Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts

Oct 9, 2014

Faces of the Dead by Suzanne Weyn #review


When Marie-Therese, daughter of Marie Antoinette, slips into the streets of Paris at the height of the French Revolution, she finds a world much darker than what she's ever known.

When Marie-Thérèse Charlotte of France learns of the powerful rebellion sweeping her country, the sheltered princess is determined to see the revolution for herself. Switching places with a chambermaid, the princess sneaks out of the safety of the royal palace and into the heart of a city in strife.

Soon the princess is brushing shoulders with revolutionaries and activists. One boy in particular, Henri, befriends her and has her questioning the only life she's known. When the princess returns to the palace one night to find an angry mob storming its walls, she's forced into hiding in Paris. Henri brings her to the workshop of one Mademoiselle Grosholtz, whose wax figures seem to bring the famous back from the dead, and who looks at Marie-Thérèse as if she can see all of her secrets. There, the princess quickly discovers there's much more to the outside world - and to the mysterious woman's wax figures - than meets the eye.

My Review :
This was not quite what I thought it would be when I chose to read and review this story.  Parts of it were difficult to read and annoying as it dealt with Voodoo and witchcraft and damage to dead friends and loved ones.  I started out becoming interested in the characters and the story as well as the historical aspects of the book, but soon found I was only reading to try to get to the end to see what happens.  Overall I wasn't as thrilled with this story by the time the story was over and would not read it again.

Disclosure: I received free the item(s) mentioned in this post in exchange for my honest review. Regardless ~ All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”.

Feb 11, 2014

Won't Let Go by Avery Olive ~ YA Paranormal Mystery Romance ~ Book Tour, Review & Giveaway on Mom Loves 2 Read



Series:  Won't Let Go #1
Release date: December 14th 2013
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press Inc.
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Alexia Stone never wanted to move cross country. And she certainly never wanted to share her new bedroom with an amnesiac ghost boy desperate for her help. 

But after setting aside the assumption she’s gone crazy, Alexia engages in the impossible—she agrees to help the ghost discover who he was and what happened to him. Convinced this mystery is what’s keeping the phantom in the world of the living, Alexia puts her heart on the line to find out what his unfinished business might be.

Ultimately, Alexia must decide what’s more important to her—keeping her phantom

Nov 26, 2012

Cyber Monday Giveaway with E Van Lowe

Content warning:  
YA Paranormal Romance with Angels, Demons, Life/Death, 
Teenage issues, and handsome "men" 
(Satan, fallen angels, and demons in human form)  
*appropriate for age 15+ readers
   
Heaven Sent
Falling Angels Saga Book Three
By E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
What Does It All Mean?

Readers who devoured Boyfriend From Hell and Earth Angel will be captivated by the third book in the Falling Angels Saga.

As summer break for Glendale Union high begins, heartsick Megan awaits Guy's return while struggling to control her emerging abilities.  Love is in the air, but can the new loves in Megan, Maudrina, Suze and Aunt' Jaz's life be trusted? Nothing is what it seems.  Meanwhile, the Satanists are set to hatch their most diabolical scheme ever, and if it comes to pass, Satan may finally win out.

Megan has precious little time to unravel the cryptic message hidden in the riddle she received at the end of Earth Angel. If she doesn’t, the life of someone most dear to her will be lost forever, and Megan may yet find herself living in HELL.



Earth Angel
Falling Angels Book Two
E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
Heaven Can Wait!

Just because Megan Barnett recently defeated Satan, has a fantastic new best friend, and has won the love of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over.  Far from it.  For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between.  They will do ANYTHING to get it.

In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell , Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.

Megan Barnett has recently defeated Satan, found a fantastic new best friend, and has won the heart of deliciously handsome, Guy Matson.  But that doesn’t mean her troubles are over.  Far from it.  For Megan doesn’t realize that she is in possession of a powerful paranormal weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels, demons and everything in between. 

In E. Van Lowe’s romantic yet thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell , Megan finds herself in a gripping life or death battle to save the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.


Excerpt:



Boyfriend from Hell
Falling Angels Saga Book One
By E Van Lowe
Genre: Paranormal YA
Aww, Hell No!
Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.
“But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes?  Of course not…”
The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again.  She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago. 
Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando.  Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships.  But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems.  In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride.  Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him.  If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL


Excerpt http://evanlowe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Boyfriend-From-Hell-FREEBIE.pdf


My Review of Boyfriend from Hell & Earth Angel :
I had the pleasure of reading both of the first books of this series by author E. Van Lowe.  I love how unique the stories are compared to many YA Paranormal Romances I have previously read.  

Boyfriend from Hell introduces the reader to fifteen year old Megan and her mom Suze.  They each meet some very good looking men and start to form a relationship of sorts with them.  The problem is, both of these guys have something to hide . . . One of them is Satan himself looking for a bride to help him take over the world. Wow, nothing like dating the "wrong guy" but which one is it?

In Earth Angel, Megan has already defeated Satan and sent him back to his Warm home.  But the trouble is not finished.  There is more adventure and many more lives at stake now that she has found that she possesses some unique talents.

I must say I was impressed with the stories and characters in both books.  For all the YA, paranormal, fantasy fans - the books in this series are both great reads.  Both books kept my interest from start to finish, made me wonder what would happen next, and actually kept me in suspense for most of the book.  I personally struggled with a few of the story's details and situations; but I don't want to put any spoilers in this review, so you'll just have to read them for yourself!  Well-written, intriguing story, characters with depth and honest emotion, teenage struggles and paranormal/supernatural elements - definitely a good read!

I can't wait for the chance to read book three:  Heaven Sent!



Now for the Giveaway! 
Win a YA theme Christmas them Gift Basket containing 
a plush bear, Santa hat, fuzzy socks and gloves set, 
Christmas socks, sparkly Christmas tree decoration, 
snowman snowglobe, and a Bath and Body Works holiday gift set trio
Open to US Shipping
Winner to be announced on December 7 
so there will be time for the package to arrive before Christmas


About The Author
E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screen-writer, playwright and producer who has worked on such TV shows as "The Cosby Show," "Even Stevens," and "Homeboys In Outer Space." He has been nominated for both an Emmy and an Academy Award. His first YA Paranormal novel, "Never Slow Dance With A Zombie," was a selection of The Scholastic Book Club, and a nominee for an American Library Association Award.  His Best Selling novels, “Boyfriend From Hell” and “Earth Angel,” are the first two books in the Falling Angels Saga.  “The Zombie Always Knocks Twice” is the first book in his Hollyweird series.
E lives in Beverly Hills California with his spouse, a werewolf, several zombies and a fairy godmother who grants him wishes from time-to-time.




I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes only. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion .  If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.

Nov 5, 2012

The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan ~ Giveaway on Loves 2 Read

YA Paranormal Romance ~ The Faerie Guardian is the first book in a trilogy - and each book will include 4 to 5 novellettes that will ultimately make up the entire series, so buckle your seatbelts and get ready for a fantastic and magical adventure . . .

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day's work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone--she's about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she's broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he's discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot--and it'll take all her training to get out of it alive.

Oct 15, 2012

YA Paranormal Romance ~ Ever by Jessa Russo


BOOK ONE in The EVER Trilogy
*Recommended YA (ages 15) and up*



Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.  Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love.

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.



My Review :
*I have not yet had the chance to read this book for my review - I'll will post my review as soon as I've had a chance to finish it.  Please don't let that stop you from checking it out for yourself!*



An unashamed super fan of all things paranormal romance, Jessa Russo reads, writes and breathes paranormal YA, rarely straying from her comfort zone.

To learn more about Jessa and Ever :
Twitter:  #/JessaRusso
Jessa on Facebook:  #/jessarussowrites
EVER on Facebook:  #/EverTrilogy

I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes only. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion .  If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.

