Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Savages Secrets by Cristin Harber - Review

Savage Secrets Banner
CristinHarber_SavageSecrets_1400px Caterina Cruz has no home. No loyalties. No objection to exacting torturous revenge. Her life’s mission is to destroy the terrorist who murdered her family. Then she steps into an elaborate game of charades alongside a Titan Group operative posing as an arms dealer—and her newlywed husband. The sexy distraction may be more than she can handle. Attacked with a psychedelic drug weeks before, Rocco Savage is plagued with hallucinations that threaten his new rank as Titan’s second-in-command. No one knows and he wants to keep it that way. Throwing him further off his game, he now has a wife with her own secrets he can’t crack and an agenda he can’t control. Their mission—an elaborate deception of heated glances and passionate kisses—spins out of control. With Rocco's mind already compromised, can he keep his secret and his distance? And with Caterina's tragic past controlling her every move, can she keep the con up long enough to secure her revenge? Or will both go down in flames?  
*************
My Thoughts: The men of Titan strike again. Cristin Harber has an incredible talent for writing sexy and protective men, strong and independent women, and exciting action. She can fill a book with a perfect blend of romance and spice. I adore the Titan series. Savage Secrets met all my expectations of what a Titan book is. 

Caterina is scarily amazing. She is absolutely fearless in moments that I wanted to cower for her. Her past and even present are horrific at times, but she still fights against her demons. Rocco is strong and incredibly protective. His issues bring a different element to his character that I liked. He wasn't perfect, and it really made him better. I like that it put him and Caterina on an even playing field in a way. They both had secrets and problems. They could help each other equally through their troubles. 

The action in this book is exciting. Chase scenes, fights, guns, and explosives. I always love the amazing places the Titan series takes me to, and Savage Secrets was no exception. Places like a pretty little London house to a run down shack in Africa. I love the descriptions that Harber seems to write so easily. She spares no details without becoming boring. There is one very violent scene that is not for the faint of heart. It broke my heart, but it truly added so much to the finished story. 

I can't say if Rocco is my favorite Titan man. I really love them all so much. Caterina may be my favorite Titan woman though. Her strength is so inspiring. I absolutely love them as a couple. I cannot wait for the next book. This series just keeps getting better and better, which is hard to do since I thought the first book was perfect. 
Rating:


Excerpt: Terrorist drop off Rocco dropped his delivery and the sack of flesh and bones thudded on the concrete floor. “Signed. Sealed. Delivered.” He dusted his hands together. “He’s your problem now. Adios.” “Adios?” The words danced in the air. Soft to the hardness of the calloused room. Sexy and exotic. Accented. And gorgeous. “Fine. Adios if that’s what you want.” He turned on the heel of his boot, lasering in on a shadowy corner sheathed by a partition. A woman? A silhouetted figure stood with a hand on a cocked hip, behind a screen. Long legs and a pony tail stood outlined in a magnificent shadow. Holy hell. Nothing about that belonged in this room. This place was violence and atrocity. She was a gauzy reflection of soft edges and a smooth voice. Hell. He hadn’t even seen her, touched her. Yet. But that fact didn’t stop his gut tightening and his eyes from popping. Nah, must have been all the adrenaline from snatching the terrorist not ten minutes before. But damn if he wasn’t wishing for coulda, woulda, shoulda met this girl someplace else. He swallowed against the boulder in this throat. “What I want has nothing to do with mission objective.” The metallic clang of tools hitting the cement floor clattered from behind the partition. She let loose a swell of what were probably curses, in Spanish, then her sing-song called to him, still hidden behind the screen. “Ah, the American who plays by the rules. How interesting.” Her cursing made him chuckle, and made him…interested. This whole place did. What the hell was she saying anyway? It was a rollercoaster of pissed off words, complete with rolled Rs that nearly swayed over his senses. He wanted her to keep talking. Another step closer and damn if he didn’t want to see her face, knowing it would do far more justice to the rockin’ silhouette painted behind the partition. “Says the Brit who speaks like a Spaniard.” And swear like a— “I’m not British.” What else could he learn about her in the next, oh, minute and a half he was expected to be here? Maybe she would keep talking. He’d jump through all kinds of hoops if that woman let loose her accent again. Please, keep talking. “And I don’t play by the rules. But you—” She laughed and the sound slid over his body, winding down his spine. He took in a deep breath, embracing the sensation. The laugh was better than her words, and he wanted to make it happen again. “Today.” She was back to work. “It looks like you do.” “I came bearing a gift.” He looked to the man lying on the floor. “My mission objective is complete and your invite comes just a little too late.” That and he’d left a team of men sitting outside. If he didn’t walk out soon, they’d make an appearance, guns pointed and on a search-and-destroy mission. Rocco not coming out was most definitely not on their itinerary. “I see.” No, you don’t. You can’t see anything, and I’m dying to see you. It was just a voice. But hell. She was too… something. Rare. Offbeat. Familiar? She worked behind the screen and walked toward the edge of the partition. Such a tease. Like she knew he was ready to knock the thing over to get a good look at what housed that voice, her laugh, and those never ending legs. “Fine. Go.” She shooed him away with a grand sweep of her arm. “Team Titan off to the next job.” The sound of the Ts rolling off her tongue made his chest crash into itself. Ribs crumbling. Lungs deflating. A reaction based solely on intuition. “You know more about me than I know about you. Come on out of your hiding place.” “Almost done with my prep work.” More of that accent that had him turned-on and unable to walk out of the room. A pause dangled in the air. A zap of electricity and bright white sparks sprayed from behind the divider. Shock therapy was in store for the man still groaning on the floor, and for a brief second, Rocco almost pitied the terrorist. Almost. “Perfect,” she whispered. More sparks. More zaps. Without his control, his eyes slammed shut. Only for a half second. Long enough that a shiver ran down his shoulders. But he had this. No flashbacks or star-sightings would happen right now. Those zaps were real as the body behind that screen. There was no way in hell this was a hallucination. She stepped out. An image of beauty in a desolate, craptastic interrogation site. One long leg, then the next teased him to the point of distraction. He followed the length of her boot, drinking in the skin tight black pants over the sway of her hips. A black shirt covered her torso and stretched over what he knew were the definition of perfect breasts. Finally, Rocco let his focus caress the curve of her lips, the deepness and darkness of her intense stare. More than model gorgeous. More than manufactured beauty. She was sweet and sultry. A vision. Standing there, with electrical cables and a torture table at the ready, she couldn’t have been more out of place. Yet, this was her room. She owned it and that kind of confidence was unshakeable. He cleared his throat. “Do you need a hand?” “Does it look like I do?” She looked over her shoulder, smiling a half grin. Knowing the connotation behind his question. Challenging him to say it out loud. She stopped. Turned around and stared, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. Then she smiled again, nodding. “Do you believe in coincidence?” Coincidence? More like luck, walking into a room manned by a woman as deadly and dangerous as she was beautiful and breathtaking? He heard noises from the outer room. Seems he’d overstayed his prescribed amount of time before back up was ready to check in. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.” “See you around. Handsome.”  
************
More info to follow

