Tuesday, April 30, 2013

{Review} Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey


Review
The main character- Rosalind- I loved her so much. She was such a strong character and so easy to love. She was a princess and she had a rough time keeping her secret, but she cared deeply for other people. 

The Dragons!!! Those mean old crazy ass dragons! 
I love how the dragons can understand humans and speak to them. There is nothing more frightening than being eaten and being told about it by a dragon beforehand! :D It's awesome and I <3 it!

Kit!- <3 That girl... just... oh! I wanted her to have a story of her own, she was so sweet!

The Queen- .........?......She just changed so much in my eyes. 

The story-line itself felt like it was developing into an epic finale.... and some parts of the story just dropped off or were not addressed.. but I still love this book. I mean, all the buildup was so great. Some parts were slow, but I liked them because they helped you get to know the characters better and learn about the history of the problems in the area. My favorite part of the book was the middle. A lot of effort was put into that storyline.. Well that part and the very last part. 

I really really really love Lord Faul. (you can thank this character, himself, for one of those stars. :P) Who is that? You have to read the book to find out. He was a bit of a jerk, but he had his reasons and he was awesome!

The romance was there... but it was severely lacking. If I was rating this for the romance, it would only be so- so. I mean the love interest was a great character... I just wish I had learned more about him. I mean.... gah. It had real potential, I think. (: I really felt like the ending was rushed... when I was nearing the end and saw how few pages I had left, I was wondering how the author could possibly address the problems that arose in the book before the story ended. I was a little bit disappointed with the abruptness, but I still loved the last few pages. 

What kept the book together for me? Rosalind, Kit, the herb- talk, general medieval setting of the book, and those bad-ass dragons that kept eating people! :D And the dragon- speak. I mean.. whew. You thought Mandarin Chinese was the most difficult language to learn.



For those who enjoy Dragons<3, strong characters, a medieval world, royalty, betrayal, and a dash of romance. (:


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Monday, April 29, 2013

Raksha Tour [Review + Trailer] by Frankie Rose





She has no name. 

She has her knives; her training; her halo. 

The first and second give her the tools and the skill to defeat the opponents she is pitched against each month. The third frees her from pain and fear. From any kind of emotion at all. Everything is as it should be. Everything is as it should be, until… 

FearPainAngerHappinessDesireGuilt

Love.

When a newly-named Kit escapes the Sanctuary after killing her best friend, the last thing she needs is another knife in her hand. Or Ryka, the damaged, beautiful blonde boy, who she refuses to let save her. Still learning how to process the onslaught of her new feelings, the sights and sounds of Freetown are overwhelming and strange. There are a hundred differences between her old home and her new one, but one thing remains starkly similar: the matches. Yet where the blood in the Sanctuary landed only on the colosseum floor, Kit will quickly learn that a river of red runs through Freetown’s very streets. 

Freed from the oppression of a society who stole her right to feel, the true horror of her old life leaves Kit wondering if she really has been freed at all. Would she be better off without the crippling horror of all the blood on her hands, or is the love of one boy worth living through all the pain?

Raksha is the call of the dead. The rumbling chant for fresh blood from the other side, the demand for sacrifice. The colosseum is behind Kit. The fighting pits await.

You have been called to the fights.





[Follow the tour on Facebook]



If you have been following the blog for a little while, then you know how excited I have been to read this book. This book....... I just....... can't. This book...... <sigh> There are not many scenes from books that are so emotional to me that I have to put the book down and not pick it up for a while. But when Asha..... I just. I didn't realize that I had gotten so attached to his character in such a short amount of time. Even so, I had to stop reading and mourn him for a bit. I was morning right alongside Kit throughout the book. The feels, people. The feels. moving on from that depressing, but TOTALLY necessary event. Falin Kitsch Kit was a genuine character and I have not met her equal in terms or characters. She is quite unique and I love her for it. 

The book starts out fast paced and adopts a steady pace throughout but is interesting from cover to cover (okay, I read an eBook.. so there were technically no covers.. but you get the point!) The world the author set up was cruel and I found myself angry throughout for what they do to the Falin. No, really, there was genuine anger involved. 

I. Love. The. Characters. Like I said before, I grew attached to Asha in the first few pages. And Ryka..... ooh, some of the things he said and did....
As for Kit... you know I love me some bad-ass heroines. They are the BEST.

Getting back to the whole cruel Government. This book is definitely not for the squeamish. It is for readers who can handle some heartache and some gore. There  were some pretty harsh elements in the book, so no cookie cutter love story for the adoring fan-girls  This shit was hardcore. I mean, my emotions were everywhere, but you know what? I freaking loved it. And I cannot wait for the next book. There is so much left that needs to be explained! O: I do not have all the answers! D:

(also, bonus points for sarcastic humor, epic fights, and endearing characters <3)


And a treat, since this trailer is AMAZING



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Sunday, April 28, 2013

ARC Review: The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke





After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.
Goodreads |


(Recap) The Assassin's Curse

I re- read The Assassin's Curse to gear up for The sequel. I have been waiting FOR.EV.ER. to get my hands on The Pirate's Wish. You can see my gushing/ fangirling review from last year HERE. Seeing as how, this was one of my top 3 favorite books of last year (okay, top 2) You guys know me and my affinity for all things assassin and Pirate. I still love this book so much. I had pre-ordered it last year after I read the eARC from Netgalley. Needless to say, I have already pre- pre- ordered The Pirate's wish as well. :D Seriously, people. I have been waiting forever for this moment and I have such high hopes for this book! <3


Review
The Pirate's Wish

O.O That Ending. I cannot even... No spoilers. Whew. I will say this before I even continue. If book one and book 2 were combined into one book, that book may have possibly been my favorite book ever. But that is just me, and I may still be riding on my book high. Seriously, though. This duo-logy is a favorite for me. 

The Feels: No Lie. When i was reading, this book.. and this is embarrassing for me to admit (because I try not to be a sissy/ pansy) but during this one scene... my stomach and heart started to hurt. I was that attached to the characters in this book. (okay.. it may have been more them one instance if I am being completely honest, here...)

The suspense: Oh man, I was flipping pages like a mad- woman to see what was going to happen yet. 

The villains: ......... well. They were there. (:

Concerns: The book was not perfect, no. No book is perfect. That is just impossible (haha. I did not learn my lesson from this book. Nothing is impossible.) Something that I find awesome will be offensive to another person. Because, lets face it, we all have our individual opinions  That being said... There were certain elements in this book that outshone book one and there were certain elements that paled (very very slightly) in comparison to book one. However, seeing as how  these books are some of my favorites, that isn't saying anything too bad about them. Just figured I needed to point out that just because I think this book is the greatest thing since bacon, does not mean it did not have it's hiccups. 

Characters: The most important thing, and what remained constant throughout, ... was my freaking love of these two characters. Naji and Ananna are two of my all- time favorite book characters. They are so real and emotional and, like I said earlier, I have become very attached to them. They both have their problems and, in this book, those problems seem monumental. But, I mean.... come on.... They are a Pirate and an Assassin.. There is no obstacle these two can come up against that will not allow them to come out on top. They are just that freaking awesome. ;) Human faults show through in their actions and for some reason (even though there were plenty of magical and fictional happenings) their actions and reactions never seemed too far fetched. Moments of immaturity.... well, that is completely normal. psht. I am not going to fault my characters for that as long as they were not complete Damsels or jerks

Quirks: I still freaking adore Ananna's speech. That is still an endearing pirate quality to me. And Naji's educated background. And I loved their little fights. And their dialogue. I love their dialogue when they are fighting (often) and when they are getting along. I love to laugh when I am reading if the characters think or say something witty or sarcastic (love it). And I was laughing plenty. Well, when I wasn't having heart pangs...D:

Romance: Oh, yeah, buddy. We have AMPED it up from book one. That is all. 

