Promo: The End of Magic by Amber Benson

The End of Magic
The Witches of Echo Park #3

In the third in the “spellbinding” (Seanan McGuire) series from the author of the Calliope Reaper-Jones novels, magic has been loosed upon the world—and the consequences could destroy all of humanity, magical and non-magical alike...

Lyse MacAllister used to be like everyone else—blissfully ignorant of magic, of the dire battles being fought in shadows and secrecy. But that was before her Aunt Eleanora died, leaving her in control of the Echo Park coven; before she found herself in the middle of the witches clash with the anti-magic zealots known as the Flood; before her blood sisters turned against her... 

As the Flood begins turning humans across the globe against the witches, Lyse must find a way to regain the trust of her former magical family and once again unify them. Because the final battle between good and evil is looming—and if the witches don’t stand against it together, all of humankind could be lost...

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Amber Benson cocreated, cowrote, and directed the animated supernatural Web series Ghosts of Albion with Christopher Golden, which they followed with a series of novels, including Witchery and Accursed, and the novella Astray. Benson and Golden also coauthored the novella The Seven Whistlers. As an actress, she has appeared in dozens of roles in feature films, TV movies, and television series, including the fan-favorite role of Tara Maclay on three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Benson wrote, produced, and directed the feature films Chance and Lovers, Liars and Lunatics. She's also the author of the Calliope Reaper-Jones novels, including The Golden Age of Death, How to be Death, and Serpent's Storm.

Find Amber and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

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New Releases: 5/7-5/13

Tue. May 9th

 The Berlin Project by Gregory Benford
 Blood Kissed (Lizzie Grace #1) by Keri Arthur

 Brave New Girl by Rachel Vincent
 Deadmen Walking (Deadman's Cross Trilogy #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon 
 Killing Gravity (The Voidwitch Saga #1) by Corey J. White
 Tangled (Dark Protectors #7.8) by Rebecca Zanetti

Happy Reading!!

Review: Snared by Jennifer Estep

Snared

Author: Jennifer Estep

Release Date: April 25, 2017

Publisher: Pocket Books

Elemental Assassin Book #16

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.

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

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* 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

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

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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.

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**

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Cold Reign

Author: Faith Hunter

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.

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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

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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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.

 

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.”

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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

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Newsetter | Amazon Author Profile

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