August 22, 2013

Blog Tour Post/Book Reviews: Battle for Souls series by Ciara Knight

at 8/22/2013 01:08:00 AM 3 comments

Alexander Lorre gives new meaning to the term “tormented teen.” He’s a newly fallen angel, which means he has the self-control of a three-year-old, the hormones of a teenager and the strength of an angel. When he rescues Gaby Moore from drowning, the chemistry between them is undeniable. With a local demon threatening Gaby’s life, he struggles to find a balance between remaining close enough to protect her but distant enough to control his desires.

As danger draws closer, Gaby uncovers shattering secrets that will lead to an ultimate choice. Will she fight alongside her father, an earthbound hunter killing fallen angels and demons, give into the demon blood coursing through her veins and join the demon world, or save the man she loves from both? The first two choices damn her, but the last one could destroy them all.
This book was had some parameters that I like in my stories. There were twists and turns in the plot, which were fantastic. A boy and a girl meet and steadily fall for each other. :) I love that! So this story stars Gaby, whose mother had recently passed away in a car crash. She lives with her father who has a mysterious and dangerous government job that uproots them constantly. Gaby is pretty much a latchkey kid. Her father works too much and seems like he's also a part-time alcoholic. Gaby goes for a swim to clear her thoughts and gets a little too close to touchy-feely seaweed. She gets caught and almost drowns until lo and behold a really attractive boy rescues her. His name is Alexander and he is accompanied with his sister Sammy. They are not the everyday brother-sister duo. They are actually fallen angels who are tasked with the job of protecting Gaby, but who has plans to hurt her?

Gaby has drawn the interest of a demon named Forras, who is in guide of the typical high school jock. Nothing is as it seems and you can't trust anybody! Gaby and Alexander become closer throughout the book and their attraction for on another builds up. But everything is not all sunshine and roses. We get a background on Gaby's relationship with her father. From all accounts, he's shady about his job and is a little too friendly with Jack Daniels. He constantly uproots Gaby and moves them some place else. This seriously dampers a girl's social skills, not to mention the fact that she's never been to a public school!

I loved getting to know all of these characters. Even Gaby’s father, who I disliked from the very beginning. He comes off as an absentee parent who isn't really present for his own daughter’s life, but he does have some character development by the end of the book. I am definitely excited to see what happens in the next book and what trials come up to shake up Alexander and Gaby's relationship. It's not every day you find out there are real life angels and demons among us, but the fact that you’re dating one?!?! Not to mention the fact that your best friend is of the supernatural persuasion and your dad has been keeping a huge secret from you! Oh, the drama of a teenaged girl's life!

Gaby Moore’s powers emerge years too early due to adolescent hormones, complications with loving a fallen angel, and constant demon attacks. She is forced to deal with the guilt of believing she murdered Alexander’s “mother,” while trying to stop the demonic war before it begins. Only the love and acceptance of friends, family, and her beloved Alexander could save her from turning to her demonic side.
This is the second book in the series and it was just as good as the first! Gaby and Alexander's relationship is still budding despite the events of book one. Her powers are getting stronger each day and with this comes hope to stop a war of demonic proportions from happening. This is a lot to put on a girl's plate, especially a teenaged girl. The cast of characters continue to grow, but in a realistically relate-able way. There's moments in the book that make you wonder where Alexander and Gaby's relationship is going or if they'll even last through the war that shows no signs of stopping.

Gaby Moore fails to stop a demonic war which released condemned ancient angels and Lucifer’s minions to Earth. When all hope is lost, Herak, an Ancient sentenced to eternal solitude for starting the first demonic war, pledges to save the world. But is he really reformed and ready to fight, or will he betray Gaby and Alexander forcing them to sacrifice their love and each other to save the world?
So as you can already see, Gaby fails to stop the war from happening and schtuff is about the hit the fan! Gaby has been training harder and harder, but it wasn't enough. Then some guy, Herak, shows up and pledges to save the world. Herak is an Ancient angel, who started the first demonic war. Who can you really trust in a world where demons roam free and in disguise? Honestly, I was surprised things turned out the way that they did. In plotlines like this, the heroine usually saves the day with an emotionally heavy price to pay. That didn't happen in this book. Gaby literally fails to do what she's been training to do. Now, she's scrambling to figure out some way to protect the world from the aftermath of the war and how to protect her loved ones from getting in the crossfire. Lives are lost and alliances are formed, but was it worth all of the heartbreak? The conclusion was satisfying and just right for the pace of the plot.

**NOTE** The author is giving away an ebook copy of all three books. Enter below.


Book Links




About the Author

Ciara Knight writes to ‘Defy the Dark’ with her fantasy and paranormal books.  Her debut novel, The Curse of Gremdon, was released to acclaimed reviews, securing a Night Owl Top Pick and five stars from the Paranormal Romance Guild. Also, released in 2012 is her young adult series, Battle for Souls. Book I, Rise From Darkness, won July Book of the Month at Long and Short Reviews.

When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.

Author Links


August 20, 2013

Release Day Blitz: Glitter and Gunfire by Cynthia Eden

at 8/20/2013 12:30:00 AM 0 comments

He was assigned to protect her not make her his own in this installment of USA TODAY bestselling author Cynthia Eden's Shadow Agents series. 
Cale Lane had his orders: keep Cassidy Sherridan alive at all costs. But who sent six armed men storming the Rio ballroom to take her out? The gorgeous party girl wasn't giving it up. Now he had a more urgent mission: uncover Cassidy's secrets one by one. 
Cassidy didn't need the former Texas ranger to play hero and blow her cover. Using herself as bait was the first step in bringing a killer to justice. How could she do that with Cale shadowing her every move and awakening feelings that tempted her to put her life and heart on the line?

Book Links








Author’s Bio & Picture



USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.
Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings.  She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.
(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people).  Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

Author Links



August 19, 2013

Promo Post: Rosewood Falls by Melanie Macek

at 8/19/2013 11:30:00 PM 0 comments
 **Book 1; Available NOW**
Lily Foster married right out of college. After three wonderful years of marriage, her dreams are shattered by an impulsive decision. Unable to forgive, she immediately files for divorce and hasn’t seen her ex-husband since. Now her friend Flora Magnus is getting married, with Lily as her maid of honor. The privilege turns into a nightmare when she finds out her ex is the best man. Can she survive a week of wedding preparations with Joe’s presence as a constant reminder of what she lost?Joe Foster accepts the duties of best man for his long-time friend Bryson Mitchell knowing it could cause the maid of honor to bolt. Joe hopes he can get Lily to at least talk to him during the week they’ll be together. For three years he’s longed for a change to just talk to her. When he finally discovers the full reason why she left, will he be able to convince her to give their relationship another shot? Or has his honor been tarnished beyond repair?

**Book 2,  Available NOW**
Iris Sharpe is a Charleston born Southern belle filled with poise and grace now living in Denver. Her mother wants her to move home and marry into an established southern family. Iris only has eyes for Thorne, the man who causes her poise and grace to disappear whenever he comes within ten feet of her. The man who would fulfill all her dreams if she could just stop spilling her drinks on him and literally falling into his lap. Flora’s wedding might be her last chance to show him she really can be the woman of his dreams. Thorne Hamilton can’t wait to spend the week with his friends and enjoy their company and celebrate Bryson’s wedding. He’s also secretly anxious to see what Iris will do next. The guys constantly rib him about his cleaning bills, but truthfully he likes the attention Iris gives him even if is at the expense of his wardrobe. Immersed in wedding preparation, not only does Iris practically ignore him throughout the week, she doesn't spill or drop anything on him. Thorne realizes he not only misses her attention, he wants more from her. He wants the whole package.

**Book 3, Available NOW**
Finding a man has never been a problem for Heather Baker. Smart and beautiful, her friends tell her she should have been a lawyer instead of a Hollywood set designer. Determined to have fun at Flora and Bryson’s wedding, she’s set her sights on Colum Murray. They’ve flirted for years, but one or the other never seemed available for a weekend fling. But what Heather expects and what she gets are two totally different things. She fears she could fall for Colum, something she never intended.Arriving for his friend Bryson’s wedding, Colum Murray knows he’ll be fending off the advances of Heather. Which is something any sane, single man would tell him was a stupid idea. Colum doesn’t want to be just another notch in Heather’s belt, he wants to be more. Instead of being just another man to her, he sets out to show her how it feels to be courted. When he decides to ramp up the heat between them without removing a stitch of clothing, Colum’s plan just might backfire on him.



**Book 4, Available September 24th**
Flower girl and ring bearer duties bring Sam and Daisy’s children together. Sam’s had a thing for Daisy since they met. Can Daisy let go of her fears long enough to realize Sam just might be the one she’s been looking for?
 **Book 5, Available October 22nd**
Family and friends witnessed her devastating humiliation, including Evan, the man she secretly loved. After the debacle of her failed engagement, Aster decides she’s done with men. Evan, however, has other plans. Will she take one more chance on love?
**Book 6, Available November 19th**
Flora and Bryson’s wedding is the perfect opportunity for Flora to help mend her friend’s broken hearts. While she’s busy working out their love lives, she feels hers is crumbling. Bryson is too perfect, too caring, too loving. Everything a woman looks for but she’s unable to fulfill all his dreams. Bryson has felt the underlying tension for months. Flora won’t talk about it until he received information from an unlikely source.

*~*~*~GIVEAWAY~*~*~*
a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the Author

Melanie has been writing in some form or another as long as she can remember. From songs to plays (a bad one) to poetry (not her forte) to romance, the urge to write has always been there. She read her first romance book at the age of 13 and hasn’t looked back. A voracious reader, Melanie has been making an effort to expand her reading horizons, thanks to forced college papers. Other genres have captured her imagination, but Romance will always hold her heart.
A native Californian desert rat, Melanie has lived over half of her life on the Texas Gulf Coast. Braving mosquitoes, humidity, and the occasional voluntary hurricane evacuation, she and her husband and their two 4-legged children – who have their own page on the blog – spend time with family, friends, and planning their next travel adventure. She writes in most of her spare time and always makes sure to take a pen and paper with her just about everywhere she goes.

Author Links

August 15, 2013

Cover Reveal Blitz: Seven Years by Dannika Dark

at 8/15/2013 02:44:00 AM 0 comments

“Seven Years”
(The Seven Series #1)

Seven years ago, my world ended.
Seven years later, my new life began.
 It's been seven years since Lexi Knight lost her brother in a tragic accident. On the anniversary of his death, her brother's best friend shows up unexpectedly - a man she hasn't seen since the funeral. He is no longer the boy Lexi once knew, but a dangerous-looking man with tattoos and dark secrets. He broke her trust and abandoned her family, yet what he reveals makes it impossible to stay angry. Lexi has been secretly infatuated with Austin since childhood, so finding out he's a Shifter just makes him sexier. Dammit.
 Austin Cole has returned to the city where he grew up, and just in time. He's lived a hard life these past seven years, and the shadows of his past are threatening to destroy Lexi's family. It's time that she learned the truth about her brother, but there is a shocking twist that Austin never saw coming. Now he must protect her family when her mother and sister wind up in mortal danger. Will Lexi learn to accept the truth about who he is, and can Austin salvage a relationship from the ruins of their past?

Book Links


 ~*~Excerpt~*~

The closer I snuggled up to Austin, the more I craved that cozy familiarity—more than I would have cared to admit. I’d missed him. How do you not miss someone who was a huge chunk of your childhood and young-adult life who disappeared off the face of the earth? Almost every memory I had from kindergarten to age twenty involved Austin Cole.
The next thing I knew, my cheek rested on his bicep and I tucked my body against his like a puzzle piece. Just when I closed my heavy eyelids, he groaned.
Oh God, please don’t let him wake up now.
It was deep and guttural, and he shifted on his right side, facing me.
“You okay?” he murmured.
I didn’t reply. I played dead and pretended I was asleep. It seemed like a good plan to avoid the embarrassment of explaining why I was latched on to him like a man-sucking leech.
A rough, warm hand cupped my cheek and I felt him scoot down a little. Maybe he thought I had fallen asleep, because his thumb brushed over my right eyelid softly.
Five times. I counted.
When his lips lightly touched mine, my brain just shut down. It was a soft, almost nonexistent kiss, but I felt it all the way down to my toes. Then it zinged back up to my hips and damn if I didn’t moan.
Now we were both aware I wasn’t asleep and he was kissing me. But it didn’t stop. His kiss pressed a little bit harder and tingles roared through my body, and my breath was shaky and erratic.
When his tongue touched my lip, I quickly opened my mouth and kissed him back.
Hard.
Deep.
Kissed him like I’d fantasized about doing for the last seven years.


~*~About the Author~*~


This is the segment where you learn a little more about who I am, so here's what I can tell you:  I drink copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to my laptop while writing. These are two healthy habits I have no intention of breaking. I'm a transplant living in the south, but I was born in the 70's to a military dad who moved us around the world.

When I'm not writing (which is all the time), I'm hunting down Indie music, watching movies, reading, eating Tex-Mex, discovering new ways to humiliate myself bowling, and burning up my laptop battery on the Internet. I have a relaxed, easy-going personality and don't like drama. I live with a cat who thinks she is a dog, or a goat (she eats plastic, so I'm not sure which).

Throughout my life, I've had insomnia. Counting sheep never worked and eventually I would imagine those sheep were the sole source of food after an apocalyptic battle where only thousands survived. I made up stories in a futile attempt to bore myself to sleep. The problem was, I got so wrapped up in my "head stories" that I would continue them through the following nights, changing it up each time to make it more exciting. Eventually, I started writing my ideas down - creating short stories, and then I discovered my love for poetry.

It's almost embarrassing how many spiral notebooks and stacks of paper I have of poetry and lyrics. 

Another passion: digital art. I design all my book covers, marketing, and series art. I'm a very visual person and pursued photography as an avid hobby for many years. 

I am not a YA author (I feel like I have to state this only because I've had a few people ask), but I think it's wonderful there are so many books available to teens in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal.  

I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do: giving my characters a pulse through writing full time. I focus on adult urban fantasy romance, but I don't like labels and I enjoy blending genres to break out of the confines of predictability.

But it's what I love to do.

Danni 

Author Links


August 14, 2013

Cover Reveal: GREED by Fisher Amelie

at 8/14/2013 07:57:00 PM 0 comments

Gather ‘round, love, because I want you. I want what you have, I want what you don’t have, I want more of what I already have. I want. But if you so much as ask for something in return, go ahead and walk away. Know if you want to play in my world, it’s every man for themselves and the weak become mine. Leeches will be obliterated because I make it my job to destroy them. I protect what’s mine and I take what’s yours...because that’s what I do. I want.
My story will not endear me to you and, frankly, I could care less if it does because I’m in this for the money and nothing else. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a corrupt, money hungry, immoral asshole from Los Angeles. I’m every man’s worst nightmare and every girl’s fantasy.
I’m Spencer Blackwell...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most coveted guy to the guy no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.


ABOUT VAIN (Book 1 in the Seven Deadly Series):


If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.
Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you. I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.
I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.


Lisa here! Whenever I hear of a series that is focused on the seven deadly sins, I am always interested in how the author out their own spin on the Seven. I have heard great things about Fisher so definitely check out her books and I shall post my own review soon. 

About Fisher Amelie

Fisher Amelie is the author of The Leaving Series, Callum & Harper and Thomas & January. She began her writing career as a copywriter for an internet marketing company wherein one of their client's said, 'Hey! You're funny. You should write books'. Which in turn she said, 'Hey, get out of here! This is the lady's restroom.' While washing her hands and the embarrassment from her face, she thought they may have had a valid point. So, she took the thousands of hours of writing stories growing up, tucked them into her pocket and began writing and writing and writing.

August 6, 2013

Release Day Euphoria/Book Review: Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

at 8/06/2013 12:05:00 AM 0 comments
Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she’s already seen a lifetime’s worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.Merit and her allies rush to figure out who’s behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there’s any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.

Yay!!!!! it's official! Biting Bad is out in print and ebook. If you haven't already pre-ordered your copy yet, click the links below to do so. I also want to congratulate the winners of my Biting Bad givaway, Deanna S. and Jacqueline E. Congrats ladies! So, since the events of House Rules (book 7), things have been quiet. At a time like that, you're just waiting for the other shoe to drop and you know that our girl Merit will be there to defend her House. 

~*~*~*~WARNING! SPOILERS ABOUND! DO NOT HIGHLIGHT UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW DETAILS. spoilers are in white~*~*~*~~*

Biting Bad starts off with a spar session between Merit and her oh-so-yummy Master/lover, Ethan Sullivan. Of course the members of Cadogan House had to watch the sparring session to see who beats who. In the crowd are Catcher Bell, Merit's friend and mentor, and Jonah of House Grey, who also happens to be Merit's Red Guard partner. Since being rescued by Cadogan House, the head of the GP has remained quiet and everyone is on red alert to see what they might possibly dish out as punishment for breaking away from the GP.

Merit goes off and meets up with Mallory, who has been working with Gabriel Keene, pack master of the North American Central Pack to control her magic. I am happy that Mallory and Merit have started taking steps to rebuild the relationship that they had before Mallory went all psycho-power crazy with dark magic. Things are going well when the trouble starts. Rioters are throwing Molotov cocktails at a BLOOD4YOU factory, set it ablaze, while chanting 'Clean Chicago'. The rioters began expanding and picking on people who they perceived as vampire lovers; with the suspicious intent to beat the crap out of you despite your answer. That's the scary thing with rioters. During a riot, rioters feel that they could get away with anything. To add even GREATER insult to injury, the rioters beat on Merit's car, smashing windows and making dents on the frame. Oh! Poor baby!

Gathering her wits and getting the hell out the range of danger, Merit and Mallory head back to Little Red, where Gabriel gave Merit a loaner car to drive home, since her Volvo was so beat up. There's a particular reason why he let her borrow the specific Mercedes-Benz car and it has to do with Ethan and a dead gangster, but I won't elaborate any further. ;) One shoe has dropped, but not to worry! There are other plotlines that are explored. Namely the GP and their political fight for dominance against Cadogan House. I honestly thought there would be some leniency toward Cadogan House since they did form a rescue mission to get Darius West and Lakshmi Rao back from the assassin, hired by none other than McKetrick, the hatemonger with a serious vendetta against vampires

Later on in the book, we finally learn where McKetrick's deep-seated hatred for vamps comes from and as tragic as it was, I have no pity for this man. Moving on, we also get the meet the Merit family, with their assorted spouses. Merit and Ethan go to dinner at the Merit house and by house I mean fancy digs. The dinner scene brings a different perspective of the Merit family. From previous books, the Merits came off as elitist and were not accepting of anything that disrupted their way of life and reputation in society. They still came off as elitist, but not so much. Mr. Merit Sr. still has the need to distance himself from his poor upbringing by putting on a show of a fancy dinner; even though it's just a family dinner.

Merit, along with her friends investigate the perpetrator of the firebombings at the factory as well as the other vampire friendly places that were attacked. There's more to the story than meets the eye and Merit is just the girl to piece it together. Friendships are rebuilt, lives are lost and the fight for their livelihood is at hand! I give this book a rating of...... 5 stars!

There's action, romance, humor, and plenty of emotions to go around. Biting Bad is a wonderful addition to the series and Chloe Neill does it again! I absolutely can't wait to read the next book, Wild Things. Visit Chloe's website and sign up to her newsletter to get news about what she's been up to and to learn more about this awesome author!



Barnes and Noble

~*~*~About the Author~*~*~


photo by Dana Damewood

Chloe Neill is the New York Times bestselling author of the Chicagoland Vampires series and was born and raised in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Neill now makes her home in the Midwest with her husband, Jeremy Dixon, a photographer and IT guru, and their two dogs, Baxter and Scout.

Neill studied art in college and she had big plans to move to New York to become an artist until she took her first political science class--she was hooked! Chloe Neill went on to earn two more degrees, both a BA and an MA, in Political Science and has a full-time office job with long hours but somehow manages to find the time to write wonderful novels.

Chloe Neill began writing novels in 2004 after reading every Paranormal, Urban Fantasy and Romance series she could find. After sending a query letter directly to Penguin, Editor Jessica Wade read it, breathlessly requested a full manuscript, and a dew short weeks later was able to make Chloe a deal. This book was to become Some Girls Bite, the first book in Chloe Neill's New York Times bestselling Chicagoland Vampires series.

While writing the Chicagoland Vampires series, Chloe Neill also wrote a series for Young adult readers about a boarding school for teens with paranormal abilities in Chicago called the Dark Elite series. When not working or writing, Chloe Neill enjoys graphic design, web design, baking, travel, visiting Chicago, playing with her dogs and learning how to use her Nikon camera. 

To learn more about Chloe and the stories she weaves, visit her website.

 

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