COGLING Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

A Steampunk Fairy Tale for Young Adults who love a little Romance in their Adventures

When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother's neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings—clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories.

Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags' swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors. 

Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family. 

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COGLING has already gained advanced praise from NY Times Bestselling author Maria V. Snyder!

“This is a fun YA Steampunk novel. It's very different than many other Steampunk stories I've read. Basic plot is Edna's brother is kidnapped by hags and replaced with a "cogling" and she's on a mission to find and rescue her brother. The world is a Victorian-era with a strict class system for the humans and for those with magic. The woman with magic are called hags and the men with magic are orges and they're not nice and are planning to change the system. I really enjoyed learning about the world and the characters are well drawn and engaging.”

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Check out COGLING on GoodReads and Curiosity Quills.   

Meet the author – Jordan Elizabeth Mierek lives in a dream world.  Sometimes she comes out to do her day job, but most of the time she is writing about her favorite people – her characters!  
COGLING is her fourth book.  Her previous steampunk series, the Treasure Chronicles, include TREASURE DARKLY and BORN OF TREASURE.  Her debut novel, ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, is a young adult fantasy-horror.  You can find her short stories in numerous anthologies.  Check out her website, JordanElizabethMierek.com, for contests and bonus stories!

Win a steampunk necklace!

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Cover Reveal:An Oath Sworn by Diana Cosby

An Oath Sworn

Author: Diana Cosby
Publisher: Lyrical Press

A man of honor.

A woman of spirit.

As the new castellan, Sir Nicholas Beringar has the daunting task of rebuilding Ravenmoor Castle on the Scottish border and gaining the trust of the locals—one of whom wastes no time in trying to rob him. Instead of punishing the boy, Nicholas decides to make him his squire. Little does he know the thieving young lad is really…a lady.

Lady Elizabet Armstrong had donned a disguise in an attempt to free her brother from Ravenmoor’s dungeons. Although intimidated by the confident Englishman with his well-honed muscles and beguiling eyes, she cannot refuse his offer.

Nicholas senses that his new squire is not what he seems. His gentle attempts to break through the boy’s defenses leave Elizabet powerless to stem the desire that engulfs her. And when the truth is exposed, she’ll have to trust in Nicholas’s honor to help her people—and to surrender to his touch…

Praise for the novels of Diana Cosby

“Cosby gives you it all—passion, danger, lush history and a touch of magic. Excellent reading.” —Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author

“A sexy new voice in historical romance. Scottish historicals have a bright new star (in Diana Cosby).”—Sandra Hill, USA Today bestselling author

“Diana Cosby writes wonderful historical romance!” —Susan King

FOR MORE INFORMATION

An Oath Sworn is available at Amazon

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense.  Her award-winning books are translated in five languages.  Diana has appeared at Lady Jane’s Salon, in NYC, and in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happily Ever After,” MSN.com, and in Texoma Living Magazine.

After retiring as a Navy Chief, AGC(AW), Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world.

Her years of living in Europe inspired Diana to write in the medieval time frame.  After watching the movie Braveheart and with her passion for writing complex plots, the idea for the MacGruder brothers series was born.

With the release of her 1st book in her new Scottish medieval The Oath trilogy, An Oath Taken, which hit bestseller lists in Canada and the United Kingdom, she’s now preparing for the release of the e Box Set of the MacGruder Brothers series on February 24th, and the last two books in The Oath trilogy, An Oath Broken – 22 June, and, An Oath Sworn – 23 December, 2015!
Diana has many passions in life, but one that resonates in her life is that of giving. She firmly believe that each of us can make a positive difference in another person’s life.  Some of the charities she supports are listed below:

The National Trust for Scotland, which acts asguardian of Scotland’s magnificent heritage of architectural, scenic and historic treasures.

Habitat For Humanity, which gives a deserving family more than a home, but a foundation upon which to build their dreams..

Semper Fi Fund , is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to help with immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

Homes For Our Troops, assists severely injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and their immediate families through various venues to aid them in building a home that allows them live a more independent life.

The Navy SEAL Foundation, provides immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.

