Owl Post #87

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

Hi everyone and welcome to this weeks Owl Post :) I've got a few great books to share this week!

  For Review:

From Scholastic:

- See How They Run by Ally Carter

This is the second book in Ally Carter's Embassy Row series and having read the first book, I am keen to see what happens in this sequel.

Not pictured: Scholastic also sent me half a dozen or so children's books and middlegrade books alongside See How They Run. I haven't taken a picture of them, but I've safely put them away.

 

......Thank you guys!

 

I Bought:

- Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
- Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh
- Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh
These are the first three books in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series. With Nalini Singh another attending author at the Sydney Author Event in August, I've decided I've got to try this series. It's been on my TBR list for far too long!

And that's me this week?
What did the owls bring YOU?

 

Book Shelf: Totally Starcross'd by S.D. Wasley

"Why does she have to be Romilly Montague? Any other name on the planet. She’d be just as pretty and cute and clever—just as perfect—but she wouldn’t be Romilly Montague. Then I’d have a chance with her.”

Romilly longs for the freedom to live her own life ... but her dad is Alan Montague, hot contender for the job of Governor. And the bigger he gets, the more protective of Romilly her parents become.

Could Julian Capulet’s luck be worse? As if being born into the most conservative family in Verona wasn't bad enough, the girl of his dreams is the daughter of his father's biggest adversary in the upcoming election. His embarrassing family—especially his troublemaking younger brother—seem set to totally ruin his chances with Romilly.

For Romilly and Julian it’s never been truer that you can choose your friends but not your family. Will this story end in woe—or can there be a happily ever after for this modern-day Juliet and Romeo?

A modern day retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Totally Starcross’d is a delightful novella by S.D. Wasley that retells the famous William Shakespeare play Romeo & Juliet and introduces readers to the star crossed lovers in a way like never before!

Romilly Montague’s father is Alan Montague and is a strong contender for the Governor of Verona. Beautiful, smart and kind, Romilly longs for freedom, but it’s not until she meets an alluring boy at a political event that she feels her heart flutter. Julian Capulet doesn’t support his father’s political ideals at all—in fact he’d rather not see his dad beat Alan Montague in the race for Governor. The eldest son in a very conservative family, Julian isn’t expecting to meet Romilly, or be unable to get her out of his head. Their fathers are political adversaries and their families at war, but Romilly and Julian quickly become smitten with each and refuse to be torn apart, whatever the consequences…..

I was very impressed with this novella by S.D. Wasley. Almost everyone is familiar with the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet in some way, shape or form but Wasley gives it a little bit of a shake up with Totally Starcross’d. Though short in length, Totally Starcross’d is well written and paced. Romilly and Julian’s romance moves swiftly, but feels very believable too.

Totally Starcross’d manages to be very fun and light, and the gender switches of the characters was very clever on Wasley’s part. I liked that Totally Starcross’d was set in modern times and was relevant in today’s society. Wasley managed to competently retell Romeo & Juliet and touch on all major moments and characters in this tale. Romilly and Julian were likable and their romance sweet—unlike the original tale I didn’t find myself wanting to strangle the characters for their ill-fated choices.

Fresh and fun, Totally Starcross’d is a quaint twist on Romeo and Juliet that progresses nicely and doesn’t end at all in the way you’d expect. Nicely done S.D. Wasley!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author (Thank you Sasha!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon
My Recommendation: If you enjoy contemporary reads and like Shakespearian twists, you'll want to read this.
Cover: I think this cover is absolutely beautiful!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a standalone tale, but I'll be reading more by S.D. Wasley in the future without a doubt.

Free Ebooks

Hi guys and happy Friday! Hope you're all as glad as I am that another work week is through....lets celebrate with my freebies!

 

Hope you managed to snag something new!

Book Shelf: Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful Bastard #1) by Christina Lauren

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling.

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He's exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family's massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who'd been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he's never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe's so tempting he's willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office.

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they're willing to lose in order to win each other.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren is a smart, erotic romance that has been loved by readers worldwide and kicks off what looks to be a promising series by a capable writing duo. Sexually charged and passionate, Beautiful Bastard is sure to hook you from the opening chapter.

I remember I had an opportunity to read and review this novel when it was first published here in Australia and I didn’t take Simon & Schuster up on it. Looking back I don’t regret this decision. I’m actually glad I purchased a copy now because I was only just beginning to read NA/adult contemporary novels and I think the high use of sex scenes and the intensity of this story might have been lost on me back then. That being said; I certainly enjoyed Beautiful Bastard and found myself eagerly turning pages!

Beautiful Bastard introduces readers to Chloe Mills, a smart, capable business intern who is hardworking and sharp tongued and whose only issue in life seems to be her boss--the arrogant, inconsiderate Bennett Ryan and someone who has recently returned from time overseas to take a lead role in his family’s media business. Bennett is hateful and blunt and manages to bring out the absolute worst in Chloe….so why can’t she stop her lust driven reactions she has to him that leave her at his mercy? Especially after they cross the line that sees them devour each other…all over the office and then some! Intense and infuriating, Chloe and Bennett have begun a game that both are desperate to win but neither can stop…..

Wow! Just wow. I can’t remember the last time I read a novel where the main characters hated each other so much, yet had such a powerful chemistry. I mean, Chloe and Bennett hated each other. Hated! Yet they couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other and in turn took every opportunity to indulge in some extracurricular office activity. Activity that resulted in various office hook-ups where almost constant destruction of clothing occurred and both were left wanting more.

Christina Lauren pretty much jumps straight into the physical relationship between Chloe and Bennett, and while I loved the chemistry and fierce attraction that simmers between them I felt their relationship moved fast in the very beginning. I kept having to remind myself that technically they had already known each other for almost a year when Beautiful Bastard began. Personally I like seeing characters get to know each other on a deeper level before jumping into the sack—but that’s just me.

In terms of sex scenes, the sexual encounters between Chloe and Bennett were scorching! Like serious HOT. They were well written and very different each time. I didn’t feel like I was re-reading the same sex scene ten times during the novel. All interludes between Chloe and Bennett were sexy and intense—perfect for the story.

Featuring two strong main characters and told through both their POV’s Beautiful Bastard is a scorching, sexy and downright delectable novel and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

Rating:
Source: I purchased from The Book Depository
Format: Paperback
Buy it: The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: For those NA fans who love intense sex and passion
Cover: Love the black, red and white sexy cover.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes.

Waiting on Wednesday #124

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.....  

Under the Lights by Abbi Glines

Releases on: August 23rd 2016

Add on Goodreads!

 

In the follow-up to Abbi Glines’s #1 New York Times bestseller Until Friday Night—which bestselling author Kami Garcia called “tender, honest, and achingly real”—three teens from a small southern town are stuck in a dramatic love triangle.

Willa can’t erase the bad decisions of her past that led her down the path she’s on now. But she can fight for forgiveness from her family. And she can protect herself by refusing to let anyone else get close to her.

High school quarterback and town golden boy Brady used to be the best of friends with Willa—she even had a crush on him when they were kids. But that’s all changed now: her life choices have made her a different person from the girl he used to know.

Gunner used to be friends with Willa and Brady, too. He too is larger than life and a high school football star—not to mention that his family basically owns the town of Lawton. He loves his life, and doesn’t care about anyone except himself. But Willa is the exception—and he understands the girl she’s become in a way no one else can.

As secrets come to light and hearts are broken, these former childhood friends must face the truth about growing up and falling in love…even if it means losing each other forever.

 

Thoughts:
You can guarantee that if Abbi Glines releases a book I'm going to be dying to read it, but there was a freshness to Until Friday Night that I really loved last year and I can't wait to read this sequel. Under the Lights sounds amazing and I can't wait to devour it upon it's release!

 

Book Shelf: Everything But the Truth (If Only . . . #6) by Mandy Hubbard

If Only . . . she wasn't pretending to be someone else! The If Only romance line continues in this fun rags-to-riches romance.

Holly Mathews' mom is the new manager of a ritzy retirement home, and they just moved in. But having super-rich retirees as her only neighbors isn't a total bust, because the gorgeous, notorious Malik Buchannan is the grandson of a resident. Just one problem: when they meet, Malik assumes Holly is there to visit her own rich relative. She doesn't correct him, and it probably doesn't matter, because their flirtation could never turn into more than a superficial fling . . . right? But the longer she lives in his privileged world, the deeper Holly falls for Malik, and the harder it is to tell the truth . . . because coming clean might mean losing him.

For anyone who has dreamed of their own Cinderella story, this romance shows that when it comes to true love, the best person to be is yourself!

