Winterborne and Ravenstoke by Augusta Blythe GIVEAWAY + Excerpt! **CLOSED**

Hey guys!

Author Augusta Blythe has kindly offered up ecopies of her novels Winterbourne AND Ravenstroke to ONE of my followers! I also have an excerpt from the second book Ravenstroke to share with you that is hilarious and is sure to pique your interest.

First, lets take a look at Winterboure and Ravenstroke!


Winterboure:
Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.
View Winterboure on Goodreads or buy it from Amazon or Barnes and Noble!

Ravenstroke:
In Winterborne, Loie and Mia's seventeenth birthdays brought more drama and surprises than they ever expected. Now, in Ravenstoke, they are adjusting to the aftermath and struggling to keep those newfound powers in check. When Andreas is called away to England under mysterious circumstances, a new guy is sent to Salcey Ridge in his place. Cian is smarmy and cocksure and Loie wants nothing more than to unleash a hellhound on him. Unfortunately, Cian isn't the only complication in their lives as the girls must also contend with the reappearance of Mr. Winterborne himself and Loie's most dreaded fear of all - a part in the school musical. Can the girls survive the rest of junior year unscathed?
View Ravenstroke on Goodreads or buy it from Amazon or Barnes and Noble!

Excerpt:
Once back at the house, I creep in through the patio door and jet upstairs before Georgia sees me. The last thing I need is to explain why I’m soaking wet and what happened to my pants. Mia is already upstairs. Upon hearing my footsteps, she hurries into my room and lets out a hearty laugh when she sees the state I’m in.

“Hey, don’t mock,” I say, taking off Cian’s black jacket and stripping off the rest of my wet clothes. I grab a towel and rub it vigorously all over me. “I almost died.”

“In your Hello Kitty underpants? That would’ve sucked.”

“Yes, Mistress of the Obvious, it certainly would have. I root around for a decent outfit. “Have you read anything about kelpies?”

Mia thinks for a moment. “They look like horses and drag people to their death under water, usually a lake or river.” She glances at the wet pile of clothes on the floor and back at me. “Are you serious? A kelpie in Salcey Ridge?”

“Why not?” I sigh. “Bring us your kelpie, your homicidal pixies, your huddled masses of magic-folk yearning to practice the black arts freely.”

“Hyberbolic much?”

I pull on a pair of jeans and a light blue sweater. There, much more flattering, although I don’t know why I care how I look for Cian McSlick. Basic vanity, I guess.
“Whose jacket is that?” she asks, eyeing the clearly masculine jacket on the bed.
I give my head a little shake to clear away memories of the pixie. “Cian’s. Oh yeah, forgot to mention Cian.”

“Keane? Like the band?”

“Yes, the entire band of Keane happened to pass by and rescue me from the clutches of a kelpie. They’re standing on the riverbank in a brooding formation, playing a song about it as we speak.”

Mia ignores my sarcasm. “Stranger things have happened to us.” I can’t argue with that. “So who is he?”

“Some Universal assigned to stalk me until Andreas gets back.”

“Someone you met in Sanctuary?”

“Nope. New guy.”

“Is he hot?”

“He’s slimy and sleazy and I’ll bet the only animal he can morph into is a snake.”
“Wow,” Mia says, “all that in how many minutes of meeting him? Sounds like a keeper. So where can we find this Cian? Somewhere Only We Know?”

I groan. An actual Keane joke from Mia. Will wonders never cease? “He’s staying at the cabin. Please come with me. I feel like he’s going to pull the old yawn, stretch so he can put his arm around me.”

“Well, he already managed to get you out of your pants.”

I roll my eyes in disgust. “I need back-up, not back talk.”

“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” she says with a wink. Oh, the hilarity at my expense. I’ll remember this the next time she skids toward death.


Visit Augusta Blythe:
Website // Goodreads // Facebook // Twitter

Wonderful excerpt, right? The series sounds fantastic! To win ecopies of both books here's what you have to do.....

