Review: The Devil's Metal (Devil's #1) by Karina Halle

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Title: The Devil's Metal (Devil's #1) 
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: New Adult, Horror, Paranormal
Format: eBook ARC
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble



It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she’ll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass.

If a non-self-help book could inspire me to write. It would hands-down be this one. The amazing writing style of Halle brought back my worries about reviewing books by experienced writers. What gives me, a lone reader and reviewer, the right to criticize a book that was brilliantly written by an amazing author like Karina Halle? That's one question that will always be left unanswered.

The Devil's Metal contains the basic four things of the 1970's, alcohol, drugs, sex and rock'n'roll. The four things that was basically shunned by many during that time (if I am not mistaken). And the four things that brought this book to life. And the fact that the book was almost based on the authors real experiences, made the storyline even more intriguing.

Dawn is a writer and a music lover. And if you mix them together, you'll have a very talented music journalist, who gets a chance to go on tour and document her favorite band's experiences on this particular tour. I loved Dawn, she is the brave person I'd like to be one day (minus the four basic things of the 1970's) and the kind of writer I'd love to be. Reading her story made me experience so much without even going through it in real life. And that is all thanks to Karina Halle's fabulous detailing writing skills!

The book is categorized as Paranormal as well as New Adult. New Adult, I got the moment I began the book but Paranormal element in the book was vague until the end when things are explained to Dawn (Demons!). Which was different and definitely the kind of different that I love experiencing. Likewise, the best element of the book was how realistic life on a metal tour is like and the fact that it was based in the late 1970's made it all even better.

In the end, The Devil's Metal in itself is a soul-sucking book that is simply unputdownable. Everything Karina Halle writes leaves us at the most annoying cliffhanger and all together, books that sparks up an addiction that I don't think is healthy. I absolutely loved the Devil's Metal and everything written by Karina and with that I've got one more thing to say: Karina, You better be planning to release the sequel very soon!

Review: Moon Called (Mercedes Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs

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Title: Moon Called (Mercedes Thompson #1)
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

Mercy Thompson's life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn't exactly normal herself.

Urban Fantasies are one of my favorite genres and I was curious to see how Werewolves fit into it. Honestly, it was exactly what I expected and my expectations were awfully low for this book. That is mainly because I dislike werewolves. But hey! If you're living life, might as well try things at least once. Let's start this review with a different breakdown. Starting with the bests and ending with the worsts.

Best thing about this book was the protagonist, Mercy's attitude towards life, people and most of all Werewolves. In the book, she enumerates what are the do's and dont's of being around Werewolves, which I found tickling my funny bone. The worst thing about the book was probably, the fact that it wasn't as enthralling readers expect from a big shot author like Patricia Briggs. I guess, this series wasn't her best? I can't judge or compare yet, I have yet to read more from her.

Best thing about the plot was that it brought together Mercy and one of the Werewolves she has known for years. Though, I'm pretty sure other readers would say something else about the plot aside from the romance, maybe something along the lines of the action, and mystery Briggs threw in. As for the worst part of the plot was the fact that it lacked the "big bang" factor.

The characters don't have much of the best and the worst. They all played their parts in the story that created massive hypes in Mercy's life. I don't dislike anyone to be honest. I wasn't attached to any other character besides Mercy and found everyone okay and somewhat likable in their own way.

The best thing about the ending could be that it ended happily. The worst part about it was the fact that it lacked the essence of a good cliffhanger. I don't feel like reading the next installments because of that.

To sum it all up, Moon Called is the best with a snarky, sarcastic protagonist, a plot that fed my romantic girly side, and an ending that will make you happy and relieved. Altogether Patricia Briggs still manages to write beautifully with wonderful dialogue and style. Despite the books flaws, I say - why not read the next following books! It might surprise me.

Giveaway + Promo Post : Elemental Series by Sauna Granger

Click to view tour schedule

Le! Character Profile: Shay

Full name: Shayna Bridget O’Connell

Elemental Name: Terra

Elemental power: Earth

Extraneous powers: Telepathy and Empathy

Age: 17 years old (18 by the end of the series)

Likes:

• Coffee, hot or cold, any time of day.

• Reading, though she doesn’t get much time for it. Her favorite book is Alice in Wonderland.

• Unexpected rainy days.

• Surfing.

