{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} The Beltane Escape - By Ariella Moon

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Author: Ariella Moon 

Website 

Release Date: 2/2/2016

Purchase Info: Amazon

Lady Fenella, ever surrounded by guards, knows only responsibility and duty. She believes Merlin and the Lady of the Lake are myths, Gran’s warnings about Fairy are superstition, and Fairy was invented to make children behave.

But then Gran brands her, Lord Argonshire kidnaps her, and the Lady of the Lake makes her a pawn. The Highland heiress must betray her newly betrothed and fend for herself when she dives into a wormhole to save her cousin. She lands in a part of Fairy even fairies avoid, and joins forces with Talfryn, a half-Viking/half-Fairy.

Fenella must use her wits to find her cousin, free the Lady of the Lake, and reach the wormhole in Glastonbury by Beltane. Nine days to unshackle herself from a sorceress, prevent a war between rival clans, and decide in which realm—and with which lad—she truly belongs. Oh, and The Most Powerful Wizard stands in her way.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

Everything about this book screamed whimsy & adventure. The plot, each word, and every single character that was imagined came to life in a magical way. I've come across very few authors who was engulf me the way Ariella did, but she was able to hook me with the first few paragraphs. Fenella was a one of those main characters who developed as the story went on, and it made me appreciate her as the story went on.

Though there are literally about a hundred things that I would love go into detail about, I can't....my mind is still running in about 50 different directions! The love triangle, the sorcery, the "Lady of the Lake", and of course the evil villain (who I want to strangle by the way)! Picking one to talk about just isn't possible, it's like asking me to choose between Barrons and Four....not going to happen!

I.LOVE.THIS.BOOK.

I want the second one, I want more of everything. More of Fenella, more Wizards, more Fae, more half-Viking hotties...just more of everything! If this novel has any foreshadowing of how the rest of the series is going to be I can't wait!


5/5

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About the Author

Ariella Moon draws upon her experiences as a shaman to create magical Young Adult fiction. Her Two Realms Trilogy is a medieval fantasy adventure series with romantic elements. The Teen Wytche Saga is a series of sweet contemporary paranormal romances. 

Ariella spent her childhood searching for a magical wardrobe that would transport her to Narnia. Extreme math anxiety and taller students who mistook her for a leaning post, marred her youth. Despite these horrors, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. Ariella lives a nearly normal life doting on her extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon. 

Ariella loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at http://www.AriellaMoon.com or visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ariellamoon.author

Author links:

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GIVEAWAY

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

• $25 Amazon Gift Card

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Review} Awakening the Fire (Guardian Witch #1) - By Ally Shields

Author: Ally Shields

Website

Release Date: 9/14/2012

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

It's her first murder case...

Twenty-three-year-old Ari Calin has sworn to keep the peace in the Olde Town district of Riverdale, and most of the time the Otherworlders cooperate. The vampires, werewolves and other magical creatures go about their business, living side by side with humans, until the foreign wolves arrive and a virtual reality drug hits the streets. Violence erupts, and Ari needs more than her witch fire, weapons, and potions to stop the madness.

Joining forces with a human police officer, Lt. Ryan Foster, and a way-too-sexy vampire singer, Andreas De Luca, Ari hunts for the enemy—from the vampire strip clubs to the caverns under the city. Every step draws Ari and her companions deeper into an old feud and closer to the brink of a supernatural war.

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LOVE LOVE LOVE!!


This book drips sex, danger and mystery for days!

Ari is something special, I love her abilities. How she's able to manipulate things, auras, create barriers between her and others. It truly is unique and such a breath of fresh air to have a strong female lead who has something different about her. Along with Ari's magic, she does have a softer side that longs for something else. (Though honestly I feel like it's hard for her to admit sometimes).

When she's put immediately into action & her first case is such a large one, I felt like someone was setting her up from the beginning. There were too many instances that made me go, hmmmmmm, but I loved how the entire story played out overall.

Now let's talk hunks!

Andreas De Luca....he is sexy...though he reminds me a lot of other power vampires I've read about in the past, I enjoyed the fact that he sang. It was a different quality that I felt set him apart from every other vampire out there. When Ari & Andreas worked together you could feel the heat between these 2 jump off the pages! And boy was I fanning their flames! #TeamAndri

There was a fine line with him when it came to Ari's investigation, because at times I felt like he was keeping a lot from her. Overall the evolution of their relationship throughout the book really worked for me. It wasn't too fast, but it didn't crawl at a snails pace either...trust me when I say their chemistry is worth waiting for!

