Soulbound by Tessa Adams - Review

Soulbound by Tessa Adams

Blurb:

As the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter—and a member of Ipswitch’s Royal family—Xandra

Morgan should be a witch of incredible power. But things don’t always turn out like you expect…

While she hasn’t lived up to her family’s expectations, Xandra has come to terms with her latent magic and made a life for herself in Austin, Texas, running a coffee shop where she makes potions of a non-magical nature. While things aren’t perfect, Xandra is happy—until she runs into powerful warlock Declan Chumomisto.

Xandra hasn’t seen Declan in years, and though she’s still overwhelmed by his power, she doesn’t trust him. And when her own powers awaken one night and lead her to the body of a woman in the woods bearing the symbol of Isis—the same one that has marked Xandra since the day she met Declan—she’s filled with a terrible suspicion, soon confirmed: the woman is connected to him.

Xandra doesn’t want to believe that Declan is capable of murder, but as the body count mounts, and Xandra’s own powers spiral out of control, she’s not sure she can trust her own instincts…


Review:

I took one look at the cover of this book and was dying to read it. I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but this one is a good one. What comes after that gorgeous cover is even better. Xandra is an amazing character. She's strong, opinionated, and independent. She has a good relationship with her family and good friends. I really enjoyed reading about her and her world. I loved her best friend and I hope to read more about her in the next book.
This book had a great fast moving story and I was hooked from chapter 1. I enjoued the dialog (And personally the dialog has totally ruined good books for me in the past). Her world was complex, but not so much that you get lost and feel like you need to re-read entire chapters to keep up. This book is, in my opinion one of the best I've read this year. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes, paranormal or fantasy romance. I give it two very enthusiastic thumbs up and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.
 
 

About the Author

Tracy Wolff/Tessa Adams/Tracy Deebs collects books, English degrees and lipsticks and has been known to forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at seven she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her life-long love. Her first novel, A Christmas Wedding, appeared on the scene in November of 2008 and since then she has sold eighteen novels—including Erotic Suspense and Paranormal to New American Library, Contemporary Superromance to Harlequin, and Paranormal Young Adult Romance and Contemporary Young Adult Romance to Walker Books. Now a part time English professor at her local community college,she lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and three sons. She was a 2010 Rita nominee.

Author Links

Website:  http://www.tracywolff.com/press-kit/


Amazon:   http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451415043/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=paranortenden-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0451415043&adid=0Q8H5H309P44WE8WJTNN

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/tessa-adams?store=allproducts&keyword=tessa+adams

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=tessa+adams&search_type=books&search[field]=author

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Adams/201057306594626?fref=ts

Cover Reveal Fire by T.G. Ayer

Title: FIRE 

Series: The Hand of Kali Series

Volume: 1

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Publication Date: (expected) July 2013

Format: Paperback, E-Book

ISBN-10:  TBA 

Publisher: Infinite Ink

Pages: 350

Add on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17264568-flame 

DESCRIPTION:

Normal people sneak out to a party and have fun. Maya Rao ends the evening by incinerating the guy who attacks her.

Nik Lucas, sexy, new in town and totally forbidden, happens to walk in on her. Normal guys would run for the hills. Nik knows a whole lot more than he's telling.

Maya doesn't believe the gods are real, doesn't waste her time with mere mythology. But when gods, demons and hellhound's become the new normal and wielding fire becomes her new skill, she must decide what it is she really believes.

Can Maya accept that normal is something she will never be because it isn't normal to be
...the Hand of Kali.

EXCERPT:

Fear spun Maya around on stricken feet. To defend her back perhaps. She just felt less vulnerable facing her attacker, where she could see his next move. He barreled straight at her. And for all her training in martial arts, she did the one thing her dad always said never to do. She ducked her head and hid her face with her hands. Hands out, as if she could fend off this vicious attacker merely with the soft skin of her palms.

Maya felt the heat before she saw it.

