Book blast and Giveaway: Arbitrate by Megan Thomason

arbitrate:

It's one year later. And everything has changed.

Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth’s benevolent non-profit by day, Thera’s totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.

Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.

Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.

Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.

Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason’s third installment in the award-winningdaynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

Amazon

Praise for arbitrate:

"There are a lot of books I finish and feel happy, this one I finished and my head is swirling, in a totally awesome way! Not only does it have a great story with characters that you like (and some you just hate as they are the enemy) but the book also gets you thinking, thinking about the implication of effects of different actions and courses in life. This story has action, fighting, plots and plans, romance, love triangles, family, betrayal - has it all." --Emily Barton, Emmy Mom One Day at a Time blog, 5 stars

"You have hit this one out of the park." --ARC Reviewer

"For the record, I LOVED Kira's choice!! And the whole thing just blew me away! Very, very well done!! Now when can I get my hands on generate?! Can't wait " --ARC Reviewer

"Read my ARC of Arbitrate and consider my mind blown! I started it the minute it was sent and couldn't put it down." --ARC Reviewer

daynight

Meet The Second Chance Institute (SCI): Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. Their motto: Because Everyone Deserves a Second Chance at Life(TM). Reality: the SCI subjects Second Chancers to strict controls and politically motivated science experiments like Cleaving--forced lifetime union between two people who have sex. Punishment for disobeying SCI edicts? Immediate Exile or death.

Meet Kira Donovan. Fiercely loyal, overly optimistic, and ensnared by the promise of a full-ride college scholarship, Kira signs the SCI Recruit contract to escape memories of a tragedy that left her boyfriend and friends dead.

Meet Blake Sundry. Bitter about being raised in Exile and his mother's death, Blake's been trained to infiltrate and destroy the SCI. Current barrier to success? His Recruit partner--Miss Goody Two Shoes Kira Donovan.

Meet Ethan Darcton. Born with a defective heart and resulting inferiority complex, Ethan's forced to do his SCI elite family's bidding. Cleave-worthy Kira Donovan catches his eye, but the presiding powers give defect-free Blake Sundry first dibs.

Full of competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, daynight is an award-winning, bestselling novel and first in thedaynight series.

Download a FREE copy of daynight

Available for FREE on Amazon

October 29th, 30th & 31st

Praise for daynight:

2012 Book of the Year Award Finalist-Young Adult Fiction, ForeWord Reviews

"Sure to win over YA readers looking for a dangerous, dystopian adventure story" —Kirkus Reviews

"Gripping young adult dystopian novel; compelling conflicts; high stakes; powerful narrative; surprises keep coming; strong writing; page-turner; engaging characters; Readers will be hungry for the sequels.”—BlueInk Review (starred review)

"Thomason's description of Thera's totalitarianism will make fans of Brave New World shiver... SCI, her fantasy corporation, has disturbing parallels to actual companies and regimes that claim to do good while harming people... The author deftly appeals to both romance-loving teens as well as those intrigued by young adults fighting the establishment.”—ForeWord Clarion Review, 4 stars





arbitrate Excerpt:

“I’m angry at all of them. Every SCI leader. In fact Joshua gave me a list of those who are Earth-side. It makes for a great to-do list.” They all deserve to pay.
I’m done talking. It’s time for some action.
One thousand one.
One thousand two.
One thousand three.
That’s all it takes to even out my breathing and steady my hand.
I shift the crosshairs on my target ever so slightly—from his heart to his hand—and pull the trigger.
My father would be proud that all his training paid off. Oh, who am I kidding? He’d find something to criticize about my work here. Sad that even though he’s gone I can hear him saying, “If you’d hit a little to the left you’d have taken out a higher concentration of nerves.”

Tour Schedule

Author Megan Thomason

Bestselling, award-winning author Megan Thomason lives in paradise aka San Diego, CA with her husband and five children. A former software manager, Megan vastly prefers writing twisted tales to business, product, and marketing plans. When she isn't typing away on her laptop, she's reading books on her phone--over 600 in the last year--or attending to the needs of her family. Megan's fluent in sarcasm, could potentially benefit from a 12-step program for road rage, struggles with a Hot Tamales addiction, loves world travel & fast cars and hates paperwork & being an insomniac.

