Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Daughter of Magic by Teresa Roman

 

Welcome to my stop on the Daughter of Magic blog tour! Below you find information about the book, my review and a giveaway. Be sure to check it all out.

 

 Daughter of Magic by Teresa Roman

Publication date: March 15th, 2016
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Lilli sees things no one else does.
Desperate to make sense of the dreams and visions that have plagued her since childhood, Lilli confides in Devin, her closest friend, and the boy she’s fallen for.
Instead of questioning her sanity, Devin confesses to secrets of his own, which are far darker. His revelations about magic, witches and demons stun Lilli. But it’s what he knows about Lilli’s mother, long believed to be dead, that leaves her feeling betrayed. Despite her anger, Lilli will have to learn to trust Devin again, because he is the only one who can protect her from a dark danger that’s coming for her from a world away.

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 MY REVIEW

I enjoyed the parts of this book that took part in the magical world. The imagery of the world was beautiful, the magic was enthralling, and the action was exciting. I just wish there was more of the book that took part in the magical world. 

The main character Lilli has suffered a lot and I found myself sympathizing with her. I liked Devin, the love interest in this book. However, he was a bit too mysterious to me and there were a few times where he was just a little over the top with his protectiveness.

I loved the scene where Lilli finally experiences her magical abilities. I always like it when characters are all of a sudden able to do something. I love it when stronger bad characters try to do harm to or take advantage of the newbies and then get what’s coming to them.

I think future books could be exciting. While I wished for more time in the magical world, it isn’t to say that the time outside of that world was bad or boring. It just wasn’t as exciting. The book just became more riveting once the characters were in the magical world. I look forward to book 2 and learning what all Lilli is capable of doing.

Please note that I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Hosted By: 

 

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Undead Ultra by Camille Picott

Welcome to my stop on the Undead Ultra Tour. Let's get right to it!

 

 Undead Ultra by Camille Picott

Publication Date: April 7th 2016
Genres: Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Zombies

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

Undead: a reanimated corpse with a craving for human flesh.

Ultramarathon: any footrace longer than a traditional marathon (26.2 miles).

For ultrarunners Kate and Frederico, a typical Saturday morning is spent pounding out a twenty- to thirty-mile “fun run.” It’s during one of their runs that an insidious illness descends upon northern California, turning humans into flesh-shredding zombies.

When Kate receives a desperate call from her son, Carter, she and Frederico flee their hometown and set out to help him. The only problem? Carter attends college over two hundred miles away and the freeways—clogged with car wrecks, zombies, and government blockades—are impassable. Running back roads and railroad tracks becomes their only means of travel, but neither of them has ever run so far before.

As pain, injuries, hunger, and fatigue plague them, getting to Carter and staying alive seem impossible. It’s either outrun the undead or become one of them, and for Kate, death is not an option.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

MY REVIEW

 If you like the TV show The Walking Dead, I think you'll like this book. While the book started off with a scene that was a little TMI for me, I quickly found myself caught up in all the action. Action - there was plenty of action. Like the TV show things would be looking up and then BAM! something bad happens.

I did have a few questions while reading. One was is there such a thing as a granola hippie? The author refers to several characters at granola hippie. I just wondered if this was a thing just for the author or if in northern California (where this book takes place) people are actually referred to in this manner. I just found myself curious about this.

Then of course there's the usual questions of how the "illness" got started and why there wasn't more help from the powers that be (military, government, etc). These questions are brought up by the characters. However, the book focuses on the characters journey from point A to point B.

The book did manage to throw a few curve balls. A couple of things happened that I didn't see coming. I have to admit that I couldn't help but compare these zombies to the zombies I know from the TV show and had trouble remembering "Oh yeah, these zombies are fast and strong not slow and klutzy."

I'd definitely read a follow-up book if one were written! But I'm not sure that's in the works or if there would be enough to cover in a sequel.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

GIVEAWAY

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Tour Hosted By:

 

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: The Midnight Sea by Kat Ross

Welcome to my stop on The Midnight Sea Blog Tour! I'm so excited to tell you about this book. I loved this book! I'm sad that I have to wait to continue the story. Be sure to check out my review and the giveaway below.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

The Midnight Sea by Kat Ross
(Fourth Element #1)
Publication date: May 10th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis:

They are the light against the darkness.

The steel against the necromancy of the Druj.

And they use demons to hunt demons….

Nazafareen lives for revenge. A girl of the isolated Four-Legs Clan, all she knows about the King’s elite Water Dogs is that they bind wicked creatures called daevas to protect the empire from the Undead. But when scouts arrive to recruit young people with the gift, she leaps at the chance to join their ranks. To hunt the monsters that killed her sister.

