Release Day Blitz….Blood Type by K.A. Linde

 

 

 

 

A startling new vision of paranormal romance: When a human ventures into the world of vampires—a decadent milieu of blood-bonds and betrayal—she discovers that not all is what it seems.

For Reyna Carpenter, giving up her body isn’t a choice. It’s survival.

In a civilization laid waste by poverty and desperation, Reyna accepts a high-paying position with the wealthy and hungry vampire elite. Her new job is as the live-in blood escort for the intimidating, demanding, and devilishly handsome Beckham Anderson. He’s everything she expected from a vampire, except for one thing—he won’t feed off her.

Reyna soon discovers that behind Beckham’s brooding, wicked façade lies a unique and complex man. And that, in a dark and divided world, she is more valuable than she ever would have believed.

For with each passing night, Reyna can’t shake the sensation that it’s Beckham who’s afraid of her.

Note: Reyna and Beckham’s story continues in Blood Match.

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That was the moment Beckham appeared in the doorway like a storm cloud.

Reyna straightened in her seat at the expression on his face. He walked across the room like a tightly coiled spring ready to explode.

“Ah Beckham, there you are,” Harrington said.

“Excuse me, William. I need to speak with Reyna. Alone.”

She hastened out of her seat and followed him around the corner. He tugged her straight through the kitchens, out the back door, down a corridor, and into a dead end. Then her back was slammed against the brick wall. His fist connected with the wall behind her, and she felt the wall shudder. Debris floated onto her shoulders.

“You left,” he growled.

“I . . .”

“No.” He pressed his finger to her lips roughly. She stopped breathing and just stared up into his eyes as dark as night. Her body trembled under the feral stare. “You left without me.”

The silence was weighted. All she could do was sit with their bodies nearly touching. His finger on her mouth. Her mind wandering to hellacious places.

“You are my subject. Can you imagine what it was like when I found you missing? When you turned up with three of my kind?” She shook her head minutely. He bared his teeth to her, and she shrank back. “These are meant to drink your blood. To drink you dry until there is nothing left of your body but a dry corpse. We are killers. We don’t hesitate. Just because we’re wearing suits and seem more like you . . . does not mean we are like you. We are not like you. They especially are not like you. The only way you get to the top of Visage is to be fucking ruthless, Reyna. Do you understand?”

“You’re . . . scaring me,” she whispered.

“Good.”

 

 

 

 

Reyna Carpenter and Beckham Anderson return in the exhilarating follow-up to the provocative paranormal romance Blood Type.
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KylaK.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / INSTAGRAM

Risen by Cole Gibsen…Release Day Blitz & Review

Blurb

Fans of Vampire Diaries and Twilight will be thirsting for this latest vampire addiction…

My aunt has been kidnapped by vampires, and it’s up to me to save her. Only…I had no idea vampires existed. None. Nada. I’m more of a reader than a fighter, and even though I’d been wishing to escape my boring existence in the middle of nowhere, I’d give anything to have it back now if it meant my aunt was safe.

Then there’s the vampire Sebastian, who seems slightly nicer than most of the bloodsuckers I’ve run into so far. Yes, he’s the hottest being I’ve ever come across, but there’s no way I can trust him. He swears he’s helping me get answers, but there’s more to his story. Now I’m a key pawn in a raging vampire war, and I need to pick the right ally.

But my chances of surviving this war are slim at best, when the side I choose might be the one that wants me dead the most.

Buylinks:

https://entangledpublishing.com/risen.html

 

So this book took me by surprise. The blurb had me intrigued enough to take a chance on this author (she is new to me) and since I have love of paranormal reads, figured it would at least be something I enjoyed. I did not expect to really get so wrapped up in the story.

There are so many vampire books out there, that it is truly hard to find out that stands out from the rest. Cole has definitely done in her job in making this story unique and different from other stories I have read.

Charlie has had this inkling of wanting to escape her aunt’s little cabin for quite some time. They never venture much outside the woods and as a teenager dangling on the edge of adulthood, Charlie’s anxiety of seeing what else is an itch that needs scratched desperately. And Charlie does get her wish, just not in the way she expected.

“The veil that’s hidden a strange, darker world from what I know has only been pulled back a fraction. I’m not sure I’m ready for more.” 

Charlie is taken on a journey she never intended to embark on. Sebastian, a vampire who is her captor, is also her only hope of finding her aunt and rescuing her. Sebastian has many questions and knows that Charlie is a key part of finding those answers.

We are thrown into a world where vampires have different species and have been battling for ages. A war is impending amongst them and as Charlie learns of these different species, she is grasping with her new knowledge and what this means for her. The readers are given a lot of interesting and entertaining facts, but we are left with more questions than we started with and an intense need to know what happens next.

Cole has definitely set up an intriguing world with great characters. The plot development is engaging and just when you think you know everything, she throws in another twist that has you second guessing everything you just thought. I love it!

I cannot wait for the next book to arrive to see what it is in store next for Charlie, Sebastian and Opal. Great start to what I feel will be a very enthralling series.