• The color green.

Dislikes:

• Being in a relationship. Shay likes to be on her own and bristles at the idea of having to check-in with someone.

• The color orange.

• Large crowds – because of her empathetic abilities large crowds wreak havoc with her emotions and mind.

• Hospitals – the only two places she can be in a hospital and be calm is the front door or Obstetrics because both places balance life and death, happiness and pain.

Personality:

Shay is an only child, so she is used to being on her own but she values her relationship with Jodi and Steven more than anything. She never felt truly whole until she met them. She is fiercely protective over anyone she considers a friend and will go to whatever lengths possible to help them. Shay can sometimes be a little overbearing in her efforts to protect people, even forgetting to ask for help when she, herself, needs it. Shay tries to be honest with people but she finds it especially difficult to trust others and prefers to keep anyone besides Jodi and Steven at arms’ length.

Earth (Elemental #1)

By Shauna Granger
Release Date: 05/01/11
Paperback/e-book

Summary from Goodreads:
Shayna and her two best friends have the abilities to manipulate and control the four elements, earth, air, water and fire. While learning to hone their growing powers, they discover a new and malicious presence in their sleepy beach town. Someone is performing blood magic and threatens to expose their small magical community. So far only small animals have been slaughtered, but then the nightmares start.

Shayna suffers nightmares of being chased and sacrificed only to wake up bloodied and bruised. She thinks her magical blood is the ultimate target for the final blood rite. When an innocent girl, Tracy, is kidnapped Shayna knows it's only a ploy to draw her out; she can't let someone die because of her.

Earth links: (PS, the kindle version of Earth is free for a limited time only!) 

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Book-One-Elemental-Series/dp/1463603320/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1350268656&sr=8-7&keywords=shauna+granger 

Air (Elemental #2) 

By Shauna Granger 
Release Date: 10/31/11 
Paperback/e-book 

Summary from Goodreads: 
It was a rough start to the school year for Shayna and her friends, Jodi and Steven, but thankfully summer break is near. Trying to sort out her feelings for the new guy in town, Shayna agrees to let Jensen join her on a group date with her friends. While out they end up at a local coffee house where their classmate, social outcast Jeremy McCormick, is humiliated by his baseball star brother. When Jeremy runs away from the jeering crowd, Shayna and Jodi hear the unmistakable sound of a thousand wings chasing after him, but no one else seems to hear them. These are not like any air elementals that Shayna or Jodi have ever encountered before and they fear Jeremy has gotten himself tangled up in something too dangerous for him to handle. But when Shayna tries to help Jeremy control his magical abilities she realizes it might be the biggest mistake of her life. 

Air links: 

http://www.amazon.com/Air-Book-Two-Elemental-Series/dp/1466282835/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1350268656&sr=8-3&keywords=shauna+granger 

Water (Elemental #3) 
By Shauna Granger
Release Date: 06/19/12
Paperback/e-book

Summary from Goodreads: 
Shayna's first surfing session of the summer is interrupted by the screams of a mother who has lost her little boy in the water. Without regard to her own safety, Shayna swims out, rescues the boy, but must escape the clutches of something far worse than she could have ever imagined – mermaids.

Compelled to answer the sirens' call, the boys of Shayna's town are drawn to the sea, but when they return are afflicted by an unknown illness, a sickness which is draining them of their life force. Unable to tell anyone about the mermaids, Shayna and her friends are forced to solve the mystery before it's too late, and in doing so, Shayna will finally have to face the full force of her powers. Whether she’s ready or not, she will have to face her true nature. 

Water links: 

http://www.amazon.com/Water-Three-Elemental-Series-Volume/dp/1475113706/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1350268656&sr=8-5&keywords=shauna+granger 

Fire, book #4 in the Elemental series is coming soon!

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Grand Prize:
There is a signed copy of each paperback, Earth, Air and Water and a matching bookmark for each. There is a mini Jack-o-lantern (that I carved) and an awesome, sparkly candle (electric) and some fun Halloween treats that include candy, stickers and copy of one of my favorite Halloween movies, Monster House. (US only)

3 other winners will also receive a ebook from the series, winner’s choice from Earth, Air or Water. (Open Internationally)

About the Author 

I don't do well talking about myself. So as basics go, I have recently self-published the first two books in my Elemental Series, Earth and Air, Young Adult Urban Fantasy novels. Look for the third installment, Water, coming in 2012!