Scarred by grief, she’s willing to pay any price, even if it requires linking with a daeva named Darius. Human in body, he’s possessed of a terrifying power, one that Nazafareen controls. But the golden cuffs that join them have an unwanted side effect. Each experiences the other’s emotions, and human and daeva start to grow dangerously close.

As they pursue a deadly foe across the arid waste of the Great Salt Plain to the glittering capital of Persepolae, unearthing the secrets of Darius’s past along the way, Nazafareen is forced to question his slavery—and her own loyalty to the empire. But with an ancient evil stirring in the north, and a young conqueror sweeping in from the west, the fate of an entire civilization may be at stake…

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

MY REVIEW

I chose this book because by reading the synopsis I really couldn't tell exactly what it was about, but yet it intrigued me. The reason I couldn't understand what it was about was because it is about a made up world and situations. Oh to have this kind of imagination! I believe there are actually made up words in the book. At least they were unfamiliar to me and when I pressed down on them on my Kindle, it was not able to find a definition.

As I started to read the book I was concerned that I wouldn't understand what was happening in the book. It was so foreign to what I have read in the past. I can't help but compare it to The Hobbit. The Hobbit is a book I've heard so much about that I just really want to be able to read it and understand what is going on in the book. However, for some unknown reason I just can't grasp The Hobbit and have never made it very far in the book.

That wasn't a problem with The Midnight Sea. Sure there were bits that I didn't understand completely. But either those bits were explained more later or they just weren't a deal breaker with the story. Once we get beyond the preliminary bits of the story, the book moves quickly. It is so full of action!

I quickly fell in love with the main character Nazafareen. It didn't take me long to like Darius once we're introduced to him. The relationship between these two characters is beautiful! Nazafareen fights their bond to begin with, but eventually learns how strong they can be as a team. It appears as if they will be the "stars" of the Water Dogs so to say. Then a twist is thrown into the book and took me by surprise. 

I will warn you that this book ends on a cliff hanger of sorts. But it's one of the "good" cliff hangers. It's not one of those that leaves you hanging without knowing whether a character is alive or dead or something else big like that. We just have to wait for book 2 to see what the next stage of the rebellion is. I can't wait for book 2! I'm off to stalk (in a good way) the author to get clues about the next book.

Please note that I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour hosted by:

 

Blog Tour & Review: Broken Down by Amanda K. Byrne

 

I'm happy to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Broken Down by Amanda K. Byrne! Check out the synopsis along with my review below. Be sure to enter the giveaway as well.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Broken Down by Amanda K. Byrne
(Hidden Scars #2)
Publication date: April 12th 2016
Genres: Adult, Contemporary

Synopsis:

The one thing he could do for her was let her go. Until he couldn’t.

When Thieves’ guitarist Shane Jones lost his close friend to a freak accident, Krista Conner helped him through the worst of his grief. He kept their late-night trysts a secret to protect her from the tabloids, and when she broke up with him, he let her go.

But he never got over her.

Months later, his world is rocked again by the death of his brother mere weeks before the biggest Thieves album yet. Grieving and desperate for peace, he tracks Krista down, craving the salvation he found in her sweet spirit. Only this time, he’s determined not to leave.

Krista left Shane because her life was a mess. She’s rebuilt it, piece by challenging piece, making some hard decisions along the way. She’s settled into a new city and a new life, and for the first time in a long time, she’s content and happy. Then Shane turns up, promising to stay, promising to care. Promising everything.

Shane’s the one she wants, but the toughest choice she made could drive him away for good.

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

My Review

Let me start by saying that I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I should also note that I did not read book one in this series. In my opinion this book could definitely be read as a stand-alone. (To tell you the truth, I haven't even read the synopsis for book 1.)

I enjoyed this book. I always enjoy getting to see how people in other professions live their day to day life - especially if they're someone in the public eye. By the time we meet Shane though, he's making his exit out of the public eye - or at least trying to. So we don't see too much of how he copes with the public or what he does to cope. But I still enjoyed the small glimpse into his rockstar life. I also enjoyed the glimpse I got into Krista's graphic design world.

From the start you can tell that Shane and Krista have a strong emotional connection. You can also see that they're both avoiding getting hurt again by the other. I have to say that both characters frustrated me at times. I felt like telling them to get their words out of their heads and express them verbally to the other. They were both constantly thinking something to themselves and contemplating talking to the other and so often didn't follow through with the actual talk.

There is much going on in this book. There's also some sex. But the book isn't just about the sex. There is a story to be told. Shane and Krista both have issues they have to work through before they can find their happy ending. But they do eventually find their happy ending. I have to say that I was pleased with the fact that the author chose to make the characters go through a normal beginning to a relationship - dating with a kiss goodbye at the door.

We do get an epilogue at the end to see how their relationship is doing. We also get some resolution to the question of whether Shane will stay in the rockstar world or not. However, we still don't know whether he will remain a permanent fixture in the music world or whether he'll do a 180 and refurbish cars. I would have liked to know that. Who knows maybe we'll get to know more in future books in this series.