Giveaway!
-Simply comment on the post with a way to contact you!
-ONE winner will win both books.
-Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY!
-You DO NOT need to be a follower to enter, although it's always appreciated.
-Giveaway will run from today (the 17th of Feb) until the 2nd of March.


I'd like to thank Augusta Blythe for offering these ebooks and to urge you all to check them out!
Good-luck!

Book Shelf: Prince of Wolves (The Grey Wolves #1) by Quinn Loftis

Jaque Pierce was just an ordinary 17 year old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don't realize the last two weeks of their summer was going to get a lot more interesting. From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis Lupus, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul. The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, Texas. Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try and claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane's mate and complete the bond between them?

(Blurb from Goodreads.....)


Review:

Prince of Wolves is a sweet, romantic tale full of passionate love and unexpected danger.

I admit, at first I found it difficult to get into this story. It took me a while to get associated with the writing style and the main characters as well as some of the background information; there’s a lot of it in the beginning as you learn about the Grey Wolves, but once I got about 10 chapters in and passed all this then I began to enjoy it. There were still times when things lagged to me, but for the most part this story kept my attention and proved to be an enjoyable read. It’s something that you can relax and sink your teeth into as you read Jacque and Fane’s tale.

I liked Jacque as a heroine. She was feisty and I felt she questioned things (including her own sanity) in a reasonable manner, even though she couldn’t fight the pull she felt towards Fane. As the story progressed she began to learn about Fane and the connection they shared I liked her even more. I thought her wit was perfect and she handled the revelations about her life and her future very well for someone in her situation. Learning of her mate and then facing the possibility of losing him was hard on her, but she dealt it in a believable way; with a healthy amount of fear, yet natural understanding.

Of course I liked Fane....how could I not? He’s your typical alpha male lead. A Romanian werewolf prince. How sexy. I found his possessiveness somewhat endearing and I liked seeing him interacted with Jacque. It was cute when her thoughts wandered and he got jealous—such a cutie. Their banter and interactions, especially in their thoughts were fun to read about and I liked every moment they shared.
The friendship Jacque, Sally and Jen share in this story is wonderful; they’re fantastic friends. They were all so perfectly in sync with one another and I feel like the author wrote their friendship into the book so well. Jen specifically continually cracked me up. Her mind tended to wander in directions I’d expect mine to go to and I loved that she appeared to have no filter—made things so much fun and funny at times.

One thing I thought was wonderful about this story was that although Fane and Jacque were mates and are meant for one another, they’re not “together” straight away. There’s no constant touching or kissing or anything like that. They’re both attracted to one another; Fane’s wolf goes nuts over Jacque and Fane makes Jacque all nervous, but they’re not all over one another from the get go. The desire is there, but their physical relationship doesn’t begin until about half way into the book. after which there’s plenty of kissing and touching to keep me entertained. I will say that their being in love comes on very fast that at first I didn’t completely buy it. However, due to the nature of the story I was able to overlook it and then towards the end of the book I didn’t care about that at all. They were too sweet and passionate about one another to irk me in this manner.

For the most part I enjoyed the storyline, although there didn’t seem to be a real purpose to it. It all centred on Fane finding his mate and while I appreciated it, I would have liked a bit more substance. Also, I didn’t really understand Lucas’s deal. He didn’t know Jacque, he’d never spoken to her and wasn’t a part of her life, so what were his reasons for wanting her? When had he decided to claim her? And what made him do so? Did he see her on the street and want her or had he passed by her house and been captivated by her....what? It just didn’t make sense to me and I would have liked the author to elaborate on Lucas’s reasoning’s and motivations a bit more.

Still, all in all this is a fantastic little tale. It’s a great tale if you wanna sit back and read something not too light, not too heavy. The ending ends well; but not without some intensity and, “OMG, what’s going to happen?” nail biting moments and I for one and looking forward to reading the next book, Blood Rites.


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author. (Thank-you very much!)
Format: Kindle ebook.
Recommend: Fans of quick, easy read will love this
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it.
Cover: I do actually really like the cover. It's stunning in fact, the colouring and the half face is perfect.
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes.....
Buy it here: From Amazon.

Cover Lust

This week's cover lust is:

Ember by Kristen Callihan.......


After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancé learns of her descent into danger—and of the strange, new powers she's discovered—saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.

When Lord Benjamin Archer's one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, he vows to take what Ellis values most—his daughter Miranda. Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.

But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires.

Thoughts:
The model on this cover is really striking and the half face and whispy flow of her her blends beautifully with the background.

Waiting on Wednesday #21

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....


Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway
Releases on: January 15th 2013
Add on: Goodreads.
Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Thoughts:
I featured this book a couple of weeks ago during it's cover reveal and I'm featuring it now because I think it sounds like the bees knees. I adore Kelley Armstrong's The Darkest Powers series that features necromancy and I'm ecstatic for the chance to dive into a brand new book/series featuring this element. Although, I think waiting until 2013 will kill me!!


What do you think? Will you be putting this on your to-read list?

And what are you waiting on this week?

Book Shelf: Vampire Hollows (Kiera Hudson #5) by Tim O'Rourke

With nowhere else to run to but the Hollows, Kiera Hudson finds herself in a world like no other. Entrusted with a secret, she has to make her way to the mysterious Light House set hundreds of miles beneath the Earth. As she makes her journey, Kiera’s companions are being murdered one by one. But is the killer amongst them and is it Elias Munn?

Not knowing who to trust, who to love and who to believe, Kiera makes the most dangerous journey of her life, in search of the Elders hidden within the walls of the Dust Palace. With time running out, Kiera knows she must finally choose which race should live and which race should die.

(Blurb from Goodreads....)


Review: (Warning, contains some mild spoilers)

The Kiera Hudson series has been a non-stop heart racing, heart pounding ride that’s seen Kiera face danger, find romance and discover the ultimate betrayal, all in the lead up to the gripping conclusion that is Vampire Hollows!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—this has got to be the best self published series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading! Ever since the very first book, this compelling series crafted so masterfully by author Tim O’Rourke has had me completely. Tim’s intensity and detail in his writing as well as the dark, enticing world he writes about have swept me away and I’ve fallen in love with the characters even more with each gripping instalment. A master at mystery and slight deception, Tim has constantly had me on my toes, often heading in directions completely different than he looks to be going in the beginning.

Tim O’Rourke knows how to write his twists and turns into his books in such a way that you’ll never see most of what happens coming. The discoveries that Keira makes and the revelations that come to light are always mind-blowing and often heart-breaking—there’s so much deception and betrayal that mixes with friendship and love throughout this series. It’s simply brilliant. I never know what to expect when I pick up a Kiera Hudson book and I find I anticipated having my conclusions thrown out the window each time.

Kiera Hudson sure has been through a lot since first arriving in Ragged Cove, setting in motion events that would shape the whole series. She is no longer the same young woman she was in the beginning and I’ve loved watching her grow. She’s harder, perhaps more jaded, but she’s still managed to hold onto that hope and goodness that’s made her a fantastic character to follow. Even in the very end, when she’s faced with so much pain and decisions that seem to have no light, she still manages to do the correct thing by herself and what she knows to be right. Correct me if I’m wrong but sometimes I think Tim’s loved putting her in impossible situations and seeing her get out of them—I know I’ve enjoyed seeing her do that. Watching her define who she is after learning her life isn’t what it seems and what she is isn’t quite human has been a highlight of the series. What can I say? I love this girl! I always have and even in the very end I still love her and still agree with her choices.

Throughout the series Kiera has been plagued by one impossible choice; who does her heart truly belong to? Developing over time feelings for both of two men in her life, she’s struggled with choosing once and for all and in this book she finally answers this question. All I’m going to say is that I’m one happy chappie! In the end I think choosing between Luke and Potter was easier for her than she expected, and this was before a startling revelation that is pure Tim O’Rourke! I’ve always liked Luke since the first book, but I’m sure that those who know me know I’ve only ever had eyes for Potter. As crazy as it sounds when going into the series, Sean Potter has always been the one for me. With his gruff, cocky nature and foul mouth he wormed his way into my heart and stole it completely.

This book is more explosive at times than any of the other Kiera Hudson books! I gasped, I shrieked and if I had it in physical form I would have thrown it across the room at some parts. I was enthralled and captivated, and in true Tim O’Rourke form some of the revelations towards the end and some of the staggering things that happened had me wanting to cry and shout. I wondered how the hell things would be resolved and kept think, “No, no, no!”

I’m extremely sad to see this chapter of Keira’s life come to a close and see the series come to an end. Every part, every moment of this series has been emotional in some way or other and every single thing that’s happened, be it good, bad, happy, or sad have all been entirely worth reading. This breathless end to a series that isn’t really an ending had me on the edge of my seat and utterly captivated and I cannot wait to see what Tim does with the new level of this series he delves into at the very end of this book in the next Kiera Hudson series, Kiera Hudson-Dead Flesh!


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by the author. (Thank-you so much for letting me review your books Tim!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Recommend:YES!
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it!
Cover: This cover reflects back on the original cover and I think it's a very fitting cover for the last book in the series!
Read sequel/continue with series: This is the final book in the Kiera Hudson series, but Tim is going to write a new series featuring Kiera, Kiera Hudson-Dead Flesh and I'm dying to read that too!
But it: On Amazon!

Book Shelf: Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

(Blurb from Goodreads.....)


Review:

Brodi Ashton’s debut novel Everneath is mystical and compelling and will draw you into a world of shadows, woven together with high school drama and everyday life in a tale that will draw you in and not let you go!

I admit I had such high expectations for this book. I’ve been eagerly awaiting it’s release, but when I first began reading I found myself a tad disappointed. At first I couldn’t connect with the characters and I struggled to keep reading and then a little less than half way through the connection caught and BAM! I was hooked! The story caught me and I was sucked into Niki’s pain and desperation.

Brodi Ashton has done a fantastic job with her mythology. She blends Ancient Greet myth with just a tinge of Ancient Egypt to create a story and plotline that’s so enthralling and utterly addictive that I didn’t want to stop reading at one point!
I found I enjoyed the combination of past and present that we witnessed throughout the story as Niki’s tale became apparent. The blend of Niki’s time before the Everneath and then the present went together perfectly to create an intriguing tale. Ashton had me completely with her rich mystery and suspense. I had to know what had happened and was going to happen as we learned about the dark world of shadows that is the Everneath, so filled to the depth with loss and pain.

Our main character Niki Bennet has been through so much. Her time in the Everneath changed her and left her a shadow of the person she used to be. Yet it took strength, a strength she shouldn’t have possessed to leave the Everneath and Return. I admired her courage in the face of knowing her fate and Ashton wrote in such a way that it was impossible to ignore the pain and desperation that collected within Niki even as she spent the majority of her time on the surface fighting to feel and regain some of who she once was.

As Niki’s fighting to right some of her wrongs in the short time she has left before she must return to the Everneath there are two boys that continue to immerse themselves in her life; Cole, the one she left with and Jack, the one she returned for. Both are very different and both are connected to Niki in very different ways.
Cole isn’t human, an Everling who’s intentions towards Niki are far from noble and yet who I honestly believe cares about her in his own way. I believe he’s cared about Niki since before he took her to the Everneath with him, although he often doesn’t show it. Cole has his personality problems, but I think there’s more to him than we’ve seen so far and I look forward to seeing how Ashton develops him in future books.

And yet it’s undeniably Jack that has Niki’s heart and mine too. As well he should! Jack Caputo has got to be one of the most swoon-worthy boys I’ve read in YA fiction lately. He’s sexy as hell, but not only in the looks department. It’s his complete and utter devotion to Niki, it’s his inability to give up and his refusal to stop loving her despite what every one else thinks. Even though she was gone he never let her go; he was completely dedicated to her and that’s so endearing in a male lead. Even when she was gone he loved her and seeing what that love was able to do was so powerful. Brodi Ashton wrote him perfectly when she crafted him!

When we begin this book it quickly becomes clear that it’s not your traditional girl-meets-boy story but rather a girl-returns to- boy story. The foundation of their relationship has already been set in their friendship and past relationship even before Niki descended into the Everneath and as we read the book we witness them re-connect and reaffirm what’s there, what will proably always be there! I have no clue what Ashton plans to do with the possible Niki/Jack/Cole love triangle or even its implications, but at this point I can clearly see that it’s Niki and Jack’s relationship that is real and strong.

With so much going on amidst Niki’s Return and her place within her worlds, both normal and Everneath, a handful of interesting developments throughout the book lead up to an awful mighty ending, one you sure won’t see coming when you begin the book! I can see oh, so many places where Miss Ashton may go with this series and I look forward to seeing her develop her world some more!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster Australia (Thank-you so very much Caroline!)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: March 1st 2012
Expected AU Price: $24.99
Recommend: Yes.
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it.
Cover: This cover is stunning, simply stunning. Easily one of the best of the year so far!
Read sequel/continue with series: Yes! The ending left me gasping and begging for more!
Challenge: 2012 Debut Author Challenge.

Book Shelf: Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

(Blurb from Goodreads..... )


Review:

Drink Slay Love is an impossibly quirky story that will have you smiling and grinning over Pearls antics as she navigates her new world and feelings!

Sticking to a very traditional sense of vampires with an extremely fun twist, author Sarah Beth Durst entices you with Pearl’s tale. Durst’s writing style fits in with the story well and there’s a sense of sophistication to her writing, one that translates well with the centuries old vampires she writes about that litter Pearl’s family. I literally laughed out loud over some of the things Durst wrote into the story. Some of the lines she writes are so cheesy that they’re actually brilliant and I found it hard to keep a smile off my face on many occasions as I read.

Pearl is such a fantastic character to read about. She’s so complex and complicated and really makes the story what it is. Initially when I first began this book I worried over whether I would like Pearl or not. In the beginning of the story she comes across as somewhat mean and uncaring towards humans, which essentially she is, but she also has such a fun side to her that I enjoyed reading about. Her sarcastic attitude and quick tongue make for some interesting reading and her dislike for humans in the beginning of the book make her an intriguing character to follow. One of the things I found I liked best about Pearl is that she’s far from perfect. Described in the premise as “mostly evil”, this is very true of Pearl. Pearl is a vampire, through and through, and she makes no excuses for it. She sees humans as snacks and doesn’t care much for them.

As a vampire, she is self-centred and involved, but she changes. As the book progresses, it’s wonderful watching the growth Pearl undertakes as a result of her run in with Mr. Sparkly and Pointy, the unicorn that ultimately sets in motion the changes in Pearl. Seeing her befriend some of the humans, including Evan and Bethany, it’s nice seeing her develop a conscience. While she’ll never be exactly sweet and innocent, Pearly definitely becomes a better person, err vampire, and it shows in the choices she makes and actions she chooses later on in the story. She’s still remarkably flawed, but she wants to be better and that means so much.

With a quirky plotline and hilarious one-liners, there's a vast array of characters that add read colour to this book. I admit I was lost with all the Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins Pearl has, but they and all the unique humans she befriends add so much flair to the story. Evan and Bethany excel as well as the oh, so funny “vampire slayers” Zeke and Matt. Add in a few “popular types” and some athletes, and Durst manages to step outside these stereotypes and bring all these characters together with one common goal.

Full of twists, turns and hilarious situations, Drink Slay Love is a quirky read, with a plotline you’ll love and become immersed with. This is the perfect book to sit back and relax with; laughing and smiling over Pearl and her fabulous take on her worlds, both old and new. This is one book you won’t regret picking up!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Allen & Unwin Australia (Thank-you very much)
Format: Paperback
AU Release Date: Available now!
Expected AU Price: $16.99
Recommend: Yes.
Recommend borrow or buy: Buy it.
Cover: It's so very simple, but when you hold it in your hands the simplicity of it is truly brilliant
Read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand alone, but I'm desperate for more from Durst!
Challenge: 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challange.