Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Review: A Wolf at the Door by K.A. Stewart

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Title: A Wolf at the Door (Jesse James Dawson #3)
Author:
K. A. Stewart
Publisher: Roc (Penguin)
Release Date: August 7, 2012
Acquired Via:
Personal Collection

STAR STRUCK

Jesse James Dawson was once an ordinary man until he discovered that demons were real, and fighting them meant putting his own soul on the line. His new case is a beauty: Gretchen Keene, a Hollywood starlet who's become an unwitting catalyst in an all-out demon war. It's not her soul Jesse needs to protect, but the two-hundred-and-seventy-six others she's carting around--all the souls sold to spend just one night with the blonde bombshell. That's a lot of baggage, although it might explain her meteoric rise to fame. And it's all up for grabs by the demon world.

All Jesse has to do is keep her safe until New Years. Sounds easy. But darkness is casting a nasty shadow in the California sun--a new unseen enemy is closing in and leaving Jesse to wonder, how do you fight something you can't see coming?


My Review

I really enjoyed reading this book and love the entire series. This book is a bit of a departure for Jesse James Dawson, our intrepid demon-slaying protagonist, as he has to go from his home ground of Missouri for sunny (even in the winter) California. Why is this, you ask?

Monday, July 29, 2013

Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway): Cipher by Cindi Madsen

6 comments:

Tour Schedule



Title: Cipher
Author:
Cindi Madsen
Publisher: Cindi Madsen
Acquired Via: Rockstar Book Tours
Release Date: July 22, 2013

Summer Davis sees deaths before they happen. She attempts to live a normal life by focusing on the dance team and her quarterback boyfriend. But then the way-too-cheery Angel of Death shows up and tells her she’s a Cipher—a person chosen to help people who are going to die resolve problems with their loved ones. Ashlyn Moore, one of Summer’s classmates, is going to die, and she needs Summer’s help before that happens.

It’s nearly impossible to get through to Ashlyn, who surrounds herself with chess nerds and geeks and makes it clear she doesn’t want to be friends. Desperate to complete her Cipher task before it’s too late, Summer turns to Troy, the guy who’s always been there for her and one of the few people she can trust. With his help, she makes progress. In fact, the closer she gets to Ashlyn and her friends, the more she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs.

As the clock starts running down on Ashlyn’s life, Summer decides to change her objective. She’s going to save her new friend before it’s too late—even if it means messing with fate.


My Review

Although I adore Cindi Madsen as a person, this is only the second book that I've read of hers. I generally try not to read authors that I was acquainted with before they were published in case I don't like their books. (I still buy them all.) It's tricky territory, especially as a blogger/reviewer, but I should not have worried. Cipher was just as good as her other book, and I can now pursue reading all of her other books without any hesitation at all.

Friday, July 26, 2013

Blog Tour (Excerpt & Giveaway): The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr

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heros lot tour
Tour Schedule



Title: The Hero's Lot (The Staff and the Sword #2)
Author:
Patrick W. Carr
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: July 15, 2013

Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice.

When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne.

In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.


Excerpt

Sweat covered Martin as if he were some wastrel seeking absolution. Perhaps in a sense he was. Dispatched five years ago to find Illustra’s heir, the archbenefice’s instructions had been simple in imperative: Find the king; let no one find out.

Cover Reveal (Excerpt & Giveaway): Such Sweet Sorrow by Jenny Trout

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Today Jenny Trout and Entangled Teen are revealing the cover for SUCH SWEET SORROW, which releases on February 4, 2014. Also enter below for a paperback of the book or an eBook!



Title: Such Sweet Sorrow
Author:
Jenny Trout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: February, 2014

Never was there a tale of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo…But true love never dies. Though they’re parted by the veil between the world of mortals and the land of the dead, Romeo believes he can restore Juliet to life, but he’ll have to travel to the underworld with a thoroughly infuriating guide.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, may not have inherited his father’s crown, but the murdered king left his son a much more important responsibility—a portal to the Afterjord, where the souls of the dead reside. When the determined Romeo asks for help traversing the treacherous Afterjord, Hamlet sees an opportunity for adventure, and the chance to avenge his father’s death.

In an underworld filled with leviathan monsters, ghoulish shades, fire giants and fierce Valkyrie warriors, Hamlet and Romeo must battle their way through jealousy, despair, and their darkest fears to rescue the fair damsel. Yet finding Juliet is only the beginning, and the Afterjord doesn’t surrender souls without a price…


Excerpt

Prologue

Two figures, both alike in stature and purpose, ducked beneath a bridge in Verona. The swollen river made mud of its banks. The men slid and fought against it, their torches flickering.

