Book Review & Giveaway (blog exclusive of 2 ebook copies!): Predator & Prey by James D Horton

Mr. Horton has a bit of a Beauty and the Beast short story series going on… except add in vampires, some hot attraction/sexy time, and a messed up, crime ridden city. Lily is on the radio at night a la Dr. Phil, consoling and encouraging the night shift folks who know what goes bump in the night. Wolf, tall dark, gaunt, and handsome is a secret admirer and caller. Due to his interest, Lily becomes the target of a violent assault. Wolf saves her, brings her into the oh-hell-no-don’t-enter woods. Their attraction a sure thing and Lily’s old life out the door, Wolf teachers Lily what it means to be a predator and not a prey.

Fast pace, spunky, and fun this was an easy paranormal romance to gobble up in a few hours. Look forward to reading the rest of their story and learning more of Wolf and Lily’s world.

James D Horton is a breakout new author of the Predator & Prey series which is an urban fantasy setting with a paranormal romance story. It features vampires and the human Lily who falls in with the enigmatic Wolf, who is not your run of the mill vampire. The story starts in Predator & Prey, then continues in Predator & Prey: Beast. The third book in the series is in progress which is Predator & Prey: Control, which will wrap the first set of books focusing on Lily's story.

James D Horton is also the author of two popular non-fiction books which are relationship advice books presenting the successful actions that he and his fiancé use to make their relationship better every single day with their six children.

He lives in Lamar, MO with his fiancé and their children, plus the ever annoying Spock, a Yorkshire Terrier Chihuahua.

Twitter https://twitter.com/JDHortonAuthor

Website: http://jamesdhorton.com

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Review: First to Fall (Avalon, #1) by Carys Jones

I received this book to give an honest review.


Title: First to Fall (Avalon, #1)
Published:  August 28, 2014
Format: eBook
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Aiden Connelly’s first case will be one he’ll never forget.
Lawyer Aiden Connelly has traded the frenzy of Chicago for a slower pace in sleepy Avalon – and his first case appears to be as open-and-shut as he could hope for. Hired to defend a local ex-beauty queen accused of murdering her husband, he’s confident that he’ll have the case closed in record time. But below the surface lurks a darker truth…
Suddenly, a quiet backwater has transformed into a dangerous pressure cooker. In a town where everyone knows everyone, gathering evidence should be easy… but the harder Aiden searches, the more he appreciates how tangled this net of loyalties is. And as he digs deeper, Aiden begins to realise that his very first case in Avalon could be the beginning of his undoing…

Tasty Taco Dip Recipe!

I started making this dip for bbq's and parties. It became an instant hit with family and friends. Over the years I have added and changed a few ingredients to get it just right. I've even had my fiance and little girl request it as a dinner meal once every month, and they love it! I hope your family and friends enjoy this tasty, yet filling meal.



Our blogger Ren LOVES this recipe and gets upset when I don't save her some.

Ingredients:

1LB ground beef {or any ground meat}
1 package taco seasoning
1 container sour cream
1 package cream cheese
1 can re-fried beans {optional}
1 small jar salsa {heat level as desired}
1LB shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a small pan, brown ground meat over medium flame. When your meat is all browned; turn off the burner, drain all the grease from the pan, and mix in the taco seasoning with about 3 table spoons of water. Make sure all of the meat is thoroughly coated with the seasoning and let stand.

In a deep 9x9 square baking pan, spread a layer of cream cheese evenly on the bottom. Next, layer the re-fried beans as evenly as possible. Then layer the sour cream, making sure it covers the re-fried beans in a nice layer. Add in the ground meat that you've browned and seasoned on top of the sour cream, making sure there is meat in every inch of the pan. Next you'll add the salsa on top of the meat and spread it so the salsa is evenly distributed. Finally, sprinkle on a nice layer of shredded cheese. Place in the oven and bake until the cheese on top is melted. Let sit for 5 minutes just to cool a bit and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

Let us know if you try out the recipe :)

Review: Prime Deception by Carys Jones

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Title: Prime Deception
Published: April 7, 2014
Pages: 234
Format: eBook
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When Lorna Thomas is found dead in her car everyone believes she killed herself. But the day after her death Lorna was set to sell a scandalous story to one of Britain’s biggest tabloid papers. For six months she had been the Deputy Prime Minister’s mistress.
Will Lorna’s secret die with her? While her family try to move on and come to terms with her death one person refuses to believe that Lorna killed herself. Her twin sister, Laurie is convinced that Lorna was murdered and she’ll stop at nothing to prove it, even if that means teaming up the very man her sister had been having an affair with…

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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Review: Goodnight Football by Michael Dahl

I received this book from the publisher at BEA 2014

Age Range: 4-7 years
Grade Level: Preschool-2
Publisher: Fiction Picture Books (July 1, 2014)

Blurb:
From the opening kick off to the final whistle, Goodnight Football will bring the excitement of a football game to the youngest fan. The rhyming text, vibrant illustrations, and gentle ending will capture the love of the game through a child's eyes.A celebration of football, friendship, and family. This book is sure to be a touchdown for every football fan!"

Goodnight Moon is one of my son's favorite books EVER! I was so excited to snag a signed copy and I knew Luke would love it. What I really enjoyed about this book was that it gave you real football terms. I am so not a sporty type of gal...unless it's soccer. It was easy to understand and it also rhymed, which was a plus. If you're gonna emulate a book after the original then it better rhyme! The illustrations were also very beautiful and in tune with the story. Lukie and Mommy recommend snuggling up at bedtime to read this one. We both give it 5 stars!

Michael Dahl is the author of over 100 children's books. Some of his most popular series are Finnegan Zwake, Library of Doom, and Dragonblood. He resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a haunted house.

He also writes under aliases Chris Carey, Rick Thomas, and Mark Ziegler.

Connect with Michael:

http://michaeldahlwrites.com/

Review: Elysium (Elysium Chronicles #1) by Georgia Cline

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: Elysium (Elysium Chronicles #1) by Georgia ClineTitle: Elysium
Published: Feb. 28, 2014
Genres: urban fantasy
Pages: 212
Format: eBook
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What you do when your blood can save another? Only, a few pints aren't enough. Years ago, a demonic strain of the Black Death gripped the continents in terror. Nothing could stop it. It was renamed Red in its early stages. Red for blood.
That's what it all comes down to: blood. In Eliza Morgan lives the cure--but there's a price. It takes all of it. Eliza discovered that as she watched her mother die, when a small amount fell from an open cut onto her mother's blackened skin. The effect was only momentary.
Nine years later, men in black suits come to her house, throw a bag over her head, and toss her in the back of a van. When Eliza wakes, there's nothing but concrete and prison bars. Her secret is out, and before long she might die for it. There is, however, a rumor--a rumor of an elusive haven. No one finds it--it finds them.
And for whatever reason, it wants very badly to find Eliza.