Morning, everyone!
I had the honour of interviewing one of my favourite Canadian authors Kelley Armstrong. This week, the next installment of her Rockton series, A Stranger in Town, will release! And I had the pleasure of an early review of the novel.
I have followed Kelley since I was thirteen. She creates compelling characters and dark, gritty storylines. Her Rockton series is one of the best in Canadian fiction.
So without much ado, let us all welcome Kelley!
Morning, readers!
I jumped on this opportunity quicker than I thought I ever could. Both Coralee and Raven are reverse harem queens! So get ready for their next title.
Wicked Webs, a new standalone RH paranormal story, by Coralee June and Raven Kennedy is coming soon. Get ready to have your world spun, your heart tangled, and to get caught in these authors wondrous webs this October.
Wicked WebsCoralee June and Raven Kennedy
Publication Date: October, 2019
_____
I’m possessed. Deadly.
Raised as a vampire, I’m no stranger to blood. But when power-hungry supes force a ritual on me, I become something else entirely.
The black widow.
I’ve been on the run for almost a decade, my only companion the spider that lives within me. She makes me strong, and I revel in that power, but it’s fueled with the need to feed.
Unfortunately, carnal cannibalism isn’t exactly trending. But by the time I lure my victims to my bed, it’s too late for them. When they finally see the hourglass on my throat, I’m already draining them dry.
But there are more supes like me. Abducted victims forced into possessions that change their lives forever. I’m determined to save them all.
With the help of an old friend, a risk demon, and a rare gargoyle, I put a plan into motion that will end Spector Inc.’s plan to make an army of stronger, deadlier supes.
I just hope I can handle this wicked web of lies and make it out alive.
Coralee June has always been passionate about storytelling and impressed by the influence it has on people and the decisions they make in life. She loves engaging with the projects she works on, diving headfirst into developing real, raw, and relatable characters that are equally flawed and beautiful. Coralee lives in Dallas, Tx with her husband and two daughters.
She’s been known to frequently indulge in boxed red wine and day-old pizza. When she’s not writing, June is reading or substitute teaching at the local middle school.
Raven Kennedy likes writing and reading and chocolate-bar-eating. Dark chocolate. Get out of here with that other stuff. She also likes to take long walks on the beach. Not really. She lives in the desert. The only water there is the wavy stuff that comes with a mirage. But I’m sure if there was a beach nearby, she’d walk then. Probably. Maybe. Her first book is Signs of Cupidity, the first of a series.
Morning, bloggers!
Pride Month is an annual celebration that honors the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan in 1969. Over the decades, it has transformed into something more.
And while I see my community start its Pride festivities, more gay and trans people are being targeted. In my town, a rainbow crosswalk was vandalized. However, it is rallying around the residents affected. So I want to show my support by highlighting books I’ve been wanting to read.
I hoped to publish my post yesterday, but I wanted to take some time, do more research, and show respect for the titles and authors. So I hope you love this post!
Morning, everyone!
Today’s my stop on Tim Johnston’s The Current blog tour! When Thomas Allen & Son contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in being a part of this tour, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. For the final stop, I bring you an excerpt of Tim’s upcoming thriller!
Enjoy!
The Current by Tim Johnston
Published by: Algonquin (Available in Canada through Thomas Allen & Son)
Publication Date: January 22, 2019
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Page Count: 432
Goodreads | Indigo | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository
In the dead of winter, outside a small Minnesota town, state troopers pull two young women and their
car from the icy Black Root River. One is found downriver, drowned, while the other is found at the
scene—half frozen but alive.
What happened was no accident, and news of the crime awakens the community’s memories of another young woman who lost her life in the same river ten years earlier, and whose killer may still live among them.
Determined to find answers, the surviving young woman soon realizes that she’s connected to the
earlier unsolved case by more than just a river, and the deeper she plunges into her own investigation,
the closer she comes to dangerous truths, and to the violence that simmers just below the surface of her hometown.
Grief, suspicion, the innocent and the guilty—all stir to life in this cold northern town where a young
woman can come home, but still not be safe. Brilliantly plotted and unrelentingly propulsive, The
Current is a beautifully realized story about the fragility of life, the power of the past, and the need,
always, to fight back.
BECAUSE THE TRUTH is she’s glad for the excuse to get away, she says. If Audrey was just homesick for her pet chicken she’d still be on board, so will she please not sit there being so darn grateful the whole way?
They’ve got their coffees, and the RAV4 is climbing the eastern coast of Arkansas, up the 55 North toward Missouri. A gusty but otherwise fine day for driving.
Audrey is silent awhile and then says, “Who would have a pet chicken?” ‘I’m just saying.”
“What would you even do with it?”
