Tuesday 22 November 2016

Book Blitz: Shadow Fall by Audrey Grey!

Shadow Fall
by Audrey Grey
(Shadow Fall, #1)
Published by: Blaze Publishing
Publication date: November 22nd 2016
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
    The asteroid hurtling toward the earth will kill billions.
    The Emperor and his Gold Court will be safe in their space station, watching from the stars. The Silvers will be protected underground. But the Bronzes must fight it out at the Shadow Trials for the few remaining spots left on the space station.
When an enigmatic benefactor hands Maia Graystone a spot in the Trials, she won’t just get a chance at salvation for her and her baby brother, Max: She gets to confront the mother who abandoned her in prison, the mad Emperor who murdered her father, and the Gold prince who once loved her. But it’s the dark bastard prince she’s partnered with that will make her question everything, including her own heart. With the asteroid racing closer every day, Maia must trust someone to survive.
The question is who?
You can get your copy now for the special release price of 99 cents, and be sure to meet us at the Facebook Party happening right now!
EXCERPT:
    My legs wobble as I step into the now lukewarm water. I sink to the bottom. Tiny bubbles escape my nose as I watch all the ugly remnants from the last seven years leave my body.
    Lungs burning, I rise and come face-to-face with Pit Boy.
    I glare at him. “You really have to work on the knocking thing.”
    Despite the fact that I’m indecent, his attention never falls from my face. I almost wish it would, just to give me a break from the intensity of his focus.
    “I only get a few more hours to be the ‘one-eyed freak’ from the pit. Might as well take advantage.” He doesn’t dare crack a smile, so it’s hard to tell if he’s joking or serious.
    “Don’t worry. In my heart, that’s exactly who you’ll always be.”
    His words remind me that soon we’ll be reconstructed using forbidden nanotech. But it won’t just be our flesh they’ll reengineer. It will be our brains, too.
     I don’t foresee my rewiring being too complicated, but Riser needs to upload almost twenty years of false memories. That will be tricky and time-consuming.
     And time is the one thing we don’t have.
    Riser flicks his gaze to the mirror. He lifts a hand, touches the patch of mottled flesh where his eye should be.
    “How did it happen?” I ask.
    “Careful, my lady.” His gaze settles on my face. “You’re beginning to sound like you care.”
      I roll my eyes. “And I thought I was lacking in conversational skills.”
      He focuses his attention on the graffiti sprayed across the mirror.
      “It’s written language,” I blurt, even though all I want to do is end the conversation so Pit Boy can leave. His presence unnerves me more than the other Pit Leeches ever could. “It’s how we communicate.”
      “I know what it is.” He examines his jagged thumbnail. “I just . . . can’t read it.”
“It’s just stuff about the Chosen. You know, insults.” The populace is finicky. As much as they love watching the Chosen with their petty intrigues and court life, they would be just as happy to see their heads on a pike.
      “Chosen?”
      Time to explain what you are, Everly, Nicolai’s voice grates inside my head. Riser’s eyes flutter just enough that I know he’s heard Nicolai’s voice too.
      You do it, I think, watching Riser’s reaction. But his face remains emotionless; either he’s a good actor or only Nicolai can hear my response.
       “The Royalist astronomers discovered the asteroid twenty-one years ago,” I begin. “It’s actually a slow moving planet called an earth-crosser, meaning its orbit and ours intersect every twenty-thousand years. Usually it’s too far away to affect us, but this time it will pass close enough to wreak havoc and make the earth uninhabitable for years.” I stir the water with my big toe. “Before I was born, the Emperor decided that creating a population of genetically superior humans would be a great idea, you know, just in case the Caskets don’t work or the asteroid does more damage than predicted.”
      Riser’s hyper-focused gaze bores through me. “You’re one of them?”
      “Yes.” I run my hand through the filthy water. “But my father’s a Bronze, so even though my mother comes from a Gold House, the Emperor only allowed them one Chosen instead of the customary twins. So it’s just me . . . not Max.”
      “What makes being Chosen so special?”
      “I don’t know . . .” I bite my lip, trying to remember everything my parents told me. “My genes are perfect, I guess.”
      For some reason, talking about my body makes me remember that I am naked in a room with a boy. As if reading my mind, Riser slowly lets his gaze fall, his expression both curious and unapologetic as he takes me all in, his thoughts cryptic.
      “What are you staring at?” I blurt, smashing my breasts beneath my hands. Not like there’s much there to cover. “Haven’t you seen a naked girl before?”
       A smile twitches his lips. “Not one that’s genetically flawless.
      “It doesn’t work that way! You can’t just look at us and tell. We look like everyone else—”
      “No.” Riser shakes his head, a dark swath of hair covering his damaged eye. “You don’t. Whatever you are.”
      “You must be happy . . . about our reconstruction, I mean,” I mumble, trying desperately to change the subject. “They’ll fix your eye . . . and . . . and all those horrible scars.”
       I freeze as he slides off the counter, unable to look away as he hooks one finger beneath his shirt and lifts.
      Scars ravage his anemic body in varying shades of red and silver and white. Some deep and pitted like the craters of a far-away planet, others smooth and neat. One particular nasty scar carves down his shoulder, tunneling across his chest and stomach. A fresh red wound nestles just below his throat.
       He carefully touches the long ugly one. “I’m not ashamed for surviving.”


