Wednesday 31 January 2018

The Winter Over by Matthew Iden Review!

31815420Title: The Winter Over
Author: Matthew Iden
Pages: 354
Published: February 1st 2017 by Thomas & Mercer
Source: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon / Book Depository

Each winter the crew at the Shackleton South Pole Research Facility faces nine months of isolation, round-the-clock darkness, and one of the most extreme climates on the planet. For thirty-something mechanical engineer Cass Jennings, Antarctica offers an opportunity to finally escape the guilt of her troubled past and to rebuild her life.
But the death of a colleague triggers a series of mysterious incidents that push Cass and the rest of the forty-four-person crew to the limits of their sanity and endurance. Confined and cut off from the outside world, will they work together or turn against one another? As the tension escalates, Cass must find the strength to survive not only a punishing landscape but also an unrelenting menace determined to destroy the station—and everyone in it.

My Thoughts:

In the Shackleton South Pole Research Facility, the place is usually packed with staff and scientists during the summer months, but for 9 months of the year, when it's dark for months at a time and it's so cold outside that you could freeze to death in minutes, it's staffed with only a skeleton staff. It's called The Winter Over. Cass, a mechanical engineer has gone through the rigorous evaluation and is looking forward to 9 months of working and escaping the accident in her past. Working in such a stressful environment is hard enough but when one of their colleagues is found dead, and the heat and electricity start turning off and on, the staff at the station have to figure out what is going on before it's too late for all of them. 

I have to say that the cover of this is stunning, very eye catching!! Once I saw the cover and read the synopsis I immediately added this to my list, and when it came on Netgalley I downloaded it and couldn't wait to start. And I must admit, I'm a little disappointed to be honest. The first half of the book was extremely slow and took a while for me to get through. I nearly gave up at one stage but I wanted to see if the story got better!!

Eventually it did pick up and I flew through the second half. Plot wise, I loved the idea of a thriller set in the South Pole because it's such a bleak and desolate setting and the author portrayed the isolation and horrible conditions perfectly. Imagine living in a place where if the heat goes out for any length of time you would have ice forming on your eyes!! I was shivering with the cold just thinking about it. 

Character wise, I found the secondary characters needed to be fleshed out a little more, we don't really get a sense of who they are. Cass though was well written and developed and I liked her character a lot. She has baggage and I felt she grew a lot throughout the story. Initially she came across as an introvert but over the course of the story she became strong and willing to get to the bottom of things. 

In all, this would have been a solid 5 stars if the first half of the book wasn't so slow and drawn out. I mean, the second half of the book was extremely fast paced and tense!! I still enjoyed the overall story and will definitely check out more from Matthew Iden. 






Tuesday 30 January 2018

The Supernormal Sleuthing Service: The Lost Legacy by Gwenda Bond and Christopher Rowe Review!

33383629Title: The Supernormal Sleuthing Service
Series: The Supernormal Sleuthing Service #1
Authors: Gwenda Bond, Christopher Rowe
Pages: 416 pages
Published: May 2nd 2017 by Greenwillow Books
Source: Edelweiss

Purchase: Amazon / Book Depository
Three kids. A hotel full of monsters. And a stolen magical artifact that could disrupt the balance between the humans and the supernatural. Welcome to life at Hotel Monster! Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library meets Hotel Transylvania in the first book of this hilarious and spooky new series that blends mystery with monsters.Stephen’s dad decided to move the two of them across the country to New York City, where he is taking over as head chef in an exclusive hotel. A hotel that has the most elite of clientele: monsters! Surprise! (Though they prefer to be called supernormals.) And an even bigger surprise? Stephen is part supernormal himself. When a magical family heirloom is stolen and Stephen is framed, he must work with two new friends to navigate this whole new world and clear his name. After all, consequences can be dire in the world of monsters. Spooky, funny, and full of monstrous hijinks, The Lost Legacy is an inventive and accessible mystery-adventure full of friendship and humor—perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps series.
My Thoughts:
Stephen and his dad move to New York, into the grand New Harmonia hotel, when his grandmother passes away. She worked as the chef there and now Stephen's dad is taking over her job. Little does Stephen know that his life is about to change forever. The New Harmonia hotel is home to some very interesting people, they are all Supernormals. Stephen himself finds out that he is actually half fae, and his absent mother is fae royalty. Stephen is only finding his feet with the whole Supernormals thing, when an important magical artifact is stolen and Stephen is the sole suspect because a Bigfoot saw him do it. But Stephen knows that he had nothing to do with it. Along with his two new friends, Ivan and Sofia, they set out to find the truth, but it's not as easy as it seems, especially when Stephen doesn't know the customs of the different species yet. 
This was such a fun and easy read. The authors descriptive writing made for effortless reading. I loved the hotel! It's a hotel filled with all different creatures, including a dragon and a talking elevator!! The elevator was hilarious. It got so snippy and would sometimes refuse to move. We get to learn all about the hotel and it's inhabitants along with Stephen, which I liked.
The characters were the best bit. Stephen is dropped into the Hotel and the Supernormal world with no idea of what's happening and I felt like his reactions were real and honest. His disbelief turns to wonder which turns to acceptance. He has no idea of the different species culture and is trying to solve the mystery of the stolen artifact, but accidentally causing trouble as he goes. I felt so sorry for him at times because while he is grieving his grandmothers death, and trying to adapt to life at the weird hotel, he is accused of theft and no one, not even his father, believes that he didn't do it. I was so glad he had Ivan and Sofia to help him. 
I loved the minor characters too. All were well written and developed. As I said, I loved the elevator, but I also loved the Dragon and Sofia and Ivan. All of these play an important role in helping Stephen!! 
In all, this was a quick and fun read. I usually read middle grade books and then pass them onto my kids and I have to say, they loved this too. While it wasn't the most action packed book, it still had enough to keep my attention till the end. The mystery element is what let it down because you knew straight away who was the culprit and why, but it still didn't detract from the overall enjoyment. I'm looking forward to the next book!! 




Monday 29 January 2018

Drakon’s Past by N.J. Walters Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Drakon’s Past
N.J. Walters
(Blood of the Drakon #4)
Published by: Entangled: Amara
Publication date: January 29th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Constance Owens has a gift for finding unique items in the most unlikely places, which comes in handy since she buys and sells artifacts and antiques for a living. When she purchases a set of four dragon statues, she has no idea just how unique they are, or that finding them will thrust her into a world of secret societies, men who think nothing of kidnapping and murder to get what they want, and dragon shifters.
Nic hasn’t survived for four thousand years by letting his guard down, and he doesn’t trust anyone except his drakon brothers. The loneliness haunting him has been getting worse since all his brothers have found their mates. And when he finds the woman his drakon recognizes instantly as his fated mate, he doubts he’ll ever have what his brothers have, because it seems she’s involved with the secret society of hunters who have been hunting and capturing his kind for hundreds of years.
The Blood of the Drakon series is best enjoyed in order
Reading Order:
Book #1: Drakon’s Promise
Book #2: Drakon’s Prey
Book #3: Drakon’s Plunder
Book #4: Drakon’s Past
EXCERPT:

Constance blinked. She heard Abigail scream and some of the men yell. Nic had to be about fifteen feet long, and that wasn’t including his long, powerful tail, which was tucked around him.
He rose on his back legs and released his wings. The spread had to be at least double the size of his body.
Nic was a dragon.
She shook her head. Impossible.
Nic. Was. A. Dragon.
She’d had sex with a dragon. She was in love with a bloody dragon. How was this even possible? Then she remembered what Nic had told her about Dent and how the group he belonged to wanted to capture him and drink his blood. She couldn’t let that happen.
But it was too late. Dent fired at her again, and Nic pounced, coming down over her. She feared he might crush her with his gigantic body, but instead, he crouched above her like some big watchdog, shielding her from any further bullets.
The moment he was inside the circle, something changed. He roared as though he was in pain. She scrambled out from beneath him. “Nic? Nic, what’s wrong?” Stupid question all things considered, but this was something different, something he hadn’t been expecting.
These statues were dangerous to him.
He turned his big head toward her and opened his mouth. God, those were big teeth. All the better to eat her with. Yeah, not a pleasant thought. In this form, she’d barely be a snack.
“Run.” The word was guttural, as though it had been pulled from him.
He’d known. He’d known she’d planned to betray him, and still he was trying to save her. If she hadn’t already loved him, she would have fallen in that moment. Man or beast, it didn’t matter. He’d known. He’d known she’d planned to betray him, and still he was trying to save her. If she hadn’t already loved him, she would have fallen in that moment. Man or beast, it didn’t matter.


Author Bio:
Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.
One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first romance novel and life would never be the same.
N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $20 Amazon gift card

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Saturday 27 January 2018

City of Demons by Cheree Alsop Feature and Giveaway!

Cheree Alsop has another new release out. It's book 3 of The Haunted High Series. Read below for the blurb and leave a comment if you want to win a copy of book 1.


When Professor Briggs vanishes with the piece of demon heart, Finn choses to go after him. But the coordinates lead to the feared mythic labs where even Finn’s friends are afraid to go. Searching for answers, Finn comes across the one thing he doesn’t expect, the scent of another werewolf. Jumping down a rabbit hole of gruesome experiments, a deadly demon bite, and humans straight from his nightmares, Finn risks losing everything to rescue the girl and unveil the secret she’s vowed to keep.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2EggDkW
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36626626-the-haunted-high-series-book-3--city-of-demons

  


Author Bio:
Cheree Alsop is an award-winning, best-selling author who has published over 30 books, including two series through Stonehouse Ink. She is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts and giving much appreciated critiques. Cheree is a fulltime author and mother, which is more play than work! She enjoys reading, traveling to tropical beaches, spending time with her children, and going on family adventures while planning her next book. Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great quests, and never stop dreaming. You can find Cheree's other books at www.chereealsop.com

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Thursday 25 January 2018

Don’t Rush Me by Jackie May Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Don’t Rush Me
Jackie May
Publication date: January 25th 2018
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Most humans have no idea that a dark and deadly underworld, filled with magic and monsters, exists. They wander through life blissfully ignorant of the supernatural world around them. Nora Jacobs is different. Nora knows exactly what kinds of hellish creatures haunt the streets of Detroit.
Thanks to a unique set of psychic abilities, Nora has managed to steer clear of the underworld most of her life. But all that changes the night the most powerful vampire in the city discovers her gifts and decides to use her as a tool to find one of his missing clan members.
As if that’s not bad enough, Nora believes she’s cursed. All her life, people, especially men, have been drawn to her—some to the point of obsession and violence. Underworlders, it seems, are not immune to this curse, and now she’s caught the attention of some of the most dangerous monsters in the city.
Neck deep in an investigation only she can solve, Nora quickly makes as many new allies as she does enemies. Her biggest problem is staying alive long enough to decide which is which.
**This series is a slow burn reverse harem.
EXCERPT:

“Stay out of this, Gorgeous,” Henry snaps suddenly. Parker helps him sit up and Terrance growls again, but it’s not quite as menacing as before. He must be calming down a little.
“Nora is my responsibility. I’ll take her to my own healer—” Henry’s cut o by another vicious snarl, and I’m scooped up into Terrance’s arms so fast I lose my breath. “Yeah…” Gorgeous says to Henry. “Doesn’t look to me like that’s happening.” If his smugness wasn’t directed at Henry, I might and his arrogance annoying. Instead, the guy is my hero. “She’s still mine. I’ve claimed her for a mate.” Gorgeous chews on this new bit of information. He holds up the blood-soaked stake to examine it in the
light and then points the tip at Henry. “Seems to me she’s not too interested in becoming your mate.” “Not at all,” I clarify cheerfully. “He’s holding me against my will.” Henry glares at me, then scowls so hard at Gorgeous his eyes start to turn red again. Whether he doesn’t like
what Gorgeous said or he simply doesn’t like the man himself, I can’t tell. But it’s clear Mr. Gorgeous loves to irk Henry.
“She’s human,” Henry says indignantly. “Claiming her is my right. I don’t care if she triggered Terrance’s protective instincts. He can’t just take what is mine.”
“Well, I’m sure as hell not going to argue with him while he’s in that state, so why don’t we all head down to the Agency, get the pretty human all healed up, and sort this mess out with the director?”
“What agency?” I ask. “Director of what? Who are you? And…is your name seriously Gorgeous?” Gorgeous grins at me like I’ve just made his entire day. “Can you think of a more appropriate name?” I snort again and then wince. e guy needs to stop making me laugh. “Conceited much?” “And proud of it.” He pulls a leather ID wallet from his pocket and tosses it to me. I’m still cradled like a baby in Terrance’s arms, but I manage to catch the ID. “Nick Gorgeous, at your service. I work for the Federal Underworld Agency. e F U Agency for short.” I roll my eyes at his stupid acronym—though it’s admittedly more entertaining than S.H.I.E.L.D.—and focus on the more important fact. is guy’s a cop. An underworld cop. Like an FBI agent or something. I didn’t even know that existed.
And, I’ll be damned, his name really is Nick Gorgeous.



Author Bio:
Jackie May is a pseudonym for a husband and wife writing team. Josh and Kelly live in Phoenix, Arizona with their four children and their cat, Mr. Darcy. Jackie May is their only daughter. (And she keeps asking for her cut of the profits since we’re using her name.)

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $30 Amazon gift card
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Tuesday 23 January 2018

Fury Frayed by Melissa Haag Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Fury Frayed
Melissa Haag
(Of Fates and Furies, #1)
Publication date: January 23rd 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Megan’s temper lands her in Girderon Academy, an exclusive school founded in a town of misfit supernatural creatures. It’s the one place she should be able to fit in, but she can’t. Instead, she itches to punch the smug sheriff in his face, pull the hair from a pack of territorial blondes, and kiss the smile off the shy boy’s face. Unfortunately, she can’t do any of that, either, because humans are dying and all clues point to her.
With Megan’s temper flaring, time to find the real killer and clear her name is running out. As much as she wants to return to her own life, she needs to embrace who and what she is. It’s the only way to find and punish the creature responsible.



EXCERPT:

“WHAT WAS THAT FOR?” HE ASKED. ANGER HAD WIPED OUT ANY HINT OF MOCKING CURIOSITY FROM HIS TONE.
I COULD ALSO FEEL THE THROB IN MY FIST. HE HAD A HARD NOSE.
“TO SEE IF YOU WERE REAL.”
“MOST PEOPLE PINCH.” HE SOUNDED A BIT MORE NASALLY THAN HE HAD BEFORE.
MY IMAGINATION WAS SURE GOOD AT ADDING THE LITTLE DETAILS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS ALL FEEL REAL. I DIDN’T LET IT DISTRACT ME FROM THE MOMENT, THOUGH.
“MOST PEOPLE DON’T WALK AROUND IN SOMEONE ELSE’S BACKYARD WHILE BUTT NAKED.” NOT THAT I ACTUALLY MINDED THAT PART. HIS BICEPS WERE CLEARLY DEFINED, AND HIS THIGHS WERE THICKER THAN MY HEAD. REALIZING WHERE MY GAZE HAD WANDERED, I QUICKLY LOOKED UP AGAIN.
HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND RELEASED MY WRIST.
“WHERE WERE YOU GOING?” HE ASKED.
“TO TOWN. DO YOU OWN PANTS?”
“IT WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU STAYED HERE.”
“FOR WHO?”
“YOU.”
“STAY IN A HOUSE WHERE A GUY SHOWS UP NAKED IN THE BACKYARD? YEAH, THAT’S NOT SOUNDING LIKE A GOOD OPTION.”
“IT’S THE SAFEST ONE.”
“OF COURSE, YOU WOULD THINK THAT. BUT SINCE THIS IS MY DREAM, I’M GOING TO SEE HOW MANY MORE NAKED MEN ARE FROLICKING AROUND THIS PLACE.”
HE STAYED QUIET FOR A MOMENT, STUDYING ME. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO TURN AND WALK TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHEN HE SPOKE AGAIN.
“THE PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN ARE GOING TO EAT YOU UP AND SPIT YOU OUT.”
WITHOUT WARNING, HE SCOOPED ME UP AND WALKED INTO THE HOUSE WITH ME. IN THE LIGHT OF THE KITCHEN, I STUDIED HIS FACE. HE LOOKED MAD, HIS JAW HARD AND A FROWN TUGGING HIS LIPS. VERY NICE LIPS. HIGH CHEEKBONES AND A STRONG NOSE. HIS GAZE FLICKED DOWN TO ME JUST BEFORE HE STARTED UP THE STAIRS. DEEP BLUE EYES. I HAD AMAZING TASTE IN DREAM MEN.
WHEN HE TURNED TO MY ROOM, MY HEART SKIPPED A BEAT. WAS I REALLY GOING TO DREAM THIS? A NAKED MAN CARRYING ME TO BED? I KNEW WHERE THIS WAS HEADED.



Author Bio:
I love writing paranormal and fantasy romance stories. After finishing up the Judgement of the Six series, I thought I was ready to trade in my broody shifter males for something bit more mythological. Wouldn’t you know it…a few shifters snuck in! But, I managed a healthy selection of other creatures that made this series truly unique for me.
Writing characters with realistic motivations in a fantasy world is always fun. Fury Frayed was no exception. I laughed so many times while writing the first draft and again during the editing process. I hope you enjoy reading it just as much as I enjoyed writing it!

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  • $200 in Amazon Gift Cards and 20 Signed Paperbacks

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Monday 22 January 2018

Daughter of the Goddess by Rita Webb Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Daughter of the Goddess
Rita Webb
Publication date: November 20th 2013
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
The wind calls her to play.
Will she listen?
I was a nameless child abandoned on the temple doorsteps.
Soul, the gods called me. So they named me Nephecia.
My plans don’t include marriage to some silly nobleman. When I come of age, I will take vows and devote my life to serving the goddess of Light. As a priestess, a daughter of the goddess, I’ll make the world a better place.
The summer before my eighteenth birthday, an oracle arrives with word from the gods: I must leave the only home, the only family, I’ve ever known, to marry a stranger in a foreign land.
There must be some mistake.
If I follow my own plans, I’ll disobey the very goddess I want to serve. But how can I trust the gods have my best interest at heart?
______________________________________________________
Daughter of the Goddess is a Young Adult Fairy Tale retelling of the Greek myth Eros and Psyche, set in a fantasy world.
If you enjoy sweet love stories and fairy tales, then you’ll fall in love with Nephecia’s story. Grab your copy today.
99¢ for a limited time only!

Q&A with author Rita Webb

Where did you get the idea for Daughter of the Goddess?
My favorite Greek myth is the story of Eros and Psyche. I think it’s the only Greek myth I read with anywhere close to a happy ending, even if there was a great deal of turmoil getting there.

The philosopher in me always wondered what a soul really was. When someone says, “That music is full of soul,” what does that mean?
So Nephecia epitomizes what I believe soul means. I took her out of Ancient Greece and put her into a world of my own making.

How did the name “Psyche” become “Nephecia”?
I searched other languages for the word “Soul” and found nephesh in Hebrew.

How did the name “Eros” become “Gabin”?
Gabin is a variation of Gabriel (according to my baby name book), that means “Hero of God.” I remember something about it meaning “Beloved by God” too.

Why do you write stories?
I have 3 daughters, ages 15, 13, and 11, and I want them to grow up believing in their dreams. The only way I can see that happening is if I believe in my own.

What’s your secret to success?
My husband. He believes in me, and when I’m discouraged, he never lets me give up.

What one piece of advice do you have for new writers?
Read, write, study, write some more. Never give up. Okay, that’s 5 pieces of advice.



Author Bio:
Leaving the house to go to school, I had schoolbooks spilling out of one hand, the other holding my place in a Nancy Drew novel, and bunny slippers still on my feet. My mom was a wee bit upset.
I haven't changed much. Still always have a book (or two) in my hand or creating stories in my head, and although I don't have any bunny slippers, I love writing in my jammies and snuggly slipper socks.
With my husband TJ (my own cuddly werewolf), I home-school our three girls, who keep us busy with art, science projects, books to read, dance classes, and walks about the park.

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Wednesday 17 January 2018

The Shadow Weave by Annette Marie Book Blitz and Giveaway!


The Shadow Weave
Annette Marie
(Spell Weaver #2)
Publication date: January 12th 2018
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Clio might be a nymph living in exile among humans. And she might possess the rare ability to mimic any magic she sees. And she might have just seriously ticked off the most powerful family of spell weavers in the Underworld.
But she is not in love with an incubus.
Lyre is the rebellious black sheep of said weaver family, and he’s the only reason she survived her recent Underworld “vacation.” He’s also the sexiest thing she’s ever seen. Together, they have to track down a catastrophically dangerous magic—a magic he created, she sort of stole, and they both lost—before his family gets their hands on it. And that means fighting alongside him in a desperate attempt to avert complete disaster.
But she is definitely not in love with him. At least, she’s pretty sure she’s not.
Mostly sure. Maybe sure? …Crap.

EXCERPT:

As though summoned by her thoughts, the sex fiend himself breezed into the room. Hair damp and tousled, the kind of face that made women’s hearts skip, broad shoulders that tapered to a toned torso. His tattered clothes should have ruined the look, but they added an extra edge—dangerous and exotic.
The others in the kitchen noticed his arrival, but they dismissed him just as quickly. Unlike most daemons, incubi were easy to recognize even in glamour. No other caste possessed that stunning combination of golds—white-gold hair, warm golden skin, vibrant irises like a dark patina over rich yellow gold.
Yes, they recognized him as an incubus—and they didn’t bother to hide their curling lips and wrinkling noses. Lyre either didn’t notice or didn’t care as he swept over to her, his expression brightening for the first time in two days.
“Clio,” he purred, voice too low for even keen-eared strangers to hear, “your powers of seduction would put any succubus to shame.”
She blinked at him, the bowl of whisked eggs in her hands and a hot pan sizzling in front of her. His mood was so different from earlier that she couldn’t quite grasp it.
“Huh?” she managed. How articulate.
“This is entirely unfair. I have no power to resist such tactics.” He waited a beat. “Are you planning to do something with those eggs?”
She blinked again, trying to unscramble her brain. Scramble. Right, the eggs. She dumped the mixture into the hot pan. “What are you going on about, Lyre?”
“Bacon,” he sighed dreamily. “Pancakes. Scrambled eggs. You slay me, my love.”
On the words “my love,” her heart screeched to a stop so fast it might have left skid marks on her ribs. It kicked back into gear at three times its previous speed and she concentrated so hard on the spatula that she almost went cross-eyed. “You—you can’t be that excited about my cooking. You don’t even know if it’s any good.”
“I can tell already. It’ll be delicious.”
She shivered. The way he said that word should be illegal. As she hurriedly stirred the eggs with a spatula, he stood so close he was almost touching her, his body angled toward her as though she held his entire attention. But his gaze, sliding coolly from one watching daemon to another, was distinctly unfriendly.
She scraped the eggs off the pan, then rescued the bacon from the oven—triggering a stir among the waiting daemons. With her bottom lip caught between her teeth, she pulled a plate from the cupboard, loaded it with food, and held it out to Lyre. She’d cooked an elaborate late-night breakfast to cheer him up, but now second thoughts were crowding her brain. Too late to change her plan now.
His smile only fueled her blush as he fished a fork out of a nearby drawer, loaded it with eggs, and scooped them into his mouth. She held her breath. The entire room went silent.
His eyes rolled back in ecstasy. “So good,” he moaned.
Bang.
She jerked around. The female daemon had dropped her heavy book on the floor. As everyone looked over at her, pink tinged the woman’s cheeks. She snatched up her book and beat a hasty retreat out of the room.
Clio swallowed hard, envious of the woman’s ability to flee. Lyre’s moan had been so sensual it had been downright scandalous, and if Clio didn’t put space between them soon, she was going to start swooning like a complete fool.


Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of the Amazon best-selling Steel & Stone series, which includes Goodreads Choice Award nominee Yield the Night, and fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her comparatively sensible husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat— Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
2x $10 Amazon gift cards


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Tuesday 16 January 2018

Quest for a Popstar by Katie Hamstead Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Quest for a Popstar
Katie Hamstead
(Reality Romance, #1)
Published by: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: January 16th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

I haven’t done much performing, not since high school. Yet here I am, backstage, waiting for my turn to audition.
I’m excited, I’m nervous, and after witnessing the talent of the Murphy family, I almost throw in the towel. But I don’t. I walk out on that stage, and I never could have predicted what happens next.
The subsequent events fall like well lined-up dominoes. My life, my world, everything changes. Suddenly, success is overshadowed by exploitation, loyalty wrecked with betrayal, and trust slaughtered by life-changing secrets.
Oh, and then there’s Lucas, the guy—of course, there’s a guy—who might end up being the deciding factor on whether walking out on that stage will end up being the best decision of my life…
…or the worst.


Are you a book reviewer?
Request a review copy here!

 



Author Bio:
Born and raised in Australia, Katie's early years of day dreaming in the "bush", and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.
After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.
She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing.
When her debut novel, Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh, climbed into bestselling status, she believed she was onto something, and now has a slew of novels now available, and is published through Curiosity Quills Press, Soul Mate Publishing, and REUTS Publishing.
Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports, and be a good wife and mother. She now works as an Acquisitions Editor to help support her family. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
  •  An ecopy of Quest for a Popstar + ecopies of Deceptive Cadence and Dancing in the Athenian Rain

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Monday 15 January 2018

Javan Bonds Author Feature and Giveaway!

Please welcome Javan Bonds to the blog today. Javans series is called the Still Alive series, with 4 books currently available. The Still Alive series follows a group of survivors in a small southern town as they try to keep their wits about them and make a new life in a world over run by naked, nocturnal, s**t spewing, yellow eyed, blue skinned zombies intent on chomping on them to infect or devour every last piece of flesh on their bones. Fun times!?! Think WW Z, Zombieland and Shaun Of The Dead, just better!! 

Let's get to know Javan and his books first, then we will get to the interview, and giveaway! 