"Let's turn back, Romeo," Friar Laurence urged, pushing down the hood of his rough brown robe. "Can we not let poor Juliet rest in peace?"

The younger man fixed his friend with a critical eye. "Peace? My Juliet knows no peace, only eternal torment. She took her own life, and that is my fault."

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Promo (Blog App & Giveaway): Open by Craig Gross

1 comment:
Get inspired and energized with this new, life-changing book, Open, by Craig Gross, available wherever books and eBooks are sold.

Doesn’t it feel great when you find a book that really inspires you? Something that really gets you motivated to live and love better?

Author and speaker, Craig Gross, is helping men and women all over the country do just that. In his new book, Open, Craig is letting you discover a life of freedom, confidence and success by being honest and transparent with people you truly hold dear.

How would getting more "open" benefit YOU in your life and relationships?

Hear why Craig believes this message of "openness" for FAMILIES is so important:

"Open" is for families because "Open" is for everyone. Yes, accountability is helpful for individuals; it can help men become better husbands and fathers and women become better wives and mothers, and accountability can help young believers grow into a more mature faith. But beyond showing the individual benefits of accountability, "Open" shows that an honest, forgiving, caring, consistent, and respectful dialogue within a group dynamic--including families--serves only to make that group stronger and closer together. Your family relationships are forever and will outlast all others--why not make them open?
- Craig Gross, author of Open

Praise for Open:

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Cover Reveal (Giveaway): A Missing Piece by Beth Fred

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Title: A Missing Piece
Author:
Beth Fred
Publisher: Escape Publishing
Cover Reveal Organizer: Itching for Books Blog Tours
Release Date: September 1, 2013

A turbulent, emotionally charged YA novel that breaks down barriers and challenges the status quo...

Angry, seventeen-year-old Iraqi war refugee Mirriam Yohanna hates her new life in Killeen, Texas, where the main attraction is a military base, populated with spoiled army brats like Caleb Miller.

Caleb has much to be angry about too, including Mirriam who turns him down flat in front of everyone. Eager for retribution, Caleb agrees to a dare that will see him take Mirriam to the prom and regain his pride.

But their relationship soon moves beyond high school antics. Mirriam and Caleb are bound together by more than location, and as they are forced to work closely together on a school assignment, they start to uncover an explosive story that has the potential to ruin lives — and both of their futures. One single truth changes everything and strengthens their bond.

When Mirriam's family discovers their relationship, they decide it's time to arrange her marriage to a proper Iraqi man. Caleb must convince Mirriam that he is in it for forever — or risk losing her for good.



About the Author

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Cover Reveal (Giveaway): A Wicked Kind of Dark by Jonathan K. Benton

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Title: A Wicked Kind of Dark
Author:
Jonathan K. Benton
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Cover Reveal Organizer: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
Release Date: September 3, 2013

Robert Duncan no longer believes in magic. A mysterious call about a blood moon, however, leads him back to the magical world of his childhood and to Luthien, the beautiful girl with flame-coloured hair, who he loved and lost.

As Robert unravels the secrets of his childhood, darkness enters his life and an ancient evil awakens. To have any chance of defeating the dark forces that would destroy two worlds, Robert must find Luthien before the rise of the blood moon. He must, once more, believe in magic…

A Wicked Kind of Dark mixes vast and spectacular fantasy landscapes with gritty urban reality. A must-read for people of all ages who believe in the power of imagination, and the importance of never losing touch with your inner child.



About the Author

Monday, July 22, 2013

Book Blast (Giveaway): The Hero's Lot by Patrick W. Carr

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The Hero's Lot

Riveting Sequel from Christian Fantasy's Most Talented New Voice.

When Sarin Valon, the corrupt secondus of the conclave, flees Erinon and the kingdom, Errol Stone believes his troubles have at last ended. But other forces bent on the destruction of the kingdom remain and conspire to accuse Errol and his friends of a conspiracy to usurp the throne.

In a bid to keep the three of them from the axe, Archbenefice Canon sends Martin and Luis to Errol's home village, Callowford, to discover what makes him so important to the kingdom. But Errol is also accused of consorting with spirits. Convicted, his punishment is a journey to the enemy kingdom of Merakh, where he must find Sarin Valon, and kill him. To enforce their sentence, Errol is placed under a compulsion, and he is driven to accomplish his task or die resisting.


Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Hero's Lot is the sequel to A Cast of Stones



Entangled Publishing's Brazen Turns One Year Old!

