Review: Sundered by Shannon Mayer

Sundered

Author: Shannon Mayer

Release Date: October 11, 2016

Publisher: HiJinks Ink Publishing

Nevermore Trilogy Anniversary Edition Book #1

ISBN13:  9781987933208

Genre: Fantasy

Review Copy Source: Author

"My name is Mara, and I want desperately to become a mother."
All of my dreams were dashed when the world was promised hope but instead became a place of danger, death . . . and monsters.

Living in a rural part of Canada, I thought life with my adoring husband was finally moving in the right direction. We had an idyllic home, friends, and plans for a future together.

The only thing missing, was the child we both so desperately wanted.

Hope came in the form of a single medical miracle. Yet the drug was not as it seemed and instead of healing, it beget a world of monsters.

Now we must find the will and strength to survive with only each other to hold onto.

But a deadly secret threatens our love and very survival ...

Author Warning: This book has a cliffhanger. Proceed with caution as you may fall off the edge screaming for more.

Even if you failed to read the book blurb for SUNDERED, you would know that the miracle drug  wasn't the miracle everyone thought it would be. SUNDERED ended up being a quick, easy flowing, read with danger and a sweet romance.

The story flowed nicely. It was a bit slow at some points, but it kept me interested. Mara and Sebastian were both sweet. They love each other a lot and it shows in everything they do. They have to work through some hard times, but seem to grow stronger as the book goes on even with everything that is working against them. There are two furry friends introduced in SUNDERED and I loved them. They were so in tune with the world and willing to do anything to protect their masters. I wish I could reach into the pages and bring them home with me.

I had a few complaints while reading SUNDERED. I thought there were some stupid mistakes made. When you are told that the shot you are waiting to get is being recalled for unknown reasons, you should probably not beg for one anyways then proceed to give it to yourself. You HAVE to know that it might be recalled for a very good reason. Common sense goes a long way. Another thing, maybe tell your wife your becoming one of the things that's outside your gate so she can prepare better. I found Mara to be extremely whiny at times. For good reason at a few points, but sometimes you just have to live and stop wallowing in self-pity.

There were a few issues, but at the end of SUNDERED—which ends on a major cliffhanger— wanted more. That's a win in my book.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

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

Interview + Giveaway: Gemina by Amie Kaufman + Jay Kristoff

UFI welcomes Author Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff . 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?

Good question! Jay used to be in a band (and he had looooong hair), and Amie used to work as a sailing coach!

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

We’re often on deadline, so when we get downtime, we get pretty excited. The list usually goes something like this: reading, seeing all the friends who thought we died because we went missing over deadlines, video games, board games, live music gigs. Oh, and sleeeeeeeep.

What is your Favorite part of writing?

Co-authoring is very different to writing something solo, which means it comes with different favourite parts. When it comes to co-authoring, we both love the fact that we can hand the book back and forth every day and get instant feedback. There’s nothing like writing a scene, and then finding out straight away that you punched the other one in the feels.

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

Not really – we can both write pretty much anywhere, any time. We often have to work while we’re on tour or on the road, so we’ve learned to be flexible. If we get our choice, though, we both prefer to write at home, hanging out with our dogs. (Our dogs think we have the best jobs ever, because they get to lie on top of us for hours while we don’t move.)

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

Can we call Ransom Riggs’s books paranormal? If so, he’s definitely on the list! Also lots of stuff by Sarah Rees Brennan. We’d add in Kiersten White and Laini Taylor’s work as well, and Victoria Schwab’s latest book, This Savage Song, is high on our to-read lists.

How would you pitch The Illuminae Files series to someone who has not heard of it before?

We like to describe Illuminae as ‘Battlestar Galactica meets Ten Things I Hate About You’, and its sequel, Gemina, is a little bit like ‘Die Hard meets Alien’. They’re action/adventure/thriller stories set in space, with lots of romance and explosions.

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that The Illuminae Files series is set in?

The series is set in our own world, but several centuries into the future. Humans have spread throughout the galaxy, jumping through hyperspace to cover vast distances in the blink of an eye. Our particular story starts with the invasion of a planet, and sees our characters run for their lives aboard a refugee fleet, with the enemy in hot pursuit.

Do you have a favorite scene in Gemina?

Aaaaah, that’s really hard! We don’t want to spoil too much, but there’s a fight between our heroine and a mercenary that takes place on a moving train, and it’s epic.

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

Our favourite is always whoever we’ve most recently written, because you end up falling in love with that character after you spend so much time together. So right now we love Hanna, heroine of book two, because she’s so totally kickass, and defies expectations in a lot of ways. And we love Nik, who seems like a bad boy on the surface, but has a loooot going on. As for the hardest… these books are such a joy to write, that’s difficult to answer!

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

Amie already has the Starbound Trilogy out, which is co-authored with Meagan Spooner, and starts with These Broken Stars. Jay has the Lotus War Trilogy, which starts with Stormdancer, and his most recent release is the first in The Nevernight Chronicle, Nevernight, which just came out in August! We’re also already signed up for a new series together, which will start when The Illuminae Files end.

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Amie Kaufman is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of young adult fiction. Her multi-award winning work has been published in 24 countries, and described as “a game-changer” (Shelf Awareness), “stylistically mesmerising” (Publishers Weekly) and “out-of-this-world awesome” (Kirkus). The Starbound Trilogy, co-authored with Meagan Spooner, began with These Broken Stars. Her latest series, co-authored with Jay Kristoff, began in 2015 with the international bestseller Illuminae. Raised in Australia and Ireland, Amie has degrees in history, literature, law and conflict resolution. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, their rescue dog, and an extremely large personal library.

Find Amie and her books

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

Jay Kristoff has managed to trick the world into thinking he's an author. His award-winning steampunk series, THE LOTUS WAR and the New York Times bestselling sci-fi novel ILLUMINAE, the first of a trilogy, are out now. A new fantasy series, NEVERNIGHT, arrives in 2016.


Find Jay and his books
Website / Goodreads / Twitter

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Gemina
The Illuminae Files #2

The highly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that critics are calling “out-of-this-world awesome.”

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

__________________________________

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Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Whitechapel Paranormal Society Books by E.J. Stevens

October is the perfect time to unveil the debut covers from the upcoming Whitechapel Paranormal Society series.  Keep reading for a chance to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card.

New Victorian Gothic Horror Series Set in London's East End.

The Whitechapel Paranormal Society is coming in 2017.  Until then, we have these gorgeous covers from Phatpuppy Art Studios and Sacred Oaks Press.

Eeper Weeper 

Whitechapel Paranormal Society #0.5

The great and prestigious man of science, Doctor Jameson Foster Hadley had somehow made a mistake. I wasn’t good and I wasn’t normal. His experiment had failed.

The tedium and terrors of Josephine "Jo" Hadley's existence within the stone walls of London's Bethnal Asylum are interrupted by a strange visitor, Cora Drummond, a woman who demands to interview one of the asylum's most insane residents. The patient's rantings include tales of ghosts and demons, but it is the bizarre, near-riotous muttering of prophetic nursery rhymes that follow Jo throughout the asylum wards that is most illuminating to Miss Drummond.

Eeeper Weeper, chimney sweeper. Had a wife, but couldn't keep her...

Days later, Jo and her adoptive father receive an invitation to attend an exclusive tea at the prestigious Whitehall Club. But the request for Jo's attendance is more than it might seem. She has caught the attention of a secret branch of government working directly for the queen.

Will Jo Hadley's unusual talent for inciting prophetic nursery rhymes prove useful to the crown? She is given one chance to demonstrate her worth to the Special Paranormal Research Branch, but this is one mission that even the most highly trained operatives might not survive.

Eeper Weeper is a prequel short story in the Whitechapel Paranormal Society series by award-winning author E.J. Stevens. One for Sorrow (Whitechapel Paranormal Society #1) takes place six years after the prequel short story Eeper Weeper (Whitechapel Paranormal Society #0.5). The Whitechapel Paranormal Society series is a Victorian horror (dreadpunk) series set in London's East End.

Free Read:

Click to Read an Eeper Weeper ARC Book Excerpt

Release Date: June 2017

Add to Goodreads TBR.

Official Website: WhitechapelParanormalSociety.com

One for Sorrow 

Whitechapel Paranormal Society #1

Afternoon tea had served us up a demon.

It is six years since Josephine "Jo" Hadley joined the ranks of the Special Paranormal Research Branch and three years since the S.P.R.B.'s mission was terminated. After their superiors declare that the supernatural threat is quelled, Jo and her colleagues returned to civilian life with varying degrees of success. But when Jo, Edith, and Flan cross paths with a slogoth demon there is no escaping the terrible truth. The supernatural threat was never defeated.

One for sorrow. Two for mirth. Three for a funeral. Four for a birth. Five for Heaven. Six for Hell. Seven for the Devil, his own self.

Demons and necromancers went into hiding within the labyrinthine warrens of Whitechapel, but after three years of secretly feasting on the souls of London's East End they are back stronger than ever before. Will the Whitechapel Paranormal Society rise up from the ashes of the S.P.R.B., or will all of London become the Devil's playground?

One for Sorrow is the first full-length novel in the Whitechapel Paranormal Society series by award-winning author E.J. Stevens. One for Sorrow (Whitechapel Paranormal Society #1) takes place six years after the prequel short story Eeper Weeper (Whitechapel Paranormal Society #0.5). The Whitechapel Paranormal Society series is a Victorian horror (dreadpunk) series set in London's East End.

Release Date: September2017

Add to Goodreads TBR.

Official Website: WhitechapelParanormalSociety.com

Whitechapel Paranormal Society Cover Reveal Giveaway

We are giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky winner!

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  This giveaway is international.  Giveaway ends October 28, 2016.

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What do you think of the covers?

