Blog Tour: Stormwielder by Aaron D. Hodges

Hello Readers

Welcome to the Stormwielder Blog Tour. To see the full tour schedule, click on the banner above. Read on for my review and don’t forget to enter the Giveaway for your chance to win!

 

Stormwielder
by Aaron D. Hodges
Release Date: December 1st 2015

Summary from Goodreads:

For five hundred years the Gods have united the Three Lands in harmony.
Now that balance has been shattered, and chaos threatens.

A town burns and flames light the night sky. Hunted and alone, seventeen year old Eric flees through the wreckage. The mob grows closer, baying for the blood of their tormentor. Guilt weighs on his soul, but he cannot stop, cannot turn back.

If he stops, they die.

For two years he has carried this curse, bringing death and destruction wherever he goes. But now there is another searching for him – one who offers salvation. His name is Alastair and he knows the true nature of the curse. Magic.

FOR A LIMITED TIME – STORMWIELDER IS ON SALE FOR $0.99 ON AMAZON!

My Review

Wow! Just Wow! Stormwielder has all the tried and true elements of fantasy which if done right scores time and time again with readers and which I am always excited to find when reading fantasy.

We have a young man with powers that he is afraid of, yet he has to learn how to harness before he destroys everything and eveyone who crosses paths with him.
Burdened with guilt, after incinerating a whole village, with bounty hunters on his trail, he is thankful that magicker Alistair found him before they do, for he will need his training if he is to control that beast called magic, which resides within him and would be master if it could, to the detriment of him and everyone around him!

I loved the elements of magic present in Stormwielder; that they’re linked to the elements, and how its wielded by the characters. Demons and dragons also make appearances which adds to that dark element that I love in fantasy and kicks the awesome factor up a notch.

The main character is Erik whose character development was interesting to see unfold as the story progressed. He went from being a young, insecure, uncertain man afraid of his magic and thinking it a curse, to one who becomes one with his magic is and is able to control it to an extent where he can now use itin defence of innocents.

The author writing style is perfect for keeping the reader engaged due to it being easy to read and well-paced; slower when necessary for worldbuilding/character development and fast-paced for action-scenes.  I especially loved that Hodges uses just the right amount of detailing to keep the novel imaginative and captivating without overwhelming the reader with mindless info-dumping. This, combined with his creative  storytelling capabilities makes Stormbringer a page-turner.

Overall, a really great fantasy with dark twists, intrigue, a dash of romance and a riveting plot to keep you turning the pages until the end.

My Rating

 

 

About the Author

Aaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he now spends his time traveling the world in search of his next adventure.

Author Links:
Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

 

Amazon Giveaway

Book Tour Organized by:

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Week In Books #15 (Jan 25 – Jan 31)

Hello Readers

Welcome to my weekly feature “Week In Books” where I showcase the books I’ve read, received and or hauled each week. I got a good amount of  reading done than I had planned which should mean that my TBR shelf is shrinking; right?  That is a discussion for another time , now on to what my week looked like in books:

Ebooks Read

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Stormwielder

At Water’s Edge

The Legend of Eli Monpress

Evanescent

 

Received For Review

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Chasing Azrael

Curse Of The Sphinx

The Lingering Grace

The Looking Glass

 

Mini Book Haul

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The Bands Of Mourning

The Dark Days Club

The Evening Spider

The Love That Split The World

The Masked City

The Brimstone Deception

Daughter Of Blood

Shearwater Part One

There! That was my Week In Books and I daresay it was a great week. Thanks as always to all who provide review copies and to all my readers.

In other news, I am in the process of setting up a WordPress.org website and plan on importing the content from here to there. Now this is not an overnight process and I am attempting to import my wordpress subscribers there too, but feel free to go and check it out and subscribe via email. I plan to keep the name Cover2Cover and unfortunately I can’t import this theme (pfff), and don’t have the money as yet to buy a really cool theme, so I’m limited in terms of the look but it is a work in progress.

