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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Sheep Book Review: Bound (The Cities Below Book Two) by Jen Colly + giveaway

Bound (The Cities Below Book Two) 
by Jen Colly
January 31, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington/Lyrical
ISBN: 9781516101474
ASIN: B01FBZXSES
Number of pages: 200
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs
The streets are a battleground for humans, vampires, and demons alike—where survival is a skill, love is a weapon, and the most dangerous act is to care for another . . .

Keir is an assassin devoted to Lady Arianne, the last of her royal bloodline. He is sworn to protect her, and that means eliminating any threat to her life. But while on a mission, he is set upon by a pack of demons, barely escaping with his life.

Cleopatra lives by a set of rules so rigid she no longer knows her true self. But her kind and loving nature resurfaces when she finds a man, bloodied and dying. Moved to help him, she risks her future and her life to save a stranger far below her aristocratic station.

Their attraction to each other is as powerful as it is forbidden. But even as their love grows, Keir keeps his true identity a secret—and this lie is not the only threat to their love . . . or their lives.


It's so nice to get back to reading a vampire PNR! It feels like many books have passed in my life of the "non-fang" variety. But here we are once again, back in the g-spot I love the best. Vampires! *throws confetti in the air* 

With 200 pages this one hits you hard and fast. Action and some high stakes adventure take the reader on a fun and quick journey. I didn't read book one, but that didn't matter at all. Book two seems to pick up right where things left off. This world of vampires is one I've read before but the new characters and steamy romance kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. 

I would have personally loved a little more mystery and plot originality but that's just my tastes. With so many authors out there you really need to stretch yourself sometimes to create something totally unique. However, you still get a lot of good reading in this one! 

Getting 3 and 1/2 Vampire Sheep
KD




Excerpt:
Cleopatra was utterly trapped. She longed to close her eyes and block him out, but fear of the unknown kept them wide open. The man had no weapon, couldn’t possibly mean to harm her. Except, would he really need a weapon? She couldn’t fight him, wouldn’t even know where to begin.

He studied her closely, and when his head tilted slightly, she noticed every bit of his focus fixated on her neck. Not a murderer. He wanted to mark her, to bite her neck, leave the wound to heal and forever bind her to him. This was why daughters of the aristocracy were kept under a tight watch. The mark, unbreakable and indisputable, would give this man access to her family’s wealth and prestige, and bind her to him until death.

He reached for her, head descending to her neck. Cleopatra quickly covered his target with both hands. Tears gathered in her eyes, sorrow distorted her voice. “I don’t want this. Please, don’t hurt me.”

The man rocked back as if she’d smacked him, and for the first time since he’d appeared, he looked at her face. His eyes met hers and didn’t look away as he brought his hand to her cheek and brushed away a tear. He saw her, truly saw her, and the adoration in his eyes sent a completely different shimmy down her spine.

In one step, he crowded her, pressing his cheek against hers. “Could never hurt you. My angel,” his captivating voice crooned, so close to her ear. He drew in a deep breath, his face buried in her hair. Then he whispered, “My Cleo.”

She gasped. The shortened version of her name on his lips sounded strangely intimate, as though he’d known her for years. The warmth rolling off his body kept her intensely aware of his close proximity, and she held her breath, waiting for his next move to prove his intent. He didn’t bite her, didn’t hurt her, and the sincere affection in his gentle touch left her so very confused. Any other man would have bitten her, taken advantage of the opportunity laid before him. But this man? His intent to bite her had been unmistakable, and he’d stopped because he…cared for her? She didn’t understand.

His hand slipped from her face, dropped to his side, and he staggered back, moving as if through a dream. He still watched her, but he swayed, that intense focus suddenly gone. The man crumpled to the floor with a heavy thud.

Dragging in a long, shaky breath, she blinked away tears she’d been staring through. A few more deep breaths, and she allowed herself to really look at him. He lay on his side, knees slightly curled, motionless. Something was wrong with him. People didn’t just fall over.

Gripping the railing, which had swiftly become her personal anchor, she pointed her foot and gingerly nudged his arm. When he didn’t move, she put more force behind the kick. Cleopatra jumped as his hand fell away from his ribs, thumping onto the floor. Blood coated his fingers.

