Monday 31 July 2017

Book Blitz: Sink by M.E. Rhines!


Sink
by M.E. Rhines
(Mermaid Royalty #1)
Publication date: July 31st 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
     Obedience has always been a matter of survival for sixteen-year-old mermaid princess Pauline. Her mother is the tyrannical Queen Calypso, who rules the kingdom of Atargatis with an iron trident. To utter one word against her would mean banishment—or worse—so Pauline bites her tongue and minds her manners. But on the eve of her sister’s merling-shower, all of that is about to change. Confronted with the truth about what happens to the human men who are betrothed to the mermaids of Atargatis, Pauline realizes she can stay silent no more.
      Determined to end the queen’s dark tradition, Pauline goes along on a search for shipwreck survivors, secretly planning to free them. But things get complicated when she finds herself inexplicably drawn to one of the men. Before she realizes what’s happening, she has kissed him—and a kiss from a mermaid is not without consequences. Now Pauline will have to risk everything if she is to save the young man and thwart the queen’s dark plans…
EXCERPT:
My eyes widened, my heart hammering against my rib cage. A fear I didn’t understand tugged at my tailfin, like an anchor had been tied to its end. I sank against the wall of our pirated vessel and watched the chaos as it unfolded in slow motion.
Gene laughed at something my sister said just before it hit him. His smile fell in an instant as soon as the sudden deadening feeling pummeled into his chest. He dropped the plate and held out his hand. From my experience with Beaked Sea Snake, he was seeing double the fingers.
A fogginess washed over his eyes. He reached out for Fawna for just a second before his arms fell to his sides, limp and useless. Then, his human legs gave out from under him. A loud crack sounded as his knees made impact with the hard floor of the ship.
When he finally fell backward, my sister stood over his paralyzed body with a shameless, cruel smirk that gave me the chills. My mother, hovering well above me, nodded her approval with a warm, glowing pride showing on her face.
I looked around, expecting to see the same shocked expression I wore among my clan. But not one jaw was dropped. Every one of them watched with tense, excited eyes. They looked like bloodthirsty demons from where I was sitting.
“Mother,” I whispered. “What’s going on?”
She didn’t hear me.
“My Queen,” someone shouted from below. “What are your orders?”
Mother took in a long, powerful breath and shouted, “Air him out.”
I gasped, disbelief shuddering through me. “Mother,” I screamed. “Mother, you can’t!”
My protests were drowned out by the unified battle cry that erupted from every member of our clan. Angelique dropped her guitar, dashing for Gene with two other mermaids close behind.
I rushed for him, but Mother grabbed my arm with bruising fingers.
“Let me go,” I demanded.
Even through the screeching cheers below, I could hear Mother’s teeth grinding. “Don’t make a scene.”
I stilled, having every intention to stay put and comply, as usual. But then, I caught a glimpse of Gene’s face. While his muscles were tight and immobile, his eyes were filled with a conscious terror. They pleaded with me from across the ship, begging me to save him.
Before I could stop myself, I twisted my arm out of Mother’s grasp and swam to him, hoping to talk some sense into my sister before she did something terrible.
It was no use. I couldn’t reach them. They had too much of a head start. All I could do was watch as they snatched the helpless human and dragged his lifeless body up, up, and up until…
Bubbles sprayed all around them as they held Gene’s head and neck above water, but kept their own gills safely submerged. Even if he had working legs to thrash and fight with, he would be outmatched. Our tails treaded water in a way a human’s boney appendages couldn’t come close to.
He was in our world, by no choice of his own. We brought him down here against his will, and now that he was a part of it, my mother was sending him back home to die.
The gills would not disappear. They would only struggle for a short while before giving up to the heat of the land above. Gene’s chest moved in and out, in faster but shallower spurts.
I kicked my tail harder. Just as he came into my reach, he took one final gulp of air from his own world, and the movement stopped.
Mother had killed him.


Author Bio:
     ME Rhines a southwest Florida native currently living in North Port with her two beautiful children and a third, much larger child whom she affectionately calls husband.
She writes young adult paranormal romance to feed her belief that fairy tales are real and
nonsense is necessary.
She also writes adult romances under her edgier alter-ego, Mary Bernsen.