Once my content has been imported I will be sure to make a post here to inform you guys. So please check out My WEBSITE and subscribe. Thanks for your support!

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Blog Tour: Assassin’s Heart by Sarah Ahiers

Hello Readers

Welcome to the Assassin’s Heart Blog tour. To see the full schedule, click on the banner above. Read on for my review and be sure to enter the Giveaway!

Title: ASSASSIN’S HEART
Author: Sarah Ahiers
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Pages: 400
Publisher: HarperTeen
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

My Review

Assassin’s Heart is a story of love and family, betrayal, revenge and redemption, set in the city of Lovero, where the God of Death, is worshipped by her disciples, the nine assassin families. They have the unorthodox privelege of being able to execute persons as a way of life with Safraella’s blessing.

The main protaganist Oleander (Lea) Saldana’s family is number one but this spot is a precarious one as their family and future has been decimated by the recent plague. Lea has a secret; she is in a relationship with someone from a rival family, the Da Vias with whom they share a territory, Ravenna. This family also has some bad history with the Saldana’s and the matriarch of the Da Vias has never forgotten. Being the richest of all the nine families they are primed to take down the Da Vias and would like nothing but to see them fall, and they make sure they do this in a particularly brutal manner designed to leave no survivors but Lea escapes and laden with guilt that her forbidden relationship might have been the instrument of thier destruction , she  vows revenge for her slain family.

This story was so addictive and read like a twisted Romeo and Juliet with with some elements of the Godfather and I absolutely loved it. Lea Saldana was a particulary interesting character. She was not in the least squeamish or regretful about taking lives in her line of work and comes off as being very capable , fearless and cocky in the beginning.

After the tragedy, a new side of her emerges. She is fearful and anxious which just humanised her in my eyes. I loved her determination and stubborness which was necessary if she was to survive. She was quite arrogant and full of herself but I could understand that after having taken so many lives at such a young age, that one could feel invincible and with the backing of her God and her conviction, self righteous.

The unique concept of a world where an assassin was allowed to go about their jobs without fear of repercusssion was fascinating althout I dare say i wouldn’t want to live there. I felt the end was quite appropriate and most of the loose ends were neatly tied up and I loved the lack of a cliffhanger in this.

Overall, a riveting imaginative storyline complemented by well-developed , believable characters, with dark twists and romantic  innuendos guaranteed to capture your interest and keep you glued to the pages, regretting that it has to come to an end.

My Rating

 

About Sarah:

Sarah Ahiers is working towards an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults and lives in Minnesota with three dogs and a house full of critters. She has a collection of steampunk hats and when she’s not writing she fills her time with good games, good food, good friends and good family.

Sarah writes Young Adult and Middle Grade novels and occasionally dabbles in Picture Books. Fantasy is her favorite genre, though she sometimes can be found playing around with Horror and other things that go bump in the night.

Sarah’s debut novel, ASSASSIN’S HEART (HarperTeen, February 2nd, 2016) is a Young Adult Fantasy. In the Kingdom of Lovero, where families of assassins lawfully kill people for the right price, seventeen-year-old Oleander “Lea” Saldana sets out on a path of vengeance against the most powerful assassin family of all.

She is represented by Mollie Glick of Foundry Literary & Media.

Website | Twitter |Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | Blog

 

Giveaway Details:

• (1) Winner will receive a finished copy and some swag (bookmarks, postcards), US Only.

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Blog Tour: Dream Of Me by A. Star

Dream of Me by A. Star
(The Djinn Order #2)
Publication date: January 19th 2016
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Steampunk

Synopsis:

Glory St. Pierre never thought so many lies could hold so much truth, especially when her entire life has been one of those lies. Now that she knows who she really is, she must find a way to come to terms with it before the Djinn sorcerer Rasputin and his steel army descend down upon the human and Djinn realms, wielding magic so dark even her own Djinn lover, Irving, is wary of it.
Their only hope to save the realms are a couple of hunters and the Lords of the Djinn Order, four powerful Djinn who have remained elusive for centuries. Armed with her only granted wish, a fabulous airship, and the Djinn she loves by her side, Glory will embark on a quest to find the four lords and enlist their help. But there is a reason the lords have been in hiding, and once this tiny band of adventurers awakens them from their slumber, they will set off a chain of events that has been in the making since the beginning of time.
There is no turning back now.

