Oct 29, 2012

Wisteria by Bisi Leyton Book Review Tour and Giveaway



Today, I'm hosting the Virtual Book Review Tour of Wisteria by Bisi Leyton.


GIVEAWAY!!


Bisi will be awarding a $15 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So leave a comment with your email address.  Remember following the tour and commenting at all the stops increases your chances of winning!!  You can follow the tour by clicking here!

Do you want a chance to win a Kindle Fire from Bisi Leyton? 

Bisi is running a giveaway until November 30th for a Kindle Fire. When you sign up for her New Release Mailing list you will be entered for a chance to win.  The list is NOT for a newsletter, but a mailing list where you'll be notified of new book releases.  Please review the conditions at http://bisileyton.blogspot.com/ and click here to sign up for the mailing list! Continue scrolling and enter the Rafflecopter for the Kindle Fire!!!


BLURB:

Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead.

Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen before, but somehow knows. 

Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back to the Isle of Smythe, a community built on secrets and lies.


Excerpt

Thirteen months after the first official case of Nero Disease

“Wisteria, run!” Rebecca O’Leary screamed over the radio.

Wisteria Kuti whipped around and came face-to-face with the blood-red eyes of a hungry flesh-eating biter. The biter was a man, infected by Nero Disease, who had long lost his mind. He looked more animal than human and he wanted one thing—to feed on the flesh of uninfected people. The biter growled and staggered toward Wisteria.

She fled down the deserted road to the nearest house. The front door was locked. She kicked at the door, but it didn’t open. Taking out her handgun, she smashed through the window of the door.

“Ugh,” more biters growled behind her.

She spun around, fired once, and hit one in the head. She unlocked the door by reaching in and turning the lock. Once inside, she chained and bolted the door.

Crash—a biter smashed through another window into the house.

Wisteria’s heart jumped and she darted up the stairs as fast as she could.

“Get out of the house, Wisteria!” Rebecca radioed.

I’m trying.

A biter grabbed her ankle as she ran. Falling hard on the steps, she wailed in pain. “Ah.” No time to cry, Wisteria. She fired at the biter holding her. One bullet left.

Three more biters appeared below and started coming up the stairs. Leaping up, she sprinted to the top floor and dashed into the first open doorway that led to the master bedroom. Locking the door, she headed straight for the window.

The infected clawed at the door, tearing it apart and snarling as they entered.


My Review:

Leyton creates a world destroyed by Nero Disease, which turns individuals into flesh eaters (more commonly known in the world of fiction as a zombie).  The world she creates shows most humans as only caring about their own safety and survival. Of course, Wisteria is different than most individuals.  She is a caring teenager who risks her life multiple times throughout the story to save others from flesh eaters.  Wisteria, her mother and brother live on the Smythe Island, a small community of survivors.  The leader of the community is Major Coles. He has created an orderly community in which all residents must pull their weight or be exiled beyond the walls of the island.   Throughout the book, Wisteria, is exposed to cannibalism, human trafficking, and bullying.  Yes…teenagers will be teenagers no matter the circumstances surrounding them.  In times of survival, humans will do unspeakable things to ensure their own safety.   I must say, Wisteria is a very resilient young woman. 
Wisteria is herself saved by a mysterious teenager, Bach.  He takes her back to his apartment where he and two friends live. He is not human and not from this realm.  He and his people view Terrans (humans) as animals.  Bach is only here to witness the death of Terra (earth). Soon, Bach realizes Wisteria is a girl from his past. However, she doesn’t remember him.  This is where the book starts to really become interesting.  How does he know Wisteria? Why doesn’t she remember him? Why are they drawn to each other?  Then, they are attacked by a group known as Red Phoenix.  Who is Red Phoenix?  After the attack, Wisteria returns to Smythe Island with Bach.  Finally, both of them realize they love each other. However, Bach knows they cannot be together as it is forbidden for his people to be with a Terran.  If they continue their relationship, he is placing Wisteria in grave harm. The ending climax reveals so much.  Bach learns of a heartbreaking betrayal and Wisteria begins to learn a lot about her parent’s involvement with Red Phoenix.  Is Red Phoenix responsible for the Nero outbreak? How is Bach’s people involved with the outbreak?  I’ve a ton of questions I’m sure will be answered in the next book or books.  I must say this is a great start to a new series.  My only constructive criticism of the book is the need for more editing.  I rated the Wisteria 3 STARS!

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Bisi Leyton was born in East London in 1978. She grew up in London, Nigeria and the States, listening to the stories life and love from aunts, cousins and big sisters.She lives in London, but has worked around Europe including France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. She has a fondness for reading graphic novels.

Twitter:  @bisileyton
http://www.goodreads.com/Bisileyton·      
and  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvC9iJckrs4&feature=context-cha
  

Oct 27, 2012

Review of Weathering Rock by Mae Clair


Weathering Rock

Genre:        Paranormal Romance
Published:   October 8, 2012 by Lyrical Press
Pages:         286
Source:       ebook via Mae Clair (author)

Rating:      5 STARS!

Goodreads



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Drawn together across centuries, will their love be strong enough to defeat an ancient curse?

Colonel Caleb DeCardian was fighting America's Civil War on the side of the Union when a freak shower of ball lightning transported him to the present, along with rival and former friend, Seth Reilly. Adapting to the 21st century is hard enough for the colonel, but he also has to find Seth, who cursed him to life as a werewolf.  The last thing on Caleb's mind is romance. Then fetching Arianna Hart nearly runs him down with her car.  He can't deny his attraction to the outspoken school teacher, but knows he should forget her.

Arianna finds Caleb bewildering, yet intriguing: courtly manners, smoldering sensuality and eyes that glow silver at night? When she sees Civil War photographs featuring a Union officer who looks exactly like Caleb, she begins to understand the man she is falling in love with harbors multiple secrets--some of which threaten the possibility of their happiness.

Finding a decent guy who'll commit is hard enough. How can she expect Caleb to forsake his own century to be with her.

My Review: 

I absolutely LOVED this book!  Mae Clair is a wonderful writer.  Her description of the scenery and characters brought to live the story in such vivid detail I could not stop reading.  The characters in Weathering Rock were well developed and felt real.  Clair's writing allowed me to feel an emotional connection to each character.  The emotional connection is what makes a good book, an exceptional book.  Of course, Weathering Rock is an exceptional read.  

Caleb, a civil war hero...Wow...what an amazing leading man? I loved seeing him struggle with his old fashioned beliefs in the 21st century.  Arianna, a passionate history teacher, still looking for the love of her life.  They really were made for each other.  After falling in love with Caleb, she discovers his secret time traveling by researching his family.  I enjoyed the fact that some of her research was not disclosed to the reader immediately.  It made the story even more intriguing because I kept turning each paging hoping the next page would provide me with all the answers.  Without giving away any spoilers, I must admit I was blown away by the discovery of certain relative.  All the supporting characters were excellent from Arianna's best friend to Caleb's relatives.  Now the ending...I had such an intense emotional reaction, I actually cried tears of happiness and tears of sadness for all the characters.  

I highly recommend everyone read Weathering Rock.  It was amazing! My rating is 5 STARS!!!

The author provided me with a copy of the Weathering Rock for an honest review.  Thank you Mae Clair for providing me with the opportunity to read this exceptional book!

To purchase Weathering Rock:

To learn more about Mae Clair click here to visit her website.



Oct 23, 2012

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop



And the winner is..........

Cricket


Congratulations Cricket!  I've sent you an email.  Please respond within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.  

I've loved reading everyone's comments about the scariest books. I've added several to my TBR list! Thanks to all for making the Spooktacular Giveaway a successful blog hop!!!

I'm excited to participate in the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop hosted by I am a reader, not a writer & the diary of a bookworm! 

I thought I would share with you the scariest book I've read so far....And I hope you'll share your scariest book with me!

What is the scariest book I've read?  

Stephen King is the master of scary.  
The Shining and It are among the most scary books I've read.

I remember watching the movie Salem's Lot as a child. I had nightmares for weeks of the scene with the boy scratching at the window....

"Open the window. Open the window, Mark. Open the window, Mark. Please! Let me in! It's OK, Mark, I'm your friend."

Even today this movie quote gives me goose bumps!


In honor of all the things Spooky, I am rewarding one lucky individual with a free book of their choice (up to $10) from the book depository.  As long as the shipping is free (be sure to check the list of countries the book depository ships to free), you are eligible to win. The Giveaway ends at midnight on November 1st!!

Check out the list of other blogs participating in the Blog Hop below!  Have fun entering all the Fabulous Giveaways!!  Good Luck Everyone!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oct 22, 2012

The Scent of a Soul by Jennifer Thompson Trailer Release & Giveaway



I'm happy to host  The Scent of a Soul Trailer Release & Giveaway!! Jennifer is giving away one ARC of The Scent of a Soul!!
Please check out Jennifer's website at http://jenniferthompsonbooks.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-scent-of-soul-book-trailer.html



The journey of eternity begins with a single Kiss....

Fleeing her recent past, Lilliah Woods finds refuge in the anonymity of the present day inner-city slums. As she settles into the seedy apartment she must now call  home, she meets mysterious Marek Jamison when he materializes in her doorway demanding to know who she is. From that moment, he becomes a guardian and guide as she gradually discovers his hidden world.

As their relationship develops, Lilliah learns of Marek's dark past and of a brothers' quarrel he has been embroiled in for years. The quarrel turns into a larger battle of good and evil, liberty versus tyranny, and the separation of love and lust. 

With Lilliah as the ultimate prize, the deadly conflict reaches out to threaten her family, and the outcome of the final battle will determine her fate. Lilliah must embark on an unexpected path that teaches her to trust in the man she has come to love, and give of herself as she never thought she could....





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oct 19, 2012

Kimberly Kinrade Street Team Blog Hop



This is designed to:
1) Meet your team members {be sure to follow each other's blogs}
2) Introduce the Lovely Kimberly Kinrade and her books to all your friends.
3) Invite New Street Team members to join the fun.
If you are not already a street team member please email and get some cool stuff. vickie@innovativeonlinebooktours.com

Here's what you need to do:
Copy and paste these instructions to your post.
Add your blog to the linky list below.
Add the Kimberly Kinrade book covers and any links to your blog side bar.
And Answer this Question in your blog hop post....
Q: If you could have any special Power what would it be?

Hmmm....I've always wanted the ability to read minds.  It would be nice to stop your children from making mistakes before they happen or know what your husband is really thinking. Maybe I should second guess that one...I may not like what I'm hearing...LOL!  Best of all, it would help with job interviews.  Imagine the job you could get if you knew the answer the interview panel was expecting!!! 

Now it's your turn to spread the word!
This is a Blog Hop!


Oct 12, 2012

The Star Dwellers by David Estes Blog Tour: Tawni Character Bio

I'm excited about being a part of The Star Dwellers Blog Tour!! On this stop is Tawni's Character Bio. 



Tawni Character Bio:


Tawni
Name: Tawni (last name unknown)

Age: 17

Bday date: June 17, 482 P.M. (Post-Meteor)

Likes: Pretty things (clothes, colors, decorations). The truth prevailing. Making up for her and her parents’ mistakes. Honor.

Dislikes: Bullies. Those that prey on the weak. Those that lie, cheat, and steal to get ahead in life. She strongly dislikes her parents for their weakness and actions. She hates anything that crosses the moral line that she’s created for her own life.

Where he/she was born: Subchapter 14 of the Moon Realm

Parents’ names: Unknown

Known friends: Cole (deceased), Adele Rose, Roc, Tristan Nailin, Aiden

Character traits: Tawni is sweet, graceful, and has an extremely fine-tuned moral compass.

Hopes, dreams, fears: Tawni dreams of a time when she feels like she’s atoned for her parents’ sins against Adele and her family. She fears her friends will be killed in the process.

Oct 9, 2012

Super Book Blast Tour and Giveaway: Whisper of a Witch by Suza Kates


 

I'm excited to host the Goddess Fish Promotions SUPER BOOK BLAST TOUR OF WHISPER OF A WITCH!       

Keep reading to find out more about the GIVEAWAY sponsored by Suza Kates!!   


BLURB: 

Biologist Shauni Miller, as beautiful as she is compassionate, harbors a secret that could alter her life forever. If she chooses to share it. Dr. Michael Black helps Shauni in her time of need, but sees more in the raven-haired temptress than she ever meant to reveal. He knows she is hiding something, but then, so is he. Both Shauni and Michael have a role to play, and decisions to make as a century-old prophecy has yet to be fulfilled. Only the fates know if they are meant to be together. Or if one of them has to die. 



EXCERPT: 

Willyn opened her mouth to speak, but paused and looked down at the stone floor. All the women stilled and listened. 

They sensed.

Shauni grasped Hayden's arm just above the elbow when she felt a low but very distinctive vibration. It was more like a hum and came from the floor, the walls, possibly the ceiling. It was all around them, and judging by the others' faces, they felt it, too.    "What is that?" she whispered.

A new voice spoke gently but with the authority of one who was well acquainted with privilege and position. “What you’re all feeling is the power of the nine.”

They turned to find another had joined them. Sable brown hair fell around her shoulders and brilliant blue eyes held warmth and welcome above a serene smile. “You’ll get used to it, so that you probably won’t even notice. And it only occurs when we’re all together.” Her lips spread into a playful grin. “Just wait until we link.”

“Cool,” Kylie said. “Hey, Anna.”

Shauni remained where she was but zeroed in on the elegant woman, still very young to be so comfortable wearing the unseen but almost palpable cloak of power. “Link?”

“You know why we’re here?” Paige asked. “Because I’m ready for some…”

“Answers,” Anna finished for her. “Yes, I know.” She stepped back and swept a hand toward a door in the back of the room. An invitation. “And I have some.”

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Leave a comment to enter a GIVEAWAY sponsored by Suza Kates.  The giveaway includes the following....

**Signed cover flats and pens to one (1) commenter at every blog stop!

**A total of five (5) $15 Amazon/BN Gift Cards to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and her Name Before the Masses tour. 

**Gift Basket to one (1) commenter from this tour and her Name Before the Masses tour.

**As well as a randomly drawn host prize TBA.

To increase your chances of winning one of the AWESOME prizes visit the other SUPER BOOK BLAST TOUR HOSTS and leave a comment.  Click here to see a list of all the blog hosts!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!   


  
Author Bio & Links:

Suza Kates can’t remember a time when she didn’t love books, but two particular memories stay with her. “As a young girl I picked up Little Women, read it straight through, and promptly turned to page one to start all over again. The next book I did that with was Mind Hunter by John Douglas, tales about profiling serial killers.”

Thus a twisted romantic was born.

Throughout her teenage and young adult years, she read everything from horror to historical romance yet never imagined writing anything of her own.

It was during a long, cold winter in a tiny apartment in Germany that Suza picked up a pen and notebook to entertain herself. “The apartment was so tiny, my bed also served as my living room couch. Plus, I shared it with three cats.”

Missing the warmth, the hospitality, and the food of the South, she wrote about those things with a huge dose of family thrown in. She says she still has a sweet spot in her heart for her first book, Southern Moon, but to date, she hasn’t revisited it for submission to her publisher.

Suza followed her heart to Savannah, Georgia, and it was the gorgeous city with its moss-covered oaks and secrets of history that inspired her to consider paranormal romance. “I had an idea about sisters and magic, so I went to work on the first book of The Savannah Coven Series, Whisper of a Witch. The series is still going strong, and I am grateful every day that I took a chance on paranormal romance, a genre I wasn’t very familiar with and had never actually read before writing it.”

Suza has since joined RWA and can’t say enough about this organization. “The education and support are unparalleled. I am so grateful to all of my fellow writers who have offered advice.”

Suza still resides in Savannah and is currently working on her next book. She considers it a perfect day when she can sit at the keyboard with coffee in her cup and one of her cats purring in her lap. 





Oct 6, 2012

Cover Reveal! Forbidden Forrest by Tenaya Jayne

Cover Reveal

Forbidden Forrest by Tenaya Jayne

I love this cover!  Look at the vines on the woman's body...AWESOME. The cover is so intriguing I'd buy the book immediately!
Excerpt is below the cover




Excerpt from Forbidden Forrest

Forest pressed her back against the cool concrete wall, wanting to remain aloof from the entity of the crowd. She chose her position in the shadows, out of the paths of the roving, multi-colored spotlights. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the undulating human pheromones flying around on the air. At the beginning of every shift, she allowed herself a few minutes of this alien/human experience, though she didn't fully comprehend the combination of dancing, drinking, and ear-breaking sound waves. They loved it, however, and never seemed to deviate from the recipe.
 These were the people she was sworn to protect. She had developed a light affection for the human race and considered them a benign, if not slightly silly, bunch of creatures. Her religious passion for her job was rooted in hatred of that which harmed the humans, not a superhero tendency to protect the weak.
Forest opened her eyes and focused all her senses to sniff out the illegal suckers that tried to sneak through the portal. She was in the zone tonight, and not for the first time did she feel that hers was the best job in existence. It was a shame she couldn’t legally kill suckers in her native world.
 Over the next two hours, Forest didn’t move from the wall. She monitored the light traffic through the portal: two shifters and one elf, each of which nodded to her respectfully as they passed. Yawn. The shifters left the club to enjoy the delights of Austin’s nightlife elsewhere.
The elf would have been breaking Regia’s law had he left the club, but he dutifully seated himself at the bar and ordered a fuzzy navel. He wore a plaid, porkpie hat, pulled down over the tops of his pointed ears. Forest didn’t know him personally, but she had seen him in here before. The bartender surveyed him with narrowed eyes as the elf nervously tugged his hat down further and ordered a few more girly cocktails.
Intent on making sure that not one sucker was able to sneak past her, Forest was blindsided by the drunk bubba who had been trying to catch her eye for the last twenty minutes. He had finally decided to stagger over to hit on her.
“Hey babe, you’re too beautiful to look so lonely. How’s ‘bout I buy you a drink?”
“How’s ‘bout I call you a cab instead?” Forest mimicked his drawl.
“Only if you share it with me, Darlin.” He leaned in closer, and Forest’s throat began to sting from the noxious fume of booze mixed with his natural musk.
“While I appreciate the offer, Jethro, It seems only right to inform you that I’m not actually attractive at all. If you leaned in a little closer, you’d see that you’ve fallen victim to the effect of beer goggles. A hag like me can’t take advantage of a stud like you.”
As he leaned in, Forest instantly enlarged her nose, pockmarked her skin, evaporated her front teeth, and added a large black mole with a long hair sprouting from it for good measure.
 “You’re no hag, baby! You’re the sexiest little thing in…I…uh… ” He stumbled backward. “Good grief! Sorry, sorry…” he stammered, retreating. “I’ve gotta quit drinking,” he mumbled as he turned away.
Forest chuckled to herself once he absorbed back into the crowd. Being a shape shifter sometimes had unusual perks.

Forbidden Forrest Back Cover Blurb

Oct 1, 2012

Faeloreh by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Faeloreh (The Otherworld Trilogy #1) by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Faelorehn (The Otherworld Trilogy, #1)    Genre:         YA Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
    Published:    April 21, 2012 by JE Johnson
    Pages:          228
    Source:        ebook from author via Goodreads Paranormal Romance & Urban   
                          Fantasy Fanatics! Group

    Ratings: 4 STARS!


    Goodreads


Goodreads Synopsis:  I never heard him come after me and even as I climbed the slope and stumbled onto our shaded back lawn, I didn't look back. it was like the day the gnomes chased me all over again, but this time I was not escaping some horrible little creatures, I was fleeing from an incredibly good-looking guy who could very well understand me completely.  I was either saving myself from that serial killer I always imagined lived down in the swamp, or I had finally gone over the deep end...

Meghan Elam has been strange her entire life: her eyes have this odd habit of changing color and she sees and hears things no one else does. When the visions and voices in her head start to get worse, she is convinced that her parents will want to drag her off to another psychiatrist. That is, until the mysterious Cade MacRoich shows up out of nowhere with an explanation of his own.

Cade brings her news of another realm where goblins and gnomes are the norm, a place where whispering sprits exist in the very earth, and a world where Megan just might find the answers she has always sought.

My Review:  Faeloreh is the first book in The Otherworld Trilogy.  Jenna Elizabeth Johnson created an interesting world based on Celtic myths.  The book started a little slow.  I must admit some parts of the book were dull, especially the parts describing her daily routines while waiting for Cade to return.  However, the mystery surrounding Meghan's heritage and the blooming romantic relationship with Cade kept me reading and wanting more.

I enjoyed the characters introduced in Faeloreh. Meghan, abandoned as a child and adopted by a loving family, is bullied by her peers in school for being different.  Many would describe her as delusional and suffering from auditory and visual hallucinations.  She often sees things no one else sees or hears.  Meghan learned at an early age to keep these thoughts to herself to prevent her parents from seeking psychiatric treatment for her.  Meghan's character grows and develops in the book.  She goes from a misfit teenager to a teenager researching and learning about her true identity.  

I loved the mysterious Cade! He's handsome, strong and has important information about Meghan's heritage. However, he only shares pieces of information with Meghan.  So, I followed along with Meghan on her discoveries about the Otherworld.   It drove me crazy when he would talk cryptic...come on just spit it out! Of course, I'm sure I'll learn all the secrets about her heritage and the Otherworld in the next books.  

Faeloreh does an excellent job setting up the background for the next two books.  I'm intrigued enough to go out and buy the next book.  I would recommend this book to young adults and adults.  My rating is 4 STARS!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Jenna Elizabeth Johnson for providing me with a copy of Faeloreh for an honest review.

Purchase Faeloreh by clicking on the below links....

Visit Jenna Elizabeth Johnson's webpage to learn more about The Otherworld Trilogy and her other works.