Well, i feel like I should divulge this information. When I have a couple in a book I like and I really love them and their relationship, while I am sitting in class (sneaking a few pages in when I am supposed to be learning about the human aging process) I doodle the couple's names down on the side of my notes. I have only done it for a handful of books. Actually, I only do it with my favorite books. (: So that should tell you something. 


If you like an engaging adventure with bloodshed, romance, friendship, pirates (yes!), Assassins (oh, hell yes), troubled heroes, and unorthodox heroines, you should really really pick this duo-logy up. <3





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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Gemini of Emreina Blog Tour [Review + Giveaway]



My entire life has been a lie: My parents didn't die in a car accident. They're not even dead. I'm not American. I'm not even human. I have strange powers, and I'm the heir to the throne of the planet Emreiana. 

If I take the crown, I have to leave behind everything I have known here on Earth. I would have to say goodbye to my friends and leave behind Kyle, the boy I've loved since I was five. If I don't, then I risk the Bremoir finding me here on Earth and destroying everything I love.












Kristen was born in Alabama in 1991 and still resides there today. She has been writing since the 6th grade. However, she did not begin to write fiction until she was 15. In 2009, Kristen had an idea that would spark the concept for Gemini of Emréiana that she would later write in 2011. During that time, she met her husband. They married in August of 2012. When Kristen is not writing, she spends time watching Korean Drama's or creating SIM's 3 stories. Kristen continues to write the next novels to the Gemini Trilogy. She also plans to release a new series later on in the year.









This was a sweet story about a young girl coming to terms with learning that she is not human, and that basically, most everything she has known is a lie. She has to prepare herself to leave behind her friends, her school, and her very sweet boyfriend, Kyle. I love the basic idea of the book and was totally fascinated with the concept. It reminded me of Superman (yes, I am a nerd..) and how he had to leave his world as a baby and leave his race behind. I found the romance between Kyle and Carson cute. Because of this, I was reluctant to accept Carson's growing affection for her guardian. 

While the story was interesting and I liked the characters well enough, I feel like the progression in the beginning of the book was a little..... abrupt. Like instead of easing the readers into the book, all sorts of information was dumped on the main character and the readers. It gets better as the book goes on, though. [: There was also some grammatical speed- bumps that interrupted the flow while I was reading. However, despite these comments, this is an interesting debut and I am looking forward to learning what will happen to Carson in the next book. 







 the author is (awesomely) offering a paperback copy of Gemini of Emreina. [: US ONLY, however. Good luck <3


RAFFLECOPTER LINK TO THE GIVEAWAY LOCATED......HERE. ;]

Friday, April 26, 2013

Games of Fate Blog Tour {Review}











Book BLURB:
 GAMES OF FATE  
Contains Adult Sexual Content and some violent imagery.
Rysa Torres misses information.  Loses concentration.  Her attention problems randomize her life but she pushes forward anyway, doing the best she can—until monsters activate a part of her she didn’t know she had. 
As visions of the future whip inside her head, Rysa realizes the truth:  She’s a Fate. 
And she will set fire to the world.
All her options explode.  Her family ripped away, what little control she had destroyed, Rysa is left with one choice:  Will she die to stop the coming flames, or will she allow the man and the dragon she loves to die in her place?
 Games of Fate begins Fate ~ Fire ~ Shifter ~ Dragon, a new Urban Fantasy series with Strong Romantic Elements by Kris Austen Radcliffe.  Set in the open spaces of America, the series takes Rysa and Ladon—and Ladon’s companion beast, Dragon—through a landscape punctuated by unfamiliar creatures:  Fates with the ability to see past, present, and future.  Ghouls called Burners who devour with fire and acid.  Shifters who shape much more than their bodies.  And two dragons who speak with color and pattern.
 It starts here, now, with one young woman’s fight against a burning future—and against the death of the man she loves. 




My Review:



Rysa has always been hyper active and never thought too much about it, turns out that she is a fate. A fate is a person who can see the past, present, or future. She was activated by her mother and then ran into burners. Burners eat people and they just found an appetizing meal.

Ladon is a warrior and hates fates. So it’s a surprise when he saves one from the burners. He doesn’t know what it is about this fate, but he likes her and so does Dragon.

Will Rysa be his fate or his doom?

I really liked this book, but the writing style I didn’t. It was very weird and I thought I would get the hang of the writing, but I never did. That didn’t stop me from reading it though. I loved the concept of this book and I wanted to know where the author was going to take it. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about a fate before and this book really intrigued me. This was my first fate book, so I can’t say if this was original or not, but I’m thinking it is. You have a triad of fates that make up the past, present, and future. If one dies the others suffer and get sick. There are shifters which have healing abilities. Enthrallers can make you believe anything that they tell you and Burners eat you can bow things up. Then there is Ladon and his sister, which are dracos. They are attached figuratively speaking to a dragon. They can communicate through their minds and can’t be too far apart from each other. I’ve probably missed some awesome point, but that’s the beauty of reading it and finding out. As you can tell this book was pretty great.

Rysa: She was OK most of the time. As far as a strong character goes she is mediocre. Her parents are out of whack because of the burners. And she always doubts herself. I know in the next one she will come into her abilities and no one will be able to stop her.

Ladon: Has been around for many centuries so you can imagine all the things that he has seen. He has had a rough past with fates so it’s a challenge for him to accept Rysa. He and Dragon warm up to her though.

3.5 STARS







BIO:  As a child, Kris took down a pack of hungry wolves with only a hardcover copy of The Dragonriders of Pern and a sharpened toothbrush.  That fateful day set her on a path traversing many storytelling worlds—dabbles in film and comic books, time as a talent agent and a textbook photo coordinator, and a foray into nonfiction.  After co-authoring Mind Shapes: Understanding the Differences in Thinking and Communication, Kris returned to academia.  But she craved narrative and a richly-textured world of Fates, Shifters, Burners, and Dragons—and unexpected, true love. 

Kris lives in Minnesota with her husband, two daughters, an Handsome Cat, and an entire menagerie of suburban wildlife bent on destroying her house.  That battered-but-true copy of “Dragonriders”?  She found it yesterday.  It’s time to pay a visit to the woodpeckers.





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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

On the Spot Interview With Karolyn James




Today we are honored to have Karolyn James on the blog today who is the author of the Brothers of Rock series. Before we get to the interview, let's find out about little bit about her and her book. :D 







***Being called "a cross between Nashville and 50 Shades of Grey," the BROTHERS OF ROCK series is dramatic, sexy, romantic,and entertaining. It sizzles!***
__

With ALL ACCESS, a contemporary romance series begins that explores, life, love, and music. Join the five band members of Chasing Cross as they find that there's more to life beyond the stage.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Jess is caught off guard when a sexy stranger buys her a cup of coffee and asks her to sit with him. He's mysterious, nice, and even though he says the right things at the right time, Jess can sense that there's something hidden about him.
*
As Johnnie sits across from the beautiful woman, he can't believe she doesn't recognize him. Everyone does. It comes with the territory when you're the lead singer of one of the hottest bands in the world, Chasing Cross. With one more show to go before taking a small break in touring, it feels like luck is on Johnnie's side. That is, if he can find a way to tell Jess who he is, without scaring her off.
*
After her best friend begs her to come to a concert, Jess finds herself standing in the middle of a crowd. The lights are off, music begins, and the crowd erupts in cheers. She doesn't know much about the band, but that's all about to change. When the lights come on, Jess can't believe her eyes. The lead singer of the band is the man from the café.
*
Plucked from the crowd during the show, Jess makes her way backstage. The encore may have ended on stage, but the real show is just about to begin. Johnnie's passion quickly turns to romance but the more time he and Jess spend together, the more things get complicated. Johnnie has a big decision to make about himself and the band, testing his loyalty and love for the music, and when Jess's dreams start to come true, she starts to realize that true love exists, but it's not always an easy path to take.






About this Author



Karolyn James is the pen name for award winning author, Karolyn Patterson. This is a different side of Karolyn, one that doesn’t just explore relationships, but the sexuality within those relationships.

Feel free to explore the blog, and don’t forget to grab a copy (or two ) of her steamy, erotic romance reads. Enjoy reading these books in comfort and privacy as they are all ebooks!

Her current works in progress include…

- the hit series featuring billionaire Alexander Porter titled Serve His Needs
- the steam filled series Falling for the Billionaire
- something to heat up winter with Snowed in with the Billionaire
- other erotic romance projects… and romance co-written as herself as Karolyn Patterson!

Follow her on Twitter @karolynjames

Or email her at Karolyn.James@hotmail.com

She prides herself off being able to interact with her readers and fans and always tries to respond to every Tweet and email.



Now what you've all been waiting for, the interview with Karolyn James!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





1.    If you could describe your book using three words, what would they be?

Romantic.  Honest.  Sexy.

2.    For the Brother of Roc series. Is each book going to showcase a member of the band? If not, then who?

As of right now, the Brothers of Rock series follows the band, Chasing Cross. There are five members in the band and each member gets their own book.  The rest of band may or may not appear in each other books too.  I have dreams of expanding the series, but that’s up to the readers! J

3.    What are you goals in regards to your writing?

As a writer, I have a set word count goal I hit per day, along with a schedule of releasing books.  I keep detailed outlines and I make sure that I can provide the best stories possible to my readers.  They have supported for such a long time and it’s my job to keep them reading.

4.    Was there a certain author or book that influenced you into writing?

Wow, what a question.  There are so many good authors out there right now.  From Bella Andre to Marie Force… to Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, and so many others.  As far as a certain book goes, I’ve been hooked on reading since I read The Wizard of Oz in grade school.  J

5.    Do you have any other book planned for the future?

Oh, yes!  The Brothers of Rock series is slated for 5 books, but that could change.  After that, I have two more romance series waiting to start.  I can’t give details just yet.  Then, of course, there’s the steamier side to myself… I have another rockstar series called ‘Rock Her Curves’ that has been doing amazing.  Book two is coming out and two more are planned for summer/fall.

6.    Do you have a favorite character from All Access? If so, can you tell me who it is?

I LOVE Johnnie.  Sure, that’s cliché since he’s the main character, blah, blah, but I love him.  He’s so commanding and so kind.  He’s open, honest, isn’t afraid to bleed on stage and bleed off stage.  His love of music takes him places beyond the fame and fortune of rock n’ roll and when he meets Jess, he’s so hopeless and so taken by her, it gets to me. 

7.    What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Keep the timeframe together and setting up the other books!  The first book is SO important.  Bringing in each band member, little by little, giving hints at their personalities while managing the romance between Johnnie and Jess. 

8.    While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?

*blushes*  I was Jess.  I had a ‘rockstar romance’ thing back in the day.  I’ll never share the details but some may appear in the books in the series!  ;)

9.    Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned that series writing is hard but rewarding.  When I write a stand alone book, I’m in their world and then out.  When writing a series, I’m creating a world.  I’m leaving doors open to explore later, I’m giving hints at future books, I’m creating people that readers will see over and over, at least five times.  I had to have ALL five books generally outlined so the stories all fit together.  I had to have ALL five band members ready to go.  J 

Speed questions LOL :D

1.    Cat or dogs?  Dogs
2.    Print or ebook?  eBook… love my Kindle! J
3.    Vampire or werewolf?  Vampire (no sparkles though… be rough!)
4.    Damon or Stefan from The Vampire Diaries?  Hmm… Damon!
5.    Sam or Dean from Supernatural?  Ooohh… Dean.  J
6.    Chocolate or Vanilla?  Vanilla (with chocolate syrup!)

Well those were random LOL :D

I would like to end the interview with something fun. Can you tell me something fun/random/wonky/crazy about yourself or your writing habits?