Buy Link: Amazon

My Review

Dream Of Me surprised me in a really good way! The character growth is phenomenal. The dialogue is more believable and less corny than in Wish For Me. Even though there is still some humour, this book is more serious.

A lot more detail is given about Shrinelyn and the Djinn. The plot is rife with schemes and intrigue and I found myself drawn into this world. It reads more like fantasy than a romance with fantastical elements this time around.

Even though there is still a romantic element, it no longer dominates or overshadows the main storyline. There is a lot of action and mystery, and revelations about Molly, her mon and her dad after the big reveal at the end of Wish For Me.

Molly is her usual rambunctious and feisty self, getting into trouble even when she means well all of which adds to the excitement of the story. The pacing in this is faster and the plot is more action-packed. There is literally never a dull moment. It kep me engaged and invested from start to finsh and now I’m dying to read some more adventures of Molly and the Djinn.

Overall, a riveting, action-packed, steampunk, magical, apocalyptical mash-up with romantic elements guaranteed to delight and seduce you into falling in live with the characters and their world!

Book 1 – Wish For Me – will be 99¢ the week of the tour!

 

Buy Wish For Me : Amazon * B&N
AUTHOR BIO:

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She loves to read it, and she damn sure loves to write it. She is the author of the Mythos: Gods & Lovers series and the Djinn Order series. She is a night-owl and a coffee junkie, and the only sneaker she would be caught dead wearing are Converses.
Author links:

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• One (1) ebook copy of Wish For Me (Bk 1) + 2 Djinn order bookmarks (all to one winner).
• Open internationally.
• winner to be selected by latest February 22nd, 2016.
• prize will be sent out after February 23rd.

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Review: Wish For Me by A. Star

Wish For Me (The Djinn Order #1)
Author: A. StarPublication Date: April 27, 2015

I received a copy from Xpresso Book Tours in anticipation of an upcoming Book Tour for the sequel, Dream Of Me. This does not affect my review in any way!

Goodreads Summary:

When the snarky Glory St. Pierre discovers the gold mechanical vase in her deceased grandmother’s basement, she has no idea that she has uncovered a priceless treasure: a genie lamp. With a real genie inside. A very sexy genie with a not-so-sexy grudge against the entire human race.

Irving Amir hates being called a genie. He’s a Djinn, and he is none too happy to be in the service of Glory, who is as intolerable, and beautiful, as humans come. Now he owes her his gratitude for freeing him and three wishes. Damn his luck.

But an arrow through the shoulder alerts Irving to the fact that he is being hunted, and after a truce dinner with Glory ends with them both almost being killed, hating each other goes right out the window. As feelings change and love starts to develop, they must dig through the secrets and lies to find the truth…a truth neither of them will ever see coming.

WARNING: Not suitable for ages 18 and under. A significant source of bad language, sexy times, and dirty jokes. If you suffer from a lack of a sense of humor, take with plenty of wine. If the symptom persists, see a doctor.

Buy Links: Amazon * B&N

 

 

 

My Review

Wish For Me was a fun, light read with an interesting storyline  and a Djinn to die for, totally swoonworthy!!

The main character, Molly, is a a 19 year old college student who is at a stage in her life where she just wants to get good grades and have fun. Cleaning out her lately departed granny’s attic was not how she would classify fn but it did lead to a surprising find, a Chronolier (genie lamp), which came with a key 9no rubbing necessary). Said key unlocks the clockwork which opens a portal to the Djinn’s world, Shrinelyn, and out comes Irving, not too pleased to be there, to grant three wishes. Things just get heated (fans self) and interesting from there.

