Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts

Monday, May 5, 2014

EM's Review and Interview - I, Kwan by K Hippolite



Retrofuturistic DieselPunk
Date Published: April 4, 2014

      

For over a thousand years, a powerful oligarchy known as the Worldwide Order of Lightnings has oppressed us. With the help of the prying eyes of the chronomancers, the Lightnings have torn us from our homes; have forced us to do their bidding; have stripped us of our rights, even our names. 

I have spent my life in hiding. Please understand that an unrated telepath like me is a commodity, not a person. If it s not the thought-police come to call on me, it s the Lightnings, or worse, a suitor who won t accept no as an answer. 

Peace. Security. Love. They all elude me. When I manage to grasp a little of them in my shaking hands, they are all but snatched away by outside powers beyond my control. My heart groans with black tears from all this folly. 


About the Author
K. Hippolite








BUY LINKS

Interview



EM: Today we have K. Hippolite and Kwan joining us on the blog. K is actually part of my online critique group and contributed greatly to Fate War and DNOTS! He's another person I thank for my growth as a writer. I actually have had the privilege to see Kwan grow from story to story as I returned the critique favors! So let's start with the first question I always ask.
Tell us a little about yourself! (Technically not a question...but you get the drift. ;) )
 
K: Okay. My first initial stands for Kenneth. I live in Southern Ontario Canada and I've been a writer for many years, specializing in technical manuals and academic texts. I've actually written over two dozen books, but only a handful of them have been fiction until recently. I’ll mostly try to stay out of the way so Kwan can speak.

Kwan: As for me, I’m Orionite, which your people would call South-East Asian. I look just like I do in the pictures except I don’t actually have wings. Oh, and that halo is invisible unless I stand near a powerful energy source. I’m age twenty now, have parents who live in the same demesne, and a little brother named Jason.

EM: Very interesting. Kwan says South East Asia, but its not the Asia we know today. Is Kwan from the future, past, or an alternate reality?

K: Let's call it a "co-reality"... as in... a universe that exists in reflection of ours. Major cosmic 
events in our universe (past, present, and future) affect hers. This is why the face of her 
planet looks just like Earth. There are some striking differences. For example, they never had 
dinosaurs.

EM: Kwan, would you like to visit our "co-reality"?

Kwan: In a heartbeat! Especially to try a theme park. We can't have places like that because 
few of us are allowed to travel. I'd crawl into one and live there forever. Oh, and broadcast 
television is another taboo for us. I'd watch every channel if I was on your Earth.

EM: K, who is Kwan most like in your reality?

K: Hmm, she's most unlike anyone I've ever met, so that will be a difficult question to answer. 
One person described her as a best friend, and I think that's very apt. She's my best friend, 
transcribed onto a page. If I had to pick another fictional character, I'd say a young 
"Ambassador Delenn", though Kwan disagrees with me.

EM: Kwan disagrees with you a lot?

Kwan: He gets in the way of what I'm trying to say _all_ the time. It drives me nuts. I confound 
him a little, I think (he thinks I do it on purpose). It's tough work keeping your writer in line.

EM: Don't worry Kwan, I don't think its just you. Women in general seem to confound him. At least judging from some conversations in the critique group! Sorry K, we're ganging up on you! Spill it Kwan, what's the one thing K has done that made you the maddest.

Kwan: Oh, goodness... which one to choose... There's this one part where he (the story) uses me to 
get money for a large project. Highly annoying and very unnecessary. No, I lie about there 
being a lot. For the most part, we get along. I like to believe I'm a very nice alter/character... I
just get to rock the boat a little.

EM: So similar question to K. When has Kwan been the most difficult?

K: I think the worst part is she doesn't have an off-switch. Picture me on a date with a coaching 
team babbling in my head. On the page, she's a nuisance getting her into the few scenes that 
were required (by other books). I think every writer gets this kind of fight from their cast... it's
just that my other characters have less say in the matter.

EM: Besides dating, what other activities does Kwan interrupt? Sports? Music? Fandom group?

Kwan: I make us watch what he calls 'hideous boyband videos' on Muchmusic. I would have
liked that growing up if we had musical acts like this, so it's important character development.
When his friends ask why he can name all the members of NKOTB, he uses the excuse that
it's work-related research. Uh huh!

Types of sports, we agree on. Wrestling, because it's fake (neither of us like seeing people
actually get beaten up). I'm not super keen on sports overall... I only know them by proxy.
And I've widened our selection of books (though he took on romance by himself) since he
liked them dull and spacey until now.

