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Sunday, October 25, 2015

Book Review of Dark Heart of Magic




Dark Heart of Magic (Black Blade #2)
by Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: October 27th 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Supernatural
Rate: 4 out of 5 clouds

Synopsis:

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.

Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else...


INSERT YOUR REVIEW HERE








“What do you want to do about the troll?” I asked. “Because I don’t think he’s coming down from there without a fight.”

Devon was the bruiser, or second-in-command of the Sinclair Family, responsible for overseeing all the Family guards and dealing with all the monster problems that arose in Sinclair territory. Most of the bruisers for the various Families were arrogant jerks who enjoyed bossing people around and taking advantage of the other perks of their powerful position. But Devon was a genuinely good guy who treated everyone in his Family equally, from the smallest pixie to the toughest guard. Plus, he would do anything to help his friends and the folks he cared about, something he’d proven by putting himself in danger time and time again.

Devon’s inherent goodness and devotion to others were two of the many things that made me like him way more than I should have. His soulful green eyes, teasing grin, and rocking body didn’t hurt matters either.

Me? Good and I weren’t exactly close friends, and the only devotion I had was to myself, and making sure that I had plenty of cash in my pockets and food in my stomach. I was a loner thief who’d spent the last four years living in the shadows until I’d been recruited to be Devon’s bodyguard a few weeks ago. Not that he really needed a guard. Devon was a tough fighter who could take care of himself—and then some.

“Well, I say we pick up all the fruit that’s still in one piece and chuck it right back at the troll,” another voice suggested in a snide tone. “Let him see how it feels to get splattered for a change.”
I looked over at Felix Morales, Devon’s best friend and another member of the Sinclair Family. With his wavy black hair, bronze skin, and dark brown eyes, Felix was even more handsome than Devon, despite the fact that he was also covered in pulp. Not that I would ever tell him that. Felix was already a terrible flirt. We’d been in the square for ten minutes, and he’d spent more time grinning at the tourist girls who wandered by than trying to figure out what to do about the troll.

Felix winked at two girls in tank tops and short-shorts who were sitting on a nearby bench sipping lemonade, then waggled his fingers at them. The girls giggled and waved back.

I rolled my eyes and elbowed him in the side. “Try to pay attention.”

Felix shot me a sour look and rubbed his side.

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Follow the Dark Heart Of Magic by Jennifer Estep Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.




Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.

Her Elemental Assassin series follows the life and times of Gin “the Spider” Blanco, a barbecue restaurant owner who also happens to be an assassin with magical control over the elements of Ice and Stone.

The Mythos Academy series focuses on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. She studies at Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors.

Her Bigtime paranormal romance books feature sexy superheroes, evil ubervillains, and smart, sassy gals looking for love.

Estep’s new Black Blade series is about 17-year-old thief Lila Merriweather, who has a Talent for sight, along with the ability to take magic others used against her to boost her own powers. She tries not to get involved with the Families who control much of the town, but ends up in the middle of a potential turf war.



Win (1) of (3) print copies of Dark Heart of Magic (US only)
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Review of The Touched

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The Touched (The Descendants #1)
by 
Jennifer Weiser
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Release Date: September 29th, 2015
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Synopsis:
The first sixteen years of Arabella Penthallow’s life have been a lie…

In a world where deception is the key to survival, Ara has kept up the charade of being a perfect Legion Leader’s daughter. But a darkness stirs, and she discovers she is Touched, a mortal gifted by the Gods. The Touched are as rare as they are feared, and Ara is forced to leave Union City for neighboring Midnight City to protect herself and those she loves, leaving Tove Thorn, the boy who has always known her heart, behind.

Carter Decker has vowed to burn Union City to the ground…

Midnight City’s cocky, infamous bad boy always gets what he wants, and he wants Union City to pay for burning his mother alive because she was Touched. When Carter meets Ara, she is everything he’s been taught to hate. Then he learns she is Touched—just like him—he isn’t sure who he hates more…the Touched girl whose father killed his mother, or himself for being tempted by someone he’s sworn to kill.

They are told they’re fated to be soul mates…and they each wish the other never existed.

When Midnight City is attacked by Union City, Carter and Arabella will do the unthinkable…even if it means falling for the enemy. The truth lies in Arabella’s home nation, and Tove is waiting. Soul mates or not, he has an advantage Carter doesn’t, fated souls be damned.

War is coming…and Ara is the prize.


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https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdMyjslAVSG7E-d-rgq5OAJCco4mxiaqPcdgHkR17JCI6S0mO1j8hyHqNWtYpP4ZDMfusUkxdltdTIOrE27cdvPqo-N-hSQKvftQ1qfc4o7KNXF6-3UOLx1G_ae07DIldKHBkq55L2Gs/s1600/127085-simple-black-square-icon-culture-world1.pnghttps://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/3c46be723ce1fdc018c5f5545/images/icon_goodreads_32.pnghttps://d2q0qd5iz04n9u.cloudfront.net/_ssl/proxy.php/http/gallery.mailchimp.com/3c46be723ce1fdc018c5f5545/images/icon_twitter_32x32.png
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulvc03-zuYiPv8dTf1N2_lUFWTXEr1txyfS-BoFsek6utJNlRSxA8OeIdbIZ_Ny0XVBML3Yh6JBA3ZjZiJdAUNZhv4gaSyFnT-8LV5fuUwEotseAIMNMJatJ4pTGQ0-_5HCGTaTpdYYI/s1600/Jennifer.jpgJennifer Weiser is a young adult author who has always been a book nerd and a bit chocolate obsessed. Writing has always been a favorite escape, but quickly became a passion not long after the birth of her daughter. When she isn't combing the shelves of her local book stores or blogging about newest book obsessions, you can find her nestled in her nook creating worlds she hopes that one day will inspire her daughter, who not only has given her the courage to follow her dreams--but offers the inspirations that help color their worlds together.

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Coffee Books & Art - Behind The Scenes
Susan Heim on Writing - Top Ten List
Hope To Read - Story Told in 3 or 5 GIFs


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Mythical Books - Guest Post
Crossroad Reviews - Review + Playlist + Dream Cast


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Birds that love words - Review + Playlist + Favorite Quotes


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Crystal's Chaotic Confessions - Official Dream Cast
Girl with a Pen and a Dream - Review + Favorite Quotes
Ink of Blood - Review + Dream Cast + Character Interview


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Addicted Readers - Top Ten List
The Book Rogue - Review


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The Book Drealms - Review
Books, Books, and More Books - Review



Review: 

            This story is a fascinating look at magic and the fear some have about those who have magic.  It is a combination of Game of Thrones, the Salem witch trials, and a love story.  Arabella was raised to be the perfect daughter.  She is the child of a Leader and is raised with the knowledge that her life is not her own.  When she is sent to a neighboring kingdom she finds her soulmate in Carter.  But of course things can’t be that easy.  Friendship that could easily be love, a bad guy trying to wipe her out, misunderstandings, and deception work together to try and undermine Arabella and Carter’s burgeoning relationship.  Lies come to light that affect them all.

            This is a fabulous story.  I have read other books by this author and always find them to be excellently written and captivating.  I was drawn into the story immediately and remained entranced while reading.  The other thing that was a problem was the cliffhanger ending.   I hate waiting for the next book to find out what happens.  All cliff hangers should come with an immediate release of the next book in my perfect world.

            I give this book 4.5 out of 5 clouds.



This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Book Review of Fates Divided



Fates Divided (Halven Rising #1)
by Jules Barnard
Release Date: August 31st 2015
Genre: New Adult, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy
Rate: INSERT YOUR RATE HERE

Synopsis:

Elena Rosales has busted her ass to get into a good college. She’s the only one in her family ever to attend, and expectations are high. No pressure. But Elena’s got this one in the bag, because she’s as dependable as the molecules she studies, as reliable as the chemical reactions that comfort her in their predictability. Until they don’t.

Elena has always wondered why her mother abandoned her on her first birthday. It’s not until she turns eighteen and her chemistry experiments go berserk that she learns the truth: Her mother wasn’t human, and the Fae are willing to harm those Elena loves if she doesn’t use her power over the elements to cure them of a deadly disease.

Derek, Elena’s brooding neighbor, isn’t the friendliest guy, but he has access to an off-hours lab and is willing to help Elena create the antivirus. He has his own secrets to keep, and this business Elena is mixed up in could blow his cover. But when Elena and Derek get together, more than chemicals spark fire—and they soon discover just how complicated attraction can get when they find themselves on the other side of the portal, fighting for survival. Lives collide, and allegiance and love are tested, in Fates Divided.

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In the Halven Rising Series, love and ancient allegiances are threatened when the worlds of Fae and Halven collide. Each Halven Rising novel features a different couple and may be read as a standalone, but an overreaching story arc connects the books, so it’s fun to read them in order.



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Follow the Fates Divided by Jules Barnard Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.



Before turning to storytelling, Jules earned a master's degree in public health and spent many an hour running statistical analysis--until she realized her favorite part of the job was writing reports. She decided to cut out the math and add in some hot guys, and so began her career as a novelist.

Jules is a Northern California native living on the coast with her husband and two children. She has no impulse control around cupcakes and credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.






Sunday, October 18, 2015

Book trailer of Girl of Myth and Legend

girlmythlegendtrailer

Book Trailer


About the Book

dfw-gs-gomal-cover-largeTitle: Girl of Myth and Legend
Author: Giselle Simlett
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
A girl with a past she tries to forget, and a future she can’t even imagine.
Leonie Woodville wants to live an unremarkable life. She wants routine, she wants repetition, she wants predictability. So when she explodes in a blaze of light one morning on the way to her college, it’s enough to put a real crimp in her day.
And things only get weirder…
Leonie learns from her father that she is last of the Pulsar, a phenomenally powerful member of a magical species called the Chosen. It will be her sole duty to protect the Imperium, a governing hierarchy, from all enemies, and to exceed the reputation of the Pulsar before her. So – no pressure there, then.
Leonie is swept away from her rigorous normality and taken to a world of magic. There, she is forced into a ceremony to join her soul to a guardian, Korren, who is both incredibly handsome and intensely troubled, a relationship for which ‘it’s complicated’ just really doesn’t cut it.
But Leonie is soon to learn that this ancient world is no paradise. With violent dissidents intent to overthrow the Imperium, and dark entities with their own agenda, she and Korren find themselves caught in a war where they will have to overcome their differences if they are to survive.
Dare to dream. Dare to hope. Dare to be a legend.
Book One in The Chosen Saga.

Author Bio

Giselle Simlett was born and raised in England. She has studied Creative Writing at both Gloucestershire University and the Open University. She has a diploma in Creative Writing, Language and Literature and will soon complete her BA Hons Open Degree.
She does not as yet have a degree in the power and responsible use of magic, but she does have a young son, which amounts to the same thing. She currently lives in Australia with her husband and son.
Website: http://www.gisellesimlett.com/

Review:

This is a great book.  The story leaps from the page and dazzles the mind.  I laughed and cried, sometimes at the same time.

I give this book 5 out of 5 clouds.