Blog Tour: Daynight Book Tour Launch

April 23, 2013 By Bianca 1 Comment

It’s time to leave Earth and cross over to the other side… it’s not as far away as you think!!

Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn’t typing away on her laptop, she’s reading books on her phone—over 600 in the last year—or attending to the needs of her family. Megan’s fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac. Daynight is Megan’s first published novel, but fourth written one.

Goodreads * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

Welcome to the “Second Chances” daynight blog tour! Over the next few day/nights I am really excited to share with you:

- Over $300 of daynight-related prizes as a giant THANK YOU to the thousands ofdaynight early adopters and those who have yet to enter the twisted world of The Second Chance Institute and Thera. Want to prepare for Exile? Or an overday date with Ethan? Have breakfast for dinner? Glam it up in Garden City? There are *12* prize packages to be won! We’ll introduce a new package every day of the tour so you’ll have a second, third & so forth chance to win.

- The launch of clean slate complex (a daynight story)… For those who have read daynight you can learn more about what the SCI is up to on Earth (surely nothing good). For those who haven’t read daynight this is a great way to get your feet wet…test the waters so to speak. I warn you though…the SCI’s like Jaws Jr and the giant school of barracuda I encountered on my recent vacation–pretty from a distance, but up close they’ve got a lot of bite

- Posters, teasers and guest posts about the themes of daynight and clean slate complex... Plus, I’m fully prepared to sneak in some nuggets about what to expect in the daynight sequel, arbitrate.

Thanks again for joining us on the tour and for your support of daynight. I’m grateful for all of you and humbled by your support.

- Megan Thomason

author of daynight

* The Tour *

Become an SCI RecruitThe Second Chance Institute (daynight’s Dystopia)

April 22 – Launch!

- My Seryniti - Review

- Little Library Muse

23 - Tressa’s Wishful Endings

- Buckeye Girl Reads – Teaser

- Marked by Books - Review

- Red Headed Bookworm

Welcome to Thera!Building Thera

24 – Coffee Books and Me

Stressed Rach

Snuggling on the Sofa – Review

25 – Christy’s Cozy Corner – Teaser

- All Fantasy Words – Review

Kira * Blake * EthanCharacter Backgrounds & Posters

26 - Susie Q-Pons and Giveaways - Review- My Passion for Books – Review; Ethan

- Paranormal opinion – Blake

- The Cozy Reading Corner – Kira

- Book, Books, the Magical Fruit – Teaser

- Bookaroo-Ju - Teaser

27 – Bookworm Lisa – The Characters

- Getting Your Read On – Review

Cleavingdaynight’s Controversy of “Cleaving”

28 – Fantastical World of Wonders – Review

- Pause Time

- A Backwards Story

- Beck Valley Books

29 – I Am a Reader, Not a Writer – Teaser

- Books Mystify – Review

- Mel’s Shelves – Review

Vacation on Earth!Escapism

30 – The Broke Book Bank – Review

– Letters to the Cosmos – Review

– Arriane Cruz

– Candace’s Book Blog

May 1 – Life of a YA Girl – Review

– Fuonlyknew – Teaser

– Jack’s Junk Drawer – Review

Risking ExileDystopian Survival 101

2 – A Tiffyfit’s Reading Corner – Review

- Lovin’ Los Libros – Review

- Paulette’s Papers

- Becky’s Barmy Book Blog

3 – Backing Books – Teaser

- Book Snob – Review

4 - Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks - Recipe

- Living a Goddess Life – Review; Recipe

Clean Slate Complex

5 – Mortality Bites- Sab, The Book Eater

- Deco My Heart – Review

6 – Passion and Life – Teaser

- The Reading Diaries - Review

7 – Grand Finale Blast!!

Daynight

by Megan Thomason

Paperback, 324 pages

Published November 26th 2012 by Creatspace

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance™. Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving—forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother’s death, Blake’s been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner—Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan’s forced to do his SCI elite family’s bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Introducing… the new Novella: FREE for the Tour!On Smashwords!

clean slate complex

by Megan Thomason

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Worldwide non-profit and do-gooder organization. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: hidden behind every kind act is a dark agenda designed to gain control and force societal and moral extremes. Currently, the SCI’s pushing Project Liberate, a program to woo the poor and downtrodden into their Clean Slate Complexes—where “everything is provided” from jobs to food, shelter, clothing, and education. Unfortunately, as with all things that sound too good to be true, there’s a catch…

Meet Alexa Knight. Feisty, tough and currently homeless in Los Angeles, Alexa agrees to help the SCI in return for medical care for her sick mother. When she starts to suspect there’s more to the SCI than meets the eye will she believe Adam—the boy who saved her life and the SCI’s biggest champion, or Joshua—the attractive enigma who sings about conspiracy theories and pretends to be someone he’s not?