Caroline sighs. When asked by housing why she wanted a new roommate after their first semester, Caroline wrote: “Irreconcilable species.” No idea what Audrey wrote.
“Is it Troy?” Audrey says. “Is what Troy?”
“Why you’re glad to get away.”
Caroline looks over, looks back to the road. “It could be a lot of things, Audrey. I might be having a psychological crisis. I might’ve decided college is a waste of time and money. I might be sleeping with my professor. I might’ve decided life is too short. I might-”
“Which one?” “What?” “Callaway?”
“What? No. Seriously?” “Buford?”
“Buford? He’s like, a hundred years old and smells like old bedsheets.” “Nice eyes, though.”
“Nice eyes. Jesus, Audrey, I am not sleeping with my professor, I was just making a point. I was just posing hypotheticals-remember those? Remember when we talked about those?”
“Yes. But it just stuck out, that one.”
“Well”-pushing out the flat of her palm-“stick it back in.” “All right. Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize;’ Caroline says, Ricking hair out of her eyes.
Sliding a glance at Audrey, who sips at her coffee.
“Is that how you see me?” she says. “Someone who would sleep with her professor?”
“No. I never thought about it until you mentioned it.” “But you went there pretty quickly.”
I rarely do challenges. Frankly, since I’m mostly a mood reader, I rarely write TBR posts. I get so nervous and shy. Yes, I get shy. (I may not seem like it, but I am) So I just let challenges pass me by when I find a new one each month. But not this month. The lovely Kathy from Books and Munches, who I adore, is now hosting Sequel September! Do I know what to do?! No! But here I am.
I can squeeze in more books, but I’d like to have some room for non-sequels. I need variety, you know? So here are my possible choices for Sequel September:
I might as well rename this challenge “Maas Destruction.” I loved Batman: Nightwalker. And since Catwoman is my favourite DC villain, there’s no chance I can pass up this book.
My body is not ready. I can’t read Sam’s story. I can’t. But I’ll let myself suffer. I love suffering, sniffling, and crying like a three-year-old. But I need some backstory before I move forward with Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn.
I was so happy to hear Kristen was expanding her series. Caged Queen is more of a companion book, but I don’t care. I need to know what happens to Asha. I just hope I get more dragons. Please, Kristen, have more dragons in your series.
I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THIS BOOK. Hit me, please. I am not worthy of it. I’m not. But that cliffhanger at the end of Warcross has kept me on edge since I read it. So I need closure. I just hope it’s good.
I’ve been avoiding this series like the plague even though I liked the first book. I hate two particular characters in it, but I need to get to this sequel so I can read the third. And I’m loving the whole world in the series.
Jinxed by Thommy Hutson
Published by: Vesuvian Books
Publication Date: March 13, 2018
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Young Adult
Page Count: 248
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo
High School Can Be a Real Killer
Break a mirror
Walk under a ladder
Step on a crack
Innocent childhood superstitions …
But someone at the secluded Trask Academy of Performing Arts is taking things one deadly step further when the campus is rocked with the deaths of some of its star students.
Layna Curtis, a talented, popular senior, soon realizes that the seemingly random, accidental deaths of her friends aren’t random—or accidents—at all. Someone has taken the childhood games too far, using the idea of superstitions to dispose of their classmates. As Layna tries to convince people of her theory, she uncovers the terrifying notion that each escalating, gruesome murder leads closer to its final victim: her.
Will Layna’s opening night also be her final bow?
Max sat on a stone alumni bench that had a sight line through a group of trees to the front gate. He had been irritable. With himself. With Layna. Or more specifically, Layna and Dillon.
He watched Daniel make his way along the gate. It looked to Max like he was mumbling. And he looked on edge. Max supposed that was to be expected. Weren’t they all on edge? Taking care of minor student issues was a far cry from a student killing herself. And this wasn’t just any student, he reminded himself. This was Sydney Miller. He fought back the urge to stand up and ask how much Daniel was making for being a glorified babysitter, and then, whatever the number, to say it wasn’t enough.
Instead Max sat quietly. He wasn’t trying to hide from Daniel, but he didn’t do anything to make himself known, either. He just watched as Daniel moved to the massive front gates of the campus and handled the nightly ritual called Gate Lock. With everything going on, Max felt, for maybe just the first time, that they were in something more akin to a low-security prison than an elite prep school. The food was certainly not much better, at least from what he saw on MSNBC’s Lock Up. And he was stuck with people he didn’t always like.
Daniel opened the electronic security box to the left of the entrance, and Max watched as the wrought iron monstrosity closed, bringing together two letters that signified the school’s name. T for Trask and A for Academy. When they clanked together Max thought what all the young men thought, Trapped again in T and A.
As Daniel walked away, still grumbling about whatever it he was grumbling about, Max eyed him conspiratorially, wondering what those thoughts might be. Then his own mind turned back to Layna. And tits and ass.
He and Layna hadn’t gone too far. Max knew Layna was a good girl. He chided himself when he wondered how good a girl she was when she was dating Dillon. He shook off the thought. Not much seemed to happen between them and, in fact, Max remembered hearing the swirling rumor Dillon might even be gay.
“Are you done being mad at me?” Layna’s voice said.
The surprise arrival made Max jump, even as she rested a hand on his shoulder. He didn’t turn around. He was also glad Layna was not a mind reader.
“Watching Gate Lock isn’t quite the sunset, but being closed off seems kind of fitting right now, don’t you think?” He still wasn’t looking at her as he felt her arm drape around his shoulder.
Layna sat down next to him. “Listen, Dillon and I—”
“Dillon and you, what?” Max asked, staring forward. He wanted to stay angry. Stoic. Something.
“I’m with you. Only you,” she said.
Max felt a tickle of loose threads on his hand from a bracelet Layna wore, something Nancy had given her. She tried to interlock her fingers into his, but he didn’t budge. Then he budged a little. “Why won’t he just go away?”
“Because we’re still friends,” Layna answered sweetly, honestly. “And where exactly do you want him to go?”
Max finally turned to her, his head moving in a way that suggested she would not want him to answer that question.
“There’s friends, and then there’s you and Dillon. He finds a way to be near you. All the time.”
“You’re exaggerating.”
“Am I?” Max knew he was right. He could see Layna thinking on that. He also knew that while she didn’t put things into any kind of Dillon-Layna proximity coefficient formula or anything, she had to see it.
“Layn, everyone notices,” he continued. “That’s why they always get nervous when El Strange-o turns up.”
Layna pulled her hand back from his and crossed her arms. A small smile grew on her face as she turned to him.
“Wait a minute. They, or you?” she asked. “Um, are you jealous?”
Max grinned. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? But, sorry, I am so not jealous.”
“Then prove it and hold my hand, would you?” she said more than asked.
Max obliged, taking her hand into his. The touch instantly put him at ease. He pulled her close to him and gave her a kiss.
They stood up together and started toward the dorms in silence, their arms swinging in unison with every step.
“And, by the way, he’s quiet, not strange,” Layna said.
Max laughed. “Wow, you made it a full, what, five seconds. Was that defense just bubbling up inside you?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe a little,” Layna admitted. “But if it makes you feel better, I’ll be staying the night with you. Not him.”
This stopped Max dead. For the smallest of moments, his maleness hoped his good girl was about to go bad. “Really?” he asked in a way that oozed romantic potential.
“Get your mind out of the gutter. I just don’t wanna be alone,” Layna said. “We are stranded together on an island, after all.”
“Oh, so now you’re stranded with me?” Max wondered friskily.
Layna nuzzled her head onto his shoulder. “Yes, definitely. But it’s good. And tonight I want it to be just us.”
Max felt a slight pressure building. Hormones pulsing. “Sounds dangerous.”
“Easy, cowboy.”
Max stopped and turned her to him. Gently, he placed a hand under her chin. She smiled sweetly, which gave way to the deep kiss that followed. Max felt her give in as she wrapped her arms around him.
He looked down at her, kissed her forehead, and then focused intently on Layna. On the moment. He was completely unaware that somebody, far closer to them than he could even imagine, was watching.
Author’s BioBorn and raised in Upstate New York, Thommy graduated from UCLA and launched his career co-writing the story for the Warner Bros. animated hit SCOOBY-DOO IN WHERE’S MY MUMMY? He followed that with co-writing the concept and additional material for CHILL OUT, SCOOBY-DOO!
His career then took a thrilling turn when he wrote and produced several definitive genre film retrospectives for television and home entertainment: SCREAM: THE INSIDE STORY, NEVER SLEEP AGAIN: THE ELM STREET LEGACY, MORE BRAINS! A RETURN TO THE LIVING DEAD and HIS NAME WAS JASON: 30 YEARS OF FRIDAY THE 13th.
He was also a staff writer on Hulu’s daily web series “The Morning After,” a smart, witty, pop culture program aimed at getting viewers up-to-date on the latest entertainment news and celebrity interviews.
Thommy also produced the critically acclaimed feature THE TROUBLE WITH THE TRUTH, an insightful relationship drama starring Lea Thompson and John Shea. He also produced DREAMWORLD, a quirky, romantic dramedy.
He co-wrote and produced ANIMAL for Chiller Films and Drew Barrymore’s Flower Films. The project debuted in iTunes’ top ten horror films (reaching #1) and became the network’s highest-rated original movie.
Continuing his passion for uncovering the stories behind the story, he went on to produce CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES: THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF FRIDAY THE 13th, which is the most comprehensive look at the popular film franchise.
