Blog Tour + ARC Review & Giveaway: Dante’s Fire by Jennifer Probst

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for DANTE’S FIRE!

Dante's Fire by Jennifer Probst

Dante’s Fire by Jennifer Probst
Release Date: August 26th 2014
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It’s Time To Meet A New Kind Of Hero…

Dante Stark has a dark secret–a legacy left to him by his father which is both a blessing and a curse. A traumatic experience as a small boy gave him special powers of healing, but it comes with a price. Destined to wander the world alone to heal others, he’s accepted his fate. Until Selina Rogers forces him to confront his deepest fears, erotic desires, and question his capacity to love.

Selina Rogers has made a name for herself at Inferno Enterprises. She’s tough, confident and prepared to succeed. She’s also built a world she believes is safe, until she’s attacked and then saved by a masked stranger. As he helps her heal physically and emotionally, she becomes fascinated by his overwhelming power and gentle touch. Determined to show Dante the love he’s been denying himself, Selina surrenders her heart, and dreams of a future with the mysterious man who completes her.

But will his dark legacy destroy them…or save them both…

Purchase:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes

review

Calling all superhero fans! Dante’s Fire is the perfect book for you! I loved that Jennifer Probst went in a completely different direction than her previous contemporary novels. Dante’s Fire is very much a superhero love story–and while I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to, it was still an incredibly fun and sweet read.

Dante Stark is the superhero of this story, though he doesn’t think of himself as one. He views his power to heal as a blessing and a curse. On one hand, he has the power to stop men from assaulting women, but on the other hand, he can never have a personal life. He has two identities–his real self as Dante Stark, owner of Inferno Enterprises, and his fake persona Daniel Stark, who works as the mail clerk at Inferno Enterprises.

As Daniel, Dante gets to meet Selina, who works at his company. Over the years that she’s worked there, he slowly falls in love with her, but he knows he has no chance of being with her–she can never know about his alter ego, and he believes she would never fall for a man who works as a mail clerk.

Selina is tough and ambitious. She’s been climbing up the corporate ladder, all the while becoming very good friends with Daniel Stark. There’s a chemistry between them, an attraction Selina can’t help but feel towards Daniel, but she’s not sure she can be with a man who doesn’t have as much ambition as she does. I admired Selina’s strength, her determination to be the best possible person she could be, despite being a product of the foster-care system.

During a traumatic incident, Selina meets and is saved by Dante, which changes everything in her life. Dante, the man with superhero powers, was never supposed to meet Selina, but Dante can’t stay away from her. She only knows him as Daniel, but he’s helplessly in love with her. Now Dante has to figure out a way to get Selina to accept both of his identities, because he can’t give her up.

Dante’s Fire wasn’t perfect–the plot had a few holes in it, but overall, it was a short and sweet read. Dante and Selina’s romance was romantic and full of chemistry. I’m glad Jennifer Probst decided to do a superhero story–I don’t come across one often, but this one was enjoyable and fun.

3.5 hearts
lacey

about the author

Jennifer ProbstJennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean.

She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon’s Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

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GRAND PRIZE: Win a customized necklace. 2 RUNNERS UP: Receive a “winner’s choice” signed book by Jennifer Probst. US Only.

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Review: Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle

Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle

Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: February 22nd 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

A note about this book: Donners of the Dead is set in 1851 – couples were often thrust into marriage together with short courtships, racism was widespread and not overly frowned upon, and women had little to no rights. What wouldn’t fly in today’s day and age was unfortunately the norm back then – it is worth keeping that in mind when reading this book.

Jake McGraw was unlike anyone I’d ever known. He was brash, rude, unapologetic and arrogant; chauvinistic, close-minded, and terribly stubborn. He was built like a tree, tall with a hard chest and wide shoulders and hands that looked like they could wrestle a bear. He was a cigar-chomping, scruffy-faced, beast of a man. I was pretty sure I hated him. And I know he hated me. But among the flesh-eating monsters in these snow-capped mountains, he was the only thing keeping me alive 

The year is 1851 and pioneers in search of California gold are still afraid to travel on the same route as the tragic Donner party did years before. When the last wagon train to go into the Sierra Nevada mountains fails to arrive at their destination, Eve Smith, an 18-year old half-native girl with immense tracking skills is brought along with the search party, headed by an enigmatic former Texas Ranger, Jake McGraw.

What they find deep in the dangerous snow-covered terrain is a terrifying consequence of cannibalism, giving new meaning to the term “monster.” While the search party is slowly picked off, one by one, Eve must learn to trust Jake, who harbors more than a few secrets of his own, in order to survive and prevent the monstrosities from reaching civilization.

***This is NOT New Adult***

A warning to those who are a bit iffy on creepy stuff–DO NOT READ THIS AT NIGHT. I repeat–DO NOT READ THIS AT NIGHT. This book will freak you the eff out. It’s got guts and blood and gore and tons more… Donners of the Dead was one hell of a book to read.

I usually stay away from anything horror. I don’t read gory books, and I sure as hell never even watch scary movies. But this was Karina Halle, so of course I had to read it! And the synopsis was completely intriguing as well. So I set aside my fears, and I ended up really enjoyed Donners of the Dead. It’s personally not my favorite of Karina’s books (hello, Mateo!), but for fans of the author, I’d say to give this book a try.

Donners of the Dead is really like nothing I’ve ever read, never mind that I don’t read horror. It’s the fact that this book has got everything in it–it’s part horror, part romance, part suspense, and part western. How many of you can say you’ve ever read a book that’s like zombies meets the wild, wild west? And what’s even better is that Karina Halle does a fantastic job blending these different genres together.

Donners of the Dead is a twisted, sinister tale based off of the famous Donner Party story. It’s set in the mid-1800s, and we have our heroine Eve who is half white and half Native American. Because of her mixed heritage, Eve is not respected in her community, and she is thrown to the wolves by her family when a search party arrives and wants Eve to help them track some people. Eve absolutely doesn’t want to go–it’s incredibly dangerous, but her uncle forces her to go anyway. I had a hard time connecting with Eve throughout the book, but I could easily admire her for her bravery in going through with being the tracker for the search group. She’s not a delicate girl–she’s headstrong and tenacious throughout the journey.

The search party consists of a variety of men, some of whom gave Eve, and me, the creeps. But then there’s Jake McGraw, the former Texas Ranger. He’s very much a man’s man–he’s big, burly, smart, harsh, and very good with a gun. But he’s got a strong prejudice against Eve, and this means it’s hate at first sight for Jake and Eve. They do NOT get along at all when they first meet, but sometime along their treacherous journey the two of them develop feelings for each other. I actually really enjoyed the pace of their relationship. It wasn’t too fast or too slow, and the romance balanced perfectly with the horror aspect of the book. That being said, even though I really liked the sexual tension between Eve and Jake, their chemistry didn’t make me feel for them. I wish I could have connected with the characters more, but I at least appreciated Jake once he started showing his feelings and being all romantic. 😉

What really got my heart pounding though, was the creep factor in this book. The stuff Karina Halle comes up with is seriously the stuff of nightmares. Okay, so it wasn’t exactly SCARY, but just majorly CREEPY. I literally had to put the book down several times to calm myself down and look over my shoulder to see if anything was there….

Karina Halle rocks at writing–she made the horror come to life in this book! I can always count on enjoying the writing and the storytelling when it comes to Karina. So even though the story wasn’t the best, the writing and storytelling was compelling enough to make up for it. I didn’t LOVE the book, but I definitely enjoyed myself while reading. Karina Halle fans should definitely give Donners of the Dead a try!

3.5 hearts!

3.5-hearts

lacey

Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Mended by Kim Karr

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Mended by Kim Karr

Title: Mended
Author: Kim Karr
Series: Connections #3 (full reading order below)
Release Date: June 3rd 2014
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Music has the power to heal, but not all broken hearts can be mended.

Always in control, Xander Wilde considered life on the road to be a perfect fit for him. But when disaster strikes on the Wilde Ones’ latest tour, fate intervenes…and a newly single Ivy Taylor, the only girl he has ever loved, steps back into his life.

After moving past her painful breakup with Xander years ago, Ivy was poised to become the next big name in pop music…when suddenly she withdrew from the limelight—the same day she announced her engagement to her controlling agent, Damon Wolf.

Xander knows he should keep his distance. But once they’re on the road, he can’t resist pursuing her for a second chance. Yet a jealous Damon can’t let her go—and he’s keeping dangerous secrets that could destroy them all.

When the three of them come together, everything falls apart. But if Xander and Ivy can hold tight to the bond that connects them, they just might have a chance at reclaiming the powerful love they thought they had lost forever….

Buy Links:
Amazon • B&N • iTunes • Paperback

review

“Roses are so cliché. I prefer Ivy.”

What a wild ride this book was! I honestly had no idea what to expect going in to Mended. All I knew was that this was River’s hot older brother’s book, and it was a second chance romance. I’m a huge fan of second chance romances, and Mended turned out to be a passionate, intense one, with so many twists and turns I nearly couldn’t keep up. Fans of the series definitely won’t be disappointed with Xander and Ivy’s story.

When Xander Wilde was first introduced, we didn’t know much about him, but with Mended we finally get to see everything behind his facade. Xander and Ivy were high school sweethearts–I loved reading about the their past. Kim Karr did a wonderful job of blending both past and present. And teenaged Xander is seriously the sweetest thing! He and Ivy had their futures planned, and there was no question that the two of them would be together. Unfortunately, with Xander’s father’s suicide, Xander had to give up his future, and therefore Ivy–leading to a painful breakup and much heartache because of a lie.

Twelve years later, Xander is the band manager for The Wilde Ones and hasn’t seen Ivy since their breakup. Ivy is a famous pop singer and currently engaged to her agent Damon Wolf. But the second they see each other again, it’s as if no time passed at all. Xander wants Ivy again, fiercely, but he can’t do anything about it because she’s engaged. I loved being inside Xander’s head once they see each other again–Xander is so raw and passionate, and insanely jealous of Damon. He wants to tell Ivy the truth about the night they broke up, but would it even make a difference twelve years later?

My thoughts are drifting to seeing Ivy after so many years and how things could have been so different. When you believe a lie for so long… does it become the truth?

Mended takes you on a wild(e) ride from start to finish (hehe, see what I did there?). We have both Ivy and Xander’s POVs, and I could feel how deeply the two of them were heartbroken over each other, and still are.

“I’m sorry Xander… I just can’t be that close to you.”
I look down at her. “Why not? I’ve gone along with the friends thing, but clearly we both want more.”
Her voice cracks as she whispers, “Because, Xander, my body might want you but my heart doesn’t.”
The pain in her voice collapses everything I am, everything I have to give.

Ivy’s trying to protect her heart of Xander, but Xander won’t give up on her. He’s changed so much since he was eighteen–he has a stable job, his family healed, he’s strong and very much an alpha-male. So of course Ivy has a hard time resisting him.

“Look, we could play the game–pretend we both didn’t feel what we felt the minute we saw each other at the pool, but I’d rather not. I loved you when I was fourteen. I loved you when I was eighteen and I had to let you go. I’ve loved you for the last twelve years. And I love you now. Ivy–I love you.”

Xander is seriously the best! One second he’d be sweet talking Ivy, and the next, the dirtiest things would be coming out of his mouth! I loved it! 😉

But it’s definitely not an easy road for Xander and Ivy. Heartache, angst, and turmoil are constant throughout the book–Mended made me feel a wild jumble of emotions. I wasn’t too big of a fan once everything started getting twisty, and everything seemed to be resolved to perfectly for me, but overall I had a great time reading Mended. It kept me hooked and at the edge of my seat. Mended wasn’t perfect, but it’s definitely worth reading. I’m still not sure who I could choose between Xander over River though… 😉

3.5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Connections series

Connected by Kim Karr Torn by Kim Karr Dazed by Kim Karr
Mended by Kim Karr Blurred by Kim Karr Frayed by Kim Karr

#1 ~ Connected: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Torn: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2.5 ~ Dazed: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#3 ~ Mended: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3.5 ~ Blurred: Ebook • Goodreads
#4 ~ Frayed: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Flawed: Goodreads (2015)
#6 ~ Perfected: Goodreads (2015)

about the author

Kim KarrI live in Florida with my husband and four kids. I’ve always had a love for reading books and writing. Being an English major in college, I wanted to teach at the college level but that was not to be. I went on to receive an MBA and became a project manager until quitting to raise my family. I currently work part-time with my husband and full-time embracing one of my biggest passions—writing.I wear a lot of hats! Writer, book-lover, wife, soccer-mom, taxi driver, and the all around go-to person of the family. However, I always find time to read. One of my favorite family outings use to be taking my kids to the bookstore or the library. Today, my oldest child is in college and my twins are juniors so they no longer go with me on these outings. And although I don’t need to go to the actual store anymore because I have the greatest device ever invented—a Kindle, I still do. There’s nothing like a paperback. So now my four year old and I make dates out of going to the bookstore–it’s time I love and cherish.