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Brazen Books, who brought us Wrong Bed Right Guy, Officer Off Limits, Seducing Cinderella, and Tempting the Player - to name just a few - is turning 1 this month, and they’re celebrating in a big way. They’ve got a ton of great things going on this week, including Twitter parties, FB events, and even a huge sale! Full deets below:

Epic Giveaways

Don’t miss the Brazen Bash on Thursday, July 25th from 7 to 10 pm EST where you can comment to win a $50 prize pack, $75 prize pack, or $125 prize pack. Prize packs will be a combination of Gift cards from Amazon/B&N, Adam & Eve, and Sephora! You can find out more details on the Brazen Facebook page here or go directly to the Brazen Bash event page

Q&A’s with NYT Bestselling Authors

Twitter Chat with Laura Kaye @laurakayeauthor Tuesday, July 23rd from 9 to 10 pm EST. Twitter Chat with Katee Robert @katee_robert Wednesday, July 24th from 6 to 7 pm PST. They’ll be using the hashtag #BrazenBash so you can easily join in the conversation.

Photo Contest

Be sure to check out Brazen’s Tumblr page to share your favorite pictures of swoon-worthy men that remind you of the heroes in Brazen books! Either post your picture to your own tumblr using the tag “brazenbash” Or you can submit your photo directly to the Brazen tumblr page here. Make sure to tweet your tumblr posts as well using #BrazenBash

Surprise 99 Cent Sale!

They’ve dropped the price of 8 of their top-selling titles for 1 week only - July 21-28! Tell your mom, your sisters, your co-workers!

Seducing Cinderella by Gina Maxwell
Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert
Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey
Private Practice by Samanthe Beck
Tempting the Best Man by Jennifer Armentrout
One Night with a Hero by Laura Kaye
No Flowers Required by Cari Quinn
Game for Marriage by Karen Erickson

Find more information and learn about other titles on Brazen at Entangled!


Friday, July 19, 2013

House Party 5 Blog App & Giveaway

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The next installment of the legendary House Party movie series drops July 23 on DVD. Warner Bros. is proud to announce the exclusive House Party 5 Soundboard Blog App!


A pair of high school rappers have two major goals – make music and get hot girls. The best way to get both is to throw the biggest and best house party ever! The night of the party, one of the boys is grounded by his parents, so it’s up to his best friend to break him out of his house confinement and get the party started..

House Party 5 App

Celebrate party fun by playing with killer sound clips from the movie by triggering pads on the light-up soundboard. Click around on different pads to UNLOCK exclusive GIFs from the movie and play with all the sounds to uncover all the hidden GIFs!


TROUBLE VIEWING APP? GO HERE

The Giveaway

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Review: A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron

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Title: A Spark Unseen (The Dark Unwinding #2)
Author:
Sharon Cameron
Publisher: Scholastic
Acquired Via: Around the World ARC Tours
Release Date: September 24, 2013

The thrilling sequel to Sharon Cameron's blockbuster gothic steampunk romance, THE DARK UNWINDING, will captivate readers anew with mystery and intrigue aplenty.

When Katharine Tulman wakes in the middle of the night and accidentally foils a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, she realizes Stranwyne Keep is no longer safe for Uncle Tully and his genius inventions. She flees to Paris, where she hopes to remain undetected and also find the mysterious and handsome Lane, who is suspected to be dead.

But the search for Lane is not easy, and Katharine soon finds herself embroiled in a labyrinth of political intrigue. And with unexpected enemies and allies at every turn, Katharine will have to figure out whom she can trust--if anyone--to protect her uncle from danger once and for all.

Filled with deadly twists, whispering romance, and heart-stopping suspense, this sequel to THE DARK UNWINDING whisks readers off on another thrilling adventure.


My Review

A Spark Unseen is the sequel to to last year's The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron. Katharine Tulman has grown up a little (it's been a year or two since the events in the first book), and dear Uncle Tully is still what most people would consider to be insane. Unfortunately, an invention from the last novel proves that Uncle Tully is a genius, and two governments are after him. It becomes necessary for Katharine, Mary, and the wonderful lawyer Mr. Babcock to "kidnap" Uncle Tully, fake his death, and whisk him away from Paris. There is intrigue, murder, betrayal, bothersome neighbors, a hot French guy, and an imperial ball. Oh, and the hired help isn't as creepy by half.

Blog Tour (Review): The Mirrored World by Debra Dean

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Title: The Mirrored World
Author:
Debra Dean
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: July 16, 2013
Acquired Via:
TLC Book Tours

St. Petersburg, 1736. Dasha and Xenia are cousins and devoted friends growing up in the shadow of royal society. On the night they make their debut at court, Xenia falls madly in love with a charismatic singer in the empress’s imperial choir. They marry and settle into a contented family life.

