Katie Hamstead's Blog, page 33

Review: Link by Summer Weir

From Goodreads:
For seventeen-year-old Kira, there’s no better way to celebrate a birthday than being surrounded by friends and huddled beside a campfire deep in the woods. And with a birthday in the peak of summer, that includes late night swims under the stars.

Or at least, it used to.

Kira’s relaxing contemplation of the universe is interrupted when a piece of it falls, colliding with her and starting a chain of events that could unexpectedly lead to the one thing in her life that's missing—her father.

Tossed into a pieced-together world of carnivals and gypsies, an old-fashioned farmhouse, and the alluring presence of a boy from another planet, Kira discovers she’s been transported to the center of a black hole, and there’s more to the story than science can explain. She’s now linked by starlight to the world inside the darkness. And her star is dying.

If she doesn’t return home before the star’s light disappears and her link breaks, she’ll be trapped forever. But she’s not the only one ensnared, and with time running out, she’ll have to find a way to save a part of her past and a part of her future, or risk losing everything she loves.

Dreamy, fluid, and beautiful, Link pairs the mystery of science fiction with the minor-key melody of a dark fantasy, creating a tale that is as human as it is out of this world. 

My Thoughts:
I just want to say that I read this in it's early stages and loved it! When I heard Summer had signed, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a finished copy. More than that, I want the second book! Hahaha!
That said, I love that a year and a half has passed since I read this. I remembered enough to still feel connected, but at the same time, it felt so new. There were scenes I'd forgotten or I'm sure are new since I read it before.
I love this book. The premise is so unique and well thought out. Traveling to another world through a dying star that's being sucked into a black hole? That's pretty neat. And the best part is that it's well executed. The characters are believable and likable, and leave you wondering what's happening below the surface.
I'm all about love interests, but this one I'm really torn about who I want to see Kira end up with. For most of the book I was all about Zane, I love a good lifelong friend turned lover story, but at the end, Evan really made me waver. I just don't know, which is why I need book 2!
How Kira is all connected into everything shows how well plotted out this series is going to be. This is a must read, and a clean read for an added bonus.

Cover Reveal: Sachael Desires by Melody Winter

About Sachael Desires:

During her ordeal with the Sect, Estelle Bailey dreamt of escaping back into the arms of the sea—and Azariah. But freedom came at a price, and though she’s back with the Sachael who’s stolen her heart, she’s also land-bound until the next full moon. And with the threat of Orontes looming ever larger behind them, Azariah, Estelle, and Michael—her once-captor turned rescuer and friend—are on the run.

Following Michael's lead, they seek sanctuary amidst the natural beauty of the Orkney and Shetland Islands until Estelle can complete her next submergence ritual and Azariah can whisk her away to the safety of Saicean.
​ ​
Secrets, betrayals, and old enemies await them, though, and as events spiral out of control, Azariah makes a decision that puts all their lives at risk, forcing Estelle to face a journey she never wanted to take. With time running out and tempers running high, her only hope to save the man she loves lies in a reconciliation between two kingdoms who despise each other.
Book Two in the Mine Series, Sachael Desires further expands on the intricate underwater world of the Sachaels, and the hostility and isolation of not belonging.​
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About Melody Winter: Growing up, Melody Winter showed a natural ability in art, a head for maths, and a tendency to write far too long English essays. Difficult to place in the world when she graduated, she pursued a career in teaching, but eventually ended up working in Finance. Melody is convinced the methodical time she spends working with numbers fuels her desire to drift into dream worlds and write about the illusory characters in her head.Melody Winter lives in North Yorkshire, England, with her husband and two sons. When not dealing with football, rugby, and a whole plethora of ‘boy’ activities, she will be found scribbling notes for her stories, or preparing for another trip to the beach. With an obsession for anything mythical, Melody revels in reading and writing about such creatures. In fact, if she wasn’t such a terrible swimmer, she’d say she was a mermaid.Sachael Desires is her second book in the New Adult Romantic Fantasy series - the 'Mine Series'.

Learn more about Melody Winter on her website, twitteror facebook.