Byron was on fire. A living column of shimmering orange flames. She couldn't breathe. Was afraid to breathe. How did that happen? She glanced around the bathroom as panic filled her veins, her fear taking on a whole new level of hysteria. She had to put the fire out.

She turned to the faucet to fill her hands with water. And froze. In the mirror she saw the burning reflection of Byron disappear. Byron was there one moment and gone the next. Only a few burnt shards of fabric left to say he was ever there. But she remembered the last thing she'd seen before Byron became nothing: brilliant blue eyes turning a frighteningly blood-red.

And Nik, holding the doorknob, staring at the empty space on the floor behind her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.

CONTACT DETAILS:

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^{www.facebook.com/TGAyerAuthor}

^{twitter.com/#!/TGAyerAuthor}

^{tgayer.wordpress.com}

^{tgayer@xtra.co.nz}

^{www.goodreads.com/author/show/5726831.T_G_Ayer}

amzn.to/QECLcY

^{www.shelfari.com/tgayerauthor}

Cover Reveal Brie Discerns Master's Heart (After Graduation #6)

Brie Discerns Master's Heart (After Graduation #6)

Master has revealed himself in small doses, only hinting about the tragedy in his past. Things are about to shift as Brie comes face to face with Master’s greatest adversary. Huge changes are rushing towards our young submissive. The wolf must be confronted, her documentary is about to discover its fate and Master will bare a part of himself kept hidden until now.

 Release date:  July 4, 2013

Red Phoenix author page:  https://www.facebook.com/redphoenix69?fref=ts

Red Phoenix

Erotica is a delicious fantasy created to entice both the mind and the body ~Red
Red Phoenix is an award winning indie author who started her writing career in December of 2011. She is best known for her novelette, Brie’s First Day of Submissive Training, which was published in March of 2012. The little book created quite stir when it was released. Since then, fans have been riding the Brie wave with the sociable author. In October 2012, Red published the wildly popular eBook serial into novel form, Brie Learns the Art of Submission. She is currently writing Brie’s continuing journey in the serial titled After Graduation, due out in novel form September 2013.
“I am a happily married woman who believes, based on personal experience, that love conquers all. It is a running theme in my writing.” Red is a mother of three and wife to one. When she is not writing, you can find her on Facebook or Twitter interacting with fans.
“One thing you will notice about my work, I'm all about variety. If a character beseeches me to write his or her story, I willingly give myself over no matter the genre or subject.”
* Red Phoenix has a total of fourteen titles available as eBooks (not including serials.)  Two of her novels are also available in paperback.

Author links


Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Red-Phoenix/e/B006UHCM1C/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1372452415&sr=8-2-ent

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5557309.Red_Phoenix

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/red.phoenix.904?fref=ts

Twitter: @redphoenix69

Spotlight on Celestina Selvenfare: The Legend Begins by Kelly Lynne

Title: Celestina Silvenfare: The Legend Begins

Series: Silvenfare Series, #1

Author: Kelly Lynne

Publisher: Ink Smith Publishing

Genre: Fantasy

Blurb:

​Celestna Silvenfare is an elemental sorceress and the prophesied savior of her world, but not until her14th birthday does she truly understand the danger she must face in order to fulfill her destiny and save the lives of those she loves. Join her as she embarks on a journey to discover what it takes for one young girl to rise above her own dreams, desires, flaws, and personal tragedies, to restore balance to the land and save all the races of Merellier.

Excerpt:

"Now then, Celestina Silvenfare, how would you like to meet a Goddess?" Before Cele could reply, the air around them began to vibrate, rocking the table and rattling the dishes. When it was over, a stunning woman appeared before Cele and the faerie queen, who immediately kneeled before the Goddess. Cele did likewise, not having any idea what the protocol was for meeting a Goddess. The tall, brown-haired woman walked over to Cele and placed her hand upon her head. When she did this, Cele's mind began reeling with several vibrant images. She saw Meréllier as it might be in several years ...the land was pillaged, women and children suffered cruel fates, and widespread wars and plagues ravaged the realm. The sights and sounds were very vivid and seemed too real for Cele. She swooned, but still the Goddess held her in place, forcing her to see more...

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=Celestina%20Silvenfare%3A%20The%20Legend%20Begins&linkCode=ur2&tag=paranortenden-20

Barnes&Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/celestina-silvenfare-kelly-lynne/1114941991?ean=9781939156082

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/298156

 

About The Author:

Kelly Lynne lives with her husband and three rescue dogs-two of them Great Danes-in Franklin, TN, just 15 minutes south of Nashville. In addition to writing, Lynne works as a marketing coordinator and a technical writer. She graduated with honors from the University of Georgia where she earned a Bachelors degree in Marketing Education. Lynne is also currently working on an online degree in Metaphysical Science from The University of Metaphysical Sciences in Arcata, California.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.silvenfare.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silvenfareseries

Twitter: https://twitter.com/silvenfare

Desolation blog tour ~ review

Desolation by Travis Simmons

My Review

Asher has lost everyone he loves to the virus that turns people into zombies. He's struggling to find some place that is safe, or as safe as anyone can be with the dead reanimated and looking for their next meal. Asher is surprisingly immune to the virus. He's been bitten many times and hasn't turned.
He thinks he's found a safe home with Anderson who he learns is a necromancer. Anderson seems normal enough, until Asher finds his dead wife in the basement. She's being controlled by Anderson who can't let her go. When his safe home with Anderson is destroyed by an infernal, a quick, strong zombie that retains a certain level of intelligence and cant be controlled, he finds himself in Refuge.
He now works with a team to do search and rescue missions, missions to find food and other supplies, and he feels like he's found a place to belong. He has some surprises in Refuge, like learning his role with the team and his attraction to the team doctor.
But there is something happening within this place that seems so safe. It is spreading like the zombie virus, but it's much different and Asher knows that he has to stop it.
I really enjoyed this story. When I got it I wasn't sure what to expect. The only other zombie novel I've read was very different. Desolation was a very entertaining read and I'd love to see it as a movie. I loved Asher. He was brave, and strong and in so much pain. His loss before the story started was great and he just kept losing friends along the way. Despite the loss and the fear, he still remained human. He still sought out the comfort and safety of another's embrace. I liked the way he didn't become hardened or vacant. He fought and continued to fight even when he lost the love of his life.
I give this book a solid 4 stars and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that enjoys horror or paranormal. Very good read!!

   

Author Bio

I have been writing since I was 14. I began writing a book called "The Calling of the Two" and while writing that on and off I started uncovering another idea.

"Yes, this is all well and good, but what about before? What happened in the world before these characters came into it?" I always knew there was a "before" and as I started wondering about it I got ideas. At first they were little ideas but as I discovered the names for my characters a whole story about them emerged.

I started working on The Revenant Wyrd Saga several years back and I am very happy I did because hearing and documenting Jovian and Angelica's story has been one wild ride.

I live in a remote part of upstate New York and honestly just hoofing around my neck of the woods gives me a ton of inspiration for my novels. I love research, and I love speculating on different ideas and theories.

Author Links

Website: http://www.travissimmons.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortravissimmons

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TravisSimmons5

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4342608.Travis_Simmons

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for review from Jitterbug PR and from the author as part of a virtual book tour. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Alternate Connection Cover Reveal

ALTERNATE CONNECTION is the third novel in the COUNTERMEASURE SERIES.
The next installment of the COUNTERMEASURE SERIES has a tentative release date set for November 5th, 2013. The story continues where TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE left off and pursues a parallel between Trevor and Cassandra Bauer’s quest and a daring attack on US nationals.