Now, I’m not a huge romance fan, and some of the dialogue and scenes were a bit corny, but it was done in a humourous way, and I soon grew accustomed and accepting of the banter.

Although the brewing romance was predominant at first, political intrigue and action soon comes into play, and that’s what sold this story for me. Some eye-opening revelations totally surprised me and a twist that I never saw coming and I’m usually pretty good at guessing these.

If you’re lookng for a fun, humour filled, romantic fantasy with characters you will love and be annoyed with at the same time . with a splash of intrigue and action and a hint of secrets waiting to be unveiled, then this is the book for you. Be aware, strong language and explicit scenes abound!

My Rating

 

About The Author:

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She loves to read it, and she damn sure loves to write it. She is the author of the Mythos: Gods & Lovers series and the Djinn Order series. She is a night-owl and a coffee junkie, and the only sneaker she would be caught dead wearing are Converses.
Author links:

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

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Virtual Book Tour : Average Joe and the Extraordinaires by Belart Wright

Average Joe and the Extraordinaires
by Belart Wright

GENRE: Action Adventure, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

 

BLURB:

On a dark and balmy Floridian night, a strange and mysterious dark haired woman stalks the shadows of the local college football stadium, on the prowl for secrets buried deep beneath the Earth. These secrets, she knows, may change everything including this small town.

While knocking back illegal drinks with his friends at the hallowed Orangetown Pickers’ college football stadium, average kid Joe Black finds himself desperately trying to save the life of a beautiful dark haired woman after a deadly explosion violently interrupts his fun and games. While trying to fathom why he would even do something so reckless he soon finds himself entangled in a dangerous game of terrorist plots, mistaken identities, hard boiled detectives, the criminal underworld, and of all things magic as he tries to escape with his life and make sense of it all.

Joe faces many challenges from all new enemies, assassins, and even his own friends. Can Joe navigate all this danger, escape with his life, and handle his biggest challenge to date, finding something about himself that is truly extraordinary? Find out within the pages of Average Joe and the Extraordinaires.

Buy Book: Amazon

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

My Review

I like books that deal with ordinary folks doing extraordinary things and Joe is the epitome of an ‘Average Joe’. Caught up in this world quite by accident he quickly adapts and manages to keep his sense of humour throughout.

I liked Joe’s personality and the author did a realy good job in portraying his character both through his POV and through his friends’ eyes. Friendship is a recurring theme in this book and I liked that too.

The descriptions used are concise and detailed enough without being preachy or overbearing. The pacing is fast and filled with action in which Joe often plays a central role. The magical or supernatural elements used were also pretty cool; I especially liked the ability to morph into other people. Even though the concept is not original, it was integrated in such a way as to give a fresh take  a popular concept.

My only gripe was the stucture of the dialogue which reminded me of the way plays/scripts are written with each character’s name appearing before each speech. I would have rather just the ordinary quotation marks and use of context to indicate who was speaking.

Overall, an entertaining , intriguing, action-packed read which, because of the lack of indecent language and explicit scenes, makes it appealing to all ages.

My Rating

EXCERPT

She rode off, down the street on her motorbike that was now a sky blue color to match the highlights in her hair, her ponytail, and her full face helmet. As she drove, she thought of her next move. She had a long list of places she wanted to visit, mostly associated with Grabas and the secrets he held beneath the stadium. But now her focus was on getting Joe out of trouble. She needed to figure out who has gunning for him…or better yet, she had to convince the man who hired this assassin to call off his killer. That man was definitely Robert Grabas.

AUTHOR Bio and Link:

Belart Wright was born and raised in Detroit Michigan with a short but adventurous stint in St. Ignace during his childhood. Always poor, Belart had to learn to use his imagination to fuel the fun he had. Whether it was drawing cool and dangerous looking heroes to creating fully fledged storylines with his action figures to writing stories about kids similar to himself with fantastic abilities and destinies, Belart was always an expert in delving into other worlds that were not his own.

