Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Blossom Blog Tour and Review

Title: Blossom
Author: Jennifer Martinez
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: July 5, 2013




Synopsis:
My name is Maia. I'm a princess, a fae princess to be exact. But I don't want to be. See, my whole life, I've always been the center of attention, and I've never understood why. Give me boring, ordinary, and simple any day. It's hard enough trying to work my way through high school. Add running a kingdom to that? Yea, not so much.   Magic, mystery, fairies. I just want to pass driver’s ed.

Book Links:

Purchase Links:

Author Bio:
One day while slaving away at her monotonous day job, Jennifer Martinez found her true calling. Like a firefly in the night, the pages called to her. Once she caught the bug there was no stopping it. Her fingers flew furiously across the keyboard winding tales of love, mystery and anger. She snapped out of her reverie to find herself still behind the desk but at least she knew who she was… Author Jennifer Martinez.

I like to think of myself as a beautiful conundrum. When I am not writing, I can be found surrounded by my amazing family and 4 dogs or volunteering at a local animal rescue. I love who I am and don’t mind at all when I get strange looks from people. I am a tattoo covered, child and animal lover who looks forward to destroying peoples preconceived notions of what “someone like me” would be interested in. You only live life once… you may as well make it interesting.

I love to get lost in a good book and hope that everyone will get lost in mine.

Links:

Excerpt:
As Mr. Aaron droned on about derivatives and angles I let my mind wander to the forest.
There was a small worn path leading through the towering trees. The sounds of the squirrels and grasshoppers lulled me in further sing their nurturing song. Once I reached the round clearing I was able to lie back on the soft green grass and look up at the crystal blue sky above me dotted with white puffy clouds and the occasional bird. The longer I lay in my oasis the more at home I truly felt there. I could feel the forest breathing in tune with me. The sounds of nature all around me sounded like the perfect symphony caressing my ears with warmth and companionship.
“Maia... Maia!” Mr. Aarons called. “Huh, yea, sorry. The derivative of two X squared is four X.”
“You are lucky you have a natural talent with math Maia,” he commented “if you don't start paying attention you may lose it by Calc One.”
I smiled and apologized. Busted, I thought as the bell rang.

My review:
5 stars
Okay I just have to start out by saying I love Jennifer Martinez and having the opportunity to read Blossom for and honest review is an honor. With that being said, I really love this book. I love the Fae world and how beautifully it is described. I want to walk right through the pages and see the beautiful castle that is made from the trees. I want to walk through the villages and see the people who seem to love their new princess, but most of all I want to dance in the moonlight with the handsome Pirfent, Heaton. Just to stare into his intense silver eyes...sigh.

Maia is a high school student who gets quite a bit of attention, but isn't really comfortable with it. She just wants to graduate and live a normal life, but when her parents reveal to her that she is actually a Fae Princess those plans are crushed beneath her feet. Maia meets her birth parents and takes a trip to Ranym, her place of birth and realizes how beautiful and welcoming it is. She also learns of the termoil that her kingdom has been fighting since her birth.

Maia is such a great character. She doen't whine like a lot of the leading females in many of the books I have read. Sure she isn't happy when she finds out about her Fae life, but she takes the time to get a feel for it and roam her kingdom. Of course I think having Heaton by her side makes this transition a bit more enjoyable and easier to handle. I think I would gladly walk through a ring of fire if I had the chance to have Heaton by my side.

I highly recommend Blossom to all ages. It is a beautiful story. I only have one complaint, the ending is a huge cliffhanger and I want more!! Great book! Hurry I need more Jennifer Martinez.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Review:Today Only- D. Love

Summary: In life, there are times you are granted a miracle. It may not be the one you wanted exactly, but it will be the one you need. It will prepare you for the next step in your journey and help you learn to accept the life you are given, even if that life can be heartbreaking. Title: Today Only Author: D. Love Rating: 5/5 Stars Review: This was another book on the list to read for the Sweet Sixteen reading challenge that I had joined. Thanks a lot Derinda Love for making me have more then one session of ugly crying (tears and snot). This book had one of the most powerful messages that I have ever read about. Honestly I think that Today Only should be used as a resource for people and their families who have a similar prognosis. It was very well written and a perfectly flowing book. It was also a story that a lot of people out relate to. I found the story very bittersweet. The best parts were all of the cameos and the mention of UtopYA!! I found all of the characters to be very humble and I love that they took everything just a day at a time.they are in a terrible position but always choose to make the best of it. I could see them all going through the signs of grieving and in all different ways. Also I found the characters to be funny and they kept humour in their lives despite their situation. They all showed courage. Each character was special and contributed to the story in their own way. This is a great novel and it has a message that everyone should read. But I warn you, you will bawl your face off. I would recommend this book to everyone!! About this author: Derinda lives in Maine. Her biggest passion is for her family and friends. She adores loving others as if it is the biggest gift life can offer. She is a read-a-holic, loves chocolate, cowboys and everyone on her Young Adult & Teen Readers Facebook page. Her dream is to travel to Australia one day. I am nothing but simple. I do a lot of volunteer work. I have 2 beautiful daughters. 4 grandchildren, that constantly ask me if I lived in the black & white days. My inspiration would be my daughters. Rita for her strength to keep fighting and constantly try to take care of me. Even though sometimes she cant get out of the bed. Kayla, for helping pick up all the pieces that seem to fall, when times get rough. And the love they have for me.

