Tag Archives: paranormal

Blog Tour + ARC Review & Giveaway: Inspire by Cora Carmack

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Inspire by Cora Carmack!! Check out my review and a fantastic giveaway below!

Inspire by Cora Carmack

Inspire by Cora Carmack
Series: The Muse #1
Release date: December 16th 2014
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Kalliope lives with one purpose.

To inspire.

As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.

Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.

Her presence may inspire genius.

But it breeds madness, too.

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo

review

I’m a big fan of Cora Carmack’s Losing It and when I heard she was going to write a new adult PARANORMAL book, I was all for it! There aren’t NA paranormal books that I’ve read, but it’s a genre I fully support. And if you’re thinking of venturing into the genre, then Inspire is the perfect way to start! I highly enjoyed Inspire – it’s a fun, unique, and deeply romantic read that will have you wanting so much more.

Inspire is about the mythical immortal being Kalliope, one of the nine muses who lives to inspire art, music, and the like. She HAS to let out inspiration into people, otherwise there are painful consequences for her. So she creates relationships with artists, musicians, etc. and gives them inspiration, but sometimes the artists get addicted or obsessed. So Kalli has lived for thousands of years not forming any long-lasting relationships, but everything changes when she meets Wilder Bell.

Kalli is a great heroine. She may be an immortal being who’s thousands of years old, but Cora Carmack created her in a way that she’s down to earth and relatable. She’s funny and sweet, and my heart went out to her and her pain of having been so alone for so long. When she meets Wilder, she feels a connection with him. If she were human, they would have been perfect together. But she’s immortal and nothing can happen between them. Kalli never expects to see Wilder again, but when she does, she can’t resist him a second time.

Wilder is literally the PERFECT guy. Okay, maybe he’s not perfect; perfectly imperfect would be a better word for him. I fell so hard for this man. He’s sweet and wonderful and naughty and sexy… There are SO many facets to his character and he truly made the perfect package. When Wilder meets Kalli, he never expects to see her again either, but he can’t get her out of his mind. One chance encounter later, he’s determined to make her his.

I honestly can’t even describe how sweet Wilder is. He’s patient but determined to win Kalli over. And when he falls for her, he falls so. hard. He loves her fiercely, willing to do anything to make her happy, because she makes him happy. And what makes him even better? The fact that he takes responsibility for his family. He attends college while working at a job to support his mother and little sister. His little sister Gwen is the most adorable thing ever! And Wilder + Gwen = melting heart.

It’s difficult for Kalli to stay with Wilder because she doesn’t want to hurt him by her power, and when she falls for him, she has to decide on how their future will play out. How long can she stay with him until he realizes that she’s not aging and he is? Kalli’s dilemma had my heart clenching, even while my heart was swooning when she and Wilder were together.

Inspire was such a fun, unique, romantic read. I adored Wilder and Kalli, and their romance swept me away. If you’re looking a new adult book with a unique twist, then Inspire is the perfect read!

4 hearts
lacey

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

about the author

Cora CarmackCora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

giveaway

One $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Cards (Winner’s Choice) for Two Winners

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Tour Schedule

December 15th
Smart & Savvy with Stephanie – Review & Character Interview
Desert Divas Book Addiction – Review
Book Angel Booktopia – Review
Tales of the ravenous reader – Review
In Between The Pages – Review
The Book Cellar – Guest Post

December 16th
Between Order and Randomness – Excerpt
Lost in Lit – Review & Character Interview-Kallie and Wilder
The BookWhisperer – Review
NC 2 DC – Review
The Cover Contessa – Review
Movies, Shows & Books – Review

December 17th
Typical Distractions – Review
K-Books – Review
Book Boyfriend Reviews – Review
Britt’s Book and Life Blog – Review
The Boyfriend Bookmark – Review
Romance Addict Book Blog – Dreamcast

December 18th
Author Groupies – Review
Booklovers For Life – Review
Bloggers[Heart]Books – Excerpt
Snuggling on the Sofa – Review
Mary Had a Little Book Blog – Review
Ficwishes – Review

December 19th
Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review
Worn Down Glories – Excerpt
Jen in Bookland – Review
Vi3tbabe – Review
Ticket to Anywhere – Guest Post

December 20th
Four Chicks Flipping Pages Review & Playlist
A Life Bound By Books – Review
Watcha Reading – Character Interview Lennox
Keep it Fictional – Review

December 21st
Literati Literature Lovers – Review
The Shadow Realm – Review
Nose Stuck in a Book – Author Interview
StuckInBooks – Review

December 22nd
Anna’s Book Blog – Excerpt
Lovin’ Los Libros – Review
Spare Time Book blog – Review
shelf life – Review
Novel Grounds da – Review
Mean Girls Luv Books – Review

December 23rd
Stuck In YA Books – Review & Guest Post
LuLo Fangirl – Review
Give Me Books – Review
The Irish Banana Review – Review
Step Into Fiction – Review
Krista’s Dust Jacket – Review

December 24th
Grown Up Book Reviews / Mundie Moms – Review & Author Interview
The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club – Review
Up All Night Book Addict – Review
Wendi Galbreath – Review
Behind Closed Covers – Review
Cocktails and Books – Review

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Review: Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Publication Date: October 28th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews launches a brand-new Hidden Legacy series, in which one woman must place her trust in a seductive, dangerous man who sets off an even more dangerous desire . . .

Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile situation. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run and wanting to surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.

So this is Ilona Andrews’ long-awaited Avon story and holy smokes, I loved it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH.

I honestly had no idea I would love Burn for Me this much. But I shouldn’t have expected anything less from Ilona Andrews. Ilona Andrews is one of my all-time favorite authors ever – their Kate Daniels series is like no other. And let me tell you, I didn’t even love Magic Bites (Kate Daniels book 1) as much as I loved Burn for Me! This just goes to show how freaking awesome author duo Ilona Andrews is, and that I will pretty much read anything and everything they write.

This new series had everything I could have wanted – fantastic world building, addicting characters, badass fight scenes – but there’s also that extra something in this book that makes Burn for Me exceptional and one of the best books I’ve read all year. I was utterly ABSORBED in this book. I couldn’t get enough of this world and these characters. I honestly never wanted this book to end – it’s unique and incredibly well-written. It’s Ilona Andrews at their finest.

Nevada Baylor is a heroine I absolutely loved and adored. She’s hilarious, down-to-earth, and so relatable. I connected with her from the start. I loved the goodness and loyalty in her, as well as her inner badass. So who and what exactly is Nevada? Well, she’s an investigator and she’s in charge of her family’s investigation firm. And in this world where certain people have magic powers, and the higher level power you have, the more respected and rich you are, Nevada has the power to detect lies. Her job and power are perfect complements, but that doesn’t make the investigations she gets involved in easy. In fact, her latest case, which is to find a rogue Prime (which is the highest level of magic a magic user can have), lands her deep into danger and trouble.

Connor “Mad” Rogan. This man. I am utterly in love with him. His character is the thing that MADE this book for me. Mad Rogan is one of the most powerful, if not THE most powerful, magic user in their world, and he’s looking for the same rogue Prime as Nevada. He is the embodiment of raw power – he is intense and dangerous and Nevada is ridiculously attracted to him.

The two women saw him and stopped talking. He cut right through the layers of civilization, politeness, and social snobbery to some preternatural female sense that said, “Dominant male. Danger. Power. Sex.“

Nevada likens Mad Rogan to a dragon, which is accurate. Their roads inevitably cross and they reluctantly form an alliance to find Adam Pierce. I L.O.V.E.D. the dynamics between Nevada and Mad Rogan. They are hilarious together and the sexual tension between them is off the charts.

The way my body came to attention when he was near scared me too. He turned me on by just looking at me. Having sex with him would be an experience I would never forget, and some insane part of me wanted that experience. I wanted to see him naked. I wanted to have all of that overwhelming masculine intensity focused on me. I’d never before had a reaction like that to a man.

I loved Burn for Me. I’ve already reread it countless times, and I highlighted so much of this book. I loved Mad Rogan, the insanely powerful man that he is, and I have no doubt that he’ll get even better as the series goes on. I absolutely can’t wait for more from this new, fantastic series from Ilona Andrews.

5 hearts!

5-hearts

lacey

Release Day Review: Sublime by Christina Lauren

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by

Sublime by Christina Lauren

Sublime by Christina Lauren
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: October 14th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

True love may mean certain death in a ghostly affair of risk and passion from New York Times bestselling duo Christina Lauren, authors of Beautiful Bastard. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of Shatter Me calls Sublime “a beautiful, haunting read.”

When Lucy walks out of a frozen forest, wearing only a silk dress and sandals, she isn’t sure how she got there. But when she sees Colin, she knows for sure that she’s here for him.

Colin has never been captivated by a girl the way he is by Lucy. With each passing day their lives intertwine, and even as Lucy begins to remember more of her life–and her death–neither of them is willing to give up what they have, no matter how impossible it is. And when Colin finds a way to physically be with Lucy, taking himself to the brink of death where his reality and Lucy’s overlap, the joy of being together for those brief stolen moments drowns out everything in the outside world. But some lines weren’t meant to be crossed…

I’m very… conflicted about this book. On one hand, it’s gorgeously written – Christina Lauren’s writing is poetic. It makes Sublime feel haunting and mysterious. But on the other… I was NOT a fan of the romance. Still, it’s a fascinating read, no doubt, but Sublime wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. I wanted an epic ghost romance, but the romance fell flat. I mean, I knew that a story about a boy and a ghost girl couldn’t exactly end well, but I wanted something more substantial for the plot. For the most part, the writing was what kept me hooked.

“I think I’m here for you.”

Lucy is a ghost. She doesn’t realize she’s a ghost at first – she wakes up at a school with no memories, no idea who she is, and it’s only when she tries to interact with others and they ignore her, don’t see her, that she realizes something is off. But it turns out Lucy’s not invisible to everyone, because Colin can see her.

As if she can feel him staring, she turns, an involuntary smile lifting the corner of her mouth. Her dimple makes him think of giggled pleas, mischievous promises, and the taste of sugar on his tongue. Gunmetal eyes meet his, and the color is alive, churning like an angry ocean, pulling him in.
He lets himself drown.

Colin and Lucy have an instant connection with each other. They are drawn to each other and neither are hesitant about forming a relationship, even though they don’t understand what that connection is or why Lucy is there as a ghost. I was a bit skeptical about their insta-love, but I was rooting for them to find a way to be together. It was pretty innocent at first – boy and ghost girl fall in love, they want to be together, it seems like they’re meant to be together. It’s only when they actually TRY to be together, in the physical sense, that things started turning a bit dark, even sinister.

Lucy and Colin become slightly obsessed with one another. It didn’t bother me at first – I wanted them to find a way to be together, but there’s a point where you have to pause and think, exactly WHAT will you do to be together? Their relationship started turning unhealthy – Colin kept putting himself in harm’s way to be with Lucy. At this point, their romance was a bust for me. So I turned my focus on the why’s and how’s of the story. Why was Lucy there? What happened to her? How was she a ghost?

Every step of the way, I wasn’t sure what was going on, which was a good and bad thing. Sublime intrigued me to no end – I expected some answers, but all I got were more questions. None of my questions were answered, and I was really disappointed about that.

So yeah, the writing was what kept me reading. And I have to say, the writing was beautifully written, even though I didn’t exactly like the content. I liked HOW Sublime was written, not WHAT was written. Christina Lauren really have outdone themselves with the writing in Sublime – it’s hauntingly gorgeous and elegant.

The premise held a lot of potential but I’m sad to say Sublime was only an okay read for me. There were some aspects I loved, some aspects I hated. I expected a lot more than I got. The romance just did not sit right with me, so I wouldn’t recommend reading this for the romance. Mainly, you should try Sublime out for the writing.

3 hearts
lacey

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

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

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by

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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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Early Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

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The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost
Series: Broken Destiny #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 26th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Harlequin) in exchange for an honest review

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

I’m a HUGE fan of Jeaniene Frost–she does paranormal like no other. And when I found out she was writing a new paranormal series that was also NEW ADULT? I totally jumped for joy! I loved her Night Huntress series, so of course I had to read this new series. Plus, there aren’t that many new adult books that dab in the paranormal genre, but what better way to be introduced to this genre than with Jeaniene Frost?

I really, really liked The Beautiful Ashes. It wasn’t perfect, but I enjoyed myself the whole time reading this. We have our heroine, Ivy, who sees visions of different realms. She doesn’t know if what she sees is real, or why she sees them, or even how, but she mainly ignores it to keep her insanity intact. But when her sister gets kidnapped, her whole world is turned upside down, because those visions? They’re real.

“Well, Ivy. I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is, you’re not crazy. The bad news is, everything you’ve seen is real, and now, it’ll be coming for you.”

In the midst of finding out about all this craziness–demons, angels, and parallel realms are totally real and they totally exist–the one thing Ivy can focus on is saving her sister. And the one person who can help Ivy is Adrian, a man that sparks something in her she’s never felt before, a man who is destined to become her enemy.

I have to say, even though I didn’t fall for Adrian as much as I wanted to, I can see myself wholeheartedly loving him in the upcoming books in the series. I’m not even sure why I didn’t LOVE Adrian from the start–he’s a total badass, he’s mysterious, he protects Ivy with everything he’s got, and there’s a delicious tension between him and Ivy I lapped up. Adrian and Ivy are destined to be enemies, which makes their attraction to each other all the better.

“You’re the light I can never have… and I’m the darkness you’ll never succumb to.”

Ivy herself is a good heroine–I could connect with her, but up to a point. Still, I liked her well enough, but Ivy and Adrian together is what made the story for me. As Ivy and Adrian search for a relic to save her sister, they grow closer together. I really enjoyed watching their relationship slowly develop–the scenes I loved reading were always the ones with the two of them together.

There’s excitement, action, and intrigue, as well as a little humor here and there that is typical from Jeaniene Frost. The Beautiful Ashes met my expectations, but… it didn’t surpass it. I wanted to love it, but my only problem was that the world building fell a bit flat for me. It felt like I, along with Ivy, was thrust into this world too quickly without knowing anything. It gave me a ton of information without letting me have the time to process it. I like being given bits and pieces of a world so I can map it out myself, but it was difficult to do with this book.

The main thing about The Beautiful Ashes is that it holds potential. I honestly can’t wait to see what Jeaniene Frost has in store for us with the rest of the series. Now that we’ve got the world-building over and done with, I’m so excited to see this potential grow into so much more.

4 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Broken Destiny series

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost The Sweetest Burn by Jeaniene Frost

#1 ~ The Beautiful Ashes: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Sweetest Burn: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads