Sunday, March 30, 2014

War's Passion (Sons of War #1) by Lia Davis ~*~*~*~ Blog Tour and Review

War’s Passion, Sons of War book 1
By Lia Davis
Genre: paranormal romance, dragon-shifters
Heat level: 4 flames


Blurb:
After losing her parents in a brutal attack from a monster straight out of her nightmares, Gwendolyn Preston tries to pick up the shattered pieces of her life. Along with her best friend, she moves to a small fishing village on the coast of Maine to find a new life away from the nightmares that haunt her. Just when she believes her life could go back to normal, the deliciously dark and handsome Markus Sullivan disrupts her hopes to grieve in peace.
  Markus drew the short straw when it came to being the liaison between his father, Ares—God of War—and his brothers. When he discovers that the earth bound demi-gods, known as the descendants, have banded together to start another rebellion against the gods, it becomes his number one priority to stop them.
That is until he meets Gwen, the granddaughter of Aphrodite, and the next target of the descendants. Together, their path is rife with passion and danger. It might take more than the son of War to win this battle…Gwen herself.

Find it in eBook at Amazon | B&N | ARe | Kobo
Find it in paperback at Amazon


Excerpt:

Ty, get your ass down here. There are two of them. Nyx, goddess of night, just walked through the door. Seth sent the telepathic comment to his brother as he and the females walked back into the living room.
Unbelievable. Generally, descendants didn’t group together unless they knew their relations. However, by the low dose of magic Seth could sense, he guessed the women’s powers had been bound. Yet, they still carried enough of their godly energy that he could tell to which goddess they had been born.
“So, have you looked around? What do you think?” Elle’s voice brought his thoughts back to the subject at hand.
“The place isn’t too bad. It is definitely restorable. You said last night that you don’t want to change anything structural, right?” Seth sensed his brother before Ty came to stand next to him.
“That’s right. Gwen and I decided to keep the same layout and add some modern touches.” Elle shifted her gaze to Ty. The silver in her pale green eyes shimmered and she pursed her lips before turning to Gwen. “I got the bathroom cleaner you asked for, along with shampoo and soap.”
Gwen smiled as if thankful for the distraction. “Oh good. If you will excuse me?”
As soon as Gwen was out of earshot, Elle leaned in and spoke through her teeth. “Dragons.”
Inching closer to her, Ty growled, “How long have you had your sight?”
Straightening, Elle folded her arms and stared at them as if debating her next move. “As long as I can remember.”
Seth chuckled. “We know what happened to Gwen’s parents, or at least we have our theories.”
Glancing once in the direction her sister had gone, Elle put the oversized hat back on and pulled down her sleeves to cover her hands. “Come on, I show you the outside.”
Seth glanced at Ty, who shrugged, and they followed her to the side yard overlooking the ocean. Elle spoke without turning to face them. “We know that we are descendants of the gods. Gwen is the granddaughter of Aphrodite and I’m, like, the great-granddaughter of Nyx. Gwen stopped believing after her parent were killed.”
 “Why?” Seth frowned.
She dropped her shoulders. “Gwen said she didn’t want to believe in any goddess who would let her own son die.”
Witnessing her parents’ murder had undoubtedly left its mark on Gwen, but even gods were bound by rules. “The gods are forbidden to have any type of connection with their earth-bound offspring. Aphrodite didn’t have a choice. You both have to understand that.”
Elle tugged the hat down further on her face and he wondered if the small amount of sunlight peeking through the clouds bothered her. Being a descendant of night had some disadvantages, like being allergic to the sun’s rays. “I know that. I tried to tell her the gods can’t interfere with human will. Although her parents being slaughtered by a dragon isn’t really human will, is it?”
No, it wasn’t and that pissed him off. Still, Aphrodite couldn’t make direct contact. Of course, if she interfered indirectly—such as saving the life of her granddaughter, they still wouldn’t have been aware of the goddess’s actions.
“Did she really see who did it?” Ty asked before Seth could get the words out.
Elle nodded. “She said it was a black and silver dragon.”
“Fuck,” Seth breathed. “Why would he kill them?”
Elle whirled on them, her green eyes darker now with silver ringing the pupil. “You know who did it?”
Seth ignored her question, his attention on Ty. “And why would he not take Gwen?”
A knowing grin spread on his face. “He couldn’t see her.”
Elle waved a hand between them. “Hello? Who didn’t see who?”
Ty gazed down at Elle. “Be at the estate at seven tonight and bring Gwen.” Stepping back several feet, he shifted into his red and gold dragon and took flight.
Seth sighed. “He’s such a show off. Please don’t be late.” He ran toward the edge, jumped, and shifted in midair. The women didn’t need contractors—they needed protection.