I like to believe in soulmates, kindred spirits, true friends, and Happily-Ever-Afters. I love to drink champagne, listen to music, and hopes to always stay young at heart.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

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Paperback copy of Mended (US only)

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Release Day Review: Twisted by Emma Chase

Twisted by Emma Chase

Twisted by Emma Chase
Series: Tangled #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 25th 2014
Links: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Gallery Books) in exchange for an honest review

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is hard. In this heart-pounding follow-up to Tangled by New York Times bestseller Emma Chase, Kate reveals that there is trouble in paradise, when unexpected circumstances force her and Drew to “renegotiate” their relationship.

There are two kinds of people in the world. The ones who look first, and the ones who leap. I’ve always been more of a looker. Cautious. A planner. That changed after I met Drew Evans. He was so persistent. So sure of himself—and of me.

But not all love stories end happily ever after. Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Join the club. Now I have to make a choice; the most important of my life. Drew already made hisin fact, he tried to decide for the both of us. But you know that’s just not my style. So I came back to Greenville, Ohio, alone. Well, sort of alone…

What I’ve come to realize is that old habits die hard, and sometimes you have to go back to where you began before you can move ahead.

I loved love looooved Tangled, so of course I was ecstatic to read more of Drew and Kate! And I was excited that their second book would be in Kate’s POV (even though I really missed Drew’s POV). But even though I didn’t love Twisted as much as I loved Tangled, Twisted was still a fun, angsty read that fans of Tangled would enjoy. Kate is just as hilarious as Drew, and I loved reading from her POV!

Kate and Drew have been together for two years. They are blissfully in love… or are they?

Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Live happily ever after? Join the club. Apparently happily ever after only lasts two years.

Cue the gasps!! Imagine my shock and horror when my beloved couple ever fall apart. They were practically MADE for each other! But that’s what happens when misunderstandings and miscommunication occurs in a relationship. Both parties get hurt, and in this case, Drew and Kate… break up. But wait! Drew and Kate fans, don’t despair. Not all hope is lost! I don’t want to spoil the reason for their breakup, but if you’re scared about going into this book, don’t be. I had complete confidence in Emma Chase that she wouldn’t let me down about her characters, and I was right.

When Drew and Kate break up, Kate is understandably devastated. She packs up and goes home, back to Greenville, Ohio. There, she has the comfort of her family and best friend, but even with them, nothing can replace Drew. She loves him, but he hurt her terribly. I wanted to hug her–but mostly I wanted to smack Kate and Drew so badly! Their breakup could’ve been avoided so easily, but one freaking miscommunication leads to so much pain for the both of them.

Twisted has a completely different feel than Tangled–don’t get me wrong, there’s still the laugh-out-loud humor Emma Chase is so great at, but that’s mostly thanks to Dee, Kate’s best friend, and Billy, Dee’s cousin and Kate’s ex-boyfriend, and not thanks to Drew. I was a little disappointed that Drew is absent from a large part of the story, but I was willing to see where Emma Chase would take the story, so I sucked it up and kept reading. And I’m glad I did.

Emma Chase takes us on a completely different direction than I expected after reading Tangled. I wouldn’t say I wholeheartedly loved the different direction, but by the end, I was proud of how Drew and Kate ended up handling things. This book was slightly predictable, but I’m totally willing to forgive that because of the Kate’s fabulous narrative and Dee and Billy’s hilarious banter. Oh, and Drew’s sweet words…

“I love you, Kate. Everything that’s good in my life, anything that really matters, is only there because of you. If we hadn’t met? I’d be fucking miserable–and probably too clueless to even realize it.”

So for fans of Tangled, Twisted might not live up to the first book, but it’s still well worth the read. It’ll make you ache–both from laughing so much and from Kate and Drew’s heartbreaking breakup.

3.5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.


Reading Order: Tangled series

Tangled by Emma Chase Holy Frigging Matrimony by Emma Chase
Twisted by Emma Chase Tamed by Emma Chase Tied by Emma Chase

#1 ~ Tangled: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#1.5 ~ Holy Frigging Matrimony: My Review • EbookAudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Twisted: Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#3 ~ Tamed: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads
#4 ~ Tied: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • AudibleGoodreads


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Blog Tour + ARC Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Destroyed by Pepper Winters

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Destroyed by Pepper Wintersa

Title: Destroyed
Series: Stand-alone
Author: Pepper Winters
Genre: Dark (Lighter) / Romance (Grey Romance)
Release Date: March 7, 2014
Tour Organized byAs the Pages Turn
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She has a secret.

I’m complicated. Not broken or ruined or running from a past I can’t face. Just complicated.

I thought my life couldn’t get any more tangled in deceit and confusion. But I hadn’t met him. I hadn’t realized how far I could fall or what I’d do to get free.

He has a secret.

I’ve never pretended to be good or deserving. I chase who I want, do what I want, act how I want.

I didn’t have time to lust after a woman I had no right to lust after. I told myself to shut up and stay hidden. But then she tried to run. I’d tasted what she could offer me and damned if I would let her go.

One secret destroys them.

Buy Links:
Amazon US • Amazon UK • Amazon CA • Amazon AU
Smashwords • Barnes and Noble

review

I thought I could save him.
Just like I could save my daughter.
I was wrong.

Destroyed is my very first Pepper Winters book, and it certainly won’t be my last! Destroyed is intense and crazy and heart-pounding, and had me engaged from start to finish. The main characters, Hazel and Roan, are two extremely flawed people who have so much baggage, and yet they’re perfect for each other. I highly enjoyed reading Hazel and Roan’s story so much–I didn’t LOVE it, but it’s a unique book that’s not easily forgotten.

No one had made me feel like Zel. No one held me hostage like Zel.
She’d successfully done in ten minutes what I’d tried to do in two years.
She brought me back to life.

I loved Hazel and Roan’s relationship… not that they have much of one in the beginning. They are very fierce about one another, but something they’re even more passionate about is keeping their pasts hidden. For Hazel, she keeps quiet about the love of her life–her precious daughter, who is unfortunately very, very sick. I had so much admiration for Hazel for being the most incredible single mother ever. Everything Hazel does, she does for her daughter, and their relationship is so beautiful and precious to read. Roan, on the other hand, is hiding a tragic, scarred past. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that Roan’s story broke my heart so much. I honestly couldn’t believe the horrors this poor man went through as a boy. Pepper Winters did a tremendous job painting the picture of Roan’s past. My heart ached so much for him.

I didn’t connect much with either Hazel or Roan, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy their story, because I did, very much! I was sucked into their story–there are so many secrets surrounding Roan that had me intrigued. It took me a while to warm up to Roan himself though–he’s every bit the alpha-male you can expect, but his past has such a profound effect on him that he can’t have a relationship with anyone, because he’d be dangerous to him. It’s only until Hazel comes in that the bleak future he always imagined starts to turn into something… better.

I really liked how much Hazel stood up to Roan. He’s not someone who is easily defied, but Hazel can match him and go head to head with him, despite the dangerous aura Roan has. Roan and Hazel don’t have an easy road ahead of them–in fact, their story is one of the most pain-ridden and heartbreaking to read. Destroyed will have you feeling every emotion–Pepper Winters has created such great characters with depth in Roan and Hazel. We get both of their POVs, which I enjoyed immensely.

Despite the amount of pain and ugliness that Roan and Hazel have to overcome to reach a HEA, there’s never a shortage of hope and redemption for them. I loved how much the characters had to work to overcome their pasts and find some semblance of a happily ever after with each other. Despite everything, Hazel and Roan were truly meant to be.

“No matter how you fight me, I will never stop. Every day, I’ll try again and again. Every hour, I’ll touch you, just to prove I’m willing to be everything you need and deserve. You’ll never be free of me because of I can’t live another day without you in my fucking life.”

I can’t say I loved every second of Destroyed, but it was certainly an unforgettable read! It’s dark and gut-wrenching, but there’s also so much hope for Hazel and Roan. I was very impressed with Destroyed, and can’t wait to read more from Pepper Winters!

3.5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

excerpt

My eyes flared. “Why on my stomach? A vital part of my anatomy isn’t useable unless you intend to teach me how to dry hump a mattress.” I tried to joke, to dispel some of the tense anxiety between us, but Zel’s lips only twitched. I’d mistaken any sense of relief when she secured the padlock—she hadn’t relaxed at all, shaking with tension.

“I want to do something.”

Fuck. She wanted to touch my back. She wanted to look deeper at the tattoos, see beneath the ink to the lash marks and countless other scars hidden beneath the Ghost designs. –ROAN

about the author

Pepper Winters

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero the better and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.

She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby (who speaks French—hot!) who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She loves to hear from her readers so hit her up at pepperwinters@gmail.com

Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Pinterest

giveaway

Pepper is offering up the following goodies below. Giveaway is international and ends at 11:59 PM CST 03/24/2014.
1 x signed copy of Destroyed
2 x signed Destroyed swag packs
5 x eBook copies of Destroyed
2 x eBook copies of Tears of Tess
2 x eBook copies Quintessentially Q
1 x signed swag pack of Monsters in the Dark

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