Sunday, March 30, 2014

#Giveaway ~ Summoned by Rainy Kaye ~ Promo Post with Excerpt

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Summoned - Week Blitz
By Rainy Kaye
Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Date Published: 3/28/2014

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Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told—literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker.

Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd—assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can't tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn't the type to tolerate secrets.

Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl's ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.

Summoned is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.




EXCERPT

I dislike having to murder someone. Kidnapping is worse. At least when I setup a kill, I know what's coming. No connections, no honesty, no surprises. Everything I say and do are just steps to luring in my victim. Once the victim falls right into the trap, the next move is swift: crushed windpipe, fatal concussion, or a good ol' fashioned headshot.

            Kidnapping, on the other hand, is a little trickier. First, the victim has an opportunity to respond. I don't like this. Sometimes they cry. Sometimes they manage to alert the authorities. And sometimes they escape, usually by inflicting bodily harm on me.

            Dead people don't retaliate. Kidnapped ones, well, they're a little more . . . lively.

            The second major difference between killing and kidnapping is my conscience. I get in and out with a kill. We have no chance to bond.

            Abductees require a little more one-on-one. As much as I try to keep the switch turned off, I can't help but listen to their pleas and demands. And I usually realize I'm a jerk.

            That's exactly where I find myself one late afternoon in June. I prefer doing this at night, but moreover, I would prefer not doing this at all.

            Instead, I have a belligerent nine year old girl sitting in the passenger seat of my Honda Accord, shackles on her wrists and ankles and a small stuffed bunny on her lap. She's eying me in a way that makes me self-conscious. Like I'm the bad guy.

            Probably because I am the bad guy.

Rainy Kaye Links
Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Buy Link
Amazon


GIVEAWAY

2 $50 Amazon gift cards.

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Resisting Atlantis (Atlantis #1) by Jamie Canosa ~ Book Review ~ Excerpt ~


Resisting Atlantis (Atlantis #1)
by Jamie Canosa 

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What if everything you think you know . . . is wrong?

Cora is your average college freshman. Battling the evils of boring classes and noisy dorms, her greatest concern is how to attract the attention of the drool-worthy, party-god next door.

That is, until Kaden comes barging into her life, insisting everything she knows is false. The family and friends she grew up with don’t exist. Her entire past a carefully-crafted fabrication, created to replace the truth.

Her name isn’t Cora, it’s Cameron. And she isn’t from New York. She hails from Atlantis. Yeah, that Atlantis. Oh yeah, and she’s psychic. 

Crazy, right?

Except, tall, dark, and out-of-his-ever-loving-mind doesn’t come alone. Trouble follows, thrusting Cameron back into a world she can’t remember and a life she must reclaim if they’re going to make it out alive.



This was a very interesting book. I was hooked really quickly. I even started reading without really knowing what its about. I had read the blurb awhile back and forgot what it was about, just knew it was something I would like. And I did, I loved it.
The writing was top notch, I have been a fan of Jamie Canosa for awhile, have read several of her books, and really loved them all.

I didn’t like Cora/Cameron at first, but she did grow on me as the story progressed. Most my issues were some of her shallow ways of thinking, but there was a good reason for that.

Kaden is awesome, him I loved right away. His story and back-story was great, and I just really felt for him. He is hot too, that doesn’t hurt, lol.

The whole Atlantis thing was a new one for me to read about. Not anything like I thought it would be, but loved it.

Overall a great story, and do want to read book 2 asap, as I need to know where this goes.

5 out of 5 stars for me.

Cover rating 3 out of 5 stars-

 (this is new for me to do, but covers are so important to me, it’s usually the deciding factor to stop and take a look to see if the book is something I may  like.)

So, if I wasn’t asked to read this book for a review, and knew nothing of the author or book. On the cover alone, No, I would not stop and take a look. It just isn’t eye catching to me. It’s not professionally done by the looks of it. I loved Jamies cover for Sink or Swim, that was really well done and professional, even Fight or Flight was nice. The others not so much, but not horrible either. This one I guess is the same as the others that I didn’t mention.

I suggest spending the money for covers over all else. As to me, it’s the First Impression, and first impressions matter, a lot. Just my 2 cents.

In saying that, Please Do take a 2nd look even if you also do not feel the cover what you like.  As the Story is so much better than the cover. I know many that are bad, the story is also bad. Not in this case. The Story is Awesome!

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

You can also find this review at Gooadreads and Amazon




About the Author:

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA literature, which she absolutely loves. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Ravena, NY with her wonderful husband and three crazy kids . . . plus the dog, the bird and the rabbit.Her debut novel, Dissidence, was published in 2012 along with several novellas, including ‘Temptation’, the first in her Heart and Soul mini-series, and her contemporary NA romance, Fight or Flight.
She currently has several projects in the works. Another (spin-off) contemporary NA romance, Sink or Swim, coming in July, the fourth and final installment of the Heart and Soul series coming in August, and the sequel to Fight or Flight, entitled Now or Never due out this fall.

Author links:


Buy Link



(Part of Chapter One for a taste)