He was bleeding? She’d missed the injury completely. The saturated, glistening spot had been hidden under his hand and camouflaged by his black button-up shirt. He’d been so close and she hadn’t… She glanced down at herself. Blood streaked across her pale blue gown, more evidence of his severe injury.

The elevator doors slid open. Oh God, if someone were to see them together in this state, what would they think? What would happen to her, or to him? Her heart hammered, panic flooding through her as she peeked out into the main corridor of Sterling.

The white, gold-trimmed corridor stretched on, empty. The elevator doors slid shut, and there it would stay, unless called. She might not have much time. Peering down at the unconscious man, she tried to fit the puzzle pieces together.

She’d mistaken his intent. He’d needed sustenance badly, and now he bled out, dying at her feet. Because of who she was, he refused to harm her, to take from her. How did he have the willpower to block his instincts from taking over, to stop from feeding?

Whoever he was, she had to save him. She dropped to her knees and pushed away any lingering fear under her newfound resolve. Tugging his shirt from his dark jeans, she searched for the injury. In the midst of his blood-slicked skin, the wound gaped open between his ribs. It looked like he’d been slashed, the nasty gash a result of being on the wrong end of a knife. Just a guess. She had no experience with this sort of villainy.

Her hand flew to her mouth. The murderer running loose in Galbraith used a knife. Could this man be yet another victim?

“Can you hear me? What happened to you? Who did this?” She awkwardly patted his whiskered cheek. His eyes fluttered open, then shut again.

“Balinese is safe.” His voice trembled, his words slurred without support from his shallow breath. “Paris. Demons.”

Cleopatra’s fingers fumbled as she pulled away his shirt collar. Several teeth-like gouges in his shredded skin oozed blood near his collarbone. Demons. They’d almost made a meal of him, and he was a bloody mess, but the real danger came from that knife wound. It looked deep, and if he’d been damaged internally and lost too much blood, he might not survive.

He needed blood now. She bit her wrist and pressed it against his mouth. His lips didn’t part, and his body refused to respond. A rivulet of blood slid down his cheek. He’d die if she didn’t fight for him.
About the Author:
Jen Colly is the rare case of an author who rebelled against reading assignments throughout her school years. Now she prefers reading books in a series, which has led her to writing her first paranormal romance series: The Cities Below. She will write about anything that catches her fancy, though truth be told, her weaknesses are pirates and vampires. 

She lives in Ohio with her supportive husband, two kids, one big fluffy dog, and four rescued cats.


Tour giveaway 
5 copies of Bound

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, January 30, 2017

Today is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day!

Today is Bubble Wrap appreciation day so press play and have at it! I like the Manic mode.

Go to the virtual bubble wrap site and download it for your phone too!

History of Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
From the website:
"Ok, ok… So it’s not INTENTIONALLY a toy, but the truth behind Bubble Wrap is perhaps even stranger. You see, Bubble Wrap was originally formed from two shower curtains being sealed together, and the inventors tried to market this as wallpaper. It’s perhaps sad that this wasn’t actually successful, who knows how many cases of extreme anxiety could have been solved if all you had to do was pound your walls for a little relief?

Ironically, this wasn’t the only misstep on its way to its true calling, the next thing they tried to market it as was greenhouse insulation, which was also largely unsuccessful. A year later they discovered its perfect purpose, and the line of Bubble Wrap brand packaging came to pass. It started off on an auspicious path with IBM being the first customer, shipping the IBM 1401 in air cushioned comfort out to its many customers.

Each year Bubble Wrap hosts a ‘Young Inventor’ award that encourages them to find ways to use Bubble Wrap outside of packaging. Whether you need a Bubble Wrap door cover to help you keep out the dings, or a Bubble Wrap cushy wheelchair to ensure your loved ones are safe from every danger, these young inventors work every year to try to create the newest Bubble Wrap rage."

