Blog Tour + Giveaway: Ashe to Steele by Karen-Anne Stewart

New Adult Romance

Date Published: February 13, 2014

Blurb:

Emma

Who I am and all I believe is marred with just one glance into angry, steel blue eyes. He seems to control my air, my ability to breathe. He makes me crave everything I know is a sin. Pure becomes tainted and lines are blurred. It's my fault; I'm the one who isn't strong enough. I've been damaged...broken. Breck's words haunt me...'There's a consequence for every choice you make.'

Breck

I've had so many women I can't even remember over half of their names, but none of them are mine; I make damn sure of that. I take what I desire and never look back. I don't need or want anyone, ever...not until I met Emma. Those eyes bore into what's left of my soul and her touch sears me, weakens me. I want to hate her for that. She is my ruin...my sweetest hell.

Disclaimer: Intended for readers 18+ due to strong language, mature scenes, and some violence.

Get it @ Amazon 

Excerpt:

 Jess has dismissed last night as some major hormonal time of the month ordeal and waves it off without talking about it while she pours me a drink.  She’s getting the beers ready to take to the grunge band that’s playing tonight when a couple of guys start shoving and yelling at the bar.  Jess jerks her head towards Jason, who slides over the counter and steps in between the two just in time to catch a fist full of knuckles.
   “Shit!” Jess leaves the tray on the bar and tries to demand the men to knock it off, but a beer bottle is thrown, smashing a few inches away from me at the bar, the dark liquid and glass splashing me.
   The fight quickly spreads into an affray of arms, fists, and bodies being thrust left and right. Jess heads towards the door to get Gavin from outside. I’ve seen a couple of fights between some of Justin’s jock friends who had too much to drink at parties back home, but this is insane.  The crowded space in front of the bar has turned into a wrestling and boxing match, and I scoot back to avoid more shattered glass when I slam into a sharp elbow sending me stumbling forward. Panic ensues as I hit the ground and am knocked back and forth, keeping me from scrambling to my feet.  A pair of large, strong hands wrap around my waist, sweeping me off the ground and landing me on top of the counter.
   “Get behind the bar and stay there,” Breck demands gruffly, directly before grabbing the tattooed fist of a shaved headed man whose intent was to send his fist into the crew cut military looking Goliath.
   Breck twists the man’s arm behind his back, slamming his face against the bar.  No gratitude is bestowed by Goliath as he throws a punch at Breck, who ducks, landing his elbow against the man’s ribs, then administering a sharp jab and an upward thrust of his forearm into Goliath’s nose.  Blood streams as he falls backwards.  The scene in front of me passes in a minute but it seems like it’s playing in slow motion as I watch Breck single handedly defusing a large part of the melee, dodging fists and elbows as he lands perfectly precise blows too many times for me to keep count.
   I’m in a state of stunned awe, horrified, mesmerized, and more than a little ashamed at how I’m completely turned on watching Breck’s toned body twist and turn, his shirt pressing tight against the outline of his chiseled muscles when he takes down man after man. Gavin reaches the bar and flashes an exuberant grin as he joins in the brawl.  The difference between the two is staggering. Gavin seems to be thoroughly enjoying the violent chaos, while Breck’s eyes are hard and calculated as he seems to find no amusement in the serious damage he’s causing.
   Jess climbs over the top of the bar with me and grabs my arm, pulling me flush with her to the opposite counter.  Her eyes bounce between Jason, Gavin, and Breck, not fazed in the least.  She grabs a pitcher of water and throws the whole thing at a long-haired, pierced broad shouldered man who is gaining the upper hand on Jason.  A few more faces are bloodied before the fight is contained.
   Breck’s chest rises and falls from his exertion.  His brow has a sheen of sweat and the veins on his neck are pulsating.  I watch how eerily calm he is as he glances around the room, his fists still tightly coiled and ready to strike.
   Jess hauls herself on the bar, pushing to her feet, “If you are still in one piece, then  count yourself as one lucky sonofabitch and have a beer on the house, but if you’re one of the bleeding assholes, get the hell out of my bar and don’t even think about dragging your ass back until you sleep it off, or you won’t be able to walk out of here next time.”
   Gavin slaps the back of Breck’s shoulder, absolutely beaming, “Oh hell, yeah. Now, that’s what I call a good night.”
   Seemingly satisfied that all the potential threats have been neutralized, Breck’s gaze lands on mine, and I’m amazed that he went through all of what I just had a front row seat to untouched.  I check out the small cut above Gavin’s eye, just shy of his temple, before cringing when I see Jason.  His eye and nose are busted and bleeding.  Breck shows no signs of what happened, other than looking as if he finished a heavy workout.
   Jess grabs Jason’s chin, inspecting his bloodied face before pushing her thumb against the side of his nose.
   “Damn, Jess, cut it out,” he snaps, knocking her hand away.
   She laughs, “Not broken this time.”
   Jason must see the residual shock registered on my face because he clicks his chin up when he looks at me, “You alright, Em?”
   Jess slides back over the bar top, plopping down in front of me and wrapping my arm in hers, grinning, “This is her first party; she’ll be just fine, won’t you?”
   Shaking it off, I scan the crowd that is now back to normal, drinking and talking like what just happened is a perfectly normal occurrence.  “This happen a lot? Broken noses, bloody floors, and all that?”
   Breck’s gaze turns hard again as he barks, “Oh, that’s right.  You’re of the philosophy of turning the other cheek.”
   Indignation rises, tinting my cheeks at his scoffing tone, “No. I – um- I mean-” not sure what I’m trying to say, I shut up, trying to match his admonishing stare but it comes out more like a twisted awed curiosity, “how did you do that?”
   Gavin’s hand soundly slaps Breck’s back again, “Our boy here can kick some serious ass, go all the way to the pros, if he’d just embrace what he’s got.”
   Breck shrugs Gavin’s hand away as Jess’ glare to shut up seems to mute Gavin.  With one quick glimpse, Breck inspects me, “Were you hurt?”  The words are gruff but there’s the tiniest flash of concern in his eyes.
   “No – sorry,” I state hurriedly, realizing that I didn’t thank him for getting me out of the stampede before I did get hurt, “thank you for moving me.”
   That strong, lightly specked jaw is still wound tight when he gives a sharp nod, “Don’t be latetomorrow.”
   Wanting to be a smartass, I refrain from saluting at his order and let it go as he turns to leave.
   “You just got here,” Gavin blurts, “throw him a beer, Jess.”
   “Not tonight,” he mumbles before walking away.
   I watch how the crowd thins, moving out of Breck’s way as he walks by.  His reputation seems to include more than just being a god and Casanova; apparently, he’s also feared.

About the author: 
Karen-Anne Stewart has always adored reading and has now fallen in love with writing. Her written works are The Rain Trilogy: Saving Rain, Healing Rain, and After the Rain, and the newly released stand alone novel, Ash to Steele. Her debut novel, Saving Rain: The First Novel in The Rain Trilogy, was a nominee for the Book Junkie’s Choice Awards and is a nominee for the RONE Awards to be held July 2014.

When Karen-Anne isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and visiting new places. She fuels her addiction of creating new stories by her only other addiction, caffeine, and listening to a myriad of musical genres. Tucked away near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Karen-Anne lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and their cat. She plans on writing new adult romance as long as her fingers maintain dexterity.

Check her out:
Website:  http://www.karen-annestewart.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-Anne-Stewart-Author/113779785477987
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/SKarenAnne
Blog:  http://www.karen-annestewart.com/karen-anne-stewart-blog.html  (under construction, but working).
Goodreads author page:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6920317.Karen_Anne_Stewart

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Blog Tour + Giveaway: Becoming the Chateran by S.J. Aisling

Fantasy

Date Published: February 1, 2014

Goodreads

Blurb:

When Princess Rhea’s actions inadvertently condemn two innocent knights to death, she wakes to the hard reality that not even nobility is above the law. All her attempts to remedy the situation only complicate it, however, until she finds herself a fugitive in her own kingdom, having dragged her best friend into the trouble, as well. Their only hope for pardon? To accompany Sir Paladin and Sir Zephen in their sentence:

Slay, or be slain by, the Dragons of Sama-Ael-Fen.

Travelling incognito, they meet with more malicious Phoenixes than could be coincidental, discover the mysterious disappearance of numerous citizens, and come face to face with a reawakened evil power. With the kingdom oblivious to the connection of these dangers, it’s up to Rhea and her outlaw companions to stop the rising threat and redeem their names – if they can survive their quest.

Get it @ Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Publisher

Excerpt:

The door swung open at Rhea’s gentle push, and she peered into a room not unlike the one her father had left her in a few minutes before: a bed in one corner, a table and a stool against the wall, and a fireplace with a couple of chairs before it. Between the chairs, standing with his face towards the fire and his back to Rhea, was Sir Paladin. His hands were clasped behind his back and his damp sleeves rolled up, and in the shifting light of the fire Rhea could see the muscles and tendons of his arms were rigid and tight. With a shaky breath, Rhea stepped into the doorway and cleared her throat. At the sound, starting as if from deep thought, Sir Paladin looked over his shoulder, eyes wide and alert. Rhea’s face flamed as he turned to face her fully, his hands now limp at his sides, and stared at her.  There was dust on his clothes, and streaks of mud and grass stains, one sleeve was torn at the shoulder, and there was the beginning of a fine bruise on the right side of his face.

“I…” Rhea fumbled, “I brought you some dinner.”

Sir Paladin’s expression did not change, and Rhea set the tray down on the floor before her trembling hands could drop it. When she straightened again, she found Sir Paladin still in the same position. She frowned.

“Sir Paladin?”

That seemed to release him, for he hurried towards her, grabbed her upper arm, and pulled her into the room, shutting the door quickly behind her.

“What… are you doing here?” he hissed.

“I came to speak with you… actually, to bring you dinner, but since I’m here I might as well talk with you,” Rhea whispered.

“What? How…?” Sir Paladin threw up his hands. “If your father or anyone else… Where did you even get the key?”

“The innkeeper’s wife thought I was a new maid and sent me up. But there isn’t much time. I’ve come to tell you I’m dreadfully sorry about what has happened. I’m mortified that your kindness to me should be repaid in such an awful way, and that my father and Prince Ohnferead think you would do anything like what they accuse you of.”

“You came up here, risking both our necks, to tell me that?”

“Aye, and tomorrow I’ll tell the prince and my father everything.”

“No, don’t!” Sir Paladin put up one hand as if to hush Rhea then and there.

“Whyever not? This is my dilemma, and I must stand up and deal with it. I can’t have my father and everyone else, especially that prince, blaming you for something I caused. I am at fault, and I must take the consequences. You don’t need to and won’t,” Rhea almost stamped her foot but stopped, fearing it would be heard elsewhere in the inn and arouse suspicion, “be blamed for any of it.”

Paladin made as if to speak, but Rhea continued, “Furthermore, I will not simply stand idly by and watch your honor, and possibly your knighthood, be taken from you on my account.”

“Listen!” Sir Paladin put his hands on her shoulders, crouching a little so his face was on a level with hers. “The honor of a princess is far more valuable than the honor of a single knight. If you went and told everyone that you had spent an entire day alone in the forest, unprotected and unescorted, your honor would be damaged, and a dishonored princess is a terrible thing.”

“But so is a miscarriage of justice!” Rhea flamed.

“Better that than an entire country put to shame at the dishonor of their princess!” Paladin’s dark blue eyes flashed. “I don’t know what you were doing in the forest, Your Highness, but as far as anything concerning the both of us goes, I know you are faultless. If it costs my honor and, if need be, my knighthood, to make the rest of Gemworthy believe that, so be it.”

About the author:
Stacia Joy has always loved to tell stories and invent fictional lands and characters. But she never considered becoming a writer herself until age thirteen, when, inspired by a pretend play she invented with a friend, she wrote the first draft of Becoming the Chateran. The story has since expanded into what will become The Chateran Series. Stacia Joy also writes in several other genres, including steampunk and paranormal/science fiction, and occasionally writes poems about buffalo.

Wanting to be able to show others what her imagined universe looks like, Stacia Joy taught herself to draw by studying the work of illustrators like Alphonse Mucha, Arthur Rackham, Kate Seredy, and Jan Brett. She also received training in illustration and graphic design at Madison Area Technical College, and plans to become a full-fledged freelance illustrator before long.

When not immersed in writing or art, Stacia Joy spends her time playing the piano and folk harp, composing music, Irish dancing, singing at the top of her lungs, and learning new things. She also enjoys helping with children's ministry at her church, and currently resides in the Madison, Wisconsin area with a kitten named Lord Peter Whimsey.

Check her out:
Website: https://sjaisling.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SJAislingAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJAisling
Blog: https://sjaisling.com

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Review + Blog Tour + Giveaway: RecruitZ by Karice Bolton

 RecruitZ by Karice Bolton
(Afterworld #1)
Publication date: December 27th 2013
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic

Goodreads 

Blurb:

Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.

Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.

Review:

I do love a good zombie read. RecruitZ, however, brought more than just zombies to the table. It brought mystery, dystopia, science, emotions and a whole lot of courage in the form of Rebekah Taylor. Having survived the outbreak of zombies months before, and living off the land with her husband, her world is ripped apart when the supposedly contained zombies rip him apart right in front of her and her world changes. She has to deal with the grief of losing her best friend but she is also determined to find out who is lying to whom and why did this happen to him....

Rebekah was such a great character for this story! You could feel her pain and grief coming through but at the same time she was this brave and determined woman who wasn't going to take any sort of BS around her. You felt horrible for her and was awed by her at the same time. That is a hard balance to mix in a heroine. I think the author does a great job at making you feel everything that is going on in her head and that leaves you with a book that hits all the great things about a zombie read: adventure, thriller and emotions.

Those emotions run wild in this story and what emphasized them well was the fact that this is one of the most unique stories I have read in a long time. Yes, it's a disease outbreak and it's zombies but there is another element to RecruitZ that I just loved. It was the world trying to tip itself back up again after hitting some serious lows and people trying to get back to normal after a horrific event. However, clearly there are still mysteries at work here because things aren't what the government want you to believe. Add to that background of tragedy and rebuilding the hint of romance that is blooming for Rebekah and a sexy man who also has his own grief he is dealing with and it just rounded the story out. Clearly it is too early for Rebekah to be falling in love, which is perfect exactly how this is playing out, but that spark of something more is hidden in these pages somewhere and gives the reader a direction to go in for future books. I loved the setting we created in this one and the characters so I am definitely looking forward to what else this story has for me in the future!- My Opinion- ****4 Stars!

Get it @ Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Kobo 

About the author: 

Karice Bolton lives in the Pacific Northwest and is a writer of Young Adult and New Adult books. She loves to read anything and everything. She also enjoys baking, skiing, and spending time with her wonderful husband and two English bulldogs.

Books currently available:
*Beyond Love Series: Beyond Control (Book 1) Beyond Doubt (Book 2) Beyond Reason (Book 3) – Feb. 28th
*Afterworld Series: RecruitZ (Book 1)
*The Witch Avenue Series: Lonely Souls (Book 1), Altered Souls (Book 2), Released Souls (Book 3) Shattered Souls (Book 4)
*The Watchers Trilogy: Awakening (Book 1), Legions (Book 2), Cataclysm (Book 3), Taken Novella (Watchers Prequel)
*The Camp

Karice would love if you stopped by her blog or FB page to find out the latest news on giveaways and upcoming releases, or you can just send her an email. She loves hearing from her readers and responds as soon as she can.

Check her out:

http://www.karicebolton.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5240334.Karice_Bolton

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karice-Bolton/218230041566833

https://twitter.com/karicebolton

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Book Blitz: The Daughters of Zeus Series by Kaitlin Bevis

Persephone

Daughters of Zeus Book #1

By- Kaitlin Bevis

Genre-YA Paranormal

There are worse things than death, worse people too.

The "talk" was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they're a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn't until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.

 

Read what I thought about the first book here: http://bookmarksspoilersandhappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-blog-tour-giveaway-daughters-of.html

Daughter of the Earth and Sky

Daughters of Zeus Book # 2

By-Kaitlin Bevis

Genre-YA Paranormal

Some vows can never be broken.

Persephone thought she could go back to her normal life after returning from the Underworld. She was wrong.

The goddess Aphrodite is born among the waves with more charm than she can control. Zeus is stalking Persephone and her loved ones, and Thanatos is no longer content with Persephone's silence.

He wants her soul.

Persephone can't tell anyone about Thanatos' betrayal, and it drives a wedge between her and Hades. Her mother is still keeping secrets, and Melissa's jealousy of Aphrodite threatens to tear their friendship apart.

Alone, Persephone turns to a human boy for comfort. But will their relationship put him in danger?

Sacrifices must be made, and Persephone must choose between her human life and her responsibilities as a goddess. If she doesn't, she could lose them both.

But will either life be worth choosing once Zeus is through with her?

 

The Iron Queen

The Daughters of Zeus Book # 3

By- Kaitlin Bevis

Genre- YA Paranormal

Life is hell for Persephone. Zeus will stop at nothing to gain access to the living realm and the Underworld, and as the only living god with a right to both, Persephone’s in trouble. Captured and tortured beyond the limits of her resolve, Persephone must find the power to stand against Zeus. But will she be strong enough?

Meanwhile, Hades contemplates desperate measures to rescue his queen. Persephone never thought of herself as dangerous, but there’s a reason gods never marry for love. A being with the power to destroy all of creation shouldn’t place more value in one individual than the rest of the planet. But Hades...Hades would break the world for her.

To save the world and stop both Hades and Zeus, Persephone must make a difficult choice. One that may cost her everything.

 

About the Author-

Kaitlin Bevis spent her childhood curled up with a book, and a pen. If the ending didn't agree with her, she rewrote it. She's always wanted to be a writer, and spent high school and college learning everything she could so that one day she could achieve that goal. She graduated college with my BFA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and is pursuing her masters at the University of Georgia.

Her young adult series "Daughters of Zeus" is available wherever ebooks are sold. She also writes for truuconfessions.com and Athens Parent Magazine.

          

Review: Thrall(Daughters of Lilith Book 1) by Jennifer Quintenz

 Goodreads

Blurb:
Welcome to Braedyn Murphy’s life. She’s a typical—if shy—sophomore navigating the slings and arrows of high school life with her two best friends, Royal and Cassie.  Then a new boy, Lucas, moves into the house next door, and Braedyn finds herself falling in love for the first time.

But Braedyn’s normal life comes crashing down around her ears when she learns she’s a descendent of Lilith, the mother of all demons - and that she might play a critical role in an ancient war between the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Lilith. Turns out the right answers aren’t always clear or easy.  And as for “good” and “evil” – it all depends on how you choose to act.

Inspired by the ancient Mesopotamian myths of Lilith and her offspring, Thrall explores first love, strong friendships, and taking on adult responsibilities against the backdrop of powerful supernatural forces and life-and-death stakes.


Review:

I have never read a succubi story before. Admittedly I have a few that I haven't gotten to yet, however Thrall is my first encounter with these creatures of paranormal lore and I am so glad I said yes to reviewing it. This is the story of Braedyn Murphy, a 16 year old girl who thought she knew everything about herself and her father but learns that nothing is as it seems. Succubi are the daughters of Lilith, who if you don't know the myth is the first female God created but she didn't want to be with Adam in the garden of Eden, she wanted to be an equal. The legend goes that all these succubi are her children and the have powers that feed off the energy of men through lust and desire. Braedyn is part of a huge plot to stop these creatures from returning to the world to reek havoc on humans that don't stand a chance against them, of course she doesn't know it until that war is at her door step but what's a teenage girl to do?

What I loved about this story was that it was a hodgepodge of mythology, war, angel vs demon, romance, action and adventure, family and self that mixed together to make a beautiful literary stew of awesomeness! It had so many elements going on within the story that it could have been very easy to run this train right off the tracks and get lost in some aspects versus others, but that didn't happen. The author kept us focused on one part of Braedyn at a time, whether it be friends, family, her crush on Lucas, her connection with Karayan or anything else that this story threw at her.  She told so many different stories within a bigger picture that I was actually surprised at how well all the side characters were developed enough that I could easily see where each POV was coming from without actually having multiple POVs telling the story. That's rare in this genre and really made it stand out in my eyes.

I also noticed that this book was very unique. Sure, I've heard of Lilith before, anyone who has read The Mortal Instruments series has seen a myth about her, but I thought Thrall was a new story that I hadn't read about before. Fresh is what I am looking for in a genre filled with teenage coming of age stories where they don't know what they are and fall in love with someone along the way. Thrall left me wanting more, gave me characters that intrigued me and an epic battle between heaven and hell that let a heroine as good as Braedyn shine throughout it all. - My Opinion- ***** 5 Stars!  

Get it @ Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

Check out the rest of the Daughters of Lilith series here: Incubus(Book 2) / Sacrifice (Book 3)

About the author:

Jennifer Quintenz is an award winning film and television writer, author, and graphic novelist. She has written for Twentieth Television, Intrepid Pictures, and Archaia Studios Press. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.

Again, I'd be thrilled for your honest review if this sounds like the kind of story you'd enjoy.  If not - no problem, I understand there are lots and lots of books to read and far too little time to read them all.

Check her out:

http://JenniferQuintenz.com

http://www.facebook.com/JenniferQuintenz

https://twitter.com/jennq

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5926932

Book Blitz: Protostar by Braxton A. Cosby

PROTOSTAR - Week Blitz

By Braxton A. Cosby

Young Adult

Date Published: April 16, 2014

What Would You Choose, love or duty?

On the brink of civil war, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his council, King Gregorio Derry reluctantly agrees to send his only son William on a mission to restore honor to his family name. William seeks to complete his assignment, the elimination of a Star-child named Sydney on planet Earth, but when the assassination is delayed he begins to realize an emotional connection with his target. With conspiracy threatening his home planet, and a hidden menace on Earth seeking to secure a vested interest, William finds himself torn between irrevocable duty and sacrificing everything he stands for to defend Sydney. As William and Sydney struggle to overcome their impossible circumstances, they start to wonder if the connection of two Star-Crossed lovers will be enough to save them from certain doom.

Get it @ Amazon 

EXCERPT

He leaned in close to her ear. “Please Sydney, give me one more chance. The dreams, they are of you. If only I could have understood sooner, I may have been able to change our fate. But now, I know you have the power to change this. You are more than any normal person. You are the one thing I have traveled across distance and time for.”

A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, slipping past the overlying trees. They kissed Sydney’s face. She gasped, and her lifeless body rose from the dead. Sydney swallowed a deep breath and grabbed William’s shoulders. His many tears drained from his face. The infectious warmth returned.

“I knew you’d return to me. Somehow, I knew it,” he whispered.

“I was lost for a moment in nothing but deep dark space. But I heard a voice calling out to me. It was very familiar to me. Someone I had met before. It was a woman’s voice. She told me it was time to go back. She told me I had a calling to do something great and the time of my awakening was at hand.” Sydney wiped the tears from his eyes. “Then I heard you, speaking to me from the darkness. Your voice guided me as I ran forward, until finally I saw a ray of light and I stepped into it.”

He squeezed her and planted his lips on hers. His solar cells erupted, and Sydney became surrounded in a bright aura that lifted them off the ground. He opened his eyes, amazed by what he saw. He planted another kiss, this time on Sydney’s forehead.

“There’s my signature,” he whispered.

They floated back to the ground and Sydney pulled him close.

 “Sydney, is there any way you could forgive me for what I’ve done?”

Sydney caressed his face. “What’s done is done. Even through all the pain, something inside me knew that you would save me. Love brought you to me and somehow, I knew love would give you the strength to protect me.”

The present situation invaded his thoughts. “And protect you I will. I must explain everything to you, Sydney. Come with me.”

About the Author:

Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a passion for inspiring others to love, in spite of circumstance and convenience. His calling to pen a young-adult series that is smart, witty, and thought provoking, has challenged readers to answer the question: What would you choose, love or irrevocable duty? Braxton lives in Atlanta, GA, where he co-hosts a local radio show on WAOK which is a mash-up of current events and health and wellness. He also has a blog where he discusses everything from health and entertainment to spirituality and relationships.

Author Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Buy Link
Amazon

Giveaway

Signed Copy of PROTOSTAR

  

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Review: The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan

Add it on Goodreads

Blurb:

Enter a hidden world of magic, mystery, danger and romance in this YA fantasy from Amazon bestselling author, Rachel Morgan...

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamor follows her into the Fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the Fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.

[This novel was originally published in four separate parts: Guardian, Labyrinth, Traitor and Masquerade. It includes bonus scenes at the end that were not published in the individual parts.]


Review:

Listen when you open a book with a crazy battle with a snake like demon thing in someones bedroom and then hop right into a faerie world....you know you are going to go for a good ride. I felt like this story went from zero to sixty in four words and never let off the gas! Violet Fairdale, or Vi, is about to become LEGENDARY in the Guild as a guardian, until that boy with a magnetic pull steps foot into her world were the penalty for letting it happen is high. What I didn't expect was all the twist and turns that end up happening and all the mystery that is about to be uncovered that affects everything that Vi thought she knew about her world.

Vi was pretty awesome. I love a good snark in a girl and she definitely had it throughout the story. She was strong, smart and super driven which all make a great independent female lead. The fact that a human boy could crack her warrior shell was something that even I wasn't sure could seem real at first, in fact I thought it was going to end up feeling forced, but I was proven very wrong by the author. The way these two connect actually turned out very organic and the sparks you could feel coming off the page. You add in her former best friend....turned enemy....that may just be back on her side again and all the things that she learned about the people around her and the relationships Vi has with all these people created a great story to sit in this world.

This world is also something that I really liked about this read. It was well thought out from the environment surrounding the characters to the social structure of the fae to the enemies that they have to face. Everything about this book was described well and you really got a sense about what was going on and where it was taking place. With lots of action, some sweet romance and a whole lot of betrayal going on around her, Vi puts most female heroes to shame!- My Opinion- **** 4 Stars!  

P.S. I don't normally say anything like this in a review, but this cover was gorgeous!

Get it @ Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Review + Blog Tour + Giveaway: Getting By by Claudia Y. Burgoa

Getting by ~ A Knight’s Tale I by Claudia Y. Burgoa 

Publication date: February 18th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Goodreads 

Blurb:

When Emma Anderson arrived at San Francisco International Airport, she regretted accepting the distinction of being the maid of honor to Gaby’s—her childhood friend—wedding. It had been years since the last time she set foot in Menlo Park, where her parents had been killed. The rug where she had been shoving her feelings since that day looked bumpier than a camel’s hump. Who could blame her; if she hadn’t been selfish they’d still be around. Ever since that fateful day, Emma has been perfecting the knack of Getting By.

Cade’s wedding in Menlo Park—a city close to San Francisco—might be the perfect place for Jake Knight to shake the memories of his ex, Emma Anderson for good. Single, available women galore for an entire week was the perfect medication, one he intended to take three times a day for an entire week to return to his player days. It was a plan the former spy thought flawless until he came face to face with the maid of honor. Jake’s perfect retreat turns into a flight, fight or hide week of celebrations. 

Review:

The first thing I said to myself when I finished this book was that, yes this is a love story, a contemporary romance to be exact. However, this book is more about family than it is about romance. It is the good, the bad, the ugly, the sad and how two families shape who we are as people and how we act towards others. Emma Anderson and Jake Knight come from very different families with very different backgrounds but what really struck me is how much those families mean to them.....even if they wouldn't admit it to themselves. Through a series of close encounters over years it is clear these two have chemistry, but can that chemistry hold strong when put to the test of pain, past and secrets.

Emma is the one that I saw as hiding in this situation. I understood why she would want too, believe me I do, however clearly the whole keeping things under wraps wasn't really working for her. I loved that she was dedicated to her career and that she loved what she did but it wasn't hiding from the reader that she had some serious pain bubbling under the surface and that was made very evident at the wedding where her parents were killed. Enter a seemingly genuine smart guy like Jake and she couldn't really resist.....for long. The spark between these two is palpable and to the reader it is very clear they belong together even though they themselves can't figure it out.....for years! They are the ying and the yang needed to complete each other, if only they would step out of their own way to get it.

Obviously the romance needed to be well written in order for a book like this to work, and it does here. My favorite parts though involved so much more than just the two characters interactions. At moments the story soared at fun filled adventure, other times at deep dark sadness and still other points where the mystery behind these two characters kept you guessing. That ability to throw my curve balls kept me interested throughout and that is a success if there ever was any in literature, because almost nothing surprises me anymore. Take two well developed characters and throw them into the middle of a story filled with elements that will intrigue and you have the recipe for a fantastic read!- My Opinion- ***** 5 Stars!

Get it @ Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

About the author:

Claudia lives in Colorado with her family and three dogs. Two beagles who believe they are human, and a bichon who thinks she’s a beagle. While managing life, she works as a CFO at a small IT Company. She’s a dreamer who enjoys music, laughter and a good story.

Check her out:

Website: http://www.claudiayburgoa.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7202946.Claudia_Y_Burgoa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaYBurgoa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/yuribeans

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Blog Tour + Giveaway: The Pendulum Files by P.M. Terrell

The Pendulum Files

Series- Black Swamp Mysteries # 5 (Can be read out of order)

By- P.M. Terrell 

Genre-  Romantic Suspense

Publication Date- March 17th, 2014

Goodreads

Blurb:

Irishman and CIA operative Dylan Maguire joins psychic spy Vicki Boyd for another harrowing adventure, this time on the high seas. Merchant ships en route from China to the United States are being bombed, plunging America into critical shortages. It's Dylan's and Vicki's jobs to find out who is bombing them and why. Their mission takes them into Black Sites, covert activities and international politics. And while the romantic side of Dylan ramps up his relationship with Vicki, they find themselves in the crosshairs of a hired assassin, which not only places their lives in danger but also that of their unborn child.

Get it @ Amazon Kindle / Amazon Paperback / Smashwords / Barnes and Noble 

Excerpt:

Brenda jerked the door open as the shot rang out. She felt something sharp and hot against her shin as she kicked herself away from the car. She tumbled onto the pavement before hitting the shoulder, the gravel feeling like a million razors slicing through her flesh. She heard her own voice as if it was disembodied, screaming as she forced herself to roll across the sharp gravel before plummeting down the incline, compelling herself to continue rolling even as she realized she’d been shot in the leg.

She heard the car’s brakes slamming, the tires squealing as the man struggled to bring the car to a stop. At seventy miles an hour, it should have taken the car further from her even as she rushed to escape. But when she came to her feet and looked back at the road, she estimated he was about three hundred feet further down the road—not far enough.

She ran toward the tree line, which now appeared too far away. As a second shot rang out, she knew his sights were set on her back, and she struggled to run straight, fighting the impulse to run opposite of him. It kept her profile smaller but when he shot a third and then fourth time, she could almost feel the bullets whizzing past her.

The third and fourth shots sounded increasingly louder and she knew he was running after her. Her breath was loud and labored, her blood pounding in her temples. Even as she drew closer to the shadows of the trees, she could feel herself slowing down. The adrenaline that propelled her down the slope and to her feet was fighting against the pain in her leg.

She could feel the blood oozing down her shin and pooling in her shoe, causing her to slip and slide along grass already slick with dew. Another shot rang out, whizzing so close to her hair that she thought it had passed through it.

She threw herself into the shadows, pushing herself beyond her leg’s endurance to keep going, to get into the pine forest, weaving and bobbing forward and eastward, away from the car, away from the interstate. Hopefully, away from him.

She wanted to stop; she wanted to pull some article of clothing off herself and wrap it around her shin to keep the blood in, to keep the flesh together, but she didn’t dare hesitate. She heard the branches cracking behind her; he was there and he was closing on her. Even as she propelled herself forward, she knew all he had to do was follow the movement of the branches ahead of him to know exactly where she was.

Meet the Characters:
Vicki Boyd had a normal, happy childhood until the day her parents died in an airplane accident—one she saw weeks before it happened. Overnight, she and her three siblings—a younger sister and two younger brothers—were orphaned and placed into foster care. And overnight, she received national attention for her premonitions.

Not just the media and fascinated public were watching. The CIA was watching as well; specifically Sam Mazoli, the supervisor of an office working with psychic spies. For the first time, he had an opportunity to take a child and mold her into a psychic operative. So when Vicki arrived home from school one day, she found a strange man waiting for her; a man who had adopted her but brought her to an imposing, secure facility resembling an institution. During her teen years, she didn’t have school and girlfriends, proms and boyfriends, and her thoughts didn’t range from getting the keys to the car to hanging out at the mall.

Her teens and early twenties were spent learning how to be the best psychic spy the CIA had ever employed. With just a simple latitude and longitude, she could travel in her mind to any location on Earth, providing information to operatives on nuclear facilities, threats to governments, blueprints of enemy weapons—or anything the CIA wanted but couldn’t physically reach.

But when she is sent on a mission deep in the Amazon jungles and it results in the deaths of innocent children, she’s had enough. She quits the CIA and is determined to start life over in a small town helping an elderly lady who advertised for summer help. It’s her first chance on her own, but she isn’t alone for long… Between Irishman Dylan Maguire and the CIA, who refuse to let her go, she’s in for the ride of her life.

And if the series was made into a movie, I would love to see Amy Adams in the role of Vicki Boyd.

Dylan Maguire never had a normal childhood. Though his parents were from Ireland, he was born in New York. Unfortunately, he never met his father—he’d abandoned his pregnant wife and simply disappeared. Unable to provide for her son and herself in a strange country, his mother packed them up and brought Dylan back to Ireland when he was just three years old. In and out of bars and with dubious pastimes, his mother wasn’t a mother to him at all.

Dylan was raised by his grandmother, a woman he called Mam. She was the only family he’d ever known—that and the home of his neighbor and best friend, Thomas Rowan.

Dylan has a mysterious past when he arrives on Laurel Maguire’s doorstep the summer that Vicki also arrives to help Laurel with her freshwater angelfish business. He seems to be a jack-of-all-trades, from teaching Vicki the angelfish business to remodeling the old, rambling—and haunted—house, to cooking up traditional Irish meals and looking after Vicki.

He is a hopeless romantic who makes CD’s with all his favorite romantic songs… To taking Vicki on an intimate boat ride down the natural and secluded Lumber River… To picnics in the park and romantic, candlelight dinners.

He is also capable of violence—of defending what is his and of killing when the need arises. He is an opportunist; a former kickboxing champion, a man known as “The Butcher” who channels his anger into his fists and feet.

If the Black Swamp Mysteries series was made into a movie, who would I want to play Dylan Maguire? Assuming he could play the role with an Irish accent, Eduardo Verastegui is a dead ringer.

Brenda Carnegie has a secret… many secrets, as it turns out.

Separated from her older sister Vicki Boyd when their parents were killed in an airplane accident, Brenda grew up in Robeson County, North Carolina. She is equally at home trudging through alligator-infested swamps as she is shooting a gun, tending a bullet wound, evading police—and committing computer crimes.

Brenda is an opportunist, especially when it comes to hacking into websites and secure databases, participating in shell companies and cybercrime, and amassing a fortune that must, for her own preservation, be held in off-shore accounts and out of the reach of the United States government. She’s quick, she’s street savvy, and she’s often sexually charged.

She also doesn’t trust anyone. She prefers the dark side, living life on the edge, moving through her life alone and capable of changing her plans on a moment’s notice. She has a very high tolerance for pain which holds her in good stead on many a gritty occasion.

She made her first appearance in Exit 22 when her partner-in-crime is murdered by a hired assassin—and the hitman comes after her. But her real secrets begin to spill in Secrets of a Dangerous Woman—secrets that reach to the highest levels of government and beyond, and which could very well get her killed.

And if the Black Swamp Mysteries series was made into a movie, who would play Brenda Carnegie? My pick would be Lindsay Lohan, who could play this bad girl very well.

Christopher Sandige is an anti-hero, a guy who is more at ease behind a desk constructing political strategies for his Congressman boss than he is running for his life through alligator-infested swamps with Brenda Carnegie.

He told himself he didn’t want a woman, a marriage, a typical family life in the suburbs. His hours were long and often began with coffee at his desk and ended with pizza delivery to the office. All that changed when he met Brenda.

The woman awakened in him desires he didn’t think he had—a longing to be with her, a need for romance, a desire for intimacy, an urge to protect her—even when he knew she was quite capable of protecting herself. He’d never really had eyes for anybody other than Brenda and though he knows she is dangerous, he can’t seem to tear himself away from her.

When push comes to shove, it turns out he is quite capable of handling a gun, of fighting off an attacker in hand-to-hand combat, of working in a team that often finds itself at the wrong end of a barrel… and of crossing the line without a look back.

If the Black Swamp Mysteries series was made into a movie, who would I want to play him? My pick would be Tom Weston-Jones.

There was never any doubt in my mind who would play Sam Mazoli, the head of the psychic spy program for the CIA, Vicki’s boss—and also the man who adopted her—as well as Dylan Maguire’s boss.

I always pictured Robert De Niro when I thought of Sam. Sam is brusque, no-nonsense, the kind of boss that you don’t joke around with and you don’t even attempt to take liberties. He is experienced, jaded, a cynic and a skeptic. He also has an eye for talent, whether it’s taking a 12-year-old girl with psychic abilities and turning her into a spy—or recognizing the opportunistic, chameleon-like qualities of an Irishman who can pretend to be someone else.

There is much to Sam just below the surface but carefully hidden lest people discover his true nature. He can make life-or-death decisions, interrogate suspects, turn a blind eye to torture, and appear bored even during the most sensitive and gut-wrenching missions. But he can also rescue a cat down-on-her-luck, care for angelfish and their babies, recognize an illegal immigrant’s dilemma and give her a job, and help care for a dog who needs a friend.

Sam first appears in Vicki’s Key and continues through the rest of the series, sometimes making life difficult for everyone involved, sometimes lending a hand when it’s least expected… and always arriving with a new CIA mission in hand.


About the author:

P.M. Terrell is the internationally acclaimed, award-winning author of more than 18 books, including Vicki's Key, a 2012 International Book Awards and 2012 USA Best Book Awards finalist and River Passage, winner of the 2010 Best Drama Award. A full-time writer since 2002, p.m. previously founded and operated two computer companies with a specialty in computer crime and computer intelligence. Her clients included the CIA, United States Secret Service and the Department of Defense as well as local law enforcement agencies. Her expertise in computers and intelligence often finds its way into her books. She is also the co-founder of The Book 'Em Foundation and founder and chair of The Book 'Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, which raises money to increase literacy rates. As a hobby, she raises freshwater angelfish - the same thing her characters do as their front for the CIA. For more information about p.m.terrell, visit www.pmterrell.com and for more information on the upcoming Writers Conference, visit www.bookemnc.org.

Check her out:
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/pmterrell/129318810431554
Twitter- https://twitter.com/pmterrell
Website- http://www.pmterrell.com/

Facebook Event- https://www.facebook.com/events/628437540561095/

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