Escaping With Fiction

Review: Gravity (Mageri #4) by Dannika Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Published: May 16, 2013

Series: Mageri

Format: eBook

My rating: 5/5 stars

When a choice is made, it will forever alter the course of our destiny. It cannot be undone, for fate is a river changing direction and carving away the bed of our hearts like everlasting fractures.

A difficult past has left Silver broken, but she is learning to trust again through Logan Cross, a Chitah who has convinced her that a dangerous man can change. Their conviction for each other will be put to the ultimate test when an old nemesis reappears and flips her world upside down. Will Logan be able to tame the animal within, or will he succumb to his impulsive nature?

The ongoing investigation into Breed experiments unveils a shocking secret about Silver’s past. Standing at a fork in the road, Silver is forced to make a decision. Each comes with consequence, and there is no turning back.

Gravity is book four in Dannika Dark's Mageri series. As the series progresses, we are exposed to new twists and turns in the story, and this book was no different than the previous ones in that regard. If anything, I found that this installment had a more profound effect on me emotionally than the last three did.

Silver, the witty and resilient heroine, is thriving in her new life. She's got a promising apprenticeship with a high ranking Mage, her relationship with Logan is stronger than ever, and she has gotten used to living life under the care of her stoic but lovable Ghuardian, Justus. The take-down of a very dangerous enemy is still in the works, but she's dealing with that threat one day at a time.

To my disgust and dismay, a new conflict and enemy arises that has a heart-breaking effect on Silver and the people she cares most about. She finds her life and happiness hanging painfully in the balance and I was on pins and needles as her closest relationships were put to the test. She's literally forced to make some heart and soul crushing decisions. Silver finally comes to terms with how deep her love is for Logan, and Logan absolutely blows me away with his actions to keep Silver safe. I adore these two as a couple so much!

Dannika Dark, what are you doing to me?!! I was in such emotional turmoil while reading this book. Things were happening that were tearing Silver apart, and therefore tearing me apart as well! This is the wonder of Ms. Dark; she opens a door to the world of her characters that immediately pulls you in, and it keeps a piece of you forever, even when you finally return to reality. Seriously. Her writing is THAT GOOD.

But one of the positive and enjoyable things I got out of Silvers main conflict was that her predicament seemed to solidify her friendship with her vampire guard, Christian. Christian is brash, cocky and downright drool-worthy--and he can nuzzle my neck any day, just sayin'! But he really stepped it up and showed Silver a side to him we've never seen before. Behind the harsh comebacks and judgemental comments is a great man. His fierce loyalty to Silver gave me a whole new perspective on him, and Silver learns that he is a great ally to have.

The pacing of this book is so well done that I approached the end before I knew it. After all of the nail-biting suspense I came out on the other side smiling and feeling very hopeful about what the final book in this series will bring. I know one thing for certain: Silver will be fighting and kicking butt until the very end!

Waiting on Wednesday: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 05:00:00 +0000

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we feature our most anticipated upcoming releases.

Expected publication: February 25, 2014

Goodreads description:

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

****

I am SO EXCITED for this one!! The synopsis sounds awesome. Every book by JLA I've read so far has been one I thoroughly enjoyed. :)

What's your WoW pick this week?

Review: Impulse (Mageri #3) by Dannika Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Published: October 29, 2012

Series: Mageri

Format: eBook

My rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Almost one year ago, a Mage attacked Silver and changed the course of her destiny.
Immortals exist, and now she is one of them.

Within the dark and supernatural city of Cognito, Silver is living under the watchful eye of her Ghuardian and dating her mortal enemy. Neither man can protect her from a dark secret, one buried within the contents of a box. As rival factions struggle to gain control, she finds herself in the middle of a centuries-old feud that threatens to drive a wedge between her and Logan Cross, the man who intends to seduce her.

In an explosive turn of events, one life is saved and another is forever altered. Can Silver trust those around her, or are they hiding a dark secret of their own?

Impulse is book three in the Mageri series, and Dannika Dark continues to win me over with her impeccable story-telling abilities! This book definitely took me on a bumpy but glorious ride, where past betrayals are revealed as well as new insight into several of the beloved main characters. Also, Silver and her friends engage in some serious butt-kicking, as usual! Who could pass that up?

Silver, one of my all time favorite heroines, continues to have her strength and resilience challenged by nefarious individuals hell-bent on setting off a deadly chain of events that could threaten all Breed. One of the things I like most about Silver is her perseverance and attitude. She's such a strong woman and Mage. Instead of letting things break her down, she uses them to fuel her desire to fight and do the right thing no matter what.

There are a number of heavy and intense situations taking place in this book. We get more insight into Logan, Justus and even Silver's past. Some of it heartbreaking and startling. The surprises never cease! There are also introductions to new characters being made--some vile, some pleasant, and some incredibly hilarious.

One of my favorite new characters is Christian: a charming, yet sometimes wickedly spiteful vampire with an Irish accent that will melt you into a big pile of SWOON! He unexpectedly falls prey to Silver's snarky wit and I absolutely adore their love/hate friendship. They remind me of bickering siblings who, at the end of the day, got one anothers backs. This man is one of my favorite vamps of all time.

Several monumental happenings take place throughout the course of this book, but among the memorable events one of my favorites is the advancement of Logan and Silver's relationship--of which there are many levels. Logan is a fierce Chitah and he continues to prove his worth to Silver. I'm rooting for these two all the way! Especially after some of the smoldering, intimate scenes they share. Whoa buddy, a fan or a bucket of ice cubes needs to be at the ready during their spicy adventures!!

So far I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series. I highly recommend delving into this supernatural world with Silver if you haven't already done so!

Book Launch & Review: I Am Forever (What Kills Me #2) by Wynne Channing!

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Today kicks off the official release of I Am Forever, which is the much anticipated sequel to What Kills Me by Wynne Channing. As a huge fan of this series, I am VERY excited to be participating in the book launch! Below you will see more info about the author and her books, as well as my review of I Am Forever where I may or may not fangirl profusely....