Chapter 1
~Cora~
Branches reach for me like gnarly, wooden hands, grabbing at my hair and clothing. Clinging to me. Holding me back. It’s a struggle to break free. Warm blood trickles down my skin as I dive over a bush, but I barely even notice. Mother Nature is hardly my biggest problem.
They’re gaining on me. I may not be able to hear them over the whoosh of my pulse roaring in my ears, but I can feel them, their nearness creeping over my skin like a cold fog.
“Cora!”
Feet flying, I stumble through the thick brush and shove off a tree to keep moving. Darkness impedes my speed as much as the undergrowth. Only minute amounts of pale light peek through the dense foliage above. Pinpricks of moonlight illuminate the way forward. I weave through a series of trees and dodge a pricker bush, hoping with a twisted grin that they won’t notice that particular obstacle until it’s too late.
Cora!
He’s coming. He’s looking for me. My heart speeds up and I run with renewed strength. If I can just make it to him . . .
A shadow shifts beside me and I fake left, dodging right to avoid their grasp. A basic maneuver, but the earlier rain has left the ground slick and, even in my boots, I skid over a patch of wet leaves. I manage to stay upright, but before I can reclaim my teetering balance, a large hand wraps in my hair, yanking me to a sudden stop.
My training immediately takes over. A foot to his instep and I throw my head back, narrowly missing his ugly face. The next thing I know, I’m on my back on the cold, wet ground. All of the air punched from my lungs with the force of my landing, and I’m left blinking up at the dancing light of the stars above me.
“Coooora!”
The stench of dirt and rotting leaves floods my nose as I’m rolled mercilessly onto my stomach. Though my shoulders plead for mercy as my arms are wrenched behind me and secured, I remain silent, counting the pairs of shiny black boots now surrounding me. There are too many. Too many for him to take on alone. And he would try. For me. He would give himself up to save me. There’s not a doubt in my mind that he would, but I won’t let that happen.
Biting my tongue against the shooting pains in my head, back, and arms, I’m hauled to my feet and shoved forward. The forest comes in and out of focus ahead of me. I stumble once, twice, and then everything goes dark.




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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Firefly Hollow by T.I. Haddix ~ Blitz ~ Read Excerpt ~

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Firefly Hollow - WEEK BLITZ
By T. L. Haddix
Romance w/ Light Paranormal Elements
Date Published: 9/23/2012

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The mysterious recluse…

Owen Campbell holds himself apart from other people. Badly scarred from emotional wounds that have never healed, he doesn’t expect to find true love or happiness. He remains isolated in a prison of his own making, determined to not let anyone close enough to hurt him again. But his willpower is shaken to the core when Sarah Browning enters his world.

The girl next door…

Sarah Jane Browning is three years into her college degree when a call from home changes everything. Back at the family homestead in the heart of Appalachia, she’s forced to reevaluate her hopes and dreams for the future.

Distraction from her heartache comes in the form of her parents’ neighbor. Whispers about “odd Owen Campbell” abound in their small community, and Sarah’s curiosity is aroused. When she breaks the rules and trespasses onto his land, what she finds is beyond her wildest imaginings.

As Sarah struggles to overcome tragedy and loss, her burgeoning relationship with Owen is sorely tested. Will love conquer all, or will the secrets from Owen’s past tear them apart forever?




Checking back over her shoulder after a few steps, Sarah frowned when the deer continued to mimic her path. Dismissing the incident as the curiosity of a wild young deer that hadn’t yet learned humans were the enemy, she let her mind drift. Before long, she heard the sound of water trickling rapidly over rocks, and as she rounded a curve, she saw a small stream curving through the mountainside. The branch of water cut into a shallow hollow, one side protected by a higher ledge of earth that was full of mountain laurel.

Sarah stopped to take in the sight and drew in a cleansing breath. As she looked around, she realized the deer had followed her and stopped a short distance away. The bench of land it stood on converged with the deer path alongside the stream.

If Sarah hadn’t known better, she would have sworn the deer wore a look of consternation. The animal bent its head to nibble at some greenery on the ground, but kept its eyes on her. It almost seemed to glance between her and the water, as though weighing the danger of coming closer for a drink.

“Maybe if I turn away, you’ll feel bolder.” The deer path crossed the branch at a narrow point, and she decided to go a bit further. The water cascaded down a small waterfall above the narrow point, pooling in a shallow area that would be the perfect spot for a thirsty deer to get a cooling drink. Hopping across the water, Sarah followed the trail. To her surprise, the path didn’t continue to the flat bench on the other side of the small ridge, but climbed up and around the rocky outcropping. Curious, she climbed the incline. The sight took her breath away, and for a moment, she didn’t believe what was in front of her was real.

The rocky outcropping the water cascaded down was a sort of natural dam. On its other side, a large pool of water had collected. Fifteen feet across and nearly that wide again going in the opposite direction, the pool was surrounded by sloping granite on all sides except the front, where the water dropped over the edge. The water was blue-green, going from light aqua to deeper cobalt, and the banks of rock and earth protected it on all sides.

On the opposite side, a craggy granite cliff rose about ten feet out of the water, overhanging slightly to form a shallow cave. The mountain seemed to curve around the pool and, mesmerized, Sarah continued around, crossing the branch once more at a point above the pool. From there, she was able to climb on top of the granite boulder that created the cliff. Easing to the edge, she carefully sat down, her legs dangling over the side.

When the curious deer appeared at the edge of the pool below, Sarah laughed. The deer gave a small jerk at the sound, eyeing her warily.

“I’m sorry.” She felt utterly insane, carrying on a conversation with a deer, but it had followed her like a curious puppy. Sarah realized that keeping quiet would feel even more absurd. “It’s so beautiful here. I had no idea any place like this existed.” She looked around, noticing that the trees didn’t arch out over the pool the way she thought they would have.

“I’ll bet it’s really hot here in the summer, and that water feels so good and cool. Or does the pool dry up, I wonder?”

For a while, she just sat, braced back on her hands, her face lifted to the sky. The peace imbued in the place washed over her. When she felt ready, she let herself remember Kathy’s words to Paul, and their laughter. The memory made Sarah sad and still made her cringe with embarrassment, but she realized that she didn’t feel quite as angry about it as she had.

“Thank you, God, for letting me hear that today. At least I don’t have to face Paul until Monday,” she said to the sky. “And… and maybe, if that’s what he likes, then maybe he’s not as special as I thought he was. Let him have his buxom girls. At least I don’t look like a milk cow, unlike someone I could name.”

A snort came from below, and Sarah jumped. She’d forgotten the deer. Looking down, she saw that it had moved to the edge of the exposed granite and settled down on a soft patch of leaves.

“What are you snorting at?”

When the deer shook its head, Sarah laughed. Even though she knew it was probably batting away flies with its ears, the deer acted almost human.

She glanced down at her watch and was shocked when she saw the time. She was going to have to run in order to make it home in time for supper. With a muted curse that she’d heard her father say when he hit his thumb with the hammer, she scrambled to her feet and looked around. Another bench ran down from the side of the boulder opposite where she’d come up and fell naturally into the one the deer had been on when she’d first seen it.

