Sunday, June 30, 2013

Timebound by Rysa Walker ~ New Name and Cover, Plus Amazon's Novel Breakthrough Award! ~ Read my 5 star review and Excerpt




Winner of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award!
Timebound (used to be called Time's Twisted Arrow has new name and cover)

They weren't panic attacks. Of that, seventeen year old Kate is certain, no matter what the shrink told her parents. But it's even harder to accept the explanation offered by her terminally ill grandmother - that Kate has inherited designer DNA from the time-traveling historians of CHRONOS, who were stranded in the past by a saboteur. Kate knows that her grandmother's story could easily be the brain tumor talking, but that doesn't explain the odd medallion or the two young men - one of them hauntingly familiar -- who simply vanish before her eyes on the subway. It doesn't explain Trey, the handsome stranger who now occupies Kate's assigned seat in trig class. And it definitely doesn't explain why Kate is now in an alternate timeline, where leaders of a previously unknown cult hold great power and are planning a rather drastic form of environmental defense. 
In this new reality, Kate's grandmother was murdered at age twenty-two on a research trip to the past, which means that Kate's mother was never born, her father doesn't know her and, for all intents and purposes, she doesn't exist. The only thing keeping her from disappearing entirely is the strange blue medallion around her neck, and the only thing keeping her sane is her burgeoning relationship with Trey. To restore the time line, Kate must travel back to 1893 and keep herself and her grandmother clear of H.H. Holmes, the serial killer who is stalking young women at the Chicago World's Fair. But that choice comes at a price - she'll remember the past few months with Trey, but when he looks at her, he'll see a total stranger.


NEW Blurb:

When Kate Pierce-Keller’s grandmother gives her a strange blue medallion and speaks of time travel, sixteen-year-old Kate assumes she’s delusional. But it all becomes horrifyingly real when an assassination in the past destroys the foundation of Kate’s present-day life. Suddenly, that medallion is the only thing protecting Kate from ceasing to exist.

Kate learns that the 1893 murder is part of something much more sinister—the plans of a cult leader hell-bent on annihilating all dissenters—and Kate’s genetic ability to time-travel makes her the only one who can stop him. Risking everything, she travels to the Chicago World’s Fair to prevent the killing and bring down the cult.

Changing the time line comes with a personal cost: if Kate succeeds, the boy she loves will have no memory of her existence. And she wonders—regardless of her motives, does she have the right to manipulate the fate of the entire world?

About this Author
RYSA WALKER grew up on a cattle ranch in the South. Her options for entertainment were talking to cows and reading books. (Occasionally, she would mix things up a bit and read books to cows.) On the rare occasion that she gained control of the television, she watched Star Trek and imagined living in the future, on distant planets, or at least in a town big enough to have a stop light.
When not writing, she teaches history and government in North Carolina, where she shares an office with her husband, who heroically pays the mortgage each month, and a golden retriever named Lucy. She still doesn't get control of the TV very often, thanks to two sports-obsessed kids.



My Review

No Spoilers

I just loved this amazing time travel book. It was so interesting, and very well written. I was able to connect right away with Kate. She may be 17, but is mature for her age, and has to mature more due to the huge changes in her life.

Kate is the main character in this imaginative time travel tale. When Kate's grandmother tells her she has inherited designer DNA from the time-traveling historians of CHRONOS (Chrono-Historical Research Organization and Natural Observation Society),) She thinks she is crazy, but the evidence of the glowing blue medallion is right there, and only people with this gene can see it. Its a different color for some.

I was completely fascinated with this story. I love movies with time travel, and books. This has to be the best time travel book I have read, it has action, romance, suspense too. Its written in such a way that I can follow it very well, unlike some time travel books and shows, it makes your head hurt to think to hard about possible changes caused and more than one of you in a specific time, all that stuff.

I do not want o give too much away, I went into it not knowing much, just the summary, and it was perfect that way.

I highly recommend this book to all ages, its great for the YA crowd as well as adults like myself. I can’t wait for the 2nd book. Wish I could get my hands on it now. Lol

5 out of 5 stars. You have to read this book!

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.

If you like my review, would love some support at Amazon, and mark as helpful. thanks. Link is here. (under the old name)
If you want, you can like it at Goodreads too, thanks so much, link here


Excerpt
Prologue
Chicago – October, 1893

THE HEEL OF MY pretty, but totally useless, white kid boot ripped a six inch gash in the hem of my skirt as I whipped around the corner. Behind me, the footsteps halted for just an instant, and then continued, faster than before. I ducked into the next corridor, silently cursing the gods of 1890s fashion. Had I been in my usual shorts and t-shirt, I would have been out of this wretched hotel long ago. A solid kick to the head would have rendered the good doctor unconscious and the side of my face would not be in screaming agony.
I darted across the hallway and took a left at the next intersection, hoping that the doctor would assume that I'd taken the quicker, easier turn to the right. Three doors down, I jiggled the knob on the off chance that it was unlocked. No luck. I pressed myself as close to the door as possible and pulled out the medallion. The center glowed, surrounding me with soft blue light. Even though I knew he couldn't see the light, I felt exposed. How many women had he lured into this confusing maze of corridors during the past year? Were any of them still alive?
The faint yellow glimmer of his lantern vanished briefly into the opposite corridor and then appeared again as he reversed course, heading straight toward me. I tried to steady my hands so that I could focus on bringing up the interface, but it was hard to concentrate with a pounding heart and my face on fire from the acid.
The navigation display wavered briefly, and then blinked out. I fought down a rising wave of panic and was about to try again, when the door behind me opened and I fell backwards into the room. A hand covered my mouth, trapping the scream before it escaped my lips. Another hand with a white, folded cloth moved toward my face.
It clicked then. The horrors inside this hotel were not the work of just one insane man. Dr. Henry Holmes must have had an accomplice. And thanks to CHRONOS and this stupid medallion, I had landed right in their path.


Friday, June 28, 2013

Book Tour ~ Dark Dawn (Dark Redemption #1) 4 1/2 Star Review & Read excerpts

Dark Dawn (Dark Redemption, #1)


Blurb:

In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth, and everything in between. The In-between was unplanned, unexpected, and unwelcome. Every action causes a reaction and when mankind was born, so were the Fae. Suddenly it was up to Heaven to save Earth. God created Angels to right his wrong, to save human kind. A deal was made, an agreement of sorts. The Angels would protect humanity from Fae domination and destruction, and in return they would have inhuman strength and immortality. Thus a time of angels swooping in to save humans from free will, bad decisions, and big mistakes began. They protected humans from the Fae who intentionally enslaved them, leaving shells of humans, or worse, leaving nothing at all.

Even God doesn’t always learn from mistakes. Angels were given freedom of choice. Some Angels chose wrong. When some of them spread their wings, they went too far, and just as Icharus was punished for getting too close to the sun, they were punished for getting too close to mankind.


So they fell. Falling was the easy part.

Author Links:

Nicole Andrews Moore

Melissa Brodsky

Buy Links:




About Nicole Andrews Moore

Nicole lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband, a teenage son and daughter, and Kenna. Every day is new and sparkly...which is why she chronicles them on her blog, Suddenly *Not So* Single Journey. It is a way for her to spread her brand of hope, happiness, and love.

Previously, Nicole has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers. In 2010, she joined the Yahoo! Mother Board, became a Shine Parenting Guru, and has become an award winning dating and relationships expert for Shine.

After a few bad sailing experiences, the Moores decided they were safer on land. Their boating adventures will be limited to cruise ships. And those cruises are centered around their travel goal of visiting ever Margaritaville. Two down, eleven to go!

About Melissa Brodsky

Melissa used to tell everyone she was going to be a writer when she grew up. Well, she is suddenly a grown up and it looks like she was telling the truth.

Living in a modern-day "Yours, Mine and Ours" household, Melissa is the biological mother of 3 children and the full-time stepmother to her husbands 2 children. On some days, she may even be considered "evil"...and not just as the stepmother!

With a strange vampire fascination since she was young, it was only natural that Melissa began writing stories about the Paranormal. 

She is currently co-authoring a Paranormal Romance trilogy with fellow writer Nicole Andrews Moore called "The Dark Redemption Series". Book 1 is due out in June 2013.

And because she has so much free time on her hands, Melissa is also working on a YA Paranormal Series, the first book "Hallows Haven" will be available late summer.


Fanmade trailer below


My review

I actually really enjoyed this book, I didn’t think I would after reading a few pages, as I am not big on the religious stuff, but quicky determined it was not like that, just seemed that way for a few pages, lol. I found it a great spin on Angels, and then throw in the evil Fae instead of the normal demons you usually see in these kinds of books.

I see there is 2 versions of this book, apparently I have the adult version, unless the steamy sex scenes get even steamier than what I have, lol. They were steamy, so for sure mature readers for whatever version I have (it’s a review copy so have no clue on that)

I found Seth to be amazing, I really liked him, and Aislinn too. Anna I had to get used to, but she was great too. Zoey I also liked. I didn’t care much for Caim at all, I had a feeling from the start something was amiss with him. The others were all great, as far as the Angels, but the Fae, they were creepy to me, didn’t like them so much, but guess we’re not really supposed too, lol.

I do not want to give anything away, but to say it’s a great read, and written really well. I only found one mistake, and it’s a review copy, so think it would have been taken care of.

If you like the paranormal with some really steamy sex, then the adult version I read is for you. I imaging the new adult version will be a toned down version, and also would be great for those who rather not too steamy (usually that’s the one I would have read, but didn’t have a choice for the review)

I give 4 1/2 out of 5 stars, it’s very original, and an intriguing read. I only dislike the cover, it’s too generic, I have seen the same cover now on 6 books, so am sick of seeing it. Three that I have personally reviewed with that cover.

I was provided an ‘adult’ version of this book from the authors for my honest review.

Read the 2 excerpts below to get a feeling of the story, Excerpt One, I picked out, and Two I was provided. Enjoy!


Excerpt One

“My children,” There was an urgency to God’s tone, “I need your help.  I realize that I cannot do this alone, and while Salathiel is very capable, it is still a job too great for one angel, especially since the numbers of our enemy are still unknown.  You must protect the Earth and its inhabitants from this threat, the Fae. You are mankind’s only hope.”

“How would you have us do this, my Lord?” Zoey spoke, lifting her head and shielding her eyes with her elbow.

“Keep your head down, Zoey.  No being is able to gaze upon me without being affected.  For this, I am sorry.  There is nothing more I would like than to look at each of you so that you could truly know my love.”

Zoey bent her head back down and mumbled, “Yes, Father.”

“I have a deal for you, a reward for your service.  I need the six of you to live on Earth masked as humans.  Part of your payment will be immortality.  Each of you will be given a power to aid you on your journey.  Zoey, you will have a keen sense of knowledge enabling you to recognize truth.  Gus, you can see the past, the present and the future.  Only impart such findings to those who are worthy.  Both of you will be reporting to me as needed.”  Zoey and Gus exchanged glances.

“As for you, Eli, you will have inhuman strength, even beyond your regular capabilities.  I am bestowing upon you a sword.  Use it wisely and only for justice.  Caim, you are my angel of action.  You have fighting ability.  For you, Anna, I give the gift of healing.  Finally, Salathiel, my first angel, from now on you will be called Seth.  My precious, caring Seth, you have the power of empathy. An Empath.”


Excerpt Two

It was late afternoon when they returned and it was Anna’s restlessness that caught Seth’s attention.  The rest of the Guardians went to their rooms to unwind, but Anna was pacing on the roof.  Instead of settling into their office, as he normally did, Seth walked the extra steps to discover what was troubling Anna.  This was completely unlike her.

“Anna,” he said calmly when he reached her.

She whipped around. Her wings were unfurled and twitching nervously.  The rustling of her feathers concerned him.  When he saw the look in her eyes, he was even more disturbed.  “Why?”  She asked as her eyes darted about...up at the sky, then over the edge of the roof, back to Seth and all around.  “Why are we not permitted to form attachments?  Why can we not...be friends with humans?”  The frustration in her voice was evident.  “Why, Seth?  What is so wrong and different about us that we can’t be around His other creations?”
Seth slowly came closer.  He feared she was about to cry.  In all their years of communal living, he had seen her cry...never.  She hadn’t shed a tear over wars.  She had seen countless horrific events pass, yet this was the first time anything had ever seemed to get under her skin and affect her.

