Thursday, June 30, 2016

Deceived Blog Tour Stop: Excerpt and Review


Don't miss the first in the all new Dark Alliance Series!


DECEIVED
Dark Alliance #1
Kate SeRine
Releasing June 28th, 2016
Zebra


Luke Rogan's assignment is simple: secure young Elijah Scoffield and his mother and bring them back to headquarters--just an ordinary mission for an operative of the Dark Alliance. But Elijah is no ordinary kid. He's the grandson of one of the country's most influential politicians--a man privy to the Alliance's most valuable secrets, including its centuries-long connection to the Knights Templar. And someone else is attempting to capture the boy--someone who's proven he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage. . . 


Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . . 


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Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it's no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after.

Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project—probably while consuming way too much coffee.

Kate is also the author of the award-winning Transplanted Tales paranormal romance series and the Protect & Serve romantic suspense series.

Connect with Kate at www.kateserine.com, Facebook.com/kateserine, or on Twitter @KateSeRine.



Excerpt
“I thought we were safe here,” Sarah said, her arms crossed over her chest.
            “We’re as safe here as anywhere until we get to my place,” Luke assured her.
            She lifted a brow. “Yet you’re acting like you expect someone to come barging in and attack us at any moment.”
            He took a step closer and immediately realized his mistake when his heart started pounding at the nearness of her. Shit. He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from touching her. “If being paranoid is what’s going to keep you and your son alive,” he said, “then guilty as charged.”
            “Please don’t take this the wrong way, Luke,” she began, edging closer, damn it all, “but why does it matter so much to you if Eli and I are safe? You don’t know us. I get that you’ve been given an order, but I also heard you talking to your commander and know you’d rather be somewhere else. If you’d insisted that someone else watch over us, I would’ve understood. I can just go to the police, tell them what happened. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
            Luke stared at her for a long moment, trying to figure out the answer to her question. Hell if he knew why it mattered so much to him that he keep them safe. In the technical sense, he protected people every day and had for going on fifteen years when he added up his time in the military and then working for the government and now with the Alliance. But she was right—this assignment was hitting him on a level he hadn’t anticipated.
            “I guess because, when I wasn’t much older than Eli, someone took my mother and me in, watched over us when we needed it,” he finally said, not sure where the explanation was even coming from. “And someone else did the same thing for me again a few years ago when I was in a really dark place—except this time the enemy I was up against was myself. If it wasn’t for that person stepping in, I don’t know where I’d be. But dead is a damned good bet.”
            Sarah straightened. “Oh. God. I’m sorry.”
            “Don’t be,” Luke told her. He shook his head as his vision went a little blurry. Suddenly too tired to stand, he leaned against the edge of the sink. “I made a promise to keep you and Eli safe, Sarah. I’ll keep it. There’s no way I’d abandon you, so don’t worry about it.”
            The next thing he knew, Sarah’s arms were around his neck, hugging him tightly. He resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her and hold her close, to bury his face in her hair and let the warmth of her wash over him. But when she pressed a kiss to his cheek and whispered, “Thank you,” in his ear, he almost gave in.
            Fortunately, before he could move, she stepped away and hurried back into the room with Eli, leaving Luke gaping at the empty doorway and wondering exactly what the hell he’d gotten himself into…


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Review:

Author Kate SeRine 
Format e-ARC 
Print Length 368 pages 
Publisher Zebra 
Published June 28, 2016 

Luke Rogan's assignment is simple: secure young Elijah Scoffield and his mother and bring them back to headquarters--just an ordinary mission for an operative of the Dark Alliance. But Elijah is no ordinary kid. He's the grandson of one of the country's most influential politicians--a man privy to the Alliance's most valuable secrets, including its centuries-long connection to the Knights Templar. And someone else is attempting to capture the boy--someone who's proven he doesn't give a damn about collateral damage. . . 

Heartbroken at the lies that tore her world apart, Sarah Scoffield will do anything to protect her son--even if that means teaming up with a deadly stranger. But Sarah soon finds herself falling in love with her dark hero. And as danger stalks ever closer, the fiery desire that claims them awakens in Sarah passions she'd thought dead and buried long ago. . . 

