Saturday, June 15, 2013

I, Spy by Jordan McCollum - Review

About the Book

Canada is probably the last place you'd expect to find an American spy. But even idyllic Ottawa has its deadly secrets—and so does CIA operative Talia Reynolds. She can climb through ventilation shafts, blend in at the occasional diplomatic function, even scale buildings (small ones). But there’s one thing she can’t do: tell her aerospace engineer boyfriend Danny about her Top Secret occupation. It worked for a year, keeping Danny in the dark, keeping him away from danger, keeping her secrets. And then Talia finally catches a hot case: Fyodor Timofeyev. Russian. Aerospace executive. Possible spy? She can make this work, too—until Danny needs her at the same time her country does. And when Fyodor targets Danny? Suddenly her schedule isn't the only thing suffering. Now to save her secrets and her country, Talia must sacrifice the man she loves. More about I, Spy | Add I, Spy to your Goodreads to-read list!

Advance praise

The edge-of-my-seat undercover operations kept me turning pages, and just when I thought the story would go one way, plot twists sent it down another path. Thrilling, adventurous, and romantic, this book has it all for an Alias fan.
Jami Gold, award-winning author
Jordan McCollum’s debut novel is a delightful combination of mystery, action, and romance. Talia’s CIA training and almost OCD caution feed her quirky humor while exposing her very human fears and insecurities. Add in her boyfriend Danny, and it's enough to twist your heart.
Donna K. Weaver, author of A Change of Plans
Clever, suspenseful, and charged with political intrigue and romance, I, Spy is the perfect combination for a fun and captivating read!
Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of Monarch


My Thoughts: I, Spy was fast paced and incredibly exciting! From the very first sentence I was drawn into the book. Talia was an awesome protagonist. She was witty and fun. Her funny little asides throughout the book made me smile. She was really tough, too. She was in some potentially dangerous situations, and she kept her cool. 

The secondary characters in I, Spy were great. Elliot always seemed to have something funny to say. He was a joker, but very dedicated. Danny and Talia's relationship seemed to be on a crazy roller coaster that was following all the twists in the story. Fyodor was charming and evil, a perfect antagonist.

While I haven't read many books based in Canada, I felt like I could picture the places McCollum wrote about. Her descriptions were descriptive and had interesting facts. 

I, Spy kept me guessing. I was on the edge of my seat during one particular river scene, just expecting the worst. For each question answered, there seemed to be a million more. I was doubting people and then wondering why I ever doubted them. Jordan McCollum wrote an intriguing mystery that offers readers a lot of enjoyment, twists, turns, and romance. I would suggest I, Spy to any lovers of mysteries with a little romance thrown in.

Rating:

About the author

An award-winning author, Jordan McCollum can’t resist a story where good defeats evil and true love conquers all. In her day job, she coerces people to do things they don’t want to, elicits information and generally manipulates the people she loves most—she’s a mom. Jordan holds a degree in American Studies and Linguistics from Brigham Young University. When she catches a spare minute, her hobbies include reading, knitting and music. She lives with her husband and four children in Utah. 

About the Book

Canada is probably the last place you'd expect to find an American spy. CIA operative Elliott Monteith has made it work, just like he's made things work with his longtime fiancée Shanna. Until Shanna lays out an ultimatum: move forward or move on. Meanwhile, Elliott and his best friend and fellow operative, Talia Reynolds, try to track an elusive leak at the American embassy. But something changes between Elliott and Talia as they close in on the man selling out his country. Professional and personal lines blur and Elliott has to choose—his fiancée or his best friend. More about Mr. Nice Spy | Add Mr. Nice Spy to your Goodreads to-read list!





Jordan is offering my readers a code to get an e-copy of the prequel, Mr. Nice Spy, for free. Just go to her website and use coupon code RIA5. The code is good for one week, so don't miss this chance!


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

Friday, June 14, 2013

Wilted Wings by Shadow Stephens - Promo & Tour Schedule

Wilted WingsWilted Wings

Power, greed, and envy fill Damon and Ilisha’s world. Their hope of settling into a life of peace and family remains out of grasp. Damon is kidnapped and forced to stand trial for the death of his father while a breed of hybrids designed to destroy all angels is set loose. With no choice but to leave her earthly mother and baby behind, Ilisha struggles in a world of high politics and family feuds. She must become an ultimate warrior to save her husband and both the worlds she loves.

Purchase Wilted Wings now on Amazon.

About Shadow Stephens

Avid Cleveland Browns fan, animal lover, and paranormal addict are just a few ways to describe Shadow Stephens. Shadow grew up in Ohio and West Virginia, which gave her a fear of snakes and the ability to fix anything with duct tape. She has been writing since childhood, but wrote her first novel three years ago. She now resides in Utah with a veritable menagerie of pets and a million ideas in her head just waiting to be put on paper. When she isn't ghost hunting, Shadow can be found writing paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. This will be her first published book, with many more to follow. Follow Shadow Stephens: Website | Facebook | Twitter Watch out Video chat with author Shadow Stephens July 17th at 7PM EST on Literary Addicts Take part in our Book Tour event on Facebook July 16 - 18 All Day Long for Amazon Gift Cards and ebooks! Follow the Tour Shadow Stephens is giving away a $50 Amazon Giftcard, open Internationally. Fill out the form below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wilted Wings by Shadow Stephens - Promo & Tour Schedule

Wilted WingsWilted Wings

Power, greed, and envy fill Damon and Ilisha’s world. Their hope of settling into a life of peace and family remains out of grasp. Damon is kidnapped and forced to stand trial for the death of his father while a breed of hybrids designed to destroy all angels is set loose. With no choice but to leave her earthly mother and baby behind, Ilisha struggles in a world of high politics and family feuds. She must become an ultimate warrior to save her husband and both the worlds she loves.

Purchase Wilted Wings now on Amazon.

About Shadow Stephens

Avid Cleveland Browns fan, animal lover, and paranormal addict are just a few ways to describe Shadow Stephens. Shadow grew up in Ohio and West Virginia, which gave her a fear of snakes and the ability to fix anything with duct tape. She has been writing since childhood, but wrote her first novel three years ago. She now resides in Utah with a veritable menagerie of pets and a million ideas in her head just waiting to be put on paper. When she isn't ghost hunting, Shadow can be found writing paranormal romance and urban fantasy novels. This will be her first published book, with many more to follow. Follow Shadow Stephens: Website | Facebook | Twitter Watch out Video chat with author Shadow Stephens July 17th at 7PM EST on Literary Addicts Take part in our Book Tour event on Facebook July 16 - 18 All Day Long for Amazon Gift Cards and ebooks! Follow the Tour Shadow Stephens is giving away a $50 Amazon Giftcard, open Internationally. Fill out the form below to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Ripple by E.L. Farris - Review


Ripple

When high-powered attorney Helen Thompson discovers that her fifteen-year old daughter has been sexually assaulted, she takes drastic measures. Finding herself in trouble, Helen must relinquish control and put her faith in a process she knows to be flawed. As a team of lawyers, therapists and women from a safe house help Helen and Phoebe find hope and healing, a sociopath lurks, waiting for his moment to strike. A lyrical, dark fairytale that will resonate with fans of women's literature and psychological thrillers, RIPPLE delves into the nature of evil, without seeking to provide final answers to the issue of what makes a human commit evil acts. And while the author takes readers to scary places, she ultimately shines a light on the human condition and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit in the face of great tribulation.

My Thoughts: Ripple deals with some really tough issues. Even after reading the description of this book I was shocked by what had happened to Helen's daughter, Phoebe. I hurt for both Helen and for Phoebe. E.L Farris wrote characters that I could care about, and I had to find out what would happen to them in the end.

Helen was a very no-nonsense woman. Her career was a huge priority for her. When she learns what happened to Phoebe she starts to go through a major transformation. I liked her as a no-nonsense woman, so I am happy that she stayed that way, but the change in her priorities made her a better mother and I can imagine a better person. By the end of the book I had a lot of hope for her future.

I found Phoebe to be a strong character. Considering everything she was going through, she was still very strong. She had passion, could have an attitude in a snap, and she was rebellious. She showed a lot of growth through the book, thanks to all the amazing women that she was surrounded with, and thanks to finding her inner strength in a time of need.

I loved the other characters in the book. The women from the safe house were so great. I loved their banter and the love they had for the women they were helping. The other lawyers and the therapists were amazing, too. All of these people cared so much for Helen and Phoebe. The little back stories that filled the book helped to add so many dimensions to the book. The sociopath that lurks was terrifying. I was so afraid through the book that he would not be found or stopped. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Farris wrote such a heartbreaking beginning and then took readers through a wild recovery process. There was so much suspense as the danger drew closer. I would suggest this book to any one who enjoys a good thriller and isn't afraid of tough issues. Ripple is well worth the read.

Rating:

Purchase on Kindle / Paperback

About Ex-lawyer E.L. Farris is a born-again, marathon-running married mother of three who resides in Northern Virginia. What else do you need to know about me? I talk a lot. I write a lot. I adore my husband. I adore my children. What else? Well, I run. I’ve been running since I turned 14. I started to run then and I’ve been running ever since. Whenever I stop running, I land in a lot of trouble. I ran through a childhood that could well be described as hell. I ran through major depressive episodes and often teetered one step from the edge of a breakdown. Through running, I held onto my sanity, my sobriety, my life and my belief in God. Each step I take, no matter how physically painful, draws me a shade closer into my better angels. And the steps have become painful over the years, which is how I earned the nickname Phoenix. Some mornings I feel like I’ve been run over by a bus and the truth is, I was. I survived a collision with a metro bus, and it’s fair to say that the accident messed me up. And yet I keep rising from the pyre of a burning fire and as I run I realize that as long as I hold the Holy Spirit inside me, my spirit will never die. Follow - Blog /Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / GoodReads / Literary Addicts Follow the Tour! Tour prize -
Autographed copy of Ripple, A Tale of Hope and Redemption
Autographed copy of I Run, A Novel
$25 Amazon gift certificate
Fill out the form below to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Monday, June 10, 2013

Indigo Incite by Jacinda Buchmann - Tour Schedule and Promo

Indigo InciteThere are no secrets
Sixteen-year-old Tyler believed that his extra-sensory powers were a secret, but when his twin brother, Toby, is kidnapped by a covert government agency, he realizes that he has no secrets, and he has nowhere to hide.
He’s not alone
Now, in order to save himself and rescue his brother, Tyler must call upon the help of four strangers. Unknown to each other, Eddie, Liliana, Grace, and Sarah share a common bond. They are Indigo Children. With extra-sensory powers of their own, they must unite with Tyler in order to maintain their freedom.
Unexpected romance
They’re on the run. They’re on a mission. Romance is a distraction that Tyler can’t afford. But sometimes, the heart has a mind of its own.
Time is running out
Will they find Toby before the agency finds them first? Find out in Indigo Incite, Book One of the Indigo Trilogy.

Jacinda BuchmannAbout Jacinda Buchmann

Jacinda Buchmann lives in Arizona with her husband and three children. She graduated from Carroll College, in Helena, Montana, with a B.A. in elementary education and later received a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, in school counseling. After spending several years as a teacher and later a school counselor, she now spends her time writing, any free chance she can get, that is, when she’s not spending time with her family or creating a new concoction in the kitchen.
Follow Jacinda Buchmann: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Buy the book: B&N / Amazon
Follow the Tour The author is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, June 7, 2013

Into the End, Through the Flames, and Out of the Ashes by Bonnie R. Paulson - Promo & Tour Schedule

Into the End - Book #1 Rachel Parker in Into the End can IDENTIFY fear, she can DEFINE it, but she doesn't feel it. Not anymore. Not since the tests. Her inability to feel fear may be the reason why the rest of America is screaming in terror. America’s end is near. No one knows why, but the great country is under attack. After being weakened by countless natural disasters, America opens its airspace for aid. But instead, what is left of the devastated west coast finds itself nearly obliterated from above. The key may belong to tests designed by a Pacific Northwest psychologist, Rachel Parker. Rachel loses the love of her life in a house fire as they escape with their children to the nearby Rocky Mountains following the first round of air raids. In refuge, she faces her husband’s best friend, Joshua, but doesn’t want to face his ill-harbored feelings or her own inability to face fear. Her sister, Brenda, escapes the fallen city, and, mistaken for Rachel, is captured. Terrified and alone, Brenda is protected by the enigmatic Daniel even while he helps keep her captive. Through torture and mind games, Brenda discovers information about her sister’s work that could spin the free world into a tumultuous frenzy where the unknown is safer than reality.

Purchase on Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Through The Flames - Book #2 Allies = All Lies America is burning. The unknown blinds the citizens from fighting. Dr. Rachel Parker’s worst psychological designs are loosed on America by an unknown enemy. She leaves the safety of the mountains for the destruction of town to face her co-designer, Daniel, whose role is blurred by the smoke of deception. Captured by militia, Rachel has to find the answers she’s seeking. She’s not prepared to look within her own damaged mind for the solutions. Rachel’s frame of sanity and emotional stability lay on the line parallel to the country’s circumstances. Brenda Krous, Rachel’s sister, possesses information that could change the face of the war. Sacrifices to get there become more and more personal until the “Brenda” she was and the “Brenda” she is becoming hit a crossroads. If she finds the compassion to help her sister, her patriotism to the nation might be sacrificed.

Purchase on Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Out of the Ashes - Book #3 (Final Book) America can rise, but the cost is high. Traumatized by previous exposure to her own tests, Dr. Rachel Parker has to complete the methodical steps she swore would never see the light of day… on herself. Her sister, Brenda Krous, may be the only one capable of pulling her through intact. If they can accomplish the feat and find resolution together, the answers they discover can help the rest of America rise up and reclaim itself from the protection of destruction. But a nation’s fall has a time frame and pride can get in the way. Rachel and Brenda must find what they need in each other to conquer the fear in others.  

Purchase on Amazon



Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane.

Follow on Facebook / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads / Literary Addicts

Follow the Tour -




The Author is giving away a  three day 2 personal survival kit -

* Includes food, water, and emergency blankets * One 33-piece first aid kit * Two safety light sticks *  handy backpack keeps supplies at the ready for her tour

Fill out the form to enter. Open to US residents. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, June 3, 2013

Ripple by E.L. Farris - Book Blast and Tour Schedule


Ripple

  When high-powered attorney Helen Thompson discovers that her fifteen-year old daughter has been sexually assaulted, she takes drastic measures. Finding herself in trouble, Helen must relinquish control and put her faith in a process she knows to be flawed. As a team of lawyers, therapists and women from a safe house help Helen and Phoebe find hope and healing, a sociopath lurks, waiting for his moment to strike. A lyrical, dark fairytale that will resonate with fans of women's literature and psychological thrillers, RIPPLE delves into the nature of evil, without seeking to provide final answers to the issue of what makes a human commit evil acts. And while the author takes readers to scary places, she ultimately shines a light on the human condition and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit in the face of great tribulation.

Purchase on Kindle / Paperback

About
Ex-lawyer E.L. Farris is a born-again, marathon-running married mother of three who resides in Northern Virginia. What else do you need to know about me? I talk a lot. I write a lot. I adore my husband. I adore my children. What else? Well, I run. I’ve been running since I turned 14. I started to run then and I’ve been running ever since. Whenever I stop running, I land in a lot of trouble. I ran through a childhood that could well be described as hell. I ran through major depressive episodes and often teetered one step from the edge of a breakdown. Through running, I held onto my sanity, my sobriety, my life and my belief in God. Each step I take, no matter how physically painful, draws me a shade closer into my better angels. And the steps have become painful over the years, which is how I earned the nickname Phoenix. Some mornings I feel like I’ve been run over by a bus and the truth is, I was. I survived a collision with a metro bus, and it’s fair to say that the accident messed me up. And yet I keep rising from the pyre of a burning fire and as I run I realize that as long as I hold the Holy Spirit inside me, my spirit will never die. Follow - Blog /Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / GoodReads / Literary Addicts Follow the Tour! Tour prize -
Autographed copy of Ripple, A Tale of Hope and Redemption
Autographed copy of I Run, A Novel
$25 Amazon gift certificate
Fill out the form below to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway