Review: Fury by Shirley Marr

Let me tell you my story. 

Not just the facts I know you want to hear. 

If I’m going to tell you my story, 

I’m telling it my way. 

Strap yourself in... 

Eliza Boans has everything. 

A big house. 

A great education. 

A bright future. 

So why is she sitting in a police station confessing to murder?

Review: Eliza Boans is spoiled, lazy, angry and lonely. All she wants is for someone to pay attention and listen to what she has to say. She gets her wish when she is arrested and confesses to murder. The story is told from her perspective as she recounts as series of events that lead to the devious act. Fury touches on the dark and ugliness in human nature and how one can flip the switch that transcends to tragedy. You can say it all can tumbling down. As a reader you want to dislike Eliza and her friends but once you've delved into her snarky yet vulnerable essence, she easier to understand and even relate to as are her friends Mari and Lexi. They all are much more than what they appear to be on the surface each grappling with their own inner demons. Ella, the new girl in school sort of sparks the domino effect on their lives and she seems to be sweet but even snakes come out of their skins.As you can tell she is my least favorite character. What I love about this book is that it covers so many topics that teens can identify with such as divorce, suicide, body issues and death. This is a great example of taking the time to just listen and be there for our youth. This is no romance but everything I thought it would be; a dark, gripping and lovely read. 

Author: Shirley Marr 

Title: Fury

Publisher: Black Dog Books

Publication: May 1, 2010

Audience: 14 and up

Genre: YA Suspense, Mystery

Source: Blog Tour with the Midnight Garden

Rating:4 out 5

Website | Goodreads 

Currently not available in the U.S.

Review: Pawn of Mine by Tabitha Vale

Title: Pawn of Mine

Author: Tabitha Vale

Genre: YA/ Urban Fantasy

Publish Date: April 9, 2012

Publisher: Amazon

Formats: Ebook & Paperback

Source: Author

Rating: 4 out 5

Goodreads |Blog | Twitter

Summary

The world never ended in fire and ice. The people were consumed by it and now they control the elements. The Fires have harnessed the power down to an art, while the Waters cower in fear of their abilities and remain weak and hopeless. Seventeen year-old Sage Sinclair hopes to dispel the weakness of her Water people, and she knows that if she doesn’t do anything, no one will. When she discovers something special about herself, she seeks the Humble Narcissist Ruler Agni in the great city, Saint Firefly. Once she gains his seal of approval, she’s admitted into Erra Academy where she secretly sparks a revolution among her ennui peers—a revolution to fight back against the Fires. She has every hope in her movement, just as long as her feelings for a handsome and frivolous Saffron Larkspur don’t get in the way—that, and Agni’s sudden fascination with her.

Review: Action-packed sequences and a heroine that can handle her own this is a great read about courage, sacrifice and love. Sage is a tough cookie who is passionate about the cause she has set for herself and nothing is going to interfere with that goal of showing the world that the Waters can be just as powerful as the Fires, who are in control of everything.She hopes to restore the balance that they once had when the Ancients lived, and not even the cute boys that seem to be flocking her can change that, though it seems she is drawn to Saffron in particular. He is charismatic and honest in a way that is convenient for him. He is a cake and eat it too guy, he would rather not label himself as spoken for in order to have the ability to pursue his options yet, in spite of all this Sage is still attracted to him. Zane is my favorite fella and I love how he grows throughout this story and the fact that Sage is oblivious to how much he is willing to do for her is crazy. The last guy is Hazel and he is absolutely gorgeous, dark and brooding but not exactly sure what his deal is other than he tries to kill Sage a couple of times, and he is not the only one that has it out to stop her. Now, the fellas are only a portion of this story, and they each play important roles in the efforts to overthrow the conceited, selfish and insane leader Agni, who is a Fire. There are several secrets and twists that transpire with lots of cool visual fight scenes. This is a good beginning to an intriguing series, that as I was reading reminded me of several other fantastic reads such as the Last Airbender, Harry Potter and a tiny bit of the Hunger Games. 

Fairytale Giveaway Hop!

Snow White Once Upon a Time

Ariel The Little Mermaid

My favorite fairy character is Ariel, it is just something about mermaids. I am fascinated with water and the creatures that live there, it is just so peaceful. I think, I should be a mermaid myself and add to that being a princess, so cool. I love Ariel because she can sing and music is a big part of who I am, whether I use that talent or not(currently not).What is great about this year is that mermaid lore is the new topic in the books that are being published lately, which is very exciting and refreshing change from the vampire and werewolves that have been the dominate subject matter. Now, I guess you see the first picture and Snow White is my favorite character as an adult. Once Upon a Time, is a darker version of the "Disney" tales, and it is closer to the Grimm tales, I very much need to read these. So, if you haven't seen the show, you should it is quite addictive. Any who, what I am giving away......

