Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Release Week Blitz- The Darkest Torment by Gena Showalter

  
     
TheDarkestTorment - cover

Grab your copy of THE DARKEST TORMENT here!


THE DARKEST TORMENT Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with her most explosive Lords of the Underworld tale to date, about a fierce warrior on the brink of sanity who will stop at nothing to claim the exquisite human with the power to soothe the beast inside him… 

Driven to his death by the demon of Distrust, Baden spent centuries in purgatory. Now he's back, but at what cost? Bound to the king of the underworld, an even darker force, he's unable to withstand the touch of another…and he's quickly devolving into a heartless assassin with an uncontrollable temper. Things only get worse when a mission goes awry and he finds himself saddled with a bride—just not his own.  

Famed dog trainer Katarina Joelle is forced to marry a monster to protect her loved ones. When she's taken hostage by the ruthless, beautiful Baden immediately after the ceremony, she's plunged into a war between two evils—with a protector more dangerous than the monsters he hunts. They are meant to be enemies, but neither can resist the passion burning between them…and all too soon the biggest threat is to her heart. 

But as Baden slips deeper into the abyss, she'll have to teach him to love…or lose him forever.
And don’t miss the previous titles in the Lords of the Underworld Series!

EXCERPT:

Katarina wasn’t afraid of Baden. Not anymore.
He took a step to the side, intending to move around her. Oh, no. She flattened her hands on his shoulders, keeping him in place.
“I want to know what’s wrong with you.” She said. “Tell me.”
He snapped his teeth at her in a show of dominance. “You think you want to know my problem. You’re wrong.”
Her tone dry, she said, “I’m so glad you know my mind better than I do.”
“Very well. I need sex.” He threw the words at her as if they were weapons. “Badly.”
Whoa. Blindside!
Heart pounding, she jerked her hands away from him. “Sex...from me?”
“Yesss.” A hiss. “Only from you.”
Only. Amazing how one little word could send pleasure soaring through her, warming her. “You told me never to touch you.” Which she’d just done, she realized. My bad.
“I’ve changed my mind.” His gaze dropped, lingered on her lips.
Burning her... “But you and I...we’re a different species.” As if that mattered to her body. Gimme!
He took a step closer, invading her personal space.  “We’ll fit, I promise you.”

Tristo hrmenych! The raspy quality of his voice, all smoke and gravel...she shivered with longing. Must resist his allure.
But...but...why? Before she’d committed to Peter, she’d dated around, had made out in movie theaters, cars and on couches. She’d liked kissing and touching and “riding the belt buckle,” as her friends had called it. Then, after committing to Peter, she’d gifted him with her virginity. At first, he hadn’t known what to do with her—he’d been just as inexperienced—and she’d left each encounter disappointed. When finally she’d gathered the courage to tell him what she wanted, he’d satisfied her well.
She missed sex. But connection...intimacy...she thought she missed those more.
The dogs barked, jolting her from her thoughts. They’d cleaned their food bowls, and now wanted to play. She clasped Baden’s hand to lead him out of the kennel. He jerked away, severing contact.
One action. Tons of hurt.
“I’m allowed to touch you and you want to have sex with me, but you’re still disgusted by me.” She stomped outside the kennel, done with him. “Well, I’m leaving. Good riddance! Your do-what-I-say-or-else attitude was annoying, anyway.”
He darted in front of her, stopping her. Breath caught in her throat as sunlight streamed over him, paying his chiseled features absolute tribute, making his bronzed skin glimmer.
So beautiful. Too beautiful.
“I’m not disgusted by you. You need me. I’ve come to accept it,” he admitted, looking away from her. “But being skin-to-skin with another is painful for me. We’ll have to proceed carefully. And you’ll get over your annoyance.”
Another order!  She would show him the error of his ways.


About Gena Showalter:

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series.  In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she's appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black--if you ask her about it, she'll talk for hours…hours!  Her books have been translated in multiple languages.

She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfan                               

Giveaway-
 

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Monday, May 30, 2016

Review- Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Summary-

A MAN OF SIN

Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

A WOMAN OF HONOR

Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery's household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.

A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH

Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can't resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets-and neither may be as nefarious-or as innocent-as they appear . . .
 


Release date: May 31st, 2016
Published by: Grand Central Publishing
Page numbers: 364

Review-

There are very few historical romance series that I actually keep up with. Mostly, I go the contemporary route. But Elizabeth Hoyt is one author who writes beautiful stories. Duke of Sin is the tenth, yes you read that right, the tenth book in the Maiden Lane series and this series shows no signs of stopping. I'm still just as interested in Hoyt's characters as I was during book one and I enjoyed Duke of Sin just as much as its predecessors.

Our hero is Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery. Valentine is everything one hates in a man. He is vain, unscrupulous and devastatingly handsome. His most preferred form of talking is through black mail. You'd think that you'd hate Val but some how during the course of the book you start understanding him. As you come to know his childhood and his past you can see that he has never known what real love is.

Our heroine is Bridget Crumb. Bridget is the housekeeper. She is smart and capable. As independent as a woman can be during those times. I loved Bridget. She obviously had intentions of her own for working in the Duke's house but she meant no harm to the Duke. As she begins to talk to Val she sees that what everyone thinks about him is not always true. I think Bridget made for a perfect partner for Valentine, balancing him out.

Elizabeth Hoyt writes amazing chemistry. I loved all the conversations between Val and Bridget. They were hilarious and witty. There is by no means insta love or anything of that sort in this book. Bridget goes from hating Valentine to understanding him to loving him. Their relationship progresses gradually, at a steady pace which makes it very real. 

I also loved all the supporting characters in Duke of Sin. Elizabeth Hoyt makes a nice base for the next book and we get to meet a few new people. What I like about the Maiden Lane series is that it is not all romance. There is a plot with a little bit of suspense moving the book as well as the entire series forward. I also loved seeing Asa and Eve from the last book. Overall, Duke of Sin was a great addition to the Maiden Lane series. I would highly recommend this series to fans of historical romances.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.


Friday, May 27, 2016

Kirk Ingram is back!

Kirk Ingram is back in another high-stakes action-packed thriller

The Migrant Crisis threatens the European Union with rising intolerance, disintegration and violence. 
Driven by disillusionment, revenge, and a lack of faith in existing migration policies, The Council wields an horrific solution to the problem: an ethnic bio-weapon, Diablo. 
FBI agent, Kirk Ingram stumbles upon their heinous scheme and is in a race against the clock to stop the genocide.
But when Diablo is seized by the United States, Ingram must join forces with The Council to prevent an even greater atrocity from being unleashed upon the world.


Please forward this mailer to people you know who own Kindles, Nooks, Kobos, Android devices

Douglas Misquita



Thursday, May 26, 2016

Cover Reveal- All of Me by Jonali Karmakar

*** Cover Reveal ***


Title: All of Me
Author: Jonali Karmakar
Length: 69 pages
Publication Date: May 29, 2016
ASIN: B01G0P8JGK

Book Blurb:

All of Me is a collection of thirteen little stories that have been gleaned from real life as well as imagination. Exploring a range of genres, these throb with everything primal to human nature: fear, angst, joy, love, and longing. Some stories are designed to elicit smiles, chuckles, and maybe even a belly laugh or two whereas some are meant as a reality check. Universal in nature, each story provides a glimpse of what women empowerment or a lack thereof can mean in a person’s life.
From a small hamlet in India to the roads of Australia; from a mother’s betrayal to a daughter’s confession; from an extra marital affair to a same sex relationship learn for yourself the what, how and whys.

Originally written for anthologies and ezines, these stories have been revisited and updated for this new collection.  


About the Author:


Jonali Karmakar is a fiction writer with a Masters in English. Writing is not just her passion but her way of dealing with life. She loves being able to escape into the worlds she creates. Everything that she writes becomes a part of her and she wants her readers to know the woman behind those words. In addition to being an educator, she works as a content editor for a local news portal. She has been providing editing, proofreading and translation services for the past few years.

Jonali’s work has been published in several journals, anthologies and poetry collections both national and international. An avid reader, she loves flipping pages of anything and everything on the table and reviewing the same on her blog Eclectic Moods. She feels that reading and writing are the flip sides of the same coin. Writing is her way of communicating with the world. When she’s not writing or teaching she loves to experiment with her paintings.

She has quite a few accolades to her name.

Contact the Author:

This Feature is a part of the Blogger Outreach Program by b00k r3vi3w Tours

This cover is so gorgeous and I am now looking forward to the book as well. 

Thank you for stopping by, and happy reading! 



Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #164

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Idol (VIP #1) by Kristen Callihan
Publication Date: June 7th, 2016


Summary-

Libby

I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.

He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?

Killian

As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.

Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.

The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find away to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything.

I really like the Game On series by Kristen Callihan so I can't wait to read more from her!

What are you waiting on? :)

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Blog Tour: Review- Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey


Release date: May 17th, 2016
Published by: Forever
Page numbers: 336

Summary-

When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble . . .

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn't seen in years. When rescue shows up---six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle---Rita's pretty certain she's gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he's about to be sorely tempted. There's something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn't just for tonight---he's forever.

Buy Links-

Review-

I am a huge fan of Tessa Bailey, especially her Crossing the Line series. She writes serious chemistry between her couples and I especially end up liking all the banter which goes along with her characters. Too Hot To Handle is the first book in a new series by her called Romancing the Clarksons. What I found the most fascinating was that this series actually follows four siblings on a road trip. Its hard to wrap your head around it but Tessa Bailey makes it work.

Rita is a chef who has tried to follow her mother's legacy. She was kicked out of a reality show and now all she wants to do is lick her wounds. Unexpected circumstances brings Rita and her siblings together and they find themselves on a road trip. I really liked Rita. She was a woman with insecurities. She is a little shy and tries to be tough but really, she needed to belong somewhere.

When their car has a breakdown the Clarksons have to take a stop at a small town. That is where Rita meets Jasper. Jasper is instantly attracted to Rita and wants - for once in his life - a woman who sees the real him and not just great for a hook up. Jasper has a reputation in the small town but he's ready for a change and he wants Rita.

Tessa Bailey knows how to write a hot romance. Jasper and Rita have amazing chemistry and they work well together. With her signature dirty talk Tessa's heroes are all alpha male. But this may be a surprise but what I liked even more than the romance was the relationship the four siblings shared. They are as Rita claims emotionally stunted Clarksons but it is easy to see that they love each other.

All siblings are as different as day and night. There's the silent and brooding eldest, Rita is the second oldest, then there's the flamboyant politician who is number three and the youngest wild child sweetheart who has broken of four engagements. I loved all the sibling banter. It was hilarious. Aaron is the politician who has his story next and I can't wait for it. I was a little bummed at the ending because I wanted it to end in a different way but oh, well. This was a good read for me.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the Author/Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.



About the Author-

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of eight years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Review- Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Summary-

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart.
 


Release date: February 10th, 2015
Published by: Harper Teen
Page numbers: 383

Review-

There has just been SO much hype surrounding Red Queen. I think I've read an equal number of good and bad reviews for this. Curiosity definitely got the better of me when I picked up Red Queen. I'll say that I fall somewhere in the middle in my opinion of the book. While I didn't completely hate the book, I didn't love it either. I kind of just tolerated the protagonist and that is the main reason I found the book to be just okay.

Alright, so the basic concept in Red Queen is that the world is divided into Reds and Silvers depending on the colour of blood the person carries. The Silvers hold all the power as they have extra ordinary abilities to go with the Silver blood. Mare Barrow our heroine is an exception. She is a Red but she has an ability which she is only beginning to discover. Unfortunately this lands her in trouble and soon she is tangled in a web of lies and deceit.

So like I said before, I did not like Mare. I tried to find something in her personality with which I could relate even a little bit. But that was not to be. Mare was really self centered for my liking. Even though there was a bigger thought of saving the Reds and creating equality she always found a way in her thoughts to turn it all around as if the entire world revolved around her.

I usually enjoy a good political plot but the one in Red Queen was weak. Mare also finds herself in the middle of a love triangle which I can see becoming a square in the next book. I liked the crown prince Cal, one of the love interests. He was genuine and wanted what was good for everyone. Maven on the other hand was his half brother who had intentions of his own. But it was kinda easy to guess what would happen at the end of it.

What I did like in Red Queen was Mare's family. There were solid people and I can't wait to read more about Mare's brothers. There is also a childhood best friend Kilorn who is seriously giving me the "Gale" vibes. All the other players in the revolution were very forgettable for me. I don't know if its the genre, maybe I've read enough dystopia to last me a lifetime but I found the storyline to be quite similar to some other books I've read. I didn't get anything exceptionally unique out of this book. I'm still not sure if or when I'll pick up Glass Sword, the sequel to Red Queen. Overall, Red Queen was just an okay read for me.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by Hachette India in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.


Friday, May 20, 2016

Review- Too Hot to Handle by Tessa Bailey

Summary-

When rescue looks like a whole lot of trouble . . .

The road trip was definitely a bad idea. Having already flambéed her culinary career beyond recognition, Rita Clarkson is now stranded in God-Knows-Where, New Mexico, with a busted-ass car and her three temperamental siblings, who she hasn't seen in years. When rescue shows up---six-feet-plus of hot, charming sex on a motorcycle---Rita's pretty certain she's gone from the frying pan right into the fire . . .

Jasper Ellis has a bad boy reputation in this town, and he loathes it. The moment he sees Rita, though, Jasper knows he's about to be sorely tempted. There's something real between them. Something raw. And Jasper has only a few days to show Rita that he isn't just for tonight---he's forever.
 


Release date: May 17th, 2016
Published by: Forever
Page numbers: 336

Review-

I am a huge fan of Tessa Bailey, especially her Crossing the Line series. She writes serious chemistry between her couples and I especially end up liking all the banter which goes along with her characters. Too Hot To Handle is the first book in a new series by her called Romancing the Clarksons. What I found the most fascinating was that this series actually follows four siblings on a road trip. Its hard to wrap your head around it but Tessa Bailey makes it work.

Rita is a chef who has tried to follow her mother's legacy. She was kicked out of a reality show and now all she wants to do is lick her wounds. Unexpected circumstances brings Rita and her siblings together and they find themselves on a road trip. I really liked Rita. She was a woman with insecurities. She is a little shy and tries to be tough but really, she needed to belong somewhere.

When their car has a breakdown the Clarksons have to take a stop at a small town. That is where Rita meets Jasper. Jasper is instantly attracted to Rita and wants - for once in his life - a woman who sees the real him and not just great for a hook up. Jasper has a reputation in the small town but he's ready for a change and he wants Rita.

Tessa Bailey knows how to write a hot romance. Jasper and Rita have amazing chemistry and they work well together. With her signature dirty talk Tessa's heroes are all alpha male. But this may be a surprise but what I liked even more than the romance was the relationship the four siblings shared. They are as Rita claims emotionally stunted Clarksons but it is easy to see that they love each other.

All siblings are as different as day and night. There's the silent and brooding eldest, Rita is the second oldest, then there's the flamboyant politician who is number three and the youngest wild child sweetheart who has broken of four engagements. I loved all the sibling banter. It was hilarious. Aaron is the politician who has his story next and I can't wait for it. I was a little bummed at the ending because I wanted it to end in a different way but oh, well. This was a good read for me.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the Author/Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.



Thursday, May 19, 2016

Review- Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz

Not Otherwise Specified on Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Etta is tired of dealing with all of the labels and categories that seem so important to everyone else in her small Nebraska hometown.

Everywhere she turns, someone feels she's too fringe for the fringe. Not gay enough for the Dykes, her ex-clique, thanks to a recent relationship with a boy; not tiny and white enough for ballet, her first passion; and not sick enough to look anorexic (partially thanks to recovery). Etta doesn’t fit anywhere— until she meets Bianca, the straight, white, Christian, and seriously sick girl in Etta’s therapy group. Both girls are auditioning for Brentwood, a prestigious New York theater academy that is so not Nebraska. Bianca seems like Etta’s salvation, but how can Etta be saved by a girl who needs saving herself?

The latest powerful, original novel from Hannah Moskowitz is the story about living in and outside communities and stereotypes, and defining your own identity.
 

BOOK COVER:

Release date: March 3rd 2015
Published by: Simon Pulse
Page numbers: 304

REVIEW:

I had initially read Hannah Moskowitz's Gone, Gone, Gone, and it was a pretty good book that I still remember sometimes, mainly because the two main characters were very well portrayed, making them unforgettable. The same stands true for Not Otherwise Specified, because even though the story was good, the characterisation was even better. I don't know how she does it, but Hannah creates and writes about characters that stay with you, and that, I feel is very beautiful. 

Not Otherwise Specified is the story of Etta from Nebraska who dreams of going to New York or basically anywhere that's not Nebraska. She is a girl with some issues and that makes her real and hence, relatable. She is always herself, although she is trying to figure out exactly who that is. And that is what makes the book a true coming of age story, because in spite of all the important things going on and the important characters standing out, this book is about figuring out oneself while trying to not break down even when it seems like the easy way out. 

Like I mentioned before, the side characters in the book stood out really well, as well. So while Etta is the protagonist, her story itself is shaped by everything that goes on around her and everyone around her. Each secondary character moulds themselves perfectly to fit into Etta's story and for that again, I must commend Hannah's beautiful characterisation which really makes the reader feel belonged. 

Overall, while are some bits of Not Otherwise Specified that I didn't necessarily like or even understand at sometime, it was still a really different, enjoyable and very good read that I would recommend to fans of young adult LGBT stories that take up the whole coming of age theme. 

Buy the book: AMAZON