My Opinion


Thank you to Zebra and Netgalley for allowing me to review this novel. This in no way influenced my review. 

Deceived is the perfect blend of romance and suspense. Once you start Deceived you will not want to put it down- the action is just that intense! 

Luke is on a mission that goes south, a mission involving Senator Hal Blake. He finds out later that his was an unsanctioned mission. Which is why when the Senator ends up in the Hospital, Luke is sent to protect his grandson Eli. Senator Hal had apparently named Eli, heir apparent to his Dark Alliance knowledge. Somehow, the Illuminate found out though and they are hunting Eli as well. 

Sarah is a widow, who has been kept in the dark about her family’s allegiance to the Dark Alliance. That being said she is no weeping willow. Instead she stands tall like the mighty oak tree, trying hard to accept Luke’s story. Mainly she will do anything to protect her son. She is relatable, strong, and compassionate. She struggles with her attraction to Luke, something that takes her by surprise. Her husband has been dead for years, yet she hasn’t moved on. She knows that Luke is hard-core, he is protecting them and yet she will still go toe to toe with him is she feels he oversteps his boundaries with her or with Eli. How she demands answers and respect is a thing a beauty. 

Luke has orders and he tries very hard to follow them. He is a sexy loner, a company man. He fights the attraction he feels for Sarah, the attachment that is developing with Eli. There are times though, that all Eli has to do is say please with hero worship eyes and he caves. Those were some of my favorite moments, like the one with Master Chief. Luke’s suspicious nature has him looking not only into this case, into Sarah’s past. Will he like all that he finds? Will she like all that he finds? 

The big baddie is…. well they cause you to do a double take. Makes sense, they are playing both sides. They make you suspicious though of everyone in the Dark Alliance. Who else has also turned? Who else is a traitor? Not only that but what a great actor they must have been to never once give away their true emotions. 

Deceived will hook you from the first sentence, luring you in by the end of the first chapter and leaving you captivated until the very end. At the end, is a tease for the next book in the series, Concealed which is scheduled to release in April 2017. The perfect bait to make you count down the days until you can re-enter the Dark Alliance series and once again be reunited with the a blend of romance and suspense is flawless. 

My Rating 5 out of 5 stars


Favorite Quote “I like the way you see me- even if it’s untrue.”


Other People

Eli- Sarah’s son 
Finn- computer expert 
Jack- Luke’s partner 
Maddie- Sarah’s sister 
Will- Luke’s commander 
Mel- Luke’s step-sister

Swoon Thursday (26) The Wendigo Witchling

The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works.

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON.
What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. 

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the gals at YABound.

Reaching up, she put her hands gently on his face to keep him from pulling back. Nate took that as a sign to continue and wrapped his arms around her, tugging her closer to him. her one hand drifted
down, and she placed it on his bare chest. Nate slowly pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.


Location 2231


"Please don't give up on the night human world. Please don't give up on us. Please don't give up on me." His last words were barely above a whisper. His blue eyes stared intensely at her, willing her to love him back. And she did, even if she couldn't say it.


Location 2239


Nate... I love both of these moments with him. He is just sigh...swoon worthy. Even with how Cassie treats him, he does his best to protect her.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday (26) The Shadow Hour

Hey y'all, thanks so much for stopping by my WoW!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.






Everything in Echo's life changed in a blinding flash when she learned the startling truth: she is the firebird, the creature of light
that is said to bring peace.

The firebird has come into the world, but it has not come alone. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and Echo can feel a great and terrible darkness rising in the distance. Cosmic forces threaten to tear the world apart.

Echo has already lost her home, her family, and her boyfriend. Now, as the firebird, her path is filled with even greater dangers than the ones she's already overcome.

She knows the Dragon Prince will not fall without a fight.

Echo must decide: can she wield the power of her true nature--or will it prove too strong for her, and burn what's left of her world to the ground?

Welcome to the shadow hour.

 

Why I am Waiting?


Poor Echo, will she every be happy? 

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Eternal Sacrifice Release Day!



Eternal Sacrifice Blurb:


The explosive conclusion to Stacey O'Neale's award-winning Mortal Enchantment series reveals the secrets of the fantasy world!

Valac has stolen two of the sacred objects. In a bid to rule all four courts, he has threatened to use Excalibur to cut the mist that protects Avalon--ultimately ending the lives of thousands of elementals. As the Akasha, Kalin has the power to stop him. And she refuses to lose anyone else she loves.

Will she have to sacrifice herself to save them?

Desperate to save Kalin's life, Rowan searches for the long-lost creator of the mist. But what he finds is the very last thing he expected. Everything he thought he knew about his past is turned upside down, and he questions whether he's meant to be the savior or the elemental that destroys them all.

Told from Kalin, Rowan, and Marcus's perspective, the final installment to the series follows their journey of courage, duty, sacrifice, and love.

Amazon Buy Link: 



Updated Author Bio:

Award-winning author, Stacey O'Neale, lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she's not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter. 

Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult fantasy and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.

Stacey loves hearing from readers. Follow her on Twitter @StaceyONeale, look for her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Goodreads. You can also visit her blog at staceyoneale.com/.



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Teaser Tuesday (26) Deceived

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too
much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"I told you this is all new to me,  I don't know what the hell I'm doing.  I have no idea how I'll feel in three days, let alone three months.  You got me there, Sarah.  Guilty.  But I'd like to see where it goes.  I'd like to at least have the chance to find out."

Kindle Location 2911

Luke is my new book boyfriend.  He is just sigh.... you will understand once you meet him.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Review: Soulbound

Author Kristen Callihan
Format e-book 
Print Length 366 pages 
Publisher Forever 
Published Feb 24 2015 

Once two souls are joined...

When Adam's soul mate rejected him, there was more at stake than his heart. After seven hundred years of searching, his true match would have ended the curse that keeps his spirit in chains. But beautiful, stubborn Eliza May fled—and now Adam is doomed to an eternity of anguish, his only hope for salvation gone...

Their hearts will beat together forever...

No matter how devilishly irresistible Adam was, Eliza couldn't stand the thought of relinquishing her freedom forever. So she escaped. But she soon discovers she is being hunted—by someone far more dangerous. The only man who can help is the one man she vowed never to see again. Now Adam's kindness is an unexpected refuge, and Eliza finds that some vows are made to be broken... 

My Opinion 


***Warning spoilers from previous books. 

We were introduced to Miss Eliza May in a previous book, I think it was Shadowdance. She is of course killed and offered a chance to become a GIM (Ghosts in the Machine). When Adam was called for by Mary and Daisy, instead of making her a GIM he takes her away. Randomly, to only goodness knows where. He keeps her chained to him the entire time he has her. He really is a real jerk to her. Makkes you wonder why he gets his own book later on. Mab, the queen of the Fae arranges for her rescue in Evernight. After three long years, she is finally free. Or so she thinks. 

Soulbound begins a few months after Evernight ends. The GIMs are becoming ill, even dying a true death. None have seen Adam in months and he is no longer answering their calls. In the months that Adam has been missing Eliza has been living with her aunt Mab among the fae. She realizes soon enough that her aunt is cruel and mean-spirited. She has no clue just how cruel until she finds Adam in a cell, bleeding, bruised from various beatings that her aunt and uncle have given him. The plan that those two have cooked up is just yucky. 

Eliza is an interesting character. She is stubborn, and strong-willed. She is also angry with Adam for his treatment of her. She does however feel compassion and doesn’t want him hurt. She is intelligent enough to realize her aunt has different motives than the ones she has introduced to her. She is apprehensive of everything and everyone. This makes her stand-offish which may not suit well with some readers. Yet her guarded nature is due to her circumstances first with Adam and then with Mab. I can appreciate how that may make you distrustful. 

Adam is a hero that I just couldn’t connect with. He has been on this earth for how many years and he still screws-up finding his soulmate. Who does that? Then he gets mad that she doesn’t fall instantly to her knees professing her love for him? You got her chained to you dude. Yes he does get better, as the story moves along. He does save lives with the GIMs, his children whom he tries to protect. So there are some redeeming qualities but not enough to make me swoon for him. 