Sunday, January 29, 2017

TV Show Review: Sweet/ Vicious (Season 1) on MTV (Spoiler Free)

SWEET/VICIOUS: SEASON 1 (2016)
Genre: Drama
Network: MTV
Premiere Date: Nov 15, 2016
Creator: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Exec. Producers: Stacey Sher, Amanda Lasher
Cast:
Taylor Dearden as Ophelia
Eliza Bennett as Jules
Lindsay Chambers as Fiona Price
Nick Fink as Tyler
Dylan McTee as Nate
Brandon Mychal Smith as Harris

Two college gals attend class by day and battle crime by night.

MTV has produced a lot of trash TV, but they have done something right with Sweet/Vicious. I had my doubts...but my 15 year old daughter started watching and wanted me to watch with her.

Sweet/Vicious is a drama with a heavy dose of humor that addresses the rape culture at universities in a respectful and responsible way. I recommend watching it with your high school aged kids, this is a chance to start a dialogue with them (male and female) about a serious subject.

The show is fiction...kind of a collage girl version of The Equalizer. There is a lot of humor to balance out the heavier stuff. But the show also gives equal screen time to healthy relationships between couples and between best friends. It is about support, how to give it and ask for it. As well as some feel good ass kicking. It addresses the very real fact that rape 
on college campuses does get swept under the rug and that the victims are encouraged to stay quiet.
These are melt your heart good guys!
After commercial breaks, the two main stars do a spot telling people that rape is a crime, it is not your fault and give out the hotline for help. All this heaviness doesn't take away from the entertainment value of the show. I know! Hard to believe MTV pulled this off, but they did.
Real talk from the stars
It was also well cast. The two leads Taylor Dearden (Ophelia) and Eliza Bennett (Jules) have great comedic chemistry (there are a lot of laugh out loud moments) and realism when it was called for. The supporting cast rounded things out well. You will hate the bad guys and cheer on the good.
This is a funny bonding moment from episode one when Jules (left) and Ophelia (right) first meet
The 10 episode show ended with possibility for a season two. I'm hoping they do. Rotten Tomatoes gave the show 100%, while the audience gave it 85%. You can watch it on demand.

4.5 "This is gonna hurt" Sheep




SharonS

Winning the Internet this week...doggie shenanigans!

http://samskinuity.tumblr.com/post/156365975333/bluelelie-this-is-my-favorite-post-omg

Friday, January 27, 2017

Book Review: California Dreaming: Crucible of Change #3 by Noelle Alladania Meade

California Dreaming: Crucible of Change #3
by Noelle Alladania Meade
November 29th 2016
by MuseItUp Publishing
Kindle Edition, 400 pages
After battling mutant slime creatures, eco-terrorists, and a ruthless mage bent on making her the guest of honor at a human sacrifice, Olivia Mitchell was looking forward to a nice, long, all-expenses-paid vacation in southern California. Frank is busy training for his role in the latest Warblade venture – a reality series called Dungeon Raiders. While Frank learns the skills he’ll need for the show, it’s time for Olivia to decide what she wants to do with her new life.

Olivia planned to relax, do a little artwork, and bask in the glow of expectant motherhood. She forgot that a ‘trouble magnet’ doesn’t have an off switch and relaxing isn’t in her genes. With the help of a powerful mentor, Olivia is taking her magic skills to another level – studying harder than she ever did in college. At the same time a mysterious gallery owner promises to bring Olivia’s artwork to a new audience. It would be fame beyond her wildest dreams – if she’s willing to pay the price.

Television cameras attract all manner of crazy. Olivia wasn’t prepared to obsessed fans, and she didn’t expect the crazy team politics or would-be romantic rivals. Add a doctor with the world’s worst bedside manner and Olivia's life behind the scenes far more dramatic than anything that's actually part of the show. The chaos also cloaks a very real threat: a twisted mage from another world, intent on putting Olivia and her children on display in his personal menagerie.

It's time for Olivia to get her Mommy Rage on - and this time, she's killing for three.


I still find it hard to believe I finished this story. I had just finished one of the author's other books which was pretty much a straight erotica read and this started out similar. Then a story developed and It was like a train wreck...you just can't look away. Don't get me wrong, there was still a lot of sexual escapades but somewhere it cloaked a story about gamers and real supernaturals.

