Friday, November 30, 2012

Book Review: Pure At Heart by Sahana Epari


Pure At Heart by Sahana Epari

Paperback, 348 pages
Published September 2nd 2012 by CreateSpace
ISBN 1479213586 




Blurb:


Lies. Betrayal. Secrets. They are worse than you think they are.The feeling of something you thought you had but you never did. Your whole train of thought changes direction. Suddenly everything you have lived for becomes a life you never had.
I thought I knew everything.
My name is Evaline Pangborne, and I am a werewolf.
When Eva and the Shadow Clan find out a ground-breaking secret of their life, they seek the only way out of the pain and suffering--an escape route. An escape route they got, but along with that came even more secrets, questions, and betrayal.
The people Eva trusted most, is now someone to despise and hate, and the people Eva never wanted to trust, get closer and closer to her. Living itself seems like a big joke to her. What's the big secret? And why is everyone keeping it from her?



Review:



I thought the storyline was great. It was interesting and had enough twists to keep you turning the pages. At first, I was a bit lost but once I a bit more info I followed along pretty well. I loved the variety of creatures in this book. You have werewolves, vampires, witches, and more!
I really like Evaline. You could really connect with her. At one point in the book, I felt like I was going crazy because she thought she was going crazy. It's a crazy adventure thats for sure. She is strong, brave, loyal and caring! She takes care of herself and her whole pack.
Another character that I like was Tristan. He is Eva assigned mate but she doesn't like him (because she has heard that he has killed tons of people). She does end up liking him because man who can resist a guy like that. Then he says that you will end up in love with him (what?! who says that but the overly confident guy that must like you because why would he want you to love him if he doesn't love you? Unless he is a total jerk, which he is but only sometimes). 
I really enjoyed this book. It was different then others with the whole Light and Dark thing and it was interesting with all the twists and flips (yes, flips.) that happen!
4/5 Stars.








About The Author:


Still in middle school, Sahana Epari is a thirteen-year old writer. She’s written many stories from mysteries, to urban fantasies, but only really has had the motivation to complete and publish one book.
Sahana spends her free time playing the piano, dancing, writing, as well as keeping up with schoolwork and extracurricular activities. She lives in Northern Virginia, and spends a lot of time cuddled up on her bean bag reading books and writing—that is, when she finally gets rid of her long-lasting writers block.
To find out more about Sahana, please visit her
blog.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Cover Reveal: Shadow Of Time by Jen Minkman



 Title: Shadow of Time
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Author: Jen Minkman
Cover Designer: Jen Minkman
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours
Expected release date:  January 1, 2013

Book Description:
All Hannah needs is a nice and quiet vacation after her first year of teaching French at a high school. She joins her brother Ben for the summer in their mom’s log cabin in Arizona. There, she meets Josh again, Ben’s childhood friend from the Navajo reservation. The little boy from the rez has grown up fast, and Hannah can’t help but feeling more for him than just friendship.
But fate apparently has something else in store for her. And it’s not peace and quiet. Night after night, Hannah is plagued by strange nightmares about the past of Navajo Nation and terrifying shadows chasing her. They seem to come closer – and why is Josh always present in her dreams?
Sometimes, the past has a way of catching up with you.








Bio:
Jen Minkman (1978) was born in Holland, in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn. When she was 19, she moved between The Hague, Salzburg (Austria), Brussels (Belgium) and Cambridge (UK) to complete her studies in intercultural communication. She is currently a teacher of English, career counsellor and teenage coach at a secondary school in Voorburg, Holland. She tries to read at least 100 books a year (and write a few, too!). She is a published author in her own country, and translates her own books from Dutch into English for self-publication.
In her spare time, she plays the piano, the guitar and the violin. For every novel she writes, she creates a soundtrack.
Jen Minkman | Facebook| Twitter

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Book Tour: Ember by Jessica Sorensen Review, Playlist & Giveaway






Blurb:

What if you knew when someone was going to die?

For seventeen-year-old Ember, life is death. With a simple touch, she knows when someone will die. It’s her curse and the reason she secludes herself from the world. The only person who knows her secret is her best friend Raven.

Then she meets Asher Morgan. He’s gorgeous, mysterious, and is the only person Ember can't sense death from. So when he pushes into her life, she doesn’t mind.

But when unexplained deaths start to haunt her town, Ember starts questioning why she can’t sense Asher's death and what he may be hiding.







Review:

So much happens in this book. Sometimes I'm reading so fast that I miss a line then have to go back but I loved it! I stayed up late just to finish this book because I coulees stop reading it. You can really connect with the characters, you cheer with them and want to throw things at other ones. 
I liked Raven, Ember's best friend. She was so different and great with ups and downs. But there were some parts where I didn't like her because of the way she treated Ember. 
The boys are very entertaining. I like one (Asher) then the other (Cameron) but then I like the other first one again. I am pretty sure that I know which one I like the most  since I finished it (bt who knows what it going to happen in the next book). There were lots of ups and downs with them both. Then the end, whoa! All I will say is that I am going to read the next one!
4.3/5 Stars. 




Playlist:

Ember Playlist:
The Widow by The Mars Volta
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
Connect the Dots by Spill Canvas
Far From Home by Five Finger Death Punch
The Kill by 30 Seconds to Mars
On the Arrow by AFI
Napoleon Solo by At the Drive-In
Face to the Floor by Chevelle
The Freshman by The Verve Pipe
Jar of Hearts Christina Perri

About The Author:

Jessica Sorensen lives with her husband and three kids in the snowy mountains of Wyoming, where she spends most of her time reading, writing, and hanging out with her family.






Giveaway:

One e-copy of Ember is up for grabs. Just follow my blog somehow and let a comment telling me how and your email!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Book Tour: Dracula's Desire by Linda Mercury Excerpt & Giveaway


Dracula’s Desire

By Linda Mercury 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB: 

Revealing herself as the Dracula of legend, much less a woman, should have been Valerie Tate’s greatest challenge. But with her longing for blood quenched by the one man she couldn’t resist, Valerie now finds herself in an impossible circumstance…

Out Of The Shadows…

It’s a fact that vampires do not get pregnant. But Valerie is definitely pregnant. Worse, six months ago her lover, Lance Soleil, abandoned her. Determined to find answers, Valerie goes on a quest—one that leads her to Lance’s childhood friend, John Janté, a man with whom she shares a strong bond—and an intense lust. But when John is kidnapped, Valerie’s attempt to rescue him uncovers more than she bargained for…

Into The Fire…

Scouring parallel realms and pocket dimensions, Valerie soon finds that Lance has regained Paradise as Angel of the Lost…John is hostage in a bizarre world that resembles Victorian London…and most shocking of all, Valerie’s greatest love may be within her reach once more. For the soul of Dracula’s dead wife, Ilona, is trapped within John’s captor, a mad woman robbed of her humanity and manipulated by a conspiracy of Fallen Angels. Now, torn between past and present loves, Valerie must contend with emotions that threaten to break her. And in a desperate show-down, the reunited triad of a vampire, an angel, and a human, must face their deepest fears—with the future of an unborn angel-to-be in the balance…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Vlad II did not have a son. He had a daughter, one he raised as a boy in order to pretend the house had plenty of heirs.
     As a youth, Vlad III was sent to the Ottomans as a hostage to ensure peace between Romania and the mighty Turks. Horrible torture became a daily event for the child fully cementing her self-identity as a man. Many years later, close to his own death, he defied the Dark Angel in order to kill his former oppressors.
Vlad did ally with leaders as varied as Napoleon and Hitler in order to create his vision of a world where women could walk the streets in safety. Blinded by his dream, he did not question himself until it was obvious that the Second World War was a lost cause for the Germans. Vlad faked his own death. Finally, she was able to live as a woman after nearly six hundred years as a man.
     Desperate for redemption for her involvement in the war, she hunted Nazis, succeeding until only her brother, Radu Tepes, was left.
That was when Dracula fell in love with a Fallen Angel and completely fucked up her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

AUTHOR Bio and Links: 

Linda Mercury left behind her varied careers as a librarian, art model, and professional clown to pursue writing. She’s interested in writing, romance, the Middle East, reading, organizing, cooking, hand-made silk Turkish rugs, and the Nike of Samothrace.

Website and blog:


Twitter:

Facebook:


GIVEAWAY:

Linda will be awarding a handpainted fan to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:





Monday, November 26, 2012

Book Tour: Touching Evil by Amber Garr Interview & Giveaway


Touching Evil by Amber Garr

Book One of The Leila Marx Novels
Genre: Urban Fantasy

ISBN: 978-1480021594
ISBN 10: 1480021598)
Number of pages: 326
Word Count: 81,000
Cover Artist: Amber Garr


Book Description:

Leila Marx is trying to put her life back together after her fiancé is murdered. Her book illustrating career has limited her social contact and nightmares have trapped her in the past. When a police acquaintance enlists her help with a difficult case, Leila is surprisingly thankful to have a purpose. Not only will this help to keep her mind focused, but she will be able to use her talents as a touch clairvoyant that are frequently dismissed by skeptics. Leila and Detective Garrick Pearson delve into the mystery behind a series of missing teenage girls and mummified corpses while fighting their own growing attraction to each other.

Conner Hoffman is an intriguing lawyer and striking half-demon who enters Leila’s life unexpectedly. Although her visions are terrifying, she is fascinated by his charm and his legacy. When it becomes evident that the murders are linked to a paranormal event, Conner introduces Leila to a world unbeknownst to ordinary society. She suddenly finds herself immersed in supernatural politics, sorcery, and danger as she becomes the killer’s next target. Staying alive will mean relying on friends, accepting the unbelievable, and trusting in her heart again.