Author Bio:
    Audrey Grey lives in the charming state of Oklahoma, with her husband, two little people, and four mischievous dogs. You can usually find her hiding out in her office from said little people and dogs, surrounded by books and sipping kombucha while dreaming up wondrous worlds for her characters to live in.

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Monday 21 November 2016

Book Blitz: Catalyst by Kristin Smith!

Catalyst
by Kristin Smith
(The Deception Game, #1)
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: November 21st 2016
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult
    Too pretty.
    Too smart.
    Too perfect.

    In a crumbling, futuristic Las Vegas where the wealthy choose the characteristics of their children like ordering off a drive-thru menu, seventeen-year-old Sienna Preston doesn’t fit in. As a normal girl surrounded by genetically modified teenagers, all of her imperfections are on display. But after the death of her father, everything she’s ever known and loved changes in an instant.
    With little skills to help provide for her family, Sienna clings to the two things that come easily—lying and stealing. But not all thief-for-hire assignments go as planned. When a covert exchange of a stolen computer chip is intercepted, she becomes entangled with a corrupt government official who uses her thieving past as leverage, her mother as collateral, and the genetically modified poster boy she’s falling for as bait.
     In order to rescue her mother, there may only be one option—joining forces with the Fringe, an extremist group, and their young leader who’s too hot to be bad. Problem is, these revolutionaries aren’t what they seem, and the secrets they’re hiding could be more dangerous than Sienna is prepared for. In the end, she must be willing to risk everything to save the one thing that matters most.
Catalyst is a thrilling adventure of danger, romance, intrigue, and deception.
EXCERPT:
    “You need to learn a little hand-to-hand combat.” Trey puts his fists up by his face. “Always protect your soft spots—your face being numero uno.” He glances at my bandaged arm. “You right-handed?”
     It’s after breakfast and we’re in the training facility, a large, gym-type room with thick mats, punching bags, weights, and a long wall of mirrors. The smell of sweat and stinky feet assault my nose as I stand across from him on the pile of black mats used to create a “ring”. We have the gym to ourselves. Most likely because everyone else is too smart to work out right after a meal.
     I nod and flex my right hand, the one that’s not bandaged.
     “You should be fine, then. I’ll take it easy on you.” He grins. “Go ahead—hit me.”
     I take a step back and shake my head. “I’m not gonna hit you.”
     He moves forward to decrease the distance between us. “I said, hit me.”
     I raise my arms as if I’m about to fight him, but all I can think is how much he’s done to help me. How can I punch the man who saved me from the government facility, removed my tracker, and is willing to help rescue my mother?
    When he realizes I won’t fight, he lowers his hands. “Remember, Sienna, these men don’t care that you’re a girl. They don’t care how old you are. If given the opportunity, they will hurt you.” His eyes harden. “Now hit me.”
     I punch him as hard as I can, and he’s not expecting it. The force of the blow to his face knocks him backward, and my hand throbs from the impact. He looks stunned, especially when a trickle of blood makes its way out of his nose. But then he grins.
Wiping his nose on his shirt, he motions with his hands for me to come closer. “Nicely done. Now, hit me again.”
     Surely, he must be crazy. I’m about to walk away, but his words echo in my mind. If given the opportunity, they will hurt you. I can’t give them that opportunity.
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Author Bio:
    Kristin Smith writes young adult contemporary and science fiction novels. When she’s not writing, you can find her dreaming about the beach, beating her boys at Just Dance, or belting out karaoke (from the comfort of her own home). Kristin currently resides in the middle-of-nowhere North Carolina with her husband and five incredibly loud but extremely cute boys. To read more about her obsession with YA novels or her addiction to chocolate, you can visit her at kristinsmithbooks.com.


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Saturday 19 November 2016

Midnight Hour (Shadow Falls: After Dark #4) by C.C. Hunter (Review)

     Returning to the world of Shadow falls, Midnight Hour gives us the much desired adventure starting the beloved friend and witch, Miranda. While going to see a love witch with her sister, things go very awry and once again and Miranda is thrown into another action packed magical adventure. Along the way she encounters, ghosts, explosions, gangs and armadillos, oh my! Through it all, she has to sort out her love life and protect those she loves. If you liked the either of the Shadow Falls series, you will enjoy this one too.
     I truly enjoyed Midnight Hour. Like every other instalment in the series, C. C. Hunter has successfully written an awesome story of love and adventure in the perspective of a magically talented teenager. I was impressed with how the  story was able to maintain the quirky cuteness that is Miranda throughout the novel, that we had encountered in other novels. I've noticed in others series that sometimes in the process of transferring into another characters perspective, parts of that characters personalty just disappeared; but that does not seem to be the case here. I enjoyed the way Miranda developed throughout the novel and ended up being her own hero. It was endearing to read. Just like the person herself, Miranda's story was quirky and featured some oddities like an armadillo. Yup, and armadillo. Anyway, I enjoyed Midnight Hour and give it the rating of FOUR AND A HALF STARS OUT OF FIVE!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Cover Reveal: Thrax by Christina Bauer!

Thrax
by Christina Bauer
(Angelbound Origins #4)
Published by: Monster House Books
Publication date: June 27th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
    Myla Lewis has married Prince Lincoln, and now they’re expecting! All the after-realms rejoice. Myla should be happy too, but she has a serious problem. The day after their honeymoon ended, Myla’s real husband disappeared.
    The man who’s sharing her bed is an imposter.
    Myla tries explaining about “Evil Lincoln,” but no one will listen. The reason? People think that Myla’s supernatural pregnancy is making her cray cray. Mostly because that’s what Evil Lincoln is telling everyone, and that man’s a great liar. What a creep.
    There’s no way Myla will take this lying down, though. She’s going to rescue her man, and she has a pretty good idea where he’s being held. With her best friend, Cissy, along to help, Myla sneaks off to Earth. All she has to do is blend in with the humans, avoid Evil Lincoln, and find her real man before the baby arrives. How hard can it be?
Previous books in the series:
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Author Bio:
Christina graduated from Syracuse University's Newhouse School with BA's in English as well as Television, Radio, and Film Production. Her day job is in marketing for companies like Microsoft, Cisco, and Zerto. Back in the go-go 90′s, she founded her own software start-up, Mindful Technologies. Christina believes that, upon close examination of Tolkien's text, it's entirely possible that the Balrog was wearing fuzzy bunny slippers.

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Friday 11 November 2016

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Review)

     Dark and depressing, Certain Dark Things shows a world with very un-romantic vampires and violent monsters. On the run from an evil vampire mafia family, Alt (a vampire herself) flees to Mexico City where vampires are killed on sight. Living on the streets of Mexico City, Domingo is a runaway down on his luck when he runs into the enchanting Alt. Together, they face constant danger and violence as Domingo joins Alt on her flee from the other vampires.
      I found this book dark, violent and depressing. There was little satisfaction in the story and the characters were no very dynamic or redeemable. Domingo is a poor street child who seems to have no sense of self-preservation at all and Alt just struck me as a horrible person, so the romance between them was unpleasant to read about and left a bad taste in my mouth. Alt is actually a straight out murderer and constantly put Domingo at risk from herself and other monsters of the night. Villain wise, the novel was weak as well. Where there was a weakened plot, the author tried to make up for it with gore and violence, and it did not work. Ultimately, I did not enjoy reading this novel and only give it the rating of TWO OUT OF FIVE STARS!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Wednesday 2 November 2016

Cover Reveal: The Beauty by Lindsay Mead!

 The Beauty Synopsis:
     Can love thrive in a kingdom of secrets?
     Rumors of King Aleksander abound, sowing seeds of fear and doubt among the populace. Worse, there’s only so much Belle can do to repair the damage caused by the former Bishop’s fear-mongering. With challenges and new enemies threatening, the couple will have to prove the strength of their love.
     Of course, a cure for the king and his cursed people could solve everything. It may be as simple as reaching out to the right scientists, or maybe it’s all beyond the ingenuity of man. Tensions mount as old foes refuse to stay dead and unexpected revelations leave the future uncertain. But ultimately, it’s the half-truths that could lead to heartbreak.
     The Beauty is the second book in The Hunter Legends, a re-imagining of the infamous love between a beauty and a beast.

The Beast synopsis:
    Demon possession has swept through Glace's neighboring kingdom, turning humans into hellhounds. These great, fanged wolves are wild, desperate, and hungry. Only the sworn Hunters have kept them back for five long, bloody years.
    At the young age of fifteen, Belle LeClair became a Hunter. She no longer remembers how many hounds she's killed, or how many friends she's buried. Still, Belle leads the hunt till a tragedy forces her deep into the dark kingdom. Her heart will be turned, her loyalty tested— and fate will intervene.
   Amid a backdrop of Steampunk inventions and a harsh winter landscape, The Beast is a re-imagining of the infamous love between a beauty and a beast.