Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 212

Our Heroes Erased Themselves | Unearth by Tricia Barr @The_Amarant

Unearth
Tricia Barr
(The Bound Ones, #3)
Publication date: December 1st 2017
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Our heroes erased themselves from the Four Corners’ histories and thought they were finally free…until Lily burst their bubble and told them they have to get involved with the cult one last time to stop them from unleashing a great evil buried thousands of years ago. But they fail, and the fifth Bound One is released, fulfilling his vengeful dreams formed over his long imprisonment. Phoenyx and her friends band together for one last fight, and one of them will pay the ultimate price.

Goodreads / Amazon—EXCERPT:Unable to tolerate his intrusion on her personal space any longer, she grabbed his wrist and pushed her will into him.
“Where is Ayanna?” she demanded with all the authority she could instill.
Joran closed his eyes and moaned. “Oh, now doesn’t that feel amazing! I am going to have so much fun with you.”
In one swift motion, he twisted his arm out of her grasp and grabbed both her wrists, holding them against the wall on either side of her head. And then something happened. Lust unlike anything she’d ever experienced seeped into her forearms and spread like venom through her veins, burning her to her core with desire.
“Kiss me,” Joran whispered.
A small voice in the back of her mind was screaming at her to fight, but every other part of her, body and mind, wanted nothing more than to obey him. She did as he asked, pressing her lips against his. When he pushed his hot tongue into her mouth, she opened it to welcome him, allowing him full access to whatever he wanted. Joran, she swooned inwardly.
His hands roamed across her body, pressing and grabbing. Her body responded heatedly to his touch, but something in her mind told her this was so very wrong. Shut up, voice, she said internally, swatting away those pesky thoughts that tried to keep her from enjoying this.
Joran broke the kiss and smiled down at her triumphantly. “Oh yes, we will have so much fun. I love having access to your powers. Ayanna might be my queen, but you will be a delightful toy.”
“Yes, I’m your toy,” she said mindlessly, desperate to please him.
“What the hell!” another familiar voice shouted from the doorway.
Irritated at the interruption, Phoenyx rolled her lusty eyes in that direction. When she saw Sebastian standing there, fuming with territorial rage, the spell she’d been under lifted. The pleasure she had taken in Joran’s large body pressed against hers now turned into disgust and violation, and she used all the physical strength she could muster to shove him away from her.
Joran seemed unphased by her rejection, smiling smugly at Sebastian.
“Ah, Water, welcome to the party,” Joran said. “I was just about to enjoy your mate. Would you like to join us?”
“Don’t you dare touch her,” Sebastian threatened in a dangerously low voice.
“Or what? You’ll splash some water at me?” Joran taunted.
Scared for Sebastian’s safety, Phoenyx pushed off from the wall and darted for him. When she reached him, the two of them fought to put themselves protectively in front of the other as they stared at Joran.
“Aww, isn’t that sweet,” Joran said. “But pointless. I have not come here to hurt you, my Bound Ones. I have merely come to extend an invitation. I am hosting a coronation ball tonight at Bodiam Castle to celebrate my return to the world, and I would like the four of you to attend. I know you are not yet ready to swear fealty to me, but I trust that in time, you will come to your senses. Consider this ball a temporary cease-fire.”
“Why should we come?” Sebastian snarled, wrapping Pheonyx in a possessive embrace.
“Because you want to see Ayanna,” Joran replied.
“What have you done with her?” Phoenyx barked, hating the taste of him that filled her mouth.
“If you want to know what has become of your friend, you will just have to come and see for yourselves,” Joran shrugged. “I don’t think you’ll recognize her, or is it that she won’t recognize you?”
He laughed sadistically and walked toward the door.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he said, slapping a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder fraternally as he passed and went out the door.
The two of them watched him as he went around the corner and the sound of his footsteps disappeared from earshot down the stairs. Now they were alone, and they were still hugging each other for dear life.
Phoenyx met Sebastian’s gaze, his blue eyes a storm of turmoil and conflict.
“I’m so sorry, Sebastian,” she pleaded, all the strength she had seconds again melting under Sebastian’s eyes. “He used my own compulsion against me. I had no choice—”
“I know,” he said, his expression stony, his jaw clenched. “I know.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her in a way that attempted to mark her as his. Then he rested his forehead on hers. “I hate him. He can take you away from me any time he wants.”
“No, he can’t,” she said, shaking her head fervently. “He can take my soul, and he can control my mind and body, but he can never take my heart, because you already have it. I will always be yours.”
“I love you,” he said.
Now it was her turn to mark him as hers. She kissed him just as hard, no tongue, no passion, just pure possession.

