Friday, February 28, 2014

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Black Moon (Moonlight Trilogy #2) by Teri Harman






Black Moon
Moonlight Trilogy #2
by Teri Harman
Expected Publication: September 14, 2014
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press

Synopsis via Goodreads:


Simon Howard accidentally killed three people. Four months later, the nightmares won’t stop. Willa Fairfield, his girlfriend, his soul mate, wants nothing more than to help him move on. But guilt isn’t the only thing getting in Simon’s way.

When unexplained earthquakes hit the small town of Twelve Acres, and dozens of people go missing, the Light witches discover their most feared enemy, Archard, is still alive. Employing the twisted, dynamic magic of a legendary witch known as Bartholomew the Dark, Archard plans to exact his revenge and take control of the Powers of the Earth on the night of the black moon, a rare lunar event infamous for Dark magic.

As the Light Covenant fumbles to defend against Archard’s sadistic intentions, Simon’s magic grows inexplicably more powerful, even dangerous. Willa throws all her efforts into solving the mystery of Simon’s transformation, but when the events of the past storm into the present, the couple’s future changes forever.






Teri Harman has believed in all things wondrous and haunting since her childhood days of sitting in the highest tree branches reading Roald Dahl and running in the rain imagining stories of danger and romance. Currently, her bookshelf is overflowing, her laundry unfolded, and her three small children running mad while she pens bewitching novels.

Teri also writes a monthly book column for ksl.com, Utah's number one news site and contributes regular book segments to Studio 5, Utah's number one lifestyle show.

Come share in the magic and chaos at teriharman.com.




Connect with Teri:   Facebook   Goodreads   Twitter   Website  





Use the rafflecopter below to enter the tour wide giveaway for your chance to win a signed, hardcover of Blood Moon (Book 1).


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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Alex's Place - Coming to a close...Kayla will be back soon!


As Alex's week here at Kayla's Place comes to a close, I (Kayla) would like to say thanks! Thank you Alex, for taking great care of my place during the week. Hopefully, you've enjoyed your time here and found a few new followers from my friends.

For those who missed Alex's original post, you need to go check it out. Learn about who Alex is and what he does. Life wasn't always great for him as a teen, but, well, read his story. :) I'll be reading episode 1 soon myself. Also, thanks to the author, Weston, for allowing Alex to stop by for the week!

You still have several days to enter the $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway. I'll be checking the entries & emailing out the giftcard to one lucky, random winner. Good luck everyone! 




A Life of Death
Episodes 1-10
by Weston Kincade
Mature Suspense, Paranormal Mystery

Episode 1 Synopsis via Goodreads

An amazing and addictive series from a talented storyteller. In this episode:

Homicide detective Alex Drummond is confronted with the past through his son’s innocent question. Alex’s tale of his troubled senior year unfolds revealing loss, drunken abuse, and mysterious visions of murder and demonic children. Is he going insane? With the help of his close friend Paige Kurtley, Alex must find the source of his misfortune and ensure his sanity.





 *Episode 1 is free at the time of posting!*
 
The free serialized audiobook can be found at:
Podiobooks  iTunes




Alex's Place: What do others think? And there's still $10 up for grabs...



What is everyone else saying about me? 
Here's a few that Weston has listed on his blog....


Unrated Review by Alex at Calamus Excerpt - "Kincade has a knack for suspenseful writing..."
4 Star review by Jessica at Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile Excerpt - "There is so much wrapped up in A Life of Death. So many minor things that, as a whole, contribute to make this a book that's honestly tough to put down..."
5 Star review by Star at Bibliophilic Book Blog Excerpt - "I enjoyed A LIFE OF DEATH greatly and I think the author has a expressive voice which will make any story amazing..."
5 Star review by Wendy at Minding Spot Excerpt - "I can't wait to read something else by this exceptionally gifted author! A Life in Death deserves five stars - it's that good! Highly recommend!!"
5 Star review by Ailyn at Piece of My Mind, not once but in two separate reviews: 1 and 2 Excerpts - "I would recommend this as a good read...," and "You will like it if you like supernatural abilities..."
4 Star review by Samantha at Samthebookaholic
 Excerpt: "I highly recommend this book to people who love mystery..."





 *Episode 1 is free at the time of posting!*
 
The free serialized audiobook can be found at:
Podiobooks  iTunes
 
 
 
 
 Go read my original post to learn more about me & to enter to win the $10 Amazon Giftcard that's up for grabs...


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Yes, Still Alex's Place - Just in case someone is confused...





hom-i-cide [hom-uh-sahyd, hoh-muh-]
 noun
1. the killing of one human being by another
2. a person who kills another; murderer




Alex Drummond is a troubled high school senior with a checkered past, a broken home, and a surprising ability. When he touches items that murder victims held in their final moments, Alex relives the events in gruesome detail, seeing what they saw, thinking their thoughts, and even feeling what they felt. But who will believe a troubled teen, especially when the murders are so close to home and might reveal skeletons hidden for hundreds of years? Join Alex as he struggles to find his destiny, understand love, solve the mysterious murders within his small home town, and speak for victims who can no longer speak for themselves.






 *Episode 1 is free at the time of posting!*

The free serialized audiobook can be found at:
Podiobooks  iTunes




Don't forget to go back to my original post to learn more about me & enter to win the $10 Amazon Giftcard that's up for grabs.....

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Welcome To Alex's Place... I mean Kayla's Place.... {Character Takeover & $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway}

Kayla’s Place… Isn’t that the little book store between the old Stop’n Shop and the florist?  

Yeah, I’m sure it is. A great place to find a book or hear about new and upcoming books. Feel free to look around. I’m sure you’ll find some great books—some old, some new. Careful of the old ones. Sometimes they’ll give you a bit more than you reckon on getting. Sometimes it’s in the pages, but for me it’s a little different. You never know who might have been holding one when… well, when some less than savory things might have happened. And it’s not just books. Anything I touch could hold such power.

Who the heck am I?

Yeah, you’re probably asking yourself that.

Believe it or not, I’m the guy in the overcoat and fedora loitering outside, peering in the window every now and again. I don’t relish stepping inside, not when just a touch could send me into visions of murder and depravity 1 day or 100 years old. You’ve probably seen me, though, taken one of my cards—the ones that say Alex Drummond, Homicide Detective.

Yeah, you know me. Here, have another, but stay away from the yellow tape fencing off the alleyway unless you want a pretty terrifying surprise.

What’s it for?

Don’t you worry—just a murder. The killer’s gone now… at least I’m pretty sure. I wonder, do you look like him? Nah, can’t be. His head was shaved, at least I think it was. After so many years, it’s hard to keep the visions separate from my own memories, but I’ve seen him. Hell, I was in the victim’s head. I saw and heard everything.

What’s it like?

That’s a pretty personal question, don’t you think? No worries. I’ll tell ya. Imagine dying once, being murdered—stabbed, shot, squashed in a city dump truck, or terrorized by your own personal demons. I’ve seen it all, lived it even… or relived it. How can you relive something as final—as terminal—as death? Believe it or not, it’s possible. First, it normally starts with a smell; the odor of aged leather, worn and rustic, comes to me. Then reality falls away, and a waking dream overtakes me. I am the victim, holding whatever was in their hands, seeing the world through his or her eyes, and speaking the words that were said—talk about a feeling of multiple personalities, like you’re stepping into someone else’s shoes. It’s pretty unsettling.

Crazy? Am I crazy?

Wow, aren’t we really getting personal. But, yeah I wondered that myself. Father Gilbert wondered it, too. He didn’t say as much, but I could tell he was thinking it. However, the proof’s in the pudding. If Bill Cosby said it, it must be true. I’ve got all my marbles—no worries there.

Has it always been this way?

Nah, believe it or not, once I was just a kid, making all the mistakes every kid does, dealing with my father’s death due to a drunk driver and my mother’s choice of a new stepfather and family. Then, when I was seventeen, a high school senior, that smell revealed the truth about my small town of Tranquil Heights—there were skeletons hidden in the nooks and crannies of the small town, and murderers were walking free.

How did I know?

Ghosts. They told me, and no I’m not crazy. Don’t believe me? Then step into Kayla’s Place. Try picking up some of the books, especially those older ones. Just be careful, and if you catch a glimpse into a murderous scene with some demon, murderer, or twisted principal coming after you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

However, if you’re curious and want to really see what I’m talking about, step this way. Don’t mind the yellow tape; the murderer is gone now… really. Grab your copy of A Life of Death. You can also pick up a dozen or so other books Kayla’s got stowed away or recommended. They’re right down that alley.

You trust me, right?

Yeah, I’m sure you do…

Welcome to Kayla’s Place!




A Life of Death
Episodes 1-10
by Weston Kincade
Mature Suspense, Paranormal Mystery

Episode 1 Synopsis via Goodreads

An amazing and addictive series from a talented storyteller. In this episode:

Homicide detective Alex Drummond is confronted with the past through his son’s innocent question. Alex’s tale of his troubled senior year unfolds revealing loss, drunken abuse, and mysterious visions of murder and demonic children. Is he going insane? With the help of his close friend Paige Kurtley, Alex must find the source of his misfortune and ensure his sanity.






