♥Donnie Darko Girl♥

May 27, 2014

Chosen (Daughters of the Sea Book #3) by Kristen Day Blitz

I really need to get started on this series! It sounds so good, and I haven't had a chance to read any of Kristen Day's novels yet. Have you started this series yet? And check out that cover!!

Chosen

Daughters of the Sea Book #3

By- Kristen Day

Publication Date- May 27th, 2014

The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.

After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war.

As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive.

In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.

I wanted to post this though I'm a day late to help spread the word about this totally cool-sounding novel by the awesome Jill Cooper. I loved her novel, 15 Minutes, the first in the Rewind series. Click here if you'd like to read my review. :)

Click here to be taken to the blitz page for a list of participating blogs! :)

Devour

Jill Cooper

Release date: May 26th 2014

Self-published

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Smashwords

Synopsis via Goodreads

Life in Gloucester Massachusetts will never be the same.

Raging storms, fierce winds, shadows shifting in the breeze. Storms are nothing new for the fishing hamlet.

But darkness has come to claim the hearts and minds of those that stand in it too long. When that happens, love will be ripped from man leaving only violence, despair, and gnashing teeth.

Except for two.

Roberta is a single mom, a waitress struggling to get through life after a rocky start tainted by murder and loss. Her heart years for Gabriel; a deputy living in the shadow of the chief. He's a battle weary soldier ready to settle down.

When the storm comes, when the murders start, it will be up to them to stop it before darkness isn't just an empty void.

~ Excerpt ~

The door chimed and I glanced over, fluffing my red curls slightly. He was right on time.

With brooding wide shoulders, Deputy Gabriel Manning could fill out a uniform in all the right places. His hair was sandy brown, and soft like an ocean's wave. My heart skipped a beat in the way it had when I knew Gabriel growing up, but what girl hadn't had a crush on him?

"Deputy," I said with a smile as I poured a cup of coffee into a Styrofoam cup and attached a lid. "Danish?"

"Not today. I have to watch the calories." Gabriel smiled and patted his perfectly flat stomach. Perfectly perfect was more like it. On more than one occasion I had imagined him without his shirt. Always made me feel guilty, I wasn't ready to move on, and he just wasn't my friend.

He was Rick's friend too.

That just made it a whole host of complicated and while I knew Gabriel should have been off-limits, nobody told my heart that.

He took the coffee and his fingers swept across mine gently, but I knew he did it on purpose. It made me blush, but my heart sprouted wings. He had been working up to something for a while, but I never said anything. Always pretended I didn't notice. My heart shouted at me through a bullhorn to say or do anything, but the guilt stopped me.

Guilt like I was betraying my dead soon-to-be-husband with his closest friend. Meanwhile Rick was somewhere at the bottom of Gloucester Harbor, still never found.

About the Author

Author of the YA Dream Slayer series, Jill loves to blend horror, comedy, the supernatural, and love, through her novels. A fan of genre blending, her work strives to cross boundaries, but most of all strives to entertain.

She loves soft cuddly cats, warm blankets, and paranormal romances.

Jill resides in Massachusetts, is constantly renovating her home that she shares with her husband, young daughter, and two skittish cats.

http://www.jillacooper.com | Twitter | Facebook

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May 24, 2014

Inevitable by Lani Woodland ~ Blog Tour: Review of Book 3 & Giveaway!

Hey guys, welcome to my stop on the Inevitable Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. Click here to follow along with the tour schedule.

Today I have a review of the third book in the trilogy for you!

You can click here to read my review of book one and here to read my review of book two.

Title: Inevitable

Series: The Yara Silva Trilogy #3

Author: Lani Woodland

Publication date: February 11th 2014

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

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Synopsis

Three years. So much has changed for Yara, yet much is still the same.

Yara has spent the last three years in Brazil, diligently studying with Vovó to develop her Waker abilities and desperately searching for a cure for Brent. Though her powers - and her control over them - have grown, every possible cure for Brent fails. And they're running out of the only medicine that keeps him alive.