I am stoked to see where the rest of this series goes! If Ari's powers keep climbing, and she can maintain this vampire in her back pocket she truly will become a force to be reckoned with!

5/5

{Blog Tour: Review} The City Beneath - By Melody Johnson

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Title: The City Beneath
Author: Melody Johnson
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Kindle

As a journalist, Cassidy DiRocco thought she had seen every depraved thing New York City’s underbelly had to offer. But while covering what appears to be a vicious animal attack, she finds herself drawn into a world she never knew existed. Her exposé makes her the target of the handsome yet brutal Dominic Lysander, the Master Vampire of New York City, who has no problem silencing her to keep his coven’s secrets safe…

But Dominic offers Cassidy another option: ally. He reveals she is a night blood, a being with powers of her own, including the ability to become a vampire. As the body count escalates, Cassidy is caught in the middle of a vampire rebellion. Dominic insists she can help him stop the coming war, but wary of his intentions, Cassidy enlists the help of the charming Ian Walker, a fellow night blood. As the battle between vampires takes over the city, Cassidy will have to tap into her newfound powers and decide where to place her trust…

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YUM!

It's been a minute since I've read a good vampire novel...the market was slightly over saturated there for a while...but Melody was able to create something super intriguing! Diving into Cassidy's world made me feel completely emerged in every aspect of her life. After meeting with Dominic it seemed as though everything took off & amplified times 10.  Not only is she now caught up in a massive Vampire power struggle, she's also got to figure out who to trust. (And it's never easy when both of the guys working to earn your trust have charming traits of their own!) 

Overall by the end of this book I was begging for a sequel! The chemistry, shocks, twist and reveal actions made this book TOTALLY worth the read. I can't wait to get my hands on more of Melody's writings!

 

4/5

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About the Author:

 

Melody Johnson is the author of the gritty, urban fantasy Night Blood series set in New York City. The first installment, The City Beneath, was a finalist in several Romance Writers of America contests, including the “Cleveland Rocks” and “Fool For Love” contests.

Melody graduated magna cum laude from Lycoming College with her B.A. in creative writing and psychology. While still earning her degree, she worked as an editing intern for Wahida Clark Presents Publishing. She was a copyeditor for several novels, including Cheetah by Missy Jackson; Trust No Man II by Cash; and Karma with a Vengeance by Tash Hawthorne.

When she isn’t working or writing, Melody can be found hiking the many woodsy trails in her Pennsylvania hometown or sunning and swimming at the beach.

For More Information

Visit Melody’s website.

Connect with Melody on Facebook and Twitter

{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} Dark Hope - By H.D. Smith

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Author: H.D. Smith

Website

Release Date: 3/3/2014

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

Loving a demon isn’t the end of the world—losing him is.

Claire, the Devil’s assistant, knows very little about the world she was dropped into five years ago, when she inherited her mother’s unpaid debt to the Demon King. She certainly didn’t expect to be a contender for the Fallen Queen’s throne, a target for the Druid King’s mafia, or a suspect in the murder of Junior, the Devil’s oldest hell spawn.

In a last ditch effort to save her life and get out of her deal with the Devil, she sets out to solve Junior’s murder only to be taken prisoner by the four most dangerous immortal hell spawn alive.

Not to be out done, the Pagan Queen Mab, claims Claire for entering her realm uninvited. She has an old debt to settle with her brother the Devil. Taking Claire from him after losing her years ago is just icing on the cake.

Will Claire win her freedom, and save herself from the Devil? Or be trapped by Mab forever?

Darkly Delicious!!

Probably they only thing that I probably didn't LOVE about this book was how moody the Devil was, lol. Along with the broody Devil, there were Druid Mafia's Pagan Queens, sassy ex-wives and murders. There were SO many twists in this book that it almost made my head spin, and not in that annoying tilt-o-whirl spin either.

I feel absolutely head over heels in love with this book! It truly was dark & delicious. Mayhem, death, Demons, Pagan's, Druids and a kickass heroine! Though Claire is bound by marks to the Devil, I could help but want her to just deliver a mean right hook to him at times.....he has anger issues & thinks he can just do anything he pleases, lol....Claire was seriously awesome, she went from being roughed up in the first few chapters to holding her own in more ways than one by the end of the book. Seeing growth in a character like hers really makes me excited to read the book as quickly as possible!

 

With the way the author was able to create such a new interesting world with so many fantastic types of characters I cold absolutely see this series taking off and becoming the next big thing! Make sure you go out and grab this book ASAP, you will not regret it!!

 4/5

 

  

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About the Author:

HD Smith has been writing as a hobby for over ten years. DARK HOPE is her first traditionally published full length novel. She has previously self-published two middle grade novellas in ebook format. She is a software developer by day, working for an awesome cruise line in Celebration, FL.

HD grew up in South Carolina, but has called the Sunshine State home since 1997. She has Computer Science degrees from Clemson University (CS) and Florida Institute of Technology (MS). Her other hobbies include painting and screen printing. She enjoys creating t- shirts inspired by the places in her books. For more information, visit HD’s website at http://www.hdsmithauthor.com/.

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GIVEAWAY

GRAND PRIZE:  $25.00 gift card to Amazon

RUNNER-UP:  one winner will receive an eBook of DARK HOPE

Review: The Mephisto Mark - Trinity Faegen

Orphaned at six and sent to live with abusive relatives in Bucharest, Mariah learned early in life to box up violent, agonizing memories and put them in permanent mental storage. Now almost nineteen, she has a paying job, a tiny apartment, and a plan to attend university. She loves her independence and is steadily overcoming her past, but when an enigmatic stranger walks into the pub where she works and the trajectory of her life changes yet again, she begins to wonder if she’ll run out of mental shelf space.

The only females unafraid of the Mephisto brothers are the extremely rare Anabo, born without Original Sin. Over one hundred years ago, Phoenix was first to find one, but he made a fatal mistake and she was murdered by his oldest brother and enemy, Eryx. Phoenix soldiered through the next century wrapped up in grief and guilt, his only outlet planning takedowns of those who pledged their souls to Eryx. When one of his brothers brings Mariah to Mephisto Mountain, he’s torn between his instinctive, powerful need to pursue her, and his certainty that he can never have her.

Drawn into the world of the Mephisto, Mariah sees the pain and misery Eryx unleashes on humanity, and the boxes in her mind begin to fly open, one by one. All that keeps her from slipping off the edge is her unlikely, sexually charged friendship with Phoenix. He’s incredibly screwed up; she’s completely broken. It would take a miracle for them to find happiness. Then Eryx brings the war for Hell to a whole new level, forcing Mariah and Phoenix to make a choice that will bind them together for all eternity, or rip them apart forever.

 

Some people are just broken.

 

Mariah is one of those people. Sacrificing herself for her sister at a very young age, then being tormented for the majority of her life, she is the prime example of broken. There’s something special about her though, I mean she’s obviously got a lot of fight in her if she’s been able to pull her life together some kind of normal.

 

That is until a world that she knew nothing about pulls her in & wants her to help them fight against something very evil.

Review: CHAOS (Kardia Chronicales #1) - By Christine O'Neil

Author: Christine O'Neil

Website

Release Date: 8/19/2013

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

My Name is Maggie Raynard. After sixteen years being just plain me, suddenly, when I lose my temper, my fingers become weapons of mass destruction. Turns out I'm a semi-god, descended from Aphrodite. Sounds cool in theory, but when I accidentally put my ex-boyfriend in a coma, things go downhill pretty fast.

Now some new guy names Mac Finnegan has made it his mission in life to continually piss me off. I'm stuck learning how to use my new powers while also dealing with regular high school problems, and with this annoying-and super-hot- guy all up in my business, I'm about to flip out. But it gets worse. I just learned there's this watchdog council of semis who keeps an eye out for any bad apples. They think I'm the baddest of the bunch and want to take my out before I do any more damage. Mt nemesis Mac might turn out to be my salvation, only he's got secrets of his own...and they may just kill us both.

  

Yes, Yes, Yes!

CHAOS was the perfect marriage of hot, adventure, and smart ass remarks to make me devour it in 24 hours. 

Where to start....I would say Mac, but trust me that little complicated morsel will have his time.....so how about Maggie.

Review: Stone Guardian - By Danielle Monsch (Entwined Realms #1)

Author: Danielle Monsch

Website

Release Date: 7/3/2013

Purchase Info: Amazon ~B&N 

Gryphons flying past skyscrapers? Wizards battling it out in coffeehouses? Women riding motorcycles with large swords strapped to their backs? All normal sights since the Great Collision happened twenty-six years ago.

Well, not normal for everyone. Larissa Miller may have been born after the Great Collision, but as a history teacher who lives in the human-only city, she has never come into contact with any other race or species, nor has she wanted to. Her life is as ordinary as it gets - that is, until one day she walks out of her apartment and is attacked by a mob of Zombies, only to be saved by a Gargoyle.

Gargoyles trust no one outside their Clan, but due to a cryptic prophecy, Terak, Leader of the Gargoyles, has been watching over the human woman for months. While he can find no reason why the woman has been singled out, something about her stirs every protective instinct within him. When the attack confirms that the threats against her exist and are real, he convinces Larissa that though their races have never been allies, the best chance of discovering why she has been brought into his world is by working together.

In the course of their investigation Terak becomes entranced by his little human. But when he discovers why Necromancers want her and the great reward that awaits him if he betrays her, he must choose between the welfare of his Clan and not only Larissa’s life, but the fate of this New Realm as well.

Surprisingly Sexy!

 Stone Guardian was exactly what my inner bookie wanted! Lately I had been reading a lot of YA, so the blend of naughty, magic and forbidden love, fit me like a glove!

First, I have to say, can I pleeeeeeease be stalked by an overbearing Gargoyle? 
Sound like a strange request right? That was honestly my very first thought when reading Terak's thoughts about Larissa..."How is this going to work? Dude, made of a stoney substance, with a tail I might add, romantically involved with a human chick??"....then of course, like a plot genius, the author writes something in that TOTALLY blew my mind. 

Yep, never saw it coming! And just like that it sweeps you away into this whirlwind relationship.

 I can't lie, Terak & Larissa have me in awe of them. Not only do they share a burning hot romance, but their values & morals are so equal I can't help but admire them a little. At times they both teeter on the line of ,~ What's best for me ~ and ~ What's best for those around me~, genuinely struggling with it in their hearts. Having each other made them realize what's important,and trusting each other made the choices clear.

Ok, now give me a minute to gush about my favorite supporting character, Fallon. I personally have decided she is one of thee top bad-ass female warrior characters I have ever met! She's a statuesque,  giant sword wielding, ginger, who does what she wants & when she wants to. Her part in protecting Larissa is key, though killing everything in her way is what I truly like about Fallon.

Speaking of keeping Larissa safe, who wants to kidnap her anyways?? Trust me when I say you would never have remotely thought of this motive...like ever! Seriously, each possible scenario, with about a million different villains ran through my mind. That is except the one it really was!

Danielle made the plot in this book flow like the Nile, because I swear there wasn't a dull moment at all! If I didn't have 3 kids & work 40+ hours a week I would have stayed up ALL night to finish it! Each character made me want to read a book specifically about them. This world that was created is absolutely beautiful, twisted and edgy, all at once. 
I've already hounded Danielle about when book #2 will be out, plus who it will center around, and I for one can not wait to see where she takes this series!

5/5

 

Review: Relic - By Renee Collins

Author: Renee Collins

Website

Release Date: 8/27/2013v

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

After a raging fire consumes her town and kills her parents, Maggie Davis is on her own to protect her younger sister and survive best she can in the Colorado town of Burning Mesa. In Maggie’s world, the bones of long-extinct magical creatures such as dragons and sirens are mined and traded for their residual magical elements, and harnessing these relics’ powers allows the user to wield fire, turn invisible, or heal even the worst of injuries.

Working in a local saloon, Maggie befriends the spirited showgirl Adelaide and falls for the roguish cowboy Landon. But when she proves to have a particular skill at harnessing the relics’ powers, Maggie is whisked away to the glamorous hacienda of Álvar Castilla, the wealthy young relic baron who runs Burning Mesa. Though his intentions aren’t always clear, Álvar trains Maggie in the world of relic magic. But when the mysterious fires reappear in their neighboring towns, Maggie must discover who is channeling relic magic for evil before it’s too late.

Relic is a thrilling adventure set in a wholly unique world, and a spell-binding story of love, trust, and the power of good.

Unique, and breath taking!

I'm not going to lie, this is nothing like what I was expecting, which is a good thing. As my first line states unique, that word fits this book like a glove. Blending a genuine old west setting with a magical element that keeps every character on their toes, really kept me into this book until the absolute end. 

Maggie, to me, was a great heroine. Attempting to find balance after such a life shattering event is hard, but she does what is necessary while maintaining moral, values and a good head on her should. Taking a job, making an honest living....that is until the very handsome Mr. Castilla makes her an offer she finds that not even she can turn down.

 No she doesn't turn into his mistress (I thought that's where it was going), she starts learning about the different degrees of relics. From standard Sirens, to deadly Banshee, even the ultra rare - and outlawed - vampire relics. There isn't a single one that Mr. Castilla hasn't obtained. Maggie starts to realize there's something extremely special within her. The way she can feel  a relic is unlike any other, and of course Mr. Castilla wants to collect her rare ability like he collects rare relics!

There was a part, about 85% of the way through that I felt was a tad bit rushed....and unveiling of sort, if you wish to call it that....I wish that a little more time could had been spent digging into that secret, but I understand how the story line & side plots must all run their own course. 

So now I HAVE to talk about Landon, I swoon! <3333333

 Imagine wranglers, boots and a cowboy hat....mmmmmm...you get the picture. This boy stole my heart, and still hasn't given it back. The gentleness he holds for Maggie, the lengths that he'll go to just to ensure her safety, well being & dignity gives me chills. Every man should take notes from him!

Overall I really enjoyed this book! Relic was a deep breath of fresh air for me, it took any expectations that I had & morphed them into my wildest dreams. Take you favorite myths, splash them with magic, now add a dash of mystery, shake it all up & that will give you Relic!

4/5

Review: Enemy Within - By: Angeline Kace

Author:  Angeline Kace

Website

Release Date: 4/30/2013

Purchase Info: Amazon ~ B&N

Two guys who’ve stolen her heart.
Three races and only one of them worthy.
Countless enemies with insatiable bloodlust for power.
Will one girl's curse ultimately save her?

Half-vampire Brooke Keller barely survived the slaying of her worst enemy, only to learn that Zladislov—the world's most powerful vampire, leader of the vampire world, and her father—wants her dead. However, this time, she's not only fighting vampires but a raging monster within her that endangers what's left of her humanity. And when a deadly disease threatens to take her best friend's life, Brooke tries to convince Kaitlynn to accept a monster of her own: becoming a Zao Duh.

As a former slave to the Pijawikas, Mirko is driven to protect the innocent at all costs, but he has never faced a foe more formidable than Zladislov. And when the Commission bears down on Brooke, Mirko finds the stream of enemies runs deeper than he ever imagined.

Holy steaminess!

  Now I remember why I'm team Mirko!! That boy man can push me up against a wall any day of the week!

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After "patiently" waiting for book #2, I absolutely devoured it. Something about the story, the connection to the characters, all made it seem so fresh & new to me. It took me a while to articulate exactly how to put this review....I went back and forth...and back and forth...nothing I said seemed to do justice to what I had just read. So, I waited. Now the words won't stop!

First things first! L-O-V-E!

 The lengths that Mirko will go to keep Brooke safe, to protect her from her enemies, melted my heart....yet at the same time made me want to jump right into the book and join the fight with my bad ass ninja skills.

(and yes, they are bad ass!) 

The love that he has for this girl is unfathomable. It knows no limits, it has no bounds, and there is a single thing in this world he wouldn't sacrifice for it. Burning bridges, assembling an army, or throwing a preppy blonde dude to the wolves, are simply a few sacrifices he would make for his girl.  Honestly, as the story evolves I start to see it in Brooke as well. Yes, she's experiencing one hell of a change, there are those feelings for that preppy blonde kid, but I can see where her heart truly it.

Must-get-back-on-track, I could sit here and talk about their love for dayyyyyyys.....

I absolutely have to give it to Angeline, there are some massive twists that I would never have seen coming, but she was able to brilliantly throw them into the story with ease. The fight scenes were written out like a could see it right in front of me....that it, if I wanted to see a bunch of blood and body parts flying every where...Though next time I want a guest spot so I can punch Brooke's dad in the face! He pisses me the hell off!

Over all, this was a fantastic cliff hanger for the final installment of this trilogy, and I for one can NOT wait to see how this story concludes!

4/5