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.**
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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