Release Day Blast: Jaz's Warriors (Bondmates #1.5) by Ann Mayburn

About the Author:

With over forty published books, Ann is Queen of the Castle to her husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead-though she will deny to her children that it ever happened.

From a young Ann has had a love affair with books would read everything she could get her hands on. As Ann grew older, and her hormones kicked in, she discovered bodice ripping Fabio-esque romance novels. They were great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.

Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has accepted that her Muse has a severe case of ADD.

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Jaz's Warriors (Bondmates #1.5)
Adult SciFi/Menange Romance
Published: 18 February 2016

While growing up in Harlem, Jaz Brooks never imagined that there would be a day where she’d have two smoking hot alien husbands, Mavet and Xentix. Or that she would be living on a Kadothian spaceship stationed on one of Saturn’s moons as an Earth Ambassador. And she certainly never imagined that her bondmates would be encouraging her to take a third husband, but that’s exactly what’s happening.

Tandar Glycin has been fighting the Hive in the distant Bel’Tan galaxy for so long now he’d given up hope of ever finding his Matriarch. When word reaches him that his blood brother, Mavet, has bonded an Earth female Tandar is both elated and worried. Vicious rumors abound in the Bel’Tan galaxy about how horrible Earth women are and he worries that Mavet has taken a monster as his wife. When he first meets Jaz he quickly realizes that not all of the stories are true, and that the Lord of Life has blessed him with a kind, beautiful, and feisty alyah who is going to make him work to win her heart.

Warning - This story is set in the Bel'Tan galaxy where polyamorous relationships are the norm and love in all of its forms is accepted including M/M, M/M/F, M/M/M/F sexual situations.

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Check out the rest of the Bondmates Series on Goodreads HERE.

Jaz's Warriors Release Day Blast Arranged By Once Upon An Alpha.

Release Day Blast: The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel (A Marlow Intrigues Novel) by Jane Lark

Author Bio:

Jane is a Kindle bestselling author and a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult romances, and she’s a sucker for a love story. Her first successful novel was The Illicit Love of a Courtesan. “I love the feeling of falling in love and it’s wonderful to be able to do it time and time again in fiction.” She loves writing intense relationships and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others’ imaginations.

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Excerpt from The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel

Peter and Lillian
Her room was full of flowers. The three largest bouquets had come from him. She was sitting before her table and mirror, brushing out her hair. She put the brush down and stood when she saw him, smiling broadly, then she looked at Harry and Mark.

“I have brought my friends to meet you. This is Mark Harper.”

She curtsied, but Mark swept about Peter and caught up her hand, lifting her out of the curtsy as he pressed a lingering kiss on the back of her hand. The force of a punch, similar to the one Drew had once thrown at him, hit Peter in the face. Now he knew how Drew had felt. Seeing Mark hold her hand twisted nausea in his stomach.

Peter stripped off his gloves and put them on the side, by her make-up, and took off his hat too.

He was staying then…

Of course he was; nothing would pull him away now that he was in the room with her.

“And Mr Harry Webster,” Peter completed.

Harry stepped about Peter’s other side and as Lillian curtsied again, Mark passed over her hand. Harry barely held it, merely stared at her in a way that measured her up.

They had shared women for years, like whores were no different than sharing wine. But now Peter’s gaze hovered on her hand in Harry’s and jealousy bit into his chest.

Why the hell is this cutting me?

Harry let her hand go.

Lillian looked at Peter, at last, and she moved forward, but instead of taking the hand he held out, she gripped his shoulders and lifted to her toes, then kissed his cheek in a gentle blessing. “Hello, Peter. I did not know you were coming tonight.”

He gripped her chin and pressed a quick kiss on her red lips. “I could not stay away. I am not supposed to be here.” It was true. He had to face up to the truth tomorrow; he could not keep delaying what he should do.

Magical Weddings includes 14 NEW RELEASES, written expressly for this set.
Adult Romance
Published: 16 June 2015 by IndieWrites

Whether real or only in the hearts of the bride and groom, the magic of weddings is undeniable. And irresistible! As these 15 enchanting happily-ever-afters by bestselling and award-winning authors prove.

From sweet to spicy, the romances bundled into this set cross time and unite hearts, cast spells of laughter, battle wedding jitters and fight back tears, while weaving love's hopeful magic throughout 1400 pages.



The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel (A Marlow Intrigues Novel)

How do you fight a calling that comes from your soul?

Lillian is in love with her charming protector. He brings her gifts and gives himself to her at night, but she knows nothing of his days; all she knows is that with Peter visiting her she is happier than she has ever been. The way he touches her and treats her is so different from other men.

Emily is excited, hopeful and expectant, waiting on the moment that everything seems to be leading towards. Lord Peter Brooke has courted her for a year; she is awaiting his proposal, certain it will come very soon, and everything he does indicates that it will.

Peter is torn; his soul is seeking one thing, but his mind wants another, and what about his heart? Where does his heart lie?

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Facebook Release Day Party

Check out the rest of the Marlow Intrigues Series on Goodreads HERE.

