Double Book Birthday Bash! @epembrace

I’m so excited to share this double book birthday for two fellow Entangled Embrace authors, Katie Delahanty and Rebecca Yarros. Congrats, ladies, they sound awesome.

Check out the pretties!

In Bloom by Katie Delahanty

My name is Olivia Bloom and I. Am. Free.

I left for LA with everything I owned piled into my old Volkswagen and dreams of becoming a costume designer. Little did I know I’d wind up designing for a lingerie company—yeah, not sure how I landed this gig—and taken under the wing of two young Hollywood insiders. The fashion shows and parties were great, but life really got exciting when the seriously hottest lead singer of my favorite band started to fall for me.　

How does someone like me, an ordinary girl from Pittsburgh, wind up in the arms of the world’s sexiest rock star—surrounded by celebrities, fashion, and music—and not be eaten alive? Berkeley is everything I’ve ever dreamed of in a boyfriend, but the paparazzi, the tabloids, the rumors, it’s all getting a bit too crazy. My life has become every girl’s dream come true, if only I don’t blink and lose it all…　

Amazon | B&N |Kobo Books

About Katie:

Katie Delahanty is a fashion designer turned novelist.  She graduated with a BA in Communication Studies from UCLA and a Professional Designation in Fashion Design from FIDM.  Her debut novel, IN BLOOM will be published by Entangled Publishing in January 2014.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

Find Katie Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Full Measures by Rebecca Yarros

She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her ov er and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.

Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo Books

About Rebecca

Rebecca Yarros is a mom, military wife, blogger, and author of Young Adult and New Adult fiction.  In addition to raising an absolute gaggle of somewhat-noisy children, she draws inspiration for her fiction from her favorite authors like Mercedes Lackey, Gayle Forman, and Gena Showalter.
She’s a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but is still holding out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts.  Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding military life that have helped shape her characters, who are strong in the face of odds and meet challenges with courage, tenderness, and grace.
When she’s not writing, she loves to travel with her husband, always seeking to ink up that passport a little more and discover new settings for new novels.  Her favorite destinations include Paris, Scotland, Istanbul, Mykonos, Capri, and her home state of Colorado.  She’s a guitar-player when no one is watching, and a cake-decorator when everyone is eating.

Find Rebecca Online:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

{Book Review} Iced by Karen Marie Moning

Hmm, where to begin.  I think you all know I’m a big fan of Ms. Moning by now since I so often sing her praises, but I think she’s outdone herself this time.

Here are the deets of the book:

The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.

When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.

Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

~~~

When I picked this book up, I didn’t have high hopes since the main character, Dani, a sarcastic and highly talented Irish girl, is only fourteen.  Now, I have no issue with young adult stuff and there are lots of works out there I love in that genre, but I prefer adult stories, the darker and grittier the better.

Somehow, this story had all of the adult content I wanted while still being tame enough for a younger crowd.  By the time I’d made it to chapter three, I was already giddy about this book and its rainbow of fascinating characters.  Dani is definitely unique in talent and in voice.  A warrior, bold and confident to the point of endangering herself, but still has a heart of a scared young girl who wants to do the right thing.  She survived a cruel childhood and isn’t afraid to put herself in harm’s way to save her beloved Dublin.

Enter Ryodan, who was introduced a few books back, and the intrigue goes through the roof.  He’s … whatever Jericoh Barrons is.  Badass, immortal, grouchy, and sexy as freakin’ hell.  The best thing about him is that for a while I wasn’t sure whether to love or hate him, and I have no idea where the story’s going from here, only that I want to know … like … now.

So Dani “Mega” O’Malley ends up becoming an unwilling partner solving some strange happenings in Dublin, and on top of it, Christian-turned-Unseelie-Prince has taken a shine to her.  She’s running from Mac, who Dani’s convinced wants to kill her, and barely escaping whatever is turning her city into a freezer, all while being entertaining as hell.  Bravo on this one.  Another five stars for this one.  Heck, I’d give it six or seven if I could.

Pick it up.  Read it.  It won’t disappoint.

{Review} Crux by Julie Reece

I’m honored to be part of Julie Reece’s blog tour for her newly released Young Adult novel, Crux. Congrats, girl!

What a dream to read. I laughed.  I cried.  I clutched my kindle, wishing I could read faster, frustrated when I couldn’t get to the end fast enough. 

And I gave it a big fat, well earned, five cupcakes!

Let’s start off with the nitty gritty, courtesy of Goodreads:

Crux, by Julie Reece

Release Date:  July 9, 2012

Publisher:  J. Taylor Publishing

Back of the Book

She should have run. Now, she’ll have to fight.

Eighteen year old Birdie may be homeless, but she’s surviving, that is until a mysterious guy throws money in the air like a crazy game show host, and she grabs some with the idea she’ll be able to buy dinner that night.

In that singular moment, unassuming Birdie becomes the girl in everyone’s viewfinder. Thugs want to kill her. Money-guy wants to recruit her. The very hot, very rich, and very out of her league Grey Mathews wants to save her.

Birdie, though, wants nothing to do with any of them, until she realizes fate didn’t bring them all together.

Her heritage did.

Now, with only twenty-one days left, she’s got to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of those before her or risk her life for people she’s only just met.

~~~~

Cover

Isn’t this cover amazing?  I loved having this image of Birdie in my mind’s eye as I read, and I could totally see this cover girl throughout the story, surviving through what the author put her through.  Whatever artist created this is incredible.  I bow to you, whoever you are.  Your talent is mind-blowing.

What I loved about the book:

In one word:  Birdie.  Her character is so simple, yet so complex it just about blew my mind.  She’s hilarious and wounded deeply, a survivor I couldn’t help but pull for.  As an author, I’m always looking for what works and what doesn’t, and the characters and world Ms. Reece creates are colorful and believable, working to paint a complex tapestry for me to admire and even learn a thing or two from.

I’ve read scarce few present tense books that I enjoyed.  It has to be spot on, and this one is, and how.  I was IN the story as I was reading, right there with Birdie.

There are subtle lines throughout the book like these that are extremely creative and awe-inspiring:

“Uh hmm. That’s why you be sittin’ here in someone else’s piss? Girl, you gonna have to come up with somethin’ better than that.” Shondra shakes her head. She looks younger than me, but, like, a hundred years old, too. I can’t explain the quick bond between us, but I like her, and I don’t like many people. “They’s places you can go. Some churches, a day shelter on Ethel Street, Hosea House on Donnelly Avenue, and the Guthrie Shelter, but you ain’t got no kids, right?”
“No.”
She scoots closer on her butt cheeks until our shoulders touch. “Then you can’t go there. You stick with Shondra, honey. I’ll help you.”
Seeing as how Shondra is sitting in the same pee I am, I don’t know what she thinks she can do for me, but at least I’m not alone.

That simple line, that Shondra is sitting in the same pee struck me when I read it.  Simple, vivid, tells a story within the story in only a few words. Birdie’s “voice” is just perfect.

Here’s another bit that makes me love Birdie in all her blunt glory:

My trip to the corner market was fun. When you’re homeless, you don’t dream of Perrier, or the surf and turf special at the local steakhouse that you pay for with plastic from your new Coach purse. You dream of bologna and cheese sandwiches, bottled water, and a grocery bag to keep your crap in.

This is a wonderful story that young adult fans everywhere are going to gobble up and rave about.

About the Author:

Julie Reece (biography courtesy of J. Taylor Publishing)

Born in Ohio, I lived next to my grandfather’s horse farm until the fourth grade. Summers were about riding, fishing and make-believe, while winter brought sledding and ice-skating on frozen ponds. Most of life was magical, but not all.

I struggled with multiple learning disabilities, did not excel in school. I spent much of my time looking out windows and daydreaming. In the fourth grade (with the help of one very nice teacher) I fought dyslexia for my right to read, like a prince fights a dragon in order to free the princess locked in a tower, and I won.

Afterwards, I read like a fiend. I invented stories where I could be the princess… or a gifted heroine from another world who kicked bad guy butt to win the heart of a charismatic hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Later, I moved to Florida where I continued to fantasize about superpowers and monsters, fabricating stories (my mother called it lying) and sharing them with my friends.

Then I thought I’d write one down…

Hooked, I’ve been writing ever since. I write historical, contemporary, urban fantasy, adventure, and young adult romances. I love strong heroines, sweeping tales of mystery and epic adventure… which must include a really hot guy. My writing is proof you can work hard to overcome any obstacle. Don’t give up. I say, if you write, write on!

Find her on:

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Purchase links:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble.com

{Review} The Immortal Highlander

Wow.  The power of Karen Marie Moning’s writing always has me in awe every time I finish one of her books.  As soon as I start on page one, the characters crawl into my heart and eat away at me until I’ve learned their entire story from start to finish. 

The last of the Highlander series, The Immortal Highlander, was no exception.  In fact, I think Adam Black’s story is my favorite of the whole lot.  I finished it two days ago and I’m still thinking about it.

Here are the deets courtesy of Goodreads:

Back of the Book:

Enter a world of timeless seduction, of ancient intrigue and modern-day passion. Enter the dazzling world of Karen Marie Moning, whose acclaimed Highlander novels have captivated readers, spanning the continents and the centuries, bringing ancient Scotland vividly to life. In a new novel brimming with time-travel adventure and sensual heat, the nationally bestselling author of The Dark Highlander delivers a love story that will hold you in thrall—and a hero you will most certainly never forget.

BEWARE: lethally seductive alpha male of immense strength and dark eroticism, do not look at him. Do not touch him. Do not be tempted. Do not be seduced.

With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensely sensual, he is the consummate seducer, free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. With his very life at stake, Adam’s only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.

Enter law student Gabrielle O’Callaghan, who is cursed with the ability to see both worlds: Mortal and Faery. From the moment she lays eyes on this stunning male, Gabby is certain of one thing: He could be her undoing. Thus begins a long, dangerous seduction. Because despite his powerful strength and unquenchable hungers, Adam refuses to take a woman by force. Instead, he will tease his way into Gabby’s bed and make her want him just as he wants her.

Now, no matter how hard Gabby tries to avoid him, Adam is everywhere, invisible to all but her—perched atop her office cubicle in too-tight jeans, whispering softly from behind the stacks of the law library, stealing her breath away with his knowing smile…all the while tempting her with the promise of unimaginable pleasure in his arms. But soon danger will intrude on this sensual dance. For as Adam’s quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic and the deadly politics of the Faery queen’s court, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both mortal and Faery realms…and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love.

Cover

The cover is appropriate and tasteful, with bold colors.  It’s nothing out of the ordinary, but it’s still somehow eye-catching and very fitting to Adam Black’s story.

Review

Adam Black.  I could leave the review right there and say all I needed to, only add a little whispery sigh when you say his name, and there you have it.  The delicious fae blacksmith has appeared through out the series as somewhat of an antagonist, a wild card, and damn sexy in every last one with his shining black locks and body to die for.  He’s arrogant and full of himself, so sure of his effect on women and sexual prowess. 

KMM really ripped him a new one in this book, starting right off with a bang right after the last book ended.  He’s not the same, having suffered a punishment by the fae queen for defying her yet again.  He meets his match in Gabrielle, a Sidhe-Seer who is the only one anywhere who can see him, and the only one who doesn’t want to.

The way the relationship progresses from two stubborn heads butting together, to sexual tension almost unbearable to take is so natural and believable, I was nearly shouting at the characters to shut it and get naked already!  There were sweet moments, too, and misunderstandings between them that made the story all the more interesting.  There are some seriously hot scenes in this one, even hotter than in book one with Hawk.

Loved.  Every.  Page.

Five stars, as usual.  I’m not a sappy romance kind of person, yet this one really lit my fire.  Hard won relationship, hot alpha male who is far from perfect, and a heroine who I could identify with put this book in a class above the rest.

{Review} Kiss the Dead

After reading Bullet, I wasn’t sure I’d pick up another Anita Blake book.  It was bad.  Really bad.  Had no ending or climax, the conflict just sort of went away.  However, since I’m an author myself and know how hard it is to write these damn things, and LKH was the whole inspiration for me to take a crack at writing myself, I decided I was a fan, darn it, and fans stick out the rough spots. 

So, I got my hands on her latest Anita Blake novel, Kiss the Dead.

Here’s the skinny, courtesy of Goodreads:

When a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents, soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will be more…

But even vampires have monsters that they’re afraid of. And Anita is one of them…

Cover

All of the Anita Blake covers have that NY best seller look to them, don’t they?  I love the colors in this one and the dark feel of it, the man looming in the background and the woman laying beneath the jagged edges.  The whole thing is bold and eye-catching, just how I like them.

Review

I liked this book.  Enjoyed it.  Laughed.  Teared a little–yeah, I did, I’m not afraid to admit it.  I was so afraid of being disappointed like I was with Bullet, but it appears as though that was just one blip in LKH’s massive lineup of books.  I originally rated this a three, but I think that’s because I have an issue with the ending, and that one little piece frustrated me at first, and if I’d given myself some time to think about it, I would have rated it differently. 

The more I thought about the story, the characters and the growth of Anita herself, I rethought my rating and gave it a four.  It’s well written.  It’s entertaining, and we got much more actual police work and relationships than just naked screwing of everything that moves.  Not that I have a problem with that in the slightest, there just needs to be a balance, and in this one, there was.

What I really like about this book, is that I get a sense that LKH is figuring herself out while Anita’s doing the same.  I think that’s really neat, how her thought processes have changed and her overall outlook on life, what’s important and such.  It made me think more about my own life and those of my characters.  I like it when a book can do that.

SPOILER ALERT

My one little niggle, as I said earlier, came at the end.  What first drew me to LKH’s writing is that she wasn’t afraid to get messy, to kill people off, to do her worst to her characters and make everyone that much stronger for it. 

This ending was waaaay too tidy for my liking.  There is an enormous cast of lovers, and I was sure this book might see a few leave the series during the climax. 

Nope. Everything worked out perfectly without a single hair harmed on a single head.

Has LKH lost a bit of her grit because she’s too attached to Anita’s lovers?  All thirty or forty of them?  That’s just me, though, and you all know how cruel of an author I can be.  I expected a bit of harsh reality for Anita because of the buildup.  Oh well, maybe next time.  🙂

Overall, I’d recommend this book to PNR & UF lovers, especially those who like crime fiction.

{Review} Devil’s Playground #TuesdayTurns

Have you ever read a series of books you were really torn about when it came to deciding how you felt about it?  The Morgan Kingsley series by Jenna Black was one of those for me.

Here’s the skinny on the last one I read courtesy of Goodreads:

Back of the book

Morgan Kingsley, a kick-ass exorcist, can deal with Lugh, the super sexy demon living inside her, but does he have to moan softly during her intimate moments with her mortal lover? Understandably, Brian is reluctant to share the pleasures of Morgan’s flesh with a gorgeous rogue from the Demon Realm.

But personal matters will have to wait when the opportunistic owner of the Seven Deadlies demon club in Philadelphia enlists Morgan’s help in heading off a crisis: It seems that demons have started showing up at the hot spot in alarming numbers and in the unwilling bodies of rough trade club-goers. Morgan is sure that Dougal, Lugh’s sworn enemy, is behind this, but why? To find out, Morgan must summon every ounce of power at her command – or risk becoming just another casualty in an all-out demon war.

Cover

I like most of this cover.  I like the fonts and colors.  I really like the black spidery-looking swirls behind the title giving it a dark feel.  What I’m not fond of is the woman.  She kind of reminds me of a frog – no offense to the model!  It’s the eye makeup, I think.  Weird.

Review

I really love the premise of this book.  Morgan is an exorcist who makes a living sending demons out of unwilling hosts and also boots demons who’ve committed crimes.  I like that there are actually willing hosts who want a demon to inhabit them, allowing them extra abilities they use for good.

It plays with the mind a bit, since demons historically are all evil and up to nothing good.  I love Lugh, the demon inside Morgan.  He’s complicated, trying to allow Morgan her dignity by not taking over her body, but is still willing to do whatever it takes to reach his goal, even hijack her body and block Morgan from even seeing what he was up to.

Whenever he took control I could always see both sides, why she was pissed and why he had to do it.  The sexual tension between the two is really great, too.  Brian is okay, but I always go for the bad boy, and in this one, that’s Lugh.  Okay, Adam’s pretty hot, too, but he’s batting for the other team and already has a hot play toy of his own.

In the beginning of the series I had a hard time reading because I really didn’t like Morgan but loved the rest of the cast.  She was incredibly whiny and made poor decisions that hurt a lot of people, especially Adam and his lover.  While I get that people make mistakes, she made nasty, petty ones that I had a hard time forgiving her for and wished someone would crack her one.

I have to say, though, by the time this book rolled around she’d grown enough that I didn’t roll my eyes whenever she opened her mouth.  I’ll definitely continue with the series as long as it remains well written and engaging, and would recommend it for anyone who likes the darker side of urban fantasy with lots of BDSM references, M/M relationships and enough hot demons roaming around the pages.

{Book Review} Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning #tuesdayturns

I don’t often find an author that really impresses me.  When I picked up the first book of the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning, I have to say, I thought it was going to be another disappointment.  My, but was I wrong.

I give the series a full five stars, and would give a few more if there were any.

If you’d like to read the blurbs from these books, here’s a link to KMM’s goodreads page, where you can find anything you want to know:  Click here.

Cover:  The cover is just okay for me.  Nothing really special about, but that’s neither here nor there.

The Content is where it’s at:

As I mentioned, I read book one of this series over a span of a few days.  Within a few chapters, I put it down again for one reason:  I hated the writing style.

What, you ask?  How could that be when she’s a famous, successful, published author?  I didn’t like that the author told so much.  She’d tell me what was about to happen, jump ahead a few scenes, then tell what had happened during the action-packed bits we’d skipped over instead of showing us those scenes.  I wanted those scenes.  I needed those scenes.

Having said that, I kept picking the book back up.  Suddenly I was devouring the second.  Then the third, and didn’t stop until I reached the end of this the series, book 5, Shadowfever.  What the hell?  What was it about the books, with a writing style I hated, that kept drawing me back in like the Sinsaur Duhb itself?

Just the story?  The characters?  The incredible heat between Mac and Jericoh?  The intrigue of what he was, what she was?  The sex-by-death fae?  The silvers?  The mystery of the king and his concubine?  The depth of thought that came out of the dialogue and interactions?  The answer is, all of the above.  And how.  I’ve never been so enthralled with the complexity of the story and characters, the building of layers as the books went along and we learned a little more about everyone.

I loved Jericoh, a total wild card.  Hot.  Mysterious.  He had me guessing until the very end as to his motives and how he felt about Mac.  She, too, is a mystery up until the end and it’s rare I haven’t figured out the plot before it plays out.  This is a clever series that taught me a lot about layers of writing, some surface, some middle, and some so deep I had to stop and consider the meaning before going on.

All in all, this series is imaginative and thought provoking.  I still missed my scenes, but it wasn’t enough to hinder my enjoyment.  This is a series I’ll probably read multiple times and find more hidden gems each time through.  I’d recommend it for lovers of big girl urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels.

Have you read it?  What did you think?