Sunday, June 7, 2015

Book Blitz: Ink: A Mermaid Romance by Melanie Karsak- Excerpt & Giveaway


Welcome to the Book Blitz for Ink: A Mermaid Romance by Melanie Karsak thanks to Xpresso Book Tours! Please feel free to check out this awesome excerpt and tour wide giveaway I have to share with you today :)
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A mermaid princess destined to wed a handsome king…

It sounds like a fairy tale, but the reality is far murkier.

Ink, Princess of the Florida Atlantic mers, is slated to wed the ancient enemy of her tribe, the King of the Gulfs. After years of war that led to countless mer deaths, as well as the genocide of aquatic shapeshifters and the freshwater mers of Florida, Ink’s marriage will bring lasting peace.

Or so it seems.

Mere hours before she’s supposed to leave the ocean for her customary year as a drywalker, Ink meets Hal, an alligator shifter who warns her that a storm is brewing. There is malicious intent behind Ink’s marriage—and worse, meeting Hal has also caused a storm to rage in Ink’s heart. Nevertheless, loyal to her tribe, Ink will put aside her feelings and journey to Miami to marry the decadent King Manx.

Ink soon learns that her only hope of surviving the crashing force swelling around her is to tap into a power deep inside—a forbidden power that might destroy them all.


Purchase:
 

 
Ink: A Mermaid Romance....

I gritted my teeth and turned back, staring at those gathered on the small island. Steeling my nerve, I swam forward. My tail dragged along the sandy ocean bottom. I curled it, resting it on the sand, then closed my eyes. I had seen the transformation many times, had come to bear witness as the others left the tribe for their year in exile. I always pitied them.

The first crash of agonizing pain washed over me. I felt as if I had been stung by an entire bloom of jellyfish. Pain swallowed me. It was like I’d been sliced from my flipper to my waist. I betrayed myself by gasping out loud.

“Ink,” Indigo whispered softly.

My body arched as another shooting wave of pain bolted upward. My body shook as jolt after jolt racked me. After the sharp pains subsided, I felt a warm tingling sensation. I opened my eyes. Blue and gold light spiraled around the lower half of my body. I stared down at the water in amazement, watching as my tail slowly transformed into legs.

The glowing light then traveled up my body. It centered on the tribal mark on my back. The mark began to feel very hot. Suddenly, pain seared across my back. I felt like I’d been scraped along a coral reef. A drywalker’s tribal mark forms into its final pattern when we make our first transformation. The mark on my back, strange and large, always puzzled me. Now I learned it was renowned enough to earn me a prophecy. I hardly knew what to think of that. Had Creon known? Would he believe something like that or did he just find a way to use it to his advantage? The answer, it seemed, was obvious. At the end of the pathway, King Manx waited for me.

The glowing light pulsated brightly once more, surrounding my body in an orb of light, then dissipated into the night’s sky. Moments later, I felt a strange sensation as cool water swished between my legs, touching my body in its most sensitive female parts which, without the protective covering of my tail scales, were exposed. It took me a moment to steady myself in the rocking waves. My hand drifted underwater to my sides. I gently stroked my hands over my body, feeling the bastardization of myself as a mer. Now, I was just like the humans. I stood on two feet, feeling the sand between my toes. Fighting the waves on wobbling knees, I made my way toward the beach.

Want more? Get your copy of Ink: A Mermaid Romance today!
 
Melanie Karsak is the author of the Amazon best-selling steampunk series The Airship Racing Chronicles (Chasing the Star Garden and Chasing the  Green Fairy) and the award-wining horror/dark fantasy Harvesting Series. She grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania and earned a Master’s degree in English from Gannon University. A steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, and zombie whisperer, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.

Visit Melanie:

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Book Shelf: By Sun and Saltwater (Secrets of Itlantis #2) by Kate Avery Ellison

Aemi has a new life beneath the sea in the world of Itlantis, but all is hardly idyllic—her assimilation into Itlantean society is fraught with accusations and rumors, those closest to her are keeping deadly secrets, and most frightening of all, someone is trying to kill her.

Desperate for answers, Aemi and her friends set off to find answers in Arctus, the Ice City, but they might uncover more than they bargained for in the process.

More info on Goodreads......


Review:

By Sun and Saltwater is the second novel in Kate Avery Ellison sweeping Secrets of Itlantis series and is another beguiling installment that continues to build on the storyline from the first novel and leaves readers raring to dive into the next novel as soon as possible.

After the events of Of Sea and Stone, readers find themselves once more following Aemi, who has just discovered that she is in fact an Itlantean, born Aemiana Greywater, and heir of the Greywater family, a wealthy and prominent Itlantean family. With Celestrus having been attacked and destroyed at the end of the last book by their very own people disguised as the Dron, Aemi and a small group of survivors have sought refuge with the neighboring Itlantean land of Primus and have begun to assimilate and partake in Itlantean events. And yet, as Aemi begins to investigate her family’s history she discovers that not everything is as it seems and soon comes to realize that the attack on Celestrus, ordered by Governor Nautilus of the military city of Volcabus, is only the tip of the iceberg and much more nefarious things are happening within Itlantis and only if Aemi steps up can she and her friends prevent a war….

I’m seriously loving this series so far! The first book introduced readers to a really intriguing world, and in By Sun and Saltwater we have the chance to explore it a little bit more, whilst discovering more layers to it. Author Kate Avery Ellison takes readers on an exhilarating journey with this story that is pure entertainment and fun. Her writing was solid, and I very much enjoyed her storytelling; I’m loving following Aemi and discovering more about her and the world of Itlantis.

Itlantis is a clearly well thought out world; with positions, politics and the art of deception front and center. I thought the inclusion of the Dron was smart and I’m really interested to see what impact they with have on the continuing storyline. Itlantis is facing its own internal dangers having been betrayed by one of its own, but with the Dron believing Itlantis is attacking them, the possibility of an all-out war is one Ellison makes very clear.

Aemi is a great heroine to follow, and I love seeing the story unfold through her eyes. Though months have passed since the events of the first novel, Aemi is still very much the same resilient, young woman she has always been. It’s obvious there’s more growth to be made in her, but already she’s quite capable and willing to stand up for what she believes. I appreciate the fact she hasn’t let her newfound wealth and power go to her head. Of course she still wants answers as to how she came to live in the Village of the Rocks, and why she was taken from Itlantis, but Aemi still seems like the girl we met in the first novel, albeit a bit more confidant and independent.

The relationships and friendships Aemi has with the various characters in this series, including Merelus, Lyssia and Tob, remain quite strong. I really loved the new character of Tallyn, an “etiquette teacher” who is so much more than he seems and who keeps Aemi on her toes, and of course I still adore Nol. Nol is a love interest for Aemi, and though there is some developments to complicate their circumstances further, I have high hopes for them romantically. They’re both from different worlds, and spent their lives part of different social standings, but I think they have great chemistry and I’m certainly going to be vying for them in future books.

Rich in danger, excitement and mystery, By Sun and Seawater is a great follow up to the first book in this series and leaves me very eager to continue on with the series and join Aemi on her journey once more!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Kate!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: The Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Recommendation: Fantasy fans are certain to enjoy this :)
Cover: It goes lovely with the first one.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes. I'm ready for more.

Friday, June 5, 2015

Spotlight: What Lies Inside by by J.L. Myers

Author J.L. Myers is hitting the blog today with a fabulous guest post as well as a paperback copy of her debut novel What Lies Inside which she has generously offered up to one lucky follower!

Amelia Lamont never asked to unleash her inner vampire

Amelia’s normal teen world is shattered when a terrifying nightmare awakens the monster inside her. A newfound, insatiable thirst for blood that leads her to drain the school quarterback is only the beginning; she’s horrified to discover that her family and best friend Kendrick have been harboring the secret all along. And is the strangely alluring boy who seems hell-bent on curbing her murderous, blood-filled desires a friend, or foe?

To escape detection Amelia and her twin brother Dorian are forced to move to a new town, and the challenge of a new, exclusive high school where nearly every classmate smells like prey. Including the irresistible Ty, who seems hauntingly familiar, yet darkly menacing …

Amelia’s disturbing dreams and entanglement in a web of forbidden romance render her increasingly powerless against the chilling lies and secrets of vampire power struggles. And, as she soon discovers, vampire politics mixed with outlawed love can be a lethal cocktail.

Falling in love may just cost Amelia everything: her friends, her family...even her life.

 
**What Lies Inside is going to be FREE on Amazon between 3rd-4th July! Mark your calendar and be sure to grab your copy then if you haven't already!**


Purchase:


What makes my heroes and villains believable?

