Book Review - Black Five, By

Black Five

by J. Lynn Bailey 

Release Date: 11/17/15
Poorhouse Publishing
400 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

No one ever accused Penelope Jackson of being normal, nor did they suspect the dark secret she kept. A dangerous web of deceit and secrecy unravels when news of a stranger’s death puts Penn on a collision course with the very person she’s been hiding from her whole life. Her fragile world is shaken to its core with the sudden arrival of Vacavious and she soon discovers the bizarre and magical world surrounding her seemingly ordinary life.

No one is who they claim to be, including those closest to Penn. A mysterious security detail emerges from the shadows scrambling to protect her as powerful forces await the fall of her protective veil on her eighteenth birthday.

Penn prepares to fight against unseen evils before it’s too late. The world of Nighmerianotte and its population depends on her survival, for she is the Sanguine, the Black Five.

Review:

I love books that take me to other worlds and still bring me back to our own. This book does just that. We get to travel to different realms, that are connected with portals. This is like other books in the genre though. There are some things that make it like your normal, run of the mill paranormal teen book. I think that there were so many times that this book could have much more then it was. I do think that it was a good book, but it could have been so much more!

Penn is a great character for teenage girls to read. She is not one of those teenage girls who is out making bad choices. She is a mix of so many different types of girls, and that really is something that young girls need right now. This character shows them that you can be strong but not too strong, weak but not let it control you, and even have a heart, and to love others. She is a great character.

I think that over all this book was a great read. I think that as the series progresses, the author will have the chance to make things fleshed out properly. I think that with the next books we will be able to see the things that we had to fill in for ourselves in this book. I think the base story is a great one, it just needs to be adapted, changed and made into something all it's own. Hopefully we will get to see the evolving story with later books.

Over all this is one I would definitely recommend, especially for teens and younger readers. This is going to one of those that the teenagers will grab on to and want more of. You have love, anger, and all the emotions that will keep anyone engaged!

Stars:

Buy Links:
Amazon

About the Author

I'm a mother of two beautiful children and a wife to an adorably supportive husband. Seriously, he's adorable and tall. Really tall; he's my high school sweetheart. I'm also a mother of two fur children who are extremely needy, Leo and Vinni.

I live with my family in a small town tucked away in the redwood forest located on California's northern coast.

I'm quite boring. But in case you're wondering, you can see what my loves, my loathes and things you may not know about me by clicking the menu above.

Author Links:



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Book Review - The Mermaid and the Treasure of the Bay, By A. Algeri

The Mermaid and the Treasure of the Bay
(La Sirena #1)

by A. Algeri 

Release Date: 08/20/15

246 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

"The Mermaid and the treasure of the Bay" is the first adventure of Brinn, a young woman who had recently returned to her homeland, Nyar Kaad, after years of being away.

For her mother and sister it’s only supposed to be an episodic stay, because their intention is to return to the capital, Adaria, held by both aristocrats, by then, to be their home. Brinn, however, isn’t interested in living in the golden cage of high society and aspires to a different existence, that will push her to oppose the decisions of her family and to pursue a destiny according to her own wishes.

The accidental discovery of what looks like a map to hidden treasure, buried in Nyar Kaad, according to tradition, by pirates once dwelling in the settlement, will push her to search for the hidden riches- an undertaking that the protagonist will face courageously, at the cost of challenging her fears, the rigid social conventions, and more literal dangers to her person, venturing on a journey into the local legends and the past of her own family, until reaching an unexpected epilogue.

Set to Isara, a fantasy world inspired by the period between the seventeenth and the first decades of the nineteenth centuries, "The Mermaid and the treasure of the Bay" is a journey full of mystery in the universe where real and supernatural coexist intersecting in a subtle and insidious way, a world divided between palaces and largely unexplored expanses, an opulent capital and boundless oceans.

Review:

The idea of this book was really appealing to me.  I love books that don't start with main idea as the jumping in point.  With this book we get to know the characters, we got to see things as they unfold.  Brinn is a strong lead and we get to see her grow and change as the book moves.

