Monday, December 30, 2013

{ARC Review} Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen



Stolen Songbird 
(The Malediction Trilogy #1)
by Danielle L. Jensen 
Expected publication: April 1st 2014 
from Strange Chemistry
Goodreads | Genre: Fantasy

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.





Review
This book was AWESOME. :D It was 436 pages long (ARC) and I loved every page of it. 

I loved Trollus. The world the author created was so magical. Literally magical. I could picture the world in my mind and although it was dark and limiting, it held its own beauty. I was both disgusted and fascinated by the trolls and their horrible hierarchical system that put themselves above the half-lings and humans. Their treatment of others was horrible, but as villains they were AWESOME. Some lacked sympathy, some were cowards, and some were just plain cruel. 

The characters were not cut and dry. I fell in love with both Cecile and Tristan's characters. The chapters were told in intermittent POVs which I thought worked perfectly for the story. Cecile got chapter 1-7, Tristan told 8, Cecile 9-11, Tristan, 12, then 17 and so on and so forth. The story focused on her, but I never once felt like they weren't both central characters. I am very much attached to them both. 

Cecile was a country girl who is kidnapped and sold to the trolls in order to wed the troll prince and break the curse keeping them trapped in Trollus. Her reactions and emotions were believable even when she was freaking out and crying. I mean.. you try being kidnapped and forced to wed a snide and rude troll who is apparently disgusted by you. She is not perfect. She is no wilting flower, but she is certainly no badass ninja. She is a happy medium, but her strength comes from her character and her desire to help others and to see the best in people. and trolls. She makes some stupid decisions, (hey, no one is perfect and I would have done the same in her shoes. Like I said, a believable character) but she realizes and recognizes her shortcomings and tries to make up for and learn from them. A very admirable character. 

Tristan. Oh my gosh, I love that boy. troll. whatever. From the first sentence he uttered, full of sardonic humor and dry wit, I knew I was going to enjoy figuring him out. On the outside, he is this cold and hateful troll who despises humans and wants only to break the curse keeping his fellow trolls trapped beneath their city. But Cecile knows he is hiding something and that he is not like the other trolls. As Cecile comes to learn his true nature and feelings bit by bit, it was like she was finding a whole new person under all that hate and beauty. The information was not hard won and he is still greatly shrouded in so much mystery, but I am just dying- DYING- to read more and find out all his dirty little troll secrets. 

I fell in love with a lot of the side characters as well. Victor and Victoria were thoroughly entertaining as well as Marc. He was really an integral character with so much darkness in him, I just wanted to pat his head and tell him all would be okay... but I would be lying. Because I don't know anything right now because I just finished the book and I don't know what is going to happen! D: That ending just turned the whole world on its side then smacked it and asked it "Whose your daddy now!?" I was staring at the last page mumbling, "It can't end there. You can't end it there. What happens next? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?" *sputters* You just can't. I need to. the.. WHY?! THERE IS SO MUCH I NEED TO KNOW AND I HAVE SO LONG TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK. 

You just thought you knew everything there was to know about trolls, but you have no idea. These characters are not the dinky creatures of legend. They are hard, cruel, and just as cunning and deceitful as the royals in the human worlds.

The curse, the intrigue, the world- building, and the characters were all well done. Especially the world-building and the characters. 

If you love fantasies, romance, and political intrigue, then you really need to add this book to your wishlist and tell all your friends you want it for your birthday, because Oh my gosh, it is my new favorite book of this year. I am going to buy a hardback(if I can) and put that bad boy on my favorite books shelf right beside Graceling, Eon, and The Scorpio Races. 
Also, this cover and title are gorgeous and both suit the book splendidly.

**This is an ARC review of the book. Final edition may be different than the one I read. 


Rating:
5/5


 photo RyanFOXBIGGER_zpsebe33d61.png 

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Spotlight: Cursed by Trakena Prevost


Cursed


Evernight Teen | Createspace
Cursed by Trakena Prevost

Half-succubus Jazz Watkins spends her days navigating the halls of Moreland High and her nights knee deep in Chicago drug dens hunting Suecai – an evil kind of incubi and succubae who devour the souls of humans. But when a leader of the Suecai curses her, Jazz has to track him down. Either she kills him before the curse burns through her, or she’ll become a full-fledged, out of control, soul sucking monster.