BLURB
CIA operative Nathan Nelson has built his life on secrets. Secrets about events that have shaped him into the man he has become. Events that taught him to keep his shields up. He has kept them buried in the past and nobody—not even Cassandra Bauer, the woman he claimed to love—knows of them. Now, those secrets have come barreling down on him at the worst of times.
Foreign Service Specialist Rachael Moore's personal crusade puts her in the crosshairs of very dangerous people. She would risk everything to achieve her goal even if it means exposing her battered heart and deeply concealed dreams to a man who doesn’t know the meaning of love.
Unbeknownst to both, their reconnection may not only bridge the chasm between the two of them, but shed light on a puzzling mystery. Their perilous journey becomes a race for their lives, leading them into a conspiracy rooted deeper than the tangled emotions between them.
Will their collaboration shatter the tenuous link woven in the past or forge a bond they never expected could exist in the future?

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 5
Nathan shook his head and pulled out the first folder containing the personal file of Gerald Blair, U.S. Envoy to the Middle East. The report was thorough and contained a detailed account of both his professional and personal life. He raised his eyes to Hanson. “Do you want to split’em?”
“Nope. I’m done with them. They are all yours.”
“When—?”
“While I waited for the fax. I’m a fast read, Nelson. Keep that in mind.” Hanson’s lips quirked in a cocky grin as he leaned his seat back and closed his eyes. His disheveled appearance and the hickeys decorating his neck a clear indication he needed some shut-eye. “Let me know when you’re done so we can discuss the details.”
Nathan sank in his own seat, his mind teeming with questions. Questions he didn’t think he would have answers to any time soon. He had a long analysis ahead of him considering he was also looking for pieces of a puzzle unknown to Hanson. Unlike Hanson’s, Nathan’s focus also encompassed the files belonging to the two agents and two drivers who’d been killed in the attack.
With that in mind, he returned his attention to the folder and began studying the first of the people they were supposed to know inside and out before they set off for ground zero. As he read through the pages, he looked for inconsistencies, hidden information, or activities that could have made Blair a target. Anything that could have put them all in the crosshairs of whoever had taken them.
The situation was more complex than the usual hostage kidnapping. While religious extremists were quick to claim responsibility, those who’d abducted the six remaining members of the diplomatic convoy two days earlier hadn’t made any demands through the media. They’d simply dropped off the radar as if they’d never been.
There had to be a reason for that divergence from the usual and that reason could very well be tied to Nathan’s prime directive. The answer could be in any of their past or present and, if he was to be successful, he had to find it.
He beat his way through Gerald Blair’s file and took notes as he moved through. Blair had been in extensive contact with Palestinians and Israelis—unavoidable contact since it was an integral part of his job to mediate peace in the region—and that in itself could have placed a target on his back.
Nathan set Blair’s file aside and moved on to the next in the bundle. As he flipped it open, his whole body stiffened in his seat. A buzzing noise flooded his ears, and his sight dimmed. His field of vision narrowed to the picture on the page and the name listed—Moore, Rachael. Status: Widow. Rae.
His blood iced in his veins. For a moment, he felt detached from reality expecting someone to pop up in the seat in front of him pointing a camera and screaming, “Gotcha!” He fixed his eyes on the file again. Phillip Moore’s wife. Was that why Hanson had made that comment about setting personal involvements aside? Nathan stared at her familiar image for a moment before diving in. Some of the information in it was known to him. Some was brand new. He read the declassified report on Phillip’s death with a heavy heart and the thumping in his chest rose to such a loud racket he thought it would wake Hanson from his beauty sleep.
The more he read about Rachael, the more his frown deepened. Why was she working at the embassy in Israel? How had she come to be assigned as a personal assistant to Blair?
Phillip had been crazy about her, and Nathan understood why as soon as he’d met her. At the time they met, she’d been working on a business associate degree with some difficulty due to the sudden transfer to the US. Neither had mentioned she dabbed in international politics back then. Had she made a career change after Phillip’s death? Guilt punched him in the gut and he held his breath, squeezing his eyes shut to keep self-flagellation at bay.
He’d gone through that cycle many times before. He wasn’t about to slide down that road again. If that was how he could redeem himself, he was going to take it.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Writing had touched Chris Almeida’s and Cecilia Aubrey’s lives in different ways through the years but had never taken flight. It was in 2010, when Chris and Cecilia met and began role-playing online as a hobby, that writing placed itself front and center in their lives.
Chris and Cecilia have since chosen to release all their titles independently. They have several short stories and two novels published under their own label, Éire Publishing, and are vocal supporters of independent publishing done right. They are currently working on the third novel in their series. Through all the chaos and laughter, they still hold true to their roots, bringing their favorite role-play characters and stories to life.
You can find them at:
Facebook:
Chris Almeida - http://www.facebook.com/Chris.Almeida.Author
Cecilia Aubrey - http://www.facebook.com/cecilia.aubrey.author
Authors Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/Authors.ChrisAlmeida.CeciliaAubrey
Countermeasure Series Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/Countermeasure.Series
Websites:
Chris & Cecilia- http://chrisalmeida-ceciliaaubrey.com
Countermeasure Series - http://countermeasureseries.com
Twitter:
Chris - http://twitter.com/CAlmeidaAuthor
Cecilia - http://twitter.com/CAubreyAuthor

