Dire - Release Day Excerpt and Review

I am excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Alyssa Rose Ivy's DIRE. DIRE is a first novel in her The Dire Wolves Chronicles Series.The Dire Wolves Chronicles Series is a New Adult Paranormal Romance! The Order of the books is: Dire, Dusk, Dawn.

 

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes ~ GooglePlay ~ Kobo

Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

Publication Date: September 15, 2014
Publisher: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything.

It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happened to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. I thought the wolves were the worst of my problems, but I was wrong. When things went from bad to worse I had to make a lifelong sacrifice to save Gage, but what price is too much to save the one you love?

Excerpt: 

A single howl made me stop short. “The wolves!” “Let’s hope they are farther away than they sound.” Gage tightened his hold on my hand and pulled me forward. Three more howls filled the night. “They sound closer.” We picked up the pace, and I chanced a glance behind me. That was a mistake. Several large grey wolves came into view. “Run!” Gage didn’t need to be told twice. He broke into a run without letting go of my hand. I ran as fast as possible over the frozen snow, but we didn’t get far before the wolves started circling around us. “Oh my god.” Could things get any worse? “You have to make a run for it.” Gage’s voice quivered. “They’re going to kill us.” “I’m not leaving you.” I tried to stay strong, and I kept my eyes locked on the wolves. There were five of them. All of them were massive, much larger than any wolf I’d seen before, but one of them was even bigger and had a large silver streak running down its back. That wolf seemed to be staring right at me. “I’ll distract them. You run. I’ll catch up.” I spotted an opening next to one of the smaller of the wolves and went for it. I didn’t make it far before one of the wolves stepped in front of me. I froze, paralyzed with fear, before my legs were knocked from under me. Suddenly, I was lying in the snow with a giant wolf hovering over me. “We’re fucked.” Gage voiced exactly what I was thinking. The silver streaked wolf stared down at me. It’s almost glowing eyes bored into mine. Was I really going to die as half-frozen food for a giant wild animal? Then things got hazy and the air seemed to buzz. Moments later it wasn’t a wolf on top of me—it was a man. A completely naked man with a faint scar across his face. “What the heck?” I tried to scurry back, but Hunter didn’t move. His very exposed parts nearly touched me. I didn’t want to notice his size, but I did. He was huge. He also didn’t look remotely concerned with the cold. His lips brushed against my ear. “Were you going somewhere?” 

My Review:

I am totally down with Stockholm Syndrome right now.  I know most everyone who has read this book fell head over heels for Gage, but not me, nope...I am all for a possessive, hunky, wolf-shifter (Don't call him a werewolf), Hunter!  Typically I would rail against this type of character, but there is just something about Hunter that just pulls you in.  It's a sad sort of need to want him to feel loved, to let him have his HEA.  

Dire is told form the dual POV of main characters Mary Anne and Gage.  Two college students who have basically grown up together (Mary Anne's long time crush is Gage) decide to chance fate and drive home for winter break even though a severe winter storm is heading their way.  Dire is a book full of wrong decisions and the consequences that come along with them.

I enjoyed Mary Anne and Gage's banter, their flirtation, and their honesty with one another.  While I can appreciate the relationship they end up having, I never fully believed in it.  Gage always comes off as a bit of a player to me and while I have no doubt that he cares for Mary Anne I am just not sure I can trust that he cares for her as deeply as it seems we are supposed to believe.  Had it not been for the situation would he have cared for her this much, if they had made it through the storm and gotten home safely where would their relationship have gone?  I hate that I never connected with Gage and hope that changes for me in following books because I still think he is a promising character, I am just not sure he is right for Mary Anne.

Hunter on the other hand...He's totally Alpha (literally), he's a bit psycho (or so it seems), he's secretive (can we blame him?), he has a cruel streak (again, can we blame him?), and his 'pack' is just plain strange.  But he is also cautious, kind, tender, and I ended up loving him!  

Finally there is our poor Mary Anne who is just plain stuck in the middle and that is where she stayed for me during the entire book.  I loved how strong and determined she was.  I love that she didn't curl into herself or become the heroine that needs saved but also does the saving. I did however find myself wanting to shake her a time or two and yell at her to just listen to Hunter for once.  

There are a lot of twist and turns in Dire.  The beginning was a bit of a slow start, but once the action begins it goes all out.  This is a quick and engaging read that I think any Paranormal Romance reader will enjoy.  It's got love, steaminess, action, shifters, intrigue, danger, and a pack of witches that remind me a certain house of Valkyries.  What more could you ask for?  ;-)

   

 About Alyssa Rose Ivy: Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.        

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Pinterest ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Wicked - Cover Reveal

You guys know how much I love an amazing cover and you know I adore Jennifer L. Armentrout so today is hugely exciting for me as I get to help reveal the cover of Jennifer's upcoming New Adult Paranormal Romance , WICKED!  It is being released on December 8^th, 2014, make sure to pre-order it today!! 

So here it is......

   

~ Amazon ~

Book Description:

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans. Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart. Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her. But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.  

Seriously, are you guys as excited as I am!  1. It's a new Jennifer L. Armentrout book (automatic buy for me) 2. Look at how gorgeous that cover is, I love underwater covers, and 3. Did you read the description...Ren, Ivy, ancient beings, New Orleans, I am so in!  


 About Jennifer L. Armentrout: # 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.  

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads

Priceless - Release Day

Goodreads ~ Amazon  ~ iTunes ~ Barnes and Noble

Book Description:


Ivan Everley, 13th Baron Rothvale, would admit he's the last person on earth who should have custody over a priceless collection of art. British law affords him the title of 'Lord,' but underneath all the trappings he's just a regular guy, despite being a world champion in archery, and certain...proclivities of a private nature. But Ivan's public celebrity is merely a sham--a carefully guarded secret borne out of the pain of betrayal. Even his cousin Ethan Blackstone doesn't know the truth behind the man he considers a brother. 

Lord Rothvale has a plethora of problems piled up to his aristocratic eyeballs, but that doesn't stop him from complicating his world further when a beautiful art conservationist shows up to appraise his inherited collection of paintings. Once Ivan gets a taste of Gabrielle Hargreave, mistaken identity or not, he can't think of anything but how good the green-eyed beauty felt in his arms. 

The chase is on, and Ivan's dominant side isn't taking 'no' for an answer--but yet, Gabrielle might just teach our discontented lord a thing or two about life, and about himself, and help them both discover the undeniable truth in what it means to find something genuinely... priceless.

Raine Miller has been reading romance novels since she picked up that first Barbara Cartland book at the tender age of thirteen. And it's a safe bet she'll never stop, because now she writes them too! Granted Raine's stories are edgy enough to turn Ms. Cartland in her grave, but to her way of thinking, a hot, sexy hero never goes out of fashion. A former teacher, she's now writing sexy romance stories full time. She has a handsome prince of a husband, and two brilliant sons to pull her back into the real world if the writing takes her too far away. Her sons know she likes to write stories, but gratefully have never asked to read any, thank God! Raine loves to hear from readers and to chat about the characters in her books. You can contact her at raine_miller@ymail.com or visit www.RaineMiller.com to sign up for updates and her newsletter with links to upcoming books. Also, you can text RAINE to 96000 if you prefer.

LINKS:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

PINTEREST

The Fall - Book Trailer

So I am beyond excited to have this opportunity and I can't believe I get to do this at all.  I know you guys have heard me carry on about this book, how much I adore the cover, how excited I am about the premise of the book (seriously I have a love of all things dealing with the character Death, it's odd I know, I accept it, haha), and yeah, I am all sorts of fan-girling over this and can not believe that Stephen Cost is allowing me to give you all an exclusive first look at The Fall's book trailer.

This is totally me right now!  

So before we get to the trailer here is the amazing cover that started my love affair with this book and a bit of information about it.  

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Book Description:

For thousands of years, Death walked behind the dark veil of the living, waiting to ferry the dead. That is, until the day that Death took a life for pleasure rather than duty. On that day, the first Reaper fell to Earth. Now, Reapers live among us, craving the taste of death, forcing them to kill to satisfy their immortal hunger.

Giles Reid fell more than 300 years ago starving for the taste of death, only to find himself drowning in a sea of the living and blinded by a hunger that forces him to kill. In the centuries since his fall he has tried to be more human, desperate to live a life that makes up for what he is and the wrong he has done. Driven by his guilt over killing, he has chosen to feed only on evil; humans that have never been a threat to him but who are always a danger to others. That is, until the day he tries to feed on a human as strong, fast and cunning as himself; a human who, it turns out, has been hunting him. Now he is being pursued by the very evil he has fed on for centuries, embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, where friends and other Reapers connected to him are simply pawns on a chessboard waiting to be sacrificed. Giles is left with a choice, save the life of the women he loves, the daughter of his mentor, or betray her for his own survival.

To save the woman he loves, Giles will have to be the monster he is.

Drum-roll Please

Well, what did you think?  I think it is so cool and it's totally got me amped up for the book!  The Fall releases September 16th!  Whose ready to fall with me?

Stephen Cost was born in Wexford Ireland and raised in a small seaside town not far from Dublin. From a young age he would spin dark tales and write them down for his own amusement. At the age of 13 he moved from his home in Ireland to America and his love of dark American cinema took root.

He passes his free time, when not writing, by reading horror and fantasy genre novels in addition to watching science fiction and horror movies.

He graduated from University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. A computer engineer by trade, he specializes in integrated system services and uses the knowledge gained from his degree to write emotionally captivating urban fiction.

Author Links:  

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

The Clockwork Dagger - Blog Tour and Review

Hello & welcome to THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER blog tour. I'm so thrilled to be on the tour. Check out today's post below & be sure to enter to win!

 Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Author: Beth Cato

Publication Date: September 16, 2014
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Genre: Science Fiction, Steampunk, Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 15 and up
Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

An extremely fun and very commercial fantasy debut, in the bestselling vein of Trudi Canavan and Gail Carriger. THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER is an enchanting fantasy debut about a young healer with incredible powers setting off on her first mission, when a series of strange occurrences (including murder) rock the airship she is traveling on. But the dashingly attractive steward may be one of the infamous Clockwork Dagger assassins, her cabin-mate hides secrets, and the conspiracy may reach the crown itself.

My Review:

The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato is an enjoyable journey full of mystery, magic, steam punk (particularly the airships), romance, and intrigue.

I thoroughly enjoyed the world building in this book.  It was vibrant and gritty, exactly what I would expect from a steam punk society.  I love that I could easily imagine it all playing out in my head as if I was watching it on a movie screen.  

 Ms. Cato does bot disappoint in the depth of her characters.  I never felt as thought I were left wanting to know more about them.  They are all amazingly complex yet simple and they definitely keep your attention.

Octavia Leander is more than she seems or better said she is more than she believes herself to be.  A magical healer setting out on an adventure to set up her life away from Ms. Percival's School, prepared to do what she must to save the people of her future home.  Octavia is an extraordinary character, one with a scarring past and an uncertain future, yet she is wonderfully strong, caring, patient, and thoughtful.  I loved how just reading about her brings an inner peace. 

Alfonso Garret is a fabulous hero, he never strong arms Octavia allowing her to be herself.  He never treats her less than she is, but it was clear even with his 'disability' that he could and would care for her at all times.  I thoroughly enjoyed their interactions and the slow build up of a romance (as opposed to the often sudden I love you moments we so often see in books) that is lovely to watch unfold.  I look forward to 'seeing' more of them together and where they will go from here.  

Viola Stout, what an interesting lady.  She reminded me of an older,  'stouter', perhaps not quite as flamboyant Effie Trinket from the Hunger Games.  

While I felt the book was a tad hard for me to really get into right at the start it soon picked up and not once does it loose it's pace.  Clockwork Dagger is perfectly written to keep you moving forward and invested in the world you've entered.  I also loved how the end didn't leave us with a gasping/flustering cliff hanger.  Like the rest of the story it is a gentle ride toward the future.  

I am looking forward to the second (and if I understand correctly final) book, the Clockwork Crown.  While I know that lovers of steam punk will enjoy this, I think it is a great read for any book reader and I also believe it would be a lovely read for middle aged teens. 
 

About the Author:

Beth Cato resides in the outskirts of Phoenix, AZ. Her husband Jason, son Nicholas, and crazy cat keep her busy, but she still manages to squeeze in time for writing and other activities that help preserve her sanity. She is originally from Hanford, CA, a lovely city often pungent with cow manure.

Giveaway:

Enter to win a copy of THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER, complete with a gorgeous black-and-gold paper parasol, for your very own steampunk adventures and cosplays (seen above)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Playing WIth Fire - Pre- Release

✦✦ Playing with Fire Pre-Order is LIVE!! ✦✦

 

Playing with Fire: Twelve Romantic Suspense Novels that Sparked Bestselling Series

✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦

12 Authors... 12 Bestselling Novels... Available for only 12 days!

Coming November 4th- November 15th!

Available for Pre-Order Now!

✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦

AMAZON

✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦

Over 817,000 words and 2,200 pages for only $2.99! That’s the lowest price the retailer allows for such a large e-book!

✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦

100% of the profits of this anthology go to RAINN: Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network- the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization!

✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦

Join the Facebook Release Party ➪ HERE!

✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦

 

CLICK HERE ➪ Rafflecopter giveaway

✦✦ ✦✦ ✦✦

Books in this Anthology:

Sarah Robinson - Tainted Bodies (The Photographer Trilogy)

Alyson Raynes – Deception (The Fixer Series)

Kim Black – Discovered (The Cover Series)

Pepper Winters – Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark Series)

Chelle Bliss – Throttle Me (Men of Inked Series)

LP Dover – Meant for Me (Second Chances Standalone Series)

Aleatha Romig – Consequences (Consequences Series)

TK Leigh – A Beautiful Mess (Beautiful Mess Series)

Brooke Cumberland – The Intern (The Intern Serials)

Clarissa Wild – Fierce (Fierce Series)

Missy Johnson – Desire (Desire Series)

Roxy Sloane – Seduction (The Seduction Series)

 

A Duke's Wicked Kiss - Review and Excerpt

 

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

Author: Kathleen Bittner Roth

Publication Date: August 26, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up
Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

Miss Suri Thurston knows the pain of abandonment. Intent on confronting the grandmother who tossed her to the lions, she travels from England to her birthplace in India. Her plans run afoul when she encounters the man who, ten years prior, left a mark on her soul with one stolen kiss. But he is a duke, and far beyond the reach of even her dreams.

The Duke of Ravenswood, secret head of the British Foreign Service, has no time for relationships. His one goal is to locate and eliminate key insurgents involved in an uprising against the British East India Company before it's too late. But when Suri appears in Delhi, his resolve is tested as he finds his heart forever bound to her by the one haunting kiss they shared once upon a time.

With Suri's vengeful Indian family looking for her death, and insurgents intent on mutiny tearing their world apart, can their love rise above the scandal of the marriage they both desperately want?

My Review:

~Let me begin by saying: Do not let the cover mislead you.  While there was ocean travel involved in the story (getting from England to India) it is NEVER truly part of the story.  I am unsure why there is a ship on the cover, this is NOT a naval historical romance in anyway.  ~

A Duke's Wicked Kiss is the gripping tale of Suri, the illegitimate half-caste daughter of a Duke and the roving son of a neighboring Duke, Lord John Fairfax, referred to from here on as Ravenswood.

I loved the beginning of this story, the private moment of two sisters laying about discussing Marguerite's (Suri's half sister)  Coming Out Ball and her unquenchable desire to have her first kiss. It is simply a fun and sweet moment between two loving sisters.  

"Blast it all, ladies do get kissed the do not do the kissing." -Suri

While the girls are both relaxed and seemingly carefree this first chapter truly (as it should) sets the stage for the entire book.  We see Marguerite's worries over marrying (the desire to marry for love not title), we feel Suri's hurt over her maternal grandmother's abandonment, her fear and desires for her future,  and also the love she has for her family particularly her father and half sister. Of course Most importantly we meet the charismatic Ravenswood and touch on the chemistry between he and Suri.

"Ah my dear if I am to serve both of you ladies well, then I must insist on showing you the improper kiss, the kiss that would cause scandal, the kiss that should you be caught unawares, could lead to your ruin." -Ravenswood

In fact let me just stop and read this entire chapter again quickly.

I know I know....but it went something like this...only longer and steamier. You can't blame me for stopping to read it again can you?

  

Now here we are ten years later, nothing but dreams and unfulfilled desires left of Ravenswood and that fateful day in the stables.  Suri travels to India under the guise of visiting her sister, while her true desire lies in meeting the grandmother who so callously threw her to the wolves.  Under the impression from her sister (Oh Marguerite!) that she will be in the company of THE Duke of Ravenswood, she is shocked to find that the rakish Duke who lead a pet cheetah around in an emerald encrusted collar is none other than 'HER' Ravenswood!

Without giving away too many details the remainder of the book is full of intrigue, action, heartache (yes, I know...cries), hidden desires, and romance.  I enjoyed the play between Suri and Ravenswood and I am absolutely Team Lady Shahira!   The visuals Kathleen gives us throughout the story leave you almost able to smell and hear the sounds of India while you read.  She truly draws you in to this magical place and I absolutely want to try wearing a Sari one day.  *grins*

I will admit that at times I found myself frustrated with Suri (but then when don't we occasionally want to shake a character), her absolutely fixation on finding her grandmother against the will of everyone.  Her naivety about people around her, and inability to listen to reason even when she knows danger is near and near not only to her but to the people she loves. Even with these frustrating characteristics she is a strong heroine and when the times come she holds her own.  Ravenswood, well there are simply very few words.  He is simply who he is and he makes no apologies for that.  He is a man that has endured much heartache, a man that locks himself away, but considering his history it is understandable.  There are several other characters in the story, Trent,  Marguerite, Edward...I want to know more and I hope to see more of them in upcoming stories.  Trent is just someone you MUST learn more about, Marguerite I want more for her, and Edward oh Edward! 

If you love Historical Romances this is a great read I definitely suggest picking it up! 

Here’s an excerpt:

For the first time in nearly three years, desire washed through John’s veins. The object of his prurience stood before him, her emerald eyes unblinking, and set squarely upon him. Her hand splayed across creamy breasts rising and falling with each fluttering breath. Now, if those were his fingers laid upon those luscious—

At his abrupt mood shift, the cheetah ceased her churring. He reached down, gave the cat a solid stroke along her back, and then marched past Suri. He didn’t know what else to do.

Since Lady Marguerite never failed to seat him to her left, he strolled into the dining room, and to the far end of the table in a manner that no doubt shouted arrogance to the others. Surely, her sister would sit at the other end, beside Chatham.

Damn it, no.

There was Miss Thurston’s place card, directly across from his, her name clearly spelled out in gold on either side of the card. Oh, hell.

He’d known she would be here tonight—her arrival in Delhi was what this dinner was about for God’s sake. But his reaction, a steady pulse of need in his veins, had caught him unawares.

He hadn’t had the slightest notion she would stir this kind of response in him. Not after all this time. Ten years ago, she’d had an intoxicating effect on him. Potent enough for her father to have barred him and his brother from ever stepping foot again on Thurston land once he’d heard what went on in the stable.

The guineas he'd slipped to the butler for a printed invitation to Marguerite's coming out the following evening had sealed his fate. The servant had reported him to her father, and then had the nerve to keep the coin. Bloody bastard.

His imprudent action in the stable had cost him and his brothers the best resource for horse flesh in all of England. Not to mention it had taken him months to get past seeing Suri every time he bedded a woman. Finally, he’d managed to move beyond the idea that half-caste or not, she was meant to be his. Eventually, reluctantly, he’d tossed the incident off as youthful rutting. But one look at her after all this time, and he was transported back to the stable. Her taste—sweet as ripe cherries—swept across his tongue.

Blast it, this wouldn’t do!

Kathleen Bittner Roth creates passionate stories featuring characters faced with difficult choices, and who are forced to draw on their strength of spirit to overcome adversity and find unending love.

Her own fairy tale wedding in a Scottish castle led her to her current residence in Budapest, Hungary, considered one of Europe’s most romantic cities. However, she still keeps one boot firmly in Texas and the other in her home state of Minnesota.

A member of Romance Writers of America®, she was a 2012 Golden Heart® finalist.

You can find Kathleen on 

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads 

and

Visit her website at www.kathleenbittnerroth.com

The Winter People - Review

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble

Author: Rebekah L.Purdy

Publication Date: September 2, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal
Age Recommendation: 14 and up
Rating: 4 stars


Book Description:

An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world.
Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn’t forgotten their warning to “stay away.” For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the “special gifts” that must be left at the back of the property.
 

Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.
  
My Review: 

Let me begin by saying how GORGEOUS this cover is.  This is one of those examples of a cover alone being able to sell a book.  I would be hard pressed not to pick this up if I saw it in a book store.  

The Winter people starts off with an emotional bang, the prologue sending us back to the day six year old Salome has a near-death experience that changes her life forever.  I loved the imagery in this book. It was so easy for me to imagine young Salome running happily through her grandmother's snow-filled yard, the look on her face the moment she begins to hear the voices and then when she discovers 'The Gate' open.

Fast forward eleven years and we meet a beautiful seventeen year old Salome who has struggled the majority of her life with an over-riding fear of winter.  After her tragic experience at the age of six Salome has basically locked herself away every winter, the first signs of a winter chill sending her in to panic mode.  This winter however is different, not because her fear is different but because her grandparents are leaving for warmer climates due to health reasons and this leaves Salome in charge of tending to her grandmother's strange winter rituals.  Not only that but the hottest guy in school, the school basketball star, Colton has asked her, HER of all people, out.  Could he be the cure to her winter phobia?  Along with Colton we end up meeting the mysterious Nevin, a pale strange 'boy' who Salome runs into on her grandmother's land.  Nevin draws her in and seems to know the answers to all the questions she's been afraid to ask over the years, but will he help her?  Who is he, does he want to be her enemy, her friend, or perhaps...something more? And then comes Gareth (Hellooooo Gareth, *swoons*), this monster of a guy who is all rough around the edges but seemingly watches over Salome as though he were her bodyguard.  Always there when she needs him most. Who is he and could he possibly care for her?  

The one thing that bothered me about all of these 'boys' is that Salome is constantly talking about how they each made her feel something, drew her into them.  With each one I was certain she was going to run off and suddenly fall in love.  It gave me a bit of whip lash watching her interactions with each of them, lol.  However, as I read further into the book I began to understand why this was happening. I can't tell you though because I  don't want to give anything away.  I don't want to tell you all the books secrets and trust me, there are many!

Which leads me to my next point,  There isn't a whole lot I CAN say about any of the characters other than I am very disappointed in her dad and don't truly get the point of that situation, but I am thinking that maybe it plays a part in future books.  Also Salome's best friend Kadie, yeah...she was a good friend and I really wanted to like her, but her boy obsession drove me batty.  It's a good thing she was Salome's friend and not mine because I may have very well popped her one.  Anything else I say would end up giving away critical information that would ultimately take away from your reading experience.  Every character in this story has a purpose, each small detail that happens happens for a reason.  I will admit it drove me a bit crazy because I wanted to know what the heck was going on.  I needed to know who the bad guy was and why all of this was happening. I think that you will be a bit surprised by the outcome.   

This is a great suspense fantasy teen read.  I think that it is a fantastic choice for younger teen readers and I know I am looking forward to getting back to these characters in future books!  

 I was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the giant mitten on the map—it’ll likely throw a snowball at you). I spent most of my time in Michigan, but while in the army got to call KS, SC, MO, and CA home for awhile as well.

As a kid my family moved around a lot. Try spending both your freshman and senior years at new schools (yeah, loads of fun). I could’ve changed my name to “new girl”.

I love writing for teens because those are the years I remember falling in love with most of my favorite books. Some of the authors I couldn’t put down were L.J. Smith, Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, Richie Tankersley Cusick, Joan Lowery Nixon, Lois Duncan, amongst several others.

My husband and I have a large family. There are six kids total! So we have LOTS of fun on vacations (although hours on the road, cooped up in the Expedition is kind of stressful—although we pass the time with MAD LIBS and hoping no one gets carsick).

Some fun facts about me:

My first real crush was on Luke Skywalker (LOL—hey, I was like 8 years old and it came out before I was born).

I’m obsessed with several TV shows/Movies: The Vampire Diaries, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Sean of the Dead, The Sing Off, Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth, True Blood, Being Human, Fact or Fake, and all the cake designing ones! Oh and all the spoof movies!

I still own all the books I bought as a kid/teen.

I have a hankering for chocolate (like all the time, seriously. If my arm was made of it I’d chew it off).

Celebrity crushes: Johnny Depp (woohoo), Taylor Lautner (okay, I know he’s kind of young for me), Ian Somerhalder (ooh, he’s just right. We’re the same age). Wow, this was like a Goldie Locks and the Three Bears moment. Johnny Depp too old, Taylor Lautner too young, Ian Somerhalder—JUST RIGHT.

In my spare time I like to write (obviously), read, sing, hang out with my kids, play with my animals, camp, play soccer, check my email (hehehe), watch football (go LIONS). I also love hanging out with my sister and hubby!

Look forward to chatting with everyone! And if you’re lucky, I’ll break out the opera voice and chase you around singing! 

 Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Ready or Not - Cover Reveal

I am excited to help reveal the cover for READY OR NOT by J.L. Berg, releasing December 2,  2014

READY OR NOT is the fourth book in the bestselling Ready series and we can't wait for you guys to get your hands on it. In the mean time, how great is this cover?

 

Goodreads ~ Amazon

Book Description:

Born into wealth and privilege, free-spirited Liv Quinn left it all behind when she realized there was more to life than living off of trust funds and barely skating by. Since then, she’s worked and fought for everything she’s earned and never looked back at the world or the family she left behind.
Jackson Reid is starting over with a new job in a brand new city. A single father to his son Noah, he hopes the change will help strengthen the bond that has seemed to suffer since puberty reared its ugly head. What he hadn’t planned on was Liv—his exotic next-door neighbor who drives him insane with her wild, new age lifestyle, but still manages to leave him aching for more.
As challenges arise and feelings intensify, will these neighbors be able to look past their differences and find a middle ground? When love comes knocking, will they be ready, or not?

About J.L. Berg

 
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Newsletter