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June 10, 2015

Scarlet Ambrosia by David Gittlin ~ Blog Tour #Giveaway


Hey Donnie Darlings! Welcome to my stop on the Scarlet Ambrosia Blog Tour hosted by Sage's Blog Tours! Click here to follow along with the full tour schedule! :D
  



Title: Scarlet Ambrosia 
Author: David Gittlin
Publication date: November 5, 2014  
Genres: Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Thriller
Source: Copy for review






Synopsis


How does a nice Jewish accountant tell his parents he's become a vampire? If only that were his biggest problem. 

A one night stand, an error in judgment, a wrong turn - words can barely describe the events that thrust Devon Furst into the arms of a beautiful vampire lover. 

The violent aftermath of that fateful night threatens to burn Devon's eternal life down to ashes and endangers the lives of everyone close to him.

Everything in Devon's life changes in the span of a few hours. When he asks Mathilde de Roche one too many questions, the troubled vampiress has no choice but to offer Devon two terrible alternatives: Death or life as a vampire. For a man aged twenty-eight and in perfect health, death is not an option. Mathilde's alluring beauty makes the decision and her vampire blood easier to swallow. 

Devon must leave behind everyone and everything he holds dear to face a future full of uncertainty, and a five-hundred-year-old enemy endowed with super-human powers.  



Available on Amazon!



Book Trailer





About the Author



After a career in marketing communications, David Gittlin wrote screenplays before turning to novels. His first novel, Three Days to Darkness, was a recent nominee to the James Kirkwood Prize for creative writing. Scarlet Ambrosia is his second novel. He lives a quiet and happy life in Aventura, Florida with his wife, Bonnie.

Connect with the Author





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June 8, 2015

Proven (Daughters of the Sea #5) by Kristen Day ~ Release Day Blitz!

 

Hi Donnie Darlings! Today is the release day for Proven by Kristen Day. I need to start this series - look at that cover! Check out that synopsis! Let me know what you think! :D   
  
 

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1KKho1x

The thrilling last installment of the Daughters of the Sea series is the culmination of a breathtaking saga that will steal your heart and enchant your soul.

As the Atlantean Games draw near, every Order will descend upon the magical island of Atlantis; resurrecting an ancient tradition and setting in motion a fate determined centuries earlier. In her relentless search for retribution, Selene uncovers the one vulnerability capable of destroying not only Stasia, but all fifty of the Nereids. Traitors will emerge and old rivals are reawakened as Stasia discovers the shocking end of her elusive prophecy. 

With Fallon and Olivia still missing and an Army of Auras preparing for battle, Stasia and her Council must unlock the secrets of the Nereids and find a way to save their world before destiny intervenes. But like the Nereids themselves, even destiny is vulnerable to the sands of time.

Haven't started the Daughters of the Sea series yet? Get Forsaken for FREE!


FREE on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JsE09t

Once you’ve been touched by darkness, it never leaves you…

Abandoned by her parents as an infant; seventeen year old Hannah spent her childhood wading through countless foster families until being adopted by the Whitmans three years ago. Unfortunately, Atlanta’s high society wasn’t quite ready for Hannah…or the strange events that plague her. 

Chilling visions of murder, unexplained hallucinations, and a dark, mysterious guy who haunts her nightmares all culminate to set in motion a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she’s ever believed; not to mention her sanity.

Sent to live at The House of Lorelei on Bald Head Island, NC for ‘kids like her’, Hannah quickly realizes things are not what they seem. Her fellow ‘disturbed’ teens are actually the descendants of mythical Sea Gods and Goddesses. And so is she.

But when Finn, the ghost from her dreams, appears in the flesh; her nightmares become reality and her dark visions begin coming true. Inexplicably drawn to him, she can’t deny the dangerous hold he has on her heart. The deadly secrets he harbors will ultimately test her courage and push the boundaries of her love.

She must decide if she is ready to embrace the ancient legend she is prophesized to be a part of. The fate of all the descendants will forever depend upon it.




