{September 6, 2013} {ARC Review} Silent Echo: A Siren’s Tale by Elisa Freilich

From Goodreads: Haunted by silence, a mute teenage girl is mysteriously given back her voice … and it is divine.

Rendered mute at birth, Portia Griffin has been silent for 16 years. Music is her constant companion, along with Felix, her deaf best friend who couldn’t care less whether or not she can speak. If only he were as nonchalant about her newfound interest in the musically gifted Max Hunter.

But Portia’s silence is about to be broken with the abrupt discovery of her voice, unparalleled in its purity and the power it affords to control those around her. Able to persuade, seduce and destroy using only her voice, Portia embarks on a search for answers about who she really is, and what she is destined to become.

Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, SILENT ECHO: A Siren’s Tale is an epic story filled with fantasy, romance and original music.

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I really liked the mythology piece of this novel and I think it’d be great for teens to read, especially if they’re studying the topic in school, or if they’re extremely interested in mythology, as many are since Percy Jackson hit the scene a few years back. From my own studies of mythology in school way back when, I knew what Sirens were, and of course, I’ve read The Odyssey AND all the Percy Jackson books, so my definition of them is a lot more refined than someone who hasn’t studied or read mythology, but even so, I learned so much more about Sirens in this novel than I ever have before, and I thought that was extremely interesting.

I think it’s safe to say that most people know Sirens have a beautiful mesmerizing voice that lures men to their deaths, but most probably don’t know why they turned evil, and I really enjoyed Freilich’s rendition of what happened after Odysseus, bringing the story into the present, captivating the reader with this tale of good versus evil.

Now, potential readers already know from the synopsis that Portia is a Siren, unbeknownst to her, and therefore she’s going to struggle immensely with the power she has. She’s going to make bad decisions, she’s going to have trouble controlling her voice and reactions, and, if her distant relatives have anything to do with it, she’ll lose her way and wreak havoc on the world. Thus, readers realize that Portia, while initially very likable, is going to do things, say things, feel things that are going to make the reader dislike her. It’s part of being a Siren. Knowing that going in helped me as I read because I knew what she was, and while I really hated some of the things she does, and she tainted my feelings about her as a character, I knew that it wasn’t her true nature, but the Siren taking over. There is an outside force at work here, and while it’s easy to judge Portia and dismiss her as evil and dislike the story, in the end, this is a novel about Sirens and their power to ruin people, so I highly stress that readers remember this, otherwise it will be extremely easy to write off the novel and dislike it due to the heroine.

Now, I’m not making excuses for Portia, and her behavior definitely put me on edge as I read. Yes, I lost some respect for her, and at points I wanted her to die off in order to stop the hurt she was causing, but… I understood where this angst was coming from, which is why I still liked the novel in the end, whereas I usually end up disliking books where I lose respect for the main character. Also, Portia isn’t always evil, and the end of the novel does bring things full circle, in a way, so I can’t actually say I dislike her.

The one aspect of the novel I did not enjoy was the verse interspersed throughout. Portia loves music, as does her beau, Hunter, and they sing to each other, a lot. As someone who doesn’t listen to music or thoroughly enjoy poetry, I struggled with this. The versus themselves seemed quite juvenile to me, and the lack of a melody I could literally hear turned these verses into rhyming poems that, to be quite honest, I would expect from an elementary/middle school child. Now, the main characters are teenagers, and I think teens probably won’t mind these verses as much, but as an adult who teaches high school, including poetry, it was difficult because not all poetry rhymes, nor should it, and, well, this aspect just wasn’t for me.

Overall, I think this was a very interesting story that many MG and YA readers will enjoy, especially with it’s mythological aspects. Three stars.

Diversion books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read on ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on September 10, 2013.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{September 5, 2013} {ARC Review} Monsters by Ilsa J. Bick (Ashes #3)

From Goodreads: The Changed are on the move. The Spared are out of time. The End…is now.

When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn’t get much worse-until the doctors found the monster in her head.

She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death.

Now, with no hope of rescue-on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won’t quit-she discovers a new and horrifying truth.

The Change isn’t over.
The Changed are still evolving.
And…they’ve had help.

With this final volume of The Ashes Trilogy, Ilsa J. Bick delivers a riveting, blockbuster finish, returning readers to a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where no one is safe and hope is in short supply.

A world where, from these ashes, the monsters may rise.

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Bick jumps right into this final installment without giving any playback, so if you haven’t read the other books, you’ll be lost in this one. And if you haven’t read the other books recently, you’ll most likely need a refresher course because there are a ton of characters, and the story jumps back and forth between them all, leaving the reader on constant pins and needles as each change over happens on a cliffhanger. To be truthful, Bick is the queen of cliffhangers—I haven’t read another author that does it so flawlessly and so often within his/her writing; it’s an art, really, and I admire Bick’s ability to write a story like this that leaves me yearning for more and more, freaking out at each mini cliffhanger within the chapters. And guess what? The ending, in my opinion, leaves the door wide open for a spinoff series if Bick so chooses, which I would love, cliffhangers and all.

The characterization is great, but I was a bit confused by some of the paranormal activity that takes place in this novel, which I either forgot about from the previous novels, or I just plain missed in this one. I don’t really understand Alex’s ability and the monster within her, but I’m going to chalk it up to reader error because, honestly, Bick has never lead me astray. I’ve highly enjoyed all her novels, and this zombie apocalypse is a smash hit.

Overall, Monsters was one hell of a ride and a great end to the series, but just a little too long for my tastes. I, personally, would have gotten more joy out of it had it been pared down from nearly 700 pages to two separate books. Instead of a trilogy, a four book series would have been superb and made reading this final installment that much easier. Regardless, though, this was an epic end to the series, but readers beware, it’s basically a nonstop action ride, jumping from character to character with mini cliffhangers written in between the multiple points of view. There isn’t much down time, though I’ll admit there was a little, so I came out of it extremely tense and my body hurt from it all because I just couldn’t let myself relax as I read, and 700 pages is a long time to be tense. But it’s so good, it was worth it. Four stars.

Egmont USA has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on September 10, 2013.

{September 4, 2013} {ARC Review} Thin Space by Jody Casella

From Goodreads: Ever since the car accident that killed his twin brother, Marshall Windsor has been consumed with guilt and crippled by secrets of that fateful night. He has only one chance to make amends, to right his wrongs and set things right. He must find a Thin Space—a mythical point where the barrier between this world and the next is thin enough for a person to step through to the other side.

But, when a new girl moves into the house next door, the same house Marsh is sure holds a thin space, she may be the key—or the unraveling of all his secrets.

As they get closer to finding a thin space—and closer to each other—Marsh must decide once and for all how far he’s willing to go to right the wrongs of the living…and the dead.

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This is the story of a young man so wrought with grief that he’s given up living, so set in his own delusion that he wanders everywhere barefoot in hopes of finding a thin space to connect with the dead. For the longest time, I thought I knew what happened that night that Austin died. There are so many instances when Marsh begins to tell the story, only to stop, giving enough snippets to connect all the dots, except for the biggest one of them all that some readers may catch, but I certainly didn’t. This, in and of itself, blew the whole story out of the water, and pushed what I thought to be just a decent read into a higher category for me. I love when I’m floored by the events in books, and this novel definitely left my jaw hanging. Of course, looking back on it, there are so, so many clues throughout, and Marsh even basically admits it at one point, but it went right over my head. Epic.

Basically, what seems to be reality in this novel is just the opposite, and I loved that Casella threw in a little bit of paranormal near the end, because I really thought the story itself was depressing and I was worried for Marsh. Since the accident that killed his twin and left Marsh scarred both inside and out, he’s become an introvert, wishing he could trade places, so sorry for the events and fight prior to the car accident that claimed Austin’s life. He’s lost all his friends, though not for lack of trying on their part; he’s despondent and zones out on many an occasion, and at multiple points in the novel, as he deals with his grief, the reader cannot help but wonder if, perhaps, he’s just crazy.

I really liked that Maddie latched on to Marsh to help him through this extremely difficult time. She has her own dark past as well, though, and watching the two come to trust and help each other was really nice.

Overall, this is a good read. Just remember, not everything is what it seems. Four stars.

Beyond Words Publishing has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on September 10, 2013.

{September 4, 2013} {Cover Reveal} A Matter of Truth by Heather Lyons (Fate #3)

We have a treat for you today! Heather Lyons is revealing her cover of A Matter of Truth, but she’s also unveiling her latest cover of the first book in the series, A Matter of Fate, as well! Aren’t they pretty?! And, to sweeten it all, A Matter of Fate and A Matter of Heart, are just $.99 TODAY ONLY!

A Matter of Fate: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

A Matter of Heart: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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**ABOUT A MATTER OF FATE (Book 1):**

Chloe Lilywhite struggles with all the normal problems of a typical seventeen-year-old high school student. Only, Chloe isn’t a normal teenage girl. She’s a Magical, part of a secret race of beings who influence the universe. More importantly, she’s a Creator, which means Fate mapped out her destiny long ago, from her college choice, to where she will live, to even her job. While her friends and relatives relish their future roles, Chloe resents the lack of say in her life, especially when she learns she’s to be guarded against a vengeful group of beings bent on wiping out her kind. Their number one target? Chloe, of course.

That’s nothing compared to the boy trouble she’s gotten herself into. Because a guy she’s literally dreamed of and loved her entire life, one she never knew truly existed, shows up in her math class, and with him comes a twin brother she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.

Chloe’s once unyielding path now has a lot more choices than she ever thought possible.

A MATTER OF FATE Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16077863-a-matter-of-fate?ac=1

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Fate-Series-ebook/dp/B0092ETXR6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378223462&sr=8-1&keywords=a+matter+of+fate+heather+lyons

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-fate-heather-lyons/1112674154?ean=2940015252439&itm=1&usri=a+matter+of+heart+heather+lyons

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**ABOUT A MATTER OF HEART (Book 2):**

No longer in high school, Chloe Lilywhite is now living and working in Annar, the Magicals’ city-state plane of existence. Since moving, she’s joined the Council, gone on missions with the Guard, moved into her own apartment, and enrolled at the University of Annar. Plus, she’s happily engaged to be married to Jonah Whitecomb, the literal man from her dreams, not to mention her Connection. While she still struggles with aspects of her craft, Chloe feels like she’s finally coming into her own, especially after a difficult year that had her questioning nearly everything in her life.

After a brutal attack by the Elders, her life is turned upside down once more. Accusations fly throughout the Council and Guard, forcing Chloe to confront her worst fears about what’s she’s capable of as a Creator. And then there’s the matter of Kellan Whitecomb, Jonah’s twin brother and Chloe’s ex, who resurfaces after disappearing months before. Although Chloe chose Jonah, and despite their best efforts, the two find it hard to stay away from one another.

But no matter what Fate throws at her, Chloe is determined to take charge of her life, even as it begins to spiral out of control.

A MATTER OF HEART is book 2 in the Fate Series, a mature Young Adult/New Adult fantasy.

A MATTER OF HEART Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17261347-a-matter-of-heart

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Heart-Fate-Series-ebook/dp/B00DKOFSTQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378223551&sr=8-2&keywords=a+matter+of+fate+heather+lyons

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-heart-heather-lyons/1115806416?ean=2940016654591&itm=1&usri=a+matter+of+heart+heather+lyons

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**ABOUT A MATTER OF TRUTH (Book 3):**

Not long ago, Chloe Lilywhite seemingly had it all: a prized spot on the Magicals’ Council as lead Creator, a loving fiancé and Connection, and a wealth of good friends. But the poised young woman she projected was nothing more than a façade. Her parents all but disowned her. Power plays and accusations of murder within the Council rocked her confidence. And most difficult of all, her secret, a secondary Connection to Jonah’s twin brother, Kellan, became painfully impossible to resist. Desperate to gain control over her rapidly unraveling existence, Chloe did the unthinkable: she ran away.

Now living and working in Alaska under an alias, Chloe is slowly discovering who she is and, more importantly, who she wants to be. But the more she tries to leave the Magical world behind, the harder it becomes to stay hidden. The Elders are back with a vengeance, and the stakes have never been higher. Chloe finally has to make a choice: embrace her pre-ordained Fate or pave her own way in the worlds. One thing’s for sure, though—she’s finally up for the challenge.

This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+

A MATTER OF TRUTH Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18167992-a-matter-of-truth?ac=1

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About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Website: http://www.heatherlyons.net

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/heatherlyons

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hymheather

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherlyonsbooks?fref=ts

{September 3, 2013} {Review} The Seed by Fola

From Goodreads: Throughout our lives, many things may lead us to forget who we truly are. Result? Slowly yet inevitably, cages and chains enslave our thoughts and slay our freedoms.

Down the ages, men have thus fallen for hosts of illusions, confusions and fears – except for the seven dreamers whose stories this book contains. These mad truth-seekers (who oddly share the same name) did not follow others’ flow to slavery; rather, they heeded a voice in their heads that led them to obsession with an idea long thought extinct, buried beneath the sands of time: The Seed.

In this book you will take a rollicking metaphysical ride that starts in ancient Egypt, moves to the Grand Greek Era, then to Rome, Arab Alexandria, on piratic High Seas, to Switzerland and circuses, into a Christian era interlude, then to modern Egypt (2007) and lastly, to a sort of Garden of Visionary Epiphany that leaves you on and past the brink of enlightenment…

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Unfortunately, this book is not for me. It is highly philosophical and scientific, and my brain just isn’t wired that way. All the characters are one person who lives across the centuries, morphing into different beings, be they male or female, young or old. The tale begins in Ancient Egypt, and this is where I was lost almost immediately. It begins with the main character, who is obsessed with numbers and inventions, launching into a diatribe about how his life changed when he began writing on walls due to his epiphany over the number two and was then thrown into the mad house for acting crazy (which he was). It’s told in a very choppy format with constant references to numbers and riddles, and it was all beyond me. The main character’s narrative jumps from him being in the palace to being thrown into the Nile, living in the madhouse, being set free, drinking with the gods, and well… I just couldn’t keep up with he narrator’s cut and dry tone and constant changing of scenery. I had no idea what point he was really trying to get across because of his constant changing of topic and referencing of numbers, truth be told.

When the main character becomes a young girl living in the middle east, the flow changed and the story became much easier to understand, but as her marriage barter comes and she finds out she’s being wedded to a gay man only because her teacher is blackmailing him and wants to sleep with her, well… that turned me off. And suddenly, she’s on a rock, or maybe a cliff, I’m not sure because this is where the text became full of more riddles and philosophy, and she becomes a pirate, shifting into another character all together.

The stories do become easier to read as the main character progresses further into the present, but some of the stories really turned me off, such as trial over sex and murder. That episode just wasn’t for me and I couldn’t stomach it. In my opinion, it was unneeded to further along the plot, more for shock value than philosophical engagement, but then again, as I’m not a philosophical thinker by any means (I nearly failed that class in college; seriously), it is possible that I just don’t understand what the author, Fola, is doing in this scene, or the many others. Truthfully, I didn’t understand this novel, which made it impossible for me to enjoy, but I do think that those who like a philosophical debate and deciphering riddles, ones who like to chew over the materials in their novels, will really enjoy this novel. I, personally, can only give it one star, though.

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

{September 2, 2013} {Blog Tour: Review, Top Tens, and Giveaway} Soul Survivor by Michelle N. Files (Hybrid #1)

Soul Survivor

Author: Michelle N. Files

Series: Hybrid Chronicles #1

Publication: June 14th, 2013

Category: Young Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

From Goodreads: Hailee Mai Hart is just a simple, normal girl. Or so she thought. When she left her one-horse town for a college education in the big city, she never could’ve imagined what awaited her.

She’s quickly thrown into a world filled with angels, danger, and a curse…her curse. Come to find out, she’s not so simple after all. She’s actually the last of her kind, and the fate of the world rests on her shoulders. She has one chance to save Earth, and it all comes down to one choice: Light or Darkness. What is right and what is wrong is all a matter of perspective, which leaves her heart dangerously tangled. No matter which path she takes people will die, and that’s just not an option.

Will she be able to save everyone, or will she be the Soul Survivor?

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Review:

Hailee is a very complex character, self-assured and strong-willed in some instances, while full of doubt and panic in others. In other words, she’s real, and I enjoyed getting to know her in this first novel of the Hybrid series. She has a lot of weighty decisions to make in this novel, and I don’t envy her at all, but I do respect her immensely! And Alex and Seth? Both are infuriating suitors in that they bicker all the time and hassle Hailee about her destiny, but I loved them all the same. Part of their charm comes from their intense hatred of one another, to be honest. I wasn’t necessarily a fan of Ami, though, but would you be a fan of a woman who always tells the truth, regardless of a person’s feelings? Nah, probably not.

Truth be told, in the beginning I was a little nervous about the “insta-love” relationship that was brewing between Hailee and Alex in this novel. I’ve never really been a fan of instant relationships, and that is definitely what happens in the beginning of this intense novel, but there is a rhyme and reason behind it all, and Files soon put my worry to rest as she began to flesh out the characters and the truth behind all their identities came to light. I must admit, I breathed a sigh of relief because I really liked the storyline, and so I was very happy to realize that “insta-love” isn’t actually the case at all.

The plot itself was very well written and I found it unique as a reader. I love angel novels, but this is different, dealing with guardians, messengers, hybrids, and, of course, the Darkness. I think the Darkness, Seth, was my favorite character because I never knew what he was going to do next, and he’s the bad boy image 100%, magnified because he’s actually full of murderous intent and destruction. He’s no faker, that’s for sure; he’s not putting on a façade, and that’s the personality that gets me every time.

The ending to the novel was perfect… for a minute there I was truly worried this would be a sad sob story because Files does something I certainly wasn’t expecting, and it blew my mind. It is remedied, however, opening the door for the sequel, which I am extremely excited to read. Four stars.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17906541-soul-survivor

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Survivor-Hybrid-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00DE50H2O/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-survivor-michelle-nicole/1115658248

I won a copy of this novel in a giveaway and read it prior to joining this awesome tour.

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Top Tens List – Songs to Listen to as you read Soul Survivor–from Michelle Nicole

“She Is Love” by 3 Doors Down ~ Chapter 1 – Lost and Found
“I Never Told You” by Colbie Caillat ~ Chapter 16 – Going Home
“Just A Kiss” by Lady Antebellum ~ Chapter 25 – Under the Moonlight
“Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele ~ Chapter 30 – Rain
“Criminal” by Fiona Apple ~ Chapter 35 – Desire
“Give Me a Sign” by Breaking Benjamin ~ Chapter 37 – Miracles and Options
“Without You” by Breaking Benjamin ~ Chapter 41 – Plan B
“Anthem Of The Angels” by Breaking Benjamin ~ Chapter 43 – Facing the Music
“Hymn For The Missing” by Red ~ Chapter 45 – The Sun and the Moon (first half)
“Never Be The Same” by Red ~ Chapter 45 – The Sun and the Moon (second half)

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Giveaway

Prizes:

1 – Print copy of Soul Survivor by Michelle Nicole {US Only}

3 – eBooks of Soul Survivor by Michelle Nicole {International}

End date: September 21st, 2013 @ 11:59pm EDT

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!!!

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About the Author:

Michelle Nicole was born and raised in wild, wonderful West Virginia. While her first passion is numbers, not long into adulthood, Michelle rediscovered her love of books and with it the joy and fulfillment of writing her own stories. She spends her days working as a CPA and her nights weaving tales of love, friendship, and everything in between.

When she’s not working or writing, you’ll find her binge watching her favorite TV shows, reading, tweeting, hanging with her husband and furry children, or spending time with her close knit extended family.

LINKS

Website: http://authormichellenicole.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMichelleNicole

Twitter: https://twitter.com/M1chelle_N1cole

Google+: https://plus.google.com/110493304598240853391

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7085821

http://www.grapevinebooktours.com/2013/07/tour-signup-soul-survivor-by-michelle.html

{August 28, 2013} {Review} The Prophecy by Raine Thomas (Daughters of Saraquel #0.5)

From Goodreads: Saraqael hadn’t intended to fall in love with Kate. It shouldn’t have even been possible. His kind didn’t experience emotion, and they certainly weren’t supposed to become attached to humans.

When he discovers that Kate’s dying and there’s nothing he or her human doctors can do for her, Saraqael realizes how deep his feelings for her run. And he understands just how far he’s willing to go to save her.

He vows to search until he finds a way to save her life. With the help of his best friend, Quincy, he embarks on a quest spanning the Estilorian plane…a quest that will forever change the future of his kind.

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This novelette is a great short story to pique reader interest. About 30 pages in length, it tells the background story of Saraqael, an Estilorian, and his undying love for Kate, a human, a bond that’s unheard of, especially as Estilorian’s aren’t supposed to feel, let alone love. This is a very fast read, my first taste of the series, and I’m definitely interested to know what happens next, especially with this glimpse of the Estilorian prophecy. While this novelette isn’t long enough to make me fall in love with the characters, it is just a taste, afterall, it does give an overall sense of their dispositions and some insight into their background, though it raises a number of questions including that of who the Estilorian’s are, and where they hail from… and I can’t wait to learn the answers. And, I can already tell that the world building Thomas will include in the full series is going to be epic based on this quick glance of life on Estilorian and what the people there are capable of.

Having read the bonus chapter from Becoming at the end of this novelette, I must say that I am glad I read the prequel first as it really helped, and I can’t wait to read the entire series. Three stars.

I purchased this novelette from Amazon.

{August 28, 2013} {Cover Reveal} The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros

Title: THE DARKEST JOY

Author: Marata Eros

Expected release date: February 18, 2014

Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense

Age Group: New Adult

Cover Designer and website (if available): Simon & Schuster

Goodreads URL to title (if applicable): http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17932216-the-darkest-joy

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Book Description:

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

Twenty year-old Brooke Starr has escaped the aftermath of a brutal tragedy by abandoning her music studies and moving north to take a summer position as a part-time deck hand on a deep-sea fishing boat. When her survivor’s guilt becomes unbearable, Brooke realizes there’s only one thing she can do to finally erase the pain.

Deep sea fisherman, Chance Taylor, has just wrapped his guitar set at the local saloon when he sees the silhouette of a young woman in repose, the full moon highlighting her shadow as she plummets from a pier too high for diving… into water too cold to survive. Without thinking, he plunges in after her, saving Brooke from drowning.

As Chance works to save her from her own emotional fragility, Brooke finally begins to learn how to save herself. But when their chemistry begins to consume them, Brooke withdraws. She’s determined to be the master of her own destiny… until the past catches up with her in a cataclysmic plan so dark, so final… it threatens their love and their very lives.

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Author Bio:

Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.

Author social media links:

Blog: http://marataeroseroticaauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marata-Eros/336334243087970

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarataEros

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5052261.Marata_Eros

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/floresdm08/marata-eros/

{August 27, 2013} {ARC Review} Dead Ends by Erin Jade Lange

From Goodreads: Dane Washington is one suspension away from expulsion. In a high school full of “haves,” being a “have not” makes Dane feel like life is hurtling toward one big dead end. Billy D. spends his high school days in Special Ed and he’s not exactly a “have” himself. The biggest thing Billy’s missing? His dad. Billy is sure the riddles his father left in an atlas are really clues to finding him again and through a bizarre turn of events, he talks Dane into joining him on the search.

A bully and a boy with Down syndrome makes for an unlikely friendship, but together, they work through the clues, leading to unmarked towns and secrets of the past. But they’re all dead ends. Until the final clue . . . and a secret Billy shouldn’t have been keeping.

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This is the story of an unlikely relationship that blooms from a bargain. Dane is a hothead loner from the wrong side of the tracks that hates the world. Billy has down syndrome and just wants to find his father and learn to protect himself. Together, through clues left in an atlas, they begin to decipher the mystery that is Billy’s world, and they end up on some wild adventures, some of which seemed a little far-fetched to me, but then again, I was never the adventurous rebellious type, so I have limited experience when it comes to the run ins these two find themselves in. Honestly, this is a very intriguing story, but I never really connected with either of the characters.

I have to admit I was very intrigued by Billy’s cunning, though. I liked that very much and I feel that Lange works to dispel a lot of stereotypical thoughts through his character, which is great. I also liked the mystery surrounding the atlas, though the final revelation was somewhat disheartening. Of course, novels with their happy endings aren’t the norm in real life, as it were, and I feel like Lange is actually presenting a very real look at life in presenting the truth about Billy’s father. It’s a little jarring, but one that many readers will probably figure out relatively quickly based on the foreshadowing, but it’s not real for the reader until the final blowout and Billy’s admittance.

Overall, this is a coming of age story, though, in the end, nothing is really resolved, leaving readers with just a small glimmer of hope. I was also left with some questions concerning legalities within the novel, but overall it was a good, clean read. Three stars.

Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on September 3, 2013.

{August 26, 2013} {ARC Review} Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas (Throne of Glass #2)

From Goodreads: An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king’s contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king’s bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she’s given a task that could jeopardize everything she’s come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon — forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

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I am always a little bit wary when reading a sequel to a novel I absolutely adored because I have a fear that it just might not be as epic as the first, and I don’t want a novel to fall short of my expectations. Fortunately, Maas’ second novel in the Throne of Glass series is just an enticing and kick butt as the first!

This is, truthfully, a fantastic book, and Celaena is once again full of surprises. And, although the synopsis tells us time and time again that Celaena is an assassin, I guess the nature of her job didn’t really hit me until this novel when we actually see Celaena begin to fulfill her duty and go after people who don’t necessarily deserve to die. The first time she brought a body part to the king for his inspection, I actually was quite mad at Celaena, but rest assured, there is a rhyme and a reason behind what Celaena is doing, and you won’t be shocked or mad at her for long once she lets you in on her secret. Readers beware, though, a beloved friend dies in this novel, sparking a darker side of Celaena that we haven’t seen before. It, too, shocked me just a bit, but I found myself rooting for her the entire way, especially as she uncovers a plot far more sinister then she, or the kingdom, even thought possible. And so it goes, surprise after surprise as you read, and I loved every minute of it. Especially when Celaena does go after the truly bad guys, showing her advanced training and ruthless nature when appropriate.

There is, of course, a little tiny love triangle, but Prince Dorian is more or less by the wayside, giving Chaol more of a chance to shine in this novel. But both pine for Celaena, and I loved their many interactions. It always pleases me to see the softer side of Chaol when he’s with Celeana, and they really are the perfect match. However, I do love Dorian, too… making this a difficult triangle for me to navigate. But, when all’s said and done, I think I’m cheering for Chaol, but then again, book three might just make me switch sides.

Full of fantasy of epic proportions, readers learn a lot more in terms of Celaena’s background and birthright, and it’s an exhilarating rollercoaster ride as everything unfolds, clearing up one mystery only to shroud the reader in another. This is definitely one to pick up in the bookstore first thing tomorrow! Five stars!

Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release tomorrow.

{August 25, 2013} {ARC Review} A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchison

From Goodreads: There’s a girl who could throw herself head first into life and forge an unbreakable name, an identity that stands on its own without fathers or brothers or lovers who devour and shatter.

I’VE NEVER BEEN THAT GIRL.

Sixteen-year-old Ophelia Castellan will never be just another girl at Elsinore Academy. Seeing ghosts is not a skill prized in future society wives. Even when she takes her pills, the bean sidhe beckon, reminding her of a promise to her dead mother.

Now, in the wake of the Headmaster’s sudden death, the whole academy is in turmoil, and Ophelia can no longer ignore the fae. Especially once she starts seeing the Headmaster’s ghosts- two of them- on the school grounds.

At the center of her crumbling world is Dane, the Headmaster’s grieving son. He, too, understands the power of a promise to a parent- even a dead one. To him, Ophelia is the only person not tainted by deceit and hypocrisy, a mirror of his own broken soul. And to Ophelia, Dane quickly becomes everything. Yet even as she gives more of herself to him, Dane slips away. Consumed by suspicion, rage, and madness, he spirals towards his tragic fate- dragging Ophelia, and the rest of Elsinore, with him.

YOU KNOW HOW THIS STORY ENDS.

Yet even in the face of certain death, Ophelia has a choice to make—and a promise to keep. She is not the girl others want her to be. But in Dot Hutchison’s dark and sensuous debut novel, the name “Ophelia” is as deeply, painfully, tragically real as “Hamlet”.

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Though Hamlet is not necessarily my favorite, Dot Hutchison’s A Wounded Name takes a very interesting look at Hamlet from Ophelia’s point-of-view, interspersing some aspects of fantasy in order to give it a little lighter feel when explaining Ophelia’s final choice in the end. Of course, there are liberties taken and events out of sequence, with Ophelia present for confrontations that she wasn’t present for in the Bard’s play, etc., but overall it’s a good rendition that paints Hamlet in a darker, abusive light, much more so than in the original play, in my opinion. It does end with Ophelia’s death, but it’s not really a sad occurrence as Ophelia is moving on to what seems like a better place, a place brought up time and time again within the novel, adding elements of fantasy and myth where they weren’t originally, but working very well overall.

To be honest, the only issue I really had with this novel was the back and forth nature of the characters’ language. At times it was modern, and at others it took on a more archaic feel, and that was jarring for me as a reader. I really think it should have been all or nothing, and since this is a modern story set in an American boarding school, I would have liked it all to be in modern language instead of morphing back and forth throughout the characters’ discussions.

But overall, A Wounded Name is a good story, and I really enjoyed the element of fantasy that Hutchison added in, especially as the water calls to Ophelia from the very beginning, paving the way for the end. And, the fact that this novel followed Ophelia, giving readers glimpses into her mind and her actions when she’s technically offstage in the Bard’s play was fascinating for me, especially because I’m always interested to know what the other characters are thinking and feeling when I read a novel.

I plan to recommend this novel to my students as we study Hamlet because it really does follow the play quite well and adds insight in places where the play leaves the reader wondering, and I think this might just make them a little more interested in Shakespeare. Three stars.

Lerner Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on September 1, 2013.

{August 23, 2013} {Review} Rising Power by Joseph Ryncarz

From Goodreads: Once upon a time there was a US President who thought he was wise and could stomp out terrorism. Only the ‘terrorists’ did not quite agree with him. Soon paranoia ran rampant among every nation on this earth until all started annihilating one another.

Out of the ashes, mythology tells us the phoenix is supposed to rise. However, it was not the phoenix that arose, it was a new power amongst the people who survived. It was a Rising Power!

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I’m sorry to say that this novel just isn’t for me. The premise is intriguing, especially with it’s look at what would happen to the world should the very real threat of terrorism and WWIII arise alongside the use of nuclear weapons, but the execution of this story was very difficult for me to follow as a reader. It begins with very long, dense description of the world in its current state, after extreme war, but the writing is extremely formal and I found it read more like an essay than an actual story, which was a bit jarring. However, the next two chapters were much more reader friendly, focusing on the lives of Amanda and Sarah Richardson, two young women living a simplistic life with their family in what’s left of devastated America. It’s a much easier story to follow, and it piqued my interest, but all too soon, I was whisked away to another long, dense chapter filled with pages upon pages of description of the 99^th Division Convoy, breaking down every single wagon and troop, with its trailers and container units, which, for someone like me, isn’t appealing at all. The novel follows this format pretty much throughout the rest of its pages, jumping from story to story, character to character, and interspersing rather long descriptions of inanimate objects and such throughout. This style made it a very difficult read for me because I wasn’t able to connect with any characters since there was so many and I felt not enough time was given to any one scene or chapter. Likewise, I found the dialogue shifted quite often between formal, informal, and even archaic wording, following no one specific pattern, which further made it difficult for me to connect with characters as many of the interactions seemed unreal and forced.

Overall, the constant jump from new character to new descriptor really made this novel difficult for me to read, especially as there are so many different mini plots and characters to keep track of, such as Field Marshal Drey, Amanda and Sarah Richardson, their father, Mike Howard, King Jeffrey, Henry, General Humpries, Samuel O’Flynn, and the list goes on and on. The novel itself is also extremely long and I personally think it wouldn’t hurt to be pared down a bit with a professional edit, removing some of the vast descriptions and stabilizing the dialogue to make it flow, focusing on less characters and moving the plot along. One star.

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

{August 22, 2013} {ARC Review} The Returned by Jason Mott

From Goodreads: Jacob was time out of sync, time more perfect than it had been. He was life the way it was supposed to be all those years ago. That’s what all the Returned were.

Harold and Lucille Hargrave’s lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they’ve settled comfortably into life without him, their wounds tempered through the grace of time … Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, their sweet, precocious child, still eight years old.

All over the world people’s loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why this is happening, whether it’s a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation, but one thing they know for sure: he’s their son. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargrave family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.

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I really wanted to like this novel, but it’s rather depressing and, truth be told, I never really made a connection with the characters. This is a very finely written piece, don’t get me wrong, but my questions were never answered. Why the returned come, what their purpose is, where they go when they disappear… I just don’t know, and that was the main reason I picked up this novel; I wanted to know.

Instead, this novel focuses on the appearance of the dead (not zombies, mind you), and how the world decides to react to such an anomaly. However, no one has answers, so it’s more or less the blind leading the blind, with some embracing the dead, some detesting it, and others ready to lock them up forever. Like I said, it’s a very depressing tale. We learn how the government decides to handle it, which isn’t very well, more like the Japanese Internment Camps than anything else, and we get to know characters… only to watch them traverse terrible atrocities and, ultimately, die. But why they emerged from the earth again, and what their purpose was aside from driving the story, well, I don’t know.

What I did enjoy about the novel, though, was that the chapters break up to follow certain characters, even though it’s told in third person, and we meet new returned and hear their brief stories. But again, it is all very tragic, and truthfully, I felt somewhat awful upon finishing it; angry with humanity. But maybe that was the purpose? People can turn evil, which is shown in this novel in very real sense, and while there are some good people interspersed, I really came out of this with a depressed soul and a feeling of disillusionment with humankind.

Overall, it’s very well written, but such a depressing tale isn’t really my speed. I guess I was hoping for mystery and danger, a sense of horror or something, but that’s not what this novel is about, and it just wasn’t for me. Two stars.

Harlequin has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on August 27, 2013.

{August 21, 2013} {ARC Review} Consume by Melissa Darnell (The Clann #3)

From Goodreads: Tristan Coleman has survived the change from Clann magic user to vampire, much to Savannah Colbert’s joy—and despair. By changing the Clann’s golden boy and newly elected leader, even to save him from death, she has unleashed a fury of hatred and fear that they cannot escape.

As the Clann and the vampire council go to war, Tristan and Sav face a new threat—a fracturing of the all-consuming bond they share. To fight for peace, they must forge a new trust and risk everything to take down their deadliest enemy, even as they must run for their lives. Soon they will learn that some bonds are stronger than love—and some battles cannot be won without sacrifice.

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I began reading this novel without realizing it was the third and final in the series. It’s actually my first novel of the author’s, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that, though not technically a stand-alone, it can be read on its own and still make perfect sense. It’s extremely well written and I highly enjoyed it, even though I missed out on the events in the first two novels. But Darnell does a phenomenal job keeping the reader up to speed from the very beginning, and she lets readers know the important events from the previous novels without an info-dump at the beginning. Instead, she weaves the important facts throughout the story as a reminder to those who have read the other novels, and I really liked this method of intertwining events as a reminder, or in my case, to help explain, since I’m reading this series backwards, as it were. Now, do I have some questions, sure. Were a ton of them answered in this novel? Yep. And it was so good that I’m going to go back and read books one and two because, even though I already know what’s going to happen in them, I’m excited to witness the events in slow motion with more detail.
The characters in this novel are actually running for their lives throughout a majority of the story, so there’s a lot of downtime and Darnell uses this to really flesh out her characters. Truthfully, much of the novel focuses on the issues brewing between Tristan and Savannah more than anything else, but I kind of liked this as a new reader of the series. I’m not sure how others will feel about the slower pacing, especially if they’ve read the other novels and already know the characters well, but I, personally, found it helpful in really getting to know the characters.

Darnell splits the novel into separate points of view, and I really enjoyed traveling through the mind of both Tristan and Savannah as the novel progressed. It was enlightening as Tristan and Savannah went back and forth with their feeling and sense of right versus wrong. Their growing divide over a particular issues was extremely interesting to me because it’s one we discuss a lot in my classroom when we get into philosophical debates, and Darnell presents both sides, but leaves it open for reader interpretation, which I really enjoyed. And the mindspeak? This was very well written into the story. I imagine it’d be a pain in the butt to have this ability, especially with a significant other, but I’d like to have it just the same. I want to hear people’s thoughts, too… Overall, the characterization of this novel was phenomenal, the entire novel was clean, and I’m pretty sure this will be a great full series to share with my students. Book three definitely is, that’s for sure. Four stars.

Harlequin has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on August 27, 2013.

{August 19, 2013} {ARC Review} A Brutal Tenderness by Marata Eros (Tamara Rose Blodgett)

From Goodreads: There are two sides to every story. In this dark and sexy companion novel to the New York Times bestseller A Terrible Love, experience the sizzling passion and pulse-pounding suspense through FBI agent Cas Steele’s eyes as he hunts down a psychopath…and falls for the killer’s prey.

Cas has been charged with an unsavory task: manipulate the hauntingly beautiful Jewell MacLeod—a woman he has every reason to hate—and slowly gain her trust in order to use her as bait to lure in a killer. But as the killer draws closer, Cas realizes that he can’t deny the scorching chemistry that ignites between him and Jewell, even if giving into his physical desire for her means jeopardizing his mission…and opening himself up to the possibility of a real and terrible love…

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Have you ever read a novel and wondered what the other main characters were thinking and feeling as the events unfolded on the page of a first-person narrative. Remember Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyers? That tease of a half-finished manuscript that presented Twilight from Edwards point of view, showing readers where he went when he left Bella’s side; giving inside glimpses into his head and heart? Remember that? I nearly died when I got to the last chapter and read that Meyers wouldn’t be completing it because someone leaked it. It was such a great story and it was my first experience with reading a novel from another character’s perspective, a writing technique that I actually haven’t seen very often. Sure, I’ve seen authors publish a chapter here or there rewritten from another character’s point-of-view, but not so much in the way of entire novels.

Well, New York Times Bestselling Author Marata Eros (aka. Tamara Rose Blodgett) gives us just that in A Brutal Tenderness, the amazing companion novel to A Terrible Love. This time, we see the entire story through Cas’ eyes, living his thoughts and feelings alongside him as he takes on Jewell’s case in attempts to flush out a murderer. And it’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.

I adored A Terrible Love; Eros handles a delicate situation extremely well, and her writing is absolutely phenomenal, gluing the reader to the story one riveting page at a time. And to be honest, I thought that novel was the end of a wonderful story, and it never crossed my mind to question what Cas was doing when he wasn’t near Jewell, or what he was thinking on a deeper level than what Eros presents readers with in the original novel. But with A Brutal Tenderness, Eros captivates her readers once again, answering questions I didn’t even know I had, and shining a brighter light on an already wonderful story through the eyes of Cas.

When I first read the synopsis, I didn’t think it was the same story due to the alias that Jewell takes on from the get-go: Jess Mackey. Though the synopsis sounds similar in both A Terrible Love and A Brutal Tenderness, the use of aliases versus full names in the book blurbs threw me off for just a bit, until I began reading and realized exactly what it was—and I was ecstatic!

One of the aspects that I really loved about this novel is that it casts Cas in a completely different light and his decisions, which irked me often in A Terrible Love, made much more sense and were actually out of love for Jewell as opposed to scorn, like I originally thought throughout much of A Terrible Love. Likewise, readers are given insight into his reasoning for disliking Jewell so much in the very beginning, showing his emotional breakdowns as they come, and being able to visually see Cas change his tune as he got to know Jewell was a bonus given to readers through this change in perspective.

Eros is a genius, and this novel is, indeed, the perfect companion to A Terrible Love, but make sure you read A Terrible Love first so you don’t ruin any of the surprises. Five stars.

Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books have been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on August 26, 2013.

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Eros is running an epic giveaway in which you can win the following:

eCopy of A Terrible Love

Galley copy of A Brutal Tenderness

Author swag

New Guess handbag/purse

Trust me, both novels are amazing, and you don’t want to miss out!

To enter this awesome giveaway, click this Rafflecopter Entry Link!

Read my 5 star review of A Terrible Love HERE

{August 18, 2013} {Review and Giveaway} Clicks by Amy Evans

From Goodreads: Clicks are the sounds the universe makes when it stops to tell you what’s going to happen next. Truths you hear in your heart that you can’t explain.

For sixteen year old Cami, the clicks won’t stop. They’re telling her to fall in love with the wrong twin, that her family is hiding something, and that Pinhold, her pristine Island home, is in danger.

Born and bred to win, Cami’s family expects her to join a secret society called The Guard, marry one of the two identical twin boys next door, and stay on Pinhold Island for the rest of her life. Home to perfect waves, black sand beaches, and the world-famous Surf Carnival, Pinhold seems deceptively perfect. While visitors are jealous of the few hundred people who get to live there, Cami feels stifled. Thanks to the intense link she shares with her own twin, Mica, she can’t even be alone with her thoughts. While Cami’s more than happy to be a lifeguard, a lifelong commitment to the endless summer feels like a trap.

It should have been a fun summer of surf competitions and beach patrol. But dolphins are washing up on shore and the best swimmers are drowning. Then her twin brother Mica goes down too.

The only thing that can save her brother is the truth that only Cami can learn. But can she trust the clicks?

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This is the first YA novel I’ve seen that’s been classified as environmental fiction, and I was so intrigued by that classification that I knew I had to read it, especially because my county is adding an entire unit to the end of 10^th grade year in which students study their role in the world and environment. And, what a great story it is! Filled with mystery and intrigue, as well as homage to the ocean and dolphins, in particular, Clicks takes a look at the world and what could happen if the environment went out of kilter. But it’s not just an environmental fiction novel, and it certainly isn’t preachy; it makes you think, and there is romance, adventure, experiments, and cover-ups… all of which Cami must uncover in order to save her friends and family.

This novel takes place on an island off the coast of California where the relationship between mankind and dolphin pods is extremely sacred and revered. Natives of the island, Cami, her twin, and her group of twin friends understand and acknowledge the rituals and bonds of The Guard, but it isn’t until Cami experiences calling and swimming with the pods that she begins to understand her real connection to them. But all too soon the bliss of the summer, tourist season, and the Surf Carnival is brought to a halt as people begin drowning and dolphins begin dying. Shrouded in mystery, Cami must use her wits and her connection to the environment to figure out what is happening to her island, and the secrets Evans weaves into her tale are epic.

I really liked Cami’s character; she’s a self-assured young woman who wants to excel in all, and finding her white dolphin is like a gift come true. She values and respects the ocean, understanding its power, and her relationship with her dolphin allows her to connect with the environment in a way that she previously was unable to. Watching her interact with her dolphin was extremely cool to watch, and Evans has a way with writing that puts readers right there with the characters, as if we’re swimming alongside through the pages. And I loved that the entire novel is cloaked in mystery. As the plot unfolds, more events happen that send the island off-balance, and healthy young teens lose consciousness without medical reason, spurring the reader on as Cami and her friends attempt to find the reason behind the sudden changes; to find the cure.

While I’ll admit that I figured out the secret behind it all much sooner than the reveal within the novel due to foreshadowing, I still really enjoyed the aspect of the mystery as it lined up and each characters’ involvement was laid bare. As we learn about the island and the plague that tormented the residents of both land and sea in the not so distant past, everything really begins to click (no pun intended), and I really enjoyed Evans’ execution of this entire story. The sorrow, fear, and resolve was extremely strong throughout the novel, and the added romance made for some swoon-worthy escapades that brought a smile to my face. Young love can be so beautiful. I highly recommend this to any readers out there curious about dolphins, the ocean, or who are looking for an overall good, clean read. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

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And now for the giveaway!!!

I’m offering up an ebook of Clicks to one reader!!!

To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Agree to HONESTLY REVIEW the novel via a blog (if you have one), or Goodreads, or any other media format you use for book reviews (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc.)

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Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY and will end at 12:01am EST on September 15th at 12:01am. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on September 15th, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{August 16, 2013} {Guest Post and Review} Blood Rule by Heather Hildenbrand (Dirty Blood #4)

Character & Disney Love Song Match-Up:

by Heather Hildenbrand

Because I’m a mom and watch a ton of Disney stuff, I put together a list of songs from Disney movies that match each of these couples from my Dirty Blood series. (For those that haven’t read all 4 books yet, this doesn’t mean each of them are a “boyfriend-girlfriend couple” So, #TeamAlex and #TeamWes … calm down!)

Here’s the match-up:

Tara & Wes – Beauty & The Beast theme

*Wes and the Beast have many similarities. Also, Wes and Tara sort of developed by accident or almost grudgingly, which reminds me of this love story. Very cute!

Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Just a little change
Small, to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise

Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast.

Tara & Alex – Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (Lion King)

***In the movie, it’s Timon and Pumba singing the beginning to each other. I picture Cambria singing this to Logan about Tara and Alex in Cold Blood:

I can see what’s happening. And they don’t have a clue
They’ll fall in love and here’s the bottom line
Our trio’s down to two.
Ze sweet caress of twilight.

There’s magic everywhere
And with all this romantic atmosphere
Disaster’s in the air
Can you feel the love tonight?
The peace the evening brings
The world, for once, in perfect harmony
With all its living things
[Simba… aka ALEX]
So many things to tell her
But how to make her see
The truth about my past? Impossible!
She’d turn away from me
[Nala: aka Tara]
He’s holding back, he’s hiding
But what, I can’t decide
Why won’t he be the king I know he is
The king I see inside?

George & Tara – You’ll Be in My Heart (Tarzan)

*Weirdly enough, George reminds me a lot of Tarzan. Haha. And the “Always” at the end reminds me of the Bon Jovi song that is in Cold Blood. It’s their song. So this is perfect!

For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm
This bond between us can’t be broken
I will be here. Don’t you cry

‘Cause you’ll be in my heart. Yes, you’ll be in my heart
From this day on. Now and forever more
You’ll be in my heart. No matter what they say
You’ll be here in my heart always
Always

Jack & Fee – Candle on the Water (Pete’s Dragon)

*Jack and Fee are so steady and soul-deep in their commitment. Not just to love but to nurture and protect each other. Think: hippie love. With violence on the side. That’s Jack and Fee.

I’ll be your candle on the water
My love for you will always burn
I know you’re lost and drifting
But the clouds are lifting
Don’t give up you’ll have somewhere to turn

I’ll be your candle on the water
‘Till ev’ry wave is warm and bright
My soul is there beside you
Let this candle guide you
Soon you’ll see a golden stream of light

Derek & Cambria – Kiss the Girl (The Little Mermaid)

Derek and Cambria’s relationship has such a playful, fun side. This song seemed perfect! It started out very simple and physical but what they have goes very deep. You’ll see… ;)

There you see her
Sitting there across the way
She don’t got a lot to say
But there’s something about her
And you don’t know why
But you’re dying to try
You wanna kiss the girl

Yes, you want her
Look at her, you know you do
It’s possible she wants you, too
There is one way to ask her
It don’t take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the girl

Sing with me now
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
My, oh, my
Look at the boy too shy
He ain’t gonna kiss the girl
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Ain’t that sad
Ain’t it shame, too bad
You gonna miss the girl

Now’s your moment
Floating in a blue lagoon
Boy, you better do it soon
No time will be better
She don’t say a word
And she won’t say a word
Until you kiss the girl

Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Don’t be scared
You got the mood prepared
Go on and kiss the girl
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Don’t stop now
Don’t try to hide it how
You wanna kiss the girl
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Float along
Listen to the song
The song say kiss the girl
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Music play
Do what the music say
You wanna kiss the girl

Whisper & Dylan – If I Never Knew You (Pocahontas)

*It makes the song choice even better to know it’s from Pocahontas!!

In this world so full of fear, full of rage and lies
I can see the truth so clear, in your eyes, so dry your eyes
And I’m so grateful to you, I’d have lived my whole life through
Lost forever, if I never knew you.

If I never knew you, I’d be safe but half as real
Never knowing I could feel a love so strong and true
I’m so grateful to you, I’d have lived my whole life through
Lost forever, if I never knew you.

I thought our love would be so beautiful
Somehow we make the whole world right

I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong
All they leave are worthless whispers in the night
But still my heart is saying we were right.

What do you guys think? Are there any Disney songs that would fit better for these couples?

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REVIEW:

From Goodreads:

Forty-six.

That’s how many hybrids survived the Hunter attack in the woods after I revived them with an injection of my blood. That’s how many followed me home to Frederick Falls. And that’s how many were now mentally linked to me through a blood bond.

Two days. Three valium. Fourteen hours of sleep.

That’s what it took to realize I wasn’t losing my mind as a result of the noise in my own head.

Sixteen.

That’s how many days have passed since I almost killed Alex. That’s how many days I’ve sat by his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. To ease the guilt, to understand his betrayal, to remember the exact shade of brown in his eyes.

Zero.

That’s my chances of skating by with Gordon Steppe and the Hunter Council. They want me for questioning. I’m afraid what’ll happen if I give them answers.

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Heather Hildenbrand’s Dirty Blood series is one I’ve been fascinated with for the past few years. Her debut novel, Dirty Blood, was my first taste of Hildenbrand’s writing, and I must admit, she’s held my attention ever since, and I’ve read and enjoyed all her novels, including those separate from this specific series. But, the werewolves started my love for Hildenbrand’s books, and I hold a special place in my heart for these novels, so it is no surprise that I become extremely ecstatic whenever a new one releases, and I’m so happy to say that Hildenbrand has, once again, written an intriguing gem of a story.

So much has happened and changed for Tara as the novels have progressed, and Blood Rule finds our heroine once again in a predicament as she tries to not only keep her pack of hybrids safe from the Hunters who would destroy them, but also protect them from themselves, all while attempting to keep her feelings in check. Taking on a much darker feel than her previous novels, Hildenbrand shows the depth of pain and hurt that Tara undergoes as she adjusts to her pack and her position as leader; it is a bit of a depressing tale. She must do things she never dreamed of in order to keep the peace, and this includes quelling fights and, if need be, putting one out of his/her misery. And as if this isn’t a difficult enough task, her feelings and self-loathing concerning Alex further muddle and complicate her life at a time that everything, and I do mean everything, has gone through upheval.

Though darker and ending with a cliffhanger that has me biting my nails in worry for Tara and her entire pack, I found this novel to be one that really takes a look at the characters’ inner being, showing their growth and making them even more real. Though I’m not a werewolf (I wish), I can identify with Tara as she is forced to make difficult decision after difficult decision, and I love that she never gives up, even when adversity is staring her in the face. I am equally impressed with the characters of Wes, George, Fee, and Alex, though we do see too little of Alex, in my humble opinion. These characters have come very far from the beginning novel that started it all, and faced with complications, heartbreak, and danger behind every tree, I’m very much impressed with their growth and how Hildenbrand handles them throughout the story.

Filled with tragedy, fighting, angst, and heartbreak, this novel has few uplifting scenes, but those that accompany it do shine through, and as this is book number four in the series, a very difficult book to write, I’m sure, I believe that it can only get better for our characters. After all, one can only fall so far before they must be lifted up. Four stars.*

Buy the Book:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECL1OZS/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_pZyasb1V8KETS

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood-rule-book-4-dirty-blood-series-heather-hildenbrand/1116310366?ean=2940148570240

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Author Information

Heather Hildenbrand was born and raised in a small town in northern Virginia where she was homeschooled through high school. She now lives in coastal VA, a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean, with her two adorable children. She works from home, part time, as a property manager and when she’s not furiously pounding at the keyboard, or staring off into space whilst plotting a new story, she’s lying on the beach, soaking in those delicious, pre-cancerous rays.

Heather loves Mexican food, hates socks with sandals, and if her house was on fire, the one thing she’d grab is her DVR player.

Heather is a co-founder of Accendo Press, a publishing group she operates with fellow authors: Angeline Kace and Jennifer Sommersby. Accendo (a-CH-endo), A Latin word, means “to kindle, illuminate, inflame, or set fire.” This is something Accendo strives to do inside a reader’s imagination with every title released. For a complete list of titles and author bios, visit http://www.accendopress.com

Website: www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heather.L.Hildenbrand

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherHildenbrandsFanPage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherHildenbr

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4607856.Heather_Hildenbrand

Newsletter: http://blogspot.us4.list-manage2.com/subscribe?u=77abacb38959bc9c0f7b4e81b&id=739fdcef83

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Click the gif below to go to Heather’s AWESOME giveaway!

For more tour stops and information:
http://heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com/2013/08/blood-rule-release-day-blitz-blog-tour.html

*A Book Vacation received the novel from the author in exchange for an HONEST review for this blog tour.

{August 15, 2013} {Promo Spotlight, Review, and Giveaway} Immortals by Ednah Walters (Runes #2)

Book Title: Immortals

Series: Runes

Author: Ednah Walters

Release Date: August 5^th 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Length: 342 Pages

Publisher: Firetrail Publishing

Presented by: Walking on Bookshelves & As You Wish Tours

Immortals Tour Schedule

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BLURB

Nothing can stop Raine Cooper when she wants something…

Raine finally knows that her gorgeous neighbor, Torin St. James, is a legend straight out of Norse mythology, and that her feelings for him are strong. Torin is crazy about Raine too, breaking the one rule he lives by: Never fall for a mortal. The problem is he no longer remembers her, his memories erased by Norns—Norse destiny deities—to punish her for defying them.

She will make Torin forget his one rule a second time and fall in love with her all over again.

But she quickly learns that well-laid plans do not work when dealing with deities and supernatural beings. Desperate, Raine makes choices that could not only tear her and Torin further apart, but lead to the destruction of everything and everyone she loves.

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EXCERPT

“The Norns said you were in danger.”

A snicker escaped him. “From what?”

“They didn’t say.”

“Screw them. They’re messing with your head again, Raine.” He twisted the lid off his water bottle and chugged. “I wish they’d spoken to me. I would’ve told them to eff off.” He put his water on the table, his grip tightening around the plastic bottle.

Wishing I could reach out and touch him, maybe reassure him, I studied his angry expression and chewed on a piece of limp lettuce. “What’s happening to us, Eirik?”

He scowled. “What do you mean?”

“We never used to keep secrets from each other. Why didn’t you tell me what your parents said that night?”

“They said I couldn’t because, you know, you’re Mortal and I’m… whatever I am.” He took another bite as though the pizza was his enemy and chewed, his eyes staring into space though he was having an internal argument with himself.

“Did they at least tell you who your real parents are?”

“No.” He glowered. “But Mom said I’m special. Yeah, whatever that means. I told her I wasn’t going anywhere until I got some answers. Guess what? It’s been six weeks since we talked and I’m still here.” He demolished the rest of the slice in two bites, guzzled his drink, and started on his second slice. “I should not have listened to them. If I’d told you everything, you would’ve told me about the Norns when they first appeared. They almost killed you.”

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REVIEW

From Goodreads: Nothing can stop Raine Cooper when she wants something…
Raine finally knows that her gorgeous neighbor, Torin St. James, is a legend straight out of Norse mythology, and that her feelings for him are strong. Torin is crazy about Raine too, breaking the one rule he lives by: Never fall for a mortal. The problem is he no longer remembers her, his memories erased by Norns—Norse destiny deities—to punish her for defying them.

So Raine comes up with a plan…
She will make Torin forget his one rule a second time and fall in love with her all over again.
But she quickly learns that well-laid plans do not work when dealing with deities and supernatural beings. Desperate, Raine makes choices that could not only tear her and Torin further apart, but lead to the destruction of everything and everyone she love.

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This second novel in the series was even better than the first, as Raine knows the truth about her heritage and that of her beloved Torin. The stage has already been set by events in the prequel, allowing readers to be dropped right in on the action as Raine desperately tries to make Torin remember their love. And my, how the tables have turned… no longer is Torin the pursuer like he was in Runes, but now he’s the perused, and as infuriating as he could be in the first novel, he’s even more so in this sequel with his bad boy charm, quick retorts, and shrugging off of Raine’s desperate attempts to make him remember her. When telling him the truth doesn’t work, she resorts to trickier methods: jealousy, and in the mad dash to bring Torin up to speed, she uncovers the truth about her best friend Eirik and her power when it comes to the Norns, making everything that much more complicated as the novel unfolds.

I really liked Raine’s character in this novel. She’s even more sure of herself, and while she still questions her choices and worries, she’s no longer in the dark, making her able to fend for herself and do what she believes to be right in order to save those she loves. With the new revelation of Eirik’s heritage and the darkness coming to take him away, Raine must step up even more and fight against an evil she can’t see or understand, but knows will cost Eirik his life if she’s not there to stop it.

Eirik is fleshed out even more so in this novel, and I really liked him. He’s going through some extreme changes, and the mystery behind his Runes was extremely intriguing. And, between Torin and Eirik, this novel adds a lot of spice and fun, though much of it comes in the form of danger.

Beautifully told, this novel fleshes out Norse myth and presents a story unlike any other, and with its many twists and turns, and an intense betrayal I never saw coming, it’s a hard one to put down; I can’t wait for even more from Walters as this series is turning out to be quite promising. It’s a great read, and I highly suggest picking up the series if you haven’t already done so. Four stars.

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

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AUTHOR BIO

EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Visit her at www.ednahwalters.com

Ednah also writes YA paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. IMMORTALS is book 2. She is presently working on book 3, GRIMNIRS (Release date TBA). Read more about this series and the world she’s created here www.runestheseries.com

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She’s presently working on book six. You can visit her online at or www.ebwalters.com.

AUTHOR LINKS

BOOK LINKS

Pre-Order Amazon Paperback

Goodreads

Enter the Tour Wide Giveaway

{August 15, 2013} {ARC Review and Release Day Blitz} Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom by Tiffany King

From Goodreads: Lies.
My so-called family lied.
My friends lied.
The only guy I ever liked lied.
My mentor, the one I was supposed to trust, lied.

My entire existence is built on lies and yet now they want my help. Scratch that, now
they need my help. I’ll play the good soldier, but I am no longer the person I was before. This time it will be on my terms. I will trust no one.

I am a weapon. I am Jordyn.

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USA Today bestselling author Tiffany King does not disappoint in her latest release, Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom, the highly anticipated sequel to her impressive novel Jordyn that released early February of this year. A spinoff series to the Saving Angels novels, the Jordyn books pick up a few years later with a cast of new characters taking the forefront while the beloved characters from Saving Angels step out of the limelight—but are not forgotten, and still play a crucial part throughout Jordyn’s development.

Filled with lies, secrets, angst, and romance, this second novel is even better than the first, pushing Jordyn to face her inner self and decide where she truly belongs. It’s a story of healing through acceptance and redemption, but it’s a kicks butt story the entire way. Although hurt by the betrayal of her loved ones, and the revelation of the truth behind her past, Jordyn has a good heart and refuses to allow her ego to stand in the way of helping those who need her, but she’s certainly not a push over, either. With trepidation, Jordyn returns to her family only to embark on a hunt for her missing friends, and traveling to the Caverns of Gloom is just part of the plan to save her loved ones. The other part pushes Emrys and Jordyn back together again… but Jordyn’s walls are higher than ever in his presence, and rightly so. Who’s side is he on, anyway?

