A Review for Death is but a Dream by Erin Hayes

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: September 29th, 2013
Finished Date: January 30th, 2014

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: Paranormal, Adult
Source: For Review

Format: Kindle
Pages: 308

Buy: Amazon UK  / Amazon US

Caught between life and death, all Callie wants is to live again.

Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead.

The Review: 4.5 Flowers!  

Death is but a Dream was a great read! I was so engrossed in it that I read it all in one go.
As the synopsis spells out….. Callie Saunders ends up dead after saving a child from being ran over by a bus and not only is she in a coma but she winds up in hell and has an appointment with Hades himself. Apparently, there have been attempts to kill Hades’ son Plutus and seeing as she is a brilliant detective with great solving skills…. He makes her a deal – find out who is behind the attempts on Plutus’ life, stop the assassin, and he will restore her living status – because the fate of the world at stake! It’s a dangerous job but Hades has faith she can do it, there is no other option because if she fails, she dies and if she dies in hell….well she’s screwed, so that’s motivation enough….but whilst she tries desperately to save her life & guard Plutus, she isn’t aware that she should be guarding her heart too.
I thought this book was great, the characters were so interesting and I connected with Callie straight away, I liked her a lot, her whole attitude, how she viewed things and what she went through. She showed good humour & integrity as she is thrust into the world of Greek mythology, hardly knowing who was who and what was what but putting her skills to use in the best way she could, sometimes it seemed like she was winging it but that was good because the challenge brought out the best in her. I thought Plutus was also a great character, he was quite a sad figure in the beginning but as the story unfolds and he opens up, it’s understandable and you can really feel for him so it was lovely to see them connect with each other and so refreshing that they didn’t fall at each others feet instantly.
I thought the storyline was really good and different, I always like Greek mythology and I liked the way it was used here especially bringing a human cop in on an investigation concerning immortals. I was pulled straight into the story from the beginning and I liked the way Hades used Callie’s condition to his advantage, how else was he going to bring a human in to investigate? And how desperate must he have been to do that when he has a lot of powerful immortals at his fingertips. I loved the relationship that blossomed throughout the book between Callie & Plutus, it was slow and tentative which was really nice and made you desperate for one of them to give in and confess their feelings. It was also refreshing to see a god who was disillusioned and not happy with his life, it was very understandable & gave Plutus a certain appeal but it also showed the impact that Callie had on his life… you will understand once you read it. I thought the pacing was good and there were a lot of situations that made you aware of just how much danger both of our characters were in bringing a lot of heart-stopping action to the story as attempts on their lives are made… it was thrilling, it was exciting, it was dangerous and the threat grew steadily worse & worse until all hope seemed lost but don’t ever think our characters would give up, and you can bet your life that I was routing for them right up until the end and loved it all! Hopefully, there will be more. 

Blog Tour for Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover; Review + Author Interview

Posted by Donna
Release Date: January 2nd, 2014
Finished Date: January 23rd, 2014

Publishers: Harper UK
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review

Format: Kindle
Pages: 368

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect. 
Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon. 
Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .

The Review: Rome, you've stolen my heart! And there I was thinking no-one could beat Rule, but I was wrong! Eek! I loved Rome and Cora's story - so much more than the other characters. Mainly because this was so damn unpredictable and so very intense. I need more! 

Cora Lewis has always been the mother of the group. She looks after her boys at the tattoo shop and she always keeps everyone together. However, no matter how together she tries to make everyone, it's Cora that needs the help. Since her ex-boyfriend cheated on her and is now marrying someone else, Cora's heart can't no more pain, so she's decided she's going to wait for Mr. Right - Mr. Perfect. But what Cora doesn't realise is that nobody is perfect and while waiting for Mr. Right, she could miss the one guy that's right in front of her - Rome. 

