{Review} The Alchemist and an Amaretto by Annette Marie

The Alchemist and an Amaretto by Annette Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
GENRE: Paranormal
THEME: Werewolves, Mages, Fae

The Alchemist and an Amaretto (The Guild Codex: Spellbound, #5)

by Annette Marie

4.48 · 703 Ratings · 117 Reviews

BLURB:

As a guild bartender, I can handle pretty much anything--mages, sorcerers, witches, the occasional demon. But show me anything family-related and I'd rather run for the hills. It doesn't even have to be my family.

So I have no idea why I thought spending the holidays with Aaron's mom and pop was a good idea.

Meeting his famous parents is already terrifying enough, but I've got a bigger problem. Students of his family's renowned mage academy are being attacked on the grounds--and somehow no one has seen a single assailant? Unexplained tracks litter the nearby woods, rumors of forbidden alchemy are circulating the campus...and Ezra has been acting strangely since we arrived.

Something deadly is brewing in the shadow of Sinclair Academy, and the longer we take to uncover it, the more dangerous it becomes. But no matter the risk, we'll protect the students.

And Aaron's parents too, I suppose. If we have to.

REVIEW:

EZRA!!! I love this guy so freaking much! This book was all his, I swear so much else goes on but my heart and all the feels just keeping coming back to this poor guy. Give him some love Marie!

Anywho this book follows our favorite trio of Mage with Tori to Aarons family home and academy. Along with Sin, Tori is mesmerized by the Sinclairs castle, yes its a castle. The students and staff are prudish and Tori must hold back as much as she can so that she doesn't punch a kid in the face. But the snobbishness isn't the only problem, there are beast scaring and attacking people around the castle and when one of their own is threatened Trio and the gang get ready for battle one of their strongest foes.

There was so much I loved about this book, this series is one of my top three favorite paranormal series to date. I love the sass of Tori, the girl power bffness with her and Sin. How much the friendship Aaron, Kai and Eza mean to each other, these guys will do anything to protect strangers but each other they will go through hell and back. Plus those boys adore Tori to pieces, friend goals!! I liked seeing more about how much Aaron has grown, how his family always seems to trigger something in him. The team works together to fight his "demons" and Ezras. But what captured me the most about this book was Ezra, Marie is getting deep into his demon side this time around and also showing the connection he and Tori have. I'm a big shipper for this two, I have wanted them together since the beginning so I'm holding out hope for these two.

The big bads are crazy dangerous and I felt were even scarier that the demons and crazy mages they have fought. I liked the plot twist and the scary moment the group has because, boy the close calls had me cleaning on the my kindle hard. It's all action packed, family drama and friendship goodness. I can't wait for the next one, I need me some more Ezra!

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{Review + Giveaway} Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven

Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
THEME: Magic
RECEIVED: Netgalley

Phoenix Unbound (Fallen Empire, #1)

by Grace Draven

4.26 · 105 Ratings · 88 Reviews

BLURB:

A woman with power over fire and illusion and an enslaved son of a chieftain battle a corrupt empire in this powerful and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital--her fate to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.

But this year is different.

Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion--and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. Unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.

To protect her family and village, she will abandon everything to return to the Empire--and burn once more.

REVIEW:

Wow! I have to say its been a while for me to find a fantasy romance that seriously left me wanting to do a re-read but Draven's writing and world building was fantastic and I so want more! This was my first introduction to Grace Draven and she totally has a new fan in me

Phoenix Unbound follows two very different individuals, Gilene a young woman who each year protects her village but sacrificing herself for the empire, she has the ability to not burn during the yearly sacrifice, with her being a fire witch. Though painful and a horrible thing to endure every year, but she will do it for her family and people. Then there is Azarion, a brave and fierce warrior, who battles others like him just to survive for the empires entertainment. He is a favorite of the empress to torture and uses a plat thing, but he has had enough and Gilene using her power is his way back to his people and his rightful place as their leader.

Both are flawed and beautifully at that, they each have ensured so much for others enjoyment, but neither realized that there is always another way. They are stubborn and would do anything to help others like them. But what I enjoyed the most is their journey together, Azarion's people believe women like Gilene who are fire witches are to be celebrated and honored, he believe he would be welcomed back with her by his side, after being sent off by his horrible relative to slavery. They make an agreement after a lot of arguing and soon Gilene sees the possibilities of herself being happy, but still the guilt if she cant help her people and family.

Together these two plan the impossible while also growing closer and really seeing each other for the first time. I loved watching these two fall in love, both despise each other in the beginning. The world building and Azarion's village were my favorites next to the romance. I loved his people, their beliefs and the Goddess they believed in. I couldn't get enough and really hope that they author comes back to this world and these character to catch up with them. Thankfully there is no cliffhanger and I was really pleased with who the author concluded everything. This is definitely now one of my favorite fantasy romance books, I highly recommend it.



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GIVEAWAY

Want to build the ultimate fantasy romance collection? Don't miss out these fantastic starter kit giveaway of my favorite authors! The always phenomenal Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, Chloe Neill, Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh. With my new favorite Grace Draven!
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{Book Tour: Review + Guest Post Giveaway} of Wonderfully Wicked by C.J. Burright

Thank you so much for having me on Seeing Night! I’m so excited to be here!

Wonderfully Wicked was inspired by a mind-flash, one of those inspirational scenes that pop out of the ether into the subconscious for reasons unknown. No, I’m not crazy! Maybe it’s just a writer thing…so, shhh. Moving on. Kalila Montgomery (the heroine) was standing in line at a coffee shop. Mr. Dangerous in line behind her (the love interest, Lydon) was definitely not there for coffee. He stalked her, and I wanted to know why. But more than that mysterious element or the paranormal world or even the romance itself, what I enjoyed the most about writing Wonderfully Wicked is the emotional journeys of Kalila and Lydon.

Kalila comes from a rough childhood. She’s a dreamcaster, which means she leaks nightmares, and this made it hard on both the foster families she was placed with and Kalila herself. She never stayed in one location long, never felt accepted, never had a family. No one enjoys rejection, and some rejections hurt worse than others, but when the rejections pile up, the resulting emotional scars can be tough to conquer. To find her HEA, Kalila has to learn to accept who she is, flaws and all. On top of that, she has to believe she can be loved and deserves to be loved despite her freak factor. I love that aha moment when it finally sinks in.

Lydon, on the other hand, comes from a different cookie cutter. He’s a V’alkara, a man who invades dreams and feeds off nightmares. He’s been conditioned to box away his feelings, a necessity for survival in his world, so when he meets Kalila and she ignites his emotions, he’s faced with a major problem. He’s done some mighty bad things in his lifetime and doesn’t believe he warrants forgiveness, redemption, or love. But that doesn’t stop him from pursuing Kalila with everything he has. J She’s the one person who makes him want to be a better man, to fight against the monster he was raised to be, and become more human. Because of his past--and really, who he still is, since he faces a long journey to change--he knows Kalila can never truly love him. He’s totally wrong, of course, but that’s his moment of awestruck wonder, when he realizes she honestly loves him. No manipulation required.

Acceptance and redemption are major themes in my stories, Wonderfully Wicked included. I believe everyone deserves to be accepted and loved, no matter who they are, so bam! I write what I love. 


About Wonderfully Wicked:Goodreads | Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

About C.J. Burright:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

He haunts her dreams and embodies her nightmares…

A dreamcaster with the ability to channel creatures from her nightmares, headstrong and cynical Kalila Montgomery longs for a peaceful, picket-fence life…until the man literally of her dreams kidnaps her.  Survival quickly becomes her number one goal, yet a growing attraction to the man featured in her nightmares is impossible to ignore. While she fears he will kill her, other, more terrifying enemies surround her, and Kalila succumbs to his scheme to escape.

She may be his one hope for freedom…

A deadly combination of power, cunning, and cold-hearted charm, Lydon v’al Endrian fears nothing.  Feels nothing.  Chained to a brotherhood of men with the supernatural ability to invade dreams, he hunts dreamcasters to be harvested for their dreams and killed.  His target:  Kalila Montgomery.  But Kalila awakens an undeniable dark desire and a longing for a freedom long-lost.  To gain everything he craves, Lydon must seduce Kalila before his plot is discovered…a hopeless challenge which, if failed, will earn him a death-sentence.

Caught up in a dangerous world of secrets and obsession, doubt and betrayal, Kalila and Lydon face the nightmare of their lives, where love will either deliver them—or destroy them both.

REVIEW:

Wonderfully Wicked is a hard book to review, not because I didn’t enjoy it because I most certainly did but because there is so much that happens its hard to explain it without giving away all the good parts. Burright created a beautifully crafted and unique world of nightmares and dreams. It reminded me a little bit of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman graphics novel, as Lydon reminded me so much as the dark and mysterious Sandman.

Wonderfully Wicked follows Kalila as she is brought into the world of Dreamcasters and a group of men known as the Valkara. With Kalila wanting a normal life, it’s hard for her to grasp that she is different and her nightmares are actually harming people. As a Dreamcaster she is brought face to face with The Black of the Valkara, also known as Lydon. But their connection both in attraction and fear changes everything and Kalila life will never be normal.

The world building is very important to being able to follow Wonderfully Wicked, as it takes some time to get use to the names and meanings of what each V’alkara are and whose good and whose most likely bad. It took me a bit to grasp all this and I did get confused at some points, as well as some moments dragged on a bit too long. However any scene with Lydon and Kalila was all I needed to get hooked. These two had some fantastic banter and serious chemistry, even when Kalila made some bad decisions by not listening to Lydon.