Markus through the eyes of Gwen

Hi, I’m Gwen, the heroine of War’s Passion. Lia asked me to stop by and talk about my hero and dragon-shifter mate, Markus.
Here’s the thing. Markus is intense. At six foot three and 250 pounds of hard lean muscle, he takes charge every situation he walks into. He’s a born leader and more like his father, Ares, than his brothers. Markus has the ability to calm a chaotic situation and deliver some kind of outcome. Although most of the outcomes are a little violent.
He’s also a gentle lover and a compassionate mate. And a little overbearing. Oh, and he growls a lot. But he’s all mine. I love everything about him, including the dragon within. They are so much a part of my life now that I couldn’t see being anywhere else but by his side.
I must be going before my dragon comes looking for me. It was a pleasure being here today. Thanks for having me.
Gwen


About the Author:
Lia Davis is a mother to two young adults and two very special kitties, a wife to her soul mate, a paranormal romance author, and co-owner to Fated Desires Publishing, LLC. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers. But it’s her home and she loves it!
An accounting major, Lia has always been a dreamer with a very active imagination. The wheels in her head never stop. She ventured into the world of writing and publishing in 2008 and loves it more than she imagined. Writing is stress reliever that allows her to go off in her corner of the house and enter into another world that she created, leaving real life where it belongs.
Her favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties.


Other books by Lia:
Ashwood Falls (shifters):


Stand alone:

Coming Soon
3/18 - Ashwood Falls Vol. 1 (includes Winter Eve, A Tiger’s Claim, and A Mating Dance)
Date TBD - Business Pleasures (Pleasures of the Heart #1)
5/27 - A Rebel’s Heart (Ashwood Falls 3.5) previously published in the Ever After anthology
Date TBD – Ashes of War (Sons of War #2)


GIVEAWAY!
Lia is giving away an executive swag pack (includes a War’s Passion fleece blanket, a hand sanitizer spray pump, a glass nail file, a War’s Passion spiral notebook, and a WP necklace hand made by Stone Soup Designs), a free eBook from her backlist (excluding War’s Passion), and a Lia Davis tote bag.


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I HEART BOOKS REVIEW


War's Passion (Sons of War #1) by Lia Davis
Review by Theresa Esterline
Stars: 5 

Not all is fair in Love and War. This is a new series by Lia - Sons of War. It is about the sons of Ares, God of War, who were sent to Earth to keep peace - watching over the descendants to prevent more wars. I really enjoyed this story. Sometimes books that are more fantasy are hard for me get started with or follow or I get distracted by the explanations needed at the beginning. But this did not happen with War's Passion. The author balanced the new information I needed to learn to understand about the gods and dragons with a plot. The plot got me hooked right away and I wanted to keep reading to know what would happen next! And now a bit about the story...

After watching her parents brutal death at the hands of a dragon, Gwen has had a hard time coping. She knows she is a descendant of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, and her best friend / adopted sister Elle is the granddaughter to Nyx, Goddess of Night, so the whole man turning to a dragon in her living room didn't make her crazy. But still she has had a hard time trusting people and dealing with panic attacks. After leaving a small town in Nebraska, she ends up in Maine and not with one dragon after her, but five dragons. Except these dragons are different. She doesn't fear them as she does the man who killed her father. She actually totally overcomes her fear, with lots of help from Elle and Markus and puts together a plan to avenge her parents death. 

Favorite quotes:
- She shouldn’t encourage him, shouldn’t be allowing him to kiss her, to touch her. He was a dragon, the son of Ares, and dangerous. Yet, she wanted more of him. No, she craved more. It was crazy. They just met.
- Man, she was a mess when it came to Markus. She was also in jeopardy of losing her heart to the man, or having it broken into a billion pieces.
- she couldn’t let her fears rule her. It was time she grew a backbone and stood up to the monsters.
- It wasn’t good when love and war came together to visit.
- Why the hell did he have to be so complicated? One minute he was charming, the next he withdrew behind his internal walls.
- And nothing, or no one, was going to get in his way of having what he wanted.
- “Love, you’re a goddess. You were never normal.”
- "It’s not going to be easy. I’ll push you to your breaking point to prepare you."
- I’ll deal with you later. In my bed. Gwen met Markus’s gaze as he spoke those words telepathically. Heat spread through her like wildfire. Biting her lower lip, she thought back to him, I look forward to it.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Touched (Touched series #1) by Vicki Green ~*~*~*~ Blog Tour and Review









Book: Touched
Author: Vicki Green
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
Jade Morley was not your average stripper. Her rules. Her way. No sex. Touching only. 

D.J. Sexy Lady by day, Stripper Angel by night, her life became one with no emotions, no heart and no soul until one night he walked in.

Knox Dunway has one thing. Money. Women throw themselves at him every day and he takes what he wants, when he wants but there’s no feeling, no love and no commitment. He wants more. Growing tired of trying to find ‘the one’ he walks into a strip club one night and everything changes.

Will Jade ever give in to her heart or will her survivor instincts always win?

*Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.











Purchase links:
Amazon | B&N





Playlist:





Teasers!








About the author:
Vicki Green


Vicki Green grew up in Overland Park, Kansas and currently resides in Olathe, Kansas. Along with her husband and two teenage boys, she shares her home with her cocker spaniel's Shadow and Mocha. She has been working full time at the same Company for 35 years. Her life has been filled with the most loving and caring parents, who are both gone now but are still in her heart and mind daily.

Vicki enjoys reading Romance books which is what inspired her to begin writing this book. She has always admired Author's dedication and hard work. She had a dream that played out for over a year, came home one day after work and decided to put it on a word document to see how it read and that became 'My Savior Forever', the beginning of her Forever Series.

Social media links:





GIVEAWAY!





I HEART BOOKS REVIEW


Touched (Touched series #1) by Vicki Green
Review by Nikki Marie Clark

Stars: 5

I love Vicki Green! She is absolutely amazing as far as being a writer comes and not to mention that she is just as sweet in person. Vicki has never failed to write a book that made me fall in love with the characters.

Jade has hit rock bottom and she's ready to get over it. She finds herself working a pole in order to make the cash she needs to put herself back on her feet. Not only that but she's also working a day job. Her life is her rules or it doesn't happen. This causes Jade to shut her heart and emotions off to those around her just so she can get through the day.

Knox gets what he wants when he wants. He has women throwing themselves at his feet because of his money. Knox too has turned his heart and emotions off. He doesn't want to get attached to anyone.

All that changes the instant he walks into Jade's club and sees her dancing.

Will Jade and Knox be able to commit to each other, or will their need to survive get in the way of what could be an amazing relationship?



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Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Queen of Swords by Nina Mason ~*~*~*~*~ Blog Tour and Review


About The Queen of Swords, a paranormal tale of undying love







 



Author: Nina Mason
Publisher: Vamptasy Publishing
Heat level: spicy
Formats: Kindle and paperback
Where to buy: Amazon.com 


Taglines:


A paranormal tale of undying love.
The story of a love powerful enough to span centuries.
How can she be his soul mate if he doesn’t have a soul?