As an author Thommy crafted a limited-edition coffee table book detailing the making and legacy of Wes Craven’s 1984 classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET. A trade version distributed by Simon & Schuster reached number one in Amazon.com’s Movie History & Criticism category. He also has a deal with Vesuvian Media to write a YA thriller trilogy with the first book due out spring 2017.
He produced and made his feature directorial debut with THE ID, an independent psychological drama/thriller. Filmmaker Magazine stated it was “a deeply unsettling thriller that’s as moving as it is frightening…with skillful, provocative direction that has echoes of early Polanski.”
Most recently, Thommy wrote the screenplay for CineTel Films’ supernatural horror film TRUTH OR DARE. He is also directing, writing and producing a documentary with Clive Barker’s Seraphim Films in addition to developing other film and television properties with the company.
As an author, he is currently writing another book that definitively details the history, making and legacy of another fan-favorite genre film from the 1980s.
Enter here for your chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway is international.
March 19th
–Rainy Days and Pajamas >> Excerpt
–tfaulcbookreviews >> Guest post
–3 Degrees of Fiction >> Review
–Movies, Shows, & Books >> Excerpt
March 20th
–Loves Great Reads >> Excerpt
–Arkham Reviews >> Excerpt
–Married To Books Reviews and Blog >> Review
March 21st
–The Phantom Paragrapher >> Review
–Character Madness and Musings >> Interview
–BookDragonGirl >> Review
–Bibliobibuli YA >> Guest post
March 22nd
–The Attic Ghost >>Guest post
–Novelties >> Excerpt
–Lili Lost in a Book >> Review
March 23rd
–O. D. Book Reviews >> Guest post
–Pooled Ink >> Excerpt
–Birdie’s Bibliotheca >> Review
—
March 26th
–The Writer’s Inkwell >> Excerpt
–Book Traveller >> Review
–Just Books >> Review
–Booker T’s Farm: Books & Nails & Puppy Dog Tales >> Review
March 27th
–lori’s little house of reviews >> Review
–Padme’s Library >> Interview
March 28th
–The Book Drealms >> Review
–The Pursuit Of Bookiness >> Review
–Evermore Books >> Excerpt
March 29th
–Twirling Book Princess >> Excerpt
–The Avid Reader >> Interview
–Lisa Loves Literature >> Interview
March 30th
–Jazzy Book Reviews >> Review
–La libreria di Beppe >> Excerpt
–Am Kinda Busy Reading >> Review
Dark Glitter by C. M. Stunich and Tate James
Published by: Sarian Royal
Publication Date: January 24, 2018
Genre: Adult, Paranormal, Thriller
Page Count:
Rating: 3.5/5
Source: eARC from Xpresso Book Tours
Ciarah O’Rourke was born into torture.
A human spirit reincarnated in the body of an ancient fae goddess, she’s spent the last five years in iron shackles, her mind poisoned with magic for secrets she doesn’t know.
Waking up in a dirty alley with no memory of her escape, Ciarah finds herself in the hands of The Wild Hunt Motorcycle Club–a ruthless and violent group of bikers with faerie blood in their veins.
Arlo. Reece. Killian.
Three men drenched in death, sin, and old magic.
From their clubhouse in the middle of the Louisiana bayou, they’ll offer Ciarah the keys to unlock her memories and control the veil between worlds. But even her knights can’t erase the twisted scars that remind her they aren’t the only ones who hunt.
When The Wild Hunt rides, the souls of the dead join their parade.
All that’s missing now is their queen.
I’ve received an eARC for an unbiased and honest review. I want to thank Xpresso Book Tours, the authors, and the publisher for providing me with this copy.
I’m the goddess and I’ll have my males as I please.
Calling all paranormal romance lovers, this book should be on your TBR list. The Fae Queen is back, and she’s looking for her Lords. Brimming with magic, Dark Glitter blends together urban fantasy with old-world folklore, but with a twist.
Sweet Jesus. For all you paranormal romance and reverse harem readers out there, do not read Dark Glitter anywhere outside of the confines of your house, or you’ll go red in the face. This steamy read will entice all readers who are looking to spice up their book collection.
The reason I signed up for this tour is because of Tate. I previously read her debut novel, The Vixen’s Lead, and I knew I had to get my hands on another one of her books. I admit that Dark Glitter is not a Kit Davenport story. You don’t get intense and quiet Cole or sultry River. What you do get are hardened fae bikers who have been looking for the Keeper of the Veil, who must carry out her destiny. And she so happens to be Ciarah O’Rourke. The only issue is that she doesn’t have any of her memories, except the ones where she’s tortured. And she needs them so that she can bring her fae people back home.
I loved the mythology in this romance novel. Both authors excelled in introducing lore from different backgrounds. You get a mix of a few, and that livens up the story. The romance is fierce and starts off rather quickly. I was hoping for more lead up to that since it allows readers to get to know the characters in their own right, then see them progress into that romance. But don’t expect any mates here. The main character wants her men, and she shall get them indeed.
Dark Glitter is more plot driven. The story relies heavily on the lore. But I don’t mind that direction though. As you continue through the story, the authors introduce more layers. But you may not see a large amount of character development, which I wanted to see more of. However, I do find the characters intriguing though.
Ciarah awakens to find fractured memories and has no remember of who she is. Once the Wild Hunt finds her, she doesn’t understand her past. Two spirits inhabit her: her own and the spirit of the Keeper of the Veil. I truly sympathized with her, and her torture scenes are graphic, but she quickly learns her place in the fae. And her alpha female demeanour is not something to go up against. Her Lords—Reece, Arlo, and Killian—bring out a new side in Ciarah. I love their banter. I prefer Arlo though; he is the hard, alpha male who has a soft spot. Killian is sweet, quiet, and caring. And while Reece is adorable, I cannot stand his accent.
Dark Glitter is the new book on the paranormal romance scene. It’s dark, intense, and torrid. More importantly, it’s gritty and unapologetic. This woman rules over her Wild Hunt and her Lords. She is the Queen, and she’s looking for revenge.
C.M. Stunich is a self-admitted bibliophile with a love for exotic teas and a whole host of characters who live full time inside the strange, swirling vortex of her thoughts. Some folks might call this crazy, but Caitlin Morgan doesn’t mind – especially considering she has to write biographies in the third person. Oh, and half the host of characters in her head are searing hot bad boys with dirty mouths and skillful hands (among other things). If being crazy means hanging out with them everyday, C.M. has decided to have herself committed.
She hates tapioca pudding, loves to binge on cheesy horror movies, and is a slave to many cats. When she’s not vacuuming fur off of her couch, C.M. can be found with her nose buried in a book or her eyes glued to a computer screen. She’s the author of over thirty novels – romance, new adult, fantasy, and young adult included. Please, come and join her inside her crazy. There’s a heck of a lot to do there.
Oh, and Caitlin loves to chat (incessantly), so feel free to e-mail her, send her a Facebook message, or put up smoke signals. She’s already looking forward to it.
Author’s website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Tate James was born and raised in the Land of the Long White Cloud (New Zealand) but now lives in Australia with her husband, baby and furbaby.
She is a lover of books, red wine, cats and coffee and is not a morning person. She is a bit too sarcastic and swears too much for polite society and definitely tells too many dirty jokes.
Author’s website | Facebook | Instagram
Are you a James and Stunich fan? Enter to win for a free copy of Dark Glitter. The contest is open internationally.
Find out ut out more reviews and post by following the tour:
March 5th
–Rainy Days and pajamas >> Excerpt
–tfaulcbookreviews >> Interview
–Abooktropolis >> Excerpt
–Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books! >> Review
–FANNA >> Review
–The Red Hatter Book Blog >> Excerpt
March 6th
–Loves Great Reads >> Excerpt
–Natalie The Biblioholic >> Review
–Mes Livres >> Review
–Behind Closed Doors Book Review >> Excerpt
March 7th
–Girls With Books >> Excerpt
–Aconite Cafe >> Review
–Reading for the Stars and Moon >> Review
–Bobo’s Book Bank >> Excerpt
March 8th
–Silence Is Read >> Excerpt
–Novelties >> Review
–The Musings of Author Jeanne St. James >> Excerpt
March 9th
–A British Bookworm’s Blog >> Review
–Birdies Bibliotheca >> Review
–Book Addict >> Review
–Rolling with the Moments >> Review
–JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder >> Guest post
March 12th
–Just Books >> Guest post
–Evermore Books >> Review
–Viviana MacKade >> Interview
–The Book Disciple >> Review
March 13th
–The Writer’s Inkwell >> Excerpt
–So Few Books >> Guest post
–Novels & Necklaces >> Review
March 14th
–Book Sniffers Anonymous >> Excerpt
–FantasyRaiders >> Review
–Two Ends of the Pen >> Interview
March 15th
–Books a Plenty Book Reviews >> Review
–The Pursuit Of Bookiness >> Review
–Booker T’s Farm: Books & Nails & Puppy Dog Tales >> Review
March 16th
–Rabid Readers book Blog >> Review
–BrizzleLass Books >> Review
–O. D. Book Reviews >> Excerpt
–The Avid Reader >> Review
Devil’s Gold by Amanda McKinney
Publication Date: February 13, 2018
Genre: Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Page Count: 121
Rating: 4/5
Source: eARC from Xpresso Book Tours
Despite being chronically late, occasionally disheveled and a tad disorganized, Dixie Knight is one of the top private investigators in the country, and when a young woman goes missing in the small, Southern town of Devil’s Den, Dixie takes the case. She expected it to be another ordinary missing person case—until Lizzie Meyers is found naked and beaten to death at a local, seedy motel.
While visiting relatives on his two-week leave, Marine Liam Cash bumps into Dixie at the local bar, and his attraction to her is immediate. When Liam connects Dixie’s current case to two unsolved murders in his hometown, he steps in to help find the killer, and keep her safe, whether Dixie wants him to or not.
After another woman is found brutally beaten, Dixie turns the town upside down trying to solve the mystery—could it be the rumored witch that lives in the mountains; the rich, neurotic doctor’s wife; or the perky, blonde receptionist at the local medical clinic?
Time is running out and Dixie knows she has to put the pieces of the puzzle together before another body turns cold in Devil’s Den.
With high-paced action, steamy romance, a strong female lead, suspenseful twists, and a good dose of mystery, Devil’s Gold is a solid whodunit that will keep you surprised at every turn. It will truly keep you reading throughout the night. Thrillers typically don’t grace my TBR pile, but I want to see what Amanada has in store for this new series.
I need to remind myself that Devil’s Gold is a novella, so don’t expect anything more. But with what’s included drew my attention. It could have quickly been a typical mystery. But Amanada adds suspense to elevate this novella above other thrillers I’ve read. Even though it’s short, it introduces a layered and well-thoughout storyline. And the author quickly starts off with suspense and action. But with this story, the females rule, an they’re fiesty and ready to fight.
The Black Rose Investigation specializes in anything criminal. Three sisters who lost their parents in an accident run this organization. So when Dixie Knight, a PI, is tasked with finding out if a doctor is having an affair, she discovers she’s found a lot more trouble once the woman in question goes missing. I loved reading this spirited character. Dixie doesn’t need anyone to save her, even if her life is scattered all over the place. She’s easily relatable. And I admire her spunk and her determination to make her parents proud.
Sisterhood is at the heart of Devil’s Gold. And I adore how easy the relationship among these sisters has grown to be. The death of their parents hasn’t separated them, and their love is what keeps them together. And while they have opposite personalities, they are a united front. I hope to see more of their relationship in future stories.
Just to add more sizzle, a marine Liam Cash steps up to offer help on the missing case, which reminds him of the murders in his hometown. The instant attraction between Liam and Dixie flows organically, even though the ending is a little corny. But their quick banter makes up for all that though.
I hate when authors incorporate too many perpetrators. They muddy the story and don’t give readers a chance to get to learn more about the characters, even the bad ones. But this story’s length works in Amanada’s favour since the author doesn’t have to introduce more of them, and she only focuses on a select few.
I haven’t heard of this author before, but the Black Rose Mystery series intrigues me, and I’m interested to see what Amanda has in store for her next installments. So if you’re wanting torrid hookups, instant seduction, and a thriller as well, Devil’s Gold might interest you.
Author’s BioAmanda McKinney, author of Sexy, Suspenseful Mysteries wrote her debut novel, Lethal Legacy, after walking away from her career to become a writer and stay-at-home mom. When Amanda isn’t tending to her two beautiful boys, she’s hidden behind her computer screen crafting page-turning murder mysteries, peppered with titillating love scenes. Having been born and raised in the south, Amanda’s books are set in small, country towns and reflect southern culture at its finest.
Amanda’s debut novel, Lethal Legacy, was released in January 2017, followed by the first two books in the Berry Springs series, The Woods and The Lake. The third book in the series, The Storm, is scheduled to be released in the Winter of 2017.
Author’s website | Goodreads | Facebook
Now onto to the contest. Enter to win for $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Devil’s Gold! This contest is international.
Don’t miss out on this tour! Here’s the schedule:
February 12th
–CBY Book Club
–Whatever You Can Still Betray
–Loves Great Reads
February 13th
–Mes Livres
–JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
–Writers and Authors
February 14th
–Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
–Booked J >> Review
February 15th
–Two Ends of the Pen
–Evermore Books
February 16th
–La libreria di Beppe
–Viviana MacKade
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February 19th
–A British Bookworm’s Blog
–the attic ghost
–The Genre Minx Book Reviews
–anie’s blog: diary of a wanna be writer
February 20th
–Just Books
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February 21st
–Book Sniffers Anonymous
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February 22nd
–So Few Books
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February 23rd
–Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf
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Romanov by Samaire Provost
Published by: Black Raven Books
Publication Date: January 24, 2018
Genre: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Page Count: 268
Rating: 3/5
Source: eARC from Xpresso Book Tours
Goodreads | Amazon CAN | Amazon US | Book Depository
In an abandoned warehouse in Manhattan, two enemies battle to the death, while outside, a malevolent entity watches and waits and plots, eager for blood. On an island in the heart of Seattle, an immortal princess struggles to lead a normal life just as a flood of terrifying creatures starts to pour in through a portal that should not be there. A young man meets a classmate while walking home from the college library, and embarks on the most dangerous adventure he’s ever known – will he survive? A deranged madman hunts the girl he’s lusted after for a century, in a relentless pursuit for vengeance. A prehistoric, mythical beast jealously guards a primeval land, which is leaking into present-day Seattle. A sweet, forbidden passion blossoms between two lovers who steal moments whenever they can, while unbeknownst to them, they’re hunted by a deadly creature.