“That saves me a little time.” With one last look at the deer, which had gotten to its feet when Sarah did, she headed down the bench. “I’ll come back someday,” she promised over her shoulder. “Try to not get shot or anything.”

For a day that had gone so badly, she thought as she ran, things had turned out to be okay.

* * *

For a long time after the girl had gone, Owen stood on the edge of the pool, looking after her. With his enhanced hearing, he could follow her progress down the trail and back onto Browning land.

He didn’t know what to think. He’d never encountered another human in all the time he’d been exploring the woods. His parents had seen to that over the years; no one dared come onto Campbell property without his father’s permission. Now that the property belonged to Owen, he guessed he was the one who’d have to do something about trespassers.

He bent his neck, taking another sip from the water. As the girl had guessed, it was cool and delightful.

Owen sighed, a sound that came out in deer form much as it did when he was human. The pool was one of his favorite places to roam, one of his safe places. If the girl came back as she promised, he didn’t know what it would mean for him. He couldn’t risk being caught, and he wasn’t willing to give up his solitude. If the girl threatened that… he hated the thought of having to go to her parents, but if it came to that, he’d do it.


T.L. Haddix

T.L. Haddix was born in Hazard, Kentucky, a small town in the center of the Appalachian coal fields. Taught to read by her grandmother, T.L. has had a life-long love affair with books, devouring whatever she could get her hands on. From childhood favorites such as the Trixie Belden series and Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” books, to her current favorites from authors like Tami Hoag, Alex Kava, J.A. Jance and Lisa Kleypas (among many others), T.L. still finds refuge in the written word.


“Growing up, I wanted to be everything – astronaut, police officer, doctor, teacher, reporter, psychologist – there was no clear choice for me. I wanted to do it all. Becoming a writer has allowed me to do just that, because I can live vicariously through my characters.”



A resident of eastern Kentucky, T.L. is hard at work on her next book, when she isn’t chasing after her three cat-children with her husband.

Author Links

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Monday, March 24, 2014

#Giveaway ~ Spiritual Discord Series by Brandy Nacole ~ Review Book 1


Broken Faith
Spiritual Discord
Book 1
Brandy Nacole

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal/Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: April 1, 2013

ISBN: 9781300931980
ASIN: B00C4V55LM

Number of pages: 242
Word Count: 85,000

Cover Artist: CCRBookCoverDesign.com

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Amazon  |    BN  |    Kobo  |    iTunes

Book Description:

“This was it. The moment Heaven and Hell would clash. But which unearthly being would win, the fallen angel or Hell’s hounds?

Overtaken by fear, I close my eyes.”

Kayson is a Fallen Angel who has spent decades running from the Hell Hounds while searching for something that no one else believes can be so, not even God. Kayson is determined to find a Blood Child. But when a hound finds Kayson first, he is sure his end has come.

Falon, Alpha of the Hell Hounds, destroyer of the blood children, and devoted believer in his master’s plan, is bound and determined to drag Kayson back to Hell with him.

Sabrina is a Vampire, a half-breed created from one of Lucifer’s original blood children. After years of hiding, Sabrina’s fate changes when she finds Kayson barely alive. Against her instincts, Sabrina saves him. Now she and Kayson are both marked by the Hell Hounds.

Emma is an ordinary human, whose only problem is making ends meet, and getting over the hurt caused by her untrustworthy brother. Her everyday problems become supernatural ones when she finds Kayson and Sabrina hiding in her parent’s backyard shed.

Kayson, Sabrina and Emma are unlikely allies, thrown together by chance to fight against the most powerful creatures of the underworld in order to follow their world-changing quest. But will the broken faith of one break the faith of all?




My review for Broken Faith

Loved this book. I am not surprised as I absolutely loved Brandy’s Shasdow World series. This is just as good as that one.

This story has a great new spin on vampires and angles (well fallen angels)  with the creepy Hell Hounds thrown in too. I was on the edge of my seat right from the start. I loved how it goes between multiple points of views.

I really got to care a lot about most of the characters. Mostly loved Kayson, Sabrina, and Emma, and Briston grew on me as well.
I didn’t like all of Emma’s friends at first, but when I learned more about them, I then liked them as well.

I don’t want to give anything away, won’t mention who is what, but it’s a great mix of the supernatural, and I just loved it.

Here is a nice teaser that won’t give anything away, thought it was a bit funny:

Before he pulls himself under the cover of their branches, he looks back up at me with a smile. “That was probably the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to me.” I scrunch up my eyebrows, “What? Almost falling in a ditch?” “No, being carried by a girl.”

If your like me and like paranormal books, you should give this one a try. I loved it, and can’t wait for book 2 now. Hope it is soon. (Update, out now, March 21, 2014)

5 out of 5 stars for sure.

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




Raging Storm
Spiritual Discord
Book 2
Brandy Nacole

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal/Paranormal Romance

Date of Publication: March 21, 2014

Word Count: 81,000

Cover Artist:  CCRBookCoverDesigns.com
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Buy Link


Book Description:

After Kayson fell from heaven, his life got complicated.  His greatest enemies, the hell hounds, thrived on Earth and hunted not only the fallen but the blood children created by their Master.  After being chased and confronted by one of those very creatures, Kayson’s life becomes even more complicated.  He never expected to be rescued by a vampire named Sabrina.  He also never expected to become her protector after she falls prey to a hell hound’s deadly bite.

Falon, head of the hell hounds, has been desperately trying to hunt down Kayson and Sabrina but with the rain steadily falling—due to interference by the lower-realm Angels, also known as the assemblies—Falon grows irritated.  His only option is to threaten those that may know where the fallen can be found.
With the threat of the hounds finding Kayson and the other fallen, Kayson is running out of time.  Stille, once a respected Warrior in the assemblies, is pushing Kayson to leave an unconscious Sabrina behind.  After all Sabrina has done for him, Kayson refuses to abandon her.  But will his decision leave his friends vulnerable to attack?

