Showing posts with label new adult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new adult. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Book Review - Moon Crossed Episode One

Hello and happy Wednesday, readers! I have another book review for you all today. It will go in with the Time for Books 2015 Review Team's list. I'm so impressed with those guys! They've read and reviewed almost 200 books this year already. *faints* Give them a hand, will ya? This is the first of a serial series. If you aren't familiar with those, they're the ones where a small episode is released weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, usually followed up by a boxed set of the entire thing once it's written. So, if you like paranormal and werewolves, keep reading! Grab some coffee, get comfy, and let's get going!

First, a little information about the book up for review today:

Title: Moon Crossed (Crescent Hunter Series Episode One)
Author: Bella Roccaforte
Genre: Older YA/NA Paranormal
Length (print): ~ 85 pages
Buy Link: Amazon Kindle $0.99

Blurb:
Claire O'Conlan is a hunter, her kind were created to protect humans from feral werewolves. She's desperate to find a cure for the moon-touch. Until she does, the hunt won't stop.

Despite being raised among supernatural creatures, Claire is determined to make college as normal as possible. But childhood habits die hard. She can't seem to stay away from the wolf-borne, and worse, she's falling in love with Cole Jackson, the big bad wolf.

Claire can't resist the undeniable fire Cole ignites within her. They are falling headlong into a forbidden love affair. Hunter and wolf, a dangerous combination inciting war between factions, action from the council and the biggest risk of all, Claire fulfilling her duty and being the hunter that kills Cole.

Will Claire find the cure? Or will their love end in tragedy?

**Will not appear in review elsewhere. I freaking LOVE the cover for this book. Regina Wamba of Mae I Design outdid herself with the visuals and type treatments. Grand slam. Well done, ladies.**

Let's get on to the review!

I snagged this book on Amazon when it released. I was excited to check out this serial because I find I enjoy stories of werewolves on rampages. Plus, the cover drew me right in. Talk about being excited when I found it next on my Kindle, waiting to be devoured. I blew through it in about two days, but that's reading a couple pages here and a couple pages there, perfect for the reader with a busy lifestyle. Anyway, moving on to the important stuff!

From a Reader's Perspective:
Because this was the first episode in a serial series, I didn't expect a lot of emotional turmoil or to get to the point that I connected with any of the characters. But, I have to say, I like Claire. She's one tough nut to crack, but she's also beautifully flawed. Despite the fact that her friends could turn into something she'll end up having to kill, she has no problem hanging out with them. Out of all the boys, I like Trevor best. He's rough around the edges, but you can tell he has a real brotherly compassion for Claire.

There were a couple of words that are certainly suited for tweens rather than teens, but they didn't bother me. That's just a note for those of you easily offended by that kind of thing. If you're squeamish about sex, don't be; there's none in this episode.

It's a well-paced starter with a ton of setup for what's certainly to come. There's humor, battles of wits, and snarky girl moments that didn't leave me groaning. You won't hate on the MC for being annoyingly juvenile.

From an Editor's Perspective:
Needs tweaks here and there. Commas need tending to, dialogue tags vs action tags, and word confusions top the list.

Rating:
1 Star for a tough MC that wasn't irritating or perfect
1 Star for creating a great pack of secondary characters
1 Star for leaving me tense for episode two
1 Star for pacing, using dialogue to great success, and nice emotional punches
.5 Star for plot and writing style
-.5 Star for comma, dialogue tag, and word confusion errors
Overall, 4.5 out of 5 stars! I round up when clicking, so you'll see a five. Recommended if you're looking for something quick, paranormal, and episodic that leaves you wanting more.

What are your thoughts? Read it? Plan to?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Progress and Pre-Orders

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Yay! It's the middle of the week; that means just two days until the weekend. Hang in there. I didn't get a whole book read this week, so rather than a review for today, you're getting a progress report and, for those of you who are fans, a chance to get some of my paperbacks on special. Grab a cup of coffee and let's get going!

Progress:
Markaza - Mystic book 6 (and final)
Word count: 23,000
Projected completion date: Mid-March
Projected publication date: After my editor, the fabulous Tia Silverthorne Bach, fixes all my boo-boos and we get it formatted. Should be near the beginning of May.
Cover: Shown here

M
Word count: 15,000
Projected completion date: end of April
Projected publication date: end of June
Cover: Done. TBR at utopYA con

Now, on to a little about pre-orders, orders, and feeding your book needs. Because utopYA is coming in June, I'm offering my paperbacks on discount. If you're coming to the con, you can pick them up there. Not coming to the con? I'll ship them for a small fee. Either way, you're totally winning, and you have a shot at the giveaway.

Here's the link to the pre-order form:



Note that if you order books with this form, you'll be entered in a drawing to win copies of two of my novels (Fractured Glass signed by all the authors and M).

Which book are you looking forward to most?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Monday, February 16, 2015

Featured Author - Kristina Circelli - Publication Spotlight

Howdy, everyone! Today I have an amazing roundup of novels for you by my featured author, Kristina Circelli. If you missed the interview, it's a must read, check it out here. So sit back, relax, grab a cup of Jo, and let's get going!

