Blood Skies Omnibus Release Blast

Guys today I am excited to tell you that the first 3 books of my favorite dark fantasy series are now available in one Volume!!! Awesome I know! And what' even more awesome, Steven Montano gives us an all new Short Story, Crucifix Point to sink our teeth into! Make sure you check this one out! 

BOOK RELEASE: THE BLOOD SKIES OMBINUS, Vol. 1

Vampires.  Magic.  War.Welcome to the world After the Black. 

 This collected edition includes the first three novels of the Blood Skies saga — BLOOD SKIES, BLACK SCARS and SOULRAZOR — plus the all-new short story CRUCIFIX POINT.

  Completely re-edited and featuring exciting new cover art by Barry Currey, the BLOOD SKIES OMNIBUS is a must-have for any Dark Fantasy or Military Sci-Fi collection!  


BLOOD SKIES
Southern Claw warlock Eric Cross is a member of Viper Squad, ordered to pursue the renegade witch called Red across a war-torn wasteland before she can betray vital secrets to the Ebon Cities. 

 BLACK SCARS
Cross and a band of unlikely allies find themselves on the trail of a recently released evil  as it stalks the land in search of its ancient enemy, leaving a trail of madness and destruction in its wake.
  
CRUCIFIX POINT
Sent to investigate a series of mysterious vanishings in the wastelands, Cross and his newly-formed mercenary team learn the true fate of those killed during the massacre at Crucifix Point. 
 
SOULRAZOR
Cross and his team are tasked with halting enemy activity near the remote city-state of Fane, where vampire agents have teamed up with a former Revenger to locate a deadly weapon called Soulrazor.

Buy it: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Print Edition | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords (Available Friday 8/2/2013) 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steven Montano is an accountant by day and an author by night.  Sadly, he doesn’t own a superhero costume.  He’s also hopelessly addicted to books, films, music and video games, the darker the better.
 

Steven is the author of Blood Skies, Black Scars, Soulrazor, Crown of Ash, The Witch’s Eye, Tales of a Blood Earth 1 and 2 and something black….  He’s currently hard at work on Blood Angel Rising, a horror novel; Chain of Shadows, the next installment in the Blood Skies series; and Path of Bones and The Black Tower, the remaining books in The Skullborn trilogy. 

  He lives in Washington State with his wife, two children, a dog of below-average intelligence, and a ridiculous number of books and bottles of wine. 
 Visit Steven’s official website, bloodskies.com

Stalk Him: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Review: Sweet Oblivion by Bailey Ardisone

Synopsis:

When two worlds collide, nightmares become reality. And some secrets...are best kept in Oblivion.
...Until there is hope.

Have you ever wanted to forget? Nariella Woodlinn has. Many times. Especially when her already frustrating life gets turned upside down by a mysterious boy who randomly shows up in her small town. And she can't seem to understand anything about him, despite how much she tries.
​Nari hates everything about her life, except for her best friend Rydan, but now that they've been separated during their senior year of high school, she has to learn to make new friends without him. When strange, unexplainable phenomena start becoming an every day part of her life, Nari struggles to come to grips with reality. And with love.

~
​
Naminé has responsibilities. Duties. It is her obligation to fulfill all that is asked of her by their King. But when a glimmer of hope is introduced to her by a prisoner she tends to, it means life or death for her and her people. She does all that she can to turn that hope into reality, and finally end the vicious war that has been ensuing since she was born. Even if that means keeping it secret from her King. Even if it means carrying out the biggest betrayal against the King ever seen during her time.
​
She has hope. She will fulfill her duty. She will not let her people down.

Sweet Escape, the second book in the Sweet Series, is coming to you July 25th, 2013!

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Website

My Review

Nariella has a hard life. Hated and beaten by her father she finds solace in the one person that has always been there for her, Rydan. With the knowledge that her best friend will be attending a different school, Nariella accepts the fact that her last year of high school will suck. But with newcomers Zaylie and Desmond her year is looking up and her school year is off to a good start. Then Mycah shows up and throws her life into complete chaos.

Namine lives in fear for her family, for herself and for the kingdom. But there is hope and she is the only one who can bring that hope home. And Namine will do anything to make that happen, even if it means betraying her king.

Sweet Oblivion is a wonderful foundation for what promises to be a 'Sweet' series. (pun totally intended). It is so full of twists and turns that it is almost impossible to see which way Bailey Ardisone is going to take the story next. The story of both the above girls unfolds simultaneously with just enough speed to make you pull out your hair in frustration for not getting the answers you desire. I know at one point I wanted to throttle author Bailey Ardisone for keeping so many secrets from me.

And boy do secrets abound in Sweet Oblivion. Especially when it comes to the tall, dark, and overly mysterious Mycah Condie. But he isn't the only one keeping secrets. It seems that everyone in this story has something they want to keep hidden. Nariella wants to keep her heart hidden, Rydan hides anything personal, Mycah hides...well everything and Namine hides her mission--only the biggest piece of information!

But Mycah's secrets probably wreak the most havoc though. With Mycah's mysterious appearance in Nariella's life not only has she been in more danger then ever before, both physically and emotionally, but Mycah and his mysterious ways are putting a rift between her and her best friend.

Despite all the secrets Mycah is hiding, Nariella is thinking about ditching her life rule, never fall for a boy, ever! She is also thinking about opening herself up to him in a way that she has never done before, but when she goes to share her special place with him her world completely falls apart. Secrets get revealed, lives change and you go what the hell? Did that just freaking happen? And by the time you realize it actually happened it's over, but it has only just begun.

I seriously love the mystery of the entire story. Bailey Ardisone did an excellent job of keeping the truth of what was going on until the very end. As you slowly unraveled the story you couldn't help but fall in love with her characters. Nariella who's life sucks and just wants to get through her senior year, Rydan the mysterious and sexy best friend who is always there for Nariella, to the easy to like Zaylie and Desmond who give the book that needed real feel and of course the always mysterious, sexy and dangerous Mycah; that can't help but fall for the girl he swore to stay away from, a girl he can't stop saving. Each of the characters in this story has something for you to like and it is easy to fall in love with all of them. And to add a couple *cough* Mycah and Rydan *cough* to your book boyfriend list! ;)

I like to think of Sweet Oblivion as leaving a trail of breadcrumbs to awesome things to come. Each of the secrets held, lies told, and mysterious and unexplained things is just one more crumb that will lead you on a twisty, suspenseful, lovable, and sweet thrill ride with many more incredible things in the wings.

"Is this becoming a habit? You rescuing me?" I breathed. He grinned at the ground, a gesture I found completely adorable and endearing. But then he slowly looked up into my eyes, smile melting away, and said, "I think it's more of an addiction." (kindle, loc. 1644). 

This right there is just one of the reasons that Mycah got added to my book boyfriend list. Seriously swoon worthy! 

Book Boyfriends

Book boyfriends. We all have them. We all love them and we all will fight for them if it comes to it. (Or over them) Earlier this evening I was discussing book boyfriends with one of my friends when she told me that I could have one of my book boyfriends all to myself because she had found a new one. And that got me thinking....do you get rid of book boyfriends once you find a new one or do you just add them to the list?

I realized today that I have a running list of book boyfriends. Sure I could never possibly name them all but I can definitely name my top ten, but don't make me do it. Because once I create that list I will kick myself in the pants for not putting one over another and I will constantly second guess my choices. (Don't judge me) But there are just too many drool worthy and list worthy book boyfriends out there to not fret over choices. *Stares at the internet* You know I'm right. 

And that brings me to my next question...how many book boyfriends is too many? Or is there such a thing as too many? 

Cause I'm thinking that I add a book boyfriend with every series I fall in love with. Which let's be honest is quite a lot. Seriously, there are just so many book boyfriends out there that deserve to be on the list. Please tell me I'm not alone? 

I will be the first to admit, that I got a problem. "Hello, my name is Danielle and I'm a book boyfriend hoarder." *waves shyly* 

Of course there are a gazillion other questions that I can ask with this discussion, but let's save those for another time shall we?! 

Benjamin McTish and the Door Through the Grandfather Tree {Book Blast}

Book Info-

Title- Benjamin McTish and the Door Through the Grandfather Tree

Series- Book  #1

By- June M. Pace

Genre-  YA/Fantasy

Blurb-

It’s Harry Potter meets the Celestine Prophecy in this magical and thrilling ride! The McTish Series is an explosive adventure through a dimensional Gateway into another world, a world of beauty and magic, Coranim...a land of insight, thought and possibilities, that sits beneath the enchanted Gilley Forest.

There is local legend in the small town of Grandlochcheshire that has been passed down for a 100 years about the mysterious disappearance of the Chickering family, that trails on the coat tails of the equally shocking  abduction of the Skeffington Union Rails heirs, Connor and Shelbe. The circumstances that follow this notorious tale enter into the modern world of Benjamin and his two best mates.  

One day Benjamin watches from behind the Rhododendron as a mysterious little woman steps out of a taxi in front of the cream colored house with the forest green trim next door and in one synchronistic moment their eyes lock and a series of visual snippets of unfamiliar events unfold in his mind’s vision. His razor sharp sixth sense allows him the freedom to explore the extrasensory messages coming at him in a frenzied speed, like a derailed freight train.And when Benjamin finds a peculiar old relic of a key in his grandmother’s garden shed, he could never know his world was about to change forever.

Annabel and Mathilda, two sisters who have moved to Grandlochcheshire from America, have become more than mere friends to Benjamin, they have all become the three Muskydeers (Mathilda’s mispronounced version of Musketeers, which was a huge laugh and of course it stuck), as they are plunged head first into this curious journey.  

In the Gilley Forest they discover that the path they have chosen is inundated with many obstacles as well as intrigue.  Alliances are made with the Forest clan of Gnomes known as the Set, and with the aid of the Vila sisters, Sethina and Morel, as well as some surprising and unexpected allegiances, the three friends take on the test that is the Grandfather Tree.  They must stay on the pre ordained Path of prophecy, portended by the ancient seer Pajah Set, whose ancestry comes from the home of the oldest living beings on the planet, the Elves of the Darmon    However, this is no easy task for the Muskydeers as they have the foulest of sorcery hunting their every move, the powerful dark beauty known to all as Tar Vigorn.

This ruthless Queen is not without humor however, and loves a good game of cat and mouse, as long as she’s the cat. With her biting sense of sarcasm and calculated taunting, she knows just how to unnerve the young Benjamin. Her phantom army known as the Blunt are searching for a way into the Grand Tree and will stop at nothing to infiltrate the pristine world beneath his giant roots.

Once in Coranim the children make the acquaintance of the greatest Medicine Elder alive, Esmerelda Fet.  A most powerful Light Sorceress with a brazen in your face attitude and a thick Irish brogue, who guides the trio on their Path of destiny.  “All tings be possible ya wee chil’ren, if’en ya put yer mind to it!  Thar be nothin ya can’t accomplish.  Ya just need ta be placin all yer carage inta tha middle of yer core whar yer Spirit shines...an ya can do anythin! Ha!”

Filled with many wonders, and home to the Fet clan of Gnomes, Coranim is a magical world of art, sound, thought, invention and discovery....and home to the World Library of Identity, with none other than Dunston Tibbitts at the helm.  Every being on the planet has a book dedicated to the entirety of their lives.  Dunston reports to Benjamin, “according to what I see here now, this very minute, whatever it is that you are seeking will show itself today and change your Path immediately.  It will put you into a whole new dynamic as they say.”

What could alter the overpowering trajectory Benjamin has followed to Coranim?  How will it change his life?Find out as our three heroes delve into the mystic, as well as their own inner character, as you watch from the edge of your seat.

Book Two, Benjamin Mctish and the Wizards of Coranim, coming 2013

Review: Shadow of Wrath by L.W. Patricks

Synopsis:

In the Arena, you're either a killer or a victim.

If survival meant murdering an innocent person in cold blood every week, could you do it? Are you able to stick the knife into your opponent's heart while they look at you with fear in their eyes? Life in the Arena turns everyone into sinners.

When a starving and homeless boy is kidnapped and brought to a modern-day gladiator arena, hidden deep within the abandoned city of Bimini, he is forced to fight for his life. The crude death matches are a source of enjoyment for Ryker, who resides over the Arena as its vicious master. Given the name Dog, the street boy must find a way to survive, even if it means murdering other innocent kids in combat at the expense of his humanity. With every dead body he leaves behind in the pit, the blood and the violence threatens to wake a beast inside him.

Allegra, a slave girl in the pits and a victim of Ryker's constant abuse, is his only key to salvation. She has lost everything already -- her family, her innocence, and her dignity -- while her will to live hangs on by a thin thread. Can she save Dog's humanity before she too succumbs to the horrors of the Arena? With death casting it's long shadow over everyone, how can anyone survive?

A tale about survival, tragedy, and human perseverance, SHADOW OF WRATH allows us a glimpse into the world of the Sins of the 7.

If you love Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner, you'll love SHADOW OF WRATH.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website

My Review

Okay, I am just going to dive right in with this one. 

Wow, wow, WOW! To say that Shadow of Wrath shocked the hell out of me would be the understatement of the year! Let me see if I can explain some of this.

First, you have Dog, yes that is his name; a boy stolen from the streets forced into a life of fighting. But fighting is nothing new for Dog. He lives on the streets where he fights for his life every day. So, when he show's up in Ryker's arena he does what he has to do, he fights. Dog is unlike any fighter that has ever appeared in the arena. He is quick, lethal and absolutely remorseless. His motto: kill them, before they kill me. His parting gift to his opponents: A quick death. That is all he can give them. 

Second, you have Allegra, a slave girl and acting doctor who endures Ryker's abuse and sexual advancements in the hopes of keeping herself and the boys alive. She knows where her future is--it is as a sex slave. When she is old enough she knows that Ryker will sell her to the highest bidder, solidifying her fate and her future. 

Thrid, you have Ryker, the abuser, the dictator, the evil spawn of satan--however you choose to look at him; that snatches boys off the streets and brings them to his arena where they put on a show of death for paying customers. Because to Ryker, that's what this is, a show. Everyone fights and everyone fights to the death. If you win, you get to eat and you get rewarded with a tattoo to symbolize your win. Forever emblazing your heinous act on your body. There is no escape and there is only one rule: Fight or Die! 

When Dog enters Ryker's Gladiator style arena, he instantly becomes a sensation for his ruthless killing and soon he finds himself Ryker's champion. He is undefeated, cold and heartless. Or so it seems. But every night Dog is haunted by the ghosts of the boys he kills and every night he is haunted with the fact that he has to go out and do it again. But Dog is smart and cunning and soon Ryker struggles to control his champion as Dog lashes out and begins to weaken the hold that Ryker has on his arena. 

Soon things are in disarray and all hell breaks loose. And what happens when all is said and done will take a part of your soul. L.W. Patricks will have you in tears and in so much shock that you won't even know if you will be able to go on. I know I wondered if I could. It is not everyday that an author does what L.W. Patricks did in Shadow of Wrath.

Shadow of Wrath is literally the story of the underdog. It is a brutal, raw and incredibly powerful read. It will have you gaping in horror, shock, sadness, and disbelief, but it also will make you cheer and shout out hell yeah! I never saw the ending coming and I can't wait to see what else L.W. Patricks has in store. 

"There's no dignity in that name," Jacob protested. "I'll give it dignity," Dog said. (Kindle, loc. 896).

I know it seems odd that I wold pick a moment like this, but the reason I did is because I think that this brief moment really shows what kind of person Dog really is and what kind of champion he will become!

Surrender {The Ferryman & The Flame #1} Book Blitz

Title: Surrender

Series: The Ferryman + The Flame #1

By: Rhiannon Paille

Published: October 2nd, 2012 by Createspace

Genre: New Adult Fantasy/Romance

How far would you go to save everything you ever loved?

Kaliel was warned about her love for the Ferryman. One day he will marry the land and leave Avristar forever. She doesn't listen, and because of what she is-- a Flame-- one of nine apocalyptic weapons, she sparks a war. In a desperate attempt to save her home and her love, Kaliel tries to awaken Avred, not knowing she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

Review: Forever Changed by Tiffany King

Synopsis

Kassandra Cole has it all—a stable home with great parents, popularity and all the friends she could ever need. She is used to a lifestyle where everything comes easy to her, from good grades to being captain of the cheerleading squad.

Her entire world is shaken to the core when a fatal accident takes her father, causing Kassandra to re-examine the course her life was on. The actions of one individual forever changes her life, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her broken family. Kassandra begins to question everything she once cherished and the people she disappointed along the way.

Maddon Johnson’s life is as different from Kassandra’s as night and day. Abandoned by his mother at a young age, he is left to deal with his abusive, alcoholic father on his own. He has one goal: lay low and get the heck out of dodge as soon as he is legally old enough.

Everything changes when his father’s tragic actions send Maddon crashing into Kassandra’s world. Suddenly, getting away is the last thing he wants as he discovers it is possible to believe in love after all.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Website

My Review

Kassandra's world has come to a crashing halt. Her father passed away, her little sister is in shock and has gone mute and her mother is a ghost of her former self. With the realization that things will never be the same, Kassandra faces who she was and decides who it is she really wants to be. 

Life for Kassandra starts off incredibly bleak in Forever Changed. The first couple of chapters are so full of sorrow and pain that it actually made it hard for me to read. This book hit a little close to home for me and brought me back to a time when I felt a lot of Kassandra's pain. Losing a parent is never easy and author Tiffany King does an excellent job in depicting the grief that Kassandra and her family are going through. It was so real and so raw I had to put the book down a couple of times as I was already in tears a few pages in. 

But as the story progresses we begin to see a glimmer of hope shine through. As little by little Kassandra slowly puts the pieces of her life back together, but things aren't all rainbows and happiness once she has accepted the fact of what her life has become. Oh no, her life is far from it. Those she thought would be there for her suddenly aren't and suddenly she is dealing with not only the loss of her father, but of those she once called friends. With so many things going wrong for Kassandra it is amazing that she didn't become a complete shell and hide under a rock. Okay, so maybe she was a shell, but she pushed on, putting on that brave face for her little sister each and every day. 

Kassandra's life went from happiness and sunshine, cheerleading and friends, to pain and sorrow, lonliness and grief; in the blink of an eye. Enter Maddon, the son of the man responsible for killing Kassandra's father and you have the recipe for an explosive story! And that's exactly what happens once Maddon enters the scene. Suddenly Maddon becomes the target of all of Kassandra's anger and pain, but Maddon understands a thing or two about anger and pain. After living with the two as siblings his entire life Maddon has learned to accept the things that life throws at him and channel it into something more soothing--music!

I absolutely adored all the characters in Forever Changed. Tiffany King does such a great job helping you connect with her characters, making them as real as any person you would find at the local high school. Forever Changed is amazingly beautiful and will have you so lost in the story of Kassandra that you won't even notice time slipping by until you have finished the story. Tiffany King has the amazing ability to bring out all your emotions as a reader. She uses each one to build a story about life that can be related to by almost anybody.

Make sure you pick up this raw beauty and fall in love with way that Tiffany King weaves a story!

"She was like a leaf in the wind that just slowly floated away." (kindle, loc. 772)                                                                                               

I picked this moment to share because of the sheer beauty and rawness of this statement. It really gives you insight into Kassandra's pain. 

Free eRead-a-thon Sign Ups

Grab Me

The time has come to sign up for the first ever Free eRead-a-thon!!! Are you excited? I know I am. 

What exactly is a sign up? Easy. This is where you create a post stating your intention to join us on the first ever Free eRead-a-thon August 11-17th. Easy. Peasy.

And to make it even easier, we have created a blurb that you can use in your post. Now it doesn't get much easier than that. Grab the blurb below and the button above and put in a post: (This is not where you state your goals, that will come at the beginning of the read-a-thon) *Please note that this blurb is based on the blurb from the Bout of Books Read-a-thon. You can check that out here: Bout of Books (they have a great read-a-thon, make sure you check it out!)

I'm joining in on the freebie fun with the first ever Free eRead-a-thon!!! The Free eRead-a-thon is organized by Danielle @ Consuming Worlds and Jessica @ Literary, etc and is a week long event that starts at Midnight on August 11th and runs until 11:59 p.m. August 17th in your time zone. The idea behind this is to read those free books that we all seem to download, but never read. No pressure! Read as many or as few books as you want. There will be prizes, 3 challenges, 2 Twitter Chats and a Grand Prize! Won't you join us for some Free reading fun?

For an example of a sign up post stop by Literary, etc and see Jessica's post. Literary, etc Sign Up Post

Now that you have copied the blurb and grabbed the official button, make sure you link up at the bottom of this post.

If you are participating through Facebook or Goodreads just put a direct link to your post with your intentions. (Not a link to your profile, just a link to the post)

Notice: In order to be officially signed up, you must link a direct link to your post stating your intention to participate. 

It is always fun to see where everyone is from when participating in events like these. So, if you could please put your location on the same line as your name when you link up. Of course, this is totally optional.

For more information make sure you stop by both Consuming Worlds and Literary, etc. You can find any information regarding the read-a-thon on the sidebar of Consuming Worlds. 

Free eRead-a-thon Sign-Up Post

I'm joining in on the freebie fun with the first ever Free eRead-a-thon!!! The Free eRead-a-thon is organized by Danielle @ Consuming Worlds and Jessica @ Literary, etc and is a week long event that starts at Midnight on August 11th and runs until 11:59 p.m. August 17th in your time zone. The idea behind this is to read those free books that we all seem to download, but never read. No pressure! Read as many or as few books as you want. There will be prizes, 3 challenges, 2 Twitter Chats and a Grand Prize! Won't you join us for some Free reading fun?

This is going to be super exciting guys! I hope you all join us! 

Quick Review: Romancing the R.A. by Ashelyn Drake

*won a free copy from Ashelyn Drake

Synopsis

Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl.

And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.

But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Website

My Review

Noelle is ready to leave high school behind and everything that goes with it, except for her best friend Julia that is. As their first year of college looms Noelle and Julia attend freshman orientation where Noelle more than catches the eye of a hot guy. Not sure if this guy is a teacher, a player, or really interested; Noelle decides to throw caution to the wind and take a chance. After all this could be the last time she sees him. 

Noelle takes the chance and dives feet first into what will turn out to be a fun and heartfelt, whirlwind romance. In Romancing the R.A. we are literally taken on a fast journey through college love. We are given just enough details about each of the characters to make us want more of them. With the same being said of the story. It is short, but gives you just enough to appease the thirst for a quick read, while feeding your hunger for more.

Ashelyn Drake does a great job of giving the reader a story they can get lost in, one that allows you to forget about the world and all that surrounds you, even if it is for a short time. Sure I wish this story were longer, but that doesn't mean that I didn't absolute love the story and wouldn't recommend it. In fact, I highly recommend this read. It was great fun. I laughed, I swooned, and I awed a hundred times in this book.

Romancing the R.A. is a fast paced novella that will catch you in its love net and have you falling for the swoon worthy R.A., Andy in seconds flat. Need that quick read to quench your thirst? Then this is the book for you. Quick and swoonalicious!

"Melinda, you're seriously messed up. Andy doesn't let anyone hang all over him." He smirks. "You should know that. He's turned you away enough." (kindle, loc. 1047)

I love this part of the book, it gives me happiness to see the popular snotty girl be put in place. Plus he does it with style, how can you not like that!

Review: Ethereal Fury (Gemini Rising #1) by Jessica O'Gorek

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis

BEWARE! THE PLANET IS WOUNDED... THE GEMINI ARE RISING AND OUR TIME ON EARTH IS LIMITED

Angry at the human race and its methodical destruction of her resources, Mother Earth recruits souls who have just left their bodies to serve Her, and turns them against humanity. Gemini, a clan of paranormal beings, picked from these possessed humans, emerges. A powerful, rising force proceeds to carry out Mother Nature’s plan to systematically destroy towns, cities, states… and eventually, the world. Amidst the chaos, a forbidden relationship between a human girl, Violette, and Onyx, a lead Gemini, begins. They will both find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war that will either save, or destroy our world.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website

My Review

Humans are destroying earth, one catastrophe at a time, and Mother Earth has had enough. Fed up with all the destruction the human race is wreaking on the planet she has set out to destroy them. How exactly does she plan on doing that? By recruiting some of the very souls that helped destroy it in the first place. With their memories wiped and their new mission accepted they become apart of the Gemini. Powerful beings that will rid the earth of humans, all humans. But for Onyx a lead Gemini, the idea of destroying all humans becomes a struggle when Violette graces his path. Now he struggles with himself, his race and everything he has been trained to do.

From the minute you pick up Ethereal Fury you instantly know you are in for a totally different kind of read. Jessica O'Gorek gives us a totally different side of Mother Earth. One that I have to say I would be frightened to face. But really how many people haven't thought about what it would be like if Mother Earth took her revenge. And with Jessica O'Gorek's Ethereal Fury we get to see her wicked, wicked revenge.

In Ethereal Fury we get a brief glimpse into the kind of man that Onyx was before his recruitment into the Gemini army and let's face it, he is not a good man. And one would think he even deserved what he got. I know I did. Then his memories are wiped and he is just Onyx. And with his memories gone he becomes a cold and heartless killing machine. But when the Gemini decide to try and take out a large church they are met with a resistance they have never seen before.

Suddenly the Gemini are meeting resistance and they discover that the humans are learning how to fight them. But for Onyx his resistance came in the form of the 16 year old Violette. An orphan living at the church, with the voice of an angel suddenly has Onyx rethinking everything he has ever thought about the human race and everything he ever thought about himself.

I loved the way that Jessica O'Gorek unfolded this story. Ehtereal Fury starts off harsh and is full of jagged edges. And by the time the story is unfolded the jagged edges have been smoothed some and we see hope and the possibility of more shine through.

Ethereal Fury offers up a story that's full of darkness, revenge, hope, love, and suspense and will take you right to the edge of wanting Mother Earth to win her war and wanting the humans to stand victorious. One thing is certain, Ethereal Fury will definitely leaving you wanting more.

"An angel he was not, but a guardian he could be." (kindle, p. 159).

First of all I absolutely love this quote from Onyx. I chose this moment because it is right at the height of when Onyx is seriously questioning himself. A war rages within him, yet he still finds moments to be like this.

Review: ReAwakened by Ada Adams

*Won a free copy 

Synopsis

Becoming a vampire guardian was Dawn Fairchild’s ticket out of the Scarlet House. Fresh off a successful mission, life in Angel Creek should have been great. But when her sort-of-maybe-boyfriend, Sebastian, disappears on a quest to help a beautiful vampire from his past, Dawn finds herself amidst a web of danger, lies, and deceit.

Joining forces with Razor, an enigmatic rebel lacking both a verbal and a physical filter, and her band of Misfits—Brooke, Sophie, Hunter, and Seth—Dawn is thrust into a race against the clock to solve the mystery surrounding brutal Born kidnappings and come to terms with the sudden discovery of her own unique powers. With time ticking away and Born vampires’ lives in jeopardy, it quickly becomes evident that someone—or something—desperately wants Dawn and is willing to shed any amount of blood to get her.

Dawn has only one chance to face her demons and overcome all obstacles standing in her way as she embarks on the biggest mission of her life—one that threatens a deadly outcome for all involved.

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My Review

Dawn and her team have completed their first mission. But the casualties of that mission still haunt Dawn. The team tries to pull her out of it, but to no avail. Then she learns that Born vampires are going missing and that no one seems to be doing anything about it. And when Sebastian goes missing, Dawn takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of the missing Born. Only she discovers something a lot more sinister is going on and that someone wants her.

In ReAwakened Dawn's team of misfits is thrown into a mission that will put all their lives in danger. Because something sinister is hunting Dawn and will do anything to get their hands on her, even if it means torturing and killing everyone she cares about. This time around Dawn's team is a little more prepared for what they are about to face and are finally starting to look and act like true guardians of Angel Creek.

Each member of the team has shown significant growth since they were first found by Dawn, with each of them finding what they are good at and developing it so that they can form a stronger team. And as Dawn mourns for her loss the team does a great job holding things together and trying to help her pick up the pieces. They are ready to charge into battle to protect each other and their town.

Of course I love all the characters in this series, with Sebastian being my favorite, but along with a new mission comes a new character, and I have to say that I am loving the addition of Razor to the story. Razor is dangerous, carefree, fun, suave and sexy as hell, and the best part is.....he's Sebastian's brother! Eep! There are two incredibly sexy as hell vampires in Angel Creek. I think I just died and went to heaven. They are the perfect pair. Where Sebastian is debonair, Razor is snarky. Where Sebastian is conservative, Razor is brash. They are like yin and yang, light and dark and all kinds of deliciousness. The addition of Razor was a great move on author Ada Adams part and I really can't wait to see where she takes it next.

I love Dawn too. I mean who doesn't love a strong female character that can kick your butt up one side of the mountain and down the other. Dawn is strong, loyal, caring, and one heck of a leader. She will do anything for those she has sworn to protect, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice.

Besides having incredibly sexy characters, Ada Adams gives us an incredible story that sinks it's fangs in you the minute you pick it up. ReAwakened really brings us everything you can possibly want from a vampire story: great action, danger, suspense, humor, mystery, love, and of course awesome vamps.

ReAwakened  gives us new villains to hate, new people to like or dislike and takes us on one heck of a twisty ride, delivering shock after shock! And let me warn you now, the ending will literally make you stop breathing, cry uncontrollably and stare at your kindle like it just grew a head. Now don't say I didn't warn you. Shocking ending aside, ReAwakened is a must read, and if you are a fan of The Vampire Diaries then you have to start this story.

"Oh come on, Razor Boy and Dagger Girl--it's brilliant! We're like an old-school crime-fighting team. Fighting evil, one bad guy at a time." (kindle, loc. 1523).

This is just one example of Razor's personality. He really adds that little spice to the story!

Indie vs. Mass Produced

The other day I was talking with my sister and she asked me what mystery books she should look for the next time she went to the local used bookstore, I paused and in that moment I realized that I couldn't recommend any to her. But not because I didn't know any good mystery books she would like, but because I haven't read any mass produced mystery books in quite a while.

Now allow me to clarify something here. By mass produced I mean those lovely little paperbacks that we can so readily get our hands on by walking into our neighborhood bookstore or whatever brick and mortar place you buy books. By Indie I mean any book that you can't get your little hands on by walking into one of the said above locations. This could be any books that are self published or even published by small publishers. Either way you can't get your hands on a paperback instantly. (I know that is pretty vague, but that's how I see things).

And that got me thinking about my book choices. Before I got a kindle and discovered the amazing world of Indie books I read 100% mass produced books. Naturally, that was my only option at that point. When I first got my kindle I probably read 75% mass produced books and 25% Indie.

Now a little over a year later I realized that I probably read 90% Indie and 10% mass produced. And that totally took me by surprise.

Well not by total surprise I knew it was happening, I knew that I was physically reading less mass produced books as I still have a ton of them on my shelf sitting unread. Now it's not that I don't like to read mass produced books, cause I do. It's just that it seems I pay less and less attention to them the longer I am a blogger and the more I get to know the world of Indie (and all it entails).

I think it is really fascinating how a person can go from one end of the spectrum to the other in a year. I think it is time for me to make a bigger attempt at reading some more mass produced books. (I tell myself that, but will I actually do it is the question) Well I guess only time will tell.

So what is your reading like? Do you tend to lean towards one more than the other? Split pretty evenly or really don't pay attention?

Sit down sometime and take a look at what you read, it just might surprise you. I know it did me.