Cover Reveal: The Color Keepers by Catriona Creehan

  

Cover by PhatPuppy Art http://phatpuppyart.com

The Color Keepers by Catriona Creehan

 Expanded/Revised Release: May 1, 2013

Blurb:
  Hoping to have a good change and good ending to go with it, Emily, a 16- year-old girl from Ohio, has moved to sunny California.

Moving to a new town can be scary, especially a new school. So when Sam, the most popular kid there, looks her way, she can't believe this is happening to her. 

Everything seems to be working out fine. That is, until her mother buys an enchanted mirror by mistake.

Suddenly, Emily finds herself in a whole new world, full of talking animals, magic and more change than she was hoping for.

With the help of her new crush, Sam, and her annoyingly goofy 12-year-old brother James, Emily sets out to save their world and ours.

Author Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatrionaCrehan

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/CatrionaCrehan

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6431246.Catriona_Crehan

Website:  http://catrionacrehan.blogspot.com/

ARC Review: Scent Of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blurb:  

The army of the dead are coming…

Avry of Kazan, the last Healer of the mystical Fifteen Realms, has a power that can’t be matched. But in the minds of her friends and foe alike, Avry no longer exists. 

Now, as the psychotic King Tohon builds an army mightier than any that has been seen before—a league of undead soldiers—Avry must face her toughest, most terrifying battle alone. Fighting to be reunited with her family and her lover Kerrick, Avry must infiltrate 
Tohon’s troops. 

But does she have the power, the rare magic; to do what legend says is impossible?

An e-ARC of this book has been provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Once again, Maria V. Snyder managed to spin an absolutely enthralling and intriguing story. Avry's adventures were damn fun to read and with the added bonus of Kerrick's POV in this book, I abso-abso-absolutely adored almost everything about Scent Of Magic!

Since the first book, I really liked Avry as she was strong, compassionate and at the same time totally kick- ass, though I know I shouldn't expect any less from Ms. Snyder. Her female protagonists always hold up their own against the baddy bad villain/s and that's just one thing I like about her stories.

Scent Of Magic had both Avry and Kerrick's POV. It broke my heart to see them apart for more than half part of the book and I kept wishing that they FINALLY meet but nonetheless, the adventure that this story was kept my interest through and through. Avry's stronger side was revealed in this book and it was amazing to see her getting adapted so quickly in Estrid's army and making new allies.

Though this book had loads of surprising and new elements, I missed the whole gang (the Monkeys, Poppa Bear, Kerrick and Avry) which I'd grown so fond of in the last book. There was less traveling and more of suspense as Avry found a steady job, undercover and tried to uncover Tohon's spies and his plans.

I found myself holding my breath to see Tohon and Avry's encounter because Tohon is HOT in a totally evil way and I think I'm in love with him a little too! I was super excited to see what he will do after she (cheers from my side!) skillfully ruined his Death Lilys and some other schemes. I was a little disappointed to see Tohon's attempts to woo Avry were so short-lived but oh, well.

Kerrick's adventures were far different from Avry's..it got slightly boring to read his POV in some instances especially when there was something exciting like Tohon's arrival in Estrid's camp going on over Avry's side and I wold be all like, come on move over, Kerrick! HOWEVER, this did not mean my undying love for him grew any less. He was as charming and swoon-worthy as ever. We get to see a softer, cuddlier side of him in this book which is just as-if not more-good as his tall, hot and mysterious side. I loved how he cared for Danny and Zila.

There was more magic, more mystery, more suspense and anticipation in this book but at the same time there was less Avry and Kerrick (together), less traveling adventure and less romantic parts as compared to Touch Of Power. I was expecting Avry to develop some super-mega cool powers after her waking-from-the-deadland thing but sadly that didn't happen.

Overall, all I can say is that Maria V. Snyder is awesome and the Healer series is one hell of a series. You can't help but fall in love with all the characters, evil ones included. After every chapter, I waited breathlessly to see what happens next and and and I CAN'T WAIT TO READ TASTE OF DEATH!! Gimme that book nowwwww!!

ARC Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare You To by Katie McGarry
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. 

I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

 If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest?
Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

An e-ARC has been provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: From the moment I read the excerpt of Dare You To, I was super-super-super excited to know more about Beth's life and believe me when I say, I had MAJOR expectations form this book as Pushing The Limits ranked up to one of my favourite books of all time.
I'm glad to say Dare You To didn't disappoint though I did hope I could like Beth, if not more then just as much as I'd liked Echo.

In Pushing The Limits, there were a few hints of what Beth was going through and from there only it was evident that Beth's life was pretty screwed-up. I enjoyed reading her POV in this book from the start but somewhere in the middle, she became a little annoying. I mean, her reasons for being so closed-off were totally justified and I tried to be really open about her situation but I still wish she'd given Scott a break. He was a really sweet guy and I loved the way he treated Beth as if she was his daughter.
The way she said "blah blah blah" when she was mad was really funny, though. Here's a snippet-

'I lift my hand in the air and flap it like a puppet's mouth. "Blah, blah, blah Elisabeth. I'll only be gone a couple of months. Blah, blah, blah Elisabeth. I'll make enough money to get us both out of Groveton. Blah, blah, blah Elisabeth. You'll never grow up like me. Blah, blah, blah Elisabeth. I'll make sure you have some fucking food to eat!"'

Now coming to the romance part. Is it really that surprising when I say that I feel Ryan had always been better than Isaiah for Beth? Don't get me wrong. In PTL, even i felt that Isaiah would be good for Beth but after knowing her story, it was like she was just drowning in this deep well along with Isaiah without them even realizing it. She needed someone, someone form the outside to pull her out of there and Ryan was perfect for it. He actually got through the thick walls Beth had made around herself and helped her get out of them instead of getting inside the walls and doing nothing to pull her out like Isaiah.

There was no suspense as to who Beth'll choose in the end because from the beginning it had been Ryan only as it was his POV alternating with Beth's. I didn't feel to bad for Isaiah because I knew Katie McGarry has some awesome-blossom story ready for him and his time is gonna come soon too. :)

Dare You To was an intriguing read no doubt and I felt myself connecting to Beth and Ryan as the story bloomed further BUT my heart didn't pace like it did with PTL but that's okay 'cause it was close. VERY close.

Overall, I loved the writing-style, the story and the execution. Katie McGarry did an amazing job with Dare You To and handled all the characters very well. This story made me laugh and cry several times and just this fact can tell how much I liked it. Dare You To is one book that is definitely worth reading at least once!

Here are some of the quotes I loved-

“I like you. I. Like. You. I'll admit you're annoying. Sometimes you agitate me to the brink of insanity, but you can throw it back at me like no one else. When you laugh, I want to laugh. When you smile, I want to smile. Hell, I want to be the one to make you smile.”

“You're a lot like that bird in the barn. You're so scared that you're going to be caged in forever you can't see the way out. You smack yourself against the wall again and again and again. The door is open, Beth. Stop running in circles and walk out.”

“Screw what Mom and Dad think. Screw the rest of the town. Screw perfection. This girl is mine.”

“I hold the bottle out into the rain and watch as the steady flow slowly fills it. When there is enough, enough that Beth can clearly see, I close the bottle and hand it to her.

She raises a skeptical eyebrow, but accepts the bottle.

"It's our rain Beth."

Her head barely shakes to show her confusion while I rub the back of my neck and search for my courage. "I told you I loved you in this rain and when you doubt my words, I want you to look at this bottle.”

“Jocks usually aren't smart. Their muscles feast on their brains.”

Promo event+Giveaway: Off Sides by Sawyer Bennett

Title: Off Sides

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Release date: February 21, 2013

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Age Group:  New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Blurb:

“I'm not sure what possessed me to do it. Maybe it was the impossible expectations I faced, maybe it was my own self-loathing. But I just knew I needed something different to happen. I needed someone...something...to derail me from my current path. Otherwise, I would become lost...a hollowed out shell of a man. So I did it. I approached her, then I pursued her, then I made her mine. And my life was saved...”

Ryan Burnham is the privileged son of a U.S. Congressman and captain of his university’s hockey team. While he is on the verge of fulfilling his dreams to play in the NHL, his parents want him on a different course. One he is expected to accept for the sake of his family’s public image.

Forced to abandon her music career after the heart breaking death of her parents, Danny Cross exists on the opposite side of the tracks from Ryan. She is struggling to make her own way, working two jobs, attending college part time and volunteering in a homeless shelter. She is on a mission to build her own success.

With a chance meeting, their vastly different worlds collide, causing each to evaluate whether they are truly on the correct path to self-fulfillment and happiness. Can their relationship survive? Particularly when others are against them every step of the way. A lot can happen in just ten short days...

 Giveaway:  (1) eBook copy of  author's titles below. Winner's choice.  Mobi and ePub formats only. Open International. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Giveaway titles available:
 

• Forever Young – Paranormal with romantic elements (Young Adult)

Charlie Wright is an ordinary seventeen year old, high school girl. Well, if by ordinary you mean she can see demons and she likes to fight…a lot, then Charlie is your girl. Rather than taking a one-way trip to juvenile detention, Charlie chooses to join a mysterious group called The ForeverLand Alliance. And then her life gets really weird.

Charlie is magically transported to an alternate universe. In Semper Terra, no one ages, people fly and mermaids frolic in the translucent blue seas. But it’s not all fun and games. For Charlie is training to become an Annihilator, a select group of Semper Terrans who protect mankind from all of those things that go “bump in the night”.

It’s only when Charlie finds herself stuck in the middle of a prophecy that could bring about the end of the world that she truly begins to understand the deep sacrifices she will have to make.

• Second Chance – Paranormal Romance (Adult)

War hardened and dangerously ruthless, Carrick Dunne, will stop at nothing to save his country from an evil sorceress who has usurped the royal throne. As he leads his army to battle against the darkest of blood magicks, he finds himself aligned with the passionate woman whose love he betrayed four years earlier.

Ava Clairmont lived a peaceful life in Wyoming, blissfully unaware that she was the heiress to a kingdom embroiled in a vicious war. Now, Carrick has brought her home. Fighting side by side with the sexy warrior that broke her heart is only complicated when their incendiary desire for each other re-ignites. Can the power of forgiveness overcome the hurt of betrayal?

• Stolen Heart – Paranormal Romance (Adult)

Smokin’ hot and firmly entrenched in bachelorhood, Kieran Dunne has realized his life has become somewhat boring as of late. But after being recruited by his Queen to recover a stolen, magical artifact, his life gets turned upside down as he embarks on an adventure to catch a thief.

Nightclub owner, Annika Foss leads a solitary life in New York City and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Unfortunately, she is forced to help Kieran in his mission to recover the artifact and finds herself jumping dimensions with him as they work together to solve the crime.

See what happens when two fiercely independent people who shun love are thrown together in a daring mission to help save the world of Vyronas.

 

About the Author

Sawyer Bennett is the pen name for a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Author social media links:

http://www.sawyerbennett.com

http://www.facebook.com/bennettbooks

http://www.twitter.com/bennettbooks

http://www.goodreads.com/Sawyer_Bennett

 

Excerpt-  

DANNY

Ryan opens my car door for me and takes my hand. We walk together to my apartment door and I'm looking for my keys in my purse, all of a sudden nervous. A minute ago I was ready to jump in bed with Ryan, but now, in the harsh fluorescent light of the hallway outside of my apartment, I'm faced with the uncertainty of a relationship with a man who is so different than me.

Putting his finger under my chin, Ryan tilts my head up to his and says, "Don't."

He knows I'm doubting this and that tells me a lot about how perceptive he is. Before I can respond he pulls me to him and kisses me...hard. And every thought flies out of my head.

My hands snake up his chest and wrap around his neck before slipping into his hair. It's as soft and silky as I had been trying hard not imagine. Our tongues are swirling...stabbing...and then my teeth grab his bottom lip and bite. He answers me with a guttural sound that vibrates from his mouth into mine.

Without breaking our hold on each other, Ryan pushes me one step backward until my back is pressed into my door. His hands graze down my sides until they reach my hips. His fingers dig in, pulling me tight against him and I can feel his hardness. I am drowning in Ryan, or maybe he's downing in me by the sounds of his ragged breathing, I do not know. I just know I have never been kissed like this before and something warm is unfurling in my chest in response to this passion.

Ryan finally pulls away slightly, breathing hard against my mouth. "Jesus, Danny."

I don't think Jesus has anything to do with the explosion that just happened between us but if He did, I'm heading to church this weekend to thank Him.