Tuesday, May 7, 2013

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer Kindle Fire Giveaway May 2013



Check out this fantastic giveaway being hosted by: 
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer


May Kindle Giveaway
 
This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER SPONSORED GIVEAWAY!
Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway
The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)
  Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)
  Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)
Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors
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  Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). Ends 5/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Sunday, April 7, 2013

BURNING by J.M. Gregoire


Burning
A Demon Legacy Short Story
by J.M. Gregoire


Burning is a short story prequel to the Demon Legacy series being written by J.M. Gregoire. I received this story from the author and immediately devoured it. It's a real short read, but a good one that leaves you anticipating the series, as well as rooting for Lucas to exact his revenge. In a very short time it gives you a decent enough amount of background to get a taste for the world Lucas and Natalia call home. I enjoyed the little time I got to spend in Gregoire's head and am looking forward to 'The Devil You Know', Book #1 of the Demon Legacy Series which is expected at this point to be coming out in June of this year.

A great big thank you to Gregoire for giving me the opportunity to read her work and allowing me to hang in her head for a little while. If you like to torture yourself with teasers for upcoming literary adventures be sure to check this out!











Be sure to swing by Gregoire's Facebook page and show some love :)

Later All!

INDEBTED by Amy A. Bartol


INDEBTED by Amy A. Bartol
Book #3 of the Premonition Series


"I hang my head in sorrow for just a moment when I know I am truly alone. I feel like I’m going to my execution, just as he had said. Then I move forward again. I hop a fence of fieldstone and cross a field dotted with Queen Anne’s lace. Goose bumps rise on my arms as I pass the cluster of windmills that I have seen in a dream. The scent is sweet in the field though, not the scent of heat, like it had been when it was forced upon me in visions. I gaze down the hill, beyond the small, whitewashed house that I knew would be there. The church looms dark and grim with its rough-hewn, timber façade, capped by tall, oblong spires reaching to the sky. Black, ominous clouds have collected above the roofline, as if Heaven is showing me the way."


So let me begin with a question...

Did you read my (Mel here *waves*) review of Intuition? Remember how I was talking about dancing around in my 'black hat' like a crazy person? While reading this book I was decked out in a black hat, black gloves, black shoes and socks, black jeans, well you get the point. Not saying I'm rooting for Brennus and Evie to have a creepy ever after...but this girl can't get enough of the King and his Fellas. Another Thank You! to Amy for blurring my literary views of Good and Evil. Now please don't take this as a "Mel's a shallow dolt, she'll side with anyone who's eye candy and speaks with sweet, sexy accents" because I SWEAR it's not true! I can truly root for a villain's ugly, painful demise with the best of 'em...but Amy's writing lulled me into a false sense of calm during which the Fellas were able to sneak up and carve a little (like super tiny, ok?) place in my heart. 

In circumstances you'll have to read to catch up on, Evie finds herself living with Brennus and the Fellas at his estate in Ireland.  Though she's missing Reed and the rest of her friends/family she decides to play along to stay alive, meaning not dead...and not undead. Be it for a certain event in the previous book or from living with her enemies...she quickly finds that as much love as she has for Reed, for Russell, and the rest...Brennus and the Fellas (well a select few anyway) have wormed their way into her heart too. 

"How can I possibly describe what I feel for you, Brennus?” I ask, shaking my head and feeling the painful ache inside of me. “This isn’t like the love I have felt before. Whatever it is, it’s painful. If this is love, then I love you the way creatures like us ought to be loved – secretly and unwillingly, within the dark shadow between my heart and soul." 


Though she still fights for the life and the love she truly wants and needs.

"If I had but one wish, it would have been to find someone like you.”

“And if you were a coin, I’d throw you down a well without making a wish."

*Nods head in understanding* I totally feel ya sister!

Ahem...moving on...

And while she battles, loves, orders about, fights to protect Brennus and the Fellas, fights against Brennus and the Fellas (busy girl right?) in the background Reed, Russell and the rest of their beautifully crazy family fight to get her back. I was overwhelmed with happy tears as Reed snuck into Evie's room to hold her, then said...

