Friday 31 October 2014

The Stark Affair Book One: Heat - Book Review by Voodoo Bride


The Stark Affair Book One: Heat
by Skylar Cross


What is it about:
Book 1 of the 4-book series THE STARK AFFAIR by Skylar Cross
Colton Stark is filthy rich. A billionaire playboy who drives fast and plays hard, he enjoys an endless stream of party girls... at his mansion, on his yacht, and in his private jet.
He's also top of Miami-Dade Police Department's list of suspected narcotics traffickers.
Tough girl cop Sofia grew up on the mean streets of Miami, unafraid to kick anyone's ass. When asked to investigate Colton, she doesn't even consider it a challenge.
Until she comes face-to-face with Colton Stark's penetrating blue eyes.
After a steamy meeting at his South Beach club, Sofia finds herself playing a dangerous but sexy game with her own principles. As evidence mounts of Colton Stark's dirty
dealings, together they spark a bonfire of passionate heat.

Mature content. 18+ only.


What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
Warning: slightly spoilerish

I don't read a lot of contemporary erotic romance, but when I got the opportunity to get a review copy of this book I decided to give it a try.

Even though I knew this is the first book in a 4-book series I was surprised by how it was cut off. It's more a serial-story than a series I must warn. There's no logical ending to this book, but a rather abrupt stop to the building story line. Not that this is potentially a bad thing, but people who don't like being left in suspense, should make sure to get all four parts at once.

As for the story that does get set up in this part of the serial:
It has potential.

I will confess I didn't like the two 'erotic' scenes in this book. One where Sofia is intimate with her girlfriend while fantasizing about being with a guy, the other is Colton not having the best of times with his latest hook-up. In my opinion it wasn't sexy, felt unnecessary, and didn't warm me up to the two main characters.

That aside this story does seem to set itself up for lots of steamy scenes between Colton and Sofia, a bit of action, and some suspense and drama. Apart from the aforementioned scenes where Sofia and Colton made me dislike them, I did enjoy the developing story and was curious to see where it might lead to. I think that this serial will be very enjoyable for people who like contemporary erotic romance and billionaire bad boys.

I myself might give the second part of this serial a try, to see if Cross manages to get me to like Sofia and Colton after all.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice Contemporary Erotic Romance serial


Buy from Amazon here

Thursday 30 October 2014

On McPig's Wishlist - They All Fall Down

This sounds like it might be very entertaining.


They All Fall Down
by Roxanne St. Claire


Every year, the lives of ten girls at Vienna High are transformed.

All because of the list.

Kenzie Summerall can't imagine how she's been voted onto a list of the hottest girls in school, but when she lands at number five, her average life becomes dazzling. Doors open to the best parties, new friends surround her, the cutest jock in school is after her.

This is the power of the list. If you're on it, your life changes.

If you're on it this year? Your life ends.

The girls on the list have started to die, one by one. Is it a coincidence? A curse? Or is the list in the hands of a killer?

Time is running out for Kenzie, but she’s determined to uncover the deadly secret of the list... before her number’s up.



buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Wednesday 29 October 2014

The Fear - Book Review


The Fear (The Enemy #3)
by Charlie Higson


What is it about:
The sickness struck everyone sixteen and over. Mothers and fathers, older brothers, sisters, and best friends. No one escaped its touch. And now children across London are being hunted by ferocious grown-ups who are hungry, bloodthirsty, and not giving up.
DogNut and the rest of his crew, in search of the friends they lost during the fire, set off on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their friends and who is the enemy in this changed world?


What did I think of it:
I am really enjoying this series. It has zombie-like creatures, cool characters, and lots of action.

The events in this book take place after those in book 2, but overlap with events from book 1. So this series isn't written in a chronological order, which made me stop and think at times, to remember what happened in the other books to make sense of certain events in this book.

I liked that in this book the kids mostly talked about sickos, or zombies, instead of referring to the changed adults as mothers and fathers. They still do this at times though, and I still think it's highly unlikely that anyone (whatever his/her age) would call a crazed zombie-like being by such a friendly name.

What I also like about this series is that Higson doesn't shy away from killing off characters. And it's not just the side characters that are in danger of losing their life. Anyone can die at any moment, making this series an intense read, because you never know if your favorite character will live to see the next chapter so to speak. (And those who know my luck in these things can guess what happens to my favorite characters ;-)

All in all this is a really cool read, and you can be sure I will be getting my trotters on the next book somewhere in the future.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool Zombie read.


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Tuesday 28 October 2014

Teaser Tuesdays - Circ

This book was written by 10 authors in a sort of X-Factor style, where authors/characters got voted off along the way. So far I'm really liking it.


