Blog Tour Stop, review and Giveaway: Cinderella, Necromancer by F M Boughan

Welcome today's stop on the Cinderella, Necromancer by F. M Boughan Blog Tour presented by Month9Books and hosted by Chapter by Chapter.  Today's stop is a review as well as a chance to enter the great giveaway that is being run throughout this tour.

I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings especially the darker ones and this one is darker than most which is part of the fun. I really liked the different take on the Cinderella tale that this story took. It kept the essential elements of the Cinderella story but cleverly wove the necromancy idea around this tale.

I liked the fact that there was no fairy godmother, that Ella after finding the grimoire in her father's office, used it to get herself to the ball. I also was intrigued about the fact that the grimoire was based on a real grimoire from the 15th century. Ella herself was strong and loyal to her family and I think this shone through the tale well.

I also liked the author's take on the other characters in the tale and the way it fitted with what we know of the characters from the original tale.

Whilst there seemed quite a bit to set up at the beginning , the tale itself flowed well and kept me reading till the last page. If you like your tales more brothers grimm than Disney, then this is the book for you.

I enjoyed this read and happily give it 3 3/4 stars

SapphiredDragon xx

About  Cinderella, Necromancer 

Cinderella, Necromancer by F M Boughan

  Publication Date:  September 5, 2017

  Publisher:  Month9Books

Darkness can only be controlled by those with the darkest of hearts.

Ellison lost her mother at an early age. Now, sixteen, her father has found love again. He’s happy and doesn’t quite notice that Ellison does not get along with his new wife or her vicious daughters.

When Ellison discovers a necromantic tome while traveling the secret passages of her father’s mansion, she wonders if it could be the key to her eventual freedom.

Until then, she must master her dark new power, even as her stepmother makes her a servant in her own home. And when her younger brother falls incurably ill, Ellison will do anything to ease his pain, including falling prey to her stepmother’s and stepsisters’ every whim and fancy.

Stumbling into a chance meeting with Prince William during a secret visit to her mother’s grave feels like a trick of fate when her stepmother refuses to allow Ellison to attend a palace festival where she might see him once more.

But what if Ellison could see the kind and handsome prince again? What if she could attend the festival? What if she could have everything she’s ever wanted and deserved by conjuring spirits to take revenge on her cruel stepmother? And what if she actually liked watching her stepmother suffer?

As Ellison’s power grows, she loses control over the evil spirits meant to do her bidding. And as they begin to exert their own power over Ellison, it becomes harder to tell whether it is she or her stepmother who is the true monster.

CINDERELLA NECROMANCER is CINDER meets ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD and was inspired by a real medieval grimoire of necromancy from 15th-century Germany

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ABOUT F. M Boughan

F.M. Boughan is a bibliophile, a writer, and an unabashed parrot enthusiast. She can often be found writing in local coffee shops, namely because it’s hard to concentrate with a cat lying on the keyboard and a small, colorful parrot screaming into her ear. Her work is somewhat dark, somewhat violent, somewhat hopeful, and always contains a hint of magic.

Author Links:  
  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

The Giveaway

·       One (1) winner will receive an Echo Dot

 

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Blog Tour Post & Giveaway: Submerge (Mer Chronicles #2) by Tobie Easton

Welcome today's stop on the Submerge (Mer Chronicles #2) by Tobie Easton Blog Tour presented by Month9Books and hosted by Chapter by Chapter.  Today's stop is a review as well as a chance to enter the great giveaway that is being run throughout this tour.

I really enjoyed book 1 in this series, Emerge. So I was really looking forward to reading book 2 and even after a year since i read the first one, I was able to sink right back into the story. The story takes place a few months after the end of book 1, the Little mermaid's curse is broken, Lia and Clay have spent much of their summer together, whilst Lia's parents have been below securing support for their bid for the crown now that the wars are over. It's time for the trial of Melusine and her father. I liked that even though the curse was broken and the mermaids had their immortality back, everything was not automatically perfect and we got to see the characters re-adjusting to the changes. Lia was still dealing with repercussions of her choices in book 1 and full or worry that her sirening would come out and condemn her to jail and ruin her parents chances for the crown.