But on a snowy winter night, tragedy shatters their dreams, plunging Xenia into an abyss of grief. Pulling away from everyone, including her dear friend, she begins giving away her possessions to the poor. Then one day she disappears…until eight years later, when Dasha hears rumors of a soothsayer and healer in St. Petersburg’s slums, dressed in a ragged military uniform, who answers only to her husband’s name.

Told in Dasha’s compelling voice, The Mirrored World vividly captures a darkly glittering world of imperious empresses, ice palaces, holy fools, and Italian castrati—a world of unparalleled extravagance for the few and desperate squalor for the multitudes. What causes one privileged young woman to cross that divide, to give up all her possessions and become one of the homeless people whom she has served? Is it devotion or delusion? The novel illuminates the blessings of friendship, the limits of reason, and the costs of loving deeply.


My Review

The main focus of my history degree and religious studies has been focused on Western Europe and the Crusades, so I have never heard of Xenia of St. Petersburg prior to reading The Mirrored World. The story of her life is told by her cousin, Dashenka. It begins with the fire of 1736 in St. Petersburg, when Xenia, her mother, and sister Nadya move in with Dashenka's family, and ends around the turn of the century. The book takes the reader through Xenia's childhood, marriage, and finally her years of wandering after being widowed.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway): Starglass by Phoebe North

4 comments:

Tour Schedule



Title: Starglass
Author:
Phoebe North
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Release Date: July 23, 2013
Acquired Via: Itching for Books Blog Tour

In this futuristic, outer space thriller, Terra has to decide between supporting the rebellion she believes in—and saving the life of the boy she loves.

For generations, those aboard the Asherah have lived within strict rules meant to help them survive the journey from a doomed Earth to their promised land, the planet Zehava–which may or may not be habitable, a question whose imperative grows now, in the dwindling months before touchdown.

Sixteen-year-old Terra’s situation is tough. A dead mom. A grieving dad. A bitchy boss, and a betrothed who won’t kiss her no matter how bad she wants it. She’s doing her best to stay afloat, even when she gets assigned a vocation she has no interest in: botany.

But after Terra witnesses the Captain's guard murder an innocent man, she's drawn into a secret rebellion bent on restoring power to the people. The stakes are higher than anything she could have imagined. When the rebellion gives Terra an all-important mission, she has to decide where her loyalties lie for once and for all. Because she has started to fall for the boy she's been sent to assassinate...


Book Trailer

Monday, July 15, 2013

Review: Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

3 comments:


Title: Tumble & Fall
Author: Alexandra Coutts
Publisher:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan)
Acquired Via: Around the World ARC Tours
Release Date: September 17, 2013

A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

Alexandra Coutts' TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world.


My Review

In Alexandra Coutts' debut novel,Tumble & Fall, the story is told in alternating points of view of three teenagers: Sienna, who was just checked out of rehab by her dad; Zan, who is still mourning the death of her boyfriend from ten months previous to the story; and Caden, who was brought up on the wrong side of the tracks and is starting to drift into the wrong crowd. There is also a host of secondary characters that I enjoyed just as much as the leads because of their complexities, and they were also necessary for the development and growth of Sienna, Zan, and Caden. Oh, and there's an asteroid in the background that everyone is waiting to hit the planet, but Tumble & Fall isn't really an apocalyptic or science fiction book. You aren't going to see rioting, cults, or Bruce Willis riding a nuclear warhead into the sunset (which is referred to many times in the book). The world had been essentially given six months to live. Humanity was aware of the asteroid Persephone's impending collide with the planet, and those six months were wrapping up during the timeframe of the novel. There was no expected "last hurrah" from any of the world's governments. The diagnosis for everyone is terminal, and it's almost time for them to die. How in the world I did not expect, even for a moment, before reading this book that I wasn't going to cry is beyond me. This is mostly a contemporary novel - with an asteroid. You may have trouble suspending belief about the lack of full-scale rioting and looting, but I think everyone has pretty much accepted what's coming.

Book Launch Party: Moonlight by Lisa Kessler

2 comments:




Title: Moonlight (Moon #1)
Author:
Lisa Kessler
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age Group:
Adult
Publisher: Entangled: Edge
Release Date: July 15, 2013

Rancher Adam Sloan is more than meets the eye. As the heir to his Pack, the sexy werewolf's biggest challenge is keeping his kin's true nature under wraps. But a group of jaguar shifters threatens to reveal the pack, blasting into town killing humans in plain sight. And when he smells one at the local diner, his standing orders are to take her out.

Lana Turpin doesn't realize she's a moving target. Raised in the foster system, she only knows that she blacks out during the new moon and wakes up without remembering a thing. But now she's being tracked by some strange organization that wants her back--even though she's never stepped foot inside their compound. And the stranger across the diner is watching her like an enemy.

It should be a simple mission for Adam, but when he touches the frustratingly beautiful Lana, his inner wolf howls...
mate. Now, the two must find and stop the people who hunt her...and Adam must keep his own family from killing the only woman he will ever love.

Buy Links

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Internal Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

2 comments:


Title: The Testing
Author:
Joelle Charbonneau
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Acquired Via: Publisher
Release Date: June 4, 2013

It’s graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about—hope for—is whether she’ll be chosen for The Testing, a United Commonwealth program that selects the best and brightest new graduates to become possible leaders of the slowly revitalizing post-war civilization. When Cia is chosen, her father finally tells her about his own nightmarish half-memories of The Testing. Armed with his dire warnings (”Cia, trust no one”), she bravely heads off to Tosu City, far away from friends and family, perhaps forever. Danger, romance—and sheer terror—await.

My Review

Me: We need to have a talk, don't we?

Myself: About?

Me: Oh, you know, how you read books and then don't review them.

Myself: I guess you better gear up for a long talk.

Me: That's no lie. What's taking so long on The Testing, though? This book was read in less than a day.

Myself: *shuffles feet*

Me: Did you not like it?

Myself: Oh no, I did like it! I have even been recommending it to people at the library, moms on Goodreads, strangers at the grocery store...

Me: Then where the hell is the review?

Friday, July 12, 2013

Cover Reveal: Nadia's Obsession by Charles D. Martin

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Title: Nadia's Obsession
Author:
Charles D. Martin
Publisher: Chaney-Hall
Cover Reveal Organizer: JKS Communications
Release Date: August 2013

Nadia's Obsession continues the story of a young Russian woman as told in Charles Martin's first novel, Provocateur. A Brief prologue enables readers to jump right into the his second novel, if they have not read the first. Martin's fascinating protagonist was born an orphan and had a troubled desperate early life, but was blessed with superior intelligence and beauty. She escaped her impoverished circumstances coming to America through a mail-order-bride program. In America, she became involved with an ex-CIA agent named Olga and, as part of her unique enterprise, is catapulted into a thrilling and dangerous life filled with suspense, intrigue and sexual tension. This second novel steps up the pace of intrigue and sexual intensity as Nadia and Russoff, the Russian oligarch, clash again in a battle of wits. A new romance emerges and takes its twists and turns and the reader experiences new aspects of the gamesmanship between the sexes. Charles Martin once again holds us spellbound and leaves us wanting more.

Check out the free preview of Nadia's Obsession through NetGalley starting Tuesday, July 16!


About the Author

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Book Blitz (Excerpt & Giveaway): Rush by Eve Silver

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Title: Rush (The Game #1)
Author: Eve Silver
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (Harper Teen)
Blitz Organizer: YA Bound Book Tours
Release Date: June 11, 2013

So what’s the game now? This, or the life I used to know?

When Miki Jones is pulled from her life, pulled through time and space into some kind of game—her carefully controlled life spirals into chaos. In the game, she and a team of other teens are sent on missions to eliminate the Drau, terrifying and beautiful alien creatures. There are no practice runs, no training, and no way out. Miki has only the guidance of secretive but maddeningly attractive team leader Jackson Tate, who says the game isn’t really a game, that what Miki and her new teammates do now determines their survival, and the survival of every other person on this planet. She laughs. He doesn’t. And then the game takes a deadly and terrifying turn.


Book Trailer

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway): The Hunter by Monica McCarty

3 comments:


Title: The Hunter (Highland Guard #7)
Author:
Monica McCarty
Publisher: Ballantine Books (Random House)
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Acquired Via:
TLC Book Tours


The war for Scotland’s freedom continues as King Robert the Bruce battles on. At his command is an elite army of trained warriors, soldiers dedicated to their king, their country—and to the remarkable women they love.

Prized for his unbeatable tracking skills, Ewen “Hunter” Lamont accepts a dangerous assignment: locate a missing undercover courier. But this is no ordinary target. Ewen has met his prey before as “Sister Genna,” a fiery, forbidden woman forever etched in his memory after one stolen, sinful kiss. Now that he knows her real identity, he’s more determined than ever to keep her safe. But without the protection of the veil between them, fighting the allure of the beautiful lass may be the toughest battle this extraordinary warrior has ever faced.

After her ill-fated attempt three years ago to rescue her twin sister, Janet of Mar has found salvation acting as a royal messenger—until she surrenders to a darkly handsome warrior whose rough, sensual kisses stir feelings the woman in her can’t deny. But when betrayal leads to danger, and a crucial communiqué is put in jeopardy, Janet has no choice but to put her faith in the hunter who can find anything—perhaps even her heart.


My Review

The Hunter is the seventh book in the Highland Guard series by best-selling author Monica McCarty, but can be read as a standalone. This is what I have done, though I have not yet read the other books in the series. (I will.)

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Book Blast (Giveaway): Over the Rainbow by Brian Rowe

2 comments:

Over the Rainbow
Brian Rowe

Zippy Green never meant to fall in love with a girl, but when she does, her ultra-conservative father tries to send her to anti-gay camp. At the Kansas City airport, however, she hides inside a giant suitcase and sneaks onto an airplane headed not to the camp, but to Seattle, where her online love Mira lives. Halfway through the flight, the plane barrels out of control and crashes into the ground, knocking her unconscious.

When Zippy awakens, she finds that most of the passengers have vanished. She doesn’t know what’s happened, but she’s determined to find out. She begins a quest on foot toward Seattle, and along the way, she meets a teenager with a concussion a homeless man with a heart condition, a child without a shred of bravery, and a terrier named Judy. Together the group discovers that more than two-thirds of the world’s population has mysteriously disappeared. But that’s only the beginning…

All Zippy wants is to find her Mira, but before she can she has to contend with two outside forces. The first is her homophobic father, who does everything in his power to keep her from the girl she loves. And the second is extinct creatures of all shapes and sizes, including living, breathing dinosaurs, which have replaced the missing population.



About the Author

Monday, July 8, 2013

Review: This Strange and Familiar Place by Rachel Carter

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Title: This Strange and Familiar Place (So Close to You #2)
Author:
Rachel Carter
Publisher: HarperTeen
Acquired Via: Around the World ARC Tours
Release Date: July 2, 2013

These are the things of which Lydia is now certain:

The Montauk Project has been experimenting with time travel for years.

The Project's subjects are "recruits" from across time, recruits like Wes, Lydia's ally, friend, and love.

The Project is now responsible for the disappearance of two members of her family. . . .

And they're coming for Lydia next.

This thrilling sequel to So Close to You explores how far we'll go to save the people we love—and what happens after you change the future.


My Review

I was a bit "meh" in my review of Rachel Carter's debut novel, So Close to You, but curiosity got the better of me. I requested This Strange and Familiar Place to see if the series would improve. Did it improve? Not really (in my opinion), but this installment in the trilogy was more enjoyable for me, and I may have come to an understanding with the books.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Blog Tour (Interview & Giveaway): This is W.A.R. by Lisa & Laura Roecker

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Title: This is W.A.R.
Author: Lisa & Laura Roecker
Publisher: Soho Teen
Release Date: July 2, 2013

This is not a story of forgiveness...

The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Emily Thorne would be proud.


Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent.

And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone.

They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.

Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.


Interview with Lisa & Laura

Thank you ladies so much for agreeing to take some time from your busy schedule to answer some questions for us here at Bibliophilia, Please. Let’s break the ice a little – what is something funny about y’all (sorry, I’m Southern) that only your friends know?

Laura had a humdinger of a freshman year at college. Before she went, she thought it would be a good idea to chop off all (ALL) of her hair. Then she dyed it red. Then she got a tattoo with a friend that she prays daily will never be seen by her children or adult friends.

Lisa traveled to Europe her junior year of college and ate her way through the entire continent gaining no less than 40 pounds. Like being pregnant, without the baby.

Can you tell us a little bit about the four girls who are seeking revenge against the Gregory family?

Friday, July 5, 2013

Review: Conrad Stargard #1-4 by Leo A. Frankowski

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This review covers the first four books in the series, as they’re kind of fast moving and these cover the first arc.



The Cross-Time Engineer (Conrad Stargard, #1)
The High-Tech Knight (Conrad Stargard, #2)
The Radiant Warrior (Conrad Stargard, #3)
The Flying Warlord (Conrad Stargard #4)


Move over Marty McFly! Here comes Conrad Stargard, and he will make out with your mother.

It’s semi-modern day Poland, and Conrad got massively drunk, stumbled into a storeroom in an inn and passed out. He woke up in 1231 A.D., lost, penniless and without even knowing he was stranded in time. And then things got bad. He had a massive hangover.

Cover Reveal (Giveaway): Ward Against Darkness by Melanie Card

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Title: Ward Against Darkness (Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer #2)
Author:
Melanie Card
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: July 16, 2013

The last thing Ward de'Ath wants is more trouble. On the run from both the law and the criminal underworld, Ward and Celia flee Brawenal City only to stumble into the mansion of a powerful evil necromancer. And when Ward discovers the man possesses a dangerous grimoire, his duty leaves him no choice. He can't allow the necromancer to keep the grimoire. But the mansion is filled with monsters--human and undead--and Ward has no way of telling who's friend or foe. The only person he can trust is Celia who dominates more of his thoughts and feelings everyday. But there are still laws in the way of anything but friendship. She's still dead and he's still alive . . . for now.

Pre Order Links

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Review: Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross

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Title: Belle Epoque
Author:
Elizabeth Ross
Publisher: Delacorte Press (Random House)
Acquired Via: DAC ARC Tours
Release Date: June 11, 2013

When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive.

Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect foil.

But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose.


My Review

Belle Epoque, the debut novel by Elizabeth Ross was not the book that I was expecting to read when I opened it. I allowed myself to be misled by the synopsis and thought that I was getting a Cinderella/Ugly Duckling story. I am so glad that I was mistaken.

Maude Pichon was a girl who ran away from an arranged marriage in the north of France (yes, I had to cheat to see where Brittany actually was, geographically speaking) to the glitz, glamour, and beauty of Paris. The book opens with Maude learning that the world is a much bigger place than she ever imagined. Despite grabbing what she believed to be a large amount of money from the till at her father's store, she quickly finds that life in the big city is expensive and cruel. In order to make ends meet in the most undemanding way possible, she finds herself working as a repoussoir - an ugly individual hired to make the employer more attractive by comparison. She is initially against the degrading work, but finds herself playing a poor country cousin debutante for the Parisian social "season".

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Cover Reveal (Excerpt): Creators by Tiffany Truitt

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Today Tiffany Truitt and Entangled Teen are revealing the final cover for
The Lost Souls Trilogy: Creators
along with an exclusive excerpt and a pre-order giveaway that Tiffany has set up on her blog!



Title: Creators (Lost Souls Book #3)
Author:
Tiffany Truitt
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Cover Reveal Organizer: Rockstar Book Tours
Release Date: April 1, 2014

Heartbroken but more determined than ever after a tense showdown in the woods, sixteen-year-old Tess once again returns to the safety of her community of Isolationists. Bolstered by new alliances and desperate to protect those she loves, this time she knows she can return stronger and more powerful than ever to take back what is hers.

As she trains in combat and grows more confident, Tess receives beautiful letters penned by her forbidden love, the chosen one James, from his prison in Templeton. He is now serving as a bodyguard to the creators—the team of scientists who created artificial life in the first place. And what he has discovered about the true origin of the illness that halted natural life could change everything.

Enemy will become ally and death will bring new hope in this stunning conclusion to Tiffany Truitt’s epic
Lost Souls trilogy.

Excerpt

Somewhere, James was just as trapped as I was.

I thought of the morning when we lay with each other, curled against one another, never beginning and never ending. How we’d stayed like that till the sun began to rise.

James had reached down and pulled me off the ground. He wore a satisfied grin on his face. “Someone is mighty proud of himself,” I teased.

He laughed. It bounced through the forest, calling it awake. Readying it for the day. “I’m just insanely happy.”

I stood on the tips of my toes and kissed him gently on his scar. “I’m insanely happy too,” I whispered.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Book Trailer Contest: All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill

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Marina has everything. She’s got money, popularity, and a bright future. Plus, she’s best friends with the boy next door, who happens to be a gorgeous prodigy from one of America’s most famous families.

Em has nothing. Imprisoned in a small white cell in the heart of a secret military base, all she has is the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

But Marina and Em have one big thing in common: they’re the same person.

Now Em must travel back four years in time in order to avert the terrible future from which she’s fled, and there’s only one way to do it. She must kill the person who invented the time machine in the first place: someone from her past. A person she loved.

But Marina won’t let them go without a fight.


Author Cristin Terrill is getting ready to release her incredible debut Young Adult novel, All Our Yesterdays, from Disney-Hyperion and is giving readers a chance to be a part of the launch by creating fan trailers!

Interested? Here’s how to enter:

1. E-mail Sami@JKSCommunications.com with your name, address and contact info. Be sure to enter "All Our Yesterdays Book Trailer Contest" in the subject line. E-mails must be sent by July 20, 2013 so that all entrants can be sent one advance reader’s copy with ample time to brainstorm and create a 30-60 second book trailer for All Our Yesterdays by the August 25, 2013 deadline.

3. Book trailers must be submitted to Sami@JKSCommunications.com by August 25, 2013 (Entrants must be located in the United States). Cristin will pick her top choices, which we will feature on The New Book Network for fans to vote on their favorite.

4. One Grand Prize Winner will be announced on September 3, 2013 and will receive an annotated copy of All Our Yesterdays with special insights and secrets from Cristin, a sneak-peek at book 2, and some additional goodies and treats straight from Washington, D.C., where the story takes place!

So get those thinking caps on! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

********
For more information on the author, please visit CristinTerrill.com!
Follow the Virtual Tour (online and on Twitter with #allouryesterdays)
Follow Cristin on Twitter!
‘Like’ her on Facebook!


Blog Tour (Excerpt): The Alchemist Agenda by Marty Weiss

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Join Marty Weiss, author of the thriller novel, The Alchemist Agenda, as he tours the blogosphere July 1 - September 27, 2013 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

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The Alchemist AgendaWhen Charlie Rocklin and his company Gold Diggers Exploration set out to recover a 17th century shipwreck, they discover an undocumented Nazi submarine with enigmatic symbols. Ariel Ellis, a femme fatale historian with a mysterious past, proves that the U-boat contains the key to a formula more valuable than any sunken treasure, and more deadly than any weapon that has ever existed. In this globetrotting international adventure, Charlie and Ariel uncover an accelerating tempest of secrecy, lies, and agendas, fighting not only for the truth, but for their lives. Weiss's debut novel is a lightning-paced story with surprises at every turn, and shows us that our personal legends may be more real than we ever could have imagined.

Excerpt

Just as Charlie turned off the shower, he heard the fall on the stairs, even though his bathroom door had been closed and his office was set apart from the others. Then everything went silent, unusually so. He haphazardly dried, quickly put on his street clothes, made sure he stuffed his wallet and his black book in his back pockets, the two personal effects he only left behind when he was training, and then secured the necklace with the crest around his neck, now the third item he would no longer leave without.

He peered out into the hallway.

It was too quiet. Something was not right.

He walked into the lower level offices. Nothing out of place. Then he looked behind a table and saw:

Two dead bodies.

Indulgence Cover Reveal

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Entangled Indulgence has a sexy new look and offers classic romance with a fresh new twist!


Indulgence brings together classic romance, new and fresh voices, those alpha heroes we all love, and are simply great category romance reads. Indulgence books are short contemporary romances. They are new, fresh, edgy, light, and whimsical and always have a happily ever after.

Famously Engaged
by Robyn Thomas


Monday, July 1, 2013

Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop

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Welcome to my stop on the Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop hosted by two very lovely ladies: Kathy at I Am a Reader, Not A Writer and Mary at BookHounds & BookHounds YA.

When I was thinking about being free to read, it made me think of ebooks and my guilty pleasure books. As much as I say that the romance genre is not for me, I find myself reading quite a few historical romance. I grew up swearing that I would never read them, but they're just as homey and memory-inducing as my great-grandmother's homemade fudge. The great thing about having my ereaders and ebooks is that I can read those novels without anyone calling me on my hypocrisy. And let's be honest, most of the people who read Fifty Shades did it from the privacy of their ereader.

What You Can Win

Blog Tour (Guest Post & Giveaway): Voodoo Moon by June Stevens

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Title: Voodoo Moon (Paranorm World #1)
Author: June Stevens
Publisher: Classy Scribe Publications
Release Date: June 24, 2013

Zombies aren’t supposed to exist, yet they are turning up all over Nash City. As a member of the Elite Black Blade Guard, Fiona Moon is tasked with hunting down the most dangerous Paranorm criminals. Now she must find out who is kidnapping mages and sucking the life energy from their bodies. To make matters worse, she has to work with the one man that embodies everything she despises.

Ian Barroes is the rich founder and head of the Necromancers Guild and a professor of Necromantic Studies at the Academy of Science and Magic. There is one thing he wants more than anything else in the world… Fiona.

They each hold secrets that could destroy them but could also be the key to destroying the evil Voodoo priest, Bokor. They must learn to trust each other track down Bokor before more innocents are taken, and murdered. To make matters worse, when Fiona becomes a target of the evil madman she is lured into his trap. Now she and Ian have to fight for survival and their very souls.


Researching Voodoo and Zombies for Voodoo Moon
June Stevens

Creating a new world loosely based on our own was both liberating and daunting at the same time. I knew from the very beginning of this story that I wanted zombies in it, but not the flesh eating, virus caused zombies so prevalent in fiction today. I didn’t want just another zombie apocalypse plague. I wanted my zombies and my villain to be something just a bit different.