"If you're a clown, where is your circus?" the girl asked.
"I had one once," he said, and took a swig of Wonky Donkey from a plastic bottle the size of a fire extinguisher.

(page 67, Circ)

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

===

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Monday 27 October 2014

Blood Ring - Release Day Blitz



Blood Ring (Pulse #9) by Kailin Gow 



A Ring that Controls the Immortality of Vampires!

The handsomely devilish vampire Jaegar Greystone, one of the Vampire Guardians of the beautiful mortal girl Kalina Calloway, a rare Life Blood carrier, has pursued the evil Vampire Queen, Neriti, to the End of the Earth, and is about to enter the realm of magic where the Queen will be renewed and re-born into the darkest evil of all the worlds. Jaegar, Octavius, Stuart and the other vampires from the Consortium of Vampires who keep the order so vampires can exist with humans have sacrificed much to prevent the Queen from true transformation. The Queen has already crossed into the realm, but her true transformation could not take place without a ring known as the Blood Ring...which only the true rare carrier of Life Blood can make.

Jaegar thought he would never see Kalina again. He thought she would finally give one of the other Vampire Guardians her gift of mortality, but when he meets her again...everything changes. When it comes to love, he can't no longer be noble about what he wants...and he wants Kalina.

Purchase on Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1z5qpj2


Excerpt
His broad shoulders and confident stature reminded her of Octavius, yet his kind eyes brought Stuart Greystone to mind. As he stepped forward past the border of the Ring of Ice protecting the portal between Feyland and the Land Beyond the Crystal River, his shape became more solid and his voice boomed loud enough to announce his entrance. “I am Logan, the Wolf Fey Prince, and guardian of these borders.”


Jaegar’s blue eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets. “Damn, what do they feed you over there, genetically-enhanced dog food?”


Logan took one look at Jaegar and smirked. “More like ground minotaurs and an occasional vampire or dark fey, as we call you guys, over there.




Haven't started the Pulse Series yet?  The first one is FREE!



17 year-old Kalina didn't know her boyfriend was a vampire until the night he died of a freak accident. She didn't know he came from a long line of vampires until the night she was visited by his half-brothers Jaegar and Stuart Greystone. There were a lot of secrets her boyfriend didn't tell her. Now she must discover them in order to keep alive. But having two half-brothers vampires around had just gotten interesting.




The Pulse Series

PULSE - It's Available for Free right now. Complete Novel.
Life's Blood (PULSE #2) - Complete Novel.
Blood Burned (PULSE #3) - Complete Novel.
Blue Blood (PULSE #4) - Complete Novel.
The PULSE Papers (PULSE #4.5) - Novella
Blood Bond (PULSE #5) - Complete Novel.
Blood Legacy (PULSE #6) - Complete Novel.
Blood Rights (PULSE #7) - Complete Novel.
Blood Curse (PULSE #8) - Complete Novel.



About Kailin Gow



Website     Facebook      Twitter

Kailin Gow's life is sometimes more fascinating and stranger than fiction, which is being chronicled in a feature film based on a treatment optioned and in development for a release date of 2018. (IMDB.com - The Colorful Worlds of Kailin Gow 2018). Her true life experiences as a world traveler where she has traveled to over 25 countries, logging hundreds of thousands of miles, absorbing the cultures and collecting stories relating to places and the romance of the land, and incidents in her personal life, has inspired her to write and publish over 170 books with over 30 series.

She is noted as an indie pioneer, as one of the first to publish in 2001. Breaking stereotypes, her books has crossed traditional and indie lines, gaining recognition in schools and libraries, as well as the indie community. Her action adventure young adult fantasy series, The Frost Series, an ALA YALSA Reader's Choice Nominated book series - had been optioned by an international film company and is currently in development as a game and a film at http://www.facebook.com/thefrostseries. Five of her fantasy/action adventure series have been optioned to be made into worldwide games.

Kailin Gow has been known in The World Journal, an international newspaper, to be a phenomenon. She was profiled on the homepage of Amazon.com as an Author Success Story who overcame personal obstacles to become a bestselling author, appeared as one of Amazon's top authors for the Kindle Fire launch release, and is one of the earliest indie authors who have sold over a million books. She writes for Fast Company as a publishing expert, had appeared on a major network Television News as a bestselling author who writes fiction and non-fiction with a social conscious, and has made speeches and appearances across the U.S. and on top 15 national radio regarding self-esteem and issues relating to women.

Kailin Gow was an invited speaker and signing author at Book Expo America (BEA)2014.