YOUNG AUTHOR OVERCOMES THE CHALLENGES OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY TO EXPLORE THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE

ALBERTVILLE, AL – Like many young writers, Javan Bonds dreams almost daily of the apocalypse – usually one populated by the walking dead. But his real-life day-to-day existence is almost as challenging as the world of zombies and collapsing civilizations. Javan, now 30 years old, was diagnosed with Friedrich's Ataxia, a form of muscular dystrophy, at the age of 11.

Today, Javan's condition, though stable, is progressively worse. He was 13 years old when he became wheelchair-bound; his sight has been diminishing since 2010 (he is now legally blind), and his hearing has been affected as well. “The summer before my senior year,” he says, “my heart started beating out of rhythm.” Diagnosed as atrial fibrillation, it eventually formed a blood clot. “I had to undergo a transesophageal cardioversion to shock my heart back into rhythm. I went from being a fat kid at 220 pounds to a waif at 120 pounds in just a few months. The class ring I got in my junior year was size 10; I currently wear a size 6.”

But Javan has never let his disability rule him. In spite of it all, he continues to “read” as many as five audio books every week, and with the help of adaptive technologies, as well as his friends and family, he continues to explore his own dark, dystopian worlds. His five current books, he says, are only the beginning.

Javan's MD hasn't slowed him down; quite the opposite. He has already written and published four books in his “Still Alive” zombie series – Zombie Lake, Zombie Island, Zombies on a Plane and most recently Zombie Oasis – as well as a grim near-future dystopian novel, Free State of Dodge, about the decline of the United States and its rebirthAnd to hear him tell it … he's just getting started. Zombie River RunZombie Paradise LostZombie Deliverance, Zombie Tide and Zombie Bayare all in the works and that’s just what he plans to release in 2018.

“I'm a working author,” Javan says. “Though not starving as some are, I do try to watch my girlish figure.” He published his first book, Zombie Lake, in 2016, and was able to publish three more books in the series by the end of 2017. His books have become Amazon best-sellers, praised for their humor as much as their action.The Still Alive series follows a group of survivors in a small southern town as they try to keep their wits about them and make a new life in a world overrun by naked, nocturnal, yellow-eyed, blue-skinned zombies. “Fun times,” Javan says. “Think Zombieland crossed with World War ZThe Walking Dead and some Shaun of the Dead thrown in (just for fun) only better.”
Meanwhile, his condition continues to deteriorate, and Javan is not shy in talking about it. “Things that were blurry a few years ago are nothing but flat blobs now,” he says. “My sensitivity to color is gradually fading and my depth perception is nonexistent. Reading has always been my escape; and it still is; only now I am limited to audiobooks.”

Yet the stories keep coming. “For some time, I enclosed myself in a bubble of depression and bitterness, only viewing the world through eyes that could no longer really see it. In December 2015, I entered the hospital, holding over 30 pounds of water weight. The doctors gave me six months to two years to live.” But it was that pronouncement that changed everything. “In that moment,” he said, “I decided that if I was going, I would leave something of myself behind to be remembered.”
Free State of Dodge was released in May of 2016. The first of the Still Alive series would soon follow and was published at the end of 2016. Today, he says, “I am doing everything in my power to not let my disease keep me from living my life to the fullest.” And he has these words for other stricken by a life-shortening illness:“Live your life. Light your candle on both ends and let it burn. It may burn out faster, but your flame will burn brighter than some who live much longer.”

Javan Bonds is available for interviews, through his family and adaptive technologies. Write zombie@javanbonds.com or call Randy Bonds @ 256-738-5990 to arrange to speak to this remarkable man about his life, his work, and the challenges he faces and overcomes every day.


Javan on social media:
The Official Javan Bonds Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1446780428741620/
Twitter: @JavanBonds

Author Interview: 
1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Javan Bonds, I’m thirty years old, and I live in Alabama. I am legally blind, functionally deaf, and in a wheelchair. You are probably asking the same question everyone asks. “How does he write if he’s blind and deaf?” I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking, a speech to type program. I wouldn’t be able to write a word without it. I am functionally deaf, not completely. I can hear just fine over my sound canceling headphones in a quiet room. Don’t expect to have a conversation with me in Walmart, though.

In December 2015, the doctors gave me “six months to two years” to live. We worked as fast as we could to get my first book, Free State of Dodge, published in May 2016. After the ball started rolling, it was hard to stop.


2. Where do you find inspiration for your characters?

Well, I use myself as the archetype for Mo. at least in personality, of course. The physical inspiration for Bradley and Dr. George are people I know. I actually had a service monkey just like Mary. Real life is my biggest inspiration.

3. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

As ridiculous as it sounds, I didn’t start writing until after I started going blind. After I started having vision issues in 2010, I couldn’t watch any television or movies but found audio books to be enjoyable. Reading four audio books a week, my dad finally came to me and said that since I had been reading so much, I probably had my own story in my head. My only response was “Yeah, I do.”

4. What makes you unique as a writer?

Besides the things I’ve told you about myself, the thing that makes me different than probably any modern zompoc rider is that I’ve never seen a single episode of The Walking Dead. Nor have I read any of the graphic novels. I’ve read some of the audio books, but I have not really been influenced by any TWD.

5. What was your first introduction to horror literature, the one that made you choose that genre to write?

The first zompoc novel I read and remember clearly was Mark Tufo’s Zombie Fallout. Before I even finished ZF2, I was inspired to write a humorous journal by a survivor after the zombie apocalypse. Without Zombie Fallout, my Still Alive wouldn’t exist. Since my first taste of zombies, you can add authors like John O’Brien, Shawn Chesser, Nicholas Sansbury Smith, David Simpson, and many others to my influences

6. Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite horror book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of the horror genre?