About I Am Forever: Axelia fought an army of vampires and survived. Once fated as the destroyer of the vampire race, she is now welcomed into the immortal empire and revered as a god.

But instead of relishing her victory, she faces a dangerous new world and an empire at war. Axelia is thrust into the position of supreme vampire and caught in the crossfire of battle. To make matters worse, her role alienates Lucas, the one vampire that she trusts.

Her power spawns evil enemies. And they know how to get to her — by hurting those whom she loves most.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

About What Kills Me: An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race.

So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive.

How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?

Buy What Kills Me

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Goodreads

About Wynne: Wynne Channing is a national newspaper reporter and award-winning young adult novelist. Wynne loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel “Well” so then everyone would say: “Well written by Wynne Channing.”

Connect with Wynne

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Google+ | Pinterest |YouTube |Amazon Author Page

My review of I Am Forever:

I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of I Am Forever, the sequel to What Kills Me! I became extremely attached to the main character and her story after reading the first book, so naturally I fangirled at the chance to read the second book. Wynne Channing has concocted the perfect writing formula and applied it to this series. I Am Forever is fast-paced, intricate and incredibly imaginative! She's taken your classic vampire story, stomped on it, and morphed it into something fresh and enjoyable--with twists and turns in the plot you will never see coming!

The heroine, Axelia A.K.A. Zee, went through a life-changing transformation in the first book which resulted in her running for her life with the help of Lucas, a fellow vampire--who is also a very handsome and noble guy. This book picks up right where the previous one left off, and it's all about what happens next for Zee now that the tables have turned and the monarchy/vampire race has accepted Zee into their society. But even though the metaphorical waters seem still and calm on the surface, you just know that something is lurking beneath the depths, gearing up to make some monster waves! That is the best way I can describe the feel of this novel, and I loved the suspense and intrigue of it all.

Zee really shows us what she's made of during the course of this novel! She is NOT a chick you want to mess with. There are several fight scenes that are so descriptive and intense that you will think you are right there in the middle of it all; it gives me the shivers just thinking about it. Zee is definitely not afraid to get BLOODY. She kicks some serious butt and I love it!

Speaking of love....The monarchy guides Zee down one path, while her heart is with Lucas; who is on a completely different path. Their relationship is really tested, strengthened and defined in this book. These two make such a great team and their chemistry is untouchable--I can't get enough of their banter and interactions! Zee is still full of snarky and humorous musings, and I enjoyed several laugh-out-loud moments prompted by her. There are some new characters that are introduced that compliment her personality so nicely; her new friend, San, being one example. He cracked me up!

I could gush and profess my love for I Am Forever all day and night. But just take my word for it when I say YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK (after reading the first book, of course)! It is well worth it and it's a fantastic read.

Cover Reveal Blitz: Shine (Mageri #5) by Dannika Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I'm so thrilled to be participating in the cover reveal for Shine by Dannika Dark! Shine is the 5th and final book in the Mageri Series and if you're like me, then you're also itching to read it! But since it hasn't come out just yet, we'll all just have to collectively drool over the magnificent cover in the meantime!

Feast your eyes on the beautiful cover below, and read on to find out more about the author and the release date for Shine!

Shine (Mageri Series, Bk #5)

By Dannika Dark

Blurb:

In the short span of a year, Silver has gone from becoming a Mage to discovering the truth about her unique genetics. Logan Cross went from her mortal enemy to her immortal lover, but a threat is fast approaching like an inevitable storm. Attacks are underway against the Mageri and one man is behind it—an elusive foe who is an unstoppable force. Nero is not Silver’s only concern as someone close to her is arrested for treason. In the midst of chaos, Silver discovers she cannot protect everyone from the wrath of fate, including her own Ghuardian.

Justus finally opens his heart, but an unexpected turn of events could darken his soul forever. Secrets are revealed that will leave you reeling from one twist after the next. Would you sacrifice everything for love?

Destiny has set sail and once she alters her course, no one’s life will ever be the same in this explosive conclusion to the Mageri Series.

Release Date:

December 20, 2013

About the Author

This is the segment where you learn a little more about who I am, so here's what I can tell you: I drink copious amounts of vitamin water placed precariously close to my laptop while writing. These are two healthy habits I have no intention of breaking. I'm a transplant living in the south, but I was born in the 70's to a military dad who moved us around the world.

When I'm not writing (which is all the time), I'm hunting down Indie music, watching movies, reading, eating Tex-Mex, discovering new ways to humiliate myself bowling, and burning up my laptop battery on the Internet. I have a relaxed, easy-going personality and don't like drama. I live with a cat who thinks she is a dog, or a goat (she eats plastic, so I'm not sure which).

Throughout my life, I've had insomnia. Counting sheep never worked and eventually I would imagine those sheep were the sole source of food after an apocalyptic battle where only thousands survived. I made up stories in a futile attempt to bore myself to sleep. The problem was, I got so wrapped up in my "head stories" that I would continue them through the following nights, changing it up each time to make it more exciting. Eventually, I started writing my ideas down - creating short stories, and then I discovered my love for poetry.

It's almost embarrassing how many spiral notebooks and stacks of paper I have of poetry and lyrics.

Another passion: digital art. I design all my book covers, marketing, and series art. I'm a very visual person and pursued photography as an avid hobby for many years.

I am not a YA author (I feel like I have to state this only because I've had a few people ask), but I think it's wonderful there are so many books available to teens in Urban Fantasy and Paranormal.

I am finally doing what I have always wanted to do: giving my characters a pulse through writing full time. I focus on adult urban fantasy romance, but I don't like labels and I enjoy blending genres to break out of the confines of predictability.

But it's what I love to do.

Danni

You can stalk, I mean find Dannika here:

Books in the Mageri Series:

Presented By

Review: The Unseen by J.L. Bryan

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Published: October 31, 2013

Format: eBook

My rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Cassidy is a young tattoo artist living in the Little Five Points neighborhood of Atlanta. She’s always suffered terrible nightmares, and sometimes the hideous creatures seem to follow her out of her dreams and into her waking life, though she’s the only one who can see them. Drugs and alcohol can blot them out, but never entirely chase them away.