Having experienced bullying firsthand and slander as a woman, Kailin Gow is an active advocate against bullying in the workplace and in schools. She has written Shy Girls Social Club Handbook Against Bullying and has helped launch Stories for Amanda where all proceeds go towards the Amanda Todd Foundation against bullying. She has written several books with the theme of abuse towards women and children, especially the steamy international bestselling The Protégé Series, which launched a book club initiative in battered women's shelters and won The Indie Excellence Awards at NIEA for Erotica in 2014.

She holds a Masters Degree in Communications Management from The University of Southern California, and degrees in Drama and Social Ecology.

She resides in the American West with her husband and daughter, but had lived for a decade in Texas, and briefly in England. Besides being a full-time author, she volunteers for many organizations, is active in church helping build homes for the homeless and visit orphanages. A voracious reader, when she is not writing, she loves reading an entire series in one sitting! She spends way too much time on Facebook than she is supposed to at http://www.facebook.com/kailingowbooks, but loves meeting new people from all walks of life.

She has over 30 Series, written under Kailin Gow, and more under her middle grade, women's fiction, and mystery pen names:

***For 16 and up***
The Frost Series - COMPLETED. Bitter Frost Series Consists of 8 full-length novels.
The Wolf Fey Series - COMPLETED. Consists of 2 full-length novels and one novella.
Fairy Rose Chronicles - age 13 and up.
The PULSE Series - Next Book - Blood Ring (PULSE #9), releasing due to readers' demand to continue the series. Consists of 9 full-length novels and one novella.
FADE Series - COMPLETED. ALL Full-length novels.
DESIRE Series - All Full-length novels. Last Book, FRENZY - 2015.
Fire Wars Series - All Full-length novels.
Alchemists Academy - All Full-length novels.
Wordwick Games - All Full-length novels.
Wicked Woods Series - COMPLETED. Consists of 5 full-length novels.
Steampunk Scarlett - All Full-length novels.
The Phantom Diaries - All Full-length novels. Last Book, DARK VICTORY - 2015.
Stoker Sisters - All Full-length novels. Last Book, SISTER OF THE STRIGOIS - 2015.
Beyond Crystal River - 2015 NEW SERIES.
SHADES - 2015 NEW SERIES. This is a high concept psychological thriller.

***For 18 and up (New Adult/Coming of Age)***
Loving Summer - All full-length novels.
The Donovan Brothers - All full-length novels.
Saving You Saving Me (You & Me Trilogy)- COMPLETED. Consists of 3 Full-length novels.
Never Knights - COMPLETED. Consists of 3 Full-length novels.
Rock Hard Love Hard - 1st book, Rock Hard Love Hard is now Available.
Sawyer House Chronicles (Spin-off of You & Me Trilogy) - Coming in 2015
Canvas - Coming in 2015

***For 18 and up (Adult/Steamy Romance)***
The Protege - COMPLETED. 3 Full-length novels.
Master Chefs - COMPLETED. Consists of 3 Full-length novels.
The Blue Room (Spin-off of Never Knights Trilogy) - Romantic Suspense.
Barely Legal (Spin-off of The Protégé) - Romantic Suspense.
The Oyster House - Artistic Romantic Thriller set in Hong Kong and England.
- Coming in 2015.

Friday 24 October 2014

The Iron Trial - Book Review


The Iron Trial (Magisterium #1)
by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black


What is it about:
Most kids would do anything to pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt. He wants to fail.

All his life, Call has been warned by his father to stay away from magic. If he succeeds at the Iron Trial and is admitted into the Magisterium, he is sure it can only mean bad things for him.

So he tries his best to do his worst - and fails at failing.

Now the Magisterium awaits him. It's a place that's both sensational and sinister, with dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning, for the biggest test is still to come . . .


What did I think of it:
Having really enjoyed the books of both Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, I was curious if a book they wrote together would be just as enjoyable.

And I can tell you: this is a really cool read.

I love how this story plays with existing tropes and puts those up side down at times. There were several times I thought I could see where the story was going, but then Black and Clare would surprise me again.

When reading this book you can't escape comparing it to a certain other series about a boy being send to a school for magic. And there certainly are similarities, but enough differences that this book can easily step out of the shadows of that certain series and deserve a fan base all of its own.

I really liked Callum. He's sneaky, flawed and a troublemaker, but I could relate. I also liked a couple of the other students, and fell in love with a minor character I hope to see more of in upcoming books.

All in all I very much enjoyed this book and I will most certainly keep an eye out for the next book, because I want more.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool and entertaining read for Middle Grade and up


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery


Thursday 23 October 2014

Support The Nothing!




