Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Release Day Review! The Sharpest Blade by Sandy Williams

Torn between two worlds.
Torn between two lives.

McKenzie Lewis’s ability to read the shadows has put her—and …those she loves—in harm’s way again and again. The violence must end, but will the cost of peace be more devastating than anyone ever imagined?

After ten years of turmoil, the life McKenzie has always longed for may finally be within her grasp. No one is swinging a sword at her head or asking her to track the fae, and she finally has a regular—albeit boring—job. But when a ruthless enemy strikes against her friends, McKenzie abandons her attempt at normalcy and rushes back to the Realm.

With the fae she loves and the fae she’s tied to pulling her in different directions, McKenzie must uncover the truth behind the war and accept the painful sacrifices that must be made to end it. Armed with dangerous secrets and with powerful allies at her side, her actions will either rip the Realm apart—or save it.

REVIEWS OF THE PREVIOUS BOOKS



**WARNING! Possible minor spoilers from volumes 1 and 2**

My thoughts: I’m certain that all my reader friends and all my older blog followers know that I’ve been fangirling over The Shadow Reader (and Sandy) since the first day of 2012. Yep! That’s how I’ve spent my New Year’s Day back then, reading the first book in this amazing series. And I couldn’t stop, It was SO, SO good!

Now, after reading the ARC of the third and final book and taking some time to let it sink in, I’m able to share my thoughts about it for the last time *sobs*. Yes, I’m nostalgic. I’ll miss it all: the amazing world of the Fey, my favorite and least favorite characters, the love, the angst...everything.

I’ve read it with a lot of patience, because I didn’t want for it to end, and with a little bit of fear: I was afraid of getting to the last page of McKenzie’s adventures, although I knew that Sandy wouldn’t disappoint me. And of course she didn’t.

The whole book, much like the first two in the series, explodes with action. The War isn’t over, another enemy appears and even if McKenzie has decided to cut all the strings with the Realm and live her life as a normal human being, she is more tied to it than ever. Actually, to my surprise, she finally learns how to use that blade she’s wearing on the covers. 
[...] any normal human would say they’re done with this. They’d leave us to fight our own war. You don’t. You always pick yourself up and put your life at risk again and again.”

I tilt my head. “Are you calling me an adrenaline junky?”

His arms tighten around me. “I’m calling you brave.”
I’ve kept my fingers crossed for Aren until the end, but not for the reasons you would think of. You’d have to read the book to find it all out, but I have to tell you that he changes a lot. Those who have already read The Shattered Dark might have seen this change coming, or some of it. I certainly haven’t expected for it to be this big. Well, he was very different from Kyol since the beginning, and he did let us understand that there are other things that matter to him more than the war and the laws of the fey, but in this book he lets you see past the Rebel in him. I actually wondered if the Rebel was part of him at all. Still, I fell in love with him all over again.
I’m addicted to his scent and his touch, to the way his arms encircle me, pulling me against him, but mostly, I’m just addicted to him. He’s a light in all this darkness. He’s strong and caring, and he’s sacrificed so much for Lena and the Realm. He makes me happy, and I want so much to make him happy, too.
For me, Kyol is the only character in this series who remained the same. I wasn’t his biggest fan at the beginning of the story, but he kind of grew on me in The Sharpest Blade. It’s not that he changed in any way, just that I had the chance to see him from different angles and I came to know and understand him better. I still can’t agree with him completely, but I do admire him.

This last installment in the series, besides the fact that it’s the last book and I generally have a love-hate relationship with these, ties up all the loose ends and brings the story to a sweet and much anticipated conclusion. There are loses, I almost cried for some of them, but they make the story more real and that’s the beauty of a great book.

Although I would have loved to find out more about The Realm and how the characters go on with their lives after the conclusion, this series is one of the best I’ve ever read and I recommend it to everyone! Sandy did an outstanding job and I’m going to stalk her forever and hunt down every book she writes! Maybe she’s preparing a novella for us. Don’t you, Sandy? 
I slide my hands to his face, pull him closer.
I can’t lose you, I want to say, but I kiss him instead.
Happy reading!




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Snowed In? So Read Giveaway Hop!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE THE OTHER GIVEAWAYS IN THIS HOP

Luckily, we are not snowed in yet :))) No snow this beginning of year, but the winter isn't over, so there will be plenty of time for snow. For this hop you can win a book you want that's up to 15$. I'd prefer to be a 2013 book, but I accept any other one. Just fill in the Rafflecopter below. INTERNATIONAL.


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Blog Tour! Spotlight and Giveaway Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastaria

Published December 30th 2013
Beckett Taylor is a murderer. His calling, his craft are destruction and intimidation—whether he wants it that way now or not. He left Poughkeepsie to keep his brothers safe, to keep Eve safe. Set up with happy lives to live, they’re better off without him, right?

But all his willpower crumbles when he hears his brother Blake’s frantic voice on the phone. An unknown enemy has moved in on his old territory, and Livia’s been taken. In an instant, Beckett knows it will take an attack only he and Eve can execute to bring her back. All his self-imposed embargoes are torn to shreds, perhaps along with the new man he’s struggled to become.

“Brother, call Eve. I’ll be there soon.” 

In this emotional and action-packed sequel to Poughkeepsie, Debra Anastasia conjures a tale of love at its most raw and ragged. With Beckett and Eve, how could we expect anything less? But even when it’s messy, not magical, true love perseveres. Real love finds a way—for better or for worse until death does part.

FIRST IN THE SERIES




Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There's dinner, the dogs, the two kids, the two kids, and her ongoing battle with...ahem... digestive issues, which combined with her adolescent boy sense of humor makes for colorful and sometimes cringe-worthy social media updates. Her first love and crowning achievement is her thriving career as the weirdest mom on the block.
Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when--along with the animals and humans in her house--the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra's ear. Insomnia was the gateway to plots that wouldn't give up, wouldn't let go. Now they stalk her everywhere. Halfway through making lunches, a twist takes hold and--fingers full of peanut butter--she finds somewhere, anywhere to write it down.
She's eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published four of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and two in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) She also very much appreciates her open-minded readers, who embrace everything she has to offer, with a focus on anti-heroes and bathroom humor.Debra lives in Maryland with her family. You can find her at DebraAnastasia.com and on Twitter @Debra_Anastasia. But be prepared.




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Release Day Blitz! Excerpt and Giveaway Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy



Breakout New Adult sensation Monica Murphy returns with a hot new contemporary romance—a heartfelt story of second chances, forgiveness, and redemption.

Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life. 

I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.

BOOKS IN THE SERIES



“You’re going to turn me away yet again, aren’t you?” she asks when I don’t say anything. The irritation in her voice rings clear as her entire body goes tense. “I can’t believe it. I offer myself up to you with no strings attached and you’re trying to figure out how to let me down easy. God, I am such a moron.”
Unable to hold myself back, I rush toward her, angry that she would insult herself. Panicked that she really is going to walk away and I’m going to lose my chance. Thinking too much sucks. I need to just let it happen. Take this opportunity that she’s presenting me.
And let her go when our time is up.
“You’re not a moron,” I murmur, reaching for her. I cup her face in my hands and position her so she has no choice but to meet my gaze. I skim my thumbs across her cheeks, feel her shudder at my touch. “You make an offer like that and a man needs to process it first.”
The unshed tears still glimmer in her eyes and one escapes, leaving a damp trail across her skin. Leaning in, I stop its descent with my lips, tasting the salt, hearing the catch in her breath. “We do this and it’s not going to be some half-assed thing, you know,” I whisper.
She closes her eyes, her tears tangled in her long, thick lashes. “What’s it going to be, then?”
“A discovery.” I nuzzle her nose with my own, breathing in her scent, her very essence. God, I could devour her! It’s taking everything within me to keep calm and not unleash all over her. “An exploration.”
“That sounds like . . . research.” Her breath hitches in her throat when I drop a tender kiss on the tip of her nose.
Chuckling, I shake my head. “It’s the farthest thing from research.” I drift my lips across her cheek, blazing a hot path on her petal-soft skin. “You’re right when you said I don’t do commitment. The closest thing I’ve ever been to commitment is . . . what I share with you.”
She tentatively places her hands on my hips, her fingers curling into the waistband of my jeans. Having her hands on me sends little darts of fire throughout my insides, making me harden in an instant. She has no idea what sort of effect she has on me. How much restraint I’m using at this very moment not to throw her over my shoulder like an oversexed caveman and cart her off to my bedroom.
“But it can be no more than friendship with added . . . benefits.” I lift my head so I can look into her troubled gaze. She doesn’t like what I have to say and I don’t like it either, but I have to be honest. Stringing her along and making her believe this is something more is a mistake.
The two of us together would never work. I’m too damn selfish. I’d disappoint her. I’d hold her back when she needs her freedom. I’m not worthy of her. She’s everything sweet and good in my life, where there’s little sweet and good remaining.
I’ve kept her—and our relationship—as pure as possible even after all of these years. With the realization that she’s leaving me, that we’ll never be together again, I need to take my opportunities where I can.
Jen bites her lip and drops her gaze. “I can handle that.”
Her body language is more than telling me she doesn’t really want to handle that, but I can’t worry about it now.
I want her too damn much.






New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.




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Saturday, December 28, 2013

Book Blitz! 'Schooled' by Michelle Lowhorn




Schooled
The Teacher Series Book # 1
By - Michelle Lowhorn
Genre- Romantic Suspense
Publication Date- October 16, 2013
Published By- Rebel Ink Press

Feisty fourth grade teacher, Emmelynne Johnson, is fiercely independent and has a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush. While hiking at an area national park, she finds herself lost and alone. Just when she thinks she’s found her way, she unknowingly witnesses a brutal murder sanctioned by a local crime boss. 

Colt Christianson, homicide detective for the Fort Worth Police Department, is known for his dedication and willingness to do whatever necessary to solve the crime. Still grieving for his late partner, Colt is called to investigate a murder that has connections to his partner’s death. 

When the killers attempt to silence the only witness, the detective switches roles to become her protector. Together they will be forced to fight two battles, one against the killers and one against their burgeoning mutual attraction.





I’ve always said that I’ve got the two best jobs in the world, mother and teacher. Now I can add a third, romance author. My husband, Randy, and I live in Texas with our two teenagers, Jessie & Nate. 

When I’m not teaching or writing, you can bet I’ve got my nose in a book. I’ve got a serious addiction to reading all genres of romance novels. Becoming an author is a dream come true.


Author links:

        



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Friday, December 27, 2013

CASTIGATORII CONCURSULUI DE CRACIUN



FEBRA NEAGRA - AMEDEEA ENE
FETE STRALUCITOARE - CRISTINA OTEL
MAX RIDE 3 - LAURENTIU PARASCHIV
HEX SAU PUTEREA FARMECELOR - STANCU NICOLETA
SERIA ASHLEYS - ANA MARIA NICULESCU
SERIA SHADOW FALLS - ROXTAO
TATUAJ CU SANGE DE MONSTRU - LAURA SERAFINCEAN
A 16-A LUNA - VERONICA PICIOROANGA
INGERUL MECANIC - MIHAELA FLORENTINA
JOCURILE FOAMEI - ANDRA LAVANDER

Felicitari tuturor! Va rog sa trimiteti un e-mail pe adresa blogului, bibliophilemystery@ymail.com care sa contina titlul cartii castigate si datele voastre corecte si complete. Data limita este 3 ianuarie.

Sarbatori fericite!


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Monday, December 23, 2013

Obsessing over...




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E luni. Ce mai citim?


Mi-a ajuns zilele trecute cartea Regatul Umbrelor de Leigh Bardugo aparuta la Editura Trei si arata prea "apetisant" ca sa nu o citesc. 


Magnific. Epopeic. Irezistibil. Magic.

Falia Umbrei, un ţinut învăluit în beznă, populat de monştri, distruge treptat Ravka, o naţiune altădată măreaţă.
Alina, o fată orfană, singuratică, descoperă că posedă o putere unică, ce o face să pătrundă în lumea elitei magice a regatului – Grisha. Ar putea ea să destrame vraja demonică a Faliei Umbrei, eliberându-ÅŸi Å£ara?
Întunecatul, o fiinţă cu o putere de seducţie teribilă, este conducătorul Grishei. Dacă îşi va împlini destinul, Alina va fi nevoită să descopere cum să se folosească de harul său şi cum să reziste atracţiei periculoase pe care o simte faţă de temutul stăpân.
Însă în timp ce-şi contemplă viitorul năucitor, Alina nu-l poate uita pe Mal, cel mai bun prieten al său din copilărie.

Bogată în descrieri, magie ÅŸi răsturnări de situaÅ£ie, această aventură memorabilă ne oferă o intrigă abil condusă, însoÅ£ită permanent de o reÅ£ea subterană dominată de iubire ÅŸi pericol. - Publishers Weekly

Leigh Bardugo creează o poveste magică, având o scriitură luxuriantă, personaje pe care le îndrăgeşti pe loc şi o lume exotică, plină de viaţă. Cu siguranţă veţi vrea să citiţi continuarea aventurii. - RT Book Reviews
 

Voi ce mai cititi?

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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Book Blitz, Excerpt & Giveaway: Exception by Patty Maximini


Exception by Patty Maximini 
Publication date: November 2nd 2013
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance


Synopsis:
When all hope for moving on from a life filled with pain and abuse was gone, Emily Watson closed herself off to the world, packed her bags, and moved across the country in search of a new life. What she found was a career she adored and friends she loved. It wasn’t a full and complete life, but it was definitely better than what she knew before.

When all hope for being loved and accepted for who he was instead of what he had was gone, Taylor Carter decided that trusting people outside of his family wasn’t really smart and would only lead to disappointment. With his world turned upside down, his life became about his work, and every new relationship was meaningless and superficial. He was safe and definitely content but never truly happy.

When all hope for staying awake during a long day was gone, Emily and Taylor found themselves at the same coffee cart. Little did they know then that the worst coffee they’d ever had would forever change their lives.

When hopeless people are blinded by an endless pain, when contentment and safety feel like the best options, and when love seems impossible, they may just find an exception.

Purchase Links:




Words have always been a passion of mine. I’ve always loved to read them, write them and learn them in other languages. Last year, I’ve decided to take that passion and turn it into a book, the result was Exception, my very first novel due this October.

Whenever I’m not sitting behind my computer, I’m either enjoying the company of my dear hubby, Alex, and our four four-legged babies or reading. I’m a firm believer in long hand written letters, love of any kind and good stories.


Author Links:

Web / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads



Fisting his hand in the fabric, he tugged it down hard, and this time Emily didn’t object. She didn’t think she could. He was staring so deeply into her eyes, she thought he could see her soul. “This is mine Emily, you understand me? It’s all mine.”

Before she could answer, he moved and pulled her down so she was flat on her back, her entire body exposed and her hair tossed around the bed in a silky black fan. Fucking hell, she’s sexy, he thought.

“I’m done fighting now,” her raspy admission was followed by clawed hands, snaking through his midsection and pulling him down. “I’m yours, Tay, every tiny, little bit of me.”

Taylor was hardly ever speechless, but that was how he felt hearing her words and knowing, deep down that it was his cue. Working through the unfamiliar knot in his throat and the uncomfortable feeling of butterflies flying in his gut, he lightly kissed her lips, trying to even his breath out and fighting the stinging in his eyes.

“Well babe, that’s good, because I want to claim all of those tiny bits as mine.” The wicked smile that spread on her perfect, lush lips, made him snicker. “Not only in that way, perv,” he teased, allowing their friendly banter to shine once more.

Smoothing her hair down, he looked her deep in the eyes, connecting with her in a most intimate manner and spoke in his most serious and honest tone. “I want to spend my whole life loving every bit of you, in every sense of the word, through whatever life throws our way. I want to make every piece of you a piece of me, and give you all the titles I offered when I asked you to be my girlfriend. As much as I love sharing my life with you as my best friend, girlfriend and life partner, I want to make you more than that, and I can’t wait any longer, Ems. I love you too much.”




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