About Kristen Day



I am a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. I love all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. I’ve been told I see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I prefer to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses – swirling and morphing reality into something I can digest (who hasn’t pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?). When I’m not writing I’m making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband.

  

June 7, 2015

Palace Secrets by Ravyn Rayne ~ Release Day Blitz!

palace secrets rdb banner  

Palace Secrets by Ravyn Rayne
Series: Palace Secrets #1
Publisher: Blushing Books
Released:June 5th, 2015
Genre: Historical Romantic Erotica

PalaceSecrets_500x755


Love comes in many forms and always at a price.

At twenty-three, Princess Isabella must settle down for the sake of her kingdom. Caught up in a secret affair with her lady-in-waiting, Hannah, the princess knows it can only last for so long. 

When Prince Alexander arrives to court her, he confides that his father is on his death bed, and he will be crowned king soon. Isabella hastily agrees to the proposal, desiring to be queen, knowing little about her soon to be husband. 

Murder, secrets, and lies combine with menage, spanking, and erotic encounters in this steamy medieval romance.



Palace Secrets Teaser


Excerpt

"Make a sound and you'll get another spanking," Alexander says. His tone is firm but light. Unlike the last time, he doesn't sound angry or disappointed with me. Is this how our lovemaking will be? 

I'm both aroused and craving more of Alexander's affection. I bury my face into the pillow, trying my best not to make any noise. I moan quietly as his lashings grow harder, burning against my skin, making me wet. I'm glad Alexander's attention is on me. There's something about his power and control that fires me up inside. Is he doing this to teach me a lesson for being naughty or to arouse me? 

"No, Hannah." Alexander's answer is both quick and abrupt. "I'm the only one in charge. Maybe I should spank you both regularly for sneaking around the castle, behind my back. Would that make sure it doesn't happen again?" Alexander lets his hand land hard on my bottom. The sting grows fierce and I whimper in protest. When will his spankings turn to sex? He offered it to me the last time and I rejected him. It had been the only amount of control that I'd been given. Tonight, I would give him everything, and if he asked me to beg, I would.

Palace Secrets - Teaser 2 

Author Interview

What inspired you to write a historical romance? 
 This is actually my second time writing a historical piece. My first was a young adult series under the name Ruth Silver. It includes Dead Girl Walking and Forget Me Knot (available June 23rd). Both of those are part of the Royal Reaper saga. Those novels took place in the 14th century and with all the research I had previously done on the Black Plague, the clothing, language, and world building, I thought it would be fun to write another story that focused more on the royal side of things, with mischief, murder, and mayhem mixed in.   

What time period does Palace Secrets take place? 
 Palace Secrets takes place in the late 14th century.   

How many books are planned for the Palace Secrets series? 
 Two stories are already written and I'm currently working on the third book, which is still untitled. The second book is Maiden Claimed due for release in early August. Each book can be read as a standalone novel, as they're written from a different character's point of view.   

Can you give us a hint as to the second book and who's point of view we might see? 
 Hannah gets to tell her story. It follows after the events of Palace Secrets, so there's no retelling of the same story. It's an entirely new adventure with a character you will hopefully come to know and love.    

About the Author

Ravyn Rayne

Ravyn is a sassy, fun-loving, and adventure-seeking young woman. She loves to travel and can’t wait for her next vacation, wherever it might be. Ravyn writes romantic erotica. She began writing romance novels in college, spending her down time either reading a book or writing fiction. Please don’t make her choose between the two, she loves them equally. She has been published professionally since 2013. 

Prefer less steamy novels? 
Try her out here. Blog | Twitter | Facebook

June 5, 2015

The Violet Hour by Brynn Chapman ~ Blog Tour: #BookReview & #Giveaway @rrsmythe



Welcome to my stop on the Violet Hour Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound Blog Tours. Click here to follow along with the tour schedule. 



Title: The Violet Hour
Author: Brynn Chapman
Release Date: April 4, 2015
Pages: 300 
Source: Copy for review
Purchase: Amazon 





Synopsis

Secrets. 