 

 

Blog Tour Giveaway:

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Excerpt from Risen:

“Don’t say it like that, Charlie. I wanted to protect you.” She tugs on the edge of my cardigan, pulling me toward her. “I love you. You’re the most important thing in my life, do you understand?”

There’s a desperation in her eyes that tightens my throat. Swallowing hard, I nod.

She lets go of me with a sigh. “Maybe I took it too far.” She sweeps her dreadlocks over her shoulder and twists them tightly. “All I’ve ever wanted was to keep you safe.”

Safe. The world spirals, cold and slippery, down my spine. “What are you so afraid of?”
She opens her mouth only to shut it again.
Jax growls.
We turn as he claws at the door.
“The only thing there is to be afraid of,” she whispers. “The monsters.”

About Cole Gibsen:

Growing up, Cole Gibsen couldn’t decide what she loved more—dogs or books. Rather than choose, she decided to devote her life to both! Dog trainer (wrangler) by day and author by night, she’s the author of more than ten books with more on the way. www.colegibsen.com

Author Links:

Author Website: www.ColeGibsen.com
Author Twitter: Twitter.com/colegibsen
Author Facebook: Facebook.com/colegibsen
Author Goodreads: goodreads.com/colegibsen
Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colegibsen/

 

Cover Reveal….Crown of Ruin by Keary Taylor


Crown of Ruin by Keary Taylor
Publish Date: June 5, 2018
Paranormal Romance

Check out the cover of the third book in Keary Taylor’s explosive continuation of the Blood Descendants Universe! Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for the chance to win a signed paperback of CROWN OF DEATH and CROWN OF BLOOD or one of 5 Kindle copies of HOUSE OF ROYALS or 1 audiobook of HOUSE OF ROYALS!

 

SYNOPSIS:

Logan has returned to Roter Himmel. Once a peaceful haven for the Royals, it is now a kingdom of chaos and distrust. The people may love their queen, but she has never ruled them on her own.

Sevan has seen Cyrus work miracles long ago, and learned his methods herself. His curse has sustained stronger than death before but the visage of Cyrus’ demise is undeniable. Still, Logan refuses to believe this is the end. Cyrus keeps appearing to her in strange dreams, rambling that she must prepare—that the day is coming when night will rule the day.

While the entire world of vampires watches, Logan will take on the weight of the crown, the certainty of impending change, and the threat of war.

They all should have known better than to test her. She’s had multiple lifetimes to prepare for this…

All hail the Queen.

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LINKS:

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AUTHOR LINKS:

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/kearytaylor/
Blood Descendants Universe Page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/BloodDescendantsUniverse/
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/kearytaylor
Bookbub Author Follow Page: www.bookbub.com/authors/keary-taylor
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorkearytaylor/

Family Is Forever by S.C. Stephens…Blog Tour & Review

We are thrilled to be bringing you FAMILY IS FOREVER, the conclusion to S.C. Stephens’s Conversion series. Lovers of paranormal romance won’t want to miss this one–be sure to grab your copy today!

 

About FAMILY IS FOREVER

Julian Adams would give anything to rewind the last few months. His sister has been forever altered, a man he distrusts is now a permanent part of his family, and the woman of his dreams no longer remembers him. The only thing left for Julian to do is start over.

Nika Adams is finally content with her life. She’s forever bound to her soulmate, and helping him with a project that has given him purpose. But just when it seems peace is on the horizon, an unintended consequence of Hunter’s work arises, and everyone must pull together to find a way to keep the family safe … forever.

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Read an excerpt from FAMILY IS FOREVER now!

Arianna had relaxed quite a bit during our conversation. Her demeanor was casual as she played with the strap of her shoe. Her laugh came naturally. It was easy to pretend that we were still together as we sat there talking. Our arms were even touching. It sent a jolt of electricity down my spine to feel my skin against hers again. It felt like we were finally shifting, finally moving in the right direction. It was everything I’d hoped tonight would be.
After a brief pause in talking about our summer plans, Arianna pursed her lips and said, “Why have we never been friends before now? We’re in the same grade, and we must have had classes together before…but I don’t recall ever seeing you before a couple of months ago.”
I sighed, not sure how to answer that. “I don’t know… We must have just kept missing each other. But I’m so glad that’s not the case anymore. You…there’s just something about you. You’re kind, warm, accepting. You see past people’s faults, to the person they are underneath. You’re patient, forgiving, and open to things that are a little…different. But you don’t take crap from anyone either, and you stand up for what you believe in. You’re just…amazing.”
Her expression was blank. “You saw all that, sitting across the room from me?”
I peeked up at her with a small smile that I couldn’t hide. “I see you, Arianna. I see the real you.” Straightening, I met her eye and held her gaze. “And I really like what I see.”
Arianna held her breath as we stared at each other. Her heart rate spiked, and I momentarily felt bad that I could hear it. She’d probably be embarrassed if she knew I could. But then her eyes drifted to my lips, and I really didn’t care that I had a slight advantage. All I cared about was whether she wanted me to kiss her right now. Was she ready to see me as more?
I leaned in, tentative and unsure. Maybe I was misinterpreting this. Maybe, because I wanted it so badly, I was seeing something that wasn’t there. My heart was thumping in my chest so loudly, Nika probably thought I was doing something much more strenuous than just sitting on a bed, staring at Arianna, and waiting for our second first kiss to happen.