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Monday 24 July 2017

Book Blitz: Elemental Lies by Elle Middaugh!

Elemental Lies
by Elle Middaugh
(The Essential Elements, #2)
Publication date: July 24th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
      Valerie Moore is an Elemental, a person who commands one of the classical elements of wind, water, fire, or earth. She’s special, though. She controls two—fire and water—though sometimes it seems like they control her.
       After the accidental exposure of Elementals to humanity, Valerie finds herself—and all of her kind—struggling to attain equality. Three different groups fight to secure leadership, and with all of their hidden agendas, she doesn’t know which side to choose. The balance between peaceful cohabitation and all-out war is precarious, at best.
        When a chance meeting brings Val and earth Elemental Cade Landston back together, everything changes. She realizes what she knew in the beginning—that he’s the one she wants. Her desire to win him over draws her closer to him, and his vengeful mission to hunt down her murderous grandfather brings them both closer to trouble.
From mysterious doppelgangers to reckless rescue missions, scapegoat bombings, and evolving Elemental powers, Valerie strains to keep up.
       All she knows is she must stop her grandfather at all costs. To do so, she has to figure out the truth, but how can she do so when almost everyone she knows has been telling lies?
Sequel to:
EXCERPT:
“What are you thinking?” Dad asked, knocking me back to the present.
My head shook subconsciously. “Nothing, really. Just trying to figure out all this change, trying to make sense of it, somehow.”
“It’s not easy,” he agreed. “And it’s only gonna get harder.”
I stared at him with wide doe eyes, silently pleading for some sort of direction.
“What should I do?” I asked. “Should I live my life as best I can and try to ignore the evil going on all around me? Or should I make it my life’s work to try to change that evil into good? Is it even worth it to try?”
Dad blew out a deep breath and pushed the rest of his stromboli aside. His fingers laced atop the table.
“I can’t tell you what to do, sweetheart, but I’ll tell you what I think. Should you live your life to the fullest? Absolutely, no contest. Should you ignore the evil around you? No, I wouldn’t ignore it. Given what you are, there’s a good chance it’ll come looking for you regardless.”
He licked his lips and paused before continuing. I stayed silent.
“Striving to make the world a better place…it’s a noble endeavor, but a very difficult one. Is it worth it to try? I think if your heart’s in it, if it’s something you feel strongly about and it’s something honorable and good, then it’s always worth it to try. I can’t guarantee you’ll succeed, and many times it might feel like all you’re doing is trudging uphill through two feet of shit and a thunderstorm. It might even be like that for the rest of your life, but if you care, truly and passionately, then no matter what happens in the end, you’ll be glad you did it.”
The sound of a pin dropping would have seemed as loud as shattering glass. There were no words in my head or my mouth, just a vast emptiness as I tried to absorb and process what he’d just said.
Unfortunately, there was no time.

Author Bio:
       Elle Middaugh lives in the Allegheny Mountains outside of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, with her wonderful husband and three beautiful children. Most of her time is spent raising kids, writing stories, playing video games, reading, and attempting to keep a clean house.
She’s a proud Navy wife, a frazzle-brained mother, a fan of health and fitness, a lover of hot tea and iced tea, and a believer in happily ever afters.


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Tuesday 18 July 2017

Getting to Know the Authors: Featuring J.M. Miller!

Bio:
      J.M. Miller currently consumes her coffee in Florida. When she isn't busy being distracted by social media sites, she writes Young Adult and New Adult romance novels that vary in genre from contemporary to fantasy.
Aside from spending time with her family, she loves to travel and will jump at the chance to go anywhere, whenever life allows.
Social Media Links:
Website- http://www.jmmillerbooks.com
Newsletter- http://smarturl.it/uz4i1e
Amazon- http://amzn.to/1EeyYvV
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/j.m.miller.author
Instagram- https://instagram.com/authorjmmiller/
Twitter- https://twitter.com/jmmiller_author
Goodreads- http://smarturl.it/cr1soo
Pinterest-   http://www.pinterest.com/jmiller907/
Spotify- http://open.spotify.com/user/1298630229

What has she written?
She has written:

