Monday, May 8, 2017

Review: Snared by Jennifer Estep

Snared
Release Date: April 25, 2017
Publisher: Pocket Books
ISBN:  1501142275
ISBN13: 9781501142277
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Edelweiss
If you don’t know Gin “the Spider” Blanco, you don’t know dangerous female heroines.

Irony 101—The Spider herself snared in someone else’s web…

Another week, another few clues trickling in about the Circle, the mysterious group that supposedly runs the city’s underworld. Gathering intel on my hidden enemies is a painstaking process, but a more immediate mystery has popped up on my radar: a missing girl.

My search for the girl begins on the mean streets of Ashland, but with all the killers and crooks in this city, I’m not holding out much hope that she’s still alive.

A series of clues leads me down an increasingly dark, dangerous path, and I realize that the missing girl is really just the first thread in this web of evil. As an assassin, I’m used to facing down the worst of the worst, but nothing prepares me for this new, terrifying enemy—one who strikes from the shadows and is determined to make me the next victim.

It is getting harder and harder for me to review the books in this series as the numbers go up.

It seems as though I have already said everything I could possibly say about the characters, but I can add that they all continue to surprise me with their depth and growth. Gin is actually the fictional character I always state I would want as a friend in real life when the question is asked.

The storyline in SNARED was just as great as it's predecessors with plenty of action, drama, unique twists and many turns. Just when I think there couldn't possibly be anywhere else for the series to go, Jennifer Estep proves me wrong and I'm extremely grateful for that because I love this series and don't want it to end.

There are so many milestones I want to see Gin hit. I won't list them all, but I so want to see marriage—and of course babies—in her future. Pipe dream? Hopefully not and hopefully not for a while as once those both happen I assume the series will end. For now, I'm looking forward to book 17—ahh 17 books!!

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Week in Review: 4/30-5/6



Books Received for Review

Ravenheart by Dannika Dark
Fierce Obsessions by Suzanne Wright
The Waking Land by Callie Bates

Books I've Read

The Sin Eater by Jennifer Harlow
A Court of Wings and Run by Sarah J. Maas

Reviews Posted


Cold Reign by Faith Hunter
Avenged by Amy Tintera

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

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

* Monday- Guest Blog for True North by L.E. Sterling

* Wednesday- Promo + Giveaway for Falling for the Billionaire Wolf by Sasha Summers

* Thursday- Promo + Giveaway for Cold Reign by Faith Hunter

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

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

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

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

Friday, May 5, 2017

Review: Avenged by Amy Tintera

Avenged
Author: Amy Tintera
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: HarperTeen
Ruined Book #2
ISBN:  0062396633
ISBN13: 9780062396631
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Edelweis
In the sequel to Ruined, the romance of The Selection and the epic stakes of Red Queen come together in a story of revenge, adventure, and unexpected love.

Emelina Flores has come home to Ruina. After rescuing her sister Olivia from imprisonment in rival kingdom Lera, Em and Olivia together vow to rebuild Ruina to its former glory.

But their fight has only begun. Olivia is determined to destroy everyone who acts against Ruina, but Em isn’t as sure. Ever since Em posed as Prince Casimir’s betrothed in Lera, she’s started to see another side to this war. And now that Cas has taken the throne, Em believes a truce is within reach. But Olivia suspects that Em’s romantic feelings for Cas are just coloring her judgement.

Em is determined to bring peace to her home. But when winning the war could mean betraying her family, Em faces an impossible choice between loyalty and love. Em must stay one step ahead of her enemies—and her blood—before she’s the next victim in this battle for sovereignty.

If you liked RUINED, AVENGED will leave you feeling just as excited!

Picking up where book one left off, AVENGED continues the Ruined series with action, deception, politics, love and turns that will leave you wondering why you didn't see that coming. The characters continue to grow together and as individuals and the storyline is smooth and easy to fall into. 

Cas and Em still have me loving them as a couple—not that they are always a couple. They are torn apart by their warring sides, but fate still finds ways to push them together. They don't have much romance time, but I still enjoyed their interactions and I could feel the connection between them, even when they weren't allowed to show it.

I enjoyed the addition of Aren's POV. It is easy to like him and root for him in everything he does. Olivia is beyond crazy and it shows in every decision she makes. People see it, but I don't think they fully understood how much crazy was there until the end when it was too late. There are a few other secondary characters—especially Iria and Violet—that I enjoyed getting to know more about as well.

I'm dying to know what will happen next and I really want Em to get her happily ever after at the end of it. She has sacrificed so much—and for people that don't fully appreciate it—that she deserves some good to come of everything that's happened. Book three doesn't have a name yet, but it's already on my wishlist.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Promo + Review + Giveaway: Cold Reign by Faith Hunter


Character Profile: Eli Younger

Profile/History
Sent to Jane’s house by Derek Lee. Trained in the U.S. Military, Ranger. Is licensed to carry in LA.

Has three purple hearts. MACP (Modern Army Combatives) level-four instructor.  Really, really good at setting explosives. He quit the military to take care of Alex. Likes combat, misses fighting, pitting himself against the enemy, misses the adrenaline rush. Also did a little construction for Uncle Sam. Calling someone a “civilian” is a huge insult from Eli.

Likes sports, loves the Saints and always carries duct tape. Drinks espresso. Sleeps commando. Mixed blood, mixed race, part AA; his mother was part Coushatta.

Great short-order cook; Jane has to buy the food. Meat lover, but not a high-fat, pork-based diet. Jane says he keeps secrets like a madam – all tease and no share. 

Description
Jane’s height, give or take an inch, solid as an oak, fast on his feet, six-pack abs, mid-thirties. Broad shoulders, tapering waist, narrow hips, sleek.

Dark gray eyes that might have a blue haze to them in direct sunlight, dark hair cut military short, skin as brown as Jane’s
He was ripped, arms like steel cables and a stomach she could have danced on. Wears unscented deodorant, no cologne, unscented shampoo, a body odor that says he showers often,  all pheromones and self-confidence and man. He is still-healing, jagged scar in a starburst pattern starting at his left jaw and down his neck to disappear into his shirt collar (shrapnel, maybe). A lumpy mass that still pulls on his almond-mocha skin in odd ways when he moves.

Weapons
Carries at least two knives—prefers steel because it keeps an edge better than silver and a ilver-plated machete – vamp killer – used like he had plenty of practice.
Multiple nine millimeter semiautomatics.
Flash bangs, C4 explosives, and Sleepy-time bombs and Dan-Inject dart gun.
Israeli M-15 military models with Nato filters. Hunting rifle, blade, subgun, Fragmentation grenade.

**Compiled by Melissa M. Gilbert of Clicking Keys, for the Character History of the Jane Yellowrock world**
__________________________________


Cold Reign
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Publisher: Ace
Jane Yellowrock Book #11
ISBN:  1101991402
ISBN13: 9781101991404
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker…and the woman rogue vampires fear most. Jane walks softly and carries a big stake to keep the peace in New Orleans, all part of her job as official enforcer to Leo Pellisier, Master of the City. But Leo’s reign is being threatened by a visit from a delegation of ancient European vampires seeking to expand their dominions.

But there’s another danger to the city. When she hears reports of revenant vampires, loose in NOLA and out for blood, Jane goes to put them down—and discovers there’s something unusual about these revenants. They never should have risen.

Jane must test her strength against a deadly, unnatural magic beyond human understanding, and a ruthless of cadre of near-immortals whose thirst for power knows no bounds…

It's finally time for the European vampires to arrive, but with any Jane Yellowrock novel, event's didn't exactly unfold like I thought they would.

COLD REIGN is chock-full of action, a TON takes place, and it felt like the stakes were higher than they had ever been before. It seems like Jane has been getting her butt kicked in the last few books and COLD REIGN was no different. If she wasn't the main character, I would have thought she was a goner at quite a few points in book 11.

Jane has a lot of 'family' already and it seems like more members are added to her household with each installment of the series. She hasn't always been OK with that, but it seems like she is finally starting to accept that everyone is there to stay. Jane's relationship with Bruiser continues to grow in strength and I really love the scenes with them being lovey, but I was a little concerned when Rick showed up. There were a lot of ways his showing up could have gone and I don't want to spoil anything for you by saying more, so I won't.

I was shocked with some of the revelations that came out in COLD REIGN. I don't want to say I didn't see them coming, because I think there was always a niggling in the back of my mind, but I was still really shocked with all that came out and the way in which they were revealed. I don't think there is much more I can say about COLD REIGN without giving away spoilers. I very much enjoyed watching Jane and her allies fight their newest conflicts and I look forward to seeing what will come next now that the storm that was the European vampires came through.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

New York Times Bestselling author Faith Hunter writes three series: the Jane Yellowrock series, dark urban fantasy novels featuring Jane, a Cherokee Skinwalker; the Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban fantasy / post apocalyptic series and role playing game featuring Thorn St. Croix; and the Soulwood Series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram.



Find Faith and her books
__________________________________
Tour Wide

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Promo + Giveaway: Falling for the Billionaire Wolf by Sasha Summers



Falling for the Billionaire Wolf
 Blood Moon Brotherhood #1
Amazon  BN  Kobo  iTunes 

When Jessa Talbot’s boss offered her a promotion, she agreed—no questions asked. Her family needed the money, but fighting the attraction she feels for her brooding employer is tough. Worse, she instantly bonds with his infant son she’s caring for. But this is a temporary solution and she can’t get attached to either of them.

Finnegan Dean is cursed. He’s a nicely dressed monster, the wolf inside always looking for a way out. But there are two things he and his wolf agree on. They must protect baby Oscar and Jessa—his mate. While the wolf hungers to seal their bond, Finn fights the instinct. After all, if he really cares for her, he’d never doom her to the life he lives.

 goodreads-badge-add-38px

Excerpt #2:

Nothing eased his wolf like holding her. The wolf would be happy to stay that way––until he wanted her again.

“I can’t move,” she gasped.

“Then don’t,” he murmured, pressing a kiss against her forehead.

She relaxed then, her breathing slowly easing as his fingers traced the length of her spine. “When will we leave?” she asked.

“Soon,” he answered.

“I miss him,” she said, a completely different type of longing in her voice.

He hugged her close, rolling her beneath him. “Do you want to leave now?”

“I don’t think I can walk,” she answered, looking exhausted—but happy.

“Are you complaining?” he asked, nuzzling her nipple.

“Are you trying to kill me?” she asked.

But all he saw was her nipple, tight and hard and demanding his attention. “You want me.”

She looked at him. “Yes. But I need to see Oscar.”

“Your son?” he asked, watching the love in her smile.

She nodded.

“Then let’s go.” He pushed off the bed, groaning at the vision she made. Her body was flushed, bearing several
patches of darkened skin where he’d sucked too hard too long. And damn, but he’d do it again. Her hair was a mess, and she looked beautiful. “One more time?”

She shook her head, her eyes going wide. “Seriously?”

He looked down at the evidence of his arousal.

“Seriously.”

She sat up, her hand clasping him—

“Mr. Dean?” Brown called through the door. “You have a phone call.”

Jessa jumped back, burrowing under the covers. Finn laughed. “Coming,” he answered.

Jessa threw a pillow at him. “You take your phone call. I’ll take a shower—”

“What if I like you all sweaty and smelling like me?”

Her cheeks were red, but she looked him in the eye and said, “Then you’ll have to do it again, later.”

He tugged up his boxers. “Deal.”





__________________________________


Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, romance, and travel. Her first play was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She’s been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she’s doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.


Find Sasha and her books
__________________________________
Tour Wide
 

Monday, May 1, 2017

Guest Blog: True North by L.E. Sterling

UFI welcomes Author L.E. Sterling. Thanks for Joining us!!

L. E. Sterling’s Teenage Garage Sale:

This Saturday only! Come on by to L.E.Sterling’s teenage garage sale where I will sell off items from my teen years!  Don’t miss out on these one-of-a-kind items for sale at bargain basement prices!

Items of interest may include:

Scuffed poster, Robert Doisneau’s Le baiser a l’hotel de ville, Paris, 1950 - $2.00

Macintosh HD:Users:erinvollick:Desktop:$_35.JPG
My stomach lurched the first time I saw this poster in a West Edmonton Mall poster shop. I had to have it. I was maybe 13 at the time. It traveled with me across the country when I moved back to Ontario, age 16, and lasted through many of my university years. There were spots on the back and indentations from the sticky putty adhesive I used. No. Wait. I’ll start a bidding war on this one.

Andrew Lang’s Fairy Tale Treasury - $35
This remarkable collection is a holdover from childhood (who doesn’t need one of those at a teenage garage sale?) but one of my most cherished possessions. My grandmother bought this massive hardcover volume for me when I was 10 years old. I’ve read each of the 50 blood-curdling tales. (You’ll know you’re not in Disney any longer when you arrive at the part in Snow White where the evil stepmother tries to burn Snow alive -- by locking her in a room with a fire burning under an iron floor). You know what? I don’t think I can part with this book after all.

Aha – Take on Me (cassette tape) - $1
If you have a tape deck you’ll want this album. I can’t mention how many times I listened to this incredible album, flipping the tape back and forth and generally being a nuisance. If you like 80s Norway alt-pop this is the album for you. Not to mention, those boys were super cute. (My fave was Morten, obvs).

Pair of (slightly scuffed) men’s black leather dress shoes, size 5 1/2 - $10
These fine pair of shoes in the oxford style are perfect for those looking for a signature style. Recommendation: wear with knee high socks and overall jean shorts (see below). I wore these shoes to some killer concerts as a teen. I loved the fact that no one else had these antique shoes, which I had picked up in a thrift store (my fave place to shop).  

Well-thumbed copy of Gate to Women’s Country by Sherri S.Tepper - $0.50
For fans of SF-F and dystopian lit, this novel is a must-read! Think Handmaid’s Tale meets The 300. Smart, well-drawn female characters. Very interesting world post-nuclear apocalypse. One of my all-time favourite and most influential reads, and it’s YOURS for just 50 cents!

Perfectly frayed Jean overall shorts - $1
Comfort and style. Be a tomboy, an intellect and an ingénue all at once with these stylish and broken-in jean overall shorts. You can’t buy frayed overalls this perfect! The faded light blue colour accents every wardrobe. Look stylish with short sleeves, camisole tops and long, oversized sweaters. In fact – hang on – I should raise the price on these.
Arak Son of Thunder comic book series – prices range from $4 - $130
If you’ve never heard of Arak, Son of Thunder, then you’re not alone. But once you dive into this remarkable comic book series (featuring a First Nations hero/son of a God (!!) and a female Knight Templar (!!)) you will never go back! History, magic, romance -- this series is an absolute gem. What’s more, their value will only rise over time (see note about no one else knowing about them -- VERY exclusive)!!!

See you at the sale!

L. E. Sterling
__________________________________


I was a voracious devotee of sci-fi and fantasy novels all through my childhood, so I suppose it doesn’t come as much of a shock that I’ve returned to the genre with a vengeance. For a while I turned my back on the genre in favour of ‘high-brow’ literary texts. Ironically, it was my doctoral degree that saw me circling back. There’s something about the way postmodern literature plays with the arcane that had me utterly fascinated, and it wasn’t long until I fell headlong back into my old ways and haven’t looked back since. My first novel, which isn’t in the Urban Fantasy or Fantasy genres, isn’t high literature, mind you, even if it tangles with some serious statements about politics and the way our western world runs. My editor described it as something between Charles Dickens and The Catcher in the Rye: Serious Fun, in other words. My second novel, Pluto’s Gate, is where I’ve come home to myself: it’s a contemporary retelling of the Demeter-Persephone-Pluto story from Greek mythology. Folded into the mix is a Shaman-in-training, a magical book, Underworld Gods, a world covered in ice, a three-headed dog, and one lousy ex-boyfriend. But I’ll tell you this much: I believe in the power of words and stories to transform our inner worlds. Whether the characters be vampires or vagabonds, a good narrative sucker punches so-called reality anyhow.

Find L.E. Sterling and her books
__________________________________

True North
 True Born Trilogy #2

Abandoned by her family in Plague-ridden Dominion City, eighteen-year-old Lucy Fox has no choice but to rely upon the kindness of the True Borns, a renegade group of genetically enhanced humans, to save her twin sister, Margot. But Nolan Storm, their mysterious leader, has his own agenda. When Storm backtracks on his promise to rescue Margot, Lucy takes her fate into her own hands and sets off for Russia with her True Born bodyguard and maybe-something-more, the lethal yet beautiful Jared Price. In Russia, there's been whispered rumors of Plague Cure.
While Lucy fights her magnetic attraction to Jared, anxious that his loyalty to Storm will hurt her chances of finding her sister, they quickly discover that not all is as it appears…and discovering the secrets contained in the Fox sisters' blood before they wind up dead is just the beginning.
As they say in Dominion, sometimes it’s not you…it’s your DNA.
  Read the first 6 chapters HERE:
https://www.wattpad.com/389011096-true-north-chapter-one
__________________________________