Sabrina is conscious enough to sense the struggles that Kayson is facing.  If he knew the torture she’s been going through, she knows he would suffer even more.  Sabrina silently fights the darkness that is seeping into her dreams, while struggling to stay strong for Kayson.  But when the pain becomes too much, Sabrina has to make a choice that may cost not only her life, but the lives of others as well. 



About the Author:

Brandy Nacole resides in Arkansas where her imagination runs wild. Her obsession is reading but her passion is writing. She put her dream of becoming a writer on the back burner and went to college to become a psychologist. Three years after endless classes in a field she only felt half satisfied with, Brandy picked up her pen once again and wrote the outline to Uniquely Unwelcome. She finished out her degree in psychology, but traded her dream of writing for the degree and put psychology on the back burner. Whenever she's not reading or writing, Brandy is spending time with her family and friends, throwing around crazy ideas, teaching , and singing like a rock star at a concert for no one else but herself. She loves plants, but unfortunately is a killer of anything that requires water but can't voice (scream) their needs.

She is the author of The Shadow World Series and The Spiritual Discord Series.

Authors Links



Tour giveaway details

1 ecopy of Uniquely Unwelcome by Brandy Nacole

1 $10.00 Amazon GC

1 Swag Pack
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Saturday, March 22, 2014

Wind and Shadow (The Talbot Trilogy #1) by Tori L. Ridgewood ~ Review & Teaser ~

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Wind and Shadow (The Talbot Trilogy #1)
by Tori L. Ridgewood

Rayvin Woods, photographer and natural witch. She just wanted to start her life over again after a series of misadventures. She didn't count on rekindling a lost love when she came home to Talbot...or battling a malevolent vampire and his coven for her life.

Grant Michaels, police officer. He thought Rayvin was a murderer. He will do whatever it takes to protect the community he loves from danger...but will he learn to trust his heart, and the word of a witch, before it's too late?

Malcolm de Sade, cunning vampire, imprisoned underground for a year by Charlotte Fanning and Pike Mahonen ("Mist and Midnight", Midnight Thirsts). His accidental release unleashes his hunger and ambition on a small, sleepy town…

***

Facing the past can be a nightmare. It's worse when a vampire is stalking you.

About the Author:

After her first heartbreak, Tori found solace in two things: reading romance novels and listening to an after-dark radio program called Lovers and Other Strangers. Throughout the summer and fall of 1990, the new kid in town found reading fiction and writing her own short stories gave her a much needed creative outlet. Determined to become a published author, Tori amassed stacks of notebooks and boxes of filed-away stories, most only half-finished before another idea would overtake her and demand to be written down. Then, while on parental leave with her second baby, one story formed and refused to be packed away. Between teaching full-time, parenting, and life in general, it would take almost seven years before the first novel in her first trilogy would be completed. In the process, Tori finally found her stride as a writer.

At present, on her off-time, Tori not only enjoys reading, but also listening to an eclectic mix of music as she walks the family dog (Skittles), attempts to turn her thumb green, or makes needlework gifts for her friends and family members. She loves to travel, collect and make miniature furniture, and a good cup of tea during a thunderstorm or a blizzard. Under it all, she is always intrigued by history, the supernatural, vampire and shapeshifter mythology, romance, and other dangers.

Author Links


Buy Links





Wow, it’s all I can think to say at the finish of this book.  I always have stated how much I dislike cliffhangers, and this does have one, but at least it’s not in the highlight of an action scene or something, like I have seen before in books.
I liked the main character Rayvin pretty quickly. She is a tough one, and I felt for her and what happened in her past.

I really like Grant Michaels, he is so hot. I did want o smack him a few times, but he did come around. The chemistry between these two was hot. There are some pretty steamy parts that are done very well.

I did not like the vampire, evil bastard. Oh, I hated him. I do not want to give away too much.

I just seen while reading this, that there is a prequel, and I think it would be good to read that. I felt I was missing information with Charlotte and the vampire, which seems to be covered in the prequel. I can’t wait to read book 2. I need to know what happens next. If I get caught up on my review books, I may go get it soon, while it’s still on my mind. Lol.

I found some things were inconsistent, like when first describing Grants eyes, she goes on about his deep brown eyes. Then not much later goes on about his deep Green eyes. So, I was confused at which it was, brown or green? It happened about 5 times, so that did bug me. Also, there was a little too much inner thoughts at times. But that didn’t but me as much as the eye thing. (I may have a copy that was before editing, I am not sure, so the finished copy could be different)

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I highly recommend to the paranormal/dark fantasy lovers out there.

I am now rating book covers, as to me the cover it very important. It’s what will get me to stop and take a look, read about the book. This cover is awesome. I give the cover 5 out of 5 stars.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

Check out Book 2 Blood and Fire, its out now. 




Prologue

In his dark, dank, grimy tomb, the vampire waited. He was patient. Pinned down by countless tons of broken rock and jagged boulders, and something else he recognized as mystical but was powerless to destroy, he also saw the futile waste of energy struggling would produce, and bided his time. Small vermin, unwise enough to wiggle through the smallest spaces, fall prey to his single free limb and gleaming, razor-sharp canine teeth. Sooner or later, the foolish mortals would err, and he would be free again to wreak havoc, seeking not just his mate, but also vengeance.
Time was on his side.


Friday, March 21, 2014

The Shadow Soul (A Dance of Dragons #1) by Kaitlyn Davis ~ Review ~ Excerpt

The Shadow Soul (A Dance of Dragons #1)
by Kaitlyn Davis 
Published February 20th 2014
YA Paranormal Romance

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GAME OF THRONES meets GRACELING in a new young adult fantasy by bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis. Told in alternating male and female perspectives, THE SHADOW SOUL has been hailed as "an amazing start to a new series that is going to have people of all ages wanting so much more." (Happy Tails & Tales Reviews)

When Jinji's home is destroyed, she is left with nowhere to run and no one to run to—until she meets Rhen, a prince chasing rumors that foreign enemies have landed on his shores. Masquerading as a boy, Jinji joins Rhen with vengeance in her heart. But traveling together doesn't mean trusting one another, and both are keeping a deep secret—magic. Jinji can weave the elements to create master illusions and Rhen can pull burning flames into his flesh. 

