Review: Waking the Dragon by Juliette Cross

Waking the Dragon

Author: Juliette Cross

Release Date: June 9, 2015

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Vale of Stars Book #1

ISBN:  1616507233

ISBN13: 9781616507237

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

The Gladium Province is on the verge of civil unrest as humans and Morgons, the dragon-hybrid race, clash once more. But amid disorder can also arise passion…
 
When the bodies of three human women are discovered in Morgon territory—with the DNA of several Morgon men on the victims—it’s just a matter of time before civil unrest hits the Province. But for ambitious reporter Moira Cade, it’s more than just a story, and it may mean risking her own life.

Descending into the dark underworld of Morgon society, Moira is paired with Kol Moonring, Captain of the Morgon Guard, for her protection. Fiercely independent, Moira bristles at his dominance, and defies his will at every turn. Yet resistance proves futile when passion flares between them, awakening powerful emotions within both, body and soul. But as the killings continue, can their fiery newfound bond survive an even greater evil—one that threatens all of humanity, Morgonkind, and Moira’s very soul?...

We get new characters in Cross's new Vale of Stars series, but we're also luck enough to get the old from her Nightwing series as well. Even though this is a new series and you COULD start with book WAKING THE DRAGON, I would highly recommend reading the Nightwing series first. There is a lot of back story and character development that you will miss if you don't and you might not really 'get' some things if you don't have that information going in.

Moira, who happens to be Jessen's sister from SOULFIRE, is all grown up and easy to like. She's an independent strong woman who's willing to get her hands dirty when looking for and writing her next story. Her sister and brother-in-law demand that she take help when she insists on discovering what is happening with the human woman that are showing up dead in Morgon territory. With Kol at her side that is what she does. I must say that I absolutely fell in love with Kol. When we first met him in WINDBURN it was clear that he was a broody bad ass alpha male like all the other Morgan men we have met and he confirmed that in WAKING THE DRAGON, but there is SO much more to him and the more I learned the more I wanted to read about him.

With lots of danger, romance and suspense WAKING THE DRAGON helps us dive deeper into the world that Cross introduced to us in her Nightwing series. I enjoyed the full book length that WAKING THE DRAGON brought us and look forward to seeing what comes next in the Vale of Stars series. Juliette thankfully is able to get us the books we love pretty fast, so we probably won't have to wait too long for book 2.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

New Releases: 6/7-6/13

Tue. June 9th

 A Matter of Time (Angel Sight #3) by Lisa M. Basso

 Brand of the Pack (Silver Wolf Clan #3) by Tera Shanley

 Crash (The Game #3) by Eve Silver 

 Deal With The Devil (Purgatory #4) by Cynthia Eden 

 The Invasion of the Tearling (The Queen of the Tearling #2) by Erika Johansen

 The Stars Never Rise (Untitled Series #1) by Rachel Vincent

 Waking the Dragon (Vale of Stars #1) by Juliette Cross

Happy Reading!

Interview & Giveaway: A New Day at Midnight by Michelle Hiscox

UFI welcomes Author Michelle Hiscox. 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 took a trip to Rome a few years ago and it is forever in my heart. I love Italian food, trashy romance novels, and I think everyone should read Richard Matheson’s story, I Am Legend. It is terrifying and incredibly poignant. I’m a bit of an introvert so publicity is not my strong point, but I’m getting better. I volunteer at a local animal shelter, I can’t watch Hallmark commercials because they make me cry, and I think Stephen King is one of the most brilliant, entertaining authors on earth.

What do you enjoy doing on your down time? 

I don’t think I have enough of that to fill it with anything. Any time I don’t spend on the general demands of life I often spend writing, researching, or marketing. If I’m really being lazy, I love a cheesy horror movie or reading true crime stories.

What is your Favorite part of writing? 

Creating something that other people might love. That is truly my favorite part, I want to make readers feel what the characters feel, to live a moment in their lives. When I get feedback that I’ve succeeded, that someone loves a particular line, scene, or event, it’s all I could ask for as a writer.

