Desiree DeOrto's Blog, page 4
June 5, 2013
Light Of The Moon Cover Reveal!!!
COVER REVEAAAAAAALLLL!!!! WOOT WOOT!
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BIO:
David Jameswrites books about stars and kisses and curses. He is the author of the YA novel, LIGHT OF THE MOON, the first book in the Legend of the Dreamerduet, as well as the companion novellas, THE WITCH'S CURSE and THE WARRIOR’S CODE. A Legend of the Dreameranthology, SHADES OF THE STARS, will be released in July 2013, and will include the exclusive novella, THE ENCHANTER'S FIRE. The final book in the duet, SHADOW OF THE SUN, will be released in late 2013. Living in Michigan, he is addicted to coffee, gummy things, and sarcastic comments. He enjoys bad movies, goofy moments, and shivery nights. Be sure to visit David’s blog and facebook to learn more about his various addictions and novels.
Shades of the Stars: A Legend of the Dreamer anthology. Shades of the Stars includes the novellas The Witch's Curse, The Warrior's Code, and an exclusive story called The Enchanter's Fire. Exclusive playlists. Essays on the world of the Order. Interviews. Deleted scenes from Light of the Moon. And an exclusive look at the sequel, Shadow of the Sun.
Add Shades of the Stars on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...
Stalk David
Twitter https://twitter.com/DJamesAuthor
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidjamesauthor?fref=ts
Blog http://djamesauthor.blogspot.com/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6544955.David_James
"Set Fire To The Third Bar” by Snow Patrol-Light of the Moon Playlist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfa9yx... love love love this song. Featuring duel, fighting vocals, it mimics Light of the Moon so well it’s almost scary. I love the way the voices compliment each other, the way the song builds, the way it’s almost poetic in nature and yet very relatable. I wanted to create that feeling when I wrote Light of the Moon.
AND NOW FOR THE COVER!!!I loooooove covers ^.^
June 2, 2013
IT'S DONE!
So I started this whole writing journey after my New Years resolution...And let me tell you something....THANK THE GODDESS IT'S ALL OVER!!!Over for the first book, of course.Get to start the entire process over again O.O When I first started this whole experience, I was like
(I would totally do that if I wouldn't harm myself O.O) Then it started getting tricky. The writing was going GREAT! But I wasn't feeling it. I started out writing in third person, although I had WANTED to write it in first. But, being the sometimes idiot that I am, I listened to everyone saying how hard first person was and how nobody liked read in first person. So, I caved. BIG MISTAKE.I ended up doing this a lot!
Seriously, I think my desk is permanently dented.It's not that the writing itself was hard. Third person was relatively easy to do, but I just wasn't HAPPY with it. I ended up hating it. Luckily for me, I have an awesome Beta team, and while they still liked the story, everything that they pointed out that needed work was what, in fact, I had planned from the beginning.They kicked me in the balls, and I thank them for that.
So, I HAD to re-write.I couldn't very well let anyone read that load of garbage when I KNEW there was so much more that I could do with it to make it how I originally planned it. *insert more head desking*
So, there I was, revising THE WHOLE BOOK!Now, some of you may be all like"Pfft, that's not so hard."WRONG!Please keep in mind that I have FOUR CHILDREN!So while normally when someone goes to work they go AWAY from their kids. I, and those that are special just like me, STAY HOME with the children and try to work.Not only was I trying to keep a happy kid schedule but also trying to work within the deadline to get the book finished, edited and formatted on time.How did I end up doing it? (You might ask)Easy!
Seriously, I only got about two hours of sleep at night O.ONo, I currently do not resemble anything even remotely pretty. BUT the children are still alive AND the book is FINALLY FINISHED!!! I am so done with this process. I honestly thought, in the beginning, that writing was the hard part.Now, I embrace the writing and am happy to get back to it with book two and all the other ones I'm working on.But that excitement will soon fade as we get into the dreadedEDITING!In which case, my editor will happily look like this:
And I will proceed to look like this:
So, as I close the cover on one book, I open the other and embrace all the emotions that come with it ^.^Some of them I'll embrace happily, others, not so much. I spent the past twenty-six years believing that I was worthless. The hardest part, for me, about all of this was breaking free of all that negativity.One of my most memorable nights was when I had five pages left of the revision to do. I was freaking out. I mean, literally freaking out so bad that my speech impediment came back and I couldn't talk without stuttering.I was sitting outside with Jeremy, and all I could say was
Anytime I tried to talk about why I was so nervous, fearful, I'd start freezing up.It wasn't because I was almost done with it. That didn't scare me in the least.It was the fact that, once I finished and destroyed every one's prior thoughts and ideals about me, then who would I be? I've lived my life being known as Dave's worthless daughter, David's sister (yes, both my father and brother are named David), Susan's daughter that's going to turn out just like Susan did (which I haven't, thankfully). Never was I known for who I was. But rather who everyone expected me to be. Now, I don't have that. And as I was sitting there, thinking over everything and freaking out, I realized that I would lose the only thing I've ever known if I continued.If I finished, who would I be then? I still don't know who I am, but the more I write and the more I work, I'm slowly starting to figure that out.The author doesn't make the book. The book makes the author. [image error] I'm feeling rather numb to it all right now. I still can't wrap my brain around the thought that not only did I break away from twenty-six years of drudgery, BUT I have also accomplished one of my dreams and people actually LIKE IT! I'm in awe over that fact and extremely humbled by it.I don't think I'll ever get used to hearing that someone liked/loved my work, and I doubt that I'll ever actually BELIEVE them (yes, I have that much self doubt and think all of you are liars trying to placate me).
But, regardless of whether or not I get used to it or whether or not people love/hate my books, the fact remains that I am FREE now.And I embrace that freedom whole heartedly. The writing beast has been unleashed, so be forewarned and prepare thyself for some massive publishing to come! Thank you to everyone who has stuck by my side through all the madness.Yes, I know I got really really REALLY panicky and demanded coffee before being suitable to grace society with my presence, but it was all worth it.You guys are awesome, you rock my socks, and all my glitter goes to you! *throws glitter*
(I would totally do that if I wouldn't harm myself O.O) Then it started getting tricky. The writing was going GREAT! But I wasn't feeling it. I started out writing in third person, although I had WANTED to write it in first. But, being the sometimes idiot that I am, I listened to everyone saying how hard first person was and how nobody liked read in first person. So, I caved. BIG MISTAKE.I ended up doing this a lot!
Seriously, I think my desk is permanently dented.It's not that the writing itself was hard. Third person was relatively easy to do, but I just wasn't HAPPY with it. I ended up hating it. Luckily for me, I have an awesome Beta team, and while they still liked the story, everything that they pointed out that needed work was what, in fact, I had planned from the beginning.They kicked me in the balls, and I thank them for that.
So, I HAD to re-write.I couldn't very well let anyone read that load of garbage when I KNEW there was so much more that I could do with it to make it how I originally planned it. *insert more head desking*
So, there I was, revising THE WHOLE BOOK!Now, some of you may be all like"Pfft, that's not so hard."WRONG!Please keep in mind that I have FOUR CHILDREN!So while normally when someone goes to work they go AWAY from their kids. I, and those that are special just like me, STAY HOME with the children and try to work.Not only was I trying to keep a happy kid schedule but also trying to work within the deadline to get the book finished, edited and formatted on time.How did I end up doing it? (You might ask)Easy!
Seriously, I only got about two hours of sleep at night O.ONo, I currently do not resemble anything even remotely pretty. BUT the children are still alive AND the book is FINALLY FINISHED!!! I am so done with this process. I honestly thought, in the beginning, that writing was the hard part.Now, I embrace the writing and am happy to get back to it with book two and all the other ones I'm working on.But that excitement will soon fade as we get into the dreadedEDITING!In which case, my editor will happily look like this:
And I will proceed to look like this:
So, as I close the cover on one book, I open the other and embrace all the emotions that come with it ^.^Some of them I'll embrace happily, others, not so much. I spent the past twenty-six years believing that I was worthless. The hardest part, for me, about all of this was breaking free of all that negativity.One of my most memorable nights was when I had five pages left of the revision to do. I was freaking out. I mean, literally freaking out so bad that my speech impediment came back and I couldn't talk without stuttering.I was sitting outside with Jeremy, and all I could say was
Anytime I tried to talk about why I was so nervous, fearful, I'd start freezing up.It wasn't because I was almost done with it. That didn't scare me in the least.It was the fact that, once I finished and destroyed every one's prior thoughts and ideals about me, then who would I be? I've lived my life being known as Dave's worthless daughter, David's sister (yes, both my father and brother are named David), Susan's daughter that's going to turn out just like Susan did (which I haven't, thankfully). Never was I known for who I was. But rather who everyone expected me to be. Now, I don't have that. And as I was sitting there, thinking over everything and freaking out, I realized that I would lose the only thing I've ever known if I continued.If I finished, who would I be then? I still don't know who I am, but the more I write and the more I work, I'm slowly starting to figure that out.The author doesn't make the book. The book makes the author. [image error] I'm feeling rather numb to it all right now. I still can't wrap my brain around the thought that not only did I break away from twenty-six years of drudgery, BUT I have also accomplished one of my dreams and people actually LIKE IT! I'm in awe over that fact and extremely humbled by it.I don't think I'll ever get used to hearing that someone liked/loved my work, and I doubt that I'll ever actually BELIEVE them (yes, I have that much self doubt and think all of you are liars trying to placate me).
But, regardless of whether or not I get used to it or whether or not people love/hate my books, the fact remains that I am FREE now.And I embrace that freedom whole heartedly. The writing beast has been unleashed, so be forewarned and prepare thyself for some massive publishing to come! Thank you to everyone who has stuck by my side through all the madness.Yes, I know I got really really REALLY panicky and demanded coffee before being suitable to grace society with my presence, but it was all worth it.You guys are awesome, you rock my socks, and all my glitter goes to you! *throws glitter*
June 1, 2013
BIG BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!