But while they struggle to hide the truth, a shadow lurks in the night. An ancient evil has reawakened, and unbeknownst to them, these two unlikely companions hold the key to its defeat. Because their meeting was not coincidence—it was fate. And their story has played out before, in a long forgotten time, an age of myth that is about to be reborn…

About the Author:
Kaitlyn Davis graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University with a B.A. in Writing Seminars. She's been writing ever since she picked up her first crayon and is overjoyed to finally share her work with the world. She currently lives in New York City and dreams of having a cockapoo puppy of her own.

Author Links

Read some unsent Letters from the characters at the author’s website, Here. Warning, it could be a bit of a spoiler if you had not read the book yet, so maybe save the page to read later when you read the book. I loved reading the extras.


My Review:

I loved this book. This story is so unique, something I have come to notice Kaitlyn does. As I found out with her great Midnight Fire Series, that I loved so much.
It’s a fantasy world, and was very well developed. I liked the alternating point of views from the 2 main characters.

I guess one part I didn't like was that most of the book Jinji was pretending to be a boy, as she has the magic to make herself appear to others how she wants, in this case, she took on the appearance of her dead twin brother. I can see why she did, as in this world, a woman alone or traveling alone would not be good. Especially when on a long trip on a ship with all males. So this book has no romance at all. (but there could be in later books, will have to wait and see)

I do wish she would have let Rhen know early on that she was in fact a girl. I could tell she developed feelings for him. I found the type of magic very fascinating, and that both Rhen and Jiji both had some. I liked the fire ability that Rhen has it’s pretty cool.
I really liked Rhen as a character. He has all the good qualities we like to see in our male characters, he is hot, has a great sense of right and wrong, and is just an all around great guy.

I can tell this is a first book for a series. It sets us up well, gives just enough information to make it very interesting, and leaves enough questions to leave us wanting more.
Kaitlyn is a very talented writer. 

I highly recommend this fantasy book, as well as her other books. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

This part of my review is a new thing I do, I rate the covers too now, separate. So I give this cover 3 out 5 stars. For me, its creepy, and strange with the lightning bolt in the dragon’s eye. It just doesn't look good, especially when viewing a smaller picture of it, like in goodreads when scrolling etc. I am big on covers being well done. I am guilty of judging a book by the cover. The cover is what will first attract me to a book to check it out if I would want to read it. If I wasn't asked to read this for a review by the author, I would never have looked twice when seeing the cover.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

This review is also at Goodreads, and Amazon


Check out the excerpt below, its part of the first chapter to give you a taste.


Part of Chapter One:

Jinji
~ Northmore Forest ~


A shadow was just the absence of light, a spot the sun could not reach. It was empty. But floating below her, drifting and dancing along the landscape, her shadow seemed full—not a reflection, but an impostor.
She pumped her leathery wings. The shadow did too.
She dipped closer to the trees. The shadow condensed, its points sharpening to match the outline of her body.
She arched up, farther into the cloudless sky. The shadow expanded and lost focus, rippling over the pointed trees below.
Enough, she thought, gliding with the wind. Time for food. She focused on the horizon, spotting a deeper blue against the sky. Her mouth watered.
Keeping her eyes on the ground, she watched as forest gave way to rocks that cut deep into the sea, a molten sapphire speckled with white. She swerved left along the shore, focusing on the cerulean expanse of the reef, searching for movement.
There.
The lazy undulation of a fin.
She dove, jaws widening.
A black shape flicked into her peripheral vision. She turned.
Bright white eyes opened in the darkness. Jaws clamped around her neck. She reached out with her claws, sinking razor-sharp nails into the invader's flesh.
They fell as one, smacking into the water, a mass of light and dark, plummeting below the surface. The jaws tightened. Her vision condensed. Air slowed.
They continued to descend deeper and deeper into the shadows, to the part of the world the sun could not penetrate, where the darkness gained a life of its own…

Jinji awoke with a start, gasping for air and clutching her aching chest. Her lungs screamed. Her mind fought to escape the daze. She blinked, but the darkness would not recede, even as her memory ignited.
It was the same dream. A dream she had only had once before but would never forget. A dream that was somehow more.
Another blink and a soft orange light leaked into her vision. She looked up through the smoke circle in the roof, toward the sky.
Dawn.
Jinji stood, throwing her furs to the side and stepping quietly past her mother and father. Soft dirt muted her steps, and her parents didn't stir as she crossed the small expanse of their home. Lifting the pelt aside, she stepped into the morning mist and began to run. Her feet followed the path along the longhouse, past the rest of her sleeping tribe and into the forest beyond. No thought was necessary—she had taken this path too many times before.
Besides, concentration was beyond her. Jinji's thoughts had drifted out of the world and into her memories, all the way back to her brother.
Janu, her heart cried softly, remembering him.
The last time she dreamed that dream had been on the eve of his death—what did it mean that it had happened again, a decade later on the dawn of her joining?
Jinji stopped.
She had reached the clearing, her sacred haven. A place shared only with her closest friend Leoa. Away from the game and too close to the outside world for anyone else in her tribe to discover—this place was their secret. The only place two girls could talk away from the attentive ears of the elders and the only place she could go to truly escape.
Jinji fell to her knees and opened her eyes wide, searching the air for something only she could find. She looked along the ground, over the flecks of dew spotting the grass, along the twining roots, up the rough bark and over her head toward the clouds.
There.
A shimmer. A dull glow. And now that she saw it, the light brightened and Jinji smiled. The spirits were still there for her.
For as long as she could remember, Jinji could see them. Everywhere. In everything. Minute strands of green, red, yellow, and blue, twining together to create the world. Earth, air, water, and fire spirits hidden in plain sight for no one but Jinji to see, and sometimes they tried hiding even from her. But not today. Not when she needed them.
Jinji studied the weaving strands, looking through the intricate patterns she would never begin to understand. And there she saw what she had truly been searching for: the space between the elements, the pure white wisps binding the colorful strands together—the mother spirit, the source of everything.
Jinjiajanu.
That was the name her people gave it. Her brother and she were named for it. But as far as Jinji knew, she was the only one who could manipulate it.
Closing her eyes, Jinji cupped her hands into a ball, envisioning the pearly glow between the strands of air she had trapped.
Jinjiajanu, she thought. The image changed to that of a face that was stolen ten years before.
Jinjiajanu. Bring Janu back to me—bring my other half back.
She opened her hands, facing them out toward the open air, keeping her eyes closed, using her memory to draw a picture in the wind. His tanned skin, the color of freshly exposed bark. His deep brown irises set in wide eyes and framed with full lashes. His smile, always mischievous and often taking over the whole expanse of his face.
She imagined him taller and broader than he had been as a boy, with muscles hardened from long hunts. The frame of a sixteen-year-old man. The frame of her twin as he would be if he were standing with her today.
After a minute, Jinji dropped her hands and let her eyes ease open. No matter how many times she wove the illusion, her heart stopped at the sight and a lump caught in her throat.
Janu. How I miss you.
Jinji rose and standing next to her, vivid as a real man but unnaturally still, was her brother. Her fingers brushed his, passing through his hand, as she knew they would. He was, after all, an illusion made of spirits. But still, she always tried to touch him, hoping to meet resistance just once.
Jinji could manipulate jinjiajanu, but no one could bring the dead back to life.
"Janu," she said softly, pleading. "What are you trying to tell me?"
But there was no answer. She could make his lips move, could make it look as though he were alive, but this wasn't her brother.
Jinji let the illusion fall and, in the blink of an eye, it had disappeared. The elemental spirits snapped back into their proper place, and their subtle glow faded out. She was alone once more with only the trees to keep her company.
A knot hardened in her stomach, a sense of fear she couldn't dislodge.
The last time she dreamed of the shadow, she had woken in a fright and turned to rouse her brother only to find him missing from their shared pallet. Immediately, she shook her father awake. Using his authority as chief, he woke the hunters and charged into the woods. But the minute she had turned to see Janu missing, Jinji knew that he was gone forever. When the hunters returned holding the carcass of a great bear followed by her father cradling a pouch that dripped with blood, she had fallen to the ground—devastated but not surprised. She heard her mother wail and felt the ground rumble as she dropped, but Jinji's eyes saw only a great shadow waiting to swallow her whole.
And now it had returned. On the day she was meant to be joined with Maniuk, to be named the future leaders of their people, the Arpapajo tribe—the last remaining oldworlders.
Dread rippled down her limbs.
What did it all mean?
"Jinji? Are you there?"
She turned to see her dearest friend, Leoa, push a tree branch aside and step into the clearing.
"I thought maybe…" Leoa trailed off, shaking her head and glancing at the ground before meeting Jinji's eyes again. Her friend's face warmed, nervous creases smoothed out, and a grin lifted the left side of her lip. "What are you doing?"
Jinji took a deep breath, trying to relax. "Thinking of Janu."
Leoa nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes. She stepped closer, placing her warm palm on Jinji's shoulder. "He would want you to be happy. Maniuk was his friend."
Jinji nodded.
Maybe that was it. Maybe she was just nervous, just wishing for her brother on such an important day in her life, just afraid that the joining would give her another man to lose.
She sighed and her shoulders slumped as she pushed the shadow from her mind and glanced at her friend again. The knot in her stomach still curled uncomfortably tight, but there was no use in trying to untie it now.
"Are you here to take me back to my mother?" Jinji asked, already thinking of all she needed to do before the ceremony began, especially of her braid.
Leoa shifted and it was then that Jinji noticed the stark white skins on her friend's arm, almost as pure as jinjiajanu in color.
Her gown.
The edges had been tied into hundreds of knots decorated with dried berries. Feathers of all hues were woven through the fabric, shimmering in the sun, changing colors with each minute move of Leoa's arm. Twine had been specially dyed just so the ancient ceremonial patterns could be woven in, patterns Jinji didn't even truly understand.
She had seen her mother painstakingly work on every inch of the garment, had watched as she laid it on the drying rack to bleach in the sun every day and brought it inside to clean and embroider every night.
Everyone in their tribe would eventually wear exquisite leathers to their joining, but none would ever be as fine as the one Jinji's mother had prepared. Yet the sight of it just made the knot in Jinji's stomach tighten.
She looked up just in time to catch the concern in Leoa's eyes.
