Giveaway – Page 54 – Read-Love-Blog

Review, EXCLUSIVE excerpt & SIGNED ARC Giveaway….Prince of Power by Elisabeth Staab

Synopsis:

This Fight Is Personal…

Wizards and vampires have been mortal enemies since the beginning. Now Anton, son of the Wizard Master, has one last chance to steal the unique powers of the vampire king’s beautiful sister, Tyra…and then kill her. But when he meets Tyra face-to-face, everything changes…

Tyra will stop at nothing to defeat the wizards, until Anton saves her life and she suddenly sees an opportunity she never could have imagined…

As the sparks ignite between them, together they could bring an end to the war that’s decimating their people, but only if they can find a way to trust each other…

_______________

My Review:

This is the second book in the Chronicles of Yavyn series and follows King of Darkness. I was so looking forward to this book and the story of Anton and Tyra and I will say…Elisabeth friggin nailed it!

We first meet Anton and Tyra in King of Darkness and this book picks up where we had left off.

Vampires and Wizards have always been at war. However it is at this juncture that things have reached a critical point. Anton is the son of the Wizard Master and has been charged with the task of kidnapping the vampire king’s sister, Tyra. The Master wants to kill Tyra and absorb the unique powers and abilities she was born with. Only once Anton starts his surveillance, he realizes how amazing Tyra is. She’s caring, fierce, beautiful and strong…. there is no way Anton can kill her and deprive the world of one such as her. He’s never truly fit into the Wizard world of violence and certainly has no love for the “father” that has beaten and neglected him his entire life. He cannot continue to live a lie and he realizes he needs to act, and it must be soon. Now, he just has to figure out how to save not only Tyra’s life, but also his own.

Tyra has been lucky in finding something she truly loves…her work at the homeless shelter. In the intense, brutal war she, her brother the king, and their vampire guard have been waging against the wizards, this is the one thing that brings her peace. However, nothing like a mysterious, handsome, stranger saving your life to throw a wrench into things. Now she has to figure out who has is and why he knows so much about her…and if she can ever learn to trust a wizard.

What a fantastic book this was! We got see deeper into the wizard and vampire cultures and learn more of the web the two sides weave together to create the conflict they have been living for years. There are some intense fight scenes that had me gripping my e-reader with white knuckles and parts that I audibly gasped at. I love to feel that from a book. I love to feel like I’m there, watching it all play out in front of me. However, the parts I loved the most were the moments between Anton and Tyra. Anton broke my heart. Totally crushed it. He is a broken soul who wants nothing more than to be worthy of Tyra and her love. He has known nothing other than hurt and violence…hate and pain. I absolutely love him. Tyra is the exact amount of hard and soft in a heroine that I love. She’s a female fighter in a war but when all is laid bare…she’s a woman we can all identify with. A woman just trying to make sense of life and trying to learn to let her guard down and give love a chance.

I found this book, like King of Darkness, to be a fresh take on the vampire world. One of the things I enjoy most about all of the characters Ms. Staab has created is that they don’t have all the answers. They are vulnerable in an endearing way. They all have a weakness that we are able to see in their private moments. Hell, we get to see the strong guys cry every now and then! I appreciate that. It gives the characters an authenticity that is frequently lacking.

We also get to see more of our favorites from King of Darkness….Thad, Isabel, Lee, Alexia and Siddoh. Plus, there’s a secondary story involving Theresa and Xander that put me through the emotional wringer…and I loved every tear inducing moment! I cannot WAIT for the next book and know this is a series I will be keeping up with in the future! Thank you, Elisabeth, for another amazing read! Oh, and for getting me to cry!

Four-and-a-Half Loves

I spoke with Elisabeth and asked her what one of her favorite moments in this book was and, well, she didn’t just tell me, she is sharing it with all of you in this EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT! Enjoy!

Excerpt:

Dark shadows lingered underneath Anton’s gray eyes, and he needed a great deal of effort to hold himself up. He was worn out. Keyed up. She would bet he was running on fumes.

“I’ve been in torpor,” she said. “How long?”

On the desk lay a stack of those little two-packs of saltine crackers. The kind that came from the salad bars of restaurants. Or in this case, probably the shelter dining hall. He scratched his head, then picked each one up and counted as he slapped them back onto the desk. “One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight… nine… Ten days.”

Tyra squeezed her eyes shut.

He pointed to the crackers. “I brought some back for you every day from the dining hall at dinner. Stupid, but it made me feel like I was doing something for you. Other than that–and taking a piss–I didn’t go anywhere. Didn’t want to leave you alone.”

Holy cow. He’d watched over her all that time. She didn’t know quite what to say to that. And odd warmth bloomed in her chest…

And, because Elisabeth is incredibly generous and full of awesome, she has given me a SIGNED ADVANCE PAPERBACK COPY of Prince of Power to give to a lucky fan! How awesome!

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About the Author:

Elisabeth Staab still lives with her nose in a book and at least one foot in an imaginary world. She believes that all kinds of safe and sane love should be celebrated but she adores the fantasy-filled realm of paranormal romance the best. She lives in the Washington DC area

with her family and one big scaredy cat, where she loves to spend time with good friends, go dancing, collect wacky coffee mugs from which to drink her favorite beverage, and sing off-key in her kitchen (when she isn’t making characters fall in love, that is).

A few of my favorite things….giveaway!

In the years that I’ve become a hard-core book lover I have had some truly fantastic experiences and met some unbelievably amazing authors. I’ve also been shown some amazing support from all of you. You guys have helped give Read-Love-Blog the unbelievable start it has kicked off with. Now, since it’s the holidays and as a huge thanks to the support you guys have given me, I am giving you all a change to win some of my faves from this year! This list includes works from authors I adore…not only because they are amazing writers, but because they are amazing gals. They all mean something special to me and it gives me no greater pleasure than to share their works with one lucky winner! This goodie package includes e-copies of:

~Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione ~ Heart of the Hunter by Lara Adrian ~ Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia ~ Her Forbidden Hero by Laura Kaye ~ Try Me by Diane Alberts ~ Creating Fate by Rachel Firasek ~ King of Darkness by Elisabeth Staab ~

I am also including a package of swag that will include a SIGNED copy of Lara Adrian’s Heart of the Hunter, goodies from Debra Anastasia along with some other fun things! YAY!

Happy Holidays!

xo Jillian

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Review and SIGNED ARC Giveaway…Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair

Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost everything—her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry—after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start in the Napa Valley. With her dream job, dream home, and her daughter enrolled in a wonderful new school, she starts wondering if holiday wishes really do come true.

But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart.

This is the first book in Ms. Adair’s St. Helena Vineyard Novel Series and I am so honored to have had the chance to read it before it hits the shelves!

Regan is a gal who is no stranger to disappointment. She is also no stranger to strong character and certainly isn’t one for letting the bad outweigh the good that she does have in her life. After all, she has a beautiful daughter and is about to start a new life in a new town. Things are looking up, until her past threatens to come back and ruin things yet again.

Gabe is determined to make sure the home wrecker that ruined his sister’s marriage gets pay back in spades for what she’s done. He’s been making sure her life has been less than easy for the past six years and yet here she is, in his town, working for his family’s business. Although now, he starts to think that maybe this isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe now, if he puts his charm on, he can get some info on where his cheating ex-brother in law may have run off to….with his family’s money. Too bad he has no idea that he will in fact be the one who gets charmed and not the other way around. Can he risk falling for the woman responsible for causing his sister so much pain?

From the very first page, I was brought in by the emotion coming from Regan. She is such an amazingly strong character but not in an overbearing way that some heroines can come off as. She’s strong in a way that is so admirable and has such poise and confidence that she is a character I won’t soon forget. She’s been through some difficult times but is able to maintain her dignity and reminds us that sometimes you have to keep your chin up, square your shoulders and give it another try.

Gabe is loyal to a fault. He’s been keeping his family together since the death of his parents and isn’t sure there’s any other option for him. He is fierce and protective and sexy as hell. He’s your girlfriend’s sexy, responsible older brother you would oogle when you went over to her house. He knows exactly how to push buttons…the ones that annoy and the ones that make you melt. He’s so convinced that always figuring things out and having the answers for his family is enough for him….until Regan makes him start to want more.

Together they have an emotional ride ahead that if they choose to believe in each other, and not other people’s opinions, they can have a chance at something real and something they both deserve. They also have help from unlikely allies who have big personalities and equally big hearts.

I loved this story. Ms. Adair had my heart hurting so many times throughout this book but only because she did such an amazing job at telling Gabe and Regan’s story. I felt so much for both of them and it truly was an enjoyable read with humor along with the heartache! This is a must read for any romantic! Thank you, Ms. Adair, for an amazing story and I look forward to more in this series.

Oh! One last thing…the PTA mentions and shenanigans were HILARIOUS, and not entirely false (but you never heard that from me! *wink*)

Five Loves

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Bittersweet Seraphim Released From Hell Blog Tour & Giveaway

Bittersweet Seraphim has been released from Hell.

Satan Jack invites you to come…and indulge yourself in his journey to save the angel he loves. After running Hell for over a thousand years one foul-mouthed Seraph has changed his end game.

Even if it means destroying the universe, Jack refuses to give up on Emma. He didn’t know what love was until Emma’s skin pressed against his, the addiction to any of his other vices paling in comparison. Jack has never been a fearful man, but he gets it now. Fear comes when you have something to lose. Or someone.

Summary:

Suffering is worst when you’re doing it alone. But Emma’s taking Hell like an angel—even though her languishing began with having her seraph wings torn from her back. Now her worst enemy lords his body and his evil desires over her while she tries desperately to remember the words to her favorite prayer.

As Devil, Jack used to have Hell and its women humming like well-oiled machines. Too bad he’s nowhere near the place now. Stuck on Earth as a human, he must work with a ragtag team of exiled minions and half-breeds to save the angel who’s become all that matters.

Rescuing a seraph is the plan, but breaking into Hell means letting evil things out. Once they collide, minions and angels converge in the battle of the ages: good versus evil. But which side is which? Will Jack destroy the world as he fights to save Emma, his true and timeless love, from a damnation he designed?

An action-packed sequel to Crushed Seraphim, this tale reveals—time and again—what happens when the heart’s deepest desires break free. With a story both sizzling and sensual, emotional and enigmatic, Debra Anastasia invites readers to join a battle with nothing less than love on the line.

**GIVEAWAY**

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Go to Debra Anastasia’s BLOG for a list of tour stops, more chances to win, and a buddy prize with crystal bracelets!

Get your Jack from these links:

Omnific Publishing http://omnificpublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21&products_id=95 (Print, eBook, ePack)

Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Seraphim-The-Series-ebook/dp/B00A9WTRNA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353381893&sr=8-2&keywords=Bittersweet+Seraphim

Amazon Print http://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-Seraphim-Debra-Anastasia/dp/1623420008/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353381893&sr=8-1&keywords=Bittersweet+Seraphim

Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bittersweet-seraphim-debra-anastasia/1113773523 (Print, Nook)

EXCLUSIVE: The second in the Winemaker’s Feast Trilogy, The Winemaker’s Dinner: Entrée, RELEASE DATE, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

As some of you may already know, I read and LOVED The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers by Dr. Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond and I have some exciting news to share! The wait is ALMOST over! The second book in The Winemaker’s Feast Trilogy, The Winemaker’s Dinner: Entrée, will be available on DECEMBER 18, 2012!

Summary:

Dr. Ivan Rusilko has got it bad. He’s in love—with life, his work, and his baby girl, Jaden Thorne. The nearly 3000 miles between Miami and L.A. that once threatened their happily-ever-after now seem nothing more than a mere geographical challenge—nothing a few hours on a plane and a sexy weekend rendezvous can’t trump. No time apart is too long to keep him from wanting her in his arms and in his bed. He’s absolutely sure Jaden is his dream come true.

Jaden Thorne is living the life she’s always wanted. She’s got her one-in-a-million job on a TV cooking show, she’s achieved celebrity chef status, and she’s in a committed relationship with her perfect guy… Then the network’s surprise decision to add a co-host to her show takes a bite out of her perfectly balanced life and career. With a new man in the mix, living the dream gets a whole lot more complicated both personally and professionally.

When the emotional, mental, and physical paths of true love’s course collide with frustration, secrets, and assumptions, will Ivan and Jaden pay the price? Does their dream-come-true cost something neither can afford?

The Winemaker’s Dinner: Entrée is a decadent meal of passion, sex, and secrets, inspired by the real romantic life of Dr. Ivan Rusilko. Authors Everly Drummond and Dr. Ivan Rusilko have turned up the heat in this emotional follow up to The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers, expertly executing their unique recipe for blending fact and fantasy, with more than a dash of passion and sex.

and now…..an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek for you!

“Catch me if you can!”

“Two can play this game,” he yelled after her as he began to run.

She took the stairs two at a time, and she could hear him drawing near. As she reached the top, her toe caught on the step. Red-hot pain shot through her knee as it skimmed the carpet, but that faded in an instant as Ivan wrapped his hands around her ankle and pulled. She slid down the stairs, and he captured her in his arms.

He rested his hands on either side of her head, steadying himself on the stairs, and hovered inches above her. “You didn’t really think you were going to outrun me, did you?”

“You haven’t caught me yet, doc,” she squealed, backing up the stairs.

A glint sparkled in Ivan’s eye. The tables had been turned. He was the cat and she was the mouse. He was the hunter. She was the prey. In a final gallant attempt at escape, she twisted her body and propelled herself up the steps.

She could feel him behind her, his hot breath tickling the back of her neck. They raced into the bedroom, and his arms wrapped around her waist. They collapsed onto the bed, succumbing to a fit of giggles. All around them were mounds of dresses that hadn’t made the cut, and they now provided an extra layer of cushioning. Jaden struggled to rid herself of the emerald green dress she wore while Ivan tossed around on the bed beside her, making quick work of his pants and shirt. This was the last time they’d see each other for weeks, so there was no time for pleasantries.

Now…because I love gifts, I have an e-copy of The Winemaker’s Dinner: Appetizers up for grabs!a Rafflecopter giveaway