A royal family threatened at its weakest – yet lethal in its own right – is stalked by an ancient evil that will not rest until they are utterly destroyed: a nightmare incarnate that has waited millions of years for revenge threatens the very existence of the young lovers and their family.
Will they prevail?
I’ve received an eARC for an unbiased and honest review. I want to thank Xpresso Book Tours, the author, and the publisher for providing me with this copy.
Time portals, magic, vampires, dragons, Russian lore, love, death, and romance are all in one book? Are you—and I—reading that correctly? Yes. All of that and more. Now buckle in for this paranormal review.
Anna, Alix, and Alexei, 10one-hundred-year-old vampires, come off the heels of a heartbreaking death. Trying to hide from the vampire who killed their matriarch, they find themselves in Seatle, where Anna develops a budding relationship with Eric. What they don’t know is that something has followed them and is looking for revenge, which may put everyone in danger.
So I signed up for this blog tour on a whim. I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve put vampires behind and moved onto other genres and am quite happy that I have. Samaire reminds me why sometimes old genres shouldn’t be left forgotten. With some rough patches, Romanov gives you all the good vampy vibes and offers up a cheesy yet cute romance. Phew, this book is a rollercoaster of a read, which I wasn’t expecting for a vampire story.
Even though I found Romanov a fun and easy read, the multiple POVs threw me off, and I felt confused in some areas. Sometimes the writing and the chapters were choppy and felt somewhat disjointed. A little more tightening in places would have made the story transition much better into each chapter. Samaire introduces a new spin by including the Romanovs (yes, those ones) and Rasputin into the storyline. That backstory surprised me the most and actually boosted my rating.
And the family dynamic is what also makes me like the story. It’s natural and loving, which I always look for in a story. Another feature of this book is the romance between Anna and Eric, a human. Both fall hard, fairly quickly. And even though I wish the romance blossomed more organically and slowly, I enjoyed it nonetheless.
What I enjoy the most is the mythology Samaire incorporates into her writing. You can tell she loves writing paranormal stories. And she gives you plenty of beasties to keep you entertained. I thought adding too many may muddy the book. But I liked them, and they keep the story moving along. You feel the threats and the dangers the Romanov family faces throughout each page. This peril adds good tension. But the vampire lore seems boggled down though. The author includes too many different and conflicting folklore.
Family love, threatening creatures, young romance, and interesting lore are what will attract readers to this quick paranormal read. If you’re looking to get back into the vampire genre, Romanov may be your reason to do so.
Author’s BioSamaire Provost lives in California with her husband and son.
Her love of paranormal stories, odd plots, and unique tales as well as the works of Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, Madeleine L’Engle and Stephen King has deeply influenced her writing.
Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr
Interested in this urban fantasy? ENTER HERE to win a paperback copy of Romanov. The contest is open internationally.
Don’t miss out on this tour. You can find other posts here:
February 12th
–Mes Livres
–Lukten av trykksverte
–Indie Wish List
–Gwyneiira’s Book Blog
–Booked J
–anie’s blog: diary of a wanna be writer
February 13th
–Reading for the Stars and Moon
–To Be Read
–Omg Books and More Books
–nikkisee
–Bookworm for Kids
–Book Briefs
–Book Addict
February 14th
–Fang Freakintastic Reviews
–Reviews by Leeve
–Novelties
–life, books and hidden dis-abilities
–Le Petit Photograph
–La libreria di Beppe
–Books a Plenty Book Reviews
–6 Feet Under Books
February 15th
–Birdie’s Bibliotheca
–Ravenclaw Threadsister
–Just Another Rabid Reader
–I Love A Good Book
–Booker T’s Farm: Books & Nails & Puppy Dog Tales
–Alternative-Read.com
February 16th
–Abooktropolis
–YA/NA Book Divas
–The Pursuit Of Bookiness
–JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
–Jazzy Book Reviews
–Haddie’s Haven
February 17th
–tfaulcbookreviews
–I Smell Sheep
–Cranky TBC
–Am Kinda Busy Reading
Rise by Sierra Cross
Published by: Enigmatic Books
Publication Date: June 15, 2017
Genre: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
Page Count: 258
Rating: 4/5
Source: eARC from Xpress Book Tours
Goodreads | Amazon CAN | Amazon US
I closed the door on magic long ago…the day it made me an orphan.
Ten years ago, the Coven of Fire sacrificed their lives—my mother among them—to hold off an overwhelming demonic force. Now it’s back.
As a poorly-paid bartender, how can any of this be my problem? But Callie, another orphan of that battle, swears I’m the key to reviving the coven. And there’s an incredibly sexy guardian stranded on my couch who’s promising to help me stop the demons and keep the veil between the realms standing.
One problem: I’ve never been able to use magic. Our local bad boy warlock assures me I have the talent, but even if I did, we don’t have enough witches to complete a coven. The only way to survive is to pull together this pack of magicborn misfits, who have more secrets than spells, into a makeshift coven.
Can we—three untrained witches, a sarcastic warlock, and an overly intense guardian—take back the city…before the demongate falls and the forces that killed my mother destroy us too?
I’ve received an eARC for an unbiased and honest review. Thank you Xpresso Book Tours and the author/publisher for providing the eARC.
With a touch of a budding romance, lots of forbidden love, and a fast-paced storyline, Rise will make you remember why you love witches. This high-risk fantasy will hook you back into the witch’s spell.
Alix Hill lost everything when her coven and family gave up their lives to thwart a demon from taking control. Years later, she discovers it’s back, and she must revive the coven in order to defeat it. However, she can’t use magic. Except a guardian from her past believes she can. Together, with the help of two witches and a sarcastic warlock, they are the only ones who may finally stop the demon that killed everyone they loved.
I’m always down for a good witch novel. I have moved away from that section in fantasy that I’m starting to miss it. And Sierra introduces enough sexual tension that you’re just dying to see how a certain witch and her guardian will fight off their attraction. And the author injects the right amount of action to keep the urban fantasy lovers interested.
I would have liked to have seen more POVs. Alix hasn’t been in the magic scene since her mother, father, and coven died. And with most situations, she doesn’t know how to process or how to deal with certain issues. She’s naive. However, that innocence adds to the story though. For years, she believes she’s a Wont, a non-magical person. But you see how she evolves as the story progresses. That evolution is a trademark I love about New Adult novels. You grow along with the characters.
Rise is a solid beginning to this new series. Even though there were some scenes that were predictable, I loved reading it. I wasn’t expecting this amount of world building in a debut series. But Sierra excelled in doing just that. So expect everything and more in Coven of Fire. The characters stand out among themselves, yet the bond they develop while forming the coven is what hooked me in.
Alix, an orphan, is the quintessential adult who doesn’t know where she’s heading. Haunted by her past, she feels she’s failed her family. And with a little angst and self-doubt, she’s one character you can easily relate to. Matt, the guardian, feels that same pull. He, too, lost everything and is determined to protect Alix, even if doing so may just kill him. Their chemistry is strong, and it affects everything they do. And the forbidden love between this witch and guardian amplifies the tension in the story. The secondary characters also add a flare, which I loved.
I’m glad I took a risk in signing up for this book tour. Rise gives you that magic-filled action with just a taste of romance and satisfies your need for fantasy. I may have just found a new series to follow.
Author’s BioSpells and skyscrapers. Warriors and warlocks. Coven secrets and forbidden romances. Sierra Cross lives for urban fantasy, for modern magic and the bold supernatural beings who stalk our contemporary world. Her Spelldrift universe stars kickass witches and their heroic guardians, as well as vampires, shifters, mages, Fidei, and the dark demonic forces that threaten them all.
Author’s Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon
Interested in Coven of Fire? You can win a $50 Amazon gift card and a set of paperbacks of the series. ENTER HERE to win.
Don’t miss out on the tour. Go check out the other reviews and posts!
January 22nd
–Shooting Stars Reviews
–Reckless Readers
–knjigoljubka
–Jenea’s Book Obsession
–I Smell Sheep
–Am Kinda Busy Reading
–3 degrees of fiction book blog
January 23rd
–Rolling with the Moments
–YA & NA Bookshelf
–Storyteller-skgregory
–Moohnshine’s Corner
–Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf
–Book Briefs
January 24th
–Abooktropolis
–The Bewitched Reader
–T’s Stuff
–Indie Wish List
–Don’t Judge, Read
–Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
January 25th
–So Few Books
–Novelties
–FANNA
–Ctrl, Alt, Books!
–Booker T’s Farm: Books & Nails & Puppy Dog Tales
–Aconite Cafe
January 26th
–Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews
–Smada’s Book Smack
–Novels & Necklaces
–books are love
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January 27th
–Cranky TBC
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–Reading, Willing & Able
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