Title: Demon JackAuthor: Patrick DonovanGenre: Urban Fantasy, Thriller
Title: Persistence of MemoryAuthor: Winona KentGenre: Sci-Fi, Accidental Time Travel, Historical Romance
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Showing posts with label Urban Fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Urban Fantasy. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 July 2013
DOUBLE COVER REVEAL: Demon Jack by Patrick Donovan and Persistence of Memory by Winona Kent
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Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Book Review: How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren
Goodreads Summary: It’s all been leading to this.
Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke’s diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.
It’s been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.
Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…
Series: Tales of the Underlight #3
Author: Jax Garren
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: 13th May 2013
Genre: Adult Steampunk Urban Fantasy Romance
Format: eGalley
Source: via Publisher from NetGalley
**Please note: there will be spoilers for How Beauty Met the Beast and How Beauty Saved the Beast**
Well, what a fabulous conclusion to Tales of the Underlight. I have really loved this series and hope to read more from the characters within in another series. The characters are all lovable, but Hauk is my favourite. He is such an insecure guy, but shows such strength when it comes down to the crunch and boy, all that muscle! Jolie is a wonderful character as well, with her loyalty, determination and patience with Hauk; and she is so passionate, love her. Jax Garren’s writing style has drawn me in and I couldn’t put How Beauty Loved the Beast down, as with the other two books in the series.
After saving Wesley Haukon (Hauk) in the last instalment, Jolie Benoit is determined to have her way with Hauk and draw him out to show his skin. But first Hauk needs to recover from his injuries. Jolie seems to find trouble where ever she goes and during a secret mission while Hauk is in hospital, this is no exception to the rule.
Hauk and Jolie are a part of the Underlight, a secret society that is determined to stop The Order of Ananke (these are the baddies, trying to rule the world). Everywhere they go, Hands of Atropos (the army for The Order) seem to be around and trying to inject their members with some secret serum. It doesn’t seem to do anything at this stage, but they are all worried about what is to come.
While they are trying to work out what is coming, Jolie and Hauk are trying to take their relationship to a new level and Jolie is determined to help Hauk deal with his scars. She wants to show him they don’t affect her that she just wants all of him. After some intense romance, it appears that Jolie has her work cut out for her. Hauk just has too many scars, internal and external; he has promised that one day he will reveal himself fully to her, but right now he can’t. Jolie is heartbroken that Hauk cannot trust her, if he loves her, why can’t he show it?
There appears to be something happening and the members of the Underlight are changing into zombies (so to speak). They are not acting like themselves and trying to head to the surface. Does this have something to do with the injections everybody is being stabbed with?
Can Jolie and Hauk work out what the Order is trying to achieve? Can a reversal be made for the injection everybody is being stabbed with? Can Hauk overcome his insecurities and let Jolie love him completely? Will Jolie finally admit her true feelings to Hauk?
This is one fantastic adventure with Jolie and Hauk. The romantic scenes are both frantic and intense, but then soft and sweet; just like the characters themselves. There are so many variables in this world that has the potential for another great series. I just love Ms Garren’s intense, but fun atmosphere and Jolie with her no bull attitude. I highly recommend this series to all adult romance readers, it is highly enjoyable.
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About the Author
Jax believes in happily ever afters. She married her real life hero, a handsome engineer who is saving the world through clean energy technology. Her heroine is Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark, the perfect blend of tough and feminine. Jax blames Marion for her dream of traveling to Nepal to experience Himalayan palaces and monasteries and to drink yak butter tea.
Jax loves meeting new people, so if you see her out and about say hello! She’s always happy to raise a glass with her readers (or anyone else) in a toast to courage, adventure, and love.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Book Reviews: Emily Castles Mysteries by Helen Smith - BLOG TOUR
Title: Three SistersAuthor: Helen Smith
Publisher: Tyger Books
Release Date: 5th February 2011
Format: eBook
Source: Author for Blog Tour
Twenty-six-year-old Londoner Emily Castles has been invited to a party in the big house at the end of her street. How could she know, as she left her house that evening, that she was making an appointment with death?
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| Three Sisters |
Title: Showstoppers
Series: Emily Castles Mysteries #2
Author: Helen Smith
Publisher: Tyger Books
Release Date: 1st January 2011
Format: eBook
Source: Author for blog tour
When twenty-six-year-old Londoner Emily Castles helps out at a local stage school, she’s soon mixed up in murder. She teams up with eccentric philosophy professor Dr. Muriel to solve the case.
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| Showstoppers |
My Review
Emily Castles Mysteries are fun, humorous and intriguing. You can’t help but get drawn into the mysteries that Emily undertakes. It’s like Scooby Doo or Nancy Drew, Emily gets the help of her neighbour, Dr Muriel and together they search for clues to discover the culprit to the murders.Three Sisters
Emily is still grieving the loss of her beloved Golden Retriever, Jessie and to help her think about something else, she is invited to a street party down the road. There is to be a bonfire and fireworks, plus performers and all sorts of entertainment. Moving from room to room throughout the house, Emily is trying to sort out what is an act and what is a real person. During a performance, a knife throwing act, two sisters’ are blindfolded and throwing knives at each other, one gets misdirected and a sister dies, but does she. The next minute the sister walks on stage and gives a bow. Emily is determined to get to the bottom of it all. Was it really a murder or just part of the entertainment?
Showstoppers
Emily’s work contract has ended and her neighbour across the road, Victoria, needs some help at her drama school, Showstoppers. While returning mail to Victoria, Emily is unloaded with details of “poison pen” letters that have arrived trying to threaten Victoria about a long ago filmed video that apparently killed a man. With another mystery on her hands, Emily agrees to help Victoria at Showstoppers and help discover who is sending these elusive letters. During the end of term performance a murder is committed and there are several possibilities as to “who did it”. Emily and Dr Muriel take it upon themselves to find the clues and the culprit. What is the old boyfriend from the video or the landlord trying to sell the building? Perhaps it is Victoria seeking attention or the handyman Dizzy?
In both of these novellas, all of the characters are strong, personable people that everyone can relate to. Emily and Dr Muriel are determined, sticky-nose characters, that like to get into everybody’s business in order to solve the mystery at hand. With Dr Muriel’s analytical approach and Emily’s thoughtful, intellectual methods, they both make a fantastic team to solve the mysteries. I enjoyed Showstoppers more than Three Sisters, as it was faster paced and the mystery began towards the beginning of the book, which allowed more mystery and more time to think about the suspects. Overall this is a great series with well written, light and entertaining mysteries.
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Amazon Purchase
Author Helen Smith
Helen Smith is a novelist and playwright who lives in London. She's the author of bestselling cult novels Alison Wonderland, Being Light and The Miracle Inspector as well as the Emily Castles Mystery Series.Tour Giveaway
Tour Giveaway10 winners will each receive a Kindle Ebook copy of Showstoppers and Three SistersEnds 2/28/13
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, 8 February 2013
Book Review: How Beauty Saved the Beast by Jax Garren - BLOG TOUR
Goodreads Summary: Jolie Benoit left her old life behind to become an agent of the Underlight. Training under Sergeant Wesley Haukon, she’s honing her combat skills, all the while coping with the intense sexual attraction she feels for Hauk. She keeps their friendship casual, but when his high school sweetheart transfers into their division, Jolie finds herself grappling with jealousy.
The Underlight gave Hauk a purpose, but he can’t escape his past completely. The physical and emotional scars from the fire that killed seven fellow Army Rangers will mark him forever. Jolie sends his protective instincts into overdrive, but he’s convinced he'll never be worthy of her love.
Hauk is determined to keep Jolie from harm. But when the Order of Ananke ambushes them with a new weapon that neutralizes Hauk, making him vulnerable, it’s Jolie who must tap into her hidden strengths to rescue him—or risk losing him forever…
Series: Tales of the Underlight #2
Author: Jax Garren
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: 11th February 2013
Format: e-galley
Source: Publisher and Author via NetGalley
Challenge: Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge
Book 2 in the Tales of the Underlight series, How Beauty Saved the Beast was a fantastic sequel and I enjoyed this book more than the first. The first was an introduction to the Underlight and how Hauk and Jolie first met. This book was had more action, more romantic tension and more mystery. It just had more and I loved it all. This is a fast paced action adventure with romance and Ms Garren’s writing style is so addictive that I couldn't stop turning the pages just to see if Hauk and Jolie finally get together.