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

Laptop on my lap, music on my iPhone, pets, husband, and daughter sleeping. I love them very much, but if said husband and child are awake when I write, which is rare, headphones are a necessity.

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

JR Ward, author of The Black Dagger Brotherhood is by all time favorite, followed by Karen Marie Moning, especially with her Highlander series.

How would you pitch A New Day at Midnight to someone who has not heard of it before? 

It’s a unique paranormal tale about a scarred Romani trader who plays host to a demon. He seeks the woman who set him on his dark path years before, but finding her yields much more than he expected. It’s a dark romance with an imposing yet vulnerable hero and a very determined heroine.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that A New Day at Midnight is set in? 

The novel takes place Montana territory, set in Rosehearne Manor, a fortress deep in the mountains. There are elements of Above and Below, or earth and hell, that come into play regarding the main character’s demon ancestry and the forces coming together against the main characters.

Do you have a favorite scene in A New Day at Midnight? 

There are several scenes I’m partial to and many of them focus on Merik, who is definitely an anti-hero. I suppose my favorite scene involves chains, blood, and peace offerings, but not necessarily in the way one might expect. It’s not all about sex, but it is very emotionally charged for the main characters as well as the reader.

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

Merik is hands down my favorite character to write so far. I love a tortured hero, he’s a genuine soul conflicted by his history and reactions to Hannah, all while weighed down by the curse he’s suffered through family lineage. I found writing about him invoked a wide range of emotion in me, and my heart went out to him.

Podosius, the antagonist within the story, was the most difficult for me to write. Because he is so mired in shadow, and at times such a vile creature, it was a challenge to display the very human motivations he had for committing some truly unspeakable acts. No character is purely good or evil, and capturing their essence presents some work on my part.

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

I’m currently working on the tentatively titled Chasing Dawn, the second standalone installment in the Hearne Family Saga. It focuses on the relationship between Ella and Nicolai, another of the Hearne brothers. It was actually the requests of early readers for A New Day at Midnight that led me to write about Nicolai, so I aspire to exceed their expectations. I hope to have it finished by year’s end.

__________________________________

Michelle Hiscox is a Paranormal Romance fan and author who hails from Drumheller, Alberta. The dinosaur bones buried in the hills of her hometown inspired the first stories she ever wrote, and she feels blessed to walk those same hills with her daughter today. Crocus flowers and dust bowls full of cactus never fail to inspire.

While her little girl and husband provides many welcome distractions to writing, it's something she always finds her way back to. Michelle is the proud, and slightly crazy, owner of two dogs and three cats, all animals she loves more than she reasonably should. She's been reading voraciously since she was a child and, one night, pulled her nose from a book to start writing her own.

Find Michelle and her books

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

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A New Day at Midnight
Amazon Amazon.ca Amazon.co.uk BN

When Merik Hearne finally lays claim to the woman that betrayed him, she inspires much more than his need for revenge—but is her love worth dying for again?

Condemned to play host to a demon, the scarred Romani leader has amassed a fortune with only one goal in mind—to possess Hannah Worthington, the traitorous beauty that has eluded him for over a decade. With an exchange of coin, everything he has been striving for is within reach but nothing is as he imagined. The tender, sharp-tongued woman he encounters tests the bounds of his convictions and he is torn between the promise of reckoning and longing for a love that once destroyed him.

Exchanged for a purse of gold and informed she is to be a slave, Hannah vows she has not survived a lifetime of loss only to wither under the likes of Merik Hearne. And she will do everything she can to make sure he knows it. Despite his overbearing manner, his fierce scars, and her own determination to escape him, she begins to see that something beautiful might lie beneath…something that belongs only to her. She must discover the angle from which the great lord plays before his dark desires consume them both.

As they struggle to find truth amid pasts marred by sorrow and secrecy, they are unaware that a vengeful apostle orchestrates the rise of a forgotten god—and the end of their chance at a life together. 

Exerpt #2: 

Hannah realized Merik had left her doors unlocked. Again. Did he believe she would stay now that she knew his true name and nature? She dare not utter the real question plaguing her, but it invaded her mind nonetheless.

Is he right? A large ember escaped from the iron latticework in front of the fire, landing on the rug at her feet. She watched it smoulder.

Smoke curled up in delicate tendrils, disappearing before reaching the high ceiling. She stared for several long moments, willing the flame to grow, to consume her. It held the colour of Merik’s eyes, burning gold and crimson. A small flame flickered to life, hungry for progress until she stamped it out with the heel of her foot.

Rising from the fire to flop on her bed, she stopped short as an echo rang through the hall. Certain her battered senses played tricks on her, she pulled back her covers to lay down but heard it again.

Whether it was a call of rage, grief, or agony she could not distinguish. It came from Merik’s quarters, echoing deep within the shadows of the hall. Padding to her door, she warred between anger over his treatment of her and the desire to ease his pain.

She could not ignore the fact he’d told her the truth. Pulling a robe about her shoulders, she kicked off her charred slipper. Without consulting her mind, she made the decision with her heart. She rested her hand on the door, opening the barrier between her and the unknown.

“Shit. Shit, shit, shit. What am I doing? I can stay in my rooms. There is hardly any need to go out there.”

Another tortured cry rose in the air, strengthening her resolve to help Merik.

Lighting a candle, she forced herself to go into the hall. Another cry rang through the air, and as she got closer to Merik’s chamber, she finally understood what he was saying. Her name.

“I’m coming, Merik.” Running to his room, she entered through the open door to see an empty chamber. Desperation overrode the fear hammering her heart against her chest. The room smelled of blood, of sickness. Could Vetala even get sick? Could they die?

“No, please no, not again. Merik? Merik, please call my name.”

He groaned. As she followed the source of the noise, the candle shook in her hand. The hot wax stung her flesh when she stopped several steps in front of a half-open door set in the wall.

“Merik?” The smell of death clung to the entrance and she gagged. The candle wobbled in her hand. She steadied it, saying a quick thanks to God it did not go out. She could not bear to go forth in the darkness without light. Setting the candle on the floor, she swung the door wide. The candle flickered as she picked it up. Fear twisted her guts and no matter how she tried, she could not stop her hands from shaking. She took another step.

“Merik?” It took her eyes several moments to see more than a foot from her face. When she saw him in the dim light, she gasped. He now stood in front of her. It took her several more moments to realize he was not standing of his own volition, but rather restrained by chains embedded in the stone wall. When he lifted his head, she covered her mouth to stifle a scream.

Eyes of molten gold and crimson stared back at her. His jaw and facial bones were distended, his hands curled into claws. The changes were much more severe than the few instances she attributed to the loss of her mind.

“I…I…” Stepping back toward the entrance, her gaze never left Merik’s. She turned her back on him to commence a rather spineless retreat, but could not get her feet to cooperate.

“Hannah?” The voice held much more than pain. What? Desperation? Hope? She could not move as her heart and mind waged war. Despite his appearance, she knew beneath the angled bone protruding from his flesh, his distorted face, and the fangs visible in his mouth, Merik stood in front of her. The man she met a decade before. The man looking at her with the same single focused intensity with which he always did. The man she loved.

Taking another step and hearing nothing but her own harsh breathing, she took one more.

__________________________________

Tour Wide

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Week in Review: 5/31-6/6

Books Received for Review

- Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews- eARC- From publisher via NetGalley

- Dying to Date by Victoria Davies- eARC- From publisher via NetGalley

- Angel Lover by Tricia Skinner - eARC- From publisher via NetGalley

Books I've Read

The White Rose by Amy Ewing
Ice Like Fire by Sara Raasch
Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh
Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh

Reviews Posted

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter
The Edge of Forever by Melissa E. Hurst

  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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

* Wednesday- Promo for In the Air Tonight by Lori Handeland

* Friday- Cover Reveal for Angel Lover by Tricia Skinner

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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

BlogLovin

Networked Blogs

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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.

Review: The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

The Witch Hunter

Author: Virginia Boecker

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The Witch Hunter Book #1

ISBN:   031632700X

ISBN13: 9780316327008

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

The magic and suspense of Graceling meet the political intrigue and unrest of Game of Thrones in this riveting fantasy debut.

Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear.

Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

Virginia Boecker weaves a riveting tale of magic, betrayal, and sacrifice in this unforgettable fantasy debut.

THE WITCH HUNTER features an interesting cast of characters, unique dilemmas and lots of danger.

I didn't love Elizabeth Grey from the moment she was introduced, it took me time to connect with her. I found her to be super tough, but way too set in her ways and beliefs. That is to be expected in the way she was raised, but I was pushing her to be more open to things way before she finally was. She is SO stubborn.

I wasn't that pulled into the reason as to why Elizabeth was arrested. It didn't feel real in the sense that I was expecting MORE to happen for her to get sentenced to burn and the reason's behind her actions were a pretty good excuse.

The romance in THE WITCH HUNTER was very light, but sweet. Elizabeth has always loved her best friend Caleb, but John changes things for her. There is a lot of love hate going on for all involved due to who Elizabet is/was, but I was rooting for the same person for the whole book.

THE WITCH HUNTER was a fun read. There were a few slow parts and I wish some things would have been explored more, but I had no problem staying interested in the story. I'm not 100% sure that I would read more of this series, but it's on my radar.

I gave it 3/5 stars

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

Cover Reveal: Angel Lover by Tricia Skinner

There's no danger greater than falling for your enemy… 

Publication date: June 30th

 

Series Name: The Angel Assassins #2 
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Imprint: Select Otherworld 
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy Romance

The Nephilim are bound. Their powers cursed. But half-angel Kasdeja will do anything to free them from Heaven's tyranny. When Kas is approached by a striking, mysterious woman, she tells him his greatest enemies hold the key to his freedom.

Mariel keeps herself shrouded in secrets, using them to hide her true self. For she is not just employed by the Renegades--enemy fallen angels—she is a double agent, working on the sly for Heaven. Her directive is to seduce the gorgeous Nephilim—despite her insecurity about such sensual acts.

For Mariel is playing a dangerous game, and falling for Kas could only cause trouble; her assignment isn't just seduction. It's destruction.

----------------

Excerpt

The Nephilim grabbed Mariel's shoulder and squeezed. “You’re coming with me.”

Training instincts kicked in. She slammed her elbow into his abdomen and cracked the back of her fist into his throat. Kasdeja coughed but recovered too quickly. He reached for her again, and she blocked his arm with hers. He switched to his other arm, and she matched the move.

She had once fought demons on the plains of Damascus. She’d hunted dark elves in their underground cities. She’d survived the ambush that had left her team—her friends— dead. No way on earth would a lone Nephilim bring her down.

Desperation fed her, and Mariel pressed her attack, but suppressed her strength. If she could do some damage, she’d make it back to the Renegades while Kasdeja remained alive. She spun a roundhouse kick toward the half angel’s stomach, but he knocked her leg aside. He smoothly dodged her punches but purposely avoided leveling a few of his own.

She grappled for a way to end the fight. This was a mistake, and she wondered why she refused to cause him unnecessary harm. Feigning a jab to the left, she struck his face on the right. His head snapped to the side, his long, loose hair flying. A lucky hit.

Kasdeja swept one of her legs. Twisting, she narrowly missed a face-plant into the pavement and rolled away from his boot before it collided with her side.

The fight had moved them deeper into the parking lot. Half a dozen cars and trucks, parked inside and outside the painted lines, made maneuvering dicey. The Nephilim’s arm came around faster than she expected and slapped her into a spin.

Mariel reached toward the blades hidden in her boots but changed her mind. She stared at him and caught the stormy menace in his eyes. Distracted, she failed to avoid the back of his arm as it drove into her stomach.

The air whooshed from her lungs and Kasdeja pressed in, not giving her time to regain a breath. He locked his large hands over her wrists, lifted her off her feet, and shoved her, suspended by her wrists, against a brick wall. A sunburst exploded behind her eyes. Agony blasted through her body and escaped her mouth in a sharp cry.

“Damn you. I should bury you,” the assassin said in a choppy voice.

Tricia Skinner

Tricia Skinner is an author of passionate dark fantasy. She is a features writer for Fresh Fiction and a project manager for Short Fuse. She began her writing career as a business reporter and wrote for The Detroit News, Investor’s Business Daily, MSN, and The Houston Chronicle. 

 Raised in Detroit, Tricia graduated with a BA degree from the nationally acclaimed Journalism Institute for Media Diversity at Wayne State University. She earned a Masters of Liberal Studies – Creative Writing degree from Southern Methodist University and will obtain a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in 2017. 

 Diversity in genre fiction is dear to Tricia’s heart. She is represented by Laurie McLean, co-founder of Fuse Literary Agency. When not writing, Tricia can be found reading, lifting weights, or geeking out over games, movies, and music. She has a Tom Hiddleston obsession, and she is Team Vader. Her family includes three Great Danes (so far).). 

Author Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest http://www.triciaskinner.com  

Review: The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter

The Last True Vampire

Author: Kate Baxter

Release Date: June 2, 2015

Publisher: St Martin's Paperback

Last True Vampire Book #1

ISBN:   1250053765

ISBN13: 9781250053763

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

As Michael’s eyes lit on a female not twenty feet away, he knew without a doubt that it was her blood that called to him and her scent that had awakened him.This female had tethered his soul and returned it to him.

Soul Survivor

He is the last of his race. The one true king of the vampires. Michael Aristov roams the nightclubs of L.A. after dark, haunted by his past and driven by his hunger. The last of the Ancient Ones, he alone has survived the destruction of his race at the hands of the slayers. Now he is forced to hunt and feed like a common vampire, a creature of lust. Nothing in this world can fulfill his needs…until he meets a woman who’s everything he’s ever wanted. And more.

Sweet Salvation

Her name is Claire Thompson. Her blood is so sweet, so intoxicating—the smell alone draws Michael to her like a moth to the flame. Sly, sexy, and seductive, Claire seems to be the only mortal who can satisfy his craving and seal his fate…forever. Can she be trusted? From their very first kiss, the last true vampire sweeps Claire into a world in which darkness rules desire—and where falling in love is the greatest danger of all…

THE LAST TRUE VAMPIRE has a very interesting blurb and I quickly got into the storyline when I started reading.

Claire is just getting by as a waitress, but her side job as a pick pocket and hustler makes it so she has a little extra. I had no problem instantly liking her. We find out that she is very loyal and caring with a backbone to boot. Michael has a lot going for him, but it took me a bit to care about him and what happened to him. He has a long and difficult (and pretty hellish) past which leaves him as the only true vampire left.

I wasn't crazy about the relationship between Claire and Michael for a good chunk of the book. He was kinda an a-hole and treated her like she was just a blood bag even though he truly wanted her and had strong feelings for her. I get that he is old and hasn't had a relationship in a really long time, but come on, how can you not know to treat a woman that knows NOTHING about your world and is a scared better than that. It bothered me. He did get better and he did grow, but that was always my first impression of their relationship.

NOW I really enjoyed the secondary characters in THE LAST TRUE VAMPIRE and the world building was pretty good. The danger was heart pounding and there was a nice pace throughout the story. There were plenty of twists thrown in as well and I really enjoyed the point in which the couple were finally on the same page. My favorite secondary character, Ronan, will be featured in book 2, so I plan to pick it up when it's available.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

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