Novel Addiction

Why I don't post much anymore

2013-01-14T09:22:00.004-05:00

Posts have pretty much stopped on here because I am so busy with my full-time job at a library, and going to school full-time to get my Master's in Library and Information Science.

I do still read (when I can, in between assignments), and I still review books on Goodreads.com and for Romance Reviews Today.

If you would like to follow my reviews, subscribe to Romance Reviews Today or follow me on Goodreads.

I do have plans to get this blog up and running again in the future, but right now my job and my schooling are very important to me, and they take precedence. I certainly miss the blogging community, but I hope you all understand. I hope to see you all again before long!

Happy Reading
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "Lucky Stiff" by Deborah Coonts

2012-10-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Type: Contemporary, Suspense, Mystery, Las Vegas baby!, Romance, Series, Book Two

About the book: As head of Customer Relations for the Babylon, Las Vegas' premier, luxurious Strip hotel, Lucky O'Toole is used to dealing with the craziness only Sin City can serve up: When a tractor-trailer spills a million honeybees, blocking not only the Strip but the entrance to the Babylon... When the district attorney for Clark County - apparently the odd man out of a threesome on the twelfth floor - is hiding in the buff in one of the hotel's laundry rooms... When Numbers Neidermeyer - one of Vegas' less-than-savory oddsmakers - throws some major attitude at ace private investigator, Jeremy Whitlock... it's just another night in Vegas as far as Lucky's concerned.

But when pieces of Numbers Neidermeyer turn up in the shark tank, Lucky is drawn into a deadly game where no one is what they seem, a game that will end only when she discovers who made fish food out of Numbers Neidermeyer.

Lucky and fabulous Las Vegas - life doesn't get any better.

The Series: Wanna Get Lucky? [links to my review], Lucky Stiff, So Damn Lucky
- Ebook novellas in the series: Lucky in Love, Lucky Bang

My Review: At 427 pages, reading this book was a bit of an undertaking - but one I gladly jumped into. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Wanna Get Lucky?, and I wanted to kick myself for taking this long until I read the second book. I took this book with me on vacation, but didn't get around to reading it until the long car ride home. But once I started reading, I could hardly put it down!

I really love the characters in this series - everyone has their own special quirks. I can't say I believe that Lucky is able to work so much with so little sleep, but other than that.. really, anything is possible in Vegas, so it doesn't seem that much of a stretch. The character interactions are absolutely fantastic, and I love seeing the glimpses of old Vegas, or the hidden underworld. The descriptions of the city and its inhabitants really make me watch to visit Vegas, though I'm not sure it would be as amazing without Lucky O'Toole.

This book really is an exciting read. From cover to cover, it was almost physically painful to put it down when I had to return to work after my break. A fun, fast-paced story and constant twists and turns, this book is more than entertaining, it's something special. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Cover Lovin': The cover is simple, but not too crowded, and it is eye catching enough to attract attention. I think the charm bracelet was a good choice - it's fun to look at it after reading the book and see what each charm represents.

Recommendation: This series is recommended for fans of mysteries with a touch of romance, and anyone who loves Las Vegas. Love Janet Evanovich but want something new - definitely give Lucky O'Toole a try!

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5).

Find out more about Lucky O'Toole and author Deborah Coonts at her website.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: A Ranger's Tale my Mysti Parker

2012-09-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

Disclaimer: This book was given to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Type: Historical Fantasy, other worlds, series, rangers, elves, romance

About the book: In the fantasy world of Tallenmere, an elven noblewoman longed to leave her gilded cage. A half-breed former pirate wanted nothing more than to escape his guilty past. Easier said than done...

High elf Caliphany Aranea leads an enviable life as King Leopold's niece and daughter of Sirius, Leogard's most famous wizard. Yet, being forced to follow in her father's footsteps and being betrothed to a man she doesn't even like makes her want a taste of life outside the city walls.

As a young boy, half-elf Galadin Trudeaux witnessed his parents' death at the hands of pirates. After being raised by those same murderers and forced to do their bidding, he escaped and now lives an honest life as a sea merchant and ranger.

When two brutes at Leogard Harbor attempt to kidnap Caliphany while she dreams of faraway lands, Galadin comes to her rescue. Impressed by his skills, she asks him to train her as a ranger. Though he is hesitant at first to train a woman of her class, Caliphany's hefty sack of gold finally persuades him. Unfortunately, her father is not amused, and the two must escape before Caliphany faces a forced marriage and Galadin faces a noose.

From that moment on she and Galadin embark on an adventure of a lifetime. Only if they can survive the trials ahead, will they find a love that stands the test of time.

My Review: This is one of those books that didn't suck me in right away, but once it grabbed me, it wouldn't let me go. For a while, my thought was "it's alright," until I realized that I was grabbing for my kindle every break and lunch hour so I could read it because I simply *had* to know what happened.
The characters weren't as developed as I would have liked them to be, but their journey was so addicting I found myself not caring. I absolutely had to know what happened to Cali and Galadin, and I didn't notice that this book might have been missing the little things that make characters feel a little more real.

World building can make or break a book for me, and A Ranger's Tale has a large, expansive world that I found myself desperate to explore. Author Mysti Parker did a fantastic job of making this magical world seem real. It truly felt like I only got to see a small portion of a much larger world - and I'm hoping that readers will get to see even more in the next book...

I don't get to read a lot of fantasy romance anymore - it's mostly paranormal and urban fantasy for me, so this book was a welcome, and well done, change. I hope to see more from Mysti Parker in the future. And be on the lookout for my review of the second book, Serenya's Song, coming soon.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5)

The Series: 1) A Ranger's Tale, 2) Serenya's Song

Find out more about the author: Mysti Parker

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

*This review will be cross posted on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com in the following weeks.

WINNER of "Her Fallen Angel"!!

2012-09-24T09:13:00.001-04:00

It's time to announce the winner of "Her Fallen Angel" by Felicity Heaton!

First off - I would like to thank Felicity Heaton for donating a copy of her book to giveaway, and for allowing Novel Addiction to be a part of the promotion for her newest release. Thanks so much, Felicity!

And now for the winner...

*Drumroll!*

AND THE WINNER IS......

************* JANE ****************

Thank you to everyone who entered. I will be sending Jane's contact information off to Felicity so she can receive her prize.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Her Demonic Angel Promo and GIVEAWAY!

2012-09-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Author Felicity Heaton has a new book releasing - Her Demonic Angel! This book sounds positively to die for - or maybe in this case, to FLY for! Felicity provided me with some information about her upcoming release, and then one lucky reader will win a copy of "Her Fallen Angel"!! I'm so jealous. You'll find the promo and release information below, with the giveaway details to follow.
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Her Demonic Angel, the fifth book in Felicity Heaton’s Her Angel romance series, is now available, and to celebrate the release she’s holding a fantastic giveaway at her website and she’s also giving away the first book in the series, Her Dark Angel, for FREE at selected Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books and Apple iBookstore sites.

You can find all the links for the FREE book, including a sample, at the following page: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/herdarkangel/

Find out how to enter the Her Demonic Angel international giveaway (ends September 23^rd) and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website, where you can also download an 8 chapter sample of the novel: Giveaway Details for Her Demonic Angel
Here’s more about Her Demonic Angel, including an excerpt from this long angel romance novel.

Her Demonic Angel
Felicity Heaton
A demonic angel with a heart of ice, Veiron walks a dark path with vengeance on his mind. Nothing will sway him from his mission to destroy his master... until he risks his life to enter Hell once more to save a mortal female. The fiery beauty makes him burn with hungers he must battle and needs he cannot deny, tempting him to surrender body and soul to her.

Erin is convinced her refusal to do the Devil’s bidding will see her die in a terrifying realm straight out of her nightmares. The last thing she expects is the lethally sensual warrior who breaks into her cell and awakens the darkest desires of her heart and a fierce longing to know the heat of his caress.

Pulled into an incredible world where war is set to ignite and darkness is on the rise, Erin races with Veiron to escape the Devil’s legions in a journey fraught with danger and filled with passion that flares white-hot.

When Erin is faced with a life-shattering realisation and an extraordinary destiny, will their love give them the strength to battle both Heaven and Hell or will they be parted forever?

Her Demonic Angel is available from:

Amazon.com Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00995OSTQ/

Amazon.co.uk Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00995OSTQ/

Apple iBookstore US: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781909306301

Apple iBookstore UK: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/isbn9781909306301

Apple iBookstore Australia: http://itunes.apple.com/au/book/isbn9781909306301

Apple iBookstore Canada: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/isbn9781909306301

Kobo Books: http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9781909306301

Author’s Website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Her%20Demonic%20Angel

Her Demonic Angel – Excerpt

It was the Devil who took her.

Erin was sure of it.

It was the Devil who had come in the dead of night, entering the bedroom of her loft apartment like black mist to take her as she slept.

And he wasn’t red all over or had hooves and horns like in movies or fables.

He was immense, with skin as black as coal, eyes that shone red like car brake lights and the wings of a dragon curling from his back.

He had brought her here to a fiery, broken and inhospitable land where perpetual tormented screams chased every shred of calm and peace from her soul and the air was so thick with the stomach-turning stench of sulphur that she couldn’t breathe.

It was Hell.

At first, Erin had thought the whole event was a vivid and disturbing nightmare, worse than any she had experienced before, but she had hurt herself on one of the shards of black rock that formed the floor and the three walls of her cell and she hadn’t woken.

And then they had hurt her too.

The Devil had come alone at first, entering her cell to glare at her in silence and ignore her pleas to tell him what he wanted with her. Not a word had left his wide black lips. The only time she had gained a response from him was the one instance she had felt brave enough to stand up to him and had tried to force him to speak. Then, he had bared sharp crimson teeth at her and hissed. She had fallen on her backside trying to escape him, afraid that he would attack her, and had cut her palms and scraped the soles of her bare feet as she had crab-crawled away from him.

Now, he no longer came alone.

Now, she no longer feared him.

She couldn’t muster that emotion whenever he visited her. Fear had given way to anger, leaving her brave enough to face death in order to get some answers.

Two other smaller but similar creatures accompanied him. None of them spoke. They didn’t even flinch when she hit them in an attempt to make them talk and tell her what they wanted with her, bashing her fists against their thick limbs and the granite band of stomach exposed between their red-edged black chest armour and the strips that protected their hips. She wanted to punch them in the face but they towered over her, at least three feet taller than she was. Several times, she had struck them hard in the groin but each had only gained her pain rather than satisfaction. They were quick to retaliate, slamming meaty arms into her stomach and sending her crashing into the rough black walls of her prison.

Each visit lasted only fifteen minutes or was it longer? She had lost track of time in this hellish place. Minutes seemed like hours.

Erin was too tired to hit them now. Hunger had set in she didn’t know how many days or weeks ago and now she was so weak that her head swam and she spent most of her waking hours hallucinating about food. Petrified pained screams rang in her ears as she sat near the open wall of her black cell, staring wearily into the hazy fiery distance. The black jaw-length jags of her hair hung across one side of her face, stinking of boiled eggs. The smell had invaded everything. Her small black sleep shorts and tank top, every inch of exposed dirty skin, and her mind too. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the jagged wall behind her, too tired and hungry to sleep, using all of her strength to keep breathing.

They would come soon.

She hadn’t seen them in what might have been a day.

There was no sky in the view from her cell. Just an endless black vault above her, and fields of lava and brimstone as far as the eye could see several hundred feet below.

Erin inhaled slowly and smelled steak.

She frowned. Steak. She swore she could smell it.

Someone had invented a new form of torture. The scent of juicy frying meat wafted through the huge open wall and before she could consider what she was doing, she was standing at the edge of the floor and staring down into the glowing abyss. Hot air battered her as it rose from the inferno below. Her vision swam from the heat and her hunger, causing the sheer cliff face to wobble and distort.

Her mouth watered.

Her stomach growled.

The door at her back opened and she turned sharply. Her foot slipped on the loose stones at the edge.

Before her gasp could escape her lips, a man was holding her with one arm snaked around her back, bending over her. She stared down, wild eyes watching the rocks bouncing off the endless black cragged cliff and disappearing into the fiery river below. Her heart hammered erratically against her chest and she instinctively grabbed the man’s arms, desperate to save herself from following the rocks and afraid that he might drop her over the edge.

“Careful,” the man whispered close to her ear, his voice deep and exotic, sending a strange hot shiver through her. He righted her, kept one hand on her arm and led her away from the edge.

Erin stared at her handsome saviour, mind racing to catch up with everything that had happened in the past few seconds. He still held her arm, his smile perfect though lacking emotion and golden eyes bright and alluring. She couldn’t take her eyes away from them and the longer she stared into them, the more relaxed she felt.

His sensual smile widened and he released her arm, preened the longer tendrils of his black hair back from his face, and then frowned at his hand. Touching her had dirtied it. His expression curled into one of disgust and he turned his back on her.

The heavy compliant feeling that had been building inside her disappeared in an instant and the delicious scent of food assaulted her.

Her gaze snapped to the door and the source of the tempting smell.

The Devil.