“There’s nothing wrong with us, Anna.  You know that.  We simply shouldn’t be distracted.  Attachments create distractions; they make us weak.  We would be inclined to put the good of the few above the needs of the many.  That isn’t our mission.  No entanglements.  No distractions.  These rules were created for a reason.”  He spoke in gentle soothing tones.  It was obvious his words fell on deaf ears.

She shook her head.  “We weren’t supposed to live together.  We were supposed to be scattered about the globe.  Instead, you decided that we should act as one.  If that can change, if the Father can understand the rationale for that change...maybe there could be more...” 




Cover Reveal! Golden Dunes of Renhala (Renhala #2) by Amy Joy Lutchen

Golden Dunes of Renhala (Renhala #2)
by Amy Joy Lutchen

How do you live with a secret so dark and so deeply woven into your being that it threatens to smother your very existence, with no known way out? Use it to your advantage. 

Kailey Rooke, karmelean, and now a possibly unethical karma-for-hire, has spent the past year jumping from project to project, without any real hope for salvation. With repercussions from her actions at every turn, she discovers that as time goes on, she loses a bit more of herself to that which feeds on her anguish, that which is thriving inside her own body.

When a new contract to find a missing girl arises, Kailey attempts to put her past and its associated problems on the back burner, but she soon finds out that treachery and deceit lie shortly ahead in Golden Dunes, only giving face to new problems, with one leading right back to her childhood past. 

She struggles to complete her contract as her own life teeters on a fulcrum, constantly tipping according to karma’s whim. How long will she keep her balance? Which way will she fall?


Here in info on Book 1


Renhala (Renhala #1)
By Amy Joy Lutchen

Kailey Rooke, timid accountant, dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults occurring across the globe.

A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey's history for her liking, opens Kailey's eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew existed: Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon to the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts achieving.

She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and attempts to toughen up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite, six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a "giver"), falls into an unexpected love triangle, deals with her sexy and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon. 

On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans on eating her brains with ice cream; she'll run from the deadly meeples: small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology existing in Kailey's realm shortens all life spans.

As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.


Buy Links For Book 1



About the Author, Amy Joy Lutchen

Was born in Chicago and slept in a dresser drawer for the first few weeks of my life, marking me as a future claustrophobe. 

I studied at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (man I grew up quick), where I became a number, but decided it was a good number.

I write with plenty of snacks in hand, making sure they are not in multiples of three. That number makes me nervous.

Author of the Renhala series.

Author Links

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Alyx Rayer Chronicles Book Tour~ Reviews Books 1 & 2 ~ Marked for Vengeance & Tethered By Fate by S.J. Pierce


Marked for Vengeance (Alyx Rayer Chronicles #1)

Published October 10th 2012
ASIN B009P4RXRK

Alyx Rayer’s existence in Atlanta, the eternally bustling capital of Georgia, is one of routine and blending in among the worker bees. But her ‘normal’ life is actually a façade for a higher calling; she's a three hundred year old soul, encased in a human vessel and sent from the darkness between heaven and Earth to capture her Marked when summoned by her superiors.


During the initial, routine stake-out of her Marked, a dream prophet named Isaac Walsh, Alyx is thrown for an emotional loop when his allure captivates her heart from two rooftops away. The event marks the very instance when her sense of what’s right and what’s wrong is brutally challenged as her contact with him is strictly forbidden.



While already trapped between honor and desire, her emotional struggles are further challenged by a man in a black suit who continually pops up when she least expects it, his presence evoking a strange response from the scar she was branded with at birth. The scar tingles like a warning beacon, alerting her that something is amiss. Because her superiors never told her what this would mean, or much of anything except what to do when they summon, she can only conclude to try and keep her sanity, and her life, from completely shattering to pieces.



This engaging first book of the series is a Paranormal Romance novel interlaced with twists, turns, and thrilling suspense that is sure to satisfy readers of any genre. 



May not be suitable for YA.

About the Author

Susan James Pierce has a degree in Marketing Management, works for a Fortune 500 company in Atlanta, Georgia, and devotes her precious, spare time to writing Fantasy and Sci-fi novels. Even though her full-time career has nothing to do with books at all, she has always enjoyed complex storytelling with fascinating characters, and has had a penchant for the written word since grade school. As a matter of fact, her first publishing credit was for a poem she wrote at the age of twelve. Why her love for writing never translated into a career, she can only attribute to ‘life happens’, but her wish is that she can redirect her career path into something that satisfies her creative inner-self. 

Author Links



My Review for Book one, Marked For Vengeance

Wow, this book was great. I really enjoyed it. I will say it took me a bit to get into it, as there is a lot of character building, which is ok, but seems a little too much on some that really didn’t  need to be, but that’s just my opinion. I did have to get used to the writing style, as I have gotten used to the first person view and in a lot of books they will be first person, with alternating points of view, and that is my favorite is when done right anyway.  This is from the 3rd person view I guess its called, but it got confusing at times, as I was not always sure who’s point of view it was from. Think its just me, not reading many books like that. I got used to it by the halfway point, which is also where the book really took off and got really interesting for me.

It’s a good thing I have book 2 already, so I can start it right away. I waited to write this, then go start book 2. The end was where it really got going, then ended suddenly for me, as my Kindle lied, It said I was at 85% done, and then it’s the end of the book. So I was not expecting that, lol

I won’t go into any spoilers or anything. Just let you know a few things I liked, and a few teasers for you, so you can get a feel for the book.

I found Alyx to be a bit hard to like at first, but it just took time for me to connect, but I finally did. I really liked Issac, he seemed to be a great guy.  His son we didn’t learn a lot about, Micah, but he seemed to be a great kid, who also seemed to have the same Prophitic dreams as his dad.

I didn’t like Benjiman at all, he was a controlling stuffy guy, and to me could have just been left out of the story all together. My opinion of course.
I liked her best friend for sure. I was happy how all that turned out, the twist I didn’t see coming. Lol

We get some funny parts at times as well. Here is a few teasers that I liked:
This is a pert where Issace thinks Alyx is a stalker, and his son seen her through the peephole when she came to the door (to check on him, as she needs to keep him safe)

“I don’t understand. Why would you NOT open the door for that woman?” Micah asked. He had peered through first. The initial round of knocking alerted him as he headed to the kitchen for a soda, and he didn’t recognize the attractive woman so he went to get his father, who ran to the door to see who it was. When he laid eyes upon her strained, smiling face he jumped away from the door, unable to mask his bewilderment.

“Why did she scare you like that, dad? Do you know her?”

Isaac needed to give his son some sort of explanation, and reinforce a healthy fear for strangers who might approach him. Mainly Alyx. He couldn’t keep him holed up in the apartment forever, and he couldn’t be with him every second of the day.

He waved the bottle of Windex toward the couch. “Go sit down. I’ll explain.” 

“I can’t wait to hear about that scary, scary Barbie that was at our door.”


And this part:

“So,” he began, his voice brightening, and her eyes snapped to the mirror to witness his exuberance.  A smile covered his pale face, and she couldn’t help but return the gesture as he continued. “You were spyin’ on me then, I knew it! My sexy stalker.”

Yeah, this is a great story, and can see it will just get better with each book, as the background and character building was done in this one, so now it will just be great and faster paced I think.

I highly recommend this series, if you like the paranormal romance books, (less on the romance in this one) or supernatural you will love this.

5 out of 5 stars.

I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review.

This review is also posted at Amazon, Here, and at Goodreads, here.



Excerpt of Book One Marked For Vengeance

PROLOGUE:


A Tortuous Birth

She stood shoulder to shoulder with her brethren, nobody able to move, or make a sound. Waiting to be brought to life, their bodies felt more like prisons to their souls that shuddered in response to the darkness around them.
Her mind reeled with images, distant, agonizing memories of the last two times she had endured this torture, and her frozen muscles itched for movement so she could flee. Because even though her spirit had been assigned to a body before, what awaited her in the moments to come never became any easier.
Without warning, the delicate touch of their maker forced their heads backward and opened their mouths. A breath of livened air rushed into their souls. It warmed from the inside, beginning in her chest and rolled out to her limbs, burning and glowing through her newly formed veins. Her eardrums fluttered as waves of sound pounded into them again; the feet of the others shifting beside her, the fragile pop of their necks as they straightened into place.
Before anyone could move from their carefully placed stances, a thunderous voice resonated through them, bending them to its will. Their minds flashed with intricate directives as it barked their commands, ones they could not deviate from, ones that meant the difference between life and death. Their orders ceased, and the burning traveled to their eyes that squinted as a light in the distance flickered like the flame of a faraway candle, the blanket of darkness so thick that even the dimmest glow burned with a blinding intensity. The light strengthened as it moved steadily closer and divided into smaller orbs that hovered in front of each of their faces, illuminating their anxious expressions. A rumble rolled through the air, and they forced their way into the being’s mouths. Their lungs heaved, their hearts raced -- they were alive.
They studied one another in wonder, each of them appearing the same; no hair, lean bodies, naked breasts, haunting, black eyes. Their slender fingers brushed over their new, youthful skin, which felt soft and warm, but tough like a full-plated suit of armor.
As though a switch had flipped, the darkness separated them, and their chilling moans pierced the air as their bodies transformed into their own unique shapes -- undoubtedly from the ones who went through it for the first time. Jaw clinched, she bore the excruciating pain of her own transformation; bones and ligaments cracking, skin stretching to accommodate the growing muscles, her face narrowing and lips plumping. Her scalp tingled and silky, thick hair spilled over her back and shoulders.
Now for the worst part of all, the one she despised the most. She clasped her hands and locked her muscles, bracing for the familiar sharp, stinging pain that seared into their left shoulder blades as they were branded. Their once unblemished skin blistered into the symbol that represented everything they were created for, reminding them every day what their purpose in this lifetime was, to fulfill a purpose and one purpose only. But first, they had to find their Marked.


Tethered by Fate (Alyx Rayer Chronicles #2)


"Where fate would take the both of them now, Isaac wasn’t sure, but either way their paths were irrevocably tethered." 


Hurled into the midst of a holy war between the sinister fallen Angel of War and their beloved Creator, gifted humans, Angels, and Spirit Guides unite to create a formidable, ethereal army. With the imminent battle only days away, continue to follow the story that captivated your hearts as a Protector Angel named Alyx struggles with her own inner conflicts between right and wrong, love and honor.



Passionate, engaging, and filled with surprising twists and turns -- see where fate will lead our beloved Angel next in this second installment of the Alyx Rayer Chronicles.



May not be suitable for YA.

My Review for Tethered by Fate (Book 2)

Wow, this book was really intense, it was good from page one. Since book one had all the back-story, and character building, we didn’t have all of that in this one.
We start off right were book one ends, which was when it really got its momentum, so it was interesting right away.

I really felt for Alyx, she is the odd one out, and she feels very different from the other Protectors, and tries to hide how she is different. I won’t tell much about that, I want to keep this as spoiler free as I can.

I just want to say it’s great, and this story is really good as a whole, and I highly recommend it.

I will stop here, as I do not want to spoil anything for the people who had not even read book one yet.

5  out of 5 stars for me.

I received this book from the author for my honest review.

This review is also posted at Amazon, Here, and Goodreads Here.


See the rest of the tour here



Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Promo ~ Silence of the Wolves by Hannah Pole ~ Release Day!!

Silence of the Wolves - Release Day PROMO
By Hannah Pole
Urban Fantasy
Date Published: 6/26/2013


Fate is calling…

After a strange encounter in a dark alley, journalist Tamriel’s life is turned upside down. She’s missing days, developing odd new abilities, and being followed by mysterious Leyth.Leyth’s determined to teach Tamriel about her new life – as a werewolf! 

And just as intent on keeping their relationship strictly business.bond grows, Tamriel and Leyth face a bigger challenge; Tam may be their kind’s strongest weapon against the Circle, a deadly group of paranormal creatures gone rogue. That is, if she’s ready to give into her destiny and put up the fight of her life...

Dark, dangerous – and too gorgeous for his own good –But as their simmering

EXCERPT

Slowly, carefully, Tam moved. Only an inch as she lowered herself to the ground and, in one painstaking movement, she knelt before the wolf.
Her knife was clipped to the side of her bra and her hands itched to reach for it, but she knew it was a bad idea. Currently the wolf was showing no signs of aggression and she didn’t want to spook him again.
As she looked into those beautiful grey eyes, she saw no anger, no malice. She saw fatigue, pain and confusion. She could read the emotions behind them like a book.

As she watched him, it seemed as though he was being as careful as she to move carefully. It was almost as if it were he who didn’t want to spook her rather than the other way around. He lowered his back end to the ground, shuffling a little awkwardly around his back leg. He then proceeded to lie down completely, resting his head on his paws, keeping his eyes still locked onto hers. It was as if he’d visibly given up.

 Tam slowly edged forward. She must be absolutely crazy, knowing this was a vicious wild animal and that it could tear her apart easily. Yet her gut told her the wolf wasn’t going to hurt her.

She must be going mad. She was going to end up being that weird woman that was nearly killed by a wild wolf because she thought she could be friends with it.

And yet, this moment, this intense, terrifying, incredibly special moment, was one she would treasure for the rest of her life; one she would write about and talk of over and over again to friends, family and, maybe, one day her children.

The day mommy made friends with a wolf.

Hannah Pole
I am a born and bred wild child. (Or I like to think so anyway!)

I moved to sunny Folkestone UK to escape and find my feet as, well whatever I was destined to be! But alas, my short attention span made finding that destiny a little difficult! One day I came across a diary entry that made me laugh so hard; I actually fell off my chair. (Yes, this can happen!)

I decided that the entry was so funny; it needed to be shared with the world! So I started writing, and attempted to turn it into a novel. Though to this day, that novel remains unfinished, it will always be the novel that got me started, and showed me what I was passionate about.


Honestly? I have aspired to be everything from a Private Investigator to a Zoo Keeper with my career; my interests change so quickly that I could never stick with one! Writing gives me the freedom to choose; I can be a cold-hearted assassin in love with a poet one day and the secret lesbian lover of a politician the next!

All my life, I have had a strong, unwavering passion for anything supernatural, spiritual and slightly unexplainable, I love the idea that there can be something completely fantastical lurking beneath the confines of normality. So of course, mythical creatures of all shapes and sizes dominate most of my work!

In a nutshell, I am a creative crazy bean, living with my lovely husband and a house full of too many animals! I've always secretly wished I were a werewolf of some description, but have come to realise that I will have to settle for writing about them instead! I'm happiest in the sun with my head in a good book!

All I can say from here is I hope youth like what you read!

Author Links
public email -    hp@hannahpole.co.uk


Link to Buy

Monday, June 24, 2013

Ignite by Erica Crouch Book Review ~ 5 Stars and excerpt


Ignite (Ignite #1)
Published June 11th 2013 by Patchwork Press
ISBN  (ISBN13: 9780991789740)
Series Ignite #1


Penemuel (Pen) fell from grace over a millennium ago, yet there are still times she questions her decision to follow her twin brother, Azael, to Hell. Now that the archangel Michael has returned, threatening Lucifer’s vie for the throne, she begins questioning everything she has always believed. 

As Hell prepares for war - spreading a demonic virus and pilfering innocent souls to build an army - the lines separating the worlds blur. Fates erase and the future is left unwritten. Azael is determined that he and his sister will continue to serve as demons together, but for the first time in her life, Pen is not ruled by destiny. She has the freedom of choice. 

With choice comes sacrifice, and Pen must decide which side she’s willing to risk everything fighting for: the light, or the dark.

About the Author:

Erica Crouch is a twenty-year-old living on the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. She is currently working towards a degree in English and Creative Writing with a specialization in Fiction at Southern New Hampshire University. She spends all of her time writing and reading an overwhelming stack of books. 

Ignite is her debut novel and she is currently writing it’s sequel - in addition to two other series! Erica has also written a stage play, NVRLND, and was recently acknowledged for her editorial work in Kellie Sheridan’s novel Mortality, released March 2013. 

Outside of her interest in literature, Erica enjoys studying the humanities, including anthropology and mythology. She devours dark and fantastical books, inspirational musicals/plays, terrible and quirky television and an exorbitant amount of Jolly Ranchers. She is part fictional character, part cyborg.


Author Links


My Review of Ignite

I will keep this review spoiler free.

I absolutely loved this book! Wow, it was so different than the usual fallen angels’ books. I am not used to getting in the head of the “bad” one, the demon, but things change for this demon, and I ended up liking her a lot.
Now Michael (yes, the arch angel Michael) was amazing, so sweet and loved his innocence in this. You will understand why that is when you read it.

This book will hook you in right from the start. I didn’t like Pen’s twin brother, Azeal at all, he was truly evil and was glad when she got away from him for a time. ( some is a bit gruesome, so I think mature teens would be fine.

I am very anxious to read book 2, I sure hope it comes out soon. I loved this cover too, it’s pretty cool looking and fitting for the most part for the story. This is a true forbidden romance, and it really pulls the heart strings.

Here is a sweet swoon worthy scene for you:

I kiss him back harder, showing him I’m not as breakable as he thinks. Heat courses between us, traveling out from his touch. The warmth dances across my skin and penetrates into my veins, the blood coursing like fire following a rivulet of gasoline until I’m entirely consumed. I walk him backwards and shove him against the shower wall, sliding my arms up his chest and around his neck only to tangle my hands in his wet hair. 
I want you. I don’t want anyone else. His golden voice is soft in my head, whispering like smoke from a snuffed candle. I gasp, breaking away. His eyes are bright blue and water clings to his coppery eyelashes. He stares at me unwaveringly. It’s you, Pen. It will always be you. I trace his lips with my finger, daring him to say it out loud.


And here is another that I like:

“You’re very trusting,” I laugh. “I could be walking you right over the side, leading you to your death.”
His grip tightens on my hands, but he smiles. “From the way you are leading me, I think you would be the first to fall. Plus,” he adds, shrugging his shoulders, “I think my wings may be of some help should you lead me over the edge.”

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, and highly recommend it.


IGNITE Excerpt

It starts with a single familiar scream that echoes from deep within the forest. Fighting every instinct, I run towards it. The low hanging branches, which are thick and shadowy in the darkness, whip violently into my face. The scream hitches, ending abruptly, and suddenly the woods are quiet again.
I stop, bracing myself on the back of a large tree, and try to catch my breath.
Listen, I tell myself.
I focus on the sounds around me and try to make sense of the strange shadows that curl devilishly in the moonlight. There is movement, quick and soft. I hear a dull thud, peer around the tree, and see something small and thin slide off of a large sword that glints wickedly in the moonlight. A body. The figure falls limply to the ground. A tall, broad shadow stands above the crumpled figure.
Patience. I count to ten in my head, waiting for the shadowed figure to leave, but he doesn’t move.
I let out a soft huff of my breath, visible in the crisp, cool night, and run in the direction of the shadow. Faster, I throw myself into a full sprint until I reach the clearing, where I come to a stop. I draw my dagger quietly from my belt and wait.
The shadow remains still, unaware of my presence. I go to take a step forward but a second shadow glides up behind the first and I stop. This shadow is narrower than the first but equally as tall and strong.
I step forward, my dagger raised threateningly in front of me. “Turn around,” I demand. “Let me see your faces.”
The two figures ignore me. With their bare, muscled backs turned to me, I see them lean in towards one another and whisper between themselves, but I can’t make out what they’re saying. I circle around them carefully, keeping my dagger held high. Their heads are bowed low, and I cannot make out their faces.
Suddenly, the sharp and rusty smell of blood washes over me. But there’s something different about this blood. It doesn’t have the same intoxicating sweetness it usually does. Instead, it smells bitter, like garbage or rot. I freeze, look down at my feet, and see thick, dark blood sliding slowly across the ground until it seeps under my boots. I draw my eyebrows together in confusion.
Black blood?
I follow the viscid, black stream and find that it is spilling rapidly out of the chest, up the neck, and across the face of a thin, pale girl. There is so much blood caked to her face that I don’t recognize her right away, but she seems familiar.
I know her…
I raise my eyes back to the two men standing in front of me. Both of their chests are bare and their skin, one tan and the other pale, seems to be glowing in the moonlight. Their faces are masked in shadows.
The first shadow is holding a large sword in his hand, the black blood sliding down the shining blade, obscuring a thin inscription. He whispers to the second, “Take her soul.”
“Who are you?” I yell. “Show me your faces!”
Again, I’m ignored. They move carefully and slowly, like phantoms.
The second shadow bends down to the body and reaches into her chest. I see that he has a long welt along his forearm, and I lean closer. His dark hair shines blue-black in the silvery light.
No, it can’t be.
His hand searches inside the chest. “There’s nothing here.”
“Look again,” orders the first shadow.
There’s a pause. “Nothing.”