Photography by Jenn LeBlanc of Studio Smexy for Illustrated Romance

You can enter the draw for one of 10 Countermeasure Series Swag Packs containing nine bookmarks and a bracelet (I <3 ALPHA GEEKS) and also enter the giveaway for a chance to win a digital ARC signed copy of ALTERNATE CONNECTION once it becomes available.
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Winter's Blood blog tour ~ Review

Winter's Blood by Zachary Richardson

I enjoyed reading this novella. It was a quick, easy and entertaining read. The main character, Micheal was still mourning the loss of his love Abigail after 6 years of her dying in a car accident. Michael felt the pain of her loss every day since he lost her. It was crippling. The story starts with Michael meeting his sister as she picked him up to spend Christmas with their parents. Michael and his sister had a very strong relationship and the author makes that clear in the way they speak to each other and interact. The same can't be said for Michael's relationship with his parents. That has been strained for the past 6 years because they just don't understand why he can't just "get over it" and move on with his life. Michael wanted nothing more than to get through the holiday and get home.
His vacation gets off to a bad start when his dad attempts to relive some of their happier days. All Micheal can do though is feel the pain of his loss more because any reminder of happier times just makes the pain of Abby's loss closer to the surface. He runs off into the woods and that's when things take a strange turn.
I thought the characters were very well written and their relationships felt very real. I could feel Michael's pain, though in the beginning I didn't understand why it was so intense. I felt that the secondary characters could have used more of a back story. I had questions that were unanswered. Despite these unanswered questions, I still enjoyed this story. It wasn't terribly original, but it was a fun read and was well written. I'd give it a solid 4 stars. Good job Mr. Richardson.

Author Bio

Born at the beginning of August, Zachery is very much a summer baby;

despite being born in Washington and raised in Oregon. There are numerous

reasons why Zachery (or Zach, as he prefers) started writing, but perhaps the

biggest are his wildly overactive imagination, a deep love of all things

fantastical and otherworldly, and a sixth grade teacher who finally let him use

these tools to complete his homework assignments. The defining moment

however, his official point-of-no-return, was a motivational speaker that came

to his school in 8th grade to deliver this line of wisdom: "To be truly happy in

life, find something you love doing, and then find someone who'll pay you to

do it."

The rest, as they often say, is history.

Now, Zach spends most of his time living in half a dozen worlds at once, with

half of his mind drifting pleasantly in and out of reality to visit whichever

fantasy world strikes its fancy. The other half of his mind stays home in the

real world, taking the stories his fantasy mind comes back with and turning

them into books. It's a complicated relationship to be sure, but Zach actually

likes it that way.

 

 

Author Links

Amazon Buy Page:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CB255E6/

Website:

http://zacheryarichardson.blogspot.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/TheVloggingAuthor

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/AVloggingAuthor

YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheVloggingAuthor