Promo + Giveaway: Venus Falling by RaShelle Workman (@RaShelleWorkman, @XpressoTours)

Venus Falling
Immortals #1

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Betrayal sucks! I should know. On my sixteenth birthday, it was my destiny to become immortal and the next queen of my home planet, Kelari. Instead I was betrayed and sent to Earth where I was given a choice by the gods. Suffocate and die by Earth’s atmosphere or help a human find his soulmate.

Of course, I chose the latter. The decree sounded easy enough until I met the guy. Michael is gorgeous; I’ll give him that. But he’s also an arrogant jerk! No one could possibly love him—least of all me.

But Michael is the least of my problems. There’s a government group after me whose sole purpose is to hunt beings from other worlds. They’ve found out about my unearthly identity, and despite my human appearance, they are intent on capturing and dissecting me like some kind of a lab experiment.

Thankfully my guardian Zaren followed me to this planet. He’s sworn to protect me. He’s done so my entire life. At least he’s supposed to. But Earth is different than Kelari in more ways than one, and the planet is affecting me in ways neither of us expected. I don’t think he counted on keeping me safe from my own traitorous heart. 

Excerpt:

PROLOGUE
When Worlds Collide
Christopher stood on the outskirs of Snow White’s house. He wouldn’t go in. Doing so would cause a hassle he wasn’t ready for. And neither was Snow. Soon though. He leaned against the enormous tree in her front yard, watching the changing leaves fall like colorful rain. Above, the stars twinkled in the clear night sky, as though it had no inkling of the grim trouble on the horizon.
Christopher sighed, pushing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. He had come to Snow’s house for one reason. To get his head right. He had plans for Snow. Big plans. Traitorous plans. But for now, he’d been tasked with handling an impending problem of intergalactic proportions.
He closed his eyes against what he’d learned, but for some reason, that only made what he had to do more real. The Vampire Queen had asked him to infiltrate a high school and befriend some particular students. At her request, he’d laughed. He was too old for such an assignment. It didn’t matter that he still looked like a teenager because he’d been changed at that time in his life. He was a vampire, specifically a Hunter, and had been for decades. He could just kill them all. Wouldn’t that suffice?
But the Vampire Queen had other ideas. Plus, she hadn’t asked, she’d demanded. Going against her wishes was detrimental to his health. He sighed again, thinking of all she’d told him. When she spoke, his world had been turned upside down. Similar to the time before he’d become a vampire. Then, he hadn’t believed in the supernatural. Of course, now, he did. But there was more.
The queen told him life existed beyond humans and the supernatural. There were creatures not of this world, and they were determined to make Earth theirs.
He refused to let that happen.
So, he would do as she ordered and head to the wiles of Wyoming. He would join the high school there. According to the Vampire Queen, a princess would be attending. He was to search her out and turn her—make her one of them. But the princess wasn’t from Earth. She was from another planet, though according to the queen she would look human.
He shuddered with excitement at the strangeness of life. How would the alien princess taste? His body hummed in anticipation of her blood in his mouth. He wasn’t afraid. He was hungry. And determined to have his fill of her. The sooner, the better.
Let the hunt begin…

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RaShelle Workman is an international bestselling author. Under this name she writes reimagined fairy tales, science fiction, time travel, and romantic suspense. All of her novels have been listed on multiple bestseller lists, including her BLOOD AND SNOW series, which has sold more than a million copies. Three of her books have been translated into Turkish and several can be downloaded and enjoyed on audio.

NOW AVAILABLE: Blood and Snow is a CHOICE TEXT ADVENTURE game as is Alice in Demonland. Created by Delight Games. Pick them up free on your App Store today!

When RaShelle isn't writing, she enjoys baking, creating new taco recipes and watching Supernatural. She lives in Utah with her husband, three children, and their dogs. Find her online by visiting her website at: www.rashelleworkman.org. And sign up for her newsletter to receive free books and get information on book release dates: http://eepurl.com/chMcej.

Find RaShelle and her books

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Week in Review: 5/5-5/11

Books Received for Review

The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy

Books I've Read

Supernatural Academy: Year One by Jaymin Eve
Rules of Stone by Alex Lidell
Heart of Stone by Lisa Edmonds
Reign of Dragons by Olivia Ash
Cruel Magic by Eva Chase

Reviews Posted

Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs (@Mercys_Garage, @AceRocBooks)

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

* Monday- Promo + Giveaway: Dawn of a Legend by R.K. Lander (@rklwrites, @XpressoTours)

* Thursday- Promo + Giveaway: Nobody’s Fool by Ophelia Bell (@OpheliaDragons, @XpressoTours)

* Friday- Interview + Giveaway: Legend by Nicole Conway (@ANConway, @RoxanneRhoads , @Month9Books)

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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?

