Saturday, September 24, 2011

Review: Awakened by Ednah Walters


Title: Awakened
Author: Ednah Walters
Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, but Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons. Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware that she's a Guardian-a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. When she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers. But Bran has a secret that can ruin their growing relationship, and the truth she discovers may destroy everything she believes in unless she finds the right balance between love and sacrifice.



Review:




Awakened is the first book in The Guardian Legacy by Ednah Walters. When Lil turns 16, she comes into her powers – powers she had no idea she would ever have. Her whole life has been a lie, but she is strong and resilient. Once she accepts what she is, nothing can stop her from fulfilling her destiny.

She meets Bran – a boy who is very mysterious, but she is very drawn to. Nobody trusts him, but Lil can't help but fall for him. It's a sweet relationship with a lot of sexual tension – nothing out of line though for a teenage book. I think you could feel at ease having your teenage daughter read this book.

I really enjoyed the paranormal aspects of this book. The book has a lot of excitement and moves at a fairly quick pace. There are some “edge-of-your-seat” moments where you cannot put the book down. Honestly, the only thing that bothered me about this book was Bran's name. Every time I read it, I either thought of a girl (short for Brandi) – or I thought about Bran Flakes, lol... I guess something that was a little hard to remember was the introduction to all these characters in a short amount of time. That part was a little overwhelming. As a whole though, this was a great young adult paranormal book and I will be reading the next one very soon!

Visit the author at her website:
http://www.ednahwalters.com/

Find this book at the following places:
Amazon (paperback)
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble

Betraying the Pack Giveaway Blitz!




To celebrate Eve's new book, Betraying the Pack, she is giving away an ecopy of the book at all 10 stops on the tour! Keep reading to find out what this book is all about!



Synopsis:

Pack law states she can have up to four mates, if she can find the courage to choose them. Escaping a kidnapping duo, Bailey runs into a naked man in the middle of the woods. And he’s not alone. Rescued by a quad of hunks, then kept against her will, she doesn’t know what to think or do—other than scream that is—when she discovers they are werewolves. Even more frightening, they want her as their mate despite her human status. But there’s more to Bailey than meets the eye, and she comes to the attention of an evil force that wants to use her. Can Bailey keep herself from his clutches, or will he somehow force her to betray the pack? And just how does a girl raised with human morals come around to accepting pack law which states females can choose up to four mates, and more shocking, take them to her bed, all at once?

Warning: Not all gorgeous blond cowboys with dark-haired sidekicks met in a bar will be werewolves, but if they are, prepare to howl, because when it comes to loving their mate, nothing beats their hands-on tag team approach.

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Author bio:

I'm writing romance the way I like it--hot with a touch of paranormal fun. I enjoy reading and writing stories that push the envelope of what we consider normal, and I love to push boundaries--and in some cases totally smash them. I tend to have alot of sexual tension in my tales as I think all torrid love affairs start with a tingle in our tummies. My heroes are very male, you could even say border line chest thumping at times. So if you want a truly sensitive man, I am not for you. But that said, my men will do almost anything for the one they love. Even babysit. For more on me and my work please see my website http://www.evelanglais.com


Find this book at Amira Press (Publisher)

Leave a comment in this blog post if you'd like to enter to win this giveaway. Contest open through September 30! Be sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch with you if you're a winner!

Visit The Bookish Snob Promotions to find out what other blogs you can visit to increase your chances of winning!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Vampire Costume Giveaway!!!





How would you like to win a vampire costume for yourself, your spouse, or your child? HalloweenCostumes.com is giving one of my lucky readers their choice of vampire costume - up to $50. How generous is that? Shown below are just some of the great costumes available. Click HERE to see all of the vampire costumes you can choose from!




While you're there, check out all of the other amazing costumes they have - including many SALE items! How do you win one of these awesome vampire costumes? Leave a comment on this blog post, telling us which of these costumes you'd like to win. Be sure to leave your email address. If you are the lucky winner, we will be emailing you to get your mailing address. Open to U.S. residents only, sorry! This contest is open through September 29th. Good luck!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Last Rising blog tour - Let's talk cover art!


Welcome to The Last Rising blog tour! I'm excited to have author Rachel Firasek here, talking about cover art! I just adore cover art, which is why I've started designing it myself. I mean, can you tell me that you haven't bought a book just because the cover was so pretty? Some of the books I've purchased just because of the covers are Mistwood by Leah Cypess, Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (the pearly one), and Fallen by Lauren Kate. The cover for The Last Rising is just beautiful - I love the colors! Also, some of you might not know that a lot of authors don't have a whole lot of say in their book covers. Crazy, huh? I could talk book covers all day long. I'll be quiet now so you can see what Rachel has to say about cover art...

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Thank you, Tishia, for having me on Paranormal Opinion today. I thought I’d talk about something you obviously love so much and touches me as an artist—Cover Art! I mean, come on, a good cover can sway me into buying a book and I’m sure that there have to be more out there that will buy on covers alone. Please speak up! This is a fun interactive blog post and I adore comments, so don’t be shy.

My cover artist for The Last Rising, Heather Howland, is a genius in my eyes. She will take a short two or three sentence description of my heroine or hero and give me a piece of art that completely captures what I’m going for in my story. It’s rare to find someone who gets it like this.

Okay, so for everyone that thinks authors have a big say in their covers, here’s the real low down. We get to answer a questionnaire about our world, the H/H, the atmosphere and that’s about it. Then we turn this information in to our publisher and we’re at their mercy. Luckily, Entangled will work with the authors to really capture a Grade A cover.
When I received the first proof of The Last Rising, I was blown away. I mean, how did she find a picture of a heroine with a streak in her hair? Did she add it, later? What about the background all moody and stormy, how did she know that’s exactly what I wanted? Do you see the genius here? LOL.