***JA LYNCH *DENISE GROVER SWANK***ELLA JAMES***ANN M HARGROVE******K ANNE RAINES***KRISTIE DENNIN HAIGWOOD***NICHOLE CHASE******WILLOW CROSS***AMY MILES***KAREN HOOPER***LISA MORGAN******MILLY TAIDEN***TAMMY BLACKWELL***M.R. POLISH******MICHELE GANO MILLER***ADDISON MOORE***LAURA HOWARD******LP DOVER***SUSAN BURDORF***ADAM KUNZ******ADRIANE BOYD***CYDNEY LAWSON***GENA D LUTZ******MERCY AMARE***HEATHER HILDENBRAND***OLIVIA CUNNING******LIZZY FORD***SARAH ASHLEY JONES***HEATHER DEORTO FLEETNER******AMBER GARR***MORGAN WYLIE***CAMERON JACE******VK SYKES***MICHELLE VALENTINE***NICOLETTE GREY******MAGGIE SHAYNE***JASINDA WILDER***RAINE THOMAS******KIERSTEN FAY***MILLY SILVER***FELICIA TATUM******DESIREE DEORTO*** Now, y'all are probably wondering why in the hell did I just list a sh*t ton of authors.Well, the reason, my lovelies, is quite simple!IT'S GOING TO BE MY BIRTHDAY!I've always believed in sharing the love, so I decided to share some of the birthday love WITH YOU!That's right. Each of those lovely authors above has graciously accepted to be a part of
What does that mean?That means that there is a HUGE FREAKING GIVEAWAY!That's right. All US residents can enter to WIN SIGNED COPIES of those authors books!Now, I can't exactly let you know which books, now can I?Think of this as sharing my birthday presents! I won't know what my presents are, and YOU won't know which presents are offered. Deal?
AND WE HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL SECTION TOO!I couldn't very well leave my over seas lovelies out of all the fun! So there will be ebook winners too! All eBooks will be for my international peeps! (I know, everyone wants paperbacks and I wish I could afford to send them all to you.... maybe at a later date, eh?) So you guys ready to start the BIRTHDAY MADNESS???Because here we GO! US GIVEAWAY a Rafflecopter giveaway
INTL GIVEAWAY a Rafflecopter giveaway
What does that mean?That means that there is a HUGE FREAKING GIVEAWAY!That's right. All US residents can enter to WIN SIGNED COPIES of those authors books!Now, I can't exactly let you know which books, now can I?Think of this as sharing my birthday presents! I won't know what my presents are, and YOU won't know which presents are offered. Deal?AND WE HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL SECTION TOO!I couldn't very well leave my over seas lovelies out of all the fun! So there will be ebook winners too! All eBooks will be for my international peeps! (I know, everyone wants paperbacks and I wish I could afford to send them all to you.... maybe at a later date, eh?) So you guys ready to start the BIRTHDAY MADNESS???Because here we GO! US GIVEAWAY a Rafflecopter giveaway
INTL GIVEAWAY a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 30, 2013
Her Master's Voice Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway
Author’s Bio & Picture:
As a writer of erotic romance, the beauty of the genre is not in creating lavish settings for my stories.
Nor is my fascination for erotic romance drawn from the opportunity to create handsome heroes and beautiful heroines.My real love for the genre stems from the opportunity to take my readers on a journey and engage as many of their emotions as possible.I believe writing erotic romance gives authors the most influence over how a reader feels as we engage them in our stories.Writers of action books, or horror books certainly can create compelling situations, but with erotic romance we writers can immerse our readers in a multitude of emotions unprecedented in any other form of creative fiction.I can frustrate readers, make them laugh, make them cry, delight them, intrigue them, inform them – erotic fiction is a total emotional experience, and it is gratifying to hear readers respond to stories with passion.
I believe readers want to be engaged and drawn into the pages of a story, and as a writer of erotic romance, we have the greatest opportunity because our stories are always relatable. They may be fictional worlds and fictional characters, but the themes of love and romance and erotica are so universal, and so personal to each of us that we all respond to stories in different ways.But we all respond.And that’s the true joy of writing erotic romance. It matters not so much how you respond as you read… it matters only that you do respond. If a writer can engage you and make you feel, then the story’s journey is one well worth taking.
Book Blurb:
When young Kate receives an anonymous text message she doesn't realize how much her world is about to change. Surrendering to her inner most desires Kate soon finds herself submitting to the erotic, sensual and sensitive demands of her mysterious Master. Drawn into a world of erotic love Kate quickly realizes all that matters in her world is Her Master's Voice.
JUST A TASTE...
Kate got to her knees on the living room floor and tied the red scarf around her head to blindfold herself.
In the sudden darkness Kate's senses seemed heightened. Every small sound made her flinch, and her mind quickly became overwhelmed with erotic images. Her naked skin felt cool, and yet she felt as though she was on fire. She rested her hands on her thighs. Her palms were sweating.
The silence seemed to slow time. She became aware of every new sound, and each small noise took on greater importance. Her attention was tuned to the sound of the front door, and when she heard the scrape of distant shuffling her body suddenly tensed in anticipation. A shudder thrilled through her body and her breath caught in the back of her throat.
Then she heard the door swinging slowly open.
He was here!
Kate's body tensed. She heard his soft footsteps as he crossed the room. She could feel him nearby, standing somewhere in front of her. She gulped and licked her lips nervously.
"You are perfectly safe," her Master said, and Kate felt herself literally melting at the deep confident assurance in his voice.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
More footsteps. Kate sensed him walking around her, as if he was inspecting his new property. She straightened her back.
"You are beautiful," he said. By the sound of his voice, Kate knew he was standing close behind her. She stayed silent, and now he was here, now it was all really happening... her mind was blank. Her whole focus was on the sound of his voice and the sense of him being near her.MY REVIEW:Okay, so I'm kind of on the fence with this book. While it was erotic as hell (yes! smut galore!) and while the story line was in fact very interesting, the fact that it was more smut than story kind of irritated me.It was good, but it has the potential to be SO much more than good. She has a writing quality and a way to capture each passion and emotion from her characters that I know for a fact that if she would expand her work and turn it into a BOOK instead of the size of a novella (god I hate those) then it would be absolutely magical.Still, I did rather enjoy it. The characters were captivating and the whole thought of dominance is a huge turn on for me. So if you want a quick, sexy ready then look no further! Giveaway: 5 Winners will be selected to receive an e-copy of “Her Master’s Voice”.a Rafflecopter giveawayTo purchase your copy of Her Master's Voice on Amazon, click HEREGoodreads
May 8, 2013
REVIEW MADNESS AND MASSIVE GIVEAWAY!!!
Hey everyone! *waves*Okay, so things have bee massively insane lately with The Prophecy being finalized plus 4 other books in the works (yes, I am insane)So I've become backed up in my list of reviews.Now, what better way to get them out there in the shortest amount of time possible than to have aMASS REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY!!!That's right, with every book that is reviewed there will also be a chance to win an ecopy of said book ;) (all the paperbacks are being used in the Birthday Giveaway Extravaganza in JUNE!!!)
Now, this won't be a regular series of reviews where I go into depth about how awesome the books are (or if they suck, which luckily this list doesn't have any sucky ones). Instead, they're going to be short and sweet and directly to the point! *throws confetti*
Not all the books listed below I have read. They will be separate from those that are being reviewed BUT they are the next to go on my TBR and will be included in the giveaway ;)So, all you guys ready for some massive craziness? You better be, cause here we GOOOOOOO!!!!
MICHELLE LEIGHTON'S REVIEWS
Down To You
One girl. Twin brothers. An uncommon triangle. When college student Olivia Townsend returned home to help her father run his business, she never imagined a complication like Cash and Nash Davenport—twin brothers different in so many ways but with one thing in common: an uncontrollable desire for Olivia.
Cash is dangerous, sexy, and bad to the bone—a man whose kisses make Olivia forget she is playing with fire. Nash is successful, reliable and intensely passionate—and already taken. But all it takes is one soft stroke to make Olivia forget he belongs to someone else.
However, Olivia is in for a surprise. These boys have a secret that should make her run away as far and as fast as she can. If only it wasn’t too late. A sensual game between three players has begun, and it’s about to spin deliriously out of control.
*********Okay, this book was yummy. And I mean, seriously freaking fan yourself Yummy.And the twists! OMG the freaking twists drove me insane! (in a completely awesome way, of course)While I wanted to slap the MC's at times and just throw them at each other and be all 'JUST GET TO IT ALREADY!!! I WANT MORE SMUT!!!' the story in itself was highly entertaining and hilarious. The wit was outstanding, and I loved how the characters interacted with each other ^.^The only downside to me was the ending. You kind of get tired of happily-ever afters after awhile, and I wanted MORE. Just wanted to keep on reading the story, but alas, all good things have to end.... or do they?We continue on with book TWO\/Up To Me
For Olivia, romantic bliss has never felt so right as it does with Cash. Unpredictable, except when it comes to satisfying her desires, Cash’s ‘bad boy’ reputation is well-earned, but he’s turning his life around with the one woman who accepts him for who he is.
Until strangers from the past turn Olivia and Cash’s world upside down. What they want is something only Cash can give them. And if he doesn’t deliver, then they’re taking the one thing that Cash values the most.
Olivia always knew that in falling for Cash she was likely to get burned. But this new threat is beyond anything she imagined. Now she has to trust Cash with her life—and for Olivia that’s much easier than letting go, and trusting him with her heart.
*********Now things start off really smoothly from the epilogue in Down To You. I mean smooth as butter. And while things are still spicy, since they're already an established couple it's (to me) not as hot as the whole first love thing. BUT in Up To Me there is a series of action packed, tense moments that completely make up for the 'new to love' hotness, and bring about a spice of their own.AND HOLY SH*T DO I EVER NEED THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES!!!Because of Nash *sigh* holy hell the twists that come about with the twins are epically awesome, and they're both hot.They can pour some sugar on me at any time ;) (sorry Jeremy)
The Wild Ones
Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.
The darling daughter of a champion Thoroughbred breeder, Camille “Cami” Hines has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future—until she met Patrick Henley.
“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her—and he just happens to be so sexy she can’t keep her hands off him. While they both know that Trick would lose his much needed job on the ranch if anyone finds out, they can’t resist the lure of their scorchingly hot encounters.
But when Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, and secrets with the power to tear them apart…
*********I seriously loved this book. It's the perfect type of love story that makes you totally homicidal towards the MC's because all you want to do is see the happily together (with lots of smut! Bring on the smut!) BUT of course they have to f*ck up. ROYALLY!I mean, OMG why can't they just get their heads out of their own asses long enough to get it on? (hehe)But it comes together in a wonderful way in the end, and leaves you with an uber feeling of the warm and fuzzy's.
MISTY PROVENCHER'S REVIEWS
Cornerstone
CORNERSTONE is the story of Nalena Maxwell, a girl who's been dubbed The Waste at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding. Nalena desperately needs
something to change in her life. But when she receives a sign (and it's the
wrong dang one) that invites her into an ancient community, EVERYTHING changes-
what she knew of her family and her life and her future. While seventeen years
worth of family skeletons come crashing into Nalena's life, it is the boy...the
one with eyes as clean as Jesus...that steps up to help Nalena figure out what
he already knows about her...Okay, I have to be honest. I really didn’t know what in the world to think of this book. As I stated reading it, I found myself with more questions than answers, and even while the MC started becoming frustrated and angry over not knowingand not being told anything, I found myself reflecting the sentiment. Keystone
There’s a man-made storm coming, like a rip in the world, and it’s called the Cusp.
Struggling to fit into the destiny she’s accepted, Nalena Maxwell has been left with one objective: she must find her murdered grandfather’s Memory. Stolen and hidden away by her own father over seventeen years ago, the Memory could be the key to ending the Cusp and destroying the Ianua’s rival community, The Fury.
Driven by each individual’s selfish desires, The Fury has always lacked the loyalty and organization it needs to be an actual force of power.
Until now.
Someone masterminded the Fury’s massive attack on the Ianua, slaughtering twelve of their thirteen community leaders, the Addos. Now there are rumors that the 13th Cura, to which Nali belongs, has gone to the Fury, manipulating the last Addo in order to control the other 12 Curas.
As the Cusp brings the Fury and their own communities against them, Nalena’s Cura must preserve the Ianua, but finding the key to the Cusp isn’t as simple as it seems.
********
HOLY HELL WE'RE GETTING DEEP NOW!
This series just keep getting better and better. Seriously, you'll have your socks knocked off as you fly backwards with wtf moments through this one!
I have no idea how in the hell Misty comes up with these plot twists, but they are SEAMLESS! And with how many there are it is truly remarkable. She doesn't stumble once! A-freaking-mazing ^.^
Now, while we continue with the awesomeness that is her writing, there is still the sociological base that makes you think without making you feel stupid, which is fantastic! While some aspects of Keystone will make you think (sorry to break it to you, but yes, you must use your mind) it is truly engaging regardless! But I am still full of questions which leads toooooo.....
JAMB
A second ago, Nalena opened her eyes.
And she was safe in Garrett’s arms.
Then it all comes rushing back—the riots, The Fury, the Cusp. The Ianua community is in a major jam.
Forced into survival mode, the Ianua are holed up in the fortress of the Hotel Celare. Each Cura’s top-ranking members have gathered to guard the last remaining Addo, as the entire community also scrambles to trust one another and organize a new game plan to overthrow The Fury.
The trick is to keep the human race alive.
But The Fury’s game has changed. They have a Mastermind at the helm and he is out to destroy the Ianua.
Terrifying and brilliant, this mysterious Mastermind has organized and focused The Fury like never before. He has recruited the Simple and unleashed the Cusp’s wide-spread chaos all around the world.
And behind the scenes of this big picture, Nalena and everyone around her are busy trying to keep up, while also absorbing the rapid-fire aftershocks of their changing lives. There are traitors everywhere.
While The Cusp is expected to bring twists and turns, Nalena and Garrett never expected it to throw a silverware-drawer full of forks into the road. Each path tests their loyalty and their faith and makes them question who is who.
Including themselves.
And each other.
And in the end, some things, you can never see coming.
********
Okay, the only thing I can really manage to utter after reading JAMB is:
SERIOUSLY! JAMB leaves you freaking hanging! (but in a good way)You're soooo freaking close to the epic finale, yet it doesn't come!aaaaahhhhhh!!!!! *head desk*I need more, STAT!
Hale Maree
Hale Simmons dreams of climbing out of her impoverished life, going to college, and getting herself a titanium crash helmet, so she can eventually bust through the Plexiglas ceiling of her crappy life. But for now, she's just a 18-year-old girl with a flimsy hope, barely getting by with her alcoholic father, Jerry.
But for Hale, 'crappy' suddenly takes a nosedive, when Jerry becomes the sole witness to a horrible accident. It is an event which means to affect everyone, especially Hale, who wasn't even involved.
While the depth of the accident has just begun to unfold, Otto Maree, a prominent business man and old family friend, stands to lose everything because of it. Otto is desperate for Hale's father to stay quiet about what occurred the night the two men meet for a drink. Out of mutual moments of desperation, the two fathers forge a deal. Jerry is desperate to gain financial stability for both himself and Hale, and Otto Maree is more than willing to pay to keep his secret just that.
But deals like this need to be made of the strongest vows and bound with the most faithful of loyalties. Otto proposes a marriage between Hale and his playboy-son, Oscar, in order to assure that the secret remains 'in the family'. The mystery surrounding the accident continues to grow and Hale struggles against her own mysterious feelings that begin to develop for Oscar, who turns out to less of a playboy, but just as fiercely loyal and dedicated as his father.
As the pressure around her continues to escalate, Hale realizes that she's got to decide if this arranged marriage is really just a big mistake or an amazing twist of fate that has been waiting around for this particular accident to happen. *********
So nice, you’ll read it twice.
Dive into a love story where barbaric ideals become a great romance. Throughout the story, I found myself swaying between wanting to slap somebody, to feeling that lovely warm, fuzzy bubble of happiness that makes you want to whimper in joy for the characters, right back to wanting to slap someone.
Oh what a beautifully descriptive roller coaster ride of emotion.
What I loved most about Hale Maree was that it was a ‘real’ love story. Not in the sense that it actually happened to someone, but the fact that it could happen. Some people didn’t like the book for that reason, seemingly wanting to stay with the more fanciful versions of a love story, but to me, it was entirely refreshing. And here’s why:
Hale is a completely complicated, damaged person. She’s gone through so much sh*t in her life that trust comes easy, and love is even harder. When you’ve been raised with an alcoholic who has ruined everything that life has to offer, only to find yourself being ‘sold’ like some barnyard cow, how can you look anything in the face without waiting for the shoe to drop? So, when she’s faced with a man that she is supposed to marry, to find that he already has a girlfriend, and said girlfriend kept showing up, then of course she would be expecting him to take the girlfriend back and leave herself homeless. Its to be expected because that’s the type of behavior she has come to know from people. To believe otherwise would have been a lesson in futility, even though through all things, there will always be hope.
So, with that in mind its completely understandable that she wouldn’t trust him, would be expecting the worst, but yet would still hold a smidgen of hope that everything will turn out alright. After all, if you don’t have hope, there is nothing left to live for.
The book was a quick and lively read, with great witticism and spunk. I found myself devouring it rather quickly, and falling in love with each character, or becoming homicidal with certain characters as the story unfolded and the plot morphed and twisted on itself, sending me through a loop. Brings to mind the saying, ‘you may think you know, but you have no idea’, because it rings true with this story. Regardless of how active your imagination can be, in the end you’ll be shocked to find what happens, because it wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities. Plus, it was pulled off beautifully.
Now, there were some areas that had me almost gritting my teeth in pure anger. While I understood Oscar's need to get Hale out of her shell and to become comfortable with him, at times he seemed almost too pushy, but never crossed the line to truly offend me, and Hales reaction to it always appeased my sensibilities.
TARA BROWN
Cursed
One tragic event can change everything in a life.
It can change the way we see the world around us.
Sometimes it can change the worlds we see.
Worlds we didn't know existed.
When she slips into the In-Between for a few seconds she sees him.
He's more beautiful than anything she has ever seen before.
She's drawn to him in a way she can't explain.
Between the popular girls being poisoned and love's first kiss,
she hardly has time to chase down a mystery man.
As the poison that sent her to the In-Between wreaks havoc on her body,
the man she met there is equally damaging on her heart.
Discover how it all started
How it all unfolded
The first time
*********
So I love the premise of this book, and the characters were fascinating, the story line intense and the plot twists thoroughly thought out. BUT I was left with more questions than answers, which can be a good thing because it makes me want book two NOW DAMN IT!
hehe
Anyways, its a really really good book. Even though it was frustrating at times I still breezed through it and had a good reader/character relationship.
JA REDMERSKI
The Edge Of Never
Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett thought she knew exactly where her life was going. But after a wild night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she shocks everyone-including herself-when she decides to leave the only life she's ever known and set out on her own. Grabbing her purse and her cell phone, Camryn boards a Greyhound bus ready to find herself. Instead, she finds Andrew Parrish.
Sexy and exciting, Andrew lives life like there is no tomorrow. He persuades Camryn to do things she never thought she would and shows her how to give in to her deepest, most forbidden desires. Soon he becomes the center of her daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But there is more to Andrew than Camryn realizes. Will his secret push them inseparably together-or destroy them forever?
*********
OH MY FLIPPING MONKEYS!!!
I was seriously tempted to freaking hunt down and slap the author over the ending! (and yes, I did tell her that ;)
And it's not because its bad, but HOLY fudge monkey!
Seriously??? *sputters*
she should be soooo thankful there was an epilogue or I would have started a riot!
The Edge Of Never is truly, truly heartfelt.
It made me weep, shocked me to my core and I HAD, my soul demanded, that I read it again (which I did. Three times in a row ;)
It's a must read!
JAIME MCQUIRE
Beautiful Disaster
The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
*********
First off, I have to say that I loved the concept of the book. The characters were interesting and the story line was great!
Overall I enjoyed it and will read it again.
BUT at times it seemed like the problems would just never be solved and that the MC's would NEVER grow up.
Hey, I'm all about things being thrown in the way to f*ck up a budding relationship, but at times it was getting close to ridiculous.
Still though, there were many many redeeming qualities, and as stated, I would read it again ;)
HEATHER HILDENBRAND
Imitation
Everyone is exactly like me.
There is no one like me.
The rough fabric of my cotton nightgown chafes so I lie very still. They say my discomfort comes from being built like one accustomed to niceties. How is that fair when I myself have never experienced anything but copies of the real thing?
My entire life is an imitation.
I am an Imitation.
I’ve been here five years. Training. Preparing. Waiting.
And now I have a letter.
My assignment has begun.
I am a prisoner.
I am not Raven Rogen.
I am here to die.
********** A lot of people when they read the synopsis pass this book by.
BIG FREAKING MISTAKE!!!