Review: Silence of the Wolves- Hannah Pole

Summary: Fate is calling… After a strange encounter in a dark alley, journalist Tamriel’s life is turned upside down. She’s missing days, developing odd new abilities, and being followed by mysterious Leyth. Dark, dangerous – and too gorgeous for his own good –Leyth’s determined to teach Tamriel about her new life – as a werewolf! And just as intent on keeping their relationship strictly business. But as their simmering bond grows, Tamriel and Leyth face a bigger challenge; Tam may be their kind’s strongest weapon against the Circle, a deadly group of paranormal creatures gone rogue. That is, if she’s ready to give into her destiny and put up the fight of her life... Call of the Wilderness Book One. Title: Silence of the Wolves Author: Hannah Pole Pages: 251 Rating: 3.5/5 Stars Review: I received this book free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really loved this cover from far away, but when I got up close I found the models expression rather odd. I had a hard time getting into this book. I thought that the summary sounded great, but I found the first half of the book very slow. Even when the action was picking up I found it to be muted. I think what was missing for me were the small details. I NEED DETAILS!! And the only details I got were " she grabbed his cock", which I could have used with out haha. But in saying that, Silence of the Wolves did eventually pick up at the end of the book. I would continue this series because I do want to find out what happens to the other who went missing. Tam was a fairly good female lead. I found her to be a kick- ass heroine. But I felt like at the beginning she seemed a lot younger than at the end of the book and that was confusing for me because it seemed like she aged a lot over the course of the book. And it wasn't maturity wise, just like actual age. Leyth made me mad. At the start of the book he was that jock asshole in school, then all of a sudden he would be a nice guy. But if he got pissed off then he would revert back to the sexist douche that he really is. But the at the end he was the sweetest guy ever, like make up your mind already. If I was Tam would have been very leery of him. This book started off slow but did finally pick up at the end, and it was enough to make me want to continue with the series. I would recommend this book the werewolf lovers but I would warn them about the slow start. About this author: I am a born and bred wild child. (Or I like to think so anyway!) I moved to sunny Folkestone to escape and find my feet as, well whatever I was destined to be! But alas, my short attention span made finding that destiny a little difficult! One day I came across a diary entry that made me laugh so hard; I actually fell off my chair. (Yes, this can happen!) I decided that the entry was so funny; it needed to be shared with the world! So I started writing, and attempted to turn it into a novel. Though to this day, that novel remains unfinished, it will always be the novel that got me started, and showed me what I was passionate about. Honestly? I have aspired to be everything from a Private Investigator to a Zoo Keeper with my career; my interests change so quickly that I could never stick with one! Writing gives me the freedom to choose; I can be a cold-hearted assassin in love with a poet one day and the secret lesbian lover of a politician the next! All my life, I have had a strong, unwavering passion for anything supernatural, spiritual and slightly unexplainable, I love the idea that there can be something completely fantastical lurking beneath the confines of normality. So of course, mythical creatures of all shapes and sizes dominate most of my work! In a nutshell, I am a creative crazy bean, living with my lovely husband and a house full of too many animals! I’ve always secretly wished I were a werewolf of some description, but have come to realise that I will have to settle for writing about them instead! I’m happiest in the sun with my head in a good book! AllI can say from here is I hope you like what you read!

Blog Tour Review and GIVEAWAY: Broken Faith- Brandy Nacole

Title: Broken Faith (Spiritual Discord #1) Author: Brandy Nacole Release Date: April 2nd, 2013 Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17306433-broken-faith BOOK DESCRIPTION: "This is it. The moment Heaven and Hell clash. But which unearthly being will win, the fallen angel or Hell's hounds? Overtaken by fear, I close my eyes." Kayson is a Fallen Angel who has spent decades running from the Hell Hounds while searching for something that no one else believes can be so, not even God. Kayson is determined to find a Blood Child. But when a hound finds Kayson first, he is sure his end has come. Falon, Alpha of the Hell Hounds, destroyer of the blood children, and devoted believer in his master’s plan, is bound and determined to drag Kayson back to Hell with him. Sabrina is a Vampire, a half-breed created from one of Lucifer’s original blood children. After years of hiding, Sabrina’s fate changes when she finds Kayson barely alive. Against her instincts, Sabrina saves him. Now she and Kayson are both marked by the Hell Hounds. Emma is an ordinary human, whose only problem is making ends meet, and getting over the hurt caused by her untrustworthy brother. Her everyday problems become supernatural ones when she finds Kayson and Sabrina hiding in her parent’s backyard shed. Kayson, Sabrina and Emma are unlikely allies, thrown together by chance to fight against the most powerful creatures of the underworld in order to follow their world-changing quest. But will the broken faith of one break the faith of all? Rating: 3.5/5 Stars rating: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is the second novel by Brandy Nacole that I have read and she has this amazing ability to combine numerous types of paranormal in one story and nail it every time. I really loved the concept behind this novel but the actual story was a little slow for me. I enjoyed how the author tricks you into thinking that here will be a love triangle but then bam there isn't lol. There were a few parts at the end of the novel that made me want to find out more about what the heck is going to happen in book two. Also I really enjoyed the change in POV's because it was done very well and you didn't miss out on anything. I liked all of the characters and I was especially excited when we got to learn their backgrounds and how they ended up where they are now.it just made me want to get to know each of them better, even the bad dudes lol. I loved that right at the end of the book we were introduced to a new character, so in a way it was a cliffhanger.one character in particular has me very curious what his story is. Also a certain mind reading vampire really made me curious about some other characters because she learned things about them that they hadn't told anyone and I want to know if they ever will. This was a pretty good book besides it being slow. I will continue on with this series because I need to know what will happen to all of these characters. I would recommend this book to lovers of everything paranormal. AMAZON LINK: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4V55LM/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00C4V55LM&linkCode=as2&tag=theunoaddboof-20 BOOKDEPOSITORY LINK: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Broken-Faith-Brandy-Nacole/9781483982755 About The 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, teaching , and singing like a rock star at a concert for no one else but herself. She loves plants, but unfortunately is a killer of anything that requires water but can’t voice (scream) their needs. She is the author of The Shadow World Series and The Spiritual Discord Series LINKS: Website: http://www.brandynacolesbooks.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrandynacole Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorbnacole Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6429866.Brandy_Nacole Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bnacolebooks/ Brandy Nacole’s blog: http://brandynacole.blogspot.com.es GIVEAWAY Enter the Rafflecopter code in your post. In this Rafflecopter will be the choices you’d written in the filling form we sent. Details: (1) signed paperback of Uniquely Unwelcome, (2) ebooks of Uniquely Unwelcome and the sequel Blood Burdens (2) ebooks of Broken Faith. There’ll be 5 winners. 1st place: (1) signed paperback of Uniquely Unwelcome. 2nd and 3rd place: (1) ebook of Uniquely Unwelcome and the sequel Blood Burdens. 4th and 5th place: (1) ebook of Broken Faith. *The giveaway will be international* a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, July 29, 2013

Cover Reveal: Freefall- Tess Oliver

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Title: Freefall Author: Tess Oliver Genre: New Adult Book Description: After leaving high school, with a hard won diploma and the title of most likely to break hearts, Alexander “Nix” Pierce has left his wild, out of control years mostly behind him. A small inheritance from his grandfather has given him the funds to open up his tattoo shop, Freefall, and he has started to pull his life together. Aside from trying to keep his best friend, Dray, from killing himself in the fight ring, and his slight obsession with a pin-up model he’s never met, Nix’s life is going smoothly . . . until Scotlyn James, the object of his obsession, walks into his shop. Ever since a tragic accident killed her family and left her alone in the world, Scotlyn James hasn’t spoken one word. Up until now she didn’t care that she had no way of talking to people. Her awful aunt would never have listened, and Lincoln Hammond the arrogant, selfish man who pulled her from the streets of Los Angeles wouldn’t hear her words if she could speak. But when Lincoln insists she get a tattoo to cover up a scar on her side, Scotlyn meets the artist, Nix Pierce. And now she longs for her voice. Now she has found someone who will hear her. Teaser:
I could see Nix swallow beneath the collar of his t-shirt. For what seemed like the hundredth time, he rearranged stuff on his tray, and it seemed he had a hard time looking at me. I’d pushed it too far. I was being way to forward with him, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I was not practiced at flirting, and it seemed that I’d been reading his thoughts all wrong. In my state of distress from the car ride, I’d forgotten to take off my sweatshirt. Feeling like a fool for rubbing my foot so suggestively up his leg, I hopped off the table and walked over to the hook on the wall. Now I wanted to get this done and fast. I unzipped my sweatshirt and slipped it off my shoulders. As I reached up to hang it on the hook, Nix’s stool slid across ­the floor, and before I could lower my hands, his arms snaked around my waist, and he pulled my back against his hard chest.
  About the Author Tess Oliver is a teacher and writer who lives in California with her husband, kids, a small pack of pampered dogs, and the recent addition of three ridiculously cute pygmy goats. She loves horses, chocolate and Jane Austen books. She has a BS of Nutrition Science, and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction. She is also an author published by Barron's Educational Publisher. Website Blog Facebook Goodreads Twitter  

Review: A Werewolf Christmas- C.M. Stunich

Title: A Werewolf Christmas Author: C.M. Stunich Pages:228 Rating: 4/5 Stars Review:I have had the novella sitting on my kobo for quite sometime and I finally had a chance to get to it. I have read and loved other works by C.M. Stunich and A Werewolf Christmas fit right in. This was a fast- paced, hilarious and romantic YA read. I found the story very original for a werewolf story. Who know that only parts of you would turn to a werewolf at a time. I almost peed my pants reading of how Sylvia had to shave her furry back before her date. And can you imagine growing a fur moustache in all of 2 seconds LOL? I loved this book and I would love to learn more about these characters. I would recommend this novella to werewolf lovers. P.S. I think that turning into a werewolf would be the best Christmas present ever!! About this author C.M. Stunich was raised under a cover of fog in the area known simply as Eureka, CA. A mysterious place, this strange, arboreal land nursed Caitlin's (yes, that's her name!) desire to write strange fiction novels about wicked monsters, magical trains, and Nemean Lions (Google it!). She currently enjoys drag queens, having too many cats, and tribal bellydance. Always a fan of the indie scene and 'sticking it to the man,' Ms. Stunich decided to take the road less traveled and forgo the traditional publishing route. You can be assured though that she received several rejections as to ensure her proper place in the world of writers before taking up a friend's offer to start a publishing company. Sarian Royal was born, and Ms. Stunich's books slowly transformed from mere baking chocolate to full blown tortes with hand sculpted fondant flowers. C.M. is a writer obsessed with delivering the very best and scours her mind on a regular basis to select the most unusual stories for the outside world. Ms. Stunich can be reached via e-mail or by post and loves to hear from her readers. Ms. Stunich also wrote this biography and has no idea why she decided to refer to herself in the third person. Come visit me at www.cmstunich.com ! Happy reading and carpe diem! Sincerely, C.M. Stunich

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Blog Tour Review and GIVEAWAY: Sabaska's Tale- J.A. Campbell