Besides the books and authors I’ve already named, I’m loving RR Haywood’s series at the moment. When I actually get the opportunity to read, if I’m not going for zombie books, my favorite genre has to be Westerns. I love Robert B Parker’s Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch series.

7. Where do you as an author draw the line on gory descriptions and/or erotic content?

The deeper into my series you go, the more violent and disgusting it gets. My zombies are living infected, not Romero classic reanimated corpses, meaning they shit constantly. I spend an unhealthy amount of time detailing the excrement of the infected and the horrible, grotesque ways they die.

I don’t think I can ever write erotica. Just reading it makes me turn red. There is a sex scene in my third book, but the only thing steamy about it is the diarrhea. Anytime you read the word “genitals” in any of my books, expect to be horrified rather than turned on.


8. Why should fans of horror read your books?

Because they are horrifying. I take a different approach to the zombie apocalypse than most authors. Besides just that, I think they are pretty humorous. Mark Tufo called my third book, Zombies on a Plane “damn funny.” For fans of movies like Zombieland and Shaun Of The Dead, my series has an interesting twist. Besides just the unbelievable gore and laugh out loud humor, it seems to follow a predestined script.

9. If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Besides Mark Tufo, John O’Brien, and Shawn Chesser, Independent authors like Boyd Craven and Michael Pierce have been very supportive and helpful in my own struggles. The independent authors in the Zompoc/PA genre are a great group of folks who help each other out all of the time.

10. What are you reading now?

Actually, I’m not. Bobby Adair told me once that he barely has time to read because he’s writing all the time. I never thought that would happen to me, but now I can say I’m in the same boat. I am working on getting the fifth book in my series published, writing the sixth, seventh, and eighth. At my first opportunity, I’m hoping to read Frank Tayell’s Surviving the Evacuation.

Some get to know me questions:


1. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I read. Any free time I have is spent reading. It’s funny that my life is all about books. Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have a read half as much as I do now. I also love meeting new people on FB and talking zombie apocalypse. It’s great.

2. What’s the best vacation you ever had?

In all honesty, I don’t take vacations often. Call me a homebody, I’d rather sit at home in my underwear and read a book or write then have to deal with going somewhere.

3. What’s your favorite rainy day movie?

Being blind, I haven’t seen any movie in so long, I really couldn’t tell you. I favorite movie of all time is The Dark Knight, so we’ll go with that.

4. If you could be any age again for a week, which would you choose and why?

Twenty. Homework was no longer an issue, I went to parties at least every weekend, and there were always a handful of people at my house. That was the greatest summer of my life. No school, job, or responsibilities.

5. If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would it be?

I am a crazy history buff, so any part of the Revolutionary War or D-Day in World War II. I don’t think I’d be bothered by the blood and guts; it would just inspire my writing for.

6. What's you favorite place to read?

Since I only read audio books, I always stay in my room when reading. My headphones are wireless, which is a good thing if I need to pee.

7. When you walk into a book store, where do you head first?

Shades of Pemberley, a used bookstore, just opened in my hometown. I typically stay up front and talk to the owner or other customers.

8. If you had a million dollars, what would be the first thing you would buy?

I’d build a completely self-sufficient, underground bunker that I would use to survive the coming zombie apocalypse. Of course, my underground greenhouses would be full of subtropics fruit trees. My underground aquarium will... Wait, did you say “a million” or “a billion?”


Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview, Javan. I really appreciate the effort. 


Javans books:


33628230 34542523 35228551 36341004


GIVEAWAY:

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Shopping for a Billionaire’s Honeymoon by Julia Kent Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Shopping for a Billionaire’s Honeymoon
Julia Kent
Publication date: January 31st 2017
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

He is addicted to his phone and his new role as CEO. I’m addicted to getting some on my own honeymoon.
One of these things is not like the other.
I am pretty sure a serial killer’s lair is the only place in the world where I could stash my new husband so he can’t manage the acquisition of our new company.
And that seems a little drastic.
But only a little…
All I want is one week alone with him. Hours in bed, legs tangled together in ecstasy, room service and long walks on the beach in Hawaii.
Not vying for his kisses around a Bluetooth microphone. The Borg aren’t sexy in real life.
So I’m taking matters into my own hands and hitting “reboot” on our honeymoon.
We’re going to a place so remote that no one can find us.
Not even my mother.

Shopping for a Billionaire’s Honeymoon is now a full-length book of 150+ pages, with both Shannon and Declan’s points of view. Originally published with only Shannon’s viewpoint, this expanded edition is a result of reader feedback. People wanted to know what Declan was up to – so here you go. This book is meant to be read after Shopping for a Billionaire’s Wife and/or Shopping for a CEO’s Fiancée, but if you read it out of order (or even as a standalone), that’s fine. Shannon and Declan forgive you.

There is also an audiobook on Whispersync with Zach Webber and Tanya Eby as the voices of Shannon and Declan!

Only 99¢ for a limited time!
EXCERPT:

Shannon
Let’s do an inventory of this fine day. My day-after-I-got-married day. In Vegas.
After fleeing my Momzilla mother.
Today is supposed be Day One of my honeymoon after marrying the billionaire of my dreams.
(Let’s not count the night before).
Woke up to the lovely sight of my husband’s tousled dark hair sliding down my torso so he could feast on me for breakfast.
Had actual breakfast in bed after room service delivered mixed berries, cream, bacon, and maple-soaked carrot-cake french toast, and the best damn coffee on the planet from the coffee chain I now own.
Made love with my delightful husband in the giant jetted bathtub in our suite. Turns out I’m as bendy as a Cirque du Soleil performer when I need to be. Maybe Mom’s insistence that I attend all those yoga classes she teaches has a silver lining after all.
Dressed and prepared to hop the corporate jet for Hawaii, kisses interspersed between readying ourselves for the trip. Undressed twice. Dressed twice. Declan insisted I not wear panties for the plane trip.
“But I’m already a member of the Mile High Club,” I’d protested.
“Not as a wife.”
He had a point.
Panties abandoned.
Found his brother, my best friend, a former colleague and an Anterdec chauffeur all married to each other.
Notice something a little different about that last one?
Yeah. Me too.
Day One of my honeymoon had promise, but now? Now it’s a little too real.
We’re on the plane, settling into our seats, and I’m doing my best not to think about my poor best friend and her chaotic mess back at the Anterdec resort where Declan and I just spent nearly a week trying to figure out our entire life.
Which we did, successfully, to my utter surprise. After fleeing our wedding in a helicopter and lying to my Momzilla mother, we managed to get to Las Vegas, ensconced in a resort on the Vegas Strip that Declan had designed himself as an intern in college. By the time my crazy family caught up to us, we’d steeled ourselves for the inevitable fallout.
And got so much more than we expected, in more ways than one. We’re married now. Husband and wife.
That’s really all that matters.
That, and honeymoon sex.
Lots and lots and lots of honeymoon sex. It’s my wifely right to walk funny for the next few days.
And his husbandly duty to make it so.



Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire). She lives in New England with her husband and three sons in a household where the toilet seat is never, ever, down.

GIVEAWAY!
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)

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Sunday 14 January 2018

Magic Runes by Devyn Jayse Book Blitz and Giveaway!


Magic Runes
Devyn Jayse
(Magic Runes #1)
Publication date: November 28th 2017
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Meet Carmen Rebello – Rune Witch, owner of the best magic store in Barcelona, and black sheep of her family.
When Carmen successfully removes a spell from a bewitched human, she never thought she would get ensnared in an ongoing Supernatural Bureau of Investigation case. Her life is already complicated by trying to stay hidden from her powerful family members, Carmen can’t afford the attention of joining the investigation but the SBI insist on her involvement. Add an annoying (but hot) SBI agent and her life is getting more difficult by the day. Can she help the SBI without exposing her identity?
EXCERPT:

“What are your plans for the week?” Mateu asked me.
“Nothing much. Business has been slow, so I’m thinking of giving a class.” Usually I supplemented my income by giving classes in various forms of magic. I taught runes, potion making, and other activities. Sometimes it was struggle to keep things afloat and earn enough to pay for rent, but my store served a purpose in the community and I enjoyed the work. I also liked being in charge of my own work hours. Like many of the other specialty stores in El Born, I opened and closed my store whenever I wanted. And my customers were okay with it. Most of them had my phone number and I left a note on the door for those who didn’t. If I was nearby, I could return to the store and help them with what they needed.
“Do you want me to tell the other gargoyles to talk up your services? Give you a small marketing push?”
I shook my head. “No, that’s okay, I kind of need this week to prepare. I have a speaker visiting the store next week. It’s going to require a lot of coordination and work. I’ve told the local covens but I’m going to have to send out reminders.”
“Whatever you like. If you change your mind, let me know.” Mateu returned to people-watching.
To drum up work and business, I had put together a little event for witches and wizards. I had invited many of the nearby covens to sign up. I had ordered a lot of inventory and had to send out a newsletter letting them know what was in the store. I hoped that would help increase sales.
“In fact…” My voice trailed off. Mateu’s shoulders had stiffened and his body was on alert as he stared out the window. I tensed. “What’s wrong?”
“Come over here,” Mateu said, still focused on whatever he saw outside the window. I walked around the counter and made my way to him. He got to his feet and stared intently at the street. As soon as I was within arm’s length of him, he asked me, “Do you see that woman?”
“Which one?” I searched among the people outside the store. Locals walked past us going about their daily lives while tourists gawked at everything they saw. Across the street was a larger group of tourists. They were focused on the tour guide who held a cane and pointed at various landmarks around them.
“The one in the red T-shirt. She’s part of the group.”
I resumed my search and spotted the woman he was talking about. She stood across the street, her body turned away from us. She gestured at the same buildings the tour guide did and talked to her companion who appeared to be bored from the restless way her head darted around looking at anything but the building in question.
“Yes? What about her?” Before the words had left my mouth, the woman turned slightly towards us and I immediately saw the problem.
A mark over her eye pulsed with a faint blue glow.
“Do you think she knows someone’s cast a spell on her?” Mateu asked me.



Author Bio:
Devyn Jayse is the author of the Dare Valari and Magic Runes series.
Join her Readers Group for exclusive content:
http://yes.join.devynjayse.com/readers-group



GIVEAWAY!

Enter to WIN a $25 Amazon gift card & an ebook copy of Magic Runes!
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