Title: Beyond The Western Sun (The Whisper Legacy Book 1)
Genre: Native American Fiction
Length (print): 290 pages
Amazon Link: FREE

Synopsis:
A gripping journey into the heart of Native American legend, Beyond the Western Sun follows the epic struggle of Whisper, a young female Cherokee apprentice, on a harrowing adventure into the Land of the Dead to save the captive son of Ian Diavya. Together they face insurmountable odds, conquer terrible demons, and in the process, find a strength and courage within themselves neither knew possible. What they don’t know is that these early adventures are only tests, for to save Ian’s son, they must also stop the evil-minded Raven-Eater from unleashing his Army of the Dead to destroy the living world. To do that, it will take courage, humility, and extraordinary self-sacrifice.

An epic saga of hope, redemption, and undying love, Beyond the Western Sun is what all fantasy adventures must strive to be: a complex, intricate examination of human emotion set within the context of worlds known only in our imagination. And in this regard, Beyond the Western Sun is a stunning achievement. Melding fantasy and legend in an epic quest, the third novel of her young career signals the arrival of Kristina Circelli as a master storyteller. Creating the indelible character of Whisper, vividly portraying the worlds that she and Ian must traverse to accomplish their goal, and capturing their human frailties, hopes and fears with depth and touching sincerity, Ms. Circelli reminds us with stunning precision the greatness we are all capable of, and the heavy price our actions can rend.

Title: Walk the Red Road (The Whisper Legacy Book 2)
Genre: Native American Fiction
Length (print): 301 pages
Amazon Link$2.99

Synopsis:
Deep in the heart of the Land of the Dead, the half-breed struggles to be free.

Eighteen years have passed since she destroyed the Raven-Eater and took her place as the rightful heir of the Fire Tower. Now, Whisper must face her most treacherous enemy yet in Walk the Red Road. Book Two of The Whisper Legacy takes readers on a deep exploration into spirit realms on the brink of self-destruction, where betrayal and death lurk around every shadow.

Guided by Kamama and protected by Hunting Hawk, Whisper embarks on a journey of discovery that will show her the way to the Red Road, and to the child who threatens to end her reign. But when Smoke Speaker breaks his sacred vow and the Great Spirit steals from Whisper what is rightfully hers, she must decide which bloodline she will follow-the gentle heart of her mother, or the spiteful vengeance that once drove the Raven-Eater.

Continuing the realm-crossing saga of Beyond the Western Sun, Walk the Red Road spirals into a journey to the Self, revealing the pains of betrayal and the struggle to accept both halves of one's soul in order to become whole. This sequel by accomplished author Kristina Circelli exposes the deepest, darkest parts of her extraordinary characters while reminding us all of the delicate balance between faith, love, and legacy.

Title: Into the Shadow Realm (The Whisper Legacy Book 3)
Genre: Native American Fiction
Length (print): 251 pages
Amazon Link: $2.99

Synopsis:
Destiny. Adventure. Redemption. Legend.

She destroyed the Raven-Eater and declared war on the Great Spirit. Now, Whisper must embrace her dark destiny yet again, traveling deep into the shadow world to right the wrongs committed by her own hand. In a place where strength and hope do not exist, her every power and belief will be tested, reminding her of the lover she left behind – and the child she abandoned.

In her absence, her enemies thrive. Sun Woman seeks revenge on the living realm. Creator's servant seeks to destroy the heir to the Land of the Dead. And the third rises from the dead while luring Whisper closer to her own destruction.

Into the Shadow Realm takes readers on Whisper’s final quest through the shadows to reveal her path – and the sacrifices she must make to save the ones she loves. In Book Three of The Whisper Legacy, author Kristina Circelli weaves figures of Whisper’s past into stories that tell her future, completing her journey of warfare, power, and self-discovery.           

Title: The Never
Genre: Fantasy
Length (print): 278 pages
Amazon Link$2.99

Synopsis:
*Due to mature content, The Never is recommended for readers ages 18+*

“Out of nothing, we create something.”

Arianna has spent her entire life being called a dreamer, an artist who created a world no one else can see. And for her entire life, she has taken the medication that keeps that world – and the one who brought her there – at bay.

Now an adult, Arianna reawakens that part of herself kept locked away in the darkest corners of her mind. When she hides her medicine from her fiancĂ©’s ever-watchful eye, he returns – the shadow in the night who collects her for an adventure known only in her fantasies.

But something is different about this world called The Never. It is no longer the cheerful place filled with light and laughter that she knew as a child. Now, the sea creatures drag their visitors into the depths of murky waters. The natives battle to the death against the tribe of children. And the pirates, led by the feared captain called The Hunter, seek out Arianna for their own sinister plans.

As Arianna goes deeper into The Never, she discovers just what her connection to the land means – and must choose between her life rooted in reality, and the world where anything is possible.

Title: The Helping Hands (Helping Hands #1)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 236 pages
Amazon Link$3.95

Synopsis:
The kidnappings of seventy-one children began the legend, but five friends with troubled pasts and courageous futures created it. Melanie O’Conner and her friends earned their reputation as rough and tough gang members, but the Hell Hounds were a mere front to their true operation. Fueled by the pain of a past filled with foster homes and cold-hearted guardians, Melanie lives with a deep, undying devotion to saving the lives of children who are victim to child abuse. Bringing them to a secluded island called the Treehouse, Melanie and her gang feeds, schools, and cares for them all, leaving the parents nothing more than a message claiming that their child has been taken. Now, four years into the project dubbed the Helping Hands by the five members of the cover-up gang the Hell Hounds, Melanie has to fight to keep the nosy, self-interested reporter Stephanie Mathews from exposing the truth being her project. And Melanie is willing to do anything to save the lives of innocent children from their abusive parents, even if that means risking her own.

Title: Shadows in the Night (Helping Hands #2)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 254 pages
Amazon Link: $3.95
Synopsis:
Melanie O’Conner is being released back into society after her arrest seven years ago. Fighting to keep hold over new Helping Hand gangs across the country, she struggles to find the balance between her past and “normal” life. But transitioning into that new, normal life doesn’t come easily. Her friends have gangs of their own, past acquaintances have moved on, and now someone is after her, vowing to kill those she loves so she can watch them die… Melanie is forced to watch the Helping Hands run into traps, thwarted by abusive parents and thugs wanting money, until they lose sight of what O’Connor has taught them. When Tyler turns away from her, a close friend is murdered, and the Helping Hands are threatened by shadows lurking in the night, Melanie must make a decision - give up her project and save her friends, or embrace her past, and fight to the death.


Title: The Iron Fist (Helping Hands #3)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 259 pages
Amazon Link: $3.95 

Synopsis:
When one of their own was murdered, everyone feared it would be the end to the Helping Hands. But as they are now learning, the real difficulty lies not in mourning the loss of a friend, but in protecting the project that took his life.

Kelly Mitchell is dedicated to just one thing - protecting her little sister from their stepfather’s wrath. When her family moves to San Francisco, she struggles to keep her home life a secret, avoiding the charms of her neighbor, Robbie Anderson. But when her stepfather sets her up and sends her to a juvenile detention camp, Kelly will attain her own protection in the service of Melanie O’Conner.

Forcing herself back into society as a reformed rebel, Melanie finds herself surrounded by a life filled with friends, security, and family. But the illusion of a life without disaster is shattered upon the discovery of a new, unplanned gang of Helping Hands, and two cops threatening to put her back in prison.

When faced with the copycat gang that brings the FBI to her front door, when Kelly and her sister plead for an escape from the iron fist of their abusive stepfather, when Tyler lands in the hospital and faces death, Melanie must decide which is more important - having a normal life away from the burdens of her past, or protecting the project that granted her that life.

Whatever choice she makes, someone must suffer the consequences.

Title: Abandon (Helping Hands #4)
Genre: Action and Adventure
Length (print): 307 pages
Amazon Link$3.95

Synopsis:
Melanie O Conner is no stranger to having enemies. But after fifteen years heading the clandestine Helping Hands project, she will soon learn that those enemies come in many forms, including ones she never would have suspected.

Her enemies’ current goal: destroy The Helping Hands and everything they stand for. And so, Project: Abandon is launched. Children are killed just as her Helping Hands gangs prepare to save them. Someone attacks Melanie during a visit to her hometown. And when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, the ones she loves most are kidnapped or even murdered.

Now, Melanie must rely on her strengths, street smarts, and courage to face her tormentors before they tear down the framework she worked so hard to build - and before they take her family away from her one by one. It is up to her to save those still alive - or die trying.



Title: The Sour Orange Derby
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Coming-of-age
Length (print): 210 pages
Amazon Link: $2.99 

Synopsis:
One lone tree is all that remains of the cherished Standridge family orange groves, a legacy that goes back as far as the Civil War. But for young Colly Standridge, that solitary tree is at the center of a magical world.

Inspired by real people, The Sour Orange Derby follows the lives of Colly, who dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, and K.B. Standridge, an imaginative old man who spends his days creating stories for his grandchildren to enjoy while searching for a new family legacy – and finds it in his last beloved orange tree.

A story about love and healing steeped in southern traditions, The Sour Orange Derby is a tale of one family joining together to celebrate life and history, and how their last remaining orange tree holds them all together when the young boy’s fight with cancer threatens to tear them apart.

Kristina Circelli, accomplished author of The Helping Hands and The Whisper Legacy series, is proud to take readers on a literary journey into her childhood, offering a glimpse of the magical worlds and imaginative stories created by her beloved grandfather.

Title: A Single Swim
Genre: Non-Fiction/Environmental Science
Length (print): 110 pages
Amazon Link: $1.99 

Synopsis:
On August 13th, 2011, sixteen-year-old Courtney Nash passed away after contracting Naegleria fowleri, a brain-eating amoeba that lurks in warm waters. This is her story.

A Single Swim follows Courtney's life and death, while taking a closer look into an amoebic infection very few people ever hear about - until it's too late. Tracing as far back as 1960s, Naegleria fowleri and the resulting infection of this parasite have taken more than a dozen lives, with a fatality rate of nearly 100%.

Through an examination of Courtney's case along with stories of other victims across the United States, A Single Swim offers a glimpse into our waters' rare silent killer. From ecology to symptoms, hospital care to awareness, find out what can happen ... after a single swim.

Title: Fade into the Woodwork
Genre: Contemporary Suspence
Length (print): 168 pages
Amazon Link: $1.99 

Synopsis:
Abducted in broad daylight, locked away in a basement cage, starved for food and light - how would you escape your prison?

Valentina Murdoch finds herself asking that same question after she is attacked and kidnapped one ordinary morning. Brought to a secluded hideaway in the middle of the woods to await her fate at the hands of "the boss," she has but days to survive.

Utilizing her love of action movies to create a plan, Valentina plots her escape while battling a crippling fear of the dark - for the dark is where her childhood nightmare lurks, waiting for her one moment of weakness. But as the clock winds down and her husband's search for her threatens his own life, Valentina realizes that her true fight lies within herself.

