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Tuesday 29 March 2016

Easter Blog Hunt by Taylor Lavati!

Get hopping with books! 


From March 24th to March 31st, visit author and blog pages while collecting answers along the way. Answers will be hidden in the post, but in plain sight! Just fill out the form below as you hop from page to page to enter an awesome giveaway!

What’s up for grabs? First place winner will win a special Easter basket from Taylor Lavati with a signed paperback of the winner’s choice, a cloth bookmark, a three pack of chapstick, and a pink keychain! Second place will win a special mystery prize donated by Deal Sharing Aunt!

Here’s where you’ll log your answers: http://goo.gl/forms/9U8sbTFkyx


Taylor Lavati is hosting this event. She’s an author of nine published books that range in genre from young adult fantasy to new adult dystopian and more in between! When she’s not behind her keyboard writing, she’s playing with her dog, enjoying time with her husband, or reading paranormal romances!

To connect with Taylor, find her below...

facebook.com/taylorlavati

twitter.com/taylorjlavati

amazon.com/author/taylorlavati

goodreads.com/taylor_lavati

taylorlavati.com

instagram.com/teejy1

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/4saHb

Book Club: facebook.com/groups/lavatislovelys


QUESTION: What sport does Finn play? (For The Love series)

ANSWER: Ice Hockey


Now head to BookSmacked to get your next answer!

Saturday 26 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Leaving Barringer by Tina Martin




Romantic Suspense
Date Published: January 4, 2016


Blurb : 

Calista Blackstone has no problem playing her position as the supportive, dutiful wife of Barringer Blackstone. All she wants is a family, but after five years, she's given up hope of actually becoming a mother - at least to Barringer's children.

Barringer (Barry) Blackstone is too busy making money to make babies. CEO of Blackstone Financial Services Group, he's actively working on taking his father's company to the next level and avoids the subject of children. He's no longer certain that he wants the added stress of trying to raise a family while growing the business. But the workaholic will learn the hard way that money should never precede family.

My Musings : 

 I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my thoughts on the book.

When I started the book, I felt as if I walked into the middle of a scene. But then it smoothed out into an explanation of sorts which made me understand the plot and the characters a tiny bit. The book has a colourful range of characters among the supporting cast. I loved reading about each individual and getting to know them.

 Now coming to the main characters, I liked Cal's determination to try to sort out her life and move on later on. My initial impression was that she didn't have any backbone because of her easy manipulation by Barry in the first few pages. I did learn later on that it was her love for Barry instead of no backbone which was the cause of it. What can I say about Barry? I had sympathy for him for a while before I found out about his secret. That kind of made me not like him till the end. 

The author has done a good way of making the characters realistic enough to make me invested in their lives. She has also dealt with a sensitive issue in terms of Barry and this has also added a more complex turn to a romance novel. All in all, I liked her writing and inspite of it being a bit heavy at times, it was a easy read. She has also written about a family's dynamics which added another layer of realism and complexity to the tale.

The only thing which I found unbelievable was the way Barry suddenly found his insight into Cal's views and thoughts. I for one loved reading this romance and I can't recommend it enough to others. And this is another author I wouldn't hesitate to check out in the future.

My rating : 4.5/5


About the Author : 



Tina Martin is the Amazon Top 100 Bestselling Author of over thirty women's fiction and romantic suspense novels and novellas. Her books include, The Accidental Series, The Alexander Series, The Dying To Love Her Series, The Champion Brothers Series, The Blackstone Family Series, The Mine By Default Mini-Series, Secrets On Lake Drive, Can't Just Be His Friend, All Falls Down, Just Like New to the Next Man, Might As Well Be Single, Falling Again, The Crush and Vacation Interrupted.

She released her newest novel, Leaving Barringer, on January 4, 2016 and a novella, Who Do You Love?, on December 12, 2015. She is currently working on Book 4 of The Champion Brothers Series titled, Wives and Champions.

When she’s not writing, Tina enjoys reading, traveling, blogging and spending time with her family. Visit her online at www.tinamartin.net where you will find a full listing of her novels, upcoming works and contact information.

Contact Information

Website: www.tinamartin.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortinamartin1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tinamartinbooks

Blog: http://writelifetina.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55404.Tina_Martin

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A3PMPBI

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/leaving-barringer-tina-martin/1123193882;jsessionid=EF2D77F3AAA89BFD2F171377EEDEC1D0.prodny_store01-atgap10?ean=2940157734978

Apple iTunes (iBooks) - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/leaving-barringer/id1072186297?mt=11

Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/leaving-barringer

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/604771

Paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Barringer-Blackstone-Family-2/dp/1522933298/ref=la_B003PLCO9Q_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1451873253&sr=1-4

Friday 25 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Jackson's Trust by Violet Duke




Jackson's Trust
Fourth Down #1

By: Violet Duke

Releasing March 8th, 2016
Loveswept



Blurb

New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke kicks off her fun and sexy new Fourth Down series with a heartwarming friends-to-lovers romance between a no-strings-attached sports analyst and the hottest damn tomboy he’s ever met.

It’s no secret that sports analyst Jackson Gray doesn’t do relationships. What is a secret, however, is the reason why. Jackson’s life is . . . complicated. And it doesn’t help that his current hands-off “friendship” is with the cute-as-hell new sideline reporter he’s assigned to train. Turns out, not only is the woman damn sweet, she also knows as much about football as he does. Like it or not though, Jackson has to remind himself that sex is the only thing he has to offer . . . until now.

Leila Hart’s fast-growing friendship with Jackson is something she’d never risk, no matter how unbelievably seductive the reward. Becoming an NFL sportscaster has always been the goal, and thanks to Jackson’s fierce support and mentoring, it all finally seems within reach. Problem is, a girl can only take so much of that sexy-as-sin voice whispering dirty, filthy football stats in her ear before she loses all self-control. A workplace romance with Jackson is a disaster waiting to happen, especially for someone with big dreams . . . and secrets of her own.

Advance praise for Jackson’s Trust

"Violet Duke's writing jumps off the page and grabs you from the first sentence!" -- New York Times bestselling author BELLA ANDRE, #1 bestselling author of The Sullivans series

"Hot, sweet, and filled with tender moments, Violet Duke writes heroes that make me swoon!" – New York Times bestselling author KENDALL RYAN

"A delightfully fresh read...Violet Duke delivers it all!" -- New York Times bestselling author JEN MCLAUGHLIN

“Emotional, heart-wrenching, and oh-so-sweet...Violet Duke has me hooked.” -- New York Times bestselling author L.P. DOVER

"Well-written kindred souls...Jackson and Leila are a couple you don’t want to miss! --New York Times bestselling author HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN

“I love this hotter side of Violet Duke…still sweet & emotional, but with a bit of extra sizzle.Jackson’s Trust is a must-read.” -- New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25738929-jackson-s-trust

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/156616-fourth-down

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | GooglePlay | iTunes | Kobo

http://bit.ly/JacksonsTrust_Amazon

http://bit.ly/JacksonsTrust_iBooks

http://bit.ly/JacksonsTrust_BN

http://bit.ly/JacksonsTrust_GooglePlay

http://bit.ly/JacksonsTrust_Kobo


My Musings : 

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went in knowing about the author's writing. So I wasn't surprised when this book too turned out a favourite of mine. I have it on my reread pile and I am so in love with the characters.

The characters were so realistically portrayed. I loved watching Jackson and Leila dance around each other. Their growing friendship added the details to form the complexity of their charaters while their chemistry was off the charts from the beginning. It was a sizzling read at times and an intense one at others. The supporting cast of Bennett , Nick and Donovan were too good in opinion and I am thinking their stories would be as good as this one! Their interaction and their friendship brought joy and laughter into the tale.

Add to that the writing which drew me in easily, you have an instant winner. The setting was good and it's another favourite of mine, reading sports related romances. So it was a win win situation on my end. It was a fast read and I can't say enough about the book!

And there was no dearth of mystery either. First with Jackson's reason for not committing which wasn't that much a secret to me and then with the totally shocking revelation at the end. Ouch, I never saw that coming and it kind of made me wary of Leila. But it all ended up well.

I have few more of the author's works to check out for me. I would recommend the author and her books to all romance lovers.

My rating : 4.5/5

Author Info

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romances filled with strong, unique heroines and memorably romantic heroes. With just under a million books sold to date, since becoming an author in 2013, Violet has appeared on the USA Today bestseller list thirteen times and the NYT bestseller list three times, with the additional honor of charting in the Top 10 across the major eretailers both in the U.S. and internationally.

When she's not feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first, and cooking impossible-to-be-duplicated 'special edition' dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. A born and raised island girl, she spends her days in Hawai'i chasing after her two cute kids (daughter Violet & son Duke) and similarly adorable husband (their ringleader).

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Website: http://www.violetduke.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/violetdukebooks

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/violetdukebooks

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/violetdukebooks


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday 22 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - A Gentleman's Surrender by Mariel Grey




Historical Romance
Date Published: January 1, 2016


Blurb :

Call her a romantic—or a fool, Lady Monique Cathdon is determined to marry for love. After watching her parents tolerate an arranged betrothal, life seems too short to be wasted on keeping up appearances.

After all, what’s the point of having a heart if one refuses to follow it?

With a smile the devil himself might be proud of, James Stanton is not what her mother would call “a matrimonial prospect”. Still, there’s something about the young man that sends Lady Monique’s heart thumping around her chest, and silences her voice of reason.

Unfortunately for Lady Monique, the stakes are high, and young ladies of the ton make for very poor gamblers. Especially when James Stanton is on the hunt for revenge, and won’t let an innocent woman—or his own passionate desires—get in the way of righting past wrongs.

My Musings : 


I received a free copy for an honest and unbiased review.

I have always loved Regency romances. So I was eager to try out a new author when I signed up for this blog tour.

The characters were realistic and they were very apt in their setting. I loved Monique with her strength and passion. James wasn't upto my liking at the start but he kind of grew on me. The period setting was very well done. The author had done a very good job of integrating the right period authenticity into the story.

The romance aspect wasn't steamy and it went well with the plot. The plot was well thought out and I never lost interest in the tale at any point. I am looking forward to reading her other works too.

My rating : 4.5/5


Meet the Author :


From the moment she could put pen to paper, Mariel Grey knew she wanted to be a writer. Like all good adventures however, it didn’t happen overnight; it was after several decades of working in litigation that the desire to create dramatic worlds and characters became too great to ignore. Her first foray into historical romance, Surrender of Trust, explored the grime and glamour of regency horse racing, following the determined but impoverished Lucy Goodwin and upright Lord Chalifour. Her second novel, A Gentleman’s Surrender, released January 1, 2016 introduces the innocent Lady Monique and tortured Mr. Stanton, both struggling to find love in a world filled with deceit.

Though entirely at home in the ballrooms and street alleys of London past, Mariel Grey’s is currently working on a contemporary story set in Florida, a landscape dear to the author’s heart. When she isn’t conjuring words on her computer screen, Grey can be found on the water fishing, snorkeling, and enjoying the incredible natural beauty of her home.

Mariel has a wonderful husband (the hero of her own romantic story) as well as a mischievous cat (who seems happy to play the role of villain). In addition to being a dutiful wife and animal wrangler, Mariel is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Ancient City Romance Authors chapter.

Contact Information

Website: www.marielgrey.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/marielgreyauthor

Twitter: Twitter@mariel_grey

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7066593.Mariel_Grey/blog

Novel on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1RPDHd5

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1UX7wqL

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1iO8B65

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1S5eDh4

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1iO8B65

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=a+gentleman%27s+surrender

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-gentlemans-surrender/id1048947163
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday 20 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Silent Partner by Jennifer Chase




Suspense / Police Procedural / K9
Date Published: December 2015 2nd Edition

Blurb : 

One Cop, One Serial Killer, One Witness
Who Will Survive?

Northern California’s elite Police K9 Units arrive at an abandoned warehouse after a high-speed chase and apprehend two killers after they have fled a grisly murder scene. This barely scratches the surface of a bloody trail from a prolific serial killer that leads to unlocking the insidious secrets of one family’s history, while tearing a police department apart.

Jack Davis, a top K9 cop with an unprecedented integrity, finds himself falling for a beautiful murder suspect and struggling with departmental codes.

Megan O’Connell, suffering from agoraphobia, is the prime murder suspect in her sister’s brutal murder.

Darrell Brooks, a psychopath who loves to kill, is on a quest to drive Megan insane for profit.

Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has a secret. Someone else must die to keep the truth buried forever. Silent Partner is a suspense ride along that will keep you guessing until the bitter end.


My Musings : 

I received a free copy for an honest review. 

The ending totally surprised me! Let me start from the beginning. The way the author has written the tale had me thinking it was a pretty straight forward tale even though it has been labelled as suspense. The start of the book had me engrossed in the tale. I actually liked Megan with her disabilities and in hindsight I am thinking my judgement is skewed! or the author tricked me. I felt sorry for Jack. I sympathised with his character. 

It was actually a very fast read with the tense plot and memorable characters. The clever writing in no way gave away the twist at any point. I for one would love to read more of this author's work. 

My rating : 5/5


About the author : 


Jennifer Chase is an award-winning author and consulting criminologist. She has authored five crime fiction novels, including the award-winning Emily Stone thriller series along with a screenwriting workbook.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor degree in police forensics and a Master's degree in criminology and criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent sociopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells. In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists.

For more info: www.authorjenniferchase.com

Contact Information

Website: http://authorjenniferchase.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Jennifer-Chase-208188122534165/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JChaseNovelist
Blog: http://authorjenniferchase.com/

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Partner-One-Serial-Killer-ebook/dp/B0049H939O/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silent-partner-jennifer-chase/1028511362?ean=2940032893776

Friday 18 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Best Friends with Benefits by Candy Sloane




Best Friends with Benefits

Most Likely To #1

By: Candy Sloane

Releasing March 14, 2016
Entangled Brazen


Blurb

Valerie Barkin and Alec Rogers survived bullies, awful parents, and seriously shitty social standing the only way best friends can—together. But with the unexpected sexual tension suddenly flaring between them, surviving their ten-year high school reunion might be a different story…

Val hasn’t changed. She still feels like the stringy-haired band geek the popular kids teased, but Alec has definitely changed. He’s now the front man for the Grammy-winning rock band Chronic Disharmony, with the sexual reputation to match. And he’s more than willing to help Val rock the reunion.

And then it happens—a drunken game of Seven Minutes in Heaven—and their fourteen-years-long foreplay comes crashing to the forefront…changing everything.

Seven minutes turns into a weekend of mind-blowing, no-strings-attached sex. But these best friends won't be able to leave their hearts out of it forever, not when the most meaningful benefit could change their relationship for good....


Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29058953-best-friends-with-benefits

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/173719-most-likely-to


Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Friends-Benefits-Most-Likely-ebook/dp/B01C2SQ5EM?tag=entangpublis-20&link_code=ur2&creative=9325&camp=211189

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/best-friends-with-benefits-candy-sloane/1123456393

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/best-friends-with-benefits/id1086578375?ign-mpt=uo%3D8

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/best-friends-with-benefits


My Musings :

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Where to start with this review? Well, the first thing which caught my attention was the book's theme - best friends to lovers. If you guys know me, then you know that it's one of my favourite themes! So I was very eager to read this book. So did it live up to my expectation?

In a way, it did. I really liked the past history between Alec and Val. It did add complexity to the characters and the necessary background to know them better. But inspite of being best friends, I didn't get the right vibe from them in the beginning. It seemed superficial that they would fall for other each so suddenly. It was one of the points which irked me.

Another point was the language used at times. But this is a very minor one. I did expect very adult language though so I was able to overlook the parts where it was unnecessary.

The chemistry was very good between them. The heat factor was way off the charts. It was a very easy read with the interactions between Alec and Val. Though I would continue to read the series, this was one book which was sufficient only and it didn't have the extra element to make it a special read.

My rating : 3.5 /5 

Teaser : 

“Ice and vending?” he asked, indicating the sign on the wall.

“Are you serious?”

He pressed his lips to her ear. “I know you’ve been fantasizing about me fucking you since last night. Do you really want to wait any longer?”

It came out bolder than he’d intended. Maybe he’d gone too far.

“I can’t wait any longer,” she admitted, her eyes sheepish.

Had he ever heard sweeter words? He dragged her down the hall in the direction of the arrow on the vending sign, anticipation making him lightheaded.

They arrived at a fluorescent-lighted alcove. An ice machine and a Coke machine stood rumbling on either side of them.

It wasn’t ideal. But there was a door they could close.

They had enough room if they stood. “What do you think?”

She considered their surroundings. He should have just slammed the door and started up with her again. He was trying to be polite, and his question was going to make her

bail.

“I’m more of a Pepsi girl”—she smiled slyly—“but what the hell?”

Author Info

Candy Sloane is a pseudonym for a Young Adult & New Adult author who needed to write some naughty books her mother couldn’t read. She lives in Portland, OR and loves Lifetime movies. She would tell you more, but this persona is a secret.

Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CandySloaneAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/candysloane

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9832886.Candy_Sloane

Saturday 12 March 2016

Cover Reveal - Marked by J A Cipriano



Blurb :

Pierce Ambrose. That was the name of the man I’d been sent to kill. The man I’d failed to kill. I have one day left to make good on my contract before the thugs holding my sister and her son start sending me pieces of them.

Pierce Ambrose. A man with a secret I didn’t uncover until it was too late to turn back, too late to give up on trying to kill him.

Now, if I want to see my sister and nephew again, I have to try one last time.

My name is Mac Brennan, and this time, I’m playing for keeps.

Author Links :


J.A.'s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JACiprianoAuthor

J.A.'s Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/J.A.-Cipriano/e/B00NO1VHJ0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1440026508&sr=8-1

J.A,'s Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8560615.J_A_Cipriano?from_search=true&search_version=service

J.A.'s Website: http://www.jacipriano.com/wordpress/

Wednesday 9 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - The Final Straight by Charlotte Howard





Contemporary Romance
Date Published: February 2015

Blurb :

April Miller works for her bestfriend, Max Knight on his livery and competition yard. Their friendship has withstood many turbulent times, and while April is deeply in love with Max, she is also aware of his womanising ways and has refused to succumb to his flirtatious charms. When her ex, AJ, suddenly comes back with a business proposal, April finds herself torn between the two men.

My Musings : 

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will be honest. I picked up this book because it has my favourite best friends to lovers theme. But the book turned out to be more than that.

It was quite an enjoyable read. It was a fast read and I literally flew through the pages. Though it is primarily a romance, it has so many themes too. It deals with friendship, abuse and loyalty. The characters were well developed and they were realistic with flaws and cracks in their personalities. I loved April and Max as both individuals and a couple.

The story was complex and it appealed to my cross genre loving self. The only part which kind of confused me was the backstories of the protagonists which was told in time jumps. Other than that I had fun reading this tale.

My rating : 4/5


Meet the Author : 



British author, Charlotte Howard, was born in Oman and spent much of the first part of her life flitting between Oman, Scotland, and England. Now settled in Somerset, Charlotte lives with her husband, two children, and growing menagerie of pets.

Her career as a writer began at an early age, with a poem being featured in an anthology for the East Midlands. Since then Charlotte has written many short stories and poems, and finally wrote her first full-length piece of fiction in 2010.
During what little spare time she has, Charlotte enjoys reading and writing (of course), spending time with her family, and watching action movies whilst eating curry and drinking tea.

Charlotte is an active member of Yeovil Creative Writers Group.

Contact Links

Website: www.charlottehowardauthor.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/charlottehowardauthor

Twitter: @Shy_Tiger

Blog: Choward2614.wordpress.com


Purchase Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SW7GE26

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SW7GE26

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-final-straight-charlotte-howard/1121135931

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514851

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-final-straight/id962554508?mt=11

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-final-straight-1

Sunday 6 March 2016

Twin Worlds Trilogy by Dominic H King

So let me start off the new feature, Tour de Series with the Twin Worlds Trilogy by Dominic H King.
Read on to know what the books are about.

Book 1 - The Chamber

When an unstoppable evil force known only as ‘the Reaper’ seeks to break into Kal’s world, his life becomes intrinsically linked to that of Daine, a ruthless female assassin. Boy and girl must face challenges both together and apart if Kal is to save his father who lies in a chamber far away, and Daine is to discover why she has been called away from everything she has ever known.

Kal must travel further than he has ever been before, alone, except for the sporadic guidance of his father’s best friend, the mysterious Juquor. Relentlessly pursued by the deadly Arrochom, he must show maturity beyond his years to fight prejudice, solitude and the fears that cramp his every waking moment if he is to find a way back to his father.

Daine finds herself in another world, ripped from the comfort of the profession that is all she has ever known, unable even to converse with those around her. Confronted with feelings from a missing adolescence and forced to learn everything she once knew again, she must battle with her gender and revisit painful memories if she is to find purpose and quell the daemons that stalk her dreams.

Book 2 - The Black Gate

The Temple Elders send Kal and Daine through a portal as bait for the Reaper’s army of arrochom, back to the world where they first met. A cold and hostile world on the brink of extinction.

Daine’s world. The Reaper’s world.

Can a plan forged by an old mage before they were born really help them defeat the being who destroyed Daine’s world, or will The Reaper win yet again?

The Black Gate is the second volume of the Twin Worlds trilogy, an epic tale of swords and sorcery, travel and adventure, love and loss, good and evil. But most of all, a tale of adolescence and growing up.




Book 3 - The Reaper

"This is the end; the final reckoning. We are now at the crossroads of all that has gone before. For this world, the sun will rise or it will set. It is you against him; for one of you, there is no tomorrow." - Juquor.

Kal and Daine escaped through the Black Gate in the stone troll city of Urth to find themselves back in Kal's world in an abandoned fort in the middle of the ocean, the Reaper and his deadly arrochom hot on their heels.

Kal meets old friends and foes as he battles his way back from slavery to reach Murucia in a bid to see his father again. Daine is lost, trying to make sense of her life as an assassin, caught between her father and her mother who sit on opposite sides of the war. And all the while, the Reaper is gathering an army to end the war he started a generation before.

Salvation or damnation awaits.

The Reaper is the thrilling conclusion to the Twin Worlds trilogy, an epic tale of swords and sorcery; travel and adventure; love and loss; good and evil. But most of all, a tale of adolescence and growing up.

And starting today is the giveaway which runs till the end of this feature. The winner gets the Twin Worlds Trilogy e-book bundle from Smashwords.

And the first review is to be posted tomorrow on Monday - 7/3/2016 as the giveaway starts.


Friday 4 March 2016

Book Blitz - Hope We Never Meet Again by Srinath Krishnamoorthy


Book Blitz 
Hope We Never Meet Again
by
Srinath Krishnamoorthy


Blurb 

A girl gets divorced just before her wedding!

A widow seeks answers for the deaths of her husband and son.

A mysterious man follows a convicted rape victim.

A stranger scribbles a number in a train.

Two hearts part ways with a final wish: Hope we never meet again.

Then, there is a phone call...

Varun Diwakar is your average, happy-go-lucky young lad with many a dream that most middle class youth harbour. But, he has a peculiar predicament. An accident changes his life forever and he discovers that he can travel into the minds and dreams of people - and in that journey, he discovers many untold stories, painful narratives and surprising twists. What triggers it all, is the death of a dear friend that Varun decides to avenge. What happens in the end? How are all these stories connected? Does love outlast death and time, the two great levellers, and become the greatest leveller, of all? Find out, as bodies keep falling and many a lives are at stake!

Grab your copy @

Excerpt 


“Dreams are to be lived, not chased.”

“Sometimes you need to walk alone to be together with yourself…”

“Timeless love stories just have beginnings…”

“If you make your every today as safe as your yesterday’s… your dream of a better tomorrow will always remain a dream.”

“Well, history is more about heroes who rebelled and flourished than heroes who rebelled and perished. The ones that flourish became the songs and the ones that perished became the anthems. I strangely felt like a song that once craved to be an anthem.”


About the Author 


Srinath Krishnamoorthy was born in Palakkad, Kerala. He holds a B. Tech degree from Government Engineering College, Palakkad and an M. Tech from MA College of Engineering, Kothamangalam. He is an avid reader, blogger and a traveler. This is his first novel and marks his transformation from a software engineer to a story engineer.

Media Mention


Tour de Series

Hello!

Welcome to the start of a new feature on my blog. It's called Tour de Series where I will be introducing a series and reviewing all the books in it. So mostly it will be completed series which will be highlighted! And every tour will have a giveaway running throughout the period till the last review is posted. And the sponsor of it will be yours truly! Yes, I will be doing the giveaways. So the gift will be the series from Smashwords so you guys too can check it out!

And if the author is available I will be adding guest posts and/or interviews to the series too! The postings will be done sporadically covering a month. I am planning to do one every 2 months or so.

But this month, you will be seeing 2 series side by side since I have been planning this since December! So here goes.. Coming up next is the first series introduction.

Floryie

Thursday 3 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Chasing Azrael by Hazel Butler




Chasing Azrael by Hazel Butler 
(Deathly Insanity #1) 
Publication date: April 23rd 2014
Genres: Gothic, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:


When Andee Tilbrook’s husband died, her preoccupation with death turned to obsession. Thanks to her unique ability to commune with the dead, her husband remains all too close, yet never close enough.

Mired in grief, she clings to James’s spirit, slowly losing touch with the world, her friends, and any desire to continue living. But when her friend Josh becomes the target of Natalya, a jealous, capricious and violent Russian beauty, Andee somehow finds the strength to free herself from her misery long enough to help him.

They soon discover that Natalya is wanted by the police for her involvement in a series of grisly murders, and Andee is dragged into the inquiry by the same man who investigated her own husband’s death. Torn between new feelings for Josh, and fear that he might be involved in the murders that seem to threaten anyone who comes close, Andee must face the realities of her life, her past, and her very nature-and do it all in time to save her own life.

My Musings :

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing which caught my attention was the book cover followed by the blurb. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was intrigued enough to take part in the blog tour. This is the first book I have read by Hazel Butler and she has made a very positive impact on me

I confess when I started the book, I wasn't enamoured with the setting and Andee's attitude. The first couple of pages almost had me turning back from reading it. But I am glad I proceeded because after the introduction of Natalya, there wasn't even one second to be bored. Andee's maudlin aura kind of grew of me as I came to know her. Both Andee and Josh have their own set of flaws but they suit the story very well.

The tale has a deathly taint to it and it is full of gothic atmosphere with the right amount of thrilling aspects. The plot is full of twists with the mysterious incidents and characters. The story is rich in various aspects and it has its set of tense moments. It was a very fast read and I was eagerly turning the pages to know the ending.

If you love to read a book of cross genres, then this will suit you with the right mix of paranormal, ghostly, mystery-thriller and mythological aspects. The author has caught my attention with her dark tale. And I look forward to trying her other books in the future.

My rating : 5/5


AUTHOR BIO:



Hazel is an author, artist and archaeologist from Cheshire, England. She is currently in the final year of her PhD, which focuses on Gender Dynamics in Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Britain. She has two archaeological papers published in international journals, as well as several research papers published through Bangor University and the University of Vienna.

Hazel has also published Out of the Dark (an edited volume of Gothic art work, showcasing over thirty artists from around the world), All the Night-Tide (a collection of Gothic/Steampunk fusion short stories based on the poems of Edgar Allan Poe), and ‘Grave’, a short story included in Willow, Weep No More, a fairy tale anthology giving female characters more agency in their roles. Her new novella, Bleizgeist, is a Dark Fantasy tale about a young woman’s isolation and social ostracism due to her unique magical abilities, and her struggle to accept her true nature.

Author links:

Wednesday 2 March 2016

Blog Tour / Book Musings - Someone else's Love Letter by Deborah Blumenthal






Someone Else's Love Letter


By: Deborah Blumenthal

Releasing March 1, 2016

Diversion Books



Blurb

Fixing your wardrobe is a dream job. Fixing your life is a work of art.

Sage Parker has the perfect occupation for a Manhattanite—she helps the rich and powerful keep their wardrobes current and suitable for every need. Her sense of fashion is impeccable, her connections are unsurpassed, and her eye misses not a single well-made stitch.

So when she discovers a love note left in the back of a cab, Sage admires the card stock and the ink, but also the heartfelt words. She sets out on a mission to find out who the love note was intended for—and who wrote it.

What Sage discovers will broaden her horizons and change her life, introducing her to an extraordinary woman who is revamping her entire world midway through life, a dashing Brit with a hive of secrets, and a free-spirited painter, whose brush captures the light in everything he paints, including Sage.

Fans of Isabel Wolff and Kathleen Tessaro will be hopelessly enchanted with Sage Parker and this mesmerizing, heartfelt novel of bold fashion and bolder choices.

"Passionately and accurately describes the power clothes can have to transform, empower, and define." —Bryn Taylor, Fashion Stylist, Bryn Taylor Style

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2016/01/someone-elses-love-letter-by-deborah.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26125877-someone-else-s-love-letter

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018WJWY2M/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/someone-elses-love-letter-deborah-blumenthal/1122582460?ean=2940157817664

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Deborah_Blumenthal_Someone_Else_s_Love_Letter?id=YnoeCwAAQBAJ

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/someone-elses-love-letter/id1064648086?ls=1&mt=11

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/someone-else-s-love-letter 


My Musings :

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I decided to join in the blog tour as soon as I read the blurb. Who doesn't want to know what's next after reading such an interesting concept. The heroine, Sage finds a love letter and sets out to find who wrote it and for whom and what happened to them. That starts off a wonderful story of finding self and learning to deal with the world. 

The characters I experienced each had a unique role in the story. Sage is a quirky heroine who works as a closet fashion expert and she makes the life of everyone by boosting their image and confidence. She is a contradiction with her outwardly perfect life and her loneliness and less than happy existence. She is fun on one side and a bit pessimistic on the other. She is a complex person and the author shows it well. Luke is an artsy person and an intensely private one too. But his character isn't as much developed as Sage according to me. He isn't complete and that's one strong point which disappointed me. 

The setting and the theme are different and it kept me interested from the start with the various twists in the plot. The pace was steady and it was a very short read because of that. The author has created a rich tapestry of characters and life which I enjoyed reading. 

My rating : 4/5


Excerpt:

There are things you never expect to find in a taxi. Things like love letters. This one was easy to miss, wedged under the driver’s seat except for a tiny triangle of icy blue playing peekaboo. I would never have seen it if a stretch limo to our right hadn’t turned with no warning, nearly shearing off the front fender.
When the driver slammed the brakes, I was on my way home after three hours inside a walk-in closet. My handbag pirouetted over the seat, releasing a sea of bracelets, beads, scarves, shoulder pads, Miracle Bras, panty hose, scissors, Scotch tape, safety pins, Velcro, Motrin, tampons, and Red Bull. To the barrage of expletives from the driver, I tossed it all together like a crazy salad and stuffed it back into my bag.
That’s when I spotted the envelope.
I tugged at the corner and it slid free. The paper was thick, luxurious, and addressed in amethyst ink. I lifted the flap, tracing my finger over the midnight-blue lining embedded with whispery white threads. I held it to my nose.
A faint perfume. Two sheets were neatly folded inside.
Dear Caroline...
I was just a block from home, so I slid it into a jacket pocket and searched for my wallet. After greeting the doorman, I picked up my mail and rushed upstairs to feed Harry, the man of the house, my yellow lab. It wasn’t until a week later, when I wore the jacket again, that I thought of the letter.
When important things happen, your mind has a way of fixing the moments into your memory. You recall exactly where you were and why, who you were with, the time of day, even the light. I began reading the letter on the bus up Madison Avenue, passing Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Barneys, Yves St. Laurent, and Ralph Lauren’s flagship store in the Rhinelander Mansion. Only then I didn’t try to glimpse the clothes as the shop windows fast-forwarded like frames from a high-fashion video.
It was a crisp fall day, a time of beginnings. For no particular reason, everything felt right in my world when I woke that morning. It was Saturday. The Chinese finger trap of time was looser. My plan was to spend the morning at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and then walk part of the way back through Central Park.
I was in navy D&G flannel slacks, a white ribbed Tory Burch sweater, and Fratelli Rosetti loafers. My jacket was over my arm. On the way to the bus I stopped at Starbucks and asked for Panama La Florentina, the coffee of the day, because the barista behind the counter told me it was similar to their house blend, and anyway, I just liked the way it sounded. Before I left, I put the coffee down and slipped on my jacket.
The only free seat on the bus was the hot seat in the back, always the last to be taken because it was over some motor part that turned it into a radiator. I sat anyway, afraid that if the bus stopped short I’d be faced with litigation. Before I opened the newspaper, I slid my Metrocard into my pocket. That’s when I remembered the letter.
I opened the envelope and recalled how much I had admired the stationery, particularly the way the sender put the return address not in the usual places—on the upper left-hand corner or on the flap—but vertically up the left side of the front edge of the envelope, in carefully printed block letters.
Dear Caroline, I know you’re used to reading emails, not letters. I know you make split-second decisions, and think life’s more black and white than gray, but I have to explain...and I beg you to listen.
He talked about his empty life before they met—the unhappy relationships, his despair at not being able to find the right woman, his feelings of isolation. Then they met and everything changed.
How can I explain the way I feel about you?
Let me tell you about a book of letters I read by the physicist and Nobel laureate Richard P. Feynman. His first wife had moved to Albuquerque to be near him when he worked on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. She later died there in a sanitarium, from tuberculosis. A year and a half after her death he wrote, “I find it hard to understand in my mind what it means to love you after you are dead. But I still want to comfort and take care of you—and I want you to love me and care for me.” He ventures that maybe they could still make plans together, but no, he had lost his “idea- woman, the general instigator of all our wild adventures.”
You can give me nothing now yet I love you so that you stand in my way of loving anyone else,” he wrote. “But I want to stand there. You, dead, are so much better than anyone else alive.”
Before you nothing in my life had real meaning. You’re gone now, yet all I think about is you. I live in the shadow of our relationship, pretending you’re still with me. Even without you, the memories of our life together mean more than the reality of being with someone else.
Caroline, please, let me see you. At least let me talk to you. Life without you is unthinkable.
A heartfelt plea to win a woman back. It was almost Shakespearean. Only the address wasn’t Stratford-upon- Avon, it was downtown Manhattan. I slipped it back into the envelope.
Whose life had I stumbled on? Where did he live, what did he do? Men called, emailed, or sent text messages—they didn’t write letters, and if they did, never on handmade paper with deckle edges, a throwback to the fifteenth century.
The writer had style. He was smooth, articulate. The wrappings of his thoughts were as affecting as his words. Just thinking about him set my mind reeling with the possibilities. Where did that leave me?
Captive.
Which made no sense. I was a peeping tom, peering into someone else’s emotional life. Still, he was a kindred spirit. He knew the importance of putting things in the proper wrapping too. So never mind Caroline who had tossed away the letter like a losing lottery ticket; maybe he’d like to meet a woman of the cloth who judged letters by their covers.
I gazed out the bus window, forgetting my plans for the day. When I remembered to check the street signs, the bus had passed the Met and was approaching 96th Street. I got off, turned around, and walked the three miles back to Murray Hill, as if it made perfect sense to ride all the way uptown and then go directly back home without stopping anywhere at all in between.
***
A woman with a name that regularly appeared under photos of society events called me to do a closet assessment. I usually shied away from taking on clients outside the city, but something about her commanding voice and her address at the shore intrigued me. In the fall it was an easy two-and- a-half-hour trip to the Hamptons.
Neil Young singing “Heart of Gold” made the claustrophobic drive through the Midtown tunnel bearable. Then onto the sluggish Long Island Expressway. No wonder locals call it the L-I-E. Before lunch I was in rural farm country on local roads passing Quogue, all whitewashed and pure, a heavenly haven for city escapees.
Her house was about half an hour further. Southampton homes were palatial, set further apart than in most other communities. The compound overlooked the ocean and the bay on open beachfront with acres of privacy. I followed the circular driveway to the sound of gravel—or maybe diamonds—crunching beneath the tires. I got out and stretched, glancing up to watch the seagulls’ ballet. The sea air was misted with salt water and ocean perfume.
The house was a two-story Greek revival flanked by heavy white columns. The doorbell set off a round of barking like gunshots. A woman with honey-colored hair, impeccable posture, and a waspish waist opened the door. Two taut Rhodesian Ridgebacks, each almost half her height, stood on either side of her, sentries staring up at me with shining eyes. All they needed was Santa hats on their heads to make it a perfect Christmas card photo.
Stay,” she commanded.
How could I not dwell on the fact that the breed was intensely prey driven? And there I was, wafting eau d’Harry, who’d sooner lick another animal than eat it.
I’m Sage Parker,” I said, extending my hand.
Mary Alice Moriarity,” she said, taking it. “If the dogs bother you, I’ll put them out back.”
One of them leaned toward me and sniffed my crotch. I eased back. “They’re gorgeous, but it might be better.” With the dogs out in the yard, she joined me in the living room, a cavernous space with chairs and couches color-coordinated to the hue of the sand. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her examining my outfit. I was prepared for that. I never dressed casually. Following a brief exchange about the trip and the weather, we got down to business. “How do we begin?” she said.
Let’s go to your closet so I can get a feel for the kind of clothes you wear.”
With a nod, she led the way up a winding mahogany staircase covered with a jewel-toned runner, vibrant despite the patina of Persian history.
Do you live here year-round?”
“Now I do.”
Help a woman with her wardrobe and she’ll open her heart to you. As she takes off one outfit and tries another, off comes the protective armor. She’ll tell you not only how she feels about her body and sees herself but also how she feels about her life—what she loves and hates, where’s she’s been, and her hopes for the future. She’ll undress herself for you, baring her soul.
Still, it usually took more than the few seconds it takes to climb a flight of stairs to get there. She glanced back at me briefly, head high and defiant.
My husband moved out,” she said, with as much emotion as you’d summon to discuss a chipped nail. Without another word, she strode across the bedroom into a windowless space the size of a guest room. She gestured to an adjacent closet that looked empty. “So I thought now might be the time to start some image work.”
It’s almost always about more than the clothes. On one level I was a wardrobe consultant, on another a crisis counselor. “The whole business of reassessing a wardrobe is often triggered by some major change,” I said, looking through her rack of suits. “I call it an SSE, or shape-shifting experience, meaning both the shape of your body and your life.”
A lock of hair sprang free from the short, neat style framing her pale blue eyes and the arched brows that framed them. She smoothed it back. Handsome was the word that came to my mind. Midforties, carefully dressed in brown, brown, and brown—her slacks, a shell, a cardigan, the signature Ferragamo flats. Dull, even frumpy. She needed more air, ease, and style. I wanted to loosen her hair, push up the sleeves of the sweater, give her an armful of bracelets, the right scarf, and low-heeled boots to raise her up. Mary Alice needed contrast, less structure, and for evening, clothes with more drama, maybe satin and fur. I was thinking Ralph Rucci. She could look sexier, more sensual; she had the bones. Right now she was like a carefully set table without the flowers and food.
I walked further into the custom closet with mahogany cabinetry and antiqued brass fittings. Texas-sized, with an island in the middle with narrow drawers for accessories. The Great Santini of closets, organized with military precision, every garment on wide mahogany hangers. Unimaginable to think of an off-center crease here. Not a hemstitch would be loose nor a button missing. Where were the notes detailing when each garment was worn and where?
Brown, black, navy, charcoal, and dark green, like a patchwork of bleakness. No brights, patterns, variation, or sensuality. High-end, but bloodless. No doubt her husband left her for a cheesy blond who dolled herself up in frilly pink chiffon. Someone who loosened his tie and taught him to enjoy Dunkin’ Donuts, licking the sweet grease off his fingers.
I started out neutral. “So, how do you feel in color— bright color?”
Never worn it.”
I opened my tote bag and pulled out my cornflower-blue shawl, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Whenever I unfolded it, my mother’s voice echoed in my head: If your neck is warm, your whole body is warm. Health lore said you covered the head to stay warm; still, I suspected she was on to something. “Try this on.”
Mary Alice wrapped it around her shoulders and studied herself in the mirror before turning to me. It brought out her eyes and enlivened her complexion.
You look reborn. The color’s perfect.”

How much do you want for it?”

I could have scalped my two-hundred-dollar shawl for ten times that on the spot. I shook my head. “This is show and tell. We’re not shopping yet, but we’re going to be injecting some life into your wardrobe—blue, lime, coral, yellow, pale pink.”
She twitched with uncertainty. It took most women a while to get used to what they hadn’t worn before. Imagine donning a new skin. For the rest of the morning we moved through the hangers, making sure everything fit properly. After the sixth pair of pants, she turned to me, eyebrows raised. “I guess there’s no point in trying every—”
Right. I’m sure you would have chucked out anything that wasn’t right.”
Her back stiffened suddenly. Her failed marriage was the elephant in the room.
I can’t fix your life,” I continued, shaking my head back and forth slowly, “but I can fix your wardrobe—and it’s a forward step.”
She smiled more genuinely than before. We were beginning to connect.


Author Info


Deborah Blumenthal is the author of nineteen books for children and adults, and an award-winning journalist and nutritionist. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times (including four years as the Sunday New York Times Magazine beauty columnist), and a home design columnist for Long Island Newsday. Her health, fitness, beauty, travel, and feature stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines including New York’s Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Self, and Vogue. Blumenthal lives in New York City.


Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Website: http://www.deborahblumenthal.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/readthelifeguard

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deborahblu

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/163598.Deborah_Blumenthal
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