Saturday, November 17, 2012

New Releases




Title: Reached (Matched #3)
Author: Ally Condie

After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times-bestselling Matched Trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.

Available at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (hardcover)

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 Title: Witch World
Author: Christopher Pike

 Witches are real—and each of us may be one—in this all-new paranormal suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike.Heading off for a weekend in Las Vegas with her friends, Jessie Ralle has only one worry—how to make it through the road trip in the same car with her Ex, Jimmy Kelter. The guy who broke her heart five months ago when he dumped her for no reason. The guy who’s finally ready to tell her why he did it, because he wants her back.

But what Jessie doesn’t realize is that Jimmy is the least of her problems.

In Las Vegas she meets Russ, a mesmerizing stranger who shows her how to gamble, and who never seems to lose. Curious, Jessie wants to know his secret, and in response, alone in his hotel room, he teaches her a game that opens a door to another reality.

To Witch World.

Suddenly Jessie discovers that she’s stumbled into a world where some people can do the impossible, and others may not even be human. For a time she fears she’s lost her mind. Are there really witches? Is she one of them?

Available at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (hardcover)

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  Title: Fury of Seduction (Dragonfury #3)
Author: Coreene Callahan

 Successful landscape designer Tania Solares prides herself on living by her own terms, relying on no man to provide for her. But her carefully controlled life takes a turn for the extraordinary when her inquiry into the disappearance of her best friend thrusts her between two warring factions of dragon-shifters. Suddenly Tania’s survival depends on Mac, a newly initiated dragon-warrior who will break every rule to keep her safe.

Now that Tania knows the truth about Dragonkind, returning to her old life is too grave a risk. Ivar, leader of the Razorbacks, plots to decimate the human race, and Tania is just the tool he needs. Despite the danger, Mac cannot deny her a choice: Trade the independence she’s fought so hard to achieve for safety in a magical world, or turn her back on the man she’s grown to love in order to reclaim a freedom that might not last? It is an impossible choice. And yet a sacrifice must be made…

Available at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (paperback)

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  Title: Black City (Black City #1)
Author: Elizabeth Richards

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

Available at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (hardcover)

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  Title: Renegade (The Elysium Chronicles #1)
Author: J.A. Souders

 Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.

Her memories have been altered.

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

Available at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (hardcover)

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 Title: Echo (The Soul Seekers #2)
Author: Alyson Noel

Daire Santos just saved her grandmother's life—and her soul. But at a cost. The Richters, a dark family of sorcerers, have been let loose in the Lowerworld, and Daire and her boyfriend, Dace, must once again work together to find them before they upset the balance between good and evil, and destroy not only their small town in New Mexico, but the entire world.

As Daire and Dace's relationship deepens, Dace’s evil brother Cade grows stronger than ever, building his power and forcing Daire to confront the horrifying prophecy that has brought them all together. One that will leave Daire no choice but to claim her true destiny as Seeker, but only by making an unthinkable sacrifice for the greater good of all.

Available at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (hardcover)

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  Title: Daughter of the Spellcaster (The Portal #2)
Author: Maggie Shayne

Has a spell been cast?

Lena Dunkirk is a practicing witch, Ryan McNally a wealthy playboy. Logic says mismatch, yet from the first they share a passion that defies reason, as if they know each other from another place, another time. Then Lena gets pregnant and runs for the safety of home.

Months later, when Ryan appears at her door looking to help raise their child, Lena doesn’t know whom to trust–particularly now that “guru to the stars” Bahru has taken an interest in her baby, offering gifts forged of magic.

Soon she and Ryan are sharing eerie dreams of ancient lands, while a vengeful demon plots to take possession of their child. As the moment of birth approaches, the demon’s power rises, forcing the hand of love to wield the blade that will decide the fate of a child’s soul–and the future of the world.

Available at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (paperback)
BAM 

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Title: Luminosity (Raven Chronicles #1)
Author: Stephanie Thomas

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.

Available in ebook format at the following places:

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  Title: Night's Darkest Embrace
Author: Jeaniene Frost

Enter the dark realm of Nocturna in Jeaniene Frost’s redhot tale, where blisteringly sexy Raphael dominates the demons of a lawless dimension and tries to help a beautiful young woman avenge her cousin’s disappearance.

Note: Originally appeared in the Haunted By Your Touch anthology.

Available in ebook format at the following places:

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  Title: Finder's Keeper (Karmic Consultants #6)
Author: Vivi Andrews

 True love? For neuroscientist Dr. Mia Corregianni, it’s just an unproven hypothesis. But when she loses the heirloom watch her family believes is enchanted with a potent love spell, she fights superstition with superstition by hiring a psychic finder to track it down.

Chase Hunter is a human compass, homing in on whatever the seeker wants most—that is, when he isn’t surfing or actively avoiding anything resembling a real human attachment. Such has been his life since an accident took his family.

Unfortunately, Mia’s case isn’t a simple insta-Find. The catch? To disguise his real mission from her romance-crazy family, he has to pretend to be her boyfriend. He could deal with that if her complicated emotions weren’t blocking his abilities—or if her innermost desires weren’t walloping him upside the head every time he opens himself to his gift.

As the case wears on, their fake romance begins to feel all too real. Scary stuff for a man who’s reluctant to let himself live again. And a woman who doesn’t believe in magic…or love.

Product Warnings
This book contains meddling grandmothers, magic watches, and a surfer with a body so hot it can teach any scientist the true meaning of chemistry.

Available in ebook format at the following places:
B&N

Friday, November 16, 2012

Feature & Follow

Welcome to this weeks Feature & Follow hosted by Parajunkee & Alison Can Read. It's a great way for bloggers to make new friends and gain more followers. This weeks question:

Books are turned into movies all the time! Turn it around. What movie would make a great book?
Honestly, I don't know how to answer this because I rarely watch movies. The only ones I see are books I've read that have turned into movies, like The Hunger Games and Twilight. I honestly can't think of a movie right now I like that hasn't already been a book!

Let me know if you are a new follower, and I'll be sure to follow you back :)

Join the fun:


Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin






Release: December 27th

Blurb:
I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.


My grandma once told me that I can do anything I want, so I am.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, I now live in picturesque Vermont, with my husband and two daughters. Also renting space in our home is an overhyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day you'll find me behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, I'm writing one of the many stories I plan to release or sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.

I'm also an active reviewer on The Readiacs - a site I own with my best friend and uber special beta, Yvette.


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Cover Reveal: Aversion by Kenechi Udogu

Aversion (Book One of The Mentalist Series)
A YA paranormal romance novella by Kenechi Udogu
 
Blurb:
For Gemma Green’s first time, things should have been straightforward. Find your subject, hold their gaze and push a thought into their head to save them from future disaster – Aversion complete. A pretty simple process given that the subject was to have no recollection of the experience. But Russ Tanner doesn’t seem to want to forget. In fact the more she tries to avoid him, the more he pushes to get to know her. Gemma knows she has a problem but is she facing the side effects of a failed Aversion or has the school’s tennis champ really fallen for her?
 
Mini excerpt (opening paragraph):
 
My name is Gemma Green and I am an Averter. You’re probably wondering what that means and why it is important for me to state that I am one. On the surface there is not much difference between me and most other fifteen year old girls, except for the fact that I have the ability to alter people’s minds and stop them from carrying out actions that will unhinge their predestined life paths. I know it sounds impossible but trust me, it’s true. Only another Averter will be able to tell what I am from sight. Well, not really sight. We have the ability to sense things that others overlook. For example, I always know when I’m being lied to. I can’t tell what the exact lie is but I get a knot in my stomach every time I hear one; the bigger the lie, the tighter the knot. It’s clearly not the most enjoyable ability for anyone to have but the older we get, the easier it becomes to tune the feelings out. You eventually get to a point where the only person’s emotions you can tune into is the person you are assigned to. But I’ll get to that later.
 
Expected release date: December 3rd 2012
 
Author Links:

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Review: Chasing Nikki by Lacey Weatherford

Title: Chasing Nikki (Chasing Nikki #1)
Author: Lacey Weatherford

Synopsis:

Chase Walker used to be a good kid—charming, athletic, and with a bright future ahead, but that was before travesty struck his life, sinking him into deep despair. Caught up in a world of drugs and alcohol, he doesn’t notice time slipping away until he’s arrested for underage drinking one night.

Fed up with watching her son destroy his life, Chase’s mom relocates him to live in a small ranching community with his ex-military grandfather. Chase is far from happy about the situation until he meets, Nikki, the cute cheerleader who won’t give football players like him the time of day.

Chase enjoys a good challenge though and sets out to claim Nikki for his own. He soon discovers she’s more than a pretty face—she’s a balm to his troubled spirit also. But when tragedy strikes Nikki’s life too, suddenly Chase finds himself put to the ultimate test. Can he trust Nikki, and all that she’s taught him? Will it be enough?

 


Review:



 

I've been wanting to read Chasing Nikki for awhile now, and finally got the chance when Lacey so generously offered this book for free one day. I did have some reservations about reading it because I had heard it was sad. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this though, it was wonderful!

Chase is a teen boy who is dealing with depression after a family tragedy. He turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. After being arrested for underage drinking, his mom gets fed up and they move to a small rural town to live with his grandparents. Here, he meets Nikki and he is instantly attracted to her. Unfortunately, Nikki thinks he is a punk and won't give him the time of day. Chase doesn't give up so easily though and Nikki finally decides to give him a chance.

They have such a sweet relationship with plenty of swoon-worthy moments. These two have a lot of chemistry together. Nikki is a wonderful girl and brings out the best in Chase. Life is finally going well for him, and then it all comes crashing down. I feel so bad for him – life has dealt him a rough hand. I'm not sure how much more pain one person could take. It is completely heartbreaking.

I liked how this was written from Chase's point of view. The plot was great and there are many things in this book that send out a good message. The background characters were very likable too. I'm so glad I waited to read this book until now, because I know the next one is coming out next month and I CANNOT wait to see what happens next!


Visit the author here:

Find this book at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (paperback)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Review: Hearts in Darkness by Laura Kaye

Title: Hearts in Darkness
Author: Laura Kaye
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.

Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.

To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?




Review:



 
Hearts in Darkness is a wonderfully steamy novella by Laura Kaye. Makenna and Caden are two strangers who are trapped in a dark elevator together for hours. Having nothing else to do, they talk and find that they have a lot in common. They bond and become attracted to each other, even though they aren't sure what the other looks like.

Caden is a tortured soul who has had a rough past. He's the type of hero that you can't help but love. He may have a tough looking exterior with tattoos and piercings, but inside he is a softie who has become a paramedic so he can help others. Take that, along with the fact that these characters fall for one another without seeing each other, and I think it sends a good message – don't judge people based on their appearance.

Makenna is a likable character as well. She's down to earth and friendly, as well as insecure – very easy for the reader to identify with. Normally, I'm not a big fan of novellas because I like more time for character and relationship development – but I really enjoyed this. This is a very sweet and passionate story, without being just a one-night stand. I'm not a fan of books that are JUST about sex, but with this one there is more to it than that and you get the sense that they will end up in a relationship. This is a great book for those who like sexy contemporary romances.

Visit the author here:

Find this book at the following places:
Amazon (kindle)
Amazon (paperback)

Monday, November 12, 2012

Something Witchy - Interview and Giveaway with A.J. Myers!


When did you begin writing?

I began writing in 2008 when my daughter ran out of vampire stories to read. When she first asked me to write her a book, I had to force myself not to laugh. But, with both her and my husband telling me I could do it, I sat down at my keyboard and started to type. And I’ve been typing ever since. Since the voices in my head scream nonstop day and night, it’s either that or go crazy.


What drew you to the paranormal romance genre?

As a reader, I’ve always loved paranormal romances. As a writer, there are just so many things you can do with it. I like the idea of turning a monster into a hero and a hero into a monster.


Is Something Witchy your first novel?

No, it’s just my first published novel. I actually manage to pound out two, sometimes three, a year. And that’s not even counting the unfinished goodies waiting to be completed on my laptop.


What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

Not an author? (shudders at the thought). I guess I’d have to say a copyeditor. I like the idea of reading a book before everyone else gets to and getting paid to do it. Since I totally suck with commas, though—seriously, just ask my copyeditors—that’s a dream I will probably never see come true.


Which of your characters is your favorite?

Ember, hands down. Strong, determined, independent, insecure, funny, beautiful…there’s just so much about her to love. She’s every teenage girl I know wrapped up in one tiny package.


What are some of your favorite movies/tv shows?

The Harry Potter series, The Covenant, and the Underworld series are my favorite movies. I love Vampire Diaries and CW’s new series, Arrow. There’s also The Walking Dead and Hell on Wheels on AMC and Teen Wolf on MTV. Other than that, I’d really rather have a book and an iPod.


What is a book that you're dying to read?

I’m anxiously awaiting the second book in the Outer Bounds series by Sara King. I plan to take a whole two days away from my computer just so I can read it. My editors might kill me, but it’ll so be worth it.


What do you do in your spare time?

Spare time? (stares blankly at the screen for ten seconds) Between writing and the craziness of my life, I don’t really have a lot of spare time. When I do find a minute to breathe, I spend it with the loves of my life, my husband, Ronnie, and my kids, Trey, Ben, Sierra, and Taylor.


What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on Something Wicked and Something Wanton, the second and third books in the Mystics & Mayhem series. Thanks to the awesome editing staff at Parasite Publications, it should be a very short wait for everyone to find out what Ember gets herself into next.

 http://www.ajmyersnovel.com
 



My name is Ember Blaylock. Welcome to the World of Weird—better known as my life.

It wasn’t always like this. I was once a normal high school senior, just filling out college apps and trying to stay sane long enough to get out of Moonlight, Missouri. Preferably before I ended up in a straight-jacket out of sheer boredom.

At first, my only problems were my increasingly unwanted ability to see the dead and my desperation to remove the stalker known as my ex-boyfriend from my life. Somewhere along the line I must have pissed off the Bad Karma Fairy. Maybe I stepped on the wrong toadstool or peed in Loki’s personal swimming pool—I really don’t know. All I do know is I’m about to have the worst week of my life. Maybe the worst week of any teenager’s life. Ever.

All because of a dead guy.

From the second pale, too-hot-to-be-real Nathan Ashley stepped out of the wreckage of his mangled sports car, my life spiraled into complete and utter chaos. One minute, I'm quasi-normal, the next I’m being kidnapped by a vampire, I’m having weird, creepy powers sprout up out of nowhere, and I’m running from a demon who wants to get more familiar with my anatomy…or kill me. Again. Yeah, did I mention he's done it before?

Anybody know if those straight-jackets come in pink?
Available November 15th!


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