Review of Runes by Ednah Walters

Description:

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

Review:

This book started off a little rocky for me.  I didn't like the first 15 pages maybe?  But, I'm glad I stuck with it, because the book was great!

I still never warmed up to Raine's best friend, but that didn't diminish the story in any way.  The storyline was crafty and well written.  

Raine has to choose between the sexy boy next door that she has amazing chemistry with and her best guy friend, Eirik.  I felt like she was a little selfish holding onto Eirik, but I forgive her eventually :)

Torin St. James.  I need to devote a whole paragraph to how awesome he is!  He's sexy, full of snark, and an amazing person under his intense exterior.  I rooted for him the whole book and was pissed when he went away.  He came back, but I still wasn't too happy. 

I'm glad there is a sequel, because I was left with a lot of questions.  Her family, Torrin, Eirik, and herself were all left with a big ? behind them.  I'm dying to find out what is going to happen in the second book, Immortals.

Overall, this book was a good start of what could be an awesome series.  I can't wait to see what Ednah has in store for us in book 2.  This book gets four glittery stars for it's intriguing debut!

Coming August 5, 2013

 

Stacking the Shelves #45

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, that features books I've received/purchased/borrowed during the current week. 

Received for review:
 























































Bought:

Freebies: 

I got some great books this week! Conjure was really good!  I'm reading Werewolf Dreams now :)  What did you stack your shelves with this week?

Cover reveal of Blood Rule by Heather Hildenbrand

Blood Rule

Book 4 in the Dirty Blood series

Coming 8/6/13!

Forty-six.

That’s how many hybrids survived the Hunter attack in the woods after I revived them with an injection of my blood. That’s how many followed me home to Frederick Falls. And that’s how many were now mentally linked to me through a blood bond.

Two days. Three valium. Fourteen hours of sleep.

That’s what it took to realize I wasn’t losing my mind as a result of the noise in my own head.

Sixteen.

That’s how many days have passed since I almost killed Alex. That’s how many days I’ve sat by his bedside, waiting for him to wake up. To ease the guilt, to understand his betrayal, to remember the exact shade of brown in his eyes.

Zero.

That’s my chances of skating by with Gordon Steppe and the Hunter Council. They want me for questioning. I’m afraid what’ll happen if I give them answers.

Heather Hildenbrand

Author of the Dirty Blood series 

View all my titles at:

www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book of the Week #6

My pick of the week:

I love princess books!  This one was really good and I read it in a day.

Book: Suddenly Royal

Author: Nichole Chase

 

Description:

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

 

Heart of Kylassame by Kristi Strong now available

They stole your hearts in The Lady of Steinbrekka, now Rhea and Rowan are back!

Book Blurb:

    It has been two years since the reign of the tyrannical King Verikhan has ended, and the realm of Kaldalangra flourishes.

    Nyssa has taken her place as Queen of the realm, with her secret love, Sebast, now openly at her side. She rules with a fair hand, striving for justice and prosperity for all of her people.

    Rowan and Rhea travel the realm, spreading peace and healing wherever they go. In Kylassame, they have formed a strong bond with friends and spread deep roots in the community.

    The people of Kaldalangra are joyful, and life in their world is better than ever before.

    But a string of tragedies has the ability to bring Rhea to her knees, and with her, the entire realm. While Rowan struggles to recover the village of Kylassame from a devastating crime, Rhea’s faith in her own strength weakens, with dire consequences.

Re-enter the world of Kaldalangra, and join the adventure as Rhea and Rowan endeavor to continue upon their chosen destiny.

Heart of Kylassame is available for purchase starting June 26th, on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

~ * ~ * ~

About the Author

Fixing broken computers, wrangling a very spirited little toddler, and creating a world with mysterious people are all parts of the average day for Kristi Strong.  A graduate of James Madison University, she uses her degree in anthropology and fascination of cultures to draw inspiration for her fantasy novels.

   When not writing or reading, Kristi can be found working on various crochet projects, gardening, or wasting far too much time on Pinterest.

Connect with Kristi

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

StrongNovels@live.com

~  * ~ * ~

Do you want to read how it all began? The Lady of Steinbrekka is available for Nook, Kindle, or Paperback. It is also on sale for only $1.99 (for Kindle and Nook) for 1 more week (sale ends June 30!)

Book Blurb: 

    Rhea Aralia lived an uneventful life in Virginia, until the fateful day of her kidnapping. Taken to a strange realm of destruction, despair, and mysterious people with dark secrets, the young woman must learn a new way of life to survive.

    With the help of her new companions, Rhea discovers the courage to defy the tyrant King Verikhan and his heir, the cleverness to deceive the court, and the power within herself to transform this world of darkness into one of beauty and hope.

    Will Rhea triumph over those who seek her destruction, or will she be forever lost in the darkness known as Kaldalangra?

Where to buy:

Kindle

Nook

Paperback

What people are saying about The Lady of Steinbrekka

"A fantastic literary journey into another realm. Once you enter the world of Steinbrekka, you won't want to leave." 

The Lady of Steinbrekka, by emerging author Kristi Strong, tells the story of following one’s destiny, and how not all things are as they seem. Love, desperation, evil, mystery, and exciting other-worldly adventures are woven together to form a debut novel that reminds us of the bravery, inspiration, and inner magic that live within us all. 

Amazing!!! The Lady of Steinbrekka transports the reader into another dimension. 

It is an exquisite combination of The Looking Glass Wars meets Graceling entwined with The Last Knight. 

Adults and Teens alike will devour this book enjoying an exciting adventure that surprises and shocks the reader at every turn.

A Day in the Life of R.L. Griffin

About the author:

R.L.  Griffin resides in the Atlanta area with some cool dudes: her husband, son and two dogs.  She was born and raised in the South.  She attended Georgia Southern University and moved to Washington, D.C. to intern in the United States Senate during the impeachment trial.  Falling in love with the city, she went to law school at American University, Washington College of Law.  By A Thread is R.L.’s second book, but is the first in a series of books.

My blog/website: www.rlgriffinauthor.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rlgriffinbyathread

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17560280-by-a-thread

Review of A Matter of Heart by Heather Lyons

Description:

No longer in high school, Chloe Lilywhite is now living and working in Annar, the Magicals’ city-state plane of existence. Since moving, she’s joined the Council, gone on missions with the Guard, moved into her own apartment, and enrolled at the University of Annar. Plus, she’s happily engaged to be married to Jonah Whitecomb, the literal man from her dreams, not to mention her Connection. While she still struggles with aspects of her craft, Chloe feels like she’s finally coming into her own, especially after a difficult year that had her questioning nearly everything in her life.

After a brutal attack by the Elders, her life is turned upside down once more. Accusations fly throughout the Council and Guard, forcing Chloe to confront her worst fears about what’s she’s capable of as a Creator. And then there’s the matter of Kellan Whitecomb, Jonah’s twin brother and Chloe’s ex, who resurfaces after disappearing months before. Although Chloe chose Jonah, and despite their best efforts, the two find it hard to stay away from one another.

But no matter what Fate throws at her, Chloe is determined to take charge of her life, even as it begins to spiral out of control.

*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+.

Review:

I stayed up until the wee hours of the night reading this book.  Eep!!!  It had me on the edge of my bed the entire time!
This book had a lot of romance in it and was the perfect build up for book 3.  I love romantic triangles, personally.  I'm always wondering who they are going to choose and why.
The two guys, Jonah and Kellan are hottie brothers who both have a connection with Chloe.  This created a lot of  tension in the book and kept the story interesting.
I love the world of Annar and Jonah and Chloe's apartments.  It's cute how they took their parents rule and bent it to fit their own agenda.
My only complaint is: Heather, are you trying to kill me?  Seriously!!!!  Now I have to read book 3 and I'm very impatient.  Book 2 left a lot of loose ends and questions to set up book 3.
As an author, you have succesfully bridged the gap between YA and NA with this book.  I give this amazing read five glittery stars for being a follow up book of epic proportions!

 

Book 1:

Description:

 Chloe Lilywhite struggles with all the normal problems of a typical seventeen-year-old high school student. Only, Chloe isn't a normal teenage girl. She's a Magical, part of a secret race of beings who influence the universe. More importantly, she's a Creator, which means Fate mapped out her destiny long ago, from her college choice, to where she will live, to even her job. While her friends and relatives relish their future roles, Chloe resents the lack of say in her life, especially when she learns she's to be guarded against a vengeful group of beings bent on wiping out her kind. Their number one target? Chloe, of course.

That's nothing compared to the boy trouble she's gotten herself into. Because a guy she's literally dreamed of and loved her entire life, one she never knew truly existed, shows up in her math class, and with him comes a twin brother she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.

Chloe's once unyielding path now has a lot more choices than she ever thought possible.

Published August 30th 2012 by Cerulean Books  

Paperback

E-Book Copy

      

Review:

Wow!  This book was so much more than I was expecting.  I must warn you going in, there is a major love triangle in this book.  I happen to love them.  They create tension and make it hard for me to step away from a book like this.

Heather did a great job with the romance in this book.  It was so good, that she had me crying through a good fourth of the book.  The emotions of the characters was so raw at one point, you felt everything.

It didn't hurt that Kellan and Jonah were sexy twin brothers either.  Finding the man of your dreams, literally, is every girls dream come true.  Then finding out there are two of them, BONUS!  They are both great guys and I couldn't wait to see what was going to develop with them as the story progressed.

The magical aspects of this book were good.  The author penned an alternate reality where magic is real, without flooding the story with it.  There was a good balance of human and magic.  

I really enjoyed the characters in this book as a whole.  They all played their small part to making this book whole.  This is one debut by Heather Lyons that is not to be missed!  I am giving A Matter of Fate five glittery stars for being that great read than many miss in their debut novels.

Find it here on Amazon 

Find it here on Barnes and Noble

 

Author Bio:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Links:

Website: http://www.heatherlyons.net

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/heatherlyons

A MATTER OF HEART Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17261347-a-matter-of-heart

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hymheather

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherlyonsbooks?fref=ts

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover reveal of Life, Love and Lemons by Magan Vernon

Life, Love, & Lemons by Magan Vernon
Publication date: August 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

Synopsis:

When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off.

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it's crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Rowe. But as their relationship blossoms, a  jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17940365-life-love-lemons?ac=1

AUTHOR BIO

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Review of Fall From Love by Heather London

Description:

Struggling to put her life back together after a tragic mountaineering accident kills her college sweetheart, twenty-one-year-old Holly Treadwell is trying to set aside her grief, forge ahead in school, and find herself again.

When Carter Hansen, a guy who brings back horrible memories from the night of the accident, finds his way back into her life, Holly’s unsure if she should let him in. He terrifies her in more ways than one and invokes feelings in her that she thought were buried forever. Regardless of her fears, she knows she must face him in order for her heart to heal.

Everyone tells Carter that what happened on the mountain that night was just a terrible accident, but even then, he can’t help but carry around the guilt and is unable to forgive himself. He’s drawn to Holly and being near her helps ease his conscience and gives him the release he needs.

As Holly and Carter’s relationship grows, they begin to realize that the more time they spend with one another, the more their wounds begin to heal—her grief and his guilt. But when Holly learns the details about the night of the accident—what everyone has been keeping from her—it will rip open old wounds and tear apart what they’ve both worked so hard to overcome…

Review:

This was another great book by Heather London.  I shouldn't be surprised, her work is amazing.  Seriously, this book was fantastic.  Who knew that she could write something that would touch the readers so profoundly.

I cried like a baby the whole book.  I connected with the characters so much, that I couldn't help but feel their pain.  She wrote beautiful characters that had their own unique voice.  I didn't dislike any characters, not even Travis.

What Holly and Carter go through is tragic.  Their lives will never be the same.  But this story is about love, loss and healing.  It's a new adult book not to be missed.  I have to give this book an outstanding five stars for the emotions it evoked in me.

Other books by Heather London:

Stacking the Shelves #44

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews, that features books I've received/purchased/borrowed during the current week. 

Received for review:

Bought:

 

Freebies:

Squee!!! I'm so excited to get to review Found!!!  I love the series!!!  I got several great freebies this week too, like The Forgotten Ones and Wicked Fate.  I didn't by a lot this week and my bank account thanks me :) What did you stack your shelves with this week?