Imitation is highly refreshing in the YA market. I loved it from beginning to end and have wanted more from it (which lucky for me there will be more *happy dance*)
Heather has a way of captivating readers with her 'voice'. I highly admire her work and her books is one of the main reasons that I, myself, became an author ^.^ Yes, she is THAT good!
I loved the characters (all of them, there weren't any 'just because' characters. Each one has a purpose) and hated the villain (you will find no sympathy from me!) Imitation consumed me and I literally finished it in 3 hours. Now, that may not seem like much to you, but I have 4 kids, so reading an ENTIRE book in 3 hours with them causing hell is unheard of except in special cases. Which this was one of few ;)
It's highly addicting and a must read!
GEORGIA CATES
Beauty From Pain
They agreed on three months...but their love knew no boundaries.
Jack McLachlan is a winemaking magnate and easily one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors. His success and wealth makes him no stranger to the complications of romantic relationships and that’s why he goes to extreme measures to avoid the hassle. He prefers simplicity in the form of a beautiful female companion with no strings attached. He arranges relationships like business deals and they’re always the same. No long term relationships. No real names.
It’s his game and his rules. He’s content to play as usual, but when Laurelyn Prescott enters his life, his strategy must change because this player is like none he's ever encountered. His world is turned on its head after he begins a three month affair with the beautiful American musician. Nothing goes according to plan and as he breaks more and more of his own rules for her, she’s exceptionally close to becoming something he never thought possible. His ultimate game changer.
***********
This book made me want to become a stripper O.O
The MC is NOT a stripper, but if you have read this/will read it then you will understand WHY I opened up my review with that particular statement.
I really loved Beauty From Pain, and adored the fact that there wasn't a happy ending. Love too swiftly that is automatically wedding bells kind of piss me off. This book has none of those.
And it's HOT! Oh lordy how its hot! (sorry Jeremy)
I can't wait to get my greedy paws on the next one!
CHANDA HAHN
UnEnchancted
Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crushes life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her it's next fairytale victim.
To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.
***********
A very refreshing take on the Grimm fairy tales. I LOVED IT!
The story line was awesome, and I loved the MC and how she's not one of those 'woe is me, I can't do this' type of people (the ones you want to smack on the back of the head). Nope, Mina's got some balls and will do whatever it takes to protect her family, even putting herself at risk! She's freaking fabulous!
Fairest
Mirror, Mirror, on the wall,
Who is the Fairest of them all?
In the sequel to UnEnchanted, Mina Grime discovers that all is not fair when it comes to the Fae and their tales, especially when they don’t all play by the rules. Barely surviving the Story’s first fairy tale quest, Mina still has hundreds to go before she can end the curse on her family. But a new player arises to challenge Mina while new rules revamp the game she has just barely begun to understand.
All the while, people are mysteriously disappearing, including Jared, whom Mina must finally determine to be friend or foe. And with the loss of her greatest weapon, Mina must try to outwit a lethal hunter. Can Mina survive the most difficult quest yet while protecting those she loves from falling victim to one of the deadliest tales of all? Or will she become a pawn when she strikes a bargain with the Queen of Fae?
**********
OOOOOH its getting tricky up in here!
She does it again with warping a Grimm fairy tale! (and I love the Grimm's, seriously, I do).
It normally pisses me off whenever someone messes with a legendary tale, but I have to say Chanda did the proud!
While keeping the main points of the fairy tales, she's also adding the twist of putting them into a modern era (woot woot)
WARNING: HIGHLY ADDICTING!
JA TEMPLETON
The Deepest Cut
Sixteen-year-old Riley Williams has been able to see ghosts since the car crash that took her mother's life and shattered her family. Guilt-ridden over the belief that she's somehow responsible for her mom's death, Riley is desperate to see her mother's elusive spirit to gain her forgiveness.
When her father moves the family to Scotland so they can all start over, Riley believes her life couldn't get worse--that is until the ghost of nineteen-year-old Ian MacKinnon catches her purposely cutting herself. An uneasy truce quickly turns into friendship, and soon Riley's falling hard for Ian.
Riley believes her gift could help Ian end the curse that has kept him tied to the land for centuries, but that would mean letting him go forever and she's not sure she is strong enough to do that. As if her life wasn't complicated enough, the malevolent spirit of the woman who killed Ian returns and she'll stop at nothing to keep Riley from helping Ian find eternal peace.
**********
Okay, so this book SHOCKED me. Self-mutilation brought out into the daylight? HELL YES!
It is extremely emotionally touching as well as fantastically captivating.
I fell hard for the MC's and found myself rooting for them throughout the entire book!
Tis awesome my lovelies!!! *happy dance*
Which is why I was ecstatic that there was another book!
The Haunted
After battling a malevolent ghost that held the spirit of her friend Ian MacKinnon bound to the land for two hundred years, sixteen-year-old reluctant psychic, Riley Williams, felt as if she was finally easing into her new life in Scotland.
Or so she thought.
Laria, the spirit of the witch who had cursed Ian wants revenge for Riley's interference and she's bringing along friends--dark entities who thrive on evil.
The one bright spot in Riley's world is Ian's descendent, Kade MacKinnon, who could easily be Ian's modern day twin. The parallels between the two guys are undeniable. As Riley's relationship with Kade blossoms, she begins to realize Laria has grown in her power since their last confrontation--a power that could very well manipulate the living just as effectively as the dead.
**********
So I'm not the bravest person in the world, but I'm slightly masochistic (hehe).
I LOVE being afraid, and this book did it for me something fierce!
*shudders*
I had to have every light on in the house while reading and even thought about getting a priest to bless it, but it would probably just piss any malevolent spirits that MAY be in here off.
(a lovely thought to fall asleep to, let me tell you).
But damn, it was soooooo good!
The Departed
Psychic? Check.
Haunted by a malevolent spirit who is making life a living hell? Check.
In love with a smoking hot Scot, who is the reincarnation of the man creepy malevolent ghost murdered two centuries before? Check.
Friends and family think you’re losing your mind? Check.
Welcome to the life of sixteen-year-old Riley Williams, whose life hasn’t been the same since she moved to Scotland and met the spirit of Ian MacKinnon, and Laria, the witch who murdered him.
Since helping Ian cross over to the other side, Riley became Laria’s target, and now the witch has made it clear she wants her dead. Laria has already possessed Riley’s brother and friends, and Riley is starting to feel a little strange herself. She just hopes that she can stop Laria before the ghost takes everything from her. With her boyfriend Kade, her brother, and her buddies by her side, Riley is in for the fight of her life.
***********
Creepier than the second book!
Almost gave me nightmares!
I mean, holy shitballs! eek! *hides*
BUT, again while scaring the crap out of me, it was such a good freaking story!
The entire series had a flawless storyline to it and was highly addicting (even if terrifying).
I loved every single aspect of it and have plans to scare myself again by re-reading it!
COLLEEN HOOVER
Hopeless
Would you rather know a truth that makes you feel hopeless, or keep believing the lies?
Beloved and bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with the spellbinding story of two young people with devastating pasts who embark on a passionate, intriguing journey to discover the lessons of life, love, trust--and above all, the healing power that only truth can bring.
Sky, a senior in high school, meets Dean Holder, a guy with a promiscuous reputation that rivals her own. From their very first encounter, he terrifies and captivates her. Something about him sparks memories of her deeply troubled past, a time she's tried so hard to bury. Though Sky is determined to stay far away from him, his unwavering pursuit and enigmatic smile break down her defenses and the intensity of the bond between them grows. But the mysterious Holder has been keeping secrets of his own, and once they are revealed, Sky is changed forever and her ability to trust may be a casualty of the truth.
Only by courageously facing the stark revelations can Sky and Holder hope to heal their emotional scars and find a way to live and love without boundaries. Hopeless is a novel that will leave you breathless, entranced, and remembering your own first love.
**********
Holy.....
What the......
*shock*
I was stunned for days after reading Hopeless. It made my heart race, my blood turn to ice and for me to feel like I would projectile vomit when everything was revealed.
It has to be one of the most horrifyingly beautiful books that I have ever read in my entire life!
I didn't see it coming, I didn't want to see it coming. A part of me wants to scrub my eyes out just to get the words out of my mind. And of course, with reading I ended up getting a visual.
Not a lovely thing to do whenever you have children.
I'm seriously wanting to burn it because of what's revealed, but I also want to read it again because the overall triumph and story is amazing.
Geesh, I'm feeling bi-polar.
(on my TBR)LAURA HOWARD
The Forgotten Ones
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.FRANKIE ROSE
Raksha
She has no name.
She has her knives. Her training. Her halo.
The first and second give her the ability to defeat the opponents she is pitted against each month. The third frees her from pain and fear. From any kind of emotion at all. Everything is as it should be. Everything is as it should be, until…
Fear… Pain… Anger… Happiness… Desire… Guilt…
Love.
When a newly named Kit escapes the Sanctuary after killing her best friend, the last thing she needs is another knife in her hand. Or Ryka, the damaged, beautiful blond boy, whom she refuses to let save her. The sights and sounds of Freetown are new, yet one thing is familiar: the matches. The only difference? Where the blood in the Sanctuary landed only on the Colosseum floor, Kit will quickly learn that a river of red runs through Freetown’s very streets.
Without her halo, the inhabitants of Kit’s new home consider her saved, but is that really the case? The reality of her old life is paralyzing. Would she be better off free of the guilt associated with all the blood on her hands, or is the love of one boy worth living through all the pain?
Raksha is the call of the dead. It is the rumbling chant for fresh blood from the other side, the demand for sacrifice. The Colosseum is behind Kit. The fighting pits await.DANI MORALES
Entrecalen
One girl faces tethered responsibilities in the form of three boys.
One boy dealt a hard hand but rises above in search of his destiny.
Two separate lives desperate for a break, collide.
Falling in love was never the plan but it happened anyway.
Time's running out and both their fears comes to light.
The key to defeating darkness lies within their family lineage.
Were they thrown together by chance or fate?
Will love conquer all or will a sacrifice be made?NICHOLE CHASE
Suddenly Royal
Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.
Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.
While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.
So there we have it! All the books that are in the giveaway below *points* except for ONE!
Hehe. My first book, The Prophecy, will be published on June 24th! BUT I'm adding an ARC copy into the giveaway (you're welcome) just for the fun of it.
How the giveaway is going to go down is that whatever order the winners come in will match the book that is being given away. If you own or have read the book you won, then let me know and you will win another book that is on the list of your choice ^.^
Lets start the fun!a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now, this won't be a regular series of reviews where I go into depth about how awesome the books are (or if they suck, which luckily this list doesn't have any sucky ones). Instead, they're going to be short and sweet and directly to the point! *throws confetti*
Not all the books listed below I have read. They will be separate from those that are being reviewed BUT they are the next to go on my TBR and will be included in the giveaway ;)So, all you guys ready for some massive craziness? You better be, cause here we GOOOOOOO!!!!
MICHELLE LEIGHTON'S REVIEWS
Down To You
One girl. Twin brothers. An uncommon triangle. When college student Olivia Townsend returned home to help her father run his business, she never imagined a complication like Cash and Nash Davenport—twin brothers different in so many ways but with one thing in common: an uncontrollable desire for Olivia.
Cash is dangerous, sexy, and bad to the bone—a man whose kisses make Olivia forget she is playing with fire. Nash is successful, reliable and intensely passionate—and already taken. But all it takes is one soft stroke to make Olivia forget he belongs to someone else.
However, Olivia is in for a surprise. These boys have a secret that should make her run away as far and as fast as she can. If only it wasn’t too late. A sensual game between three players has begun, and it’s about to spin deliriously out of control.
*********Okay, this book was yummy. And I mean, seriously freaking fan yourself Yummy.And the twists! OMG the freaking twists drove me insane! (in a completely awesome way, of course)While I wanted to slap the MC's at times and just throw them at each other and be all 'JUST GET TO IT ALREADY!!! I WANT MORE SMUT!!!' the story in itself was highly entertaining and hilarious. The wit was outstanding, and I loved how the characters interacted with each other ^.^The only downside to me was the ending. You kind of get tired of happily-ever afters after awhile, and I wanted MORE. Just wanted to keep on reading the story, but alas, all good things have to end.... or do they?We continue on with book TWO\/Up To Me
For Olivia, romantic bliss has never felt so right as it does with Cash. Unpredictable, except when it comes to satisfying her desires, Cash’s ‘bad boy’ reputation is well-earned, but he’s turning his life around with the one woman who accepts him for who he is.
Until strangers from the past turn Olivia and Cash’s world upside down. What they want is something only Cash can give them. And if he doesn’t deliver, then they’re taking the one thing that Cash values the most.
Olivia always knew that in falling for Cash she was likely to get burned. But this new threat is beyond anything she imagined. Now she has to trust Cash with her life—and for Olivia that’s much easier than letting go, and trusting him with her heart.
*********Now things start off really smoothly from the epilogue in Down To You. I mean smooth as butter. And while things are still spicy, since they're already an established couple it's (to me) not as hot as the whole first love thing. BUT in Up To Me there is a series of action packed, tense moments that completely make up for the 'new to love' hotness, and bring about a spice of their own.AND HOLY SH*T DO I EVER NEED THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES!!!Because of Nash *sigh* holy hell the twists that come about with the twins are epically awesome, and they're both hot.They can pour some sugar on me at any time ;) (sorry Jeremy)
The Wild Ones
Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.
The darling daughter of a champion Thoroughbred breeder, Camille “Cami” Hines has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future—until she met Patrick Henley.
“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her—and he just happens to be so sexy she can’t keep her hands off him. While they both know that Trick would lose his much needed job on the ranch if anyone finds out, they can’t resist the lure of their scorchingly hot encounters.
But when Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, and secrets with the power to tear them apart…
*********I seriously loved this book. It's the perfect type of love story that makes you totally homicidal towards the MC's because all you want to do is see the happily together (with lots of smut! Bring on the smut!) BUT of course they have to f*ck up. ROYALLY!I mean, OMG why can't they just get their heads out of their own asses long enough to get it on? (hehe)But it comes together in a wonderful way in the end, and leaves you with an uber feeling of the warm and fuzzy's.
MISTY PROVENCHER'S REVIEWS
Cornerstone
CORNERSTONE is the story of Nalena Maxwell, a girl who's been dubbed The Waste at her new school, due to her mom's obsessive paper hoarding. Nalena desperately needs
something to change in her life. But when she receives a sign (and it's the
wrong dang one) that invites her into an ancient community, EVERYTHING changes-
what she knew of her family and her life and her future. While seventeen years
worth of family skeletons come crashing into Nalena's life, it is the boy...the
one with eyes as clean as Jesus...that steps up to help Nalena figure out what
he already knows about her...Okay, I have to be honest. I really didn’t know what in the world to think of this book. As I stated reading it, I found myself with more questions than answers, and even while the MC started becoming frustrated and angry over not knowingand not being told anything, I found myself reflecting the sentiment. Keystone
There’s a man-made storm coming, like a rip in the world, and it’s called the Cusp.
Struggling to fit into the destiny she’s accepted, Nalena Maxwell has been left with one objective: she must find her murdered grandfather’s Memory. Stolen and hidden away by her own father over seventeen years ago, the Memory could be the key to ending the Cusp and destroying the Ianua’s rival community, The Fury.
Driven by each individual’s selfish desires, The Fury has always lacked the loyalty and organization it needs to be an actual force of power.
Until now.
Someone masterminded the Fury’s massive attack on the Ianua, slaughtering twelve of their thirteen community leaders, the Addos. Now there are rumors that the 13th Cura, to which Nali belongs, has gone to the Fury, manipulating the last Addo in order to control the other 12 Curas.
As the Cusp brings the Fury and their own communities against them, Nalena’s Cura must preserve the Ianua, but finding the key to the Cusp isn’t as simple as it seems.
********
HOLY HELL WE'RE GETTING DEEP NOW!
This series just keep getting better and better. Seriously, you'll have your socks knocked off as you fly backwards with wtf moments through this one!
I have no idea how in the hell Misty comes up with these plot twists, but they are SEAMLESS! And with how many there are it is truly remarkable. She doesn't stumble once! A-freaking-mazing ^.^
Now, while we continue with the awesomeness that is her writing, there is still the sociological base that makes you think without making you feel stupid, which is fantastic! While some aspects of Keystone will make you think (sorry to break it to you, but yes, you must use your mind) it is truly engaging regardless! But I am still full of questions which leads toooooo.....
JAMB
A second ago, Nalena opened her eyes.
And she was safe in Garrett’s arms.
Then it all comes rushing back—the riots, The Fury, the Cusp. The Ianua community is in a major jam.
Forced into survival mode, the Ianua are holed up in the fortress of the Hotel Celare. Each Cura’s top-ranking members have gathered to guard the last remaining Addo, as the entire community also scrambles to trust one another and organize a new game plan to overthrow The Fury.
The trick is to keep the human race alive.
But The Fury’s game has changed. They have a Mastermind at the helm and he is out to destroy the Ianua.
Terrifying and brilliant, this mysterious Mastermind has organized and focused The Fury like never before. He has recruited the Simple and unleashed the Cusp’s wide-spread chaos all around the world.
And behind the scenes of this big picture, Nalena and everyone around her are busy trying to keep up, while also absorbing the rapid-fire aftershocks of their changing lives. There are traitors everywhere.
While The Cusp is expected to bring twists and turns, Nalena and Garrett never expected it to throw a silverware-drawer full of forks into the road. Each path tests their loyalty and their faith and makes them question who is who.
Including themselves.
And each other.
And in the end, some things, you can never see coming.
********
Okay, the only thing I can really manage to utter after reading JAMB is:
SERIOUSLY! JAMB leaves you freaking hanging! (but in a good way)You're soooo freaking close to the epic finale, yet it doesn't come!aaaaahhhhhh!!!!! *head desk*I need more, STAT!Hale Maree
Hale Simmons dreams of climbing out of her impoverished life, going to college, and getting herself a titanium crash helmet, so she can eventually bust through the Plexiglas ceiling of her crappy life. But for now, she's just a 18-year-old girl with a flimsy hope, barely getting by with her alcoholic father, Jerry.
But for Hale, 'crappy' suddenly takes a nosedive, when Jerry becomes the sole witness to a horrible accident. It is an event which means to affect everyone, especially Hale, who wasn't even involved.
While the depth of the accident has just begun to unfold, Otto Maree, a prominent business man and old family friend, stands to lose everything because of it. Otto is desperate for Hale's father to stay quiet about what occurred the night the two men meet for a drink. Out of mutual moments of desperation, the two fathers forge a deal. Jerry is desperate to gain financial stability for both himself and Hale, and Otto Maree is more than willing to pay to keep his secret just that.
But deals like this need to be made of the strongest vows and bound with the most faithful of loyalties. Otto proposes a marriage between Hale and his playboy-son, Oscar, in order to assure that the secret remains 'in the family'. The mystery surrounding the accident continues to grow and Hale struggles against her own mysterious feelings that begin to develop for Oscar, who turns out to less of a playboy, but just as fiercely loyal and dedicated as his father.
As the pressure around her continues to escalate, Hale realizes that she's got to decide if this arranged marriage is really just a big mistake or an amazing twist of fate that has been waiting around for this particular accident to happen. *********
So nice, you’ll read it twice.
Dive into a love story where barbaric ideals become a great romance. Throughout the story, I found myself swaying between wanting to slap somebody, to feeling that lovely warm, fuzzy bubble of happiness that makes you want to whimper in joy for the characters, right back to wanting to slap someone.
Oh what a beautifully descriptive roller coaster ride of emotion.
What I loved most about Hale Maree was that it was a ‘real’ love story. Not in the sense that it actually happened to someone, but the fact that it could happen. Some people didn’t like the book for that reason, seemingly wanting to stay with the more fanciful versions of a love story, but to me, it was entirely refreshing. And here’s why:
Hale is a completely complicated, damaged person. She’s gone through so much sh*t in her life that trust comes easy, and love is even harder. When you’ve been raised with an alcoholic who has ruined everything that life has to offer, only to find yourself being ‘sold’ like some barnyard cow, how can you look anything in the face without waiting for the shoe to drop? So, when she’s faced with a man that she is supposed to marry, to find that he already has a girlfriend, and said girlfriend kept showing up, then of course she would be expecting him to take the girlfriend back and leave herself homeless. Its to be expected because that’s the type of behavior she has come to know from people. To believe otherwise would have been a lesson in futility, even though through all things, there will always be hope.
So, with that in mind its completely understandable that she wouldn’t trust him, would be expecting the worst, but yet would still hold a smidgen of hope that everything will turn out alright. After all, if you don’t have hope, there is nothing left to live for.
The book was a quick and lively read, with great witticism and spunk. I found myself devouring it rather quickly, and falling in love with each character, or becoming homicidal with certain characters as the story unfolded and the plot morphed and twisted on itself, sending me through a loop. Brings to mind the saying, ‘you may think you know, but you have no idea’, because it rings true with this story. Regardless of how active your imagination can be, in the end you’ll be shocked to find what happens, because it wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities. Plus, it was pulled off beautifully.
Now, there were some areas that had me almost gritting my teeth in pure anger. While I understood Oscar's need to get Hale out of her shell and to become comfortable with him, at times he seemed almost too pushy, but never crossed the line to truly offend me, and Hales reaction to it always appeased my sensibilities.
TARA BROWN
Cursed
One tragic event can change everything in a life.
It can change the way we see the world around us.
Sometimes it can change the worlds we see.
Worlds we didn't know existed.
When she slips into the In-Between for a few seconds she sees him.
He's more beautiful than anything she has ever seen before.
She's drawn to him in a way she can't explain.
Between the popular girls being poisoned and love's first kiss,
she hardly has time to chase down a mystery man.
As the poison that sent her to the In-Between wreaks havoc on her body,
the man she met there is equally damaging on her heart.
Discover how it all started
How it all unfolded
The first time
*********
So I love the premise of this book, and the characters were fascinating, the story line intense and the plot twists thoroughly thought out. BUT I was left with more questions than answers, which can be a good thing because it makes me want book two NOW DAMN IT!
hehe
Anyways, its a really really good book. Even though it was frustrating at times I still breezed through it and had a good reader/character relationship.
JA REDMERSKI
The Edge Of Never
Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett thought she knew exactly where her life was going. But after a wild night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she shocks everyone-including herself-when she decides to leave the only life she's ever known and set out on her own. Grabbing her purse and her cell phone, Camryn boards a Greyhound bus ready to find herself. Instead, she finds Andrew Parrish.Sexy and exciting, Andrew lives life like there is no tomorrow. He persuades Camryn to do things she never thought she would and shows her how to give in to her deepest, most forbidden desires. Soon he becomes the center of her daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But there is more to Andrew than Camryn realizes. Will his secret push them inseparably together-or destroy them forever?
*********
OH MY FLIPPING MONKEYS!!!
I was seriously tempted to freaking hunt down and slap the author over the ending! (and yes, I did tell her that ;)
And it's not because its bad, but HOLY fudge monkey!
Seriously??? *sputters*
she should be soooo thankful there was an epilogue or I would have started a riot!
The Edge Of Never is truly, truly heartfelt.
It made me weep, shocked me to my core and I HAD, my soul demanded, that I read it again (which I did. Three times in a row ;)
It's a must read!
JAIME MCQUIRE
Beautiful Disaster
The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.
Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.
*********
First off, I have to say that I loved the concept of the book. The characters were interesting and the story line was great!
Overall I enjoyed it and will read it again.
BUT at times it seemed like the problems would just never be solved and that the MC's would NEVER grow up.
Hey, I'm all about things being thrown in the way to f*ck up a budding relationship, but at times it was getting close to ridiculous.
Still though, there were many many redeeming qualities, and as stated, I would read it again ;)
HEATHER HILDENBRAND
Imitation
Everyone is exactly like me. There is no one like me.
The rough fabric of my cotton nightgown chafes so I lie very still. They say my discomfort comes from being built like one accustomed to niceties. How is that fair when I myself have never experienced anything but copies of the real thing?
My entire life is an imitation.
I am an Imitation.
I’ve been here five years. Training. Preparing. Waiting.
And now I have a letter.
My assignment has begun.
I am a prisoner.
I am not Raven Rogen.
I am here to die.
********** A lot of people when they read the synopsis pass this book by.
BIG FREAKING MISTAKE!!!
Imitation is highly refreshing in the YA market. I loved it from beginning to end and have wanted more from it (which lucky for me there will be more *happy dance*)
Heather has a way of captivating readers with her 'voice'. I highly admire her work and her books is one of the main reasons that I, myself, became an author ^.^ Yes, she is THAT good!
I loved the characters (all of them, there weren't any 'just because' characters. Each one has a purpose) and hated the villain (you will find no sympathy from me!) Imitation consumed me and I literally finished it in 3 hours. Now, that may not seem like much to you, but I have 4 kids, so reading an ENTIRE book in 3 hours with them causing hell is unheard of except in special cases. Which this was one of few ;)
It's highly addicting and a must read!
GEORGIA CATES
Beauty From Pain
They agreed on three months...but their love knew no boundaries.
Jack McLachlan is a winemaking magnate and easily one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors. His success and wealth makes him no stranger to the complications of romantic relationships and that’s why he goes to extreme measures to avoid the hassle. He prefers simplicity in the form of a beautiful female companion with no strings attached. He arranges relationships like business deals and they’re always the same. No long term relationships. No real names.
It’s his game and his rules. He’s content to play as usual, but when Laurelyn Prescott enters his life, his strategy must change because this player is like none he's ever encountered. His world is turned on its head after he begins a three month affair with the beautiful American musician. Nothing goes according to plan and as he breaks more and more of his own rules for her, she’s exceptionally close to becoming something he never thought possible. His ultimate game changer.
***********
This book made me want to become a stripper O.O
The MC is NOT a stripper, but if you have read this/will read it then you will understand WHY I opened up my review with that particular statement.
I really loved Beauty From Pain, and adored the fact that there wasn't a happy ending. Love too swiftly that is automatically wedding bells kind of piss me off. This book has none of those.
And it's HOT! Oh lordy how its hot! (sorry Jeremy)
I can't wait to get my greedy paws on the next one!
CHANDA HAHN
UnEnchancted
Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crushes life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her new found fame brings misfortune in the form of an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her it's next fairytale victim.
To break the fairy tale curse on her family and make these deadly occurrences stop, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.
***********
A very refreshing take on the Grimm fairy tales. I LOVED IT!
The story line was awesome, and I loved the MC and how she's not one of those 'woe is me, I can't do this' type of people (the ones you want to smack on the back of the head). Nope, Mina's got some balls and will do whatever it takes to protect her family, even putting herself at risk! She's freaking fabulous!
Fairest
Mirror, Mirror, on the wall,Who is the Fairest of them all?
In the sequel to UnEnchanted, Mina Grime discovers that all is not fair when it comes to the Fae and their tales, especially when they don’t all play by the rules. Barely surviving the Story’s first fairy tale quest, Mina still has hundreds to go before she can end the curse on her family. But a new player arises to challenge Mina while new rules revamp the game she has just barely begun to understand.
All the while, people are mysteriously disappearing, including Jared, whom Mina must finally determine to be friend or foe. And with the loss of her greatest weapon, Mina must try to outwit a lethal hunter. Can Mina survive the most difficult quest yet while protecting those she loves from falling victim to one of the deadliest tales of all? Or will she become a pawn when she strikes a bargain with the Queen of Fae?
**********
OOOOOH its getting tricky up in here!
She does it again with warping a Grimm fairy tale! (and I love the Grimm's, seriously, I do).
It normally pisses me off whenever someone messes with a legendary tale, but I have to say Chanda did the proud!
While keeping the main points of the fairy tales, she's also adding the twist of putting them into a modern era (woot woot)
WARNING: HIGHLY ADDICTING!
JA TEMPLETON
The Deepest Cut
Sixteen-year-old Riley Williams has been able to see ghosts since the car crash that took her mother's life and shattered her family. Guilt-ridden over the belief that she's somehow responsible for her mom's death, Riley is desperate to see her mother's elusive spirit to gain her forgiveness. When her father moves the family to Scotland so they can all start over, Riley believes her life couldn't get worse--that is until the ghost of nineteen-year-old Ian MacKinnon catches her purposely cutting herself. An uneasy truce quickly turns into friendship, and soon Riley's falling hard for Ian.
Riley believes her gift could help Ian end the curse that has kept him tied to the land for centuries, but that would mean letting him go forever and she's not sure she is strong enough to do that. As if her life wasn't complicated enough, the malevolent spirit of the woman who killed Ian returns and she'll stop at nothing to keep Riley from helping Ian find eternal peace.
**********
Okay, so this book SHOCKED me. Self-mutilation brought out into the daylight? HELL YES!
It is extremely emotionally touching as well as fantastically captivating.
I fell hard for the MC's and found myself rooting for them throughout the entire book!
Tis awesome my lovelies!!! *happy dance*
Which is why I was ecstatic that there was another book!
The Haunted
After battling a malevolent ghost that held the spirit of her friend Ian MacKinnon bound to the land for two hundred years, sixteen-year-old reluctant psychic, Riley Williams, felt as if she was finally easing into her new life in Scotland.Or so she thought.
Laria, the spirit of the witch who had cursed Ian wants revenge for Riley's interference and she's bringing along friends--dark entities who thrive on evil.
The one bright spot in Riley's world is Ian's descendent, Kade MacKinnon, who could easily be Ian's modern day twin. The parallels between the two guys are undeniable. As Riley's relationship with Kade blossoms, she begins to realize Laria has grown in her power since their last confrontation--a power that could very well manipulate the living just as effectively as the dead.
**********
So I'm not the bravest person in the world, but I'm slightly masochistic (hehe).
I LOVE being afraid, and this book did it for me something fierce!
*shudders*
I had to have every light on in the house while reading and even thought about getting a priest to bless it, but it would probably just piss any malevolent spirits that MAY be in here off.
(a lovely thought to fall asleep to, let me tell you).
But damn, it was soooooo good!
The Departed
Psychic? Check.Haunted by a malevolent spirit who is making life a living hell? Check.
In love with a smoking hot Scot, who is the reincarnation of the man creepy malevolent ghost murdered two centuries before? Check.
Friends and family think you’re losing your mind? Check.
Welcome to the life of sixteen-year-old Riley Williams, whose life hasn’t been the same since she moved to Scotland and met the spirit of Ian MacKinnon, and Laria, the witch who murdered him.
Since helping Ian cross over to the other side, Riley became Laria’s target, and now the witch has made it clear she wants her dead. Laria has already possessed Riley’s brother and friends, and Riley is starting to feel a little strange herself. She just hopes that she can stop Laria before the ghost takes everything from her. With her boyfriend Kade, her brother, and her buddies by her side, Riley is in for the fight of her life.
***********
Creepier than the second book!
Almost gave me nightmares!
I mean, holy shitballs! eek! *hides*
BUT, again while scaring the crap out of me, it was such a good freaking story!
The entire series had a flawless storyline to it and was highly addicting (even if terrifying).
I loved every single aspect of it and have plans to scare myself again by re-reading it!
COLLEEN HOOVER
Hopeless
Would you rather know a truth that makes you feel hopeless, or keep believing the lies?Beloved and bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with the spellbinding story of two young people with devastating pasts who embark on a passionate, intriguing journey to discover the lessons of life, love, trust--and above all, the healing power that only truth can bring.
Sky, a senior in high school, meets Dean Holder, a guy with a promiscuous reputation that rivals her own. From their very first encounter, he terrifies and captivates her. Something about him sparks memories of her deeply troubled past, a time she's tried so hard to bury. Though Sky is determined to stay far away from him, his unwavering pursuit and enigmatic smile break down her defenses and the intensity of the bond between them grows. But the mysterious Holder has been keeping secrets of his own, and once they are revealed, Sky is changed forever and her ability to trust may be a casualty of the truth.
Only by courageously facing the stark revelations can Sky and Holder hope to heal their emotional scars and find a way to live and love without boundaries. Hopeless is a novel that will leave you breathless, entranced, and remembering your own first love.
**********
Holy.....
What the......
*shock*
I was stunned for days after reading Hopeless. It made my heart race, my blood turn to ice and for me to feel like I would projectile vomit when everything was revealed.
It has to be one of the most horrifyingly beautiful books that I have ever read in my entire life!
I didn't see it coming, I didn't want to see it coming. A part of me wants to scrub my eyes out just to get the words out of my mind. And of course, with reading I ended up getting a visual.
Not a lovely thing to do whenever you have children.
I'm seriously wanting to burn it because of what's revealed, but I also want to read it again because the overall triumph and story is amazing.
Geesh, I'm feeling bi-polar.
(on my TBR)LAURA HOWARD
The Forgotten Ones
Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.FRANKIE ROSE
Raksha
She has no name. She has her knives. Her training. Her halo.
The first and second give her the ability to defeat the opponents she is pitted against each month. The third frees her from pain and fear. From any kind of emotion at all. Everything is as it should be. Everything is as it should be, until…
Fear… Pain… Anger… Happiness… Desire… Guilt…
Love.
When a newly named Kit escapes the Sanctuary after killing her best friend, the last thing she needs is another knife in her hand. Or Ryka, the damaged, beautiful blond boy, whom she refuses to let save her. The sights and sounds of Freetown are new, yet one thing is familiar: the matches. The only difference? Where the blood in the Sanctuary landed only on the Colosseum floor, Kit will quickly learn that a river of red runs through Freetown’s very streets.
Without her halo, the inhabitants of Kit’s new home consider her saved, but is that really the case? The reality of her old life is paralyzing. Would she be better off free of the guilt associated with all the blood on her hands, or is the love of one boy worth living through all the pain?
Raksha is the call of the dead. It is the rumbling chant for fresh blood from the other side, the demand for sacrifice. The Colosseum is behind Kit. The fighting pits await.DANI MORALES
Entrecalen
One girl faces tethered responsibilities in the form of three boys.One boy dealt a hard hand but rises above in search of his destiny.
Two separate lives desperate for a break, collide.
Falling in love was never the plan but it happened anyway.
Time's running out and both their fears comes to light.
The key to defeating darkness lies within their family lineage.
Were they thrown together by chance or fate?
Will love conquer all or will a sacrifice be made?NICHOLE CHASE
Suddenly Royal
Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.
Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.
While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.
So there we have it! All the books that are in the giveaway below *points* except for ONE!
Hehe. My first book, The Prophecy, will be published on June 24th! BUT I'm adding an ARC copy into the giveaway (you're welcome) just for the fun of it.
How the giveaway is going to go down is that whatever order the winners come in will match the book that is being given away. If you own or have read the book you won, then let me know and you will win another book that is on the list of your choice ^.^
Lets start the fun!a Rafflecopter giveaway
May 1, 2013
NEVER LET YOU FALL RELEASE DAY!!!!
A special Excerpt just for you...
“What do you feel? Anything strange?”
She flung her hands up in the air as she answered me. “Yes, I feel something strange! This whole thing is strange!”
Placing my finger on her lips, I shook my head in frustration. “Skye, what do you feel here?” I asked again, pointing to her chest. “How do you feel?”
She stood for a moment with her lips lightly pressed to my finger, slowly closing and reopening her eyes. There was a sheen to them that spoke of unshed tears, and as she raised her hand to pull mine away from her mouth, I saw her fingers tremble when she whispered, “I can’t deal with this, Xander.”
“Yes, Skye - you can and you will,” I warned her. “This is going to happen whether you want it to or not. I told you that I’m safe, and I…”
Skye broke into hysterical laughter at that. “Safe? You’re telling me that a legion of demons is after me and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. How in your book does that equal safe?”
“You don’t know me, Skye, and you don’t know Rioden and… what we can do. I told you that I would protect you, and I will.”
Shaking her head, she took a small step back and admitted, “You’re right about one thing, Xander,” as she wiped a tear from her face. “I don’t know you, so how can I trust you? No matter how you make me feel. Please just leave me alone.” She spun on her heel and sprinted away, leaving me to stare after her.
About the Author
Having grown up in both the cold, quiet town of Topsham, Maine and the steamy, southern hospitality of Mobile, Alabama, Michele is something of a enigma. She is an avid Yankees fan, loves New England, being outdoors and misses snow. However she thinks southern boys are hotter, Alabama football is the only REAL football out there and sweet tea is the best thing this side of heaven and her children’s laughter!
Her family, a doting husband and three awesome minions have planted their roots in the middle of Michele’s two childhood homes in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Never Let You Fall is Michele’s first novel and she is beyond thrilled to have finally followed up on a dream she has held for over 20 years! God willing there will be many many more books to follow.
Blog: http://michelegmiller.blogspot.comGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6975382.Michele_G_MillerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMicheleGMillerTwitter: https://twitter.com/chelemybelles
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 23, 2013
Syrenka Series News from Amber Garr!
I'm so excited to announce a new addition to the syrenka world. Now you can get The Syrenka Series trilogy plus three bonus short stories all in one place! So if these have been on your TBR list...you can grab all three together and enjoy an additional insight into the minds of the syrenka guys (Kain, Graham, and Brendan).
The box set includes:
Promises (Book One) - A young mermaid is forced to decide between love and duty, and when she chooses wrong, her world will change forever.
Betrayal (Book Two) - A heartbroken Eviana returns home to find herself with the responsibility of leading her clan into war.
Arise (Book Three) - In the series conclusion, Eviana discovers the consequences of power and sacrifice.
Bonus short stories include-
Cold Feet - Kain witnesses Eviana’s deceit on their wedding day and is forced to deal with the consequences of her behavior.
First Impressions -Although stuck at a boring Council meeting, Graham is excited to meet Eviana and discover why she’s so important for his mentor’s plans.
The Call - Brendan struggles with his feelings for Eviana while trying to fight against the instincts tearing him away.
Buy now at Amazon or Smashwords
And if you still can't get enough, visit The Syrenka Series website for additional short stories, the dream cast, and more!
The box set includes:
Promises (Book One) - A young mermaid is forced to decide between love and duty, and when she chooses wrong, her world will change forever.
Betrayal (Book Two) - A heartbroken Eviana returns home to find herself with the responsibility of leading her clan into war.
Arise (Book Three) - In the series conclusion, Eviana discovers the consequences of power and sacrifice.
Bonus short stories include-
Cold Feet - Kain witnesses Eviana’s deceit on their wedding day and is forced to deal with the consequences of her behavior.
First Impressions -Although stuck at a boring Council meeting, Graham is excited to meet Eviana and discover why she’s so important for his mentor’s plans.
The Call - Brendan struggles with his feelings for Eviana while trying to fight against the instincts tearing him away.
Buy now at Amazon or Smashwords
And if you still can't get enough, visit The Syrenka Series website for additional short stories, the dream cast, and more!
April 22, 2013
24 HOUR FLASH GIVEAWAY!
My friend and fellow author Felicia Tatum is sloooowly moving up the charts!Well, I want to help push her along :)
How do you live with the gut clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name.
Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on? Below is a giveaway for a SIGNED COPY of The White AuraAND a $10 GC to either B&N or Amazon!Help me help Felicia and enter for your chance to WIN! a Rafflecopter giveaway
How do you live with the gut clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name. Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on? Below is a giveaway for a SIGNED COPY of The White AuraAND a $10 GC to either B&N or Amazon!Help me help Felicia and enter for your chance to WIN! a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 20, 2013
An Update
Hey everyone!I know you guys are probably wondering where in the world I went too. Well, I didn't mean to leave you. I came into some really bad health issues, which lead to financial issues. So, I was regrettably forced away for an unforeseeable amount of time, and I apologize for that.
