Tour: Battlefield by J.F. Jenkins (Review+Giveaway)

Tour Hosted by SupaGurl Book Tours

Title: Battlefield
Series: Battlefield #1
Author(s): J.F. Jenkins
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction
Elements:
Publisher: Astraea Press
Format:
ASIN: B007LUWC8A
Release Date: March 15, 2012
Source: Tour Host {SupaGurl Book Tours}
Rating:

Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Cadence, JD, and Orlando couldn’t be more different from one another. Under normal circumstances, the three wouldn’t so much as say hi to each other if they could get away with it. Then an alien crashes through the roof of their local mall, and everything changes. Not only do the three teens gain new abilities, but they’re also chosen to help fight in an intergalactic war where the next chosen battlefield is Earth.

Reluctant at first, they change their minds when the fight hits close to home. Teenagers from school start to go missing, and some are dead. Together they must learn to work together and solve the mystery behind these disappearances before more lives are lost.

Review: 

REVIEW WILL BE POSTED LATE. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.

About this Author:

J.F. Jenkins lives in Minneapolis where she spends most of her time creating and plotting world domination – something that has been in the works for roughly 13 years.

In her free time she works as the local coffee wench and dominates the minions of the pixilated world on her PS3.

She’s also got a little man (J Walk) and a little man trapped in a big man’s body (J Dawg) to take care of along with her two fur babies Ushi and Tibu.

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Avenge by Sarah M. Ross

AVENGE by Sarah M. Ross

Patronus #2

 Expected release is early October 2012

Six months ago, Lucy Donovan thought that being killed by a drunk driver was the worst thing that could happen to her.

She was wrong.

Now, the person she loves most has been ripped away from her, soul held hostage, and Lucy has vowed to stop at nothing to get it back.

Part of a new team with enhanced powers, Lucy and her friends begin a quest to avenge the souls that have been stolen. Enemies of the Patronus have united, however, and a spy from within the Patronus realm is feeding the enemy their every move.

When a mission goes horribly wrong, Lucy’s soul becomes compromised. It will take a strength she didn’t know was within her to escape the darkness, return to the light and avenge the soul she loves.

Author Bio:

I started my obsession with reading at an early age, getting in trouble for sneaking BabySitter Club and Nancy Drew books into math class in elementary school. I would read any fiction book I could get my hands on. I knew it was an addiction when instead of grounding me from TV or music, my mom would take away my books as punishment (The Horror!). My love of all things paranormal was inspired by my good friend Laurie, who convinced me that books with vampires, witches, and all things shifter were amazing. After a little reluctance, I gave it a shot with the Sookie Stackhouse books, realized she was right, and the rest was history. 

I grew up in Pittsburgh, graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with my degree in English, and taught 8th graders to love reading as much as I do for several years. I will always be a proud member of the Steelers Nation, but I couldn’t take the cold and moved my frozen tush to Florida where I now live with my family and two cats. You will find me now with my trusty Kindle in hand and toes in the sand!

When I'm not writing or reading, I am probably partaking in my favorite vice: sunbathing. I know it's wrong, but I love the feeling on the hot sun on my skin and could lay in it for hours. I do live in Florida for a reason!

I also enjoy traveling, baking, movies, and playing with my adorable fur babies.

Links:

http://www.sarahmross.com

http://twitter.com/#!/sarahtheauthor

http://www.facebook.com/sarahtheauthor

Join my email list for the latest on all my books, contests and much more!

Promotional Event: The Wild Ones by M. Leighton (Promo+Giveaway)

COMING AUGUST 1, 2012

Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.

Camille “Cami” Hines is the darling daughter of the South’s champion thoroughbred breeder, Jack Hines.  She has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses.  Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was pretty happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future. 

But that was before she met Patrick Henley.

“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her.  He’s considered the “help,” which is forbidden fruit as far as her father is concerned, not to mention that Trick would be fired if he ever laid a hand on her.  And Trick needs his job.  Desperately.  His family depends on him.

The heart wants what the heart wants, though, and Trick and Cami are drawn to each other despite the obstacles.  At least the ones they know of.

When Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome.  It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, secrets that could tear them apart.

Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Wild-Ones-ebook/dp/B008QYHILG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343689493&sr=8-1&keywords=the+wild+ones+by+M.+Leighton

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15761241-the-wild-ones

EXCERPT #1:

Sipping my beer, I look around at the familiar scene.  If the honky tonk music blaring from the speakers in the ceiling hadn’t been enough to scream COUNTRY BAR, the sea of cowboy hats would have been.  I smile as I adjust the black one that sits atop my own head.  I love being incognito.  Even if, by chance, someone I know stumbles into the smoke-filled dive, they’d never believe it was me looking out from beneath the brim.  

Something hits the back of my barstool­—hard—just as I put the glass to my lips.  Ice cold beer pours down my chin and straight into my cleavage.  I suck in a breath.

“’Scuse me,” a deep voice rumbles in my ear.  Two hands grip my upper arms and pull me back, keeping me from tipping right out of my seat.  I’m looking down at my soggy jeans and t-shirt when I feel the hands disappear.  Half a second later, a face appears in my line of sight.  “I’m so sorry.  Are you okay?”

My fingers stop plucking wet cotton away from my chest and I stare.  Quite rudely, I might add.  I’m speechless. Literally.  And that, like, never happens to me.  

The most amazing eyes I’ve ever seen are staring back at me.  They are pale greenish-gray, rimmed in sooty lashes and filled with concern. 

A sharp jab to my shin makes me let out the breath I hadn’t been aware of holding.  I see my best friend Jenna’s head poke out from behind the mystery face.  I know she kicked me and I know she’s trying to get my attention, but I can’t look away from these eyes long enough to glare at her.

God, his eyes!  I’ve never seen eyes that make me want to gasp and giggle and do a strip tease all at once.  But these do.

They flicker down, letting me go just long enough to collect my wits.  I find very few of them.  They are well and truly scattered.  When he looks back up at me, his eyes are wrinkled at the corners.  He’s smiling.  And holy hell, what a smile it is!

“Does it make me a bad person for liking your shirt better this way?”

I glance down at myself.  My dark pink bra is plainly visible through the now-wet paper thin material of my pale pink shirt.  So are my very erect nipples.  I blush, mortified. 

Why, oh why did I wear a light pink t-shirt with a dark pink bra? 

Because you can’t see your bra through it when it’s dry, dumb ass. 

A thumb brushes my right cheek.  “God, that’s sexy,” he whispers.  Against my will, my eyes fly to his face.  His smile has died to a lopsided grin that is devastation in its purest form.  “I’ve never made a girl blush before.”

I laugh nervously, struggling to find my voice, to find my dignity.  “Somehow I doubt that,” I say softly.

“Wow! The hair of a devil, the face of an angel and the voice of a phone sex operator.  You really are the perfect woman.”

To my utter humiliation, my cheeks burn even hotter.  Curse my fair skin!

Reaching into his pocket, Hot Stranger pulls out a couple bills and slides them across the bar.  “Another of whatever…” He trails off, looking at me in question, waiting for me to fill in the blank.

“Cami,” I say, trying to hold back my grin.  

Smooth way of getting my name.  Chalk one up for Hot Stranger.

“Another of whatever Cami is having.”  He turns back to me, a wicked gleam in his smoky eyes.  “Sorry about your drink.  Not so much about your shirt, though,” he admits candidly.

Willing myself not to blush again, I tilt my head.  “So, do clumsy strangers have names in this place?  Or are you just called ‘bull in china shop’?”

The lopsided grin comes back.  “Patrick, but my friends call me Trick.”

“Trick?  As in trick or treat?  That kind of trick?”

He laughs and my stomach flutters.  It actually flutters.  “Yep.  That kind of trick.”  He sobers and leans in close to me.  “Cami, can I ask a favor?”

I’m breathless again.  He’s so close I can count every hair in the stubble that dusts his tan cheeks.  For just a second, his clean manly scent overrides the cigarette smoke and stale beer smell of the bar.  

I lose my voice—again—so I nod.

“Pick ‘treat.’  Please, for the love of God, pick ‘treat’.” 

Like an idiot, I say nothing. I do nothing.  I simply stare.  Like a…a…well, like an idiot.

He makes a disappointed noise with his lips then starts shaking his head.  “Too bad.  Woulda made my night.”

He straightens, takes a step back and smiles at me again.  “Nice to meet you, Cami,” he says, and then he turns and melts into the crowd. 