I wake at the same time each morning and reread what I wrote the day before.  It gets the juices flowing.  I keep a set word count goal and fight my way to it before I ease off the gas pedal.  I always have two manuscripts working at the same time so I never burn out or hit writers block.  I’m addicted to Law & Order SVU and a friend just turned me on to Candy Crush… don’t get involved with that game!  Lol!  I’m a HUGE fan of Nashville (TV show) and sometimes find myself lost in watching home buying/renovation shows, mentally dreaming of my own dream home.  J


I don't know about you, but I thought those answers were awesome!!! I hope you enjoyed them as much as me. I also want to thank Karolyn James for taking the time and answering these questions for us and our followers.



Is there a question you'd like to ask Karolyn? If so leave them in the comments below and she might stop by.


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Ignite Blog Tour {Review + Giveaway}










Title:The Secret Trinity:Ignite
Series: Fae-Witch Trilogy #2
Author: Jenna Bernel
Genre: New Adult Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Fiction  
Release Date: July 20, 2012
Source: Tour Host {iLuvTours Book Tours}
If time heals all wounds, then Aria Darwin’s clock has stopped. No amount of magic elixir can repair a broken heart. In the aftermath of untruths and tainted love, Aria is unsure if she will ever recover to see the light of her destiny.

Now living in the enchanted city of Draíochta, along with her two best friends, Aria struggles to find her place in the Kingdom. A plan must be set to ensure the safety of her people, but how can they believe in her if she can’t believe in herself.

With the assistance of her Guard Keeper, Clay, she slowly develops her powers, but will she be strong enough to destroy her enemy? Will she ever remember what was once ignited in her soul, and the real question is will she run or will she fight?



My Review:


Ari has finally come to terms that she is the Aira queen. Now of she could control her powers. She needs them more than ever since Liam will do anything to get her back. Her guard and training partner Clay isn’t helping matters either. If they are not fighting then they are keeping secrets from each other. It’s up to Ari to save city of Draíochta and she is going to need a little help along the way.

When secrets come to light, it will ignite a fire within Ari.

Yes yes yes!!!!!! This book blew the first one out of the water. So much was going on in this one and I loved it. It was fast paced, action packed, and full of swoon worthy moments. Ari finally gets to use her powers, which are awesome by the end of the book. We learn about secrets that could change everything. We find out more about the fae and their laws, which was very interesting to read about. Once I started reading this I couldn’t stop and I really needed to go to sleep but I was hocked. I know some people say that the second book in the series is never better than the first, but this book proves them wrong. Although I’m not giving it five stars, I still loved this book. I loved the fights between Clay and Ari…(does that make me sick?) LOL I just loved them being together. There were a lot of intense moments, but I can’t tell you about them. :D

Overall: A great read that will that will have you wishing for the next book in the series.

Ari- She is pretty clear headed to have been betrayed by the person that you loved. It didn’t hold her back and she grew stronger from it. I loved learning new things about her, some things she found out right along with us. She is great and she can only get better in the next one.

Clay: He is the Prince of the Eartha fae, but doesn’t show it. He’d rather people look at him like he is regular person. He is tall, has killer blue eyes, a sense of humor and has dark hair. Everything I want in a guy *SWOONS* He is very sullen though and never lets anyone get to close and hides his feelings. Can I just say that I LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!

4.3 Stars







Author Bio: Jenna Bernel lives tucked along the bluffs, spending her days lost in the world of fantasy. When she’s not writing, she’s reading and drinks way to much caffeine to satisfy her love of both. Growing up she traveled extensively through the competitive dance circuit, unaware that at the time it would provide her future career an endless stream of inspiration for the captivating drama of Young Adult Fiction.
I enjoy all things travel, food and adventure.  While doing research for a trip to Ireland the idea for my book series, The Secret Trinity, came to life and would be the beginning of my greatest adventure yet.


Where to Find the Author




GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!!!!!!

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