 
Excerpt of Fallen Flame:
        While the tingles in my red-orange skin slowly ascended into pain, the air biting as everything started to reform, a hard clanking noise outside the back door drew my attention. I slid into my thin underclothes, grabbed hold of my sword, then rushed toward the door. Knowing that sound was out of the ordinary, I was prepared to scour the garth and small area of trees behind the house, even search the neighbors’ land to find the cause. I hadn’t expected to open the door and find Xavyn standing a mere foot away, hood drawn and arms crossed as if I’d kept him waiting too long at the narrow back doorstep.
       I pointed my sword toward his chest and glanced around him, scanning the darkness. “What are you doing here?”
      “Following up.” The words were slow. As his hand reached up and removed the hood, his human eyes traversed my face, swallowing the details of my reforming skin in an intense, almost penetrating way.
       I realized then that I had no cloak, no mask. And for some reason, I wondered if I should take the time of throwing them on … before ending his life. He’d seen me in this state on Prince’s Night, but that was an instant, a moment amid darkness and chaos. Not this closely. I growled at him, digging the tip of my blade into the black leather at his chest, my regrowth pain dissolving as my anger took control.
      “Are you going to let me in or would you rather call attention to your treason?” he asked, his voice still holding a softness that grated me.
      “Quit staring at me that way and you can come in.”


Now on to the Interview!!!
1) How old were you when you started writing?
      I wrote poetry in high school, but I didn't write my first novel until 29.

2) What do you want a reader to gain from reading your works?
      Entertainment. That's my main goal. If one of my books can get someone out of their own head for a few hours, make them think, feel, and connect with a character from another world, another life, then I'm happy. Anything more is a bonus!

3) What are your three top suggestions on becoming an author, or being a pleasure writer?
     Write. Write. Write. There is no specific method, no real rules to start. Just write. When you determine what direction you want to take, you'll dig for more information. But the most important thing is to write. 
4) What is your favourite novel, why?
      This is always a tough question. But I do favor The Count of Monte Cristo. To me, it's just one of the best stories and the writing is amazing.

5) Who is your favourite author, why?
      I don't think I can choose one. There are so many talented authors, and I'm always happy to find a new favorite.

6) What are your favorite pass times besides writing?
      For the most part, I'm a homebody. I'm content to sit at home and spend time with my family, read a book, or work on my latest project. But I also love going to the movies and to the beach.

7) Who in your life do you credit your imagination to the most?
      Hmm. I'm not really sure, actually. I think my parents are creative in their own way, but I don't believe either wrote creatively. I guess I'd just say myself. I've always been more of an introvert observer, watching everything around me. It usually leads to random thoughts and ideas.

8) What are the top five things on your bucket list?
     Ooh! I love this question. There are things that I've randomly considered, but I've never really made a list, in my head or on paper. Right now, I'll have to go with:
1. Skydive
2. Revisit Europe
3. Visit Iceland
4. Smash some hefty writing goals
5. … There's so much more …

9) What is your funniest childhood memory?
     I have some good ones but this is the first thing hitting me right now. I was maybe 10 years old (probably summer 1990 … yeah, I'm old), riding in my father's station wagon with three of my cousins. We had just gotten ice cream cones. MC Hammer's song "U Can't Touch This" came on the radio and my dad was swerving to the beat (on a back road with no real traffic). If you know the song, you know in the chorus he says "STOP! Hammertime." Well, my dad did a break-check on the "STOP!" and a cousin's ice cream cone smashed into his own face. It was pretty awesome. ;)

10) To the youth of today, if you could tell them one thing, what would it be?
     Believe in yourself and fight for what you want in your life! But know that no one owes you anything. Work hard and you can make things happen.

Monday 17 July 2017

Fallen Flame (Fallen Flame #1) by J.M. Miller (Review)

        Magic is long dead... or at least it should be. Vala is a sign of a time once thought to be over. A time when magic ruled the world and otherworldly beings lived alongside humans. Vala hard chard, rock-like skin that could only come about in one way... magic. Because of this, Vala has been ostracized her entire life and feared by almost all on her small island. She still has a job though. Because of her skin, she makes the perfect guard for the prince. She is a skilled fighter, on top of her intimidation factor in which she was chosen for, based on her lava rock like skin. When there is an assassination attempt on the prince's life, Vala is thrown into a dangerous mystery where she bears to lose everything: the prince, her position in the guard and her very beliefs. Confronted with this conflicting problem, she will have to figure out friend from foe, and truth from lie. 
        I found this novel surprisingly fun to read. It's hidden plot parts had me wondering where things were going and really what type of novel it would be in the first place. I didn't really characterize it form the starts so most of the plot points were all fun, new and exciting. I liked Vala. Her unique situation was riveting to read about and her characters was fairly well developed, similarly to the plot. The magical element was riveting and had me constantly guessing what Vala's history was. How she got the way she was, and what the full extent of her abilities are.  All in all, I really like Fallen Flame and I give it the rating of FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Getting to Know the Authors: Featuring Chani Lynn Feener!

Bio:
       Chani Lynn Feener has wanted to be a writer since the age of ten during fifth grade storytime. She majored in Creative Writing at Johnson State College in Vermont. To pay her bills, she has worked many odd jobs, including, but not limited to, telemarketing, order picking in a warehouse, and filling ink cartridges. When she isn’t writing, she’s binging TV shows, drawing, or frequenting zoos/aquariums. Chani is also the author of teen paranormal series, The Underworld Saga, originally written under the penname Tempest C. Avery. She currently resides in Connecticut, but lives on Goodreads.com.
Instagram: http://Instagram.com/TempestChani
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/TempestChani
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5171960.Chani_Lynn_Feener_aka_Tempest_C_Avery
 
What has she written?
She has written (for YA):

Now on to the Interview!
1) How old were you when you started writing, in your opinion?
     When I started seriously writing? Probably 15. I've known I wanted to become a writer since I was 10, but 15 is when I first tried my and at something other than fanfiction and decided to start taking learning and honing my skills seriously.
2) What do you want a reader to gain from reading your works?
     Honestly, I just want them to have a good time and forget about their troubles for a bit. I love classic literature, and Shakespeare. But when I was a teen, reading all of that assigned literature for school, there were many occasions I wanted to read something lighter, that I could immerse myself with and not have to pick apart. Being a teenager is stressful, and I really just want to provide a momentary escape from that with good characters, an interesting plot, and maybe a little magic (or aliens, as the case is for Amid Stars and Darkness).

3) What are your three top suggestions on becoming an author, or being a pleasure writer?
     My first would be to just do it. Stop making excuses about how you're not good enough, or about how you're too busy, or how you'll never make it. The only way to get better is to practice, just like anything else. And now matter how busy you are, you can put aside five minutes a day. It doesn't sound like much, but even if you only get a couple of sentences down, that's still more than nothing. Most authors don't have connections to the business when they start, so they begin the same way you would: writing in their bedroom or their library or their kitchen. If they can get a book published (heck, if I can) you definitely can! You just have to want it badly enough, and do something about that.
     My second suggestion would be not to worry about what people will think, either about your genre choice, or the fact you're reaching for a pretty high goal. Write what you want to write, because if you don't love it, no one will. If you want to write about witches and vampires, do it. The next great American Novel? Go for it. Romance? Why not! You're not the only one who loves these genres, so even if your friends think writing paranormal books are lame, there's an entire community out there who does not!
      Lastly, find a process that works for you. There's no right way to write a book. Some writers like to plot the whole thing out, and some people like to just sit down with no idea what they're doing and go for it (I happen to be the latter). If you're not sure which works for you, try them both. You might even find the process is different for each book you write. Basically, don't think you can look up a "how to" with this. You aren't building furniture from Ikea. It's okay to be unsure how to start, or finish. Just trust your gut, and if later on you don't like something you wrote, that's what the backspace button is for.

4) What is your favourite novel, why?
     I have five, and I cannot choose between them, so I'll list quickly! The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, and Make You Mine by Jackie Ashenden. All of these books are really different, and aren't all from the same genre either, but I love them because I resonated with the characters in each of these books so deeply. All of these authors have the ability to put you into their characters heads, and surround you in a plot and setting super believable and easy to imagine. They all also make you think about who you are as a person, and I love books that force you to step back and wonder what you would do or how you feel about something.

