Book Blitz: The Final Lesson

Book Tour & Review: The Thorn and the Sinking Stone by C.J. Dushinski

Title: The Thorn and the Sinking Stone
Author: C.J. Dushinski 
Series: The Darkness Series
Published by: Entangled Teen
Published Date: March 10th, 2015
Genre: Paranormal Thriller 
Pages: 313 pages
Goodreads

Warring families. Forbidden love. And danger they can’t escape…

Daggers. Roses. Cowboys. Boat Men. Survivors of Earth's Last War, four “families” vie to rule the dreary streets of Rain City through violence and blood. Valencia Hara, Princess of the wealthy Black Roses, is raised in warrior ways with sharpened steel. But she is no ordinary Rose. She is Cursed—tainted with the ability to see seconds into the future…

To avenge his father's death, Sebastian Leold, of the rival gang Two Daggers, must face off against the Black Princess, he with his dagger, she with her katana sword. Yet a secret from a shared past leaves him unable to kill beautiful Valencia; nor can she kill him. For they once knew each other beyond their blood feud…and they have more secrets in common than they know.

But in a world filled with vengeance and violence, there can be no room for love…

 

In Rain City after the Last War, four powerful families rose up and took over different parts of the cities. The main two are the Daggers and the Black Roses, they have been at each others throat for years. Valencia, has been trained all her life to this very day to take revenge on the poor bastard who killed her dad. She has a "Curse" that can see slightly in the future to predict movements which is a handy skill when fighting. Sebastian, is apart of the Daggers, he is sweet and innocent and only kills if he has too. He doesn't like having blood on his hands. He has has a the "Curse" he can throw things and move things with his mind. 

When Sebastian had his dad taken away from him, the Daggers and Black Roses met up and decided to battle it out blood for blood. They killed one of the Black Roses and Garret decided it wasn't fair, he wanted more blood. So he sent his sister Valencia to duel Sebastian. They didn't want to kill each other and they really didn't have a chance too.After all this has happen Sebastian can't seem to get Valencia out of his mind or vice versa. Valencia got capture by the Watchman and taken to the Curse jail and Sebastian blames himself for it because he wanted to met up with her to come up with a plan to not turn each other in for being cursed. But that doesn't stop Sebastian he goes and finds a way to save her. 

I was pulled into this book this book when I started to read it, I couldn't put it down. I thought it would be more like knights and stuff like that but I was wrong. Valencia, is strong and beautiful, and wields a katana like a bad mamajama. Sebastian is the complete opposite of her, he is quite, and very contempt.

This book reminded me of the gangster version of Romeo and Juliet expect without them both dying. I thought it was a amazing story and had a great story-line. I really love this story and this is another book I can't wait for book two!!! 


About the Author 

While attempting to navigate life as a responsible human being, CJ graduated from university with a B.Comm and worked her way along as marketer, copywriter, and graphic designer to earn a paycheck while pursing her passion for creating fantastical stories set in dark and wondrous corners of the world. Born amongst the wheat fields and open skies of the Canadian prairies, CJ’s imagination has always run wild, taking her on adventures across the world from modeling in Seoul, South Korea to backpacking through Europe and surfing (poorly) in Hawaii. 

After wandering through ancient cities and civilizations, learning from diverse cultures, and surrounding herself in new experiences, CJ was inspired and began work on her debut Young Adult novel THE THORN AND THE SINKING STONE, to be published by Entangled Publishing 2014/15. CJ currently resides in Calgary, Alberta Canada – home of the Canadian Rockies – and keeps one hand on her passport and pen at all times, ready to pick up, see the world, and weave her experiences into stories. CJ is represented by Marlene Stringer of the Stringer Literary Agency LLC. 

Author Links: 

Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook

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Book Tour & Review: Red by Alyxandra Harvey

Title: Red

Author: Alyxandra Harvey

Genre: Alternative History, Fantasy, Romace
Published by: Entangled Teen

Published Date: March 10th, 2015

Pages: 198

Goodreads

Bad girls burn hot…

Red is the color of Kia Alcott's hair. It's her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble. And it's the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them.