Allegra Teagarden, a musical prodigy, flees her father's dominance and abuse while touring in pre-civil war Charleston, South Carolina. Plagued by depression over her mother's suicide during their previous visit, she escapes in an effort to piece together the details behind her mother's mysterious demise. 

Secrets. 

Down to her final coin, Allegra happens on Charleston's Fancy, the first southern amusement park, which is searching for musicians for its orchestra. At first, the park seems her salvation; but she quickly realizes she has traded the dominance of her father for the even more terrifying madness of the owner, Silas.

And more secrets. 

Allegra meets the dashing Brighton LeFroy, Fancy's engineer and pyrotechnics master. His shabby clothing cannot conceal the brilliant mind beneath. The musicians whisper he is a witch, is obsessed with storms, and is rumored... to fly. And despite the danger, despite her own misgivings, Allegra is inexplicably drawn to him. 

She ventures to his reclusive home on Fire Isle during a thunderstorm and together they seek to unravel an ancient mystery. 



The Violet Hour's synopsis caught my eye because I thought it sounded like a unique and mysterious read. I don't get into historical fiction a lot, but that aspect of the novel has much to do with what drew me into reading it. 

I'm drawn to reading about characters who have lost a parent. I know that sounds macabre, but I've been through it myself and can relate. While The Violet Hour's main character, Allegra, lost her mom to suicide, I lost my mom to cancer. Throughout the novel, I always had this hope that maybe Allegra's mom wasn't really dead. Maybe it was all a mistake or some sort of twisted misunderstanding. I think my feelings about wishing my own mom was still alive bled into The Violet Hour. I really do.

Allegra is a bright, intelligent young woman, and for her time, well, she's ahead of it. It was incredibly brave of her to leave behind the comfort her father's wealth afforded her and go out into the world to live her own way. I couldn't have done it, and I admired that about her. Her father sounds like a horrible man, and it's no wonder she was determined to get away.    

I definitely found Brighton interesting, and of course I wanted to know if everything the musicians whispered about him was true or not. I wouldn't say that Allegra and Brighton were victims of insta-love, but they were attracted to each other right away and I loved it! While Allegra was determined to try to spend as much time with him as possible, he was fighting his attraction to her. So they weren't instantly in a relationship, but one developed over time naturally. 

The mood of the story was a bit spooky and mysterious, which I loved. Each layer of mysterious happenings was revealed at a good pace - not too fast, not too slow - and I was left wanting to find out more. I was right about The Violet Hour - this is a unique and well written story. The time period, right before the Civil War, made for an interesting setting. 

The Violet Hour could very well make you want to grab as much historical fiction as you can if you aren't already a fan of the genre. Plus the spooky mood with hints of danger throughout makes for an engrossing read. I recommend The Violet Hour to anyone who can't resist finding out secrets and Allegra and Brighton are characters you're definitely going to want to get to know well.         
         



About the Author


Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love - not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger's syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society's downtrodden. In fiction, she's a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. 

She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism. 

Connect with the Author





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June 3, 2015

That Time I Fell Off the Face of the Earth


Hey Donnie Darlings! I know it's been quite a while since you've heard from me here. Unfortunately this year I haven't been able to keep up with the blog as much as I've wanted. I have a ton of reviews that are begging to be written, but I just can't seem to get myself in the mood to write them. 

I'm very particular about how I write reviews - it has to feel "right" for me in order to put it out there in the world. If it feels like utter crap, I can't publish that. I'd feel highly uncomfortable. But in order to be at my best, I've gotta feel like doing it - otherwise, it'll show, rendering the review useless anyway. So complicated it seems! 

Looking back over 2014, I can't believe I posted just about every single day. How did I do that? I ask myself. Toward the end of the year, I started slowing down so I think I was getting burned out by then. 

