Awaken

The Patronus: Book One

Goodreads Description: Lucy Donovan was supposed to have a weekend of fun in the sun, celebrating her upcoming graduation from college. In a split second, everything changed. A drunk driver ended Lucy’s mortal life. 
Lucy opens her eyes to a world she never imagined possible and a new destiny: as a Patronus, a guardian of spirits. Adjusting to her new role and abilities while negotiating this confusing realm will test her limits and push her further than she ever dreamed she would go. From wayward spirits who don’t want her help to soul stealing vampires, and even a stuck-up British royal, Lucy must brave them all to save one spirit she can’t bear to lose. 
Further complicating her life is an inexplicable yet growing connection she feels to a member of her team, Max, whose mysterious behavior leaves her both confused and intrigued. 
Waking up dead was just the beginning of her problems. Lucy’s death is about to become the greatest adventure of her life.

Review:

“Awaken” by Sarah Ross started off with a bang and did not let up. I finished this book in one sitting. Sarah took the theme of “Angels” and turned it upside down! I for one, loved every second of it!

The premise for the Guardians was imaginative and original. I adored not know what was going to happen next. Sarah kept me on my toes the entire time. I have been extremely blessed with the last couple of books that I have had the pleasure to review; it seems a new crop of original thinking authors are on the rise and veering away from the paint-by-number plot lines that are dominating the Young Adult genre.

Our protagonist Lucy is fierce and unrelenting in her new role as a Guardian. She has an unstoppable perseverance that makes her character respectable and honorable. The others characters are equally lovable and add some comic relief along this more than dangerous journey. Each person involved in this tale of love, loss and adventure are equally important and I found myself growing attached to each of them.

Now how can I write about this extraordinary story without mentioning the insatiable desire that our Lucy has found in Max? It is clear from the beginning that there is something special about this pair that makes this a love story that dreams are made of.

I give this debut novel 5 stars. Its nonstop, action packed adventure makes this a book that you will not be able to lay down. I promise you will not be disappointed!

P.S. I will admit that I cried at one point in this story. I am not exaggerating when I say that it takes a hell of an author to get that reaction out of me! Sarah Ross is one talented lady! 

This is my Daughter/Katniss

What better influence than a fierce

female lead?

  

Raine Thomas is hands down one of my favorite authors and I am beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to participate in the cover reveal for DEFY.

Stalk this Amazing Author for more updates!!

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Don't forget to add DEFY to Your GoodReads!! It Drops April 30th!

Now on to the...... 

  Cover Reveal!!!

BLURB

"Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.

Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.

Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.

As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate. "

Perilous Light 

 The AfterGlow 

Trilogy

      

Goodreads Description:

A year has passed since Charlotte and Kevin first stepped through the gate into Energo and neither has been able to settle back into their normal lives. Charlotte tries to distract herself from thoughts of Calvin with the antics of James and her growing friendship with Liam. Kevin can’t seem to shake his feelings for Samantha as he adjusts to his new identity as a college basketball player. 
When they unexpectedly return to Energo, both Charlotte and Kevin must face their fears and become the leaders they were always meant to be. 

Review:

I absolutely adored  Beckoning Light, the 1^st book in The AfterGlow Trilogy, so I was more than thrilled to get the opportunity to read and review Perilous Light. If you have not read the 1^st book I HIGHLY recommend you check it out ASAP. The E-copy is only 99 cents on Amazon! You cannot beat that!

This book is fast paced and packed full of the striking descriptions and captivating history that made the 1^st book in this series so addicting.  Alyssa Rose Ivy has an undeniable knack for making her characters strong yet vulnerable while incorporating well-built bonds that are unique to each relationship. These bonds make the journey with each one of these characters not only believable but enjoyable as well.

As stated in the Goodreads Description this book picks up a year after Beckoning Light ended. I was pleased to see this stretch in time as it gives our characters time to adjust and cope with the previous events. It also spares us pages and pages of “moping” which I am grateful for. Charlotte is still in a considerable amount of pain, which is perfectly reasonable for someone going through extreme loss and separation but she has learned to manage her feeling as well as can be expected.  Throughout this tale we get to watch Charlotte grow into her destiny, learning how her calling will impact not only the world of Energo but the people she loves the most as well.

