Happy New Year!!
In 2013 I.....
Read 240 books
Wrote 126 reviews
and
Posted a total of 443 blog posts
Here is to another excellent year to come!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Review: Ashes by Sarah Gilman
Ashes
Author:Sarah Gilman
Release Date: December 30, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Covet
ISBN: 1622661869
ISBN13: 9781622661862
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: PublisherAccidents happen for a reason...
Journalist Ambrosia Pellerin accepts an assignment involving the legendary phoenix, expecting, if nothing else, a little entertainment. Instead, she winds up pregnant—by a surprisingly human-looking firebird, Reece Bennu.
As the Phoenix prince, Reece is next in line to the throne and expected to marry a purebred royal. A common human such as Ambrosia is not in the cards. He swears, though, he’ll never be an absentee father.
As Ambrosia’s due date grows closer, so do the soon-to-be parents. But will their tentative love survive the prejudice of Reece’s grandmother, who will stop at nothing to tear the two apart?
We have so many great books that came out in December of this year and ASHES is right there at the top with many others. I wanted to read ASHES because it sounded unique and it was that and more.
Ambrosia stumbles upon the house that Reece is in as she is searching for help after she was attacked. She's surprised by Reece's sudden need for her to leave after he was so tender and caring taking care of her injuries and when the house Reece is in blows up as she is getting in his borrowed car she's horrified he didn't make it out. She has no clue how that event is going to change her life forever.
I really enjoyed Ambrosia's character. She's suitably skeptical when Reece explains who he is and how she got pregnant. She doesn't blindly jump on board but makes him prove himself. There is nothing worse in a story as having someone blindly and immediately believe anything that comes out of a strangers mouth so this made me like Ambrosia right away. I also liked Reece. He is honest from the beginning and although I thought he was a bit of an ass at times I understood where he was coming from and he redeemed himself in the end. The romance was well written and the couples struggles felt genuine.
The story was fast paced, smooth and kept me interested. I loved the world that ASHES takes place in. I loved the Phoenix storyline and everything that Sarah put into their history and way of life. I don't see anything that makes me think this will be part of a series and the ending completed the story nicely but I can't help wish there was more to read about Ambrosia and Reese.
I gave it 4/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
New Releases: 12/29-1/4
Monday Dec 30
Ashes by Sarah Gilman
Beg Me to Slay by Lisa Kessler
Tue Dec 31
Born in Blood (The Sentinels #1) by Alexandra Ivy
The Cormorant (Miriam Black #3) by Chuck Wendig
Deadshifted (Edie Spence #4) by Cassie Alexander
The Grendel Affair (SPI Files #1) by Lisa Shearin
Heart of Stone (Gargoyles #1) by Christine Warren
How to Run with a Naked Werewolf (Naked Werewolf #3) by Molly Harper
Love Your Entity (Entity #3) by Cat Devon
Othersphere (Otherkin #3) by Nina Berry
The Sharpest Blade (Shadow Reader #3) by Sandy Williams
Shatter (Phoenix Rising #4) by Joan Swan
Sunroper (Goddesses Rising #3) by Natalie J. Damschroder
Happy Reading!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Guest Blog & Giveaway: Chaos Bound by Rebekah Turner
UFI welcomes Rebekah Turner Author of the Chronicles from the Applecross series. Thanks for Joining us!!
Love Triangles: the Do's and the Dont's
Even though it's quite the cliché, especially in urban fantasy and YA, I don't mind a good love triangle myself, if it's done well. The first time I read a series with a good triangle in it was in the early Anita Blake books, between the werewolf Richard and the vampire Jean-Claude. There are other great ones out there, but there are also some clunky fails I've read in the past that make me shudder and pretend to throw my iPad across the room.
When I'm writing, there are certain devices I try to avoid if I want to bring the love triangle element into my story. So ... behold! A list I keep in mind when writing geometry influenced loving:
· Story is king. Your love triangle must to further the plot. Nothing is worse than having no reason for your Love Problem. If it's just some chick who can't decide between two cute guys, then she's just bragging. Fail.
· The triangle is predictable. If I can guess what's going to happen, or there's an obvious choice, then there's no tension. Why would I finish reading? The characters must have their own stakes in the story and also be appealing to the reader. It's a no brainer if one is eeeevil and one is a freaking saint.
· The decision should resonate with a deeper ideal. Make the decision a reflection of the life choices the protagonist is facing. Make the decision they have to make, have character developing elements.
· Don't make your protagonist a whinger. Someone who just goes on and on about it all. See first point about bragging. FAIL.
· Make the choice hard. Kind of relates to my second point. Engage the reader with interesting, three dimensional characters. Each character must offer the protagonist some different, something unique.
Keeping these elements in mind, I think a steamy triangle or even hexagon of mad hot love is always going to be a winner.
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Her vices include eating overpriced ice cream, over analyzing 80s action and horror movies and buying stationery she just doesn’t need.
Find Rebekah and her books
Chaos Bound Chronicles from the Applecross #2
Amazon
The long-awaited sequel to Chaos Born takes us back into the Applecross, where Lora faces increasing threats to her survival and her chance at love.
Lora Blackgoat — mercenary and smuggler — has only just recovered from the last threat on her life and hasn’t even begun to sort out the mess of having both a nephilim warrior and a reborn hellspawn as potential lovers. Work should be a refuge, but a job finding missing persons puts her in the crosshairs of a violent gang and a merchant with a taste for blood sport.
Reluctantly, Lora turns to the two men in her life for help. Roman — the nephilim — professes to be her soul mate and turns to her when he feels the darkness of nephilim madness descending. But though Lora is drawn to Roman, it is Seth, ex-lover and reborn hellspawn, who Lora must ultimately ask to protect those she loves. Can she trust Seth to save Roman and her adoptive family, or will this be a fatal mistake?
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International
Covet Release Day Blast
Covets have all the sexiness, emotion, and happily ever after that readers have come to expect and love from Entangled. They are firmly grounded in the contemporary world, but each novel brings in supernatural twists, breaking the contemporary and paranormal rules, alike. To find out more about their titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books you’ll be coveting next, visit the Entangled website and follow them on Twitter, LIKE their Facebook page, and join the Book Club.
Today I'm happy to be featuring Covet's December releases:
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Beg Me to Slay by Lisa Kessler
He’ll slay her demons, but it may cost her heart…
Four years ago Tegan Ashton was attacked. Determined never to be a victim again, she devotes her life to martial arts and self-defense. When her assailant returns to finish what he started, only one person can help her.
Gabe is a private investigator by day and demon slayer by night. After losing loved ones, he vows to defend people from a threat they don’t realize exists.
The relationship is supposed to be strictly business, but fighting demons together stirs up emotions they never expected. Turns out demon slaying is a breeze compared to facing their scarred pasts and even worse - hearts.
Ashes by Sarah Gilman
Journalist Ambrosia Pellerin accepts an assignment involving the legendary phoenix, expecting, if nothing else, a little entertainment. Instead, she winds up pregnant—by a surprisingly human-looking firebird, Reece Bennu.
As the Phoenix prince, Reece is next in line to the throne and expected to marry a purebred royal. A common human such as Ambrosia is not in the cards. He swears, though, he’ll never be an absentee father.
As Ambrosia’s due date grows closer, so do the soon-to-be parents. But will their tentative love survive the prejudice of Reece’s grandmother, who will stop at nothing to tear the two apart?
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Week in Review: 12/22-12/28
* Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey- Publisher
* Salt by Danielle Ellison -eARC- Netgalley
Books I Read
Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey
Three by Kristen Simmons
Temptation by Fire by Tiffany Allee
Salt by Danielle Ellison
Reviews Posted
Born in Blood by Alexandra Ivy
Angelbound by Christina Bauer
The Spider by Jennifer Estep
Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrew
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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?
*Monday- Guest blog and Giveaway for Snow White and the Vampire by Marina Myles
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* Did you know you can follow UFI on these other sites?
* 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, December 28, 2013
Early Review: Born in Blood by Alexandra Ivy
Born In Blood
Author:Alexandra Ivy
Release Date: December 31, 2013
Publisher: Zebra
The Sentinels Book #1
ISBN: 1420125141
ISBN13: 9781420125146
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: In a stunning new paranormal romance series—even edgier than her bestselling Guardians of Eternity books—New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Ivy lures readers into the dark, seductive world of the Sentinels—humans outcast by their hidden abilities, treading the line between life and death, good and evil, pleasure and pain…
Born In Blood
Sergeant Duncan O’Conner has seen it all before. A beautiful erotic dancer is found murdered in her home—no suspect, no motive. But there’s one clue: she’s missing her heart. It’s enough to make the hard-bitten Kansas City cop enlist the help of a necro—one of the dead-channeling freaks who live in the domed city of nearby Valhalla. It’s a long shot, but desperate crimes call for desperate measures.
Unlike the other “high-bloods” in Valhalla, Callie Brown considers her abilities a gift, not a curse. But when she reads the dancer’s final thoughts, she senses a powerful presence blocking her vision. This is no ordinary homicide. This is the work of a legendary necromancer who controls souls. A ravenous force that will put Callie’s skills to the test, O’Conner’s career at risk, and both their hearts on the line…literally.
I can't put my finger on why but I had a hard time getting through BORN IN BLOOD. I am sure typing out my review will make it clear to me. It was one of those books that you want to finish reading but you find yourself skipping over a few parts to get through it faster to find out what happens in the end.
I found Duncan to be a little too pushy at times but he was suitably protective when needed and tolerant of those in Callie's life (except Fane of course). Callie comes off really fragile and quite but hides a strong woman underneath. The two work well together and make a believable couple. The secondary cast of characters seemed to be the ones who kept me reading though. The world building could have used more explanation and it felt like we were always being cut short on information that we needed to finish a scene. The villain of the story just annoyed the heck out of me. I skipped most of his dialog.
By the end I didn't really feel like I was emotionally invested in the main characters. The events of the story did however bring out emotion in me so I am giving the story a little more star power because of that. I don't think I will go out of my way to pick up book 2 but I will look into who the main characters of the story will be in case that changes my mind.
I gave it 3/5 stars
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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