I have been working on the Elemental Series for the last four years and plan for it to be a 5 book series. It was a hard decision to self-publish but it's been an exciting and terrifying ride. 

You can find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shauna-...

And to my readers (or fans of my covers), I have beautiful bookmarks that I would love to share with you. If you'd like one, drop me a note with your contact info and I'd be happy to send you one! 

Goodreads

Blog

Twitter 

Facebook

Aren't the covers so pretty? :)

Cover Reveal: Reaction by Jessica Roberts

Reaction: Reflection #2

By Jessica Roberts

Release Date: November 6, 2012

Book Description: (Spoilers if you haven't read Reflection!)

Harmony… 

I’ve previously had that in my life, but only once, briefly, a while ago. It was during the time I’d started my first year of college. My own apartment, a new old car, and a life free of deadbeat stepfathers, all of which was fulfilling enough. But if it wasn’t, I also had a best friend, soul mate, and boyfriend all in one. Yes, life was near perfect.

But one stormy night can change everything…

For many months I rested in a prolonged sleep, fighting for my life. Well, more than fighting for it, also dreaming of it. Dreaming of him. Thank goodness, the dream is over and I’m back in the real world now. And all I want is for everything to return to the way it was. But nothing’s the same; most of all, us.

Once again, I find myself at the crossroads of a ruthless battle, this time not for life, but love. Do I fight for the guy I twice fell for, or do I let her take him away?

Reflection
By Jessica Roberts
Release Date: February 17, 2012
289 pages


Summary from Goodreads:

Bright, spunky Heather Robbins has escaped her small hometown and is anxiously beginning her freshman year of college. Rising above her rocky childhood, she’s found a place where good things are finally starting to happen: her own private apartment, refreshing college classes, and an intense attachment to a mysterious and rugged classmate, Nick Richards.

But when her dreamy college life turns out to be nothing more than a wonderful dream while resting in a coma, questions threaten.

Now, Heather must press forward to unlock the real past, and find the answers buried deep in her mind. What she unlocks instead is a roller coaster ride through flashbacks, embellished memories, and a whirlwind romance.

And when it’s all over and she comes face to face with the truth, will she lose everything she’s fallen in love with?

About this author 

JESSICA ROBERTS grew up in the San Francisco, California Bay Area where she spent most of her time playing sports alongside her six siblings. She was crowned Miss Teen California her senior year of high school, and went on to Brigham Young University where she graduated in Human Development. Her love of family, church, writing, athletics, and singing and dancing keeps her life busy and fulfilled. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three children.

Website  | @JRobertsAuthor

Quick Review: Touch Me and Tango (Dance 'n' Love #2) by Alicia and Roy Street

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Title: Touch Me and Tango (Dance 'n' Love #2)
Author: Alicia and Roy Street
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook for Review

Parker Richardson grew up early. At seventeen he took care of his mother and younger sisters and began running his late father’s gardening business. Strong and down-to-earth, nothing knocked him off his feet until he met Tanya Gentilliano. The spoiled, selfish and outrageously beautiful young dancer took him for a spin that left him dizzy for years to come.

Over a decade has passed, and Tanya, a rising star in the world of ballroom dance, has traveled internationally, winning over audiences with her clean technique, dazzling smile and showgirl legs. But after an SOS phone call from her weird-and-wild mom, she rushes home to the quiet coastal village on Long Island’s East End and runs smack into Parker Richardson.

Seeing each other again ignites the same fiery attraction and frustration between them. Plus a secret danger that will change both of their lives forever.

I actually read the this book before the first book. I was actually surprised when I figured out that you don't really have to read the first one to read the second.

Touch Me and Tango is the sequel to Kiss Me, Dancer, which was a lot better than this one. This one is about Parker's (Casey's older brother) and his old girlfriend reuniting and sparks start flying again despite how much hurt they both feel after 10 years of no correspondence what so ever. Tanya (his old girlfriend) is now, a big international dance star and Parker earns his living by running fathers gardening business.

The storyline is a little bit more fast-paced than the first book. And I found Tanya and Parker's I still love you but I don't think you love me anymore cycle. It was annoying but I can't help but get over it because the book was so damn romantic.

Another wonderful romance from Alicia and Roy Street!

Review: Kiss Me, Dancer (Dance 'n' Love #1) by Alicia & Roy Street

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Title: Kiss Me, Dancer (Dance 'n' Love #1)
Author: Alicia and Roy Street
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook for Review

A roller coaster of a romance between a divorced dad and a dance teacher.

Dance instructor Casey Richardson takes an immediate dislike to the brash, arrogant Drew Byrne when he pulls his nine-year-old son out of her “silly” dance class. Still, she cannot help noticing his smoking hot body and bedroom eyes.

A working class girl raised in the small fishing and farming community on Long Island’s rural North Fork, Casey knows all too well how easily a girl can get hurt by the notorious womanizing hunks that flourish on the South Fork in the Hamptons. Men like Drew Byrne.

The last thing she needs is for him to be the only one who can save her from losing her dance academy, the dream she has worked so hard to turn into a reality.

Remarrying is definitely off Drew’s list of things to do. As head of his Fortune 500 trucking company, he enjoys his wealth and has no problem keeping it a game with some of the world’s most beautiful women. So why should his son’s challenging, straight talking dance teacher get under his skin in a way no other female has?

Sure, Casey Richardson has luminous brown eyes and a lean, taut body that drives him nuts, but he’s seen plenty in his day with the supermodels he is used to dating. He tells himself it is because Casey is the only one who was able to bring his shy, uncommunicative son out of his shell. But even that isn’t it.

Bewildered, Drew decides he just might make use of those ridiculous psychic readings he won at North Cove’s Annual Fourth Of July Bazaar raffle. Little does he know the local psychic who donated the readings has taken off last minute for some trekking in Tibet —and Casey was swayed into substituting for her with phone readings to the anonymous winner.

Adult contemporary romance is like a maze. A maze built out of so many books that it is so difficult to find anything good in the genre... until I found this one. I'm so glad I got an email with this eBook waiting for me to munch on!

Casey Richardson has a dream. A dream that she made a reality: she teaches dance at her very own dance school. But it seems too good to be true. Her dance school is threatened and she has less than two-three months before she closes it completely. On the day she received the bad news, she meets a very dashing, rich and harsh womanizer that makes her insides melt and her groin ache. No way is she going to let herself fall in love with him, she's been down that road before and she is not going to repeat her mistakes. Especially when she can avoid it now.

Kiss Me, Dancer is a contemporary romance that had so much depth, emotion, passion and love. At first glance at the cover, I expected to read one of those sweet, fluffy and funny novels that really didn't have much depth and had more of the straight to the point love that is too easy. This book slapped that cover away and gave you reality that was written by a great duo of authors writing from both a male and female side. The outcome of the perfect tag team is simply AH-MEH-ZING.

Casey is a humble, sweet and sexy (in her own way) character. She is incredibly likable and any reader would love her and treat her like their very own book best friend. Drew on the other hand, is an incredibly realistic male lead. I've read a lot of books written by women and they almost got the male character right, ALMOST. But this one is spot on realistic. Secondary characters fit in so well and I'm pretty sure the story will be nothing without them. The storyline was in depth, detailed, wonderfully constructed and simply perfect.

Hats off to the Streets for their beautifully written romantic story of real life troubles, and heart ache's. A brilliant script for a chick flick we girls would love to cry and swoon about!

In My Mailbox #48 : Contemporary Overload + Jane Eyre Retellings!

A weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we post all books we have received where in the mail, bought or got from the library.

Hey guys! I'm finally on time with IMM's! I'm so happy. *does a little dance* Check out all the contemporary books I got and the Jane Eyre Retellings I got. :) I loooooove Jane Eyre!

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Duff by Kody Keplinger

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Simone Elkeles

How to Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles

How to Ruin Your Boyfriends Reputation by Simone Elkeles

Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Until I die by Amy Plum 

Easy by Tammara Webber

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund 

One Night that Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt

Forget You by Jennifer Echols 

Jane by April Lindner (Jane Eyre Retelling)

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey (Jane Eyre Retelling)

The List by Siobhan Vivian

Book I designed! Super excited that I get to hold it :) Thanks Sarah! I can't wait to read it.