When a demonic cult begins to take control of the people in her life, including her younger brother, Cassidy discovers that the unseen world of monsters is very real. She can no longer avoid it. To protect those she loves, she must accept her own hidden supernatural talents and face the forces of evil before the sinister cult achieves its twisted goals and casts the world into darkness.

The Unseen is an utterly titillating story that is impossible to forget. J.L. Bryan continues to impress me with his ability to completely shock and alarm me! This is a book that should definitely be read by those who like to experience the darkest elements of the supernatural.

JL has produced a plot enriched with the creepiest, freakiest, and most appalling entities you will ever come across: Demons. I'll admit that something about demons really scares the pants off of me, but they aren't the only things in this book to be weary of. There's also Ouija boards, astral projection, possession, cults, and terrifying transparent energy-devouring creatures that will make your skin crawl. I must say, I really quite enjoyed the graphic imagery used to describe the heinous demons and odd creatures featured throughout this novel--even if I did have a rather disturbing dream involving one of the huge spider monstrosities that feeds on the living. Well done, JL! These creatures jumped off the pages of the book and burrowed into my subconscious! I'm impressed, and also a little freaked out! Yeesh..

The heroine of this book is a young woman named Cassidy, and what I really appreciate about her is that she's not your typical do-gooder protagonist. This chick has serious issues. She had a very traumatizing experience as a teen and she is the only one who can see into the Unseen world. She self-medicates in order to shield herself from being able to see the variety of transparent creatures that feed off the living. A frightening series of events finally forces Cassidy to snap out of her reverie and face what is going on around her, because her life and the lives of her friends and family are in jeopardy.

There are a lot of interesting facts to learn in this novel that are very pertinent to the story, and I just kept on being amazed by all of them. I sincerely applaud JL for his originality and the unique layers that are peeled back with each passing chapter to reveal this intricate story . One of my favorite parts of the book was learning the truth about Cassidy's heritage and everything she's capable of--I truly didn't see any of that coming!

Like I said before, this entire book is filled with ongoing creepiness, which mostly involves demons. Be prepared to be thoroughly disgusted and mortified, because JL paints these demons in an even more perverse light than I could have ever imagined. There's one scene in particular that disturbed me and caused me to actually cringe, yet it somehow also made me simultaneously--and somewhat shamefully--intrigued...Overall I loved every minute of this book, especially the explosive ending. The main message of this review is this: Go read this book, and prepare to be mystified!

*Special thanks to J.L. Bryan for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Unseen by J.L. Bryan!

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 12:00:00 +0000

I'm so excited to be participating in The Unseen book blitz today! J.L. Bryan is one of my favorite authors and his new book, The Unseen, has recently been released. I'm about halfway through the book now and let me tell you, it's blowing my mind and creeping me out in the most fantastic way! If you enjoy books that are original, creepy and unpredictable, then you will thoroughly enjoy JL's novels.

Below you can find out more about The Unseen--which includes author information, buy links, an excerpt, an EPIC GIVEAWAY, and some advice from JL regarding Demon-Summoning Do's and Don'ts!

*****

The Unseen by J.L. Bryan
Publication Date: October 31st 2013
Genres: Horror

Synopsis:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18630803-the-unseen

Purchase links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/16dyV0d
Nook: http://bit.ly/1gRtjzR

*The Unseen currently has a special release price of 99 cents throughout this week, how cool is that?!

*****

AUTHOR BIO:

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on the English Renaissance and the Romantic period. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He enjoys remixing elements of paranormal, supernatural, fantasy, horror and science fiction into new kinds of stories.

He is the author of The Paranormals series (starting with Jenny Pox), The Songs of Magic series, Nomad, and other books. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, his son John, and some dogs and cats.

Website: www.jlbryanbooks.com
Twitter: @jlbryanbooks

*****

Now I present to you some excellent advice from JL regarding demons! This is a must-read:

Demon-Summoning Do’s and Don’ts

So you’ve cast a circle and you’re ready to bring an infernal spirit into your home for a visit. Or are you? Summoning demons takes care and consideration—it’s nothing to jam in between doing the dishes and catching the new episode of Walking Dead.

These simple tips will help you put together an exciting evocation, without all the messy embarrassment of getting your soul ripped from your flesh and devoured.

DO offer a blood sacrifice. Your guest has traveled across endless darkness from the lower pits of Hell and will be expecting a snack. Chicken or lizard blood will do nicely for a lesser spirit. For an archdemon, you’ll want to sacrifice a human being instead—anything less is considered rude. Virgins are still preferred, but no longer expected by more modern demons. Finally, an activity you can do with that annoying neighbor you’ve always wanted to eliminate from the earth!

DON’T call up the wrong kind of demon. Incubi and succubi will arrive with certain expectations, because these unholy hornballs only have one thing on their evil minds at all times. If you’re not ready for a swingers’ sabbat, avoid them. If you do summon them, you’re going to need a little more protection that the typical enchanted circle provides—the beasties get around. Also avoid gluttony demons, because these corpulent creatures not only look like disgusting mountains of flab with enormous mouths, they’ll also destroy your snack bar and leave an unpleasant flatulent odor that takes weeks to remove from your carpet.

DO be polite. Powerful demons resent being summoned by mere mortals, but minding your manners can go a long way towards creating a more pleasant evening. When you say, “I bind thee and summon thee, foul Mephistopheles!” and the enraged horned demon appears in a flash of fire and brimstone, don’t forget to add, “Thank you!”

DON’T expect them to bring wine or a hot dish. Again, they’ve come a long way and can’t be expected to carry host gifts up from the abyss. Also, demon food tends to be rotten and vermin-infested, so how badly did you really want that casserole, anyway?

DO remember to take pictures! Remember, the only reason to do anything extraordinary in life is so you can brag to your friends on Facebook. A picture of you and Beelzebub with his host of flesh-eating flies will totally shut up that one friend who’s always bragging about the time she met Colin Farrell on an airplane.

