Sunday 31 March 2013

Eden - South by Janelle Stalder Blog Tour

  
Tested by Janelle Stalder
 Release Date: Tentative Date of June 24, 2014

Book Description

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.

Faced with the scariest decision of her life, Missy is going behind enemy lines to save the rebel that seems to haunt her every dream. Finding courage is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, especially when she comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality. The green eyes that have fascinated her, no longer gleam with recognition. Now Missy must find a way to not only get them out alive, but to save the mind of the man who is quickly capturing her heart. And she must do it all without getting caught. Put to the test, will Missy be able to rise above her fears and find love, or watch it all blow up in smoke?

*This book is for mature audiences due to sexual situations, violence and strong language

Add to your TBR! on  Goodreads

About the Author

Janelle Stalder was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. At an early age she developed a love for literature. Her debut novel, Eden, was the first book in a series of four, released in September of 2011. The second book, Eden-West, was released in July of 2012, and the third book, Eden-South was released in March of 2013. The fourth book of the Eden Series, Eden-East, will be release at the end of 2013. She is a strong supporter of other independent authors, and loves to interact with her readers. When she's not writing, Janelle is at home with her husband, two children, Aiden and Elora, and her two furry children, Alice and Lily. She now resides in a small town in Ontario in her old, possibly haunted, century home.

You can find Janelle at:
 

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Tuesday 26 March 2013

A Prescription for Delirium Tour by Noree Cosper

 
A Prescription for Delirium
(Van Helsing Organization #1)
 
Book Description:

Ninety years ago, Gabriella di Luca promised to protect the family of her dying lover. She failed to keep that promise. She was too far away to stop the devil that murdered the eldest Van Helsing son. Years later, Gabby learns the devil has resurfaced. She arrives in Hampton, TX, determined to stop the devil before it can lay a bloody hand on the remaining three brothers.

However, madness is spreading through Hampton. She suspects the devil is using this madness to test a drug which has a side effect of demonic possession. Gabby rushes to end the source of the madness only to fall victim to it. For a woman cursed with eternal life, dying is no threat. However, Gabby must stop the devil’s plot or risk losing her most precious possession: her mind.

Buy Links
 

Guest Post:

As long as there have been demons (which is a really long time), there have been those who hunt them. One of the most famous is King Solomon.

Solomon was the legendary Israelite king who built the Temple of Jerusalem. He took the throne after his father, David, died. The Lord came to him in a dream and said “Ask what I shall give you.” Solomon asked for an understanding mind for governing and for discernment between good and evil. Pleased that he didn’t ask for riches, God granted him wisdom beyond all other men. God (or Allah, according to the Qur’an) also granted Solomon the power to bind demons, or djinn. The archangel Michael gives him a ring to bind demons and they help build the Temple of Jerusalem.

Solomon had another vision where God told him that as long as he kept the commandments and worshipped no other gods. For 40 years he and his kingdom did indeed prosper. People traveled from all over the world to hear his wisdom. Through this time, he continued to interrogate demons to learn more about their kind. The demons are described as the fallen angels or their children with human women. The demons are supposed to exist in stars and constellations. Solomon’s findings are the basis for many magical texts today.

During his rule, Solomon acquired 700 wives and 300 concubines. Some of them convinced him to worship other deities. God grew angry and sent adversaries against him, but in the end decided to take his kingdom from all of his sons but one. Solomon’s true downfall was when he fell in love with the Shulamite, the daughter of the Jebusite. The priest of Moloch told Solomon he couldn’t marry her unless he worshiped the gods Rempahn and Moloch. He refused so they gave him 5 locusts and told him to crush them on Moloch alter and it would suffice. When he did so, Solomon felt the power of God leave him.

Upon his death, the djinn and demons that he’d bound wrote a book of lies and false magic. They placed it under his throne and claimed that it was the book he used to bind them. As a result there was a division between those who discredited Solomon and those who used the book to gain power.

Numerous magical have been attributed to Solomon throughout the years, one of most famous being the Greater Key of Solomon. In my book, A Prescription for Delirium, Gabby actually uses one of Solomon’s lost (Hey, it’s fiction. I make things up) binding circles as well as some of his seals. Real or myth, this figure has inspired the mystical community throughout the ages.


Excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

Hampton, TX, Present Day

Not five minutes in this backwater town and I had a demon sniffing my trail. He scanned the room with the nostrils of his wide nose flaring. His hair lay plastered against his forehead in greasy brown locks. He towered over everyone, even the people standing, as he squeezed between the large round tables and the gathering at the bar. The frayed threads of his jeans and his leather vest matched the dress of the rest of the roadhouse.

I lifted my drink to my mouth and shifted to my second sight. Most people say the eyes are the windows to the soul. Those people can’t see auras. The lights on the walls dimmed, and the air took on a gray haze, like seeing things under water. Colors bloomed out from each human in the building, blending together in a rainbow. The demon was another matter.

The shaggy black dog the size of a pony stood semi-imposed on all fours over the form of the man. Flames blazed from its eyes as it scanned the room. Was there really a dog walking through a busy Texas bar? No. Demons had no corporeal form and had to possess physical bodies. This one chose a werewolf. Dio, I had a hellhound on my ass.

Talk about bad timing. Ose already had some of his minions patrolling. If it found me, it would go running to its master to let him know I was in town. My hunt was in danger of ending before it even started.

Breathe, Gabby.

I leaned forward and let my black curtain of hair obscure my face. The lid of the salt shaker twisted off in my empty hand and I knocked it over, allowing the grains to spill on the floor. The salt should cover my scent. I slid closer to the group at the next table until I looked like I belonged with them.

One of the men grinned at me, his aura a happy yellow orange. “Hey babe.”
I nodded and raised my glass, but kept my gaze on the hellhound. He paused at a man at the bar who had caught my attention, or more his aura did. A ghostly image of a woman leaned over him, whispering in his ear. My hand tightened around the beer mug, but the mutt moved on. I relaxed. The colors around the people in the bar faded, as did the ghost woman when my sight returned to normal. The haze remained, more from cigarette smoke. I turned my head to the front of the bar. One window and one door were not much of an escape route. Fifty feet of inebriated patrons stood between me and freedom.

Two of the three men I had been waiting for walked through the door. A familiar tingle ran down my spine. For a moment, I flashed back to a dressing room, staring down another Romanian hunter. We’d come across the same prey, though he thought it was a vampire. I inhaled, bringing myself back to the present. This wasn’t the twenties, I wasn’t in Paris, and these brothers weren’t Dimitri.

Both had his chiseled features and his straight nose, though their hair was more of a burnt sienna. The one in front wore his cut short and had a tuft on his chin. He towered over his brother, which meant he would be a mountain compared to my small height. The other kept his hair tucked behind his ears. He stood with his arms crossed, wearing a smirk to let the world know he knew everything.

They cast their eyes over the room. The tall one adjusted the glasses on his face and approached the man sitting at the bar. Several women watched them as they passed. A smile touched my lips. The boys knew how to dress to make an impression. Their leather coats and slacks spoke of sophistication yet still provided enough flexibility to move if needed.

I stood and nodded at the boys who’d been trying to talk to me. Rude, but it was time to work. Besides, they were too young for me. I straightened my red tank top and brushed any wrinkles from my jeans. I couldn’t approach them looking like a guttersnipe. A stool opened up on the other side of them. I took the seat and tried to look casual while listening in on the brothers’ conversation. The bartender stood in front of me, waiting for an order.

I pointed to a beer and leaned back to get a better look at the third man. His back remained mostly to me, giving me a glimpse of his bearded cheek and a ponytail a shade darker in color than the other two. Brother number three. I inched forward to hear better over someone’s bad rendition of “Bad Moon Rising.”

“Ader.” The tall man spoke in Romanian. “Your prison sentence hasn’t ended yet.”
“I got out for being brilliant,” the man at the bar said without turning around.
“Does the warden know that?” the third one asked.

If I remembered correctly, this generation of Van Helsings had four boys. Adam, the oldest, had passed away ten years ago. So that left Esais, Adrian, and Tres. The smirking boy had to be Tres he looked the youngest. Was Ader short for Adrian?

Ader chuckled. “The warden didn’t have much of a say.”

Esais, the tall one, pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He shook his head, letting out a long sigh as he looked at his brothers.

“Honestly,” he said. “First you end up in jail, and now you’re breaking out. You haven’t changed.”

“You expected me to?” Adrian asked.

"Why are you here?” Esais asked.

“Same reason as you. Revenge.”

Tres crossed his arms. “Why do you even care? You were never around when we needed you.”

Adrian turned to face his brothers, causing both of them to gasp. A patch covered his right eye while the other stared hard at Tres. Esais reached out to touch Adrian’s arm, but he pulled away.

“What happened?” Esais asked.

“Not important.” Adrian turned back to the bar. “Who were you told to meet?”

“A woman named Gabriella Di Luca.”

“Any idea what this woman looks like?”

Esais glanced in my direction with hesitation and opened his mouth.

I cleared my throat, raising my hand in a small wave. “Buna seara.”

Adrian and Tres turned their heads with near identical expressions of distrust. They didn’t expect someone to speak their native language here. I was a stranger invading their family circle.

“Who are you?” Adrian asked.

“Gabriella.”

“Convenient.” The word dripped with sarcasm.

We didn’t have time for this. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. My gaze traveled to the table-filled area further in the room. The hellhound’s wiry form had disappeared through a large door to the right. The atrocious singing wafted through there. This would be a perfect time to exit.

“We need to speak, but not here,” I said.

“We’re not going anywhere with you.”

“Ader,” Esais said.

Adrian looked back at his brother. “We have no proof she is who she claims to be.”
“He’s right. You could be a demon,” Tres said.

“Then you already revealed yourselves with your conversation,” I said. “Look, how much do you know of demons?”

“I’ve read several books on the subject,” Esais said. “That question doesn’t answer our doubts.”

“Do I fit the description you were given?”

Esais adjusted his glasses before nodding.

“Then, can we leave? I may not be one, but there is a demon here.”

Two turned their heads, their muscles tensing as they scanned the bar while Adrian kept his eye on me. The hellhound stepped back into the room and turned his head in my direction. His gaze locked on me, and he began shoving his way through the crowded tables and chairs.

I stood. “Too late.”


About the Author:

Noree Cosper loves writing about magic in the modern world. While growing up in Texas she constantly searched for mystical elements in the mundane. She buried her nose in both fiction and books about Wicca, Religion, and Mythology. Everyday became an adventure as she joined a group of role-players, acting out her fantasies of vampires, demons, and monsters living in the world. She embraced her nerdom wholeheartedly. Noree grew, but never left her love for fantasy and horror. Her dreams pushed her and her hand itched to write the visions she saw. So, with her fingers on the keys, she did what her heart had been telling her to do since childhood. She wrote.

Contact Info:
 
Website      –  Blog –  Twitter  –  Facebook
 
Stop by and enter the giveaway and enter to win some great SWAG or a printed copy of A Prescription for Delirium.

Friday 22 March 2013

Deceived Part 3 Chloe's Revenge by Eve Carter

 
Deceived Part 3 Chloe's Revenge by Eve Carter
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Carter Publishing House (Self-Published)
Format: Ebook
Length: approx. 130 pages
Release Date: March 15th 2013


Book Description:

The steamy Deceived romance trilogy by Eve Carter, in the bestselling tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James and The Blackstone Affair by Raine Miller.

When Chloe Swanson, an innocent mid-western college graduate, lands her dream job in New York City, she doesn't realize what kind of a ride she's in for.

It doesn't take long before her boss, the charming and sharp businessman Patrick Collins, deceives her into being part of his plan to land the biggest account of his life.

However, he never expected that he would fall for her. Suddenly, he finds himself trapped between a ruthless billionaire client, who has her own eyes set on Patrick, and his deep affection for the beautiful Chloe.

What follows is a sensual and passionate journey of self-discovery, as Chloe faces the harsh reality of jealousy, love and money in the big city.

Stimulating, amusing and highly arousing, Deceived is a romance that will excite and titillate your senses.
 
My Review:
 
Deceived - Part 3 Chloe's Revenge (Deceived #3) by Eve Carter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Deceived- Part 3 is the final instalment in this series. Eve Carter's writing is good and the story flows so well you don't want to put it down. The entire series is easy to read and you can't helped but get hooked.

If you haven't read book 1 or 2, I would say you definitely need to go purchase them both before you read Chloe's Revenge. In the third and final book Patrick arrives in Paris and saves Chloe from being attacked by a artist she had been seeing. Patrick and Chloe have a few issues they need to work out, especially the Baroness who deceived Chloe and made her think Patrick had been seeing her also.

This book is about revenge and I would say pay back and its a great read. Of course I don't want to say to much and spoil the story for anyone.

I have rated this series a 4 star rating and would recommend that you go pick up a copy of all three books. Eva Carter has written a great trilogy, they are adult themed full of hot steamy .......romance.

Purchase Deceived Part 1 - New York: Amazon
Purchase Deceived Part 2 - Paris: Amazon

About The Author:

Eve Carter is a true romantic at heart and with a modern contemporary erotic twist to her romance novels, you had better fasten your seat belt, as the ride is always fun, exciting and fiery.

Living in Southern California, but a mid-westerner at origin, Eve finds plenty of inspiration for her books in her own exciting life. Eve has always loved the arts and as a young girl, she took dance classes and spent the summers reading books from the local library. Fascinated with the written word and its power to guide the imagination, Eve started writing short stories and later took Creative Writing classes in college. Eve graduated from The University of Iowa with a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Higher Education. She also has a Teaching Credential from Chapman University in Southern California.






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Friday 15 March 2013

Cover Reveal - Need by Stephanie Lawton

Need
By Stephanie Lawton
Published by Inkspell Publishing
http://www.inkspellpublishing.com
Release date: May 17, 2013
 
Synopsis:

Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.

Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.
The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.

Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?
 
 
Author bio:

After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.
A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles.
 
Contact Info
 
 
 
Stop by and Check out Want by Stephanie Lawton:
 
Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her.
She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball-the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite-forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.

Will Julianne accept the help she’s offered and get everything she ever wanted, or will she self-destruct and take Isaac down with her?

Surrender Your Love by J.C. Reed - Cover Reveal & Giveaway

Surrender Your Love
Release date: March 15th, 2013 
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Romance 18+
 
Book Synopsis:

Meeting Jett was like lightning. Dangerous. Better left untouched. And better forgotten. But lightning always strikes twice.

Brooke Stewart, a realtor in New York, doesn’t do relationships. When she’s sent to a remote estate to finalize a real estate deal, she discovers her new boss is no other than the guy she left naked in bed.

Sexy, dangerously handsome, and arrogant Jett Mayfield attracts trouble, and women, like a lightning rod. But the night he meets Brooke he gets more than he bargained for. The green-eyed millionaire playboy isn’t used to taking no for an answer, and he isn’t about to start now.

When he proposes two months of no strings sex, Brooke is intrigued and accepts his proposal. Little does she know Jett’s determined to claim the one woman he can’t have, pulling her deeper into his dangerous world.

A man who doesn't take 'no' for an answer.
A woman afraid to surrender to love.
Two lives that are about to cross...and secrets laid bare.

About the Author:

Jessica C. Reed is a contemporary fiction author, but her greatest achievement are her two children. She spent half of her life in the beautiful mountains of Wyoming and would like to go back one day. When she’s not typing away on her keyboard, forgetting the world around her, you can find her talking on the phone or watching way too much TV.

To find out about Jessica's work, future releases, competitions and great giveaways visit her blog


Author links:
 
 
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Thursday 14 March 2013

Release Day Book Blast - Shooting Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel #1) by H.D. Gordon




Title: Shooting Stars (A Surah Stormsong Novel #1)
Author: H.D. Gordon
Publisher: ShareAread
Release Date: March 15th, 2013
Formats:  E-book
Cover Artist: Regina Wamba

Shooting Stars Synopsis
 
Once upon a time, a common boy fell in love with a princess. It was a hopeless, forbidden love, grown in a world where sorcery and magic rule over all. Now, dark times are brewing, and destiny will bring them together, while fate works to keep them apart. Extraordinary battles will be fought, and extraordinary choices made. Join the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga for the beginning of a tale of star-crossed lovers and magic, of hope and love and loss, of desperate wishes made on stars.

 About the Author

H. D. Gordon is the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga. Blood Warrior, the first book of the Alexa series was her debut novel and has held a spot in the top 100 fantasy bestsellers for over a month. Half Black Soul is the second book in this series and H. D. plans to complete Alexa's tales by the end of 2012. In June of 2012, Joe, a fantasy novel about a young clairvoyant, was released as well. H. D. is a lifelong reader and writer, a true lover of words. When she is not reading or writing she is raising her two daughters, playing a little guitar, and spending time with her family. She is twenty three years old and lives in the northeastern United States.
 

You can follow H.D. Gordon at:
 
 
Giveaway
 
$50 Adopt a Tiger package from WWF

  • Baby Samson Plush
  • 5 e-copies of Shooting Stars


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    Read-a-Long Part #10 & Giveaway of Deceived Part 3 Chloe's Revenge by Eve Carter!

    Deceived Part 3 Chloe's Revenge by Eve Carter
     Genre: Erotic Romance
     Publisher: Carter Publishing House (Self-Published)
     Format: Ebook
     Length: approx. 130 pages
     Release Date: March 15th 2013
     
     
    Book Description:

    The steamy Deceived romance trilogy by Eve Carter, in the bestselling tradition of Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James and The Blackstone Affair by Raine Miller.

    When Chloe Swanson, an innocent mid-western college graduate, lands her dream job in New York City, she doesn't realize what kind of a ride she's in for.

    It doesn't take long before her boss, the charming and sharp businessman Patrick Collins, deceives her into being part of his plan to land the biggest account of his life.

    However, he never expected that he would fall for her. Suddenly, he finds himself trapped between a ruthless billionaire client, who has her own eyes set on Patrick, and his deep affection for the beautiful Chloe.
     
    What follows is a sensual and passionate journey of self-discovery, as Chloe faces the harsh reality of jealousy, love and money in the big city.
     
    Stimulating, amusing and highly arousing, Deceived is a romance that will excite and titillate your senses.
     
    Purchase Deceived Part 1 - New York: Amazon
     
    Purchase Deceived Part 2 - Paris: Amazon
     
    Read Along

    Deceived 3 – Chloe’s Revenge Excerpt 10

    The affable mood of the evening dissolved into a pile of gray ashes, as soon as Patrick and I stepped foot in his apartment. The thought of that Miami trip scheduled on his calendar, blew into my psyche like a dark fog licking at the corners of my mind. I threw my purse on the accent table just inside the door and flopped on the creamy white couch folding my arms across my chest. Patrick paused for a moment with one arm out of his dark blue suit jacket.

    “Baby, you look mad. What’s wrong?”

    “Exactly when, were you planning on telling me about Miami?” I glared at him.

    “Um, well, I knew you wouldn’t be happy about it, so I guess I put off saying anything but...”

    “Dammit Patrick. You know that bitch is just doing this to mess with us. She wants to keep us apart. Hell, she wants to destroy us.”

    “I know, I know. And if you allow her to upset you now, well, that’s exactly her plan.  She wants us to fight and be angry with each other.” He came and perched himself on the edge of the couch, as if leary to be within striking distance. “Come on baby, what am I supposed to do?  She has me over a barrel, I just have to play along for a while longer and soon we’ll get our own clients and be rid of her for good.”

    Tucking my chin to my chest, I pursed my lips and pouted, thinking about what he had just said. It did make sense.

    “You should trust me. I’m not going to be the only one from the office there in Miami with her. Jack and Pete are going to be there too.” He leaned forward, tipping his head to peer into my face. I turned and unlocked my arms, squeezing my hand into a fist so tightly that I could feel my fingernails dig into the palm of my hand.

    “I do trust you Patrick. I trust you with my whole heart, my whole being and my soul. But I don’t trust her, the serpent from Eden. I know what she’s capable of. She will bewitch you and try to seduce you, try to make you doubt our relationship.” I searched his beautiful blue eyes for reassurance.

    “Don’t even worry about that, baby,” he said, taking my knotted hand in his, and gently unfurling my clenched fingers. “You are the only one who can bewitch me and seduce me, and I would never doubt our relationship,” he whispered. Taking my hand to his lips, he softly kissed, first my palm and then turning my hand over, he kissed the back. Without breaking his gaze, he said softly and slowly,
    “What we have is the most beautiful thing in the world, and I love you with all my heart.”
     
    About The Author:
     
    Eve Carter is a true romantic at heart and with a modern contemporary erotic twist to her romance novels, you had better fasten your seat belt, as the ride is always fun, exciting and fiery.

    Living in Southern California, but a mid-westerner at origin, Eve finds plenty of inspiration for her books in her own exciting life. Eve has always loved the arts and as a young girl, she took dance classes and spent the summers reading books from the local library. Fascinated with the written word and its power to guide the imagination, Eve started writing short stories and later took Creative Writing classes in college. Eve graduated from The University of Iowa with a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Higher Education. She also has a Teaching Credential from Chapman University in Southern California.
     


    Giveaway
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    Wednesday 13 March 2013

    Dark Genesis by Dave Ferraro - Promo & Giveaway

     
     
    Dark Genesis is a new YA paranormal fantasy from the creator of the Hunters of the Dark series.  You can get your copy of Dark Genesis now for FREE by filling out the Rafflecopter below.  Everyone who enters also has a chance to win a $40 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble – it’s your choice!! This is an international contest and everyone who enters can choose their e-format of choice to receive their copy of Dark Genesis for free from Smashwords! And did I mention the $40 gift card?!
     
    Book Description:
     
    Alyssa opened her eyes to darkness. And in the first flash of light provided by a gathering storm, she could make out a ring of bodies surrounding her.

    With no memory of who she is, Alyssa stumbles into a dark world populated by witches. The witches are powerful, and demonstrate frightening powers, but even more terrifying are the monsters who rule over the land. Vampires, werewolves and other awful creatures of the night have taken over, forcing the witches behind stone walls, afraid to venture outdoors. But Alyssa finds that as she kills certain monsters, memories return to her, memories of a life on Earth, and the boy she left behind.

    The quest to collect her memories and piece together the puzzle of what has happened to her is a daunting one, with betrayals and sacrifices every step of the way. But Alyssa is determined to fight for a world that is not her own, destroying powerful monsters along the way, so that she can return home to the boy she is coming to love through the memories she recollects.
     
    About The Author:
     
    Dave Ferraro graduated from Saint Cloud State University with a BA in English and creative writing, and resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has been writing young adult novels for as long as he can remember and is an avid reader of all things teen, as well as graphic novels.
     