EM: Alright Kwan, let K get a word in edge wise. I have some insider info, but would you like to let readers know what's on the horizon for Kwan's "co-reality"?

K: Sure... the big one is that many of the characters will get a chance to shine. Reiki's part of the
tale is far from done... look for her adventure this summer. With plenty more to come!

EM: Thank you guys for joining my blog today and can't wait to see what you have next!

EM's Review

I, Kwan, is the compilation of novellas centered around a girl in an alternate, steampunkish reality. The story follows her as she discovers, releases, and grows into her awesome powers and grows into a woman.

Khippolite has created an fantastic, rich world with stunning visuals and intricate hierarchy. He melds cool machines and interesting powers to create original battles and warriors. Kwan's world is unlike anything I've ever read.

While I like lots of detail in a story, I hate inner political workings. I think Kwan is with me on this one, but they are a necessary part of the story and I got through them okay. The only other drawback is the heroine herself who is a bit scatterbrained and made me want to slap her...lots. 

But overall, Kwan is a lovable character and her growth, both emotional and in power, keep you glued to the page having to know what mistake she's going to make and what's next for her!

This is a true YA with lots of kissing and angst. As Kwan grows, so do her relationships. Sex is implied but not explicit. There are battles, violence and some blood but it's not gory in the least. The story is beautifully written and I would recommend it for anyone who loves scifi and YA!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Promo - Protostar by Braxton A. Crosby




PROTOSTAR - Week Blitz
By Braxton A. Cosby
Young Adult
Date Published: April 16, 2014

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What Would You Choose, love or duty?
On the brink of civil war, the Torrian Alliance continues with its mission to obliterate Star-children across the universe in order to suppress an intergalactic evil. Following the recommendations of his council, King Gregorio Derry reluctantly agrees to send his only son William on a mission to restore honor to his family name. William seeks to complete his assignment, the elimination of a Star-child named Sydney on planet Earth, but when the assassination is delayed he begins to realize an emotional connection with his target. With conspiracy threatening his home planet, and a hidden menace on Earth seeking to secure a vested interest, William finds himself torn between irrevocable duty and sacrificing everything he stands for to defend Sydney. As William and Sydney struggle to overcome their impossible circumstances, they start to wonder if the connection of two Star-Crossed lovers will be enough to save them from certain doom.



EXCERPT

He leaned in close to her ear. “Please Sydney, give me one more chance. The dreams, they are of you. If only I could have understood sooner, I may have been able to change our fate. But now, I know you have the power to change this. You are more than any normal person. You are the one thing I have traveled across distance and time for.”
A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, slipping past the overlying trees. They kissed Sydney’s face. She gasped, and her lifeless body rose from the dead. Sydney swallowed a deep breath and grabbed William’s shoulders. His many tears drained from his face. The infectious warmth returned.
“I knew you’d return to me. Somehow, I knew it,” he whispered.
“I was lost for a moment in nothing but deep dark space. But I heard a voice calling out to me. It was very familiar to me. Someone I had met before. It was a woman’s voice. She told me it was time to go back. She told me I had a calling to do something great and the time of my awakening was at hand.” Sydney wiped the tears from his eyes. “Then I heard you, speaking to me from the darkness. Your voice guided me as I ran forward, until finally I saw a ray of light and I stepped into it.”
He squeezed her and planted his lips on hers. His solar cells erupted, and Sydney became surrounded in a bright aura that lifted them off the ground. He opened his eyes, amazed by what he saw. He planted another kiss, this time on Sydney’s forehead.
“There’s my signature,” he whispered.
They floated back to the ground and Sydney pulled him close.
 “Sydney, is there any way you could forgive me for what I’ve done?”
Sydney caressed his face. “What’s done is done. Even through all the pain, something inside me knew that you would save me. Love brought you to me and somehow, I knew love would give you the strength to protect me.”
The present situation invaded his thoughts. “And protect you I will. I must explain everything to you, Sydney. Come with me.”

About the Author:

 photo Cosby_zpsa994f8ab.jpgBraxton A. Cosby is a dreamer with a passion for inspiring others to love, in spite of circumstance and convenience. His calling to pen a young-adult series that is smart, witty, and thought provoking, has challenged readers to answer the question: What would you choose, love or irrevocable duty? Braxton lives in Atlanta, GA, where he co-hosts a local radio show on WAOK which is a mash-up of current events and health and wellness. He also has a blog where he discusses everything from health and entertainment to spirituality and relationships.

Author Links


Buy Link
Amazon

Giveaway

Signed Copy of PROTOSTAR
  

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Cover Reveal - Descent by Kallie Ross

We are over the moon excited about the cover reveal for Kallie Ross' DESCENT!! DESCENT is a Young Adult fantasy that comes out June 9th!!

Add this one to your Goodreads TBR pile ASAP!

Descent Cover

DESCENT Synopsis: Seventeen year old Ollie Miller is ready to leave all of her hurt feelings behind, but moving on seems impossible while living next door to her ex-best friend, Mateo. When curious earthquakes begin to shake and rip open the foundation of her small town, the ground becomes as unsteady as her feelings for him. When they fall, they fall hard… Ollie’s disastrous attempt to save Mateo’s brother from falling into a curious chasm results in their descent into a cavernous wonderland. Ollie, Mateo, Jesse, and Alexis search for a way back home, and encounter a mysterious tribe of natives. Gabriel, the next in line to lead his people, is granted permission to guide them to the surface. On their treacherous journey, an overzealous elder threatens all of their lives, because he can’t risk them exposing his people, or the power he wields. The group discovers ancient secrets, unexpected truths, and uncharted feelings. Ollie must find a way out or risk being stuck in the caves forever—or worse, dead.


Descent Teaser


Author Photo

ABOUT KALLIE ROSS: Over time my love for learning gravitated toward studying conspiracy theories and contradictions in our culture. My conclusions have ignited a passion to write compelling young adult fiction that incorporates legend, conjecture, fantasy, and conviction. I love being a wife, mother, friend, writer, and teacher. I began teaching high school English in 2002 and started blogging and podcasting in 2008. I have a brilliant husband, two redheads, and never imagined my life would ever be this fun!


Descent Teaser 2
  LINKS: KallieRoss.com Kallie Ross Facebook @KallieRoss Twitter KallieRossWrites Tumblr Descent: A Lost Tribe Facebook Kallie Ross Goodreads

Monday, April 21, 2014

EM's Review - Justice Buried by Hilary Thompson





Release date: January 15th 2014
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
The people need Justice, but she's not listening. One hundred years before, the Great Sickness reduced the world to three cities. Now the community of Asphodel is trapped underground, waiting for the prophesied maiden of Justice to return and save them from their Fates.

Sixteen-year-old Astrea is supposed to be this savior - too bad for them she isn't a believer. Trea fights against her false destiny: she rebels against her family and friends, then refuses her arranged marriage to the charming but deceitful Lexan. Learning her life is in danger, Trea is forced to trust Lexan - until she discovers a power she never knew she had, and one he already knew he did.

As betrayal closes every door, Trea decides she must submit to her stars and accept her fate. Then a handsome stranger offers her an unexpected escape and the chance to create her own destiny.

About the Author
Hilary Thompson is an independently-published author who released her debut Young Adult novel, Justice Buried, in January, 2014. Justice Buried is the first in a dystopian fantasy series incorporating mythology and astrology, with the second full-length title due later in 2014.

She also teaches high school English, which gives her some insight into her target audience, and helps her maintain a thick skin.
hilarythompsonauthor.blogspot.com | twitter.com/HilaryLThompson



EM's Review

Justice buried delivers exactly what it's selling. YA Dystopian, complete with a sizzling love triangle! The whole time I was reading, I kept thinking, "If City of Ember and Divergent had a baby...." While some of the themes have been done, I enjoyed exploring Ms. Thompson's world and learning about the apocalyptic events of 100 years ago. There are still many mysteries to unravel though, and I'm hoping the next books take us deeper into the past.

The book is fast paced and, though I'm a slow reader, it only took me a couple of days to finish. It's an easy read with good characterization and great action. My only complaint would be the lack of description. I spent most of the time visualizing scenes in a sterile environment because my senses weren't engaged in the writing style. Still, the book is a great read and I can't wait for the next one to come out!

I found the religion based on Zodiac signs to be intriguing and loved the chapter starters from personal journals and religious text giving the reader insight on the world Ms. Thompson created. It's a great touch and made the story feel even more real. 

This is true YA with mild kissing scenes. There is combat, blood, and death though not constant and no where near as intense as say 'Hunger Games'. The heroine is a bit on the flip-floppy, whiny side, but...well...aren't they all? LOL!

This is a great read that will have you itching for the next installment!

Dream Cast

Chloe Mortez as Astrea


Cody Linley as Lexan


Taylor Lautner as Stian



Saturday, March 8, 2014

EM's Review - Journey to Landaran by Judy Goodwin

Run...run...RUN! This is what I think when I think about Journey to Landaran. Twins, Tavish and Aidah are on the run for their lives throughout the book. Ms. Goodwin takes us through a familiar, yet not, world of magic and war. I love the details of the creatures and magics in the book. I had to crawl under a blanket to read her descriptions of a snow storm they were so vivid! I also loved learning about the different peoples in this world and hints of lands to come.