Will she have the strength to survive, or will the dark - and all the figures that haunt it - finally win?

Title: Damsel Not
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Length (print): 225 pages
Amazon Link: $2.95 

Synopsis:
In the days of old, one knight fought to save the maiden he loved – a battle that ended in a bloody promise for the future.

In the days of the 21st Century, Izz doesn’t believe in prophecies. A recent widow, she struggles to find the passion that once fueled her life – a passion that is reignited the day a knight in disguise cuts into her life in a flash of swordplay and seductive grins.

Izz doesn’t want to love him. The guilt of moving on nearly crushes her, yet she finds herself unable to resist the touch, the feel, the scent of the man who leaves her breathless with just one look. But each day Izz finds herself drawn to Cade, the more danger she finds herself in, for someone believes Izz to be at the center of an ages-old prophecy – and will do anything to stop it.

When threatening messages turn even more dangerous, Izz must rediscover a part of herself she’s never known before and fight to save her knight in shining armor. With only a sword passed down throughout the generations to guide her, Izz must prove to her adversary that unlike maidens of old, she will never be a damsel in distress.

Title: Fragile Creatures
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Length (print): 274 pages
Amazon Link: $2.99 

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Evangeline Frost had a great life, until the car accident that killed her father and turned her mother into a bitter alcoholic. Unable to bear the guilt, Evangeline attempts to take her own life, saved only by the memory of her beloved father.

Left with no other options, Evangeline is enrolled in a program for troubled teens at Kindred Hides Wildlife Preserve. There she meets Caster, a keeper as annoying as he is caring; Jett and Lettie, who treat her more like a daughter than troubled teen; and Ruke, a prized giraffe in mourning for his lost mate.

Immersed in the preserve with her new friends, Evangeline finally begins to heal. But the haunting memories of the accident and her mother’s unforgiving words threaten to destroy her progress. Only her new friends and their unconditional support, along with her own special connection with Ruke, can save her.

Evangeline must learn that there is redemption for her father’s death, and that the bonds between human, animal, and life are not as fragile as she once thought.

Title: Dungeon: a short story by Kristina Circelli
Genre: Contemporary short story
Length (print): 40 pages
Amazon Link: $0.99

Synopsis:
Locked away from civilization. Starved for a freedom yet to come. Lost in the world they created for themselves.

They were friends once, before they were prisoners. Then they were allies, dependent on one another for daily survival. When they escaped, if they escaped, more than just that bond built on desperation, loneliness, and familiarity would be tested.

Their existence - one small, cramped room with a cracked table in its center. Their reality - secrets and lies and a struggle to balance the present with the past.

They were the four. They were the prisoners of the Dungeon.


How's that for one hell of a bibliography? Which ones look most interesting to you?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Friday, February 13, 2015

Cover Reveal - The Dark Dreamer

Happy Friday for the first time, everyone! You'll be getting a utopYA Blogger post, too, but this is something I didn't want to pass up. I get to share a cover reveal with you all! Eep! It's by Heather Topham Wood, an author I love to read. She's pretty darn amazing, and if you haven't checked out her work, you should. Grab some coffee and let's start with a teaser.


Here's some information about the book:

Summary:
For as long as she can remember, Rebekah Clayton’s life has been dictated by her dreams. As a dream interpreter, she has become privy to her clients’ deepest and darkest secrets. Affairs, financial ruin, even murder—nothing shocks her anymore. But Grant Raskin’s dreams are unlike any she has heard before.

If Rebekah’s interpretation is right, Grant has foreseen the end of the world. A plague is coming and everyone Rebekah cares about will succumb to the illness. And Grant can trace the origin of the disease back to two men: Dr. Mark Holman and his son Drew.

Grant enlists Rebekah to track down the Holmans and determine their connection to the viral outbreak. But uncovering Drew Holman’s secrets will lead her down a dangerous path—unearthing a deadly conspiracy she never could have predicted.

The first book in a two-part series from bestselling romance author Heather Topham Wood.

Publication Date: March 24, 2015
Cover Design by Cover Me, Darling

I bet you're ready to see that cover, huh? Okay, okay! Here it is!

Love it? Yeah. So do I!

Here's the full wrap:

So pretty. Want to know more about the author?

Heather Topham Wood’s obsession with novels began in childhood while growing up in a shore town in New Jersey. Writing since her teens, she recently returned to penning novels after a successful career as a freelance writer. She loves creating imaginary worlds where people behave exactly how she wants them to.

Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.

Follow Heather on Facebook, Twitter and her blog to keep posted on her upcoming works:
https://twitter.com/woodtop255
http://authorheather.com
https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTophamWood

She's doing a rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card! Good luck to all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There you have it. How awesome is that? *grin*

What do you think?

Well, that's all for this post, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Cover Reveal - Secrets Revealed MysticSeekers III

Happy Saturday, everyone! Today, I have a little post for you all from N. L. Greene! I hope you enjoy this look at the newest installment of her series. Have a wonderful day and stay warm!

I'm so excited to finally share the cover for the final book in The MysticSeekers Series...

Secrets Revealed! 

But, before we do, here's a little bit about the book...

Author - 
N.L. Greene

Author Bio - 
Author N.L. Greene is a writer of YA and NA Contemporary and Paranormal Romances. She currently lives in Florida with her husband and two beautiful daughters. When she isn't writing or reading, she enjoys traveling around the world with her family, shopping and doing other girly things with her girls, or playing video games with her husband. She is a lover of dogs, chocolate, and anything pink!