Guest Post: How I Write—In Pictures by Sue Wyshynski

What’s great about humans is that we all find unique ways of doing things—whether it’s baking a dozen cookies or organizing our favorite books on a shelf. Who knows why or even how these fun differences come about?
Here’s a photo collection of some of my writing quirks.

1. Bring on the pencils, pens, notebooks, notepads! I always start on paper. I find the words flow easier and I can get closer to the characters. The Butterfly Code manuscript consumed approximately a dozen notebooks.

2. A pocket with every purse.Ok, not every purse, but it’s true. Most of my purses have pockets to carry notebooks. I like to walk and write outside.

3. A never-ending collection of writing books.I love reading about how others perform the writing craft! It’s often insightful and always interesting. Besides, the point at which a person believes they know everything there is to know in their chosen field is the point at which they stop growing. Never stop!


4. Writing in the wild.Here’s me out writing in the park. It’s wonderful place to be distraction free.
5. Desk with a view.When I’m done writing for the day, I come home and transfer it all onto my computer. This is my stand-up writing table and my favorite view!
The Butterfly Code took around four years to complete, including plotting, editing, and book design. For those of you who read it, my greatest hope is that you enjoy it.
I am so grateful to my host for having me as a guest on this blog. Thanks to everyone for letting me share a little bit about how I write!
Drop me a line any time, I can be found at suewyshynski.com. I’d love to hear from you.




The Butterfly Code
My friends say Hunter Cayman’s dangerous.
They say he’s a threat to everyone in town.
I’m not so sure.
As he stands before me in this crowded club with the lights shining around us, I catch something good under Hunter’s dark facade. Something decent and profound.
I don’t know who or what to believe.
But I will find out the truth.
Aeris Thorne is expecting a restful vacation in the remote town of Deep Cove. But on a stormy night, she meets the alluring and mysterious Hunter Cayman, and her life takes an exhilarating turn. Aeris is both drawn to him and determined to find out what he’s hiding. It’s clear Hunter has found success with the high-security lab on his vast estate. But what Aeris doesn’t know is that he’s tormented by a secret: the truth behind his research. As he and Aeris are drawn together, the walls he’s built to protect himself threaten to crumble. At the same time, she begins to wonder if she’s found the key to unraveling her own tragic past. When Aeris’s life is threatened, Hunter is forced to make an impossible decision about her future—one that could change everything.

Author Details: Sue Wyshynski’s writing style has been described as immersive, emotional, and action-packed.

According to Sue, “Writers must do more than write; they must try to speak to the hearts of the world.”

Sue wants to connect with you.
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
WEBSITE

Amazon Link: is.gd/romancenovel

Guest Post: Research, Research, Research By Madelyn Hill

As a historical romance writer, there is a lot of research needed in order to get the details correct. In my case, I write mainly Scottish historicals. While I stick to a specific time period and location, I always need to tweak and flesh out important factors such as location, clan, and the nuances of clan allies and foes.
When I first started writing, the Internet was just a dream in some techie’s eye. This meant camping out at the library and copying reams and reams of facts, images, and maps. Now, the Internet had made life easier, but can I always trust my resources? My rule of thumb is to verify the fact three times. I use various search engines, databases (including Wikipedia) as well as clan websites, Scottish organizations, personal interviews and once in a while a trip to the library is needed. Some may argue about the accuracy of Wikipedia, however for every article you find that warns of the errors, there are just as many that touts the accuracy of the wiki.
Mainly, I love research. Perhaps it’s the nerd in me, but I love digging for more and more details and then stumbling upon a little gem of a fact. For my book, Heather In The Mist, I found tuft of white lavender was good luck in a bridal bouquet and the bouquet is “smashed” over the bride’s head at the end of the ceremony. Of course there were other facts I found along the way from clothing to food to clan relationships.
I “pre-research” when I have a story idea—this is where a story idea prods the direction of the research and I get basic facts. Then, I find a location. (Location is KEY and needs to be fully researched!) The world has changed and it is important to find a map from the time period in which you are writing. Again in Heather in the Mist, there is a loch and falls near the keep and they are fabled to be haunted. I didn’t add the haunted part to my story, but the loch and the falls are featured in the story. Therefore, finding historical images of the landscape can help set the scene and influence characters actions and reactions. In conjunction to this, I research local wildlife so I can pull those critters in when it fits in the story. I add the images to a Pinterest board for the book and this helps me keep a visual connection to my characters, setting, and other images that may prompt inspiration.
The bottom line is I write fiction, so there can be leeway in some facts. For example, I have created fictional clans that work better with the plot. However, this does not mean I have a pass in regards to historical accuracy. I feel we owe it to our readers to give an authentic experience. In some regards an author has creative license. Fantasy and futuristic writers create worlds for their audience and since they created the world, they can do what they want. They are not handcuffed by actual history and facts such as historical and contemporary writers. For those genres informed readers would call us on faulty research.
What do I do with all of the information? I used to create binders for each book. Now, I create a folder on my computer for each book and then subfolders for research, manuscript, images, etc. I also have a “writer’s ramblings” at the beginning of the manuscript with the physical description of each main character, clan or family name, family tartan image, map, and personality traits such as Goals, Motivation, & Conflict and an endearing trait. This makes it easy for me to check the information while writing so I don’t have to search for a specific file.
So, my question for you is; Are you a historical detail stickler? Or, do you like just enough detail to flavor the story?


Author Bio:
Madelyn Hill has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she'd sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a "closet" writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn't be happier! 

A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They now have 3 children and keep busy cooking, watching their children's sporting events, and of course reading!
Social Networking Links:Website: www.madelynhill.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/madelyn.hill.94Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMaddyHillPinterest:  http://www.pinterest.com/madelynhill68
Back Cover Blurb:
Forced to wed to save her clan, Lady Rogan Cameron agrees to wed without love. 
What her father doesn’t know is Lady Rogan has plans of her own—plans to keep her from a loveless marriage. Can she save the clan before she has to say “I do?” 

Ian Albright abolished all ties to Scotland after his family betrayed him and he is now nursing a wounded ego due to an unfaithful fiancée. He pledges never to return to his home until the fateful day he accepts an invitation to his dear cousin’s wedding. The minute he sees his cousin’s betrothed, his heart is captured. If only she didn’t belong to another . . . 

Lady Rogan and Ian have known each other since they were young and bent on vexing each other. Now, the only thing they find vexing is the fact Rogan is betrothed to another. Together they fight their growing attraction while investigating the forces bedeviling the clan. Yet at every turn their foe appears and wreaks havoc. When tragedy strikes, their hopes are dashed again. 

Can Lady Rogan and Ian’s love win when fate seems determined to keep them apart?
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B015EFRB6G/

Blog Tour: Rhapsody (The Teplo Trilogy #2) by Ayden K. Morgen

Title: Rhapsody (The Teplo Trilogy #2)Author: Ayden K. Morgen Genre: Erotic Romance SuspenseCover Designer: Mayhem Cover CreationsRelease Date: October 19, 2015Join the Release Party
After Anton Vetrov brutally murders a young girl as a warning to Tristan Riley, the broken DEA agent believes the best thing for Lillian Maddox to do would be to stay far, far away from him. But Lillian knows a thing or two about fear, and she's not willing to let the man she loves push her away that easily. If he won't fight for them, she will... even if that means risking her life to prove she's strong enough to live in his world.
Her plan ends in disaster when she's dragged out of Teplo at gunpoint, forcing Tristan onto a collision course with the Vetrov family and Pedro Francisco. With nothing left to lose except the only woman who has ever mattered to him, he will do whatever it takes to stop Vetrov and Francisco from ever hurting her again.
But he doesn't know they've been waiting for him to make his move. When he does, all hell breaks loose, and his life is on the line. It's up to Lillian and the DEA to save him, and she's terrified they won't make it in time.
Thrust headlong into a violent, bloody confrontation with the Vetrov family, Lillian comes face to the face with the heartbreaking realization that maybe she doesn't belong in Tristan's world, after all. When the smoke clears, will he be able to convince his ballerina that she's the best thing for him, or will he lose her and the chance at a real future once and for all?
Amazon ~ Smashwords "What's so funny?" he demanded softly.
"Sometimes life just fucking sucks," she said, giggling again. "I think your mouth is rubbing off on me."
"Mmm," he growled playfully and flipped her over until she was lying beneath him. He grinned down at her, the shadows that'd crept into his eyes during their conversation gone, replaced with happiness, softness. "I noticed that. You called me baby."
"I did," she murmured, staring up at him.
His grin widened. "You called me baby once before, you know."
"Did I?"
"Mmhmm." He nuzzled his face against her throat. "When I fucked you against the front door. I think I like hearing you call me baby almost as much as I like hearing you scream my name, beautiful. You sound so good screaming my name." He nipped her throat.
"Tristan," she whimpered, writhing beneath him as his wicked words sent heat through her all over again.
"You sound good whimpering it, too," he murmured. "Fuck, Lillian, everything you do drives me crazy." He pressed a soft kiss to her temple before dropping back down beside her and dragged her into his arms once more. "Every time I'm near you, I'm turned on."
"It's the same for me," she whispered.
"Is it?"
"Yes, all the time. When you look at me or touch me… I don't know, it's like an addiction, I think. I crave more and more of you every time." Her brow furrowed as she traced the line of his abs with one finger. "Is it really like that for you, too?"
"All the time, sweetheart," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. "I can't get enough of you." He reached out and grabbed her hand, dragging it down his body and placing it over his crotch. He was hard again, his cock like steel in her palm. "You keep me like this, Lillian."
She smiled and curled her hand around his length, stroking softly. "I like knowing that."
"Fuck." He arched his hips into her hand before wrapping his own hand around hers and gliding it up and down his erection. Far too soon, he stilled her hand and pulled away, causing her to groan in protest. He chuckled and twined their fingers together again, placing them on his chest, over his heart. "Rest, beautiful. I've been all over you tonight."
"I like having you all over me," she grumbled. She lovedhaving him all over her.
"I like being all over you," he answered with another soft chuckle at her petulant tone. "But you need a break or you'll be too sore to move, and there's no fucking way I'm going to be able to keep from sinking myself into you at least once tomorrow."
Well, she couldn't very well argue with that, now could she?
"Fine, but only for the rest of the night," she warned him, not willing to go any longer than that before feeling him again. The things he did to her… he could do them every day of forever and she'd die happy. She wantedhim to do them to her every day of forever.
God. Forever. Was it too soon to want that?




Tristan and Lillian's Netflix Watch List
Tristan and Lillian don't spend a lot of time in front of the television, but when they do have time, they love to snuggle up and watch their favorite shows and movies... or not watch them as the case may be! Here's what's on their lists and why.
Tristan
·         Narcos – This is a new series, but it's surprisingly good. It captures the messed up reality of drug trafficking, while humanizing the people behind the scenes.·         Arrow – A man with a past? A man on a mission? That's not familiar at all! ·         From Dusk Til Dawn: The Series – Because it's a cartel of vampires. Which is basically every cartel ever. Tristan can relate.·         Three Kings – Risking everything to screw a bad guy and save a life? Tristan is down with that. ·         Without a Paddle – Even the most ridiculous of missions can have value.·         Beowulf – Lillian is slowly showing Tristan the value of literature and the classics.·         Gangland – Gangs piss Tristan off. It never hurts to spend a little time getting to know them better, especially in his line of work.·         Inside Cocaine Wars – Another docu-series about the job. Getting to know some of the other agents with the same mission is always helpful.
Lillian
·         Phantom of the Opera – What isn't to love about Phantom of the Opera? The story is haunting, beautiful, and timeless.·         Center Stage – If anyone can relate to being told they aren't good enough, Lillian can. Jody is so much like her.·         Cyberbully – Another one that hits close to home for Lillian. Bullies are everywhere, and they are brutal.·         Dollhouse – Echo is a total badass. And she's not what anyone expects.·         The Originals – Two words: Joseph Morgan. Does she really need another reason?·         Being Human (U.K.) – The original U.K. version is the way to go with this one. It's got a little bit of everything, and is so good.·         Ballet 422 – She may no longer be in the world, but she misses performing. This documentary lets her relive those moments she loved.·         Half the Sky – Lillian has traveled the world and seen oppression firsthand. This documentary tells the story well, and gives her hope for the future.

Ayden lives in the heart of Arkansas with her childhood sweetheart/husband of eleven years, and their five furry minions. When not writing, she spends her time hiking, reading, volunteering, causing mischief, and building a Spork army. Ayden graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology in 2009 before going on to complete her graduate degree in CJ and Law. She currently puts her education to use in the social services and CJ field. 
Ayden also writes Young and New Adult fantasy under the penname A.K. Morgen.
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Ravished (The Teplo Trilogy #1)
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CQ Historicals

From Goodreads:Seventeen-year-old Bobbi (Roberta) Rivers disguises herself as a young man in order to fight in the Civil War. She dares this mission for two reasons: first to fight for the country she loves, and second to find her older brother who came up missing in the Battle of Gettysburg. Bobbi joins up with the 27th Infantry of Michigan Volunteers, and the story follows their real life time line through many battles including The Crater and The Wilderness. On her quest, Bobbi finds herself also battling issues within herself, like fear, trust, strength, morality, and falling in love.




My Thoughts:I loved this book. A bit of history, a bit of romance and a great heroine.Bobbi starts out in search of her brother, Robert, who went missing during the Battle of Gettysburg. In her heart she knows he's still alive, so disguises herself as a boy to join the Union Army.After an adventurous train ride, then journey on foot, Bobbi finds herself with the 27th and is assigned to bunk with Toby. Toby is seriously my new heart throb. He's sweet and optimistic despite the war and carnage he is surrounded by. Being from Texas, he has abandoned his home and family to fight for the Union army. This alone reflects how big of a heart he has, and how determined he is.Bobbi also makes friends with a nurse, Cora, who almost immediately picks up the fact that she is female. Cora helps her hide certain female habits and gets her through some tough times adjusting to army life.There are other great characters too; sweet Woody, brave Kenny and many more.All in all, an enjoyable read. Being Aussie, I don't know a whole lot about the American Civil War, so I used good old google maps to help me with the locations.  I believe this would be a good read for teens who have no real interest in history as a means to pique their interest. Bobbi is strong and easy to relate to, especially as she goes through her emotional dilemmas that would naturally come up during war time.
From Goodreads:
The slaughter of the Spartan Three Hundred at Thermopylae, Greece 480 BCE—when King Leonidas tried to stop the Persian army with only his elite guard—is well known. But just what did King Xerxes do after he defeated the Greeks?

Fifteen-year-old Thaleia is haunted by visions: roofs dripping blood, Athens burning. She tries to convince her best friend and all the villagers that she’s not crazy. The gods do speak to her.

And the gods have plans for this girl.

When Xerxes’ army of a million Persians marches straight to the mountain village Delphi to claim the Temple of Apollo’s treasures and sacred power, Thaleia’s gift may be her people’s last line of defense.

Her destiny may be to save Greece...
...but is one girl strong enough to stop an entire army?


My Thoughts:
Night of Pan is a fascinating tale about the Oracle of Delphi and her rise to her position during a tumultuous and well renowned time of Greek history. It follows Thaleia as she runs from her wedding and meets the god Pan. This meeting changes the course of her life as she soon comes to realize she is the mouthpiece of the gods, and has the ability to potentially save Greece from the Persians.
This is not a YA read, it's definitely more adult with the heavy internal dialogue and overly flowery language. Although it's not as "mature" as an adult book, I think young readers could easily get bored and distracted by the lack of action verses the heavy description and lyrical language. In my opinion, it feels like I've walked into a high school history class, and while some teens might love this, I think the majority won't. This "heavy" writing, although beautiful and poetic, makes the pace slow. The story doesn't get to the actual war until after halfway through the novel. *spoiler*
Being a history nerd, I wasn't surprised by her youthful engagement to a considerably older man. This goes along with supporting the rest of the historical aspects in showing accuracy and establishing how different the setting is to our modern culture. I can't fault the history. But the fact that Thaleia ran away from the arrangement shows how reckless she is, and how she refuses to conform, a potentially dangerous trait in her time. In fact, it made me struggle to place her in that time. She feels too much like a modern day high school girl, whereas culturally the norm would be for her to be ready to marry and be a mother. This, among other examples of Thaleia's behavior, clashes with how historically accurate the rest of the book reads. It's like a contemporary YA character has been placed into a thesis or journal. Separately they are great, but together it's a bit jarring.
As I said, the writing is beautiful, and imagery colorful. It tells a well known tale from history through a new perspective.

Blog Tour: Oppression (Children of the Gods #1) @JessicaTherrien @yaboundtourspr

 Oppression (Children of the Gods #1)
by Jessica Therrien Release Date: 09/02/15346 pages
Summary from Goodreads:Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than average people, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's well over eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal.
For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time.
Some are waiting for her to put an end to centuries of traditions that have oppressed their people under the guise of safeguarding them. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning-and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules
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Buy Links:Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books│iBooks
Books two and three in this series:Uprising│Redemption


About the Author Jessica Therrien is the author of the young adult paranormal fiction series  Children of the Gods . Book one in the series,  Oppression , became a Barnes & Noble best-seller shortly after its release in February of 2012.

Aside from her Children of the Gods series, Jessica’s work can also be found in a published collection of flash fiction stories called Campaigner Challenges 2011. Out of over 350 submissions her story,  The Soulless , won first place for people’s choice and fourth place in the judging round of Rachael Harrie’s Writing Campaign Challenge. Her story, Saved, is also available as part of the anthology.Jessica spent most of her life in the small town of Chilcoot, California, high up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In this town of nearly 100 residents, with no street lights or grocery stores, there was little to do but find ways to be creative. Her mother, the local English teacher, inspired her to do all things artistic, and ultimately instilled in her a love for language.

In 2003, Jessica attended California State University Long Beach where her passion for language found her studying Chinese, and in 2005 she moved to Taiwan to study abroad. From 2005 to 2006 Jessica was fully immersed in the Chinese language as she attended National Taiwan University, and in 2008 she graduated from San Diego State University magna cum laude.

Jessica currently lives in Irvine with her husband and two sons. She is planning a re-release of her series through Acorn Publishing in September of 2015. The re-release will include the third and final book in her Children of the Gods series as well as a bonus chapter in the back of  Oppression .
Author Links:Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook
Book Tour Organized by:
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Cover Reveal: Acne, Asthma, and Other Signs You Might be Half Dragon by Rena Rockford

On to the main event!

Allyson fights acne, not trolls. As an inhaler-carrying member of the asthma society, she just wants to meet the father who turned her mother into a paranoid, move-across-the-nation freak. Now she’s trying to fit in at yet another school, but for the first time in her life, she has a best friend, Beth. When Allyson accidentally spits fire at kidnappers in the mall, she realizes why her father isn’t in the picture: she’s half dragon. Her acne? Emerging scales. Her asthma? The side effects of her dragon’s fire breath. Instead of freaking out, unflappable Beth reveals her own troll heritage and explains how things work with the supernatural creatures hiding within the modern world of smartphones and skyscrapers.

When trolls kidnap a unicorn, Beth gets blamed. Allyson is determined to prove Beth’s innocence and keep her friend off the unicorn chopping block. When they start looking for the kidnappers, they get a call from the last person they expect: Allyson’s father. He tries to warn them off, but he’s been put under a spell by the kidnappers to keep the victims from escaping. Nothing short of death can stop him. Now Allyson must choose between killing the father she’s always dreamed of, or letting her best friend die for a crime she didn’t commit. 


Like most mad scientists, Rena Rocford’s early works were largely met with scorn and mockery, but she bided her time. After all, what did her fellow kindergarteners know about literature? From that day forward, Rena kept her writing on the mythical back burner as she pursued more logical goals. Today, crayons. Tomorrow, the world. She moved on to essays and egg drops, followed by experiments in shady laboratories. She tried her hand at everything, learning from anyone who would teach her. She even moonlighted as a horseback riding instructor.

 Admittedly, living as a muggle brought Rena some levels of success such as completing her master’s degree, but always the stories returned, calling her to the keyboard in the dark of night. Now, having built armies from words, Rena has set her sights on world domination, one book at a time.

From her secret base in the wine country, Rena has enlisted the help of her cats, her loyal dogs, and her family―who can be relied upon to hide the launch codes at a moment’s notice. You can find Rena at her blog, follow her on Twitter, GoodReads, or find her on Facebook. Her debut novel, Acne, Asthma, and Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon comes out November 23rd, 2015.

Ragnarok Prophecies Series

From Goodreads:
What do you do when you realize nothing in your life is what you’ve believed it to be?

When Arionna Jacobs loses her mother in a tragic accident, her world is turned upside down. She’s forced to leave her old life behind and move in with her father. Dace Matthews, a teaching assistant at her new college, is torn in two, unable to communicate with the feral wolf caged inside him.

When they meet, everything they thought they knew about life unravels. Dace has intimate access to Arionna’s mind, and something deep within her fights to rise to the surface. They don't understand what's happening to them or why, and they're running out of time to sort out the strange occurrences around them.

Their meeting sets an ancient Norse prophesy of destruction in motion, and what destiny has in store for them is bigger than either could have ever imagined. Unless they learn to trust themselves and one another, they may never resolve the mystery surrounding who they are to one another, and what that means for the world.


My thoughts:
I love that this wasn't a werewolf book. With vampires and werewolves flooding the market, having a shifter book instead felt... better.
In the beginning, Arionna, understandably, is pretty depressed after her mother's death. Then she meets Dace. She still struggles through her mother's death, but he helps her see a light at the end of the tunnel, but he also introduces her to a world she has forgotten exists.
I enjoyed this book. I love that it uses Norse Mythology and is based on some familiar characters and legends. I also enjoyed the connection to the wolf pack.
The internal dialogue gets heavy in a few places that, for me, really bogged down the pace and became distracting and repetitive. But at about halfway, this seemed to decrease, and although still present in places, I found it didn't affect the pace too much after that.
Aside from that, the concept if interesting, and often sad in places. I'm looking forward to seeing where the next book goes.

From Goodreads:
How do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?

Those called to stand guard against the end are broken, and Sköll and Hati run free. Now Arionna Jacobs and Dace Matthews face a threat unlike any before. Ragnarök is coming and they aren't strong enough to stop it. 

Arionna thought she understood sacrifice, but she never counted on her destiny tearing Dace apart. Ever since she nearly died, he has been consumed with guilt. Now it threatens to turn him into the monster he always feared. 

It's up to Arionna to stop him before it's too late, but the path to hell is paved with good intentions, and Dace is hurtling toward self destruction. This time, Arionna isn't sure she can save him from himself. Can she convince him to let the past go, or is her true destiny to sacrifice her heart in exchange for the lives of the people she loves?
Talk about a cliffhanger ending! But no spoilers here.
Fall continues right where Fade finishes; with Arionna recovering in the hospital. Dace is at Arionna's side to help her recover, but Skoll and Hati are still around.
Like book 1, this one was a little heavy on the internal dialogue for my taste. But I like that it delves deeper into Norse Mythology.
It also develops Ronan's character, which I enjoyed. He's a good old fashioned bad boy, with a hidden good guy side.
I wouldn't call this fast paced, in fact, I found the first half a bit slow, but once Arionna leaves with Ronan and Fuki, things start to really get interesting until you reach that cliffhanger ending I mentioned. I flicked the page on my kindle and thought, "No! You can't leave it like that!" It definitely leaves you needing to know what happens next.

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