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Legacy of a Dreamer Blog Tour - Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Hi Everyone! Today I have a stop on the Legacy of a Dreamer blog tour. There is an excerpt, review and giveaway for you all.


Legacy of a Dreamer
By: Allie Jean

Blurb
Chantal Breelan is a ward of the state, living under the care of a woman who is cold and heartless. Her past is a mystery, and her future is even more uncertain. She can’t recall why she had been taken from her parents and so she’s left with nothing but an empty hole where her childhood should have been. When she awakens from her nightmares, she’s left with terrible, violent images, as well as a boy whose face is oddly familiar, yet can’t be placed.

Scared and alone, Chantal begins to confide in an imaginary friend – a shadow in the shape of a man who stands in the corner of her room. She is comforted when she believes he listens to her. On her eighteenth birthday, Chantal is forced to leave her foster home. She moves to New York City, but the start of her new life doesn’t begin as smoothly as she’d hoped. One night at a subway station, Chantal meets a young boy who runs away from her, and she’s compelled to follow him down into the tunnels. But this Rabbit Hole reveals a world where reality is a nightmare.

Mathias is a descendant of a Fallen Angel and beholden to wage an unfathomable war against an ancient evil, spawned by greed and spite. A powerful fighter, he and his brethren of Warriors vow to pay recompense for the sins of their fathers by guarding the most precious, piercing light against the darkness – the females of their kind. The Warriors' pledge is to find and protect the Oracles, their sisters and kin. Long have they fought, shedding sweat and blood, hoping that their struggles are not in vain. Yet in his sacrifice and service he may find life’s ultimate reward – a love to surpass all time.

My Review
Chantal has had rough childhood. She lives in a foster home under the care of a woman who only cares for the money she receives. Dealing with anxiety and nightmares she doesn't even remember much of her childhood. Her only friend has been a shadow man she calls Nick. Now she has turned 18 and is put out to make it on her own. In New York she follows a child into the shadows and learns many things. She is a special girl with a gift and her shadow friend is a real Warrior sent to protect her. Now she must learn about the past and learn to fight the evil that is after her. She also may just find love along the way.

Chantal is a tough woman after growing up like she did she will not back down from anyone. I like that she isn't one to wait for a man to protect her. She wants to do what she can to fight her own battles and protect the innocent. Matthias (Nick) is a warrior who only wants to protect Chantal and fight evil. He does everything he can to not show how he feels and is a very proud man.

I loved the sound of this book and it didn't let me down. It kept my attention all the way through it. The first part of the book lets you get to see what kind of life Chantal has lived. There isn't a lot of action then bam it really takes off and your on your way to a journey of discovery and danger. I love learning the history of the Oracles and Warriors. It is an awesome story. I didn't see several things coming that happen and some are so evil. It really shows you how far the evil will go. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the ending left me wanting, no begging for more. If you want a great paranormal book pick this up.

4 out of 5 Stars

Excerpt
Chantal awoke from her dream, a layer of sweat covering her entire body. She sat up, disoriented and realizing she was in darkness.

Shaking off vague remnants of the horrible nightmare, she tried to regain her bearings.

“Hello?” she called, not expecting an answer. Perhaps somewhere in the back of her mind she hoped that Monica had come back to stay.

“Mon?”

There was a small clanking noise from across the room. Maybe it was just the settling of the wood framing, she thought, knowing full well wood didn’t make that kind of noise. She swallowed hard against a thick lump in her throat, her hand trembling as she reached for the new bedside lamp she’d borrowed from Monica. She clicked the dangling cord, but the light didn’t come on.

Chantal panicked, clicking the cord a couple of more times in fast succession. Then, taking a deep, steadying breath, she fumbled with the nightstand drawer, trying to find the old flashlight she kept there as backup.

Finding it, she felt a small spark of relief. But the stupid thing didn’t turn on. She hit the side like she’d done before, but nothing happened. The old batteries had given out.

Why didn’t I pick up more batteries? She silently scolded herself

This felt unnatural, like one of her nightmares. It had happened before, when she thought she’d awoken from her dream, only to realize the nightmares had tricked her, trapping her in a horror film so twisted it had left her anxious for weeks.

The clanking came again, this time more forceful, and she hoped one of her friends from the subway hadn’t followed her home.

“You better be a rat!” she said, and squinted into the darkness, hoping her eyes would adjust. The street lamp outside her apartment offered some help, but the majority of her room was dark and gloomy, congregating by the kitchen where the damn noise came from.

Hating that she felt so terrified and vulnerable, Chantal couldn’t help but look over to Nick’s corner. Maybe his presence would help alleviate her fear. There he was, with his head angled in her direction.

“The lights won’t come on,” she said, speaking to him aloud for the first time now that she lived alone. “I don’t know if that means some boogey man is coming for me, or my landlord needs to fix the connections.”

Silence greeted her, leaving a void both ominous and soothing, and she wasn’t sure if she preferred it to the clanking noise. She snuggled down into bed, pulling the covers up once more.

“You know, I would’ve said I was being ridiculous, but after today, I . . .”

She didn’t want to admit out loud what she’d seen because somehow it would make it all the more real. She glanced at Nick, feeling foolish and tired at the same time. She felt exhaustion from many sources, and she wished she could just sleep without the dreams, without the worries of the real world. Now, she had a whole new element to add to the scenario.

“Why did it come after me?” she asked, staring toward Nick as if his unchanging figure would have all her answers. “What did that . . . boy . . . mean when he said the shadows were coming for me?”

Nick, ever her faithful, silent companion, didn’t offer her anything but something to focus on. The fact that she depended on him was silly, but she couldn’t find it in her to care.

The clanking noise started again, this time in a steady, unwavering beat.

“That’s it,” she said, pulling the covers off her and headed in the direction of the main light switch. She’d figure out what caused the noise once and for all, but as she passed by Nick’s shadow, something caught her attention.

The head of the shadow had moved, as if following her, and she could have sworn she saw what looked like a pair of eyes, and she gasped.

There was a menacing laugh coming from the same direction as the rhythmic noise, and she backed away, terrified. A large shadow that hadn’t been there before took up the majority of her small kitchen. It moved and swayed to the beat of the clanking, like a tree caught in the breeze.

She bit the inside of her lip, a test she did often to make sure she was awake. This felt too much like a nightmare to be real, but the sharp sting and metallic taste of blood told her she was, in fact, awake. Her back met the wall behind her as she spread her fingers out against the plaster, bracing herself and wishing she could find a way out of this.

“It’ssss time, my dear,” an evil voice said from across the room, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She didn’t know what to do or where to go. The door to the hallway was on the opposite side of the apartment, and it was impossible to get there without getting closer to that shadow.

She glanced back in Nick’s direction, not knowing what to do, but he stood there, offering no help, those almost clear eyes holding her gaze. She wanted to tell him to do something if he was real, but an almost imperceptible shake of his shadowed head kept her silent. She bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling.

“What do you want from me?” she asked the moving shadow, her voice quavering in fear.

“Your death,” the thing said, taking a step out of the darkness. “Or the equivalent would be niiiiice.”

It was a grotesque creature wrapped in a thick, dark cloak, and it shuffled from side to side as it moved, its three-toed feet offering a wide base, its bald head holding no eyes or features but a yawning, empty mouth filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth.

The clanking noise got louder as it moved closer, and Chantal noticed something hanging from the front of its robes.

“You like it?” it asked, laughing and holding up the long chain of dangling things that clanked together as it moved. They looked like little baseballs in the dim lighting, but something inside told her they were far more horrendous. “These are the heads of your kin. The ones I found while they were still in infancy.”

She covered her mouth, trying to avoid being sick. The skulls of babies hitting one another produced the sound, and she couldn’t help but let out a little cry. It laughed at her, holding up the makeshift belt so that she could get a better view.

“Don’t feel bad for them, my lamb. They had it easy, probably didn’t even feel a thing. You, on the other hand . . .”

It pulled out a long serrated blade, the edges of it coated in what looked like dried blood. Chantal moved along the wall frantically, trying to find a means of escape.

“Why? Who are you?” she shouted.

“I’m The Sssseeker, my dear. I’m the one who finds your kin and wipes them out.”

“There must be a mistake,” she said, frantic. “I’m not who you think I am.”

“Oh, but you are. I can smell the scent of Grace on you a mile away.”

The creature came closer, its stench nauseating. Chantal wanted to scream but didn’t, not wanting to alarm her neighbors. She wouldn’t drag them into her nightmare.

She had the urge to fight him off but didn’t have any sort of weapon within reach. She could hear Natalie’s voice in her mind telling her countless times to make sure she bought a gun once she reached the city, but Chantal had always brushed the warning off. Now, she wished she’d listened. Hell, even a baseball bat would do right now.

The thing came closer, shuffling steps dragging it across the floor. She glanced toward Nick, hoping that he’d pop out of the shadow and come to rescue her, but he wasn’t there. His silhouette had disappeared, along with any hope she had beforehand.

She scrambled across the wall, heading toward her bed, hoping she could find something to defend herself. She pushed herself across the mattress, keeping the thing in view as she reached for the lamp. He laughed, both of them knowing she was pathetic. He raised his blade as his oozing mouth formed a horrifying smile.

“Excuse me,” a male voice said from behind the cloaked figure, making both the creature and Chantal pause. A man stepped into view, grayskinned, dark-haired, dressed in only a black pair of jeans with those distinct eyes Chantal had seen in the alleyway. “I think the lady’s made it clear she wants you to back off. Besides, you’re kind of gross.”

The creature lunged at the gray-skinned man, thrusting his blade toward his bare torso. The man spun, melting into the darkness, becoming part of the shadow again. He reappeared behind the creature, yielding a blade of his own.

They fought ferociously as Chantal sat frozen on her bed. Each had the ability to move like lightning; each could disappear into the darkness.

“She will die, Warrior, no matter how many you send to protect her,” the creature said, spitting his dark venom onto the floor as he whipped around in attempt to slice at the man’s lower torso.

“Not by your hand, and not while I’m still around,” the gray man said, hacking his blade through the air and just missing the creature’s melonshaped head.

“You protect her in vain,” it said, landing a punch to the man’s flank.

“She’s survived this long,” the gray man said, plunging his blade deep into the creature’s abdomen. It sputtered, spraying black liquid onto the floor. “And she will survive tonight, just like I said she would.” He twisted the blade, causing the creature let out a gurgled cry, and a torrent of fluid poured from the creature’s terrible mouth, leaving a puddle on the floor.

The thing melted in front of her, joining the filth on the floor. Once the creature had dissolved, the remains sizzled like acid and then disappeared.

The man stood, his blade held out at an angle, the length of it covered in black ooze. His eyes were vacant, his mouth moving as if in prayer. Chantal watched him, horrified and amazed at the same time.

“Nick?” she said. He glanced up and captured her with his angelic eyes.

“You know, I’ve always wondered why you call me that.”


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Author Info
Allie Jean was born with an overactive imagination. She spent her childhood inventing stories and telling tales. Her mind never shut down, even while she slept. Vivid dreams containing extensive, elaborate plot lines of good overcoming evil villains captured her nightly visions, lingering into her waking hours and filling the pages of her well-loved bounded diaries. She was encouraged by her parents, even at a young age, to write down her tales, and it has remained a somewhat secret hobby. As a busy wife, mother and critical care nurse, Allie’s love of storytelling has been reborn through the adventures of her unforgettable characters.

