Awakened Blog Tour Stop: Character Interview+Review+Giveaway

Hello! Happy Monday and welcome to my stop on the Awakened Blog Tour! I am really excited to be apart of this tour. The Few Are Angels series is a series I recently discovered thanks to Facebook and a fellow author, and now I am totally hooked to the great world and characters that author Inger Inversen has created. And today I get to interview one of my favorite characters from the series, Kale, total Swoon! Enough from me, let's get on with my stop!

Danielle: Obviously, becoming a Chorý wasn’t what you and Helene had planned, but how has being a Chorý changed things for you? And will you ever accept being one?

Kale: In a way I think I have accepted it. I have accepted it as punishment for not being able to save Hélène as I promised her I would.

D: How hard is it for you to be torn away from the Arc time after time? Do you think you will ever be fully reunited with her?

K: At one point I hoped that I would never see the Arc again. I knew she would look and be nothing like Hélène, but when I look in Ella’s eyes I see her soul.  Hélène came to me in a dream and told me that it was time to move on. I thought to deny her, but I couldn’t, we are soul mates and while sometimes I wonder if I even have a soul, I can’t refute the longing inside of me. The need to near Ella, to touch a place in her heart that no one else has touched. My only fear is that my love will harm her and deny her the life she deserves.

D: How have you managed to control your bloodlust after all this time?

K: My current blackouts are proof that I am not in control of my bloodlust as I once thought I was. Before the blackouts I learned to deal with the hunger— to forbid it to take control. I think I was a fool, it has always in been control biding its time and waiting for me to be at my weakest.

D: What makes you different than all the other Chorý?

K: Sadly, I am no different than the rest.  One day, I will fall to the bloodlust and become a true vampire reliant solely on human blood.

D: Obviously there is a lot of bad blood between the Chorý and the Council, but it seems that there are some deeper issues there, especially with Jace, what are they?

K: From what I have learned of Jace’s past, his father was infected in Belarus and he watched as his father killed his mother and siblings. He is dead set on eradicating all Chorý because of this. Also, Jace and another High Guardian of the Council were assigned to kill me. They failed, Jace was left with a nasty scar above his eye, a reminder that I will not fall so easily.

D: It is obvious you have a deep rooted devotion to the Arc, how have you kept that love and devotion strong through the ages?

K: Well, I am no virgin, but my heart will always belong to the Arc. No woman compared to the Arc, so I stopped looking long ago. I have learned that love is undying and your heart will always  remember true love.

D: What advice would you give to a couple as in love as you were with Helene?

K: Cherish every moment you have together.

D: If you could tell Ella anything, what would it be?

K: Stop making such rash decisions! You are killing me here! Love, Kale.

D: If you could give up being a Chorý would you?

K: Yes. I’d give anything to feel my heart beat again.

D: If the only way to keep Ella safe was to let Jace and the Council protect her, could you let her go?

K: I am selfish. Because I want to say no. I want to say that I am the only one who can keep her safe, but I think I’d be lying to myself. I love her and I have died for her, but I do not believe I have the strength to let her go again. 

What must he overcome to protect her?


With no clue of what to do next and the responsibility of looking after Alex and Mia as promised, Kale is up to his ears in problems and no solutions. How will Kale save Ella, keep Alex and Mia safe, control Jace as well as control the Bloodlust that creeps beneath the surface waiting to be released? Will Kale be Ella’s savior or will he convict her to a fate worse than the one Laurent has already promised her?


What truths will she learn?

 Ella knows that the choices she makes affects not only her but everyone else around her, but what about the choices made to find her? Ella learns the truth about the death of her parents, learns that the ones she thought she could trust aren’t so trustworthy after all.
 How will Ella handle these betrayals, and will she be able to sacrifice what is necessary to obtain eternal life?

*Received free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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

My Review:

In Awakened, part 2 of the Few Are Angels series, Ella is gone and Kale will do anything to get her back, even if it means working with his mortal enemy, Jace. But how is Kale going to do that while keeping Mia and Alex safe all while keeping his bloodlust under control? 

In book 1, Few Are Angels, I fell in love with Ella, her strength and stubbornness after all that happened in her life really helped me connect with her and in Awakened I fell even more in love with her. As she was being held captive I really got to see how deep her heart truly was, as she made attempts to see her captives as more than just the enemy. When most people would have crumbled and freaked over their situation Ella continued to look for a way out, a way to get back to those that she loved. 

And Kale, he continued to blow me away, as he continually showed his never ending love and devotion for Ella. In Awakened Kale really shows us how far he is willing to go to keep Ella safe, from everyone; including himself. All the fans of this series knew that bloodlust was going to become an issue for Kale, and I would love to tell you that it didn't, but it did. And it broke my heart. I would love nothing more than for Kale to conquer his bloodlust, Laurent, and the council and just sweep Ella off her feet, but I can't tell you that if that happened. And I can't tell you if it didn't. You will have to read the book and find out for yourself.

But I can tell you that there is a lot going on in this book and we get to see the story from many different points of view. Though I did enjoy seeing the story from multiple angles, I think that 5 points of view is just a couple too many. I think that this story would have been just as good, if not better told from just Kale, Ella and Jace's points of view. However, I did enjoy getting to see what drove each character as the story was told from their point of view. 

I have to say that Alex's point of view shocked me and Jace's often frustrated me. I am still not sure if Jace can be trusted, I find that I lean more and more towards Kale side and his ideas the more I get to know Jace. And don't even get me started on the council! 

I love Inger Iversen's spin on immortals and vampires, or chory, as they are called in the series and her idea of the Arc. When I finished reading Awakened I think I had more questions than answers, more concerns, and more cracks in my heart. Inger Iversen is doing such a wonderful job of telling the story that is the Arc and destroying my patience and heart along with it. I can't wait to get my hands on Immortal Heart!

So, if you like vampires or immortals, then this is a series that you absolutely must read!

"You. I've always wanted you, but I also want you to be happy, Ella. I want you to have a life you deserve, and I don't know if that includes me." (kindle, loc. 2780).

Of course this moment is from Kale, I love Kale, and I think this moment really gives us an idea of what he is willing to do for Ella.

About the Author

Inger Iversen lives in Virginia Beach with her tree-hugging boyfriend Joshua and her overweight lap cat Max. When not reading or writing she spends her time watching reruns of True Blood or killing zombies in Call Of Duty.

Stalk Her: Twitter | Goodreads | Website | Facebook

Giveaway

Author is giving away-

ebook copy of Few Are Angels by Inger Iversen

ebook copy of The Reborn: The Book of Dain by Casse NaRome

Few Are Angels Keychain

12 character stickers

5 bookmarks

1 signed print copy of Awakened

3 Immortal Heart magnets

Enter Below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Character Time #9: Dante Walker

So what is Character Time? Character Time is a bi-weekly feature created by Danielle at Consuming Worlds to spotlight favorite characters. The next Character Time will be on April 21st.

The idea of Character Time is to spotlight a character from either a book you are currently reading or a book that you have read in the past. You can either love this character, hate them, loathe them, like them or any of the other feelings one may have. You then write a post spotlighting this character. Why you love, hate, loathe, or whatever them and why? This can include links, pictures or whatever you need to explain why you feel the way you feel. 

Note: These characters can be any characters, i.e., main characters, hero/heroine, villain, creature and so on.

If you need any help here are the Character Time's I have done in the past (before I created the feature): Character Time Posts

<a href="http://yellsworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8593364089_95ef7e16c5_o.png" alt="Character Time" width="350" height="250" border="0" /></a>

Want to participate? Then just add your name and URL in the Linky below and grab the badge!

Dante Walker from Victoria Scott

In honor of Dante's big release this week and in honor of me finally getting my hands on Dante, I decided to make him my choice for Character Time this week! I mean really, was there any other choice? Um, NO!

So what do we know about Dante? We know that he is smokin' hot, snarky, a true bad-a**, smooth as butter, the best collector this side of hell, and he is the devil's right hand man. He is fiercely dedicated to both his job and his friends, he loves a good laugh, knows how to have fun and will do anything to get the job done. 

Now allow me to tell you a few things that you may not know about this sexy soul collector. Under that hard and rugged exterior lies the heart of a man who just wants to be loved and accepted, a man who holds on to his past like it is his last drink of water. Who holds his pain close, keeping it as his cross to bear. He wants to protect all that he holds dear, always knows just what to say, and could steal the heart of any girl who looked his way, okay maybe you did know that, but he is also sweet, kind-hearted, and gentle.

Dante is that guy that you would do anything for, the guy who once he found that special someone would do anything for them. Despite being the devil's right hand man, Dante is full of light and love, he is just waiting for someone to unlock it all. There is goodness there deep within his soul, you get a glimpse of it in The Collector, but I want more than a glimpse. 

Dante is every girl's fantasy, every man's nightmare and the devil's go to guy! If he ever showed up in my town I would gladly let him take my soul!

If you haven't already introduced yourself to this fine specimen, make sure you do so, you definitely won't regret it.

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author Website

So, do you have a character that you would like to spotlight? 

Review: The Goddess's Choice by Jamie Marchant

*Cover and Synopsis from Goodreads

Synopsis:

Samantha's ability enables her to discern a person's character through their multi-colored aura, and Robrek's makes him the strongest healer the kingdom has seen in centuries. But their gifts also endanger their lives. Royals scheme to usurp the throne by marrying or killing Samantha, and priests plot to burn Robrek at the stake. Robrek escapes the priests only to be captured by Samantha's arch-enemy, Duke Argblutal; Argblutal intends to force the princess to marry him by exploiting Robrek's powers. To save their own lives and stop the realm from sinking into civil war, Robrek and Samantha must consolidate their powers and unite the people behind them.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Webiste

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

My Review:

Robbie thinks he is a demon. He can heal, hear and sense animals, especially their pain. His entire life he was raised to believe he was a demon, the town is afraid of him, the servants are afraid of him, heck even his own family is afraid of him. Samantha is a Princess who can read people's auroras. Both of them have their problems and both of them are in danger, and the kingdom is in disarray. As they both struggle to survive they discover they are the key to saving them all.

