Cassiela by Danielle Gavan Interview

I've had the AWESOME opportunity to spend some time getting to know Danielle. She is here to tell y'all about her upcoming book, Cassiela. I've asked her a few questions, but if you have more, please feel free to contact her by one of the links at the bottom of this post :)

About the Book:
Give me the blurb for the book:

Gripped by crazed jealousy, the Angel of Death gave up on his happily ever after, until the day a shy redhead appeared. Could she be the cure Azrael’s madness?
Cassiela is plagued with lustful thoughts of the Angel she’s assigned to guard. Once bitten, Cassie is twice shy from the moment she sets eyes on Azrael. Lost in his dark eyes and easy smile, the Angel of Deliverance finds old hurt and pain coming back to haunt her—in more ways than one.
One Angel will stop at nothing to keep Rae and Cassie from claiming the life they never expected to have. A battle to rival the Great War in Heaven is begun by Rae and Cassiela’s need and love for one another. Will something even they never expected, and are unwilling to give up, turn the earth into a battle ground, and the lovers facing off against the biggest Angel of them all?
 
Do you have a favorite character?  Why is he/she/it your favorite?

I have to choose? Hmm.. I’d say Azrael with Brody being an almost dead heat tie. *grins* Rae wins out by a slight margin because, really, who doesn’t love a tortured soul. He gives the word tortured a whole new definition.

What do you hope readers will get from your book?

I hope they’ll see that when love finds you, no matter where it comes from or the form it takes, recognize it and cherish the amazing gift you’ve been given. Also, if something is worth having, it’s worth fighting for.


About the Author:
What/Who inspires you?

That’s a hard one. Inspiration comes from so many different places and at such odd moments, it’s hard to pick just one. The beat of a good song, the smell of a candle or a sexy man walking by… there’s so much to draw from. I find the best thing is to take inspiration when it comes and run with it. You never know where it will take you.

Hardest aspect of writing? Best/Easiest?

For me, letting the characters tell their story without sticking my nose in and trying to drive it the way I want it to go is the hardest part. I don’t usually know where they’re going to take me, or the story, but when I do… It’s like trying to avert a train wreck and ending up the car sitting on the tracks when the whole thing goes ‘boom’.

The best part is when the story is finally done and out there for people to read.


 About the Future:
What’s next for you?

I’m working on the next book in the Abbey of Angels series, as well as a novella featuring Brody. A lot of fans have expressed an interest in his background, and in some of the things I left out of Ardeur. I hope to have it done and ready for readers by fall 2012.

One outrageous goal for the future?

One? Jeez. Okay… To be as successful as my favorite author, Laurell K. Hamilton.

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring writers?

Butt in chair, hands on keyboard. Every. Day. And, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. Prove them wrong and do it.


Randomness:
Sweet or salty?

Salty.

Beach, plains or mountains? 

Plains…lol I’m pale skinned and the beach always ends up in me with a horrendous sunburn. Moutains? I don’t climb anything other than the stairs or a ladder.

Online, letters or in person?

Depends on what I’m doing. *wink*

Ebook or print?

Everything ebook, except Laurell’s. I buy her books in hardcover.



Well that's all we have for now. You can stalk Danielle via the following links :)
Website
Goodreads
Amazon
Facebook
Smashwords (make sure your "adult filter" is OFF)
Barnes & Noble

Anchor Group Free Book Day!!!

I am lucky enough to be friends with the Lovely Melissa Ringsted from Anchor Group Publishing. Today she has asked to take over the blog and let y'all know about some great things going on with their group :) So without further ado...Here's Melissa!!!

Ahoy Mate!! I come to ye today with some treasure.... Ok, fake pirate voice gone. Hello all, this is Melissa, Vice President of Anchor Group Publishing and I'm here to share some great information with you. First off, thank you for the bloggers who are sharing this. Second, thank you to you, the readers, because without you there would be no books, no publishing houses. In order to thank you, and celebrate author Dawn Gray's day of print release, we are making our current titles FREE on Amazon. We have:

   There's S.P.I.R.I.T. Fire Storm by Author Dawn Gray, who's book release party is also happening today!! Head over to her FB page, here, for the party from 7 to 10pm.

Also, free today, is The Conduit by Stacey Rourke and The Many Lives of Avery Snow by Christy Sloat. All books can be found by clicking the embedded links of the books title.

   I hope that you enjoy your free books! Anchor Group has a lot going on in 2012, with the release of Embrace, book 2 to The Conduit, as well as The Brown House by Christy Sloat, Ethan's Story, a book about autism from an 8 year olds view, Golden by Monika Pardon and our anthology about paranormal days gone awry. Aye, ye best be keepin' yer eye on Anchor Group. -Melissa

A room without books is like a body without a soul. -Cicero

The Alice Saga, Nineteen Twenty-Three by Max C Norton

Synopsis:
The great farm depression of the 1920s brought a mass migration of bankrupt farmers from the Midwest and mountain states to California. In ''The Alice Saga,'' Max C. Norton artfully blends fact and fiction to portray the lives of these people, who came to the West so full of hope but found that California had problems of its own.
Having conducted extensive research on the time period, Norton derives his characters and their plight from memoirs, public documents, news accounts, and oral interviews. The gripping account which results follows the struggles of a handful of these unfortunate farmers. As they work to adjust to a new land and culture, California itself must adapt to a new era of farming. Thanks to irrigation and the Don Pedro Dam, the great ranch lands are giving way to dairy farms, vineyards, and orchards.
The experiences of John, Jennie, Bob, and Alice reflect those shared by many others during this chapter of American history. ''The Alice Saga'' brings the drama of these courageous people to life through a richly detailed and engrossing narrative.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed reading this book. There were a few parts where the extensive amounts of detail made it a slow read, but it was well worth pushing through it because the knowledge  was needed in other parts of the book. I really liked that the author combined true events with fiction so that you knew, in a general aspect, what happened during that time but were introduced to the world of the characters of the book. I absolutely fell in love with some of the characters and I can't wait to see what happens to them in the next part of the trilogy. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great historical fiction read :)



I received a complimentary copy of The Alice Saga, Nineteen Twenty-Three by Max C Norton as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.