Where a lot of book one was set in the human world, most of book two takes place in the mermaid world so we got to find out a lot more about the mermaids life both above and below the water and this helped make the story come more alive. The story flowed well and moved at a good pace and i found myself engaged from beginning to end, finishing the book in a just a couple of hours.

Whilst this is still predominantly about Lia and Clay, I liked that we got to see more depth and find out more about peripheral characters like Caspian and Lia's sisters in particular.

Overall this book is a great blend of action, danger,romance and intrigue and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Given where the story ended, I am guessing there is more to come in regards to Lia and Clay's story and I cannot wait.

I happily give this read 4 stars

SapphiredDragon xx

About Submerge (Mer Chronicles #2) 

Submerge (Mer Chronicles #2) by Tobie Easton

  Publication Date:  September 12, 2017

  Publisher:  Month9Books

Now that Lia and Clay’s love has broken the Little Mermaid’s curse, everything has changed. Will Lia’s family remain on land, leading the only life she and her sisters have ever known, or will they move below the waves, to the sparkling new capital city? Lia is adamant about staying on land with Clay for her senior year. But at Melusine and her father’s trial, new revelations threaten what Lia holds most dear.

The verdict will shake Lia’s whole world, calling into question her future with Clay, her feelings for Caspian, and the fate of all Merkind. As she wonders who to trust, Lia sets out on a treacherous path that will lead her away from her sheltered Malibu home to a remote and mysterious school for Mermaids—Mermaids who may hold the secret to ancient magic Lia can use to either get back all she’s lost or to embark on a thrilling and dangerous journey.

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Go back to where it all started:

About Emerge (Mer Chronicles #1) 

 

T
Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid but she’s never lived in the ocean. War has ravaged the seven seas ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality. Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he’s gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there’s a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia's entire community at risk. So it’s for the best that he’s dating that new girl, right? That is, until Lia finds out she isn't the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn't realize the danger he's in. If Lia hopes to save him, she’ll have to get closer to Clay. Lia’s parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to deny her feelings. After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl. 

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My review of Emerge by Tobie Easton

ABOUT Tobie Easton:

Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she’s grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, Tobie hosts book clubs for tweens and teens. She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. Learn more about Tobie and her upcoming books on www.TobieEaston.com.

Author Links:  
  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

The Giveaway

·       One (1) winner will receive a Kindle Fire 

 

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Review: Breakaway (Corrigan Fall Raiders #4) by Cate Cameron

Title: Breakaway (Corrigan Fall Raiders #4)

Author: Cate Cameron

Published: 14 August 2017
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Source: Entangled Publishing, LLC via Netgalley in return for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: **** 

My Review:

I love this series! I always devour each book in one sitting and i am so glad that Dawn finally got her own book. We had met Dawn before in the previous books, first as Toby's girl friend and then as his ex and it only seemed right that we got to read her story too. Dawn has vowed to never again date a hockey player. After being the other half of a rising hockey star in a town where hockey is everything, Dawn has always wanted to shine for her herself rather than who she was dating and she thinks she has found that with summer newcomer to Corrigan Falls, Logan. However Logan is actually an ex NHL player who had a career ending injury in his first NHL game and is still coming to grips with his new reality without hockey.

I really liked Dawn and her determination to make something of herself under her own steam rather than of the back of who she is dating and she made for an incredibly likeable and strong character who was immensely readable and intriguing to learn more about. Logan was charming and complex and sweet and also compelling to read about as he dealt with his new reality of his life and was finally starting to put the pieces of his life back together. As a couple I felt the chemistry from the start and liked the way their romance unfolded. As always the peripheral characters were all well developed and vibrant and it was nice to check in previous characters of earlier books as well as meet some brand new characters as well.

One of the things I love about this series is the emotional journey they take me on. Ms cameron's writing really connects you to her characters and makes you care what happens with them and follow their steps for better or for worse. This story was no different and left me satisfied at the way the story turned out.

Overall this was another great instalment of an incredibly enjoyable series and author i look forward to reading more of.

Happy to give this book 4 stars.

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Breakaway (Corrigan Fall Raiders #4) by Cate Cameron

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains adult language, melt-the-ice kisses, a drool-worthy hockey player, and a fun summer romance that will leave you smiling.

Eighteen-year-old NHL player Logan Balanchuk came to Corrigan Falls to distract himself from his career-ending injury. He doesn’t want to even hear the word “hockey,” so when he meets Dawn, a beautiful, free-spirited girl who goes skinny-dipping instead of watching the draft, he’s intrigued. Neither of them is looking for anything serious, anyway.

Dawn is happy to be a distraction, happy to have an adventurous summer romance with the dashing guy from the big city. She’s busy working three jobs and counting the days until she can move away from her tiny, hockey-obsessed town. Plus, she’s already done her time as a hockey player’s girlfriend—now she wants to live her own life and have her own adventures. But as things heat up with Logan, she realizes they aren’t as no-strings-attached as she thought…  

Purchase: Amazon US  | Barnes and Noble  | Entangled Publishing | Amazon.com.au | 

Review: Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief by Rosie Somers

Title: Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief 

Author: Rosie Somers

Published: 8 August 2017
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Source: Entangled Publishing, LLC via Netgalley in return for an honest review
Reviewed: Sapphired Dragon
Rating: *** 3/4 

My Review:

I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and engaging from the very first chapter. 17 year old Mari is from a family with long glorious tradition of jewel thievery and that has been the life she has led so far. After finding out a dangerous rival is out to get them, Mari and her mother head to New York to hide out and Mari has to pretend to be a normal teenager for the first time in her life.

Firstly, I liked this spin on the extraordinary teen hiding out as a regular teenager premise and Mari was a likeable main character. I thought the idea played out well in the story giving a plausible fun and intriguing story line. We got see both the jewel thief side of her in action as well as the regular teen and Ms Somers showed the contrasts well which really helped make mar are more rounded and believeable character.

The pace and flow of this story really hit the mark. I was in the story from the first page and quickly flew through this only putting it down briefly once. Mari's voice was relatable and I cared what happened to her and to Will. I liked the twists and surprises the author threw in and while i picked some of it, I still felt compelled to keep moving threw to the story to see how it all turned out.

Overall the story is great blend of sweet romance, action and adventure with feels a plenty and a satisfying conclusion to leave you smiling.

I really enjoyed this and gave it 3 3/4 stars :-)

Sapphired Dragon xx

About The Book:

Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief by Rosie Somers

Most sixteen-year-olds shouldn’t know where museums keep their rarest jewels (the basement) and they really shouldn’t know that vans make the worst getaway cars. But for Marisol Flores, a life of jewel thievery is a birthright handed down from generation to generation, even if she didn’t ask for it. So when a rival thief targets Mari and her mother, Mari’s more than happy to flee to the anonymity of bustling New York City.

Blending in is a dream come true for Mari, but keeping her former thieving ways a secret gets way more complicated when handsome Will Campbell sets his sights on her. She can’t help but like his terrible puns and charming grin…but when her past catches up with her, it’s not only her life—and her anonymity—that’s at stake.

Will could be the next target. 

Purchase: Amazon US  | Barnes and Noble  | Book Depository | Amazon.com.au | 

Blog Tour Post + Giveaway: Weddings, Crushes and Other Dramas (Creative Hearts #6) by Emily Mckay

Welcome today's stop on the Weddings, Crushes and Other Dramas ( Creative Hearts #6 Willa & Finn #2)) by Emily McKay  hosted by Chapter by Chapter   Today's stop is a review as well as a chance to enter the great giveaway that is being run throughout this tour.

Review:

I have adored this series and I am so sad that this appears to be the last book. I have enjoyed each and every book in this series and this one was no exception. We first met Willa and Finn in book 2 of the Creative Hearts series, How Willa Got Her groove Back however we have seen glimpses of them in subsequent books of the series and this book starts just a few short weeks before the wedding between Willa's Dad Matt and Finn's mum Mia.

Willa's mindset at the beginning of this book is very different to that of the first book and already we can see the growth in her character since we last saw her. I really connected with her in this book so it was great to see the growth continue. Of all the boys in this series, Finn has always seemed the most real to me ( and the most swoonworthy :-P ) so I kept wanting the two of them to get together already. However Ms McKay kept the tension between them perfect all the way through and this kept me turning the pages, eager to see where these two would end up.

This series itself is interesting in that it has been a collaboration between four different writers with each writer focusing on the 2-3 of the core characters of the series, kids attending the Next Gen Arts Academy in Austin. Though each book focused mainly of two of the core group the series and stories of the whole was continued fro book 1 through to book 6 and in this book we get a conclusion of both the story of Will and Finn as well as the over series ARC. I really liked Where Willa and Finn's story finished up where as some of the other couple felt a little unfinished with things I wanted to see. In fact I really enjoyed the entire journey of this book.

This book was a quick, easy and most importantly fun read with lots and lots of feels. It is most definitely a one sitting read with characters you will love and be thinking about long after you have finished the book.

I wish there could be more of this series and I give this story 3 3/4 stars

Sapphired Dragon XX

Weddings, Crushes and Other Dramas (Creative Hearts #6) by Emily Mckay

   

Weddings, Crushes, and Other Dramas (Creative HeArts #6, Willa & Finn #2) by Emily McKay

Publication Date: February 13, 2017

Publisher:  Entangled Teen Crush

   

 

Falling in love with the best man wasn’t on the program.
Willa is happy to be the maid of honor in her dad’s upcoming wedding to uber-celeb Mia McCain. Not as happy about the best man being her soon-to-be stepbrother, the infuriating—and infuriatingly gorgeous—Finn McCain. Every time their paths cross, the attraction simmering between them grows a little harder to ignore. Willa knows all about guys like Finn—they only want what they can’t have. What’s between them isn’t real.
Finn has never felt anything more real than what’s developing between him and Willa. Sure, her dad warned him to steer clear, but it’s not just about forbidden temptation. He’s determined to prove to Willa he’s not going anywhere—and that happily-ever-after will always be worth the risk.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains a wedding so crazy it’ll make you laugh, a stepbrother so hot he’ll make you swoon, and a heroine so real she’ll make you cry.

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OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains an unbelievably hot bad boy, an unbelievably famous actress, and all the drama that comes with adding both to your family. Oh, and a forbidden flirtation with a soon-to-be stepbrother.
When Willa Schofer’s father comes home from a business trip with an über-famous new fiancée, Willa’s senior year blows up in paparazzi-fueled flames. Overnight, she has a new house, a new car, and a new soon-to-be stepbrother—the unbelievably hot, unbelievably arrogant, Finn McCain. Thank god he’s constantly pushing her buttons, or she might do something irresponsible. Like fall for the jerk.
Just when Willa’s decided to avoid him for, oh, ever, Finn lands in the center of her senior project team. Seriously—how hard is it to shake a guy? At least her work on the project snagged the attention of the (second) hottest guy in school. He might only be into her because of her famous stepmom, and he’s not quite as exciting as a certain annoying housemate, but at least she’s allowed to crush on the guy.
Because crushing on your annoying stepbrother? So not cool.

ABOUT  Emily McKay

Emily McKay is a life-long fan of books, pop-culture and anything geeky. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and baking cookies. When she’s not kicking-ass and scooping cookie dough, she’s watching videos from Screen Junkies (her favorite Youtube channel) or Pemberly Digital or Classic Alice. Okay, she has a Youtube problem! She’s seeking help. Really. Though, she may also have a slight problem with procrastination.

When the internet is down and there are no chocolate chips in the house, she does write books – everything from Harlequin romance novels to post-apocalyptic YA. Though her interests may appear broad, the common denominators are swoony heroes and snarky humor.

Author Links:   

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

Giveaway :  Contest ends February 17, 2017

One (1) winner will receive :

 

• One (1) winner will receive a digital copy of How Willa Got Her Groove Back by Emily McKay

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Blog Tour Post & Giveaway: Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers #2) by Brenda Drake

 

 

 

 

Welcome today's stop on the Guardian of Secrets ( Library Jumpers #2) by Brenda Drake  hosted by Chapter by Chapter   Today's stop is a review as well as a chance to enter the great giveaway that is being run throughout this tour.

Review:

Guardian of Secrets is the second book of the Library Jumpers series and I really enjoyed the continuation of this  tale.  A nice mix of action and romance, I felt like this book managed to advance the overall series while still whilst still being an enjoyable story in itself.

 

What I love most about this series is that the premise is so very different from other stories I have read.  I love the idea of being able to jump through gateway books from library to library and I like the magic/sentinel system as well.  I felt like this second book started to delve a little deeper into the world and I liked the extra world building that came with it.  We started to hear more about some of the other havens as Gia and Nick search for the Chiavi.

 

I liked Gia. I found her relatable but suitably badass all the same and I liked seeing her journey through the pages.  I also like Nick and the fact that we got to see the conflict he was going through in adjusting to the new information regarding his real and adoptive parents and with the onset of magical powers.  The conflict felt real and was dealt with quite well I though.  I also liked that all through the book, the reader wasn't sure who to trust and this added to the mystery and suspense of the book.

 

The story itself moved quite quickly, the action marrying nicely with the revelations and various plot points revealed as the story progressed.  I liked the mystery of the Chiavi and found the Somniums also very interesting.

 

Overall I enjoyed this latest instalment, finding myself thinking about the characters and what might happen next even after I had finished the last page and am genuinely looking forward to the next instalment.

 

An enjoyable read and I give this book 3 ½ stars

Sapphired Dragon XX

 

 

 

 

Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers #2) by Brenda Drake

 

     

Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers #2)

by Brenda Drake

Publication Date: February 7, 2017

Publisher:  Entangled Teen

 

     

   

 

 

 

Being a Sentinel isn’t all fairytales and secret gardens.   Sure, jumping through books into the world’s most beautiful libraries to protect humans from mystical creatures is awesome. No one knows that better than Gia Kearns, but she could do without the part where people are always trying to kill her. Oh, and the fact that Pop and her had to move away from her friends and life as she knew it. And if that isn’t enough, her boyfriend, Arik, is acting strangely. Like, maybe she should be calling him “ex,” since he’s so into another girl. But she doesn’t have time to be mad or even jealous, because someone has to save the world from the upcoming apocalypse, and it looks like that’s going to be Gia. Maybe. If she survives.

 

 

 

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OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:

Gia Kearns would rather fight with boys than kiss them. That is, until Arik, a leather clad hottie in the Boston Athenaeum, suddenly disappears. While examining the book of world libraries he abandoned, Gia unwittingly speaks the key that sucks her and her friends into a photograph and transports them into a Paris library, where Arik and his Sentinels—magical knights charged with protecting humans from the creatures traveling across the gateway books—rescue them from a demonic hound.

Jumping into some of the world's most beautiful libraries would be a dream come true for Gia, if she weren’t busy resisting her heart or dodging an exiled wizard seeking revenge on both the Mystik and human worlds. Add a French flirt obsessed with Arik and a fling with a young wizard, and Gia must choose between her heart and her head, between Arik's world and her own, before both are destroyed.

 

 

 

 

ABOUT  Brenda Drake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brenda Drake is a New York Times bestselling author of Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1), Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers #2), Touching Fate (Fated Series #1), and Cursing Fate (Fated Series #2). She grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. She hosts workshops and contests for writers such as Pitch Wars and Pitch Madness on her blog, and holds Twitter pitch parties on the hashtag, #PitMad. When she’s not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Links:   

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

   

 

Giveaway :  Contest ends February 17, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

One (1) winner will receive :

 

   

• $50 Amazon Gift Card with Guardian of Secrets swag pack  *International winners will only get $50 GC*

 

 

 

 

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