5) Who is your favourite author, why?
     Again, that's way too hard a question. I'll say I love Shakespeare, Maggie Stiefvater, Jackie Ashenden, and...actually, I'll stop there. The why would be that I've loved (or at least liked) most if not everything by these authors that I've read. If I see their name on something, I'll buy it without having to read the blurb.

6) What are your favorite pass times besides writing?
     I draw a lot. I actually thought I was going to be an artist from the age of five until I really made the decision to just write at 15. I also love watching tv shows and going to the movies, and I'm a big fan of visiting aquariums and zoos. And, obviously, I read. A lot. I wish I could say I have more active pass times but....aside from roller blading, I really don't.

7) Who in your life do you credit your imagination to the most?
     I don't think I can credit any one person. I get inspiration from everyone and from everywhere so...it's not like my mom or one of my favorite authors, or even my favorite show, can take more of the credit than another thing or person. Depending on the book or project I'm doing, my imagination will get sparked by different things.

 8) What are the top five things on your bucket list?
 1. Go parasailing.
 2. Visit Cornwall.
 3. Visit Ireland.
 4. Make the NY Times best sellers list eventually.
 5. Attend Funko Fundays (and SDCC).

 9) What is your funniest childhood memory?
       Most of my funniest childhood memories are of my siblings doing stupid stuff so...I can't say without upsetting them.

10) To the youth of today, if you could tell them one thing, what would it be?
       Explore as much as you can. The sooner you figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life, the sooner you can start making that happen.

Friday 14 July 2017

Persuasion (Curse of the Gods #2) by Jane Washington and Jaymin Eve (Review)

    The second installment of the Curse of the Gods series, Persuasions keeps on the with the adventures of the every clumsy Willa Knight and her gang of powerful Abcurse brothers. The gods are out to get them, and they are targeting the weakest link, Willa. Ever clumsy, weak and very much mortal Willa. The Abcurse brothers, being as crazy possessive as they are, do not like this at all, and decide to kill anything that tries to hurt what's theirs. Seems simple enough to them. But when the god of chaos himself gets involved and starts showing interest in the enigma that is Willa, things really pick up and the danger ramps up.
      First off, I'm going to state my big problem with this novel before I start listing what I like about it. It contains some pretty sexual content. Way more so then was in the first novel. I don't like the trend this is following. I do not like pornography in my literature and would hope that I don't have to stop reading this series because of it. Also the five way sexual tension seems to be continuing past its time. I'm starting to wonder if the authors actually plan on have a polygamous relationship in the novel instead of simply choosing a specific brother to be the romantic lead. That too would be a deal breaker for me and many of my fellow readers. Now, with all of that stated, what did I like about the book. I find the narrative voice of Willa to be hilarious. I love her sassy inner monologue and commentary. She by far is the best part of this series. Her variety of sassy female narrative is a staple throughout Jaymin Eve's writings, and is one of the reasons I'm a huge fan of her. Plot wise, the story had good pacing and development. It was engaging throughout the full novel, only when things get too sexual did I find myself disengaging from the book. The brothers are actually really hard to distinguish between, but I found I didn't mind all that much. They were all kick-butt and epic alone and as a unit. Their dynamic with Willa is incredibly funny and adds flavor to the novel. All in all, minus the sexual content, this was a good novel and I give Persuasion the rating of FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Dream Me by Kathryn Berla (Review)

     Time travel and the end of the world. That is what some teenage boy named Zat lives with far into the future. With his world ending, he has three options, stay where he is and die, travel to a new planet to live on or travel back in time and live in the dreams of someone from them past, hoping to someday become corporeal. He decides to travel back in time. His unwitting host is Babe, an average teenage girl who loves tennis and is sick of moving around for her Dad's job. She has her own set of problems with creepy men at her work and trying to make friends in her new town, all the while have these crazy dreams of a very attractive boy.
      Dream Me was severely all around underdeveloped. The plot, the characters, everything. It all was subpar and uninteresting. Lets start with the main characters... you just don't care about them. They are both fairly one dimensional and don't change much or develop throughout the book. Plot wise, this book did not do a good job. I could see the author was clearly undecided if the novel should be a sci-fi, a romance, a high school age drama, a summer vacation story or a story on money and the abuse of power. Because of this, the story had no solid direction or purpose. It was boring and literally almost nothing happened. Boring through and through. I give Dream Me the rating of TWO OUT OF FIVE STARS!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Thursday 13 July 2017

