{July 25, 2012} {Review} Gray Moon Rising by S.M. Reine (Season’s of the Moon #4)

From Goodreads: It’s been almost a year since Rylie Gresham was bitten by a werewolf on Gray Mountain. Now something is beckoning her back to the place she was attacked, along with every other werewolf in the world. But they aren’t the only ones heeding the call. A group of hunters notices them gathering and sees it as their chance to wipe out the entire species.

Seth is about to graduate high school when he learns of the final hunt. He secretly plans to save Rylie and his werewolf brother even though he has to play along with the hunters to do it. But Rylie doesn’t want to be saved. She’s already decided to solve her problems with a silver bullet if answers aren’t waiting on Gray Mountain.

One way or another, everything is about to end—whether it means Rylie’s liberation or the end of her life…

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Reading this novel was bittersweet as it’s the last in the wonderful Season’s of the Moon series. Over the last year, I have really gotten to know and love Rylie, and her story captivated me from the very beginning. I love stories about werewolves, and this in-depth look at the battle between Rylie’s humanity and her new, carnivorous nature, as well as the love story between a werewolf and a hunter, made for an epic series that I really enjoyed. And, this last segment was exceptionally well done!

Once again, Rylie is faced with an impossible choice, and I loved watching her work her way through her own issues while attempting to right all the wrongs and find out just what exactly Gray Mountain is trying to tell her. This cross-country story was a rollercoaster ride, with its ups and downs. My heart both rejoiced with the triumphs, and ripped apart alongside Rylie’s as the hunters began their killing spree on the way to Gray Mountain.

Rylie has matured so much since the fatal day she was bitten, and her companions, Seth and Abel, have matured right alongside her. In my opinion, this is one of the best series out there concerning werewolves, and Reine has done a splendid job creating a lifelike yet surreal world in which the reader can easily become a part. I highly suggest reading this series. Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Check out the other three novels in this wonderful series:

Six Moon Summer (#1)

All Hallows Moon (#2)

Long Night Moon (#3)

{July 24, 2012} {Review} Fall Girl by Marybeth Smith

From Goodreads: Annabelle has always taken her bipolar brother under her wing, but after years of acting as his personal disaster janitor, she finds herself fighting against her lifelong compulsion to take responsibility for his actions and fix all his mistakes. It’s easier said than done, especially when his actions affect her own future.

The struggle between letting her brother deal with his own consequences and fixing just one more thing for him – so she can keep the life she’s always known – pushes and pulls at her as each mistake he makes lands her further and further from the future she had planned. In the end, the decision she makes about whether or not to play clean up crew for his most recent disaster, does not in fact produce the results she expected … but … it just so happens, it might not be such a horrible thing after all.

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This is a great novel focusing on the life of a normal teenage girl attempting to protect and understand her bipolar brother. Smith does a great job setting up her novel, and I highly enjoyed it. It’s a very well written, true-to-life story, and Annabelle’s struggles are very poignant, especially her belief that she’s a terrible sister, which is heartbreaking.

Watching her deal with her own issues, as well as trying to keep her brother out of trouble was very interesting. Bullied by her ex, in love with her ex’s best friend, and trying to understand what her brother could have possibly done to get permanently kicked off the track team, voided any chance at a college scholarship, Annabelle feels like she’s between a rock and a hard place. I really loved watching this story unfold from Annabelle’s point of view. She doesn’t hold anything back, telling it as she sees it, and the raw emotions she feels adds to the validity and depth of the story. I really enjoyed it, and recommend this to all. Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{July 23, 2012} {Review} Darkness Rising by Karly Kirkpatrick (Into the Shadows #2)

From Goodreads: Branded as an Enemy of the State, Paivi Anderson left everything behind to start a new life. Torn from her parents and now a fugitive from justice, along with her brother, Torsten, and former frenemy Christian, she is desperate to save her family and escape her country’s tyrannical rule. But in order to outsmart the Anti-Terrorism Coalition, she’ll need to learn to control her powers. When Paivi discovers the true meaning of the EOS list, she realizes that she may end up saving much more than just her parents.

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I have been eagerly awaiting this sequel to Into the Shadows. Dealing with mass hysteria and emulating the atrocities that happened to innocents during the Red Scare, the Holocaust, and the Japanese Internment camps, Kirkpatrick’s Into the Shadows Series quickly captivates the reader. Likewise, the message she expounds about prejudice is loud and clear, and I think both of these novels are must reads for our youth.

Paivi is still on the run with her brother and Christian, but as her powers increase, her determination to fight back becomes overpowering, and our beloved characters begin making plans to take on the government. I wasn’t expecting this development in the novel, but am glad that Kirkpatrick added it as the evil needs to be stopped, and in a way, it reminded me of the hit TV series Heroes, which I really enjoyed. With their superpowers marking them an enemy of the state, and her parent nearly dead in a concentration camp, there really isn’t anything Paivi and her friends can do but fight back.

Though a bit slower in terms of action than the first novel, I still found this a very good, enticing read, and I am hoping the final installment will come out sooner rather than later as this novel once again ends on a cliffhanger, and the suspense is killing me. Four stars.

I purchased a copy of this novel from Amazon.

{July 22, 2012} {Review} White Boy Highway by Stephen R. Lemler

From Goodreads: When Frank Benjamin, a Jewish teenager from New York, agrees to drive his black maid, Esther, to North Carolina to visit her sick sister in the summer of 1967, he has no idea he is about to set out on the ride of his life. What is supposed to be a quick and easy drive to and from Eden, North Carolina, soon turns into an odyssey, during which Frank is chased down by a gang of bikers, unknowingly befriends the Grand Wizard of a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, rescues Esther from a cult, and finds himself in a number of unexpected situations. Along the way, Frank and Esther make both friends and enemies, all the while discovering a thing or two about race relations in 1960s America.

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If you like cross-country road trips full of crazy adventures, then this novel is for you. Looking head on at racism in a world still rampant with Jim Crow Laws and the KKK, this novel puts both Frank and Esther in some precarious situations that are both harrowing and occasionally comical. Though I found nearly all the situations to be unbelievable in their own right, the themes and motifs of the story are strong in this coming of age story. The writing style is very vivid and telling, and the story itself is easy to follow. I was reminded a little bit of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road as I read—though not dealing with the beat generation, Lemler’s novel, White Boy Highway, does spin a very intriguing cross-country tale that I think many will enjoy. Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{July 21, 2012} {Review} Awry by Chelsea Fine (Anew #2)

From Goodreads: Sometimes love is meant to be. But sometimes…love is the death of you….