Sabaska’s Tale Series: Tales of the Travelers By J. A. Campbell Genres: Fantasy + Young Adult, Horses Published: July 5 2013 Untold Press www.untoldpress.com Word count: 63 000 Pages: 224 Blurb: To Anna, horses were more than a fascination, they were everything. Luckily, she had the opportunity to spend every summer on her grandmother's horse ranch in Colorado. Life was perfect, until she received the devastating news that her grandmother had been tragically killed. Anna knew she was the only member of her family who could take over the ranch and hopefully find new homes for her grandmother's beloved Arabians. Anna wasn't alone for long. Her grandmother had hired a local teenage boy to help tend the horses for the summer. Anna didn't stand a chance against Cody's quiet charm and the two rapidly become friends. However, even with the responsibilities of the ranch, Anna quickly discovers the secrets her grandmother had been hiding and a legacy that sends her on an adventure she never thought possible. An adventure in the saddle of a horse that wasn't a horse at all. Sabaska, her grandmother's favorite Arabian, was a Traveler; a magical being that could travel between worlds. With Anna at the reins, they find themselves trapped in a fight against evil with the highest of stakes… Their very survival. Rating: 4/5 Stars Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This was a great fantasy read that combined modern Times and historical worlds together in this time travelling adventure. Horse lovers will be drawn to this novel because as far as horse books go this is as close as it gets without actually being about horses. Sabaska's Tale is about an epic adventure that has continued on through generations. There were a lot of different emotions portrayed in this novel but they fell short for me. I could feel the emotion they characters just went the out it with no feeling. I also wish that there had been more information on both the travellers and the crystals. It is still a big mystery to me. The characters were good but again I wish that there was more background info on each of them. Also some characters were introduced and seemed like they would play a big role in the story, but then disappeared without a trace and didn't impact the book at all. Hopefully in book two those characters will make an appearance. Also I enjoyed the hint of romance and the possible love triangle and I can't wait to find out what will happen with those. I will be carrying on with this series because I found it very interesting and original. I can't wait to see where it goes. I would recommend it to horse lovers and those who enjoy fantasy novels. Excerpt: Footsteps came down the hall toward her grandma’s bedroom. Anna’s hands shook. They would have heard her footsteps if the carpet hadn’t muffled them. She crept away from the door and slipped into the bathroom. A small window with frosted panes opened on the roof. Though she had thought it odd at the time, her grandma had shown her an escape route. “Anna, in case there is a fire and you can’t get out the door, you can go out through this window. Come on, follow me. It’s safe.” She set the shotgun down across the sink and climbed on the toilet and slid the window open. The bright moon clearly lit her path. She climbed into the warm, dry air and reached back for her gun. Just to be sure, she shut the window behind her, and then noticed a curious thing. It locked from outside. What had Grandma been involved with? Anna latched the window and crouched, holding the shotgun to her chest. It was one thing to follow her grandma onto the roof in broad daylight, it was quite another to escape intruders in the middle of the night. The light from the moon didn’t seem so bright now. Shadows danced everywhere. She wished the shotgun had a sling. She considered staying hidden by the window. They wouldn’t get through the window without breaking it. One of the horses screamed. Anna’s blood ran cold, but it broke her out of her crouch. Before she could think better of it, she crawled across the roof, being sure to stay in the shadows. The shingles scraped her knuckles where she clutched the gun. They weren’t doing her jeans or her knees any favors either. “Damn it.” The harsh whisper echoed in the night. Anna flattened herself against the roof, heart trying to climb out of her chest. The next muttered curse might have come from the barn. Yet she heard both so clearly, they could have been right beside her. It must have been a trick of the night air. Anna clenched her lips tight, smothering a whimper and started crawling again. At the trellis, she paused, trying to decide what to do next. “Maybe the Traveler is gone, M’lord,” a man said underneath her. “It won’t leave the girl.” The second man spoke. She knew that voice. Blue shirts and mean sports cars flashed through her brain. “The girl isn’t here,” another man said. “She’s here.” He sounded very confident. “Just be ready to track them if they get a chance to run.” The men faded out of hearing range. You have to get off this roof! She tried to get herself to move, knowing she wouldn’t get a better chance. A quiet, encouraging nicker caught Anna’s attention and a dark shape in a clump of evergreens moved slightly. The faint outline of horse dissolved into the shadows. What the hell? With no time to figure it out, she carefully scooted to the edge of the roof and climbed down onto the reinforced trellis. It was awkward with one hand occupied by the shotgun but the shadows hid hid the trellis from view and the foot and handholds were predictable. The faint scent of crushed leaves tickled her nose and she fought a sneeze. That would be just perfect; reaching the bottom without falling only to have a sneeze give her away. She made it, though she breathed hard and her limbs shook–only partially from exertion. Okay, now what? The dark shape moved again. If she could get to the horse maybe she could get away. Horses could go a lot of places trucks couldn’t. Maybe she could find a way to call the police. Of course she left her cell phone behind, but Sherrie’s neighbors were far enough away to be safe and would let her use their phone. Anna checked for the intruders. Nothing moved so she darted across the open ground and into the bush. She hoped her sudden appearance didn’t startle the horse into making noise. The horse stayed silent, bumping her head against Anna’s arm in a reassuring manner. Sabaska, of course. Why would the horse hide in a clump of trees waiting for her to climb off a roof? Sabaska turned to let her climb on her back. She leaned the shotgun against a tree and scrambled ungracefully onto the horse. Sabaska edged closer to the gun without being asked and Anna picked it up, not sure how to carry it, ride bareback and direct her horse, but Sabaska didn’t seem to care. Anna got settled and grabbed a hold of the horse’s mane while cradling the gun awkwardly. “M’lord,” one of the men called more loudly. Sabaska snorted, tossed her head, and started moving, slowly at first, and then her muscles bunched. “No,” Anna whispered. The horse ignored her and she held on, stifling scream as the little horse burst from the trees into a dead gallop. “M’lord! There!” “Catch them before they Travel!” She clung to Sabaska’s back as the horse galloped toward a fence. Needing both hands to stay astride, she tossed the shotgun to the ground and held on. Anna screamed as Sabaska leapt the fence. In the air, she came off Sabaska’s back, but the little horse landed underneath her and did a funny jig to keep Anna from falling. The men shouted behind her, but as Sabaska ran, the air grew muffled and dense and the voices faded. Anna thought she might be passing out and clutched the horse tighter. Sabaska slowed and trees scraped against her legs and arms. Leafy trees. Cold frosted her breath and she started to shake. No deciduous forest surrounded her Grandma’s property and though it could get cold in the summer in Colorado, there wasn’t usually snow on the ground. Overwhelmed, she stopped thinking and clung to Sabaska’s back while the little horse pushed through the trees. Anna hoped she knew where she was going. The numb, suffocating feeling came and went several times that night. Anna thought she saw the sun high in the sky a few times, but when Sabaska finally did stop, the sky had just begun to lighten. Incomprehensible trees surrounded them. She blinked at the red blur of leaves and smooth silver bark and then passed out. In her dreams, an unseen entity chased her until a distant voice woke her. “Sabaska! What are you doing?” Her horse snorted and though Anna wanted to sit up, exhaustion sent her back to sleep. Author Bio: J.A. Campbell Julie has been many things over the last few years, from college student, to bookstore clerk and an over the road trucker. She’s worked as a 911 dispatcher and in computer tech support, but through it all she’s been a writer and when she’s not out riding horses, she can usually be found sitting in front of her computer. She lives in Colorado with her three cats, her vampire-hunting dog Kira, her new horse and Traveler-in training, Triska, and her Irish Sailor. She is the author of many Vampire and Ghost-Hunting Dog stories and the young adult urban fantasy series The Clanless. Find out more about Julie at www.writerjacampbell.com and follow her on twitter @Pfirewolf Website: www.writerjacampbell.com Blogs: http://writerjacampbell.wordpress.com/blog/ http://phoenixfirewolf.livejournal.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/J.A.Campbell.Author?ref=tn_tnmn LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/j-a-campbell/35/535/b25 Twitter: @Pfirewolf Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4708012.J_A_Campbell eBook Buy Links: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sabaskas-Tale-Tales-Travelers-ebook/dp/B00DSOCNWS Amazon Smart Url: http://bookShow.me/B00DSOCNWS Goodreads- book link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18134649-sabaska-s-tale a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Blog Tour and GIVEAWAY: Reaper's Rhythm- Clare Davidson

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Author Clare Davidson has stopped by with a teaser from her new book Reaper's Rhythm.

Charley’s lying on the bed, her blond hair fanned out over the pillow. Her arms are spread wide, palms up. Crimson blood drips from deep slashes on her wrists. Her blue eyes are open, staring at the ceiling. But they don't see. They're dull, empty. Dead. The room spins. My stomach lurches and bile rises up my throat. I swallow and clap my hand to my mouth. Sagging against the doorframe, I can’t tear my gaze from the single lock of hair resting over Charley’s porcelain cheek. What should I do? Charley would know what to do. As I stumble down the stairs, my mind clicks into gear. A scream rips out of my throat, eclipsing the pounding music. My foot slips on the beige carpet, sending me tumbling down the remaining stairs. My shoulder and back slam against the wall. I scramble to my feet, screaming, sobbing, then stagger into the hallway, colliding into a young man with the darkest eyes I’ve ever seen. My own force knocks me backwards. His strong grip clenches my arm, preventing me from falling. I try to scream again, but the sound is trapped within my constricting chest. My sister is dead. A stranger is in my house.

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Title: Reaper's Rhythm

Author: Clare Davidson

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy/ Mystery

Book Description:

When everyone thinks your sister committed suicide, it’s hard to prove she was murdered. Kim is unable to accept Charley’s sudden death. Crippled by an unnatural amnesia, her questions are met with wall after wall. As she doubts her sanity, she realises her investigation is putting those around her in danger. The only person who seems to know anything is Matthew, an elusive stranger who would rather vanish than talk. Despite his friendly smile, Kim isn’t sure she can trust him. But if she wants to protect her family from further danger, Kim must work with Matthew to discover how Charley died – before it’s too late. Author Bio: claresmall Clare Davidson is an independent writer, based in Lancaster. Clare is a high school teacher, mother and character-driven fantasy writer. Clare was born in Northampton and lived in Malaysia for four and a half years as a child, before returning to the UK to settle in Leeds with her family. Whilst attending Lancaster University, Clare met her future husband and never left. They now share their lives with their young daughter, a cranky grey cat and an insane white kitten. She published her first novel, Trinity in July 2012. Trinity is a young adult, fantasy novel, which currently has seventeen five star reviews on Amazon UK. Her second novel, Reaper’s Rhythm, is due to be released on the 26th July 2013. Also aimed at a young adult audience, Reaper’s Rhythm is an urban fantasy with a dash of mystery. Ways to connect with Clare Davidson: Website Twitter Facebook Goodreads New releases mailing list: http://eepurl.com/zpjGf Purchase Links America: Kindle Paperback UK: Kindle Paperback: Amazon Waterstone's Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Blog Tour Promo and GIVEAWAY: Destiny Series (Book 1&2): Laura DeLuca

Title: Destiny Unveiled (Destiny Series, 2) Author: Laura DeLuca Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours Destiny Blurb Gabriella is a witch. The problem is, she doesn't remember. She repressed the memories of her powers years ago when her mother was murdered. Now, the warlock who was responsible for her mother's death has set his sights on Gabriella. He is determined to use her fear to turn her to the dark side of magick…even if it kills her. Her mother's spirit is reaching out to warn her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the spirit finds a male witch–one that just happens to be in love with Gabriella. Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches will have way more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are overbearing jocks and petty rich girls who get tempers flaring and often set Gabriella and Darron at odds. There is more to the story than Gabriella and Darron could even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and lives will be lost. Only after Gabriella and Darron both come to terms with who they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny. Destiny Buy Links Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. Excerpt: Her eyes scanned the room, from the pale blue sofa to the bloody dent in the wall. But she didn’t need her eyes to know Darron was there. Her heart sensed his presence before her eyes saw him lying in a heap on the ground. His body shuttered with occasional spasms, and even though he wasn’t fully conscious, his lips were twisted in a grimace of pain. Uttering a gasp of surprise, Gabriella flew to his side. She knelt beside him, and choked back a sob as she took his hand in her own. She saw his chest rise and fall and was glad to know was alive, but she felt helpless as she watched his face contort in pain. She noticed something wet and sticky on her fingertips. She gently titled his head and saw a large gash that looked like it needed medical attention. The skin around the gash was so deeply bruised it looked almost black. “Darron, what happened to you?” He didn’t move or reply. Gabriella moved her hand from the cut on his forehead, and her fingers dripped with blood. She bit her lower lip with fear. She knew enough about head injuries to know that the wound could be serious. She grabbed a few tissues from a box on the coffee table, and tried to apply pressure to the wound, but it was useless. The tissues were soaked through in seconds. “Darron?” She squeezed his hand, and fought back tears of fear and frustration. “Darron, please open your eyes. Please be all right!” He squirmed and groaned a little in response. Looking at his contorted features, Gabriella felt incompetent and useless. She didn’t know what to do to help him. The cut must need stitches. The blood was gushing through her fingertips, and she was sure his life was slipping away just as quickly. More than anything, Gabriella wanted to help Darron, to end his suffering. Her thoughts, her desperation, caused something deep inside of her to stir. Something that had long been napping was awoken. The power she had fought so hard to deny was forcing its way to the surface. This time she didn’t struggle against that power. Her instinct to hide from it was finally overcome by the thought of losing someone else she cared about. Gabriella was pulling strength and warmth from the earth, as though her legs were tree roots taking nourishment from the element. A tingling sensation began in the tips of her toes and spread slowly though her body as she breathed in the essence of the element of air. Her blood flowed and grew warm, the element of water, bringing the power to the surface. She was overcome by a vigorous strength as she envisioned her spirit encircled by the element of fire. She felt so powerful that she thought she could stop the world from churning if that was what she wished. Gabriella focused the power, remembering for a moment her mother’s lessons. She looked down at her battered friend. She willed him to open his eyes and look at her. She demanded it of him. Gabriella would have thought it was impossible, but she felt herself grow warmer. Her face dripped with perspiration. The power within her reached a climax. Then finally, when she thought she might burst, she felt the energy release. It seeped through her fingers, and shined with an illumination that only she could see. She heard herself chanting unfamiliar words, and scarcely recognized her own voice. “By the power of earth, water, fire and air, Heal this man who’s in my care. Goddess, hear your daughter’s plea. As I will it, so mote it be!” Gabriella repeated the words three times. Three was the number of power. Then she watched as the wound on Darron’s forehead healed before her eyes, becoming smaller and smaller, until finally it was gone. The blood was still warm and sticky, but beneath the blood, the skin was smooth and unmarred. Even the horrible bruise had vanished. Gabriella stared in open astonishment, marveling at the work she had done. Blurb: Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands. Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. Excerpt: After collecting the offering from his followers, the leader returned to the center of the circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick motion, he sliced open his own palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his blood drip slowly into the chalice, until the wound miraculously healed before Darron's startled eyes. When the chalice was full, he carried it to the eager initiate who took the cup firmly into his hands and tilted it towards his lips. "As this blood makes you one with our flesh, so your soul follows to become one with the darkness," the English voice intoned. As the initiate drained the last of the liquid in the chalice, his hood fell away, revealing a blonde ponytail pulled back over a pale white face, made even paler by the outline of bright red blood around his lips. Darron watched in stunned, horrified silence as his own face turned to meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black as coals stared back at Darron with a grim smile of satisfaction. "Rise Darron," the leader commanded. And as he spoke, he lifted the hood from his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven." Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon. Links: Follow the author Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Pinterest a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lady Amber's Tours

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Cover Reveal: A Missing Piece- Beth Fred

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Release date: September 1st 2013 Publisher: Escape Publishing https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18176685-a-missing-peace Synopsis: A turbulent, emotionally charged YA novel that breaks down barriers and challenges the status quo... Angry, seventeen-year-old Iraqi war refugee Mirriam Yohanna hates her new life in Killeen, Texas, where the main attraction is a military base, populated with spoiled army brats like Caleb Miller. Caleb has much to be angry about too, including Mirriam who turns him down flat in front of everyone. Eager for retribution, Caleb agrees to a dare that will see him take Mirriam to the prom and regain his pride. But their relationship soon moves beyond high school antics. Mirriam and Caleb are bound together by more than location, and as they are forced to work closely together on a school assignment, they start to uncover an explosive story that has the potential to ruin lives — and both of their futures. One single truth changes everything and strengthens their bond. When Mirriam's family discovers their relationship, they decide it's time to arrange her marriage to a proper Iraqi man. Caleb must convince Mirriam that he is in it for forever — or risk losing her for good. About the Author Meet Beth Fred! A full time ELF keeper and part time writer/blogger/writing instructor. Beth likes her tea hot, her romance sweet, and her guys chivalrous. Real men hold open doors, refer to you as ma'am, make promises they keep, and aren't afraid to profess their undying love. It's not breakfast if there aren't carbs (at least, not in the South). Fajitas, carnitas, and churros are just a few of Beth's favorite things. Bet you can't guess where she's from. bethfred.blogspot.com | twitter.com/bethfred08 PARTICIPATING BLOGS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Dream Within A Dream Spiced Latte Reads Rose & Beps Blog Shelves of Books Blog YA Books of Witchcraft and Wizardry The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog PEACE LOVE BOOKS Gobs and Gobs of Books Bibliophilia, Please Paperrdolls Tressa's Wishful Endings abookandalattee book freak Writer of Wrongs Once Upon a Coffin Coffee, Books and Me Book boyfriend reviews Whimsically Yours The Biblio-Files My Crazy Book Obsession The Reader Lines All in One Place Mind-Ventures a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Promo Post: Love Exactly- Cassandra Giovanni

Description: Emma Walker was a writer who'd lost herself to someone else's anger--who had given up on ever feeling like herself again. Evan Levesque was a rock-god--the one all the woman wanted, but he'd never gotten used to the loneliness between the stage and real life. With just one cup of coffee they'll begin a journey of self-discovery at each others sides, but can Emma handle Evan's fame while dealing with her own demons? Emma's checkered personal past, a bad relationship that haunts the edges of her memories, threatens to make everything implode on them when Evan takes matters into his own hands. *Sticks and stones may break my bones, but your words...they'll destroy my soul*--Can Emma handle being put back together and facing who she's become because of it? *GENRE: New Adult>Contemporary Romance Mild to moderate sexual content Buying Links: E-BOOK only $1.99 Amazon~ Barnes & Noble~ Kobo Paperback $12.99 Signed Author Direct (US-Free shipping + Free Bookmark + Free Swag) Amazon Author Biography: Cassandra doesn't remember a time when she wasn't writing. In fact, the first time she was published was when she was seven years old and won a contest to be published in an American Girl Doll novel. Since then Cassandra has written more novels than she can count and put just as many in the circular bin. Her personal goal with her writing is to show the reader the character's stories through their dialogue and actions instead of just telling the reader what is happening. In 2012 she became a published Young Adult author, releasing *In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1)*and *Walking in the Shadows. *In 2013 she branched out by using her artistic illustrating talents to publish her first Children's novel, *The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy: Tales of Friendship (Skippy Tales, #1).* Cassandra will also release her first New Adult novel, *Love Exactly*, in the Spring of 2013. Cassandra is a freelance professional photographer known for her automotive, nature and architectural shots. She is the owner of *Gio Design Studios , *a photography and publication marketing company that designs covers and marketing materials for authors utilizing the company's photography. She is currently studying to receive a degree in Marketing. Cassandra is happily married to the man of her dreams and they live in the rolling hills of New England with the other loves of her life their dogs, Bubski and Kanga.-- ~~ Cassandra Giovanni Author JUST RELEASED! *Love Exactly--NA Contemporary Romance AVAILABLE NOW! *In Between Seasons (The Fall, #1)-- YA Post-Apocalyptic Romance Walking in the Shadows--YA Suspense Romance The Adventures of Skippy Von Flippy (Skippy Tales, #1)--Children's Illustrated Novel *www.cgiovanni.com Blog FaceBook

Monday, July 22, 2013

Release Event | Wicked Hunger by DelSheree Gladden


Book Title: Wicked Hunger
Series: SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes
Author: DelSheree Gladden
Release Date: July 9th
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Length: 95,000 words/240 pages
Publisher: GMTA Publishing LLC
Presented by: As You Wish Tours

SYNOPSIS

Vanessa and Zander Roth are good at lying. They have to be when they are hiding a deadly secret. Day after day, they struggle to rein in their uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering in order to live normal lives. Things only get worse when Ivy Guerra appears with her pink-striped hair and secrets. The vicious hunger Ivy inspires is frightening, not to mention suspicious.

Vanessa’s instincts are rarely wrong, so when they tell her that Ivy’s appearance is a sign of bad things to come, she listens. She becomes determined to expose Ivy’s secrets. Vanessa tries to warn her brother, but Zander is too enamored with Ivy to pay attention to her conspiracy theories.

One of them is right about Ivy … but if they lose control of their hunger, it won’t matter who is right and who is wrong. One little slip, and they’ll all be dead.

EXCERPT

Chapter 1: Stories

Having my back turned toward the empty parking lot as I lock up the dance studio is slightly unnerving. In the back of my mind, I know there’s nothing to fear, but I still turn the key quickly and spin around to face the approaching darkness.

I hold myself close to the door, waiting for the feeling to leave me. Several minutes pass before I realize it isn’t going away. I can either stand here all night, or start walking. It’s with a show of false bravery that I take a step forward. As I walk away from the dance studio, I know I’m being silly. My brother, Zander, is constantly telling me that fear is a weakness. I know how to defend myself.

Defending myself isn’t the problem. Controlling myself is.

The walk to my grandma’s house where Zander and I have been living for the past several years is a good five miles away. I was supposed to ask Grandma to pick me up when Zander said he couldn’t, but I thought some time alone sounded better. At least, at the time it sounded like a good idea. Now, I’m not so sure that a fifteen-year-old girl walking home alone at night is smart at all. The fading sun seems to retreat faster than normal. Within ten minutes, I am left skulking along the streets of Albuquerque in full night. My pace quickens.

I know the way home, but in the darkness I feel my courage fizzle. I am practically running past shops with my feet set in the direction of the relative safety of my neighborhood, taking any shortcut available to get me home faster. I’m not the only one out on the streets. Average looking people mill about on the sidewalks, but I keep my distance.

Eyes down, I run. I’m only two blocks away from the cramped little neighborhood where Grandma has lived for twenty years. I am almost there when I lurch to a stop in front of a dank alley filled with scuffling noises and pain.

An unsettled feeling rises in the center of my body. I try to take another step, get away, but I can’t. A muffled scream sends another shot of wretched pain shooting through the air. It’s too much to resist.

Dance bag abandoned, tennis shoes slapping against asphalt, my body powers down the alley independent of rational thought. Fragile bones snap and howls of pain erupt. Delicious satisfaction rushes in as agony fills the damp alley. Everything else is forgotten.
AUTHOR RECOMMENDATIONS
Delsheree Gladden's first book in her new YA series SomeOne Wicked This Way Comes is a riveting story of uncontrollable bloodlust that turns dealing with family, friendships, trust, devotion and love into a WICKED HUNGER~~~Susan Stec, author of Dead Girls Never Shut Up and The Grateful Undead Series.

AUTHOR BIO
DelSheree Gladden lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. The Southwest is a big influence in her writing because of its culture, beauty, and mythology. Local folk lore is strongly rooted in her writing, particularly ideas of prophecy, destiny, and talents born from natural abilities. When she is not writing, DelSheree is usually teaching yoga, coaching gymnastics, reading, painting, sewing, or working as a Dental Hygienist. Her works include Escaping Fate, Twin Souls Saga, and The Destroyer Trilogy. DelSheree's newest series, The SomeOne Wicked This Way Come series, follows Vanessa and Zander Roth, siblings with an uncontrollable hunger for pain and suffering that will either gain them limitless power or lead them to their deaths.


Cover Reveal and GIVEAWAY: Change of Heart Part 2- Scarlett Edwards



BOOK DESCRIPTION
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If you told me two weeks ago that I would fall in love with my would-be kidnapper, I would have laughed in your face.

Yet here I am today. Madly, deeply, and hopelessly in love. With Richard Blackthorne. With the man who drugged me and left me for myself... but with the same man who came back for me later.

Nobody in my life has ever given a shit. I've always been on my own—before Rich. 

Now, things are different. Feelings I'd never have thought possible are rushing through me. With Rich, I feel... alive. Alive, and treasured.

Yet doubts still poison my thoughts. Can a relationship that began with a lie lead to true happiness? How will Rich and I escape our pursuers? Will Min ever be free?

As I open my heart to the man I love, our devotion to each other will be tested. In this tumultuous world, friends become enemies and enemies friends. Every choice I make leads to consequences for those around me. The secrets Rich holds spread far deeper than he ever let on. When cracks begin to show in our relationship, I'm faced with the most important question of all: Can Rich and I ever find the peace I so dearly crave?

Change of Heart, Part 2 concludes Rich and Penny's story. Will they get the happily-ever-after they deserve? There's only one way to find out...

Release date: July 25th 2013





ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Scarlett Edwards is a full-time student and part-time writer. She hopes to switch those around soon!

She describes herself as kind of old fashioned. Scarlett writes all her stories using paper and ink. At the end of the day, she transcribes them onto her laptop. It takes a bit longer, but writing in a notebook really focuses her thoughts.
Scarlett loves vintage photography. She has an old-school film camera that was her mom’s before she was born. Scarlet used it to take pictures almost every day.
Scarlet takes inspiration from all the indie romance authors. Addison Moore, Samantha Young, Colleen Hoover, Jessica Sorensen, and everyone else...to her, those girls rock!





PARTICIPATING BLOGS
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Blog Tour Review and GIVEAWAY: Uniquely Unwelcome- Brandy Nacole

Title: Uniquely Unwelcome (The Shadow World #1)
Author: Brandy Nacole
Pages: 267
Release Date: September 20th, 2012
Summary: 
Being unique isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
After searching all over the world for someone as unique as she is, Racquelfinds 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 helpRacquel unravel the strangest mystery that has ever plagued the Shadow World?
Rating: 4/5 Stars Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. First off, I just want to say how freaking amazing I think this cover is! It is both beautiful and powerful and makes me want to dive right in to the book. Uniquely Unwelcome is one of those paranormal  books where you don't just get one type of creature, you get all types. But this book has something extra that makes it special, it also has hybrids. There is also a very creative backstory to how they hybrids came to be. But in saying that there were also times where what Brandy Nacole was saying about them was contradictory to other aspects of the story. Also there were a few errors that sometimes made it difficult to navigate through this novel. But it was a good read and I will be picking up book two for sure. Raquel was a very interesting character because or her intriguing heritage. I really want to learn more about her early life and the kinds of hardships that she had to go through because of what she is. I would have liked to accompany her on her journey to find others like her self. I also enjoyed watching her come into her own. I feel like she grew up even more over the course of the bookend was finally staring to be confident in herself. But she did disappoint me because she hadn't really cared to learn anything about any of the bloodlines that made hers up. If I was her I would have looked up everything and anything on those species just so I would know what I could be dealing with. I can't  wait to learn more about Raquel and her unique powers. I will absolutely carry on with this series. I did really like this book and I want to find out what will happens with our heroine and how she will cope with herself once she finds out more. I would recommend this series to paranormal lovers.
About The 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, teaching , and singing like a rock star at a concert for no one else but herself. She loves plants, but unfortunately is a killer of anything that requires water but can’t voice (scream) their needs.
She is the author of The Shadow World Series and The Spiritual Discord Series
LINKS:
Brandy Nacole’s blog: http://brandynacole.blogspot.com.es
 BOOK LINKS:
GIVEAWAY
Details: (1) signed paperback of Uniquely Unwelcome, (2) ebooks of Uniquely Unwelcome and the sequel Blood Burdens (2) ebooks of Broken Faith.
There’ll be 5 winners. 1st place: (1) signed paperback of Uniquely Unwelcome. 2nd and 3rd place: (1) ebook of Uniquely Unwelcome and the sequel Blood Burdens. 4th and 5th place(1) ebook of Broken Faith.
*The giveaway will be international*
a Rafflecopter giveaway QUESTION OF THE DAY Based just on the cover, would you pick this book up to read? Why or why not?

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Blog Tour and Review: Skinless Part I & II- L. M. Davis

Skinless Banner
Skinless Part 1
FinalSkinlessMedium
Title: Skinless (Part 1)
Author: L.M. Davis
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Novella
Description:
Looking at Luca, who’s just saved my life, I can’t respond. No explanation I might offer will satisfy after all of the extraordinary things he’s just witnessed. —Ankh AnCaela Murphy's body is a ticking bomb that only her mom can defuse. The problem: her mother is missing and presumed taken by the Skinless, bogeymen from Ankh’s home world who have been hunting her and her mother for two years--ever since they fled that world and certain death. With help from Luca, a boy whose touch confuses and who refuses to back down, Ankh races against time to find her mother before the bomb inside of her detonates, taking her life. Tracking the Skinless across the country, the pair search for her mother and uncover the horrifying truth behind the generations-old war.
Teaser
LUCA We are crouched down in the back of Mat’s car with a blanket thrown over our heads; a necessary precaution since the whole plan’s pretty much blown if the psychos spot us on the way out of town. Ankh’s cradled against my chest and I’m cursing testosterone with every fiber of my being because even in the middle of the strangest six hours of my life the only thing on my mind right now is how amazing it is to be this close to her and how good her hair smells. Mat swerves into another lane—despite the fact that he would probably curl up in a ball and die if anything ever happen to this car, he’s an amazingly bad driver—and Ankh falls against me. She tries to smother it, but I hear her cry of pain. I wish she would have let us take her to the hospital, but she wants no part of it. I have the aspirin Bret gave me for when things get really bad, but she doesn’t want those either. Though I guess I can’t blame her for that one; I’d probably be wary too, if aspirin knocked me on my ass and had me slurring words like a drunken frat boy. The car slows, which must mean we’re close to Boston, because that’s where we agreed to make the change over. I put my hands around Ankh’s waist, with intentions that are as pure as the new fallen snow. All I want is to steady her so that the motion causes as little pain as necessary. Of course, even though my brain decrees the absence of perverted feels in the act, my body doesn’t seem to take heed. I’m having all kinds of reactions to being this close to Ankh, absolutely none of which are within a hundred miles of being appropriate. The car door can’t open soon enough and when it does, I throw the blanket off our heads and scramble out of the car. We’re at a gas station right off the expressway. Overhead, cars zoom by. Chuck and Mat stand around like sentinels scouting for trouble. Behind us, Bret pulls up in her mother’s car, which she will use to get the guys back to Pilgrim’s Creek. She jumps out of the car and comes running to the back door of Mat’s car, where Ankh’s just managed to swing her legs over the edge. I don’t know what she’s thinking but she wraps her arms around Ankh a pulls her in for a hug. Even though it must hurt like hell, Ankh returns the squeeze. “Be careful.” She’s holding Ankh, but at the same time she’s looking over her shoulder, straight into my eyes. Chuck and Mat are watching the whole scene with looks that say they wish they had the guts to take Ankh into their arms that way. Their goodbyes are definitely less passionate. I hop into the car and start it because I can’t stand one more minute of this moping and because this is no time for the drawn out goodbyes so someone has to cut this short. Besides, the whole thing is just a little too final feeling, like they think their never going to see Ankh again and in my mind that’s not even a possibility. She’s not leaving forever, so I wish everyone would just quit acting like she is.
Title: Skinless Part I Rating: 4/5 Stars Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is a strange book but only because I am not sure what the creatures we are dealing with are. I only know that they can appear as humans when they want to. Is all very mysterious and hopefully in Part II we will learn more information bout what is going on. This was a quick read filled with action and adventure and left me wanting more. I did enjoy the switching between POV's of Luca and Ankh. It showed a uniqueness of each character. I loved knowing their feelings about one another. I'm excited to carry along on their journey and also to learn more about each of them. I would recommend this book to sci- fi readers.
Skinless Part 2
LB2-3 Medium
Title: Skinless (Part 2)
Author: L.M. Davis
Genre: YA Sci-Fi Novella
Book Description:
All I can say is when the girl I like looks at me with wide, freaked out eyes and then runs away, the only thing that I can do run after her. Even if she didn’t ask me, even if she told me not to, I’m not superman enough to fight the instinct to protect her. -Luca For Luca Valken, AnCaela Murphy is like no other girl he's ever met and that's exactly what makes him so crazy about her. Never in his wildest imaginings, and they got pretty wild, did he dream what that difference truly means. By the time that he's followed her to Atlanta, in search of her missing mother, he's in too deep. Too deeply entangled in the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance. Too deeply terrified for Ankh's safety. Too deeply in love to ever consider walking away.
Teaser
ANKH Squeezing Luca’s hand in mine, his anxiousness is my own. His pulse beats too fast between his thumb and index finger. His palm is damp with sweat. I’m also afraid, but somehow holding Luca’s hand helps. We reach the bottom of another flight and now there are only two more. We’re almost there. The pounding startles me. Abruptly, the footsteps, which had been fading seem like they’re right above us and coming down fast. Luca grips my hand tighter and we abandon any attempt at stealth. All that matters now is getting away. At the bottom of the last flight, the door opens not to the street but into another hallway. Ahead, through a glass wall is the turquoise swimming pool. We veer right, dashing down the hall and out into a huge lounge filled with cream and gold furniture. In the center of the room, an escalator leads down. Behind us, the door slams and noise echoes across the silent hotel. We run that much faster, trying to reach the escalator before our escape route vanishes. The escalator is deactivated, so we take the frozen stairs two at a time. Out off the corner of my eye, I watch the gray figures spilling into the lounge. Title: Skinless Part II Rating: 4/5 Stars Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This series is so weird, but in an interesting way. I'm still not sure what exactly these creatures are but I am going to agree with Luca and say aliens lol. L. M. Davis has a way to keep the reader wanting to know about this book, I think the weirdness of it all is the "it" factor in the case of Skinless. Part II starts off exactly where Part I left off. But I still feel nowhere near knowing the truth about anything. Despite that, I am still excited to read the next instalment because I want to know if Lucas's feelings for Ankh will change now that her secret has been exposed. But I am going to start needing answers very soon, because if they keep building up with no end in sight I would probably become bored. Again I would recommend this series to sci- fi lovers. Also make sure that you are prepared to be confused and not receive any clues until the author feels like giving them to you.
Author Bio
L. M. Davis loves great storytelling. She needs nothing more than a good book and a comfy chair to be happy. She was born in the south, raised in the north, and has a few degrees under her belt. She doesn't like to admit it, but she may have something of a "shifter" fetish. She still hasn’t gotten her black cat, but she thinks about it everyday. Her thoughts go something like this: "I really should get a cat." For now, she contents herself with spoiling the pets of her friends and family. She is the author of Interlopers: A Shifters Novel, Posers: A Shifters Novel, and skinless. Social Media Twitter: @lmdaviswrites Blog Goodreads Purchase Links Amazon Part 1