Aug 2, 2012

Review & Guest Post ~ The Exceptionals by Erin Cashman YA adventure

The Exceptionals
by Erin Cashman



Born into a famous family of exceptionally talented people, fifteen-year-old Claire Walker has deliberately chosen to live an average life. But everything changes the night of the Spring Fling, when her parents decide it's high time she transferred to Cambial Academy--the prestigious boarding school that her great-grandfather founded for students with supernatural abilities.

Despite her attempts to blend in, Claire stands out at Cambial simply because she is normal. But unbeknownst to her new friends, she has a powerful gift she considers too lame to admit. Suddenly, the most talented students in school the Exceptionals begin to disappear. In an attempt to find out what happened to them, Claire comes across a prophecy foretelling a mysterious girl who will use her ability to save Cambial students from a dire fate. Could she be that girl? Claire decides there is only one way to find out: she must embrace her ability once and for all.



My Review:
The Exceptionals by Erin Cashman is a fantasy adventure for pre-teens through young adult readers.  The main character, Claire Walker is an ordinary high school student at public school.  Her father is a professor, and her mother is the vice-principal at Cambial Academy: a boarding school for students who have special abilities and talents.  The students at Cambial do not have magical abilities, but rather exceptional and sometimes a bit paranormal qualities.
I really liked Claire, and her new friends at Cambial.  I could empathize with her wanting to keep her special gift a secret.  Her relationship with her mother and siblings, as well as some of the other students made the story more realistic and interesting to me.  The mystery surrounding the missing students kept my interest til the very end.
I liked how the author made sure that the ending was both a dramatic finish to the story, but also left it open just enough to make the reader want more.  I really enjoyed reading this book, and hope the author writes a sequel.  A great story for ages 12 and up, in my opinion.



GUEST POST by Author Erin Cashman :

Jun 28, 2012

Review ~ Spirit Fighter by Jerel Law ~ great elementary/middle grade adventure!

Spirit Fighter
by Jerel Law

Percy Jackson, move over! Jonah Stone is here!

What if Nephilim—the children of angels and men—still walked the earth? And their very presence put the entire world in danger? In
Spirit Fighter, Jonah and Eliza Stone learn that their mother is a Nephilim and that they have special powers as quarter-angels. When their mom is kidnapped by fallen angels, they must use those powers to save her. Along the way, they discover that there is a very real and dangerous war going on between good and evil and that God has a big part for them to play in that war.
 
 
**Parents today are looking for fiction that makes Christianity and the Bible exciting for their kids. This series is the Christian answer to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, The Secret Series and other middle-grade series packed with adventure, action, and supernatural fights. Son of Angels, Jonah Stone will be the first series in the market to explore this topic from a biblical perspective with content that is appropriate and exciting for middle-grade readers.
My Review :
Wow!  Spirit Fighter is an amazing book!  I was completely enthralled with the story from the very beginning.  I loved the depth of emotion and realistic situations that Jonah faced in the first few chapters.  Then to lead into the paranormal portion, where he finds out he is part "Angel" was captivating.  I loved this book and could not put it down.  
 
Jonah and Eliza are faced with difficult situations beyond their control, and through each encounter find that as their faith in God grows, they become stronger and are able to defeat the Enemies' forces.  Using their knowledge of scripture, their growing faith and trust in God, and each other; they are able to face the enemy and accomplish things that no mortal could ever imagine being able to do.
 
This book shows young people, (and older ones like me as well) that we truly can do amazing things when we trust God's instructions, rely on Him and remember that "faith" is the key!
 
Some of my thoughts as I was reading along:
* I know my son will LOVE this if he reads it.  
* My daughter will love this in a couple more years!  
* This is a great book for school libraries to have on hand.
 
Yes, this is a Christian Fiction book that is full of adventure, danger, and faith in God.  Young boys will love this, and young girls will as well!  Having the main characters, and hero/heroine in the story be a 13 year old boy and his 11 year old sister will interest young readers everywhere.  I highly recommend this book for kids ages 9 to 109 (even "big kids" will love it too!)


 
Author Website:   http://www.jerellaw.com/
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson



I received one or more books or products in the post above for review purposes through Thomas Nelson. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All my reviews are my honest and personal opinion .  If you have any questions or comments, please see my FTC disclosure or Review Policy.

May 26, 2012

Promo ~ Upper YA paranarmal ~ Hotblood by Juliann Whicker




This book is for Upper YA - 17 and older please - do not read further unless you are age 17 or older due to content ~



Hotblood

A House of Slide Novel
By Juliann Whicker

Genre: Paranormal Upper YA

He stole a kiss from the wrong girl…

Left without a soul, 17-year-old Dariana Sanders waited to die. There was nothing left to live for, nothing to feel besides the aching cold that never stopped.

Her parent’s marriage was in shambles, and her brother, the only one who understood, the only one who knew how to make the cold go away, was gone forever.

The only thing Dariana knew with absolute certainty was that nothing could possibly be right again.

Enter Lewis Axel Nialls. Luckily for her, impossible is right up his alley.

He can save her from the forces that wish to destroy her. Of course who’s going to save him, from her?




May 20, 2012

Review ~ The Moonstone Series by Merilee Brothers

The Unbidden Magic Series by Merilee Brothers

Review of the first 4 books of the Unbidden Magic series 
genre: YA paranormal/fantasy

Moonstone:  Book 1

MOONSTONE A Fictionwise Fantasy bestseller Young Adult A sickly mom. A tiny house trailer. High school bullies and snarky drama queens. Bad-guy dudes with charming smiles. Allie has problems. And then there's that whole thing about fulfilling a magical prophecy and saving the world from evil. Geez. Welcome to the sad, funny, sometimes-scary world of fifteen-year-old Allie Emerson, who's struggling to keep her and her mom's act together in the small-town world of Peacock Flats, Washington. An electrical zap from a TV antenna sets off Allie's weird psychic powers. The next thing she knows she's being visited by a hippy-dippy guardian angel, and then her mysterious neighbor, the town "witch," gives her an incredible moonstone pendant that has powers only a good-hearted "Star Seeker" is meant to command. "Who, me?" is Allie's first reaction. But as sinister events begin to unfold, Allie realizes she's got a destiny to live up to. If she can just survive everyday life, in the meantime.

May 15, 2012

Jacqueline Paige Book Promo ~ 5/15/12




Harvest Dreams
Book III in the Magic Seasons series
By Jacqueline Paige
Armed with magic and a plan ...
Buy link:  Class Act Books  Jacqueline Paige link  http://www.classactbooks.com/Jacqueline-Paige_bymfg_25-0-1.html




Step into a world of magic and passions....

Take a dash of spice, heat it
Add a flash of magic and watch the sparks fly
Toss in a killer that's targeting women
Add a handful of witches from all paths to stir it all together...

Armed with magic and a plan for the Lammas festival as a group they are determined to stop the killer from harming anyone again.
With a plan of his own, Steven decides to persuade Rachel that they’re meant to be together.
Rachel is a woman that lives carefree with a buoyant recklessness. She loves being a flirt and has spent many years indulging that side of her personality. Her energy draws others; her character is to protect all those that cannot protect themselves.  When she’s not riding on life, she is helping children less fortunate then herself. 
Steven is man that gives more than his energy usually allows.  He is a highly respected pediatrician that always goes that extra step to ensure all in his care are receiving his utmost attention.  He often sacrifices sleep to spend time with his friends, and he can’t seem to help affably chasing the skirt of the one woman that breaks his easy going charm and makes him forget he’s supposed to be the jovial.  He hides his strength in body and magic, never letting others know that he is more than the carefree man with everything he needs.   
Armed with magic and a plan for the Lammas festival as a group they are determined to stop the killer from harming anyone again.  With a plan of his own, Steven decides he’s done waiting for Rachel to see that they’re meant to be together and takes things into his own hands.



Excerpt:
What could she possibly be doing that held this kind of force?  He knew the answer as soon as he finished the thought; she was making some soul penance in exchange for Ricky’s health.  A gust of anguish shoved against him as he forced his legs to keep going towards the bedroom. 
Stopping momentarily to try and take a deep breath as the air crushed against his lungs and threatened to overtake him.  Nothing was stopping him from reaching Rachel.  Nothing!
He clenched his jaw and raised his hands against the swirling power.  Picturing her inside; needing him gave him more than enough strength to shove it back from him.  A picture on the wall rocked with the force and crashed to the floor.  He stepped over it and glared at the door that held her from his vision.  “Rachel!” 
He knew she probably couldn’t hear him, knew because years before when the emotions of losing patients threatened to ruin him, he had tried to make a bargain to keep someone from passing.  The price was too high in the end and he’d stopped.  Part of him knew she wouldn’t stop, she would succeed and he couldn’t live with that.
Shoving his power towards the door, he managed to rock it.  He didn’t know if he had enough strength to get through it.  Fear swamped him and it held him there, unmoving for moments more than he should have let it.  As he raised his head again and felt a rush of steady power flow over him and without turning knew that Chris had arrived.  Objects flew past him and the noise of the rushing wind howled around him.  Chris was not only here, but he was pissing off the force that Rachel had brought there.
“You have to do it!” 
Over the noise, he was barely able to hear Chris yelling only a few feet behind him.  Steven hesitantly turned his head away from the door and looked over at Chris kneeling on the floor with his hand held out towards him. His hair was blowing as he held onto the railing with his other hand straining to hold his position at the top of the stairs.
“It won’t let me any closer, Steven!  You can get through it.” Each word Chris said sounded as if he were in pain.
It took a few seconds for him to understand but he finally realized what Chris was saying.  Because it was Rachel doing it, Steven was somehow protected, but it would eat Chris alive if he pushed any further.  He nodded and looked back at the door.  A resolve passed over him; he was not giving up Rachel! 
Raising both hands towards the door, he placed one foot behind to brace himself against the incredible force the energies had.  Clenching his jaw, he allowed the fear and anger run through him, gathering strength he was going to need.  He felt his own hands shake with an energy that should have frightened him; ignoring it, he focused on the doorknob and watched as it began to shake. 
Another rush of power hit him as he felt Chris trying to help him again.  The doorknob snapped and dropped to the floor.  Taking a deep breath he rushed forward and smashed his side against the door.  It opened, pushing against him so he had to fight to move past it and enter the room.  The forces from the spell being cast were suffocating him; he took shallow breaths trying to find enough oxygen. 
Moving from the door, it slammed shut, sending him flying against the wall.  In the center of the room Rachel knelt, her eyes closed in concentration, her lips moving in a silent chant.  She held her hands over a black dish on the floor; he paused on her for a few more seconds and then looked at the items in front of her.  He had been right, the symbols on the floor, the incense, and the other tools lying in there all pointed towards what he’d feared. 
She knelt there, oblivious to the danger around her as objects in the room swirled around her, closer than he was comfortable with. 
Gasping, he caught his breath once more and fought to think of a way to break what she had begun.  A dark smoke swirled around her and he wasn’t going to stand there and see if it was getting closer as he suspected it was.
“Rach . . .” A blast of wind hit him and knocked his breath out of him.  Wind.  He straightened slowly and scowled at the dark mist circling the woman he loved.  He was not going to stand there and watch her bind her life force with something like that for anyone, himself included. Fighting to move closer he raised both hands away from his body and focused on the air in the room.  He controlled air and wasn’t going to allow some lurking spirit tell him otherwise.  Sweat soaked his brow as he stared at the objects moving around the room.  It had slowed, but wasn’t going to stop completely.
“Rachel!  This is not the answer!”  He shouted over the racket. 


*Note:  I have not yet read this book, but I do think just from reading the excerpts that this book is not for younger readers - language and wording suggest to me personally that this should not be read by anyone younger than 16 - my personal opinion*




About the Author:

Jacqueline Paige is a world class multi-tasker being a mother to five adventurous and unpredictable children, a cafe manager and having a colossal imagination that allows her to step outside of reality into a world of paranormal romance —with just a touch of suspense.

Jacqueline lives in Ontario, Canada and avoids the ever changing weather of the region she lives in by creating other worlds to fall into in her stories of all things paranormal.

Her first book was published in 2009 and since then has published ten.  She is always writing and currently has more than a dozen stories in one stage or another of the writing process.

You can find all of Jacqueline’s books at:  www.jacqpaige.webs.com


* guest post provided by Bewitching Book Tours.  This is not a review*

May 11, 2012

Hurricane by Jenna-Lynne Duncan ~ YA paranormal promo


Hurricane
By Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Genre: a young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy

Adriana couldn’t decide what was worse—that Hurricane Katrina was heading for New Orleans, or that she might not survive her kidnapping to see its potential effects. She had trusted Hayden, even fallen for him, and now he and his brother Luke were taking her deeper and deeper into the Bayou.
Why had two of her classmates, the mysterious Boudreaux brothers, kidnapped her?
Why had Adriana’s dreams started predicting the future?
Most importantly, would she make it out of the Bayou alive…

Book website : www.Hurricanethebook.com
Amazon            B&N   
Also available in select stores and in the UK and AU from Amazon/Borders.


About the Author
Jenna-Lynne Duncan graduated from the University of St. Thomas with degrees in Political Science, International Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. Hurricane is her debut novel and she is planning a series.
She welcomes those to contact her through her website (http://www.Jenna-Lynne.com).
Website:    www.Jenna-Lynne.com
Twitter: @JennaLynneD or www.Twitter.com/JennaLynneD





AUTHOR GIVEAWAY!
Author Jenna Duncan has graciously decided to host a giveaway for this tour
Jenna is giving away:
4 sets of a signed postcard
bookmark
 and a  flur de lis tattoo

to enter - just fill out the rafflecopter form below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway






*this guest post provided by author and Bewitching Book Tours.

May 4, 2012

Shayla Witherwood ~ A Half-Faerie Tale

Review of Shayla Witherwood ~ A Half-Faerie Tale


A brief moment of disappointment washed over me as I approached Jace’s lifeless body. Here I was, about to kiss a boy on the lips for the very first time, and he was completely comatose—possibly paralyzed—and would never even know or remember the experience. This was not how I’d envisioned my first kiss—me invisible, him unconscious. 
 
Shayla Witherwood is not exactly normal. First of all, she’s spent her entire life being home-schooled, traveling in an RV around the country with her grandparents. And second, there’s the kind of inescapable fact that her mom was a genuine faerie.

But now that she’s starting a real life in a regular high school, Shayla desperately needs to stay out of trouble in both worlds because even her faerie powers might not be enough to protect her from what’s coming.



My Review :

Shayla is a teenage girl who has been home-schooled her whole life, and is now facing the challenges of public school.  With the cliques, attitudes, peer pressure and daily issues most teens face in school, she has another larger one to deal with:  she is half fae.  Her mother was a faerie princess, and her father was a human.  She is being raised by her grandmother who travels around in an RV.  Her grandfather died recently and now grandma thinks Shayla should enter public school to finish her High School education.

In a human school, she must hide half of herself and protect herself from other people finding out about her fae side – and the magic she can do.  She finds out quickly that hiding is harder than she thought - and why does she have to hide anyway?  what's the harm in one or two friends finding out?

This story is one that will relate to teens from all walks of life.  The subjects of jealousy, first love, emotional confusion, school issues and more will keep any reader fascinated from page one to the very last word.  I really enjoyed reading this story, although I wasn’t personally fond of the way the story is brought to an end.  Towards the end is conflict, anger, fighting, death and some strangely bizarre faerie stuff.  Since I don’t like to give spoilers, all I’ll say is this is a unique book well worth reading.  I hope there is a sequel to this story.  I look forward to reading more by author Tamra Torero!



*I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley for this review.  All reviews are my personal opinion.  See my Policy & Disclosure page for more info.

Apr 20, 2012

A Bite's Tale by Veronica Blade ~ book tour & Review

A Bite’s Tale: A Furry Fable
By Veronica Blade
A sweet romantic tale with a Cinderella spin featuring vampires, witches and werewolves

Blurb:
A Cinderella who spends her nights as a wolf. A prince with a taste for blood.
Seventeen year old Cydney struggles against her werewolf nature, trying to keep everyone around her safe. No way will she risk exposing the beast at the prince’s ball, no matter how her two cousins try to persuade her. Even as she attempts to get on with her life, Cydney can’t forget the boy she loved three summers ago — or what she did to him after losing control. 
Turned into a vampire to save his life, the prince refuses to live up to his royal duties. He just wants to find the girl he loved and lost...the werewolf girl who bit him. But his father, the king, commands him to attend a ball where he must choose a wife. Can he find his Cinderella before he's forced to marry another? He doesn’t even have her real name, much less a glass slipper.

Excerpt:
If I’d known it could be like this and that she’d wanted it too, I would’ve kissed her ages ago. I mentally kicked myself for wasting all those weeks when we could’ve been doing this the entire time.
Her hand crept up under my shirt and her fingers trailed along my back. Goosebumps danced on my skin. She pressed closer against me and I took the kiss deeper, letting loose my weeks of pent up craving for her.
I didn’t think life could get any more perfect than being with Cindy. And I no longer yearned for a normal life. I wanted things to stay exactly as they were at that moment. With my Cinderella.
Forever.
A soft moan erupted from my throat when she angled her face to take the kiss still deeper. I slid my arms around her waist and the tips of my fingers inched up underneath her tank top.
She shivered.
But it wasn’t a usual shiver. Her whole body began to tremble and I nearly lost my hold on her. I pulled back. Cindy’s eyes grew huge and her pupils dilated.
She threw her head back, her limbs vibrating as she growled. No, not a growl. It was more like a dull roar, full of pain and anguish. Was she… was my Cindy about to turn into a werewolf? Or was it something else? Maybe if I held her again, whatever was happening to her might stop. I lunged for her.
“Get away from me!” Sobbing, she shoved me back, but in the process, one of her claws raked across my chest.
I flinched, as blood beaded on my skin. A little scratch wasn’t going to stop me though. Not when Cindy needed my help. I stepped forward again.
Her lips curled up, exposing long, growing teeth and she shrieked. Yeah, she’d hit werewolf maturity all right. But she hadn’t completely morphed. Just her teeth and nails. Maybe if I calmed her, she could prevent it from progressing. I wrapped my arms around her waist, as I’d done just moments ago, and pulled her close.
She shrieked again, then searing pain shot through my arm.
Werewolf bite. Oh, crap. My dad was going to kill me… unless the werewolf virus beat him to it.
The forest spun around me and I couldn’t keep my eyelids up. My muscles went lax and when the ground rose to slam against me, I didn’t feel a thing.


My Review :
I must say, I'm only on chapter 4 so far, but I am completely intrigued.  This is a "Cinderella" story like no other.  


More review to come when I've finished this great book!





About the Author:
Veronica Blade lives in Southern California with her husband and whichever of their kids — or someone else’s kid — decides to drop in. By day she runs the family business, but each night she slips away to spin her tales. She writes stories about young adults to relive her own childhood and to live vicariously through her characters. Except her heroes and heroines lead far more interesting lives — and they are always way hotter.

You can visit Veronica Blade on FaceBook, check out her website at  www.VeronicaBlade.com or follow her on Twitter @VeronicaBlade. She loves hearing from readers!

Twitter: @VeronicaBlade
Website: VeronicaBlade.com



* I received a free copy of this ebook through Bewitching Book Tours.  Book info provided by Bewitching Book Tours.*