Book Blurb - 
In the final book of The MysticSeeker Series, Katherine Rebecca will have some hard decisions to make that will forever alter her life.  Lance finally showed his true colors when he attacked and nearly raped her, but amid all the turmoil and confusion new secrets were exposed.  Shocking revelations that had her spinning and questioning everything and everyone in her life.
Sam is a magic user like Blaine and although she saved Becky, Becky's smart enough to know that her 'friends' sudden appearance in her life isn't a coincidence. What does Sam really want with Becky? And was she pretending to be her friend to get it?  Ethan, Becky's best friend and knight in shining armor has been there for her, proving to be a loyal and trustworthy friend. She hasn't been blind to his true feelings for her though. Having fallen for Blaine so quickly, she pushed Ethan away keeping him solidly in the friend zone. But when Ethan shows up distraught and worried after Lance's attack, she wonders if she'd made a mistake.
Until Blaine Winters knocked on her door again.
Can Becky handle Blaine's disappearing and reappearing acts while dealing with Ethan's feelings, Sam's deception, and the things that are still going bump in the night?


And Finally.... 
THE COVER!!!!




Author Links - 


Other books by this Author - Illusions Begin (MysticSeeker Series book 1) Magic Unfolds (MysticSeekers Series book 2), Twisted, & Fractured Glass (A novel anthology)

Love it? Yeah, so do I!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Cover Reveal - Lying, Cheating Heart

Holy smokes this cover!! We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for Mindy Ruiz’s LYING, CHEATING HEART! LYING, CHEATING HEART is the second novel in Mindy’s upper YA/NA crossover fantasy Game of Hearts Series. The first book in the series, ENCHANTED HEART is available for a limited time for just $.99!

Lying Cheating Heart Cover
 
Cover designed by Regina at Mae I Design.

Amazon ** LYING, CHEATING HEART on Goodreads

LYING, CHEATING HEART Synopsis:
No More Lies!
Cassie Vera thought the biggest threat to her life disappeared the night her boyfriend, A.J. Vasillios, used his one-time-use power and saved her from certain death.
She was wrong.
The mythological hit list she was on is nothing compared to her freshman year at the University of Las Vegas. Rooming with Vegas’s future female royalty has pushed her estrogen tolerance to its limit. Worse, Cassie must take place in a time-honored tradition that tests her faith, while her boyfriend’s new job threatens to shatter her heart.
When age-old traditions change …
Cassie’s school year is interrupted when the future queens are ordered to represent their houses in an annual high-stakes competition. While at her ancestral home in Malaga, Spain, Cassie discovers the Greek gods have gifted her with new abilities. Cassie takes matters of righting an eighteen-year-old wrong into her hands. However, actions have consequences, and Cassie’s may very well end up costing her and the House of Hearts everything.
With her family’s future at stake and the love of her life choosing sides, Cassie must cheat death one more time.
When duty requires you to do the unthinkable, where will your loyalties lie?
Only a Cheating Heart Knows.

Front Cover
Lying Cheating Heart Full Cover Wrap  





Read ENCHANTED HEART, the first book in the Game of Hearts series while you wait...

ENCHANTED HEART Goodreads ** Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo

About ENCHANTED HEART: Cassandra Vera never ever breaks the rules. Ever! She’s also had a nonexistent social life since her best friend moved to Vegas. Armed with a new set of resolutions, the promise of a hot date, and her adoptive parents out of town, Cassandra agrees an overnight road trip to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday is the perfect way to ring in the New Year. After all, it's Vegas, the city where secrets are meant to stay hidden. Little does Cassandra know the secrets of her own pastare buried there, as well. In the shadows of the glitz and gaudy lights of Vegas lies a power struggle centuries old. One wrong step and Cassandra could destroy the delicate web of secrets. Now an enemy she never knew existed is after her and the one boy who may be the missing piece to the puzzle —and her heart— is the one person she can’t afford to trust.  

Author PhotoAbout Mindy Ruiz: Mindy Ruiz lives in a sleepy Beach Town in Southern California. When she’s not writing, she spends her time chasing after three boys, making flirty eyes at her hunky husband, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, and hanging out at the beach with her very large and loud Italian family. Her career in publishing started in the 4th grade with a story about a magic, museum-hopping, chair. Now, Mindy writes young adult, new adult, and adult paranormal romance. Her books always include tormented heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of swoon-y moments that will put a smile on your face or make your heart race. Mindy is the lover of a good romance, the underdog and John Hugh’s 80′s teen movies. When her toes aren’t in the sand or her mind isn’t in the clouds, Mindy loves hearing from readers.  

Facebook ** Twitter ** Instagram ** Author Goodreads ** Pinterest

Lying Cheating Heart promo teaser

What do you think? Love it?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo 

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Book Review - Surrender to You

Happy Thursday, everyone! Wow. I can't believe the week is almost over. What a crazy time it's been, too. NaNo isn't gonna happen for me this year, I'm afraid. But, I plan to work on Markaza and M, so you can all have something new by me to read early next year. Of course, Fractured Glass will release this year, too. Anyway, enough of all that. Let's get to what you came here for: a book review. This is the second to last novel I'm reviewing for my Indie Fever 2014 Reading Challenge. As a collective, the 29 readers in that challenge have read and reviewed 351 Indie books! What an awesome thing to be part of. I'm not doing a recap today, but my last book review will come the first week of December and my review video will be ready sometime that week as well. I'll recap then.

Here's a little about the book up for review today:

Title: Surrender to You (Pierced Hearts #1)
Author: C. S. Janey
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Length (print): 252 pages
Buy Links: Amazon Kindle $2.99

Synopsis:
Stefan never thought she’d come home…
After five long years, she’s within his reach and he’s determined to find out what she kept hidden from him, while hoping that his own secret won’t tear them apart again.

Simon never expected to fall in love with her…
Asking her out had been impulsive, but suddenly the Doctor is falling for this woman who makes him ache like nobody else ever has and he’s determined to make her his.

Elizabeth never knew she’d feel so strongly for two men…
Torn between the love of an ex she pushed away in the past and the love of a new man that makes her feel alive again, she must make a decision that will ultimately result in a broken heart for one of them.

When tragedy strikes, will she be confident in her final decision?

(Contains mature content and adult language; suitable for 17+) - Can be read as a standalone.

***Will not appear in review elsewhere. Man oh man did I love the cover for this book! Perfect set up for the story. I was nervous at first, thinking I was getting into a series, but the standalone note is something to take into consideration. As of the time I'm writing this, there aren't any more books in this series out.***

Now for the fun stuff!

I picked up this book during my 12 Days of Christmas event, where I ask Indie authors to pitch me their books for purchase and review. I read all the samples, and this one grabbed me because of the excellent writing style. But, let's move on to what's inside.

From a Reader's Perspective:
I was really caught up in the relationships in this novel. First, there's the love between Stefan and Elizabeth. She's confused, angry, and hurt by everything that passed between them through much of the beginning of the story. I saw her grow as a person during the tale, and that's really what a main character should do over the course of a novel. Plot was awesome, and pacing was spot on. I never felt like the story dragged.

I did tear up a time or two, but I refuse to tell you why because it'll spoil the story. There are a couple of twists and turns I didn't see coming, but I enjoyed the way they were woven in. No insta love here, which is great. In the last 1/3 of the novel, there's a little bit where, if you aren't paying attention to the timeline, it seems like things are rushed; but, overall, there's a good progression of the different relationships developing. I could totally identify with Elizabeth, and I even enjoyed the tension between her and her best friend.

One thing that bugged me was how Elizabeth kept talking about how not buff Stefan is, but how he's still good-looking. It happened enough that I noted it. Other than that, the story was great and the characters felt real.

From an Editor's Perspective:
There were a number of errors, but they were mostly wrong word usage or dropped words. It wasn't anything that tripped me up too badly, but it'll lose the book half a star for editing. A good proofreader could clean the MS up in a few days.

Rating:
+ 1 Star for making me tear up
+ 1 Star for great twists and turns
+ 1 Star for the lack of insta love
+ .5 Star for friendships I could believe were real
- .5 Star for the repeated rebuffing of Stefan's physique
+ .5 Star for punctuation, sentence construction, and writing
- .5 Star for dropped words and incorrect usage
Overall: A solid 4 out of 5 stars. Recommended for those who love a romance with angst, or those who wish for a well-written read.

What do you think? Will you check it out?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Cover Reveal - Crazy Love by Casey L. Bond

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Title: Crazy Love
Author: Casey L. Bond
Genre: New Adult-Dystopian
Release Date: This Winter
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Cover Jacket:

crazy love full wrap 1
 

Synopsis:

 
Shelby Case avoids town and all the people in it. She can't stand the whispers behind covered lips, the judgmental stares. People say she's crazy, that she lost her mind when she lost her husband.
The Second U.S. Civil War has left widows and widowers scattered across the land. Shelby's just learned to cope. She's taught herself the fine art of self-preservation along with the skills to survive.
When the figment of her imagination, the man who's haunted her days and nights for the past two years, shows up on her doorstep, Shelby wonders if all of the whispers are true.
 
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About Casey L. Bond:

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  Casey L. Bond resides in Milton, West Virginia with her husband Elton and their two beautiful daughters, Juliet and Eris. When she’s not busy being a domestic goddess and chasing her baby girls, she loves to write young adult and new adult fiction. Bond graduated from Hurricane High School in 1999. In 2003, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University in the field of Criminal Justice.  
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::::Connect with the Author::::

 

Facebook/ Website/ Twitter/ Pinterest/ Tumblr

 

Other Books By:Casey L. Bond

Devil's Creek Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HHCGZTE
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HHCGZTE  
Shady Bay Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JTYGZ0M
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JTYGZ0M  
Winter Shadows Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KXD016C
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KXD016C  
Pariah Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KXBKEZM
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KXBKEZM  
Reap Amazon US: http://tinyurl.com/pht888t
Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/kvj83zp  
Resist Amazon US: US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MBQNZVC
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MBQNZVC
 Sin Part 1 Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M6EOI4C
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00M6EOI4C  
Sin Part 2 Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MQCAP2S
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MQCAP2S  
Sin Part 3 Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N857P20
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00N857P20  
Sin Part 4 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O0Y1VF0
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00O0Y1VF0  
Sin Part 5 Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O6UMXIC
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00O6UMXIC
Sin The Complete Series Parts 1-5 Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O7VNLJU
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00O7VNLJU  

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Thursday, October 23, 2014

Crypt Keeper by K. A. Young - Blog Tour

CryptKeeperBlogTour
Crypt Keeper by K.A. Young Molly Maddison #1 Publication Date: October 21, 2014 Genres: Dark, Fantasy


Purchase from AmazonPurchase from KoboPurchase from iBookstorePurchase from Smashwords
Crypt Keeper Cover

Synopsis:

Book 1 in the Molly Maddison series
Molly Maddison grew up in a funeral home that unfortunately backed up to the largest Insane Asylum in the state. Very few understand what happens after death, Molly does. While other children were playing in the park with their living friends, Molly was in the cemetery playing with the dead. To say she is troubled is an understatement. Now Molly has a new plan, to attempt to lead a normal life, and ban the contact with any of the dead. Realizing that she is madly in love with one of them was never part of that plan. However neither life or death ever go as planned and Molly is called upon to perform her role as the family Crypt Keeper… Is she up for the task? Only time will tell.