 

 

Family Is Forever is the conclusion on this series from Stephens. I did not read the first 3 books in this series and wasn’t too confused when I started on book four, since it’s sort of “spin-off” and the last 3 books are about Nika and Julian. The other characters from previous books are in these, but there isn’t any confusion and Stephens does a great job of summarizing who everyone is and how they are all related.

As with the previous two books, the story is about Julian and Nika and their struggles in their world. Nika is now a full fledge vampire and is sired to her boyfriend, Hunter. We also get snippets from Hunter’s POV and they struggles he faces along with Nika.

Julian is having a hard time handling all the new changes going on. He lost the love his life, Arianna, because her mind was wiped clean, so it’s as though they are starting all over again. Arianna remembers nothing about Julian or Nika so it’s a rough go. Julian also lost his sister when she became a full fledge vampire and the special bond that they shared was severed. He wants to help out more in the family and not be left on the sidelines because he isn’t old enough or whatever excuse their father seems to come up with.

Nika is happy being a full fledge vampire. But her father is a tad overprotective, so Nika struggles with her bond to Hunter because of the restriction her father puts on them. While Hunter adheres to everything, Nika definitely pushes them.

While Julian and Nika are dealing with their own personal struggles, the family has to deal with outside issues that are trying to end the life of all vampires. I was definitely intrigued by this enemy and curious to see how everything panned out.

Overall, it was great ending to the series. There is a lot of action and suspense. While I felt parts could have been more condensed, I still enjoyed the majority of the book. The secondary characters played key roles in this book and helped keep the story line interesting. If you are a fan of PNR, I highly recommend his series.

 

 

 

Don’t miss the other books in the Conversion series!

Conversion / Bloodlines / ‘Til Death / The Next Generation / The Beast Within / Family is Forever

 

About S.C. STEPHENS

S.C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.

Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.

In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block reducing music, heading out the movies and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads

Hawkyn by Larissa Ione….ARC Review

 Hawkyn releases tomorrow, 2/27/18

Hawkyn

(A Demonica Underworld Novella)

by Larissa Ione

Synopsis:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Larissa Ione comes a new story in her Demonica Underworld series…

As a special class of earthbound guardian angel called Memitim, Hawkyn is charged with protecting those whose lives are woven into the fabric of the future. His success is legendary, so when he’s given a serial killer to watch over, he sees no reason for that to change. But Hawkyn’s own future is jeopardized after he breaks the rules and rescues a beautiful woman from the killer’s clutches, setting off an explosive, demonic game of cat and mouse that pits brother against brother and that won’t end until someone dies.

Aurora Mercer is the half-wytch lone survivor of a psychopath who gets off on the sadistic torture of his victims. A psychopath whose obsessive psyche won’t let him move on until he kills her. Now she’s marked for death, her fate tied to that of a murderer…and to a sexy angel who makes her blood burn with desire…

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My Review:

Ok, so before I start this review I have to let you guys know that this series (and author) are near and dear to my heart.  Now, you may think that will color my review but I can assure you that if this latest installment wasn’t as amazing as I was hoping it would be, I just wouldn’t way anything about it.  But, that was SO not the case.  Hawkyn was everything I knew it would be and a bag of chips. Yup, it was that good.
Here’s the thing about Larissa Ione’s writing, her world building, her characters, her storylines are second to none.  With this newest release I was brought right back into why I fell in love with this series all those years ago.  Hawkyn is a delicious alpha male with a heart of gold and a sense of duty that had me swooning like a love-sick teenager.  Aurora is a gal I would love to hang out with and has a strong personality with a wit about her I loved.  She’s thrown into this new world and reacts EXACTLY like we all would, asking the kind of questions we would (like, “can I see your wings?”) and her inner monologue had me chuckling out loud.
I was SO pulling for these two to somehow beat the incredible odds stacked against them from the very beginning. I won’t ruin anything for you but if you know Larissa’s writing, you know there’s always a way 😉
I also have to say that I was thrilled to get more of Azagoth!  Although now I’m a nervous wreck for him and Lilliana.  Yep, I just totally left you with a cliffhanger there…
Reading this novella was like coming home and it totally gave me the urge to re read the entire series, which I’ll be starting as soon as I finish typing this!
Whether you’re already a fan of Ms. Ione or this is your first taste, I know you’ll love Hawkyn as much as I did!

Five Loves


Biography:

Larissa Ione is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. An Air Force veteran, she traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

Visit Larissa Ione’s website and follow her on:

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Between The Blade and The Heart by Amanda Hocking…Blog Tour & Review

SUMMARY:

When the fate of the world is at stake
Loyalties will be tested

Game of Thrones meets Blade Runner in this commanding new YA fantasy inspired by Norse Mythology from New York Times bestselling author Amanda Hocking.

