Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Moon Dwellers: Book Birthday Party!




Today, The Moon Dwellers by David Estes turns 1 year old! It was 1 year ago today (June 30th) that David Estes first published the first book in his first ever YA dystopian series, The Dwellers Saga, and changed his life forever. Since then, The Moon Dwellers has outsold and drawn more hype than any other of his 13 published books, and has risen to the top 10 of many YA dystopian lists on Listopia, finding a place amongst bestselling books such as The Hunger Games, Delirium and Divergent. The birth of The Moon Dwellers also changed David’s life forever. As he’s gone from struggling Indie author to fulltime writer, he’s watched in amazement as his Goodreads fan group has swelled from 300 members to over 1,300. Since writing The Moon Dwellers, David has gone on to write and publish two sequels, The Star Dwellers and The Sun Dwellers, as well as three books in a sister series, The Country Saga (Fire Country, Ice Country, and Water & Storm Country). He plans to release the 7th and final book, The Earth Dwellers, in the combined series on September 5th later this year.

So what did David Estes want to do to celebrate The Moon Dwellers book birthday? 

His answer: “Give away as many free ebooks of The Moon Dwellers as possible!” So if you’re like so many others who are obsessed with YA dystopian novels like The Hunger Games, Delirium, and Divergent, and haven’t yet read the growing phenomenon that is The Moon Dwellers, now’s your chance to do so FOR FREE.
You can grab your free ebook of The Moon Dwellers from Smashwords.com using the coupon code below. And please feel free to share with your family and friends and pets, the more ebooks are given away the happier David will be. The only thing David asks for in return is that if you enjoy the read and continue on with the series, to please leave a positive review on Amazon.com for each of his books that you read.




Where you can find The Moon Dwellers: SMASHWORDS

Coupon Code: AQ92E


Please note, this code expires on July 31, 2013





a Rafflecopter giveaway


And for those of you planning on reading The Dwellers and/or The Country Saga, here’s a special note from the author, David Estes:
The Earth Dwellers will cap off an eighteen month journey that has taken me from unknown Indie author to still-mostly-unknown fulltime Indie author. The change is a subtle one for most people, but for me it’s a dream come true. To the hundreds (and now maybe even thousands!) of readers who have come along for the ride with me, either by reading the Dwellers Saga, the Country Saga, or both, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Now down to business. There may be some of you who have only read the three books in the Country Saga or only the three books in the Dwellers Saga, and are now thinking you’ll read The Earth Dwellers, which is supposedly the 4th book in BOTH the Country Saga and the Dwellers Saga. Well, that’s awesome! However, I must highly recommend that before reading The Earth Dwellers that you read the three books in BOTH series. Trust me, doing so will greatly enhance your experience, as The Earth Dwellers will be taking significant characters from both series and crashing them together (yes, like a water country wave) into an action-packed tale of struggle and loss and hope and friendship…and maybe a little love, too.
Anyway, that’s my advice, it’s up to you what to do with it. In any case, thanks for being a part of my own adventure, I’m a better person for having written stories for you!


Recommended Reading prior to The Earth Dwellers


Other YA Books by David Estes!
The Evolution Trilogy:
Children’s Books by David Estes
The Nikki Powergloves Adventures:
Nikki Powergloves vs. the Power Outlaws (Coming soon!)




David Estes was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was very young. He grew up in Pittsburgh and then went to Penn State for college. Eventually he moved to Sydney, Australia where he met his wife and soul mate, Adele, who he’s now been happily married to for more than two years.
A reader all his life, David began writing novels for the children's and YA markets in 2010, and has completed 13 novels, 11 of which have been published.  In June of 2012, David became a fulltime writer and is now travelling the world with his wife while he writes books, and she writes and takes photographs.
David gleans inspiration from all sorts of crazy places, like watching random people do entertaining things, dreams (which he jots copious notes about immediately after waking up), and even from thin air sometimes! Recently he’s been inspired by some of his favorite authors, like Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, and Maggie Stiefvater.
David’s a writer with OCD, a love of dancing and singing (but only when no one is looking or listening), a mad-skilled ping-pong player, an obsessive Goodreads group member, and prefers writing at the swimming pool to writing at a table.  He loves responding to e-mails, Facebook messages, Tweets, blog comments, and Goodreads comments from his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends.

Where you can find David Estes hanging out:  




If you want to check my reviews of David's books, you can find them here:

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Vampire Elite by Irina Argo: Teaser, trailer and Review



Vampire Elite
by Irina Argo

Part 1. Prophecy
Part 2. Keepers of the Key

Genre: Paranormal Romance
PG +18
Date Published: 6/7/13


Vampire Elite is a new vampire series
The first two parts are released in one volume



What will he do if saving his people means destroying the woman he loves?




A millennia-long war between two immortal races is about to come to an end. Long ago, the Vampire Elite began capturing the immortals called the Amiti, attracted by their unique blood properties. Now most Amiti live in underground cells, forced to serve as vampires’ bloodstock. The few surviving free Amiti, preparing a final strike, have declared their Queen a traitor. Her execution makes possible the rise of a new Queen, her young daughter Arianna, who will inherit her mother's mystical powers. Working with the Keepers of the Key, Arianna may be able to eliminate the vampires, once and for all, from the face of the earth.















The new Queen is the last hope to save her dying race and she's ready to fight to the last drop of her blood.
But the King of the Vampires has other plans.  What neither expects is the passion that erupts between them.

Vampire Elite is an epic story of a bitter conflict between two immortal races, and the effect of that conflict on everyone living in its grip. The characters are driven to love and betrayal, vengeance and sacrifice in a world without easy black-and-white answers.
            Based on an ancient Egyptian legend, packed with action and intrigue, Vampire Elite will pull you into the entrancing world of immortals and open new portals into their hidden universe.



Readers’ Favorite reviewers on Vampire Elite:
You’ve managed to restore my hope in the future of vampire books ...
... a fascinating read and definitely a book for anyone who loves fantasy, romance and of course vampires.
… a spellbinding novel of action, suspense, romance, and conscience ...  character development is superb ... the type of book that will make you read all day until you get to the end! It is deliciously addictive!
For more info please visit:



TRAILER





EXCERPT


Simone at the Hunter’s auction  
As the auctioneer spoke, two Sekhmi in eveningwear—a male carrying an elegant dagger and a female a silver tray covered with glass vials—approached the Amiti girl.
“She’s barely eighteen, ladies and gentlemen. That’s a good three years younger than the youngest bloodstock you’ll usually come across. Look at her; she’s stunning, simply stunning, and as you can see, we’ve kept her well conditioned, in excellent health.”
The auctioneer paused as the male Hunter grasped the Amiti’s hand and held it above the tray. The girl showed no resistance, her only display of anxiety the butterfly fluttering of her thick eyelashes. He raised his other hand, and the dagger flashed in the light as with a swift motion he slit the Amiti’s palm. The dark, intoxicating scent of fresh blood filled the room as it poured into the vials.
Simone’s gums began to itch and burn, and she covered her mouth with her hand so no one would see her fangs punching down. It was considered terribly rude to expose one’s fangs in public, even among other vampires. But she needn’t have worried; everyone’s attention was riveted to the stage and the blood flowing from the girl’s wound. The room vibrated with bloodlust and sexual arousal.
            The female Sekhmi approached Simone’s table, offering the Royal Pride the first of the blood samples. Knowing that all eyes were on her, Simone forced herself not to hesitate and took a small sip—and was immediately flooded with euphoria.
            “For this magnificent specimen, we open the bidding at ten million U.S. dollars,” announced the auctioneer. 



TEASER









MY THOUGHTS:

5 SUPER STARS!!!



This book was truly amazing.
It totally blew my mind! 

I want to have the following instalment NOW!

An Amity Queen, a vampire king, a half amiti-half vampire princess, sexy and stormed vampires and love stories so enthralling and heartstopping you won't be able to stop reading. (or at least that happened to me XD)


It's different from what I've been reading lately, it's an adult book, and here vampires are vampires. (not that the other weren't but you know... shining and being "vegetarians" and all that, it's cute but not very "vampiric")

And overall my review will be a collection of ramblings, I can't seem to make it properly I'm still so excited about it!!! :D



"I decree that your path will be difficult beyond measure", she cursed her infant daughter, her voice cold. "You will suffer and bleed, and in order to save your people you will have to sacrifice your greatest love. That, you little witch, is my parting gift to you"

Yup, with mother's like that who needs enemies right? (no spoiler here, you can learn this like in page 3)...



There are many races that are part of this book but mainly we find Winged demons and of course vampires (Nightwalkers and Elite) and Amiti.  Humans are almost missing from the story. (very original too)
I love the characteristics of each race, how unique they are and the way they relate, their traditions and legends. 
Amiti's way to seduce Sekhmi like sirens is thrilling. 

Another thing I loved is how each subplot, each love story unfolds independently but at the same time enriching the main storyline.

The writing is superb and the characters are well constructed. I couldn't help to get attached to almost all of them. 

My heart ached for Anock though. He was not only strong, brave, caring and absolutely "huggable" (if that's not a word, now it is!) his soul is also tortured and he always want to do the right thing.

Sorry Cara! but you were the worst character in the book... well built, that's for sure, but never won my affection.

Tor and Arianna's romance OMG! I wanted to step in the book and help them find a solution! So heart wrenching!

And the end... well UNEXPECTED! 

As I said, can't wait for the next book! Please Irina Argo write fast!

I promise to write something better but believe me, if you like a good read, this is one of them! Totally recommended :)







Meet VE Character: Arianna, Queen of the Amiti and Keeper of the Mystery of Balance

Arianna becomes the Amiti Queen as an infant, following the execution of her mother. Along with the title, she also inherits all of the Queen’s powers, including the role of Keeper of the Mystery of Balance as well as the Gift of Ra, a power bestowed by the Sun God himself to help her protect herself and her people. Sheltered by her father as a child, Arianna finds herself thrust into a world of danger and intrigue when he is murdered and she must confront the fact that her race’s destiny depends on her. Despite how overwhelming it can be, Arianna ultimately embraces her life’s mission: to free her people from their enslavement by the Vampire Elite by any means necessary. But along the way she encounters an unexpected and seemingly unmanageable challenge—the charismatic and powerful vampire King Tor, who takes her on an emotional and sensual journey that makes her question her very destiny. Will the young Queen have the willpower and inner strength to fulfill her purpose and save her people, even if it means destroying the man she loves?














Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Ice Rose: Excerpt and Giveaway



ICE ROSE by Alison Neuman



 Picture
Genre: Young Adult/Mystery/Romance
Publisher: Fireside Publications
Release Date: September 15, 2010

AuthorAmazon

About The Book:

Ice Rose
 — A teenager’s world is turned upside down when an explosion steals her dad and her identity. Entering an exclusive academy that immerses her in the world of secret agents, she must overcome her fears and disabilities to discover the truth about her dad’s mission, his software, and the mystery man stalking her before she ends up like her father — lost.










Alison Neuman lives in Alberta, Canada, where she is a freelance writer and lyricist. Nearing the end of her studies for the Bachelor of Applied Communications Degree program at Grant MacEwan College, she was inspired to complete the first draft of  Ice Rose. The pace of secret agent books and movies gave her an unlimited playground for  imagination. Music and performing are passions she was able to bring into her writing and build into her characters.

Alison’s writing has appeared in “MacEwan Today”, “Westword”, and the “Edmonton Journal” along with three tracks on the CD release Outside The Window. Co-writing the screenplay adaptation of the book Whale Songwith author Cheryl Kaye Tardif exposed her to the world of screenwriting, which she hopes to continue to examine further in the future. Alison also has been writing shorter pieces of non-fiction, one entitled Establishing Roots, that earned a top ten ranking in the Edmonton Stories contest. This past spring she was a winner in The Expressions of Hunger Contest in the Emotional Poetry category. Her piece Undeniable Craving was on display in June and July in various artistic locations across the city of Edmonton.  She has completed a final edit of her memoir “Searching For Normal” and is currently writing her next young adult manuscript.

When not writing creatively, Alison  is editing or writing for her business, Sandy Tree Communications.




Sunday, June 23, 2013

Annmarie and Magdalena by Marianne Spitzer, Guest Post and Giveaway





Annmarie and Magdalena
by Marianne Spitzer


Synopsis: 

“Annamarie and Magdalena” is a supernatural thriller that begins where “Gypsy Spirits” ended. Annamarie walks home from the ordeal in the pines. Certain no one will ever know of her involvement, she tries to settle into the home she inherited from Daniel’s grandfather just two weeks earlier.

Daniel, refusing to accept his own death, has other ideas, and he joins his spirit with the spirit of his best friend, Garret, and an evil man Daniel had planned on killing. What Daniel doesn’t count on is that Annamarie is protected by her great-grandmother Magdalena’s spirit, and her Gypsy spirit family. Annamarie’s unexpected pregnancy drive Daniel to plot to steal his child while Magdalena does all she can to protect mother and child.

Daniel’s evil follows and torments Annamarie in every aspect of her life. Magdalena with the aid of Josef, Annamarie’s great-grandfather, begins a vicious battle of the spirits. Will good win over evil? Will Daniel’s evil be contained? Who will survive? Will Annamarie’s baby be safe or a victim of her father’s evil plan?




About the Author:

I was born in Milwaukee, and lived there until I was eighteen. Then I spent eight
years in Washington state and California before returning to Wisconsin. I love eerie places and books. I began with a love of Nancy Drew books and as I grew I found H.P Lovecraft, Agatha Christie, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle among others. When I am not writing, I am reading or watching sunsets. I have been writing short stories since I was in grade school. Most were in the form of essays relating real life events. Many were purely imaginary trips to magical places and times. I enjoy making up stories about people I meet or see on the street. I can see a story in a picture, especially if the picture is eerie. My imagination runs wild and free. I have self-published a book of essays and a book of children's stories for my granddaughter, Brittney. Gypsy Spirits is my debut novel and the first in the series of three "spirit" books. I have self-published the second "spirit" book, Annamarie and Magdalena. I also self-published a supernatural mystery, THE LETTER. I plan to have the sequel to THE LETTER out this year and the third "spirit" book available winter 2013/14. From there I am sure my muse will guide me into another story plot.


Purchase links:



GUEST POST:


If I could be a supernatural creature, what would I be?
By Marianne Spitzer

Choosing what supernatural creature I would be is a difficult decision. I love to write about mystery and horror, but I would never be an evil creature. I would scare myself each time I looked into a mirror. 

Vampires wouldn’t work for me. I am not that fond of blood, and they turn into bats. I’m afraid of heights. The same holds true with any creature that flies. I couldn’t rip any human or other creature to pieces so that rules out mean creatures with claws and long teeth. I think I need to think smaller.

Any type of insects would also terrify me so I have to scratch them off the list. I think I would have to be a gentle, kind creature. Are angels creatures? I’m not sure, but I would be an angel with a crooked halo. That wouldn’t work.

Hmm, this is a bit of a dilemma. Oh, I have it. I’d love to be a muse. As a muse I could go anywhere and fly close to the ground, if I wish. I could hang around with the best authors providing their muses don’t mind. Fluttering around whispering ideas into the ears of aspiring authors would be great fun. 

I could go anywhere in the world and travel whenever I wanted. If I get tired of flying I can whisper into my author’s ear that we need to explore a haunted house and off we would go on a grand adventure. I’d be hanging onto to his/her ear or curled up in their hair napping.

I could have a lot of fun whispering things into every ear I pass. I wonder how many people would listen. I could be very mischievous, not cruel, and just full of fun. Clothes might be a bit of a problem since I would have wings, but fairies have wings. I would have to shop in a fairy store. Fairies have the cutest clothes. I would be a very nicely dressed muse. 

Personally, I have two muses. One named Angel, always dresses in white and pretty dresses. She helps me write the sweet loving parts of my stories. When I need to delve into the evil and horror I add to my stories, Blooderfly shows up. She usually wears bright red. Occasionally she likes to wear black, but red brings out her eyes. That’s the kind of supernatural creature I would love to be. A muse. I can’t imagine any other that would be more fun.         


MARIANNE THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING AND AMUSING GUEST POST!!!



Giveaway:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Brush of Darkness: Review






A Brush of Darkness (Abby Sinclair #1)

by Allison Pang







Genre: Urban Fantasy


Synopsis:


The man of her dreams might be the cause of her nightmares.
Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and sexy-as- sin incubus searching for his sister, convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invade her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish, as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As she is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, Abby realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.





My Thoughts:



4.5 stars


It took me forever to finish this book because I was super busy latety but honestly each time I had to leave it, I didn't want that.

It's different from what I usually read. 

It has a lot of different creatures. If you can think about it, you will find it here. There is even a unicorn hehe and how cute is that he sleeps in the underwear drawer? lol
Abby doesn't find it that cute though XD

I discovered a great new series, with an impeccable writing, that is witty and funny as our heroine. Abby is definitely one of my favorite heroines ever.

She is human enough to feel like a human even surrounded by all sort of creatures, she is a little clueless regarding her duties and she is stubborn but she is also caring and honorable and brave!

Ion! Oh My! Sexy as hell, so manly but with that quote of loneliness and self pitty that just makes him hard to decipher. 

Super well developed characters but not as much to outshine the story. With supporting characters also interesting.

The plot is original and it flows smoothly, with a lot of action.

Totally steamy but not gross at all, made me want more and more of this couple. 




What else? I LOVED the dialogues! Another way to show how sharp Abby can be. 

I am adding it to my favorite's shelf and adding the sequel to my TBR list NOW!

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