There was never much background on the characters and their "change" (when they acquired their powers) but it was as if the author created a "Survivor" like game and interjected paranormals, erotica and a rather twisted love story.

The main character is a dark elf pregnant with twins. Her "baby daddy" is a well endowed troll who seems like a pretty nice guy for a troll. Of course in his previous life he was a college professor so ...there you go! They are recruited to join a TV (?) reality production of "Dungeon Raiders" where contestants are divided into 4 groups to battle it out for a chance at a dragon's treasure.

Lots of erotica, dysfunctional personalities and shreds of a storyline that could have made for a really good straight paranormal story. As a matter of fact, halfway through I thought the author decided to change from erotica to straight paranormal (I mean, how far can you really go with a pregnant main character?!). As I said, I did finish it and the ending left me thinking the author may have an idea of continuing this thread.

Getting 3 "what the heck am I reading" sheep.





JeanieG

About the Author:
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MuseItUp Publishing
Noelle usually has several irons in the fire at any given time. She likes to spend her time reading, writing, crafting, running two online shops to sell her crafts, and gaming. Life took a turn for the quirky in 2000 when she had her daughter, who turned out to have autism.

As a child, her ambition was to be the first woman President of the United States. When she got older and learned more about politics, she recovered from that particular insanity.

Her teens were spent on historical romances, science fiction, fantasy, and writing angsty poetry. In middle school, she had her first introduction to tabletop gaming in the form of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. As she explained to her dad, with all seriousness, it gave her the chance—as a terminally shy person—to try on different personalities and experiment with being a stronger person.

From the time her daughter was born until mid-2014, Noelle worked out of her home providing IT support for a small local software company. She’s finally working in an office again as an administrator, and rather likes it. It’s nice to spend the day around adults who are mostly grown-ups.


Spotlight; Heartstone by Elle Katharine White

Heartstone
by Elle Katharine White
January 17, 2017
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Genre: Historical Fantasy
A debut historical fantasy that recasts Jane Austen’s beloved Pride & Prejudice in an imaginative world of wyverns, dragons, and the warriors who fight alongside them against the monsters that threaten the kingdom: gryphons, direwolves, lamias, banshees, and lindworms.

They say a Rider in possession of a good blade must be in want of a monster to slay—and Merybourne Manor has plenty of monsters.

Passionate, headstrong Aliza Bentaine knows this all too well; she’s already lost one sister to the invading gryphons. So when Lord Merybourne hires a band of Riders to hunt down the horde, Aliza is relieved her home will soon be safe again.

Her relief is short-lived. With the arrival of the haughty and handsome dragonrider, Alastair Daired, Aliza expects a battle; what she doesn’t expect is a romantic clash of wills, pitting words and wit against the pride of an ancient house. Nor does she anticipate the mystery that follows them from Merybourne Manor, its roots running deep as the foundations of the kingdom itself, where something old and dreadful slumbers . . . something far more sinister than gryphons.

It’s a war Aliza is ill-prepared to wage, on a battlefield she’s never known before: one spanning kingdoms, class lines, and the curious nature of her own heart.

Elle Katharine White infuses elements of Austen’s beloved novel with her own brand of magic, crafting a modern epic fantasy that conjures a familiar yet wondrously unique new world.


About the Author:
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Elle was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, where she learned valuable life skills like how to clear a snowy driveway in under twenty minutes (a lot easier than you think) and how to cheer for the perennial underdog (a lot harder than you think).

When she’s not writing she spends her time reading, drinking absurd amounts of tea, having strong feelings about fictional characters, and doing her best to live with no regrets.