Creative writing has always been a passion for Weston Kincade. He's helped invest in future writers for years while teaching writing. In his spare time he writes poetry and short stories in addition to his novels. He also edits and operates WAKE Editing (http://www.wakeediting.com). He is currently working on a variety of paranormal and fantasy novels. As the wordsmithing process continues, Weston loves stretching the boundaries of human understanding.



Contact Weston:   Facebook   Website   Blog   Twitter 






 *Episode 1 is free at the time of posting!*
 
The free serialized audiobook can be found at:
Podiobooks  
iTunes




Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win a $10 Amazon Giftcard! Open internationally. Giftcard delivered via email. Good Luck Everyone!




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Sunday, February 16, 2014

Open Heart Chronicles Blog Tour - Consequence by Shelly Crane!!





Consequence
A Significance Novella
by Shelly Crane
YA PNR
Published 2/14/14

Blurb:
Maggie and Caleb are married, leaders of their people, parents to their children, and happier than they ever dreamed, even with the visions they saw of it to prove it so. The council is still rebelling against Maggie’s changes, but this time it’s different. It’s almost as if something…or someone is behind them, pulling the strings and making decisions for them.
And Maggie is having strange visions that only she can see, leaving Caleb helpless to help her. But when her visions start to warn her that their daughter, Ava, will one day be in danger, they’ll do anything it takes to find out what’s going on and how to stop it, even paying a visit to a previous Visionary.
Maggie and Caleb must find out who or what is behind it all and stop them before Maggie is one vision too late.


Character Interview with Caleb and Maggie:

"Hi! Thanks for letting Caleb and I stop by your place today. We're in a hurry - you know, Visionary Champion business and all, but I told Caleb we absolutely had to make time and stop by today to say thank you for helping with the release of Mrs.Crane's new Significance book. Right, baby?"
Caleb gives Maggie an adoring look. "Of course, baby."
Maggie smiles and nudges him arm. "Don't make me all swoony , Jacobson."
Caleb chuckles and puts his arm around her shoulder, bringing her close and kissing her temple. "I'll behave if you will," he says low. He looks up at the blogger whose stunned and waiting patiently. "Go ahead and ask whatever you like."
Most romantic gesture you've done for each other?
Maggie: I'd have to say when he went to so much trouble to secretly replace the star bracelet. He's done a ton of amazing things, but knowing how much that meant to me and trying to surprise me was super sweet.
Caleb: The wedding vows she wrote for me and the way she wrote them. Hands down.
Favorite qualities about one another?
Maggie: I love how he always thinks about me - about how I'll react or what I'll want or think about things. His being so considerate is my favorite thing.
Caleb: Maggie is amazing. She goes with the flow and is such a good person without even trying to be. And she's an amazing mother. That's two things, but oh well.
Let's be honest now...most annoying trait about each other?
Caleb: *laughs loudly* She puts the empty milk carton back in the fridge. Every time.
Maggie: *nudges his gut with her elbow* He leaves wet towels on the bedroom floor.
Caleb: *scoffs* Never.
Maggie: *laughs* Oh, yes you do, Jacobson.
Caleb: *chuckles and kisses her forehead* Whatever you say, boss.
Do you have pet names? If so what are they?
Caleb: Jacobson. It's pretty hot.
Maggie: He calls me any and every endearment and they all make me melt. Baby is probably my favorite. But I also just love hearing my name come out of his mouth.
Caleb: *smiles a real smile* I knew that.
Ideal Valentine's Day date and/or gift?
Maggie and Caleb answer together: The beach.
Caleb: *laughs* If we could go and hang out at the beach all day and surf or just lay around, and then spend the night at the beach house together? That's a perfect day.
Maggie: Yeah, what he said. I'm still not that great at surfing, but it's fun having him teach me.
Caleb: And I love taking Maggie to new places to eat. She's open to trying to new things. I love that.
Maggie: I love letting you pick new foods for me. You do a good job.
Caleb: *smirks and rubs his thumb over Maggie's knuckles*
What is the simple most important thing in a relationship to be happy?
Caleb: Love - unconditional.
Maggie: Willingness to compromise.
Is there anything that you'd change if you could go back and do it all over again?
Caleb: *Looks at Maggie and shakes his head, bringing her wrist up to kiss her tattoo* Not. One. Single. Thing.
Maggie: *Bites her lip and looks at him* Never.
Okay, last question. Should fans of the Significance books read the new spin-off series with your daughter, Ava, that comes out this fall, Undeniably Chosen?
Maggie: Totally. Caleb and I will be in it a lot and if you're a fan of the new love feel of a book - when people first get together all that entails - you'll get plenty of that. Ava is a strong girl, but she's got a lot of rough stuff ahead for her. But there's a lot of good ahead of her, too.
Caleb: Absolutely. And you'll see what happens when someone messes with my girls. *Grins*