B&N


Add to Goodreads

About the Author

KA Young
K.A. Young is a paranormal/fantasy romance author that lives with her family in the South. She began writing because her mind was swimming with incredible stories that were begging to be told. Her love for reading began as a small child when she realized that a good book was an instant escape to a mystical land that could be reached anytime and from anyplace.

Pretty gnarly, eh? What do you think? Will you check it out?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Book Review - The Fly House

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Squee! Boy, do I have a book review for you today. I found myself guffawing over this one, and I'm excited to introduce you to this awesome Indie author. This title will go into my Indie Fever Reading Challenge list, because I've never read a book by Misty before, and am thrilled to now say I have. Anyway, before I get to it, here's my review recap (notice changes to the list):

Misty Provencher The Fly House  REVIEW BELOW
Elle Todd The Elect REVIEW HERE
Molly Taggart Off Target REVIEW HERE
Gloria Piper Finnegan's Quest REVIEW HERE
Skylar Hamilton Burris The Strange Marriage of Anne de Bourgh REVIEW HERE
Tamar Hela Feast Island REVIEW HERE
Rebecca Trogner The Last Keeper's Daughter REVIEW HERE
Scott Marlowe The Five Elements REVIEW HERE
L.K. Evans Keepers of Arden: The Brothers Volume 1 REVIEW HERE
Sarah Mäkelä The Witch Who Cried Wolf REVIEW HERE
Felicia Tatum Masked Encounters REVIEW HERE
David T Griffith The Bestiarum Vocabulum REVIEW HERE
Thaddeus White Sir Edric's Temple REVIEW HERE
Heather Topham Wood The Memory Witch REVIEW HERE
N. L. Greene Illusions Begin REVIEW HERE
J. A. Huss Tragic REVIEW HERE
Pauline Creeden Sanctuary REVIEW HERE
Casey Bond Reap REVIEW HERE 
Casey Bond Devil Creek REVIEW HERE
S. G. Daniels The Druid's Doorway REVIEW HERE
Peprah Boasiako The Hitman WILL NOT REVIEW
C. S. Janey Surrender To You Amazon Kindle $2.99
Morgan Wylie Silent Orchids Amazon Kindle **FREE** ~
Laura Howard The Forgotten Ones Amazon Kindle $0.99 ~
Christina Marie Morales Ambience Amazon Kindle $2.99

A little about the book up for review today:

Title: The Fly House
Author: Misty Provencher
Genre: NA Science Fiction
Length (print): 472 Pages
Buy LinkAmazon Kindle $3.99

Synopsis:
The Earth’s atmosphere is swiss cheese. To avoid the oncoming oxygen crisis, black-sheep heiress, Maeve Aypotu, has been chemically suspended in one of the Archive’s plush, underground, multi-million dollar chambers. Scientists claim they can patch everything up in about 15 years, so, just to be safe, the Archive programmed the chambers to open in 17 years.

And then, everything on Earth went wrong.

Up on the surface, Pluto has taken control of the planet, scorching away all signs of human civilization and reconstructing the environment to suit the Plutian’s lucrative dragon trade. Humans are now laborers, using survival and repopulation as currency among their Houses.

The Archivers, finally emerging from their chambers, are entering into a whole new world. Learning to trust this new community of humans may need to start small—with the fusion of one powerful Rha and one bad ass black sheep—if a damaged race ever hopes to regain control of their alien Earth. 

***Contains adult material***

Now that you know what the book is about, let me get into a few things.

*Will not appear in review elsewhere. Before I read the book, I was completely enchanted with the cover. Dragons? Yes, please! But, once I'd completed the novel, the cover made a lot more sense. I won't go into that here, but you'll love the subtleties once you're done and take another look.*

Time to get into my review!

I snagged this book during a Facebook party where the author was doing some insane promotion. Sad to say, I have a huge TBR list because of my one-click finger obsession. But, I was making a review list, tossed this title into the hat, and was thrilled when it ended up clutched between my fingers. I dove in with gusto and consumed the book in a little over 24 hours. Let's move on to why.

From a Reader's Perspective:
I'm always honest in my reviews, and I have to say, the first chapter of this novel had me wondering how I was going to comprehend what I was about to read. It was difficult to understand without the new language on Earth, and there were few definitions of terms. Needless to say, I was worried the whole book would be written in the same style.

Not so.

After that first chapter, the story really took hold and the language/writing became smoother. Pacing was off the charts perfect, because I had a hard time putting the book down. There aren't long passages of world description, it comes out organically, so I didn't find myself skimming. Score one for the author. But, I got enough to really picture the future Earth I was reading about, with many things being left to my own imagination (which I love).

Character development also is done over the course of the novel, and I was delighted to find I'd want to be BFFs with the main character, Maeve. She's tough, damaged, and demands a man win the right to be with her (much like the dragons). It's probably why Diem, the love interest, was so drawn to her in the first place. He trains dragons. Enough said. One of my favorite characters was the Plutian overseer of the Fly House. His references to human body parts left me with tears leaking from my eyes. I will forever after use the term: pain berries.

Once you read it, you'll understand.

I was able to go back and read chapter one again (and understand it) after I finished the book. So, there's that!

From an Editor's Perspective:
Commas! Eep! I found a bunch of places where commas should've been and weren't, or shouldn't have been and were. It caused me to stumble more than once. Word confusions: metal vs. meddle, seating vs. sitting, woman vs. women, etc... And one big confusion in the story where Diem has been off flying for a while, then returns and wonders why his dragon didn't detect Maeve earlier.

Rating:
1 Star for characters I loved and were complex
1 Star for world building without infodumping
1 Star for pacing and plot
1 Star for making me laugh out loud more than once
-1 Star for editing
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars! Recommended for those over 18 years of age, who love a good sci-fi novel.

Have you read it? What did you think? If you haven't, do you plan to?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Free on Kindle - The Frivolity Fairies: A Christmas Short Story and Bronya - Book One of the Mystic Series

Happy, happy Saturday, everyone! Today, I'm happy to be sharing my freebies (finally)! There are two up for grabs. Enough of my jawing, let's get to the good stuff. *grin* Get your clicking fingers ready!

The Frivolity Fairies: A Christmas Short Story
Get it FREE on Amazon for Kindle, and FREE on Smashwords for all others!
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Christmas
Length: ~35 pages

Synopsis:
It's Christmas Eve, 2014, and thirteen-year-old Shirley is listening to the same bedtime story she's heard every year. This year, she comes face to face with the frivolity fairies from the tale; naughty, careless creatures who cause mischief with no regard to morality. In a tale of Christmas spirit, magic, and happy endings, find out what happens when one little girl sets out to make things right.








Bronya ~ Mystic Book One
Get it FREE on Amazon for Kindle, and FREE on Smashwords for all others!
Genre: New Adult Paranormal (18+ for language)
Length: ~ 108 pages

Synopsis:
This is book one of the Mystic series. A set of New Adult Paranormal novellas that speak out against issues faced in the world today, showing how strong women can overcome anything.

Bronya Thibodeaux is a senior at Houma High School whose life is about to be changed forever. She's always felt like an outcast, but thinks she may have found a friend when a strange, new girl named Markaza who has blue hair, a number of tattoos, and a strange way of dressing appears.

Bronya's life choices make her a pariah in her small town. After getting thrown out of school, not being able to find a job, and being subjected to ridicule and cruel treatment, Bronya chooses to leave her old life behind forever when she receives a compelling invitation from a mysterious company named WSTW.

What Bronya doesn't know, is the mysterious company is owned by Markaza; a mystic who knows the end of the world is coming and is gathering together the only people who can stop the evil that's threatening to take over. Bronya is just the first. But going to New York is only a baby step toward her true journey. As Bronya races against the clock to unlock a power she never knew she had, Markaza races to collect the others: Lily, Shelia, Melody, and Coralie.

Happy reading!

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Cover Reveal - A Reaper Made

Happy Thursday! Today, I'm turning the blog over to Ms. Liz C. Long for her cover reveal! Grab your coffee, a comfy chair, and get your clicking fingers ready to give Liz a follow on social media!

ReaperFBCover


I am so excited to share the cover of A REAPER MADE with you today! In case you haven't read the synopsis, you can learn more about what to expect from the upcoming NA Paranormal title (see below). The book will be released on October 30th (just in time for Halloween, yippee!) on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, and KOBO.

Want to join in on the online release party? You could win all kinds of ebooks, swag, and maybe even a gift card or two. JOIN HERE!

Huge thanks to all the amazing bloggers and authors who volunteered to help with the cover reveal! Without further ado, here is the cover for A REAPER MADE.

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Synopsis:

Grace had finally gotten used to her new afterlife as a “Made” – a Reaper who used to be human. When Made Reapers and souls begin disappearing, however, Grace and her mentor Tully suspect demons. Grace’s worst fears are confirmed when her living family is threatened.

She’ll have to break every rule in the Reaper book to save them, including using a little magic to become temporarily human. With the help of Tully and her witchy friend Tessa, Grace goes undercover to save the fates of kidnapped souls – only to discover that demons aren’t working alone. Betrayal and distrust runs deep and Grace discovers that sometimes even Reapers are prone to humanity.

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And just in case you'd like to see the full wrap for paperback, I'm more than happy to share that too because I LOVE the back! All cover art done by my brilliant BFF, Erica Dickson.

ReaperSpreadsm

Liz Long, indie author 
About the Author:

Liz Long is a ridiculously proud graduate of Longwood University with a BA in English. Her inspiration comes from action and thriller genres and she spends entirely too much time watching superhero movies. Her fabulous day job as a social media editor includes writing for a publishing company in Roanoke, VA.

Her first book, Gifted, is the first book in the Donovan Circus series, where superpowers meets the circus. Burned is the second adventure. Her standalone book Witch Hearts, is a story about a serial killer hunting witches for their powers. All titles are available at Amazon on Kindle and paperback, Barnes & Noble for Nook, and iBooks.

Find Liz Online

Website I Facebook I Twitter I Amazon Author Page

What do you think of that awesome cover?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo