August 31, 2014

Book Review ~ The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

Title: The Beautiful Ashes (Broken Destiny #1)
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Release Date: August 26th 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Source: Received an ARC from the publisher
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In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between...


Jeaniene Frost has thrown her hat into the new and popular New Adult ring with the first installment, The Beautiful Ashes, in her Broken Destiny series.

Angels and Demons are my all time favorite stories and while I have loved some of Ms Frost's adult novels, they've not all gained my favor. So I really wasn't sure what to think and went into The Beautiful Ashes with pretty low expectations to be honest, purely due to this being a new writing vein for her.

There is quite a lot of world building in The Beautiful Ashes as you would expect for any first in a series, but it felt flat and one dimensional for me. I can't put my finger on any one thing to say this is what it is missing, but it was missing something.

I did enjoy the overall theme; the David and Judas storyline is intriguing and fresh, and I love a good quest! However, the actual journey through the portals and into the different realms was repetitive and long winded. And although touted as a NA read, I found the voices of Ivy and Adrian far too annoying and immature to be anything but mid teens opposed to being twenty, and when you take into account Adrian's actual age, they just weren't believable.

Although The Beautiful Ashes wasn't a perfect read for me, it did have some redeeming qualities and because I'm interested enough to read more books in this series, it gets 3.5 stars.

Release Day Blitz & Giveaway ~ BLOOD & GOLD by T.G. Ayer



Title: Blood & Gold (The Hand of Kali #2)
Author: T.G. Ayer
Release Date: 31st August 2014
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Purchase Link: Amazon US

As Maya perfects her Fire skills she finds there is more to being the Hand of Kali than just wielding Fire.

A surprising summons to Mount Kailas takes Maya on a journey to meet the Lord of the Hindu Pantheon – Lord Shiva himself. This time the God’s request may not be so easy to fulfill.

Maya and her friends must flee the demons and the ruthless killers on their trail to retrieve the golden bow of Lord Rama.

Can Maya get the bow back in time, and also save a certain demon king in the process?
Fire & Shadow (The Hand of Kali #1)
Release Date: 23rd July 2013

Normal people sneak out to a party and have fun. Maya Rao ends the evening by incinerating the guy who attacks her.

Nik Lucas, sexy, new in town and totally forbidden, happens to walk in on her. Normal guys would run for the hills. Nik knows a whole lot more than he's telling.

Maya doesn't believe the gods are real, doesn't waste her time with mere mythology. But when gods, demons and hellhounds become the new normal and wielding fire becomes her new skill, she must decide what it is she really believes.

Can Maya accept that normal is something she will never be because it isn't normal to be ...

The Hand of Kali.

A new Paranormal coming of age series delving in the fantasy and magic of Hindu mythology and its plethora of gods, demons, legends & mythology.

Purchase Links:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Smashwords

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognize that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practice given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.

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August 30, 2014

Book Review ~ Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh

Title: Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss #1)
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: September 9th 2014
Publisher:
TKA Distribution
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley 
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New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh stuns with a sizzling contemporary romance…

A bad boy wrapped in a sexy, muscled, grown-up package might be worth a little risk…


Molly Webster has always followed the rules. After an ugly scandal tore apart her childhood and made her the focus of the media’s harsh spotlight, she vowed to live an ordinary life. No fame. No impropriety. No pain. Then she meets Zachary Fox, a tattooed bad boy rocker with a voice like whiskey and sin, and a touch that could become an addiction.

A one-night stand with the hottest rock star on the planet, that’s all it was meant to be…

Fox promises scorching heat and dangerous pleasure, coaxing Molly to extend their one-night stand into a one-month fling. After that, he’ll be gone forever, his life never again intersecting with her own. Sex and sin and sensual indulgence, all with an expiration date. No ties, no regrets. Too late, Molly realizes it isn’t only her body that’s become addicted to Fox, but her heart…

 


Most people that know the phenomena that is Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changeling paranormal romance series, a world filled with changeling shifters and conditioned Psy or the urban fantasy Guild Hunter series that drips with the blood of vampires and maddened archangels may not necessarily know about her contemporary roots and this return to a more realistic vein may throw some people off.

There was an element of adjustment required for Rock Addiction – a settling in of sorts if you like, because this is a version of writing by Nalini Singh not seen since her early days as a Harlequin romance writer. So if you’re not a paranormal romance fan and/or haven’t read her stuff before then Rock Addiction will probably be a winner, but because it is a complete shift – perhaps even a new experience for her para/rom fans – there may be some pre-conceived ideas to overcome.

