Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

Review: The Foul Mouth and The Cat Killing Coyotes by Richard Raley

2012-05-27T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Foul Mouth and the Cat Killing Coyotes

Book #2 of the King Henry Tapes

by Richard Raley

Publisher: Self-Published (March 2012)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: eBook
Source: Review Request by Author
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

Summary
King Henry Price, honored and learned graduate of the Institution of Elements, has settled back into his normal life, running his Artificer shop, creating new designs, selling old ones, and ignoring the occasional explosion when testing goes haywire. He's been minding his own business...only when he happens across a bunch of bullies picking on a woman, he can't resist the opportunity to smash faces, can he?

King Henry never expected the bullies would be part of the Coyote Nation, he never expected that he could be starting a war, and he surely never expected one of his lost sisters would be on the other side.

Jordan Josephine Price...found you at last. ~ Goodreads

The Good
The World According to King Henry...
If any book is going to give someone insight on how my brain really works behind these innocent brown eyes and girly long hair, this is the book to do it. I have a weird kind of thought process that takes the most mundane things and either over analyzes them to the point of hilarity or makes them into something naughty and ridiculous. This is what King Henry does. He has a way of viewing the world through King Henry goggles and only a few could really understand the genius of it. Once you get pulled into the world of King Henry, there is no going back.

In a Nutshell...
King Henry was totally minding his own business, thinking about his Taco Bell burritos he was going to grub down on. It's not his fault that some thugs were harassing a girl--we all know King Henry hates bullies. So of course he beat the living crap out of them. It's also not his fault those thugs ended up being werecoyotes and under the protection of one of the most influential and dangerous people in the city, the head coyote Horatio Vega. Oh, and Henry's long lost sister JoJo just happens to be married to the jerk. So yeah, not King Henry's most shinning of moments. Things only get worse as the coyotes plot revenge upon King Henry, and now he is caught between starting a war with the Coyote Nation or saving his and his friends butts and leaving his sister to an unknown fate.

This Means War...
I love how King Henry threatens years of peace between the Mancers and the Coyote Nation in a matter of minutes. All for a sister that he's never had a close relationship with. I don't know if I should respect him or roll my eyes at his antics. He really doesn't have limits to the lengths he will go to save his sister and settle a score. Now that I respect. I too hate bullies, and watching someone make people accountable for their actions is extremely satisfying. I have a feeling this storyline is not over, and I can't wait to see how far Raley will go with it.

Young King Henry...
One of the reasons I love The King Henry Tapes series is the second plot line in which we get to see snippets of young King Henry at the Asylum (It's a school, people, not a mental institution. Get with the program.). This time we get to witness what the Mancer school was like and how Henry dealt with all the changes. The camping trip was pure brillance. It was both frightening and hilarious. King Henry's natural skepticism and suspicious nature made things even better as the mystery of whether the camping trip is a test by the school or a real disaster unravels.

King Henry's Subjects...
King Henry is the same smart-mouthed, sarcastic, painfully truthful guy we have all come to love. But it's his friends that I want to talk about. Tyson (or T-Bone as Henry likes to call him) often made me smile. Why he has stayed friends with King Henry, who is often purposefully raciest and insulting, I have no idea. Henry only does it to get a rise out of Tyson and it always works. Next is Pocket, Henry's childhood friend. I think he is the perfect counterpart for Henry: loyal and logical. He finds Henry hilarious--which is always a plus--and becomes more brave with Henry's support. Then we have Valentine. I can't wait to hear more about her. We know that King Henry eventually dates her but there is more to the story that Raley keeps dangling in front of our faces but wont elaborate on. It's both frustrating and exciting. I hope we will get to the good stuff between Val and Henry in the next book.

Creepy...
Now we get to the bad guy, Horatio Vega. This guy is Creepy with a capital C. He comes across reasonable and kind, but in his eyes you see your painful death. It's just freaky. I don't know what to really think about him just quite yet, but I know that when he first arrived on scene, I got the chills.

A Fresh Idea...
The plot was interesting and well thought out. The action was gritty and entertaining. I like how Henry analyzes everything during his fights. I was entertained the whole time. Raley has a different style of writing that really appeals to me. His concept is fresh and new. I have yet to read a book similar to this one. Even his ideas on supernatural creatures is unique. Raley has a handle on his craft that is very admirable.

The Bad
The parts in which we get into the technical analysis of magic or wereanimals gets a little confusing. I had to read them twice to fully understand what was being said and what everything meant.

Though this is a series, I still felt like this book was a little unfinished. I see why Raley is saving the good stuff for later, but I wished for a little more closure at the end. Maybe I am just being selfish because I always want more King Henry and his adventures. Write faster, Raley!!! ;)

The Snuggly
This is not a romantic book. We get glimpses of who young Henry dated while growing up and the girl who got away type stuff, but there is no romance or sex in this book. Okay, there is nudity (this is a book, people, it's not like you see anything, it's just slightly described) and references of a sexual nature.

Overall
Though I really loved The Foul Mouth and the Cat Killing Coyotes, I did like the first book a little more. But overall, this was a great sequel. I found the storyline entertaining and the new characters fascinating. I can't wait to see what Raley has in store for us next. A highly recommended read.

Excerpts
Smith flipped around so fast he almost poked me in my eye. “Who are you?”

A few of the kids groaned, Welf the loudest of them all. Standing next to Smith I felt smaller than I usually did but I still glared him down . . . or up. “King Henry Price,” I told him.

Smith winked at me. “Our late arrival.”

“I was busy.”

“Do you know that you’re the only Artificer attending this school, King Henry Price?” Smith asked me.

“So I’ve heard.”

“Guess it means I should give you the name Snowflake on account of being unique.”

I shook my head at him. “No . . . I think King Henry is name enough for anyone.”

Smith’s smile got all twisted up in a smirk. “King Henry and Pocket . . . and I don’t even have to do any work, it’s not fair, it’s not fair! So . . . King Henry . . . what’re your hobbies?”

I smirked back at him. “Fighting, stealing, f**king, and smoking . . . in that order.”

It started Smith into a laughing fit that ended up in a coughing fit. When he could breathe again he just shook his head. “I love this job . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“You better hope Valentine is dead, King Henry,” Miranda told me, “because if she’s alive and if I get to see her again, I’m talking her into burning a hole into you.”

“Kinky . . . you never know when you’re going to need another hole . . .”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“But,” Hope growled, her hands bony, whitened fists, “you wanted to stay here!”

“Only I’m not into barricades; it’s not the zombie apocalypse, is it? Which brings me to my next point: Welf’s a necromancer, Pocket’s a floromancer. Trees is what this fine son-of-a-bitch does. You see his stick?” I asked. “Look at that stick. Big ol’ stick. Bet you ask nicely he’d let you touch it.”

Pocket blushed crimson.

Thank the Mancy for Valentine, she’s the only one who laughed.

“Foul Mouth,” Welf kept hissing, “I’m going to hurt you.”

The Henery King Tapes:
Book #1: The Foul Mouth and the Fanged Lady
Book#2: The Foul Mouth and the Cat Killing Coyotes

Stacking The Shelves #1: I Finally Bought Books!

2012-05-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

Stacking The Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews, is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual.

This is my first Stacking The Shelves and I am super excited. I have been looking for a new meme to showcase the books I receive each week and this one looks like a nice fit.

I've bought/won/received too many books the past couple weeks to showcase them all today, so I will focus on the physical ones I bought. It has been three months since I have bought a physical book, so you can imagine how psyched I was when they arrived. It's like a wave of euphoria washed over me and all I wanted to do was dance and read, at the same time if possible. (After some awkward attempts, I have concluded reading and dancing should not be mixed)

So without further ado, here is the list, in order, of the books in the picture above:

Unseen (Outcast Season, Book 3) by Rachel Caine and Unbroken (Outcast Season, Book 4) by Rachel Caine. I have read the first two books of this series and LOVED them. These are the last two books of the series.

Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock, Book 4) by Faith Hunter. Just resuming a series I like.

The Darkest Seduction (Lords of the Underworld #9) by Gena Showalter. I, and many of the Lords of the Underworld fans, have been waiting for Paris's book. I don't think I can even express how excited I am to read this one.

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth. Divergent is one of the better books I have read this year. So it was only natural to want to read the next installment.

Obsidian (A Lux Novel) by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I have heard so many great things about this book, and I finally relented and bought it.

Delirium (Delirium #1) by Lauren Oliver. Again, the hype has finally gotten to me and I know I have to read this one to see why everyone is raving.

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, Book 6) by Richelle Mead, Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, Book 5) by Richelle Mead, Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4) by Richelle Mead, Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3) by Richelle Mead, Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) by Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) by Richelle Mead. One of my bestest blogger friends, Sarah, has finally convinced me to buy this series. When she tells me a certain YA series is full of awesomeness, I listen.

Cover Reveal: House Rules by Chloe Neill

2012-05-25T03:10:00.000-07:00

House Rules

Chicagoland Vampires #7

by Chloe Neill

Summary
In a city full of vampires, trouble never sleeps.

At the tender age of 27, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal —tested like never before.

It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.

Expected publication: February 2013 by NAL Penguin

Purchase: Book Depository

Yaaaay! I am so excited for this book to come out. Well, I guess I should wait to say that until I read Biting Cold, but I don't think I will ever stop reading the Chicagoland Vampires series, no matter what. I like this cover. The glimpse of Cadogan House is pretty cool...and eerie. Merit looks awesome in her leathers. It fits with the rest of the covers in the series.

What do you think? Are you totally into this cover? Do you read the series? Are you looking forward to this book?

Follow Friday #29 / TGIF #23

2012-05-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Question: Activity! Dreamcast your current read.

Answer: I am currently reading Cinder by Marissa Meyer. It's hard to pick a cast for this book because I haven't seen a description of Cinder yet and Prince Kai only has a vague description. But off the top of my head I'd say Cinder could be Mila Kunis and Prince Kai would be Ian Somerhalder.

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

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

Posts this week:
Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Top Ten Post & Giveaway: Top Ten Book Covers by Susan Roebuck (Hewhay Hall Blog Tour)
Guest Post & Giveaway: Why Do Writers Choose to Write Fantasy? by S.A. Hunter (Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour)
Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep
Cover Reveal & Excerpt: Blood Jewel by Georgia Cates

Question: Show Me Your Cover - What are some of the worst book covers, but hold some of the best stories inside? Don't be embarrassed, show us your cover!

Answer: I love the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews but her book covers are pretty bad. Magic Bites is the first book of the series and I can't get over how silly this cover looks. I don't think it's the worst ever but it did make me second guess reading the book to begin with. This series is my favorite Urban Fantasy series by far, so the covers no longer bother me.

The Divergent book cover also annoyed me. It makes me think of a hardcore fantasy book when it's really a YA Dystopian book. Again, not the worst, but it took me forever to finally pick this book up, and that was only after everyone was raving about it. But I loved the story so much that the cover doesn't bother me anymore.

Now, the WORST cover of a book in which I have read and loved is One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. This book and series (the Stephanie Plum series) is really good but the cover is the most boring, lackluster, horrible cover ever. You wouldn't even know what the book is about because pretty much there is no cover. Just bright colors. I like when a cover gives me an idea what the book is going to be about, but the One for the Money cover tells you nothing other than that it looks like it's from the 80's.

Pretty bad but not the worst cover.

I do not like this cover but still not the worst.

This is the WORST cover I have ever seen.

Cover Reveal & Excerpt: Blood Jewel by Georgia Cates

2012-05-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Blood Jewel

The Vampire Agape #2

by Georgia Cates

Summary
With the mystery of Chansey Leclaire and Curry Brennan’s connection solved, they are free to explore their newfound love for one another. Or so they thought...

When Marsala uses a witch and black magic to discover Curry’s whereabouts, he and Chansey are left with no choice. The newly engaged couple is forced to relocate away from their families at the new compound in Savannah, which causes some major changes in the plans for their upcoming wedding.

Relocating to Savannah might have saved Curry and Chansey from being discovered by Marsala, but it doesn’t stop her attempts to reach Curry or her efforts to harm Chansey through the use of black magic. As Marsala closes in, Curry faces the decision he never wanted to make. Will he keep Chansey human or condemn her to eternity as the thing he hates most?

As Curry waits for his hand to be forced, a newly turned vampire arrives at the Savannah compound in need of help. Not only is she a fledgeling in transition, she brings reports of escaping from a vampire cult still in possession of her sister, a human. Any attempt to save the captive human from a cult of vampires puts everyone in jeopardy. Can they risk entering a large cult to save one human being? And is so, how could they possibly do it successfully?

Love will grow. New mysteries will arise. A battle will ensue. A Blood Jewel will be found. - Goodreads

Expected publication: May 31st 2012 by Georgia Cates

I sat with my legs outstretched, leaning back on my palms and Chansey mimicked my position. She reached for her dress and scooted it up her thighs until she was satisfied with the amount of sun exposure on her legs. She enjoyed being in the sun and I wondered if she had given any thought as to how she would miss it if she became a vampire.

I didn’t want to think about it, so I shoved the thought aside and asked, “Are Gia and Lairah being overbearing about the wedding plans?”

“They have some intense ideas about our wedding,” she laughed. “I think I might want to elope.”

Now, she was talking my language. “You don’t have to convince me. I’ll take you to Vegas and make you my wife right now if it’s what you want.”

She quickly said, “Nope. I’m not ready to give up my dream of marrying you at the top of the open arm staircases.”

I wondered how I could be so lucky. How had I found enough favor with the gods to be given such a beautiful gift as Chansey?

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I didn’t even ask you if that was what you wanted.”

“I’ve already told you that I thought it was perfect,” I reminded her.

She appeared puzzled. “I don’t recall you telling me that.”

“We didn’t exactly discuss it. When we were at Rachel and Christian’s wedding reception, you told me how you pictured your wedding. We didn’t get far into the conversation because that jackass, Evan Finley, interrupted us.”

“Yes, that I remember well. I’m sorry his stupid insults stand out more in my mind than our conversation,” she apologized.

Just thinking about that jackass had my blood boiling, so I thought it was a great idea to steer the direction of the conversation back toward the wedding. “Have you thought about a date for our wedding?”

She smiled and her eyes lit up. “Yes, I’ve given it a lot of thought and I have a date in mind. How do you feel about a November wedding?”

No way! That was too long to wait. “I’d be fine with it if this was the end of October. I know four months isn’t forever, but it sure feels an eternity to me right now.”

“It’s not an eternity and four months barely gives me enough time to plan a small wedding. We haven't even told Granna and Granddaddy about our engagement yet. Have you forgotten that?”

I definitely had not forgotten that detail. “No, it hasn’t slipped my mind.”

She laughed and asked, “Are you worried about telling them?”

“I am a little nervous about it. I’ve never asked to marry someone before,” I admitted.

She leaned over and bumped her shoulder against mine. “Well, that’s good to know, but we’re telling them we’re getting married, not asking permission.”

“I know we don’t have to have their permission. That’s not what I need. It’s their blessing I want. I may be three times as old as Grady, but I still want to be respectful,” I said.

She looked at me and rested her chin against her shoulder as she laughed. “That is so bizarre to me.”

It didn’t sound like a compliment. “Does my age bother you?”

“No, I don’t think of you as your actual age. You just seem like a 26 year-old to me.” She sat up and leaned closer to brush her lips across mine. “A very robust 26 year-old.”

Her kiss and proximity stirred her Agape scent, leaving me with an intense urgency to be closer to her. I reached for her, pulling her against my chest a little too quickly. I heard her gasp and then I saw the smile across her face, proving the sudden catch in her breath resulted from delight instead of fear.

She deepened our kiss as she rolled to her back, pulling me on top of her to rest between her bent knees. This was our first private moment since we arrived at the compound and it caused me to be overly enthusiastic. I knew I shouldn’t, but I placed my hand behind one of her knees and pulled her leg to wrap around my waist as I pressed my body into hers. A sigh escaped her lips and she pulled her other leg up around my waist. The thoughts of what I wanted to do to her returned me to my senses and she recognized the look she had become so well acquainted with when things between us had gone a little too far.

She groaned because she knew what was coming next and locked her legs around my waist. “Don’t you dare stop because you can not keep doing this to me. It’s totally unfair!”

I reached for her legs to coax them off of me. “Move the wedding up and I’ll be more than glad to become totally fair. In fact, I’m quite anxious to be totally fair.”

A thoughtful look came across her face and she said, “October. It’s the earliest I can pull it off even with help from Gia and Lairah.”

I tugged on her bottom lip with my teeth. “That’s still three months away,” I complained.

A pouty look came over her face and the little vixen I loved tried to use her power of persuasion on me just like Sebastian said she would. “I know a way to make the next three months pass much faster.”

“You’re name shouldn’t be Chansey. It should be Risky because you are playing with a fire you highly underestimate,” I assured her.

She dramatically huffed. “Promises, promises. I’m not sure I’ll ever find out if I underestimate you or not.”

Since I easily talked her into moving the date a month earlier, I thought I might push my luck a little further. “Looks like you won’t discover the truth for months, unless you want to move the date closer.” I took my hand and placed it on her thigh, moving it slowly under her dress as I said, “Come on, let’s do it.” I allowed my words linger as I gazed into her eyes and then I added, “In August.”

When I began to laugh, she forcibly slapped my hand away from under her dress to show her unhappiness with my joke. “I can wait if you can. Maybe even until the end of December. I’ve heard Christmas weddings are beautiful.”

It was clear I had pushed my luck too far with her when she showed me how she could beat me at my own game, so I conceded. “I’ll take the October wedding.”

I am digging this cover. It has a dreamy and dark feel to it. It's spooky but also eloquent with the whole white dress and crown the girl is wearing. Then we have the cemetery looking gates and haunted forest in the background. Totally my type of cover, as you can probably tell by my dark, eerie blog design. I saw this cover and instantly wanted to know more about this book. How does everyone else feel about this book cover and excerpt?

Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

2012-05-22T04:11:00.000-07:00

Dark Frost

Book #3 of the Mythos Academy Series

by Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington (May 29th, 2012)
Genre: Urban Fantasy, YA
Format: eARC (336 pages)
Source: Review Request from Author
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)

Summary
I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life. ~ Goodreads

The Good
Best by Far...
Though I have yet to review the first two books of this series, I have read them, and I can tell you right now that this series gets better and better with each passing book. Dark Frost is the best installment by far. The action, drama, and danger laced into every page took my breath away.

Chaos...
Gwen has an impossible task ahead of her: Find the Helheim Dagger her mother stashed away before the Reapers of Chaos find it. The problem is it could be anywhere, and the Reapers are closing in. Even her psychometry (knowing the history of an object by touch) isn't helping her pinpoint the dagger that her mother gave her life to keep hidden. Gwen's life is only getting harder as the bad guys start attacking the people she cares for, her best friend starts ignoring her, and the boy that she loves decides he can't handle what her powers will reveal about his past.

Never Give Up...
I have to admit, Touch of Frost--the first book of the series--didn't really grab me. I wasn't 100% sure I wanted to continue the series, but Jennifer Estep gave me the ARC of Dark Frost so I wanted to make sure to read the rest of the series. I am so happy I did. I loved Kiss of Frost and was blown away by this book. Now I am all antsy for the next book to come out.

Cry Baby...
This book really went all out with its no holds barred type of action. Big things happened that will change the rest of the series, and the repercussions are going to be astronomical. Only two book have ever made me cry (The Host and Kushiels Dart) and Dark Frost actually made me tear up a little. With me being the emotional robot that I am, I have to give Estep props for getting me all misty eyed.

Gwen...
Dark Frost picks up a couple weeks after Kiss of Frost. Gwen and all her friends are coming back to Mythos Academy after winter break. And catastrophe greets them like a slap on the face, a deadly slap on the face. This particular incident devastates Gwen. It all becomes too real for her. Her schoolmates are actually dying and it's on her shoulders (as Nike's warrior) to stop the Reapers from finding the Helheim Dagger which will release the evil Loki, the God of Chaos. I think I would have crumbled with the kind of pressure Gwen is under. And to make it worse, her best friend Daphne is dealing with her own problems and is taking it out on Gwen. While maybe not-maybe so boyfriend Logan has decided that her powers are too much for him to handle. Alone, Gwen does her best to keep going, to keep fighting. This was definitely the roughest and saddest plot so far. Nothing seems to go right for Gwen. But it was necessary for the growth of our little protagonist. She is maturing as a character, which I think will be vital for the books to come.

The Rest of the Crew...
Daphne actually pissed me off in this book. I get why she acted the way she did, but it hurt my heart to watch Gwen take the brunt of her wrath. Then we have Logan. I've never wanted to strangle someone and root for them at the same time. He is so frustrating. And hot, can't forget hot. I actually fell in love with Oliver (Logan's best friend) in this book. I want to see more of him because he seems a little less emotionally sporadic than Daphne and Logan.

Dark Times...
We dive deeper into the Mythological world this time around. Bad guys start to reveal themselves while future heroes start to grow into their powers and roles. The action was nonstop, which made this book by far the most fun to read. It was also a darker, grittier, and more violent read. Expect mystery, danger, and sexual tension like no other. By the end, I wanted to cry in my pillow and pull my hair out from the stress inducing suspense. For sure the best book of the series.

The Bad
I wouldn't say there was really anything bad about this book. I just found some parts annoying. I am not going to mention them because they really are insignificant, but suffice it to say my critical mind kept saying "Come on, that's just silly" on a few things.

The Snuggly
OMG, finally we are getting somewhere with Gwen and Logan. I really disliked the back and forth relationship between them. I am not sure why Estep was stalling their forward momentum but that seems to be changing. We have been waiting for three books so it was nice to see that Gwen and Logan might just have a chance. But what happened throughout the novel was simply heartbreaking. Estep really knows how to mess with my emotions...and I had so few to start with. ;) Overall this is a clean book when it comes to the naughty. Just some kissing.

Overall
Squeeeee! I just wanted to jump up and down after reading this book. I actually had to tweet Estep after finishing it because I wanted to share my joy. She is one of the few authors who responds to her fans on a regular bases. Dark Frost had everything I wanted. A mysterious and suspense filled plot that wouldn't let me take a breath. The character growth, romance, and heartache were all well done. After the kind of ending Estep gave us in this novel, I can't wait for the next book. A highly recommended read.

Excerpts

What I saw on the porch made my blood run cold. The Psychic Readings Here sign beside the front door barely clung to the side of the house, like someone had taken a crowbar and tried to pry it off. Even worse was the fact that the door had been kicked in, the frame splintered in at least three places.

The inside of the house was a disaster. Everything that could be overturned was, from the curio cabinet that displayed Grandma’s good china to the blue sofa to the entertainment center that held the TV. Everything was smashed, stomped, and broken, like someone had taken great glee in destroying every single thing he could.

Something crunched in the kitchen. Oliver and I stopped where we were in the hallway—listening. A series of rustles and scuffles sounded, telling us that someone was moving around in the kitchen. Oliver put a hand on my shoulder, silently asking me if I was okay. I nodded, drew in a breath, and eased forward, peering into the room.

The sight there stunned me.

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

“Did Logan just give that girl an autograph?” Daphne asked, drumming her fingers on top of the table and making pink sparks of magic shoot out everywhere.

Carson hesitated. “That’s what it looks like.”

The girl gave Logan another smile before giggling again and rushing off. She hurried over to the table where her own friends were sitting and showed them the piece of paper. This time, they all erupted in a fit of giggles.

“Geez,” I muttered. “it’s a wonder they all don’t just go over there, take off their shirts, and ask him to sign their bras.”

Mythos Academy Series:
Book #1: Touch of Frost
Book #2: Kiss of Frost
Book #3: Dark Frost
Book #4: Crimson Frost (2013)

Guest Post & Giveaway: Why Do Writers Choose to Write Fantasy? by S.A. Hunter (Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour)

2012-05-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour, S.A. Hunter has provided us with a very interesting guest post about why writers choose to write fantasy. Also, Hunter was kind enough to let me giveaway one ebook of Elanraigh: The Vow and a Signed Bookmark. This international giveaway is at the bottom of this post.

Why Do Writers Choose to Write Fantasy?

by S.A. Hunter

Fantasy is what I love to read—so writing what I loved to read was a natural. When I started reading fantasy in the eighties( C.J. Cherryh, Elizabeth Moon, for example), I soon discovered that fantasy was one genre in which I could be sure to find strong female protagonists.

Some readers of this blog may not be aware that there was a time when it was rare to find strong female characters in Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Author Eileen Kernaghan remembers:

“…later (late 60’s) I discovered Phyllis Gotlieb’s lovely “Sunburst”, with its teen-aged female protagonist, and Joanna Russ’s hard-bitten professional assassin Alyx…what a thrill to stumble across them, and what possibilities they opened up for women writers!”

Eileen has gone on to write eight novels, poetry as well as non-fiction and she has received multiple awards for her Science Fiction and Fantasy.

I enjoy world creation, even if it’s only an “alternate earth” such as the setting in my book, Elanraigh: The Vow. You write your own laws and set your own boundaries. I’m very drawn to portraying beasts of power, such as the grey wolf of Elanraigh, as thinking, intelligent creatures that can, at will, communicate with a chosen human. (This undoubtedly stems from the many times I’ve been convinced my cat was staring at me with great emotive intent…feed me, pet me, provide me warmth, I possess the keyboard…type around me…). I love the unexpected that can always happen in a fantasy—be it a sentient forest or reptilian humanoids.

I asked other speculative fiction writers what drew themto the fantasy genre. Results poured in from my writers group and blog buddies, and not too surprisingly, they shared much in common.

One author writes, “I like to write fantasy because I’m not restricted to real life situations and physics.”

This is interesting to consider because even in the writer’s created world, its beings will have emotions based on the writer’s own spectrum of knowledge acquired through the writer’s experience. Our human reality and our dreams will shape our fantasies, and of course, this is why our readers can connect with and care about the characters and their story.

Author Dina Rae writes paranormal using the mythology of differing religions: voodoo, witchcraft, angels, demons, etc. Whereas author Linda Hays-Gibbs prefers to weave her “what-ifs” in a specific historical era. Other authors tell me they are interested in exploring the human spectrum of morals and values…there just happen to be past-humans (i.e.: ghosts) in the picture.

I feel that in today’s mechanistic society we are so often watchers who feel impotent to change or challenge the world around us. In our fantasies we can create heroes who through courage, or just plain perseverance, will right wrongs and make a difference. All Fantasy and Paranormal authors crave the freedom to set their own parameters, and then love to have their readers join them there.

www.sandrahunter.blogspot.ca

Sandy Hunter

(S. A. Hunter)

Elanraigh: The Vow

Blog Tour

sandyh118@shaw.ca

Author Bio

Bio – S. A. Hunter

Author – Elanraigh: The Vow

Sandra attended school in Victoria, B.C. and later graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in English Literature. After her daughter came along, she chose to work close to home and indulge her love of animals by working for an amiable, if thrifty, veterinarian. She believes in promoting the right of all creatures to live the existence that Nature intended. This value is strongly evoked in her novel.

Sandra’s always lived at the edges of ocean and forest, so it came naturally to have a sentient forest as a major character in Elanraigh: The Vow. She loves kayaking the scenic Island coastline, swimming and walking. She has a ready sense of humor and an optimistic outlook (a good thing when you’re a writer).

Her publications include Dark Fantasy short stories in pro magazines and she is currently working on a sequel to Elanraigh: The Vow.

Summary
Only Thera of Allenholme hears the voice of forest-mind…and heeds its warning . Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh forest-mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream; black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life. As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way? ~ Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Don't forget to enter the International Giveaway below for a chance to win one eBook of Elanraigh: The Vow and a Signed Bookmark. Details are on the Rafflecopter.

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S.A. Hunter is also running her own giveaway:

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Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

2012-05-17T06:35:00.001-07:00

Divergent

Book #1 of the Divergent Trilogy

by Veronica Roth

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (February 2012)
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Format: Hardcover (487 pages)
Source: Personal Library (Won in a Giveaway)
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)

Summary
In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Add on Goodreads

The Good
Read Hard and Put Away Wet...
Okay, I have been sitting her for 10 minutes and I still don't know what to write. I guess it is fitting since Divergent left me speechless. How do I write a review about a book like this? A book that revitalized me, a book that made me bite my nails for the first time in 3 years, a book that ripped out my heart and made me want more. My face actually hurts from the emotions I went through. I've been caught smiling like an idiot, crying like a wuss, laughing to near hysteria, and waving my hands around from nervousness all while reading Divergent. I swear I found a new wrinkle between my eyes because I read this book so HARD. You ever do that? Reading a book hard is when you squeeze the cover from anxiety, rip the pages in your haste to see what happens next, and having to actually get up and stand while you finish a scene because of your nervous energy. Oh yeah, everyone in my household knows that if I am reading standing up then that book is the BOMB! (Don't laugh because I used the word Bomb, I am totally bringing it back.)

Choose a Faction...
Beatrice lives in a world where one of five virtues dictates the rest of a person's life. Once someone turns 16, they must decide which faction (virtue) they will live with the rest of their lives. You have a choice between Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent), but once a faction is chosen, there is no turning back. That faction is your family, your only family.

Beatrice loves her family, but she struggles with the choice of staying with them within a faction that no longer suits her or going with the faction that has fascinated and called to her most of her life. Finally gaining the courage, she leaves her family, joins a new faction, and renames herself Tris. But the hard part is not over yet. Tris must now survive the horrifying training process, cruel initiates, and political intrigue that might just bring destruction upon the faction system.

Tris...
I don't think this book would have been the same without Tris. It is her that takes us on a journey of self-discovery, the concept of virtues, and the trials one must go through to be accepted. Her struggles between being selfless, brave, and intelligent at the same time were captivating. It's hard for her to be just one, but she knows showing signs of too many virtues can get her killed. She was so meek and small in the beginning that her surviving the training seemed impossible. However, she was like a blooming flower in the sun, the more she was exposed to the life of her new faction, the more she became stronger, resilient, and flourished in her new surroundings. I think any of us could look up to Tris (not literally, that girl is short as all get-out). She never gave up no matter how much she was hurting or felt unwanted.

I Am Number Four...
Four is the kind of person you'll love and hate through most of the novel. He's a bit mysterious, somewhat caring, and a whole lot intimidating. He goes through these moods. One day he's as sweet as pie, then the next he is nicking your ear with a knife (true story). But underneath his mood swings, he has a heart that beats for Tris. His goal is to help her survive the new cutthroat world she has been thrust into, even if that means being her enemy from time to time. I liked finding out about Four in short bursts of emotion. His background and his true motives stay a mystery for a good chunk of the novel. Of course, this made him all the more interesting.

It's the End of the World as We Know It...
The concept behind Divergent is undeniably frightening and intriguing at the same time. In this dystopian world, war has been eradicated by simply cultivating the best virtues that any human being can poses. But in Divergent they have separated these traits into factions that live apart. The problem is, acting in accordance to one virtue does not guarantee a peaceful society. Eliminating people's innate kindness or mercy to be brave or doing away with a conscious self-worth to be solely selfless leaves people open to attack on many fronts. What makes us human is the ability to experience all that life has to offer; to be brave when it's necessary or honest when it's appropriate. To focus on only one part of yourself can warp your ideals into something dangerous.

That is what's happening in the world of Divergent. Factions are being corrupted. And if the one faction meant to protect you is unraveling, what do you do? Maybe, just maybe, Tris and her uniqueness will be able to fix what has taken place and find a way to triumph over the darkness in the world. I guess we shall see as the trilogy goes on.

A Punch in the Gut...
I was shocked by the direction this book took. We do not get a happy ending--at least not yet. The initiation Tris goes through was nerve-racking on its own, and then Roth decides to punch us in the gut by bringing the world down around our ears. It was a nice surprise because it only made me want to read book #2, Insurgent, even more. The plot was well structured, the pacing perfect, and the suspense was phenomenal. I was terrified for Tris most of the time. I felt her emotions as she struggled to become what her faction required. The fear of her fellow cruel initiates was a constant throughout the book. The betrayals against Tris hit me just as hard as her. The astronomical changes in her left me out of breath and craving more. Every multi-dimensional character--the bad guys, the good guys, and the in-betweeners--contributed to this amazing story. Roth's ability to write such outstanding fiction at her young age gives me hope as a young writer myself.

The Bad
The only thing that bugged me was when Tris forgave people that I think were unforgivable. There was some major backstabbing in the book, and no matter what happened to those people, I would've never forgiven them. But maybe I'm just pigheaded.

The Snuggly
The romance is pretty minor. It takes quite some time for Tris and Four to get together. I like the fact that Tris is not very attractive but Four likes her because of her strength and determination. It gave their relationship a solid foundation because they grew to respect each other first. I'd say the book is pretty clean except for some unwanted sexual touching.

Overall
I actually have Insurgent on the way to my house right now. I couldn't wait to read book#2, and since it took me so long to read Divergent, I didn't have to wait but a couple of days. Roth did an amazing job of taking captivating characters and a kickass and compassionate heroine, throwing them into a terrifying world, and adding just enough political corruption, action, and drama to produce one hell of a read. This is not the kind of book you can pass up. Any adult or young adult out there will fall in love with Divergent. It's a must read!

Excerpt
I hear the crash of water against rocks. We are near the chasm--we must be above it, given the volume of the sound. I press my lips together to keep from screaming. If we are above the chasm, I know what they intend to do to me.

"Lift her up, c'mon."

I thrash, and their rough skin grates against mine, but I know it's useless. I scream too, knowing that no one can hear me here.

I will survive until tomorrow, I will.

The hands push me around and up and slam my spine into something hard and cold. Judging by its width and curvature, it is a metal railing. It is the metal railing, the one that overlooks the chasm. My breaths wheeze and mist touches the back of my neck. The hands force my back to arch over the railing. My feet leave the ground, and my attackers are the only thing keeping me from falling into the water.

Follow Friday #28 / TGIF #22

2012-05-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

Question: Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

Answer: I have actually answered this question before on another meme. My answer has not changed. I would love to spend time in the Temecula Valley Wine Country in California. Especially at South Coast Winery's villas. I have been to the winery before but never stayed in a villa or experienced the many amenities they have to offer. I am all about getting my wine drinking on while laying out in the sun and catching up with all my reading. It is a very peaceful place and the smell of the vineyards and flowers are to die for.

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

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

Blog Posts for the Week:

Review: Firecracker by Charles R. Verhey

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Cover Reveal: Last Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter and Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Review: Spectral by Shannon Duffy (Blog Tour)

Guest Post and Giveaway: Writing Nooks by Meradeth Houston (Colors Like Memories Blog Tour)

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Question: A Book Blogger is Born - What made you decide to start your very own book blog?

Answer: I started book blogging for two reasons. One: I love reading books. I had read about 300 books in two years before I thought about creating my blog. The problem was I didn't have anyone to talk to about my reading obsession. None of my friends or family are interested in reading fiction. So I started looking up book bloggers and talking to them about the books I had been reading. Then I realized I had a lot to say and wanted to share my love and knowledge of fiction with everyone else. Book blogging was the answer. Two: I am also a writer. I wanted to immerse myself in the book blogging community so I would know what was in store for me when I was the author asking for reviews. Book blogging has taught me a lot about being a reader and a writer.

If you follow me, I will follow you back. Just let me know in your comment.

Guest Post & Giveaway: Writing Nooks by Meradeth Houston (Colors Like Memories Blog Tour)

2012-05-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

I'd like to introduce Meradeth Houston, author of the YA Paranormal novel Colors Like Memories. Today she has provided us with an interesting guest post about writing/reading nooks. This guest post will make you think: what would your dream reading/writing nook look like? I know I have a couple ideas in my head. And don't forget to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win Colors Like Memories.

Writing Nooks

by Meradeth Houston

Thanks so much for hosting me today! Before I forget, I have a contest running for my blog tour—all commenter’s are entered into a drawing for two copies of my book, and one person will win a $25 giftcard to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. There are more details on my home blog, if you want to check it out!

Today I thought I’d talk a little bit about reading and writing habits. I’m currently sitting in a noisy airport, wishing my iPod battery hadn’t died. Needless to say, I’m dreaming of some quiet little writing nook with a big comfy chair and my own music playing nice and loud. The more writers and readers I get to know, the more I hear about everyone’s habits when it comes to either hobby. Everyone has their own preferences for what they like when it comes to settling down with a good book, or a pen and paper.

Personally, my perfect, quiet little room would have a giant peg board for posting inspiration pictures, and a couch I could curl up on. A fireplace with throws and pillows couldn’t hurt either. (If I’m going to dream it up, might as well dream big!) Granted, I also like to switch things up and go to a favorite café to settle down in the white-noise of other’s conversations, sipping something tasty. Either way, music is a must, and if I’m in the mood for a splurge, I will pick up some chocolaty snacks (Pokey Sticks are my current weapon of choice in this area).

Other writers I know can only work in absolute silence. Others need to be alone. Still others can’t have the distraction of food or drink. Some are lucky enough to actually have a little writing nook in their backyard (have you seen these? They are awesome!). For as many readers and writers there are, there are just as many preferences for sitting down and being literary. Of course, reality, and the idea are often miles apart, and we all make do. Even if it means a noisy airport boarding area.

This begs the question: what would your perfect reading and/or writing spot look like? Inquiring minds would love to hear!

Summary

Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen. ~ Goodreads

Release date: May 11th 2012 from MuseItUp Publishing.

Links:

www.MeradethHouston.com

meradethhouston.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/#!/MeradethHouston

www.goodreads.com/book/show/13030422-colors-like-memories

http://www.facebook.com/ColorsLikeMemories

http://pinterest.com/merbear95695/

http://youtu.be/HFRNJ-Yn7So (teaser trailer)

http://youtu.be/7lUpK68bYFI (book trailer)

A bit about Meradeth Houston:

Meradeth’s never been a big fan of talking about herself, but if you really want to know, here are some random tidbits about her: ~She’s a Northern California girl. This generally means she talks too fast and uses "like" a lot.

~When she’s not writing, she’s sequencing dead people’s DNA. For fun!

~She’s been writing since she was 11 years old. It's her hobby, her passion, and she’s so happy to get to share her work!

~If she could have a super-power, it would totally be flying. Which is a little strange, because she’s terrified of heights.

Don't forget to enter the International Giveaway below. One person will win the eBook Color Like Memories. Details are on the Rafflecopter.

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Review: Spectral by Shannon Duffy (Blog Tour)

2012-05-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

Spectral

by Shannon Duffy

Publisher: Tribute Books (April 2012)
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Format: eBook (242 pages)
Source: Publisher (Blog Tour)
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

Summary
Convinced she’s a part of the witness protection program, sixteen-year-old Jewel Rose is shuffled around the globe with her family like a pack of traveling gypsies. After arriving at lucky home twenty-seven, she stumbles upon a mysterious boy with magical powers claiming to be her guardian . . . and warning of imminent danger. Despite the obvious sparks between them, Jewel discovers a relationship is forbidden, and the more she learns about dark, brooding Roman, she begins to question who she can even believe—the family who raised her, or the supposed sworn protector who claims they’ve been lying to her all along.

As she struggles to uncover who her family has really been running from, she is forced to hide her birthmark that reveals who she is. With new realities surfacing, unexplained powers appearing, and two tempting boys vying for her heart, Jewel battles to learn who she can trust in an ever growing sea of lies, hoping she’ll make it through her seventeenth birthday alive. ~Goodreads

The Good
Okay, this review is going to be difficult. Spectral is the kind of book that hits you with surprise after surprise. With so many twists, I don't know what I can talk about without revealing too much. I'll try not to divulge any more than what's in the summary.

A Special Jewel...
Jewel and her family have been running since Jewel's birth. Staying in different cities across the world for no more than a few months. But why they have to pack up at a minutes notice and run from unknown pursuers, Jewel has no idea. Then one day Jewel overhears something she shouldn't have. According to her family, she is something special, and when you're special, others either want your powers or your death. But the biggest question is who can she trust: the family she has known all her life, the mysterious stranger who says he will protector her no matter what, or her new friends. One things for sure, people are out to get her. Some want to save her, as others want her dead. And no one will tell her why.

Fiction Euphoria...
This book blew me away. I wasn't expecting the level of depth this story had. The plot was simply excellent. It was original and had so many twists and turns my head spun in fiction euphoria. I am still shocked by the lengths this novel went to entertain me. The suspense was nonstop and the mystery was superb.

A Rare Jewel...
Jewel was a great main character. She had a love for her brother that no one could sever. During her dangerous adventures, she always thought about her brother, wanting to be there with him, wanting to protect him. She also grew a lot during the novel. Despite the lies and betrayals that almost consumed her, she stayed strong. She kept moving forward regardless of her fear and did what she thought was best.

Two Sides of a Triangle...
I had a hard time finding faults in either love interest. Chase was like the perfect guy: chivalrous, strong, playful, and genuine. He really liked Jewel and wasn't afraid to put himself out there. Then there was Roman: sexy, mysterious, and forbidden. We never quite knew who he was and which side he was on, but Jewel wanted to trust him. But trusting him put her in some tough situations.

A Great Plot...
I think Spectral has one of the better plots I have seen this year. I was in the dark for a lot of the book, not knowing who Jewel should trust, or what kind of people were after her. I like that. I like being genuinely surprised by the twists in a book. The revelations about her family and who were the bad guys left me dumbfounded and shocked to my very core. This book is about Jewel finding out who she really is and what she is capable of. And though the ending was pretty much wrapped up, I would easily read book #2 if there ever is one.

The Bad
The beginning of the book was a little slow. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but it took some time to finally get to the meat of the story.

Jewel was a little too gullible and trusting. If she wasn't lucky, she would have been dead years ago. She just happened to trust the right people (sometimes), even though those people didn't seem trustworthy at all. This is Jewel: Hey person I've known for 2 days. Oh, you say I should trust you and not my family? I should leave with you right now to an unknown place? Sure, let me grab my bag.

The Snuggly
There is romance in this book. Not as much as an average paranormal romance but enough that it was a subplot. We get a little bit of a love triangle between Jewel, Chase, and Roman. And though Roman's motives are 100% sketchy, he was just downright intriguing. The times that Jewel and Roman are together were magical. There was nothing overly sexual in this book except for a one scene that dealt with unwanted sexual touching.

Overall
The plot was very well done, the story held my interest, and the characters drew me in to begin with. I had fun finding out the truth about Jewel's past and future at the same time she was. It made it feel like I was a part of the story. Duffy knows what she is doing when it comes to writing an enthralling YA paranormal story. A highly recommended read.

Excerpt
We danced against each other, the music and neon lighting transforming our bodies into fluid rhythm. His toned chest through the soft fabric of his t-shirt and the gentle sway of his hips against mine was intoxicating.

“True?” His voice rose at the end of my name softly as he tilted my head up towards him.

I willed my eyes to stay focused on his as my heart rate climbed. “Yeah?” I asked, secretly hoping he would ask to kiss me, my eyes beginning to linger on his lips. I couldn’t tell if it was just the alcohol, or his total hotness that was making me swoon. Probably a combination of both.

“You’re not safe here.”

It took a second. I stared at his lips, watching the words form, then slowly they connected in my brain.

Wait. What?

Spectral Website
Shannon Duffy's Facebook
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Shannon Duffy's Website
Shannon Duffy's Blog
Shannon Duffy's GoodReads
Tribute Books Website
Tribute Books Facebook
Tribute Books Twitter
Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook

Shannon Duffy's Bio:

Shannon Duffy writes young adult and middle grade fiction. She grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada and now lives in Ontario, Canada. She is the mom of one boy, Gabriel, her angel. She loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions-shopping. She is the author of the young adult paranormal romance, SPECTRAL. Her upcoming middle grade fantasy novel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is scheduled for a January 2013 release.

Cover Reveal: Last Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter and Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

2012-05-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Last Kiss Goodnight

Otherworld Assassin #1

by Gena Showalter

Summary
The breathtaking first novel in New York Times best selling author Gena Showalter’s new paranormal romance series, Otherworld Assassins, featuring a black ops agent who is captured and enslaved…and the beautiful deaf girl who holds the key to his salvation…

THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…

Black ops agent Solomon Judah awakens caged and bound in a twisted zoo where otherworlders are the main attraction. Vika Lukas, the owner’s daughter, is tasked with Solo’s care and feeding. The monster inside him yearns to kill her on sight, even though she holds the key to his escape. But the human side of him realizes the beautiful deaf girl is more than she seems—she’s his.

THE ULTIMATE PRICE…

Vika endures the captives’ taunts and loathing, hoping to keep them alive even if she can’t free them. Only, Solo is different—he protects her. But as hostility turns to forbidden romance, his feelings for her will be used against him…and he’ll be put to a killer test. ~ Goodreads

Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

Expected publication: November 27th 2012 by Pocket Books

Purchase: Amazon / Book Depository

Shadow's Claim

Dacians #1

by Kresley Cole

Summary
He won’t be denied

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people, striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

She’s bound to another

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A battle for her body and soul

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever-pitch... ~ Goodreads

Paperback, 448 pages

Expected publication: November 27th 2012 by Pocket Books

Purchase: Amazon / Book Depository

EEEEE! I am so excited for both these books to come out. But I am jump-up-and-down, clap-like-an-idiot excited for Last Kiss Goodnight. The concept is intriguing and we all know how well Showalter writes sexy romances. And that cover! The black and white with the red dress as a set-off color. It is just amazing.

Then we have Shadow's Claim, a spin-off series from Cole's Immortal After Dark series. I love every book in the IAD series, so I know this is going to be a good book, too. The cover is pretty cool overall. The guy's all manly-man, which is yummy. The explosion is a little cliche, but hey, it works.

So, what do you think? Do you read any books from these authors? Are these new series something you would read? How do you like the covers?

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

2012-05-13T01:14:00.001-07:00

The Immortal Rules

Book #1 of Blood of Eden Series

by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen (April 2012)
Genre: YA, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Paranormal
Format: eARC (504 pages)
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 stars)

Summary
In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

The Good
How to be a Vampire...
This is a story about one girl's journey after her world is turned upside down. Her life as a scavenger, to her life as a vampire in training, to her life as a wandering vampire who hides amongst a group of humans, hoping, maybe, to be a part of the human world once again. Instead, she finds peace with what she is, monster and all.

Life's a Bitch, Then You Die...
Allie hates vampires. They have turned the world into a place of fear and despair. Unless you willingly donate your blood to the blood suckers, you are stuck in the Fringe. A place where you live on the streets and scavenge for food just to stay alive. Not really a life at all. But then Allie is attacked by rabids (crazed, mindless vampires) and the vampire Kanin gives her a choice: Die or become what she hates the most. Survival mode kicks in and Allie chooses a life as a vampire. But while Kanin is teaching Allie how to be a vampire--how to feed, fight, and survive--Kanin's past comes back to bite them both on the butt. Now Allie is on her own, traveling the deserted roads outside the city walls. When she comes upon a group of humans searching for a place that is void of vampires and their disease, she decides to tag along, in disguise as a human. And that's when things truly start going downhill.

A New Kind of Monster...
Though Allie's life as a human at the beginning of the book wasn't the most interesting way to start off the story, I was pulled into Kagawa's world very easily once Allie became a vampire. At first, I got a whole Daybreakers feel. Though The Immortal Rules idea was very similar to the Daybreakers movie, the more I read, the more I realized that this book was actually very unique for its genre. This wasn't another YA vampire book. The focus wasn't the world Kagawa created or the bad guys within it, this was a story about Allie's internal and physical struggle with what she has become. Accepting that she is a monster, but embracing the kind of monster she chooses to be. One that still cares for human life while finding peace with the idea that humans are also her food. She may be a monster, people may fear her, but Allie finds that vampirism actually makes her more human than she was to begin with. She has always been strong, brave, and tough as nails. But Allie's new life has put things into perspective. Now she has the understanding how precious life is, even if it's an undead one. Adding in her new strength and fighting skills, Allie can do almost anything she wants, and she chooses to help others, to fight, and to live.

Zeke...
I think each and every character in this book was integral in making this novel so dynamic. The characterization was amazing. The badies were very bad and the goodies were good. But even the good people were confused or a little misguided on what good really is. Zeke was probably the second most important character. His relationship with Allie goes through so many ups and downs, especially since Allie is parading as a human. But eventually her vampiric tendencies start to show. Zeke has been taught that every vampire is a demon who will kill you without thought. Normally, very true, but we know Allie is not that way...Zeke doesn't. So as you can imagine, that whole situation was fascinating to observe.

The Narrative...
I liked the distinct separation of Allie's ever-changing path. How she went through huge changes in such short amounts of time, and how this confusing journey affects who she is and who she becomes. If it wasn't for Kagawa's awesome ability at narrative, I don't think The Immortal Rules would have worked, especially since the goals within the plot were pretty nonexistent most of the time. Kagawa also knows how to write kick-ass fighting scenes. The action was so intense that it gave me the chills. The horror, suspense, and character maturity was well above young adult levels, which I think was a great decision on Kagawa's part. This book will appeal to both young adults and adults. It has the essence of both.

Surprise!!!
The mystery was very well done. I never guessed the shocking secrets Kagawa revealed throughout the novel. It's rare that a book can surprise me but The Immortal Rules did. I read this book with a constant sense of excitement. Excitement for Allie's growth, for the amazing fight scenes, for the smidgen of romance, and for the possibilities of book #2--which this book sets up nicely at the end. I wasn't expecting the dark, gritty, and emotional story that I got. Boy, do I like being surprised. :)

The Bad
The plot and storyline was very vague. There was never any goal Allie was working towards, until the end. I just couldn't grasp the direction of this book. Allie pretty much wanders aimlessly for much of the book.

I found the beginning to be boring. There was a lot of background and description that was dumped on us from the get-go and I really just wanted to skip it.

Kagawa wasn't very aware of her character's surroundings when writing. For example, Allie would be covered in dirt and blood, and her cloths would be shredded but when she is trying to blend in, no one seems to notice her state of disarray.

The Snuggly
There is definitely a budding romance in the making, but don't expect a lot of romance in this book. Allie and Zeke are kind of a couple destined to fail, but I would love for them to make it. This is a clean book when it comes to romance.

Overall
Maybe the plot was a bit vague, but I can't deny that this book pulled me in and never let go. I was expecting another YA vampire story. I got so much more. I was actually going to give this 4 stars but while I was writing this review, I realized that the more time that went by, the more I loved The Immortal Rules. I think the writer in me kept yelling at me, saying the technical parts of this book weren't so great. It doesn't follow the rules. Screw the rules! Kagawa's storytelling abilities are just too amazing to discount. A highly recommended read.

Excerpts
"If you run, you'll be dead before you take three steps."

I stopped, heart pounding. I believed him. Gripping my knife, I turned around, staring at him over the bodies of the dead, waiting for his next move.

There was no doubt in my mind. I knew what I faced, what stared at me across the tunnel, so still he might've been a statue. I was down here, alone, with a vampire. And there was no one who could help me.
~~~~~~~~~~

I swung the light around, taking a breath to shout a warning to the others.

Something pale and terrible rose from the grass behind Rat, all limbs and claws and shining teeth. Before he knew what was happening, it yanked him off his feet. I didn't even have time to shout before he vanished into the weeds and darkness with a yelp.

Then he began to scream.

Review: Firecracker by Charles R. Verhey

2012-05-11T01:34:00.000-07:00

Firecracker

by Charles R. Verhey

Publisher: Self-Published (2012)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Paperback (340 pages)
Source: Review Request by Author
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5 stars)

Summary
Firecracker is a fun contemporary fantasy thriller about a young woman named Aideen Cassidy, who has to be careful with her emotions because when she explodes, things literally explode! Being a pyrokinetic - able to start fires with her mind - isn't an easy thing to live with, especially when trying to find work in the modern world.

Luck or fate lands her a job with a group of eccentric psychics who use their gifts to help local authorities with difficult cases. They can see the future, sense feelings, read minds - useful traits. All Aideen can do is blow things up. But there' something special about her that has caught the attention of the most powerful psychic in the world, and there are secrets about the organization even the psychics don't know. Plans have been put into motion, secrets are unraveling, lives are in danger, and the group soon find themselves caught in a conspiracy of shadowy monsters, government spies, and ancient legends that date back 600 years.

All Aideen wanted was to fit in. Now the lives of all her new friends must rely on her talents for fiery destruction. ~ Goodreads

The Good
A Good Direction...
I started this book not knowing really what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to find great characterization, an interesting story, and a spunky heroine. I really like the direction this book went because it both satisfied me and raised some questions I hope will be answered in a second book.

On Fire...
Aideen Cassidy, or Cass, has an awesome power that she unfortunately hasn't quite learned to control. That's why she can't find a job. The rumors have spread and people just don't like being set on fire, so they all stay clear of Cass and her pyrokinetic ability. But the head of PsychTeam (a group of psychics who use their powers to help local authorities catch bad guys) has taken an interest in Cass, so they give her a chance. But Cass starts having second thoughts as things go from bad to worse in a matter of days. A little girl has been kidnapped and will die if Cass can't find her in time and an ancient evil has reappeared and is targeting all of Cass's friends. Can Cass learn to control her powers enough to save the ones she cares about?

A Firecracker...
I think Cass was an all-around quirky character. She was uncoordinated and emotionally unstable. She cried at the drop of a hat and embarrassed herself more times than I can count. But I think this mess of a person actually made Firecracker fun to read. She was far from perfect and wore her uncool badge proudly. Her appearance also cracked me up. I could easily imagine her red hair poking out every which way and her freaky red-orange eyes almost always full of tears, and the insistent red flush she adorned when she was embarrassed. I pictured her a bit geeky and awkward, which fit her personality. I liked that she was ruled by her emotions, constantly setting things on fire because of her Ninja fast highs and lows. We meet her when she is at an all time low-point in her life and as the novel went on, she grew in strength, determination, and bravery.

Yin and Yang...
Agent Li was an interesting yin to Cass's yang. He was the cool cat: onfident, gorgeous (and he knows it), and kick-ass. But he does not like Cass, well, not at first. He sees her as a menace to society and PsychTeam and would like nothing better than for her to quit. But he never knew how bull-headed one girl could be. He slowly comes to admire her for she has strength that not many possess, strength that might actually save his life.

Shocking...
The tension and suspense was very well done. I felt all the emotions I was suppose to as the bad guys went after the characters I grew to care about. The climax was very big and satisfying. I was shocked by some of the events, which is always a nice change to the easily predictable plots I have been reading lately.

A Complex World...
I like the world Verhey created, a world I think has some true potential in growing into a great series. The backstory on how these psychics came to be a part of society was especially intriguing. It's a complex world that we only get to see a glimpse of though. I can only hope another book is on the way because I was left with many questions by the end.

The Bad
I found that this book had a lot of lulls in it, times where I could easily put the book down. I was expecting more action.

The description and backstory were way overdone at times. Made it a bit boring. Again, I just wanted to get to the action.

One thing I couldn't stand was the POV shifts. It's something you rarely see in traditionally published books because it's hard to do seamlessly. And by seamlessly, I mean I should not even notice it is happening till after the fact. I noticed the "head-hopping" right away.

There was a part of the story in which a character asked someone who just betrayed him if they would still be friends when they saw each other again. If you saw what this betrayer did, I think you would agree that you wouldn't be asking if you could still be friends, you would be beating his face off. This character's reaction just irked me and I had to walk away from the book to calm down.

The Snuggly
Not much romance in this book. Cass has a major crush on Li and he kind of plays around with her, but that's it. But this is no YA book either. Expect profanity, which I thought added to the feel of the book very nicely.

Overall
By the end, I was very glad I read this book. The characters really drew me in, even if their actions were a little frustrating at times. When the action was present, it was very well written and the slow to come revelations were worth the wait. A recommended read for urban fantasy lovers.

Quotes
"He's really not so bad, once you get to know him." There was something about Neda's sophisticated British accent that was so appealing. She probably could have said I'm going to shit my pants now, and to Cass's ears it would have sounded regal.
~~~~~~~~~

He headed to the bar to pour himself a Crown Royal on the rocks. "Want one?"

"No." Actually, yes, but "I can't. I'm not allowed to drink."

"Personal rule?"

"Federal rule, by order of the United States Fire Safety Commission."
~~~~~~~~~

Any man who could instantaneously trigger her laughter g-spot was someone she wanted to get to know better

Follow Friday #27 / TGIF #21

2012-05-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

This Week's Question: This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother's Day. In celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

Answer: Okay, I really can't think of any book that has a strong mother/child relationship. Most of the books I read are Paranormal, which don't focus on family. But I did think of one book I read where I thought that the mother/son relationship was pretty strong. In the paranormal romance book Acheron by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Acheron's mother (Apollymi) is actually trapped in the underworld and can only leave if her son shows up to get her out (it's part of a curse). But if Acheron ever enters the underworld, then pretty much the world as we know it would end. So Acheron has never met his mother physically, only in magical projections. And his mother isn't even mad that her son won't free her from her dimensional prison. She loves that her son cares for the people on Earth and that he would even forgo a full relationship with his own mother to save everyone else. I like that they still love each other even though they can never meet in person. That their love is unconditional.

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

TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

This Week's Posts:

500 Follower Giveaway

Review: Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

Cover Reveal: Elanraigh: The Vow by S.A. Hunter

Blogspiration #11: Old Friends

Review: White Witch by Trish Milburn

This Week's Question: Supporting Characters - We tend to gush over those main characters the most, but what about those supporting roles? Who are some of your favorites?

Answer: There is one series in which I actually like the supporting characters more than the main character. In Kim Harrison's The Hollows series, I find that I really enjoy reading about Jenks, Ivy, and Trent more than Rachel. But to be more precise, my favorite supporting characters of all time are Mallory and Catcher from the Chicagoland Vampires series by Chloe Neill (though I don't like the direction Mallory's character is going in the last book), Vlad and Ian from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost, and George from the BOFFO series by MaryJanice Davidson. I love all of their sense of humors. They all add great comic relief to each book they are in.

Now, there are also romantic leads that I guess you can consider as supporting characters since they are not the main character. I love, Love, LOVE Curran from the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews, Jericho Barrons from the Fever series by Karen Moning, and Bones from the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. Curran and Barrons are the kind of characters that scare me a little bit. I feel like if I was in a room with them I wouldn't be sure if they wanted to kill me or kiss me. Bones is just an all-around perfect guy. He's funny, protective, and sexy as hell.

Click images for more info about the book/series:

500 Followers Giveaway

2012-05-09T00:04:00.001-07:00

I am super excited to be celebrating Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance's 500 followers (through GFC). This blog has been up for 7 months and none of it would have been possible without all my lovely readers. Thank you so much for sticking with me and for actually finding my ramblings useful. :D

When I first started out blogging, I didn't know how difficult, how time consuming, how FREAKIN' AWESOME it would be. Every little hiccup was so worth the friends I have made among the book blogging community. Thank you all again for being the kindest, smartest, most loving people I have ever met.

So, we are here to win some stuff, right? For my 500 Followers Giveaway I am giving away the Paranormal Romance paperback Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian and a $15 Starbucks gift card. Just click the link to check out my Review of Kiss of Midnight. This giveaway is US ONLY. Sorry international followers, I still appreciate you. Come back for my many international giveaways I often host. So if you want to win these two awesome prizes, then just fill out the rafflecopter below.

Summary
He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

2012-05-08T00:03:00.001-07:00

Kiss of Midnight

Book #1 of the Midnight Breed Series

by Lara Adrian

Publisher: Dell (May 2007)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback (402 pages)
Source: Personal Library (Purchased)
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5 stars)

I will be holding a giveaway of this paperback book tomorrow in celebration of my 500 followers.

The Good
A New Kind of Vampire History...
Though it took me a little while to really get into this story, once I did, I was glued. The action was fast and rough and the suspense was spine-tingling. I loved the different take on vampires. Though we don't learn too much of the vampire history in this book, we do get glimpses and it's simply fascinating.

My Summary...
After witnessing a vicious murder by crazed men with fangs, Gabrielle does the only thing she can do, goes to the police. The problem is, the police don't believe her and now some very bad people have become aware of what she saw. Eliminating her is the only option. But Lucan has other plans. Once he caught her natural jasmine scent, he was hooked. He will stop at nothing to protect this woman, his woman. But his secrets are many. Can he really trust himself around the woman that calls to his very soul?

Breed Warriors...
I loved the concept of Breed Warriors. A few brave vampires standing together and fighting to protect the city from Rogues, vampires gone crazed with bloodlust. Though I have seen the concept before in other series, I liked it enough to enjoy another authors take on it. I also loved the idea that these Breed Warriors have undeniable loyalty to their breedmates. They cherish them and hold them above all others. A great romantic concept that made me smile.

Drawn In...
I really enjoyed how drawn Lucan was to Gabrielle. His need for her made me want to lock Gabrielle in a closet and stand in her place. Lucan was rough and downright sexy, and I wouldn't mind if he was drawn to me like that. Lucan is a leader of his people, but his struggles with his growing hunger make for some intense moments.

Gabrielle has a troubled past, but she has worked hard to excel in her career and make a name for herself. She is smart and independent, but she is lonely. Lucan fills that hole in her heart. That's why I liked them as a couple, they both needed one another. Together they can forget their pasts and their struggles and just find peace with each other.

A Little Spice...
The plot was really well done. The twists and turns never stopped, and the bad guys were super evil. I shivered just thinking of what they would do if I was at their mercy. Their complete control over their captures is stomach turning. The other characters were all very interesting. Each one with a different personality that added a little spice. I think Adrian did a really good job for the start of this series.

The Bad
Kiss of Midnight might be too dark for some people. Don't expect an urban fantasy with a kick-ass, spunky heroine. This is a full-out dark paranormal romance. There are not a lot of happy moments, except for those smokin' scenes between Lucan and Gabrielle.

Also, if you have read J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series or Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series, then you will for sure see some resemblance between the series. I have to say, I prefer the above mentioned series to this one, but that does not mean I didn't like this book. I just clicked better with the first books of the two series above. But this can also go two ways: If you like the BDB or Dark-Hunter series then you will probably like the Midnight Breed series as well.

Lastly, Lucan wasn't my favorite male lead. I didn't mind that he was serious--we can't have all lead characters be ridiculously funny or charming--but his self-pity was a little annoying. His back and forth between wanting Gabrielle and pushing her away got a little much by the end.

The Snuggly
Kiss of Midnight is definitely a hot romance book. Adrian knows how to write some awesome sex scenes. I also liked the the romance between Gabrielle and Lucan. But, as I mentioned before, Lucan got on my nerves sometimes. He was a little too "woe is me." Get over it, boy. Gabrielle, though a little too available if you ask me, was an all around cool chick. She got Lucan back on track, and I loved seeing them together.

Overall
Since I have kept up with the Midnight Breed series, I wanted to add that I grew to like this series a lot. Some characters were just more fun to read about than others. When it comes to Kiss of Midnight I had a good time reading it overall. I liked the change of pace. This was a much darker paranormal romance than I have read in while. A recommended read. A highly recommended series.

Excerpt
They were crouched down on their hands and knees, pawing at something, tearing at it. In the scant light from the street, Gabrielle glimpsed a tattered scrap of fabric lying near the carnage. It was the punker's tank top, shredded and stained.

Gabriells's finger, poised over the Redial button of her cell phone, came down silently onto the tiny key. There was a quiet trill on the other end, then the police dispatcher's voice shattered the night like cannon fire.

"911. What is your emergency?"

One of the bikers swung his head around at the sudden disturbance. Feral, hate-filled eyes pinned Gabrielle like daggers where she stood. His face was bloody, slick with gore. And his teeth! They were sharp like an animal's--not teeth at all, but fangs that bared to her as he opened his mouth and hissed a terrible-sounding foreign word.

Midnight Breed Series:
Book #1: Kiss of Midnight
Book #2: Kiss of Crimson
Book #3: Midnight Awakening
Book #4: Midnight Rising
Book #5: Veil of Midnight
Book #6: Ashes of Midnight
Book #7: Shades of Midnight
Book #8: Taken by Midnight
Book #9: Deeper Than Midnight
Book #10: Darker After Midnight

Cover Reveal: Elanraigh: The Vow by S.A. Hunter

2012-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Elanraigh: The Vow

by S.A. Hunter

Summary
Only Thera of Allenholme hears the voice of forest-mind…and heeds its warning . Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh forest-mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream; black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life.

As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way? ~ Goodreads

Y.A./Adult Fantasy, Elanraigh: The Vow is set in a quasi-medieval, alternate-earth.

216 pages

Published February 7th 2012 by Eternal Press

Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

So in honor of the Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour (Starting May 14th) I am a part of, I am presenting everyone with the fabulous cover of S.A. Hunter's YA/Adult Fantasy novel, Elanraigh: The Vow. I have to admit, I am totally digging this cover. I am really partial to green, so the whole coloring really works for me. Catches the eye right away. Then the girl is both pretty and creepy. Makes me want crack open this book now.

What does everyone think of this cover? Does it make you want to read this new YA-ish fantasy novel?

Also check out the Author's Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogspiration #11: Old Friends

2012-05-06T00:05:00.000-07:00

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

I saw this picture and knew I had to share it with everyone. I one hundred percent feel this way every time I read a new book or reread an old one. These fictional characters are like old friends that I get to spend time with anytime I want. I get attached to them and am even sad when I don't "see" them for a little while. That's the main reason I reread some books, I need my friend fix.

Does this ring true for you? Do the fictional characters you read about become your friends?

Just for giggles, I had to share this video. I am obsessed with it. It gets me every time. I'm talking tears streaming down face funny right here:

Review: White Witch by Trish Milburn

2012-05-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

White Witch

Book #1 of the Coven Series

by Trish Milburn

Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (March 2012)
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Pages: 188 (ebook) (ARC)
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5 stars)

Summary
Witchcraft Is Her Family’s Business.
No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It.

“Jax” Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her—the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world.

All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax’s barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she’s attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He’s a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night.

Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax’s only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he’s ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her.

The Good
Love or Hate...
I've noticed that many people either love this book or just feel so-so about it. I can understand the split verdict because there is nothing hugely unique or amazing about White Witch, but I for one had a good time reading it. It was well written, the characters drew me into the story, and the suspense was good. I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.

Playing Human...
Jax has committed one of the worst offenses according to the covens, she has abandoned her family and ran from her duties as a black witch. Now there is a death warrant on her witchy little head. Jax knows exactly what kind of death she will receive from her evil father, the very man who controls her old coven. And the fear of the pain alone keeps her powers in check, for if she uses too much, the covens can trace it back to her hiding spot. And Jax is just finding a place to fit in within her new sanctuary. A new best friend and a scrumptious boyfriend. Sure, her boyfriend might be a hunter who kills her kind, but nobody is perfect. But as secrets are revealed, new alliances are made, and old and new evils make themselves known, Jax will have to fight for her life, and her friends' lives. Maybe playing human was a bad idea after all.

Innate Evil...and Love
Jax was a perfect mix of feistiness, tenderness, and strength. Her life has not been easy. She has witnessed so much suffering at such a young age that anyone would cringe from her memories. Her coven only believes in one kind of witch, a black one. But Jax struggles with the innate evilness every witch is supposed to foster. Things only get harder when she meets Keller, a hunter. Though she knows he would kill her if he found out about her true identity, she can't help but feel an instant attraction towards him. Their romance was a little rushed but I still liked the young lover feel to this couple. Keller obviously felt the same way about Jax, but only through the encouragement from friends do they finally give in.

Toni's the WoMan...
Keller came off a little standoffish, but you grow to admire his determination. But the character that I loved the most was Toni, Jax's friend and Keller's cousin. She had a great sense of humor and a great sense of taste. She didn't follow the norm, she did what she wanted. She played in a band and wore hilarious shirts that only a few people would understand. She was the kind of friend every girl wants. But I did feel like she lost a little of herself when Egan came into the picture. I am not going to say too much about him since it would ruin the surprise, but overall he was an enjoyable part of the team. I just didn't like Toni's response to him. I figured her for a stronger personality.

Witchery...
I thought the story and plot were very well done. It kept a good pace and the added mystery layered in really amped up the storyline. Revelations came at perfect times, just enough for us to still ask questions but feel satisfied with what we just learned. The bad guys were absolutely horrible and creepy. The suspense was spot on; I felt like a was taken on a thrill ride of witchery, teen angst, and evil.

The Bad
As many of you may know, I always find reading present tense a little awkward. So as you can guess, it took some time getting use to it in White Witch. The plot and storyline were not very original, but it was different enough that it didn't bother me that much.

I felt like the big action scene at the end fell a little flat. It was simply too short. The whole book was leading up to this point and it was over in a couple of pages. Not very dramatic or frightening.

The Snuggly
Romance and sex wise this is a pretty clean book. A lot of heavy kissing. I liked Jax and Keller together. They had a bumpy beginning, and the whole shy love thing was adorable. Jax and Keller were irresistibly drawn to each other, and I enjoyed reading about their relationship.

Overall
I am going to keep an eye out for Milburn. This is the first book I've read of hers and she did a good job. The story, though not terribly original, was well plotted and fun to read. I didn't get bored. I read White Witch in a day and had a smile on my face at the end. And speaking of the ending, there was definitely some good foreshadowing for future books. The end was left open-ended, which I didn't mind since I felt like I got my money's worth (yes, I got it for free, but you know what I mean). A recommended read.

Excerpt
I gasp when I feel cold hit my scalp. It takes a moment for me to realize Stacy has upended a milkshake on the top of my head.

"Oh, look at that. All her glorious blond hair doesn't look so glorious anymore." Stacy and her followers laugh. "Don't mess with me, witch."

I surge to my feet, anger at how Stacy has filled "witch" with venom propelling me, the blackness of my kind rising inside me until even my vision turns dark. It breathes like a distinct entity inside me. As I catch Stacy's gaze, a gust of wind sweeps papercups and napkins from the outdoor tables, sending them sailing down the street. It makes my chocolate-soaked hair stir around me.

Follow Friday #26 / TGIF #20

2012-05-03T18:57:00.003-07:00

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

This Week's Question: What is one thing you wish you could tell your favorite author?

Answer: I would love to tell Ilona Andrews (a married couple who writes together) that they actually changed my life. Because of their wonderful books in the Kate Daniels series, I finally realized my purpose in life. I want to be a writer. I am a writer. And it's mostly because of how obsessed I got with the Kate Daniels series. I read these books and realized that this is what I wanted to do all day. Create worlds and characters that readers become attached to. I think these authors are the best writers out there. I start reading their books and I can't put them down until the end. The characterization is amazing and the grittiness is at a level I don't see very often in urban fantasy books I've read lately. Thank you Ilona Andrews for showing me what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

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TGIF at GReads is a Friday Feature hosted by Ginger at GReadsBooks.com! The point of TGIF is to re-cap on this week’s posts and answer the question of the week!

Weely Recap:

Cover Reveal: Fury's Kiss by Karen Chance

Review: Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell

Guest Post & Giveaway: A Recipe for Cross-Genre Fantasy by Don Martinez

Cover Reveal: The Iron Legends and The Lost Prince by Julie Kawaga

In My Mailbox #6: I'm on a Roll

Review: Talisman of El by Alecia Stone

Book Excerpt: Whisper of Memory by Brinda Berry

This Week's Question: Literary Vacations - If you could take a trip this summer to any place within a fictional book, where would you go? Tell us about your summer dream vacation!

Answer: Okay, I never said I was sane. Now that we got that out of the way, my literary vacation is somewhere a little scary, violent, but also amazingly beautiful. And I think the good far outweighs the bad. My literary fiction for the summer would be New York City in the world of the Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh. Why, you may ask. Because I am OBSESSED with the idea of meeting angels. But these angels have nothing to do with religion. These angels (and archangels) pretty much rule the world. They are terrifying, violent, and freaking breathtaking. After reading every book in this series so far, I can't deny that the angels of Singh's world fascinate me beyond common sense. I would risk the rougher side of this world just to be able to see angels fly in the city skyline. And if one of them actually flew with me in his arms (*coughs, Blue Bell, coughs*), well, that's just a bonus. A big, heart-stopping, best moment of my life bonus. Plus, I always wanted to visit New York City, so it's a two birds with one stone kind of scenario.

Cover Reveal: Fury's Kiss by Karen Chance

2012-05-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

Fury's Kiss

Dorina Basarab #3
A Midnight's Daughter Novel

by Karen Chance

Summary
Dorina Basarab is a dhampir—half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. But so far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing...

Dory is used to fighting hard and nasty. So when she wakes up in a strange scientific lab with a strange man standing over her, her first instinct is to take his head off. Luckily, the man is actually the master vampire Louis-Cesare, so he’s not an easy kill.

It turns out that Dory had been working with a Vampire Senate task force on the smuggling of magical items and weaponry out of Faerie when she was captured and brought to the lab. But when Louis-Cesare rescues her, she has no memory of what happened to her.

To find out what was done to her—and who is behind it—Dory will have to face off with fallen angels, the maddest of mad scientists, and a new breed of vampires that are far worse than undead… ~ Goodreads

Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages

Expected publication: October 2nd 2012 by Penguin

Pre-order: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

I love Chance's Dorina Basarab series. Even better than her Cassie Palmer series. And I always enjoy her book covers. I like the city backgrounds and the models are very pretty. They also both resemble the heroine's in the books. Fury's Kiss is no different. It has a great urban background and dark, spooky colors. The model and clothing are perfect. Though, there was one odd thing that came to mind when I first glimpsed this cover. At first glance it looks like the gun is smoking, and I thought Wow, that gun must be hot against her head. Okay, yeah, it's just a picture, but if a gun was really discharged, you would not want to place it on your skin. But I think the smoke is actually smog like stuff. Let's hope, because I like when things make sense, even in fiction.

So, what does everyone think? You loving this cover? Do you read this series? Is that gun smoke or just fog (it's driving me crazy)?

Review: Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell

2012-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Bonds of Fenris

by S.J. Bell

Publisher: Self-Published (May 7, 2012)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 226 (ebook) (ARC)
Source: Review Request by Author
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5 stars)

Summary
Talia Thornwood's life ended one year ago, when she became a werewolf. She survived the attack, and the horrifying transformation a month later, but the life she has now is barely worth living. She lurks about in a filthy, run-down house, with too many werewolves crammed into too small a space. Every day is a struggle against the stress of human contact, the romantic prodding of her obnoxious packmate Pierce, and the gnawing hunger for flesh in her soul.

She's all but resigned herself to a dreary existence on the margins of society when she meets Corwin. Corwin is a werewolf like none other. He walks among humans as if it was nothing, and can keep his wolf under control even when the moon is full. Talia's mind is suddenly opened to the possibilities before her, and the realization of how little she really knows about lycanthropy.

Corwin claims that he can teach her how to cope as he does, even how to transcend her affliction. But it will not be easy. It is a hard education that requires her to question everything her pack taught her, and confront exactly what she has become. And, more amazingly, what she never stopped being. ~ Goodreads

The Good
Psychological Warfare...
I was very surprised by the amount of depth Bonds of Fenris had. This is not your average werewolf novel. The action is not the focus. This novel is about the downside of being a werewolf. The aggression, the loneliness, and the inability to be around humans without wanting to eat them. Then we get into the psychological warfare a werewolf must go through to overcome the vicious part of the their animal. It really opened my mind to a new type of werewolf, one that must learn the real meaning of being an animal and a human.

It's a Hard Knock Life...
Talia's life made my heart ache. She was so lost. Her soul sad and wanting. Desperately wanting her old life back. Just the idea of being able to be around her family without wanting to maul them or being around her old friends without wanting to eat them helps Talia keep living every day. Even though the life she has now is incomplete, a half life of sorts. And her fellow werewolves only make life less worth living. The constant bickering, fights, desperation, and unwanted sexual advances. Living in a filthy place of hostility has almost crushed Talia's spirit. Until she meets Corwin.

On the Brink...
Corwin has found a way to live a real life but is reluctant to teach Talia his way of living. The trial she must go through to learn to live with peace in her heart is one that can very well kill her. But Talia feels that if she continues down the path she is on, she is already as good as dead. It may sound a little dramatic but once you read Talia's story, I think you will wholeheartedly agree. Fearing that you will one day eat someone by accident is no way to live. And though she loves her pack, for they are the ones who taught her at least a little control, she can't help but feel like they also bring her closer to the brink of insanity.

What a Character...
I was actually enthralled by each person in this novel. Talia was sad but optimistic. She was a great combination of weak and strong. Corwin was thoughtful and patient. He had a gentleness about him that made you love him. Pierce was immature because of his age but surprisingly admirable for his ability to bring the pack together. Bo wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but he had a huge heart. Leroy was the peacemaker. His goal was to bring the pack closer together and live in harmony. Marlene thought she knew best, but even she had problems she needed to work out. Each character had their own unique personalities that drew me further into their stories.

Human, Animal, or Werewolf?
Bonds of Fenris is a well written book. It has a lay back feel to it. But the theme of self-discovery is very powerful. Bell takes us into a world were werewolves can't just learn control, they must dig deeper into what they really are. Are they humans, animals, or werewolves?

The Bad
The story was a little up and down, so sometimes I had my eyes glued to the pages, and other times I could easily put it down. I felt like it took a long time to get to the part were Corwin and Talia work together to control her beast. I would have liked to get to that section of the plot a little earlier. It's the best part after all.

Though the psychological depth of the book was very interesting and original, I wish there was a little more action on a consistent bases. We get action in the beginning then the end, and that's about it.

Sometimes the philosophical part of the book got a bit much for me. It made sense, but I did roll my eyes once or twice.

The Snuggly
We do get a little romance but it's not a romance novel by any means. We get to witness a relationship between Talia and Corwin grow. The sex is more behind the scenes, so it is a pretty mild book when it comes to sex and romance. I liked that Talia and Corwin did not fall into insta-love. They took their time, made sure they were meant for each other.

Overall
Are you looking for a different kind of werewolf book? One that expands on the psychological and philosophical parts of being half wolf and half human? Then this book is for you. Bell has developed great characters that anyone could sympathize with. I enjoyed reading Bond of Fernis. It surprised me, and that's hard to do with the many paranormal books out there these days. A recommended read.

Excerpts
The truly awful thing about full-moon nights is, they feel good. It’s almost like a drug. Yes, you’ll wake up the next morning feeling rotten about yourself for enjoying the blood, the murder, the loss of your humanity. But in the moment it’s euphoric, an indescribable sensation of freedom and power. You run free, king of the wild lands, all creatures within it submissive or powerless before your fast legs and sharp, killing teeth. No need for any thought but pure instinct. No need to do anything but just be.

Not the first time, mind you. The first time is pure, unadulterated hell.
~~~~~~~

As we trotted off, noses alert for any possible prey, Pierce nudged up against me, apparently not ready to give up. I ignored him, even when he progressed to licking my cheek apologetically. My disdain only made him more insistent. He nudged me again, more forcefully, as if chastising me for insulting him. When he nudged me a third time, almost hard enough to shove me off balance, I’d had enough. I turned with a growl and snapped at him with my jaws. He snapped back at me, indignant and angry. We barked at each other for a bit, and then I started nipping at the tip of his nose, indicating that he should back of now. Instead, Pierce lost his temper and lunged at me, sinking his teeth into my side.
~~~~~~~
Our lives are what we make them, Talia. We have the things that we do because we work for them, or because we fail to work for something better. I mean, take your own example. You want to be in love, so you’re kissing frogs like mad to find it.

Guest Post & Giveaway: A Recipe For Cross-Genre Fantasy by Don A. Martinez

2012-04-30T00:20:00.000-07:00

I am very excited for today's post. Don Martinez has provided us with an interesting topic. He really delves deep on the best way to write an appealing cross-genre fantasy novel. And just to spice things up, he is letting me give away his 3 ebook series Phantom Squadron, which includes The Advance Guard, Dinétah Dragon, and The Insurgent's Journal. So don't forget to enter this international giveaway at the bottom of this post.

A Recipe For Cross-Genre Fantasy

by Don A. Martinez

There’s any number of things that come to mind when one thinks about the term “cross-genre.” What genres exactly are crossed? How is it done so that it makes sense? (Will it make sense, even?)

It strikes me that a lot of cross-genre fiction that I’ve seen in recent years has been primarily in the fantasy genre. This blog’s focus on “urban fantasy” is a good example. What is urban fantasy, anyway, other than a combination of fantasy tropes with contemporary (“urban”) settings? When it’s done right, you have greatness: Harry Potter or Percy Jackson come to mind. When it’s done wrong, it turns into a morass: I recently read a book co-authored by Piers Anthony, The Gutbucket Quest, which tries to combine Southern blues with fantasy, and while it’s an interesting base concept, the execution was horrible due to the other author’s obsession with his male lead’s sexual prowess.

Cross-genre is the best description I have for the Phantom Squadron series, mainly because it involves facets of at least six different types of fiction. There’s small elements of science fiction, military fiction, and espionage, as well as large chunks of fantasy, and even unexpected kinds of writing that you don’t typically see in fantasy. Things like memoir and dystopian fiction.

Ah yes, dystopia, another genre which lends itself nicely to cross-genre writing. Lord knows, anyone slightly involved in the political process probably has an idea about what could have happened if a losing candidate had indeed won, or if certain political philosophies took over from common sense. Again, there seems to be a gulf between the good and the bad. It’s a delicate balance that has to take place.

So how does one create good cross-genre fantasy? It’s very much like cooking. Or chemistry. Or any kind of activity where you have to blend multiple un-like things to create something cohesive.

Above all, the first thing you start with is the bowl … or in the case of writing, the setting. High-fantasy world, or modern era? Tech level? Existence of magic? Deities? These are all things that have to be considered when world-building. In my books, it’s a modern society very similar to the real world: all I’m doing is expanding on a hidden underside to it.

Start tossing in characters. Maybe you have a rugged hero type. Need some comic relief? Throw in a couple sidekicks. Make an antagonist that fits the environment. Want some romantic tension? Bring in a lover. One thing you should remember with characters, though, is that no matter what race they belong to, your characters need to exude some sort of human qualities: after all, it’s through them that you reader is going to learn the particulars of the story.

Situations are next. If we were actually cooking, the characters would be the dry ingredients; the situations are the liquid ones. Give your characters a quest. Even in the modern era, quests can still make sense: read up on your Joseph Campbell and he’ll tell you that almost every story comes down to a hero’s journey. Maybe your characters have to overcome oppression. Maybe they need to find an artifact to save the world. Throw it in the bowl along with your characters.

Mix and bake with a strong dose of conflict. Just like you wouldn’t want to eat a recipe raw (unless it’s chocolate chip cookie dough), you don’t want to read a story that has no conflict. Things have to happen. The story needs an arc, and your characters need disagreement. I wouldn’t even limit this to hero vs. villain conflict, either; some of my favorite Phantom Squadron scenes have involved protagonists having disagreements that either threatened or strengthened the relationship between them.

How have I used this recipe? I’ve taken characters from several different influences, not the least of which being fantasy RPG’s and anime. I’ve brought them into a military environment. I’ve grounded them with real-life concerns and personalities; there isn’t a combat-monster to be found among any of my writing. I’ve brewed up some serious conflict, ranging from minor disagreements and jealousy to Armageddon-level events.

Above all, if you follow this method, you have to remember that it comes down to your characters’ likeability whether readers follow your writing or put it down and walk away. It’ll sink or swim on that factor alone. Think about what makes the people around you interesting; your friends, your adversaries, your family. Think about what makes their personalities compelling, and use that information to inform your own characters.

After all, nothing is better than fantasy firmly grounded in reality.

About the Phantom Squadron Series:
A multiple-book work crossing different styles and eras, the Phantom Squadron series tells a story of action, love, and honor, through the eyes of heroes whose flaws make them human. Follow the story of this special Black Ops team, designated CIBO #A13, and its descendants into the future.

The Advance Guard tells the tale of the team’s formation, collecting four fantasy archetypes—a paladin knight (the Guardsman), a wizard (Cyrus Salem), a dragon (Ariel Vibria), and a cat girl (Katrina “Kitty” Lazarus)—and pressing them into service for the CIA against an ancient evil, aspects of which have led to the team’s being brought together in the first place. (Goodreads)

Dinétah Dragon tells the memoirs of Ariel Vibria, the team’s dragon, and presents the continuing adventures of CIBO #A13 through her eyes, along with the story of her life. While Ariel engages in high adventure with her teammates, she also confronts her own demons throughout her life, searching for the answer to a lifelong vision: who is “the love that will save a life?” (Goodreads)

The Insurgent’s Journalmoves the action forward to the near future, where a dictator party has conquered the United States, creating the New Empire of America. Alanna Sharpe, using her twin birthrights of dragon powers and the Sword of the Guardsman, struggles against the powers that rule, on a personal quest to find her parents and bring down the New Empire. (Goodreads)

About the author:
The proud son of two 20-year Navy veterans, Don A. Martinez holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Writing and a Master’s of Arts in English from Buffalo State College, where his focus of study was myth and folklore. He works as a college professor in Texas, where he lives with his wife and four cats.

Ever wanted to interact with characters, but were too cool for fanfic? Ask questions of the characters from the latest Phantom Squadron book … any question at all … at the Hidden-In-Plain-Sight Ranch http://hiddeninplainsightranch.tumblr.com

So, what do you think? Does this series interest you? What about the Guest Post? Did you learn something new or helpful? I thought Don had some great insight on writing a great cross-genre fantasy novel. If you like great book trailers, check out the Dinetah Dragon trailer and Insurgent's Journal trailer.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway below. It's for the whole 3 ebook Phantom Squadron series. These books will be provided by Smashwords.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

Review: The Foul Mouth and The Cat Killing Coyotes by Richard Raley

Stacking The Shelves #1: I Finally Bought Books!

Cover Reveal: House Rules by Chloe Neill

Follow Friday #29 / TGIF #23

Cover Reveal & Excerpt: Blood Jewel by Georgia Cates

Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

Guest Post & Giveaway: Why Do Writers Choose to Write Fantasy? by S.A. Hunter (Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour)

Top Ten Post & Giveaway: Top Ten Book Covers by Susan Roebuck (Hewhay Hall Blog Tour)

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Follow Friday #28 / TGIF #22

Guest Post & Giveaway: Writing Nooks by Meradeth Houston (Colors Like Memories Blog Tour)

Review: Spectral by Shannon Duffy (Blog Tour)

Cover Reveal: Last Kiss Goodnight by Gena Showalter and Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Review: Firecracker by Charles R. Verhey

Follow Friday #27 / TGIF #21

500 Followers Giveaway

Review: Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

Cover Reveal: Elanraigh: The Vow by S.A. Hunter

Blogspiration #11: Old Friends

Review: White Witch by Trish Milburn

Follow Friday #26 / TGIF #20

Cover Reveal: Fury's Kiss by Karen Chance

Review: Bonds of Fenris by S.J. Bell

Guest Post & Giveaway: A Recipe For Cross-Genre Fantasy by Don A. Martinez