Angel Tormented (Louisiangel #3) by C.L. Coffey (Review)

   The third instalment in the Louisiangel series, Angel Tormented continues the story of Angel, a red haired ex-human current Angel, in her struggle to sort out her new angel life, to figure out her feelings and relationship with Joshua (her charge to protect) and to stop Lucifer and his minions from ending the world. Just as Angel is getting the hang of this angel thing, she is exposed to the world as angel, which is a HUGE no no. Now in trouble for that, she watches as the cherubim go their own way from the covenant and as Michael tries to balance things without them with the virtues breathing down his back because of Angel's mishap.  
       A little boring, Angel Tormented continues the story, picking up where book two ended. Angel is still a very sassy and witty character, but she seemed less well formed in this novel. It also seemed like there plot jumped around. It opened up a lot of avenues of plot but then really didn't satisfyingly conclude any of them by the end of the novel. I see that this was done to with hopes to lead into a fourth novel, but for the book to be good itself it need to have some form of major plot development. It just did not meet that requirement. That aside, it was still moderately interesting to read, which is why I give Angel Tormented the rating of FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Queen Fae (NYC Mecca #3) by Jaymin Eve and Leia Stone (Review)

    The third installment of the NYC Mecca series, Queen Fae continues the story of Arianna, the queen of the were-wolves and true mate of Kade, the king of the wolf shifters. Violet has been kidnapped by the Fae and Arianna with do absolutely anything to get her back. She is ready to bring down her wrath on the kidnappers. Sneaking into the Fae lands with her personal guard and king Kade, she goes on a mission to save Violet, stop a war, and to restore the balance to the Mecca. Along the way she will be have to deal with great dangers and fights for their lives.
      Not the best installment in the series, Queen Fae was mediocre. It continued the plot and progressed the romance between Arianna and Kade, but ultimately it was not as incredibly epic as the first book in the series. I really think that all of the novels in the series could have been brought together into one book and have felt more seamless and engaging. The plot development was still very good and it was entertaining to read, it's just not AS interesting as the beginning of the series. Kade is still a very interesting character and the magic/shifter feel of the novel was fun to read on. All in all, I give Queen Fae the rating of FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Wednesday 12 July 2017

A Crown of Wishes (The Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Chokshi (Review)

      The second installment in the Star-Touched Queen series, A Crown of Wishes was a joy to read. It takes place in the same universe as the first novel in the series, but it's plot is almost completely independent and could totally be read all on its own. It's a story of romance and magic, staring a hardened warrior princess and a witty and sly enemy prince. They are both thrown into a magic competition together to wish a single wish. Those wishes are something they both desperately want and will do anything to get, including work together. As tension rises and danger grows, they will learn to depend on each other to win, or die trying to go at it alone.
       Magical in a different way then most other stories, A Crown of Wishes takes more of an Arabic air to it then anything else. With creatures that were all new to me and a mythos I was completely unfamiliar with, it was truly quite a treat. It was also quite great to read a novel that could be in a series yet stand completely on it's own. It was not reliant on any past plot building to be a good story and experience all on it's own. The main characters were a blast to read about and were very well developed with their unique strengths and flaws. All in all, I really enjoyed the book and give it the rating of FIVE OUT OT FIVE STARS!

