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Sink your fangs or park your broom; the books are coming alive and I'm buried in them!

Monday, January 27, 2014

♥~~Review + Giveaway~~♥ THE HOWLING HEART by April Bostic

 
 

Title: The Howling Heart
Author: April Bostic
Publication date: August 8th 2013
Genres: Adult, Paranormal Romance
 
 

 
 

Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.

Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv—wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.

Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18191033-the-howling-heart?ac=1
 
 

 
 



 


 
 

April Bostic is a New Jersey-based, Adult Romance author who enjoys unleashing her creativity and letting her imagination run wild. Her love of romance books inspired her to become not just a reader, but also a writer. In December 2008, she self-published her first novel, a contemporary romance with a supernatural twist entitled “A Rose to the Fallen”.

Her first short story, “Right Here, Right Now”, released in January 2012, is an erotic romance with a dash of S&M. The following year, she released two more short stories: a romantic urban fantasy inspired by the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche entitled “Eros, My Love”, and a sexy romantic comedy entitled “Love Addiction”.

After five years, she released her second novel, “The Howling Heart” in August 2013, a paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and Norse gods. To end her busiest year in publishing, April will release her fourth short story in December 2013, a historical paranormal romance entitled “A Dark Scandal”.

 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 


Paige is just given a promotion in her home town of new York, when her dad passes away, knocking her for six. He leaves her a cabin in Black River that they used to visit when she was little. Her mom immediately wants her to sell it, but Paige decides to go and visit it after having dreams about the wolf pup she met in the forest when she was little.

Within days, Paige desides to stay in Black River and take Riley as her mate.  I felt this part of the story was weird. I mean, Riley is total yumminess and Paige seems blind ot that. But the story does begin to pick up.

Of course the rest isn't smooth sailing and some parts where you're holding your breath, a part when you're sad, a part when you're surprised... and the best part....no cliffhanger!! There are so many books that need to be a series nowadays that it was quite refreshing to read a stand alone novel.
This was a quick and good read. This book is a very easy romance novel. The story line was good and the author was flawless.
 
 

 



 
 
 


Tour wide giveaway Prize (US only):
 
A pandora bracelet designed by Terri Davis at JewelryforPaws (picture attached), and a signed paperback of The Howling Heart.
 
 
 
 
 

Sunday, January 26, 2014

♥~~Promo + Giveaway~~♥ THE ROSE OF CAVENDISH by Lea Cherry


 
 

Title: The Rose of Cavendish

Author: Lea Cherry

Series: Cavendish Series

Genre: YA / Fantasy

Publisher: Xlibris

Release Date: Oct 26 2011

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
 
 

 
 

Anna-Belle, the Princess of Fae’s life was put into danger by the Empress' right hand man so she escaped the hold the guards and the palace had on her to save her life. That was when she came across Landon, who helped her escape and taught her a few things. She also met Keira, the shadow that Landon couldn’t get rid of, who had an instant dislike in Anna-Belle but tagged along when they fell off a cliff into the Elven Kingdom.

            In the Elven Kingdom, Anna-Belle met Aranhil, the prince of elves and also her love interest in the story. It was there that she and her friends learned about a prophecy that Anna-Belle is the Chosen One and the only one who could find the Enchantress, who is needed to stop the darkness that is threatening her world. The only way to find the Enchantress was to travel towards the darkness to find an enchanted rose that can grant any wish that is pure of heart.

            On this journey, Anna-Belle learns to harness her powers, finds an unlikely friendship and starts to fall in love. But it is also on this journey that the darkness threatens to unfold everything they have worked for. Anna-Belle gains strength, courage and friends, but loses a lot more when she finds The Rose of Cavendish.


 
 








 
 

 
 

Born and raised in South Africa, Lea lived a fantasy life. She studied interior design after school but dreamt that there was more that she could do. After being given an idea and challenged to write, she set off writing her first novel. She continues to write when she has a chance and when she’s not writing or playing wife and mother, she enjoys painting and drawing and dreams up more stories to write. Her first novel is The Rose of Cavendish, book 1 in the Cavendish series, but assures that there are many more to come.


 
 





 
 

The dreams came and they were not pleasant at all. It was our world, consumed by darkness. Everywhere I looked the fae were fighting. Fires consumed everything, the trees where the Napaeas called home, the mountains the dwarves inhabited, the castle the Elves lived where empty and trashed. The sun, which use to be so radiant and bright, was dark and cold. Our realm has turned into a permanent night full of darkness and evil. This is not the world I knew. Where did everyone go? What happened? I walked for a while, stepping around the rubble tossed on the ground when I saw Aranhil having a fist fight with a Napaea. “Aranhil! What are you doing? This is not who you are? What has gotten into you?” I moved closer and touched his arm. He immediately turned around and I could see his beautiful face has turned into a permanent snarl of anger and hate and his gorgeous eyes were no more. They have been replaced by the dark red eyes I saw on Gadrin. This cannot be happening! Backing away I saw him following me. Pulling his sword out and walking with it at his side. He raised it up, ready to attack. “Aranhil please! Don’t do this!” Begging seemed to be the only option, but it didn’t help. I backed against someone and as I turned to see who it was, my arms were caught by someone else’s hands and I was spun around. Landon was on my one side while Keira was on the other holding me in place so that I couldn’t move. I knew that little bitch didn’t like me but this is way too surreal even for her. “Guys, please. Let me go! What’s going on here? HELP! Somebody please help me!” I yelled but no one seem to hear or if they did, they obviously didn’t care. Aranhil moved closer, sword ready. “It’s because of you that this has happened.” Aranhil said as he stopped a few feet away. “Me? Why me?” “You didn’t have the courage or the power to do what you were supposed to do and now the darkness has taken over. It’s all your fault and now you must pay.” his eyes started to glow like the gems on an evil statue. I tried to break free but Landon and Keira’s grip was too strong. The closer Aranhil came the more I struggled and screamed. No one cared and I was sure to die at the hand of the man who claimed to love me. What is this world coming to? He lifted his sword, the metal from the sword glowed with the reflection of the fire that surrounded us, and with one fast, elegant movement he brought it down and just as it was about to kill me,

 

 
 


 
 

Thursday, January 23, 2014

♥~~Promo~~♥ THE APPEAL OF EVIL by Pembroke Sinclair

Title: The Appeal of Evil
Series: The Road to Salvation Series Book 1
Author: Pembroke Sinclair
Genre:  YA Paranormal
Publisher:  Booktrope
Date of Publication:  January 17, 2014
ASIN:  B00GURYUDA
Number of pages:  275
Cover Artist:  Ida Jansson
 
 
 
Katie wants to invest her heart and soul in love, but she may lose both to Hell.
Katie, a senior in high school, is torn between loving the “good” guy, her childhood friend Wes who makes promises he doesn't keep and abandons her when she needs him the most, and the “bad” guy, the new kid at school Josh who is also a real demon from Hell.
Katie wants someone who pays attention to her and puts her first, but what is she willing to give up to find him?
 
Excerpt- CHAPTER 1
 
“You used to have a crush on me, ya know.”
Katie stopped dribbling the tennis ball on the court and focused on the speaker. Wes stood in front of her and to the left. He crouched, his forearms resting on his knees, his tennis racket twirling in his hand. When he glanced over his shoulder at her, a sly smile covered his lips. She remembered when his hair was blonde, but recently he had dyed it black and cut it into a short spike. It made his skin look paler than normal; his thin lips looked redder. The corners of his brown eyes wrinkled as his smile widened.
She set her jaw. There were so many things she could say to him, the first and foremost that he was an idiot, but she pressed her lips into a line. Why would he bring that up at that particular moment? What did it matter? With a shake of her head, she faced forward and threw the ball in the air. Pretending it was Wes’s head, she smashed her racket into it with all her might. It sailed over the net, and her opponent moved to the right to intercept it. A forehand shot sent it back toward Katie and Wes. It was beyond her court realm, so she let Wes get it. Inwardly, she kind of hoped it would hit him in the mouth, maybe swell up his lips so he couldn’t speak. It didn’t. He was ready and backhanded it over the net. The two teams volleyed a few more times, then the girl on the opposite side hit the ball a little too hard, knocking it out of bounds.
“Yeah!” Wes pumped his fist in the air, then approached Katie for a high five.
Reluctantly, she gave him one. The other team readied to serve, but the bell rang. Thank goodness, Katie thought. After leaving the tennis courts, she followed the rest of her class into their respective locker rooms.
 