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You can also add me (as in Stacy) to your friends on these sites if you're on them.

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

Interview + Giveaway: Legend by Nicole Conway (@ANConway, @RoxanneRhoads , @Month9Books)

UFI welcomes Author Nicole Conway. 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?

I have an entire tumblr blog dedicated to the greatest video game series ever made, Dragon Age. I adore everything about those games – the world, the complexity of the characters, the gameplay, the story – all of it. I’m obsessed, and I don’t care who knows it.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

Besides playing Dragon Age, I like to spend time with my son and husband. We go rock climbing at bouldering gyms on the weekend and camping.

What is your Favorite part of writing?

I love diving into a new story and new world whenever I begin a book. It’s like that thrill of boarding the plane on your way to an exciting vacation – you don’t know what to expect but you know it’ll be fun.

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

I used to, but honestly, being a military spouse and mother means I’ve had to become very flexible with my work. I have to be able to write whenever I get a spare minute, and that doesn’t always allow for me to follow old routines. Ideally, I like to be in my office, drinking coffee, with my music blasting.

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

I love the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Harry Dresden is a marvelous character and he always makes me laugh. But to be honest, I don’t read much in those genres. I usually stick to fiction, adventure, and fantasy books.

How would you pitch THE DRAGONRIDER LEGACY to someone who has not heard of it before?

It’s like How to Train Your Dragon meets Game of Thrones. It has all the action and complexity of a big-world epic fantasy, but all the relatable characters and heartwarming moments you want out of an adventure. It’s got it all; fast-paced battles, spell-slinging action, romantic tension, and of course … DRAGONS!


Can you tell us a little bit about the world that THE DRAGONRIDER LEGACY is set in?

Maldobar is a medieval fantasy kingdom steeped in tradition, history, and a sense of pride for it’s military prowess. However, as we find it in LEGEND, Maldobar is currently torn asunder by yet another brutal war and this one might not be so easily won. The invading Tibran Empire has been laying siege to it and now threatens to conquer it entirely. It’s up to the dragonriders, the kingdom’s finest soldiers, to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Do you have a favorite scene in LEGEND ?

At the risk of giving away spoilers, there is a reunion scene toward the end of the book between Jaevid and Felix, two of the main characters, after they have been separated for forty years due to … bizarre and magical circumstances. Since neither of them have had much family to speak of, they came to care for one another like brothers in the first series, so it’s an emotional moment for both of them. I love seeing them back together and up to their old shenanigans again.

Which one character out of all your books was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?

I always tend to “fall” for the minor characters. In this series, I had to resist writing more about Haldor and Eirik. They both have so many interesting qualities and backstories, but there simply wasn’t room to include it all. Maybe next time! As for which one is the hardest, I always struggle with female narrators so Jenna was a challenge. I tend to second-guess everything when writing for a female character, and I’m not sure why. But it was a good experience, and I intend to keep practicing.

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

I’m currently working on three other series: Spirits of Chaos which is an urban fantasy about dragon superheroes, Mad Magic which is an older teen series about modern gun-slinging faerie hunters, and The Dragonrider Trials. Trials is the third and final dragonrider series, and it’s been really bittersweet writing it because while the story is so fun and I’m super comfortable in the world now, this being the end makes it sort of sad. That last book will be a hard one!
 

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NICOLE CONWAY is an author from North Alabama. She graduated from Auburn University in 2012, and has previously worked as a graphic artist. She is happily married with one son.

Find Nicole and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Legend
 Dragonrider Legacy #3
Amazon

In a war of gods and tyrants, the will of the dragonrider must never falter.

Captured and tortured by the brutal tyrant, Argonox, Reigh’s worst fears have now been realized. Argonox has successfully twisted his mysterious dark power for a truly evil purpose—reanimating the long-deceased legendary dragonrider, Beckah Derrick, and her monstrous king drake. But Argonox’s cruelty won’t end there, and Reigh fears the worst is yet to come. Rescue is unlikely as the Tibrans prepare to make their final strike, poised to break Maldobar’s ranks of proud dragonriders once and for all.

With many of its cities already captured by the Tibran Empire, all hope now rests with Jaevid, Princess Jenna, Phillip, and their mismatched band of dragonrider allies to lead the last stand and save their kingdom. Even in such frightful times, Jaevid may find he still has a few old friends ready to take up their weapons and stand at his side again. But facing down Beckah is perhaps the one thing that might break Jaevid’s resolve. Can he really strike down the woman he used to love in order to save the kingdom?

One final battle will decide the fate of our heroes. Can the strength dragonrider prevail once again? Or will the Tibran Empire become Maldobar’s new legacy?

“Bravery is not an immunity to fear—it is rising up to meet it with the hope that nothing is impossible.” — Sile Derrick, FLEDGLING

LEGEND is the final book in Nicole Conway’s trilogy DRAGONRIDER LEGACY, which also includes SAVAGE and HARBINGER.

Want more dragons?
Check out Nicole Conway’s bestselling quartet
THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES



 Excerpt:

Bellowing howls and thunderous booms shook the ground under me. The sound of snarls, snapping teeth against scales, and shrieks of pain seemed to come from every direction. I recognized the deep inhale and throaty hiss, followed by the roar of flames. A dragon was spitting its fiery venom so close by I could smell the acidic tinge of it lingering in the air. The low hum of something huge swooshed right over me, probably missing me by inches. A tail? Wings? Gods only knew. But I couldn’t even lift my head to see.
The brawl seemed to end as abruptly as it had begun. No more roars. No more flame. A break in the commotion with only the distant sound of the battle to fill the silence.
A soft whine and series of pops, clicks, and chirps resonated against my ear and a hot blast of musky breath blasted over my cheek. I felt it. Something huge was looming over me. But I couldn’t move or open my eyes.
A rough shove rocked my senses, rolling me over so that I flopped onto my back. More hot breaths blasted against my face. I didn’t have to see her. I knew it was Vexi. It took every ounce of strength left in my body to will my eyes open. The end of her big green nose was right in my face, smelling me and whining. She licked at my forehead, one big swipe of sticky dragon spit up the bridge of my nose all the way to my hairline.
“H-hey there,” I managed to rasp weakly.
She chirped, huge blue eyes blinking down at me with concern. Curling her scaly body around me like a protective living barrier, she laid her head on the ground right next to mine. Her ears perked toward me and nostrils puffed in deep, as though she could sense I was in bad shape.
Too late, I realized that leaving her, trying to send her away, was by far the stupidest thing I’d ever done. That’s saying something, I know. Doing stupid stuff was basically my life’s hobby. But Kiran had told me about the loyalty of dragons many times. And right after Vexi chose me, Jenna had said something about it, too. She’d said that our bond was special—that Vexi would stick by me no matter what, even in death. At the time, I hadn’t understood what that meant.
Now I did.

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Promo + Giveaway: Nobody’s Fool by Ophelia Bell (@OpheliaDragons, @XpressoTours)

Nobody's Fool
Fate's Fools #5

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

Fate's final mission...

Deva Rainsong has a mission to take revenge on a god, but all she really wants is to understand why one mortal man doesn’t love her. Once upon a time, Ozzie West was her first love, her savior, and the man she always believed she could count on no matter what. But to him it’s as if she never existed.

Unfortunately Deva’s mission won’t wait, and she needs Ozzie’s love to fulfill her promise to Fate or their entire world could come crashing down around them. Because when you piss off a god, you’d better have the power to strike back.

EXCERPT:

I plucked at the strings again, restarting the song and finding my voice. Despite a tongue clumsy from drink, I had no trouble singing clearly. Call it my superpower; I may not have been able to walk a straight line, but I could still make flawless music while wasted.
Her eyelids fluttered closed and some of the tension in her expression eased. Her spine became less rigid and she seemed to flow across the room toward me. The way she moved may have been the most graceful thing I’d ever seen. She was just walking, but it felt like a dance, each step matching the beat of my song. My pulse raced, my body heated, and I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, thrumming to the same tempo.
My mouth had gone dry by the time she climbed up on the bed. She crawled across the covers, her movements seductive though her eyes were closed now. She only paused for a second to listen before continuing toward me, straddling my legs.
I pushed back against the pillows, the notes faltering, then stopped entirely when her breasts grazed my hand.
“Uh, I can’t play if you’re going to climb all over me. You understand that, right?”
“Sing,” she demanded.
I got the impression her vocabulary must have been limited to singular syllables in this form, and I doubted the wisdom of allowing her to just crawl on top of me the way she was doing. I clutched the guitar, deciding it was probably better to keep some barrier between us, considering she was looking at me as if she wanted to eat me.
“Why don’t you just sit next to me here, and I’ll sing you all the songs you want?” I patted the bed beside me and then started in on a different song—one I knew all the words to.
Her face twisted with displeasure. “No!” She tore the guitar from me with surprising strength and sent it crashing to the floor in a dissonant clatter. She surged up close, her breath hot against my ear, her full breasts warm through the thin fabric of my shirt.
“Sing,” she rasped.
I cleared my throat and hummed a bar of the unfinished song, then stopped. “You mean that one?”
“Mmm,” she said, a small smile gracing her lips and her eyelids fluttering closed again.
“All right, but I need you to—ah—move off me.”
I grasped her by the shoulders and attempted to twist around to position her beside me. The next thing I knew, I was pinned flat to the bed, her wild eyes staring down at me as vines snaked down and coiled around my wrists.
“Sing.”
“Fucking hell,” I muttered, staring at the vines. I tugged hard, but they held tight.
Her lovely, dark face hovered over me, eyes a maelstrom of need, but a flicker of deeper awareness made me think Deva was still in there, perhaps along for the ride while her instincts had control. Up close, her lips were a deep blue, as was her tongue as it swept across her lower lip.
Fuck, now she did look like she was going to eat me, and I was only more convinced of that when she grasped the sides of my shirt and wrenched it open, leaving me absently relieved it had snaps instead of buttons.
She raked her blunt nails down my chest, the sensation more arousing than painful. My body came alive under her touch despite the fact that I knew she was off-limits. But holy fuck, was this hot. If she went any further, all bets were off.

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Ophelia Bell loves a good bad-boy and especially strong women in her stories. Women who aren't apologetic about enjoying sex and bad boys who don't mind being with a woman who's in charge, at least on the surface, because pretty much anything goes in the bedroom.

Ophelia grew up on a rural farm in North Carolina and now lives in Los Angeles with her own tattooed bad-boy husband and four attention-whoring cats.

If you'd like to receive regular updates on Ophelia's publications, freebies, and discounts, please subscribe to her mailing list: http://opheliabell.com/subscribe/

Find Ophelia and her books

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Review: Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs (@Mercys_Garage, @AceRocBooks)

Storm Cursed

Author: Patricia Briggs

Release Date: May 7, 2019

Publisher: Ace

Mercy Thompson Book #11

ISBN:  0425281299

ISBN13: 9780425281291

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Publisher

In this new instalment in the No. 1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves . . .

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.

And a coyote shapeshifter . . . And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.

Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn't stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.

The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.

But we are pack, and we have given our word. We will die to keep it.

Mercy's back!! SILENCE FALLEN had Mercy by herself for a really big portion of the book, but STORM CURSED brought a lot of Mercy's allies along for her ride and I loved every minute of it.

STORM CURSED had a great pace and a great storyline. Even after 11 books Briggs is still able to bring us new and exciting things in her Mercy Thompson world.

I really enjoyed the glimpses into Mercy and Adam's relationship. They are a really strong couple and continue to get stronger with each book. Mercy's connection to the pack also get stronger with each book. One thing I REALLY want to see in a future book—but hopefully sooner than later—is BABIES for Adam and Mercy. PLEASE bring us babies!!!

I really enjoyed STORM CURSED and look forward to reading more. I think I might actually go back to book one and re-read the whole series just so I can stay in Mercy's world a little longer.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

New Releases: 5/5-5/11

Tue. May 7th

 Blood Magic: Stranger Magics, Book Four by Ash Fitzsimmons

 Castle of Lies by Kiersi Burkhart
 Dark Shores (Dark Shores #1) by Danielle L. Jensen
 Light from Other Stars by Erika Swyler
 Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
 Nexus (The Androma Saga #2) by Sasha Alsberg, Lindsay Cummings
 Storm Cursed (Mercy Thompson #11) by Patricia Briggs
 Theater of Spies (Tales from the Black Chamber #2) by S.M. Stirling

Happy Reading!!

Promo + Giveaway: Dawn of a Legend by R.K. Lander (@rklwrites, @XpressoTours)

Dawn of a Legend
The Silvan, #3

Goodreads / Amazon

Book three in The Silvan, a best-selling series by award-winning author R.K. Lander. “Page-turning epic fantasy you will not be able to put down.”

A past to claim

A power to wield

A destiny to fulfil

To the enemy, Fel’annár is just a half-blood bastard, but to the Silvan people, he is their crownless warrior prince. Returning from battle in the mountains, he grieves for one who was lost, a death that triggers a mystery Fel’annár and his company of chosen brothers must unravel. But why do the trees speak of a beautiful monster?

Fel’annár will learn the ways of the Kah Warrior from a legendary commander while facing the disdain of another who struggles to accept this ‘ignoble son’ for who he is, not for what he represents. Meanwhile, Fel’annár’s royal half-brother reveals a plan to restore the Great Forest to its past splendour of multi-cultural harmony. But the Forest is falling apart under the final onslaught of a ruthless traitor and the Silvan people are turning away from their ruler. Can Fel’annár come to understand what role he must play in this plan before it is too late? Can the brothers put aside their resentment towards each other for tearing their families apart and learn to trust one another? Can love prosper in the midst of battle and hardship as dark enemies converge on the Motherland?

Danger lies in wait for an elf who is slowly coming to terms with his heritage, learning to wield a natural ability and accepting the nature of his unfolding destiny.

The greatest warriors of their time will come together once more—in the name of justice. In the name of love.

Start your Silvan adventure today!

 EXCERPT:

The thud of an arrow piercing flesh, a cry of pain from an elven warrior who was thrown to the floor with the force of the bolt.
A roar of anger, a plea for aid, the scream of a defeated soldier, the desperate sounds of elves and Deviants locked in combat, fighting and dying in the frigid cold. But Fel’annár did not flinch, even though he stood in the midst of the chaos. He couldn’t; he was the only master archer left, the only one who could eliminate the Deviant snipers that were picking off their warriors.
He sighted his next target, stance perfect; it had to be. His arm did not waver, it could not, and his heart did not feel; it must not. He would not allow that, and when the last sniper was down, he whipped out his long and short swords with a morbid sense of satisfaction and moved closer to Captain Comon and The Company’s position, where the fighting was at its worst.
The shriek of polished metal upon rusted iron grated on their ears, but it did not deter the Alpine warriors of Tar’eastór, even though they had been fighting almost constantly for the last weeks. They bore down upon the rotting mass of Deviants that had thought to surprise them, their elven faces twisted into snarls of hatred for an enemy that was relentless, ruthless.
“Behind you,” warned Fel’annár as he moved closer to his captain to engage another Deviant, whose massive scimitar swung unnervingly close over his head. Shocked, he flipped backwards to gain space and time and then moved to the side and scored a blow to the Deviant’s shoulder. But that only served to enrage it. Roaring in unbridled wrath, the beast bore down on Fel’annár with such strength it sent him stumbling backwards. What was wrong with him? Yet even as he asked himself he knew the answer: he was tired, his concentration slipping, and this opponent was not going down easily.
Swivelling his right sword to the left, he whirled around and sliced into its other side, garnering another unearthly shriek that vibrated painfully in his ears.
He moved in from the front this time, but the beast’s counter blow was so strong it was all Fel’annár could do to keep his sword from flying out of his sticky hand; he was off balance once more, and the nascent tingle of dread began to take hold of him.
Fel’annár raised both blades and brought them down upon his enemy, but they were blocked, and for one strange moment, bright green eyes locked with the cloudy but challenging gaze of the Deviant. There was hatred and cruelty there, as there always was; he had expected that, but Fel’annár hesitated, for there was something more, something he could not place. His brow twitched in confusion, but before he could ponder it any longer, the handle of the Deviant’s blade caught him in the side of the head with a heavy thud, sending him stumbling backwards and then, to his utter horror, to his knees. He was down, and he desperately blinked to clear his reeling mind, not fast enough to avoid the boot that crashed into his mid-section, sending him gasping to the floor. It was all he could do to roll out of the way as the scimitar came down upon him, missing him by mere inches, a blessing in disguise, for the beast had placed so much weight behind the blow that it overcompensated. Fel’annár had just enough time to plunge both swords into its mid-section.

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I write epic fantasy for adults. I love battles, warriors, great adventures - elves, monsters and generally weird things, but above all, I love a good story with compelling characters.
My first project is The Silvan Series, with book three, Dawn of a Legend ready to launch April 2019. I hope you'll enjoy my stories and perhaps click the 'follow' button. And I would love to see you over at rklander.com. You'll find some story extras there and freebie if you're interested.

Find R.K. and her books

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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