When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It's an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood.

Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries.

But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn't stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…

When I read the synopsis I was very interested in the book. The book starts out smooth with Kia moving in to the Blackwood's castle. The story is written in both Kia and Ethan's point of views. But once you get a few chapters in it like skips a lot and I was a tad bit lost. I would of like it if there was more to the story. But even though it felt like somethings were missing I still loved the book. It was very intriguing, especially with all the different kinds of beast that were found or being held. Even I felt bad for the poor little guys being held up in cages.

Kia is not your average teenager, who likes to go out and party and have just a grand old time. She is known as a troublemaker because of her fiery temper that matches her fiery personality. Oh and she can just randomly start fires out of her mind. Kia's dad sent her off to her go living with her grandmother at the Blackwood's castle because of a recent incident she didn't mean to happen. But everyone ended up blaming her anyway. Upon arriving at the Blackwood's castle, she meets the popular, sexy, and strange Ethan Blackwood. But even with a good looking guy around she sense there is more to this castle then a few strange heads for show. 

Kia had a temper on her, she was always stubborn, and very curious about what is going on around her. But because of her temper she has a hard time controlling the fire inside her. Ethan seems like an butt-hole in the beginning, and someone who has many sides to him to hide his hurt and hatred. But towards the end he shows her the real him. 

As far as the other characters like: Juliana, who could be a big b at times but in the end she helped. Sloane was very nice to Kia and I liked her a lot and I wish she could be around more... You don't see Tobias or Julian a lot in the book, and Colt seems to be over his head but all he wants is the darn ring. 

I still loved the book and if there is going to be a second book to this I would get it and I would read it!!

About the Author

Alyxandra Harvey lives in a stone Victorian house in Ontario, Canada with a few resident ghosts who are allowed to stay as long as they keep company manners. She loves medieval dresses, used to be able to recite all of The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, and has been accused, more than once, of being born in the wrong century. She believes this to be mostly true except for the fact that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream.

Among her favourite books are ‘The Wood Wife’ by Terri Windling, ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte, and of course, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen. Elizabeth Bennet is her hero because she’s smart and sassy, and Mr. Darcy is, well, yum.

Aside from the ghosts, she also lives with husband and their dogs. She likes cinnamon lattes, tattoos and books.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Book Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Book Tour & Review: Feast of Fates by Christian A. Brown

Title: Feast of Fates
Author: Christian A. Brown

Series: Four Feasts Till Darkness Book One

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Date of Publication: September 9, 2014

Pages: 540
Goodreads

Amazon

"Love is what binds us in brotherhood, blinds us from hate, and makes us soar with desire.”

Morigan lives a quiet life as the handmaiden to a fatherly old sorcerer named Thackery. But when she crosses paths with Caenith, a not wholly mortal man, her world changes forever. Their meeting sparks long buried magical powers deep within Morigan. As she attempts to understand her newfound abilities, unbidden visions begin to plague her--visions that show a devastating madness descending on one of the Immortal Kings who rules the land.

With Morigan growing more powerful each day, the leaders of the realm soon realize that this young woman could hold the key to their destruction. Suddenly, Morigan finds herself beset by enemies, and she must master her mysterious gifts if she is to survive.

To be honest I am at a lost for words with this book. I have no idea what to say about it. I enjoyed ever bit of it. The whole story was amazing! All the characters played an important role. There wasn't really just one or two main characters, there were a ton. But the real heroine in the story is Morigan. At first I thought this book would drive me nuts with all that is going on and all the different points of views. But nooooooo I enjoyed every minute of it. When some of the characters were suppose to meet each other I got super excited and tried to rush to see the part where they meet. But then I probably would have been a tad bit lost.

Morigan is a sweet and wise young lady. Her bloodmate Caenith, The Wolf, is a powerful, yet gentle giant. They were brought together by fate and fell in love. Those two were made for each other no doubt. Morigan is his wind and Caenith is her river. 