Author Bio:
Tricia Barr is a Professional Engineer and award-winning author. Her novel WYNDE earned a Gold Medal in the 2014 Independent Publisher Awards for Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror e-Book. She co-authored DK Publishing’s ULTIMATE STAR WARS (2015), which compiled all canon material moving forward prior to the release of “The Force Awakens.,” followed by the new STAR WARS: THE VISUAL ENCYCLOPEDIA (2017), which includes content from “Rogue One.” An expert on storytelling, Barr pens a regular series on the Hero’s Journey for the print publication Star Wars Insider magazine. She founded the respected website FANgirl Blog, and her writing can be found on a variety of websites, including Lucasfilm’s StarWars.com, and PopSugar, and Random House’s SUVUDU. She provided editorial services on Del Rey’s STAR WARS: THE ESSENTIAL READER’S COMPANION (2012).
Tricia Barr is an accomplished podcaster, co-hosting the popular Star Wars podcasts Fangirls Going Rogue and Hyperspace Theories. In her spare time, she competes as an amateur equestrian, earning top ten spots three times in national finals.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
In honor of the December 1st release of Unearth, book 3 in the Bound Ones Series, author Tricia Barr is hosting a big giveaway where everybody wins! Enter for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of Unearth. You can enter by voting for Ignite, book 1 of the series, for the Reader’s Choice Award. Everyone who votes will get an ebook copy of Ignite. You can increase your chances of winning the grand prize by sharing this giveaway with your friends on social media. Help Ignite become the RCA winner!a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gorgonzola and December | #WeeklyMenu Week #226

Well, Its the first week of December. I can't believe how fast this year has gone. By this time last year, I was finishing up the second book in my Hunter Saga, but this year, I've decided to start a new series while I drum up inspiration for the last book in the Hunter Saga. This time, I'm going to try to get an agent. We shall see how that goes. If not, its back to Indie publishing.

My Christmas shopping is almost done. I just have to purchase two more presents and then I will be done. Any suggestions on what to get someone who has already read everything in their favorite genre?

We're trying a new recipe this week with the Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo. It looks super good and I can't wait to try it. Happy eating!

Monday- Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo
Tuesday- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
Wednesday- Pork Fried Rice
Thursday- Southwestern Fiesta Chicken
Friday- Spaghetti 
Saturday- Chicken Rice Soup
Sunday
- Tuna Sandwiches

A City Will Fight | Bad Bloods November Rain by Shannon A. Thompson

Title: Bad Bloods: November RainBy: Shannon A. ThompsonGenre: Dystopian / Urban FantasyPages: Audio BookRelease Date: September 12th, 2017Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Summary from Goodreads: Seventeen-year-old Serena isn’t human. She is a bad blood, and in the city of Vendona, bad bloods are executed. In the last moments before she faces imminent death, a prison guard aids her escape and sparks a revolt. Back on the streets determined to destroy her kind, Serena is spared by a fellow bad blood named Daniel. His past tragedies are as equally mysterious as her connection to them.
Unbeknownst to the two, this connection is the key to winning the election for bad bloods’ rights to be seen as human again. But Serena is the only one who can secure Vendona’s vote. Now, Daniel must unite with her before all hope is lost and bad bloods are eradicated, even if it means exposing secrets worse than death itself. United or not, a city will fight, rain will fall, and all will be threatened by star-crossed love and political corruption.

Add on Goodreads

Review: I was given an audio book to review. The reader had a nice even voice that kept a nice pace through out the book. I also liked the accent. :) As for the story, the premise was interesting. Children born with "bad blood" that are sentenced to death because they are deemed less than human. Sounds great, right. 
I could have used more back story, but because I was coming in at the end of a series, if I had read the other books I might have gotten this. There was also a need for more world building, but that could have also been fixed in the previous books. 
All in all, this was a good read. I think you should all pick up this series. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

3 Instagram Accounts You Should Follow #2

I know I've been talking a lot about Instagram this week, but it really is one of the best platforms for authors and book bloggers out there right now.

I've compiled three accounts that I've really enjoyed this week. Check them out and give them a follow.

1. @chroniclesofabookworm - This cool chick has some really nice holiday photos on her feed right now. I'm really drawn to her style and books that she posts about. Check her out.









2. @sunlitlibrary - I love this account. Its so clean and bright. This Instagramer knows how to use her natural light. I would love to see some behind the scenes with her staging. Do you here that @Sunlitlibrary, I want behind the scenes.








3. @ouija.doodle.reads - Who doesn't love dogs. This account has a lot of them and a lot of followers. I love the brightness of the photos and how the dog loves to be in them. Hello Puppie. I can't get my dog to sit long enough to take a picture, let alone leave my books alone.







Now you have three accounts to follow. Three awesome accounts. Let me know what accounts you love in the comments below, so I can go check them out.

