Book Review: Bound by Spells (Bound #2) by Stormy Smith

*** 5/5 Stars ***

Rolling right into the action from book one, Ms. Smith continues with a great fantasy series! Amelia is captive with the enemies and playing a game of love with their price while Aiden gets in touch with the beast inside and outside. Amelia's BFF pops up causing more cheerful destruction. Amelia soon learns her family's secrets and gets a close touch with a personal journal from her mother's past that reveals more than she can ever know! Facing down the traitor and evil queen, Amelia must come face to face with her gifted (cursed) powers and get them under control before she destroys those she hates and loves. Aiden comes into his own destiny and is on his own path to free Amelia, along with the Animages. Discovering the awful fates of those the queen has deemed not worthy of human treatment, it leads to an ultimate showdown or powers and discovering love.

Very action oriented and character driven, I was drawn into the story. Found it hard to swipe my finger quick enough across the Kindle to turn a page the last 20%. Romance, lots of nail-biting adventure, and self discovery kept the story fluid. Of course, it ends on a cliff hanger.. Gah!





 

Stormy Smith calls Iowa's capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn't be stopped. When she isn't working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy's favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

Connect with Stormy

On her website

On Facebook

On Tumblr

On Twitter

On Instagram

On Amazon

On GoodReads

Book Tour Review: Hopebreaker: A Steampunk Dystopian Fantasy (The Great Iron War, Book 1) by Dean F. Wilson

Genre: SciFi / Steampunk / Dark Fantasy / Dystopian
Book Blurb:
In the world of Altadas, there are no more human births. The Regime is replacing the unborn with demons, while the Resistance is trying to destroy a drug called Hope that the demons need to survive.
Between these two warring factions lies Jacob, a man who profits from smuggling contraceptive amulets into the city of Blackout. He cares little about the Great Iron War, but a chance capture, and an even more accidental rescue, embroils him in a plot to starve the Regime from power.
When Hope is an enemy, Jacob finds it harder than he thought to remain indifferent. When the Resistance opts to field its experimental landship, the Hopebreaker, the world may find that one victory does not win a war.

 Goodreads I Amazon

*** 5/5 Stars ***

Can't beat a well written steampunk fantasy set in a dark dystopian world. Our main dude is a roguish, snarky, and likable smuggler who brings in magical pendants that can block a human woman giving birth to a demon. The demons have taken over, harvested, and ruined the world. Now acrid desert covers the lands and the Regime rules while the Resistance fights back and builds their army. Jacob is brought into the folds of the Resistance after being imprisoned . After being whisked away to safety with his cell mate, Whistler, Jacob is suddenly faced with a multitude of adventures from the leader's bed to in the middle of desert in a sputtering truck. Stuck in the middle and witness to the nastiness of the production of the drug Hope, the factories slaves work in, Jacob helps to end the Regime's horrors in a steampunk machinery filled battle.

Fun, entertaining read with quirky characters and a good cross over of genres. Well written with a slew of adventure, this story was a pleasure to read.

Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11, when he began his first (unpublished) novel, entitled The Power Source. He won a TAP Educational Award from Trinity College Dublin for an early draft of The Call of Agon (then called Protos Mythos) in 2001.
He has published a number of poems and short stories over the years, while working on and reworking some of his novels. The Call of Agon is his first published novel.
Dean also works as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro and The Inquirer.

Contact the Author:

Website I Facebook I Twitter I Youtube I Amazon I Goodreads 

 

Book Review & New Release: Dismantling Evan by Venessa Kimball

Blurb:
Life is unstable...
…What will be the trigger to dismantle it?
When high school senior Evangeline "Evan" Phillips moves half way across the country with her parents to a quaint town in Texas, it should be a chance to start over.
It should be.
Typical of Evan, she doesn’t share her parents’ optimism. Always the loner, she is prepared to hide behind work at the school newspaper until graduation. That is the seemingly bulletproof plan until she meets her new neighbors, Gavin and Brody Ferguson.
The more Evan gets to know her neighbors, their band of friends, and frenemies, the more unsettling her new high school and community gets in Braxton Springs, Texas.
As Evan unwittingly digs deeper into the lives of those around her, her own skeletons begin to surface leaving her vulnerable and scrambling to keep her own sanity and reputation. Will Evan be able to get control over her spiraling secrets while discovering friendship and love for the first time?
Or will the issues and pressures of life as a band of not-so-average teens in a very typical high school become too much, resulting in the tragic dismantlement of an entire community and Evan herself?
Dismantling Evan is a fresh and edgy work of literary fiction that snapshots how life as a teen in modern society can be unstable and the social issues and pressures revolving around them can tip the fleeting stability of society over the edge.

 

*** 4.5/5 Stars ***

Thanks to the author for letting me beta read! :)

I refuse to be the queen of spoilers, especially in such an explosive book with many trigger friendly, ouchie soft spots (mental illness, bullying, and many others). The author did a fabulous job of having any accurate, flawed, and moody main female character in Evangeline "Evan". Evan drove me a bit batty with her back and forth. But that's explained well by the author and she has her reasons. Brody, her love interest, is an interesting persona spotlighted in all the drama of this realistic book. Their romance is rocky, sweet, and oh so young. Brody's brother's struggles and Evan's with understanding themselves is very honest and a regular struggle we all face. The side stories intertwined with the main characters simply adds to the variety of touchy and real subjects experienced.

Life is not fair and those who are different are treated poorly sometimes. Sometimes services and resources folks need are not available. Being a licensed social worker, I know this personally and well. I hope this book will support those who need it and teach a message to those who might not understand until now.

A powerful and addicting read, I highly recommend it to young, adult, and any where in between. Reader should be aware of emotional triggers in this book and it is not for light reading. Life is not always how we perceive it, people make mistakes, and our actions have untold consequences.

Book/Author  Links:

Youtube channel with all videos/book trailers/ interviews

https://www.youtube.com/user/vkimball7

Pinterest (board for PtF, StR, AtV, TtL, and future projects…visual inspiration)

http://www.pinterest.com/venessakimball/

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/VenessaKimball

Facebook Fan Page :

https://www.facebook.com/VenessaKimballAuthor

Google + :

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+VenessaKimballAuthor/posts

website: VenessaKimball.net (videos, teasers, buy links for books, projects, events, signings,

book trailers, interviews, lots of stuff! )

blog: venessakimballink.blogspot.com (added page for events and signings! 2 set for 2015)

Spotify PtF series playlists by book as well as Dismantling Evan playlist:

https://play.spotify.com/user/1226147569

Having always been passionate about the written word, Venessa Kimball embarked on writing what would become her debut novel, Piercing the Fold: Book 1; a young adult/ adult crossover, paranormal, science fiction, dystopian series. July 2, 2012, Venessa Kimball independently published the first book in the Piercing the Fold series. Book 2, Surfacing the Rim, released March 14, 2013.

In August of 2013, Venessa joined the publishing house, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly. The Piercing the Fold series has been re-published with CHBB beginning with Piercing the Fold: Book 1 on September 3, 2013. Surfacing the Rim: Book 2 re-published on September 24, 2013 and Ascending the Veil: Book 3 released November 2013. The fourth book in the series, Transcending the Legacy: Book 4 released May 13, 2014. Venessa’s latest project, YA/Teen Contemporary Fiction novel, Dismantling Evan, will release January 13, 2015.

As for the future, Venessa is already filling her Work-In-Progress folder. Two of her future projects are contemporary fiction and will reflect her diversity as a writer in other genres. When Venessa is not writing, she is keeping active with her husband and three children, chauffeuring said children to extracurricular activities, catching a movie with her hubby, and staying up way too late reading.

www.VenessaKimball.net

http://www.facebook.com/venessakimballauthor

http://www.twitter.com/venessakimball7

Smart URL’s for PtF series:

ONE-CLICK LINKS:

Piercing the Fold: Book 1 http://smarturl.it/kbrqd8

Surfacing the Rim: Book2 http://smarturl.it/mrqxg7

Ascending the Veil: Book3 http://smarturl.it/rcztvn

Transcending the Legacy: Book4: http://smarturl.it/px8l95

Book Review Tour: Phase One: Identify by Rose Wynters

Phase One: Identify (Territory of the Dead Series) by Rose Wynters
Genres: Young Adult Romance, Horror, Zombies, Science Fiction
Series: Territory of the Dead
Blurb:
Eighteen-year-old Tabitha Alexander had just graduated from high school when the dead invaded her small town of Pleasant, Louisiana. Working as a checkout girl in the only grocery store in town, she barely made it out with her life.

But the night was only beginning.

What started out as a group of three grows, as they are joined by the few that are still alive. New bonds are formed as old ones die, and Tabitha suddenly finds that the guy she's always wanted might just want her back.

The timing couldn't be worse, though. The zombies in Pleasant are smart, with an awareness that's horrifying. And when the zombies discover the house full of survivors, those inside realize that the walls aren't strong enough to keep them out.

All hope is lost. Or is it? Salvation comes in the form of a mysterious man, with a pair of steely-gray eyes and an arsenal to match. He rescues them, but at what cost? Kellan can't seem to keep his otherworldly eyes off of her.

She's no match for him. She knows this. Yet, he intrigues her... and Tabitha knows it's the most dangerous reaction of all.

Tour Promo: All books in this series are $.99!

Available free with Kindle Unlimited.

*** 5/5 Stars ***

As any readers of our blog knows, I am a horror/zombie book lover. I'm a little hesitant with serial stories as I've started some the author never finishes, or feel like the book is simply too short. Not in this case! This was a nice and full start off to the story. It ends on a cliff hanger of course, but I felt the author did a great job of setting up the characters, their woes and life and deaths, and the progression of the story. A very good young adult zombie story, this should entertain the younger set that likes a bit of zombie groaning and gnawing with their teen angst.

The story flows through a regular day of Tabitha at work, to fighting the undead, to being holed up with her family and her life long crush. Many action packed, wincing moments leading to their escape from the home, mystery of how it all started, ends up with Tabitha's group suddenly with new folks. Foe? Friend? Who knows? Looking forward to finding out in the same book!

I exhaled deeply as I finished scanning the last coupon. The woman gave me a sharp look of annoyance, as if I had no room for complaint. Really, what did she expect? Was I supposed to grovel and thank her for allowing me the honor of scanning her precious coupons ten minutes before closing time?

Apparently so. “You know, young lady, it wouldn't hurt you to smile at your customers and thank them when they offer you their coupons. I don't think I've ever had such poor customer service. I don't have to shop here, especially with this kind of attitude.” She was working herself up into a rage, her expression full of self-righteous indignation.

I didn't reply, but instead pushed the total button. Some of the customers in line groaned, while others shifted in impatience. They really didn't want to be further delayed by her rant. She slammed a hundred dollar bill down on the counter. “Where is your manager? I want to speak with him now.”

I pointed towards Jim, as he straightened his shoulders and attempted to look professional. I could only imagine the holier-than-thou attitude he would have as he sympathetically agreed with her. Around here, I could never do anything right, or so it seemed.

I didn't see anyone else standing around, though, willing to put up with his crap. If I didn't need the money so badly, I'd walk out the door faster than he could blink. I was tired of the humiliation and tired of being blamed for the lines, just because he was too tight to hire on adequate staff.

I was silent as I quickly made her change. What could any person say? She was mad due to reasons of her own, something that really didn't concern me. With one last glare, she huffed and moved on in his direction. She never made it, though.

It would have been worth the complaint and subsequent chewing out I would have received, if the events of the night just wouldn't have happened. I would later look back on it and pray that things had ended differently. You can't change events that are completely out of your control, though.

Even so, anything would have been preferable to that one moment when you find your reality has just been blown to pieces and would never be the same again. That's assuming you live to survive it.

She was halfway to Jim, her teased hairdo bouncing, when it happened. A loud, panicked scream tore through the night, originating somewhere from the parking lot in front of the store. Even through the thick glass, we could hear it loudly. It sounded like someone was being murdered. I immediately stopped scanning, turning in an attempt to see what was happening.

A body slammed against the glass, his face and palms pressed to the surface. It was a horrid sight. His pupils were red and crazed, his face extremely pale and dirty. Dark red blood was smeared across his cheeks and chin. The man stood still for a moment, just watching us with his crazy eyes. Something reanimated him. He slid his palms down the clear, clean glass, leaving a trail of bloody streaks.

Rose Wynters resides in the southern portion of the USA. When not writing, she enjoys traveling, camping, and meeting new people.

Connect With The Author:

Website http://www.rosewynters.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Rose-Wynters/121652694703696

Twitter https://twitter.com/author_rose

 

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Book Review: Unmarked: Sean’s Story (Chosen #4) by Alisa Mullen

GOODREADS & AMAZON US / UK

 I've taken quite a hiatus from NA as the genre seemed a bit overrun. I met Alisa at a book event and she was kind enough to provide an ARC of her new book. I was completely engrossed in Sean's and Aoife's story. Sometimes an angst ridden romance is a great way to spend a few evenings, getting lost in the character's problems, surprises, and successes. Have a few sexy love scenes didn't hurt (cough cough)! The characters were engaging and, as noted above, I shook my mental fist a few times with their self made relationship problems. I appreciated the author noting ASAP before the story starts of Aoife's cultural background and the expectations that come with it. The supporting characters, such as Sean's best friend, Lizzy, could really cause an ugly ripple, but were an ingrained part of the story.

In my wee personal opinion, the blurb describes the story completely without me needing to dive into the story during this review. What stood out for me was how likable each character was and the kindness they showed each other and their flaws. The lovely surprise at the end was a good twist.

 



 

Alisa Mullen is the author of the Best Selling Saga, The Chosen Series and the Best Selling psychological suspense novel, Plastic Confidence. She grew up in Down East Maine. Mullen has a BA from Texas A&M University and a MS from Our Lady of Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, making necklaces, and spending time with her family. Mullen lives in South Texas with her loving husband and their two children.

Author Links:

Facebook / Website / Twitter / Goodreads

Amazon / Google Plus / Instagram

Book Review: Toccata Obbligato ~ Serenading Kyra by Jennifer Theriot

This was an awesome book! I'm about half way through the first book in the series; this book happens to be a short in the series. I was able to pick it up and follow along no problem. It only makes me want to read the rest of the series ASAP!

Todd is a rock and roll back boy who has met the virginal, spunky Kyra.  His total match and who won't take crap. The dialogue is fun, spicy, and heart wrenching. This abbreviated short story, I was very pleased to find, will be out full force as a full fledged novel. This novella follows Todd's pursuit of Kyra, their romance/rejection/goofiness, and to a happily sigh worth ending.

The characters were easy to fall in love with, and I also wanted to kick their butts at times for their mistakes. I swept up this book in about an hour. Sexy scenes were hot, but not overpowering OR misplaced like in some NA novels I've read lately! It followed with the story and romance and simply added to the story rather than taking away.

I met the lovely Jennifer at an author even in Houston August 2014 and she's such a nice and open lady!

 

Jennifer Theriot hails from the Great State of Texas. She is a career woman, working as CFO of a Texas based real estate investment firm. Working in her capacity as CFO, she felt something was missing and discovered her passion for writing novels–mostly at night and on weekends.

Jennifer took a chance that there could be an interest in romance with middle aged couples who are finding themselves at a crossroads and wrote her debut novel Out of the Box Awakening, which centers on the hope of finding happiness and passion through unexpected heartache. It emphasizes the need for family and friends as Jennifer has learned in her own life. The book has been described as “Mature Sexy” by one reviewer.

Jennifer’s second book in the series, Out of the Box Regifted is now available as well and has gotten rave reviews.
Social Media Links:

WEBSITE: http://www.jennifertheriot.com
BLOG: http://blog.jennifertheriot.com
TWITTER: @ JenTheRiot https://twitter.com/JenTheRiot
AUTHOR FACEBOOK: Jennifer Theriot, Author https://www.facebook.com/JenniferTher...

 

Book Review & Giveaway (Blog Exclusive- $10 Amazon GC): Bound by Duty (Bound Series Book 1) by Stormy Smith

Not that I wasn’t expecting a fun YA/NA romp when reading this book, but I was surprised by just how sweet it was. The main character, Amelia, and her older brother, Cole, grew up with a slightly unhinged, distant father. Amelia flies the coop as soon as she turns 18 to live near her brother and attend college. Never told why or the magnitude of the powerful magic she contains, Amelia is constantly having to battle her magical outbursts. Also bound to marry a prince of the evil tyrant queen, Amelia is stuck between a trying to be a naïve 18 year old and the hope for her race (to be exposed later).

After falling for Aiden, losing him a couple of times to stupidity then loyalty to her people, Amelia’s heart is at once broken and mended.

The novel follows the time table of Amelia’s discovery of who and what she is to facing her ultimate enemy and having to leave the life she has built with family, friends, and the guy who stole her heart.
I really enjoyed Amelia, Cole, her best friend “B”, Micah, and Aiden. Although her life has been a suck fest, Amelia continually retains her naïve, but absolute teenager nature. I can’t count the number of times I mentally swatted her for going in a multitude of wrong choices, but the fun little twists of the author’s plot lines kept the novel moving. An entertaining YA fantasy read.

Prologue

Her stark white hair fell down around her face. For the first time in one hundred years it wasn’t pulled back in a waist-length braid. Her crimson robes were torn and stained. She bit back a groan, her lips a tight line as the pain ripped through her once again. The invisible knife raked its way up her back as wounds no one could see flayed her skin and weakened her resolve. It had been days of this and she wasn’t sure if she could continue. As she looked up and met the queen’s eyes, Lavignia pushed the anger down and forced compassion to rise yet again.

“What is it you hope to learn, Julia? What is it you think you have to gain from all of this?” she asked weakly as she tugged on the restraints that kept her tethered to the heavy wooden chair. Her power was already weak when the Hunters had found her, and the enchanted chamber had dampened what remained to a tiny flame.

The room was dark, but the sun was slowly rising. An orange and pink glow filtered through the small window above Julia’s head. The colorful rays that should have resembled hope of a new day only shed light on the reality that Lavignia would never leave this room alive.

Julia stepped from the shadows and walked slowly toward Lavignia. She stopped and crouched down, putting herself at eye level.

“Oh, Livvy, dear. Don’t do that,” she said, her tone patronizing as her ice crystal eyes narrowed. “Don’t pretend you can still look down on me from your Elder tower. Don’t pretend you can utter your polite words and suddenly I’ll remember who you are versus who I am. I know exactly who I am. I am the one who rules them all. I am the one they will bow down to and worship. I am the Queen. Not you. Or your sisters. Your time is done.”

She looked back over her shoulder to the Hunter who stood in the still dark corner of the room and nodded. The Hunter’s eyes burned bright orange as Lavignia’s screams echoed off the walls. Julia raised her hand and the screams dropped to whimpers. With that same hand, she reached out and took Lavignia’s.

“Livvy, look at me,” she commanded. Dazed, dim violet eyes struggled to focus and find hers. Julia tightened her grip, digging her scarlet nails into Lavignia’s already tender flesh, making her yelp and their eyes connect.

“Livvy, you need to tell me,” she said. “I know you see it. You knew this day would come and you know I won’t stop until you tell me. I scoured the lands for you. I know there are others left, but they can be saved. You can save them, old friend. You just have to tell me.” Her tone was persuasive and gentle, but the frantic look that passed through her eyes told Lavignia the truth the queen couldn’t hide — she was scared.

“You won’t harm the others? You will let them live out their lives hidden and free? You will swear an oath?” Her words trailed off and Lavignia’s eyes closed, the torture of the last few days taking its toll. She could only hope the oath would keep her people safe.

She didn’t see the triumph that straightened Julia’s posture or the sneer that twisted her thin, painted lips. “Of course, my dear. I swear to you that I will not seek out and harm the remaining Elders. I swear that I will not take their freedom.”

“Your blood,” Lavignia said, her words barely audible.

Julia removed a small dirk from the folds of her skirts and repeated the words as she slid the blade down her palm. As the deep red drop hit the floor, she sent a small wave of power through to heal the wound, reveling in the knowledge that she had won.

“Now, Livvy, darling, you must tell me.” When Lavignia didn’t respond, Julia whipped back around to the still silent Hunter. “Help her. Give her what she needs. NOW!” she commanded, panic finally breaking through her controlled facade.

The Hunter flicked a wrist at Lavignia and she suddenly straightened, her eyes luminescent and shining at the welcome invasion of power that flooded her system, giving her renewed life for a few precious seconds.

With sudden clarity, she saw the future that had eluded her. She looked down on Julia with authority and pity as the words that would cement the queen’s fate fell from her lips.

“You will have your time, but it will end. She will be born to the one who got away. Inside her, the five families will merge and only a man who is both king and companion will tame the wild and set her free. She will be your undoing. She will lead them all.”

Julia reared back, Lavignia’s words not the ones she expected. Seconds later, her dirk was buried deep in Lavignia’s chest. Lavignia collapsed back against the chair, a content smile mocking the queen from her lifeless face.

Julia’s breath heaved in and out in short bursts as she turned to the Hunter. “I made an oath. You did not. Find them. Kill them all.”

Stormy Smith calls Iowa’s capital home now, but was raised in a tiny town in the Southeast corner of the state. She grew to love books honestly, having a mom that read voraciously and instilled that same love in her. She knew quickly that stories of fantasy were her favorite, and even as an adult gravitates toward paranormal stories in any form.

Writing a book had never been an aspiration, but suddenly the story was there and couldn’t be stopped. When she isn’t working on, or thinking about, her books, Stormy’s favorite places include bar patios, live music shows, her yoga mat or anywhere she can relax with her husband or girlfriends.

Website: http://www.stormysmith.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorStormySmith

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stormysmith

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8159417.Stormy_Smith

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