The Jealous Love of a Scoundrel Release Day Blast Arranged By Literati Author Services.

Cover Reveal: Only You by Stephanie Feagan (Mephisto Covenant series)

Thanks to Stephanie (Trinity) Feagan and GCR Promotions for this post today! Stephanie's series, formerly MEPHISTO COVENANT, has gotten a whole new makeover, with cover art, title, and even author pen name. ONLY YOU was previously known as THE MEPHISTO MARK, so if you've been waiting for this book, check out the updated version!

Don't forget to check out the AWESOME rafflecopter prize at the end of the post!


Blurb:
Orphaned at six and sent to live with abusive relatives in Bucharest, Mariah learned early in life to box up violent, agonizing memories and put them in permanent mental storage. Now almost nineteen, she has a paying job, a tiny apartment, and a plan to attend university. She loves her independence and is steadily overcoming her past, but when an enigmatic stranger walks into the pub where she works and the trajectory of her life changes yet again, she begins to wonder if she’ll run out of mental shelf space.

The only females unafraid of the Mephisto brothers are the extremely rare Anabo, born without Original Sin. Over one hundred years ago, Phoenix was first to find one, but he made a fatal mistake and she was murdered by his oldest brother and enemy, Eryx. Phoenix soldiered through the next century wrapped up in grief and guilt, his only outlet planning takedowns of those who pledged their souls to Eryx. When one of his brothers brings Mariah to Mephisto Mountain, he’s torn between his instinctive, powerful need to pursue her, and his certainty that he can never have her.

Drawn into the world of the Mephisto, Mariah sees the pain and misery Eryx unleashes on humanity, and the boxes in her mind begin to fly open, one by one. All that keeps her from slipping off the edge is her unlikely, sexually charged friendship with Phoenix. He’s incredibly screwed up; she’s completely broken. It would take a miracle for them to find happiness. Then Eryx brings the war for Hell to a whole new level, forcing Mariah and Phoenix to make a choice that will bind them together for all eternity, or rip them apart forever.

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Teaser:
I was nothing of the light he spoke of – I was dark, dirty, damaged. If he couldn’t love Miss Perfect, he’d never, ever love me.

A Word From The Author...

What Kind of Moron Changes Cover, Title and Author 3 Weeks After Release Day?

Me. I’m the moron. But maybe not as idiotic as it seems. When I decided to self-publish the third Mephisto book and make it New Adult with sexy times and more grown-up-y angst, I gave serious consideration to doing this to start with, but couldn’t decide, and so I asked author friends for their advice and they unequivocally said I should keep Trinity Faegen as the author, use the same font for the title, and the same general theme of the cover. Continue the package and branding.

So I did. And it’s beautiful – I love the cover of The Mephisto Mark. But most people have never heard of the Mephisto Covenant series, so they don’t know – or care – that this book is all matchy-matchy with the previous books. So no new readers are jumping on board. And readers of the first two assume this will be like those, but it’s not. Even the writing is different. Book 1 & 2 are in third person, alternating POV and this one is in first person alternating POV. This one has more language and adult themes and is not anything close to a YA. It’s New Adult – except not about somebody in college. Just college age. It’s a romance novel, pure and simple. It’s a sad story, a hopeful tale, a love story with a happy ending – like all romance novels.

The first two Mephistos were romances. Young Adult romance, but romances just the same. This book, the third Mephisto, with a new title and cover, written as Real Me, the romance writer, will hopefully find its place on the right bookshelf, and people who love romance novels will find it and enjoy it. Should I have done this to begin with? Well, yeah, but who knew? That’s the beauty of self-publishing! You can climb down off the horse in the middle of the stream and get on another horse. Or swim to shore and take a bus. Y’all come with me – read Only You and tell me what you think.


$100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Ricochet by Becca and Krista Richie

I'm giving JL from Avid Reader's Musings the spotlight today, because her blog handles books for a younger audience. But, this NA was too much for her to pass on being able to review.


Blurb:
As a sex addict, Lily Calloway must do the impossible. Stay celibate for 90 days.

Cravings and fantasies become her new routine, but while Loren Hale recovers from his alcohol addiction, Lily wonders if he’ll realize what a monster she really is. After all, her sexual compulsions begin to rule her life the longer she stays faithful to him.

Progress. That’s what Lily’s striving for. But by trying to become closer to her family—people who aren’t aware of her addiction—she creates larger obstacles. When she spends time with her youngest sister, she learns more about her than she ever imagined and senses an unsettling connection between Daisy and Ryke Meadows.

With Lily and Lo’s dysfunctional relationship teetering and unbalanced, they will need to find a way to reconnect from miles apart. But the inability to “touch” proves to be one of the hardest tests on their road to recovery. Some love brushes the surface. Some love is deeper than skin.

Lily and Lo have three months to discover just how deep their love really goes.

------
Includes the first chapter to the sequel Addicted for Now.

Companion to the Sequel: A full-length New Adult Romance that continues where Addicted to You left off. As a companion novel, it bridges the gap between the first and second book. It is highly recommended to be read before Addicted for Now.

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RICOCHET REVIEW TOUR HOSTED BY GCREADING


MY REVIEW:
Ricochet continues the story of Lily Calloway, a young woman who is addicted to sex. Her boyfriend, Loren (Lo) Hale has entered rehab for his alcohol addiction and she is left to fight her cravings for sex without him by her side.

For me, the best part of this installment in the Addicted series was the character of Ryke Meadows. He's honest to the point of being offensive, and pushes all the wrong buttons with Lily, but I thought the story wouldn't have been as good without him. Ryke plays a big part of keeping Lily in line, even though she resents the hell out of his presence. He's a great foil to Lily's character, especially since Lo is absent for the majority of the story.

I also liked how Lily's relationship with her sisters, as well as her past with Lo, was explored more in Ricochet. Through flashbacks, readers are able to experience events in Lily's and Lo's relationship that contributed and lead up to the point they are in the present. These flashbacks give insight into the dynamic between Lily and Lo, as well as their respective addictions. Lily has told her sister, Rose, about her problems and even with their sibling disagreements, it's obvious how close the two are. Rose is dedicated to helping Lily find a way to control herself and I liked how this strengthens the relationship between the two.

Daisy, Lily's youngest sister, and a model, also makes more of an appearance in Ricochet. Daisy is a complex character. Though only fifteen, she acts much older and hangs out with somewhat questionable model types, as shown in the beginning of the story. And her developing closeness with Ryke causes alarm with Lily.

Ricochet is an absorbing story about a young woman coming to terms with who she is and how she can change herself for the better. While there's not a lot of conventional action, Ricochet captivated me and kept me turning pages to the very end. I'm really looking forward to reading about Lily and Lo's continued relationship in the next book. I'm rooting for the both of them - that they are able to overcome both of their addictions and have a life together.


Thanks, JL! And thanks also to the author and GCR Promotions for the following giveaway! Just enter via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.


About The Author(s):
Becca Ritchie is a carnivore of pop culture, television, film and of course YA and NA books. While in college, she worked at The CW television network and put her vampiric knowledge to good use, blogging about hit series and swooning over actors’ abs. When she’s not blogging, she writes novels and has teamed up with her twin sister for their New Adult novel ADDICTED TO YOU. Available July of 2013.

Krista Ritchie is the mind behind popular trading website YA Book Exchange and created Nawanda Files, a book blog that also features books into movies news. When not pouring over entertainment news and the newest releases, she spends her time working in the science field. She’s happy to join forces with her sister, harnessing their twin powers to produce the first in a New Adult series.

Website | Krista Twitter | Becca Twitter | GoodReads

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Promo: Camp Boyfriend by J.K. Rock Pre-Order Sale!

Damaris over at Good Choice Reading has a fabulous opportunity for book lovers looking for a summer read this July! Just pre-order CAMP BOYFRIEND by author duo, J.K. Rock from Anderson's Book Shop in Larchmont, NY and you can get your copy autographed by the authors, and then shipped to you.

Just clicksy on this PayPal link to order your copy. Here's some more details on the whole deal:


Those who pre-oder via Anderson's Book Shop not only get a SIGNED copy of CAMP BOYFRIEND (personalized or not), but the authors themselves will also ship out a friendship bracelet, and I ♥ CAMP tattoo to each person as a thank you!

Price for each book is $10.68 with tax included, and a $5.00 flat rate fee for shipping. There will be a tracking # that I will send out to everyone who pre-orders, so that you can keep up with your package.

All packages will be shipped out release week.


SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW FIRST:

• YOU DO NOT PAY GCREADING A DIME TO DO THIS.
• THIS IS AVAILABLE TO U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY.
• YOU CAN REQUEST A REFUND AT ANYTIME AS LONG AS THE BOOK HASN'T ALREADY BEEN BOUGHT AND SIGNED.
• EVERYONE WHO PRE-ORDERS HAS TO FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW SO THAT I CAN FORWARD ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION TO THE AUTHORS. I WILL ALSO BE USING THE FORM TO E-MAIL EVERYONE THEIR TRACKING #. 
• IF YOU BUY MORE THAN ONE BOOK, SHIPPING COST CHANGES. PLEASE E-MAIL ME FIRST BEFORE BUYING MORE THAN ONE. THIS IS TO ENSURE YOU DO NOT OVER PAY SHIPPING TO THE SAME ADDRESS.

Once you have ordered your copy, please go fill out THIS FORM


Also, if you live in the New York area, authors J.K. Rock will be signing at Anderson's Book Shop in Larchmont, NY on July 13th! More details to come!

Please feel free to contact Damaris with any questions or concerns at: 
Events@andersonsbooksny.com
Damaris@goodchoicereading.com

Blurb:
The summer of her dreams is about to get a reality check.