During Perilous Light we also get a more in-depth look at Kevin and his journey. I took pleasure in watching Kevin find his confidence off the basketball court by exerting his natural leadership skills in a larger arena. His buddy and friend of the family Liam is one of my most beloved characters. Liam’s behavior and actions encompass his noble and pure heart and his sense of humor will have you giggling throughout the book. I can’t wait to see him find his place in Energo.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone longing for an escape to a magical world with fierce love, unbreakable bonds and epic battles. The AfterGlow Trilogy has everything a reader could want in a good read. Did I mention that there is nothing out there even close to this Trilogy? It is fresh and unpredictable. Don’t miss out!  

This song has reminded me of this series since I 1st heard it! Love it!

Punished


An Arelia LaRue Novel #2




GoodReads Description: 

Down in New Orleans, Arelia Larue’s once ordinary life has quickly transformed into something truly extraordinary. 
As her ability to communicate and work with Les Mysteries (spirits) grows, so does her attraction for Darkwood’s secretive owner Lucus LaPlante. 
However, Arelia soon discovers that Darkwood’s shiny and seemingly extravagant exterior holds secrets that may put her very soul at risk. 
In the intoxicating world of New Orleans voodoo/hoodoo, expect the unexpected. 
Come along for the ride! 

Review:

I am completely, totally and utterly in love with this series! Kira Saito has an extraordinary way of unfolding this world of anguish, love, magic, and deep-rooted history so that you feel as if you are actually living yourself. Many times when I read a book I feel like more of an observer, being a “lover of paranormal” sometimes it can be difficult to relate to some of the more far fetching storylines. However, with both Bound and its sequel Punished  it feels as if I were to travel to New Orleans I could drive right up to the gate at the Darkwood Plantation and experience otherworldly spirits, meet the characters I love and eat some of that mouthwatering food that Kira describes with such delicious detail.

In Punished, as with many sequels, we get a more detailed look at our main characters and a chance to watch them develop and grow. Arelia is slowly coming to terms with her role as Voodoo Queen and learning how dark and dangerous the world of Les Mysteries can be to a trusting soul. But while her confidence is increasing so is the threat to her life. I admire the fact that although Arelia is a teenager and acts as such, she also has a more solid and grounded common sense about her.  

The characters and the spirits alike all have an enormous likeability factor. I enjoyed every hour spent with all of them. I especially appreciate the historical references found throughout this engaging tale. As I stated above, these details anchor the story for me. No matter how painful some of the historical experiences were to read, I believe EVERYONE should get a small taste of what life was like during these shameful times in US history, lest we forget.

The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger but the story itself was satisfying enough to hold me. I didn’t get that feeling of being cheated like I have with others.  

Small Warning:

·       Read this book on a full stomach or you will find yourself extremely disappointed at the choices you have in your own kitchen.

·       Go ahead a book travel plans to New Orleans. The insatiable desire to visit the area will not fade with time.

Thank you 

I'm a Reader, not a Writer 

& 

Books Complete me  for hosting this Blog Hop!!

I only have a couple rules: You must follow my blog in some way (FB, Twitter, GFC, Blogger ect.) The winner will be notified by Email and have 72 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.That's it! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Entangled

Author Interview, Review and GIVEAWAY!

  

      Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who found paradise in the        not-so-tropical San Juan Islands where she is, once more, neighbors with Canada. She has a degree in journalism and was an entertainment reporter before returning to her first love: fiction.

After a whirlwind romance in France, Nikki married Sébastien in March 2000. They reside with Cosmo the Wonder Westie.

Interview

1.  What was the inspiration behind Entangled?

   

    A lot of my YA inspiration can be traced back to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Magical backfire is both an entertaining and consistent theme throughout the series.

When I’m plotting a book I checkout of the world around me. Once I decide on a theme – say witches or vampires – I think of things I’ve never previously seen. From there I begin tossing around what ifs. 

2.  Are you a night owl or early bird?

   

    I fade quickly at night – morning is prime writing time.

3.  What is one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

   

    No one gets it right the first, second or even third time. Revise and rewrite. Better yet, write several novels before you publish your first.