You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Saga-Trilogy-Nineteen-Twenty-Three/dp/0805953671
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-alice-saga-max-c-norton/1004662950?ean=9780805953671
http://dorrance.stores.yahoo.net/

Random Giveaway Winner!!!

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway a couple of weeks ago. Fortunately for you guys I already own the book, so I held a rafflecopter giveaway...


And the winner is....


Crystal Bozeman Clifton!!!


Congrats Crystal!!! Jennifer will get you your copy asap :)

The Acropolis by RK Ryals Blog Tour Review

I am honored to be today's stop in RK Ryals' "The Acropolis" Blog Tour. I had the amazing opportunity to be able to review this wonderful book and am VERY glad that I set time aside for it. So without further ado...

Synopsis:
"We have a new assignment for you, Mr. Reinhardt." 


These words are not comforting to me. At eighteen, I am a gargoyle who has been demoted because I broke the rules. Now I have a new mission, a new mark to protect. But I don't expect Emma Chase. I don't expect to question my own race. I don't expect to care for my own mark. And I am not prepared for what I find at The Acropolis. 


Warning: Due to language, this book is suggested for Young Adults 16+


My thoughts:
I absolutely LOVE this book. I have been stuck in a paranormal reading rut lately, and while I try to give each book it's own time, this book definitely made my heart sing! I try to look at each book with a new eye, even if it happens to be the 15th werewolf/vampire book in a row that I have read. This book was a refreshing "new" paranormal book. The author is so skilled in her writing that you get fully engrossed in the book. I literally had to set timers when I read it so that I wouldn't spend HOURS at a time reading it and forget about obligations. The characters are so easy to relate to that I found myself laughing, crying and being outright mad during some of the scenes! RK Ryals weaves such an amazing tale that you can't help but want to read everything else she has out!! I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good paranormal story :)



You can purchase this book here.


You can stalk the author here:
Goodreads
Facebook
Website

I Am Wolf By Joann Buchanan Character Interview

For today's stop of Joann Buchanan's I Am Wolf Blog Tour, we are fortunate to have Jonah with us. Sit back, enjoy the interview, and please don't forget to check out the rest of the stops on the tour :)

Me: Thanks for stopping by today, Jonah. Let's get started :) How do you feel about your family, now that you’re an adult?

Jonah: That I'm lucky to have who I have in my life. 

Me: What do you want from life?

Jonah: I want to have a normal day, a normal life. I didn't ask for this gift, so I think it would be something like that. 

Me: If you were granted three wishes, what would you ask for?

Jonah: I would ask Alaynee to forgive me. There is a lot that has happened that you guys don't know about. That is the only wish I have for now, so I will save the other two for another day.

Me: Describe yourself to me.

Jonah: I'm a little over protective. I love the night and I can't wait to make Alaynee my bride. 

Me: What's the one thing you have always wanted to do but didn't? What would happen if you did do it?

Jonah: I want to start a band with the guys. I think it would be fun to travel the world and play music. I don't know what would happen but it would be a helluva ride. 

Me: What's the worst thing you've ever done? Why did you do it if it was 'bad'?

Jonah: I should have never bit Ralph. I wouldn't be in the situation I'm in now. I know what's going on now is going to come out sooner or later, but for now I would like to keep it to myself. 

Me: What is your most treasured possession?

Jonah: A necklace my mom gave me before she died.


Me: Which talent would you most like to have?

Jonah: I want to be able to play guitar like Alaynee. She rocks it! 

Me: Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Jonah: After all that has happened lately I have to ask, is there even such a thing as fiction? I mean really, my life has been one fiction story after another. So maybe fiction doesn't exist. 

Me: What is your motto?

Jonah: Never bite a human.

Me: Yes, that is a great motto, considering! LOL. Thanks for joining us!

Jonah: No problem. Thanks for having me over.

Well that's all I have for today folks. Please remember to check Joann out and stop by the other stops on the tour :)

Amazon

B&N

Smashwords

Google

Powells

Goodreads

Facebook

Website

Random Giveaway!!!

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway a couple of days ago. Fortunately for you guys I already own the book ;) So that means...GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

If you haven't already, please take the time to go check out Jennifer Malone Wright and her books :)

Amazon
B&N
Smashwords
Website
Goodreads
Facebook
YouTube

RK Ryals The Acropolis Tour Interview

R.K. Ryals has stopped by my blog today for her blog tour for The Acropolis. Here is an interview with her :) Make sure you follow the rest of the tour with the links below!


About the Book: 
Give me the blurb for the book in 140 characters or less: 
"We have a new assignment for you, Mr. Reinhardt."
These words are not comforting to me. At eighteen, I am a gargoyle who has been demoted because I broke the rules. Now I have a new mission, a new mark to protect. But I don't expect Emma Chase. I don't expect to question my own race. I don't expect to care for my own mark. And I am not prepared for what I find at The Acropolis.
Warning: Due to language, this book is suggested for Young Adults 16+

 Do you have a favorite character?  Why is she your favorite?
Deidra Alexander. She's a lesser supporting character that really grew on me as I wrote this book. She's mischievous, loving, and fragile in a strong way, and I think people can relate to that.


What do you hope readers will get from your book?
When I write, I write flawed characters. They have issues. They are real. Despite the fact that they live in a world where the paranormal exists, they have to deal with real problems. I want readers to feel their pain, to feel their fears, emotions, and conflicts, but I want them to walk away knowing that, in the end, no matter the issues the characters have to face, they learn how to make their obstacles a part of their life rather than let the problems overcome them.



About the Author: 
What/Who inspires you? 
Life inspires me. My mother is the flame that keeps the inspiration going. She was an amazing woman who taught me that words not only create worlds, they create reasons to live in them.

Hardest aspect of writing? Best/Easiest? 
World building is the hardest because of the complexity but it is also one of the most interesting aspects. The easiest thing to write is the dialogue. It is also the funnest. I connect with my characters through dialogue.

Who is your writing hero? 
Writers of the classics: Edgar Allen Poe, Jane Austen, Tolstoy, Conrad, Dickens...you name it because the classic writers gave us the floor. They opened up different genres, revolutionized them, and then gave us something to play off of.



About the Future: 
What’s next for you? 
Currently, I am working on a book called Retribution: Book Three in the Redemption Series. I am also beginning work on the second book in the Acropolis series as well as working on two short stories for two different anthologies.

One outrageous goal for the future? 
To write at least four books this year, not including the ones already written.

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other aspiring writers?
My mother gave me the best advice once during a time when I believed I wasn't as good as some of the other authors I've read in my life. She told me, "What you consider trash, I consider genius." Even after her death, I have not forgotten that. No matter what, there is a reader out there who enjoys what you write. Work hard, edit well, and keep your chin up.


Randomness: 
Sweet or salty?
Sweet

Beach, plains or mountains?
Mountains

Online, letters or in person?
In person

Ebook or print?
Both. lol. I read print books in the bath tub.

To find out more about R.K. Ryals check out her blog.

To find out more about The Acropolis Book Tour click here.

Click here to purchase The Acropolis on Amazon.

Willow Cross Inheritance Tour Character Interview

As we finish out Willow's Inheritance Tour I just want to let y'all know how GREAT of  a book Inheritance is. This is one of those books that you just can't put down and then when you do, you end up thinking about it so much that you literally have dreams where YOU are a character acting out the amazing fight scenes. Inheritance was one of my top 10 books for 2011 and I'm pretty sure when Legacy comes out it will be one of my top 10 for 2012. Willow is an amazing writer and if you haven't taken the time to get to know her writing you have been missing out! She has 3 FREE books after all ;) But enough of my ramblings...Let's get on to Pete's Interview :)

Me: Hello Pete :) Thanks for taking the time to sit down with me today. I just have a few questions to ask of you and then you can get on with protecting Sarah.

Pete: Thanks for having me. Let's get this started so I can get back to doing what I do.

Me: How do you feel about your life right now? What, if anything, would you like to change? 

Pete: I feel pretty good about life right now. There are problems, but everyone has problems. We’re finally doing something and making a difference in the world.

Me: What's the most important thing in your life? What do you value most? 

Pete: Family and friends. 

Me: How do you feel about your family, now that you’re an adult? 

Pete: I guess it depends on which part of the family you’re talking about. The family that raised me has some serious issues. I still love them, but I wouldn’t go back to the way it was before. 

Me: What are you most afraid of? 

Pete: That the sum total of my life will amount to a big fat nothing. I want to have meant something to the world. I want a purpose. 

Me: If you could be an animal, what would it be? 

Pete: LOL I enjoy being a wolf. If I had the choice, I’d probably be the wolf more often than I’d choose to be human.

Me: What do you wish your special talent was? 

Pete: I wish I was good at talking to people. If I had charisma I could get my points across easier.

Me: Describe your ideal mate. 

Pete: Sarah. She’s everything I could possibly desire in a mate. She’s kind, empathetic, and a strong leader (even though she doesn’t realize it.) And she’s smart. Really smart! 

Me: How do you fall in love? At first sight? Over a long period? 

Pete: I’d never fallen in love before I met Sarah. She’s my one and only, so far. I guess it happened pretty fast. Not quite love at first sight, but close. LOL

Me: What really moves you, or touches you to the soul? 

Pete: Music, good books, lots of things really. And nature. I love just sitting in the woods all by myself taking in nature and it’s perfect order.

Me: When you walk into a room, what do you notice first? Second? 

Pete: How many people are there. Second would probably be where the drinks are so I can deal with the people. 

Me: When you walk into a room, what do you expect people to notice about you? 

Pete: I’d rather they didn’t notice me.

Me: What three things would you take to a Desert Island? 

Pete: Beer, a tent, sunblock. I know it sounds lame, but really I’m a decent hunter, so it would be enough.

Me: What is your motto? 

Pete: Hang in there. The first 100 years are the hardest.

Me: LOL Thanks for joining us. Have a great weekend!

Pete: No problem. You too.

Well that's all I have for today folks. Willow, thanks for letting Pete out of his cage for the morning ;) It was a blast having him here! We will definitely have to have more of your characters over!!

You can purchase Willow's books here:

Amazon

B&N

Smashwords

iTunes

Kobo

You can stalk Willow here:

Goodreads

Her Website

Facebook

Google+

Twitter

Joann H. Buchanan I Am Wolf Tour Guest Post

Joann Buchanan has stopped by the blog today for her tour of I Am Wolf! She's done an interesting guest post and shared her links. Enjoy the read and be sure to follow her via her links and on the rest of the tour! Each new stop will be posted on her Facebook page every day.

Writers, as a group we are neurotic at best. We always ask ourselves why one book is doing better than another. We seem to become obsessed with numbers out of the blue and without a doubt the notebook we carry around always looks like it has been put through the wash and dried in the sun. We watch the world and see characters in our books. We see traits, like the way a person walks or talks as part of a character we create. For the most part, we are observers of the most basic human things that make us human. No matter the genre, we are without a doubt the neurotic observers of life.

I live on one of the only streets that goes straight through the town. Five blocks down there is a set of railroad tracks. Just next to the tracks stands an old dilapidated building that at one time was used for cattle. Time has done what it does to all things of the world, it has eaten it. Not all at once mind you, but little by little time has had a scrumptious meal of metal and wood. What I imagine was at one time, a beautiful building, has now become a cat refuge. The building is full of rusted holes, broken glass and yes, time even ate the smell of the cattle and replaced it with that pungent smell from all the cats that now call it home.

Every day, a woman named Mrs. Carrigan drives over to the cat refuge in her new green Buick and parks in front of the building. She opens the door to step out. First, all a person can see is her puffed out silver hair that stands taller than my hand. Dear God I thought the 80's were over, but they live on in Mrs. Carrigan. She walks to the back of the car and opens the trunk. From there she pulls out bags upon bags of food, treats and other cat friendly things.

After a few days of watching her feed the cats, I noticed that she always wears a jean jacket. This jacket is decked out in rhinestones that say, "Cat Lover" followed by a bit of bling strategically placed on the jacket. Upon further observation, I see her license plate says the same thing.

As a writer, I can't help but think, "Damn I am so going to use her in a story some time," and I did. We are neurotic in all we see and do. We can't help ourselves but write what we see and yes write what we don't see. We can't help but take characters in our lives and form a story around them. As writers we are the shadows between the pages. We are the monster hiding in the mist and we are the love that soars to new heights. We live in worlds that don't exist . . . and we love it.

The observation is the key to our life blood. It is what makes those characters we love and hate. The characters we create are all around us. They live and breathe as surly as you and I. So when I say writers are neurotic, I mean we can't help ourselves when it comes to seeing the world the way we do. Hell you might want to be careful around a writer--or you may end up the pimple faced kid in a book who is slaughtered, but not without making you piss yourself first. What can I say, I'm a writer.

Ways to contact Joann:

http://theeclecticartistcave.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/JoannHBuchanan

https://twitter.com/#!/JoannHBuchanan

The Visitor's Room by E.H. James

Synopsis:
If Amy thought this day on the psych ward would be just like any other she would be sadly mistaken.

For although everything seemed normal, well as normal as a place like that could be, there was something that was not quite right. That she couldn’t put her finger on it only made it all the more perplexing.

But the real question was, should you go asking questions you aren’t prepared to hear the answer to?

My thoughts:
This short story is a GREAT read! I had no idea what was really going on until about halfway through it, but the ending just blew me away! Totally unexpected! I can't wait to see what the author comes out with next :) I recommend this book to everyone! It's a really short story that anyone will enjoy :)

You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Visitors-Room-ebook/dp/B007NRVOBM
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/145010
http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=37

You can find out more about the author here:
http://ehjames.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-cover-art-for-visitors-room-by-e.html
https://www.facebook.com/EHJamesFanPage

Beyond the Sea by Emily Goodwin

Synopsis:
After the brutal and mysterious murder of her sister, Melia is forced to leave her life as and merrow and live on land, pretending to be human. Feeling very much like a fish out of water, Melia struggles to fit in and to accept that the Pacific Ocean she loves so much may never again be her home.

Melia is unable to hide her fins from outsider Jamie Forester, who possess the gift to see into the Otherworld. Jamie—and everyone she knows—views her ability as a curse, isolating her from the rest of society. Melia sees the curse as a gift…and a way to find out what really happened to her sister.

Eighteen year old Peter Anderson thinks college is the most extraordinary thing that will ever happen to him, until he meets Melia. He is immediately bewitched by her beauty and spirit, sensing but not seeing that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Caught up in Peter’s affection and human affairs, Melia is too distracted to notice the darklings surfacing from the depths of the ocean. It isn’t until a body is found that Melia realizes parts of her old life have come back—with a vengeance.

If Melia stays with the humans she has grown to love, danger will certainly find them. But going back to the sea with a killer still on the loose isn’t a choice she’s ready to make. Peter and Jamie are quick to defend Melia, willing to risk life and limb to keep their friend safe. But nothing can prepare them for the truth they learn about merrows and all of the darkness that lies beyond the sea.


My thoughts:
I was fortunate to be able to read an ARC of this book. It was the first book that I have read by the author and I must say that I admire her writing style. I really fell in love with the characters in this book. It's been awhile since I read a good mermaid story and this was just the one to get me back in the genre! There were several "characters" that I hadn't had the experience of reading about before so I had to do a bit of side research, but that is just my curious nature, so I don't think it would detract from the reading otherwise. The story line was great, a bit rushed in parts, but fast and easy to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mermaid tale and wants to read about some more of the underwater creatures :)

You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Sea-Series-ebook/dp/B007PWG0IM
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/147194
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1109803869?ean=2940014174336

You can find out more about the author here:
http://emily-goodwin.blogspot.com/2012/03/beyond-sea.html
https://www.facebook.com/emilykgoodwin
https://plus.google.com/109211060601401328971/posts

Forever by Gillian Joy

Synopsis:
Hannah’s life has never been easy, despite her strong willed determination and her extra “gifts”, it's still always been hard work keeping an entire world full of the supernatural under control, but having achieved a small semblance of control over most of the custas, Hannah was hoping to be able to slip back into her life of normalcy. Wishful thinking when you're the guardian of all supernatural.
With all the issues she’d had to endure in her past, she'd never had to worry about the mermaids before, so why would they choose now to suddenly start haunting her dreams and her life. Then there are the fairies to contend with as well, just when she manages to get one aspect of the crudelitas under control, the others decide it’s time to start causing problems.
All Hannah wants is some quiet family time and a chance to reflect on her feelings for Gabriel but instead she's thrown back into the thick of the supernatural world, and this time it threatens to invade the quiet family life she has worked so hard to establish. There's no running away this time, she has to front the challenges head on, but forever can be a long time if you can't be with the one you love.

My thoughts:
After reading Guardian, the first book in the trilogy, I just HAD to read Forever. I always go into the second book a little leery because sometimes stories are just better left at one book only. Boy does this book contradict my thoughts! It's hard for me to tell you what I like without spoilers so I'm just going to say that Forever just MIGHT be better than Guardian. Maybe ;)
Feisty Hannah is on yet another round of adventures with more of the supernaturals and oh my goodness! This fast paced story will keep you on your toes! There are so many things that happen that I never saw coming! This page-turner is great for everyone who likes delving into the supernatural world...in a not so conventional way :)

You can purchase the book here:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/141121
http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Guardian-ebook/dp/B007KNKV3Q

You can find out more about the author here:
https://www.facebook.com/Guardiannovel
http://www.gillianjoy.com/forever-book-2.html

Guardian by Gillian Joy

Synopsis:
Headstrong and determined, Hannah always knew that she would become the Guardian. She was the keeper and the protector of all supernatural beings. What she didn't expect was that it would mean she would have to endure the agonising death of her mother first hand as their supernatural connection brings her to her knees, or that it would mean that she could never be with the man she loved. 
Blond haired, blue eyed Gabriel was her handsome childhood friend, but would circumstances prevent her from ever being able to explore her true feelings for him? 
Jesse, the dark alluring but incorrigible vampire would give anything to be with her, but as the guardian Hannah is forbidden to fall in love with the supernatural. 
With her life in turmoil over her conflicting emotions about Gabriel and Jesse and her frustration at being unable to exact revenge for her mother’s horrific death, Hannah flees her life in an attempt to start over. But can we ever really escape from ourselves? 
There is no escaping destiny no matter how hard she might try and Hannah must learn to reconcile her commitment to her family with her responsibility as the Guardian and her duty to her heart.


My thoughts:
The second I saw this cover I just KNEW that I had to read this series. Boy was that a great decision! The author has so skillfully developed these characters that you are just crazy if you don't fall in love with at least one of them! My favorite by far is Hannah. She is so feisty that you want to keep reading the book just to see what she comes up with next! I really hope that things develop more between her and one of the other characters :) Overall this book was great because you had all of the normal supernaturals roaming around, but didn't have the predictable Were/Vamp fighting throughout the entire book like most series. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone. There is fun filled craziness for the action lovers and a somewhat love filled story for the romance lovers :) 


You can buy this book here:
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/gillian-joy/guardian/_/R-400000000000000516276
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/88177
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guardian-gillian-joy/1105860186
http://www.amazon.com/Guardian-The-guardian-ebook/dp/B005TKPEH0


You can find out more about the author here:
https://www.facebook.com/Guardiannovel
http://www.gillianjoy.com/guardian.html

The Forever Girl Giveaway Winner!!!

I won "The Forever Girl" by Rebecca Hamilton in a giveaway. Unfortunately for me, I already owned the ebook. So I passed it on to... Tessa Farrell!!! Congrats, Tessa!!! Rebecca will be emailing you with the ebook :)

Creatura ebook Giveaway Winner!!!

The Nely Cab Creatura giveaway ended last night! 


Thank you to everyone who entered :) 


Now...drum roll, please...


The Winner is... Selena Thor!!!


Congrats, Selena!! Nely will be emailing you with your prize :)

Birth of a Wizard by MJ Schutte

Synopsis:
Brighton and Lilian, along with their children and two dear friends have crossed the western boundary in search of a new life.
Just as it seems they will finally settle down, tragedy strikes and Brighton is forced to use his gift in order to save his loved ones.
Brighton’s actions earn him an unwanted reputation and cause ripple effects that will haunt them in years to come.
Is Lilian strong enough to find her way back to Brighton?
Will Brighton survive the repercussions of his actions?

My thoughts:
After reading Energy I just HAD to get Birth of a Wizard. The author had so skillfully created the characters that I could not put down this story after book 1... Energy had left me wanting more and Birth of a Wizard definitely delivered what I was craving :) Brighton and Lilian had more adventures than I could keep track of during this book and I literally left it wondering what else could possibly happen in book 3! I am seriously in awe of this author. He has a way with words that just pulls you in and doesn't let you go...ever! The only problem I have is now I have to wait for book 3 to come out... Other than that negative, I would have to say that you're just bonkers if you don't read this series! I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a lovely supernatural/witch/wizard/magic story :)


You can buy this book here:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/birth-of-a-wizard-mr-mj-schutte/1039293289
http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Wizard-Energy-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0070MVAUU/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/125016
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Birth-of-a-Wizard/book-eMsRGdfYhUqQL8IUjf0Qfg/page1.html

You can find out more about the author here:
http://www.mjschutte-energy.com/
https://www.facebook.com/WizardNovel
http://authormjschutte.posterous.com/

Energy by MJ Schutte

 

Synopsis: 
As teenagers, Brighton and Lilian live quiet, peaceful and uncomplicated lives in a remote mountain village called Four Mountains. They soon discover that their friendship has developed into something deeper, but before they can explore their feelings for each other, a dark secret about Lilian’s past rips their world apart. Brighton finds himself fighting for the girl he loves as well as his own life while simultaneously discovering an even bigger secret about himself. 
The two young lovers simply want to live in peace but they are constantly hunted because of their special talents.
Brighton has to overcome great odds and even death itself if he is going to save himself and Lilian from the evil determined to destroy them. 


My thoughts:
I really enjoyed following Brighton, Lilian, Thomas and Clarissa throughout their journeys in Four Mountains. The author describes the characters down to the last detail, giving you an outright visualization of each one. This greatly helps when reading this book because there are so many scenes he lays out that require that visualization in order to fully know what is going on without having to go back and try to remember details. This page turner is definitely on my Top Reads list for 2012! I can't wait to see what happens in Birth of a Wizard!! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great twist on the everyday supernatural/witch/wizard story :)


PS...Isn't the cover GORGEOUS?!?




You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Awakening-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B007BEDUV4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332967179&sr=8-1  
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92338
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/energy-mj-schutte/1101544666
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/mj-schutte/energy/_/R-400000000000000534015
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/energy/id456170497?mt=11


You can find out more about the author here:
http://www.mjschutte-energy.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/EnergyNovel
http://authormjschutte.posterous.com/

The Summoner by Layton Green

Synopsis:
A United States diplomat disappears in front of hundreds of onlookers while attending a religious ceremony in the bushveld of Zimbabwe.

Dominic Grey, Diplomatic Security special agent, product of a violent childhood and a worn passport, is assigned to investigate. Aiding the investigation is Professor Viktor Radek, religious phenomenologist and expert on cults, and Nya Mashumba, the local government liaison.

What Grey uncovers is a terrifying cult older than Western civilization, the harsh underbelly of a country in despair, a priest seemingly able to perform impossibilities, and the identity of the newest target.

Himself.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. It had 2 of my favorite topics in the book; travel in foreign lands (Africa) and Anthropology (strange cults/voodoo/juju)...so I was easily captivated by the story. The author has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are a part of the story. The characters were so well developed that there were several parts in which I felt deep emotions for happenings in the book. Unfortunately I'm not able to list them here without giving any spoilers, so I will just leave it at that ;) There were many times where I read it before bedtime and wound up having dreams about it, but never once had the typical nightmares you would expect from reading a sadistic cult-type book before sleep.

This book was definitely a page turner. He dumps you right in the action and doesn't let the suspense up until the final page. I can't wait to see what he has come up with in the second novel, The Egyptian. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a great "who-dunnit" type book with amazing twists and turns :)


You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Summoner-ebook/dp/B004FN2CLS
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-summoner-layton-green/1030467249

You can find out more about the author here:
https://www.facebook.com/laytongreenbooks?sk=wall
http://laytongreen.com/

Z and the Cancer Meanie by Hillary St.Pierre-Ford

Synopsis:

Z is fun and friendly. He loves to spend time with his mom, his dad, and his friends. But Z's mom is sick. She has cancer. And Cancer is a Big Meanie! 

Come and meet Z and learn more about cancer- what it is, what it does, and how to still have fun.

My thoughts:

When I first heard about this book back in January, I was heartbroken to know that the author was struggling herself. Unfortunately she lost her battle with cancer, so now this book is her legacy. Please support her cause by purchasing this book :) 

I really enjoyed this children's book. What a great way to introduce your younger children to cancer! I loved all of the suggestions for what to do when you can't spend time with a loved one and thought that the resources at the end of the book were great! I would recommend this book to anyone who has (or had) a family member with cancer. It's a great reminder of how the little things really do count :)

You can purchase this book here:

http://www.wix.com/zandthecancermeanie/book#!online-shop

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/z-and-the-cancer-meanie-hillary-st-pierre-ford/1032824237

http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Meanie-Hillary-St-Pierre-Ford/dp/1466208333

https://www.createspace.com/3668132

You can link up with the Illustrator here:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Z-and-the-Cancer-Meanie/239560709416416?sk=wall&filter=12

The Forever Girl Giveaway :)

 

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway...but already have the book that was offered. So you know what that means...right??? GIVEAWAY!!! Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter thingy for your chance to win :)

Invisible Wings by Janell Rhiannon

 

Synopsis:
An angel is sent from the Eternity to live as a teenage girl. She's not beautiful and she's not fallen. She's here to assist her classmates with their true destinies. She doesn't even tell you her name until the end of all the stories.

She always knew she was a little different from other kids because she "heard" things that no one else could, like the sound of light and strange mystical bells. She noticed things that others seemed to overlook, like the way life is like a footprint in the sand with the ocean washing you away bit by bit or the way bullets fly like butterflies.

One day, out of the blue, she heard her cat and a mysterious Voice. That's when the odd teenager learned she wasn't like everyone else. Something she'd suspected all along. She discovered she was really an angel with a gift: the ability to hear the secret thoughts of others and make their wishes come true. There was also a catch; she only had a single second on any given day when she could make a difference. Right before the first star popped into the twilight sky, she was allowed to shed her human skin and become an invisible guide of destiny.

Invisible Wings is the angel's story about how she changed the course of twelve kids' lives in her high school classes. Their wishes were simple. There was Bryson who wanted to kiss the lips of a girl named Sapphire, Jayla who wanted to be white instead of African-American, Homer who wanted his soul-mate to drop from the sky, Ramon who wanted to be in a gang like his father, and ska8rat Jay who wanted to stop the noise in his head with dare-devil skating boarding tricks. The angel works her "magic" in their lives, as well as the lives of seven others.

12 Lives, 12 Twilights, 12 life altering experiences.

My thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is divided into 12 different sections that are completely independent of one another, aside from the same angel helping her classmates. I liked the layout because I was able to read a story per night right before bed without feeling pressured to continue on. Each story was skillfully crafted to make you sit back and think about the things that you may or may not regret doing during your lifetime. The overall theme of the book is that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, and sometimes we DO get our prayers answered, even if it is something as simple as kissing your high school crush. I really love how the author continued driving the same concept (God does what he wants and what WE want may not fall into His plan...) over and over, but doesn't necessarily force the subject upon you. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a little reminder that there is a plan and everything will work out like it needs to be done :)


You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Wings-ebook/dp/B006PW42JC


You can find out more about the author here:
http://janellrhiannon.weebly.com/invisible-wings.html
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Invisible-Wings/288051067876362

200 Follower Giveaway Results!!!

Here are the winners of my 200 Follower Giveaway!!!

First off... Lauren Hunter was the winner of the Referral Giveaway! Congrats Lauren, you won a signed copy of Willow Cross' Birthright and a swag pack :) Message me your address and I'll get everything out to you :)

Now onto the Follower Giveaway winners... I put the rafflecopter form below so you can see what you won :)

*Super* Grand Prize Winner
Autum Frailey [Please specify whether you want JH Glaze's "The Spirit Box" or "NorthWest" and send your physical mailing address and email address that you want your ebooks sent to :)]

Grand Prize Winner
Brenda Jones Romine [Please specify whether you want JH Glaze's "The Spirit Box" or "NorthWest" and send your physical mailing address and email address that you want your ebooks sent to :)]

1st Prize Winner
Carly Anne Wallace [Please send your mailing address :)]

2nd Prize Winners [Please send email addresses that you want your ebooks sent to]
Dawn Hagan
H'deel Batnij
Carole Di Tosti
Autumn Nauling
Alice Priday
Terri Dion
Michelle Clough

Please contact me on my facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000652466563) so that I can get you in contact with the authors :)

Nely Cab's Creatura Giveaway!!!

The Awesome Nely Cab has donated an ebook copy of her book Creatura!!! So get your entries in on the rafflecopter thingy below for your chance at winning!!! :)

 

Synopsis:
When seventeen year-old Isis Martin is having trouble sleeping due to perturbing dreams of a horrific growling beast, she decidesto confront her fear. But what Isis discovers is something other than a menacing entity.The human-like creature offers Isis assurance that he is not a figmentof her imagination. Unwilling to accept his avowal, Isis sets his wordsto contest by asking the entity to prove himself - a dare, he readily welcomes.It is in her dreams that Isis innocently stumbles upon the silent existence of the divine lineage of those that man has long forgotten.In a quaint town, deep in south Texas, this story leads Isis onto the path of impermissible love and captivating life-changing truths. Isis Martin's journey is sure to leave any reader ravenous for more.

You can stalk Nely here:
Facebook
Creatura Facebook
Website
Goodreads

You can purchase Creatura here:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

200 Blog Fan Giveaway~~Networking blogs

Hey y'all!!! I am so very thankful for everyone that has taken the time to come and Follow my blog!!! So, to thank everyone, if you have a blog that you would like more followers on, please post the link in the comments and I will go Follow you back :) (And a quite few others, I'm sure) This is a GREAT opportunity to GROW!!! So get to linking people :)

Laura by EH James

Synopsis:
He was a salesman, traveling lonesome roads, eating in out-of-the-way places. A stranded traveler, standing on the roadside, was nothing new to him. But the quiet young woman in the wet dress needed help he could not give.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this short story of George and Laura. It is short, but well written and easy to read. The author is able to weave such a great tale within the 7 pages of the story, that you wind up wanting more from the author. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next! I would recommend this short read to anyone who likes a good short read about hauntings :)

You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-ebook/dp/B006WSVWF6
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123041
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/laura/id498418481?mt=11
http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=154

You can find out more about the author here:
https://www.facebook.com/EHJamesFanPage
http://ehjames.blogspot.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5446146.E_H_James

Mystery in Trilogy by Ruth G. King

Synopsis:

This trilogy eloquently illustrates how the seemingly impossible can happen. In the first story, Soccer Mystery recounts the tale of a young boy, Jamal, who discovers a lonely boy in an abandoned house. They quickly become friends and play soccer together daily. But as the boy’s mysterious presence becomes surrounded by unanswered questions, Jamal begins to wonder if his new friend is actually a ghost. The second story, Party House, shows a young family moving to a new city and buying a new home. As they settle in, neighbors begin to complain about the noise at night…the loud partying and laughing, but the noise is heard while the family is fast asleep! Finally, Shadows Across the Sea reveals a ship that mysteriously docks at a marina with one mate aboard, passed out, and no captain! What happened to the ship? Where are the passengers? Read Mystery in Trilogy to find out the answers to these burning questions.

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this series of short stories because you could sit down for 15 minutes, read one quickly and then get back to what you needed to be doing. My favorite story of the three was "Shadows across the Sea" because it was a bit more engaging than the other two stories, in my opinion. But I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy the other two, they are definitely worth the read :) I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good short mystery :)

I received a complimentary copy of Mystery in Trilogy by Ruth G. King as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

You can purchase this book here:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mystery-in-trilogy-ruth-g-king/1008374071
http://www.dorrancebookstore.com/myintr.html
http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Trilogy-Dr-Ruth-King/dp/0805972862/ref=cm_rdp_product

Nordic Fairies by Saga Berg

Synopsis:
Svala and Viggo have spent a hundred lives together over the last thousand years. As Liosálfar, Nordic light fairies, their job is to do good and to uphold a balance in the mortal world. A balance, often compromised by the Döckálfar, Nordic dark fairies.

But even good fairies need incentive.

Svala and Viggo are kept apart each life until they fulfill their assignments. Only when, and if, they succeed are they allowed to be together for whatever period of time the powers that be decides. Sometimes they are together for decades, other times years and during the last union once only three weeks.

In this life, Svala turns on her TV and learns that Viggo has become a popular movie star. This is not only highly unexpected, it indicates something is wrong and that Viggo is attempting to contact Svala before their assignments are carried out, an action which is strictly forbidden.

Svala seeks him out, but not without breaking a few rules of her own, and learning that things are not always as they seem.

My thoughts:
This installment is a great beginning to the series. It was a great quick read that left me hanging, wanting more, which is good since part 2 comes out in a couple of days! There are a few things that aren't explained in the beginning part, so I'm hoping that they are cleared up in the next part. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a fairy-playing-human story with unusual twists :)

You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Fairies-ebook/dp/B006W90W38
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123914

You can find out more about the author here:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5626443.Saga_Berg
https://www.facebook.com/SagaBergsPage
http://www.sagaberg.com/Saga_Berg/Home.html

Winged Acoustic by Tanja Begonja

Synopsis:
"Winged Acoustic" (Vl.1) centers around the life and adventures of a young man named Kevin Bray, who lives in the fictional town of Airosta. His adventures consist of abuse, neglect, self discovery, extreme loathing, but most importantly, music. The ups and downs he must go through; sometimes alone, and sometimes with help. The complete whirlwind of mental and emotional struggles facing each and every character would surely pull on anyone's heart strings. It's not romance, it's not adventure, it's not action...it's one hundred percent real human emotion, strung into sentences and coming alive through characters that aren't much different than you and I.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed the story line of this book. The author was able to capture each character and portray them in a way that made you hang on to their every line in the book. One thing that the book was lacking was scene development. There were several places in the book where I had to imagine what the scene looked like. Another thing that is wrong with the book at the moment is the format, which the author is working on correcting. Other than that though, if you get past the formatting and have an imagination, you will like this book. If you can't get past those things then I would suggest waiting until the cleaned up version is out :) I recommend this book to all who like a "deep" book about the struggles in life.

You can purchase the book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Winged-Acoustic-Vl-1-Tanja-Begonja/dp/1105343294
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/winged-acoustic-vl1/18744190

You can find out more about the author here:
https://www.facebook.com/T.B.Makeup.artist
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Winged-Acoustic/281319888573535
http://wingedacoustic.wordpress.com/category/winged-acoustic-related/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5367786.Tanja_Begonja

Tales from Imagination's Closet by M Allman

Synopsis:
What if you dared to look close into the never-ending, mysterious closet of an author's imagination? In these series of stories M. Allman will do just that--and make you laugh,cry, gasp, or leave you wondering with shiver and delight. So dare to read...Tales From Imagination's Closet.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories. Some were downright hilarious (Assailant), while others  were just downright twisted (The Weed Whisperer) and made you shiver with the heebie jeebies. This collection is perfect for a person on the go because you can pull it out and easily read a story in 5 minutes while waiting in line at the grocery store, or just when you need a quick break. I recommend this book to anyone who likes quick, easy reads that range from hilarious to horror :)

You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Imaginations-Closet-M-Allman/dp/1612351697
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/tales-from-imaginations-closet/16683305
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tales-from-imaginations-closet-m-allman/1019723442

You can find out more about the author here:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4727762.M_Allman
https://www.facebook.com/authormallman

Yesterday's Lies by Terri D.

Synopsis:
What Secrets Do You Keep From The One You Share Everything With? Secrets. Lies. Half-Truths. A poignant tale of a circle of close knit friends whose lives are more intertwined than they realize. That is until the blurred lines of Love, Lust and Friendship begins to reveal the half-truths and lies that exist. Will the secrets they all hold from the past ruin their friendship and lives forever?


My thoughts:
I have to admit that it took me awhile to get "into" this book. There was SO much backstory and character development in the beginning that it was hard to keep up with the story. I'm glad that I continued to try to read this book thoughbecause it turned out to be REALLY good! I'm kind of mad at myself for not being more persistent with reading it because I could have been done with it months ago. The author so brilliantly weaved the tale in such a way that I was able to get in the story and feel like I was an actor in it. I felt so many emotions while reading this book that I was emotionally drained by the time I finished it. That quite possibly be due to the fact that I read about 3/4 of the book in one sitting. I really enjoyed this story and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good drama read :)


You can purchase this book here:
http://www.amazon.com/Yesterdays-Lies-Terri-D/dp/098318870X
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/35933
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/yesterdays-lies-terri-d/1103363503


You can find out more about the author here:
http://www.authorterrid.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriD
https://twitter.com/#!/authorterrid