Friday, October 31, 2014

Book Shelf: Wake (The Watersong Quartet #1) by Amanda Hocking

Fall under the spell of Wake—the first book in an achingly beautiful new series by celebrated author Amanda Hocking—and lose yourself to the Watersong.

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.


More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Wake by Amanda Hocking is a great start to a promising series following two very different sisters and featuring creatures of the deep woven together with the start of first loves and mysterious danger.

Wake is the first book by self-published sensation Amanda Hocking that I have read and even though it’s taken me a while to actually begin this series, I enjoyed the first book more than I thought I would. Admittedly I had my doubts heading into the story based on all the mixed reviews I had heard, but overall I found Wake to be an entertaining read and I look forward to continuing on with the series.

Told through varying POV’s, Wake focuses predominantly around sisters Harper and Gemma Fisher. Both are very different, with eighteen year old Harper level headed and practical and sixteen Gemma more carefree and passionate, especially where her love of water and swimming is concerned. Though both are different, they are still close, and living with only their father means Harper takes on a more maternal role with Gemma; taking care of her a lot more than she would under normal circumstances.

I really enjoyed the pace of this story. It wasn’t too fast or two slow, but rather progressed nicely with Hocking interweaving elements of romance, friendship and the supernatural to the story. There’s mystery and danger as Gemma finds herself caught in the sights of Penn, Thea and Lexi, three mysterious girls with a brutal secret who want Gemma to join them and won’t stop until she does, even if it means resulting to murder, something they are more than familiar with.

I feel like Amanda Hocking has set up a decent backstory where Penn, Thea and Lexi are concerned, but there’s still so much I want to know. I think Hocking would benefit from expanding her world a bit in future books, but at this point in time she’s done just enough to truly capture my attention.

Overall I like the characters. Harper and Gemma have their own personalities and I can see their purposes within the story. I think the blossoming romances for both girls hold potential in very different ways and I hope to see further developments where these are concerned, although I do foresee a lot of reluctance on Harper’s part.

As far as endings go, I feel like Amanda Hocking ended Wake right in the middle of something. Sure, it means I’m eager to read the next book, but I would have liked a bit more closure on this chapter of the story before moving into the next one. Still, with characters who have potential and homicidal sirens on the loose, I’m interested in beginning the next booklooking forward to finding out what happens next!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Pan Macmillan Australia (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: YA fantasy fans will enjoy.
Cover: Very pretty
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Blog Tour: Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram: Excerpt & Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Kelly Oram's latest release Cinder & Ella! I'm thrilled to be celebrating the release of this fantastic story and urge you all to grab yourselves a copy of this fun Cinderella retelling! Yesterday I posted my 5 star review of Cinder & Ella and today I have an awesome excerpt as well as a special message from Kelly as well as the fabulous tour wide giveaway!
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It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder. 
… 
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.

Add on Goodreads or check out my 5 star review!

Purchase:

 
Hi everyone! First of all, I want to send a big thank-you to Rachel for letting me stop by The Rest Is Still Unwritten today and introduce my new book. I love the blog, and I love this book and I’m very excited for you guys to get a peek at it.
 
Cinder & Ella is a contemporary retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. I love Cinderella. It’s always been my favorite fairy tale. I’ve always known I would eventually write my own adaptation. The only question was how did I want to do it? I finally found an idea that I loved and am so excited about the result.
 
In my version of the tale, Prince Charming and Cinderella know each other only as anonymous internet friends. They met through Ella’s blog when she wrote a post about Cinder’s favorite book that he disagreed with and had to argue. For years, they only ever talked online. The scene I am sharing with you today is the first time they ever talk on the phone. It should hopefully give you a little glimpse into each of the main characters as well as give you a sense of their relationship, and even a peek into Ella’s home life.
 
Anyway, I hope you like it!
 
From Cinder & Ella......

“Cinder?” I wanted to kick myself for how small my voice sounded.

“Ellamara! That is you. My beautiful and wise mystic priestess of the Realm, we speak at last.”