It Could Destroy The Kingdom | Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins

Title: Daughters of the StormBy: Kim WilkinsGenre: FantasyPages: 448Release Date: March 6th, 2018Publisher:  Del Rey Books
Summary from Goodreads: Five very different sisters team up against their stepbrother to save their kingdom in this Norse-flavored fantasy epic--the start of a new series in the tradition of Naomi Novik, Peter V. Brett, and Robin Hobb.
FIVE ROYAL SISTERS. ONE CROWN.

They are the daughters of a king. Though they share the same royal blood, they could not be more different. Bluebell is a proud warrior, stronger than any man and with an ironclad heart to match. Rose's heart is all too passionate: She is the queen of a neighboring kingdom, who is risking everything for a forbidden love. The twins: vain Ivy, who lives for admiration, and zealous Willow, who lives for the gods. And Ash, who is discovering a dangerous talent for magic that might be a gift--or a curse.

But when their father is stricken by a mysterious ailment, they must come together on a desperate journey to save him and prevent their treacherous stepbrother from seizing the throne. Their mission: find the powerful witch who can cure the king. But to succeed on their quest, they must overcome their differences, and hope that the secrets they hide from one another and the world are never brought to light. Because if this royal family breaks, it could destroy the kingdom.
Add on Goodreads

Review: This book started off so well. A bunch of princesses coming to their sick father's rescue. I have sisters, so this really resonated with me. The dynamic between the sisters was great. They fought, loved and kept secrets from each other. 
To save their father, the sisters decide to take him to a sacred place, but crazy things happen on the road. This is where I get a little lost. The world building fell apart and suddenly I was lost in the woods, literally. The characters wandered through the woods. None descriptive woods. That's how the rest of the story went, and the story was great. All the sisters brought their own strengths to the journey and made it a fun place to be, if only I could picture where that was.
Still, a great read.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

BAM! Like That | November wrap up

Its been a while since I've done a monthly book wrap up post. There were so many great books that I've read that I'm excited to share with you.
For a few months now, I've not really been into reading. I would pick up a book and get about 20% or sometimes less into it, and my mind wasn't willing to go any farther. It was like I had hit a brick reading wall. 
Most days I picked music over reading which is out of the ordinary. Finally, about a week ago and several books later, I was found a book that sucked me in and got me back on track.
I'm just going to lay all the books out there, like BAM!
 
 




So, all but five of these books were review copies from Netgalley or Edelwise. I think I might have a problem. There are 471 books on my TBR shelf, but yet I keep adding new books everyday and not reading the ones I said I would. Next month, I've made a commitment to read more books from my TBR pile then ARC copies. Cross your fingers.
What Books have you read in November?

8 Things I Learned About Instagram

Instagram, the second most popular social media app, only out shined by the god of all social media apps, Facebook. Its also extremely popular with book bloggers and book photographers. I think I heard somewhere that it is the number one place for these book connoisseurs, but I have no studies to back up this statement.

As I myself try to grow my own Instagram, for my reviews and for my of books, I've tried many things and some of them don't work at all. Some of them do.

I'm going to share with you what I have found to work successfully at growing my Instagram account. Hold onto your shorts, because here we go.



1. Quality Photos
We've all been told this many times. The quality of the photos you produce can make or break you. No I am not one for pulling out my Cannon 7D and shooting a million photos just to pick three or four that I like to grace my Instagram page, although, I do have a super cool camera that I can do that with. I find this process extremely time consuming and I, as a mother, do not have extra time in my day to spend staging photos.

What I have found is that the quality of pictures take with my phone are still good enough for now. Just find some natural light and go for it.

I like to find a few accounts out there in Instagram land to pull inspiration from. If you don't know what to do, check your feed. See what is popular.

2. Answer Comments
Make sure that you are answering your followers comments. Take time to keep in touch. Let them know that the time they spent to comment on your photo really meant something to them.

I love to strike up a conversation with my followers about a book. See what they loved or didn't love about a certain read. It keeps them involved and creates what I like to call "Sticky Followers." The ones who stick around.

3. Make 3 Comments
Pick three accounts and make a comment. Make sure it means something. Don't just say "Great Photo," or "Love this." That really doesn't have anything to do with what the poster was talking about in their caption. Let the Instagramer know that you actually read their caption and comment accordingly.

4. Post often
I post at least once a day. Showing up on your followers feeds often, keeps you relevant. Now, posting too often can also make you super annoying and make your followers unfollow, and that is not what we are going for.

I've noticed that larger accounts with thousands of followers post several times a day, where smaller accounts will post once a day. Its really up to how often you post. I would just recommend no more than three times a day.

5. Awesome Captions
This one can be hard. What do you talk about? Is it going to be relevant to my followers? Whatever you caption your photos, make sure it fun. It doesn't have to be about the photo, but try to find something that your followers can comment on. I like to add a question of the day to invoke thought and follower interactions.

6. Follow Three Accounts
You can follow three huge Instagram accounts with thousands of followers, but is that really going to get you noticed. Those accounts have a lot of traffic and it would take a lot to get on their radar and have them follow you back. I like to pick small accounts, around 100-2000 followers. Those are the ones that have the highest possibility to follow you back.

The way I like to find these accounts is pick one of the photos I've commented on and start going through the other comments. Those people are doing the exact same thing you are and they might have a low follower account. If you like their photos, give them a like.

7. #Hashtags
Instagram allows you to have 30 hashtags on your post. Use them. The more hashtags you have, the more people will possibly see your post.

I came across a list of the most popular bookstagram hashtags a while back, and now I use them on everything.

#Amreading #Booklovers #Bibliophile #BookAddict #Bookshelf #Books #Ebook #BookChat #LitFic #Goodreads #Kindle #whattoread #Suspense #Bookworld #PopBooks #Epicreads #Bookclub #Booknerd #Bookstagram
Of course, also add the author and name of the book in their own hashtag, or anything else relevant you can think of. Get creative. Use up those tags. 
8. Feature Another AccountUse this one sparingly, maybe once a week. Repost a photo from another account and make sure you tag the in it. Tell them what you liked about their photo and give them a shout out. This is a great way to connect with others in your bloggosphere.
Remember, the larger accounts are great fun, but its the smaller accounts that have to stick together.
Do these 8 tips everyday, and your account will grow. I've noticed at least 10 new followers everyday since I've started this, and the number keeps growing. Try it out and let me know how successful you are.

Who Will Pay The Price | Tarnished City by Vic James

Title: Tarnished CityBy: Vic JamesGenre: Dystopian / Urban FantasyPages: 352Release Date: February 5th, 2018Publisher: Del Rey
Summary from Goodreads: A corrupted city. A dark dream of power.
Luke is a prisoner, condemned for a murder he didn’t commit. Abi is a fugitive, desperate to free him before magic breaks his mind. But as the Jardines tighten their grip on a turbulent Britain, brother and sister face a fight greater than their own.

New alliances and old feuds will remake the nation, leaving Abi and Luke questioning everything – and everyone – they know. And as Silyen Jardine hungers for the forgotten Skill of the legendary Wonder King, the country’s darkest hour approaches. Freedom and knowledge both come at a cost. So who will pay the price?
Add on Goodreads

Review: Well, lets start off with the fact that I loved the first book and I was super excited to be approved to review this book. Too bad the feeling didn't last. 
I felt like there was little world building, and I know that this is the second book in the series and world building has already been done, but there was literally no descriptions of the world around me. It was all action and story and nothing to help me build a picture. 
With that being said, the story was still great and I will definitely read the next book.   

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Burrito, Bacon, Schnitzel | #WeeklyMenu Week #225

Hello Monday! What a wonderful week. There has been so much food and family this week. Some from close by and others from far away. I couldn't have asked for more. Well, maybe a larger stomach. 

Made some good headway on my new book. Its going to be great once I actually get it done. There has also been some questions as to when I will be writing the third book in my Hunter Saga. I really have no idea when I will start it. There is kind of a story line, but I'm not sure where I want it to go yet. So, that one is on the back burner for now. I'm sorry, you will have to be patient.

Lets get to the yummy stuff. Enjoy this weeks menu!

Monday- Chicken Burrito Bowls
Tuesday- Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders
Wednesday- Chicken and Stuffing Bake 
Thursday- Pork Schnitzel Sandwiches 
Friday- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
Saturday- Chicken Rice Soup
Sunday- Tuna Sandwiches

A Bear, A Witch and A Raven | My Favorite Covers

This year has been filled with wonderful books and beautiful covers, 2018 promises to be even better. I've picked three books from three different categories, Read and loved, Read and didn't love and haven't read yet. Without further due, here are my three picks.
A book that I've read and loved.  Bear and the Nightingale. I loved this book and the cover is amazing. The whole series has amazing covers and I can't wait to read the third book, but for now, I will have to do with gazing at these beautiful covers. 
A book that I've read and didn't love. The Bone Witch. I tried to get into this one, but it just didn't read right for me. It's hard to explain since its been so long. The cover is gorgeous thought, and that's what turned me on to this book.
A book that I haven't read yet. This cover is amazing and it drew me towards it. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of this bad boy and dive into its covers. 
These are my three favorite cover picks. Leave me a comment below, letting me know what your favorite cover is.