It's a COVER REVEAL!!!! Love Always, by Sonya Loveday and Candace Knoebel

Hi everybody!  It's pretty exciting around here today!  We are having a cover reveal; that's why!  Sonya Loveday and Candace Knoebel are hosting the Love Always, reveal and we couldn't help but want to be a part of it!  Look at that beautiful work of art; it is absolutely gorgeous! 
So ya'll make sure to click through and look at this romantic book and don't forget to enter the giveaway hosted by the authors at the end of the post.  Good luck!





TITLE: Love Always,

Authors: Sonya Loveday & Candace Knoebel

COVER DESIGN: Najla Qamber Designs

GENRE: Contemporary Romance

RELEASE DATE: August 25th, 2015

I’ve met boys like him before. Rich. Bored. Always wearing a silver-spooned smile. But there is something different about him that piques my curiosity. The way he looks at me, like he is staring through the bars of a gilded cage he’s never left. Like he is one breath away from suffocating beneath a mound of responsibilities. He is different from the rest because he doesn’t wear his money… his money wears him. I just don’t think he knows it yet.She’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. She’s everything I’ve never been able to be. Carefree. Whimsical. A dreamer. Her laugh is infectious. She is irresistible. I can’t help but be drawn to her with an intensity that steals my breath and muddles my senses. I want to know her, need to know her, but how can I allow myself that liberty when I don’t have the freedom to make my own choices?
Phillip and Maggie think they have it all. Even though they come from opposite backgrounds, they each have bright futures paved out, with no distractions holding them back.
Until the fateful day they meet each other.

After a brief, adventurous time together in The Hamptons, Maggie and Phillip find themselves saying goodbye just as the spark of love flashes intensely between them. Can their budding connection be enough to survive the pulling tides of change, or will they drift apart before they even have a chance to explore what could have been?

AMAZON ** KOBO ** IBOOKS

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Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway here!

The Melissa Foster Street Team's Giveaway

Hi everybody!  There is an awesome giveaway hosted by Novel Publicity, Melissa Foster, and her amazing Street Team that helps celebrate Foster's new release, Seaside Sunsets!  I cannot wait to get my hands on this juicy romance and I couldn't wait to share this giveaway with all of you!  So go through and make sure to check out the books, as well as entering the giveaway; and go ahead and get to know more about Melissa Foster's Street Team by clicking the image above.   Good luck to everyone and a huge thank you to all of the people who made this possible!

Huge Giveaway from NYT & USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Melissa Foster

To help celebrate the release of her newest Romance, bestselling author, Melissa Foster, has created a fun Street Team for readers of her books and lovers of the Romance genre. As part of this launch, she will be giving away lots of prizes—and I mean lots. From chocolate gift baskets to autographed books to super swag, she will be giving away more than 20 prizes, and as many as 520!

If the Street Team reaches 500 members by Monday, December 22, every single member will score an Advance Review Copy of her upcoming novel, Seaside Secrets. That means that you can enjoy the newly released Seaside Sunsets and then immediately read the next installment in the series. Pretty cool, huh?

Not in the mood to join the team? Not a problem! You can still enter the Rafflecopter contest for your chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card and autographed book.

Now that I know you’re excited, read on to learn more about Melissa’s Street Team and her newest release, Seaside Sunsets.

About Melissa’s Street Team

Do you LOVE Melissa Foster’s hunky heroes and smart, sexy heroines? Want to tell others about her books and help spread the word while gaining exclusive peeks at upcoming releases? Join Melissa’s Street Team, and become one of her most trusted fans!

Fab fan benefits:  Personal interaction with Melissa, lively discussions with other super fans and romance junkies, sneak peeks into future publications, exciting challenges with great prizes/swag, and fancy badges for your website, blog, and social media profiles.

Join today:  www.facebook.com/groups/melissafosterfans

About Melissa’s Newest Release
*SEASIDE SUNSETS WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF AMAZON EDITORS’ BEST ROMANCE BOOKS OF DECEMBER 2014For the first time since developing the second largest search engine in the world, billionaire Jamie Reed is taking the summer off. He plans to work from the Cape and spend time with his elderly grandmother--and falling in love is not in his plans.From the moment Jamie and Jessica meet, the attraction is white-hot. Once-overly-focused Jamie can think of little else than sensual, smart, and alluring Jessica, and Jessica discovers a side of herself she never knew existed. But when Jamie's business encounters trouble and his attorney and best friend intervenes, he proves that the blond beauty is too distracting for Jamie. To make matters worse, it appears that Jessica might not be who she says she is, turning Jamie's life--and his heart--upside down. In a world where personal information is always one click away, Jamie must decide if he should trust his heart or watch the woman he loves walk away

Recommended for readers aged 18+

Get Seaside Sunsets on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, or Google Play!

Get to know Melissa Foster:

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
"What sets Melissa Foster apart are her compelling characters who you care about... desperately...I dare you to read the first chapter and not be hooked." International bestseller, M.J. Rose
"Melissa Foster is a wonderful connector of readers and books, a friend of authors, and a tireless advocate for women. She is the real deal"--Author Jennie Shortridge
Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women's fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, and the World Literary Café. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children, and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa's interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.

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Mini Book Review: The After House by Michael Phillip Cash

Title: The After House
Author: Michael Phillip Cash
Publisher: Chelshire Publishing
Date of Publication: Sept. 30 2014
Source: received from author in exchange for my honest opinion


Book Synopsis:

Remy Galway and her daughter Olivia are rebuilding their life after a failed marriage in a 300 year old cottage in historic Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island. Little do they know, another occupant is lurking in the haven of their own home. Will the After House be their shelter or their tomb?

My Thoughts: 

It seems whenever I read something from Michael Phillip Cash, I find myself enjoying this author more and more.  He is highly talented and impresses me with his wisdom for the supernatural premise of storytelling.  I always start his books thinking they will be slightly scary, but then find myself falling in love with the characters and the plot.
The After House was no different.  I loved this story!  The cover is beautifully crafted and does cause me to believe it will be slightly frightening but I was wrong.  It personally didn't scare me at all; but it did make me question the shifting shadows in my own home.

Mr. Cash pushes us to question what we aren't sure about and forces us to contemplate the unknown, such as ghosts and the paranormal.
I loved the interaction between the characters in this book so much!  Olivia is adorable and it is hard to imagine her as a "spawn of Satan" as Eli likes to refer to her.  It seems everyone in the story is important and ties in to the past as well as the future of the town.   I loved the research done to create such a wonderful love story.  I really think this is one of my favorite books by Mr. Cash.

I highly encourage anyone to give this book a try.  I literally finished it in one day and was hoping for a little more too!  I would love to read some more about the other characters beside Remy and Hugh, as I felt they are what added to the story more than anyone else.

The After House was a great story and made a day that started out rough, eventually turn into a wonderful evening!  Everyone, please try this book out!  You will not be disappointed!

Get Your Own at:

Amazon |

Connect with Michael Phillip Cash at:
Goodreads| Website| Twitter| Facebook|

Book Review: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Title: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Date of Publication: Sept. 3 2013
Source: bought, paperback, YA, Horror,




Book Synopsis:

Tana lives in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown’s gates, you can never leave.
One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and a mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is a wholly original story of rage and revenge, of guilt and horror, and of love and loathing from bestselling and acclaimed author Holly Black.

My Thoughts: 

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is really fantastic!  It delivers so much more than just horror but it also gives us a big dose of that too!  I am pretty much loving this book and could read it over and over again.  

It encompasses every facet of what we love about the old vampire classic books, while still adding something new and original to the mix.  And if you read the acknowledgments, you will see that Holly Black gives thanks to all the masters of vampire literature and this book is somewhat of an ode to them.  
As you read, you will notice the similarities with the classic authors but Black does add her own voice to this masterpiece and we get something wholly different and terrifyingly perfect.   The way that Black interprets vampire culture was an eye-opener.  She showed us the love affair that this society has with the vampires; but then gives us the grisly side of them also.  It makes us take off our rose colored glasses and see what is really there- monsters.  
And in doing that, made the story a thousand times better!  I loved the gritty raw side to it all.  There is gore and there is destruction and it just enhances the story so much more.  

Black takes our society right now and our fascination with the undead monsters and adds an supernatural element to it.  She gives her story the perfect setting and a strange and frightening alternate universe.  The nightmare, then, has come to life.  

I am also a huge fan of Holly Black's writing style.  She uses pretty awesome phrases that tend to give the reader a couple of different ideas as they read.  For example, her use of the word "orgy" was a plus for me, because I haven't heard it used in this way:

"orgy of grief"

"orgy of death"

In using such phrases, I can really feel the intensity of the scenes she is trying to convey to us.  She also introduces us to more symbolism in the story.  I love how she personifies Death and makes it the main theme of the book.

"Every night in Coldtown, people die. People are fragile.  They die of mistakes, of overdoses, of sicknesses.  But mostly they die of Death."

page 247

Death seems to be almost as important as our main character, Tana, is.  In fact, it seems all of the characters share a few traits with each other, like their being flawed, but they also seem to have Death shadowing them everyday.  Some of their flaws are simple and some are so strange and frightening that it makes them seem so disconnected from society.  

   And of course, I can't forget the many beautiful and hypnotizing poetry that she puts at the beginning of each chapter.  I am huge fan of poetry, so I was literally writing down poets I loved so I could learn more about them.  

Besides all of this, there is this morbid and creep chill factor that sets the scenes in all of their horrific glory.  It is pure macabre and I was in love every minute as I cringed and eagerly wanted more and more.  And what added to this display of terror was the foreshadowing in the novel.  Like this one here that just makes tingles run down my spine:

"The clerk took a long look at Tana.  

"You're never getting out, honey.  So don't you worry about it."

page 152

Is this a dire warning or is it just the prejudice of a mundane character?  I don't know but that just really gives me the creeps.  There is no hope in that person's outlook.  Sad.  

Through all these wonderful additions to the story, there is an even more important detail to the book and it is the plot.  While reading The Coldest Girl in Coldtown I was thrown for a loop so many times.  There are many of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting in a million years, but am glad that they were there.  

Simply put, Holly Black is one of the most fantastic, most amazing, and decidedly one of the best storytellers this generation is lucky enough to read.  I look forward to more from her and I am in awe of the creativity that was put into this book.  Hands down this is a five heart book!

Pick up a copy of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Connect with Holly Black:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads |

Book Review: Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood {Book 2: The Cahill Witch Chronicles}

Title: Star Cursed
Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles
Author: Jessica Spotswood
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Date of Publication: June 18, 2013
Source: bought, hardcover 384 pages



From Goodreads:

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.
Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.
In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

My Thoughts:

 I wonder if anyone else is ready to have Maura turn herself into a frog or just vaporize herself.  I am so ready for that girl to just disappear!!!  I dislike Maura immensely and I don't really know if I can ever forgive her for the mistakes she has made.  And yes, I gave her the benefit of the doubt in the first book but I just really want to destroy her now!
Oh well.  Enough of my ranting...On to my review.

Star Cursed is a roller coaster ride of emotions with so much happening in this book you never have time to get bored with it.  We become privy to more secrets concerning the Cahill witches and learn more of the other characters as well.  
Just like Born Wicked, Star Cursed is a character driven story with a wonderful cast of protagonists and antagonists that we come to love and hate respectively.    Spotswood is amazingly talented at writing the many different aspects of a character's thought process.
We are able to visually see the characters work through their anger, their happiness and all of their problems as we go through the plot.   It's almost impossible not to feel empathy for Cate as she tries to stand in for their Mother when dealing with her sisters.  I even see Cate assuming a "parental" role in the lives of the other witches that are introduced in the novel.  