This is one fantasy book I know you probably won't be able to put down. It may have a ton of different views. But those views are what brought everything together, it is what shows you everything that is going on around their world. The story is mostly about Morigan, and her newfound ability, everything that happens leads to her. She is suppose to save the world from this upcoming war and bring peace. She has the power to do so, not only does her fate say she has to save the world. She uses her powers to help people, she shows them their true self.   

The Sisters Three, you don't see them a lot through out the book, but when you do you sit and wonder what could they possible do in this story. Well towards the end of the book you learn so much. Not just from the Sisters three, but from Caenith and Thackery. 

This book is written differently then most books and I found it interesting and unique. I would recommend this book to anyone. 


About the Author

Christian A. Brown has written creatively since the age of six. After spending most of his career in the health and fitness industry, Brown quit his job to care for his mother when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2010.

Having dabbled with the novel that would eventually become Feast of Fates for over a decade, Brown was finally able to finish the project. His mother, who was able to read a beginning version of the novel before she passed away, has since imbued the story with deeper sentiments of loss, love, and meaning. He is proud to now share the finished product with the world.

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GIVEAWAY!!

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#T4T Book Blitz: Endless by Amanda Gray and Boneseeker by Brynn Chapman

Hello and welcome to the first Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Endless by Amanda Gray and Boneseeker Brynn Chapman

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Title: Endless
Author: Amanda Gray

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Publish By: Month9Books, LLC.
Publish Date: September 10, 2013

Pages: 384
Goodreads
Amazon|B&N

IN A RACE AGAINST TIME, HOW DO YOU KEEP THOSE YOU LOVE SAFE?

Jenny Kramer knows she isn’t normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them. When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumbles on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought.

Like a past life.

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren’t alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has traveled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock -- and the Order -- the trio discovers a link that joins them in life -- and beyond death.

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“I thought this book was pretty amazing – the characters, the setting and the adventure all came together to create this romantic yet ultimately dangerous story with a perfect time travel twist!” – Hannah – Lemonade Library

“I started reading this not knowing completely what the story was about but there's an amazing love story as well as a bit of history thrown into the mix along with some time travel and a soul mate and reincarnation!” – Anna – Bound in Ink Books

“This book is a very interesting twist on time travel, history and romance, something I would love to see adapted on the big screen in the future.” – Lyn - Reading Tsinoy

About the Author:

Amanda Gray believes in magic and fantasy and possibilities. She is a team of two bestselling authors who live only miles apart but have never met in person. They talk on the phone and are the best of friends and between them have written more than a dozen novels and novellas and have had their work appear on television.

Title: Boneseeker
Author: Brynn Chapman

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Historical Fiction

Publish By: Month9Books, LLC.
Publish Date: June 17, 2014

Pages: 300
Goodreads
Amazon|B&N

Arabella Holmes was born different and raised different. After it became apparent she wouldn’t fit the role of a proper 1900′s lady, her father, Sherlock, called in some lingering favors, and landed her a position at the Mutter Museum. The museum was Arabella’s dream; she was to become a purveyor of abnormal science. What her father called a BoneSeeker.

Henry Watson arrives at the Mutter Museum with a double assignment–to become a finder of abnormal antiquities and to watch over and keep Arabella Holmes. An easy task, if he could only get her to speak to him instead of throwing knives in his general direction.

But this is no time for child’s play. The two teens are assigned to a most secret exploration, when the hand of a Nephilim is unearthed in upstate New York. Soon, Arabella and Henry are caught in a fight for their lives as scientific debate swirls around them. Are the bones from a Neanderthal … or are they living proof of fallen angels, who supposedly mated with humans according to ancient scrolls?

Sent to recover the skeleton, they discover they are the second team to have been deployed and the entire first team is dead. And now they must trust their instincts and rely on one another in order to survive and uncover the truth.

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“It was such a fab idea to take Holmes and Watson to the next generation and to have them on a kind of steampunk/ science adventure…” – Nicky Peacock - Author

“This was a fantastic historical romance, with a huge mystery to solve (and in true Holmes/Watson style!)… with some amazing twists and turns along the way. – Desiree - Reviewer

“The settings are intriguing and the way they are described make you feel as if you are immersed in the story. I could feel the gloom and damp. That is rare in so many books! Boneseeker is a book I highly recommend, and I give it 5 stars!” – Christy - Christy's Cozy Corners

About the Author:

Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, Brynn Chapman is the daughter of two teachers. Her writing reflects her passions: science, history and love—not necessarily in that order. In real life, the geek gene runs strong in her family, as does the Asperger’s syndrome. Her writing reflects her experience as a pediatric therapist and her interactions with society’s downtrodden. In fiction, she’s a strong believer in underdogs and happily-ever-afters. She also writes non-fiction and lectures on the subjects of autism and sensory integration and is a medical contributor to online journal The Age of Autism.

Author Links:  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway!!!

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Spotlight & Review: Reap and Repent by Lisa Medley

Reap and Repent by Lisa Medley

Series: The Reaper Series Book 1

Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance

Reapers, Demons, Angels, Sex

Pages: 326
Goodreads

They see death. Can they share a life?

Ruth Scott can read the energy of every person she meets. Then she meets Deacon Walker. She can see his ice-blue eyes, his black hair, and his gorgeous face. But this beautiful stranger has no aura.

Deacon is just as unsettled by Ruth—and, having spent more than two hundred years ushering souls to Purgatory, Deacon is seldom shocked by anything. As he helps Ruth to understand her true nature, she awakens desires that he decided long ago a Reaper can’t afford.

A demon invasion forces Deacon to confront the darkness in his own past even as he fights to save the human souls he’s charged to protect. When he’s taken captive, his first concern is for Ruth. But Ruth just might be able to save herself—and the Reaper she can’t live without—if she can learn to wield her new found powers.

One may think a reaper looks like a skeleton hidden behind a hooded cape and he goes around collecting souls and take them where they should go. Good souls go to heaven and bad souls go to hell. 

In "Reap and Repent", the "grim reapers" are basically different races who collect souls from their own race. Deacon is a human who goes and grabs human souls and takes them to Purgatory and offer them up to the angel and each soul will pass through either pipe line that goes straight to heaven or hell. 

Ruth's mother has just passed away and for years she could she the aura that comes off people, it's like a mood ring. After her mother's passing she runs in the Deacon and both her and Deacon are confused beyond belief. Reapers don't have auras and Ruth noticed he didn't have one and vise verse. 

Deacon thought she was another reaper in his area but once he went to go pick up her mother's soul she was still intact so he was even more confused. Well later that night he meets up with Ruth and explains everything. Her world just went from begin a nobody and invisible to begin a reaper.

Becoming a Reaper sure did change her life. She decided not to give up on the people she cares about the most. She made great friends and met a wonderful man. Who could ask for more? 

This action filled book with leave you wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and can't wait to pick up the second book soon. 

Excerpt: from  Chapter Five:

Ruth opened her eyes to complete and utter chaos. There were creatures everywhere. She would have been hard-pressed to prove most of them were now or ever had been human. It was like the cantina scene in Star Wars without the fun band. Ruth’s mouth gaped open. It was dark, foggy and damp in the long underground chamber where they’d landed, like some kind of subterranean cave. She’d never seen anything like it.

It was a depot of sorts, it seemed, and there were long tunnels crisscrossing every which way, disappearing into the stone walls. Her mouth still agape, Ruth followed Deacon into what appeared to be the main hall, where the floors and ceilings were also rough stone, and light from an unseen source flowed down through strategically positioned skylights along the ceiling. Reapers were everywhere: men and women but also a disturbing number of…well, monsters was the word that came to mind.

There was so much to take in that it was overwhelming. Chiseled placards demarked the top of each tunnel in a language she didn’t understand. And at each end of the main channel, huge platforms rose above the fray. Sitting on stone thrones upon the platforms were two very similar-looking men who looked like angels, complete with flowing purple robes and wings.

Deacon took her hand and dragged her along behind him. “Keep up.”

“Don’t worry.”