So, how important is that cover? Well, you tell me. Do you buy on cover alone? Have you ever? Have you ever remembered a title of a book only because of the cover? Please share with me. And yes, if you remember the title, please let me know. I’d love to check them out. If you haven’t checked out the Entangled covers, please do and let me know if there are any covers that are your faves. There are so many pretty ones to choose from. Thanks for sharing. ;)
Oh, and have you checked out the covers on Tishia’s design site? So pretty. Very nice!

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CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book One

Title: The Last Rising
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-28-2
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-937044-29-9

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-rising/

Book Description:

After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.


Excerpt:


“Why is it I can’t get you out of my mind? You say we haven’t met, but my dreams remember you.”

Oh yeah, he’d dreamt of a woman for months now. She resembled his dream woman in so many ways, but he’d never seen his fantasy lover’s face.

She struggled against his clutch. “Mr. Alcott, I assure you we haven’t met. And for your other question, I don’t know why, but you need to release me.”

Why did that quivering bottom lip make him suspect she was lying? Turner rested his forehead against the top of hers and sucked in her scent. “Please, tell me I’m not losing my mind. Tell me you don’t visit me every night and I’ll promise to leave you alone. I just need to know.”

He sounded like a crazy man but she had to tell him. She was the only one who could put a stop to his mind’s constant fantasizing, and this feeling of déjà vu every time he saw her.

Ice wriggled in his arms, her thighs chafing against his slacks. “Mr. Alcott, you need to let me go.” She glanced around his shoulder. “Brodie is probably staring out that glass window and I would hate for him to get the wrong impression.”

She was right. He needed to get ahold of himself, but he didn’t have the strength to walk away. His hands traveled up and over her shoulders, stalling on her neck. Brushing his thumbs against her jaw, he pressed her head back and stared into hard eyes—no emotion. Couldn’t she see the battle he fought?

He teased the corner of her mouth with his thumb and her breathy gasp pleased him. So, she wasn’t completely immune to him. He dropped his head until his mouth hovered over hers.

“Mr. Alcott—”

“Shhh. I just need a taste of the sunshine.”


Books 2 and 3 are coming in October and November 2011!



About the Author:
Rachel Firasek grew up in the south and despite the gentle pace, she harassed life at full steam. Her curiosity about mythology, human nature, and the chemical imbalance we call love led her to writing. Her stories began with macabre war poems and shifted to enchanted fairytales, before she settled on a blending of the two.
Today you’ll find her tucked on a small parcel of land, surrounded by bleating sheep and barking dogs, with her husband and children. She entertains them all with her wacky sense of humor or animated reenactments of bad 80’s dance moves.
She’s intrigued by anything unexplained and seeks the answers to this crazy thing we call life. You can find her where the heart twists the soul and lights the shadows… or at www.rachelfirasek.com .


Check out Rachel Firasek's site HERE for a full tour line-up!




Monday, September 19, 2011

Descended by Blood giveaway - Signed Bookmarks!



Author Angeline Kace has generously signed some bookmarks and sent them my way! One side has Jaren and the other side has Mirko, from the book Descended by Blood. I honestly can't decide which one of these guys I'm a bigger fan of! Anyway, to win a bookmark, all you need to do is comment on this blog with your email address so I can get in touch with you if you're a winner. There will be 6 winners! Make sure you check out Angeline Kace's website at http://www.angelinekace.com/.

Review: Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace

Title: Descended by Blood
Author: Angeline Kace
Source: Received from author in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis:

Brooke Keller is a high school junior who has never spent much time living in one place. She is finally in a town long enough to almost snag the boy of her dreams, until her life is threatened after killing a fanged man in his attempt to kidnap her. Brooke begins a dangerous journey in an effort to find out who is after her and how to stop them. In a world with powerful and prejudiced vampires, Brooke must tap into the side of her that she never knew existed at the risk of losing her life in order to save it.



Review:



Descended by Blood is a young adult, paranormal romance. Brooke is a teen who has finally gotten the attention of her high school crush. Pretty quickly afterward though, things start to go downhill. First, someone attempts to kidnap her, she finds out that she's not exactly human and her mom has been keeping this a secret from her, and her new boyfriend is a little uncomfortable with these new developments.

It sucks when the person you are falling in love with has trouble accepting everything about you. This drives Brooke into the arms of another guy, resulting in the famous love triangle. These guys are the complete opposite of one another, but I liked them both. In the midst of trying to sort out her messy love life and accept this new part of herself, Brooke has to deal with the fact that her life is in danger.

Descended by Blood is a quick paced, action packed book. I did think that the relationships happened just a little quickly, and I didn't quite connect with the characters. The ending was pretty abrupt – it definitely ends with a cliffhanger. There's some mystery going on, and I think book #2 will be exciting. I recommend this book to teens and young adults, especially fans of Twilight and Vampire Academy.

Find this book at the following places:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

http://www.angelinekace.com/

Review: Lucky Charm by Marie Astor

Title: Lucky Charm
Author: Marie Astor
Source: Received through blog tour in exchange for honest review



Synopsis:


Twenty-eight-year old Annabel Green is about to tie the knot with her college love, an aspiring author Jeremy Blake, but her plans for an ideal wedding are rudely interrupted when she catches Jeremy kissing his gorgeous book agent.

Shell-shocked by Jeremy’s betrayal, Annabel retreats into the quiet routine of TV dinners and solitary evenings. It is then that Annabel’s best friend, fashion designer Lilly Clayton, sets herself on a mission to draw Annabel out of her shell. In an attempt to persuade Annabel to keep an open mind on dating, Lilly takes Annabel for a stunning makeover, but after Annabel passes on a date with a dashing entrepreneur, Lilly decides that more drastic measures are needed. Lilly invites Annabel to see a palm reader who gives Annabel a lucky charm that is supposed to help her find true love.

A few weeks later, during her trip to Paris, Annabel meets a handsome Parisian, and as the two embark on a whirlwind romance, she starts to believe in the power of the talisman the palm reader has given her. But what Annabel doesn’t know is that Lilly is hiding a secret that could unravel her faith in her newly found luck in love.




Review:




Lucky Charm is a book about a 28-year old woman named Annabel. She is in the midst of planning her wedding when she catches her fiance cheating on her. They have been together since college, so this is completely devastating to her. Annabel's best friend ends up dragging Annabel on a trip to Paris with her, where she meets a guy named Etienne.

I thought it was kind of weird how almost every character was being cheated on, or had been cheated on. It could almost make you paranoid that every man is a cheating scumbag, lol... I loved how Annabel was strong though, and kicked her fiance out on his butt. The first half of the book pretty much revolved around the affair, and we don't meet Etienne until the second half of the book. Since I am such a romance nut, I would liked to have seen more time between Annabel and Etienne. I really liked how their first date didn't go so well, and that it wasn't happily-ever-after from first glance.

This is the first time in a long time where I've read a book without any paranormal elements in it. Overall, it was a cute story though. It was interesting reading about the different aspects of Paris. This book is pretty squeaky-clean in the passion department, so it's okay for romance lovers of any age.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Keepers by Monique O'Connor James

Title: The Keepers
Author: Monique O'Connor James
Source: Received through blog tour in exchange for an honest review


Synopsis:

Jess denies God. In his infinite wisdom, he's taken everyone she's ever loved. Moving to the French Quarter was a ploy to erase the guilt she felt for rebuking her faith. Perhaps, if she hadn't met Justin, an angel preoccupied with getting back into God's good graces, and drowning in his hatred for humanity, her plan would have worked.

Justin's general disdain for the human race makes him difficult to like, but some higher power has appointed him her keeper. Justin's convinced he can mend her broken relationship with her maker, but in the process he learns a thing or two about his own humanity.

Never mind falling in love, that's not supposed to happen. In fact, it may even be forbidden. Jess just wants Justin to understand her plight, and he wants to protect her from a world she doesn't know.

If neither are equipped to save the other, then whose soul will live and whose will perish?




Review:




This was a wonderful thought provoking book. Jess, who has gone through more tragedy in her life than anyone could bear, loses her faith in God. Ironically, she falls for Justin – an angel trying to protect her. It's quite the interesting relationship because Justin doesn't really even like humans, and he has trouble understanding human emotions. Jess has gone through so much, and the man she falls for can't even empathize with her.

Justin is a love/hate kind of guy – one minute you love him, the next you hate him. He can be such a jerk sometimes but at other times you can't help but like him. As he gets more attached to Jess, some of her human emotions rub off on him. It's interesting to see their relationship progress – they can't go a day without arguing because they see things differently.

I really liked all the characters in this book. Rory and Vi were a couple of my favorites and I would like to see books about their stories one of these days. I definitely want to read more about Jess and Justin though. I can really relate to Jess and her issues with God. I'm not a religious person at all, but I do still love to read about angels. This is a nice paranormal romance that I would recommend to readers of any age.




Find this book at the following places:
Amazon
Astraea Press

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Keepers Blog Tour and Giveaway!!

Hi everyone, and welcome to The Keepers blog tour! I must apologize for not getting this up sooner. For some odd reason, I wrote the wrong day down on my calendar. I'm so spacey sometimes!! I haven't had a chance to review this book yet but I am definitely looking forward to it. I've been wanting to read it for awhile now, I've heard so many great things about it! Anyway, I had the honor of interviewing this wonderful author! So, keep reading to get to know more about Monique O'Conner James, more about the book The Keepers, and a giveaway!

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Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Currently, I live in a little suburb outside of Baton Rouge called Watson.

What is your biggest challenge of being an author?
I think dealing with my insecurities is a huge challenge. In general I think writers are insecure. We start off writing for ourselves but get caught up in trying to make everyone happy. Not only is that impossible, but it also makes you doubt your self-worth. It’s been something I’ve had to work on since I started writing; just keeping in mind that I write for the joy of writing and sharing my work is a bonus!

What do you love most about being an author?
Ironically, having said the above, the best thing about being a writer is when you do share your work and someone really connects and really understands where you are coming from. I love when people say, “I really didn’t think I was going to like this book, but then I read the first chapter and was hooked.”

What do you do in your spare time?
I don’t have a lot of spare time. I work full-time outside of the home selling insurance. When I get home I’m Momma and wife. I usually write in the wee hours of the morning. Writing is my release and what I enjoy doing when I have a free minute. I also love to read and hang out with my family.

Do you write series, or do you prefer stand-alone books?
I love series. I love stand-alones too. I think each book is different. Some demand that you continue the story, while others are just fine by themselves. Personally, I have ADHD so a series has to be really intriguing to keep my attention.

Which of your characters is your favorite?
This one is really hard. I adore Justin from The Keepers because he is an angel but flawed. I think the most interesting people in the world are the ones who don’t claim to be perfect. Our flaws make us unique and interesting. Jamais Vu is coming out in September and I love Kasey and Matt. They are complete opposites but also flawed in their own rights.
Who is your favorite author/book?
Hmmm. Well, I never read Becca Fitzpatrick’s work until my publisher compared us. After The Keepers was published I read Hush, Hush and Crescendo and loved them. I guess at the moment those are my favorites. However, I just read a book called A Demon Made Me Do It by Penelope King and it was fabulous.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
My advice is always the same. Keep writing. No matter how many rejections you get or how frustrated you become, keep writing. Our craft is honed with each piece we write and the more you have to offer the more appealing you will be. My other advice is to find a publisher who is as passionate about your work as you are. If your publisher isn’t excited about what you’re doing then it will come across to the public.

How many books have you written?
I have one novel published, The Keepers. I have a short story called The Mulligan Man published and another novel, Jamais Vu, coming out in September. I have 7 other completed manuscripts waiting for me to edit and get out! I wrote for three years straight without sending anything to the publishing world so I developed quite the stockpile.
What are you currently working on? I’m currently editing Jamais Vu, and working on the follow up for The Keepers, tentatively named The Watchers.

Thanks so much for having me. I hope you all enjoy my work and I look forward to hear from you!



About the author:

Monique is the mother of two beautiful children and lives in a small community outside of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She currently works full time as an insurance agent, but her favorite jobs are mother, wife, and author.
On her eighth birthday, her mother bought her a journal and said "write whatever you want, just write". And so, a love affair with words was born. She wrote poetry and short stories in high school and college, until 1993 when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
After her mother's death in 1998, deep in depression, she found herself unable to write. Nine years passed, and only on rare occasion did she attempt to write.
Finally, in 2007, under the urging of friends, she sat down and pecked out her first novel. It was raw and unpolished, but the process had been unquestionably cathartic. The next three years were spent filling her hard drive with seven complete manuscripts.
At the beginning of 2011, Monique decided it was time to edit the work and share it with the world. She hopes you enjoy the ramblings of a truly southern girl raised in a state rich with heritage and love.


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Synopsis:

Jess denies God. In his infinite wisdom, he's taken everyone she's ever loved. Moving to the French Quarter was a ploy to erase the guilt she felt for rebuking her faith. Perhaps, if she hadn't met Justin, an angel preoccupied with getting back into God's good graces, and drowning in his hatred for humanity, her plan would have worked.

Justin's general disdain for the human race makes him difficult to like, but some higher power has appointed him her keeper. Justin's convinced he can mend her broken relationship with her maker, but in the process he learns a thing or two about his own humanity.

Never mind falling in love, that's not supposed to happen. In fact, it may even be forbidden. Jess just wants Justin to understand her plight, and he wants to protect her from a world she doesn't know.

If neither are equipped to save the other, then whose soul will live and whose will perish?


Find this book at the following places:
Amazon
Astraea Press

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Giveaway: Monique is giving away one ecopy of The Keepers! To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post. Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you're the winner. Contest is open through September 21st. Good luck!

Keep following this tour for other chances to win! Be sure to visit the final stop for your chance to win a signed copy of The Keepers! For a full tour schedule, visit The Bookish Snob Promotions.

Next stop on the tour:
September 8th - Sassy Book Lovers

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Last Rising - Release Day Blitz and Giveaway!!



Welcome to the release day blitz of The Last Rising by Rachel Firasek! The author will be giving away ecopies of The Last Rising and a goddess pendant. Winners will be chosen from all who enter via the form below. There will be a live twitter party at 6 pm central 7pm eastern time #lastrising

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Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I’m a thirty-ish Texas native who corals two teens and husband that puts all of my heroes to shame. I have sprawling spread of Mesquite trees and sheep in a hidden country community of Central Texas. I’ve always been an avid horror fan and was always drawn to cartoons with super heroes. Why wouldn’t I writer in Paranormal Romance?

What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
I hate research, so the better question would be what is the most interesting thing I’ve done to avoid it?

Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
I can’t write if I have email in my inbox. Yes, my name is Rachel, and I’m an email addict

Do you write in different genres?
I’ll write in any genre that a story wants to be told. Currently I’m published in both paranormal romance and erotic romance.

When did you consider yourself a writer?
At about the age of 12. When I started writing papers for my friends for money. Shhh… I didn’t just say that. I’ve learned my lesson though and now I understand that ghostwriting for term papers isn’t quite the same.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?
I like an Italian Margarita on occasion and cheesecake. Those are my two faves. I’ll seriously hide to eat that second helping of NY Cheesecake.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
Hmmm… I like to fish, read, play ball with my kids out back. I also enjoy playing card and board games, but only if my hubby will let me torment them while we play. If I have to be good, it’s a no-go. :)

What was the last amazing book you read?
The Relunctant Dom. It had me cry like 9 times. So unbelievably sad. I want to write emotion that good.

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
I read in my bathtub. It makes reading on my e-reader a little dangerous, but it’s the only place I can go without a hubs or kids bothering me.

What can readers expect next from you?
I’m brainstorming a very secretive YA for the first of next year. We’ll see.

Where can readers find you on the web?
http://www.rachelfirasek.com
http://twitter.com/#!/raebob78
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rachel-Firasek/175543929127527




About the Author:
Rachel Firasek grew up in the south and despite the gentle pace, she harassed life at full steam. Her curiosity about mythology, human nature, and the chemical imbalance we call love led her to writing. Her stories began with macabre war poems and shifted to enchanted fairytales, before she settled on a blending of the two.
Today you’ll find her tucked on a small parcel of land, surrounded by bleating sheep and barking dogs, with her husband and children. She entertains them all with her wacky sense of humor or animated reenactments of bad 80’s dance moves.
She’s intrigued by anything unexplained and seeks the answers to this crazy thing we call life. You can find her where the heart twists the soul and lights the shadows… or at www.rachefirasek.com .


CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book One

Title: The Last Rising
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: September 2011
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-28-2
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-937044-29-9

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-rising/

Book Description:

After paying two millennia’s penance to Osiris, world-weary Phoenix Ice has had enough. Saving souls without any hope for her own redemption isn’t how she imagined spending eternity. Fed up, she decides her next death will be her last. But when she sacrifices her own life for a sexy Texan in a catastrophic plane crash, she has no idea the consequences will be so great…or that she’ll end up back in his life for her next assignment.

Now that Turner Alcott has survived the worst, finding a wife and mother for his son matters more than ever before. When the mysterious Ice comes into his life, Turner knows she’s the one—but love is the last thing Ice wants. If he wants to win her heart, Turner must teach Ice how to forgive herself, and prove that love is the ultimate sacrifice.


Excerpt:


“Why is it I can’t get you out of my mind? You say we haven’t met, but my dreams remember you.”

Oh yeah, he’d dreamt of a woman for months now. She resembled his dream woman in so many ways, but he’d never seen his fantasy lover’s face.

She struggled against his clutch. “Mr. Alcott, I assure you we haven’t met. And for your other question, I don’t know why, but you need to release me.”

Why did that quivering bottom lip make him suspect she was lying? Turner rested his forehead against the top of hers and sucked in her scent. “Please, tell me I’m not losing my mind. Tell me you don’t visit me every night and I’ll promise to leave you alone. I just need to know.”

He sounded like a crazy man but she had to tell him. She was the only one who could put a stop to his mind’s constant fantasizing, and this feeling of déjà vu every time he saw her.

Ice wriggled in his arms, her thighs chafing against his slacks. “Mr. Alcott, you need to let me go.” She glanced around his shoulder. “Brodie is probably staring out that glass window and I would hate for him to get the wrong impression.”

She was right. He needed to get ahold of himself, but he didn’t have the strength to walk away. His hands traveled up and over her shoulders, stalling on her neck. Brushing his thumbs against her jaw, he pressed her head back and stared into hard eyes—no emotion. Couldn’t she see the battle he fought?

He teased the corner of her mouth with his thumb and her breathy gasp pleased him. So, she wasn’t completely immune to him. He dropped his head until his mouth hovered over hers.

“Mr. Alcott—”

“Shhh. I just need a taste of the sunshine.”




CURSE OF THE PHOENIX - Book Two

Title: The Last Awakening
(Curse of the Phoenix, #2)
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Release Date: November 2011
ISBN: 978-1-937044-44-1

Book 3 coming January 2012!

http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-last-awakening/

Book Description:

For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris gifts the phoenix her mortality and long-gone voodoo magic with a warning that she must save her next soul within a week without using magic, or she’ll lose her power forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him. Confronted by a waif of a woman who forces him to face the truth about his past, he runs fast and hard, fighting the need to prove himself worthy despite his perceived failures.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, the weak will find strength and the strong will fall. One will have to give up everything so the other can have peace, but will love’s magic withstand the loss?


Monday, September 5, 2011

10 tips for aspiring authors


I'm not an expert, nor am I an author. I do however, have some tips that I'd like to share. Many of you have probably heard all of this, but I'm hoping that I'm able to help at least one person out. I've spent a lot of time coming up with these tips, if you find anything useful please leave a comment :)


1. Make sure you have an editor. No matter how many times you read over your own book yourself, you are going to miss things. You will read sentences the way you *think* you wrote them instead of how they actually appear. I do this just when writing reviews. I have to have my husband read my reviews for me to let me know if there are errors. I can't imagine how many mistakes I would make if I wrote an entire book. Also, if you have several mistakes in your book - that will make its way into reviews. As a reviewer, I don't mention anything if I see a few mistakes. If there are several though, that becomes distracting and I will mention it in the review I write. An editor I've heard good things about: Ashley's Freelance Editing.

2. Make sure you have an appealing cover. Honestly, I'm not just saying this because I design book covers. I think this is one of the MOST important things. If your cover isn't appealing, your book won't sell. I know there are several several graphic designers out there who do covers. Find one who is affordable and do whatever you have to do to come up with the money - have a garage sale, donate plasma, go a month without cable/satellite... People DO judge books by their covers. Everyone does, even if they won't admit it. People will buy a book just because it has a pretty cover. I swear. I've done it, lol...

3. Make sure you have a blog - not just a website. When you write blog posts, you seem more approachable. Readers can connect with you better. You can have "followers" and you can "follow" other blogs. Oftentimes, if you let a blog know that you are following them, they will return the favor. Find other blogs to follow by joining a "Follow Me Friday" type of feature - for example, check out Parajunkee's View.

4. Social Networking. Facebook, Twitter, Google +, ... Join them all! I think the best one at the moment is Facebook. There are tons of authors and readers out there to connect with. Facebook also has lots of groups you can join where you can trade advice with other authors, or see what types of things readers want to see in their books. One author, Stacey Kennedy, friended me on facebook back before I got into book reviewing. She seemed so nice and down to earth - and she interacted with her fans on there. Because of that, I decided to buy one of her books. At the time I didn't yet have an e-reader, but I bought her books in .pdf format and printed them out from my printer. Stacey Kennedy is now one of my favorite authors (and I am so thankful that I now have an e-reader).