When a letter from the American Wakers recalls Yara and Vovó to California, Yara has to weigh the fading chance of saving Brent against the dangers of placing them all within the grasp of an old enemy. Not only has his power grown, but the barrier between our world and the spirit world is becoming dangerously thin. As the threat to the Wakers increases, Yara doesn't know if she'll be strong enough to defeat him.

Her only hope is to put her trust in some unexpected allies and fully embrace her Waker heritage. If she fails, not only could Brent die, but the power of the Wakers could disappear forever.

Reading Inevitable was bittersweet for me - on one hand, I love this trilogy and was excited to see how it would end, but on the other hand, I didn't want it to end. I will never forget these characters and their story.

Yara and Brent's relationship isn't perfect - Brent's parents hate Yara for a few different reasons, none of which I agree with - but their relationship is so mature it almost does seem perfect. They're able to work through their problems together, and Brent always asks Yara what she thinks because he knows sometimes she only cares what others think. He knows her that well because he pays attention to the little things, all the little details. The love between them is so strong, it's more romantic than some hot muscly guy any day. The fact that he's dying ripped my heart out.

Yara is strong yet vulnerable, working hard for a cure for Brent and never giving up but also having those moments where it's all you can do not to break down and cry. She's amazingly real and has come so far from the first book where she was doing her best to run away from her family legacy as a Waker. I'm as proud of her as Vovó!

Inevitable is a maze of twists and turns that had me anxiously on the edge of my seat and glued to my Kindle, hoping against hope Yara could find a cure for Brent while fighting the threat to the Wakers. This is the kind of story that is so addictive, I know I'll be rereading it again. I've been through so much with these characters in this trilogy, and while I hate to see it end, the ending is impressive. I couldn't have asked for anything more.

My Rating:

~ Other Books in the Series ~

Book One

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Book Two

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About the Author

I've been an avid reader since elementary school. In sixth grade I began writing stories and recruiting (with force when necessary) my friends to act them out. I've always loved scary stories, and have a hard time enjoying any book without at least a little romance in it.

Author Links

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Mary Hades by Sarah Dalton ~ Blitz: Guest Post & Two Giveaways!

Just a couple months ago, I wrote a discussion post fretting about the lack of YA Horror, and then I see this little gem come along from one of my favorite authors!

If I wasn't already excited enough, I have a guest post by Sarah herself explaining five ways Mary Hades is different from the average YA series. Check it out! Don't forget to enter the giveaways - there are two of them!

Title: Mary Hades
Series: Mary Hades #1
Author: Sarah Dalton
Publication date: June 2014
Genre: Young Adult Horror
Blitz organized by: Xpresso Book Tours

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Synopsis

Not many seventeen year old girls have a best friend who's a ghost, but then Mary Hades isn't your average teenager.

Scarred physically and mentally from a fire, her parents decide a holiday to an idyllic village in North Yorkshire will help her recover. Nestled in the middle of five moors, Mary expects to have a boring week stuck in a caravan with her parents. Little does she know, evil lurks in the campsite...

Seth Lockwood - a local fairground worker with a dark secret - might be the key to uncovering the murky history that has blighted Nettleby. But Mary is drawn to him in a way that has her questioning her judgement.

Helped by her dead best friend and a quirky gay Goth couple, Mary must stop the unusual deaths occurring in Nettleby. But can she prevent her heart from being broken?

The first in a series of dark YA novels, Mary Hades follows on from the bestselling Kindle Single 'My Daylight Monsters.' A spine-tingling tale with romance, readers will be shocked and entertained in equal measure.

~ Guest Post ~

Five Ways Mary Hades is Different Than Your Average YA Series

by Sarah Dalton

I'm pretty excited about this project. I find Mary the easiest character to write because she is such a free spirit. However, there's a part of me that's nervous about this series. I've mixed things up. Mary Hades doesn't follow a formula.

Here are five things you can expect, and five examples that are a little different to most YA books.

1. It's not a trilogy:

At the moment, the series is open ended, which means I'm planning to keep it going for as long as I enjoy writing it. To me, this is almost like a long-running television series, where each book will focus on a specific challenge. I will be bringing in long-arc storylines at some point, but the first few books are almost standalones.

2. Each novel is a snapshot:

Like the novella that started it all - My Daylight Monsters - each novel, and each story, is a snapshot into Mary's life. That means that not all the books will link on from each other. The first book has a resolution and no cliff-hanger, but it sets up the rest of the series, because it shows Mary what she wants to achieve with her life.

This is going to continue throughout the series. Think of them as brief installments into her very interesting life. Characters will come and go. Not all of the novels will be set in the same place.

There is a lot of scope for the series. It could go on as Mary goes to University, or a spin off with different characters could occur. There are no set rules here. Think of it as an urban fantasy series, but more contemporary.

3. The novels are short:

The main reason I write Mary Hades at a shorter length is because the tone is very deep first person POV present tense. The books are meant to be all-encompassing. I want the reader to be drawn into Mary's world, and that is an intense ride. These sorts of novels are almost always short. Think of the wonderful How I Live Now, or the engrossing Never Let Me Go - they are both short novels and that suits them very well.

The first installment of Mary Hades will be about 280 pages. On the plus side, shorter novels means I can write the installments quicker, so you won't have to wait long for the next book. And, as the books are shorter, I've decided to charge less for them, so you won't be paying more for a shorter novel. However, quality almost always beats quantity. ;)

4. This is dark fiction:

When I started writing My Daylight Monsters, I was very influenced by Gothic literature. That's a very broad brush. I always loved Victorian Gothics, like Dracula and The Picture of Dorian Grey. These novels always have a supernatural element and always have some sort of dark, looming presence.

In My Daylight Monsters, that presence is the hospital, and the deepest fears we harbour there. In Mary Hades, that looming presence is the Yorkshire moors - of course, inspired by Wuthering Heights. Other influences could include Daphne Du Maurier. I had a few scenes from Jamaica Inn playing in my mind as I wrote this book.

Mary Hades is much more grown up than my other novels. In the past, my books like The Blemished and White Hart have been more suited to younger YA. Mary Hades is best for older teens and adults.

5. Horror AND Romance?

Yup, you better believe it. In the midst of fighting a really scary ghost, Mary manages a holiday romance. Hey, call me a romantic, but I think a girl needs to take some time off from her ghost hunting once in a while.

In all seriousness, I want the books to be scary AND uplifting. There's a definite contemporary feel to the writing, and hopefully that ties in with the romance.

About the Author
Sarah grew up in the middle of nowhere in the countryside of Derbyshire and as a result has an overactive imagination. She has been an avid reader for most of her life, taking inspiration from the stories she read as a child, and the novels she devoured as an adult.

Sarah mainly writes speculative fiction for a Young Adult audience and has had pieces of short fiction published in the Medulla Literary Review, PANK magazine and the British Fantasy Society publication Dark Horizons. Her short story 'Vampires Wear Chanel' is featured in the Wyvern Publication Fangtales.

Sarah's debut novel The Blemished is a fast paced young adult dystopia set in a fractured Britain. It follows the events of Mina Hart, a young Blemished girl who has a dangerous secret, as she tries to escape the dreaded Operation and get out of Area 14.

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway #1

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Giveaway #2

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Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton ~ Book Blast: Favorite Quotes & Giveaway!

Today I'm helping spread the word about Shadow Fire by Kimber Leigh Wheaton! Check it out - this YA Fantasy Romance will be on sale May 25th to the 30th for only 99 pennies! Think I'm picking up a copy, how about you? Check out the quotes below as well as the giveaway!

