Showing posts with label 2012/09. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012/09. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tour Review: Uniquely Unwelcome by Brandy Nacole

Title: Uniquely Unwelcome
Series: The Shadow World #1
Author: Brandy Nacole
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches
Publisher: CreateSpace
Format: PDF, 241 Pages
ISBN: 9781480257771
Release Date: September 19, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Reading Addiction Book Tours}
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback

Tagline(s): Being unique isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Summary: After searching all over the world for someone as unique as she is, Racquel finds herself back in her home town where she’s treated like a monster ready to kill. Racquel is one of the most unique beings ever created. Four of the most powerful beings in the Shadow World are intertwined within her, making up her unique DNA. But no matter how unique her bloodline is, she’s considered an outcast by the entire Shadow World.

Once arriving home, Racquel finds that greater evils exist and that the person she cares for most in this world, her half-sister Addie, has been kidnapped along with other Shadow World beings. Racquel finds herself facing horrible odds with those who would rather see her dead than alive.

As her journey continues, Racquel learns more about herself, what she is capable of, and that not every being looks at her as an abomination. Coy, a human captive that Racquel saves from the Vampires, starts showing kindness toward her. Racquel tries putting distance between her and the human boy but as they spend more time together it becomes harder and harder for Racquel to fight the affection she wants and needs.

But will Coy’s friendship and her new found discoveries be enough to help Racquel unravel the strangest mystery that has ever plagued the Shadow World?

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author:

Brandy Nacole resides in Arkansas where her imagination runs wild. Her obsession is reading but her passion is writing. She put her dream of becoming a writer on the back burner and went to college to become a psychologist. Three years after endless classes in a field she only felt half satisfied with, Brandy picked up her pen once again and wrote the outline to Uniquely Unwelcome. She finished out her degree in psychology but traded her dream of writing for the degree and put psychology on the back burner. Whenever she’s not reading or writing, Brandy is spending time with her family and friends, throwing around crazy ideas, and laughing through the crazy moments.

Author Links:

www.facebook.com/authorbrandynacole
www.brandynacole.blogspot.com
www.goodreads.com/BrandyNacole

Giveaways on the Author's site:

http://brandynacole.blogspot.com/p/giveaway_27.html
http://brandynacole.blogspot.com/p/kindle-fird-hd-giveaway.html


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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Challenge Review: Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 2 by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Darkest Powers Bonus Pack 2
Titles Included: Facing Facts, Belonging
Series: The Darkest Powers #3.5, #3.6
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Sorcerers, Werewolves, Necromancers, Witches, Ghosts
Setting Location: Unknown (they've gone incognito, remember?)
Publisher: Traverse Press
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B009H6XPV4
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Source: Amazon.com
Rating: 4/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): ~NONE~ 

Summary: In Facing Facts (a short story set after The Reckoning) Tori discovers who her father is, and Chloe deals with a vengeful ghost. Narrated by Chloe. This was previously published in Enthralled.

In Belonging (a novella set after The Reckoning) Derek's werewolf family comes to claim him. Narrated by Derek.

Review:

This Bonus Pack has a short story from Chloe's POV that was originally published in the Enthralled anthology, and a novella from Derek's POV. Both take place after The Reckoning. So we get to see how their life is after the series main story ended.

Facing Facts - Chloe's POV

In Facing Facts, it's been a month since they were reunited with Kit and Lauren. Kit feels this is the time to inform Tori that she's his biological daughter. She doesn't take the news well and storms out of the house. Chloe volunteers to talk to her, but Tori is hurt that Chloe suspected the truth a didn't say anything to her. That friends don't keep that kind of thing from each other. She runs away from Chloe, but Chloe gives chase. Tori runs toward the one place she knows Chloe can't follow her: an abandoned house.

Derek tracks Chloe to the mall where she saw Tori run, but it turns out that Tori really did go into the abandoned house and it was the ghost of her mother, Diane, that lead Chloe to the mall.

Diane is still trying to control Chloe and knows that she still feels guilty for killing her and then using her zombified body to kill Dr. Davidoff.

What I loved most about this short story was how Chloe stood up to Diane, declaring that she will not be controlled and that she's not going to feel guilty anymore for killing her, because it had to be done and Chloe wouldn't want anyone else to shoulder the guilt that came with it. Then she gives Diane a big mental shove, sending her back to the other side. That moment was just really awesome and I liked seeing how strong Chloe's becoming.

Belonging - Derek's POV

In Belonging, we learn that Derek really is Zachary Cain's son and the Cain clan intends to claim Derek as he should have been when he was young. But their motives aren't all for Derek's benefit. They've been told how smart Derek is and how fast he is coming into his powers. If the Cain's have Derek, it would make them a serious threat to the Pack.

Back at the escapee camp, Derek and Chloe's three month anniversary is coming up! Chloe's off at the mall with Tori and Derek is feeling the anxiety of not being there to watch over her. And his anxiety isn't unwarranted this time, Carter Cain is moving in on Chloe!

Once a week, Derek and Chloe go into the woods so he can work on Changing on command. While he's trying to Change, Derek thinks back to the first time Chloe stayed with him when he first started Changing behind Lyle House. It was the first time he saw someone he could imagine as a friend, besides Simon. Now, though he's Changed around others before, it's never as comfortable as it is when it's only him and Chloe. Derek manages to Change, but it's during their hide and seek game that the Cains make their move.

In this novella we see how strong Derek and Chloe's relationship has become. I loved how Chloe didn't let the Cains take Derek without following them back to where they were staying. The only backup she had was Liz, and she's a ghost, although a pretty dangerous one. Derek and Chloe will do anything to protect each other. I was worried for a bit that Derek would want to stay with the Cains, but I was relieved to be wrong. I loved the anniversary gift Derek got for Chloe, although it was kind of disappointing that we weren't told what she got for him.

What I like about both Facing Facts and Belonging is that they take place after the end of the main story. We get to see what's going on with everyone after they escape together. I can only hope that Kelley Armstrong chooses to write novellas like these for the Darkness Rising series too.

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.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.







 
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Friday, January 4, 2013

Tour Review: The Vampire's Hope by Danica Winters (Giveaway)

Title: The Vampire's Hope
Author: Danica Winters
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Vampires, Immortals
Publisher: Books To Go Now
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B0099917I2
Release Date: September 10, 2012
Source: Tour Host {FMB Book Tours}
Rating: 4.5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): Is there a place for hope in the world?

Summary: Ellie Smith, an emotionally stunted dancer, finds more than she bargains for after her human life is taken by the vampire, Master Liam. Once inside the Vampire’s underground lair, the Keres Den, she meets Ian, an immortal Viking warrior, who is infiltrating the soulless prison.

As Ellie begins her training, she learns that the dark tunnels around her are filled with even darker secrets. As the truth of her existence come to light, she is faced with a choice—does she let her past dictate her future, or can she begins to feel again?

Short Review:

I loved The Vampire's Hope. It was very sweet and I loved the concept of the story. It would be great if there were more to Ellie and Ian's story.

About this Author:

Danica Winters is an Amazon best-selling romance author based in Montana. She is known for writing award-winning books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Montana Romance Writers, and Greater Seattle Romance Writers. She is a contributor to magazines, websites, and news organizations. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, the outdoors, and the bliss brought by the printed word.



GIVEAWAY: 

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Tour Review: The Burning of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel (Excerpt+Giveaway)

Title: The Burning of Isobel Key
Author: Jen McConnel
Genre: New Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements:
Publisher: BrightFish Press
Format: PDF, 286 Pages
ISBN: 9780615684680
Release Date: September 14, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Reading Addiction Book Tours}
Rating: 

Purchase Here: Kindle // Paperback

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Lou is in the middle of a quarter-life crisis. Ever since college, she’s lacked direction, working as a clerk in a local bookstore. But when she quits her job just before the winter holidays, Lou must do some serious soul searching to overcome her fears of straying from the mainstream. On a whim, she accompanies her best friend, Tammy, to Scotland for the winter holidays, but the vacation soon turns into an emotional roller coaster.

When she becomes embroiled in a hunt for information about Isobel Key, a woman falsely accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century, Lou opens up to her intuition and makes a startling discovery about her own heritage.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

Excerpt:

As the flames rose, Isobel stopped cursing and instead started to make a shrill, screaming whine, much like the sound of the sap boiling in the logs at her feet.  It was so eerie, so utterly un-human that even the executioner, a man long seasoned to the sounds of death, wanted to cover his ears and sob into the skirt of the nearest woman. 
     The sound carried from the village green, through the streets and wynds, penetrating the windows and doors shut tight against the execution.  It was as if not attending could erase the sin of allowing it to happen in the first place.  No one who heard that sound could reconcile it with the once melodious voice of the burning woman.  The evil thing at the stake was not a woman they remembered or recognized.
     Their memories were as short as the day, from the morning after her terrible deeds were revealed and the witch was brought into town bound in the back of a pony cart.  It was suddenly as if none of the villagers knew the poor creature at all.  None could recall seeking her help, and none would avow that she had always been kind and ready to bake breads for town feasts or to watch the little ones play while their parents danced together.  Kindness lingers less than murder, for it was obvious to all that the woman had murdered at least three souls, if not countless others.  Justice was being served, and her blood would not stain the god fearing hands in St. Andrews.  She was not their responsibility, and they wanted to take no claim for her evil.

About this Author:

Jen McConnel first began writing poetry as a child. Since then, her words have appeared in a variety of magazines and journals, including Sagewoman, PanGaia, and The Storyteller (where she won the people’s choice 3rd place award for her poem, “Luna”).

She is also an active reviewer for Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and proud member of SCBWI, NCWN, and SCWW.

A Michigander by birth, she now lives and writes in the beautiful state of North Carolina. When she isn't crafting worlds of fiction, she teaches writing composition at a community college. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time.

Follow Jen on Twitter @ProDeaWriter

GIVEAWAY:
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Monday, December 17, 2012

Tour Review: High Above by Mari Freeman (Giveaway)

Title: High Above
Series: Out of the Ash #1
Author: Mari Freeman
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction
Elements: Dragons
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Format: PDF, 78 Pages
ASIN: B004SIRLPW
Release Date: September 5, 2012
Source: Tour Host {FMB Book Tours}
Rating: 4.5/5

Purchase Here: Kindle

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Dragons annihilated civilization some ten generations ago. A few Crossbreeds, humans born with dragon-like characteristics, now lead opposing tribes who still battle for dwindling resources.