It has come to a point where I have to make a decision. It was rather frightening to discover that I can't do everything that I want to do, no human can, and to continue on as I am will lead to devastating consequences. I'm a mother, that always comes first and I'll never give that up. I'm an author, and I'll never give that up either. So that leaves only one thing for me to take out of my life. And that is the massive blogging that I have been doing.Yes, I love to read, I'll always love to read and I will post reviews and giveaways for whenever I get the chance to read. But I had created insane schedules and was trying to fit a 40 hour day into only 24. That falls solely on me. I've always been stubborn and I told myself that if I was going to blog, then by God I was going to be the best blogger out there. I didn't take into account all the hours that come along with it, and how much that would effect not only me, but my family as well. So, while I am not giving up blogging in its entirety, I am cutting it back to a more manageable level, and will only be doing reviews and giveaways as I find time to do them. I want to thank each and every one of you for standing by me through all of this madness. You guys mean a lot to me, and I love you all. Now that we've gotten the bad news out of the way, I do have some good news to impart!My 26th birthday is coming up rather quickly, and I want a BIG celebration. I mean, massively HUGE!And I've been working on something with the help of our wonderful author community!From June 1st through the 24th (my birthday) will be theBIG GIVEAWAY BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!Now, what this all entails is that for every author I get involved, they will donate either one (or more) signed paperback(s) -OR- a signed ecopy!There will also be a TON of swag and some giftcards!Now, this WILL NOT go to just one person.For however many authors are involved, is the amount of winners!ANDI have a partial list to show you to wet your palettes! SIGNED PAPERBACKS BYKimberly Karpov-KinradeJA LynchDenise Grover SwankElla JamesAnn M. HargroveK Anne RainesCassia LeoKristie HaigwoodNichole ChaseWillow CrossAmy MilesKaren HooperLisa MorganCambria HerbertMisty ProvencherMilly TaidenTammy BlackwellLL HunterM.R. PolishAddison Moore AND MANY MANY OTHERS!There are more and more pouring in everyday!The final list will be posted towards the beginning of June when everything is finalized!I hope you all come join me in all the birthday fun and I hope you can forgive me for not being able to do what I had first set out to do. Always and Forever,Desiree
It has come to a point where I have to make a decision. It was rather frightening to discover that I can't do everything that I want to do, no human can, and to continue on as I am will lead to devastating consequences. I'm a mother, that always comes first and I'll never give that up. I'm an author, and I'll never give that up either. So that leaves only one thing for me to take out of my life. And that is the massive blogging that I have been doing.Yes, I love to read, I'll always love to read and I will post reviews and giveaways for whenever I get the chance to read. But I had created insane schedules and was trying to fit a 40 hour day into only 24. That falls solely on me. I've always been stubborn and I told myself that if I was going to blog, then by God I was going to be the best blogger out there. I didn't take into account all the hours that come along with it, and how much that would effect not only me, but my family as well. So, while I am not giving up blogging in its entirety, I am cutting it back to a more manageable level, and will only be doing reviews and giveaways as I find time to do them. I want to thank each and every one of you for standing by me through all of this madness. You guys mean a lot to me, and I love you all. Now that we've gotten the bad news out of the way, I do have some good news to impart!My 26th birthday is coming up rather quickly, and I want a BIG celebration. I mean, massively HUGE!And I've been working on something with the help of our wonderful author community!From June 1st through the 24th (my birthday) will be theBIG GIVEAWAY BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!Now, what this all entails is that for every author I get involved, they will donate either one (or more) signed paperback(s) -OR- a signed ecopy!There will also be a TON of swag and some giftcards!Now, this WILL NOT go to just one person.For however many authors are involved, is the amount of winners!ANDI have a partial list to show you to wet your palettes! SIGNED PAPERBACKS BYKimberly Karpov-KinradeJA LynchDenise Grover SwankElla JamesAnn M. HargroveK Anne RainesCassia LeoKristie HaigwoodNichole ChaseWillow CrossAmy MilesKaren HooperLisa MorganCambria HerbertMisty ProvencherMilly TaidenTammy BlackwellLL HunterM.R. PolishAddison Moore AND MANY MANY OTHERS!There are more and more pouring in everyday!The final list will be posted towards the beginning of June when everything is finalized!I hope you all come join me in all the birthday fun and I hope you can forgive me for not being able to do what I had first set out to do. Always and Forever,Desiree
March 20, 2013
FIVE DAYS OF NATUSCH DAY ONE!
Welcome, my Wicked peeps, to Day One of Natusch!During the next FIVE days, Amber Natusch will be in the spotlight with her Caged Series!Today is the review for book one, Caged(oh, and don't forget to enter the giveaway ;) )
"I stood in the middle of the room, unmoving – I barely breathed. My life had just become surreal, impossible, and one enormous lie. I needed to go, to run somewhere, anywhere to beat back the reality that was rapidly closing in around me. The image of him was burned into my retina, flashing over and over again like a warning. He was trapped somewhere between human and decidedly not, and I realized that was my new reality.
I was too."
After the death of her parents, Ruby awakens from a lifetime of shadows and finds herself alone, thrust into a world of lies, deceit, betrayal and the supernatural.
As her quest for truth continues to come up short, she realizes that maybe some questions really are best left unanswered.
When her true identity is finally unveiled, she is forced to choose between two of the mysterious men who continually seem to crop up in her life.
She chooses poorly.
Now abandoned, Ruby must learn to call on the darkness within to survive, or spend a hellish eternity imprisoned because of it
I would go into the second hot male (and breath easy because there's not a love triangle), Eric, my my aggression would spike and I'd end up hitting something (there's a reason for that, but you'll have to read the book to find out why.) Now, some people don't like Ruby's character. They say she's too sarcastic, acts childish, jumps into situations, blah blah blah.To those people who say that, one, you are entitled to your own opinion, and I respect your opinion :)BUT, since you are entitled to your opinion, it also means that I'm entitled to mine. (insert evil laugh here).Soooo, brace yourself, because here it is! When you're taking about Ruby's personality aspects, a lot of people don't understand the concept of living without sight in an extremely secluded family, then finding yourself with said sight.Imagine living your life not being able to see. You wouldn't know what you looked like, had never seen any form or shade of colors. It's not the same as just sitting there with your eyes closed. Its an extreme form of nothingness. (and I know that for a fact because I have friends who are blind and have had lengthy discussions with them about it). Now, add all that on top of being so ridiculously controlled that you have no other way to express yourself except through dance. And I mean, literally no way to express yourself. You have no friends to talk to, your parents don't want to listen, so you're stuck inside your mind for YEARS. With all that *gestures above* in mind, its completely understandable to those of curious and academically open minds, to see that how Ruby is now is completely understandable. Is she sarcastic? Yes, but its because its her defense mechanism when dealing with situations and people that make her uncomfortable. Is she somewhat childish at times? Yes, but that is because she never got the chance to be a child. Age has nothing to do with mentality. It's about whether or not you are able to actually experience the stages of life. So, that explains the first part of peoples b*tch*ng. Now, onto the second part. Some people cannot fathom Ruby's obsession with fashion and her making and selling jewelry.To this, I have to stare wide eyed at them with a confounded look on my face, while wondering if there could possibly be that many idiots out there.HELLO! She wasn't able to see for the first massive part of her life! Fashion is visually appealing, as is jewelry (not to mention that with making jewelry you use your hands, which touch is a key thing when it comes to blind people, so even tho Ruby can see now, it doesn't mean she doesn't take comfort from the familiarity of working with her hands).Not to mention that the clothes you buy is a symbol of your ability to have control over your life. After not being in control in any aspect of her life, of course she's going to take the easiest thing to prove to herself that she's in control of her destiny and run with it (back to the parents again).Not to mention I'd love to take her shopping with me, because her clothes are fabulous!
So, do I recommend Caged? Yes, I do, but due to graphic content, language and sexual content, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 17. 16 would be pushing it.
Oh, and if you're an uptight person with a stick permanently up you... *coughs*... well I wouldn't recommend this to you :) To everyone else, feel free to embrace the Wickedness!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
To purchase your copy of Caged for Kindle click HERE To purchase the first three books of the series for Nook click HERE
"I stood in the middle of the room, unmoving – I barely breathed. My life had just become surreal, impossible, and one enormous lie. I needed to go, to run somewhere, anywhere to beat back the reality that was rapidly closing in around me. The image of him was burned into my retina, flashing over and over again like a warning. He was trapped somewhere between human and decidedly not, and I realized that was my new reality.I was too."
After the death of her parents, Ruby awakens from a lifetime of shadows and finds herself alone, thrust into a world of lies, deceit, betrayal and the supernatural.
As her quest for truth continues to come up short, she realizes that maybe some questions really are best left unanswered.
When her true identity is finally unveiled, she is forced to choose between two of the mysterious men who continually seem to crop up in her life.
She chooses poorly.
Now abandoned, Ruby must learn to call on the darkness within to survive, or spend a hellish eternity imprisoned because of it
I would go into the second hot male (and breath easy because there's not a love triangle), Eric, my my aggression would spike and I'd end up hitting something (there's a reason for that, but you'll have to read the book to find out why.) Now, some people don't like Ruby's character. They say she's too sarcastic, acts childish, jumps into situations, blah blah blah.To those people who say that, one, you are entitled to your own opinion, and I respect your opinion :)BUT, since you are entitled to your opinion, it also means that I'm entitled to mine. (insert evil laugh here).Soooo, brace yourself, because here it is! When you're taking about Ruby's personality aspects, a lot of people don't understand the concept of living without sight in an extremely secluded family, then finding yourself with said sight.Imagine living your life not being able to see. You wouldn't know what you looked like, had never seen any form or shade of colors. It's not the same as just sitting there with your eyes closed. Its an extreme form of nothingness. (and I know that for a fact because I have friends who are blind and have had lengthy discussions with them about it). Now, add all that on top of being so ridiculously controlled that you have no other way to express yourself except through dance. And I mean, literally no way to express yourself. You have no friends to talk to, your parents don't want to listen, so you're stuck inside your mind for YEARS. With all that *gestures above* in mind, its completely understandable to those of curious and academically open minds, to see that how Ruby is now is completely understandable. Is she sarcastic? Yes, but its because its her defense mechanism when dealing with situations and people that make her uncomfortable. Is she somewhat childish at times? Yes, but that is because she never got the chance to be a child. Age has nothing to do with mentality. It's about whether or not you are able to actually experience the stages of life. So, that explains the first part of peoples b*tch*ng. Now, onto the second part. Some people cannot fathom Ruby's obsession with fashion and her making and selling jewelry.To this, I have to stare wide eyed at them with a confounded look on my face, while wondering if there could possibly be that many idiots out there.HELLO! She wasn't able to see for the first massive part of her life! Fashion is visually appealing, as is jewelry (not to mention that with making jewelry you use your hands, which touch is a key thing when it comes to blind people, so even tho Ruby can see now, it doesn't mean she doesn't take comfort from the familiarity of working with her hands).Not to mention that the clothes you buy is a symbol of your ability to have control over your life. After not being in control in any aspect of her life, of course she's going to take the easiest thing to prove to herself that she's in control of her destiny and run with it (back to the parents again).Not to mention I'd love to take her shopping with me, because her clothes are fabulous!
So, do I recommend Caged? Yes, I do, but due to graphic content, language and sexual content, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 17. 16 would be pushing it.
Oh, and if you're an uptight person with a stick permanently up you... *coughs*... well I wouldn't recommend this to you :) To everyone else, feel free to embrace the Wickedness!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
To purchase your copy of Caged for Kindle click HERE To purchase the first three books of the series for Nook click HERE
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