For More Information

Visit Diana’s website.
Connect with Diana on Facebook  

Cover Reveal: The Lady Who Lived Again by Thomasine Rappold

The Lady Who Lived Again

Author: Thomasine Rappold

Publisher: Lyrical Press

In THE LADY WHO LIVED AGAIN, the first book in the new Soul Survivor series, Madeline Sutter and her four gorgeous friends rule the Gilded Age resort town of Glass Lake, NY with silk-covered fists—until the day the entire clique is killed in a devastating accident.  Although Maddie is declared dead at the scene, she later awakens to find herself shunned by once adoring neighbors who now fear she has been touched by the devil.  Maddie knows the town’s handsome new physician could ruin her for good if he discovers the explosive secret behind her survival, but she will need his help if she’s ever to regain her place in the sun.  As a man of science, Dr. Jace Merrick feels duty-bound to quash the superstitious rumors of Maddie’s “resurrection.”  But Jace is so infatuated with his latest patient that he’s losing his grip on his professionalism. An affair means danger for both of them, but Maddie and Jace cannot seem to fight the pull.  Instead, she hides behind lies, he hides behind logic, and both resist love as the truth is unveiled.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Lady Who Lived Again is available at Amazon

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Gears of Brass

Gear up for GEARS OF BRASS!

A world like ours, but filled with gears of brass, where the beating heart is fueled by steam and the simplest creation is a complex clockwork device.

Within this tome, you’ll find steampunk fairy tale re-tellings, as well as original stories that will send your gears turning.

Welcome to the steampunk realm, with eleven authors guiding your path.

GEARS OF BRASS is a steampunk anthology published through Curiosity Quills.  It will be available for purchase on November 10, 2014.  Within the pages, you’ll come across clockwork inventions and steampunk-ified fairy tale retellings.  Eleven authors will guide you through worlds filled with airships, top hats, and corsets.

Meet the authors:

Jordan Elizabeth writes young adult fantasy for Curiosity Quills, including ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW which was published in October and the upcoming TREASURE DARKLY; she’s represented by the Belcastro Agency.

J. Million is the author of Last of the Giants and can always be found reading or writing.

Lorna MacDonald Czarnota is a professional storyteller and author of several books including, Medieval Tales That Kids Can Read and Tell, Breadline Blue, Legends Lore and Secrets of Western New York, Wicked Niagara, Native American and Pioneer Sites of Upstate New York, and Dancing at the Crossroads: Stories and Activities for At-Risk Youth Programming.

SA Larsen is represented by Paula Munier of Talcott Notch Literary and is the author of published short stories, community-interest stories, and magazine articles focused on children.

Grant Eagar is an Engineer who would take the tales he told his children at bed time, and transform them into fantasy stories.

Clare Weze is the author of The House of Ash (forthcoming) and the co-author and editor of Cloudscapes over the Lune.

Eliza Tilton: gamer, writer and lover of dark chocolate; author of the YA Fantasy, BROKEN FOREST, published by Curiosity Quills Press.

Heather Talty's stories have been featured in Enchanted Conversation, as well as her own fractured fairy tale site, Mythopoetical (www.Beatrixcottonpants.com).

W.K. Pomeroy is a third generation writer who has published more than 70 short stories/articles/poems across many genres and styles, which now includes Steampunk.

Christine Baker is the author of Lana's End, The Guild of Dagda, and many more.

Natalia Darcy: a bookilicious reader, tea drinker and Zumba aficionado who enjoys playing cards against humanity and washing her hair with ice cold water.

You can get your steampunk fix before GEARS OF BRASS is released in November.  To enter for your chance to win a copy of GEARS OF BRASS, you will need to share the cover.  This can be on your blog, Facebook, Twitter… Each time you share the cover image, log it into Rafflecoper to record it.  It will give you more chances to win.  The drawing for the winner will be held on October 27th.

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Cover Reveal : Legend of the Chupacabra by Michael Hebler

LEGEND OF THE CHUPACABRA

by MICHAEL HEBLER

In the end, begins the Legend.

Inside a small village within the Great Plains of Montana, a ritual initiated in blood will be performed. This ceremony has been executed only once before and will mark a rite of honor and justice. Commonly, the Assiniboine are a harmonious people with strong pride and passions, but will turn to the spirits for vengeance when wronged. The tribe’s chief will summon the Great Spirit on behalf of his people, for no earthly man can make evil suffer like a greater evil.

