Review: The Prophecy of Shadows by Michelle Madow

The Prophecy of Shadows

Author: Michelle Madow

Release Date: January 26, 2016

Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing

Elementals Book #1

ISBN:   0997239492

ISBN13: 9780997239492

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals is the first in a new series that fans of Percy Jackson and The Secret Circle will love!

When Nicole Cassidy moves from sunny Georgia to gloomy New England, the last thing she expects is to learn that her homeroom is a cover for a secret coven of witches. Even more surprisingly … she’s apparently a witch herself. Despite doubts about her newfound abilities, Nicole is welcomed into this ancient circle of witches and is bedazzled by their powers—and, to her dismay, by Blake—the school’s notorious bad-boy.

Girls who get close to Blake wind up hurt. His girlfriend Danielle will do anything to keep them away, even if she must resort to using dark magic. But the chemistry between Blake and Nicole is undeniable, and despite wanting to protect Nicole from Danielle’s wrath, he finds it impossible to keep his distance.

When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole, Blake, Danielle, and two others in their homeroom are gifted with mysterious powers. But the comet has another effect—it opens the portal to the prison world that has contained the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes and attacks Nicole and Blake, it’s up to them and the others to follow the clues from a cryptic prophecy so that they can save their town … and possibly the world.

Although I enjoyed THE PROPHECY OF SHADOWS there were a few things that made it so that I could not give it more than 3 stars.

THE PROPHECY OF SHADOWS reminded me quite a bit of The Secret Circle. Girl moves to small town, learns she is a witch, joins a small coven full of teenagers where there is a boy she likes and he likes her, but his girlfriend is a psycho jealous b**** and he can't leave her without causing problems. You get the gist.

Now there were differences and I thought the world building was pretty good, but I can't say I loved the characters enough to want to follow them into the next book. Nicole was just sort of blah to me. She started off pretty likable, but I found her to be a little too whiny. Blake the boy that likes her that has a girlfriend just rubbed me wrong. He cheated on his girlfriend instead of breaking up on her, enough said. There was a lot of teenage drama involved in not only their 'relationship', but with their little coven as well.

Overall I was able to read it without having to put it down and did enjoy most of it, I just don't think I would enjoy reading more.  

I gave it 3/5 stars

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

Review + Giveaway: The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin

The Brimstone Deception

Author: Lisa Shearin

Release Date: January 26, 2015

Publisher: Ace

SPI Files Book #3

ISBN:   0425266931

ISBN13: 9780425266939

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source:  Publisher

The agents of Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) know that fighting evil is a full-time job, especially when a new designer drug—with mind-blowing side effects—hits the streets...

It’s called Brimstone. And after the first few hits, you’ll see every supernatural beast sharing the sidewalk, train, or office with you. After that, you’ll start seeing the really scary stuff.

I’m Makenna Fraser, seer for the SPI. And the collateral damage caused by Brimstone is something I’d like to unsee: dead drug dealers missing their hearts—and souls. Because your local pusher doesn’t stand a chance against the new cartel muscling its way into New York. And since the drug can only be produced with magic and molten brimstone fresh from Hell, that means a rift to the underworld is open somewhere in the city.

And when—not if—the cartel loses control of it, well...

It’s going to be Hell on earth.

There have been a lot of different types of bad guys in the SPI Files series and although I don't think any of them will ever live up to the baddies in THE DRAGON CONSPIRACY, I think Shearin did a good job with the ones in THE BRIMSTONE DECEPTION.

The action in this series is just awesome. I know when I open a new SPI Files book, there will be some sort of life or death situation and the getting there won't be disappointing. Mac continues to surprise me with the way she is able to handle the situations she is thrown in. She has a way of adapting to things and it really makes me like her more with each situation she conquers.

 

I don't need romance with my urban fantasy, but the new 'relationship' with Rake was actually nice to follow. I was a little disappointed when Makenna and Ian decided not to date—because let's face it, they were cute—and didn't really click with Rake at first. He has a much bigger role in THE BRIMSTONE DECEPTION and I found that I enjoyed getting to know him and look forward to seeing him and Mac get to know each other more.. 

I find myself enjoying this series with each book and I hope that it is long running like Shearin's Raine Benares series. 

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

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US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Releases: 1/24-1/30

Mon. Jan. 25th

 Once Darkness Falls (Preternatural Affairs #7) by S.M. Reine

Tue. Jan 26th

 The Brimstone Deception (SPI Files #3) by Lisa Shearin

 Graveyard: The Mutant Files (Mutant Files #3) by William C. Dietz 

 Roadside Magic (Gallow and Ragged #2) by Lilith Saintcrow

 Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace

Happy Reading!

Promo + Giveaway: Two #99cent Boxed Sets from Felicity Heaton

Two Paranormal Romance Boxed Sets featuring Nine Hot Alpha Heroes for just $0.99 each!

New York Times best-selling paranormal romance author Felicity Heaton has added a new boxed set to her Eternal Love collection. This time, the set features FIVE sexy shifters to go with her FOUR sinful vampires in the first collection. The great news is that to celebrate the release of the second collection, she’s offering both boxed sets for only 99c / 99p each at all retailers right now!

That’s right, you can get your hands on Eternal Love: Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set and Eternal Love: Vampire Romance Boxed Set for only $1.98!

Here’s a little more about each set plus links to all the retailers:

Eternal Love: Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set

Step into the dark, dangerous and seductive world of werewolves and big cat shifters in this amazing limited time only boxed set of shapeshifter romances packed with passion, forbidden desire, emotion and suspense... and love that will last forever.

CRAVED BY AN ALPHA
Having turned his back on his snow leopard pride, Cavanaugh has been counting the days until he’s free of a role he never wanted—one that separated him from his fated female and stands between them. But just days before he’s free to be with her, Eloise walks back into his life and demands he save the pride from the tyrant he left in charge. As they travel to Bhutan, will Eloise be able to resist the burning need that Cavanaugh reignites in her and remember her place in the pride? And can Cavanaugh find a way to save his kin and claim the future he craves with the woman he loves?

HUNTER’S MOON
The horror of the night he failed to save his werewolf pack from the cruelty of their vampire masters has haunted Nicolae for one hundred years, driving him deep into the Canadian wilderness in search of peace. That peace is threatened when unfamiliar hunters and the scent of blood lead him to a beautiful vampire and a hard decision—face his past and help her or risk losing everyone again.

EMBRACING THE WOLF
The night Amon revealed that he was an alpha werewolf and she too held the gene in her blood, Kat fled his pack, but no matter how far she runs, she cannot shake the ‘beast’ inside her or the knowledge that one day she will mature into a werewolf—into Amon’s mate. Four years on and now a member of the Werewolf Control Forces, Kat hides in plain sight among their ranks, each night fighting the ‘beast’ inside of her and hunting rogue werewolves with a vengeance. But when she discovers Amon is dangerously close to turning rogue and only she can save him, will she hunt him or will she embrace the wolf to save them both?

IN HEAT
A heat wave isn't the only thing making London too hot for lawyer Kim. She's been spending each night with a man who sets her body and heart on fire. The problem? He's a man who always sprouts black fur and purrs, and he's only a dream. Walking into her office, the last thing she expects is to meet Erik, a man who sends her temperature soaring and who resembles her dream guy exactly. As the flames of passion between them burn white-hot, Erik is willing to risk everything to claim his fated mate, but when his secret is revealed, will Kim turn her back on him or give him the forever after he craves?

CRAVE
Callum has come to the city of romance on business, not pleasure, but when he sets eyes on a gorgeous werewolf in a nightclub, he can’t ignore the dark carnal craving she ignites in him. His work for Vampirerotique, the erotic theatre he runs with three other vampires, can wait. The only thing that matters now is satisfying his sinful hunger for a woman who most vampires would consider an enemy.

Get it now from:

Amazon Kindle Stores: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Kindle UK | Amazon Kindle Germany | Amazon Kindle Canada | Amazon Kindle Australia

 

Apple iBooks Store: Apple iBooks US | Apple iBooks UK | Apple iBooks Australia | Apple iBooks Canada | Apple iBooks New Zealand

Other Stores: Barnes and Noble | Kobo Books | Google Play

Eternal Love: Vampire Romance Boxed Set

Step into the dark, dangerous and seductive world of vampires in this amazing limited time only boxed set of vampire romances packed with passion, emotion and suspense... and love that will last forever.

HEART OF DARKNESS
A vampire prince intent on avenging his murdered sister, Aleksandr Nemov won’t stop until the hunter’s line is extinct. Each kill pushes him towards the darkness all vampires hold within their hearts and devolving into a beast. Time is running out as he tracks the last hunter to Prague. There he finds a beautiful woman who could be his one chance for salvation, but is it already too late for him?

SEDUCE
Bloodlust runs in Antoine’s veins, a dark master waiting for the day it will reign over him. Now a woman with a pure soul and wicked intentions has him in her sights and is determined to crack the ice around his heart, and she might just save or damn him. When Sera discovers the shocking truth about his past and the darkness that lurks within, will she be strong enough to seize his heart or will she lose him to the ghosts that haunt him?

A PROMISE OF PASSION
Alicia is a vampire hunter, unable to find a man strong enough to love and accept her for who she is. When Kassian, a tall and seductively handsome vampire walks into her life and vows to protect her, she doesn't know what to think or feel. His eyes make promises that his searing touch backs up, but can she get past the fact that he’s a vampire and accept him for who he is?

SEVENTH CIRCLE
Lincoln is a powerful pureblood vampire with a problem. He's caught up in a prophecy and has little time left to unravel the mystery of the contract between his lord and the Devil before he dies. When witches foretell that a vampire hunter will save his life, he's prepared to work with his most hated enemy, but he isn't prepared for the forbidden desire he feels when he meets her.

Get it now from:

Amazon Kindle Stores: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Kindle UK | Amazon Kindle Germany | Amazon Kindle Canada | Amazon Australia

Apple iBooks Stores: Apple iBooks US | Apple iBooks UK | Apple iBooks Australia | Apple iBooks Canada | Apple iBooks New Zealand

Other Stores: Barnes and Noble | Kobo Books | Google Play

The price of these two fantastic boxed sets will go up in February, so be sure to grab your copy today to avoid disappointment!

About Felicity Heaton

Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too. If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series. If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places: Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Tsu | Pinterest | GoodReads

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Week in Review: 1/17-1/23

Books Received for Review

Demon Lore by Karilyn Bentley

Books I've Read

Windburn by Shannon Mayer
Elementally Priceless by Shannon Mayer
The Brimstone Deception by Lisa Shearin
Waging War by April White

Reviews Posted

The Deepest Well by Juliette Cross
The Alpha Drive by Kristen Martin

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

* Monday- Promo for Genesis Boxed Set

* Tuesday- Cover Reveal + Giveaway for The Magician by E.J. Stevens

* Thursday- Guest Blog for Realm Walker Series by Kathleen Collins

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

BlogLovin

Networked Blogs

Facebook
Pinterest Board

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

Twitter

Goodreads

Librarything

Google+

 

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

Early Review: The Deepest Well by Juliette Cross

The Deepest Well

Author: Juliette Cross

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Age of Gray Book #1

ISBN:   1619233371

ISBN13: 9781619233379

Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance

Review Copy Source: Author

Lady Katherine Blakely is married to a monster. On the same night she witnesses how low her husband can sink, she meets a charming stranger, a gentleman from top to toe. Yet even her gallant rescuer is possessed of a dark side.

Lord George Draconis Thornton, commander of the Dominus Daemonum, is on a mission to expel the demon prince Damas back to the underworld. But a golden-haired beauty derails his plans and stirs an attraction he’s never felt before, not even for his centuries-dead wife.

Discovering Lord Blakely is in league with Damas, George sweeps Katherine away from the chaos and devilry threatening her life. With every touch, their love grows by joyful leaps and bounds.

Sensing his enemy’s vulnerability, Damas kidnaps Katherine to his hellish lair, where he wages a sensual assault on her defenses. As George tears at heaven and earth to find her, he is painfully aware of only one way to save her soul. The cost will break her heart…and destroy his own.

Warning: Contains wolves in gentlemen’s clothing, a precipitous descent into Hell, and a frightening glimpse of a post-apocalyptic world where angels and demons wage war for dominion on earth.

I don't know why I didn't put it together before, but I was pleasantly surprised when I realized THE DEEPEST WELL tells the story of how Kat and George from The Vessel Trilogy met and fell in love and the hardships that they faced.

Kat and George's relationship has always been a mystery to me and THE DEEPEST WELL really cleared up all the questions I had about them as individuals and as a couple. I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I had no problem enjoying this book one bit. I knew Kat was a strong woman, but meeting her as Katherine really cemented how strong of a woman she really was. It would be impossible to not like George, his character just jumps off the pages. He's loyal, strong and ready to right Katherine's world. Unfortunately nothing is easy for this couple and there is a lot of heartache between the pages. I absolutely loved that Cross fast forwards us to what happened after the events of BOUND IN BLACK at the end of this book so that we see how Katherine and George end up.

I really enjoyed THE DEEPEST WELL and consider it a must read if you are a Juliette Cross fan and have already read her Vessel Trilogy. New to Juliette Cross? You will love it too and I don't feel you need to read her other books to fall in love with Katherine and George's story.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Guest Blog: Realm Walker Series by Kathleen Collins

UFI welcomes Kathleen Collins Author of The Realm Walker Series. Thanks for Joining us!!

The Power of Reading

The other day I was thinking about one day when I was in college. I lived an hour away from campus so running home on my two hour gap between classes wasn’t feasible. That day I wandered through the bookstore and picked up Bridget Jones’ Diary. I sat in my truck and started reading. As the time approached for my class, I looked between the clock and the book in my hand and made the decision to keep reading. Now, I could have gone home and read, but that would have meant putting the book down for an hour while I drove home. Nope. So I sat there, finished the book and drove home. Sorry Professor.

There is nothing I love more than absolutely being sucked into a book and the world the author has built. That feeling you get when you pick up a book and barely put it down again until you’ve reached the last page. As an author my favorite emails are the ones where readers email me to tell me that they were exhausted because they had to stay up all night reading. Awesome.

I have always loved books. What’s that saying about readers living many lives? I 100% agree with this. To me there is no greater fuel for the imagination than a good book. One where your brain paints full color pictures in your head of what the characters look like, what the world they live in is like. Avid readers understand that while you might not be able to go to all the fictional, fantastical worlds we read about, we can visit them whenever we like. And the really good worlds are worth visiting again and again.

So what were some of your favorite worlds to read about? What ones do you want to revisit again and again? Let me know so I can check them out. My list is below.

1. The gothic world of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
2. The country setting in Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
3. Kate Daniels’ Atlanta in the Magic series by Ilona Andrews
4. The fantasy kingdom in the Study series by Maria V Snyder
5. Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

There are so many others but these were the first to come to mind. And these are all series or books that I have more than once.  Happy Reading!

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Kathleen Collins has been writing since Kindergarten. And while her ability has drastically improved, her stories are still about monsters and the people who play with them.

The rare instances that she actually finds some spare time, she spends it playing with her two boys. Three if you count her husband.

She is currently hard at work on her next book.

Find Kathleen and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Realm Walker
Realm Walker #1
Amazon BN Harlequin Print

 An estranged mate, a mangled body and a powerful demon who calls her by name…

As a Realm Walker for the Agency, Juliana Norris tracks deadly paranormal quarry using her unique ability to see magical signatures. She excels at her job, but her friends worry about her mysterious habit of dying in the line of duty without staying dead. That’s only the first of her secrets.

Most people don’t know Juliana became the mate of master vampire Thomas Kendrick before he abandoned her seven years ago. Most people don’t know the horrors she endured at the hands of the vampire he left in command. Most people don’t know her true parentage, or why a demon on a world-threatening rampage has taken a personal interest in her…

Even as Juliana pursues the demon, it goes after all she holds dear—including Thomas, who is back to claim her for his own. But if she can’t reconcile her past and learn to trust herself again, she will lose him forever.

Death's Daughter
Realm Walker #2
Amazon BN Harlequin Print

Juliana Norris, Realm Walker with the Agency, is an Altered. A fact that she runs up against every time she's forced to work with human police officers, and their species-ist commissioner, on cases they can't solve themselves. Which happens more than they would like to admit.

Her gift--the quality that makes her the best Realm Walker in the business, without boast--is the ability to read magical signatures. Whether the gift came from her father, the dark fae god of death, or the mage mother she can't remember, is anyone's guess. And when Altered children start going missing with only wild magical signatures as clues, her heritage is the last thing on her mind.

She can't afford such distractions, and she definitely can't afford to worry about the fact that her mate, master vampire Thomas Kendrick, hasn't spoken to her since she saved him from a demon--maybe it's because she had to stab him to do so. Because whoever is kidnapping these children must be very powerful to wield wild magic. Very powerful, and very dangerous indeed.

Blood Slave
Realm Walker #3
Amazon BN iTunes

Can she find a killer in a town where the basest desires are allowed to run free? 

There are zombies in the Dead Zone and Juliana Norris is sent to take care of the problem. And for there to be zombies, there had to be bodies. When vampires are found to be the culprits, Juliana is sent undercover in the red light district of Kansas City. Lying to her mate, Thomas Kendrick, isn’t something she wants to do, but she’s in another vampire’s territory and Thomas would not be pleased. Besides, she’s more than capable of doing the job herself, and she needs to prove it to everyone. Most of all herself. 

Charles Morgan is in control of the Kansas City area, making a rich living off his various enterprises. Juliana goes undercover at the strip club Lust and gets sucked into his dark, decadent world. More victims turn up and the Agency is positive they’ve got their man, but Juliana is not so sure. When the Agency refuses to listen, she reluctantly turns to Thomas for help. He intervenes but finds Juliana unaware of the danger she is in and discovers she may just be too deep for him to save.

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