She’s got a handful of weeks, absolutely no leads, and her sexy best guy-friend and team member, Khan, covering her back. But will the growing attraction she feels for Khan get in the way of her mission to save her own life?





Trakena

Trakena Prevost was born and raised in the great state of Texas, where everything IS bigger and the people are very friendly. She spends most of her time oscillating between being completely obsessed with reading and watching Korean dramas, and writing down the fantastic tales rumbling around in her head. When not reading and writing, Trakena spends her time working in HR for a major medical system in Houston, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Trakena has always loved the many worlds she's found in books, where everything was possible. As a child, you would often catch her enjoying a good story in the comfort of the AC, instead of wilting in the Houston heat (she showed great intelligence...even then). It didn't occur to Trakena that the fanciful stories she made up for fun could one day be out in the world, but now that they are she can't imagine it any other way!




 photo RyanFOXBIGGER_zpsebe33d61.png

Friday, December 27, 2013

A Taste of Gold Spotlight by Deryn Pittar




Evernight Teen | Amazon
A Taste of Gold by Deryn Pittar
This is an Evernight Teen Novel

Psychic twins with special talents meet two thieves, two Taniwha, and one pretty reporter as they experience the adventure of a lifetime…

On a prospecting holiday, brothers Jason and Levi discover an ancient supernatural creature, a Taniwha named Otanewainuku, who gives them ‘humming stones’ in exchange for their silence about its treasure. They also cross paths with two thieves. Their supernatural abilities to find hidden gems and precious metals help them find the stolen goods and turn them in to the police—twice. But when they meet reporter Abby Hennessy, her story on their good deed attracts the wrong kind of attention.

When the thieves capture Jason to use his talents, Levi has to rely on their psychic link to guide the police while not revealing their powers. Abby wants to help, and she and Levi search for the thieves, not knowing that Jason is going to use the ‘humming stones’ to call on another Taniwha for help…






 photo RyanFOXBIGGER_zpsebe33d61.png

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!!!!!


 (This is my Christmas Tree from last year)



Dear Lovely Followers,

Ashley and I just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and may it be filled with lots and lots of books.....and pie! Don't forget the pie. :D

Much Much Love,

Ashley and Tiffany


 (Ashley's Tree from last year)

We unfortunately didn't have time to make one this year. :(



 photo RyanFOXBIGGER_zpsebe33d61.png  photo Signatureforkevin_zpsbc37071f.png

Monday, December 23, 2013

Skin Deep by Megan D. Martin Blog Tour {Review}


Title:  Skin Deep
Author:  Megan D. Martin
Series:  #1 of The Eternal Forces
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Dragonfairy Press
Expected Release Date:   November 2013

What would you do to have the body of your dreams?

Kiera hates being overweight and hides behind thick layers of clothing. One night, her friends present an opportunity that seems impossible to believe. With a single spell, she can have the thin physique she's always coveted.

But all magic comes with a price: no sex or she'll revert back to her old body. Kiera accepts the cost. It's not like she has men lined up at her door. Obeying this one tiny rule isn't difficult at all—until the night she meets Cain, a were-tiger and a soldier with the Eternal Forces.

When a slew of unexplained murders forces Kiera and Cain together, they'll have to face the horrors of their pasts. Will Kiera realize she is worth more than her outward appearance? Or will she make the wrong the choice and lose everything—including her life?





My Review!




You don’t read a lot of books about overweight MC and that’s only one twist on Skin Deep.

Kiera longs to be slim and sexy, but nothing she does works, then her best friends Darla and Maryline find a solution. They found a gypsy that will turn Kiera skinny but she will revert back to her original shape if she has sex. Kiera jumps at the opportunity because she doesn’t have anyone lined up at her door. What she didn’t expect was Cain. There is an instant attraction between them, but Kiera holds back b/c she know the consequences of having sex and not to mention her not so happy past relationship.

Kiera’s past is about to catch up with her and will she finally realizes that beauty is Skin Deep. Will a stubborn tiger finally see what’s been in front of him the whole time?

All those will be answered and more in this first in a series by Megan D. Martin

This was a very original book that I highly enjoyed and finished in one sitting. I was rooting for Kiera to find her happily ever after through the entire book. I found that I could relate to Kiera as well. I’m not overweight but I am a little self conscience and Kiera was the same way. They way she is describe she is tall and big, but I didn’t see her as big at all. She was just a wonderful person that wanted people to notice her because they liked her and not how big she is. When she finally gets what she wants, she finds out is not easy having a sexy body. People now only want her for her body and it draws a lot of attention to people. One of those peoples is Cain. He is not a bad guy, but it did take while for me to like him. Actually it was almost to the end of the book when I started liking him. He was just a pig. OK to get away from him. I found the world fascinating, especially the bar, where everyone can be themselves. I want to know more about the other creatures and more about Cain’s past. I NEED MORE!!!

Overall: This book is not only about coming out of your comfort zone; it’s about loving who you are and not wanting to change for anyone. You are beautiful no matter what! This book was a self discovery journey as well as supernatural love story, although at times it may not seem that way. I recommend everyone read this book, you won’t regret it.

Quotes:


Did a blue-haired Muse just try and make me one of her love slaves? Kiera laughed out loud. Seriously, what has my life come to?


True beauty wasn’t something on the surface or in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes it was hidden, lost in a world where perfection was an aspiration, yet it was something that could be accomplished by no one. No one was perfect.


True beauty is more than skin deep.


4 Stars!!









About the Author
Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. In her spare time she enjoys decorating her house with strange things that do not match, playing her old school Nintendo Entertainment System, and buying fish for her many fish tanks. 


You can find Megan on pretty much every social networking site that exists.

Vine: Meeegann
 

 photo Signatureforkevin_zpsbc37071f.png

Sunday, December 22, 2013

{Review} Clan by Realm Lovejoy [& Giveaway]



Clan


Clan by Realm Lovejoy
336 pages
Published: 11/12/13
Goodreads | Amazon | Illustration Samples
Clans are Unity. 
No variation. No deviation. 
On Clades, to be a Clan is to be an exact copy. A perfect society cloning themselves to survive, even as the zombielike Frags threaten to overrun them on an unforgiving planet. 
Clan 1672 (privately known as Twain) was never supposed to survive the Incubation Tank. But he did. Illegally. He is different from the other Clans. 

A secret that could destroy him.


Review
Clan is a ya sci-fi novel about a young man in a society completely composed of clones. Yes, I said clones. Clan, 1672, or Twain as others come to call him, was supposed to be an exact copy of his brethren. Everyone in his society is an exact copy of one man. The man who is in charge of the birth of clones knew when Twain was born that he was different, but instead of killing him like he was supposed to, he hid Twain away in his home for years. I am unsure how old Twain was when the leader of the society found out about Twain, but I assume he was in his late preteens or early teens. Anyway, Twain is very naive and does not even get to see his fellow clones until he is this age and is caught because of his curiosity putting himself at the mercy of the leader. The head honcho doesn't order him killed, but instead they have him groomed for another job. He then has to learn to assimilate with his fellow clones, who do not take well to his differences. 

The other clones reaction to Twain's differences really made me think of some other prejudices that have come to pass in our world due to differences in appearance or culture. He is treated terribly and has a long road ahead of him. It really makes you think that if this is such a perfect society, how do these people learn to hate someone so much. All they have ever known is a perfect mundane and uniform life where everyone looks and acts the same. How is anger and hatred their first reaction towards someone just slightly different from themselves? It's not like they were taught to hate someone different. They never expected someone to break the law and let a mutant live. It broke my heart and really made me think. 

Getting into some of the other clones head was a great idea on the author's part. While the story is told in third person and focuses on Twain, there are a few other characters that are central to the story. The story also follows Buster and Chad, two other clones, as they learn to deal with Twain's existence and the new changes that are happening in their precious perfect society. 

Some parts of the story were hard to follow, however, and I had to backtrack a lot. 

I found the actual story-line to be extremely original with plenty of twists that simultaneously shocked and confused me. Very entertaining with awesome images to complement the story and a surprise ending that gave the book a final, albeit strange ending.


3.9/5








Realm Lovejoy 



Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan. Currently, she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry. CLAN is her first book. You can find out more about her and her book at www.realmlovejoy.com






Clan Trailer


 photo RyanFOXBIGGER_zpsebe33d61.png

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Imperfection by Phaedra Seabolt Blog Tour {Review + Giveaway}

http://paranormalsisterstouring.blogspot.com/2013/12/imperfection-by-phaedra-seabolt-tour.html

Click on the banner to see the rest of the tour!!






Imperfection by Phaedra Seabolt
Publication Date: July 23rd 2013
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Summary:
 Meara Falk always followed her parents' rules, until one night in March when the temptation to let loose changed her life forever. Nine months later, disowned and with a baby on her hip, she discovers werewolves are real after being on the wrong end of one’s teeth and claws.

When her first change is upon her, werewolves attack her home, stealing her son and driving her out of her home. Now she’s looking for the man who kidnapped her baby and turned her life upside down.

A war is brewing between the two packs with Meara’s son being in the center. Will she be able to get her son back before losing everyone she cares about?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18170468-imperfection




MY REVIEW




Wow what a book. I usually stand clear of books that have babies involved, but this book also has werewolves, so I took a chance on it. I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one because I know it’s going to be amazing. Well find out more about why Meara is the way she is and did I sense a little chemistry between Garret and Meara. Meep I hope so. They would be a good match.

Now that I have said all that let’s get to the story. The beginning was a typical good girl that decides to let loose a little and ends up drinking too much alcohol. She meets a hot guy and that she can’t resist and goes home with him. She needs to STAY AWAY from alcohol! Unfortunately for her he isn’t a good guy. He leaves her after he practically rapes her and that what does Meara think about that? She wonders if she was good in bed. And did he leave because she was bad. Are you kidding me! Really I think that was the only time I wanted to put the book down. Maybe I’m being too dramatic and it didn’t happen the way I read it, but it was a very thin line. As far as Meara growing in the book…she did, but it was slow going. She still seemed a bit hasty by the end but her protectiveness of her child made her strong. I am expecting big things from her in the next book, starting with killing that bastard Aren and his son. They make me sick. Oh man I haven’t even talked about the wolves in the book. There are Pure woves which are born wolve and then you have the made one, which they were bitten to become wolves. They can’t stand each other and they both want one thing….Meara’s son. *Que dramtic music* :D

Meara needed to grow up fast because she gets pregnant and her parents disown her. She has been sheltered her whole life and learns how to take care of herself. She doesn’t really think things through though, she just acts, which can be good in some cases, but most of them no. I felt a little connection with Meara but not enough to feel sorry for her. Oh I cringed when they took her baby, but she should have stayed and fought.

Amanda: I really liked her. She is very head strong and a loyal friend. She is the most kickass person in this book and you don’t want to take her on. Lol I kinda like her more than Meara at the moment. It may be b/c Meara is new to all this.

Rachael: She is the sweet one that blushes at everything. She is innocent and adorable. It’s sad what happens with her. L I hope that whatever happens next with her, she will be happy.

Leon: I don’t know whether to hate him or like him, so for now, it is both. He decided a little too late that he wanted to be a good guy. He is on my list for the time being until he fixes what he has done.

Garrett: I’m looking forward to seeing more of his hunky werewolf self in the next one. He doesn’t seem all that bad and I think he would be a great match for Meara (if he wasn’t so stuck on Amanda) He is a bit of a perv though. LOL

Overall: A fast paced read that has all the elements that I love in a story.