The Blemished by Sarah Dalton 

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson 

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey 

Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey 

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

What did you get this week? :)

Review: Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures #1) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

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Title: Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures #1)
Author: Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Genre: Young Adult: Paranormal, Teen
Format: Paperback
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Beautiful Creatures is indeed an epic read that is dark, mysterious and everything like the cover. I honestly, did not expect to like this book at all and expected very little from it. From my past experiences with books that everyone's hyped up about. I always ended up indifferent to it. But this one was an exception that I actually liked, not as much as I wanted to like it. But I liked it enough to give it four stars.

Kami and Margaret wrote the book in such a way that it always seemed gloomy and dark. The atmosphere in the book gave me the creeps. A lot of it. The book had your usual new girl, who has special powers and town boy falls in love with her. Despite that basic Young Adult Paranormal structure, the authors managed to surround that with tons of originality that pretty much filled the entire book till it reached 530 pages.

Lena and Ethan were okay characters that honestly did annoy me sometimes. I even face-palmed myself once in awhile. But they were sweet together and they made me go "aww" sometimes. I was even surprised when the book was told in Ethan's perspective and not Lena's. I'm glad it was the hero this time. It made the book feel really refreshing.

When Lena moves into town, she is immediately disliked and shunned when they all find out that she is the niece of the town shut in. She is bullied not only in school by the students but also by the student's parents. I admired Ethan's tenacity for sticking up for her especially when he is putting his reputation in jeopardy.

The plot and other minor characters were so beautifully built with enough detail and a lot of dialogue to paint the perfect image in any readers mind. I'm amazed at how easily you can go through each page, not only because of the content but because of how easily to read the formatting was. It wasn't one of those books that love squishing a hell lot of paragraphs in one page. This was more breezy and simple.

Overall, I liked Beautiful Creatures, it had dark voodoo magic, magic in general and interesting mythologies that keeps a reader captivated. Despite the length of the book, I still managed to flip through pages and that is a perfect sign of an entertaining and enjoyable book.

Help Raise 1,000 books for charity and enter to win $200, signed books and swag!

Help Raise 1,000 books for charity and enter to win $200, signed books and swag!

We are excited to share about an ambitious blog tour—Fiction Frolic for All Hallow's Read—where ten authors from several genres are working hard to raise 1,000 books in three weeks for Books for America.

From October 1st to 19th, donate a new book (or books!) and earn extra bonus points in a huge giveaway that these authors are hosting.

Two winners will each receive the following PRIZES!

*  $100 Amazon G.C.

*  5 signed books from the authors hosting the event

*  A swag bag

Plus—in honor of All Hallow's read, gift a signed copy of one of our books to a friend!

With a total of $200, 12 signed books (including the gifted books) and major swag, what better way is there to raise books for charity and celebrate All Hallow's Read?

Each author participating is also donating signed copies of their books to Books for America, an awesome charity that is officially sponsoring their event and excited to be involved with All Hallow's Read. In 2011, Books for America donated more than $800,000 worth of books and materials to DC area schools, shelters and dozens of other educational programs and organizations.

The authors are blogging throughout the event at The Fiction Frolic Blog.

·      10/1-5 Read about how books shaped their love for reading and writing.

·      10/8-12 Read their scariest, funniest or craziest Halloween experiences, or learn about their favorite Halloween themed book or movie, or favorite work of "dark" literature.

·      10/15-19 Enjoy some flash fiction, short stories and novel excerpts.

So donate, share, and look for daily ways to enter to win. Donate to charity for bonus points!.

This event is sponsored by:

Eleanor T Beaty, author of the YA paranormal Veiled Mist

Brewin' author of the supernatural horror, The Dark Horde

Andy Gavin, author of the fantasy horror, The Darkening Dream

Laxmi Hariharan, author of the YA fantasy, The Destiny of Shaitan

Kimberly Kinrade, author of the YA paranormal thriller/romances, Forbidden Mind & Forbidden Fire

Richard Long, author of the supernatural thriller/horror, The Book of Paul

M.C. Mars, author of the mind-bending novel, Burner

Melissa McPhail, author of epic fantasy Cephrael's Hand

Sheryl Steines, author of She Wulf & Days of First Sun

Pavarti K Tyler., author of the Lit Fic Shadow on the Wall and the erotic horror Consumed by Love

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hey all! I hope you guys take a minute to read this post and consider donating!