As soon as I picked up The Goddess's Choice I was immediately attached to one of the main characters, Robbie. The way he is introduced into to the story is heart breaking and sets the tone for all the things that unfold in this deep tale. You know that this story will be full of pain and heartache, and you just hope that there is that silver lining, hint: there is. Robbie is one of those characters that continually surprises you as he grows and develops. He is the character you want to rescue and protect like a mother as many times he fights for his life. 

And Samantha is an amazingly strong female character who manages to command the attention of everyone as she often takes over the story when she is on the page. I was pleased to see her presented as such a strong willed character. Samantha is a character that will continually surprise you and is one that you will root for over and over. But really all the characters in The Goddess's Choice were fabulous and just added another layer to the already elaborate weaving.

As you read The Goddess's Choice, it is like reading two stories in one as the stories of both main characters, Robbie and Samantha, are told simultaneously. But the way that Jamie Marchant does it makes the story seamless as the story lines cross paths from time to time, until finally their paths meet and become one, at which point you know things are about to get serious!

From the characters to the story, Jamie Marchant gives you just enough information to keep you thirsty for more as she weaves the story like a master. There is so much going on in this story, it is deep and elaborate and will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat until the very end. With all that is going on in this tale I am afraid of revealing too much, but I can tell you that I can't wait to read what is in store for the rest of this series! I loved the characters, enjoyed the writing and ate up every detail of the story! 

"It was a choice between emptiness and joy, between sorrow and love, between destruction and fulfillment." (kindle, loc. 6567).

There are a lot of great moments in this book, but unfortunately many of them give away good stuff. But this one, really shows Robbie's true strength as he faces tough decisions that could destroy him. 

Forsaken Blog Tour: GuestPost + Giveaway {Updated}

Welcome to my stop on the Forsaken Blog Tour! Toady I am happy to have the author Heather Fleener stop by and do a guest post!

I am not really a writer…but I play one on the Internet.

I stumbled into writing – as in downsized, unemployed. It was not a career plan.

I am a runner and when I run, I live in a fantasy world.  My brain takes me on fantastic daytrips to avoid the reality of my body shrieking… “You are really doing this to me…again?!?!?!!!!!”  It has been like this since I began running at the age of eight. Back then I immersed myself in the world of super heroes, today it is witches and vamps.  As a result of the cessation of my paycheck, I had ample time to put the stories in my head down on paper (I was blessed to find another job @ 6 months later, but I LOVE the writing so much more).

I published my first book eight months ago and am currently working on my third. I have years of professional growth ahead of me if I am to continue churning out books; however, as a newbie, here are five personal realizations that I can share about my own adventure:

1)      Write what you love, forget about sales.  If you cater to readers solely to sell books, you have already made it into a job.  Where is the fun in that?  If you are blessed enough to spend time every day doing something you are passionate about…Hello Awesomeness!!! 

2)      There are some really mean people out there.  The Internet has given everyone so much anonymity that the filter between brain and mouth (or pecking fingers) has dissipated. Seriously. Be prepared – you are probably going to get hurt and maybe even cry. Behind the veil of the Internet, it has become acceptable to attack you personally in addition to your work. It isn’t right, but it is probably going to happen.  Learn the difference between an opinion that matters and one that you can wave away into the recesses of nonexistence.

3)      The follow-up to that is this – A bad review isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  I have had some bad reviews (and even some harsh, ugly reviews) where, after I process my anger or my hurt, I can actually see the point.  If there is something in that review that I can use to make my writing better – I am going to do that.  So I read, I process, I reflect – I learn what I can and move on.  You’ll also quickly realize the difference between thoughtful critiques (yes, the bad ones) and the snark that you can give the single-fingered salute to – Don’t internalize those, don’t even waste your time giving them a second read. 

4)      Use your Mulligans.  With eBooks and self-publishing, we have the luxury of revision. Don’t think you need to fix everything that is critiqued in your manuscript.  You cannot please everyone. Wait, read, process, reflect and then wait a bit longer.  Collect lots of feedback, let it settle in, and then wait some more. Don’t necessarily cater to the masses, but consider if there is room for improvement.  If there is something in your work that can be improved, DO IT!!!  As Indies, we have that power.  Now, if you release your 180^th edition in 5 months, you might be overanalyzing things just a bit, but seriously, don’t be afraid to fix and edit and tweak when YOU decide that it is the right move for your work. 

5  )  Finally, don’t fret over #2, because there are some really awesome people out there…really (I am a particular fondness for Cedar Rapids, IA).  You are going to love them, and some will even make you cry. I have cried more over good reviews than I have bad ones – and THAT makes it worth it. I adore the people that reach out to me because my books have touched them.  I write for those people because those people are not fans, they are friends. I welcome them with hugs into my world.   

This is not intended to instruct you on the best way to handle your life as an author. These are things I have realized in my own writing career the past 8 months. Give me another year at this and I may come back with a different perspective. I am learning as I go, and I recognize I am going to not get everything right the first time, or even the second time, and sometimes not the third.  I am having great fun though, and in the end, life is too short to live any other way.    

Thanks to my awesome host for letting me hijack some blog space today and thank you for giving me a bit of your time to ramble on and on.

~Heather

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! Make sure you check out the Forsaken Series! 

Buy

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Facebook: Ancients Of Light

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Cover Reveal: NORTHERN BITES, Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter, Vol. 2 by Nikki Jefford

Today I am very happy to announce that I have a cover reveal for you! Of course you all know that I love vampire's......well my love for vampire hunters is no less; and today I am lucky to be able to share with you the cover for the 2nd Volume in Nikki Jefford's Vampire Hunter Series!!! Not only did I absolutely love the first book, but I love this author and am always happy to support her in her endeavors. So without further rambling from me here is the cover........

NORTHERN BITES, Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter, Vol. 2

Synopsis:

Love bites.

Probation sucks.

Thanks to Dante’s recklessness, Aurora is now partners with Valerie: the redheaded, backstabbing vixen.

Dante is in full flirt mode. Fane’s tactics are far more ruthless. Something carnal has awakened in Aurora and neither boy is helping tame her cravings.

When a member of the unit’s team is found dead, Aurora and Valerie are sent after a vampire in Sitka, but Aurora suspects the killer’s much closer to home.

My Thoughts:

First, I have to say that I love the colors of the Aurora Borealis and the Buffy reference with the two female characters posing in true Buffy and Faith fashion! I love strong female leads and I think that this cover puts these girls front and center and shows that these girls aren't going to take crap from anyone! 

ADD it to your TBR: Goodreads

Expected Release Date: June 27, 2013

On SALE: Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter Vol. 1 is on sale for 99 cents until April 7th for Kindle and Nook.

And in true Nikki Jefford fashion there is a GIVEAWAY! And trust me you want to win the awesomeness that is being given away! I know I do, so make sure you enter!

Enter to WIN: Signed Aurora Sky paperback, Blood Bath cherry scented shower gel, and a Blood Transfusion mason jar with straw (US) or an Aurora Sky ebook, 3 winners (INT). Ends soon!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Something to Talk About: 3 Star Reviews

Reviews. We all write them, good or bad, rain or shine, sick or.....okay maybe not when we are sick. But the point is as a book blogger that is sort of what we do, we write reviews and help spread the word about books, why we loved them, why we disliked them or why we just thought the book was meh! We as bloggers are a naturally sharing community and we all want to support authors and just one way we can do that is by writing reviews.

But today I don't want to talk about just any reviews, oh no, today I want to talk about the dreaded 3 Rated Review!!! Ahhhh *pulls hair* yeah that review.

I don't know about you, but when it comes to a book that I liked, but did not love I find writing the review is extra hard. I will sit and agonize over just the right way to express the fact that though I did not love the book, I did like the book.

As a reviewer and reader, I feel that there is a lot of negative connotation when it comes to giving a book a 3. Many people think that because a book is rated a 3 then it isn't worth the read.

And for me that just isn't so. To me a 3 says, that there were both good elements and bad elements about the book. And I don't know about you, but for me the good usually out weighs the bad, otherwise I would have given it a 2. But now I wonder, should I have given the book a 3.5 to convey that the good outweighs the bad or is a 3.5 too high? Ugh!

And don't even get me started over my decision process for how to decide to give a book a 3! We could be here for hours!

This is my agony! For me writing a review for a book I either loved or strongly disliked is far easier than explaining why I liked and disliked a book. These 3 rated reviews are the dreaded reviews, the reviews I bite my nails over.


So what do you think a Rating of 3 means? Do you have a hard time reviewing books that you give a 3? What makes you give a book a 3? And do you read books that have been given a 3?

Character Interview: Charlie and Thane from The Darkest Lie by Angela Day

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday! And it really is a happy Wednesday, because today I have two very special guests on my blog........and if you love dragons, then trust me you are going to want to stick around!!! Because I have been granted special permission from Sanctum (secret government organization) to interview 2 of its specialists. Now before my guests get here I must inform you that all information shared here today is completely top secret and is for your EYES only! Oh and please, be on your best behavior we really don't want to upset our guests, trust me it would not be pretty.....for anyone!

And now that we got all that technical mumbo jumbo out of the way let's bring in my two special guests! *Opens door*

Danielle: Welcome Thane and Charlie! Thank you so much for agreeing to talk with me today. I have to say that I am extremely excited that you agreed to visit me at my little blog. To have two great forces such as yourselves here is rather humbling to say the least! Anyway, please come in and make yourselves comfortable!

Charlie: Dinnae fash yerself about it. It's so nice tae be here with ye, and thank ye fer having the tadpole and me.

Thane: Yes, um, thanks.

D: All right then, let's get started! Thane, when you first discovered you were a dragon, you took it a little hard to say the least. Can you give us a little idea of what was going through your head at the time? I know it has been a while, but I figured discovering one is a dragon is something that a person doesn't forget.

T: Probably not, but it's only happened to me once, so I can't be sure. Um, going through my head? Mostly I was just freaking out, because that stuff isn't supposed to be real. I kind of thought that maybe I was going crazy, which actually helped, because it was easier to deal with the possibility of being a dragon rather than thinking that I'd lost it so completely that I was imagining this whole world of Sanctum.

C: So ye'd rather be a dragon than be off yer head? Hardly canny there, tadpole. Most folk would fair like tae be one of the ancient and mighty without so much scunning.

T: I'm not whining. It's a lot to take in.

D: So, Thane, it has been a little while since you discovered that you were a dragon. Tell us, how does it feel now? Has it really sunk in yet?

T: It's kind of hard to forget, with these <flexing his dragon claws>. But there are times when I feel normal, like in class or when I'm hanging out with Remi. But everyone in Sanctum has something unusual, and wherever you look you're reminded just how different you have to be to be there. It's still hard sometimes when you come face to face with not being the person you always thought you were. And everything keeps changing so fast, it's hard to keep up. Sometimes I feel like I just can't get my feet under me... wait, what was the question?

C: Are ye ready tae accept yer place as a member of the true royalty of this universe and every other?

D: Has being a dragon sunk in yet.

T: Oh. Um, not really, I guess. It isn't something I think about when I think about me, it still feels more like something that happened to me instead of who I am.

D: And Charlie, we all know that you are proud to be a dragon. Can you tell us a little about why that is?

C: Why in the Weaver's good name would I be anything else? I dinnae have the lad's human upbringings. I was born tae be the king of everything I could see, and the only thing with more power than a dragon is two dragons. Our rule was centuries old when the seven crossed over and humans were barely more than mewling whelps. My flesh and blood he may be, but I cannae fash why the tadpole mopes around so much about it. So lass, if ye were even slightly less lovely than ye are I might be offended at ye for even asking.

T: He's teasing. And he's flirting with you. You can ignore him; Remi always does.

C: Yer bum's out the windae!

T: His accent gets thicker when he's upset, too.

C: <glares at Thane> I believe the bonnie lass isnae done with her questions.

D: *Blushes* Don't worry I will ignore it. I always do! Now, I love dragons, and frankly I think shifting into a dragon is one of the coolest things ever. Can you tell us a little about what it means to be a dragon? How does it feel to harness so much power? And I would love to hear from both of you.

C: I dinnae think she'd be so fashed about being one of us, ye ken, tadpole? Being a dragon is a grand sight more than being a huir of a big lizard. It's about power so vast ye cannae see the ending of it, and being a part of a family so old there wasnae a beginning. The Song the universe sings vibrates in yer core, and with it, ye can reshape worlds. Or destroy them.

D: Thane?

T: <after a pause> I saw this movie once where a guy was standing in a big empty room. The floor crumbled away until he was standing on the edge of a huge hole. When he looked down there was a whirlpool that was so loud he couldn't hear anything else and so fast he couldn't even follow it with his eyes. And then the floor underneath his feet gave way. <another pause> Being dragon-blooded is like being that guy when the floor under his feet was shaking, and you don't know if you'll ever come up again after that fall.

D: Wow! That seems like a pretty scary thing! It must be hard having all that power in you just beneath the surface. Charlie, how do you manage to keep your dragon under control? And have you ever wanted to let your dragon loose on the unsuspecting public?

C: I've not just wanted, I have. Where'd ye suppose stories about dragons come from? Ye've been given a temporary clearance from them Sanctum puddocks and a nod's as good as a wink tae a blind horse, so I'll say; there's many a disaster that ye short lived monkeys believes as was natural that was only one of the ancients having hisself a tantrum. As for keeping it under the table, I find ye interesting tae play with and toys as is shaking with fear dinnae bring the same joy. As well as having no interest my ownself in finding out if a nuclear blast would do me. Yer a long time dead, once yer done with living.

D: Charlie, can you tell us a little about what it was like to discover that Thane was related to you?

C: I wasnae expecting a hatchling, that's a certainty. Most as has some dragon in their veins, if it's blue, comes back tae me. But this lad--he's special. I've not met the Shaeling with the potential for power that he has, nor met a human with such a dragon heart. I dinnae ken why he cannae see it, but he's family. 

D: And Thane, can you tell us what it was like to discover that Charlie was like your great-great-great-great grandfather?

T: I'm glad he didn't kill me. The rest of it, the grandpa thing seemed too far back to really make a difference until we talked about it. Even though we're related, it didn't mean anything until we made the choice to be family. I think that's true for everyone.

C: D'ye see what I mean about the lad being special? Growing up hard isnae easy, but pain'll make ye wise or bitter. One's easier than the other.

D: *Nods* I totally see it Charlie. When most people would have crumbled under the pain, Thane rose, stronger than ever! Now, I am pretty sure that everyone wants to know, what in the world is going to happen now that we know who Remi is? Has that changed anything in your relationship with her or with each other?

C: Are ye asking me or the tadpole? I'm pretty sure ye ken how I feel about it all. He's my grander and she's my love. It'll all work out.

T: I don't like that she doesn't know about all this. She isn't going to be happy with either one of us when she finds out that we know. I still think we should tell her who she is.

C: Ye promised, lad. We cannae tell her because knowing something like that robs us of choice. Besides, she's thrawn like a whole clan of womenfolk; she's like tae do the opposite of whatever ye expect just because ye expect it. We have to let her discover what she wants herself.

T: I'm not going to lie to her. She's my best friend.

C: Right then, tadpole, if she asks "Am I the phoenix-souled true love of that gorgeous stallion Charlie?" then ye can tell her aye. Shiny?

T: <eye roll> 

D: Uh, anyway....Sanctum seems like a pretty cool place to go to school. Can you tell us what a typical day is like there? I promise that whatever you tell us, will stay within this blog, this is a very secure little bubble.

T:  A typical day? I haven't been there long, but usually I wake up when Twitch's alarm clock shoots him around seven. Then I try not to shred any of my clothes while I'm getting dressed and head to the cafeteria to eat. I hang out until Remi gets there and go through the line with her and all her friends. Then we have classes, I have Axial Era History and then Physics with Remi and then P.E. on my own. They put me in a starter class with students who don't have a lot of Song access so I won't get injured too much until my Song heals. Then lunch, then Pre-Calc, Programming, Beginner Weapons, and then I signed up for a Theory of Song class. I thought it would be like my AP Music Theory class, but it's totally different. Then a few hours of homework before dinner, and a couple more hours until curfew, although Twitch says they're considering adding a Self-Defense class after dinner.

D: And I take it no other teachers have tried to kill since you started at Sanctum? Despite Sanctum being a rather dangerous place to be, after all you did come close to death on more than one occasion on your short first visit.

C: <laughing>  Tell her.

  

T: <blushing> He didn't try to kill me. It was an accident.

  

C: The hard sciences are not yer friend, tadpole.

D: Now you have to tell us. What happened?

T: We were doing an experiment about the third law of motion, the equal and opposite reaction thing, and he was teaching us to use bows and arrows and showing us how the arrow went further if we pulled the string back harder...

D: You got shot?

T: No, but my arrow went further than he thought it would and I shot a beaker off the chemistry lab table and it kind of exploded and caused a chain reaction that might have almost burned down that half of the building.

D: You're not serious.

C: That crabbit dominie had a face like a burst melodian, hopping and cursing 'til his face was blue. He shouldnae underestimated a dragon. We're as like tae burn and eat it as tae take notes in class.

D: On that note, what do dragons eat? Just curious, I imagine they don’t eat Dorito’s or tacos….or do they? Does the whole shifting thing affect that? Hmmm…

C: Och, aye. The Song of the shifting isnae only on the surface- dragons can shift as they can change the tune of their strings from the smallest tae the greatest. When I look as a man I am as a man, and I can feed on the things that sustain ye, as disgusting as some of it is. When I am my ownself as a dragon it's more the meat and the bone I crave. I was drawn tae the Scots centuries ago because I tried haggis, and that's more a dragon food than a human one. Plus I'm irresistible in a kilt.

T: <facepalm>

D: Thane, when we first met you, you thought that you were pretty average, and preferred to be invisible. Have your opinions changed? If so, why?

T: When you spend your whole life believing that you're nothing special, and then you find out you're extraordinary, you'd think it would make a huge impact. But I went from being Shae-blooded surrounded by songless to being pretty much songless and surrounded by Shae. I don't know if I can be anything but average, because I still feel average. But... I have friends, now. I have family. I know that how alone I felt was a lie. So yeah, I guess they've changed. I still feel like I'm nothing really important, but I feel like maybe I'm important to other people. That feels like a big change, for me.

D: Okay, last question……can you take me for a ride? My kids would die if they found out I got ride a real dragon. And I am pretty sure I would be the envy of all my blogging friends!

C: I think you'd best buy me dinner first, lass. But Sanctum cleared ye for this interview and my instructions were tae be helpful, and I cannae think of a thing that would piss them off more. I'm in!

D: *Jumps out of chair throws fists in the air* Woohoo! *Sits back down* I mean, thank you so much for stopping by my blog today, it really was an honor to have both of you!! 

Now my fellow book lovers if you will excuse me I have a dragon to ride!! *Drops everything and runs out the door after Charlie and Thane*

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website | My Review 

Make sure you check out this awesome book and prepare to be blow away!! 

Review: Legend of the Blue Eyes by B. Kristin McMichael

*Cover and Synopsis from Goodreads

Synopsis:

Arianna Grace liked her boring, Midwestern, teenage life where she ignored the many unanswered questions of her childhood. Why were her parents dead? Why did she not have family? Where was she raised until she was five? When someone offers to explain it all, Arianna thinks she’s just getting answers. Instead, she is thrown into a world of night humans who drink blood.

On Arianna's sixteenth birthday, her world is thrown upside down when she changes into a vampire. Night humans, or demons, as some call them, live in normal society. Learning all of the new rules of a world she didn’t know existed might be hard enough, but it's further complicated by two former-friends that now want to help her take her role as the successor to her grandfather.

There is a war going on between the night humans. Sides have been taken and lines are not crossed. Four main clans of night humans are struggling for control of the night. Divided into two sides, clans Baku and Tengu have been at war for centuries with the clans Dearg-dul and Lycan. That is, until Arianna Grace finds out the truth; she’s the bridge of peace between the two sides. But not everyone wants peace. With the night humans divided, Arianna is now a pawn in the war between them. She must choose a side—her mother’s family or her father’s—and for once in her life, decide her own fate.

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Website

My Review:

Arianna thinks her boring life is all there is. But on her sixteenth birthday she discovers that there is more to her life than she ever knew, more to the world than she ever knew. Not only does she discover that Vampires and Werewolves exist, but she discovers that she is a vampire. As she is thrown into the world of the night humans, not only does she struggle with the fact that she is a vampire, but that she is the stuff of Legend!

In Legend of the Blue Eyes we are given a new glimpse into the world of the vampire and werewolf, with B. Kristin McMichaels unique spin, branding them night humans. Divided into clans the night humans are at war and Arianna is the only hope of uniting them. I will say that Arianna is an interesting character. Overall I like her, she was sweet, kind natured, strong and a bit pig headed, but I'm not sure there was really anything to make her that memorable. I think she was too quick to trust and definitely too quick to fall in love. I enjoyed the connections that she made, but the fact that it was literally love at first sight kind of bothered me.

Of all the characters in this book, I enjoyed Devin the most. He was tough, deep and complicated. In Legend of the Blue Eyes he is a fierce warrior who has his own secrets and duties to Arianna and the world of the night humans.

There is a lot going on in this story, so it moves a little fast and I felt as if the story was a little rushed. I really wish that more time was spent developing the characters and their relationships. But despite all that, I did enjoy the story. It was quick to read and easy to get lost in, but there were quite a few editing problems, but really nothing so bad that it distracted me from the story being told.

Overall, Legend of the Blue Eyes is a fun read with a new spin on the world of the vampire. I think that this series can really develop into something great and I will definitely keep an eye on what happens in the future for Arianna.

"I thought I'd be fine until we made it back here, but we had some unexpected guests," Devin explained. (kindle, loc. 2479).

I know this moment doesn't look like much, but once you read the book you will totally understand. You see this moment, really shows what kind of character Devin is and just one reason why he is one of my favorite characters in this book.

Top Ten Fictional Characters I would Crush on if I were a Fictional Character

Top Ten Tuesday is an incredibly awesome meme created by The Broke and the Bookish where bloggers and readers share their top ten's about all things bookish! Don't be shy......join the fun!


I love posts about fictional boyfriends! And despite doing one in December, I feel like I need to amend the list!

My Top Ten Fictional Characters I would Crush on if I were a Fictional Character (May or may not be in order)

1. Dirk Pitt from the Dirk Pitt Adventures by Clive Cussler If I haven't said it enough, then by all means allow me to state this again......Dirk is the perfect combination of James Bond, Indiana Jones and MacGyver!! Incredible skills, deadly as a fox and smokin' hot!! Need I say more -.O

2. Chase Williams from The Protector Series by M.R. Merrick Pretty sure you are all tired of me saying this but I will say it again just in case you haven't heard me all the other times....Chase is not only an incredibly fierce warrior, but he is vulnerable, gentle, and totally and completely loyal! Granted he is sort of married to his duty, but he has a big heart. I would travel to any world with him!! 

3. Gavin Cassidy from the Just Breathe series by Kendall Grey I give you 3 simple words! Sexy. Rock. God!!! Oh yea, he is! He could melt your heart with one sultry look and melt your clothes off with one ballad!! Um.....plus he is dedicated, sweet, deep, and yum, I mean hot!

4. Daemon Black from the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout Anyone who has read the Lux series knows exactly why Daemon is on this list! Not only is he smooth as glass, he is sexy as hell, a total bad-a** and brings a whole new meaning to Alien hotness!!!

5. Raj McKenna from the Spellbound series by Nikki Jefford Nothing says sexy like the bad boy! And in my opinion nothing is sexier than the bad boy that really isn't a bad boy! Raj is just a misunderstood teenager looking for someone to believe in him.

6. Dante from the Dante Walker series by Victoria Scott Ok, really if I need to tell you why he is on this list, then I don't think you have been paying attention to the blogging community over the last 3 months! Words simply can not describe the deliciousness and complexity that is Dante! So I will just say holy hotness batman!

7. Kale from the Few Are Angels series by Inger Iversen Kale despite being a Chory and suffering from bloodlust is incredibly loyal and dedicated to the girl that has his heart! He would literally lay his life on the line to save the one he loves....He is sweet, and tender, but there is also a warrior hiding just beneath the surface. I definitely wouldn't want to make him mad!

8. Eric Cross from the Blood Skies series by Steven Montano Okay, okay, if you have read this series than you probably think that I am out of my mind, but listen for a second. Cross is one of those characters that you crush on from afar, you see he is married to his job, one that is incredibly dangerous. And you never know when or if he will come home. But you still want to be the one he comes home to.

9. Dean from the Affliction Series by Deb Apodoca Dean is all kinds of yumminess! Dean is a vampire slayer, the most feared vampire slayer! One that is thirsty for revenge. But he is also very tender, romantic and will protect you with his life. Besides, all that vampire slaying has given him a body to kill for!!

10. Nick Gautier from The Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon The first thing that attracted me to Nick was his sarcastic personality! But not only is he sarcastic, and funny, but he is loyal to his loved one's, honest, sweet, gentle and he is destined to be the bad boy. And that's a destiny that he fights with every fiber of his being. 

Well there you have it.....my list of fictional character crushes! Do you have any fictional crushes???? If so, I would love to hear about them!

Character Time #8: Willy

So what is Character Time? Character Time is a bi-weekly feature created by Danielle at Consuming Worlds to spotlight favorite characters. 

Why did I create Character Time? I love characters and have a tendency to have rather strong feelings toward them in one way or another. For me characters are what often drives a book. I don't think you can have a good story without good characters and vice versa. And there is nothing I like more than a character that I can imagine vividly in my mind. One that I can laugh with, laugh at, scream at, or even cry with. 

The idea of Character Time is to spotlight a character from either a book you are currently reading or a book that you have read in the past. You can either love this character, hate them, loathe them, like them or any of the other feelings one may have. You then write a post spotlighting this character. Why you love, hate, loathe, or whatever them and why? This can include links, pictures or whatever you need to explain why you feel the way you feel. 

Note: These characters can be any characters, i.e., main characters, hero/heroine, villain, creature and so on.

If you need any help here are the Character Time's I have done in the past (before I created the feature): Character Time Posts

<a href="http://yellsworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8593364089_95ef7e16c5_o.png" alt="Character Time" width="350" height="250" border="0" /></a>

Want to participate? Then just add your name and URL in the Linky below and grab the badge!

My Character Time: Willy from M.R. Merrick

Lately I have been thinking a lot about this specific character. As most of you already know I am a huge fan of The Protector Series by M.R. Merrick, currently he is working on the fourth and final book of the series Endure, of course I can't wait to get my hands on it, but until I do I have the amazing characters of this series to keep me company. 

Characters like Willy the stuttering demon that just so happens to be Chase Williams best friend. When you first meet Willy he is timid, insecure, bullied, and would rather blend in with the background--literally; and he did a pretty good job of it until he met Chase, that is. 

Once he met Chase he was no longer able to just blend in. You see, trouble sort of follows Chase everywhere he goes, and unfortunately for Willy, that trouble does not discriminate. Chase's trouble becomes Willy's trouble. You figure most people would be mad about this, but not Willy.Yea he hates the crap that he has been through, and trust me he has been through some intense crap. But it is not in him to hold a grudge, that's not the kind of person he is. 

Oh sure, Willy may be a timid, insecure, stuttering demon who is almost afraid of his own shadow, but when it comes to those he calls friends, he is fiercely loyal. He is one of those friends that you know will always have your back, no matter how bad the trouble or how big the risk to his own life. Even when he knows that nothing good will come out of it, he stands by his friends side. Why? Because his friend needs him. 

In the time since Willy met Chase not only has his life been turned upside down, but he has been threatened on more than one occasion, by more than one person. But that trouble also helps Willy grow. By the time we see him in Release (The protector #3) Willy is no longer just a timid, stuttering demon. But a strong, loyal, friend who learns to stand on his own, isn't afraid to stand up to his enemies, but more importantly, isn't afraid to stand up to his friends. 

Willy is one of my all time favorite characters, a character that makes me laugh, makes me feel, and unfortunately, one that makes me cry. Willy is one of those characters that at first you want to pity, you want to save, but later you discover that he's the one saving you. It is pretty hard to put all that Willy is into words, he is just an all around great characters and something tells me I'm not done crying for this character just yet. 

If you haven't already checked out this incredible series, then what are you waiting for? This series is definitely one not to be missed. With incredibly loyal friends like Willy how can you not read this series? 

Here's where you can find them: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords | Website