*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Follow Me Back (Follow Me Back #1) by A.V. Geiger (Review)

     Engaging and thrilling, Follow Me Back is a well paced adventure that puts the readers on edge as they follow the stories of a major pop star and a girl with agoraphobia. Terrified to even leave her room, Tessa only has contact with three people, her mom, her boyfriend Scott and her therapist. Isolated and alone Eric Thorn is hooked into a horrible record deal that is killing him. Lashing out at a random fan, Tessa, he inadvertently sparks a relationship that will become both of their lifelines, but as this goes on danger lurks in the background, waiting to pounce.
     I was surprised how much I enjoyed Follow Me Back. I've never been a big fan of pop culture and I've never liked boy bands or artists like Justin Bieber. Heck I'm not much for social media on my own time, so when I started this novel I was patiently skeptical if I would enjoy it. I was happy to see that despite my none interest in some of the subject matter, the books was still very engaging and fun to read. I finished it in a day. The thrill of the mystery was well done and the plot twist at the end was really not something I had expected or predicted. I had been fairly sure I knew the end before it arrived, but was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was wrong. I was left excited to read the next novel in the series and give Follow Me Back the rating of FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review* 

Tuesday 11 July 2017

Amid Stars and Darkness (The Xenith Trilogy #1) by Chani Lynn Feener (Review)

     I loved it!!!! Amid Stars and Darkness was an exciting outer space drama that has become my newest literary obsession. When an earth girl gets kidnapped one day being mistaken for an alien princess, she is thrown into an utterly insane world of assassinations, drama, mystery and romance. Ruckus has screwed up, he kidnapped a human named Delaney instead of the princess he is charged with protecting. Now its his job to keep her alive as she plays the part of the princess to prevent a massive war. As he does the passion sparks between him and her, with potential for great things, if he can keep her alive of course.
      Wonderful and exciting, Amid Stars and Darkness delivered on all that was promised in the synopsis. I found myself riveted by the immersive world and story, and the characters were all very distinct from each other in a way that really enriched the reading experience. Delaney is a sassy, intelligent, intuitive and resilient main character, and her narration was funny and enjoyable to read. The plot was well paced and the characters each seemed pretty well developed. After finishing this novel, I died on the inside because, warning, there is a major cliff hanger at the end of the novel that has me clamoring to get the next installment of the series. I can't wait to read where the series will go. In the end, I loved Amid Stars and Darkness and recommend it. I give it the well earned rating of FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
*Advanced Readers Copy Review*

Book Blitz: Paintbrush by Hannah Bucchin!

Paintbrush
by Hannah Bucchin
Published by: Blaze Publishing
Publication date: July 11th 2017
Genres: Romance, Young Adult
Mitchell Morrison and Josie Sedgwick have spent their whole lives at the Indian Paintbrush Community Village, a commune full of colorful characters tucked in the mountains of North Carolina, and they aren’t particularly close–at least, not anymore. Josie wishes she could spend all of her time at Paintbrush planting tomatoes, hiking the trails, or throwing giant communal birthday parties, while Mitchell can’t wait to escape the bizarre spiritual sharing and noisy community dinners. Luckily for both of them, high school graduation is just around the corner.
But when Mitchell’s mother makes a scandalous announcement that rocks the close-knit Paintbrush community, and Josie’s younger sister starts to make some dangerously bad decisions, the two find themselves leaning on each other for support – and looking at each other in a whole new light. Their childhood friendship blossoms in to something more as they deal with their insane families, but as graduation approaches, so does life in the real world, forcing Josie and Mitchell to figure out what, exactly, their relationship is – and if it can survive their very different plans for the future.
SNEAK PEEKS:
Mitchell
“Hi.” I tighten my grip on her waist, and she moves her hand from my shoulder, sliding her fingertips slowly, until they rest on the back of my neck. I close my eyes.
When I open them again, she’s staring at me, her face so close I can see the flecks of brown in her green eyes. It would be so easy to kiss her. Just a few inches. It would be the easiest thing in the world.
Josie
“We’re a mess, aren’t we?” He grins at me.
I can’t help it—I lean into him, pressing my shoulder into his, wanting to feel his warmth and his soft sweatshirt, wanting to be a part of that smile.
I shrug. “All the best people are messy.”


Author Bio:
Hannah has spent her life falling in love with beautiful places, both real and fictional. She grew up in charming Bethlehem, PA, went to college in sunny Chapel Hill, NC, spent a summer studying wildlife in Tanzania, volunteered on organic farms across New Zealand, and hiked all over Acadia National Park in Maine. When not writing, reading, or adventuring, she likes to daydream about the dog she'll adopt someday, listen to music from the sixties, and exchange ridiculous texts with her parents and siblings. Paintbrush is her first novel.

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