Jolie is a Burlesque dancer from a family that is extremely wealthy and is in high political standing. But Jolie’s Father is head of the Order of Ananke, a cult that is trying to take over the world. Jolie had no idea growing up that her Father was involved and only found out two months ago.
Hauk is ex-military, a fugitive and the best defence that The Underlight has against the Order of Ananke. Hauk was severely hurt during his last stint in Afghanistan, with burns covering most of his body and also losing most of a leg. Hauk is scarred horribly and when he is in a fight, goes into a “RAGE” where he actually blacks out, but the beast emerges and Hauk is unstoppable. He doesn't seem to feel pain and has super healing abilities, but doesn't know friend from foe, except for Jolie. He knows to protect her at all costs.
Jolie has come to terms with Hauk’s scars and doesn't even notice them anymore. She knows the man inside is the most warm hearted and caring person she has ever met and is trying to work out where her feelings for Haul are. Hauk can only think about Jolie, every day and every night Jolie is always on his mind. He is determined to have her for himself and is trying to work up the courage to ask her out. But can he overcome his own fears of letting Jolie touch his scars, trusting her fully and realising she likes him for the man inside?
Hauk’s childhood sweetheart, Ashley gets a transfer to the Austin Underlight branch, Jolie is extremely jealous and realises she does have feelings for Hauk, but is not certain what kind of relationship Hauk and Ashley have. Ashley is everything Jolie isn't and that angers her even more.
The Order of Ananke has been trying to capture Hauk and turn him into a baddie. They are experimenting on Hauk to try and get him out of his rages; they have no idea how to stop him. Jolie has been training with Hauk so she is able to help him and she has to find the strength within herself and overcome her fears in order to do so.
Follow along with Jolie and Hauk as they decide where their feeling lie and if they can overcome their own fears. Can Jolie rescue Hauk from himself and the Order of Ananke? Who will betray them all and discover how to stop Hauk’s rages? Will Jolie and Hauk finally get together and stop all the tension between them? Watch as they both discover their own strength for loyalty and what it means to be a friend. This was a fantastic sequel and I cannot wait for book 3, How Beauty Loved the Beast that is due out in May 2013. Come back on 21st February where I have an interview with Jax Garren, where you can find out more about the Author behind beauty and the beast.
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About the Author
Jax Garren is descended from Valkyries and Vikings (she’s part Swedish) but was raised a small town girl in the Texas Hill Country. She graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in English and a minor in Latin then found her own Happily Ever After with a handsome engineer who is saving the world through clean energy technology. Jax loves meeting new people, so if you see her out and about say hello! She's always happy to raise a glass with her readers (or anyone else) to toast courage, adventure and love.
Friday, 11 January 2013
Book Review: Supernatural Freak by Louisa Klein
Goodreads Summary: When paranormal expert Robyn Wise is offered an outrageous sum of money to cure a boy who is turning into a dead tree, she's very sceptical. A politician ready to pay that much to make his son stop growing branches instead of hair? Come on! She's more likely to be abducted by aliens. This is a trap. Or much worse. And, of course, it's much worse.
The child is turning into a dark portal, created by a powerful entity determined to absorb Fairyland's power. This means that not only queen Titania and her court are in danger, but the very balance of the magic fluxes.
Robyn'd rather stick a pencil in her own eye but. to learn how to destroy the portal, she has to sneak into the Wizardry Council, a place full of wizards who are hiding something—though it’s certainly not their dislike of her.
There, she discovers a terrible secret that could help to overthrow Fairyland's enemies for good, but puts her in the midst of an ancient and deadly war, and not as a bystander, but as the main target.
Author: Louisa Klein
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: 9th August 2012
Format: e-galley
Source: Author for review - Thank You!
Supernatural Freak is a fast paced, action adventure novel that all has it all. This is a unique story involving a lot of different kinds of paranormal creatures and the imagination of Louisa Klein is just awesome. The creatures are so strange, but their descriptions so vivid that you can picture them so clearly in your mind.
Robyn (Rob) Wise is a “Supernatural Freak”. She has the
ability to see ghosts, werewolves, faeries and witches and she can secretly
speak the Faerie’s language (but don’t tell anyone). Strange things start to
happen to Rob after she is booked to help heal a werewolf. From that night on,
she is attacked non-stop and doesn't know why. Opening a cereal box, 3 dark
genies pop out, not granting wishes, but trying to kill her.
Walking to meet a Detective friend, she is awoken on the
footpath by a stranger asking if she’s alright. Apparently she passed out; Rob has
been having visions and strange dreams and this is another one in broad
daylight. A strange man in a bowler hat keeps appearing in her “dreams” and
trying to show her things, puzzling them out, Rob is annoyed that she can’t piece
everything together.
Rob receives a mysterious briefcase from a very famous politician;
it contains strange items and an even stranger request. His son is in trouble
and his hand is turning into a tree. Not
sure what is happening, Rob is going to investigate and this all seems to be
part of the mysterious attempts on her life.
With the help of her friends, a witch, a wizard, a shapeshifter,
a ghost and her Uncle Terry, plus Rob
herself, the Supernatural Freak, they start their adventure into the unknown
and to find out who is behind the killings, kidnappings and attempts on Rob’s
life.
Will this motley group be able to solve the mystery? Save
Rob from being killed? Save the little boy from turning into a tree?
This was a fantastic read that has everything, action,
adventure, humour, fantasy and paranormal creatures. There is a touch, just a
tiny one, of romance, but it’s certainly not the centrepiece. Robyn is such a
strong woman heroine and the hilarious way she carry’s on with her friends, is
fantastic. The colloquial conversations used are such fun and so enjoyable to
read that it is a definite page turner. I am extremely excited about this being
a 4 book series and cannot wait for Supernatural Fog to be released.
“Good Lord darling! How on earth do you manage to get yourself in such embarrassing situations?” Hey says, destroying with a ghostly spell an arrow on its way to sticking in my head.Tune in later this month for a interview and giveaway with Louisa Klein.
~ loc 417
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About the Author
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Book Review: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
Goodreads Summary: Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.
That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
This novel is one of Julie’s books that will have you demanding for the second one as soon as you finish your read.
Series: Call of the Forgotten #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 23rd October 2012
Format: I read the Paperback, but also had e-galley
Source: The Reading Room and NetGalley
Wow, this was a highly anticipated book for me, with all the hype over the internet and in bookstores, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard so much about The Iron Fey series and I had read The Iron King back in September last year, but I wasn't sure whether I should read this one or not. I recommended The Iron Fey series to my Mum after reading book 1 and she read the whole series within a week; telling me how good the series was. I hadn't had a chance to read books 2 to 4 and when The Lost Prince came around, I was extremely disappointed I hadn't read the remaining books. I had read a review from a fellow blogger that said she also didn't read The Iron Fey series and that it was still a great read, so I bit the bullet and decided to just read it and WOW!
Ethan Chase has been able see the Fey since he was a baby, after his adventures with his sister, Meghan he is now ready to just ignore the whole world and keep to himself. After moving to the city and having to start a new school, Ethan is trying to take each day at a time and not get into trouble again. Ignoring all the rumours about his last school and just trying to not draw attention, but things never seem to go to plan.
There is a kid in school and Ethan rescues him from the school jocks, but he then realises that he is not human, but Fey. This is the beginning of all of Ethan’s troubles! Ethan seems to be followed at every turn and stalked by a nosy school reporter, Kenzie. But when Ethan tries his hardest to use his attitude and turn them away, it doesn't work.
The kid he saved from the jocks disappears and Ethan knows exactly what happened, but not where he was taken to. Strange things happen and the nosy reporter and Ethan are being chased by shadows, creatures that he has never seen before. Ethan’s only choice is to get help from his sister, Meghan in the Iron Kingdom.
Ethan travels to the Iron Kingdom with some help from a talking cat with attitude. He has to try and explain everything to Kenzie; how the Fey world operates and what to expect. Visiting with Meghan isn't what he expects and Ethan needs to find answers.
Follow Ethan on his quest to find his “friend”, find answers and keep Kenzie safe and out of the clutches of Them. Who is the real Lost Prince and why are there still so many secrets between Ethan and Meghan? This is an adventure like no other; creatures are amazing and so detailed you can see them right in front of you. The writing style is so easy to read and so amazing you cannot put it down. I had forgotten how fun it was to read one of Julie Kagawa’s books and can’t wait to pick up another one. It has certainly gotten me excited to read the remaining Iron Fey series books.
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About the AuthorJulie Kagawa, the New York Times Bestselling author of The Iron Fey and Blood of Eden series, was born in Sacramento, California. But nothing exciting really happened to her there. So, at the age of nine she and her family moved to Hawaii, which she soon discovered was inhabited by large carnivorous insects, colonies of house geckos, and frequent hurricanes. She spent much of her time in the ocean, when she wasn't getting chased out of it by reef sharks, jellyfish, and the odd eel.
When not swimming for her life, Julie immersed herself in books, often to the chagrin of her schoolteachers, who would find she hid novels behind her Math textbooks during class. Her love of reading led her to pen some very dark and gruesome stories, complete with colored illustrations, to shock her hapless teachers. The gory tales faded with time, but the passion for writing remained, long after she graduated and was supposed to get a real job.
To pay the rent, Julie worked in different bookstores over the years, but discovered the managers frowned upon her reading the books she was supposed to be shelving. So she turned to her other passion: training animals. She worked as a professional dogtrainer for several years, dodging Chihuahua bites and overly enthusiastic Labradors, until her first book sold and she stopped training to write full-time.
Julie now lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where the frequency of shark attacks are at an all time low. She lives with her husband, two obnoxious cats, one Australian Shepherd who is too smart for his own good, and the latest addition, a hyper-active Papillon puppy.
Courtesy of Julie's website
Thank you NetGalley and The Reading Room for supplying copies for me to review.
Katie
Monday, 19 November 2012
Book Review: Undeadly by Michele Vail
Goodreads Summary: The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...
Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper—and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she's shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite boarding school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath.
Life at Nekyia has its plusses. Molly has her own personal ghoul, for one. Rick follows her there out of the blue, for another...except, there's something a little off about him. When students at the academy start to die and Rath disappears, Molly starts to wonder if anything is as it seems. Only one thing is certain—-Molly's got an undeadly knack for finding trouble....
Series: The Reaper Diaries #1
Author: Michele Vail
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 20th November 2012
Source: Harlequin Teen via NetGalley
I really enjoyed the story behind this book and the
potential that it can hold for future books. It is a unique story line and it was
a fast paced read. The characters were varied and typical teenagers, the fun of
zombies and ghouls and ghosts was exciting and unusual.
Molly is a typical teenager living in a world where zombies
and ghosts are created to help around the house. There are special talents that
a person can have that allow them to be able to create these beings. Molly is
one such person. On her sixteenth birthday she has a party and invites all her friends.
She is excited to see the boy that will hopefully become her boyfriend, Rick.
Rick reaches to give Molly her birthday present and trips, falling and hitting
his head. Rick dies and Molly is beside herself; determined to bring Rick back,
she grabs his soul and shoves it back inside his body, but some pieces are
missing. Oh well, at least he is alive! But what is he?
Molly’s lives with her father, her mother left them when she
was little. When you turn sixteen, your parents visit an Oracle to see if you
are destined to become a Chosen of Anubis. As Molly’s mother isn’t around and
her father didn’t want to visit the Oracle, Molly’s Grandparents went instead. Because
of what happened and now that Molly is sixteen, her estranged Grandparents have
come back into her life and want her to attend a school for the gifted. Nekyia
Academy is like any other school, they have their cliques and Molly isn’t sure
where she will fit in. The only difference with this school is that they have
special classes for your own special abilities.
As Molly makes friends, tries to work out what her destiny
will be and learn new skills; she still has to discover what is wrong with Rick
and why she is having these odd dreams. Kids start to die and the school is in
uproar, as Molly is the new girl, she has no clue what is going on.
Will Molly work out what is wrong with Rick? Can she fix
him? Who is committing these awful murders at her new school? Can she discover
the workings of this school and stay away from the Mean Girls? Is Molly’s
destiny to be a Chosen one? Can Molly really have feelings for a Reaper, her
trainer, Rath?
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She likes reading, dogs, cats, board games, ghost-hunting shows, and Halloween. She believes in magic, in the impossible, and in the restorative powers of chocolate.
Michele lives happily-ever-after with her Viking and their family.
You can find more on Michele Goodreads, her website , Twitter, Facebook and Michele's books on Amazon.
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