They said it couldn't be done, but geeky sophomore Lauren Carlson transformed herself into a popular girl after moving to a new school halfway across the country. Amazing what losing her braces and going out for cheerleading will do. Only trouble is, the popular crowd is wearing on Lauren's nerves and she can't wait to return to summer camp where she's valued for her brain instead of her handsprings. She misses her old friends and most of all, her long time camp-only boyfriend, Seth. This year she intends to upgrade their relationship to year-round status once she's broken up with her new, jock boyfriend, Matt. He doesn't even begin to know the real her, a girl fascinated by the night sky who dreams of discovering new planets and galaxies.

But Matt isn't giving her up without a fight. As he makes his case to stay together, Lauren begins to realize his feelings run deeper than she ever would have guessed. What if the guy she thought she was meant to be with forever isn't really The One? Returning to Camp Juniper Point was supposed to ground her uprooted life, but she's more adrift than ever. Everything feels different and soon Lauren's friends are turning on her and both guys question what she really wants. As summer tensions escalate, Lauren wonders if she's changed more than she thought. Will her first big discovery be herself?

Coming July 2013, SPENCER HILL CONTEMPORARY

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Pre-Order before July 2nd, 2013.

Library Book Review: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Blurb:
Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London's fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she's completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates;just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago.

Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie's older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive;but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben's colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend's career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse.



I'm actually kind of confused about how I want to rate this. On the one hand, this book was very much in Kinsella's usual style. Miscommunications and hi-jinks ensue throughout the novel. However, I did not really like any of the primary characters.

Lottie and Fliss are basically sabateurs of, not only their own lives, but others around them. In a bad representation of Sense and Sensibility-esque sisters, Fliss is reserved, and frankly quite bitter, about relationships. Meanwhile, Lottie is too flighty, too emotional, and too self-absorbed.

The male characters aren't any more likeable or relatable. What I did like was the dry British humor, the laugh out loud "situations" orchestrated by Nico and Georgios (honeymoon hotel employees), and the snappy pace of the novel. So, though I first thought, 3.5 stars, I also felt that what I disliked overshadowed enough to give it some weight. Therefore, I reconsidered my final rating.

My Rating: 
Worth Trying
2.75 star
C+


I obtained this book from my local library. No compensation from anyone was given for this review.

Book Review: The Chosen by Theresa Meyers

Blurb:
Attorney by day, demon-hunter by night, Remington Jackson is used to being on the sunny side of the law, even in the Wild West. But it’s showdown time, and Remy and his brothers are getting desperate. They don’t have the relic they need to slam the door shut on evil—so Remy is going to have to find and steal part of it.

Enter China McGee, shapeshifter, thief, beauty, and current prisoner. When Remy offers her freedom in exchange for a little light-fingered help, she’s pretty sure she’s going to end the association with a good old-fashioned seductive double cross. But there’s something about fighting through a jungle full of Mayan ruins that makes you want to settle down together. China could change. Remy might be special. But none of that matters if the devil takes them all...


THE CHOSEN is the third book in THE LEGEND CHRONICLES about three brothers, Colt, Winchester, and Remington, hunters who live in a world full of Darkin (demons, vampires, shapeshifters) and have embarked on a journey to fulfill a prophesy none of them are quite sure they believe. Colt and Winchester have had their adventures and found their match in two strong women. Now it is Remington's turn. This series is full of action, romance, danger and some elements (like steampunk and a western-like setting) that can draw all sorts of readers.

I MUST start with the characters. Remington and China McGee team up to try to find a portion of an important relic. Because the three novels in the series happen simultaneously, and even share several scenes, the reader has a special treat in getting to see the dynamics of the brothers and the women who are accompanying them on their quests as a group as well as coupled up. Though I thought that Colt was going to firmly stay my favorite of the Jackson brothers, I was also really intrigued by China McGee. Meyers has the ability to flesh out both hero and heroine throughout the story. Neither character is completely dependent on the other; they truly work together, and even if it is begrudgingly, it is clear that each one plays to their own strengths.

Meyers has also built a cool world where many different creatures exist. Blending action, adventure, romance, danger, secrets and betrayal in a steampunky-fied old west world, there is something for everyone who enjoys speculative fiction and/or romance. Start the series with the first book, THE HUNTER, and you won't want to stop until the last page of THE CHOSEN!

Book Rating:
14/15
4.5 star
A


About The Author:
The progeny of a slightly mad (NASA) scientist and a tea-drinking bibliophile who turned the family dining room into a library, Theresa Meyers learned early the value of a questioning mind, books and a good china teapot.

A former journalist and public relations officer, she found far more enjoyment using her writing skills to pen paranormal novels in the turret office of her Victorian home.

She’s spent nearly a quarter of a century with the boy who took her to the Prom, drinks tea with milk and sugar, is an adamant fan of the television show Supernatural, and has an indecent love of hats.

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This book was provided by the author via Bewitching Book Tours, with no other compensation except for the expectation of an honest review

Promo: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin Giveaway

Read My Mind is taking part in the FOREVER MY GIRL by Heidi McLaughlin blog tour, hosted by Good Choice Reading Promotions. Heidi is sponsoring a great giveaway during the tour.

There's a grand prize of a KINDLE TOUCH!

Just enter via the rafflecopter at the bottom of this post, and don't forget to follow the tour!


Check out my review of the book HERE

Find the other stops on the tour HERE





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin

Blurb:
I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.



FOREVER MY GIRL started out as a lament to a character that the reader never gets to know, at least not in the present time. Mason, a beloved friend, father, husband, and hometown hero has died. The assembled cast of characters that include lost loves, Josie and Liam are gathering for his funeral. A secret that Josie kept is revealed almost right away, but I won't say, in case it is thought a spoiler. What I will say is that FOREVER MY GIRL pretty much had my attention with rock-star, lost love, and a trope that I can't get enough of in romance.

To be honest, when I read the first few chapters, I was afraid the book was going to get bogged down in the grief over Mason and be a downer. But, that didn't happen, luckily. Yes, Mason's death shapes the backbone of the plot, but ultimately Josie and Liam are in the spotlight as they reconnect and discover things about their shared past.

There was a slow build-up to the romance in this book. In fact, for a lot of the story McLaughlin had Josie happily matched with another person, but Liam's return had Josie thinking about his place in her life and how she really felt about him. FOREVER MY GIRL was actually a really good study of two people with a relationship that never really ended, and feelings that stayed in their hearts, even during separation and other partners.

Book Rating:
12/15
3.5 star
B+


About The Author:
My grandma once told me that I can do anything I want, so I am.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, I now live in picturesque Vermont, with my husband and two daughters. Also renting space in our home is an overhyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day you'll find me behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, I'm writing one of the many stories I plan to release or sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.

I'm also an active reviewer on The Readiacs - a site I own with my best friend and uber special beta, Yvette.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads


This book was provided by the author via Good Choice Reading, with no other compensation except for the expectation of an honest review

Book Blitz: The Christmas Dare by Joan Chandler with a GC Giveaway

Read My Mind is taking part in a book blitz for THE CHRISTMAS DARE today. One of the things that I love about this time of the season is the Christmas romances that release to both spice up and sweeten the winter nights. Thanks to the author and Goddess Fish Promotions for sponsoring the blitz!


About The Author:

Joan Chandler is a Florida native who has lived in the Deep South all of her life. She is married with two children who are her pride and joy. She lives a double life of sorts, holding down a nine-to-five job during the day, and writing steamy romance at night—often with her black cat curled up in her arms as she types.

When she’s not spending her spare time working on her next novel, she loves to go camping, sharing girls’ night out with her friends, walking her two dogs, and watching football.

Blog | Twitter

Blurb:

Self-professed Christmas addict Gia Dixon, and by-the-book Ethan Castle have been best friends all their lives. When tragedy strikes Ethan’s family, Gia’s the rock he depends on to pull him through the darkest days. Then, a shared, long-forgotten memory leads to an unexpected yet tender kiss. Can a simple Christmas dare help them find true love?



Here's a taste of THE CHRISTMAS DARE!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


She made a face at him as she prepared to get out of the car, and then flipped around to her knees to reach between the seats to gather up her packages. As she pulled everything forward through the gap, she leaned over to kiss his cheek.

He caught her by surprise when he turned to face her, causing their lips to meet. Her eyes widened, while his turned dark.

“Gia,” he said, the name coming out of his mouth in a low rasp.

She closed her eyes but didn’t move. She couldn’t speak. Then she sensed when he was about to kiss her again. She tilted her face up to receive it, her lips parting to let him know she wasn’t opposed.

Ethan put his hands on either side of her head, his long fingers wrapping around to bury themselves in her thick, blonde hair. “Gia,” he whispered again as he closed his mouth over hers and slipped his tongue inside. She twirled hers around it, gently sucking. They were lost in the moment, oblivious to whether anyone else was around or not. They forgot where they were. They even forgot who they were. And in their place, these two sensual, passionate creatures tangled their arms around each other and kissed as if their lives depended on it.

Finally, Ethan sighed and pulled back a little. “Tell me that this is okay with you. Please say that it is.”

Gia had trouble finding her voice, so instead she pulled his mouth to hers again and greedily kissed him. When it ended, she asked breathily, “Does that answer your question?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joan Chandler will also be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card, winner's choice, to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour!

Make sure you visit each stop and comment to up your chances of being chosen.

At Read My Mind just comment with your favorite fall/winter seasonal beverage. (Mine is Pumpkin Spice Latte in early fall and Gingerbread Latte in winter)

Check out all of the tour stops HERE.

Blog Tour: Embers In A Dark Frost by Kelly Keaton Book Review

Blurb:
The Fire Breathers have come. The Underworld calls. A choice must be made...

With her feared half blood and flame-colored hair, DEIRA D'ANU is a constant reminder of human betrayal and the war that claimed the light from Innis Fail. Now, darkness and frost creep across the land, strengthening the Lord of the Underworld. War is imminent—an allegiance with the Fire Breathers is vital. When their champion, Balen, sees Deira, he believes she is the key to finding the light and stopping the dark frost.

But the Underworld calls to Deira, tempting her to turn her back on a world that never cared and betray the champion willing to sacrifice everything to keep her safe and save his world from darkness.



EMBERS IN A DARK FROST introduces a world where humans have no place. Deira is a half-breed -human and Anu- which means that she is shunned and treated as a lesser person. Indeed, Kelly Keaton has written of the ultimate outcast, not just because a physical feature marks out Deira as different. Her heritage is seen as weakness to her kind and she lives as a servant.

Knowing that Keaton is the author of other books that I have enjoyed immensely, I approached this book with a little trepidation. But, the feeling left me almost immediately. The world that Keaton has created in EMBERS IN A DARK FROST is complex and unlike anything I have read in a long while. Most of the fantasy I read does not involve a solely non-human world. It was intriguing and captured my attention from the start.

Though there is much to learn about the world, I never felt that I was being left behind. Keaton deftly navigates the reader through Deira's journey, the other important characters and avoids massive info dumps that can take a reader out of the story. Just enough is revealed at crucial moments, while also keeping me on my toes about what else this world might throw out next. EMBERS IN A DARK FROST is a good story, one with great pacing, well-written characters, and an author that clearly knows what she is doing.

Book Rating:
12.5/15
4 star
A-

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About The Author:
Kelly loves ancient history, fantasy, and mythology. She dreams of one day attaining magical powers, discovering the secret to immortality, ridding her home of pet hair, and being crowned Mardi-Gras queen. 

As Kelly Gay, she writes the popular adult urban fantasy series, Charlie Madigan, for Pocket Books. While she calls Raleigh, NC, home, she can also be found chatting about books and life on Facebook and Twitter.

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This book was provided by the author via Good Choice Reading Promotions, with no other compensation except for the expectation of an honest review

Guest Post: Classic Inspiration from Leanna Renee Hieber

I had to stop for a fangirl moment, when I received this post. I've had a few encounters with author Leanna Renee Hieber before and always came away feeling slightly awed and intellectually fulfilled. She is a great conversationalist, so when I had the chance to host her at Read My Mind, I jumped at it.

Leanna's newest release is THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART, which continues the story of Natalie and Denbury started in DARKER STILL. You can check out my review (along with a rafflecopter giveaway until 12.30, 11:59pm) at this link.


About The Author:
Author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories. She graduated with a BFA in Theatre and a focus in the Victorian Era from Miami University. She began her theatrical career with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and began adapting works of 19th Century literature for the stage. Her one-act plays such as Favorite Lady have been published, awarded and produced around the country. Her novella Dark Nest won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in the genre of Futuristic, Fantasy, or Paranormal Romance.

Her debut novel, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker, first in her Strangely Beautiful series, landed on Barnes and Noble's bestseller lists, was named a favourite of 2009 by 14 book blogs, won two 2010 Prism Awards (Best Fantasy, Best First Book), the 2010 Orange County Book Buyer's Best Award (Young Adult category) and is currently in development as a musical theatre production with Broadway talent on board. The Strangely Beautiful series has been translated into several languages and was selected for hardcover editions via Rhapsody and SciFi Book Clubs. The Perilous Prophecy of Guard and Goddess, the prequel in the series, won the 2012 Prism Award (Best Fantasy).

DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, first in Leanna's Gothic Historical Paranormal saga for teens (Sourcebooks Fire), hit the Kid's/YA INDIE NEXT LIST as a recommended title by the American Booksellers Association. Seventeen Magazine said of DARKER STILL: "This chilling tale will draw you in and keep you guessing until the very last page!" The book has been praised by Shelf Awareness, The Chicago Tribune, Pixie Magazine and more. DARKER STILL will also be translated into several languages and has been selected for a SCHOLASTIC edition as a "highly recommended" title.

Leanna's short fiction has been featured in anthologies Candle In the Attic Window and the upcoming Willful Impropriety: Tales of Society and Scandal, "Too Fond"; a forthcoming short for Tor.com and Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: Tales of Gaslight Fantasy (March 2013, Tor).

Represented by Nicholas Roman Lewis, Leanna is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She is proud to be a co-founder of the original Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series in New York. Leanna was named the 2010 RWA NYC Chapter Author of the Year.

A member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Leanna works often in film and television on shows like Boardwalk Empire and is thrilled to be playing a principle role as Deputy Kellion in the forthcoming web-series Auror's Tale. When not writing or on set, she's busy telling ghost stories, frequenting Goth clubs, corset shopping, channeling Narcissa Malfoy, wandering graveyards and generally adventuring about her adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and their beloved rescued lab rabbit.

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Leanna discusses where her interest in Gothic literature stems from and the importance of loving classic novels.

***

The first author I can recall having a profound effect on me as a pre-teen was Edgar Allan Poe. I was entranced by his stories, enraptured by his poetry. I felt like he and I saw stories with the same eyes; his ability to weave the macabre with the beautiful defined my earliest style. I’ve been a Goth girl ever since, at least in spirit. ;) And while being a Goth girl doesn’t necessarily correlate with being a Gothic novelist (Gothic literature having its own separate definition and trajectory than “Goth” culture), there are most certainly parallels.

Books like The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein, Dracula, these books excited my keen flair for the dramatic, my interest in the supernatural and satisfied my craving for rich vocabulary. Big words are sexy. And the historical context of the classics allowed for another fantasy world to be taking place; delving into another time entirely.

You are what you read as a writer, and the most formative novels, the ones I connected to on the viscerally dramatic and soulful level in a way I found only Gothic fiction could really do, are what defines me today. My books all pay homage to classic novels in one way or another. My goal in life is to be a “gateway drug to 19th century literature”.

It’s my hope that sharing my love of the classics, using them as the building blocks of my storytelling as a modern Historical Fantasy author, keeps me tethered to my earliest inspirations, the closest fires to my muse.

***


Thanks so much Leanna! And thanks to Sourcebooks, who provided the book for review.

Darker Still:

It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I'd ever seen--everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable... utterly breathtaking and eerily lifelike.

There was a reason for that. Because despite what everyone said, Denbury never had committed suicide. He was alive. Trapped within his golden frame.

I've crossed over into his world within the painting, and I've seen what dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked--bound together to watch the darkness seeping through the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Manhattan. Unless I can free him soon, things will only get Darker Still.

The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart:

I'm coming for you.

The whispers haunt her dreams and fill her waking hours with dread. Something odd is happening. Something... unnatural.

Possession of the living. Resurrection of the dead. And Natalie Stewart is caught right in the middle. Jonathon, the one person she thought she could trust, has become a double agent for the dark side. But he plays the part so well, Natalie has to wonder just how much he's really acting.

She can't even see what it is she's fighting. But the cost of losing her heart, her sanity... her soul.

Sourcebooks Spotlight: The Twisted Tragedy of Miss Natalie Stewart and Giveaway

Blurb:
For Natalie Stewart, a normal life has never seemed so far away. Her only solace, Lord Jonathan Denbury, is wanted for murder. To clear his name, Denbury must return to England and assume the role of his demon doppelganger. 

But Natalie begins to doubt his true motives, especially as a new gentleman begins whispering in her ear. Natalie and Denbury may be able to visit each other in their dreams, but they can't escape the darkening shadows. 

spontaneous explosions, friends turned enemies and dangerous secrets revealed, there's still a demon who has Natalie's scent, and someone is trying to resurrect the ultimate evil.


THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART continued the tale of Natalie and her love, Jonathan Denbury. Having been rescued from the painting that he was trapped in, the two embark on a journey (figuratively and literally, at points) to find and uncover the villain they can't seem to shed.

Natalie has regained her voice, which makes her part in discovering more about the demon that walked about as Jonathan slightly easier, as now she can talk to her confidantes and help Jonathan don the personality of his demon doppelganger. In DARKER STILL, Natalie is shown to be an intelligent young woman, with a freedom that is seldom contained, and a sharp mind. The reader gets to experience more of this in THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART.

Hieber knows how to spin a great tale, where the setting is just as important as the story, and she captured my interest with the unusual tale of Denbury and Natalie. Starting out as a tribute to the Dorian Grey idea, Hieber has continued the series by molding a legend and mystery with great success.

Book Rating:
13/15
4 Stars
A-

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Thanks to my contact at Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of THE TWISTED TRAGEDY OF MISS NATALIE STEWART. Since I read this fantastic book via NetGalley, I'm passing along the brand new print version to one lucky Read My Mind reader! Just enter via rafflecopter and Good Luck!

Rules:
Must be 13+ to enter
One entry per person/login/email
INTERNATIONAL in celebration of the holidays!
Ends 12.30, 11:59pm

a Rafflecopter giveaway



This book was provided by Sourcebooks and NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review only
This review was excerpted from the original, posted here at Read My Mind

ARC Review: Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Blurb:
In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.


In some ways, I thought that BLACK CITY was a totally predictable YA dystopian, but in others ways I thought it was a fierce kick-ass vampire young love/coming of age story. What? you ask. How can that be? Yeah, I'm not sure either, but there you go. I really struggled with writing this review because my bullet points were basically:

• Typical post-apoc esque YA
• Somewhat dystopian world with us and them dynamic
• Vampires, really? (Even at the height of the vampire craze, I've always always preferred shapeshifters/werewolves)

My notes in my head sounded vaguely critical, but when I would actually try to translate them into thoughts via typing, mostly praise and accolades would spill out. Wait? I would say, what just HAPPENED here? And so I would start over, but the truth is, I DID like BLACK CITY. I think that Elizabeth Richards did a fine job crafting a NOT typical post-apoc, dystopian, vampires versus humans, ruthless YA world. Spinning everything on its head, the vamps were not at the top of the food chain at all.

In fact, I found the most interesting part of the plot line to be the vampire (or Darkling situation). Living in a ghetto, reminiscent of the Jews in Poland (and other places) during WWII, the vamps are starved, treated poorly, and dangerously isolated. One of my bullet points about the post-apoc world makes this a typical set-up, but it is usually the humans who suffer from this type of treatment, by a government or group that is evolutionarily or anatomically superior. There were scenes that I could predict were coming and situations that I earmarked as set-up for a future event, but predictable or typical is only negative when the book becomes boring as a result of this. And BLACK CITY was anything but boring.

The social commentary and resultant actions that come about because of the Darkling situation, is skillfully handled by Richards in a way that echoes the wave of rebellion that sweeps the Districts throughout THE HUNGER GAMES series. In the end, what I thought might sound like a critical review is not. Richards kept me on my toes, even when I thought I had the upper hand. This is a world that I will definitely return to, and relish the thought of continuing adventures. Brava.

Book Rating:
12.5/15
4 stars
A-

I acquired this book at Book Expo America 2012, with no other compensation but the hope for an honest review

Steampunk Spectrum(1)

Blurb:
Evil is most assuredly afoot—and Britain’s fate rests in the hands of an alluring renegade . . . and a librarian.

These are dark days indeed in Victoria’s England. Londoners are vanishing, then reappearing, washing up as corpses on the banks of the Thames, drained of blood and bone. Yet the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences—the Crown’s clandestine organization whose bailiwick is the strange and unsettling—will not allow its agents to investigate. Fearless and exceedingly lovely Eliza D. Braun, however, with her bulletproof corset and a disturbing fondness for dynamite, refuses to let the matter rest . . . and she’s prepared to drag her timorous new partner, Wellington Books, along with her into the perilous fray.

For a malevolent brotherhood is operating in the deepening London shadows, intent upon the enslavement of all Britons. And Books and Braun—he with his encyclopedic brain and she with her remarkable devices—must get to the twisted roots of a most nefarious plot . . . or see England fall to the Phoenix!


I really, really enjoyed reading PHOENIX RISING. First, it was actually an audiobook read for me. Sometimes, it can be hit or miss with audiobooks. Though the vast majority that I've listened to have been good, sometimes the narrator just won't be the voice that I want to hear. Or even seem to reflect the tone of the book or characters correctly. No worries on that front here. The narrator's intonation is spot on for Ministry boss, Dr. Sound, and the slight changes he makes to mirror Eliza's New Zealand accent works well. Even Books sounds just like I would imagine.

As for the story, PHOENIX RISING is a mix of mystery, steampunk and action. It's cheeky and well-paced, with Eliza and Books' relationship and interaction being important to the way the characters get things done, but still not overshadowing the inherent adventurousness of the novel.

Read if you liked:
The Iron Seas (series) by Meljean Brook
Katherine "Kitty" Katt (series) by Gini Koch

Book Rating:
12.5/15
4 stars
A-

Goodreads
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Blurb:
The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.


GOD SAVE THE QUEEN is more of an urban fantasy steampunk. The world is one that has been changed by the fact that the British Empire still reigns because the queen is undead. This book explores class system under the guise of vampires, half-breeds and other creatures that bump in the night. Xandra's father is a member of the ruling class that she is sworn to protect, but never quite belong in. She lives in a dark, gritty world where secrets are being kept, and Xandra will have to be the one to uncover them.

Like in PHOENIX RISING, GOD SAVE THE QUEEN has a bit of the cheekiness that I have come to associate with British steampunk. It's a little darker, and I think a little more exclusively for urban fantasy readers who are open to steampunk. For me, GOD SAVE THE QUEEN was a fairly quick read, but the world itself was built well through Kate Locke's exposition and the characters dialog.

Read if you liked:
Rhiannon's Law (series) by J.A. Saare
Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Book Rating:
14/15
4.5 stars
A+

Goodreads

Blurb:
Former ballerina Callie Carlisle is determined to rebuild her life with her new mechanical limbs. She's just learned to accept the enhancements that saved her from certain death when she experiences uncontrollable twinges and flashes of light that obscure her vision. Terrified of literally falling apart, she resists telling her husband. Jasper's already vowed to keep her out of harm, and she doesn't want to worry him further.

When the War Office's General Black arrives with an urgent mission—rescue the doctor who created Callie's enhancements—she has no choice but to accept. A rogue agent and former patient of the scientist believes the biomechanical modifications he received are killing him, and he's out for revenge.

Callie must reach the doctor before it's too late. But with an overprotective Jasper at her side, and her alarming symptoms getting more frequent, will she be able to hold herself together long enough to save the doctor... and herself?


BROKEN PROMISES is the continuation of Callie and Jasper's story that started in FAR FROM BROKEN, which can be found as an individual novella, or in the anthology A CLOCKWORK CHRISTMAS. The first part of their story must be read, in order to understand what goes on here. Callie has had to give up her dreams of being a ballerina and learn to live with the new mechanical limbs she possesses.

What drew me to J.K. Coi's writing in the first place is her ability to evoke strong emotion with Callie and Jasper. Both are damaged characters, not just in mind and spirit. BROKEN PROMISES is at heart, a romance, but the steampunk aspect is seamlessly integrated. The world is steampunk and the story is romance.

Read if you liked:
Unbound (series) by Rachel Vincent

Book Rating:
11.5/15
3.5 stars
B+

Goodreads
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