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Monday, April 30, 2018

Spotlight: Ryder (Sons of Sangue Book 6) by Patricia A. Rasey + giveaway


Ryder (Sons of Sangue Book 6)
by Patricia A. Rasey
April 30, 2018
Genre: Paranormal Romance
161 pages
Chasing down the cartel is serious business. Taking out the kingpin, though, can be downright deadly.
To locate the leader of a ruthless cartel, vampire Ryder Kelley must become one with the locals, leaving no room for mistakes. The plan? Infiltrate the ring, find the kingpin, and get out. What Ryder doesn't count on is his mark's stunning niece. Her siren's blood has him compromising the one mission his MC commissioned him to do.

Gabriela Trevino Caballero is the niece of one of the most powerful men in Mexico. She stays close to home and guards her heart from those who would use her to get close to her uncle. Just when she finds the one man she hopes is unlike any other, Gabby discovers Ryder's deception.





About the Author:
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USA Today bestselling author Patricia A. Rasey resides in her native town in Northwest Ohio with her husband, Mark, and her lovable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Todd and Buckeye. When not behind her computer, you can find Patricia working, reading, watching movies or MMA. She also enjoys spending her free time at the river camping and boating with her husband and her family. Ms. Rasey is a retired third degree Black Belt in American Freestyle Karate.


GIVEAWAY
Signed copy of RYDER with bookmarks, open to US (if international, they will receive an eGift card equivalent to the price of the book and receive a bookplate and bookmarks).

Favorite Top 5 Lists with YA author Michael Okon + Excerpt

Favorite Top 5 Lists 

Most Inspiring Movies that helped me write my books 
1. Back to the Future
2. The Goonies
3. Jurassic Park
4. Lord of the Rings (All three)
5. Gremlins


Most Inspiring Books that helped me write my books
1. Anything by Michael Crichton (especially Jurassic Park)
2. The Science of Getting Rich
3. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind
4. Anything by Ben Mezrich
5. Anything by Tony Robbins


Favorite Movies of All Time 
1. There Will Be Blood
2. Rounders
3. Empire Strikes Back
4. Lord of the Rings (All three)
5. Back to the Future

Favorite Foods 
1. Porterhouse steak
2. Cheeseburger no bun
3. Eggs
4. Bacon
5. Cheddar Cheese

Favorite Rides at Disney World (that I take my kids on) 
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Splash Mountain
3. Peter Pan’s Flight
4. Jungle Cruise
5. Kilimanjaro Safari

Favorite Restaurants 
1. Peter Lugars in Great Neck
2. Cracker Barrel
3. Del Frisco’s
4. On Parade Diner 

5. Emeril’s Fish House 



Monsterland Reanimated (Monsterland Book Two) 
by Michael Okon
April 13, 2018 
Genre: Young Adult Thriller
Publisher: WordFire Press LLC
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-61475-672-9
ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-61475-677-4
ASIN: 978-1-61475-673-6
Number of pages: 250
When an army of relentless mummies, a life-sucking ooze called The Glob, and a hybrid reanimated Behemoth rise from the depths of Monsterland, who will survive?

After Monsterland has imploded, the entire world is thrown into chaos. World leadership is gone, economies have collapsed, and communications are non-existent. Wyatt must go beyond the boundaries of his small town to reestablish contact with the outside world, and alert the government about a traitor-in-chief.

During his journey he discovers a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park.
When an army of relentless mummies, a life-sucking ooze called The Glob, and a hybrid reanimated Behemoth rise from the depths of Monsterland, who will survive?



Excerpt: Chapter 1
The Night After the Monsterland Catastrophe

A bright moon painted the desert’s surface pewter. Here and there, dark spots soiled the landscape like oil spills. Most of the bodies had been taken before the troops were ordered to leave. They carted away the corpses, bulldozing the zombies into mass graves, until radios chirped with urgent orders deploying the soldiers to the bigger threats that erupted in the main cities like a chain of angry volcanos.

Monsterland was extinguished, its carcass left for the vultures to pick, the exhibits silent as a tomb.

The dead president and his equally dead entourage were whisked away on Air Force One, along with the dark-clad special operatives that came and left like the brisk desert wind that now howled through the empty streets.

A gate screamed in the silence, slamming with a reverberating smash. The uneven gait of someone with a physical challenge filled the void. The scrape and plod of his limp echoed against the wall of mountains framing the theme park. His labored breathing huffed as he made his way down the streets.

A door creaked loudly as it was blown by the wind. He stopped, his distorted figure silhouetted in the pale moonlight, his body turning silver. He looked at the broken glass littering the pavement like diamonds, then up to the still, pre-dawn sky. He considered the sun peeking over the jagged horizon in the east, its golden light painting the dips and hollows of the hills. Soon the coming day would chase the darkness away.