Full of action, humor, romance, twists and turns, clean slate complex is a companion story to the highly-praised dystopian novel, daynight. It can be enjoyed before or after readingdaynight.

LINK: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CFQY0JY

daynight Second Chances Giveaway:

Choose what you enter to win wisely. Your stay on Thera may be extended indefinitely.

Highlighting a different giveaway every daynight of the Tour… International Winners will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate and US Winners may choose $25 GC in lieu of Prize Package.

US only. International winners will receive $25 Amazon gift certificate. US winners can opt to receive $25 Amazon gift certificate in lieu of any prize package.Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced on Rafflecopter and Grand Finale posts as well as emailed and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Burgandy Ice @ Colorimetry and Prism Book Tours and sponsored by Megan Thomason. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Filed Under: Blog Tour

Blog Tour: The Secret Life of a Submissive

April 10, 2013 By Alexa 2 Comments

Title: The Secret Life of a Submissive
Author: Sarah K
Publisher: Harper
Publication Date: Dec 2012
Classification: Adult Novel

Summary from Goodreads:
Sarah K has a secret.

By day she’s a writer and level-headed single mother; by night she’s a submissive, surrendering herself to forbidden delights. But will she perform the most illicit act of all – falling in love?

Written with complete honesty, this is an electrifying journey to the heights of pleasure; a real-life Fifty Shades of Grey.

When Max comes into Sarah’s life – charming, handsome and deliciously brooding – she can’t stop herself. Before long she has surrendered to him in every way: becoming his submissive, yielding her body to his every desire, powerless to fight his sensual temptations.

As Sarah pushes her mind and body to its limits, she begins to realise that she’s in too deep. Pleasure and pain have become her world. She’s addicted – to the adrenalin, to the sensation, to Max himself.

Now she’s in serious danger of giving in to the ultimate temptation: falling in love…

Daring, evocative and thrilling, but told with wit and honesty, this is the explosive true story of life as a submissive, and of a secret world in which only a few dare to play.

My Thoughts:

I didn’t really know what to expect from this book. I’ve read many adult romance books as well as erotica or BDSM themed stories. However, I have to say that this story is almost a mix between a BDSM themed story, a chick lit book, and a non-fiction biography of Sarah. It is certainly unique and not like anything I have ever read.

When I started reading the book I was a little taken back by it. The story started out very chick lit in the way it was done. There were several middle aged women sitting around a table discussing their feelings and their sex lives. I was starting to wonder if the book was going to be for me or not because I really don’t like to read books about middle aged people having a midlife crisis and going out to look for themselves. So while I did think the beginning portion of the book was interesting it wasn’t fully to my taste. As the story went on and as Sarah left her husband in order to finally look for a BDSM relationship I was a little surprised, it seemed out of character for her but I was with her rooting her on. I mean every woman deserves to find her sexual equal or try new things even after a long marriage and a divorce. Just because a woman has had kids doesn’t mean she becomes any less desirable or any less valuable in the eyes of a man. I was proud of her to stand up and take control of her own sexuality. I really feel that this book is truly about watching Sarah try to find out what works best for her and where she wants to be in life. She needed to figure out what her sexual preferences are.

Then we get to meet the Dom of the story Max. I did like him from the start and I enjoyed learning about his character and the things he had done in the past that lead him to being the Dom that he was in the book. I was happy that he was there to be the man to show Sarah all of her desires and a fair amount of pain along the way. I greatly enjoyed the fact that the author didn’t sugar coat the pain aspect of a BDSM relationship. She really laid everything out on the line for readers to read about the true lifestyle and what it really means to have a Dom and be a Sub. This is certainly no watered down Fifty where the lifestyle is so watered down that it can’t possibly be real erotica. This offered up real erotica and a real relationship and it felt so real and the characters came to life on the page. I was taken with them but I knew where the relationship would go and I was surprising happy with the way everything turned out.

Overall I’m really glad I gave this story a chance because it can be really eye opening. The author stresses that a BDSM relationship might not be best for everyone, that people do experience physical pain and yet pleasure and a sense of belonging when they are in a loving relationship as a Dom and Sub. She does not go about it to degrade women or say that everyone woman should be so open with her sexuality, she is simply sharing her story and it was a great story to read. I believe that readers who have an interest in erotica and BDSM should read this book for the erotica book feel but also mixed with real life events such as a work of non-fiction. The story is a gem that I feel hasn’t gotten a lot of air time in the blogging and book world. So do yourself a favor and give this novel a chance because I feel you will be quite happy in the end.

Filed Under: Adult Review, Blog Tour

Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Blood Fugue & Witch’s Nocture by E.J. Wesley

March 4, 2013 By Alexa 3 Comments

Title: Blood Fugue
Author: E.J. Wesley
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: Sept 2012
Classification: Adult UF Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

“Some folks treated the past like an old friend. The memories warmed them with fondness for what was, and hope for what was to come. Not me. When I thought of long ago, my insides curdled, and I was left feeling sour and wasted.”Jenny Schmidt is a young woman with old heartaches. A small town Texas girl with big city attitude, she just doesn’t fit in. Not that she has ever tried.

Life has pummeled her heart into one big, lonely callus. She has no siblings, both parents were dead by sixteen, and her last grandparent—and caretaker—was in the ground before she turned twenty-one. She’s the last living member of her immediate family. Or so she thinks…

“We found my ‘grandfather’ sitting at his dining room table. An entire scorched pot of coffee dangled from his shaky hand. His skin was the ashen gray shade of thunderclouds, not the rich mocha from the photo I’d seen. There were dark blue circles under each swollen red eye. A halo of white hair skirted his bald head, a crown of tangles and mats. Corpses had more life in them.”

Suddenly, instead of burying it with the dead, Jenny is forced to confront the past. Armed only with an ancient family journal, her rifle, and an Apache tomahawk, she must save her grandfather’s life and embrace her dangerous heritage. Or be devoured by it.

My Thoughts:

When I started this short story I had no idea what I was going to get out of it. I’m normally not one for short stories but I thought this sounded pretty interesting and I’ve been trying to read more urban fantasy lately.

This story is very much the opening book to a series. It introduces some interesting characters and has a good introductory plot line. The main character, Jenny, is a pretty cool girl since she is close to my age and yet she doesn’t give two cents about her life or what she will do in any given day. Life has beaten her down and it was interesting to learn her story and why she is the way she is. Then there was Marshal who is sort of the only friend she has left and I really enjoyed his character, he was the clear headed one who always wanted to stop and learn more about something before just diving into the paranormal/urban fantasy world. He was always right there for Jenny though even if he didn’t fully partake in everything.

The storyline was simple but pretty interesting and kept my interest because I wanted to know more about Jenny and this world she was entering. I wanted to know more of the mystery behind her grandpa and what was going to happen to him and Jenny once everything was all said and done.

Overall, this was a good start to a series.

Title: Witch’s Nocturne
Author: E.J. Wesley
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: Dec 2012
Classification: Adult UF Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

After receiving an ancient tribal journal from her grandfather, Jenny is sent on a mission of discovery in an attempt to unravel clues to her family’s monster hunting past. The journey becomes more than academic when she is asked to confront a coven of dangerous witches who plan to cast an insidious spell on the plains of West Texas.Witch’s Nocturne is the second of the Moonsongs Books, a series of paranormal-horror-action novelettes by author E.J. Wesley. These stories contain language and content better suited for mature readers.

My Thoughts:

I liked that this one picked right off from the first book and lead us deeper into Jenny’s world.

I still really liked both of the characters although I do think Jenny can be a little too rough around the edges at times. I understand she has a lot to deal with but she could soften up a little bit. I really liked Marshal this time around I feel like he added something unique to the story and I really liked how he interacted with a certain character, I won’t tell you who that is because I want you to see for yourself but I’m interested in where this new character is going to fit in.

I enjoyed that this book opened up the magical world more by allowing us to see this group of witches who were out to destroy the town Jenny lives in. I can’t wait to see where the author is going to take the plot because the story left us hanging at the end and I want to see more of what Jenny and the guys are going to do in order to stop one witch in particular.