Kerry Schafer (awesome author, owner of the random penguin, and patient listener when I bug her about zombies) is running a kickstarter campaign to be able to publish the third book in her Between trilogy.

I love the first two books, and really want to read the last book, so I'm asking you to head over to the kickstarter page and read all about Kerry's books. And if they sound cool: Support The Nothing!


Find out more here


On McPig's Wishlist - House Immortal

This sounds like my kind of read!


House Immortal (House Immortal #1)
by Devon Monk

Matilda Case isn’t like most folk. In fact, she’s unique in the world, the crowning achievement of her father’s experiments, a girl pieced together from bits. Or so she believes, until Abraham Seventh shows up at her door, stitched with life thread just like her and insisting that enemies are coming to kill them all.

Tilly is one of thirteen incredible creations known as the galvanized, stitched together beings immortal and unfathomably strong. For a century, each House has fought for control over the galvanized. Now the Houses are also tangled in a deadly struggle for dominion over death—and Tilly and her kind hold the key to unlocking eternity

The secrets that Tilly must fight to protect are hidden within the very seams of her being. And to get the secrets, her enemies are willing to tear her apart piece by piece...



buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

Wednesday 22 October 2014

Valiant - Book Review


Valiant (Modern Faerie Tales #2)
by Holly Black


What is it about:
When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends.
And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.


What did I think of it:
This is the second book in a series, but as it has different characters than the first book (as far as I understand) it can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the first book, but I didn't feel like missing out on anything.

I will confess being surprised by how dark and gritty this book is. I've gotten used to YA books that shy away from really serious topics, but this book takes you down in the underbelly of society. There's drug use, abuse, bad language, and more. It made for intense reading and I really liked it, but I can understand how some people could be disturbed by the grittiness of this book.

For me the darkness of the world building fitted with the story. I was drawn into the events and couldn't escape until I finished the book. I liked getting to know Val, and to see how she handles being out on the streets. The people she hooks up with are also very intriguing, and the events that unfold had me guessing at what was going on, and what would happen next.

There were some things I'd have wanted to read more about. Especially Ravus, one of the creatures Val encounters, didn't get enough scenes in my opinion. He does play a rather important role in the story, so I wanted to learn more about him, and see more interaction between him and Val.

That grumbling aside I really enjoyed this book and finished it way too fast. I will most certainly try to get hold of the other books in this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a dark and gritty YA Faerie Tale in a modern setting


buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery


Tuesday 21 October 2014

Her Avenging Angel Blog Barrage - Promo Post

Her Avenging Angel, the seventh book in New York Times best-seller Felicity Heaton’s hot paranormal romance series, Her Angel, is now available in ebook and paperback. To celebrate the release, she’s holding a FANTASTIC GIVEAWAY at her website.

Find out how to enter the Her Avenging Angel international giveaway (ends October 26th) and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website, where you can also download a 6 chapter sample of the novel: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/her-avenging-angel-romance-book.php


Here’s more about Her Avenging Angel, including an excerpt from this paranormal romance novel.


Her Avenging Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 7)
Felicity Heaton

Once a proud angel of Heaven, Nevar is now a servant of Hell, bound to a new master—the King of Demons. Consumed by darkness and driven to seek revenge, he set in motion a series of events that awakened the Great Destroyer, a force that will bring about the apocalypse. Now, he is the creature’s master and the fate of our world rests in the hands of an angel with only darkness in his heart.

Lost in the mortal realm without any recollection of how she came to be there, Lysia is only aware that she has survived a great battle. When she stumbles into a demon bar, she finds more than a chance to discover what happened to her—she finds a dark and deadly angel warrior who stirs fire in her veins and awakens soul-searing passion she cannot deny.

With the mounting threat of the Great Destroyer, the forces of Heaven and Hell against him, and a band of dangerous angels intent on capturing Lysia on his heels, can Nevar protect the beautiful woman who is light to his darkness and find the strength to save the world?

Her Avenging Angel is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback. Find the links to your preferred retailer at: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/her-avenging-angel-romance-book.php

---------------------

Her Avenging Angel – Excerpt

“Pull it up over your chest.” Nevar averted his gaze and rose to his feet.

She wriggled in the corner of his vision and then grumbled something as her arms moved. She waved the two lengths of fabric that were designed to hold the top up.

“What do these do?”

Nevar took them and placed them around her neck, and slowed as her silken hair brushed his skin and the heat of her washed over him, becoming painfully aware of how close she was to him, the bar at her back stopping her from being able to move away.