Legend of the Chupacabra finds Jessie and Suzanne living peacefully in Portland, Oregon, six-years after they believed to have put an end to the curse of the chupacabra.  But the women soon learn of their failure and futile sacrifices when a remarkable reunion brings horror back into their lives; only this time, what they face will be unlike any creature they previously encountered.  Legend of the Chupacabra marks the end of a trilogy but the start of a saga that will leave this moment of history drenched in blood.

Goodreads / Michael Hebler Website

Book Review: The Prodigal by Michael Hurley

The Prodigal 

Author: Michael Hurley
Paperback Edition
Paperback: 358 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 28, 2013)
Amazon Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 678 KB
Print Length: 359 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1482694271
Publisher: Ragbagger Press (May 28, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Link



Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Michael Hurley . The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

Beautiful story.

This is a tale told by Aidan Sharpe, a 40-something very successful lawyer, probably the best in town, had a wife, money and everything. In one single mistake (stupid mistake), he lost everything... his job, wife, money, and even some friends. As an advice of someone dear to him, he went to Ocracoke Island and there he met a lot of people who would teach him what it means to really 'live' his life.

I liked that this book has a male character lead, Aidan was easy to get along with. When he lost his job, it was very hard for me to accept that he just walked away after that one stupid mistake. Been around lawyers for more than 10 years and they always find ways to make people forget things. They are good at erasing memories... It was when he started his journey to this Ocracoke island I started to really love his character. Rebuilding his life in a remote town suddenly became enticing to me. I mean there are times I would get tired of everything's going on around me and I'd go on vacation somewhere I'd be on my own. Though it would take a lot of courage to do the things he did. Oh well, he lost everything so he didn't really have any choice but to take that path. Love Aidan, I could picture him in my mind and every character  made a wonderful contribution in the story. One of the best reads for this year. 

About the book:

Pride, betrayal, forgiveness . . . and the eternal sea.  The Prodigal tells the mystical tale of four people on Ocracoke Island whose destiny is tied to an abandoned schooner, thought to have been lost at sea more than a century ago, that one day drifts ashore.  Marcus O'Reilly, a renegade Catholic priest, must confront his inner demons.  Ibrahim Joseph, a Bahamian fugitive, must face his past.  Aidan Sharpe, a fallen lawyer, struggles with self-doubt and his growing affection for Molly McGregor, a fearless towboat captain who cannot find the courage to love.  They will all be drawn into a 2,000-year-old mystery that unfolds with the reappearance of the ship.

About the author:

Michael Hurley and his wife Susan live near Charleston, South Carolina. Born in Baltimore in 1958, he studied English at the University of Maryland and law at St. Louis University. 

Michael's first book, Letters from the Woods, was a collection of essays, self-published in 2005, based on wilderness canoeing expeditions with his children. It was selected as a finalist in the Nature category for ForeWord magazine's Book of the Year award. In 2013 Hachette Book Group published his memoir, Once Upon A Gypsy Moon, under their Center Street imprint. 

The Prodigal is his first novel.

Book Review: Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable

Stealing Jenny


Author: Ellen Gable
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Full Quiver Publishing; First Edition (September 15, 2011)
Amazon Link



Note: I received this book free from the author, Ellen Gable. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings:

★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

Stealing Jenny is a Christian novel and I'm surprised that I didn't have any problem reading it. I have read some Christian novels in the past and I didn't like most of them because they're too focused on the moral values, you know those books teaching you what's right and wrong, I'm not really comfortable reading Christian novels that are too "clean". Stealing Jenny in my opinion is not overly religious book, I actually enjoyed reading it. 


I liked the characters especially Jenny and Tom Callahan. They're both religious but they are not perfect.  I enjoyed reading the flashbacks of Jenny and Tom's relationship, back when they were still dating. They have had some mistakes in the past and I liked the way they handled it.

I liked the suspense in the story, I know what it feels like to have a sensitive pregnancy and I was wondering the whole time I was reading the book what I would do if I was in Jenny's situation. What I would do if somebody stole my baby? The story is well-written, if you are into suspense story, you might want to pick up this book.

About the book:

After three heartbreaking miscarriages, Tom and Jenny Callahan are happily anticipating the birth of their sixth child. Their neighbor, however, is secretly hatching a sinister plot which will find Jenny and her unborn baby fighting for their lives.