He stood there flanked by the two smaller creatures like him, his glowing red eyes fixed straight at her over the head of the elegant man now strolling towards him. The two of them couldn’t have looked more different to each other. The Devil was a beast, black-skinned and huge, his massive dragon-like wings furled against his back, and his body barely covered by crimson-edged obsidian armour. The man was all dark beauty and refinement, dressed sharply in a black suit that highlighted his pale, flawless skin and glossy black hair.

The man waved his hand and the Devil held something out to him.

A tray with a very elegant domed silver plate cover on it.

Erin realised her mistake.

Not the Devil, but a servant.

Erin stared at the man as he took the tray from the beast she had thought was the Devil, removed the cover with a flourish, revealing the most amazing and mouth-watering food she had ever seen, and turned to hold it out to her.

Tempting her.

He was the Devil.

Her Demonic Angel is available now from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Apple iBookstores and direct from the author. It will soon be available for Barnes and Noble Nook too.

Find all the links, a fantastic 8 chapter downloadable sample of the book, and also how to enter the Her Demonic Angel giveaway and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/ebooks.php?title=Her%20Demonic%20Angel

Books in the Her Angel romance series:

Her Dark Angel (Her Angel romance series book 1)

Her Fallen Angel (Her Angel romance series book 2)

Her Warrior Angel (Her Angel romance series book 3)

Her Guardian Angel (Her Angel romance series book 4)

Her Demonic Angel (Her Angel romance series book 5)

About Felicity Heaton:

Felicity Heaton writes passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In her books she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons!

If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, Felicity Heaton’s best selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series she writes as F E Heaton or any of her stand alone vampire romance books she writes as Felicity Heaton. Or if you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try Felicity Heaton’s new Vampire Erotic Theatre series.

In 2011, five of her six paranormal romance books received Top Pick awards from Night Owl Reviews, Forbidden Blood was nominated as Best PNR Vampire Romance 2011 at The Romance Reviews, and many of her releases received five star reviews from numerous websites.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

Website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk

Blog: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/felicityheaton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/felicityheaton

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/felicityheaton

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GIVEAWAY: ONE COPY OF "HER FALLEN ANGEL" BY FELICITY HEATON, HER ANGEL #2
RULES and GUIDELINES:
~ Fill out the form below to enter. Comments are lovely, but do not count as an entry.
~ There will be ONE winner.
~ Contest Ends SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd at 11:59 PM. Winner will be announced MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th.
~ Open INTERNATIONALLY. (ebook)
~ You must be at least 13 years old to enter. This book is of a romantic nature, and is therefore suggested for readers 18+ years old.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
+1 for following Novel Addiction

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Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "Crave" by Felicity Heaton

2012-08-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

Why this book/Disclaimer: Author requested a review, and since I loved the first book in the series, I jumped at the chance to review the second. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Format: Ebook

Type: Romance, Erotic, Vampires, Shifters, Series, 18+

About the book: His mind has been set on his work for the past one hundred years. Now a forbidden beauty has stolen his attention and is threatening to steal his heart too.

Callum has come to the city of romance on business, not pleasure, but when he sets eyes on a gorgeous werewolf in a nightclub, he can’t ignore the dark carnal craving she ignites in him. His work for Vampirerotique, the erotic theatre he runs with three other vampires, can wait. The only thing that matters now is satisfying his sinful hunger for a woman who most vampires would consider an enemy.

Kristina is on the run from her pack. Her alpha is intent on forcing her to bear his child and she’s not about to live through the same nightmare as her mother had. When a tall, dark and sexy vampire catches her eye, she can’t believe the ferocity of the desire he unleashes in her or the fact that she enjoys the feel of his eyes on her and his silent pursuit of her in the clubs each night.

When Kristina finally gets a taste of Callum in a forbidden kiss, will she be strong enough to resist the allure of the vampire and his offer to share his bed for a week of unbridled, wild sex, or will she surrender to her own craving for the safety and passion she finds in his embrace?

My review: This is one of those books I put down for a while because I got caught up in other things.. and then when I picked the book back up weeks later, I couldn't believe I had let it go so long. Felicity Heaton really sucks you into the world, and her characters are hot hot hot! I made the mistake of reading the first book in this series, "Covet," on my breaks at work - and boy was it awkward to return when I was all flushed from the steamy scenes. So I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't do that again. But after picking this book up again, I couldn't keep myself from taking it to work with me so I could finish it!

The story movies quickly, and indeed the book itself isn't that long. With the huge boom in erotic fiction lately (thanks to "50 Shades of Grey" I suppose), if you're looking for a good erotic story that you just can't put down, look no further than Felicity Heaton's novels. She knows how to spin a good tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat.. and with a fan at the ready.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5).

The series: "Covet," "Crave," "Seduce," "Enslave."

The Author: Find out more about Felicity Heaton, and get buy links for her books at her website.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

It's been a while - a new regime (sorta?)

2012-07-24T14:50:00.002-04:00

Hello to everyone that is still a follower of Novel Addiction - it's been quite a while! I disappeared due to health reasons (the surgeries were kicking my butt!), but I'm back - with a few changes.

I won't be going back to posting every day. With my health, working full time, and (starting soon) school, I won't be able to do that sort of schedule. Instead, reviews will be posted whenever I manage to finish a book - so expect at least one a week. And on top of reviews, I will be talking about library life, and library school.

Starting late August, I will be starting my Master's program in Library and Information Science. Having worked in a library for several years, I'm interested in seeing what new aspect of libraries I shall be learning in classes. And not just about libraries - my specification will be in Museum Studies, which is something I am incredibly passionate about. So look forward to that! Or not, as the case may be.

I looking forward to getting some great library- and reading-centered discussions going, and I hope you all continue to stick with me during the transition from a little more than nothing (where we are currently) to something bigger, better, and hopefully more entertaining for all.

If you're an author and I promised you a review - yes, I am still reviewing. I just had to switch to a new laptop, so I'm still in the process of switching review books over and organizing them, but I will get to all the books I have to review. And I will consider all new review requests as they come in.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, aka Novel Addiction ~!~

Working in a library - the hardship you don't expect

2012-05-24T13:43:00.000-04:00

I've worked in a library for several years now, during school and again when I graduated. Being a librarian was my dream job (though it fought for the position with writer and paleontologist). I love books, I want to work with books - to be surrounded by them constantly. And I'm lucky that I'm able to do that and (mostly) support myself that way.

But there were some downsides that I never even thought of. I was so focused on the books, that I forgot about the people. The library may be all about the materials it offers, but it wouldn't exist at all if it wasn't for the people. And this post today is about one in particular - Mr. G.

Every day since I started working here (in 2009), we have been visited by an older patron that comes in to request all of his favorite movies. Sometimes we own them, sometimes we can get them from elsewhere in the state, and sometimes we buy them just for him - and he's always so grateful and so sweet. He'd come to the desk and chat with us about the movies, or just to talk. He had plenty of amazing stories, since he was a proud veteran. We all knew his health was declining, you could see it in the way he walked, his face, and the shake in his hands. But Mr. G was part of the library, he couldn't go anywhere.

Today, we got a call from Mr. G's daughter - he's fallen, broken his hip, and is not expected to make it another day. To say we are all heartbroken is an understatement. Past employees have emailed and called to check on him. And while we're all hoping for more information, at the same time... we don't want it. We want to just assume that he's home, recovering. The not knowing is both painful and helpful.

I like people, I'm a sociable person. But I don't think I ever expected feeling this close to a library patron. Just typing this post makes me want to tear up, thinking that we might never see our dear Mr. G again.

Mr. G has pulled through some bad times before, and I still fervently hope that he will pull through this, but in case he doesn't - this blog post is my tribute to Mr. G, a much beloved library patron that will be so incredibly missed.

Happy Reading

Amanda

Buy Links for author John Abramowitz

2012-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Day two of John Abramowitz's visit to Novel Addiction as part of his Blog Tour. Yesterday, John spoke about the age of one of his characters in his Young Adult series, The Weaver Saga.

Today, I'm posting buy links so you can check the book out for yourself!

First up: In case you missed it yesterday, check out John's blog On The Bird - it has links to the rest of his blog tour, as well as plenty of other interesting goodies.

Get a copy of Weaver...
from Amazon
from Barnes and Noble [FREE]
from Smashwords [FREE]

Get a copy of The Void...
from Amazon
from Amazon UK
from Barnes and Noble
from Smashwords

Again, a huge thanks to John for including Novel Addiction on his Blog Tour, and for visiting our little humble abode.

Be sure to check out The Weaver Saga!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda~!~

GUEST BLOG: John Abramowitz talks age in YA

2012-05-20T13:38:00.001-04:00

Hello all! Please help me welcome John Abramowitz as he visits Novel Addiction on his Blog Tour. John will be visiting us today (5/20) and tomorrow (5/21) so drop him a line to say hi!

Without further ado - John!
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Act Your Age?

When I decided to write The Weaver Saga as a Young Adult series, I did my homework on the genre. I looked around at some of the other Young Adult fiction being published now, to get a sense of what was working for other authors and what wasn't. One thing I noticed is that many YA writers feature exclusively teenage protagonists.

This made me nervous, since I was already planning for one of my point-of-view characters -- Moira McBain -- to be an adult. Was this a bad idea? Did I risk alienating my target audience by making this choice? I asked myself this question over and over, both during the writing of Weaver and more recently as I wrote The Void. Every time, I came to the same conclusion: I was using Moira as a point-of-view character, risky or not.

Why? First of all, because she's just a damn cool character. (Who doesn't love a badass, untrusting, take-no-prisoners FBI agent?) But more than that, I decided to keep her because there's no reason that a younger audience couldn't understand her. Many of the challenges she faces are universal challenges, faced by fifteen-year-olds and fifty-year-olds alike.

I won't say too much about the specifics of those challenges because I don't want to give away some pretty major spoilers, but I will say this: when I was in high school, I remember more than a few teachers telling me about things I would face in the "real world." I also remember deeply resenting such talk, because I felt that my world was every bit as real as theirs. Now that I'm almost thirty, I don't think I was wrong. Few people of any age, for instance, are immune to feelings of inadequacy. The sources of those feelings change, but they are just as pervasive among students as professionals. Family relationships do not suddenly get less complicated because a person reaches adulthood. And so on.

The main reason I decided to go ahead with an adult protagonist, in other words, was to show I had faith in my readers. To assume that young adults could not understand the problems of an outright adult would be to condescend to my readers. That's not a business I ever want to be in.

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Thanks so much for the visit and guest post, John! Check out John's blog (with links to the rest of his blog tour) : On The Bird. You can find buy links for The Weaver Saga there, or stop by Novel Addiction tomorrow when I will be posting them.

Another big round of thanks to John for visiting!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Kindle Freebie!! - "Atticus for the Undead"

2012-05-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hey all! I have some great news for you - Novel Addiction will host author John Abramowitz on his blog tour later this month (May 20 - 21). Not only will he be visiting, but one of his novels, "Atticus for the Undead" will be FREE ON KINDLE today and tomorrow (May 3 - 4)!!

Check it out on Amazon HERE. Be sure to check it out.

About the book: The next chapter in the struggle for equal rights begins!

Hunter Gamble is an idealistic young attorney in a very special area of the practice: arcane defense. Funded by enigmatic billionaire Charles McClain and aided by shy-but-energetic research attorney Kirsten Harper, he's making the world a better place -- one vampire, zombie, or werewolf client at a time. After all, they deserve their day in court too, right?

When a young zombie walks into Hunter's office accused of murder (by brain-eating), Hunter's idealism is tested as never before as he struggles to secure the man's freedom. To do so, he must square off against a savvy and ambitious district attorney, contend with a judge who is deeply biased against arcanes, and stand up to a human-supremacist group which will stop at nothing -- not even Hunter's own death -- to see his client convicted.

Get the book! And then come back to see what John Abramowitz has to say when he visits Novel Addiction as part of his blog tour!

Check out John's blog.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

FREE BOOK! - Last day to get a free copy of...

2012-04-12T09:25:00.000-04:00

Hey all! Remember how I said I wish I could give a free copy of "So Damn Lucky" to everyone? Well, I still can't.. but I've found an excellent free book to promote! One of my favorite authors, Jessica McHugh has her book "Rabbits in the Garden" FREE for today only! Jessica's book has been selected as one of the Postmortem Press books to get an AUDIO MAKEOVER! That's right, "Rabbits in the Garden" will be on audio!

To celebrate this most excellent news, "Rabbits in the Garden" is free for all today - hurry and get your copy now! I absolutely loved this book, and couldn't put it down. The emotions are so raw and striking that I was hyperventilating through all the good parts - which of course means I was hyperventilating through most of the book.. So run and get your copy now! Kindle link below. =)

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

WINNER of "So Damn Lucky" by Deborah Coonts!

2012-04-09T10:42:00.000-04:00

Today is the day! I get to announce the lucky winner of a print copy of "So Damn Lucky" by Deborah Coonts! I have this book at home and absolutely cannot wait to get started on it.

And the lucky winner is... (Drumroll, please!)

************ PATRICIA E. *****************

Congrats Patricia! I will be emailing you shortly to get your address to send off to the publisher.

I wish I could have given a copy to everyone that entered, but I only had one. =( But stay tuned! I have more giveaways planned for the upcoming months, both print and ebook!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

GIVEAWAY! "So Damn Lucky" by Deborah Coonts!

2012-04-02T09:41:00.000-04:00

Hello readers! I have a treat for you today - one lucky reader will win a copy of "So Damn Lucky" by Deborah Coonts! I got to read and review the first book in the series "Wanna Get Lucky?" and I cannot wait to read the rest!

About "So Damn Lucky": Lucky O’Toole—Head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, premier mega-resort on the Vegas Strip—thinks it’s just another night in Las Vegas. But then a magician pulls a disappearing act, right under Lucky’s nose. Is it a stunt? Or something worse?

While Lucky chases leads, someone is trying to put her off the scent. As if this wasn’t enough to ruin her day, Lucky’s relationship with The Big Boss is coming to a head—past hurts can no longer be denied. Of course, she is already on shaky emotional ground: Teddie, her live-in, has been touring with a young and lovely pop star. Paxton Dane, former coworker and would-be suitor, is still circling, hoping to find a chink in the armor of Lucky’s resolve. And then, there’s this French chef, who is proving to be too hot to handle….

Las Vegas expert Deborah Coonts thrills again with this third installment in her dazzling series focused on casino “fixer” Lucky O’Toole.

RULES and GUIDELINES:
~ Fill out the form below to enter. Comments do not count as an entry.
~ There will be ONE winner.
~ Contest Ends SUNDAY APRIL 8th at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be announced MONDAY APRIL 9th.
~ Open to US/Canada only.
~ You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
~ Novel Addiction is not response for prizes lost in the mail, or authors/publishers failing to deliver.

Extra entries:
+1 for following Novel Addiction

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Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "Wanna Get Lucky?" by Deborah Coonts

2012-03-27T07:16:00.000-04:00

Why this book?: I received this book to review, but I chose it now because I wanted something different. I've been reading a lot of teen paranormal romance lately, and I needed something new.

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a review. I am not being compensated for this review, and all thoughts are my own.

Type: Series, Fiction, Fiction with romantic elements, Mystery, Las Vegas, Girl knows what she's doing, Living The High Life

About the book: A young woman plunges from a Las Vegas sightseeing helicopter, landing in the Pirate's lagoon in front of the Treasure Island Hotel in the middle of the 8:30 Pirate Show. Almost everyone writes her off as another Vegas victim.

But Lucky O'Toole smells a rat. She's head of Customer Relations at The Babylon, the newest, most opulent mega-casino and resort on the Strip, so she's got a lot on her plate: the Adult Film industry's annual awards banquet, a spouse-swapping convention, sex toy purveyors preying on the pocket-protector crowd attending ElectroniCon.... Still, Lucky can't resist turning over a few stones.

When a former flame is one of the snakes she uncovers, Lucky's certain she's no longer dealing with an anonymous Sin City suicide. To top it all off, Lucky's best friend Teddie--Las Vegas' finest female impersonator--presses to take their relationship to the next level. Leave it to Lucky to attract a man who looks better in a dress than she does.

Lucky must manage the Babylon's onslaught of outrageous festivities, solve a murder, and struggle to keep her life and libido from spinning out of control... not to mention keep her balance in six inch heels.

My Review: "Wanna Get Lucky?" is one of those books that runs across genres - chick-lit, romance, mystery, fiction, etc. And while it is certainly not a shining example of each genre, when you mix them all together you get one heck of a good ride. I received this book to review, and I found it a little daunting at first because of the length.. But after picking it up, I got so sucked into the story that those four hundred plus pages just flew by.

I've never been to Vegas, though it is on my wish list. But after reading about Lucky O'Toole's Vegas, I might have to find a way to move Vegas up the list. Lucky shows us the other side of Vegas - no, not the dark side. Lucky's story gives readers a chance to see the gears turning in Las Vegas, how the staff at these massive hotels really get things done and make their guests' stay absolutely fabulous.

There are quite a few characters to keep track of in "Wanna Get Lucky?" so be prepared to meet a lot of people. In the very beginning, it was hard for me to keep up with absolutely everyone, but you see everyone so often, and just about all of them are important to the plot, so by the end of the novel I could identify every character and say exactly how they helped or hindered Lucky's plan. And I do hope to see some of my favorites in the next book!

I've seen this series compared with Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels - quite a lot, actually. They do have a similar tone, but one thing that made me frustrated in the Plum series, was that no matter how long Stephanie had been working as a bounty hunter, she never got better/smarter. Lucky doesn't have that problem - she's smart, independent, and knows how to use the resources at hand to get the job done and the problem solved. I plan to keep reading both the Plum series and Lucky O'Toole, so lucky me, I'll get the best of both worlds!

Cover Lovin': I really like this cover. It's not over the top, but I think it gives a good idea of the tone of the novel.

Recommendations: A fun piece of fiction, Wanna Get Lucky? has a little something for fans of multiple genres - a lighthearted mystery, a romantic subplot, and a strong woman trying to make it out of a tough situation in rather Chick-Lit/Women's Fiction like ways.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5) stars. Really enjoyed this, and I can't wait to read the next one. Lucky (haha) for me, I have the next two in the series!

Have you read "Wanna Get Lucky?" or any of Deborah Coonts' Lucky O'Toole series? Share your thoughts in the comments! Wanna pick up a copy? Get it from Amazon.com today!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "Inhuman Heritage" by Sonnet O'Dell

2012-03-05T08:00:00.064-05:00

Why this book?: I've reviewed for Sonnet O'Dell before, and when she asked if I would want to review the newest Cassandra Farbanks novel, I jumped at the chance!

Disclaimer: I received this book in an exchange for a review.

Type: Series, Shifters, Vampires, Parallel Worlds, Mythological Beings, Law of Succession

About the book: Two Worlds. One Mystery. "Nothing is stranger than the truth.

Cassandra has had a lot of questions, but when it comes to the answers, the truth it seems might be too much for her to handle. On top of that, what should have been perfect relationship with the vampire Aram, is falling apart before its really begun.

To distract herself she takes a job from the werewolves. It's time to pick a new king and a emissary must be safely escorted. Someone is out to kidnap the emissary and steal the crown. Who's behind it is just another question Cassandra must answer before time runs out."

My Review: This will be the third book I have reviewed in this series, and I always thought it had such an interesting premise. I mean, who doesn't want to travel to a different version of reality each evening? Sure, Cassandra's night life can be more than a little scary, but think of all the adventures she has! And the plot of "Inhuman Heritage" is another such adventure. Unlike some of the previous novels, the first 1/3 of this book seems very much character driven. We learn more about Cassandra's relationships.. and especially who, or what, she is - which leads to her having an understandable pity party. But Cassandra doesn't get to wallow in her feelings for too long, she has a job to do, and it's not going to be easy.

Cassandra's sense of humor never fails to tickle me. She's quick witted, and her quips come from all genres of pop culture - it's quite fun trying to figure out where everything is from. In this regard, I can definitely find some parallels between Harry Dresden of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files and Cassandra. They both have that sense of humor that makes you laugh and groan at the same time. And along these lines, I can definitely see some similarities between this series and the Anita Blake series by Laurel K. Hamilton. Cassandra is, essentially, a younger and less $lutty Anita Blake - which I'm, for one, thankful for.

In closing, I'd definitely say "Inhuman Heritage" by Sonnet O'Dell is great reading choice for fans of Urban Fantasy, especially readers that enjoy a host of fascinating and delicious characters. I'd say this isn't my favorite in the series, but it was still an excellent and entertaining read.

Cover Lovin': Considering how were-wolf centered this novel is, the cover is very fitting. And now that I've read the book and take another look at the cover, it just seems perfect. Loving the image in the eyes!

Recommendation: Fans of both the Anita Blake; Vampire Hunter series by Laurel K. Hamilton and The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher will enjoy the Cassandra Farbanks series. These are definitely good reads, and they keep my eyes glued to my eReader until the very end.
A Note: While author Sonnet O'Dell does very good at getting any new readers up to date, and reminding long-time fans of past events, this is one of those series you really want to follow from the beginning for the full effect.

Final Rating: While reading through the first half of the book, it was definitely feeling like a three.. But by the end, I was full convinced that this book is worth FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). The beginning was a little rocky for me, but once again, this author surprised me with how good the last half of the book was.

The Series in Order:
1. Soul Market
2. Lost Innocents
3. Skin Thief
4. Inhuman Heritage

Have you read "Inhuman Heritage" or any other novel by Sonnet O'Dell? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to try the series out? Click on the title links above to purchase these items from Amazon.com!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Cover reveal! "INBETWEEN (Kiss of Death #1)" by Tara Fuller!

2012-02-20T08:00:00.008-05:00

Hello all! I'm participating in a cover reveal! Today, I bring you the awesome cover and blurb for an upcoming Entangled Publishing release, "Inbetween"!

First up! The blurb:

Since the car crash that took her father’s life three years ago, Emma’s
life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving
“accidents” has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so
Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling
in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who
makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.

It’s not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate
has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn’s fellow reapers give him
hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before,
and he’s not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves
from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the
only thing he has left…his soul.

AND NOW for the special event.. THE REVEAL!

Woo! Looks like a great one! I've already added "Inbetween" to my Goodreads "To Read" list - make sure you do too! And the paperback is available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "A Dry Creek Bed" by Avery Flynn

2012-02-01T08:00:00.032-05:00

Why this book?: I had the chance to review the first book in the series "Up a Dry Creek" and loved it! I jumped at the chance to review the second book as well. =)

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a review.

Type: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Series, "You're my little sisters best friend!", Steamy

About the book: Dry Creek County Sheriff Hank Layton is the stuff of dreams. Nasty, steamy, delicious fantasies that leave Beth Martinez weak-kneed and desperately wanting the man she can never have.

Hank can’t stop thinking about Beth to the point where he’s afraid of becoming permanently bowlegged. And even though the sexual tension between them is thick enough to trip over, she runs every time he chases.

But when a mysterious developer forces her neighbors off their land, Beth becomes the one person standing between the scoundrel and millions of dollars. Only Hank can help her uncover the truth. Together they risk their lives exposing decades-old secrets and learn that everything is not as it seems in their rural Nebraska town.

My Review: "A Dry Creek Bed" is somewhere between a novella and a full novel. My question is - how does Avery Flynn manage to pack so much awesome into such a small(ish) space?! The second book in this series, I felt similar at the end of this one as I did at the end of the first, just wow-ed by how good it was. I really get into the characters, and I desperately hope they get their happy ending. Sure, I know they will.. but the odds just seem stacked so highly against them that for a while there, you believe maybe it isn't possible. And frankly, that's the sign of a truly good romance, especially romantic suspense.

Long-time readers of this blog will know my love of couples that have known each other forever, and that maybe in the past things didn't work out, but they still hold a candle for one another. "A Dry Creek Bed" really delivers a perfect example of this sort of relationship. Hank and Beth are practically like siblings - Hank's sister is Beth's best friend, but they have a spark that is just too hard for them to ignore. The story drew me in almost instantly, and it nearly killed me to put the book down and return to work when my break was over. Truly another excellent novel by author Avery Flynn!

Cover Lovin': Good cover. Not exactly how I pictured Hank.. but uh, this guy is definitely good looking, so I'm not complaining!

Recommendation: If you love your romance with a little (or a lot) of suspense, definitely check out the Dry Creek series by Avery Flynn. Reading book one, "Up A Dry Creek," is not required.. but it's so good you'll want to pick that one up too. Definitely an author to watch!

Final Rating: FOUR POINT FIVE out of FIVE (4.5/5). Another excellent book in the "Dry Creek" series by Avery Flynn. Desperately hoping for more.

Have you read "A Dry Creek Bed" or "Up A Dry Creek" by Avery Flynn? If so, tell me your thoughts in the comments! Want to get a copy? Get it from Amazon.com!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda~!~

REVIEW: "Covet" by Felicity Heaton

2012-01-30T08:00:00.037-05:00

Why this book?: I'm a fan of Felicity Heaton on Facebook, and she started talking about this one.. I knew it was going to be a scorcher! So I jumped at the chance to review it.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Type: Erotic, Vampires, Series, Forbidden Love

About the Book: They've burned for each other for two years, the forbidden attraction between them growing each night. Now resisting the sinful desires of their hearts is becoming impossible.

Javier knows better than to succumb to his hunger for Lilah. The mortal female belongs to a powerful aristocrat patron of Vampirerotique, the theatre he runs with three other vampires. A single touch is all it would take to break the sacred law of his kind, sentencing himself to death, but his passion for her has become too fierce to ignore and he will risk everything to make Lilah his.

Lilah has fought her desire for Javier since arriving at his theatre as a servant but each glance he has stolen, his eyes promising pleasure that will satisfy her longing for him, has chipped away at her defences and she can no longer deny her need and her forbidden feelings for the powerful vampire male.

When they find themselves alone in a private box during one of the erotic performances, will they surrender to their passion and live out their wildest fantasies in a night of wicked pleasure or will the threat of Lilah's master keep them apart forever?

Adults only--highly erotic vampire romance novella, contains light bondage

Review: I decided to read on my lunch break, which isn't uncommon, and I just picked one of my review books at random. I'm not sure this was the best choice, for two reasons. One, I didn't want to put it down when it was time to return, and two.. it made going back to work pretty awkward. I knew this author wrote some steamy scenes, but I never guessed they would be so hot. Javier and Lilah got me worked up more than a time or two, that's for sure. I've read a fair amount of erotica in my day, and Felicity is definitely one of the better ones - excellent description, never over the top, and it certainly hits the spot.

There is something so sweet about the forbidden fruit - and Lilah is just that. "Covet" is a truly alluring example of the forbidden love story between a vampire and a human owned by another. The characters are very well written, and the story moves with a good pace. Having met the other owners of the Vampire Erotic Theatre, I absolutely cannot wait to read their stories. "Covet" is the start of an excellent new series for this author, and I eagerly anticipate being able to read more from her.

Cover Lovin': Oh my yes. Excellent cover. And it shows up so well on my Kindle, too!

Recommendation: This books is *very* erotic, so definitely for readers 18+! If you love your vampires on the steamy side, this is definitely for you!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Very good, erotic read. There was more than a few times I had to fan myself while reading about Javier and Lilah's uh.. activities.

Coming up in the series:
"Crave" - coming March 10, 2012
"Seduce" - coming June 23rd, 2012
"Enslave" - coming August 4th, 2012

Have you read "Covet" or any other book by Felicity Heaton? Tell me your thoughts in the comments! If not, pick up your copy from Amazon.com today!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

WINNER of "A Dry Creek Bed" by Avery Flynn! (And a FREE book announcement!)

2012-01-27T09:54:00.006-05:00

It's Friday, which means it's time to announce the winner of my "A Dry Creek Bed" giveaway! Thanks to everyone that entered, and I'm sad I couldn't give you all a copy. But without further ado.. the winner is.. (drumroll, please!)

CONGRATULATIONS GO TO....

****** JUNE M ******

Congrats June! I'll be sending your contact info off to the publishing reps, so be on the lookout. :)

Since I couldn't give everyone a copy of "A Dry Creek Bed" by Avery Flynn, I am lucky enough to announce that Lori Brighton's "Mind Readers" (YA/Teen paranormal fiction) is FREE today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday), only on Amazon Kindle! I read and reviewed this book, and it's definitely worth a read. Fire up your Kindles or Kindle for PCs, and go get yourself a copy today! Below I've linked to both "A Dry Creek Bed" and "The Mind Readers" - so click away to your hearts content. =)

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

CONTEST Reminder!!

2012-01-26T08:54:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! Today is the last day to enter in my contest to win an eBook copy of "A Dry Creek Bed" by Avery Flynn! This is a great author, and an equally great series, so I hope you jump on the chance to win a copy.

Odds are good to get your very own copy. =) Here's how to win.. Go to THIS POST and fill out the entry form. Winners will be posted tomorrow morning!

Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor ;)

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

GIVEAWAY: "A Dry Creek Bed" by Avery Flynn!

2012-01-19T08:00:00.012-05:00

Hello everyone! Today I'm giving away an ebook copy of "A Dry Creek Bed" by Avery Flynn! This is book two in the Dry Creek series - I got the chance to review book one, and I loved it!

About the book: Avery Flynn returns to western Nebraska, the setting of her first novel, Up a Dry Creek, to continue the story of the Layton family in her new contemporary romantic suspense novel A DRY CREEK BED, just published as an e-book original by Evernight Publishing.

Flynn was inspired by her former hometown for the setting of the fictional town that has been home to the Laytons for generations. Siblings Claire, Hank, Sam and Chris Layton were introduced in Up a Dry Creek, the story of Claire and her nemesis-turned-hero, Jake Warrick, as was Claire’s friend, Beth Martinez.

In A DRY CREEK BED, readers discover Beth Martinez still mourning the deaths of the grandparents who raised her after her parents died in a car accident. Beth has seen her share of tragedy, including having the dream of starting her own family ripped away from her. Though quietly in love with Hank for years, she knows they’ll never be together. Hank, now the Sheriff of Dry Creek County and divorced from his first wife who lied to him about her desire to have children, wants a family, something Beth can never have and can’t give him. Despite their mutual desire for each other and Hank’s determination to pursue her, she manages to keep him at a distance.

All Beth has left of her family is the home built by her grandfather. So when a mysterious developer makes an offer on the property, she refuses. Soon she’s receiving threats and can no longer hide what’s happening from Hank. Forced together by circumstances, it becomes harder and harder for them to rein in their passion. Suddenly, the stakes go higher. Coercion turns into murder and it’s up to Beth and Hank to uncover who wants the land and why—before they both end up dead.

In A DRY CREEK BED, Avery Flynn once again brings readers a strong and sexy romantic suspense novel, with plenty of action, engaging characters and an unexpected ending.

About the author: Romantic suspense novelist Avery Flynn’s first Dry Creek novel, Up a Dry Creek, was published in 2011. Her latest, A DRY CREEK BED, has just been released by Evernight Publishing.

Born and raised in western Nebraska, the setting of her fictional town of Dry Creek, she now lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area. There she continues to write and work at her day job while enjoying her own happily ever after with her husband, three children and two dogs. She dreams of one day having a floor-to-ceiling library, à la Beauty and the Beast, and is working to perfect the coffee IV drip. She is delighted to have her first two books published and to be hard at work on High and Dry Creek, her third Dry Creek novel.

RULES and GUIDELINES:
~ Fill out the form below to enter. Comments do not count as an entry.
~ There will be ONE winner.
~ Contest ends Thursday, January 26th at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be announced Friday, January 27th.
~ Open internationally (ebook giveaway).
~ You must be at least 13 years old to enter.

Extra entries:
+1 for following Novel Addiction

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Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

GUEST POST: Avery Flynn, author of "A Dry Creek Bed"!!

2012-01-18T08:00:00.020-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, please help me give a warm welcome to author Avery Flynn. Avery is promoting her recent release "A Dry Creek Bed," the sequel to "Up A Dry Creek" [Click the title for my review!] So without further ado.. Avery Flynn!

Note: Come back tomorrow for a GIVEAWAY of "A Dry Creek Bed"!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Meaning of Family
By Avery Flynn

With A DRY CREEK BED, I really wanted to explore the idea of family and what the word parent really means.

More than seven million women in the United States have an impaired ability to have children.

Slightly more than two million married women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four are infertile.

Nearly twelve percent of women between the ages of fifteen and forty-four have received infertility services.

Many women are childless by choice and I say more power to them. However, there are millions of women out there who are unable to conceive despite it being their greatest wish and they report often feeling alone in their struggle. My heart breaks for them.

I have three rug rats of my own, but spent quite a bit of time researching infertility issues before writing A DRY CREEK BED, the second in my hot and steamy romantic suspense series.

Beth Martinez is the heroine and she’s recently had a hysterectomy because of a fibroid tumor. This has rocked Beth’s world. Her parents died when she was eight, the grandparents who raised her have passed on and now she won’t be able to have children of her own.

To twist the knife even more, she’s been in love with Dry Creek County Sheriff Hank Layton for most of her life. Hank wants Beth, there’s no doubt about it, but he also wants to start a family and Beth’s emotions are so tangled ups she’s not sure if she ever wants to adopt. Not wanting to force Hank to give up his dreams of a family or make him feel obligated to stay with her, Beth keeps her infertility a secret and denies she has any interest in him.

Hank can’t stop thinking about Beth to the point where he’s afraid of becoming permanently bowlegged. And even though the sexual tension between them is thick enough to trip over, she runs every time he chases.
But when a mysterious developer forces her neighbors off their land, Beth becomes the one person standing between the scoundrel and millions of dollars. Only Hank can help her uncover the truth. Together they risk their lives exposing decades-old secrets and learn that everything is not as it seems in their rural Nebraska town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Avery Flynn: Romantic suspense novelist Avery Flynn’s first Dry Creek novel, Up a Dry Creek, was published in 2011. Her latest, A DRY CREEK BED, has just been released by Evernight Publishing.

Born and raised in western Nebraska, the setting of her fictional town of Dry Creek, she now lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area. There she continues to write and work at her day job while enjoying her own happily ever after with her husband, three children and two dogs. She dreams of one day having a floor-to-ceiling library, à la Beauty and the Beast, and is working to perfect the coffee IV drip. She is delighted to have her first two books published and to be hard at work on High and Dry Creek, her third Dry Creek novel.

Get a copy at Amazon.com - or come back tomorrow (Thursday, 1/19) for a GIVEAWAY of "A Dry Creek Bed"!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

REVIEW: "Angelfire" by Courtney Allison Moulton

2012-01-04T08:00:00.076-05:00

Why this book?: Well, you all know how I feel about angels. Like I could turn this book down when my library/work purchased a copy? Pft!

Type: Young Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Light Romance, Angels!, Reapers, kick-butt heroines, amnesia (sorta..), Series

About the book: First there are nightmares.

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt.

My Review: There were parts of this book that I really, really loved. And I don't know if the rest of the book was just so-so for me, or if what I liked out-shined the rest of it so much that it fell way behind. Ellie was alright for a main character, but I didn't really enjoy her around her friends so much. I liked her better when it was just her and Will, training or just talking. And I loved their relationship. Each time Ellie is reincarnated, even when she gets her memories back, she's a little different, and this time more so. I loved watching Will and Ellie reconnect. They know each other so well in some ways, Will knowing Ellie more since he has all his memories, but at the same time, they are both someone new to the other. And I really felt that, so in that regard, the author did a truly wonderful job.

I also very much enjoyed the Reapers. The idea of the reapers, the mythology between those that fight for heaven and hell.. all of that, was absolutely fantastic. Well thought out and incredibly interesting, I, just like Ellie, kept wanted to ask more and more questions. To learn more about the world Ellie was born into/thrown into. And I can't wait for the second book so I can hopefully get more answers and more experience. By now, my readers will know how I feel about any sort of mythology in my books (for those that don't - I LOVE IT!), and it was refreshing to see Sumerian mythology and history cropping up. I'm not saying Greek mythology is overdone, I'm still a huge fan after all, but seeing Sumerian is new and fresh, something different.

As for the rest of the story, I really didn't care to learn more about Ellie's birthday present (a car), her friends, or any of her actual teenager-y duties. And these are all things that are important to Ellie, so of course they play a large role in the story. I'm not sure if I thought they weren't as well done or as well developed, I just know they sort of gray-ed out in my memory, especially when compared to how truly intriguing the Reapers and Will were. I know Bastian was supposed to be the villain of the story, but I just wanted to learn more about him than anything. The person I truly hated was Ellie's father. I hope we learn he's actually a demon or something in the future books. I really want him to have a reason to be such a complete jerk.

Cover Lovin': I really like this cover. I think it fits the story perfectly, and I was pleased to see the cover model actually resemble what I thought the heroine would look like. And it's great to get a visual of the sword she uses.

Recommendation: Good for teens and adults alike. There is light romance in this book, so probably geared towards those that would enjoy it, but as I said, it is LIGHT... parents need not fear - they do nothing more than kiss. Darn (in my opinion).

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). I did enjoy this book. It's a quick read, and I didn't want to put it down for long. I loved the relationship between Ellie and Will, and that sense of them knowing each other, but it still being so new and different.

Book two in the Angelfire series, "Wings of the Wicked" will be released this month, January 31st, 2012! Have you read "Angelfire" and/or are looking forward to "Wings of the Wicked"? Share your thoughts in the comments! Want to pick up a copy! Click the titles above to go to Amazon.com! Click HERE for the author's website.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Where I pick my best/favorite books of 2011!!

2011-12-30T08:00:00.014-05:00

Hello all! I've been wanting to do this for a few years, so darnit, I'm doing it this year! I'm going to list my top books of this year.. in no particular order. I'll also link to my review on here or on Romance Reviews Today when applicable!

1. "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones. LOVED this one. I'm so mad I never thought to pick this one up before this year! Reviewed on my blog, check that out HERE.

2. "The Guardian" by Sherrilyn Kenyon. More than a few of Kenyon's recent Dark-Hunter novels were a little, shall we say.. formulaic. But "The Guardian" blew me away! I absolutely loved it, and it's now my second favorite Dark-Hunter novel! Reviewed on Romance Reviews Today, go HERE for that review!

3. "A Courtesan's Guide to Getting Your Man" by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan. One of those books where I very nearly cried at the end.. because I was just so darned happy! Reviewed on my blog, check it out HERE.

4. "Beg for Mercy" by Jami Alden. I was practically shaking the entire time I read this. I'm not usually one for suspense, but this book was FANTASTIC! Reviewed for Romance Reviews Today, but the review hasn't been archived on the new server yet, alas.

5. "The Restorer" by Amanda Stevens. This one was so good, I picked it as my next book club choice for the Positively Paranormal Book Club at my library. I can't wait to hear what our patrons think about it! And darn, this is another one that hasn't been archived. Hopefully soon!

6. "Credo's Hope" by Alison Holt. I'll admit it, I wasn't sure about this book when I agreed to review it. But the author really blew me away. I was lucky to review the sequel to this, "Credo's Legacy," as well, and it was just as good.. but since "Credo's Hope" was the first one, I chose that one to be on the list. Excited for the third in the series, which I hope will release soon! Reviewed on my blog, see my review HERE!

Well, those are my choices for the top books I've read this year. There were tons on my original list.. but I wanted to limit it to 6 or 7. And don't you dare ask me to pick an absolute favorite out of those, I could never! Ha.

So you've heard my choices, what are yours? Comment below with your list, or a link to your list!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~