31 May 2014

Branded Tour & Review




Branded by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki
A Sinners Series




Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best. 


Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home. 

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain. 

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me. 

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter. My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.







Purchase links:




About Abi and Missy: 


Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.



I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!


What I say: I'm going to start by saying I really like the new cover for Branded and Lexi's 'brand'. Although horrific in meaning it looks beautiful. Branded is a dystopian young adult story with one hell of a punch and a fun yet complicated subplot. 

The story begins as Lexi finds herself being taken to the terrible prison-like-state known as the Hole. She's been convicted with the crime of lust. In the dystopian world Lexi lives in, people can be 'branded' (labelled and tattooed) with different crimes which come under the seven deadly sins.  

As Lexi arrives in the Hole we learn more about the world she lives in and the evil dictator or Commander who controls society by force.

Lexi is shocked to find herself accused of such a crime and is forced into a very different life where she is branded a whore and has to be protected by a guard. The Hole is brutal and life is cheap. It was good to see Lexi grow in strength and to see the bigger picture.


I thought the secondary characters including Sutton and Alyssa were great but I wasn't convinced of the scenes with Keegan and they sometimes seemed a bit rushed. I really liked Cole but I would have liked to see him developed a bit more. The ending was rather abrupt and left me with several unanswered questions which I hope will be covered in the next instalment.

I enjoyed Lexi's dark and troubling story, although I did find the conversation didn't always flow at times. However, this didn't really lessen my enjoyment and I found myself immersed in this dystopian society, which was a sort-of combination of that shown in The Hunger Games and Divergent.

3.5 - 4 Stars in my Sky!

Excerpt:

I turn on the faucet for a long while only to discover
ice-cold water rushing out. The water never warms and I begin to understand.
The Commander thinks he can wash away my soul by freezing me to death. He
thinks he can destroy me by stripping away my possessions. But he can’t and I
won’t let him take my memories, my ambition, and my pride.
He thinks I’m so easily broken.
The Commander doesn’t know anything about me, what I grew up
with, what I endured—the father I lost, the mother I hate, the brother who
walked out of my life, and the stepfather I was forced to accept. He thinks
since I was rich, making me poor will cause me to give up. What he doesn’t
understand is that, after my father passed away, I grew up behind walls of
hatred. I had nothing, but had everything at the same time. I owned expensive
clothes, enjoyed good schooling, and lived in a nice home. But my body was just
a shell protecting an empty, desperate heart. My life was a colorful façade.
I had so much time to sit and think. I spent the majority of
my life between four walls. I was abandoned, neglected, starved, betrayed, and
abused. I’ve already been treated like the scum of the earth, so the Hole is
nothing new. He wants to erase every sign of my existence on this earth, but I
won’t let that happen. He can strip me naked, but he’ll never reach my soul.
It’s personal, completely personal.




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30 May 2014

Deadly Sweet Lies Cover Reveal


Deadly Sweet Lies (The Dream War Saga, #2)
by Erica Cameron





Publisher: Spencer Hill



Nadette Lawson knows when you're lying

Every night for the past two years, the Balasura have visited her dreams, enticing her to enter their world. And every night she's seen through their lies. Now, they're tired of playing in the shadows and they begin to stalk her in the waking world. It's no longer just an invitation; if Nadette doesn't join them, they'll take her family. Forever. She needs help, and the haven she's seeking may be just out of reach.

Julian Teagan is a master of deception.

To survive, he has to convince the world his mother isn't useless, that everything's fine, otherwise he'll lose what little he has left in this life. He knows the lying won't be enough to keep him and his mother in the shadows, but it's all he knows. The only light of truth is Orane, a Balasura who sees past Julian's facade and challenges him to face the darkness.
Then Orane is killed, and Julian learns his mentor was far from innocent. The Balasura have hunted children like him for centuries, and their next target, Nadette is his one chance atfinally being a part of something real. If Julian can just convince her to trust him...


Author Spotlight:

Erica Cameron knew that writing was her passion when she turned a picture book into a mystery novella as a teen. That piece wasn't her best work, but it got her an A. After college, she used her degree in Psycology and Creative Writing to shape a story about a dreamworld. Then a chance encounter at a rooftop party in Tribeca made her dream career a reality.


Erica is many things but most notably the following: writer, reader, editor, dancer, choreographer, singer, lover of musical theater, movie obsessed, sucker for romance, Florida resident, and quasi-recluse. She loves the beach but hates the heat, has equal passion for the art of Salvador Dali and Venetian Carnival masks, has a penchant for unique jewelry and sun/moon décor pieces, and a desire to travel the entire world on a cruise ship. Or a private yacht. You know, whatever works.

Her debut novel Sing Sweet Nightingale released March 4, 2014 from Spencer Hill Press. It is the first book in The Dream War Saga.



WebsiteSeries * Twitter: @byericacameron * FacebookPinterestTumblr





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Count the Cast Blast - Character Cards




Make It Count
by Megan Erickson





Series info: Bowler University Series #1
Category/Genre: New Adult Romance
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse/HarperCollins
Release Date: June 3


BLURB:
Kat Caruso wishes her brain had a return policy, or at least a complaint hot-line. The defective organ is constantly distracted, terrible at statistics, and absolutely flooded with inappropriate thoughts about her boyfriend's gorgeous best friend, Alec...who just so happens to be her brand new college math tutor. Who knew nerd was so hot?

Kat usually goes through tutors like she does boyfriends--both always seem to bail when they realize how hopeless she is. It's safer for her heart to keep everyone at arm's reach. But Alec is always stepping just a little too close.

Alec Stone should not be fantasizing about Kat. She's adorable, unbelievably witty, and completely off limits. He'd never stab his best friend in the back...

But when secrets are revealed, the lines of loyalty are blurred. To make it count, Alec must learn messy human emotions can't be solved like a trigonometry function. And Kat has to trust Alec may be the first guy to want her for who she is, and not in spite of it.



Preorder Links:



Meet Kat & Alec:


Kat Caruso

The Student
“No rush. But by the time I leave tonight, you will give me a kiss, Alec Stone.”





Alec Stone

The Tutor
“Don’t you feel it? All that negative crap I’d been holding inside is gone because of you. And the good I’m filling it with? That’s you.”






Author Spotlight:

Megan Erickson grew up in a family that averages 5’3” on a good day and started writing to create characters who could reach the top kitchen shelf.
She’s got a couple of tattoos, has a thing for gladiators, and has been called a crazy cat lady. After working as a journalist for years, she decided she liked creating her own endings better and switched back to fiction.
She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. And no, she still can’t reach the stupid top shelf.
WHERE TO FIND MEGAN ONLINE:

Wow! Make It Counts sounds & looks great, I cannot wait to get my paws on this one!!


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29 May 2014

Of Fire & Roses Tour & Review


Of Fire And Roses - Erlanis Chronicles #1
by Danielle Belwater




What they say: Nate West’s mother is dead, his dad a lost cause. Anger has become a way of life, until he meets and falls in love with Cora Ewell. But Cora has a secret, one that could kill them both.


Nate moves from the big city to a small, forest town with his father after his mother’s tragic death. Alone and angry, Nate feels even more isolated by his father’s inability to communicate and relate to his only son in the wake of their loss. 

Nate takes to the forest in an attempt to find some peace, but instead finds a beautiful girl with flaming red hair. But before he can speak with her, she vanishes. Unsure if the girl is a vision or real he searches desperately for her.

When Nate finally meets Cora, his world is turned upside down and inside out. 

Dreams of his own death plague his sleep as old dark magic, hidden for centuries, resurfaces and has its sights clearly set on Nate.



I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!


What I say: After a pretty horrible year Nate and his Dad move to a new town where he meets a beautiful girl called Cora. Of Fire & Roses sees Nate and Cora immersed in a battle against bad magic and an evil curse.

It was an interesting change to read a YA book told in the guys POV and I enjoyed getting inside Nate's head. I did get confused at times because Nate's inner thoughts didn't always seem that congruent with a teenage guy. The language didn't always seem to 'flow' as the dialogue sometimes seemed a little immature but I'm sure this can easily be 'tightened' to increase the natural ebb and flow.

I liked Cora and would have liked to have seen her developed a little more. The family history stuff reminded me a little of that in the Caster Chronicles (in particular Beautiful Creatures).

I'm not generally a big fan of insta-love because I usually find it unrealistic, but when I considered the age of the characters and remembered how emotionally charged teenagers can be I was more willing to accept it.

The book is short and sweet, combined with a clever concept and an interesting twist. I hadn't seen certain events coming and was happy with the ending. It would have been nice to have had the events spread over a longer time frame as everything seemed to happen rather quickly. The backstory with Stafford  was intriguing and I enjoyed the supernatural element. Of Fire & Roses is a fun and intriguing introduction to Danielle Belwater's Erlanis series.

3 - 3.5 Stars in my Sky!

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Capturing the Earl's Love FREE Novella

Capturing the Earl's Love photo CapturingtheEarlsLove_zps85bbe9be.jpg





Capturing the Earl's Love
by Jane Lark


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Genre: Regency Romance (Historical)
Publish Date: May 29, 2014
Publisher: HarperImpulse
Event Organized By: Literati Author Services, Inc.




~Synopsis ~
From Kindle bestselling Historical romance author, Jane Lark, comes a brand new FREE novella to accompany her breathtaking Marlow Intrigues series.

"Pure, unadulterated romance." Best Chick Lit.com
Don't miss the other novels in the series,
The Illicit Love of a Courtesan
The Passionate Love of a Rake
The Scandalous Love of a Duke 
You can read my review here!
and coming soon...
The Lost Love of a Soldier

This novella tells the story of secondary characters from The
Illicit Love of a Courtesan

Rupert Stanforth, Earl of Morton, is exasperated by his sister's choice
of friend. Meredith Divine, clings, using Rowena's plain appearance as a foil for
her auburn curls and fuller figure. He would break the friendship, but the more
he complains the more time the girls spend together. Ceasing his disagreement,
he hopes the friendship will die, believing Meredith will take a wrong-step
soon...

Meredith clings to her only friend, Lady Rowena Stanforth,
despite the disgusted looks thrown by Rowena's proud, judgemental brother. Lord
Morton cannot abide Meredith because of her low standing but Meredith's heart favours
him... then in his single act of kindness, Meredith grasps an opportunity she
cannot resist...



Capturing the Earl’s Love Excerpt:

Lord Rupert Stanforth, Earl of Morton, watched his sister, Rowena, approach.

She was smiling, and her friend, Meredith Divine, clung to her arm.

His gaze briefly passed over the other girl. He was increasingly convinced Miss Divine only kept Rowena as a friend because Rowena was the perfect foil to show off Miss Divine’s more striking looks. Her auburn curls glowed in the candlelight beside Rowena’s lacklustre, light-brown locks.

Miss Divine was also slightly taller, and a little fuller in the bust.

While they crossed the room, she appeared to press as close as she could to Rowena’s side, letting Rowena’s less impressionable looks make Miss Divine’s stand out among the white-clad debutantes in the ballroom.

“Rupert...”

His eyes focused on his sister once more. She was out of breath, having just completed a country dance, and her cheeks were flushed, while her eyes glowed, expressing the fun she was having.

“I want to introduce Meredith to Ellen. Will you escort us and do the honours? Meredith is dying to meet her.”

Mmm, now what is this little game? He glanced at Miss Divine only to receive a very bright but subtly restrained smile.

She was trying to win his approval.

He was not interested. He wished nothing to do with the little schemer. Her father was in some sort of trade. Rupert had not even wished Rowena to befriend Miss Divine, let alone become so thick with her. The two of them were inseparable; or rather, Miss Divine hung about Rowena like a moth around a flame. Except Miss Divine was no moth. Her beauty was far too vibrant.

Rupert was Rowena’s guardian. Their father had passed on long ago, so Rupert was responsible for keeping his sister safe. It fell to him to help her choose her friends wisely. Yet the more he disparaged Miss Divine, the more Rowena favoured the girl. He’d ceased his complaints. Their friendship had still blossomed. He’d hoped it would wither and die back. It had not—yet.

He expected Miss Divine to make a wrong step soon though, one which would open his sister’s eyes, and end this arm-in-arm behavior.


FREE Novella:

Amazon


Marlow Intrigue Series Reading Order



The Illicit Love of a Courtesan photo TheIllicitLoveofaCourtesan_zpsb3afb0e4.jpg
Title: The Illicit Love of a Courtesan (Marlow Intrigues #1)

Author: Jane Lark
Genre: Regency Romance
First Published: April 15, 2013
Published by HarperImpulse: October 3, 2013


~Synopsis~
Trapped under the reign of a cruel keeper, Ellen Harding longs to be free. Under his oppression, her soul and conscience have died while her body lives on, fulfilling his dissolute desires. She is empty—a vessel—deaf to the voice of morality and blind to shame.


When her eyes are drawn to a beautiful man for no other reason than his looks, she imagines what it would be like to escape her chains for a night by giving her body to him.



But Edward Marlow is kind and gentle when he touches her, and her subconscious whispers, this man could be her salvation. Yet how can he help her when she has secrets which prevent her freedom?



Edward is restless, lonely, and a little angry with his lot in life—it is his only excuse for being drawn to another man’s mistress. The woman’s dark hair and pale eyes are striking, and he cannot take his gaze off her while she watches him over the top of a fan with an illicit intent in her eyes.



Once he’s known her, he cannot forget her, and once he’s seen the evidence of her supposed benefactor’s brutality, he wants to help her. But how can he when she will not run any more than she will speak of her past?



When a desperate Ellen finally relents and shocks Edward from his sleep, he doesn’t hesitate, he helps her flee. He just doesn’t know he’s running headlong into the secrets of her past.

Buy Links:





The Passionate Love of a Rake photo 18687792_zps30dfe787.jpg
Title: The Passionate Love of a Rake (Marlow Intrigues #2)

Author: Jane Lark
Genre: Regency Romance
Published: November 17th, 3013
Publisher: HarperImpulse


~Synposis~
The only woman who had power over notorious rake Robert Marlow was now walking away from him, again.


He'd heard Sutton had died, and known Jane was free, but he'd always thought his desire would only be for revenge, not her. Yet here he was, unable to deny what he felt for her…what he’d never felt for any other woman before…

Buy Links:



A Lord’s Desperate Love #2.5 ~ a Free Fourteen part story posted on Jane’s blog



 photo TheScandalousLoveofaDukeHighRes_zps4221490a.jpg
Title: The Scandalous Love of a Duke (Marlow Intrigues #3)

Author: Jane Lark
Genre: Regency Romance (Historical)
Publish Date: April 3, 2014
Publisher: HarperImpulse


 ~Synopsis~

Book three in Jane Lark's Kindle best-selling Regency romance series!


Isolated by life and choice, John Harding, the Duke of Pembroke, sees an angel in a pale mauve dress across a room and is drawn closer as lust grips firm and hard in his stomach. The wheat-blonde hair escaping her dull dove-grey bonnet and caressing her neck lures his eyes to a spot he'd like to kiss. She speaks with animation her hands moving. Then as if she senses his gaze the stranger turns and looks at him.



A rush of pain and longing spilled from Katherine's heart into her limbs. It was so long since she'd seen John but her reaction was the same as it had been more than half-a-dozen years before. She loved him, secretly, without hope, but a chasm of years and status stood between them.


Purchase Links





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Author Spotlight:

 photo For13_Jane_Lark_Full_Res_zps518c75cf.jpg
Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance, and a Kindle top 25 bestselling author.

She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis.

When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write.

Now Jane is writing a Regency series and contemporary, new adult, stories and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others' imaginations at last.

You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane's favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book which drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was 'Katherine' a story crafted from reality.

Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses them to create more realistic plots.

'Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it's wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.'

Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life.




Giveaway:

This giveaway, includes an antique English necklace worth £150, plus signed copies of
The Illicit Love of a Courtesan
The Passionate Love of a Rake
And The Scandalous Love of a Duke


Jane Lark Historical Giveaway photo PostcardsHistoricalv2PHOTO1_zps7d520c8b.jpg





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