Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Review: Eighth Grave After Dark by Darynda Jones

Eighth Grave After Dark
Author: Darynda Jones
Release Date: May 19, 2015
Publisher: St. Martins Press
ISBN:   1250045657
ISBN13: 9781250045652
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher
With twelve hellhounds after her, pregnant Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Both metaphorically and literally since she is now roughly the size of a beached whale. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.

Charley’s been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn’t know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he’s near, but naturally he swears he’s fine.

While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they’ve accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life….
Devastated.. I am absolutely devastated that I will have to wait so long for book 9.

My emotions are up and down after reading EIGHTH GRAVE AFTER DARK and I am having a real hard time writing this review because to tell you why they are all over the place, I would have to give away spoilers, and I really don't want to do that. SO, please know that I will try to make as much sense as possible without spoiling anything, but somethings you might not get until you read the book.

EIGHTH GRAVE AFTER DARK was a bit slower than previous books in the series, but it was still an essential addition to the series. There are a lot of surprises and answers revealed. We get to witness Charley at the end of her pregnancy and the birth of Beep. All of our favorite and not so favorite characters are present and involved in different ways. I wish Charley and Reyes would finally trust each other. They have the love down, but they continue to hide things and get the other upset on a regular basis.

The pre-ending was the part of the book that left my emotions all over the place. In hindsight I know the events that took place were necessary, but as a mother I HATE when books do this. HATE it. It usually tends to ruin them for me, but I love this series so much I can't not read them anymore so I have to try and look past it and hope that it doesn't last long, because I just won't be able to take it if it does. NOW the events that took place AFTER the pre-ending, UGGH NOOOOO, not a total cliffhanger, but close enough. Ok I will stop confusing you now. THE DIRT ON NINTH GRAVE has a release date of January 5, 2016 and that seems so far away.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Monday, May 18, 2015

Guest Blog & Giveaway: Chaos and Moonlight by A.D. Marrow

UFI welcomes Author A.D. Marrow. Thanks for Joining us!!

Hi everyone out there in reader land! My name is A.D. Marrow and I am the author of Chaos and Moonlight, the first book in The Order of The Nines series. Taris, the hero of book one and legendary life-­‐saver, agreed to grab a cup of coffee with me to chat about life, love and ultimately what it is that makes him tick. 

Thanks for carving out some time for me today, guy. 

Legendary life-­‐saver?

Well, it’s true, isn’t it? 

I wouldn’t say legendary though. That’s a bit lofty. 

I didn’t realize modesty was your strong suit. 

I didn’t realize over-­‐exaggeration was yours. 

I’m a writer, Taris. Let’s get with the program, here.

*Taris gives me a wink as he takes a sip of his coffee and I’m immediately thankful that we are both in long-­‐term, committed relationships. Gah, those eyes.*

So, questions. You wanna get to it? 

Yes. 

Fire away. 

So, tell us a little bit about your story.

…but you know the story. You wrote it. 

But the readers might not yet. Geez, guy. Help me out here. I’m trying to get more ladies to love you. 

I already have a beautiful lady, thank you. 

*He smiles again and there’s a brief glint of fang that peeks out. Melt. Like. Buttah.*

Because I love you, I will cooperate.  Um, I’m 801 years old. Had a birthday recently. That makes me the oldest living vampire. Let’s see. We were basically dying out until I saw a TV interview of my lovely wife-­‐to-­‐be where she said she developed an anti-­‐rejection thing that would prevent donor patients from rejecting organs. That it happened to work for vampires was a bonus. We got together, some sparks flew, some lives were lost. There’s the story. 

*I’m doing my best not to snort out coffee at this point. He’s so nonchalant about the whole thing. The second I manage to swallow, his hand slides across the table and covers mine*

How are you doing, by the way? Things okay now? 

*I can’t answer him because there is a sudden flood of unshed tears choking in my throat. I know he’s talking about all of the years that he watched over me when I was fighting my own monster. I simply nod.*

Good.  You know I can’t leave you behind. 

*It’s this constant protector side of Taris that makes me love him, even fifteen years after I first met him. I regain my composure and move onto the next question*

Tell me a little bit about Sarah.

*He smiles again and those gorgeous amber-­‐colored eyes of his seem to light up. He brushes a long lock of hair out of his face*

She’s magic—everything about her. Just…I thought I’d seen all of the amazing things that this world had to offer until I met her. I thought I knew what completion was but she sasses her way in and BOOM. Everything falls apart and rebuilds itself bigger and better. I can feel her running through my veins every minute of every day and it’s amazing. You know, how you
feel when something bad is happening and you wish with all of your heart that someone or something would come along so that you can grab ahold and anchor yourself? 

I may know a bit what that feels like, yeah. 

That’s how I feel when I think about her. I was so bad off that I didn’t know how to save myself but after she showed up, I felt like I could do anything because I knew she had my back. 

*He stops talking and squeezes my hand. It finally dawns on him that yes, I do know what that feels like because Taris was that anchor for me.*

She’s my…me, I guess. 

That doesn’t make any sense. 

It does to you. 

This interview is very confusing.

But it’s honest, and that’s what readers want, isn’t it? An honest story, no matter how fantastical it may seem. 

*I clear my throat*

So what is next for the two of you or for The Nines in general? 

I’d hate to say you have to read it, but that’s the only way I can do it without spoilers. I will tell you that there will be a wedding soon. 

Yours? 

Not telling. 

Why are you so complicated? 

*He leans forward, his dark hair falling into his face and through the curtain, he gives me a devilish grin*

Because you made me this way…
__________________________________

A.D. Marrow is a registered Sapiophile, a proud geek since before geek was chic, and believes that everyone deserves a happily ever after.

She lives in the foothills of North Carolina with her ridiculously hot and amazingly supportive husband, three kids that rock so hard there should be a national holiday for their awesomeness, two really stupid dogs and a plethora of Post-it notes with book ideas to last her until she’s 90.

Her childhood dream is realized in the fact that YOU have cause to read her bio. She hopes that one day, it lends her enough credibility to live out her second dream, which is to write an episode of Doctor Who.

Her personal mantra echoes that of Morticia Addams: “Normal is an illusion. What is normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.”

Find A.D and her books
__________________________________

Chaos and Moonlight
Order of the Nines #1
Amazon iTunes BN Kobo
 The Nines, an elite group of vampires, was established to stand as protection for their race. Fractured by centuries of betrayal and loss, the group is now little more than myth, its remaining members scarred and shattered.

Taris, the oldest living vampire, is no stranger to loss and heartbreak. He is all that holds the Nines together as they struggle to save themselves from total extinction.

Enter the beautiful and briliant Dr. Sarah Bridgeman, whose medical research has resulted in a breakthrough for both humans and vampires. Her work may be the salvation this weary band of guardians has been looking for.

Taris needs to reach Sarah and enlist her help—before those aligned against him can act. Can a vampire king convince a stunning young scientist to save a species that isn’t even supposed to exist?

For now, only one thing is certain: no science can explain the explosive chemistry between them.
Excerpt:

"It was several minutes before Sarah realized she wasn’t dreaming. The tall guy in her room, the creepy guy on the stairs, all of it had been real. After about five miles of telling herself to wake up, then looking at the tall guy who was driving, then pinching herself, then telling herself to wake up again, then looking at the tall guy some more, reality and the promise of a full-fledged panic attack set in.
   “I swear, if you let me go, I won’t tell anyone, okay?” Sarah finally found her voice. She had a moment where she thought that maybe this was a dream again, judging by the way the driver of the car looked. He was dark and mysterious, chiseled from head to toe—she should know, she all but crawled into him when they were running away from that other guy. She couldn’t make out much in the dark of the truck’s cab, but even in the faint light of the street lamps, something about this guy made her feel different. Maybe it was his voice—that deep, gravelly, slightly British voice. Maybe it was the smell that came off him, that man-mixed-with-leather-and-aftershave smell.
   “Who are you?” Her damned voice box rebelled against her and her question came out in a whisper.
   He was focused on the road, his eyes never leaving it as he maneuvered the giant diesel truck in and out of the one a.m. traffic. “I’ll explain everything when we get to where we are going. In the meantime, just sit back and try to relax, okay?”
   “Relax? Okay, yeah. I was taken out of my bed in the middle of the night by some guy I don’t even know, and then I was chased up the stairwell by a Sherman tank of a drag queen, and you tell me to relax? Yeah right, pal! Listen, seriously, whatever ransom you’re asking for, I can pay it. Just bring me to an ATM, and you can have whatever you want, okay? Just let me go.”
   “It’s not that simple, Dr. Bridgeman.”
   “The hell it’s not. Look, just let me out, and anything you want, it’s yours. Cross my heart, I won’t tell a soul you took me.” She made a little crisscross motion over her heart.
   “Like I said, Dr. Bridgeman, it’s not that simple. I don’t need your money. I need you to do a job for me. That Sherman tank drag queen apparently wants you to do the same job. I think, circumstances being what they are, you might want to consider working for me.”
   “Work, my ass.” Sarah mumbled to herself. “Who the hell are you, anyway? And what job could I possibly do for you? I’m a medical researcher, you dickhead.”
   He didn’t bother looking at her. He took in a deep breath and let out a long sigh.
   “My name is Taris. I’m an eight-hundred-year-old vampire, and I need you to use your medical research to help me stop the slow yet brutal extinction of a race of people who really do exist but are made into horror movie villains and romance novel heroes.”
When he was met with silence, he glanced over to see her passed out cold in the seat.
   “I knew it wouldn’t work.”
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Sunday, May 17, 2015

Week in Review: 5/10-5/16



Books Received for Review

Endgame by J.C. Daugherty- eARC- NetGalley

Books I've Read

 In the Air Tonight by Lori Handeland
Heat of the Moment by Lori Handeland
Smoke on the Water by Lori Handeland
Carpe Demon by J.C. McKenzie
The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter

Reviews Posted

Carpe Demon by J.C. McKenzie
Bruja by Aileen Erin
The Big Fix by Linda Grimes

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

* Tuesday- Guest Blog & Giveaway for The Werewolf Wears Prada by Kristin Miller

* Wednesday- Promo & Giveaway for Spelled by Betsy Schow

* Thursday-Interview & Giveaway for The Violet Hour by Andrea L Wells

* Friday- Promo & Giveaway for Destiny Finds Her by Miranda Lynn

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* 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.




















Saturday, May 16, 2015

Review: Carpe Demon by J.C. McKenzie

Carpe Demon
Author: J.C. McKenzie
Release Date: May 15, 2015
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Carus Book #3
ASIN:   B00W2WFFZE
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author
As an ambassador with the Supernatural Regulatory Division, Andy McNeilly is responsible for acting as the Liaison for the Vancouver Vampire horde. The problem? She detests the Vampire Master, and the SRD can’t discover the beast she keeps locked inside.

After a menacing Demon throws an important Vampire event into chaos, Andy finds herself sniffing out crime scenes to identify and locate the mystery fiend from the nether realm. What she learns chills her bones.

Threatened by the Master Vampire to deal with the Demon, Andy's complicated personal life doesn't make things easier. She's willing to risk her life and pride to keep loved ones safe. But how can she make a choice that will break one heart…and complete another?

Andy's past isn't all roses and daffodils as we know and in CARPE DEMON she comes face to face with some pretty hard memories. She has to work through not only her feelings, but how she will defeat one of the foes that made her life miserable all those years ago. You have a lot of action to look forward too.

The love triangle continues in CARPE DEMON and it's probably my least favorite part of the book because I hate the whole situation that Andy is put in. I wish the relationship between Andy and Wick was easier, but with him having Lucien controlling him, I just don't ever see them being able to be happy or comfortable together. As for Tristan, I still don't know how I feel about him. I don't think we have had enough one-on-one time for me to make an educated decision of if I like him with Andy or not. He SEEMS to really care for her, but I just see a giant mystery when it comes to him.

Although it was hard for Andy, I really liked the ending. Nothing will be easy for her going forward, but she is such a strong person and I think she will continue to handle her situation just like she has handled everything else that was thrown at her. The next book should be doubly interesting though!

I gave it 4/5 stars

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

Friday, May 15, 2015

Promo & Giveaway: Destiny Finds Her by Miranda Lynn

Destiny Finds Her
Destiny #1
Amazon / BN
Eyes closing in the warm sun, Jami wakes to find a new world far different from her own. Gone is the book store, her friends, and the comfort of home.

A Highlander waits, his voice calling to her across the depths of time. Stepping across the new world, she discovers a secret magic that lives within her, urging her on to the stranger who calls her across the centuries.

In a field of heather, Jami will discover Devlin and all that his hand can offer. From the echoes of eternity, Destiny waits for Jami. Or does it?
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Mother to two boys, 3 four legged babies, and wife to a loving husband who doesn't mind the extra voices in her head. Miranda grew up on a dairy farm in Illinois, but calls Portland, TN home now. She is an avid reader, coffee addict, and loves her day job working at the local public library. Though her true passion is in creating her own worlds, characters, and stories for her readers.

Find Miranda and her books
__________________________________
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Review: Bruja by Aileen Erin

Bruja
Author: Aileen Erin
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Publisher: Ink Monster, LLC
Alpha Girl Book #4
ASIN:   B00NX52A0C
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Review Copy Source: NetGalley


Claudia De Santos has always looked out for every witch but herself. She fought from the shadows as her coven turned dark, and with a little help from her half witch/half alpha werewolf cousin, Tessa, Claudia is doing everything she can to keep her friends and family in the light.

Now the coven has splintered into two factions: Luciana’s army of witches wielding dark magic, and Claudia’s few stragglers who fight with the wolves. War is coming, and it won’t be much of a battle if Claudia can’t find the spells to counteract Luciana’s demonic power.

The answers lie in ancient magic, and Claudia must journey to Peru to rediscover what the Inca mages knew. Fighting evil will require a pure spirit, but her quest is full of temptations, including a handsome Peruvian guide with secrets of his own.

As she struggles to gain the knowledge her friends will need in the coming battle, conflict rages in Claudia’s heart. Following through with her arranged marriage could bring hope and more allies to the side of good, but at the cost of her own happiness. Should Claudia stay on the same path of duty she’s always walked or risk it all—her life and the futures of all brujos—for a chance at something more?

I'm not going to lie, I was upset and thinking about not reading BRUJA when I found out that Tessa and Dastien's binding was going to be dragged out even longer than it already was with BRUJA's addition to the series, but I am happy to say I am glad I read it anyways.

We have met Claudia and we have gotten to know her a little bit from earlier books in the series, but BRUJA really let us dive into her personality and I have to say I really enjoyed it. She started off as one person and ended the book as a totally different STRONGER person with someone fantastic by her side. Lucas was protective yet willing to give Claudia her space from the moment he met her. They had a great chemistry and really complement each other.

BRUJA was fast paced with a lot of action and character development. I liked to location and I thought the author did a really good job of keeping the characters on track with their mission while developing their feelings and the relationship.

I am looking forward to being back in TEXAS with Tessa and her friends and I am really looking forward to seeing them take care of Lucinda, it has to happen eventually right? We did find out an interesting fact about the binding ceremony in BRUJA, so I have a few questions that I am hoping will be revealed in ALPHA UNLEASHED.

I gave it 4/5 stars

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