Besides such stunning descriptions of the historical era,  the author is also able to give us an interesting story  with some intense foreshadowing for what is to come in the series.   This leaves us feeling creepy and tingly as we go through the plot.  The oracles bring a certain horror factor to the story as well as the setting of Harwood Asylum and its inhabitants.  But the most frightening aspect of the story is the Brothers exerting their power more and more everyday.  
Star Cursed will not leave you disappointed as the reader gains new allies and losing more than we were willing to give up.  In this sequel we are forced to understand the true meaning of sacrifice.  
And betrayal.

Get your own copy at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Connect with Jessica Spotswood:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter |

Book Review: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked
Series: The Cahill Witch Chronicles
Author: Jessica Spostswood
Publisher: Speak
Date of Publication: Jan. 8 2013
Source: bought, paperback, 352 pages


Goodreads Summary:

A gorgeous, witchy, romantic fantasy by a debut author! Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and the Beautiful Creatures series!
Everybody thinks Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship--or an early grave. Then Cate finds her mother's diary, and uncovers a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra. But if what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe--not even from each other.

My Thoughts: 

I was a little confused when I first started reading Born Wicked.  I seriously thought this book was set in present time and I could not figure out why everything seemed so off.  But once I realized it was more in the late 1800's early 1900's, then everything seemed to make so much more sense.  And actually, I think the story wouldn't have been as interesting if it were a present day novel.  
This was a time period where there really were witch hunts and women being wrongly accused of witchcraft; so to actually be a witch and growing up in this time period is pretty darn scary and exciting.  

I actually love historical fiction and it made me giddy to know that Born Wicked was one.  But it is much more than just that too.  There is also a huge alternate universe feeling to the novel because of the views expressed by the characters.  Women are treated terrible in the US (which back then that wasn't unfathomable) but they are treated exceptionally well in places like Dubai.  They are even allowed to wear trousers!!  Oh I love my trousers and couldn't imagine not wearing them; although I think it would be fun to have the beautiful dresses as well. 

I loved the world building as we learn more about the past and why things are so bad now for women from the men called the Brotherhood.  There is so much mystery surrounding the witch hunts and there is definitely more to it and just what those in control would have us believe it to be. 
The author did a wonderful job of creating characters that we can relate to but still have this magical component to them that makes them even more interesting.  The three sisters are hard not to love and I find I enjoy each one because of their different personalities and how they meld together to work.  Of course, until they don't.  I mean they are sisters and sisters argue.  Right?  

My favorite has to be Tess.  I just love how quiet and soft spoken she is but so intelligent.  And she is the youngest as well.  I feel like Cate, the oldest and the one telling the story, sometimes forgets that each one has a personality that she loves as well.  She is just so worried about them all the time, she forgets to actually enjoy their company as well.  As a mother, I can completely understand that.  Sometimes the worries and frantic nerves can take over and we forget to enjoy the simple things too.  

I believe the character development was done beautifully.  It is probably the strongest point of the book.  We see Cate in all her glory when she is strong and when she feels like everything is falling apart.  I just want to reach into the book and give her the comfort that she needs so much.  I don't believe she makes all the right decisions but at the same time, I don't know how she could have made any other decision as well.  

And of course there is a love interest.  There is a love triangle but I don't think it is as pronounced as I worried it would be.  I think Paul could be a good guy (though he gets on my nerves) and I think Finn is the absolute most adorable funniest guy there is.  I even love the name more too: Finn.  Plus, he is a bookseller and come on, what is not to love for that!!!???  He is definitely a triple threat. 

I am a sucker for all books about witches and magic and Born Wicked was a great story that had me hooked into instantly.  I feel like there is so much more in the story, hidden between the lines, about women's suffering through the ages, but is told from a magical standpoint.  There are a few surprises throughout the book that will shock you and have you shaking your head but all in all I really loved Born Wicked!   I am starting the second book as soon as I finish this review!  I hope it is as good as the first!