Blurb:


When Graham Logan, a Scottish earl turned vampire by a dark wizard’s curse, draws the Queen of Swords, he knows he’s about to meet the love of his life. For the third time. But surrendering his heart will mean risking her life…or making her what he is. Neither of which his morals will permit him to do. Graham, who believes he lost his soul to the curse, rages at God: Why give her back only to take her again?

Cat Fingal, the third incarnation of Graham’s twin flame, won’t let him escape so easily. As soon as they meet, she feels she knows him and begins having past-life flashbacks. A white witch, she casts a spell to summon him, wanting answers and to fill the void she’s felt all her life.
Graham has other problems, too. Like the seductress who wants him for herself and the dark wizard who cursed him and killed his beloved the first two times.

Will he find a way to save her this time around? Or will she save him?

Excerpt:


Biting his lip, Graham turned the card of the here and now quickly. Seeing what he’d most feared tightened his chest. The central figure sat in profile upon a throne carved with angels and butterflies. She wore a white gown and a cloak decorated with clouds. More clouds gathered in the background, suggesting a storm was coming. The woman’s left hand reached out toward someone or something unseen in the distance. Her other hand gripped the up-thrust symbol of her suit.
The Queen of Swords.
He’d drawn the card only once before: the morning he’d met Catharine La Croix at a sidewalk cafe overlooking the Seine. To say her resemblance to Caitriona discomposed him was an understatement. He’d been floored by the likeness. He’d also been drawn to it like a sailor to a siren’s song. Unfortunately, he’d had no ship’s mast to rope himself to until the danger passed. Within a few weeks, they were deeply in love. He never suspected she might meet the same fate as her previous incarnation. Not until it was too late, anyway.
He’d done his best to protect her. After seeing Gerard Fitzgerald, the dark wizard who’d cursed him, on the street outside her apartment on Rue de Cherche Midi, he’d kept a watchful eye on her. Being as stubborn as before, she didn’t care for his vigil. One morning, she slipped out after he’d fallen asleep. He’d searched for her everywhere, out of his mind with worry. He’d had her blood, should have felt her, but he didn’t. That evening, he learned why.
Fitzgerald had done it. Of that, he was certain. He just didn’t know why. Now, it looked as if history was about to repeat. And what could he do about it except tear out his hair, beat his fists on the walls, and cry to heaven, “Why? Why give her back to me only to take her again?”
Grief closed around his throat like a strangler’s hands. Coughing to ease its grip, he overturned the card of his future. Surprise stung his heart when he saw The Fool. Squinting, he studied the image of a gaily-dressed youth whose open arms seemed to embrace the world. His right hand held a knapsack, his left, a single white rose. Nipping at his heels was a wee white dog. The Fool, fearing nothing, looked skyward with a dreamy expression as he strode toward the edge of a cliff.
Bewildered, he shook his head. What could it mean? The Fool stood on the threshold. He was the protagonist of the tarot, the archetypal hero embarking on his quest, the soul starting its journey toward atonement. The Fool, in other words, was the polar opposite of the hopeless, faithless tightrope walker Fitzgerald’s dark curse had turned him into over the past one hundred years.

Trailer:






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About Nina Mason, author


 Nina Mason is a hopeful romantic with strong affinities for history, mythology, and the metaphysical. She strives to write the same kind of books she loves to read: those that entertain, edify, educate, and enlighten. Three of her books will be published in 2014: The Queen of Swords, an urban fantasy/paranormal romance; The Knight of Wands, book one in the Knights of Avalon Series; and The Tin Man, a political thriller about the dangers posed by media monopolies.  She is currently at work on Book Two of the Knights of Avalon series and is itching to get back to a book she started a while back about a merman who falls for an oil company spokeswoman after a phantom tanker capsizes on the coast of the Hebrides islands. When not writing, Nina works as a communications consultant, doll maker, and home stager. Born and raised in Southern California, she now lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with her husband, teenage daughter, two rescue cats, and a Westie named Robert.

Social-media links:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ninamasonauthor (@ninamasonauthor)


Interview with the author:

Q. Tell us about your book.
A. The Queen of Swords tells the story of a bookish white witch who returns every century to reunite with her earthbound soul mate. He’s a Scottish earl turned vampire by a dark wizard’s curse back in the Regency era on the eve of their wedding. She came back once before in the Edwardian era only to be killed by his maker in the same manner as before. He believes he has no soul, so can’t understand why she keeps coming back. She believes he does have a soul and that she comes back to free him from the curse. The story follows their journey as they try to work out who’s right and how they can stop history from repeating.

Q. After this, what's your next project?
A. My current work-in-progress is book two in The Knights of Avalon series. After that, I haven’t decided. Probably another paranormal romance/urban fantasy. I’ve got a stalled manuscript about an oil company spokeswoman who gets involved with a merman during an oil spill in the Hebrides. Might get back to that one, or write one featuring Benedict and Avery, the secondary couple in The Queen of Swords. I’d also like to maybe write a sequel to The Tin Man, my political thriller releasing in August. It tells of two journalists thrown together to solve a series of murders tied to a global conspiracy to take over the media.

Q. What inspires you to write what you do?
A. All of my paranormal stories are inspired by my love of  the history and mythology of Scotland, my interest in the unknowable, and my belief in the redemptive power of love.

Q. When did you start writing?
A. About as soon as I could write the alphabet. When I was a kid, I won an essay contest sponsored by the local library (I was an avid reader and always did the summer reading challenge). Back in the days of typewriters, I wrote a romance novel about a couple of ballet dancers, but never did anything with it. Didn’t try my hand at fiction again until five or six years ago, when I started what is now The Queen of Swords.

Q. What inspired you to write the book?
A. I started the first draft after reading Twilight. While I liked the saga, I also found myself frustrated by the lack of sex and Edward’s lack of history. In literature, vampires originally personified uncaged sexuality, so a chaste vampire seemed counter-intuitive to me. Plus, I felt writing an immortal creature provided fantastic opportunities to build an interesting backstory. What had he/she seen and experienced over the centuries? How was he/she affected by it? My immortal characters all have a history tied to the world and what they’ve seen and experienced has colored them in some way.

Q. Are you a careful planner or do you let the story guide you?
A. I do a bit of both. I work out the characters and their motivations, setting, and where I want the story to go. I also tend to do index cards for each scene or major plot point from start to finish. Once I begin to write, it can go completely off the rails, depending on where the characters want to take it. As long as they’re reaching the touchstones, I let them do what they want. If they go too far off track, I either re-plot the novel or rein them in, depending on which direction seems better at the time.

Q. Who is your favorite among your characters?
A. I love them all, of course. Graham, the hero in The Queen of Swords, is both noble and funny. Callum, the hero in The Knight of Wands, is a good-hearted romantic. Leith, the hero of my WIP, is a bit on the dark side, but still well-intentioned. If pressed to pick just one, I’d have to go with Alex Buchanan, the journalist hero in The Tin Man. He’s very complex and has lots of demons to overcome, but also is a really good guy.



I HEART BOOKS REVIEW


Queen of Swords by Nina Mason
Review by Wennie Conedy
Stars: # 4

An eBook copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Warning: This book is most definitely for adults only, due to graphic scenes of sex and violence.

Are you familiar with the occult, specifically with Tarot cards? If you are, then you must be familiar with the symbolism of the Queen of Swords card. If you are not, don’t let that stop you from reading this book, as Nina explains the symbolism of the cards quite well.

The Queen of Swords is billed as a paranormal romance of undying love, between a vampire and a human. No, it’s not the same as that widely popular vampire series. The world that Nina Mason has created is far more sinister, darker and toes a fine line between acceptable and gruesome.

Graham Logan believes in the power of the Tarot Cards. When he draws the Queen of Swords, he braces himself for what is to happen next, for he knows that he will be meeting the love of his life, again, for the third time. He has learned from the first two encounters. He knows that to save her life this time, he must protect his heart.

Cat Fingal, also known as Caitrona and Catharine in her past two lives, is a white witch. She meets Graham in the library and is immediately drawn to him. She is intrigued by him and feels a connection that she cannot explain. She casts a spell to summon him, as she wants answers to a number of questions she has. Plus, she also has a condition that she wants reversed, and she needs Graham to get it done.

In Queen of Swords, I found it refreshing that the dark force’s who are keeping the lovers apart are obsessed with Graham, not Cat. And when I say, “dark forces” I am not kidding. There is a chapter aptly titled “The Full Metal Jacket of Kink.” Here’s a tip – when you get to that chapter, brace yourself. Take to heart the “full metal jacket” part of the chapter title.

In telling this story, Nina walks that tightrope that separates acceptable and cringe-worthy scenes. Considering that 80% of the characters are either preternatural beings, possessed with bloodlust and superhuman strength, don’t be surprised at how some of the scenes turn out.

Nina has a unique writing style and for this story, she draws heavily on the Irish brogue for character conversations as well as background and experiences. It was mostly due to the use of Irish language, the retelling of Irish history from the character’s POV, and the setting of the scenes that made it difficult for me to accept that this story is set in present day time. I found myself jarred a bit when a passage related to current technology found itself in the story, or when the Cat describes herself as wearing jeans or doing her dissertation. There were also a few gaps for me that I wished were addressed; like what happened to the caretaker of his castle when the final confrontation was happening? Where were the dogs?

This book is a completed story, though I do sense that the author left the door open for a possible story featuring Graham’s best friend and Cat’s roommate.

If you are looking for a story on the struggle of two lovers to be together and face the obstacles that separate them with some magic and paranormal abilities thrown in to the mix, then grab this book, and settle in for the ride. Just be warned, if you are squeamish of heart or into vanilla relationships, this book is definitely not for you. But if you are willing to explore some darkness, some kink, and yet hold on to the hope and idea that love conquers all, Cat and Graham can show you the way.


Cursed Love by t.h. snyder ~*~*~*~*~ Release Blitz


Synopsis

Lincoln Minzotto has the life everyone wants, yet he resents it.

He’s grown up as the youngest of three children to a wealthy congressman and successful lawyer. Pushed to his absolute excellence, Linc felt the real path for him was different than his parents’ hopes and dreams.

On the most important night of his father’s reelection, Linc makes a choice that will lead to a lifetime of regret.

Deciding to start a new life, he and his best friend, Daulton, purchase a rundown tattoo shop called Cursed Magic.

While restoring Cursed Magic, Linc’s faith in life is put to the test in more ways than one. Faced with the horrors of the bleak, starless nights and the women that come and go, he decides to give up all together, until one fateful night with a stranger.

Will one night shape his future forever? Can he turn the Curse he’s endured into a blessing even though all odds are against him?



Excerpt


Buy Links




About the Author

t. h. snyder (1979) was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. For six years she worked in the field of higher education while earning her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Management from University of Phoenix. She's a single mother to two children. She became an avid reader in spring of 2012 and since has read over 250 books. Her genre of interest ranges from Romance to thrilling Paranormal. This is more than just a hobby for her, it's a passion to read the words of great authors and bring life to their stories with her reviews and character castings. She started writing her first novel in June of 2013 and is anxious to see where this journey takes her!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Noah (Mitchell-Healy Cousins #1) by Jennifer Foor ~*~*~*~ Cover Reveal


Noah (Mitchell-Healy Cousins #1) by Jennfer Foor

Being the son of Colton Mitchell isn't what Noah Mitchell wants to be known for. Though he works along side of his father, he feels the strain to go out on his own. Being the next in line to be in control of the family's ranch, he debates on taking his life in a completely different direction.

Leaving town to clear his head he meets Shalan, a beautiful singer that longs for a life in the city.

As sparks fly, his family's dreams for him seemingly go out the window. Will Noah stick around to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, or will love lead him away?

This is Book 1 in the new series, Mitchell- Healy Cousins.
You will still be able to enjoy all of the original characters from the original Mitchell Series.


Add Noah to your to be read list today!



I loved the Mitchell series ... can't wait to read about Noah now that he is all grown up! <3 ~Theresa