Not being one to dilly-dally in the locker room and catch up on the latest gossip, it didn’t take Katie long to shower and change. Being naked around other girls made her nervous. She was more developed than they were, and the way they stared and huffed at her, like she could control nature, made her uncomfortable. The sooner she could cover up her body, the happier she was. She stopped at the bathroom mirror to quickly run a comb through her hair. With her dark brown hair wet, it looked black. It touched her shoulders, so it didn’t take long to get the comb through. She made sure the part in the middle was straight. Her hazel eyes caught the fluorescent lights and glittered for a moment. She leaned closer to the mirror and applied chapstick to her pouty lips. Tucking her hair behind her ears, she turned and headed out of the locker room.
As she stepped out the door and headed for the gym, someone grabbed her wrist from behind. The touch was familiar, and, if she was honest with herself, expected. Especially after what happened on the courts, an apology was in order. The action didn’t surprise her, and she didn’t cry out. Instead, she allowed herself to be pulled toward the storage area near the girl’s locker room that held the gymnastic mats. Her wrist was released and she turned to face him, crossing her arms over her chest. Wes hopped onto a stack of mats. It was typical of him to bring her someplace private, away from prying eyes, after making a spectacle in public. Wes was good at apologizing, but he was horrible about admitting he was wrong in front of others.
“Sorry about what I said on the court, but you needed some motivation. They were creaming us. I figured the best way to get you to play better was to make you mad.” He smiled.
Katie rolled her eyes and turned to walk away. She didn’t make it very far. Wes wrapped his legs around her thighs and pulled her backward. He draped his arm across her left shoulder and rested his hands on her ribs, right below her breast. She shuddered. His mouth was right next to her ear; his breath tickled her lobe.
 
“Why don’t you still have a crush on me?” he whispered. He traced his fingertip gently across her shoulder and down her arm.
Goosebumps rose on her flesh. Her stomach fluttered; a chill ran down her spine. The smell of soap and mint drifted into her nostrils. The heat from his body radiated through her, making her feel safe. It was a short-lived sensation though, and the flutter in her stomach quickly turned into a lump. She lifted her arm and dug her elbow into his side. He grunted and let go. Without a word, she stomped toward the gym.
Wes caught his breath and jumped off the mats. “Katie, come on. Come back. I’m sorry.” She turned around, her face red with anger. “Just leave me alone!”
She tried to keep her emotions in check, but the words came out louder than she expected. She spun around quickly, not wanting Wes to see how upset she was. As she did, she ran into someone. Jerking back, she opened her mouth to apologize, but the words stuck in her throat. Bright blue eyes met hers, then quickly flicked over her head. She took in the boy’s short light brown hair styled with gel, the full lips that turned down in a frown. The muscles bulged beneath his shirt, and she fought back the urge to place her hands back on his chest. Josh Evers.
“Everything all right, Katie? This guy bothering you?”
Oh, my God! she thought. He knows my name. Josh Evers knows my name!
It took her a moment to find her voice. “No, I’m fine. Thank you.”
The redness in her face that had been there from anger quickly turned into embarrassment. The desire to run and hide from both boys overwhelmed her.
“Hey, Josh, why don’t you mind your own business? Katie and I were having a private conversation.”
 
Katie glanced over her shoulder. Wes had placed his hands on his hips but hadn’t moved forward. She looked back at Josh.
“If you ask me, it doesn’t look like she wants to talk to you at all.” He balled his hands into fists at his sides, a gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by Wes.
“Oh, really? What are you going to do about it, Josh?” Wes spit the name out before taking a step forward.
Josh also took a step, and worry coursed through Katie’s body. The tension in the air was palpable. She didn’t want them fighting on her account. Although, in the back of her mind, the action flattered her. Especially coming from Josh. He had just transferred to their school at the beginning of the semester. As the captain of the baseball team, he was the desire of every girl in the school and the envy of the boys. Katie hadn’t thought he knew she existed. Yet, there he was coming to her rescue and calling her by name. It was enough to make her swoon. And she would have if the situation had been different. As it was, she needed to stay alert. A teacher could come by at any moment. She didn’t want them getting in trouble for her. She had no idea what she would say, but she could probably come up with something if she really needed to.
Not that she had anything to worry about from Wes. He’d never do anything to hurt her. He wasn’t lying when he said she used to have a crush on him. She’d liked him since they were in kindergarten. At times, Wes even made it seem he liked her back. Then, at other times, he made it perfectly clear he didn’t reciprocate her feelings. Those moments crushed her, sent her home crying on more than one occasion. But those moments of tenderness, the ones that made her believe he liked her, sustained her, kept her hoping that maybe someday something would happen between them. He had toyed with her emotions for their entire school career.
 
By her senior year in high school, she’d had enough. She couldn’t take the roller coaster of emotion, didn’t want to feel like she was being strung along. She resolved to stay away from Wes, convincing herself she could do it. Only one more year, then she’d leave for college, and she’d never have to see him again. But he showed up her in homeroom, then in her gym class. She wanted to burst into tears when he took the desk next to her. Why was he making this so difficult? Still, she wasn’t going to let her resolve fail. She would ignore him, pretend he didn’t exist.
When Josh showed up, he made pretending Wes wasn’t there so much easier. On top of that, he was standing up for her honor, defending her against a rival. As he stood in front of her, so close to her body she felt the heat radiating from him, thoughts of wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing him ran through her mind. She imagined how firm his muscles would feel under her hands, how soft his lips would be. She inhaled deeply and the spicy tang of aftershave caressed her nostrils. It took every ounce of self-control to keep from molesting him.
Josh took another step closer to Wes. Without thinking, she placed her hands on Josh’s stomach to stay him. As she suspected, the muscles were hard under her fingers. The seriousness of the situation flooded back into her mind. If she didn’t say something, a fight could ensue and someone might get hurt.
“Josh, no, please. He’s not worth it.” She glanced over her shoulder and stared at Wes with narrowed eyes.
Wes held his hands out to his sides. Hurt crossed his face.
Without saying another word, Josh wrapped his arm around Katie’s shoulders and escorted her into the gym away from Wes.
About the Author:
In 2009, eTreasures Publishing published my first novel, a sci fi adventure story.  Since then, they have published my two YA zombie novels, my religious zombie novella, two children’s picture books, and two novellas with romantic elements.  I have an urban fantasy novel about dragons and a vampire novelette that was published by MuseItUp Publishing.  Musa Publishing has published my novelette with romantic elements and a collection of short stories.  I have a middle grade urban fantasy novel that was published by Little Devil Books.  My nonfiction book about slasher films was published by Scarecrow Press.
Writing is my passion.  I enjoy creating fantastic worlds and memorable characters.  I’m an active promoter of my works and love to talk to readers at book signings and readings.  Doing giveaways on Goodreads has been an exciting experience, and having contests for readers has been fun.  I actively promote various authors on my blog and participate in blog tours to promote my own work.
I write under several different pen names.  For my children’s titles, I write under J.D. Pooker, and for my YA and adult novels, I write under Pembroke Sinclair.  My nonfiction work is done under my real name.
I am a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and am on a committee to create membership criteria for iPAL, which is a sister group to the Published Authors Liaison group and focuses on independent and self-published authors.  I am also a member of the ALA and really enjoy doing library visits.