L.A. Hendricks's Blog, page 4
September 15, 2015
#BookReview Coal By Constance Burris (@constanceburris)
Coal: Book One of the Everleaf Series by Constance Burris is a modern take on the story of the fae and life in the faery realm. The story features Coal, a human who was brought to the fairy realm as a child, and his best friend, Chalcedony, a fairy princess about to take over her late mother’s throne. There is the slightly evil, but “probably” well-meaning advisor (Madoc) and the outcast that takes in/understands Coal as an outsider himself (Grigory). Beyond that, there are fae folk from all genres that each play an integral role in Burris’s tale.
The story is solid. Chalcedony is a spoiled princess who wants to be ready for the next step to adulthood while keeping one foot solidly in her childhood. And we all know that never ends well. But Burris pulls us along and even get’s us to feel somewhat charitable toward Chalcedony’s desire to hold on to Coal and their changing (maturing, even) relationship. And up to the end, I was rooting for them, because that’s what we do, right?
I give this book 3.5 stars, primarily because of pacing. For my taste, I prefer a faster pace and sharper plot pivots. Coal and Chalcedony are equally immature and adrift. Neither is truly ready for what comes next in their lives though Coal does come to accept it much faster. The book is well written and the characters are relatable. I very much enjoyed the setting, specifically the descriptions around Legacy. I hope more discussion around Legacy and it’s history is forthcoming in future stories. I recommend this book to anyone who like fairy tales, fairy princesses or has ever known they were an outsider and persevered anyway.
Reach out to Constance Burris:
www.twitter.com/constanceburris
www.facebook.com/constance.burris
www.constanceburris.com
September 1, 2015
#CoverReveal FAIRYTALE LOST by Lori Hendricks (@LAH_Author)
Blurb:
Emmalyn Chase has a six-month expiration date with men. She’s out celebrating the loss of her latest boyfriend when she runs into Lukas When she runs into Lukas Upton, the old flame that broke her heart into a million pieces, her mind threatens to fall back into the dark place it created when he left.
Despite Em and Lukas’ best intentions, fate has decided their fairytale isn’t over. Unfortunately, life has a habit of getting in the way. While Em battles depression and her conflicting feelings for Lukas, Lukas struggles against his history of unreliability and indecision.
As Em and Lukas seek to redefine their romance, they find out how hard it can be to hold on to true love.
August 18, 2015
#BookReview – The Viking Wants Forever by Koko Brown (@AuthorKokoBrown)
Imagine my immense glee at opening one of the many emails I get from Amazon recommending books and discovering The Viking Wants Forever by Koko Brown. Like most romance readers, I’ve easily read 100’s of novels where the heroine gets fed up with her life and is magically transported to another time/place to find true love. And in every single one of them that heroine was a white woman. I was super pleased to find that the main character, the woman tempting the titular Viking, was a black woman named Reese Johnson. And not only black – but also nerdy, artistic and witty. I’m in love.
That said, the story was straight from the time-jump/paranormal romance template. The twist comes in the form of Loki, Norse God of Mischief. Koko weaves a satisfying story with compelling characters, interesting setting and easy to follow dialogue. Her attention to the Nordic details reflects time spent researching and fact checking. I’m a sucker for sassy women and gruff sweethearts so this story was right up my alley. My only story caveat is a slightly bumpy transition from past to present where, even for a fantasy novel, events are tied a little too neatly. Most readers would expect a woman in current day Florida to resist being kidnaped and for someone in the audience to object to the person they’ve been waiting to see being taken out the room by an apparent stranger. A bit petty, but hey.
I’m giving The Viking Wants Forever 3.5 stars. Can’t wait to read more of her works!
Find Koko Brown on the interwebz:
Twitter: @AuthorKokoBrown
August 17, 2015
#CoverReveal – DUTCH by Madhuri Blaylock (@madhuriblaylock)
Synopsis:
Arrogant, handsome, and detached, deadly assassin Dutch Mathew has an insatiable appetite for bourbon, cigarettes, and women. A Keeper for The Gate, the shadowy organization designed to control Death and her Poochas, those reclaimers helping the dead cross back to life, he has three simple rules for anyone sharing his bed: no talking, no kissing, no touching.