"What's wrong, Jinji?"
"Nothing."
"Is it Maniuk? Did something happen?" She stepped closer, but Jinji moved away. It was ridiculous to be so concerned with a dream, absolutely ridiculous.
"No, of course not. He's a friend. He'll be a great leader."
"And so will you."
Jinji nodded absently. She had been born to lead her people; it was the only thing she knew how to do. No, that was not the cause of her anxiety.
"I know what's wrong," Leoa said with a smirk and stepped toward the edge of the clearing to lay Jinji's dress neatly on the grass. She held out her hands and cleared her throat. "You're going to miss me. That's what this is all about."
Jinji smiled. "Yes, Leoa, this is all about you."
"I knew it." She straightened her hands again, urging Jinji to take them. "But I know just the thing to help." She impatiently shook her fingertips one more time. Knowing not to disobey her friend, Jinji obliged and held on.
The smirk on Leoa's face widened. From years of experience, Jinji knew exactly what that look meant.
"One," Leoa said.
"Two," Jinji laughed, her mood already lifting.
"Three," they said in unison, completing the routine. And then they were off, spinning in circles like the center of a great storm. Jinji gripped Leoa's hands tighter and shuffled her feet to the left, trying not to fall. Their weight pulled them apart, but still they held on, straining to stay connected.
The world was a blur, rushing behind Leoa's face in a daze of colors that Jinji couldn't unwind. Her smile widened, pushing against her cheeks, straining her muscles so that they hurt in a good way—a way they hadn't in a while. And suddenly, the joining seemed far off. She was a child with her best friend, feeling girlish and untouched. The pressure of growing up had fallen from her shoulders, thrown off by the force of her sudden glee.
And then it was over.
In a heartbeat, Jinji's fingers slipped free of Leoa's, and she was thrown to the side, landing on the ground with an oomph.
But giggles invaded her senses before the pain took any toll, and she rolled to her side, shaking uncontrollably with an innocent joy that pushed itself out into the world because there was simply no way to contain it. So she let it go and unknowingly let her fears go with it.
"That was fun," Leoa said when the silence returned.
"It was," Jinji said, glancing over her shoulder with a contented sigh. Like always, Leoa had known exactly what she needed.
"Are you ready now?"
"I am," Jinji said and slowly sat up. She brought her hand to her hair, running her fingers through the long, ebony tresses, already missing them when she had reached the end. But before Jinji could make another move, her palm was slapped away.
"I'll do that," Leoa said, taking over the job of weeding out the knots, "just enjoy it. You're finally getting your braid." Her friend's voice was wistful, but to Jinji, this was the worst part of the joining.
Her braid.
She would miss the wind flowing through her hair, the way it moved with the spirits. She would miss the feel of it floating around her face when she dove deep down into a stream. But mostly, she would miss the feeling that it was hers alone, a part of her that belonged to no one else—not yet.
Her future belonged to her tribe. Her past belonged to her brother. Her essence belonged to the spirits. But her hair, as unimportant as it seemed, still belonged to her.
But soon it would belong to Maniuk, to their family, and to her people. No longer would it flow freely down her back, curling in soft tendrils down her spine. No, after sixteen years of freedom, it would be bound for the rest of her life. One strand for Maniuk, one strand for their future children, and one strand for the tribe—three parts braided together to show she had matured into adulthood and had left her carefree childhood behind. It would never be cut or undone, not unless it needed to be.
Jinji had only seen her mother unbraided once. When Janu passed, she had cut one strand of her braid off to be burned with his body, a symbol that their bond had been broken. She let her hair free until the cut strands had grown even with the other two portions and were ready to be braided again, a sign that her heart had healed.
Jinji touched the tips of her silky locks. No, if she was going to be braided, she hoped it would be forever.
"You're usually quiet," Leoa said, continuing to run her fingers through Jinji's untamable hair, "but usually I can tell what's going on in your head."
"I'm just thinking."
"I should be used to that by now. All this thinking you do, it always seems exhausting. More exhausting than all the talking I always do. I wonder what would happen if we changed places for once."
"I would grow hoarse, and you would grow bored."
Jinji was sure Leoa's pause was from rolling her eyes.
"Then I'll keep talking…" She tapped her fingers along Jinji's back, something Leoa always did when she was thinking, or more accurately, scheming.
"Hmm," she said after a minute—an idea had sparked to life, something Jinji probably wouldn't like. "Maniuk is so handsome, don't you think? Have you seen how far he can throw the spears? How easily he can wrestle the other men to the ground? So strong, a great warrior, and well," her voice dipped lower, "I'm sure a great lover, too."
"Leoa!" Jinji tried to turn, but her friend gripped her shoulders, keeping her straight so her hair remained still.
"Don't tell me you haven't thought about it, with the joining so close. I know he has. I've seen him watching you."
"We're friends," Jinji growled, her face burning.
"Well, soon you'll be a lot more than that, and I want to hear all about it, but for now, the braiding."
"Is my mother coming?" Jinji asked, surprised they were not returning to the village before beginning the preparations.
"She knew you wouldn't want everyone around to watch. That's why she sent me to find you."
Jinji smiled, sending her thank you to the spirits since her mother was not there to hear. The last thing she needed was the scrutiny of the elders, picking over her flaws, telling her how to sit and stand and walk and speak. No, it was much better this way.
"I'm glad."
"Me too. Now," Leoa started and then separated the first third of Jinji's hair, placing it gently over her right shoulder, "for your joined."
"Taikeno," Jinji whispered, repeating the word in their native language, the one that had been stolen from them hundreds of years ago when the newworlders had taken over the land. But still, there were some things that could only be said in Arpapajo words. Some things only the ancient words could really express.
Leoa took the next third and draped it over Jinji's left shoulder. "For your children."
"Ka'shasten," Jinji responded, closing her eyes and saying it like a prayer.
Leoa gathered the remaining locks, tugging gently on them while she said, "For your people."
"Arpapajona." Jinji bowed her head, bringing her palms together, trying to catch the words and fuse them into the spirits around her.
As she wove the three parts together, Leoa began to hum. Following the rhythm, Jinji let her hands dance, weaving the words and the spirits together in an invisible braid, copying her friend's movements in a personal prayer.
Taikeno.
Ka'shasten.
Arpapajona.
Jinji repeated the words again and again in her mind, turning them into a song. A song of hope for a future that was happier than her past.
And then it was done.
Leoa tightened the strands, tying a series of intricate knots at the base of Jinji's braid to keep it tight and strong.
Just like that, she was a woman.
Waiting one more breath, Jinji opened her eyes.
And screamed.
Jumping up and backing quickly away from the spot, she stumbled over Leoa's feet until they had both fallen to the ground again.
Eyes.
She had seen bright white eyes staring out of her shadow.
"We must go," Jinji urged, breathlessly struggling to stand on her feet. Was that a yell she heard off in the distance? Were cries riding on the wind? "Do you hear that?"
Leoa gripped her hands, keeping her steady. "What? There is nothing. You're scaring me."
Jinji paused, took a deep breath, and listened. She heard nothing. Leoa was right.
Looking down at her feet, Jinji let her eyes run over the edge of her shadow, looking deep into the depths for some sign of betrayal.
But it was all a dream. It must have been a trick of the light. An illusion she had woven without realizing it.
Everything was fine. Everything was as it should be.
Her breath slowed as she tried to relax. Everything will be all right. The past is the past—I will not let it determine my future.
She would not let the shadows drive her crazy—she had moved beyond that, past the craze that Janu's death had left her in. She was better now. Stronger.
"Come here," Leoa said, holding up the dress.
Jinji stepped closer, turning around and slipping off the furs that she currently wore. They were brown, covered in dirt and grass stains, blending into the spot where they fell.
She raised her arms up, letting the fresh dress slide down over her body. It was still rough and unworn, scratchy against her skin. But it was beautiful. And it made her copper skin glow.
Leoa tugged on the strap around Jinji's waist securing it tightly before stepping back. Jinji turned, meeting her friend's smile with a weak one of her own.
"Let's go—" Leoa began.
But she never got the chance to finish, because the imagined scream Jinji had heard on the wind turned into a real one, piercing both of their ears like a dagger.
Their eyes met. After years of friendship, of sisterhood, no words were needed. The fear in their gazes said it all, spoke more than words could, and they ran.
Another wail cut through the forest.
Then a growl and a grunt.
The howl of a warrior cry.
Then silence.
Leoa ran faster, her long legs carried her farther than Jinji's petite frame could match. Before long, her friend had become a phantom dashing farther and farther out of Jinji's sight.
The fringe on Jinji's dress pulled against branches, tangling her in the forest as if the trees themselves were trying to stop her. The wind pressed against her limbs, strong gusts that acted like a wall holding her body. Her feet dipped deep into soft mud that should have been hard and dry.
But Jinji pressed on, speeding through the small stream at the edge of their home until she spotted a figure in the distance, just beyond the entrance to the great longhouse.
She sighed, slowing her steps. It was Leoa.
If her friend had stopped running, then there was nothing to fear. Jinji had gotten them both worked up over nothing.
"Leoa?" She called.
Her friend turned just enough for Jinji to see a long stick protruding from her chest, a red spot seeping through her skins.
"Leoa!" Jinji screamed. Her eyes widened in horror and her heart pounded, but she was stuck. Her feet felt too heavy to move, as if everything was happening in slow motion. Janu's face flashed before her eyes. This could not be happening. Not again. Her limbs were stiff, her mouth dry, her brain just repeated no, no, no unable to comprehend anything but agony.
And then a whisper filtered through the wind, "Jinji," and Leoa's arm reached out.
Her instincts kicked in. Jinji dashed to her friend, her sister, catching her just as her knees gave out and her body fell. They landed together, sliding slowly to the ground as Leoa's weight pulled them down. Jinji hugged Leoa to her chest, wishing that the beat of her heart would somehow spread to that of her friend's.
But she felt the body in her arms slacken, felt it drop an extra inch into her lap, heard one last gasp of desperate air, and knew.
Her arms lost their grip and Leoa tumbled onto Jinji's lap, lifeless and wide-eyed, shock written across her features.
"Ka'shasten," she whispered, ignoring the tears that blurred her vision. My family. "Pajora jinjiajanu." Be with the spirits.
Her voice cracked and she screamed.
And then her vision went red. She was not a little girl this time. She was a warrior. And she would find out who did this.
Jinji stood. Her eyes scanned the trees, searching for the bow that loosed the arrow, searching for any movement. But the village was still.
"Who are you?" She screamed.
A shuffling noise drew her attention. Just beyond the longhouse, someone was moving.
Jinji crept closer, pressing her body against the curved wood of the house, using it as a shield, hiding from the invader.
Heart pounding, she peered around the corner.
But it was a man she recognized.
"Maniuk," she hissed, trying to catch his attention. His spear was poised at the ready, a bow was slung over his shoulder, and the knife at his waist dripped red.
Part of her was proud. He was already a great warrior, and he would be a great leader when this fight was over.
But another part was afraid. Where was everyone else?
Maniuk didn’t turn to her call. All of his attention was focused on the trees opposite them. She followed the line of his head, unable to see his eyes, and scanned the woods.
There was nothing there.
"Maniuk," she called again. Chills ran along her limbs. It was not the time to be fighting alone.
Suddenly he jerked into action. His arm lashed out, releasing the spear in a low arc that sailed through the center of their small village until with a thud, it landed.
A body fell forward, scratching against bark as it dropped.
But it couldn’t be.
Jinji stepped back.
Maniuk?
He would never…
But there was Kekohi, one of their own, an Arpapajo, facedown with the spear through his chest.
Jinji's trembling hands rose to cover her lips, holding in the cry.
And then Maniuk turned around.
White.
His eyes were white, drained of all color, of all spirit, empty and somehow full at the same time.
The shadow had found her. It had come for her.
She stepped back again and again, moving away from the monster before her until her foot caught, and she stumbled.
Looking down, Jinji saw what she had missed earlier. The feathers along the arrow piercing Leoa's chest were raven black with red painted tips. They were Arpapajo, not newworlder. They were Maniuk's—Jinji had plucked those feathers herself.
He moved closer.
Jinji didn’t try to run. She had no weapons, no hope of outpacing him. She had nothing left to run for.
Three feet from her body, Maniuk stopped. He slipped the knife from his waist and held it before him, arm out, almost as if he were offering it her.
Her eyes narrowed, traced the bulging veins up his wrist to his shoulder, until she stared into those absent yet knowing eyes.
The knife rose higher, up and up, over the height of her head, until it rested at his throat.
"No," she reached forward.
But in one quick motion, it was over.
Jinji didn't look away. Instead, she searched those eyes, and the instant before Maniuk's life was gone, she saw what she had been looking for. The shadow disappeared and Maniuk, her taikeno, was back. A deep despair flashed in his irises, and they froze that way as death took him.
He dropped to her feet.
Jinji knelt down, put her palm to his cheek, and closed his eyelids. "We would have done great things together," she whispered, brushing her fingers up through his hair, "I'm sorry I brought the shadow to you. I'm so sorry, my taikeno."
Jinji lowered her head until her lips pressed softly against his. Their first kiss. The one they should have shared at their joining. The one that should have been the first of many, yet would be their last. The only kiss they would ever know.