Overall, it was a good read and I'd definitely recommend this book to romance readers. There are some issues that some readers may be uncomfortable with -- drug use, overdoses, and abortion. So be forewarned.

Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour at http://xpressobooktours.com/2016/02/05/tour-sign-up-broken-down-by-amanda-k-byrne/ where you can read other's reviews, excerpts and author interviews.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

TEASER



Book Blitz & Giveaway: Dodging Trains by Sunniva Dee

Dodging Trains
Sunniva Dee
Publication date: March 29th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

I was twelve when a stranger at a train station taught me the meaning of ugly. He forced himself on me and threatened to kill my family if I told.
I stayed silent and the ugliness grew.
Now, that word rolls in film clips through my mind. All I’ve done since my best friend, Keyon Arias, left town is cement how ugly I am. Ugly on the inside—deep down to my core. On the outside… I am a Vixen. I flash men a smile and make them moan out pleasure I control.
Not them. Never them.
After five years of being away, my beautiful boy has come back to town for his father’s masquerade ball. He’s different. Hard muscle supersedes the skin and bone of his once boyish frame. One thing hasn’t changed though: the murderous look in his eyes when he slaughters his opponents. In the ring, I see the bullied boy, all grown up, dominating in ways he couldn’t in high school.
He’s the mayor’s son. The rising MMA fighter. The beautiful one.
I’m not the Paislee Cain of before, not the sweet girl he once knew, the one who chased away his bullies. I’m the town slut. The dirty girl whose shame will never fade no matter how many men I use. He’d disown what I’ve become.
Because beautiful can never love ugly.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

I’ve been on a one-track rail to landing Paislee in my bed since she got off the plane. Not that it’s been planned, but I convinced her that Pizza Pazza in Tampa is better than Mamma Lucia’s in Calceth. I told her about Simon during dinner, one thing led to another, and here I am unlocking the door to my duplex and letting her enter first.

She hasn’t commented on how we took my car from her hotel, how she’s basically dependent on me and my whims. But hey, I’m fucked too; it wasn’t my choice to have someone fill my head, and I didn’t ask that person to come to Florida.
We haven’t talked about tomorrow’s schedule, but I’m going to the rich dude’s house with her. He could be a total freak for all I know, so she’s not facing him alone.
“Oooh,” she whispers through a reverent puff of air like she’s never seen a cat before. Simon’s playing it up too, slinking around the corner with all the grace in the universe, stroking the doorjamb with a hip before he meanders over to us. “He’s soooo beautiful.”
“He’s just a regular old black street cat,” I say, but by the wink she shoots me, she doesn’t buy it. She read me back when too. “’Kay, fine: Simon’s awesome. Straight up the best pelt ever.”
“Pelt? You ass,” she giggles as she pets him from the top of his head and down the length of his body to his tail. Simon lifts it, happy. Any minute now, he’ll crank the volume on his purr-machine.
“Wow, he purrs loud.”
And there. For a cat, he’s being unexpectedly predictable.
“He loves the ladies,” I say, which makes her giggle more. I love to make her giggle. When she stands up again, I pull her in with one arm, fingers splayed across her spine. Firm breasts press against me, and I groan a little.
She puffs another laugh, all Simon’s fault. He’s gotten to the part of the agenda where he’s going to cramp my style. His purrs reach us from the floor, and he’s scissoring in and out between both of our legs.
“Never mind him. Look at me,” I whisper. Let my thumb and forefinger slide over her chin. The amusement recedes from her eyes when she sees that I mean business. I’m hardening. She yelps. Then she laughs out loud.
“Simon, quit it!” I say, exasperated, and bend to unhook his claws from the fabric over her knees. “I’m sorry. You see how it is now, right?
Simon’s the ass in this house. I should sell him to the highest bidder. Fifty cents flat will do. Come to think of it—I’ve got fifty cents in my pocket,” I say, kissing her down the corridor. “I could pay someone to take him. ‘Perfectly good cat with a year’s worth of free cat food.’”
Obviously, I’m digging my own grave here. There’s no hot lovemaking when your girl’s laughing so hard she’s about to pee herself.