Release Day Blitz + Giveaway:The Scent of Salt and Sand by Kristin & P.C. Cast

The Scent of Salt and Sand 
The Escaped 2.5
Amazon / iBooks / B&N / Google Play / Kobo / IndieBound

In Amber Smoke and Scarlet Rain, acclaimed bestselling author, Kristin Cast, built a world in which the walls that separate Tartarus from the mortal realm have been breached, releasing every variety of evil into the world. In this novella, she sends her fans on a separate journey, one that will meet up with the rest of The Escaped series as it continues on its spellbinding journey.

The Sirens aren't evil by nature. Their song lures men in, and only by trying to procreate and continue their species do they reveal their true, monstrous nature. When some Sirens escape to the mortal realm, they hide out in San Francisco, blending in as best as they can. They are on a mission: to find the ideal partner to mate with.

Melody is on the hunt, and when she meets Dean, she sees a target who will allow her to fulfill her purpose. What she doesn't count on is falling in love — a love that could destroy them both.

ADD THE SCENT OF SALT AND SAND TO YOUR GOODREADS SHELF!

PRAISE FOR THE ESCAPED SERIES

"With a unique twist on Greek mythology and heart-stopping action, Amber Smoke keeps you riveted to the very last page."

— Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"With the perfect mix of thrills and chills, along with characters who pop off the page and a gripping plot, this explosive new series is perfect for anyHunger Games and Divergent fans."

— RT Book Reviews

"Amber Smoke is thrilling and funny with just the right amount of magic. Brilliant!"

— Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"In Amber Smoke, Cast's wit, creativity and talent shine! I turned the pages at lightning speed, ready for more! What a tasty treat!"

—Gena Showalter, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

__________________________________

Kristin Cast is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who teamed with her mother to write the wildly successful House of Night series. She has editorial credits, a thriving t-shirt line, and a passion for all things paranormal. When away from her writing desk, Kristin loves relaxing with her significant other and their dogs and discovering new hobbies. Visit her online at www.kcastauthor.com. 

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P.C. Cast is an award-winning fantasy and paranormal romance author, as well as experience speaker and teacher. Cast's novels are New York Times bestsellers and have been awarded the Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers' Best, and the Laurel Wreath. Visit her online at pccast.blogspot.com.

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New Releases: 10/9-10/15

Tue. Oct. 11th

 Conspiracy of Ravens (The Shadow #2) by Lila Bowen

 Crimson Death (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #25) by Laurell K. Hamilton

 Darkness Savage (The Dark Cycle #3) by Rachel A. Marks

 Frost by M.P. Kozlowsky  

 Goldenhand (Abhorsen #5) by Garth Nix

 The Midnight Star (The Young Elites #3) by Marie Lu

 Scratch by Steve Himmer

 Unblemished by Sara Ella

Happy Reading!

Review: Legacy of the Demon by Diana Rowland

Legacy of the Demon

Author: Diana Rowland

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Publisher: DAW

Kara Gillian Book #8

ISBN:  075640827X

ISBN13: 9780756408275

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Review Copy Source: NetGalley

Sidelined demon summoner Kara Gillian has her hands full when dimensional rifts allow demons to cause widespread panic and destruction on Earth. These aren't the human-tolerant summonables she's known before, but demons from the far reaches of the demon realm.

Add three demonic lords with conflicting ambitions to the mix, and Kara has the perfect recipe for global disaster.

I won't lie, I was completely lost when I started reading LEGACY OF THE DEMON. You find out pretty quick that there was a lot of information missed between book 7, VENGEANCE OF THE DEMON and now. In fact, months have passed, Kara is part of a new team and her new job title is a pretty big deal—the president calls her big—, demons are causing major havoc due to the dimensional rift that happened at the end of VENGEANCE OF THE DEMON, and on top of that, she is dead set on finding Jill's daughter, Ashava, Zack and Ryan. 

There was a lot of action in LEGACY OF THE DEMON. So much that it really overpowered the storyline in some spots. I don't think I have ever said that before. We find out a lot more about the Elinor/Rowan story and it was pretty shocking to learn that Rhyzkahl isn't as bad as I thought he was. In fact, a lot of secrets were revealed from front to back of LEGACY OF THE DEMON.

I have no clue how I feel about Kara and Mzatal anymore. They don't have a lot of time together in LEGACY OF THE DEMON and it's hard to feel their connection when they aren't together. Then again, this is an urban fantasy not a paranormal romance. I just like romance.

I really miss the feel of the early Kara Gillian books, I really loved the police work and the investigating. I think LEGACY OF THE DEMON moved a little more in that direction, so maybe it will move even farther there in book 9. One can hope.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

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

Week in Review: 10/2-10/8

Books Received for Review

Bound by Shannon Mayer
Dragon Heartstring by Juliette Cross
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight by Darynda Jones

Books I've Read

Shadow Marked by Jasmine Walt
The Affiliate by K.A. Linde
Bound by Shannon Mayer
The Continent by Keira Drake

Reviews Posted

The Gender Game by Bella Forrest

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

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

* Wednesday- Promo for .99 Sale Blitz Through the Veil by Colleen Halverson

* Thursday- Guest Blog + Giveaway for Struck By Eros by Jenn Windrow

* Friday- Promo + Giveaway for All Your Wishes by Cat Adams

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