“Holy crap, your voice is sexy!”

I slapped my hand over my mouth. I did not mean for that to come out of it. It’s just that he sounded like he could melt butter—or women’s hearts—simply by speaking. His voice was deep, rumbly and hypnotic. The guy didn’t talk, he purred.

“So I’ve been told,” he teased, laughing—a low, rich sound ten times more dangerous than his speaking voice. 

To my utter mortification, I’d once again gained the attention of everyone in the room. They were all gaping at me, and who could blame them after what I’d just blurted? Each of their startled expressions was slightly different. My father looked horrified, while Jennifer had something akin to an excited gleam in her wide eyes. Juliette was smirking, and Anastasia was looking at me the way she always did—with barely concealed loathing and contempt.

I blushed and shut my laptop as I said, “Uh, hey, Cinder, can you hold on a sec?” I gave my dad a pleading look. “Can I take this in my room?”

Before my dad could answer, Juliette frowned at me. “What kind of a name is Cinder?” 

“Oh my gosh, that’s that guy who always leaves comments on her blog!” Anastasia cried suddenly. “Ella has an Internet boyfriend! What a freak!” 

She was so loud I was sure that Cinder heard her. 

“Ana!” Dad growled.

“What? Online dating is so gross!” She turned to me and added, “I hope you know Internet creepers don’t count as real boyfriends, even if you talk to them on the phone.”

“Anastasia, that is enough!” my dad roared. “You’ve just added another week to your grounding! Go to your room! Now!” 

“With pleasure!” she shouted back. “I was only down here because you were forcing me to babysit the suicidal freak, anyway!”

I wanted to die as I watched Anastasia stomp up the stairs. Cinder, no doubt, heard all of that. He couldn’t see it, but my face was so red it hurt. How could I possibly talk to him now? I was so nervous I was on the verge of throwing up.

“Ella?” Cinder asked when things got quiet. “Are you there?” He sounded hesitant.

“Welcome to my life,” I said with a sigh of defeat. “Sorry about that.” 

“It’s okay.”

It was definitely not okay. I was so humiliated. It was a miracle I wasn’t crying. I think that was only because I was still in so much shock. “Look, thanks for giving me your phone number, but maybe this is a bad time.”

My dad scrambled to his feet, waving his hands at me. “No! You don’t have to end your call. We’ll give you some privacy.” He glanced at both Jennifer and Juliette. “Won’t we, ladies?”

His blatant desperation for me to talk to someone—even a stranger from the Internet—was as embarrassing as Anastasia’s outburst. Even worse, Jennifer was just as bad. “Of course! You go ahead and talk to your boyfriend, Ella,” she squealed. “We can keep an eye on you from the kitchen. I have to get dinner started anyway.”

While I was busy dying from her use of the word boyfriend, she hopped off the elliptical. She hurried to catch up to my dad, seeming more than happy to finish her workout early. As they started up the steps, they both turned back to Juliette, who had sprawled out on the couch instead of getting up.

“I was here first,” Juliette said in response to their expectant looks. “There’s no way I’m going anywhere near the upstairs with Ana in the mood she’s in, and I really don’t care about Ella’s love life. Besides, she’s not supposed to be alone, anyway. What if she tries to throw herself off the balcony or something?”

Was there anyone in the world that didn’t feel the need to humiliate me? I glared at Juliette, and she just waved a pair of earbuds at me and shoved them in her ears. “I’ll turn the volume up.”

My dad and Jennifer both gave me such hopeful looks that I couldn’t argue anymore. I rolled my eyes and made my way over to the armchair my father had been lounging in. 

Once Dad and Jennifer were gone, I glanced over at the couch. Juliette was already doing what she did best—ignoring me. She was bobbing her head along with her music as she read out of a textbook. I doubted she could hear me, but I spoke softly anyway, just in case.

“Cinder? Are you still there?”

“I didn’t realize upping our relationship to phone buddies would come with a boyfriend title. Does that mean if we ever meet in person, we’ll have to get married?” 