I do have a huge caution for readers though. This book is listed as YA, and while the protagonists are both 14, there are some heavy duty issues they face. Death and war are the least of them. While blood and gore are kept to a minimum, they are there.

The biggest caution is the themes of rape, torture, and grooming of a child. This is ongoing and a major part of the story. I think Ms. Goodwin handles the topic well with not too much visual to the reader. She handles the emotions well and this story could be a boon for those who are dealing with similar hurts in their lives, but readers should be aware of the graphic nature in order to discuss with younger YA, or limit reading to older YA.

Overall this was an extremely fulling read, that was intense both in action and emotion that any fantasy reader will enjoy. Then ending tied up this first book but left much to be discovered in the next and I can't wait!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Promo - Rivulet by Jamie Maagee




About the Book

YA/NA Crossover Paranormal
Date Published:  November 2012

Unfathomable forces have always contested Genevieve Indiana Falcon, known as Indie. The curse of her cold touch entraps her just as the grief ignited in her past torments her. Yet, her mysterious ability to dream while awake saturates her in the belief that she was not always anguished. There is hope that one day a true peace in her soul can be found. 

Foolishly, Indie assumes she has contained her life in an odd balance, and she cherishes the visions she sees of the enigmatic boy that held her in a lost time, but can never reach. She grieves for a life she fears she'll never possess, and that grief is a weapon she uses against her aunt who stands between her and her inheritance. 

Weeks away from her twenty-first birthday, the date where she would assume control over her family legacy, a night terror robs Indie of the balance she was clinging to. Like the dream she had before she lost her family, it predicts a fatal catastrophe on the horizon. The fight between life and death, good and evil, began the moment her thundering heart awoke her. 

Everything changed after that dream. The one thing that keeps her curse at bay is stolen, and then the enigmatic boy arrives in the flesh. Face to face with her fiery born-again lover Indie realizes that the only way she can prevent the tragedy before her is to surrender everything she was, is, and could be. 

Can she bend the laws of nature and fight the improbability that fire and ice could ever be one? As far as Indie is concerned, there is not a myth, spoken fate, or curse that is stronger than her stubborn desire to have it all ... including him.




EXCERPT

“Who has you bothered?” I pushed.

“A few. But there is someone that is not thrilled that I've kept our friendship a secret.”

“Who?”

I glanced around the bar, noticing Wilder displaying the same disdainful glare as Cadence. Gavin had already decided she was nothing to worry about. He had pulled his laptop to him and was typing at the speed of light.

Skylynn returned their glare before she caught my stare. “You’ll see in...” she held up her hand and then slowly let her fingers count down to zero, then knocked her fist on the bar. At that moment, the chime on the door went off.

Time stopped.

I could not comprehend the warm, dominant energy that flowed through me as my eyes met this flawless being.

In the North Wing, he was never completely corporeal. None of the memories I had been able to unlock were. But now, right now, he was in the flesh. Sebastian Falcon was either standing feet from me or he had been reincarnated looking hotter than he was the first go around on the wheel of life.

His black, long sleeve T-shirt hinted to the perfection that it surely must be hiding. My eyes wanted to travel further down him, but they were pulled back to his intoxicating stare. His eyes were still a deep gray, but in the centers I could see unfathomable orange freckles, which mocked flames. He tilted his head slightly, allowing his somewhat long, dark auburn hair to fall over his high cheekbones. There was agony in his stare. It pulled me in. This. Could. Not. Be. Real.

I could swear his body relaxed all at once as his lips, perfectly shaped lips, echoed a wounded smile.
Our uncalled for stare may have relaxed him, but it had the opposite effect on me. Two beats—no, maybe three or four in one second followed by a thousand more. I had been staring at his image for years, and for some reason he was finally seeing me, too.

Almost immediately, he glanced down at the guards. 

He turned to them and said something I could not hear, and as they passed what looked like short words shot back and forth. Skylynn gripped my arm. “If that doesn't make you feel two beats, there is no hope for you,” she whispered.

I swallowed nervously as my eyes moved back to him. A flaming burn spread through my soul. I almost wanted to cry in relief, but that was foolish. In this life, right now, we were strangers. It didn't matter that I felt like I had lived side by side with him for the past five years.

About the Author

Jamie Magee

I'm an obsessive daydreamer. Lover of loud alternative music. Addicted to Red Bull. I love to laugh until it hurts. Fall is my favorite season. Black is my favorite 'shade.' Strong believer in the saying: there is a reason for everything, therefore I search for 'marked moments' every moment of everyday...and I find them. Life is beautiful!



Twitter: @Jamie_Magee_



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Friday, February 28, 2014

Promo - See by Jamie Magee





About the Book

YA/NA Crossover Paranormal
Date Published:  May 2012

Forgetting who you are, your ambitions, your lover is crippling. Remembering, embracing your purpose with a new sense of determination is more than empowering. It's soul seizing. Charlie Myers is embarking on a life-altering path that will cause the damned to humble in silence… 

One night, just a few friends how could it go so wrong? That was the question Charlie was asking herself when she awoke in the ER. Outwardly nothing was wrong with Charlie, she was a vision of perfect health, but Charlie knew something else was wrong, wickedly wrong. That fearful notion became even more gripping when her mind began to parade haunting visions of entrancing emerald green eyes, laced in black, before her. When she felt a hole in her heart, when the music she drowned her fears in began to amplify the ache in her soul, and caused her to crave an embrace she thought she never knew. 

Charlie knew then that part of her was stolen. She was missing memories. Those memories were sacred. They held the key to her sanity. They told her that the sinister whispers, and the shadows that came to life before her, were not as ominous as she felt they were. They caused her to forget the one talent that allowed her to face the darkness that haunted her every waking hour. They also masked a much deeper bond, the face of the one that had stolen her heart, long before that tragically blinding night. 

Charlie wanted to stay in NY, fight her demons where she found them, and ensure that her true home remained a sanctuary. Fate had a different plan in mind. Against her will, Charlie was sent to Salem to live with her sister. Within that small town Charlie found her memories…and so much more.

Her story begins now.






EXCERPT

“What’s going on?” I asked nervously, hitting ‘Pause’ on my phone as I watched him push the seat back so his legs could have more room.

“I told you I’d tell you how to get back,” he said, smiling faintly.

Every part of me was tingling. Yet, I was frozen in place. I had no idea how I was going to focus well enough to drive. 

What would I do if I had to fight these shadows in front of him? I was horrified.

“Yeah, but I thought you meant follow you,” I said, trying to take in a breath after I said the words.

“I wanted to ride with you,” he said, pulling his belt on.

As he leaned closer to me to fasten it, I could smell the addictive aroma of his cologne. I knew that scent. My mind was firing off images of him at warp speed. His scent, his eyes, his energy, every ounce of him was magnifying fantasies I could not comprehend in the state I was in. 

“Just for the record, you’re only my second passenger. Third, if you count my teacher,” I said, putting the car in drive.

“Duly noted.”

I caught myself staring into his enchanting eyes. His dark lashes framed the most alluring color I’d ever seen. It was like they were intended to be black, but a shade of the most perfect green had shattered the black canvas that they were.

Eyes that had haunted me for days... 

He stared back at me with almost the same wonder, then he quirked a slight grin. “That way,” he said, pointing to the left.

Obviously I was alone in my fascination. Surely if we were anything like my minds eye was telling me we were in some forgotten past he would have said something.

Unless. Unless it was a bad past. 

The tinge of pain in my heart let that dark thought enter my mind.

I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. I tried to smile through it as I turned the wheel. I crept down the gravel driveway, fighting the glare of the headlights coming from his Hummer. Just before I reached the road, he reached up and moved my rearview mirror, taking the torture of the lights away. He then gently grasped my ear buds and pulled them out. His warm fingertips brushed against my skin, and it took everything I had not to faint. I thought I heard him sigh, just after he took in a deep breath. Those long fingertips of his lingered a little longer, more than likely a second or two, but it felt like hours, then they slid down my neck taking the cords from my ear buds with them.

 I angled my eyes at him to see if I had the same effect on him that he clearly had on me.

 “You have to be able to see and hear if you’re going to get us home,” he explained, relaxing into his seat. He bit his bottom lip as he bathed me in his smoldering gaze. We said a thousand words at that moment. Words I could not hear, but wanted to. 

About the Author

Jamie Magee

I'm an obsessive daydreamer. Lover of loud alternative music. Addicted to Red Bull. I love to laugh until it hurts. Fall is my favorite season. Black is my favorite 'shade.' Strong believer in the saying: there is a reason for everything, therefore I search for 'marked moments' every moment of everyday...and I find them. Life is beautiful!