Always naturally talented at writing, it took the advice of his brother, and a little creative boost from his high school creative writing teacher to get him to realize that writing was something he could do really well and pursue as a career. To this day he revels in building worlds and characters from the ground up such as the worlds of Hell Warriors, Story of K, Cyborgs and Deadmen, and Pannam which are all working titles.

In his spare time Belart tries to update his two blogs whenever he can, but mostly just ends up writing or editing. As a huge gamer he plays a lot of games online and off with his favorites at the time being Borderlands 2, Phantasy Star Online, X-Men Legends, and Dark Souls. He just wishes he had more time to whittle his impossibly long gaming list down which goes all the way back to PS1 and Sega Genesis classics. He and his buddies at FlubberKnuckle Studios are also working on several new game IPs. He is also patiently waiting for the next installment of the superb Legacy of Kain series.

Author Links:

Personal Blog * Story Blog * Google+* Goodreads

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

Belart Wright will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn host.

Please use this rafflecopter code on your post:

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Curiosity Quills’s January Releases Review Tour: Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth

Hello readers

Welcome to the Curiosity Quills Press’ January Releases Review Tour! Today I have for you my review of Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth and an excerpt. Enjoy!!

COGLING, by Jordan Elizabeth

Genre: Middle-Grade fantasy
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Date of Release¬¬: January 25, 2016
Cover Artist: Mandie Manzano

I received an eARC from the publisher Curiosity Quills Press for an honest review. This in no way influences my review.

Find Online:

Pre-Order:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Description:

When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother’s neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings—clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories.

Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags’ swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors.

Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family.

Review

Can I just say that Curiosity Quills Press’ book covers are the prettiest? Even the formatting is really nice!!

Cogling is one of those books whose characters take a piece of your heart and will stay with you long after you’ve finished the book. The author does such a great job building this world and crafting her characters and it really shows in their realness and depth.

I found myself totally riveted to my Kobo and immersed in this world where Edna, her brother and her mom are barely scraping together a living. At 15 years old she is already working along with her younger brother . Their dad is mentioned only briefly since he is hardly ever there, being a railroad worker. Edna is almost a mom to Harrison so she is the first to realise something is off about him after the hag has replaced him with a cogling. This ‘cogling’ is a doppelganger held together and operated by clockwork, which I thought was just ingenious. So, for all looks and purposes, it was supposed to imitate Harrison so that he wouldn’t be missed.

Anyway, without giving away too much, Edna finds out the cogling is not her brother when it disintegrates in front of her eyes into clockwork, gears and other bits and pieces. She then sets out to investigate and finds out the hags have kidnapped Harrison so of course she sets out to retrieve her brother and things only get more intriguing for there on.

Now, this is a world with magic but not everyone has it and those that do,the hags and the ogres, were once in control and wish to be so again. So they have hatched an evil plan to suppress the humans which Edna stumbles upon in her attempts to retrieve Harrison.

I loved all the characters, even the villains ,especially Mother Sambacus because they were so well developed, interesting and multi-faceted. The character development is done in such in way that I found myself relating on a deep and personal level with them especially Edna, Ike and Harrison. I couldn’t help but admire Edna’s strength and her love of family. She literally did everything in her ‘power’ to rescue her brother and others and refused to allow herself to let doubt cripple her ability to do so, even when the odds were stacked impossibly high against her!

Ike, the secondary character has earned a place in my heart too. Even though in the beginning his motives were ulterior, he kept his word and helped Edna to rescue her brother and didn’t just stop at that. The romance that developed is one that makes sense to me. I can imagine that going through danger and  uncertainty together could cause feelings to develop and mature, as a bond would form between the two.