She did not want to be down here alone, wherever here was. They rushed through the throng of creatures, large and small, human and otherwise, toward the opposite end of the channel and the angel who was sitting there. They were almost there when someone called out behind them.

“Walker? What the hell? I thought you would have cashed in by now,” the man said. Deacon spun around, pushing Ruth behind him. “Kylen,” Deacon said, grimacing and barely containing his obvious disgust. He clearly wasn’t happy to see the guy. “I’ve been…occupied.”

“I can see that,” he said, leaning over to give Ruth a slimy once-over look. “Who is she?”

“We’re bringing in a sleeper,” Deacon said, changing the subject.

“A sleeper? Wonder how I missed that one?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Deacon said, forging ahead.

“Put up a good fight at least?” Kylen asked with inappropriate enthusiasm.

“What are you doing down here? Have you grown tired of your ride?”

“Oh, no. I just like to keep a finger on the pulse of things. Network. Mingle.” He winked, then directed a disturbing smile Ruth’s way.

“Right.” Deacon pulled Ruth away from Kylen, leading her the last few paces to the platform.

A line of mixed creatures wound in front of them. Ruth had no idea what some of them were. Of the ten or so in front of them, two looked passably human. The rest were all variety of sizes and degrees of grotesqueness. One great slobbering gelatinous mass in front of them, who was Deacon’s height, but twice his girth, turned to assess her. His wet reptilian skin shimmered and glistened as his Ping-Pong-sized lizard eyes looked her up and down, then locked on to hers. She looked away and snugged up closer to Deacon.

“Eyes on the prize, asshole,” Deacon said to the thing through gritted teeth. Mr. Lovely turned back around with a grunt.

Otherwise, there was no chitchat in the line. She wondered if all these things even spoke the same language.

Deacon leaned over and whispered, “Try not to freak out—this will get easier. This is Purgatory—a way station. It’s a neutral zone. A no-man’s-land of sorts. All reapers can meet here and interact, but there can be no conflict. It’s a forced détente essentially. Pray you don’t see most of these creatures on the topside.”

She couldn’t imagine any situation where she would.

“The guy in the purple robe is the angel Rashnu. The guy on the other end of the station? Also Rashnu. He’s split himself into two because he doesn’t trust anyone else to do the job right. He’s the sorter. The gates of Hell and Heaven are locked up tight. No soul gets through Purgatory except with his blessing. He’s rarely wrong, but once in a while a soul gets kicked back and…well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen today.”

The line inched forward. She watched as the reapers approached the angel Rashnu and wished she could hear the exchange between them. From where she was standing, she was close enough to get the gist of it. The reaper approached and spewed forth its cargo, which floated down and assumed its original shape. The deposits held their ghostly form for a few moments, and then Rashnu waved his open palm in front of them, and they were sucked away down one of the various tunnels carved into either side of the station’s stone walls. The contrasting colors of the walls clearly indicated which tunnels led to which eternal resting place. Left was lovely, and lightly colored markings and symbols adorned the wall. The right side? Not so much. It looked like street gangs had tagged the entire wall from stem to stern. The souls streamed away in a smoky mist ranging in color from black to white and everything in between.

“Are all of them reapers?”

“Yes, there are a lot of different races represented down here. I can give you a crash course later. But stay quiet for now—Rashnu hates disrespect.”

Ruth zipped her lip, and they shuffled forward again. Deacon was up to bat. Ruth tried to look small and insignificant behind him, which was not much of a stretch. Rashnu bored a hole through Deacon, and then she felt his gaze settle on her.

“Forward!” the angel bellowed.

She was frozen in place. Deacon hesitated for a second then swung her around in front of him.

Lamb to the slaughter. Thanks.

About the Author:

Lisa has always enjoyed reading about monsters in love and now she writes about them, because monsters need love too.

She adores beasties of all sorts, fictional as well as real, and has a farm full of them in her Southwest Missouri home, including: one child, one husband, two dogs, two cats, a dozen hens, thousands of Italian bees, and a guinea pig.

She may or may not keep a complete zombie apocalypse bug-out bag in her trunk at all times, including a machete. Just. In. Case.

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