Review: House Immortal by Devon Monk

House Immortal

Author:Devon Monk

Release Date: September 2, 2014

Publisher:Roc

House Immortal Book #1

ISBN:  0451467361

ISBN13: 9780451467362

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source:Publisher

One hundred years ago, eleven powerful ruling Houses consolidated all of the world’s resources and authority into their own grasping hands. Only one power wasn’t placed under the command of a single House: the control over the immortal galvanized....

Matilda Case isn’t like most folk. In fact, she’s unique in the world, the crowning achievement of her father’s experiments, a girl pieced together from bits. Or so she believes, until Abraham Seventh shows up at her door, stitched with life thread just like her and insisting that enemies are coming to kill them all.

Tilly is one of thirteen incredible creations known as the galvanized, stitched together beings immortal and unfathomably strong. For a century, each House has fought for control over the galvanized. Now the Houses are also tangled in a deadly struggle for dominion over death—and Tilly and her kind hold the key to unlocking eternity

The secrets that Tilly must fight to protect are hidden within the very seams of her being. And to get the secrets, her enemies are willing to tear her apart piece by piece.…

 Devon Monk brings us a unique new series with intriguing characters, a power hungry villain, and an original, well built world.

Matilda (aka Tilly), is a pretty awesome heroine. She knows her way around protecting herself, and has no problem telling people what she thinks. I liked that she accepts herself. She was born a normal human but circumstances have changed her into something that shouldn't be possible. When she is discovered, she of course protects herself and is apprehensive about those that want to use her, but she also steps up to her new role while also trying to protect those she is loyal to. I never liked the Neds, they just rubbed me wrong, but I instantly liked Abraham Seventh. I was a little bummed that the romance between him and Tilly never really developed. Their attraction was apparent and there was some mutual relationship type things, but their relationship didn't go anywhere.

There is a ton of mystery involved with this story. Mystery surrounding Matilda, her parents, her brother, the stitched, the Houses. Lots and lots of questions and slow answers that kept you gripped in the story, wanting more. I enjoyed the twists and turns that the author threw out and the world building was well done. I think HOUSE IMMORTAL had more of a science-fiction with a hint of dystopian feel to it and I really didn't want it to be over. The book ends during a pretty hectic part of the book, so you can't help but want more and fast. March is too far away ...

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Interview: Carlos and Casey by Ember Leigh

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

I can consume a frightening amount of granola and yogurt. 

What do you enjoy doing on your down time? 

I like going to markets and fairs, trying new restaurants, concerts, exploring new foresty places…I spend a lot of my time inside my house, writing and blogging and working, so when it’s time for leisure, I try to get away from this dang computer screen! 

What is your Favorite part of writing? 

Revising. I love, love, love revising. It is SO much easier to me than the actual first-draft writing. I love weaving in details, discovering themes, tweaking characters, all that jazz. 

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

I have no real writing routines, other than I aim to write at least a few times per week on my current work in progress. I spend a lot of time doing writing-related things – social media and what not – and I also blog an insane amount, so it turns out that a good portion of my day is spent in writing endeavors. However, it’s scattered and precarious. I would probably benefit from a routine, to be honest. 

How would you pitch Carlos and Casey to someone who has not heard of it before? 

Two ex-lovers, four years later. Is the flame still there, or has time just made things painfully awkward? 

Do you have a favorite scene in Carlos and Casey?  

One of my favorite parts is the beginning, where the two meet up for the first time in four years. The whole idea of awkwardness is what sparked this story. Two people who had a blazing connection in the past might not necessarily have the same connection years later. So as Casey grapples with her feelings after seeing Carlos for the first time, we see how time makes things awkward, at least in a sense of what might be appropriate or not. 

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

My current work in progress is a romantic suspense involving a baby bounty hunter, a freak snowstorm, and lots of sexual tension between two loner leads. The leading lady, Rose, could probably take down most men, easily, and she dedicates her life to rescuing babies stolen by a rogue parent or babysitter. This book has been a blast to write, and I’m so excited to share it with the world soon!

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Ember Leigh has been writing erotic romance novels since she was far too young. A native of northern Ohio, she currently resides in South America with her Argentinean partner, a detail she uses to justify her Bachelor's degree in Latin American Literature. In addition to romance novels, she also writes travel articles, maintains three blogs, and continually attempts to complete a mildly-gripping short story. In her free time, she practices Ashtanga yoga, travels the world, and eats lots of vegetables.

Find Ember and her books

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Carlos and Casey 
Buy Link

 What happens when too much time has gone by? Carlos and Casey were lovers, long ago. But in the four years they haven’t seen each other, plenty has happened — marriage, job changes, lifestyle shifts, routine, and ultimately divorce.

When a work trip brings Casey back into Carlos’ territory, she knows she’d have him right there in the airport parking lot. But Carlos doesn’t seem so eager. Unsure of herself post-divorce, Casey knows only one thing: she wants this man as much as she did the last time she saw him. And she’s more than ready to relive every saucy adventure they had together. Can the sparks be salvaged, or has time left them behind?

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EXCERPT:

 
Her breath caught as she followed him up the staircase, tucked to the far side of the house. Carlos had always been fit enough, but it looked like he'd taken up some new form of exercise in the past four years. He was beefier, yet still lean. His ass moved round and tight in front of her as they climbed the stairs. At the landing, he gestured in front of them.

"This is my studio, but it's all yours for tonight."

It was a rec room that took up the whole second floor, and far more standard male than the ground floor alluded to. Movie posters, gaming systems, books scattered on floors and coffee tables, and, off to one side, the trumpet, asleep in a bed of sheet music. In the corner there was an overstuffed couch just about as wide as she was long – it would be great to sleep on, even better if he could bend her over that armrest and fuck her until dinner was ready.

She cleared her throat, deciding adult friendships could be fun, even after four questionable years. "I thought I'd be sharing a bed with you?" She tried to keep her tone playful as she sauntered toward the couch. She tossed him a smile and she caught a glimpse of him looking very stricken. Shit. Too far. Things are too different now. Abort!
 
Maybe too much time had passed in general. Maybe he was courting a girl and wanted to take it slow with her. Maybe he no longer found her attractive, four years becoming the dagger in the heart. Maybe he'd become celibate, or found her life too normal and boring. There was a whole list of reasons why she shouldn't make the first move.

"I was just joking," she said after a moment, rolling her eyes. "Come on, lighten up."

He exhaled slowly, looking down at the ground as his tongue found the corner of his mouth. "I know it was a joke, Case."

"In case you forgot, we used to share a bed." She looked at him pointedly, already horrified that the words were coming from her lips. What was the getting at? Who had authorized this dialogue?

He squeezed his eyes shut and laughed softly. "Oh, I remember."

Promo: Mind Sweeper by A.E. Jones

Mind Sweeper
Mind Sweeper #1

2013 RWA Golden Heart® Winner, Mind Sweeper 

An angel, a demon and a vampire walk into a bar. Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but it's just another day in the life of Kyle McKinley.

Kyle was born with the ability to erase memories, and the inability to keep her opinions to herself. She and her teammates – a vampire who looks like a sexy pirate with fangs, and a Shamat demon with a penchant for Italian pastries – provide supernatural damage control when humans see too much. Today’s problem? A sword-wielding angel and a demon had a supernatural smackdown during happy hour in a Cleveland bar, leaving behind a headless vampire and a dozen human witnesses.

This latest supernatural slip-up is attracting all kinds of attention. So much attention that the police step in, and Kyle has to deal with Joe Dalton, a know-it-all human with the sexiest turquoise eyes she has ever seen. Kyle has no room in her life for yet another human who will treat her like a freak. However, Dalton definitely makes her naughty parts sit up and take notice, and it’s more than mutual. But before they can act on their attraction, they must join forces to solve a dangerous puzzle. And when they uncover the truth, the apocalyptic ripple effect forces Kyle to make a choice. Learn to trust again, or risk losing everyone she cares about, including Dalton.

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Growing up a TV junkie, award winning author AE Jones oftentimes rewrote endings of episodes in her head when she didn’t like the outcome. She immersed herself in sci-fi and soap operas. But when Buffy hit the little screen she knew her true love was paranormal. Now she spends her nights weaving stories about all variation of supernatural—their angst and their humor. After all life is about both…whether you sport fangs or not.

AE lives in Ohio with her eclectic family and friends who in no way resembles any characters in her books. Honest. Now her two cats are another story altogether.

Find A.E. Jones and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Review: Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall

Night Unbound

Author: Dianne Duvall

Release Date: September 2, 2014

Publisher: Zebra

Immortal Guardians Book #5

ISBN:   1420129805

ISBN13: 9781420129809

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: Author

Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardians protect humanity from unspeakable horrors--but their hearts are as fragile as any mortal's. . .

For centuries, Lisette d'Alençon has been a warrior against the dark. She fights alongside her brothers and comrades. But when the dreams start coming, she can't bear to confess them to the Immortal Guardians' command. Dreams of a dark-haired man with soft eyes and brutal wounds, a man her heart aches for--and a man she knows has been declared a traitor.
Zach is an exile, a loner. He won't defend himself against false accusations or grovel to those who should have faith in him. But he'll damn sure defend the woman who kept him sane against a plague of super-vamps that seems to have appeared from nowhere. The Guardians will blame him, and that will make Lisette suspect, too. With life, death and eternity on the line, who can they really trust?

You would have thought I'd learn by now, but after each Immortal Guardians book I always tell myself, "There is no way I could possibly love any couple more than XX and XX". Dianne continues to prove me wrong, I truly fall in love with all of them.

Lisette and Zach's attraction started in a previous book so we knew their story was coming for a while. Both have been drawn to each other and things get hot and heavy pretty quickly in NIGHT UNBOUND. I enjoyed getting to know both of the characters more in depth. They really were great together, but I had no doubt they would be going in.

We get a surprisingly large amount of information about Seth in NIGHT UNBOUND. We also see a totally different side of him than we are used to. I really liked that side. He is more "human" in my eyes after seeing him interact 2-on-1 with Zach and Lisette. 

I know I have mentioned this before, but I can't help but mention it again because it's a huge part of why I love this series so much. I absolutely LOVE that all of the characters from previous and future books are a big part of each book. It keeps the storyline connected and I learn more and more about them all as the series continues. Dianne, you have to write faster, I'm going through withdraw already.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Review: The Witch with No Name by Kim Harrison

The Witch With No Name

Author: Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: September 9, 2014

Publisher: Harper Voyager

The Hollows Book #13

ISBN:   006195795X

ISBN13: 9780061957956

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

At long last... The final book in the New York Times bestselling Hollows series by Kim Harrison!

Rachel Morgan's come a long way from the clutzy runner of Dead Witch Walking. She's faced vampires and werewolves, banshees, witches, and soul-eating demons. She's crossed worlds, channeled gods, and accepted her place as a day-walking demon. She's lost friends and lovers and family, and an old enemy has become something much more.

But power demands responsibility, and world-changers must always pay a price. That time is now.

To save Ivy's soul and the rest of the living vampires, to keep the demonic ever after and our own world from destruction, Rachel Morgan will risk everything.

What a ride The Hollows series has been! Thirteen books, thirteen different ways I fell in love with the cast of characters. There has not been one book in this series that I didn't completely fall into. Did I say how sad I was that it's over?

I really don't want to ruin the last book for anyone so this review won't entail much besides my final thoughts. I can't think of one character that has not grown through the series. I think if they went back in time they might not recognize the person they were. The series finale brings everyone together for a final knock-down, drag-out, disaster in the making. There is plenty of action and suspense so don't expect any lag. The ending, oh the ending, you won't be disappointed. All story lines have been tied off and you won't be left wondering. I didn't want it to end, but at least it ended fantastically.

Ahh *tear*, a heartfelt thank you to Kim Harrison for sharing the story of Rachel, Jenks, Ivy and Trent with us. It was a wild and crazy ride but I loved every moment of it.

I gave it 5/5 stars

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

Character Interview & Giveaway: Wounded by Shannon Mayer

UFI welcomes Shannon Mayer Author of the Rylee Adamson series. Thanks for Joining us!!

Character: Agent Liam O’Shea Interview

The Daily Grind

September 13/2012

Cold Case Heats Back Up?

There is no such thing as a case that is too cold, at least according to Liam O’Shea. He has been an FBI agent for over ten years, and in that time only one case of his remains open.

His first case.

At the time, Agent O’Shea was fresh out of the academy and “still believed that justice always prevails”. Then along came the case that would chill the hearts of every agent working it, many of them parent’s themselves.

Rylee Adamson, then sixteen years old, was accused and charged with killing her younger sister Berget; whose body was never found. The case made media headlines as Adamson went missing for close to two weeks and a man hunt the size this state had not seen in a hundred years ensued. Adopted into the Adamson household, her younger sister was a ‘miracle’ baby that by all accounts Adamson adored. It wasn’t until an outing the two girls took to Deerborn Park that Adamson’s actions would come into question.

“The younger girl’s blood and clothing was found several blocks away tucked behind a dumpster,” Agent O’Shea said, “and the only hair fibers found were the two girls, Berget and Rylee. There is no one else it could be that killed little Berget.” To O’Shea, it was an open and shut case; and with Adamson’s disappearing act he felt her guilt was obvious. But he, along with the other police enforcement involved where denied the closing of the case on a technicality in court.

“It’s only because of her lawyer, hired by Giselle Trinkoff, that Adamson wasn’t found guilty. A technicality I aim to right.” O’Shea states.

To date, Adamson has not been proven guilty of any charges, though O’Shea is determined to change that fact. “She got away once. She won’t get away again.”

For now, Adamson is MIA, her whereabouts unknown to anyone but Agent O’Shea. He claims that he finally has new evidence that Adamson killed her younger sister, hid the body, and dodged the penal system.

This reporter isn’t so sure; there are too many unknowns to state that Adamson did it without a shadow of a doubt. But then, I always root for the underdog. And in this case, no one is more of an underdog than Rylee Adamson.

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Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, dog, cats, horse, and cows. When not writing she spends her time staring at immense amounts of rain, herding old people (similar to herding cats) and attempting to stay out of trouble. Especially that last is difficult for her.

She is the author of the The Rylee Adamson Novels, The Nevermore Trilogy, A Celtic Legacy series and several contemporary romances.

Find Shannon and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Wounded
Rylee Adamson #8
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 "My name is Rylee and I am a Tracker."

When children go missing, and the Humans have no leads, I'm the one they call. I am their last hope in bringing home the lost ones. I salvage what they cannot.

The clock is ticking and I can feel the weight of the final battle with the demon hordes looming over my head. The puzzle pieces are becoming clearer, but the casualty list is growing. And with each name that is added to those we've lost, my confidence cracks a little more.

Yet there is hope.

A child saved.

A life lost.

A prophecy fulfilled.

  All of the books in The Rylee Adamson Novels series will be on sale from September 9-15^th at $0.99 down from $3.99 regular price.
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Excerpt:

“You don’t think that all of the disasters that humanity has faced were all natural, do you? The bubonic plague is a good example. It was blamed on a number of things. Rats, the Jewish people, punishment from God. It all led to a cleansing of anything unusual. Mostly supernaturals, who were trying to blend in, and in that process the humans wiped out many of their best defenders against the demon population, which then went on to spread the plague across the world. But that is just one example.”

“What was the point though, wouldn’t the demons have wanted people to be alive so they could possess them?” Liam asked.

Erik gave a ruthful smile. “Yes and no. The bubonic plague wasn’t so much about killing people off, as it was infecting them. Making them weak and easier to possess. The plague compromised their immune systems, allowing them to be taken over. Especially the young.”

Something about what Erik said sent a twang through my brain. I struggled to put the pieces together that floated just out of reach. Damn it. Liam touched my arm. “What?”

I closed my eyes and pressed my palms into them, blocking out any light. “Just let me think for a minute.”

The feel of the night air and the sound of the fountain filled my ears as I looked at the pieces one by one.

Demons escaped in London who bred fast.

Minor supernaturals were being possessed by lesser demons and evil spirits.

Packs of Orion’s demons were free to cause chaos.

The only thing we were missing was a plague and then Orion would have access to all the young people he wanted. The urge to vomit swelled up through my stomach and burned the back of my throat.

“Children are normally hard to possess, aren’t they?” That was why it had taken a full pentagram when the black coven was trying to have India possessed so many months ago. At least, that was what I understood.

Bert bobbed his head. “Yes, it can be very difficult to possess a child. There is a natural protection over the young when it comes to demons, something the elementals put into play.” He grimaced as he said ‘elemental’ and again I wondered at these particular supernaturals that I’d only just been hearing about. “But when the small humans are ill, that protection goes into keeping them alive, rather than keeping them from being possessed.”

Feeling like a bully, but not really caring, I leaned in to Bert. “How did the bubonic plague really start?”

An interesting thing happened. Bert paled and shook his head. “I can’t tell you.”

My eyebrows shot up and I glanced at Erik. “You want to make him talk, or do you want me to make him talk?”

Erik shrugged. “Either way is fine. I haven’t interrogated a demon in years. I’ve missed it.”

Bert paled even more and his lower lip trembled. “I can’t tell you. I can’t. Tracker, Slayer both of you have to trust me. Please.”

“Begging will get you nowhere, little demon.” Erik growled. He had a short, serrated knife in his hand that he’d pulled from somewhere within his robes. It was curved, like a skinning knife, and if it hadn’t been for the rough edges that’s what I would have called it.

“Track demons and evil spirits.” Bert blurted out as he fell to his knees. “Proof I am on your side. Track them; you’ll see it isn’t me fooling you.”

Erik paused and looked over at me. “Up to you. Personally, I’d just as soon dice him up.”


“Fuck, why not, Tracking will take me two seconds.” I grumbled.
I send out a thread to Track demons as a whole, paired with a thread for evil spirits, just to satisfy—

Holy. Fucking. Hell.

I swayed on my feet and went to one knee, the overwhelming wash of pings I got back seriously making me re-think getting out of bed the day before.

We were surrounded by Orion’s minions.

Hundreds of them.

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Guest Blog & Giveaway: Promise of Magic by Melinda VanLone

I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of elementals, probably because in the online game I play, World of Warcraft, my character is a mage who has a water elemental for a pet. He protects her by shooting at the enemy, and provides companionship just by always being there. Sorta like a dog, but without the messy business of poop removal. When I first toyed with the idea of elementals, nothing seemed right because they seemed more like pets than people. I had a hard time ascribing desires and goals to something like that.

For the Xannon series, I took my love of the elements and gave the ability to the people instead, letting them be human first, with the ability to harness elemental power second. Just as some people tap into a natural musical or athletic ability, the people in the Xannon world all tap into one element or the other to fuel their natural magical ability. Most humans tap into one main element and, to a lesser extent, one other element. Tarian taps into Water and Air very strongly, and to a lesser extent, Fire, which is what makes her so powerful. Controlling three elements is extremely rare. Her sister Calliope is mostly Air, with water as secondary. It’s all hereditary, like having blue eyes or blonde hair, which means they came by their skills because of their parents.

The twist, of course, is that in general nobody knows who the father of the Keeper (heir to the House of Xannon) is, because of the Succession Ritual. Multiple partners donate their abilities to the child, which means Tarian’s strength is a blend of several men, plus her mother (a fierce and strong power all by herself). The same will be true for any of Tarian’s children. In Stronger Than Magic, Tarian’s journey toward motherhood begins and the spark of possible magical abilities swirls around the conception. Air, Earth, Water, and Fire. Four elements. A child who could wield that might be the strongest magical user ever in existence. Stronger, perhaps, than the Ancients themselves.

I suspect raising such a child might be a bit…problematic. How do you teach a child to control their magic when they’re stronger than you are? And once she’s grown, what might she accomplish?

That’s what the House of Xannon series is all about. The cycle of life, mother to daughter, over generations, and the power of love to bind, protect, energize, and strengthen. That, and magic. Because life is magical.

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Melinda VanLone writes fantasy and science fiction, freelances as a graphic designer, and dabbles in photography. She currently lives in Rockville, Maryland, with her husband and furbabies. When she's not playing with her imaginary friends you can find her playing World of Warcraft, wandering aimlessly through the streets taking photos, or nursing coffee in Starbucks.

Find Melinda and her books

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Promise of Magic
 House of Xannon #3

On instinct, Tarian bowed her head, shocked. “Dulra. Welcome.” She breathed the words, awed by the presence of creatures she’d only known through legends. What is the Balance Court doing here?
“Tarian A’marie Maitea Xannon, of the House of Xannon, Keeper of the Water Artifact, you are summoned to the Balance Court.”
She’d been summoned, and every particle of her being cried out to answer it.

Despite the advanced stage of her pregnancy, Tarian has some explaining to do. Fulfilling her Agreement with the Carraig was an issue of honor—but it led to complications. The Keeper of the House of Xannon is called to account, and Tarian must embark on a dangerous mission which could cost her the life of her unborn daughter, end in disaster for all planes of existence—or save the world.

Some promises are deadly to keep. Will the promise of magic be one of them?

Excerpt: 

Tarian forced her eyes open to focus on the rock in front of her. Earth as dense as anything she’d ever seen, more power than she’d ever experienced. The feeling of old that surrounded it. The sense of longing as if the stone itself wanted freedom from the long and arduous task it had been set. She grabbed onto the longing and let the stream of energy pour into it, into the Stulos, then twisted it as she’d done once before. Another twist, and the flow of power into the Stulos reversed. Three streams of colored light became one solid column of white.

A thousand voices sounded in her head. High ones, low ones, her sister’s voice, dolphin cries and emotion, all around and through her. The energy bound them into something greater than mere humans and Ancients. They were timeless. Eternal. It was almost like she felt when she made love with Daric, but…different. At once more intense and at the same time more encompassing. Less personal. More global. As though the universe spoke through her, and she through it. The awe of it. Tears spilled onto her cheeks.

Another cramp gripped her body and she swayed on her knees, gripping the rock as it crumbled, trying to maintain her balance as the ground shifted and her body twisted. Not now. Too soon. Not now. Too soon. She couldn’t be…the baby couldn’t be…

The voices rose in her head. Everyone joined in as the power flowed around and through, around and through, until she, the Caraigg, her sister, the baby, and the dolphins were all one with it. The crack in the Stulos widened, a giant lesion extending from the floor all the way up until she couldn’t see the end. Cold retreated, heat entered. A loud snap. The Stulos shattered into a million pieces that hung suspended in air for a flash of eternity before rushing outward to the edges of the cavern.

A dolphin cry sounded, triumphant, exalted, as the world exploded in a rain of cold fire, magic power, ash and lava.
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