Heroes are the do-gooders of the world, the people or creatures that run into burning buildings to save the people they love…or even complete strangers. They fight to be good and for the greater good. But they are not prefect knights on white stallions. They are complex and diverse, each one different to the next. Someone who’s lived a handed-to-them-on-a-silver-spoon kind of life will never have the same drive as someone who has lived through hardship, loss, and tragedy. They are rough around the edges, have agendas and dreams, and past events that drive them to be good…because maybe they weren’t always that way. Because maybe witnessing the horrible things others can do to others or to them, has shown them which side they want to exist and fight on. 

My heroes are far from perfect: in personality, physical appearance, in actions whether past or present. Life throws them challenges and they do their best—which is not always the right thing. They are scarred beings that have failed and at times triumphed, that have demons of their own and wrongs to atone for. But at their cores they want to be good. They sacrifice for others. They put their lives on the line for things that matter to them: their friends and family, and their community or race. They rarely see themselves as heroes. Being good is not always black and white. But they want to be, struggle to be, and will survive or die trying to be just that. Good.

Villians are the despised characters we watch and read about, what we label as monsters that strive to be evil and to do bad deeds. They commit heinous acts to achieve their goals and don’t often care who is cut down in the crossfire to do so. They can present themselves under a guise to appear good, or they can reveal their cards from the start…while usually still hiding their evils plans and motives. But are villains purely evil? Are there just bad people who want to do bad because they can? Maybe, but maybe there is more to it.

My villains are not cardboard cut-out evil guys or girls. They don’t strive to do evil just because they are evil. They are hardened by life and their upbringing, by the horrible things they endured growing up that have distorted their perception of what is right and what is wrong. They don’t go against the good just to be bad. They have a plan and an end game. They have their reasons for every act they carry out, no matter how irrational it may seen to us. At times, though, we may understand their point of view, their motivations. As with heroes, not all is black and white. What would you do to save someone you love, to be loved yourself, to be accepted without ridicule, to feel part of something worthwhile and bigger than yourself?

All characters have the potential to be good or bad. No one character is all good or all evil. They each make choices that deliver them from the wrongs they have done, or bury them in deeper in their struggle to achieve what they hold dearest. Believable characters are real and raw, black or white with a lot of grey in between. Their diversity and individuality makes us engage with a book and
their story from the moment we crack open a cover—or eBook—and keeps us hooked until the very end. 

**Written By J.L. Myers (Author of the Blood Bound Series) 4/06/2015**


Jessica L Myers was born to Dutch parents in Melbourne, Australia, and as a toddler travelled with her parents to many parts of Europe.

As a child Jessica’s vivid imagination and quiet demeanor led her to the imaginary worlds of books. Even at a young age her love for the supernatural was prevalent, with her first loved books being R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series. Following that she took an interest in other non-fantasy fiction, including Virginia C. Andrews series Flowers in the Attic.

In her teen years Jessica spent many private school hours writing poetry and dark short stories, and took up sketching some of the terrifying things that came from the graphic nightmares she’d grown up with.

As an adult and after meeting the love of her life, Jessica moved to Brisbane, Australia, got married and started a small construction business with her husband. With the birth of her son, Jessica suffered PPD and found escape in her books and their fantasy landscapes. It was in this time that her need to write flourished. In 2009 the decision was made and the first words to her YA novel What Lies Inside were written.

When she’s not writing, Jessica balances being a stay-at-home mum with her families business needs while making time to get to the gym and take family vacations.

Visit Jessica, AKA J.L. Meyers:
a Rafflecopter giveaway I'd like to thank J.L. Myers for being on the blog today with this fabulous guest post and for generously offering up a copy of her book. I personally look forward to reading What Lies Inside myself and hope you all take advantage of the free promo on July 3rd and 4th and enter for your change to win a paperback copy!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Book Shelf: The Professional (The Game Maker #1) by Kresley Cole

The highly anticipated complete novel of The Professional—the first installment in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s scorching Game Maker series, an erotica collection that has readers asking: How hot is too hot?

He makes the rules…

Mafiya enforcer Aleksei “The Siberian” Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss knows no bounds, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter, a curvy, feisty redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Aleksei will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.

Rules are made to be broken…

Grad student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the dark and breathtaking Sevastyan before the professional enforcer whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. Every day under his protection leads her deeper under his masterful spell.

Are you ready to play?

Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest—and most forbidden—fantasies can come true…


More info on Goodreads......


Review:

The Professional by Kresley Cole is a sensual feast of passion and erotica that sees Cole explore a world where pleasure and pain mingle and inhibitions are best left at the door in this first novel in her new Game Maker series.

Whilst I’m a novice when it comes to these kinds of novels (I’ve never even read Fifty Shades of Grey!) I am wholeheartedly a Kresley Cole fan, so I knew I needed to read The Professional, regardless of my inexperience in this genre. And in saying that, I thoroughly enjoyed The Professional. The world in which Cole explores is dark, gritty and raw…..and endlessly sexual. Blending together the powerful world of the Russian mafia and organised crime with the underground world of BDSM, Cole deliciously depicts passion and sex in a driven, unapologetic way while still managing to convey and compliment the consensual manner of these experiences.

The Professional is told through the eyes of twenty-four year old Natalie Porter, a history grad student whose life is forever altered when a search for her biological parents leads her to discover that her father is in fact the head of the infamous Russian mafiya. When her long lost father sends his most trusted man and enforcer Aleksi "The Siberian" Sevastyan to protect and escort his long lost daughter to his home in Russia, neither are prepared for the intense and dark attraction that simmers between them. With Sevastyan known for his violent and brutal dealings, his secret desires will push Natalie like never before and open her eyes to a whole new world of pleasure.

One of the things I really thought went a long way to complimenting this novel is that the main character Natalie is no china doll or weak woman. Though she is physically inexperienced at the beginning of this novel, Natalie has a strong sexual appetite and isn’t ashamed of her desires. Through her relationship with Sevastyan, Natalie learns what she does and doesn’t like; pushing herself to the limit and experiencing all manner of sexual situations. Natalie is fiercely attracted to Sevastyan and wants to explore their physical desires for one another, something Cole doesn’t disappoint with; depicting various sexual encounters between Sevastyan and Natalie at different levels of intimacy and BDSM throughout the story.

As Natalie’s love interest and such an important role within the story, Sevastyan is a very complex individual and even now I don’t know how to fully wrap my head around him. He’s had a complicated upbringing and has seen the worst life has to offer. He has some real demons, and learning his secrets really aren’t even the tip of the iceberg in terms of understanding this conundrum of a man. I liked Sevastyan, I did, but he didn’t blow me away as some other males leads have in the past. One thing is clear though; despite his dark desires and past deeds, he clearly adores Natalie and that endeared him to me.

A very large part of this novel focuses on the developing romance and sexual relationship between Natalie and Sevastyanas to be expected with this kind of novel. It some aspects Natalie and Sevastyan aren’t healthy for each other, but considering the worlds they come from and are a part of, they do manage to better each other too. Kresley Cole writes some very rich and sensual sex scenes that are full of passion, desire and pain and possibly aren’t for the faint of heart, however the storyline was actually quite interesting within this story too.

The Professional explores the power of love, loyalty and family throughout its pages and the revelations about Sevastyan’s past and his family set up the rest of the series wonderfully. Though dark, the world within The Professional is enticing and I’m already ready to read about Maksim and Dmitri…..

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Erotica and romance fans are sure to enjoy this!
Cover: I think the cover is very suave and sexy!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes. I want to read more!

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #95

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....
 
Sadowshaperby Daniel José Older
Releases on: June 30th 2015
 
Cassandra Clare meets Caribbean legend in SHADOWSHAPER, an action-packed urban fantasy from a bold new talent.

Sierra Santiago was looking forward to a fun summer of making art, hanging out with her friends, and skating around Brooklyn. But then a weird zombie guy crashes the first party of the season. Sierra's near-comatose abuelo begins to say "No importa" over and over. And when the graffiti murals in Bed-Stuy start to weep.... Well, something stranger than the usual New York mayhem is going on.

Sierra soon discovers a supernatural order called the Shadowshapers, who connect with spirits via paintings, music, and stories. Her grandfather once shared the order's secrets with an anthropologist, Dr. Jonathan Wick, who turned the Caribbean magic to his own foul ends. Now Wick wants to become the ultimate Shadowshaper by killing all the others, one by one. With the help of her friends and the hot graffiti artist Robbie, Sierra must dodge Wick's supernatural creations, harness her own Shadowshaping abilities, and save her family's past, present, and future.


Thoughts:
I really enjoy the occasional different story, and this looks like it could be right up that alley. Admittedly the first sentence, "Cassandra Clare meets Caribbean legend" kinda caught my attention but I think the idea of this supernatural order sounds promising and I'm looking forward to reading this!
 
What do you think of Shadowshaper? Is it something you would read?
And what are YOU waiting on this week?

 

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Book Shelf: Cursed Beauty (A Fairy Retelling #1) by Dorian Tsukioka

A pair of glass slippers that can change her life? When something is too good to be true, it usually is...

Adelaide has lived her entire life cursed with a birthmark that makes people shy away. When an invitation to the Elder Prince’s ball falls in her lap, she knows attending would only cause people to shun her more.

A fairy godmother feels her pain and offers her a pair of glass slippers that not only transform her ragged dress to an elegant gown, but also removes the mark that covers her face. However, Adelaide soon learns that the beautiful slippers can steal away more than just her birthmark, leaving her cursed in a far worse way.

This retelling of the classic Cinderella story will resound with readers of young adult fiction who love paranormal fantasy, fairy tales, and a splash of romance.


More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Cursed Beauty by Dorian Tsukioka is a wonderfully detailed and well written fairytale retelling. Set in a world where magic is possible, Cursed Beauty is a Cinderella retelling with a twist!

Can I just say how impressed I am with this story? I really, really liked it. Cursed Beauty is essentially a short, but sweet novella however I quite liked what the author has done with the story. The setting and the writing was inviting; it was a quaint fairytale retelling that is perfect as an afternoon read.

I was impressed with the characters in this story. Adelaide had fire and spirit and even Prince Julian was down to earth with a kind heart. There was an actual foundation to their relationship within the story, something you don’t always see with fairytale retellings. Tsukioka did a great job managing to convey so much emotion and depth within such a short story. Don’t get me wrongthere was still the same amount of almost instant-love you expect with these kinds of tales, but Tsukiokan managed to give the perfect amount of depth in order to make the story feel believable; something people sometimes miss.

I thought it very clever the twist on Cinderella Dorian Tsukioka explores. It’s a darker element that makes the story different, as well as the idea that not everyone who seem bad are bad and not everyone who appear good are good.

Lush, magical and a fairytale retelling you’ll breeze through, Cursed Beauty was expertly written and fantastic to read. This is one short fairytale you won’t want to miss!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Dorian!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon
My Recommendation: If you're looking for a fun, easy retelling you'll ADORE this.
Cover: Honestly, I don't think the cover does the story justice at all unfortunately.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: As far as I'm aware this is a stand alone tale, but I wouldn't hesitate to try more by Dorian Tsukioka!

Monday, June 1, 2015

Cover Reveal: Stepping Stones by Kacey Vanderkarr

As a fan of Kacey Vanderkarr Reflection Pond series I'm excited to help share the cover for Stepping Stones, first novel in a brand new series from this talented author along with a couple of teaser pictures!
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Pssst! Isn't this an awesome cover?!?!
Onnaleigh Moore is part of a plan—and it isn’t hers. When her brother dies in a car accident, Onna is desperate to preserve the tatters of her family. Any hope of finding normalcy vanishes when her mother runs off and her dad turns to booze to numb his pain. Onna’s grief is crippling, but the boy who showed up just when she needed him is helping her cope. 

Everett’s presence is comforting, though he knows things—Onna’s name just before they met, where she lives, and sometimes he comments on thoughts she doesn’t say aloud. She pegs him for a stalker, or maybe psychic, but the truth is deadlier than she imagines. As their feelings for one another deepen, Everett confesses a horrifying secret: Onna’s brother is only the beginning of the plan, and some fates are worse than death.

 
 
KACEY VANDERKARR has a penchant for fantasy and frequently listens to the voices in her head—most of whom are teenagers. Her favorite place to write is an old salon chair in her kitchen, with coffee in one hand and adoring cats sprawled across her arms. She prefers her music loud and her skeptics quiet. When she’s not writing, Kacey coaches winterguard, works as a sonographer, and hangs out with other weirdos like her at the Flint Area Writer’s club. In addition to her novels, The Reflection Pond Series, Antithesis, and The Stone Series, Kacey’s short fiction is featured in Sucker Literary Vol III, Ember: A Journal of Luminous Things, and Out of the Green: Tales from Fairyland.

Visit Kacey:
 
 
There's no doubt in my mind that Stepping Stones looks like a promising story and I can't wait for it's August 25th release to discover it's magic myself!