5. Goodreads. Make sure you have your book on Goodreads - this is very important. Many readers use this site to find out more about books, read reviews, and see what their friends are reading. When somebody adds a book to their to-read list, their friends are notified of that. That's great exposure. There are also lots of groups on Goodreads for people to join. A lot of people go to these groups to get recommendations, and many of them have areas where authors can promote their books.

6. Book Reviewers. Make sure your book gets some reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, etc... People are going to be afraid to try a book that has no reviews. There are tons of book bloggers out there who not only post their reviews on their blogs, but these other places as well. Readers follow book blogs to find out what books and authors are out there that they haven't discovered yet. Yes, there are a lot of reviewers that have a review stack a mile high. There are tons of reviewers out there though, keep looking and inquiring about reviews. It never hurts to ask. A lot of book bloggers are also willing to do interviews, or have you write a guest post for their blog.

7. Blog Tours. It's not free, but there are places out there that will help you promote your book by lining up book bloggers to review and promote your book on their blogs. Here are some places you might want to check into: The Bookish Snob Promotions, Bewitching Book Tours, and Kismet Book Touring.

8. Have contests. Whether you have contests on your own blog, or giveaway a copy of your book on the blogs of book bloggers - this is a great way to gain exposure. People love to see the word "giveaway" - it attracts a lot of attention. It doesn't have to be an actual book - lots of people have e-readers now days. When somebody wins your book, let them know that you'd love them to post a review of it - even if it's something short.

9. Don't take things too personally. Yes, there are some awful people out there who will hate your book and say hurtful things. I don't know how many bad things I heard about Twilight - but look how many people love it. Only pay attention to negative reviews if there is constructive criticism involved. I think with being an author, you HAVE to be able to read bad things about yourself. I'll honestly say that I couldn't do it. I am a very sensitive person and I take everything to heart. I cringe when I write reviews on books that I didn't love. I'm so afraid of hurting somebody's feelings, but I know it's not going to help anybody if I'm not honest. Also, don't expect a book reviewer to give you a great review just because you gave them a free copy of your book. Most reviewers I know will give fair and honest reviews.

10. Don't assume that you have to be a published author. With the growing trend of e-readers, more and more authors are going the indie route. If you think you've got a great story, get it out there! Besides, lots of publishers don't even give you any say in your book cover. Go indie and do things your own way. There are several resources online to help you along the way. Lulu has some great info on self-publishing, and Smashwords is a popular place for indie authors to sell their e-books. Make friends with other indie authors online and find groups to join to ask your questions to.

Betrayed Blog Tour and Giveaway!!


Welcome to day #1 of the Betrayed Blog Tour! I'm honored to be part of this great tour. Keep reading for an interview with Ednah Walters, info about Betrayed, and a giveaway!

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When did you decide that you wanted to be an author?

When I decided to be a stay-at-home mother, I needed an outlet for my creativity. You could say dirty diapers and baby talk pushed me into writing. Kudos to stay-at-home moms who thrive while changing diapers, cooking baby food from scratch, sewing cute baby clothes and whipping new dishes every day for their family. I couldn’t stand the food I cooked for my babies anymore than they did, I tried sewing, quilting, painting and realized those creative outlets weren’t for me either. So I wrote simple stories for kids. When I finished my first chapter book and read it to my kids and they loved it, I thought, “Hmm, I could do this.” Then I discovered something, just because your kids love your stories doesn’t necessarily mean the editors will too. Still, I continued writing graduation to adult and YA romance.


How many books have you written?

If I exclude the ones I wrote before Awakened (you know the ones that ended nowhere or still take up space on my computer), I’ve written and published 2 YA books in the Guardian Legacy series and 3 adult romance (Fitzgerald books).

What would you be doing if you couldn't be a writer?

I’d probably be in some pharmaceutical lab creating/synthesizing something.

Approximately how long does it take for you to write a book?

I’d say 4-5 months, depending on which genre. My YA tend to take longer, possibly because it’s from one person’s point of view (POV) and she’s a teen, so I have to think like a teenager…not an easy thing to do. Things go a little faster when you write from multiple POV.

Do you have any hobbies?

Hmm, I used to paint, but now any free time I have, when I’m not writing, I read. I love books. I also love to workout—Zumba, TRX, treadmill. I’m more alert mentally and physically when I hit the gym at least 3 times a week, which makes me more productive and makes it easy to keep up with my 5 children.

What do you like/dislike most about being an author?

I love getting the voices from my head and onto my computer. I enjoy interacting with readers, but I’d write even if I didn’t publish. That’s why I have all these completed Fitzgeralds books. While my agent was busy trying to find a home for my first YA and the first Fitzgerald book, and we kept getting rejections, I just kept writing. I needed to write. On, being a stay-at-home mother is about the hardest thing I ever did and I was going nuts. Seconds, the voices in my head wouldn’t leave me a lone. I have so many ideas and so little time…SIGH.

What I hate the most is plotting, storyboarding with detailed plotlines broken down into scenes for each chapter. This works great when you have a mystery to solve though. I’d rather listen to my characters and seeing which direction they want to go. Plotting somehow makes me feel restricted and stifle my creativity. That doesn’t mean I don’t usually have a guideline, so I know what is going to happen at the beginning and the end; who the villain is and their motive; my characters’ motives and goals, and some of the conflicts they must overcome. How and when these events will take place is really up to the characters once I start writing. The conflicts tend to pile up as the story unfolds.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Middle-grade authors of Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Pendragon series, Eragon series, Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine books, Alex Rider series, Artemis Fowl series.

YA-authors of Vampire Dairies, Vampire Academy, House of Night series, Hungers Games, Vladimir Todd series, Daughters of the Moon series, the Princess Diary series,

Adult authors: J.R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, L.A. Banks,
Historical authors like Jude Deveraux, Judith McKnight and Catherine Coulter
Espionage and medical thrillers by Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Jonathan Cook, James Grisham.

What are some of your favorite movies/tv shows?

Detective series whether it is medical, police or fantasy: White Collar, NYPD Blues, Monk, Dr. House, CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Supernatural, Ghost Whisperer, Medium, True Blood

Guilty pleasures: Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, Greek…

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write from the heart, which means write what you want to write and do it everyday. Don’t worry about trends. If Stephanie Meyers had listened to the publishing industry that vampire books were going out, she’d never have written Twilight. I wrote Awakened before books about angels became popular.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on HUNTED, book 3 of the Guardian Legacy series. It should be out summer of 2012. I’m also working on my 4th adult romance.




About the author:

I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries before I graduated to Mills & Boons (starting with Janet Daily's Shutter the Sky).

I enjoy good love stories, tingly mysteries and wondrous adventures. When I finished college and decided to be a stay-at-home mother, I devoured books like they were going out of production, until reading just wasn't enough. So I decided to teach myself to write fiction.

I've written picture books, contemporary and romantic suspense, biracial/multicultural books, and finally YA fantasy. Most of them are still taking up RAM on my computer. Awakened is the first book in The Guardian Legacy series. It was released in September 2011 with rave reviews. Betrayed (book 2 in the series) was released August 1st 2011. Hunted, book 3 in the series, is due out in March.

When I'm not knee deep in battles between Guardians and demons, I write adult contemporary romance (the Fitzgerald family series), sassy, stubborn and gutsy women anyone can identify with and men anyone would be proud to claim. When not writing, I do things with my family, five children or my darling husband of 19 years. I live in a picturesque valley in Utah, the setting for my YA series.


http://www.ednahwalters.com/

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Book 2 in The Guardian Legacy series

Synopsis:

Lil has come to terms with her life as a Guardian/demon hunter and the wielder of the Nephilim most powerful weapon. She trains everyday to master her growing powers, gets along with her Guardian trainee friends (most of the time) and cherishes her moments with her human friends.

Just when she feels she belongs, her nature-bender father contacts her and warns her about a betrayal by someone close to her. Then Bran, the guy she loves, starts to act strange and one of her human friends acquires a supernatural ability. While Lil struggles find a connection between
these three things, she begins to realize that someone is manipulating her and Bran, and will stop at nothing (including hurting those she loves) to lure them to the dark side.

Find this book at the following places:

Amazon (paperback)
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

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Giveaway: Ednah is giving away one ecopy of Betrayed. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post. Be sure to leave your email address so we can get in touch with you if you're the lucky winner! Open through Sept. 19th.


Be sure to follow this blog tour for other chances to win, including an awesome giveaway at the end!!! For a full tour schedule, visit The Bookish Snob Promotions.
Final Stop: Ednah Walters blog

Next stop:
September 6th - Lacey Weatherford Books

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Some sales...and some winners!

With it being Labor Day weekend, I've ran across some sales I thought you all might be interested in...

Check out Indie Book Blowout - 99 cent ebooks!

Check out Astraea Press - ebook are $2.99 or less!

Fictionwise has all ebooks on sale for 55% off - use coupon code 090311 (good through Sept. 5th)


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Now it's time to announce some winners of previous contests - all winners should have received an email from me by now.



Paradise 21 winner: Signed postcard and ebook from backlist
Niina



Vampire Bites by Katie Salidas:
Ella Press



Without Mercy (2 winners):
Saph
Michelle



Caressed by Moonlight:
Suzanne @ Under the Covers



Vampire's Curse:
ruby95660


Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand:
latisha jean

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Review: Burden of Blood by Wenona Hulsey


Title: Burden of Blood
Author: Wenona Hulsey
Source: For review through blog tour

Synopsis:

Burden of Blood is about a police officer named Nicole who can hear the bad thoughts of those around her. What better super power is there for a cop to have, right? You know if someone around you has done something, or is going to do something illegal. Despite the good things that Nicole is able to achieve with this ability, she sees it as a burden.

As Nicole's ability grows stronger, and she finds out what she is, she falls deeper and deeper in danger. Her loved ones are in danger as well, and this leads to a lot of suspenseful moments in the book. I liked the character of Nicole. She's a strong, stubborn, independent woman. She puts the well being of others above her own happiness. Of course, that also leads to one aspect of the book that left me wanting more – Romance. Because Nicole is reluctant to get involved with anybody, there is no passion or happiness for Nicole. She is so stubborn, that even when she has this perfect man who understands her and wants to be with her, she keep herself at a distance.

Luke is a great guy, and I would have liked to have seen something more between these two characters. Unfortunately, I didn't get into this book as much as I wanted to. Not because the writing wasn't good – because it was. I found out that there was a short story called Blood Awakening that is a prequel to this book. Maybe if I would have read that first, I would have felt more of a connection. However, it's still a good story that a lot of paranormal lovers will enjoy.




Review:




Burden of Blood is about a police officer named Nicole who can hear the bad thoughts of those around her. What better super power is there for a cop to have, right? You know if someone around you has done something, or is going to do something illegal. Despite the good things that Nicole is able to achieve with this ability, she sees it as a burden.