Soulbound is a good read. It moves the story along for the series. We even got to check in with some previous main couples. I think that my dislike of Adam is what caused this one not to be four or five stars. It does a fabulous job of setting up for Sin’s book, Forevermore, which releases tomorrow. 

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars 


Favorite Quote “Actions determined one’s destiny not the other way around.” 


Other People 


Mellan- Mab’s brother, fae 
Lucien- Adam’s right hand GIM 
Sin- Holly’s cousin, what is he up to 
Holly- Eliza’s cousin


Saturday, June 25, 2016

Book Trailer Saturday (26) Creatura

Some people believe you can fall in love at first sight. When it comes to books I believe those people. Book trailers are an excellent way to fall in love at first sight. I hope to feature a book trailer here every Saturday to help you fall in love at first sight..





When seventeen year-old Isis Martin is having trouble sleeping due to perturbing dreams of a horrific 
growling beast, she decides to confront her fear. But what Isis discovers is something other than a menacing entity.

The human-like creature offers Isis assurance that he is not a figment of her imagination. Unwilling to accept his avowal, Isis sets his words to contest by asking the entity to prove himself—a dare, he readily welcomes.

It is in her dreams that Isis innocently stumbles upon the silent existence of the divine lineage of those that man has long forgotten.

In a quaint town, deep in south Texas, this story leads Isis onto the path of impermissible love and captivating life-changing truths. Isis Martin's journey is sure to leave any reader ravenous for more.

Friday, June 24, 2016

Review: The Three-Week Arrangement

Author Sarah Ballance
Format e-book
Print Length 200 pages
Publisher Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published April 4, 2016

Ethan Chase isn't interested in dating. After losing the woman he loved more than life itself, he'd much rather ride solo, but his family is dead set on fixing him up. To get them off his back, he hooks up with ultra-adventurous, ultra-temporary adventure photographer, Rue Campbell. All he has to do is survive three weeks in her orbit and he'll be single again, only without the pitying looks and pressure to move on.

Rue is literally counting the days until her plane leaves New York City. The last thing she wants is a relationship, but being Ethan's pretend girlfriend can't hurt, right? Wrong. With Ethan, there's no faking anything—in or out of the bedroom. With the sheets burning hot and the clock ticking on their arrangement, Rue realizes she's falling for a man guaranteed to derail her goals...and break her heart.

My Opinion


Ethan met Amy his one true love, in high school; they married and were living a fabulous life. A love so great, so grand that nothing could tear them apart, except cancer. His wife has been dead for years, and he still has not moved on. His family is worried, they are a close family. One that works together, plays together. His brothers, his best friends. His mom and dad always around for all of their children. 

Rue is a free spirit. She is one who does not want to weighed down by societal expectation or rules.

She was born into high society, and knows that those rules will be the death of her. An accidental meeting, leads to her using his name to avoid a forced date for a charity obligation. Her last before she runs off to her next great adventure.

Ethan doesn’t want to say yes, to the date, to going to the function. Yet, for his family he does. As long as he and Rue are on the same page. No romance, no emotional entanglement, just pretend.

My heart breaks for Ethan, it did when we first were introduced to him in the previous books. To have an amazing love and it be torn away from you. I could not image the pain he went through. He is a stand-up guy. One who doesn’t know how to navigate the dating waters- he met his wife in high school. So this is all new to him. His love for his family, and the length he would go through to make them happy shows his character. His desire to protect Rue (you’ll understand) is pretty amazing as well. Overall, he is the type of guy you bring home to momma.

Rue knows how lucky her life has been. She just wants to do something important with her life. Her photos allow her to do that. She isn’t looking to fall for Ethan or hurt him. She shows him an understanding that few have other than his family. She also knows that she will not be around. She is leaving. She faces life head on, always up for adventure. She embraces the unknown, something that Ethan needs to learn to do. She gives him opportunities to learn to live again. 

The Three-Week Arrangement is an adorable book that makes you believe in happy endings. While it can be read by itself, it is more fun to read it after reading the previous two.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars


Favorite Quote If this was how he did friendship, she was screwed.


Other People

Boyd- societal guy, mean guy
Liam- Ethan’s little brother






Thursday, June 23, 2016

Swoon Thursday (25) Soulbound

The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works.

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON.
What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. 


Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the gals at YABound.


His deep voice came to her as form a distance.

"Whether you believe in soul mates or not, I think of you as my other half. The better half. And I am not whole unless I am with you."


Kindle location 3355


Adam can be a jerk, a real jerk but when he brings the swoon he sure does bring it.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday (25) And I Darken

Hey y'all, thanks so much for stopping by my WoW!


Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL.

And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were
wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes the first book in a dark, sweeping new series in which heads will roll, bodies will be impaled . . . and hearts will be broken.

Why I am Waiting?

This one just sounds good. Hopefully it will be. Plus, the cover is pretty.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Teaser Tuesday (25) Struck

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too
much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

He leaned forward, his full lips rushing mine.  Sparks flew as his energy transferred to me.  

He drew back, his eyes hooded.  "I helped you because there was no other option left to me.  I could not stand to see you destroyed, even though the selfish part of me wanted to keep you by my side.  Giving to another freely is a new experience for me.  It is something I'm not familiar with."

I met him halfway, our mouths melding, the kiss deep and tender.

Kindle Location 2601

While Phoebe can be in denial a lot, Fen is a realist.  It is fun watching them interact with each other.  Fen really does a great job at being a demi-god.

Monday, June 20, 2016

And the Winner Is...


                                         Traci Upchurch


An email has been sent to the winner and they have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Thank you everyone who entered and participated in the hop.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Book Trailer Saturday (25) The Monstrous Child

Some people believe you can fall in love at first sight. When it comes to books I believe those people. Book trailers are an excellent way to fall in love at first sight. I hope to feature a book trailer here every Saturday to help you fall in love at first sight..




A stunning, operatic, epic drama, like no other. Meet Hel, an ordinary teenager - and goddess of the
Underworld. Why is life so unfair? Hel tries to make the best of it, creating gleaming halls in her dark kingdom and welcoming the dead who she is forced to host for eternity. Until eternity itself is threatened.

Francesca's first and wonderful foray into teen.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Review: Reckoning

Author Sonya Weiss
Format e-ARC
Print Length 251 pages
Publisher Lyrical Press
Published June 21, 2016


The Great Extinction, the prophesied war between the humans and the Supernaturals, has begun. 

Born a Supernatural, Juliet Sawyer has the ability to save the world from disaster. But after barely escaping the underground, power-sucking prison known as the Void, she finds herself on the brink of death and in the middle of a vengeful war. To survive, she’ll have to make a deal with her human captors. But the stakes are raised when she learns the government is holding her sister hostage. To rescue her, Juliet must become a weapon for humanity, fighting against her own kind—including Riley West, the boy she fell deeply in love with—and by whom she was abandoned.

Forced to desert Juliet, Riley is on a mission to capture the human’s president and bring her to the Supernatural’s king. But if he fails, there will be no stopping the Night of Grief, which will unleash horrors capable of destroying humans and Supernaturals alike. With battle lines drawn, amid a flurry of secrets and betrayals, can Juliet and Riley rescue their love as well as all life on Earth? Or will someone get caught in the crossfire?



My Opinion


I will be making vague statements as to not spoil the story. Reckoning picks up right where Revenge ends, and is told in dual point of view. Just when their relationship was finally showing signs of trust they get tossed into the Void by Riley’s half-brother. The Great Extinction has been prophesized, as well as Juliet saving both races. Ide taking over though has changed her destiny. The action that must be taken is something she cannot, will not do. 

In Revenge, both Riley and Juliet were strong characters. They were decision makers, individuals to look up to. In Reckoning, I couldn’t help but wonder what happen to them. Did love really make them this weak? Maybe it was that even though the story is told in dual points of view, we were seeing it in real time. Or maybe it was that their relationship had hit the honeymoon stage, where all they have time for is each other. Regardless for about half of the book, they both got on my nerves. Half of the angst could have been avoided if only they had talked to each other. Granted Juliet really couldn’t tell Riley about her destiny. He still could have avoided a lot of he had told her his plan.

Internally, their dialogues were always about how much they love the other person. Which would have been nice if peppered throughout the book instead of being the main portion of the book. Umm… a war is going on? Speaking of the war, Ide is one sick dude. We already knew he was messed up but seriously, after Riley witness the power of the Night of Grief, we had no clue. Then again, the humans were just as sick. What they were willing to do to win the war was heartbreaking. 

Juliet is strong on the outside. She gives off the perception of being calm, cool and collective. Internally throughout much of the book she is beating herself up. Riley, oh how I adored you and then wanted to punch you. I mean, you ask her to trust you, to listen to you. The reverse though is not given. 

Reckoning was an enjoyable book, in the end all of your questions are answered. Normally this would have been enough. Revenge was a great book- a hard one to follow. Now I am kinda feeling off. Kinda like when you go on a date and you want a steak but you get salad instead.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars


Favorite Quote Hindsight is an ugly teacher and usually travels with I-told-you-so as the teacher’s pet.


Other People

Stone- Supernatural, protector of the mixed bloods
Maisy- Juliet’s sister
Rick Simmon- FBI agent, Friendly Alien Division
Mallen- guard who helped Riley as a child
Ide- Riley’s brother
Nixie- healer, childhood friend

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Swoon Thursday (24) The Three-Week Arrangement

The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme. Here's how it works.


From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. 


Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the gals at YABound.


He ignored everything, for once, but what he wanted.


And he kissed her.


He nearly hit his knees when he felt the pleasure of those soft, sweet lips, but it was the way she fisted his shirt and that was his undoing.


Kindle Location 1570


"What are you doing here?" Her heart raced. Not something that was prone to happening when she went to the library, but then again, she hadn't met hi there before. he's made a single kiss feel like the greatest adventure of her life, and that left her more than a little lost. And not in a good way.


"I had a feeling you'd need backup selling our relationship." 


Kindle Location 1624


Ethan is such a sweet guy. Rue is such an adventurous gal. They shouldn't go well together but they do.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday (24) The Darkest Magic

Hey y'all, thanks so much for stopping by my WoW!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author
Morgan Rhodes's highly acclaimed Falling Kingdoms spin-off series, danger looms and the mystery deepens as two warring evils vie for possession of one elusive, powerful book.

Modern-day Toronto: Sisters Crystal and Becca Hatcher are reunited after reclaiming the Bronze Codex and narrowly escaping death. They have no one to trust but each other, and the only thing keeping them safe is the book that sent Becca's spirit to Ancient Mytica--the same book that their enemies would kill them for.

Ancient Mytica: Maddox grapples to keep his newly discovered powers under control, while the ruthless goddess Valoria hunts him down.

Modern-day Toronto: Farrell embraces his dark side as he unwittingly falls further under the spell of Markus, the mastermind leader of the nefarious Hawkspear Society, who will stop at nothing to find Crys and Becca--and the remarkable book in their possession.


Why I am Waiting?


The first book was really good. I want to know that happens to the sisters and Farrell. Why is he going to the dark side? So wish he wouldn’t.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Teaser Tuesday (24) Reckoning

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too
much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


I would take it one day at a time and concentrate on what I had to do. Love always won in the end. At least according to all the classic human fairy tales. Then again, in those tales, the heroine never had to kill the hero.


Kindle Location 759


Riley and Juliet's relationship has never been easy. It seems like it just going to get harder.  

Monday, June 13, 2016

Review: A Promise of Fire

Author Amanda Bouchet
Format e-ARC
Print Length 448 pages
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published August 2, 2016



Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

My Opinion


Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for allowing me to review this novel. This in no way influenced my review.

Fantasy is not usually my genre. I tend to find it too dry, lacking in romance. A Promise of Fire has just enough romance to make the book HOT! Mixed in with just the right amount of wit to avoid the curse of being too dry.

