Sunday, January 20, 2013

*Wallbanger* All Night Long!

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Delightful, enchanting, titillating, and funny. I loved every single solitary second... so much so, that I ended up staying up ALL NIGHT LONG just to finish this in one sitting. It was that good, and hot, and Oh God, Simon! *Thump*Thump*Thump*

“He was wooing me. And I was letting him woo. I wanted the woo. I deserved the woo. I needed the wow that would surely follow the woo, but for now, the woo? It was whoa.” 


Sorry, lost control there for a second. Not wait, I'm not sorry because this book made me scoff in the face of the Sandman with a, "I can sleep when I'm dead, but simply MUST keep reading this book!" As much as I love those 'damaged character' romances, how refreshing is it to have some 'real' people who don't have huge dark pasts, ginormous commitment issues, or some other significant dysfunction.

Wallbanger“Fucking Wallbanger,” I hissed, frozed on the spot.
His grin slid off as well as he played place-the-face for a moment. “Fucking Pink Nightie Girl”


There are certain touches in the book that seem to pay homage to other romances I enjoyed. Caroline's inner monologue and searches for her long lost "O" seemed to mimic the best parts of Ana's "Inner Goddess"; the more crass language at times and the serendipitous comedic plot twists remind me of the Chocolate Lovers series; and the humorous innuendo text messages between Simon and Caroline remind me of both 50 Shades and Easy (elements that I thought were among the high points in those books). Now, don't misunderstand me, I am not saying this book is 'like' 50, or Easy, or Seduction and Snacks, I am saying that certain aspects Wallbanger reminded me in some way or gave me the same feeling those other books.

 “To things staring you right in the face,” I echoed, our eyes locking over the rims.”


Clive, you sneaky little pussy, you! How often can you fall for a guy and a cat all in one book? Not nearly often enough, I say. I was smitten with everything this book had to offer.

 “Simon does commando. God bless America.”


If I can borrow a scene from a movie mentioned in the book, it fully personifies how I feel about this book:

description


I'll most definitely have what she's having! 
I want to get some great meatball, and great jaw, and great woo, and great hi-there against my hoohah!



Friday, January 18, 2013

Solstice Release Day!


In Gavin Moxley's world, there is no thin line between right and wrong. In a personal crusade to help sever a line of disease carried by a clan of vampires; Gavin has no choice to be ruthless. The Vampires are purposely infecting the human population…waiting for humans to actively pass it on to each other. Gavin takes no chances and executes them one by one. Not strong or powerful, finding humans before they turn into full vampires is ideal and Gavin’s best bet. 

Yes, this is Gavin’s life…

…And nothing ever changes it until a young half breed vampire with special abilities, Solstice, attaches and makes herself a fixture in his life when she asks for his help and protection and when a reluctant Gavin agrees he joins a dangerous game of cat and mouse. There is no safe place and the pair are constantly watching their backs. Torn between his hate and his love for Solstice Gavin is thrown into a moral dilemma that only he can figure out but two things are clear…

His faith and Humanity are being tested and the past is not always forgotten.



Published: January 18th 2013 by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterly
edition language: English 
original title: Solstice
series: Moxley Trilogy #1
characters: Solstice, Gavin Moxley


Be sure to check out the Solstice Release Day Facebook Party!
FREE SWAG!  FREE EBOOKS!

...And Coming Soon!
An Interview with Bryan W. Dull!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Fire Country Cover Reveal!

Fire Country

In a changed world where the sky bleeds red, winter is hotter than hell and full of sandstorms, and summer's even hotter with raging fires that roam the desert-like country, the Heaters manage to survive, barely.

Due to toxic air, life expectancies are so low the only way the tribe can survive is by forcing women to procreate when they turn sixteen and every three years thereafter. It is their duty as Bearers.

Fifteen-year-old Siena is a Youngling, soon to be a Bearer, when she starts hearing rumors of another tribe of all women, called the Wild Ones. They are known to kidnap Youngling girls before the Call, the ceremony in which Bearers are given a husband with whom to bear children with.

As the desert sands run out on her life's hourglass, Siena must uncover the truth about the Wild Ones while untangling the web of lies and deceit her father has masterfully spun.

Title: Fire Country (Country Saga #1)
Author: David Estes
Publisher: ShareAread
Release Date: February 1st, 2013
Formats: E-book
Goodreads TBR: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16160701-fire-country
Cover Artist: Regina Wamba

Early praise for the author

“David created a world I was excited to learn about and characters I cared about. I'll remember this story for a very long time!”
Alexandria Nicole ~Goodreads
 
“Estes delivers a winner with confident writing that truly draws you into the story. “
Think ~ Goodreads

“The author, David Estes, has forged his name into writers to be watched and read.”
Marni ~Goodreads

“David is such a fantastic author and he really knows how to pull at the heartstrings.”
Kay ~K-Books


About the Author

David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife. A reader all his life, he began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010. He´s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table


You can follow David at:



The Dwellers Saga
The Moon Dwellers Synopsis:

In a desperate attempt to escape destruction decades earlier, humankind was forced underground, into the depths of the earth, creating a new society called the Tri-Realms.

After her parents and sister are abducted by the Enforcers, seventeen-year-old Adele, a member of the middle-class moon dwellers, is unjustly sentenced to life in prison for her parents' crimes of treason.

Against all odds, Adele must escape from the Pen and find her family, while being hunted by a deranged, killing machine named Rivet, who works for the President. She is helped by two other inmates, Tawni and Cole, each of whom have dark secrets that are better left undiscovered. Other than her friends, the only thing she has going for her is a wicked roundhouse kick and two fists that have been well-trained for combat by her father.

At the other end of the social spectrum is Tristan, the son of the President and a sun dweller. His mother is gone. He hates his father. Backed by only his servant and best friend, Roc, he leaves his lavish lifestyle in the Sun Realm, seeking to make something good out of his troubled life.

When a war breaks out within the Tri-Realms, Tristan is thrust into the middle of a conflict that seems to mysteriously follow Adele as she seeks to find her family and uncover her parents true past.

Buying Links





The Dwellers Saga
The Star Dwellers Synopsis:


After rescuing her father and younger sister, Adele is forced to leave her family and Tristan behind to find her mother in the cruel and dangerous realm of the star dwellers.

Amidst blossoming feelings for Adele, Tristan must cast his feelings aside and let her find her own way amongst the star dwellers, while he accompanies Adele's father to meet with the leaders of the moon dwellers and decide the fate of the Tri-Realms.

Will Adele be able to rescue her mother and make it back to the Moon Realm before the President and the sun dweller soldiers destroy her family?

Can Tristan convince the moon dweller puppets of the error of their ways?

Was Adele's lost kiss with Tristan her one and only chance at love?

In her world there's only one rule: Someone must die.

Buying Links




The Dwellers Saga
The Sun Dwellers Synopsis:


With those she's closest to dying around her, Adele embarks on a secret mission to the Sun Realm to assassinate the President. Along the way she'll uncover secrets about her relationship with Tristan that she might not be ready to face.

Tristan has a secret, too, one that's been eating him up inside ever since he met Adele. Will he reveal all, and risk the loss of friendship and love at a time when he needs it the most?

At the same time, Adele's mother, General Rose, must lead her soldiers into battle to face the sun dweller army in the hopes of holding them off until Adele can complete her mission. Can she outlast the strength of President Nailin's elite fighting force?

There's only one truth in their world: someone must die.

Bonus Material

Includes a bonus Dwellers Short Story (Anna's Story) and a sneak peek at David Estes's follow up YA Dystopian
Series, Fire Country!



The Dwellers Saga books are now available everywhere eBooks and paperbacks are sold via Amazon.com. Also, David pledged when he started writing to always respond to his readers, and he loves getting comments and questions, so please contact him using one of his favorite social networking sites below.  He loves to get in contact with readers.

Where you can find David Estes hanging out:
Blog/website: http://davidestesbooks.blogspot.com
Facebook Page/s: http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Estes/130852990343920
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/davidestesbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/davidestesbooks

Other YA Books by David Estes

The Country Saga (A Dwellers sister series):
Book One—Fire Country (Coming March 1, 2013!)
The Evolution Trilogy
Book 1- Angel Evolution
Book 2- Demon Evolution
Book 3- Archangel Evolution

Children’s Books by David Estes

The Nikki Powergloves Adventures:
Nikki Powergloves- A Hero is Born
Nikki Powergloves and the Power Council
Nikki Powergloves and the Power Trappers
Nikki Powergloves and the Great Adventure
Nikki Powergloves VS The Power Outlaws (Coming in 2013!)

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The Dragon's Egg ~ by Resa Nelson ~ Blog Tour with Guest Post!




 Welcome to The Dragonslayer Series 
Blog Hop!
Resa Nelson's 4-book Dragonslayer series:
Synopsis for The Dragonslayer's Sword (Book 1)
For Astrid, a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers, the emergence of a strange gemstone from her body sets in motion a chain of events that threaten to destroy her life. Her happiness is shattered when her lover--the dragonslayer--disappears without a trace, and the life that she knows and loves implodes without warning.
Astrid lives in a world of shapeshifters whose thoughts have the power to change not only themselves but others. Everything Astrid knows to be true is called into question when she learns the truth about her past and the mysterious family from which she was separated as a child.
Reality turns inside out as Astrid gradually learns the truth about the people she loves as well as those she disdains. With the fate of dragons, ghosts, and slaves in foreign lands resting on her shoulders, Astrid faces the challenge of deciding who she is and how she will stand up inside her own skin. Will she withdraw and hide from the world that has disappointed her so much...or will she rise to lead others to freedom and peace?

Synopsis for The Iron Maiden (Book 2)
Astrid is reluctant to travel the winter route beyond the Northlands, even though it's her duty. She'd rather stay home in her village, surrounded by friends and neighbors. Ignoring the bonds of tradition, she decides to spend the cold winter months in the warmth of her blacksmithing shop. Why should she leave the comfort of her cottage to serve and protect foreigners who might raid and harm her native Northlands?
Everything changes when a traveling merchant steals Starlight, the first dragonslayer's sword Astrid forged and her last link to her sweetheart DiStephan. Having no time to alert her friends, Astrid races in pursuit of the merchant, determined to reclaim Starlight as her own and return home in time for dinner. Instead, her quest leads her to new lands, unexpected friendships with foreigners, and a harrowing encounter with the damage done by the followers of a new god that considers women as nothing more than servants to men. All the while, she must be ready to face any dragon traveling the winter route.
In Book 2 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid must learn that deciding who she is isn't a decision she can make just once. It's a decision she must make every day.

Synopsis for The Stone of Darkness (Book 3)
In Book 3 of the Dragonslayer series, Astrid accepts her duty and follows the winter route--until she's bitten by a dragon. Everyone knows dragon bites are poisonous and deadly, so she reluctantly accepts her impending death. In a twist of fate, she survives. Desperate for an explanation, Astrid believes she has somehow been protected by the black stone she keeps with her at all times, a stone that emerged from the sole of her foot a year ago.

Determined to find out what the stone is and what kind of powers it possesses, Astrid begins a journey that leads her to alchemists and an army of men under the rule of the powerful warrior, Mandulane, the acting lord of the Krystr army. Mandulane's mission is to spread the word of the new god Krystr, which preaches the evil intent of women and the danger they pose to all men, who are entitled to dominate the world. Rumors about this new god and army have spread, but Astrid is the first Northlander to encounter them.

Soon, she stumbles upon a secret of a far-reaching and mind-numbing plot that will impact the entire world. Astrid must find a way to spread the news of this threat and protect her people and everyone else at risk. She's convinced the answer lies inside the Stone of Darkness, and she must find a way to understand the stone and the powers she's convinced it must hold before it's too late.

Synopsis for The Dragon's Egg (Book 4)
In the fourth and final book of the Dragonslayer series, Mandulane's army is poised to attack the Northlands in the name of a powerful god, but in truth Mandulane is using the act of spreading this new faith as a way to disguise his own personal greed and hunger for power.
Astrid has succeeded in warning her beloved country of imminent danger, and the Northlanders scramble to set up a clever defense, never realizing a spy in their midst is poised to take critical information directly to Mandulane.
After sacrificing herself in order to set her brother Drageen free for the sake of protecting the Northlands, Astrid finds herself controlled by the stone of light.  Although it forces her path of destiny, Astrid learns she must make one final choice about who she wants to be.
Most important of all, her new sweetheart Trep encounters a dragon that entrusts him with the care of a dragon's egg.  Trep embraces a dangerous journey and accepts the duty of protecting the unhatched dragon, knowing that its safety could impact the fate of the entire world.

FREEBIE ALERT! 
As a special treat during the blog tour, 
Resa is offer a FREE 'mini' eBook of the two short stories that inspired her Dragonslayer novels.
We Have a Special Treat- 

a Guest Post from Resa!
Y.A. - Not Just For Kids Anymore
by Resa Nelson

I've been a fan of children's and YA books since I was a child.  One of my favorite series was the Taran series by Lloyd Alexander, as well as Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and Arm of the Starfish.  But once I became an author, most of my reading time became research time.  In other words, I had to figure out how to manage my time so I could write.  One of the things I sacrificed was reading novels.  On the rare occasion when I could squeeze out some time to read, I typically read short stories and sometimes a novel, so I stopped reading YA and focused on books written for adults.
I began reading YA again when the first Harry Potter book came out and friends kept telling me how good it was.  All of a sudden, my reading choices flipped.  For several years the only books I read were Harry Potter books.  I read them because I enjoyed them but also because I think J. K. Rowling has done something quite brilliant.  The same friend who encouraged me to read the first Harry Potter book observed that Rowling addresses issues common to children who are the same age as Harry in each book, which is why the books are increasingly serious.  I have a lot of admiration for Rowling's overall vision as well as the role that every book in the series plays. 
I also have a lot of admiration for the characters Rowling has created.  Harry, Hermione, and Ron remind me of my own circle of friends when I was in school.  Rowling shows a lot of compassion for her characters, whether they're heroic or villainous, ranging from Neville to Draco to Snape.  I think one of the many reasons adults respond as strongly as young adults to the Harry Potter series is the strength of all Rowling's characters.  Another reason is her attention to detail, knowledge of language, and research.  All things considered, reading the Harry Potter series is a very rich and rewarding experience.
More recently, I've become a fan of The Hunger Games series.  I think, like Rowling, Suzanne Collins has created very engaging and likable characters.  Also, these authors have created worlds in which their characters are often in grave danger.  Typically, Harry is solving some kind of mystery while at the same time having to worry about Voldemort, while Katniss finds her life threatened by the very grownups in her society who are supposed to protect her.
I think YA books such as these have risen above any genre, whether YA, fantasy, or science fiction.  I think YA isn't strictly for kids anymore because so many books today that are labeled as YA are simply good novels. 


Resa Nelson's first novel, The Dragonslayer's Sword, was nominated for the Nebula Award and was also a Finalist for the EPPIE Award. This medieval fantasy novel is based on a short story first published in the premiere issue of Science Fiction Age magazine and ranked 2nd in that magazine's first Readers Top Ten Poll. The Dragonslayer's Sword is Book 1 in her 4-book Dragonslayer series, which also includes The Iron Maiden (Book 2), The Stone of Darkness (Book 3), and The Dragon's Egg (Book 4). 
Resa's standalone novel, Our Lady of the Absolute, is a fantasy/mystery/thriller about a modern-day society based on ancient Egypt. Midwest Book Review gave this book a 5-star review, calling it "a riveting fantasy, very highly recommended."
She has been selling fiction professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) and is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop.  Resa was also the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years and was a contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Resa lives in Massachusetts.  Visit her website at http://www.resanelson.com.

Resa Nelson's links:

Resa's website:  http://www.resanelson.com 


Free “mini” ebook of Dragonslayer short stories:  http://www.resanelson.com/files






Twitter:  @ResaNelson




Ebooks ($4.99 each) are available directly from Mundania Press at:  http://mundania.com/author.php?author=Resa+Nelson 
(get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)


Paperbacks are available from Mundania Press, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble:

(get a 10% discount at checkout with the coupon code MP10)



Sunday, January 13, 2013

Stacking the Shelves #17 and Calling All Bloggers!


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme to feature all the books that have made their way into our homes this week! 
Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Be sure to check out Tynga's Reviews on how to participate and create your own post!

Won a HUGE Swag Pack:





 Thank You So Much!  
I usually don't *squee* as a rule... 
but finding that package full of goodies, I couldn't help it!

And if you are interested in seeing my cork board of Swag 
(for above and other prizes received)


 And my growing collection of refrigerator magnets:
 


Presents From Friends:

 
NetGalley:

Directly From Author and Publisher via 
Fifty Shades Support Group on GoodReads:

 
Directly From Author and/or Publisher:

 
From the Author via Making Connections 
on GoodReads:

 
Because of Christmas Amazon Gift Cards
Purchased from Amazon:
*sorry the widgets are so wide!*




Free from Amazon:
 *While I got them for free from Amazon, there is no guarantee that they are still free on Amazon.  The special promotion may have ended.  

And a SPECIAL INVITATION from Kate Evangelista's Blog

We Want You...To Be Part of "The List"



Calling all bloggers!

Calling all bloggers!

Entangled needs you! *points at you*

Be part of The List.
 

Here's what you need to know:

One of my awesome publicists at Entangled is compiling a list of bloggers.

Here are the requirements:

Do you have a blog?

Do you love to review books?

Do you want access to books before they release?

If your answers to these questions is a resounding "YES" then you're the right blogger for the job.

We want you! Now's a great time to join The List.
*If you would like to find out more information, and be included on this fabulous list, please click here to be taken to Kate's Blog.   
All content in italics are directly copied from Kate's Blog*

Feel Welcome to leave a link or a comment on a 
'Stacking the Shelves' of your own!