     
    Contact Info:
     Dave Ferraro
     
    Purchase Links
      

    Sunday 10 March 2013

    Her Sweetest Downfall by Rebecca Hamilton - Book Tour

     
     
    Her Sweetest Downfall
    Bonus Novella from The Forever Girl Series
    By Rebecca Hamilton
    Paranormal Romance
    Release Date:  July 2012


    Book Synopsis

    Ophelia’s been successful at hiding her true identity, until the mark of the serpent appears on her neck—a death sentence, should it be seen by anyone in her town. Hiding the mark might save her from falling victim to the witch hunts of her era, but the scorching sensation it carries can’t be ignored.

    When the mysterious Ethan is sent to collect her for a life of something more, she learns concealing the mark is the least of her worries. She’s destined to don a new mask—to join a dark, supernatural world and protect the future of people she may never meet.
    What she doesn’t know—what she learns too late—is that her initiation won’t be complete until she kills the man she loves.

    Set in an alternate Regency England, “”Her Sweetest Downfall”" is a standalone novella in the “”Forever Girl”" series, written as a gift to fans of the Forever Girl series.

    HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL will appeal to lovers of paranormal romance, fantasy, and vampire fiction.

    Guest Post:

    An Overview of The Forever Girl World and all its Creatures!

    The UNIVERSE

    Many, many years ago, our Universe used its power of creation to make Earth, and the Earth was an art to watch on and manipulate and intrigue. It was through this creation that the Universe realized they could create life that could sustain itself. The trees would grow without the Universe commanding it to be so. The wind would blow, the waves would roll, the earth would crack and shift.
    But with this new world came a weakness. The Universe’s energy was depleting faster than it could replenish, and it feared soon it would fade out of existence. It was then the Universe create Humans, and so designed them that they would be an energy, and the Universe could draw from their positive energy each day and while the Universe fed on this energy these humans would sleep.

    Some of the humans, however, had within them a darkness. The Universe could not thrive on their energy, and so sleep did not come so easily for them. In their restlessness, they caused destruction among their lands and cities and towns, and with each life source that one human killed off, the Universe began to feel more of a threat on their source of life.

    And so came about the creation of the Cruor, as the Universe was one that could only create and not destroy. The Cruor, who would later become known by the modern man or woman as vampires, represent the element of Earth.

    EARTH Elementals

    In the world of The Forever Girl, the Cruor (earth elementals) were created by the Universe resurrecting humans who were buried alive. They were to be guardians of the night, immortal creatures that would hunt the dark humans. As time went on, Cruor became able to multiple in number by “turning” these humans. The intention of the transformation was to purify the dark human so they could join the Cruor in eliminating the dark energy in this world. Instead, some Cruor harbored darkness of their own, and soon this darkness became more of a keystone than an anomaly.

    FIRE Elementals

    At around the same time the Cruor were brought forth, the Chibold were brought into existence as well. The Chibold are Fire Elementals, based on sprites, known for the mischievous behavior and tendency to appear as children. However, do not be deceived. These little ones contain a supreme knowledge and are able to communicate directly with the Universe, and can intuitively discern good from evil. They are little watchers privy to the kind of information disclosed around children by adults who think they won’t understand. Additionally, they sometimes act as messengers and guides for other Elementals.

    WATER Elementals

    Water elementals are known as the Strigoi. They are similar to shapeshifters. The Universe intended them as hunters of the darker Cruor, but, unfortunately, this turned into more of a battle between the elemental races. You could call them immortal enemies, though Strigoi are only immortal so long as they don’t stop shifting.

    AIR Elementals

    Air Elementals, or the Ankou, are faerie grim reapers. They’re based on the legend of the Ankou, and they brought to this world a magic intended to help bring peace between the Strigoi and the Cruor, and also to deal with the spirits of these supernaturals following their death.  When the Ankou came, they brought peace between the Cruor and Strigoi, but this also led to procreation between the races.

    The MALTORIM (and Dual Breeds)

    The Maltorim are a council meant to oversee the wishes of the Universe. The Universe, however, began to request things of the Council that its members did not want to honor. For example, the Universe wanted to bring a balance to the Council, with one element representing one leader within the Council. The current leaders, however, and more especially the Queen, did not want balance. Moreover, the presence of the Ankou led to cross-breeding of other supernatural races.

    Dual bred races had an easier time integrating with human society. Compared to their purebred counterparts, they are weaker in some ways and stronger in others, but this gives them an edge (while also making their abilities a bit unpredictable). This worries the Council. Further, the presence of dual breeds increased discovery by humans (or those two events coincided—which does not necessarily mean one was the cause!). However, the Council liked to blame the dual-natured for this, as it gave them an opportunity to launch an attack against all of their kind.

    Before that point, there was a resistance between the Universe and the Council, but at this time, the Council was in complete rebellion. The Council would argue that the Universe didn’t know what it was doing—that the Universe had messed up time and time again. The Council believed they could do better, but the Universe will not give up yet, because the Council’s actions could lead to the extermination of all life within the Universe (and the Universe itself).

    SPIRIT Elementals

    There had been several witch trials before any spirit elementals were chosen, but as the first spirit elementals were chosen during the Salem witch trials, they quickly became known as “witches” as well, this being largely because “witch” was something humans used to call humans they thought of as supernatural, and the spirit elementals were just that—mortal supernaturals.

    Witches were intended to conjure magic from the Universe directly and use that magic to restore balance in the Earth. Their very presence, of course, would help restore balance just by bringing all of the elements into play, but it was their magic that was intended to create harmony.

    The Universe, being a bit wiser for its past mistakes, created witches in such a way that any harm they caused would be brought back to themselves. Because of a supernatural war (over the existence of dual breeds), the spirit elementals were not able to fulfill their duty, and the war raged in humanity over the idea of “witches”. But as the witches were mortal, the Universe granted immortality to their *magic* instead. This was the start of hereditary witches, whose magic, when passed down, would be halved, and when passed down again, halved again. And on it goes…

    FOREVER GIRLS

    Forever Girls are witches who don’t always remain Spirit Elementals. Their magic is carried with their soul. If the spirit of the first witch stays in her lineage, then she will be a true Spirit elemental. Other Forever Girls, however, may come about by other means. They also began as Spirit elementals, carrying their magic with their soul, but if they strayed from their lineage, they may become grounded to another element while still remaining one of the Forever Girls.

    If a woman can discover she is one of the Forever Girls, she can tap into all those lifetimes of magic. Otherwise, she can only use the magic that was passed down to her through her ancestors.

    About the Author:

    Rebecca Hamilton writes Paranormal Fantasy, Horror, and Literary Fiction. She lives in Florida with her husband and three kids, along with multiple writing personalities that range from morbid to literary. Having a child diagnosed with autism has inspired her to illuminate the world through the eyes of characters who see things differently.


     
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    Saturday 2 March 2013

    At First Touch by Mattie Dunman Blog Tour

    Young Adult Paranormal
    Date Published: 5/28/12
     
     
    Book Description:

    Liz Hannigan has been on the run since she was twelve years old.

     Her mother is dead. Her father has lost his job. And thanks to an experimental procedure, Liz is now able to ‘download’ the contents of every brain around her with a simple touch. Forced to hide from both the federal government and a darkling group of morally deficient scientists known as the Coalition determined to exploit her abilities, she moves with her father to the bucolic coal town of Pound, West Virginia.

    But the hunt for Liz and her abilities hasn’t ended, and her hopes for peace are shattered when she inadvertently downloads the enigmatic Carey Drake, whose unusual good looks and charm conceal a secret as shocking as her own. Stunned by the knowledge that she has found someone else who has extraordinary abilities, Liz finds herself drawn to Carey, discovering a deep attraction, and dares to hope for the first time she might find love.

    But when an agent of the Coalition begins stalking her, Liz must find a way to work with the government agency she most mistrusts as she strives to build a longed-for normal life and take down the agent who has tracked her down. Caught up in a struggle to save herself and those she loves, the girl who sees all is blind to true danger until it is too late.

    My Review:

    At First Touch by Mattie Dunman
    My rating: 4 of 5 stars

    At First Touch written by Mattie Dunman is a well written novel, the plot and story line are a bit different from other paranormal romance books I’ve read recently. It was nice to read something different this time.

    We first meet Liz and find out that she had been in a terrible car accident and lost her mother. When she awakes from a year long coma she finds out she has a very unique gift. Liz has the ability to read minds, and not only read them, but when a person touches her she sort of downloads all their memories and knowledge into her own brain. At first this is pretty scary for Liz but with time she learns to block the voices she hears in her head. When she touches people it opens up some sort of connection to them and it seems if she wants to connect with them later she could.

    Liz and her father move around a lot due to the fear of scientist or government people wanting to get their hands on Liz to use her for their own purposes. Attending a new school in a new town Liz for the first time allows herself to make friends. When she meets Carey she finds out that he is different to and they form a friendship like Liz hasn’t’ had it a long time.

    This story is very well written and easy to read; Mattie Dunman has written a wonderful story in the YA genre. It has some twist and turns, full of suspense and a touch of romance. What more could you ask for?

    I would recommend At First Touch to anyone who enjoys YA Paranormal Romance to pick up this book. I really enjoyed the story and loved Liz and Carey. I really liked all the secondary characters throughout the story and hope we get to see them again in the future. The ending is great and I really hope we have a book two in this series. I loved that Liz and her father were close and she depended on him. Like most daughter should with their father. It was a fantastic read.

