Sunday, September 30, 2012

Week in Review: 9/23-9/29


Books Ive Bought/received

* Touch of Dark by Kelly Hashway-Arc-Publisher

* Out for Blood by Kristen Painter- eARC- Netgalley/Publisher

* Running in the Dark by Regan Summers-eARC- Netgalley/Author

* Beyond the Cell by Sara Tribble-eCopy- Author

* Conjure by Lea Nolan-eCopy- Publisher

Books I Read

Whispers at Moonrise by C.C. Hunter
Dark Currents by Jaqueline Carey
This Case is Gonna Kill Me by Phillipa Bornikova
Scorch by Gina Damico

Reviews Posted

Framed by Amber Lynn Natusch
Primal Possession by Katie Reus
The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle
Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy

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* First off I'm sorry that all the email subscribers have not gotten the emails lately it is all fixed now. Please let me know if your still having issues.  

* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Thursday Author Alyssa Rose Ivy was on UFI with an Interview for her new book Flight.

*  Friday Claire Ashgrove visited with a guest post and giveaway for Immortal Surrender.

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 * I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Email Subscribers

It just came to my attention that for some reason emails are not going out and have not since 9/19 I believe I have fixed the problem so hopefully an email will go out tomorrow (hopefully it wont include every days post since the 19th), if not bare with me while I try to figure this out without giving myself to much of a headache lol. Thanks

Guest Post & Giveaway: Immortal Surrender by Claire Ashgrove

UFI welcomes Claire Ashgrove Author of The Curse of the Templars series. Thanks for Joining us!!


Top Ten Things A Templar Knight Holds Dear
As Composed by Farran de Clare, Knight Templar

10.  Faith – ‘Tis the only thing that keeps many going.  Faith in the design we serve, faith in the promised salvation.  And faith that when Gabriel intervenes the ensuing chaos shall be of extreme merit.

9.  Honor – Our lives our vows and sacred promises.  Dishonor those within, dishonor ourselves, dishonor those we love, and you shall know the swiftness of our swords.

8.  Armor – Chain is not so much protection for the body; naught but the seraphs can stop the destruction of our souls.  A knight’s armor is a thing of pride, and one of the few such objects we are allowed to be prideful of.

7. Sustenance – No knight can fight any battle, be that of blade or heart on empty bellies.  Lack of sustenance also contributes to the general demeanor of men.  Hungry bellies lead to belligerence.  Saints toes, ‘twas a true blessing when Anne confiscated the temple menus

6.  Down Pillows – I have never known such exquisiteness as these modern pillows of down.  ‘Tis indeed shameful.  An object designed to make a knight lazy.  Mayhap ‘tis why they are only given with seraphs.

5.  Lint Brush – Mayhap all do not suffer the need as I, but it has become a most valuable possession with the addition of Noelle’s Scat-cat.

4.  Loyalty – True loyalty is not oft come by.  For a knight, ‘tis detrimental.  Once found, cherish it.

3.  Jacuzzi – Shh, do not repeat this to the unoathed knights.  But the tub for two will sate even the most ravenous of appetites.

2.  The Sword – ‘Tis naught more valuable nor necessary than the sword.  Without it, we are helpless.  ‘Tis our defense, our strength, our very life.

1.  A Woman’s Heart – ‘Tis not oft I confess knights possess weakness.  But ‘tis true, though many shall not ever admit such.  I was one as well.  A woman’s heart, when given freely, strikes within a man the desire to be greater than himself, and it can heal the deepest of scars.

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Award-Winning Author Claire Ashgrove has been writing since her early teens and maintained the hobby for twenty years before deciding to leap into the professional world. Her first contemporary novel, Seduction's Stakes, sold to The Wild Rose Press in 2008, where she continues to write steamy, sexy stories for the Champagne and Black Rose lines. Adding to these critically acclaimed romances, Claire’s paranormal romance series, The Curse of the Templars debuted with Tor in January 2012. For those who prefer the more erotic side of romance, she also writes for Berkley Heat as the National Bestselling Author Tori St. Claire. 

She is an active member of Romance Writers of America, and her local RWA chapters, Heartland Romance Authors, Midwest Romance Writers, and North Texas Romance Writers of America

Claire lives in Missouri with her two sons and too-many horses, cats, and dogs. In her “free” time, she enjoys cooking, winning at Rummy, studying Ancient Civilizations, and spending quiet moments with her family, including the critters. 

To learn more about Claire, visit her on the web at www.claireashgrove.com, or www.toristclaire.com.  You can also connect with her via Facebook, and Twitter.
 
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Immortal Surrender
The Curse of the Templars #2
Farran de Clare, loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won’t turn him into a fool again—he’d rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.

Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty—but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he’s determined that he’ll never pledge himself to her.

As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice – his heart.
IndieBound / Amazon / B&N / BooksAMillion / Powells / Overstock
 
 



Immortal Hope
The Curse of the Templars #1







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US  and Canadian  
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Interview & Review: Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy

UFI welcomes Alyssa Rose Ivy Author of Flight. Thanks for Joining us!!


What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

Right now my favorite TV show is The Voice, but with two little kids at home I seem to end up watching Sesame Street or Yo Gabba Gabba more.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

I love spending time with my family, reading and enjoying being outside as much as possible.

What is your Favorite part of writing?

I love creating characters. It’s so exciting to watch them “come to life.”

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

I don’t have any set routines per se, but I love to write with coffee and music.

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?

I have too many to name just a few favorites, but one of my favorite YA paranormal series is J.A. Templeton’s The MacKinnon Curse series. My favorite adult paranormal series is Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire/Sookie Stackhouse series.

How would you explain Flight to someone who has never heard of it before??

Flight is a Mature YA/New Adult paranormal book that follows Allie as she moves to New Orleans the summer before her first year of college. Planning to stay away from guys, she is unable to resist the sexy yet infuriating Levi and is pulled into his supernatural world.

How did you come up with Crescent Chronicles as the name for the series?

My husband actually thought of it. New Orleans is the Crescent City, and the setting plays a huge part in the books so it really fit.

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?

I loved writing about Allie. She is such a strong and genuine person, and I loved describing her experiences. The hardest character to write about was Jess. It was challenging to make someone a real character when they are somewhat ditsy and boy crazy.

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?

I just released my first New Adult contemporary romance, Derailed. It’s the first book in a series of companion novels called Clayton Falls. The book is about a broken girl who returns to her hometown to rediscover herself. Veer, book two will be out late in 2012. Focus (Crescent Chronicles, #2) will be out in January, and the final book in my YA fantasy Afterglow Trilogy will be out this spring.
 
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Alyssa Rose Ivy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. 
 
Find Alyssa and her books
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Flight
The Crescent Chronicles #1
 Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.
 FLIGHT is another self published book I'm glad I read.  Allie sets off with her best friend for New Orleans to work in one of her Dads hotels for the summer before she goes off to college. Little did she know she once she set foot in New Orleans she wouldn't be leaving. 

Allie knows what she wants to do with her life, she has plans and she doesn't think twice about following them. Allie has absolutely zero plans to date anyone or look for men while in the city but Levi refuses to leave her alone and she ends up being to intrigued to stay away from him. Jess, Allie's friend didn't last very long in the story, she was definitely only thinking of herself for most of her part in it and I wouldn't be sad if she wasn't in the next story.  Levi drove me nuts. I do LIKE him and his character fits in really well but I cant help but want to punch him in places that will make him stop breathing sometimes. Of course the story wouldn't be good without him in it so I am kinda hoping things change between Allie and Levi in book 2. 

New Orleans was a great setting for the story, for some reason I always find the Crescent city beyond fascinating and eat up every scrap of information thrown at me when reading about it. The paranormal parts of the book were great. I never guessed what types of paranormal's were in play until they were revealed and I had never heard of the Pterons before so I liked getting to know them. The plot was fun and flowed at a great pace and I enjoyed the action scenes. There was a great amount of suspense and mystery throughout the entire story.

I really enjoyed FLIGHT and I'm excited to see what comes next. Hopefully I will have a chance to snag a review copy of FOCUS before its released in January of 2013 so I don't have to wait that long.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Kindle    Nook   Smashwords
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