 Grab Your Copy:

 Shelly Crane Consequences AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1cDN0Uw

Lila Felix Heart Breaker AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1gxcozr B&N: http://bit.ly/1gxeW0o
Amity Hope Always AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1gxchEb
Jamie Magee Derive AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1gxcuHk  B&N: http://bit.ly/1gxeBLd
Rachel Higginson Breathless Magic: http://amzn.to/1gxcDug 
Amber Garza Finding Me Again AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1gxcIyi


Use the rafflecopter form below for the awesome tour wide giveaway! Good luck everyone!






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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Release Blitz! Ummaking Marchant (Love Inc #3) by Ella James



Unmaking Marchant
Love Inc #3
by Ella James
Adult Contemporary Romance
Published February 12, 2014


Synopsis:
Marchant Radcliffe, owner of the exclusive Love Inc. brothel outside Vegas, is no stranger to darkness. He lost his sister in childhood and his parents in college. Since his best friend helped him finance the Love Inc. ranch almost ten years ago, Marchant has drowned himself in business—and he’s thrived, despite the heavy secret that has plagued him since his parents’ deaths. Then, after ten years of good fortune, Marchant’s skeletons start to peek out of the closet, tossing him down a trail of ruin that begins with arson and could end with murder. Because he’s kept his struggles private, he has no one to pull him back from the brink. Except for Suri Dalton. After a breakup with her longtime fiancé, Suri, the daughter of one of Silicon Valley’s tech tycoons, has nowhere to go except her BFF’s new penthouse in Las Vegas. The last thing Suri is looking for is a man, but after drowning her woes in wine on the flight over, she stumbles into a torrid make out session with a beautiful stranger—who just so happens to be Marchant Radcliffe, a playboy and a literal pimp. Despite an immediate attraction, Suri writes Marchant off as exactly the sort of guy she should avoid. Until Love Inc. goes up in flames, Marchant winds up at the bottom of a swimming pool, and Suri is the only one around to pull him out. What happens when what you see isn’t what you get? What do you do when destiny is too alluring to resist and too dangerous to survive? 



Grab Your Copy





 


Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma. Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012. To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.  

Connect with Ella: Website Facebook Twitter

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Review: King Hall (Forever Evermore #1) by Scarlett Dawn


King Hall
Forever Everymore #1
by Scarlett Dawn
Published August 1, 2013

*Ebook obtained via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Synopsis via Goodreads:

A fresh, meaty, sink-your-teeth-in-and-hold-on-tight new adult fantasy series kicks off with King Hall…

King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.

Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing:  survival.  Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing — The Mystical Kings.  Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace — her burgeoning friendships with the other three Prodigies: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life.

Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the revolution.


Grab Your Copy:






  

Scarlett Dawn is drawn to all things quirky and off-beat. She believes there are no boundaries for an imaginative soul. Her love of the written word started from at an early age, when her grandmother would take her to bookstores every weekend. Dreams came alive within the books she found there, and now, she is thrilled to share her stories with others who have fallen under the spell of taking fantastical journeys. Scarlett resides in the Midwest with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

Connect with Scarlett:   Goodreads   Twitter   Facebook   Website   



 




 
I'm absolutely speechless and I can't wait to start the next book. The beginning made me cry. The middle made me addicted to the story and characters. The ending has left me begging for more! 

The first freaking few chapters left me wanting to throw the book across the room because of what happens! I can't spoil it but be warned that your heart will be broken within the first few chapters! Really... You can't say I didn't warn you! 

Now, I pushed through (after ugly crying for a bit - and honestly - that says something about the author's character building - I was already addicted and in love with these characters by the first few chapters!). I'm glad I did! I loved this story! 

It's hard for me to explain the world building so I won't fully explain it. I'm afraid I may confuse you.... In a nutshell, each mystical faction (Mage's, Shifters, Vampires, & Elementals) has a Prodigy who will take over as King/Queen of their faction. They'll be the ruler of the faction. 

Lily will now be the Shifter Queen, Ezra - Vampire, Pearl - Mage, Jack - Elemental. They're thrown together into, basically, stardom for their faction. They finish out their classes only to be thrown into another round of trainings with the current Kings. The current Kings "betting" seriously made me laugh out loud. I loved every second of their relentless teasing. They're like a bunch of kiddies. So funny! 

Now, it's not all fun & roses for these guys. They have to stay strong & push through the challenges that they're facing. They become super close friends and that begins to weird out their factions because it's something that's not "normal." The factions never really "mingle" and touch each other like the prodigies do. They've become so close and it's a beautiful friendship to me... But their factions don't think so... 

Now... Lily isn't as she seems... she's Different... She's a mixbreed of sorts. She has other needs that have to be addressed... It poses an interesting dilemma for the prodigies and they all step up and help her out. It's amazing. 

Now, there are soooo many twists and turns in this plot! Other than the very first one and one of the very last ones, they're awesome. Okay, so the other two are awesome but seriously not awesome... If you read it, you'll know what I mean. They're terrible surprises in the plot and I hated them... But they played into the story well... The story wouldn't be what it is without those plot twists that I hated so, so much. >_< 

Now the ending! ACK! I want to start book 2 in this series like now! Ugh! Serious cliffhanger ending that leaves you going "Nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!"  


Overall Rating: 5 Stars
Cover Rating: 5 Stars <-- Truly beautiful cover! Love it!
 Characters: 5 Stars
Plot: 5 Huge Stars
Climax: ACK! 5 Stars!
Ending: Holy crap... do I have to give it stars... I'm petrified at how the characters will recover in the next book! But yea, 5 stars!   







 



Friday, February 7, 2014

Review: The Antique Love by Helena Fairfax


The Antique Love
by Helena Fairfax
Contemporary Romance
Published August 30, 2013

*EBook obtained directly from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Synopsis via Goodreads:

One rainy day in London, Wyoming man Kurt Bold walks into an antique shop off the King’s Road and straight into the dreams of its owner, Penny Rosas. Lively, spirited and imaginative, Penny takes this handsome stranger for a romantic cowboy straight from the pages of a book. Kurt certainly looks every inch the hero…but he soon brings Penny’s dreams to earth with a thump. His job is in the City, in the logical world of finance—and as far as Kurt is concerned, romance is just for dreamers. Events in his childhood have shown him just how destructive love can be. Now he’s looking for a wife, right enough, but what he wants is a marriage based on logic and rational decisions. Kurt treats Penny like he would his kid sister, but when he hires her to help refurbish his beautiful Victorian house near Richmond Park, it’s not long before he starts to realise it’s not just his home she’s breathing life into. The logical heart he has guarded so carefully all these years is opening up to new emotions, in a most disturbing way…



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 Helena Fairfax was born in Uganda and came to England as a child. She’s grown used to the cold now and that’s just as well, because nowadays she lives in an old Victorian mill town in Yorkshire, right next door to windswept Brontë country. She has an affectionate, if half-crazed, rescue dog and together they tramp the moors every day—one of them wishing she were Emily Brontë, the other vainly chasing pheasants. When she’s not out on the moors you’ll find Helena either creating romantic heroes and heroines of her own or else with her nose firmly buried in a book, enjoying someone else’s stories. Her patient husband and her brilliant children support her in her daydreams and are the loves of her life.

Connect with Helena:   Website   Goodreads   Facebook    Twitter    




The Antique Love was a pleasant surprise that I couldn't wait to pick up each night.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect and what I found as I continued to flip the pages, diving into the story and characters, was a beautiful tale of sweet unexpected love. It was an easy to read, light, clean read. I really enjoyed the author's easy writing style. The plot flowed well and each time I picked up the novel to begin reading, I fell into a sort of relaxed state. 

Penny & Kurt were great characters. Penny, being the hopeless romantic, and Kurt, the person who works everything out logically rather than emotionally... He keeps a distance between himself and emotional attachment. He's seen "love" burn and he doesn't plan on ever getting burned. They contrasted each other well and their encounters were always entertaining and some were quite heartwarming. Penny is very real. She's not the perfect shape by today's standards and she's very insecure. I was able to relate to her and enjoyed having a character who isn't described as having the perfect, slim, or fit body... LOL 

Now, I'm totally not one for antiques, but even I was drawn in when Penny's passion came flowing through the pages. Me, I could care less about picking out the furnishings for a house, but again, I loved it as they went through the process for refurnishing Kurt's new home. 

Oh! The love trinket that Penny kept her eye on and was determined to only sell to someone who was truly in love... LOVED that little tid bit in the story :) 

Overall, this was a great, easy paced, clean romance. 

Overall Rating: 4 Stars
Cover: 3 Stars   
Characters: 5 Stars
Plot: 4 Stars
Ending: 4 Stars