As Nicole's ability grows stronger, and she finds out what she is, she falls deeper and deeper in danger. Her loved ones are in danger as well, and this leads to a lot of suspenseful moments in the book. I liked the character of Nicole. She's a strong, stubborn, independent woman. She puts the well being of others above her own happiness. Of course, that also leads to one aspect of the book that left me wanting more – Romance. Because Nicole is reluctant to get involved with anybody, there is no passion or happiness for Nicole. She is so stubborn, that even when she has this perfect man who understands her and wants to be with her, she keep herself at a distance.

Luke is a great guy, and I would have liked to have seen something more between these two characters. Unfortunately, I didn't get into this book as much as I wanted to. Not because the writing wasn't good – because it was. I found out that there was a short story called Blood Awakening that is a prequel to this book. Maybe if I would have read that first, I would have felt more of a connection. However, it's still a good story that a lot of paranormal lovers will enjoy.

Find out more on this author at her blog:
http://wenonahulsey.blogspot.com/

Lucky Charm Blog Tour!





Welcome to the Lucky Charm blog tour! Today we have an excerpt from Marie's Astors book Lucky Charm:

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“Check this out!” Lilly motioned at the sign in the dim window on the right, which read, ‘Madam Aurora – Tarot Card Readings.’ “Let’s go inside!” Lilly exclaimed.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Annabel replied – she had an inborn distrust of psychics and palm readers.
“Come on, it’ll be fun,” Lilly urged her. “Don’t you want to get your fortune read?”
“I’m not sure – if it’s anything like what it’s been recently, I think I’d rather stay in the dark.”
“Well, I want to get mine read – I want to see what’s in store for me and Simon,” Lilly insisted. “You don’t have to get yours read if you don’t want to.”
“All right, have it your way,” Annabel surrendered, knowing full well that once Lilly got something into her head, it would be impossible to talk her out of it.
Lilly tugged on the front door, but it was locked.
“It says here that you have to ring.” Annabel pointed to the small sign next to the intercom.
Lilly pressed the intercom button, but no one answered.
“See? There’s no one there – you probably have to make an appointment in advance or something like that.” Annabel was glad of an excuse to leave. “Let’s go. Maybe next time.” She tugged at Lilly’s sleeve.
Just then there was a rustling noise from the intercom receiver. “Who is it?” asked a distant voice.
“Madam Aurora? We’re interested in a tarot reading,” Lilly spoke into the intercom.
“Come on up – it’s the top floor.” The front door buzzed open.
“In we go!” Lilly swung open the front door and Annabel had no choice but to follow her friend inside.
The lobby of the building was completely deserted. Lilly pressed the elevator button and several moments later an elevator rolled down the see-through metallic shaft.
“I’m not going up in that.” Annabel looked suspiciously at the archaic contraption. “This thing looks like it’s from the nineteen twenties.”
“Come on! I’m not walking up five flights of stairs in heels!” Lilly pried open the elevator door.
“Only because you are my friend, but if we get stuck, it’ll be all your fault.” Annabel went inside the clammy-smelling elevator and felt the floor sink underneath her feet.
“OK, up we go!” Lilly pressed the top floor, and Annabel shut her eyes as the elevator rattled into motion, hoping that this would not be the moment when the elevator would finally succumb to its wear and plummet down the shaft.
“See? We made it just fine!” Lilly exclaimed after the shaky elevator ride ended with one last final thump. She pushed open the elevator door and headed down the hallway that looked like it had recently survived an explosion: paint was peeling off the walls and the floor was sinking underneath one’s feet.
“Are you sure about this?” Annabel asked, thinking that if Madam Aurora were indeed a reputable card reader, she would not be maintaining her establishment in such dingy quarters.
“Right this way,” came a voice from the opened door down the hall.
Great, thought Annabel, abandoning all hopes of escape.
A sly grin twinkled on Madam Aurora’s face as she held the door open for Annabel and Lilly to enter. “Please, come inside.”


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Synopsis:
Twenty-eight-year old Annabel Green is about to tie the knot with her college love, an aspiring author Jeremy Blake, but her plans for an ideal wedding are rudely interrupted when she catches Jeremy kissing his gorgeous book agent.

Shell-shocked by Jeremy’s betrayal, Annabel retreats into the quiet routine of TV dinners and solitary evenings. It is then that Annabel’s best friend, fashion designer Lilly Clayton, sets herself on a mission to draw Annabel out of her shell. In an attempt to persuade Annabel to keep an open mind on dating, Lilly takes Annabel for a stunning makeover, but after Annabel passes on a date with a dashing entrepreneur, Lilly decides that more drastic measures are needed. Lilly
invites Annabel to see a palm reader who gives Annabel a lucky charm that is supposed to help her find true love.

A few weeks later, during her trip to Paris, Annabel meets a handsome Parisian, and as the two embark on a whirlwind romance, she starts to believe in the power of the talisman the palm reader has given her. But what Annabel doesn’t know is that Lilly is hiding a secret that could unravel her faith in her newly found luck in love.


Available at the following places:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

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About the author:

Marie Astor is a die-hard romantic who wholeheartedly believes in true love, which is why she writes in the contemporary romance genre. Marie is the author of a contemporary romance novel, Lucky Charm, and a short story collection, A Chance Encounter and Other Stories. In addition to being a writer, Marie is an avid hiker, an excellent swimmer, a good skier, and a capable badminton player. Currently, Marie is working on her next novel - stay tuned for details! Marie can be reached at marieastory@gmail.com.



Next stop: Sept 5 – Just Another Book Addict
For a full tour line-up, visit The Bookish Snob Promotions