He breathed in her sweet dewy fragrance and savoured the soft warmth of her skin as his thumbs brushed her neck. He drank in her beauty as she tilted her head back, bringing her eyes up to his, and listened to her breathing as it hitched with each sweep of his skin across hers. She filled all of his senses, stealing his awareness of the world from him and narrowing it down to only her. He stared down into her eyes, mesmerised by the way they widened and overflowed with dark allure, and how her lips parted, tempting him to taste her and making him hunger for her.

He swallowed hard, forgetting what he was meant to be doing, transfixed by her and lost in the moment.

“I told you not to linger.” Asmodeus’s deep voice rumbled through the silent room and shattered the spell she had cast on Nevar. “I should have known you would.”

Nevar drew back and looked over his right shoulder, towards his dark master.

Asmodeus’s golden eyes fell on the female and widened. “What is she?”

Nevar kept asking himself the same thing. She shrank back as Asmodeus advanced, casting her gaze downwards and shifting behind Nevar.

“I do not know what she is.” He moved in front of her, blocking Asmodeus’s path and earning a glare for his chivalry. “But I have to get her out of this place before the boss loses her temper.”

He quickly snagged her wrist and pulled her with him, making a break for it. A hot jolt ran up his arm at the feel of her soft flesh giving beneath his bruising grip and she gasped, as if she had felt it too. He tugged her towards the door.

Asmodeus stepped into his path. “Is she demonic?”

Nevar growled. “I do not know.”

“I have never seen a demon like her.” The dark angel pressed his palm to Nevar’s breastplate, holding him in place, and peered around him. “She is powerful.”

He nodded. He could feel just how powerful she was now that he had his hand on her and it was far beyond the level that he had previously thought.

It sent him back to his initial thoughts about her.

“I do not think she is a demon.”

Asmodeus drew back and studied him. “If not a demon, then what is she?”

“I do not know.” Nevar rubbed his thumb across the inside of her wrist as she emerged from behind him, her free hand clutching the two pieces of silver material to hold her top up and her leathery wings curled around her shoulders in a protective way. He looked down at her. “What are you?”

“Born of Hell.” She looked certain about that, but he still wasn’t sure she was a demon.

There were other beings born of Hell that weren’t demon. Asmodeus was one of them. He was all that was evil in his angelic twin, Apollyon. The Devil had tortured Apollyon until he had lost all good and had then used his blood to create Asmodeus, his own powerful angel of destruction.

Nevar took the two lengths of material from her and tied them behind her neck, afraid he would lose his temper if the top fell down and exposed her to Asmodeus’s golden eyes. He wasn’t strong enough to fight his master right now, but he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.

“Interesting, but we are leaving. Did you eat?” Asmodeus said and he shook his head.

“I was rather preoccupied. The boss of this place told me to make her leave.”

Asmodeus’s black eyebrows met in a hard frown and his gaze drilled into him. “Why you?”

Nevar shrugged but could see his master wouldn’t take it as an answer. He scrubbed his hand over the jagged back of his white hair and flicked a glance at the female. Her hazel eyes flitted between him and Asmodeus, the glimmer of curiosity back in them.

“Apparently, only I can understand the language she is speaking, although I do not know how.”

“I can understand her.” Those words leaving Asmodeus’s lips gave him pause. The angel had understood her when she had informed them she was born of Hell.

He looked back at Asmodeus. “How?”

Asmodeus lifted his huge black wings in a shrug. “I did not question it. I understand many languages. Hers is as old as the Earth.”

“It is still spoken?” Nevar said and the dark-haired male shook his head.

“I have not heard it in millennia.”

Nevar’s gaze drifted back down to her and she smiled, a beautiful one that struck him hard in his chest and knocked the wind from him. “How old are you?”

She looked little more than thirty to his eyes, but then he was beyond two thousand years old and didn’t appear much older than she did.

Her black eyebrows pinched together and she mimicked his master, lifting her slender pale shoulders and shifting the clawed tips of her wings. “I do not know. Ancient. I recall the birth of the King of Demons.”

Asmodeus choked. “Excuse me?”

She beamed at him. “I remember your creation, although I did not witness it.”

Nevar stared at her. “Just how old are you and how can you recall the birth of Asmodeus but not the battle you survived?”

Her hazel eyes turned troubled and she lowered her head, her smile falling away. “I do not know. It hurts when I try to remember it.”

Asmodeus moved closer, studying her in a manner Nevar didn’t like. He wanted the male’s eyes off her.

“Erin told me that when Heaven tampered with Veiron, he experienced great pain when attempting to recall events from his true past,” Asmodeus said and Nevar growled at the casual mention of his ward. His master knew that when he was weak and tired, just the sound of her name was enough to cause him pain, stirring all the terrible things he had done.