Shadow Fire

Favorite Quotes

The villagers will be awaiting my return, skulking in the shadows, desperate to catch a glimpse of the walking dead girl. ~Ashlyn

After all, love conquers nothing but fools. ~Delistaire

Perhaps you shouldn’t have chased the poor pirate all over the ship shooting light daggers at him. ~Zane

How would you like a tour of this grand vessel, my angelic beauty? I’ll show you my favorite trysting spots. ~Taranis

Praise for shadow Fire

"Shadow Fire has something for everyone: suspense, love, action, adventure…all woven together perfectly making this debut novel a winner." ~ BTS Book Reviews

"I thought the writing was strong; it had me turning the pages quickly to see what would happen next. The characters were engaging and the dialogue well-written." Lisa Temple ~ Author of Illuminating Gracie

"Oh, I truly loved this one! Shadow Fire, by Kimber Leigh Wheaton, is a snappy, sassy, sweet, all-that-kind-of-awesome-and-then-some YA read. I couldn't put it down." Sasha Hibbs ~ Author of Black Amaranth

"It is a beautiful love story surrounded by mystery, adventure, and magic." Christy ~ Amazon Reviewer

“I have to say that this is one of the best books I've read this year… From a breathtaking cover to a Must Read story. This is one book you won't put down!” ~ Crossroad Reviews

Shadow Fire

Light Chronicles Book 1

Kimber Leigh Wheaton

YA Fantasy Romance

Amazon

$0.99 May 25 - May 30

Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.

Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.

Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.

All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.

Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal

As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?

Each installment of the Light Chronicles is a standalone story.

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.

She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.

Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)

Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in the Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming August 2014. Also watch for Tortured Souls, a YA paranormal romance, coming July 14, 2014.

Author Links:

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May 23, 2014

Inevitable by Lani Woodland ~ Blog Tour: Review of Book 2 & Giveaway!

Hey guys, welcome to my stop on the Inevitable Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. Click here to follow along with the tour schedule.

Today I have a review of the second book in the trilogy for you! Click here to read my review of book one.

Tomorrow I'll have my review of the third book posted, so make sure to come back tomorrow! :)

Title: Indelible

Series: The Yara Silver Trilogy #2

Author: Lani Woodland

Publication date: September 27th 2011

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal

Source: Review copy

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Synopsis

Yara is beginning to understand just how much her life will change now that her Waker abilities have emerged. She has come to terms with the fact that seeing ghosts is part of her life, but she isn't ready to let being a Waker dictate her choices. All she wants is a ghost-free senior year with her boyfriend, Brent, and her best friend, Cherie.

But Yara soon discovers that there are more dark secrets in her school's history than just the curse she broke. While an angry ghost makes Yara question everything she thought she knew about spirits, she and Brent learn that there are long reaching consequences to last year's adventures.

As new enemies emerge and old ghosts resurface, Yara finds herself in the center of another deadly mystery, and this time she has to contend with the living as well as the dead.

After spending the summer in Brazil, Yara is blissfully reunited with Brent and her friends having been apart from them for three months at the beginning of Indelible. They aren't able to relax for long when the angry ghost of Pendrell Academy's founder's wife begins a new mystery to solve and attaches herself to Yara.

Yara is closer than ever to the spirit world, closer than most Wakers, making her more powerful but also putting her in more danger. The fact that she isn't quite ready to let go and fully embrace being a Waker rang true with me and was so realistic - I can completely understand where she's coming from, especially at her age. I don't think anyone could expect her to just accept it right off the bat, not even her grandma.

Yara and Brent have to be one of the best couples in YA fiction, if not the best. I think it's so cool that they share an important secret which allows them to understand each other in ways someone else couldn't. They're mature for their age, and there's actual substance to their relationship. They're completely refreshing.

I must admit while the beginning of Indelible sets up the plot of the book nicely, I worried it wasn't going to be as addictive a read as the first book, Intrinsical. That didn't end up being the case at all - the action soon absorbed me, and I was on the edge of my seat, unable to put this book down.

I loved Intrinsical, but Indelible blew me away. Just when I thought I couldn't love the characters more than I already did, Woodland proved me wrong, and I've never been more happy to be wrong. Indelible is that magical.

My Rating: