.jacqpaige.webs.com
Excerpt:
“There is just no way to tell you this without you thinking I’m completely insane.” He sat there giving her a puzzled look. “Do you believe in magic, Colin?”
He smirked. “Like a magician?”
Maddy shook her head. “Um, no. Although a few that play at that game of illusions do have special abilities. I’m talking about magical people, who can do spectacular things...”
Colin smirked again. “Like witches?” He chuckled. “Are you an actress; is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
The kettle whistled. Maddy turned to pour it. “No, I’m not an actress. I’m a hereditary witch.” She fiddled with the tea bags, not wanting to turn around and see his expression.
“I see.” He really had no idea what to say to that.
She knew by his tone he was probably plotting on how to leave as soon as possible now. “I’m not sure you do. Have you ever seen someone do something that you just couldn’t ex-plain? Or thought you were seeing things?” She shrugged. “We’re really not supposed to use magic in the general public, but some do, at a terrible risk.” She glanced over to look at him. His look said it all: he thought she was a weirdo.
“Okay. Uh, so is there a reason for telling me this?” Why did the beautiful ones always have to have some sort of mental flaw?
Maddy turned from the cups and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes, actually I do.” She hesitated for a few seconds. “When we were leaving the museum I thought I felt a trace...that’s kind of a feeling you...my kind get when magic has been used close by or to you...”
“A trace?” He studied her for a moment. “Again, why are you...” He looked like he really wanted to give her a chance. Just in case she wasn’t insane.
She let out a quick breath. “I think something was done to us...the pains hitting, but then leaving just as quickly.”
Colin raised one eyebrow at her and crossed his arms. Now he probably just wanted to go home. “I’m sure there’s a much more...sane explanation for this.”
Sane? Of course he thought she was insane. How did she prove to him she wasn’t some lunatic?
PART OF....
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