Excerpt:

What does one wear when they commit the first felony of their life? I probably spent two hours going through my closest trying to find something criminal. It had to be black. Yes, definitely black. I finally settled on a turtleneck, spandex workout pants, and the only pair of black sneakers I’d ever owned. They were left over from my waitressing days and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were still in good shape, even if they did smell a little like grease.
I just finished pulling my hair back into a low bun, like spy girls do in the movies, when the doorbell rang. Conner was here and my heart fluttered instantly. Last night had been a lot of fun and I really enjoyed my evening with Garrick, but this was the first time any man had been to my house who wasn’t a part of the police force since Russ was killed. This was also the first time I’d ever had a half demon in the house, at least as far as I knew. After another quick glance in the mirror, I bounced over to the door.
And as soon as I opened it I realized how much of a dork I must have looked like.
There was Conner, in a regular pair of jeans and a college sweatshirt doing all that he could not to laugh at me. I glared up at him.
“What? No one told me what to wear so I had to improvise.” He started laughing but then choked it back down when I tried to close the door on him. His foot shot out and blocked my attempt.
“I’m sorry. You look good. Really.” He smiled fully at me and then bowed his head as he put his hands together in a prayer-like position. “May I have permission to enter my ninja warrior princess?” 
I could see his shoulders shake with amusement again and I refused to be embarrassed. With an exaggerated sigh, I walked back into my bedroom, leaving Conner to let himself in. I decided that he should wallow in uncomfortable silence for a while, although when I came back into the living room and saw him flipping through some of my illustrations, I realized he was unfazed.
“These are really good. You’re quite talented.” I stood there, leaning against the wall for a few seconds trying to judge if he was being serious or not. Just as I started to give him the benefit of the doubt, he arched an eyebrow my way and said, “A much better artist than fashionista.”
I threw the sweatshirt I had in my hands at him and stomped over to the kitchen. His laugh consumed the room and I was surprised to find a smile on my face as I opened the refrigerator.
“Should we take snacks?” I asked. We were going to drive to a spot close to the house and wait until it was clear. I’d been told that it might take several hours and I didn’t want the cambion getting hungry while we waited.
“Sure, if you want. Maybe some water would be good.” It was obvious that he enjoyed my lack of stake-out abilities. 
I grabbed one of my reusable grocery bags and filled it up with water, crackers, and Twizzlers. All of the essentials. I briefly considered grabbing a bottle of wine to control my anxiety, but decided against it in the end.
“So, are we ready to go?” I asked as I hoisted the bag on my shoulder and grabbed the sweatshirt back. He studied me for a moment and then pulled an object from his back pocket.
“Not until you put this on,” he said as he tossed something small and black at me. It was a ski mask, one of those ones that covered everything except for your eyes. I pulled it over my head and batted my lashes.
“Am I ready now?”
He laughed and took the snack bag off my shoulder. “Yes, Leila. I think you’re ready for a life of crime.” 

Interview:


1.    Where did you get the idea for the novel?
The idea of Leila dealing with her fiancé’s death developed from a news story I once heard about (depressing, I know). But then I gave it a twist where she’s feeling guilty because she didn’t stop it in time, and her clairvoyant gift couldn’t help save him (even more depressing). From there, I wanted to build a world I’d like to live in - with supernaturals, so I decided to use Leila as the means to this discovery.

2.    Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change your title?
         I did and I didn’t change it. The title definitely fit the novel.

3.    Which came first, the title or the novel? 
         The novel.

4.    Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever happen to you?
I’m still pleasantly surprised that I have fans and people who genuinely enjoy my stories! It was such a scary adventure to share my work, so I’m excited every day when I see a compliment!

5.    What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you read?
         I’ve been catching up on my mermaid/selkie stories since my mermaid series is complete, so I just finished KIN (Leigh Michael). I recently started RISING by Stephanie Judice which is a totally different YA series and group of creatures.

6.    What was your first book that you ever wrote (very first one you wrote, not published)?
         Actually, Touching Evil was the first complete novel I wrote, but I published three others before coming back to this one.

7.    What is your writing process?
         I hand write a rough outline for the major plot points in my zombie notebook (I love zombies). Then I try to push myself to write a chapter a night, or at least a page or two. I have to start at the beginning and often times I envision the opening scene and it just flows from there.


  
8.    Who are your favorite authors of all time?
         Kelley Armstrong, Richelle Mead, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison to name a few. I will read anything they write! J

9.    At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to say? 
         I started out writing little notes (which took me forever to come up with!) and now I usually just sign my name with a thank you or something. But I’m always more than willing to write a personalized note. J

10.What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
         Hmmm…I can’t whistle. And I’m afraid of clown dolls.

11.How do you react to a bad review?
I get nervous every time I see a new review posted, and thankfully people are usually gracious - even if it wasn’t their cup of tea. I appreciate everyone who took the time to buy, read, and review one of my books, so even if it’s a less than flattering review, I remind myself that they didn’t have to buy it in the first place.

12.How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
         I think my husband and I went out to dinner. It was nice to see more than one sold. J

About the Author:

Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire.  Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids.  Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell.  She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

Website 
Blog
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Goodreads

Giveaway:

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