Twitter: @Jamie_Magee_



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Thursday, February 27, 2014

Promo - Insight by Jamie Magee




About the Book

YA/NA Crossover Paranormal
Date Published:  June 2010

BOOK ONE INSIGHT SERIES 

Willow Haywood has always been trapped between the worlds of the Light and the Dark. Her waking hours are plagued by her ability to feel the emotions of those around her. No matter how inward she draws, she cannot shut out the feelings of others. Sometimes she will see images - echoes of other people and places - that she can enter to influence the emotions of people she has never met. 

By night, Willow experiences her only escape from this terrible insight - entering into the world of dreams. Most of these dreams are shared in blissful silence with a stunning blue-eyed boy. But every new moon she lives through something much darker: a horrific nightmare shared by another mysterious boy who is always shrouded by shadows. 

One night, this shadowy figure invades her dreams outside of his appointed time. In this new nightmare, Willow is marked; a mark which follows her into the waking world and sets her on a momentous path through light and darkness, through fragmented myth and half-truths, through past lives and disturbing family secrets, all in the face of the ever-dominant Zodiac. What she finds will endanger the lives of those closest to her and will force her to make a decision that will change her world forever.





EXCERPT

I felt a blanket of peaceful love with a sense of urgency. The night air in front of me began to move; it looked like a wave gently swaying with a current. A thin light began to emerge then Landen stepped through the wave. I felt the air leave my lungs and adrenaline rush through every part of my body as my heart violently hammered in my chest.

“Landen…” I breathed.

In the darkness, I could see his haunting blue eyes widen, we were both soaked in the emotion of disbelief, along with the fear that this wasn’t real. 

In that beat of my heart he’d reached my side. His hands were trembling ever so slightly as they cradled my face, and his thumbs graze the flesh of my cheekbones. He was staring at me like I was a forbidden fruit, like I was every sin in the book, desire washed over that lasting look as he leaned in and let his lips frame mine. When we melded the flesh of our lips together, his hands fell from my face and slowly waved down my body, embracing my flesh, I was doing the same to him. He was warm, he was on fire, I could hear his breaths, hear the sweet sound of our kiss, the way our clothes were moving under our touch. He was real. He was in my arms, and he was driving me wild. That first kiss was nothing compared to this, that was a dream, it was fleeting, it was something that could end at any second, this—this touch, this emotion, this pulsing of my soul was eternal. 

He pressed our bodies together and held me with more strength than he had ever displayed. We both sought air more than once, but the other moved closer as soon as that gasp was taken. His warm tongue was uninhabited yet sensual as it danced with mine. I was devouring every sensation he was giving me and wanting more, so much more. 

I was trembling with passion, I think he misunderstood that, he slowed our kiss, as one arm went around me and the other cradled my face. His thumb reached to my lips just as his kiss ended, he tenderly caressed the moist, swollen flesh he found there.

 “I found you,” he said with the lips of an angel. His voice was deep and entrancing, those three simple words sounded like poetry as he spoke them.  

 His eyes danced over my image, “I love you.” he said as he leaned in and kissed me once more, this was a sweet kiss, only lips, only warm sensual lips.



About the Author

Jamie Magee

I'm an obsessive daydreamer. Lover of loud alternative music. Addicted to Red Bull. I love to laugh until it hurts. Fall is my favorite season. Black is my favorite 'shade.' Strong believer in the saying: there is a reason for everything, therefore I search for 'marked moments' every moment of everyday...and I find them. Life is beautiful!

Twitter: @Jamie_Magee_



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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

KL's Review - The Girl (The Sanctum) by Madhuri Blaylock




About the Book

Paranormal 
Date Published: 11/11/2013

The Sanctum, an all-powerful governing body founded by ten families, entrusted to maintain the peace amongst Magicals and ensure the ignorance of humans, has been corrupted by greed and savagery for generations, but is all Wyatt Clayworth has ever known.



A descendant of one of the Founding Families and Class A Warrior, Wyatt has always believed in the ways of The Sanctum, having grown up in the system and thrived under their leadership. A golden boy, renowned for his prowess and skill in battle, Wyatt has never questioned a mission or kill order until the night he crosses paths with a brutally injured and mysterious girl.



Scouring Central Park with his best friend and fellow Class A Warrior, Ryker Morrison, for the hybrid demon prophesied to bring an end to The Sanctum and destroy the world for Magicals and humans alike, Wyatt instead finds Dev and his whole life turns upside down. Told he was hunting a killing machine, hellbent on wreaking havoc and destruction upon all it encounters, Wyatt instead sees nothing more than a broken girl with haunted eyes and a bit of a death wish.