About the author:

Ellen Gable Hrkach lives with her husband and their five children in Pakenham, Ontario. This is her third novel. Her second novel, In Name Only, won a Gold medal for Religious Fiction in the 2010 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards. She and her husband create the Family Life cartoon which currently appears in Family Foundations magazine.

Book Review: Pride's Run by Cat Kalen

Pride's Run

Author: Cat Kalen
Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: Cat Kalen (November 2, 2011)
Amazon Link

Note: I received this book free from the author, Cat Kalen. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings:  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

Pride and the whole pack of wolves are living in captivity of a cruel master for many years. She dreams of freedom not only for herself but also for the whole pack. She spends her days thinking of ways to escape and find the compassionate pack of wolves that allegedly roam free in Canada. When she's about to escape, she learns that their master is planning on mating her with Stone, the alpha wolf of their pack. He became too cold and dominating alpha to her and the whole pack after their master broke him. Their master believes Pride is too wild and the only way to tame her is motherhood.

Their master has one more task for her before the mating and she is determined to escape once she's out doing her task. The task is to track Logan, a shifter like her, and bring back to her master unharmed. When she found Logan, it turns out that he's one of them and he has escaped their master. Logan promises her freedom and together they set out to find the compassionate pack of wolves who can set their pack free from their master.

I loved this book! The first few pages were a little slow with long narrative paragraphs and very little dialogue but it quickly picks up right after Pride's first match with Stone, the alpha wolf she's supposed to be mated with. The book becomes a page turner when Pride has finally escaped her master. I really liked Pride's personality and yum yum, Logan is one HOT werewolf. He's an alpha but with a heart. There are a lot of twists in the story, it was sooo g000d! This will definitely be included in my re-reading list... 

Pride's Run is the best book #1 I've read this year and I look forward to reading the next installment. Highly recommended for readers and bloggers looking for a great series to start. 

About the book:

Seventeen year old Pride is a tracker—a werewolf with a hunger for blood. Taught to trick and to lure, she is the perfect killing machine.

Kept leashed in the cellar by a master who is as ruthless as he is powerful, Pride dreams of freedom, of living a normal life, but escape from the compound is near impossible and disobedience comes with a price.

When she learns her master intends to breed her she knows she has to run.

Pride soon learns if she is to survive in the wild, she must trust in the boy who promises her freedom, the same boy she was sent to hunt.

With life and death hanging in the balance the two find themselves on the run from the Paranormal Task Force—officers who shoot first and ask questions later—as well as her master’s handlers.

Can Pride flee the man who has held her captive since birth and find sanctuary in the arms of a boy who has captured her heart? Or will her master find her first?


About the author:

Cat Kalen is a multi published author in the romance genre under two pen names, Cat is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and watermelon. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cat can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love. A maritime native and former financial officer, Cat has lived all over Canada but has finally settled down in her childhood hometown with her family.

Book Review: Flavors by Emily Sue Harvey

Title: Flavors
Author: Emily Sue Harvey
Paperback: 120 pages
Publisher: Story Plant, The (March 1, 2011) 

Ratings:

★ ★ ★

My thoughts:

This book reminds me a lot of childhood memories.The story of Flavors is like reading my diary, I could relate to some of the things mentioned in this book. I remember those summers spent at my grandparents house. Wow, reading this definitely made me stop and think of those people I met during those summer vacations and my crushes! And look at the book cover, loved that book cover! I'm really fascinated with flowers and the color is perfect for the theme of the book.


Though I have to mention that while I liked the story, this was kind of slow read for me. I don't know. This is one of those books I liked to read but couldn't finish in one sitting. I guess I could say that the story is good but the narration of Sadie's life wasn't that great. Overall, if you want something relaxing to read, a heart-warming story, you might want to try this book.  

About the book:

Emily Sue Harvey’s first novel, Song of Renewal, was praised by New York Times bestselling author Jill Marie Landis as “an uplifting, heartwarming story,” by bestselling author Kay Allenbaugh as a work that will “linger in the memory long after readers put it aside,” and by Coffee Time Romance as “a must-read book for anyone doing a little soul searching.” New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry said, “It captures your attention, and whets your appetite for more,” while Peeking between the Pages called it “quite simply a beautiful book.”

Now, in Flavors, this master storyteller of the human heart sweeps us along with twelve-year-old Sadie Ann Melton as she enters a life-altering season. The summer of 1950 will change everything for her. For in that summer, she will embark on an odyssey at once heartbreakingly tender and crushingly brutal. At times, she will experience more darkness than she has ever witnessed before. At others, she will thrill to lightness and joy she never imagined. By summer’s end, the Melton women in Sadie’s journey &ndash loving her, coaxing her, and commanding her &ndash will help shape her into the woman she becomes. And they will expose Sadie to all of the flavors of life as she savors the world that she brings into being.

Filled with charm, wisdom, and the smorgasbord of emotions that comes with the first steps into adulthood, Flavors once again proves Emily Sue Harvey’s unique ability to touch our souls with her unforgettable stories. - Amazon

About the author:

Emily Sue Harvey’s writing to make a difference. Her upbeat stories have appeared in  dozens of anthologies including “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” “Chocolate for Women,” “From Eulogy to Joy,” “A Father’s Embrace,” “True Story,” “Compassionate Friends Magazine,” and “Woman’s World.” Emily Sue served as president of Southeastern Writers Association in 2008-2009. Her first novel, Song of Renewal, published by Story Plant, was released in the spring of 2009. For more information visit www.renewalstories.com.

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from Pump Up Your Book Tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Book Review: Before The Storm by Marian Perera

Before The Storm
by Marian Perera

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (February 1, 2011)

Ratings:

★ ★ ★ ★


My thoughts:

Before the Storm tells the story of Alexis Khayne, a mare/sex slave owned by Lord Stephen Garnath, the ruthless ruler of Radiath. When Lord Robert Demeresna, baron of Dawnever, visited Radiath, Lord Garnath gives Alex to him as a gift. Alex could not believe it. She is scared, so scared of Lord Robert. She heard everything about this baron and they call him the Bloody Baron for being cruel, brutal, sadistic ruler of Dawnever. They say that his lands are filled with scarecrows made from crucified men.

As for the baron, he could not believe it either. He wants nothing from the ruler of Radiath and suspects that Alex might be a spy or an assassin. He planned to leave her but if she's an assassin, she'll still follow them and ambush them on the way back to their land. So after his consultation with his sorcerer, Mayerd, they agreed that they have to bring Alex with them because to refuse Lord Garnath's gift might mean war.

When they got back to his land, Robert found out that Lord Garnath is plotting a war against him. He doesn't want war so he acts like there's nothng to worry about. He showed Alex his true self - that he is a fair and just ruler of Dawnever, not the cruel - Bloody Baron they say. Since he thinks Alex is a spy, he brings Alex with him wherever he goes and eventually he felt an unwanted attraction to Alex. The story goes from there. What would you do if you fall in love with someone who might be sent to kill you?

The heroine is a mare. She is a whore/sex slave to Lord Garnath's kingdom. She bedded a lot of men, a typical day (or night) for her is getting laid by whoever Lord Garnath chooses. I like her character. She's strong even though she's been abused most of her life. I'm glad the author  did not make her a whiny girl. And as for Robert, the "Bloody Baron" title was just made to make him look fierce to the enemies but he's really not into war and has a soft heart to everything.

The book contains a lot of action and twist. I enjoyed it a lot. I love the plot and this is a great start to a series. It has a little romance but I appreciate it since I really hate a book with a cheesy lines/love story (though I read cheesy stories depends on my mood). I love the cover of this book! I can picture the characters perfectly by looking at this cover.

The only thing I didn't like here was the sorcery thing. Both Lord Garnath and Robert own a sorcerer. The Inward and Outward way -  their way of fighting each other.  I couldn't understand a thing! Well mostly, I had to skim to the parts where Ohallox (Garnath's sorcerer) and Mayerd (Robert's) are battling each other's minds.

Other than  the sorcery thing, I found the book entertaining. This is recommended for fans of fantasy-romance books.  It was a great read and I look forward to reading the next books.

About the book:

Whore…gift…and unexpected ally.  

In Dagran society, Alex is the lowest of the low—a “mare”, an object to be used by the nobility. When her owner, Stephen Garnath, gifts her to his greatest rival, she begins plotting her path to freedom. Nothing and no one will ever control her again. Not her degrading past, and certainly not her growing attraction to a man reputed to be an even crueler master than Garnath.  

Robert Demeresna is instantly suspicious of such a generous gift. Yet she comes to him armed with only her sharp mind—a potent weapon he can use to defend his people from the enemy. And underneath, an unbreakable spirit that besieges the walls of his heart.   Slowly, Robert chips away at Alex’s defenses, striking sparks that make her begin to believe even a lowly whore like her could be worthy of him. Until Garnath springs a trap so cleverly hidden, war is unleashed before either of them sees it coming. A new kind of war fought with steam engines, explosives—and magic with a killing edge…  

Warning: Contains violence, steam engines, steamier sex and multiple explosions of the unstable chemical variety. - Goodreads

About the author:

I was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in the United Arab Emirates, studied in the United States and live in Canada—for the time being. I'm also at the end of my first year in college. Medical laboratory technology (except for the venipuncture - ow ow needles) is almost as fascinating as fantasy. 

If you'd like to contact me, my address is mdperera at hotmail dot com and I love hearing from readers or other writers.

read more HERE.









Note: I received a review copy of this e-book free from the author, Marian Perera. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Read first chapter HERE

Book Review: Immortalis Hunters & Prey by Katie Salidas

Title: Immortalis Hunters & Prey Book 2
Author: Katie Salidas
Paperback: 346 pages
Publisher: Rising Sign Books; (December 14, 2010)


Ratings:

★ ★ ★ ★

 My thoughts:

This book is a follow up to the Immortalis Carpe Noctem.


Alyssa, with the help of her ancient vampire mate, Lysander, has finally accepted that her mortal life is over. She's now living with him and his other "children", the Peregrinus clan. One evening while hunting, she thought she saw Santino Vitale, the most fearsome hunter of Acta Sanctorum (vampire hunters). She informed Lysander of this but he convinced her that Santino was dead or if he's not dead, it would take a lot of time and blood for him to heal his wounds. Alyssa became restless and she's having "daymares" because of this. She couldn't concentrate as Lysander's mate or even as a vampire. She really believes Santino is out there waiting for her to make a wrong move. And she's right! Santino is indeed alive! She saw him again while hunting and this time, she couldn't go home, it's not safe for her vampire family. So she fled and went to the only other place she knew. The coffee shop where she used to hang out on a daily basis when she's still human.


And that was a BIG mistake! Her human best friend Fallon saw her and she could not hide things from her. She had to tell Fallon about her new life as a vampire. And now she broke one of the vampire laws - revealing herself to a mortal. Now things are more complicated than ever. Santino is hunting her and even if she escaped Santino, Lysander will surely be mad at her for breaking the vampire law.


The second installment is great, though the first book was better than this. This is packed with action, suspense, twist, and a lot of romance! I loved the whole idea of this series. I was hooked after the first book. I think I'm in "lust" with Lysander. I love Lysander for being a rough and tough vampire. I want to have the third book now! Both of Katie Salidas' books kept me up late a couple of nights. I recommend this series for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Try the first book and you'll love it just like me! 

About the book:


Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she s missed more than anything. - Goodreads


Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.
Worse yet, her revelation entangles Fallon in the struggle between vampires and hunters and The Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again, with a new army of hybrid creations: the Frenzy Soldiers.


If Alyssa hopes to survive and keep her mortal friend safe, she ll have to be willing to make a deal with the enemy, and regain her clan s support. It will take everyone working together in a precarious truce to fight against the Acta Sanctorum s new threat.


About the author:

The youngest of four children, Katie has always had a desire to entertain. Since, early childhood, she's dreamed fantastical characters and scribbled them into pages of various journals and notebooks. Taking an interest in vampires, she devoured every book, featuring those blood sucking creatures, in any genre she could find. It was only natural that a love of reading vampire stories, turned into a love to write them. Katie is also a Las Vegas native, having grown up in the famed City of Sin. She loves to feature it as a recurring setting for many of her stories. - Amazon














Note: I received a review copy of this book free from the author, Katie Salidas. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

HOT HOT HOT! True Blood and Dead Reckoning First Chapter

Yay! Just saw this while checking True Blood news and I want to share this with you guys just in case you haven't seen this. Aw, look at that magazine cover (September 2010 issue)! These guys are sooo hot hot hot and that girl's lucky!

As for the Sookie Stackhouse books, I borrowed the last book, Dead in the Family from a friend. Honestly, I couldn't read the entire book, I almost skipped everything until I found the Bill part. And no, if you're thinking there's more to Sookie and Bill relationship here - oh no. You will be greatly  disappointed.  I expected they would try to fix things between them after the Fae war (Dead and Gone) but *sigh* nothing happened. It's really about Sookie and Eric in Dead in the Family. I like Eric okay - there were times I thought I was also inlove with him but I guess *singing* first love never dies. . . .  lol
 
Last night, I finally decided to read the first chapter of Dead Reckoning. I didn't read it all, *scratching head* don't feel excited about it. I only checked for Bill - Bill - Bill. Ms. Harris, you have to understand. I love Bill more! If he won't be in that book, I guess Sookie's definitely dead to me.

Sookie's 11th book will be released on May 11. Here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

"With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. But Sookie suspects otherwise and she and Sam work together to uncover the culprit - and the twisted motive for the attack. But her attention is divided. Though she can't 'read' vampires, Sookie knows her lover Eric Northman and his 'child' Pam well - and she realises that they are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, she is drawn into the plot -which is much more complicated than she knows. Caught up in the politics of the vampire world, Sookie will learn that she is as much of a pawn as any ordinary human - and that there is a new Queen on the board . . . "

Chapter 1 of Dead Reckoning read here

Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Nightshade

Author: Andrea Cremer

Hardcover: 528 pages

Publisher: Philomel; 1 edition (October 19, 2010)

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

The book started out strong and full of action but when I was halfway reading it, I started to ask myself, what's wrong with me!?! I've read lots of positive, great, 5.0 reviews for this book and seen this everywhere.  I see this in every book store I go to and in almost all blogs that I follow and I've never read a single negative review before I bought this.

But why, why, why, can't I say this awesome?

Okay, where do I start? The story started with Calla saving a human boy, Shay. Calla's easy life was transformed into a difficult one when she met Shay. Calla is an alpha werewolf of the Nightshade pack who SHOULD be marrying Ren, an alpha male of the Bane pack. Both of them are called Guardians. Guardians serve and protect the witches, called Keepers. The Keepers decide for the Guardians lives and their enemies are called Searchers.

I admit, the plot is interesting enough that I read the whole book in a day. Here's the conflict of the story. The Keepers wanted to form a new pack by the union of the two old packs,  Calla of the Nightshade pack and Ren from the Bane pack. So Calla and Ren agreed to the union not because they love each other but it is a law made by the Keepers. The problem started when Calla met the human boy Shay. And now that's what we call an emotional conflict of the story or the famous love triangle which is present to almost every book (especially YA) out there.

While the plot is great, unfortunately as the book continues,  I began to hate the main characters Calla and the human boy, Shay.  Calla was supposed to be a tough alpha female but when it comes to Ren, Shay and the pack law, she is weak and indecisive. Whenever Calla and Shay are together, I had to put down the book, scratch my head and growl. I hate Shay, he's the most boring character in this book. In almost all book reviews I read, they all loved Shay but not me.

Now, when it comes to the question, who is the better guy for Calla, I would choose Ren. I liked his personality, I thought he's the most interesting character in this book. Ren was the reason I finished reading the story. I had to skim to the parts where Shay and Calla are together and loved it when Ren is with Calla. With Calla and Shay, I never felt their connection and somehow it felt wrong. I wanted Shay to die! Honestly, I guessed the end of the story, I knew what was going to happen to Shay and I was okay with it. Really.

The other thing that I enjoyed here was the forbidden love of the secondary characters. It was a much better conflict than Ren-Calla and Shay love triangle. Over all, if you loved Twilight, I recommend this book to you. But if you loved these book series : Vampire Academy, Riley Jenson and Anita Blake, do not read this, you will be disappointed.

About the book:

"While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all." http://www.andreacremer.com/



About the author:

Andrea Cremer spent her childhood daydreaming while roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She now lives in Minnesota, but she thinks of her homeland as the “Canadian Shield” rather than the Midwest.

Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. When she’s not writing, Andrea teaches history at a very nice liberal arts college in St. Paul. 

In the little spare time she can find, Andrea stares up at trees, rescues infant rabbits from predatory cats, and invents names for pug puppies with her husband. She has an unfortunate tendency to spill things – white carpets beware!

Her debut novel, NIGHTSHADE, the first of a YA fantasy series, will be published in fall 2010 by Penguin (Philomel). http://www.andreacremer.com/