Things he hoped she never found out about.

Things he regretted with every drop of his blood.

Asmodeus slid him a warning look and then turned back to the female. “Perhaps Veiron can assist you in regaining your memories, and he may know of your species.”

“No,” Nevar barked, a knee-jerk reaction to the idea of heading to the island where Erin lived. “You said yourself that we have a mission that needs our focus. We shall escort the female away from this place and then continue that mission.”

“You are leaving me?” she snapped and shot between him and Asmodeus. Her power rose so swiftly that Nevar’s knees almost buckled under the sudden pressure of it on his body. Her eyes darkened, blazing violet and her pupils stretched thin in the centres of her irises. “I will not let you leave me again.”

She snarled and claws curled from her fingertips, as black as night, and the tips of her sleek dark hair fluttered as if a breeze played with them.

Asmodeus’s left eyebrow shot up and then he grinned at Nevar, flashing his short fangs. “It would appear you have an admirer.”

His smile dropped from his face when she turned on him.

“What are you?” he said and Nevar knew he had seen her eyes too.

He had never seen eyes like them.

They matched the colour of his, and Asmodeus’s, when he lost his temper, but her pupils were elliptical.

“It is time we found out.” Because Nevar had the dreadful feeling that her origins were more than merely born of Hell. “But we will not ask Veiron. We shall seek the advice of another.”

Their presence wouldn’t go down well, but it was the only choice he had and his only shot at discovering what the female was without taking her to Veiron.

And Erin.

But not because he feared seeing his ward and seeing the pity in her eyes.

The female’s power began to lower, the weight of it lifting from his shoulders. She was dangerous and he wouldn’t take her to Veiron for that reason. He wouldn’t place Erin in danger, or her infant son. He would protect her. Them.

Asmodeus looked over the female’s head to him. “Where are we taking her?”

Nevar stared straight back at him.

“To the half-demon. Taylor.”


---------------------


Her Avenging Angel is available from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Books, Barnes and Noble Nook, Apple iBooks stores and other retailers. Also available in paperback.

Find all the links, a fantastic 6 chapter downloadable sample of the book, and also how to enter the giveaway and be in with a shot of winning a $75, $50 or $25 gift certificate at her website: http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk/her-avenging-angel-romance-book.php


Books in the Her Angel paranormal romance series:

Book 1: Her Dark Angel – FREE in ebook at selected retailers
Book 2: Her Fallen Angel
Book 3: Her Warrior Angel
Book 4: Her Guardian Angel
Book 5: Her Demonic Angel
Book 6: Her Wicked Angel
Book 7: Her Avenging Angel


About Felicity Heaton:
Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Her Angel series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads


Monday 20 October 2014

Unmade - Book Review


Unmade (The Lynburn Legacy #3)
by Sarah Rees Brennan


What is it about:
Powerful love comes with a price. Who will be the sacrifice?

Kami has lost the boy she loves, is tied to a boy she does not, and faces an enemy more powerful than ever before. With Jared missing for months and presumed dead, Kami must rely on her new magical link with Ash for the strength to face the evil spreading through her town.

Rob Lynburn is now the master of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and he demands a death. Kami will use every tool at her disposal to stop him. Together with Rusty, Angela, and Holly, she uncovers a secret that might be the key to saving the town. But with knowledge comes responsibility—and a painful choice. A choice that will risk not only Kami’s life, but also the lives of those she loves most.


What did I think of it:
I will confess I was both excited and scared to start on this book.

It's the last book in a trilogy, and I've had it happen before that I really enjoyed the first two books in a trilogy, only to discover in the final book that the author couldn't deliver a satisfying conclusion.

So it was with a certain nervousness that I started on Unmade.

And soon discovered I had worried for nothing!

Saran Rees Brennan managed to write a conclusion to The Lynburn Legacy that was everything I hoped it would be and more!

There's suspense, humor, romance, and bone chilling situations in this book. Kami is such a great heroine. She knows she isn't perfect, and she has her flaws, but she fights for what she believes is right, and for the people she loves.

I love how Sarah Rees Brennan shows that being the 'hero' isn't as wonderful as so many tales try to tell us. She shows it comes with responsibility, difficult choices, and sacrifice. I rooted for Kami and her friends, and wept for their losses.

All in all I'm happy with this conclusion, and sad that there won't be more books in this series, because I fell in love with Kami and her friends. I will most certainly reread this trilogy in the near future, and keep an eye out for other books by Sarah Rees Brennan.

Why should you read it:
This is an awesome mix of humor, suspense and magic.


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Sunday 19 October 2014

Moth and Spark - Book Review


Moth and Spark
by Anne Leonard


What is it about:
A prince with a quest. A commoner with mysterious powers. And dragons that demand to be freed—at any cost.

Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons from their bondage to the Empire, but dragons aren’t big on directions. They have given him some of their power, but none of their knowledge. No one, not the dragons nor their riders, is even sure what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control.

Tam, sensible daughter of a well-respected doctor, had no idea before she arrived in the capital that she is a Seer, gifted with visions. When the two run into each other (quite literally) in the library, sparks fly and Corin impulsively asks Tam to dinner. But it’s not all happily ever after. Never mind that the prince isn’t allowed to marry a commoner: war is coming to Caithen.

Torn between Corin’s quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country, the lovers must both figure out how to master their powers in order to save Caithen. With a little help from a village of secret wizards and a rogue dragonrider, they just might pull it off.


What did I think of it:
I totally bought this book because I was lured in by the cover. That it sounded like it might be a nice Fantasy was all the excuse I needed to get hold of this beauty.

And it turned out this is a really enjoyable Fantasy!

Although the blurb promises lots of dragons and action, the first part of the book is mainly about Corin and Tam getting to know each other. I can't say I minded: their banter and the court intrigues were very pleasant to read. I really liked both of them, especially Tam, who's not just smart, but also level headed.

There were some events and things that happened that were a bit too convenient in my opinion, but the overall story was cool enough that I decided to let it slide.

Once Corin and Tam set themselves to getting the dragon problem solved, the action kicked in and the story sped up. With the dragons not being very cooperative and with visions entering the story, it was a bit difficult at times to make sense of what was going on and why. But luckily things got clear after a while.

The ending wasn't the strongest point of this book, but all in all I very much enjoyed Moth and Spark. The setting, the writing style, and the characters all drew me in and I will most certainly reread this book, and keep an eye out for more books by Leonard.

Why should you read it:
If you're looking for lots of dragons, this isn't your book, but if you want a very entertaining and enjoyable Fantasy read, you should pick this up.


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Friday 17 October 2014

Lovely, Dark, and Deep - Book Review


Lovely, Dark, and Deep (The Collectors #1)
by Susannah Sandlin


What is it about:
When biologist Gillian Campbell makes an offhand comment about a family curse during a TV interview, she has no idea what her words will set in motion. Within days, Gillian finds herself at the mercy of a member of the C7, a secretive international group of power brokers with a dangerous game: competing to find the world’s most elusive treasures, no matter the cost, in money or in lives. To save her family, Gillian teams up with Shane Burke, a former elite diver who’s lost his way, navigating the brutal “death coast” of the North Atlantic to find what the collector seeks: the legendary Ruby Cross of the Knights Templar, stolen by Gillian’s ancestor and lost at sea four hundred years ago.

What did I think of it:
I don't normally read contemporary adventure romance, but having loved all other books Sandlin has written, I wanted to give this book a try.

And I'm glad I did.

This is a very enjoyable story. It has suspense, evil villains, an unlikely hero, and an awesome dog!

There's also lots of action, a very enjoyable romance, and did I tell you about the awesome dog?

Seriously: this book is a lot of fun. The characters are interesting and likable. Both Gillian and Shane have their secret hurts, and I liked seeing them slowly opening up and starting to trust each other with their secrets.

The villains are of course of the very evil and creepy kind, and at times I wondered how Gillian and Shane would ever get out of this whole adventure alive, but Sandlin delivers in a way that satisfied me.

All in all this is a book that I can advice to anyone who's looking for a story filled with adventure, romance, and treasures. I already preordered the next book in this series, so I can read it as soon as it releases.

Why should you read it:
It's a cool action-packed Adventure Romance


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Thursday 16 October 2014

On McPig's Wishlist - Grim

I'm pretty sure the original fairy tales also had a dark and sinister twist before the brothers Grimm cleaned them up, but who can resist a cool cover like this!?


Grim

Inspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, "Grim" contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today: Ellen Hopkins, Amanda Hocking, Julie Kagawa, Claudia Gray, Rachel Hawkins, Kimberly Derting, Myra McEntire, Malinda Lo, Sarah Rees-Brennan, Jackson Pearce, Christine Johnson, Jeri Smith Ready, Shaun David Hutchinson, Saundra Mitchell, Sonia Gensler, Tessa Gratton, and Jon Skrovron


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Wednesday 15 October 2014

City of Fallen Angels - Book Review


City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4)
by Cassandra Clare


What is it about:
The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.


What did I think of it:
I really enjoyed the first three books in this series, even though they're a bit predictable. The end of the third book does give enough closure that I could have stopped there, but I'm liking this series enough that I wanted to give book 4 a try.

And I think it's the best one so far.

The setting and creatures are still just as enjoyable as in the first books, and the story was less predictable. I actually wondered what was going on at times. Even Simon is starting to grow on me.

There are several things going on, and I was drawn into the story, eager to find out if they might eventually be part of one big plot, or if they were unrelated. There are some new characters introduced as well. Some I liked, others not so much. And as always there was not enough Magnus in my opinion.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read, with enough hints of what is yet to come to make me eager to pick up the next book soon, because this series is addictive.

Why should you read it:
It's a very entertaining Paranormal YA read.


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Tuesday 14 October 2014

Teaser Tuesdays - The Fear


She was so hungry. She was imagining the taste of the children. Imagining sinking her teeth into their soft flesh. The blood in her mouth. The feel of the meat as she chewed it...

(page 125, The Fear by Charlie Higson)


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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Monday 13 October 2014

Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Book Review


Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1)
by Laini Taylor


What is it about:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?


What did I think of it:
Everyone who read this book seemed to love it, so I decided I had to give it a try.

And for most I really enjoyed this book.

The world building is dark and magical. The creatures are intriguing, and even though I didn't particularly like Karou, I was invested in the story. Then of course a character was introduced who I really liked, and that character died of course...

No problem, I'm used to that, and Akiva was introduced as well, and I also really liked Akiva. And when Akiva and Karou got to know each other, I even started to like Karou more.

The developments and discoveries where really suspenseful, up until there was a flashback in the story. I know it was needed to show the reader some important things, but for me the story lost steam at this point and I had trouble getting through this part of the story.

The ending did make me curious to what's going to happen next though, and all in all this book was cool enough that I most probably will continue to read this series.

Why should you read it:
It's a Paranormal Ya read with a very cool setting.


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Sunday 12 October 2014

Halloween: Magic, Mystery, and the Macabre - Book Review

With Halloween coming up in a few weeks I thought I'd repost this review of a really cool Halloween themed anthology.


Halloween: Magic, Mystery, and the Macabre
edited by Paula Guran

Anthology

What is it about:
The farther we've gotten from the magic and mystery of the past, the more we've come to love Halloween - the one time each year when the mundane is overturned in favor of the bizarre, the "other side" is closest, and everyone can become anyone (or anything) they wish... and sometimes what they don't. Introducing eighteen original stories from mistresses and masters of the dark celebrate the most fantastic, enchanting, spooky, and supernatural of holidays.

Stories:
“Black Dog” by Laird Barron
“From Dust” by Laura Bickle
“Angelic” by Jay Caselberg
“Pumpkin Head Escapes” by Lawrence Connolly
“All Hallows in the High Hills” by Brenda Cooper
“We, the Fortunate Bereaved” by Brian Hodge
“Thirteen” by Stephen Graham Jones
“Whilst the Night Rejoices Profound and Still” by Caitlín R. Kiernan
“Trick or Treat” by Nancy Kilpatrick
“Long Way Home: A Pine Deep Story” by Jonathan Maberry
“The Mummy’s Kiss” by Norman Partridge
“All Souls Day” by Barbara Roden
“And When You Called Us We Came To You” by John Shirley
“The Halloween Men” by Maria V. Snyder
“Lesser Fires” by Steve Rasnic Tem & Melanie Tem
“Unternehmen Werwolf” by Carrie Vaughn
“For the Removal of Unwanted Guests” by A.C. Wise
“Quadruple Whammy” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro


What did I think of it:
I totally bought this anthology for the story by Laura Bickle in case you hadn't guessed yet. But I really like anthologies. They're a great way to discover new (to me) authors. This being an anthology with a Halloween theme was just the icing on the cake.

And this is a great anthology. Of the 18 stories in this anthology there were only 4 that didn't manage to click with me, the other 14 were all very intriguing and cool.

My favorite was 'From Dust' by Laura Bickle. Not just because I'm a total fanpiggy when it comes to Laura, but also because it's about one of my favorite kind of birds: crows. It's a story that breathes autumn and that's rich in atmosphere.

I also loved 'The Halloween Men' by Maria V. Snyder. Snyder creates a world where people wear masks every day, only to take them off at Halloween. This story is imaginative and disturbing in my opinion.

The other stories range from classic Halloween tales to futuristic Halloween myths. There are scary stories, disturbing stories, beautiful stories, and sad stories, but all of them are original and make you long to draw your curtains, light candles and roast chestnuts or make pumpkin pie. It's a great read for those cold, wet autumn evenings and I will be rereading this anthology for sure.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool Halloween themed anthology.


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