DON’T forget to banish! If you don’t send that demon right back to Hell when you’re done, it may move onto your couch and stay there for months. Demons don’t pay rent, they don’t do chores, and they never, ever give up control of the remote. They will, however, watch home shopping channels twenty-four hours a day and max out your credit card to ordering useless knickknacks. They won’t take subtle hints to go home, either, no matter how many you drop—you have to order them out. Exercise your right to excorsize!

Following this list is sure to make your demonic encounter a more successful one! When you summon horrific spirits from the fiery underworld into your living room, you don’t want it to ruin the rest of your weekend.

*****

Giveaway:

Grand Prize Giveaway

Prizes (open to US/CAN):

-'Spell book' pendant, handbag, and a signed copy of The Unseen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Anywhere by J. Meyers

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 02:49:00 +0000

Published: August 30, 2013

Format: eBook

My rating: 5/5 stars!!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Skye Whitcomb is running from her troubles, and where better to run than Europe? Fresh out of college, she makes quick plans with her best friend Paige and hops on a plane.

Of course, nothing ever goes as planned—at least not for her. First, Paige has to bail, and Skye’s left to travel alone. Then she meets sweet and sexy Asher Benedict in Paris, and sparks fly after a night together on the train to Rome. He’s all kinds of perfect for her, but the timing couldn’t be worse since she was running from the altar when she left—so the last thing she wants right now is a relationship.

But Skye’s about to discover that no matter how far you run, love can find you anywhere.

To me, there is nothing better than to finish a book and feel so overwhelmingly satisfied that you grin like a fool for hours afterwards, and this is exactly how Anywhere made me feel! Being a huge fan of J. Meyers' YA paranormal series, Intangible, I jumped at the chance to read Anywhere when given the opportunity. Anywhere is J's first New Adult contemporary novel, and she absolutely nailed her debut! I LOVE this book so much!

Skye is the protagonist of this novel and she's funny, relatable and honest. I enjoyed experiencing everything through her perspective, especially since her journey takes place in Europe! The book opens with Skye just beginning her big backpacking trip through Europe. Her trip may seem like she's running away from her problems back in America, but really this is an important journey of self-discovery and learning what she really needs and wants out of life--this is something that will really resonate with the reader, in my opinion. After a rocky start she has a chance encounter with Asher at a train station in France, and everything falls into place from here.

Asher is so swoon-worthy that I almost literally felt my heart melting. He's so sweet, genuine and just plain sexy! Like Skye, he's also backpacking through Europe, but he has his own reasons for taking this trip. The more I learned about him the more I was rooting for him and Skye. I really enjoyed how their relationship progressed; their chemistry is so natural and easy that it's difficult not to completely lose yourself in their combined charm. Also, let me just mention that the steamy encounters between these two may very well set you on fire, so be ready to be dazzled and have something at the ready you can use to fan yourself! Shout out to J for expertly executing those HOT scenes!!

As I mentioned before, the fact that this book takes place in Europe is a huge reason to love this story even more! J. Meyers is so descriptive and paints a very alluring picture of several of the countries visited by Skye and Asher. It makes me want to plan my own trip to Europe so I can experience these places myself! But, aside from the beautifully described scenery and passionate connection between Skye and Asher, I also love the fact that this story is so fun and feels so real. It's personal and touching on so many levels. Go read this book NOW! You won't regret it!

*Very special thanks go to J. Meyers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

Review: Twist (Mageri #2) by Dannika Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 22:23:00 +0000

Published: February 26, 2012

Publisher: Dannika Dark

Series: Mageri

Format: eBook

My rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Months after moving to the mysterious city of Cognito, Silver is developing her gifts as a Mage, and learning how to live under new laws. Forced to give up her old life, she must now live in secret among the humans. She finally has hope of leading an ordinary life . . . until Logan Cross walks into it.

Their chance meeting leads her close to discovering the identity of the nameless Mage who once stole her light and discovered the unique power she possesses. That knowledge poses an unimaginable threat to Silver, fueling her search to find out who he is, before he finds her first.

Lives are at stake. Truths are revealed. And an unexpected passion ignites.

Twist, the second book in the Mageri series, was just as fantastic as the first book! Although a very big threat was eliminated in the previous book, a bigger, badder one still remains and he succeeds at bringing forth more torture on Silver this time around. Dannika Dark is amazing at creating bad guys that literally make your blood boil! Seriously, I'm going to need some anxiety meds if she keeps this up (I say this lovingly of course! Bring on the bad guys!).

Silver has more room to come into her own in this book, which I love. She's no longer under the control of her heinous Maker, and she continues to learn more from her hard-edged but caring Ghuardian, Justus. Silver gets stronger every day, emotionally and physically, and this is a chick that can really hold her own, even if she is a little naive at times. I really respect her character and I find myself rooting for her constantly, especially through the times in which she refuses not to be broken. She has a lot of "Oh crap!" moments, but her tenacity and strong will guides her through--with the help of her sassy sarcasm of course!

In this book we have the introduction of one of my absolute FAVORITE and swoon-worthy male characters EVER: Logan Cross. Good golly, y'all, Dannika Dark should include a complimentary fan with every purchase of this book because you will most definitely need it whenever this man is present! Whew. Logan is a Chitah, which is another Breed of supernatural. He is NOT to be messed with! Logan and Silver get off to a rocky and sort of confusing start, especially since their first encounter sends all kinds of mixed signals Silver's way. Logan is dangerous, predatory, but also incredibly sexy and highly protective of Silver. As Silver gets to know him better, he truly proves just how loyal he is to her. Their attraction is electric (pun intended?) and it practically jumps off of the pages of the book to smack you right in the face. Yeah, it's that intense! Mr. Cross has completely melted my heart, and I love his pet nicknames for Silver! So cute!

There are several other characters that get introduced in this novel that I enjoyed as well. I'm very interested in all of the different Breeds and it was nice to get an introduction to some of them on a more intimate level. I adore Levi, Logan's brother--he's hilarious! I was also incredibly pumped to have Sunny, Silver's best friend, back in the picture. She's a pistol!

As this book came to a close and Silver and her friends found out more about the man who threatens more than just her existence, bonds become stronger and the people Silver cares about come together to fight this enemy. Things are definitely going to continue to heat up for Silver but at least she doesn't have to stand alone. I'm sure the next book will be filled with more butt-kicking and revelation-revealing. I can't wait!

Review: Sterling (Mageri #1) by Dannika Dark

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 00:33:00 +0000

Published: September 5, 2011

Publisher: Dannika Dark

Series: Mageri

Format: eBook

My rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Zoë Merrick lived a less than ordinary life, until late one night, she was brutally attacked and left for dead.

A man named Adam spotted her running down the road covered in blood, and took her under his wing. Zoë didn't just survive that night - she underwent a physical transformation and acquired strange new abilities. Severed from her old life, her frustration grows as she tries to comprehend what's happening to her.

Serendipity leads her to Justus. He's handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human. Zoë learns the truth about what she is, and just how dangerous their world is for a young Mage. The only way she will understand her power is by putting her trust in this man, and accepting the protection he offers.

When her immortal freedom is threatened by the one man who has a right to claim her, Zoë learns the price of freedom...and the value of loyalty.

Sterling is book one in the Mageri series, and I couldn't have enjoyed it more! Dannika Dark sucks you in from page one, introducing you to strong characters and a whole new world filled with the supernatural. Ms. Dark is amazing at pulling you through the pages of her book, so that it feels as if you're right there with the characters as the entire plot unfolds.

Zoe, A.K.A. Silver, is the heroine in this superb novel and I liked her immediately! She's a sassy, sarcastic, smart, independent woman that doesn't take any crap from anyone. I don't know if I've ever come across a character like her; one that goes through such an immense transformation emotionally and physically. There's a lot of character growth here.

Silver's life changes dramatically when she is attacked one night on her way back to her apartment and she is left for dead. The attack was bizarre and frightening, and just one of the many startling events that will have you holding your breath throughout this book! Silver's human life ends the night she is killed, and she's left to piece together what exactly happened to her and what it all means.

Silver is a Mage, which means that she can manipulate energy, and do some other things that are pretty cool! But just because she has new abilities doesn't mean that she's untouchable, especially since she finds herself being hunted by some pretty nasty villains, including the man that brutally attacked her and turned her life upside-down. But luckily, she's got some kickass new friends that are there to help her cope along the way.

Now, when I say that Silver has some new friends, what I really mean is that she is now surrounded by a very HOT buffet of men that care about her in different ways! You've got, Adam, the caring and protective guy that swoops in at the very beginning to be there for Silver; you have Justus, the man that volunteers to be Silver's "Ghuardian" who is literally a walking sex magnet; then you have Simon, who is so dirty-minded and hilarious that he is guaranteed to make you laugh no matter what! I absolutely love these guys and they seriously warmed my heart with how much they care about Silver and how protective they are of her.

As much as I laughed during this book and swooned over the various men in Silver's life, I also really enjoyed having the pants scared off of me by the evil characters that plague this novel! These vile men put Silver through absolute hell, and at times the things that were happening to her were so intense and felt so real that it made me pretty emotional. I was literally on the edge of my seat! But the ending of this book left me with a victorious smile and the assurance that Silver will continue to blow me away, because it is clear that her story is far from over!

Stacking The Shelves (24)

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 04:21:00 +0000

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It's a fun way to share what books we recently added to our bookshelves.

*All titles link to Goodreads*

For review:

Earthbound (Earthbound #1) by Aprilynne Pike (ARC)

-Won through LibraryThing. Special thanks to Razorbill!

Bought:

Death Takes a Holiday (A F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad Investigation, #3) by Jennifer Harlow
A Cursed Embrace (Weird Girls #2) by Cecy Robson
Half-Blood (Covenant #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Signed!)
Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2) by Wendy Higgins (Signed!)
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Between #1) by April Genevieve Tucholke

-I already read A Cursed Embrace and I LOVED it so much!!! Cecy Robson can do no wrong! I love her series.

*****

Thanks for stopping by, and please leave me a link to your post so I can check out the books you received as well!

-Shanon

Cover reveal: I Am Forever (What Kills Me #2) by Wynne Channing

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Introducing I Am Forever, the highly-anticipated sequel to Wynne Channing's best-selling debut novel What Kills Me. Check out the teaser synopsis for the second book in the series which is due out in Winter 2013:

The prophecy said a girl would kill them all. Against an army of vampires, Axelia fought back and survived. Once fated as the destroyer of the vampire race, she is now welcomed into the immortal empire and revered as a god. But she is not safe. The empire is rife with danger and deceit — and Axelia and her companion, Lucas, are caught in the middle of a bloody war. With everyone's lives at stake, Axelia must battle to protect those she loves.

Sign up to be notified of it's release and for early excerpts, here!

Below is a short video of Wynne discussing the cover of I Am Forever:

If you haven't yet read the exhilarating first book, What Kills Me, which has an impressive 4.6 out of 5-star rating on Amazon (179 reviews), buy it here:Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Goodreads

An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race. So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive. How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?

Connect with Wynne:

• Email: wynne@wynnechanning.com | Twitter: wynnechanning

Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads

Google+ | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube |Amazon Author Page

About Wynne:
Wynne Channing is a national newspaper reporter and best-selling young adult novelist. Wynne loves telling stories and as a journalist, she has interviewed everyone from Daniel Radcliffe and Hugh Jackman to the president of the Maldives and Duchess Sarah Ferguson. The closest she has come to interviewing a vampire is sitting down with True Blood‘s Alexander Skarsgard (he didn’t bite). She briefly considered calling her debut novel “Well” so then everyone would say: “Well written by Wynne Channing.”

****

I don't know about you guys, but I am LOVING this cover so much! I can't wait for I Am Forever to be released!! If you haven't read the first book, What Kills Me, I highly recommend that you do so immediately because it is absolutely fantastic. =D

Please feel free to leave some lovely comments for Wynne Channing below!!

GIVEAWAY: Nomad by J.L Bryan

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Synopsis:

They took everything: her family, her home, her childhood.

By the age of nineteen, Raven has spent most of her life in the sprawling slums of America, fighting as a rebel against the dictatorship. When the rebellion steals an experimental time-travel device, she travels back five decades to the year 2013. Her plan: assassinate the future dictator when he is still young and vulnerable, long before he comes to power. She must move fast to reshape history, because agents from her own time are on her trail, ready to execute her on sight.

Hello everyone! If you didn't already know, J.L. Bryan just released his latest novel, Nomad, earlier this week. This book is phenomenal and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a time-travel dystopian and it's incredibly kick-ass. You can read my review HERE if you like.

JL has been kind enough to give away an ebook copy of Nomad (mobi or epub format)! To enter this giveaway all you have to do is leave a thoughtful comment on this post, and I'll pick a winner via random.org in two weeks time (August 10th). Please be sure to include your email address in your comment, so I can notify you if you win!

*Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen.

Good luck!!

Early review: Nomad by J.L. Bryan

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Expected publication: July 26, 2013

Format: eARC

My rating: 5/5 stars

Description from Goodreads:

Nomad is definitely the most complex, interesting, action-packed and mind-blowing book I've read all year! J.L. Bryan has cleverly constructed a novel that is so descriptive and engaging that throughout the book he literally had me cheering, laughing, and yelling in a rather loud fashion. He writes in such a way that it's like a piece of you merges with the characters and you can't help but be completely swept up in their emotions. I cannot express enough how much I adore this book!

Another reason to fall head-over-heels for this novel is the fact that its premise is so unique. It's a time-travel dystopian that features a kick-ass chick named Raven, who is a "Nomad". The entire concept and explanation of what a Nomad is will probably leave you feeling brain-banged, but in an awesome way, if that even makes sense! Just be prepared for the mind explosion. Raven's Nomad status definitely adds to the allure of her character.

Raven is amazing: she's a highly intelligent young woman who has seen and been through so much. She's from the future where an evil dictator, named Logan Carraway, reins over the U.S. and he's turned the states into a terrifying, heinous place. Raven has been tasked with the duty of traveling back in time, to the year 2013, to assassinate this awful man when he is young and hasn't done any damage yet. But things get incredibly complicated in more ways than one when she crosses paths with this man!

When Raven makes contact with her target, Logan, some very unexpected things happen. I had a lot of confusing and conflicting emotions towards Logan. I know, and Raven knows, that he will evolve into a tyrant that is largely responsible for the fall of the U.S. and the deaths of many. Yet when Raven meets him, he's just a regular college guy. He's annoyingly cocky, but still, he's just a regular, charming and vivacious fellow. He hasn't done terrible things yet. Raven's entire plan and thought process changes when she meets him, and so does mine. The things that transpire between these two feels warped and kind of dirty, but I still liked it. This is what J.L. Bryan does: he extracts emotions from you that you never expected to feel, which leaves you stunned and surprised!

There's excitement at every turn in this book, and the ending was no exception. Raven sacrifices a lot to save the future of the country, and the magnitude of her actions are palpable. I was simultaneously shocked and pleased by the last events of the story, and everything felt very bittersweet.

There is SO MUCH going on in this book, it's insane, but in a good way. I was completely consumed by all of the action, information, terror and romance being thrown my way throughout Raven's journey. It's safe to say that her character and this book will not be easily forgotten by me.

*Special thanks to J.L. Bryan for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Immortal Eclipse by Sherry Soule

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Published: June 7, 2013

Publisher: Disenchanted Publishing

Format: eARC

My rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Mystery, Murder, Manolo Blahnik

A devoted fashionata and practical New Yorker, Skylar Blackwell doesn’t believe in the supernatural—until she inherits Summerwind Mansion. . . .

When her uncle is brutally murdered, and the cops seem uninterested in following up the case, Skylar journeys to California to seek answers. Her search for clues is soon overshadowed by haunting nightmares of a young woman also murdered in the house.

Now the inhabitants of Summerwind are mysteriously dying, leaving no evidence as to how or why, and Skylar finds herself in a deadly race against time to expose the killer—before they strike again.

Armed with only wit and Pradas, Skylar begins questioning the servants, but the growing list of suspects includes the sexy and brooding caretaker, Dorian, a man desperately trying to forget his tragic past. And a major distraction for Skylar.

Determined to play detective—instead of the fashion police—and unravel the dark history of the mansion, Skylar is plunged into an otherworldly mystery that not even she can explain away. As the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, Skylar’s greatest challenge is to stay alive long enough to learn the truth.

Immortal Eclipse is a novel cloaked in mystery and rife with unexpected concepts! Sherry Soule has pieced together a story that is part murder mystery and part romance, with a little extra something thrown in to give you literary whiplash!

Skylar is the heroine of this novel and she's a strong-willed fashionista that is quite likable. The book centers around her traveling to California after she inherits her late uncle's estate. Sky has some unexplained occurrences before her trip to CA, and to say that her experiences intensify after her arrival at her uncle's mansion is an understatement!

The circumstances surrounding the death of her relative are bizarre and frightening enough, but when Sky comes into contact with the eclectic group of people staffing her new home, things get even crazier. Some of these characters were sinister and downright creepy! I really never knew who to trust.

This was definitely a stimulating read for me in the fact that I was trying to play detective right along with Sky as she searched for clues as to who possibly murdered her uncle. As the facts finally started to add up, the plot seemed to thicken even further, and I was pretty impressed by the outcome!

The only thing that bugged me off and on throughout the book was the back and forth between Sky and her love interest, Dorian. Dorian is a dreamy fellow, but every time things seemed to heat up between him and Sky, it was like ice water rained down upon them, crushing their connection. I know why things played out the way they did, but I can't help but wish I got a little more from them. I'm greedy like that! Hehe...

But seriously, this is an interesting novel to check out if you're a fan of unique concepts, hot men, spunky women, and a plot that will keep you guessing!

*Special thanks to Sherry Soule for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Stacking The Shelves (23)

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It's a fun way to share what books we recently added to our bookshelves.

*All titles link to Goodreads*

For review:

Nomad by J.L. Bryan (ARC)

-A very special thanks to J.L. Bryan for sending me a copy of his upcoming release, Nomad! You guys, I cannot explain how pumped I am to start this book--the synopsis is so RAD and you should definitely check it out! Also, J.L. Bryan is giving away a copy on Goodreads, so you should totally go enter his giveaway HERE.

Bought:

Once Upon a Darkness by Aria Kane

Once Upon a Darkness swag

The Portable Poe by Edgar Allan Poe, Edited by Philip Van Doren Stern

Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey

Nook HD

-I had the pleasure of attending the lovely Aria Kane's (A.K.A. Sarah Nicolas) book launch party last week, where I picked up a signed copy of her novel, Once Upon a Darkness! I'm so excited to read it--it's got zombies in it and a kickass chick!

I have a whole shelf dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe and I already have several of his books, but when I came across a used copy of The Portable Poe, I felt compelled to buy it. It seems I've started a tradition of collecting different editions of his works...

So excited to get Ashes on the Waves!!!!!! I've had this book on pre-order for A LONG TIME! The book is based on Poe's poem, Annabel Lee. Can you tell I'm a Poe fiend? Ha!

I splurged and got myself a Nook HD! I love it. I previously had the oldschool 1st Edition Nook, so I figured I was due for an upgrade. =)

*****

Thanks for stopping by, and please leave me a link to your post so I can check out the books you received as well!

-Shanon

Cover reveal: NOMAD by J.L. Bryan

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000

*Cover by PhatPuppy Art ( http://phatpuppyart.com/ )*

NOMAD a BRAND NEW release

from

J.L. Bryan, author of Jenny Pox (The Paranormals) series & The Songs of Magic series

Book Details:

NOMAD by JL Bryan
Expected publication: July 26th 2013

Goodreads Link:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17982144-nomad

Author Bio:

J.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Christina, dogs Violet and Tiger Lily, and cats Shadow and Sue.

Author Links:

Website: www.jlbryanbooks.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlbryanbooks
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2917423.J_L_Bryan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-L-Bryans-Books/123417766958
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/JL-Bryan/e/B003DWKFHK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

*****

I LOVE this cover! I dig the colors and the stance of the girl--she's looking very badass! What do you guys think? Feel free to leave a comment below!

Waiting on Wednesday: A Cursed Embrace (Weird Girls #2) by Cecy Robson

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we feature our most anticipated upcoming releases.

Expected publication: July 2, 2013

Goodreads description:

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other twenty-something girls—with one tiny exception: They are the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that made them, well, a little weird…

After Celia Wird and her sisters help master vampire Misha save his family, their powers are exposed to the supernatural community of the Lake Tahoe region. But fame comes at a price, and being “weird” isn’t always welcome.

To make matters worse, Celia desires the love of Alpha werewolf Aric, but his pack is bent on destroying their relationship to preserve his pureblood status. And once weres start turning up dead—with evidence pointing to the vampires—she must face the prospect of losing Aric forever. But the chaos only masks a new threat. An evil known as the Tribe has risen—and their sights are set on Celia and her sisters.

*****

A Cursed Embrace is the second book in the Weird Girls series, and it is one of my most anticipated releases this year!!! I read the first book, Sealed with a Curse, back in January and as soon as I finished it, I was ready for more! Treat yourself to this series if you haven't already discovered it. =D

What's your WoW pick for this week?

Review: Dinner With a Vampire (The Dark Heroine #1) by Abigail Gibbs

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Published: March 5, 2013

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Format: Paperback, 532 pages

Series: The Dark Heroine

My rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

One moment can change your life forever...

For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape...no matter how hard Violet tries.

Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.

Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price...

I don't think I have ever been so conflicted about a book in my entire life...When I started reading Dinner With a Vampire, I was very excited and expecting to be immersed into a unique story that was unlike anything I'd ever encountered before. My expectations were met--this is a story that's very different from anything I've read--but not in a pleasant way.

Don't get me wrong, on one hand I enjoyed certain aspects of this book. I appreciate the fact that the author surprised me at times and delivered a somewhat addictive story that is so much more than your average, boring vampire tale. This book is filled with prophecies, intense fight scenes, and other supernatural species that I found interesting; there's even a giant squid! I will freely admit that I frantically tore through this book with alarming enthusiasm to get to the end, because it did have it's captivating moments and I really was very interested to see what the ending would bring.

But what ultimately doomed this book for me is the frustratingly inconsistent characters!!! Granted, there were a couple of secondary characters I really liked. However, there were MULTIPLE characters that seriously lacked consistency, and the two that ticked me off the most were the main characters: Violet and Kaspar. The POVs alternate between these two, and I just can't bring myself to get on board with these characters as two separate entities, much less get on board with them as a romantic couple. Violet is way too forgiving and naive, and Kaspar is one of the most infuriating male characters I have ever come across. There are many expletives I could use to describe him, but I will be kind and just say that he's a WALKING TURD. Yeah, I said it! He's not romantic and swoon-worthy, he's a creep.

Violet didn't annoy me the entire book; she had her moments where she stood up for herself, exuded strength, and her sassy attitude was amusing. But when certain things happen that are completely unnecessary and lack any sense--like Kaspar declaring his undying love for Violet and then LITERALLY two seconds later turning his back on her as she is about to possibly be gruesomely executed--then I can't support this stupidity! Ugh. Then for Violet to be an idiot and completely forgive Kaspar for this, as well as many other unforgivable transgressions, is just plain ridiculous and rage-inducing.

As you can see, this book has brought forth way too many conflicting emotions for me to even name. While the plot is one big unparalleled and dazzling adventure, some of the characters aren't. I feel like this story had so much potential and I truly am sad to report my disappointment.

Review: Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Published: July 10, 2012

Publisher: MTV Books

Format: Hardcover

My rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

Such a Rush is a wonderfully written story filled with raw sincerity. Jennifer Echols really knows how to write a memorable and touching novel that will suck you in from page one. The main character, Leah, is such a real and relatable character, and it was through her perspective that the story unfolds.

One of the things I admire most about Leah is her strength and perseverance. She has grown up poor, in trailer parks, and has a mother that is very much absent. Leah comes alive when she gets a job at the airport and starts taking flying lessons from Mr. Hall, who has a hangar next to the airport. Leah is so passionate about aviation that it's almost contagious! I don't know a whole lot about planes, but that aspect of the story is so descriptive and interesting that I found myself loving the moments when Leah was flying.

When Mr. Hall dies, his sons Grayson and Alec take over his banner-flying business. Things get interesting after that because Grayson ropes Leah into working for them and he has some interesting ulterior motives for doing so. Even though I wanted to slap Grayson a few times, I really did enjoy the time he and Leah spent together--which they spent either sassing eachother or sharing some hot, intense moments. These two share a very obvious spark and they really fit so well together.

I also really enjoyed the relationship between Leah and her best friend, Molly. Although it was rocky and a bit misunderstood at times, they meshed well together and Molly is definitely one-of-a-kind! Alec, Grayson's brother, was a blast as well. Put all of these characters together and you're definitely bound for some excitement.

There's a lot of raw emotion in this book that makes it such a great story. Tragedy fuels some of the most potent parts in this book, as well as love. This intense journey also offered a lot of laughs and smiles along the way, and the ending made me grin uncontrollably when all was said and done. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an honest story with sincere, relatable characters. 　

Stacking The Shelves (22)

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It's a fun way to share what books we recently added to our bookshelves.

*All titles link to Goodreads*

Gifted:

Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows

Asunder (Newsoul #2) by Jodi Meadows (ARC)

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland (ARC)

Unraveling (Unraveling #1) by Elizabeth Norris (ARC)

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs

-My best friend and fellow bibliophile, Sarah, has been cleaning out her bookshelves recently and as a result she gave me all of the books listed above. Thank you, Sarah! Some of these books have been on my wishlist for a while (Cry Wolf has been on there since 2011!) so I'm excited to start them. =)

****

Thanks for stopping by, and please leave me a link to your post so I can check out the books you received as well!

-Shanon

Just an update...

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 29 May 2013 00:02:00 +0000

It's been quite a while since I posted anything here on the blog, as you may have noticed. I'm not really known for posting on a regular basis anyway; I usually seem to post in random spurts.

But I just wanted to say that I will be back, posting again, soon. I've had a lot of stuff going on, a lot of things on my mind, and just a general lack of enthusiasm for anything online related lately.

I'm also currently battling bronchitis and don't feel very well, so as you can imagine I'm not too focused on writing any book reviews at the moment (even though I'm frightfully behind on my reviews!). :(

But like I said, I'll be back soon. I've missed checking out my favorite blogs! :)

*Shanon

Review: One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress #6) by Jeaniene Frost

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Published: August 30, 2011

Publisher: Avon

Format: Paperback

Series: Night Huntress

My rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis from Goodreads:

How do you send a killer to the grave when he's already dead?

Having narrowly averted an (under)World War, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans's voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But one wrong step and they'll be digging their own graves.

One Grave at a Time is definitely one of the creepiest Night Huntress books I've read so far! The storyline of this book features an inhumane, perverted, disgusting and downright heinous ghost named Kramer. To the bewilderment of everyone who knows about him, he manages to take solid form every Halloween and it is then that he tortures and kills innocent women. In this book, Cat and Bones take on the task of putting an end to Kramer before he can kill anyone else.

I really enjoyed sinking further into the world of ghosts in this book. Fabian, Cat's ghost friend, has become one of my favorite secondary characters so it was really cool to see more of him this time around. I was also delighted to have Don around as well, even if his situation is quite curious. His grumpy humor is always welcome!

Speaking of humor, in this book we are introduced to a character named Tyler, and he had me laughing so hard at times that I was in physical pain! He's a medium who agrees to help Cat find a way to stop Kramer, and he proves to be quite helpful--while also being incredibly HILARIOUS in the process! I'm just saying, he's awesome and his awesomeness needs to be shouted from the rooftops!

On a more serious note, Kramer and Cat's showdown had me tearing through the pages of the book with excitement and a little bit of anxiety! I must say, their brawl was ugly and pretty graphic, but it was definitely satisfying when Cat wiped that smug smile off his face.

As usual, Jeaniene Frost provided me with quality time with Cat and Bones, a satisfying plot, intense fight scenes and heart-melting romance. I'm itching to see what happens in this series next!

Stacking The Shelves (21)

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. It's a fun way to share what books we recently added to our bookshelves.

*All titles link to Goodreads*

For review:

Imaginable (Intangible #2) by J. Meyers (My Review)

-Already read and reviewed this one! I LOVE THIS SERIES! =D

*Special thanks to J. Meyers*

Bought:

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Losing It (Losing It #1) by Cora Carmack

Backstage Pass (Sinners on Tour #1) by Olivia Cunning

Twice Tempted (Night Prince #2) by Jeaniene Frost

How to Be a Zombie by Serena Valentino

Werewolves Be Damned (Magic & Mayhem #1) by Stacey Kennedy

-I'm pretty excited to read all of these, especially Losing It (my bestie says this one is SO GOOD) and Twice Tempted. Vlad is my #1 book boyfriend. Oh, Vlad.... *sigh* ;)

I bought Werewolves Be Damned for my Nook because Braine of Talk Supe recently read and reviewed this one, and it sounds like my cup of tea! =)

I found How to Be a Zombie on clearance at the bookstore and I just had to buy it! This book doesn't even need an explanation. Go zombies!

Side note: it amuses me that I have a Sarah Dessen book placed so close to an erotica novel (Backstage Pass)...let's all take a moment to chuckle.... *hehe*

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Thanks for stopping by, and please leave me a link to your post so I can check out the books you received as well!

-Shanon

Waiting on Wednesday: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

noreply@blogger.com (Shanon (Escaping With Fiction)) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine where we feature our most anticipated upcoming releases.

Expected publication: August 15, 2013

Goodreads description:

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

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I immediately pre-ordered this book after I read it's description because it sounds like a very unique and enticing read! I will definitely be excited to get this one in the mail. =D

What's your WoW pick for this week?