Time was the enemy now. He had to move faster, or it would be too late. He picked up his pace, lurching along the winding road. A keening howl ricocheted through the streets, bouncing off the walls. It sounded like a ... no, he thought, it couldn’t be. The werewolves were all dead. Destroyed by Vincent Konrad when he made their heads explode.

The old man paused, listening for it again, and was not disappointed when the animal whimpered. He gauged it to be inside the defunct vampire exhibit. He moved toward the entrance. The storefronts had been destroyed. A few body parts lay on the pavement, as if people had discarded them in a rush. He heard the scraping of paws on the street and a shiver went down his crooked spine.

He knew the werewolves were dead; he had seen it with his own eyes. A figure detached from the shadows. Igor flattened himself against the wall. He watched it move stealthily down the street, stopping when it scavenged a morsel of rotting flesh. It looked up to stare at Igor, its eyes glowing in the darkness.

A coyote? He waved a hand, dismissing it. It had to be a coyote; it was too small to be a wolf, too big to be a dog. The beast twitched its ears, then resumed its meal.

Igor knew the coyote was not a threat, and he continued his mission. His lame foot hit a can, sending a cacophony of sound like an explosion in the deserted park. The beast dropped the bone it was gnawing on, sniffing the area. Its iridescent eyes searched the streets.

It could be a baby wolf, Igor thought, keeping himself as still as possible. He felt it watching him, even from this distance. It was not a threat, yet.

Igor skittered away, hugging the walls of Monsterland, putting as much distance as he could between them. Not an easy feat, considering his distorted hips. He muttered to himself about carrion and the wind. His eyes darted nervously, scouring the hills, not exactly sure what he was looking for. Adrenaline coursed through his veins. His heart pounded so loudly he was certain that the creature watching him could hear it too.

His feet stumbling to a halt, he bent over, gasping for air, cursing Vincent and those meddlesome teenagers, as well as the rest of the world.

The beast gave another mournful howl that went right through him. Igor glanced at his empty hands, berating himself for not bringing a weapon. He searched his surroundings for anything to protect himself.

Then he saw it, one of the axes they had on almost every corner. All of them had been pulled from their protective cases. One was lying in a pool of coagulating blood, the blade long gone. He picked up the broken axe handle, turning in a semicircle. He was ready for an attacker.

A new, larger outline made his heart quiver with fear. It crouched in a corner, its snout covered with blood. This one was bigger, not a coyote, a wild wolf. Wait, he thought. Weren’t the gray wolves of California all but extinct?

Igor narrowed his eyes. The beast was a light reddish brown and not the silver gray of a wolf’s pelt. A chain hung from its neck, the pendant of a werewolf’s head dangling, emerald eyes flashing. What was it? Was it a mutant coyote? A wolf? Some weird hybrid, he wondered for a minute, his breath harsh in his ears. They watched each other soundlessly.

A hybrid then. He’d heard about them, a rare mixture of wolf and coyote. What did they call them? Coywolves ...? or was it Woyotes? He shrugged indifferently. Perhaps someone’s pet, he decided. Igor’s mirthless laugh came out like a snort.

The coywolf stood still, its ears alert, its head cocked as if it was observing him.

Igor dropped the makeshift weapon, calling out, “Eat the rest of your meal, you dumb beast.”

The animal continued to watch him, its two front paws on the remains of a zombie’s chest.

Igor wiped his forehead, waiting, his eyes coming back to search the village, confirming it was empty, except for the carrion eaters like the coyotes and vultures. He looked up, noting the circling predators waiting for him to move on.

“Interrupted your meal,” he chuckled. Just the local scavengers looking for food. That was all; the shadows revealed nothing else. Satisfied he was alone, he moved on. He had work to do.

A paper flew past him, hitting a kiosk as the wind plastered it against its surface. It flapped like a dying bird. Igor reached over, taking the fluttering paper, peering at the map of the park, the one they gave people as they entered Monsterland. A bark of laughter escaped his mouth.

He looked up at the giant monolith that was once the Werewolf River Run, its hulking shape obscuring the horizon. “You are here,” he giggled, pointing a grimy finger on the paper’s surface. He dragged his deformed body further down the pavement. The storefronts that used to be Monsterland’s Main Street yawned vacantly, the wind whistling through the narrow alleyways. “Now, you are here,” he laughed. Shouting, he listened to the sound of his voice bouncing off the blood-splattered walls.

He made his way to the back end of the zombie village, feeling like the last man on earth. He glanced around at the desolate landscape. His home, the beautiful theme park, was little more than ruins destroyed by the army.

His nose twitched from the fetid smell of rot. The US Army had massacred the zombies. The troops came like a force of nature wiping out everything in its path, every last one of them blown away by the troops.

They were black ops, special forces, he knew from their uniforms. He wondered if things were indeed going as planned. He shrugged, knowing right now nothing mattered except for what he had to do. The irony that he was just about the most important man on earth brought more amusement to his smile.

The local police force was gone, as were the leaders of most countries in the world. He knew all was chaos outside, perhaps even war, each nation blaming the next for the loss of their leadership. Not to worry, he thought. Vincent left America in capable hands.

Dreams do come true, he snickered. Nightmares too, he finished the thought. A long line of drool pulled at his lower lip. He paused at a pothole in the road, decomposing body parts glistening, the disappearing moon turning the bits of bone and brains pearly.

Anxiety bloomed in his chest as he passed the opaque windows of Vincent’s derelict Monsterland hotel, the Copper Valley Inn. He hated that place. Abandoned construction vehicles were frozen in their spots, testimony to the hotel’s unfinished business.

Despite the pastel colors of its exterior, it sat like an ominous crypt to the part of the theme park that Vincent could never control. Told Vincent it was a money pit. Crews couldn’t work because ... well, it didn’t matter anymore. The help was all dead. He thought he saw a light flicker in the window, but when he turned, he realized it was nothing more than a sputtering gas lamp that had never been disconnected.

He stood for a while, staring for more activity, and then jerked with the realization that he waited too long and wasted precious time. Surely no one expected him to go searching during the heat of battle.

Vincent said it was enough time to set up the timetable. Vincent knew everything, and Igor felt his panic ebb. It had been barely twenty-four hours since the attack. For all he knew, he could be on a fool’s errand.

He pressed his hand on his hip, his back screaming with resentment at so much movement. He was not used to any exercise. He sighed, wiping his brow with the ragged end of his costume, the lace scratching his skin. He caught the cuff, snagging the material with his teeth, tugging it free from his velvet jacket. He loathed the show and was glad he’d never have to endure the humiliation of performing again, especially with the vamps. Those condescending, blood-sucking parasites. He wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore, he thought with satisfaction. Vincent had promised he’d not have to endure them for long, living up to his part of the bargain quite nicely. They were gone, torn apart by the werewolves or transformed into a tasty dinner by the zombies. Either way, they wouldn’t be bullying him with their nasty insults. Something buzzed around him, and he swiped at it.

It felt as though he walked to the other side of the earth. Why Vincent had to pick Zombieville to make his last stand, he’d never know. The Werewolf River Run would have been much more convenient. It was getting lighter now, and he could easily make out the smoking devastation.

He searched the horizon, his eyes resting on the burnt wreckage of a golf cart, the torched skeleton listing at an odd angle.

Pulling his lame foot, he pushed himself as fast as his body could travel, his breath hitching with the effort.

The corpse was gone. He knew they would have taken that for DNA testing, proof that the enemy was vanquished. The only things left were the putrid carcasses from Monsterland, the decaying zombies, massacred vampires, and what was left of the werewolves after Vincent had exterminated them.

He climbed a small hill, his bad leg screaming with pain. Igor crowed with triumph when he saw it, the discarded lump of flesh, lying forgotten in a ditch, face down. He shivered as the desert wind stirred and eddied around him. Damn, but it was desolate here.

He hunkered down, forcing himself to skitter on the hard-packed earth. He wondered what his son, the vice president—no, he corrected himself, the new president of the United States, Mr. Nate Owens—would think of his father now, scrambling like a dung beetle in the dirt.

He cursed. The drool was back, dripping from his mouth like a sparkling spider web. Instead of rising—it was beyond him at this point—he shimmied over to the severed head, reaching forward, reverently, grabbing it by the matted hair, and grasping it to his chest.

The black eyes stared back dully, the dark depths reflecting the hunchback’s twisted smile.

Vincent Konrad’s lifeless face lay in his hands, the pale lips open in a soundless scream.

“I’m so happy I could kiss you, Vincent!” he told the decapitated head. He cradled the face of his friend. “We’ll get you fixed up in no time.”

The moon bathed the face a pale blue. The hunchback jiggled the dead weight, cackling with delight as the one papery eyelid drooped as if it were winking.

In the distance, that coywolf howled, making Igor suck in his breath with fear. He tucked the head under his arm as he struggled back up the small hill, mumbling something about Plan B.




About the Author:
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Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling is his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Book Review: Moontide (Tides of Atlantis Book 1) by Amanda V. Shane

Moontide (Tides of Atlantis Book 1)
by Amanda V. Shane
March 9, 2018
336 pages3

Upon A Moonswept Tide…
Trapped in time…Ronan Garring is a man of action; a ship captain who has sailed the seas from Europe to the Caribbean…in the seventeenth century. When he is tricked by a sea nymph, he is sent to a deserted island in Poseidon’s realm to serve the gods for all time. On a mission to modern day Miami, he finds his earth home crawling with underworld evil and is waylaid by an enchanting human woman who seems to stall his attempts at completing his quest at every turn. He can’t be sure if she is an entirely innocent wrecking ball or the agent of a more sinister force. Against all his good intentions, he finds himself continually, albeit pleasantly, entangled with her both in this world and beyond.


Searching…for a friend whose gone missing, Cindy Pierce left the Rocky Mountains for the beaches of Miami to try to make sense of, what looks to be, a hopeless case. As the trail grows cold, she stumbles into an intriguing dark stranger and is literally knocked flat. Fierce and intense as he is, towering over her and exuding old world masculinity, she can’t help her body’s immediate response to him. When she finds herself being chased across the southern tip of Miami and into the Florida Keys by the handsome foreigner however, she’s convinced he’s not only psychotic but intent on doing her harm. Once she finds herself in his arms again though, her attraction to him can’t be denied and neither can the fact that he may be the only one who can save her from the dark forces at work on the beach.

This book contains some intimate scenes and adult situations. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

Tides of Atlantis Series
Mankind and the gods alike have grown complacent and the restless forces of the underworld that have been simmering beneath the surface are coming out to play. They will not stop until their thirst for vengeance is satisfied and all worlds have returned to yawning pre-time chaos.
Ten lost kings ─ sons of Poseidon─ and rulers of a condemned land are our last hope…if only they can be found. Cursed by the gods after the fall of Atlantis, the kings have passed into anonymity with no memory of who they are. Forces of both good and evil are hunting them. Poseidon needs them to win the war for the universe. Evil is bent on their destruction.

Join the race to find the kings in Amanda V. Shane’s new Tides of Atlantis series and help them to discover their soul mates, the women who will win their lost hearts and help them fulfill their destiny!

Tides of Atlantis is an exciting new series by author Amanda V. Shane. The series is set to follow the life and love of 10 lost kings of Atlantis, sons of Poseidon. The ancient world of gods collides with our modern landscape in a richly complex tale and reimagining of ancient Greek lore. The series’ premier installment tells the tale of Ronan Garring, a formidable and immortal ship captain from the 17th century and Cindy Pierce, a thoroughly modern woman on a mission in modern-day Miami.

Part paranormal romance, part urban fantasy, Moontide was an entertaining read. The plot is extraordinarily complex and considering Moontide is the first book of the series, loads of set up takes place. I would caution readers against getting too bogged down in the details, because before long the plot ‘clicks’ into place and details begin to make sense. The book is wildly imaginative with a mythological base, which I liked. The character development is effective and the Ronan-Cindy dynamic is well executed.

I’m very excited to see where this series leads. With abundant plot potential and several intriguing characters to explore, I’ll be looking for book two.

Bianca also reviewed Shane's previous release, Snow Maiden.
Check out the 5 sheep review

Four Sheep





Bianca Greenwood

About the Author:
Amanda V. Shane is a Colorado native and fully admits to being a library dork growing up. To this day, she loves the smell of book paper on an almost fetish level (okay, maybe not, but that gives you a peek into the dark and twisted mind of this author). One of her first book romances came at the age of nine when, in a far back aisle, she found the story of King Arthur and was entranced by the blood purple canvas cover with gold leafing (she likes shiny things.)
Since then, she’s been hooked on stories with magic, mythical beings, daring heroes and, of course, desperate romance.
She writes paranormal and fantasy romance from her home where she lives with her family and a Bassett hound who she routinely has to fight for the “soft” end of the couch to set up with her laptop. She likes chocolate, wine, coffee and kids, in no particular order.

Friday, April 27, 2018

What the flockery??? Top five facts about author Marisa Dillon + giveaway

Thanks for hosting me today. I enjoy discovering the secret side of people I admire. What makes my heroes tick? What sets them apart from everyone else?

1. I recently took a trip of a lifetime to India with my mother and sister—a spiritual pilgrimage.

2. I LOVE to dance.

3. I’m an advertising/marketing executive.

4. Chocolate and pizza are my downfall.

5. I would give everything up to be reborn in Tudor England. 😊



Question for the viewers:
What are you passionate about?


The Golden Rose of Scotland (Ladies of Lore Series Book Two)by Marisa Dillon
November 22, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
ASIN: B077678SYH
Number of pages: 247
Word Count: 78.955
Cover Artist: Anna Lena-Spies
Romantic Adventures, Not for the Faint of Heart.

When poisonings are an everyday occurrence, healer Rosalyn Macpherson must be ready with an antidote. Unless it’s for the English Lord who means to claim her clan’s Highland castle.

What’s in a name? Everything, for Lord Lachlan de Leverton, a charismatic English aristocrat. He’ll break the law to sever his ties to his notorious family. But first, he must secure the deed to Fyvie Castle before the feisty Scottish lass wins it.

Because of their conflicting claims, Rosalyn and Lachlan are ordered to appear in Edinburgh’s royal court, and in an unusual twist of fate, they are assigned as guardians, rather than prisoners, to a caravan carrying the Golden Rose, a papal gift for the King of Scots.

When the royal decree becomes a forced union between the two, it’s not the remedy Rosalyn had hoped for, but by now she doesn’t hate this Englishman quite as much.

Before the knot is tied, the Rose is stolen and Lachlan’s suspected of the crime. Rosalyn then faces the hardest decision yet. Must she sacrifice her precious Philosophers Stone or the land she loves, or both, to save him?


With a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Marisa has spent many years writing for the television industry. As an award-winning producer/director/marketer, she has worked on commercial production, show creation, product branding and social media.

Marisa has always enjoyed reading romance novels and now realizes a dream come true, writing page-turning romantic adventures.



Tour giveaway 
3 print copies
3 $10 Amazon gift cards

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Sheep Movie Review: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018) Spoiler-free

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018)
Apr 27, 2018
Directed By: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Written By: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cast: Everyone!
Runtime: 156 minutes
Rating: PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some crude references)
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Infinity War" brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Sharon's Review
Image result for Excuse me gif
That gif is pretty much sums it up how everyone felt at the end of the movie.

The movie is one big epic fight all over the universe. I was worried about how they were going to fit all those superheroes into one movie. But they did with some hilarious results. As you can guess Tony Stark and Dr. Strange didn't exactly hit it off at first. Throw in a little Star Lord attitude and you have a snark party. 

Thor is pretty awesome in this one...Captain America too. Thanos was a better villain than I thought he would be. And we are left with the question...will Rocket get Bucky's arm?

Edit: Just talked to my husband...he only gives it 3 1/2 Sheep. He thought there wasn't much story...just Thanos running around collecting jewelry. He prefers Justice League. I'm filing divorce papers today! (just kidding...)

4.5 "Next time go for the head" Sheep
(It loses half a sheep because... (possible spoiler [highlight to see] no one was smart enough to cut off his damn hand!)




SharonS

Book Review: The Fireproof Girl (Sophie Shields, #1) by Loretta Lost + giveaway

The Fireproof Girl (Sophie Shields, #1)
by Loretta Lost
September 29, 2016
Genres: Mystery, New Adult, Romance
361 pages
Abandoned at birth, Sophie Shields grew up in abusive foster homes, escaping into books and computers for solace. When the constant danger became too much to bear, she ran away, thinking she could survive on her hacking skills alone.

That was until she met Cole Hunter. He became the only person she could trust: her family, her friend, her partner-in-crime. Her everything. After struggling through college and starting their lives together, she believed that nothing could ever tear them apart.

Until it did.

And she’ll do everything in her power to fix what is broken. If it isn’t too late…

———

When Cole was nine years old, he watched his whole family burn to death in a house fire. Fueled by years of obsession, he started one of the world’s leading architectural firms, with a mission to design homes resistant to fire, earthquakes, floods, and every threat known to man.

Sophie was his secret weapon. She was his purpose. Since they were teenagers, he was determined to build a better life for her, so she could finally be safe, and they could be together.

But disaster has always followed Cole around, ripping away everything he loves. This time, if he isn’t careful…

His enemies might just take him down.


Sophia never met her parents, she was abandoned at birth. She went through the system jumping foster home to foster home some of which she was neglected and even abused. Sophia did not have much, she had no friends other than her cherished computer and a boy named Cole.

Cole went through the system as well, however, Cole was not abandoned. His fate was very different. One no worse than the other. He watched his parents burn to death in his home. This was probably why he was so enamored with architecture.

Sophia and Cole's circumstances, although different, still did not matter in the end. They had no parents or family and had no choice to enter the foster system. They met in the same foster home and became inseparable. Cole became her protector her older pseudo-brother protecting her as best he could until the one night that changed everything. Years later Sophia learns of Cole's murder and she comes apart. She will do what it takes to find his killer even if she has to accept help from her ex-military ex-boyfriend.

Sophia and Coles's story hit nerves right from the beginning. I could not put the book down as I learned of not only their fate in the foster home but what transpired later up until his death in adulthood. The emotion and heart break of two young teens as they journeyed into adulthood with not much difference in their young lives except making something of themselves. I could not never even imagine what they went through.

For those who don’t know me, to stir that kind of emotion in me means a lot. It was exceptionally well written and had me right from the start. I don’t want to give too much away but the love story between Cole and Sophia has drawn up lots of emotion in me. Loretta Lost truly captured that in her writing.

I highly recommend this story

5 Fostered Sheep





Tammy K


About the Author:
Goodreads
USA Today bestselling author Loretta Lost writes to experience all the love and excitement that can often be lacking from real life. She finds it therapeutic to explore her issues through the eyes of a different person. She hopes to have a family someday, but until then her characters will do nicely.

Follow @loretta.lost on Instagram for cute photos of her cat reading books. He refuses to cooperate unless they are really good books.

You can also subscribe to Loretta’s mailing list for updates: www.eepurl.com/O0WTL
You will receive a FREE book as a gift for signing up!

GIVEAWAY!

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

$50 Amazon gift card 


Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Book Review: The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood) by J.R. Ward

The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood)
by J.R. Ward
April 10, 2018
Pages: 463
Sola Morte, former cat burglar and safecracker, has given up her old life on the wrong side of the law. On the run from a drug lord’s family, she is lying low far from Caldwell, keeping her nose clean and her beloved grandmother safe. Her heart, though, is back up north, with the only man who has ever gotten through her defenses: Assail, son of Assail, who never meant to fall in love—and certainly not with a human woman. But they have no future, and not just because she doesn’t know he is a vampire, but because he is no
t about to stop dealing arms to the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Fate, however, has other plans for them. When Assail falls into a coma and lingers on the verge of death, his cousins seek out Sola and beg her to give him a reason to live. The last thing she wants is a return to her past, but how can she leave him to die?

As a lethal new enemy of the vampires shows its face, and the Brotherhood needs Assail back on his feet, Sola finds herself not only a target, but a mission-critical force in a war she doesn’t understand. And when Assail’s truth comes out, will she run from the horror . . . or follow her heart into the arms of the male who loves her more than life itself?


Sola and her grandmother relocated to Miami to stay safe from a drug lord and his family. Giving up her life as a thief has proven difficult but keeping her grandmother safe is of the highest priority. Assail has fallen in love with a human woman but knows they can never have a life together. She doesn’t know he’s a vampire or a drug addict for that matter. Assail falls into a coma and seems to be on the edge of death when his cousins decide that Sola is the only one who can bring him back. The cousins persuade Sola and her grandmother to return to Caldwell to visit Assail and hope that Assail's love for her can return him to the land of the living.

The Brotherhood has a new enemy that leads to more questions than answers. The deadliness which they have never seen seems to be connected to a lost or possibly stolen artifact. Assail decides that the only way to truly be honest with Sola is to come clean about everything even though he knows he risks losing her forever. To battle this new-found enemy, the Brotherhood turns to Assail to connect them with a contact from his former life to supply them with much-needed ammunition.

Ward always does a masterful job of weaving her stories. The main story, which is Assail and Sola, is artfully done while setting the path for future books with the new enemy the Brotherhood is facing and a glimpse at a possible new trans that has all kinds of possibilities.

Getting 5 sheep




DeniseB


About the Author:
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J.R. Ward is the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series of vampire books. She is a winner of the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best Paranormal Romance and is a multiple RITA nominee. A graduate of Smith College, she was a double major in History and Art History with a medieval concentration in both and she still longs at times for a return to those days sitting in dark lecture halls, looking at slides of old triptychs and reliquaries. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a corporate attorney, serving for many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard Medical Schools premier teaching sites. Her idea of absolute heaven is a day filled with nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot and the Brothers, of course.

Excerpt: Dragoius Reborn: Fate and Whispers (The Bloods Passion Saga Book Two) by Adom Sample

Dragoius Reborn: Fate and Whispers (The Bloods Passion Saga Book Two)
by Adom Sample
March 31, 2018
Genre: Fantasy Vampire/ Paranormal Romance
ISBN-13: 978-1987401202
ISBN-10: 1987401204
ASIN: B078QSMDBG
Number of pages: 415
Word Count: 104,000
Cover Artist: Adom Sample
How far will you go to be with the one you love?

We all have a choice in life. Sebastian and I made our choice—to be together.