Juma Landry is all about talking and kissing and touching. The more talking and kissing and touching, the better.
And as one of Death’s Poochas, the best in fact, she is Dutch’s next assignment. He is tasked with ending each and every one of her nine lives but with her sharp banter, beautiful smile, and hips made for all kinds of wickedness, she isn’t going to make that easy.
Set in New York City and Trivandrum, Dutch, The Keeper Series Book One, is a unique and sexy urban fairytale – a must read for anyone who likes their raunch with a twist of romance and a hint of magic. Watch for it to hit shelves this Fall 2015.
Pre-order links:
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1PcvmLu
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1HLhPFc
Author Bio:
Madhuri is that Indian girl everyone thinks is Black, or Spanish, or Black and Spanish. She’s from down South, has lived in the New York City area for more than twenty years, and is proof that you can take the girl out of the South, but you can’t take the South out of the girl.
She loves Old Scout bourbon, tattoos, french fries, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, her mom’s Indian food, all kinds of naughty, filthy things, Friday Night Lights, coffee, and Martha’s Vineyard. She can wiggle her ears, flare her nostrils, and curl her tongue.
She is an introvert who can fool people into thinking she’s an extrovert, all the while wishing she was home alone, not having to speak to a soul, lost in a fantastical world of her own creation.
As the great Charles Bukowski said, she writes because it comes bursting out of her. She cannot stop it, nor does she want to.
She’s the author of the paranormal romance trilogy, The Sanctum, and the upcoming erotic romance, The Keeper Series. In a past life, when she was much sweeter and kind of shy, she developed and published the middle reader series, Ayesha’s Teenage Survival Files.
She does other things to pay the bills.
Social Links:
Website: https://madhuriblaylock.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesanctumtrilogy?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@madhuriblaylock/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7323620.Madhuri_Blaylock
Giveaway:
August 13, 2015
#BookReview – Harm by Kayti Nika Raet (@KNRWrites)
Yeah, so… I gobbled this book up in a single afternoon. Yup, it was like that. The second novel in The Outsider Chronicles is a fast-paced, action-packed ride through the Outside – “where the rain burns like acid and flesh eating monsters roam.” The story picks up with Niko, Ben and Jared having escaped Amaryllis City. We are quickly introduced to Songhay and Roosevelt, as well as the tall, barb-wired city of Cherai City.
We get more insight into the gritty, tired lives of the Grey-men – Outsider volunteer workers who are chosen to service those living freely in Cherai City. Throughout this story, Kayti takes us deeper into the daily trials and tribulations of the Outsiders – their fears, their hopes, the struggle to survive- without allowing the reader to pity them. It’s a well written and clearly well planned out journey.
Reader’s of the first book in the series, Niko, know that Kayti’s writing style is sharp and cuts quick. Not one to waste words, Harm starts of strong and continues its rapid clip until the end. Lovers of science fiction and fantasy will enjoy the slithers (though they aren’t a major player in this book). And though this tome was light on romance, readers will enjoy the build-up of tension between Songhay, Niko and Ben – another escapee from Amaryllis City.
I give Harm 4 stars, for it’s fast paced storyline and sharp storytelling. I’ll be happily diving into Outsider (Book 3) and the recently released Monster (book 4).
Check Kayti out:
Web – www.kaytinikaraet.com
Twitter – @KNRWrites
FB – www.facebook.com/kayti.nikaraet
August 11, 2015
#CoverReveal The Mark Of Noba by GL Tomas (@dos_twinjas)
Today is the cover reveal for The Mark of Noba by GL Tomas. This cover reveal is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours.
The Mark of Noba (The Sterling Wayfairer Series #1) by GL Tomas
Genre: Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 25 August, 2015
Blurb: Sterling Wayfairer has one goal for his senior year: make his mark. He’s been slipping into the background his whole high school career—distracted by his mother’s mental health, unsettled by the vivid dreams that haunt him at night, and overshadowed by the athletic accomplishments of his popular best friends. But this year is going to be different. He’s going to break a few rules, have some fun, and maybe even work up the nerve to ask his crush out on a date.
But things don’t go exactly as planned. Students are disappearing, Sterling starts losing time, and it all seems to center around Tetra, a girl no one else seems to notice but him. When he finally tracks her down for answers, they aren’t what he expects: He and Tetra hail from a world called Noba, and they’re being hunted by a Naga, a malevolent shapeshifter that’s marked them for destruction.
Tetra and Sterling have distinct abilities that can help them fight back, but their power depends heavily on the strength of their bond, a connection that transcends friendship, transcends romance. Years apart have left their bond weak. Jumpstarting it will require Sterling to open his heart and his mind and put his full trust in the mysterious Tetra.
If he doesn’t, neither of them will survive.
You can find The Mark of Noba on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25969847-the-mark-of-noba
You can buy The Mark of Noba on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012BN25FQ/
About the Author: 
Guinevere and Libertad go by many superhero aliases. Whether you know them by G.L. Tomas, the Twinjas, or the Rebellious Valkyries, their mission is always the same: spreading awareness of diversity in books. Oh, and trying to figure out the use for pocketless pants! They host other allies and champions of diversity in their secret lair in Connecticut.
You can find and contact with GL Tomas here:
– Website: http://twinjabookreviews.blogspot.com
– Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/RVPress.Cupid
– Facebook book blog: https://www.facebook.com/TwinjaBookReviews
– Twitter account Libertad: https://twitter.com/afrocubansista
– Twitter Account Guinevere: https://twitter.com/aravere
– Twitter account YA book blog: https://twitter.com/Dos_Twinjas
– Twitter account NA, romance and adult books: https://twitter.com/RebelliousCupid
– Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14181072.G_L_Tomas
– Author Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rebelliousv/
– Pinterest Book Blog: https://www.pinterest.com/twinjabooks/
– Book Blog Tumblr: http://twinjabookreviews.tumblr.com/
July 30, 2015
5 Star #BookReview for DUTCH by Madhuri Blaylock
You ever get so lost, so engrossed, so sucked in by a story that the characters’ emotional roller coaster leaves you needing a break or a cold shower? Can’t be just me. If you haven’t had this experience, pick up DUTCH this fall when it’s released.
DUTCH, a recently obtained Advanced Reader Copy (or ARC for those in the literary know) by Madhuri Blaylock, very quickly had me hooked from the very beginning. This first book in Madhuri’s upcoming Keeper Series, DUTCH introduces us to Dutch Mathew and Juma Landry – two of the sexiest and painfully troubled character’s I’ve read in a long while. I won’t give away the details, but you may rest assured this novel came very close to burning a whole clean through my iPad screen while simultaneously breaking my heart.
Mz. Blaylock, as readers of her Sanctum Trilogy can wholeheartedly attest, knows exactly how to tug at the heartstrings. She can give her readers line after line of emotional prose that will no doubt leave you breathless. Turn a page however, and her characters are tearing you apart – giving you raunch, sex, and violence with more than a hint of sass. Dutch and Juma are dragged into levels of self-loathing and depravity that are discomfiting to say the least. As a result, their redemption is so rewarding.
So, can you tell I loved it? This book was quite the fantastic ride, and I’m so happy I had a chance to review it early. If you follow her on social media (links below), you’ll know she’s been promising intelligent smut. I can testify that she hit that nail on the head with Dutch. Whew. I’m giving Dutch 5 stars, people. That’s right — all the stars!
The author has let me know that the cover reveal for DUTCH is scheduled for August 17, 2015 so keep your eyes peeled. Remember to hit Madhuri Blaylock up in all the social spots:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadhuriBlaylock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesanctumtrilogy
Interwebz: http://madhuriblaylock.wordpress.com/
July 28, 2015
#TeaserTuesday – Wrong Time, Wrong Place Teaser 3
Not all fairy tales have a happy ending,
but that doesn’ t mean we don’t keep trying.
Fall 2015
July 21, 2015
#TeaserTuesday – Amethyst Rising Teaser 3
Romance is in the air.
Danger is all around.
Amethyst is Rising.
Winter 2015.
July 19, 2015
Need Beta Readers!! #AmEditing
Hey, if you have some free time in August I’d love to have you be a beta reader for one or both of my two upcoming novels. Check out the form below for info and to sign-up.
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