I devoured this novel in one sitting; it’s extremely fast paced and intriguing, and I loved Jordyn’s struggles as she embarked on her mission. Perhaps one of the hardest things to do as a human is to forgive and forget, and Jordyn isn’t exactly human, so you can imagine the difficulty she has throughout the novel, especially when it comes to trusting Emrys. King presents the story in such a way that is causes readers to question loyalties on all sides and, as it all comes to a head, sit on pins and needles as the battle scenes unfold and the true plan of escape is revealed.

Jordyn is still a kick butt heroine and I loved watching her fight for her family, grappling with acceptance, forgiveness, and love. She’s a great character, as are they all, and getting a little glimpse of hell was extremely cool, especially with the ending and the slight cliffhanger that ensues. Book three can’t come out fast enough!

Overall, this is a great sequel that you won’t want to miss. Five stars.

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

Buy Link:

Amazon

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Author Bio:

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.

She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats).

Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Get to know Tiffany:

Twitter– @AuthorTiffany

Facebook– Tiffany King

Pintrest– Tiffany King

Blog– authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Goodreads– Tiffany King

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Giveaway:

Two winners (one international and one USA) will win a:

Signed paperback of Jordyn

Signed paperback of Jordyn and the Caverns of Gloom

Swag Bag

Click this Rafflcopter Entry link to enter!

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August 14^th

Literati Literature Lovers

April 15^th

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH
Stuck in Books

August 16^th

TSK TSK What to Read
Between Fantasy & Reality

August 17^th

Hardcover Therapy
Love Those Books

August 18^th

Crazy Book Chicks
Brianna Lee Book Reviews

August 19^th

Book DreamLand
The Book Beacon

August 20^th

Tangled Up in Books
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August 21^st

Book Boyfriend Reviews
Love Between the Sheets

August 22^nd

Rampant Readers
Dowie’s Place

August 23^rd

Book Angel Booktopia
The White Unicorn

August 24^th

PurpInkRoses Book Co.
BookNerds Across America

August 25^th

BJ’s Book Blog
Books, Coffee & Wine

August 26^th

Phantasmic Reads
Reviewing What I’m Reading

August 27^th

Contagious Reads

{August 14, 2013} {Review} Sundial by C.F. Fruzzetti and M.I. Pearsall

From Goodreads: It is 1988 and teenager Whitney Forbes thought her biggest problem was surviving high school and determining if there was more to handsome Reid Wallace than just his looks and popularity. She was wrong. Her problems were about to get a lot more complicated.

Whitney always knew she was special. But when she discovers she is more “special” than she ever imagined, surviving another school day outside her posh D.C. suburb takes on a whole new meaning. Caught in the middle of a CIA plot and her undeniable magnetic attraction to Reid, she will need to decide who she can trust and what it means to become the Sundial…before she risks her heart and an alarming plan goes into motion.

Will she have what it takes to not only survive but also prevail? The clock is ticking and the suspense builds as time brings the truth to light in this epic adventure about love, trust and the process of turning adversity into advantage.

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Complete with romance, special ops, nuclear energy, and the paranormal, this novel has a little bit of everything for everyone. Whitney Forbes, our strong female lead, is a great character, taking care of herself and not falling for the cute boy in school based on looks alone. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, and she double checks anything suspicious, which, in this case, is Reid Wallace. Whitney has ESP, and with her abilities to sense, along with the ability to absorb and learn powers, she’s got her hands full trying to understand why Reid knows so much about her when she’s told him very little… Trust must be earned in this novel, and it is. As the plot unfolds, we learn why Whitney and Reid are so drawn to one another, and the revelations are very intriguing.

Much of the plotline in this novel is spent building up the relationship between Whitney and Reid, with boat rides, kisses, long drives, and parties, the perfect way to flesh out their relationship and build their characters in this first book of the series. However, it causes the story to unfold rather slowly as the CIA plot involving nuclear reactions and genocide isn’t really touched upon until near the end of the novel. But then again, without the attention to the budding relationship, the novel wouldn’t have so expertly captured the world of the rich in D.C. And, for those of us around in the 80s, a lot of the name brands and places mentioned in this novel really hit home, especially if you live(d) in the D.C. area, which, in my opinion, makes the slower pace worth it.

The one aspect that I had a little difficulty with as I read was that the overall story tended to jump ahead a lot, almost rushing the reader, cutting out details right when the going gets good. Many chapters end with a sort of cliffhanger, jumping ahead to another segment of the story, or bypassing weeks or months in the span of a paragraph or two, and while I do enjoy cliffhanger chapters as they pique my interest, I also like my story to follow a more linear fashion… to be less rushed. But this isn’t bad story-telling by any means, and I believe some readers will really enjoy this writing style, though I personally found it a little bit jarring.

Overall, this is an intriguing read with some great, strong main characters, and I think the second novel is going to be even better than the first now that all the character building and introductions are out of the way. Three stars.

I received this novel from the authors in exchange for an honest review.

This title is CURRENTLY FREE on AMAZON.

**Upon completion of review, it has come to my attention that a new edition of SUNDIAL was released in Spring 2012–an edition that addresses the continuity issue I found a bit jarring in the older edition I read. The follow-up book in the series, THE LIGHT BRINGER’S WAY, was released Summer 2012, and I am excited to read it.**

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

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A Matter of Fate: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

A Matter of Heart: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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ABOUT A MATTER OF FATE (Book 1):

That’s nothing compared to the boy trouble she’s gotten herself into. Because a guy she’s literally dreamed of and loved her entire life, one she never knew truly existed, shows up in her math class, and with him comes a twin brother she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.

Chloe’s once unyielding path now has a lot more choices than she ever thought possible.

A MATTER OF FATE Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16077863-a-matter-of-fate?ac=1

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Fate-Series-ebook/dp/B0092ETXR6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378223462&sr=8-1&keywords=a+matter+of+fate+heather+lyons

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-fate-heather-lyons/1112674154?ean=2940015252439&itm=1&usri=a+matter+of+heart+heather+lyons

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ABOUT A MATTER OF HEART (Book 2):

But no matter what Fate throws at her, Chloe is determined to take charge of her life, even as it begins to spiral out of control.

A MATTER OF HEART is book 2 in the Fate Series, a mature Young Adult/New Adult fantasy.

A MATTER OF HEART Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17261347-a-matter-of-heart

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Matter-Heart-Fate-Series-ebook/dp/B00DKOFSTQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378223551&sr=8-2&keywords=a+matter+of+fate+heather+lyons

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-heart-heather-lyons/1115806416?ean=2940016654591&itm=1&usri=a+matter+of+heart+heather+lyons

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ABOUT A MATTER OF TRUTH (Book 3):

*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+*

A MATTER OF TRUTH Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18167992-a-matter-of-truth?ac=1

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About Heather Lyons:

Links:

Website: http://www.heatherlyons.net

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/heatherlyons

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hymheather

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherlyonsbooks?fref=ts

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Soul Survivor

Author: Michelle N. Files

Series: Hybrid Chronicles #1

Publication: June 14th, 2013

Category: Young Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

Review:

Top Tens List – Songs to Listen to as you read Soul Survivor–from Michelle Nicole

Giveaway

Prizes:

1 – Print copy of Soul Survivor by Michelle Nicole {US Only}

3 – eBooks of Soul Survivor by Michelle Nicole {International}

End date: September 21st, 2013 @ 11:59pm EDT

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!!!

About the Author:

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Title: THE DARKEST JOY

Author: Marata Eros

Expected release date: February 18, 2014

Genre: Dark Romantic Suspense

Age Group: New Adult

Cover Designer and website (if available): Simon & Schuster

Goodreads URL to title (if applicable): http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17932216-the-darkest-joy

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Book Description:

A sexy and poignant new adult novel from New York Times bestseller Marata Eros, about two lost souls who find each other in the wake of tragedy, only to learn that love may not be enough to heal the wounds of a dark and tortured past…

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Author Bio:

Marata Eros is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of dark, romantic new adult novels, including A Terrible Love and its companion novel A Brutal Tenderness. A passionate writer who loves interacting with her readers, Marata lives in South Dakota with her husband.

Author social media links:

Blog: http://marataeroseroticaauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marata-Eros/336334243087970

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarataEros

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5052261.Marata_Eros

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/floresdm08/marata-eros/

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Eros is running an epic giveaway in which you can win the following:

To enter this awesome giveaway, click this Rafflecopter Entry Link!

Read my 5 star review of A Terrible Love HERE

**ABOUT A MATTER OF FATE (Book 1):**

**ABOUT A MATTER OF HEART (Book 2):**

**ABOUT A MATTER OF TRUTH (Book 3):**

This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+

For more tour stops and information:
http://heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com/2013/08/blood-rule-release-day-blitz-blog-tour.html

Release Date: August 5^th 2013