Your choices!

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Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Book summary:

MY VAMPIRE CREATOR TOLD ME THIS:

"Sometime in your life, Allison Sekemoto, you will kill a human being. The question is not if it will happen, but when. Do you understand?"

I didn't then, not really.

I DO NOW.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die…or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

Review: When I got this book, I thought oh boy, more vampires but this is much gorier, and absolutely no sparkling here. Kagawa does a good job of sticking to the traditional vampire lore but with a few interesting tidbits. It is set in a dystopian society where the vamps are at the top of the food chain and the humans are the meat, well the blood source. I was not able to truly connect with the characters, people died and no tears were shed. Allie, the main character is tough, and just trying to survive each day, but once she becomes the thing she hates, she fights to hold onto her humanity. One of the most interesting things about Allie is her struggle between the monster within and her heart, and this is an important theme in this book and I am quite sure it will be in the next installments as well. Really,how do you fight yourself? Now, I felt it went on a bit long and this for me slowed down the pace. I think if was a shorter, this would help the read go much smoother. What is great about this book is the action, lots of cool sequences that are visually stimulating, and would look great onscreen. Which leads to my next point, the movie rights(option) for this series has already been snatched up before this book was even released. Overall, good read! Gory, action-packed and must read for those fanatics that want a more original, yet traditional vampire society. 



Author: Julie Kagawa
Title: The Immortal Rules
Publisher:Harlequin Teen
Publication: April 24,2012
Audience: 14 and up
Genre: Paranormal, Dystopian
Source: publisher via Netgalley
Rating:3.8 out 5
Website | Twitter | Facebook |Goodreads 

Interview: Author Desiree Finkbeiner

Spotlight on Author Desiree Finkbeiner and her new series Morning Star:Ethos #1, which was released on March 28,2012.
LLM:What intrigues you about paranormal romance and suspense?
DF:I think deep down, every woman dreams of a perfect man- her hero, but we all know there is no such thing as a perfect man.  Fantasy is so much more exciting than reality, so paranormal romance captured readers who are looking for more than what this mortal life can offer. Of course, what is a good adventure without suspense, and some huge feat to overcome? The hero has to recue us from something, or he wouldn’t be a hero at all. So paranormal romance most definitely has to be plotted for suspense or the hero might as well be your average Joe.
LLM:Are there any similarities between you and your characters?
DF:Absolutely. There is a piece of me in every character,  some more than others. Certain situations in life will either bring out the best in us, or the worst. Each one of us are capable of both good and evil, so I am able to live all angles through my characters.
LLM:Who is your favorite author and what about their work draws you in?
DF:I’m most influenced by works with spiritual undertones. As a kid I loved Frank Herbert and Tolkien. At a darker time in my life, I was heavily influenced by Anne Rice.  But my work these days seems to be  most influenced by scripture, so readers might see a lot of doctrinal basis for my plots and story morals.
LLM:Who was the hardest character for you to write about?Who was you favorite?
DF:Brianna is the most difficult because the book is written in first person from her perspective. Her inner thoughts are heard throughout the story. So unless another character reveals something to her, or she experiences something first hand, she has to constantly think about her choices and what the consequences are. I’m in her shoes. Face it, being true to yourself is always more difficult than being true to others because it all begins with the self. So having to be someone else, living life through the character’s eyes can sometimes make decisions as difficult as if they were my own.
Of course Kalen is my favorite. Who wouldn’t love crafting the perfect hero?
LLM:Tell us something fun about you?
DF:I love linguistics! Accents and language are a huge hobby of mine. Anyone who gets to know me, will get to see my fun-loving side. My family and closest friends are accustomed to me going off on a tangent in some other dialect or character- even speaking a different language entirely. In fact, my family normally plays along. As you can guess, I grew up in a fun household, never a dull moment.
LLM:Was it difficult determining how to bring the characters to the page?
DF:Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s difficult, Just depends on the scene. Some characters are easily expendable while other must be crafted more carefully so the reader becomes attached enough to care about them. Those are the difficult characters. Doing this without dragging the story on and on isn’t easy. The trick to introducing an important character, is by doing it with just enough background, in just the right place, so readers identify with them.
LLM:What is your favorite Quote?
DF:“Any man who will sacrifice liberty for security, deserves neither.” Ben Franklin
LLM:When did you know that writing was what you wanted to do?
DF:I’ve always had the desire to write and I have an archive full of stories and poetry, but it wasn’t until recently then I decided to release something to the public.
LLM:Are there any new projects in the works?
DF:Aside of completing the Ethos series, I am also working on a steampunk YA series.
LLM:Is there anything you would like to add? Maybe a question I haven't asked that you would like to answer?
DF:I’d like to invite new readers to find me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I’d love to hear from them.
For more information about Desiree visit:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ |

Amazon

Book Trailer

About the Book

It started with a mushroom, from another world... never before touched by a human hand, until Brianna... but life continued as normal... until a near fatal accident almost a decade later, reveals to Brianna... she's... different...Unexplained lab results, unusually fast healing, and recent sightings of Jurassic sized dragonflies... What is happening to her?When a peculiar man delivers her from a violent assault, she becomes enchanted by his heroism and inhuman abilities. Her rescuer, Kalen, is sworn to protect the powerful secret she has yet to realize, from an ancient foe with evil designs...With the secret exposed, our world is no longer safe. Kalen takes Brianna to Ethos, his home, unprepared for what happens next... An ancient prophecy unfolds and they must make make a choice... Give into their forbidden love, or sacrifice their heart's desire for a chance to save their worlds.

Purchase:Amazon 
Publisher: Hydra Publications 
Publication:March 28, 2012

Review: Night Sky by Jolene Perry

Author: Jolene Perry
Title: Night Sky
Format: e-book
Publication: February 21,2012
Publisher: Tribute Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 out 5
Source: Author/Tribute Books Blog Tour
Amazon | BN | Smashwords | Goodreads
Summary
After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year. 


Review:
Night Sky is told from the male perspective of Jameson, which was very engaging. His voice has an innocence to it and his emotional journey makes this a good read. The plot begins with Jameson watching the girl he has loved for years in the arms the school jock, who doesn't deserve her. But being the good friend that he is, he helps her get the guy that she wants even though he feels he is the guy she needs. What can he do, nothing but go home and drown in his pain because it's not like she knows how he feels. Then that same night he meets Sky, who just so happens could be the balm to heal his wounded heart, yet all she asks is that they be completely honest with each other. This seems to work well for them, though he still feels that she is keeping pieces of herself from him. Add to this his unresolved feelings for Sarah and the turmoil he faces at home with his parents, what we have is an emotional and heartfelt journey.Jameson is an open book, but Sky is mysterious.The chemistry between the two is good, and it was great to watch them both grow. They are both relatable characters, Jameson more so because it was easy to connect with his pain, anger but mostly his capacity to love. Sky is more of a puzzle not as open as her honesty request but her pain and sadness show through.One thing I will point out is that Jameson is obsessed with Sky's skin and he mentions it several times in this book. Overall, the pace was steady and the writing is well done. Sweet, sad and honest, I would recommend this to anyone that is interested in contemporary books.

Author Bio 

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.  

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Review: BaSatai Outside In by Suzan Battah

Author: Suzan Battah
Title: BaSatai: Outside In
Format: ARC Paperback
Publication: April 14, 2012
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Rating: 4 out 5
Source: Author
Amazon | Goodreads 
Summary
Seventeen year old, Armani Radnelaq a full blooded BaSatai is plagued by a curse in her blood. A curse created from hate and designed to break the divide between two parallel worlds of Earth and H-trae when Armani's blood is spilled in attack and she dies.

S'teuqoubs have been travelling back and forth across the divide for centuries without trouble. The BaSatai and Guardians monitoring activity and enforcing rules to ensure peace and harmony but if the divide splits and opens, a much greater number of supernatural S’teuqoubs will filter into earth destroying equilibrium which the BaSatai and Guardians will be unable to control. Humanity and the BaSatai will suffer and perish. The parallel divide must remain secure at all costs.

Armani has remained hidden on earth with her adopted father Elijah since her birth. She has been raised in the human way and fights her natural instinct to evolve into a BaSatai. The BaSatai in her requires her to evovle and shift, use her powers and strength. Yet Armani is freaked out by the need to shift. She smokes, has a bad attitude, must deal with aggressive bullies and control her natural BaSatai instinct. Her Guardian with BaSatai Warriors are coming for her. She refuses to accept her fate and doesn't believe any BaSatai should die to protect her.

The blood curse maturing in her veins makes her a target for her enemies. Her Guardian Karhl and an elite BasSatai Warrior Rafael are the first to arrive and prepare her for her crossing over. Her attraction to Rafael complicates her purpose to stay on earth even more. They both insist she fall into line and follow their lead but she is not ready to leave earth just yet...

Review:
Unique and fascinating. Battah has created such an amazing concept with this one. I loved the bond between the characters and the meaning behind them. This book has something for everyone with a tidbit of romance and lots of action. I kinda cringe when I say this but I would love to see this one visually onscreen, as I feel like my "mind" movie just doesn't do it justice. Armani, the female lead has been told she holds a curse though she is quite adamant it is not her the BaSatai should be sacrificing their lives for and she is very vocal about this. It's good that she is a girl of action even though she hasn't mastered her powers yet. Her strentgh comes from her capacity to love, a very human trait it seems she has adopted. Armani can be a bit frustrating at times because she is strong-willed, and very determined to not give in to what the BaSatai want for her. She is more concerned with fitting in and being accepted by the so called Primpers in school, mainly Lily, her former friend turned enemy makes school a very lonely and unpleasant place. Then one day these BaSatai warriors come to take her back to H-trae, so they can work on breaking the curse . It pratically takes her almost being killed to get her to be more willing to at least try to learn more about her heritage. She begins to do things that Karhl, her guardian and Rafael, the love interest are baffled by as she has not fully shifted into her BaSatai form. Everything is not what it seems in this one as there some unexpected surprises that happen. I look forward to reading the next.Great read!


Book Trailer

Review: Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Author: Sarah Cross
Title: Kill Me Softly
Publication: April 10,2012
Publisher: Egmont USA
Audience: Young Adult
Source:Publisher via Netgalley
Rating: 4 out 5


Summary
Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.


In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.


But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.


Review:
When Mira is first introduced , she seems sweet but once she gets to Beau Rivage, her attitude changes. She seems lost and angry.That is until she meets Felix, who instantly bedazzles her and she becomes attached to him. Now, here is where I have issues with this book because Mira is fifteen and Felix is in his 20s, and he is coming on to her in a very sexually intoxicating manner. The poor girl is dizzy, literally from the lustiness(I am quite sure this is not a word, but I'm using it). Felix has a brother Blue, who Mira initially met when she arrived and he tried his best to get her to leave. I think the chemistry between Mira and Blue is so funny and the most interesting. She meets others just like her in this town and Mira feels like her new friends are keeping her in the dark, as they won't tell her anything, except stay away from Felix. Torn between her supposed love for Felix and the possible danger, she believes that she knows him better than they do, after a matter of days. Seriously!
The story is great and completely not what I expected. One of the cool things I really liked about this book are the marks that identify what story that the characters belong.Beau Rivage is full of fairy tale tragedies, and everyone knows their fate. The thing is no matter how hard they may try to change their path, destiny gets in the way. Mira wants to be the exception to this rule, that's if she survives her curse, and finds out what her trigger is before it is too late. Dark, witty and original this is a great book about love and destiny. 

Taste Book Trailer and Excerpt Reveal with Author Kate Evangelista

Summary
At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.


When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Author Bio:

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

Website |Twitter |Facebook | Goodreads | Crescent Moon Press

Song Credits: "Hunger" © Noelle Pico.

Full Download available at http://sheisnoelle.bandcamp.com

Now an Excerpt from Taste
Hidden in the text is a link to another excerpt from this book
I sat up and followed Calixta’s gaze upward. I rubbed my eyes. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first. A statue? ¬My brain refused to snap together coherent thoughts.  I didn’t realize I’d fallen so close to one of the garden benches until I stared up at the boy that sat on one. He was strikingly beautiful. His tumble of blonde hair curled just above his sculpted cheekbones. He wore a silk shirt and a loosened cravat, like he’d become bored while dressing and decided to leave himself in disarray. His ivory skin and frozen position was what had me mistaking him for something carved from marble by Michelangelo. Then he sighed—a lonely, breathy proof of life. If I had to imagine what Lucifer looked like before he fell from heaven, the boy on the bench would certainly fulfill that image. My brain told me I had to look away, but I couldn’t. 
“Luka,” Calixta said again, her voice unsure, almost nervous. It no longer contained the steel and bite she had threatened me with, which made me wonder who the boy was.
He leaned on his hands and crossed his legs, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the night sky. His movements spoke of elegance and control. I’d encountered many people with breeding before, but his took on the air of arrogance and self-assuredness of someone used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.
I only realized I’d been holding my breath when my lungs protested. I exhaled. My heart sputtered and restarted with a vengeance. Luka tore his gaze away from the stars and settled it on me. I’d expected pitch-black irises, like the other Night Students, but blue ice stared back at me. 
“Human,” he whispered. 
He reached out, and with a finger, followed an invisible trail down my cheek. I stiffened. His touch, cooler than Demitri’s, caused warm sparks to blossom on my face. He lifted his finger to his lips and licked its tip. He might as well have licked me from the way my body shivered. 
Luka’s curious gaze held mine. “Leave us,” he said, but not to me.
“But—” Calixta protested like a spoiled child.
He spoke in a language I hadn’t heard before, remaining calm yet firm. The words had a rolling cadence I couldn’t quite follow, like rumbling thunder in the distance. They contained a harsh sensuality. The consonants were hard and the vowels were long and lilting. 
Footsteps retreated behind me.
Luka reached out again. 
It took me a minute to realize he wanted to help me up. I hesitated. He smiled. I smiled back timidly and took his hand, completely dazzled. Even with my uniform soaked from melted snow, I didn’t feel cold—all my attention was on him and the way his callused hand felt on mine. Without moving much from his seated position, he helped me stand.
“What’s your name?” he asked. He had a voice like a familiar lullaby. It filled my heart to the brim with comfort.
I swallowed and tried to stop gawking. “Phoenix.” 
“The bird that rose from the ashes.” Luka bent his head and kissed the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
My cheeks warmed. My head reeled, not knowing what to think. I couldn’t understand why I felt drawn to him. And the strange connection frightened me.
From behind, someone gripped my arms and yanked me away before I could sort out the feelings Luka inspired in me. I found myself behind a towering figure yet again. Recognizing the blue-black silk for hair tied at the nape, relief washed over me. Calixta hadn’t come back to finish me off. 
Demitri’s large hand wrapped around my wrist. Unlike the night before, no calm existed in his demeanor. He trembled like a junky in need of a fix. The coiled power in his tense muscles vibrated into me. 
“What are you doing here?” Demitri asked.
I didn’t know he’d spoken to me until I saw his expressionless profile. I sighed. 
“Phoenix.”
I flinched. The ruthless way he said my name punched all the air out of me. “You owe me answers,” I said with as much bravado as I could muster. 
“I owe you nothing.” He glared. “In fact, you owe me your life.” 
“I don’t think so.” 
Ignoring my indignation, he faced Luka, who’d remained seated on the bench during my exchange with Demitri. “Why is she with you, Luka?” 
Link to another Taste
“I wasn’t going to taste her, if that’s what you’re implying,” Luka said. “Although, she is simply delicious. I wouldn’t mind if you left us alone.”
There it was again. Taste. The word that kept coming up between these Night Students and I was connected to it in an increasingly uncomfortable way. To taste meant to sample, but what? My flesh? They had to be joking because the alternative wasn’t funny.
“The sins of the father …” Demitri left his sentence unfinished.
Luka’s smile shifted into a snarl. “Obey my command.” His chin lifted. “Kneel.”
Demitri’s stance went rigid. His grip tightened around my wrist.
Okay, weird just got weirder. Why would Luka want Demitri to kneel before him? I thought back to Eli and the others bowing to Demitri when he questioned them, but they didn’t kneel. Seriously? Were they all living on a different planet or something?
“Kneel.” Luka’s detestable smirk made his features sinister rather than angelic. The real Lucifer: a fallen angel. 
Without letting go of my wrist, Demitri knelt down on one knee and bowed his head, his free hand flat at the center of his chest. “Your command has been obeyed,” he said formally.
Luka nodded once. 
Demitri stood up and pulled me toward the school without telling me where we were going. Not having the time to thank Luka for saving me from Calixta, I risked a glance back. Luka smiled at me. His smile spoke of whispers, secrets, and promises to be shared on a later date.

Seven Point Eight Blog Tour: Guest Post with Author Marie Harbon

Introduction
Be prepared for a journey, an expedition that draws together fringe science, psychic powers, alternate dimensions, time travel, past lives, miracles, folklore, consciousness, conspiracy and nostalgia, in a soap opera for the soul.  Welcome to the new paranormal/science fiction series entitled ‘Seven Point Eight’.

Crossing genres and gender appeal, it blends character driven plot with an intriguing story line, full of geeky science underpinning a thrilling and clever plot.

‘Seven Point Eight is a twist of scifi confusion that asks some interesting questions. If one had special abilities to travel out of body, what would one do with them? What would the government do with it if they could? How far could one go?’
Kindle Book Review

‘every page is chock-a-block full of quantum theory, wildly idiosyncratic characters, out-of-body experiences, weird occurrences, and loose ends, all of which are tied together with a fanciful yet plausible conception of the grand unifying theory underlying the world around us. Oh yeah, and there's some sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll thrown in for kicks’.
Jill-Elizabeth.com
Written in the style of a TV series, ‘Seven Point Eight’ interweaves the human dramas of love, betrayal, bitterness and above all, courage in a world where everyone must face their own dark shadow. Plus, it asks some pretty existential questions regarding the meaning of our lives and destiny, our karma and dharma, and last but not least, God and the universe.

This plays out through the lives of five key characters:
·         Tahra – the smart, provocative and psychically talented new recruit.
·         Paul - the boundary-breaking physicist.
·         Max - the enigmatic businessman with military connections.
·         Ava - the intelligent geneticist, bewildered by her surreal experiences.
·         Sam - the bitter artist/musician who, together with Ava, seeks answers to a shrouded past.

‘Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle’ lays the groundwork, and sweeps through the 40s, 50s and 60s to modern day in a wild nostalgic, scientific, paranormal ride.  The physicist, Paul, begins a quest to measure the soul but soon founds himself swept into Max’s world, where research is sold to the military at the highest bid.  When the talented psychic, Tahra, walks into his life, they soon embark on a ground-breaking project designed to stretch the frontiers of exploration, only to make a reality shattering discovery….

"Captivating and intelligently written - definitely could appeal to fans of Star Trek, Star Wars, Dan Brown books, fans of the Jodie Foster film 'Contact' and anyone who loves X-Men"
Dream Reads

'an enthralling read from start to finish... this book has real originality and portrays an intricate journey... an intriguing and mind-bending journey that leaves the reader asking themselves huge life questions.'
BookStackReviews.com

‘Seven Point Eight: The First Chronicle’ is available on Kindle at a special promotional price of 99 cents.

From Mon 16th April – Thu 19th April, inclusive, it’s available for FREE in the Kindle Store.
Link to Amazon
The next book in the series, ‘Seven Point Eight: The Second Chronicle’ is due for release this summer.

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Giveaway&Interview: Author David Estes of Angel Evolution

Chat with David Estes
About the Author
David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010. David is a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.
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LM:What fascinates you about Angels?
DE:I guess for me it was the idea that many people actually believe in angels and demons vs. vampires which are probably less believable.  There are so many different opinions on angels and demons that writing in the genre is an awesome chance to let the creativity fly!  Plus, angels and demons are just plain awesome, with wicked cool abilities, stunning good looks, and strange traits (at least my angels do!).
LM:What makes Angel Evolution different from the other books in this genre?
DE:I’m so thankful that my early readers have enjoyed my version of the classic angel vs. demon story.  To be honest, when I first got the idea for Angel Evolution, I thought I would be leading the angel book trend.  By the time I finally published the Evolution Trilogy, there were dozens of angel books out and I was pretty worried that mine would get lost in the shuffle.  I’m ecstatic that readers are seeing how different my plot is than most others in the genre.  I strip out any religious aspect from the story (no fallen angels, no heaven and hell, etc.), and instead create my angels and demons from humans themselves via an evolutionary fluke of sorts.  I guess I just thought of angels and demons because there is so much you can do with them and so many directions you can take the story.
LM:Are there any similarities between you and your characters?
DE:Funny question, I’ve never been asked it before.  Probably not too many.  I’m far more boring than they are.  I mean, I write thrillers and adventures for a living, but my characters actually live them.  On the other hand, some of the silliness that goes through Taylor’s head definitely reminds me of myself.  Also, I am a bit like Chris in that I am sort of chivalrous and friendly.
LM:Who designed the cover for Angel Evolution?
DE:The cover was a team effort, which I had very little to do with ha!  My wife came up with the concept for all three book covers, and we hired the genius cover designer Claudia McKinney at phatpuppyart.com.  She took my wife’s concept and brought it to life beautifully.  The custom font and jacket design was the work of our good friends, Claire and Tony, at Winkipop Designs here in Australia.
LM:Who is the character in your book that you enjoyed writing the most?
DE:Great question.  In Angel Evolution I liked writing from Gabriel’s perspective.  In the first book he’s such a conflicted character, who really can’t decide what’s right and what’s wrong.  I thought it was fun to start him as a pretty evil character and slowly morph him into something better (although I won’t give away whether he ever makes it to the good side!)
In Demon Evolution I preferred writing Taylor’s character because I think her personality picks up quite a bit.  She is a sarcastic person by nature and she has quite a few zany thoughts that show her good sense of humor a bit.
Lastly, my favorite character of the whole trilogy doesn’t really come out until the third book, Archangel Evolution, although he is involved in all three books.  Gabriel’s brother, David (named after me, but hopefully not like me at all!), is probably the most interesting (but very scary) character.  I’ve had one of my beta readers suggest I do a spin off series that is all from David’s point of view.  I really hope that readers decide to read all the way through to the end of the series if only to get a chance to appreciate David.
LM:Five favorite books? Authors?
DE:Favorite Books: The Lord of the Rings (I’ll count the Trilogy plus The Hobbit as one), The Hunger Games, The Scorpio Races, Harry Potter (again, counts as one!), and Odd Thomas
Favorite authors: J.R.R Tolkien, Dean Koontz, Suzanne Collins, Maggie Stiefvater, and Lee Child
LM:Was it difficult determining how to bring the characters to the page?
DE:It’s always a challenge, particularly at first, when you haven’t had time to get to know the characters.  But over the course of the trilogy it got easier and easier as they took on a life of their own.  It was like they were writing themselves, particularly Taylor and David.
LM: What is your favorite Quote?
DE:“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.  You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”  As I’m sure many of those who read this will know, this is from The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien.  There are a million amazing and inspiring quotes out there, but this one has always been my favorite.  It was the perfect line for Tolkien’s characters and their story, but the beauty of it is that it can be related to many other books, as well as to real life.  Sometimes the first step is the hardest, because once you take it you are out of your comfort zone.  But I can promise you that it’s always worth taking anyway J
LM:Choose only one. If you could choose between invisibility or the ability to fly, which would you choose?
DE:Wow, awesome choices, hard to go wrong with either of them.  But I’d go with flying for sure.  Every kids’ dream right?
LM:If you could travel back in time what would you tell yourself?
DE:Hmmm, probably just a few lotto numbers or something haha!  Other than that I wouldn’t want to spoil any surprises for myself!
LM:  Are there any new projects in the works?
DE:Besides spending time with my wife, writing is my favorite thing to do, so I’m keeping very busy.  I’m working on a number of other projects while launching the Evolution Trilogy.
My current project is a YA post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller written from the perspective of two characters in alternating chapters.  Without giving two much away, the two characters (one male and one female) come from very different walks of life, but are thrust together unexpectedly.  As their lives intertwine, they must seek to bring balance to a world that is out of control.   I’ve finished the first book and hope to release the entire trilogy in 2012.
I have recently finished a YA novel about a boy with a very unique disability and one hell of a sense of humor who meets loads of interesting teenagers on a suspenseful yet funny adventure to uncover the truth about the father he never knew.  I am seeking an agent for this novel but am still open to self-publishing it if I am unsuccessful.
I have also completed the first four books in a children's series aimed at kids between the ages of 7 and 10.  It's a classic superhero story about a girl who meets a strange animal who leads her to a treasure chest in the middle of the forest.  The chest contains a gift that allows the girl to perform miraculous feats.  I have another two books planned for the series, which I will be working to complete in 2012.  I am seeking an agent and publisher for the series.
My remaining projects range from a variety of children's novels from the fantastical to the downright silly, to my next venture into YA fantasy, and to the creation of an adult suspense/mystery series with a strong and interesting male character.  I have written the first page of more books than I can count without taking off my shoes!
LM: What is the question that you wish interviewers would ask, and the answer to that question?
DE:Two, actually, if you don’t mind.  First, do I have a favorite book in the Evolution Trilogy?  In fact, I do.  My favorite is the third book, Archangel Evolution.  Many people complain about how the 3rd or 4th book in a series let them down, or was disappointing.  I know I’ve said that before.  Well, for my trilogy I think it’s the opposite.  I have grown so much as a writer in 15 months that it is only natural that my later books would be better.  I only hope that people cut me some slack on the imperfections of Angel Evolution and read on to the other two books in the Evolution Trilogy, which get better and better.  I must admit, I have received some negative feedback amongst the positive for Angel Evolution, but for those readers that continued on and read the other two books, I eventually won them over, which makes me really happy.
The second thing I was wishing you would ask was: Tell us something funny about yourself.  I read all the time, but that’s not the funny thing.  The funny thing is that my wife calls me ‘Brick’, after the child character from the TV show The Middle.  In the show, Brick is constantly reading no matter where he is.  That’s me.  We’ll be watching TV and then a commercial will come on and Adele will run back into the kitchen to get a drink, and when she comes back, I will have my book out, trying to sneak in a page before the show comes back on!
Anyway, that’s enough about me for now, thanks so much for the opportunity to be featured on your lovely blog and I hope to have a new book for you soon!

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Interview&Review: Going Under by Georgia Cates

Author:Georgia Cates
Title:Going Under
Publication: March 10,2012
Genre: YA
Source: Author/Blog Tour
Rating: 5 out 5
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Summary
Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.
Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge? 

Review: Love, Love, Love!!! That pretty much sums it up. The characters Jessie and Claire are swoon worthy, because it is so easy to fall for them. I couldn't help but get caught up in the emotion of this book, and it was like the feelings transferred from the page. This story is so beautifully written and realistic. It a good representation of how circumstances don't define who you are. Jessie is seen as trouble and no good for Claire, but this bad boy is super smart, and has heart. Claire is seen as the good girl, who does what is expected of her but she is more than that. Though they both are from opposite spectrum's of the social hierarchy, the chemistry between them ignites and what starts as a game of who can tempt who first becomes much more than they expected. There is a part towards the end that made my heart literally fall to the floor, and I thought there is no way it can end like that. Cates' writing style draws you in so well that you feel as if you are apart of this world. Absolutely fantastic read!


About the Author:
In addition to being an author Georgia is a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse. 
She recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to her list of things that keep her busy, but she is ecstatic to release her debut novel, Blood of Anteros, the first book in The Vampire Agápe Series. 
Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, she is easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to create The Vampire Agápe Series. When not tied up with family or delivering babies, she is working feverishly on the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series.
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Interview with Georgia Cates 

What is it about young love?
Young love is fun, exciting and it’s potential is endless. It leaves you giddy with dreams of what it could become. You only get that first kiss with a person one time and reading about others’ first kisses helps rekindle those feelings a reader may never experience again if he or she is in a monogamous relationship. As we grow older, we become wiser but there’s something beautiful about jumping head first into a relationship without all of the life experiences an older adult has. 
What is the best part about being published?
Validation. When you are published, you’re aren’t on the porch anymore. You’re running with the big dogs. I love hearing what readers think of my writing-both good and bad. Reading a great review is encouraging and makes me want to work harder at putting the next book out there. 
Who is your favorite author and what about their work draws you in?
My current favo is Shelly Crane and her creativity is what draws me in. Every book I read amazes me. She has God Given talent. Her characters are so lovable and each one of her books leaves me wanting the next in the series immediately.
Was it difficult determining how to bring the characters to the page?
I always do a character profile prior to writing. I determine the things occurring in a character’s life and each event molds him or her into who they become on the pages. I always feel very connected with my characters, so it isn’t difficult for them to come to life. If I’m not connected with them, I change them until we are connected.
Tell us something fun about you?
I’m a huge music head and I love to stalk musicians after concerts. I find their tour buses and wait for them so I can get autographs and pictures. I’m always shocked at how easy it is.
What is your favorite song of all time? Why?
I don’t think you could have asked me a more difficult question. I love music and my favorites change often because I use them for inspiration when I write. I looked at my iTunes library to see which song had the most number of times played because I didn’t want to hurt my brain trying to decide. It was “Let It Go” by Fauxliage. Awesome, awesome song!
What about Going Under makes it stand out?
Initially, it is going to be the cover. I designed it myself and I can’t think of a cover even similar to Going Under’s cover art. 
I obviously didn’t create the bad boy and good girl falling in love plot, but it is told in a unique manner. The point of views rotate, which is nice because you see the views from both of the main characters, Jessie and Claire. There is humor and I don’t think you get that in many YA romances. The readers’ heartstrings are tugged because Jessie’s circumstances are pitiful and you can’t help yourself from pulling for him as the underdog from the very beginning. It’s packed with romance and sensuality, not meaningless sex. You won’t find the *F* bomb dropped in this book because it isn’t necessary to complete the story. It’s a roller coaster of emotions and I meant for it to be that way. I want my readers to experience a number of emotions and I think I delivered. 
When did you know writing was your passion?
I thought about it for years, but I didn’t become serious about it until about 3 years ago. I brainstormed for about 18 months, jotting ideas down as they came to me. Almost 2 years in, I decided I had to make myself sit down and commit to characters and plot if I was ever going to make a go with writing. I threw away a dozen drafts before I finally started rolling with my first book, Blood of Anteros, Book 1 in The Vampire Agápe Series. I published it in September of 2011 and I haven’t looked back. I’m only looking forward to the things ahead of me as a writer.
Choose only one. If you could choose between invisibility or the ability to fly, which would you choose?
Invisibility. There’s no debate between the two for me. Think of all the things you could accomplish by being invisible. The sneaky possibilites are endless.  
Are there any new projects in the works? 
I’m currently writing Blood Jewel, Book 2 in The Vampire Agápe Series. I hope to have it out some time in late May. It is the continuing saga of Curry and Chansey from Blood of Anteros.  
I’m kicking around the idea of writing a book about Payton Archer from Going Under. A lot of my readers of Going Under have contacted me and requested her story because she is so much fun. I love her and I’m considering it.
What is the one question that you wish interviewers would ask, and the answer to that question?
Where do I see my career going?
I’m beginning to see that there are no limits. I’m an Indie author and I don’t answer to an editor or a publisher. I have the ability to make my own decisions and I work when I want to. (I do answer to my readers and they seem to want me writing all of the time.) I’m good with that. 
I began writing in the paranormal genre, then tried my hand at non-paranormal teen romance. I have enjoyed both and I’m quite open to trying a different genre in the future. Simply put? I’m willing to go anywhere my writing leads me.  

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