Author Links

Giveaway


Be sure to follow the tour!

Evanescent Cover Reveal & Giveaway

Hi everyone! I have the cover reveal for Evanescent today. First some about the book before you get to see the lovely full cover. 

Title: Evanescent A Broken Novel Book two 
Author: Carlyle Labuschagne
Genre: Dystopian. Science- Fiction. YA
Release Date: November 2013
Publishers: Sensational Publications
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:
Her fall has just begun. Only his touch can save her from the shift that could destroy it all.

Within my blood runs a thing our kind calls the Shadowing Disease. It shadows over, and bends everything to its will. When the first blood- shift came, it tore through flesh and blood, threatening to bend me, break bone, shatter my mind and entrap my heart with its honeyed, seductive poison. It came with vicious intent, moving my thoughts and altering me forever. The shift has caused a rift within me. No one was safe when it entrapped me in its claws of foul lust. But I have the only antidote against the evil that becomes me – his touch alone has the power to release the spurs of sweet darkness that clung on for dear life. I knew what I had to do; the desperation pulled my mind with the deep determination of a hungry predator. But by the time the revelation raised me from the dark dungeon of my bounds – it might have been too late.



Teaser
Powder
“Fine, I’ll help you, because I can see you’ll never give up on her, and I will never be my own if we don’t.”
“You better believe it,” Robert smirked.

The seven of us stood in thick, dusty, golden sand, huge pieces of rock and debris extruding like tombstones from ash. Battered, bruised and bloody, we watched as the ship disappeared over the huge dunes, our world turning to powder, everything ready to fly away in an escaping breath.

Author Bio:
Carlyle Labuschagne is a South African debut author working her way into the hearts of international readers with her first young adult dystopian novel "The Broken Destiny". She is not only an author, but works as a sales rep and marketing manager by day. She holds a diploma in creative writing through the writing school at College SA.

Carlyle, loves to swim, fights for the trees, and is a food lover who is driven by her passion for life. Carlyle also writes for IU e-magazine India, an inspirational non-profit magazine that aims at inspiring the world through words. The drive behind her author career is healing through words. Carlyle is also the founder of the first annual book drive – Help Build A Library inAfrica Project.

“My goal as an author is to touch people’s lives, and help others love their differences and one another.”



Links: 
The Broken Destiny Book Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FPWniWsvrk

Buy Links for The Broken Destiny:

Last Blood Release Day Blitz

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The Day Is Finally Here!!!!! Last Blood (House Of Comarré #5) Is Available To Buy!!!!
Last Blood is the 5th (and final) installment in the captivating story of Mal and Chrysabelle.
(For those that may have somehow missed this exciting saga scroll down for a special offer on book 1)
Last-Blood
In the final showdown between the forces of dark and light, Mal and Chrysabelle face not only Tatiana, but the ancient evil that now controls her: the Castus Sanguis. Chrysabelle gathers her friends and family around her, forming a plan to bring an end to the chaos surrounding them. But the Castus is the most powerful being they've ever come up against. Defeating such evil will require a great sacrifice from someone on the side of light.
One of them will change sides. One of them will die. No one will survive unscathed. Can Chrysabelle save those she cares about or will that love get her killed? What price is she willing to pay to draw last blood?
Get the book now in either eFormat or Paperback at
Barnes and Noble HERE
or Amazon HERE
Special Offer!!!!! For Book 1 In The Series - Blood Rights!!!!!!
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For those that haven't joined the journey yet right now you can get book 1 in the series for just $2.99 for either Kindle Or Nook!!!!
Get it from Barnes and Noble HERE
Get it from Amazon HERE
About The Author
Kristen
When the characters in Kristen Painter's head started to take over, she decided to put them on paper and share them with the world. She writes paranormal romance and the gothic fantasy vampire series, House of Comarre, for Orbit Books. She has also been published in non-fiction, poetry and short stories. The former college English teacher can often be found online at Romance Divas, the award-winning writers' forum she co-founded. She's represented by Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency.
Sign up for her newsletter - HERE
Find her on Facebook - HERE
Follow her on Twitter - HERE

Destiny Unveiled - Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Hi everyone! Today I have a stop on the Destiny Unvealed blog tour. There is a review, excerpt and info on the book for you all.

Title: Destiny Unveiled (Destiny Series, 2)
Author: Laura DeLuca
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:
Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella's help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. Gabriella's coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands. Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.

My Review
They have defeated evil and now graduated high school. Just when Gabriella and Darron think their life will be normal a relative from the past shows up and changes all that. Gabriella's Aunt Donna shows up needing their help in saving her daughter from the Dark Coven. The girl just may be the key to destroying the mortal world. As they race to save not only her but all mortals they may just face their biggest challenge yet.

Just when you think the coven has faced big enough challenges in the first book you find they are about to face even bigger ones. Gabriella and Darron love each other and you really see just how much in this second book. They will do whatever it takes to be with each other.  You also get to see just how close of friendship they have with the other members of their coven. They truly are a family and it shows in every scene. They all have each others back as they face danger and may just not make it out a live. Besides love and friendship you get to see lots of magical action. They have to face all kinds of scenes and try to keep it hidden from the mortals. I will say this book has several twist and turns that you don't see coming. The surprises will leave you shocked as they changed everything the group knows. There is heartache betrayal and so much more in this wonderful book. If you enjoyed he first one you will love this book as you learn so much more. Recommended to any fan of books with witches, magic and so much more.
4 out of 5 Stars

Excerpt

Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far the largest building in the general area, standing several stories higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes they wore hid their features from view.


There was an altar erected in the center of a circle that was outlined in black charcoal. On that altar sat the normal tools of ritual: a black tipped dagger, a silver chalice, an incense burner, and multiple black candles. Darron owned similar items. They weren't frightening in themselves. But the altar, like the people who lingered around it, was outlined by a shimmering black aura. The vibrations they relayed were no less than evil. Their presence made Darron shudder. He watched in horror, as a silent and unwelcome spectator to the forbidden rights.