Surprised, I burst into laughter. Juliette glanced at me with one raised eyebrow, but went back to her textbook without saying anything.

“Sorry, I don’t do polygamy, and I’m pretty sure you’re already married to your car.”

“Funny.”

The flat tone in his voice set me off giggling again, and then I sighed. “Man, it feels good to laugh. I really have had the worst day ever. Thank you for making me call you. I can’t believe we’re finally talking, though. I’ve always wondered what you sound like.”

“Me too. I even googled videos of people with Boston accents once.”

I laughed again. “Shut up. You did not.”

“I did, and you don’t disappoint. Say car for me again.”

“You’re such a dork,” I replied, but then I gave in and said, “car.”
It came out cah, and Cinder laughed. “I love it,” he said. “Speaking of Boston… You did not call me from there.” 

I managed not to gasp, but my stomach dropped. I’d completely forgotten about caller ID. How was I supposed to explain why we had the same area code? 

Want more? Snag your copy to discover what happens next!
 
Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen—a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which her family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and likes to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, four children, and her cat named Mr. Darcy.

Visit Kelly:

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Book Shelf: Cinder & Ella by Kelly Oram

It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder. 
… 
Hollywood sensation Brian Oliver has a reputation for being trouble. There’s major buzz around his performance in his upcoming film The Druid Prince, but his management team says he won’t make the transition from teen heartthrob to serious A-list actor unless he can prove he’s left his wild days behind and become a mature adult. In order to douse the flames on Brian’s bad-boy reputation, his management stages a fake engagement for him to his co-star Kaylee. Brian isn’t thrilled with the arrangement—or his fake fiancée—but decides he’ll suffer through it if it means he’ll get an Oscar nomination. Then a surprise email from an old Internet friend changes everything.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Cinder & Ella is the sensational latest release from Kelly Oram and is an extremely entertaining and addictive contemporary read that blends tonnes of adorable moments with friendship, humor and romance. Oram introduces readers to a fun and sometimes emotional twist on Cinderella that will have you giggling, smiling and falling in love with the characters and their story a little bit more with the turn of every page!

Wow! Can I just start by saying what an amazing read Cinder and Ella was! Honestly, one of the best books I’ve read lately. Loosely set in Oram’s V is for Virgin world, Cinder & Ella is a deliciously fun twist on the Cinderella fairytale and features Kelly Oram’s trademark wit and humor woven together with a delectable romance and adorable friendship.

Cinder & Ella is told through the dual POV’s of teenager Ellamara "Ella" Rodriguez and her best friend and internet buddy, Cinder. A blogger and book lover, Ella is still managing to re-establish her life after a terrible accident left her horrendously scarred and took the life of her mother. Now living with the father who abandoned her years before, new stepmother and two "evil" stepsisters, Ella is struggling to adjust to life at a new school and new town, where she is bullied and ridiculed. Her only solace is reconnecting with Cinder, a boy she has spoken to online for years but has never actually met, not knowing that Cinder is actually heart-throb and acting sensation, Brian Oliver, the lead actor in her favorite book-turned-movie series.

I always seem to enjoy Kelly Oram’s novels and Cinder & Ella was no exceptionin fact it may be my new favourite! As a reader and blogger I found it so easy to connect with and relate to Ella. Obviously I couldn’t understand exactly what she was going through, but it was easy to emphasise with Ella. Smart, witty and passionate about books, Ella was so very likable and I truly found myself rooting for her. Oram explores Ella’s Cinderella like life beautifully, but also manages to give it a fresh and fun twist that sees some of the "villain’s’ become friends. Honestly, it was just so much fun to read and I really didn’t want to put it down.

I adored the relationship Kelly Oram depicts between Ella and Cinder. From the moment Oram writes their first online interaction readers see in the book, it’s obvious they’ve got chemistry, and their quick, sharp banter makes for some really excellent scenes. I feel like Oram did a fantastic job with their relationship and I never once doubted the depth and authenticity of their feelings for one another. Perhaps it may have come across as strange that two people who had never met could love each other under different circumstances, but here are two people with a legitimate friendship that has developed over three years of connecting and communicating online. It had nothing to do with looks or status or famejust the opposite actually, but Ella and Cinder honestly cared about each other and I was just dying for them to finally meet in person.

Kelly Oram creates a great dynamic with not only Ella and Cinder, who are just too cute for words, but the other characters as well. As a fairytale retelling, you kind of expect the dynamics of Cinderella to be present, but I also appreciated seeing Ella bond with the family she is forced to live with as well as the friends she slowly makes in the book. Brian Oliver is a thrilling and cheeky leading man who truly adores Ella, and is willing to put her above his career as long as she’ll be with him. He loves her, and knows her and at the end of the day I found it beautiful that he loves her regardless of her scars.

Entrancing from beginning to end, Cinder & Ella was just a plain awesome read. Rich in friendship that develops into romance and non-stop wit, banter and sass, this novel is one you won’t want to miss and is perfect for fairytale fans and contemporary lovers alike!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thanks Kelly!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Recommendation: This is a brilliant contemporary fairytale retelling and you'll love it!
Cover: Pretty, but doesn't do the book as much justice as it could.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a standalone novel but I'll always read what Kelly Oram releases....

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Release Day Launch: All Broke Down by Cora Carmack- Excerpt & Giveaway


I'm super excited to be helping Cora Carmack celebrate the release of All Broke Down today, the second book in thanks to InkSlinger PR! To date I've ready all of Cora's books and I'm soooo excited to dive into her latest release as soon as my copy arrives!
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In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with ALL LINED UP, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love
 
Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.
 
Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.
 
Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.
 
Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.
 
 
 
 
I think I get it then. That decision I saw in her eyes back in the kitchen. That’s what this, what I’m about for her, too. I’m just another part of whatever rebellion she started earlier today. About doing what she wants, not what’s expected of her.
“We’re not talking about me, though,” she says. “So you went to meet your friend, and then what happened?”
She keeps her eyes down as she picks up the gauze and begins winding it snugly around the knuckles of one hand, and then the other.
“He said the wrong thing.”
“Which was?”
“Dylan.” Now it’s her that’s pushing too hard. I didn’t want to talk about things with my friends, and I won’t talk about them with her, either, no matter how gorgeous she is.
“I’ll guess. You were mad about what he did, and he wasn’t sorry.”
“This isn’t middle school, Pickle. He didn’t hurt my feelings. He said some shit he had no business saying, and it pissed me off. The end.”
“But you don’t think some of that anger stems from what you feel is a betrayal of your friendship?”
She finishes taping down the last of the gauze, but doesn’t let go of my hand.
“I think you’re analyzing me again. Making things more complicated than they are.”
“And I think you’re just a guy who doesn’t like to admit he has feelings.” She drags out the word, teasing me with some goofy smile on her face. I turn my hand over so I can clutch her wrist. I curlmy other bandaged hand around her waist and pull her closer.
“I feel plenty of things.”
The teasing stops. She swallows.
“I wasn’t talking about that kind of feeling.”
With her standing and me sitting, I’m eye level with her chest. I see the sharp rise and fall as she sucks in a breath. I want her in my lap again, straddling me this time.
“Doesn’t mean we can’t talk about that kind of feeling. Or experiment with it.”
“Is that Stella girl an ex?”
I cough, surprised. My throat twists uncomfortably, and it takes me a couple of solid breaths to get a hold on myself.
“Ah, no. Stella and I have never dated.”
“Have you—”
“Do you ever run out of questions?”
“Not ever.” She turns playful again, and I’m done doing this the careful way. If she wants a rebellion, I’ll be the one to give it to her. I want her against me, and I’m tired of waiting.
I pull her forward, insinuating my knees between hers, and her body naturally follows, settling across my thighs. Her lips part, but she catches herself before she gasps this time. I keep her steady with my hands at her waist and say, “I’ll make you a deal. A question for a kiss.”
Tentatively, she lays her palms against my shoulders. They rest there, her grip light and casual. She ponders my offer for a moment, and it drives me mad that she can do that while our hips are inches away from alignment.
“Okay then. Are you—”
I cut her off. “Not so fast, Dylan Brenner. I’ve already answered one question. We’ve got to settle up first.”
I wrap her braid around my hand like I’ve been waiting to do all night, and I use it to pull her head back just enough that I can crush my mouth against hers.



Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

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Monday, October 27, 2014

Get Wicked with Entangled Blog Hop! *CLOSED*

I'm super excited to be taking part in the Get Wicked with Entangled Blog Hop today thanks to Entangled Publishing to celebrate all things Halloween and trick-or-treating. Even though here in Australia we don't really celebrate it, there something so fun about the holiday!
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To celebrate this hop I thought I'd do something a bit fun....so I'm giving away a paperback copy of a book with the word WICKED in it. Below are a few great choices, but I'm willing to let YOU choose the book, as long as it's a paperback and has WICKED somewhere in it's title :)

 
Details:
· To enter you MUST be a follower of some kind--let me know how!
· One (1) winner will win a paperback copy of their choice of the book with the word WICKED in it's title.
· Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY but The Book Depository MUST ship to you to enter.
· Giveaway will run for duration of the hop October 27th-28th and the winner will be drawn afterwards.
· The winner will be notified by email and announced on this post afterwards--be sure to check back to see if you've won if you want :)
· To enter simply comment with a way to contact you, letting me know which book you'd love to win (You're more than welcome to change choice if you win--I'm just curious what you wanna read!)
+ 1 for Tweeting or Facebooking the giveaway!
 
Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the other fabulous blogs participating in the hop!
 
 
WINNER:
 

Monday Madness- October 2014


It's that time again! Each month I give away a copy of the book I was most "mad" about with my Monday Madness Giveaway and this month the book that blew me away the most was Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover! Definitely one of my favorite books this year!

"In a time where there are so many books out there, it truly is an experience to read a book like Maybe Someday. I thought the previous novels I had read by Colleen Hoover were emotional, but neither compares to Maybe Someday. Personally, I found Maybe Someday to be one of the most emotionally taxing novels I have read in a long time where the feelings experienced by both main characters affected me so."


At twenty-two years old, Sydney is enjoying a great life: She's in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her best friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers that Hunter is cheating on her and she's forced to decide what her next move should be.

Soon, Sydney finds herself captivated by her mysterious and attractive neighbor, Ridge. She can't take her eyes off him or stop listening to the passionate way he plays his guitar every evening out on his balcony. And there's something about Sydney that Ridge can't ignore, either. They soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one.

A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney's tumultuous world from the very first page.


Add on Goodreads or check out my 5 star review!


To Enter:
· You MUST be a follower to enter!
· Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL or wherever The Book Depository ships to.
· Giveaway will run from today (October 27th) until the November 10th (2 weeks time!)
· Simply comment below with a way to contact you to enter.
· Extra entries are available but are in no way necessary by:
+1 Letting me know what you think of Maybe Someday. Are you a Colleen Hoover fan?
+1 For Tweeting, Facebooking or Sharing!

 
Winner:
Michelle Lee--congrats!

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Out of Sync by A. Bin Juran‏: Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway

Today I'm thrilled to be showcasing Out of Sync by A. Bin Juran! Releasing on October 23rd this week, which also happens to be my birthday, Out is Synic promises to be a magical debut :) Below I have a lovely Guest Post from A. Bin Juran, an excerpt from the novel and a fabulous giveaway for not only 5 e-books of the novel in the winners choice of mobi, ePub, or PDF but a $5 Amazon gift card!
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Sometimes you don’t need words to spell disaster—but they sure can help.

I’m a magical misfit I won’t let it define me.
A bolt-zapping disaster magnet.
But at least I’m still trying.
The guy I like asked me out.
I hoped my luck was changing.
Then my coven trials began.
....they’re harder than I expected.
Now my life hangs in the balance.
I don’t know what I’m doing.
But I do know this:
I’m not going down without a fight

 
Purchase:
 

My name is Ainat Bin Juran, and ‘Out of Sync’ is my debut novel. I’m a wife and a mom of nine-year-old twins; I’ve recently taken up drinking coffee—though it might be just an excuse to have short breaks in which I can listen to audiobooks.

I fell in love with reading at a young age, and fondly remember long car rides with my dad as a kid, talking about sci-fi novels. 

My passion for the written word carried into my law degrees, and somewhere along the line, I decided to try my hand at writing fiction.

I found the process inspiring, with all its unexpected twists and turns. I typically plan and mind-map, and yet, sometimes, the characters take control and follow a path I hadn’t even imagined. 
The journey to a complete novel is always invigorating and a little crazed; it’s a breath of fresh air and sometimes, it sets one’s teeth on edge; but I wouldn’t trade it for the world …. Not even when I’m laying in bed, bone-tired, and inspiration decides to strike. 

I’m always stretching the day, trying to eke out a few more minutes so I’ll have more time to write—so if you see me scribbling something down, chances are that I’m trying to grasp an idea before it slips away.

Here’s the blurb and excerpt from my debut novel, ‘Out of Sync.’ I hope you’ll enjoy it :)


 
From Out of Sync.....

Low grumbles emanated from the creatures circling me, grimly advertising their intent.

The sweltering desert heat clung to me like a second skin, causing beads of sweat to trickle into my eyes.

I squinted, inadvertently blurring my vision, which posed a problem given that my newly adopted life plan had just been reduced to not ending up as dog food—or whatever you would call the equivalent
for wolves.
"Nice wolfies . . ." I stammered, the bitter aftertaste of adrenaline lacing the back of my throat.

Pointed brown-stained teeth snapped at my feet as another wolf lunged closer, its acrid breath filling my airways. I gagged. "You really should have yourself checked; I’ve smelled doggy breath before, but this is taking it to a whole other level," I ventured, trying my hand at nurturing some rapport as my eyes darted, searching for an escape route.
Yellow eyes trailed my movements as drool began to accumulate in anticipation.
"Eating me will not improve that smell," I tried again, jerking my thumb at the breather. Was this really my pitch? I wouldn’t add to your dental value?

"I’m not that nutritious, either! Really, I eat a lot of junk," I lied. I didn’t actually get to do much snacking—though I would have been happy to if anyone ever bothered to send some to my dorm room.

One of the wolves slunk closer, grazing my knee with his dry nose.

My voice caught as I continued trying to reason with the mongrels. "I’m not all that chewable, either . . . . I’m bonier than I look." Then I remembered how fond canines were of bones and shut up, shaking my head with disbelief at what was coming out of my mouth just in time to
miss a set of snarling jaws hurtling at my throat.
Being eaten by a pack of hungry mutts was definitively not the way I wanted to go.

I could feel the panic crackle through me, swiftly building up inside me.

I tried to regulate my breathing as my fingers itched with electricity.

Deciding it was time to take what action I could, I jerked my hands forward, and a bolt of lightning erupted from my hands and into the pack. Yes, it worked! Not only had I managed not to set myself on fire, the bolt had actually landed in the general vicinity of what I’d aimed at!
Most of my thunderbolt throwing thus far had been limited to uncontrolled spasms from nerves or anger, so this was quite a feat. But there was no time for an awkward victory dance.
The wolves recoiled momentarily from the sudden attack, giving me the opening I had been waiting for. I lunged forward, hurtling my body toward the gap, hoping the light show would afford me enough time to reach safety.

I scrambled, gathering whatever energy I had left and ran.

After a few minutes of frantic chase, I perceived a discoloration in the distance. I set my sights on reaching that goal as the wolves shadowed my movements, gnashing their ravenous jaws all around me.

As I gained ground, I could make out more detail in the bleak colors. The discoloration was a cave.

The wolves were behind me, but I was closer. I would make it, I told myself; I had to.

Hope spread, infecting my mind and expanding my lungs, blinding me.

Reality, however, sank its filthy teeth into me.

I yelped in agony as the pain shot through me. My legs buckled beneath me, and I collapsed into the desert sand, a hair’s breadth from snarling, snapping teeth.


Want to know what happens next? Be sure to grab your copy of Out of Sync today!



When not immersed in books — be it writing or reading them — Ainat can usually be found nestling a cup of coffee in the company of her husband and twins.

A former fast-food employee, T-shirt seller, and glorified secretary, Ainat eventually found herself with Bachelor’s and LL.M. degrees and working as a lawyer.

A few years later, listening to a catchy pop song about dream fulfillment, Ainat decided to buy a clunky little laptop and get to work. Ten novels and a much better laptop later, she came to the realization that hitting the double-digit mark meant it was time to publish and start consuming coffee (though not necessarily in that order).

When she isn’t writing, editing, or mothering, Ainat enjoys reading promiscuously, watching political dramas and sci-fi series, and taking embarrassing memos-to-self complete with accents and dramatic pauses that should never be unleashed, ever.

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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Book Shelf: Dark Needs at Night's Edge (Immortals After Dark #5) by Kresley Cole

Bestselling author Kresley Cole continues her seductive Immortals After Dark series with this tale of a vampire shunned even by his own kind and a beautiful phantom, bound together by a passion they cannot resist.

A RAVEN-HAIRED TEMPTRESS OF THE DARK...

Naomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers -- until she encounters a ruthless

A VAMPIRE WARRIOR CONSUMED BY MADNESS...

To prevent him from harming others, Conrad Wroth's brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.

HOW FAR WILL HE GO TO CLAIM HER?

Yet even if Conrad can win Naomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?


More info on
Goodreads.....


Review:

Dark Deeds At Night's Edge is a thrilling, sensual ghostly tale in Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series!

I have to say, I'm quite enjoying this series. I may not have been a massive fan of the first book, but every story since has had me fall in love with the world and characters more and even more excited for the next story in the series!

Throughout the Immortals After Dark, we've seen werewolves and vampires and demons and valkyries, but in this book we meet our first ghost when Conrad Wroth, madman and crazed vampire finds himself entranced by a beautiful spirit that lives in the manor he's currently a prisoner of.

I really liked this story. I love how Kresley Cole weaves together each book with characters from the past and those we've yet to meet. In this installment, I was very invested in Conrad and Naomi's tale. Conrad really was sexy and despite his momentarily lapses of sanity....he was a really great man. I liked that he was inexperienced when it came to women, although he sure picked that up fast, and I think Cole have him a really great match in Naomi. She was a really wicked, sensual spirit who wasn't ashamed of her past and truly had a good heart.

One of the things I loved the most about this book was the fact that it takes a while for Naomi and Conrad to have a physical relationship due to the fact that she's well...a ghost. And yet the attraction and sexual tension is there; running rampant as they get to know one another. I thought it was wonderful seeing the two connect, especially seeing how Conrad was the only one who could actually see Naomi and Naomi was the only one who could get through to Conrad and break through the madness he suffered.

I was really thrilled with the ending of this book and find myself really eager for the next book, Caedon's story!


Rating:
Source: I bought
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: A must read PRN series!
Cover: Very sensual and sexy
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes!

Friday, October 24, 2014

Book Blitz: Gateway Trilogy by Christina Garner

Welcome to the Book Blitz for the Gateway Trilogy by Christina Garner thanks to YA Bound Book Tours! Below you'll find an excerpt from the book in the series Gateway and a great tour wide giveaway that you can enter :)
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Ember has always known she doesn’t belong in this world. But when she tries to correct the mistake, she wakes to find herself in a mental institution.
 
She’s soon drawn to Taren, the mysterious boy with hazel eyes. He’s not what he seems, but what is he?
 
When chaos erupts, they are forced to flee the institution together, and the secret that Taren has been keeping brings Ember closer to understanding her own. And leads her to… the Gateway.


Add on Goodreads or purchase on Amazon!


**Description Contains Book 1 Spoilers** 

Two months have passed since Ember Lyons nearly died killing the powerful Root Demon threatening the Los Angeles Gateway. Physically healed, images of the day still haunt her and she can no longer access the power she once wielded. She can't talk about it with anyone at The Institute--not even her handsome, demon-hunting boyfriend, Taren. Besides there are bigger things to worry about: Gateways around the world are weakening, Keepers' Marks are fading, escaped lesser demons are populating Los Angeles, and it looks like the Root Demon wasn't alone.
 
When the Institute sends Ember and a team to Europe, she hopes to find answers and security on the journey, but another attempt on her life reminds her she's never really safe.
 
Then she's thrust together with the mysterious Alexander. Ember can't be sure if this charismatic man is her most formidable enemy or greatest ally. Either way, she needs him, because he's the only one who can bring her to... the Chasm.

Add on Goodreads or purchase on Amazon!


**Description Contains Book 2 Spoilers**
 
Ember was only trying to keep a promise when she jumped into the demon world. But instead of saving Cole and his people, she found herself just as trapped as they are. She lives and learns with the Daemon survivors while the demon threat grows every day.
 
Meanwhile Taren struggles with his guilt for not stopping Ember. He’s desperate to know she’s alive, but there's been no sign of her except in his own vivid dreams.
 
As they struggle to reconnect, the Gateways around the world weaken, and the demons begin to amass for war. The end is near and Ember must face her fears if she has any hope of saving the world – or herself.
 
With everything falling apart, her only hope is to find...her Tether.
 
Add on Goodreads or purchase on Amazon!
 
 
From Book One, Gateway.....

“Did she hurt you?" Taren asked. "Your head hit the tile pretty hard.” That explained the spinning, and the pain that was starting to seep through the cracks of my shock.

I reached up to touch the back of my head. 

“Ow! Yeah, I guess she got me pretty good. What was that about, anyway?  What's her problem with me?”

Before he could answer, one of the nurses approached. “We'll get you checked out now, dear.”

“I was just going to get her some ice,” Taren said, his hand on the small of my back, steering me away from the nurse.

“Don't be silly,” the nurse said. “She could have a concussion. We need to take her to the E.R.” 

While she went to confer with an orderly, I stifled a laugh. I had been wanting to get out of there. Maybe if my mother knew I was just as likely to lose my life inside the mental hospital as out, she'd spring me that much sooner.

“Wait.” Taren leaned close, his breath in my ear. My pulse went back to racing. “Do you have any…birthmarks?” 

His question was so bizarre that I was heedless of the pain and snapped my head to face him.

“What?” 

His eyes were only inches away, boring into mine. He grabbed my wrist and pushed up the sleeve of my hoodie, searching. I tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

“Do you?” he asked again, checking the other arm.

“N-no,” I stammered. 

Intensity didn't usually unnerve me, but at that moment, his definitely did. 

“Taren, enough!” the nurse said, hurrying back to us. “What on earth are you doing?”

She pried his hands from my arm, causing Taren to come back to himself. 

“Nothing, sorry.” He dropped his gaze. “Sorry, I hope you feel better.”
 
He turned abruptly and strode away.

Want more? Be sure to grab yourself a copy of Gateway!
 
Christina Garner began writing stories at the age of six. Her first–about a young girl who busted up a nefarious ring of furniture thieves–was a huge hit with her mother. At eighteen, her aspirations as an actor had her loading up her Buick and setting off for Hollywood. Since then, she has written and directed 10 short films, including Rewind and Reminder, both of which received acclaim on the festival circuit. In 2006, she began writing screenplays. A year later, she even got paid for one. In May of 2011, her debut novel, Gateway, became an Amazon Bestseller. Chasm, Book 2 in The Gateway Trilogy, did the same.

When she’s not writing novels, Christina spends her time working in the movie business, traveling, watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns, and playing with her dog, Griffin.

Visit Christina:
Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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