The Shadow Lands became our sanctuary after everything we'd sacrificed. Our desire for one another only deepened as time passed. We'd broken Coven Laws, defied the human government, and put our families at risk to pursue our passion. The Courting Moon bonded us on that night, sealing our fate.

Nevertheless, our work is far from complete. With the Coven searching everywhere to find us it's only a matter of time before death befalls those we love. We are left with no other choice, but to finish what my father died trying to accomplish. To reestablish the Alliance Sanctuary, rebuild the Kingdom of Dragoius, and bring an end to the Coven of Vampyre's tyrannical rule.

The most powerful Vampyre in all the lands, Sebastian's father, the Count of Orias has vowed to stop at nothing until we are found, and our bond is broken. We're racing against time and it all hinges on discovering the Coven's one secret—

Why romantic love is forbidden…


Excerpt:
He stands there looking upon her radiant beauty, unable to form words. She’s so luxurious to him; he still can’t believe he’s found someone like her to love him unconditionally. She exits the shower, bright pink hair soaking wet. He becomes aroused yet fades into the background. He must fight off the temptation; otherwise, his plans will lie in ruins. He isn’t supposed to be here—not at this moment.

For months he tried and failed to express the passion burning within him in the form of words, but those words never came to fruition. Like a sly snake, he went into their room and placed a note on the bed. Now, only now, is he able to tell her the depths of his unending love for her.

Not just the sexual, but the emotional and spiritual as well—something no Vampyre or human could ever understand in a world built on emotional suppression. He exits the room just as she approaches. Slowly, he closes the door and goes back to fixing the steps that caused them to tumble into the bunker where they now dwell. They’ve been trapped in the bunker for three days, and while everything they need is provided for them, they still would like to have an exit readily available.

The door creaks.

Sebastian, is that you?” she calls out.

She looks around, but seeing no one, she wraps one towel around her head and one over her body before closing the shower doors. As glaring as the sun beyond the Shadow Lands, the note is there when she nears the bed.

“I can’t believe this man,” she says with a bright smile. She tightens the towel around her body and sits on the bed, taking the note in her hands.

The words “From Me to You” are written across the front. She unfolds the note carefully so as not to tear any part of it. That’s when she notices the Courting Moon’s glow as it shimmers on her skin. A flush of emotion overcomes her heart. They are safe from the Coven, from Daven, from the Council, from anyone looking to do them harm. Now is the time to enjoy each other, to learn more about the emotions they’re experiencing. She finishes unfolding the note and reads the delicate words Sebastian has written for her.

Kyra, my love, my everything,

Space and time have no validity when we are together. The nights I have stayed awake wondering how I could be blessed with such an angel are innumerable. You, Kyra, are my heart . . . if that’s what you wish to call it. Love itself is a word that couldn’t possibly hold bearing on what I feel for you. What we have is so much more than that—I can’t explain it. All I do know is the connection we have will last longer than anything in this world. As bright as the moon shines in the night, I will love you, never fail you, always be there for you, give my life for you, and live for you. Whatever this journey may bring, just know that I, Sebastian of Orias, am within you every moment until my immortality gives way. I love you, Kyra—always.

Holding her hand to her face, she tries to keep tears from ruining the note.

“Kyra,” says Sebastian, holding a collection of pink roses. “Did you read it?”

She removes the towel on her head and places the note on the nightstand near their bed. “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

Sebastian takes a single rose from the bouquet he’s holding and places the bud of it in her hair.

“No, Kyra, you’re beautiful.”

She takes the bouquet from him and breathes its scent in deeply, then sets the roses on the nightstand near the note. She embraced him in a time-stopping kiss. With Sebastian by her side, Kyra is left with a decision. And the fates of both Vampyre and humankind hang in the balance. The choice is hers and hers alone.

About the Author:
Adom Sample was born in Kansas City, Missouri and currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia. He holds an MBA from GMU, an MHA from ATSU. He served in the United States Air Force from 2001 to 2008. He is an independent author who enjoys reading and writing romance, erotic, and paranormal stories. Writing is his passion and he lives to give others ideas and inspire stories to push the limits of creativity.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Book Review: When a Vamp Falls (War of Blood and Bonds Book 1) by A.M Griffin + giveaway

by A.M Griffin
15-MAR-2018
Pages: 290
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Ramsey will stop at nothing to keep Danya safe from harm—even go to war to protect the one he loves.

Danya Evans’s normal everyday life is turned upside down when one good deed lands her on the opposite end of fangs. The fangs happen to be attached to the sexiest man she’s ever seen.
She knows that she should stay away from the vampire who almost kills her, but everything about Ramsey calls out to her heart and soul.

Ramsey Moreau, a Vampire who has walked Earth for thousands of years has two regrets. The first is underestimating the two new vampires who’ve found their way into New Orleans and the second is stealing blood from the trusting human he can't get off his mind. His world is mundane to say the least, but when Danya is around he finds a reason to live and love again.

He'll stop at nothing to keep her safe from harm—even go to war to protect the one he loves.


Danya’s sister Bride decides a girl’s weekend is in order and buys tickets for Dani and Jamie to come with her to New Orleans. When Dani had mentioned a vacation, this was not what she had in mind. When Dani makes a less than stellar decision she finds herself meeting a very sexy man who happens to be a vampire. She knows that she should stay away from him but everything in her says he is her soulmate and her heart keeps overriding her survival instinct.

Griffin has a good start to the War of Blood and Bond series with When a Vamp Falls. The sex scenes will heat you up and storyline is solid. The characters introduced in the story opens up some possibilities for future storylines. I am hoping to see something develop between Nadine and Vallus. I know that vampire love stories can be a dime a dozen but this one was surprisingly refreshing and enjoyable. I hope to see some more supernatural creatures introduced as the series goes on.

Getting 5 sheep





Denise B

Excerpt
Death by sun meant fire, more pain, and more screaming. As far as Ramsey was concerned the whole ordeal would’ve been an overall drawn out affair.

But he was ready for it. He’d planned to greet the sun like a big boy.

Until his ego reared its ugly head.

There was no fucking way he would be taken out by two piddly fledglings. His self-preservation kicked into high gear.

He’d struggled, trying to get himself to safety. Wait out the impending sunrise in the shadows. But he couldn’t move. The blade they’d used had severed the tendons in his legs, and the force of the blows had crushed through his knees, just to name a few of the injuries.

In vain he’d tried to establish a telepathic link with Marcos, his assistant, but he couldn’t block out the pain and concentrate long enough to complete the thought. Without help he was good as dead. His only hope had been to use his dwindling energy to psychically call for help and pray that a passerby came to his rescue.

It had worked, and now because he’d turned his back on an enemy, he had to steal.

Ramsey didn’t want to take her blood without her permission, but with death at the front door and his ego urging him on, he had no other choice. The moment the woman had stepped into the alley he’d caught her scent. She smelled like the sweetest flower, rising above the stench of piss, feces, throw-up, and garbage. His instincts kicked in overdrive.

He needed her.

Her blood pumped hard and fast through her body. The sound weighed on his ears, his mind driving him to rise up and devour her. He struggled to move, unable to keep control.

He’d willed her closer.

She’d come with tentative steps.

Closer.

He’d stopped breathing. Her scent drove him insane. His body demanded the blood in order to survive.

Blood.

Mentally, he tried to lure her. He’d tried and tried, but couldn’t focus on the thought. Her blood was all he could think about. It consumed him.

“What happened to you?” she asked in a soft whisper.

Come closer. “Jumped. Stabbed. Dying.” He could barely speak. He’d wanted her so badly.

She stayed where she was. Red clouded his vision. Blood lust set in. He needed her. Now.

He’d tried to lunge, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. He whimpered in frustration, pain, and need.

Come closer.

“Do you have a cell phone? I have to call for help, but I left mine at the hotel.”

He didn’t have one. There’d never been a need. Everything he wanted to tell Marcos was done telepathically. He opened his mouth to tell her no, but changed his mind at the last second.

No. Then she’ll leave. “My … my back pocket.” He could barely talk anymore, his energy draining fast.

She’d rushed to him and kneeled at his side. The sound of her blood pounded in his head.

He couldn’t stop himself, and he breathed her scent in.

Delectable.

“Holy shit. This is all blood. You need an ambulance, mister.”

She pushed against him. Her hands roamed his butt, searching for a phone that wasn’t there. With all the strength he could muster he grabbed her, holding her in a vise-grip. She struggled against him, but even dying he had more strength than she did.

“Hey. Wh-what are you doing?”

“Sorry about this.”

He’d opened his mouth wide, his canines elongating in response. She looked on in horror, her screams caught in her throat as he descended on her neck. His teeth pierced her skin, and immediately the warm rush of blood filled his mouth.

She’d tasted better than he’d ever imagined.


About the Author:
A. M. Griffin is a wife who rarely cooks, mother of three, dog owner (and sometimes dog owned), a daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She's a hard worker whose two favorite outlets are reading and writing. She enjoys reading everything from mystery novels to historical romances and of course fantasy romance. She is a believer in the unbelievable, open to all possibilities from mermaids in our oceans and seas, angels in the skies and intelligent life forms in distant galaxies.


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