Get your own copy at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

Connect with Jessica Spotswood:

Goodreads | Twitter | Website| 

Book Review: Rebel Spring: A Falling Kingdoms Novel: By Morgan Rhodes

Title: Rebel Spring
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Series: Falling Kingdoms book 2
Publisher: Razorbill
Date of Publication: Dec. 3, 2013
Source: bought, hardcover, 416 pages
Rating: YA Fantasy


From Goodreads:

Love, power, and magic collide with war in the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series
Auranos has fallen and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now united as one country called Mytica. But still, magic beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world...
When the evil King Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the face of this land, forcing Cleo the dethroned princess, Magnus the reluctant heir, Lucia the haunted sorceress, and Jonas the desperate rebel to take steps they never could have imagined.

 My Thoughts:
Love doesn't even encompass the emotion and feelings that spring forth when this series, Falling Kingdoms, crosses my mind.
Just gazing at the cover of the second novel, Rebel Spring, I get this tingling sensation all over my body.  It's just so hard not to get caught up in this book because there is so much going on in it.  But the story isn't crowded at all; on the contrary, every move made in this story is a tactical one.  It is another step in the seeming direction of the overall thrilling plot arc.
No matter how tiny each detail is, it is another scene that contributes to the entire story line.  That is FANTASTIC writing! There is no filler, no excess.  Everything in this story has a purpose and a reason for it.
This is superb writing that supersedes just one genre.  Of course there is young adult fantasy, but then there is romance, and a lot of thriller vibe going on.
Actually the romance seems to take a backseat to all the power struggles that seem to be taking place.  I think I would compare it to these reality shows, The Real Housewives franchise.  The royalty in Rebel Spring could put all of those people to shame.  These power struggles are deceitful, intense and downright evil.
And let's just say, I definitely would not want to be a servant in the Danora household.  Servants do not seem to last long here.

Rebel Spring really dives deeper into the lore of the Watchers and Kindred as we learn more about Luica's power and the golden hawks peering down.  I love how Morgan Rhodes writes these complex and difficult characters, who may be good inside but have to show a completely different personality to literally survive in this world where danger comes from the ones closest to them.
I'm in awe of how she writes characters that would usually be classified as weak but she gives them ethereal strength to them.
Princess Cleo is one of these characters.  Her enemies always underestimate her, seeing her as a weak and spoiled princess.  That is their undoing.  I love that she gets to prove these people wrong constantly.
Jonas is another character that makes me smile whenever he "walks" into a chapter.  But I am also a slight fan of Prince Magnus-so you can see that I am torn between sides.  And I think that is exactly what Rhodes wants us to be.  She wants to make it hard for us to pick one character and be completely on their side because each one has good and bad traits, just like in real life.
Another series I could compare to Falling Kingdoms is The Walking Dead.  Okay, wait, here me out first.  I know there isn't any undead in Mythica; but let's say loss prevention isn't important in either series.  You cannot get attached to any one character because chances are they aren't going to last long....in either series.  It seems Rhodes likes to torture us with killing off characters I didn't like losing.  No one is safe.  (And that  is how they are similar)
So yeah, there were a few deaths that left me saying, out loud, "What the hell just happened?"
But even with that, I wouldn't change a thing about Rebel Spring because every single situation, good or bad, plays into the bigger picture. And the conclusion of this story is going to be epic.  I can feel it in my bones.
This is one of those stories that I wish there was a rating for a million hearts, a million stars, just a million of anything.  But it has already captured my own beating heart and holds it in its magic forever; 5 hearts will just have to suffice.
But a slight plea, if you may:  Please don't destroy my heart too terribly as the story progresses further.

Get your Copy at: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Connect with Morgan Rhodes at:

Goodreads | Website | Twitter |

Quickie Book Review: A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

Title:  A Shade of Vampire
Author: Bella Forrest
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: Dec. 14, 2012
Source: bought, Kindle, 149 pages
Rating: Young Adult


Goodreads Summary:

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.
A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.
She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.
Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.
Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.
Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

My Thoughts: 

First, I am completely and totally in love with this cover!  I think that is what made me come back to this story over and over again.  It is gorgeous in a creepy , shade of night sort of way, right?  
But then I started reading this story and yep, I fell in love all over again. A  Shade of Vampire   just sucks you right in, and you are immersed in the world of the royal vampires.  We don't even get to see what kind of life Sophia has before she is kidnapped and taken to the island where all her dreams and nightmares seem to exist.  
After reading the entire and very short story, I see why we don't really go into much detail of Sophia's life before becoming a "slave" to the Novaks.  And I say slave loosely, because she isn't treated like that from Derek's stand point; but being kept against your will is still considered slave behavior.  

Anyhoo, anyone else laugh when Sophia got the nice guards to talking?  I was not expecting them to be like, "dude" at all.  I was expecting a more refined demeanor so I think I was pleasantly surprised that the guards were cool.  I know that had nothing to really do with the story at all but I don't know I liked it and it solidified that I really would like Bella Forrest's writing style.  Small details like that, really make me happy because it shows me how the author can make everything flow easily through the story.  
Yea, I'm weird.  I've accepted it.

The characters are awesome in Shade of Vampire.  I like Sophia a lot and I like that she really thinks through certain areas before doing some things.  She is like a leader in her own right just as the sexy prince, Derek, is too.   
I love Derek!  Although, I think he should have been more kick ass to certain people in the early pages of the book, but it still made for good entertainment.  

For such a small book, a teaser if you will, there is a lot of world building that really gives us a great view of The Vale.  I love the tree house idea, especially since I never had tree house growing up.  I now want one as an adult, just like the villas in A Shade of Vampire.  Thank you, Bella Forrest for realizing my adult wish now!  

And then there is the one thing I didn't like about the story and his name is Ben.  (Now, I know what you're thinking: that's who you didn't like? What about Lucas?)  And yeah that's it.  Lucas is the antagonist, of course he has to be a dick and I don't like him but he is still crucial to the story.  But Ben? Uggh! He just gets in the way of my idea for the story everyone.  I feel like he keeps Sophia from being herself and he thinks Sophia can't think for herself.  I just don't like him at all.  Sorry.  

Overall, though, A Shade of Vampire was a great story that made me shoot through it until I was shocked to know I read it in about an hour, and then reeling from the fact that I don't have the second one.  Because the ending to this little morsel will have you saying, WHAAAAT???  

Get a Copy at:
Amazon |Barnes & Noble |The Book Depository |

Book Review: Rapture by Quinn Loftis { Elfin book 2}

Title: Rapture
Series: Elfin Series Book 2
Author: Quinn Loftis
Publisher: Self
Date of Publication: Dec. 25, 2013
Source: bought, e book,
Rating: Young Adult

From Goodreads:

Triktapic, the deadly dark elf assassin, has been restored by the Forest Lords to his rightful place as king of the Elven realm. Now, he must face his former comrades as he attempts to stop Lorsan, king of the dark elves, from enslaving the human race. Lorsan has already begun distributing Rapture, the irresistible drink that destroys those who unknowingly become addicted to it. Will Cassie, his Chosen, be able to give Trik the strength he needs to face his dark past?
Meanwhile, Cassie’s best friend, Elora, is in a fight for her own life. Elora, her mother, Lisa, and a small band of light elves have traveled deep into the dark elf realm in hopes of rescuing Cassie and Trik. But their mission quickly turns into a battle for their own lives as they are surrounded by Lorsan and his warriors. Though outnumbered ten to one, the humans and elves fight heroically. They fight for a King once lost, but now found. They fight for the human realm that doesn’t yet know it is in need of saving. They fight for love; a love that has already been discovered and a love that is waiting to be revealed. Despite their valiant efforts, the band is captured and held captive by the dark elf king.
The peaceful world that Cassie and Elora knew is long gone, shattered by their realization that elves walk secretly among them, and are bent on their destruction. Soon, each of the girls will be forced to choose her own path. Cassie must decide to which world she belongs and Elora must decide if she will fight for a warrior hell bent on keeping her from his side.
Two species, human and elf, stand on the precipice of war, united in one goal; shatter the dark elf king’s plan, and unite a divided race under the rule of the one true King.

My Thoughts:
The first book, Elfin, didn't take my breath away like most Quinn Loftis books do.  I liked it but I wasn't in love with it.  But I was vested enough in the book that I needed to read book 2, Rapture.  And I am very pleased that I did.
Rapture was amazing.  It truly came through for me in every way I was expecting a Quinn Loftis book to be: sexy, funny, exciting and just a fun young adult read.

I have this giddy hope that some of the characters from The Grey Wolves Series might show up in this series; but I am not sure if she will grant that wish.  I am a huge fan of combining worlds and I think when I dream at night I interact with all my favorite characters from all the series in the world!  A Mii Verse for book characters if you will.

 Quinn Loftis is wonderful at crafting these intriguing characters that really capture our hearts and make you feel some intense emotions as they go through their lives.  I think Rapture made me want to go back and read Elfin, looking through a whole new perspective.  Maybe I was just in a different mood at that time because now I can't seem to get enough of the sexy as hell elves.
Cassie has went through some major issues from the first book and I believe there is still some lingering fear residing inside her mind.  But on a whole, she seems to be more in control and the Queen she needs to be for her mate, Trik.
I love that Trik is like the dark and light elves combined.  He has qualities of both peoples and I think that is great way to show us the differences and similarities between the elves.  Loftis does a fabulous job of showing us the turmoil that lives inside a character that is used to the dark for so long and then to be immersed in the light, trying to live with the decisions he made.  Heavy real life stuff in an paranormal world.
That is what I love about Loftis; she can immerse us in a world with elves and magic, and yet make us still see the realistic side to it all.

I enjoyed Rapture very much but I think that has a lot to do with Elona.  She is hilarious, strong willed and highly intelligent.  Plus, the fact that she is a smart ass totally makes it all worthwhile!  I think if you are fan of Quinn Loftis, then you have probably already picked up this book.  But if you are new to her books, I think you should try them if you are interested in intense young romance, action, and incredible hot looking elves.  You will definitely be in for a treat!

Get Your Own Copy at:
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Book Review: Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter {Book 1: The White Rabbit Chronicles}

Title: Alice in Zombieland
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: The White Rabbit Chronicles Book 1
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Date of Publication: Sept. 25, 2012
Source: bought, paperback,  404 pages

From Goodreads:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.
Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.
Her father was right. The monsters are real….
To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.I'd tell my sister no.I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.I'd tell them I love them.I wish... Yeah, I wish

My Thoughts: 

I am a sucker for anything, and I mean anything, that is similar or alluding to the classic story, Alice in Wonderland.  I love that story and the oddities that are associated with it.  So I am always open-minded to anything that may share some story lines from the Lewis Carroll creation.  
But Alice in Zombieland is quite different than what I was expecting.  I believe I am not alone when I say I thought this would be a retelling of the classic story but with a minor difference: zombies.  However, that isn't what we have here.  Alice in Zombieland is something quite different and wholly entertaining, with minor references to the classic fairy tale.  

Of course, I was a little bummed out that it wasn't a retelling; but as I got further along into the story I realized the story is better than if it were a retelling.  The author, Gena Showalter, puts such an elaborate twist on these zombies that I felt like I was being introduced to zombies for the first time, all over again!  I love how she took the idea of zombies and made it all her own in such a creative and original way involving spiritual concepts that really bring it to a whole new level.  

Besides the originality of the plot, the characters really grab me and I find myself loving every minute of it.  Our main character, Alice Bell, had my heart at the very beginning.  The love that she exhibits for her little sister is just overwhelming.  I think when I first read the synopsis on the back, I assumed it was all because she was trying to fit in with some friends, or for a boy.  It usually is that way, but I was completely off the mark.  
The devotion that Alice professes for her little sister is staggering and I just felt so much loyalty to this character in the first few pages of the book.  Never have I been this drawn to a character so soon.  
And of course through everything that Alice experiences, her resolve and determination just solidifies my respect for her.

But Alice isn't the only protagonist that I felt a deep connection to too.  Her friend, Kat, is a perfect compliment to Alice and her terrible past.  Its like they were meant to be friends and I think everyone should have a Kat in their friendship circles! 
And then there is Cole Holland.  Oh my sexy goodness!  This guy is just Sexy Walking!  I know that makes no sense and yet it just does.  
He is the school's bad boy and leader of the bad boy click, where everyone else swears they are dangerous.  And they are but not in the way the rest of the school says.  I absolutely love the way Ms. Showalter wrote Alice and Cole's interactions!  They're funny, sexy as hell, and you could feel the tension even through the pages of the book.  Let me just tell you Gena Showalter can write some romance! Love it!!!
Oh and there is an ex-girlfriend who you will probably hate; I did.  But she brings a certain flair to the story and I just have to say one word: treadmill.  That scene is probably one of my favorites.  Maybe that makes me petty but I still like it.  
And I think it does play a part in the overall story line as well.  

Gena Showalter does a wonderful job reintroduces us to zombies in a different and even more interesting way than what we were used to.  I also enjoyed the fact that she took small details from my favorite children's story to enhance the world Alice Bell resides in now, helping her survive in more ways than one.  I think Alice in Zombieland is basically a book about loyalty, redemption, and love and the zombies are the cherries on top.  
I highly recommend this book to anyone! Its that good!

Connect with Gena Showalter:

Goodreads|website|Twitter|

Pick up your copy at:

|Amazon|

|Barnes&Noble|The Book Depository|

Book Review: Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island by Michael Philip Cash

Title: Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island
Author: Michael Philip Cash
Publisher: Red Feather Publishing
Date of Publication: 2013
Source: received from author for my honest opinion



Goodreads Summary:

Paul Russo’s wife just died. While trying to get his family’s life back in order, Paul is being tormented by a demon who is holding his wife's spirit hostage on the other side. His fate is intertwined with an old haunted mansion on the north shore of Long Island called Stillwell Manor. Paul must find clues dating back hundreds of years to set his wife's soul free.

My Thoughts:

I'm not one for ghost stories.  Never have been.  In fact, whenever I see any movie trailers for those really terrifying movies, like "Paranormal Activity", I yell for the kids to close their eyes as I wrap my fingers around my face like steel.  

But with Stillwell, I found I didn't feel any of the apprehension I usually get with your typical ghost story book.  Yes, there were eerie parts but at the basis of the plot it is really just a love story.   I found there were some very strong emotions in the story that really cling to you.  The grief I felt for Paul was intense but there was also another emotion that seemed to stay just in the background: hope.  
I found myself really relating to the story from the small details to even the major ones.  Just as Paul and his wife had a hard time conceiving and then having twins, my family went through the exact same thing.  I also experienced the pain and despair you go through having a family member go through the ordeal of a brain tumor.    The intensity that Mr. Cash puts in his writing with the experiences that Paul and his family go through was very touching.  The story was fictional but the emotional pain seemed so real.  
Not only did I feel the pain so strong, but I also felt like Stillwell had this "realness" to it like it should have said Based on true events instead of fiction.  That is some really good storytelling to make it seem so real.  
Another concept I really liked in the story, even though it was such a small detail, was how the chapters were divided.  Each chapter was a day and the main story was told over a week's time.  This added a scary touch to the story.  And helped add to the realness I felt from reading it.  

But the "monkey wrench" idea really threw me for a loop.  I really felt that wording seemed to take away from the suspense or thrill of the story.  I would have liked a more serious explanation than that.  
The ending was so-so for me too.  It wasn't terrible and I understand why the author went that direction but I felt like there was so much of a build up with the crime scene, the legend surrounding the Stillwell history, and even the terrifying dreams that I would have liked a more supernatural twist to the ending. 

However, even with my disagreements I still felt that Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island was a enjoyable read.  It has some great elements in it, including ghosts and romance, that really pulled me in the story until I just had to finish it in one day.  I would recommend Michael Philip Cash to anyone who wants a ghost story without all the gore as well as a paranormal romance that will make you feel right along with the characters.  

Connect with Michael Philip Cash:
Goodreads |Website | Twitter |

Get your own copy:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble |


Note: I don't do halves here but I found myself wanting to do 3 and half for this book.  So this book was definitely between 3 and 4 hearts.