Website * Facebook * Goodreads * Twitter

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/18/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway - Soul Possessed by Katlyn Duncan

Welcome to today's stop on the Soul Possessed blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Today's stop features my review of Soul Possessed by Katlyn Duncan.

Title: SOUL POSSESSED
Author: Katlyn Duncan
Release Date: October 28, 2013
Publisher: Carina UK
Series: Book 2, The Life After Trilogy
Genre: YA Paranormal
ISBN: 9781472044556

Life after Life
Now Maggie has been given the chance of her after-life to become a Guard, nothing will stand in her way. Not even the undeniable attraction she feels for her trainer and past love—Jackson.  But when the battle between Shadowed and Guard begins again which side will she choose?
When her boss, Felix, partners Jackson and Maggie up with Ally and Cooper to investigate terrifying Shadowed activity, she doesn’t think it could get any worse. Jackson and Cooper barely tolerate each other and this time, Maggie isn’t just proving her loyalty to the Guard during one mission...she has a side mission too. One so secret and so dangerous she can’t tell a soul...

GOODREADS | AMAZON US | AMAZON UK

iTUNES US | iTUNES UK | iTUNES AU

About Katlyn Duncan

Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive
imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them.
Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | GOOGLE+ | PINTEREST | TUMBLR

Review: 

Rating: ****


Wow! What  a story. While I enjoyed the first book Soul Taken, Soul Possessed takes this story to a whole new level. In this book, the stakes have been raised, extra layers have been added to a story that will keep you glued to its pages till you get to the cliff hanger conclusion.


Sometimes book twos in a trilogy or longer series can be more of a set up/filler type book that's more about getting you to the point in the story where the thrilling conclusion can happen rather than being a story on its own as well as art of an overall arc.  Fortunately this is not the case with Soul Possessed.  If anything, the story for me got better and better as I got further into it and the more I read, the more i wanted to know what would happen next.


Firstly, I love Ms Duncan's take on the after life and I liked that we got more a view of both the after itself and the workings of it in this book.  I also liked that we got to know more about  other characters more in particular Ally and Cooper.


I also think I like Maggie more in this book.  She seems more real and I guess more human in a way.


What I most love however is the story line.  There are more layers added and threads weaved in this book and we find out not everything is completely is as straightforward as first thought.  There is more action, more drama and more emotion in this book and the place it ends... just completely unexpected but brilliant nonetheless.


I am enjoying this series immensely and cannot wait to see what happens next.


A definite recommended read and a definite ****


Sapphired Dragon xx

The Giveaway

There is a tourwide giveaway for an Amazon eGiftCard valued at $15 USD. It is open Internationally to anyone who is able to accept an Amazon GC.

There is also a tourwide giveaway for a set of Kindle eBook copies of SOUL TAKEN and SOUL POSSESSED to one winner.

The giveaway ends on Monday, November 11th at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

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The Tour Schedule:

Week One

Oct. 21^st – The Happy Booker – Review SOUL
Oct. 22^nd – Realm of the Sapphired Dragon – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 23^rd – Dark Novella – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 24^th – IrisjeXx – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 24^th – Booker Like a Hooker – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 25^th – Magical Urban Fantasy Reads – Guest Post

Week Two

Oct. 28^th – Two Chicks On Books – Playlist Guest Post
Oct. 29^th – Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Oct. 30^th – Curling Up With A Good Book – Interview
Oct. 31^st – Addicted Readers – Guest Post
Nov. 1^st – Paranormal Book Club – Interview

Week Three

Nov. 4^th – Chasm of Books – Guest Post
Nov. 5^th – Lost in Ever After – Review SOUL TAKEN
Nov. 6^th – Left to Write –Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED + Interview
Nov. 7^th – Book2Buzz – Interview
Nov. 7^th – Endless Reading – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED
Nov. 8^th – Moonlight Gleam’s Bookshelf – Review SOUL TAKEN & SOUL POSSESSED + Guest Post

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Welcome to Monday.  For once, quite liking this Monday as it is a long weekend and so instead of working I get to enjoy reading some of the many books I have received in the last couple of weeks.  So today it is more than appropriate to say  It's Monday!  What Are You Reading? This is a weekly meme hosted by A Book Journey where we talk about the books that we are reading and have read this week.

Been very good with my review book reading this week.  I have a number of blog tours coming up that I needed to prepare for so those books have taken priority this week. Started the week by finishing off Phantom Eyes, (Witch Eyes #3) by Scott Tracey. This was the third and final book in the series and I really need to write the review for it this week.  Next up was Soul Taken (The Life After #1) by Katlyn Duncan which I am reading as part of the the blog tour for book 2, Soul Possessed.

Soul Taken (The Life After #1) by Katlyn Duncan
Goodreads  | Amazon
Book 1 in The Life After trilogy from Carina UK.

After-life just got a lot more complicated

Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body.

Trapped, Maggie’s soul is catapulted into Ally’s life – and the human world she hasn’t experienced for one hundred years. But, as a descendant of the most powerful beings in the After, Maggie must rescue Ally before the girl’s soul dies…

To survive, Maggie must uncover devastating secrets – because with one soul taken by a terrifying enemy, Maggie’s could be next!

After reading Soul Taken, I quickly read Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes as I needed to supply some possible guest post topics for my stop in the blog tour and so I wanted to get a feel for the book in order to come up with as relevant guest post topics as possible.  It was also a really good excuse to read it earlier than I had intended :-P  I won't be reviewing it for my stop on the blog tour but I will be reviewing it a little later on so keep your eyes peeled.

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes
Goodreads  | Book Depository
Olivia

He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.

At least at this moment, I don’t care.

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…

Z

I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.

It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.

Except that she’s not.

Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.

Next up I read Soul Possessed as I will be reviewing this for my blog stop tomorrow so wanted to read it ASAP.

Soul Possessed (The Life After #2) by Katlyn Duncan
Goodreads  | Amazon
Now Maggie has been given the chance of her after-life to become a Guard, nothing will stand in her way. Not even the undeniable attraction she feels for her trainer and past love—Jackson. But when the battle between Shadowed and Guard begins again which side will she choose?

When her boss, Felix, partners Jackson and Maggie up with Ally and Cooper to investigate terrifying Shadowed activity, she doesn’t think it could get any worse. Jackson and Cooper barely tolerate each other and this time, Maggie isn’t just proving her loyalty to the Guard during one mission...she has a side mission too. One so secret and so dangerous she can’t tell a soul...

Book 2 in The Life After trilogy.

I bought some new books this week, one of which I have been dying to read forever but just not gotten round to buying it.  Because apparently that can actually happen. The book I am talking about is Oath Bound (Unbound #3) by Rachel Vincent.  I loved books 1 and 2 and after reading this one almost as soon as I got it, not surprisingly, I loved this one also but was sad that this is the last book in the unbound world.

Oath Bound (Unbound #3) by Rachel VincentGoodreads  | Book Depository
The Tower Syndicate will fall...
The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.
If he can figure out how...
Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....
And if they can survive
Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

I am trying to sneak in Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood #8) by J R Ward in at the moment.  This is my guilty pleasures read.  This series is hugely long but so much fun to read so I like to sneak a book from the series here and there into my reading schedule where time and mood permit.

Lover Mine (Black Dagger Bortherhood #8) by J. R. WardGoodreads  | Book Depository
In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. Long divided as a terrifying battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.
Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates.

However while I am enjoying Lover Mine, I have been reading it quite slowly so may have to put it down briefly to read Arbitrate (daynight #2) by Megan Thomason, also for a blog tour in November.  I participated in the blog tour for book 1, Daynight, at the beginning of the year and so am extremely excited to be part of the Arbitrate Blog Tour as this is another series that is different and that I have enjoyed immensely as a result.

Arbitrate (Daynight #2) by Megan Thomason
Goodreads
The release date for arbitrate has been set for October 29, 2013.

Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. And they’re handing out more “second chances” than ever before. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.

Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.

Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.

Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.

Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason's third installment in the award-winning daynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

Last but not least i really need to read the Alice in Zombieland and Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter, which are due for review this month. I have put them off a couple of times now so its definitely time to read them.  It's one of those series where I know I will enjoy it once I get started.  I am just having a little trouble actually getting started i.e. actually picking up the book and starting to read at page 1 as I have yet to get that far even.

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.
Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.
Her father was right. The monsters are real….
To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

It's Monday! What are YOU reading?  Don't forget to let me know in the comments.

Have a great week!

Stacking the Shelves #12

Welcome to  Stacking The Shelves!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews and is a meme to share those books, both print and e-book, that have been added to your shelves in the last week/s.

Another good book week this week AND I got some reading done too :-) 

Review (E-Books):

Blog Tours

Incredibly excited to be part of this blog tour.  I loved the first book in the series, Daynight and the Novella, Clean Slate Complex and cannot wait to see what happens next!

Arbitrate (Daynight #2) by Megan Thomason
Goodreads
The release date for arbitrate has been set for October 29, 2013.

Remember The Second Chance Institute (SCI). Earth's benevolent non-profit by day, Thera's totalitarian regime by night. They’ve stepped up their game on Earth and on Thera—infiltrating political parties, preying on the downtrodden, and planning offensive maneuvers. And they’re handing out more “second chances” than ever before. The SCI’s abuse of their charter leads to Arbiter oversight and bitter consequences.

Remember Kira Donovan. Broken, burdened, and evading those who wish her harm, Kira enlists the Arbiters’ help when forced to return to the clutches of the SCI and her angry, estranged love.

Remember Blake Sundry. Exiled, determined, and packing an agenda, Blake seeks assistance on Earth and Thera to use his newfound knowledge to bring down the SCI.

Remember Ethan Darcton. Overworked, emotional, and holding a grudge, Ethan hunts down his stolen property, but finds himself in awkward territory, stuck between the Arbiters and the SCI.

Full of action, competing agendas, romantic entanglements, humor, twists and turns, arbitrate is Megan Thomason's third installment in the award-winning daynight series after daynight and clean slate complex (a daynight story).

Purchased :

A few books I have ordered over the past couple of weeks have trickled in this week.

Through The Ever Night (Under The Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi
Goodreads  | Book Depository

Aria has struggled to build a life for herself outside Reverie. It hasn't been easy adjusting to life in the wilderness but that struggle has been worth it with Perry by her side.

But Perry has other challenges. His people are looking to him for answers. Answers about what happened to his nephew and what's happening to their world. And they don't trust the privileged Aria, one of the enemy, in their midst.

Soon he'll be forced to chose between the tribe that looks to him for leadership and the girl that looks to him for love.

Lover Mine (Black Dagger Bortherhood #8) by J. R. Ward
Goodreads  | Book Depository

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. Long divided as a terrifying battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.

Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates.

Oath Bound (Unbound #3) by Rachel Vincent

Goodreads  | Book Depository

The Tower Syndicate will fall...

The secret daughter of the head of an infamous Skilled crime family, Sera Brandt has hidden her past, her potential and especially her powers. But when a tragedy strikes her other family, Sera needs justice. And the only way to get it is to reveal her heritage–including a rare Skill–and take the reins of the Tower Syndicate from her cunning and malicious aunt.

If he can figure out how...

Kristopher Daniels might have the answer. He's fought the syndicate to protect his sisters, but he'd never realized just how close to the new heir he needed to get....

And if they can survive

Neither is used to trusting. But there's something between them that can't be ignored. And so Sera is on the run with a man she can't figure out, a target on her back and the new knowledge of just how powerful she really is....

Antigoddess(Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake

Goodreads  | Book Depository

The Goddess War begins in Antigoddess, the first installment of the new series by acclaimed author of Anna Dressed in Blood, Kendare Blake.

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

So what did you add to your shelves this week?

Save the Date: Because the Night by Kristen Strassel Blog Tour

'

WHAT: The BECAUSE THE NIGHT Blog Tour

WHEN: October 21st to 25th & October 28th to November 1st

WHERE: A blog near you. Check listings below for details

Week One

Oct. 21st - Reading In Twilight- Review + Interview

Oct. 22nd - Magical Urban Fantasy Reads - Character Interview

Oct. 23rd - Pen and Muse - Interview

Oct. 24th - Curling Up With A Good Book - Guest Post

Oct. 25th - BookHounds - Review

Week Two

Oct. 28th - Urban Fantasy Land - Guest Post

Oct. 29th - What's Beyond Forks- Review

Oct. 30th - The Girl in a Cafe- Review

Oct. 31st - Alphas Authors & Books Oh My  - Review + Interview

Nov. 1st - Moonlight Gleams - Review + Guest Post

About the Book on Tour

Title: BECAUSE THE NIGHT

Author: Kristen Strassel


Pub. Date: November 5, 2013


Publisher: Foreword Literary





Find it: Goodreads

Immortal Dilemma is the hottest band in the Las Vegas vampire rock scene. They draw insatiable fans from around the globe, thanks to a supernatural attraction called Bloodlust. Tristan craved such an opportunity to fill his empty mortal life, and now he has eternity to earn his place along the legends of rock n roll debauchery.

Callie always feared that Tristan’s excesses would get him into trouble, but she never thought they’d lead him to immortality. To reconnect with him, she must weave her way through a world not only she had no idea existed, but does not welcome her.


Blade turned down a spot in Immortal Dilemma after learning what he must sacrifice for that lifestyle. He finds Callie a refreshing change from the girls in the vampire rock scene. When Callie drags Blade back into the world of Immortal Dilemma, his resistance drives her into the waiting arms of Tristan, who shows her the true meaning of Bloodlust.

But the very things that Callie fights so hard to save are the very things that fight to destroy her.

The Excerpt

The next thing I knew we were in his apartment. I knew it from TV, the huge living area, the plush red chairs, the huge floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the city. Still, actually being here was a different thing all together. God, I hoped we weren’t being filmed. That wasn’t constant, was it?

Tristan spun me towards him. His hands were so cold. Why hadn’t I noticed that before? I could hardly breathe.

“What are you doing here, Callie?”

My heart sank to my knees. This wasn’t the greeting I hoped for. It was more of an inquisition. “I’m on vacation.”

“Why here? You’re not old enough to have fun yet.” He jerked his head toward the window. “Out there, anyway.”

“I have a fake ID.” I protested. But I knew that wasn’t what he meant. “And I wanted to see you.”

“You shouldn’t have come here.” His face darkened.

“You don’t want me here?” I felt tears welling up in my eyes. No, I couldn’t cry. Not now.

“Oh, I do,” a slow grin spread over his face, but it had an edge. “But you shouldn’t be here.” His slid his tongue over his teeth as he waited for my answer to his original question, settling on one very sharp tooth, playing with it, daring me to notice.

I winced, like I had been stung. I hated those stupid fangs. Why didn’t he take them out after the show?

I didn’t have time to process it before he was suddenly on top of me. His hands closed on my arms, and he pinned me against the window with my feet dangling in midair, unable to even struggle. Icy cold radiated from his body like I was standing near an iceberg. He paused, fangs like icicles inches from my face, but no breath, not even freezing cold breath caressed my face.

I couldn’t even open my mouth to scream. All the things I wanted to ask him, all the things I wanted to say, they didn’t matter now.

It was true. God, it was all true.

Whatever he was, he certainly wasn’t human. My eyes were wide and frozen, staring into his, unblinking. I wanted to lose myself in their dark depths, swirling with danger and desire.

“Didn’t you know what I was when you came here?” he finally broke the silence; loosening his hold on me just enough that I slid down the window. He cocked his head thoughtfully, still grinning, and stroked my neck with one cool finger.

He enjoyed this.

I wanted to tell him to get the hell away from me, but I couldn’t. He made my heart race and sent a shiver down my spine. Even in his monster form.

The Author on Tour

Kristen shares a birthday with Steven Tyler and Diana Ross. She spends each day striving to be half as fabulous as they are. She’s worn many hats, none as flattering as her cowboy hat: banker, retail manager, fledgling web designer, world’s worst cocktail waitress, panty slinger, now makeup artist and author. She loves sunshine, live music, the middle of nowhere, and finding new things to put in her house. Because The Night is the first book from The Night Songs Collection.

Kristen is represented by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg of Foreword Literary.

Find her: BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

Stacking the Shelves #11

Welcome to  Stacking The Shelves!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga Reviews and is a meme to share those books, both print and e-book, that have been added to your shelves in the last week/s.

So this weeks been kind of insane when it comes to books I have received.  It seems that virtually every book (print or e-book) i have requested over the last month or so became available this week.  So my TBR list just became that much longer but who am I kidding I love it! 

Review (Print Books - Thanks to HarlequinTeen Australia ):

Got both these awesome titles in the mail yesterday from HarlequinTeen Australia.  Can't wait to read them especially Iron Traitor as I loved the first book in the series, The Lost Prince. I actually also received an e-copy of the Iron Traitor this week via Netgalley.

Waterfell (The Aquarathi #1) by Amalie Howard
Goodreads  | Book Depository
THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

The Iron Traitor (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2) by Julie Kagawa
Goodreads  | Book Depository
In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

Review (E-Books):

Blog Tours

As part of the Soul Possessed Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours I am reviewing these next two books by Katlyn Duncan.  These also arrived in my inbox this week :-)

Soul Taken (The Life After #1) by Katlyn Duncan
Goodreads  | Amazon
Book 1 in The Life After trilogy from Carina UK.

After-life just got a lot more complicated

Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body.

Trapped, Maggie’s soul is catapulted into Ally’s life – and the human world she hasn’t experienced for one hundred years. But, as a descendant of the most powerful beings in the After, Maggie must rescue Ally before the girl’s soul dies…

To survive, Maggie must uncover devastating secrets – because with one soul taken by a terrifying enemy, Maggie’s could be next!

Soul Possessed (The Life After #2) by Katlyn Duncan
Goodreads  | Amazon
Now Maggie has been given the chance of her after-life to become a Guard, nothing will stand in her way. Not even the undeniable attraction she feels for her trainer and past love—Jackson. But when the battle between Shadowed and Guard begins again which side will she choose?

When her boss, Felix, partners Jackson and Maggie up with Ally and Cooper to investigate terrifying Shadowed activity, she doesn’t think it could get any worse. Jackson and Cooper barely tolerate each other and this time, Maggie isn’t just proving her loyalty to the Guard during one mission...she has a side mission too. One so secret and so dangerous she can’t tell a soul...

Book 2 in The Life After trilogy.

Edelweiss: (Thanks to HarperCollins Children ):

Into The Still Blue (Under The Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi
Goodreads  | Book Depository

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

Uninvited (Uninvited #1) by Sophie Jordan
Goodreads  | Book Depository
The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman's Daughter #2) by Megan Shepherd
Goodreads  | Book Depository
To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves

Thanks to Entangled Publishing :

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes
Goodreads  | Book Depository
Olivia

He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don’t care.

At least at this moment, I don’t care.

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia’s seen a lot in her sixteen years. She’s hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite—break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z’s boss. And he’s got bigger plans for Liv…

Z

I can picture Liv’s face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta.

It was just a kiss. That’s all. She’s just like any other girl.

Except that she’s not.

Thanks to Z, Olivia’s about to get twisted.

Purchased :

Also a book I purchased online a couple of weeks ago also arrived this week :-)

Earthbound (Earthbound #1) by Aprilynne Pike
Goodreads  | Book Depository

If love can survive death, are soul-mates eternal?

Eighteen-year-old Tavia is the only survivor of a plane crash that killed her parents. Grieving and lonely, she starts having strange visions; of a boy she's never met but feels compulsively drawn to. A boy who tells her to do things she never dreamed of.

Tavia begins to suspect that secrets are being kept from her, and that her kindly aunt and uncle know more than they are letting on. Was the plane crash really an accident? Or is Tavia part of something bigger than she ever imagined?

With only her instincts and long-time crush, Benson, to rely on, Tavia must decide where her destiny lies, and who with.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike has created a heart-stopping romance built on a love triangle like you've never seen before and filled with epic stakes and a centuries-long conspiracy. Give it to fans of Nightshade and Fallen.

So what did you add to your shelves this week?

Teaser Tuesday #63

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too muchaway! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My current read is Phantom Eyes (Witch Eyes #3) by Scott Tracey and my two lines are from location 648 of 3862:

I waited for the sky to stop spinning before I even started to consider his words. The way I'd moved, the way my body had responded...that wasn't me.

Every child in Belle Dam is taught about the feud from an early age. There are ‘our’ people and ‘their’ people. Friends and enemies. Associates and strangers. It’s the kind of town where eyes are always watching, and you don’t need a reason to sell out your neighbors.
But the feud is a lie. As a new wave of fury sweeps through the town, creating a third front to an already overtaxed war, Braden has been broken worse than ever. His innocence? Shattered. His heart? Crushed. His magic? Gone. His new life? Ruined. And this is only the beginning.
Beneath the city lay deep wellsprings of power. The one who controls them is the one who will win the feud. In a city filled with puppet masters, Braden must elude their strings and end the feud once and for all. But first, he must outsmart his father, evade Catherine’s dark magic, regain what was stolen from him, trick a phantom who refuses to die, and foil a demon’s master plan.
Even then, he may not survive. Because power is a problem, and victory comes with a cost…

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link  to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!