Awww Rome and Cora are absolutely perfect together, even despite being completely opposite on the outside. Rome is a big guy, muscled and shaved head. Cora is a tiny small women, with blonde short hair and tattoos on her arms, but even though they may not be perfect on the outside, their personalities, their hearts and their feelings for one another are. With Rome arriving home from the war, he's different - changed - and everyone is trying to let him settle in. Not Cora though. She doesn't take any of his attitude and matches up to every thing he dishes out to her and I loved every minutes of these two interacting. It was so bloody entertaining - so many laugh out loud moments, and very intense. I completely fell for both of these characters....Rome especially. I just wanted to give him a big cuddle - he's suffered so much, but seeing him open up to Cora was fantastic. 

I think I enjoyed this story so much more because Cora and Rome's relationship develops more in ways the other couples stories don't. I won't tell you how because it will spoilt it, but I loved the direction their story went - and I can't wait to see what becomes of their situation. 

In all, Rome's story was another fantastic instalment from Jay Crownover and I think it's time we had Nash's story - like today! Eek, I can't wait. 

Author Interview with Jay Crownover.

 

1)     What inspired you to write the Marked Men series?

Life; the way tattooed guys are always portrayed in books - I just wanted to see a little bit of my life, my subculture and things I like done in a book. Plus I wanted to write about a group of people who are really relatable due to the hardship they share in trying to figure out who they are instead of who they think, or who others think, they should be.

 

2)     How long did it take to write each book?

It takes me about 6 weeks but after a rough draft is done it takes about 6 months to get a final, polished product. I think I wrote Rome the fastest in about 20 days or so!

3)     Who is your favourite guy/couple from the series?

I like them all for different reasons. I don’t have a favourite! They all hold a special place in my heart and represent a different idea or ideal I hold dear.

4)     Since Rome’s story involves Cora, we are interested to know how you decided she would be his love interest?

From the first time she was introduced! Rome is big and bossy; I knew he needed someone small and feisty to go toe to toe with him. Plus I liked the David and Goliath feel to them. He’s all big and looming with all these issues and she’s just this tiny mouthy thing ready to go to battle for him and with him. Plus at the core they are the protectors and the caretakers of the group. They were the perfect match.

5)     What’s your favourite quote from Rome’s story?

Probably when Remy tells Rome, “Love isn’t perfect, but it’s those imperfections in it that make it worth the ride.”

 

6)     Could you tell us what you’re working on now? 

I just finished copyedits on Nash’s story (it’s a heartbreaker!), and also the rough draft of the 2nd book in a new series I’m releasing this summer.

 

7)     We’ve noticed you’re a fan of tattoos – if you could have 1 tattoo that relates to the marked men, what would you choose and why?

I wouldn’t. My tattoos don’t really work like that. I recently got a stack of books and an old writing quill tattooed on my arm to represent reading and writing, just my general love of the literary world. I don’t get stuff to represent a specific thing like the Marked Men. I like big sweeping concepts instead.

AUTHOR BIO from Goodreads. 

I'm supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I'm an natural redhead even though I haven't seen my real hair color in years, I'm a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I've been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that. 

I love to write, love to read and all I'm interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.

A Review for Mind's Eye (Mind's Eye #1) by Rebecca A. Rogers

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: January 1st, 2014
Finished Date: January 29th, 2014

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: YA, Sci Fi
Source: For Review

Format: Kindle
Pages: Unknown

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Seventeen-year-old Kearly Ashling can travel anywhere her mind takes her—literally. Becoming Empress of the planet Cyeor and battling monstrous, otherworldly creatures isn’t a problem. Living among the elves on the Plains of Glasslyn has yet to be an issue, as well. Even touring normal places like Paris, London, Tokyo, and the Amazon Rainforest isn’t difficult.

But traveling through her imagination isn’t just fun and games—it has consequences. Following a battle on the planet Cyeor, she’s visited by a guy who’s unimagined. He warns her to stop using her gift or they will find her. Kearly doesn’t heed the messenger’s advice and soon wishes she had. When the messenger finds her again, he transports her to the M.I.N.D., a corporation which specializes in “healing the psyche.” Once she’s inside the M.I.N.D.’s doors, however, Kearly realizes escaping is nearly impossible.

Now, she must figure out the M.I.N.D.’s true intent, try not to fall for the irritating-yet-handsome messenger, and find a way to outsmart the organization before they stop her from ever imagining again.

The Review: 4.5 Flowers!

Mind’s Eye is the first book in the Mind’s Eye series in which we meet Kearly Ashling, a seventeen year old girl whose imagination can literally take her anywhere. Kearly uses her means of escape often to balance out the wreckage that is her home life but that has brought her to the attention of a mysterious man who warns her not to use her powers again for what she does is wrong & if she doesn’t stop….he will erase her imagination. Thinking that this man ‘is’ someone from her imagination she doesn’t heed his warning and the next time she escapes, he isn’t too far behind and he won’t let her leave without taking the only thing that keeps her sane. Thus introducing her to the corporation known as M.I.N.D. who want to rid the world of the ‘Dreamers’…..usually things go according to plan for the corporation – but they haven’t met Kearly Ashling and she won’t go down without a fight, they’re about to get a shock at the determination of a ‘dreamer’ intent on keeping her imagination… but can one girl really be a catalyst to bring down an entire corporation?
So, I really enjoyed this book and read it in one go. I thought Kearly was a great character, I liked her attitude & whole demeanour, even though her homelife was less than perfect, she didn’t come across as a victim and I like that she stood up for herself. She had a great sense of humour and it wasn’t hard to connect to her character because she came across so well making it easy to read. I also appreciated her outlook on everything and I liked that when a love interest came onto the scene that she didn’t become someone else, she wasn’t just thinking about the boy, she weighed her options up and didn’t fall all over him. That leads to mystery man, he was interesting & had that certain something where you can sort of feel his appeal but I don’t feel we totally know who is yet so will be looking forward to more from him. He was a good love interest but that is in the very early stages so it could go anywhere & be influenced by anything.
I thought the storyline was very original and interesting and very easy to read, it flowed so well and I really like the premise of the story. I thought it was great that Kearly can do what she does, just imagine it… who would want to live in the real world when you can go anywhere, do anything, be anything…it’s limitless and when someone threatens that…you wouldn’t take it! Which is where the threat comes into play and it was extremely fitting to the tone of the book. The book had a the whole chase & run scenario going on and help was had from unexpected sources, you could really feel the emotions of the circumstances & the hopelessness making the book a good paced ride. It isn’t fair what is being done to the dreamers and sets up a good series thread where you just know that the ‘dreamers’ will rise up against the enemy and blow apart the M.I.N.D. operation. I loved everything about this book to be honest, especially where it went towards the end, it has good potential and definitely left me wanting more. 

Waiting on Wednesday (# 72)

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Jess's WoW

Better Off Friends

by Elizabeth Eulberg

Release date: February 25th, 2014

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love?

 

Jess's thoughts: Another book I cam across whilst on the hunt for a WoW to post this week. I haven't read many best friends to lovers books only a few, but this one sounds like a treat :)

Donna's WoW

The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3)
by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: 

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS 

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster? 

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer. 

MONSTER 

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie. 

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Donna's thoughts: Gosh it's been too long without a book from Julie. I'm dying to see how this series ends, the last book blew me away and the fact that I pre-order the kindle edition from Amazon for 99p make it all the better - cheap Amazon deals!! 

<What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to participate? 
Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. 

Happy Reading!

A Review for Letting Go by Bridie Hall

Posted by Donna
Release Date: January 24th, 2014
Finished Date: February 2nd, 2014

Publishers: Evernight Teen
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review

Format: Kindle
Pages: Unknown

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Isabelle is left stranded at the airport, and her only chance of getting home is with her boyfriend’s older brother, Harper. 

When this good girl and bad boy set off towards home, it turns out that maybe she’s not such a good girl after all. 

And even bad boys have reasons for their bad behavior. 

The road trip is full of shocking revelations and unexpected emotions, bringing the two of them closer than Isabelle ever thought possible. 

Maybe too close.

The Review: Letting Go by Bridie Hall is a cute and addictive YA contemporary romance, novel - one once I started, couldn't put down. 

The story follows Isabelle - a teenage girl who has just returned home from a weeks long trip to Paris. And at the airport her luggage is stolen, leaving her to call her boyfriend for help. The only problem is, her boyfriend is on vacation in Florida and sends his older brother - Harper, to help her. Isabelle has always felt uncomfortable around Harper - maybe because she's heard some pretty bad things about him, or maybe it's because deep down, Isabelle knows that there is something between the two of them, that she tries to hide. But with no other choice but to except the help from Harper - the road trip they take is soon to become very intense. 

I really enjoyed Letting Go. It's been a while since I've dived into a YA contemporary romance novel and this was a great choice. I really enjoyed the way Bridie Hall set the story up and I loved how easy it was to settle into the story - how easy it was to connect to the characters and how intense it quickly became.

Isabelle and Harper were very likable characters. Even despite their problems, you could see deep down, they had something special. The problem was Isabelle let her feelings for her boyfriend cloud her judgement - she let his feelings for his brother cloud her judgement too, so she was always judging Harper before she knew the full situation. I'm glad Harper didn't give up on Isabelle though, most people probably would have with the way she treated him sometimes, but he didn't and was always so sweet to her, pushing her to step out of her comfort zone and try something new. It wasn't just a fun road trip, but it was one about finding out who the other person really was, and as you can see, I really enjoyed it. 


The one thing I noticed about this story was there is a lot of dialogue between the characters. Sometimes it's needed less, and more of the characters feelings or more back story about her father/mother. It just felt sometimes that the characters were talking and talking forever, but this didn't affect my overall feelings of the story - I really enjoyed it and it's certainly worth a read if you're a fan of this genre. 

Enjoy! 

A Review for Defy the Stars (Flynn #4) by Sophie McKenzie

Posted by Donna
Release Date: January 2nd, 2014
Finished Date: December 28th, 2013

Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review

Format: Paperback
Pages: 304

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

After months apart, everyone thinks that River is successfully building a future without Flynn. Indeed, she has almost convinced herself that she is moving on. 

And then, one day, Flynn is back, bringing with him tales of his glamorous new life. 

River suspects his lucrative new work involves some form of criminal activity, but will she let herself be drawn back into Flynn's world? 

Or is this, finally, the end of the line for them both?

The Review: I've been a big fan of this series since the first book Falling Fast was released in 2011, now Sophie McKenzie is back with the fourth and final book in the series Defy the Stars. 

In Defy the Stars, River is slowly trying to rebuild her life after Flynn walked out of her life several months ago. She hasn't been handling things well and it's clear that she's struggling. She misses Flynn, so much but she's dealing with things the best she can. When she is invited to Flynn's sister wedding, it is there she see him for the first time in months and it's pretty clear he's changed. No longer is he wearing run down clothes but suits instead. River suspects that Flynn has gotten himself involved with something dangerous, dangerous enough that River needs to watch out for herself too. 

Eek! I'm disappointed. When I started this series this wasn't how I imagined it would end. The previous books have been about the characters struggles and love for one another, while this one just more about the trouble Flynn had gotten himself into. While I think Sophie has wrote a good series, I just didn't like the direction Defy the Stars headed. I thought a lof of the situations felt forced and didn't really enjoy the actions from the characters I love. With Flynn getting involved in some criminal activity, yes, it certainly spiced up the plot, but yeah, I didn't like it. Mainly because of the ending. How an author ends a series, for me, is a major deal. If it's done poor, then it can effect my whole outlook on the rest of the series. 
**Small spoiler** There's no HEA for the characters and I'm gutted! I'm a firm believer of HEA's and had I known in advance how it would end, I probably wouldn't have read it. BUT, and this is a big but, this is just my point of view. Some people are probably more open minded about different endings. Me - I guess I know what I like and I don't like when it changes.

In all, Defy the Stars wasn't the story or ending that I was expecting and for that reason, I didn't enjoy it. However, that's not to say you won't. Give the series a try and see for yourself! 

Showcase Sunday (#45)

Showcase Sunday is a new weekly meme hosted by Vicky @ Books Biscuits and Tea. We will now be taking part in Showcase Sunday instead of In My Mailbox. If you'd like to join see HERE for more details.

Hey everyone! It's been over 6 weeks since I did a showcase and I've had so many awesome books. Check out what I got.

Christmas Books!
Angel Fever by L.A Weatherly

Legend Trilogy Boxset by Marie Lu

Of Beauty and Beast by Stacey Jay

One Perfect Summer by Paige Toon

For Review:
A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey
Three by Kristen Simmons
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski 
The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr
Where the Rock Splits the Sky by Philip Webb
Tangled by Emma Chase
The Divergent Companion: The Unauthorized Guide to the Series by Lois H. Gresh

Bought: 
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Bought/Free eBooks:

    

The Loneliest Alpha by T.A Grey * Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans * The Mating by Nicky Charles * The Keeping by Nicky Charles

eBooks for Review:
    
* Jet by Jay Crownover * Rome by Jay Crownover * My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak * 16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gutler

Thank you to Harper, Sourcebook Fire, Simon & Schuster, Bloomsbury, Tor Teen, Pan Mcmaillian, Chicken House, My Kinda Books, Penguin, Misty, Melanie, Jess & Natalie. 

Blog Tour for Break Away by Ellie Grace; Review + Giveaway

Posted by Jess
Release Date: February 10th, 2014
Finished Date: January 31st, 2014

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review from WordSmith Publicity

Format: Kindle
Pages: Unknown

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

When Olivia Mason catches her fiancé cheating, her life gets turned upside down. With no family and no real place to call home, she heads south for a fresh start in Charleston, South Carolina. Determined to gain her own independence and protect her heart, the last thing she needs is a sexy, tattoo-covered guy to cross her path and test her resolve. Just as she’s beginning to put her life back together, she uncovers a piece of her past that shakes up everything.

Dex Porter has his own demons. A former Marine, he’s haunted by the past and uses whiskey, women and fighting to drown the pain and guilt that consume him. When Olivia arrives in town, he finds himself drawn to her immediately and is surprised by his desire to get to know her. She’s unlike anyone he’s ever met but he knows he can’t get close to her without exposing the part of himself that he keeps hidden. 

As Dex and Olivia strike up a friendship and fight their attraction to one another, they begin to chip away each other’s walls and help each other heal. However, the past is never far behind and they soon learn that no matter how fast they run, it will always catch up with them.

The Review:  "I'm so fucking bad at this," he started, "But it's only because I've never felt like this before.  For anyone...ever. You're all I think about, Liv. You're my first thought when I wake up and thing on my mind when I go to sleep. Your smile...the sound of your laugh, the way your eyes light up when you're happy, the way your lips taste, the way you feel pressed up against me...God, Olivia...I want you so bad. You're all I want." -Dex Porter

Break Away is the second book that I've read by Ellie Grace, and it was just as good as the first. If not better.

This book follows Olivia, Nora's roommate from college who moves to the same small town in Carolina after catching her fiance cheating. Here she creates a new start, makes new friends and decides that running her own life is easier than she thought.

Ellie Grace is a great writer and Break Away will keep you hooked. Told in alternate points of view from Olivia and Dex (swoon). Dex Porter is an ex Marine turned underground fighter bad boy. Although his and Olivia's relationship starts out rocky, they learn to keep each other strong, and in turn their relationship turns into love. Ellie Grace manages to develop this relationship from the start, it'll leave you swooning for a Dex Porter all to yourself. 

Although I did believe it lacked in places and there were times that Olivia got annoying with decisions and jumping to conclusions before finding out the facts, I still went with the flow and I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would. 

Overall Break Away was a fast and sweet read. Ellie Grace as an author is a true diamond in the rough and I look forward to reading more from her in the very near future. 

Note: This is a New Adult book. Suitable for ages 17+ due to adult themes and content. I was given an advance copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. 

AUTHOR BIO

Ellie Grace is an avid reader, chocolate lover and caffeine addict. When a story popped into her head that she couldn’t seem to shake, she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not writing, she’s usually curled up with a book by one of her many, many favorite authors.

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A Review for More Than Magic (Books of the Kindling #1) by Donna June Cooper

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: February 4th, 2014
Finished Date: January 22nd, 2014

Publishers: Samhain Publishing
Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance
Source: For Review

Format: Kindle
Pages: 386

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

"A malignant secret could turn her mountain sanctuary into their tomb."

DEA agent Nick McKenzie is sure magic exists - a dangerous drug called Smoky Mountain Magic that's wreaking havoc on the streets of Atlanta. He's also sure that locating and eliminating the source could mean his death.

When he arrives undercover on Woodruff Mountain, the beautiful owner's anxious attempts to scare him off tell him something's afoot, and it s not her secret patch of a rare, ancient species of ginseng.

As her dream of seeking medicinal plants in the Amazon fades into the distance, Grace Woodruff struggles to come to terms with an inherited magical gift she didn't want, and searches desperately for the meaning behind her late grandfather's final, cryptic message.

The last thing she needs underfoot is a handsome, enigmatic writer recovering from a recent illness. Until an accidental touch unleashes a stunning mystical force and Grace senses the wrath of a malicious blight at the heart of the mountain. Now she must choose between her need to hide her gift from the world and her desire to save Nick s life.

Warning: This book contains a fiery redhead whose magic cannot be contained and a handsome DEA agent whose final case might give him a second chance at life.

The Review: More Than Magic was a great introduction to the ‘Books of the Kindling’ series by debut author Donna June Cooper.

We head to Woodruff Mountain as the setting and are introduced to Nick McKenzie/Crowe an undercover DEA agent who never fails to solve a case and this time he is on the trail of a drug that’s sweeping through the streets of Atlanta known as ‘smoky mountain magic’. He knows he will find answers at Woodruff, he has a feeling in his bones, but he also feels it will be the death of him. So, posing as a writer he sets off to find those answers. However, sparks fly and a connection is made when he gets there and meets the owner, red headed Botanist & doctor - Grace Woodruff – but she is the suspect in his case and he must remain impartial. Grace is on a hiatus following a couple of life changing events and has not only put her dreams on hold but has also had to halt the production of Woodruff produce because something is not right on this mountain, not only are the tests on their produce coming back tainted but she has been having dreams, warning her of the poison spreading through the mountain and one of the last things her Grandfather said to her was that very warning, but she just can’t figure out what’s wrong. As suspicion on Grace lifts, they will both come together to solve the mystery of what’s killing the land & just who is behind the production of Smoky Mountain Magic but they’re both keeping secrets from each other that will take a leap of faith to believe.

I was very impressed with this book and it really got my curiosity going. Grace was a good character and I liked everything about her, I liked who she was and what she did, I liked her outlook on life and I especially liked her gift. Same with Nick, I appreciated what he was about, a good moral person whose fight against the drug world wasn’t only about his job. He was an admirable person, driven to make things right and I liked that he had a little something, something going on too. I really liked the romance between them, they both seemed to be in an unhappy place that soon changed & I thought that they brought the best out in each other & complimented each-others character giving you a couple that you could really route for to achieve a happy ever after. I also loved Jamie’s character, I love when young kids are shown to be the best they can be, have ambition and are encouraged appropriately, Grace was an excellent mentor/babysitter for Jamie and I loved her nurturing approach and teaching attitude that spurred Jamie on even more.

Now, I absolutely loved the setting, everything about it. I love how they lived, the environmental issues, the botany, the medicinal research, all of it was so interesting and I was really impressed with the authors descriptions & details about the botany & processes involved in testing the mountains produce, it sounds like she knew a lot about it or has done a great amount of research making it more realistic. I like how the threat was a real world issue and is shown to not only affect people but also showed how it affected the environment too & I thought it was great, the way the magic was telling her that the mountain was being poisoned. I loved everything about the mountain & it’s power, very magical in a mother nature way, in fact it’s like Grace was the mother nature for Woodruff mountain and it had rewarded her with magical gifts in which to protect it and people who she thought deserving. I also loved Graces ancestry, how it all ties to the mountain and goes even beyond Native Americans, it’s always fascinated me how the land & people can be so in tune and to be able to live in harmony, which lets face, we are not doing so maybe it’s time we tried & I really want to know more about Nicks connection to the mountain, what is hiding in his ancestry too? There is a lot about the mountain still not known, it has a mind of its own and seems to use the people in tune with it as its vessels.

I would say that the first 50% of the book was about building the relationships, getting to know the mountain & sneaky peaks at the magic & threat involved but that soon changes into a more dangerous feel as the secrets of the people & the mountain begin to unravel leading to a rather action packed showdown. I don’t think it was hard to gather who the culprits were but it wasn’t all cut and dried as we a thrown a few surprises and I know most of it had my heart pounding right up until the very end. So, this book has mystery, intrigue, action, magic, a nice dose of romance & definitely left me with food for thought, a happy feeling in my heart and an urge to go and find this mountain and remain there for the rest of my days.

Book Blitz for Almost Bad Boy series by A.O. Peart; Excerpt + Giveaway

Almost Bad Boy Series 
By A.O Peart
Publication date: January 21st, 2014
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary
Purchase: Amazon / B&N 

Would you take another shot at love? Or just settle on a friend with benefits?

THEIR HEARTBREAKING PAST WILL MOVE YOU. THEIR PASSION WILL MAKE YOU BLUSH. THEIR ANTICS WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD. 

Twenty-five-year-old Natalie Davenport lugs substantial baggage. One boyfriend after the next has been a total disaster, leaving Natalie distrustful toward the male population in general. So when Colin Hampton crosses her path, she’s cautious. Her heart (and some other body parts!) nudges her to go for it, while her head wants her to run for the hills.

Colin is one of those gorgeous guys who attract women, no matter the age or marital status. With a successful career at a popular Seattle radio station, hard body, and charming personality, he is the complete package. But something dark lurks in the corners of his soul; some murky experience that has changed him—maybe for the better, but maybe for the worse.

Will he steal her heart and stomp over it like other guys did? 

Will she let him into her heavily fortified world despite herself?

Or will they settle somewhere in the middle—establishing the emotional boundaries to protect them from falling in love?

Almost Broken (Almost Bad Boy #2) 

How far would you go to protect the one you love? 

Edge-of-the-seat suspense and zany wit are key elements of this comedy-mystery that combines crime and mayhem with romance and humor. 

The terrors of Colin’s past are revealed and accepted by Natalie. Her doubts about letting him into her life are finally disbanded and replaced by a sense of security and commitment. But Natalie doesn’t know that Colin’s past hides more dark secrets unknown even to him.

When a delusional psychopath threatens Colin’s life, things quickly become complicated. Natalie’s stubborn character and desire to kick ass won’t let her step aside and allow the authorities to handle the danger. She gets herself tangled up with street hoodlums, befriends a Russian mobster’s high-maintenance girlfriend, and becomes expert at picking locks and hiding evidence. 

Excerpt from Almost Matched

Colin's POV:

I don’t know how long I stand in the shower. Hot water burns my skin, evoking red splotches all over me. But I welcome the sensation, because it lets me concentrate on something other than Faith’s death. I put my palms on the wall and hang my head down under the water. I watch the water run down the drain by my feet. Someone pounds on the door again, but I ignore it. Maybe the same girl as before? Or maybe another girl. I don’t care, because the only girl that I want to see now is dead.

Natalie's POV:

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. This is such bullshit. If something is about to kill you, it will scar you for life. There is no strength coming from terrifying experiences. Maybe that saying should be more specific and read something like What seriously kicks your ass makes you stronger. Yeah, that makes more sense.

AUTHOR BIO

Angela Orlowski-Peart is the author of the Young Adult and New Adult fiction novels, including YA paranormal/urban fantasy romantic thriller series, Forged. Angela writes in multiple YA and NA genres, including paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, contemporary, sci-fi, and short stories.
She was born and raised in Poland. She now lives in the Seattle area with her family and a chronically curious cat.
Angela describes herself as European born, American by choice.

Find Angela here:
https://www.angelapeart.com
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAngelaOrlowskiPeart
https://twitter.com/#!/Angela_Peart
https://plus.google.com/u/0/up/search#104353393440599372773/posts
http://pinterest.com/angelapeart/

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