I'm totally out of the loop now. I haven't commented regularly on blogs in months and there aren't nearly as many comments on my blog as there used to be. I don't feel like I'm a part of the book blogging community anymore, and I'm desperate to regain a place there. Every time I sit down to comment on blogs, I end up writing an article for my job instead. :P  Which I should do anyway, lol. But, you see, my good intentions to comment don't end up panning out, and it makes me sad.   

So, I want to share with you, dear Donnie Darlings, what's been going on over the last several months! Here's what's been going on!

New Blog Design! 


I meant to write a post about this a looong time ago but never did. :P This was the year I wanted to move to self hosting, but I also knew I wasn't going to be able to do it. I just don't have the money at this time to truly invest, and I want the results to be fabulous. I don't want to half ass it, know what I mean? 

Instead, I decided to give myself a little Christmas present by buying a new premade blog layout. Eventually I want to work with a designer and get something really awesome and custom that shows off my love for horror and all things dark. But I also like my hipster side, and I found a premade blog design by Parajunkee. I bought it from her Etsy shop, and I really love it. I think it's a cleaner, more user friendly look.

There's a few things I've been meaning to fix but never seem to have the time - the biggest one being my social media buttons aren't up yet. They haven't been for months! I've really gotta get on that. 

What do you guys think? Was it a shock the first time you saw it? :D  


New Job!


If you don't already know, I got a job writing for a website called the Inquisitr. I started an internship with them at the end of December. After writing 40 articles for them, they evaluated my performance and decided to keep me on as a writer! I love writing and can't believe I'm getting paid to do it. Plus I can pick my own topics as long as it's something that's trending. I've written about science news, politics, sports, celebrity gossip, movies, authors... it's a really awesome gig I was able to find. 

Click here to check out all of my articles in one place!    


I FINALLY converted my husband into a Whovian!


This is HUGE news. I really didn't think this was ever going to happen. By the middle of season two, he was addicted. Every night, we watch two or three episodes, and as of this posting, we're on the finale for season 5. 

One of the funniest things to me about this whole conversion process is when the Tenth Doctor regenerated into the Eleventh, my husband said, "I don't like him." 

I can't let an opportunity to tease my husband go by like that, so I said, "Aw, you miss Ten! That's so cute!" Haha!

As he's trying not to smile, he explained that David Tennant played the Doctor with pure glee. Everything David saw and did as the Doctor, he played it so well you felt like he really was seeing it all for the first time. His excitement is infectious. I have to agree with my husband - David's excitement in his role was definitely infectious.  

I do like Matt Smith as Eleven. He brings his own unique characterization to the role of the Doctor, and I'm hoping my husband warms up to him more. I am kind of up and down with Eleven. I liked him right away, but then I've gone through periods of time where I miss Ten a lot.   

I've become a Fannibal!  


In case you haven't heard of Fannibals, we're avid fans of the NBC show, Hannibal. I believe I can count myself among them now. :D If you haven't watched it, you must! It's a visual feast, there's just no better way to describe it. 

So how did I start watching it? Well, one of my besties has been a Fannibal from the beginning. I wanted to watch it but needed to do some serious catching up. I saw it was on Amazon Prime and caught up that way. 

I've been trying to convert said bestie into a Whovian, so we agreed that for every episode of Hannibal I watched, she'd watch Doctor Who. Granted, she has many more seasons to watch than I did, but I'm hoping she sticks with it. It'll be worth it, I swear, because then you start getting all the feels. 

But back to Hannibal, I devoured (haha) those two seasons in just a few nights. Since I only had Prime for the free month trial, I'm buying Hannibal on DVD - that's how much I love that damn show.


So that's the basics of what's been going on in my life. My daughter just finished her first year of junior high today, and my son is starting kindergarten in the fall, so I'm also freaking out about all of those changes getting ready to happen. I alternate between happiness that I actually made it here and depression that things are changing without my permission, lol. I have a really difficult time with change. I don't know if you guys do, too, but it's just hard for me. I'll adjust I suppose. I have to, right? 

What's been going on with you guys? Catch me up! :D