Seventeen-year-old Scarlet has just died. Only, dying isn’t unusual for a girl under a centuries old curse that left her semi-immortal.

This time, though, she comes back to her current life instead of awaking in a new one, and she realizes the curse is changing. Together with the immortal Archer brothers, Scarlet must piece together her life and try to break the curse before her impending death comes again.

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This wonderful sequel picks up right where the first novel, Anew, left off, throwing the reader right into the midst of tragedy and bloodshed, captivating them from the very first page. If you haven’t yet read Anew, then I highly suggest you do, because it’s amazing, and Awry is just as enticing and mind blowing as the first! These are books you don’t want to miss, and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next installment in this riveting series!

In the first novel, we meet Scarlet and the drop-dead gorgeous Archer twins, Gabriel and Tristan. Together, they embark on a journey to help Scarlet survive her curse, and it’s an extremely well written, entertaining read concerning reincarnation, the fountain of youth, and witchcraft. I was mesmerized by the first novel, though not all my questions were answered in the first installment. Now, insert Awry. In this captivating novel, we are given glimpses into all the characters’ pasts, answering many questions the previous novel left unclear. We are drawn into the story and watch it unfold as we learn just who met Scarlet first, how she came to love both twins, and how the betrayal of Gabriel and Tristan’s father brought about the curse in a round-about way.

This story shifts between past and present, and as Scarlet begins to remember her past, putting together the mystery surrounding the fountain of youth, the novel becomes impossible to set aside. I ended up reading this book in one sitting; it’s that’s intense and amazing… especially as we realize, along with the characters, that the curse-casting witch isn’t actually out of the picture… Five stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Update: The final novel in this fabulous series, Avow, is now available.

{July 21, 2012} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 3–Ten Books for 10 Bucks

These eBooks caught my eye and are (currently) ONLY 99 Cents (Both on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel–I checked). I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy!

Vampire Shift by Tim O’Rourke

When twenty-year-old police recruit Kiera Hudson is posted to the remote town of The Ragged Cove, her life is changed forever. Investigating a series of horrific murders, grave desecrations and missing persons, with her unique ability of ‘seeing’, Kiera soon realises her life is in danger.

But when Kiera is crewed with Police officer Luke Bishop, not only is her mind and heart opened to a terrifying new world, she comes to suspect that Luke might be involved in the killings.

In a race against time to unearth the truth, Kiera must discover the identity of who or what is behind the gruesome deaths on the ‘Vampire Shift’.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Betrayal by Mayandree Michel

At seventeen, Cordelia is an ordinary teen with an extraordinary and frightening secret. A secret that induces vivid dreams which she not only experiences true love, but crippling fear while barely escaping with her life each night.

After a life altering event, Cordelia has an unexpected encounter with Evan, the mysterious boy from her dreams, who reveals who and what she is – a descendant of the Greek gods. At that moment everything she knows of her world is a lie, and she must leave the present and go into the past to assume the role she was put on this earth for – safeguarding her ancient empire amidst evil forces that toil hastily to destroy it.

In a race against time, Cordelia must decide if she is truly a part of this dangerous world, or risk defying the gods, and ultimately lose the boy who has put a claim on her heart.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Blood Calling by Joshua Grover David Patterson

When Lucy Leary turned 18, her life fell apart. She crashed her car, her best friend abandoned her, her parents divorced, and her grandfather passed away, leaving her a single possession: A vampire slaying kit with a note that said, “THEY’RE REAL. FIGHT THEM.”

Now Lucy must stop the oldest, most dangerous vampire in history, before it can kill her family.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNED AND NOBEL.

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The Underworld by Jessica Sorensen

The Underworld is the sequel to The Fallen Star (Fallen Star Series, Volume 1) ***BOOK ONE, THE FALLEN STAR, IS CURRENTLY FREE ON AMAZON***

Gemma thought her mind was gone, but she was wrong. And now she is left trying to figure out the truth to what Stephan is planning to do with her and the star, before it’s too late.

But finding out the truth is hard, especially since Gemma doesn’t know who she can trust. There may be only one person who Gemma can turn to for answers, but that means having to go to the one place no one wants to go—The Underworld.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Immortal by Lauren Burd

The wound inflicted only a few minutes before was nearly healed. A small cut was the only sign that anything had occurred.

I watched in disbelief as it finished closing and eventually disappeared.

“What are you?” Gods, demons,vampires eighteen year old Alina doesn’t believe in any of them, until she meets Samuel and Duncan, and discovers a world that could destroy everything she loves.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Black Moon by Rebecca A. Rogers

As the rise in supernatural disturbances continually expands to more obvious locations, Candra’s family and friends are on a never-ending hunt to remove the region’s dark magic.

Greater forces are at work, though, as an accidental link is formed between Candra and Ben, “marking” their souls and coupling them forever. They can now see each other’s thoughts and speak to one another telepathically—bad news for sworn enemies.

Occults spreading across Hartford, along with Candra and Ben’s mishap, are part of a bigger plan, one that neither the Lowells nor the Conways ever saw coming. There is more than one Ancient in their midst, and these primordial beings are lying in wait until Candra inherits her power.

A power which hasn’t been seen in over five hundred years.

A power which balances one of her enemy’s.

These two powers combined can change the course of history. In order to survive a battle with the Ancients and protect their abilities, the Lowell’s and Conway’s will have to work together. Can they rise above their feud, or will they lose everything?

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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The Fire Watcher by Chip Hill

Jacob Adams was living the American dream: a loving family, a new home, and a high-profile job designing the world’s first atomic power plant. But when tragedy strikes his family, he turns to alcohol to deaden his pain and grief. He becomes an alcoholic and eventually loses his home, his job, and his faith. Thirty years later Jacob lives in poverty in the shadow of the now defunct power plant, where he works as a janitor.

Jacob’s life takes one more unexpected turn when he becomes trapped in the pitch-black recesses of the plant. In his forced sobriety, the bitter memories he has been drowning for decades begin to surface all around him, dragging him into a pit of regret and despair. Suffering the ravages of alcohol withdrawal combined with the chilling effects of sensory deprivation, he embarks on an emotional and spiritual journey that will take him to the brink of insanity and back. Before his captivity comes to an end, Jacob — like his namesake from the Old Testament — will find himself wrestling with God.

The town sheriff, a State Police detective, and even a local priest, follow different clues as they search for Jacob. The widening mystery touches off a cascade of changes in the lives of those connected to him. A friendship broken by betrayal is mended, a long abandoned romance is rekindled, dark secrets about the power plant and its caretakers come to light, and a young man’s life is forever altered as he uncovers the tragedy that sent Jacob spiraling downward so many years ago.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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The Simple Habits of Happy People by John Trimmer

What can you do to bring joy and contentment into your life? In 21 short chapters, this thoughtful “daily reader” offers simple action steps that will help you avoid problems, reduce stress, achieve positive goals, and live a happier, more productive life.

Using simple language and numerous examples, the author proves that happiness is a choice: the path toward a better life begins when we replace unproductive habits with positive ones, when we choose optimism over negativity, when we stop trying to change others and instead focus on changing ourselves.

With an inspiring foreword by psychologist Dr. Leslie H. Donnelly.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL (which is currently 2.99, but should be 99 cents, so check back).

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What a Boy Wants by Nyra Dawn

Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love…

With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Rising by Stephanie Judice

Having waited a millennium to return to the fertile feeding ground of earth, the dark giants break through a portal and storm out into the world in the guise of a massive hurricane—famished and fierce. Across the ocean, seventeen-year-old Gabriel Goddard is being plagued by terrifying nightmares about creatures that singe and burn the flesh then absorb the life energy of humans and devour the ashes.

A chance meeting with Clara Dunaway immediately distracts Gabe from bad dreams. He has always had a sort of sixth sense—to feel the emotions of others around him. Clara’s presence numbs his other sense, nearly knocking him into a hypnotic state. Bewildered and fascinated, he is lured in by her. When Clara finally confesses that she has a similar gift to see auras around people, a spark flames between them, ignited by a paranormal force. Fate soon reveals that there is a higher purpose for their attraction.

Along with Jeremy, the head-bangin’ metal head; Ben, the air-headed golden boy; Melanie, the kind- hearted Creole; and the old hermit named Homer, they must face this enemy as one. Discovering that they are descended from an ancient clan of Norse warriors, they awaken their dormant powers, preparing for the dark giants’ imminent invasion of their home. A shadow of darkness veils the land. Will the Setti rise to fulfill their long-awaited destiny?

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

{July 20, 2012} {ARC Review} Circle of Silence by Carol M. Tanzman

From Goodreads: THE BIGGEST STORY OF MY LIFE COULD BE HOW IT ENDS It’s my turn to run a “Campus News” crew, and I’ve put together a team that can break stories wide open. And Washington Irving High has a truly great one to cover, if only we can find a lead.

A secret society has formed in our school. It announced its presence with pranks: underwear on the flagpole, a toilet in the hallway, cryptic notes. A circle of silence keeps the society a mystery. No one knows its members, agenda or initiation secrets-until a student lands in the hospital under “strange” circumstances.

I “will” blow this story wide open and stop others from being hurt…or worse. And while my ex, Jagger, might want to help, I don’t trust him yet. (And, no, not because of our past together. That is “not” important to this story.)

But whether you find me, Valerie Gaines, reporting in front of the camera, or a victim in the top story of the newscast…be sure to watch “Campus News” at 9:00 a.m. this Friday.

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This is a highly entertaining, well written mystery novel that kept my attention from start to finish. All the characters were amazing, and I loved trying to figure out the truth behind MP and their pranks, which become more sadistic as they continue. Tanzman really is a gifted storyteller, and I can’t wait to read more by her as I anticipate her other novel, Dancergirl, is probably just as riveting.

I really love Valerie. Yes, she makes a few really stupid decisions all in the name of a story, but her dedication and yearning to be number one, never losing sight of her goals, is what makes her such a great character! And the tension between her and Jagger… yikes! Though I loved to hate him, I still really liked him as well, which is a bit ironic, but…

Not knowing who to trust throughout this novel, I has many theories about the identities of those in MP, but even when a really telling piece of evidence came up, I didn’t put two and two together until Valerie figured it out. In my opinion, any writer who can keep me constantly guessing and highly engaged is a literary god/dess, and Tanzman fits the bill. I highly suggest everyone read this amazing novel. Five stars.

Harlequin has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on July 24, 2012.

{July 19, 2012} {Review} The Founders’ Code by T.S. Welti (Parker Chance #2)

From Goodreads: After a year of dodging possessed superhumans, being cooped up in the dorms 24 hours a day feels like pure torture to Parker… until the truth about the people closest to him changes everything.

In this second installment of the Parker Chance Series, Parker finds himself rescued from a monotonous summer on campus when he’s whisked away to New York to visit his only family member. His time in New York proves even more boring until he allows his curiosity to get the better of him and he discovers a secret that will fester in his mind all year long. Parker’s sophomore adventures at Knobhouse Academy are teeming with encoded rings, encounters with the Infallible Five, water monsters, and frustrating prejudice. The Founders’ Code, the action-packed follow-up to The Fifth Specter, is rich in both mystery and heart.

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Harry Potter fans rejoice! The second installment of the Parker Chance series is here, and if you enjoyed Harry, Hermoine, and Ron, then you’ll also enjoy Parker, Nora, and Lucas in this sci-fi mystery novel. In this second installment, Parker is once again back at Knobhouse Academy attempting to understand the disappearance of his mother. With the development of a few secrets and keys, as well as a mysterious healing power, Parker has once again found himself wrapped up in a world filled with adventure and wrought with danger.

I really enjoy Parker’s character. Yes, he is very similar to Harry Potter, and yes, so are his trusty side-kicks, but instead of witchcraft and wizardry, this series takes on a whole new look at the paranormal, adding a sci-fi feel to it all, and making it just as fun to read. Just as action packed as the first novel, The Fifth Specter, Welti engages the reader through the many different situations the three heroes find themselves in.

If you’ve enjoyed any of the Harry Potter series, you should definitely check out this series, and while you don’t necessarily need to start with book one, it’s always my suggestion to do so. Three stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{July 18, 2012} {ARC Review} Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter (Goddess Test #2.5)

From Goodreads: For millennia we’ve caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimee Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness….

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal….

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another….

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others-but never knew true loss before….

Henry/Hades’s solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope….

Five original novellas of love, loss and longing and the will to survive throughout the ages.

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This novel, with its five novellas, is an absolutely fantastic addition to Carter’s amazing Goddess Test series. I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first, as I’m not usually a fan of multi storied novels, or anthologies, etc., but Carter did an amazing job brining each novella together and the stories all built off one another quite nicely. We learn how Zeus became number one out of all his brothers and sisters, the treachery behind most of their decisions, and the heartbreak that went with it. After reading this and seeing how the siblings treated one another, and seeing Carter’s twist on the myths, the two current novels make even more sense. There were lots of “aha” moments while I read, and I got a kick out of it. I especially enjoyed learning how they all got their names, like Henry and Calliope, etc., and how the goddess test actually came to be in the first place. Absolutely fantastic!

Truth be told, I’m actually not a fan of any of the gods/goddesses aside from Hades/Henry, though they all have heartbreaking stories. I would never want to live for eternity, that’s for sure! This is a must read, and, in my opinion, can be read prior to any of the full novels in the books, though it fits perfectly in between 2 and 3. Five stars.

Harlequin has been extremly gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on July 31, 2012.

{July 17, 2012} {Review} Asylum Lake by R.A. Evans

From Goodreads: Memories are like water. Some float on the surface bright and clear. Some lie deeper – blurred by time and distance. Others rest far from the light in the depths of the darkness. These memories are best forgotten. At the bottom of Asylum Lake the unremembered are growing restless.

After the sudden death of his wife, Brady Tanner moves to the small Michigan town where he spent summers as a youth. But he soon learns that small towns can be stained by memories…and secrets too. As Brady is drawn into unearthing the secrets of the town and of the abandoned psychiatric hospital on the shores of Asylum Lake, he discovers a new love in an old friend. But there is an evil presence lurking beneath the waters of the lake. What is the source of this evil–and what does it want with Brady Tanner?

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Although a little bit slow in the beginning, this novel turned out to be a real gem. There are many mysterious happenings throughout the book, and the reader is sent on a rollercoaster ride as the plot unfolds, looking at both the past and present to give the reader the full picture. From the words appearing on the scrabble game to the Asylum wristband, I found this novel to be very creepy! And, reader beware, there were some very intense, horrifying, gross, bloody moments. There is some dismemberment, and though I hate to say it, little children are involved, which makes it all the more disturbing. Thus, readers should take note that this is a harrowing read; it’s not a light beach read, but one that will leave you reeling. Four stars.

I purchased my copy of this novel from Amazon.

{July 16, 2012} GIVEAWAY!!! {Review} Spirit Binder by Meghan Ciana Doidge (The Cascadian Chronicles #1)

From Goodreads: Theo woke severely injured, covered in blood, and missing ten years of her life.

Just to complicate matters further, Theo was born under a prophecy; one that has rabid followers with three different interpretations, all of whom are willing to sacrifice her in order to fulfill it.

Not knowing if she can trust the stranger she’s betrothed to, the warrior visiting her dreams, or even her own mother, Theo tries to piece together her past only to find that her present is far more dangerous.

It’s the power of her own blood that scares her most of all. This is a responsibility Theo never wanted, and a destiny she cannot deny, “All because of a prophecy she was trying not to believe in, but kept fulfilling.”

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Imagine waking up 10 years in the future, not knowing what happened to you, why it happened, or who you can trust in your new life. Your mother is distant, you have few friends, and you find that you have some strange powers that scare many people, including yourself. All recollections of the past are gone, and you’re starting over. Just imagine.

Theo isn’t only imagining this; she’s living it. As scary as it is, Theo is a strong female lead character, attempting to find herself and understand the truth about her family—prophecy included. As she begins to get her memories back, and learns from her friends and “lovers” what she’s capable of, Theo becomes a self-assertive young woman set on doing what’s right and protecting those she loves, regardless of the costs.

This is a fairly fast-paced novel, moving very quickly and endearing the characters to the reader’s heart as it unfolds. I truly enjoyed all the characters, even Theo’s mother (after a while), and found the entire premise of this novel to be quite unique and very interesting. Though a cliffhanger is in tow, I didn’t feel like it left me hanging in such a way that I was dissatisfied, and I believe that lovers of science fiction and fantasy will really enjoy this novel. Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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And now for the Giveaway! Meghan Ciana Doidge is giving away one EBOOK copy of her book to one lucky winner. Will it be you?

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway from Meghan Ciana Doidge. All you have to do is complete the mandatory entry on the rafflecopter form, but extra entries are available!!!

To enter you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)
-Fill in the form with your name and email (extra entries optional)

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on August 5th. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on August 5th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{July 15, 2012} {ARC Review} Before You Go by James Preller

From Goodreads: The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he’s named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude’s house is kept dark, and no one talks much—it’s been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool seven years ago when Jude was supposed to be watching her.

Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again.

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I’m sorry to say that I was highly disappointed with this novel. The synopsis made me think that the story would be trailing Jude’s life as it spins out of control—focus on the spinning out of control—but what I found is that this novel actually spends almost all of its time following Jude as he works a dead-end summer job he hates while attempting to woo a girl and fall in love. And, quite honestly, I found it all a bit boring. Jude isn’t my favorite, and Becka rubbed me the wrong way throughout most of the story. I also found the text to be a bit choppy, and it took over 70 percent of the novel to move on from everyday teenage life to a tragic happening that leaves Jude devastated and falling to pieces. I personally thought a lot of the novel could have been cut out, but it was already short—I think I needed more development of the characters, to the point that I cared about them, because by the time Jude’s life falls apart, I couldn’t have cared less. One and a half stars.

Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group was extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on July 17, 2012.

{July 14, 2012} Shackled Blog Tour: Guest Post By Angela Carling–Author of Shackled and Unbreakable Love

Hi, my name is Angela Carling and I am the author of a tender YA romance called Unbreakable Love and an intense little book about love and power named Shackled. More about these books on my website, angelacarling.com. –Amazon or B&N http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Carling/e/B006P15NOG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/angela-carling

A few weeks ago, I was approached by a set of Brothers who write screenplays. They’d come across Shackled and wanted to adapt the book into a screenplay and then have it made into a made for TV movie. As you can imagine, I was amazed and excited. Then I found myself asking why me, why my work? This question sent me on an information quest about books and movies. Here’s what I learned.

First, I asked the screenwriter why he was interested in my book. He answered simply; it is already written in a cinematic way and has a subject matter that people can really connect with. He then went on to explain that some books, no matter how riveting the storyline, do not make good movies. This piqued my curiosity and sent my little whirly mind sorting through books and movies I have read or seen. Did you know the infamous Godfather movies were based off a far less compelling book and the chosen actors gave new dimension to the Devil wears Prada, which I didn’t know was also originally a book. This year alone, fifteen blockbuster books are destined to hit the big screen including Mockingjay, one of my all time favorite stories in the Hunger Games trilogy.

So how does it happen? How does a book get made into a screenplay, then eventually into a movie for either the big screen or TV? Well, I can tell you about the first part (a screenplay) but not about the second, at least not yet. :)

1. An author writer must be approached or accepted by a screenplay writer or company capable of adapting their story into a movie.

2. The author is then presented with an option, a contract which basically gives permission for the screenwriter to adapt the book into a screenplay and pitch the storyline/script to studios, actors, distributors and I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone else. The option usually has a specific timeline, for example one year. This gives the screenplay writer one year to create and market his adaptation before he or she has to renew or walk away. The author is always paid a fee for the option and that fee can be anything both parties agree on. For example, the option I signed was for two years, with the possibility to renew for six months.

3. If the screenplay is bought and actually makes it to the point that filming begins there is another, much more complicated contract that must be haggled over and signed by all the parties involved. That is where a specialty lawyer trained in entertainment contracts comes into play. Can we say Chaching $$$, for the lawyer not for me! Each contract can be customized. Some author’s have a lot of influence over the screenplay and what happens on film, but most don’t. It is all up to the bigwigs involved and the signed contract. For me, if all goes well, next year at this time we should be up in Washington State filming Shackled. Up until that point, anything can happen and in my experience, life is never dull or goes according to plans!!

What will the next two years hold for me? Who knows, but I have a feeling I’m going to continue to learn about the prizes and perils of turning a book into a movie. Now the question I have for you is what is your favorite book to movie adaptation? Leave me a comment, I’d love to know!

{July 14, 2012} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 2–Ten Books for 10 Bucks

These eBooks caught my eye and are (currently) ONLY .99 cents (Both on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel–I checked). I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so don’t shoot the messenger. Enjoy!

Gifts of the Blood by Vicki Keire

Caspia Chastain, art student and barista, is gifted (or plagued, if you ask her) with the ability to draw the future, usually at the worst possible times. Her parents are four years dead; everyday she watches her brother Logan fight his cancer diagnosis. Things get worse for Caspia the day she draws an angry stranger framed by planes of light and violent, bloody images. That exact same stranger walks up to her out of nowhere mere hours later knowing things he shouldn’t, like her name, her brother’s illness, and her strange ability. That’s when Caspia discovers her hometown is a refuge for supernatural beings both Light and Dark, and she and her brother find themselves caught up in a war between the two that predates their very birth. In order to protect herself and her brother, she turns to the one who seems to have started it all: the man who walked out of her sketchbook calling himself Ethan.

But Ethan has his own agenda, Logan’s getting sicker fast, and Caspia finds that drawing the future isn’t the only strange thing she can do. Meanwhile, someone really wants all of them dead. In a town where Dark doesn’t equal Evil and Light isn’t always Good, Caspia and Ethan find themselves making strange alliances and even stranger sacrifices in order to protect those they love.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Demon Kissed by H.M. Ward

The Valefar boy tricked Ivy Taylor into kissing him, but he took much more than a kiss – he stole her soul and left her within inches of death. By surviving, Ivy is drawn into the conflict between the Martis and the Valefar. The war between these two immortal forces has raged for millennia without distraction. Until now.

Ivy is an anomaly-she is the only person who has ever walked away from a demon kiss alive. Her survival gives her unique and deadly abilities. Too powerful to ignore, Ivy is a threat to both armies. These two ancient enemies will stop at nothing to kill the seventeen-year-old.

Surviving is nothing new for headstrong Ivy, but her survival has never depended on another person before. This time it does. And if she misplaces her trust, she’s dead. To her horror, she starts falling in love at the worst possible time-with the enemy. He appears to be protecting her. But she can’t be certain if he is trying to help her, or help himself to her power. For Ivy, trusting the right person is the difference between love and survival, or a deadly demon kiss.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Demons at Deadnight by A & E Kirk

For seventeen-year-old Aurora Lahey, survival is a lifestyle.

DEMONIC DESTINY
Aurora has the crappiest superpower on the planet. And it’s just unleashed a hit squad from hell. Demons are on the hunt, salivating to carve her carcass into confetti.

CHARISMATIC KILLERS
The Hex Boys—mysterious, hunky, and notorious for their trails of destruction—have the answers Aurora needs to survive. But their overload of deadly secrets and suspicious motives makes trusting them a potentially fatal move.

LETHAL ALLIES
The battle to save her family, herself, and stop demonic domination may cost Aurora everything worth living for, and force her to reveal her own dark secrets. But no worries. She needs the Hex Boys to pull this off, and, chances are, teaming up with these guys will get her killed anyway.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Eternal Changes by Tiffany Berry

After the sudden death of her father Lucy Walden’s life is turned upside down when she is forced to move to a small southern town.

As she struggles with her new surroundings, Lucy finds out the world she once thought she belonged to was nothing more than a ruse to cover up a dark secret.

She is a Mikah, a cross breed of two creatures from different worlds at war with each other.

And then there’s Ashton. A Halfling, isn’t fazed by anyone or anything until Lucy glides into his life. He wonders why being in her presence brightens up his cold dreary existence.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Blood Singers by Tamara Rose Blodgett

A sub-species of human beings…

Twenty-year old Julia Wade, a young woman tragically widowed, is in the middle of a bizarre bid between two mythical species who are vying for the unique properties she offers; her blood.

The vampires need her to balance the food load of the human species and give them their coveted “Lightwalkers.” The Were wish to be moonless changers; a Rare One can make that a reality.

Julia wants to belong to herself.

Can she free herself and begin a new life?

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Faelorehn by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

I never heard him come after me and even as I climbed the slope and stumbled onto our shaded back lawn, I didn’t look back. It was like the day the gnomes chased me all over again, but this time I was not escaping some horrible little creatures, I was fleeing from an incredibly good-looking guy who could very well understand me completely. I was either saving myself from that serial killer I always imagined lived down in the swamp, or I had finally gone over the deep end . . .

Meghan Elam has been strange her entire life: her eyes have this odd habit of changing color and she sees and hears things no one else does. When the visions and voices in her head start to get worse, she is convinced that her parents will want to drag her off to another psychiatrist. That is, until the mysterious Cade MacRoich shows up out of nowhere with an explanation of his own.

Cade brings her news of another realm where goblins and gnomes are the norm, a place where whispering spirits exist in the very earth, and a world where Meghan just might find the answers she has always sought.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Echo of an Angel by Sarah M. Ross

18 year old Tessa Copeland barely survived the worst year of her life—in fact, it was a miracle. After making it through the tragedy that killed both of her parents, she’s left to pick up the pieces of her life. Combating the holes in her memory and the concern of her friends was hard enough, but a new talent threatens to destroy everything she’s trying to reclaim.

David Allegri didn’t mean to ruin Tessa’s life. She was the brightest soul he’d seen in centuries and he couldn’t let her die, so the fallen angel used his abilities to heal her—only he took it too far and changed Tessa forever. Now, he has to figure out a way to explain what’s happening to Tessa and somehow protect both of them from the consequences.

His choice made them targets for the Hunters, who will use any means necessary to capture their prey. Only a desperate plan can help them escape, and sacrifices will be made. Time is ticking. Will they make it, or will they be lost to the echoes of fate?

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Untouched by Jus Accardo

Until he met Dez, Kale’s days were filled with violence and death. He was used as a weapon of destruction by the power hungry men of Denazen. He’s a Six. A person with an abnormal ability. Some people call them gifts, but not Kale. Kale’s touch means instant death.

But now there’s Dez, the girl he can touch, and they’re hunting down Sixes and warning them about Denazen. Kale is learning about the world outside captivity and trying to put his dark past behind him. But they underestimated how badly Denazen wanted him back.

When Dez sacrifices herself to save the new Six they’d rescued from falling into the corp’s hands, Kale is lost. Denazen has brought out its best to get the job done. Samsen, a nightmare from Kale’s past—the only person he’s ever truly feared—has come for them, and it soon becomes obvious he has his own twisted agenda.

Kale will need all his training to get Dez back and ensure they make it out, free—and alive. But will it be enough?

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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The Emerald Talisman by Brenda Pandos

To be normal, sixteen-year-old Julia Parker would shed her empathic gift in a second. Life has been difficult since her mother’s mysterious disappearance ten years earlier – an event she witnessed, but can’t remember.

Julia’s situation becomes more complicated after a near death experience from a blood thirsty stalker.

As high school students go missing it is clear there is a connection to her own experience–past and present.

Someone has to stop the madness and a chance encounter with a creepy psychic foretells that only Julia is the key to stopping the madness, but it may require the life of the one she loves.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Legends of the Mer by Sheri L. Swift

Lana Prentis is 17 years old and lives on Safe Harbor Island in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of North Carolina. She was born with several physical challenges. Lana is an albino with silver eyes, milky-white skin, white hair and webbed fingers and toes. Lana hides her fingers by wearing fingerless gloves and she never shows her feet.

Lana’s father (Cole Prentis) is the lighthouse keeper and the keeper of many secrets. He has told Lana that her mother drowned when Lana was only three years old. He never allows Lana in the water and it bothers her that he refuses to talk to her about her mother or her physical challenges.

Lana develops a friendship with her P. E. Teacher (Miss Rose Perry). When Miss Perry secretly gives Lana swimming lessons, it sets off a chain of events that leads Lana to discover who she is and the truth about her mother as well.

Lana discovers that she has a large and extended family that has been waiting for her to come home. She also finds out that she does have a purpose to her life and that she has a heritage as rich and deep as the sea and that her future lies beneath it.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

{July 13, 2012} {ARC Review} The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee

From Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents’ separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home, undaunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn’s bedroom. At school, her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be “touched” by Annaliese…or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about–not to mention her own–she can’t help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?

Annaliese? Or herself?

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The premise of this ghost story was very interesting, revolving around a young bipolar teenager. Rinn has had a difficult life, struggling to take her medicine everyday when she truly feels like nothing is wrong with her. But after events unfold that leave her grandmother dead, Rinn’s mother separated from her step-father, and a whirlwind trip across country to live in a rural community, Rinn has a change of heart. Resolved to take her medicine and keep to herself, Rinn slowly begins to warm up to her new community, making friends, and learning about the towns “haunting.”

I was very interested in the “haunting” and the tunnel at school when the novel initially started. I tend to highly enjoy paranormal novels, and Garsee does a great job stringing the reader along as the mystery grows deeper. Annaliese died many years ago, but her spirit is still said to haunt the school, and when people begin to show up dead, things begin to spiral out of control. But, I have to admit, I really didn’t care for the explanation given as to why Rinn wasn’t affected by the spirit of Annaliese. While completely original, in my opinion, I found it kind of odd and a bit anticlimactic. I liked all the changes that Rinn went through, and it was very interesting to see her reactions to things both on and off her meds—making me wonder if the spirit of Annaliese was real—but overall, I wasn’t too impressed with the paranormal aspects of the story. Three stars.

Bloomsbury Children’s Books has been extremly gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on July 17, 2012

{July 12, 2012} {Review} Splintered Energy by Arlene Webb

From Goodreads: California. A widower’s twelve-year-old son is rather young to bring home a woman, especially a collapsed green beauty too frightened to open her eyes.

Arizona. A divorcee blinks hard, but the gorgeous red guy stepping in front of her car is still red—hello, ditch. When she comes around, she wonders which layer of hell she’s fallen into.

Ohio. A teen also fears he’s dealing with the demonic, but no matter how dangerous things become, he’s determined to stand by a man with inhumanly blue eyes.

No question, their lives will never be the same again.

Dawn breaks—literally. Energy sparks across the horizon, power grids go down, and the journey to understanding what, where, and why begins.

Energy splinters and a few hapless humans fall dead. A moment later, hearts regain their beat and the confused aliens witness their first sunrise through the eyes of the deceased. Sentient beings can’t recall a past, other than a blissful haven. Nor do they have memories from the host whose body they unwittingly hijacked.

Only one learns to hide his unique skin color, and he assumes the identity of the victim, Malcolm James.

Malcolm learns of escalating violence through news clips. The cohorts he’s able to locate—vibrant personalities with enhanced predatory skills—are breaking every law there is. He has a goal: return to wherever it is he belongs. But he can’t do that alone, and is forced to shoulder the burden of reunification, despite his fear those who cross paths with color, himself included, may become permanently scarred or worse, killed.

This reluctant leader has no doubt—living light does not belong on Earth.

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I’m sorry to say that this novel just wasn’t for me. There was so much going on within the story, and so many characters, that I was unable to follow the plotline enough to fully understand what was happening. There were some great descriptions, and the characters were very interesting, but I personally felt like there were a bit too many to keep track of, and as I read I became overwhelmed. Now, I’m the type of reader that likes two or maybe even three narrators/main characters, but I generally don’t do well with more than that, so I think this is more of a personal preference/inability to follow along than any fault of the author. Likewise, most reviewers of this novel really enjoyed it, and so I think it’s worth checking out, even though it personally wasn’t for me. One star.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{July 11, 2012} {Review} The Pineville Heist by Lee Chambers

From Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Aaron stumbles into the aftermath of a five million dollar bank heist gone wrong. Hiding under a canoe, Aaron partially catches the murder of one of the robbers. In the chaos he sneaks away with the money and heads straight for the closest place of safety, his high school. Terrified, Aaron tells his shocking tale to Amanda Becker, his drama teacher, but it doesn’t take long for one of the psychotic robbers to show up. In the locked down school the pair are relentlessly pursued in a quest to get the money back and wipe out the evidence.

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Rumor has it that this novel is going to be turned into a movie, and that Booboo Stewart (Seth Clearwater from the Twilight Saga) is going to play Aaron. Now, nothing is set in stone, but filming is supposed to start soon, fall of this year, and the movie should release in late 2013. Will I see it? Probably. In theaters? Probably not. Why? I just wasn’t that enamored with the plotline.

Yes, the story is interesting, and I liked the premise, but had this title not been free at the time I came across it, and had I not noticed it was going to be made into a movie, in all honesty, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. Why? I found this novel to be very predictable, and while that’s okay, the fact that Aaron behaves badly throughout the story was not. I really didn’t care for him; while his relationship with his father is in fact very strained, the way Aaron talks to him, as well as his friends, really rubbed me the wrong way. He is a very arrogant young man, and his friends were actually really kind of annoying. Likewise, I didn’t make any connections with them, or any of the characters, and so when some bad things happened (no spoilers), I found that I didn’t care one way or another. Harsh, I know, but it’s the honest truth. Do I think it’s worth checking out? If the plotline interests you, then yes. The writing is decent and the story moves quickly. But if you’re on the fence, this might be one to skip. Two and a half stars.

I picked up this title when it was free on Amazon.

{July 10, 2012} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 1–Ten Books for 10 Bucks

These eBooks caught my eye on Amazon and are (currently) ONLY .99 Cents (Both on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel–I checked). I don’t know if these are permanent prices, but… enjoy!

The Bringer by Samantha Towle

Death is sad, love is agony.

Max was her next job. She got his name just before he died and it was for her to lead his soul to heaven. She was a Bringer.

Then Max started pleading (as they often do), but not for himself, for his son, James.

Would she look after him, would she comfort him as he grieved for the loss of his father? James was a sensitive young man. He would take his father’s death very hard.

Well, Bringers don’t do that sort of thing; their exclusive role is to usher souls to heaven. They are not allowed to get involved in earthly affairs.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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A Job-From Hell by Jade Scott

The moment Amber starts her summer job in Scotland and sets eyes upon Aidan, her fate is sealed.

Summoned by an ancient bond, she can never love another.

Lost in the woods one night Amber enters Aidan’s deadly world when she unknowingly participates in a paranormal race and promptly wins the first prize…a prize worth killing for.

In a world of forbidden love, ancient enemies, legends and rituals, nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. Life will never be the same again, unless she enters the Otherworld. But to do so, Amber must die…

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Wanderlove by Belle Malory

Lola Moori is hiding a secret she doesn’t know she’s keeping.

She begins to remember someone.

Someone important.

His name is Gabe. . .and whatever they shared, she could feel that it was epic.

Yet it seems Gabe wanted her to forget him. Forever.

Find it at AMAZON (not available on BARNES AND NOBEL at this time).

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Ignite by Kaitlyn Davis

“With one last look, one final search of the lines of his face for some sign, Kira turned and ran away from the sound of the man she loved laughing in the face of her death.”

When Kira Dawson moves to South Carolina, she meets Luke, a blond goofball who quickly becomes her best friend, and Tristan, a mysterious bad boy who sends shivers down her spine.

Kira knows they’re keeping secrets, but when she discovers Tristan’s lust for blood and her own dormant mystical powers, Kira is forced to fight for her life and make the heartbreaking decision between the familiar comfort of friendship and the fiery passion of love.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Simmer by Kaitlyn David

“Slowly, like a whisper almost blown away in the wind, two words streaked across her mind: ‘Kiss me.'”

Kira may have survived the eclipse, but her troubles are far from over.

She’s headed to Sonnyville with one goal in mind: to learn more about her parents. But with Luke and Tristan competing for her heart and Diana gunning for her head, time is running out on the search for her mother.

And the closer Kira gets to answers, the more terrified she becomes. The conduits fear her, the vampires fear her, and Kira is starting to wonder if maybe they’re right…

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Captivated by Deb Apodaca

Mindy’s new best friend, Markus Medina, witnesses Dean kill two people behind a club. Mindy has a hard time believing him, especially when he mentions that the bodies disappear. Poof! Into thin air. Markus decides he has to follow Dean around in order to get evidence that he’s been killing people, so he doesn’t sound like a nut to the police.

Despite Marcus’ crazy theories about the possibility of Dean not being human. And not to mention the fact that he’s dangerous. Mindy can’t help that she may be falling in love with him. Even after hiding their feelings for each other from the world. Dean and Mindy being together stirs up dangers that neither of them could ever imagine. When she finds out about what Dean really is and the world he tried to keep her away from…it’s already too late.

Find it at AMAZON (not available on BARNES AND NOBEL at this time).

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Feathermore by Lucy Swing

When the one thing you live for is denied to you, do you let it go or do you fall?

Jade, like any other student at Brushwood High, awaits the start of the school year with a certain measure of dread. Worse, she is being threatened by a voice that only she can hear—a voice that lurks at the edges of her awareness, haunting her and warning her of something unknown. She has always been able to count on her two best friends, Claire and Nate, but can she confide in them now? About this? Would they even believe her?

Life takes a turn for the better when she meets Avan, a darkly handsome new student who, somehow, seems to drown out the voice and make her feel at ease.

But Jade soon comes to realize that good things don’t last forever. When everything spirals out of control, she is shattered by something she never saw coming. Dazed and despairing, she must now overcome tragedy and embrace her true existence and a new but dangerous love. Will she be able to save herself and those she loves, before it’s too late? Or will she let the surrounding darkness consume her?

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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Forbidden by Amy Miles

Roseline Enescue didn’t ask to become an Immortal, to have all of the guests at her wedding slaughtered, or be forced into marriage with a man whose lust for blood would one day ignite the vampire legend. Willing to risk everything for a chance at a normal life, Roseline escapes to America. Terrified her husband Vladimir will find her, Roseline enrolls as a senior in Chicago’s elite Rosewood Prep school. Mingling with humans is the last place he would look for her.

But her transition into the human world isn’t easy. Mortal men flock after her while cutthroat girls plot her demise. Yet Roseline remains relatively unfazed by the petty hysteria until she falters into the arms of Gabriel Marston, reluctant MVP quarterback, unwilling ladies man, sensitive artist in hiding, and blah, blah, blah.

Troubled by the bond that pulls her towards the mortal boy, Roseline tries to ignore him, but Gabriel is persistent. As their lives entwine, Roseline begins to realize that Gabriel is much more than he appears. His ability to toss a football the entire length of the field and grind concrete into dust pales in comparison to the glowing blue cross tattoo that mysteriously appears on his forearms.

Despite the forbidden bond between them, Roseline can’t help wondering what Gabriel is: He’s not human. He’s not Immortal. So just what is he?

Find it at AMAZON (not available on BARNES AND NOBEL at this time).

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The Council by J.C. Isabella

Venna Greer is a witch suffering from a case of magic-induced amnesia, making her think she’s a normal girl. She lives in the sleepy town of Capeside, Virginia, with her foster parents and girl-crazy younger brother. Venna is secretly in love with her best friend, Henry Langley, and has a decision to make: tell him her feelings or not? But what she doesn’t know is that Henry has a secret of his own.

Henry Langley is a warlock, and his parents are members of the Council that rule the magical world. He’s having a difficult time deciding which to confess to Venna first: his love, the fact that he knows who she is, or that they are on the brink of a war with the potential to expose them to humans.

Time is running out. Venna is thrust into a new world. A world she once belonged to, and war that has more to do with her than anyone ever imagined.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

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The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club by J.C. Isabella

Welcome to the big leagues. To secrets and scandals. It’s all about the game. Who’s playing. Who’s not. Who has no idea about the game. And…wait, what game are we playing?

I’ll leave that for you to decide.

Where to start is the big question for Chloe Baker. How was she supposed to explain to Zack Warren that she started a fan club for him when she was a kid? It was just a game. A way to make friends and have fun. She never thought it would spiral out of control. And never. In a million, gazillion years, did she think it would follow her to college. How could she tell him her best friend Lana kept the club alive? That she had nothing to do with the craziness?

Chloe didn’t understand why she cared so much about Zack’s opinion of her. She hated him. He hated her. They had very mutual feelings of dislike for each other. So he’d just hate her even more when or if he found out.

And that’s totally fine…she thinks.

Zack Warren had a soft spot for Chloe Baker. He likes the way she walks. He likes the way she talks. If he was poetically inclined, he’d write a sonnet about her ass.

It’s Zack’s junior year of college. He’s got things to worry about. Scouts from the major leagues. Baseball games. Contracts. Grades…. His father ran away to Vegas with Chloe’s mother. He didn’t have time to worry about a girl. But he did. He worried about Chloe a lot, especially with that jerk Max sniffing around her. It’s weird though, to like your stepsister, right?

But Zack could argue that he saw Chloe first. Way before his dad met her mom. He was too young to stake a claim. But just didn’t care anymore.

He’s done playing games.

Find it at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBEL.

{July 10, 2012} {Review} Dead Angels by Tim O’Rourke (Kiera Hudson Series Two #2)

From Goodreads: Fleeing Hallowed Manor and being hunted by the Skinwalkers, Kiera and her friends take shelter from a storm in a deserted railway station set in a remote valley. As they spend the night hiding from those who are hunting them, Isidor tells his friends a story about how he had come across the word PUSH some years before on his first journeys above ground.

But unknowingly, Isidor’s story will have devastating consequences for one of them.

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Love, love, love this book! Love this series! Love Tim O’Rourke! Love it all! Seriously, if you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon and begun reading books by O’Rourke, then you’re really missing out!

Book two in the amazing Kiera Hudson Series Two is another impeccable read, full of mystery and intrigue, love and passion, and this time we are given an intricate glimpse into the heart of Isidor, our brooding hero who has had enough of Potter’s taunts and believes he knows something about this new, Pushed world. And he does… but what he knows will cost him dearly.

I adored Isidor’s point of view. It’s the first time we’ve really been given the back-story of his life, and at this point, I feel like I know him personally. While some will argue that this novel is very sad, and it does have its moments, in the end I know that O’Rourke is going to set everything straight and make it work, just like he has in the last few books, and I love it. I was blown away by this novel, and I know I say that every time I read one of O’Rourke’s books, but it’s the honest truth. O’Rourke amazes me; his work is spectacular, and his ability to crank out these fabulous books so quickly (eight in a year—AMAZING) floors me. And so I sit, on pins and needles, for the next novel in this series, Dead Statues. Five stars.

I purchased my copy of this novel from Amazon.

{July 9, 2012} Announcing the Winners of Stephen Zimmer’s Spirit Of Fire Blog Tour

The giveaway for Stephen Zimmer’s Spirit of Fire Blog Tour, has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winners have been chosen by Random.org through rafflecopter.

And the first set of winners are:

Mariell Trinidad AND Beth DeRenzis, who have won a full ebook giveaway pack, which includes:

Crown of Vengeance (novel)
Dream of Legends (novel)
Spirit of Fire (novel)
“Into Glory Ride” (short story)
“Lion Heart” (short story)
“Land of Shadow” (short story)

And the second set of winners are:

Alicia Ezell AND Carrie Strickler, who have won these ebook short stories:

“Into the Glory Ride” (short story)
“Lion Heart” (short story)
“Land of Shadow” (short story)

An email has been sent out to the winners! If I don’t hear from them within 48 hours, I will select new winners using rafflecopter. Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winners… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Win a book of your choice: