The Breeders by Katie French Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!

The Breeders
(Breeders, #1)
by Katie French
Published on August 1, 2012
Format: eBook ~276 pages
Tour Host: Kismet Book Tours
Genre: YA Dystopian

Book Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Riley Meemick is one of the world's last free girls. When Riley was born, her mother escaped the Breeders, the group of doctors using cruel experiments to bolster the dwindling human race. Her parents do everything possible to keep her from their clutches-- moving from one desolate farm after another to escape the Breeders' long reach. The Breeders control everything- the local war lords, the remaining factories, the fuel. They have unchecked power in this lawless society. And they're hunting Riley.

When the local Sheriff abducts the adult members of her family and hands her mother over to the Breeders, Riley and her eight-year-old brother, Ethan, hiding in a shelter, are left to starve. Then Clay arrives, the handsome gunslinger who seems determined to help to make up for past sins. The problem is Clay thinks Riley is a bender-- a genderless mutation, neither male nor female. As Riley's affection for Clay grows she wonders can she trust Clay with her secret and risk her freedom?

The three embark on a journey across the scarred remains of New Mexico-- escaping the Riders who use human sacrifice to appease their Good Mother, various men scrambling for luck, and a deranged lone survivor of a plague. When Riley is shot and forced into the Breeder's hospital, she learns the horrible fate of her mother—a fate she'll share unless she can find a way out.

Amazon - Lulu

“When the Breeders come for ya, there ain't no escape. They strap ya to a bed and all ya hear is the thud of your heart and the cries of your friends as they wheel ya down to hell. Then the doctors come. You squeeze your eyes shut and pray you can forget. But ya never do.” 

The Breeders sucks you in to a world that has been ravaged by a poison that made girls a rarity. In order to "save" the human race, so called doctors kidnap girls and inseminate them in order to give birth to more girls. But girls aren't the only ones who are being taken. Young boys are being taken by a group called Riders that torture them in the name of the Great Mother. If you can't handle violence of both the bloody and sexual types, then this book may not be for you. The Breeders is an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.

The setting is in New Mexico and the Wild West has reemerged after the near decimation of the human race. While I can picture everything in my head, I kept having to tell myself that this is the future and not the actual Wild West. The government is not spoken of, only Sheriffs and corrupt law men - so what happened to the make this new reality. While I do like the book and was able to figure out what had happened, the back story could have been fleshed out and then some things would make more sense.

The main character, Riley, is a girl who will stop at nothing to get her family back. While I found her to be believable in this setting, I found her a little too stubborn for her own good and because of that some people who she wanted to save were left behind because of her impetuousness. However, she is fiercely protective and fights with every ounce of strength that she has. Clay, her sort-of savior, is interesting. He is also protective and always tries to do the right thing, but his past and his guilt are his motivators.

There are some truly evil people in The Breeders and the author Katie French writes their characters so well that I wanted to take a gun and shoot them too. She is great at writing vivid scenes and is able to bring the story to life. I found The Breeders to be a very suspenseful and captivating book. The plot is set at an extremely fast pace and is a quick, but emotionally draining read. I will say that their could have been more editing done, but for the most part I was able to read over the typos and grammatical errors because the story went so quickly. There is non-stop action and Riley can't seem to catch a break as she is thrown from one terrifying scenario to the next. I did find the small bit of romance a nice touch. I like that it is not the theme of the book, but a sweet addition in the midst of everything.

I am a huge fan of Dystopian novels and The Breeders is one that I would recommend to people who want something that will keep them on their toes. There will be a sequel, but there isn't any real news on that front yet. The ending could have let it be a stand alone, but because of who Riley is, I feel that there will be many more injustices for her to fight. Just don't read it before bed like I did because my heart was racing so much that I couldn't fall asleep.

FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

 Nessa: A Breeders Story

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Katie French imagined herself an author when her poem caught the eye of her second grade teacher.
In middle school she spent her free time locked in her room, writing her first young adult novel. Though her social life suffered, her love for literature thrived. She studied English at Eastern Michigan University, where she veered from writing and earned an education degree. She spent nine years teaching high school English.
Currently she is a school counselor, doing a job that is both one of the hardest things she’s ever done and the most rewarding. In her free time she writes, reads great books and takes care of her two beautiful and crazy children. She is a contributor and co-creator of Underground Book Reviews, a website dedicated to erasing the boundaries between traditional and non-traditional publishing. She lives in Michigan with her husband and two children.

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Games of Fire by Airicka Phoenix Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt

Games of Fire
by Airicka Phoenix
Published: February 14, 2013
Formats Available: eBook ~475 pages
Format Reviewed: eARC
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours
Buy Link: Amazon 

Book Blurb:
Sophie has enough problems in her life without Spencer turning her blood to fire, without his eyes freezing and burning her, without his hatred of her. Since his migration into the house next to hers, Sophia Valdez isn’t sure whether she wants to toss him under a bus or kiss that smirking mouth of his. But even as the temperature rises around them, leaping flames of passion, want and desire,everything either has ever known will be shattered by the lurking shadow hounding their every step, wanting revenge.

Spencer Rowth moves to the sleepy town of River Port with his mother and twelve year old sister, Suzy, to escape a deceitful father, an unfaithful girlfriend and a life crumbling much too fast for him to grapple onto only to be smacked upside the head by the last thing he wanted again. Sophie was everything he refused to want. Her temper, her wit, her laugh, her smile, the way her entire body goes up in flames under his hands are things he would rather slam a lid on and forget. Instead, he finds himself falling for the smart-mouth next door. But how long will he have before the evil chasing them catches up? How long before the very thing he never wanted becomes his only thread to sanity? And who is after them? What do they want and why do they want Spencer and Sophie dead?

    

This is my first book by Airicka Phoenix and I have to say I am impressed. When I started Games of Fire I thought it was going to be a paranormal romance type book, but it wasn't and that was a good thing because it was different, but no less exciting. The beginning, while it hooked me was very similar to Twilight and I'll tell you why. Girl meets boy, boy is a jerk. Girl is almost killed by a car, boy saves her. Girl tells boy, "You regret saving me, don't you?" But thankfully, this is where the similarities with Edward and Bella end and Spencer and Sophie's story begins. This is a love story with kick. Sparks fly every time Spencer and Sophie are together, no matter if they are arguing or kissing. Then add in a psycho stalker who wants to possess Sophie for himself and will stop at nothing to get her. Definitely a book I didn't want to put down!

The characters are well drawn and dynamic. Even creepy little Suzy who gives me the heebie-jeebies every time she was around. Can you say Children of the Corn? Actually, Spencer's whole family is broken in one way or another. Spencer is complex and has so many layers to get through to see the real boy hiding underneath. What I love is that nothing happens instantly and Sophie takes her time getting to know Spencer. My favorite statement by Sophie is, "You can have all of me or none of me," meaning that if they are going to be together it is mind and body and nothing in between. No insta-love here, only a real mature relationship that takes time and effort for it to work. Sophie is great and realistic character too. She has friends who are hilarious (the point system!) and does not ditch them at the first sight of a boyfriend. She has real parents and a regular family dynamic; meaning parents are in charge and not the other way around.

Ms. Phoenix's writing style is perfect for the Young Adult/New Adult genre. This is for those over 16/17 due to some seriously hot scenes. She is witty, funny, and can make a scene pop off the page. She also has a knack for creating suspense. The way the book is written is genius. Not only do we get to see the aftermath of the stalker's threats and attacks, but we get cut-aways into the head of the stalker, and the workings of the mind of the stalker gave me serious chills. And while I kinda thought I knew who the stalker was, I had to keep reading to find out if I was right!

The copy-editing was near flawless and I read an ARC. I was very impressed with the story that she wove. Each character had a story and everything happened for a reason - even the smallest of conversations or glances. My only pet peeve was the ending, it was so abrupt. With the book being almost 500 pages, the ending was condensed into about 7% of the book. I wanted more explanations and more 'what happens nexts' but, overall I was extremely happy with Games of Fire. I shall be reading all her books as soon as my TBR pile allows!

Smoking hot read! Almost breathless.

FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

“I won’t bite,” he said, probably meaning it as a joke.

“Oh if only that were my only problem,” she sighed under her breath.
“What?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.”

She took his hand, slipping her icy fingers through his. The electric sparks tore a fiery path down the length of her arms, nearly melting the ice beneath their feet. She shivered involuntarily and felt his fingers flex.

“All right?” Had his voice always been so husky?
She dampened her lips. “Yeah…” The single word died in her throat as she was pulled towards him. Her heart tripped. Her lungs stilled. The heat of his body rushed over her with the subtle scent peppermint, leather, spices and smoke.

A soft mist blew around them. Raindrops glistened in his hair, shimmering under the pale glow of the light post. His eyes were shadowed beneath wispy fringes, but the silver in them glinted like pools of liquid mercury. Her breath caught. It must have made a sound because his fingers tightened. His shaky exhale caressed her flushed face.
“This,” he whispered so quietly she almost didn’t hear him. “Is why you are so bad for me.”

Airicka Phoenix is the best-selling author of the Touch Series with short stories in Whispered Beginnings: A Clever Fiction Anthology and Midnight Surrender Anthology. When she's not hammering away at the keyboard, she can be found banishing pirates or crawling through the attic looking for lost treasure with her kids. She loves baking, gardening and reading. She also likes to travel and take pictures of everything she comes across. When asked, Airicka describes herself as a sarcastic basket case that has an unhealthy addiction to chocolate, old movies and really bad jokes. She loves to laugh, make friends and write. If she could have one wish granted, it would be to spend one day as a fly-on-the-wall inside Stephen King's mind. If she could have two wishes granted, she would ask for a castle dedicated entirely to her overwhelming collection of books.
For more about Airicka, also on how to win giveaways, read author interviews and reviews, visit her on all her sites.

Website  -  Twitter - Facebook - FB Airicka's Mystical Creations - Goodreads - Pinterest

Flight Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt

Flight
The Crescent Chronicles, #1
by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Published on August 16, 2012
Genre: Mature YA, New Adult Paranormal Romance
Format Reviewed: eBook ARC ~55,000 words

Synopsis:
Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

Amazon (Kindle) | B&N (Nook) | Smashwords 

My Thoughts:

Allie has just graduated from high school and is staying in New Orleans working at her father's new hotel for the summer before she is off to Princeton in the fall. And this summer was going to be different. She has sworn off men after a disastrous breakup and just wants to have some fun with her friend Jess. However, after meeting the incredibly sexy Levi and his friends, Allie has to decide if that is what she really wants.  Allie was staying strong and resisting Levi's charms until one night of partying that went too far that made Jess go back home. Levi has worked his way into Allie's life and when he shares a secret with her, Allie can't control her feelings anymore and she is now part of a reality she had no idea existed. 

I wanted to hate Levi, I really did. I wanted Allie to stay strong and resist him...and then, I didn't. Levi is a mysterious, arrogant and seriously hot guy and he knows it, which just makes him just that much more infuriating. I love how Allie is able to catch him off guard and match his over the top come-on's with an ice-cold nonchalance. They are a great match for each other because they keep each other on their toes and challenge one another. I also like that there is no insta-love, lust yes, but not love or even like. Allie learns to tolerate Levi and their feelings grow from there. Allie makes Levi work for her trust and this is something I wish I saw more of from all my favorite female characters.

The trickling of information brought in throughout the story flows in a way that makes it so you can't put it down. There are big revelations at key points, but nothing is ever given away completely. I kept thinking I knew what was going on, that I had it figured out, but nope, I was wrong. I am not going to give away any secrets, but the supernatural elements were cool. I love the idea of a secret society run by supernaturals and the hierarchy is enlightening. I also like that there are creepy elements and that not everything or everyone is what they seem; evil exists in both worlds.

I can't express in words how much I loved this book! Alyssa Rose Ivy has created a story wrought with romance, suspense, secrets, and possibilities. Flight is unique and captivating and has made Alyssa one of my favorite authors! I can't wait for Focus, book two in The Crescent Chronicles to be released. I can't believe we have to wait until 2013!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

***Excerpt***:

Closing my eyes, I tried to block it all out. Convinced I was about to die, I was only partly aware of his arms around me.

“You said you wanted an adventure,” he said quietly, teasingly, as he tightened his hold.

My stomach dropped out as an intense and complete feeling of weightlessness engulfed me. The wind stung my face as memories flooded my mind. I thought of my parents, of all the things I wanted to tell them but never did, my friends from home, and the experiences I longed for. Quickly my thoughts changed to more recent memories, to Levi.

“Open your eyes,” he whispered, somehow knowing my eyes were clenched shut.

Against my better judgment, I listened. The scream died in my throat as we hurtled toward the water that had seemed so beautiful from the roof above.

About the Author:
Alyssa Rose Ivy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write.

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Of Blood and Bone Release Week!

Of Blood and Bone
(The Minaldi Legacy, #1)
As a little boy, Luca Minaldi was told he was a monster.As an adult, he knows it is true.He lives in Malta, a fairytale-like place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s darkest of secrets is the best kept of them all.Eva Talbot arrives in Malta for the summer to finish up her doctoral dissertation. When she meets Luca, a mysterious and handsome shipping tycoon, there is an instant attraction, a disturbing and beautiful energy that she has never felt before. But she senses the darkness that lives within him. Eva is hired to care for his mother, who suffers from dementia, but it is Luca who Eva will eventually risk everything to save. Her life becomes a swirling chaos of darkness and romance, of secrets and mystery. And the question that emerges will become the most important answer of all.Can she save Luca from the darkness that plagues him without losing herself?The answer is a matter of life or death.








Prologue (In its entirety!)

Luca is gone. 

I know it before I open my eyes.  The weight of his body next to me is absent, the scent of him gone from the air.  I sigh, reluctant to begin this day because I know what it holds for me.  I know that if Luca is truly gone, I will spend every hour frantically searching for him.

Gazing around, I find my large suite empty.  Everything is neat and tidy and exactly in place. Each lavish piece of furniture is polished with lemon oil, each extravagant painting on the wall carefully dusted.  Each expensive vase, each crystal lamp, each woven rug is perfectly aligned and exactly how I left it.  Something is different, though, somehow changed in this room that I fell asleep in last night.

My sleepy eyes do another quick sweep, and this time I notice the balcony doors standing wide open while the bright morning sun streams onto the mahogany floor and the white sheer curtains on either side flutter in the sea breeze. 

This is the difference and it slams into me like a concrete wall.  I didn’t fall asleep with those doors open. I would never do that now, not since I know what dangers lurk in the world, the darkness that can find me.

Immediately after I notice this inconsistency, I also see that across the room, my bedroom door is tightly closed and the bolt is still slid firmly in place.

Just as I left it last night.

My heart stutters as I realize what this means. 

While I slept, Luca must have climbed from my balcony ledge to escape.  But the drop is well over thirty feet and there are sharp rocks at the base of the house.  There are gardens directly behind, but beyond that, there is a cliff with a hundred foot drop to the sea below.  

I leap naked from bed and rush to the balcony’s edge.  My bare breasts press against the cold railing as I peer down at both the gardens and what I can see of the pristine sand beyond that.  Luca is not lying broken and bleeding there, so I try to still my racing heart.  I search the beaches and craggy landscape on both sides of my periphery and I still do not see him.

He somehow survived the fall.

A hundred different things run through my mind, but the one that stands out in the forefront is the image, the possibility, that he managed to drag himself, broken and bleeding, to a different location, somewhere where he is even now waiting for me to help him. 

Because I promised. 

I promised him that I would help him, that I would keep him from the darkness that plagues him, that I would heal him. 

That I would save him.

I swallow hard and as I do, I realize that my throat is tender from Luca’s hands last night. I know that if I look into a mirror, there will be a bruise in the perfect formation of his long fingers around my neck. 

As I softly touch it, I remember his face from the night before.  It was shadowed in the moonlight and like always, he was beautiful.  Luca is handsome in a very classic and beautiful way, dark hair and cut cheekbones.  His bangs are long and almost hide his magnificent dark eyes until he shakes his hair away.  And when he does, the sadness that dwells there is apparent to anyone who knows him.

But last night, I didn’t need to look into his eyes to see that his darkness had returned.  I knew it from the moment he stepped into my room.

I can always see it.  It changes everything about him, even the way he walks and moves.  The way he stands.  The way he speaks.  The way he feels. 

He is an entirely different person when the darkness comes. 

These are the moments that he dreads with every breath when he is himself; the moments when he is no longer Luca.  In these moments, he is filled with thoughts that are no longer his own. 

He cannot help it, he cannot control it, he cannot stop it.

But I promised him that I would.

And I have failed him.

I scramble to my wardrobe and pull on clothing, choosing a shirt with a collar, hoping to somewhat hide the bruise on my neck.  The only other people here at Chessarae are servants, except for Luca’s mother in her lonely wing.  But she is locked in so she never comes into the main part of the house.  No one will see me but the staff.  And they are used to seeing strange things.

I rush through the house, through the extravagant corridors and over the marble floors, the rich and polished surroundings that I would never have dreamed I would find myself in.  I don’t notice it now though.  It has faded into an insignificant corner of my mind.  All that matters now is Luca.

 I make my way out the back of the house, through the gardens, through the English maze that is perfectly manicured and challenging to maneuver.  I manage it with ease, however.  I memorized its twists and turns on a happier day.

The weather is stormy today and the normally cheerful and bright Maltese sky is gray and thunderous. I can feel the electricity in the air, snapping the ends of my long hair with static.  This day looks as foreboding as I feel, which I hope is not a sign.

I search through the maze.  I search the beaches as my feet sink into the cool sand.  I search the gardens with their exotic and sweet-smelling blooms and then I search the garage.  His car, a shiny black Jaguar, is still in its slot and its hood is cool to the touch.  Luca has not driven it today.  I search the front lawns and the back.  And just when I begin to panic, to fear that he has not returned to Chessarae after all, I search the stables.

As I walk through the heavy wooden doors, the smells of the horses and the hay and the saddle-soap and leather assail my nose and I breathe them in.  I’ve always loved this place.  It is peaceful here.  And I suddenly know, because I can feel it, that Luca is here. 

I walk quietly down the main corridor, staring into each stall as I pass.

And finally, finally, when I come to the very last stall on the left, Luca is there and my breath hitches in my chest, freezing on my lips.

Luca is slumped on the ground, in the corner, his expression desolate. He is beautiful even here, even in this condition, and I cannot help but stare down at him as tears fill my eyes.   

He is dirty and his clothing is torn.  There are smears of blood on his shirt, dried now to a rusty dark brown.  I swallow hard, trying not to imagine where the blood has come from. 

Luca’s face is tortured as he stares up at me, his head in his hands.  There is blood on his fingers. 

“It happened again.”

His words are low and husky and rough, yet elegant at the same time.  He is always refined, always perfect, always Luca. 

His self-loathe is apparent and it breaks my heart. 

I nod mutely because there are no words for this moment.  I bend to help him to his feet.  At 6’3”, he towers above me.  He is slender and strong and masculine.  He is lithe and powerful, beautiful and graceful.

And sometimes, on his very darkest days, he is a depraved killer.

But I have gotten ahead of myself.  I should begin at the beginning.  If I don’t, you will never understand.  

About Courtney Cole

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Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could.
She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. Every Last Kiss is her debut novel and she followed it with the rest of The Bloodstone Saga (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath and My Tattered Bonds).Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

Dancing with Death Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!

Again, thank you to A Tale of Many Reviews for the opportunity to be a part of the Dancing with Death Tour. Also a big thank you to Andrea Heltsley for stopping by and for providing the book to read and review. Make sure to check out the Linky below to see the other stops on this tour. 

Dancing with Death
(A Dancing Book #1)
by Andrea Heltsley
Published: August 10, 2012
Format Reviewed: ARC eBook

Synopsis:
Murders have plagued the woods in the past, making them a place of fear. Eighteen year old Wendy and her friends become worried when a new string of murders come to their high school. After a horrible car accident, Wendy returns to school, going from wallflower to popular overnight. As the murderer edges closer to Wendy she realizes things are changing. She is afflicted with nightmares that are all too real and she herself is undergoing unnatural changes. Learning the truth about her past, could be the key to saving her future.

Amazon     Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

"Run Wendy. Run as fast as you can. Death is coming and he is coming for you."

Wendy, a regular high school girl, is in a terrible car accident. If not for the mysterious stranger that rescued her - and her new boots - from the car, she would be a goner. But should she have died? After being plagued by nightmares and receiving cryptic messages from someone - or something - Wendy starts to think so. Not to mention that there is a murderer on the loose who just might have his sights on her. Wendy has to figure out what is going on and fast. 

This is the third book that I have read by author Andrea Heltsley and I have to say she has a great imagination! When I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. While this is not my favorite novel from her, there are some things I really like about Ms. Heltsley's writing. For example, there is constant theme in all her books of the strength of friendship how every main character has a BFF sidekick that never waivers from their side. Also, all of her characters are strong females and use their individuality to their advantage.

In general, I am getting a little wary of the love triangle aspect in all of YA fiction. In Dancing with Death, the triangle is between a new kid that Wendy is immediately drawn to and the hot new school librarian. And even though Wendy is 18, I felt uneasy about the latter match - too student/teacher. But, I can't deny that the scenes between Wendy and her men weren't steamy. Some other things that I did not like was that the dialogue was forced in some places, and the characters, while fun, didn't have much depth. They were stereotypical teenagers and the girls spent a lot of time thinking and talking about what to wear. 

What I love about Dancing with Death is the paranormal twists and the mystery woven throughout the book. Who is the murderer? Why do they want Wendy dead? And what about her dreams, what do they mean? And the revealing of Wendy's family's secret history is a surprise and I am looking forward to seeing how that is expanded upon in the next book. Overall, I would say that this is a good start to a new series and those who like YA/Upper YA Paranormal Romance should add it to their shelves. 

★ ★ ★ ★

FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

Author Andrea Heltsley

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Dreamwalker Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!!

Thank you A Tale of Many Reviews for the opportunity to be a part of the Dreamwalker Tour. Also a big thank you to Andrea Heltsley for stopping by and for providing the book to read and review. Make sure to check out the Linky below to see the other stops on this tour.

Dreamwalker

Persephone's League of Immortals, #1

by Andrea Heltsley

Published May 23, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, eBook ~434 pages

Synopsis:

Noel Kennedy lost her boyfriend, her job and her dignity all in one week. Then something happened and she began to dream of this stranger she had never met. She couldn’t resist the man of her dreams named Jared especially when she met him in real life. Entranced, she slowly unraveled a world she was meant to stay out of. Her life was not what she thought it was once a sexy Boone stepped into the mix and shook things up. Can she escape a life of servitude or immortality for a chance at love?

Amazon      Barnes & Noble      CreateSpace 

My Thoughts:

First, let me say how gorgeous this cover is! I have a love affair with all of Andrea's books. The cover makes me swoon; it sparkles and is ethereal and I just want to pet it. Another beautiful creation by PhatPuppy. 

After having read another book by Andrea Heltsley, I was hesitant going into Dreamwalker. Boy were my fears unfounded! While I couldn't get into the last book, I was instantly sucked into Noel's story. Just within the first chapter Noel's heart is broken and I felt every bit of her hurt. Noel is told by her boyfriend - of three years - that she just isn't the one for him. He wants someone more adventurous and she just doesn't cut it. Understandably, Noel spirals into a deep depression, even ditching work. One night Noel starts having these really crazy, vivid dreams. A sexy man who is the epitome of her dream man. She even thinks that she sees the man in her dreams on the street, but when she looks again, he is gone but a coin is left in his place. That coin turns out to be a magical item of protection. One that Noel needs, but why?

Then, while Noel and Autumn were out blowing off steam, Noel meets him, Jared, the man from her dreams. But then he disappears. Then a new totally sexy man, Boone, (Jared's partner) shows up and asks Noel if she knew where Jared went. After that the plot really starts to unfold. Not to mention a love triangle, that will have you choosing teams! Noel is part of something bigger and more important than she could have ever imagined. And her dreams? Not really dreams, but real events. She is a Dreamwalker and can enter into people's dreams. A whole new world is opened up and supernatural creatures are everywhere and they are out to get her because Persephone wants her for her Dreamwalking abilities. 

Noel is not who she thought she was either. Not only is she a Dreamwalker, but she has a life that doesn't remember because her memories were wiped by a witch (who is someone she knows) when she was just a girl. She also has a sister that she hasn't seen in years and is reunited with. Along with some rogue agents from Persephone, Noel, her sister and the witch work together to win their freedom from the underworld and from becoming a slave to Persephone herself. Wow! There is so much going on in this book and I could not put it down until I knew what was going on!

There were a few quirks that could have been fixed; grammar issues, POV changes were not clear, and dialogue was lacking. Another problem is that characters are not fully fleshed out, but they were so much better than the first book I read by the author. Despite the cons, I still felt that Andrea created a very imaginative twist on the Persephone myth. Where most of them are focused on Persephone's plight, in Dreamwalker we see the Queen of Hell that she really is. I loved that there were so many types of supes used in the story: witches, fae, goblins, greek mythological creatures and so many more. I can't wait for more! I really found the imagery, especially that of the underworld, breathtaking. 

★ ★ ★ ★ ½

I am totally Team Boone!!

FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

About the Author:

I am a biology nerd who decided it was more fun writing than dissecting. I have written two novels and my third will be out this summer. I live on coffee and read like a robot. My husband and two italian greyhounds usually have to tear me away from the computer...imagine that. :)

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Dissolve Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Thank you A Tale of Many Reviews for the opportunity to be a part of the Dissolve Tour. Also a big thank you to Andrea Heltsley for providing the book for me to read. Make sure to check out the Linky below to see the other stops on this tour.

Dissolve
by Andrea Heltsley
Published: April 4, 2012
Formats Available: Paperback, eBook ~424 pages

Synopsis:
Everything seemed to be going right for Cora. She had a wonderful fiance, a great best friend and a fulfilling life. One day, a tragic event caused that life to crumble around her. She turned to her best friend in her time of need. They embarked on a search for answers, delving deeper into a web of magic and destruction. The closer they got to the truth, the more questions they had. To Cora, magic was the stuff of fairy tales. Immersed into a very different kind of world, the real storm was just beginning to take hold.
“It felt like I was nowhere yet everywhere all at once. I was invisible and completely panicked. The millions of pieces I had dissolved to drift on the breeze and away from my nightmares. It was kind of like floating weightless in a pool, perfectly relaxing. The warm breeze from the window embraced and soothed me. I let the air current carry me as far as it could through the summer city.”
“Defeated, I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths trying to relax myself. I pictured the dandelion in the park today and took a deep breath as to blow the fluffy seeds in all directions. I pretended I was light and fluffy and started to feel a tingling in my body. I began to feel as light as the dandelion seeds and soon I felt like mist floating. This time, I tried to keep myself in the room, swirling in a humid block.”

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Cover: I absolutely love the cover to Dissolve. I would buy the print copy just to have this on my shelf. Everything that Phatpuppy Art creates is amazing.

My Thoughts:
Cora was having a bad night. She was supposed to be out having fun dancing with her friends, but she ended up on the dirty floor of a public restroom, head spinning and stomach heaving. Not exactly what she had planned. She didn't even remember drinking that much, but if she felt this bad then she must have...right? Nessa, Cora's best friend, makes sure she gets home safely both thinking that sleep should help. However, when Cora awakens the next day, she doesn't feel any better. In fact, she feels worse - not a good thing when she is supposed to be meeting with her fiancé Tom and both of their mothers to go over wedding preparations. And things seem to be getting worse. After passing out, Tom takes her home and holds her while she rests. But when she closes her eyes, the worst nightmares come to life. Literally.

Cora finds Tom dead, blood everywhere and has no recollection of what happened. What makes matters worse is that somehow she disappears. Her body becomes particles; she dissolves and reappears at Nessa's completely naked and covered in blood. Not knowing what to do, the girls make a plan to run. But when Nessa is pricked with a needle and starts to have similar symptoms that Cora experienced, well needless to say, things just got weird. Now they are not only running from the police, they are running for their very lives.

The premise to Dissolve was like nothing I had quite seen before. It is a mix of magic and super powers. Think X-Men meets the Fugitive. The story was extremely fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. There was mystery, intrigue, and a little romance. I liked the relationship between Cora and Nessa. There are very few people who would do anything for one another and they are the ultimate BFF combo. There is also some unpredictable plot twists and the book starts out very differently than it ends. I can't really elaborate because I don't want to give anything away.

I had such high hopes for Dissolve, but it just didn't grab me like I thought it would. The concept for the story was great, but I wish that there was more back story. We are shoved right into the action without much character building. I wanted to see more of Tom and Cora's relationship and have a chance to get to know the characters. I never felt like Cora was really sad about Tom's death. I also never got that connection to the MC like I usually do so despite the fast paced plot, I felt the story dragging. There were a few editing issues, but nothing too distracting. The ending was a big cliff-hanger and questions will be answered in book two that will release in 2013. Overall, Dissolve is a good book and people who like action, adventure, science fiction, fantasy and something a little different should pick this one up.

★ ★ ★ ½

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FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

*****Giveaway*****

5 eBooks(INT) 2 Signed Copies (US/CA)

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Madly Series by M. Leighton Blog Tour: Series Review & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Madly Series Tour! This tour is brought to you by AToMR Tours. Thank you to M. Leighton for providing the books to review. Right now you can get the first eBook in the series, Madly, online for FREE!! There is also a tour-wide giveaway for some nifty goodies: SIGNED Paperbacks on Madly, Madly & Wolfhardt, and Madly & The Jackal, Swag pack, and a Madly t-shirt. US/CA only.

**Note: I am providing reviews for each book in the series thus far. Each book builds upon each other so if you have not read the previous book there may be spoilers just in the synopsis. However, I do not include spoilers of each book in my reviews because what fun would that be?

Madly
Madly series, #1 - a novelette
by M. Leighton

Synopsis:
Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.

In order to save her home, the lives of her family, and all of humanity, Madly must learn to wield her exceptional powers and recapture the Lore before it’s too late and all is lost. But Madly’s only help are her two best friends and the Sentinel, Jackson Hamilton, that threatens both her heart and her destiny. Madly has loved Jackson as long as she can remember, but he is the one thing even a princess can’t have. Can she resist love to become the queen she was fated to be? Or can she find a way to have both?

This novelette introduces you to Madly and prepares you for the quest of a lifetime.

My Thoughts:

This is a great introduction to the series. Bringing Christian mythology, Roman mythology, and a touch of the Brothers Grimm, M. Leighton has created a story that is riveting as well singularly unique. Madly James is a mermaid and a princess at that. She attends school in the small town of Slumber, a place where fairy tales and reality reside. When the unthinkable happens and Madly's home in the sea is compromised, she and her friends must race to find a way to return the Lore back to their prison.

I love Madly. She is a genuinely likable character. She is brave and courageous and will stop at nothing to help the ones she loves. Her best friend and roommate Jersey is a kick! Everything that comes out of her mouth is so random and had me giggling. Aiden is Madly's betrothed. He is of royal lineage and is the appropriate mate, but nothing ever is that simple... This leads me to Jackson, Jersey’s older brother, Sentinel for Atlas. All I have to say is OMG! He is hotness personified and has been Madly's crush since she was just a kid and the completely inappropriate choice. But that doesn't change the feelings that keep swirling through Madly's mind and body.

This is only a novelette and I have to admit that when it ended so abruptly I actually yelled at my eReader. M. Leighton has a knack for leaving off right when things are getting good. Thankfully, I already had book two waiting in the wings because I had to see what would happen next. I have to say, this book has made me a serious fan of M. Leighton's writing. She has a way with words that will leave you breathless!

Five Stars for Madly!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Madly & Wolfhardt

Madly series, #2

by M. Leighton

Synopsis:

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.

The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods. After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt’s obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden’s grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death. And now he’s back…with a vengeance and a bite that can infect others as well.

Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt’s descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth. But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart. Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt? Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves?

My Thoughts:

Picking up right where Madly left off, Wolfhardt begins at a frantic pace. Madly must find the Lore, Ulrich Wolfhardt and his descendant before he gets to the Strauss maiden's descendant. I love the way that M. Leighton brings together mermaids, werewolves and a whole cast of supernaturals that usually aren't combined. What is more, is that she does it well. Every detail is explained and believable to the progress of the story. I love the reinvented tale of Little Red Riding Hood! 

The main focus of Madly & Wolfhardt is finding the Lore and entrapping them in Madly's pearl to bring back to Atlas and it is exciting and pulse-pounding. But, at the heart of the story is the burgeoning relationship between Madly and Jackson. Jackson is infuriating in his aloofness at one moment and meaningful gazes the next. He is Madly's first, and only true love, and her girlish feelings and insecurities are very apparent. Every interaction between the two of them left my heart humming and my head swooning. The intensity of their feelings is vividly painted, yet restrained. There is nothing explicit, yet each scene left me - a married 30 year old woman - blushing and needing to stick my head in the freezer! 

However, Madly is still betrothed to Aiden, despite the fact that neither of them has actually linked to one another. In fact, Aiden has his eyes set on someone else all together. I am interested in finding out what this means for both Aiden and Madly and their potential future love lives. Again, M. Leighton's writing is exquisitely delicious. I can't get enough of her characters, especially Jackson - sigh. I also really like the expansion of powers that Madly is wielding. She is powerful and becoming a force to be reckoned with. I can't wait to read the third book in the series. Yes, we are left with another cliff-hanger. That seems to be consistent in all of M. Leighton's books, though. I am now a complete and total Fangirl of this series.

Madly & Wolfhardt earn a well deserved Five Stars!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Madly & The Jackal

Madly series, #3

by M. Leighton

Synopsis:

How deep does love run? Deeper than the ocean? Deeper than memory? Deeper than magic?

Following their plan to save Atlas, Madly and Jackson return the spirit of Wolfhardt to his prison beneath the sea. But even the best laid plans couldn’t account for the surprises they find. This time, Lore aren’t their only challenges.

Madly is special in ways no one could have guessed and dark forces seek to control her. They want her power, but first they must weaken her. They need her beaten. Vulnerable. Near death. And alone. But that task isn’t an easy one with Jackson at her side. The strongest of their kind, the only way to separate Jackson from Madly is to destroy his love for her, to erase it from his mind. And his heart.

Is it possible to steal Jackson’s love from Madly? Or is their love the only truly unbreakable thing?

My Thoughts:

This is my favorite book in the series thus far! This book is completely captivating and I could not put it down until I devoured every word. Madly and Jackson are now somewhat together and must journey to Atlas to help her family and all the inhabitants from complete decimation by a man and his monster. But that is just the beginning. Whomever the traitor is, has it out for Madly personally, and will stop at nothing to get to her. But death would be a welcome release from the pain that this Lore inflicts upon Madly. 

So many things take place in Madly & The Jackal. Madly and Jackson have finally admitted to their feelings and have made a commitment to each other. I can't tell you exactly what happens, but it is HUGE! They are blissfully happy, but in a second, all that is taken away. What is worse is that she can't/won't tell anyone about it. She wanted to keep her relationship with Jackson under wraps for the time being. I think she should have at least confided in Jersey. But despite the soul-crushing, heart-wrenching actions of Jackson, Madly stays (somewhat) strong. She is still determined to find the people who are responsible for releasing the Lore in the first place. I would have curled up in a ball and never come out of my room. 

Where in Wolfhardt the evil nemesis was the Red Riding Hood wolf, in Madly & The Jackal it is two sets of villains. The first is Rumple and the monster Leviathan who are terrorizing Atlas. The second is a version of the famed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde which is a really interesting spin on the old classic. And now there are musings of a Sea Witch who was thought only to be a legend, but is she really? So many questions are left without an answer and I can't even guess what M. Leighton has in store for Madly next. But I have come to expect and accept the cliffhangers...well, not really, but I'll get over it.

This book went from YA to Upper YA/New Adult and was intense - like needling a cold shower intense! Not to mention that I went through the whole emotional gamut: laughing one minute and on the verge of tears the next. Madly is growing up and becoming the woman and ruler that she is destined to be. Her powers are changing and she is finding that what she is able to do isn't quite normal for a mermaid - even a royal one. I can't wait until book four is released. As it is, there isn't even a cover for it yet, but I shall be stalking M. Leighton's site for any updates.  I LOVE the covers to these books. I can't wait to see what #4 will look like.

Madly & The Jackal is an outstanding book! M. Leighton is now one of my favorite authors.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★


Playlist for Madly & The Jackal
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FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of these books from the author for an honest review as part of a blog tour. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.

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About the Author:

I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller). I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can't be sure because I haven't met all of them). I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace. I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesn’t. I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint. I believe summer's too hot, winter's too cold and fall was made for football. I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best. But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.

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