Rhone’s wings have been stripped from his body, his family killed, and his hopes of leading the Mountain people away from the constant threat of marauders destroyed.

Ketta’s life has been full of pain and anguish. Her brother rules her and the Lax tribe with a bloody fist. Tired of the violence, Ketta takes a stand and rescues Rhone from the brink of execution.

Armed with knowledge from Ketta’s somewhat addled grandfather, the unlikely pair embarks on a quest to heal Rhone’s wings. Along the way, the couple struggles to find the truth beneath hatred and lies. Desire and a mutual enemy bring them together; mistrust and secrets tear them apart. These lifelong foes will have to fly high above their differences to defeat a deadly dragon and save what’s left of both their tribes.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

Excerpt: 

She was right. He could barely fight a strong all-human in his current condition. But waking a dragon? Really? He sank to his knees. She knelt in front of him, her expression much softer, like a mythical creature from a long ago dream. It wasn’t a premeditated decision, but he leaned forward, closing the space between them and brushed his lips across hers. She rocked back slightly, her ears turned forward; her gorgeous eyes concentrated on him.

He took her lips again, ensuring the contact was more than a light brush. She responded, closing the distance between them. His skin tingled when she put her hands on his shoulders. Rhone cradled her face, turning her head at a slight angle that gave him the most exposure to her. 

They didn’t have time for desire. But, he might never have another chance to touch her. He wanted to feel her satiny skin, to savor her sweetness for just a moment. Her lips parted for him, and he explored her mouth. She tasted like the freshest water. His body reacted immediately to her unusual, primitive smell. 

She pulled away and backed to the other side of the truck, shaking her head. “You must decide.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. 

Ketta put a hand up. “It’s natural. My scent calls to males. That’s why Nyx kept me separated from everyone.” 

“It’s not just your scent.” He saw more in her than a breeding partner. But, that didn’t really matter either.

She scowled. “You have to decide now, Rhone. There’s no time. Will you give your people, both our tribes, a chance?” 

By listening to the princess of the enemy tribe and waking a dragon? He couldn’t believe he was even considering it. “What am I supposed to do with the dragon once she’s awake? We’ve not considered that, have we?”

About this Author:

Life Changes. Mine sure has. I’m an exotic adventurer disguised as a normal suburbanite in central North Carolina.

My favorite things include: cats, great food, exercise, wine, great movies and books.

In my previous lives, I’ve held an interesting array of occupations. I’ve been a project manager, used cars salesperson, a software testing manager, pumped gas at a truck stop and I worked in a morgue. I hold a degree in Forensic Anthropology from THE Ohio State University.

My favorite stories include alpha females in love with even more alpha males. I find the clash of passionate, strong willed personalities fascinating. I write contemporary, paranormal, and a little science fiction/fantasy.

Website | Twitter: @marifreeman | Facebook


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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Tour Review: Derailed by Alyssa Rose Ivy (Giveaway)

Title: Derailed
Series: Clayton Falls #1
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: New Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
Format: PDF (ARC), 199 Pages
ISBN: 9781479209132
Release Date: September 23, 2012
Source: Author {Alyssa Rose Ivy}
Rating:

Tagline(s): When you're lost, sometimes the only place you can go is home.

Summary: Broken over the death of her fiancé, Molly leaves law school to return to her childhood home in North Carolina. Expecting to lay low until she can figure out what else to do with her life, Molly finds herself in the arms of her high school sweetheart Ben, the boy who represents everything from the past she tried to leave behind.

Looking for an escape, what she finds is a way back to the girl she almost forgot existed and a future she never dreamed possible.

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

Book Trailer:



About this Author:

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Alyssa Rose Ivy | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Links to find/buy the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Derailed-Clayton-Falls-ebook/dp/B009FNE37O
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/derailed-alyssa-rose-ivy/1113006766
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15755372-derailed


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Friday, November 23, 2012

Tour Review: Summer in Salem by Brina Courtney (Giveaway)

Title: Summer in Salem
Series: Electi #1
Author: Brina Courtney
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements:
Publisher: Laurelis Press
Format: PDF, Pages 
ISBN:
Release Date: September 2012
Source: Tour Host {SupaGurl Book Tours} 
Rating:

Tagline(s): Teagen’s summer has been turned upside down by a body, a pentagram necklace, and an old flame.

Summary: Nine months ago, Teagan Matthews' boyfriend disappeared and took her sense of stability with him. But when the opportunity to live with her aging grandmother in Salem arises, she decides it's time to get on with her life. A new home, new job and new friends are adding up to a beautiful summer...

...until a young girl's body shows up one night in town, wearing a necklace exactly like Teagan's.

Now a guy looking remarkably like her missing boyfriend has arrived in Salem along with a mysterious stranger who may have some answers that Teagan has desperately been searching for. Teagan must now decide who to trust. It's a matter of life... and her death.


Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15779561-summer-in-salem

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author:

Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs. 

Author Links: 

Twitter - https://twitter.com/BrinaCourtney
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5295520.Brina_Courtney
Blog : http://www.brinacourtney.com/
Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/Brina-Courtney/e/B0073X9KRQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


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Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Tour Review: A Practical Arrangement by Nadja Notariani (Giveaway)

Title: A Practical Arrangement
Author: Nadja Notariani
Genre: Historial Romance
Publisher: Nadja Notariani
Format: PDF, Pages 
ASIN: B0096DXERS
Release Date: September 6, 2012
Source: Tour Host {FMB Book Tours} 
Rating: 4.5/5


Tagline(s): Practical plans go awry when prim sensibilities unwittingly capture the heart of a scandalous seducer.

Summary: Miss Evangeline Grey, intelligent and sensible, has no desire to marry, her reluctance born from the dire warnings of her overly emotional mother. Her father has other ideas, however, and decrees that unless she weds by the spring, he will choose a husband for her.

Prim and proper Evangeline accepts her father's issue with little more than mild alarm. Knowing herself plain of face and sharp of tongue, she believes herself capable of warding off any perspective suitor. Her plan goes awry when the scandalous seducer, Mr. Thomas Masterson, visits her family's home, for Thomas has learned that he must procure a wife to receive his full inheritance.

When he discovers Evangeline's predicament matches his own, Thomas determines to orchestrate a practical arrangement. A war of wit and word results, and Thomas finds himself ever more beguiled by the soft heart he discovers under Miss Grey's stern, inhibited exterior. Patiently, he endeavors to gain her respect and awaken her passions. As tenuous trust blooms between the rake and the reluctant, unfortunate events – and Thomas' past reputation – threaten to destroy the peace and happiness he has found within the bonds of his Practical Arrangement.

Short Review:

I loved this book! The chemistry between Thomas and Evangeline was multidimensional. At times it was sweet, at others it was hilarious, and then scorching. The deviousness of Thomas's uncle and Evangeline's father was great. It makes you wonder if it was their scheming that eventually got Thomas and Evangeline together, or if it was just the two of them drawn together. I really did not like Evangeline's mother. She almost ruined everything with her emotional outbursts that left scars on Evangeline growing up. Then there is the jealous ex-lover of Thomas's. She uses deception and blackmail to get what she wants--namely Thomas--and almost destroys his marriage with Evangeline. But loveable Aunt Dorcas straightened everything out. This story is so multifaceted, there is something for everyone.

Excerpt: 

Evangeline felt sorry for Melody in a small way, her mother as well. They had no defense, no antidote to counter the forceful emotions stirred in them. She counted herself lucky to have been spared their burden.

In good time Melody and their mother returned, tea arriving directly afterward, and while glad to see them she couldn't deny sorrow over her lost solitude.

“Oh, they both are such handsome men, Melody. And wealthy enough, too.”

“Mr. Lane is, by far, more handsome with his light hair and eyes,” Melody admired openly.

They really are too silly! Infatuated girls, you'd think!

“What say you, Evangeline?” Melody challenged brightly. “Which gentleman do you prefer?”

Pursing her lips, Evangeline took a deep breath.

Of all the fiddle-faddle! Preferring gentlemen! 

“I don't prefer either of them, nor any other for that matter.”

But as usual, Providence gave her no quarter, choosing the moment of her sister's question to spring said gentlemen into the sitting room. All eyes landed upon her, her father grinning in a most amused way. Evangeline flushed, a deep burn rising under her skin. Thomas Masterson made his greetings, and as the others conversed around the tea cart he neared, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips.

“I'd take you at your word, Miss Grey, but your pretty blush suggests perhaps you do harbor a preference.” His eyes simmered, locked intently on hers.

Oh! What did he mean by saying that?

She found herself squirming under that gaze of his – and appalled – stilled immediately. Gathering herself, she answered. “Never confuse indifference with deceit, Mr. Masterson.”

Still, he did not look away, surprising her.

About this Author:

Nadja Notariani was born in Rochester, Pennsylvania. Her upbringing included very diverse environments, affording wide and varied richness of ethnic and religious tradition. Raised in both an Italian/Mediterranean American home and a traditional German household, Nadja gleaned the unique benefits of viewing the world through two widely different lenses.

Nadja resides in Northeastern Pennsylvania, ever embracing new adventures with her husband, three sons, and faithful German Shepherd. She also boasts two daughters, who have flown the nest to pursue their own adventures.

Within her titles, readers can find romance and adventure, from contemporary to paranormal to historical, always with a happily-ever-after. Nadja enjoys hearing from readers and can be found at her website, on Facebook, Goodreads, and at Romance Novel Center. Readers are welcome to contact her via email.

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.


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Monday, November 19, 2012

Tour Review: Allegiance by K.A. Tucker (Giveaway)


Title: Allegiance
Series: Casual Enchantment #3
Author: K.A. Tucker
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatural Fiction
Elements:
Publisher: Papoti Books
Format: PDF, Pages 
ISBN: 9780986915598
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Source: Tour Host {SupaGurl Book Tours} 
Rating:

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Evangeline finally got what she longed for – the cursed pendant off her neck and Caden in her arms - only it has come at a steep price. An unknown poison now courses through her body, slowly morphing her into something no one but the Fates can foresee. She has her suspicions though...and, if she is right, it will spell certain ruin for her and Caden. She won’t last long enough to realize that though, if Viggo and Mortimer uncover the treasonous secrets she keeps from them– that Veronique is now free of her entombment and in the torturous clutches of the Witches and the Sentinel or that she is protecting a Sentinel within their very midst.
 

Always the naive human caught in the midst of the vampires’ web of deceit, Evangeline is now weaving her own dangerous web in order to keep her friend alive, rescue Veronique, and stop a seemingly inevitable war from starting. But can her honourable nature handle the depths of duplicity for which she must go to be in league with the Vampires?
 

Dark and gripping, full of angst-riddled scenes, Allegiance will have readers anxiously turning pages to find out if Evangeline can survive this spiralling disaster.

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13493241-allegiance

Anathema is FREE: Kindle // Nook

Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 12PM.

About this Author: 

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Author Links:

Website : http://www.katuckerbooks.com/
Blog : http://www.katucker.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4866520.K_A_Tucker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleenatucker
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/K.A.-Tucker/e/B00539O6SK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Tour Review: Hypnotist by Virginia Nelson (Giveaway)


Title: Hypnotist
Series: The Edge
Author: Virginia Nelson
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Format: PDF, 20 Pages 
ISBN: 9781613333716
Release Date: September 7, 2012
Source: Tour Host {FMB Book Tours} 
Rating: 3.5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Who knew quitting could be so hot?

Carnie Sabatina wants to quit smoking, but is a hypnotist really the answer? Enter Doctor McSexy and a trip down the rabbit hole that not only breaks her bad habit, but sets her passion on fire.

Is it tempting fate to take control?

Michael Schommer’s love life crashed and burned when his ex dumped him for his best friend. Is it too much to ask for a woman who wants to share more with him than a quick roll between the sheets?

Enter Patient McHottie, whose bad habits open a Pandora’s box of secret cravings for the hypnotist and the patient...

Burning up...

One hypnotic suggestion sends them up in flames, but will temptation and passion be enough to turn their parlor tricks into happily ever after?


Review:

Carnie wants to quit smoking, so at her mother's suggestion, she goes to see a hypnotist. Mike just wants to find someone he can love and be loved by. Neither of them expected the passion unleashed by a simple hypnotic suggestion for Carnie to follow her instincts and take a chance to find the love they both want.

Virginia Nelson has done an amazing job creating a short story with characters that are as full of depth as those of a full length novel. Both Carnie and Mike are looking to find someone to love and be loved. They just never expected it to be with each other. This makes them very easy to relate to. Doesn't everyone want to find the very same thing? But the fact that Hypnotist is only a short novella with such an in-depth story and characters is what makes this book so great. 

Hypnotist my be a part of The Edge series, but with this book, unlike some of the others, I felt that there was more emphasis on what Carnie and Mike were searching for that on their late night rendezvous. 

Hypnotist was such a great, quick read. I really wish there were more to their story. Hypnotist would make a great prequel to a series, or even a stand alone novel.


Excerpt:

As her eyelids fluttered open, a refreshed sense of peace and energy washed over her, as if she hadn’t stayed up past three a.m. then got back up at six that morning to meet a deadline.

No, not just refreshed and energized.

Impassioned.

Flicking a glance at the man next to her, so calm and cool, she knew what she wanted.

I want him to burn like I do.

Never having experienced that kind of immediate need for someone before, she was at a loss. She normally followed her impulses but….

I dare.

He smiled at her, and it was weighted with exhaustion. He came across like a nice guy. A really nice guy.

She wanted to see him be a naughty guy.

Practicing powers of seduction she didn’t even know she had, she adjusted herself on the couch.

“Look, I am sorry that the hypnotism didn’t work on me. I mean, you gave it a shot.” She tossed her hair back, wondering for a moment how it had come down.

His lips curled slowly up. “Thanks for that.”

“Mmm. I could reward you for giving it a shot, anyway.”

His brows dropped. “Huh?”

One of her hands dropped to his thigh, on the couch next to her, and she caressed the tight denim. “I mean, you tried. The least I can do is give you a kiss….”  

About this Author: 

Virginia Nelson spends her days chasing three very active kids around.  When she is not doing this, or plotting taking over the world, she likes to write, play in the mud, drive far too fast and scream at inanimate objects.  She can often be found listening to music that is far too loud and typing her next fantastic tale of blood, sex and random acts of ineptitude.  Romance, in Ms. Nelson’s opinion, is not about riding off into the sunset on the back of a horse with the knight in shining armor— it is about riding the dragon.  If the knight can keep up… well, that is love.

 

GIVEAWAY: 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

PART OF....

Monday, October 29, 2012

Tour Review: Resisting Velocity by Trinity Evans and Xoe Xanders


Title: Resisting Velocity
Series: High Velocity #1
Author(s): Trinity Evans, Xoe Xanders
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: Elysium Fields, LLC
Format: PDF, 116 Pages
ASIN: B009DB2VOU
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Bewitching Book Tours} 
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~
 
Summary: As frontman of up-and-coming rock band, High Velocity, werewolf Zane Alexander has everything a man could want: Fame, fortune, friendship, and a pack to call home. Well, almost everything. Despite being able to take his pick of pretty much any woman, he wants the one girl he can’t have—the one girl who’s eluded his every advance.

Charlie Banks has always had a thing for Zane, but being the band’s head of security, she knows firsthand just the sort of guy he is. She’s determined not to become just another notch on his bedpost, but if doesn’t stop the want for a mate curling in her gut. It’ll happen, someday—it just won’t be Zane. She’s decided that it’s time to leave High Velocity, to find a nice little home and settle down to live the rest of her life, away from sexy smiles and ripped bodies of rock stars.

But when someone threatens Zane’s life, she’s the only one he wants to protect him. Except, Zane has a hidden agenda. One that involves claiming Charlie as his mate, once and for all.

Short Review:

I don't usually read a lot of books with rock band or musicians. There has to be something other than the music and band that pulls me in. So when I read that the members of High Velocity were werewolves, I was intrigued. Add in a crazed stalker and the story is golden. I mean, what's a rock band without some crazy fan stalking them? But  it quickly turns deadly as gun shots ring out. I also really liked the tug-of-war on the heartstrings between Zane and Charlie. Resisting Velocity definitely kept my heart pounding, in more ways than one.

EXCERPT:

Breathing in short, sharp breaths, Zane followed her through the winding corridors of the Richter Stadium, past the women’s bathrooms and down a flight of stairs. He held his breath for a moment as he slid through the remaining security crew. His golden eyes zeroed in on the whipcord lean beauty, a few dark curls coiling down from the sensible bun she always wore it in.  

She stopped, hesitating right outside the doors. Two more steps and he’d lose her to the nightlife, his identity keeping him from following her any farther. If fans saw him, his life would become a hurricane of screams and groping hands. He wasn’t in the mood to put on his usual charming-playboy air to deal with them and he knew that going furry on their asses would damage his career.

Now or never. As she stepped out, he lurched forward, his pulse pounding furiously at his throat, and he crossed the floor in three strides. His fingers curled around her shoulders, firm and commanding, though he knew she hated it when he pulled the alpha role. She spun and her lips formed a thin line, as if she’d been expecting this. She’d known. You couldn’t really lie to pack and get away with it.

“Charlie.” The one word was all he could say before her eyes pinned him. They were pale as a sheet of blue ice, staring up at him with a gentle ferocity that she’d only ever reserved for him. He had no doubts that she wanted him—he’d smelled it on her in the past, saw the way she looked at him sometimes, as if she was seeing through to his soul—but she was wary. Guarded. The walls around her heart were made of marble and he was left pounding both fists against the cool stone. 

“You can’t leave.” His words were a statement. A fact. 

“I can and I am,” she replied coolly. 

“What about the guys? What about High Velocity? You’re just going to throw it all away?” He was surprised at the intensity behind his words, but he was far from done. “Are we not paying you enough? There’s always ways around that. How much will it take?”

She blew out a harsh expel of air and glanced down at his hand clamped around her arm, but she didn’t bother to pull away. Her winter gaze met his molten gold once more. “I’ve made my decision, Zane. You need to respect it. There comes a time in everyone’s career where they have to make a choice and take a stand. This is it. I’ve put in my notice, I’ve followed protocol. There shouldn’t be a problem.”

A growl slid up his throat, escaping with a rumble. “I don’t give a damn about protocol. You could flash your tits to the crowd if you wanted and we still wouldn’t fire you. I don’t care. You’re part of our group. And, like it or not, you’re part of the pack. My pack.”

“You and I both know that I’ve never really been part of the pack.” Her voice carried a touch of wistfulness. She was right—she’d always been a bit of a loner, keeping herself estranged from the members of Elysium, try as his parents might to welcome her in. But she’d never been distant with Zane and the guys and he wasn’t about to let that happen. Not now. 

“You’re staying.” 

She lifted a brow. “Since when are you my master?”

“Since you started talking crazy shit about leaving us!” He tamped his anger back down. He never had a temper. What was up with him? He took a deep breath, letting it whistle out his nose as he tried to soften his posture, tried to be less demanding. “We need you. Okay? I respect your decision to quit, but you don’t have to skip town and leave us. Just stay.” Please… 

Her smile was tight. She shook her head slowly, like he just didn’t get it, and pulled free of his grasp. “Goodbye, Zane.” 

His mind spun, thoughts bouncing off the walls of his head as he tried to scrape ideas together in a last-minute rush. He needed more time. He needed a damn good reason for her to stay, but damn it, he couldn’t think! She turned around, agonizingly slow, and he could see the muscles in her back through the crispness of her suit.

“Charlie. One last night.” His voice was soft, a plea in the undercurrent that he cursed himself for exposing. She stopped and he moved forward until his chest was pressed against her back, one arm wrapping around her waist. He pulled her against him, her body cupping his perfectly, like it was made for him. 

She stiffened, but he didn’t let her go. His arm snug around her, he rubbed his chin lightly across the back of her neck, letting the stubble scrape gently against her skin. He murmured in her ear, using the sexiest voice he could muster. His beautiful-girl voice. “Go for a run with me. Tonight. One run.” 

He’d figure something out between then and now. He’d get her back.

About these Authors:
Trinity Evans is an upbeat, slightly off-color author with a wild imagination and a taste for the eclectic. Born and raised in a small-town Americana, she loves the lighter and fluffier side of life with some paranormal spice thrown in. She definitely enjoys the more comical side of relationships. She adores hearing from fans and you can find her at trinityevans.wordpress.com.