Add to you TBR list - Goodreads 
Buy the book - Amazon

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Monday, February 24, 2014

Savage Secrets by Cristin Harber - Promo & Excerpt

Savage Secrets Banner
CristinHarber_SavageSecrets_1400px Caterina Cruz has no home. No loyalties. No objection to exacting torturous revenge. Her life’s mission is to destroy the terrorist who murdered her family. Then she steps into an elaborate game of charades alongside a Titan Group operative posing as an arms dealer—and her newlywed husband. The sexy distraction may be more than she can handle. Attacked with a psychedelic drug weeks before, Rocco Savage is plagued with hallucinations that threaten his new rank as Titan’s second-in-command. No one knows and he wants to keep it that way. Throwing him further off his game, he now has a wife with her own secrets he can’t crack and an agenda he can’t control. Their mission—an elaborate deception of heated glances and passionate kisses—spins out of control. With Rocco's mind already compromised, can he keep his secret and his distance? And with Caterina's tragic past controlling her every move, can she keep the con up long enough to secure her revenge? Or will both go down in flames?  
*************
Excerpt: Terrorist drop off Rocco dropped his delivery and the sack of flesh and bones thudded on the concrete floor. “Signed. Sealed. Delivered.” He dusted his hands together. “He’s your problem now. Adios.” “Adios?” The words danced in the air. Soft to the hardness of the calloused room. Sexy and exotic. Accented. And gorgeous. “Fine. Adios if that’s what you want.” He turned on the heel of his boot, lasering in on a shadowy corner sheathed by a partition. A woman? A silhouetted figure stood with a hand on a cocked hip, behind a screen. Long legs and a pony tail stood outlined in a magnificent shadow. Holy hell. Nothing about that belonged in this room. This place was violence and atrocity. She was a gauzy reflection of soft edges and a smooth voice. Hell. He hadn’t even seen her, touched her. Yet. But that fact didn’t stop his gut tightening and his eyes from popping. Nah, must have been all the adrenaline from snatching the terrorist not ten minutes before. But damn if he wasn’t wishing for coulda, woulda, shoulda met this girl someplace else. He swallowed against the boulder in this throat. “What I want has nothing to do with mission objective.” The metallic clang of tools hitting the cement floor clattered from behind the partition. She let loose a swell of what were probably curses, in Spanish, then her sing-song called to him, still hidden behind the screen. “Ah, the American who plays by the rules. How interesting.” Her cursing made him chuckle, and made him…interested. This whole place did. What the hell was she saying anyway? It was a rollercoaster of pissed off words, complete with rolled Rs that nearly swayed over his senses. He wanted her to keep talking. Another step closer and damn if he didn’t want to see her face, knowing it would do far more justice to the rockin’ silhouette painted behind the partition. “Says the Brit who speaks like a Spaniard.” And swear like a— “I’m not British.” What else could he learn about her in the next, oh, minute and a half he was expected to be here? Maybe she would keep talking. He’d jump through all kinds of hoops if that woman let loose her accent again. Please, keep talking. “And I don’t play by the rules. But you—” She laughed and the sound slid over his body, winding down his spine. He took in a deep breath, embracing the sensation. The laugh was better than her words, and he wanted to make it happen again. “Today.” She was back to work. “It looks like you do.” “I came bearing a gift.” He looked to the man lying on the floor. “My mission objective is complete and your invite comes just a little too late.” That and he’d left a team of men sitting outside. If he didn’t walk out soon, they’d make an appearance, guns pointed and on a search-and-destroy mission. Rocco not coming out was most definitely not on their itinerary. “I see.” No, you don’t. You can’t see anything, and I’m dying to see you. It was just a voice. But hell. She was too… something. Rare. Offbeat. Familiar? She worked behind the screen and walked toward the edge of the partition. Such a tease. Like she knew he was ready to knock the thing over to get a good look at what housed that voice, her laugh, and those never ending legs. “Fine. Go.” She shooed him away with a grand sweep of her arm. “Team Titan off to the next job.” The sound of the Ts rolling off her tongue made his chest crash into itself. Ribs crumbling. Lungs deflating. A reaction based solely on intuition. “You know more about me than I know about you. Come on out of your hiding place.” “Almost done with my prep work.” More of that accent that had him turned-on and unable to walk out of the room. A pause dangled in the air. A zap of electricity and bright white sparks sprayed from behind the divider. Shock therapy was in store for the man still groaning on the floor, and for a brief second, Rocco almost pitied the terrorist. Almost. “Perfect,” she whispered. More sparks. More zaps. Without his control, his eyes slammed shut. Only for a half second. Long enough that a shiver ran down his shoulders. But he had this. No flashbacks or star-sightings would happen right now. Those zaps were real as the body behind that screen. There was no way in hell this was a hallucination. She stepped out. An image of beauty in a desolate, craptastic interrogation site. One long leg, then the next teased him to the point of distraction. He followed the length of her boot, drinking in the skin tight black pants over the sway of her hips. A black shirt covered her torso and stretched over what he knew were the definition of perfect breasts. Finally, Rocco let his focus caress the curve of her lips, the deepness and darkness of her intense stare. More than model gorgeous. More than manufactured beauty. She was sweet and sultry. A vision. Standing there, with electrical cables and a torture table at the ready, she couldn’t have been more out of place. Yet, this was her room. She owned it and that kind of confidence was unshakeable. He cleared his throat. “Do you need a hand?” “Does it look like I do?” She looked over her shoulder, smiling a half grin. Knowing the connotation behind his question. Challenging him to say it out loud. She stopped. Turned around and stared, eyes narrowed and lips pursed. Then she smiled again, nodding. “Do you believe in coincidence?” Coincidence? More like luck, walking into a room manned by a woman as deadly and dangerous as she was beautiful and breathtaking? He heard noises from the outer room. Seems he’d overstayed his prescribed amount of time before back up was ready to check in. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.” “See you around. Handsome.”  
************
More info to follow
Goodreads / Amazon

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Literary Addict Weekly Meme - E-book vs. Print Books

The theme of this week is -

Do you prefer ebooks or print books and why?
I have mixed thoughts on this debate. I absolutely love my Kindle. I can get books free or exceptionally cheap. I can carry hundreds (probably closer to a thousand by now) of books everywhere I take my phone, computer, or Kindle. My children cannot rip the pages out of my Kindle. For all those reasons I love e-books. There is so much freedom and versatility in them. 
Then there are print books. I love having a bookshelf full of all my favorite books. I love holding them in my hands. I absolutely adore walking into a book store and just taking in all of my options in front of me. Books I can physically reach out and touch. 
I have hard copies and e-copies of all my favorites. That is how I compromise my own personal debate. I have the print version to sit on my shelf and maybe one day pass on to my book loving kids (or I'll just buy them their own copies). I can pull them down and read them if I have a peaceful moment. I have the e-books so I can take them everywhere and they can't be hurt. I can pull my phone out and open my kindle app anywhere I want and read a book. Since I am a book-aholic, I will buy both. Take me to a book store and I will walk out with bags full. Let me look on Amazon and I will one-click another 20+ freebies, or best sellers, or Facebook / book blog recommended books. 
Pretty much, if it's a book, any version of a book, I'll buy it. 

Join our group HERE to find out next week’s theme!

Uncle Bear's Mystery Valentine by C. JoVan Williams - Review

UncleBearbannerupdate
createspace_v_bearWhat’s a bear to do when he has no money, but wants to give a gift to thank his secret admirer?
Buy on Amazon
 My Thoughts: Uncle Bear's Mystery Valentine is a very cute children's book. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The recipe and the coloring book are a nice extra for children. My kids are always excited about a book that includes a recipe that was in the book. It makes them feel a little more like part of the story. The rhyming lines was nice, and something I always like in a children's book.

I enjoyed the characters, even if this is a very brief book. Veggie seems to be reasonable but fun. Carb is a bit hyper and all over the place. They are relate-able to children's different personalities. Uncle Bear is a nice bear, although truthfully his picture made me think he may be a bit grumpy. The little mystery in the story is sweet.

I think children will enjoy reading this book, coloring the pictures, and making the recipe. There is a lot to offer for them to become involved in the story. It would make a very cute Valentine's Day gift, but also a very cute book for any day of the week.

Rating:

Author Bio:

Clarice Williams whose pen name is C. JoVan Williams, was born and raised in Chicago, IL, but now resides in New Jersey as an Air Force spouse, with a blended family of six. She credits her writing inspirations from her experiences as a military spouse, mother, college graduate, Government worker, silly daughter, and an overbearing older sister to many. She also writes for Military Spouse Magazine. Her books are available on Amazon.   What people are saying: It is an endearing story of three friends and their plan to find out the secret Valentine. The story is narrated in pictures like comic strips. The illustrations are colorful and lively. It gives a personality to all the characters in the story and breathes life into the scenes. It is a good bedtime story for children. The scenes are descriptive, helping children visualize the scenes with clarity. The book also tells children about friendship and how friends help each other whenever necessary. - Reader's Favorite
To catch up with the author please visit:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/iwrite_2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/chefreceejay Website: www.carbmonkey.com
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card for 1 Reader a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Spartanica by Powers Molinar - Promo

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Book Tour

Ty and Marcus Mitchell are average middle school brothers growing up north of Chicago until one night when they’re hurtled through an inter-dimensional gateway to a parallel world defined by its multiple moons and planet-wide apocalypse. As they struggle to figure out where they are and how to get home, the boys encounter refugees of “the last day” from the distant city of Atlantis and a mysterious girl called Bellana, the sole survivor and resident of the devastated city of Spartanica. Ty and Marcus soon learn they only have seven days to get home. But before they can leave, they must battle through long-extinct predators, track down the elusive Professor Otherblood, and rescue a new friend from certain death. Is all of this insanity just Ty’s overactive imagination or are the brothers truly on the brink of being stranded on the brutal wasteland known as Spartanica?

Buy:

Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo | Sony Books | CreateSpace

 

Author Bio:

Powers Molinar grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago and earned engineering and business degrees at the University of Iowa. While he works as a process engineer and project manager during the day, his passion is writing science fiction. His first novel, Spartanica, is the culmination of several year's of part-time effort mostly late at night and on weekends when he wasn't enjoying time with his wife and kids, all of whom were big helpers getting Spartanica written. Powers believes every kid has the potential to become exceptional. In addition to being a blast to read, he truly hopes his books spark kids' imaginations and inspire them to read more and maybe even become writers. Being a solid reader is a foundational piece of leading an exceptional life. Powers hopes his books can be part of that foundation for as many kids as possible.

Follow Powers: Twitter | Facebook

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Conflicting Hearts by J.D. Burrows - Promo

ConflictingHeartsbanner
conflicting hearts newRachel Hayward hoped to have a quiet thirtieth birthday alone. Instead, fate had different plans. Caught in traffic and late for work, Rachel takes her eyes off the road to gawk at an accident and rear-ends the car in front of her. Sick over having ruined her day, she lowers her head and waits for the driver to begin a tirade over her stupidity. Instead, a kind man taps on her window showing genuine concern. The brief colliding encounter suddenly starts a relationship between two strangers that takes off under odd circumstances. When intimacy begins, their relationship turns into a conflicting set of needs. Ian is tenderhearted and respectful, but Rachel desires aggressiveness from a man. The clash of desires threatens to tear them apart. As a result, she is faced with the decision to leave the man she loves or finally confront the painful secret of her childhood. Author Notes: Conflicting Hearts touches on a taboo subject, but one that is very real to many adult women in today's society. Statistically speaking, the shocking reality is that one out of every four girls will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Though this is a fictional work, that actually documents a factual event in another person's life, it has the power to open the eyes of readers to better understand those who have suffered abuse as a child. Written with a sprinkle of humor, believable characters, brutal reality, and sizzling romance, it is a book that some claim should be read by every woman. In the end, healing and healthy relationships are possible for those victims who seek help.

Amazon | B & N | Apple | Kobo | Sony

Author Bio

J. D. Burrows also writes under the name of Vicki Hopkins, who is an award winning and best selling author of historical romance. She started her writing career somewhat late in life, but can attest to the fact that it is never too late to follow your dreams. Her debut novel was released in 2009, and five books later, she doesn't think she will stop any time soon. With Russian blood on her father's side and English on her mother's, she blames her ancestors for the lethal combination in her genes that influence her stories. She lives in the beautiful, but rainy, Pacific Northwest with a pesky cat who refuses to let her sleep in. Her hobbies include researching her English ancestry and plotting her next book.

Follow JD on FaceBook and Literary Addicts

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Friday, February 14, 2014

Indie Bookfest 2014 - Meet Janice Baker - Interview and Giveaway

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Indie Bookfest 2014
Meet the Authors

Meet Janice Baker

Bio / Tell us a little bit about your book(s) and yourself.

I prefer to eat off fine china from the most extravagant restaurants, wear the most expensive designer labels and drive the most luxurious cars. Kidding! I am really your typical mom with two amazing daughters and a fabulous husband. My daily activities include endless car lines and attempts to avoid picking up dinner from a drive-thru. Although, I admit, I fail miserably at that. I actually don’t mind the car lines since that’s usually when I find inspiration for my books.

I’m an indie author of two Contemporary Romance novels - Promises, Promises and Romantic Promises, the first two books in the Alluring Promises Series. Breathless Promises will be the third novel in the series, which I’m currently working on.

I’m also writing a novella for a two volume anthology coming out in March and April – Forbidden Fruit. It’s a collection of 20 erotic romance novellas made up of “taboo” romances.

When was your first book published?

My first novel – Promises, Promises was self-published May 2, 2013.

Why did you decide to become an Indie Author?

My choice to become an Indie Author actually stems from the freedom that it provides me. To be able to write what I want and on my own timeframe is incredible.

Are you currently working on anything?
Several things actually. I’m currently editing my novella, The Naughty Au Pair, for the Forbidden Fruit anthology. I’m also working on my third book, Breathless Promises in the Alluring Promises series and I also have another series that is in the works.

Who and what inspired you to write?

VC Andrews inspired me. Her Flowers In The Attic series helped me keep my sanity through my parents’ divorce. I became lost in the series. After reading each book I would continue the storyline in my head and just let my mind wander. Creating a story that helps readers “escape” from their reality is something I hope I achieve with my books.


Each author has his or her own inspiring journey. How did you begin writing?

I’ve always had these characters “swimming” around in my head. I’ve had scenes play out, but never thought to write any down. I would tell my husband about my ongoing storylines. One night he asked why I didn’t just try to write out a story. I thought he was crazy, but I still did it. The next day I told my best friend about my attempt. She asked me to send it to her for fun. I sent her 3 chapters and waited on pins and needles before she finally came back to me saying she wanted more! I was hooked after that.


What is on your writing playlist for your book(s)?

It usually depends on the scene I’m writing. I tend to listen to a lot of rock. Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, Shinedown, Papa Roach, Alanis Morissette. It really depends on my characters and their personalities. I’m on Spotify, so feel free to follow me!

Who is your favorite character in your books?
That’s tough! I think each character has a quality that I really love. Izzy, from Promises, Promises, was my first character. Her trust in people and wanting to believe that one day she would really find love makes her a wonderful character to follow. She makes appearances throughout the rest of the series too.

I can’t actually say I have a favorite though. I really enjoy writing about each of them. Especially Clark. He’s a smart-ass and says whatever is on his mind. His story, Breathless Promises, is actually a lot of fun. Not many people know this, but he actually has a serious side to him too. *winking*

I really could go on about all of my characters, but you did ask for my favorite. *cringing* I just can’t pick one!

What is your favorite book of all time?

Don’t laugh…but, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I read it to my children and still cry my eyes out! I could name a slew of other books that I really enjoy (more adult), but throughout my whole life – that one stands out the most.

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your books.

Friends, lovers, drama and romance with a touch of humor all wrapped up in one story after another to provide you with the ultimate escape from reality!

Connect with the Author:




Buy her books:
Forbidden Fruit:

Janice is giving away 4 e-copies of her book Promises, Promises! Check out the book below and enter to win on the Rafflecopter. Be sure to hop along to meet all the other authors being featured in the linky at the bottom of the page.



**Adult Content 18+ Only** 
Isabella “Izzy” McKenna just came out of a two year, well, she couldn’t really call it a relationship. It was more like two years of being dominated and controlled by him, a handsome and powerful man. When she finally decides to leave him, after he finally pushes her too far, she revives her friendship with her best friend from college. 

Little did Izzy know that rekindling her friendship would also throw her into an amazing loving relationship with a gorgeous fun, but at times jealous, bar owner named Z. 

Will Izzy’s horrible childhood and past controlling relationship keep her from finally finding the love that she’s always searched for? Or will he ruin the love that is finally just in her grasp?


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Hop around to Meet the Authors for IBF

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Glistening Rebellion by Jill Cooper - Review

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Book Tour

Sci-fi Dystopian (Sequel to Glistening Haven) In Glistening Haven, Jenna Morgan fought to uncover a government conspiracy. In Glistening Rebellion, she fights for her life. New Haven 57 is opening for business—bigger landscape, nicer homes, and tougher reconditioning techniques that will make resistant glistenings docile. A caravan of glistenings from overcrowded concentration camps are enroot to their new home. For Jenna Morgan it’s the final job before she retires forever to a happy low key life. When the escape glistenings from New Haven 56 attack, a simple transportation job turns into life or death. Jenna does the unspeakable and is pulled back into a fight she wants no part of. With an assassin on her tail, her loyalties are questioned. She will need to decide once and for all, which side she’s on as she teeters on the brink of full out war.  

My Thoughts: First off, if you haven't read Glistening Haven, be sure you do. Glistening Rebellion is the second book, and while it gives some small amount of back story, I think it is necessary to read Glistening Haven to get the full story. It is worth the read, as is this second book.

Glistening Rebellion picks up a bit into the previous characters' lives. It is just as equally fast paced and exciting as the first book. I love the way the book shifts through so many characters and gives readers a glimpse into all their views. This book is a dystopian, sci-fi, and I would say suspense. I was reading through trying to pinpoint what would happen next, who was causing what, and who was lying for their own gain.

As far as characters go, there is a glimpse into most of the characters from the first book. Most of the book switches between following Jenna or Jake as they continue to find out who they really are and what the world around them is really like. I liked getting a further look at Dirk and his thoughts.

I was left with several moral debates in this book. Are the glistenings the monsters? They turn into fire breathing dragons who can slaughter a country during one blood lust. Many of them, most of them really, just seek a peaceful life of freedom. Or is it the humans, who trap and experiment on the glistening like they are no better than animals? It's a question to answer, and it's pretty circumstantial most of the time.

I think Jill Cooper has an amazing imagination and story-telling ability. I get drawn easily into the world filled with glistenings, and I am stuck there. Even when I wasn't reading, I found myself considering what could happen next, and who would do what on either side. I can't wait for the next book. I really want to know what is going to happen next.

Rating:

Buy on Glistening Rebellion and Glistening Haven (Part 1) on Amazon

Put Glistening Rebellion on your TBR list! Goodreads

Feb 3rd-Feb 9th Glistening Rebellion will be

99 cents on Amazon!

**********************************

Meet the author

Author of the YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundries, but most of all strives to entertain. She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances. Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.

Follow Jill on Twitter | Facebook | Website

  Jill is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one blogger and one reader. a Rafflecopter giveaway



I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Dead Girl Walking by Ruth Silver - Cover Reveal


Title: Dead Girl Walking (Royal Reaper)
Author: Ruth Silver
Expected Publication: Summer 2014
Publisher: Patchwork Press
Genre: YA, Paranormal Fantasy
Cover Design: Erica Crouch
 
Blurb:
 
In 1346, Princess Ophelia Dacre sneaks out of the castle to visit her boyfriend in secret. A perfect night cut short when she’s brutally murdered.
 
Ophelia is given the rare chance to become a grim reaper. She must become Leila Bele, cut ties with her old life, and follow the rules of the reapers. Her greatest adventure begins with death.
 
 
 
Excerpt:
 
                "The scroll chose you. For whatever reason, she's your reap."
                "Well, that sucks." Leila chewed her bottom lip. "If I don't do it?"
                Edon hesitated before he said, "Her soul will rot inside her body. Do you have any idea what that’s like? She'll be a living corpse, a shell of a person. She won't feel anything including love. We as reapers, the undead, feel more than she ever will alive."
                Leila swallowed the lump in her throat. "How do you know that?"
                "Because I've seen what it does to a person," Edon said. "That little girl deserves better."
 
 
About the Author:
Ruth Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication in the spring of 2005.  While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004.  Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.  Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia.  Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing.  She loves dystopian and fantasy young adult stories.  Her debut novel published by Lazy Day Publishing and Patchwork Press, ABERRANT, was released April 2013.  The second novel in the series, MOIRAI, continues the saga. ISAURA, is the final installment in the ABERRANT trilogy. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager.  Her current writing projects include a YA science-fiction fantasy series, ORENDA, and a YA paranormal series, DEAD GIRL WALKING. Both novels are due for release in 2014. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.
You can visit her online at http://writeawaybliss.com
 

Uncles Bear's Mystery Valentine by C. JoVan Williams - Promo

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createspace_v_bearWhat’s a bear to do when he has no money, but wants to give a gift to thank his secret admirer?
Buy on Amazon
 

Author Bio:

Clarice Williams whose pen name is C. JoVan Williams, was born and raised in Chicago, IL, but now resides in New Jersey as an Air Force spouse, with a blended family of six. She credits her writing inspirations from her experiences as a military spouse, mother, college graduate, Government worker, silly daughter, and an overbearing older sister to many. She also writes for Military Spouse Magazine. Her books are available on Amazon.   What people are saying: It is an endearing story of three friends and their plan to find out the secret Valentine. The story is narrated in pictures like comic strips. The illustrations are colorful and lively. It gives a personality to all the characters in the story and breathes life into the scenes. It is a good bedtime story for children. The scenes are descriptive, helping children visualize the scenes with clarity. The book also tells children about friendship and how friends help each other whenever necessary. - Reader's Favorite
To catch up with the author please visit:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/iwrite_2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/chefreceejay Website: www.carbmonkey.com
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card for 1 Reader a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Wicked Waves by Sharon Kay - Promo

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Making daggers out of raindrops is only the tip of the iceberg for Brooke Bonham. As one of four women who can control the elements, her ability to manipulate water packs a deluge of potential. Eager to learn more, she’s frustrated at the precautions she must take to avoid the wrong kind of attention on Earth. Kai's duties as a Lash demon have kept him busy on Earth for nearly two hundred years. Fighting? He was born to do it. Females? They're drawn to him. And Earth? The perfect place for him to avoid supernatural bounty hunters. Though the two of them mix like oil and water, Kai senses that beneath Brooke’s frosty exterior hides a vortex of simmering passion. He’s determined to thaw his ice princess. Forced to work together in the immortal realm, they track a rogue Lash demon at the helm of a widespread kidnapping operation. All too soon, Kai’s dark past catches up to them. Time runs out as a second enemy, bent on revenge, vows to stop at nothing short of Brooke’s enslavement and Kai’s death. As they and their foes stalk each other in a demonic game of cat-and-mouse, will her evolving skills and their fledgling bond be enough to save them?

About the author:

Sharon Kay was bitten early by the writing bug. At age twelve she wrote a short story, about a magic ring,that won a statewide Young Authors contest. With her nose always in a book, she read the most novels for her age group in her local library’s summer reading program. In her teens, writing took a back seat to fashion, as she was determined to find clothes different from what everyone else bought at the mall. And what she couldn’t find, she created. She learned to sew, worked in a fabric store after school, and spent her spare time with a needle in hand. Her black and orange prom dress is still one of her favorite creations. Sharon lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son, and didn’t expect to write again. But Wicked Wind and the Solsti series formed in her head one weekend and refused to stay quiet until she put pen to paper. Her characters tend to keep her up at night, as they banter, fall in love, and slay endless varieties of power-hungry demons. Sharon loves to hear from readers! You can find her at: Sharonkay.novels(at)gmail.com www.facebook.com/sharonkaynovels Twitter: @sharonkaynovels The Author is giving away 5 ebooks. Fill out the form below to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Undeniable by Tawdra Kandle - Release Day!

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Available NOW on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords. . .UNDENIABLE, The Serendipity Duet Book One.

If you read The King Series and fell in love with Rafe Brooks, the bad boy who tried to steal Tasmyn's heart. . .here's the story you've been waiting to read. What happened after graduation? How did Rafe get over Tasmyn?

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For Rafe Brooks, running from a broken heart means losing himself in alcohol and women. Lots of women, none of whom will remember him, since he has the ability to manipulate their minds and make them forget. Numbing the pain works until he meets an irresistible redhead with secrets of her own. She offers him the opportunity to join forces with an organization that will use his powers for good rather than his own amusement. Jocelyn rocks his world with her unapologetic passion and makes him believe for the first time he just might survive heartbreak. When a mission takes the two of them undercover to infiltrate a commune with suspicious activity, they discover it's just the tip of a plot to cause world-wide anarchy. Hiding their extraordinary powers and real identities is crucial to staying alive. For Rafe and Jocelyn, when life is uncertain, love is undeniable.

Buy UNDENIABLE on Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Smashwords!

Come join our Twitter party tonight!

Wednesday, February 5th 9PM EST

#Undeniable

Prizes, chat and more. . .

Follow Tawdra on Facebook/Twitter/Website/Newsletter

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday - Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry

Top Ten Tuesdays is a fun meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. If you want to learn more about it or join in the fun go to this page.

I haven't done a Top Ten in ages, so bear with me while I try to get back in the swing of things. This weeks topic is the Top Ten Books That Will Make You Cry. I chose a hard week to get back into this. I am an emotional reader. If a book is written well I laugh and cry and get angry and happy. Picking and choosing the top ten that caused me to cry might be hard, but I am going to try.

1. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - This was an easy choice. I cannot begin to explain the amount of emotion this book evoked in me. I cried more than once the first time I read it. I openly bawl when I read it to this day. I know one day I will gladly open my children up to that same emotional world.

2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - Now starts the Harry Potter cry fest. Seriously, who knew how emotional the world of wizardry would become? I cannot imagine there are people out there who haven't read these books, but then again I was a total hold out because they were very mainstream, so I didn't read them right away. For that reason, no spoilers. If you've read this book, you know why I cried and was almost ready to turn away from the series. If you haven't then, maybe give the series a chance. It's more than just a bunch of hocus pocus.

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - Apparently things hadn't been hard enough on readers yet, so the crying happened again in this book. This was a harder devastation to move on from. I was once more faced with the idea of turning away. How much more could Harry and I take?

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - Of course I finished the series. Ha, you had no doubt. Who just leaves it all with tons going on and doesn't agonize and need the conclusion? This book made me cry because I was sad, then sad, then sad, at some point there may have been some happy crying, and probably a lot more sad and heartbroken. Then they had to go and portray all that sad in a film so I could cry and watch it. Need an emotional outpouring? Read this book (warning - only works if you have read the series, you can't just jump in at the end and expect results folks). I'm sure there were other books in the series that caused tears. Rowling wrote a great series that I got very emotionally invested in.

5. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - Another book that still makes me cry. I swear sometimes I think writers are just trying to rip out my heart.

6. A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer - This story is so hard to read. I cry just for the horrendous things a small child had to endure.

7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult - I can read the blurb for this book and get teary eyed just remembering reading it.

8. Good Night, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian - Really any story with an abused child gets to me. This book has heartbreak and joy, and I cried at both.

I am stuck at eight. Sure, tons of books make me tear up and even openly cry, but I can't think of them right at this moment.

What books bring you to tears? Leave me a comment!

Dylan's Story by Tressa Messenger

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Dylan's Story coverWhat do you do when everything you've ever known is taken away from you? Do you throw your hands up and just let it be and fade away to nothing or do you fight? I may have technically died but I’m not dead and I refuse to give up everything I used to be or the woman who keeps my memory alive, even if it takes me tag teaming with some unlikely allies to do it. I may not be a human anymore but I am still me; Dylan Williams, a man of substance.

Buy on:

Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

 

About the Author:

I am a small town girl with big dreams. I grew up in a small coastal community called Pamlico County in the town of Reelsboro North Carolina. Growing up in such a rural area there wasn't much to do, so I developed a wide fantasy finding solace in writing poetry and songs. After high school I left my little secure coastal town to discover other parts of the country. It was a sad and lonely time, but also a fun and exciting time in my life. I had too many emotions to process so I started to put it all down on paper. That became the start of my first novel, which I have yet to finish. My first complete novel entitled Protector was a dream come true, although I found out during the process, at 31 years old, I am dyslexic. Reading was always a struggle throughout my life and finding out why has really made a difference in me and my writing. It was such a wonderful and daunting process but I have succeeded in doing something I never thought I would do. I have 3 novels published, Protect, Protect Me and Too Close To Home and 2 more on the way. Writing is such a passion of mine and will continue to be whether I become successful with it or not. I currently live out side of my home town with my husband and daughter.

Follow Tressa: FaceBook | Twitter | Website

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Monday, February 3, 2014

Glistening Rebellion by Jill Cooper - Promo

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Book Tour

Sci-fi Dystopian (Sequel to Glistening Haven) In Glistening Haven, Jenna Morgan fought to uncover a government conspiracy. In Glistening Rebellion, she fights for her life. New Haven 57 is opening for business—bigger landscape, nicer homes, and tougher reconditioning techniques that will make resistant glistenings docile. A caravan of glistenings from overcrowded concentration camps are enroot to their new home. For Jenna Morgan it’s the final job before she retires forever to a happy low key life. When the escape glistenings from New Haven 56 attack, a simple transportation job turns into life or death. Jenna does the unspeakable and is pulled back into a fight she wants no part of. With an assassin on her tail, her loyalties are questioned. She will need to decide once and for all, which side she’s on as she teeters on the brink of full out war.  

Buy on Glistening Rebellion and Glistening Haven (Part 1) on Amazon

Put Glistening Rebellion on your TBR list! Goodreads

Feb 3rd-Feb 9th Glistening Rebellion will be

99 cents on Amazon!

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Meet the author

Author of the YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundries, but most of all strives to entertain. She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances. Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.

Follow Jill on Twitter | Facebook | Website

  Jill is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one blogger and one reader. a Rafflecopter giveaway