Connect with her on Facebook at @ellewhite.author, or witness the hilarious spectacle that is a writer contending with the 140-character limit on Twitter at @elle_k_writes.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Paranormal Romance Spotlight: The Trihune Series by RB Austin


trihune-series-transparent
The Trihune Series
by RB Austin
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Soulmate Publishing
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FALLEN REDEMPTION, The Trihune Series #1
trihune-series-1-0-fallen-redemption
Cade committed himself to saving lives before he learned the full consequences of his life-altering decision. It wasn’t until he was tending his sick wife that he learned the enormity of what he’d done and he was unable to save her from the monster he had become. Consumed with guilt and praying for absolution, he threw himself into killing every Fallen he could find to save the humans he’d sworn to protect. But then Emma, deliciously mortal and completely forbidden, swept into his world, stirring an overpowering desire. Now he’s not only fighting soulless creatures, but also his inner cravings, trying to maintain his distance and continue on his path to forgiveness. He can’t afford to lose control again and sacrifice another love.


FALLEN DARKNESS, The Trihune Series #2
trihune-series-2-0-fallen-darkness

The war between Apollyon and the Trihune has begun.

Lucas scours the street in need of a fix. He captures his enemy instead of kills. Spins lies instead of truth. Seeks darkness instead of light. So close to the edge with no concern for the fall.

The map was foretold. Its key long lost.

Sent on a mission to find the key necessary to defeat Apollyon, Lucas meets Kate. Fiery, powerful, unable-to-touch-any-object Kate. As his feelings for her grow, the addiction inside him wanes.

Until he learns she is not meant for him.

Find the key. Find the way and triumph.

His future with Kate is bleak. The darkness, too hard to control. The key, still lost.

Can Lucas win the battle raging inside his body in order to win the war rising on the streets?


FALLEN DEATH, The Trihune Series #3
trihune-series-3-0-fallen-death

Hurt. Maim. Kill.

An explosive, volatile demon lives inside Sarid.

The monster seeks murder and destruction. The man seeks peace; or a silence that can only be found in death.

Until he meets her.

But his secret could ruin everything.

Trust her instincts.

Asjhone will do anything to keep her son safe. She conceals her terror during the day, but when the sun goes down, it’s locks, chains, and nightmares.

Until she meets him.

Sarid is everything she’s dreamed of. He adores her son, is kind, and would never hurt her.

But her secret could ruin everything.

Life is made up of choices.

Lose his life or lose his love? Run from her past or stand up and fight?

They must confront their pasts together, and fight for their future against a demon determined to win.


rb-austin-authore-photoAbout the Author:
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RB Austin enjoys torturing dogs (dressing her Cairn terrier in knitted sweaters and booties), embarrassing her daughter (singing in the car . . . at the top of her lungs . . . with the windows open . . . at a stop light), and indulging in the second deadliest sin (chocolate, Swedish fish, chocolate, sour patch watermelons, and chocolate).

This author's love of the sun puts in her in the more-than-likely-not-a-vampire category, unless you're referring to the bloodsuckers in her Trihune series, then all bets are off.

Feeling stalkerish? Visit her website, www.rbaustin.com, and learn where she hangs out on the Interwebs.



Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Spotlight: Dreadnought (Book One of Nemesis Series) by April Daniels

Dreadnought (Book One of Nemesis Series)
by April Daniels
January 24, 2017
Diversion Trade Paperback Original
$14.99 | 276 pages
ISBN: 978-1682300688
Danny Tozer has a problem: she just inherited the powers of Dreadnought, the world's greatest superhero. Until Dreadnought fell out of the sky and died in front of her, Danny was trying to keep people from finding out she's transgender. But before he expired, Dreadnought passed his mantle to her, and those secondhand superpowers transformed Danny's body into what she's always thought it should be. Now there's no hiding that she's a girl.

It should be the happiest time of her life, but Danny's first weeks finally living in a body that fits her are more difficult and complicated than she could have imagined. Between her father's dangerous obsession with "curing" her girlhood, her best friend suddenly acting like he's entitled to date her, and her fellow superheroes arguing over her place in their ranks, Danny feels like she's in over her head.

She doesn't have time to adjust. Dreadnought's murderer — a cyborg named Utopia — still haunts the streets of New Port City, threatening destruction. If Danny can't sort through the confusion of coming out, master her powers, and stop Utopia in time, humanity faces extinction.