As one of Odin’s Valkyries, Malin’s greatest responsibility is to slay immortals and return them to the underworld. But when she unearths a secret that could unravel the balance of all she knows, Malin along with her best friend and her ex-girlfriend must decide where their loyalties lie. And if helping the blue-eyed boy Asher enact his revenge is worth the risk—to the world and her heart.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Powells

 

 

EXCERPT

ONE

The air reeked of fermented fish and rotten fruit, thanks to the overflowing dumpster from the restaurant behind us. The polluted alley felt narrow and claustrophobic, sandwiched between skyscrapers.

In the city, it was never quiet or peaceful, even at three in the morning. There were more than thirty million humans and supernatural beings coexisting, living on top of each other. It was the only life I’d ever really known, but the noise of the congestion grated on me tonight.

My eyes were locked on the flickering neon lights of the gambling parlor across the street. The u in Shibuya had gone out, so the sign flashed SHIB YA at me.

The sword sheathed at my side felt heavy, and my body felt restless and electric. I couldn’t keep from fidgeting and cracked my knuckles.

“He’ll be here soon,” my mother, Marlow, assured me. She leaned back against the brick wall beside me, casually eating large jackfruit seeds from a brown paper sack. Always bring a snack on a stakeout was one of her first lessons, but I was far too nervous and excited to eat.

The thick cowl of her frayed black sweater had been pulled up like a hood, covering her cropped blond hair from the icy mist that fell on us. Her tall leather boots only went to her calf, thanks to her long legs. Her style tended to be monochromatic—black on black on black—aside from the shock of dark red lipstick.

My mother was only a few years shy of her fiftieth birthday, with almost thirty years of experience working as a Valkyrie, and she was still as strong and vital as ever. On her hip, her sword Mördare glowed a dull red through its sheath.

The sword of the Valkyries was one that appeared as if it had been broken in half—its blade only a foot long before stopping at a sharp angle. Mördare’s blade was several thousand years old, forged in fires to look like red glass that would glow when the time was nigh.

My sword was called Sigrún, a present on my eighteenth birthday from Marlow. It was a bit shorter than Mördare, with a thicker blade, so it appeared stubby and fat. The handle was black utilitarian, a replacement that my mom had had custom-made from an army supply store, to match her own.

The ancient blade appeared almost black, but as it grew closer to its target, it would glow a vibrant purple. For the past hour that we’d been waiting on our stakeout, Sigrún had been glowing dully on my hip.

The mist grew heavier, soaking my long black hair. I kept the left side of my head shaved, parting my hair over to the right, and my scalp should’ve been freezing from the cold, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t feel anything.

It had begun—the instinct of the Valkyrie, pushing aside my humanity to become a weapon. When the Valkyrie in me took over, I was little more than a scythe for the Grim Reaper of the gods.

“He’s coming,” Marlow said behind me, but I already knew.

The world fell into hyperfocus, and I could see every droplet of rain as it splashed toward the ground. Every sound echoed through me, from the bird flapping its wings a block away, to the club door as it groaned open.

Eleazar Bélanger stumbled out, his heavy feet clomping in the puddles. He was chubby and short, barely over four feet tall, and he would’ve appeared to be an average middle-aged man if it wasn’t for the two knobby horns that stuck out on either side of his forehead. Graying tufts of black hair stuck out from under a bright red cap, and as he walked ahead, he had a noticeable limp favoring his right leg.

He was a Trasgu, a troublemaking goblin, and his appearance belied the strength and cunning that lurked within him. He was over three hundred years old, and today would be the day he died.

I waited in the shadows of the alley for him to cross the street. A coughing fit caused him to double over, and he braced himself against the brick wall.

I approached him quietly—this all went easier when they didn’t have time to prepare. He took off his hat to use it to wipe the snot from his nose, and when he looked up at me, his green eyes flashed with understanding.

“It’s you,” Eleazar said in a weak, craggy voice. We’d never met, and I doubt he’d ever seen me before, but he recognized me, the way they all did when their time was up.

“Eleazar Bélanger, you have been chosen to die,” I said, reciting my script, the words automatic and cold on my lips. “It is my duty to return you to the darkness from whence you came.”

“No, wait!” He held up his pudgy hands at me. “I have money. I can pay you. We can work this out.”

“This is not my decision to make,” I said as I pulled the sword from my sheath.

His eyes widened as he realized I couldn’t be bargained with. For a moment I thought he might just accept his fate, but they rarely did. He bowed his head and ran at me like a goat. He was stronger than he looked and caused me to stumble back a step, but he didn’t have anywhere to go.

My mother stood blocking the mouth of the alley, in case I needed her. Eleazar tried to run toward the other end, but his leg slowed him, and I easily overtook him. Using the handle of my sword, I cracked him on the back of the skull, and he fell to the ground on his knees.

Sigrún glowed brightly, with light shining out from it and causing the air to glow purple around us. Eleazar mumbled a prayer to the Vanir gods. I held the sword with both hands, and I struck it across his neck, decapitating him.