Xoe Xanders is a quirky small-town punk princess whose ideas range from dark and dangerous to light and fluffy. She enjoys writing in the vein of paranormal, fantasy, and soft sci-fi, all of it with a romantic edge. She believes that love is love—no matter what gender, race, or color—and writes both straight and LBGT romance. Wanna stalk her? You can find her site at xoexanders.wordpress.com

Trinity Evans Web/Blog: http://trinityevans.wordpress.com/
Xoe Xanders Web/Blog: http://xoexanders.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @xoexanders


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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Tour Review: When Copper Suns Fall by KaSonndra Leigh (Guest Post+Giveaway)

Title: When Copper Suns Fall
Series: The Lost Immortals #1
Author: KaSonndra Leight
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Supernatrual Fiction, Dystopian Fiction
Elements: Angels
Publisher: TriGate Press
Format: Kindle Edition
ISBN: 9781479339273
Release Date: September 11, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Reading Addiction Book Tours} 
Rating: 5/5

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: It has been fifty-five years since the angels of the Apocalyptic War attempted to wipe out humanity. Now a new nation has been built where alchemy is forbidden, and angels fear for their lives as they hide among the mortals.

The city’s leaders share one view on the ancestors of angels: shoot first, no questions.

When her twin brother falls into a strange coma, sixteen-year-old Chela Prizeon vows to discover her role among these exiles, the royal angels known as the Lost Immortals.

Chela’s only hope lies with the mysterious, but infuriating leader of a rebel group. But can she trust this boy, someone who can control her dreams and her heart?

Escape into a world filled with celestial creatures, fascinating villainy, high-stake choices, and forbidden romance.


Review: 

When Copper Suns Fall takes place in a world that was destroyed when two groups of angels waged war against each other. 55 years after the Tidal Years, in the year 2067, humans have rebuilt, but the angel-bloods, descendants of the angels, have to hide who they are, because any angel-blood and those associated with them are immediately executed.

Although believed to have been extinct since the end of the war, the Caduceans and the Tainteds still war against each other, and one sixteen-year-old girl, Chela Prizeon, is caught in the middle. What is her role in this battle? And will she be able to realize her true power and strength to save those she loves?

This dystopian tale isn't like the rest I've read. I'm used to zombies, demons, and vampires causing the mayhem, not angels. So I really liked this new take on the end of the world as we know it.

Chela reminded me a lot of Dawn in the Darkness Before Dawn series. She's really quite mature for a sixteen-year-old. I loved how even when something completely terrified her, she faced it head on. Chela has a pretty huge responsibility she needs to shoulder as the Epiclesium, a descendant of the First Order of Seraphim. I also loved how determined Chela was to helping her twin brother, Micah. Her love and devotion are admirable.

This world and Chela's life is built on a mountain of secrets. All of the secrets floating around and half-truths really annoy Chela to no end. She doesn't know who she can really trust. These secrets and revelations are what keep readers on their toes. There will be something hinted at earlier in the book and then the revelation, whether true or not, jumps out at you unexpectedly. These secrets were one of my favorite things about this book. I was kept intrigued and wanting more.

There is quite a bit that happens in When Copper Suns Fall and it would be impossible to talk about them all without giving something away, but one thing I can't leave out is the love triangle. Or maybe I should call it the love/hate triangle. And of course Chela is caught in the middle of this too. Guy #1 is Faris, a Caducean demon slayer and Chela's Protector. Guy #2 is Seth, a Tainted masquerading as a Thoughtmaster. Now this is where the love/hate part comes in. I'm not sure I can say that Seth loves Chela, what they have is a little unclear. But Chela definitely loves Faris and he seems so be returning the love, although he hesitates. I'd definitely pick Faris over Seth, but there is something about Seth that is very intriguing. It'll be interesting to see where this triangle ends up.

With everything that happened in When Copper Suns Fall, all the secrets revealed and the ones still in the shadows, I'm really excited to see what happens next.


About this Author:

KaSonndra Leigh was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She now lives in the City of Alchemy and Medicine, North Carolina. She likes to write about people doing fantastical things in magical worlds. Her two sons have made her promise to write a boy book next.

She holds the MFA in creative writing, and loves to play CLUE, Monopoly (the Indiana Jones version), and Pandora's Box (good writer's block therapy). She lives in an L-shaped house with a garden dedicated to her grandmother. It has a secret library complete with fairies, Venetian plastered walls, and a desk made out of clear blue glass.

Twitter: @kasonndraleigh

Guest Post by KaSonndra Leigh:

The Indie Author Survival Guide by KaSonndra Leigh

Hello Everyone,

First I want to say a big thanks to my bloggerly host for having such a cool blog and inviting me here today. What you’re doing for indie authors is a great thing. We heart you forever. Big Smile.  Today I want to talk about the journey of the indie author. Mine is kind of just beginning; but I’m still happy to share a few things I’ve learned along the way. Mind you the presentation of these tips is just the result of my experience. It’s not meant to be an actual recipe for success as an independent author. What is working for me, may not necessarily work for the next person and vice versa.

“So how’s the book going?”