About the Author:
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April Daniels graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in literature, and then promptly lost her job during the 2008 stock crash and recession. After she recovered from homelessness, she completed her first manuscript by scribbling a few sentences at a time between calls while working in the customer support department for a well-known video game console. She has a number of hobbies, most of which are boring and predictable. As nostalgia for the 1990s comes into its full bloom, she has become ever more convinced that she was born two or three years too late and missed all the good stuff the first time around. Early in her writing practice, April set her narrative defaults to "lots of lesbians" and never looked back.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Spotlight and Excerpt: The Forests Of Dru (Sorcerous Moons book 4) by Jeffe Kennedy

The Forests Of Dru (Sorcerous Moons book 4)
by Jeffe Kennedy
January 24, 2017
180 pages
An Enemy Land
Once Princess Oria spun wicked daydreams from the legends of sorceresses kidnapped by the barbarian Destrye. Now, though she’s come willingly, she finds herself in a mirror of the old tales: the king’s foreign trophy of war, starved of magic, surrounded by snowy forest and hostile strangers. But this place has secrets, too—and Oria must learn them quickly if she is to survive.

A Treacherous Court
Instead of the refuge he sought, King Lonen finds his homeland desperate and angry, simmering with distrust of his wife. With open challenge to his rule, he knows he and Oria—the warrior wounded and weak, the sorceress wrung dry of power—must somehow make a display of might. And despite the desire that threatens to undo them both, he still cannot so much as brush her skin.

A Fight for the Future
With war looming and nowhere left to run, Lonen and Oria must use every intrigue and instinct they can devise: to plumb Dru’s mysteries, to protect their people—and to hold fast to each other. Because they know better than any what terrifying trial awaits…


Sorcerous Moons series:

 Excerpt:
“We won the war and this is still the best the king’s table can command?”

Nolan poked at the meat with a sour scowl, and Arnon clapped him on the shoulder. “Not much of a homecoming, huh? You could have brought us game from the far forests and done better.”

“I brought the King of the Destrye instead.” Nolan shrugged him off. “That seemed more useful at the time.”

Lonen, that selfsame King of the Destrye, didn’t adjust his position to ease his aching side, lest his brother misinterpret that as a sign of discomfort with the topic of conversation. Nor did he miss the sidelong glance from Nolan that suggested he might be reconsidering Lonen’s inherent usefulness. Not that Lonen could argue much otherwise. Being laid up in bed recuperating for more than a week didn’t lend itself to high-profile—or even marginally effective—rule. Nevertheless, some remnant of his youthful self cringed, wishing he could do something to earn his older brother’s approval rather than his scorn.

Mostly, though, he longed to be back in that bed, under the furs with Oria, sharing her warmth, basking in the surety that she slept beside him. To be there when the strange dreams woke her.

Oria hadn’t wanted him to be up and about yet, but Nolan—believed lost in battle, now miraculously returned and restless with unsatisfied expectations—had decided he’d waited long enough for explanations. Rather than risk having Nolan barge into his bedchamber and interrogate Oria, Lonen had conceded to the lesser of the evils and gotten himself to this private dinner with his two remaining brothers. The last three of Archimago’s line, sadly diminished in robustness of every kind.

But three was one more than they’d thought they had.

That had to be a good thing. A blessing from Arill herself. Somehow, though, under the sharp scrutiny of Nolan’s piercing blue stare, Lonen nursed a few doubts.

He gave in and shifted, easing the pinch in his gut. The infection no longer poisoned him, but the massive tissue damage had yet to replace itself—however much ever would—despite Oria’s foolhardy attempt to give her life to heal him. That side of his body sagged inward, as if part of him had been carved out.

Which, come to think of it, it pretty much had.

With a grimace for that, he forced himself to finish the slice of stringy roast on his plate, then picked up his warmed wine and drank, hoping to mute some of the ache.

“It’s not good for you to be upright in a chair like this,” Arnon said, frowning at him. “I can see it pains you.”

“Father would say a warrior can suffer far more than a bit of pain, especially in the service of Dru,” Nolan replied, gaze never wavering from Lonen. “He would have expected his successor to be sitting the throne and handling the pressing issues of the Destrye, not lying abed with a foreign mistress.”

“You mean Her Highness, Oria, Queen of the Destrye?” Lonen didn’t raise his voice, but his tone carried all the iron resolve of his battle-axe. Enough that Nolan sat back slightly, a hint of surprise flickering through his eyes before they sharpened again. That’s right. I am not the same little brother you knew before the war. He might not be ruling impressively, but neither was he a pushover. Not anymore.

“She is Báran,” Nolan said flatly, tempting Lonen to remark on his brother’s powers of observation. But this was no time for levity. This conversation had been a long time coming and Nolan clearly intended to have it out now. So be it—and Arill hold him in her hand for this battle.

“I’m fully aware of that, Nolan, as I met her in Bára, where she is in fact, a princess and should be queen of her people by her own right.”

“What exactly happened there?” Arnon put in, full of curiosity. “What?” He gave Nolan’s frown a scowl of his own. “You’re not the only one who’s been sitting on questions while Lonen concentrated on not dying,” he added pointedly. “You’ve dragged him out of bed for this, so we might as well get the whole story.”


About the Author:
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Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author whose works include non-fiction, poetry, short fiction, and novels. She has been a Ucross Foundation Fellow, received the Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship for Poetry, and was awarded a Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Award. Her essays have appeared in many publications, including Redbook.

Her most recent works include a number of fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns; the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, and an erotic contemporary serial novel, Master of the Opera. A fourth series, the fantasy trilogy The Twelve Kingdoms, hit the shelves starting in May 2014 and book 1, The Mark of the Tala, received a starred Library Journal review was nominated for the RT Book of the Year while the sequel, The Tears of the Rose was nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2014 and the third book, The Talon of the Hawk, won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2015. Two more books will follow in this world, beginning with The Pages of the Mind May 2016. A fifth series, the erotic romance trilogy, Falling Under, started with Going Under, and was followed by Under His Touch and Under Contract.

She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com, every Sunday at the popular SFF Seven blog, on Facebook, on Goodreads and pretty much constantly on Twitter @jeffekennedy. She is represented by Connor Goldsmith of Fuse Literary.

Book Review: Eleventh Grave in Moonlight (Charley Davidson Book 11) by Darynda Jones

Eleventh Grave in Moonlight (Charley Davidson Book 11)
by Darynda Jones
Jan 24, 2017
Pages: 320
My entire life can be summed up in one sentence:
“Well, that didn’t go as planned.”
—T-Shirt

A typical day in the life of Charley Davidson involves cheating husbands, errant wives, missing people, philandering business owners, and, oh yeah...demons, hell hounds, evil gods, and dead people. Lots and lots of dead people. As a part time Private Investigator and full-time Grim Reaper, Charley has to balance the good, the bad, the undead, and those who want her dead.

Now, Charley is learning to make peace with the fact that she is a goddess with all kinds of power and that her own daughter has been born to save the world from total destruction. But the forces of hell are determined to see Charley banished forever to the darkest corners of another dimension. With the son of Satan himself as her husband and world-rocking lover, will Charley be able to defeat the ultimate evil and find a way to have her happily ever after after all?


Charley still misses her daughter “Beep” more than anything in the world but the only way to keep her safe is to keep her hidden. As the grim reeper, Charley has special abilities and some she even knows how to use but as a god she has even more abilities that she doesn’t have a clue on how to use.

As Charley investigates the Foster’s, the people who originally abducted Reyes, she finds connections to more abductions and not to mention some really weird things. Uncle Bob has been acting really out of character and the team continues to try to guard him and protect him from going to hell.

Charley is one of the funniest characters of any book series I read and I always look forward to her quirky humor. The headings at the beginning of each chapter, which include slogans, bumper stickers, t-shirt headings were back to be fabulous in this book. Hold on to your seats because a big shock will be revealed in this one. Can’t wait until the next one!




Getting 5 sheep




DeniseB

About the Author:
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NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Spotlight: The Ghoul Vendetta (A SPI Files Novel book 4) by Lisa Shearin + giveaway

Men in Black meets Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum in the fourth urban fantasy novel in the series starring seer Makenna Fraser and her fellow agents at Supernatural Protection & Investigation.The agents of Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) are paid to keep the peace. But that’s not so easy when an endless evil threatens to tear that peace to pieces...

The Ghoul Vendetta (A SPI Files Novel book 4)
by Lisa Shearin
January 31, 2017
ACE Mass Market
304 Pages
A vampire gangster’s nephew is abducted off his yacht by a bunch of low-rent Creatures from the Black Lagoon. A slew of banks are knocked over by what looks like the cast of Night of the Living Dead. All of this may seem like the movies, but, I promise you, it’s not.

I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for SPI, and I know the culprits aren’t wearing disguises or makeup. They’re real. Deadly real. Especially their leader—an ancient shapeshifter who leaves a trail of chaos and blood in his wake. Now, he’s taken my partner, Ian—and his intentions aren’t pretty.

The worst part? This is only the beginning...

The beginning of the end of the human race.

Praise for the SPI Novels

“Urban fantasy at its best.”—Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“An action-packed mix of monsters, magic, and mayhem.”—Jennifer Estep, New York Times bestselling author

“Throw Stephanie Plum, The X-Files, and tequila in a blender and experience it all explode in your face.”—Rob Thurman, New York Times bestselling author 

“An absolute must-read. Shearin’s incredible ability to combine the scary and the wacky is why she is a star on the rise!”—RT Book Reviews

“X-Files meets Men in Black...Snappy and entertaining.”—The BiblioSanctum

About the Author:
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Lisa Shearin is the New York Times bestselling author of the Raine Benares novels, a comedic fantasy adventure series, as well as the SPI Files novels (The Brimstone Deception, The Dragon Conspiracy, The Grendel Affair), an urban fantasy series best described as Men in Black with supernaturals instead of aliens. Lisa is a voracious collector of fountain pens, teapots, and teacups, both vintage and modern. She lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband, three spoiled-rotten retired racing greyhounds, and enough deer and woodland creatures to fill a Disney movie.
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Sunday, January 22, 2017

Book Review: Elemental Flame (The Eldritch Files Book 4) by Phaedra Weldon

Elemental Flame (The Eldritch Files Book 4)
by Phaedra Weldon
April 15, 2015
Pages: 229
"I love you, Sam. I will always love you."

When Elemental Witch Samantha Hawthorne discovers her lover, Crwys Holliard, is missing, she vows to find him. With the help of her friends and an Alpha Werewolf who just won't take no for an answer, Sam follows clues that point them in the direction of the realm of Faerie, a place Sam swore she would never return to.

The road to his rescue is blocked by conjured enemies, a power hungry Magician, a former ally and a warring Faerie queen, determined to make herself the ultimate ruler of the Faerie kingdoms.

Will Sam be able to rescue him, or will Crwys and Sam be parted from one another, forever?

Elemental Flame is the 4th book in the Eldritch Files.



Elemental Flame continues with Sam completely heart broken and Crwys Holliard missing. As Sam and her friends search for clues on what happened to Crwys she is shocked where it leads her. Even though she swore she would never return to Faerie she must find a way in if she ever wants to see Crwys again.

The Eldritch File characters are well written with a little of everything. There’s the ones you want to love, like Sam and Ivan, the ones you want to hate such as Blackwood and Ina and the ones you can’t decide what to do with such as Arden Vervain! One thing that each book seems to succeed with is surprises! Just when you think you know where the story is going, BAM, you’re wrong which makes this series a must read!



About the Author:
Phaedra's imagination and love of television and movie characters often rewarded her with strange looks at school. Her love of science fiction and fantasy blossomed when her cousin Cyndy gave her Anne McCaffrey's "Dragon Flight" for her twelfth birthday. After that, her mother bought her subscriptions to Ellery Queen, Issac Assimov's, F&SF, Realms and Analog and her father never failed to bring home a book of short stories no matter where he traveled.

Other interests are manga, anime, gaming, hiking, waterfalls and spending time with her daughter.

Her latest series are The Eldritch Files, The Grimoire Chronicles and The Dark Backward (coming 2016). There is also a 15 book Dark Fantasy series on the horizon, as soon as she feels she's got all the tools she needs in her wheelhouse.