And then, finally, the electricity that had filled my body, making my muscles quiver and my bones ache, left me, and I breathed in deeply. The corpse of an immortal goblin lay in a puddle at my feet, and I felt nothing but relief.

“It was a good return,” my mother said, and put her hand on my shoulder. “You did well, Malin.”

Copyright © 2018 by Amanda Hocking in Between the Blade and the Heart and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Griffin.

 

I was really looking forward to this new series as am I a huge fan of Amanda’s, but this one fell short. And it’s for various reasons, and most of them are just more of a personal thing.

Between the Blade and the Heart is a new series from Amanda. It’s based on Norse Mythology and more precisely, the Valkyrie. The Valkyries are mortal women with supernatural strength that the Gods had created to destroy the immortals and return them to the Underworld. The blurb tells you the main plot of the story, so I won’t repeat all that.

Let me tell you what I enjoyed most about this book – the world itself. Amanda has always done a great job of describing the world in which everything is to set forth. I loved the different backgrounds on the characters and that there was no biases on their sexual preferences (Malin is bi-sexual). The diversity in this book is what kept me interested in this book.

Where I had a hard time connecting was the characters and the love triangle aspect. Outside of the diversity of the characters, I really didn’t connect to any of them. I have no qualms about love triangles, but I had hard time really understanding this one. Again, I truly believe it’s because I couldn’t connect to any of the characters, so anything beyond that was hard for me to grasp onto.

The story felt a bit slow too for me. I found myself glazing over parts and not feeling completely immersed in the story, like I was hoping. There was something lacking from the character development that kept me from really enjoying this book more.

Overall, it was an ok start to the series. I am still up in the air on if I will continue. A part of me wants to know what happens next, but another part of me is afraid I will be wasting my time if I don’t feel any connections to the characters.

If you love YA books that are set in different worlds, I would give this book a go. It’s definitely one where you have to see for yourself if it’s the book for you.

 

 

 

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Q&A with Amanda Hocking

 

Q: What or who was the inspiration behind Between the Blade and the Heart

A: I have already written several books inspired by Scandinavian folklore, and I was always fascinated by Valkyries. But because I had already done in Scandinavian fantasy, I wanted to come at this one from a different angle. I imagined the Valkyries helping to police a gritty, diverse, cyberpunk metropolis, in a world filled with not just Norse figures but from many mythologies.

Q: What are the life lessons that you want readers to glean from your book? 

A: That love is a strength, not a weakness.

Q: If you were given the chance to go on a date with one of your characters, who would you choose and what would you do together? 

A: Oona. She doesn’t swing that way, but since I’m married anyway, it would be a friendship date. I think it would be fun to go to an apothecary with her and have her show me around the magic. Or maybe just veg out and watch bad movies.

Q: Would the essence of your novel change if the main protagonist were male?

A: Yes, it would be changed dramatically. For one, Valkyries are women. But I also think the book explores the relationships between mothers and daughters, and friendships between young women.

Q: What is your definition of true love in YA literature? 

A: There has to be passion and desire – not necessarily anything physical, but so much of young love is about yearning. But I also think that true love is based on mutual respect and selflessness.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wanted to be an author/start writing?

A: My biggest piece of advice is to just write. It’s so easy to get caught up in self-doubt or procrastination. There are lot of great books and blogs about the art of writing, but the most important thing is really to just do it. The best way to get better at writing is by doing it.

Q: What’s one book you would have no trouble rereading for the rest of your life?

A: It would be a toss up between Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli and Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I’ve read both of those books a dozen times already, at least, and I never get sick of them.

Q: How did you name your characters? Are they based on people you know in real life?

A: It’s combination of names I like and taking inspiration from the world itself. With Between the Blade and the Heart, the names were inspired both by the mythology they come from – many Valkyries have Norse names like Malin, Teodora, and Freya, for example – and the futuristic setting of the book, so I wanted names that seemed a bit cooler and just slightly different than the ones we use now.

Q: Alright, Amanda, I know you’re a movie buff. What are some movies your characters would pick as their all-time favorites?

A: That’s a tough one. Malin – The Crow, Oona – Pan’s Labyrinth, Quinn – Wonder Woman, Asher – Inception, and Marlow – Twelve Monkeys.

Q: Which mythological character is the most like you?

A: Demeter, because she’s pretty dramatic – she basically kills all the plants in the world when her daughter goes missing – but she’s also determined, and will stop at nothing to protect those she cares about.

Q: Who is your favorite character in this book and why?

A: Oona or Bowie. Oona because she’s so practical, supportive, and determined, and Bowie because he’s adorable.

Q: What is your favorite scene and why?

A: I don’t know if there is one particular scene that I loved more than the others, but I really enjoyed writing about the city that Malin lives in and all the creatures that inhabit it.

Q: What cities inspired the urban haven where the Valkyries live?

A: I was really obsessed with this idea of an overpopulated metropolis, and so I took a lot of inspiration from some of the biggest cities in the world, particularly Tokyo, Mexico City, Mumbai, and Manila. The city itself is actually a sort of futuristic, alternate reality of Chicago (one of my favorite cities in the world), and I wanted to incorporate that into it as well.

Q: What came first: The world, the mythology, or the characters?

A: I usually say the characters come first, and the world builds around it. But for this one, it really was the world that drew me into it. I knew I was writing about a young woman who was a Valkyrie, but that about all when I began building up the world and the mythology.

Q: I love that these characters are in college. What inspired this choice?

A: Because of the complex relationship Malin has with her mother, I knew I wanted some distance between them, so I thought putting her in college, living away from her mom, was a good way to do it. Plus, I thought it would be fun to explore the all the supernatural training that would be needed to do these specialized jobs that come up in a world where every mythological creature exists.

Q: What songs would you include if you were to make a soundtrack for the book?

A: This is my favorite question! I love creating soundtracks that I listen to while writing a book, and here are some of my favorite tracks from my Between the Blade and the Heart playlist: Annie Lennox – “I Put a Spell on You,” Daniel Johns – “Preach,” Halsey – “Trouble (stripped),” Meg Myers – “Sorry (EthniKids Remix),” and MYYRA – “Human Nature.”

Q: Was this book always planned as a series or did that develop afterwards?

A: It was always planned as a duology. I don’t want to go into too much or risk spoiling the second book, but I had this idea that one book would be above, and the other below.

Q: Your novels and characters are so layered. How do you stay organized while plotting/writing? Do you outline, use post-it notes, make charts, or something else?

A: All of the above! This one was the most intensive as far as research and note taking goes, and I also had maps, glossaries, and extensive lists of various mythologies. I think I ended up with thirteen pages of just Places and Things. I do a lot of typed notes, but I also do handwritten scribbles (which can sometimes be confusing to me later on when I try to figure out what they mean. I once left myself a note that just said “What are jelly beans?”) For this one, I really did have to have lots of print outs on hand that I could look to when writing.

Q: You’ve said that pop culture and the paranormal both influence your writing. How do these things intersect for you? 

A: In a way, I think they’re both about how humans choose to interpret and define the world that surrounds us. So many mythologies come from humans trying to make sense of the seasons and the chaos of existence, and even though we’ve moved past a lot of the scientific questions, pop culture is still tackling our existence. Even when looking at shows made for kids, like Pixar, they handle a lot of difficult concepts, like what it means to love someone else, how to be a good friend, facing your fears, and overcoming loss. These are things that mythologies and stories have been going over for centuries.

Q: Did you choose the title first, or write the book then choose the title?

A: It depends on the book, but I will say with this one that it took a very, very long time to come up with a title. It was already written and edited, and we were still bouncing around different names.

Q: How many more books can we expect in “Between the Blade and the Heart” series?

A: One more! From the Earth to the Shadows will be out in April 2018.

Q: What scene from the book are you most proud of (because of how you handled the atmosphere, characters, dialogue, etc)?

A: I don’t want to say too much or risk spoiling it, but there’s a scene near the end of the book where a confrontation leaves Malin reeling. I wrote it in an almost present tense, stream-of-consciousness way because I thought that was the best way to capture the raw intensity of her emotions.

AUTHOR BIO:

Amanda Hocking is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.

Social Links:

Author Website: http://www.worldofamandahocking.com/

Twitter: @Amanda_Hocking

Facebook: @AmandaHockingFans

Author Blog

The Beast Within by S.C. Stephens….Blog Tour & Review

S.C. Stephens’s THE BEAST WITHIN is available TODAY and paranormal lovers won’t want to miss this one! Be sure to pick up your copy today!

 

About THE BEAST WITHIN

Nika Adams has had a challenging year. She gave her heart to Hunter Evans, only to have him break it. But Nika refuses to give up hope. Not when there’s a chance she can save her true-love—even if she must save him from himself.

Julian Adams finally knows what he wants, and is truly happy. But when he gets mixed up in Nika’s suicide mission to save her wayward boyfriend, he begins to wonder if his dream girl can handle the dangerous life that comes with being an Adams

Add THE BEAST WITHIN to your Goodreads shelf here!

 

Get your copy of THE BEAST WITHIN now!

Amazon / iBooks / Kobo

 

Read an excerpt from THE BEAST WITHIN

Even still, the memory of Nika’s lips on mine burned me more than the acidic feeling of the sunlight as it had finally penetrated the window and seared my skin. Feeling her kiss again had lifted me in a way I’d never expected to be lifted. Our last goodbye kiss was soft, sweet, tender, but full of so much passion. But even it paled in comparison to the taste of her blood in my mouth. The memory wasn’t leaving me. That sensuous liquid had absorbed my every thought and desire. Her heartbeat raging in my ears had drowned out all reason. Clamping onto her neck had felt so natural to me, so right. I’d wanted nothing more than to tear through her skin and feel that burst of warmth course down my aching throat. Oddly enough, I had a feeling Nika would have let me bite her; I thought she’d even wanted me to. But I wouldn’t hurt her in that way, regardless of what the demon inside me wanted.

Once I was inside the lowest level, I breathed a sigh of relief. Shutting the soundproof doors meant shutting out Nika’s honey voice, a voice that plagued my dreams, made me ache in ways that reminded me that a man still lived inside this body of a monster. The way her dress had clung to her, the way my hands had felt running over her body, her warm breath washing over my face, the desire in her eyes, the fire in her kiss … I hadn’t expected her to undo me as quickly as she had. I was putty in her hands, and I’d nearly lost control. But I couldn’t afford to. I wouldn’t snap. Now, or ever. I would remain in full control of this lust. And that meant I had to stay away from Nika. She was too desirable to me. All I would bring her was pain. Or death. And I couldn’t handle either of those scenarios happening.

I would tell her. Tonight, I would tell her. We couldn’t be together, not like we were before. I needed her to stay away from me. I needed her to let me go. Please, Nika, let me go.

 

The Beast Within is 5th book in the Conversion series. However, you do need to read the 4th book to understand this book as everything continues on from that one; but it is not necessary to read books 1 through 3 to understand anything as books 4 and 5 are sort of “offspring” of those.

I was super excited to see where SC would take us in The Beast Within after reading The Next Generation. While I thoroughly enjoyed the overall story, I did find myself at times, skimming part of this book. It’s not that I found it boring, I just felt there were more details to minor things that I didn’t care for and skimmed those parts. LOL

The story is told from both Julian and Nika’s POVs like the previous book, but we also get Hunter’s POV in this one. I wish we would have had more of his POV than we got but there was still enough to understand everything. I felt Julian’s relationship with Arianna flowed decently into this book (there were a few times I felt it might be overbearing to the main story line though). But overall, it paired well with everything else going on and also helped readers see Julian in a better light and build his character too.

SC did a great job of giving us both the romance and the suspense in this book. I thought every fight scene was well played out and wasn’t too over or under written. And the sexy times were definitely amped up in this book and I felt fit perfectly into where things were headed with everyone. SC stayed true to her characters and their reactions on different scenes, which helped keep the story relevant and as real to life as you can get in a paranormal romance. LOL

Overall, it was a very enticing read and a great continuation of these two siblings. The book flowed well and kept me entranced the majority of the time. I am really hoping that SC gives a book next about Julian and what is to come for him.

 

 

Don’t miss the other books in the Conversion series!

Books in the Conversion series

Conversion / Bloodlines / ‘Til Death / The Next Generation / The Beast Within / Family is Forever

 

About S.C. STEPHENS

S.C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.

Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.

In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block reducing music, heading out the movies and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads

Release Day Blitz…The Beast Within by S.C. Stephens

S.C. Stephens’s THE BEAST WITHIN is available TODAY and paranormal lovers won’t want to miss this one! Be sure to pick up your copy today!

 

About THE BEAST WITHIN

Nika Adams has had a challenging year. She gave her heart to Hunter Evans, only to have him break it. But Nika refuses to give up hope. Not when there’s a chance she can save her true-love—even if she must save him from himself.

Julian Adams finally knows what he wants, and is truly happy. But when he gets mixed up in Nika’s suicide mission to save her wayward boyfriend, he begins to wonder if his dream girl can handle the dangerous life that comes with being an Adams

Add THE BEAST WITHIN to your Goodreads shelf here!

 

Get your copy of THE BEAST WITHIN now!

Amazon / iBooks / Kobo

 

 

 

Don’t miss the other books in the Conversion series!

Books in the Conversion series

Conversion / Bloodlines / ‘Til Death / The Next Generation / The Beast Within / Family is Forever

 

About S.C. STEPHENS

S.C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every free moment she has creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.

Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love triangle charged with insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the literary world by storm. Amazed and surprised by the response to the release of Thoughtless in 2009, more stories were quick to follow. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since.

In addition to writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block reducing music, heading out the movies and spending quality time with her friends and family. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally beautiful children.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads

Trailer Reveal…Brave (Wicked Trilogy #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

SYNOPSIS:

Ivy Morgan hasn’t been feeling like herself lately. Not like anyone can blame her. After all, being held captive by a psychotic fae prince hell-bent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld is bound to leave some mental scars.

It’s more than that, though. Something dark and insidious is spreading throughout Ivy, more powerful than she could ever imagine… and it’s coming between her and the man she’s fallen deeply in love with, elite Order member Ren Owens.

Ren would do anything to keep Ivy safe. Anything. But when he makes a life altering choice for her, the fallout of his act has far reaching consequences that threaten to tear their lives apart.

If Ivy is going to have any hope of surviving this, she must put aside the hurt and betrayal she feels, and work with not only those she loves, but with an enemy she would rather kill than ever trust. War is coming, and it soon becomes clear that what Ivy and Ren thought they knew about the Order, themselves, and even their enemies, has been nothing but a cluster of dangerous, deadly lies. Ivy knows she must be more than just brave to save those she loves–and, ultimately, to save herself.