Overall, another good story in this series and I just hope that maybe the next novella is a little longer so I can enjoy my time with these characters even more.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Oklahoma, E.J. grew up in a land of good earth and better people. He holds degrees in psychology and counseling, but prefers to spend his time in the heads of imaginary people to real ones. He writes and lives in South Texas, and loves to chat about movies, books, music, food, and family.

Find the Author: GoodReads | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Blood Fugue can be found at:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fugue-Moonsongs-Book-ebook/dp/B009ED5M0C/ref=la_B009GI10B0_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355846648&sr=1-1

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15865066-blood-fugue

Witch’s Nocturne can be found at:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Witchs-Nocturne-Moonsongs-Book-ebook/dp/B00APKRTOK/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1355801247&sr=1-1

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/265285

Barnes& Noble -http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/witchs-nocturne-moonsongs-book-2-ej-wesley/1113991380?ean=2940016083438

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16589826-witch-s-nocturne

Giveaways:

Two winners will receive both books. Since it’s ebooks it is open worldwide. Be sure to enter the Tour Wide Giveaway as well for more chances to win some great books!

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The tour wide giveaway is

1 Prize Package #1: Signed copy of Soul Screamers Vol. 1 by Rachel Vincent, Signed copy of Capital Hell by Alicia M. Long, signed copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and Texas (Little Known Facts about Well Known Places (Package open to US addresses only) by Victor Dorf

2 winners of a $15 GC to amazon or B&N

1 winner of $20 towards The Book Depository (INT ONLY!)

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Be sure to check out the rest of the tour HERE!

Filed Under: Adult Review, Blog Tour

Blog Tour: Emblaze Review

March 3, 2013 By Alexa 4 Comments

Title: Emblaze
Author: Jessica Shirvington
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: March 2013
Classification: YA Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice … and the consequences are unimaginable.

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was.

Now Violet has something Phoenix – the exiled angel who betrayed her – will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too.

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn’t take him long to realize exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to…

My Thoughts:

After the way the second book ended I knew I needed to get my hands on this story. I have always loved the way Jessica writes, it is so emotional, so passionate, so alive. I will fall time and time again for the writing of this series.

The characters are pretty awesome in this series. There is a side character for everyone. I personally love Spence because he can keep some of the heavy moments in the series light and funny. He is really the comic relief that Vi needs in her life. Of course there is Vi, who is a great heroine, I loved that she had her break down moments in this book. That all the pressure got to her and she realized that she couldn’t be strong forever and for everyone. I still LOVE Phoenix! I know I know he is the bad boy, however, I feel like he has more heart than Linc could ever hope to have. Phoenix may be the guy we love to hate but his feelings for Vi feel so true and so strong. Every moment with him in the book is a moment I love. About the only character that I can’t stand at this point is Linc. The boy drove me nuts for most of the book, he was really being a jerk throughout the whole book, which really messed with Vi’s head.

The plot in this book is pretty strong since there are so many pieces of the puzzle to put together. I really enjoyed watching everything come together from the scriptures to the moments where dark and light need to battle it out for what they want the most. It was interesting to watch each and every time when Vi would have to go to Phoenix for something and the way he was with her was magical. The writing is where this series excels because you feel like you are right there with the characters. The only plot point that really bothered me was the fact that Linc was such a jerk to Vi about how they couldn’t be together from the events of book two. I really can’t stand the way he treated her and I wish that Vi would have taken a step back from him to stand on her own. Sure every great heroine should have a great guy to compliment her but I just don’t agree with what Linc did at several turns in the book.

Overall, this series still holds my attention and if you didn’t already know this…I LOVE PHOENIX! To me Phoenix really makes this series so special and also in the category of older teen. So please give this unique angel series a chance because the books are great.

About the Author:

Jessica Shirvington lives in Sydney with her husband of ten years, FOXTEL presenter and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, and their two daughters. She has previously founded and run a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and been involved in managing the restaurants Fuel Bistro, Tow Bar and MG Garage in Sydney.

She is currently a full-time mum, author and co-director in the company MPS Investments Pty Ltd.

Connect with Jessica:
Website

Filed Under: Blog Tour, Young Adult (YA) Review

Blog Tour: Soul Avenged Review & Giveaway

March 2, 2013 By Alexa 6 Comments

Title: Soul Avenged
Author: Keri Lake
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: Jan 2013
Classification: Adult UF Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

Passion is blind in vengeance and love …

Ayden’s suburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans.

The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life.

Now, one motive burns in her soul:

KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath—a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons—band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit’s most deadly feeding grounds.

Kane Walker should’ve been her easiest kill.

Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants—clues that may finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out.

In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat.

Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

Sons of Wrath
Never gamble with vengeance

My Thoughts:

I was instantly drawn to this book because I have this need for more urban fantasy books. I love when books can mix the dark gritty world with the beauty of great characters who have these strong emotions.

The characters in this book were just amazing. Each and every one of them blew me away and there wasn’t a character that I didn’t like. Heck I even ended up liking the bad guy in the story. Ayden is fierce, strong, loyal, and yet she is sad and desperate to find out the truth about her past life, to find out who she really is. I loved that Ayden could be this fierce heroine yet at the same time she really wanted to give into her need for comfort and compassion. She was a tough character to deal with at first but she grows on you when you start to understand her needs and desires more throughout the book. Kane was a very interesting character because at first he seemed rather shy and yet over time he really showed his true colors and I loved every one of his witty comments to Ayden and the way he was with her was sweet yet powerful all at the same time. Of course I can’t forget about the Wrath demons because each one of them was special to me as well. I dare to say that I felt at home with each one of them from Gavin to Logan, they reminded me a lot of the brothers in the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Just me even mentioning my famous group of badass brothers from one of my favorite romance series on the planet means these guys really had to impress me. I can’t wait to learn more about each one of the Wrath demons because I feel they each have a special story to offer.

The storyline of this book took a little getting use to. All urban fantasy worlds are rather large and they encompass a lot and so sometimes there are sections that can feel like an information dump just to get everything out in the open. This book didn’t suffer a lot of huge informational sessions which was a good thing, it let you experience the world as you read instead of being told how the world was. The book is told from multiple povs though which can be a little much to take in since one minute you experience the story from Ayden’s pov, then Kane’s then Gavin’s and so many other random povs are given throughout the whole story that you feel like you are missing out on Ayden’s perception of things at certain points. I will also warn readers that there are many violent scenes in this novel, the author doesn’t spare a single blood battle moment. I actually thought it was very interesting since a lot of authors will shy away from going too extreme with the killing and blood stuff. I actually enjoyed seeing this darker side to the battle scenes and the characters themselves. Other than the multiple povs the plot was pretty interesting and has some cool twists and turns that will leave you wanting more.

Overall this was a great story. I’m a huge character person and I loved…LOVED, the characters in this book. I hit the last page of this book and had to keep clicking the page button on my nook, complaining to anyone who would listen that something must have been wrong because the story was over and I didn’t get my fill. I’m addicted to the Wrath demon brothers and I need more of them…ASAP!

About the Author:

Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan. She writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy and loves a good, tragic love story. Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction whenever distraction manages to suck her in to the Land of Shiny Things.

When she isn’t toiling away on plots and protagonists, she enjoys reading, music and travel. If she could create mystical powers for herself, she’d have the ability to flash to anywhere in the world. And if she could flash to anywhere in the world at this very moment, she’d be staring at the ocean from her adirondack chair on the shores of North Carolina.

Soul Avenged Blog Tour “Fire & Ice” Giveaway Info:

Grand Prize: (Valued at approximately $280)

1-Kindle Fire HD (approximate value $199)

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug

1-Soul Avenged Notebook

1^st Runner-Up: (Valued at approximately $75)

1-$25 iTunes giftcard

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

1-Sons of Wrath coffee mug

1-Sons of Wrath notebook

2^nd Runner-Up: (Valued at approximately $35)

1-Signed Paperback Soul Avenged (Sons of Wrath, #1)

1-Sons of Wrath t-shirt

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Filed Under: Adult Review, Blog Tour, Indie

Blog Tour: The Dogs of Winter

January 30, 2013 By Alexa 2 Comments

Title: The Dogs of Winter
Author: Bobbie Pyron
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Publication Date: Oct 2012
Classification: Middle Grade Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

A small boy, a cruel city, and the incredible dogs who save him.

Based on a true story!

When Ivan’s mother disappears, he’s abandoned on the streets of Moscow, with little chance to make it through the harsh winter. But help comes in an unexpected form: Ivan is adopted by a pack of dogs, and the dogs quickly become more than just his street companions: They become his family. Soon Ivan, who used to love reading fairytales, is practically living in one, as he and his pack roam the city and countryside, using their wits to find food and shelter, dodging danger, begging for coins. But Ivan can’t stay hidden from the world of people forever. When help is finally offered to him, will he be able to accept it? Will he even want to?

A heart-pounding tale of survival and a moving look at what makes us human.

My Thoughts:

Near the end of last year I told myself that I wanted to start reading more middle grade books. I have kept my eyes open for the very best in the genre and when I was contacted about this book I jumped at the chance to read it. It sounded like a younger version of Between Shades of Grey. It is actually funny since the author of Between Shades of Grey has a blurb on the back of the book.

This story grabbed me from the beginning because I wanted to see how Ivan loses his home and ends up on the streets. I will say the way he ended up on the streets nearly broke my heart. He loses his mother and the mother’s strange boyfriend basically removes him from the only home he has ever known to give him away. Watching Ivan in the very beginning of the book I certainly wondered how on Earth he was going to survive, he was only 5 years old! He did find a gang of kids to help him find his place and I thought it was touching how Ivan didn’t want to be like them, he clung to his old life. However, the streets will harden any child and Ivan had to start learning the sacrifices he would make in order to survive during Russia’s bitter winter.

Ivan will grip your heart throughout the course of the book and not let go. I found myself turning the pages faster and faster as the story went on because I needed to see Ivan leave the gang of kids to go live with a pack of dogs. I found myself fascinated as Ivan slowly started to lose humanity because he saw how harsh the world was and he just wanted to retreat to a place where he could be with the dogs who loved and cared for him. The bond between the dogs and Ivan was something I didn’t suspect. However, the biggest part of the book that I loved was the fact that Ivan really lost touch with the world. He was such a smart little boy but he had changed over the course of the book. He started to accept that he would never see his mother again and that he was on his own and that a pack of dogs were the only family members he had. It was amazing to watch Ivan throughout the whole book. The ending left me in happy tears and it was a story well worth reading.

Overall, when I first started this book I will admit that I was a little scared of where it would go. The book seemed to be pretty dark for a middle grade read. I was a bit confused how all of these dark pieces could fit in a middle grade read. I would honestly suggest this one for older kids who can handle such a dark subject matter. While it was dark it was an awesome read that I encourage many to read, it will break your heart, leave you speechless, and make you happy you read it.

About the Author:

My life took many twists and turns before I finally realized that dream at age nine, and became a published author. First, I went to college and got degrees in psychology and anthropology. For a time, I was a singer in a rock and roll band. Then I went back to college and got a degree to work as a librarian. I’ve worked as a librarian now for over twenty-five years. Finally, six years ago, I sat down and wrote my first novel. I didn’t stop this time at page thirty-two, even though I still found writing to be hard. But I couldn’t not write, so I kept going. In October of 2009 that book was published!

My Thoughts:

I instantly liked this book for the fact that the main character, Victoria, seemed so real. She seemed like a lot of women out there who have lost a husband or even just been hurt by a previous relationship. Her emotions were bottled up inside of her but the reader got to see the glimpses of her soul whenever her past memories were shown. I felt so bad for her, a woman who had found a great man, only to lose him due to things outside of her control. I also loved that she stepped it up though in life and used the money from her husband’s death in order to open her own business and make a name for herself. Sure she might have been lost and upset when her husband died but in a way she kept going and started something that was basically all her own…except for Britt.

Britt was a character that I really liked right off the bat as well. He is smart, has a great personality, a really cool accent (yes I’m aware those don’t really come across in books), and he loved one woman for so long he just didn’t know what to do with himself. It was clear from the start that he had been a close friend and maybe a little more to Victoria for their entire business relationship. I knew this man needed more, he wanted one sexy woman who had closed herself off to the world and he would do anything to get her.

I really enjoyed watching their friendship turn into more as the chapters went on. I loved that Victoria tried to tell herself that she couldn’t fall for another man just because she lost her husband. I enjoyed all of the emotional struggles that these two went through just to reach out to each other. However, I guess I wanted Britt to work a little harder to get Victoria. It seemed several times his way of winning her over was just to basically stand in front of her and then grab her for a kiss. Now I understand sometimes there is no room for words, especially since Victoria is a smart woman and can talk her way out of anything, but I wanted to see him try a little more. I guess the book just felt confined to the Mountain and I would have enjoyed seeing some other locations for their love to grow in.

Overall, this is a good romance that I feel still has some places left to go. So I guess it is a good thing that the second book just released and that I can see how Victoria and Britt take their relationship to the next steamy level.

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About the Author:

Bio:
Romance is sexy. And often funny, and sometimes tangled up with suspense. Let’s face it: all sorts of things get mixed up with romance in real life. Piper Denna’s stories are not cut-and-dried romance. She wants her characters to deal with issues female readers can relate to: independence and trust, empowerment, inhibitions, an unfaithful partner, motherhood. Sometimes her characters make mistakes and often her “bad guys” are not 100% bad. Mostly she wants to take the reader on an emotional journey to a happy ending…with a few enviable sexual encounters along the way.When she’s not writing, she edits, raises two teens along with her husband, and has an evil day job.She enjoys books–or movies–with a comedic twist and hopefully a love story with lots of tension, too.Sexiest parts of a man in Piper’s opinion? The hands and eyes. Shoulders are nice too, and of course, great pecs are never amiss…

Author Links:
Piper Denna Website
Piper Denna Blog
Fantasy Mountain Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Book Trailer

Filed Under: Adult Review, Blog Tour

Blog Tour Review: Aversion by Kenechi Udogu

January 11, 2013 By Alexa 2 Comments

Title: Aversion
Author: Kenechi Udogu
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: Dec 2012
Classification: YA Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

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?

My Thoughts:

When I started this book I had no idea what I was going to get. I liked the idea of a girl having powers and having to save people from bad things that could ruin their future but I wanted to see how this would all play out. I needed to know how Gemma’s powers worked and who she was going to fall for. Since I love all my YA books with a touch of romance I was really excited to read about the love interest in this book, especially since it is not a love triangle. I feel like singing on a roof top just for that alone!

The characters were awesome in this story. I really liked Gemma from the get go because she seemed to be pretty honest. I have always been the type of person who is going to say it like it is even if what I say might hurt people or is to real for people to cope with. So I really enjoyed that from the beginning of this book Gemma lays it all out there for the reader to see. She doesn’t really hide things from you which I really loved about her. She is smart, a bit of a loner, and understands her job as a girl who can change people’s futures just by implanting thoughts in their heads. Awesome power leads Gemma to her first case ever which happens to be a popular guy named Russ. Oh he was so cute I couldn’t help but like him from the start. He is also real and honest and doesn’t hide things. Go figure two teen leads who are not filled with lies! I love this.

The storyline was also very interesting. I was taken and I could not put the book down because I wanted to know more about Gemma’s powers and how they affected Russ. The conflict was something I wasn’t even expecting because this book moves so fast and there was no time to figure out the mystery before it happened and I value YA books where I can’t figure them out. I feel like I have read so many YA books where characters have powers and the paranormal aspects always seem to go the same way but I feel this book had something new to offer. About the only thing that I wasn’t too happy about was the teenagers acted a little older than the age they were suppose to be.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was reading and reading and before I knew it my Nook wouldn’t turn anymore pages because the book was over. I will be “in line” for when the second book in the series comes out. Do yourself a favor and go check this story out because it is well worth your time.

About the Author:

Kenechi lives in London and enjoys writing fantasy/paranormal fiction and short stories (some of which she posts on her blog). She also hates the cold and hopes to one day figure out how to hibernate in winter.

Filed Under: Blog Tour, Young Adult (YA) Review

Blog Tour: Provex City Review & Giveaway

January 10, 2013 By Alexa 4 Comments

Title: Provex City
Author: Michael Pierce
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: March 2012
Classification: YA Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

Fifteen-year-old Oliver Grain begins his school year fighting off bullies, learning about the boy who committed suicide in his room, and trying to understand why his history teacher, Mr. Gordon, has taken such a personal interest in him.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe you can make bullies simply disappear? Do you believe you can walk through walls?

Mr. Gordon tells Oliver: “When you truly believe anything is possible, you will be able to open doors where there were only walls.” And one of those doors leads Oliver to Provex City, which puts him in far greater danger than he can possibly fathom.

My Thoughts:

I was very excited to jump into this story because it sounded like something fresh for the YA genre. First off I’m a sucker for male pov’s in YA books and I liked the idea of a ghost story mixed with some serious mind powers and a city that I have never heard of before. All of the pieces drew me into wanting to read this book, plus it helped that one of my favorite bloggers recommended it!

The characters to me seemed very real, that they had real teenage problems. Sometimes teens in fantasy or paranormal books seem to just run around doing whatever they wish at any given moment with no parents around to stop them and personalities that sometimes seem more adult that teen. So I’m grateful that the author gave real teens. Oliver was awkward and bullied at school, he wasn’t your bad boy to be certain and I liked that he seemed more like any normal teenage guy, he had his insecurities and his problems asking girls out so I really liked that about his character. Then there was the larger than life Desiree who was just a fun character, the girl who seemed sure about her quirky personality but had her moments of weakness which I really enjoyed. I would say I really liked just about every character except for Anna, I felt her to be dull and not right for Oliver’s life.

The storyline while interesting was a bit of a confusing mess at times. There were so many different plot pieces that at times I had a hard time convincing myself that they would all come together in the end. There is Kafka who is a bad man who seems to be in a strange skill set of certain powers, Mr. Gordon and his lessons he needs to teach Oliver, Oliver’s father and his death, TJ who is the ghost, and Provex City. For a long portion of the book I was really struggling to understand what all the random pieces had to do with one another, plus I wanted answers. I do have to say I was a little impressed with the fact that most of the random story plot lines did come together in a way in the end. I’m still not too sure what TJ’s real role in all of this is but I’m hoping the next book answers some still unanswered questions and moves the storyline along a little faster now that we know some huge back plot pieces.

Overall, I did like this book for the great characters and the way the author was able to bring a moment of clarity to the end of the story. There are still a few questions I have so I’m interested to see more of Provex City in the second book because I feel it is a bit unexplored at this point and I need to know more.

About the Author:

Michael Pierce lives in Southern California with his wife, daughter, and two ultra-protective Chiweenies. Provex City is his debut novel and the first book in the young adult fantasy Lorne Family Vault Series.

Links:

Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Website
Book Trailer

Giveaway:

~Three winners will receive a paperback of Provex City and a $15 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
~Five additional winners will win paperback copies of Provex City. (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out the rest of the tour HERE!

Filed Under: Blog Tour, Young Adult (YA) Review

Blog Tour: Dark Waltz by A.M. Hargrove

January 4, 2013 By Alexa 3 Comments

Today I am excited to do a quick promo post and giveaway for Dark Waltz!

Summary:

Dark Waltz–A sizzling legend of loss, lust and love.

It’s the year 2030 and the human population has been annihilated by a virulent form of small pox. Liasare Davidson is desperately searching for her brother, who has been missing for three months. It’s been eighteen years since she was evacuated from Earth and she is horrified to see it’s become a cesspool of unimaginable things.

In her quest to find her brother, she meets Jurek, a powerful and enigmatic being that frightens her, yet she is unable to resist. When things begin to unfold between them, they both discover a paralyzing truth that puts Liasare at grave risk. She must make a choice to join Jurek and find her brother or fulfill a role she believes she is ill equipped to undertake.

Ebooks Available From:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn’t do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.

Boss: Hello

A.M.: Boss, is that you?

Boss: Why yes, A. M., who else would be answering my phone?

A.M.: Er… right. Well, I’m calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate.

Boss: Why ever would I want to do that?

A.M.: Because I quit!

A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.

A.M.: Hi hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?

Hubs: Sure… Having some car trouble?

A.M.: Not at all. I don’t have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job.

Hubs: WHAT?!

A.M.: It’s time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist.

So began A. M. Hargrove’s career as an author of self-published books. Her books include the Young Adult/New Adult series, The Guardians of Vesturon (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant and the novella Beginnings) and the Adult novels Dark Waltz (A Praestani Novel) and Edge of Disaster. (It didn’t happen exactly like that, but you get the idea!)

Connect with A.M. Hargrove:

Blog
Facebook
Website
Twitter

Giveaway:

This is a tour wide giveaway!
Please Note: This giveaway is sponsored by A.M. Hargrove and she is responsible for distributing the prizes.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be Sure to Check Out the Rest of the Tour!

Hosted by Candace @ Candace’s Book Blog