For me I adored Lydon the most because he’s all dark mysterious and trying so hard to be a mean guy, but deep down he cares for Kalila. He is the second highest rank among the Valkara, making him powerful as well as he can change into anything he finds in dreams. Which is creepy but super cool. He test Kalila limitations and with her attitude and not so nice and trusting persona he gets hit with a lot of fire from her. But he takes it and enjoys her strong demeanor.

Overall this was an action packed start with a lot of characters to keep up with. Lydon and Kalila may be the leads but we also have Mel her bff who has some special skills of her own. As well as Lydons fellow Valkara who make some trouble for the duo. I look forward to what’s next for these two and after the bit of a cliffhanger I’m interested to see what Kalila is going to do next.

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C. J. Burright was born and raised in Oregon and loved it so much she never left. While she has worked for years in a law office, she chooses to avoid writing legal thrillers and instead leans toward urban fantasy, paranormal romance, or—since all things medieval and magic fascinate her—fantasy romance. A member of Romance Writers of America and Secretary for the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal special interest chapter, C. J. also has her 4th Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and believes stories should always include a gratuitous fight scene. In what spare time she has, she enjoys working out, reading, gardening, and rooting on the Seattle Mariners with a nice glass of wine. She shares a house with her husband, daughter, and a devoted herd of cats.

{Book Tour: Review + Giveaway} of Shadow's Awakening by Molle McGregor

Shadow's Awakening by Molle McGregor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Publication Date: August 21, 2014

Genres: Paranormal, Romance

GENRE: Paranormal Romance
THEME: Demons, Magic, Mature
RECEIVED: Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars.

Synopsis

Hannah Green wants her life back. In the past three years she’s gone from promising graduate student to patient in a mental hospital. Now, she’s being held prisoner by a terrifying group of men who believe she has a mysterious power. She wants to think they’re wrong, but something inside her has changed. If only she could use her p0wer to set herself free.

Conner’s entire life, he’s played by the rules. He’s a soldier. A leader. He knows better than anyone that contact with the Shadows is forbidden. So when a midnight phone call demands he rescue one from a nest of demons, he has no intention of following through. Until he sets eyes on Hannah. Brave, beautiful and determined to survive. Conner can’t walk away.

When you’ve worked so hard to make the right choices, temptation can be a kind of torture. Conner knows he should turn Hannah over to the Shadows. Hannah wants to be grateful for her rescue and let Conner go. But when love and desire bind two strangers together, they have to choose between what they think is right and what they know they need.

REVIEW:

The first in the Shadow Warder series is an exciting action packed magical romance with a ton of surprises and intriguing villains. I was pleasantly surprised with this story, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be confused with not reading the prequel. Luckily I was able to understand the world building fairly easily, even though I had to wait a bit further into the story to get some history. McGregor does a wonderful job creating such an exciting back-story with two powerful groups of warriors fighting for the same cause, but due to history, their relationships became strained.

Shadow’s Awakening follows Hannah a woman who is being held captive by a terrible group of men, one of them is her actual stepfather. Something is off about him, hiss changed since her mothers passing is terrifying and she feels her life as a prisoner is going to end sooner than later. But a glimmer of hope comes in the form of the very large and powerful Conner, who helps Hannah escape and takes her to safety. She learns that she is of a special kind, known as a Shadow. Conner being a Warder Hunter is asked to help her stay safe. Together they learn about Hannah abilities as a Shadow and that she is far from being safe as demons will do whatever they can to get her.

Hannah is a strong young woman, her character stood out the most to me because of the fact she goes through numerous ordeals and is a survivor. She has a good heart and lost both her parents as well as her stepfather turning into a monster. She has a lot to learn about herself and the power she holds is unraveled through out the book. I loved her connection with Conner, when they first meet there is a spark but also tension with the fact Warders and Shadows usually are not on speaking terms. But Hannah is a special case, and even Conner, who doesn’t know, is also something special. There was never a dull moment for this poor girl, however she does has some time to figure herself out, it helps make her stronger and start to discover herself as a Shadow.

Conner is all alpha warrior, he was born as raised from a mother and father whom were also warriors, but lost them both at a young age. He’s one to follow the Warder laws and knows of the limitations when it comes to contact with Shadows. But when he received a call from an Oracle Shadow who insists he must find Hannah and keep her safe, he cant say no.  I liked Conner, there wasn’t a lot too him in the fact of character development like Hannah, but he also has a good heart and care about his position and Hannah. He too has to learn about the “fate” that brought Hannah into his life.

Overall this was a good start to an exciting and dangers world full of demons a magic. The villains are super powerful and do not mess around, if they want to hurt someone they do it and make is hurt. I felt so bad for Hannah, because these demons have a plan and they don’t care about what they have to do to complete it. On a lighter note, there is a ton of romance, Hannah and Conner have great chemistry and McGregor doesn’t shy away from the steamy connection and lust. I did feel the intensity of the sex scene were almost out of place at some points, but it also solidified their bond. The secondary characters were hinted as key figures, I know they’ll be super important in the coming books and from what I can tell Zack the Oracle, Kate, and Kiernan Conner’s friend are all going to be apart of a bigger battle. I look forward continuing the series.

RECOMMENDATION:

This is an adult novel meant for mature readers over the age of 18, for its sexual content and adult language. Fans of  Lara Adrians Midnight breed series and J.C. Nelson’s Free Agent will enjoy Shadows Awakening by Molle McGregor.

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About Molle McGregor

Molle’s writing career started when she was seven and suffered terrible insomnia. Night after night she couldn’t sleep until long after mid-night, only to wake a few hours later. Frustrated with her inability to just go to bed, (and her penchant for sneaking a book and a flashlight under the covers) her grandmother said, “You like to read so much, why don’t you tell yourself a story until you fall asleep.” With this brilliant advice, Molle’s overactive brain was off and running. Now, years later, she’s finally taught herself to sleep, but she’s never stopped telling stories.

When she’s not reading, writing, or staring into space making things up, Molle is getting into trouble with her husband, two sons, two dogs and vicious attack cat in the mountains of North Carolina. She likes to hike, cook, listen to music way too loud, and hang out with her boys. She does not like dusting or emptying the dishwasher.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

BOOK TOUR: Review + Giveaway of Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon

 Going Down in Flames by Chris Cannon

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Received: book tour
Genres & themes: YA, dragons, shapeshifters, friendship, family, drama, magic, teen romance, boarding school.

SYNOPSIS:

Finding out on your sixteenth birthday you’re a shape-shifting dragon is tough to swallow. Being hauled off to an elite boarding school is enough to choke on.

Since Bryn is the only crossbreed at the Institute for Excellence, all eyes are on her, but it’s a particular black dragon, Zavien, who catches her attention.

Zavien is tired of the Council’s rules. Segregated clans, being told who to love, and close-minded leaders make freedom of choice almost impossible. The new girl with the striped hair is a breath of fresh air, and with Bryn’s help, they may be able to change the rules.

At the Institute, old grudges, new crushes, and death threats are all part of a normal day for Bryn. She’ll need to learn to control her dragon powers if she wants to make it through her first year at school. But even focusing on staying alive is difficult when you’re falling for someone you can't have.

REVIEW:

Going Down in Flames was a pretty surprising read and I enjoyed it more than I expected. I’m usually not that into shapeshifters, as I said in my review of Dead Witch Walking, but I never read a book with dragons before, of what I recall, and I thought it’d be interesting to try one.

And it truly was!

Review of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

 The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Rating: 3.5 stars
Received: borrowed
Genres & themes: YA, magic, romance, competition, mystery.

BLURB:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

REVIEW:

''A circus?'' says Lainie Burgess with a smile. ''How marvelous!''
''Like a carnival?'' Mr. Barris asks, sounding mildly confused.
''More than a carnival,'' Chandresh says. ''More than a circus, really, like no circus anyone has ever seen. Not a single large tent but a multitude of tents, each with a particular exhibition. No elephants or clowns. No, something more refined than that. Nothing commonplace. This will be different, this will be an utterly unique experience, a feast for the senses. [...]


This is quite an unique book and story. The cover is captivating, that is for sure. The story itself is very original and beautifully written. It started with an intriguing ambience, a magician, known as Prospero, discovering a daugther he never thought he had, who in fact has special abilities as himself. I would even say she is even more talented. The man in question decided to embark his daughter, Celia, in a long and mysterious competiton of which very few people know about. Her opponent will be chosen by one of Prospero's powerful acquaintances.

The reason I decided to read this popular novel is simple. I love competitions. As I said in my review of Panic, I love the feeling of excitement and being able to choose 'my' winner and hoping he/she will be the one who will succeed until the end. In this book, it was a bit disappointing because the competition itself is but isn't at the same time the main attraction. Not many people know about it, so it is mainly a secret the two participants are keeping. They're actually trying to understand themselves what it is actually about. The synopsis is misleading us to think that it will exciting and mysterious and maybe fun, but it isn't quite like that. It sure is mysterious but than mostly annoying because you want to learn why the two men started it and what happens and when but it is very vague.

The characters are interesting. A huge problem I had is that, at the beginning, I thought Celia was in fact Isobel all the time she was hanging with Marco. It changed my way of seeing those characters and I only discovered they were not after about half of the book. I would like to say it is my only fault but I can't because it truly was confusing. When Isobel first met Marco, she was shy and has a passion for magic, of course, but so was Celia. And they both had similar if not the same age. I'd like to warn you so you won't make the same mistake: Celia and Isobel are two different person.