Because behind ever evil fae Prince, there’s a Queen

Series: The Wicked Trilogy, Book # 3

RELEASE DATE: December 11th, 2017

Available Formats: Paperback (U.S./Canada) and E-book

RETAILER LINKS:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fwiarG

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/brave-jennifer-l-armentrout/1127158232?ean=9781947591707

iBooks: http://bit.ly/BRAVE-JLA

 

 

TRAILER:

 

CREDIT:

Created by Franggy Yanez Photo –http://www.franyanezphoto.com/

Talent: Justin Edwards (the cover model)

 

BIO:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. She spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Website: https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JLArmentrout

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_l_armentrout/

 

GIVEAWAY INFO

  • PRIZE: SURPRISE SIGNED PRIZE PACK (containing multiple signed books & swag)
  • OPEN INTERNATIONAL
  • ENDS 12/22/17

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Darkest Temptation by Rachel Van Dyken….Blog Tour & Review

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Darkest Temptation, anall-new standalone in The Dark Ones Saga from New York Times Bestseller Rachel Van Dyken is available NOW!

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Darkest Temptation by Rachel Van Dyken

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publishing Date: October 31st, 2017

I’m a werewolf King who chose to step down out of grief for my mate.

For centuries I’ve been alone, choosing to live a life of modesty despite the wealth surrounding me.

I deserve to be punished.

I crave things I have no business craving.

And it is manifesting itself in a way I’m terrified I won’t be able to control any longer.

Especially since she arrived.

Vampire. Orphan. Beaten beyond recognition.

My blood calls to her in a way that makes no sense.

I’m a wolf.

She’s a vampire.

The two don’t mate.

They barely tolerate one another.

All it takes is one slip of control on my part — one taste.

And I doom us all.

Then again, I never knew what is lurking inside has the power to balance good and evil.

 

 

Excerpt:

The air around me thickened with a sweet-smelling fog. I inhaled and closed my eyes, allowing my baser instincts to take over.

“Wolf.” She whispered my name.

I sniffed. The voice was not familiar. It was not my mate. It was… other.

“Wolf,” she beckoned again.

Branches crunched beneath my feet as I made my way closer to the sweet scent, closer to the warmth, closer to what I should have been running from.

I was already mated.

And yet — I was being pulled.

Like a siren’s song.

I hated sirens.

Every last one of them.

But only the strongest were male.

This — I sniffed the air again as ecstasy took over — this was no male.

This was all female.

The instinct to protect kicked in, forcing a surge of adrenaline through my limbs as I staggered toward the trees.

Green eyes blinked through the fog.

I stilled.

My breath caught.

Vampire.

I frowned, reaching for her.

“Kiss me, Wolf.”

Why was I tempted?

Why did I want to touch this being?

When every hair stood on end like she was foe not friend. When I had a mate back home that I loved more than life itself.

Confusion warred with disgust, and then the vampire stood on her tiptoes and pressed her cheek against mine, the way my people greeted.

But she was no wolf.

Her lips grazed the outside of my ear before she bit down onto my neck…

I jerked awake. Sweat pooled the bed like I’d just taken a shower.

And my mate, the one I was so convinced would be lying right next to me, was gone.

She’d been gone.

Over a hundred years.

And every year, like clockwork, on the anniversary of her death.

I saw my vampire.

She bit me.

And I woke up with a bruise on my neck as if it were real.

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Read Today!

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Start the Series Today

The Dark Ones

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Untouchable Darkness

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Dark Surrender

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About the Author:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
RVD

Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken

Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9

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Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders

Release Day Blitz…Darkest Temptation by Rachel Van Dyken

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Darkest Temptation, anall-new standalone in The Dark Ones Saga from New York Times Bestseller Rachel Van Dyken is LIVE!

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Darkest Temptation by Rachel Van Dyken

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publishing Date: October 31st, 2017

I’m a werewolf King who chose to step down out of grief for my mate.

For centuries I’ve been alone, choosing to live a life of modesty despite the wealth surrounding me.

I deserve to be punished.

I crave things I have no business craving.

And it is manifesting itself in a way I’m terrified I won’t be able to control any longer.

Especially since she arrived.

Vampire. Orphan. Beaten beyond recognition.

My blood calls to her in a way that makes no sense.

I’m a wolf.

She’s a vampire.

The two don’t mate.

They barely tolerate one another.

All it takes is one slip of control on my part — one taste.

And I doom us all.

Then again, I never knew what is lurking inside has the power to balance good and evil.

DarkestTemptation-AN.jpg

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ij0dxg

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2xBAbft

iBooks: http://apple.co/2fPXafv

B&N: http://bit.ly/2yM9AfD

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Paperback

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Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2xRF47F

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Start the Series Today

The Dark Ones

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2gfo4Ow

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Untouchable Darkness

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Dark Surrender

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iBooks: http://apple.co/2fZBQDs

Nook: http://bit.ly/2xVjSgK

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fjEAgq

About the Author:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

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Connect with the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelVanDyken

Website: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/RVDNewsletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachvd

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachVD

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cNVwL9

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/RVDGR

Rachel’s Rockin’ Readers: http://bit.ly/RachelsRockinReaders