I’m really not a fan of the whole insta-love or in this case, insta-lust scenario but considering that this is a heart throb rocker novel it kind of goes with the territory. There were a few bumps along the way as with any first book in a new series, and I definitely think Rock Addiction is far from a perfect read, but it has great bones, a great set of characters, and because of a built in fan base that adores Zachary Fox and his universally recognized band Schoolboy Choir, the reader kind of gets dragged along in the fever pitch of all that hype and adoration, it’s contagious. Molly and Fox are pretty hot together and there is a lot of sex, maybe more so than is completely necessary but again, it’s a rock star life!

Overall, Rock Addiction is pretty good; I enjoyed this grungy, tattooed, rock star romance and I’m already eager to read about the other members of the band. A good start to a new chapter of Nalini Singh stories, 4 stars.

 
Memorable scene...
"You know when you get the whisper of a melody in your head, or the murmur of a song? And you have the gut feeling that if you could just hear the rest of it, just capture the music" - the need an ache as frustrating as it was piercing - "you'd have something fucking amazing?"

Noah nodded.

"Yeah, well, that's what it feels like with Molly." The most compelling whisper of his life. "I'm not about to walk away from that."


Quickie Book Review ~ Crave the Night by Lara Adrian



Title: Crave The Night (Midnight Breed #12)
Author: Lara Adrian
Release Date: August 5th 2014
Publisher:
Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley
Purchase Link: Amazon US
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Born and raised to be an emotionless killing machine, Nathan is one of the most lethal Breed vampires in existence. A key member of the Order—an elite group of warriors charged with protecting both mortals and vampires—Nathan executes each mission with flawless precision and a total lack of mercy. Now he must pursue a powerful, hidden enemy. But Nathan’s hard discipline and training are no match for the fierce pull he feels toward a young woman he has no right to desire—a woman of wealth and high social standing who has long been promised to another Breed male, and who may also prove to be the key to rooting out Nathan’s elusive quarry.

Jordana lives a life of glittering privilege as a member of a prominent Breed family in Boston. Surrounded by fine things and fawning admirers, Jordana wants for nothing—until she crosses paths with a dark, intense warrior from the Order and finds herself swept into an impulsive, sizzling kiss that neither of them will forget. As much as she tries to deny her deep feelings for Nathan, Jordana cannot resist the craving to be near him, to break through his forbidding walls and see the man he truly is. But getting close to Nathan will thrust Jordana into a treacherous new world, forcing her to risk all she has and all she knows about herself and her past. And loving this seductive man could be the most dangerous temptation of all.




Crave the Night is book #12 in the Midnight Breed series and the second book in the next generation of Breed warriors.

Lara Adrian has really pulled off an awesome story, Crave the Night was fantastic from start to finish. I had some misgiving after reading the previous instalment, things just didn’t flow for me; but it was a huge relief and a pleasure to see the author produce a story that I came to love, characters I fell in lust with, and a whole new race of supernatural’s to look forward to reading more about. I’m already craving the next book!
4.5 stars.






August 29, 2014

Blog Tour ~ Hidden Barriers #2 by Sara Shirley

 http://amzn.to/1sVkhDH

  http://amzn.to/1sVkhDH

Hidden Barriers is book two in the Barriers Series and is considered a stand-alone and doesn't contain a cliffhanger. Some scenes do overlap with Frozen Barriers. It's suggested to read Frozen Barriers first, simply to understand the characters history more.
Josh & Sam's Story


Love has been hiding for too long. What happens when it reveals itself?

Josh Page, a Massachusetts State Trooper, wants nothing more than to put his first love behind him. His career is all he’s ever known for the last ten years. Seeing her is a constant reminder of what he could have had if he had not put his career first years ago.

Relationships and dating women have never been part of his lifestyle. He continues to have meaningless sex with women as an attempt to distance himself from his past. That is until he opens the door and a sassy roller derby girl stares back up at him.

*****

Samantha Daley’s past haunts her. After college, she spends years building a new life with new friends, roller derby, and a bustling business under her feet. Her past suddenly comes rushing back after just one phone call.
Afraid to love, she never imagines a life where one man can turn her world inside out and make her reevaluate what she wants in her future. Almost instantly, she’s attracted to the man in front of her. He pushes her trust to a new level and is willing to take a chance with her.

Will Sam be able to handle the reminders of her troubled past enough for her to be with Josh, or will it be Josh’s secrets that threaten to tear them apart in the end?

**For mature audiences. 18+. This book contains sexual and abusive situations, and strong language.**

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21567720-hidden-barriers


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MNUI48A
http://tinyurl.com/qfzh5pw
 http://tinyurl.com/pbpjc4a 

JOSH
The feeling of sleeping in your own bed is comforting in and of itself. When you fall asleep in the arms of a beautiful woman, that’s peace. The moment you wake up next to the woman who’s quickly taking your heart in her hands, comfort and peace cease to exist. This is absolute euphoria.
        I’ve been lying here watching her sleep for a while now. The sun has been slowly creeping its way into the room through her windows, illuminating the glass chandelier over her bed. Rainbow prisms dance against her walls as I gently push aside a stray hair, so I can just watch her sleep.
        I already knew I was quickly falling for her, but after last night, I knew she was it for me. Yeah, true, we’ve only known each other for a short time, but when you know, you know. There is still so much about her that’s a mystery, but I could spend the rest of my days willing to find out.
        Lying here, facing her, I push that pesky stray hair from her face again and wonder how it was that any man, let alone her ex-boyfriend, could ever want to hurt her. The heinous things he did sickens me. What could have run through his head to want to take her life? She’s the most angelic creature, and I have to wonder what could have been.
        Where would I be now if Stone actually succeeded in killing her that night? My body tenses immediately at the idea of her not being here with me. Even now, I don’t have any power to help keep that asshole behind bars, but I’m definitely going to find out everything I can about the fucker, and I will protect Sam the best I can. If that means giving my life for her, then I’ll do it. If I already took an oath to serve and protect strangers, I will gladly put my life on the line for her.


SAM
I move away from Josh who continues to talk on his phone with my brother. I scuffle my heavy legs through the room over to the kitchen cabinet I need. Josh watches me with concern written all over his face, but I know there isn’t anything I can say to make him leave. If I thought not having space before this was bad, unless by some miracle they find Stone soon, there won’t be any way I can handle Josh’s overprotective nature for another week.
        I pull open the cabinet and grab the bottle of Jack, foregoing the shot glass. I shut the cabinet door and twist the top off the squared bottle. As I bring the bottle to my mouth, the stinging smell hits me first before I tilt my head back and chug until I can’t take the burn anymore. I straighten my head, coughing as the burn wears off in my throat until I feel the warmth coat its way into my system. Only this isn’t what I need right now.
        I stare at the bottle in my hand and start laughing hysterically before screaming at the top of my lungs. As I continue to scream and laugh, tears well in my eyes, but not before I catch sight of the girls rounding the corner to see what’s going on. Josh stands there, silently watching me mentally break down. Nick storms through the front door, most likely thinking the worst has happened, considering his hand is already on his holster ready to draw his gun. All of them think I’m losing my shit and quite possibly I am.
        For three years I was safe and happy with my new life and friends. I had just found love and a future with a man who was willing to deal with all my bullshit, and in less than a few weeks, I’m back to where I was three years ago. Everything I worked so hard to overcome is disappearing in a flash.



"Live your Dreams, Follow your Heart"

Emily Cameron is America's newest figure skating star looking for her own personal identity. Her high profile life was never her dream, it was her parents.

Jeremy Page is a minor league hockey player who always imagined himself playing for the NHL.

A chance encounter has them crossing paths after several years apart. Which way will his heart lead him? Will Emily embrace his charm?

Just when things finally fall into place, an unexpected event occurs leaving Emily reevaluating everything in her life.

Can Emily escape from under her parent's intrusive ways and take a chance on love? Will Jeremy be able to break down the barriers that have held her back for so long?

Book 1 of the Barriers Series. This story does not have a cliffhanger. **Mature Subject matter. 18+ due to strong language and sexual situations**


 http://amzn.to/1nDL9DM


A romance novel addict finds herself staying up well past her bedtime to see how the next story is going to end. Sara spends her days living on a vineyard in wine country with her husband and cat. Her family hailed from Italy where her ancestors lived in the mountains of Rocca di Cambio. A former Broadway star and champion skier whose career was cut short because of her passion for being a wine sommelier. It was on her way west where she met her husband, the President of a very influential MC in California. You can find her riding off through the vineyards on the back of a Harley almost every night.


Her passion for books has been viewed as borderline obsessive. But, when all you have is time and a bottle of wine awaiting you as the sun sets off the veranda writing became second nature.

In Vino Veritas


https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8025838.Sara_Shirley https://www.facebook.com/sara.shirleyauthor?fref=ts&ref=br_tf



 
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