My favorite character at the beginning was Celia because she was a bit of a rebel but Bailey fastly took her place. His admiration for Le Cirque des Rêves was adorable and interesting. I always wanted to know what would have this time when he goes to the circus. It mostly was through him that we witnessed shows and breathtaking illusions. It is impossible to not like his calmness and charming nature.

The romance wasn't rushed but it felt to me like it was a bit, yes, even if there was some leap of time before the characters grew fond on each other. Marco and Isobel were bonded to each other since a young age, so I guess I can understand it. I obviously didn't predict it because I thought Celia was Isobel so that she already met Marco before and was just afraid to tell him that. Well...that's not what happened of course. After all, at least it wasn't cheesy as I thought so it made it quite enjoyable.

Overall, I thought this was an interesting, well-written and especially different read with unique characters. It has an alternative POV and  the chapters are actually back-and-forth in time ones. It didn't bother me because it made me always wonder what will the next chapter contain. I recommend The Night Circus to teenagers and adults.

{Review} of Love Potions by Michelle M. Pillow

Love Potions by Michelle M. Pillow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GENRE: Paranormal Romance
THEME: Ghost, Magic and Shifters
RECEIVED: Publisher

BLURB:

A little magickal mischief never hurt anyone...

Erik MacGregor, from a clan of ancient Scottish warlocks, isn't looking for love. After centuries, it's not even a consideration...until he moves in next door to Lydia Barratt. It's clear that the shy beauty wants nothing to do with him, but he's drawn to her nonetheless and determined to win her over.

Lydia Barratt just wants to be left alone to grow flowers and make lotions in her old Victorian house. The last thing she needs is a demanding Scottish man meddling in her private life. Just because he's gorgeous and totally rocks a kilt doesn't mean she's going to fall for his seductive manner.

But Erik won't give up and just as Lydia let's her guard down, his sister decides to get involved. Her little love potion prank goes terribly wrong, making Lydia the target of his sudden embarrassingly obsessive behavior. They'll have to find a way to pull Erik out of the spell fast when it becomes clear that Lydia has more than a lovesick warlock to worry about. Evil lurks within the shadows and it plans to use Lydia, alive or dead, to take out Erik and his clan for good.

REVIEW:

My first novel by Pillow and it definitely wont be my last! The humor, the chaotic Scottish family and the sexy romance were a bundle of fun. I love the humor that surrounded the magical family of Warlocks, with a mortal stuck in the middle of it all.

Love Potions follows Lydia Barratt who owns a small lotions shop called Love Potions. Her life is about to get very interesting with her new neighbors causing some problems for her, especially since one of the men, Erik, has his eyes set on Lydia. Their attraction was undeniable but there is one big problem, Erik isn’t human, nor is his family. Which causes wave after wave of troubles, from a love spell, to absorbing magic, to an evil that needs Lydia to take Erik’s powers.

Lydia is a sweet woman who loves her lotions shop and is happy with the success she is having. But after running into her new Scottish heartthrob of a neighbor Erik, she can’t get him out of her head. Plus him being a warlock and she seeming to be his weakness, it makes for some interesting and humorous moments. I loved how Lydia was trying to fool herself in trying to stay away from Erik, but their insta-love attraction is sweet, funny and full of bumps in the road.

Erik is a charming and cocky Scottish warlock who knows that he must have Lydia. Erik is also one of many children, his brothers Niall, Euann, Iain, and little sister Malina all live in the estate next to Lydia with their parents and of course are all magical. I love this family; they are all over the place and enjoy messing with each other and casting spells on each other. Which of course causes some problems and even add some strain on Lydia’s relationship with Erik, let’s just say Eriks singing voice is so not great. But nonetheless Erik adores Lydia, they have some obstacles to over come and his beastly side to control but they are a fun pair.

Overall I look forward to seeing which one of the MacGregor children the next book follows. I loved them all and can’t wait to see what’s next for Lydia and Erik as well. There is so much that happens in this first book, each character gets great introductions into their persona and magical ability. There are also lots of other supernatural beings that shake up the family a bit with evil. As well as Lydia’s friend and employee Charlotte who gets mixed in with all the magic and evil that’s after Lydia. My only issue was the major insta-love but I can get past it because of the humor and hot romance, along with the hilarious family. I cant wait for the next book!

RECOMMENDATION:

This is a paranormal romance story with mature sexual content. Fans of the Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins and the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill, will love Love Potions by Michelle Pillow.

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{Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway} of Goddess Born by Kari Edgren

Goddess Born by Kari Edgren
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

GENRE: Fantasy New Adult
THEME: Historical, Magic, Romance
RECEIVED: Tour

BLURB:

Pennsylvania, 1730

Selah Kilbrid keeps a dangerous secret: she has the power to heal.

A direct descendent of the Celtic goddess Brigid, it's Selah's sacred duty to help those in need. But as the last of the Goddess Born living in the New World, she learned from an early age to keep her supernatural abilities hidden. The Quaker community of Hopewell has always been welcoming, but there's no doubt they would see her hanged if her gift was revealed.

When a prominent minister threatens to try her with witchcraft unless she becomes his wife, Selah has only one hope--that her betrothed, a distant cousin from Ireland, arrives as planned. Marrying Samuel would keep her secret safe, preserve her sacred bloodline, and protect her from being charged as a witch.

But when news of Samuel's death reaches the Colonies, Selah is truly on her own. Terrified, she faces an impossible choice--forfeit her powers and marry the loathsome Nathan? Or find an imposter to pose as her husband and preserve her birthright?

REVIEW:

It’s been a while since I’ve been easily sucked into a historical setting novel, but the magic, romance and intense pace had me hooked right from the start. This was Edgren’s debut novel and I’m so hoping the first in a series.

Goddess Born follows Selah Kilbrid who lives in a small Quaker community in 1730 Pennsylvania. She has been living with a secret that has been in her family for many generation, she is a direct descendent of the Goddess Brigid. She is the healer in her community, but no one knows that she can actual heal wounds and sickness with her gift. But everything changes after the threat of a horrible minister, who says she must marry him or he’ll accuse her of witchcraft. Luckily her second cousin is coming to marry her, per her dying fathers request. She sadly learns of her cousin death on his voyage to her, making Selah desperate enough to have a servant, named Henry, pose as her husband and late cousin. Together they keep their secret until Henry can back off the horrible Nathan and protect Selah from being accused. But someone is trying to expose her and she fears that Henry with leave her too if he finds out the truth.

Selah is a fiery but sweet young woman, who has only done what any healer would do…help people. She has been a healer since her mothers passing, but is now worried she may be forced to marry a hateful man. Her journey takes her in many directions; she isn’t sure what her fate may be with the distraction of Henry and her attraction towards him. Plus her gift may be revealed to a community who might not be as accepting. I loved the idea of her heritage, I’m not familiar with Celtic myths but it fascinated me to see how great her power was. It was also interesting to see how someone during that time dealt with being accused; it was a serious offense then. My only issue was that if she was being accused, she shouldn’t of been wandering obviously into the wood so much, or at least tell Henry. I would have been super careful not to get caught.

Henry is a mystery at the beginning; it was obvious of the attraction between him and Selah. He was a strong and very intelligent person, who has a knack for protecting his new “wife”. I liked how he just fit with Selah, that their relationship was sweet and paced nicely without being forceful. I also adored him more because of how he handled the evil Nathan who is trying so hard to blackmail Selah. But Henry chewed him out nicely. In the end I was super surprised about Henry’s background and am hoping for a continuation story about what this major secret with reveal.

Overall this was a fantastically written debut, characters were strongly developed, as well as the plot was perfectly paced and full of twists that caught me by surprise. The best part beside the cute and clean romance were the villains; I was always guessing and so shocked about who the culprit was. I look forward to more writing from Edgren and hoping that she continues this series.

RECOMMENDATION:

This is a young adult novel, with mystery, fantasy and clean romance all bundled together. Fans of The Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins and the Covenant series by Jennifer Armentrout will love Goddess born by Kari Edgren.

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AUTHOR BIO:
Kari Edgren did not dream of becoming a writer. Instead, she dreamed of everything else and was often made to stay inside during kindergarten recess to practice her letters. Despite doting parents and a decent school system, Ms. Edgren managed to make it through elementary school having completed only one book cover to cover – The Box Car Children, which she read approximately forty-seven times. Things improved during high school, but not until she read Gabrielle Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude in college, did she truly understand the power of a book.

Ms. Edgren aspires to be a Vulcan, a world-acclaimed opera singer, and two inches taller. She resides in the Pacific NW where she spends a great deal of time torturing her husband and children with strange food and random historical facts. Ms. Edgren hasn’t stopped dreaming, but has finally mastered her letters enough to put the stories on paper.

Buy Links: Amazon |  Barnes and Noble

Links: Blog | Goodreads | Book Goodreads | Carina Press

{Review} of Fire Kin by M.J. Scott

Fire Kin by M.J. Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Fae, Magic, Werewolves
RECEIVED: Publisher

BLURB:

Imagine a city divided…a city readying itself for a war. The vampire Blood and the shape-shifting Beast Kind seek to seize control now that the treaty is broken. Only the humans stand in their way…but they stand without their Fae allies…and they desperately need help....

I chose to stay with the humans when the Fae withdrew from the City. I am a healer, and they need me. I know the odds are against them. I know they need reinforcements. But I never expected them to turn and seek aid from the depths of my past. Asharic is a powerful Fae, exiled by the Veiled Queen thirty years ago. Leaving me behind. But now the queen is dead and the throne is vacant, and Ash is returning to the City—my City—with his mercenary army.

It would be false to deny that there is still a spark between us, but I will not be taken in again. And I’m not the only one disturbed by his return. A Blood lord is poised to conquer the Half-Light City, and other enemies new and old are gathering to eliminate the threat Ash poses. To save the City, we will have to join forces. And pray we’re not the ones who burn…

REVIEW:

It’s been way too long since I got sucked back into the world of The Half-light City. I adored the first and second and missed the third, but since I did read the first two I wasn’t lost at all stepping into the fourth book in the series. The whole gang is back, my two favorite boys Guy and Simon, along with their kick butt ladies are back in action. But this time the plot focuses on the death of the fae queen and the possibility of vampires and werewolves taking over control. The new couple in focus is Asharic an exiled fae and the healer Bryony.

Fire Kin follows right where the third book left off, which helped me understand what happened in the third that I missed. It follows Asharic a powerful fae who can now return to the City since the queen’s death. Byrony and Asharic have a long history and with him being back tension rises between the two. But Asharic wont give up on Bryony and knows that there is a connection and no matter how much she denies it, they belong together. With a war on the verge or coming to the city they must work together with the fae and templar knights to stop the vampires and werewolves from taking over once and for all.

Bryony is passionate about helping others and is not at all happy to have Asharic back in her life. I had a hard time with Bryony’s character, as she was a little too stubborn and pushy for my liking. It frustrated me when she pushed Asharic into doing something he never wanted in the first place. However M.J. Scott knows how to make her female characters strong and always on the verge of sacrificing their happiness, it just went to show Bryony was only thinking of the city and not love.

Asharic was fantastic; he is a warrior and has a good head on his shoulders, which helps the Templar Knights plan how to stop their enemies. His background was fascinating, he is also so very powerful, but doesn’t seem to care much about it as he only wants to help and get Bryony back into his life. I love his persona of passion and charm, frustrating Bryony to not ends, which makes her cave at some points. In the end he has to make a tough decision that I made me love him even more.

Overall I loved coming back into this world; there is always so much excitement and danger that I never know what going to happen. It was also great seeing how the characters from the other books are progressing. I’m definitely going to step back and read book three now that I’m all caught up, the last duo had a lot happened to them. Again this is one Urban Fantasy series that I will continue to come back too and look forward to seeing where Scott takes them next.

RECOMMENDATION:

This is an adult novel with some violence and adult situations. Fans of authors Christina Henry of the Madeline Black series and Keri Arthur of the Dark Angels series will love The Half-Light City series Blood Kin by M.J. Scott.

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{Bundle Giveaway} Spring Cleaning!

GIVEAWAY

Spring is in the air and I'm filling up my shelves fast! I was given some titles a while back that ended up with me having duplicates, I feel its only fair to find some of these a good new home! 1 winner will get all 6 of these fabulous titles!
ARCs: Dark Unwinding/Ashen Winter/Guardians of Stone/Switched

USA / CANADA Only Sorry!

{Book Blitz: Excerpt + Giveaway} of Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold

Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold

by Brinda Berry, Karen Y., Bynum, Laura, Diamond, Jayne A., Knolls, Theresa, DaLayne, Cate Dean

Release Date: 03/2014

Summary from Goodreads:

A collection of six folklore retellings that will twist your mind and claim your heart.

SHIMMER: A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid... but is it too late to save her?

BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions.

SUNSET MOON: Eloise doesn't believe in Native American magic--until the dreamcatcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.

THE MAKER: An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.

A BEAUTIFUL MOURNING: The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.

THE BARRICADES: When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?

Buy Links:

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Kobo * iTunes

Author Bios:

Brinda Berry:

Brinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family and two spunky cairn terriers. She's terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.  She doesn't mind being called a geek or “crazy dog lady”. When she's not working the day job or writing a novel, she's guilty of surfing the internet for no good.

Find Brinda at www.brindaberry.com .

Karen Y. Bynum:

Dragons, unicorns, genies…oh my! NA/YA author, coffee-lover, olive-hater, tea-drinker, music-listener. Random becomes me. Easily distrac— Blog

Laura Diamond:

Laura
Diamond is a board certified psychiatrist and multi-published author of all things young adult paranormal, dystopian, and horror. When she’s not writing, she is working at the hospital, blogging at Author Laura Diamond--Lucid Dreamer, and renovating her 225+ year old fixer-upper mansion.

Jayne A. Knolls:

Jayne A. Knolls lives and works in New York City.  The Maker is her first published work of New Adult Fiction. Jayne can reached at JAKnolls@optonline.net

Theresa DaLayne:

My name is Theresa DaLayne and I’m a new adult author with Bloomsbury Spark, an amazing digital imprint of Bloomsbury publishing. Website

Cate Dean:

Hi there - thanks for checking in. My name is Cate Dean, and I write romantic suspense and paranormal, with some action packed YA paranormal and fantasy thrown in. I love to write, and I have been doing it most of my life. I've made up stories in my head for as long as I can remember, and I am thrilled to be able to write them down and share them with you. If you want to be the first to know when the next book is released, or be in on some fun, exclusive contests and giveaways, join my list here: http://catedeanwrites.com/join-my-list. You can learn more about me and my books at my website: http://catedeanwrites.com

Shimmer by Brinda Berry:

Draven Manning watched the naked female wade into the inky waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Silent as a hermit crab, he sat on the sand hidden by tall sea oats and studied her petite body, long hair thickly draped to the waist. She held a backpack, an odd addition to her nakedness, which she dropped on the sand. He could have loudly cleared his throat or walked back up to the house. But he didn’t.

Not that he was a total creeper. She’d appeared from nowhere like some magical mist formed in a female shape. The wind lifted strands of her hair away from her body increasing the otherworldly feel of the scene.

He continued to watch and acknowledged that wishing he could see better or had binoculars did fall into creeper territory. His friends always talked about what a nice guy he was. Maybe he didn’t want to be a nice guy.

Being the nice guy had landed him here in this tiny Gulf Coast town with his dad for the summer. He had no choice, because he couldn’t stand to look at the people he’d trusted. They had betrayed him, and he’d pretended it was no big deal. He lowered his forehead to his bent knees and pulled air into his lungs. A deep exhale steadied the shaking. He was eighteen, not eight. It was time to man up. Move on with life. Forget what had happened and quit feeling sorry for himself.

For a week, he’d strolled the beach by himself. In the daylight hours, families cluttered the sand so he waited for nightfall. He always returned to this spot on the sand to sit and think. He could’ve sat on the deck with the same view, but that’s where his dad always sat and smoked cigars.

His dad would already be in bed at this hour.

The girl swam farther and farther out to sea. Her moonlight swim went beyond his seeing range. She was far enough out that he couldn’t tell if a glint on the water might be her head or a fish or a buoy. She had to be an excellent swimmer.

Clouds moved across the moon to dim his view of her even more. A gust of wind blew sand into his face. He jumped from his spot and ran, his bare feet pounding on the packed sand. He saw the crashing wave deliver her body to shoreline and teasingly pull her back. Why hadn’t he noticed that she was in trouble?

He stomped into the chilly ocean. “Shit.” His jeans sucked up the water and clung to his legs. “Shit, shit, shit.” Waves pushed against his thighs, whipping him off balance until he braced himself for the tide.
She floated face down with her hair billowing out in thin tentacles. He grabbed her upper arms, flipped her body, and pulled her to shore. Her lower body dragged in the sand, so he picked her up. She probably didn’t weigh much, but her limp body sagged as he carried her like a sleeping child.

Out from the tide’s reach, he placed her on the sand and pressed two fingers against her neck. Not dead. Not dead. Not dead. But not breathing, either. He couldn’t remember the steps. His heart slapped against his chest like paper caught in moving bicycle spokes. People learned CPR just in case. He never expected to actually need it. He squeezed his eyes shut, heard Coach Vorlosky’s calm instructions, visualized each step, and began chest compressions.

One push, two, three, four…one push a second how many times? Maybe thirty. He’d barely passed the test and wished he’d paid more attention. “You better not die. I’ve had a shitty week. Come on, come on.” Her head lolled to the side. He grabbed her chin, tilted her head back, pinched her nose, covered her mouth with his and blew.

He hovered above her mouth to see if she breathed. Strands of long, dark hair draped over her face. He brushed the hair out of the way and started again. On his fifth round of administering CPR, he glanced around for help, which wouldn’t happen at 2:00 a.m. on a deserted strip of beach in the middle of nowhere.

Her loud gasp, sounding like the reverse of a balloon losing air, startled him.

She turned her head to the side and coughed out water. “What…” She coughed again.”…do you think you’re doing?”

He barely heard her. The girl must be out of her mind, which would explain why she thought a night swim by herself was a good idea. “Saving you.”

“I didn’t need your help,” she muttered.

He scooted back on the sand several inches—his heart starting to slam again—and rubbed his face. Sand coated his hand and clung to his eyelashes. “Not the way I see it.” His voice sounded strangled and loud.

She sat up and pulled her knees to her chest. Anger flashed in her eyes. “What’s your deal?”

“You weren’t breathing.” He wiped dripping water from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I was scared that you’d…never mind that thought. You’re alive.”

“Um hmm. Sure am. Back here on the shore whether I like it or not.” She was all hair and limbs with her arms wrapped around her knees.