Mother Sambacus lived up to the idea of a villain and added tension and suspense to the plot. The plot itself, though not overly complicated, was clever and the gripping  and with a few twists interwoven to add that element of surprise which just kicked it up a notch. The pacing is fast and steady and there is more than enough nail-biting tense moments to keep one’s eyes glued to the page.

The action and intrigue never let up! Seriously!! With impeccable narration and riveting , imaginative , well- thought out scenes and plot twists, the author was able to grab my attention and keep me enthralled! Cogling really was a page-turner that I had to force myself to read slowly, to savour every word and nuance, so as not to miss anything from this veritable feast of words!  It will tug on your heartstrings and have you rooting for Edna and Harrison and will leave you totally satisfied yet disappointed that it’s come to an end. I can’t wait for you to read it! Cogling has my stamp of approval and I highly recommend it to EVERYONE!!

My Rating

 

Excerpt

Prologue
Green smoke snaked up the side of the tenement and drifted over the sill of an open window. A breeze blew the vapor into a column before it solidified into the shape of a stout, young hag. She shook her crimson curls away from her face and straightened the hood of her cloak to keep her kohl-lined, silver eyes shadowed.
The scent of lavender clung to her robes, washing over the small room. Two brass-framed beds crowded the floor. Blankets covered sleeping children. A little boy wheezed against the head of his stuffed bear, drool dripping onto the wool.
The hag squinted to see the goldenrod dream cloud above his head—a dream about seeing his father again. She frowned at the other bed, where a sleeping teenager lay with a threadbare blanket tugged around her chin. Even squinting, the hag couldn’t make out a dream cloud. The girl was too old to be of any use.
The hag slithered to the boy’s bed and, from the folds of her cloak, drew out a rectangular box four inches long, with a circular indentation on one side. She set it on the floor to remove a vial and rag from her skirt pocket, the rough wool of the rag irritating her fingertips.
“Do it, Simone,” the hag muttered to herself as she willed her hands not to tremble. “Make the Dark Mother happy.” She couldn’t fail at her first mission.
Holding her breath, Simone dribbled three drops onto the rag, yanked the teddy bear away, and shoved the drugged cloth against the boy’s mouth. His eyes opened, his gasp muffled, and his body jerked. Simone stiffened.
The girl moaned. Her mattress rustled as she rolled over to face the wall, brown curls shifting over her pillow.
Simone’s heart thudded. By the seven Saints, she should’ve cast a sleeping spell over the girl. The Dark Mother preferred humans to think hags were harmless healers, not thieves who kidnapped children.
The boy writhed, squeaks emerging from behind the rag. Simone pressed harder. She needed his breath in the wool to disguise and fuel the machine.
The potion took hold and the boy collapsed. Simone’s thick lips curved over her broken teeth. She lifted a pocket watch from around her neck and positioned it into the crevice in the metal box. As the two pieces connected, a chime rang out. She set the box beside the limp little boy and draped the rag over it. Even though she should wait to make sure his breath stuck in the machine, she couldn’t risk waking the girl.
The metal stretched to become his replica as if it were made of putty. With a second chime, the metal shimmered and dulled into the pale peach of his flesh, becoming an exact duplicate of the child.
“Mine.” Simone hefted the little boy into her arms, leaving the duplication on the bed, and transformed to smoke before the chimes awoke the girl.

 

About The Author:
Jordan Elizabeth, formally Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, writes down her nightmares in order to live her dreams. With an eclectic job history of working as a college professor; historic costumed interpreter at Fort Stanwix, Victorian Leisure Fair, and Mayfaire on the Green; office specialist; sales clerk; election inspector; and trainer, she is now diving into the world of author.It happens to be her favorite one.
When she’s not creating art or searching for lost history in the woods, she’s updating her blog, Kissed by Literature. Jordan is the president of the Utica Writers Club and maintains JordanElizabethMierek.com.

She roams Central New York, but she loves to travel. A great deal of time has been spent in a rural town very similar to Arnn, the setting of her novel ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW.

Find the author Online:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Curiosity Quills Press (CQ) is a small hybrid publishing company specializing in genre fiction of the highest quality. With 150+ titles in our catalog already and approximately 6 new books coming out each month, there’s never a dull moment at CQ. We work with major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible to ensure that you, the reader, can find whatever you are looking for at your convenience.
Founded in 2011 by Eugene Teplitsky and Lisa Gus, CQ was initially a resource portal for writing and publishing, created in an effort to help writers, like themselves, survive the publishing industry. After rapid success, CQ morphed into publishing press that over time has solidified its share in the market. Now we spend our days searching for the next great escape!

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Blog Tour: Thief Of Lies by Brenda Drake

Hello Readers

Welcome to my stop on the Thief Of Lies BlogTour! To check out the full tour schedule, click on the baner above. Today I have for you my review of the book and a Giveaway, so be sure to enter for your chance to win one of the cool prizes!!

Title: Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers, #1)
Release date: 1/5/16
Author: Brenda Drake

 

About the book:
Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound.

Jumping into some of the world’s most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik’s world and her own, before both are destroyed.

Amazon * B&N * iTunes * Kobo * Amazon.UK * Amazon.ca * Powell’s * Books-a-Million * The Book Depository * Walmart

My Review

As soon as I read the premise of this book in an Entangled Teen newsletter, I wanted to read it immediately. I love books about books or libraries and this one promised to be amazing.

I liked the manner in which Gia descovers her talent, such a coincidental way, and loved visiting various libraries (however brief) and really enjoyed the descriptions and the thrill from being able to travel  through books like she and the other sentinels do. I mean, how cool is that?

The worldbuilding is slow but easy to follow and the creatures and magical abilities are introduced over the course of the books instead of all at once which I liked. There is a diverse set of characters both magical and non magical and some of them were a really cool, fresh take on common creatures like vampires for example. The pacing was at times slow, but I think that was often necessary to explain certain things or set up a certain scene. When it does pick up though, the action is intense and fun.

I thought the characters were interesting for the most part and there are a couple revelations which brought a sub-character to the fore and I’m hoping to hear more about that in the next book. I loved Gia’s character. She is no wimp and I like her practical nature plus she’s a book lover! Hello!

The story for me got really intense and riveting in the last few chapters which were filled with action and complots, betrayals and back-stabbing and discovery. I loved getting to know Gia and this awesome world of sentinels and wizards and so many other creatures. It has left me curious and wanting more which is always good in my book.

Overall a good start to a series, and after that ending I can’t wait to see how Gia’s character develops and how the prophecy will play out. Any book that has piqued my interest so that I’m intrigued about what is to come, has scored in my opinion and Thief Of Lies has done just that!!

My Rating

Author Bio

Brenda Drake, the youngest of three children, grew up an Air Force brat and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When Brenda’s not writing or doing the social media thing, she’s haunting libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops or reading someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Giveaway Info:
Grand Prize of the Kindle Fire 7” Display Wifi 8GB + Coffee Table Book that inspired the Library Jumpers series, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LIBRARIES IN THE WORLD + Swag Pack (US/Canada)

$50 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Becoming The Balance Bringer by Debra Kristi

 
Becoming: The Balance Bringer
by Debra Kristi
Release Date: March 9th 2015
Ghost Girl Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Ana’s world is falling apart. What she thought were dreams start entering her waking life. Eerie shadows hunt her. Her dream guy becomes reality. And strange new abilities begin developing. Ana is becoming something other.

She is determined to find answers, but where to turn? Her mom and best friend are keeping secrets. Her older sister is dead and exists only in her dreams. And her younger sister thinks they are goddesses.

Above all else, dark forces will stop at nothing to crush Ana – to keep her from restoring balance. To keep her from…becoming.

Is love and blood and sisterhood enough to stop the dark secrets and power from destroying her?

Buy Links: Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords * iTunes

My Review

I really liked the concept of this book going into it but I felt like it got off to a slow and somewhat convoluted start. There was a vagueness about it that had me almost putting it down but then somehow there was enough intrigue to keep me reading.

It did even out after about halfway through and I started getting a better sense of what was taking place both in this reality and the next and how Anna fits into it all. The characters are well developed and I got to know them to the point where they felt like real people which is always good. The worldbuilding is suficient to create a visual image in one’s mind even though the prose is confusing at times.

Details are slowly and hesitantly revealed and the story takes off. When the story does get going though, the pace picks up and so much starts happening that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was so eager to see Anna push through the challenges and accept her destiny as the Balance Bringer.

I really like the idea of this story and I look forward to reading the other books in this series. Overall, a pretty good start to a series and with that cliffhanger, just when things start getting all kinds of interesting, I need the sequel like yesterday!

My Rating

 

About the Author

Live in reality. Play on the other side.

Debra Kristi is a paranormal and fantasy writer. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children and and three schizophrenic cats. She’s a full-time kid chaser, video game maker’s wife, and muse prompted writer. Unlike the characters she often writes, she is not immortal and her only super power is letting the dishes and laundry pile up. When not writing, Debra is hanging out creating priceless memories with her family, geeking out to science fiction and fantasy television, and tossing around movie quotes.

“She writes because the dead girl told her to.”

Author Links:

Website * Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook

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Blog Tour: The Divide by E.J. Mellow

Hello Readers

Welcome to The Divide Blog Tour. To see the full schedule, please click on the banner above.
For my stop today, I have the book info including buy links and my review. There is also a Giveaway associated with this tour, so be sure to enter!

The Divide by E.J. Mellow
(Dreamland #2)
Publication date: October 15th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult

Synopsis:

Molly finally uncovers the truth about the strange dreams that plagued her sanity for weeks. Now destined to accept a clandestine role, Molly must find the strength and courage buried deep to push forward and succeed.
With the help of Dev, the roguish blue-eyed man of her dreams—whose dark past resurfaces to haunt him—Molly prepares to test the limits of her newly awakened powers and set right a world on the edge of being consumed by nightmares.
But when an unknown shadow stalks her every step and a shocking revelation about her ancestry comes to light, Molly may find herself forced to make a decision that could leave her alone in the dark and standing on the wrong side of a divide.
Don’t miss The Divide—the heart-thumping second installment in The Dreamland Series.

Buy Links: AMAZON * B&N * KOBO

My Review

I read this right after reading the first book, The Dreamer, (See my Review) and noticed right off the bat a difference in pacing. The Divide pulls the reader into a fast paced read right from the beginning!

Molly is still discovering what her abilities are and what her role as ‘The Dreamer’really entails, and she is growing as a character. She has some difficult choices to make and is proving to be very efficient and capable.

The action here seems almost non-stop (which I loved) in the brewing war against the Metus, which would not only affect Terra but our world also. We delve a bit more into Terra, its history and connection with humans and Dreamers. There is a bit of mystery going on with the Metus and a possible spy. I can’t wait to find out what’s up with that.

Molly is tried and tested int this instalment and we see her emerging stronger each time and more equipped to take on her role, even though she is far from invincible of infallible. I liked that both her and Dev are flawed characters which makes them more belieavable and endearing. We get to peek a bit into Dev’s past also and so get to understand him a lot more.

I am still loving the magical/scientific mix and some cool weaponry and objects are unveiled which further showcase the author’s creative genius.

Overall, I loved diving into this world and invite you to do the same. The Divide has my stamp of approval as one of the most interesting books I’ve read in 2015, and I loved it!

Rating

AUTHOR BIO:

I’m the author behind the NA Contemporary Fantasy trilogy The Dreamland Series. When I’m not busy moonlighting in the realm of make-believe, I can be found doodling, buried in a book (usually this one), or playing video games.
You can find me on:
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter

 

Giveaway Info :Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

• Signed copies of The Dreamer + The Divide, Dreamer tote bag + $15 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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