3.8 Stars



EXCERPT:


As I got closer to Oak Street, I realized someone was following me. Another jogger is enjoying this beautiful winter morning. He passed me quickly and then stopped. Turning around to face me, I realized I recognized him. His features seemed so familiar to me. He had shoulder length brown hair that was stringy with sweat from his jog. His eyes, though, were an amazing shade of blue. They were what seemed the most familiar to me. They weren’t quite topaz blue, more icy and clear.
I stopped and stared at him, trying to figure out if he could possibly be my baby’s daddy. He began walking toward me.  His massive shoulders swayed as he moved gracefully. Something just didn’t feel right about this entire situation. He looked very similar to the guy I saw in my dreams as being Julian’s dad, but I remembered his eyes being a darker shade of blue. I had also thought he was even more muscular, but boy, I just couldn’t remember exactly. It was all a drunken blur.
“Hey, there. Don’t I know you?” the guy asked as he towered over me.
I could feel my breath coming out in short gasps as I tried to formulate a sentence. “You seem very familiar, but I’m not sure.” My heart was beating wildly, and I wasn’t entirely certain it was from the jogging anymore. Something really felt off about this situation. Looking around, I realized that the campus seemed more empty than normal.
“Yeah, I feel the same way, but I know I’ve seen you somewhere before. Oh, wait…were you at Skipper’s on Green Beer Day?” He was standing right in front of my stroller now. His eyes seemed to be looking for something in my face as he quickly glanced down into the stroller.
“Yeah, I was there a few times that night, although I don’t remember a lot of it. That was one crazy night. It changed my life forever.”
“I can see that. Cute kid. A memento from the evening in question?”
“Uh…yeah.” He kept looking at Julian as though he recognized him. He lifted his head and cocked it to the side a little as he knelt down to get a closer look.
“So where’s his daddy, or do you not know who that is?”
“Oh, he’s around. He’s doesn’t have to worry about losing baby fat like me, and Julian likes to get out, even in the cold.” I hoped that the truth about worrying about baby fat and Julian enjoying our jogs was enough to convince him that the daddy was still in the picture. I could feel my heart speeding up and my palms sweating. This guy could not be the father. There was no way that alcohol could have hidden how much this guy bothered me. I needed to find a way to get away from him. Looking around, I still couldn’t see a single other person around.
He looked up at me through his thick eyelashes. There was this little twinkle in his eyes, and the left side of his mouth quirked up a little into an evil looking smirk.
“I think that you have no idea who his daddy is. For all you know, I’m this kid’s father. Actually I think I am and I think I want my son…now.”
Faster than I ever thought I could move, I grabbed Julian out of the stroller and took off running down Oak Street. The recreational center was down this street, so there had to be someone out and about down here. Someone was always heading in to exercise no matter what time of day it was.
I sprinted as fast as my legs could carry me. They were burning from the exertion, and my feet felt numb from pounding on the pavement. The cold air was no longer comforting as it burned inside my lungs. My cheeks were getting colder by the second as I realized tears were freezing on them from the frigid temperatures.
I no longer heard the sound of footfalls behind me. It almost seemed that maybe he had given up the chase, so I slowed down slightly to look over my shoulder. As my eyes found the sidewalk behind me, the biggest dog of my entire life leapt into the air.
He was solid black with icy blue eyes. His sheer size made me think that he must be part wooly mammoth or some equally large creature. A growl ripped out of his throat as he crashed onto my back. His fully extended claws pierced into my flesh and latched onto me. The instant pain caused me to scream as the smell of blood began to coat the air. I came crashing onto the pavement with only one thought.
I must protect Julian.
Julian began to scream as we landed. I tried to twist my body in order to keep him from hitting the ground in any way, but also trying to cover him to keep the dog from getting to him. Once on the ground, the claws tore away from me, leaving a sickening sound of ripping flesh echoing all around us. I could feel my warm blood running down my back thick and fast. I didn’t have time to think about how much blood was beginning to pool around us when the dog growled again and sunk his teeth into one of my thighs. My body was going numb from all the pain and adrenaline, but I had enough feeling to bring my other leg up and wildly kick towards the massive jaws trying to drag me down the street. One of my kicks connected, causing him to release my leg. I must have angered him even more, though, because the next thing I felt was the dog digging into my side as his jaws latched onto the side of my throat. I could taste the blood as it squirted out my jugular and into the hole in my jaw. It was warm, metallic, and thick. I tried to swallow it back down, but it never quite made it to my throat.
The dog started shaking me like a chew toy, and Julian started squirming against my too-tight grip. His cries distracted the dog from his fun, and he tried to dig into my side to get to my baby. Just as the world was starting to go black, I heard shouts from people nearby and a gunshot. The dog was gone almost instantly and I was left in a puddle of my own cold blood. My rescuers were able to get to me before I was completely gone, saying that I would be okay now and that help was on the way.
If only I believed I would make it that long.









Author Bio
Phaedra Seabolt is the youngest of four and the only girl. She spent her childhood trying to be the best she could be at everything she did which drove her to attend college long enough to attain her master’s degree. Now she is a stay at home mom and happily married.
Social Media Links:
 





GIVEAWAY TIME!

Grand Prize Giveaway- A Wolf Necklace

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 photo Signatureforkevin_zpsbc37071f.png

Friday, December 20, 2013

LOVE & OTHER WICKED GAMES BLITZ

http://www.itchingforbooks.com/2013/11/blitz-tour-sign-uplove-other-wicked.html







Series: The Wicked Games #3
Release Date: November 22nd 2013
Self-Published
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Manchester, 1840

Mary Isabella “Ellie” Angela Wilson Dillard, daughter of an abdicated Earl, lives a remarkably ordinary life as a seamstress in a dress shop. That is until the day a workers’ protest in the streets of Manchester sees her joining forces—and lips!—with a handsome and mysterious stranger she knows only as “Cal.” Ellie is soon drawn into his world and it isn’t long before she finds herself falling for this wicked stranger with a secret.

Cal has three desires: to reform the mills of Manchester after the death of a friend, to keep his efforts secret from his opposing wealthy peers, and to win the heart of the compassionate woman who agrees to help him, no questions asked. But the mills are not the only thing in need of reform. As the stakes grow higher, Cal struggles to overcome his past and the secret that may put Ellie out of his reach forever…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18326166-love-and-other-wicked-games

 


 Excerpt!


When Ellie imagined her first kiss, she always pictured it happening shortly after the words “I love you,” not shortly before the words “who are you.”
But it was a minor point to know the person she was kissing.
Wasn’t it?
Ellie didn’t know this man from Cain but maybe he knew her. Perhaps he was an old friend of the family, a distant cousin, or a secret promised fiancé from her parents’ long forgotten days in high society.
It was probably something like that, wasn’t it?
And kissing, it was just the touching of lips. Skin really. It was pressing together skin. People did it every day. They touched when they exchanged goods in the marketplace as coin and product changed hands, or when they worked their way through the crowded Manchester streets sometimes having to push and shove, or when they sat by each other in a carriage that bumped along over the cobblestones, swaying to and fro. Sometimes the touches were avoidable and sometimes they were not. But that was of no matter. It was all the same in the end.
Just person touching person. Just skin touching skin. Just an everyday occurrence.
Except this time, that everyday occurrence left Ellie all warm and sweaty and confused.
Maybe this happened to other people—all people. Maybe touching skin always caused this rush of feelings. Or maybe it was supposed to and Ellie had just never noticed it.
She thought to her day-to-day life. The connections she made and the people she connected with. The brush of a knuckle while looking over fabric choices with the patrons, a light touch on the arm as they spoke. But none of that stood out. No rush of feelings. Nothing exciting or special. It was all perfectly ordinary. And normal.
But no one had ever accused Ellie of being normal, after all. It was Ellie the Flustered, Ellie the Anxious, Ellie the Eccentric—not Ellie the Average. So maybe what she’d always felt was the exception, and maybe what she felt now—this euphoria and lightness—was the rule. Maybe this was something that people were supposed to experience when they connected.
Or maybe she was wrong entirely and kissing had rules all its own...
But there was something more pressing to consider than whether or not these feelings were normal. There was a question literally lingering on her lips.
With great effort Ellie pushed away from him, breaking their kiss, and breathed out the words, “Who are you?”
His lashes fluttered and his emerald eyes darted around frantically from left to right. “Well, bloody hell… It didn’t work…”








ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olivia Fuller began writing at the age of 4. She self-published her books using folded paper and a stapler, and gave a new story to her kindergarten teacher every day. She no longer writes about baby dinosaurs, now preferring to write romances instead. In her spare time she watches too much Netflix, laughs with her husband, and playfully narrates the lives of her cats, Cher and Rocket Kitty.






GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 photo Signatureforkevin_zpsbc37071f.png

Thursday, December 19, 2013

{Review} Godsland Series [Giveaway]

Welcome to my stop on the Godsland series blog tour!  This is a YA epic/high fantasy adventure series by Brian Rathbone.  The tour consists of reviews of all of the books and the audiobook, as well as guest posts, interviews and more. Be sure to check out the tour page with all the tour information and additional tour stops.
The books in the Godsland series:
Call of the Herald (Book One) - FREE
Inherited Danger (Book Two)- FREE
Dragon Ore (Book Three)
You can also find it in one bind up called The Dawning of Power Trilogy Omnibus.

Find the full list of titles and links at http://brianrathbone.com/ As this is only the first trilogy in the World of Godsland series.



Godsland books 1-3
[The following three books are in the Omnibus I am reviewing]



Godsland Book One - Call of the Herald
243 pages

Echoes of the ancients' power are distant memories, tattered and faded by the passage of eons, but that is about to change. A new dawn has arrived. Latent abilities, harbored in mankind's deepest fibers, wait to be unleashed. Ancient evils awaken, and old fears ignite the fires of war. When a Catrin Volker, a teenage horse trainer, inadvertently fulfills the prophecy of the destroyer, she becomes the most feared and hunted person on all of Godsland. With the help of her friends, she must convince the world that she wants only peace.






Godsland Book Two - Inherited Danger 
276 pages


Leaving her homeland behind, Catrin Volker goes in search of knowledge and peace, unaware that she will face the greatest evil her world has ever known.





 







Godsland Book Three- Dragon Ore
268 pages

Dragon Ore is the exciting conclusion of The Dawning of Power trilogy. Clinging to life, Catrin Volker struggles to regain her strength as her foes go in search of even greater power. Ancient enemies threaten and forgotten alliances emerge.
















REVIEW
[Omnibus- all three books]

I apologize for the length of the following review. I find that the longer a book is, the shorter my reviews tend to get. It makes no sense, but I tend to just give the bare minimum for larger works and ramble on about shorter ones. Sort of like I am rambling now..

Book one book did a pretty fair job setting up Catrin as a character in my mind. For a female MC, she is very relate-able and can be tough if the situation calls for it- though she has her annoying moments (as do all book characters at one point or another.) She was interesting and I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the book as she adjusted to all the new changes in her life. While some aspects of the book progressed too quickly, others lagged. But for the most part, it was well- paced and I enjoyed the new characters and places as they were introduced. I especially loved the world created by the author. Very original with an interesting blend of dark and light. Fantasy characters are always a joy to read about, and these characters were no exception. I may have had a small problem really clicking with the supporting characters, but I still enjoyed them.

Book two took a little longer to get some action going, but once I soldiered on through the first bit of action, it was pretty good. I still had a bit of a problem with the other characters, but Catrin remained easier to empathize with. Pretty good and a slight step up from book one. (: 

A lot of things get explained in the last 2 books that made me go "oooh". What a very creative angle on the author's part. I enjoyed how he turned that certain aspect in the book around- it was a pleasant surprise. The world and setting remained beautiful in my mind. However, I still has a bit of a problem with the characters. I feel like the book ended on a good note. I hear there is another book published in the same world. I may or may not check it out. ;) Okay, I probably will. The world was beautiful and pretty exciting! 







Omnibus Trailer






Brian Rathbone





Books can be found at: GoodReads | Amazon  

Brian Rathbone started out as a professional racehorse trainer, but he later transformed himself into a network engineer, programmer, and, more recently, rural broadband specialist. One thing that never changed was Brian's love of reading fantasy fiction. For years he would think of story lines for his own stories as a way to keep from dreaming about writing code. When the time came that Brian could concentrate on writing, The World of Godsland became real.




Giveaway