4.   What song/songs would you say best represents the story in Entangled?

    

   Tough question. At the moment my mind is in Book #2, Duplicity, and I keep   hearing David Bowie as the goblin king in Labyrinth singing, “Dance magic, dance.”

5.  Do you see yourself in any of your characters?

   

   No, but funny enough, my sister and I were at odds while I was writing Entangled and it was somewhat therapeutic to siphon my frustrations into Charlene.

6.  Tell us in one sentence why we should read your book.

  

   Page turner!

Goodreads Description: 

          Twin witches Graylee and Charlene Perez agree on one rule: No datingwarlocks. 

Not so easy when a certain rogue warlock is convinced he and Graylee belong together and will use anything, including magic, to try and impress Gray. When Charlene’s boyfriend dumps her, she threatens to kill either herself or the girl who stole Blake. Somehow, Gray ends up dead. 
A Resurrection Spell Gone Wrong: 
Two months after dying, Gray wakes up in Charlene’s body. As a witch, can anyone blame her mother for attempting to bring her daughter back to life? Only now Gray’s stuck sharing her sister’s body 50/50 in twenty-four hour shifts. 
The race is on for Gray to find a way back inside her own body before Charlene purges her from existence. Raj McKenna is rumored to meddle in the black arts, not to mention he’s after Gray’s invisibility spell and worse – her heart. But Raj might be the only one powerful enough to save Gray from fading away forever.

Review

I want to start by saying that when Nikki stated in the interview that this was a “page-turner”, that is the God’s honest truth! I emailed her Saturday with the interview questions; I let her know that I started Entangled that day and I would most likely finish in the next 3 to 4 days. As it turns out that was a gross exaggeration on my part. I stayed up until 4 am that night reading, I literally could not put the book down until I knew how it ended. Needless to say I was pretty scary Sunday morning but it was absolutely worth it!

Entangled is a breath of fresh air amid the endless tales of “sad girl falls for supernatural boy” that are currently populating the book stores. Graylee, our protagonist, is a confident and self-assured witch with a hilarious and infectious sense of humor. I found myself in a fit of laughter that managed to wake my son across the hall. It takes a lot from an author to get me to laugh like that, it is no easy feat. Nikki Jefford has perfected the art of making characters personable and charming and she has more than mastered the “evil” characters as well.

Graylee’s twin sister Charlene is such a fabulous villain. She is the epitome of the character you "love to hate". Each person that I encountered in this tale of black magic and deals gone wrong was memorable on some level, even the more insignificant characters of this intricate story manage to provoke emotion from the reader. 

I was entirely unaware of how this tale would end-up, which is something that I found extremely entertaining. It was unpredictable and addicting. It kept me on the edge of my seat(or bed)the entire time I was reading. I wish I had the pleasure of always being in possession of something this engaging to read. On second thought, I know for a fact that I would never get anything done if that were the case. If you guys don’t read this fast-paced and entertaining book, you are missing out.       

Giveaway...

The beautiful and crazy talented Nikki Jefford was kind enough to offer the E-copy of Entangled to one lucky reader! All you have to do is answer one question in the comment section of this post and leave an E-mail address where you can be reach should you win! Easy Pezzy! 

The Question is...

The witches and warlocks in Entangled share basic magical abilities. They also know advanced spells of their own. If you could choose one of the following powers, which would it be?

•  The power to freeze people in place and take away their voice.
• Body Transfers
• Invisibility
•  Teleportation
• or Mind Reading?

Irresistible Fear (The Redeeming Trilogy)

Goodreads Description:

“His presence was electric. The tiny pulses of excitement made her shiver inside. But so did the fear. The feelings were almost indistinguishable…yet completely irresistible.” 

Emily Hilbright's life is toxic. The negative threads curling around and strangling her. The nights of fear, the days of depression, the frantic struggle to stay sane. Her conscious world was consumed with the most basic need to survive. If her mother's abusive hand didn't break her, the nightmares would. 

But what about him? The boy in her dreams that had turned her world upside down. Was he her savior or her tormentor? Did it even matter? Because she knew she loved him. Needed him. His presence a taunting tease that was as maddening as it was helpless...for the simple reason that he existed only in Emily's mind. 

Emily Or did he? 

Good and evil play out in a distorted landscape where dreams and reality clash and sanity and madness are impossible to tell apart. What is Emily left with when her world crashes down around her and the new love she has discovered is ultimately her killer? Irresistible Fear is the first book in The Redeeming Trilogy...the dark story of a girl, a boy, and a love that could destroy them both. 

~ Review ~ 

Irresistible Fear is a dark and enticing tale of a girl in a constant life and death struggle to not just survive the day but to endure the night as well.  Emily’s life is a tragic one. Her mother is the farthest thing from a maternal hero and convincingly plays her role as the domestic villain. She has all but destroyed any joy or peace that Emily encounters during the daylight hours. Emily’s vivid and disturbing nightmares take care of any chance at relief she may have had when she closes her eyes.

I found Emily’s plight extremely sad and empathized with her through her struggles. A. Meredith Walters does a remarkable job of giving her characters realistic emotional responses.  It was a refreshing change to see a leading lady not just blindly believe everything that is happening around her. Emily reacts to her situation like most humans would, by questioning her sanity. I was honestly delighted to see a real life reaction to a paranormal situation.

Irresistible Fear will keep you guessing till the very end and leaving you desperately wanting to get your hands on book two. The descriptive and intense imageries will leave you second guessing your decision to turn the nights off. However, the relationships and love that are strongly bonded through our main characters will leave you with a sense of hope when the story has ended. 

Lunar Love Giveaway

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I AM A READER, NOT A WRITER

And

BOOK WORM LISA

for hosting this Blog Hop

The rules are simple. You must be a follower of this blog

and be thirteen years old or older.

Now to the prizes…

Beckoning Light
(The Afterglow Trilogy)


Goodreads Description: 

As Charlotte steps through the gate, she has a strong feeling that nothing will ever be the same again.
Moving back to South Carolina after three years away, Charlotte knows she's going to have to face people from her past and adjust to a new high school, but she's completely unprepared for what else waits for her in Charleston. 

Drawn through an old garden gate, Charlotte discovers a hidden world where she meets Calvin, a boy to whom she is inexplicably attracted. As Charlotte is pulled deeper into this hidden world, it's up to her older brother Kevin to rescue her. No matter how hard Kevin tries, the rescue depends upon Charlotte fighting her intense feelings for Calvin while mastering a set of abilities that she has only just discovered she possesses.

Review:  

Beckoning Light was a story full of beautiful imagery, fascinating history and enthralling characters. I was immediately drawn into this story when I read of the gate shrouded in mystery, set in an overgrown garden. Having grown up on “The Secret Garden”, my childhood was over-run with fantasies of this nature. Be honest now, haven’t we all wished, somewhere deep down, that a midst our unkempt ivy sat a gated entrance to an unknown world?  

   

I finally got my chance to live out this small fantasy through the timid and lovable character Charlotte. She finds that beyond this gate could hold her greatest love and what may end up being the very thing that destroys her. Her journey is full of revelations both good and bad. I loved every second of watching Charlotte realize her potential and felt a sense of pride as she made selfless sacrifices toward the greater good. She is a girl with a lot of spirit and a strong heart.

   

I also enjoyed the switching of POV among Charlotte and her brother Kevin. Of course, as with the majority of books that change POV, I did feel myself (at times) fighting the urge to skip ahead. However, as I got to know Kevin and the characters surrounding him, I started to truly relish in his story as well. Kevin has a handsome vulnerability about him that intrigued me the more I got to know him.  Also, through Kevin we get familiar with their uncle Monty and the hilarious and loving neighbor Liam. Each of whom must go endure their own journey as a result of our Charlotte’s choice to enter the gate.

   

I would highly recommend this book and I am so excited to see where each player in this trilogy will end up. (Especially Mr. James :) So, go check it out! The second book in The Afterglow Trilogy, Perilous Light comes out April 1^st!! 

CHECK out THE BLOG TOUR for Book 2 in the The Afterglow Trilogy,

PERILOUS LIGHT

Dates and Blogs on the Tour!

iJessica