That’s one of the most frequent questions I’m asked. It’s also one of the hardest things to summarize in a concrete answer. For an indie author working with a small press, I'd say my sales have been respectable. No, I’m not at the Amanda Hocking or John Locke level, just yet. But I do have a group of fans & readers that are loyal and encouraging. After all, it’s our readers that make us who we are. Oh yeah! And the bloggers. Never forget to mention the bloggers and all of the hard work they do. I’m a part-time blogger so I know how it goes.

In the journey’s early stages, you can measure your road to success on several factors. Or at least, these are some of the indicators I’ve found that many of my indie author friends use to measure the effectiveness of their branding.

1) Traffic increase to your author website:  In the beginning, when I first published kasonndraleigh.com (1/2009), I used to pray for one hit per week. Don’t be laughing at me, now. I’d check every day to see if anyone had visited. My twitter account was the same scenario. I think like four followers would trickle in one week at a time. Today, I get almost 8000 hits/month and counting. My twitter popularity rank is at #300,000 versus #30million like the way it was two years ago.

2) Number & quality of members joining your platform:  Platform differs according to your genre and classification. Non-fiction writers tend to be more inclined to measure that success on public image. But fiction writers are a totally different gang. The way you present yourself to your readers varies and there’s no set indicator for what makes up a good platform in fiction. So we’ll go with the basics. I consider my platform to consist of Twitter, facebook, goodreads, my book blog, and my writing groups. In those I actually meet with live bodies and do readings and critiques in person.

3) Number of people adding your book "to-read" on Goodreads: I have to mention how it was for me in the beginning of this journey again. I was practically begging for friends. But now, I get almost 20 requests per week on GR alone. These people are telling me they've heard good things about my works from their friends. It's a bit overwhelming but very flattering. Thanks everyone.

4) Sales:  Yes, I put this indicator at the bottom of the list for a reason. When you're an indie, it's all about marketing your debut novel during that first year. Find a way to keep your book in front of people during the period where you're working on your second and third books. Or even better, if you can start out with 2-3 books then your readers have instant options right away. Others have found success this way and I do believe it works.

I also notice that the more I promote, the more copies get gobbled up. Being that we indie authors/small presses are in a minority group so to speak, we have to push harder to get our names out there. Some things that are working for me, might not necessarily work for others. But I'm willing to share my tips and help my fellow indie friends out. Participating in blog tours, giveaways, and hops is also another good way to get your books out there before and during your book launch. If you have any more questions about how virtual tours work, I'll be happy to answer them.

5) Fan Clubs.  The last strategy but by no means the least important one. They work…big time. If you have any doubts, then know that a group of die-hard fans started the Twilight group on MySpace. Cassie Clare’s fan club known as Mundie Moms started on twitter before they branched out into their own review site. And the Hush Hush club known as Fallen Archangel friended me on facebook years ago. Now they have people overloading their facebook feed wanting to get in the club.

These are just a few tips. I didn’t go into reviews and speaking engagements. I’d like to save those for part two of this post since they could take up numerous pages alone. I hope that you find these tips and pointers helpful in some way. And I wish you much success in all of your literary journeys.

Yours in Prose,

KaSonndra Leigh

Official Author website:  http://www.kasonndraleigh.com
Twitter:  (I tweet A LOT) http://twitter.com/kasonndraleigh
Lost Immortals Facebook: http://facebook.com/kasonndraleighbooks
Hacienda Moon facebook page: http://facebook.com/kasonndraleighbookspage
Hacienda Moon on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/alestasia/hacienda-moon/
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13038786-hacienda-moon

GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

PART OF....

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Tour Review: My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron


Title: My Favorite Mistake
Author: Chelsea M. Cameron
Genre: New Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Chelsea M. Cameron
Format: PDF, 196 Pages 
ISBN: 9781478322306
Release Date: September 29, 2012
Source: Tour Host {SupaGurl Book Tours} 
Rating: 

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Taylor Caldwell can't decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.

On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome, blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he's a tattooed, guitar-playing bundle of bad boy. Maybe that's why Taylor's afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn't want to get burned, and even though her other roommates adore him, she wants him gone before it's too late.

Hunter himself has been been burned before, but the fact that Taylor calls him out on his crap and has the sexiest laugh ever make him decide maybe love isn't a lost cause. They make a bet: if she can convince him she truly loves or hates him, he'll leave the apartment--and leave her alone. The problem is, the more time they spend together, the less she hates him, and the more she moves toward love.

But when the man who holds the key to Taylor's fear of giving up her heart resurfaces and threatens to wreck everything, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.


Review:

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED AFTER 10AM.

About this Author:

Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA writer from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

She has two books out now, Nocturnal and Nightmare, the first and second books in the Noctalis Chronicles about a girl with a dying mother who meets an immortal boy. The third book, Numb will be out this August, and the fourth in the winter. Her other book, Whisper, about a girl who is alive, a boy who isn't and the complications that go along with their relationship, released June 16 and is the first in a trilogy. Follow her on Twitter: @chel_c_cam, her blog, or on Facebook.

Author Links:

Blog: http://www.leftandwrite7.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @chel_c_cam
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chelsea-M-Cameron-Official-Author-Page/304422529610919
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752359.Chelsea_M_Cameron

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