    I have rated At First Touch a 4 star rating and I would definitely read anything Mattie Dunman writes. So go out and grab a copy for yourself.

    Guest Post:

    Hello all! This is Mattie Dunman, saying hey from the mountains of West Virginia. I am sitting down with Liz Hannigan, star of At First Touch, for a quick interview.

    Liz takes a seat, watching me warily, her gloved hands in her lap. Leaning forward, she narrows her eyes and holds her body tense, as though she is about to leap from her seat at any moment.

    MD: Liz, thanks for being here. I know you’re a...private person, so I appreciate you answering some of my questions.

    Liz: What do you want to know?

    MD: Well first, can you tell us a little bit about how your gift works?

    Liz: (laughs mirthlessly) Gift. Right. Uh...sure. I touch you, skin to skin, and your entire mind downloads into my brain. Like hooking up to an external hard drive. I see your entire life in super-fast forward, like a movie speeding by too fast to makes sense of, and then everything just files itself away until I feel like looking at it. (shifts uncomfortably in her seat and looks down at her hands) Oh yeah, and then I can read your mind whenever I want.

    MD: Well, that’s got to be...difficult. I know you lost your mother and had to leave your family and friends behind. How has that affected you?

    Liz: (long silence) I guess...I always try to think of how she would handle things. Especially when it comes to Dad. Any time I get mad or irritated with him, I wonder what she would say or do and I try to make her proud. I think she would’ve wanted me to do more with my... ‘gift.’ It’s something I think about every day.

    MD: Have you thought about how you might use your abilities to impact the world?

    Liz: (sighs and looks out the window, looking suddenly tired) I used to. I mean, earlier on, before I got caught up with the Feds and the Coalition, I imagined being a cop or something. You know, sort of a super-interrogator, bane to all criminals. But then I saw the way my abilities were treated, how impossible it would be to have my own life if I made them public, and I got scared. I just want to get through the next day without disaster; it’s hard to think past that.

    MD: Okay, so on a lighter note, you say you love to read. What are some of your favorite books?

    Liz:  Oh, well, I have a bunch of books my mom used to read. Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, Gwen Bristow.  Sort of romantic/adventure/suspense type stuff. I also really like the Twilight series. So sue me.

    MD:  You’ve said that you can play music in your head like a playlist. What do you listen to most often?

    Liz:  You know, I’m a big Beatles fan. Especially the Revolver album. So classic.

    MD: One last question. You and Carey...is it the real thing?

    Liz: (whispers, gaze fervent) God, I hope so.

    Well, that’s it for now. This is Mattie Dunman saying thanks to Liz for sharing some of her thoughts and wishing her luck in her fight against the Coalition and her romance with the always-adorable Carey.


    Author Bio:
     
    Mattie Dunman is a lifelong resident of "Wild & Wonderful" West Virginia, and has dreamed of being a writer since she first held a pen in hand.

    Mattie has pursued several useless degrees to support this dream, and presently enjoys teaching (or tormenting, as the case may be) college students the dying art of public speaking. She spends most of her free time writing, but also indulges in reading and traveling.

    She is the proud owner of an adorably insane American Eskimo named Finn, and a tyrant cat named Bella, who take up more of her attention than they probably should.

    Mattie is currently working on the second book in the First Touch series, and is ecstatic about her new release, At First Touch.
     
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    Friday 1 March 2013

    Cover Reveal - Reconnaissance Book Two of Paradise Reclaimed by Aubrie Dionne

     
    Book Description:
     
    Nova Williams has lost her one shot at Lieutenant hood and at love. Lieutenant Crophaven has promoted her rival, Andromeda, all because her lifemate, Sirius, sacrificed their mission to win back Andromeda’s love.
     
    While sneaking out to prove Andromeda is a fake, Nova finds an alien ship hovering over their colony. Lieutenant Crophaven assigns her to a reconnaissance mission, giving her a second chance to redeem herself. Sirius must fly her and a research team to the vessel to decide if they are a threat. Thrown together with the lifemate that betrayed her, she battles with her own jealousy while her team battles for their lives.
     
    Can she forgive Sirius in order to save her team and warn her colony?
     
    About the author:
     
    Aubrie Dionne writes science fiction fantasy with romantic elements. Her writings have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, Emerald Tales, Hazard Cat, Moon Drenched Fables, A Fly in Amber, and Aurora Wolf. Her books are published by Inkspell Publishing, Entangled Publishing, Lyrical Press, and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. She’s also a professional flutist in New England.
     
    Please visit her
     
     
    Giveaway:
     
    Prize 1: 1 Paperback after release
    Prize 2: 5 eBooks after release
    Prize 3: 1 Necklace
     
     

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