Thursday, July 31, 2014

Chameleon's Spell - Review





Author: Roni O'Connell
Publication Date: May 28, 2014
Publisher: Roni )'Connell
Genre:  Fantasy/Paranormal YA
Age Recommendation: 15 (mature due to sexual undertones) and up
Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

She'd known it was coming-it had to be dealt with, sooner or later. The effect Chameleon blood produced on the majority of humans was akin to taking aphrodisiacs or psychedelic drugs, and all but the strongest minds succumbed. Juliet Marchant has a secret-one that makes her hide from the world, until the day her friend, a shifter wolf, is slaughtered on her land. If Juliet is to fulfill her destiny, she must take her place in the world, unlock her Immortal powers, and face her dangerous attraction to the human leader of Spectral Command.

 My Review:

Not quite 18 years old, Juliet has spent her short lifetime growing up too fast.  She has hidden her self away from the world after torturous bullying and from guilt created through both her knowledge of what her Immortal abilities involve and her lack of knowledge in how to control them.  She dreams of a 'normal' life, a life with a person who can see her for who she truly is, with friends who accept her and are there to support her.

Chameleon's Spell begins right off.  The reader is immediately immersed into Juliet's world and while at first I was taken aback by this, I found that it was truly the only way to begin.  Roni O'Connell lets this action packed tale unfold gently, which may seem a bit contradictory, but absolutely works for this story.  Would I have enjoyed more back story?  Sure, but then where would the story have gone? I guess what I am trying to say to readers is don't give up to soon.  I know I found myself confused by the beginning , but Roni allows for a smooth build up and then she stuns the readers with facts and discoveries.  There are things that will become clear fairly quickly and things that you find you have been pondering for chapters only to be given AH-HA moments through out the book.

I loved how independent and strong Juliet is.  Don't get me wrong, she is not unafraid, she is not a take charge fighter, but she will do what is necessary.  She is compassionate, loyal (to a fault), caring, and in her own way pretty bad-ass.  She is definitely a girl who can be looked up to.  Her interaction with Royce gave me pause a time or two, but considering her life I can see how hard it is for her to....well, I guess I can't really say with out spoilers, lol.  She and Daniel have some pretty amazing moments, I would love to have seen more of them, to have more of their story.  I was sad to find that at times that part of the tale seemed rushed and I wanted it to be so much more.  Perhaps a novella from Daniel's POV is in order *grins*.

Roni has written a book that not only gives us a great fantasy to read, but also a chance to look deep within ourselves and see how we as people, as a society, treat others.  Yes Juliet is half-immortal with supernatural abilities, but is the way that she is treated because of how she 'looks' any different than the way bullies treat others?  Is the discrimination of Immortals that different than the discrimination we see everyday against different races and cultures in our society?  I love when a book gives us something more, when we can look into the words on the page and see lessons unfold before us.

There is a lot that goes on in Chameleon's Spell and I would love in the future to see back story on The Spectral Wars, on her mother.  I'd like to learn more about Simon and Matilda, perhaps a glossary of all the Immortal beings, and of course the POV from Daniel.  There are so may places that Roni O'Connell can go with this book, it is a fantastic foundation for what I hope will be a series!





July 21stFangirlish.com  – Review
  
July 24thGuest Review - Deb – Review
July 25thIn To My Fantasy World – Review
July 26thAll About Book Divas  – Review
July 27thKarin Baker   – Review/GP
July 28thCabin Goddess – Review/GP/Recipe
July 29thBookish Tiffany  – Review
July 30th –   Guest Review - Destiny – Review
July 31stReads All The Books   – Review
July 31stForbidden Reviews  – Review
August 1stThe Reader and the Chef  – Review
August 1stLike A Bump on A Blog – Review

Roni O’Connell lives with her husband and two dogs high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She finds inspiration in the forest, wildlife, and lakes around her home.
A former English teacher, Roni enjoys the company of young adults, their spirited opinions, great enthusiasm, and outrageous humor. When Roni isn't writing novels, you can find her hiking in the forest or contemplating the wonders of nature.
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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Guardian by Courtney Cole - Cover Reveal

I am thrilled to bring you the Cover Reveal for Courtney Cole's GUARDIAN! Isn't it gorgeous?  The Angel in the background really piques my curiosity, I can't wait to read it.

GUARDIAN is a YA Paranormal Romance, and a book close to Courtney’s heart. It is being released on August 28th!

 

Guardian
 
Book Description:

  Sometimes, things that go bump in the night are real. My name is Whitney Lane. I’m sixteen years old and at first, I thought I was crazy. I kept seeing shadows move along walls, and hearing whispers around corners, but whenever I looked, there was never anything there. Until one day, there was. Our world isn’t what we think. There are things around us, good things, bad things, scary things. Things that we tell ourselves aren’t real, but they are. They’re very real, and they’re terrifying. I’ve been swept up now, in a battle of good and evil, confused about love and what is supposed to be love, but isn’t. I don’t know what to think anymore. I can’t trust my emotions and I don’t know what is true. There’s only one thing I know for sure.  Nothing is what it seems.



Headshot 


ABOUT COURTNEY COLE: Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people. Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.        




Monday, July 28, 2014

Upcoming Book Releases Week of July 28

There are some really great books coming out this week!  As always if there is a book you are excited about and it is not listed here please feel free to leave a comment with the name of the book and the author so we can all go check it out.  I really wish I knew them all or had the space/time to post every release sadly I don't but here are a few that I am excited about! 


July 29

Middle Grade:


Young Adult:

(I am ridiculously excited about this release.  This is one of my favorite YA series!)






Contemporary Romance (Mystery): 


Historical Romance


August 1

Board Book (Baby)


I mean SERIOUSLY, I can't not get this!  One of my favorite children's books combined with one of my favorite classic literature books and leading men (oh Mr. Darcy!)


That's all I have for you for this week's releases.  Don't forget if you know of a book coming out that's not here to add the title and the author in the comments so we can go give it a look! 
 



Friday, July 25, 2014

Burning Through Gravity - Cover Reveal

I am happy to help reveal the upcoming release of Addison Moore's newest NA:



Burning Through Gravity! 


BURNING THROUGH GRAVITY will be released on Tuesday, August 12th.

Book Description:

BURNING THROUGH GRAVITY—they soared so high so fast they never expected the fall.



Two beautiful souls.
Two seemingly innocent deceptions.

Once they meet, Stevie and Ford explode into one another in a ball of lust, hotter than a July moon. Ford is assertive, dominate and in control, that is until Stevie brings him to his knees. He thinks she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever met both inside and out. Stevie thinks he’s sweet, and sort of goofy—of course it doesn’t hurt that he drips sex like honey.

Stevie is starting to fall hard for Ford.
And Ford is all in with Stevie.
She wonders if he could ever forgive her for what she’s about to do.
She wonders if she wants him to.

They say love conquers all.
But love never met two liars like Stevie and Ford.

His lie cost her a few sleepless nights.
Her lie will cost him everything.







Addison Moore is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading. 







 
 

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Cover Reveal - Elicit

Oh Sweet heavens I have been waiting for this for what feels like ages, Tex's cover is AMAZING.  Tex's book, Elicit is the the 4th book in Rachel Van Dyken's The Eagle Elite Series.  Here are the covers for the first 3 books in the series as well as buy links for Amazon.  I have enjoyed all three of these books and I really like both Nixon and Chase but I just know Tex is going to break my heart, stomp on it, maybe give it a good old kick on his way by leaving me there just praying that he is going to put me all back together again and seriously I can't wait.  Tex is that quiet guy that just blows you away in the end and I am hoping not literally but with him you never know!  








Seriously his cover is....It is my favorite, I love it, I am giddy, I am in full on fan-girl mode.  Ready for it?
















It's just too perfect isn't it.  I want it in poster size, I want it as my home screen on my phone...I want this book in my hands so I can pet it and swoon over it...AHHHH!  Tex you are going to be the end of me, I just know it!  



Book Description:


Cursed, numb, rejected, scorned, wicked, sinister, dark, twisted...my name is Tex Campisi and this is my legacy. I killed my father in cold blood and lost my soul right along with him. 
I crave war more than peace, and I'm about to take my place in history as the youngest Capo dei Capi in the Cosa Nostra...that is until someone stops me, saves me from myself. 

But the only person able to do that...is my best friends sister, Mo Abandanato, and she just ripped my heart out and asked me to hold it in my hands while she put bullets through it. 

Im cursed so I did it. 
I'm numb so I held it. 
I'm wicked so I liked it.
I used the pain Mo caused as a catalyst to turn into my biggest nightmare--the five families greatest enemy. It's my turn to take a stand, knowing full well I'm going to lose my mind to the madness that is the American Mafia. I've always been told Blood is thicker than life. I wish I would have listened. Because regardless of who you love? You will betray. You will kill.
Blood Always Wins. 
The only way out is death...yours.

Welcome to the Dark Side of the Family



AUGUST 11, 2014








BUY LINKS:

 iTunes

 Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
EMAIL ME: rachelvandykenauthor@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/romancebyrachel?fref=ts

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RachVD 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

SOMEONE FOR ME - Blog Tour


I am happy to be a part of the blog tour for Book 3 in Addison Moore's Someone to Love series.  This is the conclusion to Cruise and Kendall's story and sadly I can't tell you than I think you will find yourself smiling at the end.  If you haven't had a chance to check out this series before you will want to start with Someone to Love followed by Someone Like you.  So anyway, what you really want is an excerpt right...It's coming I swear!

Author: Addison Moore
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Skyscape
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up

Book Description:

Kendall and Cruise ignite the pages in the final installment of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series Someone to Love.
Kendall Jordan knows she doesn't need an elaborate wedding with a Vera Wang dress and a three-tiered cake. All she needs is the love of her life, the hot and romantic Cruise Elton. But she's been dreaming of a picture-perfect wedding since childhood, and so with her finances in peril and a rock band squatting in the Elton B&B, Kendall must take extreme measures. She decides to pen a book about the kinky sexcapades of one Penny Whoredon and Cruz Belton, but in order to do the writing justice she’ll need to conduct some sexy research with the love of her life. It looks like Kendall might just pull it off—but when her protective older brother and Cruise's jealous ex-girlfriend get involved, tempers and insecurities rise, threatening not just her dream wedding but the possibility of having a wedding at all.



Now for the Excerpt, this is Excerpt #4 from the blog tour so don't forget to head over to the other blogs to check things out!  


Excerpt #4
Kendall’s POV (Kenny) with Cruise in their bedroom.
Now”—Cruise snatches the blackout blindfold and quickly straps it over my eyes—“about cheating on those exams.” He pulls me into his bare chest and rides his lips slowly over my neck. “How far are you willing to go with this?”

I slip the blindfold up an inch and inspect him for a moment.

All the way.”

And we do.

I know that totally had to get your curiosity up didn't it, haha!   You need this book in your life don't you?  Well here is your chance not only to win the book but also to win a Kindle Paperwhite to read it on!  
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Addison Moore is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she's not writing, she's reading.







 

Monday, July 14, 2014

Upcoming Book Releases!!

So this is something I have been thinking on and working on for a while now.  I'd really like to start this as a weekly feature, but I have to tell you it's harder than you might think to hunt down all this info and this (like most other things) will be a work in progress that I hope will develop into something greater over time. 



Now first I think we all have to realize that as much as I would like to I can not list EVERY book that will be published each week. 

1. There are just some genres that I just don't follow.
 2. There are a lot of self-pub authors out there that I won't be able to find information on.
3. There are a LOT of books out there.  

So I will stick to the ones that I know are good bets (authors I have read previously) and books that have a good rating on Good Reads or just look interesting to me in general.  So if I have missed a book or author that you love please make sure to leave a note in the comments about the book so everyone can see it! 

So here goes: Here are your releases for the week of July 14, 2014

July 14
Historical Romance

July 15
Young Adult
Breathe Annie Breathe by Miranda Kenneally
Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Dirty Wings by Sarah McCarry
 New Adult
Tamed, Book 3 in the Tangled series by Emma Chase
Paranormal Romance
The Book of Life, book 3 in the A Discovery of Witches Trilogy

And just to be honest this is the book I have been waiting for!  Actually I was lucky enough to get an ARC and I am loving it!  I hate to see the series end. 

So Yup, 
 (Oh how I adore him)
there we have it, the beginning of what I hope will become a successful weekly feature.  Remember if you have any books I miss add them to the comments so everyone can see and thanks for stopping by and hanging in there with me while I figure this all out and make it work around my family's schedule, YOU GUYS ROCK MY SOCKS! 

Entangled Publishing: Select Release Blast - July 14, 2014


Whether you’re looking for a romance that makes you laugh, makes you ‘walk the plank’, keeps you guessing, or stars your favorite paranormal, look no further. Select books have the single-title stories you crave, and the longer length you need to really get ‘lost’ in a great book. To find out more about their titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books are coming next, visit the Entangled website, follow them on Twitter, and like their Facebook page.


Today I'm happy to be featuring Select's July's releases:



A Lesson in Temptation by Audra North

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!


Adam Harkness pulled himself out of poverty to become one of the world’s most respected finance professors, but his personal life is non-existent. When he gets roped into a dance class, of all things, he doesn’t expect it to change his life. Julie Stanton’s hard work has paid off with her career, but finding the same happiness in the rest of her life is a challenge. When her former professor, the one she had a crush on in college, shows up at the same dance class, their tango becomes more than a dance; it becomes a lesson in how to love.




One Night in Buenos Aires by Amanda K Byrne

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!


When best friends Drea and Joe head to Buenos Aires, a mix-up leaves them in one room…and in one bed. The two friends figure it won’t be a big deal to share a bed for one night—right up until they wake wrapped around each other. They protect their friendship by agreeing that when the vacation’s over, the fling’s over. But Joe discovers Drea might be everything he’s ever wanted. Now all he has to do is convince her that what happens in Buenos Aires doesn’t always have to stay in Buenos Aires.


Find Out More!



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