Author Bio:
Between studies, teaching, and advising, Sunniva has spent her entire adult life in a college environment. Most of her novels are new adult romance geared toward smart, passionate readers with a love for eclectic language and engaging their brain as well as their heart while reading.
Born in the Land of the Midnight Sun, the author spent her early twenties making the world her playground. Southern Europe: Spain, Italy, Greece--Argentina: Buenos Aires, in particular. The United States finally kept her interest, and after half a decade in Los Angeles, she now lounges in the beautiful city of Savannah.
Sometimes, Sunniva writes with a paranormal twist (Shattering Halos, Stargazer, and Cat Love). At other times, it's contemporary (Pandora Wild Child, Leon's Way, Adrenaline Crush, Walking Heartbreak, and Dodging Trains, coming in late March 2016).
This author is the happiest when her characters let their emotions run off with them, shaping her stories in ways she never foresaw. She loves bad-boys and good-boys run amok, and like in real life, her goal is to keep the reader on her toes until the end of each story.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Instagram / Tsu.co

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Hosted by:

Book Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Between the Bleeding Willows by D.A. Roach

Title: Between The Bleeding Willows

Series: The Demon Hunter Series Book 1

Author: D.A. Roach

Genre: YA Paranormal

Published: March 8, 2016

At eighteen years old, Cassidy has suffered more loss than most… 

At the end of her senior year, her boyfriend, Jace Peters, was killed in a car accident, and her grandmother died only weeks later of a heart attack. Emotionally lost, Cassidy desperately searches for an heirloom her boyfriend was wearing in the crash—her mother’s gold ring. But during her search, Cassidy discovers more than her ring. 

She finds a gate to the Demon Realm….

A battle is brewing, and Killian—head of the Demon hunters—preps his Clan for the approaching conflict. They’ve been working to secure the gate between his realm and the mortal world. But it’s been nearly impossible since Rya—a voracious demon on a quest to expand her power—devoured the soul of his Clan’s necromancer. Now Rya is possessed with the necromancer’s powers and she may break through the gate at any moment with her demon army.

Apparently Rya isn’t the only one Killian has to worry about…

When Cassidy accidentally crosses into the Demon Realm, Killian can’t understand how a human girl survived the transition. Now he has to find a way to return her to her own world, or risk her being caught in the crossfire, which is a complication he definitely doesn’t need.

Once back in the Human Realm, Cassidy readies herself for battle. She signs up for Krav Maga classes, where she meets Tyler Romaitis—a handsome, tenacious, humble guy. He seems almost perfect, but nothing is ever that easy.

And as the balance between good and evil shifts, Cassidy finds herself—and her ring—at the heart of the conflict for the survival of mankind.

"... I seriously loved ever minute and I am so looking forward to reading the next book in this series." ~Hashtag Minxes Love Books

"The plot is fast-paced and packed with tons of action and emotion.  I would recommend it for anyone who reads paranormal/action novels, or anyone who simply loves to read books from a very talented author."  ~Brooke's Review

"Omgosh this book was so great!  I couldn't put it down.  It has such a great story line that just grips you from the beginning."  ~Liz's Review

 

MY REVIEW

4 Stars

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put it down after reaching a point where the action picked up. When I reached 75%, I was afraid to read it on my lunch break as I had been doing because I was afraid I would get to a point that I just couldn’t stop reading.

The book started out a little slow for me and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to give the book a good review. But then we’re introduced to the demon/demon hunter world and it got real interesting. I haven’t read many demon hunter books and was confused about some of the terminology used in the story and had to google it. Surprisingly enough there appears to be a lot of information in the world wide web about hunting demons.

The main female character Cassidy really seemed to grow throughout the book. At the start of the book I had the impression that she was a meek and shy girl. But as the book goes on she seemed capable of kicking some ass! I'm really looking forward to seeing what she learns to do with her newfound abilities and connection to the demon hunter world.

I enjoyed the struggling relationship between Cassidy and Killian, but was a bit disappointed we didn’t get to see them connect more. But I guess maybe there was more of a focus on the demon hunting. I was disappointed to see the bond between the two removed and actually a bit surprised to see that it could be done. I hope the bond is introduced again. I’d like to see how it could affect the two characters.

I was disappointed that the book ended without resolutions to several things and without a happy period ending. I know things need to be unresolved to continue the series into multiple books. I just wish there could have been a way to end the book on a break between bad things of sorts where people are happy and things are looking up.

I hope I don’t have to wait too long to read book 2!

D.A. Roach has been telling stories since she was a young girl in the suburbs of Chicago. In college she met the man of her dreams, her happily ever after, and married him 2 weeks after graduating. They have 3 kids together and a pet cockatiel named Gimli. D.A. did not find a love for books until after college. Her parents were immigrants from Lithuania and found tv and radio easier ways to hear stories so they did not do much reading or encourage it. But once she finished college and D.A. had free time, she discovered how amazing it was to get lost in a story. D.A. is a full time mom and wife. When she is not doing domestic things (laundry, bills, etc) she is writing, reading, creating mixed media art, and helping beautify her kids' school landscape. Oh, and she is ALWAYS listening to music. Her favorite authors include Rebecca Donovan, Richelle Mead, Larissa Ione, Stephanie Meyer, E.L. James, and Sylvia Day. Reading great works from authors like these has motivated D.A. to write her own stories. She hopes to make positive changes in the world with her art and writing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HOSTED BY: