Cover Reveal: The Retelling- Candice Terry

Title: The Retelling: A Light Him Up Novel

Author: Candice Terry

Genre: Adult Drama Romance

Release Date: Spring 2014

Cover Created by: No Sweat Graphics by Rachel Olson

Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Book Description:

Hell hath no fury like a southern woman scorned....

Krischa had her future all planned out- graduate high school, attend a great college and live a happily ever after life with her high school sweet heart, Josh. Though she never expected her plans to come crashing down after being betrayed by the one person she loved the most.

Heartbroken, she finds comfort in the tall, dark haired, blue eyed stranger that walks into the bar one night, filling her with lust.

Leaving her small town, family and heart ache Josh behind she realizes she may have made a grave mistake and married the devil himself.

Regret has filled Josh's heart for 10 years after hurting the only person he'd ever loved. With no word on where she is, he aches to see her face again. Though he knows Krischa belongs to another, he can't help the want to get her back. When his phone rings out of the blue one day and he hears her voice he knows he will run through hell to bring her home.

Love and revenge at it's finest.

Candice lives in Laurel, Mississippi with her husband and energetic toddler.When she's not chasing her son around she runs her photography business or is stuck in front of her computer pounding out stories.Her first short story was published March 2013 and she is currently working on two more short stories along with the first book of a three part series to release in 2013.

Links: 

facebook- https://www.facebook.com/AbsolutePowerSeries?ref=hl

amazon-http://www.amazon.com/Candice-Christine-Terry/e/B00DDXFAWY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6219828.Candice_Terry

Cover Reveal: First Impressions- Pauline Creeden

Title: First Impression

Author: Pauline Creeden 

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery
Expected Release Date: March 31, 2014
Designed by: http://www.alchemybookcovers.com/

Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Synopsis:
First Impression: A Shadow Maven Paranormal

Chira Kelly thought she didn’t need anyone…until she met Ben.

Because of one ugly rumor, Chira lives as an outcast at her school. Which is fine with her, because she works better alone. Always has, always will. And at least she has her one and only true friend, Tasha. When Tasha insists that they join a group to visit a possibly haunted abandoned old schoolhouse, she's wary, but joins her friend. Because of that decision, their lives are in jeopardy as a malevolent spirit targets the group.Tragedies and accidents pick them off one by one, and Chira finds herself drawn to the one person who can see the truth. But can he protect her?

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20618864-first-impression

Excerpt:

(Please note that the Excerpt is from the Unedited ARC and may change a bit before the finished book is released)

Ben pulls open the office door and stands to the side to allow me to go first. The hallway that was empty only a short while ago is now full of kids and their incessant conversations. With a shrug, I eye his class schedule quickly. Except for second and sixth period, we have exactly the same schedule. He’s in all of the advanced classes,too. Only he has gym for second period, and Latin for sixth – opposite of my schedule, except I take French.

Piece of cake.

I glance up at him again, and his eyes meet mine. My breath hitches. Something in his intense gaze makes me feel like he’s measuring me. And there’s something strange about his eyes. They’re brown, but I can tell he has colored contacts. Why would anyone color their eyes brown?

Something about the way he’s looking at me makes my heart flutter. A sniffle escapes me before I can stop it. Ugh. I clear my throat and start in the direction of first period. “Follow me.”

We elbow our way down the freshman hall toward the second floor, but before we start up I point down the way. “Do you know what your locker number is?”

Ben nods and pushes his backpack up on his shoulder further.

I wait for a second and then smile. “What is it?”

“706.” He has a slight accent and his voice is deeper than I expect. I suppress a shiver at the jolt that the musical timbre of his voice sends through my body. I’m resonating like a tuning fork. I really want him to speak again with every fiber of my being. What’s with me?

“Uh…okay.” I swallow, trying to regain composure. And take him to the general area of the locker. “Here it is.”

He looks at it, nods, and returns his gaze to me.

“I know you don’t have any books to put in it, but do you want to try out the combination?”

He lifts one shoulder in a shrug and spins the combo quickly through the three numbers. I purposefully look around so he knows I’m not peeking. He opens the locker wide, nods toward me and then closes it again.

“Great. We have first period over here.”

“You and I have the same first period?”

My body vibrates again, and I blink hard. So glad my back was to him so he couldn’t see the effect his voice has on me. I swallow and face him. “Actually, yeah. Our schedules are very similar. It’s a smallish school so there’s only a few tracks that juniors can be on.”

He nods, and his eyes are half lidded as if he’s bored already.

I lead him toward our class room. “We don’t really have assigned seats, so you can pretty much sit anywhere you want. I’ll show you to the gym at the end of class. I have French next, but it’s not too far from there.” 

I lead him to the front of the class, and my friend, Tasha Brown gives me a wan smile and raises her eyebrows, looking back and forth between me and Ben. She mouths, Who’s that?

I roll my eyes and put up one finger toward her to let her know I’ll tell her in a minute. Then I turn to the teacher. I hand him the schedule from the office. “Hi, Mr. Scott. This is Ben Oscuro, a transfer.”

Mr. Scott sets down the Mountain Dew he was drinking and offers Ben a wide grin. He puts a hand out for him to shake. Ben hesitates but takes the hand in what looks like a firm grip. Mr. Scott shakes his hand afterward. “That’s some grip you’ve got there.” He laughs and leans down to the bottom drawer of his desk and hands Ben a Geography text book.

With a nod, I return to Tasha and squeeze into the desk next to hers. Because I’m at Jackson Hall partially on scholarship and partially on my father’s insurance money, I’m somewhat of a social pariah. My only real friend is Tasha, a pariah herself, being one of the few African-American kids in the school. Still she tends to be more popular than me, because at least her family does have money. And then there’s that rumor…

“So who is the new hottie?” Tasha hops up and down in her seat.

I shake my head at her. “You are one big hormone, you know that? Sure, he’s cute, but is there any guy in the room you don’t consider a hottie?”

Tasha scans the room, considering for a moment with her hand on her chin and a very serious expression on her face. Her hair is in the typical pigtail braids she usually uses to play up the uniform. She has on no sweater, and her shirt is one size too small, causing the buttons at the front to bow and expose part of her red bra. Finally she returns her gaze to me. “There’s only one guy in here that doesn’t rank hottie.”

“Really? Who?”

She leans in conspiratorially and whispers, “Mr. Scott.”

I nearly choke on a laugh as I eye the middle aged, balding teacher at the front of the room. But I have to admit, Jackson Hall is a prep school. And no one can afford to make their children look their best more than the wealthy. I guess if I take my father’s words to heart, it’s better to be the poor kid in the rich kids’ school…than the other way around. Right?

Tasha’s smile returns and I follow her gaze to figure out why. Ben Oscuro walks down the aisle between us and takes the desk right behind mine. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He smells like pine andmint, and it reminds me of the outdoors. When I open them again, Tasha’s smile has grown impossibly wider. She leans towards me and whispers, “What was that you said about hormones again?”

I shove my elbow toward her but she dodges me with a giggle.

Author Bio:

In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long. Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. Her books have hit #1 on the Amazon Bestseller List and Armored Hearts won the 2013 Book Junkie’s Choice Award in Historical Fiction. First Impression: A Shadow Maven Paranormal is her first mystery. It’s a dark urban fantasy and will be released March 31, 2014.

Links:
Website: http://paulinecreeden.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/PaulineCreeden

Twitter: http://twitter.com/P_Creeden

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/PCreeden

Release Day Blitz: The Forgotten Ones- Laura Howard

Title: The Forgotten Ones​

Author: Laura Howard

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

On Sale for .99 cents!!!Book Synopsis: 

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

Excerpt: 

Sean jogged over with the bat and held it out for me, grinning. “Pick your pitcher, Allie-O.”

The smirk on Ethan's face was a challenge, and I couldn't resist. “Ethan has the ball, he can pitch to me.”

He made a big show of stretching and winding up before he finally tossed the ball at me.

I smacked the ball over the pool house, and Sean started shouting and cheering, making me smile. Ethan shook his head, but he was smiling. He clearly thought I would be an easy out.

I made it all the way to the final round, kicking Sean and Jeff out of the game. I'd played softball and run track all through school to pad my transcripts.

“You gonna let her win, E?” Jeff called, winking at me from the picnic table where he sat drinking a beer.

Ethan chuckled, showing off those damn dimples. He looked down at the ball in his hands and back up at me with a grin. “If I do, will you let me take you out?”

I snorted, trying to look braver than I felt. “Not a chance.”

“Wait a sec. I like this. Let's make a wager,” he said.

The guys were all hooting and hollering at me, my face was no doubt crimson.

“What do I get if I win?” I bit my lip, feeling all their eyes on me.

“I'm thinking, hang on,” He held up his finger, his brow furrowed in thought. His eyes widened with excitement, and I knew I would regret whatever he had to say.

“If I win, I get a kiss.” If it was possible, my cheeks grew even redder. They were all laughing and making cat calls now.

“And, if I win?” I looked up at his face.

He looked at me for a second, considering. “If you win, I won't ever ask you out again.”

This earned a chorus of “Yeah, right” and “No way” from the guys.

My mouth fell open, I had not been expecting that, but his face was sober. The laughing around us fell away for a second, and I could only stare at him feeling the color drain from my face. His expression remained solemn, and he met my gaze head on.

I nodded stiffly, and swallowed. “All right.”

His grin came back in full force. “Oh, and Al?”

I raised my eyebrows at him.

“I won't lose.”

Author Bio: 

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Social Media Links: 

Blog|Facebook|Twitter

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Cover Reveal: A Taste for Killing- H.K. Sterling

Title: A Taste for Killing

Author: HK Sterling

Genre: Adult Mystery/Suspense 18+

Reveal Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Short Blurb:

Mystery and Romance blend together when competing detectives Carolyn Woods and Jack Heart find they are surrounded by murder on every side.

Long Blurb:

Mystery and Romance blend together when competing detectives Carolyn Woods and Jack Heart are both hired to solve the murder of Pete Wallace, only to realize they are working the same case. To complicate things, Carolyn and Jack have an on again-offagain relationship. Then there is Evan Jones, a handsome architect— but he's also a suspect. Can Carolyn manage to solve the case as more and more murders pile up? Will her relationship with Jack hinder their investigations? And what about Evan Jones? He seems like the perfect man, but could he actually be the murderer? One thing is for sure: someone close to both Carolyn and Jack has A Taste For Killing.

Excerpt:

He had six-pack abs, and I wanted to feel the carbonation. This one dressed like the stereotype of a construction worker, down to the handkerchief he used to wipe sweat off his forehead. I don't know if he or the hot day brought it out, but sweat poured off of me too. He had no interest in me as a person, though. I was invading his territory. Still, I enjoyed the view. For my part, I knew my clothes looked crappy. I didn’t have to wear uniforms anymore, but my street clothes, well they were very—street. So there I stood, a turd in the sun in front of this Adonis. Oh well.

He pointed to a small trailer up a muddy hill. The supervisor I asked to see apparently stayed in there. Stayed, as in never left. Great. Mud. Now I'd be a dried turd in the sun. Adonis went back to digging and I started the trek up the hill. At least I came with boots. Steel toed.

Once I made it to the trailer, I heard an argument going on inside.

"Look, I don't care who you are. The plans are publically filed. Go get them yourself!" yelled someone.

Then I heard a voice I knew. Calm, cool, subversive. "Is there any reason you're being so difficult? A man did die on your watch."

An encounter I hadn’t planned on. Well, at least not until later tonight. I knocked loudly on the door and with my sweetest voice said, "Hello, boys. Am I interrupting something?"

"Great," groused the supervisor. "A party." He appeared to me like another stereotype, puffing on a cigar over a fat jowl line and rotund stomach that threatened tooverturn the small desk he was behind. I guess there's a reason for stereotypes. He looked about four hamburgers away from a heart attack.

On a wooden chair in front of the supervisor sat Jack. A fellow independent detective, an ally at times, a competitor...and my on and off lover.

"Well, well, well," he said smiling, but I could tell he wasn’t happy to see me. Not here. It meant we were both working the same case. "Hello, Carolyn. Who hired you?"

"Parents."

"Girlfriend," he answered back.

We stared at each other. Complications.

The supervisor didn’t give a damn and said to me, "Well, missy, I'll tell you the same thing I told this guy." He jerked his thumb around to Jack. "The plans are publically filed and that’s all I have to say about it."

I tried a different tactic. "That’s fine with me. I have no problem going downtown for a copy." I wore my practiced, saccharine smile. "But I wonder, could you tell me the name of the architect? Please?" I smiled again. God, this job sucks at times.

The supervisor sighed. "Jones, Evan Jones."

"Thank you so much," I said, smiling my best smile again. "I'll get out of the way and leave you two boys to...whatever you were doing."

I opened the door to go and started to shut it only to find Jack following me out.

"Sure, flash your tits and get what you want." Boy was he in a bad mood.

"There was no tit flashing in there. Face it, testosterone was not a good choice in that situation."

Jack's response: a grunt.

"Besides," I tried to placate him, "I didn’t get the plans either."

"No, you did one better."

"That's assuming the architect will have anything to do with me and cooperate." A thought occurred to me. "So are you going there too?"

"No, I might as well wait and see what you turn up. Besides, I have my own leads."

"Are you planning to share?" Just call me hopeful. As in full of shit, because that’s where hope always seemed to lead.

"No," he said, still grumpy.

"I see. So it's gonna be like that."

"I guess so."

I felt like such a female. Damn. But I had to ask.

"Are we still on for tonight?"

"Yeah."

I wasn’t convinced but didn’t push it. God, sometimes I hated myself. But we were good together—when it was good—when his competitive edge didn’t get the better of him. Though I was one to talk. I did the same thing at times. Hence our on and off status. But currently we were supposed to be on. So, I kept it light in the spirit of things to come.

"Okay, master detective, I'll leave you to your leads. See ya."

"See ya," he replied, already preoccupied, pondering a piece of paper he'd taken from his pocket.

I made my way down the hill in my muddy boots.

Author Bio:

H.K. Sterling is an author with Breathless Press known for stories with a kick and twist endings. H.K. likes to focus her writing on suspense, science-fiction, shorts, and anything that is spicy and unexpected. H.K. lives in Virginia with her husband who graciously puts up with her passion for writing. H.K. currently has a Mystery Thriller out:A Taste For Killing; and two short stories in the Breathless Press Anthology: My Bloody Valentine. H.K is currently working on a sequel to A Taste For Killing and a Science Fiction book of short twists. You can contact H.K. on the following social media:

Links:

Twitter: @HKSterling

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/HK-Sterling/426989014069244?ref=hl

Email: HK.Sterling@aol.com

HK Sterling "Undercover Blog": http://hksterling1.blogspot.com/

Release Day Blitz: Fire & Shadows- Rochelle Maya Callen

Title: Fire & Shadows (Ashes & Ice, #2)

Author: Rochelle Maya Callen​

Genre: Young Adult, Dark Fantasy

Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Book Description:

Secrets. Silence. Sacrifice.

Jade is only beginning to unravel her own secrets. Facing fate, a murky past and a brutal inner battle, Jade must become what she fears without giving into the darkness.

If she doesn't, the world will be devoured by Fire and Shadows.

Fire and Shadows is the SEQUEL to Ashes and Ice.

Join today's Online Facebook Release Bash!

https://www.facebook.com/events/465546163562712/

Author Bio:

Rochelle grew up dreaming up stories. When she entered high school, she tucked away her creative side and jumped head-first into academics, work, and service projects. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science and Communication when she was twenty years old. After years away from her writing, Rochelle picked up a pen and started fleshing out a character sketch that she outlined when she was twelve. That sketch was the start of the Ashes and Ice story. Rochelle lives in the DC metro area with her husband and daughter. Fire and Shadows is her second novel.

Www.RochelleMayaCallen.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rochelle-Maya-Callen-Author/478176392210312

twitter: rockyiswriting

Audio Blitz: Colour Wielders- Dawna Raver

Title: Colour Wielders

Author: Dawna Raver​

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Synopsis:

Behind the Faerying Mysts, hidden from Mortal eyes, is a land where gods and creatures of myth and legend dwell. And in the Mortal Realm, their Princess is hidden away.

Quinn Sinclair lives an ordinary life with her less-than-loving mother in Conifer, Colorado, clueless of her true nature. On the night of her birthday, a staggering betrayal sends her life spinning out-of-control. As she struggles to pick up the pieces, a vision of a man with haunting tourmaline-blue eyes begs her for help, and she is transported into a Magykal battle-forever changing her life.

Arik Morgaine—Demigod bad boy and outcast of the Magykal Realm—tried to avoid contact with Princess Quinn for eighteen years, not wanting to make good on an old threat. But the fates have other plans. Arik can no longer deny his growing desire for Quinn, or the need to protect her from those wanting to control her burgeoning powers.

Can the two of them come together and save the Magykal Realm from being destroyed by the Darkest of Magyks?

New Adult. Recommended for 18 and above. Mature themes, sexual situations, and profanity.

Author Bio:
Dawna Raver didn't always want to be a writer, but the voices in her head keep sending her stories, ranging from new adult, romantic fantasy and contemporary romance.

When she's not spending time in her fantasy world, Dawna loves football, reading, and pretending she's a top chef in the kitchen. Oh, and fawning over her dogs and husband, sometimes in that order.

Severed Colours, Book 2, A Colour Wielders Novel, released on November 18, 2013.
Indulging in Irelyn, a contemporary romance, written under D.L. Raver releases February 5, 2014.

http://www.amazon.com/Colour-Wielders-Novel-ebook/dp/B00EQLLNPK

this is the buy link as well as the audio sample

http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Colour-Wielders-Audiobook/B00HS0HVQQ

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Review #215: Marrying Missy- Sarah Elle Emm

Title: Marrying Missy
Author: Sarah Elle Emm
Pages: 292
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: MARRYING MISSY is the first novel by the very talented Sarah Elle Emm. Tate Sullivan is in a fix: her best friend, Missy Martin, is getting married. With constant criticism from Missy Martin, Buckhead heiress and bride-to-be; stress from her intense nursing job; and a short-temper on the rise from her high powered, attorney husband, Georgia-native, Tate Sullivan is engaged in the ultimate balancing act.Tate has to cope with sleep-deprived night shifts, her closet nicotine habit, her husband's apparent workaholism, her mother's meddlesome behavior, and her ongoing attempt to educate Missy about not making borderline racist remarks about everyone who doesn't have money or look like her. When a collision with a runaway Golden Retriever lands Tate in the arms of the newcomer to Atlanta, Dr. Jackson Greenfield, Tate begins to think her mother has concocted the ultimate scheme. Wedding planning has never been so nerve-racking...or dangerous. Marrying Missy reveals the complexity of those who are merely planning a wedding, preparing for a marriage, and those who aren't sure what their marriage is-or has become. Sarah Elle Emm captures the world of wedding planning for a particular Georgia princess, but sublimely reveals all that is so often forgotten in that process-love and marriage. - the Publisher
Review: Marrying Missy was this weeks book of the week in my review group and at first I was a little hesitant to read it because it is out of my usual genre but I'm glad I did. I found this to be a quick, fun and easy read. I finished this novel in one sitting and was entertained the whole time. I did find the story to be a bit predictable but still enjoyable. I loved all the humor present and even with some of the darker parts of the story this was still a cute, fluffy read. 
At the beginning of the book I really didn't like Missy. I felt like she was a spoiled brat who would walk all over anyone to get what she wanted, and I guess she did that. But she really did grow on me, especially when you could see the change in her and for the better. Tat was another great character that you could see the change in her over the course of the book, she just grew a different way than Missy did. I did feel bad for Tate for what she went through, but at the same time it moulded her as a person and she was strong enough to realize that it wasn't a healthy situation.
I really love reading books by the amazing Sarah Elle Emm. She has such a way with words that she insnares you in her work. I would absolutely recommend this novel to those looking for a romantic comedy. I can't wait to see what Sarah comes up with next.

About this author

Sarah Elle Emm is the author of the Young-adult fantasy and dystopian, HARMONY RUN SERIES, published by Winter Goose Publishing. (PRISMATIC, May 2012,OPALESCENT, February 2013, CHATOYANT due August 2014, NACREOUS, TBD.) Her debut fiction novel, MARRYING MISSY, an Amazon Best Seller in marriage, was published by Bird Brain Publishing in October 2011. Sarah shares her Southwest Florida photo blog, "Sarah's View from the Bottom," at SarahsViewfromtheBottom.com. Sarah is a graduate of The University of Evansville, she has lived and worked in Mexico, Germany, England, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and has traveled extensively beyond. Her love of journal writing, travel, and multicultural experience have all influenced her novels. Sarah lives in Naples, Florida. When she's not walking the plank on her daughters' imaginary pirate ship, she is working on her latest book.
Official website: SarahElleEmm.com
Facebook.com/SarahElleEmm
Facebook.com/HarmonyRunSeries
Twitter @SarahElleEmm(less)

Review #214: Why We Broke Up- Daniel Handler

Title: Why We Broke Up
Author: Daniel Handler
Pages: 354
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Summary: I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.Review: I originally picked this book up because I thought the idea of it was cool. I was also looking forward to it having pictures. My biggest problem of this book was the weight. It weighed like 10lbs making it very hard to actually read. I could only hold it up for so long and then my arms would be noodles. I liked the idea of the book having drawings, but I feel like the execution was poor. I just thought the drawings were a bit juvenile and I would have liked them better if they have been actual photographs of the said items. 
I found that I couldn't really connect to Min as a character, I just didn't get her as a person. I also couldn't relate to any of her references to the old movies (and yes I know they were all made up by the author). I wasn't expecting the twist with Ed, so that did shock me. I do have a few unanswered questions. Do Al and min ever hook up? Also was that old lady the actress they thought she was? Did they ever throw the party for her? Or did I miss those parts all together.
I don't know if I would recommend this book to anyone, not because the actual story was bad but it just wasn't for me.

About this author

Daniel Handler is the author of the novels The Basic Eight, Watch Your Mouth, Adverbs, and as Lemony Snicketa sequence of children's novels collectively entitled "A Series of Unfortunate Events." He also plays the accordion.

For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_H...

Review #213: The Kill Order- James Dashner

Title: The Kill order
Author: James Dashner
Pages: 327
Rating: 2/5 Stars
Summary: The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.Review: When I saw that James Dashner had written a prequel to the Maze Runner series I was ecstatic because I loved the series. Unfortunately, the Kill Order was terrible and a waste of time. The only parts that I liked and really had anything to do with The Maze Runner were the prologue and the epilogue. The book would have been better just as a stand alone and not having anything to do with The Maze Runner. But even that would not have saved this book. I was in a reading slump because of it. It took me forever to finish and every time I had to set it down, I had to fight myself to even pick it back up again. 
I would not recommend this book to anyone. This makes me very weary to pick up Dashner's new book the Eye of minds. Hopefully it is better. If you loved The Maze Runner series do not pick this book up, the series will be ruined.

About this author

James is the author of THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy and THE 13TH REALITY series. He also published a series (beginning with A DOOR IN THE WOODS) with a small publisher several years ago. He lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains.

Review #212: Witchstruck- Victoria Lamb

Title: Witchstruck
Author: Victoria Lamb
Pages: 320
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Summary: If she sink, she be no witch and shall be drowned. 

If she float, she be a witch and must be hanged.

Meg Lytton has always known she is different—that she bears a dark and powerful gift. But in 1554 England, in service at Woodstock Palace to the banished Tudor princess Elizabeth, it has never been more dangerous to practise witchcraft. Meg knows she must guard her secret carefully from the many suspicious eyes watching over the princess and her companions. One wrong move could mean her life, and the life of Elizabeth, rightful heir to the English throne.

With witchfinder Marcus Dent determined to have Meg's hand in marriage, and Meg's own family conspiring against the English queen, there isn't a single person Meg can trust. Certainly not the enigmatic young Spanish priest Alejandro de Castillo, despite her undeniable feelings. But when all the world turns against her, Meg must open her heart to a dangerous choice.

The Secret Circle meets The Other Boleyn Girl in Witchstruck, the first book of the magical Tudor Witch trilogy.Review: I fell in love with this cover, causing me to buy this book. Unfortunately I wasn't really impressed by it. I think the synopsis sounded intriguing but the story just didn't live up to it. Personally I just found the story to be boring until about 80-90% in. Then there was a smidge of excitement and then the book ended. It just wasn't what I thought it would be. I didn't really like the characters, they had no depth, they were just there to fill up space. I'm not really sure if I would recommend this book to anyone.

About this author

Victoria Lamb lives in a farmhouse on the wild fringes of Bodmin Moor with her husband, five kids, two cats and a crazed Irish Red Setter. She is addicted to social media, and on dark nights has been known to sneak out and howl at the moon.

Chat with Victoria on Twitter about books and nonsense. @VictoriaLamb1

Review #211: Cum Laude- Cecily von Ziegesar

Title: Cum Luade
Author: Cecily von Ziegesar
Pages: 272
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Summary: They're here for a higher education . . . and you won't believe how far they'll go.

Dexter College is a small liberal arts college in the quiet town of Home, Maine. But it won't stay quiet for long with this group of freshmen. There's Shipley--blonde and beautiful, the object of envy and more than a little lust. Determined to assert herself and to shed her good-girl image, she buys cigarettes and condoms, because that's what every self-respecting college girl does. Her edgy roommate, Eliza, came to Dexter to get noticed, and she has the attitude and the mouth to prove it. Then there's Tom. Handsome, privileged, used to getting his own way, he's a jock-turned-artist who thinks his paintings will change the world. Sensitive Nick, Tom's wake-and-bake pot-smoking roommate, wants to follow in the footsteps of his boarding-school hero. And then there are brother and sister Adam and Tragedy Gatz. The freckle-faced farm boy lives at home with his parents and his little sister, who does all she can to stop him from being a wuss.

As Shipley, Eliza, Tom, Nick, and Adam find out, that first year of college is more than credits and cramming. Between the lust and the love, the secrecy and the scandal, they'll all receive an unexpected education. It's a time of shifting alliances, unrequited crushes, and coming of age. Find Yourself is Dexter's motto. And they are determined to do just that.

Review: I have had this book sitting on my shelf for awhile and Bout of books 9.0 was the perfect excuse to pick it up and finally read it. Cum Laude wasn't the best book I have read but it wasn't the worst. It just followed around a bunch of college kids as they partied, drank and did drugs. Is that how university/ college is in the states? Haha. That's not how my college experience was at all. I wasn't connected to the characters or the story. 

This was just an easy, no- Brainer book. I think I would recommend this book to someone who didn't want to think what they were reading and just wants to veg out.

About this author

Cecily grew up in Manhattan and went to an all-girl's school on the Upper East Side.
She resides in Brooklyn with her husband Richard, the Deputy Director of the Public Art Fund, their children, Agnes and Oscar, and their two Cornish Rex cats. Von Ziegesar also owns an Appaloosa horse, Golden Rain. She is dreams of having a 'ranch full of cattle' when retired.

Review #210: The Fault in Our Stars- John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Pages: 313
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Summary: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
Review: I was very hesitant to read this book after I had read Looking For Alaska and not liking it, but I'm very glad I picked up The Fault in Our Stars, it blew my mind. I could feel every emotion that he characters felt. I ugly cried numerous times. I was actually a bit shocked with what happened, it was quite the twist. I definitely wasn't expecting it until it happened. I don't really even know how to review this book. It was so beautiful, moving and eye opening. I loved being along for the ride. 
I love both of these characters. They were so strong, brave and filled with love. This was such an emotional roller coaster to be on. I want to know what happens now. Much like the characters in the book, I am seeking an answer I might never receive, I can assume, but I want to know what John Green thinks will happen now.
I would recommend this novel to everybody and anybody. Even if you don't read, you need to pick up this masterpiece and read it ASAP!!

P.S. I can't wait for the movie. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint.

About this author

John Green's first novel, Looking for Alaska, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award presented by the American Library Association. His second novel, An Abundance of Katherines, was a 2007 Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His next novel, Paper Towns, is a New York Times bestseller and won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best YA Mystery. In January 2012, his most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, was met with wide critical acclaim, unprecedented in Green's career. The praise included rave reviews in Time Magazine and The New York Times, on NPR, and from award-winning author Markus Zusak. The book also topped the New York Times Children's Paperback Bestseller list for several weeks. Green has also coauthored a book with David Levithan called Will Grayson, Will Grayson, published in 2010. The film rights for all his books, with the exception of Will Grayson Will Grayson, have been optioned to major Hollywood Studios.

In 2007, John and his brother Hank were the hosts of a popular internet blog, "Brotherhood 2.0," where they discussed their lives, books and current events every day for a year except for weekends and holidays. They still keep a video blog, now called "The Vlog Brothers," which can be found on the Nerdfighters website, or a direct link here.

Review #209: Family Pieces- Misa Rush

Title: Family Pieces
Author: Misa Rush
Pages: 266
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: What do you do when your once charmed life falls to pieces? Karsen Woods's life seems charmed from her handsome boyfriend to her picture-perfect midwestern roots. Away at college, even the necklace she wears serves as a constant connection home - a family tradition created when her grandfather handmade each immediate relative an interlinking charm. Each piece crafted in the shape of a puzzle piece, each one interlinking perfectly together. But when the unexpected death of her mother turns her world upside down, she discovers there is a missing piece of her treasured family tradition and her life as she once knew it may never be the same. Addison Reynolds resides in her posh Manhattan condominium and wraps her personal identity around running Urbane, the magazine empire built by her father. In a moment of haste, Addison divulges her deepest secret to her closest friend Emily - a secret she never intended to disclose. Could one choice, one secret, bond two unlikely women forever?
Review: I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review,
I really enjoyed reading Family Pieces, it was a very cute and light read. It's one of those books that just makes you smile, despite shedding a few tears as well. I really loved the plot of this story, I loved how the puzzle piece necklaces linked the family together and how there was a fun and mysterious twist on this not so unique story. This novel was turley a coming of age read.
I really enjoyed all of these characters, well except for Shady McDouche pants. I found all of the characters to genuinely be nice people. I liked all of the emotions that he characters went through: grief, denial, happiness, sadness and everything else in- between.
This was a great, fluffy contemporary that was a fast and easy read. If you are looking for a coming of age story then look no further. For a debut novel, Family Pieces was very well written. I will be sure to look for more books to come by Misa Rush.

About this author

Mommy, wife and self-proclaimed shoe addict.
Misa Rush earned an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and a BS from Eastern Michigan University. After building a successful insurance business, she decided to pursue her first novel. She resides in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband and two children where, depending on the time of day, she's either out developing her new real estate business, marketing books, carpooling kids, or trying to fit in a meeting before checking in at her children's sporting activities where she takes her job as #1 fan very seriously.

Like all busy moms, she often does too much, schedules more on top of that, and stays up well past a respectable bedtime to sit before the seductive glow of her computer screen, typing out the stories in her head and strategizing ways to get everything done.

FAMILY PIECES ebook has been downloaded over 30,000 times to date.

Cover Reveal: My Soul For You- Airicka Phoenix

Title: My Soul For you

Author: Airicka Phoenix

Publisher: Fire & Ice Publishing

Release Day: March 7, 2014

Genre: New Adult Contemporary, Thriller with strong elements of Romance

Warnings: Language and sexual content

Formats: eBook & Paperback

Other Novels: http://www.amazon.com/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM

Buying Locations: To Come Soon

Author Bio:

Best-Selling author Airicka Phoenix lives in rainy British Columbia with her beautiful family. When she's not pounding away at the keyboard, she can be found reading, shining her collection of daggers or chilling with her kids. 

She is the author of the Touch Saga, The Sons of Judgment Saga, The Lost Girl Series, and Games of Fire.

Airicka also writes adult paranormal & contemporary romance under her alter ego, Morgana Phoenix. Her first novel, Capture Me, will be out 2014.

For more about Airicka, visit her website at: http://airickaphoenix.com/Author/

Stalker Links:

Author Website: http://airickaphoenix.com/Author/

Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Airicka-Phoenix/252135634831614

Touch Series Page: https://www.facebook.com/TouchSeriesByAirickaPhoenix?ref=hl

Design Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Airickas-Mystical-Creations/462373910480084Morgana Phoenix Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Morgana-Phoenix/148839731972606

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AirickaPhoenix  

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/AirickaPhoenix

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Airicka-Phoenix/e/B00906AGHM

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/airicka-phoenix/40/432/74

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/Search?query=Airicka%20Phoenix&fcsearchfield=Author

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/airickaphoenix/

Barns & Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/airicka-phoenix

Trilogy Review #207-209: The Divergent Series- Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Pages: 487
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, 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 to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating 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 a growing conflict that threatens 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.Review: There has been so much hype about this book from everyone and I wanted to read it before the movie comes out, so I finally picked it up. I wasn't disappointed with the story, it just didn't blow my mind like I was expecting. I'm not sure what about the story didn't grab me, but I found myself to be easily distracted by other things and I had no issue putting the book down. If I wouldn't have been able to put it down it would have gotten that five star rating. I did like the world that Veronica Roth created, and all of its twists and secrets. 
I liked Tria, I feel like even though she was supposed to conform to her faction, she kept her rebelliousness and curiosity. She didn't let her faction define her. I loved hearing everything that was going on inside her head and whether she did what she was thinking.
This was a great dystopian read and I would recommend it to all dystopian lovers.

Title: Insurgent
Pages: 525
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.

The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.

I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.Review: This book started off right where book one ended. I have to be brutally honest, I didn't like Tris in this instalment. I feel like all the awesome, brave and independence that was built up in book one was lost in this book. Tris was a whiny baby. I kind of wanted to punch her in the throat. And the story just kept on trucking, so yeah, not really much more to say.
I would recommend this book to dystopian lovers, only because book one was good so you have to continue the series and skipping a book wouldn't make sense.

Title: Allegiant
Pages: 526
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.Review: Again, this book starts where the last ended. And again it was a "meh" read. Nothing really blew my mind, it was just a story. But unlike so many other people the ending didn't bother me. I feel like the only reason poet plié rated this instalment low was because of the ending. But realistically, how else could this book have ended? Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. I didn't connect with these characters and I didn't really care that we lost some of them. I almost felt like it was about time haha.
I would still recommend people to read this book because you can't only read the first two. Despite me not really liking this series, I am curious to see what Veronica Roth will write next.

About this author

Veronica Roth is from a Chicago suburb. She studied creative writing at Northwestern University, and wrote DIVERGENT (Katherine Tegen Books, May 2011) and INSURGENT (May 2012). The third and final book in The Divergent Trilogy, ALLEGIANT, will come out on October 22, 2013. In the meantime she will spend endless hours browsing Wikipedia in her pajamas as she eats corn flakes. (Or some other kind of bland breakfast cereal.)