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#RCCleanup: Review Copy Cleanup 2.0: My Pile

The Review Copy Cleanup Challenge is hosted by Vicky @ Books, Biscuits & Tea and Celine @ Nyx Book Reviews!

My Review Pile: 

• Arson by Estevan Vega
• The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski
• Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman
• The Rising Moon by Nilsa Rodriguez
• Bind Me by Stacey Kennedy
• Beg For It by Stacey Kennedy
• Safeword Davenport by Candace Blevins
• Safewords Davenport and Chiffon by Candace Blevins
• Promises by Amber Garr
• A Hunter's Angel by Cera Dubois
• Her Heart for the Asking by Lisa Mondello
• His Heart for the Trusting by Lisa Mondello
• The More I See by Lisa Mondello
• Frozen Heart by Annabelle Blume
• Nocturnal by Chelsea Cameron
• Nightmare by Chelsea Cameron
• Witch Way to Turn by Karen Y. Bynum
• Never Say Never by Kailin Gow
• Madly by M. Leighton
• Serafina and the Silent Vampire by Marie Treanor
• Seaweed by Elle Strauss
• For Ever by C.J. Valles
• Painted Blind by Michelle A. Hansen
• Broken by Kelley Armstrong
• Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
• The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
  

As you can see, I'm a little overwhelmed by my GINORMOUS August review list. It's a little daunting seeing it all listed out there... My Goal is to read as many as possible.

Women of the Otherworld Challenge: Month Six

Today marks the beginning of Month SIX in the Women Of The Otherworld Series Challenge! If you haven’t signed up and would like to participate, just click image above to be taken to the challenge sign-up post! It is also a great reference for the details concerning this reading challenge!

 

CHALLENGE: MONTH SIX

  BROKEN BY KELLEY ARMSTRONG

 

When half-demon Xavier calls in the favour Elena owes him, it seems easy enough, steal Jack the Ripper’s ‘From Hell’ letter away from a Toronto collector who had himself stolen it from the Ripper evidence boxes. But nothing in the supernatural world is ever as simple as it seems. Elena accidentally triggers a spell placed on the letter, and opens a dimensional portal into Victorian London, releasing zombies, disease, and maybe the notorious serial killer himself.

August 1^st – August 31^st, 2012

For this month, our goal will be to read/re-read and post a review the SIXTH book in the Women Of The Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong, Broken.

Challenge members can either post a review, share your reading experience, create your personal character casting for Bitten, or anything else related to this title within the Woman Of The Otherworld series.
Be creative and have fun with your post! 

 

 

THIS MONTH'S PRIZE:

ONE participant will be selected to win any book of their choice up to a $15 limit on The Book Depository. The winner will be selected through Random.org. **UPDATE: For every 10 participants, there will be an additional winner!**

To qualify for this month's giveaway:

You all have until July 31^st to link to your reviews or posts to be included for this month’s prize.

 

The giveaway winners’ names will be drawn on September 1^st, 2012 

 (the start of month SEVEN of the reading challenge).

 

**If you missed the last four month's challenges or are not able to read BROKEN this month, you can post your review next month or any month throughout the entire challenge for that month's prize. You can also leave more than one link during each month of the challenge (example: if you review more that one book at a time), however, you will only have receive one entry for the monthly prize. Don't worry! All your posts will not go to waste and will ALL be counted towards the Grand Prize at the very end of the entire challenge!**

** Most importantly: You do NOT have to commit to the entire 13 month challenge; feel free to join even if you only want to participate for a few months.**

 

 

**Mini-Challenges**
**IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!**:

There was no Mini-Challenge last month as I've decided to include multiple mini-challenges this month! This means more prizes to be won! The mini-challenges this month will be the same, however, participants will have three days to finish each challenge that goes up throughout the month. The Mini-Challenges for the month of August will be announced each Wednesday, beginning August 8th so keep an eye out!

 

Don't forget to link to your posts here!

'City of Bones' News: Kevin Zegers is Alec Lightwood

Kevin Zegers is playing the part of Alec Lightwood in 'City of Bones'!









Cassandra Clare on Kevin Zegers as Alec:

So yes, thank goodness, finally, all the paperwork is signed and I can tell you that YES IN FACT, YES ACTUALLY Alec is going to be Kevin Zegers.

So in fact the gossip sites got it right but at the time there was no signed paperwork and he wasn’t actually cast yet so — there wasn’t anything I could say. Especially after we already had one Alec and lost him. So really I’ve been ripping out my hair since then. I think there are just pieces left.

Kevin was actually one of the first actors approached to play Alec but his schedule didn’t work with the filming originally so they went with someone else; then the scheduling changed once again and it didn’t work for Alec Mark Two, but did work for Kevin. Such are the vagaries of casting.

I’ve always liked Kevin, since Transamerica, and I had him on my website for Sebastian for ages which is funny in retrospect because now I’ve seen him play Alec so I think he’s much too nice for Sebastian.

One of the things I really liked about Kevin was that one of Alec’s audition scenes was the scene where Alec shouts at Clary in City of Bones and tells her she endangered Jace’s life. And a lot of the actors who auditioned played it yelling and really mean so you just thought, boy, Alec. What a jerk that guy is. Kevin played it with a quiet sort of intensity that grew through the scene so you could see through the cracks of the anger and think: wow, this guy is really scared and vulnerable. Because that is the Alec people love.

Also he will not have to wear contacts to get Alec’s baby blues because he already has them. Which is just a fortunate plus.

So yes, welcome Kevin!

The Cast So Far: 

Lily Collins as Clary Fray

Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace Wayland

Robert Sheehan as Simon Lewis

Jemima West as Isabelle Lightwood

Kevin Durand as Pangborn

Robert Maillet as Blackwell

Godfrey Gao as Magnus Bane

Jared Harris as Hodge Starkweather

Leah Headey as Jocelyn Fray

CCH Pounder as Madame Dorothea 

Aidan Turner as Luke Garroway

Tour: Immortal Voyage by C.G. Powell (Excerpt)

BUY ON KINDLE

A week passed and Jael was on a large ship headed to Hy-Brasil to meet her future husband.  She was nervous about the meeting, and after many talks with her father, she knew regardless of her feelings for Sarik she would marry him for the clan.

Once the ship left dock, Salima told Jael her image was not her true form.  Before Jael’s eyes, Salima changed.  Her skin turned blue as the sky and her eyes looked more cat-like than human.  Instead of the shock Salima expected, Jael asked if she could conjure fire.  In a single motion, a ball of fire appeared in Salima’s hand.  She moved it back and forth between her fingers before out stretching her arm over the side of the boat and allowing the fire to roll into the water.  Jael’s eyes widened in amazement.

The ship moved swiftly across the sea.  Its black sails shimmered with tiny strands of gold woven throughout the oddly slick fabric. When Jael inquired, she was told it was a solar sail, and although Salima explained how it worked, most of what she said was as foreign as Hy-Brasil itself.

As the boat approached the island, Jael looked out over the rail taking in the magnificence.  The city was beautiful and unlike any she had ever seen. It was made of concentric rings of land that surrounded the harbor.  Plants, flowers, and trees covered every inch, including many of the houses, and in the center of the rings sat a massive city of metal and glass that was beautiful beyond belief.  Moments later the ship laid anchor in the harbor of Atlantis, the capital city of Hy-Brasil.

A delegation from King Varen was waiting for them at the dock.  Most of the people were older men, advisers to the King, but one stood out among them.  He couldn’t have been more than five years older than Jael.  He was tall with raven hair and eyes bluer than the sea.  He was the most handsome creature Jael ever set eyes on.  He noticed her stare and smiled.  Jael lowered her eyes and blushed.  It was unladylike to look at a man that way, especially while on her way to meet her future husband… but, the gods be damned, this man had gotten to her already.

He walked over, kneeled down, and kissed her hand.

“Welcome to Hy-Brasil, Lady Jael.  I hope you will decide stay with us.”

His eyes looked into hers and Jael lost herself in them.  Her heart raced as a shiver went down her spine.  Jael had to remember her place.  She pulled her hand away reluctantly.  If she would be future queen, this type of behavior was not acceptable.  She addressed the man in front of her.  “Where I come from it is treason to be so bold to a lady betrothed, especially one betrothed to one’s prince,” she retorted, almost ashamed of his behavior, and yet, she could not forget the feeling of his touch.

“Then I should introduce myself.”  Standing up inches from her face, he said, “I’m Prince Sarik.  Sorry to have startled you, my lady.”  He nodded his head in a slight bow.

Tour: Taming the Wolf by Stephanie Nelson (Review)

Title: Taming the Wolf
Series: Anna Avery #1
Author(s): Stephanie Nelson
Genre: Supernatural Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy Elements: Werewolves
Publisher: Stephanie Nelson
Format: PDF, 114 Pages
ASIN: B008BKT3UO
Release Date: June 13, 2012
Source: Tour Host {Promotional Book Tours}
Rating: 3.5/5


Tagline(s): ~NONE~

Summary: Attacked by a wolf while hiking, Anna Avery's life just got a little hairier. Living in the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming, with a group of werewolves who are more animal than human, Anna must try to hold onto her human side.

It's not easy when the alpha continues to persuade her into his bed, while another wolf is chomping at the bit to become her mate. To top it all off, dead bodies are showing up and it just so happens that Anna was the last to see them alive. She'll have to work to prove her innocence and taming the wolf who bites first and asks questions never.

Review:

Three months ago, Anna Avery was attacked in the woods by a wolf while jogging. Anna was found close to death by Adam Everwood, the alpha of the Everwood Pack. Now, three months after her attack, Anna is a functioning member of the pack, but because she's the newest member she's at the bottom of the pack order. She does the chores, gets her meals last, and is supposed to be submissive to those above her.

But there is just something clawing its way out that won't allow her to cower. Anna sees herself as being equal to the alphas, and Adam begins noticing that she may very well be his equal. Eve, the alpha female, notices this change too, and it's made worse when Adam begins showing interest in Anna, therefore threatening Eve's place in the pack.

As this power struggle continues, humans are turning up mauled to death. With each new attack, Anna has a dream-vision of it happening. Scared of what these visions could mean for her, Anna keeps them to herself. But as more humans are turning up dead, the Leaders are called in to investigate, and Anna is the number one suspect.

I couldn't help but love Anna. She's supposed to be the small submissive at the bottom, but she's way more assertive than a submissive should be. I love that she doesn't back down from Adam and looks him right in the eye. Another thing I really liked about Anna was her morals. She won't give herself to just anyone, and she won't become the mate to someone who doesn't love her. The one she chooses for her mate has to be hers completely, just as she would be his completely.

It is mentioned multiple times that Anna is the only snow white wolf in the pack, and it is believed that it could be a sign of great things in her future. In the three months that she's been in the pack, though, Anna hasn't shown any special abilities or the like. Though it's questionable that the dream-visions she's been having are the abilities of a seer, because Anna's fur color is emphasized many times, I feel there has to be something special about her. Maybe even Adam's coloring being exactly opposite of Anna's means something. Anna is snow white and Adam is jet black. Or I could be reading way too into things.

And maybe their colors even have a little something to do with them being each others "Chante." A wolf's chante is his or her heart, their soul mate, their other half. When I thought of their coloring and being each others chante, it made me think of a ying-yang, they each are a half of a whole.

The discovery behind the reason for Adam and Anna's attraction wasn't smooth and was quite a bumpy, sometimes painful process. Neither can understand why they feel such a strong draw to each other, and both try to push against it. But when Anna's life is in danger, they choose to give in for a night that may be their first and last. It's after that that they know the chante legend is true. I'm glad that this wasn't an instant relationship. There were obstacles at every turn. But the end result was worth waiting for.

There was a surprise revelation concerning Eve that left me reeling. Not to mention why she framed Anna for the killings (it's kind of obvious from the beginning who how jealous she was of Anna that she was the one behind it). Murder, jealousy, and revenge reign supreme where Eve is concerned.

Taming the Wolf was an exciting read and I can't wait to read the next story of Anna Avery.

Book Trailer:

 

About this Author:

Unlike most authors, Stephanie Nelson didn't dream of becoming a writer. Her interest laid in photography. It wasn't until four years ago when she picked up her first paranormal romance book and fell in love. Books became her addiction and the local bookstore her favorite place to visit. It wasn't long before her own stories began to form and nag her to try her hand at writing. After countless attempts, Stephanie ended up giving up on writing for a while. But her imagination wouldn't allow her to quit. Deciding to give it another shot, Stephanie began to write the Gwen Sparks series. The first book in the series, Craved was published seven months later and reached #1 on Amazon's bestseller list and #6 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list.

Stephanie resides in the Midwest with her husband and their furry children. When she manages to pull herself away from the computer, she enjoys traveling, fishing, playing board games and spending time with her family. 

PART OF....