Monday, December 12, 2016

BOOK BLAST! Nice Guys Bite by Jennifer Estep

I'm really excited today!  Nice Guys Bite hits e-readers everywhere.  Unfortunately, I do not have a review for you yet as it will be hitting my kindle at the same time this post hits my blog, but I am sure - like all of Gin's exploits - this read will be action and sarcasm packed!




NICE GUYS BITE takes place after the events of UNRAVELED (#15). It is told from the point of view of Silvio Sanchez, Gin’s personal assistant. Working for Gin Blanco (aka the Spider, the assassin who runs the Ashland underworld) doesn’t leave much time for romance, especially with Gin’s holiday party planning in full swing. But when he catches the eye of a charming gentleman, Silvio finds himself going out for coffee. All’s fair in love and war, though. Just as Silvio is starting to enjoy himself, he realizes he’s being watched. His nice-guy date doesn’t sense the danger, and Silvio wants to keep it that way (and, well, keep the guy alive) so Silvio ends the date early—only to be abducted by some villainous giants. Will Silvio survive the night and make it back to the Pork Pit in time for Gin’s holiday party? Only if he decks the hall with bodies …

Book info:
Title: NICE GUYS BITE (Elemental Assassin #15.5)
Format: e-novella
Author: Jennifer Estep

Purchase links:
Giveaway!
Jennifer has a $20 Amazon gift card giveaway for this book blast! Giveaway runs Dec. 12 - 19.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




About Jennifer Estep:
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. Unwanted, e-novella #14.5 in the series, will be released on July 18. Unraveled, book #15, will be released on Aug. 30.
Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. She is also the author of the Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series and the Bigtime paranormal romance series.
For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on FacebookGoodreads, and Twitter.

 

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Bound (The Nevermore Trilogy Anniversary Edition #2) by Shannon Mayer

Bound (The Nevermore Trilogy, #2)Bound by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book continues the story begun in Sundered. There are hard truths to be accepted, and hard choices to be made. The new reality does not allow for the weak or weak of heart to survive. Forced to leave their home, Mara & Sebastian must try to navigate their new reality and decide which is more dangerous - the humans who "rescued" them... or the Nevermores. Can Mara become "monster" enough to survive? Can they get back to the few allies they had managed to cultivate?

Reading this series pulls the reader into the world that Mara & Sebastian are trying to live in. You are worried/afraid/sad/jubilant when they are. Not all authors are good enough t their trade to involve you in their characters lives, but Shannon manages to do it time after time.

A cross between Resident Evil and Titanic this series would appeal to those who are looking for love and all it is capable of in times of extreme duress.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Sundered (The Nevermore Trilogy Anniversary Edition #1) by Shannon Mayer

Sundered (The Nevermore Trilogy, #1)Sundered by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mara & Sebastian bring us into a world that could be today... in Canada... that becomes a nightmare overnight. A young couple who seemingly have it all... except the child Mara so desperately wants. When a seeming "miracle" drug appears that should end their fertility issues Mara jumps at the chance to use it - only to learn she's allergic to the primary component. And, then things start to unravel...

Shannon is a true wordsmith, and I adore her ability to create worlds that let you "live" with the characters in her stories. I had not read the original trilogy before so I can't compare this revision to the original, but I can say that this series is worth a read.

Unlike her other series - Rylee Adamson & The Elemental - this series is not a genre I would normally read on my own. I feel this series would appeal to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic and/or zombie stories . While this series doesn't truly deal with zombies the creatures are similar enough that they have that type of feeling/read.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti

Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome, #2)Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The world Rebecca has crafted in the Scorpius Syndrome series is high-octane... action, adventure, sex, and intrigue are all at the forefront of these stories. Larger than life alpha males and the brilliant, strong women who bring them to heel.

Raze - a mysterious man whom no one is truly sure is 100% on their side - is driven to protect Vinnie from the first moment he lays eyes on her, but is his protection self-driven or is there something else behind his interest?

Vinnie - a brilliant woman made all the more brilliant by Scorpius - is pulled inexplicably toward Raze despite her reservations about his motivations. Wanted by many, but treasured by one, can she overlook split loyalties to see what lies beneath Raze's rough exterior?

Theses stories will suck you in, wring you out, and leave you wanting more! The characters are well-developed. The world they live in is brilliantly crafted. Overall this series screams MOVIE! Don't wait - read this now!

**I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from NetGalley.**

View all my reviews

Friday, November 25, 2016

Second Annual Swaggiest Swag Event!








USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Faith Hunter was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. The Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock, is dark urban fantasy, and comprises Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death’s Rival, Blood Trade, Black Arts, Broken Soul, and Dark Heir, with more novels under contract. Her Rogue Mage novels, a dark urban fantasy / post apocalyptic series—Bloodring, Seraphs, and Host—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic, alternate reality, urban fantasy world. These novels are the basis for the role playing game, Rogue Mage. The Soulwood Trilogy, composing Blood of The Earth, Wound in The Earth, and one other (untitled) novel, will feature Nell Nicholson Ingram, a spin-off character of the Jane Yellowrock/Skinwalker series. Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 33+ books and compilations in print in 30 countries. Hunter fell in love with reading in fifth grade, and best loved Si-Fi, fantasy, and Gothic. She decided to become a writer in high school, when a teacher told her she had talent. Now, she writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their dogs to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.



Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.
ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN SERIES Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed theSpider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.
BLACK BLADE YOUNG ADULT URBAN FANTASY SERIES Jennifer is also the author of the Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series. The series focuses on Lila Merriweather, a 17-year-old thief who lives in Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia, a town dubbed “the most magical place in America.” Tourists come from around the world to tour all the magic-themed shops and attractions, as well as see monsters like tree trolls, copper crushers, and more in their natural habitats. Lila does her best to stay off the grid and avoid the Families — or mobs — who control the town. But when she saves a member of the powerful Sinclair Family, Lila finds herself caught in the middle of a brewing war between the Sinclairs and the Draconis, the most powerful Family in town.
MYTHOS ACADEMY YOUNG ADULT URBAN FANTASY SERIES Jennifer is also the author of the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.
BIGTIME PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES Jennifer is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. The Bigtime books feature sexy superheroes, evil ubervillains, and smart, sassy gals.

VISIT JENNIFER’S WEBSITE – Excerpts, free short stories, and more information on Jennifer’s books can be found at http://www.jenniferestep.com.


Gail Z. Martin is the author of the new epic fantasy Reign of Ash (Orbit Books 2014) and Deadly Curiosities, a new urban fantasy novel (July 2014 Solaris Books), set in Charleston, SC. She is also author of Ice Forged in The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, War of Shadows (Orbit Books, 2015), and Iron and Blood, a Steampunk novel (2015, Solaris Books) which will be co-authored with her husband, Larry N. Martin. She is the author of The Chronicles of The Necromancer series (The Summoner, The Blood King, Dark Haven & Dark Lady’s Chosen) from Solaris Books and The Fallen Kings Cycle (The Sworn and The Dread) from Orbit Books. She writes two series of ebook short stories: The Jonmarc Vahanian Adventures and the Deadly Curiosities Adventures. Gail’s work will appear in at several new anthologies in 2014: Clockwork Universe Steampunk vs. Aliens, Athena’s Daughters, Dreams of Steel 5, The Big Bad 2, Dance Like a Monkey, plus an illustrated story in Icarus: A Graphic Novel, Heroes (stretch goal author) the British Fantasy Society’s Unexpected Journeys and With Great Power, a superhero anthology. Other US/UK anthologies include Magic (Solaris), The Bitten Word, Rum & Runestones, Spells & Swashbucklers, and The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women. Find her at www.ChroniclesOfTheNecromancer.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and GhostInTheMachinePodcast.com. She leads monthly conversations on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin and posts free excerpts of her work on Wattpad http://wattpad.com/GailZMartin.

 Official photo for Laura Anne Gilman Photo © Elsa M. Ruiz

Laura Anne Gilman is the author of the popular Cosa Nostradamus urban fantasy series of novels and novellas, and the Nebula award-nominated The Vineart War trilogy. Her newest project is the Devil’s West series from Saga / Simon & Schuster, beginning with 2015’s Locus-bestseller SILVER ON THE ROAD, and continuing with THE COLD EYE. SILVER ON THE ROAD is nominated for the Endeavor Award. She has also dipped her pen into the mystery field as well, writing as L.A. Kornetsky (Collared, Fixed, Doghouse, and Clawed). A member of the writers’ digital co-op Book View Cafe, she continues to write and sell short fiction in a variety of genres, most recently appearing in the anthologies Genius Loci and Temporally Out of Order. Her short story collection DARKLY HUMAN is coming out next month.

Giveaway!  Click here to go to LTP's blog for thr Rafflecopter that could win you one of two GREAT book prizes from these authors!

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Kalifus Rising by Alane Adams

Kalifus Rising (Legends of Orkney, #2)Kalifus Rising by Alane Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kalifus Rising is a story that blends modern day with Norse mythology is a truly unique way for middle grade readers - and adults who like Norse mythology alike. When Sam is returned to Orkney his friends get pulled back too, and the adventure is on. Can Sam survive his coming trails and come out stronger? Or, will he succumb to the darkness within and doom the world?

I enjoyed the telling of the tale despite not having read the first book in the series. And, would strongly recommend to any younger readers who enjoy tales like Percy Jackson.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Goodnight, Batcave by Dave Croatto

Goodnight BatcaveGoodnight Batcave by Dave Croatto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A terrific satirical take on the classic Goodnight Moon that will have adults snickering and kids delighted. My nephews would love a copy!

*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from NetGalley.

View all my reviews

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Curse on the Land (Blog Tour) by Faith Hunter


About CURSE ON THE LAND:
Before Nell Ingram met skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, she had no one to rely on, finding strength only in her arcane connection to the dark woods around her. But now she has friends in the newly formed PsyLED team to keep her grounded — even if being part of the agency responsible for policing paranormals comes with dangers of its own…

After training at the PsyLED academy, Nell returns home to her woods to find the land feeling sick and restless. And that sickness is spreading. With the help of her team, under the leadership of agent Rick LaFleur, Nell tries to determine the cause. But nothing can prepare them for the evil that awaits: an entity that feeds on death itself. And it wants more….



My Review
Ever wonder what would happen if the LAND were to become sentient?  Well, Nell and her team are about to find out...

Nell is fresh back from PsyLED training at "Spook School", and her PsyLED team has been called in on a case because geese were found who appear to have been spelled.  So far no one has been able to find a cause for the disturbing actions of the geese, and as they start dying a herd of deer are found miles away with hauntingly similar issues.  Because of her particular abilities Nell was specifically requested to work the case, and in working it - is in a type of danger few paranormals would face.  Who caused this issue, and how do they fix it?

But, not only is her professional life putting her in danger - Brother Ephriam is raising issues from beyond the grave in Soulwood and on Church property thereby making life difficult for her on all fronts.

Faith has managed to pen another spell-binding tale with action, magic, and mystery.  The vernacular languages used in the writing of this series make them more believable by making you "feel" the world she is writing about in a way many stories don't.  I can't get enough of Nell!

Q&A!
Faith answers questions from the Beast Claws, her Street Team. 

Q – Is Nell okay at Spook School since she is so far away from Soulwood?
Faith – Spoiler! Nell took plants growing in pots of Soulwood earth back to the school with her. I had no idea how she was going to go away to Spook School until I sat down to write that scene. It was as if she figured it out herself and told me!

Q – What does Nell's brother, Sam, think about Nell's going into PsyLED? Will he support her efforts despite the fact that she's left the church / cult of God’s Cloud of Glory?
Faith – Sam is much more modern than anyone knows. All sorts of secrets about Sam come out in book 2! Things that surprise Nell and prove what a good man her brother is.


Q – Do Nell’s woods actually help calm Tandy down as well as enhancing his powers?
Faith – In the beginning, yes. But Tandy … Well things are about to change with Tandy. Interesting and possibly dangerous things for an empath happen in CURSE ON THE LAND.

Q – Will we see more of Mindy? Is she going to be spending more time with Nell?
Faith – Not as much as I wanted in Soulwood book two, CURSE ON THE LAND, but maybe in book three. We’ll see. Nell’s life is becoming more dangerous from forces outside of family and church/cult. A child might be in danger. Or might cause more danger. Oh, the trouble that little scamp could cause!

Q – Do you develop the new characters as and when the novel needs them or do they come to you as a wave of inspiration and you fit them into the story?
Faith – (leans to the mic.) (thinks a moment.) Yes. (nods head and sits back)

Q – We still want to know which side Mom/Dad that Nell and Mud got the magic from. Wouldn't it be cool if it were Dad and some of the half sibs have it too?
Faith – (walks away whistling…)

GIVEAWAY!
There is a tour-wide giveaway for 5 copies of CURSE ON THE LAND, 2 sets of the Soulwood novels (BLOOD OF THE EARTH & CURSE ON THE LAND), and a $25 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Giveaway runs October 17th to November 12th. If you’d like to share, the Rafflecopter code is below.

<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2c36813e18/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="2c36813e18" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_tigcsazw">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>

BLOG TOUR STOPS
Don't forget to hit up the other stops on the blog tour to increase your chances of winning and read all the available goodies!

10/17: Tome Tender (review), Bad Bird Reads (review + giveaway)
10/18: Gizmo’s Reviews (review + excerpt), Vampire Book Club (review + Q&A)
10/19: Book Junkiez (review + excerpt)
10/20: The Book Nympho (review + Q&A)
10/21: Urban Fantasy Investigations (Q&A + giveaway), The Genre Minx Book Reviews (review + excerpt)
10/22: Literary Treasure Chest (review + giveaway), Angel’s Guilty Pleasures (excerpt + giveaway)
10/23: Mother Morgan, May I? (review + excerpt)
10/24: The Reading Addict (review + excerpt)
10/25: Romance Junkies (review)
10/26: The Irresponsible Reader (review + Q&A)
10/27: The Book Crumb Trail (review + Q&A)
10/28: One Book Two (review + giveaway)
10/29: drey’s library (review + Q&A + giveaway)
10/31: The Urban Paranormal Book Blog (Q&A + excerpt)
11/1: Bambi Unbridled (review + Q&A), Slippery Words (review + Q&A + excerpt)
11/2: Will Read for Feels (review + giveaway)
11/3: I Smell Sheep (review)
11/4: Books That Hook (review + excerpt)


About Faith Hunter:


Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. She writes three Urban Fantasy series: the Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires. The Soulwood series, featuring earth magic user Nell Ingram. And the Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series featuring Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. (There is a role playing game based on the series, ROGUE MAGE.)

Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 30+ books in print in 29 countries.

Hunter writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their rescued Pomeranians to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.

Find Faith online at her website FaithHunter.net, her blog, on TwitterFacebook, and Goodreads.


Friday, October 21, 2016

Highland Chieftain (Murray Family, #21) by Hannah Howell

Highland Chieftain (Murray Family, #21)Highland Chieftain by Hannah Howell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It had been quite a while since I'd read a historical romance, and even longer since I'd read a book by Hannah. I'm glad I took the time to read this one as it did not disappoint. To the best of my knowledge, I don't believe I have read any of this particular series prior to this book so it can be read as a stand-alone if desired.

A strong - if young - heroine... an equally strong hero who both respects and admires her... a brood of needy kids... danger, intrigue, and romance - all the ingredients for an enjoyable interlude in the past. Bethoc ,who has beaten the odds of illegitimacy, a weak-natured mother and an abusive step-father to become a beautiful, compassionate, and strong young woman responsible not only for herself, but for her baby sister and the many brothers who have been brought home over the years. Callum despises men who use their strength to abuse women and children... and is saved from a rather desperate situation by Bethoc.

I love the imagery Hannah's writing invokes, and was easily able to "lose" myself in this story.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox

Deader Homes and Gardens (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, book 4)Deader Homes and Gardens by Angie Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Verity and crew are back - and trying to puzzle out a century-old curse!

In this installment, Verity has given up on her graphic design business, and is now trying to make ends meet as a ghost hunter. Things have never been better between her and Ellis. Even Lucy is enjoying the new life they've got going... especially since Ellis is teaching her new tricks! When Verity lands her first ghost hunting job at the locally renowned haunted estate of Rock Fall things certainly seem to be looking up. But, nothing is ever as easy as that when ghosts are involved.

This book was my favorite from the series so far. Angie managed to mix the mystery, romance, and adventure in a truly inspired way throughout this book. Check it out, and see if you can figure out who the culprit is before they reveal themselves!
--------------------------------
Please note - I received a complimentary copy of this book. That does not in any way influence my review of the material.

View all my reviews

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer

Venom & Vanilla (The Venom Trilogy #1)Venom & Vanilla by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
---------------------------------

An action-packed debut in an imaginative new series! Shannon has a way with words that pulls you in and paints pictures in your mind.

Alena is a protagonist with whom it is very easy to empathize. Brought up within the confines of a very strict and unforgiving religion, Alena must now face some hard truths in order to not only survive, but to thrive, in her newly formed life. Unlike other female protagonists in Shannon's Elemental series and Rylee Adamson series, Alena has NOT been raised to be a warrior of any kind. In fact, if anything she was raised to believe that fighting back was a sin.

I love that she finds her solace in baking. (Maybe we'll be getting some recipes in future books?!) And, have a hard time deciding whether Yaya or Ernie is my favorite secondary character.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Ash by Shannon Mayer

Ash (The Elemental Series, Book 6)Ash by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
------------------------

SPOILER ALERT - If you have not yet read Rootbound skip this!

Have you wondered what Ash REALLY thinks of Lark? Are you curious as to HOW Ash was turned into a golden eagle? Maybe you just wonder what kind of trouble Lark's cohorts get into when she not around? If you answered yes to any - or all - of those questions, then this is the book for you!

I won't lie - there were tears shed during the reading, some angry - some sad. Ash gets to tell us his side of the story starting with Lark's banishment to the desert and ending with when he next gets to see her - on Raven's arm. There's tons of adventure and action like any of Shannon's books, but the male narrative is an interesting perspective after so many female ones.

Can't wait to see what Shannon brings us next!

View all my reviews

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Unraveled Blog Tour (Unraveled by Jennifer Estep)




Welcome to my little slice of the online book world!  I am excited to once again be hostessing a blog tour stop for the ever-awesome - Gin Blanco... errr - I mean Jennifer Estep!  Book #15 in The Elemental Assassin series finds Gin and her closest friends once again attempting to take a small vacation.  I think we ALL know how that's going to go!  lol






SYNOPSIS


What could go wrong when you’re trying to unravel a decades-old conspiracy?

As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I, Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things from behind the scenes. I might be the Spider, the city’s most fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.

So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel. At first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us expected.

Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight…

MY REVIEW
This book picks up almost exactly where Unwanted left off.  Gin and Finn are still trying to come to terms with the mess left behind by Mama Dee - Finn's mother.  Gin now has many questions regarding the mother she thought she knew, and Finn is trying to come to terms with the complete lack of feeling from his mother.  Finn & Gin decide it is time to unlock a safety deposit box - one that Gin found the key to in her mother's grave.

The box only reveals a very vague clue which frustrates Gin to the extreme so Finn decides to spring another surprise and proposes a short vacation for the two of them and their significant others... to a theme park he's just inherited from Mama Dee.  So, despite Gin's reservations about another attempted vacation, off go Finn, Bria, Owen, and Gin.  And, you can kind of guess what happens.

Like the other stories in this series there is action, violence, friendship, loyalty, and sarcasm - a perfect combination to keep you reading.  I love Gin's wit, her ability to stay alive when most wouldn't, and her ability to win new friends when they are needed most.  Jennifer's writing is imaginative, complex, and entertaining.  If you haven't read any of this series yet, you really need to!


PURCHASE LINKS

Ready to grab your own copy?

UNRAVELED (Elemental Assassin #15) | Jennifer Estep | Pocket Books | $7.99 | 400 pages | August 30, 2016 | ISBN: 978-1501142215 | Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27406805-unraveled

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2b4SmBx
Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/2b4SDVd
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2aVbvW4
GIVEAWAY!
There’s a tour-wide giveaway you can share! Jennifer is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card, and the publisher has offered up 5 print copies of UNRAVELED AND one FULL SET of the Elemental Assassin series! Open to US and Canada residents only.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway



About Jennifer Estep:
Jennifer Estep is a New York TimesUSA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. Unwanted, e-novella #14.5 in the series, is available now. Unraveled, book #15, will be released on Aug. 30.

Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. She is also the author of the Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series and the Bigtime paranormal romance series.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on FacebookGoodreads, and Twitter.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Children of the Amarid - Author's Edit by David B. Coe




About CHILDREN OF AMARID:
CHILDREN OF AMARID is the first volume of the LonTobyn Chronicle, David B. Coe’s Crawford Award-winning debut series. This is the Author’s Edit of the original book.
For a millennium  the Children of Amarid have served the people of Tobyn-Ser. Drawing upon the Mage-Craft, which flows from the psychic bond they forge with their avian familiars, the Mages of the Order have fulfilled their oaths by healing the injured and ill, repelling invasions by the land’s enemies, and caring for the people in times of crisis. They are governed by laws handed down by Amarid, the first of their kind, who committed the Mage-Craft to the people’s protection. Only once in a thousand years has a mage defied those laws. Theron, a contemporary of Amarid, sought to use his powers to gain wealth and glory. For that he was punished, though not before he brought down a terrible curse on his fellow mages and all who would come after them. 



CHILDREN OF AMARID (The LonTobyn Chronicle, Book 1) | David B. Coe | Lore Seekers Press | $4.99 eBook/ $18.95 Paperback | 384 pages | June 22, 2016 | ISBN: 978-1622680498 | Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/355078.Children_of_Amarid?from_search=true

Purchase links
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Children-Amarid/David-B-Coe/9781622680498?id=6681036309630

MY REVIEW

Epic fantasy adventure in the style of J.R.R. Tolkien...

Jaryd is coming of age, and has started having strange dreams - ones that come true.  When a Child of Amarid appears in his village a few days before his 18th birthday his whole world begins to change. Suddenly he is no longer just the strange son of the village blacksmith who has prophetic dreams - he's a Mage-Adept to an Owl Master, and on his way to the Gathering, an annual meeting of the the Children of Amarid.

The book follows the travels of Jaryd and his uncle, Owl Master Baden across the country on their journey to the Gathering and through all the trials and subsequent journeys that arise from the crisis currently plaguing their country.

If you are looking for adventure, intrigue, and romance then look no further!  David's world is well-constructed and his writing is descriptive enough to allow you to feel as if you are a part of the story.  I haven't read a book of this type in close to 25 years - it was worth breaking that genre-fast!


About David B. Coe:

         David B. Coe, who also writes as D.B. Jackson, is the award-winning author of nineteen novels and more than a dozen short stories.
         Writing under his own name (http://www.DavidBCoe.com) he has most recently completed a contemporary urban fantasy called the Case Files of Justis Fearsson, published by Baen Books. The first two books,SPELL BLIND and HIS FATHER’S EYES came out in 2015. The third volume, SHADOW’S BLADE, has recently been released.
          Writing under the D.B. Jackson pen name (http://www.DBJackson-Author.com), he writes the Thieftaker Chronicles, a series set in pre-Revolutionary Boston that combines elements of urban fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction. All four books in the series, THIEFTAKER, THIEVES’ QUARRYA PLUNDER OF SOULS, and DEAD MAN’S REACH, are available from Tor Books.
          David is the author of the LonTobyn Chronicle, his debut trilogy, which received the Crawford Fantasy Award as the best work by a new author in fantasy. He has also written the critically acclaimed Winds of the Forelands quintet and Blood of the Southlands trilogy, and the novelization of director Ridley Scott’s movie, ROBIN HOOD, starring Russell Crowe. David’s books have been translated into a dozen languages.
          He received his undergraduate degree from Brown University and his Master’s and Ph.D. in U.S. history from Stanford University.  He co-founded and regularly contributes to the Magical Words group blog (http://magicalwords.net), a site devoted to discussions of the craft and business of writing fantasy, and is co-author of How To Write Magical Words:  A Writer’s Companion.

Find David online at his website http://www.davidbcoe.com, on Twitter, on Facebook or sign up for his newsletter.







GIVEAWAY!  

There’s a tour-wide giveaway!  David is giving away a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (winner’s choice), or one of two copies of CHILDREN OF THE AMARID. Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


TOUR STOPS

Be sure to stop by the other blog tour stops for more chances to win!
This tour runs August 1-September 30, with excerpts, reviews, and giveaways to share. Visit all the tour stops below and support David and the awesome bloggers!
8/3 – Word Nerds (Q&A)
8/4 – I Smell Sheep (Excerpt)
8/7 – Story Forge (Q&A)
8/8 – Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist (Q&A)
8/10 – SFFWorld
8/13 – The Book Crumb Blog Trail (Review)
8/15 – Fantasy Fun Reads
8/18 – Fresh Fiction (Review)
8/24 – Fall Into Reading (Review, Cover, and Blurb)
8/31 – Faith Hunter’s Blog (Guest Post)
9/2 – Enchanted Alley (Cover and Blurb)
9/7 – Lucienne Diver’s Blog (Guest Post)
9/14 – Gail Martin’s Blog (Guest Post)
9/16 – Drey’s Library
9/20 – Slippery Words (Excerpt)
9/22 – Lillian Archer (Review)

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

The Sight by Chloe Neill Blog Tour


Welcome to the Book Blog Tour for The Sight - Book #2 in the Devil's Isle series!  I have LOVED Chloe's writing ever since I picked up my first copy of Some Girls Bite, and I think it's probably fair to say I've been book stalking her ever since!  So, needless to say, I was super-excited when I was chosen to help her promote her newest book, The Sight.  ;)

For those of you who don't know - the Devil's Isle series is set in a dysantopian New Orleans.  Post-Hurricane Katrina the Veil had been torn, and Paras (paranormal beings with magic) came across in an effort to find a new world which caused a war between humans and Paras.  Those "in-the-know" have come to realize that only some of the Paras actually wanted the war - others were coerced into fighting.  The damage has been done though, and while the humans won the war, the land in The Zone has been seriously damaged making life difficult for those who refused to relocate.



MY REVIEW

Chloe's second installment of the Devil's Isle series does not disappoint!  Action, intrigue, magic, and romance can be found in these pages in abundance!

Claire, Liam and friends have an issue on their hands the self-proclaimed saviors of The Zone - Reveillon - are willing and able to take down anyone and anything standing in the way of their goal.  What's their goal, you ask?  To remove ALL magic from The Zone in order to return the land to it's former fertile state.  That means not only all Paras, but also any humans who have been "tainted" and/or assist Paras.

There is some awesome (if high school-ish) chemistry going on between Claire and Liam which builds extra tension into the situation.  With the world falling apart around them the way it did they didn't get to have normal teenage years which will allow for the teenage feel to their relationship early in the book.  I wouldn't recommend the book for teenagers unless they are fairly mature though because there is a sex scene later in the book.

Like most of Chloe's books there was a twist I probably should have seen coming - but didn't.  And, I love the way she builds her worlds with details - you can almost hear, see, and smell the world the characters are living in via her writing.  If you love urban fantasy/paranormal books, and haven't yet read any of her books you NEED to!

*Please note I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


PURCHASE LINKS

Want your own copy?

To purchase or pre-order THE SIGHT: AmazonBarnes & NobleBooks-A-MillionIndiebound, or iBooks.

Available at Audible soon!


GIVEAWAYS - Yes, that's PLURAL!! 


The fun doesn’t stop here. 

Want more chances to win? You can also enter Chloe’s Grand Prize Giveaway, which will run August 8 through August 19 on Chloe’s web site.

What’s included in the Grand Prize Giveaway?
And, then... there's the SWAG!  I've been given a generous swag pack to give away to one lucky person which includes:
  • Devil’s Isle tote bag, pen, and sticker sheet
  • Royal Mercantile Koozie and bookplate
  • The Veil screen wipe
  • Chicagoland Vampires and Devil’s Isle bookmarks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE SIGHT Blog Tour Schedule

Be sure to stop by each day of the tour to get more chances to win the Grand Prize!

Monday, August 8 – Paranormaly Yours
Tuesday, August 9 – TSK, TSK What To Read?
Wednesday, August 10 – Redd’s Reads | The Book Crumb Trail
Thursday, August 11- Dandelionn Wine  | Vicarious Bookworm
Friday, August 12 – NovelKnight | Urban Fantasy Investigations
Monday, August 15 – Parajunkee | Book-Marks The Spot
Tuesday, August 16 (Release Day) – YA Reads | The Saucy Wenches | Bad Ass Book Reviews
Wednesday, August 17 – Goldilocks & The Three Weres
Thursday, August 18 – The Book Nympho | Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Friday, August 19 – The Book Swarm | TruBookiesReview | Lake’s Book Reviews | | Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust
 

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Blood Lust by Alexandra Ivy

Blood Lust (The Sentinels, #3)Blood Lust by Alexandra Ivy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
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I have heard a lot about this series, but have not yet managed to read the previous two books. Enough details were provided in this story line for me to read the book and enjoy without having read the others. Bas and Myst are two very complex and intriguing characters, and their story is a great read.

Bas isn't used to relying on others, but when his daughter's mother comes back into the picture he doesn't have many options that will allow him to both protect his daughter AND keep her mother safe - from others and herself.

Myst has been running for most of her life unable to trust anyone - including herself - because of a prophecy she made many years ago, but if she is going to protect all high bloods including her daughter she must learn to trust Bas.

The tale is written in a clear manner with lots of detail. The story pulled me in, and kept me entertained. I need to make time to read the rest of this series soon!

View all my reviews

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Fuzzy by Tom Angleberger and Paul Dellinger

FuzzyFuzzy by Tom Angleberger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
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I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I started reading this. While I am familiar with Tom's name because I have bought some of his other books for my son - I have never actually read any of them myself. I requested this book based solely on the author's reputation and the synopsis.

That being said - this was a FUN read! I didn't find the story at all juvenile, which I often do with middle grade titles. It addressed several different topics I find important - bullying/acceptance, responsibility, and free-thinking among others - as well as introducing younger readers to some more classic sci-fi authors/ideas like Ray Bradbury.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and would recommend it to boys and girls alike. In fact, I'd love to get my Girl Scout Troop to read it as part of a project! It is well written, imaginative, and timely in a world that is more and more quickly moving into science that decades ago seemed centuries away.

View all my reviews

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker

Devil and the Deep (Deep Six, #2)Devil and the Deep by Julie Ann Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
---------------------------

STEAMY! That's my one-word summarization! This book is chock full of action, romance, and sex - innuendos, foreplay, and fantasies - both stated and acted. I had a hard time putting the book down. ;)

Bran is a dark and brooding male protagonist with a past that runs deeper then his SEAL training. Maddy is a stubborn, outspoken, wealthy female protagonist who doesn't let go when she sees something she wants. Their personalities have them on a crash course that started when Bran helped rescue for from kidnappers, and has continued via email and calls since.

Bran doesn't feel he is good enough for Maddy, and Maddy has been unsure of his feelings because he keeps running hot and cold. Circumstances have pushed them together as another kidnapping attempt happens, and now they have to figure out what is what.

Loved the story. It was a quick read, and a good one. I look forward to reading more of this series.

View all my reviews

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Oklahoma Moonshine by Maggie Shayne

Oklahoma Moonshine (The McIntyre Men Book 1)Oklahoma Moonshine by Maggie Shayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maggie's on a roll! This take-off from the Brand series hits all the high points of any romance she's written. There are secrets, history, pain, joy, and love in abundance!

Kiley is desperate; her sister is dead, her father's in jail, her family home is up for auction, and she wants more than anything to go straight. Up 'til now life has been a journey of attempts and failures at being "normal". Raised in a con-artist family she has never truly fit in, but now she needs to complete one last con to get everything she's ever wanted.

Robert is distrustful of women because of his father's money, and can smell a lie a mile away. That doesn't stop him from wanting to help Kiley - even when she won't tell him the truth. There's just something about her that tugs at his heart strings.

Robert's family accepts Kiley as she is because he's asked them to... and because that's who they are. From nothing to everything - can Kiley accept the future and be brave enough to grab for it?

I love Maggie's down-to-earth storytelling. This was a fairly quick read for me which helps as I sometimes get caught up in one book for weeks and need a smaller read to lighten the load - so to speak. You won't regret picking up the newest installment in this family's saga!

View all my reviews

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

Paper and Fire (The Great Library, #2)Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**I received an e-book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
---------------------------------------------

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if books were our religion? Enter this highly imaginative world to find out!

SYNOPSIS
With an iron fist, The Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion, forbidding the personal ownership of books in the name of the greater good.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower and doomed to a life apart.

Embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, or the Library willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control. . .  


REVIEW
Let me start with the disclaimer - I have not managed to find time in my schedule yet to read Ink and Bone. As such, I didn't have the backstory going into this tale. I was still able to understand the action and enjoy the book.

The story took me a little longer to read than normal due to its weighty nature, and several other books that came due at the same time. Most of the stories I read have less intent behind them for lack of a better word. This is more of a mantle on your shoulders than a shawl if that analogy helps at all.

The Great Library - and most prominently - The Archivist - control the world in a system similar in many ways to how Catholicism with the Cardinals and Pope controlled our world at one point in our history. The setting for this world is in a near future and yet parallel universe. Magic is real, but only the Obsucrists can wield it. Steampunk is the norm with animatronics everywhere.

Jess and his friends are in the final stages of becoming High Garda - the elite army of the Great Library - when they stumble upon some disturbing truths. Chief among those truths is the fact that their friends Thomas is not actually dead. They must face options that may get them all killed in order to try to find a better way for the world.

This is a series I thought my daughter, an avid reader - even more so than me as she has more time on her hands, would enjoy. I still think she may enjoy it, but this series is a little heavier reading than she normally likes to do.

Overall it was an interesting read, and I do plan to read the other two books in the series at some point.