"I miss the outline of your body pressed to mine and the feel of your breath on my neck when you sleep. I miss the sound of your voice. I need you. I have to go soon, but I will be back for you. I promise you. Then, I will show you that there is still beauty in the world -- not a future full of despair. I promise you, I will."

He not once stopped looking for her, and a way to reach her. His love. His Aspire.

"Hold onto the string, love, until the current shifts and we can be together again." 

So if you haven't fallen in love with Reed yet...get ready to do so. And if you're already a Reed Fanatic...get ready to fall in love again!

Zephyr and Buns, Brownie, and our good ol' boy Russell didn't sit out on this rescue either. All wanting their friend, or soul-mate in Russ's case, home with them where she belongs. Again I'm not wanting to spoil too much for you so I will leave off with specifics at this point.

All in all Indebted was one Hell of a book! I have never had my emotions so twisted as I did in this one. These characters have been written so clearly in their personalities that I have no problem watching them in my mind move about in this crazy world they call home. They laugh...I cackle. They cry...I'm a sobbing mess. They go to battle...I'm shouting my war-cry and attacking the enemy with a verbal assault that would make any sailor proud (unless in the case of Brennus where as my verbal assault tends to lean more towards the line of verbal taunt...with a flirtatious grin...and a force field to keep me from touching...er...him from touching me *cough*). Again I digress, but seriously! You must check this book out for yourself.

And as a final snippet to show Russ some well deserved attention I'll leave you with this quote between him and Evie at the end of the book...


"Well, that feels a little bit like stealin’ yer parent’s car keys for a joy ride and ending up crashin’ it, huh?”
“We kind of hijacked the sun, Russell." 


Now go my friends! Enjoy this adventure as much as I did ;)


                    










Be sure to head on over to Amy's Website to check out her other books...
Here is a list of the Premonition Series:
Book 1: Inescapable
Book 2: Intuition
Book 3: Indebted
Book 4: Incendiary

INTUITION by Amy A. Bartol


INTUITION by Amy A. Bartol
Book #2 of the Premonition Series


"I don’t open my eyes so I can’t see him, but I can smell him. He thickens the air I breathe, choking me with his scent…his aroma. I shiver. I have to resist. If I’m not strong, then I will be relegated to the same fate as this predator whose sickness infects me even now. But now, I crave him and he knows that; he has been counting on my need to end the gnawing pain. How he would savor my surrender. I’m alive, but how much longer will it take until I beg him not to be?"


Hello again! Mel here to share my thoughts on Intuition, book #2 of the Premonition Series by Amy A. Bartol. Now having fallen in love with the Evie's story I am happy to say that this second installment picked up where Inescapable left off. Evie is living with the beautifully alluring Reed, her Soul-mate Russell, and the Oh So Stern-facey Zephyr. Learning at the end of the previous book 
(which hopefully you've read as there may be a bit of spoilers in this review, if not STOP and go read it NOW!!!) 
that Evie and Russell are angel half-breeds, they are now taking their situation very seriously and training to be able to protect themselves in the case of Team McDreamy (Reed and Zephyr) and Team McZaney (Buns and Brownie) not being around if danger were to strike. At this point in reading I am having a blast....and then Evie does something that drives me insane, she grabs Russell and high tails it out of her new home under the assumption that she will be keeping the Angels safe.

(GAH!!!)

It's not long after this that our dear Evie gets a visit from some of my favorite villains...the Fellas. Now I'm going to geek out and profess that never in my life have I come upon bad guys that I wanted to love more than these boys. Amy really blurred my views on Good vs. Evil. Who knew that some literate hotness and accents could have a girl throwing on her 'black hat' and rooting for the baddies? Well there's definitely more to it than that. Surely. Ok, so I'm not alone? Good. Back to it then!

The Fellas take Evie to Brennus, their King,
 (Enter top baddie that has me dancing around in my black hat like a crazy person).
Having seen her portrait and deciding that she will belong to him he does what he can to get her to succumb to his demands. Here Evie has a serious wake up call:

"Trembling overcomes me when the knowledge that Keegan isn’t playing games begins to take root in my mind…he isn’t trying to train me. He doesn’t care that I feel weak, terrified, and broken inside. He doesn’t mind that my decision to be brave is deserting me as the state of hypervigilance that I have been in is now breaking me down...he will kill me if Brennus allows him to, but if he doesn’t, Keegan will settle for just hurting me really, really bad."

Royal Oh Sh!+ moment right?! Well it gets better...

"I don’t open my eyes so I can’t see him, but I can smell him. He thickens the air I breathe, choking me with his scent…his aroma. I shiver. I have to resist. If I’m not strong, then I will be relegated to the same fate as this predator whose sickness infects me even now. But now, I crave him and he knows that; he has been counting on my need to end the gnawing pain. How he would savor my surrender. I’m alive, but how much longer will it take until I beg him not to be?"

So there's a taste of what Brennus is putting our leading lady through...and if you are asking how I can still have a soft spot for him and the Fellas you'll have to read for yourself (wink). 

Now I don't want to spoil anymore so we'll move on to my thoughts in general about this story....

EPIC! 

Amy once again managed to spin a tale that had me rushing to the next page until the end. I was able to watch Evie grow in strength and character. Protect those she loves, and hold her own in some extremely scary situations. She held true to herself as her world was turned upside down and she was left in utter darkness. And she emerged stronger, more vicious, and determined to fight for her family and the life she wants.

On another note, it was a great treat to get to view Amy's world through the eyes of our adorable and charming Russell. His feelings for Evie are humbling and his determination to keep her safe, heroic. 

"Evie looks to me like someone should be holdin' her hand when she crosses the street. She seems so delicate, even though I've seen how lethal she is."

Also, his interactions with the Angels had me cracking up. It was nice to see how another character in this world viewed it, and it's inhabitants. And Russell is still the 'white hat wearing' good ol' boy we fell for in the previous book.

Though the Angels don't have much game time in the first part of this book, they make a dramatic comeback in the last half. Reed is still my main man...er...for Evie that is. His love for her is truly palpable. Bringing tears to the eye and a few twists of a wrench into your heart in this one. Amy has a great knack for getting you to feel what her characters are going through. Be it anguish, joy, fear, love, etc. As domineering as he can be he's yet to reach 'cave-man status' that tends to show up in a lot of similar roles in this genre.

Brownie and Buns were hilarious, and even Zephyr was able to get a few zingers in there.

I love this story and these characters. There was not one moment where I felt the story was dragging. I read it in one sitting and even a couple hours after I was giggling at a remembered one-liner from the Fellas, or smiling like a googly-eyed idiot thinking about how special Reed and Evie's feelings for each other are. 

Wow, time for me to stop babbling so that you can go get this book and enjoy it as much as I did! So....hop to it my friends!!!

  










Be sure to head on over to Amy's Website to check out her other books...
Here is a list of the Premonition Series:
Book 1: Inescapable
Book 2: Intuition
Book 3: Indebted
Book 4: Incendiary

Friday, April 5, 2013

Amy A. Bartol


Welcome to our FIRST author spotlight!

Seeing how the first books reviewed on our blog were from the Premonition Series, written by 
Amy A. Bartol, 
we figured we'd show a little love.

A little blurb about the author
Courtesy of Amy's Website:

I am a graduate of Hillsdale College and live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons.  My family is very supportive of my writing.  They often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner.  They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real.  They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats.  They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making.  They have learned to accept my "writing uniform" consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants.  And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them.  In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed.


As I've stated in my reviews of Amy's works...this is some of the best 'self-published' books I've had the awesome chance to read. Her writing is clean, clear, and I easily found myself transitioned into our heroine Evie's world. Also, picked up several more characters to add to my ever-growing favorites list. 

Be sure to swing by her author website. She's always got something entertaining and eventful going on. Be it teasers from her next installment in the series, play-lists she's created for her main characters, news on upcoming events, or just something fun and quirky to show some love to her readers.


The Premonition Series:

 

These are a fantastic read, and come highly recommended by these gals ;) So go! Read! Fall in love with the Angels, the Fellas, and dare I say Brennus?

***News: The next installment in the Premonition Series is titled INIQUITY and is scheduled to be released to us rabid fans sometime in June of this year. (Yay!!!) 

If you're like us and not the most patient of creatures when it comes to our literary obsessions then make sure you don't miss Iniquity's first chapter that Amy added to the end of Incendiary....then hop skip and jump over to her website for a little more Teaser-Awesomeness!

If you are one of the lucky ones who live within the area the following is 
Amy's Book Signing Dates for 2013:



Also here you can find a wonderfully hilarious interview with Amy and her peeps at 

Take care all!


INESCAPABLE by Amy A. Bartol


INESCAPABLE by Amy A. Bartol
Book #1 of the Premonition Series


"My name is Evie Claremont and this was to be the making of me–my freshman year of college. I’d been hoping that once I’d arrived on Crestwood’s campus, the nightmare that I’ve been having would go away. It hasn’t. I may be an inexperienced seventeen-year-old, but I’m grounded…sane. I look for rational explanations to even the strangest circumstances. Since meeting sophomore Reed Wellington, however, nothing makes any sense. Whenever he’s near, I feel an attraction to him–a magnetic kind of force pulling me towards him. I know what you’re thinking…that sounds fairly awesome. Yeah, it would be…if he liked me, but Reed acts as if I’m the worst thing that has ever happened to Crestwood…or him. But get this, for some reason every time I turn around he’s there, barging into my life. What is the secret that he’s keeping from me? I’m hoping that it’s anything but what I suspect: that he’s not exactly normal…and neither am I. So, maybe Crestwood won’t be the making of me, but it could be the breaking of me. I’ve been left to wonder if the dark future my dream is foretelling is…inescapable."
In all honesty I started this book and immediately began to wonder if this was going to be a rip off of the 'Twilight Series'. Much to my eternal happiness I quickly found that this was something much different, and far more enjoyable for my tastes (and a story I couldn't put down until I'd completely devoured it....and bought the following 3 books in the series).

Amy's writing is beautiful and easily held my attention throughout this installment in the Premonition Series. This is one of the best 'self-published' books I've read in terms of grammar and clean editing. Color me impressed.

It took a little while for me to find myself warming up to Evie, mostly because at that point I'd had this nagging in my head saying..."Please not another Bella", but once I pushed back my emotional literary baggage I found myself laughing along with her snarky remarks and awkward moments. Her character does grow throughout the story as trials and tribulations get thrown her way, and for the most part she does react how one might in the craziness that quickly consumes her life. She is a stubborn young woman, with goals and a caring heart. Also a little sleep deprived due to a serious case of nasty nightmares that as you'll read may have you paying closer attention to your own. 

All in all I found Evie to be a fairly well rounded character. Both her inner monologue and dialogue had me cracking up and wiping tears.


“He isn't wearing a shirt.... He shouldn't just walk around like that; it's obscene to have to look at someone so perfect. He should do the world a favor and eat a donut or two.” 
Now, onto my dear Reed. This character started out as a true A--hole. The only thing he had going for him to start was some pretty drool-worthy good looks. However, once his attitude had a quick adjustment I found myself looking for him when he was absent from the page. As the love interest for Evie it took a little while for me to jump on board, but once I did it was a fun ride. Like many male characters in paranormal romance he tends to be highly overprotective, stubborn, and jealous...but not enough that I was turning my nose up at him. Reed has quickly wormed his way into my 'book boyfriend' list and a great big THANK YOU to Amy for the lovely recruit!

Russell (who could be considered boy #2 in the not-so-love-triangle) immediately becomes a close friend to our Evie. Vying for her attention and trying to keep her as far away from Reed as possible. Evie's love for him, and his for her is written well and you can feel how close they are. A beautiful friendship blossoms, as well as life changing events, and this character is probably one of the easiest in the story to grow to love. I know I did. And as distracting as his accent could be at times, Amy was successful in getting his personality to come to life on the page.

Now, I'm not one to post spoilers. Just give a little insight into how I feel after finishing this book. Evie, Reed, and Russell were great additions to my literary friends. As well as the 'oh so serious' Zephyr'...and the hilariously insane, and high energy Buns and Brownie. I laughed, cried, got angry, and fell in love with the characters and their story. If you are a fan of paranormal romance of the young adult variety, and of characters you can relate to and care for easily then I can definitely recommend you check this book out.


Be sure to head on over to Amy's Website to check out her other books...
Here is a list of the Premonition Series:
Book 1: Inescapable
Book 2: Intuition
Book 3: Indebted
Book 4: Incendiary
  









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