Four of the cloaked figures took up the elemental corners, preparing to call the Guardians. The Guardians answered their call, unable to ignore the summons because magick can't be divided into good and evil. It's both because nature is both, harsh and devastating yet beautiful and gentle as the need arises. It was just as easy for the dark witches to harness the destructive forces of nature as it was for Darron and his coven to call upon its life giving magick. Good or evil was in the heart of its master, not in the magick that was wielded.

A fifth cloaked figure, the apparent leader of the group, stood in the center of the circle with the dagger raised high above his head. The sixth and final coven member groveled at the feet of the leader, his head lowered in acquiescence. The hood of his cloak hid his face though he was no more than a few feet away from Darron.

"Brother and sisters," the leader proclaimed, his accented voice heavy with his foreboding presence. "Tonight in the wake of the blood moon, we come together to bring a new brother into our fold. He has completed the required tasks and proven himself worthy to join us in our work."

"So mote it be!"

The four other cloaked figures cried out in perfect unison. Their hands were raised to the sky in honor of the blood moon.

The leader picked up the chalice from the altar. He followed the path of the circle to all of the elemental corners, stopping at each of the robed coven members in turn. Each offered their willing hands to their leader, palm outward. Each welcomed the point of the black edged dagger as it dug into their open palms without so much as a gasp of pain. The high priest cut a clean line down the centers of the palms of his disciples, and they all squeezed their fingers against the open wound to allow the blood to drip into the waiting chalice.

After collecting the offering from his followers, the leader returned to the center of the circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick motion, he sliced open his own palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his blood drip slowly into the chalice, until the wound miraculously healed before Darron's startled eyes. When the chalice was full, he carried it to the eager initiate who took the cup firmly into his hands and tilted it towards his lips.

"As this blood makes you one with our flesh, so your soul follows to become one with the darkness," the English voice intoned.

As the initiate drained the last of the liquid in the chalice, his hood fell away, revealing a blonde ponytail pulled back over a pale white face, made even paler by the outline of bright red blood around his lips. Darron watched in stunned, horrified silence as his own face turned to meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black as coals stared back at Darron with a grim smile of satisfaction.

"Rise Darron," the leader commanded. And as he spoke, he lifted the hood from his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven."

Here is info on book one!
Blurb
Gabriella is a witch. The problem is, she doesn't remember. She repressed the memories of her powers years ago when her mother was murdered. Now, the warlock who was responsible for her mother's death has set his sights on Gabriella. He is determined to use her fear to turn her to the dark side of magick…even if it kills her. Her mother's spirit is reaching out to warn her, but even that she pushes away. Desperate to save her daughter, the spirit finds a male witch–one that just happens to be in love with Gabriella. Darron is more than willing to help but the two young witches will have way more to battle than just an evil warlock. There are overbearing jocks and petty rich girls who get tempers flaring and often set Gabriella and Darron at odds.

There is more to the story than Gabriella and Darron could even imagine. There are terrible secrets to be revealed, battles to be waged, and lives will be lost. Only after Gabriella and Darron both come to terms with who they really are, and open themselves up to the true meaning of magick, can they have any hope of fulfilling their destiny.

Destiny Buy Links
Available on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.

Excerpt from Destiny

Her eyes scanned the room, from the pale blue sofa to the bloody dent in the wall. But she didn’t need her eyes to know Darron was there. Her heart sensed his presence before her eyes saw him lying in a heap on the ground. His body shuttered with occasional spasms, and even though he wasn’t fully conscious, his lips were twisted in a grimace of pain.

    Uttering a gasp of surprise, Gabriella flew to his side. She knelt beside him, and choked back a sob as she took his hand in her own. She saw his chest rise and fall and was glad to know was alive, but she felt helpless as she watched his face contort in pain. She noticed something wet and sticky on her fingertips. She gently titled his head and saw a large gash that looked like it needed medical attention.  The skin around the gash was so deeply bruised it looked almost black.
    “Darron, what happened to you?”
     He didn’t move or reply. Gabriella moved her hand from the cut on his forehead, and her fingers dripped with blood. She bit her lower lip with fear. She knew enough about head injuries to know that the wound could be serious. She grabbed a few tissues from a box on the coffee table, and tried to apply pressure to the wound, but it was useless. The tissues were soaked through in seconds.
    “Darron?” She squeezed his hand, and fought back tears of fear and frustration.  “Darron, please open your eyes. Please be all right!”
    He squirmed and groaned a little in response. Looking at his contorted features, Gabriella felt incompetent and useless. She didn’t know what to do to help him. The cut must need stitches. The blood was gushing through her fingertips, and she was sure his life was slipping away just as quickly.
    More than anything, Gabriella wanted to help Darron, to end his suffering. Her thoughts, her desperation, caused something deep inside of her to stir. Something that had long been napping was awoken. The power she had fought so hard to deny was forcing its way to the surface. This time she didn’t struggle against that power. Her instinct to hide from it was finally overcome by the thought of losing someone else she cared about.

    Gabriella was pulling strength and warmth from the earth, as though her legs were tree roots taking nourishment from the element. A tingling sensation began in the tips of her toes and spread slowly though her body as she breathed in the essence of the element of air.  Her blood flowed and grew warm, the element of water, bringing the power to the surface. She was overcome by a vigorous strength as she envisioned her spirit encircled by the element of fire. She felt so powerful that she thought she could stop the world from churning if that was what she wished. Gabriella focused the power, remembering for a moment her mother’s lessons. She looked down at her battered friend. She willed him to open his eyes and look at her. She demanded it of him.
    Gabriella would have thought it was impossible, but she felt herself grow warmer. Her face dripped with perspiration. The power within her reached a climax. Then finally, when she thought she might burst, she felt the energy release. It seeped through her fingers, and shined with an illumination that only she could see. She heard herself chanting unfamiliar words, and scarcely recognized her own voice.
            “By the power of earth, water, fire and air,
             Heal this man who’s in my care.
             Goddess, hear your daughter’s plea.
             As I will it, so mote it be!”
    Gabriella repeated the words three times. Three was the number of power. Then she watched as the wound on Darron’s forehead healed before her eyes, becoming smaller and smaller, until finally it was gone. The blood was still warm and sticky, but beneath the blood, the skin was smooth and unmarred. Even the horrible bruise had vanished. Gabriella stared in open astonishment, marveling at the work she had done.


Author Bio
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.

Links: 
Follow the author Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Pinterest


Giveaway

One Hot Knight - Review

One Hot Knight by Christy Gissendaner
Blurb
Stupid curse!

Yves Sucat was a Crusader trapped in a canine body…until a beautiful twenty-first century dog groomer offered the missing link to break his spell. But Regina Patterson was no fluffy-headed female who would instantly melt at Yves' silvery seduction. The more time he spent with the tender-hearted blonde, the less he was able to keep his paws—hands!—off of her.

Regina was much more comfortable with dogs than men, and the stunningly handsome – stunningly male – knight who now shared her apartment was no exception. She’d hoped to find a man as loyal as the pooches she pampered day after day, but would Yves’s broken curse end with her own broken heart?

My Review
Yves has been trapped as a dog for around 900 years. He made a witch angry over a misunderstanding and was curse to be a dog. All that changes when Regina who loves dogs takes him in and puts a magic collar on him. Now she is faced with a naked very sexy man and Yves is faced with trying to convince her to help him. As they try to figure out how to break the curse permanently things heat up between them. Even if Regina resist wanting Yves. After all she knows men are dogs this one just really was a dog before she knew it was a man underneath.

Yves is from a different time period and has some adjustments to make. He is sexy, charming and really is a knight wanting to protect people. Regina doesn't trust easy and is more comfortable with the canines she loves. You get to see her open up the more she is around Yves. She can be sweet, funny but definitely isn't a morning person. She also has a few sides you would never guess as you read the book you find out more. At first I didn't like her to much but she grew on me as I saw more sides of her. Yves had me from the start.

If you are looking for a lighter paranormal romance book this is the one. It has a great plot and the characters are a lot of fun to get to know. Yves really gives me a few laughs as he figures out more about what this time period is. He knows some from being a dog but clothes still confuse him and I love the dressing room scene with him. I will say this book has a few twist I don;t see coming as they try to fix Yves curse. The author did a great job as I did not expect them. Another great thing Regina doesn't jump right in bed with Yves. So many times now you see females or males in books jump right together the first day they meet. Not these two they actually get to know each other a little first. It does have steamy scenes to enjoy so no worries! I recommend this to all who enjoy light love stories with some steamy scenes, paranormal lovers, or just anybody wanting to read a good book.

4 out of 5 Stars


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Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! - Review

Lions, Tigers, and Bears Oh My! by Candace Havens
Blurb
A Montana town where no one is who they seem.... Everything about runaway heiress Ainsley McLeon screamed trouble—from her luscious midnight locks to her Louboutin-clad toes. Yet sexy, stoic bar owner Luc couldn’t deny the instant connection he felt to the tempting stranger…or the long-dead feelings she evoked. She could work in his pub until her truck was fixed but after that she had to leave town for good. Ainsley traveled with her own emotional baggage and there was no way she'd fall for the bear-tempered Luc...no matter how many passionate nights she spent in his bed or how safe she felt in his muscular arms. Can these two opposites find love in the middle of a blizzard, or will Luc's darker side and Ainsley's past catch up with them?

My Review
Ainsley is running for her life. She has left everything behind and now the truck she bought has left her stranded in a small town in Montana. She finds work in a local bar and even if the boss man says she can't have a job she goes to work waiting on tables anyway. Luc knows she is trouble but can't help be drawn to her anyway. What Ainsley is soon to find out is this isn't a normal town or people. You would think she would run screaming but she just stays and learns to like the people. Even the growling bar owner Luc. While they heat up the nights there just may be to many differences between them for things to work out.

Ainsley is rich but far from spoiled. She doesn't want anyone to pave her way. I really liked her. She seems like the type of person you would enjoy being around. She has a temper and lets it out on occasion and can be very hard headed. Luc is a man you wouldn't mind being snowed in with. While he is strong he tries his best to control his strength. He is sexy, can be very moody and hard headed as well. These two bump heads more than once but it is so fun to watch them together.

From the first page I really liked this book. It kept my attention, I liked the characters and I liked how the story flows. From sexy scenes to funny scenes it all fits perfectly within this book. I enjoyed getting to know both the main characters as well as the secondary ones. Ainsley is so much fun to read about. She doesn't care to stand up to anyone or anything and at times doesn't think before she charges in. It's funny to see people cower around her and really listen. I really hope to see more of the other characters some day and see what their story ends up being. This book is full of love, lust, danger, shifters and two very stubborn people. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good paranormal romance book with fantastic characters.

4 out of 5 Stars

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Hallowread with L.M. Pruitt

Hi everyone as part of Hallowread I have Author L.M. Pruitt with me on the blog today with a guest post.

Guest Post

Addiction


I’m going to start this by linking to another blog, Fangs for the Fantasy. Take a moment to go and read their post because it’s fascinating and eye-opening. At least it was for me—it played a huge part in forming the story arc of LOST.
When I started doing research for LOST, I mainly focused on P.T.S.D—after all, Joanne and the other characters were the only survivors of the Siege of Calais, which pretty much turned into wholesale slaughter. I didn’t want to shy away from the ugliness of the aftermath, even if it meant the characters becoming more than a little unlikeable. Early on I found overlapping stories of addiction and P.T.S.D. but I never gave serious thought to making addiction a major plot point. I write romance—not mystery or urban fantasy. Romance. People don’t pick my books up expecting to read about addiction and withdrawal and all sorts of other horrible things.
Then I found the article above. So I stepped back a moment and started thinking. And I realized I didn’t want to write what was comfortable and expected. I wanted to write what was real and important and right, both for the story and the characters and for the world we live in.
So LOST has addiction. It has withdrawal. It has ugliness and heartbreak. All of that is there for a reason—honesty. Honesty to our reality and honesty to the reality the characters live in.
I was worried I wouldn’t succeed. I was worried I would fail because this isn’t something I have any experience with. When I sent out the chapters dealing with the main character’s detox, I asked my beta readers to be brutal and thorough—if they spotted any moment where something rang untrue, to tell me. They reached out to me with their own experiences and the experiences of people in their lives who have gone through addiction and withdrawal—in short they were amazing.
LOST was, by far, the hardest book I have ever written. And I think, in the end, it will be one of the books I’m most proud of.

AUTHOR BIO
L.M. Pruitt has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember. A native of Florida with a love of New Orleans, she has the uncanny ability to find humor in most things and would probably kill a plastic plant. She knows this because she's killed bamboo. Twice. She is the author of the Jude Magdalyn series, Moon Rising series, and Taken: A Frankie Post Novel. Winged is the first book in a six part series about the choice one woman makes after she dies. Ms. Pruitt continues to make her home in Florida in spite of the heat and mosquitos and shares her home with two cats--one of them smart, the other not so much.

WINGED BLURB
I fell from the Talmadge Bridge the week before I turned thirty. 

I was given a choice: Go to Heaven. Go back to my life in Savannah. Or spend eternity fighting evil under the direction of the archangels. 

I chose the demons--and the angels. 

I chose the Winged.

Hallowread with J.D. Brown

Hi everyone! Today I have Author J.D. Brown on the blog to tell you about her books and Hallowread!

Hello all. J.D. Brown here, author of the Ema Marx series. I want to let you all know that the sequel, Dark Liaison, recently released in ebook and paperback and is available form most major book retailers. Readers are already calling it a “white water rapids ride” chalk full of mystery, mythology, and magic. It's a series for vampire lovers who want to get back into the nitty-gritty dark fantasy, with just a splash of romance and wit.

But don't take my word for it. Read the first ten chapters of either book in the series on my website, completely free, and decide for yourself.

Meet me and over 25 other authors at HallowRead Book Fest for a weekend of horror and paranormal fun Friday October 25th - Sunday October 27th at Ellicott City, MD. Activities include Ghost Tours, SteamPunk Author Tea, Author Panels, Readings, Dracula performed by Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Author/Fan Brunch, and more. For more information, check out the HallowRead event page on Facebook. For ticket information, go to http://hallowread.eventbrite.com/#

A limited number of both my books will be available for purchase at HallowRead. However, the best way to ensure you get copy before they run out is to purchase one ahead of time and bring it with you to the book fest. I hope to see you there!


About the Ema Marx series by J.D. Brown

Dark Heirloom (An Ema Marx Novel 1)

“You're a vampire” is so not what Ema Marx wants to hear when she wakes from a two-day coma in a cryptic yet exquisite castle in northern Finland. Unfortunately, it explains a lot. Like why she's able to see in the dark and walk through solid objects. What she doesn't understand is why the other vampires expect her to have all the answers. It's their fault she turned into one of them…right?

Jalmari's hatred for his old-man intensifies when he's ordered to bring that troublesome girl to their castle. He has a clan to run, there's no time for babysitting newborn vampires no matter how they were converted to their culture. But when a two-thousand-year-old premonition threatens to take the crown and his life, Jalmari sees no other choice than to take out the catalyst. Ema Marx. Fortunately for Ema, she could also be the clan's only savior.

The race to figure out her vampiric origins is on. And maybe she'll get the hang of the blood-drinking gig along the way…

Available at:


Dark Liaison (An Ema Marx Novel 2)

Ema Marx wishes her life would go back to normal, but there's nothing normal about being a Romani-Vampyre with an ancestor who wants you dead. Apollyon is back, wreaking havoc on the lives of everyone she cares about while plotting her demise.

Ema thought she would find a new best friend in her trainer, Bridget, until the exotic vampire vies for Jesu's attention. Jesu can date who he wants, right? Ema has more important things to worry about, like honing her powers. When Apollyon's thugs appear out of the shadows to attack her, Ema knows it's time to take action. But everyone else has other plans in mind.

One thing is for certain, being under house arrest in the German vampyre king's castle was not part of her plan to save the day.

Available at:

About J.D. Brown

J.D. Brown writes Urban Fantasy for MuseItUp Publishing, as well as a monthly “how-to” newsletter column for PDMI Freelance Publishing. She graduated from The International Academy of Design and Technology with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts and currently lives in Wisconsin with her two Pomeranians. J.D. loves paranormal characters; from vampires and werewolves, demons and angels, to witches and ghost. She is a self-proclaimed expert in vampire and Greek mythology. Her writings are often a combination of suspense and romance. J.D. enjoys helping her fellow writers and interacting with her fans and leads an active life on the web.

Follow J.D. Brown on:

Destined Blog Tour - Review & Excerpt

Hi Everyone. Today  I have a stop on the Destined Tour. There is a review and excerpt for you all.

Title: Destined (The Destined Series)
Author: Jenna Pizzi
Genre: YA/NA Paranormal Romance
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Synopsis:
Destined (the Destined Series) YA/NA Paranormal Romance about Angels and Demons.
Lilly has always been plagued by dreams; she dreams of another place and time, a place of pure beauty and light that suddenly erupts into fire and destruction. Then, there is a man with the haunting blue eyes that seem to look right through her very soul. In one fateful afternoon Lilly learns that the dreams are more real than she could’ve ever imagined. They are a link to who she really is; the Gatekeeper to the realms. Born from both light and dark, with her memories bound, she learns that it is her destiny to gather the relics of the flower of life. Lilly must do this in order to close the gates before the under realm destroys them all, but there are those who will stop at nothing to keep her from fulfilling her destiny. There are those who will try to sway her into the dark. She is torn between the love of two brothers; one, her loyal warrior, who has loved her since the beginning, and the other with the enthralling blue eyes that speak to her soul. One brother fights for the light, while the other fell into the darkness. Will she choose the brother that her soul longs for, or the brother that her heart calls out to?

My Review
After Lilly gets saved by a stranger she finds out the dreams that have always plagued her may not just be dreams. The places she dreams of that are so beautiful that always end up bad are real. She is the key to finding relics and closing the gate to keep both places from destruction. She also has to deal with two brothers who both love her and have known her forever. One is for the light and one is for the dark both love and want her. Her life has become very complicated.

This is one book you won't want to put down. So much goes on and happens you never want it to end. From the start you begin the journey along with Lilly to get her memories back and relive her past as she searches to figure things out. Her regular friends are not to be forgotten and I will say I loved them as well. Amy even when she has bad things going on was still there for Lilly. Keith is the human boy Lilly dated for years. He is so sweet and always wants what is best for her. Samil and Seth both want Lilly as well. Yeah I know most of us are tired of the love triangle thing but this is different than others. There is a lot of past to take into consideration. I admit I at times I was torn of who I wanted her with. Of course there is lots of action in the book as the struggle between good and evil heat up. I won't give spoilers but a lot happens in this book. Most of the time you never see what is going to happen and a few times I was shocked. The ending left me begging to know what is going to happen next. If you love a story with angels, demons and more be sure to give this one a try. You won't want to put it down.

4 out of 5 Stars

Excerpt
Samil ran his fingers through Lilly’s hair. They were sitting in front of the fireplace.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this, for just a moment alone with you again.” He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. She felt a tingle on her hand. She thought she was just caught up in the moment. Samil noticed her palm glowing blue and backed up. “No, not already, you just got here.”
She looked down and noticed what he was talking about. The palm of her hand that the compass had branded was glowing blue. She jumped up in shock and started shaking her hand.
“What’s happening? Why is it doing that?” She asked him.
Samil stood and grabbed her hand.
“Don’t be afraid. It means it is time. It will lead you to the first relic. I thought we’d be able to have more time together.”
Lilly couldn’t stop herself; she grabbed him and kissed him.
“If this ends up being our last moment alone together, then I just need to feel you, here in the flesh.”
Samil looked at her questioningly.
“Are you sure, Lilly? It will only complicate things even more.”
“I have never been so sure of anything.”
He lowered her down in front of the roaring fire. She smiled up at him. He noticed the way the fire reflected in her eyes. He swept the hair to the side and lowered his lips to her neck and tenderly kissed her. Lilly trembled at his touch. He ran his hands down the length of her body. Just his simple touch made her moan in pleasure and anticipation. When his lips brushed hers, she lost herself to him.
The door to the room blew open. Usha stormed in. Samil broke his hold on Lilly as Usha hurled a statue at them. Samil pulled Lilly to her feet and stood in front of her to block Usha from her outburst.
“What do you think you are doing, Usha? This is my chamber and you do not come barging in here.”
She strode over to them until she was only feet away.
“I will do whatever I want. I am the princess. How dare you have your hands all over her? I can smell her on you. It makes me sick.” She started spinning around staring at the ceiling. “I don’t know why you don’t get it, Samil; you can never be with her. Ugh! I am so sick of everyone buckling down to this stupid girl. She’s nothing.” She ran her fingers down the front of Samil’s chest. “She won’t touch you the way I can. She can’t offer you a whole kingdom like I can. So what is the appeal of some little insipid half breed? She doesn’t even belong anywhere. She’ll be dead in the end anyway. Caleb won’t die for her this time.”
Samil could feel Lilly flinch at the last sentence. She didn’t understand what it had meant. Usha sensed her shock because she laughed.
“Oh my goodness, no one told you. How delicious. One of you lives and one of you dies, Lilly. One of you must choose but only one walks away.”
Lilly couldn’t contain herself.
“I don’t understand.”
Usha laughed.
“Of course not, that’s why you are stupid. One of you must die in order to seal the gate. Somehow you have always convinced Caleb to do it, this time he won’t allow himself to be near you until it is time for the choice. He will be claimed dark and kill you to seal it. Oh this is just tasty. No one bothered to even tell her about this. I’m glad I got the privilege.” She was gloating in her little victory when Seth appeared in the doorway. Tangela stood by his side.
“Samil,” Seth yelled out. “I should have known you’d lead a council member astray. How could you do this?”
Samil closed his eyes and Lilly could feel his hand squeeze hers. 
“Go Lilly, go with Seth. I will see you when I can.” He covered her palm with a red velvet napkin so no one would see that it was glowing blue. Seth lunged at Samil and the two fell to the floor. Lilly could see Usha pull a sharp object from her leg and she jumped toward Lilly. Tangela rushed between Usha and Lilly and blocked the knife. She punched Usha square in her chest. She fell backward and grabbed her chest.
“You bitch, I will kill you,” she screamed at Tangela.
“Bring it, bitch. I’ll see you on the battlefield.” Tangela laughed.
Tangela grabbed Seth and rushed them out the door. Lilly didn’t want to stay, but she didn’t want to leave Samil. She wanted to find a way to be with him again. She looked behind her as she left the room. His hair was all disheveled and his eyes gave way to his sorrow. Seth pushed her through the door, grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her out the door. She watched it close behind her.
They ran down a series of long hallways. Tangela led the way and Lilly and Seth followed. Seth stood behind her to make sure no one grabbed her. She could hear Usha scream at the top of her lungs. She was calling her minions to find and attack them. Seth pushed Lilly even faster, but she was barefoot and wearing a thin dress.
They rounded a corner to the next hallway when Tangela stopped short. There were five minions blocking their way. They were all smiling with their jagged teeth. They seemed larger than the ones she had come across out in Plymouth. One of them took a step forward and swung at Tangela. She got slammed against the wall. He laughed as she curled into a ball in pain. Seth jumped in front of Lilly and pulled a sword off of the wall. He pitched forward and slit the minion’s chest open. The minion crumpled to the floor in shock. Seth rushed forward to fight off another one. Lilly ran to Tangela’s side and helped her up. Someone grabbed her from behind and lifted her off of the ground. She screamed and it got Seth’s attention. He ran back to her and stabbed the minion. The minion dropped her, and she fell to the ground. Seth lifted the sword and swung. He took the minion’s head clear off of its shoulders. Tangela saw Lilly’s hand and grabbed hold of it as she yelled for her to run.
“Run, Lilly. We need to get you out of here. Let Seth fight them. It is what he was trained for.”
Lilly followed behind her and they ran up a staircase and down another long dark hallway. Tangela stopped in front of a large steel door. She opened it and pushed her through. Lilly found herself back in the tunnels. This one was different from the ones that lead to Maidstone. She didn’t like the way it felt so she ran as fast as her feet would take her. She could feel something around her. She could hear laughing, but she couldn’t see anything. She felt something scratching at her arms. She flinched and kept running. Something was taunting her. She neared the end of the tunnel and she could see a dim light ahead of her.
As she reached for the door, she felt a burning sensation across her stomach. She grabbed her stomach and kicked open the door. She made it to the other side and collapsed on the ground. Keith and Amy rushed to her side.
“Oh Lilly, you’re bleeding all over the place,” Amy cried out.
Lilly looked down at the dress, it was slit open across her stomach. She could feel a sticky liquid but because the dress was so red, she couldn’t tell how bad it really was. Keith ripped off his coat and wrapped it around her.
Tangela ran through the realm door. She saw Lilly on the ground and Lilly could see the concerned look on her face. She ripped pieces of her shirt and held it to her stomach to try to stop the bleeding.
“I hope Seth’s close behind, this isn’t good. We have to get her help.”
Keith picked her up in his arms.
“Forget about Seth then, we have to get her help now. Just tell us where to go.”
Tangela looked torn.
“I can’t heal this. This needs special attention. Seth won’t know why we weren’t here, but you cannot get her the help she needs unless one of us is with you.” She thought about it. 
Lilly could feel her world turning black. She was getting sick of passing out. She couldn’t even count how many times she nearly died in the last few days. Tangela ushered them to the end of the alleyway. Just as they were rounding the corner to Court Street they heard Seth call out to wait. He saw how badly Lilly was wounded and had a look of panic on his face.
“We need to get her help now.”
He led them to a boutique on Court Street named Laughing Moon Boutique. To the outsiders and tourists it looked like a new age store, but to the other world it was a place of healing. It was after hours so Tangela knocked hard on the door. Her knock seemed to be a sort of code. The door crept open and a woman’s head popped out.
“Yes! Can I help you?”
Tangela spoke in a different language and the woman quickly opened the door and rushed them inside. Once they were in, the woman bolted the door and lowered a brass bar across it. She led them into a back room and down a flight of stairs. She pointed to a cot and told Keith to place Lilly on it. Lilly could hear talking and then the pain took over. She was sweating and couldn’t stop writhing in pain. Amy kept wiping her forehead and Lilly could see her crying.
The woman spoke to Tangela.
“What did this? Do you know? How long ago did it happen?”
Tangela immediately answered her.
“It was the Akki-Oni, the dark spirits in the Hyvania tunnels. We were almost through when they struck out and scratched her.”
The woman, whose name was Batya, quickly rushed about her room grabbing different herbs. She mixed Skull Cap, Mugwort, Perilla and Feverfew. She turned it into a paste and rubbed it on the claw marks. Lilly could immediately feel the burning stop. She lit a candle made of Mullein. She told them it was to ward off evil spirits. She crushed berries of a Pokeweed plant and held Lilly’s head up and forced her to drink it.
“I’m sorry for this, Lilly. This will not be pretty, but if it does its job you will vomit out all the toxins from the Akki-Oni’s toxin.”
Within seconds of swallowing Lilly felt nauseous. Like a true friend, Amy held her hair as Lilly retched into a trash barrel. Keith sat by her side and kept a damp cloth on her forehead. She honestly didn’t think she was going make it. She had never experienced that level of pain. She wasn’t sure if she had any fight left in her. Her mind wondered, what is the point? When she felt there was nothing more to throw up, she closed her eyes. That was all she remembered of that night.

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Author Bio:
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Jenna settled into America's hometown where she proudly calls home with her family. She is an avid book reader and collector with an entire room dedicated to her passion. At the age of twelve years old Jenna began writing, determined to be just like Stephen King or Dean Koontz. 
For her it all starts with the flick of an image. From there a story is born. Being an eternal romantic, Jenna is a true believer in happy endings. It's the rest of the story that anything is possible. Writing is her passion. It is something that helps her unwind at the end of the day. She likes to tell stories that will pull at your heartstrings, or simply whisk you away even for just a little while. So grab your favorite blanket, and a hot cup of coffee and settle in for the ride. 


Links:


Website: Jennapizzi.com

Twitter: @jaderayne