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Everything But The Truth is another wildly enjoyable instalment in the If Only series written by Mandy Hubbard and entrancing readers with yet again an endearingly sweet and enjoyable contemporary romance! 

Holly Matthew’s mother is the new manager at a glitzy retirement home called Sunset Towers that caters to the super-rich with decadent taste and lots of money. Holly herself doesn’t mind the sweet retirees she sees every day—a perk that comes from having the nice little apartment she shares with her mum nestled in the middle of the estate—and enjoys interacting with them. Yet when Malik Buchannan, the impossibly gorgeous grandson of Sunset Towers latest resident mistakes her for the granddaughter of one of the residents and not the staff, Holly finds herself struggling to tell Malik the truth—especially as they spend more time together and Holly begins to realise that Malik isn’t the notorious party boy portrayed in the media….. 

Mandy Hubbard is back with a second novel in the If Only series, having previously kicked off the series with Fool Me Twice. As with Fool Me Twice, Mandy’s writing is solid and fun and she introduces readers to a very likable main character in the form of Holly. 

Everything But The Truth was a really fun book to read. It was easy and flowing and I found Holly and Malik’s romance endearing. This is the first novel I’ve ever read that centres on a retirement home in any way, but I really liked the atmosphere that Hubbard conveyed. I found that the couple of Sunset Towers residents we met were cute and I really enjoyed the way Holly appreciated them and helped out.

Holly had a unique personality and I must commend Hubbard for making an effort to make Holly different. She’s the only teenager I’ve read about who has such a love for antiques and who knows so much about art. Holly made me smile with her endearing ways. 

The perfect way to spend an afternoon, Everything But The Truth is a quick and easy read and is guaranteed to make you smile. Definitely worth a read!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Bloomsbury (Thank you Sonia!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Perfect for contemporary fans.
Cover: Simple, but fitting
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes!

Owl Post #86

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

It's that time again! Owl Post time :)

  For Review:

From Harper Collins Australia: - The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub This book sounds like it has a lot of promise and sounds super cute. Looking forward to reading it myself :)   ....Thank you Holly!   I Bought:

- Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren With Christina Lauren attending the Sydney Author Event in August, I'm slowly working my way through this series and enjoying it so far. Keep a look out for my reviews coming soon of the series.     And that's me! What did the owls bring YOU this week?  

   

Spotlight: Thirst: Blood of my Blood by R.P. Channing- Guest Post

 

Hello lovelies!

 

I'm happy to feature debut author R.P. Channing and his novel Thirst: Blood of my Blood the blog today with a guest post. This book sounds quite interesting and I urge you all to check it out!

WITH BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHS

 

~ Kira Sutherland ~

After a near fatal accident (and getting cheated on by her 'boyfriend'), and beating up the lead cheerleader (with whom the boyfriend cheated...), and being labeled as having 'issues' in her school because she, uhm, sees ghosts, Kira is left with two choices:

1. Continue her 'therapy' (where she's told the ghost is a hallucination and also gets her legs ogled too often...)

Or

2. Go to Starkfield Academy, a boarding school for "Crazies and Convicts" (as the social media sites call them.)

She chooses the latter...

~ Cory Rand ~

Cory Rand has not had an easy life. His mother died in a car accident when he was twelve, and so did his mother's best friend...sort of. You see, Janice made a promise to take care of Cory just before she died, and so she lingers. Undead. A ghost that watches out for him.

Brought up in an abusive home, Cory quickly falls into a life of disreputable behavior. After his third offense (which was prompted by a girl, as usual - he has a weakness) he's left with two choices:

1. Be tried as an adult and share a cell with a guy named Bubba (he thinks...)

Or

2. Go to Starkfield Academy, which Cory is pretty sure is run by vampires. But, hey, at least he'll get an education.

He chooses the latter...

It's at Starkfield that Kira meets Cory Rand, a boy with an insatiable Rage who sees ghosts, too. As well as other things, other things from his past, things that confuse him, things like fire and witches and demons.

Things he's always ignored.

Until now.

Add on Goodreads or purchase on Amazon!
 

WHY YA?

Young Adult is the one genre where a writer is pretty much free to do anything he likes. 

Too many people look at the “Young” part of Young Adult and miss completely the “Adult” part. 
Young Adult and MG are galaxies apart in content. Young Adult is the one genre read far and wide by almost all age groups. 

We were all seventeen once (some of us still so), and Young Adult appeals to a market that knows what it’s like to be seventeen. That’s pretty much everyone who reads. 

The stories deal with issues that we, as a adults, face every day. And it deals with them tastefully. 
Young Adult stays firmly within boundaries that I feel comfortable with as a writer, without reducing anything in the quality of the story. 

Some of the scariest scenes I ever read were in The Hunger Games. I had chills. And yet, when I move into Horror itself as a genre, I find all the gore to be in bad taste. I lose interest, and I’m even a little repulsed sometimes. 

Young Adult focuses on the story without getting into excessive details that we don’t really need in order to tell that story. The romance in YA is endearing, gentle, sweet, kind, loving. Who didn’t think Twilight was one of the most romantic books ever written?

A Young Adult author has free rein in many genres. He is not stuck too firmly into a classification such as “Fantasy” or “Romance” or “Horror” because YA can encompass all those genres and still remains “Young Adult.” There are people who liked Twilight and yet didn’t like The Host. They are both “Young Adult” but they are also in different sub-genres. 

I’m working on two stories right now, both in completely different genres, but both “Young Adult.” I’d hate to stay firmly within “Fantasy” or “Romance” or “Horror.” With YA, I can move around, I can act freely, I can write what I feel like writing, and write about characters that I look up to and that I’d like to be like. 

The age of YA characters is a magical age. Nobody likes moping character. Teenage characters don’t mope. They have spunk, verve, sass. 

In other words, they have all the qualities we find good in people.

And what is a story without good characters?


What a fab guest post! Really makes you think about the different YA sub-genre's. And for the record, I LOVED The Host! And I consider it Stephanie Meyer's masterpiece :)

R P Channing started writing three years ago, but never published anything even after churning out over a million words of fiction. Thirst: Blood of my Blood is the first book he dared to publish. When asked why, he said, “Because it’s the first thing I wrote that my wife actually enjoyed reading.” When not hammering away (most literally) at his keyboard, he can be found buried in a book, reading anything from romance to horror to young adult to non-fiction to comedy.

 

Visit R.P:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Amazon

 

$20 Amazon Gift Voucher Giveaway

At the back of the book there is a giveaway link. Once the book hits fifty reviews on Amazon, one of those reviewers will win a $20 (US Dollars) Amazon Gift Voucher!

 

Book Shelf: The Siren by Kiera Cass

From Kiera Cass, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Selection series, comes a captivating stand-alone fantasy romance.

Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

The Siren by Kiera Cass is a beautifully written and nicely paced story about siren mythology, romance and one girl’s fight to find happiness in the arms of the boy she loves. 

I’ll admit, this is my first novel by Kiera Cass, although I do know her Selection series is widely popular. The Siren for me was a very sweet, easy stand alone read that I highly enjoyed. Cass mixes some intriguing siren mythology into a modern setting and introduces readers to a main character that is strong and genuinely likable. 

The Siren follows 19 year old Kahlen, who isn’t your ordinary teenage girl. Smart, beautiful and hopelessly romantic, Kahlen, is a siren and has been one, un-ageing and un-changing, for almost 80 years. With her 100 year old service to the Ocean nearing its end, Kahlen is growing tired of the endless deaths she must be responsible for as a siren and yearns for more. It’s not until she meets Akinli however that actually she begins to realise what she’s been truly yearning for. Akinli makes Kahlen feel normal for the first time in decades and even as they grow closer, Kahlen can’t help but wish she could have a future with him. Yet, if there’s anything Kahlen knows it’s that sirens aren’t allowed to fall in love and the last thing the Ocean wants is to let her go……

Something that really impressed me with this novel was that Kiera Cass managed to make the Ocean a character of its own as a living, breathing entity, with thoughts and feelings, capable of communicating with the sirens that serve it. I mean, obviously the ocean is full of life under normal circumstances—fish, whales, coral etc all live within it’s waters—but in this novel the Ocean has a conscious mind of its own and I found this a really different concept—one I hadn’t quite seen before. Within The Siren, Kahlen and her sisters must serve the Ocean and I thought the way Cass explored the girls lives and the way they feel was excellent.

Our main character Kahlen was someone I actually enjoyed following. I wasn’t completely sure I would like her heading into the novel—sometimes with standalone tales there isn’t enough time to get to really know the characters and as such their relationships, romance and developments often feel rushed. This wasn’t the case with The Siren. Kahlen has been alive for almost a hundred years and by the time we meet her in The Siren she’s already had time for self-reflection and consideration and had a pretty good grasp on who she is. Kahlen is kind and sweet and quite normal—something that manages to sweeten the relationship she develops with Akinli. 

The Siren is a well-paced novel. For those who fear a swift romance, The Siren takes place over about a year and allows Kahlen to have time to come to care for Akinli. Small encounters lead to long spouts of time apart and distance that does only cement how she feels, but as the reader it’s not hard to feel the story and emotions experienced by our leading lady. 

Quick and nicely told, The Siren is an endearing romance that follows a good storyline and manages to introduce readers to an intriguing sisterhood, a likable main character and a swoon-worthy romance that is powerful yet down to earth. A great read!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Harper Collins Australia (Thank you Holly!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Paranormal fans will want to check this out.
Cover: Stunning. Simply stunning.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a standalone novel, but I'll definitely be reading more by Kiera Cass.....

Blog Tour: Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton- Excerpt & Giveaway

Today on The Rest Is Still Unwritten I have the Blog Tour for Twisted Sisters by Kimber Leigh Wheaton, the second book in The Orion Circle series. Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours I have an excerpt to share and a giveaway.

_________________________

It’s a child’s toy—what could go wrong?

While playing with a spirit board, two sorority sisters summon the vindictive spirits of three women brutally murdered by a psychopath. Join Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle as they delve into the disturbing events of the past to find the key to freeing the spirits.

But this isn’t any ordinary haunting. These ghosts were banished before, and now they have returned more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Anger breeds hatred and hatred leads to darkness—these phantoms are on the verge of losing their last spark of humanity and becoming completely lost to the shadows.

Can Logan and Kacie convince the tortured souls to embrace the light and move on, or will the spirits succumb to the hypnotic pull of evil, leading to an eternity of torment and suffering?

Add on Goodreads or check out my review!

Purchase:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
 

From Twisted Sisters.....

Huge EMF spike!" Carl shouts, waving the EMF detector in the air.

That’s it. I can’t wait for Raven any longer. Mr. Kincaid’s voice echoes in my mind, calling me stupid for rushing in not knowing what’s in there. But I’m in charge of this fiasco… I never should’ve let her run in without more information. Steeling my shoulders, I cross the threshold into the house.

I stop and survey the scene in seconds, taking in the ridiculous amount of damage. The living room is trashed: sofa overturned, lamps broken on the floor, and the front window shattered by the flying armchair. No sign of Raven, but the girls said they were using the board in the kitchen. As I walk down the hall toward the back of the house, a ceramic figurine flies at me. I duck just in time, and it grazes the top of my hair. I’m finding it difficult to believe spirits summoned from a spirit board by amateurs could be this powerful.

The family room is in a similar state to the living room. When I spy the sixty-inch TV on the floor in a smashed mess my heart thumps faster. These are powerful spirits or maybe even a rogue gang. That TV had to weigh over one hundred pounds, and it’s a good twelve feet from the entertainment center. No sign of Raven in here either.

A fierce wind blows from the kitchen, slamming me against the wall. So much power. None of this makes any sense!

"Raven." I try to call out, but my voice comes out a hoarse croak.

My body is freed as the wind dies down, and I race toward the kitchen. Something shoves me from behind, sending me reeling across the tile floor. I manage to rotate myself at the last second so my shoulder impacts the wall instead of my head. The wind stops the moment I hit the wall. As I rub my sore shoulder, a loud scream pierces the silence. My stomach drops at the sheer terror in that scream. Raven.

Leaping to my feet, I search the large kitchen for her. When my eyes land on her, I blink a few too many times. This shouldn’t be possible.

"Hang on, Raven," I call out to her form suspended in midair near the ceiling.

"Hang on? Really?" Her arms are splayed out to the sides, her long, black hair floating around her like a mermaid underwater. Though she tries to project confidence with her words, I can tell from her face that she’s terrified.

"Release her at once!" I yell at the invisible spirits. "She has done nothing to you."

"Don’t you think I already tried that?" Raven bites out in between gasping breaths.

"St. Michael, the archangel, def—" I start the prayer, but something crashes into me, knocking the wind from my lungs as I’m slammed into the floor. It takes a few dazed seconds to realize it’s Raven’s body crushing me. "Can you move?"

"I don’t know." She rolls off me despite her words, groaning. "Those damned spirits. Madder than cornered rattlesnakes."

"I can’t feel anything but intense hatred and fury." I push to my feet, ignoring the searing pain in my side. After hauling Raven up by the arm, I drag her toward the back door.

"Wait!" she yells, yanking her arm away. "The board." Raven disappears beneath the long oak table. A few seconds later, she pops out holding the spirit board.

"Come on," I shout when I feel the spirits returning for round two. "Crap, too late." An invisible force plows into me, pushing me back into the unforgiving wall. "Raven, run!"

 

Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. In addition to writing, she works as an editor for two publishers as well as select indie authors. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and lots of dragons. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, video games, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) Winner of the 2014 Rising Star Award at the BTS Red Carpet Awards in NOLA.

Visit Kimber:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Shelf: Twisted Sisters (The Orion Circle #2) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton

It’s a child’s toy—what could go wrong?

While playing with a spirit board, two sorority sisters summon the vindictive spirits of three women brutally murdered by a psychopath. Join Logan, Kacie, and the rest of the Orion Circle as they delve into the disturbing events of the past to find the key to freeing the spirits.

But this isn’t any ordinary haunting. These ghosts were banished before, and now they have returned more powerful than anyone could have imagined. Anger breeds hatred and hatred leads to darkness—these phantoms are on the verge of losing their last spark of humanity and becoming completely lost to the shadows.

Can Logan and Kacie convince the tortured souls to embrace the light and move on, or will the spirits succumb to the hypnotic pull of evil, leading to an eternity of torment and suffering?
 
More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Twisted Sisters is the second novel in Kimber Leigh Wheaton’s Orion Circle series and is another well written and paced adventure that sees our main characters back to investigate another ghostly haunting.

Having previously introduced readers to Kacie, Logan and their friends that make up the Orion Circle, a band of teenage ghost hunters who have supernatural and physic abilities, Kimber Leigh Wheaton embarks on a new ghostly adventure when the Orion Circle are called in to investigate a haunting after two sorority sisters use an Ouija board only to bring back the ghosts of three long dead murder victims. Racing against the clock to help the ghosts find peace before they kill, Kacie, Logan and their friends must discover the truth about their murders if they ever hope to set the spirits free…..

Though this is the sequel in the Orion Circle series, I do believe it could be read as a standalone novel, although for the best reading experience I recommend reading the first novel Tortured Souls beforehand. Twisted Sisters is well written and has a solid foundation. The storyline is one easily read and Wheaton writes an engaging story. The ghost hunting aspect is nicely written and flows beautifully. I believe the characters know what they’re talking about and they clearly have talent.

I actually found myself enjoying this second novel in the series more than the first; Kacie and Logan seemed secure in their relationship and I thought the ongoing dynamic between all the characters was fantastic. I admit I was thrown at first with all the different people and struggled to recall them and their position in the first book, but I quickly found it was easy to follow them in Twisted Sisters regardless. I feel invested in all their individual hints of romances and relationships together. Just what is going on between Rebecca and Carl? And when will Blake and Raven admit they’re nuts about each other?

Twisted Sisters is quite a fun story. Kimber Leigh Wheaton references Scooby-Doo and Mystery INC in this book and funnily enough, this is the overall feel this story has. It has that light who-done-it feel that sees the characters mix physic abilities with science and investigating to attend to the ghosts.

Quick and fun, Twisted Sisters is definitely worth a read and leaves me wondering what will happen to the gang next. Especially after Logan’s devastating vision that revealed that one of the characters’ lives is in grave danger…..

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Xpresso Book Tours and author Kimber Leigh Wheaton (Thank you ladies!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
My Recommendation: A great ghostly tale.
Cover: This cover fabulously represents the story!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes. I'd love to see more :)

Blog Tour: Soulless by Jacinta Maree- Excerpt & Giveaway

Having posted my 5 star review of Soulless by Jacinta Maree yesterday, I'm happy to be showcasing the novel today as part of the Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours!

I actually had the pleasure of meeting Jacinta at Oz Comic Con last year and she was absolutely lovely! I managed to snag copies of her My Demonic Ghost series then too, so I'm gonna try and read them soon too, having loved Soulless so!

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Welcome to Soulless.
We are the generation that laughs at death.


Reincarnation; what was once considered a gift of immortality has become an eternity of nightmares.

Nadia Richards lives in a world plagued by reincarnation, a system of recycling souls where all past memories, personalities and traumatic events are relived daily in disjointed sequences. Trapped within their own warped realities, not even the richest and most powerful are saved from their own minds unraveling. Madness is the new human nature, and civilizations are crumpling beneath themselves trying to outrun it.

Within a society that ignores death, Nadia appears to be the one exception to the reincarnation trap. Born without any reincarnated memories and with printless eyes, the hot tempered 19 year old quickly becomes the ultimate prize to all those wishing to end the vicious cycle, or for some, to ensure they could evade death forever.

Add on Goodreads or check out my 5 star review!

Purchase:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | The Book Depository

From Soulless....

Diesel scowled as though a bad thought had been gnawing at him for hours.　 He reached down and pulled me into a stand by my elbow. "This conversation is over." He yanked me around with him as he turned, "Come, I want to talk to you in private."

　 　 　His fingers dug into my arm as he ushered me away from the camp fire. As I walked, a sense of unease filled me. He didn’t speak when I pulled against him, "What’s your problem?" His rage bruised my skin and I jerked myself out of his grip. "Let me go! What’s gotten into you?"

　 　 　Diesel’s palm lashed outwards, hitting me so hard in the chest that I gasped. The impact shoved me back into the tree as Diesel held his forearm to my throat, pinning me against the trunk. The flash of his blade caught the moonlight as the chilled metal nipped my neck. Immediately, I clenched up, automatically holding my breath as Diesel’s face blurred in with the shadows.

I could only see his eyes beneath the mane of hair, and how his lips pulled back to bare his teeth. "Alright, enough of this bullshit!" He was so close that I could feel his body heat through my clothes.

I inhaled a sharp breath and stretched my neck away. "What are you doing?"

　 　 "Don’t fuck with me! I know you’re up to something!"　　　　

　 　"What?" I caught his gaze.　 The shadows sunk into every dark speck of his intense stare. He looked crazed. "What the hell are you talking about?"

　 　"Listen carefully because I’m not going to repeat myself. You do not want to mess with me." He pressed his forearm in a little harder, squeezing my throat. "I’m always going to be two steps ahead of you, so whatever you’re planning you can just forget it."

　 　"I’m not… planning… anything! Stop… stop I can’t breathe!" He eased back and I gasped loudly. Adrenaline pumped into my body, swelling my head with panic. "What the hell is wrong with you, you lunatic?"

Diesel didn’t say anything. He just looked at me. He looked at me like I was a walking, talking dog that he couldn’t figure out what to do with. He kept the blade near my throat, but for a split second, I forgot it was there. "You’re unbelievable! The others were right. You’re ... you’re just some psychopath."

　 　"No, no I’m not the crazy one here. I know you’re planning something. I know the look of a back stabber when I see one."

Diesel inched closer as the prick of the blade pressed into my voice box again.　 The way he looked so intensely into my eyes was like he was trying to stab me with them.

　 　"If I’m such a raging lunatic, then why would you come back to me?"

　 　　My gaze hardened. What the hell does that mean? Diesel must have seen the confusion cross my face as his brows tightened. "Why did you come back?"

　 　The question shocked me that my jaw dropped a little. "I don’t understand—"

　 　He snarled, "Back in Chinatown, when we were jumped by Twiddle Dumb and Twiddle Dee, there was no way I could follow you. You were out on the streets, you had the contacts, and you were free to go anywhere you wanted. I want to know why? Why did you come back? What do you really want?"
　 　The words choked up in my throat as though I was swallowing rocks. Had this been bugging him the whole time? I vaguely remembered the look of distrust he had the moment I returned to the room. I didn’t think too much of it back then, but now it made sense.

　 　"If it makes you feel any better, I did contemplate on running, but I figured it was pretty dog of me to ditch you."

　 　He shook his head and pressed the sharp tip closer into my throat, "That’s not an answer."　

 

Born in Melbourne Australia, Jacinta Maree considers herself a chocoholic with an obsession with dragons, video gaming and Japan. She writes a variety of genres including YA paranormal, steampunk, horror, new adult, dystopian and fantasy. Winner of 2014 Horror of the year and bestselling author, Jacinta writes to bring enjoyment to others while fulfilling her own need to explore the weird and the impossible.

 

Visit Jacinta:

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

a Rafflecopter giveaway Soulless was an incredible book and I can't recommended it enough--seriously, get yourself a copy of this book, you won't be sorry!

Book Shelf: Soulless (The Immortal Gene #1) by Jacinta Maree

Welcome to Soulless.
We are the generation that laughs at death.


Reincarnation; what was once considered a gift of immortality has become an eternity of nightmares.

Nadia Richards lives in a world plagued by reincarnation, a system of recycling souls where all past memories, personalities and traumatic events are relived daily in disjointed sequences. Trapped within their own warped realities, not even the richest and most powerful are saved from their own minds unraveling. Madness is the new human nature, and civilizations are crumpling beneath themselves trying to outrun it.

Within a society that ignores death, Nadia appears to be the one exception to the reincarnation trap. Born without any reincarnated memories and with printless eyes, the hot tempered 19 year old quickly becomes the ultimate prize to all those wishing to end the vicious cycle, or for some, to ensure they could evade death forever.
 
More info on Goodreads......


Review:

Soulless is the absolutely spectacular first book in Australian author Jacinta Maree’s new The Immortal Gene series and is a truly impressive start to what looks to be a very promising series! 

Soulless introduces readers to a futuristic dystopian world where reincarnation isn’t just a magical possibility—it’s a reality…a dark gruesome reality. For generations what was once considered the gift immortality has been an unending curse. Individuals find themselves trapped inside their own minds as they experience the memories, experiences and often traumatic deaths of their past lives. With multiple personalities present in their heads, society has become a dark, warped place, where trust, love and consideration for others are all a thing of the past, and the only way to survive is to rely on yourself. 

For 19 year old Nadia Richards, this world is home and a never ending fight for survival—especially seeing as Nadia is the first person ever born without a soul imprint; meaning she has no past memories and doesn’t appear to have ever been reincarnated. The exception in a crumbling society, Nadia finds herself hunted by different groups of individuals who will stop at nothing to end the cycle of reincarnations and who believe that Nadia is the key they have been looking for…….

Having read and literally devoured Soulless, there is absolutely nothing about the book I can fault—other than the fact it ended. LOL! Jacinta Maree has created a truly dark, vivid dystopian world within Soulless. Her powerful descriptions paint a picture of a world destroyed, where most citizens must wear gas masks to simply breathe outside and those in power rule with iron fists and violence. It’s quite vivid and beautifully dark. Maree doesn’t shy away from violence and gruesome death and keeps things very honest. 

Jacinta Maree also depicts very different groups of individuals trying to survive and various organisations hell bent on bringing change about to the world—even if it’s through nefarious means. I really appreciated the different levels and layers to this society and find myself still dying to learn more; especially if the killer ending Jacinta Maree included in Soulless is anything to go by! 

Soulless really draws you in as you follow Nadia, who truly is a fabulous heroine. Nadia is strong willed and capable and just a little hot-headed. She’s different in the sense she can’t really emphasise with what the rest of society go through, having no past lives herself, but she’s kind and caring in a way no one else is. I think she’s a strong individual and you couldn’t help but like her as you followed her story. 

Maree doesn’t hold anything back with this novel and not all characters you meet are guaranteed to survive as the story progresses. I admit I’ve never found myself so entranced by a hardened, psychopathic killer before, but Diesel…..I love him. I don’t care if he has a pertinent to kill first and then ask questions later—this criminal is so darn likable. And he and Nadia have some serious chemistry even if they’re not trying to be flirty with each other. They just complement each other so well and I’m already so very invested in their friendship and possible developing romance. Jacinta Maree has me very interested in Diesel and what is happening between him and Nadia—there’s so many possibilities their connection brings, and it really is just the cherry on top of a story so fast paced and exciting. 

Incredibly addictive all the way to the final page, Soulless is a fantastic premise in what I have no doubt will be a brilliant series and has this reader dying to get her hands on the next book pronto. Incredible story and one I highly recommend! 

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Xpresso Book Tours and author Jacinta Maree (Thanks ladies!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | The Book Depository
My Recommendation: A brilliant read for dystopian fans!
Cover: Fantastic cover--suits the series.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: CANNOT wait for more!