Brinn is unhappy with how her life is going.  She is born into a noble family and as such has to start following more rules as she gets older.  She longs for the sea and the hold she grew up in when her mother and father them to the capitol.  I love that we can see how unhappy she is as we move through the story.  She is not trying to sugar coat her time with her family.

The only real issue I have with this book is very few interactions.  I love stories that you get more interaction between characters.  There were times it almost felt like stream of consciousness and not a book.  I have a hard time with that.  I could not get engrossed in the book because of that. I just could not picture myself in the story like I could with other book.

I do think that the idea of the book is a great one, with family history and legends, but I think it needs to be reworked into something that is not so internal thought and more flowing interactions.  I think I would have been able to get more into the story, feel more like I could be a part of the family, the world as a whole.

I can say I would recommend it to others.  While I personally struggled with the reading, not everyone will.  It is a great frame work for a new world to write in.  I do hope that in future books there is more between the characters.  I want to see how they go about developing their relationships and their world around them.

Stars:

 

Buy now: ebook kindle or paperback

About the Author:

A. Algeri is the author of "The Mermaid and the treasure of the Bay", his first published novel. He began writing while he was a teenager, setting most of his stories in the world of Isara, a fantasy universe of his own creation.

Author Links:

  

Cover Reveal - Stroke of Midnight, By Andie J. Chritopher

 

Inside the Book:

Title: Stroke of Midnight 

Author: Andie Christopher 

Release Date: January 10, 2017 

Publisher: Lyrical Shine 

Genre: Romance 

Format: Ebook

One night.

New Year’s Eve in Miami. Even workaholic Alana Hernandez can’t resist the call of the city, especially if it will get her little sister off her back. But a night of celebrating turns into a night of mischief when an alluring stranger catches her eye across the dance floor.

No names.

Former Navy Seal Cole Roberts isn’t looking for anything more than a good time in Miami. Since leaving the military and being betrayed by his former fiancée, he’s not interested in unnecessary complications. But the moment he sets eyes on the sultry beauty, Cole knows this night will be far from ordinary.

No going back.

Neither Cole nor Alana are looking for a relationship, so they strike a deal: One night. No names. No repeats. But things get complicated when their night of passion becomes something neither can walk away from.

   

Meet the Author:

I’m Andie J. Christopher and I write edgy, funny, sexy contemporary romance. I grew up in a family of voracious readers, and I picked up my first Harlequin Romance novel at age twelve when I’d finished reading everything else in my grandmother’s house. It was love at first read. It wasn’t too long before I started writing my own stories — my first heroine drank Campari and wore a lot of Esprit.

Although, I set aside writing fiction for a while, my love of reading romance novels stayed with me through college, law school, and multiple cross-country moves. During one long East Coast winter, I decided writing a book would be a good excuse to avoid braving the elements. It was love at first write. My heroes are dirty-talking alphas, and my heroines traded Esprit for Free People. (None of them would turn down a Campari, though.)

You can visit her website at http://andiejchristopher.com 

 

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Book Review - The History Major, By Michael Phillip Cash

So a little over a year ago I read a great book, The Witches Protection Program (review here)  by Michael Phillip Cash.  I loved the book.  Well tonight I have a review for a novella that Michael has written.  I was excited to get the e-mail asking me if I wanted to read it.

Book Title: The History Major

Author: Michel Phillip Cash

Publishing Date: January 4, 2016

Page/Word Count: 152 pages

BLURB:

After a vicious fight with her boyfriend followed by a night of heavy partying, college freshman Amanda Greene wakes up in her dorm room to find things are not the same as they were yesterday. She can't quite put her finger on it. She's sharing her room with a peculiar stranger. Amanda discovers she's registered for classes she would never choose with people that are oddly familiar. An ominous shadow is stalking her. Uncomfortable memories are bubbling dangerously close to her fracturing world, propelling her to an inevitable collision between fantasy and reality. Is this the mother of all hangovers or is something bigger happening?

Review:

Amanda wakes up after a night of drinking. We have all been there. Too much alcohol, not enough food in our systems to make the next day even remotely bearable. She is confused and very hung-over. Of course that is where our ability to relate to her stops. There is something going on in her world and she can't figure out what it is. Honestly, I couldn't figure it out at the beginning either.

Michael did a wonderful job creating this small part of the world for Amanda. She is in college and we get to be there with her as she is started classes. Unfortunately she is being forced to take a history class she didn't sign up for and definitely didn't want to take. It gets even better when she sits down in class and it's being taught by Aristotle. That is as far as I will go with this summary.

This story has a great undertone and once you get done and see how you got from the beginning to the end, you are saying “I see what you did here.” I highly recommend this novella to you, and to anyone you think it would help. I actually think that the underlying tones would help someone, and coming from a place of fiction that is not always possible.

I can't wait to see what Michael comes up with next that falls into this world, this idea span.

Stars:  

On Amazon
On Goodreads


About the Author:

Born and raised on Long Island, Michael has always had a fascination with horror writing and found footage films. He wanted to incorporate both with his debut novel, Brood X. Earning a degree in English and an MBA, he has worked various jobs before settling into being a full-time author. He currently resides on Long Island with his wife and children.

Michael's webpage  - Michael's Facebook - @michaelpcash 

Book Review - The Enighten Series, By Kristin D. Van Risseghem

So I have been given the great opportunity to read several books in series lately and it makes me a happy little book reviewer. I have had the most fun reading this series I am reviewing today.  The ideas were great and before I start the review here, let's get started!!

Book Title: The Guardian, a Sword, and Stilettos

Author: Kristin D. Van Risseghem

Publishing Date: May 20, 2015

Page/Word Count: 280 pages

BLURB:

 Zoe Jabril could be just another 17-year-old girl attending parties with her friends and checking out cute guys—except her best friend is a Guardian Angel, and the boy she crushes on is a Nephilim, half-angel, both sent to Earth to protect her. A high school classmate happens to be a trendsetting shopaholic fairy. And now there’s a new werewolf in town.

Zoe has to deal with her feelings toward Shay, who spreads a strange electrical current through her body every time he touches her. Now Zoe is under constant attack from demons, trying to kill and stop her from fulfilling the Prophecy: a girl will be born who will unite the Enlightens to battle evil. Then on top of that, between boring homework and drama with girls at school, she has to control new found talents if she’s to prevent the devil from escaping Hell.

In order to do so, Zoe must devise a kick-ass plan ASAP or watch everyone die, because she’s running out of time. She turns eighteen in two months—the date Armageddon kicks off.

Review:
What can I say here that would do this book justice?  It is a strong start to a great series and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us.  Zoe is a kind, nice young woman who is there for her friends when they need her.  She really tries to help everyone around her.  That makes me like her more, because you can tell she genuinely cares for others.

The action starts right away for Zoe and you get thrown right in to a world she didn't know was there.  Her best friend, Kieran, is not who she thought he was and she meets Shay.  Her feelings for him are definitely different to what she feels for her best friend.  I love how it seems to go slow but at the same time it doesn't for them.  I hate books that just go from "Hello I am so and so" to  "I love you to the moon and back" without any real reason.  You get a good reason with these two. Yes, you can say I am Team Zoe and Shay.  What can I say, I love love, lol.

The story unfolds for you brilliantly and I can't wait to see what happens next for them.  Downside, cliff hangers.  OMG, I hate them but they are how you get through so many series.  They have to make you want to come back for more!

Another mark against this one, though it's a small one for me and I so replaced it with my own ideas, is the music choices in this book.  Seriously, I an a huge music fan and I could have so found better songs to express how they feel in certain places.  Don't get me wrong, The Wanted is a good band, for teenagers, but they are not a group I would sit and listen to and cry over.  Seriously!? And then One Direction?!  I am not even going to touch that one.  I am not a teenager, but even I know there are songs out there that appeals to teens that are so much better then what was pocked here.

I will definitely be back for more with this series.

Stars:

Amazon Link: Amazon Link

Goodreads Link: Goodreads Page

Book Title: The Passage, a Dance, and a Little White Dress

Author: Kristin D. Van Risseghem

Publishing Date: April 13, 2016

Page/Word Count: 272 pages

BLURB:

It's been a week since 17-year old Zoe Jabril found out her best friend is a Guardian Angel, her boyfriend is a Nephilim, and a fellow classmate is a Fairy. What makes Zoe so special? She’s destined to unify Enlightens to battle evil—that is, if Demons don’t kill her first.
​
With ‘Project: Enlightens Unite’ underway, Zoe learns the history of the area wolf pack and realizes she's in a race against time to get her newly discovered talents under control. Despite struggling to fight a mysterious attraction to her new neighbor, rescue her boyfriend from Demons, and travel into Fairyland to convince the Summer King to join the fight, Zoe must still attend high school classes so her nosy parents don’t suspect anything is out of the ordinary before Demons can mount another attack.

Zoe will need all the help she can get, from the most unlikely of sources, if she’s to save her boyfriend's life and prevent the Devil from escaping Hell on her eighteenth birthday.

Review:

Alright, so we start strong in book two of this series.  We have Zoe being protected by her friends while she learns exactly what she is and what she can do.  By the end of this book we have been to realms other then the "Ordinary" world.  We have many different people in the mix and get new faces to help stir the pot.

I am still team Shay.  I think that while some of the aspects of their relationship are very campy, they are still good together.  I am an avid fan of teen romance/paranormal and this fits right into that mold.  This relationship is still better then the stalker types we have in other series.  I am not going to name names here, so just move along.

This book gives us more of what Zoe can do, and she even gets part of her mark!  That in itself was very exciting.  I am not going to go into too much detail here with that, but I am glad she is moving along and making the strides needed.  

The neighbor bugs me.  Aiden is just not someone I can like.  He is appealing, but they all can feel there is something off about him.  I am curious as to who he really is, and by the end of this book, with that massive cliffhanger, you are left wondering even more.  I HATE CLIFFHANGERS!!

I do have to say that I am glad that this book leads away from the love thing more.  We get more actions, more back stories and really we get to see Sidelle in this book.  I love the idea of fairies and she is one that I can really take a liking to here.  I am hoping we get to see more of her with Finn later.  I want to see what the Winter fairies are like since we got to spend some time with the Summer ones.

I can't wait to see where the next book goes!

Stars:

Amazon Link: Amazon Link

Goodreads Link: Goodreads Page

About the Author:

Kristin D. Van Risseghem grew up in a small river town along the Mississippi River with her parents and older sister. And after receiving a double Bachelor of Science degree from Winona State University in Paralegal and Corrections, she worked as a Paralegal for various law firms around the Twin Cities for 14 years. Then she left the legal field and is now a Senior Buyer for a technology company.

Currently, Kristin lives in Minnesota with her husband and two Calico cats. She also loves attending book clubs, going shopping, and hanging out with friends. She has come to realize that she absolutely has an addiction to purses and shoes. They are her weakness and probably has way too many of both.

In the summer months, Kristin can usually be found lounging on her boat, drinking an ice cold something. Being an avid reader of YA and Women's Literature stories, she still finds time to read a ton of books in-between writing. And in the winter months, her main goal is to stay warm from the Minnesota cold!

Twitter Link: @KVanRisseghem

Facebook Link: Author's Facebook Page

Webpage: Author's Website

Book Promo - Friend of the Devil, By Mark Spivak

Friend of the Devil
by Mark Spivak

BLURB:

In 1990 some critics believe that America’s most celebrated chef, Joseph Soderini di Avenzano, cut a deal with the Devil to achieve fame and fortune. Whether he is actually Bocuse or Beelzebub, Avenzano is approaching the 25th anniversary of his glittering Palm Beach restaurant, Chateau de la Mer, patterned after the Michelin-starred palaces of Europe.

Journalist David Fox arrives in Palm Beach to interview the chef for a story on the restaurant’s silver jubilee. He quickly becomes involved with Chateau de la Mer’s hostess, unwittingly transforming himself into a romantic rival of Avenzano. The chef invites Fox to winter in Florida and write his authorized biography. David gradually becomes sucked into the restaurant’s vortex: shipments of cocaine coming up from the Caribbean; the Mafia connections and unexplained murder of the chef’s original partner; the chef’s ravenous ex-wives, swirling in the background like a hidden coven. As his lover plots the demise of the chef, Fox tries to sort out hallucination and reality while Avenzano treats him like a feline’s catnip-stuffed toy.

Excerpt:

He perused Chateau de la Mer’s large and mostly incomprehensible menu. Changed every few weeks, handwritten in Avenzano’s elaborate cursive before being photocopied, it closely resembled an annotated Medieval manuscript. Finally, he acceded to the staff’s offer to prepare a tasting menu for him, accompanied by the appropriate wines.

He was presented with a sculpture of dried vegetables in the shape of a bird’s nest, filled with a combination of wild mushrooms and chopped truffles, bathed in an intensely reduced demi-glaze. The carrots, zucchini and peppers had been cut into paper-thin strips, intertwined and allowed to dry, yet retained a surprising intensity of flavor.

He consumed a dish of tomato, basil and egg noodles, bathed in a light cream sauce, perfumed with fresh sage and studded with veal sweetbreads.

He ate an astonishing dish of butter-poached lobster, remarkably sweet and perfectly underdone, flavored with sweet English peas and garnished with a ring of authentic Genoese pesto.

He was served a slice of Avenzano’s signature Bedouin-stuffed poussin---a turkey stuffed with a goose, in turn stuffed with a duckling, in turn stuffed with a poussin, or baby chicken, with a core of truffled foie gras at its center, covered with an Etruscan sauce of chopped capers,
raisins and pine nuts. This dish had been the source of much controversy over the years, since it bore a close resemblance to a Louisiana terducken. It predated the terducken, however, and was supposedly inspired by a creation first served to the French royal court. For good measure, Avenzano had added influences from the cuisine of the Middle East.  

 AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He was the wine writer for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and was honored by the Academy of Wine Communications for excellence in wine coverage “in a graceful and approachable style.” Since 2001 has been the Wine and Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group; his running commentary on the world of food, wine and spirits is available at the Global Gourmet blog on www.palmbeachillustrated.com. He is the holder of the Certificate and Advanced diplomas from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Mark’s work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, Art & Antiques, the Continental and Ritz-Carlton magazines, Arizona Highways and Newsmax. He is the author of Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History (Lyons Press, 2012) and Moonshine Nation: The Art of Creating Cornbread in a Bottle (Lyons Press, 2014). His first novel, Friend of the Devil, is published by Black Opal Books.

Website: http://www.markspivakbooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4659831.Mark_Spivak?from_search=true&search_version=service

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.spivak.3

Amazon author page URL

http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Spivak/e/B007QASMAC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1458677775&sr=1-2-ent

Barnes and Noble Author URL

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/mark+spivak?_requestid=552756

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Book Review - Mystical and Mythical, By Michael Weekly

So I am going to be reviewing two books on this post for you today.  This tour is for Mythical, which is the second book in the series by Michael Weekly.

Book Title: Mystical

Author: Michael Weekly

Publishing Date: November 27, 2015

Page/Word Count: 378 pages

BLURB:

When Eliza Rose found out she was a witch, she thought she’d be casting spells… However, it turns out Eliza is on her way to becoming a mystical assassin. But first she has to start college with her best friend Dawn Roberts and her feline familiar Jared. If you think college is stressful, try finding your best friend being seduced—nearly to death—by a venomous fairy. Something is horribly wrong, and Eliza must find out what it is. Knowing who’s who in the Mystical world can be a burden—or save her life… Murderous mermaids, seductive fairies, and manipulative elves are terrifying enough, but pure witches can become corrupt…and they’re the most dangerous creatures of all. Eliza struggles to discover the source of this chaos, but is repeatedly attacked—and saved by a shadowy figure. On a very personal note, Eliza must learn whether corruption is beginning to claim her mother. Her strongest ally might be handsome, enigmatic Donovan—but he is hiding a shocking secret… Donovan wants nothing to do with his old gang—not after the things they’d made him do. But when he meets Eliza, he’s both frustrated by her amateur skills and impressed by her emerging strength, and he feels compelled to help her grow into the assassin she’s meant to be. Every answer has a price, and there are beings born to corrupt the pure. Eliza fights to master her skills before it’s too late, while Donovan must determine whether Eliza can be saved…or if she must die to keep her out of the hands of those who would use her powers to reign over all of Mystical.

Review:

So this is the start to a great series! Eliza is a great lead character and is very well developed.  She is different than most of your lead female characters in that she is not overly confident.  Honestly she tends to run on the quiet, I want to blend in side of things.  This makes her good in my eyes.  She is not perfect and flawed.  

I liked that the witches in this series are not the kind that fly around on broom sticks or have magic wands.  Their broomsticks are not for flying, and they don't dance round a cauldron dancing and singing.  This is definitely a different take on things.

And let me say, I can see myself developing a crush on Donovan.  We shall see in the next book how I feel about him.  I love that he has been around to save Eliza, and that he is the opposite to the man that Eliza meets once she is in college.  

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get lost in a new series.  The story is well thought out.  There are parts where I feel like the author could have proof read some.  We have these parts where you don't understand exactly where people are coming from. I got lost a couple times where they were talking about people picking someone up, but never said they had left the house the scene before.  It was hard to follow movements sometimes.  Other then that the book was great!!

Stars:

 

Book Title: Mythical

Author: Michael Weekly

Publishing Date: May 26, 2016

Page/Word Count: 374 pages

BLURB:

When you’re a witch in a kingdom of Elves, there’s bound to be conflict… Eliza Rose finds herself in a world full of Elves—the very creatures she is sworn to kill. To make matters worse, she is forced to slay her own mother. But one question remains. Why was her mother in such a horrid place to begin with? Eliza and Donovan cannot face the dangers of Ellevil alone… When the Elf, Christian, meets Eliza for the first time, he knows he must have her. As a master of manipulation, he will do anything he can to get his way. Donovan has left his old gang life behind. In his journeys with Eliza, he has seen her talents as an assassin bloom. He wants what is best for her, and he is certain that Christian is anything but. In a land of pure beings called Mystics, not all of them are what they seem… When Eliza falls in love with Christian, only Donovan knows the Elf can’t be trusted. Christian manipulates the myth within her to come forth, and Eliza’s hidden power is unleashed, bringing her true nature to light. Answers might be found in the fairy and mermaid kingdoms… To discover why Eliza’s mother was in Ellevil, Eliza and Christian must embark on a journey to the fairy and mermaid kingdoms. As challenges continue to unfold, Eliza is forced to choose between her hidden power and the witch she truly is. Eliza Rose must unlock her hidden power in order to survive, but time is running out. Corruption may overcome her—the same way it consumed her mother.

Review:So the second book in the series is just as good as the first.  You get to see several different realms while you are learning about Eliza and what makes her so special.  She is not like other witches and as you read on you get a better idea of where she is coming from and what her family's history is like.

I can say that I do have a crush on Donovan.  I am not a big fan of Christian.  Actually if I had my way, he would go away.  I think that Eliza would be better off with Donovan.  I just wanted to get that out. I am team Donovan.

There were still times when I would get lost because of location issues.  The author needs to be clear in where people are.  I think that some times he jumps ahead of himself and knows where he wants to go but doesn't always give you the reason you got from point A to point B. 

This is definitely a series that you can get lost in and want more of by the end.  When I got to the end of the book I was wanting the next one.  I was very lucky that I got to read both but now I want more!  I can look past the parts where I get lost because the characters keep you involved.

Stars: 

About the Author
Michael Weekly is a professional writer known for his ability to construct detailed, believable worlds and then to inject them with captivating stories and relatable characters. His big break came three years ago when he started writing on a site called Wattpad. Prior to that, he had written mainly as a hobby and as an exercise in relaxation and meditation, using writing as an escape out of the world and into his own mind.

Writing in the genres of Urban Fantasy, Dystopian YA, and NA, Michael is the author of Mystical, which has earned a ton of positive feedback. Mystical was picked up by Limitless Publishing in 2015, and since then, Michael has been working on additional entries to the series.

When he is not writing, Michael also enjoys playing video games such as League of Legends and World of Warcraft. He enjoys being a shopaholic and a professional foodie. He lives in Virginia with his imaginary fury companion CoCo, where the two live happily.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

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Book Promo - The Sacrifice, By Mia McKimmy

Title: The Sacrifice
Author: Mia McKimmy
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Fantasy

Will their love survive the sacrifices that must be made?

Almost three hundred years ago, a race of immortals fled the planet of Sivadia and came to Earth. When a war divided their race, each side was led by twin sons of the Sivadian king.

From the moment Riana Martin meets Cy, the dangerously sexy Sivadian Protector, she knows it will be hard to resist him. From the first touch, Cy sets off a firestorm inside her heart and soul.

Cy knows Riana is his destiny, but since their father named him successor to the throne, his twin has been determined to destroy him.

Can Cy protect Riana from his brother…one of the most evil beings to ever walk this planet?

Book Excerpt
The Sacrifice — Excerpt 1 (393 words)

Riana, and her best friend, Elle have just arrived at the compound where they’ll be trained to defend themselves against feeders, who abduct young women to breed with. Their training will be done by Protectors, warriors who defend the Sivadian and human races from feeders..

Riana and Elle moved to the edge of the courtyard and stopped in front of a set of steel gates where two guards were positioned. They wore black pants and shirts made from a shiny material that clung to every well-defined muscle.
“Those two look like they stepped off the page of a body builder magazine,” Riana whispered.
A hint of mischief danced in Elle’s blue eyes. “I hope there are more like them inside those gates. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.”
Riana smiled and shook her head. “Are you planning to pursue a Sivadian male?”
Elle dropped her gaze to the ground, and Riana instantly regretted her comment. After Elle was attacked by a feeder at fifteen, she swore off anyone stronger than her. Since Sivadian men were the stronger sex of their race, it left only humans to date.
“At least you have a sex life,” Riana said. “I’m finally getting a break from the long hours at the hospital, and now I’m forced to stay at a compound where the only members of the opposite sex are Protectors. If I went near one of them, my mother’s lecture would play a constant loop in my head. ‘Protectors are not life-mate material, Riana, and they never will be. All they care about is killing feeders. Whatever you do, stay away from them,’” she said in a high mocking tone. “That mantra has been drilled into my head for as long as I can remember.”
“Why does she hate Protectors so much?” Elle asked.
“Who knows? I asked once and she avoided the question, and then proceeded to point out more of their faults.”
Riana dug through her bag for her Sivadian identification card, and then stepped up to the gate. One guard took her ID, scanned it, and then handed it back. The other guard motioned for her to stand inside a circle painted on the pavement. He held a strange gun at his side. Before she could move, he raised the gun, pointed it at her and pulled the trigger. 


Author Bio

Mia McKimmy writes paranormal romance novels reflecting her belief that everyone has one great love, and when you find them, there’s no denying you have met your destiny.

Mia counts herself lucky to be married to her one true love. She is Mom to two grown daughters, and Nana to four grandkids who have her wrapped around their fingers.

She is a former hairdresser, and has a degree as a Registered Nurse from Georgia Highlands College. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, and Georgia Romance Writers.

If you’d like sneak peeks of future books and new release dates, please visit her website at:www.miamckimmy.com

She’d love to hear from you. You can find her at: miamckimmy@gmail.com

https://twitter.com/MiaMckimmy

https://www.facebook.com/MiaMckimmy

https://www.goodreadscommia_mckimmy

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Book Promo - Spell Breaker, By Joni Parker

Title: Spell Breaker

Author: Joni Parker

Genre: Fantasy

After Lady Alexin (Alex) breaks the spell around Seaward Isle, the inhabitants can leave the island for the first time in a thousand years. At long last, the Elves and Dwarves can return home to Eledon, while the mortals are given the opportunity to stay or leave through a portal to the mortal world. Alex chooses to stay with her Elf family only to be involved in a mission to rid the Elf World of its most notorious criminal, Sawgrass. Alex must eliminate him before he implements his plan to kill her Water Elf family and take over Eledon.

Excerpt 1: (337 words) Chapter 3

The next morning, Alex retrieved her sword from the armory and hiked to the top of the fortress. The sun peeked over the horizon—its golden hue brightened the dark sky still filled with millions of stars. She took several deep breaths and drew her sword Challenger to admire its shiny blade with stars dancing across it.

After saluting an invisible opponent, Alex began her favorite sword routine called Path-in-the-Forest against imaginary enemies, standing behind unseen trees. Her sword whipped and whooshed through the air as her opponents fell. She paused, panting, taking a reprieve from a particularly good swordsman and leaned against an imaginary tree, holding her sword ready for the next opponent. Silently, she slid her Elfin Blade from its holster on her right thigh and moved it to her left hand. She turned and leapt out from behind the tree with a loud cry, raising her sword above her head, her Elfin Blade poised to block a predicted counterattack.

The Elf servant Eskin shrieked and squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands were clenched in tight fists beside her head, and her body shook.

Alex backed off and inhaled sharply. “Eskin, don’t sneak up on me like that.”

Eskin opened her eyes and placed her hand on her chest, drawing several deep breaths. “I’m sorry, Lady Alexin, but Prince Darin asks that you greet the visitor in the parlor. He’ll be there shortly.”

“What for?”
“He’s indisposed.”
“What about Lord Odin?”
“He’s gone to see King Pallis.”
“My grandmother?”
“She hasn’t finished dressing.”
“Who’s here?”
“Olivia Richards, the reporter from the King’s Weekly Journal.”

Alex leaned her head back and dropped her arms, groaning. “Not her.”

“Prince Darin said to be very polite and watch what you say.” Eskin clasped her hands in front of her.

“Yeah, right.” Alex slid her sword into its scabbard and flipped the Elfin Blade around, returning it to its holster on her right thigh. Without another word, she strode past Eskin and ran down the five flights of stairs.

Author Bio

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Joni left with her family when she was eight and lived for four years in Japan. Upon return to the States, she and her family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from Camelback High School and attended Arizona State University until she dropped out and joined the Navy. After three years as a Photographer’s Mate, she got out of the Navy, married a career sailor, and returned to college completing a bachelor’s and master’s degree at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Florida. She returned to the Navy as a commissioned officer and retired with over twenty-two years of service. While active duty, she was selected to attend the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and attained a Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree. After her retirement, she traveled the country with her husband in a motorhome until he passed away. Joni returned to the workforce for another seven years and retired again to devote time to her writing. She currently resides in Tucson, Arizona.

Links

Website/blog: http://www.theblackelf.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoniParker

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ParkerJoni

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JoniParker/posts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7191836.Joni_Parker

Trailer for the Seaward Isle Saga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teYsqOs0yjI&feature=autoplay&list=HL1343068571&playnext=3

Book Blitz - The Forgotten, By T. Marie Alexander