First things first- look at that cover! It is absolutely gorgeous. Cat with a fierce look on her face, little make-up, the red tunic and leather pants. The background of snow riddled mountains and fire yes fire hovering above her hand. Her sword drawn as if to say “bring it.” I am in love with this cover- which makes sense since I fell in love with the world, and story within the pages of the cover.

The Cat on the cover really does depict the Cat in the story. She is fierce, loyal and strong. She has to be having been born with the gift she has into the family that she was blessed with. In case you did not pick up on it her family is pretty much evil. Cat stays true to character throughout the story. She never once gives an inch with Griffin, which surprises him. Cat is in hiding when Griffin finds her. After threatening to hurt those who have shown her kindness she agrees to go with him. Griffin is a Warlord, who took over the crown for his sister. When he finds Cat he knows that she will be able to help his family on the throne. Her ability to tell a truth is invaluable. Finding her though unleashes an enemy upon them that he did not foresee, one that she was trying to avoid.

There is no insta-love in this book. It is more like a slow simmering fire that occasionally flares out of control. It takes time for their chemistry to find a balance between love and hate. He did abduct her, she wants to hate him. She tries to hate him but he is doing what is best for his people. His treatment of his Beta Team shows her what a fair guy he is. His men are beyond loyal. He treats Cat like a wounded cat, allowing her to lash out at him when she needs to and protecting her when she needs to be protected. 

A Promise of Fire is a great debut fantasy romance. The world building is rich and exquisite. The reader feels as if they are traveling the lands with Cat and Griffin. The characters are full of depth and emotion. The adventure is thrilling with a hint of urgency.


My Rating 5 out of 5 stars


Favorite Quote Every sentence a person utters can be a promise- or a betrayal.


Other People

Kato- member of Griffin’s team
Flynn- member of Griffin’s team
Carver- Griffin’s brother, part of his team
Andromeda- Cat’s mom

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Review: EverNight

Author Kristen Callihan
Format e-book
Print Length 385 pages
Publisher Forever
Published August 26, 2014

Once the night comes . . .

Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him—until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.

Love must cast aside the shadows . . .

Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable—and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost. 

My Opinion


Warning**** Spoilers for Shadowdance. 

EverNight starts months after the events that occur in the Shadowdance, close to a year. Those events cause Will and Holly to met. Theirs is not a love at first sight kinda meeting. More like terror at first sight. Amaros had both of them hostage, forcing Holly to do experiment after experiment on unwilling victims, all of which had died until Will. Will, a Sanguis demon, would have died but Holly’s experiment saved his life. Once rescued, they go their separate ways. Will, protected by Jack his bestie. Holly barely leaves her house, let alone the front porch. She developed a bit of agoraphobia, it doesn’t help that she believes that someone is trying to kill her. Assassins have been sent to her house. Then Will shows up, what is his purpose? Will he kill her or help her?

Amaros used Holly to conduct the experiments not only because she is a genius but also because she can control metal. She is an elemental. The metal heart that she put into Will is being absorbed into his bloodstream. He is turning platinum throughout due to his demon blood. The pain is driving him cray-cray, his only relief comes from Holly.

Holy smokes has Holly been through the ringer. Before she was kidnapped, she had a blossoming career at the SOS. She still has that career, but with little to no contact with people, except her trusted servants and Mary, her bff. It matters little to her as people generally do not understand her or her them. She is okay with never leaving her house, expect for her job. The SOS may soon ask questions, and her family may also get a little suspicious. Needless to say she holds people at arms length, not trying to get to know them. Will, is well a demon. A social demon who loves society, parties, women and life in general. That is until his heart got replaced with cold metal. He wants to and does blame Holly for what happened to him. Hence the reason he goes after her. Once he realizes that her very presence helps to reduce the pain he is all for her staying near him.

Holly is a genius, a socially inept genius. She doesn’t come across as kind hearted yet she is. Will is an assassin, yet he comes across as savvy. Theirs is chemistry that is combustible. I kinda felt like I was reading a story that was written while listening to Katy Perry’s Hot & Cold song. That is how Holly ran for Will anyways. Will, at first wants to kill her. Well hate and love does run really close together. One she can relieve his pain killing is not on his mind. 

Their mission is to figure out who wants to kill her. The big baddie in here is no surprise. What is a surprise is Holly’s distant relative, Mab. Her actions in the end of the book were wooziers. I think this is one character I am going to love to hate.

EverNight was a nice addition to the Darkest London series. A bit isolated from the rest of the books, it was still entertaining. I was completely amused when Holly stands up to Poppy and I think you will be too. Some will claim that this is stand alone- I feel that you have to read the series in order to get the full gest of the stories.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars


Favorite Quote When I am nothing but shadow, you are the light that guides me back.


Other People

Mary- GIM, bestie
Adam- creator of the GIM
Eliza May- Adam’s hostage
Sin- Holly’s cousin
Mab- fae queen

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Book Trailer Saturday (24) Shadow Rider

Some people believe you can fall in love at first sight. When it comes to books I believe those people. Book trailers are an excellent way to fall in love at first sight. I hope to feature a book trailer here every Saturday to help you fall in love at first sight..




The #1 New York Times bestselling “queen of paranormal romance”* is back with a sexy new series
starring a Chicago crime family that hides a dark, mystical secret...

Whether it’s fast cars or fast women, Stefano Ferraro gets what he wants. When he’s not fodder for the paparazzi, he commands Ferraro family businesses—both legitimate and illegitimate.

While their criminal activity is simply a rumor yet to be proven, no one knows the real truth. The Ferraros are a family of shadow riders capable of manipulating light and dark, an ability Stefano thought ran in his family alone—until now…

With little left to her name, Francesca Cappello has come to Chicago in hopes of a new life. She wasn’t expecting to attract the attention of a man with primal hunger in his eyes, driven to claim her as his to protect and to please. And if he discovers her secret, it could ruin her...

Friday, June 10, 2016

Review: Shadowdance

Author Kristen Callihan
Format e-book
Print Length 427 pages
Publisher Forever
Published Dec. 17, 2013

Once a heart is lost in shadow...

Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.

Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.

Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.


My Opinion


Shadowdance is the fourth book in the series. You need to read this series in order as each book has roots in the previous novel. 

When we first met Jack, he was the valet to Ian Ranulf. He then moved into the role of protector for Winston Lane, and finally he has his own book. We get a glimpse of Mary early on in the series but she really came in her own in Winterblaze. As Poppy’s assistant we got to see a determined gal, who while technically a GIM, who is loyal to the SOS. The events of Winterblaze has changed Jack, he is harder now. Torture will do that to you I suppose. He is also meaner or at least with Mary he is. I truly didn’t understand why. She did save his life, why push her away. It took a long time for the big reveal on that to come about. By the time it did, I was so annoyed with him that it didn’t seem as big of a deal as it was to him.

Mary is partnered with Jack because he has made little progress with the Bishop of Charing Cross case. There is good reason for this, one I won’t tell. She is intuitive, intelligent and just as ruthless as Jack can be when catching a criminal. Is this one that the SOS can afford to catch? Then the copycat killer shows up, what is their agenda?

Both Jack and Mary have had hard lives already. Really both of their lives have been horrible. Both have been taken advantage of against their wills. It is a wonder that they have both come out of their situations relatively sane. With only one true aspect of their lives changed- that of relationships.

The relationship between Jack and Mary is one of animosity mixed with flirting, sprinkled with deep regret. Regret on both sides which may seem odd to the reader. I am not so sure I would have forgiven Jack. I would have for what was revealed. I just am not so sure I would have for his treatment of Mary during the last few years. I get his reasoning behind it, I just don’t like it. 

Shadowdance is the perfect blend of mystery, romance, paranormal. I liked this addition to the series. As to if it was the best so far in the series, I would have to say no, surprisingly. I liked Winterblaze a bit more than I did Shadowdance. I am looking forward to the next story as we were introduce to Will and Holly in this book.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars


Favorite Quote “A thing is not defined by its limits, but by its potential to reach beyond them.”


Other People

Lucien Stone- kinda Mary’s creator
Holly- Mary’s bestie, and a genius
Will- Jack’s bestie, demon