All Dev wants is for Wyatt to either kill her or leave her alone. When he refuses to do either, she finds herself being pulled into his life while being hunted by warriors everywhere she turns. Drawn to one another for reasons they cannot begin to explain to themselves, much less anyone else, Wyatt is determined to protect Dev and help her realize her mission to avenge the deaths of her family at the hands of The Sanctum. His abdication of his duties and his outright rejection of his responsibilities to The Sanctum create a maelstrom of events beyond anyone’s imagination.

KL's Review

Wow! What an exciting ride I just took with Wyatt, Ryker, and Dev in book one of The Sanctum! Set in modern day, we enter the secret world of magical creatures and the council set to rule them. An ancient prophecy of an angel/demon hybrid who will unite the Sanctum and Magicals is coming to fruition and the corrupt leader of The Sanctum is out to do all he can to stop her. This is an excellent read for all lovers of the magical world including vampires, faeries, werewolves, and trolls. There is plenty of swording fighting action, drama, romance, and humor to keep the pages turning. This book is billed as young adult, but I would caution that it is more for the older young adult due to a lot of sexuality, sensuality, alluded homosexuality, and fairly graphic torture. The only downside I would mention is a feeling of inconsistency I often felt when trying to conceptualize the characters as I read. Sometimes the way a character spoke or acted seemed out of sync with what the author was trying to portray. Inconsistencies seemed to creep in to several scenes as well, and I found myself having to reread sometimes to better visualize what was happening. Overall, very enjoyable read!



About the Author

Madhuri Blaylock is a lawyer by day, writer and avid shoe and dress buyer at all other times. She lives in Jersey City, but her heart remains firmly planted in Brooklyn via Snellville, Georgia. Her husband, Henry, is also a lawyer, and only a lawyer because he actually likes being a lawyer (go figure), probably always wanted to be a lawyer and is really, really good at all things lawyerly. He's also pretty hot.



She’s got a big kid, Miss Sydney, and a little kid, the one and only Dash. They're awesome and fierce and supremely cool and able to make her laugh at the strangest things. She would love to add a dog, some chickens, a goat and a burro to this crew. Everyone needs a burro.



Some of her favorites, in no particular order: ice cream, Kill Bill, four-inch heels, Matt Damon, tattoos, Laini Taylor, scotch on the rocks, The Sanctum trilogy, random office supplies, Martha's Vineyard, "The Girl" aka my Mini, Rihanna, Doc Martens, tulips, photo booths and dancing like a fool.



One day she plans to grow up. Right now, she’s enjoying the adventure.



       


Blog: http://madhuriblaylock.wordpress.com






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Friday, February 21, 2014

KL's Interview with Krista Holle and The Wind Whisperer




About the Book

The Wind Whisperer

At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent.

As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief.

Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light.

While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.


About the Author





Krista Holle

Krista Holle is an award winning author who stepped up her writing after reading Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. It occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love—not just vampires. When Krista is not writing, she loves to collect seashells, watch movies, and eat obscene amounts of pizza. Krista currently resides in Montpelier, Virginia with her husband, four daughters and an eccentric cat with a weird attachment to the family’s socks.


KL's Interview



 KL:  My first question plagued me the entire time I was reading The Wind Whisperer, so much so that I had to take a Google break and see what I could find out about the Native American tribes the story centers around.  My Google search didn't provide me with the information I was looking for, so I have to ask, are these tribes actual tribes or did you invent them for the purpose of the story? 

Krista: This is a great question.  During my pre-writing research, I researched Native American tribes from all over the United States and stole inspiration from everywhere. Even though the tribes are fictional, they could have existed. Most of the day to day details are based on the local Powhatans that hunted the forests around my home.

KL: Your book reads very much like a historical fiction except for the huge paranormal aspect.  Can you tell us a little bit about the research you did to create such a vivid depiction of life in this 1500’s tribal society? 

Krista: I wrote The Wind Whisperer while living on land once owned by Pocahontas. She was a huge inspiration to me. In addition to digging deep into the local traditions, I researched tribes from all over the United States. If a custom was particularly intriguing I probably borrowed it in order to add color to the story.

KL: In your bio, you mention that Twilight served as a springboard for your writing career.  So, are you Team Edward or Team Jacob? 

Krista: Team Edward! Even Bella knew deep in her bones that Edward was the love of her life.

KL:  Did you find yourself rooting for one of your male leads over the other when writing The Wind Whisperer?  

Krista: When I first outlined The Wind Whisperer I had in mind a Romeo and Juliet type love story. I originally was rooting for Jayttin (Romeo) but fell in love with Elan, Anaii's best friend. He was supposed to have been killed off early in the story but I didn't have the guts to do it.

KL:   I love the scene when Anaii and Jayttin meet for the first time!  They have such a special chemistry.  Is there a particular scene that you especially enjoyed writing? 

Krista: I enjoyed writing a lot of scenes, but one favorite was when Elan kisses Anaii for the first time. Anaii is looking for that exciting sort of love that stops your heart. Naturally she overlooks her best friend Elan who she has known her whole life. After that first magical kiss everything changes, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light.

 KL: Thank you for your time.  I certainly look forward to reading more of Anaii’s story!




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Monday, January 13, 2014

KL Reviews: Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle




About the Book

The Wind Whisperer

At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent.

As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief.

Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light.

While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.


About the Author





Krista Holle

Krista Holle is an award winning author who stepped up her writing after reading Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series. It occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love—not just vampires. When Krista is not writing, she loves to collect seashells, watch movies, and eat obscene amounts of pizza. Krista currently resides in Montpelier, Virginia with her husband, four daughters and an eccentric cat with a weird attachment to the family’s socks.


KL's Review


It has been some time since I have read a Young Adult Paranormal romance that has captured my attention as much as The Wind Whisperer did.  I always love to read something that I feel is a new, fresh take on the genre.  Krista Holle has struck fictional gold by taking us back in time to a pre-colonial America and planting us in the middle of a fierce rivalry between two Native American tribes.  Anaii, the adopted daughter of the chief, has an unusual place on the tribal council because of her ability to speak with the wind.  Her gift is coupled with an unbridled spirit that leads her into very dangerous territory.  She finds herself torn between tribal loyalty, the love of a lifetime, and her own happiness.  I couldn’t put this book down until the wee hours of the morning. It is simply that good!  Well written, beautiful character development, and a plot that doesn’t stop.  It will grab you from the beginning and leave you ready for the sequel!


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Friday, November 1, 2013

KL's Review - Bounty hunter by S.J. Hollis



About the Book

Release date: September 6th 2013
Publisher: Uninvited Black Cat
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
What do you do when your magic makes you a target? Run. Fight. Die.

14-year-old Kai Koson had nothing to do with the apocalypse, thank you very much. He was just a baby the day a coven of blood witches ripped a hole in the universe and the demons fell screaming from the sky. Earth and its magic perished. Witchkind was hunted and annihilated. 

Now, because he was born a witch, Kai must spend his life running and fighting for survival. Even his own uncle seems determined to abandon him. 

With nothing left to lose, Kai runs away and joins a team of galactic bounty hunters. But instead of providing an escape, it sets Kai on a path that will destroy everything he believes about himself and the apocalypse, transforming him into the most wanted teenager in the galaxy.

Written with humour, imagination and darkness, Bounty Hunter and its protagonist Kai Koson stand confidently beside Percy Jackson, Artemis Fowl, Alex Rider, Young Bond, Mortal Engines and Harry Potter.

About the Author

S.J. Hollis is a writer. Torturer of fictional teenagers. Author of Bounty Hunter, a YA apocalyptic fantasy with ... erm, funny bits.

Short, unreliable, slightly odd thirty-seven-year-old. Pizza fiend. Suspicious of the human race. Watches the crime channel instead of the morning news. Fan of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Batman. Morning person. Lover of Game of Thrones and Hollyoaks. Skyrim player. Shakespeare admirer. Forty quid a month comics habit. Thinks frost giants are cuddly and Loki needs a hug. Feels sick at the thought of sharing the remote control. Is learning to cook (can fry bacon like the devil fries souls, but spaghetti more of a challenge). Currently obsessed with fish finger sandwiches. Very short attention sp...

S J Hollis lives in Surrey, England with her two houseplants and a cuddly seagull. Bounty Hunter is her debut novel and she is currently working on the next book in the series.




KL's Review



Bounty Hunter is the age-old tale of a teenager’s rites of passage…scratch that.  There was nothing age-old about it!  Kai, a teenage witch on the run finds himself in the most dangerous and dire of situations.  Only through the new-found friendships and a revealing open honesty with an old one, is he able to overcome the many obstacles this world throws at him. This book is very well paced with lots of action and nail-biting over the characters many perils.  Though the world and its situations are very dark, the author has well timed comedic moments spawned from the nicely developed characters.  Their interactions often reminded me of the crew of Serenity.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bounty Hunter and look forward to more from Kai and the crew of The Derkomai

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